Authority of Scripture — Isaiah 46

0:08 Well, happy New Year to all of you. A it's a pleasure to be able to share with you from God's word today. And we're gonna be looking at a lot of scripture. And so that Books of the Bible song was just to freshen up your mind so so you can be flipping through those pages. But I actually do have all the scriptures today will be projected up on the screen.

0:31 So, if you would like to flip through them, I encourage you to that. Read it from your own word. You can put little notes in there. If you would choose to rather look up at the screen, they'll be up here too. Okay?

0:42 Let's just open with a quick word of prayer. Heavenly father, we do thank you for all that you've done already this morning and bring us together to, worship the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the message that comes through the singing, that comes through the words of the text that we've read. And father, I pray that even now that we would dig deeply into your scriptures, that we would, study them and take them to heart.

1:09 And father, I do want to pray for any in this room that does not know you as their personal Lord and savior, that have never submitted, repented of their sin, and, confess that you are Lord. We just pray, Father, also for those who are listening online or in years to come. Because, Lord, we know that in this day and age with technology that, many things we can be blessed by were shared originally years ago. And Father, when we consider your word, consider how old it is, we know that there's still great value in things from long days gone by. Father, we just, thank you that we can look into your word now to get to know you better, to honor you.

1:52 We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen. Gotta share with you this morning a few scenarios. Okay? A few scenarios.

2:01 I'd like you to just, sit back and listen and think what would this what would you do if this happened to you? It's Saturday morning and your doorbell rings. When you see who it is, you notice two well dressed young men patiently standing at your door. When you answer, they politely ask if they could talk to you about your outlook on current events. They also offer you some literature from which they think you may benefit.

2:29 You ask them to wait a moment, you shut the door, go into another room, and commit the situation to prayer. Scenario number two. Your college age daughter comes home one weekend and says that she met the nicest guy in one of her classes. You listen with interest as she talks about him for a good half hour and then ask her about his spiritual beliefs. She tells you he's probably a Christian, but most likely won't fit in at our church because he believes things that our church doesn't teach.

3:03 You ask her to explain, so she elaborates. But when she comes to her conclusion, she confesses that he doesn't go to church very much but believes in God. Before you can respond, she gets a cell phone call and accuses herself to go talk to her new friend privately. You look at your spouse and together commit the situation to prayer. Scenario number three and final.

3:31 You are in your office at work and one of your colleagues knocks on the door and asks if he, if you have a minute to talk. You stop what you're doing and invite him in. Within moments, shares that he and his wife are having marriage problems and need some help. He states that he knows you are a Christian and have an admirable marriage. He then asks if you and your wife would be willing to give them some marriage counseling.

3:57 You tell him you'd be happy to help and you will talk with your wife about having them over. You get his phone number and promise to call him that evening to make arrangements for dinner and some time to talk. After he leaves, you close the door and commit the situation to prayer. How would you respond in each of these scenarios? I would suggest that how you respond depends on your outlook on scripture.

4:25 If your opinion of the Bible is that it has helpful teachings and interesting stories, you probably won't look there first to deal with these situations. But if you look at the scriptures as the sole authoritative word of God, you will immediately go to the bible for instruction and making decisions in these and other situations in life. Your opinion of the Bible will determine your outlook on all the circumstances of life. Well, our topic today is the authority and supremacy of scripture. You may have just responded as you look at this title and as even Mr.

5:12 Horstman commented, that's a huge topic. How are we gonna be able to possibly discuss this massive concept in just one sermon? But even with the centuries of writings available for your perusal in book form as well as online, there is a very simple challenge that you can consider today. Does God's word have authority in your life? Does God's word have authority in your life?

6:13 Fourthly, we will see that there are grave consequences for those who reject God's authority, his word, and or his son. And lastly, if we accept scripture as authoritative, we will be blessed when we read and obey it. I'd like to start out with a quote that I found online, represented by the Masters Seminary in Santa Clarita, California. You might have heard a Christian radio program called, We're Grace to You with Doctor. John McArthur.

