Participants: Scott Moore
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000770
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01:01 The title of our sermon is
01:03 "The Scriptures Are Your Only Safeguard," 01:07 "The Scriptures Are Your Only Safeguard." 01:11 This article was taken from the English language 01:14 Thai daily newspaper called the Nation. 01:20 It was printed on January 2, 2005 01:26 and it talks about the tsunami that hit in Asia. 01:30 Knowledge of the ocean and its currents passed down 01:33 from generation to generation of a group of Thai fishermen 01:38 known as the Morgan sea gypsies. 01:42 This knowledge has saved an entire village 01:45 from the Asian tsunami. 01:48 By the time the killer waves crashed over Thailand 01:52 last Sunday the entire 181 population 01:56 of their fishing village had fled to a temple 02:01 in the mountains of South Surin Island, 02:05 English language Thai daily The Nation reporting. 02:08 "The elders told us that if the water recedes fast 02:15 it will reappear in the same quantity 02:18 in which it disappeared," 65-year-old village chief 02:23 Sarmao Kathalay told the paper. 02:27 So while in some places along the coast, 02:30 Thais headed to the beach when the sea 02:32 drained out of the beaches, 02:35 the first sign of the impending tsunami to pick up 02:38 fish left flapping on the sand, 02:40 the gypsies headed for the hills and not one of their, 02:45 the people that were from their village were lost, 02:48 because they had listened to the warning. 02:51 Friend, how is it that you and I can know whether or not 02:55 we are listening to the voice of God 02:58 when we're studying the Bible. 03:01 Or whether we're listening to man's 03:04 own interpretation of the Bible. 03:07 There is a significant difference between 03:09 what God is saying and how man interprets it. 03:14 So how can we know that what we are studying, 03:18 the way that we're understanding it, 03:20 how can we know that, that is what God is really saying? 03:26 Today, we're going to go over five principles 03:30 that we can follow, 03:31 five principles that we can follow, 03:34 so that we can know without a shadow of a doubt 03:37 that we are listening to God's voice 03:41 rather than the interpretation of man. 03:47 Turn with me to Second Timothy Chapter 3, 03:50 Second Timothy Chapter 3, it's in the "T" section 03:54 of the New Testament, Second Timothy Chapter 3. 04:00 We'll begin reading in verse 1, 04:02 the Bible says in Second Timothy Chapter 3 verse 1, 04:05 "This know also, that in the last days 04:09 perilous times shall come. 04:12 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, 04:14 covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, 04:17 disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 04:20 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, 04:24 incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 04:28 traitors, heady, highminded." 04:30 We're in verse 4. 04:31 "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, 04:34 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, 04:41 from such turn away." 04:45 Dear friend, how can we know 04:49 whether we simply have the form of godliness 04:52 or whether we are truly following the words of Jesus? 04:59 Would you agree with me that 05:00 it is a matter of life or death, 05:02 whether or not we follow what Jesus' actually says 05:06 or whether we follow what a man's interpretation 05:08 is of what Jesus says? 05:11 It's life and death, if we're following 05:13 a man's interpretation and depending upon a man 05:15 to do that for us, then we are going to follow 05:18 the wrong thing. 05:20 Turn with me in your Bibles to Proverbs, Proverbs 16. 05:30 Jobs, Psalms, Proverbs, we're going to Proverbs 16 05:37 and verse, let me just get here in verse 25. 05:43 The Bible says in Proverbs Chapter 16 and verse 25, 05:47 "There is a way that seems right unto a man, 05:52 but the end thereof are the ways of death." 05:56 There is a way that seems right to a man, 05:59 a man maybe living his life and saying to himself, 06:02 you know, this is right, this seems right to me 06:06 but the Bible says there are people that are doing this 06:09 but the way that they're living 06:10 is actually going to cause what? 06:14 It's going to cause death. 06:17 "There is a way that seems right unto a man, 06:18 but the end thereof are the ways of death." 06:20 So if something seems right but it is wrong 06:25 how do we know whether it is right or wrong, 06:27 if we are doing something because the Bible says it, 06:30 how do we know that we are doing that because 06:32 that's what the Bible said rather than 06:34 that's what our preacher said. 06:37 So we're gonna talk about five principles 06:40 that will help us to know 06:43 that we are following what God says. 06:47 Turn with me to Second Timothy Chapter 4 and verse 3, 06:51 we were just in First Timothy a moment ago. 06:54 Let's go to Second Timothy Chapter 4 and verse 3, 07:00 Second Timothy Chapter 4 and verse 3. 07:04 The Bible says this in 07:05 Second Timothy Chapter 4 and verse 3, 07:07 "For the time will come 07:09 when they will not endure sound doctrine." 07:13 The Bible is warning us that the time will come 07:17 when people who professed to be Christians 07:20 will not be able to listen and follow sound doctrine. 07:26 Now, today, those of us that are watching at home, 07:28 those of us that are here, we're not those people. 