"19So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
The Bible makes some startling claims, claims that set it far apart from every other book ever written. Over and over again, Scripture reminds us that it is a sure word., it is even called the word of truthfulness. God’s Word is timeless, when one leader passes from this life, God’s Word still works, teaches, instructs, leads the believer in the will of God. Beloved, wherever you may go, whoever leads you, make sure they are teaching, and powerfully preaching the unchanging truth of God's Word.
I thank God every day, for leading and guiding me through His powerful unchanging, light bearing Word!
Tragically, in our culture today, our opinions have taken the place of authority. And, we have removed God from the equation. We make our own thoughts, opinions and teachings to fit our personal agendas, plans, and desires.
Some would even argue that the Bible is out dated, out of touch with the culture, touting that it is no longer relevant because "times have changed." While the times and culture has certainly changed, the eternal truths in God's Word have always and will always, remain the same.
In Matthew 24:35 Jesus said "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
The glory of Christ in His transfigured magnificence was able to help them understand His Second Coming glory, but at no time in redemptive history has God ever given supernatural visions of Christ to bolster someone's confidence in the Word. The Word has always stood sufficient alone, the Word is always a sure word.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, we thank You for Your Word, we thank You for this wonderful opportunity to be together, to study and learn, that we can apply and base our lives upon. Thank You for Your clear instruction, help us to be faithful to Your Word, obedient to Your commands, so that we might be useful to You. That our lives would bear evidence of Your amazing grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Lord, we pray that You would forgive those who think their thoughts and opinions is more sure, more valuable than Your Word. We ask that You would open their hearts and minds, that today, they might see and hear the truth, and in full repentance, surrendering to Christ. May it be for Christ's sake and Your glory and increase in the kingdom.
In Christ's name
Amen
Today's Message: How Firm A Foundation
As begin our study today, we come to the conclusion of the wonderful chapter in Peter's epistle. Let's just quickly review what we've learned so far. In verses 1 through 4, Peter reminded us that God has provided everything we need for life and godliness, knowledge, God has provided all that is necessary for salvation and sanctification. He reminded us that God enabled us to escape from the corruption that is in the world through lust and to become partakers of the divine nature.
Then, in verses 5 through 7, Peter calls for us to appropriate that divine nature to by diligently pursuing faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
In verses 8 through 11, Peter informs us of the benefits of pursuing holiness, that as children of God, we will avoid uselessness and unfruitfulness, blindness and short-sightedness, forgetfulness of our former cleansing from sin and stumbling.
Verses 12 through 15, Peter explains why he writes about things they have heard before, in light of what was at stake, he wants to remind them to make sure they don't forget. Knowing the his death was soon to come, he resolves to leave behind a letter that will go on reminding the church of these things until Jesus comes. The great and precious promises of God. Peter knew the key to learning and remembering, is repetition.
In verses 16 through 18, he tells us that the promise of Christ's second coming, is sure, its not a myth, some made up fable, that James, John and he witnessed Christ receiving honor and glory from God the Father, they saw Christ's majesty themselves, first hand.
Now, in verses 19 through 21, Peter says not only did they have these personal experiences, to which they were eyewitnesses, they were also given supernatural revelation. By means of the Holy Spirit, God superintended the recording of all of their experiences, so that they were the revelation of God Himself.
Open your Bibles with me to II Peter, verses 19 through 21. As teachers of the Word of God, He doesn't want us to be innovative, we are to cause people of God to remember the great truths of the Word of God. In fact, if somebody comes up with something new, its probably not true, because the truths that the Lord has given us in His Word never change.
I invite you to follow along with me as I read to set the text in our minds, as we prepare our hearts for a Word for the Spirit of God. Listen for the voice of our Lord. II Peter 1:19-21.
"So we have the prophetic word made
more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining
in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your
hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
I'd
like note just a few observations here, I believe that Peter was expecting
someone to question his statement, someone to say "Well, Peter, that's nice but there has to be
something more to validate your claim other than just your word."
