THE BEDROCK ON WHICH WE STAND

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=527374" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#330066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="048005f0dkblkv.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Preach The Word</b></FONT><B>     </b><B>|    </b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preach The Word"><U><B>home</b></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2 Timothy"><U><B>2 Timothy</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DANIEL"><U><B>Daniel</b></U></A><B>   l  </b><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ZECHARIAH: "><U><B> Zechariah</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARK"><U><B>Mark</b></U></A><B>    I   </b><A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOPICAL STUDIES"><U><B>Topical Studies</b></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>THE BEDROCK ON WHICH WE STAND</b></div> <div> 2 Timothy 3:16</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> In the first nine verses of this chapter Paul describes to us the spiritual chaos of the last days we're living in.  In essence he's telling Timothy, "If you think things are difficult now, just wait to see what the future holds. People are not going to get spiritually better but worse. They will search for God in all the wrong places.  And the result is going to be a very greedy, self-centered and violent world."</div> <bR> <div> And you have to be blind to not see it all around us today.  Even Christians are more pre-occupied with their own comfort, plans and jobs than with God and His calling for His church.  And those Christians who are spiritual and do obey God's call, the unbelieving community brands as "out-of-touch", "old-fashioned", "crazy" or some four letter words I won't take time to mention here today.</div> <bR> <div> So, God is warning us here that we are not to be surprised if we are persecuted for the message we preach and convictions we hold.  More and more laws are being forged in our Supreme Courts that classify Bible-believing Christians as "politically incorrect," "discriminatory" and borderline criminal.</div> <bR> <div> The results are that more and more Pastors, Christian leaders and common Christians are questioning <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"what exactly does the Bible teach?" "Maybe the Bible shouldn't be taken literally, or too seriously?" "After all, how are we going to convert the people if we offend them?" </FONT>So more and more churches and Christian organizations are attempting to  "water it down".  They see the Bible as something too strong that needs to be diluted with the worlds teaching, philosophy and psychology.  So, then, the Bible is no longer what it's supposed to be. It's seen and taught as a "good devotional book", a book with "some nice thoughts", or "good ideas." But not a book with commands to be obeyed.</div> <bR> <div> This is the storm that's been blowing across the world now for almost 2000 years. And believers are shaken.  So here in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >2 Timothy 3:16</FONT> God is reminding us where our faith stands.  And, believe me, the Christian faith does not rest on shaky ground. It stands on the Bedrock of the very breath of God.</div> <bR> <div> So, this morning we're going to answer the all-important question:  As a Christian, where does my faith spring from?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1. OUR FAITH STANDS ON THE SCRIPTURES</b></div> <bR> <div> "All Scriptures…"</div> <bR> <div> What is he talking about here when he speaks of "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >All Scriptures</FONT>"?  What is "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Scripture</FONT>"?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800008000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Writings of the Old-Testament</b></div> <bR> <div> Turn to: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Luke 24:25-27</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800008000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Writings of Both Old and New Testament</b></div> <bR> <div> Turn to: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >1 Timothy 5:18</FONT>   (Quotes from <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Deut.25:4 </FONT>and<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" > Luke 10:7</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> And listen to Peter refer to Paul's writing as "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Scriptures</FONT>."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "(Paul) writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.  His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do with other Scriptures, to their own destruction." 2 Peter 3:16</div> <bR> <div> So, what is Paul referring to in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >2 Timothy 3:16</FONT> when he talks about "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >All Scriptures</FONT>"?  He's referring to the writings of the Old Testament and New Testament. The writings that the living God has transmitted to us through the human authors that He chose.</div> <bR> <div> This is where the Christian Faith springs from.  