I hold in my hand a book. This is no ordinary book. For this book has survived. It
has continued. It has crossed the barriers of
years, decades, centuries, and millenniums. I don't know when the first words
were written or by whom. Some have said Job, some have
said Moses. But I know approximately the
first words were written in this book over 3,500 years ago. That's three millenniums and
a half. And that the last words written
in this book by John on the Isle of Patmos were written almost
2,000 years ago, over a period of 1,500 years. God used 40 men,
40 different men, some shepherds, fishermen, religious leaders, but 40 men. over a period of 1,500 years
to put together this book. And it has survived by his providence
and his purpose all these years, having been begun 3,500 years
ago and completed over 2,000 years ago. Where are the books
of men that were written even 500 years ago? And then this book has not only
continued and survived all these years, thousands and thousands
of years, but it has crossed the barriers of language. This
book is read in over 1,000 languages, over
1,000. This book is read by Chinese,
by Portuguese, by Spanish-speaking people, by French-speaking people,
by people in New Guinea. All around the world, people
read this book. It's been translated in over
1,000 languages Where are the Chinese that read books written
by Americans? Or where are the books read by
Americans having been written by some individual in the heart
or center of Africa? And yet, men of all nations read
this book. It's crossed the barriers of
language and nationality. And not only that, but this book,
unique and so supernatural. is read
by men with much education, degrees, professional men, and yet it's
read by farmers and simple-minded men in the country. There's no
class where this book is concerned. There's no barrier of race or
age. This book is read and loved by
little children. and by old men and women. And when I read this book, I
approach this book in a fourfold way. My own heart conviction is this. I approach this book, first of
all, as the Word of God. This is verily the Word of God. It is inerrant, it is infallible,
It is unbroken, it is verbally inspired. Turn with me to the
book of 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 16, where Paul writes, all scripture
is given by inspiration of God. It's God-breathed. and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God might be perfect or mature,
truly furnished unto all good works. This book is not only
inerrant, not only infallible, not only unbroken, but it's God-breathed. And turn, if you will, to 2 Peter
1.20. And here the Apostle Peter, talking
about this book, says this in 2 Peter 1, verse 20, "...knowing
this first, that no prophecy..." Now, the thing that impresses
me about these two verses is the context, the background.
The Apostle Peter had been with James and John on the Mount the
Mount of Transfiguration. And he saw what no man up till
that time, and few men have seen. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ
transfigured or glorified in their very presence. Said his
garments glistened white. And on one side of him was Moses,
representing the law, and the other side was Elijah, representing
the prophet. Peter said, I saw that. I saw,
and they talked, they talked. The Lord Jesus Christ talked
to Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophet. What did they
talk about, Peter? They talked about his death.
They talked about his sacrifice, which he would accomplish at
Jerusalem. And he said, then Moses and Elijah
were gone and we saw no one save Jesus only. And he was so awed
and impressed and amazed. He said to the Lord, he said,
let's build three taverns. Let's just stay here. Let's don't
go back down there. I don't want to go back down
there. Let's stay here and build three tabernacles. One to you
and one to Moses and one to Elijah. Well, he told about seeing that
that vision or that sight in verse 18. And he said, not only
that, but we heard a voice from heaven. The Heavenly Father spoke
and said, This is myself, Harry, Harry. But Peter said in verse
19, would you believe this? We have also a more sure word
of prophecy, something better than than actually being on the
Mount of Transfiguration? Yes. Something better than with
these eyes seeing the Lord transfigured and seeing two great men who
are dead, who were dead, come back to the earth? Yes, sir.
Something better. In our world, when everybody
is clamoring for a vision or a voice from heaven, what on
earth could be better? You're holding it in your hands.
It's exactly right. You can't trust a vision. Satan
can give you a vision. You can take certain drugs and
have hallucinations and visions. I don't want a dream. I don't
want a vision. I don't want to hear any voices.
This is it right here. And you say, that's too far-fetched,
Preacher. I'm reading the Word of God. I'm reading what Peter
said himself. We've got something better. We've
got something that's more sure and certain than that sight I
saw. Where unto, listen, you do well
that you take heed. as unto life that shineth in
a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star rise in your
heart, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture
is of any private interpretation." You interpret Scripture by Scripture.
