- 5 days ago
TEXT: Luke 1:1
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00:03In one of these parables, Jesus asked an interesting question.
00:10It was this.
00:13Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth.
00:23Again, nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth.
00:32Intriguing, isn't it?
00:36I suppose there are a number of approaches to it, but we'll limit ourselves to one word.
00:44Faith.
00:46Faith.
00:47What is this faith?
00:49Faith.
00:50What is its content?
00:54How does it concern us?
00:58That is our focus this evening as we consider this opening statement of the book of Luke.
01:04His preface directs us immediately to the gospel and our awareness of it.
01:12If you're not in there in Luke chapter 1, turn there with me.
01:15So first of all, we witness or we observe that the gospel is rooted in history.
01:24It is rooted in history.
01:32I don't know how to put this, but I'll just say it.
01:38I don't think of history as they teach you in the school.
01:45History is a theological matter.
01:48God is the creator.
01:49Notice what he says here in the opening.
01:51And as I mentioned, this is one sentence and as the Spirit directs him.
01:56Well, I suppose there's a lot to be said about Luke.
01:59But anyway, the phrase I want to draw your attention to is in the middle of the verse there, verse
02:051.
02:05For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration or a narration of
02:12those things.
02:14Those things.
02:16What things?
02:16And so I'm saying that these things indicate to us that, as I mentioned, the gospel is rooted in history.
02:23We have our history defined for us.
02:27By Luke?
02:28Well, yes.
02:29But furthermore, by God.
02:33In the scriptures in the Bible, we have the word of God.
02:36And it teaches us and instructs us in the truth according to God.
02:43So what is history?
02:44To know it and to understand it, to comprehend it, you need to ask God.
02:50Which sounds strange.
02:51I realize that.
02:53But when you grow up in schools and you read all kinds of stuff and that.
02:57And history purportedly told you.
03:01And then suddenly you wake up one day and you know that God is true.
03:05His word is right.
03:06That Christ died on the cross for your sins.
03:09And your eyes are open.
03:11Oh, I see.
03:12And you go back to your books.
03:14Well, this is not what they're saying.
03:17What are you going to do?
03:18You know, winter is a fascinating time.
03:21Why is that?
03:22Well, snow, ditches, ice, slippery.
03:25You hit the ditch.
03:26You're stuck.
03:26What do you need?
03:28You need help.
03:30You need a tow truck.
03:31Tow truck shows up.
03:33This is the old-fashioned style.
03:34He shows up.
03:35And what is he?
03:35He pulls out this big, long cable.
03:37Hooks it up to your vehicle.
03:39You're back on the road.
03:41Pretty nice, eh?
03:44Why do I say that?
03:45Well, because of sin, you're in the ditch.
03:49Hmm.
03:50You think about that one, I guess.
03:52Romans chapter 3.
03:53All of sin didn't come short of the glory of God.
03:55So our problem is sin.
03:57God sent his son, Jesus Christ.
03:59And in essence, how do you know this stuff?
04:01How do I even know it?
04:02Why do I tell you this?
04:03Because of the word of God.
04:06The word of God is like that cable from the tow truck.
04:11Hook to your vehicle, put you back on the road.
04:14Jesus Christ is mentioned in the gospel.
04:18The gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
04:21His life, what he has done, what he has done.
04:23Well, I'm just going to briefly take a little shortcut and we've noted it in the past.
04:27But again, just to remind ourselves, so to speak, of it.
04:30And it's that portion found by Paul when he sums it up by the Spirit in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
04:38Not only tells us what it's about, but I'll just read it.
04:41So picking up at verse 1.
04:42Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel, the good news, the information from God, from heaven, from above, that
04:49we need to know.
04:50And there is no other way to know it.
04:53You could read other books and so forth.
04:55But the true source is right before us.
04:57That is the word of God.
04:58I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, encouraging them, and wherein
05:05ye stand, by which also you are saved.
05:09Saved from the punishment of a lost eternity in hell by the wrath of God, against all wickedness, and so
05:14forth, by which you are saved, if you keep in memory, it's operable within your life.
