The Bible – our rock

1. The Salem witch trials have always fascinated me.

2. This past week I learned something new about them.

3. Most know there was a period when people were charged with being witches.

4. What may not be so widely known is a fact from some of the actual trials.

5. During the court proceedings spectators sometimes fell to the floor and began to thrash and scream.

6. Supposedly the convulsions seizures were caused by the person accused of withcraft .

7. If we had been on trial for being a witch and someone fell to the ground and started hollering, that commotion would prove our guilt.

8. A time came when this form of “evidence” was no longer used.

9. When this form of proof was rejected, the seizures came to a sudden end.

MOST THINGS IN LIFE HAVE SOME TYPE OF BASIS (FOUNDATION). IN THE CASE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, THE BASIS, AT LEAST IN THIS COUNTRY, IS SOME FORM OF EVIDENCE.

a) When it comes to the spiritual realm, there must be a basis for what is believed and taught.

b) If we are a teacher, there must be a basis for what we teach.

c) Preachers need a basis for what they preach.

d) If we are going to devote ourselves to a specific type of life, we need a basis for that life.

e) This past week I received an e-mail from a non-Christ woman who is in her 60’s.

f) She has struggled for many years to find a basis for her life and beliefs.

g) Her father said he was an agnostic and her mother embraced some form of Buddhism.

h) Life must be founded on something.

2) Tonight I am going to affirm that there is only one basis that is correct, and this basis is the Bible.

3) There are lots of foundations that people use for spiritual things.

4) Only one of them, however, is right.

5) Jesus once said a “sower went forth to sow.”

a) A farmer has a basis for his crop (the seed that is sown).

b) Jesus identified the farmer’s seed as the Word of God (Mt. 13:19).

c) In Mt. 13:19 Jesus identified the Word of God as the “word of the kingdom.”

d) If we want to do any work in the Kingdom of God (the church), we must use the right basis.

e) God says this is the Scriptures.

f) If we want a relationship with God, we must use the right foundation (the Scriptures).

6) God tells us to become attached to His word and never ever let go.

7) Listen to Heb. 2:1-3 – READ.

a) The ASV says “drift” and the KJV says “slip.”

b) This word can convey the idea of drifting as well as slipping

c) The idea of “drift” brings to mind a boat which is no longer anchored; it begins to drift downriver.

d) “Slip” is also appropriate.

e) Most of us have eaten or drank something that as the old saying goes, “went down the wrong way.”

8) The word used by the Hebrew writer was sometimes used of food that “went down the wrong pipe.”

9) The food or the liquid “slipped” into the wrong place.

10) Individuals and entire congregations can drift from God, Christian living, or the Scriptures in general.

11) It is possible to start “slipping.”

12) Drifting and slipping both usually not result from not paying enough attention to something.

13) Some do not begin with the right foundation while others do start with what is right and then leave it.

14) This type of thing has been a problem for a very long time.

15) I want to turn our attention back to the Old Testament, the 4^th chapter of Deuteronomy.

a) Moses was speaking to Israel and he was urging the Hebrew people to pay close attention.

b) In Deut. 4:1 he said “hearken unto the statuses and ordinances” he was teaching.

c) Why would this type of statement need to be made?

d) He knew the people could “drift” or “slip.”

e) The people might be tempted to turn to some other basis for worship and right living.

f) Then in Deut. 4:2 he said this – READ.

16) God knew that His people might not always want to use just the Bible as their basis for life.

17) Thus, in the strictest possible terms God said: no additions and no subtractions.

18) Put nothing more in it (bind no more than it says), and do not leave anything out of it.

19) Sometimes people say things but they do not really mean what they say.

20) How serious was God about the Hebrews just having the Bible as their sole authority?

a) Verse 3 – READ.

b) There were people who worshipped a false god (an idol).

c) Moses said these idol worshippers had been destroyed; God terminated them.

d) He also said the Hebrews had seen this with their “own eyes.”

e) He gave this example to say that Israel’s lives needed to be grounded in the Word of God.

f) While many were destroyed, the destruction was not total – verse 4 – READ.

g) By staying the Word of God wise people avoided an earthly judgment of death.

21) In life there are various manuals (instruction books).

22) Often these books have safety steps. If there is a gas or chemical leak, certain steps are to be followed.

23) People can disregard the book and take their chances.

24) If what is in the book is right and the procedures are followed, lives can be saved.

25) God says to us His book is designed to save us, especially in the realm of eternity.

26) The Hebrews were interested about getting to Canaan.

27) God said they would have to follow the right book to get there – verse 5 – READ.

