Are You a Believer or a Hobbyist?

The title of today's sermon is, Are You a Believer or a Hobbyist?

Are you a believer or a hobbyist? Hobbyist is spelled H-O-B-B-Y-I-S-T. You can look it up later.

Although I think every one of us has probably had a hobby, at least once or twice in our lives. Are you a believer or a hobbyist? As we well know, the world always has been fading.

It always has been fading away, passing away. And we know from God's scripture what he reveals to us that one day it will end. This world, as we now know, it will end and there'll be a far better place, far better place in time here on earth. And we are to be a part of that.

But for now, we live in a temporary world. And in this temporary world, because God loves humanity and he certainly loves his church, God has given us something solid, something solid that we can believe and trust. And that is the Bible, the Bible, his holy scripture. And I don't know if you've thought about it lately or pondered it. Chances are you have. But what a blessing it is to be able to read, to be able to hear, to be able to learn from, and to be taught of God's word.

From God's word, we learn about his plan of salvation, and not just for us, in this limited time and place we have in earth's history and time, but for all humanity.

The word of God is truly an immeasurable blessing in our lives. And I hope we would think about that from time to time, as we surely should. But the question I pose for us today is, how do we treat God's word? Do we treat and use God's holy scripture as we should?

Do we believe and live according to its instruction? Or do we sometimes treat it more like a hobby?

Do we treat our study and use of God's word more like a hobby? You have the title, the contrast, and I think if you can even begin to guess what it's all about, I think you'd recognize that there's a vast life and death difference between a believer and a hobbyist approach to scripture. It's a life and death difference. My purpose today is to encourage us to invigorate and reinvigorate our study and application of God's word.

The words of true riches, these are the words of those true riches and also true life. And so again, the title of the sermon is, are you a believer or a hobbyist? Are you a believer or a hobbyist?

Let's contrast real quickly these two approaches to God's word. So are you a believer? Do you believe that the word of God is God's revelation and his will expressed to humanity? Do you believe that the word of God in its original documents is infallible?

Do you believe that the word of God is the supreme and final authority in faith and in life and the foundation of all truth?

I pulled those statements from our fundamental beliefs booklet of the United Church of God, and these beliefs are shared with other Church of God organizations. These are the beliefs of the spiritual body called the Church of God. On the other hand, are you a hobbyist?

Are you a hobbyist of God's word?

According to the free dictionary dot com, a hobbyist is someone who pursues an activity in their spare time for pleasure. I'll repeat that so you can jot it down as we set up the contrast between a believer and a hobbyist. A hobbyist is someone who pursues an activity in their spare time for pleasure. Some of you have hobbies I know. Some of you do crochet.

Some of you do puzzles. Some of you do skeet shooting, different things like that. Some of us just have fun chasing the squirrels out of our yard. Okay, good luck with that! Things we do is an activity of pleasure. I'm being a little funny with this here. Now, synonyms for hobbies.

Synonyms for a hobbyist include an enthusiast. You can be an enthusiast for God's word, and sometimes you can be an amateur, meaning you're not really good at understanding how it works, or using it, or applying it. And so a hobbyist are individuals who engage in an activity for pleasure or as a leisurely pastime rather than engaging in an activity for a living.

And it's interesting when we talk about being a believer, we talk about living the Word of God, making it our duty and responsibility to live according to its instruction. So again, there's a vast life and death difference between a believer and a hobbyist approach towards God's word.

But sadly, human beings—and you might understand this being human yourself— sadly, human beings typically place far less importance on what matters most in life.

Given the choice between our job and our hobby—and some days, yes, some days we'd rather do our hobby than do our job, although I think a lot of us love our jobs, and we don't have hobbies—and so people typically place far less importance on what matters most in life.

And that's because, in many ways, and especially when it comes to understanding God's word and appreciating it, people simply don't know true riches. They do not know what true riches are.

So let's talk about recognizing true riches. Human beings have always made mistakes in seeking out what is most important in life. They've always made bad choices. I'll just refer you to Adam and Eve. You can read the story. They pursued the wrong choice. They had it right there, and they threw it away. They threw it away.

Human beings always make bad mistakes in seeking what is most important in life.

Well, I shouldn't say always, because hopefully we made a right choice in choosing God's way of life.

But let's look at Job 28. Let's turn to—let's go to the chapter of Job 28. Job 28 is this interlude within a larger narrative between Job and his friends, and then Job and Eli, and God. And in the midst of this, we have what's often referred to as an interlude, a chapter. In Job 28, what we're going to find—and we're going to read through a good part of it—in Job 28, we find contrast in mankind's preoccupation with earthly riches, in their larger disinterest, lack of interest, and the true riches that they should seek, that they should seek, but they do not seek. And so let me let us go through this together. Let's read through it, and I think the meaning, for the most part, is easily grasped, at least the reading of it. The application, that's what we have to work at. And so in verses 1 through 11, we find described, man's intensive labor define earth's hidden riches. And what we're going to find described here is the ancient methods of mining, how ancients would dig shafts straightened down into the rock, and then they'd use reflective mirrors to get light further down in these shafts, and they dangle men down on ropes and chairs to dig in the walls. Sometimes they dig out horizontal channels.

But it's an example of how hard man will work, even in ancient times, for riches.

So verse 1, an iterator says, Surely there is a mine for silver, in a place where gold is refined.

Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Man puts an end to darkness, he lets the sunlight shine deep, and he searches every recess for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death, dark pits. Verse 4, he breaks open his shaft away from people, in places forgotten by feet they hang far away from men. They swing to and fro, digging for that ore. And as for the earth, from it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the source of sapphires, and it contains gold dust.

In verse 9, speaking of man, it says, he overturns the mountains at its roots. Just think about that image, overturning the roots of mountains to get at that precious riches. Verse 10, he cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing, and he damns up the streams from trickling, and what is hidden he brings forth to light. And if you ever would want to do a study, you might find that some of these ancient methods of mining are very similar, except for the advance in technology to help people mine for riches today. It's fascinating. Man has not stopped in its pursuit of the riches to be found in the earth. But then we come to verse 12. And this question here in verse 12 is interposed a very important question. You see, there exists something, although man has to be told this because they don't seem to understand it.

And so we are told that there exists something far more precious that mankind cannot find without God's help. They just can't find it. They can't find it on their own. Kind of kind of equate with our understanding of John 644. The Father has to open our minds to understanding the truths of salvation, for example. And so here's a question. It's interposed. Verse 12. It asks, But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, the value of wisdom. It nor is it found in the land of living. The deep says it is not in me. And the sea says it is not in me. It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price. In verse 17. And neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor can it can wisdom be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. Interesting. And then in verse 20. Verse 20 then. Again, the urgent question is asked. From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? The question is asked twice. And if you know anything about Scripture and there's repetition, there's an important purpose for it. From where then does wisdom come? And where is a place of understanding? Verse 21 says, It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. Destruction and death say we have heard a report about it with our ears.

And finally, verse 23 reveals wisdom's riches where they can be found. Verse 23. God understands its way, and he knows its place. He knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth, and he sees under the whole heavens to establish they wait for the wind and a portion of the waters by measure. You see, God used wisdom in creating all the physical existence, all things.

In verse 26, we'll go there. And when he made a law for rain and path for thunderbolt, verse 27, then he saw wisdom, and he declared it. He prepared it. Indeed, he searched it out.

And to man he said, and here's the here's the answer. And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord. That is wisdom. And to depart from evil is understanding.

