INTRODUCTION - THERE USED TO BE A TV PROGRAM CALLED THE MILLIONAIRE, & SOME REFUSED TO BELIEVE THE GIFT

• I sometimes feel like that man- Anthony- I have a million dollar Treasure made out in your name!
• I have proof, confirmed by many who have received this treasure- but this one is in Your name
• With the free gift of this treasure you can claim the Tree of Life, yours to have & enjoy

Like a new sports car-full of gas, here is the key- & Instruction book, will you enjoy it?

I. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? - INSTRUCTION BOOK TO LIFE & HOW TO DRIVE IT!

It is a library of Books- bound together - 66 books, 27 written AD, 39 written BC

A. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, AND WHO ARE ITS AUTHORS?

1. The Bible was written over a period of 16000 years from 1500 BC to 100 AD, approx. in Palestine
2. Its authors include some 36 men-some unknown, some known to be Kings, Prophets, Fishermen, etc.
3. These men -wrote "Thus saith the Lord" some 3,800 times. God is its author, He used holy men to write it

B.  WHAT IS THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE BIBLE IN ITS COVERS, SO WE CAN USE IT WITHOUT GETTING LOST?

1. Some do not like its arrangement -some are different- Jewish OT- Law, Prophets, Writings!
2. The 0.T.- 5 div.- Describe each - We have pamphlet available - use them, I'll print more!
3. The N.T.- 5 Div.- But no material can be absorbed by osmosis- must be used!

C.  THE BIBLE IS THE GREATEST LITERATURE EVER PRODUCED ON THIS EARTH AND THIS IS INDISPUTABLE

1. The greatest literature-of all time- Romance, adventure, poetry, drama, personality sketches
2. The Only History that is accurate, Prophecy that comes true, Philosophy that really works!
3. The Bible contains the sublimest wisdom, and yet expressed in the simplest terms-

But our schools, for political reasons, have thrown out the Book they were formed to study

II.  WHAT CAN THE BIBLE DO ? IT POSSESSES POWER BEYOND DESCRIPTION!

Some have wanted to defend it- Spurgeon likened it to a Lion- just turn it loose, get out of its way

A.  WHAT HAVE THE BIBLE'S ENEMIES HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT?

1. H. G. Wells - Rationalist - Without the Bible our civilization could not develop, or exist!
2. T.H. Huxley - Agnostic - This book is woven into the life of all that is best in England
3. Voltaire  -French infidel - In 100 years the Bible will be extinct (around 1770). Was he right?

B.  THE BIBLE HAS LEFT ITS INFLUENCE ON OUR WESTERN CIVILIZATION, YET IT IS UNIVERSAL TO ALL MEN

1. Our civilization could not have developed, nor endured without the side effects of Bible
2. Great pioneers in every area have been Christians- Scientists, Educators, Artists, WORKERS!
3. The Bible has stabilized our language for 400 years & led to almost every language deciphered

C.  OUR GENERATION IS ABOUT TO LOSE ITS SOUL, ITS MIND, ITS HERITAGE, ITS TREASURE BY IGNORING BIBLE

1. We have let infidels throw our Bible from Schools while pink preachers made us pacifists
2. We have wasted our time, so we have no time for Bible - TV, Pleasure, Earning money, even prayer
3. We have lost our morality, honesty, integrity, social conscious, historical balance- SANITY!

Our Chaotic world MUST rediscover a New Bible for a New Year - When you read it IT IS NEW

III. HOW CAN WE FREE THE BIBLE FROM THOSE WHO WOULD CHAIN IT SHUT?

There is great power in this Sacred book, It can straighten up our society, city, church, people

A.  THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE IS TO GIVE YOU THE KEY TO THE GREATEST TREASURE - ETERNAL LIFE

1. John 20:31 is plain statement- "These written -that ye (Did God know about you) might believe
2. It is God's Word- it will make you wise unto salvation II Tim 3:15- IF YOU KNOW THEM!
3. Satan will try to snatch the seeds away to prevent them from bearing fruit- Matt 13 Sower

B.  THE SECONDARY PURPOSE IS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THE KEY TO THE FULL, JOYFUL, ABUNDANT LIFE

1. 1 John 1:4 "That your joy might be full" - we have so polluted the language -but know this!
2. The Psalmist 1:3 like a tree -planted by rivers of water- whatsoever he doeth will prosper!
3. Jesus said in John 10:10-that ye might have life & have it more abundantly" -Try it!

C.  WE NEED TO LET THE BIBLE HAVE ITS FULL EFFECT UPON OUR OWN PERSONAL LIVES, YOU CAN DO THIS!

1. God's Word is Sharp- Heb 4:12 We cannot cut between soul & Spirit- but Word of God does-
2. It is profitable- 11 Tim 3:16- So why cannot capitalists see this and use the Bible!
3. Keep it and teach others- Matt 5:19 -Will you keep its commandments? Teach it?

The worst crime of our generation is pollution, oppression, segregation, of the Bible!

CONCLUSION - YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ECOLOGY OF THE BIBLE, CLAIM YOUR $MIL. TREASURE, & SPEND IT

1. Light the fuse on the dynamite of Salvation- accept Christ as your Saviour - see it work
2. Turn on this dynamo in your life- Read the Bible into your heart and life- let none cheat you
3. But if you reject, ignore, just do not use, It will turn into a curse for you & your family