In this sermon, the preacher warns about the dangers of being a backslider and burying God's Word for anything. He emphasizes that even in laughter, the heart of a backslider is sorrowful, highlighting the tragedy of pretending to be happy while inwardly weeping. The preacher asserts that it is a hundred times more difficult for a backslider to find a vital relationship with God than it is for a pervert or a drunk to find salvation. He passionately urges those who are not saved to accept Christ before leaving the hall, emphasizing the urgency of salvation. The preacher also encourages the audience to listen to the sermon again and to immerse themselves in God's Word, emphasizing its importance and the treasure it holds.

Can we bow for prayer, please, for a little moment? Thank you, Father, for this convention and for every single person here. Thank you for bringing them. Thank you for their heart for God. Thank you for this church, the Maranatha Baptist, and every sacrifice, though I'm not a member, but every sacrifice they've made as if they're one with me and I'm one with them, because we're one in Christ. When we write with God, there's no barriers. Anyway, with any culture, any color, any language, any creed, when we write with God, we're one in one army. Thank you for this army in this corner of the vineyard that have made it possible for me and my wife and my family to continually come to this lovely nation that God has honored above every nation on earth because of the way our forefathers of this nation sought God in their masses, in the greatest revival the world has ever known, that never ever really stopped for over 125 years, waves of revival across the whole continent, from Jonathan Edwards to Whitfield, through the woods right down to Finney, prayer revival, the great revivals that continually went through this land, and this land that continually bowed before God in their masses, even during the Civil War. A third of the Confederate army professed to be born again. They began their day before they went out to war. They began it with Bibles I've seen lying in tatters in the different museums. We thank you, Lord, for this country and the way God honored it. No country in history sent out more Bibles in this nation to the whole world. No country in history supported missionaries across the entire world to the degree this country has. So with all the evil that God, it seems, must come in judgment upon the land, the way it's going, if it continues to go away from God. Yet, in spite of that, there's still the remnant that I believe their prayers have kept the hand of God on this nation and that many privileges because with all their woes, they still have more than any nation on earth. So we bless you, the history of this land. We bless you for everyone who still has not bowed the knee to bow across this land, and who cries for God's mercy. Come now, visit us in the profound way through thy holy word. As we leave this place, may this message continue to shout into our hearts by the Holy Ghost daily, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. One other person I want to say thank you to is my son, Roy. I do thank God for him. I know he's got miles to go and so have I, and I'm nearly 70, but I look at his heart, especially when he's alone with me and Jenny, even now. His broken heart and his longing should be used by God to be everything he can be as he's learning in the process of life that you can't press a button, God has to just mold. God has a way of doing that, and I see God busy in his life, and I see souls everywhere seeking God through him, and lives everywhere testifying. So I do bless God for my son, Roy, and that he's with us in this. Thank you. The Bible, the Bible refers to itself as the word of God. The Bible refers to itself as the word of God in Hebrew 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 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 equipped. Now, today, I want us to carefully consider 16 facets of this book. Today, I want us to carefully consider 16 facets of this book, which is the sacred word of God. The first thing we must realize is that it is. 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, 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 through faith, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith. Ephesians 2 verse 8, and faith cometh by the word of God. Romans 10 verse 17 tells us. And so, firstly, we see that it is the source of our salvation. 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. Hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandment. He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, a liar. The truth is not in it. 1 John 2 verse 3, 1 Peter 2 verse 23 says 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 in the next verse, he gave a fearful warning. Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts. Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Oh, so whatever the devil does, whoever the devil uses, be careful, be careful what you do when you hear or read the word of God. Oh, so whatever the does, whoever the devil uses, 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 words hath one that judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last days. 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, 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 immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. It immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. 1 Peter 2 verse 2 says, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow, that ye may grow thereby. If and when I am truly saved, it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. Beloved, this book 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 if and when I am truly saved, it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. And 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, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3 verse 16 tells us the inward man is renewed, God says, day by day. It is our source of daily renewal. It is our source of daily renewal and it ultimately becomes our source of survival. 