God Preserves The Scriptures

We have seen in a previous article that the Bible does indeed claim to be perfectly preserved. It cannot be dismissed as a teaching foreign to the Scriptures. The Bible undeniably teaches thir concept and reality. What we need to recognize at this juncture is the truth that God is the Bible's Preserver. He accomplished this providentially through Israel and human instrumentality, but He is primarily responsible for the purity and perpetuity of the Holy Scriptures. In fact, I believe He still undertakes to sustain the Scriptures today. I know the Scriptures are in the hands of businesses, publishing companies, and folks who are trying to market and make money from publishing new Bible versions.... In spite of this, I insist that God is the primary Person who has and will ensure His Word survives as He promised.

Such a study is important because in the final analysis, the same Bible claiming to be divinely inspired also claims to be providentially preserved. Our faith in this is not based on common sense (though it is sensible to believe that if God gave a perfect Bible He would preserve that very Bible); our faith is based on the promises of the God that cannot lie. Please consider the following statements and promises from God.

Lesson:

THE BIBLICAL CLAIMS TO COMPLETE PRESERVATION.

The divine preservation of the Scriptures is just as much a doctrine as that of divine inspiration. Both doctrines are taught in Scripture and evidenced by internal and external proofs. The doctrine of preservation is based upon the following Scriptures:

GOD HAS PROMISED TO PRESERVE HIS WORD FOREVER.

Ps. 12:6-7, The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  (7) Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

These verses teach:

           1.  The Extent of Preservation - "words.”

Please note the incredible claim of this passage.... When God used the term "words" He was automatically indicating the extent of preservation. Not merely the preservation of the biblical concepts, thoughts, or ideas; but the very words are maintained by God to ensure accuracy and purity.

           2.  The Agent of Preservation- "Thou" (God.)

This was not left solely to human wisdom and strength but God Himself preserved His word. God is the Preserver. Once again it is important to note that God used the Jewish Nation to preserve the Old Testament and the NT Churches to preserve the Old and New Testaments. This was executed providentially, but God is ultimately responsible for the sustainment of His Holy Scriptures. 

           3. The Period of Preservation- "for ever."

I take "for ever" here to mean everlastingly. God will constantly perpetuate the life of the Scriptures for always. They will endure with us until time is no more. In eternity future we will still have the written Word of God.

These are exceedingly strong statements that we must take seriously if we claim to believe the Bible. The conclusion is inescapable!

GOD’S PROMISE TO PRESERVE HIS WORD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

           1.  David The Psalmist Declared That God’s Word is Forever (Eternal).

Ps. 119:152, Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever."

Ps. 119:89, For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Ps. 119:160, Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Once again God repeatedly asserts the eternal endurance of the written Word. Without any hesitation He stresses this idea of maintaining His Word.

            2.  Isaiah the Prophet Believed That God’s Word Would Stand Forever.

Is. 40:8, The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Is. 59:21, As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

GOD’S PROMISE TO PRESERVE HIS WORD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

            1.  The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Declared That The Smallest Details of God’s Word Would Be Preserved.

Mt. 5:18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Mt. 24:35, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Evidently the Lord Jesus believed and taught the Word of God would endure. These statements include both Testaments. Jesus undeniably affirms the preservation of the Scriptures. He actually believed this!

            2.  The Apostle Peter Believed That The Bible Was Incorruptible and Would Always Remain.

1 Pe. 1:23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever."

1 Pe. 1:25, But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Notice That the Word of God:

                 a. Is Incorruptible- the Promise of Continued Purity. Thus We Can Expect to Find a Pure Bible Today. While some copies of the Scriptures have indeed been perverted and altered, pure copies still remain with us. The majority of ancient manuscripts agree with each other, and I recognize two families of extant. I accept the larger collection of extant to be accurate while the smaller family of copies have serious changes, alterations, and points of disagreement. 

                 b. Lives Forever

Peter obviously believes the Scriptures are alive and will stay with us forever. He views the Word as having an incorruptible character. This points to the fact that the Word of God is enduring in its very nature. It will last forever.

                 c. Abideth for Ever.
First Peter 1:25, states this fact in the clearest of terms. Our salvation is designed to endure always because it springs from an enduring Source, The Scriptures. Beloved, "the Word of the Lord endureth for ever."

                d. Endureth for Ever.

