Jack Graham - The Transforming Power of God's Word (Part 2)

January 26, 2025 | S25:E4

Dr. Jack Graham's mission is to glorify God by introducing Jesus Christ as Lord to all people.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Power Point with Jack Graham | Jack Graham - The Transforming Power of God's Word (Part 2) | January 26, 2025
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:00.523 --> 00:00:04.661
  • There is no person that god cannot save!
  • 00:00:05.528 --> 00:00:10.366
  • There is no promise that god will not keep!
  • 00:00:11.267 --> 00:00:16.473
  • There is nothing that our god cannot do!
  • 00:00:17.340 --> 00:00:32.055
  • As we begin a brand new year, there's no better time to focus
  • 00:00:33.256 --> 00:00:37.026
  • On what truly matters - your relationship with god through
  • 00:00:37.026 --> 00:00:40.530
  • Jesus! and this is our opportunity for renewal, for
  • 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:44.267
  • Reset, for fresh commitments and growing deeper and deeper
  • 00:00:44.267 --> 00:00:47.871
  • In our faith.
  • 00:00:47.871 --> 00:00:49.139
  • That's why i want to help you cut through the noise of life
  • 00:00:49.139 --> 00:00:51.975
  • And stand firmly on the word of god, the foundation of truth.
  • 00:00:51.975 --> 00:00:56.546
  • The bible isn't just any book. it is the story of redemption,
  • 00:00:56.546 --> 00:01:00.483
  • A bright hope for today and strength for tomorrow. the
  • 00:01:00.483 --> 00:01:04.654
  • Truth is, its the key to understanding everything,
  • 00:01:04.654 --> 00:01:08.358
  • Including your destiny.
  • 00:01:08.358 --> 00:01:11.194
  • In my new book, “the jesus book - reading and understanding the
  • 00:01:11.194 --> 00:01:14.564
  • Bible for yourself,” i unpack practical applications and
  • 00:01:14.564 --> 00:01:18.935
  • Ideas for reading the bible every day and understanding the
  • 00:01:18.935 --> 00:01:23.573
  • Will of god for your life.
  • 00:01:23.573 --> 00:01:25.408
  • [announcer] when you give your best gift to powerpoint, you
  • 00:01:26.576 --> 00:01:29.145
  • Are partnering with us to share this life changing message with
  • 00:01:29.145 --> 00:01:33.183
  • People worldwide. as a thank you, we'll send you dr.
  • 00:01:33.183 --> 00:01:36.319
  • Graham's new book, the jesus book.
  • 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:38.922
  • To give your best gift, go to jackgraham.org, call,
  • 00:01:38.922 --> 00:01:44.227
  • Or text the word jesus to 59789 to give your gift today.
  • 00:01:44.227 --> 00:01:50.133
  • Start the new year strong, rooted in scripture
  • 00:01:50.133 --> 00:01:53.436
  • And ready for all god has for you.
  • 00:01:53.436 --> 00:01:55.838
  • [jack graham] so let's go together and make this year a
  • 00:01:56.973 --> 00:01:59.809
  • Year of spiritual transformation that god would
  • 00:01:59.809 --> 00:02:03.146
  • Change our hearts, change our lives
  • 00:02:03.146 --> 00:02:05.381
  • Till the whole world hears.
  • 00:02:05.381 --> 00:02:08.117
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:02:08.418 --> 00:02:17.126
  • Turn in your bibles to 2 timothy, chapter 3... 2
  • 00:02:18.094 --> 00:02:22.432
  • Timothy, chapter 3. this is part 2 of a message that we
  • 00:02:22.432 --> 00:02:27.770
  • Began last week on "the transforming power of the word
  • 00:02:27.770 --> 00:02:34.143
  • Of god"... the transforming power of the bible.
  • 00:02:34.143 --> 00:02:39.816
  • There was a young man by the name of larry schryer and about
  • 00:02:39.816 --> 00:02:45.455
  • 30 plus years ago he was tramping across the united
  • 00:02:45.455 --> 00:02:48.491
  • States. he was actually a part of the sixty's generation. you
  • 00:02:48.491 --> 00:02:52.762
  • Might even call him a hippy. a jewish man, young man from new
  • 00:02:52.762 --> 00:02:56.266
  • York, who abandoned his family, abandoned his faith... his
  • 00:02:56.266 --> 00:03:01.137
  • Jewish faith and was on a search for life, a search for
  • 00:03:01.137 --> 00:03:04.407
  • Meaning all across america. he literally was sleeping on the
  • 00:03:04.407 --> 00:03:08.111
  • Streets, sleeping in his car, trying to find his way.
