Today, we launch
a brand-new quarter
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for 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our title is How To
Interpret Scripture.
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And this first lesson is
the uniqueness of the Bible.
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I want to encourage you
to pick up your own Bible
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as well as your
copy of the quarterly.
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If you don't have a copy,
go to the following website
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absg.adventist.org.
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That stands for Adult
Bible Study Guide.Adventist.org.
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I want to
encourage you to download it,
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so you can join
us for this edition
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of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Hello and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School panel.
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I'm Jill Morikone, and
we are on a brand-new set,
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special thanks to
the 3ABN team here.
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And we're on a
brand-new quarter,
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How To Interpret Scripture.
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I want to introduce to
you our panel at this time.
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And you will notice
when I make the introductions
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that our Sister Shelley Quinn
is not with us this quarter,
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we are going to miss her.
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She's been with us
from the very beginning.
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But she'll be back next quarter.
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But in her place, we
have some new faces for you
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on the 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel,
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and we're excited about that.
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To my left,
Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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Always a joy to study
the Word of God with you.
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It's a pleasure to be here
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and study the Word of
God with you, folks, too.
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Amen.
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To your left, my
pastor, Pastor John Lomacang.
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Thank you so
much for being here.
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Yes, we've experienced.
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"Behold, I make all things new."
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What a
wonderful set. Praise God.
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Absolutely.
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And to your
left, Pastor Ryan Day,
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what a privilege
to have you here.
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Yeah, it's always a
blessing to be here.
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And I'm excited to study. Amen.
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And to your left, the,
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we would say the
new kid on the block.
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But maybe that's not
the right way to put it.
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We are delighted to have
Jason Bradley join us here
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on the 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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And welcome, Jay. Thank you.
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I'm looking forward
to diving into the word
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and learning about all
of these important lessons.
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Amen. Amen.
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Before we go any further,
let's go to the Lord in prayer
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before we open up God's Word.
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Pastor John,
would you pray for us?
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Loving Father in
heaven, this is a new day,
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a new quarter,
a new opportunity.
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And we pray that today,
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You will pour into
us a fresh anointing
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and guidance of
your Holy Spirit.
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Thank you.
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We have studied but, Lord,
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it is not by might nor by power.
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And so we pray today
that You'll guide in our study
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and those who are
watching and listening.
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May they receive what you intend
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and may all the glory go
to you in Jesus name, I pray.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen.
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Our new quarter.
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How to interpret scripture
is written by the Dr. Hasel,
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Dr. Frank Hasel.
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He is associate
director of the BRI,
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the Biblical Research Institute
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there at the General Conference,
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as well as Dr. Michael Hasel.
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He is professor of religion
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at Southern
Adventist University,
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as well as Director of
Institute of Archaeology
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and Lynn Wood
Archaeological Museum.
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That's a lot. That's a mouthful.
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So we have two learned men
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in the Word of
God and archaeology
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to guide us in our study here
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of the Word of God.
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The term Sola Scriptura, Latin,
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by scripture alone means
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the Bible and the Bible only
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as the sole authority of
faith, doctrine, and practice.
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It's really the
fundamental principle
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of the Protestant Reformation.
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If you think
about Martin Luther,
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what scripture in
specific did he stand on?
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"The just shall live by faith,"
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that taken, of
course, from Habakkuk 2:4.
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But he found it in
the Book of Romans,
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and he discovered that
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we are saved by
grace through faith,
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"Not of works, lest
anyone should boast."
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I think of John Wycliffe.
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He stood on the concept
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that all should
know, understand,
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and read the Word of
God in their own language.
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Translating the Bible
into the English language.
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I think of us who
sit on the scripture
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that we ought to
obey God rather than men.
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And he paid with his life
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the validity of that scripture
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that we ought to
obey God rather than men.
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He stood on the Word
of God over any tradition,
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over any priest,
or over any prelate.
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I think of Zwingli.
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He stood on the scripture
that the Lord's Supper,
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the eating of the bread
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and the drinking
of the grape juice
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was symbolic of
Christ's death on the cross.
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I think of William Miller.
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He stood on the
scripture, Daniel 8:14,
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"Unto two thousand
and three hundred days,
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then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed."
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All scripture, 2
Timothy 3:16 and 17
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would probably
quote this scripture,
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every single lesson
throughout this quarter.
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All scripture is
given by inspiration of God.
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Now the word in Greek for all
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means each and everyone.
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So not
specifically all scripture
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in general is
inspired, which it is,
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but each and every
scripture, Pastor Kenny,
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is given by inspiration of God.
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It is profitable for doctrine,
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for reproof, for correction,
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for instruction in righteousness
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that the man of
God may be perfect,
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thoroughly furnished
unto every good work.
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That means the
scriptures we like
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and the ones we
dislike, the ones we agree with,
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and the ones we
don't agree with,
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the ones that make us feel good,
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and the ones that might
cut like a two-edged sword.
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All scripture
is inspired by God.
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That's right.
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And if you think about it,
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if the principle of
the Protestant Reformation
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was that, the
Bible and the Bible only.
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Why are there so many
different interpretations
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of the Word of God?
