Participants: Scott Moore
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000768
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01:00 The title of our sermon is "What Does Truth Do?"
01:05 What does truth do? 01:08 There was a particular Hebrew scholar that went over to, 01:11 to the land where that that language originated, 01:14 and he went into a class and in this class, 01:18 he was told that there was a young man 01:20 that had memorized the entire Old Testament. 01:24 So he decided he was going to interview this young student. 01:28 And he went to this young student and he asked him, 01:30 if he can make an appointment. 01:32 And they did just that. 01:33 And when they sat down to meet, 01:36 this, this visitor to the, 01:39 to the Palestine asked this young student 01:43 if he would begin to quote scripture for him 01:45 from the Old Testament. 01:47 And so he began to quote scripture. 01:49 And then the visitor to Palestine asked this young man 01:52 if he would quote specific scripture, 01:55 could he please begin at the beginning 01:56 of the Book of Psalms and just continue 01:59 until he asked him to go to another Psalm. 02:03 And this young student recited 02:05 Psalm 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 02:13 all through the Book of Psalms. 02:16 The amazed visitor couldn't even comprehend 02:19 that this young man had all of that scripture memorized. 02:26 And at the end of the Book of Psalms, 02:29 the visitor asked this young man, he said, 02:32 "Tell me, what has this done for your life?" 02:37 The young man says, "I don't understand the question." 02:40 How do you mean, what has it done for my life? 02:44 He said, "How, how has this deepened your relationship 02:47 with God and with Jesus?" 02:50 And the young man said, 02:52 "I have no relationship with them, I'm an Atheist." 02:59 He was an Atheist. 03:02 Friends, because the Bible was approached 03:04 as just another book rather than the word of life, 03:11 it was never allowed to make a difference 03:14 in this young student's mind. 03:18 How is it with you? 03:21 Is the word of God, 03:22 is the Bible just another book to you? 03:26 Or is it the word of your life? 03:32 Today, we're going to talk about what does truth, 03:35 what does the Bible do? 03:38 Well, before we study our Bibles, we will pray. 03:41 So, if you bow your heads with me. 03:46 Father in Heaven, we're so grateful that 03:48 we can come before You just now. 03:52 Asking You to help us understand Your word today. 03:57 Lord, we have a mind that can't comprehend 03:59 everything Your word says, 04:01 so we need You to give us Your Spirit, 04:03 so that we can understand it. 04:07 You have promised Your Spirit, so we claim that promise. 04:11 And we pray this in Jesus name, amen. 04:16 Friends, I'd like you to open your Bibles 04:17 to the New Testament Book of John. 04:20 John Chapter 1, John is the fourth of the gospels, 04:24 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and we are going to be, 04:27 begin reading in John Chapter 1. 04:31 The Bible says here, John Chapter 1 Verse 1, 04:35 "In the beginning was the Word, 04:38 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 04:44 Verse 2, "The same was in the beginning with God, 04:48 all things are made by Him and without Him 04:50 was not anything made that was made." 04:54 So the Bible has just said here to us that 04:57 in the beginning was something called the word. 05:02 Then it says, "That this word was with God," 05:07 then it says that, "This word was God." 05:11 The Bible says in verse 2 that, 05:13 "This same word was with God in the beginning, 05:17 all things were made by this word, 05:21 without this word nothing was made." 05:26 Do you believe, my friends, 05:27 that this word is very important? 05:30 Absolutely, let's look down in verse 14 05:34 and find out who is this word? 05:38 The Bible says here in John Chapter 1, 05:41 down to verse 14. 05:43 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." 05:49 The word, the word that was with God, 05:51 the word that was in the beginning, 05:53 the word that was God, the one who is with God 05:56 in the beginning, the one whom, 05:58 by whom all things were made 06:00 became flesh and dwelt among us. 06:04 Who is the one that became flesh and dwelt among us? 06:07 Continuing on in verse 14, the Bible says, 06:11 "And we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten 06:17 of the Father, full of grace and truth." 06:21 Friends, who is the only begotten of the Father? 06:26 It's Christ Jesus. 06:28 You and I, if we were to turn to 06:29 John Chapter 3 in Verse 16, 06:32 "Jesus is described as the only-begotten of the Father, 06:35 the one that was given so that you can have eternal life." 06:40 This word that was made flesh, 06:43 this Jesus was in the beginning. 06:47 This Jesus was with God, and this Jesus is God. 06:56 This Jesus was in the beginning with God, 06:58 this Jesus made all things, 07:01 and without Jesus was not anything made that was made. 07:07 When we read the word of God that was made flesh, 07:12 we meet Jesus. 07:19 The word of the living God 07:22 is not merely written, but spoken. 07:27 The Bible is God's voice speaking to us just 07:31 as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. 07:37 Many people asked me, 07:38 "Well, how do you know that God is speaking to you? 07:40 How do you know? 07:41 How do you know what God wants you to do?" 07:44 My friends, every time we open up this Bible, 07:47 we sit down to listen to the voice of God. 07:56 If we realize that this is the voice of God speaking 08:00 to us with what all would we open God's word? 08:04 And with what earnestness would we search its precepts? 