For the prophecy didn't come in old time by the will of man,
but holy men of God's faith as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Brother Mahan, here in 1985,
in a day of intellectualism, education, science, and all the accomplishments that
men have brought about, do you still hold and still believe
that that book is the verbally inspired Word of God? I do, more
than ever before, with all my heart. God sent it, I believe
it. And I approach this word, this
book, not only as the word of God, I'll tell you this, to me
it's precious. To me it's precious. I don't
worship the book, don't misunderstand me. I worship Christ. But I'm telling you, I hold this
book in the highest regard and with the greatest reverence.
This is the word of God. And I would warn anyone, do not
handle it carelessly, flippantly or lightly. And I don't like
to hear people making jokes about the Word of God. Make your jokes
about something else. It's too serious. Don't make
your jokes about heaven or hell, either one. Or anything pertaining
to redemption and salvation. You're on dangerous ground. You're
trifling with holy things. And you know what God did in
the Old Testament? People trifled with holy things. He said, let
the potsherds of the earth strive with the potsherds of the earth,
but don't let a man mess around with his maker. That's what he's
talking about in plain language. This is the Word of God. And
handle it carefully and prayerfully and in a reverent manner. It's the Word of God. The Word
of God. Secondly, I approach it in faith.
In faith. Not for debate or argument. I
know that people are constantly trying to prove the Scripture,
prove the Scripture. They try to prove it with discovery.
They try to prove it with scientific facts. They try to prove it with
historical facts. They try to prove it with rational
arguments. And these things may have some
value. I'm not questioning that. I'm not debating that. I'm impressed
with the Dead Sea Scrolls, and I'm impressed with some things
that they have found. But I can tell you this, only
the Holy Ghost can convince a man of the authority of God's Word.
You could find a Bible that Paul wrote with his own hand, it wouldn't
convince an unbeliever. But a believer wouldn't need
it to convince him. That's just so. If you return
to 1 Corinthians, I'll show you that, 1 Corinthians chapter 2.
I get a kick out of that fellow that went down to the bookstore
and found an old Bible, and his wife said, Did you find anything
of any value? He said, Well, I found an old
Bible that was about 500 years old, but some fellow named Martin
Luther wrote all over it, so I didn't buy it. But in 1 Corinthians 2, verse
14, it says, "...the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God." the foolishness to him, neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned. But he that's spiritual,
he that's been awakened, begotten, quickened, regenerated by the
Holy Spirit, we're not spiritual in ourselves, we're spiritual
in Christ. He enlightened us and illuminated us, and he is
our wisdom. But he that's spiritual discerneth
all things, yet he himself is judged as no man. Now that's
the problem. David said, I believe, therefore
I've spoken. Paul quoted that himself. He
said, I believe. I believe God. I believe his
word, therefore I've spoken. Abraham believed God. Paul stood
on the deck of that ship when all of those experienced seamen
had already written it off. They'd written it off. And they'd
cast everything over the side and they were getting ready to
jump off themselves. And Paul stood on the deck of
that ship and he said, men, don't leave the ship. They said, well,
it's going to sink. It can't endure the storm. We
know something about this. You're not a mariner. You're
not a sailor. What do you know about this? He said, sirs, I
believe God that it shall be exactly as he told me. So you
better stay on the ship. And we'll lose the ship, but
not one life. Because I believe God. Abraham believed God against
all hope. He was 100 years old. His wife
was over 90. God told him to have a son. And
that old man believed God. He believed God. And I'll tell
you, we're going to have to follow the pattern and example of Abraham.
It doesn't matter about the circumstances. It doesn't matter about the human
arguments and no hope and this sort of thing. Let's believe
God. I approach this Word as the Word of God. I approach it
in faith. There's so much I do not understand. I wish we could come to that place
where we could bring ourselves to answer a question sometimes
whether I don't know. There's no sin in saying I don't
know. There's a lot of wisdom in it.
I just don't know. I know this, the secret things
belong to God, and the revealed things to us and our children.
And let's take what he's revealed and believe it. We preach in
part and we know in part, we see through a glass gimblet,
but one of these days we're going to know as we have been known.
