CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE? The Experiential Testimony, Part 3: THE MARVELOUS POWER OF SCRIPTURE WITNESSED

The Word of God has a transforming power.  We see this again and again in history and in our own experience.  Consider these claims:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 1:16; 12:2 NKJV)

So, we find a life radically changed by the initial action of the Spirit of God through the Word of God—the power of the Gospel—and how that life continues to be transformed into Christlikeness as the mind is renewed through the truth, reoriented to the will of God expressed in the Word of God.

Scripture brings THE TRANSFORMING IMPACT ON SOULS. James writes, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (1:21)

A man was confronted by a skeptic, “Surely, you don’t believe that story about Jesus turning water into wine.”  “Oh, yes, because in my life, He has turned wine into bread!”  How many have been delivered from alcohol, addiction, adultery, atheism, anger, and such through the power of the Gospel!

The Bible also yields THE TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY.  We often marvel at the miracle of Jonah being swallowed by a whale and surviving three days to tell about it.  There is a story in the book harder to swallow.  I believe it, but it is incredible!  That is the account found in chapter three of a vile and violent pagan people—an entire city turned to God.

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”  (Jonah 3:1-10)

Amazing!  My heart prays, “God, do it again in Washington, DC and let the spiritual awakening sweep across the land and globe!

Think about the impact the Word has had on our world.

It is woven throughout the fabric of our literature.  The writings of Shakespeare, Dickens, Doestoevsky, Tolkien, and if you want a modern, popular writer: John Grisham, whose works are filled with Biblical themes and allusions.  Marilynne Robinson wrote in the NY Times: “The Bible is the model for and subject of more art and thought than those of us who live within its influence, consciously or unconsciously, will ever know.” 

It is the foundation of our laws.  The Scripture’s influence on English Law is undeniable.  Daniel Webster said in 1820, “ Let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary.” 

The Word of God has elevated life wherever it has been proclaimed.  Its message gave impetus to the establishment of hospitals, orphanages, and schools.  You might be surprised to know that Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were begun to propagate the Gospel by training preachers.  Great social reforms like abolition and the Protestant work ethic—all have been uplifting for society—and each of these grounded on the Bible.

Our world has never been the same because of the Word and its marvelous power!

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO EVANGELISM

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.  (Acts 8:4)

Today’s climate for evangelism is inhospitable.  There is increasing hostility to the Gospel.  Yet, our mission remains unchanged.  It is encouraging to note that the first century church flourished in an unfriendly environment.  They faced obstacles, but were able to overcome them.  Acts chapter eight affords us several examples.

They were able to overcome persecution (v.1-4).  While they might have been paralyzed by fear, they overcame in faith.  This opposition came as a backlash from the church’s militancy in its mission.  Satan’s kingdom was threatened and so he launched a counterattack.  Instead of stopping the advance of the Gospel, the persecution aided it.  They disciples were scattered like seed, and God caused them to bear much fruit.

They were able to overcome complacency (v.4).  Jesus sent them into all the world, but they settled down in their comfort zone in Jerusalem.  That was to be the base of operations, but then the saints were to go to Judea, Samaria, and, ultimately, around the globe.  God used what seemed to be evil to produce something good in allowing persecution to propel them out of their complacency.  God can make you love to do what you ought to do!  There is opportunity in every difficulty.

They were able to overcome prejudice (v.5).  The Gospel went to Samaria—and that was a big barrier broken—the race barrier.  Samaritans despised the Jews and the reverse was true as well.  Racism is not a new phenomenon.  The challenge to make a difference in a people who are so different is an obstacle to overcome.  Philip was a Jew and his audience was Samaritan, but the moment they responded to the Gospel, they became brothers and sisters in Christ.  Heaven will not be segregated—the church ought not be!

They were able to overcome limitations (v.6-8).  The power that enabled them to rise above their human limitations came from heaven.  It did not matter how weak they were, God was mighty to save!  He still is.  God has not changed—we have.  These saints rested in the power of God and miracles happened.  Philip not only preached that Jesus was alive, it was apparent in His supernatural activity!  It takes the power of God to overcome such obstacles, but that power is available still today.

They were able to overcome hypocrisy (v.9-25).  The charge is often leveled at the church that it is full of hypocrites.  That accusation must be overcome.  The reality is that there are hypocrites in the church—there always have been.  The example we note in this chapter is a man named Simon—who had been a sorcerer.  It becomes apparent that an improper motive yielded an insincere commitment.  He saw the power of God at work, and wanted to get in on the action.  His occult powers were nothing compared to this.  He saw the business opportunity of a lifetime if he could get hold of this power.  Peter demanded that he repent or perish!  That is still the church’s message.

