This sermon emphasizes the vital facets of the Bible, highlighting its role as the source of salvation, the evidence of true faith, the moral compass, and the means of spiritual growth, renewal, and survival. It delves into the importance of soaking oneself in the Word of God daily to combat backsliding, resist evil influences, and navigate life safely. The sermon also underscores the power of God's promises in testing and strengthening one's faith, offering hope, comfort, and courage in times of trial.

Over 50, 49 years of preaching all over many many places and I would say thousands of pulpits because of almost every day I've preached over those years but the one thing my wife did was let me go and she never complained she raised the children and she did it with joy and even though I left her alone so much to raise our children because of the particular type of ministry we've got she let me go you might all believe well she was so happy because I went away so much but don't you dare believe that she was willing but in the long run her poems were having impact everywhere and I newspapers and Christian books and much of the world the English-speaking world were printing them and much much blessing and many saved and many godly people testifying how they got up when they were giving up through her poems and so we began to pray and I thought well she had let my ministry be honored and she's just done everything to welcome me home to be everything a wife should be and to encourage me never to give up so I started praying with her that God would help us to print and publish books of her poetry and her the words she would bring to many ladies conventions and different parts of the world that we were going together and to put it on to books and a man phoned me we were praying I don't know how many days perhaps a week five days calling on God and I was really bringing it to God to honor her ministry in life and this man phoned from Alaska of all places we've been to Alaska later on to preach for him but he phoned and he said my wife my family and I have had it on our hearts to give you all the money that's needed to print a book of your wife's writings which was such a blessing to so many all over the world already and so I said we've been praying for that these last few days and so he sent money I don't know how this man when we saw how they were living I don't know where they got that money from but it was the first one we printed was this just a whisper we put it in a hardcover and it had an impact everywhere but then he never ever contacted us again and people were calling for other writings and then a very godly person a godly man and woman contacted us that we he also felt to print Jenny's books to have them published further writing so then we put out from my heart to yours with that wonderful blessing that came through all beautiful there's my wife in case you doubt that she's the most beautiful girl in the world now you no one will argue now see but all these beautiful this is her mother's paintings her mother's very frail now and close to the end I would say but all the paintings we've put in the front of the books all the different paintings of her watercolor but inside her many and beautiful inscriptions and very much in line with what we are so books were put out by very godly and wonderful people who stood with us and we thank God for them from my heart you isn't just a whisper that's a also just poetry but poetry that has brought many souls to Christ many many souls to Christ they did this very beautifully also with all these beautiful things inscriptions and lovely little things all over it's just and they've spread in much of the English-speaking world in the conservative churches evangelical church and I thank God for that the Americans have seen some of these books many of the preachers that I lived some where I was preaching and now they've published a book of hers without our interfering they've had ladies and people editing and putting things together from her messages that she's done in the ladies meetings all over America and a beautiful beautiful hardcover so we very grateful why they Americans did it is because it's too much money to post these things across it doesn't double it makes it three or four times more expensive the postage so it just isn't viable it's too much of a cost for people so they decided to publish themselves without us asking they just told us and we've seen the book we've seen it spreading around America and I'm very grateful how God has honored these books the first one that was published has been redone that is just a whisper I think it's just a whisper that's what we did but we're very very grateful to God I just wanted to take time to say thank you to the Lord and to tell you my little wife that's sitting there also has a ministry that has been honored by God and great way in many many many hearts across much of the English-speaking world and the Afrikaans that has really spread wonderfully how Skip and Dorothy has spread these books to such a degree that I'm stunned we're stunned how he has taken hundreds of our books and spread them carefully and bravely and so today I wanted to thank I think there's no one else in the entire world brother that is so spread the books that Jenny has printed that Jenny has written and have been published and if anyone here hasn't got these three books then tell us and we'll give them to you because Sunday we can't sell you see so you can tell everybody that didn't come today shame on you you could have got a free book because if it was not Sunday we'd charge just the covering of the cost of the printing so that the next issues can be so God bless you I just thought I'd honor my wife by mentioning that and and thanks Skip and Dorothy for the way they particularly and many many others are spreading the books people just buy 50 at a time 100 at a time and spread them out as gifts to people they're witnessing to please just mention to us afterwards and I'll make sure we leave a copy for you I didn't have time to bring a whole pile and I didn't know how many people would be here now thank you for the hospitality Skip and Dorothy and the love with which you have always shown us we so unworthy I don't want to tell everything but they moved out of their beautiful room into some small room so that Jenny and I could live like a king like