SBS Sermon Notes

SBS     Sermon Notes     Note 07/01

Jehovah's Word

Reading: John 1:1-34

1. The Bible ... Why It Was Given

The sacred writings of the Bible (66 books in all) are known collectively as The Scriptures or the Word of God. The Bible was composed under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit: Bible writers simply acting as inspired secretaries taking dictation from their divine Master, the Almighty God of Israel.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Notice that it says "All scripture," not just a selected part, but "All scripture" was given for a four-dimensional purpose, for: These are the 4 scriptural objectives for which the Holy Bible was given. Ignore even one of them and you will unbalance yourself like a chair with a missing leg. You cannot afford to ignore any portion of Scripture; let alone the entire Old Testament - as do so many churches. All Scripture includes the whole of the Old Testament. Indeed we may add, that when Jesus and his apostles referred to the Scriptures, they actually meant the Old Testament: because the New Testament hadn't been written.

The Law of God

Broadly speaking the Bible books fall into several categories. The first, the Torah, is the Law of God. Yahweh's law is found in the first five books of the Bible. Divine law was composed by the Father, delivered by the Son and written by the prophet Moses. (Howbeit the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of Almighty God.)
Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Deuteronomy 9:10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

The laws in the Bible, in other words, are all Yahweh's (Jehovah's) laws - not the laws of Moses. Notice how Moses often refers to the Almighty's laws as the 'words of the Lord'.
Exodus 24:3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
4: And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD...

Exodus 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
Exodus 35:1 "And Moses gathered all the children of Israel and said ... These are the words that the Lord hath commanded that ye should do them."

True Life Examples

How the people of Israel reacted to the Most High's laws, and how the Almighty subsequently dealt with them is our second category. Books such as Joshua, Judges, 1st and 2nd Kings and Chronicles etc. record the history of Israel. Bear in mind that these examples, and there are scores of them, are not included in Scripture merely as historical records. They are included in Scripture to teach all mankind how the Almighty GOD of Israel reacts to individual and national behaviour. God doesn't change. He responds to human behaviour as He has always done. Read those examples as to how He responds.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not...

The Plans of God

God's plans are revealed in Bible Prophecy. He has given us advanced notice of everything - which concerns us - that He intends doing.
Amos:3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Bible prophecy is simply a record of Yahweh's plans. Sooner or later every prophecy in the Bible will come to pass. Bible texts concerning the fulfilment of prophecy are too numerous to list. But here are a few for your consideration: John 19:28; Revelation 17:17; Matthew 1:22, 21:4, 26:54-56; Luke 24:44; John 17:12, 18:9, 18:32, 19:24; Acts 1:16.

When we consider the world scene we can plainly see that Bible prophecy is coming to pass. Every news broadcast confirms Bible prophecy. We may, therefore, confidently agree with the Saviour's statement in Mark 14:49 when he says: "the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

No matter what people may think, say or do, events on the world stage will turn out exactly as the Bible predicts. The Apostle Peter says Bible prophecy is a light shining in a dark place and is far more reliable than eyesight.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.

The Gospel of Salvation

Mankind has miserably failed to keep to the path the Almighty has marked out. We have all sinned. All of us have come short of the glory of GOD. But there is hope! The Gospel of Salvation is detailed in the Bible for all the world to read and believe. If you want to live for all time, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are there to read - and believe! For more information see The Everlasting Gospel.

2. The Bible ... Its Qualities

Besides being the most popular and finely printed book ever published, the Holy Bible has many other wonderful qualities. Here are a few:

Tried and Tested Words

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Deuteronomy 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22: When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Pure Words

Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Comforting Words

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50: This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Unchanging Words

Isaiah 31:2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

Effective Words

Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Everlasting Words

Isaiah 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

3. Yeshua ... The Living Word of God

The Bible is the written Word of God, the manuscript record of Yahweh's commandments, the history of His people and of His future plans (prophecies). Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is the living Word of God, the visible embodiment of obedience, holiness and truth. He is the perfect expression of the Father's will, the perfect example of obedience to his Father's law.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

2: The same was in the beginning with God.
3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4: In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

4. One's Reaction to the Word of God

Everyone reacts in one way or another to Yahweh's Word. Reactions vary; and, broadly speaking, we all fall into one of two categories. We either accept and act upon the Word of the Lord or we reject it. Let us consider these two reactions and see how the Most High rewards them. I take as examples two men, one who accepted and acted upon the Word of God and the other who rejected it.

Job / Acceptance

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;
I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Job 42:12-17 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning...

Saul / Rejection

1 Samuel 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee:
for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,
and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

One has only to read the life stories of these two men to see the results of the acceptance or rejection of God's Word. In spite of great loss, ill-health and slander, Job ended his days in blessing. Whereas Saul, the disobedient one, committed suicide and also brought about the death of his son Jonathan. Is there not an eternal lesson here? There is and it is this:
Accept Yahweh's Word, not just His written word - the Bible, but accept His Son - the Living Word of God. Your eternal welfare depends on how you react to the Word of God. You may be sure that the Most High will reward you accordingly.

5. The Bible ... Its Value

At the coronation ceremony of Britain's monarchs, these telling words, on behalf of the church and country, are spoken by the presiding arch-bishop, as he presents the new king or queen with the King James Version of the Bible.

"We present you with this book, the most valuable thing that this world affords.
Here is wisdom. This is the royal law. These are the lively oracles of God.
Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Book, that keep and do the things contained in it. For these are the words of eternal life, able to make you wise and happy in this world: nay wise unto salvation, and so, happy for evermore, through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Writes another:

"This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christians charter. Here too, Heaven is opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgement, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. It is the Word of God which shall stand for ever."

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Elder: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
August 1997 ... Updated September 1999