08:12 The reading and contemplation of the scriptures 08:15 would be regarded as an audience with the infinite one. 08:23 I can't see Jesus, you know, I've never seen God. 08:26 How do I know that they're real? 08:28 My friends, if you and I will take time to spend 08:31 in the word of God, the word that was made flesh. 08:36 We will know that He is real. 08:39 We will know that He is real. 08:46 The word of God that was made flesh stood 08:49 in the presence of Pilate. 08:52 The one whose words would 08:55 hand down the words, sentence. 09:01 Turn with me to John Chapter 18, 09:05 John Chapter 18, you're already in John, 09:08 just turn to the right, to the 18th Chapter. 09:15 John Chapter 18 verse 33. John Chapter 18 verse 33. 09:24 The Bible says here in John the 18th Chapter in verse 33, 09:28 "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, 09:31 and called the Jews, and called Jesus rather 09:34 and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews." 09:39 Pilate, the one whose words would hand down 09:42 the eternal words sentence is asking Jesus. 09:46 "Are you the King of the Jews?" 09:50 Verse 34, Jesus answered Him. 09:55 It's interesting to note here that 09:56 Jesus answers to the question. 09:58 Jesus says, "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, 10:03 or did others tell it thee of me?" 10:06 Jesus is, why He's making His way into the heart of Pilate. 10:12 And Jesus says here to Pilate, 10:14 "Are you asking this of yourself 10:16 or did somebody else tell you that?" 10:21 Verse 35, "Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? 10:27 Thine own nation 10:28 and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me, 10:32 what hast thou done?" 10:40 Verse 36, "Jesus answered, 10:44 My kingdom is not of this world, 10:48 if my kingdom were of this world, 10:50 then would not my servants fight, 10:52 or would my servants fight, 10:55 that I should not be delivered to the Jews, 10:57 but now is my kingdom not from hence. 11:02 Pilate therefore said unto him, 11:05 Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, 11:09 Thou sayest that I am a king. 11:12 To this end was I born, and for this cause came 11:16 I into the world, 11:18 that I should bear witness unto the truth, 11:23 that I should bear witness unto the truth. 11:25 Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." 11:31 Jesus says, "The reason that He came, 11:33 the reason that the word was made 11:35 flesh was to bear witness to the truth." 11:40 Verse 38, "Pilate said to Him." 11:44 Pilate is looking into the face of the immortal word 11:49 and he says, "What is truth?" 11:54 Many times we ask ourselves the very same 11:57 question, what is truth? 12:00 How do I know it? 12:02 What does truth do for me 12:04 once I find out what truth is. 12:08 Pilate asks, "What is truth?" 12:10 But, notice what happens next. 12:12 Continuing on in verse 38, 12:15 "Pilate saith unto him, what is truth? 12:17 And when he had said this, 12:20 he went out again unto the Jews, 12:23 and saith unto them, 12:24 I find in him no fault at all." 12:30 Pilate asks Jesus, "What is truth?" 12:35 But, Pilate doesn't wait for the answer. 12:41 Many times we want to know, what is truth, 12:45 but we don't wait for the answer. 12:51 Today, we're going to find out what is truth? 12:54 What does truth do for us? 12:57 Turn to the left in the Book of John, 12:59 to the Book of John Chapter 14. 13:03 John Chapter 14, the first three verses 13:05 are famous for the promise Jesus gave to us 13:07 that He would, He would come again 13:09 and receive us into heaven. 13:12 Go down into verse 6, John Chapter 14 verse 6, 13:16 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, 13:21 the truth, and the life, 13:24 no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." 13:27 Jesus says that, "He is the truth." 13:33 Pilate says, "What is truth?" 13:34 He doesn't wait for the answer. 13:37 It could have been just three words. 13:40 Jesus could have said, "I am truth." 13:42 But, Pilate doesn't care. 13:45 Pilate wants to go back to bed. 13:48 Pilate wants to wash his hands 13:51 of this man Jesus. 13:56 Jesus, when speaking to His disciple says, 13:58 "With no, ifs, ands, 14:00 or buts about the situation that He is truth." 14:08 We can only find the way by searching 14:11 through the truth. 14:13 And when we do that, my friends, 14:15 we will find that we have eternal life. 14:23 Jesus is the truth and He says, 14:24 that His word is the truth. 14:26 Let's look at the word of God now 14:28 and see what the word of truth, 14:30 the word made flesh says, 14:33 let's see the wisdom that it gives us. 14:37 So that we can live a life to the glory of God. 14:39 What does the truth, the word 14:42 that was made flesh do for us? 14:45 So we're gonna study the word. 14:47 We're gonna study the truth. 14:49 We're gonna see, what does it do for us? 14:51 You're still in John, 14:53 turn to the right two chapters, 14:54 three chapters to John Chapter 17, 14:58 John Chapter 17. 14:59 We're gonna talk about seven things 15:01 that the word of God does for us. 15:04 Seven things that the word of God, the truth, 15:06 the word made flesh does for us. 15:09 And we're starting right here 15:10 in John Chapter 17 and verse 17, 15:15 and Jesus is speaking and Jesus says, 15:17 "Sanctify them by thy truth, 15:19 or through thy truth, thy word is truth." 15:26 So Jesus says here that the word is truth. 15:29 Now what word is Jesus talking about? 15:32 The only word that they had, 15:34 that they knew was from God was the Old Testament. 