What You Hold in Your Hand
Date: 31 August, 2017
Text: 2 Peter 1:16-21
Title: What You Hold in Your Hand
Theme:
Proposition: When you pick up a Bible you ought to know what you are holding in your hand!
Rhetorical: Do you know what you are holding in your hand?
Introduction:
Doing evangelism this week.
1.) Man - North of Ireland - Catholic - rejects a book that has absolute authority.
2.) Young Man - Atheist, told by his teacher that the Bible - is a good book to learn from the stories but don't accept the facts.
3.) Middle aged man - Catholic background - also does not believe the Bible is to be taken literally. For instance - the resurrection has a meaning (of some sort) but?
note: I told him the reason it is vital that Jesus rose from the dead - is because if He didn't how can we? Paul's argument
I Cor. 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
exp. Our faith is vain this morning if when we pick up a Bible we believe that it is just a good old book written by men that has some good stories in it.
WHEN YOU PICK UP A BIBLE YOU OUGHT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HOLDING IN YOUR HAND!
ill. man trying to sell one ounce pure gold coin for 20 dollars - people would hold it in their hand and give it back to him - (HE EVEN TRIED TO TRADE IT FOR A PIECE OF GUM.) THEY DID NOT REALIZE WHAT THEY HAD IN THEIR HAND.
Do you know this morning what you are holding in your hand as you take up this precious book?
text - 2 Peter 1:16-21
You hold a Book that is not myths, legends, chinese whispers, or fables.
Ill. Watching the beginning of a BBC documentary looking for an undiscovered location by using the Bible. Although they were using the Bible to find this treasure - they slandered the Bible saying - Myths, Legends, Chinese Whispers, Stories....
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ill. I challenge people all the time to name just one error in the Bible. And I'm not afraid that they will ever find it - they may have things with which they disagree -but they will never find an error in God's book.
Psa 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.
ill. Pilate Stone - no extra biblical source on Pontius Pilate until - 1961
The Pilate stone is a damaged block (82 cm x 65 cm) of carved limestone with a partially intact inscription attributed to, and mentioning, Pontius Pilate, a prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from AD 26–36. It was discovered at the archaeological site of Caesarea Maritima in 1961.
app. Peter told us - it's not a cunning fable. The book you hold in your hand is TRUE FROM BEGINNING TO END. Myths and stories - HAVE NO BENEFIT - THE TRUTH IS WHAT MATTERS. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
II. You hold a Book verified by eye witness accounts.
but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Exp. The disciples didn't just get to read the OT - they got to live the New Testament.
ill.
the storm on the Sea of Galilee saying,"Peace be still."
Peter's mother in law - healed and getting up to serve them. Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Cast your net on the other side - Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
At the crucifixion - saw him taken, saw him on trial (denied him), we know that John, Peter's good friend, was beside the cross as Jesus died. I imagine Peter was somewhere nearby.
AFTER the resurrection - 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
ill. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, 1-3 John, Revelation - 1-2 Peter - WERE ALL WRITTEN BY THE MEN WHO WERE WITH JESUS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
exp. Islam says that Jesus never died. JW's say that Jesus died on a stake - not a cross. PRAISE GOD THAT HE HAS NOT LEFT US WITHOUT A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT.
1 John 1 - John's testimony - 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
app. Praise God - He has given us a book with first hand accounts of what He has done.
III. You hold a Book about the man, Christ Jesus.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
exp. Peter is finishing his thought on seeing the majesty of Jesus - specifically he is speaking about when he was on a part of Mt. Hermon (which I saw when in Israel) and the Lord Jesus Christ was transfigured before them.
Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
IT WAS A HEAVENLY EXPERIENCE REVEALING THE GLORY OF THE SON OF GOD!
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
exp. Heaven broke through on earth that night as it had at the birth of Jesus - and JESUS GLORY WAS SEEN BY HIS MEN.
NOTE: The disciples were no longer asking, "What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him."
Peter had already confessed at Caesarea Philippi - "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God."
ill. I speak with unbelievers and only the most brazer would deny what is undeniable and that is - JESUS CHRIST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE IN HUMAN HISTORY WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
app. This book - is the book about Jesus.
