I like to welcome you
today to Faith Chapel.
00:00:31.48\00:00:33.27
My name is David Shin and
we will be spending the next
00:00:33.94\00:00:36.71
few moments together
in a study of God's word,
00:00:36.74\00:00:39.35
but before we do so I
would like to invite you to bow
00:00:40.12\00:00:42.80
your heads with me as
we seek the Lord in prayer.
00:00:42.83\00:00:45.94
Father in heaven, we thank
you today for the privilege
00:00:46.99\00:00:48.98
and opportunity that we
have to study your Holy Word.
00:00:49.01\00:00:52.12
We asked that you illuminate
our hearts and our minds
00:00:52.73\00:00:54.98
that you can speak to us
we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
00:00:55.01\00:00:59.54
The topic of our discussion
today is entitled Is Seeing
00:01:01.37\00:01:05.09
Believing? You know
within the press and media
00:01:05.68\00:01:08.64
nowadays it seems that
we have had a resurgence of
00:01:08.67\00:01:11.33
interest in the supernatural.
And one of the things
00:01:11.36\00:01:15.01
that I came across was
something called NDEs or
00:01:15.04\00:01:18.63
Near Death Experiences.
It happens when a person
00:01:18.66\00:01:22.29
is on the brink of
death perhaps they are wheeled
00:01:22.32\00:01:26.10
into the
emergency room the doctors,
00:01:26.13\00:01:28.08
the nurses are frantically
working on this patent,
00:01:28.11\00:01:30.99
but the blood
pressure is dropping.
00:01:31.50\00:01:32.66
The individual is
slipping away and inadvertently
00:01:33.11\00:01:36.51
in this event some
people have this out of body
00:01:36.54\00:01:39.56
experience and I like to
read to an account that relates
00:01:39.59\00:01:44.11
to us something about
what this is happening, Grace.
00:01:44.14\00:01:47.18
He was talking about
Grace, Grace were shaking
00:01:47.63\00:01:49.49
with fever and terrible
pain. Her body was trembling
00:01:49.52\00:01:53.46
as she was rushed to the
hospital as she immediately
00:01:53.49\00:01:56.44
was assured into
the emergency room,
00:01:56.47\00:01:58.53
the physicians gave
her very, very little hope.
00:01:58.56\00:02:01.91
She said that as
her blood pressure drop,
00:02:01.94\00:02:04.81
as she was very, very
near death it appeared that
00:02:04.84\00:02:07.65
when she was
slipping up out of her body.
00:02:07.68\00:02:10.32
It appeared through
her that something unusual
00:02:10.35\00:02:13.15
and strange was
happening, it appeared that
00:02:13.18\00:02:15.90
she was ascending to
the ceiling. She seems to be
00:02:15.93\00:02:18.82
floating up toward the ceiling.
She seem to be looking at the
00:02:18.85\00:02:21.56
physicians and nurses
that were attending her.
00:02:21.59\00:02:24.27
She described her experienced
as a journey to the light.
00:02:24.30\00:02:27.81
In fact Grace said I began
to feel the most incredible
00:02:27.84\00:02:32.15
warm loving feeling. I was
in this light and there was a
00:02:32.18\00:02:36.67
presence in the light.
Here Grace says she has
00:02:36.70\00:02:39.31
rushed into the
emergency room, the doctors are
00:02:39.34\00:02:41.13
working harder and
inadvertently she feels
00:02:41.16\00:02:44.15
herself come up out
of her body looking down
00:02:44.18\00:02:46.96
on the physicians
that are working on her
00:02:46.99\00:02:50.28
and she says there is a
light, there was a presence
00:02:50.31\00:02:52.35
in the light. It is
estimated that seven million
00:02:52.38\00:02:56.44
Americans claim to have
had an outer body or near
00:02:56.47\00:03:00.74
death experience. I
was working in Tulsa,
00:03:00.77\00:03:04.24
Oklahoma not too long ago.
This is another supernatural
00:03:04.27\00:03:06.79
experience that happened,
an individual came to me
00:03:06.82\00:03:09.45
and said David there
is something happening
00:03:09.48\00:03:11.80
in my garage. She said
she got up that morning,
00:03:11.83\00:03:13.93
went out to her garage
and those this portable closet
00:03:13.96\00:03:17.32
that was there and he
started shaking on the floor
00:03:17.35\00:03:20.12
uncontrollably and
she said she didn't know
00:03:20.15\00:03:22.06
what to make of it,
she wanted me to come over
00:03:22.09\00:03:23.59
in the house and
have a word of prayer.