15:37 And many times today 15:38 people want to take the Old Testament, 15:40 rip it out of their Bibles 15:41 and throw it in the garbage can. 15:45 But, Jesus says here that His word is truth, 15:51 and He says that His word sanctifies us, 15:55 His word makes us Holy. But, my friends, 15:58 you and I cannot take this word 16:00 and just put it on the top of our heads 16:02 and hope that all the words fall in. 16:07 We actually have to open it 16:08 and we actually have to study 16:10 God's word to be sanctified by God's word. 16:15 Look down at verse 19, 16:18 the Bible says in John 17 verse 19, 16:21 "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, 16:26 that all, that they also might be 16:28 sanctified through the truth." 16:32 What was truth in verse 17? 16:34 The truth in verse 17 was the word. 16:36 What was the word in John Chapter 1, 16:38 it was Jesus, it was the one 16:41 that it always been with God, the one that was God, 16:44 the one by whom all things were made. 16:48 And Jesus says here, that the word of God, 16:51 sanctifies us, the word of God makes us Holy. 16:58 As we study God's word and we apply it to our lives, 17:01 we become more and more like Jesus. 17:07 The word, the truth. 17:13 What else does the word of God do? 17:16 Turn with me to the Old Testament Book of Psalms, 17:19 let's go back to Psalms, 17:21 Psalms the 33rd Chapter, 17:24 Psalms not the 33rd Chapter, you know, 17:26 friends, Psalms does not have Chapters, 17:29 it has Psalms, so we're going to Psalm 33. 17:34 Psalm 33 and verse 6, what does the Psalm say 17:38 here in Psalm 33 and verse 6. 17:42 The Psalm, it says, "By the word of the Lord 17:45 were the heavens made, and all the host of Him 17:49 by the breath of His mouth." 17:52 Not only does the word of God, 17:54 number one, sanctify us, 17:57 but God's word also creates. 18:00 The Bible says, "By the word of the Lord 18:02 were the heavens made." 18:03 That by the breath of his mouth. 18:05 Look down at verse 9, "For he spake, 18:09 and it was, he commanded, 18:12 and it stood fast." 18:15 Friends, no sooner did Jesus say, 18:17 let there be light, then there was light. 18:22 Now you're saying to yourself, 18:23 "Well, how do we know it was Jesus who did that?" 18:25 What did John Chapter 1 verses one, two, 18:27 and three say? 18:28 It said that, "By Him are all things made." 18:31 So, when Jesus said, "Let there be light, 18:34 " excuse me, what was there? 18:36 There was light. As soon as he said, 18:39 "Let there be a firmament to divide the waters 18:41 above the firmament 18:42 and the waters below the firmament." 18:43 What was there? A firmament. 18:47 The word of God creates no sooner does God say it, 18:52 then it is done. 18:55 Friend, do you know, why God can't lie? 18:59 God can't lie because whatever God says 19:03 contains the power to make it happen. 19:09 God's word, God's truth is powerful, 19:14 so powerful that when we study it 19:15 and apply it to our lives, 19:17 we are sanctified through that truth. 19:22 God's word is so powerful 19:23 that God's word creates. 19:29 What would keep you from allowing God 19:33 to sanctify you through His truth 19:37 and to create you new again? 19:43 Let's look at this in another section 19:45 of the Bible, go to New Testament Book of James 19:48 you're gonna pass Hebrews, 19:49 pass the "T" section, then gonna pass Hebrews, 19:51 and then we'll be in the Book of James. 19:55 James Chapter 1 and verse 18, 20:01 James Chapter 1 and verse 18, 20:06 the Bible says here in James Chapter 1 and verse 18, 20:11 "Of his own will begat he us." 20:15 How did He begat us? 20:18 With the word of truth. 20:23 Friends, how is it that we are created? 20:25 How is that we're made? 20:27 Only through the word of truth. 20:31 The Bible says, "Of his own will begat he us 20:33 with the word of truth, 20:34 that we should be a kind 20:35 of first fruits of his creatures." 20:38 So, what we have seen so far is that, 20:41 the word that was made flesh, Jesus, 20:43 the one that dwelt Him among us, 20:45 the one that made all things, 20:48 sanctifies us through His truth, 20:51 through the word. 20:53 We've also seen that this same Jesus creates in us. 21:00 Friends, we're born once by our mothers. 21:03 We have no choice in that, 21:06 when we're just born. 21:07 But the second birth, 21:09 the one where we're begotten of God 21:13 comes when we make a decision. 21:16 And that starts when God begins to sanctify us 21:20 through His word. Let's continue on. 21:24 What is the third thing that God's word does for us? 21:28 Let's stay right here in the Book of James, 21:30 Chapter 1 verse 21. 21:33 Well, let's start in verse 19, 21:34 we'll just keep the flow going here. 21:36 James Chapter 1 verse 19, "Wherefore, 21:40 my beloved brethren, 21:42 let every man be swift to hear, 21:45 slow to speak, and slow to wrath. 21:49 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21:54 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness 21:56 and superfluity of naughtiness, 21:58 and receive with meekness the engrafted 22:01 word which is able to save your soul." 22:07 So, friend, not only does the word of God sanctify us, 22:12 not only does the truth create us, 22:18 but the word of God, 22:19 the truth of God saves us. 22:25 So many times people say, you know, 22:27 I was saved 50 years ago. 22:30 Praise the Lord for that, 22:34 but what about today. 22:38 Have you spent time in God's word? 22:44 Do you really know the author of the Bible? 22:48 Or do you just have this phrase in your mind, 22:50 where you say, I'm saved, 22:51 I can do whatever I want. 22:54 We're gonna see later on in the sermon 22:56 that, that is not the case. 23:03 "Receive with meekness the engrafted word 23:06 which is able to save your souls." 23:11 Turn with me now to the left from where we are, 23:13 and let's go to, no, that's to the right 23:15 from where we are rather, 23:17 and let's go to First Peter Chapter1 verse 23. 23:23 First Peter Chapter1 verse 23. 23:28 The Bible says here in First Peter Chapter 1 verse 23, 23:31 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, 23:34 but of incorruptible, how, by the word of God. 23:40 Friends, how is it that we are born again, 23:43 we are born again by the word of God, 23:47 apart from the word of God, 23:49 we cannot be born again. 23:52 Is the Bible clear on this? 23:55 If we are not spending time in our Bibles, 23:58 God cannot sanctify us and make us Holy. 24:01 If we're not spending time with the word of God, 24:04 God cannot recreate in us 24:06 that new heart that we so desperately need. 24:10 And, friends, if we are not spending time 24:12 in the word of God, then we won't know Jesus 24:15 the one that gives us eternal life, 24:20 the one that saves us. 24:23 The Bible says to us, turn with me, 24:25 Acts Chapter 4, that's to the left, Matthew, 24:29 Mark, Luke, John, Acts Chapter 4, 24:34 let's begin reading in verse 10. 24:36 Acts Chapter 4 and verse 10, 24:38 the word of God reads like this, 24:41 "Be it known unto you, 24:43 and to all the people of Israel, 24:45 that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 24:48 whom you crucified, 24:50 whom God raised from the dead even by him 24:54 doth this man stand before you whole." 24:56 Verse 11, "This is the stone 24:58 which was set at nought of you builders, 25:00 which is become the head of the corner." 25:02 Verse 12, "Neither is there salvation 25:05 in any other, for there is none other name 25:09 under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." 25:13 Friends, it is the word of God 25:15 made flesh that saves us. 25:18 It is the word of God made flesh 25:21 that sanctifies us. 25:22 It is the word of God made flesh 25:24 that recreates our life to a new life, 25:28 a life that is glorifying to God. 25:36 Three things so far. 25:38 Number one, the word of God sanctifies us, 25:41 sets us apart for the work of God. 25:44 Number two, the word of God creates us. 25:49 And number three, the word of God saves us. 25:55 Do these sound like things that you want 25:57 God to do in, into your life. 26:00 We can't, that can't happen apart from this book, 26:04 this book that is called the Bible, 26:06 we can memorize as much scriptures 26:08 we want to memorize, we can memorize 26:10 the entire Old Testament if we desire. 26:12 But if we are not willing to allow God 26:15 to do something in our lives with His word, 26:19 we are wasting our time. 26:21 It's just a book, just a book. 26:27 Here in the Book of Acts, 26:28 turn to the left now to John the 15th Chapter. 26:33 John Chapter 15. 26:39 John the 15th Chapter, 26:41 let's begin reading in verse 1, 26:43 Jesus says, Jesus is talking here 26:45 in John Chapter 15 verse 1, He says, 26:47 "I am the true wine and My Father is the husbandman. 26:52 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, 26:54 he taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, 26:58 he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." 27:04 Verse 3, we're looking for the fourth thing 27:08 that the truth does for us. 27:11 Verse 3 of John Chapter 15, 27:13 the Bible says, "Now ye are clean through the word 27:18 which I've spoken unto you." 27:22 The Bible says that, we are cleaned 27:25 through the word of God. 27:29 We are cleaned through the word of God. 27:32 So that Bible has told us so far 27:33 that it sanctifies us, the Bible has told us 27:36 that the truth creates us, 27:38 the Bible has told us that the truth saves us, 27:41 and now the Bible is telling us 27:43 in the very words of Jesus, 27:45 the word that was made flesh himself, 27:48 that His word cleanses us. 27:51 Let's go back to the Old Testament Book of Psalms, 27:54 and let's go to the 119th Psalm. 27:59 Psalm 119, let's begin reading in verse, 28:07 let's begin reading in verse 9. 28:10 The Bible says in Psalm 119 and verse 9, 28:13 "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" 28:18 Now, Jesus already told us that answer, didn't he? 28:21 He told us that in John Chapter 15 verse 3, 28:24 that we could be clean through His word 28:25 and the Psalm, it says the same thing right here. 28:28 "How will a young man cleanse his way?" 28:30 And the Bible answer, dear friend. 28:32 The Bible answer 28:33 is "By taking heed there to according to thy word." 28:39 Friends, we cannot expect to live a life 28:41 that glorifies God, if we know truth in the Bible 28:45 and we don't follow it. 28:52 God has made it perfectly clear here, 28:54 that if our life is to be clean, 28:56 that we must be obedient to His word. 28:59 Now, you're gonna say, oh, He's legalist, 29:01 we've got to obey, we've got to obey. 29:05 Friend, what is that that caused Adam and Eve 29:08 to leave the Garden of Eden? Disobedience. 29:14 What is it that caused Satan and his angels 29:16 to leave the courts of heaven? Disobedience. 29:22 And do you realize that if God saved anyone 29:25 that was disobedient and unrepentant, 29:28 He would have to take Satan and his angels back. 29:33 It's not legalism, my friends, 29:35 it's called Bible truth. 