This sermon emphasizes the vital facets of the Bible, highlighting its role as the source of salvation, evidence of true faith, and the means for spiritual growth, renewal, and survival. It explores how the Bible serves as a moral compass, cleanses from wrong influences, and provides safe navigation and comfort in affliction. The sermon stresses the importance of the Word of God in testing and strengthening faith, instilling hope, and guiding believers to seek God's presence and wisdom through its sacred pages.

Can we bow for prayer, please? Father, wash me in the holy blood of Christ, thy Son. Cleanse me in thy mercy from anything that in any way would hinder God from speaking to such a base and weak and despised man. And Lord, fill with the Holy Spirit, beyond my comprehension how thou couldst do such a thing to unworthy men. But as Jeremiah cried in faith, let me be the mouthpiece through which thy voice is heard. Let that happen in mercy because of the mercy and grace of God as a result of faith in the blood of Christ. Fill with the Holy Spirit in an unusual way to take control and unctionize and anoint the Word of God and to apply it to every heart. Keep us safe from Satan, his demonic forces, evil people, and put a hedge around us by the risen and resurrected power of Christ to keep us safe. Now brood upon us and speak to the depth of every heart by the working of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus the Christ's name, amen. The Bible, the Bible refers to itself, the Bible refers to itself as the Word of God. The Bible refers to itself as the Word of God in Hebrews 6 verse 5. And in 2 Timothy 3 verse 16, we read that all scripture, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God for instruction, for instruction in righteousness. Verse 17, that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped, that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly, thoroughly equipped. Now today, I want us to carefully consider 16 facets. I want us to carefully consider 16 facets of this book, which is the sacred Word of God. The first thing, the first thing we must realize is that it is the source of our salvation. It is the source of our salvation. James tells us in chapter 1 verse 21 to receive with meekness the engrafted Word, to receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. Being born again by the Word of God, 1 Peter 1 verse 23. And in 2 Timothy 3 verse 15, Paul refers to the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. The holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith, Ephesians 2 verse 8. And faith cometh by the Word of God, Romans 10 verse 17. And so firstly, we see that it is the source of our salvation. But secondly, secondly, the keeping of it, the keeping of it is the evidence that I am truly saved. The keeping of it is the evidence that I am truly saved. Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves, James warned in chapter 1 verse 22. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, a liar, God says. The truth is not in him, 1 John 2 verse 3. 1 Peter 2 verse 23 says, being born again, being born again, not of corruptible seed, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God. Now the seed is the Word of God, Jesus said in Luke 8 verse 11. But, but, in the next verse he gave a fearful warning, then cometh the devil, then cometh the devil and taketh away the Word, taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. O soul, whatever the devil does, whoever the devil uses, be careful what you do when you hear or read the Word of God. Be careful what you do when you hear or read the Word of God, for we are warned that it will one day judge us, it will one day judge us. In John 12 verse 18, Christ declared, he that rejecteth me and receiveth not my word, hath one that judges him, the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed, Proverbs 13 verse 13. And so, firstly, we see that it is the source of our salvation. And secondly, that the keeping of it, the keeping of it is the evidence that we have been truly saved. But thirdly, the rejecting of it will result in us to one day be judged by it. But if, if and when I am truly saved, if and when I am truly saved, it, it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. It immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. 1 Peter 2 verse 2 says, as newborn babes, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, that ye may grow thereby. Beloved, this book is the source of our salvation. The keeping of it is the evidence that I am truly saved. But the rejecting of it will result in us to one day be judged by it. But if and when I am truly saved, it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. Fifthly, it is our source of daily renewal. It is our source of daily renewal. In 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16, we read that the inward man is renewed day by day, morning by morning. He wakeneth mine ear to hear, Isaiah 50 verse 4, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3 verse 16 tells us the inward man, the inward man is renewed day by day. It is our source. It is our source of daily renewal, beloved. And it ultimately, it ultimately becomes our source of survival. Man doth not live, literally man cannot live by bread only, that is by eating food only, but, but, but by every word, every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deuteronomy 8 verse 3, I have esteemed the word of his mouth more than my necessary food. I have esteemed the word of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23 verse 12, it ultimately, it ultimately is our source of survival, our source of survival. Now the seventh vital facet, the seventh vital facet we must realize, the seventh vital facet we must realize is that it is given life and revelation by the Holy Spirit. It is given life and revelation by the Holy Spirit. At salvation, at salvation the Holy Spirit of God possesses me. At salvation the Holy Spirit of God possesses me. Ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. 1 Corinthians 3 verse 16, your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 19, Christ in you, Christ in you is the hope of glory. Colossians 1 verse 27, you have no hope of eternal life if Christ is not in you. But if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. He is none of his. Romans 8 verse 9, and from the moment of our salvation, beloved, from the moment of our salvation, the Word of God is given revelation and life by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. From the moment of our salvation, the Word of God is given revelation and life by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. But the natural man, the natural man, that is the unsaved, unregenerate man, receiveth not the things of the Spirit of the God, for they are foolishness unto him, they're meaningless to him. Neither can he know them, he can't understand them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Corinthians 2 verse 14 tells us. For the letter, the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 6 tells us. In Luke, in Luke chapter 24, Christ appeared to two of his sorrowing disciples on the Emmaus road, and verse 27 says, beginning, beginning at Moses, that's the first five books of the Bible, and all the prophets at the rest of the Old Testament, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Then suddenly, verse 31, he vanished out of their sight. And they, they, verse 32, said one to another, did not our hearts, did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us? By the way, while he opened to us the scriptures, and Christ promised his disciples and us that the Holy Spirit, when he is come, would do the same. John 14 verse 26, he shall teach you all things, but without the Holy Spirit, this book is dead. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 6, the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. The psalmist prayed, open thou mine eyes. The Hebrew, give revelation that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119 verse 18, then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scripture. Luke 24 verse 45 recorded, the eyes of your understanding, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, being opened. Ephesians 1 verse 18, that our God may lighten our eyes, literally open our eyes spiritually. Ezra 7 verse 8, now beloved, those disciples, those disciples had cried out, did not our heart burn? Did not our heart burn within us while he opened to us the scriptures? And our hearts, our hearts will burn within us also, beloved. Our hearts will burn also within us as the Holy Spirit of God opens the Word of God to us daily. Our hearts will burn within us also as the Holy Spirit of God opens the Word of God to us daily. But, but, how tragic, how tragic it would be if a Christian sits before an open Bible and like a blind man, sees nothing, nothing to give him a burning heart daily. Oh Christian, beware for the neglect of this book. The neglect of this book is the first evidence that I am in the tragic process of backsliding. Beware, for the neglect of this book is the first evidence that I am in the tragic process of backsliding. The first indication that you have backslidden, the first indication that you have backslidden is if you lose appetite for the scriptures. And instead, your appetite increases more and more for things that are not related to God or His Word, even legitimate things. Instead, your appetite increases more and more for things that keep you from this book, that take away the desire for this book, because your desire is diverted by the devil, even in legitimate things, not necessarily sinful things that are not related to God or His Word. These things will leave you empty spiritually, I guarantee you. And you will experience that even in laughter, the heart will be sorrowful. That's tragic and pathetic. You will experience, I guarantee you, that even in laughter, the heart will be sorrowful. Proverbs 4 verse 13 warns us. Who is he speaking of here? The next verse sadly but clearly tells us, the backslider of heart, even in laughter. That's tragic that you laugh, pretending to yourself you're enjoying it, but if you're saved and you find it's diverted you from this book, and kept you from this book, the heart will be sorrowful while you're laughing, while you're trying to pretend to yourself this is fulfilling you. No ways! You will experience these things will leave you empty and frustrated, and your heart will be sorrowful. That's a backslider. Let me shock you. It is a hundred times more difficult for a backslider to ever find a real walk with God, a vital reality with God, a relationship with God that's vital, meaningful, joyful. It is a hundred times more harder than for a pervert, a drunk, a deeply depraved sinner to find Christ and truth the moment he comes as a sinner and finds