EVERY SCRIPTURE

2 Timothy 3:16Adapted from a Davon Huss sermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?

ContributorID=&SermonID=42622

2 Timothy 3:16 NET Every scripture is inspired by God and

useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in

righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

• Whatever you do, be sure to read this year’s runaway bestseller. No, you don’t have to wait until December to learn which book will sell more copies than any other will in the year 2012. We already know which one it will be. It’s the same book that was #1 in 2000 through 2011… and in the 1990s, ‘80s and in every year over the past century or centuries.

About 40 different people from a wide variety of places and occupations

contributed to the writing of this book over a period of 1,600 years. Few of them knew any of the others. Many of them had little or

no access to the writings of the rest. Someone did the math & figured out of the 66 smaller books there are, 1,189 chapters,

31,173 verses and 807,361 words.

And yet, the 1,200 pages of their work come together in a stunningly united whole.

It’s as though one great mastermind was behind it all.

Within this book you will discover hundreds of specific predictions, except for those yet

to be fulfilled. 100% of them have come true.

So great is the scope of this book, so profound its message, that literally millions of additional books have been published in

praise of it, or in careful analysis of its content. No other book can make that

boast.It is the most-read, most revered, most-quoted book of all time. It has inspired

more songs, more paintings, more sculptures, more poems, more plays and

more movies than any other has.

No one can be said to be truly educated until they have obtained a first-hand, working knowledge of its contents.

Over thousands of years, hundreds of millions of men, women and children have met together each week in-groups small,

medium and large to pour over its meaning and to align their lives with its teachings.

Many of them make it a point to spend a portion of each day mining its depths for

additional treasure.What is the title of this bestseller?

The BibleNo other book could sustain that kind of interest, could bear that kind of scrutiny, and leave its readers coming back for

more.

It has been translated into more languages than any other book, having been read,

studied and memorized by people of every race, color, persuasion, personality and culture on the planet. Even now, the few

isolated tribes that remain without a written language are working with translators to

codify their verbal utterances one-by-one, so that they can soon hold in their hands a

copy of this precious book in their own tongue.

How could mere human beings author a book of such perfection and power? The

obvious conclusion is that they must have had help. One of its authors reveals that its every word is "inspired by God." Wow. That

explains why this book is in a class by itself. If you’ve never read it all the way

through… or if you’ve never experienced it in one of its modern translations, I

encourage you to make this your highest priority.

With more than 6,000 styles and presentations to choose from, you

shouldn’t have too much difficulty obtaining a copy that perfectly fits your budget and

personality. If you do not already have one, we can provide you with one. My two

personal favorites are the New English Translation and the New International

Version.

Why begin with 2 Timothy 3:16.? Why? If we don’t believe, know, this verse as truth

it, does us little good to read any of the other 3:16s or any of the Bible.

In my house T-shirts at the bottom of the drawer are like silverware on the bottom of the stack: unused. Taking from the top of the stack is a natural human response.

Apparently some of the world’s best stuff lies unused on the bottom where people

seldom go. For the next few months we are going

where people seldom go. We are going to be challenged to explore beyond our

comfort zones with the 3:16’s of the Bible. This verse is well known, but it is a good springboard to speak about how we need

to study and read and memorize and know, become familiar with the Bible.

Why should I get to know the Bible? Because it is full of three things from

2 Timothy 3:16.

inspired by God, God breathed. His words, His thoughts, His plans, etc. God’s

inspiration. Full of supernatural words.2 Peter 1:21 NET for no prophecy was ever

borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from

God.

Inspiration

These words are from God. Men are not perfect, but this is the beauty of the Bible.

The very purpose of the Spirit’s supervision was to keep men who could err from doing so. These are men’s words so God used

the words that these men knew to communicate His truth.

Spiritual WordsDavid said, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” 2

Sam 23:2 NIVIt is amazing that God has taken words like redeem or pardon or sanctification and has given them such spiritual meaning. Many of them were terms of law and business.