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 by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deuteronomy 8 verse 3, I have esteemed the words of his mouth, 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. The seventh, the seventh vital facet, the seventh vital facet we must realize is that it, 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, 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 unless Christ is in you. God says, 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, 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, that the unsaved unregenerate man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of 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 killeth, the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 6, in Luke 24, Christ appeared to two of his sorrowing disciples. In Luke 24, Christ appeared to two of his sorrowing disciples on the Emmaus road, and verse 27 says, beginning at Moses, the first five books of the Bible written by Moses, as God did, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, the rest of the Old Testament, virtually the entire Old Testament, he expounded unto them in all the scripture the things concerning himself. Then suddenly, verse 31, he vanished, he vanished out of their sight. Verse 32, and they said, they said one to another, did not our heart burn, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures, 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 in all things, but without the Holy Spirit, this book is dead, dead, 2 Corinthians 3 verse 6, the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. The psalmist prayed, open thou mine eyes, open thou mine eyes, literally in the Hebrew, give revelation, give revelation, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119 verse 18, then opened he their understanding, then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Luke 24 verse 45 recorded, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, open. Ephesians 1 verse 18, that our God may lighten our eyes, open our eyes, literally. Ezra 7 verse 8, those disciples, those disciples had cried, did not our hearts burn, burn within us, while he opened to us the scriptures, and our hearts will burn within us also, beloved, our hearts will burn within us also, as the Holy Spirit of God opens the Word of God to us daily, our hearts will burn within us also, beloved, 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, how tragic it would be, if a Christian sits before an open Bible, and like a blind man, sees nothing, to give him a burning heart daily. Oh Christian, beware, 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. The first indication, the first indication that you have backslidden, is if you lose appetite for the scriptures. 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, but these things will leave you empty spiritually. These things, no matter how legitimate or exciting they are, or technical advance, whatever is that grips you, that draws you away to bury this book, these things will leave you empty spiritually, and you will experience that even in laughter, the heart will be sorrowful. Proverbs 4 verse 13 warns. Who is he speaking of here? The next verse sadly tells us, makes it clear, the backslider of heart, even in laughter, that's tragic. The heart will be sorrowful. You try and pretend to yourself that this is delighting you, and giving you fulfillment and joy, and as you laugh even, even in laughter, the heart is sorrowful. If you bury God's Word for anything, anything, even in laughter, I guarantee you, and that's tragic. That is so tragic that you could believe you're happy, try and convince while you're weeping and sighing. The backslider. Let me warn you about something you need to hear. It is a hundred times more difficult to ever find vital reality and a vital relationship with God if you are a backslider than it is for a pervert or a drunk to find Christ and reality at salvation. It is a hundred times harder if you are a backslider to ever find a vital reality with God, a meaningful relationship with God that consumes you and delights you, than it is for a total evil, perverted man who repents and comes to God the first time to find God, to the salvation in Christ. You don't need to go that way. I'm not warning you. I'm begging you. I'm begging you. Beloved, the Word of God, the Word of God is the source of our salvation and the keeping of it the keeping of it is the evidence, the evidence that I am truly saved. But the rejecting of it, 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, my source of spiritual growth and our source of daily renewal, daily renewal. It ultimately, 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 by taking heed according to thy Word. By taking heed thereunto, thereto according to thy Word. Psalm 119 verse 9, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way. I remember my one son looking at me after school one day and weeping. And I was so undone. And he said, Daddy, I want to stay pure. I want to stay clean. I don't want to become wicked, but Daddy, all there is, when I go to what I think will be a Christian, wickedness is held after me. I know of not one, not one, Daddy, that I go near that doesn't hold out wickedness even moments to me. Wickedness, sin. And then he wept, Daddy, how am I going to stay pure? How am I going to stay clean? And I wept too. He went allowed homeschooling those days, the older boys. But our Samuel went when they allowed it. I said to that boy