  • 00:03:08.111 --> 00:03:12.315
  • And this young jewish teenager was in a gas station in north
  • 00:03:12.315 --> 00:03:18.288
  • Carolina and as he was pumping gas in his old car, he saw
  • 00:03:18.288 --> 00:03:23.459
  • Pieces of a gospel booklet; a gospel booklet meaning a
  • 00:03:23.459 --> 00:03:29.365
  • Pamphlet, a tract describing the way to salvation; how a
  • 00:03:29.365 --> 00:03:32.368
  • Person can come to know christ. just a few pieces of this
  • 00:03:32.368 --> 00:03:36.439
  • Gospel tract was lying on the ground gathering dirt. but he
  • 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:41.010
  • Picked it up, led by the spirit of god. we know this now... but
  • 00:03:41.010 --> 00:03:45.214
  • The sovereign work of the holy spirit prompted him to pick up
  • 00:03:45.214 --> 00:03:49.385
  • The pieces of this gospel tract and he began to read it. and he
  • 00:03:49.385 --> 00:03:55.625
  • Began to read scriptures that he had never seen before...
  • 00:03:55.625 --> 00:03:58.361
  • Gospel, powerful scriptures of the gospel of jesus christ.
  • 00:03:58.361 --> 00:04:04.801
  • And as i said, there were just pieces of this tract left, so
  • 00:04:04.801 --> 00:04:08.805
  • He went to the owner of the filling station and said, "who
  • 00:04:08.805 --> 00:04:11.541
  • Can explain to me more about what's on this booklet...
  • 00:04:11.541 --> 00:04:14.344
  • What's in this booklet? who can tell me the rest of the story?"
  • 00:04:14.344 --> 00:04:17.680
  • And the filling station owner said, "well i don't know; i
  • 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:22.318
  • Can't tell you. but there's a lady who lives right up there
  • 00:04:22.318 --> 00:04:24.687
  • On the hill; she can tell you more about this if you'll go
  • 00:04:24.687 --> 00:04:27.957
  • And see her." and so larry schryer walked to this lady's
  • 00:04:27.957 --> 00:04:32.929
  • House, knocked on the door; showed her the gospel tract and
  • 00:04:32.929 --> 00:04:36.933
  • Said, "can you explain to me what this means?" and that
  • 00:04:36.933 --> 00:04:41.037
  • Little lady shared christ with this young man. opened the
  • 00:04:41.037 --> 00:04:46.909
  • Scriptures to him, and larry believed in the lord jesus
  • 00:04:46.909 --> 00:04:50.880
  • Christ. he received yashua as his messiah and lord and savior.
  • 00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:56.219
  • He was separated from his wife. he sent her a telegram and he
  • 00:04:56.219 --> 00:05:00.490
  • Knew that his wife had wanted nothing to do with him because
  • 00:05:00.490 --> 00:05:03.993
  • He had so messed up their lives, their marriage. he
  • 00:05:03.993 --> 00:05:07.096
  • Figured he would never hear from her again. so he sent her
  • 00:05:07.096 --> 00:05:09.732
  • A telegram, back in the days of telegrams, he sent her a
  • 00:05:09.732 --> 00:05:12.869
  • Telegram. and said, “have come into an incredible inheritance.
  • 00:05:12.869 --> 00:05:18.641
  • Contact me immediately.” [laughter] and she did. and
  • 00:05:18.641 --> 00:05:25.114
  • Susan and larry got their lives together. she received christ;
  • 00:05:25.114 --> 00:05:29.952
  • Trusted him as savior and lord. they recommitted their vows and
  • 00:05:29.952 --> 00:05:33.689
  • Promises to god, they were baptized as believers of
  • 00:05:33.689 --> 00:05:36.492
  • Christ, and larry schryer ultimately became a pastor on
  • 00:05:36.492 --> 00:05:40.463
  • Our staff at the first baptist church of west palm beach,
  • 00:05:40.463 --> 00:05:43.800
  • Florida. [applause]
  • 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:45.001
  • Now that story ... that story is just one of millions of
  • 00:05:45.001 --> 00:05:48.971
  • Others.
  • 00:05:48.971 --> 00:05:50.206
  • Now i'm just telling you the bible is the only book that can
  • 00:05:50.206 --> 00:05:55.044
  • Change lives like that! the bible is the word of god! it
  • 00:05:55.044 --> 00:06:02.251
  • Makes bad people good, and good people better. it's the power
  • 00:06:02.251 --> 00:06:07.256
  • Of god's word. we know what it is. we talked about it last
  • 00:06:07.256 --> 00:06:11.127
  • Time. 2 timothy 3:16: "all scripture is given by
  • 00:06:11.127 --> 00:06:15.298
  • Inspiration... (that is, god breathed; breathed out by the
  • 00:06:15.298 --> 00:06:18.768
  • Holy spirit. the life of god is in his word.) all scripture...
  • 00:06:18.768 --> 00:06:23.372
  • Every bit of it is inspired. not just inspiring or written
  • 00:06:23.372 --> 00:06:29.312
  • By inspired men, but breathed out by god, "and is profitable
  • 00:06:29.312 --> 00:06:36.319
  • For doctrine, for reproof, correction, and instruction of
  • 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:39.622
  • Righteousness", that the man of god... the woman of god might
  • 00:06:39.622 --> 00:06:43.125
  • Be thoroughly equipped to all good works. yes, the bible...
  • 00:06:43.125 --> 00:06:48.564
  • Every page is powerful; the powerful revelation of god.
  • 00:06:48.564 --> 00:06:53.402
  • This book is not just another book.
