We do live in an amazing world…a world where we let go of our self-control each and every day. I believe we are truly blessed to see God’s controlling hand move each and every moment throughout time. Tonight, I have the honor to speak to you once again. I haven’t given a sermon in awhile, so I am honored to be given the opportunity to speak to you…yet this is a moment that God has placed Himself in control. How do I know this? Twice I wrote sermons for tonight, twice I completed them and practiced them; I thought they were perfect, and twice the Spirit has led me to throw them in the trash because those sermons were being controlled by Steve and not God. I learned long ago that you cannot force the spirit unless you want to fail.
I know God is in control for I cannot even begin to imagine how many churches have cancelled services this evening or they only have one or two people in attendance all because of the Superbowl; yet we are here to worship Adonai, the Lord, we are here to acknowledge that God is in control…now and always.
Here’s a wonderful example and one I am sure many of you have heard about. A couple of months ago there began a mass proliferation of animal deaths around the world. First in Arkansas with a few thousand blackbirds falling dead from the sky and then 10,000 fish floating dead on the Arkansas lakes. But this was not a one-time incident for the animal deaths moved across the globe on different days and various locations; places like Vietnam, Sweden, Lake Michigan, Washington, Italy, England, Alabama, and other random locations and dates…they continued as the numbers of fish, birds and livestock persist to die; they still do. Biologists, scientists and naturalists maintain with the same baffled excuses that this is a simple part of nature, that sometimes birds fly into walls or fireworks and that fish just die for unexplained reasons. As you would expect many Christian eschatologists and watchers of the Last Days were instantly upon the Internet bloging sites talking about these events, many of them calling them the End of the World or coming up with new names like animalocalypse and other interesting titles. Many of these individuals were attributing these animal deaths to Revelation 8:8 and 16:3 which states that all the living creatures in the seas were killed after the waters where turned to blood. Other Christians on the web were writing that the deaths were the fulfillment of the prophecy of Hosea 4:3 which reads,
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
…And by the way that is the prophecy that makes sense to me…
And these articles where covering the Christian newswires all over the Internet. And this was not surprising in the least. Yet, what ensued after these articles were published is was what I found astounding and infuriating. The very next day, after the first of the mass deaths, after the first of the blackbirds and fish were found in Arkansas; the “factual” and “trusting” news organizations like CNN and MSNBC were spending more time ridiculing Christians for their views on these events then actually covering these events. They were actually blowing over what took place by making the Christians an entertainment piece. These so-called objective news channels actually had 10-minute segments where they interviewed atheist experts about the stupidity of the Christian faith in the animal deaths. I could not help but think three things when I watched that…first, if they had done that, but focused on Islam instead of Christianity, the backlash would have been beyond insurmountable as those new stations would have been sanctioned not only by the FCC, but by the public at large; second, I was glad there that there was nothing near me that was not hard enough that could break the television when I threw it (I actually keep everything away in case I flip to the History Channel); and third, there could not be one person at CNN or MSNBC who could call themselves a true, serious or literal reading Bible-based Christian.
And that my friends is where we will find ourselves this evening, on a subject that has truly enveloped and fueled me with fire for a while now. I, as most of you know, am a student of the Bible, not just with my intense personal studies that have been going on since 1987, but with Bible College and seminary. And the more I study the Scripture the more I have come to the belief that the very words placed within the Bible…word for word are true…it is all true, jot for jot and tittle for tittle, literally accurate and true. Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy in a second letter explaining to him that that every word of the Bible must be taken as truth. 2Timothy 3:16 reads.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim 3:16 (KJV)
That first word in the verse is so very important…all. It is telling us that every word has been given to us by God. We must always remember that it is not just the big juicy words in Scripture like justification, sanctification, salvation and propitiation that are the most important to us, but I have found that some of the most precious words of the Bible have only three letters…words like all and one…words like Son and God. Those are some awesome words.
Now I am afraid at this point I am going to get myself in a bit of trouble here. I have been told on numerous occasions to never preach from the pulpit as to a specific Bible translation, but after throwing away two sermons and having intense prayer I am afraid I must. You see as a Biblical literalist, for someone who takes Scriptural accuracy as vitally important, you must be sure your starting with a true Bible translation. Otherwise, what’s the point? If you are reading a paraphrased Bible, what is the point of taking that Bible literally? Don’t mistake me, I fully agree that God’s Word will not return void. In 1987 I was a senior in high school and I was shown a New International Version Bible, which is not a translation that was created for accuracy, but for the ease of reading, and it was that NIV that led me on my quest to prove Jesus a lie. So I firmly believe that whatever Bible is being read, if it leads you to Christ, then it is a great and wonderful Bible. But I also believe that Christians who wish to commit to a true and accurate study of Scripture should own a Bible that is accurate to the true Word of God, to the Word that God gave to the English speaking world. The Bible that God intended to give us as accurate true Bibles and that is the King James Bible. I truly believe there is a reason that the King James is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. More people have been saved through a King James Bible than any other Bible.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Romans 10:17-18 (KJV)
But back to the point, I feel that to be a true literalist we must a true starting point. And I take that starting point to be a true and accurate translation. I often say this to others on the Internet, but there is a wonderful sense of relief and comfort when you have the true word of God and you start taking it literally. For once you do you have been freed from the responsibility and chore of searching through massive volumes of commentaries of Scriptural text in hopes of finding the one that you like. Now you can now take the Word as it has been intended, in most cases there really is no need for commentaries…an apple means and an apple, it no longer means a pear or a pomegranate or a starfruit. When the New Testament states that Mary was a Virgin we can take that as truth and that she has not lived or been with another man, we have no responsibility to please the United Methodist denominational view that the word Virgin is an analogous term for Maiden and not necessarily that of a sexual virgin. She may have been a virgin, but as a maiden we cannot tell for sure. So by giving up that personal responsibility of the translation effort you are now stating you are willing to put your trust into God’s hands for much of the defining aspects of the terms; Instead of the thousands of existing commentaries that exist for the non-literal views of the Bible. What you’re doing in all essence is viewing the Bible with an orthodox interpretation and your saying, “God, I am putting you back in control.” But, we can only do this if we are using accurate Bible translations.