29:37 It's hard to hear, 29:39 but that's what Jesus is telling us. 29:41 If we are going to be clean, 29:43 we will only be clean by taking heed thereto 29:46 according to the word of God. 29:50 Verse 11, verse 11 says, 29:52 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, 29:54 that I might not sin against thee." 30:00 Friends, sin, 30:01 unrighteousness is called filthiness in the Bible. 30:06 And the way that we are made clean 30:08 is by taking this word and allowing God 30:10 to put it into our hearts, giving Him the permission 30:14 that He needs to clean out all of that sin, 30:18 to clean out all of those struggles 30:20 that we have with sin, and to save us. 30:26 Because He has recreated our hearts 30:29 new and sanctified us. 30:33 My friends, God's word sanctifies us, 30:38 God's word, God's truth creates us again, 30:42 God's word, God's truth saves us, and God's word, 30:47 God's truth cleanses our life from filthiness. 30:53 The fifth thing that the truth of God does for us, 30:58 is found in Hebrews Chapter 5. 31:01 So let's turn to the right in our Bibles to Hebrews, 31:05 the fifth Chapter. 31:08 You will recall that Hebrews has passed 31:09 the "T" section in the New Testament. 31:13 Hebrews, we're going to Chapter 5, 31:16 and we're going to read verse 14. 31:20 Hebrews Chapter 5 and verse 14, 31:23 the Bible says, "But strong meat belongs to Him, 31:27 to them rather, that are of full age, even those." 31:33 Listen to this, "Even those who by reason of use 31:38 have their senses exercised 31:40 to discern both good and evil." 31:45 You remember, my friends, 31:47 Jesus said that that the words that He speaks, 31:51 are the manna that came down from heaven. 31:54 His words are truth their life. 31:56 And Jesus says here that strong meat, 31:59 those words belong to those that are of full age, 32:03 those who by reason of use have their senses 32:06 exercised to discern both good and evil. 32:11 The fifth thing that God's word does for us is, 32:15 it gives us discernment, it gives us discernment. 32:21 So often people will come to me and they will say, 32:23 "Pastor, can you please tell me 32:25 whether this is right or whether this is wrong?" 32:27 The Bible has so many gray areas. Ah! 32:32 The Bible doesn't have gray areas, my friend. 32:37 The Bible is a book that is black and whites. 32:40 The only reason that it seems gray at times, 32:42 is because we're not studying God's word. 32:47 How can a heart that loves to do evil, 32:50 understand righteousness. 32:56 The only reason that the things are gray in the Bible 32:59 is because we don't allow God's word, 33:01 first of all, to sanctify us and make us holy. 33:05 We don't allow God's word to create in us 33:07 a new heart, and we don't allow God's word to save us 33:12 because the saved heart always wants to obey God. 33:20 And we don't allow God's word to cleanse us. 33:25 The Bible, the Bible says right here 33:27 in Hebrews Chapter 5 and verse 14, 33:30 "That the word of God gives us discernment." 33:33 It helps us to know the difference between 33:36 rights and what is wrong. 33:45 Now, you say to yourself 33:46 that I don't want to spend all that time 33:48 studying the Bible, I don't, I don't have to know 33:51 all of that stuff in order to be saved. 33:54 Friends, you have to believe in Jesus Christ 33:56 in order to be saved, 33:59 but Jesus is a word made flesh, 34:01 how can you know Him and believe in Him, 34:03 if you don't know Him from His word? 34:09 The Bible has told us that God's truth, 34:11 the truth, that Pilate didn't wait to hear, sanctifies us. 34:20 That this truth creates us anew again. 34:23 That this truth saves us, that this truth cleanses us, 34:28 and this truth, dear friend, helps us to know 34:30 the difference between what is right and what is wrong, 34:33 no gray areas with the word of God, 34:36 no gray, black or white. 34:43 Well, we have two more things to go. 34:46 The sixth thing that the truth does for us 34:51 is found in Hebrews Chapter 4 and verse 12. 34:55 You probably don't even have to turn 34:56 the page in your Bible. 34:57 Hebrews Chapter 4 and verse 12. 35:02 The word of God reads like this, 35:04 "For the word of God is quick, 35:06 and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, 35:12 piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul 35:15 and of spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, 35:18 and is a discerner of the thoughts 35:21 and intents of the heart." 35:24 Friends, not only does God's word sanctify us, 35:28 not only does God's word create us, 35:30 not only does God's word save us, 35:32 not only does God's word cleanse us, 35:35 not only does God's word help us 35:36 to know the difference between 35:38 what is right and what is wrong, 35:39 but God's word also discerns in us. 35:47 And you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. 35:51 When you sit down and you begin to read your Bible 35:54 and you recognize that what God is asking you to do 35:58 in His Book of Truth 36:01 is not what you are doing in reality. 36:06 And so then you come under 36:08 what theologians called conviction. 36:12 Conviction is the voice of God's 36:14 speaking to your conscious. 36:17 Oh you will say, but I've never heard 36:18 God speak to me, friends, 36:20 if you've ever read the Bible 36:21 and felt uncomfortable 36:22 because your life didn't line up with the word of God, 36:25 God spoke to you, it's called conviction. 36:30 God's word not only gives us discernment, 36:34 but God's word discerns in us. 36:41 And that's uncomfortable for many people, 36:44 they don't want to be discerned in. 36:47 Oh, sure, you can give me discernment, 36:50 the truth, truth, Bible you word made flesh, 36:53 you can give me discernment, 36:55 but don't you dare start to meddle in my life. 37:02 Friends, Jesus is such a gentleman 37:04 that even if you read this book 37:05 and memorize it from cover-to-cover, 37:07 He will never force His way into your heart. 