  • 00:06:53.402 --> 00:06:56.172
  • Within its pages are life and faith and hope and love. this
  • 00:06:56.172 --> 00:07:02.612
  • Is the word of god!
  • 00:07:02.612 --> 00:07:04.180
  • In the word of god we find meaning and we find fulfillment
  • 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:07.483
  • And forgiveness in the power of god. so when you hold your
  • 00:07:07.483 --> 00:07:12.388
  • Bible in your hand, count on the fact that god has preserved
  • 00:07:12.388 --> 00:07:15.858
  • For you this book... this powerful, life-changing,
  • 00:07:15.858 --> 00:07:20.363
  • Transforming word of god. you hold in your hand the word of
  • 00:07:20.363 --> 00:07:28.971
  • God! this is god's book.
  • 00:07:28.971 --> 00:07:32.041
  • And i pray that you will love god's word; that you will give
  • 00:07:32.041 --> 00:07:38.080
  • Thanks every day for the opportunity that we have to
  • 00:07:38.080 --> 00:07:42.785
  • Know god through his word. this is the greatest treasure, the
  • 00:07:42.785 --> 00:07:48.658
  • Greatest possession of your life! outside of your
  • 00:07:48.658 --> 00:07:52.495
  • Relationship with god himself in christ, your bible is life's
  • 00:07:52.495 --> 00:07:56.999
  • Most precious possession to you. it is the word of god.
  • 00:07:56.999 --> 00:08:02.972
  • So that's what we're going to focus on today. we've talked a
  • 00:08:02.972 --> 00:08:06.142
  • Little bit about inspiration; we talked a little bit about
  • 00:08:06.142 --> 00:08:10.479
  • The illumination of scripture, the preservation of scripture.
  • 00:08:10.479 --> 00:08:13.916
  • But let's talk about the transformation of scripture.
  • 00:08:13.916 --> 00:08:19.121
  • In psalm 19... would you go with me in your bibles to psalm
  • 00:08:19.121 --> 00:08:23.926
  • 19, and we're going to look at verses 7 through 11. and in it
  • 00:08:23.926 --> 00:08:31.033
  • We are going to see six synonyms of the scriptures.
  • 00:08:31.033 --> 00:08:37.840
  • These are descriptors, or portraits of what the bible is
  • 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:44.547
  • And what the bible does in this life... our life. the
  • 00:08:44.547 --> 00:08:47.216
  • Transforming power of god's word. we're going to read it
  • 00:08:47.216 --> 00:08:51.854
  • Together.
  • 00:08:51.854 --> 00:08:53.055
  • 7) the law of the lord is perfect, converting the soul;
  • 00:08:53.055 --> 00:08:56.092
  • The testimony of the lord is sure, making wise the simple;
  • 00:08:56.092 --> 00:08:59.528
  • 8) the statutes of the lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the
  • 00:08:59.528 --> 00:09:04.200
  • Commandment of the lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9)
  • 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:08.337
  • The fear of the lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments
  • 00:09:08.337 --> 00:09:12.775
  • Of the lord are true and righteous altogether. 10) more
  • 00:09:12.775 --> 00:09:16.012
  • To be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
  • 00:09:16.012 --> 00:09:20.483
  • Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11) moreover, by
  • 00:09:20.483 --> 00:09:24.787
  • Them your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is
  • 00:09:24.787 --> 00:09:30.559
  • (what?) great reward.
  • 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.529
  • Number one, in verse 8 we discover that your bible will
  • 00:09:33.529 --> 00:09:39.001
  • Transform your soul... the bible transforms your soul.
  • 00:09:39.001 --> 00:09:46.342
  • Because there is life in god's word. because there is life,
  • 00:09:46.342 --> 00:09:53.049
  • The bible has the power to convert the human soul, to turn
  • 00:09:53.049 --> 00:09:58.421
  • Life around. the bible's message is the message of
  • 00:09:58.421 --> 00:10:03.693
  • Salvation. this is what the bible is all about. and did you
  • 00:10:03.693 --> 00:10:08.698
  • Know that you cannot become a christian apart from god's word?
  • 00:10:08.698 --> 00:10:15.705
  • You say, "well, i... i became a christian apart from god's
  • 00:10:15.705 --> 00:10:19.175
  • Word. i just believed one day." no, you didn't. someone shared
  • 00:10:19.175 --> 00:10:22.912
  • With you god's word, or as the holy spirit prompted you to
  • 00:10:22.912 --> 00:10:26.282
  • Receive christ, someone opened the scriptures to you, just as
  • 00:10:26.282 --> 00:10:29.585
  • Someone followed up on larry schryer when he found pieces of
  • 00:10:29.585 --> 00:10:32.955
  • The bible on the ground, god gets his word to you and anyone
  • 00:10:32.955 --> 00:10:36.992
  • Who truly wants to know him. this is how we know the word of
  • 00:10:36.992 --> 00:10:41.397
  • God.