The obstacles to evangelism are nothing new.  When the church invades enemy territory, the Devil will fight back.  Christ has founded a church, however, equipped to assault the very gates of hell, and see them fall!  That is our heritage; it is our hope!

PREPARING FOR THE PROMISE

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication….  (Acts 1:14a)

Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus had spoken of the coming of the Holy Spirit as, “the Promise of the Father.”  (Acts 1:4-5)  The comprehensive promise of God is in the person of the Spirit—God with His people to indwell them and empower them (Acts 1:8).  The events described in Acts chapter one, portray a church preparing for the Promise.  In chapter two, God will send His mighty Wind from heaven.  They cannot make the Wind blow, but they can set their sails.  How can we, as the people of God today, prepare for the Promise of God to launch us into the deep waters of His mighty work?

There must be submission to God’s will (v.12).  Jesus had commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise to be experienced, and this is what they did.  Fuller blessing calls for fuller submission, “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”  (Acts 5:32)  It is God who does the work, but He does not do it apart from us.  When I yield to Him, my life becomes a channel for the power to flow.

Preparing for the Promise also requires unity in God’s love (v.13-14a).  When there is strife and division, the gentle Dove of Peace—the Holy Spirit—takes flight and withdraws His favor.  No church can be mightily used of God without unity of purpose.  There is always potential for conflict in the church because we are made up of so many different personalities and preferences.  In that upper room, you had a boisterous leader named Peter, a quiet listener named John, a struggling pessimist named Thomas, a meticulous accountant named Matthew, and a patriotic zealot named Simon, for example—all so different, but united in love.  The church is Christ’s Body, with different parts by design, so that together we are healthy and strong to impact the world in a way we can never do when divided.

Prayer is another indispensable preparation for God’s Promise to be manifested (v.14).  Prayer must be our consistent pattern.  They “continued” for ten days in prayer, then preached for ten minutes and three thousand were converted!  We pray for ten minutes, preach for ten days, and if three are saved, we declare revival has come!  We can pray too little, but can never pray too much.  Prayer must be offered in faith.  They were seeking the Promise of the Father.  They believed He would come—He did!  What might happen if we would trust God more?  This prayer was a corporate offering—a harmony of voices lifted to God.  The Lord promises where there is agreement in request, there is assurance of response (Matt.18:18-20).

The final preparation was the disciples’ attentiveness to the Word of God (v.15-26).  They moved to replace Judas Iscariot with another Apostle.  Scripture was their motivation.  They positioned themselves to hear from God and responded in obedience and faith.  Matthias was raised up into a leadership position.  When the Scriptures speak, God speaks.  The church must listen to His voice if we would know His will.  Are we positioned to receive God’s power?  This is how the church can impact the world!

REVIVAL PRAYING

Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  (Isaiah 64:1a)

Prayer moves the hand of God.  Prayer can do anything God can do, for it taps the power of the Almighty.  John Wesley said, “God does nothing, but in answer to prayer.”  In His sovereignty, prayer is God’s chosen method.  The desperate need of our time is for a mighty revival to sweep America.  That cannot be worked up; it must be prayed down.  Isaiah 64 records such a prayer.

Revival praying begins with THE REQUEST FOR GOD’S PRESENCE (v.1).  The prophet is fervently entreating God to manifest Himself.  It was an hour in which the people of God had plunged into iniquity.  The Holy God withdrew His glory.  The heavens were sealed and silent. There was a desperate cry for God to open the heavens and come down!  We don’t need another government program—we need God.  We don’t need more laws—we need God.  We don’t need a better economy and better education—we need God.  We don’t need more church organization and activity—we need God!

Then we will see THE RESULTS OF GOD’S PRESENCE (v.1b-2).  Notice what happens when God shows up!  The mountains dissolve—whatever the spiritual obstruction is—mountains of unbelief, impurity, indifference, selfishness, all must go!  The way of the Lord is prepared. Your life becomes a highway in which God can move. Not only are the mountains removed, the fire is, also, rekindled.  Hearts once cold, now are aflame.

Such fire is rekindled with THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE (v.3).  We are not only motivated by the promise of what might be, but by the remembrance of what has been.  They had known great blessing before, beyond their greatest hopes and dreams.  I want you to know, God is still able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think. The unchanging God who has moved in revival during dark days in history will do the same today!

Revival brings THE REVELATION IN GOD’S PRESENCE (V.4).  We are most familiar with this from Paul’s quote in 1 Corinthians, that often is said to speak of the wonders of heaven.  Certainly, there is an application, but the context demands another meaning.  God reveals these wondrous things not in the sweet by and by, but the nasty now and now!  When revival comes, we will sit back in amazement, for God shows up in power as we wait on Him in prayer.

