What Does The Bible Say About What I Believe?

All right, remain standing with me and honor of God's word as we have our scripture reading today. We read from Hebrews chapter 1 we're going to be reading the first four verses. Hebrews chapter 1 beginning their inverse one God who at various times and in various ways spoke in time pass to the fathers by the prophets have indeed last day spoken to us by his son whom he has appointed heir of all things through whom also he made the worlds.

Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and I'm holding All Things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High having become so much better than the angels as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they maybe see you.

But we have the privilege of having in our fellowship doctor bill Fox and I've asked him to bring the message this morning.

Thank you. Best friend.

It's good to be here with you this morning at my age. It's going to be anywhere, but I'm glad to be here and I want to talk to you for just a few minutes about a question that relates to what the pastor talked with his last Sunday about but is a little different emphasis, and I also want to tell you that I have lost my Glasses temporarily. That is the one that made me see real good. And so I have the ones that that I normally wear and I don't see quite so good with them, but the wallet was the wrong way. So let's go back see if I can figure this out.

There we go. Okay. I saw if I could hold my hand on that button. I'll be okay. And if I keep from pulling the mic, please I'll be even better. So the question is today, do you believe and as I say that I'm not just talking about do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior but a number of other things as well. And so we want to look at that. What does the Bible say about what I believe cuz the Bible has some important things about what we believe and what we should even do about those things which we believe and so today we want to look at that and we won't talk a little bit about that question. What does the Bible say about what I believe? And the first question is if I can get my notes in the right order here, I'll look up at the screen maybe and the question that we see today is what about the truth? What does the Bible say about truth and what do I believe about truth and with that in mind? I want to show you that the Bible has some important things to say about truth. It says that first of all God has spoken through his word. You heard the pasture weed that earlier. I don't know why this is getting ahead of me here, but I'll try and get caught up. God has spoken through his word and Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1 says this God who at different times are various times the pastor red and in different ways has spoken in time passed under the fathers by the prophets. You remember that the Old Testament has the number of prophets and books by the prophets. And these were men who came to Israel specifically and told him what God's will for them was and reminded them of God's will when they had forgotten But Hebrews chapter one says now God has spoken to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. There's there's a story in the New Testament that just touches my heart every time I read it and that's the story of the Lord Jesus after he rose from the dead walking on the road to Emmaus with a few people and I don't know. What do you thought about this in this way or not, but that passage of scripture. Says when the two two disciples were concerned about he who was supposed to be king over as you always down dead and gone and away from their lives. As far as they knew the Lord. Jesus didn't say right away. Well, I'm back know it says beginning at Moses. That is Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy, and the prophets Hicks found it under them all things about himself revealed in those scriptures. I think about that and I think man that must have been quite a walk. Because the Lord Jesus didn't have the New Testament and the Pauline Epistles. He had only the Old Testament that these disciples were familiar with the course he knew what was coming in the New Testament, but he only had to explain to them the Old Testament and they listen to him as he expounded all things about the old about himself in the Old Testament. That's amazing to me because I've looked at a number of passages in the Old Testament that speak of the Lord Jesus Christ, but I certainly haven't looked at all of them, but for them to have that opportunity from the master teacher to hear about all of that just amazes me. Nnn Thrills my heart because I know that the Lord did a fantastic job and went through all the passages to see what to tell them what that was. So what God says is the absolute truth in Titus Chapter 1 Verse 2 If you'll give me a moment, I've got these printed out in a little large print so I can see them because I can't see my Bible this morning. So I'll read this this verse to you Titus Chapter 1 Verse 2 in Hope of eternal life. Which God that cannot lie promised. before the world began

God who cannot lie, that's the truth. That's what the word of God reveals and that's what God says until when somebody comes to you as a member white shirt in the past will I believe God's word, but I don't believe the account of creation. Well, then you don't believe God's work. Cuz God's word says this is how God created the world. And so every aspect of this is important in a wonton to say well, you know, I don't read about carbon dating and how old are rocks are in that doesn't match with the account of God's word. So I asked him a question. I said if you were in the Garden of Eden and cut down one of the trees, do you think the trees would have rings in them?