vital reality. Don't go that way. You don't go that way. Nothing you as a Christian go for to fulfill you that diverts you and buries this book. I'm not talking about things that you have to do. Those things are blessed as a result of the time you spend with the book. I'm talking about what you are letting the devil embrace, make you embrace while you bury this book and it's rightful possession. You don't need to find what most find. It is a hundred times more difficult to ever get into a vital relationship that's consistent and lasting than for an unsaved man to ever find God in reality. Don't go that way. Beloved, the word of God is the source of our salvation and the keeping of it is the evidence that I am truly saved. But the rejecting of it will result in us to one day be judged by it. But once I am truly saved, it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth and our source of daily renewal, daily renewal. It ultimately becomes our source of survival. It is given life and revelation by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. But the neglect of it is the first evidence that I am in the dangerous and tragic process of backsliding. It is also our moral compass. It is also our moral compass. In John 17 verse 15, Jesus prayed, Father, I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Verse 17, sanctify them, that is keep them from the evil through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Beloved, this is our moral compass. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way, that is stay clean in this wicked world, by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119 verse 9, thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? My son asked me that, weeping. It was against the law to have homeschooling those days when my elder boys were at school. Later on Samuel, our little young one, he went homeschooling with Denny. But my elder boy had to go to a very good school, exclusive, that others paid for, and they loved to us as missionaries. But he came to me one day and said, Daddy, how am I ever going to stay clean in this world? Daddy, you don't know what it's like out there in that school, as good as that school is. Daddy, I have looked for anyone. I go from friend to friend to try and befriend someone that I think might be decent. And Daddy, all within moments, they're holding out filth, they're holding out depravity, drugs, other things. Daddy, I can't even tell you, it's everywhere I turn, Daddy. How am I going to stay clean in this wicked world, Daddy? I want to. I wept. I wept as he wept. Then I said, listen, my boy, Daddy cannot guarantee you much in life, but one thing I know. Soak yourself in the Bible, wherever you can, my boy, wherever you get time. Don't choose other things, and the devil can't touch you. He can tempt you. But the more you are soaked in the word of God, the more you will hate the evil and love the good. The less you are soaked in the word of God, my boy, the more dangerous the internet is, because though you're saved, the image of Satan will make you love the evil and hate the good. Eventually, listen, my boy, it's not being saved that makes you reject evil. It's being saved and soaked in the word of God. Listen, thy word have I hid within my heart that I might not sin against thee. Wherewithal shall a young man claim, how am I going to stay clean, Daddy? By taking heed according to the word. Sin will keep me from the Bible, but the Bible will keep me from sin. Do you know how many millions of people have that written in their Bible? I was speaking to one of the most esteemed Hebrew scholars in the world, of Old Testament Hebrew and Greek. He has his devotions in the Greek. He gives a right talk of Old Testament and New Testament Hebrew and Greek. He's lectured at Oxford. He's lectured at Yale, these different places in the theological sections, and across the world. He's renowned. He's revered across the world academically, but he loves God and the depth of his mind's ability. I stood with him once. He's dead long now, but he stood with me and he sensed the zeal in my heart as I was talking to him after he lectured. He said to me with a smile, listen, Keele, listen carefully to me. The only words I ever found myself capable of writing between the covers of the sacred book that I could write and answer, the only words I ever found myself able to write within the covers to add are these, and he opened his Bible. Professor of theology. Sin will keep me from the Bible, but the Bible will keep me from sin. I didn't speak any further. I just fled to write it in my Bible 47, 48 years ago as I stood with him. Oh, beloved, it is our moral compass. It is our moral compass. It is also the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face in this sinful world daily. It is also the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face in this sinful world daily. We read in Ephesians 5 verse 25 that Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. It is the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face daily. Beloved, the blood cleanses us from sin, but we are cleansed from the world's wrong and warped influences with the washing of water that God calls the word daily. It also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain, worthless thoughts, from thoughts of evil. It also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain, worthless thoughts, and from thoughts of evil. I hate vain thoughts. I hate vain thoughts. That is wrong, worthless thoughts, but I love thy law. I love thy law. Psalm 119, 130. A godly young man in our mission, his name is Jan Haram Labaskagne. What a dear boy. He said to me over a meal one day, the Bible, sir, gets our minds off things that don't matter, onto God's priorities, God's values. The Bible does that, sir, more than anything else on earth. I hate vain thoughts, but thy law I love. The thought of foolishness is sin. Proverbs 24, verse 9. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23, verse 7. Bringing every thought, bringing into captivity, every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10, verse 15, verse 5. Bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ. Now, beloved, you can do that. God wouldn't ask it of you. God doesn't mock man who he died for. You can do that, young man. You can do that, young woman. You can do that, anyone in this room or world who's saved. You can stop thoughts of evil before they become evil thoughts. Thoughts of evil everyone has. I don't know who you want to mention of who is godly. They have thoughts of evil. Thoughts of evil are not sin. Memory isn't sin. The devil wants to accuse us and say, what do you think? That's just the lie of the devil, the accuser of the brethren. You see, it isn't your fault that you have memory that recalls things. In circumstances, the devil sets up that make you recall things. It isn't your fault. Memory is not sin. If you see some obscene picture that 50 years ago they put a man into a straitjacket in a mental asylum or imprisoned him for pornography, and you walk now and you see it now because of freedom of speech, when you want to buy a loaf of bread, you've got to pass these things that years ago were pornography, openly. You see that. You didn't want to see that. Now you're walking. At first you hate what you see because of the Bible's influence, but the day goes by and suddenly you think of it again. The old devil says, what are you thinking of it now? Rubbish. You're not sinning. Memory is not sin. You have to do what God says, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. You can do that. You can do that. They say you can't help the birds flying over your head, but you had something to do with it. They lay a nest, you know, and eggs. You've got to realize that's not sin. It becomes sin if you dwell on it. When sin is taken and received and dwelt upon and brings forth lust, conceiveth and bringeth forth sin. There's a point what the devil holds before you, what your mind—not through sin, but because memory is not sin—somehow recalls and circumstances. You just have to say, no, God, I didn't want to see that. No, God, I don't want to be thinking these things. You don't have to confess and ask cleansing in the blood. It's just a thought of evil. It's not yet an evil thought. Don't let the devil play havoc with your sensitive conscience and lie to you. You can. You see, it is the Bible that fortifies and keeps my mind from vain, worthless thoughts, from thoughts of evil more than anything. You can watch a thousand Christian films that are getting so good you think you're in Hollywood. They won't do for you what one hour of this book will do. Don't substitute this book. Don't ever substitute this book with any entertainment, even in the name of Christ. It won't work. It won't work. It can stir the emotion, but only the Word of God, not the one or two verses that are quoted in those Christian films that justify them in people's eyes. Be careful that nothing diverts you from the time you can give here. Don't bury the book for anything, anything. Even Christians give you. There's nothing that can fortify your mind to protect you from thoughts of evil, from vain, worthless thoughts. It also becomes our source of safe navigation. Order my steps in your word. Psalm 119 verse 133, literally, direct my steps by means of your word, God. The word, thy word is a lamp, a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. Psalm 119 verse 105, it is our source of safe navigation, beloved. Jesus, Savior, pilot me over life's tempestuous sea. Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rocks, treacherous salt, chart and compass come from thee. Jesus, Savior, pilot me. It is our source of safe navigation, beloved. It gives you the power to see in the dark. I saw an advert in South Africa in a place called Human's Dork. Now, this place is a restaurant meant for multi-billionaires. It hasn't got a sign that says multi-billionaires only, but when you walk in there you realize I don't belong here. To get to this restaurant, chandeliers and sofas and couches and waitresses that you want to stand at attention for. You think they're from Buckingham Palace themselves, the waitresses. Anyway, it's a different class there. And the meals, oh, trust me, we've had the privilege of going there, but don't judge us. We were taken there on those occasions mostly. But anyway, nonetheless, it's amazing. But they've got brilliant minds, these business people. There's no wonder they became rich. To get into that dining room, to get into that restaurant, that luscious, amazing, there's rows of people who stop their cars to get in there and have this luxury. To get in there, you have to walk through a hall about this size. And they have the most magnificent, beautiful little articles from all over the world of any nature, the most beautiful ornaments, the