Prophecy - Messages from the Scriptures

READING:

2 Timothy Chapter 3

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

1. Introduction

Notice the phrase: 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.' Strange as it may seem millions of Christians have lost their faith in this verse. To be sure they will allow that most Bibles contain some of God's words; but they no longer believe that 'ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God.' In other words, they do not believe that every word and every sentence in the Bible was given by divine inspiration. Neither do they believe that the Bible - ANY version - is the infallible (faultless) Word of God!     "All Bibles have errors." they say, " There is no such thing these days as the infallible Word of God!"    
This matter concerning the divine inspiration, providential preservation and the infallibility of the Scriptures is by far the most important issue facing the Christian Church in these last days! The article Bible Versions: Which is the Real Word of God? deals with this vital subject in some detail. Make sure you study it.
This Sabbath's sermon, however, is not about Bible Versions. Instead I will very briefly take you on a journey through the Scriptures and point out the objectives of its five main sections: the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, the Gospels and the Epistles.
 

2. The Law of God … the Torah

In the Torah we learn of the following truths:
Failure to read the Torah will result in a loss of faith in one or more of these vital doctrines. 

3. History Books

After the Torah comes the History Books: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ruth, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah etc. All these tell of how the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel reacts to obedience or disobedience. These books give scores of examples of how the Almighty ruled in ages past, and still is ruling, in the Court of Heaven. Bear in mind that He hasn't changed. These history books tell of:
  • People’s Behaviour: prophets, priests, kings, ordinary men, women and children.
  • Conditions: constraints, challenges, opportunities.
  • The LORD’s Reaction: How the Most High judged individuals and nations.
In the history books we find scores of examples of how obedience brought blessing and disobedience resulted in punishment. These books provide case histories of how Yahweh, the Highest Judge in the universe, passed sentence in times past. You may be certain that He will judge every one of us in exactly the same way. Did He not say in (Malachi 3: 6)

“For I am the LORD, I change not…”

4. The Prophets …True & False

True Prophets of God came from a variety of backgrounds. But one thing they had in common; they all upheld the law of the LORD and continually warned people of the consequences of sin. Because of this, they were not popular. The people of Israel didn't like to hear what they said and many were martyred. True prophets always prophesied of war, famine and pestilence which always come in the wake of national sin. Consider these prophets:
  • Jeremiah: His very name has become a byword for forecasters of doom.
  • Ezekiel: Son of man I have set you as a Watchman.
  • Daniel: He even told the great king Nebuchadnezzar to turn from his sins.
  • John the Baptist: His message was 'repent and be baptised... Oh generation of vipers!' John was beheaded for speaking out like this.
False Prophets, on the other hand, always prophesy ‘smooth things.’ They don't warn people about sin, about the danger of breaking God's law, simply because they themselves break the law of God and delude themselves and their hearers into thinking that it no longer matters. Surprisingly, false prophets can also do amazing miracles. Indeed this is their main weapon of deception. 

5. The Psalms & Proverbs

The messages of the Psalms, the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes all extol faith and obedience and the benefits that come in their wake. The Psalms are personal testimonies. Consider just two Psalms.
  • Psalm 1 This is all about the obedient believer.
  • Psalm 119 This Psalm is also about God's Law.
The message of these two key Psalms is to: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 13) 

6. The Gospels

Were it not for the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) the world would know nothing of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Contrary to popular opinion, the Gospels encourage obedience through the power of God. They explain how the LORD God and His Son went about paying the price for man's disobedience (sin) and how the commandments of the LORD ought to be kept. The Gospels tell the story of Yeshua the Messiah. (Jesus Christ) They tell of:
  • His Origin: He is the Son of God. He is God!
  • His Work: Yahweh designed the universe. He was the architect; but Yeshua was the builder, the maker.(John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:2)
  • His Mission: He is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! Faith in Jesus Christ (Yeshua) is the only road to salvation and life everlasting.
  • His Message: Matthew 11: 28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
    Luke 4: 18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
    19: To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
  • His Death/Resurrection and Promised Return.
Were it not for the Gospels the world would know little or nothing of Jesus Christ. 

7. The Epistles

The Epistles (letters of the Apostles) give us insights into the plan of salvation and the law of the Most High. They explain things difficult to understand. For example they tell of:
  • The Law's Purpose in pointing out sin and also its absolute inability to save the sinner; because salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
  • The Melchisedec Priesthood which will function throughout the endless ages of eternity under its High Priest Yeshua.
  • The Sacrificial System and how that all the animal sacrifices detailed in the Torah pointed to Yeshua, the Lamb of God who was to lay down his life for the salvation of mankind.
  • Individual Responsibilities: of believers and the role of women in the church.
The epistles spell out these truths in great detail. 

8. The Ultimate Objective

What is the ultimate purpose of this amazing book - the Bible? As spelled out in our opening text it is to teach sound doctrine concerning the following:
  • Man's Duty: which is detailed in the Almighty's commandments.
  • Man's only Hope of Salvation: which is by faith in Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
  • Eternal Life: John 3: 16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
    18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
  • Sons/Daughters of the Most High: 1 John 3: 1: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
    2: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
    3: And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
  • Heirs of the Kingdom: James 2: 5: Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
  • Divine Promises: Revelation 21: 5: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
    6: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
    7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
These are the incomparable blessings the Bible tells of. Who in his/her right mind will ignore them? 

9. Satan, the Enemy of Souls

No one should delude himself into thinking that Satan reads God's Word without some evil reaction on his part. Satan is as active today as he was when he challenged the Word of God in the Garden of Eden. Satan's words to our first parents were:
"Yea, hath God said…?" (Gen.3:1-5)
That was an extremely subtle attack. Satan began his attack on the human race by sowing doubt in Eve's mind concerning the validity of the Word of God.  
"Yea, hath God said…?"
By implication Satan was saying: Are you sure that is the Word of God? Are you certain that you have understood God's Word? Surely God didn't mean what you think He meant. Maybe there is something He doesn't want you to know and is frightened that you may find out. Come I will tell you the facts - the real Truth, whole Truth!
It wasn't long before Eve and her husband Adam began to doubt God's Word. It is exactly the same today. Satan is as active now as he was in the Garden of Eden; and his main weapon is causing people to doubt the Word of God! Because if he can get people to doubt God's Word, it will not be long before they reject it, disobey it, forfeit eternal life and embrace death! We see this chain of events in the life of king Saul and many of the most intelligent men on earth.
1 Samuel 15: 26: “And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.”
Jeremiah 8: 9: “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?”

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