ASI Southern Union 2015: Prepared to Stand

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ASI Southern Union

Plenary

Scott Moore

Sound Doctrine

You realize that you and I have absolutely no foundation to stand on if we are not standing on the foundation of the Word of God.

Bernard Ramm, let me see if I've got this right.

You may see this on your screen, the Christian church has always prized its book as unique.

The church family has treasured this book like an expensive jewel, even in the face of adversity and opposition from unbelievers.

This book has separated Christians from non-Christians.

It has divided believers from unbelievers, the church, Orthodox and heretics, Protestants and Catholics, And in recent times, conservatives and liberals.

It stands above all other books because this book is the Word of God.

I don't know how you approach the Scripture when you spend time in it every day.

When I open this book called the Bible, I am in awe that God condescended to speak the language that I know and to encourage someone to translate this book so that I can understand God's will for my life.

There's some things we need to know about this book that makes it very, very unique.

And what we are going to do is we are going to compare this book called the Bible with other ancient writings.

And in doing that, we are going to see that this book stands above every other book that you and I could ever pick up.

There are ancient classics that are accepted the world over as unquestionably, historically, I don't know if I can use 2 L-Y words next to each other, but I did, unquestionably and historically accurate.

Caesar's Gaelic Wars is written in 100 BC, and you have to travel 1, 000 years into the future in order to find the earliest or what you and I would say the oldest manuscript available for us to read.

Now, Caesar's Gaelic Wars is accepted the world over, unquestioned and historically accurate.

Yet from the time it was written to the copy that we have available to us today, there is a thousand year gap.

Why is this book, Caesar's Gaelic Wars accepted the world over?

We're gonna be discussing this a little bit more.

The next that you are going to see there is Herodotus' history.

You and I have to travel all the way down to AD 1300 to get the oldest manuscript available to us.

If we want to read Herodotus' history, then you and I are going to read a document that was written all the way back over here.

So if I take 400 BC and I travel down to the year 1 BC and then 1 AD, and then I travel into the future another 1, 300 years.

Then you and I have an unquestioned historical document that has accepted the world over.

I'm over here in, what did we say, 1400 AD, is that right, is that what I said?

My screen went blank, so it's gonna come back up here in just a minute, I'm sure.

All the way back from 400 to 1300, what's the time span there?

7, somebody said 1 time, 1600, 99 years, 1700 years.

People accept it as historically accurate.

The next item that you are going to see there, maybe I could hand this off to somebody else is, I told you if it doesn't work, we don't preach.

Tacitus Annals is written in AD 100 and the oldest manuscript available to us dates to AD 1100.

There is another thousand year gap between when it is authored and when you and I have a manuscript available to us to read.

Now all of these have over a thousand year gap.

Wouldn't you wouldn't you want to question them a little bit?

I mean, couldn't something be missing between when it is written and when you and I are now reading it?

Yet it is accepted as historically accurate.

Open your Bibles to 2 Timothy, and we are going to 2 Timothy chapter 4.

Somebody said, sure, let's hear more about your chickens.

You make sure you come to my class, I'll tell you lots of, no.

No, no stories about chickens in class, or not a lot anyway.

The Bible reads like this in 2 Timothy 4, verse 3.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.

The Time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.

You know, when we give Bible studies, it's pretty fun because the very first Bible study that I give is a Bible study that proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt in my mind anyway, that the Bible is an accurate document.

Here the Bible says that there will come a time when people will not endure sound doctrine.

Now, sound doctrine means doctrine that is Thoroughly vetted out, there's no holes in it, you can see it, it is believable because it is right there in this book called the Bible, yet it is said here that the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine.

When the Bible contradicts the way that you are currently living, do you follow sound doctrine?

2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16 says this.

The Bible reads, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable.

