Missions & the Authority of Scripture: How a noble heart reasons from and receives the truth about Jesus
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George Whitfield
George Whitfield
George Whitfield was an evangelist in the 1700’s. he was close friends with the John and Charles Wesley. They met at Oxford University. It was in London that Whitfield developed “open-air preaching.”
Whitfield was a fantastic preacher. He would stand on a box and address a crowd of 30,000 people with his animated voice and understanding of the scriptures.
He was invited to America to do ministry in Savannah, Georgia. While he was in the states he preached to the likes of Benjamin Franklin, who said if he was ever to be convinced of the Christian faith, Whitfield almost did it. Before he left America, he preached in Boston to a crowd of 23,000 people, the largest crowd to have gathered in America at that time. By the time he left, over 80% of the Colonist had heard him preach. By the time he was done in America, it i estimated that he preached over 18,000 sermons. Aside from Johnathan Edwards, Whitfield was one of the most influential preachers of the First Great Awakening in America bringing spiritual revival to the colonies.
What made Whitfield so exceptional in his preaching and evangelism, aside from the power of the Holy Spirit? I believe it was his commitment to the Word of God.
The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Whitefield’s Habit of Reading Scripture
“Above all,” says Whitefield (while at Pembroke, Oxford), “I began to read the Holy Scriptures on my knees, laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved meat indeed and drink indeed to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light, and power from above.”
George Whitfield engulfed himself in the bible with prayer and study. And the overflow of his time with God in His word, spilled onto all who heard him preach the gospel.
It is no secret that the Western Church struggles with Bible Literacy. Bob Smietana, of Life Way Research, produced a study on Americans and their Bibles. He says in the article
“Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read It.” Bob Smietana
He goes on to say that 87% of Americans own a Bible. One third of them never open it, while the two thirds who do open it do so rarely.
He breaks it down like this,
Twenty-two percent read a little bit each day, in a systematic approach. A third (35 percent) never pick it up at all, while 30 percent look up things in the Bible when they need to.
Nineteen percent re-read their favorite parts, while 17 percent flip open the Bible and read a passage at random. A quarter (27 percent) read sections suggested by others, while 16 percent say they look things up to help others.
When asked, “Why don’t you read your Bible?” The main answer was, “I don’t prioritize it.”
We must take these numbers in stride because we know that for some being American is synonymous with being a Christian. However, we also know from experience that Smietana’s numbers are not far off. The bottom line is many Christians may value the Bible as authoritative and sufficient philosophically, but not practically. What I mean is, if I ask you do you believe the scriptures are God’s word and are good for you, you would say yes. But when I ask how often do you read your bible at least a 1/3 of you will say never, and the reason given will be because you don’t make it a priority.
300 Quotations for Preachers Dust on Your Bibles
There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write “damnation” with your fingers.
CHARLES SPURGEON
This creates all kinds of problems in the church, especially on the mission field. Missionaries need to know the message, and must be able to reason from scripture that Jesus’s death and resurrection and ascension were all part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the world.
Missionaries (You) must have a noble heart for the scriptures because the scriptures are where Jesus reveals Himself.
Missionaries (You) must have a noble heart for the scriptures because the scriptures are where Jesus reveals Himself.
What do I mean by “a noble heart?”
There are two contrasting views of scripture in our text. On the one hand you have Paul and the Bereans. Paul enters the synagogue and begins to reason from the scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. He does this in Thessalonica and in Berea. As a matter of act, he does this everywhere he encounters Jews.
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
The Bereans hear Paul’s message and receive it, but they examine the scriptures to see if it is true. It’s like what President Ronald Reagan used to say in Politics, “Trust, but verify.” Both Paul and the Bereans have a high view of scripture.
On the other hand you have the jealous Jews, who do not listen to the message, nor do they seek to verify anything with the scriptures. The scriptures are never mentioned in their reason for not liking Paul or when they stir up the crowd against Paul.
I pick up the idea of a noble heart from the Bereans in verse 11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
The word for noble can be translated “open-minded.” It means to have a high or elevated character. The Bereans were open to the pursuit of truth. They valued truth above tradition or national identity. When Paul brought he message of the gospel, they eagerly heard the message, but quickly verified his message with the sacred texts of scripture; “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true.” Both Paul and the Bereans demonstrate a noble heart, at least in my mind, toward the scriptures.
A noble heart in the kingdom of God values the scriptures as
Scripture = Authoritative & Sufficient
Philip Schaff sums up the authority of scripture when he says
“[The Bible] is more than a book; it is an institution which rules the Christian world.” Phillip Schaff
Where does Schaff get that opinion about the Bible? He gets it from the Bible. The Bible testifies to its own authority.