00:03:23.62\00:03:25.21
And unbenounced to me, I
was little bit and see about
00:03:25.24\00:03:30.14
going over and so I
went over inadvertently
00:03:30.17\00:03:32.55
nothing happened and
I met other people that
00:03:32.58\00:03:34.93
believe they have
had other supernatural
00:03:34.96\00:03:36.29
manifestations and another
one that came up in the media
00:03:36.32\00:03:39.51
not too long ago
in prominent magazines
00:03:39.54\00:03:41.57
such as News Weekend
Time is something called
00:03:41.60\00:03:44.44
Marian Apparitions, where
they have these apparitions
00:03:44.47\00:03:48.53
of Mary that are appearing
and the catholic church
00:03:48.56\00:03:50.92
is actually verified
and gives a thumbs up or
00:03:50.95\00:03:53.74
thumbs down on
certain websites authorizing
00:03:53.77\00:03:56.74
certain of these
apparitions. Those one that came
00:03:56.77\00:04:00.00
to my attention and
it was weeping Madonna
00:04:00.03\00:04:03.41
very interestingly and
scientist would go to these
00:04:03.44\00:04:06.45
weeping Madonna's, there
statues that are actually
00:04:06.48\00:04:08.64
weeping tears. And the
scientist would go with
00:04:08.67\00:04:11.81
the test tube take, the
saline solution or whatever
00:04:11.84\00:04:15.03
the tears were being
admitted from the statue
00:04:15.06\00:04:17.76
take it off to the lab
and what they found was that
00:04:17.79\00:04:20.06
was actual real
tears, human tears.
00:04:20.09\00:04:23.54
Madonna's weeping
blood, they take the blood
00:04:23.57\00:04:26.70
to the test tube and do
the same test it was human
00:04:26.73\00:04:29.61
blood as well. I
saw this other one,
00:04:29.64\00:04:32.62
where they had a
stained glass window much like
00:04:32.65\00:04:34.48
the one behind me, where they
would have the impression of
00:04:34.51\00:04:37.44
Mary that was supernaturally
imposed on it after
00:04:37.47\00:04:40.85
the stained glass
window was put up.
00:04:40.88\00:04:43.03
They have another
instance called stigmata's,
00:04:43.06\00:04:45.66
where they have individuals
that are emitting blood or
00:04:45.69\00:04:49.40
olive oil out of their hands,
their feet, or their head,
00:04:49.43\00:04:53.40
where Jesus died
they called this stigmata.
00:04:53.43\00:04:55.96
And they believe that this
is a sign of the authenticity
00:04:55.99\00:04:59.73
of Mary. Now the
purpose of our discussion today
00:04:59.76\00:05:03.34
is not to do a judgment
call on any of these events,
00:05:03.37\00:05:06.49
where it's Marian Apparitions.
00:05:06.52\00:05:07.78
The people I met in Tulsa,
Oklahoma or even near death
00:05:07.81\00:05:11.23
or out of body experiences,
but to ask more fundamental
00:05:11.26\00:05:14.99
question as to how the
Christian is to determine
00:05:15.02\00:05:18.08
truth here in the 21st century.
00:05:18.11\00:05:20.98
Now there is a common
statement that goes something
00:05:21.01\00:05:23.72
like this, if I see it I'll
believe it. And rightfully so,
00:05:23.75\00:05:28.07
we live in the 21st
century and from an impress
00:05:28.10\00:05:30.83
standpoint of view we
use our five senses what
00:05:30.86\00:05:33.83
we see, what we taste,
what we touch, as an indicator
00:05:33.86\00:05:36.93
of what is true reality
for us. Now, I like to ask this
00:05:36.96\00:05:41.15
question what if there
is a conflict between the
00:05:41.18\00:05:43.73
experience, the
supernatural manifestation that
00:05:43.76\00:05:46.98
you have and scripture.
Which is to take dominance,
00:05:47.01\00:05:50.48
which is to be the preeminent
driving force in our lives?
00:05:50.51\00:05:53.64
And that is the
question that I like to ask.
00:05:53.67\00:05:56.07
Is seeing really
believing for the Christian.
00:05:56.10\00:05:59.78
Which takes priority
is it experience or is a
00:05:59.81\00:06:02.87
something else. And
by way of introduction,
00:06:02.90\00:06:05.43
I would like to go
to our fist passage.
00:06:05.46\00:06:07.54
Our fist passage here
today second Peter chapter
00:06:07.57\00:06:10.86
1 and verse 16. I'll be
reading from the King James,
00:06:10.89\00:06:14.30
New King James version,
Actually King James Version.
00:06:14.33\00:06:16.94
2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 16,
00:06:16.97\00:06:20.49
the Apostle Peter says,
For we have not followed
00:06:20.52\00:06:24.28
cunningly devised
fables, when we made known unto
00:06:24.31\00:06:28.34
you the power and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:06:28.37\00:06:31.82
but were
eyewitnesses of his majesty.
00:06:31.85\00:06:35.54
The Apostle Peter is
making this claim he say listen
00:06:35.57\00:06:39.70
I want you to believe me
regarding the authenticity,
00:06:39.73\00:06:42.51
regarding the reality
of Jesus Christ because
00:06:42.54\00:06:45.43
I was there he uses a
very key word near the end
00:06:45.46\00:06:48.37
of 2 Peter chapter
1 verse 16 he says,
00:06:48.40\00:06:51.09
I was an
eyewitness of his majesty.
00:06:51.12\00:06:54.41
He says what I'm
telling you is not a myth,
00:06:54.44\00:06:56.63
is not a fairytale, is
not something that a group
00:06:56.66\00:06:59.33
of individuals 2000
years ago got together and said
00:06:59.36\00:07:02.64
let's make up the
story. Peter saying I want you
00:07:02.67\00:07:05.32
to believe me on the
basis of something of an
00:07:05.35\00:07:08.42
eyewitnesses account. I
saw Jesus that's why I want
00:07:08.45\00:07:12.98
you to believe in me.