And so only God, the creator of all things, only he knows and has the true riches that matter most. And again, we're told these riches of God's wisdom is far more precious than the crystal, than the gold, than silver, than anything else man can dig out of this earth. True wisdom is encapsulating God's law. God's law and way is revealed in Scripture. God's wisdom leads to the true riches of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation. That's what God's wisdom is about. Mining into the earth for a relentless search of the riches acts then as a metaphor for humanity's pursuit of earthly things that lead not to life, but they lead to death. It's the wrong path. It's a wrong choice. There's only two ways in life. Man has consistently, on its own, chosen the wrong path. God wants us to seek His wisdom, those true heavenly riches. The same concept of earthly versus heavenly pursuits, we'll find it also contrasted in the New Testament. So let's turn and look there. Let's look at James 3. James 3, verse 14 through 17.

It picks up the similar contrast between with what we just read, I should say, with what we just read in the Old Testament in the book of Job. So let's look at James 3, verse 14 through 17.

And here again we see a contrast between the earthly and the heavenly, but in a more in a spiritual, more in the spiritual realm. James 3, verse 14, James writes, But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are. And so are the many of the pursuits of mankind apart from God. They do not lead to good things. In verse 17, But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, and then peaceful, gentle, willing to yield. And it's full of mercy and good fruits, and it's without partiality, and it's without hypocrisy. And so when we consider these two passages from Job and from James, they tell us that God wants people to take that sort of desire and energy they want to expend in seeking earthly, temporary riches and put it to better use.

He would rather have humanity put that same amount of desire and energy into seeking the heavenly wisdom, the heavenly wisdom, that leads again to God's true riches of His grace and His mercy of eternal life in the kingdom of God. And God has made this known to us.

Think about it. Of all the billions of people that have ever lived and are living now, we are among relatively few, like grains of salt on a big plate of food, that have been presented this truth. But God has preserved and made available this heavenly wisdom to all humanity. It's an ancient before the time of Adam and Eve. This wisdom has been there. And what we have, we have it some of us in our laps, some of us are looking at it on our electronic devices. It's in the Bible. It's all here. In this little book, this little book, it's all here. The Bible has now been translated into nearly every human language, thanks to advanced technology. And so in our hands, I hope we'd appreciate the fact that we hold the key. We hold the key to the greatest treasure which God alone can give. This is what the ancients wanted to have. That's what they sought. And God has made it so convenient for us.

You can buy it on Amazon. You can go to any Goodwill store. For a buck, you can probably find the Bible.

And just think, the world doesn't know it, but this is the most precious thing. If you had set up on a table a million dollars or the Bible, which should be the correct choice? If that's all you had left to choose from. Well, our carnal nature would say, gimme gimme gimme the money.

But hopefully our right nature with God, we'd recognize that it has to be the word of truth. Only that will help us to receive God's gift eternal life.

Let's turn now to 2 Timothy 3. Let's turn to 2 Timothy 3, 15 through 17. Because what I've tried to set up for us to understand is that Scripture and the instruction we find in Scripture, this wisdom that points us to salvation, that this Scripture, God's Holy Scripture, should matter more to us than any other treasure you might find on the face of this earth.

And it should matter as it matters to God. It matters how we approach God's Scripture. It matters that we approach it as a believer, that we not approach it as a hobbyist, just looking at its surface, looking at its different facets, talking about it, writing about it, but never really digging into the Scripture to get at its meaning.

And so in 2 Timothy 3, let's go 2 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 3, 15 through 17.

And we are probably familiar with these Scriptures.

In here, in these Scriptures, we read how the Apostle Paul tells Timothy some very important things. And it's not just for Timothy. These are things for all believers, for all whom God calls and will call. Here he tells Paul, Paul tells Timothy, in essence, to keep holding fast to the Holy Scriptures. And he makes clear that Timothy understands, and we understand, that these are not the words of mere men. Verse 15, interjecting and jumping in the middle of the thought here, Paul says, and know that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation, there's the wisdom, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. And he continues, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That Greek word is theopneustos, the inspiration. In Young's little translation, it means literally, God breathed, inspiration of God. And Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Why is it there? That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped, for every good work.

And then if you want to jot down 2 Peter 1, 21, 2 Peter 1, 21, again supports what Paul writes here, and I'll just read it to you. 2 Peter 1, verse 21, says, For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. So yes, human beings wrote it down, but it came from God. These men of old were instruments in God's hands. They yielded themselves to God. And like for us to, as we're still here looking at verses 15 through 17, I'd like for us to note verse 15 again. Paul tells Timothy, From childhood you have known the holy scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation. The amplified version puts that phrase, that clause this way, the holy scriptures which, quote, are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation. You notice it says it's able to? Why doesn't it just say that gives you the wisdom?

What does able suggest? It suggests potential. It's there if we will pick it up.

The wisdom that leads to salvation is right here in our frail little human hands before our eyes.

If we are willing, we're able to, but if we're willing to take it up, we're able to when God opens our hearts and minds and calls us. And so Paul emphasizes what Timothy and we need to know that God's scripture is a key to salvation. It is a key, but we need to be ready to use it. We need to use it wisely. If you hold your place here, let's also look at Romans 10, 14 through 17 because Paul's words, very important words here in Romans 10, 14 through 17, connect with connect us a little more deeply into God's instruction. The importance of this wisdom that leads is able to lead us to salvation. Romans 10, 14, I hear echoing in my head the words of Dr. Ward. He has very often quoted this and helped us to understand the importance of these scriptures.

Romans 10, 14 through 17, Paul says, how then can they call upon God in whom they have not believed? How and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? So how can God's truth, how can this wisdom get out there to the people? How, you know, they're not going to find it digging in the earth. God has it. How are they going to get it? How is it transmitted to them? Continuing on, in how shall they hear without a preacher? And there we begin to see some of the key.

God is continuing to use, inspired under inspiration, men who commit themselves to Him, people who commit themselves to Him and help share the Word. Verse 15, in how shall they preach unless they are sent? They have to be sent of God. They have to be motivated. And as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. And that's true. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. Not everybody follows.

We have to be careful that we listen to and heed those who are truly drawing their truth from Scripture and not forcing their own ideas into Scripture. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report, verse 17, so then faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

We need the Holy Spirit. We need God's Word. To have faith in Jesus Christ and be ready to receive salvation requires then that we do hear and heed God's Holy Scripture. And one cannot believe and live according to God's truth and unto salvation without having heard Christ's gospel and without having to take the process conversion of being called of God, that opening of our hearts and minds to understand, to want to seek, to want to know more about Christ. And then from that knowledge of moving to repentance and baptism, receiving His Holy Spirit, God's Holy Spirit, it's a gift. And then enduring in faith and to the end, and to the end. And it's in this way, then, that God's Word enables us. It enables us, if we do our part, of being receptive, of being convicted of the truth and committed to it, and then having the courage and the vernacular, the guts to do what is right, because it's very hard to do what is right in this world. It always has been, and it may seem even especially difficult in the days we are in now.

God enables us to be wise for salvation and so to be able to receive the riches of His grace.

Now, if we do go back to 2 Timothy 3.16, then we looked at verse 15. I want to look a little more closely now at verse 16. I want to focus on verse 16 a little more now for the remainder of the sermon. After declaring that Scripture is able to make us wise for salvation, if we would have it, in verse 16, Paul then lists four ways. And I would think these are not the only ways, but then Paul lists four ways that God's Word is profitable, not in a monetary sense, although I'm sure we know we've heard about preachers out there that preach and teach just to make money. Paul had to contend with them in his time as well. But profitable meaning useful, beneficial to us in the true sense, in the way of getting those true riches. God's Word is profitable or helpful in making us wise for salvation and for doing works of righteousness. And then he lists, again, verse 16, these four ways. It's profitable, useful for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. And why do we need that? That the woman of God, the person of God, may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So now I want to develop with you the usefulness of God's Word, because sometimes, I don't know if you've noticed in your life, and speaking of material riches, you could be sitting on a gold mine. You don't even know it. You could be sitting on an antique that's ever watched Antique Rocho. People bring in an old beat-up painting that's worth thousands of dollars. Brethren, you're holding something now worth more than anything you're going to find talked about on the Antique Rocho, right? Do we understand that? Do we appreciate that?

So what does it mean? God's Word, Paul says, is profitable for doctrine. Do you approach God's Word this way, if that understanding? The Greek word translated as doctrine does mean teachings. It means instruction. So God's Scripture gives us the doctrines of God, not the doctrines of men. What we have listed in our fundamentals booklet, we talk about doctrines, the best of our ability as men inspired by God through the years, these doctrines are not of men. They are of God. They're drawn from Scripture. These are not the teachings and instruction of man. Without God's revelation of His truth, we'd be ignorant of God's truth. We'd be that light He gives us that it's in the darkness. In fact, without God's truth, all of us would still be entrapped in the spiritual darkness and sin and death. Let's notice back in Psalm 19. Psalm 19, verse 7 through 9, part of the wonderful aspect of God's instruction, His Scripture.

Now understand, I'm addressing primarily believers in this audience.

They're our hobbyists. I don't know if there's any of them here, but this is what believers will appreciate and value God's word for. Psalm 19, verse 7 through 9, this Psalm written of David urges us to praise God because His word is the light of truth and righteousness. Verse 7, David writes, he says, the law of God is perfect, converting the soul.

And the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. And the fear of the Lord, that's speaking of that reverential fear, the respect for God and His word, the fear of the Lord is clean. It's enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true in righteousness altogether.

Don't you want to have a part of that? We do. If we're believers, if we're doing and living what Christ says, what the Scripture tells us, Jesus Christ, remember what He told His Father in His prayer in John 1717? You should know it. Your word is truth. God's word is truth.

It is that hidden wisdom that God has to reveal. Ephesians 4, verses 11 through 15. Ephesians 4, verses 11 through 15. Let's turn there, please. Ephesians 4, verses 11 through 15.

Paul explains that Christ ordains leaders. And this gets back again to part of what we were reading about in Romans 10, when Paul is writing there. Ephesians 4, 11 through 15, Paul explains that Christ ordains leaders in His church, in that spirit body, to preach and teach His word.

He does that to strengthen unity and, again, to equip His saints, not just for good works. It's more than just doing works, good works, but with the true knowledge and instruction of God's doctrine that they need. And so we read verse 11, Ephesians 4. Paul says, He himself, God himself, gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.

And he might pause and think, well, now, why did God do that? Well, he continues on with the answer.

For the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry. And here, ministry does not need to be nearly defined as just those that preach from the Bible. Ministry means serving in the interest of God, in the interest of God's people. That sort of ministry. And they serve for the edifying of the body of Christ, building them up in Christ. And why? Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. And verse 14 is critical. And why all this? Why the preaching and teaching? Why do we need God's doctrines? Why do we need His instruction? Because Paul knew what we're up against. Verse 14. That we should no longer be children, little children, like little children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, or by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. But speaking the truth and love, that we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ.

You ever feel like out in the world you just get a lot of headwinds? You're trying to do what's right, and you're following God's Word, and then somebody says this, oh, you need to do this, and you need to do that, and you need to use these words, you need to practice this language?

No. Just stick to what God says. Stick to the doctrine. Stick to the Scripture. Stick to the treasure in our hands. In John 6, 67, 68, you remember the account. Jesus had asked the 12 disciples, other disciples were leaving Jesus because he was talking about people are going to need to eat his body and drink his blood, and apparently some were disturbed by that. Some disciples left him at that time. In John 6, 67, 68, when Jesus asked the 12 disciples if they also wanted to leave him like the others had, remember Peter said, Peter answered and saying, said, he said, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Where are the words of Jesus Christ recorded?

Right here in the Scripture, in the book. That's where we go. You notice Jesus did not refute Peter's statement, for it was, and it still is, true. Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life.

So on this point, God's word is profitable, useful for doctrine. Do we believe God's word? We're contrasting again, believer versus hobbyist. Do we? Do you believe God's word?

