The Letter to the Colossians; Chapter 1:9-14 (Part B)

Love and follow him because he is worthy, as he is placed himself on our hearts. Bible prophecy is a call to Christ and his word addictions, prophecy is not given to us to satisfy some curiosity that does some of that but not not its purpose given as a resource to reinforce our own fate bear witness to the unconverted, they convert. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Ricky 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 continues his study called prophecy in the book of second Peter chapter 1 all the things they say that Joseph Smith saw. They 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 pass. We can look back we can remember we can remember things as though were yesterday, but not the future that belongs to him. What would man do if he could tell the future.

We already know will of what would happen in Vegas Wednesday 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. All this means that in this me this superstition. Superstition means nothing to support your believing in something that is no basis in truth and fact is contrary to truth otherwise would be given rabbits football our troops when they go into war.

None of them would be hurt man has invested in spiritualism trying to speak oracles examining the entrails of animals to 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 though 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 it 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 belong 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 writes. So the power to foretell the future's 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 to see it together but 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 and 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 as a test, but Bible prophecy is the movement of true of genuine spiritual information from God to man John's gospel chapter 14 verse 29 and 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 Scripture which as to which facet of prophecy we're dealing with 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 was Justin and Justin was a philosopher and easy 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 truth 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 low 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 nor 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 authors of the human authors or writers described.

That is, God is the author of Scripture, but the writers were men, the prophets, the apostles continues.

He says, speaking those things along, 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 that 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, not as reason is you catch that the philosophers they reason they guess they come up with ideas with 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 turn to blood.

The plagues that hit the. That hit Egypt all the things that 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 lied and Ananias dropdead sure not.

Not long after his wife comes in and he Peter says the same amended carted of your husband dead going to take you were all glad the church is a work that way anymore. Anyway, so predictive prophecy. Sometimes it is very quick. Sometimes it takes time delay Jeremiah's prophecies about Israel's captivity Isaiah's prophecies and the fulfillment thereof. Daniels prophecies world history well.

Sometimes prophecy is use that word and they prophesied in Scripture.

Speaking of singing songs or giving encouragement or praises to God when King Saul of Israel's first king when Samuel the prophet came and anointed him to be king Saul joined a bunch of other prophets and they were prophesying as they were walking out they want walking around predicting the future they were praising God song worship so when the Bible uses the word prophecy again. Sometimes it it in the context of its use. It means encouragement or song or praise to God.

Remember it's the movement of spiritual things, not necessarily new information can be a bringing forth of existing information, focusing on Christ as far as predictions go because that's where the gold is that's where it is worth that's weird really mean something. What would happen if all we had in the Bible were prophecies concerning Israel's future but no savior of humanity 10 Savior of sinners.

That's the reason why we have the prophecies, all are about Christ. Even the ones that are about Israel about Christ ultimately turn our attention to trusting in the messages from God to men concerning men and so God has opened up the future on the most important things now therefore classes of prophecy at least that I'm going to talk about those which have to do with the heathen nations concerning Israel. These are well documented prophecies. In fact, when we read them in Isaiah and Ezekiel and is he and Jeremiah would become very bored. Prophecies for telling their utter destruction, the demolition of empires, kingdoms such cities as Babylon miniver tire tire who could bring down tire they marked the prophets for for making such prophecies about that impregnable offshore fortress that was loaded with wealth yet just as Ezekiel said the fishermen will be working on their nets based on because the ruins of tire and that is exactly what took place. You can't find Babylon will you find the ruins now, but whole armies of marched over before that was discovered that great empire that Nebuchadnezzar said is is not the great Babylon that I have built crumbled into nothing.

Daniel talks about the reins of Alexander and the Roman Empire and other empires in their all gone.

Just as he prophesied those prophecies were fulfilled. The graveyards of these empires bear witness to the truth of God's word.