05:21Well, that's a free translation, but there you go.
05:23That's the idea that he's putting forth here.
05:25If you keep in memory that what I preach unto you, unless you have believed in vain.
05:31I like that contrast.
05:33Because why?
05:34There are those that believe in vain.
05:37They profess belief, but they don't actually believe.
05:39Anyway, that's another story.
05:41Verse 3.
05:42For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received.
05:46What is Luke doing?
05:48He's writing about and collecting information about what he has received.
05:53The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
05:54The whole book, if you will.
05:56But we're just looking at the first part of Luke.
05:58But he says this in 1 Corinthians 15.
06:01Paul is saying the same thing, in effect.
06:04He says how that Christ died for our sin.
06:08Christ came in obedience to his Father.
06:10God the Father.
06:11God the Son.
06:12God the Holy Spirit.
06:13The Trinity.
06:14The Father sent him.
06:15He died.
06:16He rose again from the dead, according to the scriptures.
06:19But why did he die?
06:22For the sins of a people.
06:24He died in the place for others.
06:27In their stead.
06:29Not for his own.
06:31He was sinless.
06:32You know the story.
06:34Anyway, Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures.
06:39How do you get set back on a right relationship with God the Father?
06:45Through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
06:47That cable.
06:48All you have is the scriptures.
06:51You know, I feel like I should stand here and just say that all night long.
06:55But all you've got is the scriptures.
06:56Why?
06:57You don't have scholarship.
07:00You don't have the wisdom of others.
07:02You don't have the good advice.
07:04It is the word of God itself, quickened by the spirit of God.
07:09He works in and through the scriptures, the word of God.
07:13That's all you've got.
07:14It's all we've got.
07:16And so, you know, it's understandable about error.
07:20Because, well, we'll come to that maybe.
07:23But to oppose the truth.
07:25The truth is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
07:27Well, let's just finish this.
07:28He says, verse 4.
07:29And that he was buried.
07:30And that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
07:34And because we're looking at Luke and the introduction part.
07:36I think I just mentioned this too.
07:38That verse 5.
07:39That he was seen of Cephas, then of the 12, after Christ rose from the dead, the resurrection of Christ.
07:46After that, he was seen of 500 brethren.
07:49Now, what is Luke doing?
07:52Well, he's writing, of course.
07:53But he's investigating.
07:55He's a diligent researcher.
07:57In fact, they say that the introduction to Luke is the best Greek.
08:02You know, these people who, anyway, they make their comments.
08:06And that he's not only that, but he's well-educated.
08:09He's a physician.
08:12The Apostle Paul himself in Colossians 4, verse 14, he calls him the beloved physician.
08:18And then there too.
08:20Also too, he's interviewing or he's with Paul a number of times.
08:23You get the wee passages.
08:26I don't know if I'll mention them.
08:27But anyway, throughout the book of Acts.
08:29He's writing that book.
08:32And then near the end of his life, Paul, I think it was two years, Luke was with Paul when
08:39he was in prison in Caesarea.
08:41But in one of the last writings of Paul, in 2 Timothy 4.11, he says this.
08:48Only Luke is with me.
08:51So we come back again now to what Luke is writing by the Spirit of God, inclusive of his investigations
08:58and the diligence that he applied.
09:01He's basically a historian, a scholar, a doctor.
09:04You know.
09:05But above all, I would say this.
09:08Keep this in mind.
09:10What did Jeremiah write?
09:13He wrote prophecies and so forth.
09:15He wore out the word of God.
09:17What did Isaiah write?
09:18See, these men were called by God to speak forth his truth.
09:23And all their life in effect was a preparation for that mission and duty that God calls them to.
09:30Take a shortcut.
09:31Consider Paul.
09:33You see.
09:33So now Luke.
09:35We're way off and way better off thinking in terms of what God is doing, directing Luke, giving him the
09:42words to speak, even through his investigations.
