The Transforming Power of the Word of God

Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is the most published, most bought, most translated, and most read book ever written!  And if that’s not enough - it’s unlike any other book because it is holy.  It has the power to change the life of who ever reads it!

Psalm 33:6 proclaims, “The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created.  He breathed the word, and all the stars were born!”  And that is why the Bible is so powerful!  This is the Word of God - with the power the call the stars and heaven into existence!  And this power of God is available to you and I through His Word.

Let’s look at our text again this morning.  “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,” (Heb. 4:12).  This is one of the most amazing differences this Book has over other books.  It was not written to simply increase our knowledge, but to change our lives!

How does the Word of God change us?

IT REACHES YOUR SOUL

Have you ever read a book and been moved by the themes and characters?  Sure - most of us have.  The writing challenges your presumptions.  You identify with the characters and story, understand the motives of a villain, and even empathize with others because of what you’ve read.  Lots of classical literature does that - BUT the Bible does more!  It touches our very soul, and can change our life.  The fact that it reaches you so deeply is what sets it apart from other good books.

James 1:18, “He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word...”

Tom Smith is a Christian writer who shares an experience of a Christian from China who shared her testimony.  Her story illustrates the power of God’s Word to reach our soul and change our lives.  She grew up in an atheists home; knowing nothing of God.  She left for college to major in math and science.  While working in the library one day she decided to take a break from her studies and explore other sections of the library.  That’s when she came across the religion section and at the bottom of one of the shelves she found a large, white-covered book, with the title “Holy Bible”.  She opened it and began reading it from the beginning - Genesis 1.  She repeated this practice for a few days then stopped.  After a week or so she felt something missing was missing in her life; something was not right.  She had a strong desire to continue reading the Bible.  She made it all the way to Genesis 8:11.  At that very verse she had an overwhelming desire to become a Christian.  Now - here’s what interesting - no one told her she needed to become a Christian.  She wasn’t attending a Christian study group; didn’t have any Christian friends; wasn’t listening to Christian radio…and the subject of the verse is not about becoming a Christian.  “And the dove came to him toward evening time, and there in her beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf.  So Noah knew that the waters had abated from the earth.”

How does this happen?  The Word of God has transforming power!  It is unlike any other book in the world, because it has the power to reach our soul.

IT ANIMATES YOUR FAITH

I have been so impressed with The Upper Room devotionals.  On one level they are a simple, short spiritual reading that can help get your day off on the right track.  But on another level, it is a testimonial index of Christians whose faith has been animated by the Word of God.  This is precisely why we have moved to reading them during Sunday School.  (At some point Christians have to get past wanting to gain more Biblical knowledge and begin applying the Bible knowledge they have.)

Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

August 5, 2018 devotion was a great example.  The author, Judy, wrote about an experience when she became overwhelmed about her families struggles.  She felt her faith and peace weakening.  Judy decided to pray and ask God for help.  She then opened her Bible and began reading Mark 4.  Jesus commanded the storm, "Peace!  Be still!"  A sense of peace washed over her and she realized that God was bigger than her problems.

Early Methodist used to ask John Wesley “What is the key to sanctifying grace?”  How do I get more of Jesus?  And his response was simply keep doing what your doing.  Faith in Jesus got you here, and faith in Jesus will get you there!  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

IT ACTIVATES YOUR GROWTH

2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”

Let’s look at each of these qualities a little closer.  

• Teaching = teaching you the right path 
• Rebuking = warning you of the wrong path
• Correcting = instructing you how to get back on track
• Training = enlightening you on how to stay on the right track

You Can Trust the Word of God

John 8:31-32

Despite it’s critics, the Bible remains the best selling book year after year!  It is the most translated book in the world!  It is the most read book in the world!  Odds are you yourself own more copies of the Bible than you do any other book in your home!  It is - by far - the most influential book ever written!

Our series explores how we can learn, love and live from the Word of God.  Last week we saw that the Bible should be the foundation of our lives, and we looked at 4 ways to begin that process.  This morning we’re going to look at the trustworthiness of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures, the Holy Bible.  

When it comes to the topic of Biblical truth, it really does matter who you listen to. Time Magazine, December 1995 - quotes John Van Seters of the University of North Carolina.  “There was no Moses, no crossing of the sea, no revelation on Mount Sinai.”  These types of stories should not worry or trouble us.  A book this influential is guaranteed to have nay sayers and critics.  This should not be a surprise to us.  

Timothy warned the Church long ago, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths,” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

THESIS:  THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW THE BIBLE IS FACT - HOW IT IS THE TRUSTED WORD OF GOD.  YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE BECAUSE…

IT IS HISTORICAL

Why is the Bible accurate?  Because God cannot lie!  Hebrews 6:18, “It is impossible for God to lie.”  Psalm 33:4, “The word of the LORD is right and true.”