But don't write off that which God has clearly made known to
you because you can't understand it all. If you could comprehend
God, you'd have to be God. And then thirdly, I approach
this book not only as the Word of God and in faith, not for
argument or debate. I'm not interested in arguing
anymore. I used to love to argue. But I've never convinced anybody
of anything by arguing. I've lost some friends that way,
but I've never convinced them of anything. The Holy Spirit
has to give ears to hear, and eyes to see, and a heart to understand.
So let's learn to walk away. You don't accomplish a thing
by argument. Thirdly, I approach the Scripture to be preached,
not defended. It needs no defense from me.
I read this and quoted it this morning, not exactly, but Spurgeon
said this one time. He said there's no need for you
to defend a lion. When the lion's attacked, there's
no need for you to defend him. All you need to do is open the
gate and let him out, and he'll take care of his own business.
That's the way with this work. Our God said, my word will not
return unto me void. Just preach it. Somebody said
to Brother Barnard one time, I said, explain that. He said,
I ain't explaining business. I'm in the proclaiming business.
I'm preaching the gospel. I can't explain it, but I do
know this. Turn to the book of Hebrews,
chapter 4, and listen to this. In Hebrews, the fourth chapter,
it says here, the Word of God, not my words or your words, but
His Word, His Word, the Word of God is quick and powerful
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart." That's the Word of
God. That's the Word of God. And I'll tell you, I believe
that we need to rely more upon the Word of God and less upon
our logic and argument and reasoning and illustration. And all of
these things, you know, just give sinners the word of God.
There's something Paul said over here in Acts 20. You needn't
turn, but let me just read it to you here. In Acts chapter
20, when he was taking leave of those elders that he'd brought
together from the church at Ephesus, and he closed his message, this
is the last time he's going to see them, the last time he'd
ever preach to them. He's going to prison, and he
said, Now, brethren, I commend you to God. and to the word of
his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified." Let's leave sinners in the hands
of God and his word. You just take his word and you
get along and read it. That's what the Bereans did.
They went home and searched the scriptures, you see, He wasn't
going to take his word for it. He was going to go home and search
the scriptures to see if these things would be something. And I would that you and I both
would approach the scriptures to be preached, not to be defended,
not to be argued, but to be preached. I'll tell you this, if you'll
turn to 2 Corinthians, I'll show you this. And when Paul said this, he just
stood back and said, well, who's sufficient for these things?
This so awed the Apostle Paul, so it struck him with such a
progress that he just stood back and he said, well, who's sufficient
for these things? Now, here's what he said in 2 Corinthians
2, verse 14. He said, now, thanks be unto
God, 2 Corinthians 2 verse 14, thanks be unto God, which always
causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor,
the fragrance, the sweet smell, or the odor of his knowledge
by us in every place. Now here's what he said, he said,
here I'm a preacher of the gospel. And I don't think this is only
true of apostles, prophets of past. The past, God never left
himself without a witness. He has a voice today. Somebody's
speaking for God today, I guarantee you. Somebody's speaking for
God. Somebody's preaching the gospel
sent by God, ordained of God, anointed of God, and God's where
he's preaching, or where they're preaching. And Paul said this,
when we preach, who is sent by God, the truth of the gospel,
in the power of the Holy Spirit, we never fail. We never fail. We always triumph. Never fail. Never fail. Well, you said while
ago some believed and some didn't. I know that, but he didn't fail.
And the Word didn't fail, it accomplished that whereunto God
sent it. And that which was his intention.
He said, Pharaoh, for this same purpose have I raised thee up
to dump you in the river. That's exactly what he said,
that I might glorify myself in you. I read on. For we are unto
God a sweet savor, fragrance, odor of Christ, in them that
are saved and in them that perish. Both of them. When we preach,
we've got a message to everybody. We've got a word to everybody.
It's like a fella that comes into a place with a box of special,
prized, unique ointment. It's sealed. And he breaks the
seal and opens the box, and that fragrance comes out, and comes
out, and just fills that place. And people who are attuned to
it and appreciate it, they smell it. And they rejoice in it. But there's some more folks,
when they smell that fragrance and that odor, they detest it. They run from it. They're turned
off by it. And that's what we're doing here.
