WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE BIBLE - The Discerner of Life 8-10-25
INTRODUCTION
A little boy opened the big family Bible at home. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it closely. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mamma, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered: "I think it’s Adam’s underwear."
Reverend Dr. Randall M Deal, Sr., Sermon Central, March 29, 2009.
What the Bible says about the Bible.
Martin Luther made this statement: “Mighty potentates have raged against this book, and sought to destroy and uproot it – Alexander the Great and princes of Egypt and Babylon, the monarchs of Persia, of Greece and of Rome, the Emperors Julius and Augustus – But have prevailed nothing. They are gone while the book remains, and it will remain forever and ever, perfect and entire as it was declared at first. Who has thus helped it – who has protected it against such mighty forces? No one, surely, but God Himself, who is master of all things.”
The Word is the source of life.
The Word is the certainty of life.
The Word is the beacon of life.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
“For the word of God is alive 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.”
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
The Word is the discerner of life.
LET US PRAY!
I. THE WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE
Hebrews 4:12a NIV
“For the word of God is alive and active.”
Hebrews 4:12a NIV
A. Alive
1. Quick
2. Living
Acts 7:38 NIV
“He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.”
Acts 7:38 NIV
B. Active
Emperor Menelik II was an African ruler who defeated the Italian army at Adwa in 1896 and established the nation of Ethiopia. He believed that the Bible had the power to cure illness, and he would eat a few pages of it anytime he got sick. He suffered a stroke in 1913, after which he ate the entire book of Kings. As a result, his bowels became obstructed and he died of related complications.
Sean Harder, Sermon Central, July 8, 2009.
1. Mighty in operation
2. Vital power
Jeremiah 23:29 NIV
““Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:29 NIV
II. THE WORD IS SHARP THAN ANY DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Kathleen Norris tells the story of a South Dakota rancher and his bride who received a leather-bound Bible as a wedding gift from the groom's grandfather. They wrote a thank-you note and stowed the Bible away on a closet shelf, out of the way.
As time passed, the grandfather repeatedly asked the couple how they liked the Bible. The rancher was confused as to how to respond. Hadn't he already expressed his appreciation? But the grandfather persisted. Eventually the young man dug out the gift; as he leafed through it, $20 bills fluttered out, 66 in all--one at the beginning of Genesis and in each succeeding book.
But that wasn't the only treasure, or the best; the spiritual riches of Scripture transform our lives when we read and heed God's word.
Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith. (Robert Leroe, Sermon Central, September 26, 2011.)
Hebrews 4:12b NIV
“Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;”
Hebrews 4:12b NIV
Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV
A. Penetrates
B. Dividing soul and spirit
C. Dividing joint and marrow
III. THE WORD IS JUDGE
I heard of a teacher who quizzed a group of college-bound high school juniors and seniors on the Bible. The quiz preceded a Bible-as-literature course he planned to teach at the Newton (Massachusetts) High School, generally considered one of the best public schools in the nation. Among the most astounding findings he got from the students were:
Sodom and Gomorrah were lovers.
Jezebel was Ahab’s donkey.
The four horsemen appeared on the Acropolis.
The New Testament Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luther, and John.
Eve was created from an apple.
Jesus was baptized by Moses.
The answer that took the cake was given by a fellow who was in the top 5 percent of the graduating class, academically.
The question: What was Golgotha?
The answer: Golgotha was the name of the giant who slew the apostle David.
Don Jones, Sermon Central, April 1, 2009.
Hebrews 4:12c NIV
“It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12c NIV
A. Thoughts
B. Attitudes of the heart
C. Everything
Hebrews 4:13 NIV
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13 NIV
CONCLUSION
The Word is alive and active. The Word is sharper than any double-edged sword. The Word is judge of everything.
John 12:47-49 NIV
““If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
John 12:47-49 NIV
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.
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