most beautiful, I mean, they've got them imported from some parts of the world. You just look and wonder at them. Oh, oh, now you've got to get past all this to get to the restaurant. And you've got money if you go there normally. So, of course, they make a fortune, no? But I saw a little advert while I'm looking at all these things, you know? And I saw a little sign there on the, this will give you the power to walk in the dark. This will give you the power to see in the darkest circumstances. Oh, that interested me. So I walked up there, and I look at this thing, oh, and what is it? It's a cap, a ridiculous cap that boys wear, you know? Normally, for some reason, it's supposed to keep the sun from their eyes, but they have it there. They're a little bit confused, these young people today, as to where the sun is hurting, you know? Nonetheless, this cap has two little lights, you know, like LED lights attached. Amazingly, and inside, I don't know where the batteries are, but anyway, somewhere in there. And this will give you the ability to walk in the darkest circumstances safely, to see where you're going in the pitch dark. Oh, I don't need you. I've got the Bible for that. So, there you are. That's how preachers look at things. Yes. But by his light, I walked through darkness. By his light, I walked through Job 29 verse 3, and the instructions it contains are the men of my counsel. Without counsel, without counsel, purposes are disappointed. That means plans go wrong. I can make grave mistakes in life, but in the multitude of counselors, in the multitude of counselors, they are established. Proverbs 15 verse 22. In the multitude of counselors, there is safety. Proverbs 11 verse 14. Thy testimonies, that is, thy instructions, are my counselors. Psalm 119 verse 24. The Hebrews, they are the men of my counsel, literally. Thy testimonies, thy instructions, are my counselors. Moffat translated this to say, they are my advisors, my advisors. Most Christians are forever running to man for counsel, for advice, guidance. But beloved, there is greater safety in the instruction of God's word. The men of my counsel are the commandments, the promises, the warnings, the instructions contained and strewn throughout this holy book. And when many of them, when many of them give the same counsel, I embrace them as God's leading direction for my life. For in the multitude of counselors, my counselors, there is safety. The instructions it contains are the men of my counsel. The word sovereignty is feared by most of Christendom, because it's outplayed and overdone to the degree that God's blamed for your sin and evil. No, sovereignty means something totally different to me. I see sovereignty as an incredibly precious word that we need to know and need to embrace and believe in. You see, I find God's sovereignty more in the word of God than anything else, because through life, in every circumstance and crisis I've faced, God guides me. God heals me. God instructs me in no circumstances. Listen, be careful. You don't do this in crisis that you open this book for the first time in crisis. You could get promises that aren't from God if you just want to take a lucky packet, you know, but listen carefully. If you are consistently in this book, it isn't suddenly in troubles you run to God for help. You are so safe if God consistently, where you're reading, beloved, where I'm reading, sometimes, yes, as I open, yes, but where you are at, all your chapters, if you put a mark, God speaks to you as you face crisis, as you face decisions, as you face where you really need God's guidance in this matter, God's help, God's instructions what to do. It's like God suddenly sits in front of you and speaks to you. You know it's God, and when it goes on and on, I don't believe a sovereign God who died for me will mock me when I trust him, as the same counsel is given to me again and again. I can't tell you the occasions that God has spoken to me in my moments when I am really shaken, staggered by the evils of man against me and circumstances against me. I was in some circumstance, and I walked into a building, and a little girl, a small little African-speaking girl, she had picked up a little plaque, a little piece of paper with a certain text, and she said, is this yours? There was the same verse God had given me. Before I came to that church, for my instruction, I said, no, it's not. She said, where did you find it? On the floor. She said, you keep it. It belongs to nobody now. Thank you. So I put it in my Bible. I turn, I walk in the house of God, and there in the wall is the same text. So, in the multitude, when my counsel is all given me the same advice again and again, then in conversations, people who don't know anything about me, oh, God is in control, the sovereignty of God in where you're even reading. He's, there's some, I don't say he's in control of unsaved people's lives, or people who go out of his will. Don't blame God for what goes wrong then. But if you're pursuing God, not ultimate perfection, this God, this God has a control that is beyond comprehension, but beautiful to trust, awesome to believe, and to see, and to witness. Oh, the instructions it contains for me are the men, the men of my counsel. Psalm 119 verse 24, and this sacred book contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed, wounded, overwhelmed, and I become weary and am no longer able to pray in faith. That's happened many, many