09:46And he's speaking the truth.
09:48Why?
09:49What year is this?
09:50Oh, yeah.
09:512026.
09:51And what do you have before you, I trust, the word of God.
09:57After all these years.
09:59And notice what he says.
10:01He says, as many have taken in hand to set forth.
10:04So they wrote all kinds of things.
10:07Well, show me them.
10:09You can't.
10:10What?
10:11Because they don't exist.
10:13God has preserved that which he desired us to know and to be aware of in the many manuscripts.
10:19One of them, a part of them, is the book of Luke.
10:22You know, I'm not negating or taking away from the others.
10:25I'm just focusing in on Luke here and his call of God and what he's doing and writing by the
10:30spirit of God information that we would need, so to speak.
10:34And so I'm saying the gospel is rooted in history.
10:36That's what it is.
10:37It's a history book.
10:39Is it religious?
10:40Well, you could call it that.
10:41Is it spiritual?
10:42Yes, definitely.
10:44Because we are spiritual beings.
10:46Not just a vague word without any adjectives, but it's in terms referring to God created us after his own
10:54image.
10:56That's why when you hear the Bible, when you hear Jesus Christ and about heaven, you start to get a
11:03little upset.
11:05Especially if you don't know Jesus Christ as your savior and forgiveness of sins.
11:10Because the true king is being revealed and made known through the gospel.
11:16God manifests in the flesh.
11:18You're a sinner condemned to a lost eternity in hell.
11:22Why?
11:23Because of Adam, the fall.
11:26The true history he gives to us, God created a perfect world without sin.
11:31Put Adam and Eve in the garden.
11:33They disobeyed God.
11:35Boom.
11:36The boom fell.
11:38Destruction.
11:40Now, Christ shows up.
11:42How do we know that?
11:44According to the scripture.
11:46What's he doing?
11:47He's obeying his father to remove that judgment of sin and a lost eternity upon a people that will trust
11:55in him by the grace of God.
11:57How do we know all of this?
11:59By the word of God.
12:01The Bible.
12:02And so you can understand quite clearly now why a lot of imitations would show up.
12:07A lot of scripture twisting.
12:09A lot of so-called teachers saying all kinds of things.
12:12And then you get these little, well, I wouldn't say anything.
12:15These individuals, they'll show up and they'll say, read your Bible.
12:20Read it yourself.
12:22See what he is saying.
12:24You're not sure.
12:25Just keep going.
12:26Remember that little youngster that learned from a dog?
12:30Hmm.
12:31And as you read, then you see, you don't understand.
12:34You say, Lord, what does this mean?
12:37The scripture will show you what it means in another place in the scriptures.
12:41You're going to learn it overnight?
12:42Probably not.
12:43You're going to learn it all in 10 years?
12:45Probably not.
12:47You're going to learn it before you get to heaven?
12:49I hope so.
12:51Well, you see, it takes time and the work of the spirit.
12:54It's rooted in history.
12:56You get a true conception of what history is, what it's all about, what it means, what your life means,
13:00through the scriptures.
13:01I'm sorry, I better get into this sermon here.
13:03Okay, so we noted that.
13:05We underscored that.
13:06It's not opinion or speculation or conjecture.
13:10I mean, Peter denies that in 2 Peter chapter 1.
13:14It's not, well, I use the phrase there's foolish speculations,
13:19but the phrase that he uses is stated this way.
13:23We have not followed cunningly devised fables.
13:28What cunningly devised fables are guiding your life, even tonight?
13:35Well, no, none.
13:36Well, do you believe in chance?
13:39How did everything come about?
13:40By chance?
13:41Chance doesn't even exist.
13:43You see?
13:44Why are you here?
13:45We're saying, according to the scriptures, the word of God, that you were created in the image of God.
13:51Is there other cunningly devised fables telling you, no, no, you're not.
13:56Well, we like to monkey around.
13:57That was your true source.
14:00You see the difference?
14:02You need to think for yourself.
14:04God has given us the greatest gift of all besides salvation.