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Why do some
Christians keep Sunday
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and others keep Saturday?
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And they both say
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they're basing it
on the Word of God.
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Why do some believe
you sleep in the grave
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until Jesus comes
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and others say you
immediately go to heaven
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or to an eternally burning hell?
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Why do some people believe that
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Jesus coming is literal,
audible, visible, and imminent,
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and others believe
that a secret rapture
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is going to take place?
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The difference is interpretation
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of the Word of God.
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That's what we
study this quarter.
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How to interpret the Bible?
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How do other Bible
writers interpret the Bible?
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How did Jesus
interpret the Bible?
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How our own
reasoning and presupposition
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affect our
interpretation of the Bible?
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How does context and
language and the culture
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affect our
interpretation of the Bible?
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That's what we
study this quarter.
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This particular lesson,
the uniqueness of the Bible.
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You think about the Word of God,
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it's in two parts, right?
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Old Testament, New Testament,
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66 books, about 40 authors,
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spanning 1,500 years in
its time length of writing.
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It's the first book
known to be translated.
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The first book in
the West to be published
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on a printing press.
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The first book so
widely distributed
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in so many languages,
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read by probably 95% of
the world's population today.
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The Bible contains
prophecy and history and wisdom
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and poetry and doctrine.
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Most importantly,
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the Bible is
living and breathing.
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And Holy Spirit
inspired. That's right.
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Our memory text
is Psalm 119:105.
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Psalm 119:105.
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"Your word is a lamp to my feet,
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and a light to my path."
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On Sunday, we look at
the living Word of God.
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I've kind of rephrased it,
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Jesus as the living Word of God.
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Turn with me to Deuteronomy 32.
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We're going to
look at Deuteronomy 32.
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This is what I would call
Moses' last will and testament.
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Now we all know
that he struck the rock.
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Remember that whole story?
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And how God said
you're not going to go over
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into the promised
land because of this sin.
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So before Moses passes away,
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he gives, as it were,
his last address in words
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to the children of Israel.
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You imagine if you were
sending your child off to war
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or your spouse has
cancer or they're going...
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Maybe your child is going
to college, and you think,
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"Maybe I'm not going
to see them for a while."
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What would you
want to tell them?
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And this is what Moses
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wants to tell the
people that he loved,
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the people that he
worked with for so many years.
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Deuteronomy 31
is his declaration
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that the children of
Israel will forsake God.
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It's pretty sad.
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Will worship other gods
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and there is coming consequences
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for what they're going to do.
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Now Deuteronomy 32
is this song of Moses.
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It reminds God's
people of who God is.
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So in future generations,
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they can look back
and see who God is,
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what He did for them.
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It's the prediction that
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they are going
to follow other gods
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and they will forsake Him.
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The judgment of God that
will be coming for their sin
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and an appeal to
recognize God for who He is.
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Righteous and
holy, all powerful.
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The God who will
provide atonement.
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So we're in Deuteronomy 32.
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Let's look at verses 45 to 47.
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"Moses finished speaking
all these words to all Israel,
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and he said to them,
00:10:00.63\00:10:01.96
'Set your
hearts on all the words
00:10:02.00\00:10:03.53
which I testify among you today,
00:10:03.57\00:10:05.93
which you shall
command your children
00:10:05.97\00:10:07.37
to be careful to observe,
00:10:07.40\00:10:08.90
all the words of this law.
00:10:08.94\00:10:10.61
For it is not a
little thing for you,
00:10:10.64\00:10:12.84
because it is your life,
00:10:12.87\00:10:16.21
and by this word you shall
prolong your days in the land
00:10:16.24\00:10:18.98
which you cross over
the Jordan to possess.'"
00:10:19.01\00:10:21.32
Why is it your life?
00:10:21.35\00:10:23.02
Because the Word of
God has life-giving power.
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Romans 4:17.
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"God, who gives life to the dead
00:10:28.79\00:10:30.73
and calls those
things which are not
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or which do not exist
00:10:33.19\00:10:34.63
as though they already did."
00:10:34.66\00:10:36.87
Yes.
00:10:36.90\00:10:38.23
There is life-giving
power in the Word of God.
00:10:38.27\00:10:41.70
Let's look at John 1.
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John 1 begins the
same way Genesis 1 began.
00:10:43.61\00:10:47.54
In the
beginning, the same words,
00:10:47.58\00:10:49.31
in the beginning.
00:10:49.34\00:10:50.68
John 1:1.
00:10:50.71\00:10:52.28
"In the beginning was the Word,"
00:10:52.31\00:10:54.32
that's Jesus Christ,
00:10:54.35\00:10:56.42
"and the Word was with
God and the Word was God."
00:10:56.45\00:11:00.76
This talks about
the divinity of Christ
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because in the beginning
He, Jesus, was with God
00:11:02.56\00:11:05.89
and Jesus was God.
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Meaning Jesus
Christ is divine. Verse 2.
00:11:07.66\00:11:10.47
"He was in the
beginning with God."
00:11:10.50\00:11:11.97
That's the
preexistence of Christ.
00:11:12.00\00:11:15.37
Verse 3.
