We must be reminded of this.
The Bible is God's Word.
It is the basics on which we learn about God.
Bible comes the Latin and Greek word meaning book.
There are 66 books.
There is an Old Testament and a New Testament.
There are books of law, historical ones, poetry ones, prophecy ones, biography ones, and formal letter ones.
There are around 40 authors who were inspired by God to write.
The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years.
Among the writers were kings, fishermen, priest, farmers, doctors, government officials and shepherds.
This diverse group wrote in unison with God
to make His word know.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, - 2 Timothy 3:16
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. - 2 Peter 1:21
The OT is the story of a nation.
The NT is the story of a Savior.
But both are totally about Jesus Christ.
The old prophecies about Jesus.
The new details Christ life, death, resurrection and His salvation.
It's alive!
There is power in it!
His word changes lives.
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.
8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. - Nehemiah 8:1-9
5 Images the Bible uses to describe itself
1. Lamp/Light
Gives security, direction, show the way
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:105
2. Fire
Purifies, intensifies
Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? - Jeremiah 23:29
3. Hammer
Breaks pride, destroys anger, shows sin giving us conviction
Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? - Jeremiah 23:29
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26
4. Mirror
Reflects the truth, God sees you as you are
The word causes you to reflect
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. - James 1:23-24
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. - James 1:25
5. Sword
Cuts or convicts but also protects
Offense but also defense
Words for when you are under Satan's attack
He will deliver you
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - Hebrews 4:12-13
the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. - Jeremiah 31:3
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. - Genesis 50:20
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. - Matthew 10:30
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. - Psalm 139:13
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, - Ephesians 6:10-17
For nothing will be impossible with God." - Luke 1:37
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. - Isaiah 40:8
Thanks Pastor Kevin!
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