times in the nearly 50 years I've been saved. This sacred book contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed, wounded, overwhelmed, and I become weary and am no longer able to pray in faith. Martin Luther testified of how during the Reformation, when all hell rose up against him, he became so weary, so fearful, that there were times he couldn't pray a word. His mind was just numb from fear and tiredness. He couldn't pray. And it was then that God led him to pray the Psalms aloud. He found that through this discipline, he swiftly sensed that he had entered into the presence of God in a way he had never, ever experienced before. And he experienced that his faith was being renewed. His faith was being renewed as he prayed these God-given prayers. That's amazing. You see, the Psalms, I don't know if you've noticed it, 80 to 90 percent, between 80 and 90 percent of the Psalms, they start in agony of all the cruelties and the unjust things that are hurled at a man. They start in agony, bringing the complaint to God of the unjustness. And then about halfway through, the psalmist starts committing them to God. And then it ends in praise that God is going to take almost all the Psalms, at least 80-something percent. He found that he had entered into the presence of God, praying what was written, and he experienced his faith being renewed as he prayed these God-given prayers. Luther said to such a degree that he found for the life as a Christian, he didn't bother to pray in his own understanding. He just went straight to the Psalms, went through them and through them, praying them aloud in most of his devotions. For he found there was the schoolmaster of prayer in the set workbook in the school of God. The schoolmaster of prayer. He just went straight to the Psalms. Hallelujah. This book contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed, wounded, overwhelmed, and I become so weary that I'm no longer able to pray in faith, beloved. It's the schoolmaster of prayer. And Luther also added that as he went through the Scriptures again and again from cover to cover, he found prayers strewn through the Bible that weren't just to be recorded of how men prayed and what they prayed, whether it was Paul or others in the Old Testament. They were given by God to enable us to know how to pray in our weariness. But wait. Wait now. It also tests our faith. It also tests our faith. The promises contained in this sacred book test our faith, beloved. We read in Psalm 105 verse 17 that Joseph was cruelly sold by his brothers as a servant. That is, he was sold into slavery. Verse 18, whose feet they hurt, they hurt with fetters, chains, and he was laid in iron. He was laid in iron. Literally, his soul entered into the iron, the Hebrew says. His soul entered into the iron. He suffered so much in the furnace of affliction, God says. Isaiah 41 verse 10. But verse 19 says, until the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tried him. Until the time that his word came, came to pass, came to fulfillment, he had promises. But until those promises eventually were fulfilled, until the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tried him, tested him. Beloved, it also tests our faith. But if my faith, if my faith ever is put to the test, if my faith in God, in God's promises to me are ever put to the test, it installs hope, comfort, courage within me to endure through God's compassionate and precious promises, which are strewn across its sacred pages for your and my survival, no matter what comes. Beloved, Job. Job had no Bible. Job had no Bible. You see, before the canonization of the books of the Bible, which were divinely inspired by all the godly who did sit there, before it was chosen of all the sacred writings that somehow, because many of the writings that are being found nowadays were written by people who were devilish. So don't go to the oldest manuscripts you find, you academics. Be careful. Heresies, heretics were there writing against truth. No. Before the divinely inspired books of this Bible were put together, before any of the writings, before Moses was born to write what God revealed to him of Genesis 1, the creation, the fall, God singling out a single man to whom a single nation came through which he could eventually come to save the world. Before any of the books, any book was ever written, Job was written. It is the first book that is recounted as divinely inspired, ever placed before any other book in the Bible written. And don't doubt, don't doubt that it's God that were in those man's decisions in the canonization. We're in a terrible age where everything casts doubts on God, especially on God's Word, our foundation. Don't ever allow yourself to go that way. Don't ever, ever even slightly entertain the thought that man had anything to do. Of course God used man, just as he's using frail men now to reveal, to edify, to expound. God always chose man to use in the most amazing way. Yes, God used man, but don't ever think that God lost control of the one book that billions upon billions upon billions don't think it's just millions that seek and find him and find his voice reaching their hearts daily to death if they stay right with him. Don't believe that this God lost control. Don't believe that for one moment God could possibly have just said, the one book that you and I know our hearts witness with intelligence and the Spirit witnessing with our hearts and