Let's read the next verse 2
00:07:13.01\00:07:16.79
Peter chapter 1 in verse
17 again, and Peter makes this
00:07:16.82\00:07:19.97
further statement he
says, For he received
00:07:20.00\00:07:22.74
from God the
Father honor and glory,
00:07:22.77\00:07:25.06
when there came such
a voice to him from the
00:07:25.09\00:07:28.07
excellent glory,
This is my beloved Son,
00:07:28.10\00:07:30.62
in whom I am well
pleased. Peter says not only
00:07:30.65\00:07:34.70
do I want you to believe
in me based on the eyewitness
00:07:34.73\00:07:37.61
account that I had, but
furthermore I heard the voice
00:07:37.64\00:07:41.46
from heaven this
is my beloved Son,
00:07:41.49\00:07:44.78
in whom I am well
pleased. He uses his sensory
00:07:44.81\00:07:48.13
perception of site and
then goes on to the sensatory
00:07:48.16\00:07:51.45
perception of
hearing. He says number 1;
00:07:51.48\00:07:53.22
I want you to believe
in me on the basis of what
00:07:53.25\00:07:56.55
I've seen and what I've heard.
00:07:56.58\00:07:58.43
Now what Peter are you
talking about what events
00:07:58.46\00:08:00.79
specifically is
he addressing here.
00:08:00.82\00:08:03.14
Let's go to verse 18, 2
Peter chapter 1 and verse 18
00:08:03.17\00:08:07.66
and he says, And this
voice which came from heaven
00:08:07.69\00:08:11.51
we have heard, when we
were with him in the holy mount.
00:08:11.54\00:08:15.89
Now Peter is describing in
this account the description
00:08:15.92\00:08:21.01
of the mount of transfiguration.
00:08:21.04\00:08:24.20
If you remember in the Gospels,
00:08:24.23\00:08:25.71
there was a
transfiguration in which Peter,
00:08:25.74\00:08:28.24
James, and John went up
to the mountain into pray.
00:08:28.27\00:08:30.66
And in it there was a theophany,
00:08:30.69\00:08:32.93
there was a manifestation
of God divinity flash
00:08:32.96\00:08:35.87
through humanity and
Jesus revealed himself
00:08:35.90\00:08:38.75
as a son of God and
the disciples were floored,
00:08:38.78\00:08:42.07
they fell prostrate
before the feet of Jesus
00:08:42.10\00:08:44.95
and Peter said I build a
house for each one of the
00:08:44.98\00:08:47.25
Moses, Elijah, and
Jesus. Now it was in this event
00:08:47.28\00:08:50.73
that they saw the
glory of God and sure they
00:08:50.76\00:08:53.60
heard the voice and
Peter saying in 2 Peter
00:08:53.63\00:08:56.50
chapter 1 verse 16, 17
and 18 that essentially
00:08:56.53\00:08:59.96
I want you to believe in
me, I want you to believe
00:08:59.99\00:09:03.06
the claims
regarding the authenticity,
00:09:03.09\00:09:05.31
regarding the veracity
of Jesus Christ as a son
00:09:05.34\00:09:08.57
of God on the basis
that I saw Jesus on the mount
00:09:08.60\00:09:12.59
of transfiguration. I
like to paint this picture
00:09:12.62\00:09:15.79
for you a little bit more
from the book Desire of Ages,
00:09:15.82\00:09:19.02
Desire of Ages 421.
His prayer is heard meaning
00:09:19.05\00:09:23.22
Jesus. While He is bowed
in lowliness upon the stony
00:09:23.25\00:09:26.90
ground, suddenly
the heavens open,
00:09:26.93\00:09:29.06
the golden gates of
the city are thrown wide,
00:09:29.09\00:09:31.81
and holy radiance
descends upon the mount,
00:09:31.84\00:09:34.72
enshrouding the Saviour's form.
00:09:34.75\00:09:36.86
Divinity flashes
through humanity, and meets the
00:09:36.89\00:09:41.07
glory coming from above.
Arising from His prostrate
00:09:41.10\00:09:44.45
position, Christ
stands in godlike majesty.
00:09:44.48\00:09:48.42
The soul agony is
gone. His countenance
00:09:48.45\00:09:51.38
now shines "as the
sun," and His garments are
00:09:51.41\00:09:54.39
"white as the light."
00:09:54.42\00:09:56.09
The disciples,
awaking, behold the glory of God
00:09:56.52\00:09:59.42
illuminating the
mount. In fear and amazement
00:09:59.45\00:10:02.80
they gaze upon the
radiant form of their Master.
00:10:02.83\00:10:06.65
As they become able to
endure the wondrous light,
00:10:06.68\00:10:09.66
they see Jesus is not
alone. Beside Him are two
00:10:09.69\00:10:13.00
heavenly beings, in close
converse with one another.
00:10:13.03\00:10:16.55
They are Moses, who is
upon Sinai who talked with God;
00:10:16.58\00:10:19.98
and Elijah, to whom the
high privilege was granted
00:10:20.01\00:10:23.23
to none other but
the sons of Adam never
00:10:23.26\00:10:25.62
to come under
the power of death.
00:10:25.65\00:10:28.79
So, imagine the scene
Peter and Peter is saying
00:10:29.44\00:10:31.81
I want you to believe
in me regarding the claims
00:10:31.84\00:10:35.23
of Jesus Christ
because I saw Jesus with Moses
00:10:35.26\00:10:38.39
and Elijah on the
mount of transfiguration,
00:10:38.42\00:10:40.50
I heard the voice
from heaven and believe me
00:10:40.53\00:10:43.07
what I'm telling you is not
a myth, it's not a fairytale.