00:11:15.40\00:11:16.74
"All things were
made through Him,
00:11:16.77\00:11:18.14
and without Him nothing
was made that was made."
00:11:18.17\00:11:20.61
That's Christ as creator.
00:11:20.64\00:11:22.91
Verse 4 "In Him was life,
00:11:22.94\00:11:24.88
and the life was
the light of men."
00:11:24.91\00:11:27.62
Christ is the
creator is the author of both
00:11:27.65\00:11:30.12
physical and spiritual light.
00:11:30.15\00:11:32.89
Verse 5 "The
Light," Jesus, the gospel,
00:11:32.92\00:11:36.29
"shines in darkness,
00:11:36.32\00:11:38.06
and the darkness
did not comprehend it."
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.83
Jump down to verse 14.
00:11:40.86\00:11:42.76
"The Word became
flesh and dwelt among us,
00:11:42.80\00:11:47.57
and we beheld His glory,
00:11:47.60\00:11:48.94
the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,
00:11:48.97\00:11:51.17
full of grace and truth."
00:11:51.21\00:11:53.84
Jesus became flesh
and dwelt among us.
00:11:53.88\00:11:57.71
God has always desired
that connection with His people.
00:11:57.75\00:12:03.22
Four lessons that I get
in closing here from Jesus
00:12:03.25\00:12:07.06
as the living Word of God.
00:12:07.09\00:12:09.86
Number one, all
scripture reveals Christ.
00:12:09.89\00:12:13.96
If Christ is the word,
then His Word, Pastor Kenny,
00:12:14.00\00:12:18.20
is going to speak to us of Him,
00:12:18.23\00:12:20.37
His word will reveal Him.
00:12:20.40\00:12:22.94
Number two, the Word
has life-giving power.
00:12:22.97\00:12:27.38
John 6:63.
00:12:27.41\00:12:29.04
"The words I speak to you,
00:12:29.08\00:12:30.41
they are spirit
and they are life."
00:12:30.45\00:12:34.18
Number three,
we're commanded to eat,
00:12:34.22\00:12:36.42
as it were, the Word of God.
00:12:36.45\00:12:39.05
Now this is not physically chew,
00:12:39.09\00:12:41.22
but this is to assimilate,
take in the Word of God.
00:12:41.26\00:12:46.56
Ezekiel was told to eat
the scroll of God's Word.
00:12:46.59\00:12:49.83
John in Revelation
was told to eat the scroll
00:12:49.86\00:12:52.27
and devour it.
00:12:52.30\00:12:53.64
Jeremiah was told
00:12:53.67\00:12:56.64
"Your words were
found, and I ate them,
00:12:56.67\00:12:59.71
and your word was to me the joy
00:12:59.74\00:13:01.28
and rejoicing of my heart."
00:13:01.31\00:13:02.98
Jesus said at the
temptation in Matthew 4:4,
00:13:03.01\00:13:05.85
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:13:05.88\00:13:08.25
but by every word that proceeds
00:13:08.28\00:13:10.85
from the mouth of God.'"
00:13:10.89\00:13:12.32
And lesson number four,
00:13:12.35\00:13:13.79
God's Word gives us faith.
00:13:13.82\00:13:16.76
Faith comes by hearing and
hearing by the Word of God.
00:13:16.79\00:13:19.93
God's Word gives us joy.
00:13:19.96\00:13:22.76
When we eat it...
00:13:22.80\00:13:24.13
In Jeremiah 15, a
word becomes His word,
00:13:24.17\00:13:27.90
becomes the joy and
rejoicing of our heart.
00:13:27.94\00:13:31.07
God's Word brings us comfort.
00:13:31.11\00:13:33.04
Romans 15:4
"Whatever things were written
00:13:33.07\00:13:35.24
aforetime were
written for our learning,
00:13:35.28\00:13:37.61
that we through patience
00:13:37.65\00:13:38.98
and comfort of the
Scriptures might have hope."
00:13:39.01\00:13:41.28
God's Word brings
us conviction of sin.
00:13:41.32\00:13:44.29
Hebrews 4:12, "The Word of
God is living and powerful,
00:13:44.32\00:13:47.36
and sharper than
any two-edged sword."
00:13:47.39\00:13:50.06
God's Word brings us conversion.
00:13:50.09\00:13:52.09
Psalm 19:7.
00:13:52.13\00:13:53.46
"The law of the Lord is perfect,
00:13:53.50\00:13:55.16
converting the soul."
00:13:55.20\00:13:56.90
God's Word brings us
victory over temptation and sin.
00:13:56.93\00:14:00.54
Psalm 119:11.
00:14:00.57\00:14:01.94
"Your word have
I hid in my heart
00:14:01.97\00:14:03.57
that I might not
sin against you."
00:14:03.61\00:14:05.64
God's word brings us truth.
00:14:05.67\00:14:08.11
Sanctify them
through your truth.
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.25
Your word is truth.
00:14:10.28\00:14:11.78
I'm so grateful
for the Word of God
00:14:11.81\00:14:14.35
in this study we
have this quarter.
00:14:14.38\00:14:15.72
Pastor Kenny. Amen.
00:14:15.75\00:14:17.09
Praise the Lord.