We're opening that box. And the sweet gospel of Christ,
and the glory of Christ, and the truth of Christ, and the
beauty of Christ is preached. And those who recognize their
need, and their guilt, and their sin, And who rejoice in Christ
and love Christ and believe Christ, they just soak it up. They just
receive it in every, all their senses. They feel Him, hear Him,
smell Him, see Him, sense Him. That's right. And rejoice in
it. But others sit there and say,
I'll be glad he gets through. I don't see anything good about
that. What's so wonderful about that? Mike sang, oh, how I love
him, down from his glory. And I could see folks out there
just smiling and rejoicing. Ain't there someone that didn't?
Well, that's what he's talking about. He said to the one, verse
16, where is it, the savor, with the smell of death, unto death. They're already dead, twice dead,
and this just adds to their condemnation. But to the other, with the savor
of life unto life. Now then, he said, who's sufficient
for these things? Certainly I'm not, and I don't
know any human being that is. Paul certainly didn't think he
was. Who's sufficient for such a momentous task, such a heavy
responsibility? Well, down here in verse 5, he
said, not that we're sufficient of ourselves to think anything
of ourselves, but our sufficiency is gone. He's our sufficiency. This is his business. Our Master
said, I must do about my father's business. My father's business. Well, I quote the scriptures
to be praised. Better be praised. And this is
the thing, if preachers would just realize this, we'd talk
about, well, I believe in God's absolute sovereignty, and I believe
in God's elective grace, and I believe in man's power and
depravity, and I believe that Christ Sacrifice is effectual,
and I believe these things. But you know, we've got the times
when you've got to be careful. The times when you've got to
be, you've got to just not tell everything you know. The times
when you're not supposed to, you're supposed to kind of slip
up on folks, you know, and not preach all these things. Now wait a minute. Paul said, Timothy, you preach
the Word. Be in season, out of season, and God will take care
of the rest of that. God will make it a sweet smell
to whomsoever He pleases. And God will make it a distasteful odor to the rest
of us. It's not our business to explain
the Gospels, our business is to proclaim them. It's not our
business... You see, we're not the Holy Ghost.
We're just men. And when you take this sword
out and start using it, it's a weapon. I know it needs some
care, and I know a man needs to wield that sword as God directs
him. It can be dangerous, it can wound
and kill and slay, but it can make a lot. But let's just use
it and trust the Holy Spirit to apply it. I'll try to do His
work. And then I approach this book,
fourthly, as a whole, as a whole unit. This is not an old Bible
and a new Bible. I've heard that all my life.
Back when I was a kid, I didn't know what they were talking about,
but somebody quoted scripture and they said, that's in the
old Bible. That's in the old Bible. Let me tell you something. who spake to our fathers in times
past for the prophets, has spoken to us in these days by his Son.
And the message the prophets preached is the message Christ
preached. It's the same gospel. The Old Testament is the New
Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament
revealed. And from Genesis to Revelation,
this is one book. This is one gospel concerning
one man. the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts chapter
10, verse 43. Luke wrote, To him give all the
prophets witness. And then if you'll turn to Luke
24, listen to our Master here when he was speaking to two of
his disciples there who were on the road to Emmaus. It says
here in verse 44 of Luke 24, Our Lord said to them, to his disciples. He said, now,
back when he talked to those two, verse 27, beginning at Moses
and all the prophets, he expanded unto them and all the scriptures
the same concerning himself. And then in verse 44, when he
was with the other disciples, he said, Now these are the words
which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all
things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses.
That's Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And
in the prophets, major and minor, and in the psalm concerning me.
Then open he their understanding that they might understand the
scriptures. The key to the scriptures is
Christ. Whether you read Genesis or Revelation, whether you read
Exodus or Jude, whether you read Leviticus or whether you read
1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, the key is Christ. Somebody wrote these words, O
word of God most holy, O wisdom from on high, O truth unchanged,
unchanging, O light for our dark night. We praise thee for thy
radiance, that from this hallowed page, a lantern for my footsteps,
it shines from age to age. His Word, my chart, my compass,
that over life's raging sea, mid clouds and rocks and tempests,
it points, O Christ, to Thee." The Word of God, from Genesis
to Revelation, every bit of it is about the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is His story. This is His story in prophecy.
