Message delivered January 19, 2014 Good morning friends and family and it’s a blessings to have you join us this morning. We are continuing on last week's message, as we didn't even start to get into this title. Last week I asked you, like I often do, if you believe the Bible to be true. I asked if you believe that every word was from God. I asked if you believed God is the same yesterday, today and forever and if you believed that He is not a respecter of persons. Amen? Do we all agree with this? I hear so many contradicting the Bibles truths. I hear many who will say we don't have to worry about what is written in the Old Testament. Oh, really? Yes, it's the truth. Do we believe that the God who created the universe and everything in it is capable of writing a book? And the God who is perfect is capable of writing a perfect book? The issue is not simply does the Bible have a mistake, but can God make a mistake? If the Bible contains factual errors, then God is not omniscient (having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight) and is capable of making errors Himself. If the Bible contains misinformation, then God is not truthful but is instead a liar. If the Bible contains contradictions, then God is the author of confusion. In other words, if the Bible is not true, then God is not God. How many of you believe that God is the author of confusion? Apostle Paul told us this in 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Friends, the Bible is true. God is true. God sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross. He who knew no sin came to die on a cross to save us from an eternity separated from God. That innocent blood that was shed from Jesus that day at Calvary was shed to wash your sins and mine away when we came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Prayer. Turn if you will to Hebrews 4 and starting with verse 11. Each message, each week and for almost 2 years, I have shared the importance of all of us reading God's Word daily. I would again ask that each one of you spend time in the Bible and read at least a chapter a day. But I would ask you to read it not because I ask, but because you want to, because you want to seek God's heart. Amen? Hebrews 4:11-16 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Notice the relationship between the heart and the Word. The Word examines and the heart is being examined. When we read in the Bible about our hearts, many times it is not a good prognosis. Someone might say, “Brother Jim, what on earth are you talking about? The doctor says my heart is in great shape.” Well, let's see what the Bible says about heart issues. Because of times sake, I will read these verses, but I would ask that each of you write these verses down. Amen? Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: (20) That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 36:26-27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Friends, from just these few scriptures that we have read, we find that it’s impossible to save ourselves. Amen? Those who trust in their own righteousness and strength, thinking to get salvation without the merit and grace of Christ, to them are doomed. We will see this when we tap into some of the verses in the New Testament. Let's continue. I love this next scripture and should be each and every one of our goals. Praise God! Proverbs 4:20-27 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (23) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (24) Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. (25) Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. (26) Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. (27) Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Friends, true wisdom from God is the principle thing. It is that which recommends us to God, which beautifies the soul, which enables us to answer the ends of our creation, to live to some good purpose in the world and which makes our path brighter and brighter until we get to heaven. Praise the Lord!! We are nothing without God. We were created in His likeness. We were created to have fellowship with Him. He loves us and wants what is good for our lives, yet we turn away from Him every day. Is God speaking to someone? Let's look a few more verses from the Old Testament, then we will go into the new Testament. Glory to God!! Everyone, please turn to Psalms 34:18. Has anyone listening today, or reading this maybe at a later time, had a broken heart? Maybe a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife left you? Maybe the loss of a family member or close friend? God loves you and me so much to even help us through those times and it is recorded in His Word. Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. The Good New Translation says it this way. Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. Also in Psalms 147 I would like someone to read this chapter, because I think it is important for us to see God's heart on what He created. Amen? Psalms 147:1-20 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. (2) The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. (3) He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. (4) He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. (5) Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (6) The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. (7) Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: (8) Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. (9) He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. (10) He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. (11) The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. (12) Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. (13) For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. (14) He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. (15) He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. (16) He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. (17) He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? (18) He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. (19) He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. (20) He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. God’s people who share His special favor should concur in His praises and magnify His name together. Upon every fresh occurrence of His mercies, let us renew our praises, thus encouraging others to trust Him. The true and only way to happiness is to walk in the love and favor of God. Amen? One of my favorite passages since I was in high school is: Psalms 34:3-8 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (4) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (5) They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (6) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (7) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Brother Jim, you have read many scriptures the last two weeks, but what does that have to do with the title "For It Is Written"? It has everything to do with the title. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. Amen? Please turn to Matthew 5:8 and let us look in the New Testament at some heart issues and I hope that everyone sees where I am going with this. Praise Jesus. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. From these few words in this verse, we could do a whole sermon. How can you do a whole study on this verse, Brother Jim? It's easy when you study His Word and look at how the whole Bible is threaded together. We seem to judge people on their outward appearance. Those who are smart are the ones that many cling to. Amen? 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Church, those whose minds, motives, and principles are pure, who seek not only to have the external actions correct, but who desire to be holy in heart, and who are, they are the ones that Jesus is talking about, that are pure in heart. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. Matthew 15:18-20 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. You may be saying those are pretty harsh words, Brother Jim. I say to you, those are not my words, but the words of Jesus Himself. I don't know your heart, but Jesus does. Let's look at Jeremiah again. Jer 17:9-10 "Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed. (10) I, the LORD, search the minds and test the hearts of people. I treat each of them according to the way they live, according to what they do. Heart issues. Why would the Bible point out that our hearts can be deceitfully wicked? Without Christ being the most important thing in your life and us being filled and led by the Holy Spirit, lust, greed, idolatry, hatred and so many other things have room to take over the heart. Sin means nothing to him, or her. Wouldn't be awesome if we saw brothers and sisters like Jeremiah moving around our communities weeping day and night for this world to come back to God? To be out in the public praying in anguish for people to turn from their wickedness. What about the cupbearer for the King Artaxerxes. But he also was a praying man. Are you getting this church? How often do we pray? How often are we on our knees praying for our families, communities, states country or the world? God is speaking to me now also. Friends, wherever you are, Jesus needs to be your master. Because I have talked to some of you throughout this week about listening via Skype, there could be people from many states here in the US joining this morning. There could be those from the countries of Bulgaria, South Africa and beyond. The message Jesus wants you to hear is that time is running out. Some of you may have been thinking that you are hiding things from the world. There may be some of you hearing or reading this message that are shackled so tightly in bondage that you think God can never forgive you, or could never free you. Maybe there is someone reading this message that has been battling a disease and have spent every dime they have and are no better, like the woman with the issue of blood that we looked at last week. I tell you Jesus can free you. Come on church. I said Jesus can free you from all these things. Jesus can heal you, but it starts with you. When is the last time you spent time with God? When is the last time that you honestly read your Bible and meditated on its truths? When is the last time you spent time with God in prayer? When is the last time you asked God to search your heart and point things out that are not right? Friends, I think God wants to minister today, and the only way He can do that is if we ask and allow Him to, Amen. I would ask that everyone close their eyes and bow their heads and praise the name of Jesus. Let's just take some time and tell God how much we love Him and ask Him into our lives and work on us. Reveal the things that need fixing in our hearts, and after we will pray together that God touches each and every one of us. Time to minister. Communion. Prayer.
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