The Letter to the Colossians; Chapter 2:8-10 (Part A)

The to predictive elements of our faith establish the faith in this Christian so strong death couldn't chase away suffering men don't die men in Christ women in Christ for fables for the truth. Jesus promised spoke the truth as witnesses this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching for his series called believer basics. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will begin in second Peter chapter 1 at a brand-new study called process morning's topic is prophecy going to read versus 16 through 21.

We did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his Majesty what he received from God the father honor and glory. When such a voice came to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. We heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word confirmed which you do well to heed us a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first, at no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit I think is some of the most beautiful words in all the Scripture right there. Those 16 of those verses from verses 16 to the end. In verse 21 they say so much to our text is verse 19 that is going to set the pace for us this morning and so we have also a more sure word of prophecy which you do well to heed as a light shines in a dark place now I have opted to read the alternate rendering in the new King James you have it where it says they are in verse 19. So we have the prophetic word and in the margin and alternate more sure word that is a better translation. Again, the translators they have such a heavy job before them when they begin to make a translation, but there is there are places where you you scratch your head a little bit and say they missed the better option of the ones that were before them well when Peter spoke of the power of the predicted word of God, and that's what he is talking about here when he mentions prophecy, the predicted word of God spoke about. He was speaking about the divine Mark that is on Christianity and no one else. This element this this feature this power to refute the lies about God and about man.

It is power to refute the voice of the devil. It is the voice of prophecy which is the voice of God, and we have quite a bit to say about it.

These early believers. They did not suffer and die for fables.

They died for what they saw with their own eyes what they live through with their own lives and as best they could. They preserved for us to peters talking about that as I was on the Mount of Transfiguration, I heard the voice I heard the father. I was there but better than that Peter says better than my witness is the prophetic word is that this was called out in prophecy the life of Christ.

The coming of Messiah was was predicted long before the events came about and not only do we have may see any prophecies that have already been fulfilled and that will be fulfilled and that we are watching getting in place to be fulfilled.

We have other prophecies in Scripture already that have come to pass, along with the messianic prophecies so again now look at verse 16.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his Majesty. We saw him transfigured hell is populated by countless numbers of those who want the Bible to be a fable who do not want it to be true to me. They just don't believe they don't want it to be right in the will regret forever that position. That response to what God has made clear what makes a person born again is that he sees it response to it lives through it goes forward with it some really believe that sin is not harmful and so the Bible is not useful.

The testimony of Christ is not necessary. They don't feel they need a Savior of a sin always lessons good all the time. Each one of us know that we would be better read being children of the Lord.

We just get rid of the sin that so easily besets us. We have the prophetic word made sure or or confirm the more sure prophetic word we have it.

We've got it concrete spiritual element and it is concrete.

When I start getting into the fulfillment will see it together but this this spiritual element is missing from every other religion on earth they may claim that they have no proof. No evidence we have the evidence. This is basic to our faith basic to our faith.

Faith is the knowledge that God can tell the future and not only can he tell the future, but that he rules it to Paul the apostle when he started the church in Thessalonica.

He and Silas with those new believers.

He gave them prophecy end time teachings. He taught them about the rapture things to come. That's why we get to his first letter to the Thessalonians.

He's clarifying things to them that they were confused about is a prophecy is basic to our faith early on we are exposed to prophecy from the Scripture Bible tells the future about God's plan.

Then his intentions and the opportunities that come with it. Jesus said, he says, is twice and John, but I'll take it from verse John's gospel chapter 13 verse 19. Now I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass.

You may believe that I am p.m. telling you in advance. I'm predicting things I'm laying out the details for you enough details you to make a decision because all true prophetic teaching comes with the intention of the listeners applying what they have been exposed to what they have learned from Paul finish the letter to the Romans.

That masterpiece of Christian theology and salvation. He says now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest of the worst things about our salvation are our Savior. More details have been given to us since Christ goes on and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God. Now here comes for obedience to the faith were given predictive prophecy as well as other prophecy but with this right now we would addictive prophecy were given this for our faith to improve our walk with God. Bible prophecy is meant to improve our service so that we can better perform deliver the message to strengthen the loss to reach the to strengthen the saved reach the loss out to be better at living the faith with a faith that is alive with the faith that lives we talked about this last session and under on the top on the subject of heaven. God created man for joy as we struggle as Christians have a I have joy. I have my salvation. I know the Scripture, why is it so often I am joyless or sin is ruined there. The intentions of God have been marred.

