Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
God is not like you and me.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
His ways are not like our ways, His thoughts are
not like our thoughts.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Doctor Tony Evans says, getting to know God starts with
letting him speak through scripture.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
If you're going to understand God, he must explain himself.
Revelation is simply God making himself.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
No.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless Biblical teachings
from the archives of doctor Tony Evans. We all have
questions about life, but some answers can only come from
a heavenly source. Today, doctor Evans helps us see how
God uses scripture to reveal his thoughts, his will, and
(00:43):
his ways. Let's join him as he explains why understanding
God has to begin with receiving what He's chosen to
make known.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Revelation is simply God making himself. No, why do we
need revelation. Let's go back to our favorite passage, Isaiah fifty.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Five, beginning in verse eight.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways, declares the Lord verse nine. For as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(01:36):
Revelation is important because God is totally different than us,
and because of this huge gap between us and God,
the infinite versus the finite. If you're going to understand God,
he must explain himself because he is the un figure
(02:00):
outable God. There is another reason why God must reveal himself.
We cannot figure him out on our own, and that
is because Ephesians four eighteen says our understanding has been
darkened by sin. So whatever abilities we have have been
(02:22):
contaminated by our sin. And since sin acts as a blinder,
it limits spiritual perceptivity, or the ability to understand. So
even what you could understand has been thwarted by our
inability to see clearly because of the stigma of sin
(02:45):
that has infected and affected.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
The whole human race.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
The nature of revelation Revelation can be divided into two categories. Theologically,
we call it general revelation, and then we call it
special revelation. Let me say a worried about general revelation,
because I focus today is on special revelation. General revelation
(03:11):
refers to God revealing himself in nature so that men
have a clear picture that He exists. It is the
manifestation of his attributes, of his abilities, of his characteristics,
validating his existence.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
So nineteen says, the.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Heavens are telling of the glory of God, and their
expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Day to day.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
They pour forth speech night tonight they reveal knowledge. They
don't speak, there are no words. Their voice is not heard,
but their line has gone out through all the earth.
In other words, creation manifests that God does exist. One
(04:09):
of the other things you'll find in New York. You'll
find it in every city, but New York has a
plethora of.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Them, and that is museums.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Museums where great artists have painted great portraits. When you
come to an a great portrait, the Mona Lisa, or
you go to Rome and you see the Sistine Chapel,
you you look at the works of Michelangelo or Picasso.
(04:42):
You don't look at a painting that is obviously a
masterpiece and assumed there was no painter. You don't look
at a painting and said nobody did this. You don't
look at a painting and said, oh, this evolved into this.
It took hundreds of years, and paint just got sucked
(05:05):
into the canvas. And that's how this beautiful masterpiece showed
up in this museum. It's amazing. God doesn't get the
respect of a good painter. And look at the canvas
he's painted on. The heavens are declaring, screening the glory
(05:28):
of God. The Bible says, you gotta be a fool,
Psalm fourteen to one, to wonder does God exist? Can't
you see the painting? Don't you see the canvas? Every
time you say wasn't this day beautiful? You're saying, can't
(05:49):
he paint? When you see the night heavens and the
stars and you look out on a starlit night, it's
can't he paint? It's manifesting the glory of God. The
fool have set in his heart there is no God.