Well, yeah, I guess so and if you met up with Adam and Eve where they look like they were two days old or would they be full grown people? Well, I guess they knew before going I said don't you think the Lord took care of that with regard to the Rocks he gave a parent age to the trees and the people wouldn't he give a parrot age to the rocks? Justin ordered you would have to believe God's word and not take everything else for granted. So it's important to believe God's word and know that is the truth. What God is is the absolute truth and John Chapter 4 Verse 6. It says this I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father, but by me, thank you faster. You better just keep up with me cuz I I can run this remote very good. So anyway, what it is is the absolute true. If you do those of you that watch television once in a great while she Franklin Graham every so often I'm amazed at the fact that every time he's interviewed on television. This is one of the passages of scripture that he gets around to no man cometh unto the father, but by me That's the truth. That's the truth. You can talk all about and listen to other people talk about a while. There's a number of different ways and we're all going to heaven. No, we're not. Apart from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we're not going to heaven. So it's important to know that I'll try this one more time faster and see if I get it right. Well, that one didn't work. There it is. Okay what I believe allows God to act in my behalf. First of all as we believe God gives us freedom. The scripture says a John 3:32 usual know the truth and the truth shall make you free. What does he mean by that? Well before we were saved we were slaves to sin. Does a slave have a choices whether he shows up for work or not know he is a slave that's what he does is work every day for his math and what a sinner's we are slaves to sin, but God gives us freedom. Now if we sin it's a matter of our will if we follow God it's a matter of our will God has given us that freedom. So it's important to know that when we believe God gives us life. Now. I have sighted in your notes acts 16:31, which uses Christian terminology so to speak But I think maybe more important is John 3:16, which is not well known to you as well. It says for God so loved the world. Everybody understands love God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. How long is Everlasting last? forever and what do you do to get it?

If somebody gives you a birthday gift or Christmas gift, what do you have to do? After receiving that's all you have to do is receive it. You don't have to do anything for it. You don't have to even as the song says be a good person or whatever. All you have to do is receive it. That's what God gives to you as eternal life. And like a friend of mine who would being a policeman with me for number years when I presented that to him I said, would you like to receive the gift? He said a person would be a fool not that's right. That's right. But there are going to be a number of foolish people in hell because they weren't trying to earn their way to heaven. God says, it's a free gift. The Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins. And all I have to do is receive that and that's important understand and then when we believe God answers our prayer John chapter 16 verse 24 Let me see if I can see that here on my sheet, but you can turn to it. Anyway, John chapter 16 verse 24.

I hear it is here. Hitherto of the asked nothing in my name ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full. You know. I'm convinced. I don't know everything. I'd like to know about prayer and one day. I'm going to have a chance to talk to the Lord about how prayer works. But if I understand my Bible correctly God doesn't change his mind. He's already got it made up. He already knows what's going to happen. And so when I pray I don't change God's mind what I do changes my mind, I get to the point where I will accept God's will. And that's what the Lord Jesus was telling his disciples. Ask for what is God's Will and what will glorify God and your joy will be full because there's nothing greater than receiving God's will in your life. You may want a number of things but eventually God works in your heart and he opens it to receiving what he wants for you and that's what counts when we believe God answers our prayer. and then it's also important to know. Let me get the page turned hero that the question what is truth asked by many today in their search for truth and is that was asked you remember by Pilot when he was trying the Lord Jesus Christ. What is truth? John chapter 18 verse 38 is where that is and that is answered by God himself. God is truth there for every member of the godhead is truth and speaks the truth.

I don't know what that was, but I'll get picked up here in a moment. Anyway, God is truth every member of the truth and speaks. The truth. There for God's word is truth. John 17 verse 17 talks about that the date the word of God is truth. Thank you, honey. Do I look sound like I need that.

God's word is truth. And therefore when God's word says for instance in Jobe. That as far as the East is from the West. Is that angel might know that's another reference in jail. But anyway, it says as far as the East is from the West so far as he removed our transgressions from us, you know, it's interesting that when you start going east you never stop you. Keep going east go all the way around the world. If you go north, you will eventually get to the North Pole. And then you'll start going South. How did the Lord know to say East from West? Because God knows everything and his word is absolutely true. There's a number of things that you can find out like that the divorce I'm thinking of enjoy talks about the world being round. Apparently Christopher Columbus never read that

but you know if he'd read it until taking it for true if he didn't know that he wouldn't eventually fall off the end of the Earth. That their world was round God's word says that and we need to understand that truth.