07:32 We're gonna make a decision right here 07:34 before the sermon even begins and we're going to say, 07:37 "Jesus, if Your word says it and it is sound doctrine 07:41 I want to follow it and believe it." 07:45 That's a decision we're going to make, 07:47 because God has had us to be here today 07:50 so that we could make that decision, 07:52 it's no mistake that we have tuned into this channel 07:54 or that we are in this room. 07:59 "The time will come and they will not 08:00 endure sound doctrine, 08:02 but after their own lusts they shall heap 08:04 unto themselves teachers, having itching ears." 08:10 Come on, teacher, teach me things that I want to hear, 08:15 don't make it hard for me to listen. 08:19 There was a group of people that were listening 08:22 to what Jesus was saying in John Chapter 6 08:26 and in John Chapter 6 and verse 66. 08:30 They thought Jesus, 08:31 Jesus sayings were too hard to hear, 08:34 so these men turned and walked no more with Jesus. 08:38 Because what Jesus was saying was too hard to hear 08:41 but not so today, dear Christian friend. 08:46 We're going to find out now how we can know 08:49 that we are following God's word 08:51 and not cunningly devised fables. 08:54 We're going to learn how we know that 08:56 we're following God's word, 08:58 God's sound doctrine rather than falsities. 09:04 And the first way for us to know 09:06 this is to study the Bible. 09:09 Turn with me to Second Timothy, 09:11 we're there, Second Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15, 09:15 Second Timothy Chapter 2 and verse 15, 09:17 the Bible says this, listen closely dear Christian friend. 09:21 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, 09:26 a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 09:29 rightly dividing the word of truth." 09:33 The Bible says, "Study to show yourself 09:36 approved unto God, a workman that does not 09:39 need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 09:46 Verse 16, "But shun profane and vain babblings, 09:52 for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 09:56 And their word will eat as doth a canker." 10:02 Friends, the Bible tells us to study the Bible 10:04 to show ourselves approved to God, 10:06 we should not study the Bible to prove somebody else wrong. 10:12 We should study the Bible to show ourselves approved 10:14 to God not to show off our knowledge of scripture. 10:21 As we study our Bibles, a sub-point under first, 10:25 our first point is that we must study it 10:27 in order to understand it. 10:29 Is that we must study our Bibles 10:31 in the setting of prayer. 10:35 Which reminds me, my friend, that I did not pray 10:38 at the beginning of this sermon. 10:40 So let's do this right now. 10:44 Father in heaven, we are so thankful that 10:45 we can study Your word together as a group. 10:48 Whether we are here or whether we're at home, 10:50 Lord, we ask that You would bless us with Your spirit. 10:54 So that we can understand You as You speak to us, 10:57 in Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 11:01 Now let's read from the Bible 11:03 that we must study in the setting of prayer. 11:05 Let's go to First Corinthians Chapter 2, 11:08 First Corinthians is to the left from where we are, 11:11 First Corinthians Chapter 2 and we are going to verse 14, 11:16 First Corinthians Chapter 2 and verse 14. 11:25 Let's start in verse 12, 11:27 First Corinthians Chapter 2 and verse 12 says, 11:29 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, 11:33 but the spirit which is of God, 11:35 that we might know the things 11:37 that are freely given to us of God." 11:39 So why do we need the spirit, so that we can know the things 11:44 that are freely given to us of God, verse 13, 11:48 "Which things also we speak, 11:51 not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, 11:55 but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, 11:58 comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 12:01 The natural man receiveth not the things 12:05 of the Spirit of God, 12:07 for they are foolishness unto them, 12:10 neither can he know them, 12:14 because they are spiritually discerned. 12:17 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, 12:20 yet he himself is judged of no man. 12:23 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, 12:25 that he may instruct him? 12:27 But we have the mind of Christ." 12:29 Friends, note in verse 14 of First Corinthians Chapter 2, 12:32 it says that, "the natural man 12:34 does not receive things that are spiritual." 12:38 So you and I must ask for the Spirit of God 12:41 to help us understand things 12:44 that are only spiritually discerned. 12:48 So we ask God when we pray to help us understand his word. 12:57 That is the first way that you and I can know that 13:00 we are hearing what God says rather than what man says. 13:09 The second way that we can make sure that we're listening 13:13 to what God says rather than what man says 13:17 is to be willing to follow divine instruction. 13:23 When God reveals light to you, 13:27 God expects, notice that word that I use, 13:31 God expects you to follow His word. 13:37 Now God does not force any man to follow His word 13:42 but when God reveals His truth to you, 13:44 He expects you to follow it. 13:47 That's the only reason for revealing truth to people 13:50 and so that they can follow it. 13:54 Turn with me to John Chapter 12 and verse 35, 13:57 that's to the left from Corinthians, 14:00 John Chapter 12 and verse 35. 14:05 This is what Jesus says here in 14:06 John Chapter 12 and verse 35, let's read this together, 14:10 "Then Jesus said unto them, 14:12 Yet a little while is the light with you. 14:16 Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, 14:23 for he that walketh in darkness 14:25 knoweth not whither he goeth." 