This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on October 20th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

FAITHFUL TO SCRIPTURE

 All of us have a certain understanding of for world is and based on that we live our lives. 

Romans 12:1-2 - [1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 There's a command in these verses. Don't act or believe what the world says. But be renewed and transformed. 

 The world is trying to change is to fit its mould. There are different types of philosophies, and we have the freedom to accept anything. Every time we watch a movie or series, we are affected by them. What God says is that do not be conformed to the pattern of this world. 

The different patterns in the world that we see are - big fat Indian wedding, grand celebration of 1st birthday, reading horoscope, wearing different symbols, signs and rings for luck and protection.

All these are from culture and philosophies, and they try to fit us into their moulds.

So not think as the world does but be transformed according to the Word. We must ask ourselves - is this how God wants me to be or do? We must know the scriptures, study the scriptures and change our way of thinking and doing things. 

Four attributes of scripture: 

1. Authority of the scripture

The truth is in the Bible. It helps us understand what the truth is. In this world, there is no central truth on which all the people can believe. But Bible has the truth. Bible is the final authority. That is what divides us from rest of the world. The scriptures are words of God. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All the scripture is God-breathed. These are not thoughts of man but thoughts of God. 

2 Peter 1:20 - [20] Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 

The Holy Spirit worked in the life of Peter and used his character to pen down these words. 

2. Clarity of the scripture

Word of God is so simple that a child can understand but also difficult to understand. The great theologians still are confused about certain things in the Bible. 

Mark Twain said, "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

We need Holy Spirit to understand the scripture, for revelation and for illumination. As we approach Bible in humility, not just to understand but to obey and ask the Holy Spirit, He will help us understand the scripture.

3. Necessity of the scripture

To live in this life, we need to know the scriptures. To live right in any kind of relationship, we need the scripture. The Bible tells us how to have relationships like parents, children, spouse, marriage and many more. 

So, we need the scripture to have healthy relationships.

4. Sufficiency of the scripture

2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

2 Timothy 2:15 - [15] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 

Without scripture, we will not know God completely. There are hundreds of varieties of insects and many other living things. God created all of them. By looking at them we will not be able understand God. We need the voice of God to help us understand Him. The end result is that we are transformed by renewing of our minds as we read the scripture. 

We read scripture to understand and renew our minds. All of us are familiar with the SPECK model of Bible studying. 

As many of you are going on holidays, I encourage you to spend time by reading scripture and doing SPECK (Sin to avoid, Promise to claim, Example to follow, Command to obey, Knowledge to rejoice in)

Do this faithfully and see how it transforms your thinking and also your lives.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Let's Make History Together

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on Oct 24th 2021 by Nigel P via zoom. For the audio & video please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.

We are going to look into the book of Jeremiah, chapter 1 and focus on the words, "Word of the Lord came."

Jeremiah 1:1-3 ESV - The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, ² to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. ³ It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

In these verses, we see the following -

Word of the Lord came
It came also

Why does the Word of God come?
When does it come?

Jeremiah 1:2 ESV - ² to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 

In the days of Josiah, 13th year of his reign, days of Jehoiakim, until the end of the 11th year of Zedekiah, until the carrying away

We see that it came 4 times again and again. It came at the "Now Moment".

We live by written Word. At times, the Word comes to us at  "Now Moment".

We've been in the pandemic for so long that some started wondering where God is. Some have become comfortable. There's so much happening - trials in families, churches, we got a shock in the beginning.

God has plans. Spirit of God helps us move forward. We pick up something from the Word of Jeremiah.

Why does the Word come? And to whom?

Though the Word had come to Jeremiah, it was for God's people to warn them of the captivity. God's "Now Word" comes because they are God's people. He wants them to be restored. The "Now Word" has the potential to quicken them. When it comes, it has power.

In Bible, when Moses died, Joshua received the Word at the "Now Moment". As God's people, we can be prone to give up or sin and ignore God's call on us.
As a church, we need to think. Do we have a purpose? I believe God has a Word for us.

The "Now Word" is always a part of "Always Word"

Jeremiah 1:4-5 ESV –

The Call of Jeremiah

⁴ Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

 

We begin to see the "Now Word" comes to Jeremiah. It's always in context of God's people. What God says is "always".

 

1. Prophet to nations, ordained for the nations

God gave a promise in the garden of Eden. He promised a seed which is Jesus, that would effect the nations. It started right at the beginning. In Genesis 12, Abraham was called the Father of Nations. Now after 1500 years, Jeremiah got that same Word. It came as "Now Word". It's not new. It has always been there.
Who are you? You, I, the church. You are ordained. The church is for the nations. We are not to be survivors but influencers. Hey Church! Wake up! God has ordained you.

Though the pandemic is not over, God wants you to pick up something. Something about the church is going to change. What are we doing about our neighbours, colleagues, friends etc. God is reminding us that we are ordained.
So, God's first reminder to us is that we are ordained for the nations to bring life, hope to the people in the city.

 

2. Formed... Known by God

Jeremiah is about to be called prophet to the nations. To him, God says, "I formed you, chose you, picked you for a purpose.
Once I heard a prophetic song which I still remember. It goes  like this - I know you, you know me, let's make history together.
God is reminding us like Jeremiah - " I chose you to make history"

1 Peter 2:9 ESV - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

The word "formed" is very important.

In the most powerful nation, Egypt, the Israelites were formed as a nation out of slavery. How can that be? It is only possible through God. Not just formed them, but God also delivered them and made them leave with gold, silver and many other riches.
We must understand that God's people just can't come into existence. God forms people. Word of Grace church didn't come into existence but God formed you.

When you read Psalm 139, you will know that each of you was formed for a unique role to play.

The word "knew" - long before you existed, I knew you Jeremiah.
What does that even mean?

It is an element of God knowing us intimately and choosing us to have a relationship with us. Your DNA is changed. It is of God's DNA.
He knows how to shape us. In some versions of the Bible, it is written as "Adam lay with Eve" This is about the intimate sexual relationship. In some other version, it is written as "Adam knew Eve".
So, knowing is a very deep and intimate thing. It is not just for purpose but to be known inside out.
There is something different about Christians. God knows us. And we must know Him. Know that He loves us and knows every flaw of ours.
Though Peter denies Jesus, He reinstates him.
God knows you. He wants to make history along with you.

3. Set you apart

Jeremiah 1:5c - before you were born I consecrated you;

I have set you apart before you were born. He sanctified you. Set apart for not anything else but for God's purpose.
Church, you are set apart. You may come and love this church but not just that. Every member of the church, every believer is set apart for God, for nations and for people around us.
We need to relate to people with reference to God. Saying sorry to people, being angry or taking revenge, everything must be in reference to God.
Many people don't like to consistently move ahead. The "Now Word" is for greater numbers and for greater fruitfulness. In Acts, the believers met everyday and broke bread together everyday. God wants us to get back on track because -

He has ordained you, ordained for nations - your neighbors, colleagues, friends

He formed you and knew you

He set you apart for His purpose - for nations, people around you

 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.