All Scripture is given by God
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Yes, God used broken men to write down His message. He used their personality and their short comings, but His Spirit was the wind that pushed the sails of their writing. God ensured His word was inerrant. He ensured His word was sufficient. God makes His word authoritative. And because God’s word is from His mouth it carries His authority and it forever fixed.
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
The word of God cannot be moved or shaken or changed. It is from God and will remain in God’s authority for all eternity. That is why Jesus said
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Th Bible is your final authority in life because it comes from the eternal righteous God who has fixed his word in the heavens.
The bible is also sufficient for you to live a life of godliness.
David says the word of God is perfect
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
the writer of Hebrews says
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Peter says the word of God is eternal
for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
God’s word is perfect, living, actively working every time it is spoken, read, and received; and it is eternal. His word is never returns void, always working His will in the hearts of those who hear it. There is not one sin it cannot help deal with, nor one circumstance it cannot help you get through, nor one emotion it cannot help you manage. Nothing in this world hinders the effectiveness of God’s word. Therefore, it is sufficient for you.
It makes no sense for Christians to not prioritize the word of God in their life. It’s as vital to your faith and salvation as food and water is to your life. You would never neglect to put food on your table or water for your children. You know at a very basic level that without these things the body dies, and yet we will starve our souls by keeping the Bread of Life on the shelf collecting dust-neglecting the very thing that gives our souls life.
I love music because a well written song with a catchy melody will sit in my heart for a long time. Certain hymns will do that for me. I think of the hymn
“How Firm A Foundation”
The first verse sings
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
the word of God has a laid a firm foundation for my faith! What more can God tell me that what he has revealed in His word to keep me in the faith walking worthy of the gospel, in the kingdom of God right now.
He then goes on to provide four promises from the scriptures of God’ sustaining grace:
2 “Fear not, I am with you; O be not dismayed,
for I am your God, and will still give you aid.
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
That is Isaiah 41:10
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
He goes on to cite Isaiah 43:1-7 and Isaiah 28:16. There are 23 scriptures the Hymn Writer is alluding to in this song. The point is, noble hearts in the faith, like the person who wrote this hymn, believe God’s word to be authoritative and sufficient. God’s word is the firm foundation that God has given us to walk on as we live our Christian life in a fallen, Genesis 3, broken world.
Furthermore, missionaries, who go to the ends of the earth to testify of Jesus’s salvation, or Christians at FBCL who go across the street to preach the gospel to their neighbors, must firmly believe God’s word is the final authority and is completely sufficient for life and godliness. They must have noble hearts for the Word of God because a noble heart in the faith is going to use God’s word to reason with unbelievers to see and receive Jesus.
A noble heart reasons from the scriptures. (Acts 17:1-3, 10-11)
A noble heart reasons from the scriptures. (Acts 17:1-3, 10-11)
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
To reason form the scriptures is to engage in a discussion, even an argument using the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul went into the synagogue and preached the gospel, the message of Christ’s salvation. He verified his message with Old Testament scriptures that proved the Messiah must suffer death and be raised from the grave.
I would imagine that Paul used texts like
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Notice, though, Paul did not just cite a text. He spent three weeks explaining the meaning of the text and proving its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the suffering Servant who was crushed by the cross, bearing the sins of His people. But he will rise from the dead and have a portion, the spoil of His victory over death. he will be alive to make intercession for them being both the perfect sacrifice and priest.
it is not enough for you to be able to quote chapter and verse. You need to know doctrine and theology through study so that
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
A noble heart that reasons from the scriptures recognizes everyone is a theologian; one who studies the ways of God. God has designed study of His word to be part of your sanctification and growth, as well as, enabling you to be fruitful in your ministry.
God is not going to zap knowledge into you, nor is he going to let it come to you by some kind of osmosis, as if you can sleep with your bible under your head and obtain biblical wisdom. No, he has designed it in a way that you must labour in your study to receive his blessing of knowledge so that you can reason from the scriptures.
Richard Baxter, the Great Puritan, says it well,
300 Quotations for Preachers Study of Scripture Needed
It is not the work of the Spirit to tell you the meaning of Scripture, and give you the knowledge of divinity, without your own study and labour, but to bless that study, and give you knowledge thereby.
RICHARD BAXTER
Paul understood his. Before he was saved he was an expert in the law. When he was saved, according to Galatians 1:17-18, Paul spent three years in Arabia studying the scriptures and preaching the gospel. Paul relied on the Holy Spirit to empower His ministry, but he did not neglect His study of the scriptures.
Paul tells young Timothy
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
He goes on to say
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Notice the need for knowing and studying your scriptures: teaching, training, equipping. These words imply you read your bible, you study your bible, and you are equipped to reason from your bible to show anyone who asks Jesus’ salvation.
