Back again to our second study in 2nd Timothy in chapter 3. So if you've got your Bibles and open them at chapter 3 we'll read the chapter. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own self, covenant boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontentment, fierce despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than the lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away. For of this sort there are they which creep into the houses and lead captive silly women, laden with sin, led away by dire lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Janus and Jemus withstood Moses, so do these who also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, retrobates concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest to all mind, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience. Persecution a fiction, which came to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. That persecution I endured, but of out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 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 the faith which is in Jesus Christ. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfectly, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. We know the Lord will bless the reading of his word, no matter where it's read, in his congregation. We're going to continue our studies, especially in the last two verses of that where it says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instructions in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfectly, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Last week, we looked at the Bible and ourselves. and what benefit we got out of the Bible when we read the Bible and we've seen that the Bible should reveal to us just what state we are in and what need we are of a holy God. So, tonight we're going to look at the Bible and God and what the Bible has to say about God himself. So we read there in verse 16, all scripture is given by the inspiration of God. It is not that somehow God elevated man's mind, or God directed their thoughts, nor that he communicated concepts to them, but God himself dictated the word that they wrote down and used. 2 Peter 1.21 The prophecy came not in old times by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. So we can say that the Holy Scriptures then are wholly supernatural. In other words, they're not natural or don't come from a natural man. They come from something that is supernatural. The divine image is stamped on every page of the Bible. they are written so holy, they are written so heavenly and so all-producing that it is no possible way that they could have been created by any man. The Bible makes known to us then a supernatural God. It is something that we all need to be reminded of in the times in which we live. Today we look around us and it would seem that many professing Christians seem to be coming more and more paganized rather than more and more holy. The prominent place in which sport now plays on this nation's life, the excess love of pleasure, the destruction of home life, the modesty of some people, the way they dress, all seem to be symptoms, and the same symptoms that brought about the downfall and the death of mighty empire, such as Babylon, Persia, Greece, and even Rome. The present idea of God, which is entertained by the majority of people, and the land normally known as a Christian land is becoming to look like some of the characters that have been described to the old ancient gods. But in sharp contrast, the God of the Holy Bible is clothed with such perfection and vested with such attributes that no mere human intellect could possibly have invented them. Apart from the Bible, even any acquaintance with God is impossible. Corinthians 1.21 says, the world by wisdom knew not God. When people ignore the Bible, then God is known to them as a non-known God. They do not know God. Acts 17, 23. But I must tell you that something more than the Bible is required before a soul can know Almighty God. That is to know Him in a real and personal sense. And it seems to be recognized by so few even in the times in which we live. The common practice of the day is that a knowledge of God can be attained through studying of the word in a way which would gain knowledge of any other book that we might study. We may well indeed get an intellectual knowledge of God, but it would not be a spiritual knowledge of God. A supernatural God can only be known supernaturally, and that is by a supernatural revelation of himself to an individual heart. 2 Corinthians 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness as shineth in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Psalm 36 9 and says in thy light shall we see light. Jesus said except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3, 3 says, so you see the unregenerated man has absolutely no spiritual knowledge of God, and how can he? The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, it tells us, for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2, 14. So we see quite clearly then, that the natural man is incapable of perceiving that which transcends even our own nature. John 17.3 says, this is eternal life, that you might know thee, the only true God. Eternal life then must be given before the true God can be known. 1 John 5 says, We know that the Son of God is come and has given us understanding that we may know Him. That is true. So we see only a spiritual understanding by a new creation must be given before God can be known in a spiritual way. As we look around us today, we see that most of the religions that we see is always an outward form of religion. Even when we find a good creed, but usually it's a dead creed for the way people use it. And when our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth, the Jews were orthodox. That means, at that time, They were free from all idols. The temple was in Jerusalem. The law was expounded. Jehovah was worshipped. And yet Jesus said unto them in John 7 and verse 28, you neither know me nor my father. If you had known me, you should have known my father also. And John 8 verse 19. This is my father. that honoureth me, of whom ye say that he is your God, yet ye have not known him." We must remember that Jesus here, who he was talking to, remember he was talking to the people who had scripture, searched them diligently and believed in God's word. They were well acquainted with God, but sadly, a spiritual knowledge of Him they did not have. They didn't know God spiritually. So, it is today, many who believe in the Holy Trinity would have next to no knowledge of worshipping a supernatural God. How can we say that? Well, we know them by the fruit that they produce. A supernatural knowledge of God produces a supernatural experience in which results in supernatural fruit. That simply means that God's actually dwelling in the heart and transforms that life. So we see that the genuine child of God is a miracle of grace itself. He is a new creature in Jesus Christ. 