Moore Church of God



Bro. David Chancellor
3/16/2003 6:00 PM

2 Peter 1:15-21

Peter was telling these that he wanted to deal with them in such a way that when he was gone they would still have the gospel. This is a minister's concern. Each person has to decide how things will be with him. We want the gospel to be here as long as the world stands. If people would have the gospel, they must have the word of God. This word is not "ours." We didn't write the gospel. It didn't come from some man. It came from God through men. It is God's work. The gospel isn't "our little thing." If God's word gets through to someone it will be the same wherever you go. Man tends to claim things as "mine." This is what causes sectism. This says that it isn't ours to claim exclusively. We don't need some man's point of view; we need God.

Peter received the word of God. His was more sure than a feeling, emotion or wonderful observance. God's word has come down to us. We can claim it as our own, but this doesn't mean that others can't have it, too.

John 7:14-18

These marvelled because Jesus hadn't been to school. Even today, people want to know what school the ministry have been to. Jesus wasn't willing to claim his doctrine as his. He got it from God. Christ was only going to speak what God gave him to speak.

Catholicism says that the church has the authority to write its own rules. The church doesn't have the authority to write its own rules. It's the word of God, or it's not. The doctrines of the church of God should be the word of God. When we look into the word, we don't look there to find "what we believe", but, we look to find what God says. When it is in our hearts to do God's will, we will get God's yardstick to check things out.

If Jesus said that the words he spoke weren't his, but God's, how much more should we endeavor to find what God has to say. Every Christian should be a Bible scholar. Everything that speaks of itself seeks its own glory. We want to be careful not to misrepresent the word of God. It's HIS word, not ours. Seek God's glory and lift him up. We want his word just like it is. The church isn't given authority to write its own rules; we should seek to know what the word of God says. If someone knows enough gospel to know that you can be saved and have the Holy Spirit, he can let the Holy Spirit be his teacher. The Holy Spirit is important if we would k now the truth.

It's not "ours"; it's God's. Focus on God's word, and learn what he has to say. Hear it the way God intended.

Galatians 1:8-12

Paul didn't claim what he preached to be his gospel. Not everyone will approve when you tell what God has to say. Our goal should be to please God. We don't want it twisted or bent out of shape to match our ideas. Check the scripture to see what it has to say. Don't search for scriptures to justify an idea, if it isn't the word of God.

Paul told them if they got some other gospel, to throw it away. His message didn't rest on his authority as a minister; it rested on something higher. The Holy Spirit will teach the same throughout the generations. If an idea of man clashes with the word of God, we need to let it go. Spend time finding out what the word of God says. Make sure that it is God's word. The word has one author and it out to all work together. Men's ideas will contradict each other. Before long you'll have sects because each group will be following their own ideas. If something seems to contradict, dig deeper, and find the real meaning. God's word won't contradict itself.

God's word is his, and we need to treat it with reverence and respect. Keep it exactly as it is.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-7

Paul didn't go as a vain man. He came and spoke in the same way as he had at Philippi, even though he'd been treated shamefully. Paul treated the gospel as a great treasure. He was careful to live a life that wouldn't bring reproach on the gospel. He didn't use flattering words; he wasn't seeking his own gain or the glory of others. He saw the trust he was entrusted with. He saw the gospel as a trust. He didn't want it to be harmed or to suffer loss in any way.

Our lives need to match the word. The gospel is a trust to each one of us from God. Don't treat it lightly or be indifferent about it. The gospel can be personal to us, and still not be private (ours exclusively). It's God's. It is a trust we must carry carefully. We don't want people to make light of the word of God.

It's a wonderful thing to say that we have the truth, the word of God. Yet, we want others to have it, too. We need the Holy Spirit with us to open it to us. It takes him to reveal it.

1 Corinthians 2:7-10

Paul was speaking to them the word of God. If men had known the word of God, they would have recognized. They had the word, but didn't comprehend it. With all their reading, they didn't have the word of God. They had the words on paper, but didn't understand what it conveyed. For much of humanity, they can read the Bible, but not understand it. They don't have the Spirit of God to open their understanding. The gospel is there for every man. The word of God has been there all the way through. In every case, the gospel has been revealed by the Spirit of God to man.

God's word works with his Spirit to reveal the truth to men's' understanding. People find salvation when they can come to understand the truth. This is for everyone everywhere. Just get a Bible, and read it, and seek understanding. It's there for our benefit and for our help. God's word is for everyone, and he can teach each one his doctrine.

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