I've had the privilege of preaching over the Internet to a church in Pakistan. These are mostly young men and women. Here is the sermon I gave yesterday. It was printed out and sent a day ahead of time so that the interpreter is not surprised by any hard words. I suspect that they are not very advanced in the faith so I have been keeping my message rather basic.
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The Word of God – a Treasure
My father gave me a Bible for my tenth birthday. I would sometimes read it. But I never really understood it. It wasn’t until I was 21, living in a town in Germany, that I became a Christian. That was when I first realized that the Bible is the actual - Word - of - God.
I remember thinking, “Wow! These are the actual words of God!” I still think the same way. We have a real treasure in this book.
I hope that every one of you is able to read your Bible every day. If you are a Christian this book is very important. If it is read, you will be strong in this world and have peace. I have read the Bible through many, many times and I am still making new discoveries, still finding new wisdom and encouragement. I hope the same is true for you. I want to share some verses with you.
The Word of God is LIFE
John 6:63:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
When Jesus was very hungry in the desert, tempted by the Devil to turn the stones into bread, He gave a good answer:
Matt. 4:4:
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
The Word of God is LIGHT
Psalm 119:105:
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
As we are walking in this life it will help us to see the way. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” The more you learn of Him the more you will be a light to others.
As young as you are, there is always a message here for you. As old as some of us are, the Bible is still full of new discoveries.
The Word of God is DIVINE
It is divine because Jesus Christ is God and He is the Word.
John 1:1-4:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The Word of God is a SHARP SWORD
It is a sharp sword against enemies.
Eph. 6:14-17:
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
It is a sharp sword against you and me!
Very often, reading the Bible you learn things about yourself that you don’t like. That is because God’s Holy Spirit is showing you faults and sin in your own life that God wants corrected. No Christian is sinless. We all need God’s Word to cut into our soul, like a doctor does, to take out what is bad.
Hebrews 4:12-13:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
“A discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. This verse means that, as - we – read - God’s - Word, - God’s -Word - is - reading - us. He wants to make us holy.
The Word of God is POWERFUL
1 Cor. 1:18:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The Word of God gives WISDOM
2 Tim. 3:16:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Col. 3:16:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The Word of God brings GRACE
Many Christians do not spend enough time and thought on the Bible. Christians books, web sites, and preachers may be helpful for the Christian life, but the Word of God is most important. Not only to know about God and how to live, but also to have the grace – the power – to live as you ought. Here is a very important secret many don’t understand:
Reading - the - Bible, with prayer and purpose, brings the presence of God much closer in your life.
Did you ever notice that the letters from the Apostles Paul and Peter often begin and end in the same way? Here is Phil. 1:2:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is how many of Paul’s letters begin. And here is the end:
Phil. 4:23:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
This means that, as you pray and carefully read the Bible, God gives you grace. He helps you to understand and to live the Christian life.
What do we need to do today?
We should all read the Bible every day. I hope and pray that you do this. We should study and meditate on the Bible. The more you do this the more it will become real to you. The more you read - and - understand, the more you can pray and grow in grace, the more you will have peace – inner peace.
Don’t read just a little. If you have the time, read a lot. Pray and ask God to help you understand. The Bible is not just a book to read. It is to be studied carefully and applied to your life. It is food for your soul. Don’t be like some people, just reading a verse or two and then forgetting what you read.
The Word of God is the Treasure of all Christians.
Read it, Study it, Live it.
--------
The Word of God – a Treasure
My father gave me a Bible for my tenth birthday. I would sometimes read it. But I never really understood it. It wasn’t until I was 21, living in a town in Germany, that I became a Christian. That was when I first realized that the Bible is the actual - Word - of - God.
I remember thinking, “Wow! These are the actual words of God!” I still think the same way. We have a real treasure in this book.
I hope that every one of you is able to read your Bible every day. If you are a Christian this book is very important. If it is read, you will be strong in this world and have peace. I have read the Bible through many, many times and I am still making new discoveries, still finding new wisdom and encouragement. I hope the same is true for you. I want to share some verses with you.
The Word of God is LIFE
John 6:63:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
When Jesus was very hungry in the desert, tempted by the Devil to turn the stones into bread, He gave a good answer:
Matt. 4:4:
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
The Word of God is LIGHT
Psalm 119:105:
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
As we are walking in this life it will help us to see the way. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” The more you learn of Him the more you will be a light to others.
As young as you are, there is always a message here for you. As old as some of us are, the Bible is still full of new discoveries.
The Word of God is DIVINE
It is divine because Jesus Christ is God and He is the Word.
John 1:1-4:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The Word of God is a SHARP SWORD
It is a sharp sword against enemies.
Eph. 6:14-17:
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
It is a sharp sword against you and me!
Very often, reading the Bible you learn things about yourself that you don’t like. That is because God’s Holy Spirit is showing you faults and sin in your own life that God wants corrected. No Christian is sinless. We all need God’s Word to cut into our soul, like a doctor does, to take out what is bad.
Hebrews 4:12-13:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
“A discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. This verse means that, as - we – read - God’s - Word, - God’s -Word - is - reading - us. He wants to make us holy.
The Word of God is POWERFUL
1 Cor. 1:18:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The Word of God gives WISDOM
2 Tim. 3:16:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Col. 3:16:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The Word of God brings GRACE
Many Christians do not spend enough time and thought on the Bible. Christians books, web sites, and preachers may be helpful for the Christian life, but the Word of God is most important. Not only to know about God and how to live, but also to have the grace – the power – to live as you ought. Here is a very important secret many don’t understand:
Reading - the - Bible, with prayer and purpose, brings the presence of God much closer in your life.
Did you ever notice that the letters from the Apostles Paul and Peter often begin and end in the same way? Here is Phil. 1:2:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is how many of Paul’s letters begin. And here is the end:
Phil. 4:23:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
This means that, as you pray and carefully read the Bible, God gives you grace. He helps you to understand and to live the Christian life.
What do we need to do today?
We should all read the Bible every day. I hope and pray that you do this. We should study and meditate on the Bible. The more you do this the more it will become real to you. The more you read - and - understand, the more you can pray and grow in grace, the more you will have peace – inner peace.
Don’t read just a little. If you have the time, read a lot. Pray and ask God to help you understand. The Bible is not just a book to read. It is to be studied carefully and applied to your life. It is food for your soul. Don’t be like some people, just reading a verse or two and then forgetting what you read.
The Word of God is the Treasure of all Christians.
Read it, Study it, Live it.
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