The Promise of Continued Effectiveness, Hebrews 4:12.  The Doctrine of the Preservation of the Scriptures Is Based Squarely upon the Promise of God, and Falls Within the Realm of His Providence.  Thus we speak of “Providential preservation.” Though God ultimately is responsible for the preservation of the Scriptures, He used Believers down through the centuries to protect and perpetuate the truth. 

Isaiah 46:9-11,  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: [11] Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

           3.  The Apostle John Announces a Divine Curse Upon Those Who Alter God’s Holy Word.

Re. 22:18-19, For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The teaching of these passages is that God would preserve His Word in detail to every generation. This, and this alone, is the biblical doctrine of preservation. The scholars mock this position and sneeringly label it with derogatory terms such as “secondary inspiration,” but I am convinced the Bible teaches miraculous inspiration and miraculous preservation.

CHRIST'S GREAT COMMISSION DEMANDS THAT GOD PRESERVE HIS WORD. 

Matthew 28:19-20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

The “Great Commission” requires the Lord’s churches to teach believers ... . all things whatsoever I have commanded you…“until the end of this world as we presently know it. In order to be able to do this, the “all things” must be preserved until the end of the world.

Luke 4:4, And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

GOD PRESERVED HIS WORD THROUGH EXCELLENT COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS.

2 Tim. 3:15-16, And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

These verses, which are usually cited with reference to “inspiration,” give some remarkable truth about "preservation."  

            1. Timothy had the Scriptures in His Day. Nearly 2000 years ago from today.  The verse does not say he had a “reliable facsimile.” ....  Paul refereed to Timothy’s Bible as “Holy Scripture.”

            2.  Timothy Did Not Have the “Original Autographs.”

In his day, the (Old Testament) Scriptures were between 1,500 and 450 years old - and were copies of copies of copies of copies, etc.  Paul spoke of Timothy’s copies as “authoritative” and thoroughly profitable!

            3.  The Copies Timothy Had Access to Are Called “Scripture” and Are Preserved.

The original autographs were indeed inspired, but these excellent copies are the preserved Scriptures, and what we are dealing with (since the 2nd Century A.D.) is preserved copies! As best we know the “originals” are non-existent. Yet we still have God’s Word!

            4.  What Then Is The Extent of Preservation?

We must simply believe God for what He actually said about preserving the Bible.

Ps. 12:6-7, The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Mt. 24:35, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

                 a. We Do Not Have Any "Original" Autograph Today. Neither did Timothy, but he did have the Scriptures!

1 Tim. 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. [18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

                  b. When the New Testament Quotes the Old Testament, There Are Several Instances Where the Holy Spirit Used Different Words. e.g. Deuteronomy 8:3b is quoted in slightly different words in Luke 4:4, without loss of meaning. 

Deut. 8:3, And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. 

Luke 4:4, And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

(Also see Deut. 25:4; 1Cor. 9:9-10; 1Tim. 5:18).

                          1)   In the First Place, the Quotation Was from the Hebrew to the Greek Language.

                          2)  In the Second Place, Timothy Had Available Both the Book of Deuteronomy (Written in Hebrew) and the Book of Luke (Written in Greek) since I Timothy 5:18 cites both Books as SCRIPTURE.  This verse is especially interesting because it takes a portion of an O.T. verse and a N.T. verse and places them side by side as having equal authority.

                          3)  In the Third Place, the Spirit of God Is Well Qualified to Use Different Words since He Is the Author of Scripture. Besides, it is only an assumption that when a New Testament writer quotes from the Old Testament, he is sitting down and copying it from an existing scroll. (The example of Acts 20:35 and Jude 14 show this not to be the case.)