So when you look at a human being you're not seeing what God intended man to be your seeing what's left over from the rebellion from the fall of man and God is said out of that fall of man. I will salvage enough of that man to save their souls who serve will, but you can't really talk about prophecy without talking about imposters and frauds and charlatans and counterfeits and priceless man crisis man can not get it would when it comes to the word of God in prophecy may not be a charlatan or fraud. He just doesn't agree with us and see it is not submitted, the various flavors out there or is brands of disbelief Peter in this same letter. The second letter and and as a reminder, first Peter was written to Christians who were suffering persecution from the world. Second Peter where our text comes this morning is written to those Christians who are suffering false teachers. Those infiltrating the church preaching heresy we have that from the second chapter, so heat is as we have, the more sure word of prophecy, but now verse one of second Peter chapter 2, but there were also false prophets among the people, even as they will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction, and many will follow their destructive ways. Because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed by covetousness they will rip you off with deceptive words for a long time.

Their judgment as bit as not been idle their destruction does not slumber you set it no ripoff was in the Scripture. Now you uses the word trans.

The translators of author for the word exploit you take advantage of you cheat, you arrive you make a sucker out of Peter wants them and we know Peter that stratum kind of a guy.

He told it like he saw he saw pretty pretty well. Jesus, of course, worn beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. They look harmless their deadly. There are those who speak falsely in the name of Jesus name of Christ, there are those who speak falsely about Christ. They don't claim to be Christian. That second group they did, but what they say the universities. The public school Dell loaded with this type they think they know something about God and the don't doesn't stop them from spewing out their lies and we try to help them out to say hey listen you are on a collision course with eternity and you won't survive. You will not do well need to repent and that's a word that we Christians must not be afraid to tell those who are unconverted, you need to change to repent for a holy and pure God.

Others boast prophecy without proof to back up their claims were probably one of the most notorious in our time of the Mormons, all the things they say that Joseph Smith saw a make these outrageous claims and have not us back of evidence to validate what they have said, we have hundreds fulfilled already. Just about Christ, not counting the ones fulfilled about Israel man is sought in vain to harness the future.

God allows man to harness the past, we can look back we can remember we can remember things as though it were yesterday, but not the future that belongs to him. What would man do if he could tell the future. We already know what would happen in Vegas which state what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. We wish leaks out anyway. Consulting the stars with the stars have to say about my future. No Christian should be involved with horoscopes. They are forbidden man is sought to make deals with the dead to contact the dead so they can find out about the future if try to establish omens of this means that in this me the superstition. Superstition means nothing to support your believing in something that has no basis in truth and fact is contrary to truth otherwise would be given rabbits foot to all our troops when they going to war. None of them would be hurt man has invested in spiritualism trying to speak oracles examining the entrails of animals.

The tell the future how the smoke rises off of a fire.

Crystal balls, Ouija boards, desperate to get some advantage on the future but never really thinking about holiness and righteousness. One of the marks that the, the, the great tribulation saints will know about Antichrist disease, unrighteous, whatever lying wonders he's pulling off he is not clean that will be the signature. There will be no doubt there will be will how was I supposed to know you'll know full well because of his corruption to know the future is a power belongs to the God of the Bible and him alone and he allows lying wonders from time to time.

He warns us of these things. Deuteronomy chapter 13 verses 1 to 3.

Lay it all out. Someone comes along with dreams and they come along with visions and they tell a prophecy that happens but they're leading you for amazed at that righteous feature missing.

You know that I'm testing you.

That's why they are given, but there's no stability that goes along with their once in a while get it right so the power to foretell the future is proof of divinity consistently to tell the truth.

Isaiah the prophet said it this way, God speaking through him. Let them bring forth and show us what will happen. Let them show the former things, what they were there. We may consider them and know the latter end of them, or declared to us the things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter. We may know that you are God's yes do-gooder do evil, that we may be dismayed see it together.

Prophet Isaiah is saying you want to prove that your little for God's of God's let him tell me about the past and let them tell me about the future. Let them tell me in righteousness course they could not Bible prophecy is the movement of spiritual information from God. And when it's not.

When is spiritual information moving not from God is demonic is coming from somewhere else. It is either alive or is a test. But Bible prophecy is the movement of true genuine spiritual information from God to man John's gospel chapter 14 verse 29. Now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass. You may believe know you read that from John chapter 13 we see it reinforced by the Holy Spirit, preserved by the Holy Spirit so that we catch it so that we say God is making an emphasis here. Let me not miss it. Bible prophecy is not limited to, prediction, the context will of course make that clear.