royalty and we feel so humbled by this goodness and kindness and the love they made a bright place last night that I couldn't believe my eye Jenny and I have had never ever eaten so much meat in our entire lives but Skip said it's good for you to have meat every now and again it gives you strength so there you are we we won't argue with Skip now we enjoyed all that lovely Brian the wonderful way Dorothy made everything with love that we had a meal last night fit for royalty also thank you from our hearts dear Skip dear Dorothy and even this little meeting that we come to once a year we're honored and grateful and thank you for coming each one of you now we're going to just have a little prayer and then I'll bring that which I believe God has put in my heart and I'm longing that every life will be changed touched by God nothing else in my heart to preach other than that God touches lives I have one fear in life you know just one fear what would you say my one fear is that someone could walk out of a meeting the same as they came in unchanged that's the only fear I honestly have in life the fear real fear now let's just have a prayer please father take this thy word and help every one of us every one of us to open our hearts even the hardest heart that we know nothing about our heart it is how cold it is how dead it is through all the hurts of life come break that heart take that heart and melt it and speak to the depth of every heart from the heart of God's love in Jesus Christ's name and for his sake we ask these things together of thee our father in heaven amen that's somebody's car that's sitting here no okay the Bible the Bible the Bible refers to itself as the Word of God the Bible refers to itself as the Word of God Hebrews 6 verse 5 and in 2 Timothy 3 verse 16 we read that all scripture 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 today 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 the first thing we must realize is that it is the source of our salvation it it is the source of our salvation James tells us in chapter 1 verse 21 to receive with meekness the engrafted Word receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save your souls which is able to save your soul being born again 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 which is in Christ Jesus 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 faith cometh by the Word of God Romans 10 verse 17 tells us and so firstly we see that it is the source it is the source of our salvation but secondly 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 warns in chapter 1 verse 22 hereby we do know that we know him hereby we do know that we know if we keep his commandments he that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him 1 John 2 verse 3 says 1 Peter 2 verse 23 says being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God 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 to all of us then cometh the devil Jesus said and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts Satan can do that lest they should believe and be saved oh so whatever the devil does whoever the devil uses be careful what you do when you hear or read the Word of God we are warned 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 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 says and so firstly firstly we see that it it is the source of our salvation and secondly that the keeping of it is the evidence 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 and when I am truly saved if and when I am truly saved it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth if and when I am truly saved 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 as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 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 if and when I am truly saved it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth and fifthly it is our source of daily renewal beloved 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 my ear to hear Isaiah 50 verse 4 to be strengthened to be strengthened with might by his spirit to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man Ephesians 3 verse 16 tells us the inward man is renewed by day it is our source of daily renewal beloved and and it ultimately becomes our source of survival it ultimately becomes our source of survival man doth not live literally man cannot survive cannot live by bread only that's 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 word of his mouth more my necessary food Job 23 verse 17 it ultimately it ultimately is our source of survival now the seventh the seventh vital facet the seventh vital facet we must realize 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 is the hope of glory Colossians 1 verse 27 you have no hope of eternal life unless Christ dwells in you by his spirit but but if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Romans 8 verse 9 warms and from the moment from the moment of our salvation the Word of God the Word of God has given revelation from the moment of our salvation the Word of God is given revelation and life by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us but the natural man that's 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 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 he suddenly appeared to two of his sorrowing disciples on the Emmaus Road and verse 27 says beginning at Moses and all the prophets that's virtually the whole Old Testament he expounded unto them he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself then suddenly verse 31 says he vanished out of his sight verse 32 they said one to another did not our heart did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the scriptures and Christ promised his disciples and us that the Holy Spirit when he has come would do the same John 14 verse 26 he shall teach you in all things but without the Holy Spirit 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 Hebrews give revelation literally 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 being enlightened opened literally Ephesians 1 verse 18 that our God may lighten our eyes literally open our eyes is a 7 verse 8 those disciples beloved had cried did not our heart 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 within us 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 she's nothing to give him a burning heart