We may therefore have confidence in God's word and believe in. And then the third thing we see today is that what I believe should cause me to act that's the most important part of belief what I believe should cause me to act. The concept is that biblical believe or trust should cause action Psalm 37 verse 3 says that Tom 37 wurstery. Let me just turn this page over and I'll read that to you. So I'm 37 verse 3

says this trust in the Lord and do good social doubt dwell in the land and verily Thou shalt be fed. This was a promise the David repeated the bid to given to Israel if you wanted to stay in the land they were to trust in the Lord and do good. It's important to believe what God has promised land God promised this to Israel if they would have been him that they would have the land and say in it one day yet to come. God will completely fulfill that promise because Israel will believe in God. It's important to understand that through I got to rig up here, but maybe if I hurry up and get done it'll quit do not allow believed to cause the right action. We sin. Did you ever think about that? When we believe something and don't act on it we send.

because the verse says in James 4:17 therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him. It is sin.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him. It is sin. now unfortunately You're all in a difficult situation now. Because you've been here this morning and heard God's word. I hope And we have talked about the fact that when you say you believe something it's important to do it. So from now on in that aspect whatever you have learned from God's word you're accountable for And God will say you remember that message that that guy Bill Fox breached. I know it wasn't much of a Preacher, but he reminded you that when you believe something you have to act on it. That's true. God teaches us his truth in order that it may change our lives. That's the whole goal in order that we may glorify God through our lives and many times. We think well, this is my life. I'm going to live the way I want to. Well, you know what if you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ God's word says your purpose is to glorify God. That's what we're here to do. And so I have to examine my heart every day and say is what I'm doing for my purpose or for God's glory. That's what's important living for God's glory. That's what we're here. For what when we say, we believe something but do not act on it. We actually do not believe it. The story is told of a tightrope Walker who was performing in a small town between the two tallest buildings and he walked across the tightrope. And then he carried a chair. You probably heard this door. Karadzic are across the tightrope from back. And then he said now having seen that how many think that I could carry somebody in the chair. phone number of people raise their hands He said the which of you was going to volunteer, all the hands went down. Why because they said they believed it but weren't willing to act on it if we have faith and trust in God we will volunteer to sit in that chair. So to speak we will volunteer for what he calls us to do. because you see James chapter 2 verse 17 says this if even so faith if it hath not works is dead being alone. James was written so that I might know that I have faith. It's not for you to evaluate me. It's for you to evaluate yourself, and they do evaluating me. The way I know that I have faith in God is when I see myself doing things that I wouldn't ordinarily have faith enough to do. Faith produces Works in my life That's what I evaluate my cell phone. And that's the lesson of the Book of James so that we can evaluate ourselves. And the issue is in the Book of James Faith does not act on what it knows. It's not really faith. That's the encouragement that we see today God calls upon us to act on what we believe. and so when you hear a message in church or Sunday School Are you listed on television and the speaker says I want you to be willing to do this. And you're saying no I'm not going to do that. The question is do you really trust in God? That's what's important. That our trust be a conference of the one who has control that the cross that we say we have is committed to the one who knows how the world is created. He knows not only the past but the future he controls everything.

and even the events of the world today God is in control of he is programming things are has programmed them in such a way that eventually the Lord Jesus Christ will come again. Eventually, even before that. We as Believers will be taken to heaven to be with him and judgment will fall on the earth. Now, we've already seen what we would consider pretty harsh judgment, but that's nothing in comparison to what God has promised. And so it's important to have faith in God and be willing to share with our neighbor why we believe to be willing with a share with our friends what it is, we believe and as I've said before and and some of you that come on Thursday night share this every so often it starts with what I talked about it earlier that heaven is a free gift. It is not under deserve. You don't have to be a good person. So to speak before God exception to Heaven because nothing will may God accept you other than faith in his son the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what counts that's what God's word says and that's why Franklin Graham continue to repeat no man cometh unto the father, but by me the Lord Jesus said So understand that truth. And if you do not today no Christ, the Savior except the gift. You don't have to do anything. You know, what you don't even have to come to Grace Church in Lockeford. You can do it in the privacy of your own home. But if you need help knowing why this is true, you can talk to me you can talk to the pastor. You can talk to any number of people that are here that will be willing to sit down with you and help you know from God's word. Didn't when you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as a gift you are given. What is John? 3:16 Says everlasting life its life the last forever. That's what's important. and then as you live the Christian Life. You don't have to try and be a good person.

Because God has given you the Holy Spirit. And he will enable you as you trust in him to live. The way God wants you to the person asked me one time or what if I see Anna and the Holy Spirit Doesn't Remind, that's not your problem. The holy spirit in Ocean and he'll remind you when it offends you. What you have to do is to be willing to yield to him and then he'll help you live in such a way as to honor and glorify him. Let's prowl together in prayer father. Thank you for your word. Thank you that we can have complete trust in your word. Thank you Father that we know that you are the truth of that your word is true. And we pray father today that you will enable us as we live our lives to trust in your word to understand all that your word is said about today. On the signs of the times and they have confidence in the fact that you're coming will be when you have determined. It should be and judgment will not fall completely until that day take place and we were at home with you bless and help us day-by-day and minister to us. We pray thank you for this church. Thank you for this pastor and thank you for these people minister to each one as they go their way home. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.