00:10:43.10\00:10:46.38
Now I think for
most of us the Peter,
00:10:47.11\00:10:49.48
the Apostle Peter would
come to you and say listen
00:10:49.51\00:10:51.92
I want you to believe
in me because I was there,
00:10:51.95\00:10:53.83
I was an
eyewitness of his majesty.
00:10:53.86\00:10:55.69
I heard the voice from
heaven, I think for most of us
00:10:55.72\00:10:58.18
it would have settled
the question for sure.
00:10:58.21\00:11:01.55
Now the last part of
this verse let's read it,
00:11:01.58\00:11:04.49
2 Peter chapter 1 and
verse 19, 2 Peter chapter 1
00:11:04.52\00:11:08.93
verse 19, We have
also a more sure word
00:11:08.96\00:11:13.83
of prophecy; whereunto ye
do well that ye take heed,
00:11:13.86\00:11:18.01
as unto a light that
shineth in a dark place,
00:11:18.04\00:11:21.45
until the day dawn, and
the day star arise in your
00:11:21.48\00:11:26.10
hearts. Did you
catch that portion,
00:11:26.13\00:11:28.27
Peter has in this next
verse basically undermine
00:11:28.30\00:11:31.93
the whole paradigm
of modern empiricism
00:11:31.96\00:11:34.76
and I like to focus
on two words they are
00:11:34.79\00:11:37.14
we have also a more
sure word of prophecy
00:11:37.17\00:11:42.69
that's profound. Peter is
essentially saying that more
00:11:42.72\00:11:46.46
sure then seeing Jesus
face-to-face on the mount
00:11:46.49\00:11:50.65
of transfiguration. More
sure then hearing the actual
00:11:50.68\00:11:54.49
voice of God from heaven
that scripture is to take
00:11:54.52\00:11:58.47
a higher
priority and precedence.
00:11:58.50\00:12:01.46
The implications of this
passage are evident. Number 1,
00:12:01.67\00:12:05.13
scripture has a
priority over experience.
00:12:05.16\00:12:08.10
We are not saying that
experience is not relevant,
00:12:08.13\00:12:10.81
but that experience must
be in harmony with scripture
00:12:10.84\00:12:13.97
as a standard. And
number 2, the collier is just as
00:12:14.00\00:12:17.80
important therefore if
there is a conflict between
00:12:17.83\00:12:21.32
the experience that
we have in the word Peter
00:12:21.35\00:12:24.00
is simply implying that
scripture to take precedence.
00:12:24.03\00:12:27.83
That if there is a conflict
between the supernatural
00:12:27.86\00:12:30.35
manifestation that you
have, Peter is saying that the
00:12:30.38\00:12:33.22
more show word of
prophecy is the thing to go by.
00:12:33.25\00:12:36.74
Now we never wanna
base the text or a passage
00:12:36.77\00:12:39.69
use one passage as
determine for doctrine.
00:12:39.72\00:12:42.51
So, let's go to
another one our rule of faith,
00:12:42.54\00:12:44.91
let's go to another one,
let's go to Mathew chapter 24,
00:12:44.94\00:12:47.99
sorry Luke chapter 24
verse 13, Luke chapter 24
00:12:48.02\00:12:53.61
and verse 13. And,
behold, two of them went that
00:12:53.64\00:12:58.31
same day to a
village called Emmaus,
00:12:58.34\00:13:01.06
which was from Jerusalem
about threescore furlongs.
00:13:01.09\00:13:04.69
And they talked
together of all these things
00:13:04.72\00:13:07.85
which had happened.
And it came to pass,
00:13:07.88\00:13:10.07
that, while they
commanded together or communed
00:13:10.10\00:13:12.77
together and reasoned,
Jesus himself drew near,
00:13:12.80\00:13:16.69
and went with them.
But their eyes were holden
00:13:16.72\00:13:19.95
that they should not know
him. I just like to set the
00:13:19.98\00:13:23.86
stage for you here very
briefly, Jesus has just died,
00:13:23.89\00:13:27.25
the crucifixion has taken place.
00:13:27.28\00:13:29.35
And these disciples are
depressed, they are melancholy,
00:13:29.38\00:13:32.85
they are morose, all the
hopes that they had in Christ
00:13:32.88\00:13:35.52
as a Messiah had just
simply been obliterated
00:13:35.55\00:13:38.89
in a weekend. And
these two disciples one whose
00:13:38.92\00:13:42.85
name is Cleopas and
other one who is unnamed
00:13:42.88\00:13:45.32
are walking this journey
from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
00:13:45.35\00:13:49.89
And you can imagine
as they are walking,
00:13:49.92\00:13:51.99
their hopes have been
dashed, they have been
00:13:52.02\00:13:54.22
invested their entire
lives in Jesus as a Messiah
00:13:54.25\00:13:57.14
and over this weekend
Jesus has just breathe
00:13:57.17\00:13:59.90
his last. And while
they are walking together
00:13:59.93\00:14:02.47
to recounting the
events that took place.
00:14:02.50\00:14:04.62
And Jesus walks up with them.
