Since we believe that every word of Scripture is inspired and inerrant, we must not overlook a word.
In studying again the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11, I noticed that the passage begins with the word, “Then.” It is actually a continuing conjunction. This indicates to us that Matthew’s account is chronological, in contrast to Luke’s which gives the temptations in a different order.
“Then” also indicates that a comparison is being made between the temptation and what has gone before. Before Jesus was tempted, He was baptized and the Holy Spirit came upon Him. This suggests that often the times of greatest temptation and testing come after times of highest spiritual experience.
After the baptism, the battle; after the dove, the devil; after the ecstasy, the agony! Don’t overlook the words in the Word!

It is always helpful to get some keys to understanding a book of the Bible. Yesterday I mentioned the 2 key phrases to Judges: “there was no king in Israel,” and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Other Bible writers give keys to understanding their books. In the New Testament John gives keys for his books. His Gospel key is found in John 20:31. The key to I John is scattered throughout the book(“These are written…”). The key to Revelation is found in 1:19. Look for the keys to open the door of a Bible book.

The book of Judges is probably the best book to understand what is going on with the church in today’s modern culture.
There are two keys to the book: 1. “there was no king in Israel.” (occurring 4 times); 2. “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”(occurring 2 times). There you have the keys to the secularization of the American church—No authority; no absolutes.
However, the Bible makes it very clear we do have an authority—Jesus, the Son of God! We do have absolutes—the Bible, the Word of God!

This year at Levy Baptist, I’ve been preaching through the letters of Paul, book by book. I have been struck again by the sold biblical foundation for book by book preaching.

Of course, neither Jesus nor the apostles were pastors. But, it is easy to see the foundation for preaching through books of the Bible in their preaching ministries.

Our Lord’s message to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) indicates a consecutive, Christ-centered approach to preaching. Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica (Acts 17) gives evidence of a systematic, consecutive presentation of Old Testament truth.

For people to say you shouldn’t do book-by-book preaching because neither Jesus nor the apostles did is just ill-informed.

There are a number of strong words in the Bible to indicate the importance of biblical, expository preaching. Just a few from the ministry of Paul are in Acts 17:2-3. We are told Paul, “reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead.”

Three words are very instructive: The Greek word for “reasoned” literally means, “To speak through.” It carries the idea of a logical presentation of Scripture. The Greek word for “opening” means to open thoroughly. It means to open or explain the sense of the Scriptures. The Greek word for “alleging” means to place alongside. The thought is applying the Scriptures to daily life.

There is a solid biblical basis for expository preaching.

Prophecy students used to believe the coalition of nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 represented the Soviet Union and other communist nations. When the Soviet Union fell, there was quite a bit of scrambling to reassess those passages.

It is not always easy to identify current nations, events, etc. in prophecy. But, it may be that the coalition of nations will not be a political one. Perhaps it will be a religion that will unite them.

When you look at the nations that will gather together to attack Israel in the last times, all of them are dominated by Islam. Perhaps Ezekiel is predicting the final destruction of Islam in the events leading up to Armageddon.

We can’t be dogmatic. But, such a view should give us renewed confidence in the providence and superintendence of God.

It is interesting to me that the last chapter of the Bible has 7 uses of the word, “come.” 3 times the Lord Jesus says, “I come”(Rev. 22:7, 12, 20). 3 times the appeal is made to humanity, (you) come”(Rev. 22:17). Jesus is saying, “You come to me before I come for you.”

But there is one more.

In verse 20 John says, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” When we answer the Lord’s invitation to come, then we are ready for His coming and can join John in the victorious shout, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Repetitions in the Bible are important!! Give the Word a careful, close look. You’ll miss some blessings if you don’t!