We know throughout Scripture how vital it is, how special the Bible is. Its reason for being created was the same reason that we have each found salvation itself. I do not think any passages that can say it better than from the first chapter of John,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4 (KJV)
Jesus was the Word of God; Scripture is the Word of God. To know one is to know the other. I find it incomprehensible not to want to delve into by Bible, forgive me if that came out wrong, but the best way to know Jesus in this life is through our Bibles. This is another reason I have been so adamant to becoming a literalist in my Biblical translations. If we are to know Jesus through our Bible then I want to be sure to use the proper Bibles. Much of our growth within Christ; our sanctification will come through the very things that we lean in our Bibles. So that makes it so special that we start with a proper foundation.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Psalms 118:22 (KJV)
But there are two further reasons we need that correct translation for ourselves. The first is there is for the protection against the spiritual attacks that will occur. As a Christian at some point in your life Satan will go at you; and the more faithful you are, the harder the attack will be. As an evangelist, I can attest to being hit…I am very far from being Charismatic, I am not mystical in any way shape or means, but at the Oakland County Fair you can feel the spiritual energy, you can feel when there is evil in the tent and when it leaves. Sometimes it is so strong it amazes me there are not lightning bolts inside the canvas tent. Two years ago I was leading two young teens in a prayer, could have been my 80 or 90th lead of the week and I just lost my voice, my sight, everything…I was lost…I had to have Laura take over…we all will be attacked…I was not used to it, so I did not know what to do, I ended up behind the tent crying and praying. What should have been done was what Christ did when he was attacked,
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt 4:4 (KJV)
These verses where being stated as Jesus was spending His 40 days in the wilderness and being tempted of Satan. Three times the Adversary attempted to tempt Jesus and all three time Jesus rebuffed him with the Word of God…the Bible. Jesus’ prayers were quoting Scripture out loud. Satan could not bear to hear the Word of God. Having the knowledge of the Bible can save each of us from any intended harm. Prayers are the answer and Jesus said them out loud without any shame. At the fair, the group often stops and goes into prayers, it makes a difference. When one evangelist table is down another will prayer for the other. It makes a difference. And when you mix Scripture and prayer… whoa!!!!!! Look out!
The other reason it is essential to have a proper translation is when it comes to eschatological studies, or studies of the End Times. Now I am not an expert of the Last Days, so I will not bore you with an overload of information, but as we spoke of earlier; if you are a literalist your reliance wil lessen for the of Biblical commentaries of others. Subjects, like who the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11 can be easily simplified in your studies. For example, during my studies over the past few weeks I have come to find that the Two Witnesses must be Enoch and Elijah, as they are the only two men within the Bible that were ever to be translated into Heaven alive, thus they are the only two men who could be sent back and killed. As anyone who has taken a look at End Times studies knows, there are a thousand opinions for a thousand scholars when it comes to this subject matter. This is why it is so vitally essential that if you are going to begin a study of the Last Days that you arm and prepare yourself with a true Word Of God. There are too many events that are occurring in the world today that cannot be ignored. For anyone who calls themselves a literalist we must have the courage to say the signs are there. No man knows the time, but the signs are there. These are subjects worthy of proper study with the true Word of God.
I have read over this sermon several times, and I know this is where I was led, yet I have to admit this being the strangest sermon of my life. I have been thinking and contemplating why I would give such a sermon, especially one in that I would declare a specific Bible translation. And the answer comes back the same…that I believe we are coming near to the return of the Lord, the signs are there. We will be unable to control the big picture things, the scary items of Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation. What we can fight against is the coming false doctrines, what we can fight against is the false teachings, what we can fight against is allowing our family, friends and community to fall away into Hell without a fight. And we shall make this fight by planting the seed of Jesus Christ in as many as we can. But we need to make sure that those we do reach are fertilized properly, not with false teachings and not with false translations. I apologize if I offend you my TLB fans, but you may be saved through a Living Bible, but for sanctification and study we need to get you back to some truth and away from an admitted paraphrases. There was only one Jesus and he will never allow himself to be changed or into a paraphrase…Jesus is called the Word of God. So is Scripture. And by changing one are we not changing the other?
