Lets Get Real / The Holy Bible / Week 5

The Bible

Various Passages October 17, 2021

I. Introduction:

A. We are hitting a major turning point in our series about truth, which we are calling

‘Let’s Get Real’ because we learned that truth means reality; a reality you can rely

upon and build your life upon.

1. We also have been looking at how people look at truth in this post-modern

world we live in today because Proverbs 14 teaches us that the better we

understand our culture the easier it will be for us to know what to do and the

wiser we will be on how to live and impact others

2. Our whole series began through a verse that was part of our agenda at a board

meeting 1 Chronicles 12:32

a) This is a section of Scripture where God was telling us who the different

groups of people where who supported King David and what they did for

him.

b) The men of Issachar understood their times and they knew what Israel

should do.

c) Sounds like these men were special consultants for David as they had the

special ability to take their times and God’s Word and know exactly

what they needed to do!

B. Well so far in this series we have gained some understanding about our times, so

today we are going to transition in this series to the second half of that verse and

better understand God’s Word, the other thing that the men of Issachar evidently

knew so we can know what we need to do in these days.

1. My goal is not to pull out specific instructions that we need to apply today

but to better understand the source of truth– the Word of God, the Bible, the

word of truth!

2. A reality we can rely upon and build our lives upon, a reality that can stand

through the storms of life

• We will start with what the Bible says about itself. Then we will build upon that each

week. Let’s start with the

II. Claims of the Bible

A. Just to let you know up front, today there will be many power points because we

are going to be looking at many different passages and we will be moving quickly

through them. Again, you may want to download the notes off the web page midweek

and look at these passages again for yourself.

B. The writers of the Bible claim it is God’s very words

1. It is called the Word of God

a) Ephesians 6:17 – the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God – and we

saw Jesus use that when he was tempted by the devil as every time Satan

came at him Jesus backed him off by saying - “it is written”

b) 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – clearly states that the word was both accepted by

these people and affirmed by Paul to really be the Word of God and not

the word of men!

c) 1 Peter 1:23,25 – first called the Word of God then it is called the Word

of the Lord

2. When prophets spoke and their words, which have been recorded in the

Bible, they repeatedly said, “thus says the Lord.” So the words recorded are

the very words that the Lord had them say.

3. 2 Timothy 3:16 is probably the strongest verse supporting that these words

come directly from God. Turn and stay there!

a) Read first 6 words

b) Actually, the Greek word for scripture means writing, and it is used to

refer to the written word of God, the Bible.

c) The Greek word for inspired literally means God -breathed. These

words written in Scripture have come from the very depths of God

(1) (breath to illustrate)

(2) God divinely influenced the human authors of the Scriptures in

such a way that what they wrote was the very word of God.

(3) We will come back to inspiration in another message.

4. This all means the Bible truly is the Word of God and makes the Bible unique

among all other books.

C. The Bible also claims that its words are truth, reality you can rely upon, that you

can build your life upon, which is the point of this series.

1. It is called the word of truth - 2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:18

2. It also claims what it says is truth -John 17:17; 2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 119:160

- God’s words all add up to truth, the sum total of truth, the full meaning all

of His Word is truth!

3. Bottom line, if God is truth and these words are His words then they need to

be words of truth

D. The Bible makes claims about the creation of the universe, the nature of the God

and man and where this world is going.

1. Since the Bible is truth, that means the Bible is the most important book in

the history of mankind and holds the answers to the most important questions

in life:

a) Where did I come from?

b) Why am I here?

c) What happens to me after I die?

d) What is going on in this world?

• So now that we know that the Bible claims to be the Word of God and the truth!

Let’s look at some of the

III. The benefits and power of the Bible

A. When I think of the benefits of the Bible

1. I cannot help but go to 2 Timothy 3:16 –17. Still there? Read

a) V16 - profitable for teaching (the way we should go) reproof (tells us

when we are off the way) correction (tells us how to get back on the

way) training in righteousness (trains us so we can stay on the way

without falling!)

b) V17 - all this so that we would be adequate and equipped for every good

work.

(1) adequate means we have all we need to do what God wants us to

do

(2) equipped – completely furnished with the tools we need

2. Turn to 1 Peter 2:1-2

a) After telling us at the end of chapter 1 that we are born again by the

Word of God, now here he tells us that we grow spiritually by the Word

of God just as a baby grows from the milk they receive from their

mother!

3. We know from Ephesians 6 and the example of Jesus in Matthew 4 it is the

sword we need to defeat the work of the devil in our life.

4. Also in this book, we find all of God’s promises – the commitments that God

has made to us to help us through various difficult situations and personal

needs we have.

5. Freedom for your soul and life is found by staying in this book, especially

freedom from the bondage of sin - which entangles us and steals life from us

–John 8:31-32

6. In this book we learn of Jesus – our savior and lord, our guardian and

shepherd, our life who actually is everything we need in every situation in

which we find ourselves – He is our all in all. John 5:39

B. I could go on and on about the benefits of the Bible but let me share a bit of its

power.

1. Hebrews 4:12– alive, active, sharp, piercing, judging

2. Jeremiah 23:28-29 says it’s like grain, like fire, like a hammer

3. Ephesians 5:26 tells us it has the power to cleanse

4. Romans 12:2 – has the power to transform

5. Romans 10:17 – faith comes by hearing the Word of God

6. John 17:17 – it sanctifies us – bottom line that means it breaks the power of

sin and Satan in my life and builds more of the life of Jesus in me

7. Bottom line, we should not be surprised by the power of God’s Word. If God

is omnipotent – a big theological term that simply means that God has

unlimited power and authority, then His words would be powerful as well.

• So today, we are just introducing the Bible to ourselves, as there is so much more we

need to address on this topic in weeks to come.

IV. Conclusion

A. We have learned that

1. These words are the very words of God Himself

2. These words are truth – no surprise there if the God of truth was to speak

words would you not expect them to be words of truth – reality upon which

that you can rely and build your life!

3. We learned these words are beneficial to us both in our relationship with God

and in our personal lives

4. Finally, that these words are powerful – powerful life changing words from a

powerful life changing God!

B. So my final exhortation to you today is from 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – performs its

work within us. Turn to it read it

1. When you hear this book proclaimed or when you read it or listen to it for

yourself; recognize, receive and respect it for what it is – not the word of

men, but for what it really is, the Word of God

2. Secondly, do not try to squeeze God’s Word into your schedule but build

your schedule around God’s Word first then plan everything else. Read it,

listen to it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it (simply means to think deeply

and repeatedly about it) because it performs numerous powerful life changing

works at the core of our being for those who believe it!

a) I recognize for some of you young moms or home schooling moms who

think I am out of touch with the real world – I would encourage you to

take a verse or two a day and write it on a 3x5 card and carry it around

with you. Glance at it repeatedly during the day when you get just a

moment. Thirty 30 second glances and reflections are like 15 minutes in

God’s Word!