28) If the people acted upon the right foundation al would be well.

a) In our society a lot of people do not like to be told what to do.

b) People may be told to do something on the job and they decide to quit rather than obey.

c) Children who do not like teachers telling them what to do might decide to drop out of school.

d) Why should we follow the book given by God?

e) Let’s see why the Hebrews were supposed to follow it – verse 6 – READ.

29) God said the nations around Israel would see their basis for living and be impressed.

30) Pagans would see the laws being abided by and they regard the laws and wise and understanding.

a) The other night I watched an interview about another Ten Commandments display.

b) I was a little disappointed in the person who supported this display.

c) His antagonist asked if the supporter thought the display would make the community a better place.

d) The man struggled to answer this question.

31) I thought to myself, why doesn’t he just tick off a few of the commandments.

a) The supporter might have started with not using God’s name in vain.

b) Is a community better off when people use decent language or they swear like sailors?

c) Foul mouthed people roaming the streets is not exactly a good plan to attract tourists and new families.

d) There was a day of rest incorporated into the Ten Commandments.

i) Is a period of rest a good thing or a bad thing for communities?

e) If the host could not see the benefit in these two commandments, what about honoring mom and dad?

32) Would this practice improve a community or be injurious to it?

33) That question answers itself.

34) If the host were still not convinced, what about this one: murder is wrong.

a) If people are taught that murder is wrong, will this help or will this hurt a community?

b) Lying, adultery and theft are also part of Moses’ law.

c) There are people who live in the state of Texas who are being abducted.

d) Ordinary citizens are being snatched and then held for ransom.

e) At least 60 cases have occurred since 2004 and it looks like the number is rising.

f) As people are being literally stolen, some in our society saying have a sign about that is a bad thing.

35) In Deut. 4 the words are exactly right; God’s laws are wise and following them is very wise.

36) As simple as this principle is, many do not get it.

a) Let’s look a little further in Deut. 4 – verse 8 – READ.

b) Moses predicated that people would ask what nation had laws like Israel?

c) People would look at Israel and say, “this is as good as it gets.”

d) Israel could look at what it had an know that it had the very best.

37) In spite of this do we remember what Israel would do?

38) They took the very best system available in that day and time and traded it in for something else.

39) It would be like taking a hundred dollar bill and trading it for an old worn out penny.

40) To us that sounds senseless and illogical; a dumb mistake that no one would ever commit today.

a) Believe it or not, people are still doing the same thing in our day and time.

b) People are taking the testament we are now under (the New Testament) and saying, “some changes are in order.”

c) The changes may come in the form of rejecting most of the New Testament.

d) It may be supplementing the New Testament with part of the old.

e) It may be the joining of New Testament material with church tradition.

f) In one form or another people have jettisoned their full allegiance to the New Testament.

41) If this was wrong under the Old Testament system, it is certainly wrong today.

42) Our world has become just as guilty as Israel and even more so.

a) To prevent this from happening under the Old Testament era Moses said this in Deut. 4:9 – READ.

b) God told the Hebrews, “do not slip.”

c) Then He added this: pass what I am telling you on to your children.

d) Also transmit this information to your grandchildren.

e) Today this message still has relevance for us.

43) We need to train our children to hold to the Word of God and it alone.

44) We have, use and follow nothing more and nothing less.

45) When we have grandchildren, we teach them this same information.

46) As early as they can receive it this is information we seek to instill.

47) What happens if we fail to hold to the Word of God and it alone?

48) Verse 16 of Deut. 4 – READ.

a) Not following the Scriptures alone means we will “corrupt” ourselves.

b) Israel went outside the Scriptures and made idols.

c) Verse 19 goes on to say this corruption involved worship.

d) It is almost always the case that when someone uses something besides the Scripture worship is corrupted.

e) God will deal with those who use something besides the Scriptures in their religious life.

f) We know that because the Bible tells us so – verse 24 – READ.

g) God has given us a book that is called “perfect.”

h) If we do not use it and it alone, we will pay a hefty price.

49) The Old Testament was not sealed with the blood of Christ, but notice this statement:

50) Verse 26 – READ.

51) Imagine “heaven and earth” being used to witness against someone—great imagery to describe compelling witnesses.

52) We live under the New Testament and the proof against us will be much greater—the Son of God.

53) If we fail to fully and strictly abide by the New Testament, God will judge us.

54) Israel’s punishment is stated in verses 27-28 – READ.

55) This entire chapter reminded Israel in the strictest of ways of a principle we still need to follow.

56) We start off with the Bible as our only foundation and we are solely guide by it throughout life.

57) Verse 40 is also relevant – READ.

58) The right foundation is the Bible, and that foundation is kept in good shape by the Bible alone.

59) Are these the two choices we have made in our lives?