14:08A brain, I trust.
14:10Well, anyway.
14:11It left an indelible mark upon many.
14:14Even here, it is stated quite clearly.
14:16For as much as many have taken in hand, the powerful weight, if you will, or the influence of the
14:23gospel going forth.
14:25And, you know, you could go into this much, but he just simply says many.
14:29You know, glance at chapter 3, verse 6.
14:32I think it is verse 6.
14:33Just a quick glance there.
14:35And in verse 6, he's quoting there from Isaiah.
14:39But nevertheless, notice what he says in verse 6 here of Luke chapter 3.
14:44He says, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
14:50Luke chapter 3, verse 6.
14:51They see the salvation of God.
14:53How did they do that?
14:54They saw Jesus Christ.
14:57The Messiah.
14:58The one that God would send, his own son, to die on the cross for the sins of a people.
15:04And he rises from the dead on the third day.
15:06This is the gospel concerning Jesus Christ and a people that trust in him by the grace of God.
15:14Multiple records underscores the historical witness.
15:18We talked about the 500 there, but there's probably many he spoke to.
15:22And notice what he said there in Luke chapter 1 there.
15:26To set forth an order.
15:29You know, probably an aspect there of chronology, but might be just simply topical also.
15:35But he puts it forth.
15:37There it is.
15:38And how has it been preserved?
15:39We already noted this or mentioned this.
15:41By the providence of God.
15:43You know that familiar text in...
15:46Well, I don't know how familiar it is.
15:48But anyway, in Deuteronomy 29.29.
15:51It's a great text.
15:52Keep in mind, when you're reading anything else, even in the scriptures themselves,
15:56when he says this quite clearly and boldly and straightforwardly.
16:00The secret things belong unto the Lord our God.
16:04So there's things we cannot know, we should not know, not even inquire into.
16:07But anyway, he says the secret things belong unto the Lord, such as his decrees and so forth.
16:11But those things which are revealed, made known, the Gospels, you see, the Word of God.
16:17But those things which are revealed belong unto us.
16:20So if they belong unto us, they will be made known or opened up to us by the Spirit of
16:27God.
16:28You see, God is so good.
16:30He says, which are revealed belong unto us and to our children.
16:36The sad thing is, you know, if they go to school and they talk, you know,
16:40oh, you folks, they're old fogies, what do they know?
16:43What direction are they going to go in?
16:45You see, it's simple, straightforward.
16:48But what are you believing?
16:50See, these things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever,
16:54that we may do all the words of this law.
16:59Who does that condemn?
17:01You ever hear a father say this to his children?
17:05Do as I say, don't do as I do.
17:09It's not what it's saying, is it?
17:11What does it say?
17:12It belongs unto us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
17:20That we might be with him for all eternity.
17:22Ultimately, knowing his grace, his blessings, and his mercies.
17:26Well, what am I pointing out here?
17:28This is objective stuff.
17:30What does the Bible have to do with you?
17:32And I know this goes contrary to everything you ever heard.
17:34It's got nothing to do with you.
17:36That's really strange, because it's our salvation.
17:39Well, what I want to point out here is objectivity.
17:42It's a history book concerning Jesus Christ and what God is doing in times past.
17:47It's there, and it's recorded for us in the Word of God, the Bible.
17:52Now, the subjectivity comes in through the quickening power of the Spirit of God
17:56as it goes forth, the Word of God.
17:59Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
18:01Well, why should I be saved for anyway?
18:03Anyway, what's my problem?
18:05The problem is sin.
18:06You're an offense to God by being born.
18:09I suppose you couldn't find a Christian book that says that.
18:12But it does.
18:12That's what it means.
18:13All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
18:16So we need that sin removed, taken away, being reconciled, made friends with God again.
18:22And that's what Jesus Christ does.
18:24And Luke is pointing this out in terms of all the information he collects.
18:28And those who were like-minded like him doing the same.
18:31And by that objectiveness of it all, you know, it can't be denied.