37:11 He will always give you the opportunity to invite Him in. 37:21 And we will give that opportunity today. 37:25 The Bible helps us to know our true motives, 37:29 it gives us discernment. 37:31 Now, friends, if we have a struggle in our life, 37:34 if we love a particular sin, a particular habit, 37:38 God knows that we love it, 37:39 we can pray and ask God to help us hate it. 37:42 But don't run, when God brings you under conviction. 37:49 I was studying the Bible with a young man named, Joe. 37:54 Joe, Joe and I had been studying the Bible 37:56 together on the weekly basis 37:58 on Tuesday afternoons at 1 O'clock, 38:02 I would go over there and study with Joe, 38:05 and he would, he would be rolling up his hand 38:07 rolled cigarettes and smoking them 38:09 and going to his refrigerator and getting the things 38:12 that we know don't glorify God out of the refrigerator. 38:19 And Joe was so hungry for the truth, 38:21 for the word of God that was made flesh, 38:23 he was so hungry for that, he said, 38:25 "Please, can you leave me some more information. 38:28 You only come once a week, 38:29 please leave me some more information." 38:32 So I began to do that. 38:34 I began to leave Joe, 38:36 what I would call advance material, 38:39 material that he could go over 38:40 before I came to his house. 38:44 One day I went over to Joe's house, 38:46 we'd probably been studying for about 38:48 six to eight weeks by this time, 38:49 and I knocked on the door, 38:54 no answer. 38:58 I knocked on the door again, 39:02 no answer. 39:05 Now, friends, Joe's car 39:06 was in the apartment parking lot, 39:09 Joe's sliding glass door was open 39:11 like it had always been when he was home. 39:15 And so I knew that Joe was inside that house. 39:20 Now I'm not one that gives up very easily, 39:22 you can just ask my students at ARISE, 39:24 I don't give up easy, 39:25 I just kept knocking every 30 seconds. 39:31 Then I'd wait, 30 seconds would go by, 39:37 then I'd wait. 39:40 After about five minutes of knocking on that door, 39:44 every 30 seconds, Joe comes to the door 39:48 and you could hear him coming 'cause he was mad, 39:52 he flings open that door, what do you want? 39:55 I said, "Man, what do you mean, 39:57 what do I want." 39:58 I've been studying with you at this time 40:00 for the past six to eight weeks. 40:02 What do you mean what do I want? 40:04 I want to study the Bible with you. 40:06 He said, "Man, I don't ever want to study 40:09 the Bible with you again. 40:11 I don't believe the material you given me is true. 40:14 It's false, it's not true, and it's telling me, 40:17 I can't do things that I've always done. 40:21 "I said, "Really?" 40:22 He said, "Yeah, now get out of here." 40:24 And he started the slamm the door, 40:25 and I put my foot in the door. 40:27 Now, you know, it might not be good idea 40:29 if you have a tender foot or something, 40:30 but I had on some nice shoes, 40:31 put my foot in there and caught the door and kept, 40:34 it stayed open, and I said, 40:36 "Look, Joe, you at least owe it to me, to tell me, 40:43 what's got you in such a rage." 40:47 He said, "All right, come in this house." 40:48 And I was like. Whew! Praise the Lord! I'm in. 40:53 So, I go into his house and I sit down 40:55 where I normally sit on the couch, 40:56 and he's just rummage in all over the house, 40:58 just go whenever which way he can go, 41:00 looking for this, this piece of paper 41:02 that told him he couldn't do something. 41:07 And I said, "Joe, Joe, tell me, 41:08 what is this about." 41:11 He said, "It's about that that little handout 41:13 you gave me, the one that has a guy pouring water 41:15 into the gas tank on the front of it. 41:17 That little study guide. It's green on the front." 41:21 I said, "Joe, is it 41:22 the one wadded up in the corner over here? 41:25 He goes over to the corner and he picks that thing up, 41:28 oh, that's it, and he starts smoothing it out 41:30 on his pants, and he says, here, 41:32 and he throws it at me. 41:35 I said, "Well, what did it say?" 41:38 It said, he said, 41:40 "This study guide here told me 41:42 to go to the Book of Leviticus, 41:45 and to read Leviticus Chapter 11, 41:48 and the Bible told me 41:50 that I could not eat shrimp anymore, 41:52 and I love shrimp. 41:55 " I said, "What told you that, Joe?" 41:58 He said, "The Ba-- the Bible told me that." 42:02 I said, "Was it this study guide, Joe." 42:07 No, no, no, it was the Bible. 42:14 I said, "So really, Joe, what you're telling me, 42:16 is that you don't have an issue with Scott, 42:21 you have an issue with God." 42:27 And his whole face changed. 42:31 And Joe realized 42:33 that what the Bible had just done for him 42:36 was to give him discernment. 42:39 Initially, God's word discerned in Joe's heart 42:43 that something was not right. 42:46 And then by studying God's word, 42:49 Joe was enlightened. 42:51 God had shown him more truth, 42:53 given him more light into His word. 42:59 And then, Joe was given discernment. 43:04 Now, friend, I wish I could tell you 43:06 that Joe continued on and he was baptized. 43:13 But things never seem 43:15 to recuperate after that meeting, 43:17 but Joe did understand that God's word 43:21 does cut to our hearts, it's quick, 43:25 that word means living, God's word is alive. 43:30 It's sharper than any two-edged sword. 