00:14:04.65\00:14:08.54
And the Bible says that
their eyes were holding,
00:14:08.57\00:14:10.98
they are so immersed
in their own surrounding,
00:14:11.01\00:14:12.90
they could not even
recognize that this was the
00:14:12.93\00:14:15.84
Savior that had
been resurrected on that
00:14:15.87\00:14:18.06
resurrection mourn
that Easter Sunday day.
00:14:18.09\00:14:20.46
And so let's read in
the next verse and see what
00:14:20.49\00:14:23.38
happens. Luke
chapter 24 and verse 17,
00:14:23.41\00:14:28.00
And he said unto
them, What manner of
00:14:28.03\00:14:31.53
communications are these
that ye have one to another
00:14:31.56\00:14:34.46
and are sad? Jesus
poses to them this very
00:14:34.49\00:14:38.64
essential question
saying these words, what manner
00:14:38.67\00:14:42.28
of communication are
these and that you are walk
00:14:42.31\00:14:45.41
in a sad. He wants to go
to the root of the problem.
00:14:45.44\00:14:48.16
What you guys talking
about? And he asks a question,
00:14:48.19\00:14:50.82
now questions of
two things. Number one,
00:14:50.85\00:14:53.54
it forces the
questioner to challenge his own
00:14:53.57\00:14:57.31
assumptions and
number 2 it creates an entry
00:14:57.34\00:15:00.22
point for discussion. And
Jesus proceeds in the next
00:15:00.25\00:15:04.09
verse, let's look at
in verse 18 through 20,
00:15:04.12\00:15:06.17
Luke chapter 24
verse 18 through 20.
00:15:06.20\00:15:09.28
And the one of them,
whose name was Cleopas,
00:15:09.31\00:15:12.03
answering said unto him,
00:15:12.06\00:15:13.55
Art thou only a
stranger in Jerusalem,
00:15:13.58\00:15:16.21
and hast not known
the things which are come
00:15:16.24\00:15:19.31
to pass there in these
days? And he said unto them,
00:15:19.34\00:15:22.08
What things? And
they said unto him,
00:15:22.11\00:15:24.62
Concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, which was a prophet
00:15:24.65\00:15:27.59
mighty in deed and
word before God and all the
00:15:27.62\00:15:30.95
people: And how the
chief priests and our rulers
00:15:30.98\00:15:34.94
delivered him to
be condemned to death,
00:15:34.97\00:15:37.59
and have crucified
him. They say Jesus where
00:15:37.62\00:15:41.93
have you been or they
didn't know Jesus at this
00:15:41.96\00:15:43.79
point, are you a
stranger in Jerusalem
00:15:43.82\00:15:46.02
and you have not
heard of all these events
00:15:46.05\00:15:48.22
that have simply
turned Jerusalem in an uproar
00:15:48.25\00:15:51.19
and they go and they
reveal their lack of faith,
00:15:51.22\00:15:54.32
they reveal to Jesus
who is currently unrevealed
00:15:54.35\00:15:57.50
to them and they say
listen we did not really
00:15:57.53\00:16:00.72
believe the words of
Christ when he said before
00:16:00.75\00:16:02.94
that after three
days I will rise again.
00:16:02.97\00:16:05.86
And Jesus goes to
the heart of the problem.
00:16:05.89\00:16:09.96
Let's read on Luke
chapter 24, 24 through 26.
00:16:09.99\00:16:14.62
And certain of them
which were with us went
00:16:14.65\00:16:17.08
to the sepulchre, and
found it even so as the women
00:16:17.11\00:16:20.98
had said: but him they saw not.
00:16:21.01\00:16:22.99
Then he said unto them,
O fools, and slow of heart
00:16:23.02\00:16:27.86
to believe all that
the prophets have spoken:
00:16:27.89\00:16:30.63
Ought not Christ to
have suffered these things,
00:16:30.66\00:16:33.28
and to enter into his
glory? Jesus says to them
00:16:33.31\00:16:38.35
listen O fools now
this is a stranger they must
00:16:38.38\00:16:41.29
have been taken back a
little bit, he comes to them
00:16:41.32\00:16:43.20
and says listen had
you not known that this
00:16:43.23\00:16:45.47
is what should have
happen to the Christ
00:16:45.50\00:16:47.37
regarding the son
of God and the Messiah.
00:16:47.40\00:16:50.10
Now the next verse
is very interesting,
00:16:50.13\00:16:53.23
Luke chapter 24 verse
27, And beginning at Moses
00:16:53.26\00:16:58.25
and all the prophets,
he expounded unto them
00:16:58.28\00:17:00.91
in all the scriptures the
things concerning himself.
00:17:00.94\00:17:03.99
Now notice in this
passage what Jesus did not do.
00:17:04.02\00:17:07.66
Jesus did not come
to them and say listen
00:17:07.69\00:17:10.39
or not the prophets to
have known these things
00:17:10.42\00:17:12.49
and a dazzling
light shown from heaven,
00:17:12.52\00:17:14.90
a voice came from God,
and his face was illuminated
00:17:14.93\00:17:17.77
and he said, I'm
Jesus, I'm alive,
00:17:17.80\00:17:20.23
I've been resurrected. He
doesn't do that at all instead
00:17:20.26\00:17:23.32
when revealing the
authentic nature regarding
00:17:23.35\00:17:26.27
the authenticity of the
birth, the resurrection,
00:17:26.30\00:17:30.14
the burial of Jesus Christ
he says that I want to give
00:17:30.17\00:17:33.64
you a Bible study
and he starts with Moses
00:17:33.67\00:17:36.15
and all the prophets and
reveals to them all these
00:17:36.18\00:17:38.85
things concerning
himself. He did not come to them
00:17:38.88\00:17:42.14
say I'm Jesus rather
he give them a Bible study
00:17:42.17\00:17:46.51
and revealed
himself to them later.