daily how tragic it would be if a Christian sits before an open Bible and like a blind man she's 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 the first evidence that I am in the tragic process of backsliding I must repeat that Christian beware for 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 and instead your appetite increases more and more for things that are not related to God or His Word but those things will leave you empty I guarantee you those things will leave you empty spiritually you will experience that even in laughter the heart will be sorrowful it's a tragic thing God speaks here of a man a woman and laughs while he's crying even in laughter you try and convince yourself these things are fulfilling and making you happy but even in laughter God says your heart will be sorrowful if you're saved Proverbs 14 verse 13 warns us but who is he speaking of the next verse tells us clearly the backslider the backslider in heart that's a tragic thing you know the backslider let me shock you I hope I can shock you here today I hope you're shocked at the statement it is a hundred times harder for a backslider to ever find a vital walk with God again than it is for a man in his sin and wickedness to come to Christ through the blood and faith the first time and find vital reality within moments through the said blood of Christ you don't want to go that way it is a hundred times more difficult for someone who's backslidden from having tasted the wonderful love of God and experienced the light of God the revelation of God the joy it's a hundred times more difficult for a man who's backslidden who neglected his book to ever find vital reality with God again than it is for a man in wickedness and perverseness to come to God the first time and find a vital sense of God with him and God's presence with him you don't want to 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 it ultimately it ultimately becomes our source of survival and we it is given life 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 but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil and then verse 17 sanctify them that's 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 thereto according to thy words Psalm 119 verse 9 thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin that I might not sin against thee it is our moral compass beloved wherewithal shall a young man cleanse that stay clean in this world in this wicked world God answers by taking heed by carefully embracing and soaking yourself in the Word of God Psalm 119 verse 9 I have three sons Noel oh he's this tall now Roy a little bit taller Samuel oh he's a taller sorry he's getting tall he was a lot lomaki years later when no 35 years old now when he was in school he was in a very good school we couldn't afford it we were missionaries my wife and I years ago and other Christians came to us and said because you're serving God doesn't mean your children can't go to something good so they sent us to one of the best schools in this nation and they paid for it we were very grateful to God but one day my son Noel who was small then he came home from school and he sat in his room and he was crying and I walked in and I sat beside him well actually in front of him and I said what's wrong Noel what happened at school today why are you crying I'll never forget what he said he looked at me for a while and he took courage and he said daddy how am I going to stay clean in this wicked world how can anyone stay clean daddy I don't want to hurt mommy and daddy I don't want to live wrong but daddy from the day I went to the school the first person I wanted to make a friend of sitting next to me the first thing he did was hold out to me sin, wickedness. Daddy I was shocked I went away from him and I went to other friends to try and make other friends and daddy every single one they were showing me things I've never believed humans could be so filthy so even I never believed humans could they were showing they were holding out things to me everywhere and that even today and daddy I'm not strong I'm so scared daddy how am I going to stay clean in this wicked world daddy and he cried you know what I did I didn't answer him I just looked at him and I started crying oh as a father my heart is broke at this boy and his honesty and then after a while I said noly listen carefully to daddy now in this world no matter how wicked this world becomes there's one source of survival there's one way soak yourself in the Word of God daily soak yourself in the Word of God which enables you to be soaked in prayer outside of which you your prayers are not really going to be prayed in spirit which is just the will of God and faith that comes by the Word of God noly you have to be saved though if you're unsaved and you soak yourself in the Word of God it won't do anything to you most of it you have to be saved you've got to be sure that you're born again that you're saved if the Holy Spirit of God is in you to to make us noly but if you're saved my boy if you're saved to the degree you soak yourself in the Word of God to that degree you will hate the evil being saved doesn't make you hate evil no it's to the degree you soak yourself in the Word of God once you're saved daily because to the degree you soak yourself you make time you protect your life for time with this book to the degree you take for this book you soak yourself in the Holy Word of God as the greatest desire in your life is the most guarded nurtured protected time every day of your life to the degree you guard yourself that you soak yourself in the Word of God daily to that degree only will you hate the evil and love the good I know many preachers who love evil and they're saved they hate the good they deny it they rejected the enemy and there's one reason no to the degree you soak yourself in the Word of God and you won't allow anything it must be the greatest discipline in your life daily noly to that degree you will hate no matter what's put in front of you you will hate the evil no matter what they tempt you with the only danger Christian really has in life is to neglect the Bible otherwise he has no danger even if he's tempted he will hate but only if you soak yourself in this book where you hate the evil law and to the degree you soak yourself in this book where with all God says through David shall a young man my son your sons you young people cleanse his way that is stay clean stay pure and not be defiled in this wicked world he answers by taking heed oh there's something there the way you read you want God and his protection and the faith and purity and cleansing according to thy word God's instructions you soak yourself devouring seeking his heart his will and the faith that comes through the Word of God and the sanctifying the keeping them from the evil through thy truth thy word this is what keeps you from evil it's our moral compass it's our moral compass it tells you as you walk this is the way and you have the desire to keep that way sin will keep me from the Bible but the Bible will keep me from sin that's a staggering statement I once met a man who lectured in Oxford University the most revered University for centuries for those from Wesley's time who would seek to serve God and be grounded now he came and I was privileged to sit and hear him lecturing oh and I learned I still have things written in my Bible from all those years ago nearly 50 years ago but that man taught us what a godly man he was though he lectured here in America and Yale the IVP commentary the most used trusted evangelical conservative fundamental commentary in the world today is mostly his writings you just see his name referred to he's so revered as an authority on the Hebrew and the Greek the New Testament and the Old Testament and after the one lecture I was so blessed as a young Christian full of fire oh I had fire I stood suddenly and this man looked at me after the lecture he stood there and he just looked at me so I began to speak to him and something of the fire in my heart must have touched his heart because he just looked at me and tears welled up in his eyes and then he said to me what's your name so I told him he said listen to me carefully Keith listen now the only words I have ever dared or found liberty to write within the covers of the sacred book to add anything that's I've only found liberty and courage to write one thing otherwise I've never written in my back market I've never written but the only thing is I ever found courage to write I want you to look in the front of his Bible he'd written these words sin will keep me from the Bible but the Bible will keep me from sin he said that's the greatest lesson you will ever learn in life Keith as a Christian don't you dare forget it he walked away from me I went home I went back to my rooms and I wrote it in my Bible wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to thy word thy word have I hid within my heart that I might not sin against thee and it is also the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face in the sinful world daily it is also the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong influences we face in this 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 as saved people from all wrong influences we face daily in this world beloved the blood cleanses us from sin but we are cleansed from the world's wronged and warped influences with the washing of the water by the word daily when there's dirt on your hands you go to wash your hands with water God says this is the way he cleanses anything that somehow came on to us the blood cleanses us from sin but we are cleansed from the world's wrong and warped influences by the word of God with the washing of water by the word of God it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thought of evil I hate I hate vain thoughts that's wrong worthless thoughts but I love thy law from 119 verse 133 I hate vain thoughts wrong worthless thoughts but I love thy law a very godly young man sat with me and Jenny over a meal in Cape Town his name is Yon Haram Lubbock he's in the AAB a young missionary we thank God for and he said to me sir the Bible gets our minds off things that don't matter on to God's priorities God's values above anything in the world the Bible he said gets our minds off things that don't matter on to God's priorities and values the thought of foolishness is sin God says in Proverbs 24 verse 9 the thought of foolishness is sin why for as a man thinketh so is he for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he what you allow here you do eventually Proverbs 23 verse 7 bringing into captivity God says every thought to the obedience of Christ you can do it or God wouldn't ask us bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10 verse 5 you see there's thoughts of evil and there's evil thoughts they're two different things there's thoughts of evil they're not sin you don't have to confess and there's evil thoughts but thoughts of evil are not sin they can become evil thoughts but when the thought of evil comes you're not sinning you see you have memory memory is not sin you can bring that thought into captivity before it becomes sin because before it becomes an evil thought it's a thought of evil every single Christian on earth the most godly man and woman you find have thoughts of evil but that's not sin you see his memory you can't help what the devil can throw up of the past that's memory just bring it into captivity you walk down a street you see evil filthy photograph these days and you say oh god what happened to this country how could they be allowed to can you imagine how many people are going to face and you repulse because you soak yourself in the scriptures the first thing that will happen to the degree you soak yourself in you hate the evil you'll be shocked and against it now you walk away angry indignated and later on in the day suddenly you remember it and the devil has some way I don't know how I'm saying oh you're thinking of it now why are you thinking of it but you're not sinning because memory is not sin you didn't choose to see that you didn't choose when you went to buy a loaf of bread and any rest in any supermarket today you've got to go past what they used to jail people for is pornography now it's art it's freedom of speech you if you're against it because the law protects these things with all these laws that have lost since to protect us no you didn't want to see these things you didn't want here the memory now and the devil no that thought of evil must be rejected bringing every thought into captivity before it becomes an evil unto the obedience of Christ you can or God wouldn't ask us by his grace he will give you the grace if you