This is historian promise. This is historian picture. This
is historian person. The Old Testament says someone's
coming. Someone's coming. All the way
from Genesis to Malachi closes it. It says someone's coming.
And the four Gospels declare, he has come. He has come. And the epistles written by the
apostles say, he's coming again. Now I want to show you four things.
Use your Bible now. Turn to John 1.45. John 1.45. Now here's the first part. Before he came, before the Lord
Jesus Christ came. And I'll tell you this, under
us a child is born, under us a son is given. A child is born
that's never walked this earth before. A body of a child. But a son is given whose goings
forth have been from everlasting. And his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor of the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
and the Prince of Peace." And when his disciples said, show
us the Father, he said, you're looking at him. He that has seen
me has seen the Father. Every appearance of Almighty
God throughout this book is Christ. Now you write that down, is Christ.
No man has seen God at any time, but he to whom the Son will relate
it. And before he came, the Scriptures
identified him who was to come. Here in John 1.45, Philip found
Nathanael and said to him, We found him. We have found him. We have found him. We have found
him of whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets. Jesus of Nazareth. What Moses
write about him? Moses said he'll be the seed
of woman. Not the seed of man, the seed of woman, born of a
virgin. Moses said he'd be the seed of
Abraham through Isaac. In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
You see, our Lord Jesus Christ, this Bible tailors a garment
that won't fit but one man. That's right, one man. This whole
Bible tailors a garment and paints a picture and describes an individual
so that when he comes, you can recognize him. That's right. Most preachers are so dumb that
you know that and I know that. They pay no attention to all
these prophecies and pictures of Christ. I heard about the
seed of woman when I was growing up, but ain't nobody ever told
me it referred to anybody special. I heard about the seed of Abraham
through Isaac. I heard about Melchizedek and
that priest after the order of Melchizedek. But this coming
Redeemer, this Christ, has got to be not a priest like Aaron.
He didn't even come from the tribe of Levi. If Jesus Christ
had lived on this earth back in the days of Moses, he couldn't
have been a priest. He was of the tribe of Judah.
Isn't that right? See, God does what he will. And
he was a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. He
didn't come through the tribe of Levi, he came through Judah.
And this one who comes has got to be the seed of woman, he's
got to be the seed of Abraham, not through Ishmael but Isaac.
He's got to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
He's got to be a prophet like Moses. He's got to be an ark
of safety. He's got to be a lamb that God
provides. Abraham said God himself will
provide a lamb or provide himself a lamb. He's got to be a rock
that God smoked, a lamb God provided, a Passover lamb was slain, and
a brazen serpent lifted up. He's got to be made flesh and
tabernacle among us. He's got to be the light, the
bread, the altar of incense, the veil, the priest, the offering,
The mercy seat and the atonement. It's got to be all Christ. I
cut out an article one time, put it in the back of my Bible.
I think a lot of it says the Bible is Christ. In Genesis,
he's the promised seed. In Exodus, he's the Passover
lamb. In Leviticus, he's the scapegoat. In Numbers, he's the
brazen surfer. In Deuteronomy, he's the great
lawgiver. In Joshua, he's the prophet, priest, and king. In
Judges, he's the judge of all the earth. In Ruth, he's the
kinsman, redeemer. In the Book of Kings, he's the
king of kings and Lord of lords. In Ezra, he's the rebuilder of
the temple. In Esther, He's the Savior of the Jews. In Job, He's
my Redeemer. In Psalms, He's the Song of All
Ages. In Proverbs, He's the Truth. In Ecclesiastes, He's the Great
Preacher. In the Song of Solomon, He's
the Lover. In Isaiah, He's the Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And
it goes on and on. I believe that. I believe that. And so when He came, here's the
second thing. When He came, He was able to
be identified. Turn with me to Luke, chapter
2. Luke, the second chapter. Now watch this. In Luke, chapter
2, but you know John wrote and he said, these things are written.
