The Wonder of the Word in
our Hands, that Became Flesh
John 1
December 4th
2011 AM
Pastor
Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Psalm 138:2;
John 1:14)
A.
What we hold in our hands is
not just a book
1.
Yes it has 1200 pages, 66
books in a book, 1189 chapters
2.
But this Book is more than a
Book. It’s quite marvellous, the Bible is glorious! Amazing!
B.
Even God Himself honours,
glorifies, praises His words more than His own name!
C.
It is more amazing than
visions, dreams, miracles… because it is more than just words… its very much
alive! Not that it walks around and eats and sleeps, but it is living, and even
gives life!
D.
The greatest thing is that
THAT very word of God became flesh – became a baby!
E.
I want to talk this morning
about the Glory of the Word, that became flesh… The word of God that became a
baby
1.
My words are vibrating
sounds that pass through the air into your ears
2.
God’s words are living
truths that resound throughout the universe, and one day, 2,000 and 11 years ago
became a baby!
F.
You hold in your hands
something amazing, glorious, just like that baby John 1:14)!
G.
Let’s find out why it is so
glorious!
II.
Message
A.
What God’s Word Is
1.
It is God’s communication to
mankind.
a.
We wouldn’t know Him unless
He spoke, unless he revealed Himself
b.
God is absolute. Perfect.
Sinless. Holy.
c.
So how does he related to
His creation?
d.
By speaking. By
communicating with us!
e.
This is a message from
heaven
f.
Scientists have spent
decades listening for someone out in the galaxy – wanting so desperately to talk
to us, to tell us that they are there
g.
Somebody already has
answered!
h.
This Book proves it
1)
The prophecies
2)
The perfect record of
historical events that no other book recorded
3)
The revelation of what’s in
the human heart - exact
2.
It is eternal (Isaiah 40:8;
Mt 24:35)
a.
It is not been made-up as
man evolved
b.
The ten commandments are
perfect (Ps 19:7) – never improved upon
c.
God’s word has always been
in heaven – and we just have a copy here on earth
3.
It is absolutely true (Psalm
119:160; John 17:17)
a.
Not like man’s religious
traditions (Mark 7:6-8)
b.
Man’s ideas change and are
proven false
c.
God’s word is absolutely
true from the very first word (Gen 1:1)
4.
It is complete (Rev
22:18,19)
a.
Not being changed and
adapted to new generations… (new bibles, new religions, new politics, new ideas)
b.
But calling generations of
people to repent, and adapt and return to the Author of this Old Book!
c.
This Book is complete –
finished – 66 Books and done!
d.
Revelation says don’t add to
it or take away from it – it is finished!
5.
It is Powerful (Psalm 33:9)
– the best part
a.
Most of the time when I
speak, not much gets done, But when God speaks, something happens!
1)
God spake and the universe
appeared
2)
God spake and life took hold
on the rocks and in the seas
3)
God spake, and stars flared
and planets spun
4)
God spake and a man rose out
of the small dust of the ground
5)
God spake and a woman
appeared from a small rib out of Adam’s side
6)
God spake, and
7)
God spake and the
8)
God spake and Manna fell to
the earth every morning for 38 years
9)
God spake and holy men of
God were moved to write the pages of this Book!
b.
God’s word is powerful!
6.
That’s only a sample of what
that Book is… Let’s look at what it does that is so marvellous!
7.
It still works so powerfully
in the heart and mind of the listener!
B.
What God’s Word Does
1.
Convicts and Humbles Us –
its greatest work (John 12:47,48; 16:7-13)
a.
Start with the negative –
but this is where it MUST start!
b.
Without this work, there
would be nothing good
c.
The greatest effects of the
Bible are when grown men and women are humbled and changed from arrogant and
proud, into children again
d.
This Book exposes sin –
shows where it hides in us
e.
Shows us just how sinful we
are
f.
Shows us how far away from
God we really are
g.
Won’t let anyone alone
1)
EXAMPLE: Biker received
tract… The wages of sin is death
2)
EXAMPLE: Sailor received
tract… Prepare to meet thy God
3)
Haunts the conscience,
grieves the spirit in a man, breaks the pride
h.
THANK GOD for this Book
i.
Thank God when someone
preaches it without apology
j.
Tells people they are wicked
and lost and without hope in the world
k.
It is the ONLY way people
can be prepared for the good news of the Gospel!
2.
Gives Life (Heb 4:12; John
5:24; 6:67,68)
a.
Not just information, but
activation
b.
These words give life to
people dead in sins (John 6:63)
c.
It quickens, resurrections,
activates what just a moment before was dead!
d.
If you are stuck in your sin
and in your religion, it is only because you are not believing the word of God
that you hold right in your hand!
e.
It can resurrect a dead
marriage
f.