Faith concludes that God has kept His promise to preserve His Word, working providentially by the same Spirit through the processes of copying and translation to give us the very words He desires.  Very few people read the Bible languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) fluently. We have seen that Paul’s doctrine of inspiration in 2 Timothy chapter three allows for copies and possibly translations to be viewed as the authoritative Word of God. Why not? If a translation is an accurate representation of the original Texts of Scripture, what is wrong with saying that translation is the Word of God?

God's words are still His words when copied or properly translated. We may not fully understand this fact, but the Bible clearly teaches it.                            

Today we have learned that the perfectly inspired Word of God has also been completely preserved for all generations. We have also set forth God’s clear testimony and expressed will regarding the continuation/ endurance of the pure Word of God.  We have established the biblical doctrine of Scripture preservation.  Resultantly, we have boldly declared that God is keeping his promise as “Preserver” of his holy book. Every Christian then should come to the conclusion that we do have a complete and perfect Bible today.

Therefore I once more assert that I believe in the plenary, verbal, Divine inspiration of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and the New Testaments (from Genesis to Revelation) in the original languages, and in their consequent infallibility and inerrancy of all matters of which they speak (2 Ti. 3:16-17; 2 Pe. 1:21; 1 Th. 2:13). ... I believe that the preserved Texts which are the closest to the original autographs of the Bible are the Traditional Masoretic Hebrew Text for the O.T., and the Traditional Received Greek Text for the N.T. underlying the King James Version (as found in The Greek Text Underlying the English Authorized Version).

Now consider this observation from a widely recognize scholar of yesteryear,

Bible inspiration and Bible preservation are supremely important. The undermining or destroying of either doctrine renders the other meaningless. If the Bible is not verbally, plenarily, and inerrantly inspired, and if inspiration does not extend to all matters of which the Bible speaks, it does not matter if the Bible has been preserved or how it has been preserved. It also follows that if the Bible has not been preserved it does not matter how it was inspired. ("Position Statement on Bible Preservation," Dean Burgon Society, approved July 29, 1982).

Beloved, God can be trusted to keep His word about preserving the Scriptures He inspired.  In their purity and perpetuity God has and will sustain His Word on the planet for the benefit of each generation. While it is true the devil has corrupted some manuscripts, God has maintained His Word for this and all generations. While I believe the extant evidence supports this conclusion, this is ultimately a matter of faith in the God who cannot lie. Because God has preserved the Scriptures, we do have the Word of God today.

The Indestructible!

PS. 12:6-7; 33:11; 100:5

                                                                                   

On numerous occasions, Satan has attempted to remove the Bible from the face of the earth. There have been brazen decrees by godless individuals, religious groups, and atheistic governments endeavoring to ban, burn, and banish the Word of God.  Throughout history scornful critics have done their best to discredit and nullify the Scriptures. Yet, the Bible has endured!

This is important because in the final analysis, the same Bible claiming to be perfectly inspired also claims to be providentially preserved. Our Lord inspired the Scriptures, that is He moved certain individuals to write down His revelations, truths, and words for the benefit of His people. What these penmen wrote is the very perfect mind of Almighty God and it was free of any errors in its recording and teachings. God also promised repeatedly that He would guard the Scriptures in their purity and perpetuity. God Himself would ensure the Scriptures survive on earth for our continual usage. Our faith in this is not based on common sense (though it is sensible to believe that if God gave a perfect Bible He would preserve that very Bible); our faith is based on the promises of the God that cannot lie.

Today we will discover that the perfectly inspired Word of God has also been completely preserved for all generations. We will also endeavor to set forth God’s clear testimony and express will regarding the continuation/endurance of the pure Word of God.  In doing this, we will establish the biblical teaching of an indestructible Bible and boldly declare that God has keep his promise to play the role of Preserver of his holy book. I believe it is vital for each Christian to come to the conclusion that we do have a complete and perfect Bible today.

