Obey the Word of God

Thomas Chalmers the Struthers preacher said the sum and substance of the preparation needed for the coming eternity is that you believe what the Bible tells you and do what the Bible that you communicate that the sum and substance of the preparation needed for coming eternity. They would also say four 2021, as well as eternity, is that you believe what the Bible tells you and do what the Bible Bridget. That's what we believe a Calvary church. We believe that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. We believe that God made you and me in his image.

We believe that each one of us one day will stand for a holy God, and we believe that every single one of us will spend eternity either in heaven or in hell with what we believe. We believe that each one of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

We believe that all of us without exception are completely unable to reach God by our own efforts and by our own intentions.

We believe that God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This is what we believe.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God who came from heaven to to be the Savior of the world. We believe that he is sinless and that he died on the cross of Calvary as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

We believe that he was buried, and that on the third day according to the Scriptures. He rose from the dead, and he's alive. We believe that he ascended on high, and is presently seated at the father's right hand in heaven. We believe that Jesus Christ is returning for his bride for the church and that all who know Christ will because up to be forever with the Lord. We believe that all unbelievers will experience the judgment of God for all of eternity. This is what we believe. We believe that these truths are firmly taught in this book, the Bible, we believe that this book, the Bible is the inerrant inspired word of God.

This is what we believe a Calvary church and so at the beginning of 2021 I want is a word to reinforce the foundation for the investment. Calvary is for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ want to preach this for Sunday on the word of God selected four themes for 2021 and this is the first one. Obey the word of God is important that we reaffirm that we understand our commitments to the holy Scriptures as the word of God so when you come to Calvary we're going to open our Bible seems to be less and less churches doing that, but we do that because this is our commitments to Scripture. I love you to come with your Bible. If you don't have a Bible on this beginning of the year 2021 you can buy a Bible you can buy them in the wardroom or you can get them anywhere else. If you can afford a Bible. Let me know.

I'll let Eric know and Eric pastor who is very generous, you will buy your Bible and find any of us pastors we will be delighted to bind you a Bible. If you can't afford it because we believe that each one of us must not only on the Bible but read it and obey it if it is true.

As Thomas Chalmers said that the sum and substance of the preparation needed for coming eternity is that you believe what the Bible tells you and do what the Bible brings you, you will understand that we must not only know about the Bible. Not only have some information about the Bible, but we must in fact the lights in the Bible we must love the word of God and obey the word of God without the power of God unleashed in your life without you knowing and obeying the word of God. When you attend church. You may have an entertaining time. You may have an emotional experience you may have cultural Christianity. You may have political or social activism from the pulpit. You may leave feeling very good about yourself, but there will be no lasting spiritual impact in your life without the word of God. No food for your soul. No preparation for your eternal destiny. We believe that the grass withers, the flower fades. Think of past 2020 gone. All you did all he said is gone another year. Yes, we believe that the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our Lord stands forever many changes in 2020, there will be many changes in the life in 2021. We don't know what they are. But this we know that life is different. Life is changing what you think may be very very important withers and is gone and is generally meaningless. All of your efforts spent in so many things are worth absolutely nothing but this we know that the word of God stands forever Lord Jesus said, quoting the Old Testament that man shall not live by bread alone, that is, we do not live just by the material things of life. Yes, we need that we need bread we need these things we need bodily exercise that is true, but we do not live by bread alone, but by every word. Notice that every word comes from the mouth of God know if you believe that it is essential then that we know the Bible that we study the Bible that we memorize a Bible and we obey it. Okay about your Bible. There are so turn to second Timothy second Timothy three Paul's last writing at the young Timothy Paul is passing on the bar than those that were at the young Timothy and his writing to him and is very very important verses that I want us to read together, second Timothy chapter 3 and will begin at verse 14, Paul has already said I live in the personal that Timothy should garner the deposit of truth which is given to we don't make cop out on ideas we don't formulate our own doctrine. We don't say this is the kind of church, Calvary church rules will should be. We conformant to the word of God. Second Timothy three verse 14 Paul is saying to them and asked for you to meditate. Continuing what you've learned and have firmly believed we don't believe in brainwashing when other cults is why we want you to come with your Bible and what you hear from this pulpit and what you hear from your life group. If you hear from what you're Bible study ideas on if they don't conform to the word of God this matter who's saying it rejected you to firmly believe the truth is why I like to come with your Bible so that you know what I'm saying is, in fact, the word of God people give their lives that we would have the Bible in their own language.