6:54 This is a university that he helped establish, also has a seminary. Many of our students at Faith Academy end up at the Masters College. They also have a seminary. This gentleman, Richard Mayhew, started out with his roots in Ohio, and also Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. But he wrote a very nice article on the authority of scripture.

7:18 And I just gleaned this quote based on Exodus three fourteen and John eight fifty eight. With a biblical world view, original authority and an ultimate authority reside with God and God alone. God did not inherit his authority. There was no one to bequeath it to him. God did not receive his authority.

7:43 There was no one to bestow it on him. God's authority did not come by way of an election. There was no one to vote for him. God did not seize his authority. There was no one to steal it from.

7:59 God did not earn his authority. It was already his. God inherently embodies authority because he is the great I am. Just taking a look at this passage. In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 46, nine through 11, remember the former things long past, for I am God and there is no other.

8:26 I am God and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times, things which have not been done saying, my purpose will be established and I will accomplish all my good pleasure. Calling a bird of prey from the East, the man of my purpose from a far country, Truly, I have spoken. Truly, I will bring it to pass. I have planned it. Surely, I will do it.

8:56 Now this particular prophecy that Isaiah wrote here was describing a country that they called the Chaldeans. Alright? The Assyrians and the Babylonians. Alright? What were their...

9:09 What was their job that God was calling forth? This eagle from the East, a bird of prey, I should say. It was to destroy the nation of Judah. Why? Because they had ignored his word.

9:25 So we start off today with a very somber reminder that this is not something we can take or leave, walk out of here and think our lives are no different. That was okay sermon. I can now I went a little long. Hopefully, I won't. But something to chew on during lunch, getting ready for the playoff football games.

9:48 This is something that is a matter of life and death. Your viewpoint on the authority of God and his word will make the difference whether or not you look to His word for salvation? Or is it just a nice book with some neat stories and good teaching? Let's continue on looking at some more scriptures. In Romans 13, first verse, Paul wrote by the inspiration of God, every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

10:31 Now in context here, he's talking about your government. In this country we have, it would be your local officials, your state officials, and your federal government that we need to submit to those in authority. But the main point I want to stress here is that all authority is established by God. And they are... They exist because God appointed them.

10:56 And no matter your political views, that's the truth of God's word. And we need to honor that. Psalm 119 verse 89 talks about God's word. How long has it been? Forever.

11:09 Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. What about in the New Testament, looking at teachings of the Lord Jesus? He said, For truly I say to you, in Matthew five eighteen, until heaven and earth pass away, Not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the law until all is accomplished. Now, what is Jesus speaking of here is not just what we would call the New Testament. I remember back when I was a younger Christian, I met a gentleman who said, oh, we don't even look at the Old Testament in our church.

12:00 The Pentateuch is what it would be considered in in, the Old Testament teachings. And the prophets, which is everything in addition to the law. So everything that would be considered scripture at the time of Jesus, he is saying not one little tiny marking. Now if you've ever studied Hebrew or you've ever looked at Psalm 119, at the beginning of each of those eight verse sections, they have the Hebrew alphabet. There's 22 Hebrew letters.

12:28 And some of them are just a matter of taking a pen and going, it would be like dotting an I in our alphabet. Little tiny jot. Or what about if you try to draw the letter h in Hebrew or het or hey, h e t h or h e. You know, who cares? Well, there's a big difference.

12:48 One goes like this and down with another line vertical, but it doesn't touch the top. Or the one that touches the top, completely new letter. And so each one of these little teeny tiny marks meant something and would confuse the reader if you didn't understand it. But Jesus is pointing out, you probably heard another translation, jot or tittle. And that's what he's talking about.

13:12 Little mark, the smallest letter or stroke, not a jot or tittle shall pass away from the law until all is accomplished. So what does that mean? Everything that was stated prior to Jesus' coming to earth, he says that about. But we also have reference to scripture that God's word has been taught in the New Testament. And so we can also look at the book of Revelation, Jesus' words through the prophet John at that point, also through all the gospels and the teachings of the epistles.