What a setup, huh?
00:14:17.12\00:14:18.89
Ain't that wonderful?
Is that the whole quarter?
00:14:18.92\00:14:21.32
So praise God for that.
00:14:21.36\00:14:22.69
We appreciate all that
you do and each one of you
00:14:22.72\00:14:25.43
who are there
studying with us today.
00:14:25.46\00:14:26.80
I have Monday's lesson,
00:14:26.83\00:14:28.53
who wrote the Bible and where?
00:14:28.56\00:14:31.73
That seemed like
a simple question.
00:14:31.77\00:14:33.10
When you go to study, it
is a little more complicated
00:14:33.13\00:14:34.90
than what maybe we might think
00:14:34.94\00:14:36.37
that the Bible is
simple, we can understand it
00:14:36.40\00:14:38.17
by the grace of God.
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.08
Bible, we realize as we study,
00:14:40.11\00:14:41.44
is written by many,
many different people
00:14:41.48\00:14:43.18
from many different
kinds of backgrounds,
00:14:43.21\00:14:46.31
some on their missionary journey
00:14:46.35\00:14:48.05
when they wrote
some were in prison,
00:14:48.08\00:14:50.12
some were in exile,
00:14:50.15\00:14:51.49
and some were even in
palaces when they wrote.
00:14:51.52\00:14:55.09
But the thing is good that
00:14:55.12\00:14:56.46
all by the
unction of the Holy Spirit
00:14:56.49\00:14:58.36
and power of God.
00:14:58.39\00:14:59.73
So who wrote
the Bible and where?
00:14:59.76\00:15:01.10
Well, you know, actually
some who wrote the Bible
00:15:01.13\00:15:03.60
were herding sheep.
00:15:03.63\00:15:04.97
They were sheep herders.
00:15:05.00\00:15:06.33
So that really encouraged me,
00:15:06.37\00:15:07.80
really to say God can
use whom He wants to use.
00:15:07.84\00:15:09.90
Ain't that
wonderful to know that?
00:15:09.94\00:15:11.27
God will use
who He wants to use.
00:15:11.31\00:15:12.71
You don't have to
have a special position
00:15:12.74\00:15:14.44
or high position or low...
00:15:14.48\00:15:15.81
Whatever it might be.
We can be herding sheep.
00:15:15.84\00:15:17.31
And God can use us to
help finish this work.
00:15:17.35\00:15:19.91
That was good news.
00:15:19.95\00:15:21.58
So regardless of our position
00:15:21.62\00:15:23.25
and regardless
of their position,
00:15:23.28\00:15:25.25
who wrote scripture,
00:15:25.29\00:15:26.62
they all had
one thing in common.
00:15:26.65\00:15:27.99
I think you
brought that out very well
00:15:28.02\00:15:29.52
is the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:29.56\00:15:31.49
Power of the Holy Spirit,
where they were called by God,
00:15:31.53\00:15:33.96
they were inspired by God.
00:15:34.00\00:15:36.10
Some were eyewitnesses to it.
00:15:36.13\00:15:38.17
Others were
reading it and studying it
00:15:38.20\00:15:40.37
and asking questions
about the Word of God.
00:15:40.40\00:15:43.07
2 Samuel 23:2 simply
gives an illustration.
00:15:43.10\00:15:47.54
It says, "The spirit
of the Lord spake by me,
00:15:47.58\00:15:50.95
His word was in my tongue."
00:15:50.98\00:15:53.25
So the Holy Spirit
then speaks through man.
00:15:53.28\00:15:55.42
We have to be
willing, though, don't we?
00:15:55.45\00:15:56.79
We have to be willing vessels
for the Holy Spirit to use
00:15:56.82\00:15:59.05
so we can speak
the words that God has,
00:15:59.09\00:16:01.12
that He wants out there.
00:16:01.16\00:16:02.99
Notice this,
00:16:03.02\00:16:04.36
in writing the different
backgrounds of the Bible,
00:16:04.39\00:16:06.70
you can see the personalities.
00:16:06.73\00:16:08.43
I thought this was interesting.
00:16:08.46\00:16:09.80
You can see the
personalities of each writer.
00:16:09.83\00:16:12.13
If you really dig in,
you dig in, and you look,
00:16:12.17\00:16:14.37
you can see the personalities.
00:16:14.40\00:16:15.90
Well, we talked
before did not speak
00:16:15.94\00:16:18.47
or in speaking as,
00:16:18.51\00:16:19.84
you know, basically
they just wanted to speak.
00:16:19.87\00:16:22.74
They spoke as they were directed
00:16:22.78\00:16:24.21
by the Holy Spirit of God.
00:16:24.25\00:16:25.71
2 Peter 1:21.
00:16:25.75\00:16:27.82
And we know that the
word is inspired by God.
00:16:27.85\00:16:31.42
2 Timothy 3:16-17
that you mentioned.
00:16:31.45\00:16:34.16
Paul writes in Romans 15:4.
00:16:34.19\00:16:36.26
Very interesting.
00:16:36.29\00:16:37.83
He says "Whatsoever
things were written aforetime."