14:28 Verse 36, "While you have light, believe in the light, 14:33 that ye may be the children of the light." 14:37 Jesus says that we need to walk while we have the light 14:42 or else what will happen? 14:44 Darkness will come upon us. 14:47 Friends, darkness is living a life apart from Jesus 14:50 and His truth, so when God reveals truth to us, 14:54 God expects us to follow it. 14:57 He doesn't hope we're gonna follow it, 14:59 God expects us to follow it. 15:02 And as God reveals truth to you, my friend, 15:05 you should make the decision to follow that truth 15:09 or else darkness will come upon you. 15:11 I was in Sheridan, Oregon doing an evangelistic meeting 15:15 and there was a lady who was struggling 15:17 with one of the things that we have been 15:19 studying in our meetings. 15:22 And she said, "It simply can't be true, 15:25 how can you be right 15:27 and the rest of the world be wrong." 15:30 And we had applied these five principles 15:32 that I'm teaching to you, first of all, 15:34 to study and then at some point 15:36 of study is to study the Bible in prayer 15:39 and to have the willingness to follow divine instruction. 15:43 But when she saw the truth of God's word, 15:46 she didn't want to follow it because it was inconvenient. 15:52 Now, friends, I've seen this happen 15:54 all over the United States, 15:56 I've seen this happen in Europe 15:58 when you preach the truth 16:00 some people don't want to follow it. 16:03 And Jesus himself when He was preaching there 16:06 in John Chapter 6, Jesus himself came up 16:12 against some men that did not want to follow His truth. 16:17 That's not us today, we want to follow God's truth 16:21 and so while we have the light my friends, 16:23 when God reveals to us His truth, 16:25 then we follow it, what do you say to that? 16:31 We must walk in the light or darkness will come upon us. 16:36 So the first two principles that we've gone over thus far, 16:39 number one, study the Bible in a setting of prayer, 16:44 so that we can understand spiritual things 16:46 because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 16:51 And we need to ask the Spirit of God 16:53 to help us understand. 16:55 The second way to understand the Bible 16:58 and to know that it is God that is revealing truth to you 17:01 rather than man's interpretation 17:05 is to follow the light that has already been revealed. 17:09 God is too merciful to continue to reveal light 17:14 to someone that won't follow it. 17:19 Because when it comes to the time of the judgment, 17:21 my friends, we will not only pay for the things we knew 17:25 and did not do but we will also give an account 17:30 for the things that we have the opportunity to know 17:33 and did not know. 17:38 Always study the Bible in a setting of prayer 17:41 and always have a willingness to follow divine instruction. 17:46 The third thing that we must do in order to know that, 17:50 it is God that is speaking to us through His word 17:53 and not man's interpretation. 17:56 Is to know that the Bible must harmonize with itself. 18:03 Now in this particular meeting some people will say to me, 18:06 look at what the Bible says 18:07 in Revelation Chapter 16 and verse 15, 18:10 so that's what we're going to do now, let's go there. 18:12 Revelation the 16 Chapter and verse 15, 18:17 Revelation Chapter 16 and verse 15, 18:20 Revelation is the second easiest book 18:22 to find in the Bible, it's at the very end, 18:24 Genesis is at the first, it's the very beginning. 18:27 The Bible says here in Revelation 18:28 Chapter 16 and verse 15, 18:30 Jesus is talking and Jesus says, 18:33 "Behold, I come as a thief. 18:36 Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, 18:40 lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." 18:43 Jesus, says right here in 18:45 Revelation Chapter 16 and verse 15, 18:48 "Behold, I'm coming as a thief." 18:54 Now people will say, look, there you go. 18:57 It's going to be a secret, 18:58 Jesus says, he's coming as a thief. 19:00 And you know, if we were to take just that verse, 19:02 we could say, "Yeah, when Jesus comes, 19:05 he's going to come as a thief." 19:07 And nobody is going to know it it will be a surprise. 19:12 Because the last time I checked the thief 19:14 didn't call up and say, "Hey, look I'm coming 19:17 over to your house at 3:43 AM and I'm going to robe you." 19:23 But is Jesus saying here, when we look at the Bible 19:27 and we let the Bible harmonize with itself, 19:30 is Jesus saying that He's going to come like a thief, 19:36 it's going to be a secret. 19:39 Let's allow the Bible to harmonize with itself 19:42 and see what Jesus means here in 19:44 Revelation 16 and verse 15. 19:47 So let's turn now to Second Peter Chapter 3, 19:51 Second Peter is real close to Revelation so don't turn far, 19:54 just backup a little bit to the left, you see 19:56 how I'm turning my pages here just ever so slowly. 19:59 We're gonna pass John, 20:00 then we're gonna go to Peter here, 20:01 and we're looking at Second Peter Chapter 3 and verse 10. 20:07 And this is the way the Bible reads, 20:11 Second Peter Chapter 3 verse 10. 20:14 The Bible says, "But the day of the Lord 20:17 will come as a thief in the night." 20:20 There you have it, the day of the Lord 20:21 is gonna come as a thief in the night, 20:24 Jesus said in Revelation 16:15, 20:25 "Behold, I'm coming as a thief," in Revelation. 20:28 Now we're back here in Second Peter 20:30 Chapter 3 and verse 10, 20:31 "But the day of the Lord 20:32 will come as a thief in the night," 20:34 and then it describes that night. 