13:45 That every single thing that has been presented in God's word will take place. Why does that impact us? Why does that impact us? Because there are things in God's word that will change your life for the good. And there are things in God's word which will condemn you to hell.

14:09 Those things I think would be valid to learn. And lastly, in this small section of Psalm, one nineteen verse one sixty, the sum or the conclusion of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous ordinances is everlasting. You can't get much more bold than that to say that something that is written is truth. And I... If I could add this, absolute truth, now that truth has become so relative in our culture, I would like to add that word, absolute truth.

14:42 There's nothing that ever infers in scripture that this is relative truth. And it says, and every one of your righteous ordinances is everlasting. I've probably shared this before, but I will share it very quickly. Back in the early nineties, I was in full time youth ministry and I had the privilege of going into a high school on the East Side Of Cleveland every day. I got to be the assistant choral director.

15:03 Eventually, that led me to going into choral directing as an occupation. But at that point, I was employed by a church to go out into the community and get to know the kids. And the best way was hanging out with them. Whether it be at the football games, the basketball games, the wrestling matches, wherever they were, they said, we want you there. We want you to raise kids.

15:25 That's how Jesus related to people, and that's how his word got out. And so they said, if you can get any way into the high school, do that. Well, I had some experience playing baseball, and I had a lot of experience in music. So I went to the head varsity baseball coach, I went to the head choral director, and both of them were thrilled to have me come in. And they had to pay me a penny and I became the assistant choral director.

15:48 Got to know these kids pretty well. One of them, one time, was talking to me out in the parking lot after school and stated, you know what? I saw your your look. I'm not a really good actor. I saw your look when I was talking to you and and a couple other folks today about my project.

16:04 Now just to fill you in real quick, the project was talking about, probably homosexuality would be the best term to call it. And this was back in the early nineties. Okay? And I guess I must have shown my face when this person was talking about their viewpoint on that, and I didn't quite agree with it. And she stated, well, what's your problem with it?

16:25 And I said, well, since you ask, I'll tell you. And I told her that scripture teaches that along with murder, along with lust, along with lying, along with everything else that we can all say at one time in our life we are guilty of, homosexuality is also a sin and that it is condemned in scripture. I wanted to make sure she realized that I wasn't saying that was the only sin and that it's not the impartible sin. Scripture says in in a particular section, as a long description of sins that homosexuality was in there, then the very next verse said, and as were some of you, but the Lord saved you out of all that. So I expressed that to her.

17:05 She says, well, that's not how I believe. And I said, well, do you believe in absolute truth? She said, no. And that's where the point came. That's why this is so important.

17:54 Oh, something I heard on a song by the Beatles. You know, they can throw anything in there. It's all relative. So I asked her this question. And this is kind of morbid, but I wanted to make the point.

18:04 And I said, you know what? Here's if I go your way, here's what I can say. Today, I'm going let you live. She kind of looked at me strange. And I said, but tomorrow, if I don't think I want to do it, I'll shoot you.

18:19 Now unfortunately, she didn't tell anybody I said that, but I was trying to make a point. She goes, What are you talking about? I said, Well, if it's all relative truth, what's wrong with murder? What's wrong with murder? Well, it's wrong.

18:32 You're taking someone else's life. Who said so? Who said that's wrong? Well, well, well, you know, and she started to stutter and she finally got the point that if you want to go a little bit away from absolute truth, why not go all the way? If you just want to go a little way and go on that slippery slope of saying, whatever I think is right or whatever that person thinks is right, all of a sudden, you have thrown away any foundation of logic and any foundation of decision making based upon fact.

19:05 It's all going to be relative. That's what's so important about this whole, this whole idea of absolute authority of God's word. Here's another quote. This gentleman is from the Christian Research Institute. His name is Elliot Miller.

19:21 His article was entitled The Christian and Authority. In Psalm 138 verse two, David declares, For thou hast magnified thy word according to all thy name. According to David then, God has identified with His word to the same degree that He has identified with His name. Again, I'll read it again. For thou hast magnified thy word according to all thy name.

