Transcript: Discovering Christ Through Faith in His Inspired Word

The The title of this message today is called Inspiration to Truly Know Christ Comes from Faith in His Word. I have always been touched by the word of God found in Jeremiah chapter 8, beginning in verse 6, where God is speaking through the prophet saying, I have listened and heard, but they have not spoken aright. No man repents of his wickedness saying, what have I done? Everyone turns to his individual course as the horse rushes like a torrent into the battle. Verse 7 Even the migratory birds are punctual to their seasons. Yes, the stork excelling in the great height of her flight in the heavens knows her appointed times of migration. And the turtle dove, the swallows, and the crane observe the time of their return. But my people do not know the law of the Lord, which the lower animals instinctively recognize insofar as it applies to them. Verse 8. How can you say we are wise and have the written law of the Lord and are learned in its language and teachings? Behold, the truth is, the lying pen of the scribes has made of the law a falsehood, a mere code of ceremonial observances. well you see the Lord spoke that the migratory birds knew instinctively when it was time for them to change direction and fly either north or south depending on the season but God's people had a more specific direction from the Lord in his word and the promptings of his love yet they did not see that it was time for them to change the direction of their lives The people then were claiming that they knew God's word and were obeying it. However, it was only because their experts in the law had perverted and changed it that they could even say such a thing. The scribes kept official records, copied important documents, and taught the people of the law. The Lord's word through Jeremiah had exposed the so-called wise men. They had rejected the Lord's word and that in itself was not wise. Nothing has changed since this time and warning given in our previous scripture. In the New Testament, we see where Apostle Paul was instructing his spiritual son, Timothy, in Timothy chapter 3, beginning in verse 14. He declares, But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others, and being deceived and leading astray themselves. Verse 14. But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned them. Verse 15. And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ. through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in his power, wisdom, and goodness. Verse 16. Every scripture is God-breathed, given by his inspiration, profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action. Verse 17. So that a man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted, and thoroughly equipped for every good work. Well, let's read into chapter 4 as well, connecting it with this same scripture reference. So we begin in chapter 4, verse 1. where Paul further exhorts Timothy, saying, I charge you in the presence of God, Jesus Christ, who is the judge of the living and the dead, and by in the light of his coming and his kingdom, herald and preach the word. Keep your sense of urgency. Stand by. Be at hand and ready. Whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as a preacher of the word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong, and convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. Verse 3. For the time is coming when people will not tolerate, endure sound and wholesome teaching, but will have itching ears for something pleasing and gratifying. They will gather themselves, one teacher after another, to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the airs they hold. Verse 4, and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. Verse 5, as for you, be calm and cool and steady accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry. Well, you see, this is Paul's last will and testament to Timothy. Paul was about to be tried and executed, and he knew his end was near. His main concern was not to prolong his life, but rather it was to instruct his spiritual son in the faith to do the following. One, to not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. Two, to be a partaker with him in affliction and endure the hardship and the suffering that would come. Three, keep that which was committed to him. Four, be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. Five, to remember that faith comes through Jesus Christ in the word. and six, to show himself approved unto God by rightly dividing the word of God, the word of truth. So no matter what Paul was going to suffer, his belief was that the word of God is not bound nor can it be bound. In 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 9 we see this. He declares, For that gospel, I am suffering affliction and even wearing chains like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained or imprisoned. Hallelujah! Well, somebody asks, Well, what is the word of God? Well we can clearly say It is a message of God The Word of God is God Word to mankind It was spoken to the prophets and delivered to the people And it was used to designate a special revelation of grace given in and by our Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke chapter 1, verses 2 and 3, we read, Since it is well known, many have undertaken to put in order and draw up a thorough narrative of the surely established deeds which have been accomplished and fulfilled in and among us, exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the official beginning of Jesus' ministry were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. That is, the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God. And also, we read about how the word of God drew crowds. In Mark chapter 2, verses 1 and 2, Jesus having returned to Capernaum after some days it was rumored about that he was in the house probably Peter's verse 2 so many people gathered together that there was no longer room for them not even around the door as he was discussing the word hallelujah you see the word of God was a personal message of our Lord Jesus Christ God's word is found in the Bible in both the Old and the New Testament. Every word in the original writings was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through men of God. God's Holy Spirit guided human authors not only in the expression of God's thought, but also by the means of the words with which these thoughts were expressed. this was a divine and supernatural verbal inspiration of the scriptures dear one and the one involved was the Holy Spirit in the midst of it the scriptures are fully and completely inspired which means that the verbal inspiration extends itself to every portion of the Bible it can be said then that each book of the Bible has both divine inspiration and influence by the Holy Spirit, which is penned by human authorship with God in speaking in and through men whom he chose before the foundation of time. God speaking to man under the control of the Holy Spirit. You see, God's word does not merely contain the word of God or become the word of God under certain conditions. It is God's word. It is spoken from the mouth of the creator of the universe. It is the expression of the almighty God and in his person, his heart and mind and will, speaking to the hearts of those who will listen and obey what he speaks in order that they might live and share with him forever in his eternal kingdom. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Well, Paul speaks of his affirmation and inspiration in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, which again declares, Every scripture is God-breathed, given by his inspiration, profitable for instruction, for reproof, conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline and obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will, in thought, purpose, and action, so that every man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. I think it's noteworthy to mention at the very beginning of this in chapter 2 verse 1 Apostle Paul was warning of the widespread and rampant description of perilous times in the last days and I think it's necessary that we look at that and read that so please look with me in the 2nd Timothy chapter 3 beginning in verse 1 But understand this, that in the last days will come, set in perilous times of great distress and trouble, hard to deal with and hard to bear. Verse 2, for people will be lovers of self, utterly self-centered, lovers of money, aroused by an inordinate greed, desire for wealth, proud, arrogant, and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive, blasphemers, scoffing, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, and profane. Verse 3. They will be without natural human affection, callous and inhumane, relentless, admitting to no truce or appeasement. They will be slanders, false accusers, troublemakers, intemperate, and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. Verse 4. They will be treacherous, betrayers, rash, and inflated with self-conceit. They will be lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than they will be lovers of God. Verse 5, although they hold a form of piety or true religion, they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it. Their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession. Avoid all such people, turn away from them. Dear listener, doesn't this sound like the times in which we live today in this year of 2023? Paul urged Timothy to continue in the things he has learned and been assured of knowing of whom he had learned them. And dropping down to verse 14, this is 2 Timothy 3, verse 14 that I reference. But as for you, Timothy, continue to hold to the things that you have learned of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you've learned them. so Paul here refers to himself as Timothy's teacher and not only does the teaching need to be right dear one but also the teacher needs to be approved by God Apostle Paul was confident in saying what he taught because he knew that he had been chosen by God to fulfill his purpose in life we can only use the scripture to teach and clarify the truth in the word of God. And we see in Galatians chapter 1 verse 15 and 16 where Paul teaches and shares that he was chosen by God in his calling by the Almighty. Galatians chapter 1 beginning in verse 15. But when he who had chosen and set me apart even before I was born and had called me by his grace, his undeserved favor and blessing, saw fit and was pleased to reveal, unveil, disclose his son within me so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, the non-Jewish world, as glad tidings. Immediately I did not confer with flesh blood, did not consult or counsel with any frail human being to communicate with anyone. You know we have to think and ponder upon Selah that Paul had a Damascus Road experience a visitation from Jesus Christ regarding his divine commission concerning his particular mission in life God was going to send him to the Gentiles. Paul was definitely set apart and used by God for this particular call. so being set apart for a particular purpose extends on down to each sanctified believer in the family of God as they genuinely obey and trust and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and we can say they have been inspired by the truth that Jesus is who he said he was in James chapter 3 verse 1 the word declares Not many of you should become teachers, self-constituted censors and reprovers of others, my brethren, for you know that we teachers will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than other people. Thus, we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation. Today, there are too many untrustworthy teachers who are endeavoring to teach the word of God. We have many false teachers and false prophets on the scene in this year of 2023 who are leading many weak believers away. Our political politicians and actors and fundraisers and even leaders in many of the large churches suddenly have Jesus and use a Christianese language to dupe or snare people to follow their agendas. wrong as they are they are being followed by multitudes of millions of people all around the world and Jesus warned us he gave clear warning in Matthew 24 to be aware of these people in the last days and if people who purport to be a believer are not studying and growing in the knowledge of the truth found in scripture they will believe any false doctrine that comes along their way. We are commanded, dear church, to study and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You and I are called to study like the Bereans did. You see, a teacher who is not truly born again and shown to have qualities by living faith in Christ should not be teaching the word of God. Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. What Timothy acquired from Paul in knowledge and faith was encompassed in the expression which you have learned. And this was not mere intellectual knowledge, but rather it was straight from the heart of God by a man whose heart was sold out to God. This is called divine or supernatural faith that has been inspired by the Holy Spirit. He is the one who implants and impregnates every heart, the hungry heart, the sincere believer's heart, to have faith and believe in the truth that is only found in scripture. Yes, indeed, he does use human vessels to teach and preach his word, but there is a great responsibility of every professing believer to do his or her part. Paul called himself a bondservant of Jesus Christ. So it is with every genuine believer in Christ. This means that those people are divinely yoked in Jesus through habitual fellowship with him. Timothy's convictions and faith grew stronger because Paul's life had backed up the truth that Timothy had learned from him. Furthermore, they were consistent with sacred scripture that he had known all of his life from the Hebrew scriptures taught by his mother and grandmother. But when Paul