(06:11):
Look at a couple of verses. Maybe you haven't noticed
in the Bible before Acts Chapter fourteen, Verse seventeen. And
yet he God did not leave himself without witness in
that he did good and gave you reins from heaven
(06:32):
and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
God did not leave himself without a witness. Then let
me read one other verse before I make a comment,
Chapter seventeen, verse twenty four.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
This is a great section.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
The God who made the world and all the things
in it, Since he is lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in temples made with hands, neither is
he served by human hands. He doesn't say what you're
gonna do for me today, as though he needed anything,
since he himself gave to all life, breath, and all things,
(07:12):
and he made from one every nation of mankind to
live on all the face of the earth, having determined
their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that
they should seek God, if perhaps they might grow for
him and find him, though he is not very far
from each of us, For.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
In him we live and move and exist.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And even some of your prophets have said, for we
also are his offspring. We have insurance policies. Your insurance
policies have a clause in them. The clause is called
act of God. Now, that's referring to something negative that
you have no control over that God gets the blame
(07:55):
for as a clause in your insurance policy. Your insurance policy.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Says, if.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Maybe earthquake happens, you couldn't control that, that's an act
of God. Or some hailstorm or something that nature.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Recks hav it. That's a lot of God.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's amazing how much attention God gets in writing for
stuff that goes wrong, But it's hard for him to
get anto credit for the regular stuff that goes right.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Every now and then, stuff goes wrong. Even if you
having a bad day, bad love, or bad year, that's.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Still a small portion of your life.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Acts says Luke says.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
When he wrote acts that every time you eat a
meal an act of God?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Did you know that? See?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Why should I give thanks every time I eat? Because
every time you eat God had to do something for
that to happen. You trace it back, you say, well,
God didn't do this. I got this from the store. Hello,
whether it's me fruit or vegetables, Oh, let's go for
(09:26):
other ice cream. God had to be acting in his
creation to produce the ground that produced the grass that
the cow ate, that produced the milk that wind up
being ice cream. It all funnels back to God. And
(09:51):
that's an act of God too. In fact, that's his
most regular act. He has painted canvass over creation.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
The evidence of God is woven into everything we see.
But when doctor Evans continues our message. In just a moment,
he'll show how ignoring that evidence comes with serious consequences.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Stay with us.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Whether you're facing a decision or a dilemma. It's smart
to ask what would Jesus do, but first you have
to know what Jesus did and what God has to
say about the situations you face. Well, if building your
biblical foundation is your goal, the help you need is
as close as your computer or mobile device thanks to
the Tony Evans Training Center. It's packed with online courses
(10:38):
covering core concepts of the faith and in depth scripture
studies you can work through any time you want, at
any pace you want. Along the way, you'll explore key
teachings and learn how to apply them in real world situations.
There's lots of exclusive content from Tony to keep you
interested and motivated. In an online forum where you can
ask questions, get answers, and collaborate with other students. It's
(11:01):
almost like having a seminary on your smartphone. Visit Tonyevans
dot org today and connect with the Tony Evans Training Center,
where you can explore the Kingdom anytime anywhere.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
You can find out more about the Tony Evans Training
Center when you visit our website at Tonyevans dot org,
and while you're there, be sure to check out how
you can receive a copy of Tony's current audio series,
The Glory of God's Word. This ten message collection explores
the nature, purpose, and divine power of scripture, showing how
(11:34):
God's Word can renew your mind, director's steps, and transform
your life from the inside out. When you make a
financial contribution to help support the Alternative, we'll send you
this complete series as our thank you gift, and for
a limited time, we are also including a bonus Tony's book,
The Transforming Word. It's designed to help you grow deeper
(11:56):
in your understanding of the Bible and learn how to
actually read, receive, and apply it's life giving truth. Request
your copy of this exclusive resource package online today at
Tonyevans dot org or call us at one eight hundred
eight hundred thirty two twenty two, where someone from our
friendly resource team will be glad to assist you. Right now,
(12:19):
let's get back to doctor Evans with more of today's message.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Romans one, The final word. I want to say on this.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Because I want to talk a moment about special revelation,
but Romans one says this, for the wrath of God
verse eighteen, is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppressed the truth and unrighteousness, because
that which is known from God is evident within them,
within their own conscience.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
For God made it evident to them.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
How for since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes,
his eternal power, his divine nature have been clearly seen,
being understood through what has been made.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So they are without excuse.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
No man, no woman nowhere can ever argue I did
not have enough data to believe in God. Nobody can
ever say that, because God says, I painted on the
canvas of creation, and I painted it everywhere so that
(13:30):
everyone can see. You say I can't see God, Well,
you can't see wind, but.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Its effects are clear.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
If the effects are there, you don't have to see
the cause to know the cause is real. But when
we talk about special revelation, we're talking about God giving
details about himself that general revelation does not provide you.
It picks up where creation leaves off, so that now
(14:06):
you cannot only understand God through what he's written, but
meet him because he's a person behind the words Hebrews one.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
One God, after.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets,
in many portions and in many ways, in these last days,
has spoken to us in his son, who is a
pointed air of all things, through whom also he made
the world. And he is the radiance of his glory,
the exact representation of his nature, and opholse all things
(14:39):
by the word of his power. When he had made
purifocation for sins, he sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high. Now guess what he says.
