The Incredible Wealth of God's Word

I mentioned in an earlier post that I wanted give some reports on the Special Meetings with Ron DeGarde that we are having this week at Fellowship Baptist Church of Salisbury.

For Sunday School, Evangelist Ron DeGarde started off our week by dealing with a familiar passage - 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

This is one of my favorite passages of all of Scripture. In fact, when I taught Bible at Gloucester County Christian School in Pitman, New Jersey for four years and when I taught at Heritage Christian Academy in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey for the four years before that, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 were usually the theme verses for the class.

Brother Ron DeGarde gave us three reasons why there is Incredible Wealth in God’s Word.

I. The Word of God has incredible wealth because it has Incredible Power

The Holy Scripture is able to make you wise unto salvation.

Able is the Greek work "dunamai" - from which we get our word
dynomite.

God Word is powerful in that it is able to save - even in the context of
the last days.

Brother DeGarde connected the "that" in v. 15 with the "this know also" in
v. 1, so that the idea is:

This know also

That - in the last days perilous times will come (v.1)
That - the Holy
Scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation (v. 15)
I have never
seen that connection before and hope to look more into it when I get a good
chance.

None of my quickly available commentaries (read: those in E-Sword and
PowerBible) mention anything about the "that", so further study is needed when
time permits.

Making that connection, Ron points out that even in the midst of the
wickedness that Paul describes as he explains the last days, God’s Word is still
able to make you wise unto salvation.

He then used an illustration about George Mensak (sp.?) who was a member of
Al Capone’s gang who got saved at Marquette Manor Baptist Church in Chicago,
Illinois.

II. The Word of God has incredible wealth because it has an Incredible Profit

The Bible is not a menu from which to make a selection, but a mandate tow
which we must submit.

A. It is profitable for doctrine

B. It is profitable for reproof

C. It is profitable for correction

D. It is profitable for instruction in righteousness

III. The Word of God has incredible wealth because it has a Wonderful Purpose

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished - completely
outfitted

Evangelist DeGarde did a good job of setting the table for the week in Sunday School.

Over the last four weeks, I have spoken regarding 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 - the first week with an overview of what God wants from his people and the nature of revival. While I explained that we were not Israel and this was not a pattern that we could use to manipulate God, the passage does show some traits that God wants to be evident in His people - a humbling of ourselves, praying and seeking God’s face, and a turning from our wicked ways - and that God has expressed blessing to His people in response to this.

Anyway, I think that things have gotten off to a good start.

Just my thoughts - okay, they are mostly Ron’s thoughts :)

Frank.