00:16:37.86\00:16:41.16
So I want us to
keep that in our mind,
00:16:41.20\00:16:42.73
whatever things
were written aforetime.
00:16:42.76\00:16:44.73
To me, that refers
to the Old Testament.
00:16:44.77\00:16:47.54
So let's keep
that in mind because,
00:16:47.57\00:16:48.97
you know, some people
just believe in New Testament,
00:16:49.00\00:16:51.27
they believe in the Book
of Acts alone or whatever.
00:16:51.31\00:16:53.68
But we're talking
about all scripture
00:16:53.71\00:16:55.28
as we get into our study
00:16:55.31\00:16:56.64
is going to turn
out more clearer.
00:16:56.68\00:16:58.01
"Whatever things
were written aforetime
00:16:58.05\00:16:59.41
were written for
our," what, "our learning,
00:16:59.45\00:17:02.48
that we through patience
00:17:02.52\00:17:03.85
and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope."
00:17:03.89\00:17:06.65
And I don't know
about you, but you know,
00:17:06.69\00:17:08.56
when read the Word of God,
00:17:08.59\00:17:09.92
it just brings hope
and brings encouragement
00:17:09.96\00:17:11.86
and strength.
00:17:11.89\00:17:13.23
Sometime when you're
seeing there is no hope,
00:17:13.26\00:17:14.83
when there seem
to be no direction,
00:17:14.86\00:17:16.46
we can go to the Word of
God and there is direction.
00:17:16.50\00:17:19.23
Paul makes it very, very
clear about the nature of,
00:17:19.27\00:17:22.04
the permanent
nature of the Old Testament
00:17:22.07\00:17:24.67
along with the New Testament
00:17:24.71\00:17:26.04
because at this time,
00:17:26.07\00:17:27.41
the New Testament realizes
00:17:27.44\00:17:28.78
kind of in the
process of production,
00:17:28.81\00:17:32.31
but always would hold its place
00:17:32.35\00:17:34.12
as a moral
instructor and a guide.
00:17:34.15\00:17:37.75
Praise God, we have this
guide, would give us hope.
00:17:37.79\00:17:40.59
And once again,
the understanding
00:17:40.62\00:17:42.09
to the force of scripture
00:17:42.12\00:17:43.46
comes in 2 Timothy 3:16 simply,
00:17:43.49\00:17:45.86
the last part was what?
00:17:45.89\00:17:47.23
Or first part, "All
scripture is given by..."
00:17:47.26\00:17:49.36
Inspiration.
"Inspiration of God."
00:17:49.40\00:17:51.70
So I like that.
We can count on that.
00:17:51.73\00:17:53.23
Praise God.
00:17:53.27\00:17:54.60
I like the quote, it's
from first selected messages 26.
00:17:54.64\00:17:57.51
First Selected Messages 26.
00:17:57.54\00:17:58.97
It says God has been pleased.
00:17:59.01\00:18:00.98
That means He's happy. Amen.
00:18:01.01\00:18:02.34
God is happy to
give us scripture.
00:18:02.38\00:18:04.41
God wanted us to
have scripture to lead us
00:18:04.45\00:18:06.78
and to guide us, to communicate.
00:18:06.82\00:18:08.42
So what it says here.
00:18:08.45\00:18:09.78
God has pleased to
communicate His truth
00:18:09.82\00:18:11.75
to the world by human agents,
00:18:11.79\00:18:14.52
and he himself,
by the Holy Spirit,
00:18:14.56\00:18:17.23
qualified men
enable them to do His work.
00:18:17.26\00:18:20.63
He guided the mind
in the selection of
00:18:20.66\00:18:23.50
what to speak,"
notice, "and what to write.
00:18:23.53\00:18:27.07
The treasure was in
trusted to earthen vessels,
00:18:27.10\00:18:30.41
yet, it was, none
the less, from heaven.
00:18:30.44\00:18:32.84
So that's good, right?
00:18:32.87\00:18:34.21
It's not just for
me, it's from heaven
00:18:34.24\00:18:35.58
these messages came.
00:18:35.61\00:18:36.95
So again, we have
many different writers,
00:18:36.98\00:18:38.58
many different
places, many different,
00:18:38.61\00:18:41.82
different times and
different circumstances.
00:18:41.85\00:18:44.19
But notice, the
message was always the same.
00:18:44.22\00:18:46.22
Amen. It was the same truth.
00:18:46.25\00:18:48.52
It was the same God, same Jesus,
00:18:48.56\00:18:52.29
the same salvation.
00:18:52.33\00:18:53.66
The plan of salvation was there.
00:18:53.70\00:18:55.46
Each one spoke about it.
00:18:55.50\00:18:56.87
It was revealed in the
same way be confused about it.
00:18:56.90\00:19:00.87
And notice this.
00:19:00.90\00:19:02.24
How amazing, at
least in my mind,
00:19:02.27\00:19:03.61
how amazing it is that His ways.
00:19:03.64\00:19:05.97
And it was in Romans 11:33.
00:19:06.01\00:19:08.51
His ways are past.
00:19:08.54\00:19:10.61
His ways are past finding out.