And those of you that give Bible studies you know what this verse says it says it is profitable for 4 things it is profitable number 1 for what doctrine so this book called the Bible is where you and I are going to get our sound what doctrine if we are going to have doctrine at all we had better have sound doctrine or somebody out there in the world is going to take what you and I teach apart and we aren't going to have a leg to stand on.

As long as we get doctrine from this book called the Bible, you and I can rest assured that it is sound doctrine.

The Bible goes on to say in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine.

Now you tell me, give me some interaction here.

Why would it say if reproof means correction, why would it say that the Bible or all scriptures given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for correction and for correction?

This very same word reproof, if you and I were to travel in our Bibles all the way over to the book of Hebrews on the right hand side of the T section of the New Testament, we would find Hebrews, and Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 says, Now faith is the what?

Substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

That word evidence, if you back up into the T section in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16, that word over here in Hebrews 11, 1, for evidence is the exact same word translated reproof.

The word of God is good for doctrine, sound doctrine.

Then it says here, the word of God is good for correction.

You like to be, you know, when I teach classes on how to study the Bible, when I say, how many of you like to be corrected?

You know, The saints are in those classes because they're like, I do, I do.

And you know, you have to coerce them to be honest with you.

Because we do not like to be corrected, do we?

You and I can expect that as we study this book called the Bible that we are going to be corrected.

And when this book called the Bible corrects us, we have to ask ourselves a question.

Or are we going to heap to ourselves speakers because we have itching ears?

Standing in the Faith

Last night we had an incredible time discovering the validity of Scripture, the documents that back it up, the number of manuscripts that back it up.

My goal and My hope this evening is that it is going to get even better because this book called the Bible has a message especially for us, a message that we are to share with a world that is dying.

Debbie Williams and 6 other skydivers were poised at the door of the airplane.

Their plan, as experienced skydivers, was to form a mid-air formation.

This was going to be the highlight of the weekend that they had had together.

And so 1 after another leapt out of the open door of this airplane 12, 000 feet above the floor of Phoenix, Arizona.

Well, Debbie was the last 1 to dive out of that airplane, and she went into a corkscrew dive and to catch up with the other divers, she miscalculated her distance, slammed into another diver, and was knocked unconscious.

She began to tumble through the air and she tumbled past Gregory Robertson, who was their instructor and the jump master for that particular jump.

He noticed that there was blood on her face and he went immediately into a no lift head first dive.

They calculate that he was traveling at approximately 120 miles an hour to catch up with Debbie Williams.

He pulled her reserve cord and immediately went the other direction.

12 seconds before impact, he pulled his own parachute cord.

Debbie Williams and both Superman and Debbie Williams both survived.

Debbie would fully recover from her injuries and remain always grateful to the 1 who had miraculously snatched her from a fatal impact.

My friends, you and I are rushing headlong into an impact with the end of time.

And God is depending on us to go into a no-lift, head-first dive, traveling as fast as we can to pull the reserve cord on the lives of people whose lives would end in destruction if we were not there.

Father in heaven, what an honor for us to be called by you to take the message in this book to the world.

Bless us this evening, inspire us, we pray.

I want you to open your Bibles to the Old Testament book of Psalms.

So we're over here in your Bibles the Old Testament book of Psalms and we are going to Psalm 18.

That shouldn't be a hard reference to remember.

Now David is authoring this psalm here, And David says in Psalm 18, 44, he says, as soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.

The strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

It made sense that when a stranger heard of David, when a stranger heard the commands of David, that that stranger would submit themselves to David.

Yet David was not ignorant of the fact that most of the professed submission to Him was false and feigned.

So in a much higher sense, in a much more accurate manner, God is aware of the fact that many who profess to be subject to him are subject in profession only.

If they could do it with safety, they would throw off the very appearance of loyalty and carry out in reality what truly exists in their own hearts.

It must have been sad for David to reflect on how greatly the number of his professed subjects would be diminished if none had been retained but those who truly loved his reign and respected him as a sovereign.