       

This teaching that God has preserved his Word pure through the ages is a clear biblical statement. The same God that perfectly inspired the Scriptures has promised to perfectly preserve the Scriptures—not merely its teachings, but its very words. If inspiration was perfect but preservation is only general, this entire issue is foolish. To argue for an inspired Bible which no longer exists is empty and meaningless. Except we have a divinely preserve Bible we have nothing at all! The whole doctrine of inspiration becomes totally meaningless if we fail to grasp the doctrine of preservation. Let’s take a closer look at the associated issues.

LESSON:

I. THE MODERN ISSUES REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF PRESERVATION.

Ps. 12:6-7, The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Ps. 33:11, The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

   A.  MANY BELIEVE IN INSPIRATION BUT NOT PRESERVATION.

Many evangelical and even fundamental men write volumes defining and defending what the Bible says about its own inspiration, but they are strangely silent on what the same Bible says about preservation. They take the position of faith in regard to inspiration but retreat to the position of skepticism in regard to preservation. Many have struggled and failed to believe God on this point.  Yet, the scriptures are extremely clear about this matter of God preserving His Word.

Ps. 100:5, For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Ps. 111:7-8, The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

Jack Moorman, in his excellent manual “Forever Settled,” states the solution to this problem plainly: "A far better principle is given in Ro. 14:23--`Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.' If I cannot by faith take the Bible in my hand and say this is the preserved Word of God, then it is sin. If we do not approach the study of how we got our Bible from the standpoint of faith, then it is sin. If I cannot believe what God says about the preservation of His Word, then I cannot believe what He says about its inspiration either--all is sin."

   B.  MANY BELIEVE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE A PRESERVED BIBLE TODAY.

Many Christians use the expression, "I believe in the divine, verbal, plenary, and inerrant inspiration of the original Scriptures," -a true statement, to be sure.

But, We DO NOT HAVE the original Scriptures in our possession, and likely never will! So, making such a statement without qualification can be rather convenient. Believing in the inspiration of the originals frees preachers, teachers, and professors to “correct” the Bible when it suits their purposes. (R. J. Sargent)

II. THE HISTORICAL TRIUMPH OF THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BIBLE.

Ps. 100:5, For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

God, through the Psalmist, declares His truth will endure for the benefit of all generations. While this is a rather general declaration because the term “truth” is employed, it is vital that we understand that truth is couched in thoughts, terms, and even words.

Dr. H. L. Willmington, a conservative theologian, wrote,

The story is told of a visitor who toured a blacksmith shop. Viewing heaps of discarded hammers but only one huge anvil, he asked: “How often do you replace your anvil?” With a smile the owner replied, “Never! It is the anvil that wears out the hammers, you know!”So it is with the Word of God. The hammers of persecution, ridicule, higher criticism, liberalism, and atheism have for centuries pounded out their vicious blows upon the divine anvil, but all to no avail. There they lie, in rusting piles, while the mighty anvil of the Scriptures stands unbroken, unshaken, and unchipped.   

     A.  ITS INDESTRUCTIBILITY IN SPITE OF POLITICAL PERSECUTIONS (from the Roman Emperors).

In A.D. 303, Emperor Diocletian thought he had destroyed every hated Bible. After many tireless years of ruthless slaughter and destruction, he erected a column of victory over the embers of a burned Bible. The title on the column read: "Extinct is the Name of Christian." Twenty years later, the new Emperor Constantine offered a reward for any remaining Bibles. Within twenty-four hours no less than fifty copies were brought out of hiding and presented to the king.

     B.  ITS INDESTRUCTIBILITY IN SPITE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS.

         1.  As Seen Through the Persecutions by Roman Catholic Popes.

Almost without exception, the early popes opposed the reading and translating of the Bible. In 1199, Pope Innocent III ordered the burning of all Bibles.

         2.  As Seen Through the Persecutions Leveled Against John Wycliffe and William Tyndale.

Of all the heroes in church history, no two other names are so closely associated with the Word of God as the names of Wycliffe and Tyndale. The very mention of these two men was no doubt sufficient to turn the devil livid with rage. It is therefore no surprise to read of the vicious attacks leveled against them.

