"Every Word of God Proves True..."

The simple believes everything he hears is true, the cynic believes everything he hears is a lie. That may be an oversimplification but we all find ourselves some where between these two extremes. We live in a world that the Bible says is controlled by the “father of lies” so it is not surprising that lying is one of the predominate characteristics of our society. Ephesians 2:2 Yet if you were to ask people what is one of the things you cannot tolerate in a person the answer is often “I cannot tolerate someone who lies”. Could it be possible that there are some double standards we are willing to tolerate? I don’t like to be lied to, I’m sure none of us do, but I must say there have been times in my own life when a lie “has been a very present help in time of trouble.”

One of the frustrations today is when we read the paper or a magazine or listen to people talk we hear this little voice inside saying “is this really true?” Many times I have believed things that l thought were true that latter proved false. I’ve been promised things that I never recieved. People told me things they thought were true but they were wrong. Sometimes people deliberately lie to us sometimes they just have their facts wrong. All this has produced a society filled with cynics, people who “Question Everything”. And we all have a bit of it in us. All of us reading this have at some time or another been hurt, stung, embittered, disappointed, misinformed, misrepresented, let down,or left hanging because of a lie. Victims of promises that were never kept. So yes, I may want to believe what I’m reading, but everything inside me says make sure, verify, don’t take their word for it.

We need to be discerning, we shouldn’t believe everything we read in the paper or on the internet. We shouldn't believe everything we hear. But there is a danger in all of this for us a believers and unbelievers alike.

The danger is that we bring this same attitude with us when we open the Word of God and begin to read it. We do not have the luxury of picking and choosing what we want to believe in the Bible. We have no reason to doubt what is written in the Bible. God is not a liar, he cannot lie. God’s word is true.

Notice how Proverbs 30:5 puts it “Every word of God proves true, he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” There is nothing written in the word of God that will eventually prove to be false. It always proves to be true. It doesn’t just say it IS true. It says for us cynics that every word of God PROVES true. When you get out the microscope or the telescope or examine all the promises and principles in the Bible every last one of them will prove to be true. Every period, every comma, every word is true. God's word is powerful, penetrating and practical. Hebrews 4:12-13 It is God breathed and Spirit taught.

What God tells us about our marriage, raising our children, our sin, the cross God, Jesus Christ, the power of the Gospel, etc proves true in experience. God does exactly as He says He will do. The Bible is not just theoretically true in all its precepts, it is practically true in how they work out in our lives. What God says he will do He does. When it is all said and done - God’s word proves to be true. Lest any of us would like to become editor of scripture there are countless warning about doing this. Therefore “do not add to his words lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:6

When you are reading the Bible we should not read it like we read the newspaper. When we read the Bible we are not judging it, it is judging us.

Let me leave you with some wonderful verses from Psalm 19. And if you have time I would suggest you read Psalm 119. 176 verses and all but two of them refer to the Word of God in some way.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11

This must be our starting point in Bible Study or we will never understand the Scriptures. We must believe every word is true. It doesn't mean we understand it all. IT means we have put down our cynics hat and red marker and we believe what God says about His Word. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding…” Proverbs 3:5-6


You Can Trust the Bible!!! 2 Timothy 3:15-17 Revelation 22:18-19

"I Forgot"

Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

Forgetfulness, it plagues us all. And apparently it is not just a sign of old age. This father is speaking to his son not his grandfather. Growing up I must admit that on occasion I had my own father say to me as a young man, do not forget. Sadly young people have a tendency to forget. They do not forget where they placed the car keys or why they walked into a room. They forget much more important things.

• They forget that they were created by God
• They forget that God's ways are right and the way to peace and safety
• They forget that the pleasures of sin only last for a season
• They forget that without God we can do nothing
• They forget that our choices not our circumstances can make our lives unbearable.
• They forget one wrong choice can have life long consequences
  
• They forget we must all give an account to God one day
• They forget God's grace, goodness and compassion
• They forget they are sinners in need of a savior
• They forget that life does not consist in the abundance of the things we possess
• They forget God, consequently, there is no fear of God before their eyes

They forget. They heard the father , the preacher. They read the Bible but they just forgot. The reason they forget is that their heart is not in it. They don't care. We tend to forget things that we think are irrelevant. How many trigonometry classes, chemistry classes have we sat through wondering when will I ever use this stuff. And consequently as soon an the test is over (hopefully not before) we forget. It's irrelevant. And I am sure many people young and old sit in church with the same attitude. Listen to the preacher, read their Bibles saying when am I ever going to use this stuff. This has no bearing on where I am at or what my life is about whatsoever. What they are being taught seems boring because it is deemed useless. That is not a teacher problem or a Bible translation problem - that is a heart problem.
That's why this dad is wisely aiming at the child's heart. "Let your heart keep my commandments." He doesn't just want his child to go through the motions of obedience. The heart is where we really live - it is who we really are. It is where we keep all our precious things, like dreams, passions, our will, our desires, they are all resident in our heart. That's why obedience begins in the heart. Where we delight in God, where we are passionate about God's word. We obey God because we love God, we do not forget His Word because we love His word, we treasure it and memorize it because it is our spiritual food, our spiritual anchor, our spiritual compass to take us where God wants us to go. We want to live lives to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. We want to help others see the joy there is in following Christ.
People say all the time I' can't memorize, I can't remember things. But that is not true. We all remember things the only question is what.

Proverbs 2 1-5. shows us the attitude of the one who will not forget God's word
"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Remember your creator in the days of your youth. Do not forget but rather recieve, treasure up, be attentive, incline your heart, call out, search for, seek for it like silver, search for it like hidden treasure and look what God promises...

Proverbs 3:2 - 4 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 2:6 - 12For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

O God, create in me a new heart, a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me. "Thy word I will hide in my heart that I might not sin against You."

"Says Who?"

I have heard a lot of sermons in my day. I have heard many different responses to a sermon. “That was a very moving sermon” or “That was thought provoking” or that was very profound” or “that was a powerful sermon”. But I do not think I have ever heard someone comment on a sermon by saying “that was an authoritative sermon.” Maybe it has something to do with how we think. We go to church and yes, we want to hear a word from God, a moving word, a provoking word, a profound word. But how many of us want to hear a Word from God that speaks to us with authority? A word that does not suggest but commands. Many would shudder at such a thought. When Jesus preached his first sermon the response was immediate, yes he was profound, provoking and powerful but “they marveled because he spoke with authority.” I wonder if a pastor were to stand up and read the Sermon on the Mount as his message one Sunday how many in the congregation would marvel at its authority. I wonder how many people read the Bible or listen to the Bible today as an authoritative book? The problem people have with authority is that it does not merely call people to speculate or to examine their feelings. Jesus Said if you love me Keep my commandments. Authority calls people to obedience. Authority implies the right to call people to obedience. That's what sinful men react against. There is no wiggle room. When sinful men hear the Word of God their response is "Says Who?" Far to many people hear the word of God as a message from man and not from God and therefore it has little if any authority over their daily lives. "Everyone does what is right in his own eyes."

Paul's thankfulness in the book of Thessalonians reflects this fact that he understood the authority of the Word of God
1 Thess 2:13 “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

The Bible is the word of God, it is not just someone’s opinion. It is God’s message to us. A message of mercy, love, compassion, life, salvation, forgiveness, hope, grace and peace and a message of absolute authority. Pray that men and women boys and girls (You and I) will hear the word not as the word from men but as what it really is, the WORD OF GOD. “whatever he says to you do it.” That is the only right response the Word of God. For further reading go to ...
Psalm 19:4-7; Psalm 119:1-178