The Wondrous Book of God

Text: Psalm 119:17-24

 

I.         Eulogy of the Bible

            Many years ago, I entered the wonderful temple of God’s revelation. I entered the portico of Genesis and walked down through the Old Testament Art Gallery where the pictures of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, and Daniel hung on the wall.

            I entered the music room of the Psalms where the Spirit swept the keyboard of nature and brought forth the dirge-like wail of the weeping prophet Jeremiah: to the grand, impassioned strains of Isaiah until it seemed that every reed and harp in God’s organ of nature responded to the tuneful touch of David, the sweet singer of Israel.

            I entered the chapel of Ecclesiastes where the voice of the Preacher was heard, and passed into the Conservatory of Sharon where the Lily of the Valley’s sweet scented spices filled and perfumed my life.

            I entered the business room of the Proverbs and passed into the observatory room of the prophets where I saw many telescopes of various sizes, some pointed to far off events, but all concentrated upon the Bright Morning Star which was soon to rise over the moon-lit hills of Judea for our salvation.

            I entered the audience room of the King of Kings and caught a vision from the standpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; entered the Acts of the Apostles where the Holy Spirit was doing his office work in the forming of the church; passed into the correspondence room where sat Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John penning their epistles

            I stepped into the throne room of Revelation, where all towered into glittering peaks. I received a vision of the King seated upon his throne in all his glory, and I cried:

“All hail the power of Jesus’ name

Let angels prostrate fall.

Bring forth the royal diadem

And crown him Lord of all.”

Author Unknown

II.        God’s word contains wonderful things - Psalms 119:17-18

            A.        The desire is evident - Psalm 119:129-136

            B.        If you marked each of the verses in Psalm 119 which deal with the law of the Lord, his testimonies, his ways, his precepts, his statutes, his commandments, his judgments, his word, his work, etc. you would end up marking most of the verses of the Psalm. 171 verses of the 176 verses in Psalm 119 deal with God’s written word in some way.

III.       What is God’s Word?

            A.        It is a supernatural book. No ordinary process of could have formed this marvelous book.

                        1.         It is inspired by God. Coming from the breath of God - II Timothy 3:16-17

                        2.         It is verbally inspired. The choice of every word was selected by God

                                    a.         Every word proceeds from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4

                                    b.         The words came from the Spirit of God - I Corinthians 2:12-13

                                    c.         This inspiration does not mean the writers were motivate to pen their thoughts as a beautiful sunset or a tragic event inspires men.

                                    d.         This inspiration does not mean that God gave men an idea which they then penned in their own words.

                                    e.         Each word came from God

                        3.         It is plenary inspired. We are not saying a part of the Bible was inspired or even most of the Bible was inspired, but that all of the Bible was inspired.

                                    a.         Every Scripture is inspired - II Timothy 3:16

                                    b.         The sum, or totality, of the Bible is truth - Psalm 119:160

                                    c.         God’s word is truth - John 17:17

                                    d.         Literally thousands of passages state that thus God spoke.

                        4.         It is a book for doing battle in the spiritual realm - Ephesians 6:10-17

                        5.         It is a living book - Hebrews 4:12

            B.        It is a book from God

                        1.         Revealed by the Spirit from Jesus who taught the Father’s will - John 14:23-26

                        2.         Disclosed to the apostles - John 16:12-15

                        3.         Within its pages God has revealed himself - Matthew 11:27; I Corinthians 2:6-13

                        4.         These things the Apostles have revealed to us - Ephesians 3:1-6

                        5.         It was witnessed, given by the Spirit - II Peter 1:16-21

                        6.         Miracles, signs, and wonders confirmed the truth of the message - Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:1-4

            C.        It is a sovereign book. It holds the authority of God

                        1.         John 10:35 - The Scriptures cannot be broken

                        2.         When man put their own ideas first, it invalidates the word of God - Mark 7:6-9, 13

                        3.         It is the weapon of God - II Corinthians 10:3-6

            D.        It is a book that will survive

                        1.         Jesus’ words will not die - Matthew 24:35

                        2.         Settled in heaven forever - Psalm 119:89-91

                        3.         Abiding forever - I Peter 1:22-25

IV.      By these wondrous words we will be judged - John 12:48-50

            A.        Do you believe it?

            B.        Will you obey it?