Do you believe that it gives us true, sound doctrine, needful for eternal life?

Do you, do we believe and do, and do what God says? Or, do we treat God's word casually, like a hobbyist? Just simple words to read about. You don't have to do what it says.

It's not all that important. Just words to quibble over and talk about and have discussions over, but not to actually do. We need to be a believer.

The second thing Paul said, God's word is profitable for reproof.

I don't know if any of us use reproof every day in our language, normal vernacular tongue. We probably don't. It's a word that is not often used. It's an old word, but reproof means rebuke or censure. C-e-n-s-u-r-e. You know, it's a type of correction.

Mounts' Depository Dictionary explains that to reproof is the noun, but reproof would be the verb. That to reprove or to rebuke means making someone aware of a sin. It's not just to yell at somebody. Sometimes we feel like rebukes. They're just yelling at me. No, true rebuke in the sense that Paul's using it here in God's word. Reproof or rebuke means making someone aware of a sin, making them aware where they're off the mark, exposing a sin, or convincing someone of their guilt.

It's a profiting from God's word requires, and understand this, to truly profit from God's word requires that we be rebuked by God's word, from God's word. I'm not here to rebuke anybody. But I think we should be reading God's word and listening to it. If it says something we should be doing and are helping us to see a sin, then we need to accept the rebuke and respond to it in the right and repentant way. So again, the profit of God's word requires that we be rebuked. We be made aware of our sin. And if he did, such reproof or rebuke is a good thing. It's good for us to be rebuked from God's word. That's not the human way, is it? We get a little bit of criticism, and what do we want to do? We put up the shields. We want to fight. I did not do that. No, that's not the approach to have with God's word if you're a believer. Proverbs 1531 states, The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. Again, that's Proverbs 1531. The ear that hears, and I would suspect that actually more likely me to hear, the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. Let's look at Matthew 15, 6 through 9.

Jesus Christ was stern at times, wasn't he? Jesus Christ was stern at times, especially when rebuking those who are blind to their sin. In Matthew 15, 6 through 9, Jesus used scripture in his reproof or his rebuke of the Pharisees. Matthew 15, 6 through 9. Now, there's much more rebuke that he does in this section, but I just want to give us a sampler of what he's saying here.

What is being referred to in Matthew 15, 6 through 9? Jesus is calling out the Pharisees. He's making them aware of where they're off course. You see, it's through their adherence to their traditions that they had circumvented, they had made circles and gone around certain aspects of God's law. And Jesus Christ is calling them out on it. In verse 6, Jesus said, thus you have made, thus you have made, breaking into it, the full sentence there, thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

He says, hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying these people draw near to me with their mouth, and I will not be able to see them. And I will not be able to see them. And I will not be able to see the How does they should have been? Having exposed their sin, Jesus rebuked them. Why did he rebuke them? Did he just rebuke them because somehow he's being mean-spirited and he just hates them and he wants to give it to them?

Absolutely not. Jesus rebuked them, you see, for their own good. Now they didn't like it, but he rebuked them for their own good. God loves every human being. He wants every human being to repent. He wanted their Pharisees to repent, and from what the clues suggested, some Pharisees did heed him, some Pharisees did repent. You see, people often only want to hear good things, so-called good things, from God's Word. And yes, there is much good news to preach, isn't there?

But motivating people to repentance, which is a good thing, it often requires rebuke and stern warning, because we're thick sculpt sometimes. We don't want to change. And it takes rebuke from God's Word if we're willing to heed it, to hear and to change. Christ's instruction here is so basic and so fundamental. And in Christ's words reaffirm God's instruction from Isaiah 66 verse 2.

I'll read it to you. I think you know it. Isaiah 66 verse 2 says, God says, But on this one will I will look, on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word. Do we choose to tremble at God's Word? Do you choose, do we choose to heed the rebuke about our sins? Do we use God's Word to help us repent, or do we treat God's Word casually? Reading it, thinking, yeah, I need to do something about that sin in my life, but not really being fearful enough about God and what's to come if we don't repent to actually change.