want it and if you soak yourself in the scriptures your mind will be fortified and you will find the love for the Word of God will take the place and then anything else no you reject that thought immediately before but you see you can't help it if the birds fly over you your head you know you can't help it if the birds of that's not your fault but if they lay a nest and eggs you had something to do with it allowing that to get that far you can stop the thought of evil you can bring it into captivity unto obedience of Christ before it becomes an evil thought before you've dwelt on it now enough for it to really affect your life and defy you be careful now it is the Bible above everything else that fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil more than anything else listen brother sister they have films today you don't have to go to the Bioscope they have films now in the name of Christ there's so many and there's good at Hollywood the acting and the ability they I know the men personally I know some of them that actually make these who I don't judge them of course they are people being saved of course it's encouraging to challenging I haven't watched one by the way I'm too busy with this but I guarantee you a hundred Christian films I don't care how evangelical or conservative or good they are well acted or well produced even if they're better than Hollywood a hundred Christian films cannot do for you what one hour with this holy book will do I want you to remember that I don't say they sin no I don't say these men are failing there's people being reached by it but someone needs to warn us don't divert from this and replace this with everything else of entertainment even if it's Christian a hundred Christian films of the best caliber cannot do for you what I guarantee you one hour of intense prayerful study of the Word of God daily will do don't bury the Word of God it above everything fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil before they become evil thoughts I hate vain thoughts but I love my law this is the way it also it also becomes our source of safe navigation you know like a ship navigates with the compass it becomes our source of safe navigation in life order my steps in your word Psalm 119 verse 133 says order my steps in your word literally direct me direct my steps by means of your word thy word is a lamp unto my feet a light unto my path Psalm 119 verse 105 it is our source of safe navigation Jesus Savior pilot me pilot me over life's tempestuous sea unknown waves before me roll hiding rocks and treacherous all old chart and compass come from thee Jesus Savior pilot me it's our source of safe navigation beloved it gives us the power to see in the darkest circumstance I was once in a restaurant in Humansdorp. Humansdorp is not exactly the most wonderful city in the world but it's there, okay? There's a restaurant there that has taken so many hearts by storm that people come from everywhere who heard of this restaurant it's so good it's like going into a really the possest of the most possest of the most possest restaurants you won't go and find better anywhere in the world and I can guarantee you that but this restaurant you just see the car oh we thought we could have a cup of tea in this wonderful restaurant most people couldn't even afford a meal but anyway just for the joy of going there people have taken us and on various special occasions I've taken my wife because it has to be a very special occasion otherwise they would jail me through bankruptcy nonetheless yeah this restaurant is but they've got brains seems when you get rich you've got to have some brains anyway these people they got brains that so many people come to this amazing restaurant you know the restaurant is so beautiful the chandeliers they play lovely classical music and the carpets and the waiters and wait they look like butlers you know you almost want to stand up for them because they look like they should be in Buckingham Palace anyway there's this restaurant that people know about everywhere and it's quite an occasion to go there but before you go into that restaurant you've got to go through a big hall from the street you walk in you walk up the stairs oh it's big and it's got the most beautiful beautiful things from all over the world selected treasures you know whoa the best of the best of the best these whoa now rich people have to get to the restaurant through this place and they have to wait their turn you see where their name comes their table or sometimes a line if you just willing to wait and these people who own the restaurant know this great man otherwise he wouldn't come his wife is gonna say oh darling look at this you know and of course his heart will melt being in a place with it and they make a lot of money let me tell you with all these beautiful things so I was in there we're gonna go now and I was looking at these things I was too scared to look too closely because the price would make me have a heart attack let alone buy it all these lovely things anyway look the one thing really interested me suddenly I saw a sign it says this will give you the power to walk in the dark safely this will enable you to walk in the darkest circumstances of life in safety well I'm the preacher so of course I run across to see this what is it it's a terrible thing it's a cap not just a cheap cap it's already the best you know these caps young people they put it the wrong way by the way you want to turn them to know it's for you as the Sun to not be in your eyes man boom but it's of some fashion you know so here these young people have it but this hat has LED lights you know and batteries I don't know how they get it in and this will enable you to walk in safety the darkest circumstances to see in the darkest circumstances you face in life so I looked at these people that were with me I said oh that's nothing the Word of God does that you see I'm a preacher that's what the Word of God does for me you see thy word is a lamp unto my feet a light unto my path by his light I walked through darkness Job 29 verse 3 says by his light thou shalt guide me with thy counsel that means the instructions of God from 113 verse 24 and 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 that means you make bad mistakes in life but in the multitude of counselors they are established proverbs 15 verse 22 in the