It can cleanse a sinful
heart – if you will only believe what it says!
g.
Somebody needs to believe
Rom 5:8; 10:9,10
3.
Gives Faith and Assurance
(Romans 10:17; 1John 5:13)
a.
You will never know WHAT or
who to believe unless you read it in this Book
b.
You will never know how far
you can trust God
c.
You will miss all the rest
that this Book gives to the humble, listening, obedient heart
d.
This Book is glorious in the
peace and rest and assurance it gives, as we just obey it by faith
1)
The just shall live by FAITH
2)
Paul says that He lives by
the faith of the Son of God who loved him and gave Himself for him
4.
Gives Understanding (Psalm
119:130; 97-100)
a.
About who I am on the
inside, who made me – not an accident
b.
How much I am loved – “God
SO loved…”
c.
How much I am worth to God –
more than the entire world
d.
About how everything was
created
e.
How everything is going to
end – read the last chapter
f.
I understand where Europe is
headed, and
5.
Gives Hope (Eph 1:17-19)
a.
This BOOK gives hope!
b.
Shows me how to walk, and
stay clear from traps and disasters
c.
Gives rest to my heart and
to any heart that will trust it`
6.
Why would anyone look
anywhere else when it is all IN HERE?!!!
C.
What God’s Word Became
(John 1:1-3, 14)
1.
The words in this Book
existed in heaven at first
a.
Had no beginning "In the
beginning was the Word" — His eternal existence
b.
The Word of God always was
with God
c.
"The Word was God" — His
deity
d.
God’s words ARE Him! A wild
thought! They an extension of God
e.
"The Same was in the
beginning with God" — He was eternally distinct in His Person.
2.
The words in the Book you
hold in your hand BECAME a baby at Christmas!
a.
What a thought!
b.
The word that created all
things, became weak and frail in a tiny body of flesh
c.
He became like us
d.
He hungered and tired
e.
He cried and laughed
f.
He ate and slept
g.
He who held the entire
universe in His hands, was being held in the small hands of His mother!
3.
Jesus is Three things that
ought to blow your mind this morning!
a.
He is the eternal Word of
God in heaven (1John 5:7; John 1:1)
b.
He authored the perfect
Written Word of God – the Bible
c.
He became the perfect
Living, Breathing Son of God at Christmas
D.
What God’s Word Cannot Do
1.
It cannot force (John
1:10-12)
a.
The word of God offers faith
to the hearer
b.
But the hearer must accept
it – receive it
c.
People hear the words of
this Book and ignore them – that is their privilege
d.
You can harden your heart
and harden your heart until you cannot hear anything God is saying to you (Heb
3:7,8)
2.
It cannot fail (Isaiah
55:10,11)
3.
It cannot be ignored
a.
Don’t try and just ignore
what it says (look at Heb 3:7,8)
b.
It cannot just go away – it
WILL not just go away
c.
It is the only hope for any
man, anywhere!
d.
To be ignorant of the Bible
is to be ignorant of God
4.
Receive them, believe THESE
words, and you are receiving Jesus Christ (John 1:10-12)!
III.
Conclusion
A.
What we hold in our hands is
not just a book
B.
It is the very words of the
very God of heaven
C.
You hold in your hands
something amazing, glorious
D.
Because of What God’s Word
Is
1.
It is God’s communication to
mankind.
2.
It is eternal (Isaiah 40:8;
Mt 24:35)
3.
It is absolutely true (Psalm
119:160; John 17:17)
4.
It is complete (Rev
22:18,19)
5.
It is Powerful (Psalm 33:9)
– the best part
6.
It still works so powerfully
in the heart and mind of the listener!
E.
What God’s Word Does
1.
Convicts and Humbles Us –
its greatest work (John 12:47,48; 16:7-13)
2.
Gives Life (Heb 4:12; John
5:24; 6:67,68)
3.
Gives Faith and Assurance
(Romans 10:17; 1John 5:13)
4.
Gives Understanding (Psalm
119:130; 97-100)
5.
Gives Hope (Eph 1:17-19)
F.
What God’s Word Became
(John 1:1-3, 14)
1.
He became the perfect
Living, Breathing Son of God at Christmas
2.
He became the Son of God for
every one on this planet of ours – He came to take our place on the cruel cross
3.
So that we could join Him
one day in heaven!
G.
What God’s Word Cannot Do
1.
It cannot force (John
1:10-12)
a.
The word of God offers faith
to the hearer
b.
But the hearer must accept
it – receive it
c.
People hear the words of
this Book and ignore them – that is their privilege
d.
You can harden your heart
and harden your heart until you cannot hear anything God is saying to you (Heb
3:7,8)
2.
It cannot fail (Isaiah
55:10,11)
3.
It cannot be ignored!