18:36I mentioned about the book of Acts when he was with Paul,
18:38and they're going on these mission-y journeys and so forth.
18:41Well, just a quick reference there that we, the passages, Acts 16, you know, 10 to 17,
18:49Acts chapter 20, 3 to 16, and chapter 21, 1 to 18, and so forth.
18:55And I mentioned some others there, but nevertheless, 27, 1 to 28, 16,
19:00these passages where Luke was involved in the midst of all this stuff
19:04in the proclamation of the gospel and talking to, well, the Lord's servants.
19:10Thus, let's put it this way.
19:12Apart from a sound foundation, and I would insist on this, I'm not a historian.
19:19Oh, I can hear somebody rubbing their forehead and say, good thing.
19:24But I'm going to say this anyway.
19:26Apart from a sound foundation in the gospel, our histories will be inadequate.
19:33I'll say it again.
19:34Apart from a sound foundation in the gospel, our histories will be inadequate.
19:40So if you're not teaching youngsters about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
19:46you're making them inadequate, not only to face time in life, but also eternity.
19:52And I'd better just leave it at that.
19:53I'll move on to a second consideration here.
19:55The gospel is not only rooted in history, it is revealed in the scriptures.
20:00It's quite obvious from the things that we touched on and what we're saying here.
20:05And what Luke is doing here in visiting with the eyewitnesses and the ministers of the word,
20:12as verse 2 would put it, and getting the information and gleaning it.
20:16But it's open to investigation.
20:21Look into the scriptures.
20:22Read it for yourselves.
20:24Well, people say, I tried to read the Bible, but I couldn't get through it.
20:28Well, be diligent.
20:31You're, well, all of eternity is at stake.
20:34You're destiny, ultimately.
20:36And you can look into the word.
20:38I mean, anybody has any questions, just ask.
20:41And if it's not answered through or by the scriptures by someone,
20:45do they actually know what they're telling you?
20:47Is it the truth?
20:50Why am I speaking this way?
20:51I haven't got a clue to tell you.
20:53But I know that one day I will not be.
20:56And what the word of God has done for me, what I believe God is saying,
20:59and it's open to all who have ears to hear,
21:02will be a blessing in your life to give you an understanding about life living and death itself.
21:09So it's open to complete investigation.
21:12It is incumbent, I'll put it this way too,
21:14upon all to inspect, inspect it, to look into the documents.
21:23And all you need, now this will fly in the course of a lot of things people say,
21:27all you need is that good old English.
21:35They rightly represent to a large extent,
21:38I know it's a translation, but the many manuscripts.
21:43Otherwise, you're going to be shifting and changing authorities.
21:46But anyway, you read the word of God, and you keep going,
21:49whatever it is you're in.
21:51And here, you know, what's it saying?
21:53I'm just going to jump back a page,
21:55because that's Mark in my Bible, it might be in yours.
21:57But in Mark chapter 16,
21:59why is it incumbent upon all of us to pay attention?
22:03Because the end result of it, and I'm taking shortcuts, I admit,
22:06but here in Mark 16, verse 15,
22:08the Lord speaks, he says to them,
22:12it's a post-resurrection passage, he sends them forth,
22:15he says, go ye into all the world,
22:17Mark 16, verse 15,
22:19preach the gospel, make it known, proclaim it,
22:21let it be known, relay it to others.
22:23You know what I told you? Tell others.
22:25That is what he said.
22:26And I love what he put there, to every creature.
22:29Anyway, verse 16,
22:30He that believes and is immersed
22:35shall be saved
22:37to believe what God has put forth
22:40in and through his Son, Jesus Christ.
22:43That we find salvation
22:44in Jesus and him alone.
22:47I mean, just put together a couple of texts.
22:49I'm just going to quickly quote them.
22:50John 16, I mean 4, verse 16.
22:53You know that.
22:54Jesus said what?
22:55Unto them,
22:56I am the way,
22:57the truth,
23:00and the life.
23:02No man cometh unto Father by me,
23:04but by me.