Savior’s WordsJesus is described as the Word. The final and ultimate Word from God. Our Savior spoke when he was on the earth but He

still speaks through the pages of this book. All Scripture is inspired by God. What is God communicating in our day? Same

message as when this book was completed.

What is Scripture?Is some of this Scripture? Is most of this Scripture? It is all Scripture, but is it all

inspired by God? Is this plus more Scripture? Many people have many ideas

to discredit the Bible. Add or take away from this book. These books have stood

the test of time. True, right and holy. Are the books in the New Testament

considered Scripture? Take a look at what the Apostle Peter said.

2 Peter 3:15 NET And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our

dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things

in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to

their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.

This one incidental line, the rest of the scriptures, links Paul's writings with

scripture. This is thus one of the earliest affirmations of any part of the NT as

scripture. Peter's words were prophetic and were intended as a preemptive strike

against the heretics to come. (NETnotes)

People for two millennia have been refuting and overthrowing this book, and yet it

stands today as solid as a rock. Its circulation increases, and it is more loved and cherished and read today than ever

before. People make about as much impression on this book as a man with a tack hammer would on the Pyramids of

Egypt.

When a French ruler proposed the persecution of Christians in his realm, an

old warrior said, "Sire, the Church of God is an anvil that has worn out many hammers."

The hammers of infidels have been pecking away at this book for ages, but the hammers are worn out, and the anvil still

endures.

If this book had not been the book of God, men would have destroyed it long ago. Emperors and popes, kings and princes

and rulers, scholars and intellectuals, have all tried their hand at it; they die and the

book still lives.(Hastings)

Full of informationFor doctrine, teaching about life. Knowing right from wrong. Knowing truth from error.

In our day, we determine truth by public opinion. If we did that throughout the ages, slavery, infanticide, prostitution, etc. would still be acceptable. We have to base our lives on something. If we do not have

some base, we will be blown this way and that without any direction.

If we stand for nothing, we will fall for anything. (Sound like a country song

you’ve heard before?) Knowing reality from deception. What is real?

Knowing God’s Word from man’s word. Human wisdom fails.

God helps those who help themselves. Each tub has to sit on its own bottom.

Cleanliness is next to godliness. Familiarity breads contempt.

God’s Word is always right and never fails.In the early morning, when the light just

begins to break forth from the night, we can barely make out the form of large objects; when we do, we see little definition. Yet in less than an hour, the definition is there,

and objects much smaller in size begin to take shape.

Then in another hour or so, even the smallest of objects become clearly defined- soon the bright light of day will even reveal objects as small as dust particles floating in

the air. So, too, the Word of God is progressive in its revelation.

What seems unclear at first is soon visible with study. Continued study sheds more

light on the subject, so much so that even the youngest are stunned by the detail

revealed. Wonder of wonders, the light of revelation continues to grow with study.

InstructionRebuking

2 Timothy 4:2 NET Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete

patience and instruction.If you want to rebuke someone, please use

the Bible. Nothing else will work!

CorrectingPsalms 119:105 NIV Your word is a lamp to

my feet and a light for my path.Upon human observation, many things

seem level. Upon human observation, it seems that

scales are right. How would you feel if your butcher were to have incorrect scales? Your butcher says,

"Oh, who cares?

So the inspector said that it was a pound off?"

No, you would want it to be corrected. Many times in our lives we get a little off course when compared to the Word of

God. When it is pointed out to us, we need to take steps to correct the problem.

TrainingPsalms 119:9 NIV How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to

your word.Don’t know what to do? Go to the Bible and God will help you! All of us need instruction.

In many homes around Christmas, Dad waits until the last minute to assemble the gifts. In a sleepy stupor, Dad looks at the picture on the box and says that will be

easy.

