One of the problems many people or even most people have with the words of God is that they are not really confident that they are in fact the very words of God. When good preachers preach we will often here the phrase “the bible says”. The bible says this, the bible says that, the bible says you should do this, the bible says you shouldn’t do that. What makes this book true and right? What if I don’t like what the bible says? What if the bible is wrong? How can anybody know for sure that this book is right on everything it speaks of? Does’t the bible have mistakes in it? These are all good questions and if you have one of these questions then ask.
Until I was twenty five years old I had rejected most everything in this book. In fact, my biggest problem was with the very first chapter and verse. How was it that I went from I bible rejector to a bible believer? I believe with all my heart every verse is true and these verses I will read from right now is my position on the bible.
2 Peter 1:16-21 (KJV)
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Peter is saying we have not followed a bunch of made stories. Peter says he was an eyewitness to Jesus Christ.
Peter speaks of an experince he had with Jesus Christ. He then says we have a more sure word. A more sure word than what? A more sure word than his eyewitness testimonies, a more sure word than his experiences. I stand before you right now with a confidence that I hold in my hand a more sure word than anything I have ever read, saw, learned and experinced.
The bible makes some amazing claims, the bible says God created the earth in six days, the bible says there was a worldwide flood, the bible says there was time when man lived to be 800 years and more, the bible says that man was swalled by a fish, the bible says a sea had opened up to provide a path for 2 million people, the bible says three men were thrown into a furnace without a single hair being burned, the bible says a man lead a people to march around a city and the walls fell down, the bible says 5000 people were feed with five loaves and to fish. We could go on and on.
If any one person in here can prove anyone of things to have not happened I will never preach again, why? I believe we have a more sure word and this is the foundation of everything we are going to do here.
2 Peter 1:16 (KJV)
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Peter was there. Peter heard and saw it all, he was an eyewitness of Christ’s majesty. Peter was there from the early part of Jesus’ ministry, Peter saw the miracles, lepers cleansed, the blind receiving sight, 5,000 fed, the calming of the storm, Jesus walking on water, he saw Jesus cast demons. Peter was also a witness to the wisdom of Christ. He saw Jesus answer the skeptics from the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Peter is saying these events are not just stories. These are not cunningly devised fables. I think sometimes we are guilty of teaching these events like they are fables. I do not now how many times I have picked up children’s bible story books and have been disgusted at the things I saw. Peter says “I saw these things, I was there.”
2 Peter 1:17-18 (KJV)
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
What is Peter talking about? In Matthew 17:1-8, Peter heard the voice of God, the Father thundering from heaven.
Matthew 17:1-8 (KJV)
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Peter was an eyewitness to this great event, he was there.
2 Peter 1:19 (KJV)
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
The word prophecy has a few different meanings. In this Scripture it means “God’s spoken word.” A more sure word Peter is saying Word of prophecy or the Word of God is more sure than his own eye witness. Peter is also saying the Word of God is more sure than his own experience. What a truth! Because we have a more sure word of prophecy because we have a Word of God. Peter says you do well to take heed. Look at it, read it, study it, memorize it, and apply it. What will it do? Peter says, take heed, it is like a light that shineth in a dark place.
Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Word of God, our Bibles, do not have in them man’s interpretations. In other words, what the writers wrote was not their own ideas and was not by their own motivations. These men, which the Bible calls holy, which means “set apart”, were moved by God to write what they wrote. This book I hold in my hands, I believe that this book has all the same writings in it that it did when the writers originally wrote them.
Psalm 12:6-7 (KJV)
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Peter is telling us there is a more sure word in verse 19. Do you believe this? Do you believe that we have a more sure word?
The Word of God is a more sure than our experiences
People are looking for an experience, they are wanting to experience something. Not only are they wanting to experience something, but they want it quick and easy. I was visiting a church and I was invited to join the men’s prayer time before the service. The pastor shared his burden for the service. This pastor wanted us to pray for a worship experience for those who were to come. He was wanting to deliver a quick and easy feel good experience. There is an ever growing emphasis placed on the atmosphere and the music in church services. The music has got to be louder, the music has to be of professional quality, the music has to be stronger and more upbeat. Do you know what music does? It works people’s emotions. People experience emotional highs when given in to the music they listen to. When a person’s emotions are worked up, they have experienced something. Music can give a quick and easy experience. Many people give testimonies of experiencing God, but I am fearful that they were only moved by the atmosphere. God can be experienced, I believe only through His Words. I also believe an experience with God results in a change in one’s own life. If you have only experienced God on a Sunday morning, then you may not have experienced God at all.
1 Corinthians 1:21 (KJV)
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
God uses preaching of His Word to win people to him. People are not won by a created atmosphere. People are not won by providing them an experience. People are not won by music. God uses preaching. I believe more than anything else, God wants His Word preached on Sunday morning. Peter testified that there is a more sure word than what he witnessed and experienced.
God’s Word is also a more sure word of history
Today, we live in a culture that continually wants to change our history. I believe the Bible to be historically accurate. I believe I hold in my hands a history book. There is no conclusive evidence that anything recorded in this Bible did not happen. Scientists, philophers and educators, in a vain attempt have spent their entire professional careers trying to prove that the Bible is inaccurate. Many of these men and women get saved as they dig deeper to prove the Bible wrong, the more evidence they find for its accuracy. There is no evidence that says otherwise. We can have trust in God’s Word, a more sure word.
The Word of God is a more sure of teachings
2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
All Scripture-the whole book, all of the book, Genesis to Revelation. Inspiration of God-God breathed, from the mouth of God, holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. This book comes from God.
Profitable = Good for, What is the Bible good for? Answer-doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. It has been taught like this: “Doctrine- what is right, Reproof-what is not right, Correction- how to get it right and Instruction in righteousness-how to stay right.” God’s Word is a more sure word of teachings, which means teachings that work. People are running to and fro looking for answers and they never consider the Bible. They never consider the Words of God. Let’s run to the Bible before we go anywhere else. Did you know for an example that it is becoming a mystery how two people can stay married longer than two years? Does the Bible have answers? Let’s look at marriage in light of 2 Timothy 3:16 Does the Bible teach what is right in marriage? Etc... What about raising children, what about finances, what about Christian growth and what about our belief in God?
2 Timothy 3:17 (KJV)
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Perfect means mature, our maturity as a Christian is directly related to our knowledge of the Words of God. In the history of churches, we have never had more Bible study aids and tools than we have now. At the same time, studies have shown there has never been a higher level of ignorance of God’s people than now. Learn how to read and study your Bible.
The Word of God is a more sure word in its application
James 1:22-25 (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
As I said before, God is only experienced through His Word and an experience with God results in a change. When was the last time something in your life changed for God? God is telling us that hearing the Words of God only and not being a doer, you are deceiving yourselves. How long has it been Christian that something is changed in your life? Are you close to God? Do you walk with God? Do you hear God’s voice? Have you been a hearer only? God has given us a book, a more sure word filled with applications that we are to apply to our lives.
Are you a Christian? Have you been born again?
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
The greatest application that can be made from the word of God is getting saved, being born again. The Bible says we are all sinners. We are born into this world sinners. The Bible says there is a penalty for our sins, a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone forever and ever. The Bible says Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin, dying on the cross. The Bible says believing in Him, we can be born again. You can be born again by the Word of God.
John 3:16 (KJV)16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
By Pastor Jason LaPat
jasonlapat@yahoo.com
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