Your Confidence In The Authority Of God’s Word

Do you want indestructible joy, unshakeable faith, and unyielding security in your life? Make the Bible your all-sufficient, all-consuming standard of faith and conduct. Psalm 119:89 says, “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Stay faithful to God’s Word. Read it every day with an open-mind and a willing spirit, and God will speak to you through the pages, and as you obey it, he will direct your steps along the paths of righteousness all the days of your life.

The Journey: Luke 1:1-4

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

I think it is not only very interesting, but quite instructive, the great lengths Luke went to in setting up the veracity of his account of the life, ministry, miracles, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He wrote his gospel initially for a Gentile seeker by the name of Theophilus, and he wanted to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that his witness to all that was Jesus was believable, verifiable, and worthy to stake one’s life and eternity upon.

And, by the way, each of the biblical writers had the same motive in their painstaking effort to write the truth about God and from God that is contained in the sixty-six books of the Bible. The Apostle Paul stated it the most forcefully,

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Unfortunately, we live in an age when the cultural (and godless) philosophies of secularism and relativism are trying to do away with any transcendent source of truth, in particular the Word of God. And even worse, a growing number of so-called Christians are buying into those philosophies. But here is the cost of not having any values and standards of truth: the culture will collapse…or be held in the bondage of darkness, ignorance and satanic domination. The divorce rate will soar, violence and abuse will escalate, children will rebel, families will collapse and as a result, society will rot.

It shouldn’t surprise us that this is the very condition our society now finds itself in as a result of rejecting the Bible as our God-breathed sources of truth. Look at what God’s Word predicted a long time ago:

• Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is ignorance of God, crime runs wild.”
• Isaiah 5:20 prophesied, “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark.”
• Proverbs 29:18 gives this sobering reminder: “A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order.”

All of that is happening right before our eyes. Even before the Proverbs were penned and Isaiah prophesied, the Psalmist asked, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

There is way you can have an unshakeable faith that endures and thrives during chaotic and insecure times. Jesus said you can “know the truth and the truth will set you free.” There is truth, it is knowable, and when it’s fully embraced will give you ultimate freedom.

And the very first step toward an enduring faith and unlimited freedom is for you to make the Word of God your standard of faith and practice!

Jesus said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” When Christians reject the sinful and godless practices of their culture and begin to build their lives on the B-I-B-L-E, the one & only standard of truth, blessings come to the nation and people find their way to Christ and eternal life. Paul reminded Timothy, “There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:15 Msg.) Make the Bible your standard of faith and practice and here’s what you’ll get:

1. It will reveal God’s plan and power for your salvation. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
2. It will provide nourishment for your spiritual growth. (Without it…spiritual crisis) 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
3. It will guide you in these chaotic times. Psalm 119:105 & 130 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
4. It will provide your defense against the devil’s attack. Ephesians 6:17 exhorts, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
5. It will train you in righteousness. Psalm 119:9, 11 points out, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Hebrews 4:12 teaches, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”
6. It will give you an eternal perspective. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Timothy Dwight said, “The Bible is a window in this prison-world, through which we may look into eternity.”
7. It will be a source of indestructible joy. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart’s delight.”

Do you want indestructible joy, unshakeable faith, security and satisfaction in your life? Make the Bible your all-sufficient, all-consuming standard of faith and conduct. Psalm 119:89 tells us, “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” I love the Apostle Paul’s words to his protégé, Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-16,

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Did you catch that? The Holy Scripture is able to make you wise for salvation. In other words, there is nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul also says that it is through the Scripture that you are equipped for every good work—it is through the Word of God that you are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for you to do.

Stay faithful to God’s Word. Read it every day with an open-mind and a willing spirit as you allow God speak to you through the pages of his Holy Word. As you spend time with the Bible, let me suggest the following that will enable you to have a life changing encounter with God:

• Meditate on it! Don’t just read it to get through it—spend time letting it soak into your spirit.
• Memorize it! The Psalmist said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
• Master it! Be a student of the Bible. Get a graduate degree in Scripture. As Paul said to Timothy, “Study to show yourself a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
• Minister it! Do something with it. Apply it in your everyday life. As James said, “Don’t merely listen to the word. Do what it says!” (James 1:22)

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus: