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Introduction:
Did
you know that God’s word cannot help everyone? In fact, God’s
word can only help a very few people. That may sound shocking, but
it is the case. Examining the conflicts in Jesus’ ministry
demonstrates that the word of God simply did not help some people.
Discussion: I.
When you do not know it. A.
In Matthew 22:23-33,
God’s word had the answer to the Sadducees question. But God’s
word did not help them, because they did not know it. B.
Today is not different. Many people have questions and
opinions, but they do not know what the Bible says. The key to
their salvation and the answers to the questions of life lay on
their coffee tables. God’s word cannot help you when you do not
know it. Never forget the ominous warning of Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” II.
When you twist and pervert it.
A.
Were you aware that Satan knows God’s word? In Matthew
4:6-7, Satan
tempted Jesus based on Psalm
91:11-12. Satan knew God’s word, but it was no help to him,
because he twisted it. B.
For various reasons, many people twist and pervert the
scripture. They know it and quote it, but they do not abide in it.
These people may take passages out of context or set passages
against one another. I am often amazed to see people twist Romans
10:9-10 to teach that we do not have to obey Acts
2:38. They twist the last half of Mark
16:16, to say we do not have to obey the first half. These are
just the beginning. God’s word will not help you if you twist
it. III.
When you do not care what it says, having preconceived
ideas. A.
In Matthew 21:23-27,
the Pharisees challenged Jesus regarding the authority He had to
teach. Through questioning them, Jesus discovered that these men
did not care what the truth was. They were dishonestly following
their preconceived ideas. God’s word could not help them. B.
You can often tell when people are following after
preconceived, scripturally unsupported ideas, in two ways. The
first is if, like these Pharisees, they are unwilling to answer
simple questions. The second is if their only defense against what
you show them in the Bible is to say, “That’s just your
opinion.” A brother in Arkansas concluded a prerecorded radio
message by quoting I Peter
3:21. However, when he listened, the quote was not aired. When he called
the station manager to find out what was going on, he was
essentially told that they did not want him preaching his opinions
about baptism. God’s word will not help you when you will not
allow it to get in the way of your preconceived ideas. IV.
When you want something special and God’s word is not
enough for you. A.
In Matthew 12:38-42,
some scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign. Considering the
signs that had already been done by Jesus, this request is
astounding. But for some people, what God has offered is simply
not enough. God’s word cannot help these people. B.
I remember studying with a young woman once about modern
day miraculous gifts. She admitted to seeing what the Bible said.
Did she obey it? No, she decided that what she read just could not
be right. Why? Because that would mean she was not special to God.
The fact that God’s Son died for her and that God’s Spirit
revealed the word for her was not enough. God had done that for
everyone. God’s word will not help you when you want something
special. V.
When you look for loopholes. A.
In Matthew 15:6-7,
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they had nullified the command
of God. How had they done it? “Why, if we dedicate our money to
God, then our parents cannot expect it.” They had found a
loophole. In actuality, they simply rendered God’s word
ineffective. B.
You can often tell when someone is looking for a loophole,
because they will say, “You can’t find anywhere in the Bible
where it condemns … or where it says I have to …” I do not
know how many times I have heard, “You can’t find anywhere in
the Bible where it says I have to be at the Sunday night
assembly.” They know as well as I do that the scripture says not
to forsake the assembly. They have worked up a loophole, saying
that Hebrews 10:25 only
refers to the Sunday morning assembly. Every other assembly is not
really the assembly. Consider another, “You can’t find
anywhere in the Bible where it condemns going to the school
dances.” These Christians know as well as I do that the Bible
specifically condemns lasciviousness (Galatians
5:19). Lasciviousness is that which is inclined to, indicates
or arouses sexual desire and thoughts. But they have found a
loophole. No verse says the dancing in those dances is lascivious.
But you are fooling yourself if you believe those dances are not
inclined to, indicating or arousing sexual desire. When you look
for loopholes, God’s word will not help you. VI.
When you serve something other than God. A.
The rich young ruler in Matthew
19:16-22 came to Jesus to learn how to go to heaven. He heard
God’s word, but it did not help him. Why? Because he served
possessions above God. B.
Some people serve money (Colossians
3:5). Some serve themselves and their own passions and lusts (Philippians 3:18-19). If anything comes above God in your life, then
rest assured that God’s word will not help you. The rich young
ruler deceived himself, believing he had kept the commandments
from his youth. Do not allow yourself to be deceived. If you serve
something above God, then God’s word will not help you. VII.
When you love the praises of men more than the praises of
God. A.
In John 12:42-43,
we are told of many who believed Jesus’ teaching. However, their
belief did not help them at all, because they could not bring
themselves to confess Him. That is, they would not let others know
of their faith or to even try to convince others to believe.
Notice, this was not caused by fear. Rather, it came from a desire
to be praised by men. B.
If we desire the praises of men, then God’s word will not
help us. The fact is, if we follow God’s word, men will hate us,
even religious men (John 15:20-21). I sat in my office one day talking to a brother in
Christ. He assured me he taught people baptism was essential to
salvation. However, he said he simply could not tell other people
that God would not save them some other way. If they believed they
were saved, who was he to say otherwise? After all, the Bible does
not say God won’t save people some other way. Why did he take
this position? Allow me to explain that our study came about after
I heard him as a guest on a local radio program in which he was
proclaiming unity with the host, a false teacher who said we could
be justified by faith alone. Why was a Christian waffling on the
essential nature of baptism? Because he would receive no praise
from the religious circles he admired if he taught the truth. VIII.
When you are more concerned about keeping man’s
traditions than God’s traditions. A.
In Matthew 15: 2-3,
we see that God’s word did not help the Pharisees, because they
were far more concerned with keeping their traditions of washing
hands than with keeping the traditions handed down to them by God
that they honor their father and mother. B.
Let’s face it, Christianity has been around for nearly
2000 years. Just as with the Jews, lots of manmade traditions have
arisen. Like the ancient Jews, modern Christian religionists have
written books to explain how they believe things should be done
and govern churches with them. But we must never succumb to such
traditionalism. Do not misunderstand, there is a place for
traditionalism. We must make sure that we are being
traditionalists when it comes to the traditions handed down to us
through the word of God (II Thessalonians 2:15). But God’s word will not help you when you
are more concerned with man’s traditions than with God’s. Conclusion: Of course, the question remains, if the word of God cannot help so many, who can it help? It can only help a very few. Allow me to explain that the word of God will only help you when you want to serve God more than anyone or anything else. It will only help you when you want to go to heaven more than you want anything else. It can only help you when you are willing to sacrifice all in order to press on for the prize to which God’s word directs you (Philippians 3:12-16). When you do that, people will not like you, you will sacrifice a great deal, you will lose the respect and praise of your peers, but you will gain the praise of God. You will be rewarded. Only you can decide to let God’s word help you.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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