23:05And now Acts 16, verse 12.
23:07Acts 4, verse 12, pardon me.
23:09Acts 4, verse 12.
23:10Neither is there salvation in any other.
23:13The word of God,
23:14the scriptures,
23:15Jesus Christ,
23:16the only way of being made right
23:18with God.
23:19God the Father,
23:21God the Son,
23:22God the Holy Spirit,
23:23the true God.
23:24Neither is there salvation in any other.
23:26For there is none other name
23:28under heaven given
23:30among men
23:31whereby
23:32we must be saved.
23:34Notice what he says further there
23:35in the end of the latter part
23:37of that portion of
23:38Mark 16, 15, 16.
23:40He that believeth
23:41and is immersed
23:42shall be saved,
23:44but he that believeth not
23:47shall be lost
23:48and condemned
23:49and a lost eternity.
23:52Scripture is a little more blunt
23:53than I intend to be, I think.
23:54It says this,
23:56but he that believeth not
23:57shall be damned.
23:59Under the wrath of God,
24:01condemned because
24:02of a sinful state
24:03and wickedness,
24:05a wicked heart
24:05and hatred for God.
24:07You could cry,
24:07you know,
24:08till the high,
24:09oh, I love God,
24:09I love God,
24:10but that's no good.
24:11Is your heart transformed
24:12and changed
24:13by the Spirit of God
24:14through the power
24:15of his word of truth
24:16through the glory
24:16of the Lord Jesus Christ?
24:18You know,
24:18we mentioned the content.
24:20Its content
24:20is inclusive
24:21of every aspect
24:23of our being.
24:24I like complicated language,
24:26I just love it,
24:27because it's so simple.
24:28Every aspect of my being,
24:30how is my being defined?
24:31Created by God.
24:33A heart,
24:34a mind,
24:35emotions,
24:35a will,
24:36if you will.
24:36It's been enslaved
24:37by sin,
24:38but here,
24:39what am I saying?
24:40Its content
24:41is inclusive
24:42of every aspect
24:43of our being,
24:44revealed by the Scriptures,
24:45origins.
24:46We touched on this.
24:48Where did the world
24:48come from?
24:49God spake
24:50and it was done.
24:51Perfect world.
24:52Sin entered in?
24:53Hmm.
24:53So,
24:54how it all began?
24:55What it's all about?
24:58Right living.
25:00Learning of the true God
25:01to live according
25:02to the way
25:03he wants us to live,
25:04to his honor,
25:04praise,
25:04and glory.
25:05To abandon sin
25:06and all unrighteousness
25:08and wickedness.
25:09As we mentioned earlier,
25:10too,
25:10about the meaning of death.
25:12Sometimes this concerns,
25:13especially children,
25:15young people.
25:15Their pets die.
25:17Why?
25:18How do you answer that?
25:20Hmm.
25:21Well,
25:22ultimate destinations
25:23we referred to.
25:24Is it heaven?
25:25Or is it a lost eternity
25:27in hell?
25:28The judgment is coming.
25:29The judgment to come.
25:30How do we know
25:30all of this stuff?
25:32Because of the
25:33Scriptures.
25:34The Word of God.
25:36It is that
25:37cable
25:38pulling a people
25:39out of the ditch,
25:41out of the mire,
25:42out of the pit,
25:44out of an snare
25:45of sin
25:46and Satan
25:46and self.
25:48Well,
25:48further,
25:49the insight
25:49and the information
25:51we need
25:52cannot be found
25:53in fullness
25:55and truthfulness
25:58anywhere else.
26:00It's only in the Scriptures.
26:02As I noted there,
26:03referring to the Lord Jesus Christ
26:05and his name
26:07given to us
26:08under heaven.
26:09Let's read that full statement
26:10again in the book of Luke here.
26:12For as much as many
26:14have taken in hand
26:15to set forth
26:16in order
26:17a narration
26:18or declaration
26:18of those things
26:19which are most
26:20surely believed
26:21among us.
