We are living in days where the world is increasingly turning its back on God. People are increasingly godless. In The Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul describes a similar state of affairs happening thousands of years ago, but in a prophetic way, seems to point to the same attitude that exists today.
Romans 1:28-32 says:
“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
Just as it was in the times of the Apostle Paul, God’s word is increasingly being sidelined today. The Bible says, ‘they understood God’s righteous decree, but they rejected it.’ The very same is happening today. Governments, organizations, interest groups, and individuals are using their influence to attack, demean, marginalize, relegate and belittle God’s word. And while doing that, they continue to uphold the very things that God’s Word rejects.
God’s Word, the Bible, is now being referred to as ‘a little Jewish religious book’ that is ancient, conservative and irrelevant for our times. Those who believe in it, and those who live by it are referred to as conservative, intolerant and primitive. This is a well crafted plan to slowly make people turn their backs on God’s Word so that they begin to take their cues from other sources and other people. For example, we see people turning to other religious and sacred writings like the Quran, and the Ḥadīth, the vedras, the sutras, the writings of the Hindus and the Buddhists.
We see with the increase of information and technology that scientists are becoming authorities on matters of life. People listen to their words and take them as final. People are beginning to look to certain individuals that have committed time to study certain aspects of life. And they begin to refer to these individuals as experts and authorities on life. Everyone wants to hear what they have to say, and everyone aligns with it. And as a result, the supremacy of God’s word is being questioned all around the world, and not just by those who are outside of the Church, but even those within the Church. Those within the body of Christ today are asking questions about God’s Word, and it’s being sidelined.
Through this sermon, our desire is that you will fall in love with God’s Word. Our desire is that you will understand four unique factors that make God’s word Supreme. We also desire that you commit to living your life according to God’s Word.
What I mean when I say ‘God’s Word is supreme’
The word supremacy comes from the word Supreme, which literally is used to refer to something or to someone that holds the highest or the greatest authority. Consider the Constitution, it becomes the highest and the most supreme law in a democratic state. Consider the Supreme Court that becomes the highest court in the land that makes the final adjudication. When it comes to soccer, the most supreme authority that governs the game of soccer all around the world is called FIFA.
Listen to me carefully friends, when it comes to all matters of life, God’s Word, the Bible, is the supreme, the final, the highest and the greatest authority. God’s word is supreme, because it is inspired by God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
God’s Word is God breathed. In other words, God’s Word has been given to us by divine inspiration. That simply means that God’s Word isn’t the work of human intelligence. It isn’t the result of human intellect. It is the result of God by His Holy Spirit, accurately guiding human beings to write down for us everything that He intended for us to know as His Word.
“But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
Peter here emphasizes what Paul has been teaching us. Scripture is divinely inspired and comes from God. That is so encouraging friends, to know that God will use you even with your own imperfections. He will work through you to bring forth something that is beautiful. And that’s what happened. A perfect God, working with imperfect human beings to bring forth a perfect Word. God, who is the author of His Word is the supreme authority over all of life. And because the author of the Word of God who is God Himself, is a supreme authority, that makes the Word that He brought forth Supreme.
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
Also, Colossians 1:16-17 says,
“For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him. And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]”
Listen, friends, God is the supreme authority over all of life. Therefore that makes the Word that He inspired, the Word that He authored, supreme. God and His word are one. Psalm 138:2 says, “I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word together with Your name.”
Scripture: An authority on all issues of life
God’s Word is not a great suggestion. God’s Word is an authority on all issues of life. God’s Word is not to be debated. It’s not to be sidelined. God’s Word is law, and it is to be submitted to.
The Bible (comprising of 66 books), went through a process that God Himself guided. He guided the way Scripture came together. It took a process of about 1500 years, more than 35 authors across three continents, putting these scriptures together. God guided their hearts. And you can see it through the pages of the Bible, because the message from Genesis to Revelation is consistent. It is the story of God’s love for mankind, and how God has a plan of redemption to reconcile man to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. You have to ask yourself, how is it that across 1500 years, more than 35 different authors across three continents were able to write one single message? That is just evidence that this is not just a book. This is not just a religious writing, these are the very Words of God. No other book comes close.
