Sermon notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr for Sunday March 23, 2014
Text: 2 Chronicles 33:14-15;18-19;21 “And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hil-ki’ah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. (vs15) And Hil-ki’ah answered and said to Sha’phan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hil-ki’ah delivered the book to Sha’phan. (vs18)Then Sha’phan the scribe told the king, (Josiah) saying, Hil-ki’ah the priest hath given me a book. And Sha’phan read it before the king. (vs19) And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent(tore) his clothes. (vs21)Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Ju’dah , concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.”
Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.6, Pages 419-420 “Judah had been concerning itself, had been “careful and troubled” about many things, but it had not thought it worth the while to multiply copies of the “Law of the Lord”, of its own sacred books; so negligent had it been that one is accidentally discovered in the ruins of the temple. Of what great and guilty negligence are we capable! We may be spending our time and strength, we may be exhausting ourselves and endangering our health and life in all kinds of unprofitable occupation, in fruitless labour or in amusement which begins and ends in itself, and all the time may be neglecting that one study or that one habit in pursuit of which “standeth our eternal life.”There are many men in Christian countries who expend the substance upon, and occupy their very life with, horses, or dogs, or guns, who do not afford even a few hours a year to the serious study of the will of God as revealed by his Son and recorded in his Word. The treasure which cannot be estimated in gold or silver lies untouched, as much buried from sight and use as if it had been hidden in some crypt of the temple. It may not be our deeds, but our negligences, that we shall most fear to face in the great day of account.
In that book of the Law of the Lord there were instructions and admonitions which, if duly heeded, would have ensured abiding peace and honour to the inhabitants of Judah. These had been waywardly and fragrantly disregarded. And now the time for employing them had well-nigh gone. What was left was the sad opportunity of verifying by bitter experience the truth of its threatening. This was the alternative now open to Judah. Let us take care lest, by our disregard of the promises, we bring upon ourselves the warnings of the Word of God. “If we will not be ruled by the rudder, we must be ruled by the rock.” If we will not take advantage of the gift of the gracious laws and the gracious overtures of God, we must “show forth” the severity of those righteous laws which attach suffering and shame to vanity and guilt.”
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” St. Luke 21:33
1. Let Us Not Loose The Word Of God In The House Of God Because Of What It Is As:
a. Permanent Record---St. Matt.24:35; St.Mark13:31; St. Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
b. An Eternal Testimony Of Relating Human Experience As a Warning---1 Corinthians 10:11-12 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (vs12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
c. The Only Written Authorized Roadmap For Salvation Through Christ---St John 20:30-31 “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: (vs31) But these things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
d. The Only Inspired Recorded Written Record Of God’s Word With Specific Purpose---2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (vs17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
e. The Only Written Record Of God’s Revealed Will Which Is Totally Devoid Of The Mind Of Men--- 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Know this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (vs21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
f. The Only Written Record Of The Use As A Surgical Instrument Of God’s Hand--- Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
g. The Only Written Record That Substantiates God’s Word As Food For The Life And Existence Men---Deuteronomy 8:1-3 “ All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. (vs2) And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led the these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. (vs3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”
h. The Only Written Record of God’s Word That Carries A Warning For Alteration--- Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (vs19)And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
i. The Only Written Record That Substantiates And Establishes The Fact That God’s Only Method Of The Communication Of The Gospel Message Is By Preaching And Teaching--- St. Luke 24:44-47 “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.(vs45) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (vs46) And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (vs47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” St. Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (vs20 ) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. A-men.”
j. The Only Written Record Of The Promises Of God and Their Intended Effect On Me--- 2Peter 1:3-4“According as his divine power hath given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (vs4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”