began teaching about the Messiah whom Timothy had learned about and was coming from the Old Testament, these inspired writings conveyed a wisdom which only the Holy Spirit could implant in his heart and he was led to a personal salvation from sin because they pointed to Christ as Savior. Hallelujah! And therefore, dear ones, they are reliable and powerful because the Holy Spirit of God inspires the heart of every believer to believe in them by faith in Jesus Christ. Timothy learned from Paul that the learning was trustworthy in that it led him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ by supernatural faith. This was not carnal head knowledge. This is called the saving grace of our kind and generous Lord. Understand, Timothy, by what he was taught by Paul, did not simply learn, but he was made to believe and to exercise his faith in what he was taught in the Word. And we cannot again negate the fact that his learning was energized by the Holy Spirit. You see, learning the scriptures is not enough. It is a responsibility of the teacher to influence those taught to believe and call on the Holy Spirit, to open up their hearts, which is the wellspring of life in the word of God. Only because Timothy became a genuine believer did he recognize all that was in his teacher, Apostle Paul. He saw him as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. How many know that faith recognizes faith? Look what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2. beginning in verse 11. He declares, For what man knows are the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him. Even so, no one knows the things of God except the spirit of God. Verse 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words, which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Verse 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they're foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Verse 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things. He himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. You see, the things of God no man can know, but only the Spirit of God knows. Now, since the Holy Spirit is given to God's elect, and the Holy Spirit reveals them to whom the Son deliberately wills to make him known. Then Jesus spoke them. As you know, I always back up, verify by the word of God. Jesus spoke these words in Matthew chapter 11, verse 27. All things have been entrusted and delivered to me by my Father and no one fully knows and accurately understands the son except the father and no one fully knows and accurately understands the father except the son and anyone to whom the son deliberately wills to make him known hallelujah and this is saying that even in the case of mere man who is so endlessly inferior to God, none of his fellow men, but only his own spirit alone can know whether that knowledge be a great or small, what is within him. Man's spirit is the way by which he receives God's spirit and through whom him alone can any person know. You see, no man can know the things of God but only the Spirit of God. Everything which is a secret is hidden, unknown, including the mysteries of grace, are all unknown until, until revealed by precious Holy Spirit within the sincere hungry believer, except within the sincere hungry believer of God found in Jesus Christ alone. Timothy learned the Holy Scriptures from intimacy, but he was not saved until later when he was taught by Apostle Paul. It is commendable to teach our children the Word of God from infancy, but that in itself is not salvation, dear church. It is a step towards salvation. And what we have been looking today in this Word is that we must have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives and our souls to truly grow in the faith unto salvation. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the ultimate purpose of the study of this word today in God's word. It is not to satisfy one's intellectual curiosity, but rather it is to be saved from sin and to be reconciled to God in order to inherit eternal life. Remember, it is through faith, which is in Jesus Christ, that you and I are saved. It is the only name by which men can be saved. The scripture make us wise unto salvation because they are divinely inspired. Believers could not be led into salvation if they were not inspired truths found in the word of God. So God's word does what it does because of what it is. If we were not God inspired, it would not lead us into salvation. Because it is God breathed, it is also profitable, beneficial for teaching, for reproof, conviction. Correction, which causes one to stand upright again. Because the word of God is God-breathed, it is also profitable for instruction, which means child training with discipline and chastening. In righteousness, meaning that God's instruction with discipline for us as his children is always within God's right as our Heavenly Father. Dear listener, we have coursed through a teaching I like to call in a nutshell and using Paul's spiritual child Timothy as one whom he instructed in the way God was calling him and using him to be fit for the office which he was being prepared for. Timothy was a young believer, but Apostle Paul saw him as a genuine mature Christian man who was able to stand and take the initiative in his calling and led the way for multitudes of other believers in the way that he learned from Paul, his spiritual father. Paul was taught directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. And we know that he passed every test that was given him along his journey until his death as a martyr. It is my prayer for you and myself that we finish our race without wavering or deviation from this tried and true path of faith that every genuine believer who went on before us followed and passed the test and entered into the eternity of eternities. Let us believe wholeheartedly every word of God by faith because it is God's breathed and true and faithful word. Let us hold it near and dear to our hearts, as Paul did, and was a bondservant of his, and proved himself to be right before God in every way. Amen. I leave you with a song called, He Will Come and Save You. I believe this song will truly bless you, and you will be directed to live your faith in the Word of God, and know that he loves you so very much and has you in the palm of his hand as a true believer in Jesus Christ. Say to those who are fearful hearted Do not be afraid. The Lord your God is strong. With his mighty arms, When you call out his name, He will come and say, He will come and say, He will come and say, He will come and save you. Say to the weary one, your God will surely come. He will come and save you. Say to those who are brokenhearted Do not lose your faith The Lord your God is strong And with His loving arms When you call on His name He will come and save. He will come and save you. He will come and save you. Say to the weary one, your God will surely come. He will come and save you. He will come and save you. Thank you.