  • 00:10:41.397 --> 00:10:42.565
  • We may believe that god existed. we may in creation as
  • 00:10:42.565 --> 00:10:47.036
  • We talked about last week, the wonders of his creation, we may
  • 00:10:47.036 --> 00:10:51.307
  • Believe that god exists, but how do we know this god? who is
  • 00:10:51.307 --> 00:10:58.147
  • This god? what is he like? and how can we have peace with a
  • 00:10:58.147 --> 00:11:02.718
  • Holy god? you know, it's so important to know things, but
  • 00:11:02.718 --> 00:11:07.456
  • This generation not only wants to know but to know how... to
  • 00:11:07.456 --> 00:11:11.994
  • Know how. so how do you know the truth about god?
  • 00:11:11.994 --> 00:11:17.600
  • The gospel of jesus christ and all of the bible is god's
  • 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:23.706
  • Gospel. from genesis to revelation this is the gospel
  • 00:11:23.706 --> 00:11:29.111
  • Of god. it is the gospel of jesus christ. it is the jesus
  • 00:11:29.111 --> 00:11:33.082
  • Book, both old testament and new testament. you say, "well,
  • 00:11:33.082 --> 00:11:37.086
  • I don't read the old testament that much." well, you're
  • 00:11:37.086 --> 00:11:39.855
  • Missing the big part of the bible. did you know that in the
  • 00:11:39.855 --> 00:11:44.693
  • New testament there are 260 chapters in the new testament.
  • 00:11:44.693 --> 00:11:49.965
  • And all but twelve... i said, all but twelve of the
  • 00:11:49.965 --> 00:11:55.938
  • Chapters... 260 of them in the new testament... reference the
  • 00:11:55.938 --> 00:12:00.910
  • Old testament! it is the old testament that jesus read and
  • 00:12:00.910 --> 00:12:05.181
  • Believed. so if you want to read the bible like jesus, read
  • 00:12:05.181 --> 00:12:09.952
  • Not only the old [new] testament but read the old
  • 00:12:09.952 --> 00:12:12.688
  • Testament as well. because in the old testament we have the
  • 00:12:12.688 --> 00:12:17.092
  • Promise of his coming, the prophecies of his come, the
  • 00:12:17.092 --> 00:12:19.662
  • Preparations for his coming. all the old testament is
  • 00:12:19.662 --> 00:12:22.565
  • Written as examples unto us that we may know faith.
  • 00:12:22.565 --> 00:12:26.101
  • And even if you walk into our atrium... our lobby and you see
  • 00:12:26.101 --> 00:12:30.940
  • Those stain glasses there. every book of the bible from
  • 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:33.809
  • Genesis to revelation is represented there and portrayed
  • 00:12:33.809 --> 00:12:38.848
  • There in every one of those stain glass windows is a
  • 00:12:38.848 --> 00:12:42.718
  • Portrait of christ... a picture of christ, an illustration of
  • 00:12:42.718 --> 00:12:45.421
  • Christ, a type of christ. we see christ in the old
  • 00:12:45.421 --> 00:12:48.424
  • Testament, and if you look carefully, you'll see
  • 00:12:48.424 --> 00:12:52.061
  • Throughout those stain glass windows a scarlet thread... a
  • 00:12:52.061 --> 00:12:56.198
  • Red ribbon that is running from genesis to revelation, that
  • 00:12:56.198 --> 00:13:00.002
  • Shows up at the first of the book, the beginning of the
  • 00:13:00.002 --> 00:13:03.505
  • Book, the middle of the book, the end of the book, all of the
  • 00:13:03.505 --> 00:13:06.442
  • Book is about redemption. how man who is separated from god
  • 00:13:06.442 --> 00:13:10.946
  • Could know and meet god through jesus christ by the power of
  • 00:13:10.946 --> 00:13:14.984
  • His life. there's life in the blood. there is the scarlet
  • 00:13:14.984 --> 00:13:18.520
  • Thread of redemption that runs throughout. "cut the bible
  • 00:13:18.520 --> 00:13:22.524
  • Anywhere," spurgeon said, and it will bleed." this is a
  • 00:13:22.524 --> 00:13:26.328
  • Bloody [tap] book [tap]. it's about the salvation that is
  • 00:13:26.328 --> 00:13:29.365
  • Provided for us at the cross by the power of jesus christ and
  • 00:13:29.365 --> 00:13:33.168
  • His resurrection. woah! that's so good!
  • 00:13:33.168 --> 00:13:38.807
  • Peter put it this way: he said, "we are born again unto a
  • 00:13:38.807 --> 00:13:43.779
  • Living hope by the word of god." that's 1 peter 1:3. john
  • 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:49.985
  • Wrote his gospel signifying all the gospels as well all the
  • 00:13:49.985 --> 00:13:53.255
  • Scriptures, and he says, "these things are written... (god's
  • 00:13:53.255 --> 00:13:56.959
  • Word is written...) that you may believe that jesus is the
  • 00:13:56.959 --> 00:13:59.561
  • Christ, the son of god, and in believing you will have life in
  • 00:13:59.561 --> 00:14:04.366
  • His name."
