Why we need the Bible

I. IT IS GOD'S POWER TO SAVE

   A. BY CREATING FAITH...

      1. Without faith it is impossible to please God -

Hebrew 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

      2. Without faith in Jesus we cannot be saved -

 John 8:24

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that i am he, ye shall die in your sins."

      3. It is the Word of God that produces such faith -

Romans 10:17

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

      4. For example, the gospels were written to produce faith -

 John 20:30-31

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

   B. BY CAUSING ONE TO BE BORN AGAIN...

      1. Jesus taught the necessity of being born again -

John 3:3-5

"Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, i say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily, verily, i say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

      2. The rebirth involving water and the Spirit is produced by:

         a. Receiving the "incorruptible seed" of God's Word -

 1Peter 1:23-25

"being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. for all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

         b. In particular, that word proclaimed in the gospel of Christ

                 3. Which gospel calls for one to be baptized -

         a. As proclaimed by Peter -

Acts 2:38

"Then peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

   C. BY KEEPING ONE SAVED...

      1. Paul emphasized this value of the Scriptures

         a. To the Corinthians -

    1Corinthians 10:11-12

"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

         b. To Timothy -

        2Timothy 3:14-17

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

      2.    The saving value of the Word of God is for both young and

            old

         a. The young can keep their ways pure by it -

Psalms 119:9

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."        

[Lack of knowledge concerning God's Word destroyed Israel

(Hosea 4:6)

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, i will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, i will also forget thy children."

But when received with meekness into our hearts, the Word of God has the

power to save

(James 1:21)

"wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

  But notice also...]

II. IT IS GOD'S POWER TO COMFORT

   A. THROUGH THE HOPE IT GIVES...

      1. Paul wrote of the hope provided by the OT scriptures -

Romans 15:4

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

      2. The OT provides assurance of our hope in Christ, because it

         illustrates how God always keeps His promises

      3. How much more so the NT, providing hope by revealing the grace

         to be shown when Christ comes again! -

1Peter 1:13

"wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

   B. THROUGH THE PEACE IT GIVES...

      1. Especially as it reveals the means and source of true peace

         Philippians 4:6-9  

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."  

      3. "In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never

         failed to give me light and strength." - Robert E. Lee

   C. THROUGH THE HAPPINESS IT GIVES...

      1. Blessedness (happiness) through the stability and nourishment

         it provides -

Psalms 1:1-3

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

      2. Note that this comes to the one engaged in daily Bible reading

         ("day and night")

CONCLUSION

1. To fulfill our need for God, we need the Bible...

   a. For God has spoken through prophets and His Son - cf.

Hebrews 1:1-2

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past into the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

   b. He has made His Word accessible to every nation and tongue -

 Romans 10:17-18

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But i say, have they not heard? yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."

2. With the aid of the Bible, we can experience God's power in our

   lives...

   a. As we learn the way of salvation, and accept it with an obedient

      faith

   b. As we walk in the way of salvation, and receive the hope, peace,

      and happiness God gives

Great men have spoken of the value of the Bible:

   "Within the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all

   the answers to all the problems we face today. If only we would

   read it and believe." - Ronald Reagan

   "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.

   All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us

   through this book." - Abraham Lincoln

   "The Bible is worth more than all other books which have ever

   been printed." - Patrick Henry

By Missionary Dinah Ramos

www.fghconline.com

Wait upon the Lord

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

My grace In the Greek word: kindness, favorably disposed, leaning towards", extend favor, beauty, GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE

Psalm 59:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

Never stop praying

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1 Thessalonians 5:17 & 19 Pray without ceasing. 19 Quench not the Spirit.

The troubles of life are all around us, we cannot just close our eyes and wish for it to just disappear. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN THAT WAY  

II Corinthian 4: 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Don't faint when you are doing the Lord's work, and the devil tells you that you are wasting your time.

1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Don't weary about the people that make your life difficult, we have them on our jobs, in our families life, and places that you may go. You are a target for a bad name, because of who you love and that is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

God is Good!

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

The Lord works based on your patience of faith.

As we wait patiently and praying to the Lord to answer your prayers we are spending more time with the Lord speaking to him.

II Peter 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (knowledge with self-control) (self-control with endurance)( endurance with godliness)

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Lord is coming soon! be faithful and holy for the Lord knows your true needs.

Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

BE YE READY!

 

Pastor Rolando Ramos

www.fghconline.comn

 

Faith through Fire

Faith through Fire

 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were three faithful Jews who refused to worship the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon set up. They were cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, but they were protected by a fourth “man” in the fire, and they emerged without even the smell of fire upon them.

Daniel 3:8-18

“Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

 

They stood up for their God, the true living God that is powerful. That they were not to bow down to any graven image, and to serve any other gods that were set up by the king.

 

 

Exodus 20:3-6

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

 

Daniel 3:19-30

“Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”

Deuteronomy 4:27-29

“And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. 28And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

By Missionary Dinah Ramos