19:47 So now he's equating God's word and God's name. How to respond to his word is how we respond to God or to him. Jesus said, thy word is truth in John seventeen seventeen. The Psalmist proclaim the sum of thy word is truth. We just read that in Psalm one nineteen verse one sixty.

20:09 The word of God is not partially true. It is fundamentally one with truth. Since the teaching of scripture is absolutely true, scripture is qualified to function as an absolute authority for the individual Christian and the church. And finally, because scripture is the word of God, it is infallible. Because it is infallible, it is qualified to serve as an absolute authority over us.

20:46 Now, it's personal. Think about it. If God's word is absolute authority, we can't step out from underneath and say, well, that is for somebody else. Here's a real life example. Many of you here are sports fans, I know, and and, I I...

21:06 In fact, I've coached with some of you folks here. And I would like to ask you to think, what if you went to a baseball game and the umpire didn't know the rules. Can you imagine the chaos that would take place? Well, I actually had that privilege or no, I'm saying that sarcastically. One time when there was a young man who was, umpiring a girls softball game that my daughter was in.

21:38 I fortunately had had this student in my class earlier, so I knew them. And when they made a terrible call, I didn't get upset. I just went over the person. I said, what what was what was that call? And I go, I I I really don't know.

21:54 I tell you, I lost all faith at that point that this game was gonna be any less than crazy. And fortunately, there were two umpires. And the other umpire came up to me soon after and said, this is their first game and I really don't think they've ever played. And I said, alright, I won't go to that person anymore. I will just sit back and enjoy the ride.

22:15 And sure enough, the the the southern umpire, once that first call was made, took all the calls and this this this, gentleman who had made the wrong call sat back and learned how to play. But can you imagine that if you were in a very high risk situation and all of a sudden the rules didn't count? How about driving down the road? Think about that for a second. I was sharing with someone this past week, I said, you know, on New Year's Eve, I don't drive if I can help it.

23:27 We don't know the rules in this situation. And there were times when we felt a little uncomfortable in how things worked. And every once in a while, when we didn't know the rules and we did something wrong, we got in trouble for it, All right? Because you have not only your rules of engagement, if I could use that term in military, but you have your rules of life. But they all come from a very cultural viewpoint.

23:53 To elaborate even further, how about your world viewpoint? Can you go anywhere in this world and no matter what the circumstances, what the culture, can you go to an absolute truth? How about Amsterdam and Holland? Well, there is no limitation whatsoever on public access to drugs. I have a friend who's a missionary there, And she says people soup up on heroin right in the middle of public parks.

24:23 It's completely legal. And I won't even tell you where her number one ministry is in the Red Light District, what goes on there. But everything is legal. You think about it, it's legal. It's that bad.

24:38 No absolute truth there, Yes, there is. But they've ignored it. Let's take a look at a couple more scriptures here regarding this idea. Second Timothy three sixteen to 17. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

25:06 This is a great passage of scripture to encourage your children to memorize scripture, encourage yourself to do. Second Peter one twenty and twenty one, but know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation. Excuse me? What's that again? But know this first of all that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation.

25:25 Have you ever heard someone say, well, that's just your opinion on that scripture. Says very clearly right here in second Peter that it's not one's own interpretation, then what is it? For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men, moved by the Holy Spirit, spoke from God. Here's our second point. I realize we took a long time on that first one, these will go a little bit quicker.

25:50 The second one, Jesus has received all authority from God. So now we're transferring from God the Father to God the Son. Does the authority drop? Absolutely not. In Jude 25, To the only God our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time and now and forever.

26:14 Amen. In this verse, it equates God being praised, but how does it happen? Through Jesus. John ten seventeen and eighteen. Jesus is speaking right before, well, actually not right before, but soon before he goes to the cross.

26:31 It's about halfway through the book. For this reason, the father loves me because I laid down my life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from me. That, oh, does that mean the Romans didn't kill Jesus? I thought the Jews killed Jesus.