Calvary church is been committed right from the beginning. 80 years ago to sending missionaries and giving funds so that the Bible would be translated until all the different languages of the nations because we are so committed that people can read the Bible for themselves. As Paul here verse 14.

Continuing what you've learned in firmly believe knowing from whom you learned it is a godly mother and grandmother and hope from childhood you been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able notice this is what the word of God does is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living of the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom preach the word Timothy am about to go.

I'm telling you what the Bible is the very word of God is breathed out by God is profitable and I want you to preach the word know you're on ideas, but preach the word be ready in season and out of season, reproof, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching for the time is coming in this interesting living in the fourth century. Paul could have been writing yesterday for the time is commenting when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober minded endure suffering to the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. How wonderful that we have these words to strengthen our faith in God and his word, the Bible, then, is the word of God, and it is authority.

The Bible is absolutely authoritative because God is the author if we believe as we do at Calvary church as I do personally other pastors and leaders. Though their members there that this is the inspired word of God. We believe that then clearly the Bible is authoritative over and over again as you read the word of God. We need expressions like this. The Lord said, the Lord spake the word of God came saying that is when God speaks on when the Bible speaks God speaks what was said is breathed out by God is inspired by God. It comes from God's house is audited not in man, but in God, so that when you read the word of God. God is speaking you want to know what God says. Read his word spoken is revealed himself thought or thought today is not a traditions is not an out confessions and other thought today, please hear me is not in ourselves is not out experiences is not in our personal feelings on opinions which is the trend of today is it is in God's work. We believe that life to ourselves. We would never have it arrive at the truth is that because Satan has entered our universe and sin has darkened our minds, sinners hardened our hearts. Sin has captured our wills and so God in his grace our creator has spoken to us in his word. So we believe that this worked the word of God is absolute truth vast majority people don't believe today in absolute truth, we do this is God's truth is being revealed by God and his word and your salvation. Your personal salvation.

Please hear me depends on hearing believing and obeying the word of God. So Paul writes in Romans then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.

Paul is set to intimidate Timothy from childhood from infancy from your earliest memory you've learned.

The holy Scriptures. He was taught by his mother and by his grandmother, Timothy. You know that Paula talked to him if he himself from childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation going on this, but it's always the you're going to be saved can have a right relationship with God by trying to work out your own ideas by going around along with a culture by going along with your feelings by believing in yourself. Absolutely not. God has come into our world. We celebrated that is a few days ago at Christmas, the dog has entered into our world into time and space in Jesus Christ comes as the delimiter is the Savior and hearing and obeying God's eternal truth results in spiritual transformation. Supernatural transformation believe that you can be supernaturally transformed. Do you believe that you can be changed by God will find themselves in terrible situations often because of their own sin, but on bad choices and people feel hopeless with God that I know hopeless cases. The only hopeless case is those who reject God's word. The only hopeless case is for those who decide to go it to do that all away rather than God's way to go. The broad road which leads to destruction, rather than the Narrow Way, God's way, which leads to life, not surprised when God's word is attacked, Satan is always attacked the word of God. Jesus describes our enemy as the father of lies.

God is absolute truth. God cannot lie.

Satan always lies he's the father of lies is 100% deceitful. So the first recorded question in the Bible is by Satan to Eve as Satan comes that even says God actually say that. I mean, but Steve did God actually say that since always saying that is that really was what God says anything that is really true.

So Satan comes was he doing is attacking the word of God is tempting Eve to question the truthfulness and accuracy.