  • 00:14:04.366 --> 00:14:05.734
  • So what is the transforming power of the bible? it is the
  • 00:14:05.734 --> 00:14:09.772
  • Power to save. it's the power to convert. making wise unto
  • 00:14:09.772 --> 00:14:17.279
  • Salvation. making us wise unto salvation.
  • 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:23.018
  • Then secondly, look at the second part of this verse. it
  • 00:14:23.018 --> 00:14:28.891
  • Says, "making wise the simple." you know what that means? the
  • 00:14:28.891 --> 00:14:31.827
  • Bible transforms your mind... the bible transforms your mind.
  • 00:14:31.827 --> 00:14:37.733
  • Not only does the bible transform your soul, but the
  • 00:14:37.733 --> 00:14:41.003
  • Bible transforms your mind. look at it again. "making wise
  • 00:14:41.003 --> 00:14:46.675
  • The simple." the bible is god's book of wisdom. wisdom is
  • 00:14:46.675 --> 00:14:52.614
  • Seeing things from god's perspective. that's real wisdom.
  • 00:14:52.614 --> 00:14:57.019
  • Scientists tell us that the brain is hard-wired to store
  • 00:14:57.019 --> 00:15:01.023
  • Information. god so created our minds, our brains, even the
  • 00:15:01.023 --> 00:15:04.460
  • Hardware of the brain, that we are able to store a wealth of
  • 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:08.330
  • Information; much greater than any computer. and based on the
  • 00:15:08.330 --> 00:15:13.268
  • Information that we have, of course, is the way we think.
  • 00:15:13.268 --> 00:15:18.207
  • Not only the brain but the mind and the mind thinks, and
  • 00:15:18.207 --> 00:15:21.110
  • Therefore, because the mind thinks, we experience life and
  • 00:15:21.110 --> 00:15:25.781
  • There's the psychology of the soul.
  • 00:15:25.781 --> 00:15:29.885
  • And did you know psychologists tell us that we pretty much...
  • 00:15:29.885 --> 00:15:34.289
  • About 90 percent of us think the same thoughts every day?
  • 00:15:34.289 --> 00:15:38.894
  • That's why some are stuck in a rut, because you're thinking
  • 00:15:38.894 --> 00:15:42.164
  • The same thoughts every day. some of those thoughts are
  • 00:15:42.164 --> 00:15:45.667
  • Toxic and unhealthy and you keep just replaying them and
  • 00:15:45.667 --> 00:15:49.638
  • Replaying them and replaying. you get up and you just go over
  • 00:15:49.638 --> 00:15:52.908
  • The same thing every day and your mind just sort of
  • 00:15:52.908 --> 00:15:55.177
  • Reverberates towards what you're always thinking about.
  • 00:15:55.177 --> 00:15:59.815
  • And therefore, you keep doing the same things that you're
  • 00:15:59.815 --> 00:16:02.217
  • Doing, because you keep thinking the same things that
  • 00:16:02.217 --> 00:16:04.319
  • You're thinking 90 percent of the time. so how can we change
  • 00:16:04.319 --> 00:16:09.158
  • The way we think?
  • 00:16:09.158 --> 00:16:12.094
  • The scripture says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
  • 00:16:12.094 --> 00:16:16.932
  • And so how can we change our lives? we change our lives by
  • 00:16:16.932 --> 00:16:20.002
  • The way that we think. we stop thinking in the same old way.
  • 00:16:20.002 --> 00:16:25.007
  • What zig ziglar used to call “stinkin' thinkin'”. and we
  • 00:16:25.007 --> 00:16:29.278
  • Begin thinking in new ways. and what is the new way that we
  • 00:16:29.278 --> 00:16:32.815
  • Think? we think the word of god. we think the word of god
  • 00:16:32.815 --> 00:16:37.486
  • By getting the word of god in our mind, in our brain.
  • 00:16:37.486 --> 00:16:43.358
  • I was reading some studies about your brain on certain
  • 00:16:43.358 --> 00:16:46.161
  • Things. what is your brain like on caffeine? what is your brain
  • 00:16:46.161 --> 00:16:50.299
  • Like on alcohol? what is your brain like on drugs? what is
  • 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:56.305
  • Your brain like on love? and then i began to think: what is
  • 00:16:56.305 --> 00:17:01.777
  • Your brain like on the bible? if you want to change your
  • 00:17:01.777 --> 00:17:06.415
  • Brain, get your bible in your brain! romans 12: 2 says:
  • 00:17:06.415 --> 00:17:12.888
  • “don't be confirmed to this world, but be transform by the
  • 00:17:12.888 --> 00:17:17.860
  • Renewing of your mind.”
  • 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:20.095
  • That's why we're transformed by the wisdom of god. we call this
  • 00:17:20.095 --> 00:17:25.033
  • A biblical worldview. this is the wisdom of god. we now view
  • 00:17:25.033 --> 00:17:29.938
  • The world differently than the world. we view the world, we
  • 00:17:29.938 --> 00:17:33.742
  • View humanity, we view relationships, we view family,
  • 00:17:33.742 --> 00:17:37.946
  • We view morals, we view meaning in life all through the lens of
  • 00:17:37.946 --> 00:17:42.918
  • Scripture! we think differently. we think
  • 00:17:42.918 --> 00:17:46.221
  • Christianly because we have the word of god in our mind! think
  • 00:17:46.221 --> 00:17:51.326
  • Like a christian and you will act like a christian.