It is sad to reflect how greatly the number of the professed friends of God would be diminished.

If all those should withdraw who have yielded only reigned obedience to Him, Yet the church would be stronger and better for it.

God would say, as soon as they hear of me, the stranger will submit themselves to me.

In order for somebody to hear, somebody else must be talking in order to be heard.

Turn with me in your Bibles to the New Testament book of Romans.

We are going to Romans and the 10th chapter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, chapter 10, and we will begin reading in verse 13.

The Word of God says here in Romans the 10th chapter and the 13th verse Paul writing in Romans 10 13 he says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Dear heart, don't make it harder than it is.

Scripture tells us in John 3, 16 that God so loved the world that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Here the Bible says in Romans 10, 13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Encourage people to know Jesus Christ because when they do, they will cry out, Jesus, save me.

The Bible goes on to say in verse 14, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written by the way how many of you at home let's ask those of you at home you raise your hand if you're at home all right how many of you at home have pretty feet just raise your hand I mean you're at home by with your family They know whether your feet are pretty or not.

You know, typically we have 1 or 2 guys that will raise their hands.

Even though they didn't get a pedicure yesterday, they'll raise their hand, right?

Notice what the Bible says about pretty feet.

It says in Romans 10-15, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.

Although it may make your toes look a little bit more attractive.

Those whose feet are called beautiful, according to Romans 10, 15, must first be sent.

So we're gonna go to the left in our Bibles now, and we are gonna go to Matthew, the 28th chapter.

Matthew 28, the last chapter in the book of Matthew.

And we are going to answer the question, who is it that has been sent?

Can I push this job of gospel presenting off to someone else?

What does the word of God say in Matthew, the 28th chapter?

Of course, Matthew's the first book of the New Testament.

Matthew 28, and we are going to begin reading in verse 18.

The word of God says this, and Jesus came and spake unto them saying all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth how much power is that oh that's very simple isn't it then Jesus says because I have all power Jesus says go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

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." Quite amazing here.

Matthew recorded this for his mama to read.

Who was it that Matthew recorded these words for?

Notice what Jesus says there in verse 20.

The whole context of what we are just reading is the context of going out into the world and preaching the gospel of peace.

And in this context of preaching the gospel, teaching people to observe all things whatsoever God has commanded us, Jesus says, and I am with you all the way, even unto the end of the world.

This was not simply written so that the disciples could remember the command of Jesus to take the Gospel everywhere.

This was recorded in the book of Matthew so that those of us who are living in the time of the end of the world would understand that it is our job with the power of Christ to preach this gospel to the entire world.

Now this was written at the end of Jesus' ministry.

Let's go back to the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Matthew chapter 4 and verse 19.

Matthew the fourth chapter and let's begin in verse 18.

The Bible reads in Matthew chapter 4 and verse 18.

The Bible says Matthew 4 18 and Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee saw 2 brethren, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother.

I don't know if any of you have an older brother, but I sort of like to brag that people don't know me because I have an older brother.

They know my older brother because he has a younger brother named me.

That's not the case here with Peter and Andrew.

You remember Peter and then it says and Andrew his brother.

Roger Miller

Baptism and the Temptations

Father in heaven, we pray that as we enter the realm of your sacred word, pray that your Holy Spirit will be here in this place in our hearts, in our minds, teach us your thoughts, teach us your ways.

And Father, send the Holy Spirit into our life to give us strength to do what we find to be true this morning, In Jesus' name, amen.

We're gonna be talking about the baptism, the temptation, and the victory.

Baptism, the temptation and the victory of Christ from Luke chapter 3 and 4.

We're gonna be looking at a lot of texts this morning.

We're gonna start right out with Luke 3.1.

Now on the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, How often in the New Testament is a time stamp given for an event?

As in the year of the reign of a monarch or a king in the New Testament.

Why was Luke impressed to stamp a time at this point in his gospel narrative.