The authority of the word of God is what he continues to do to attack the reliability you thought today that accuracy of the word of God. Did God actually say that you actually saying that answer is yes, God says that I believe it. I accepted because it is the living word of God different from the common mindset in our society. Our society teaches you demonstrates that each person is his or her own authority on my own authority in interpreting my life. I am my own authority in determining my plan. My right plan for me this is my be okay for you but this is my plan this is this is the way I'm going to go and what we doing what making ourselves as the authority and is very sad when people claim to believe in God. When people claim to believe in the Bible but still make themselves the absolute and the ultimate authority we constantly hear in our society even some so-called churches. Follow your own heart boys, not bad advice. You just follow your intuition. Follow your gut feeling and what is right for you and over and over again we hear be true to yourself. Know this was happening instead of their thought today be here authority is now in me. I thought it you cannot tell me what to do your own thing.

I couldn't get last I authenticate you. You authenticate me, but I am going to do my own thing.

I am going to be true to my cell.

So when I was a young man in my teens to 20s myself and all of my contemporaries raising Christian families in the Bible believing church as we were taught that you only manage somewhat mileage in the Lord only modify a believer and I and you that if I ever dated a young woman. The first question and really the only question that my parents would ask would be is she walking with God, not just is she a professing believer in Jesus Christ.

But is she in the Fenton follower of Jesus Christ that would be the main question is true today.

Christian circles, I even professing believer sing well. This person makes me happy. So now we've done a dramatic change from the authority of Scripture into wall makes you happy. Philosophy is penetrated of churches biblical doctrine biblical exposition of marginalized or ignored someone say to me with who was sitting here I said well you know we really don't need doctrine. John we just all love Jesus don't way is not enough. Who is Jesus is doctrine is what does it mean to love Jesus. All of these questions are doctrinal trying to foolish deceived to say that we don't need to be taught doctrine or to think of the deep truths of Scripture, but their ideas. Who cares about doctrine cares about biblical exposition is all about having an experience I go to church and I want some excitement. I want to leave feeling good about myself. I want to be pumped up and the greater the emotion and the grade of the hopeful, the better I feel, the truth doesn't really matter fact. Truth is boring.

It's all about having fun and in this way, God's word God's truth undermines ignored marginalized and replaced by what replaced by our personal psychological well-being is not happening. That's what happens a culture it's all about your personal psychological well-being is all about you all about how you feel your happiness, your ideas, you refused. That's the authority you come to church and you want that to be reinforced.

God's word to say this is absolute nonsense.

This is diametrically opposed to the word of God. That's the way of Satan. God actually said that you know if you did that you give an experience of a new experience. Keeping that from you.

You go ahead in this idea that everything is to reinforce our psychological well-being that are feeling of personal happiness were so fragile people. It's it's all about me. And so when that pervades the church as it is happening so often we are kept in perpetual immaturity and were kept in perpetual shallowness know this book, the Bible is the perfect indestructible word of God. It remains forever, and it is thought today and we must as we know the word of God then be able to discern truth from God to be able to do so is our spiritual junk food from the living word of God not kickstarting the passage which will help us in first Peter chapter 2 first Peter chapter 2 and that will be first of all, the first three verses when I sing to you today. I'm saying, read your Bible, we have a reading plan online but you may find helpful on the marginal reading plan but commit to read the Bible every day, not only reason but to and obeying the word of God.

Peter is saying results in spiritual growth.

You will not gross spiritually without the word of God. I listen to what Peter says.

First Peter two verse one. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that you may grow up into salvation. Here's the way to spiritual maturity want to grow up long for the word of God, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Your spiritual life. This supernatural transformation begins with the word of God we are saved by the medical of the new birth does not come about by the living and abiding word of God. Look back to chapter 1. First Peter one verse 23 since you been born again was born again, born from heaven. The new birth, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God love that field is spiritual transformation through the living and abiding word of God for Moses Bible is the quote all flesh is like grass, and all his glory like the float of glass. The grass withers and the flower falls is quoting from Isaiah 40, but the word of the Lord remains forever, and this word is the good news is the gospel that was preached to you all else in life withers and dies by the word of the Lord remains forever. This is why we preach and teach the Bible account is assenting followers of Jesus.