A noble heart receives the truth of scripture. (Acts 17:11-12)
A noble heart receives the truth of scripture. (Acts 17:11-12)
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
The Bereans have an open-mind to the gospel message. They are teachable, ready to receive the words of life. How does a noble heart receive God’s word?
First, the Bereans received the word with eagerness. They responded to the gospel with enthusiasm, as if they were anticipating the Messiah. They knew their bible well encourage to know they should be on the look out for God’s Christ. S when Paul came revealing jesus is the Messiah, they were able to recognize the immediate impact this message would have on their life.
The Bereans attitude toward receiving God’s word reminds me of what John Wesley once said,
“I want to know one thing—the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: For this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: Here is knowledge enough for me.” John Wesley
The Bereans receive the word with eagerness and examination. Everything Paul said was great, however, it had to match with what God’s word said in the Old Testament. Here you see the Berean’s commitment to the authority and sufficiency of scripture. They studied the texts to be sure they were receiving the truth.
The bible calls for us to study God’s word to be able to discern right from wrong, good teaching from bad teaching, orthodoxy from heresy.
Paul tells the Thessalonians
Do not despise prophecies,
but test everything; hold fast what is good.
John warns in his first epistles
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
One who receives the word of God dos so eagerly but not ignorantly. One of the problems of not reading your bible is you don’t have the ability to discern if you are being lied to from the pulpit. There are many churches in America that are not preaching the gospel, and there are droves of people who call themselves Christians who are being deceived.
A couple of years ago, Josh Hutchins came to preach at FBCL. I’ve known Josh for many years. We were in seminary together. Josh moved his family to Malawi Africa to be missionaries to local pastors and teachers in their region. Over the years, false teaching from the prosperity gospel and other heresy have invaded the local churches. Very few of the men who are teaching know their bibles ell enough to put up a fight. He spend almost all of his time training pastors and teachers the scriptures.
A noble heart is open to God’s truth, teachable, ready to receive his word. When the word is brought, the noble heart is just as eager to examine the scriptures to test it, to ensure it is truth. Church, you must test everything I say against the teaching of scripture. You do not have to become over critical of every minute point, but you need to know your bible well enough to be able to acknowledge what I am preaching as biblical, God-honoring, and Christ-exalting.
Listening to heresy on a regular basis from the pulpit is like sprinkling arsenic on your cornflakes. It will eventually kill you. Receive God’s word eagerly, but with examination.
A jealous heart rejects the authority of scripture. (Acts 17:5-9, 13)
A jealous heart rejects the authority of scripture. (Acts 17:5-9, 13)
There is a warning in our text. There is a heart attitude that is not conducive to reasoning or receiving the word of God.
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
In verse 5, the Jews were jealous. That is, there were envious of Paul and his success. From a jealous heart comes wicked actions. Instead of searching the scriptures for truth or paying for discernment,they round up wicked men an stir the city into a riot. This is their m.o.
They attack Paul and Jason, the brother who is hosting the missionaries. Only violence and death comes from jealousy. I want you to notice a couple of things here.
First, look how they belittle the deity of Jesus. The Jews, who hate Rome, are willing to exalt Caesar as king over Jesus. The jealous Jews immediately attack the kingship of Jesus Christ. Rome will tolerate just about nay religion, but if you say there is a king greater than Caesar, you will be dealt with right away. The Jews provoke the roman authorities by saying Paul preaches Jesus as King.
A sure sign that someone is rejecting the gospel or not preaching the gospel is making less of Jesus. People who reject God’s word as authoritative or sufficient will often have a low view of Christ. Jesu will be a good teacher, a wise sage, a philosopher, even a good friend, but he will not be Lord or King Jesus.
Look around in our culture. Liberal churches who teach liberal theology do not make much of Jesus. They will reject His Lordship. They will reject his judgment. They will reject the fact that one day he is coming back as a Warrior King, with a sword that will devour his enemies.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Coincidentally, the sword coming out of his mouth is not a literal sword. Paul refers to the bible, the word of God, as a sword. With his Word he will strike down the nations. That is the power of God’s word, amen? Liberal churches do not present jesus like this, as the bible presents him.
Also notice, there is no attempt to reason or receive any truth whatsoever. Their heart is closed, hardened to the word of God. Jealousy will do that. Guard your heart from such a powerful emotion.
When I give someone a bible, I will write message in the inside cover. One of the messages I write is
“Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
Jealousy, envy, hatred, are sins that will keep you from the word of God.
Not all of us will be George Whitfield. But all of us are called to be committed to the authority and sufficiency of scripture like George Whitfield. All of us
Must have a noble heart for the scriptures because the scriptures are where Jesus reveals Himself.
Must have a noble heart for the scriptures because the scriptures are where Jesus reveals Himself.