CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE? The Experiential Testimony: The Miraculous Power of Scripture Promised, Part 2

The Word of God is alive.  It is not just inspiring—it is inspired.  The term means, “God breathed”—that is, just as He breathed life into Adam in creation, He has breathed into the Bible eternal life.  It has the latent power of God within its pages, waiting to be tapped.  David, in Psalm 19:7-11, extols the miraculous nature of Scripture.  In our previous study, we noted five dimensions of this dynamic force.  Today, we will observe five more promises.

The Word ENGRAVES THE TRUTH.  It is truth and when engraved on our hearts into conviction will produce righteousness in us.  The Holy Bible generates holiness as we digest its content and incarnate its commands.

Scripture ENRICHES THE LIFE.  When you are on your deathbed, will you call, “Bring me my checkbook” or “Read me my stock portfolio”?  No, you will say, “Bring me the Word of God.  Read me the Bible!”  It’s better than money.  It’s also sweeter than honey.

The Bible SWEETENS THE JOURNEY.  What’s your favorite dessert? Pecan pie, banana pudding, strawberry ice cream?  In David’s day, it would be honey.  I still like to saturate a waffle with it, making sure each square is full of nature’s sweetness.  Yet, David declares that there’s nothing sweeter than the Word of God!

This Book WARNS THE PILGRIM.  Paul reminds us that this is one of the great purposes for the documenting of the Old Testament stories.  

“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  (I Corinthians‬ ‭10:6-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Our pilgrimage in this wicked world is full of peril, yet God has erected warnings in His Word to remind us to exercise caution.  We are smart when we learn from our mistakes, but smarter to learn from the mistakes of others!

Then, the Bible REWARDS THE OBEDIENT. 

The promise of blessing from those who meditate on its message is oft repeated. 

“Blessed is the man 
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, 
Nor stands in the path of sinners, 
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 
And in His law he meditates day and night. 
He shall be like a tree 
Planted by the rivers of water, 
That brings forth its fruit in its season, 
Whose leaf also shall not wither; 
And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalms‬ ‭1:1-3)‬

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  (Joshua‬ ‭1:7-8‬)

This is the key to being successful in all that we do.  Now, this is not a get rich quick scheme.  There is no promise you will always be healthy and wealthy.  But, it is assurance of having all you need to do all God wants—and that is true success.  

This is the miraculous power of Scripture promised!

THE PATH TO PROSPERITY

And whatever he does shall prosper.  (Psalm 1:3d)

Would you like to prosper in anything you do?  Do I have your attention?  God promises that in Psalm 1.  The issue is, “What is true prosperity and how do we get it?”  Most would equate prosperity with money. Yet, you would find some of the richest people to be the most miserable.  True prosperity is wrapped up in the word, “Blessed.”  In the original, it is a plural word.  God’s blessings are always many.  When He gives one, another follows.  It is speaking of a state of blessedness.  This is a life enriched with the friendship and favor of God.  The Psalmist points us to the path that brings us into true prosperity.

There is A DANGER TO AVOID (v.1).  The psalmist begins with a negative. There are both positives and negatives in Scripture.  One danger to avoid is secular counsel, “the counsel of the ungodly.”  Everyday we are inundated with information—a multitude of talking heads telling us what to do.  Some of it is merely nonsense, much of it destructive.  It is Satan’s propaganda, slickly packaged and authoritatively presented by some expert.  Stop your ears to it!  Another danger is sinful companions, “the path of sinners.”  Scripture warns that a companion of fools will be destroyed.  Peer pressure is another powerful force to shape us.  Stay away!  One more peril is scornful cynics, “the seat of the scornful.”  Our age has become increasingly cynical.  It is the inevitable consequence of those who begin to listen to wrong philosophies and doctrines.

The path to prosperity not only has a danger to avoid, but A DELIGHT TO APPLY (v.2).  “But” draws the sharp contrast between the ungodly and the godly.  He does not listen to the wisdom of the world, but of the Word!  He does not linger in the path of sinners, but in the presence of the saints!  He doesn’t learn from skeptical teachers, but the Scriptural truth!  Believers are blessed when they have a passionate love of God’s Word, “his delight is in the law of the Lord.”  Is studying the Bible a duty or delight?  If we do not delight in God’s Word, what does that indicate about our spiritual state?  Then there will be a persistent learning of God’s Word, “in His law he meditates.” The word has to do with rumination—as a sheep chewing its cud.  We are God’s sheep and need to fully digest His truth.  Then comes a practical living of God’s Word, “day and night.”  There needs to be a consistent application of God’s truth.  We are not to be mere hearers of the Word, but doers also.

Then the path to prosperity features A DYNAMIC TO AQUIRE (v.3).  God’s dynamic power is unleashed!  We will be planted, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.”  There will be stability and sustenance whether in seasons of deluge or drought.  We will be productive, “that brings forth its fruit in its season ”  This is the fruit of the Spirit.  Fruitfulness requires patience and pruning—God as the Divine Gardener does this.  We will be perennial, “whose leaf also shall not wither.”  We won’t wither in heat of summer, fall off in fall, and vanish in winter.  There will be consistency in our character and conduct.  We will be prosperous, “and whatever he does shall prosper.”  We will enjoy the blessing of God that touches every dimension of life.

There are two directions with two destinations (v.4-6).  Which will you choose?

ABIDING FAITHFUL AND ABUNDANTLY FRUITFUL

 

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  ‎I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. … By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:4-5)

As a branch separated from the grape vine cannot produce fruit, neither can we generate spiritual fruit unless we faithfully abide in Christ.  He is the source of life, and all that is good.  We may think we can do something ourselves, but it will not stand the test of eternal judgment.  Men may commend us for our work, but it will not last beyond our lifetime.  God says it is nothing—and no other opinion matters.  He gets the final word!

What does it mean to abide in Christ?  It is to stay connected to Him through the Word, prayer, and surrender to His will.  This is suggested in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  How can I abide in Him without His Word abiding in me?  In the pages of that Holy Book, I meet with Him.  To abide in that Word is more than a casual reading of a verse or two—it is purposeful consideration and persistent contemplation.  In the Scripture, God speaks to me, and then I talk with Him—and I don’t change the subject.  My desires will be linked with His designs, so that I can ask for absolutely anything and He will do it in and through me, for I only want what He wills.  Prayer gives me that connection with Heaven’s resources—and all that is to produce fruit.  Abiding means what God has said to me, and what I have asked God to do through me, is produced as I yield to Him.  James reminds us that we have deceived ourselves if we think hearing is enough—that we will even forget what we have heard—unless we do the Word (see James 1:21-27).  This is abiding in Christ.

What fruit is produced?  It is this, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  (Gal.5:22-23a)  This is the very life of Jesus manifest in us by the Spirit’s indwelling and empowering.  It is Jesus being Jesus in me—the life of the Vine flowing into the branch connected with Him.  This is preeminently the fruit of character that cannot help but be expressed in conduct.

What is the goal of such a life?  “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  (John 15:8)  Our objective is not to receive accolades from men for our accomplishments, but to bring glory to God for what He has wrought.  The more fruit we bear, the more glory we bring.  That is why we are here; it is the grand design of discipleship.

The disciple is one who has been summoned to follow Christ, to abide with Him and learn from Him.  Then, they will replicate His life from this association.  When the disciple speaks, it is as though the Teacher is speaking through them, for His Words abide in them.  What they do is the extension of the Master’s hands.  ABIDE IN HIM!