43:32 And friends, when we study God's word, 43:34 we can expect, we can expect to find things 43:38 in our lives that aren't in harmony with God's will. 43:43 We can expect that when we study the word of God 43:46 that we will find out 43:47 that God's word sanctifies us. 43:50 We can expect that when we study God's word, 43:53 that God's word will create in us a new heart. 43:58 Friend, let's look at that, turn to the left 44:00 from where you are in Hebrews. 44:01 Let's go to Ezekiel, 44:03 the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel. 44:05 Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. 44:08 Ezekiel Chapter 36 and verse 26. 44:13 This is what the truth, the word of God says to you. 44:18 God says to you in verse 26 of Ezekiel 36, 44:23 "A new heart also will I give you." 44:26 If God says it, it what? Happens. 44:30 You know, my mom used to sing this song, 44:32 "God said it and I believe it, 44:35 and that settles it for me. 44:37 Though some may doubt that the word is true. 44:40 God said it and I believe it, how about you?" 44:45 Friends, God says right here that He will give you 44:49 a new heart, won't you believe it? 44:52 Let God's word make a difference in your life. 44:54 Let God's truth sink into your heart 44:58 and drive out what should not be there. 45:01 Continuing on here in verse 26, 45:04 "And a new spirit will I put within you. 45:07 And I will take away the stony heart 45:08 out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh." 45:12 Then what is it say, "After God gives you 45:15 that new heart, after God creates you new again." 45:18 What does the Bible say in verse 27? 45:20 "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you 45:23 or make you to walk in my statutes 45:26 and you shall keep my judgments." 45:28 There is the obedience. 45:31 "You shall keep my judgments and do them." 45:37 The new heart, the recreating of your heart comes first 45:42 and then God says, "This is what you will do, 45:45 because I've given you that newly created heart." 45:49 Not only does God's word sanctify us and create us, 45:53 God's word saves us. 46:03 Many people say, "You know, how do I know, 46:07 how do I know that I'm saved?" 46:12 'Cause God said it and you've got to believe it, 46:15 and that has to settle it for you. 46:21 God's word cleanses us, 46:22 makes us clean from the inside out, 46:27 God's word helps us to know right from wrong, 46:30 God's word gives us discernment, 46:32 it takes the gray and it makes it 46:34 either black or white. 46:36 God's word helps us to know our true motives, 46:40 it gives us discernment or discerns in us. 46:47 And my friends, God's word gives us eternal life. 46:52 Turn with me to First John Chapter 5, 46:56 not John, but First John, you know, 46:59 the one that's near to the Book of Revelation. 47:01 If you find Revelation, 47:02 backup just a little bit to the left 47:04 like I'm doing, you'll pass the Book of Jude 47:07 and there you are in First, Second, and Third John, 47:09 we're going to First John Chapter 5 and verse 11, 47:15 oh let's start in verse, let's start in verse 9. 47:20 The Bible says in First John Chapter 5 verse 9. 47:22 "If we receive the witness of men, 47:24 the witness of God is greater, 47:28 for this is the witness of God 47:29 which he hath testified of his Son." 47:31 Verse 10, "He that believeth on the Son of God 47:34 hath the witness in himself, 47:36 he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, 47:40 because he believeth not the record 47:42 that God gave of His Son." 47:45 And this is the record. 47:47 "That God has given to us eternal life, 47:52 and this life is in His Son." 47:55 The very word that was made flesh contains the life 47:59 that we need in order to live for eternity. 48:05 Friends, it is God's word that gives us eternal life. 48:11 Verse 12, "He that hath the Son hath life, 48:18 and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 48:24 Friends, we can go 48:26 throughout our busy days without Jesus 48:29 in our lives, we can be wealthy, 48:32 we can be rich, we can have the best cars, 48:34 the best house, the best swimming pool, 48:37 the best, the most expensive wallets, 48:42 but without Jesus Christ, we are not alive. 48:48 We are dead men walking. 48:54 If we do not allow God's truth into our lives, 48:59 it can't do a thing. 49:04 God's truth sanctifies us. 49:07 God's truth creates in us a new heart. 49:11 God's truth saves us from our sin. 49:16 You remember, His name will be called Jesus 49:18 for He will save His people from their sins. 49:21 God's truth cleanses us. 49:23 God's truth helps us to know the difference between 49:26 what is right and what is wrong. 49:29 God's word helps us to know 49:31 our true motives, discerns in us. 49:37 And God's word gives us eternal life, 49:39 without the word made flesh in our hearts, we are dead. 49:47 Turn with me to John Chapter 3, 49:51 that's not First John, but all the way back, 49:53 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. 49:56 Gonna go to John Chapter 3, to what some scholars say 49:59 is the most precious 50:00 and the most famous verse in the Bible. 50:05 John Chapter 3 and verse 16, 50:06 you can probably quote it, can't you? 50:09 The Bible says here, 50:10 "For God so loved the world 50:12 that He gave His only begotten Son, 50:15 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 50:20 but have what, my friends? Ever lasting life." 50:27 The Bible tells us right here that God loved you so much 50:32 that He gave His only Son, so that you, my friend, 50:37 could have ever lasting life. 50:40 If you would only believe in Him. 50:46 The Bible says in Romans, 50:47 "How shall they believe in who Him 50:49 whom they have not heard?" 