He says, in the old days, God spoke a lot
of ways. He spoke through nature, He spoke through fire,
He spoke through signs, through wonders, through dreams, through visions,
through donkeys. He spoke through all ways. But they were
(15:01):
all leading up to the main way. These were all
small highways leading up to the main road. And he says,
in these last days has spoken to us by his son. Now,
what was the job of Jesus Christ. I gotta show
you this, John chapter one sing John chapter one, verse
fourteen says, and the word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
What became flesh? The word.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Okay, you see the relationship between word and person. The word,
that which is spoken became a person. Flesh that which
is spoken became a person, and dwelt among us, and
we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten
from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Now look at verse eighteen. No man has.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Seen God at any time, no exceptions. Okay.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Jesus Christ came to.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Give detail, and he gave details in two forms, by
his personal life visual details and by his written word
verbal details. Special revelation is where God gives you details
about himself. So why you have in the Bible are
(16:19):
details about God. And you can see it in what
God says, and you can see it in what Jesus did.
Because what Jesus was was the visible manifestation of God.
What the Bible is is the verbal manifestation of God.
And since the word verbal became flesh visible, the living
(16:43):
word and the written word are the same word. An
important verse is John chapter five. In John five, verse
thirty nine, this is what we read. You search the
scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life.
And it is these that bear witness of me. You
(17:05):
see what he said, said, you read the Bible, but you.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Got to look for me.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Because the scriptures, the written word is about the living word.
Chapter six, verse sixty three. It is the spirit who
gives life. The flesh prophets nothing. The words that I
have spoken to you are spirit and our life.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
He says.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
These words are not just words, they're living words, because
the Word became alive. So when we talk about the Bible,
we're talking about God giving us details so that we
can understand him a little better, since he must reveal himself.
(17:49):
What then, are the benefits of scripture? Benefit number one
of looking at the Bible as divine revelation, it becomes
Wat's this now an objective standard by which to assess
and experience divine reality. For many of us, the Bible
(18:12):
is a book about God. Only now it is that
it is a book about God. But the purpose of
giving us the book about God is to give us
the ability to see things from a spiritual perspective and
not from the finite, earthly perspective. Everybody else is looking at.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That same thing. It's a new pair of eyeglasses.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
The ability to see in the invisible realm, this reality
of the revelation of God that otherwise.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Could not be seen or understood. Another benefit.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Is to reveal God's purposes and God's ways. So I'm
twenty five Verse four says that God wants us to
know his purposes, his ways. Why do I need scripture
to know his ways? Because his ways are not our ways.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
He wants you to know his ways.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Why else does God give a scripture to fix what's
broken in our lives?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Let me read you, James, Chapter one, verse nineteen. This
is what James one nineteen says.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
James says, chapter one, verse nineteen, Therefore, putting us out
all filthiness and all the remains of wickedness and humility.
Receive the word implanted, which is able to deliver your soul.
That means fix what's wrong James one nineteen. It will
fix what's wrong, or deliver the soul or the self
or the be. Receive the word. And if you receive it,
(19:49):
that doesn't mean just hear it preached. If you take
it to heart, take it in. It will deliver you.
Why because it's not just a book, it's alive. Another
thing that the word will do. It'll reveal why you
are to worship God. Ps I'm eighty nine, Verses five
and six says, anybody who can do this, you ought
(20:10):
to be magnifying him. You ought to be praising him.
When you go to get your car fixed, they look
at a book, stay see what kind of car is.
They find the match, they find the parts, they order
the parts. They fix your car. They've got on the
record what it needs to get it fixed. The scripture
(20:32):
is designed to let you have God's perspective on how
to get it fixed. The longest chapter in the Bible
is Pawm one nineteen, so longest chapter in the Bible.
Every verse of the longest chapter in the Bible talks
about the importance of the Word of God. Every verse
(20:53):
in there tells you what it can do, tells you
what it is, tell you why you need it. All
that is in Thumb one nineteen David says, I can't
live without it.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Something very interesting in closing.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
The wise men came to see Jesus. When they got
to Jerusalem, they asked the religious leaders and scholars of
the day, where can we find the baby that was
to be born King of the Jews.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Where is he?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
The biblical scholars of the day said, Bethlehem, If you
just go down the street five miles you will find him.