As one reads and studies the Scripture which as to which facet of prophecy were dealing with.

And before I get into the different types I want talk about a Christian man who lived 2002 thousand years ago, he died, 165 years there about after the birth of Christ.

His name is Justin and Justin was a philosopher and he was a student of philosophy and you know at that time and all the Greek schools of philosophy. The Roman schools of philosophy. They were all over the place and he was searching for true and he tells in a letter to another man that was walking along the beach one day and he met with an old Christian man, and he writes about it in the Christian man says to him, there existed long before the time the time of the philosophers that Justin was investigating certain men more ancient than all those who are esteemed philosophers, both righteous and beloved by God, who spoke by the divine spirit pieces before lower profit before your philosophers.

There were these men of God who God loved and they love God and they spoke by the spirit continues and foretold events which would take place in which are now taking place there called prophets. These alone.

Both saw and announced the truth to men, neither reverencing or fearing any man not influenced by a desire for glory, but speaking those things alone, which they saw which they heard being filled with the Holy Spirit talk about the authors of the human authors or writers ascribe that is God is the author of Scripture, but the writers were men, the prophets, the apostles continues.

He says, speaking those things alone, which they saw in which they heard being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Their writings are still ex-pat and he who has read them is very much helped in his knowledge of the beginning and the end of things goes on to say in those events which have happened those which are happening compel you to agree to the utterances made by them.

So he says adjusted this this man that wrote before your your philosophers.

They were men of God. Men of character there righteous men. They really didn't care what people thought they killed God but because they knew that God's thoughts have the care of people within it. These men, these men have better things to say and is proof of it is that the control we have the evidences Justin took the old man's advice and return to the prophets of the Old Testament prophets concerning their prophecies of Jesus Christ, their predictions, and he became a courageous defender of the faith. So much so room ramping up their persecution against Christians called him the court he and his students and said you need to worship our God's you need to put just a pinch of incense or whatever else we decide on our altar and stop this Christ preaching or we will beat you and kill you just instead have.

So they scourged him and his students and beheaded him and his students and he now is known as Justin Martyr. My point is the prophecies, the predictive element of our faith establish the faith in this Christian so strong at death couldn't chase away suffering men don't die men in Christ women in Christ, or fables for the truth.

Jesus promised spoke the truth as witnesses, not as reason is you catch that the philosophers they reason they guess they come up with ideas, but the prophets. They didn't speak as men who just reason to things they spoke as men who saw who were there. That's what Peter said. In fact, right before this passage that we read this morning. Peter said the Lord promised to me how I would leave this life. My Exodus that was prophecy in Peter Singh hasn't happened yet but it's going to happen and until it happens I will stir you up at that passage of Scripture we have assigned to a series on the believers basics. I will continue to stir you up, though. You know these things powerful. Christianity found in life Simon Peter so not only can God tell the future.

But he controls it.

As I said in this he is distinct from all others.

Biblical prophecy includes messages delivered to man from God warnings to man from God. Judgments to man from God blessings future events encouragements talk about brick biblical prophecy were not limiting it to just predictive different types. Sometimes it is immediate and in the judgments and messages as it was with Moses and Pharaoh. Moses said all right, watch this had happened the mile turned to blood the plagues that hit the. That hit Egypt all the things and Moses warned him of prophetically came to pass. Sometimes it is delayed rapture of the church. We know it's going to happen because of the track record that it belongs to Peter with the fire and Ananias. It was instant.

You lied to the Holy Spirit.

You came to church.

You promised in front of everyone. What you are going to do. Everybody say wow, that's impressive.

And then you live and Ananias drop dead truck not not long after his wife comes in and it Peter says the same amended carted of your husband that are going to take you were all glad church of the work that way anymore move thanks for joining us for today's teaching on cross reference radio the daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. We hope you've been blessed by this believers basics series exploring the fundamentals of what it means to follow Jesus. If you like to listen to more of this series or share it with someone you know, please visit cross reference radio.com. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast to so you'll never miss another edition. Just visit cross reference radio.com and follow the links under radio or search for cross reference radio in iTunes or Google play music that's all for today. We hope you will tune in next time to continue studying the word of God right here on cross reference rating