50:52 Friends, if we are not studying our Bibles, 50:55 we will not know the author of eternal life Jesus Christ. 50:59 We can have a profession of Godliness, 51:02 but we will be the shell of a Christian. 51:07 The Bible says, "That it is the word of God 51:10 that gives us eternal life." 51:13 Verse 17 of John Chapter 3, 51:15 "For God sent not His Son into the world 51:17 to condemn the world." 51:18 Some people say, "You know, 51:19 every time I read the Bible, 51:20 every time I get closer to God, 51:22 every time I start going to church, 51:23 my life falls apart." 51:26 But the Bible says here and those people 51:28 start to blame it on God. 51:29 But the Bible says, for God sent not His Son 51:32 into the world to condemn the world, 51:34 but that through, but that the world 51:37 through Him might be, what's that word, saved. 51:44 "For God did not sent His Son 51:45 into the world to condemn the world 51:48 but that the world through Him might be saved. 51:52 Friends, when you get closer 51:54 to Jesus Christ through studying His word. 51:56 When you begin to let the truth 51:58 do something in you, the devil hates it 52:01 and he's gonna make it hard. 52:04 You remember the Christian life 52:06 is not just all grins and giggles. 52:09 What happen to Job? 52:11 The reason Job was afflicted was because 52:13 Job trusted in God. 52:17 Friends, you can expect that when you begin to study 52:20 the Bible and allow God's word to work in your life 52:23 that it's gonna make the devil mad. 52:27 I don't know about you, but I want him to be mad with me, 52:29 mad at me. 52:31 I want him to be furious with me. 52:34 One of my friends said that he was walking 52:35 down the streets of New York City one time, 52:38 doing, doing Bible work, and he, 52:41 he was sort of scared because he's here in this, 52:44 not an alley, but just a low income housing area. 52:47 And he began to visualize in his mind 52:49 that there were probably some demons 52:51 on top of these buildings and they were watching him. 52:54 Then the thought came to his mind, 52:57 are they scared of me? 52:59 Do I make those demons mad? 53:04 And he just rededicated his life to Christ 53:08 because he wanted the, that the bad part 53:11 of this world to hate him. 53:15 Friends, the Bible sanctifies us, 53:17 the Bible creates in us a new heart, 53:19 the Bible saves us, the Bible cleanses us, 53:23 the Bible helps us to know the difference between 53:25 what is right and what is wrong. 53:27 The Bible helps us to know our true motives 53:29 and the Bible, the word of God, 53:31 the truth that was made flesh gives us eternal life. 53:41 Verse 19 of John Chapter 3, 53:43 "And this is the condemnation 53:44 that light is coming to the world, 53:46 and men loved darkness rather than light, 53:47 because their deeds were evil." 53:51 Even today during this sermon as you've been 53:53 watching or listening here, 53:55 God has spoken to your heart. 54:00 The Bible, the God's truth 54:01 is beginning to discern a new things 54:03 that aren't yet right. 54:06 And Jesus is going to give you the opportunity today 54:09 to accept Him and His word into your life. 54:13 Turn with me my friends, turn with me 54:16 to the New Testament Book of Revelation, 54:20 Revelation Chapter 3, I told you that Jesus 54:22 was a gentleman and He would not barge into your life. 54:26 The Bible says here 54:27 in Revelation Chapter 3 and Verse 20, 54:30 Jesus is talking. 54:32 Jesus is talking to the Church of Laodicea," 54:36 and Jesus says, 54:37 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." 54:44 Just like I was standing at Joe's house I could not, 54:47 but I couldn't barge my way into his house. 54:51 Not until Joe invited me 54:52 could I actually take my whole body 54:54 rather than just my foot into his house. 54:57 Now, Jesus won't even 54:58 put His foot there without permission. 55:02 The Bible says here, 55:03 Jesus says to you," dear friend, 55:05 'I stand at the door and knock.'" 55:06 This is the door of your heart, 55:08 you can hear Him today. 55:12 He says, if any man, that doesn't exclude you ladies, 55:15 "If any man will hear my voice and open the door. 55:21 I will come into him and will sup with him, 55:23 I will eat with him and he with Me." 55:29 Remember, friends, it was only when those disciples 55:31 on the road to Emmaus saw Jesus 55:33 break bread with him that they recognized 55:35 that the word of truth, the word made flesh 55:38 was in their home. 55:41 Jesus says here that, "He will come in 55:43 and He will eat with you, 55:44 He will reveal Himself to you," my friend. 55:47 If you will but just ask Him to come in, He's knocking. 55:57 Friend, what would keep you 56:00 from allowing God to let His truth into your life? 56:08 What would keep you from taking all of that 56:10 memorized scripture and actually allow it 56:13 to work in you? 56:16 To sanctify you, 56:18 to create in you a new heart to save you, to cleanse you, 56:23 to help you to know the difference between 56:25 what is right and what is wrong 56:27 and to help you know your true motives, 56:33 and to give you eternal life. 56:36 Jesus is knocking. 56:44 Right now you're at the door of your heart. 56:51 You want to open it, just open that door. 56:55 The door is now opened. 56:57 Just invite Jesus in, 57:01 and look at Jesus in the eyes and say, 57:03 "Jesus, I want Your truth to work in me." 57:10 If that's your decision, friend, 57:12 won't you do that now, 57:15 and let Jesus change your life. |
Revised 2014-12-17