26:48 Well, no, there are people that live their life with hate because they've never read this verse or they've not taken it as God's authority. Who killed Jesus according to this verse? No one has to take it away from me, but I lay it down on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I receive from my father.

27:15 God sent Jesus to die on the cross and Jesus humbly obeyed. Colossians two ten, and in him, Jesus Christ, you have been made complete, and he is the head over all rule and authority. And lastly, the one that probably you've heard the most, you've heard a lot from me lately, Matthew twenty eight eighteen through 20. Jesus' last words in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus came up and spoke to the disciples saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

27:49 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. And lo, I'm with you always, even to the end of the age. Six months ago, this week, I stood before you still not completely jet lagged over my jet lag, I should say. And I embarrass to say that those that stuck around after lunch got a five hour tour of Philippines. Those of you that left at lunchtime, you did not have to suffer through that.

29:14 First, make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And then you're to teach them. This takes place every week here in this facility. Is it taking place every day in your life? Are you leading people to Christ?

29:37 Are you telling them about your Savior? Are you taking God's word as authoritative over your life and recognizing, as I was so challenged this week, it's not your time, It's mine. I've given you this day. You pray, give us this day our daily bread. I've given you this day.

29:58 You need to use it for me. And you can talk to my family about how much I whine about that when it's my turn to preach. But that's reality. It's not my time. It's his.

30:08 Third point, Jesus has the authority to impute authority to others. So God, the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and now by the power of the Holy Spirit. And by that authority, he's passed it on to others. Luke nine verse one. Jesus called the 12 together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and healed diseases.

30:37 Now, if you've read that recently, you realize that what came out of that, they were so excited. They came back and says, we saw this and we saw that. And Jesus said, I saw saw demons. I think I I I don't wanna misquote, but I saw the, stars falling from heaven, I think it was. And I apologize, I don't have that quote right on my mind.

30:58 But he saw the the the sons of darkness, basically. He saw things in the spiritual realm where they were being destroyed by the work of the disciples. Have you seen the destruction of evil in your life? Maybe in your own life, maybe in someone else's life, who you have taken the time to share your heart with them? Back to that scenario three, have you ever had someone come to you that said they're experiencing trouble with their marriage?

31:35 Have you been able to give counsel? Have you recognized, I can't just step back here. I might be the only person that they go to as a Christian. It's my turn. I need to do this.

31:51 Matthew eight:nine. This was spoken of by a Roman. A Roman centurion, a person whose job was to kill, had a 100 men under his authority. What did he say to Jesus when Jesus was going to come to heal one of his servants? He said, for I also am a man under authority with soldiers under me.

32:17 And I say to this one, go, and he goes. And to another, come, and he comes. And to my slave, do this. And he does it. And Jesus said, I've not seen such faith in all of Israel.

32:34 In fact, he told Jesus, don't come to my house. I don't want you to be... I don't want you to stoop to come into my house a Roman. I know that the Jews at that point, we haven't had that sheet thing going on with Peter and first Corinthian... I mean, in acts chapter 10.

32:52 So we haven't had that. So he says, I recognize the separation between us. Don't even come. I know that you can speak it. I know you can even think it.

33:00 And that's exactly what happened. When Jesus said your son... Your your slave will be healed, they were healed. John nineteen eleven a, Jesus answered, Pilate. This is at the moment that Jesus is being put under trial.

33:16 The highest authority in the land, Pontius Pilate. And he says, don't you know that I have authority to set you free, authority to crucify you? And what did Jesus say? You would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above. This is what really amazed me to think.

33:36 Not only does Jesus give authority to his disciples, not only does Jesus hear of this authority in the Roman government, here is God giving authority to a sinful, disgusting person, Pontius Pilate, for his purposes. This is a great description of God's sovereignty. And fourthly, there are grave consequences. Now I told you about this softball game. You know what?

34:08 There were a couple parents that were pretty upset in the stands over a girls softball game, and I think this was like grade three or four. It was pretty low level on the stress test. What we're talking about right now, folks, is as high as it can get. It's a matter of life and death. There are grave consequences for those who reject God's authority, his word, and or his son.

