How to Know God and His Word – Rooted & Built Up Lesson 1

Rooted and Built Up Series (Col. 2:7) – Lesson 2 // Holland Bible Series // Fall 2013

Rooted and Built Up Series: Overview

“Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”

(Matt. 28:19-20)

“Preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved…”

(Mark 16:15)

“Repentance and remission of sins should be preached…I send the Promise of My Father upon you…endued with power from on high”

(Luke 24:47)

“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.” .

(Prov. 9:1)

Lessons:

1. How to Know God and His Word
2. What can we learn from Jesus’ view of the Bible?
3. Repentance
4. The Nature of Faith
5. The Gospel: Justification – Covered in Christ
6. The Gospel: Sanctification – Christ in us
7. Baptisms, Water & Holy Spirit

Lesson 1: Our Posture for Revelation

Our job: Give our hearts to God—

• Parable of the Sower – Matt. 13:1-9,18-23; Mark 4:1-9,13-20; Luke 8:4-15
  • Mark 4:13 – Starting point for understanding Jesus
  • Luke 8:11 – God’s word = seed
  • Luke 8:15 – Our hearts = soil.  Options:
    • 1. Those who hear, but do not understand (Matt. 13:19)
    • 2. Those who hear and understand, but do not change (Mark 4:16)
    • 3. Those who hear, understand, and change, but do not keep their hearts only for God (Luke 8:14)
    • 4. Those with honest and good hearts (Luke 8:15)
• John 7:17 – a heart willing to obey brings understanding
  • Matt. 6:22-24 – serving two masters brings darkness
  • Proverbs 1:23 – (1) “Turn,” then (2) “I will make my words known to you”
  • 2 Cor. 3:16 – (1) “Turn,” then (2) “the veil is taken away”
  • 1 Samuel 3:1-14 – God’s word came AFTER Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
• Matt. 11:25-30 –
  • humility and coming to Jesus brings revelation
  •  trusting in your own wisdom and going your own route brings darkness
  • Psalm 25:8-9 – God shows his way to humble sinners
• Romans 1:18-32; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 – hearts that choose sin end up deceived

How to Change our Hearts– 

• Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Luke 18:19 – the human heart is corrupt and deceitful
• Ezekiel 36:26 – our only hope is for God to give us new hearts
• Song of Songs 1:4; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 3:7 (think in terms of the church as the bride [weaker vessel] and Jesus as the Husband [stronger vessel]) – We acknowledge our inability to have a the heart God desires, and ask and depend on Him to supply what we lack: this is true humility!

God’s Means of Revelation (Mark 8:22-25 – From blindness to light)

• God gives general revelation through creation (Romans 1:18-31)
• God gives specific revelation through His Word and Holy Spirit:
  • (1) God’s Word (John 10:35 – fundamentally, the Scriptures)
    • Brings light – Psalm 19:7; 119:130; Hebrews 4:12-13; Romans 10:14,17; Revelation 1:12
    • A standard for testing truth – John 12:48; 17:17; Acts 17:11; Heb. 4:12; Rev. 19:15
  • (2) The Holy Spirit
    • Brings light – 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
    • Guides in testing truth – 1 John 2:27
• The Word and Spirit Together–Never in Isolation:
  • Genesis 1:2-3; Psalm 33:6 – physical light came when the word and Spirit united
  • Leviticus 11 – a picture:
    • Lev. 11:36-37 – Only 2 things can never become contaminated and unclean:
      • (1) A well full of water (symbol of the Holy Spirit, see John 4:13-14; 7:38-39)
      • (2) A seed unplanted (symbol of God’s word, see Luke 8:11)
      • Conclusion: Among all elements God gives us, only his Spirit and Word will always remain pure.
  • Numbers 21:4-9 – another picture:
    • The people were given over to serpents when they became discontent with the manna and water.
      • Serpent is a symbol of Satan’s deception (2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 20:2)
      • Manna/bread is symbol of God’s word (Matt. 4:4)
      • Water is a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39)
      • Conclusion: When people become discontent with the Scriptures and Spirit as their source of nourishment, they will be given over to deception.
  • John 8:17 – the testimony of 2 establishes truth
    • Witness 1= God’s Word; Witness 2 = God’s Spirit.  When you walk by both of them in tandem, you will have truth.
    • Acts 15 – the early church sought confirmation by the Word and Spirit in making decisions
    • Natural parable: God has given us 2 eyes by which we can see.  If only 1 is used, we lack depth perception.  But when both are used in agreement, we see clearly.
• Walking in Stride with God’s word and Spirit:
  • James 4:6,10 – humble ourselves
  • Acts 2:42 – (1) study Bible, (2) fellowship with other believers, (3) pray
  • James 1:22-25 – obey what God speaks
  • Note: It will be difficult work sometimes (Job 28; Prov. 25:2)