of mine, Samuel, my boy, Daddy cannot assure you of many things in life, but Daddy can guarantee you this. If you truly say, and you never neglect this Holy Book, you devour it, no matter what this world becomes, and no matter who tempts you, you will find the strength to stay clean. That's a choice you have to make daily, my boy. Wherewitho, how am I going to stay clean? Shall a young man cleanse his way, stay pure in this world? O, by taking heed according to thy word, thy word have I him. It is in mine heart, O God, that I might not sin, that I might not sin against thee. It is our moral compass, beloved, nothing else. You can watch a thousand Christian films that are pretty close to Hollywood, they're so good. And I guarantee you, you won't receive the strength to stand against the wickedness of this world through a thousand Christian films. If you don't want to miss anything, they're giving up. You'll find more strength with one hour along with God, with all your heart-seeking God. I guarantee you, nothing must substitute or can substitute. Stop trying, no matter who does it. I beg you, O God, by thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. It is our moral compass, our moral compass. Sin will keep me from the Bible, but the Bible will keep me from sin. I stood with a professor once. I was in awe of him because he was solidly evangelical. And all the academy that he had lectured in Oxford and over in your country at your Yale, in the theological department of all these, he was renowned. His writings are, and I stood with him for a moment once, and I was stunned when I spoke to him. He saw my fire in my heart as a young person, and he said, listen, my boy, I want to show you something. The only words I have ever found myself capable of writing within the covers of this sacred book that I found I was capable of writing something added within the covers, the only thing I've ever found myself able to write in the covers of this book, I wanted to read it. I was young in the faith. Sin will keep me from the Bible, but the Bible will keep me from sin. I'd never read it. I'd never heard it. And I just walked away from it and wrote it in my Bible. I since found Christians throughout the world, probably in their millions and millions throughout the world, have written those simple childlike words of that academic man that revered across the academic sphere of theology. Those childlike words were all he found himself capable of saying, I must write this within the covers of this book. It is our moral compass, beloved. It is also the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face in this sinful world daily. I must repeat that. 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, 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 in this sinful world. Beloved, the blood, the blood cleanses us from sin at confession, but we are cleansed from the world's wrong and warped influences with the washing of the water by the word daily, daily. It also fortifies, it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil. It also fortifies as nothing else on earth. It also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil. I hate vain thoughts, the psalmist cried, worthless wrong thoughts, but I love thy law. I hate vain thoughts, worthless thoughts, wrong thoughts, but I love thy law. Psalm 119 verse 130, a godly young man in South Africa by the name of Jan Haram Lambaskaghani, a fine godly young man, a missionary in our mission. He was with me a while back in a meal and he said, sir, the Bible gets our minds off things that don't matter, onto God's priorities, God's values. The Bible gets our minds off things that don't matter, onto God's values, God's priorities. I hate vain thoughts, worthless thoughts, but I love thy law. Oh, the thought, 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 into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10 verse 15, you can, oh God wouldn't ask of you, God cannot mock us. You can, bringing every thought, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. You see, there's thoughts of evil and every single Christian on earth till death will know those. I guarantee, no matter how godly you are, because you can't eradicate memory. You can't push out of your mind the past, the tastings, and when circumstances the devil orchestrates, it brings back thoughts. You can't help it to see defiling things to buy a loaf of bread in a supermarket and pass pornography, which used to be daled. Today, freedom of speech has made it acceptable, and you're in trouble, have defamation if you touch them. The law protects it. Oh, you can't help what you saw, and now you're disgusted. You go through the day, later on it comes back to your mind, and the devil says, why are you thinking that? That's not sin. You don't have to wash the cleansing in the blood. Thoughts of evil are not evil thoughts. They become evil thoughts. A thought of evil, you bring into captivity. God asks of you, don't let it go on. It becomes, yes, evil thoughts, but there's no such a thing as it being sin until you ponder it. You have to bring into captivity every thought. It fortifies this book. It fortifies you to be able to enable you to do that. It fortifies and keeps my mind from worthless vain thoughts and from thoughts of evil. I'm able to reject. I'm able to say, no, God, I didn't want to see that. Memory is not sin that I'm remembering, but I'm going to obey you. Before it becomes an evil thought, I'm going to bring it into captivity, and God is obliged to give you the grace when you ask it from your heart. In every circumstance you face in life, you prefer what he's asked of you, or he has no right to ask anyone in integrity, anything. He will give you that. It fortifies. It is the Bible, beloved, that fortifies and keeps my mind from vain thoughts, worthless thoughts, from thoughts of evil. It also becomes our source of safe navigation. 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. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path in this world, Psalm 119 verse 105. It is our source of safe navigation. Jesus, Savior, pilot me over life's tempestuous sea, unknown waves before me roll, hiding rocks treacherous all, chart and compass come from thee. Jesus, Savior, pilot me. It is our source of safe navigation, sir. It gives us the power to see in the dark. I was in a restaurant in a place called Human's Dock. My wife and I sometimes are bared to venture in there. It's basically for billionaires. But anyway, missionaries get there sometimes with unknown privileges that come to people who take. Now, you walk into that restaurant, it's chandeliers, it's got seats like you wouldn't know. Probably Buckingham Palace has the same. It's like a little part of Buckingham Palace, so you've got to be rich. But oh, even the waitresses, you want to stand up for them, you know. They look like something of royalty. But anyway, there you are. But the people who own this restaurant have got brains. No wonder they're so rich. To get to that restaurant, you've got to pass through a hall about half the size of this hall, I suppose. And there's the restaurant doors from the front where you go up to. And there's normally a long row of people waiting, but it gives you time to look. They have got literally hundreds of the most exquisite and expensive items from across the world. And oh, boy, look at these marvellous things. Oh, that the rich would really buy, okay. The wealthy would dive into. So they know they've got to wait. They can't just walk through. And there's a queue, so they walk. And they make a lot of money. And then I saw with all these things, you know, these untouchable things, too missionary. But anyway, I saw a big sign on the one part of this wall. This will give you the power to see in the dark. Oh, so I need to go and see this, you know. So what is it? It's a little cap. You know, these crazy caps that instead of the sun, they put it behind them. It's a fashion that doesn't make sense. I look at them in the wrong way, you know, but not withstanding. There we are, these people. Now, this cap has got the headlights, these LED lights, not big, but there they are. And I don't know where the batteries are, but somewhere in there. And this will give you the power to walk safely and see where you're going in the darkest circumstances you will ever face. I said, Robert, that's the word of God does that. There you are. Hallelujah. By his light, I walked through darkness. Job 29, verse three, by his light, I walked through darkness. And the instructions, the instructions it contains are the men of my counsel. The instructions it contains are the men of my counsel. Without counsel, purposes are disappointed. Plans go wrong. You make grave errors that you're sorry for, but in the multitude, in the multitude of counselors, they are established. You say Proverbs 15, verse 22, in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. Proverbs 11, verse 14, thy testimonies, that's your instructions and commandments are my counselors. Psalm 119, verse 24, thy testimony, God's instructions are my counselors. The Hebrew is literally the men, the men of my counsel. Moffat translated this verse to read, they are my advisors. Most Christians, most Christians are forever running to man for counsel, advice, guidance, but beloved, there's greater safety in the instructions of God's word. There's greater safety. The men of my counselors 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 me the same counsel, I embrace them as God's leading, his direction for my life. For in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. The instructions it contains are the men of my counsel. Psalm 119, verse 24. And this sacred book, 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, which has happened to me many times. Beloved, 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 and so fearful that there were times he couldn't pray a word. He was so numb, he couldn't pray. And it was then that God led him to pray the psalm aloud. And he found that through this discipline, he swiftly sensed that he had entered into the very presence of God in a way he had never experienced since his salvation and experienced his faith being renewed as he prayed these God-given prayers. You see the Psalms, which he called the schoolmaster in prayer, the book of God, the Psalms, 90% of them start in agony. Someone in total agony and fear, confusion, staggered, hurting, wounded, crying out his soul. Halfway through most of the psalms, he commits it to God, throws it upon God. And 90% of these agonizing prayers that he wrote of God end in praise. It's a schoolmaster of prayer. It's not there for you to just say that's a lovely thing to quote Psalm 23. It's there for your survival in your prayer life. He experienced that he had entered into the presence of God to such a degree and found his faith being renewed as he prayed these God-given prayers to such a degree that he said from that time on most of his prayer life he didn't bother with the things he just went to the psalms and he soon found throughout the Bible the prayers are given by God, not for you to know what a hard day it was, but for you to survive otherwise he wouldn't be alive. But wait now, it also tests our faith. It tests our faith. The promises contained in this sacred book test our faith, test our faith. We read in Psalm 105 verse 17 that Joseph was cruelly sold by his brothers for a servant, that is he was sold into slavery. Verse 18, whose feet they hurt with fetters of chain and he was laid in iron. Literally his soul entered into the iron. The Hebrew says he suffered so