This is the Bedrock of what Christians have stood upon for almost 2000 years now.  It's what we recognize, accept and preach as "The Word of God."</div> <bR> <div> This is the body of truth that Jude talks about when he writes: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"I… urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." v.3</FONT></div> <bR> <div> "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17</div> <bR> <div> Turn to: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Titus 1:1-3</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So this is the Bedrock on which the Believer stands and grows in Christ.  </div> <bR> <div> Now we can identify where our Faith does "not" stand, right?</div> <bR> <div> If you're a Christian, your faith does not stand or come from </div> <div> a) Your spouse, b) Your parents, c) Your church,  d) Christian Books, </div> <div> e) Christian Music, f) visions and dreams, g) miracles.</div> <bR> <div> No, if you're a Christian, the only place where you can feed, grow, encourage, instruct, strengthen and keep your faith is the Word of God.  That's where it began, grows and ends.</div> <bR> <div> Maybe you're asking, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"Why is that so important, Pastor?" </FONT>And my answer is that this is more than important, it's crucial for this very reason:</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2. THE SCRIPTURES ARE TIMELESS (from God)</b></div> <bR> <div> "All Scripture is God-breathed" 2 Tim. 3:16</div> <bR> <div> What we mean by "Timeless" is that the Scriptures have always been and will always be over and above fashion.  People are only making a display of their ignorance when they say, "the Bible is out of date", or "old-fashioned" or "out of touch" with our times.</div> <bR> <div> The truth of the matter is that there's only one thing that's "in" or "cool" one day and "out" or "uncool" the next.  And that's what mortal humans make, right?  Why do clothing, cars, appliances, hairstyles and computers go out of date? Because they are made and fashioned by mortal men and women.  And that's where the Bible stands apart on it's own.  Anything made by sinful man or cursed with sin is bound to go out of style and become out-dated or old-fashioned.</div> <bR> <div> But as far as the Word of God goes, it doesn't have its source in man but in God. Man is afflicted with sin and mortality but God is Holy and immortal.  </div> <bR> <div> So what does Paul say about Scripture in this verses? He says it is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"God-breathed"</FONT>.  Excellent translation.  Your Bible might say, "inspired", but <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"God-breathed"</FONT> is more accurate.</div> <bR> <div> The Greek word is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"theopneustos"</FONT> and literally means "breathed out by God", or "God-breathed".  Here Paul is merely stating the fact of Scripture being God-breathed but for a bit of the way this was done, turn to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >2 Peter 1:21.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Notice carefully.  Peter clearly says that Scripture<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" > "never had its origin in the will of man."</FONT>  In other words, the Bible didn't come about by someone like Moses, Isaiah, David or Paul who had nothing to do one day and said, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"Oh, I think I'll sit down and write a letter or book about what great lessons or philosophies I've learned in my lifetime and maybe I'll be able to help some people along the way." </FONT>No, Peter says, that's not the way the Bible was written. Okay.  So how was it written then, Peter?</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."</FONT>  Oh!  Now that's quite a different picture, now isn't it?  This is quite a graphic picture in the Greek structure here.  </div> <div> It's the picture of a sailboat being <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"carried along"</FONT> as the invisible wind blows directly and strongly into its open sails.</div> <bR> <div> So, no the Scriptures are not, like the unbelieving world says:  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"A collection of out-dated books written by men-alone." </FONT>Yes, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"men"</FONT> but <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"men"</FONT> specifically chosen by God and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"carried along by the Holy Spirit"</FONT> wrote it.</div> <bR> <div> These men didn't write what they decided to write. They wrote what the Holy Spirit told them to write.  So the source of the Scriptures is not a fallible one but an infallible one.  And that's why these writings are timeless.  They are eternal.  They are perfect.  They are unchanging and immovable.  And that's why multiplied thousands of believers have preferred to lay down their lives rather than to deny this book.</div> <bR> <div> Bring me another book that can make claims such as these and stand-up to them;</div> <bR> <div> "Every word of God is flawless… Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."  