Well, why'd you write this book, John? These things are written
that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ. He is the promised
Redeemer. He is the fulfillment of all
those pictures and types that God set forth in the Old Testament. And here in Luke chapter 2, that
came to pass, in those days there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be taxed. I wonder why this king
all of a sudden should decide at this particular time, and
Mary was a full nine months bearing, carrying a child, subject to
deliver a child at any moment. And here a heathen king decides
to tax everybody, and everybody has got, look at verse 3, and
all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city. Now the book
of Micah says that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. But
Joseph and Mary didn't live in Bethlehem. They weren't in Bethlehem. The book of Micah says here in
chapter 5, verse 2, Bethel, Bethlehem. Though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto
me that is to be the ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting." Now is God going to get Mary
and Joseph from where they were over here to Bethlehem so Christ
be born in Bethlehem? Some heathen king sent them down
there. He said go down there and be taken. See Mary and Joseph
both were of the house of David. Both of them. Now that's how
low, that's how far down Israel was at that time. That the heir
to the throne of David was nothing but a simple peasant, a carpenter,
and so was his wife. They were both in the house and
lineage of David. If you'll read Matthew's genealogy and Luke's
genealogy, you'll see how it traces both family lines back
to David. And so they went down there to
be taxed. Look here at verse 4. And Joseph also went up from
Galilee out of the city of Nazareth unto Judea to the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage
of David. So Christ has to be born in Bethlehem. Now watch
this, turn to Matthew 1. Listen to the script now the
scriptures must be fulfilled. I I tell you we need to preach
the word teach the word in Matthew 1 verse 21 now listen the angel
said this she shall bring forth a son and I shall call his name
Jesus For he shall save his people from their sins now all this
was done. Why that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah saying
I Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth
a son, and thou shalt call his name Immanuel. Look at chapter
2 of Matthew, verse 3. When Herod the king heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem troubled with him.
And when he had gathered the chief priests and scribes of
the people together, he demanded of them where this Christ should
be born. And they said unto him, even
these religious men knew this, though they didn't believe Christ,
he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written
by the prophet." I look down at you, if you will, at verse
14. So, when he rose, he took the young child and his mother
by night and departed unto Egypt, fearful of Herod, and was there
until the death of Herod. Why? Why did Jesus Christ and
his parents go down to Egypt? That it might be fulfilled which
was spoken of the Lord, but the prophet saying, Out of Egypt
have I called my son. Everything about his life is
written in the Old Testament. Everything. He's the perfect
fulfiller of every prophecy and pattern and picture. Let me show
you another verse. Verse 16, Then Herod, Matthew 2, 16, when
he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth,
and he sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem.
And all the coasts there are from two years old and under.
Gonna get rid of this king of the Jews. According to the time
when he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Why'd he do
that? That full finger of that which was spoken by Jeremy or
Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rhema was there a voice heard
lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for
her children. Down verse 23 of Matthew 2, and
he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth. Why? That it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, he shall be
called a Nazarene. All right, thirdly, his life
and his ministry on this earth was all a fulfillment of the
Scriptures. All a fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Let's go on in Matthew, turn to chapter 4. Matthew chapter
4. Follow the word of God now as
the apostles present his light fulfilling the scripture. Matthew
4 verse 12. Now when Jesus had heard that
John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee and leaving
Nazareth he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the
sea coast in the borders of Zebulun and Nephilim that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet saying the
land of Zebulun and the land of Nephilim by the way of the
sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. That's the reason
he went down there. Look at Matthew 8. Turn over
to Matthew 8. Matthew 8, 16. Matthew 8, 16, When the evening
was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with
devils. And he cast out the spirit with his word, and healed all
that was sick, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken
by Isaiah the prophet, saying, He himself took our infirmities,
and bare our sicknesses. Turn to Matthew 12. Now this
may be a bit tedious as you go through the Scriptures, but my
friends, the Word of God is the foundation of faith. And if you
want assurance and confidence Get in the Word. Somebody says,
well, I just don't have enough faith. Faith comes by hearing,
hearing by the Word of God. These things are written. There's
too much entertainment going on and not enough teaching. In Matthew 12, verse 14, listen,
Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, that
they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew
himself from this, and great multitudes followed him, and
he healed them all. And he charged them they should
not make him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have
chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will
put my spirit upon him, and he will show judgment to the Gentiles.
He shall not strive, he shall not cry, neither shall any man
hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break,
and smoking flack shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment
unto victory, and in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Matthew
13, would you turn over there a moment? Matthew 13, this is
thrilling to me. Matthew 13, 34, listen. All these
things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables, and without a parable
spake he not unto them, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet, saying, I'll open my mouth in parables.