34:58 You can say, oh, I believe God's word, but I'm not interested in Jesus. No. No. No. Well, I'm interested in Jesus, but I don't read his word.

35:07 No. No. No. They all go together. If Jesus said not one jot or tittle, not one stroke or mark will be gone before all time ends, it shows how important God's word is.

35:24 What we read again, when the prophet Isaiah, who's he describing in this? He's describing his chosen people. Do you think The United States is exempt from invasion? I saw a movie about twenty five years ago called Red Dawn. It's out again.

35:51 The bad guys back then were the Russians. And it was about this little town in Kansas that got invaded by the Russians. Paratroopers swarming around this school building start shooting through the windows and the kids go, oh, look at all those people. You know, it was crazy. Scared me though.

36:11 I was a young kid. Scared me. And then when mister president, I should say, Reagan said, mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall, which I had been to that wall when I was a sophomore in high school. I went to Berlin from Frankfurt on a six hour train ride, and I had the guards come in with the German Shepherds and the machine guns, scared the liver out of me. And that was during peacetime.

36:38 So when I saw Red Dawn, I was scared. But when Gorbachev tore down the wall and people from East to West Berlin were allowed to move and wow, that was cool. That was so cool. And we got pretty big for ourselves here in The United States. We thought we were pretty pretty special.

36:54 Do you think that we're beyond that if God would take his chosen people who he's watched, kill the prophets and turn away from his word over and over and over again. Well, here's what Isaiah was told to write, inspired to write. Chapter five twenty four and twenty five, Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame. What a word picture. So their root, and he's talking about his chosen people, their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust.

37:38 For they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts and despised the word of the holy one of Israel. I could stop right there. What got the Jews in trouble? They rejected God's word. Did they still do some things?

37:56 Did they still have their sacrifices on the special occasions? Yep. But you can read other scriptures where God says, I don't want your sacrifices. I'm not interested in your celebrations. Going on in verse 25, on this account, because of this, the anger of the Lord has burned against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them and struck them down.

38:25 And the mountains quaked and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this, his anger is not spent, but his hand is still stretched out. This was like in the midst of the worst thing that could happen to them, being invaded by another country. And Isaiah is saying, it's still not over, folks. And if I could say that as an American, if I could say that as a person in this world watching things around me, God's not done yet.

39:03 When Columbine took place after I was a new teacher, that scared me. When I heard recently that there are armed guards at an elementary school in New Jersey, that didn't surprise me. I hope there's an armed guard at my school when I go back tomorrow. There were five policemen Friday afternoon three weeks ago. Five at my school at dismissal.

39:30 Now the principal sent out a letter apologizing for maybe they overreacted. I did not know what was going on until I got in my car to drive home and turned on the news and heard about the shooting in Connecticut. I'm not trying to be morbid, folks. I'm looking at our nation. I'm looking at our society.

39:53 I'm looking at this world. I've seen the other side of it. It's no better. In fact, it's worse in many, many situations. Our world is not our home, and God is trying to get our attention.

40:31 They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate where? With themselves. Interesting, Guess who the bad guy was in the new Red Dawn that came out in the last six months? North Korea.

40:49 I lived in The Philippines. I lived with 40% student I I taught at a school with 40% student body from South Korea. I was in the car on scalp trips with two South Korean boys sitting to my right just talking about life. And they I said, well, what brought you here, etcetera, etcetera. And to the kid to the kid, they didn't want to go back to South Korea.

41:19 They're afraid. They thought if we're here in The Philippines, at least The United States will protect us. They obviously haven't read about what happened in World War II on December 8 through about June of 'forty five February of 'forty five. The United States did not do too well in protecting The Philippines back in World War II. Psalm fourteen:one, The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.

41:52 They are corrupt. They have committed abominable deeds. There is no one who does good. Have you ever heard someone say they don't believe in God? Did you hear about the new congress?

42:04 The new congress? We have a person who is a bisexual. She is a female if you look at her. And she's also an atheist. New Congress.