20:37 Look at what He says here, 20:39 "In the which the heavens shall pass away 20:42 with a great noise," It sounds sort of secretive, 20:45 doesn't it? Not at all my friend. 20:49 "And the elements shall melt with fervent heat, 20:51 the earth also and the works 20:53 that are therein shall be burned up." 20:57 When we look at the Bible 20:59 and we allow the Bible to harmonize with itself, 21:04 the Bible makes sense. 21:07 We could only have one interpretation 21:09 of a particular passage if we allow the Bible 21:12 to harmonize with itself. 21:15 God doesn't say, A, over here about a certain topic, 21:19 and then say, B over here about a certain topic 21:22 unless they can harmonize with each other. 21:26 God does not change, His truth is always the same, 21:30 although truth maybe progressive in your life, 21:33 truth is truth when it comes to the Bible. 21:38 The Bible must harmonize with itself, 21:41 so we see in Revelation 16:15, Revelation 16:15, 21:45 tells us, "That the day of the Lord comes as a thief." 21:49 Then we go to Peter, 21:51 Second Peter Chapter 3 verse 10 21:53 and the Bible tells us, "That day of the Lord 21:55 comes as a thief in the night," 21:57 and then it describes that night, it says, 21:59 "In the which the heavens will pass away, 22:02 the elements will melt with fervent heat, 22:04 the earth and the works that are 22:05 therein will be burned up." 22:09 So we can't make this thief in the night 22:13 be a secret coming. 22:17 Because when Jesus comes as a thief according to the Bible 22:20 when it harmonizes with itself, 22:23 lots of loud crazy things takes place. 22:26 Look now at First Thessalonians, 22:28 you're in Peter, just turn again a little to the left, 22:31 you're gonna go past James and Hebrews, 22:34 then you come to Titus, then you're gonna be in Timothy 22:38 and we right here in the "T" section 22:40 and First Thessalonians Chapter 5. 22:43 Listen to what the Bible says here, 22:46 First Thessalonians Chapter 5 verse 1, 22:49 the Bible says," "But of the times 22:50 and the seasons, brethren, 22:53 ye have no need that I write unto you. 22:56 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord 22:59 so comes or so cometh as a thief in the night." 23:03 There we have it again, thief in the night. 23:07 "For when they shall say," verse 3, 23:09 "Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, 23:13 as travail upon a woman with child, 23:16 and they shall not escape. 23:19 So when the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, 23:22 destruction will come upon people. 23:26 Verse 4, "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, 23:31 that that day should overtake you as a thief." 23:37 Friends, those of you that study the Bible 23:39 in a setting of prayer, those of you 23:42 that study the Bible with a mind and a heart 23:44 that is willing to do what God reveals to you, 23:51 you will not be in darkness. 23:53 That day will not overtake you as a thief. 24:00 Verse 5, "You are all the children of light, 24:04 and the children of the day, we're not of the night, 24:08 nor of darkness. 24:10 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, 24:13 but let us watch and be sober." 24:17 Friends, we can watch for the day of the Lord 24:20 that comes so suddenly to some people 24:24 that it seems like it's a thief coming 24:26 and just robbing them. 24:28 But for those that are watching and are ready, 24:31 the day of the Lord does not come as a thief 24:34 because you are not in darkness 24:36 but you walk in the light, the light of God's truth. 24:43 The Bible must harmonize with itself, 24:48 that's point three. 24:49 So point one, always study the Bible 24:51 in a setting of prayer. 24:53 Point number two, always have a willingness 24:57 to follow divine instruction. 25:01 And point number three, 25:03 the Bible must harmonize with itself. 25:07 We cannot isolate a text or a verse and say, 25:10 this is all God has to say about this topic. 25:15 Number four, the fourth reason of the five, 25:20 the fourth way that we can know that we are hearing 25:22 what God has to say rather than 25:24 what man's interpretation is. 25:28 Is that the Bible must be interpreted 25:32 according to the rest of scripture. 25:35 The Bible must be interpreted 25:37 according to the rest of scripture. 25:40 Let's look at this, let's turn in our Bibles 25:42 to Luke the 23rd Chapter, you're in Thessalonians 25:46 so just turn to the left in your Bibles 25:48 to Luke Chapter 23. 25:51 Luke Chapter 23 and verse 43, 25:57 Luke Chapter 23 and verse 43, the Bible reads like this, 26:04 Jesus says to Him, Jesus is talking to the thief 26:06 on the cross and Jesus says to this young man 26:09 on this cross "Verily, verily, or verily I say unto thee, 26:14 To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." 26:19 Now friends, we've taken one text in the Bible 26:23 and this is what it says, "Verily I say unto thee, 26:29 today shalt thou be with me in paradise." 26:36 If we were to allow that text to stand by itself, 26:40 we could say beyond the shadow of a doubt 26:45 that Jesus was gonna take that young man 26:47 to paradise that day. 26:50 If that's the text we had there was no other 26:53 like given on the topic that's what we could say. 26:56 But remember, friend, if we want to hear 26:58 God speaking to us, 27:00 we must allow the Bible to interpret itself. 27:06 Now Jesus told this young man here 27:07 in Luke Chapter 23 and verse 43, 27:11 "Today shalt thou be with me where? In paradise. 27:17 Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." 27:22 Well, friends, what is in paradise? 