Posts
Pastor Mike Jonker
August 28, 2014
We are continuing in the
Essential series.
Pastor Mike is talking about the
different ways of studying the Bible. Reading from front to back, studying one
book at a time, there is all kinds of different ways. He is talking about how
he is thankful that Greg Laurie remains laser focused on teaching the Bible.
Acts 2:42 NKJV
[42] And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers.
We can also study different
topics through the Bible. It is the study if Gods word that we can get a true
perspective of God. It is our responsibility to be theologians.
God is still speaking, He is a
God who wants to be known.
God has revealed Himself in a
number of ways:
1. Through creation.
Psalm 19:4 NKJV
[4] Their line has gone out
through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has
set a tabernacle for the sun,
The heavens declare the glory of
God.
There is an infinite number of
stars, He keeps building. Or we can look at small things like atoms or
neutrons. Everything is complex.
2. Through our conscience.
Romans 2:14-15 NKJV
[14] for when Gentiles, who do
not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not
having the law, are a law to themselves, [15] who show the work of the law
written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between
themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
3. Through His Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV
[16] All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We see His nature, character,
plan of salvation. The Bible is Gods love letter to us.
Pastor Mike is talking about his
old 71 VW Bus, how they always breakdown and over heat. Then he found a book
that helped him keep it working, it was an instruction manual of how to fix it
when things went wrong.
The Bible is like that for us, divine instruction on what to do when things go wrong.
The Bible is Gods love letter to
us. What do you do with love letters when you get them? We read them and
cherish them and read them again.
He is reading a love letter that
he found online.
1 John 3:1 NKJV
[1] Behold what manner of love
the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
God is saying, check it out, look
at how much love He has for us.
In the Old Testament he spoke to
prophets with "voice mail" in Jesus' time it was "FaceTime"
now it is via "Text"
He is talking about how he was
given a Bible when he was 7 years old, how he didn't read it back then. But
when he was 20 he found his faith, one of the first things he learned about was
the Parable of the Sower. How the seed, or the word is truly like that.
For Christians success can be a
two edged sword. In hard times they come to church and in good financial times
they seem to forget about church.
He said we need to have an
appetite for Gods word if we are to grow in our faith. Not just for preachers,
but all of us need to study it and learn Gods word. We need to be in Gods word.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
[12] For the word of God is
living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Gods word is alive and cuts to
the heart of the matter.
He is speaking about the actual
book, how it is broken up, into history and law and then the Gospels, and
letters and then Revelation.
The Bible is perfect in cohesion
and truth.
Hebrew and Greek were the primary
languages of the Old Testament.
Jesus quotes and confirms the Old
Testament.
Matthew 19:4-6 NKJV
[4] And He answered and said to
them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them
male and female,' [5] and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? [6]
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined
together, let not man separate."
Luke 17:28-29 NKJV
[28] Likewise as it was also in
the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted,
they built; [29] but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Mark 12:26 NKJV
[26] But concerning the dead,
that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush
passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?
Matthew 12:40 NKJV
[40] For as Jonah was three days
and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Pastor Mike points out how
science books are constantly updated and proven wrong. The Bible has never been
updated or proven wrong.
Luke 24:27 NKJV
[27] And beginning at Moses and
all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself.
The whole book is about Jesus our
savior.
The Bible is a book of promises.
One person said the Bible has 7,487.
God doesn't lie. He keeps his
promises, and men do not.
Hebrews 6:17-19 NKJV
[17] Thus God, determining to
show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel,
confirmed it by an oath, [18] that by two immutable things, in which it is
impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. [19] This hope we have as an
anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence
behind the veil,
When God says something he means
it.
Mike is sharing his ten favorite
promises of God.
1.
John 1:12 NKJV
[12] But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in
His name:
God wants us to be sure of our
relationship with Him. It isn't how you feel, it is by Gods power we are part
of His family. Not from our practice or performance.
2.
2 Peter 1:3 NKJV
[3] as His divine power has given
to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of
Him who called us by glory and virtue,
God gives us everything we need.
He even "includes the batteries"
Some times we live for God in our
own flesh, we need to go to Him.
3.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
[13] I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
Paul suffered a great deal and
still he live on the promises of God.
What do you need strength for?
Sometimes we need Gods strength
just to obey Him. We. Can't cay no to God.
The only reward to sin is more
sin. The reward of obedience is the strength to continue through the next
challenge.
4.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
[13] No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also
make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
God promises to deliver from
temptation.
5.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
[10] For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.
God is our maker, He has a plan
and He is going to fulfill that plan.
Mike explains how God works in
our life like a surf board shaper shapes a surf board. Just like that shaper
uses the board, God will use us when He is done.
6.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
[5] Trust in the LORD with all
your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways
acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Do you need to lean on God and
trust Him right now? Acknowledge Him and He will step in and guide.
Mike was telling about being with
a friend in the woods and knowing a Mountain Lion was there. He was staying
close to his friend to make sure he was safe. We should do that with Jesus.
7.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
[38] For I am persuaded that
neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things
present nor things to come, [39] nor height nor depth, nor any other created
thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Jesus will never stop lob paving
us. Not because we deserve love but because He is love.
8.
God is our Help
Mike is talking about how his
wife had leukemia and she looked to this passage.
Psalm 121:1-8 NKJV
[1] I will lift up my eyes to the
hills- From whence comes my help? [2] My help comes from the LORD, Who made
heaven and earth. [3] He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you
will not slumber. [4] Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor
sleep. [5] The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
[6] The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. [7] The LORD
shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. [8] The LORD
shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even
forevermore.
At some point in our lives we
need to look to God.
Do you need Gods help now?
9.
God is our comfort
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NKJV
[3] Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who
comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who
are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by
God. [5] For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
abounds through Christ.
10.
John 14:1-3 NKJV
[1] "Let not your heart be
troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are
many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Gods word is for each and
everyone of us.
John 3:16 NKJV
[16] For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
Do you want to live your life on
God's promises?
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