42:17 Revelation twenty two nineteen, if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, check this out, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. Don't cut anything out of scripture. It's all valid. Luke twelve forty seven forty eight, here's a a sombering thought also. This is from the Lord Jesus in a parable.

42:44 And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will will receive many lashes. But the one who did not know it and committed deeds worthy of a flogging will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required. And to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Folks, we are sitting in this room on a Sunday, first Sunday in January twenty thirteen, you are now held accountable.

43:22 Here's the good news. Here's the good news. If we accept scripture as authoritative, we will be blessed when we read it and if I could add and obey it. We will be blessed. Here's some promises.

43:41 And I'm going to just go rapid fire. I probably won't even comment. This is just to pour God's love. Pour the good news out on you. But if you have not received Jesus as your savior, we're getting to that.

43:52 Okay? Alright. Here you go. If you're a believer, this is all yours. If you're not a believer, this isn't yours yet.

43:59 Okay? Psalm one nineteen eighteen and twenty four. Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your law. Your testimonies also are my delight. They are my counselors.

44:13 Psalm nineteen thirty three to 40. This is one of those Hebrew letters I was telling you about. Kids will learn their scriptures by look... One letter at a time. And this would be the eight verse section for, I think it's hay.

44:28 Teach me, oh lord, the way of thy statutes and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of your commandments for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity and revive me in your ways.

44:49 Establish your word to your servant as that which produces reverence for you. Turn away my reproach, which I dread for your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for your precepts. Revive me through your righteousness. How will God bring a revival in your life?

45:07 Through his word. How will God bring a revival in this church? Through his word. How will God bring a revival in this country? Through his word.

45:17 How will God bring revival in the world? Through his word. It's the only place that could happen. We gotta read it. We gotta obey it.

45:26 Psalm 119 continuing. These are just some select verses. 59. I considered my ways and turned my feet to your testimonies. Are you right now thinking, you know what?

45:38 Forget my New Year's resolution of losing 25 pounds. I think I'm gonna read the bible. It's not nearly as painful, but it'll change your life. I turned my feet to your testimonies. 97.

45:55 Oh, how I love your law. It is my meditation all the day. One zero five, you probably learned this as a kid. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, Amy Grant, and a light to my path. One sixty four, the word...

46:12 The number seven represents infinity in a way here. Seven times a day I praise you because of your righteous ordinances. You can never stop praising the Lord. You can never say, oh, that's enough praising for the day. Seven times a day, I praise you because of your righteous ordinance.

46:29 And then how about Proverbs, the book of wisdom? The first seven verses after the introduction, verse one. Let's read two through seven. To know wisdom. Sorry, I'm not helping you out here.

46:41 I'm sorry. Apologize for that. To know wisdom and instruction. To discern the sayings of understanding. To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity, to give prudence to the naive.

46:58 How about that young lady that I was describing in scenario two? How would you counsel her? But but she... He's so cute. But he asked me out and took me to Chipotle.

47:17 He bought me one of those big corsages for prom. The youth, knowledge, and discretion. Verse five, a wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. You think you know it all? You think you know it all?

47:35 You've read through the Bible at least once a year for the last five years. Well, look what scripture says. A wise man will hear and increase in learning and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. Six, to understand a power been a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

47:53 Fools despise wisdom and instruction. And then jumping to verse 23, to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you. You know who's speaking there? It's a word picture of wisdom.

48:11 Of wisdom speaking to us through verse 23. Turn to my reproof, says wisdom. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you. And in conclusion, our topic today, our topic today was authority and supremacy of scripture.

48:41 You may just have considered for the first time the importance of recognizing God's authoritative word. If you have never submitted to his authority, to the point of salvation, let me encourage you in this new year that now you can begin this new year as a new creature in Christ. One of my favorite verses, second Corinthians five seventeen. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things passed away.

49:20 Behold, new things have come. How's that happen? Only Jesus can save you from your sin and the penalty of death. Again, according to God's word, only Jesus. Romans three twenty three, for all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

49:38 Romans six twenty three, for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. John three three, Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Titus three:five, not so familiar. He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration, renewing by the Holy Spirit. Why is that verse so critical?

