You may recall I quoted Grudem's definition of the authority of scripture a few weeks ago...let's take another look at his definition.
The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
Briefly, let's break this apart..."all the words in Scripture are God's words in such a way." I really can't get past the phrase "all the words." If all the Words in scripture are HIS, shouldn't we read ALL HIS WORDS? Is it OK, to simply return to our favorite passages time and time again and then wonder why God has not answered us in a specific area of prayer. We ask over and over what would God have me to do in this situation? If you listen you (and I) might hear Jesus say...HAVEN'T YOU READ, HAVEN'T YOU READ, HAVEN'T YOU READ!
Matt 12:3--He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry—
Matt 12:5--Or haven’t you read in the Law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?
Matt 19:4--“Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,
Matt 22:31--Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God:
Mark 12:10--Haven’t you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected— this has become the cornerstone.
Mark 12:26--Now concerning the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
Luke 6:3--Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry—
Remember the scriptures were not available to the common man in Jesus day, they were not available until the advent of the printing press...how much louder does this question scream at you and I? HAVEN'T YOU READ?
Do you desire the LORD'S favor and kindness? I do...check out Isaiah 66:2...My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. ⌊This is⌋ the Lord’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and who trembles at My word.
I have been memorizing and meditating on Psalm 119:9-16, verse 11 states, "I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You." As I began to meditate on this verse God the Holy Spirit began to reveal other things that I treasure...other things that have my attention, time and energy. I heard a pastor ask his congregation, "If I offer each of you $1,000.00 per verse you memorize how many would sign up for scripture memory?
If you would memorize more scripture for the money...THEN WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE? WHAT DO YOU VALUE? Verse 14 of Psalm 119 says, I rejoice in the way ⌊revealed by⌋ Your decrees as much as in all riches. REALLY? This question laid my heart bare...I was then able to repent, ask for forgiveness and be healed. I still confess that apart from HIS indwelling Spirit I am not able to treasure HIM or HIS Word as I should! It is only by HIS favor, grace and kindness that I am able to respond by faith with the right heart motive!
Do you realize that you can read through the entire Bible in a little over 70 hours? HOW OFTEN DO YOU AND I WATCH 70 HOURS OF TV? OUCH! Where is your treasure? What do you value?
Do you realize that those things that compete for your heart's attention are IDOLS in your heart! They may be good things, they don't have to be sinful, anything that you love, serve, fear, desire more than God is an idol in your heart! Why is Egypt getting slammed by plagues right now in our reading the OT? Their rampant idolatry and hard hearts!
First Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and Aaron, then he would not listen to his own advisers and as a result his land and people were destroyed. Do you see similar patterns in people's lives around you...or your own? Sin is so deceptive and so deadly.
WHY DID GOD COMMAND PHARAOH TO RELEASE HIS PEOPLE? WHAT WAS GOD'S PURPOSE IN WORKING THEIR RELEASE? IT IS THE SAME REASON THAT HE WANTS YOU AND I RELEASED FROM IDOLS...IT IS WHY JESUS CAME TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE...DO YOU KNOW? ARE YOU DOING IT IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH?
Exod 7:16--Tell him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness, but so far you have not listened.
Exod 8:1--Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him: This is what the Lord says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Exod 8:20--The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the Lord says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Exod 9:1--Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him: This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Exod 9:13--Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh. Tell him: This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Exod 10:3--So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may worship Me.
Exod 10:7--Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long must this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Don’t you realize yet that Egypt is devastated?”
Exod 10:11--No, only the men may go and worship the Lord, for that is what you have been asking for.” And they were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.
Jn 4:23-26 --But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ ). “When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” 26 “I am ⌊He⌋,” Jesus told her, “the One speaking to you.”
Remember where we started this morning...The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
If God commands it then HE will make the provision for HIS children to do what HE commands! It is only by HIS spirit in us, Christ in us the hope of glory!
Father in heaven,
In the precious name of Jesus please grant each of us a singleness of heart, a heart devoted to YOU and YOU alone. Enable us to love YOU with all our heart, soul, mind and strength! Father please work this in a way that YOU are glorified and we, your children, are filled with YOUR joy, the joy of our master, our savior, our Abba and Father. Enable us to pursue YOU with a white hot passion, to worship YOU in spirit and in truth.
In Jesus name...amen!