2nd Corinthians 2 5 17 his experience his life is what you might say Supernatural it's in other words. It's not natural and this it seems to be he has a Now his attitude towards God Haven't been a partaker of God's divine nature 2nd Peter 1 4 he now loves God Loves the things of God loves what God loves, and he hates what God hates. This is all made possible by the Holy Spirit of God and by the Word of God. The Holy Spirit never works separately from the Word of God. It is by the Word that the Holy Spirit quickens. It is by the Word that he produces conviction of sin. It is by the Word that he sanctifies. It is by the Word He also gives assurance. And by the word, the Christian grows in the love and the knowledge of God. Each Christian can measure the extent of the growth from the reading and the studying of the Bible through the application of the Holy Spirit. The Bible also gives a clear recognition of all the things that God claims what He is. The great controversy between the Creator And the creature has been whether he or God should be God. Whether his wisdom or their wisdom should be the guiding principles for all our actions in life. What brought down the downfall of Satan was his resentment at being a subject to the maker. Isaiah 14, 13 and 14, Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, and I will be like the Most High. The lie of the serpent which lured Adam and Eve to destruction. Remember what he said? Ye shall be as gods. Man's heart has been the same ever since. Depart from us for we desire not knowledge of thy way. What is the Almighty that we should serve him? Job 21 14 and 15 and in Jeremiah 2 31 We are Lords. We will come no more unto thee. So you see sin then had alienated man and separated him from God. Man's will is opposite to God's will. But salvation is opposite to that. Salvation means being restored back again to God. For Christ also had once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. 1 Peter 3, 18. So being reconciled to God, that involves and includes sin, which had dominance over us, has been broken. Everybody within us has been put to death. The heart within us has been won over to God. That is what true conversion is. It's a tearing down of every idol of any man's heart. It is renouncing of empty vanities of a cheating world and turning to God for our portion and for him to be our master. reading 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 5 First they give themselves unto the Lord Those who are truly converted Should desire as it is written in 2nd Corinthians 5 15 should not henceforth live unto themselves But unto him which died for them and rose again So it's only it's only when It's only then will God's rightful claims be recognized. His right dominion over us will be acknowledged. The converted then yield themselves onto God as those that are alive from death. The members and their members are instruments of righteousness onto God, Romans 6, 13. So this is the demand that God makes upon us, to be our God, and we are to do it without reserve. That means we're not to hold anything back. We're not to keep the little bits that we like to ourselves. We are to hand ourselves completely over to God and God's rule. Whatsoever he demandeth, we are truly surrender ourselves to him. Luke 14 verses 26, 27, and 33 we read, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sister, yea, and his own life also, He cannot be my disciple, for whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Jesus was talking to the young man who wanted to know what more he would have to give up. But you see, he got, he started to build, but he couldn't finish it. That's what these verses mean. If you come over to God, he wants you completely. He doesn't want part of you. He doesn't want you to hold anything back. You are to be willing to give up all to serve God through Jesus Christ. For us to own God as God is to give Him the throne of our hearts. Isaiah 26, 13. Our Lord, our God, other lords beside Thee have we dominates over us, but Thee only will we make mention of Thy name. So we see clearly as this becomes our actual experience that we profit then from the reading of the Bible because it is in them and them alone that the claims of God are indeed revealed and enforced and it is only through our yielding of oneself that we are really blessed by God. We will have also a greater fear of God's majesty. And we will see that as we read the Bible. Because Psalm 33 it says, Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. God is so high above us that the thoughts of his majesty should indeed make us tremble. God's power is so mighty that the thought of it should even frighten us. God is so infinite holy and his hatred of sin is so infinite that the very thought of any wrongdoing within us should fill us with great horror. Psalm 89 verse 7 tells us God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had reverence of all them that are about him The wicked on the other hand is complete opposite to that Romans 8 Romans 3 verse 8 there is no fear of God before their eyes it says There is nothing of God's mess Majesty they show no concern for his authority. They have no respect for his commandments they are They're not even alarmed that one day they will stand before Almighty God and be judged. But when it comes to God's own covenant people, God has