The magi wise men went to Bethlehem, found Jesus.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
And worshiped him.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
But wait a minute, it was the Bible scholars. It
was the folks who went to seminary that told the
wise men where Jesus was, because they had studied the
scriptures had redden Alaki five to two that prophesied about
(22:06):
the birth of Jesus seven hundred years before Jesus was
ever born. And they were saying, the Bible says, you'll
find Jesus five miles down the road.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
In a little town called Betland. But guess what.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
The folks with less Bible knowledge took the trip. The
folks with more Bible knowledge stayed in Jerusalem. They had
more information. They didn't bother to take the trip. God
gave you the Bible, not so you can tell folk
(22:45):
what you know. He gave you the Bible so you
would take the trip. He gave you the Bible so
you would visit the Savior. He gave you the Bible
so that you would worship Almighty God. And if the
Bible doesn't lead you to take the trip, then you've
studied it in vain. You can study the Bible for
(23:07):
seventy years if you don't take the trip you have
studied in they God has revealed himself, but he doesn't
reveal himself just because he has nothing to do. He
reveals himself so that you can come to me in
your experience.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
The Almighty Living.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Dune doctor Tony Evans reminding us that a deeper relationship
with God starts by listening to what he's already said. Now,
don't forget to take advantage of our special double offer
ll ten full length messages in Tony's current collection, The
Glory of God's Word, along with his insightful book The
(23:51):
Transforming Word. As I mentioned earlier, they're both yours with
our thanks when you make a donation to help keep
this listener supported program coming way. But this double package
offer will only be available for a limited time, so
visit Tonyevans dot org to make the arrangements to receive it,
or call our resource center at one eight hundred eight
(24:12):
hundred thirty two twenty two anytime of the day or night.
That's one eight hundred eight hundred three two two two.
There's a difference between human opinion and divine truth. Tomorrow
doctor Evans unpacks how the Bible wasn't just written by people,
It was God breathed in order to equip us for
(24:34):
everything he's called us to do. I hope he'll join us.
God is not like you and me.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
His ways are not like our ways, His thoughts are
not like our thoughts.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Doctor Tony Evans says, getting to know God starts with
letting him speak through scripture.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
If you're going to understand God, he must explain himself.
Revelation is simply God making himself.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
No.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless Biblical teachings
from the archives of doctor Tony Evans. We all have
questions about life, but some answers can only come from
a heavenly source. Today, doctor Evans helps us see how
God uses scripture to reveal his thoughts, his will, and
(00:43):
his ways. Let's join him as he explains why understanding
God has to begin with receiving what He's chosen to
make known.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Revelation is simply God making himself. No, why do we
need revelation. Let's go back to our favorite passage, Isaiah fifty.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Five, beginning in verse eight.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways, declares the Lord verse nine. For as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(01:36):
Revelation is important because God is totally different than us,
and because of this huge gap between us and God,
the infinite versus the finite. If you're going to understand God,
he must explain himself because he is the un figure
(02:00):
outable God. There is another reason why God must reveal himself.
We cannot figure him out on our own, and that
is because Ephesians four eighteen says our understanding has been
darkened by sin. So whatever abilities we have have been
(02:22):
contaminated by our sin. And since sin acts as a blinder,
it limits spiritual perceptivity, or the ability to understand. So
even what you could understand has been thwarted by our
inability to see clearly because of the stigma of sin
(02:45):
that has infected and affected.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
The whole human race.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
The nature of revelation Revelation can be divided into two categories. Theologically,
we call it general revelation, and then we call it
special revelation. Let me say a worried about general revelation,
because I focus today is on special revelation. General revelation
(03:11):
refers to God revealing himself in nature so that men
have a clear picture that He exists. It is the
manifestation of his attributes, of his abilities, of his characteristics,
validating his existence.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
So nineteen says, the.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Heavens are telling of the glory of God, and their
expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Day to day.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
They pour forth speech night tonight they reveal knowledge. They
don't speak, there are no words. Their voice is not heard,
but their line has gone out through all the earth.