27:27 Let's look at Revelation Chapter 2, 27:29 you're in Luke, turn to the right 27:31 we're going to Revelation Chapter 2 and verse 7, 27:37 this is the way the Bible reads 27:38 in Revelation Chapter 2 and verse 7. 27:42 The Bible says, "He that hath an ear, 27:45 let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, 27:49 To him that overcometh will I give to eat 27:52 of the tree of life, 27:55 which is in the midst of the paradise of God." 28:00 So Jesus tells this thief in Luke 23:43, 28:04 "That today shalt thou be with me in paradise." 28:08 Then we find out here in Revelation Chapter 2 verse 7, 28:12 allowing scripture to interpret itself 28:15 that in paradise we find the tree of life. 28:22 Now what else is there in paradise 28:26 besides the tree of life, what else is there? 28:31 Let's go to Revelation 22, Revelation 22, 28:39 just turn 20 Chapters to the right there. 28:46 Revelation 22, the word of God reads like this, 28:51 Revelation 22 and verse 1, "And he showed me 28:54 a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, 29:00 proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." 29:07 Verse 2, "In the midst of the street of it, 29:11 and on either side of the river, 29:14 was there the tree of life." 29:18 So the tree of life is on either side of this river 29:24 that flows from the throne of God. 29:30 The tree of life is on either side of this river 29:33 that flows from the throne of God, 29:37 do you see this in the Bible? 29:40 The tree of life is on either side of the river of life 29:44 that flows from the throne of God. 29:48 So Jesus tells this thief that's hanging on the cross 29:51 beside Jesus, He says, "Verily I say unto thee, 29:56 Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." 29:59 Paradise is where the tree of life is, 30:02 the tree of life is where the throne of God is. 30:07 Now again if we just take Luke 23:43, 30:11 we must assume that Jesus went to paradise that day. 30:20 We must assume that Jesus went 30:22 to where the tree of life was that day. 30:27 We must assume that Jesus went to where 30:31 the throne of His Father was that day. 30:36 We must assume that because if Jesus went to paradise 30:39 that day and to the thief to paradise with him that day 30:44 he must have been in paradise 30:46 which is define is where the tree of life is, 30:48 which is define is where the throne of God is. 30:52 But look at what Jesus says some other, 30:56 in John Chapter 20, turn back to the left 31:01 to John Chapter 20, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 31:05 John Chapter 20 31:12 and verse 13. 31:20 Some angels are speaking here, "They say unto a woman, 31:23 why are you weeping? She saith unto them, 31:26 Because they have taken away my Lord, 31:28 and I know not where they have laid him." 31:31 Verse 14, "And when she had said thus, 31:35 she turned herself back, and she saw Jesus standing, 31:39 not knowing that it was Jesus. 31:43 Then Jesus answered her, Woman, why weepest thou? 31:51 Whom seekest thou? 31:53 She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, 31:59 Sir, if you have borne him hence, 32:03 tell me where you have laid him 32:06 and I will take him away. 32:11 Jesus saith unto her, Mary." 32:18 Jesus says to her, Mary, 32:24 immediately she knows that it is Jesus. 32:29 He must have had a very special way of saying Mary 32:34 and it must have arrested her attention 32:36 because initially he said woman. 32:38 The angel said, "woman, why are you weeping?" 32:41 Jesus said, "Why are you? 32:43 Why are you weeping and who do you seek in verse 15. 32:48 Then Jesus calls her by her name, 32:51 she turned herself, verse 16, and saith unto him, 32:54 Rabboni, which is to say Master. 32:59 Verse 17, listen closely Bible student, 33:06 listen closely, Jesus says to Mary on resurrection day, 33:13 on resurrection day, "Jesus says to her, 33:16 Touch me not," that means don't keep me here, 33:20 do not detained me, 33:22 "For I am not yet ascended to my Father" 33:28 Wait a minute does that mean Jesus is a liar? 33:34 Did Jesus lie, did Jesus lie to the thief on the cross? 33:43 Because right here Jesus is saying to Mary, 33:48 I haven't ascended to the Father yet. 33:54 "But go, He says, to my brethren, 33:56 and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, 34:00 and your Father, and to my God, and your God." 34:05 Jesus tells the thief in Luke 23:43, 34:09 "Verily I say unto you, 34:11 Today you shall be with me in paradise." 34:15 Jesus is simply saying to this man 34:18 that when I'm in paradise that you will be there with me. 34:22 It's the very same promise that He gave to his followers 34:26 in John Chapter 14, 34:28 "Let not your heart be troubled, 34:30 ye believe in God, believe also in me. 34:32 In my Father's house are many mansions, 34:34 if it were not so, I would have told you. 34:36 I go to prepare a place for you. 34:38 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 34:40 I will come again and receive you unto myself, 34:43 that where I am there you may be also." 34:47 Jesus didn't go to paradise the day He was crucified. 34:52 Because paradise, excuse me, 34:54 paradise is where the tree of life is 34:58 and the tree of life is where the throne of God is 35:00 and Jesus says that I have not yet ascended to My Father, 35:04 I've not yet ascended to My God and to your God. 35:08 Friends, when we take the Bible in its entirety 35:12 and we allow the scriptures to interpret themselves 35:16 we can know for a fact that we are 35:20 not listening to man's interpretation. 