We need to be believers. Paul then talks about how the Bible is profitable for correction. Correction is another word that we may not really like to hear, as that human side of us does it. Correction is another word that does not always carry a positive connotation, but in this verse it does. Correction is another thing that's good, honestly. All the things that Paul's talking about we might say, oh, I don't know if I like that. They're all good things. They're all good things. Expositor's Bible commentary explains that correction refers, it refers to restoration to an upright position or a right state.

Restoration to an upright position or a right state. In other words, God's Word is there to help us correct our course in life. When we get off track, God's Word is there to get us back to where we need to be, if we allow it to work that way.

Psalm 119, verse 9 through 11, it makes it clear that we cannot achieve a right way of living without heeding God's Word. And it's addressed specifically to young people, a young man, but obviously the principle applies to us all. Psalm 119, verse 9. The question posed is, how can a young man clean his cleanse his way? I almost said, how can a young man clean his room? But that's not what it is. How can a young man cleanse his way?

His way of life? The answer is, by taking heed according to your Word, God's Word. Taking heed. And then, verse 11, this person reacts, your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. So it conveys the meaning you have to put God's Word in your heart. You have to listen to it and let it correct your course to cleanse your way. In Hebrews 4, verse 12 through 13, it agrees. Hebrews 4, verse 12 through 13. God's Word is a powerful corrective. It's a powerful corrective if we will allow it to be.

Again, it depends on us. That's our part. Are we going to listen to it or treat it as not so important? God's Word is a powerful corrected. It's sharper than any sword. More powerful than it, sharper than any sword, enabled to pierce through the hardest heart, the toughest conscience.

Verse 12, for the Word of God is living. It's powerful. Sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit. Life and spirit of joints and morrow. It is an discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It'll help us see what we're really thinking, what we're really doing. And there is no creature hidden from his side, God's side, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Again, this is God's Word, able to make us wise to salvation. Will we heed it? Will we be corrected by it? God's Word can help us strip away our facades. We can be pretty good at wearing a mask out in public. We can even put on a mask at sorts when we come around one another at services. Of course, we're supposed to put out our best foot, right? But if we're hiding away things that we know we need to change, then we need to take a good look at God's Word and let God's Word help strip away the facade.

We need to use God's Word to judge ourselves more than others. So do we heed the correction of God's Word? Do you believe it? Or do we turn our wayward hearts and minds to other things? They need to be focused on God. Do we use God's Word to help us repent? Or do we treat them lightly as a hobbyist? Nice words to read, but we're not going to do it. Finally, number four. God's Word is profitable for instruction and righteousness. The Greek word here for instruction typically refers to the whole training and education of children.

But for adults, the word refers to instruction, which aims to increase virtue. It helps us grow in virtue and character, godly character. And so in one sense, we do see Hebrews 6 through 4. Paul admonishes. You can jot that down.

Hebrews 6 verse 4 Paul admonitioned to fathers about training their children. He tells fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. That's referring to the instruction and righteousness. That's what the idea is. And if you're still here in Hebrews, Hebrews 12 verse 11, it's interesting, this very same Greek word which talks about training of children, it's used in the... it's often translated as we see here in Hebrews 12 verse 11. It's translated as chastening. Instruction can be... include some discipline. Discipline does not mean corporal punishment. Discipline could just mean setting up fences. It can mean setting up barriers and direction.

Hebrews 12 11 reads, Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but it's painful. But nevertheless, afterward it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. And there you get that other aspect again, trained by it. And so this idea of chastening from God, even as adults, yes, we use Scripture to train our children, we should. But even as... even in old... as old ones, we are still children and we still need to be trained. We still need to be disciplined in the right way so we have our course correction.