26:23I love it when he says us
26:25because
26:25just consider any church
26:27throughout the ages
26:28or any country
26:29professing to be Christian
26:30or church
26:31us.
26:33Well,
26:33not everybody in there
26:34is a true believer.
26:36How do you know this?
26:37Well,
26:37Jesus said so.
26:38There'll be the
26:39Lord,
26:39Lord,
26:40didn't we do miracles?
26:41What did he say?
26:42I never knew you.
26:43You see,
26:44it's amazing
26:44what the Scripture tells you
26:45in the full context
26:46of the thing itself.
26:48Well,
26:48I said I'll read it.
26:49Verse 2,
26:50even as they delivered them
26:51onto us
26:52which from the beginning
26:53were eyewitnesses
26:55and ministers
26:56of the word.
26:58You know,
26:58it's amazing
26:59if there's an accident
27:00like
27:02insurance
27:02and, you know,
27:03somebody bangs into somebody
27:04or whatever
27:05and then you get
27:06the stories going.
27:08I wish I'd kept it.
27:09I remember reading
27:10one time
27:11and this was
27:12from an insurance person
27:13some quotes from
27:14and it says,
27:16well,
27:16I don't know what happened.
27:17That telephone pole
27:18just leapt out
27:18in front of me.
27:20You know,
27:21makes you wonder.
27:22But anyway,
27:23here you go.
27:23The true stories
27:24given forth
27:27eyewitnesses,
27:27ministers of the word,
27:29the word of God.
27:29Verse 3,
27:30it seemed good to me also
27:31having had
27:32perfect understanding
27:33of all things
27:34from the very first.
27:35Remember,
27:35God calls
27:36his servants,
27:38calls them forward,
27:39informs them,
27:40uses the gifts
27:40they've been given,
27:41whatever they might be,
27:43in order to serve him.
27:45And understanding
27:46of all things
27:46from the very first
27:47to write
27:48unto thee.
27:50What have you got?
27:51The writings
27:52of the word of God
27:53in the entire scriptures.
27:56How familiar
27:57are you
27:58with them?
28:03Let's pray.
28:04Father,
28:05we thank you
28:05for your word.
28:06For your word
28:07indeed is precious,
28:08vital.
28:09And may thy Holy Spirit
28:11quicken that word
28:11in our own hearts
28:12and souls
28:13to open it further,
28:14Father,
28:15that we might
28:15indeed grow
28:17in grace
28:17and knowledge
28:18of the Lord
28:18Jesus Christ.
28:19That we might
28:20indeed be a people
28:21that honor thee
28:22in thought,
28:23in word,
28:24in deed.
28:25Renew our wills
28:27that our feet
28:27would walk
28:28in the right direction.
28:29This is the Lord's day
28:30that we might
28:31gather with the Lord's people
28:32to hear your word
28:33and to magnify
28:34the name
28:35of the Lord
28:35Jesus Christ.
28:37Father,
28:37help those
28:38who have special needs.
28:39Perhaps
28:40they're not even aware
28:41of what their needs
28:42might be.
28:43May thy Spirit
28:44just bring to their minds
28:45your word of truth,
28:47the gospel
28:47of the Lord Jesus Christ
28:49that they might
28:49call upon him
28:50and ask his help,
28:52his guidance,
28:53his wisdom
28:54that they might
28:55perceive truly
28:56the truth
28:57in history,
28:58in time,
28:59in their own lives.
29:01And Father,
29:02in our own nation,
29:04raise up leadership
29:05that honors thee,
29:06Father,
29:07that they might
29:07have wisdom
29:08in facing
29:09the difficulties
29:10and problems
29:11even of our age.
29:12We thank you,
29:13Lord,
29:13for the privilege
29:14of prayer.
29:15Guide us
29:16and direct us.
29:17And may your word
29:18bear fruit
29:18in the lives
29:19of many.
29:20Your honor,
29:21praise,
29:21and glory
29:21if it so please thee.
29:23In Christ's name
29:24we pray.