Proverbs 30:5-6</div> <bR> <div> "The law of the Lord is perfect…the ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous."  Psalm 19:7,9</div> <bR> <div> "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished."  Matthew 5:18</div> <bR> <div> " The scripture cannot be broken" John 10:35</div> <bR> <div> Turn to: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Revelation 22:18-19</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So you tell me: Should we take the Scriptures seriously?  If so, how much of it should we take seriously?</div> <bR> <div> So if the Scriptures are where the Christian's faith comes from and stands on are we standing on solid ground? Yes, we are.  And how solid is this ground of Scripture?  As solid as the one who breathed it, right?</div> <bR> <div> So, our faith stands on the Scriptures and therefore our faith is timeless because the Scriptures are timeless.  This speaks of the divine side of the Word of God. But the Bible was meant to be communicated and obeyed by people living on earth so it has to be practical, right?  I mean, the Christian faith is not given so we can be "so heavenly-minded that we are not earthly good", is it?  No.  God's word is for men and women who live in the real world.  This is the human side of Scripture.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3. THE SCRIPTURES ARE SUFFICIENT.  (for man)</b></div> <bR> <div> "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful."</div> <bR> <div> Some translations say <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"profitable".</FONT>  The Greek word is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"ophelimos"</FONT> and means that the Scriptures are beneficial, productive, and sufficient for every day living.  God's word meets you where you live. It's not some "pie in the sky" theory that sounds good but is totaly  disconnected with reality down here.  God created man and he knows what man is like, what he needs and what kind of a world we live in.  So he's given us a manual (if you will) that is geared for real people living in the real world.</div> <bR> <div> The Bible is a very practical book, people.</div> <bR> <div> Turn to<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >: Psalm 119:97-105</FONT></div> <bR> <div> The Bible has the answer to every basic, fundamental question that pertains to living your life on this planet. The Bible tells us</div> <bR> <div> -What's the major cause for all problems and suffering man will run into.</div> <div> -How we can learn from the past, live in the present and hope for the future. </div> <div> -What true joy is and how to get it and keep it. </div> <div> -Why people suffer and eventually die.</div> <div> -Where we come from and where we're going.</div> <div> -What a man is and what a woman is, how they are different, equal and indescribably gifted.</div> <div> -What marriage is and how it works.</div> <div> -What is true and what is false.</div> <div> -What true love is and how to demonstrate it.</div> <div> -What priorities we should have if we want to live a fulfilling and worthy life.</div> <div> -How to manage conflict and how to avoid it.</div> <div> -How parents should raise children so that they can grow up into civilized, decent and productive adults.</div> <div> -That there is a Creator who loves you and wants to bless you more than you can ever humanly comprehend.</div> <bR> <div> So, you tell me, "What else could a human being ever need?" Nothing. God has given us the Scriptures so we can live as real people in the real world and be happy, fulfilled and blessed doing it.  In this Book He addresses every needful and most important question man has ever or will ever ask.</div> <bR> <div> But that's where the problem lies, doesn't it? At the very base of his nature man is a prideful, rebellious and stubborn individual who either doesn't ask the right questions or asks the right questions to the wrong persons.</div> <bR> <div> So, as Christians living in the Last Days God is speaking to us through the Apostle Paul here and He's telling us in no uncertain terms, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"Listen, people! All Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, is God-breathed, and therefore timeless and always relevant to any age, culture or circumstance, and is useful for any man who wants to take it in, believe it and do what it says.  And if you do that, nothing in this world or the next will succeed in making you fall, give-up or fail in the eyes of God."</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>SOME PRACTICAL RAMIFICATIONS</b></div> <bR> <div> -Coming from a good Christian Home isn't enough.</div> <bR> <div> -Men: You're God's appointed leader of the home</div> <div>      -How is your wife's spiritual life?</div> <div>      -How is your children's spiritual life?</div> <div>      -Is your home preaching the Gospel?</div> <bR> <div> -How about your church?</div> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > -Tradition of Scripture?</FONT></div> <bR> <div> -Sunday Sermon isn't enough?</div> <bR> <div> -Are you hungry for "ALL" Scripture or only "parts" of it?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14</div> <bR> <div> Amen and God Bless You All.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>