Truth in Scripture
Notes
Transcript
Last Sunday, the 6th, in Sacramento, state capital of California, 12,000 people gathered at the capital building for the sole purpose of WORSHIP. Direct defiance of Governor’s orders to gather for worship. I dont know what your attitude about CA has been, but our brothers and sisters in Christ there need our prayers!
Remembering 9/11: Do you remember what you did on 9/12?
Stirred up: fruitful and effective! Keeping ourselves and EACH OTHER from being complacent.
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture is God-breathed
There was a test for the prophets. If what they prophesied didnt hold true… Deut 18:20-22 tells us
1. He must speak in the name of the Lord, not some other god.
2. His predictions of future events must come true exactly as predicted.
Not contradict scripture.
But NT scripture reminds us of its trustworthiness.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
There are those who dont want to accept what scripture says about itself about being ultimately reliable. God’s word is final and He says what He says, but lets take that rabbit trail for a sec: Archeology. Prophecy. Literature. Authentic Christian Podcast, Episode 2 on YT.
Because God’s word is true...
Prophecy has been, is being and will be fulfilled
Today’s text says we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed. As Peter lived he had seen what the OT prophets called ‘the mystery’. We see it called by the same name a few times in the NT. Then Peter reminds us He witnessed it. “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased”. They heard the voice. He was there on the mount of transfiguration. His knowledge and confession of Jesus as the Messiah was FIRST HAND.
Daniel 9 points us from Babylon to the Messiah Himself.
But notice Peter said ‘more’ fully confirmed. Not completely fulfilled because there was already the promise of the return of Christ! What we still long for! This time not coming as a suffering servant but as a conquering King!
This is a lamp shining in a dark place. When we have that light, say a candle, in a dark room our eyes are drawn to it. I could sit and watch a campfire for hours. But the more valuable effect of the candle is what you can see because of it. What it illuminates. It shows us the beauty around us. It shows us the danger around us. It shows us we are not alone.
We need to remember
More than societal, although that is important. More than historical, although we do need to remember, not erase history! We need to remember this is a spiritual existence. We are eternal spirits wrapped in temporary bodies. We battle against a spiritual enemy, not a physical one. We have been called to keep our eyes on the unseen, eternal, not the seen, temporary.
Peter told them he wanted to remind them even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. He knew he was talking to mature believers, yet he reminds them of the foundations of the faith: Jesus work bringing salvation.
v. 13-15 Peter’s main thing: This life will cease, the next will come. But I want to leave you with the most valuable information possible. What are you communicating to your audience? Whether that be your family, employees/coworkers, instagram followers… Peter said the main thing was add to your faith goodness knowledge self-control endurance godliness brotherly kindness love. Ever increasing! Fruitful and effective. Carlsbad Caverns light
V.19 the day dawns - the day of the Lord. When He judges those who oppose Him and rewards those who love Him. The morning star rises - the coming of Christ to set up His kingdom here.