In Matthew, the book of Matthew covers these same topics with the baptism, temptation, and victory of Christ.

And in Matthew chapter 4, actually chapter 3, the end of chapter 3 and into chapter 4, as we read that narrative, we'll be going to that a little bit more.

There's a statement made by Matthew in chapter 3, verse 15.

Anyway, the verse speaks about this episode as when John the Baptist was about ready to baptize Jesus.

But Jesus makes a statement that kind of frames Luke's statement here in chapter 3, verse 1.

Here in Luke chapter 3 verse 1 in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.

The Holy Spirit moves upon John the Baptist in his ministry, the baptizing ministry, the call to repentance.

And it's interesting that if you look at this concept of to fulfill all righteousness, what is righteousness?

Doing the right thing with the right motive at the right time, right?

It's from the Holy Spirit in the book of Luke in this baptism, temptation, and victory of Christ.

You see the Holy Spirit moving in many different ways in this process.

He's in the driver's seat, the Holy Spirit of God.

In Daniel chapter 9, the prophecy of the 70 weeks, in Daniel chapter 9, verses 24 and 25, there is a prophecy about the coming Messiah, right?

Well, this is the moment in time that has come.

The end of the 69 years from 457 to AD 27 from the time of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC, for 483 years, through the baptism of Christ in AD 27, in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, right on time, right in the right place, driven by the righteous acts of the Holy Spirit in righteousness to fulfill.

Now it's interesting here that as we read in Luke chapter 3, verse 21 and 22, now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized.

And while he prayed, the heaven was open.

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him.

And a voice came from heaven which said, you are my beloved son, and you I am well pleased.

Now there's 2 things that we need to look at this morning to discover why this is the most important topic to be delving into and to understand in these last hours of verse history.

What is it about this story of the baptism of Jesus and his temptation and his victory that applies to us.

Wasn't this something that happened to Jesus and it's just a good story?

Or does it apply to us in some very personal way, very active dynamic way?

First, he was baptized to fulfill righteousness.

Everything in the Old Testament pointed to Jesus, every prophecy, every type and symbol.

Jesus was the root of it all, and the branch, Right?

Everything pointed to this moment when Jesus began his ministry and his anointing as the Messiah, the anointed 1.

In his baptism and an example to us, The Holy Spirit descends in bodily form upon Christ there in the baptism.

Now what does that remind you of, of the Holy Spirit descending upon someone?

It reminds you of the story in Acts chapter 2, right?

There was a group of believers and they were in 1 place and 1 accord and the Holy Spirit, fulfilling righteousness, descends upon the Christian believers, the church, the followers of Christ, and brings gifts to the church, empowers the church.

Now it is true, you have to know that it is true that the Holy Spirit had been working very diligently in every 1 of those people's life, right?

There in Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit does sins, he had been working very diligently in every 1 of those people's life, right?

There in Acts chapter 2 when the Holy Spirit does sins, he had been working very diligently in every 1 of those people's life.

He had been working and possessing the very life of Christ up to his baptism as well.

When he was born in the flesh, he was born of the Spirit.

Jesus here, as he is receiving gifts for ministry is our example.

After this point, after his wilderness journey, his temptations, his victory, he began to exercise those gifts.

Now in the New Testament, as far as you and I go, the very interesting point here is that as we are baptized, What is the example of Jesus, the example of the Christian church?

What is the example for us when we are baptized in a profession of our anointing by the Spirit?

What is the Holy Spirit going to bring to you.

Now he's been working in your life before that.

This isn't the first visit of the Holy Spirit, but he comes and he brings gift.

Every member of the Church of Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit with a gift.

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Series

Plenary

Standing in the Faith

Transcript

Parent Series

Parent Conference

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Recorded

Parts

Sound Doctrine

43m

Standing in the Faith

45m

Baptism and the Temptations

35m

It Takes Bravery

40m

You Are Not Strong Enough

40m

Sound Doctrine