Notice what Peter is saying we are to long verse two of chapter 2 long for the pure spiritual milk of the word in order to grow and uses an analogy that we can all understand. He uses the analogy of the newborn baby long for milk when a strong desire of a baby newborn baby is no virtue that fit number finds a nurse and it is not expensive to live. What does the baby want it wants milk. You don't give a baby a T-bone steak or doughnuts or hotdog or peanut butter. Don't give anyone peanut butter is my view you. Sammy don't give that to newborn. What does the newborn baby want milk. It wants that mothers note that is a physical desire and the desire for milk by the baby is evidence that the baby is healthy. Give the baby milk cleanup the consequences of the milk contented baby rights quite simple as feed the baby clean the baby and you got a contented baby. I think of we can we say is baby Christians here. We are being born again were beginning to follow Jesus Christ was going to keep us healthy. However going to grow the pure milk of the word pure spiritual milk loan for the word of God to assenting followers of Jesus have a love for the lights in the word of God and that is given by the Holy Spirit. You cannot give that baby the appetite for milk. I cannot give you a spiritual desire for the word of God.

If you find the word of God.

Boring is not my fault but your fault something wrong. There's a spiritual disease is a sign that you're not healthy. Listen to the words of Jesus in John John chapter 8 verse 47 I think these verses are very striking John eight verse 47 whoever is of God hears the words of God reason why you do not hear them is that you're not of God, spiritual person, the people of God here the word of God. Chapter 10 the great chapter on the good Shepherd, Jesus says John 10 verse 27 my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.

That's a character characteristic of the shape should be. Here's the shepherd's voice and follows.

If you don't recognize the shepherd's voice the question of why when the shape this is one of the characteristics of the followers of Jesus.

Chapter 18 John 18 is before Pilate. John 18 verse 37 then Pilate said to them, so you're kidding Jesus answered say that I'm a king.

For this purpose. I was born and for this purpose I come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Jesus is not everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. I striking here is God himself. God incarnate before Pilate here word to God's word is. It's wholesome to know whether nine no additives. It is 100% safe and the more you read the word of God and the more you obey the word of God more. You will desire the word of God. So here we are beginning 20 2112 got to get my Bible is as a discipline yes is at this you need to be disciplined. You need to do it but just talk about it but wait till you feel particularly spiritual. It's open the word of God, pray for God to guide you as you read the word of God, something supernatural happens your design for the word of God grows and grows and grows. No Peterson said something that you catch it, that as you obey the word of God. There are certain attitudes there certain actions that you've got to put away their destructive attitudes. Chapter 2 verse one of Peter put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander as I come to the word of God, then there certain things are going to put away if you eat junk food all day you live on big Macs and and peanut butter and other horrible things and Coke and Pepsi. Don't be surprised when you don't have a appetite for wholesome, well-balanced meal you've eaten junk all day giving junk all week and then someone puts in front of you is beautiful, well-balanced meal is not very hungry.

Don't be surprised if you taken junk physically, that you've got health problems but are people who have physical eating problems, eating disorders, the eat too much of the two little and is well recognized phenomenon that people don't eat properly and it affects them physically.

So says Peter was a possibility that you're taking in spiritual junk food that you've got a spiritual disorder, a spiritual eating disorder. If you're going to be spiritually strong if you're going to have this desire for the pure milk of the word, you've got to throw satin things out just as physically in the beginning of the year you say I'm going to have a good diet and only keep myself fit. That means there certain stuff you don't eat, and you don't do the right thing wrong with the occasional big Mac.

I love fries I love milkshakes but I don't live on going to give me one. Occasionally I will thank you. I think I could have a milkshake just before I come up and preach, and it might make me feel really good, but to live on that kind of stuff is going to be this order. What you got to get rid of notices verse one malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, and then slander to be productive. Peter has encouraged us chapter 1 verse 22 to love one another and mislaid from a pure heart you it's a malice in your life you have a grudge against someone other some deceit in your life.