35:23 Now some of you are saying to yourself right now, 35:26 I have never heard that in my life, 35:31 Jesus didn't go to heaven when He died, 35:34 I've never heard that. 35:36 My pastor, my Bible mentor, my Bible teacher, 35:41 my Sunday school teacher has always told me that 35:47 Luke 24, 23:43 meant that Jesus 35:51 went to heaven when He died. 35:54 But when we look at scripture 35:56 and we allow scripture to interpret itself, 36:01 we see that Jesus did not go to paradise 36:05 the day that He died. 36:06 Because paradise is where the tree of life is, 36:09 the tree of life is where the throne of God is. 36:11 And in John Chapter 20, Jesus tells Mary, 36:14 "Don't detain me, Mary, 36:15 because I haven't yet ascended to My Father." 36:20 Now it's also quite interesting, 36:22 let's go to the book of Matthew, Matthew 20, 36:27 let me find it here, Matthew 28 and verse 9. 36:34 Matthew 28 and verse 9, go ahead and turn there, 36:38 Matthew 28 and verse 9. 36:40 The Bible says, "And as they went to tell his disciples," 36:43 This is resurrection morning, 36:46 "As they went to tell his disciples, behold, 36:48 Jesus met them, saying, all hail, hey you all. 36:52 And they came and held him by the feet, 36:57 and worshiped him." 37:01 In John Chapter 20, Jesus tells Mary, 37:04 "Don't touch me because I haven't gone 37:05 to the Father yet." 37:07 It was on resurrection morning when Jesus went to the Father 37:13 and then Jesus came back down and the people here in 37:18 Matthew Chapter 28 are able to hold him by the feet 37:21 and worship him without Jesus saying, 37:24 "Do not detain me?" 37:28 Friend, when we let the Bible interpret itself, 37:31 there is no mistaking that we will indeed 37:35 hear the very voice of God. 37:43 I don't know for you friend, 37:45 but for me it is comforting to know 37:49 that the Bible is its own interpreter. 37:54 I don't have to wonder and guess 37:56 and base my life just on what other people have taught me. 38:02 I can go to the Bible and I can compare passage 38:05 with passage and I can understand 38:09 God's truth for myself. 38:15 Since God does not change His truth does not change, 38:18 since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, 38:21 today, and forever. 38:23 His truth is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. 38:29 Friend, we can know that we are following God's word 38:32 and not man's interpretation. 38:34 When we study the Bible in a setting of prayer, 38:39 when we ask God's spirit to give us spiritual disarmament. 38:45 We can know that we are following God's word 38:47 and not man's interpretation, 38:50 when we have a willingness to follow divine instruction, 38:53 when we walk in the light while we have the light. 39:01 We can know that we are following God's word 39:03 and not man's own interpretation. 39:07 When we allow the Bible to harmonize with itself 39:11 and we don't take a text from here 39:13 and make it into a doctrine. 39:17 We can know that we are following God's word 39:19 and not man's own interpretation 39:21 of the scripture. 39:23 When we allow the word of God to interpret itself, 39:28 do you have a question about the word of God, 39:30 asks the word of God for the answer. 39:39 The fifth way that we can know 39:42 that we are following God's word 39:44 rather than the word of man, 39:49 is to let the Bible interpret itself 39:54 from one passage to another. 40:00 That seems to go also and support very well our point 4, 40:04 it must be interpreted according to the rest of scripture. 40:07 Turn to Isaiah 28 and verse 10, 40:11 Isaiah is another easy book to find in the Old Testament. 40:15 We're going to Isaiah Chapter 28 and verse 10, 40:21 this is how we study the Bible to know 40:24 that we're getting God's word and not man's word. 40:28 The Bible says in Isaiah 28 and verse 10, 40:31 "For precept must be upon precept, 40:35 "precept upon precept, line upon line, 40:39 "line upon line, here a little, and there a little." 40:45 "For with stammering lips 40:46 and another tongue will he speak to this people." 40:50 Friends, if we are going to 40:52 understand God's word we must take text 40:56 from this book and from this book 40:58 and from this book and show that they link to each other, 41:01 not to make up our own teaching 41:05 but so that we can understand what God is trying to teach us. 41:11 God teaches us through the power of His Holy Spirit, 41:17 it's the reason that we do not know the scripture, 41:20 it's the reason that we err in scriptural interpretation 41:23 is because we do not apply 41:26 the principles of interpretation. 41:30 If the author is not here to verbally say, 41:33 hey look this is what I meant, 41:35 then you take that authors writings 41:38 and you read them and you compare one writing 41:41 with another in order to give the author's own interpretation 41:45 of what the author wrote. 41:48 We do this with other books don't we? 41:52 We read one book from one person 41:54 and we read another book from that same person and we say, 41:57 oh, this is what they meant when they wrote this 41:59 over in the other book. 42:01 We do this on a consistent basis, 42:04 the Bible must interpret itself, 42:07 the Bible must be interpreted according to 42:09 the rest of scripture. 42:10 The Bible must harmonize with itself, 42:13 we must have a willingness to follow divine instruction 42:17 and we must always study the Bible 42:19 in the setting of prayer. 42:21 Because spiritual things are spiritually discerned, 42:24 this is the only way that we can know 42:30 that we are following God's word and not man's interpretation. 42:35 A very good friend of mine, Mark Howard, 42:37 when I first converted, when I first gave my heart, 42:40 my life to Jesus and threw away the world. 