We can retain and keep that right relationship with God. And so Paul also refers 2nd Timothy 3 15 if you recall. Timothy was brought up from childhood to have known the Scriptures we were told. And that's part of what Paul is telling... talking to us about there in 2nd Timothy 3 15. But if you also would jot down and you could check this out later, 2nd Timothy 1 5. Paul is also making connection with Timothy about his own youthful education.

Reminding us that training in God starts... well, frankly, it starts before we have children because the parents have to be on top of their instruction in God's way so they can pass it down to their children. Timothy, we were told in 2nd Timothy 1 5, Paul lets us see that Timothy was to be holding fast to his training in the Scriptures, which he had... which he had...

in the faith that he had seen and witnessed and surely received from his grandmother, Lois, it says, and his mother, Eunice. And so again, we see then that God's Word is vital to training children, but it's also vital to ourselves, we adults, we older ones, training righteousness of God. And again, it's able to make the wisdom, if it provides a wisdom we need unto salvation. And so, do we use God's Scripture for instruction in righteousness? Do we hold fast with our hearts, minds, and hands? Do we put it in our lives, use it in an active way? Or do we have that hobbyist approach?

Something to put on the wall and look at in a frame, but not really to practice. God's Holy Scripture in these four ways, Paul says, is profitable and beneficial. And remember, it dies in of what he said earlier, that it's all Scripture is able to make us wise for salvation through faith, but we have to make the choice. And so, brethren, if we truly fear and revere God, if we truly tremble at His Word, that's a choice we have to make. We're not naturally going to tremble at it. We have to choose to tremble before God at His Word. And if we do that, we will use God's Word for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, all of which are necessary in preparation for salvation. We will believe and do what God says. Now, that sounds very simple. Sometimes we hear, yeah, we know. We have to believe God and do what He says. Is that the doctrine of certain pastors? Is that simply Dr. Ward's doctrine or Dr. Erwiller's doctrine? Nope. Let's look at Luke chapter 8, Luke 8, 20 to 21. Where do we get this idea we have to believe what God says in His Scriptures and do it? Is that just a pat phrase? Another hobbyist idea we can look at and treat lightly? Not really worry about, oh, because God is merciful. He knows what we want to do, what we mean to do. Let's look at two places here in Luke. Luke 8, verse 20 through 21. Luke 8, 20 through 21 as we begin to wrap it up here. Breaking into a larger episode, Jesus had been teaching His disciples a group of people. And someone walks in and it was told in verse 20, it says, it was told him by some people. They said, your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They're desiring to see you. But He answered, Jesus answered and said to them, pay attention, He said, my mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it. They hear the Word of God and do it. Now, if you need another witness, look at Luke 11, 28. It's still in the Bible. It's the same witness. It's God. You need two witnesses. It's God's Word.

Luke 11, verse 28. Luke 11, 28. Do we really need to believe God's Word and do it? Who says that? Well, depends on what you believe. Well, if you believe Scripture, Luke 11, 28. And again, breaking into the thought here, I just want to pay attention to what He says here. Verse 28, Jesus said, more than that, to the point of what He said, then He said, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it. Who hear the Word of God and keep it. So, brethren, do we strive to live according to God's instruction? Are we digging into Scripture to seek His riches? If not, then we may be treating God. You may argue, no, you're not doing it, but you may be treating God's Word like a hobbyist more than as a believer. You're putting your eternal life in jeopardy. We are putting our eternal life in jeopardy if we don't really dig in and practice God's Word. Of all people, we dare not treat God's truth as a mere pastime. Of all people, we dare not treat God's Word as some kind of intellectual hobby. These are the words of life that give us true wisdom. These are the words of life only that point us to Christ and Christ. Through faith in Christ, we have salvation. Brethren, my purpose was to invigorate and reinvigorate ourselves to our calling, and I hope I've helped to do that today. We have to partake of our calling. We have to do our duty. We have to fulfill our responsibility for God, our Savior and Judge. And so, again, will we believe and submit to God's Word? Will we tremble at the Word of God and boldly live the true riches of God's wisdom unto salvation? What will you do? Are you a believer or are you a hobbyist?