Malice is a deliberate deceptive that you see among Christians.

Yes, perhaps in your own family, but absent work. Perhaps in the church there some nasty destructive attitudes in your life and be in slander are to be put away, put aside not uncommon in the church was envy, envy is the inward attitude behind so much hypocrisy and knowledge. Envy is one thing to be what you're not and he's wanting to have that other person has their car, their own lucid ministry there. There something about them. You envy them and what happens then as you focus on that you become bitter against them, and that, and they often leads to slander, evil speaking, and criticizing people unfairly and when and when ever done that. We've got almost perfect congregation.

I really should say anyone he had not done that common phenomena to criticize others some envy to come in some slander we we know this, we are sometimes guilty of it out ourselves.

And Peter is saying listen if you're going to have this spiritual desire for the milk of the word, you've got to get rid of these attitudes, you've got to get rid of that junk in your life. Just as you get rid of physical junk food.

You need to get rid of junk food in the spiritual life. We brothers envy, slander, hypocrisy, malice. You really ticked off with someone your bitter against them but eats it to the cement your own family. Maybe in the church. So when you're working with has offended you in not even realize it and you have these nasty sins is incompatible with this desire for the word of God turn back a few pages if in first Peter turned back a few pages and you will be in James.

James chapter 1. James says the same thing. I find this intriguing.

He uses the same picture of put away your old clothes of of envy, and slander and hypocrisy, the something else. We got to get rid of for going to receive the word of God. James one verse 21 therefore, put aside all filthiness and rampant wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls very similar at the first Peter two is needed. Things I put aside filthiness and rampant wickedness in any filthiness of your life. Wickedness to any junk stuff.

That I wanted to pornography. For example, you're looking at that stuff in it and then you take your Bible and assume the government from that wickedness Satan. I don't know what was going on in your heart was going on your mind but you do these things are incompatible with spiritual growth and wondering why you're not growing you're wondering why you're still in spiritual immaturity. You're not receiving the implanted word because you haven't put away filthiness rampant wickedness. These other sins you know what they are in your life. You think you can live as you like and get up into immorality and pornography in all kinds of stuff and then you can play the play being a Christian put it aside to the sentence, please hear me prevent you from receiving and obeying the word of God. These things pollute your mind to pull your relationships pollute your relationship with God.

Simon says are stored up somewhat in the 19 verse 11 of stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against your word. I treasured in my heart that my notes and against as the old adage that many of us were taught that this book keeps us from sin, and sin keeps us from this book, you want to have a clean heart. God's word. The cleansing effect, but sin will keep you from this book.

And so James and Peter Briley saying the same things is wonderful to read the word of God. I want this to be your grade is the light. I want you every day as you, and you open the word of God as it was God going to say to me I want you to come here and listen to preaching at when you go to your life group when you're in your Bible study. I want you to say what Lord, what you teach me today. I want to love your word more, but these sends will come in the dual drag you away and they will destroy you.

Send the starts of understanding prevents us from receiving and obeying the word of God. And so James says here in first James one verse 21 that we receive with meekness the implanted word, humble attitude is essential. The word of God is to be received with humility as I reminds us that God looks to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at his word.

Isaiah 66 first who's on the God looks to the one who comes with humility when it comes contrite when it comes to God's word on the Navy's asking from a word from God that one so your attitudes and coming to the word of God so important. Your attitude as you come to worship is so important.

We will address this before, don't come in a critical spirit, with humility, looking for someone to complain about some singers, instrumentalists were tolerant of my trial or someone else. All these coming to the point. Please come with humility.