00:17:46.54\00:17:49.14
This is very interesting
because to Jesus he takes
00:17:49.17\00:17:53.33
a high priority in scripture.
He took the time to walk
00:17:53.36\00:17:56.53
with his disciples
almost in disguised before
00:17:56.56\00:17:59.51
revealing himself to
them to quote scripture
00:17:59.54\00:18:02.08
to take them on the
Bible study because he wanted
00:18:02.11\00:18:04.68
them to base their face
upon a thus save the Lord.
00:18:04.71\00:18:09.06
The implications are
similar to that passage in
00:18:09.09\00:18:12.35
1 Peter that Jesus
places a higher priority upon
00:18:12.38\00:18:17.09
scripture. He places
even a higher priority on
00:18:17.12\00:18:20.20
scripture then seeing
him face-to-face there as a
00:18:20.23\00:18:23.74
determiner for truth. And
the collier is also similar.
00:18:23.77\00:18:28.16
Therefore if there is a
conflict between what we
00:18:28.19\00:18:30.81
experience in the word
Jesus place this a higher
00:18:30.84\00:18:34.61
value on the word. We
should standby the Bible
00:18:34.64\00:18:37.77
as a final rule of
faith. Now you maybe asking
00:18:37.80\00:18:42.52
yourself this question
why is it that Jesus and the
00:18:42.55\00:18:46.31
Apostle Peter places a
higher priority upon scripture
00:18:46.34\00:18:50.13
then a
supernatural manifestation.
00:18:50.16\00:18:52.06
It goes simply like this, I
believe that we are in a great
00:18:52.09\00:18:55.63
controversy
between the forces of light
00:18:55.66\00:18:57.83
and the forces of
darkness. And if you remember
00:18:57.86\00:19:00.68
in Christ disquisition he
says be aware of deception
00:19:00.71\00:19:04.50
in the end of time.
Now deceptions are very
00:19:04.53\00:19:07.45
interesting thing because
people did not go walking
00:19:07.48\00:19:10.22
the streets saying I'm
deceived, I'm deceived.
00:19:10.25\00:19:11.88
Deception is a
deception because you and I can
00:19:11.91\00:19:15.21
be deceived right
now and not even know it.
00:19:15.24\00:19:18.47
That is the nature of deception.
00:19:18.50\00:19:20.78
And deception has
another interesting twist to it
00:19:20.81\00:19:23.48
and that it can be
99.9% error and 0.1%,
00:19:23.51\00:19:28.57
99.9% truth and 0.1%
error and that's what makes a
00:19:28.60\00:19:33.54
fatal fallacy. Now you
remember that the devil
00:19:33.57\00:19:37.38
according to the Bible
is said to be transformed
00:19:37.41\00:19:40.68
or can be transform
to an angel of light.
00:19:40.71\00:19:43.81
When Jesus was
tempted after his baptism this
00:19:43.84\00:19:47.99
devil did not come to
him with the pitchfork
00:19:48.02\00:19:50.05
and horns. He came to
him as a dazzling angel
00:19:50.08\00:19:53.37
prophesying to be
from God of heaven.
00:19:53.40\00:19:55.84
And he came quoting
scripture and I believe
00:19:55.87\00:19:59.02
that in the end of time
that there will be miracles
00:19:59.05\00:20:01.31
from God and they
will be miracles as well
00:20:01.34\00:20:04.63
from the forces of
darkness. Now you ask yourself
00:20:04.66\00:20:08.00
how do I determine
between, which is from God
00:20:08.03\00:20:10.88
and which is not. I
like to take you to this text
00:20:10.91\00:20:14.19
in Isaiah chapter 8,
verse 20, Isaiah chapter 8,
00:20:14.22\00:20:19.12
verse 20, To the law
and to the testimony:
00:20:19.15\00:20:22.04
if they speak not
according to this word,
00:20:22.07\00:20:25.03
it is because there
is no light in them.
00:20:25.06\00:20:29.26
This is a rule of faith
that all of us can follow that
00:20:29.29\00:20:32.49
if there is a conflict between
what we experience whatever
00:20:32.52\00:20:35.62
maybe that we are
detested by a clear thus say
00:20:35.65\00:20:39.99
the Lord.
Nothing that we receive,
00:20:40.02\00:20:42.21
where there is a doctrine,
where there is a believe,
00:20:42.24\00:20:44.47
where there is a
supernatural experience
00:20:44.50\00:20:46.74
or eye vision. A
miracle that happens we are
00:20:46.77\00:20:49.71
detested by a
clear word of scripture.
00:20:49.74\00:20:53.84
Now at this point
you maybe feeling a sort
00:20:53.87\00:20:57.31
of tension and it
goes something like this.