Which he answers in verse 19, "So we have the prophetic word made
more sure." Literally the Greek it reads "And we have more sure the prophetic word." Peter is saying even more sure than experience, more sure than the Apostles word, there is a more reliable source, and that is, the Word of God. Peter is asserting that they, the apostles, in contrast to the false teachers, have a more sure word from God, which you would do well to heed.
So, in other words, if you don't believe me, you have to believe the Word of God. The Old Testament prophets predicted the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus Himself predicted His Second Coming. And God has repeatedly emphasized that His Word is inerrant, it is infallible, therefore, a sufficient source of truth.When we take heed to the Scriptures God has revealed through Word His, all the light we need, which is sufficient for whatever purposes and plans He has called us to.
The word "sure" here is the word "bébaios," which means firm, certain. If you're going to defend the Second Coming or any biblical truth, the Word of God is the place to go. You've got to go right to the Word of God.
I don't know about your life but I have seen so many evidences of God's revelation, His providence, His lovingkindness, His sustaining hand of God, so many times, I've lost count. I've witnessed people coming to Christ. I've witnessed miracles, not only in my own life, but in the lives of others. I've seen very big things, and I've seen the little small things, where you just know, that God's hand is in your life. Things that just defy any natural or medical explanation. Sometimes, at the time, you miss it, it escapes you, but the, when you put the whole picture together you see God's hand moving in your life.
I have committed them to my memory, to remembering those things,both big and small, they significantly strengthen my confidence in God for the future. When something challenging arises in my life, I know God to be the God who has done it in the past and that's more than enough to cause me believe Him for the future. I hope that you too will remember all that God has done for you.
Then he says, "to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." That's a terrific statement. "Until the day dawns, he's talking about the kingdom of Christ here. "And the morning star arises," he's talking about Christ Himself. Until the dawning of the millennial day, the day when Christ comes. When that glorious day comes, we'll enter into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ, and we'll no longer need the Word of God, we'll have the fullness of knowledge.
That's from Revelation 22:16, which says "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
Verse 20, "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation." This is the bottom line. "It is the Scripture." You cannot always believe your experiences. Experiences have to be qualified by biblical truth. So, if you want to know if there's going to a Second Coming, get in the Word of God. The Bible says there is! So, don't forget the Scripture, people. Because you cannot always believe your senses.
You know, over the years, the Constitution of the United States of America has been radically "rewritten," not by the writing of a new constitution per se but rather by a radical interpretation of the old. I have often seen The same thing happens to the Scriptures when men with twisted minds try
to grapple with the “straight and narrow” of God’s Word. This distortion of divine truth may be because the the unbelieving cannot and will not receive divine truth. However, there are some who deliberately distort the Scriptures.
If the Scriptures are to be interpreted, they must be interpreted consistent with their origin and nature. He's not talking about how you interpret the Scripture. He's talking about the source of it, so that "epilusis" is best seen as an origination. By the way, that word is a unique word, its found not anywhere else in the New Testament in that form.
Verse 21, "For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." In other words, you are not free to interpret the Bible according to your feelings or to take or leave parts of it as you like, because the Bible is the very Word of God. The Holy Spirit is the key to accurate interpretation, and the accuracy
of this interpretation will be indicated, in part, by the consensus of
many interpreters. Because it's authored by God's Spirit.
A false prophet will either deny parts of the Word of God, especially those pertaining to Christ or they add something to it. The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually appraised, he cannot understand the. Don't forget the Scripture, it's the source for everything. Whatever you teach, it must coincide with the Word. That's why Jesus said in John 15:20, "Remember the word that I said to you." In the Old Testament alone, the writers refer to their writings as the words of God over 3,800 times. Often, the ancient prophets did not even know the meaning of what they themselves wrote. They were carried well beyond themselves by the influence of the Holy Spirit.
It’s then, not surprising that Satan would relentlessly try to distort the foundation of our faith. Yet, in spite of all his malicious attacks, the Word of God stands, it endures forever.
In Closing..
If you’re going to base your life on something, you want to know that it is solid. How much more should this be true for the sake your eternity, you want to be sure that it is the truth.
When it's all summed up, remember the Word of God, with a sense of urgency. It is the source for everything. May you continue to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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