In other words, creation manifests that God does exist. One
(04:09):
of the other things you'll find in New York. You'll
find it in every city, but New York has a
plethora of.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Them, and that is museums.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Museums where great artists have painted great portraits. When you
come to an a great portrait, the Mona Lisa, or
you go to Rome and you see the Sistine Chapel,
you you look at the works of Michelangelo or Picasso.
(04:42):
You don't look at a painting that is obviously a
masterpiece and assumed there was no painter. You don't look
at a painting and said nobody did this. You don't
look at a painting and said, oh, this evolved into this.
It took hundreds of years, and paint just got sucked
(05:05):
into the canvas. And that's how this beautiful masterpiece showed
up in this museum. It's amazing. God doesn't get the
respect of a good painter. And look at the canvas
he's painted on. The heavens are declaring, screening the glory
(05:28):
of God. The Bible says, you gotta be a fool,
Psalm fourteen to one, to wonder does God exist? Can't
you see the painting? Don't you see the canvas? Every
time you say wasn't this day beautiful? You're saying, can't
(05:49):
he paint? When you see the night heavens and the
stars and you look out on a starlit night, it's
can't he paint? It's manifesting the glory of God. The
fool have set in his heart there is no God.
(06:11):
Look at a couple of verses. Maybe you haven't noticed
in the Bible before Acts Chapter fourteen, Verse seventeen. And
yet he God did not leave himself without witness in
that he did good and gave you reins from heaven
(06:32):
and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
God did not leave himself without a witness. Then let
me read one other verse before I make a comment,
Chapter seventeen, verse twenty four.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
This is a great section.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
The God who made the world and all the things
in it, Since he is lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in temples made with hands, neither is
he served by human hands. He doesn't say what you're
gonna do for me today, as though he needed anything,
since he himself gave to all life, breath, and all things,
(07:12):
and he made from one every nation of mankind to
live on all the face of the earth, having determined
their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that
they should seek God, if perhaps they might grow for
him and find him, though he is not very far
from each of us, For.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
In him we live and move and exist.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And even some of your prophets have said, for we
also are his offspring. We have insurance policies. Your insurance
policies have a clause in them. The clause is called
act of God. Now, that's referring to something negative that
you have no control over that God gets the blame
(07:55):
for as a clause in your insurance policy. Your insurance policy.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Says, if.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Maybe earthquake happens, you couldn't control that, that's an act
of God. Or some hailstorm or something that nature.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Recks hav it. That's a lot of God.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's amazing how much attention God gets in writing for
stuff that goes wrong, But it's hard for him to
get anto credit for the regular stuff that goes right.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Every now and then, stuff goes wrong. Even if you
having a bad day, bad love, or bad year, that's.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Still a small portion of your life.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Acts says Luke says.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
When he wrote acts that every time you eat a
meal an act of God?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Did you know that? See?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Why should I give thanks every time I eat? Because
every time you eat God had to do something for
that to happen. You trace it back, you say, well,
God didn't do this. I got this from the store. Hello,
whether it's me fruit or vegetables, Oh, let's go for
(09:26):
other ice cream. God had to be acting in his
creation to produce the ground that produced the grass that
the cow ate, that produced the milk that wind up
being ice cream. It all funnels back to God. And
(09:51):
that's an act of God too. In fact, that's his
most regular act. He has painted canvass over creation.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
The evidence of God is woven into everything we see.
But when doctor Evans continues our message. In just a moment,
he'll show how ignoring that evidence comes with serious consequences.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Stay with us.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Whether you're facing a decision or a dilemma. It's smart
to ask what would Jesus do, but first you have
to know what Jesus did and what God has to
say about the situations you face. Well, if building your
biblical foundation is your goal, the help you need is
as close as your computer or mobile device thanks to
the Tony Evans Training Center. It's packed with online courses
(10:38):
covering core concepts of the faith and in depth scripture
studies you can work through any time you want, at
any pace you want. Along the way, you'll explore key
teachings and learn how to apply them in real world situations.