    C.  ITS INDESTRUCTIBILITY IN SPITE OF PHILOSOPHICAL PERSECUTION.

Here several cases come to mind:

           1.  Voltaire.  He once said, "Another century and there will be not a Bible on the earth." The century is gone, and the circulation of the Bible is one of the marvels of the age. After he died, his old printing press and the very house where he lived was purchased by the Geneva Bible Society and made a depot for Bibles.

On December 24, 1933, the British Government bought the Codex Sinaiticus from the Russians for half a million dollars. On that same day, a first edition of Voltaire's work sold for eleven cents in Paris bookshops.

          2.  Thomas Paine. He once said, "I have gone through the Bible as a man would go through a forest with an axe to fell trees. I have cut down tree after tree; here they lie. They will never grow again." Tom Paine thought he had demolished the Bible, but since he crawled into a drunkard's grave in 1809, the Bible has leaped forward as never before.

          3.  Joseph Stalin. This bloody butcher took over all of Russia at the death of Lenin in the late twenties. From this point on until his death in the fifties, Stalin instituted a “ban the Bible” purge from the U.S.S.R. such as had never been witnessed before. This miserable man literally attempted to wipe the Word of God and the God of the Word from the Russian minds. Did he succeed? A recent poll taken in Russia shows that today more people than ever believe in God and his Word.

Today we have learned that the perfectly inspired Word of God has also been completely preserved for all generations. We have also set forth God’s clear testimony and express will regarding the continuation/ endurance of the pure Word of God.  We have established the biblical doctrine of Scripture preservation.  Resultantly, we have boldly declared that God is keeping his promise as “preserver” of his holy book. Every Christian then should come to the conclusion that we do have a complete and perfect Bible today.

Where Did The Bible Come From?

Where Did The Bible Come From? 

The Divine Source of the Bible 

(2 Tim. 3:16)

The Bible is important because God has revealed Himself and His will for us in it. Scripture informs us of its grand origin—it was “given by inspiration of God.” Thus it is not merely a human book, but more precisely a divine book. It is the greatest miracle in the world today!

A.     The Declaration of the Divine Source of the Bible.

1.  The Bible Clearly Claims It Came From God.

                                                                     i.            Notice the Origin of the Old Testament.

a.       The Old Testament came from God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

b.       The Scriptures are God-breathed.  These are the most important verses in the Bible on the subject of inspiration. They teach that the Scriptures are “breathed out by God,” or “God-breathed.” Sometimes God told the Bible writers the exact words to say (see Jer. 1:9), but more often He used their minds, vocabularies, and experiences to produce His own perfect dependable, faithful Word (1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21).

                                                                   ii.            Notice the Origin of the New Testament.

a.       Paul claimed divine inspiration for the NT Scriptures (1 Cor. 2:9-13).

b.       Peter refers to Paul’s letters as Scripture (2 Pet. 3:15-16), and Paul called Luke’s gospel Scripture in 1 Timothy 5:18, where he quotes the words of Luke 10:7.

c.       1 Thess. 2:13—“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

                                                                  iii.            God is the Source of the Entire Bible.

a.       The entire Bible is inspired meaning it came to us from God.

b.       God’s words were given through men superintended by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous way so that their writings are without error. He communicated His word to men and led them to write it down for permanent preservation. What they wrote was the very word of God, inspired and infallible. Inspiration applies to the autographs of Scripture, not the human writers; there were no inspired Scripture writers, only inspired Scripture. God is so identified with His Word that when Scripture speaks, God speaks (Rom. 9:17; Gal. 3:8).

2.  The Bible Gives Evidence It Came from God.

                                                                     i.            By its tremendous unity throughout in spite of the forty different writers, from different backgrounds, and times writing independent of each other.

                                                                   ii.            By its consistent and continuous emphasis on God, Christ, and redemption, godliness throughout in spite of the fact it was written over the course of 1, 500 years.

                                                                  iii.            This unity and consistency points to One Author of Scripture—the Holy Spirit.