much in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 41. But verse 19 says until the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tried him, tested him, tested his faith until the time that his word came, came to pass literally, came to be fulfilled the promises God had given, that God had given him until the time that it came to pass those promises, the word of God to him tested his faith and it allows to beloved in the school of God. But if my faith is ever put to the test, if my faith is ever put to the test as his word, it installs hope, comfort and courage within me to endure through God's compassionate and precious promises which are strewn across its sacred pages. Beloved, Job had no Bible. He had no Bible. You see, before Moses was given revelation of the first five books of the Bible of the creation, the fall of man, sin, God's judgments, God's electing a certain tribe, God's commandment, before anything was written because Moses hadn't been born. Before any book in the entire Bible that has been canonized, as they put together the divinely inspired books of the Bible to give us the true word of God. And don't you ever, ever believe that it was man. You're in terrible trouble if you go the way the world is going today. Man put this together, no ways. Don't you dare believe God lost control for a world he created when this book, his message, when the gospel was all put together. Don't dare believe that God lifted up to man to make mistakes. No such a thing. God was in the order, let alone the contents and the books that were submitted by men. Don't dare believe God doesn't love anyone on earth enough to make sure this book is his word. This is God's book, God's word. But when the book of Job was written, no other book contained in the Bible had been written. It is the first of all the writings that are contained that has divinely inspired the book canonized to be part of this book. Beloved, Job had no Bible. And he cried, my days are spent without hope. My days are spent without hope. Job 7, verse 6. But we, we cry, although, although my soul melter for heaviness and fainted for my salvation. I hope, I hope in thy word. Psalm 119, verse 81. David was greatly distressed. 1 Samuel 30, verse 6. But then we read, but David encouraged himself, David encouraged himself in the Lord. In the multitude of my thoughts, he wrote, in the multitude of my thoughts within me, within me, thy comforts, thy comforts delight my soul, Psalm 94, verse 19. This, this is my comfort in my affliction. Thy word. Psalm 119, verse 49. Psalm 107, verse 20 tells us he sent forth his healing word. That's what it is. He sent forth his healing word. But unless, unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction. Psalm 119, verse 92. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15, verse 4. That we through patience, endurance, no matter what we face, and comfort of the scriptures might have hope also. 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, which I will preach on if God spares my life. The Bible has many other facets, but today we have considered 16. 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. But thirdly, the rejecting of it will result in us to one day be judged by it. And fourthly, once I am truly saved, it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth. Fifthly, our source of daily renewal. Sixthly, it ultimately becomes our source of survival. Seventhly, it is given life and revelation by the Holy Spirit. It is given life and revelation by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. Eighthly, but the neglect of it is the first evidence that I am in the dangerous and tragic process of backsliding. I am in the dangerous and tragic process of backsliding. Ninthly, it is also, it is our moral compass, our moral compass. Tenthly, it is the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all the wrong and warped influences we face in this sinful world daily. Eleventh, it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain, worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil. Twelfth, it also becomes our source of safe navigation. Thirteen, the instructions, the instructions it contains are the men, the men of my counsel. Fourteen, it 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. Fifteen, it also tests our faith. It tests our faith. Our faith is tested by it. Sixteen, but while my faith is being put to the test, it installs hope, comfort, and courage within me to endure through God's precious promises which are strewn across its pages. While my faith is being put to the test, let me tell you something you mustn't forget. In your darkest moment in life, God is doing his greatest work in you. He hasn't lost control. Orchestrated, yes, by the devil to destroy you, allowed by God to make you what he knows, what he knows you need. In your darkest moment you will ever face in life, God has never lost control. But don't you? The only danger a Christian faces in life is when he closes his book. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord. We read in Isaiah 34 verse 16. I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil. Psalm 109, verse 162. I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil. You know what that means? In the old days you go into a cave, there's treasure, gold and diamonds and oh rubies and shining. I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great treasure, great spoil. Blessed is the man, blessed is the man that delighteth greatly in his commandments. The only book on earth that the more you read the more you want to read. Trust me, try reading for a few hours. You'll suddenly look up and find the sun's shining, you read through the whole night. Don't give God five minutes rest. Give what the Holy Ghost tells you you need and then when the Holy Ghost tells you to get up and leave then now you will walk with God. That's when you give up. Go to bed early, you don't need fellowship as much as you need this in the early hours of the morning. You don't need all these things if you say of your ears a bible and you haven't got this because all those things are going to crash on you. If you neglect God you have these blessings are not going to be enough. The more you read this book, my eyelids prevent the night watchers the love of my word. See, what does that mean? They want to close but I so love it. It's forceful. I need more. I want to give God a chance. Put that to the test. Put this book into a place, a God that nurtured, protected moment that nothing will touch. Even when you get to bed is because of what you know you need in the morning to survive. You read through this book 10 times, it's 10 times more exciting than the first time. You read through this book 100 times, it's 100 times more thrilling than the first time. No other book can do that because now you compare scripture with scriptures. You know and you learn and there's no ending to digging into the depth of this book's wealth and treasures to be found. The more you find, the more you realize there's no ending. Oh God, I'm running out of life and I haven't found probably the tip of the iceberg wall of wealth that God intended me to find. Read through this book 500 times, I guarantee you it's 500 times more thrilling than the first time and I wept the first time too. I dare you to try it. Read through this book a thousand times, it's 1000 times more exciting. What can you waste your life in and on it? I'll never find that in this treasure. Concerning the works of men, by the word I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. By the word I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Psalm 17 verse 4. I was in Denver last year for the night to be able to get to early in the morning. You know, I get up three in the morning, sometimes I have two hours sleep to go into the next state. That's fine, it doesn't matter. God helps me to sleep on the plane but that doesn't matter. And in this home in Denver, lovely people, in this lovely beautiful home, beautiful guest room that I stayed in, there's a clock and I'm interested in the other, lots of little clocks all over. Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me? Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me, declares the Lord. Now I don't know just where that's all from, that doesn't matter. The only way you will ever remain close to God as you are intended to, and he intends and enables us to, is never to neglect this book. I'm not asking you to worship this book. I mean that utter, utter folly to say that of you, because all I've given you is what the scriptures say as to what this book is and why you must read it and what the result will be. So don't you dare tell me I'm saying something the scriptures don't tell us this book is for. There's no way. I'm asking you to worship God, to devote your life and stay near to him, not the Bible, the God who gave it for that purpose. I'm asking you to neglect this book and you do not know all the things God said and you have suffered as a result. I'm asking those of you who know that all you say about your walk with God and your Christianity, you have really, you know the sins you commit young man, young lady, older people, preachers that you continually flee to God for. They're the result of a greater sin, the neglect of this book. Don't doubt this. Don't doubt this in the light of all that we've heard from the pages of this book as to God who gave this book for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for instruction to righteousness. I'm asking those of you that know that you have a greater sin to ask God for forgiveness for than all those things you've been asking for, because those sins, it was a greater sin and you need to ask God for forgiveness and that is neglecting this book. This book, when it's first, God is first. This book isn't God, but God who gave this book. He's first if this book is first. Don't doubt this. In your choice, where you have a choice, you will be stunned how much time you have and make and the discipline in your life. I am so ruthless with the discipline of my life and the little bit of time I've got left that most people would be stunned as I seek God only, Lord, only what is vital. Let me neglect this book for that, as the Holy Spirit tells me. Otherwise, give me the grace never to neglect any time, any moment where I have a choice to give to this book. How many sitting here need to ask God forgiveness for the greater sin, not all the sins you're continually sinning, you're falling and failing, but for the sin of that caused it. The neglect of God is a neglect of this book, sir, though it's not your God. But the book and all I have given from the scriptures tells us that. So I'm asking those who need to ask God's forgiveness with all their heart, soul and might and shame for this sin that they haven't asked forgiveness for, but all the sins that are the result of this sin they keep asking. I want to ask you to ask God for forgiveness from your soul and shame and for grace, for grace that from this day to the day I die, I devote myself, God, what's left of life to remain close to thee. The way I've heard today from the pages of this book, not me or misconstrued ideas of the Bible, I will devote my life, Lord, what's left of it in the brief moment of life that I can be close to thee and remain close to thee. Who is he among you that will devote himself to remain close to my heart, to me, what's left of life? You and those of you that need to ask God's forgiveness and need to ask God grace, what's left of life, you will by his grace alone endeavor to never neglect this holy book in the light