42:43 I came, I came to Mark, 42:45 who was also my pastor, then I said, Mark, 42:48 "Look at this flyer I got from work isn't this nice?" 42:51 Somebody at work had give me a flyer 42:53 that had some spiritual things on it, 42:55 had some texts quoted on there. 42:57 And I said, "Don't you like this?" 42:59 And he began to read it and he said, well, Moore, 43:03 that's what he called me, 43:04 didn't ever called me Scotty or Scott, 43:05 he said, "Moore, what do you mean, you like this?" 43:09 And he began to show me, how, what that pamphlet said 43:14 had been taken completely out of the context 43:17 of the scripture it was in. 43:19 And used, they used that text 43:21 to show something completely different 43:24 from what the original author meant. 43:27 It was disconcerting to me to know 43:29 that there were people that would actually do that, 43:33 they would twist and rest the scriptures 43:36 to their own destruction. 43:41 The Bible tells us in John Chapter 14 and verse 26, 43:45 that the Holy Spirit will teach us. 43:47 Let's look at that. 43:48 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Chapter 14 and verse 26. 43:54 The Bible says in John Chapter 14 verse 26, 43:59 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 44:03 "whom the Father will send in my name, 44:05 "he shall teach you all things, 44:09 "and bring all things to your remembrance, 44:13 whatsoever I have said unto you." 44:15 "Friends, the Spirit of God cannot help us 44:18 remember what we have not studied. 44:23 We must be studying our Bible so that when the time comes 44:27 the Spirit of God can give us something right to the point 44:30 to tell concerning the way in which God has led us. 44:38 The Bible tells us in Isaiah Chapter 30 and verse 21, 44:44 Isaiah Chapter 30 verse 21, the Bible says, 44:47 "And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, 44:52 This is the way, walk ye in it." 44:57 Remember, our second principle 44:59 was to have a willingness to follow divine instruction, 45:03 Jesus himself said, that we should walk 45:06 while we have the light, lest darkness comes upon us. 45:10 We should walk while we have the light of God's truth 45:12 in our understanding or we will forever be in darkness. 45:20 "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, 45:22 saying, This is the way, walk you in it, 45:27 when ye turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left." 45:39 There are consequences for understanding God's word 45:47 and not following God's word. 45:52 Turn with me to Hebrews Chapter 10, 45:56 Hebrews is in the New Testament just passed the "t" section. 46:00 Hebrews Chapter 10 and verse 29, the Bible says here 46:08 in Hebrews Chapter 10 and verse 29, 46:11 "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, 46:16 "shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden 46:19 "under foot the Son of God, and hath counted 46:24 "the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, 46:26 "an unholy thing, and hath done despite 46:28 unto the Spirit of grace?" 46:33 Friends, the Bible is telling us right here 46:35 in Hebrews Chapter 10 and verse 29 46:39 that we trod under for the Son of God 46:42 when we don't follow His truth, and the punishment for that 46:48 is going to be that our punishment is all the worse. 46:55 Now I'm not trying to coerce and pursue, 46:57 I'm not trying to coerce you or scare you 46:59 into believing the truth. 47:02 But when we see the truth and we do not walk in it, 47:05 we will not be in paradise with Jesus and that thief. 47:18 When we disobey, reject and utterly ignore 47:21 God's word on even one point however minor it may seem, 47:26 we have trodden under foot the Son of God, 47:29 the very word that was made flesh. 47:33 And had done despite, disgrace unto his spirit. 47:40 My wife and I lived in Oregon, 47:44 they'd say that in the particular part of Oregon 47:46 that we lived in that there is rarely ever any snow. 47:50 We lived in a place just South of Beaverton 47:53 called Gaston, Oregon. 47:56 And there in Gaston, Oregon in order to get down 47:59 into where we lived, you could either go around 48:02 Bald Peak Mountain or you could go up and down it. 48:07 Well, it had started to rain, the rain had frozen 48:11 and the, the snow would begin to fall. 48:15 And so the road going up the mountain was quite slippery. 48:20 It was quite amazing, I'm, I'm a little boy at heart, you know. 48:24 And so here we are going up this mountain and the whole time, 48:27 my friends, my wife is telling me, 48:29 please Scott turned around, please turned around. 48:31 I'm praying that you're gonna turned around 48:32 and go around the mountain, please turned around 48:35 and go around the mountain. 48:36 And I'm just, I'm just living up this little boy, 48:38 moment in my heart, here I am on this very 48:40 slippery road in my two wheel drive truck, 48:43 and I'm trying to make it up this mountain, 48:46 and I'm going up sideways, you know, my. 48:49 I'm going this way but my tires are over here 48:51 and my steering wheels turn like this 48:53 and I'm going up to mountain just sideways, I'm loving it. 48:56 My wife is begging me, please Scott, turn around. 48:58 And in the back of my mind, I hear this voice, 49:03 "Scott, turn around." 49:09 But I'm too busy caught up in the moment, 49:15 and I tell myself, I can make it. 49:19 I look over my wife, who's crying by this point, 49:21 I'm a terrible man, I've admitted it and asked 49:23 her for forgiveness for this. I said, 49:25 "Sweetheart, we're gonna be all right." 49:29 My friends, we made it to the top of the mountain, 49:34 home was at the bottom of the mountain. 