multitude of counselors there's safety proverbs 11 verse 14 thy testimonies that's thy instructions are my counselors psalm 119 verse 24 literally in the Hebrew they are the men the men of my counsel Moffat translates they are my advisors he could tainis a is made for a list of him may rods mana the Afrikaans most Christians are forever running to men they forever running to man for counsel for advice for guidance but beloved there's greater safety in the instructions of God's Word there's greater safety the men of my counsel are the commandments the promises the warnings the instructions contained and soon throughout this holy book for my safety and when many of them give me the same counsel I embrace them as God's leading his direction I don't believe God mocks me for seeking his guidance in this one sacred book in my life for in the multitude of counselors when there's many verses there's safety the sovereignty of God is a word most people are very scared of in the theological world they bring it to the degree that man has no choice God is sovereign he chooses one to heaven one to hell they can't do anything about it that's rubbish total rubbish isn't carefully the word sovereignty is very different to me I see the sovereignty of God in this book more than anything else I see where I'm reading and crisis tragedy things that most people would just give up some people would commit suicide have come up against me in life and I just where I'm reading this is the sovereign God has such a sovereign key over my life if I'm walking with him don't blame him if you're not walking with him don't say that's God's will suddenly it's like God just sits in front of me and tells me what to do and faith comes by the Word of God Oh guidance comes instruction comes what to do to such a degree that you see God's hands even where you're reading if you're right with him if you're following him in the things that the devil brings up against us the sovereign God listen one day not too long ago something happened in Jenny in my life that should rightly have made me go mental go off our heads lose control lose hope lose faith I remember getting on my knees weeping shocked yes Oh God what's happening how could this be and I read just where I had my mark for my daily readings where I started I read words that just flooded me with peace I knew it was God I had to go and preach but that word was still in my heart now Oh God thank you for saying that to me for giving me peace in this storm the sudden raging attack from Satan to destroy the peace of God he'd love thy word of great peace have they which love thy law nothing should offend and nothing will cause them to give up who should know I go to church we have to preach the people were singing and I had to go through now but as I came in the church something terrible staggering happened a little girl I'll never forget her long hair beautiful like a little angel she stooped down in front of me to pick up a piece of paper a little card from the floor that had fallen and she looked up at me and she said sir this fell from your Bible it's yours I said no no that isn't mine she said oh take it it's yours it fell from your butt so I took it it was the same verse don't believe God mocks us or makes us doubt in the multitude of counselors the men of my God when many confirmed I looked at her and I was stunned I said oh thank you for showing me this I needed but it's not mine she said no sir you're wrong it's yours take it and this little thing walked away from me and I put it in my Bible I should have a dead skips home when my guess when I took all the things out of my book this morning I walk into the church now now I have walked into thousands of pulpits don't don't doubt this I've walked into thousands of churches to preach and always just about every time there's something on the wall some lovely verse the holiness unto the Lord praising and it's always done beautifully many many churches we are preached behind the pulpit across the wall as I walked and I could hardly believe it I said there there was the same verse right I've never seen another church God needed me it is sovereignty to know he wasn't mocking me and I wasn't taking or being presumptuous this book is my source of counsel the men of my counsel are the instructions it contains they're the ones I go to the ones I the sovereignty of God has been seen in my life again and again as things rise up against me and Jenny and the children at our ministry the devil doesn't sleep and say fine you just do all this for God here while we're sleeping is orchestrating trying to get things to destroy you God God confirms that he's with us we won't be destroyed that he'll protect us in this that he'll deal with our enemies those who want to destroy the instructions beloved it contains are the men of my counsel and this sacred book contains the prayers the sacred book contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed when my heart's wounded overwhelmed and become so weary that I'm not able to pray in faith that's happened to me this sacred book contains the prayers I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed and wounded and overwhelmed and I become weary and I'm no longer able to pray with Martin Luther testified of how during the Reformation when all hell rose against him he became so weary and so fearful that there were times he said I couldn't pray I was so dead numb from weariness and it was then he said that God led him to pray the Psalms aloud and he found that this through this discipline he swiftly since he had entered into the very presence of God in a way he had never experienced his entire Christian experience he experienced his faith being renewed as he prayed these God-given prayers about eighty percent of the Psalms start with agony of all the cruelties and injustices that come upon a man or a nation but especially a man and then at some point of the Psalm he commits it to God and ends praising God that he's going to intervene Luther said the Psalms are the schoolbook the prayer book of the school of God in the set workbook and you're all in the school of God the moment you say this is the set workbook from which we learn and how to learn to pray is the Psalms he called it the school of God the school book of God this book of Psalms in the set workbook of us who were in the school of God listen he said as