I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation
of the world." That's in Psalm 78 too. All right, look at Matthew
21, Matthew chapter 21 with me, verses 1 through 5. Now listen
to this. Remember when he rode into the
city on the donkey? Matthew 21, verse 1, listen.
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphagia,
unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying
unto them, Go to the village over against you, and straightway
you'll find an ass tied, and a coat with her. Loose them,
and bring them to me. If any man say aught unto you,
you shall say, The Lord hath needed them, and straightway
he'll send them. And this was done, that it might
be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell
ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, our king cometh unto thee, meet,
sitting upon an ass, and a coat, the fold of an axe. About John
12, let's look over there just a moment, in the 12th chapter
of John. What I'm saying is that the Word of God witnesses the
deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God tells us who
He is. He is our Redeemer. He is the
Christ of God. In John 12, verse 37, now listen
to this. But though he had done so many
miracles before them, yet they believed not on him, that the
saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he
spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath
the arm of the Lord been revealed? Another in John, John 15. John
15, verse 23 through 25. Now listen to this. He that hateth me, hateth my
father also. John 15, 23. If I had not done
among them the works which none of the men did, they had not
had sin. But now have they both seen and
hated both me and my father. But this cometh to pass, that
the word might be fulfilled, that written in their law, in
their scriptures, they hated me without a cause." All right,
Lashley. Of course, we're familiar with
Isaiah 53 when it talked about he'd grow up as a tender plant,
as a root out of a dry ground, he's despised and rejected of
men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. But his death, in
his death for our sins, in his death, everything that was done
and said was a fulfillment of Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 15,
Paul said this. Now listen to this, and many
people practice this, but they miss this one phrase that's repeated
over and over again. Verse 3 of 1 Corinthians 15.
I deliver it unto you, first of all, that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins. What's the phrase? According to the Scriptures.
Now let me tell you something. Why the cross? The Lord Jesus
Christ had to die as the Lamb, the Lamb of God, spotless, without
blemish, having been tried. And He had to die under judgment
and wrath, and He had to die on an altar. He had to shed His
blood, not a bone could be broken. His body had to be roasted, which
it was, in the fire of agony and judgment. It had to be done
like the Old Testament, decreed it, and prophesied it. Now I'll
show you that if you, let me read on a minute though, in verse
4. And he was buried, and he rose again the third day according
to the Scriptures. Now when you read the word Scriptures
in the New Testament, it's talking about the Old Testament. almost
invariably. Now look at Psalm 22. I want
you to look at Psalm 22 with me for a moment. In Psalm 22, he died for our sins according
to the scripture. Now you think how many years
that this was written before Calvary. How many years? David
is writing it here. Now listen to Psalm 22. I'm just
going to read a few verses. One of Psalm 22, my God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me? Verse two, oh my God, I cry in
the daytime and thou hearst not in the night season. Remember
what happened at the cross when the sun didn't shine? Light and
darkness. Verse seven, all that see me
laugh me to scorn, they shoot out the lip and they shake their
heads and they say, he trusted on the Lord that he would deliver
him. Let him deliver him, see if he delight in him. When did
that take place? At the cross. Verse 14, I'm poured
out like water. This is a crucifixion scene.
All my bones are out of joint, stretched on that cross. My heart
is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Verse
16, dogs have compassed me about, the assembly of the wicked have
enclosed me, they've pierced my hands and my feet. Verse 17, I may tell all my bones
stretched there you could count his ribs. They look and stare
at me naked on the cross. They part my garments among them
and cast lots for my vesture. That's the cross. That's the
cross. And I can show you some more
things here. If you turn to John 13, 18. John 13, 18. The Old Testament said that one
of his disciples would betray him. I'm wounded in the house
of a friend. And one would betray him. In John 13, 18, listen to
this. Our Lord Jesus said, you're all
clean, but not all of you. He said in verse 18, I speak
not of you all. I know whom I've chosen. But
that the scripture might be fulfilled, he that eateth bread with me
hath lifted up his heel against me. They came to arrest him. If you don't care to turn, I'll
just read it to you in Mark 14. They came to arrest him there
in the garden, and Mark 14 verse 46 says this. Now watch it. They
came to arrest him in the garden, and to take him down for trial,
and they laid hands on him and took him. And one of them that
stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest
and cut off his ear. And Jesus answered and said unto
them, Have you come out as against the thief? with swords and with
staves to take me. I was daily with you in the temple
teaching and you took me not. But the scriptures must be fulfilled."