  • 00:17:51.326 --> 00:17:55.931
  • The way you change that 90 percent of the stuff that
  • 00:17:55.931 --> 00:17:58.567
  • You're thinking about is to get the bible on your brain! and
  • 00:17:58.567 --> 00:18:04.907
  • That happens through reading the scripture, meditating on
  • 00:18:04.907 --> 00:18:08.577
  • The scripture, memorizing the scripture. because he converts
  • 00:18:08.577 --> 00:18:12.714
  • Not only your soul, your heart, your eternal future, but he
  • 00:18:12.714 --> 00:18:16.485
  • Changes our mind. in fact, the very word, repentance means to
  • 00:18:16.485 --> 00:18:19.755
  • Change your mind.
  • 00:18:19.755 --> 00:18:21.623
  • Thirdly, the bible will transform your emotions. the
  • 00:18:21.623 --> 00:18:25.827
  • Bible is not only good theology, it is good
  • 00:18:25.827 --> 00:18:27.930
  • Psychology. verse 8 says: "the statutes (that's a synonym for
  • 00:18:27.930 --> 00:18:32.401
  • Scripture) the statutes of the lord are right, (what?)
  • 00:18:32.401 --> 00:18:36.205
  • Rejoicing the heart." when you are down... when you are
  • 00:18:36.205 --> 00:18:41.643
  • Discouraged... when you are depressed... when you are
  • 00:18:41.643 --> 00:18:45.814
  • Defeated, turn to the transforming power... the
  • 00:18:45.814 --> 00:18:51.086
  • Presence of god in his word. because god's word, the
  • 00:18:51.086 --> 00:18:56.124
  • Scripture will lift you like nothing else because christ is
  • 00:18:56.124 --> 00:19:00.162
  • In his word.
  • 00:19:00.162 --> 00:19:02.164
  • Number 4, the second part of verse 8. look at it. it says
  • 00:19:02.164 --> 00:19:05.867
  • "the commandment of the lord is pure, enlightening the eyes..."
  • 00:19:05.867 --> 00:19:08.937
  • So not only does the bible convert the soul, does the
  • 00:19:08.937 --> 00:19:12.808
  • Bible transform the soul... not only does the bible transform
  • 00:19:12.808 --> 00:19:17.613
  • Our emotions, not only does the bible transform our mind, but
  • 00:19:17.613 --> 00:19:21.183
  • The bible transforms our vision... our vision.
  • 00:19:21.183 --> 00:19:25.921
  • "enlightening the eyes." this, of course, is speaking of
  • 00:19:25.921 --> 00:19:28.490
  • Spiritual vision because through the lens of scripture
  • 00:19:28.490 --> 00:19:32.294
  • We look at things differently.
  • 00:19:32.294 --> 00:19:35.697
  • Psalm 119:105... a scripture that hung on my wall as both a
  • 00:19:35.697 --> 00:19:40.969
  • Boy and as a teenager. i saw it often. psalm 119:105: "your
  • 00:19:40.969 --> 00:19:46.008
  • Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. i will hide
  • 00:19:46.008 --> 00:19:49.811
  • Its words in my heart that i might not sin against god."
  • 00:19:49.811 --> 00:19:53.982
  • That's the pledge, that's the promise. the word of our god is
  • 00:19:53.982 --> 00:19:58.086
  • A lamp; it is a light in the darkest days.
  • 00:19:58.086 --> 00:20:01.390
  • And in a world in which we don't know what's going to
  • 00:20:01.390 --> 00:20:03.425
  • Happen next, we can't see through the darkness into the
  • 00:20:03.425 --> 00:20:06.561
  • Future. we have concerns about the future. we talk about our
  • 00:20:06.561 --> 00:20:09.364
  • Kids and our students. we are concerned about the kind of
  • 00:20:09.364 --> 00:20:13.902
  • World that our young people are going to inherit... are
  • 00:20:13.902 --> 00:20:16.505
  • Inheriting. and we need to do everything possible to train
  • 00:20:16.505 --> 00:20:20.275
  • Them up to know christ because it's going to be very
  • 00:20:20.275 --> 00:20:22.544
  • Difficult... not only christ, but christ's words. it's going
  • 00:20:22.544 --> 00:20:25.314
  • To be very demanding and very difficult to stand for christ
  • 00:20:25.314 --> 00:20:28.517
  • In future generations.
  • 00:20:28.517 --> 00:20:30.085
  • There was a pastor who was being interviewed on cnn.