of only what this holy book tells us, the dangers and the consequences. I want to ask every one of you that desperately need to do that to stand right now and ask God forgiveness and devote what's left. Come stand in the front. Let's make something sacred of this. Let's not just rush through this. Come, there's no altar here. It doesn't mean you kneel. It's the heart God looks at, not the broken physical form. And he sees you bowed in his presence. And he sees why. He sees your heart and he loves you for it. Don't you dare doubt that. And don't you dare doubt that God is going to answer your prayer. He wants this more than you, what's left of your life, a billion times more. That's why he told us why he's asking this of us through the pages of his book concerning this book to stay close. Don't doubt him now. Don't doubt him now. Don't believe a holy God who died for you and who asks this of you, will turn away his face from this prayer and this devoting your life and dedicating yourself to what's left of life to seek his grace. Don't doubt this. God is listening with a loving, caring, compassionate, merciful, long-suffering heart, but he wants this. And so you're going to pray in faith. And even though it's me leading you, that doesn't matter. God does not look at the words that proceed out of the mouth. God looks at the heart from which they come. If he sees in your heart that this isn't a prayer to be heard by others, it's just God. A holy God won't turn away your request. He cannot. So you pray after me now, all of us, pray aloud, but to God, please. Oh my God, I stand before thee in shame and sorrow at the grief I have caused thee, at the failure I have known, but there was a greater sin that caused those failures, that caused my life to be a grief to God and man. And I ask forgiveness for that sin, for burying this book from its rightful position, for not guarding it and treasuring and nurturing and redeeming the time wherever there was time, for choosing to do something else that meant nothing and was not essential. Forgive me. Forgive me for every sin that was the result of this sin. Wash me in the blood of Christ, God's Son, that cleanseth us, Christians, from all sin, if we confess, in true shame and in repentance, in a change of heart, and devoting what's left to obedience, to the light I've been given, the commandments I've been given, the instructions within the pages of this book, as to why I must do these things, with all my heart, concerning the word of God. Let me have a clean start, Lord, a fresh plate, a fresh start, a clean plate, by the blood of Christ, apart from which I know there is no cleansing, no forgiveness. I come to thee with nothing but the blood of Jesus. Wash me through and through, and through and through, with the blood of God, the Son. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, a consistent grace to live and walk in the light that I have been given. That does not make me perfect. Ultimate perfection is as I go home at death. Until then, I grow, but all I ask for, Lord, is I devote my life, what is left of it, and lay it on the altar of God. Not a dead sacrifice that had to be totally on the altar, but a living sacrifice, totally dedicated on the altar of God, which is my reasonable service, that I may prove what is that perfect and acceptable will of God for my life, in what's left of my life. By thy grace, I lay my life on the altar of God. Take my life, what's left of it, have it for thyself. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments, my days, take it for thyself, Lord. I give it to thee in long, that I can stay close to the heart of God through this prayer, this dedication of what's left of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. By that I mean, take control by thy Spirit. I don't seek manifestations. I just seek reality with God. And from this moment until I die, give me the grace to never neglect this book again, wherever I have a choice, to devour it. I do not worship the Word. I obey the commandments I've heard from the Word with all my heart, for the reasons God has given. I know that I am not made perfect. All this means is I put myself positionally into a place where I can now grow consistently more and more into the image of my Savior by the Holy Spirit controlling me. And devouring the book daily. And if any isolated failure comes into my life on the road to the celestial city, as all the powers of hell come against me to divert me and to make me fall, if I sin, help me never to give up, but to get up. And before other sins come, to confess that isolated failure, and to flee to thy Word, to thy presence, to thyself, for strength, that I don't do that again. Now bless my life. And there's no greater blessing now than to remain close to the heart of God. And that is the only reason I have prayed this prayer and longed for God to answer it. In Jesus Christ's name, the name I love and live for and would gladly die for, I ask thee, sing of thee, my Father in heaven. Amen. Can we just stand just where we are? Can we all stand in the back there, please? If you're not saved after this message, if you don't get saved swiftly before you even leave this hall, say my name. Say my name. One step more without Christ to save you. After all these scriptures, say my name. And if you seek God to save you, remember this sermon, even if you take the tapes, which Josh has available. He's giving me a copy. I do believe these sermons will be on the internet. Just google this old man's name, and I believe all over the world we'll see. And these sermons, you won't find difficult to find also on YouTube or anywhere, or the websites. Now, take the message, take the other messages that have been brought to this convention, and ask God for the grace to listen to them again, and to seek to keep true now.