00:19:10.65\00:19:12.81
You know, I find that,
00:19:12.85\00:19:14.18
you know, just try to comprehend
00:19:14.22\00:19:17.39
how God put all of these
things together in scripture
00:19:17.42\00:19:19.52
that we'll be studying
about this whole quarter,
00:19:19.55\00:19:21.46
how God wants us to
study and to be a part of us.
00:19:21.49\00:19:24.33
Let's look at
several of the writers
00:19:24.36\00:19:25.69
of the
background in Exodus 2:10.
00:19:25.73\00:19:29.26
Now remember, we're talking
about here the background,
00:19:29.30\00:19:33.34
Exodus 2:10 says,
"And the child grew..."
00:19:33.37\00:19:36.30
I think you'll
recognize it pretty quick here.
00:19:36.34\00:19:38.34
"And the child grew,
00:19:38.37\00:19:39.71
she brought him
unto Pharaoh's daughter,
00:19:39.74\00:19:41.18
and he became her son.
00:19:41.21\00:19:42.88
And she called his name," what?
00:19:42.91\00:19:44.61
Moses. She calls his name Moses.
00:19:44.65\00:19:46.51
Notice this, and she said,
00:19:46.55\00:19:48.05
"Because I drew him out."
00:19:48.08\00:19:50.09
He was drawn out.
00:19:50.12\00:19:51.45
So God is using someone
00:19:51.49\00:19:52.82
that was drawn out of
the water, as it were,
00:19:52.85\00:19:54.19
someone that maybe it
seemed like was rejected.
00:19:54.22\00:19:55.86
Someone who's, you know,
00:19:55.89\00:19:57.23
God can use
whom He wants to use.
00:19:57.26\00:19:59.03
Notice what Amos says.
00:19:59.06\00:20:01.16
Amos 7:14.
00:20:01.20\00:20:03.60
And you've
heard this said a lot.
00:20:03.63\00:20:05.00
Have you ever
heard this, somebody say,
00:20:05.03\00:20:06.37
"I'm not a prophet, nor
am I a son of a prophet"?
00:20:06.40\00:20:09.04
Did you heard that?
00:20:09.07\00:20:10.41
I believe it came
from this passage.
00:20:10.44\00:20:11.77
Right, okay.
00:20:11.81\00:20:13.14
Amos 7:14 says,
00:20:13.17\00:20:14.51
Amos says, "I was no prophet,
00:20:14.54\00:20:16.78
neither was I a prophet's son,
00:20:16.81\00:20:19.65
but I was a herdsman,
00:20:19.68\00:20:21.72
and a gatherer of wild figs."
00:20:21.75\00:20:24.35
Again, that
gives me encouragement.
00:20:24.39\00:20:25.72
God's going to use
in these last days.
00:20:25.75\00:20:27.09
There's no doubt about it.
00:20:27.12\00:20:28.46
He's going to use those
00:20:28.49\00:20:29.82
who come in from
the plow, as it were.
00:20:29.86\00:20:31.19
He's going to be
able to use those
00:20:31.23\00:20:32.56
and maybe doing electrician
and those who are carpenters.
00:20:32.59\00:20:34.10
He's going to use the laities.
00:20:34.13\00:20:35.46
He's going to use
anybody that wants to be used.
00:20:35.50\00:20:38.17
And this really is encouraging.
00:20:38.20\00:20:39.53
He said, "I'm not a prophet,
I'm not son of a prophet."
00:20:39.57\00:20:41.27
Man, I herd
sheep or I herd cattle
00:20:41.30\00:20:43.71
or whatever it might be.
00:20:43.74\00:20:45.07
But didn't God use
Amos in a very special way?
00:20:45.11\00:20:46.88
That's right.
Absolutely, He did.
00:20:46.91\00:20:48.94
I love Jeremiah.
00:20:48.98\00:20:50.31
I've always loved
the Book of Jeremiah.
00:20:50.35\00:20:51.68
Jeremiah 1:4-5 it says,
00:20:51.71\00:20:54.25
"Then the word of the
Lord came unto to me, saying,"
00:20:54.28\00:20:57.82
I love this, "Before I
formed thee in the belly."
00:20:57.85\00:21:00.12
Did you get it?
00:21:00.16\00:21:01.49
"Before I formed thee
in the belly I knew thee.
00:21:01.52\00:21:04.56
And before thou
camest forth out of the womb
00:21:04.59\00:21:07.50
I sanctified thee,
00:21:07.53\00:21:08.90
I ordained thee a
prophet unto the nation."
00:21:08.93\00:21:12.47
So really we think about
00:21:12.50\00:21:14.04
ordination and different things.
00:21:14.07\00:21:15.40
The main thing is that
we are ordained by God.
00:21:15.44\00:21:18.64
It's good to be
recognized in the world
00:21:18.67\00:21:20.18
and ordination, so and so forth.
00:21:20.21\00:21:21.74
But the main thing
is to be ordained by God
00:21:21.78\00:21:24.31
because he called
before you were born.
00:21:24.35\00:21:28.62
Before you were
born, before you were born,
00:21:28.65\00:21:31.82
while you were
still in the womb.
00:21:31.85\00:21:33.19
God is making a
call. God has a plan.