As they were putting this Word together, you’ve got to recognize that there were many other sacred writings. But the Holy Spirit at work in these men and women helped them remove what wasn’t the Word of God, what didn’t line up with Scripture, and God was able to gather the Bible together – the 66 books that we now hold dear as a sacred Word of God. God preserved that word for you and I, because He wants it to be the supreme authority over our lives, guiding every aspect and every detail of our lives. And those 66 books are closed.
“I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book.”(Revelation 22:18-19)
There is a severe warning against anybody that tampers with the Word of God. God promises that there’ll be a punishment for everyone that alters the Word of God. Why? Because the Word of God is supreme. God has exalted his word above His name. His word is law, and it cannot be tampered with.
The Word of God has proven itself over time, again and again. Thousands of years and the Word of God still stands as true as it has before. The Word of God is self attesting. In other words, God’s word is its own greatest defense. You don’t need to look outside of God’s Word to find something to give you confidence in God’s word. Why? Because the moment you begin to look to something else to find confidence in God’s word, then God’s word becomes subject to that thing. But God’s word is its own greatest evidence. The facts are clear. The prophetic accuracy of God’s word is unparalleled. It’s unmatched in all the world. Just concerning Jesus alone, there is 365 Old Testament prophecies about himself, every single one of them coming to pass; where he would be born, how he would be born, his death, his resurrection. We look at the nation of Israel. The Bible says that they would go into slavery for 400 years, they would return to their land, they would go into captivity in Babylon, they would return to their homeland; contemporary prophecies like the establishment of Israel, as a nation and the regathering of her people. There’s so many and the Bible is full of it, and many are still coming to pass. Listen, for this to happen exactly as it has. It can’t be the work of man, you’ve got to realize that this is more than just a book. This is God speaking to us. This is very word of God, written, preserved through the ages for you and I so that we can have God’s very own word with us, guiding every aspect of our lives.
You cannot ignore God’s word.You cannot sideline and marginalize God’s word. It catches up with you. You cannot ignore it because it comes to pass. No other religious book or writings come close; and that is what makes God’s Word, the Bible, supreme.
Voltaire, a French philosopher (1694-1778) made fun of God’s Word. In his days he said, “The Bible. That is what fools have written, what imbeciles commend, what rogues teach and young children are made to learn by heart.” Believing that “we are living in the twilight of Christianity”, he felt the Christian faith would soon become extinct and the Bible only an ancient relic. Ironically, years after his death, Christians purchased Voltaire’s home and used his own printing press to manufacture Bibles.
Jeremiah 1: 12 says: “God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.” And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you. I’ll make every word I give you come true.”
Those words still ring true today. God is watching over his Word to ensure that it is fulfilled. It doesn’t matter who Voltaire is, it doesn’t matter what government, organization or interest groups tried to sideline God’s word, they will never do it because this is what Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
God’s Word is supreme. It is here to stay. It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not, His Word is supreme. Put your faith in God’s word today. What must we do now that we know that God’s word is supreme? Build your life on God’s Word. Let His Word be the final authority over your life. When you have questions in life, run to the Bible. When people say things you don’t understand and they attack your faith, run to God’s Word. What does God’s word have to say about your relationship? What does God’s word say about work? God’s word must be the final authority of our lives.
Joshua 1:8-9 says: “…And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed…”
Do you want to succeed in life? Do you want to be blessed? Submit yourself to God’s Word. Do everything written in it. Only and only then will you be prosperous in your marriage, only then will you be prosperous in your business, only then will you be prosperous in what your hands find to do. God is absolutely faithful to His Word. When we obey and build our lives on God’s word, we shall begin to prosper and see His blessing in our life. However, if we reject God’s word, we will live under a curse and will not experience what God has in store for us.
As I conclude, I want to remind you, God’s Word is supreme, because it is inspired by Him.
Pastor Brian Abaho serve at Watoto Church in Uganda. This extract was taken from his audio sermon titled ‘The Supremacy Of God’s Word’ now available at watotochurch.com