  • 00:20:30.085 --> 00:20:34.723
  • That's a risky thing to do but go ahead and take the bible
  • 00:20:34.723 --> 00:20:37.759
  • There. and the interviewer asked this pastor... said,
  • 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:42.831
  • "when are you christians going to drag your bible into 21st
  • 00:20:42.831 --> 00:20:48.036
  • Century?" well, actually i'm not trying to drag the bible
  • 00:20:48.036 --> 00:20:55.911
  • Into the 21st century; i'm trying to drag you into the
  • 00:20:55.911 --> 00:21:00.115
  • First century so that you can meet jesus! so that we're not
  • 00:21:00.115 --> 00:21:03.819
  • Trying to bring the bible up to speed of the culture
  • 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:07.289
  • Progressively; we are bringing the culture to jesus by
  • 00:21:07.289 --> 00:21:11.026
  • Preaching the word of god!
  • 00:21:11.026 --> 00:21:12.594
  • And when you can't see your way through, often through
  • 00:21:12.594 --> 00:21:14.963
  • Darkness... when you have questions... when you have
  • 00:21:14.963 --> 00:21:18.266
  • Doubts and you need counsel... if you want to know god's
  • 00:21:18.266 --> 00:21:20.669
  • Word... god's will, know god's word. you see yourself, you see
  • 00:21:20.669 --> 00:21:25.574
  • God, you see everything through the bible, "the enlightening of
  • 00:21:25.574 --> 00:21:29.711
  • The eye." you see, it transforms life... they way you
  • 00:21:29.711 --> 00:21:32.781
  • See life; it transforms your vision.
  • 00:21:32.781 --> 00:21:35.250
  • Number 4, the bible transforms your future. verse 9 says, "the
  • 00:21:35.250 --> 00:21:38.887
  • Fear of the lord" ... that's a synonym. though the fear of the
  • 00:21:38.887 --> 00:21:41.223
  • Lord means our adoration and exaltation and awe-struck
  • 00:21:41.223 --> 00:21:45.927
  • Worship of god. the fear of the lord also is a synonym here for
  • 00:21:45.927 --> 00:21:49.398
  • The scripture. and so the fear of the lord... the bible is
  • 00:21:49.398 --> 00:21:52.801
  • Clean, enduring forever. the bible transforms your future
  • 00:21:52.801 --> 00:21:57.305
  • Because the bible is there when you get to your future. in a
  • 00:21:57.305 --> 00:22:01.109
  • World in which everything changes, there is one thing
  • 00:22:01.109 --> 00:22:04.045
  • That never changes and that is the word of god. and jesus
  • 00:22:04.045 --> 00:22:08.383
  • Christ in the word of god proclaims who is "the same
  • 00:22:08.383 --> 00:22:11.520
  • Yesterday, today and forever." this book, the bible doesn't
  • 00:22:11.520 --> 00:22:16.158
  • Change. everything else changes but not the bible! and that's
  • 00:22:16.158 --> 00:22:20.162
  • Why the scripture is relevant to every generation. this book
  • 00:22:20.162 --> 00:22:26.268
  • Is god's generational book! "the grass withers, the flower
  • 00:22:26.268 --> 00:22:31.807
  • Fades, but the word of our god shall stand forever."
  • 00:22:31.807 --> 00:22:35.444
  • Number 5, the bible transforms your doubt and fears into faith
  • 00:22:35.444 --> 00:22:39.347
  • And fortitude... faith and fortitude, from doubt and fear.
  • 00:22:39.347 --> 00:22:44.085
  • Why? verse 9 again, the last part. "the judgments of the
  • 00:22:44.085 --> 00:22:47.055
  • Lord are true and righteous... true and righteous!" in this
  • 00:22:47.055 --> 00:22:52.661
  • Life there are not many things that you can know that are true
  • 00:22:52.661 --> 00:22:56.498
  • And righteous.
  • 00:22:56.498 --> 00:22:57.466
  • What can you believe? what can you trust?
  • 00:22:57.466 --> 00:23:00.769
  • You can trust the bible. you can trust god's word. stake
  • 00:23:00.769 --> 00:23:04.339
  • Your life... i stake my life on this book... on the word of
  • 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:08.677
  • God. that's why we need to keep fighting the good fight of
  • 00:23:08.677 --> 00:23:11.847
  • Faith, and according to jude 3, for the sake of our kids and
  • 00:23:11.847 --> 00:23:15.484
  • Our kid's kids... our children and our children's children, we
  • 00:23:15.484 --> 00:23:18.787
  • Are to "earnestly contend for the faith". we're to keep
  • 00:23:18.787 --> 00:23:23.091
  • Fighting for the faith, and the faith is the word of god.
  • 00:23:23.091 --> 00:23:26.561
  • Number 5, the bible will transform your values. verse 10
  • 00:23:26.561 --> 00:23:32.100
  • Say, "more to be desired are they than gold, yea, more than
  • 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:35.036
  • Much fine gold." what do you read every day? "well, i read
  • 00:23:35.036 --> 00:23:40.809
  • The stock report." "i read the sports information." "i read
  • 00:23:40.809 --> 00:23:46.481
  • The internet." "i read..." what? we devour entertainment.
  • 00:23:46.481 --> 00:23:51.686
  • We have a steady diet of way too much amusement and
  • 00:23:51.686 --> 00:23:55.190
  • Entertainment. so what is getting into our minds? so much
  • 00:23:55.190 --> 00:23:59.628
  • Of the values of the world are too much with us.