Revival praying demands THE REPENTANCE IN GOD’S PRESENCE (v.5-7).  To experience God’s powerful presence, the barrier of sin must be removed.   Repentance demands honesty and humility.  We are brought to conviction, contrition, and confession for we see the hideousness and hatefulness of our sin against God.

Revival is THE RESPONSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE (v.8-12).  God responds as our Father (v.8a).  If we human fathers know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more the Heavenly Father?  In revival praying, there is submission to God’s will (v.8b).  We may have made a mess of our life, but He is the Potter who shapes us.  Revival praying appeals to God’s honor (v.8c).  The quality of handiwork reflects upon the craftsman, and God will be honored in us!  Revival praying casts us upon the grace of God (v.9).  God responds—He gives grace to the humble—as we cry urgently (v.10-11).  If we are unrestrained in our passion for Him, then He will be unrestrained in His presence with us (v.12).  That’s revival!  Oh, Lord rend the heavens!

WORDS FOR THE WEARY

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:25-31)

I’m wore slap out!  For those who may not understand southern mountain language that means I am extremely exhausted!  Whether we knew the expression, we certainly know the experience.  Maybe you are weary and worn this day.  Your get up and go got up and went!  I have good news.  Isaiah has some words for the weary to reenergize us.

The first word is EXHAUSTING (v.29-30).  This is a word about weakness.  It isn’t enough to see the symptoms and diagnose the disease—we need a cure for the hectic schedule and heavy stress life brings.  You won’t find a cure until you admit the cause.  The hectic schedule will drain us.  Running wide open, full-throttle, event after event, deadline after deadline, multi-tasking—all the while notifications going off on your phone—if you can check them between replying to e-mails, sending texts, and fielding calls!  There are no margins, no sacred pauses to catch our breath.  Did God mean for us to live that way?  With that comes the heavy stress that depletes us.  Chronic pain, on-going sorrow, financial hardship, family misery, crushing disappointment—life can be unbearably heavy and takes its toll physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually!  We cannot carry such schedules and stresses by trying harder.

The second word is EXCHANGING (v.31a).  This is a word about waiting.  The word, “renew,” can be translated, “exchange.”  The Hebrew word pictures an eagle molting—shedding its old feathers for new ones that the regal bird may continue to fly.  It isn’t just that you need to change some things in your life, but that you need to exchange who you are in facing these pressures for all that Jesus is in overcoming them.  I learned as a child in a song, “[We] are weak, but He is strong.”  So, rather than trying to strengthen myself, I surrender to Him.  Let Jesus be Jesus in you!  We are invited to exchange our ignorance for His wisdom and our impotence for His power.  The key word is, “wait.”  The promise of power is conditional.  We must stop setting our agenda and stop to seek His.  We must still our soul before God—feeding on the Word and meeting Him in prayer—a daily quiet time.  We must rest in Him by faith. I can’t, but He can!

The third word is EXCELLING (v.31b).  This is a word about wings.  We are promised that if we surrender our will and submit to His work we can soar on eagle’s wings!  Soaring above, “They shall mount up with wings like eagles.”  Eagles rise on thermals—hot air currents lifting them.  The very pressure cookers of life can cause the heat, that if we spread our wings in faith, will not remove our problems, but enable us to rise above them!  Speeding along, “They shall run and not be weary.”  Life is a marathon and we can race to win if we load up with Bible truth, so as not to, “hit the wall.”  Stepping ahead, “They shall walk and not faint.”  There is a time to run, but also a time to walk—still there is progress day by day.  The key is to learn to say, “For this I have Jesus!”  He is enough—no, He is more than enough!

CONFIDENCE TO CONFRONT LIFE’S CHALLENGES

 

I will love You, O LORD, my strength. (Psalm 18:1)

After watching TV, I am convinced that there is nothing good happening anywhere!  Do you ever feel that way?  The fact is life is not easy.  God never promised it would be. We enter the world with nothing and exit the same way.  We are born through great trauma, as we struggle to catch our first breath, and often die in great trauma as we struggle for our final breath!  That sets the tone for life on a planet ravaged by the curse of sin.  The author of this Psalm, David, could attest to that.  Life was not easy for him, yet, the difficulties made the deliverance all the sweeter.  His testimony can inspire us to have confidence to confront life’s challenges. 