he prayed these prayers he so went into God's presence that he he had never experienced himself so entering into the very presence of God for any prayer he'd prayed before and he said later on he found that prayers were strewn through the Bible they're not there to record history the prayers that Paul prayed the prayers that Jesus the prayers the disciple the prayers strewn from one side of the Bible they're not for history but to teach us how to pray as led by the Holy Ghost and he said as he prayed through circumstances as circumstances arose he found himself in the place where these prayers were and he prayed them and they kept him surviving to the end it contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed wounded overwhelmed and big I become weary and I'm no longer able to pray in faith beloved but wait now it also tests our faith it also tests of the promises contained in the sacred book test our faith beloved 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 but 18 whose feet they hurt with fetters with chains and he was laid in iron literally in the Hebrew his soul entered into the iron he suffered so much the Hebrew says in the furnace of affliction that God allows us to be placed in his perfect wisdom in allowing sent by the devil to destroy us but allowed by God to make us what we need to happen oh 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 to pass literally came to be fulfilled the word that God had given the promises God had given him he knew it was from God tried and tested his faith it also tests our faith beloved but if my faith is ever put to the test if my faith is ever allowed by God to be 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 my survival beloved Job had no Bible before these books were all canonized never by men trust me don't listen to the academic liberals who make mistakes and left out the gospel of Judas God have mercy on them all these new findings and no wonder they weren't in it weren't they weren't inspired they weren't led by those men don't think God wasn't able to lead men lead men to what was godly inspired what was truly divinely inspired this book is divinely inspired from come to cover and anything not in it was not divinely inspired and not meant for us this is God's word beloved but Job before any other book in the Bible the book of Job was written before Moses was born Job lived before Moses was given revelation about the creation the fall of man the promises of God that something will one day destroy Satan and I was speaking before it came about of course men knew they passed on Adam and Eve passed things on Noah all these men passed on what the of course they heard but the revelation was given perfectly through Moses but before Moses Job was written it's the oldest book that's contained in the Bible the first ever written that was God-inspired that Job had no Bible and he cried my days are spent without hope without hope Job 7 verse 6 but we beloved we cry although my soul melteth for heaviness and faintest for thy salvation I hope in thy word Psalm 119 verse 81 and 82 David was greatly distressed 1 Samuel 30 verse 6 says but then we read but David encouraged himself in the Lord in the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul he cried Psalm 94 verse 19 this is my comfort he said in all my affliction thy word Psalm 119 verse 49 Psalm 107 verse 20 tells us he sent forth his healing word that's what it does no matter how wounded you are nothing's going to heal you in the in the battle that comes against Christianity from Satan and evil people only God's words gonna heal you the healing he sent forth he gave us healing words but unless thy law had been my delight I should then have perished in my affliction David said unless this was my greatest delight unless I know God's word had been my delight I would have perished in my affliction Psalm 190 verse 92 that we through patience that's endurance and comfort of the scriptures might have hope Romans 15 verse 4 that we through patience endurance no matter what comes against to be gone and comfort of the scriptures might have hope Romans 15 verse 4 Hebrews 11 verse 33 tells us of men and women who through faith obtained promises and out of weakness were made strong Hebrews 11 33 tells us of men and women who through faith obtained promises and out of weakness were made strong now the Bible has many other facets 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 the rejecting of it will result in us to one day be judged by it but fourthly once I am truly saved it immediately becomes my source of spiritual growth and fifthly our source of daily renewal sixly ultimately becomes our source of survival and we know it 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 nine it is also a moral compass ten it is the means by which the Holy Spirit cleanses us from all wrong and evil influences we all face in this sinful world daily 11 it also fortifies and keeps my mind from vain worthless thoughts and from thoughts of evil ever becoming evil thoughts it fortifies 12 it also becomes our source of safe navigation 13 the instructions it contains are the men of my counsel 14 it contains the prayers that I need to pray to survive that's why it's there not as recorded history it's for you now God knew you need it contains the prayers I need to pray to survive when my heart is crushed or wounded or overwhelmed and I become weary and I'm no longer able to even pray and faith 15 it also tests our faith our faith is tested by it 16 but while my faith is being put to the test it installs hope comfort and courage within me to endure through the through God's precious promises which are strewn across its sacred pages for me and you to survive I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil some 119 verse 162 I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great treasure great so you know in the old days they go into a cave yeah he's Paul sailors and whatever you call they see this treasure oh and they put the light in there the lamps and there's gold and rubies and diamonds whoa I rejoice not of that I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great treasure some hundred and ninety was once you seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read was is 34 by 16 says blessed is the man that delighteth greatly in his commandments some 112 verse 1 concerning