Fingerprints of God #3 - The Reliability of Scripture

Awake Us Now

Scripture: Psalm 119:105, Mark 7:6-23, Ezekiel 26, Luke 24.

"Can I really trust what the Bible says?" An increasing body of evidence says "Yes," but are we willing to let God's Word impact our lives?

We continue to look at ordinary things that are often overlooked but when we have eyes to see - we suddenly recognize the incredible power and presence of God among us.

Today, we talk about the Bible and its reliability. ⁃ Can I trust the Bible? Is it trustworthy? True? ⁃ Does this really matter for me today? Does it apply to my life?

What God desires is to bring answers to those questions, life changing answers, answers that speak directly into our doubts and questions. Sometimes we don’t want our doubts answered because we are comfortable with them. Are you willing to let His Word (Bible) change that?

FIVE EVIDENCES that tell us of the reliability the Word - things readily seen, clearly demonstrated, and that can be carefully researched and checked out

- Documentary Evidence How do I know that people didn’t change what was originally written? How do I know the words haven’t been tampered with over the years? Are there ways to examine if the word has been changed over time?

In the last 70 years remarkable discoveries for the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures make it very clear how incredibly reliable those ancient words of the Bible have remained.

Pastor shares archaeological information of recent discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls that show really remarkable faithfulness of the transmission of these scriptures down through the ages. These scrolls date back to before Jesus.

For the New Testament Pastor shares proofs of the New Testament being remarkably well attested as one compares all the diverse copies written down in various centuries preserved over the years. We are able to compare multiple volumes and find they have been faithfully preserved. As well, other ancient writings from even non-Christian historians document the events of Jesus’ life bearing evidence of reliability of the scriptures.

⁃ Archaeological Evidence Discoveries in the last few decades give cause to even the most skeptic of minds to say, “maybe there’s something to this!”

Pastor shares several archaeological discoveries of 2005 (David’s palace), 2004 (Pool of Siloam), 2015 (ancient bullah - clay seals with the inscription, “belonging to Hezekiah son of Ahaz, King of Judah.”) and 2018 (another seal inscribed with “belonging to Isaiah the prophet” dating nearly 3000 years ago). These are the very names of people who are described in the Old Testament scriptures and this reminds us that these people as well as the places they inhabited are REAL!

The Bible is not made-up stories. It is the true and living account of real people who encountered the real God and whose lives were transformed.

These ancient evidences remind us that the Bible is something genuine, sharing the successes, but also not does hesitating to share the failures of its heroes. God is a truth teller.

⁃ Prophetic Evidence These are things recorded for centuries before Jesus came and which were fulfilled decades, centuries and for some millenia later - some in our own day. (See week 2 for more on this)

Biblical prophecy is the clear declaration of what is to come, and shows the truthfulness of what the Bible proclaims and has been proven reliable.

Pastor shares several prophetic examples. Throughout the Scripture we can see amazing prophetic words that are key, critical and powerful testimonies to an all knowing God!

⁃ Christological Evidence Pastor shares evidence of Jesus - Jesus was more than a “great man” and tremendous teacher. He made it clear that the Hebrew Scriptures point to Him. Pastor sights several examples of Jesus fulfilling what the Old Testament proclaimed.

⁃ Personal Evidence Pastor shares testimonies from people whose lives were dramatically changed through encounters with God’s Word, including his own testimony.

God’s Word (Bible) is reliable - allow His Word to speak to your heart. God speaks to us personally through His Living Word. It’s a Word that changes lives. Let Him change yours. It’s a Word that renews the soul. Let Him renew yours. It’s a Word that gives direction, guidance, comfort, assurance and power to those who will hear His voice. Will you see the Scriptures as reliable?

WE ALL NEED HIS WORD IN OUR LIVES TODAY!

Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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