He sings of CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PERSON (v.1-3). This confidence is expressed in OUR WORSHIP.  David expresses His love to God.  God had proven His love to David.  “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)  Love is an act of the will foremost—more than a feeling, though emotion is certainly important.  It is a promise to love forever—an oath of loyalty.  He is Yahweh—and David is in a covenant relationship with Him.  Out of this relationship flows strength.  David’s strength would have proven insufficient for the challenges he faced, but it did not depend on him—and God’s power is more than enough!

David expresses CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PERCEPTION (v.4-6).  The Almighty God knows OUR WEAKNESS.  Not even a little bird flutters and falls to the ground without His notice.  Do not think God is unaware and uncaring.  David felt as though a tsunami of trouble would drown him.  Perhaps you can identify.  Fear was threatening to supplant faith.  David was in a dark pit of depression.  Sometimes we seem in a hole we cannot escape.   Not only troubles, but tears are part of our path.  Still, there are no tears unseen by God (Ps.56:8).  He keeps them as a memorial; He acts in His time. Troubles, tears and traps—it is a perfect picture of peril.  Distress has a way of driving us to God, however—and that is a good thing!   

The Psalmist declares CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S POWER (v.7-45). We face the reality of OUR WARFARE.  In most of his battles, David was outmanned and overmatched.  Remember the words of William Carey, founder of the modern missions movement, rightly said, “One with God is a majority.”  In poetic language, David recalls the mighty deliverances of God in the nation’s past—the deliverance from Egypt’s slavery in the Exodus and the victories in Canaan under Joshua.  David had experienced his own deliverances.  Recalling such past help inspires confidence in our current conflicts.

David’s lyrics voice CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PURPOSE (v.46-50).  David’s personal triumph leads him to a public testimony.  He is the living God—eternal and unchangeable—a Rock that cannot be moved.  That which He has purposed concerning us moves inexorably to its completion.   He is the Lord God—all powerful and unconquerable.  He subdues our enemies.  His purposes cannot be thwarted.  David in essence sings, “How great is our God!”  He wants the world to know—even the Gentiles should know.  Our world is a desperate place and we alone know where hope is found.  Like David, having experienced deliverance from sin, we extend this witness to others.  This is how to have confidence to confront life’s challenges.

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING HIS PRAISE?

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:

“I will sing to the LORD,

For He has triumphed gloriously!

The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”  (Exodus 15:1)

Singing plays an important role in Christian worship.  We are commanded in Ephesians 5:19 to be, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord….”  As we reflect on God’s glorious nature and recall His great works, then a song of praise and thanksgiving forms in our heart, and bursts from our lips.  That is what happened to Moses and the children of Israel.

We note THE THEME of the song (Ex.15:1-2a).  Moses directs us to consider who God is: our strength, our song and our salvation.  The Hebrews were hopeless to escape Egyptian slavery—it would require a miracle—and that is what God provided!  No wonder they broke forth into singing about the supernatural strength they had witnessed.  We serve this same mighty God!  He became their song—the source, substance and sum of their singing.  It is sad when so much “Christian” music today is about us—the style and substance focused on how it makes us feel, when God’s glory is what true worship is all about.  God saved the children of Israel from their wretched state, and Gospel songs declare the salvation we have experienced and offer it to those yet in sin’s shackles.

This leads us to hear THE TESTIMONY in the song (Ex.15:2b-12).  Their song was a passionate expression of witness to the Lord’s wonderful work.  How could they suppress this song?  It was as volcanic fire building up inside them that erupted with flowing words of praise.  If we have meditated on God’s attributes and contemplated God’s activity, then we also will bear testimony in song. We want the whole world to hear!  This is our God, worthy of praise!  He breaks the power of the enemy—“O victory in Jesus!”  How great and how good He is!  “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”  (Ex.15:11).

Fundamentally, we are to grasp THE TRUTH from the song (Ex.15:13-21).  I’m glad we don’t know the tempo—some would say it’s too fast or too slow.  Nor do we know the tune, and I’m glad, for some would say it’s pitched too high or too low.  All these arguments concerning classic or contemporary, hymns or choruses, using hymn books or video screens, playing organs or guitars have little significance compared to the main purpose of worship music—and that is to clearly communicate the truth of Scripture as to who God is, what He has done, and how we may relate to Him.  Doctrine is indelibly engraved on our heart when it is expressed lyrically.  I have heard old songs that ought to be put on the shelf and never sung again.  I have heard new songs that ought not be sung the first time.  There is not a thimble full of doctrine in them!  Truth has the power to stir us emotionally—Miriam and the women beat tambourines as they danced for joy!  Let us be swept away by the glory, greatness and goodness of God.  If we aren’t excited about Him, then how can we claim to know Him?  Heaven is filled with music.  Are you going?