The scriptures. Turn to Mark 15. They nailed
him between two thieves. Why? Verse 25 of Mark 15 says,
and it was the third hour when they crucified him, And the superscription
of his accusation was written over him, the king of the Jews,
and with him they crucified two thieves, one on the right and
one on the left, and the scripture was fulfilled, which said he
was numbered with the transgressors. Well, they cast lots for his
garment. I just read that to you a moment ago. Then they gave
him vinegar to drink. John 19, listen to this. John
19, 28. I weary you, but listen to me. So important. John 19,
28. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,
that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, said, I thirst. And there was said a vessel full
of vinegar, and they filled a sponge and put it to his mouth. They
didn't break his legs either, like they ordinarily did, because
the scriptures wouldn't let them. In John 19, verse 32, listen,
Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first one, and
of the other one crucified with him. And when they came to Jesus
and saw he was dead, they broke not his legs. You say, that's
an insignificant thing, is it? But one of the soldiers pierced
his side, forthwith came out blood and water, and he that
saw it bare record, and his record is true, And he knoweth that
he saith true, that ye might believe, and these things were
done, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. A bone of him shall
not be broken." What am I getting to? My text, turn to Acts 13. And this is what I read, and
this is what prompted this message. And I went back and picked this
up because I read here, verse 29 of Acts 13. with all of Herod's doings, with
the man at the end who said, I don't have room for you, go
down to the stable. And Herod's doings, and all of
the Pharisees' counsels, and all of the things that they brought
to bear against him, and the false witnesses, and Judas deceiving
him, selling out, Peter denying him, These fellas nail him to
a cross and lifting him up between heaven and earth, dancing around
his cross, making fun of him and mocking him, casting lots
for his garment, putting that vinegar on a sponge and poking
it in his mouth. Verse 29 says, and when they
had fulfilled, darn, they did what they wanted
to do. It wasn't anybody standing around with a Bible saying, now
you're supposed to do this and that. They didn't never had seen a
Bible. It's a bunch of heathens. But they did what they wanted
to do, and when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him,
took Him down from that cross. And I'll tell you something else
that was fulfilled, all that was written against me, and written
against you, in the book of God's law, in the book of God's justice,
all that was written against us was fulfilled in Him. Now,
what think ye of Christ? That's the test. to try both
your state and your scheme. You can't be right in the rest
unless you think rightly of Him. As Jesus Christ appears in your
view, as He is beloved or not, so God is disposed unto you,
and mercy or wrath is your lot. Some take Him a creature to be,
a man or a prophet at Surely these have not feelings like
me, nor know themselves to be wretched and lost. So guilty,
so helpless am I, I cannot trust in his blood, nor on his protection
rely, unless I'm sure that he's God. If asked what of Jesus, I think,
though still my best thoughts are but poor, but I say, he is
my meat and my drink. my life, my strength, and my
story. He's my shepherd, my lover, my friend. He's my Savior from
sin and its sting. He's my hope from beginning to
end. He's my portion. He's my Lord. He's my King. I
believe that Jesus is the Christ. Do you? Well, I'll tell you,
that's the way to be saved. That's right. That's what the
Philippians That's what the Ethiopian eunuch said in response to Philip's
question, do you believe? He said, I believe that Jesus
of Nazareth is the Christ. And Philip said, that's enough
for me, let's go to pool. Let's go to pool. Our Father, we praise and thank
Thee for Your Word. These expressions of ours, these
words of ours seem so limp and powerless and empty. But Lord, you look not on the
outward countenance. We're not heard by our much speaking
or our words. You look on the heart. And we
do thank thee and praise thee for the Word, that we've been
given the Word, and not only the Word in our hands, but some
understanding of the Word in our hearts, and delight in the
Word. I delight in thy law, O God.
Teach us thy Word. Give us some preachers to preach
the Word. in our day. Raise them up and let them preach
it with power. In the name of our master we
pray and for his sake. Amen.