The Word of Prophecy

TEXT:  2 Pet. 1:16-21

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PETER SPEAKS OF THE "WORD OF PROPHECY."

          1.       Prophecy plays a major role in God's revelation of himself.

          2.       The prophets were the greatest of heroes.

B.      PROPHECY'S PURPOSE.

          1.       Demonstration of God's reality.

          2.       Identify Jesus as his Son.

I.      GOD RESTED HIS SOLE CLAIM TO DEITY ON PROPHECY.

A.      GOD'S CHALLENGE TO IDOL GODS( Isa. 41:21-24 ).

B.      GOD ANSWERS HIS OWN CHALLENGE( Isa. 44:24-28 ).

II.     THE PLACE OF PROPHECY IN IDENTIFYING JESUS.

A.      PETER SAW & HEARD( 2 Pet. 1:16-18 ).  Transfiguration( Matt. 17 ).

B.      WHAT PETER WITNESSED ON THE MOUNT MORE FULLY

          ESTABLISHED JESUS'S FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY( vs. 19 ).

C.      JOHN THE BAPTIST AT THE BAPTISM OF JESUS( Matt. 3:13-17 ).

          1.       John saw and heard( vs. 16-17 ).

          2.       John still needed assurance( Matt. 11:2-3 ).

          3.       Jesus assured John by referring to Isa. 35:5-6( Matt. 11:4-6 ).

D.      WHAT DO WE HAVE TODAY?

          1.       Testimony of those who saw & heard( 1 John 1:1-3 ).

          2.       Old Testament prophecy( John 5:39-40 ).

III     WHAT DOES PROPHECY TELL ABOUT JESUS?

A.      Gen. 49:10.         1400 BC, JUDAH'S RULE     ( Matt. 1 ).

B.      Psa. 22:15-18.     1000 BC, CRUCIFIXION      ( John 19:23-24, 36 ).

C.      Michah 5:2.         700 BC, BETHLEHEM ( Mat. 2:1 ).

D.      Isa. 7:14.             700 BC, VIRGIN BIRTH       ( Matt. 1:18-25 ).

E.      Zech. 11:12-13.  520 BC, BETRAYAL.            ( Matt. 26:14-15 ).

F.      Mal. 3:1.             JOHN THE BAPTIST             ( Matt. 11:7-9 ).

IV.   WHAT DOES THIS GET US?

A.      John 20:30-31.  THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE.

B.      Rom. 15:4.  HOPE.

CONCLUSION:

A.      DO YOU BELIEVE?

          1.       That belief will bring you into fellowship( 1 John 1:3 ).

          2.       That fellowship will cause joy in us( vs. 4 ).

B.      WILL YOU OBEY?