There's lots of exclusive content from Tony to keep you
interested and motivated. In an online forum where you can
ask questions, get answers, and collaborate with other students. It's
(11:01):
almost like having a seminary on your smartphone. Visit Tonyevans
dot org today and connect with the Tony Evans Training Center,
where you can explore the Kingdom anytime anywhere.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
You can find out more about the Tony Evans Training
Center when you visit our website at Tonyevans dot org,
and while you're there, be sure to check out how
you can receive a copy of Tony's current audio series,
The Glory of God's Word. This ten message collection explores
the nature, purpose, and divine power of scripture, showing how
(11:34):
God's Word can renew your mind, director's steps, and transform
your life from the inside out. When you make a
financial contribution to help support the Alternative, we'll send you
this complete series as our thank you gift, and for
a limited time, we are also including a bonus Tony's book,
The Transforming Word. It's designed to help you grow deeper
(11:56):
in your understanding of the Bible and learn how to
actually read, receive, and apply it's life giving truth. Request
your copy of this exclusive resource package online today at
Tonyevans dot org or call us at one eight hundred
eight hundred thirty two twenty two, where someone from our
friendly resource team will be glad to assist you. Right now,
(12:19):
let's get back to doctor Evans with more of today's message.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Romans one, The final word. I want to say on this.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Because I want to talk a moment about special revelation,
but Romans one says this, for the wrath of God
verse eighteen, is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppressed the truth and unrighteousness, because
that which is known from God is evident within them,
within their own conscience.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
For God made it evident to them.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
How for since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes,
his eternal power, his divine nature have been clearly seen,
being understood through what has been made.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So they are without excuse.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
No man, no woman nowhere can ever argue I did
not have enough data to believe in God. Nobody can
ever say that, because God says, I painted on the
canvas of creation, and I painted it everywhere so that
(13:30):
everyone can see. You say I can't see God, Well,
you can't see wind, but.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Its effects are clear.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
If the effects are there, you don't have to see
the cause to know the cause is real. But when
we talk about special revelation, we're talking about God giving
details about himself that general revelation does not provide you.
It picks up where creation leaves off, so that now
(14:06):
you cannot only understand God through what he's written, but
meet him because he's a person behind the words Hebrews one.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
One God, after.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets,
in many portions and in many ways, in these last days,
has spoken to us in his son, who is a
pointed air of all things, through whom also he made
the world. And he is the radiance of his glory,
the exact representation of his nature, and opholse all things
(14:39):
by the word of his power. When he had made
purifocation for sins, he sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high. Now guess what he says.
He says, in the old days, God spoke a lot
of ways. He spoke through nature, He spoke through fire,
He spoke through signs, through wonders, through dreams, through visions,
through donkeys. He spoke through all ways. But they were
(15:01):
all leading up to the main way. These were all
small highways leading up to the main road. And he says,
in these last days has spoken to us by his son. Now,
what was the job of Jesus Christ. I gotta show
you this, John chapter one sing John chapter one, verse
fourteen says, and the word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
What became flesh? The word.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Okay, you see the relationship between word and person. The word,
that which is spoken became a person. Flesh that which
is spoken became a person, and dwelt among us, and
we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten
from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Now look at verse eighteen. No man has.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Seen God at any time, no exceptions. Okay.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Jesus Christ came to.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Give detail, and he gave details in two forms, by
his personal life visual details and by his written word
verbal details. Special revelation is where God gives you details
about himself. So why you have in the Bible are
(16:19):
details about God. And you can see it in what
God says, and you can see it in what Jesus did.
Because what Jesus was was the visible manifestation of God.
What the Bible is is the verbal manifestation of God.
And since the word verbal became flesh visible, the living
(16:43):
word and the written word are the same word. An
important verse is John chapter five. In John five, verse
thirty nine, this is what we read. You search the
scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life.
And it is these that bear witness of me. You
(17:05):
see what he said, said, you read the Bible, but you.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Got to look for me.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Because the scriptures, the written word is about the living word.
Chapter six, verse sixty three. It is the spirit who
gives life. The flesh prophets nothing. The words that I
have spoken to you are spirit and our life.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
He says.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
These words are not just words, they're living words, because
the Word became alive. So when we talk about the Bible,
we're talking about God giving us details so that we
can understand him a little better, since he must reveal himself.