  • 00:23:59.628 --> 00:24:02.697
  • Now there's nothing wrong in reading the stock market and
  • 00:24:02.697 --> 00:24:05.300
  • Checking sports scores, and caring about those things and
  • 00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:08.303
  • Enjoying good wholesome entertainment, but what god is
  • 00:24:08.303 --> 00:24:11.640
  • Saying is none of that compares to the gold of god's word. the
  • 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:18.146
  • Values of this world... what the world thinks is
  • 00:24:18.146 --> 00:24:21.716
  • Important... what the world thinks is valuable is nothing
  • 00:24:21.716 --> 00:24:25.253
  • Compared to the gold... yes, the precious gold and sweet
  • 00:24:25.253 --> 00:24:28.657
  • Honey of the taste of scripture! it is better
  • 00:24:28.657 --> 00:24:31.927
  • Anything money can buy! this word of god is an
  • 00:24:31.927 --> 00:24:35.897
  • Inheritance... the inheritance you need to give to your
  • 00:24:35.897 --> 00:24:38.800
  • Children. give your children a good inheritance, especially to
  • 00:24:38.800 --> 00:24:42.337
  • Your grandchildren. but give them the word of god! that's
  • 00:24:42.337 --> 00:24:48.276
  • The greatest gift that you can give your family. so the bible,
  • 00:24:48.276 --> 00:24:52.047
  • Therefore, transforms our values. we're not living for
  • 00:24:52.047 --> 00:24:55.617
  • The stuff the world can provide. we're living for only
  • 00:24:55.617 --> 00:24:58.720
  • What god can provide.
  • 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:00.188
  • Number 6, the bible will transform your behavior and
  • 00:25:00.188 --> 00:25:03.758
  • Your morality, because verse 11 says, "moreover, by them your
  • 00:25:03.758 --> 00:25:09.364
  • Servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great
  • 00:25:09.364 --> 00:25:12.167
  • Reward." this is why we preach the bible... the whole counsel
  • 00:25:12.167 --> 00:25:15.737
  • Of god, including sin and judgment because all that is a
  • 00:25:15.737 --> 00:25:19.774
  • Warning. we are warned by the word of god. and god gives us
  • 00:25:19.774 --> 00:25:23.445
  • These warning. what kind of preacher would i be... what
  • 00:25:23.445 --> 00:25:26.014
  • Kind of man would i be if i didn't tell you the truth... if
  • 00:25:26.014 --> 00:25:28.750
  • I didn't warn you of the judgment that is to come? if i
  • 00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:32.287
  • Didn't warn you about the truth of god's word. because this is
  • 00:25:32.287 --> 00:25:36.358
  • Protected, and there's great reward in obeying god, in
  • 00:25:36.358 --> 00:25:41.696
  • Trusting god in his word.
  • 00:25:41.696 --> 00:25:44.466
  • So the bible is a warning that protects us from sin and the
  • 00:25:44.466 --> 00:25:47.869
  • Consequences of sin. so when we say something is sin, it's not
  • 00:25:47.869 --> 00:25:54.709
  • Because we hate people; it's because we love people, and we
  • 00:25:54.709 --> 00:25:58.747
  • Care about them, and we want them to know the truth. it may
  • 00:25:58.747 --> 00:26:02.384
  • Be offensive to the world and the world may try to shut us up
  • 00:26:02.384 --> 00:26:05.820
  • And shut us down, but god's word will not be stopped. and
  • 00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:09.224
  • It pleases god... you know, you can please the world or you can
  • 00:26:09.224 --> 00:26:12.527
  • Please god! and it pleases god when you believe and receive
  • 00:26:12.527 --> 00:26:16.831
  • And welcome his word into your life!
  • 00:26:16.831 --> 00:26:20.201
  • There's an old saying back in the day... people said, "the
  • 00:26:20.201 --> 00:26:22.837
  • Bible believes it... or "the bible says it and i believe it
  • 00:26:22.837 --> 00:26:27.008
  • And that settles it!" well, let me tell you something better
  • 00:26:27.008 --> 00:26:29.511
  • Than that: the bible says it and that settles it whether i
  • 00:26:29.511 --> 00:26:37.285
  • Believe it or not! the bible is god's word and god's reward for
  • 00:26:37.285 --> 00:26:44.459
  • Trust and obedience. so keep believing, keep reading, keep
  • 00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:47.662
  • Meditating, keep thinking, keep studying, keep worshiping, keep
  • 00:26:47.662 --> 00:26:52.500
  • Teaching, keep preaching, keep sharing the word of god.
  • 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:57.272
  • Fill your mind with god's word, fill your heart with his truth.
  • 00:26:57.272 --> 00:27:02.143
  • Get your brain on the bible. get your brain addicted to the
  • 00:27:02.143 --> 00:27:06.815
  • Bible. it will always be the most influential book in the
  • 00:27:06.815 --> 00:27:11.519
  • World. why? because the bible meets the deepest needs of the
  • 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:16.891
  • Human heart, because the story of the bible is jesus.
  • 00:27:16.891 --> 00:27:22.163
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:22.163 --> 00:27:22.163