50:15 Folks, you're not gonna be able to change yourself. You can't say, well, when I get good enough, hey, I know. I'll start reading the bible, then I'll be good and God will prove of me. That's still not it. That's works.

50:27 Not by works that you have done, even in righteousness. Even if you've done righteous acts, that will not cleanse of your sin. But it's only by God's mercy, washing and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, John fourteen six, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but through me.

50:54 You had to put your trust in Jesus and his blood shed for you on the cross to cleanse you from your sin. First Peter three eighteen, Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God. A verse we heard already this morning in the breaking of bread, John 16. Don't let it become old and stale. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that's Jesus, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

51:29 There's a difference between life and death in God's word. First John one has a couple verses, seven and nine. If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, but the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin. It requires the blood of Christ, not our works. Nothing that we could do.

51:53 It was only by the blood of Christ. And if we confess our sins, verse nine, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The Philippian jailer was about ready to take his life. And Paul said, Stop. We're all here.

52:09 He says, What must I do to be saved? And Paul said, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. How do we do that? We fix our eyes. Hebrews twelve two on the Lord Jesus, the author, which is the root word.

52:26 Isn't it interesting? Author? The root word of authority. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author or the authority, if I could say, and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. He despised the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

52:51 Today is the day, 01/06/2013. It can come and go in your life like every other day you've had. But if you do not know Jesus as your savior, this could be the day that you are born again. It's your choice, but it's by God's call. You might think you choose Jesus.

53:16 The scriptures are very clear. He chose you. Second Corinthians six two, behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Don't wait.

53:30 Versus... Romans ten nine, if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. That's good news. And lastly, Hebrews nine twenty seven, And as much as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment. Judgment is coming, but we don't have to oops, try that again.

54:07 Judgment is coming, but we don't have to fear it if we're in Christ. There's also another promise in scripture that says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we have been challenged today by the authority of your word. Father, I want to pray specifically for those people right now who we know, who probably would walk out at the beginning of this message.

54:42 Father, I just pray for your mercy. I pray that you would somehow soften their heart. I pray that somehow you would touch them by the power of your Holy Spirit to reach through the hardness, the pain, the suffering, the sadness, the sorrow, whatever has took... Taken them to this point where they have rejected you, rejected your word, rejected anything that has to do with Jesus. Father, I also want to pray for those, Father, that have sat through and yet still don't know you.

55:18 I pray that these verses would not just be flying by on the screen or flying by in their memory, but that you would cause at least one that would lock on their heart and that they would recognize your love for them, your abundant, gracious, merciful love. You could have done, as was mentioned this morning in the first meeting, you could have destroyed the whole world. But no, you had a plan. You spared a family by the the leadership of Noah. And from that family came the Lord Jesus, the Redeemer.

56:01 And I pray that they would recognize that that Redeemer lives and that Jesus desires to live in our hearts. That Jesus desires that none should be lost. Father, I pray also for those of us here who already know you as savior. We can remember the time when we confessed our sin before you, that we recognize that only by the blood of Jesus could we be saved, and we submitted to that truth. But we still haven't really submitted to the rest of the scriptures.

56:38 We're glad we're saved, but you are definitely not authority in our lives. We confess that sin. We thank you for your grace that supersedes all of our transgressions according to Romans five. Your grace is sufficient. I pray that you would help us to honor your word, we would not fall into the sin of the Jews, that you won't have to send a Chaldean experience in our life to shake us up.

57:12 And Lord, I just pray that we would not be content with our own salvation. I pray, Lord, that we would recognize that You have, by Your grace, spared the world thus far. It might come to an end soon. Help us at this present time, as Peter said, considering what's going along around us in this world, help us to be that much more desirous to lead people to You. Use us, Lord, to present the gospel wherever that may be.

57:49 We ask your blessing now as we go. Pray your blessing upon these Bible studies that are taking place this week. May we add one or two or many more to them. For Wana that starts tonight, may we be faithful to invite others. May we be faithful to do our work well.