B.     The Denotation of the Divine Source of the Bible.

1.  The Bible is Revelation (1 Cor. 2:9-11).

                                                                     i.            To know the mind of God, there must be some revelation from Him. The word "revelation" simply means a revealing, and in theology is applied to God's revealing of Himself to mankind.

                                                                   ii.            Without revelation, we would not know anything about God -or even that there is a God. Thus we begin with the premise that God desires to make Himself known to man, and has in fact revealed Himself at various times and in different ways (Deut. 29:29)

                                                                  iii.            Hebrews 1:1-2, God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

2.  The Bible Came by Inspiration (1 Cor. 2:12, 13).

                                                                     i.          Inspiration deals with God giving us the Bible and overseeing the process of recording His revelation without error.  Having revealed Himself to man, God then had this revelation recorded in written form.

                                                                   ii.            Inspiration refers to God as the Author of the Bible.

a.       He inspired the very words of Scripture (Jer. 1:9; Matt. 24:35; 1 Cor 2:13).

b.       The entire body of Scripture is equally inspired—“all” (2 Tim. 3:16).

c.       The Scriptures are the product of divine and human cooperation—this is known as confluent inspiration (Acts 4:25; 13:35; Isa. 8:1). While it is true that the individual literary styles of the writers were not destroyed, it is also true that the very words they used were words given to them by the Holy Spirit. This is why we can detect different styles from the different Bible penmen!

d.       The Scriptures are free of error in their teaching (Ps. 119:160; Jn. 17:17).

                                                                  iii.            Since the Bible is given to mankind by inspiration of God then it is not merely the writings of men but they find their source in Jehovah. The reliability of the Scriptures rest in the Power, Sovereignty, and Wisdom of an All Mighty God, and not human strength or frailty! See 2 Peter 1:20, 21.

                                                                 iv.            Since God inspired the Bible it must be true from beginning to end (Ps. 119:160).

a.       The Bible is Understood through Illumination (1 Cor. 2:14-3:4).

b.       Greater illumination and spiritual discernment will come with obedience, discipline study, faith, and maturity in the Word (Matt. 13:12; Mark 4:24, 25; Heb. 5:11-14). There is no short cut to an in dept Biblical perspective.

c.       God does not communicate to us through occult practices and methods (Lev. 19:26, 31).

d.       Pursue the wisdom that comes from God; it is far superior to demonic and worldly wisdom (Dan. 1:16-21; 2:10, 19-23, 28-30).

Beloved, when you read the Word of God, you are reading a miracle Book to be sure! Knowing these truths about the Bible, how then should we respond to it? We must take Paul’s counsel to Timothy to heart, “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured.”(2 Tim. 3:14) At a time in which our society is rejecting the Bible more and more, let us as Believers in Christ Jesus cling to its message and truths, explore all the wonder of a relationship with God, and stand ever firmly on "thus saith the LORD!" 

Storm-Walking with Jesus!

Storm-Walking with Jesus

Acknowledging Christ’s Presence during our storms inspires us frighten storm-tossed Believers to cast away the chains of despair, intimidation, paralysis, procrastination, and defeat to envision a life liberated by spiraling faith into amazing triumph!

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God (Matt. 14:22-33).

Violent storms on the Sea of Galilee were notorious in our Lord’s time as they are now. A deep depression surrounded by high hills, the Sea of Galilee is shaped like a basin half-filled with water. Strong winds funneling into this basin clashing with rising warm air produces sudden furious squalls.

During such a storm, the sea itself would be whipped into a chaotic frenzy. Experienced fishermen, the disciples recognized the danger they were in as volleys of waves flooded the boat. Disaster seemed inevitable…darkness loomed ominously…all hope of survival dissipated as the disciples grappled with an ever increasing tempest. Would they finally succumb? The drenched and beleaguered disciples were in a frightful panic when Jesus appeared walking on the storm.