giving revelation. We know it's divinely inspired. Don't ever entertain what they're trying to tell you. There's other divinely inspired books that should have been, that were rejected, that were put aside rubbish. They're all of the devil, sir, I tell you. You're of the devil, sir, that puts them in the place of the Bible to undermine this book. Don't play the fool with God. This book, God was in utter control, not the devil. Oh, God had no love for man at all. There's mistakes of what's in here and what isn't. Job had no Bible, and he cried, my days, my days are spent without hope. My days are spent without hope. Job 7 verse 6, but we, beloved, we cry, although, although my soul melteth for heaviness at times and fainteth for thy salvation. Psalm 119 verse 81, the next verse says, I hope in thy word, although my soul melteth like Job for heaviness, fainteth for thy salvation longing, I hope. Job had no hope for he had no Bible. My days are spent without hope, but we, beloved, have the word, I hope, I hope in thy word. Psalm 191 verse 81, 82. David, David was greatly distressed, like all of us are in life. In this world, tribulation, heaven's coming, brother. Don't ever think you're going to have it on earth. No ways. David was greatly distressed. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 30 verse 6, but David encouraged himself in the Lord. David encouraged himself in the Lord. How? In the multitude of my thoughts within me, he said, thy comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94 verse 19, this is my comfort, he cried. This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word. What he had of it, we have 70% more in here. This is my comfort. Thy comforts delight my soul. This is my comfort in my affliction, he cried. Thy word, Psalm 119 verse 49, Psalm 107 verse 20 tells us he sent forth his healing word. The sovereign God knows just how to put something in front of you to heal you. But unless, unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction. Psalm 119 verse 92, unless thy law had been my delights, my discipline of life devoured, I should then have perished in my affliction, that we through patience, that's endurance, and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15 verse 4, that we through patience, that's enduring, whatever we face, and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15 verse 4, Hebrews 11 33 tells us of men and women who through faith obtained promises and out of weakness were made strong. Men and women who through faith obtained promises and out of weakness were made strong. Now the Bible has many other facets, beloved. One day I hope to preach on further, but today we have considered 16 of its vital facets. Firstly, it is the source of our salvation. Secondly, the keeping of it is the evidence that I am truly saved. Thirdly, but the rejecting of it will result in us to one day be judged by it. Fourthly, once I am truly saved, it immediately becomes my source of growth, spiritual growth. And fifthly, our source of daily renewal, daily renewal. Sixthly, it ultimately becomes our source of survival. Seventhly, it is given life and revelation by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. But eighthly, the neglect of it is the first evidence that I am in the dangerous and tragic process of backsliding. Ninthly, it is also our moral compass. It is also our moral compass. Tenthly, it is the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face in this sinful world daily. Eleven, it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil. Becoming evil thoughts. Twelve, it also becomes our source of safe navigation. Thirteen, the instructions it contains are the men of my counsel. Fourteen, it contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed, wounded, overwhelmed. I become weary and am no longer able to pray in faith. Fifteen, it also tests our faith, beloved. Our faith is tested by it. But sixteenth, while my faith is being put to the test, it installs hope, comfort, and courage within me to endure through the God's precious promises which are strewn across its sacred pages. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read, Isaiah 34 verse 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read, I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil. Psalm 119 verse 162. You remember the old books, how they go into the cave and there's gold and diamonds and rubies. Oh, you rejoice. I rejoice at thy word as one that finds great treasure. Psalm 119 verse 162. Blessed is the man that delighteth greatly in his commandments, God promises. Psalm 112 verse 1. Concerning the works of men by the word, I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Concerning the works of men by the word, I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Psalm 17 verse 4. I was in Denver last year. Lovely, godly people in their home. They were to take me to the airport early in the morning for one of the first flights, so I had to be right down in Denver. And I have stayed in their home a while, different times. Beautiful, magnificent home. And these lovely little plaques of the Bible that are all over, little verses and things all over, done very beautifully. In the bedroom, in the guest room where I was staying, I noticed this last year, a plaque against the wall that said these words. For who is he who will devote himself to be close to me, declares the Lord. Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me, declares the Lord. I don't know exactly where it's from. I don't even worry now. Who is he that will devote himself to be close to me, declares the Lord. Let me tell you something. There's one way that's possible. The only danger a Christian has in life is if he keeps this book closed and doesn't open it fast daily and devour it. Otherwise, a Christian has no danger at all. So that's the only danger you ever face in life, when you really are in danger. You delight yourself to the degree that you're protected from being destroyed. Because unless thy Lord be my delight, I should have perished in my affliction, David said. And nothing was recorded for history. It was for you and I to know for ourselves. It is history, but not meant as history. Don't tell me two-thirds of the Bible is history about a nation or people. No way. It is divinely inspired. It is essential to know the heart of God, and for you and my survivor, is the New Testament. Oh, the more you read this book, the more you want to read. No other book can do that. I read an article once that said, I envy a man who reads his first Charles Dickens novel. I thought, rubbish. I envy a man who reads through this book once. Just once. It's the only book in the world. Every time you read it, it becomes more exciting, more thrilling, more precious, because you compare scripture to scripture. Listen. You read it ten times. It's ten times more exciting than the first time. I can easily do that. Three chapters a day, one year. You don't have to be saved. I'm saved 50 years later on. What did you do with your life if you haven't been through 500 times? What have you done? What did you waste your life on? You read this book a thousand times. I guarantee you, I try it to prove me wrong. It's a thousand times more thrilling and exciting. There's no ending. You know, as you're closing to death, and you know it's coming soon, you have one regret. Oh, if I'd stayed alive another 50 years, it would be a thousand times more exciting. You just know you just dug, scratched off the surface. There's no ending to the depth of this book, of what can thrill you more than gold, treasures, or anything technical that the devil can hurl at you and say, this isn't sin. It's essential for your survival. It's not. This is, this is only. Nothing else. Things have their place, but this must be first, because when this is first, God is first. I'm not telling you to worship the Bible. That's rubbish, because all I've told you is what the Bible tells you about itself. I've given you God's Word. You worship God, too, and you stay right with God, and you're uplifted by God, and you're guided by God, and you're encouraged by God, and you're healed by God. Instead of becoming bitter, and twisted, and angry, and un-Christ like, this gives healing. I remember a woman once saying to me, she goes to a psychiatrist, a Christian psychiatrist, for survival, because of all the wrongs of life and the wounds. I said, lady, why don't you let God be your psychiatrist? She was offended. She said, thought they were sacrilegious. I said, no, I guarantee you, one verse from this book that you know the Holy Spirit is witnessing with your spirit, is God himself speaking to you, will do more healing to your wounds than ten years on the couch of a psychiatrist. This book will keep me close to God. Tragedy is the devil does so much to divert us from, and so our lives are a mess as Christians because of the temptations, the trials, the filth, the depravity, the decadence, morally. It's just coming across you. Oh, who is he that will devote himself? That's a decision you have to make. It will cost you everything, but it's worth it, because you will pay a billion, zillion times more if you don't. Who is he that will devote himself? To be close to me, declares the Lord. All the sins you come to God for forgiveness for is a greater sin. It's the reason of all these sins, the neglect of this book. I want to ask you all, we'll ask God for forgiveness for the neglect that is sin. That neglect was sin. It caused the other sins that you think you have to have forgiveness for that wouldn't have happened, including unbelief and the staggered faith that left you a mess. You need to come to God and say, forgive me for this sin is the greatest of them all, and I need cleansing and forgiveness for the repercussions, the consequences, and the aftermath of the neglect of the Word of God. I come to thee for cleansing, for that which must have grieved thee above all the other sins, and now it grieves me above all the other sins, my neglect of it, my diverting from it, my putting it down for other things that were not vital, not essential. Let me shock you. I came to the place somewhere along the line where I said to God, unless the Holy Spirit tells me I need to be doing something else, you need to do this, you don't need to neglect this person, you need your family now. Unless the Holy Spirit of God gives me the assurance I really do need, I give myself to this, and he's been faithful to do that. You need to come now to God for forgiveness, for choosing other things that aren't necessary, weren't vital, they didn't make any difference to your integrity, or your survival. You need to ask God, because in doing that for other things, you put God second to those things, in your affection, in your interest. This book isn't first, God isn't first. You need to ask forgiveness for that.