49:41 My wife said to me, 49:44 "Scott, please don't go down this mountain." 49:51 And I hear this very, very loud voice 49:55 in the back of my mind it says, 49:58 "Scott, don't go down this mountain." 50:05 By now it's probably 11 O'clock at night 50:11 and I started down the mountain. 50:15 Three inches at a time, roll three slide four, 50:21 roll three put on the brakes, slide four, roll three, 50:26 put on the brakes, slide four. 50:27 And I hear my wife audibly pray, 50:31 "Dear Lord, put us in a ditch, put us in a ditch. 50:43 Roll three and slide into a ditch. 50:49 We didn't make it home that night until 12:30. 50:54 We had a new born baby with us, friends, now, 50:57 I know, you're thinking yourself, this man is crazy, 51:00 he's just off his rock or he should listen to his wife, 51:02 he should listen to that voice that's behind him, 51:04 but think about at yourself how often has God spoken to you? 51:13 And you haven't listened? 51:17 Now praise God, my family and I are here to tell you about it, 51:20 to say that, "Hey, we made it though this." 51:25 But that's not always going to be the case. 51:29 When God, when we know that we have applied the principles 51:32 and God speaks to us though His word 51:35 and it's coming directly from His word, 51:38 it's not man's interpretation, it's not man's twist 51:41 to what God is saying when that happens? 51:45 And we hear that voice, we must walk in his word 51:52 or we run the risk of never hearing the voice again. 52:05 When we study God's word in light of these five principles, 52:09 we will follow God's word. 52:13 I said at the beginning of this sermon that I believe 52:15 that you are a person that will follow 52:17 the divine light that God reveals to you. 52:21 It's no mistake that we're tuned in here, 52:23 it's no mistake that we're here in this auditorium, 52:25 God wanted us to hear this message, 52:27 so that we could be sure 52:29 that we were understanding the truth of God's word. 52:35 When me study God's word with these five principles, 52:38 our eyes will be illuminated, 52:41 when we study God's word with these five principles 52:44 we will see wonderful things out of the Bible. 52:48 When we study God's word with these five principles 52:51 in mind this world will not be our home. 52:56 Someone told me one time, 52:57 "If the world fits, then you are the wrong size." 53:04 Think about that, if you are so comfortable 53:06 here in this world, friends, then you are the wrong size. 53:12 So maybe you're asking yourself right now, 53:17 am I the wrong size. 53:22 It is time, dear Christian friend and fellow Bible student, 53:26 that we pour our lives into the study of God's word. 53:37 The study of God's word will wake us 53:39 up from our deadness in sin. 53:42 Turn with me to Ephesians Chapter 5, 53:45 you're in Hebrews, turn to the left to Ephesians, 53:49 Ephesians, Galatians, Ephesians, 53:51 Galatians is right after Corinthians. 53:53 Ephesians Chapter 5 and verse 14, 53:59 the Bible says here in Ephesians Chapter 5 and verse 14, 54:02 "Wherefore he saith," let's go to back to verse 13, 54:07 "But all things that are reproved 54:09 "are made manifest by the light, 54:11 "for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 54:16 "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, 54:20 and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light." 54:26 When the light of the Bible lumens our life, 54:29 it gives us a new life. 54:31 God's word will wake us up from the dead, 54:33 no matter what our past has been, 54:35 God's word will always make our future 54:38 new and bright because of the light 54:40 that shines in us through Christ Jesus, our Lord. 54:44 God's word gives us the necessary instructions 54:47 for staying alive during the tsunami of the end of time. 54:54 If we listen and we follow, we will live. 55:04 Friend, will you search God's word? 55:08 Applying these principles so that you can spend 55:13 an eternity with your Lord. 55:19 Friend, will you take these five principles 55:24 and seek deep into the word of God 55:27 so that He can reveal His truth to you. 55:38 Friends, will you give your life to Jesus today? 55:44 The Bible tells us that today is the day of salvation, 55:48 we are never guaranteed tomorrow, 55:49 what would keep you today. 55:57 Martin Luther in a letter to the elector, 55:59 after stating his purpose to leave Wittenberg, 56:01 Luther said, "Be it known to your Highness 56:04 "that I am going to Wittenberg under a protection 56:06 "far higher than those that of the electors. 56:10 "I think not of soliciting your Highness's support, 56:12 and far from desiring your protection, 56:14 I would rather protect you. 56:18 If I knew that your highness could or would protect me, 56:21 I would not go to Wittenberg at all. 56:24 There is no sword that can further this cause. 56:26 God alone must do everything, 56:28 without the help or concurrence of man. 56:31 He who has the greatest faith is he who is most able to protect. 56:35 " Martin Luther believed in the word of God, 56:38 he believed it to be truth, he studied it in the light 56:41 of the five principles, will you? 56:49 You've felt, you have felt the Spirit of God 56:51 speaking to your heart even now. 56:58 And you're making a commitment in your heart right now 57:00 to say to Jesus, "I want these principles to 57:03 apply the next time I open my Bible." 57:07 If that's you, dear friends, you just raise your hand, 57:10 whether you're at home 57:11 or whether you're here in this auditorium. 57:14 God sees those hands, praise God. |
Revised 2014-12-17