00:20:57.34\00:20:59.73
How do I get to the
place, where I put a higher
00:20:59.76\00:21:02.91
priority upon
scripture then a supernatural
00:21:02.94\00:21:05.54
manifestation that we may have.
00:21:05.57\00:21:07.08
Now I will admit that it
is very difficult because
00:21:07.11\00:21:09.92
all of us we tend to
believe what we see and feel.
00:21:09.95\00:21:12.62
But, the Bible is
telling us that if that conflict
00:21:12.65\00:21:15.56
between the word of God,
we are to go with scripture.
00:21:15.59\00:21:17.99
Now what is some keys.
I like to leave with you
00:21:18.02\00:21:21.18
just four keys for how
we can come to that place,
00:21:21.21\00:21:24.99
where we take a preeminent
priority with scripture.
00:21:25.02\00:21:28.33
And that is number 1,
make Bible study a priority
00:21:29.08\00:21:32.95
in your life. You know,
there is a lot of things
00:21:32.98\00:21:35.95
that we invest in this
life, we invest in our cars,
00:21:35.98\00:21:38.82
we invest in our
houses, perhaps some of you have
00:21:38.85\00:21:41.55
401 case or stocks and
bonds and rightfully so,
00:21:41.58\00:21:44.44
but let's talk a little
bit about eternal investment.
00:21:44.47\00:21:47.94
When Jesus Christ
comes the second time
00:21:47.97\00:21:50.34
we are not going
to be wishing, Oh!
00:21:50.37\00:21:52.34
I wish I driven my car
more, in matter of fact the only
00:21:52.37\00:21:55.09
thing that we can take
to heaven is our character,
00:21:55.12\00:21:57.32
we are not even
gonna take this body,
00:21:57.35\00:21:58.54
and the friends
that we take with us.
00:21:58.57\00:22:00.43
There is gonna be a
lot of things that we wish
00:22:00.46\00:22:02.71
when Jesus comes and
one of them just maybe
00:22:02.74\00:22:05.05
I wish, I'd my Bible
more. So, I like to encourage
00:22:05.08\00:22:10.42
you from that standpoint
to place a high priority
00:22:10.45\00:22:13.43
upon scripture because
when Jesus comes the second
00:22:13.46\00:22:16.25
time the things
that are eternal,
00:22:16.28\00:22:17.61
the things that last
forever will be the things
00:22:17.64\00:22:20.25
that take us through to the end.
00:22:20.28\00:22:22.16
The second one is a set, a
regular time for Bible study,
00:22:22.19\00:22:26.79
whether its morning or
evening set the prominent
00:22:26.82\00:22:30.34
time when your mind
is the clearest and spend
00:22:30.37\00:22:32.81
it in God's word. You
know there is an interesting
00:22:32.84\00:22:36.76
collier in the Bible
it says man shall not live
00:22:36.79\00:22:39.21
by bread alone but by
every word that proceeds
00:22:39.24\00:22:42.47
for the mouth of God.
There is a relationship
00:22:42.50\00:22:45.09
that Jesus places
between our physical food
00:22:45.12\00:22:47.24
and our spiritual food
and I don't know about you,
00:22:47.27\00:22:50.09
but I need regular
times for my meals.
00:22:50.12\00:22:52.42
If I skip a meal, if I
don't eat or eat regular
00:22:52.45\00:22:55.39
irregularly it tends to
through off my circadian
00:22:55.42\00:22:58.56
rhythms and in the same
way, if you want spiritual
00:22:58.59\00:23:01.42
strength from day to
day make sure that you are
00:23:01.45\00:23:04.64
spending regular
time in Bible study.
00:23:04.67\00:23:07.89
Our third one is to pray
before studying scripture.
00:23:07.92\00:23:12.27
It's a spiritual book
and spiritual things are
00:23:12.30\00:23:16.00
Spiritually discerned and
I praise the Lord that IQ,
00:23:16.03\00:23:19.33
that intelligence is not approve
raucous that for studying
00:23:19.36\00:23:22.21
the Bible Amen. That the
Bible tells us that he will
00:23:22.24\00:23:25.54
lead us and guide us into
all truth. It's a spiritual book
00:23:25.57\00:23:28.29
and we needs God's help,
intent is prior to content
00:23:28.32\00:23:32.26
and truthfulness in the
heart proceeds truth in the
00:23:32.29\00:23:36.58
objective world. Our
last one is to memorize
00:23:36.61\00:23:40.39
and focus on those passages
that are most meaningful
00:23:40.42\00:23:44.97
to you. I believe that
there is more to be obtained
00:23:45.00\00:23:47.93
from a focus study of
one text that you make
00:23:47.96\00:23:51.19
your own then reading
the whole Bible through
00:23:51.22\00:23:53.12
and I wanna encourage you
to read the Bible through,
00:23:53.15\00:23:54.69
don't get me wrong,
then reading the whole Bible
00:23:54.72\00:23:56.63
through with no definite
purpose or view in mind.
00:23:56.66\00:23:59.87
So, focus on the text,
meditate upon those themes
00:23:59.90\00:24:03.41
and/or age you in your
Christian life and growth.
00:24:03.44\00:24:06.19
So, let's summarize
number one make Bible study
00:24:06.22\00:24:09.02
a priority in your life.
Number two, set a regular
00:24:09.05\00:24:12.00
time to study
everyday. Number three,
00:24:12.03\00:24:14.89
pray before studying the
scripture we need God's help.