Jim Wallace is a retired Los Angelos Cold-case Homicide Detective - who decided to use his investigate skills to determine if he could trust the Bible.  So he did.  He applied adductive reasoning, the nature of circumstantial evidence, eye witness testimony, language, and chain of custody - and he concluded that the Bible is historically reliable. 

IT IS SCIENTIFIC

While the Bible is not a science textbook, and doesn’t use scientific language - it never gives bad science!  And there’s a very simple explanation for this - the laws of the universe are God’s laws!  Psalm 148:3-6, “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever—he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Science is always changing.  The Louvre Library has 3 1/2 miles of old, out dated, obsolete science books.  In 1861 the French Academy of Science published “51 Incontrovertible Scientific Facts that prove the Bible is Wrong.”  Today, all 51 facts have been proven wrong by Science!

IT IS AUTHORITATIVE

By authoritative, we mean the Word of God.  Now, folks say “how can God be the author, if Matthew, Mark and Luke are the authors?”  It’s called dual authorship - the idea that the Bible was written by both God and humans.  It’s a divine-human collaboration.  Each book has it’s authors unique style, flavor and phraseology - but the content is God’s.  This is how Timothy and Peter - two different people - can say the same thing with their own unique style.   2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in at righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Peter 1:21, “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible is one book containing 66 books.  It was written - by 40 different authors, over 1,600 years, in over 12 countries and 3 continents, in at least 3 languages, by people of all walks of life (farmers, kings, soldiers, shepherds, princes, priests, historians, fisherman, tax collectors, scholars, businessmen, MDs), and in a variety of places (caves, ships, palaces, prisons and deserts) - AND YET IT IS AMAZINGLY THEMATIC.

It is the most miraculous book in existence!  It’s consistency and theme are attributed to the fact that it was influenced, inspired and directed by God Himself!

IT IS LIFE CHANGING

Nothing can change your life like the Word of God.  Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” (John 8:31-32).  Do you believe everything you read online?  No, of course not.  The reason the authority and inerrancy of God’s Word is so important is because your salvation depends on it!  

Next Sunday we will dive deeper into the transforming power of the Word of God.  But this morning, let me leave you with a challenge.  What do you trust to be the authority for your life?  The world of man or the Word of God?  Everyone - whether they realize it or not - is putting their trust in something or someone to shape their worldview.  Paul reminds us in Romans 12 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Living My Life from the Word of God

James 1:19-25

In Matthew 7 Jesus tells a parable of building a house on a solid foundation verses a not-so solid foundation.  He ends the parable by relating it to our life and the Word of God.  If we build out life on the Word of God we can survive anything that comes our way.  Our new sermon series is designed to help with just that - we will be encouraged to learn, love and live the Word of God.

HOW DO WE LIVE OUR LIVES FROM THE BIBLE?

RECEIVE IT - James vv 19-21 “listen” and “accept”

Why are Grainger County tomatoes so good?  Because the soil is prepared to receive the tomato seeds.  Same seed planted in different location yields different results.  Why?  Some soil is prepared to receive it, some not.  Same is true of the Word of God. 

READ IT - vv 22-25 “looks intently into the perfect law”

Two ways to look at yourself in the mirror - quick glance or long stare…

There is a difference in the time we give ourselves to read God’s Word.  There is a difference between squeezing in a reading and reading to know what God is saying to you.  If we are going to love, learn and live the Word of God, we need to create a habit of lingering with God’s Word.

REMEMBER IT - v 25 “continues to do this, not forgetting”

A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember.  Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. "Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asks.  "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?”  “Sure.."  "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks.  "No, I can remember it.”  "Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it?”  He says, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.”  "I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?" she asks.  Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!”  Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.. She stares at the plate for a moment. "Where's my toast?”

Remembering God’s Word is a big deal.  The opening chapter of the the book of Psalms begins with a call to remember.  “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…But delights in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.”  Receive it, read it, and remember it - those are the first three things we need to do with God’s Word in order to create a solid foundation for our lives.

RESPOND TO IT - v 22 “do what it says”

James wonders what it profits a person to know all of God’s Scriptures, but do absolutely nothing about it!  How different would that person be from Satan and the demons?  We know from the Bible that the demons could readily identify Jesus - they know His identity and are afraid.  And we also know that Satan knows Scripture - quoting it when he was tempting Jesus.  The difference is in faith, believe and application!

John Wesley was asked about the character of a Methodist and his answer hinged on the Methodist being a Christian who could apply God’s teachings, not just recite them.