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 WATCHMAN ON THE WALL

 

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.”  (Ezekiel 33:7)

Pray for your pastor!  He has a task assigned to him by God which carries a great responsibility with a grave accountability.  I have copied these words from Matthew Simpson into the front of my Bible:

His throne is the pulpit; he stands in Christ’s stead; his message is the Word of God; around him are immortal souls; the Savior, unseen, is beside him; the Holy Spirit broods over the congregation; angels gaze upon the scene, and heaven and hell await the issue. What associations and what vast responsibility!

God spoke of his messenger as being a watchman on the wall—a sentry posted to sound a warning to the people when an enemy was approaching.  This is the thrust of Ezekiel 33.

God appointed Ezekiel to this duty (v.7a).  He didn’t have a choice in vocation.  This was not one job possibility among several.  His only choice was to respond to the call with obedience, or to disobey and face the consequences.  The pastor is not a volunteer; he was drafted!  This is his appointment.

The prophet was to hear the Word and share what he heard (v.7b).  As his position was not self-motivated, his preaching was not self-originated.  The pastor must prayerfully immerse himself in studying the Scriptures to comprehend what God says and then fearlessly and faithfully expound that message to the congregation—without deletion or addition.  This is his authority.

It is a job too big for a mere man, so the Spirit of God empowers the preacher.  Ezekiel had experienced this.  In a parallel passage in the third chapter, several times it is mentioned, “the Spirit lifted me up,” (v.12, 14, 24) and says, “the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.”  (v.14)  This is his anointing.  What folly it is for a man to rely on his feeble intellect and ability to futilely try to accomplish a supernatural work!

The eternal destinies of men and women are at stake.  There is a day of judgment coming and the preacher must sound the warning.  Heaven is a happy place and hell is a horrible place.  The man of God raises the alarm, “Prepare to meet your God.”  (Amos 4:12)  People must be called to repentance and faith.  When the pastor discharges his duty, then the sinner is responsible with how he or she responds to the message (v.4-5).  The blood is then on their heads and off the preacher’s hands (v.6-8).  Sadly, many will not heed the warning.  Some, however, will (v.5b, 11). The blood off our hands and on their heads, then becomes the blood on their hearts that saves from sin!  The Lamb’s blood—the sacrifice of Jesus—is sufficient to cleanse the vilest sinner!  God wants us to be saved.  That’s why He sent His Son into this world.  Everybody ought to know!

While we have focused on the pastor’s call as a watchman, with a view of you praying for and supporting him in this burden, we must also come to grips with the reality that there are not enough preachers in the world to reach all the lost.  Every child of God has been called to be a watchman in the sense of being a Gospel witness.  Are you helping to sound the warning—or is there blood on your hands?

A NOTE TO REMIND YOU

“Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.”  (Deuteronomy 11:1)

I can be so forgetful.  When I make an appointment, I put it into my phone with all kinds of alarms to go off—along with the details of who, where, when, why, and the like.  Just yesterday, I needed to go to the store for three things and could only recall one of them.  It later dawned on me what it was, so, lest I forget again, I took a sharpie and all I had in the car to write on—a napkin—and made myself a note lest I forget once more!  An old fellow was asked, “Do you believe in the hereafter?”  His reply was, “Oh, yes!  I walk to the other end of the house to get something and by the time I get there, forget and ask, ‘What am I here after?’”

Deuteronomy 11 is a spiritual reminder note from God.  There is not any new material—the message was given before and is repeated.  The reemphasis is for two main reasons.  It was given to a generation that came out of Egypt as children.  They have meandered through the wilderness for forty years, until all their parents have died—Moses is soon to depart.  Only two of that older generation will survive to enter Canaan with them—Joshua and Caleb—because of their faith and obedience.  Therefore, the first reason for the repetition is to underscore that their fathers and mothers failure to follow the Lord’s instructions must not be the path they take.  The second reason for the repetition is—people have thick skulls!  It takes a lot to drum the truth into our noggin.  We forget—and we dare not!  Really, the Bible does not say many different things—it just repeats the same truths repeatedly.

The congregation addressed has reached maturity.  They have seen the mighty hand of God at work.  They are called to remember, and then to relay that baton of truth to their children.  Each generation must be faithful to transfer their testimony to the next one.  Do not drop the baton or the team will lose the spiritual race!  We have the privilege and responsibility of preparing the children and youth of today for their leg of the race tomorrow—and then as we complete ours, to cheer them on as they take off down the track.  I cannot understand why it is always such a chore to get church folk to work in the nursery, teach youth Sunday School, or help with Vacation Bible School.  God takes it seriously and we should!

They would come into a God-blessed land.  If Israel would be obedient, they would continue to experience those blessings, but, they are warned turning away into sin would bring God’s displeasure and with it, His discipline.  My generation grew up in such a place called America, but we have not taught our children well, and the results are what seems to be impending judgment—if we are not in it already.  There is no enemy within our gates or outside our borders, we would need to fear if we would fear God.  Failing in that, we have every right to expect the blessing to turn to cursing, and from being the victor to become the vanquished.  Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  What is God saying to you today—again?  This is a note to remind you.