00:24:14.92\00:24:18.76
And number four,
memorize and focus on those
00:24:18.79\00:24:22.28
passages that are
most meaningful to you.
00:24:22.31\00:24:24.98
In summary today, we've
dealt with some supernatural
00:24:25.01\00:24:28.99
occurrences that
have occurred in our world
00:24:29.02\00:24:30.95
and we have asked
this fundamental question
00:24:30.98\00:24:33.16
what is to take
priority for the Christian.
00:24:33.19\00:24:35.57
Is to be human
experience or scripture.
00:24:35.60\00:24:37.97
We are not just
count human experience,
00:24:38.00\00:24:39.57
but if there is a
conflict between the two which
00:24:39.60\00:24:42.47
is to take priority
and we have seen in second
00:24:42.50\00:24:45.34
Peter chapter 1 verse 16
through 20 that essentially
00:24:45.37\00:24:48.19
the Apostle Peter is
telling us that even more
00:24:48.22\00:24:50.59
then seeing Jesus to
face-to-face on the mount of
00:24:50.62\00:24:53.52
transfiguration. He is
essentially telling us to go by
00:24:53.55\00:24:56.39
scripture as the more
sure word of prophecy.
00:24:56.42\00:25:00.66
And Jesus by
illustration in Luke chapter 24
00:25:00.69\00:25:04.25
by his example on the
walk to a mess tells us that
00:25:04.28\00:25:08.21
we are to go by
scripture rather then even a
00:25:08.24\00:25:11.86
supernatural
manifestation of himself.
00:25:11.89\00:25:14.58
And we have also seen in
Isaiah chapter 8 verse 20
00:25:14.61\00:25:18.21
that to the law and to
the testimony if there is no,
00:25:18.24\00:25:21.53
if they do not speak
according to these things
00:25:21.56\00:25:23.91
it's because there
is no light in them.
00:25:23.94\00:25:27.28
The Bible is telling us
to base our experience upon
00:25:27.31\00:25:30.60
scripture to go
by the word of God,
00:25:30.63\00:25:32.40
to make the word of
God your rule of faith from
00:25:32.43\00:25:36.73
day-to-day. I came
across this very interesting
00:25:36.76\00:25:40.62
statement or this story
of an individual that had
00:25:40.65\00:25:45.69
let a legacy of
leadership for about 60 years
00:25:45.72\00:25:49.63
of her life she had led
the church, she had led this
00:25:49.66\00:25:52.72
group of people, 82
years of age she was weak,
00:25:52.75\00:25:56.41
the congregation knew
that this was probably
00:25:56.44\00:25:59.16
the last time she was
going to be speaking with them.
00:25:59.19\00:26:01.96
And with much anticipation
this congregation was about
00:26:01.99\00:26:06.18
to hear her speech
and the general conference
00:26:06.21\00:26:09.03
bulletin
describes her words as such.
00:26:09.06\00:26:12.02
She closed her words or
address with these words
00:26:12.05\00:26:15.35
brethren and sisters, we
shall separate for little while,
00:26:15.38\00:26:18.85
but let us not forget what
we have heard at this meeting.
00:26:18.88\00:26:22.48
Let us go forward in
the strength of the mighty
00:26:22.51\00:26:25.82
one considering the
joy that is set before us.
00:26:25.85\00:26:28.97
I'm seeing his face in the
kingdom of God and going out
00:26:29.00\00:26:33.24
no more forever. I
pray God that this maybe the
00:26:33.27\00:26:37.06
experience of each one
of us and in that great day
00:26:37.09\00:26:40.43
of God, we maybe
glorify together.
00:26:40.46\00:26:43.53
Having
concluded the last sermon,
00:26:44.49\00:26:46.17
she was to
preach at this session.
00:26:46.20\00:26:47.85
The 82-year-old
messenger of the Lord moved away
00:26:47.88\00:26:51.79
from the desk and
headed toward her seat suddenly
00:26:51.82\00:26:55.47
she stopped, turned
and came back to the poppet
00:26:55.50\00:26:58.81
and picking up the Bible
from which she had earlier
00:26:58.84\00:27:02.28
read she opened it and
held it out with extended hands
00:27:02.31\00:27:06.22
that trembled with age
and said brethren and sisters
00:27:06.25\00:27:11.52
I command onto you
this book. Can you imagine
00:27:11.55\00:27:16.80
the scene. This 82-year-old
messenger of the Lord
00:27:16.83\00:27:19.24
has just preached her
last sermon, she was to give
00:27:19.27\00:27:21.79
to this group of people,
she is about to walk away
00:27:21.82\00:27:23.98
from the desk when
she comes back and this is
00:27:24.01\00:27:25.97
the last legacy that
she wants to live with them
00:27:26.00\00:27:28.70
and she says brethren
and sisters I want to command
00:27:28.73\00:27:31.95
onto you this book.
It's my prayer for you today
00:27:31.98\00:27:37.32
that you will make God the
highest priority in your life.
00:27:37.35\00:27:41.19
That you will make scripture
first, may you be a person
00:27:41.22\00:27:45.47
that lives by
every word that proceeds
00:27:45.50\00:27:49.31
from the more amount of God.
00:27:49.34\00:27:51.53
May God bless you
and keep you this day.
00:27:52.09\00:27:54.82