the works of men by the word I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer some 17 verse 4 who is he that would devote himself to be close to me asks the Lord I'll tell you something to devote yourself to be close to God and to walk with God here it is it costs to put down all the devil has made so tempting for us to be diverted and not to lose all these new technical thing everything that goes on in life it costs it'll cost you a billion times more sir to not do it you will be sorrowing in those things you will be empty and frustrated you will be shattered in life even if you're saved and you neglect this book for other things that don't matter where you had a choice things that you didn't have to do or you could have devoted yourself to be close to God there's two types of Christians you know you one of them which one are you the one soaks himself in the Bible as their greatest love and desire because the more you read the Bible the more you want to the one soaks themselves in the Bible is the greatest discipline of his life daily the other doesn't they're so different you wouldn't say they from the same planet along the same religion both saved which one are you will you devote yourself to stay close to God to walk with God to abide in him to endure to the end no matter what comes on your life one way sir this that's gonna cost you putting aside the things that don't matter that if you don't do they won't matter at all but this matters and finding all the time you need for when this book is first God is first there's no other way you can find out when God is first but that will you leave God second third fourth fifth to your desires and choices for the rest of your life and bring shame on his name and not know the fulfillment and the healing and the keeping and all the things he has said here I want to ask you a very staggering question in a small little meeting are you saved to faith in the promises contained in this book concerning Christ he born again by the word you become God's child through this faith that comes by the Word of God if you're not saved and this morning you are going to seek God to save your soul with truth no matter what it costs and to do all you've heard daily for the rest of your life to take this so that all these things happen to you for your safety to the end but you have to be saved if you're not saved right now I want you to put your hand up and say it's me God speaking to you and I'm going to give my life to Christ right now now I tell you what this might be your only opportunity in the whole of your life to stagger the devil and glorify God so be careful if you're not truly saved put your hand up and we gonna someone's gonna go and pray with you will you do that if there's anyone just put your hand up again as I can see now if you're not saved that's your answer to God if you are saved for the rest of your life beginning today soak yourself in this book my boy because to the degree you soak yourself in this book you will hate evil not being saved will make you hate evil soak yourself in this book for all these 16 facets don't go on neglecting this book sir lady from today every day till you die do what you heard this morning I beg you can we stand please father you cannot have a sook Elka heart now but break you reward you would did he crack and work you funny he'll agree is corrected come a sook Elka heart so that everyone in this building will find the safety and everything God promises to those who put this book first every day of life till they die and God cannot lie he has a holy obligation to fulfill to every one of us what he has promised this morning to those who make this book first for survival to the end in Jesus Christ name we ask these things for his sake for his glory in faith unswerving of our heavenly father amen we remain standing now I do believe this gonna be cookies and cake and I don't know I saw cakes in the front day and tea you're welcome to stay we will fellowship with you for a while before we go back to the house my wife and I pray for me here is my wife's newsletter that has put out to many thousands of homes across the world the other countries we send email the printing press and they printed and do all the postage for us otherwise we could never do we found out that a great percentage as preachers missionaries full-time workers who pray for us every day and a great amount of contact that us across the world to say that the newsletter here let's put out every three months with about three months of work and the report of the last year but enables them to pray soberly daily to notice where we are please I'd like you to take a copy each of you and put it beside never on top of your Bible but beside your Bible that your parents is to pray for us as God leads you we want your prayers nothing else so I'm going to just leave it there and hope you have the kindness to take a copy for your home in your devotions as you can pray as you just read that beside your Bible to pray properly for us I'd be very grateful don't forget if you would like these books we leave with skip the copies of the amount you need just tell us what you need how many you want for different people you're praying for many have come to God to salvation through these books of Jenny's all over the world please if you'd like to take them in I'd be so grateful we would be honored to leave you some without any costs and skip will bring them back to you so let us know brother skip would you commit us to God and pray one final prayer please and then we're going to have a little time of fellowship thank you again for coming I come once a year you know I've reached 70 that's the age God says well that's it these four years in 10 the United Nations is a small percentage of the world I don't know but 6% goes beyond the age of 70 if by reason of strength good health you know I might be back next year otherwise this is it but thank God I don't want to stay for Jenny yes for the children for the ministry for so if God sees that's needed I'm very happy and grateful for the life he let me live for 50 years now of which most I preached to many many hundreds of thousands of people that he privileged me so if I see you next year it will be the grace of God above normal grace will you commit us to God brother and no appeal gracious a prayer tell us almost go to the back and come back possibly