IV. You hold a Book that is more authoritative than any God given experience.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
ill. Peter had a glorious experince which was God given. He was not deceived by a false experience. BUT - HE SAID THAT GOD'S WORD IS A MORE CERTAIN PROPHECY.
exp. If you think today - if I just had that experience like Peter then I'd believe - you are wrong. Peter said that what we POSSESS IS MORE CONVINCING THAN THAT EXPERIENCE.
note. Some have said that if they just had the experience of someone coming back from the dead and telling them that then they woud believe - GOD SAYS THAT THEY ARE WRONG.
ill. Rich man's plea in hell - Luke 16
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
app. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE GOD'S BOOK WHICH IS MOST CONVINCING - YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE NO MATTER WHAT EXPERIENCE GOD GAVE YOU.
V. You hold a Book that changes men's lives.
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
exp. Peter says, Now about that book - you had better listen up and let it illumine your heart until the SON OF GOD FULLY ILLUMINES YOUR HEART IN SALVATION.
note: This book changes men from ....
1.) sinners to saints
2.) unbelievers to believers
3.) citizens of hell to citizens of heaven.
4.) enemies of God to soldiers for God.
ill. Witnessing to Tam in Princess St. Gardens - 51 - life wrecked by sniffing glue....alcohol....drugs - prison, warrants, lost children and grandschildren. I told him about the account in the Edinburgh Newspaper about the "Redeemed Drunkard's Band."
app. Praise God today - we can go to the world and say, "Friend, if you'll only believe - this book can change your life."
VI. You hold a Book with the same message for all men.
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
exp. Anyone who has heard me preach has heard me say that THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERPRETATION AND MISREPRESENTATION.
ill.
If police accepted "interpretation" of speed limits - no one would ever be fined.
If judges accepted "interpretation" of laws no one would ever be convicted.
If teachers accepted "interpretation" of text questions no one would ever get an answer wrong.
Exp. If I believed that and lived that way - I would get speeding tickets, go to jail and fail my tests.
app. Why do people believe that what does not work in life will work in eternity? LISTEN GOD MEANS WHAT HE SAYS AND SAYS WHAT HE MEANS.
- DON'T INTERPRET - JUST SEE WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT YOUR SIN, ETERNITY, HIS WORD, ETC! THE MESSAGE OF THIS BOOK IS THE SAME FOR ALL MEN.
VII. You hold a Book that wasn't written at the impulse of men.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
ill. We speak of men being "inspired" to do something or finding "inspiration" in something they see. And so a human author could suddenly get a good idea for a book - run with it and it be a best seller.
DEF - inspiration Biblically means "God breathed."
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
note: Men never thought of themselves to do this great work and write God's Word.
exp. Moses wasn't sitting around with Aaron and Miriam one day and impulsively saying, "I think I'll write some books about the beginning of life and our experiences in life."
Peter, James, John, Matthew and Luke - never aspired to be authors. They were unqualified.
app. There were other things written about Jesus - BUT GOD'S WORD IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WRITTEN AT THE IMPULSE OF MEN.
VIII. You hold a Book written by the Hand of God using the pen of man.
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
ill. Witnessing to Paulo - from Italy in Princess St. Gardens. Medical student writing notes out in italian - HE FIRMLY REFUSED TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE WAS AUTHORITATIVE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN "WRITTEN" BY MAN.
I asked to borrow his pen and said, "If I wrote something you would say I wrote it - Yes?" But, could you not also say my pen wrote it?"
app. God's Word says that He took up the pen of man and moved them to write His Holy Word.
ill. Peter firmly believed this - Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
app. Do you understand this morning - that you don't hold in your hands the words of men BUT THE VERY WORD OF GOD?
conclusion:
Scotland - liberalism came into the religious schools in the late 1800's and you had a generation of people teching that the Bible is just a good book. Enjoy the stories and get your own ideas from them - but don't TAKE IT LITERALLY.
100 YEARS LATER THIS NATION IS GODLESS! SHOULD BE BE SUPRISED?
Psa 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
WHY WOULD YOU BELIEVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOD'S WORD?
What are YOU holding in your hand today? DO YOU BELIEVE?....
1.) You are holdng a book that is not myths, legends, stories, chinese whispers.
2.) You are holding a book that is verified by eye witness accounts.
3.) You are holding a book about the man, Christ Jesus.
4.) You are holding a book that is more authoritative that EVEN God given experience.
5.) You are holding a book that changes men's lives.
6.) You are holding a book that has the same message for all men.
7.) You are holding a book that wasn't written by impulsive men.
8.) You are holding a book written by the hand of God with the pen of men.