00:21:33.22\00:21:36.49
And I hope that it
unravels as we go through
00:21:36.52\00:21:38.69
this study the
next several weeks
00:21:38.73\00:21:40.56
before He made a call.
00:21:40.60\00:21:42.80
And it was I ordained thee
a prophet unto all nations.
00:21:42.83\00:21:45.67
We may not be a prophet,
00:21:45.70\00:21:47.04
but God has called
to do a special work.
00:21:47.07\00:21:48.40
And I think we need
to make sure that we,
00:21:48.44\00:21:50.04
by the grace of God,
00:21:50.07\00:21:51.41
follow the plan
that God has for us.
00:21:51.44\00:21:52.97
Daniel, I love Daniel.
00:21:53.01\00:21:54.54
The last quarter when we
studied the book of Daniel.
00:21:54.58\00:21:57.18
And in the
Daniel, he was a captive.
00:21:57.21\00:21:59.28
Notice this, but he became head,
00:21:59.31\00:22:01.38
head president over Babylon.
00:22:01.42\00:22:03.69
Daniel 6:3.
00:22:03.72\00:22:05.29
The Bible says, "Then
this Daniel was preferred
00:22:05.32\00:22:07.29
above the presidents."
00:22:07.32\00:22:08.66
Why was Daniel preferred? Why?
00:22:08.69\00:22:11.76
"Because he had
an excellent spirit,
00:22:11.79\00:22:13.70
the Bible said, was in him,
00:22:13.73\00:22:15.33
and the king thought to
set him over the whole realm."
00:22:15.36\00:22:19.63
Can God take whom He wants to?
00:22:19.67\00:22:21.34
Can He put you in the
position He wants you to be in?
00:22:21.37\00:22:23.87
There though, sometime in
the world that we live in,
00:22:23.91\00:22:26.21
they try to maybe keep
you from certain position.
00:22:26.24\00:22:29.24
They hold back some time.
00:22:29.28\00:22:30.98
You maybe, you've
met people like that.
00:22:31.01\00:22:32.41
They don't. But you know what?
00:22:32.45\00:22:33.78
You can't be held
back if God before you,
00:22:33.82\00:22:36.08
who can be against you?
00:22:36.12\00:22:37.45
God's going to
put you out there.
00:22:37.49\00:22:38.82
God's going to
put you in the place
00:22:38.85\00:22:40.19
He wants you to have,
00:22:40.22\00:22:41.56
He's ordained
before you were born.
00:22:41.59\00:22:42.92
So if you're going through
some of those things today,
00:22:42.96\00:22:44.89
don't become discouraged.
00:22:44.93\00:22:46.96
Man can't stop you.
00:22:47.00\00:22:48.33
He may try, but
God has ordained,
00:22:48.36\00:22:50.03
and God has called you.
00:22:50.07\00:22:51.50
Matthew 9:9. I love this here.
00:22:51.53\00:22:53.17
Closing up a call
about the call of Matthew.
00:22:53.20\00:22:55.64
I marvel, I marvel of
how Jesus just passed by
00:22:55.67\00:22:59.37
and made a call
and people responded.
00:22:59.41\00:23:01.28
The call of Matthew
"And Jesus passed forth
00:23:01.31\00:23:03.68
from thence, he said,
00:23:03.71\00:23:05.41
a man named
Matthew, sitting at the...
00:23:05.45\00:23:07.38
He saw a man receipt of custom,
00:23:07.42\00:23:09.52
and He saith unto him,
00:23:09.55\00:23:10.89
Follow me.
00:23:10.92\00:23:12.25
And he arose,"
and what did he do?
00:23:12.29\00:23:13.79
Followed him. He Followed him.
00:23:13.82\00:23:15.96
I mean, isn't that amazing?
00:23:15.99\00:23:17.46
To me, that is amazing
that God just made a call.
00:23:17.49\00:23:19.86
Here's a businessman.
00:23:19.89\00:23:21.43
Whether he was a crook
00:23:21.46\00:23:22.80
or whether he was
doing the right thing.
00:23:22.83\00:23:24.67
But study on
that. God called him.
00:23:24.70\00:23:27.20
I think he is a good man.
00:23:27.24\00:23:28.57
God called him
and he just got up
00:23:28.60\00:23:30.21
and he followed him.
00:23:30.24\00:23:31.57
When God made the call for you,
and He made the call for me,
00:23:31.61\00:23:33.68
did we just get up and
forsake everything else
00:23:33.71\00:23:36.24
and just follow
Him in that instance?
00:23:36.28\00:23:38.45
You know, we need
to do that as God calls
00:23:38.48\00:23:40.22
and be sure and follow Him.
00:23:40.25\00:23:42.12
So God calls those whom He would
00:23:42.15\00:23:45.15
and those whom He can trust.
00:23:45.19\00:23:47.59
And I've asked
myself that every day.
00:23:47.62\00:23:49.12
Am I an individual
that God can trust?
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.83
We need to be trustworthy.
00:23:51.86\00:23:54.10
If we are trustworthy,
God's going to call.
00:23:54.13\00:23:56.30
God's got a big tremendous
work for each one of us to do.