Read the word of God, the home of a humble teacher to receive it. Coming to God himself. As we come together like this arise were in the house of God. We want to worship God with appraiser want to humbly receive his true but must be a humble expectancy in his word. I notice verse 22 of James 122 through 25 receive the word with humility. We got this and be doers of the word. The no-hitters only, deceiving yourselves full of anyone is a hearer of the Lord, and other duties like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a motor 40, looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like with the one who looks into the perfect law of the law of liberty, using the word of God is a restrictive word of God is good, make life miserable for the opposite is the case. This is the way of freedom, the way of liberty, and perseveres, being no-hitter who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blast in his doing was that who is the one who is blessed by God, the one who just hears no one who does the one who obeys with his humble attitude and responds to the living word of God. So James is saying. I'm saying don't just be a hearer of the word be a daughter. There many people just hear the word of God accumulate a lot of information and allied groups in our Bible studies are worship services, but if you just hear the word of God and not obeying it. James is saying you deceiving yourself so you may think you're a strong believer in Jesus Christ because you can discuss the word of God, you have some nurses memorized and and and the like. You can give some little spiritual nugget than you think. About this time, but is only in your head that that truth doesn't transform your heart and your life. It doesn't really impact your home and how you conduct yourself you're only a hearer of the word and you deceiving yourself the man who looks in the matter is got some dirt on his face.

He sees it, but he leaves is a totally pointless exercise. Once appliance of looking in the mirror unless you are going to make some change. What's the point of reading the word of God and just accumulating information, but it is not being obeyed, rather than being humbled by the word of God is just in your head you puffed up with your knowledge you may have strong views about Christian living. You may have strong views about Joe's government you may have mastered every Christian cliché, but you are deluded and thinking that your spiritual member in the cities of Matthew which we thought of the parable Jesus told about the man building one built on the rock when both of the sign was a man who builds on the sun, the one who hears the word of God says Jesus and does not obey he is rather nice house on their word. It looks very spiritual but in fact is really foolish because when the storm comes, he collapses because he has no foundation is very interesting that our Lord gives the commission of the end of Matthew chapter 28 he tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father son and the Holy Spirit. And then he says, teaching them invoices next teaching them to observe all that I have commanded a good teacher.S good teachers and is giving information that is some action points and as you read the Bible and as you hear the Bible and as you discuss the Bible think what do I have to observe what is this for me in first Peter is an enemy and ending my life. Is there any filthiness in my life. If so I better throw it out as being a because humbly obeying his use it. I can be difficult yes with the spirit of God will give you all the help you Need to do is will were missing today. I'm saying the word of God must be heard must be understood must be obeyed is think spring this week. How wonderful. We had come for church. Each one of us and as a church body that we will be hearing the word of God. Some people is the beginning, 20, 21, say I'm going to run 5 miles every day and when I got up at 5 AM in the morning and I'm gonna run and I admire such discipline. I'm looking to do that. I'm still fast asleep at 5 o'clock so I admire your discipline and I hope you keep it up, but would you agree fellow brother sister that your spiritual life is more important than a physical one physical exercise positive profits for a little good. It is important to be in good shape.

You want to be admired and how good you are, that's fine. But don't neglect every day in this book is a genre as I don't get much from it is a cleansing effect you're showing humility and reads reflect meditate when there's a command garden is that it touches you will be instant when I was growing up is what my father wanted for me instant vengeance is a twice you know that you want your children to get it the first time you practice that when your heavenly father speaks to this would instant regions. Don't argue, don't fret, but humbly say that was good for must confess that sin must not demonstrate humility that demonstrates a great love for the Lord and so as you come Sunday by Sunday. The Calvary church and open your Bible you will find that your appetites for spiritual things is growing and growing and God will use you in incredible way that that truth which you have received which you have worked out in your life is not being displayed to others.

People say this is different. Husband is different this year. There's something about my 15-year-old daughter just been spiritually transformed. This is a path of wisdom. This is a path of spiritual maturity.

This says James that you are blast in your sorbet work of God. Father purpose to do just that. We confess that we sometimes listen to the devil, the father of lies. So I pray that the pew truth of Scripture may penetrate our hearts will be humble the hearts would be good soil to receive that word that will be en route to flourish and that will bear much fruit. The Calvary church will be a transformed church is will being the word of God. We think help us in Christ