promised, I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me. Jeremiah 32, 40. In Isaiah 66 and verse five, we read, therefore do we tremble at his word and walk softly before him. The man who fears God is conscience that the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding evil and good. Proverbs 15 3. This cause God's people to become conscience about their conduct not only in public where they can be seen plainly but also in private. The real and deepest desire of true Christians is to please God at all times, publicly or privately. Again, it is through scripture that we learn that the eye, God's eye, is ever upon us, whatever our action is, weighing up our motives as the Holy Spirit applies the word of God to our hearts and causing us to take heed of all that he would command us to do. The more we know God through the word, The more reverence, then, we will have of God's commandments. Sin entered into the world through Adam, breaking God's law, and everyone since are the same deprived likeness. Genesis 3, 5. Sin, it tells us there, is the transgression of God's law. Sin is a rebellion against God. Salvation is a deliverance from sin. from its guilt, from its power over us, its penalty. The very same spirit who convicts of the need of God's wonderful grace also convicts us to heed God's government to rule over us. God promised to his people is, I will put my law in their mind and write them in their heart and I will be to them God Hebrews 8 verse 10 You see that the spirit of obedience is communicated to every regenerated soul Everyone who has put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior Jesus said if any man loves me he will keep my word John 14 23 and here is a test if we keep his commandments We know none of us can keep the commandments of God perfectly, yet Christians should strive and have a great desire to try their very best to keep God's commands. which lowers God's authority and a teaching which ignores his commands and says that the Christian is in no sense under the law, no matter how great the teacher may be, it is not of God and it is from someone else. Our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed his people from the curse of the law but not from the commands of the law. I shall not steal, I shall not murder, I shall not kill. All those things are God's commands and they haven't changed. He saved them from the wrath of God, but not from the government of God then. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. Never has been and never will be repealed. Christ walked in a perfect way. He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law, Matthew 5, 17. And we show a love for him, not in pleasing emotions or indeed in beautiful words, but in keeping God's commands. John 14, 15. and the commandments of Christ are indeed the commandments of God. The next thing the Christian comes to in the knowledge of God by reading and studying the Word of God is that he will delight in a wonderful perfection of God. To have God as our God means that we are not only to submit to his ways, but is to love him more than the world and to value him above everything and anything. The redeemed of God have not only received a joy of God, but they rejoice in God. Romans 5.11. So you see, spiritual exercises are tiresome. That means going to the Bible, studying the Bible. We know that it says it's tiresome to the flesh, but real Christians on the other hand said, it is good for me to draw near to God. Psalm 78 verse 28. The man of flesh has indeed many cravings and ambitions, but the regenerated soul declares, one thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord. Psalm 27 and verse 4. Because that should be the true sediments of all believers hearts. Habakkuk 3 verse 17 and 18 puts it in this way. shall feel the eel shall the field shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herds in the stall yet i will rejoice in the lord i will joy in the god of my salvation Yes, you see, the Christian can rejoice when all worldly possessions are all taken from him, teaching him that there are no blessings outside of the blessings of God, and discovering that God is the source and sum of every excellence. Your soul will find joy and satisfaction in him, and will fully submit to God's providence for you. It is in our nature to murmur when things go wrong. It's supernatural to hold our peace. It's natural to be disappointed when our plans all go astray, but it's supernatural to bow to his way. It is natural to want our way, and it's supernatural to say, not my will, but thine be done. It is natural to reveal when a loved one might be taken away. It is supernatural to say from the heart, the Lord gives, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1.21 So the true Christian learns to admire God's wisdom, and he comes to know God's way is the best way for them. Thus the heart is kept in perfect peace. Isaiah 26 verse 3 I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall be continually in my mouth. Psalm 34, 1. Praise is the overflow of the heart which finds satisfaction in all of God. What an abundance cause then have God's people for praising him. Loved with an everlasting love, made sons and heirs, all things working together for their good. their every need supplied at eternity of bliss assured. The harps of gladness ought not to be silent. And this will not be if we keep on enjoying fellowship with God, who is told is altogether lovely. The more and more we increase in the knowledge of God, 2 Corinthians 1.10, the more we shall adore him. But it is only by his word dwelling in us richly. that we will be filled with the spiritual songs. The more our soul is drawn out to true worship, the more we will be thanking and praising the great God, and it shall be clear that we are profiting by the studying of God's Word if we take heed of Him. Amen. May the Lord bless his reading, his blessing on that tonight. We see that it's by the studying and reading of God, but first of all, it is by being converted through the Lord Jesus Christ that we come to a real spiritual understanding, to come knowledgeable of Almighty God. May all of us here come to know God as our God.