Nobody else got this. Jeremiah 30 verse 11 for I am with you, says Yahweh to save you. Though I make a full end of all nations, where I have scattered you yet. I will not make a complete end of you but I will correct you injustice and I will not let you go altogether unpunished that has been and is being fulfilled. I have a T-shirt I bought in Israel that has a list of all the nations who try to get rid of Israel and are no longer empires there defeated, but Israel still stands there are predictions which deal with the Jewish people themselves. I just spoke about a bit about the predictions concerning the heathen nations of Ambon and and Moab and the Edomites gone just as the Bible said you'll never meet in Edomite you might need somebody that eats mites but not in Edomite there predictions again. The deer with the Jewish people their descent from Abraham their growth, their oppression in Egypt 400 years, God said happen right on schedule their establishment and what we know as the promised land, but for us was Canaan. How about Josiah 300 years before Josiah was born. The prophets said they would become a man named Josias and destroy this altar that this pagan altar innocent in the city of the in Bethel that's in first Kings chapter 13 verse two, then this Cyrus that noble Gentile pagan leader that allowed the Jews to go back to their promised land after 70 years of captivity that was spoken of by Jeremiah, and he allowed the Jews to rebuild their temple. Isaiah 100 years before Cyrus was born said by name that Cyrus would be the one to do this 100 years before he was born 150 years before he actually went ahead and and fulfill the prophecy as I mentioned Israel 70 years captivity Jeremiah 25 and Jeremiah 29 document that interesting that Israel is not said to become a kingdom again until Christ returns. But she is an independent state, and again Daniels world history in Daniel chapter 8 and chapter 11. Listen to this in Daniel 12 but you, Daniel set up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase but you, Daniel set up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, knowledge shall increase.

Are we not living in this time when knowledge is increasing and has increased who can dispute that this is the fulfillment right before our eyes. Talk about things for Philip get to them.

But concerning Israel. Their apostasy and their exile and their repatriation all prophesied or fulfilled the waves persecution that would befall them the wool that would flow over them as a people, and yet still there. Persistence and survival and ultimate revival. That's not yet happened as as a nation to Israel. It will happen your Old Testament predictions of Christ's first coming. Details fulfilled like none other for telling his virgin birth, even names what village in Bethlehem is virtuous life. Isaiah 42 for just one example. Zechariah 9 tells us that he will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey if he did not do that someone would've stood up and said false Messiah but no one could do that as he fulfilled it happened he has so many enemies. You can bet someone would've pointed out some contradiction to the prophecies regarding his life. If they had the chance. His death in our place. Isaiah 53 in Psalm 22, just to name a couple of the details of Isaiah 53 that went there with the rich at his grave will whether they put it Wednesday into him him in a rich man's tomb men Joseph of Arimathea.

So these prophecies, they found the destruction the survival of Jerusalem and the New Testament writers talk about his second coming. Talk about the church, Israel, the world Antichrist, tribulation and Armageddon. They give us details prophetic details about all of those we're watching them take place. We watched many of them already done.

Jesus said therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place whoever reads that him understand that is a prophecy that is says there will be 1/3 Jewish temple and not only will there be 1/3 Jewish temple with only had to, and neither one exists. The above been destroyed. Third is going to be built and then defiled by Antichrist. Jesus says you can you can you'll know when you see this happening. Luke 21 verse 20 but when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that it's desolation is near nephew lived in 1840 and you read this verse was a Jerusalem sound from our medicinal Jews.

There is nothing there that when drifters is nothing in Jerusalem. You look at Jerusalem now is a thriving city. The best hummus on earth is in Israel since Jerusalem oil just flows right off anyway. The bread all right hope in getting you hungry for the word back to these prophecies his return and the end of the world.

Revelation 21 one now I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Now, does anybody believe that's happened already because you need help. If you do need to give one of the pastors. The new heaven and the new earth is not here yet. It is predicted to happen that than when the Bible says went Bible predictions or guarantees other predictions are forecast. Perhaps educated guesses.

I've used the word penis Dick on purpose because we get so used to the word prophecy. Sometimes it may lose its it's it's it's impact on us. So I want to keep us close to the understanding that God is calling something before it happens and when he calls it. It's not a gas is not a forecasted to guarantee that's why we love and follow him because he is worthy because he is placed himself on our hearts. Bible prophecy is a call to Christ and his work.

The predictions prophecy is not given to us to satisfy some curiosity that does some of that but not started purpose given as a resource to reinforce our own faith to bear witness to the unconverted, so they convert which we can be strong in the face of persecution, like Justin Martyr was like Peter was like Paul was in John and all martyrs, Christian martyrs of of history, why would anyone blow off hundreds of fulfilled Perez over 300 prophecies fulfilled about Jesus Christ coming along. Why not just convert why lock up against God. Why stiff arm God your own destruction. I think there are many reasons, but I bottom is lack of desire to conform to holiness the voices of the Hebrew prophets they look forward announced is coming and sealed it with these validations that we live through Peter said this fee is Peter preaching to Gentiles before Gentiles really begin coming into the church there already been converting to Judaism. Some of them but they weren't coming into Christianity till Peter unlocks the door, Peter says to him, all the prophets witness that through his name, who ever believes in him will receive remission of sin course after that the Holy Spirit fell upon those Gentiles and they became believers 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 basic series exploring the fundamentals of what it means to follow Jesus.

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