Without reading the directions, he starts to put it together. He is done and uses the toy

to make sure that it works properly. It doesn’t work at all. What happened? He

didn’t read the directions. According to the picture he was right but according to the

directions he was wrong. The pattern that he was using was not the full instructions.

We often build our lives the same way. It is easy to model what we see in movies, TV, friends and family. But that is like looking at

the picture on the box. It is not the real instructions. Our lives are built around the

directions that we use to build them.

The Word of God, the Bible, is the instruction guide for building our lives and

when we see something other than the Bible we may get something that almost

looks the same but lacks the completeness that was intended.

Just like the toy assembly project that looked good from the outside but failed to function as it was designed, many of us have failed lives because we do not use

the full instruction of the Bible.

Now the question is to what end do we have Scriptures inspired by God?

2 Timothy 3:17 NET that the person dedicated to God may be capable and

equipped for every good work.

When we come to the Bible and let God speak to us, it changes us - it makes us

complete and transforms us.

One way the Bible transforms us is through our understanding. Romans 12:2 NET Do

not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve

what is the will of God — what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

When we let the Bible guide our thinking, our minds are renewed and transformed,

so we begin to actually think like God thinks.

But there is another level by which the Bible transforms us: by a spiritual work, a

spiritual blessing which God works in us as we come to the Bible and let Him speak to

us. This is a spiritual work that goes beyond our intellectual understanding. With great spiritual power beyond our intellect:

The Bible gives us eternal life. 1 Peter 1:23 NET You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of

God.The Bible spiritually cleanses us.

Ephesians 5:26 NET to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water

by the word,

The Bible gives us power against Satan. Ephesians 6:17 NET And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God.The Bible, God’s Word, brings spiritual power to heal our bodies. Matthew 8:16

NET When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He

drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.

The Bible brings us spiritual strength. Psalm 119:28 NIV My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your

word. The Bible has the power to spiritually build

faith in us. Romans 10:17 NET Consequently faith comes from what is

heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

Because of this spiritual level on which the Word of God operates, we don't have to understand it all to have it be effectively working in our lives. Many people get

discouraged because they feel they don't get much when they read the Bible on their own and so they give up. We must work to understand the Bible the best we can, and

read it thoughtfully and carefully, but it benefits us spiritually even when we don't

understand it all intellectually.

A critic once wrote a letter to a magazine saying, "Over the years, I suppose I've

gone to church more than 1,000 times, and I can't remember the specific content of

even one sermon over those many years. What good was it to go to church 1,000

times?"

The next week, someone wrote back: "Over the past many years, I have eaten more than 1,000 meals prepared by my

wife. I cannot remember the specific menu of any of those meals. But they nourished

me along the way, and without them, I would be a much different man!"

The Bible will do its spiritual work in us, if we will let it.

Paul began the chapter warning Timothy about dangerous times. Some Christians are swept away by these perilous times and some others go into hiding. Neither

option is right for us. We are to stand strong and stay on the Word of God.

(Guzik)

Paul makes a final point. The study of the Scriptures trains a man in righteousness until he is equipped for every good work.

Here is the essential conclusion. The study of the Scriptures must never be selfish,

never simply for the good of a man's own soul.

Any conversion which makes a man think of nothing but the fact that he has been

saved is no true conversion. He must study the Scriptures to make himself useful to God and to his fellow-men. No man is saved unless he is on fire to save his

fellow-men. (Barclay's Daily Study Bible)

Join me and let’s look to the Bible for our instruction. Turn aside from the temptation

to just figure things out for yourself or follow some worldly pattern. Don’t settle for

something less. Make sure you build and rebuild your life according to the full instructions! In Timothy, Jesus is the

mediator between God and man. Without Jesus we have no one in heaven to plead our case. We are under wrath because of

our sins.

Jesus took the sins of the world to the cross. He died for ALL the people of the world, not just you & me. We must help others find His salvation. Matthew 28:19

NET Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have

commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." The

eternal life of those around us depends on US!