Actually there is an alternative to fearful responses in the storms. Though we instinctively react in fear, we can learn to respond with soaring confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acknowledging Christ’s Presence inspires us frighten storm-tossed Believers to cast away the chains of despair, intimidation, paralysis, procrastination, and defeat to envision a life inflamed with spiraling faith and triumph! Faith is a choice to persist in concert with God, in harmony with truth, and refusing to believe our senses more than we believe God’s statements in His Word. It is choosing to abandon a life defined by reluctance, doubts, human strength, inactivity, false securities, and absolute debilitating boredom! Faith in Christ frees us from the storms that hold us captive. Such confidence in our Lord touches His heart, honors Him as Almighty Creator God, and pleases Him immeasurably. And what are the characteristics of such storm-walking faith? It is faith that overcomes fears, obeys Christ’s commands, attempts the impossible, and experiences Christ’s great enabling power to triumph! Freedom, peace, assurance, confidence, courage, and progress mark such Believers. This is God’s desire for each of us, not merely a select few Christian experts or specialists who pretend to be hyper-unique ones. In this incident, the disciples recognized the Presence of Jesus and this reality transported them from fear to faith.  Are you relying on the Presence of Jesus, the mighty Storm-Walker in your storm? Has the honest recognition of His Presence transformed your fears to faith?

How can we become Storm-Walking Christians? Dynamic and triumphant faith recognizes the Presence and power of Christ, even in the storms. Recognizing the Lord’s Presence in the Storm will inspire faith, generate security, embolden the timid to attempt the impossible, and avail Christ’s power to triumph over the frightening storms of life. It is experiencing the freedom and peace our Lord promised! Fear, intimidation, mediocrity, pain, and frustration have stolen many believers desire to live the faith life. Hardness has resigned them to the dull ‘boat life’ of just surviving. Though they are storm tossed, thrashed, and often overwhelmed, they have come to believe the defeated life is normal. They have lost their sense of spiritual adventure and their dreams of winning over life’s challenges have faded into oblivion. They have failed to realize that acknowledging Christ’s Presence in the storm is the difference between discouragement and dynamic living. What do you fear? Is it yourself...failure…success…sacrifice… pain…the unknown…making mistakes…what people may say or think? Beloved, recognize that you are not alone, God has not abandoned you, the Lord Jesus can see YOU in this storm as well as any storm. The question is, have you recognized by faith that Christ Jesus is with you? To become “Storm-Walking Christians” we must recognize His Presence, Hear His Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power (Matt. 14:22-33). This is precisely what Peter experienced. Yes, he failed by taking his eyes off the Lord Jesus, and by paying too much attention to the storm. He is also the only Person in history to ever walk on water besides the Lord Jesus. In addition, after he sunk and the Lord rescued him, Peter walked on water again to return to the boat! I am among those who salute Peter’s confidence in Jesus Christ! Such soaring faith transformed him into a Water-Walking Believer; actually he was a Storm-Walking Believer!

Christ will help us grow and even transform us also through the storms. We cannot become storm-walking Christians by correspondence; you must feel the power of the storm to experience the power of the mighty Christ! This was the whole purpose of the storm, to inspire the disciple’s faith. After all, Jesus would one day leave them, and they would face many storms in their lives and ministries. They had to learn to trust Him even though He was not physically present with them, and even though it appeared as though He did not care. The same is true for you and me, Beloved.

Jesus came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need. Their need was real; their fears were real. But in the presence of Jesus, fear must give way to faith. It was R. A. Torrey, who rightly observed, “The first result of walking with God is great joy, abounding joy, and secondly, a great sense of security, of abiding peace.” And so it is for us today as well. 

When Jesus arrived, He made a huge difference! Because of our Lord—all He taught, all He did—our lives are different now! You and I are not alone.  We have a heavenly Father, a living Savior, and a great Comforter. All the problems that beset you and me are now theirs as well. So, instead of telling God how big your problem is, tell your problems how big your God is! In the face of every challenge, every heartbreak, every troubling diagnosis . . . recognize Christ’s Presence, here His command, attempt the impossible, and experience His power! Peter did, so why not you and me?