(17:49):
What then, are the benefits of scripture? Benefit number one
of looking at the Bible as divine revelation, it becomes
Wat's this now an objective standard by which to assess
and experience divine reality. For many of us, the Bible
(18:12):
is a book about God. Only now it is that
it is a book about God. But the purpose of
giving us the book about God is to give us
the ability to see things from a spiritual perspective and
not from the finite, earthly perspective. Everybody else is looking at.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That same thing. It's a new pair of eyeglasses.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
The ability to see in the invisible realm, this reality
of the revelation of God that otherwise.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Could not be seen or understood. Another benefit.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Is to reveal God's purposes and God's ways. So I'm
twenty five Verse four says that God wants us to
know his purposes, his ways. Why do I need scripture
to know his ways? Because his ways are not our ways.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
He wants you to know his ways.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Why else does God give a scripture to fix what's
broken in our lives?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Let me read you, James, Chapter one, verse nineteen. This
is what James one nineteen says.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
James says, chapter one, verse nineteen, Therefore, putting us out
all filthiness and all the remains of wickedness and humility.
Receive the word implanted, which is able to deliver your soul.
That means fix what's wrong James one nineteen. It will
fix what's wrong, or deliver the soul or the self
or the be. Receive the word. And if you receive it,
(19:49):
that doesn't mean just hear it preached. If you take
it to heart, take it in. It will deliver you.
Why because it's not just a book, it's alive. Another
thing that the word will do. It'll reveal why you
are to worship God. Ps I'm eighty nine, Verses five
and six says, anybody who can do this, you ought
(20:10):
to be magnifying him. You ought to be praising him.
When you go to get your car fixed, they look
at a book, stay see what kind of car is.
They find the match, they find the parts, they order
the parts. They fix your car. They've got on the
record what it needs to get it fixed. The scripture
(20:32):
is designed to let you have God's perspective on how
to get it fixed. The longest chapter in the Bible
is Pawm one nineteen, so longest chapter in the Bible.
Every verse of the longest chapter in the Bible talks
about the importance of the Word of God. Every verse
(20:53):
in there tells you what it can do, tells you
what it is, tell you why you need it. All
that is in Thumb one nineteen David says, I can't
live without it.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Something very interesting in closing.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
The wise men came to see Jesus. When they got
to Jerusalem, they asked the religious leaders and scholars of
the day, where can we find the baby that was
to be born King of the Jews.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Where is he?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
The biblical scholars of the day said, Bethlehem, If you
just go down the street five miles you will find him.
The magi wise men went to Bethlehem, found Jesus.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
And worshiped him.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
But wait a minute, it was the Bible scholars. It
was the folks who went to seminary that told the
wise men where Jesus was, because they had studied the
scriptures had redden Alaki five to two that prophesied about
(22:06):
the birth of Jesus seven hundred years before Jesus was
ever born. And they were saying, the Bible says, you'll
find Jesus five miles down the road.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
In a little town called Betland. But guess what.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
The folks with less Bible knowledge took the trip. The
folks with more Bible knowledge stayed in Jerusalem. They had
more information. They didn't bother to take the trip. God
gave you the Bible, not so you can tell folk
(22:45):
what you know. He gave you the Bible so you
would take the trip. He gave you the Bible so
you would visit the Savior. He gave you the Bible
so that you would worship Almighty God. And if the
Bible doesn't lead you to take the trip, then you've
studied it in vain. You can study the Bible for
(23:07):
seventy years if you don't take the trip you have
studied in they God has revealed himself, but he doesn't
reveal himself just because he has nothing to do. He
reveals himself so that you can come to me in
your experience.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
The Almighty Living.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Dune doctor Tony Evans reminding us that a deeper relationship
with God starts by listening to what he's already said. Now,
don't forget to take advantage of our special double offer
ll ten full length messages in Tony's current collection, The
Glory of God's Word, along with his insightful book The
(23:51):
Transforming Word. As I mentioned earlier, they're both yours with
our thanks when you make a donation to help keep
this listener supported program coming way. But this double package
offer will only be available for a limited time, so
visit Tonyevans dot org to make the arrangements to receive it,
or call our resource center at one eight hundred eight
(24:12):
hundred thirty two twenty two anytime of the day or night.
That's one eight hundred eight hundred three two two two.
There's a difference between human opinion and divine truth. Tomorrow
doctor Evans unpacks how the Bible wasn't just written by people,
It was God breathed in order to equip us for
(24:34):
everything he's called us to do. I hope he'll join us.
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