00:23:56.33\00:23:59.93
Just be ready when he calls,
00:23:59.97\00:24:01.74
answer that call
from every walk of life.
00:24:01.77\00:24:05.51
Pin the words
that God said to pin.
00:24:05.54\00:24:08.34
They were inspired
by the Holy Spirit.
00:24:08.38\00:24:10.55
And certainly, the
Word of God is something
00:24:10.58\00:24:12.18
we need to keep out there,
00:24:12.21\00:24:13.65
and we need to keep
it before the people
00:24:13.68\00:24:15.78
because it is inspired, it
leads us into eternal life.
00:24:15.82\00:24:19.65
I love that.
00:24:19.69\00:24:21.02
So when He calls, what do we do?
00:24:21.06\00:24:22.82
We respond. We respond.
00:24:22.86\00:24:24.29
Absolutely, we respond.
00:24:24.33\00:24:25.69
And we do it
with, well, you know,
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.06
the excitement, right?
00:24:27.10\00:24:28.43
Because God has
wonderful things for us.
00:24:28.46\00:24:30.20
So keep ears
open, mind, heart open
00:24:30.23\00:24:32.30
because God's
calling, you just respond.
00:24:32.33\00:24:34.04
Amen.
00:24:34.07\00:24:35.40
Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny,
00:24:35.44\00:24:36.77
what an incredible study.
00:24:36.81\00:24:38.24
We're going to
take a short break.
00:24:38.27\00:24:39.61
We'll be right back.
00:24:39.64\00:24:41.51
Ever wish you could watch
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the 3ABN Sabbath
School Panel again
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or share it on
Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?
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Well, you can by visiting
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A clean design makes it easy
00:24:53.25\00:24:55.79
to find the
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00:24:55.82\00:24:57.76
There are also links to
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00:24:57.79\00:25:01.20
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00:25:01.23\00:25:03.10
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Welcome back to our study
00:25:11.97\00:25:13.31
of the uniqueness
of the Word of God.
00:25:13.34\00:25:15.34
We'll continue with Tuesday.
00:25:15.38\00:25:16.71
Pastor John Lomacang.
00:25:16.75\00:25:18.41
And I have the
Bible as prophecy.
00:25:18.45\00:25:21.68
Now this is amazing because
we're going to be studying
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.75
how to interpret the Bible
00:25:23.79\00:25:25.12
and prophecy is a
very significant part of
00:25:25.15\00:25:27.89
how the Bible
should be interpreted.
00:25:27.92\00:25:29.69
And there are three
particular components.
00:25:29.72\00:25:31.43
I'm not going to go through
the lesson as it is outlined.
00:25:31.46\00:25:33.83
But I want to approach it
from a different perspective,
00:25:33.86\00:25:36.80
from the
perspective of topology,
00:25:36.83\00:25:38.60
Christology, and anthropology,
00:25:38.63\00:25:41.37
or anthology more specifically.
00:25:41.40\00:25:43.74
The Bible has a nature to
it that I want to talk about.
00:25:43.77\00:25:47.31
First of all, let's talk
about the nature of the Bible.
00:25:47.34\00:25:49.41
You know, there are
many books that are written,
00:25:49.44\00:25:51.55
but prophecy
adds to the veracity,
00:25:51.58\00:25:55.58
and the validity of the Bible.
00:25:55.62\00:25:57.95
Said another way if I
could predict something,
00:25:57.99\00:26:00.02
and it comes to pass,
00:26:00.06\00:26:01.39
then I know that
what was predicted
00:26:01.42\00:26:03.02
came from a reliable source.
00:26:03.06\00:26:05.33
I mean, if you think
about just the life of Christ
00:26:05.36\00:26:07.20
and because it talks
about the messianic prophecies
00:26:07.23\00:26:09.33
in this particular lesson.
00:26:09.36\00:26:11.10
If you think
about how many things
00:26:11.13\00:26:12.73
are needed to be
setup ahead of time
00:26:12.77\00:26:15.00
in order for
Christ to be verified
00:26:15.04\00:26:17.14
that He is in fact the
Messiah, the eternal one,
00:26:17.17\00:26:20.88
you would have to
literally manipulate history
00:26:20.91\00:26:23.68
at every point
00:26:23.71\00:26:25.05
in order for these
prophecies to come true,
00:26:25.08\00:26:26.75
or you would have to have
00:26:26.78\00:26:28.45
foresight and
insight to understand
00:26:28.48\00:26:31.35
how the future
is going to unfold.
00:26:31.39\00:26:33.56
You would have to
literally manipulate
00:26:33.59\00:26:35.42
and pre-program every person
00:26:35.46\00:26:37.13
that would put his
hand to writing a scroll.
00:26:37.16\00:26:39.83
And people that will be in
positions of political power
00:26:39.86\00:26:43.57
and positions of authority
00:26:43.60\00:26:45.73
and people through generations,
00:26:45.77\00:26:47.67
you would have to
literally manipulate
00:26:47.70\00:26:49.17
everything in human history,
00:26:49.20\00:26:50.64
or you would
simply have to be God.
00:26:50.67\00:26:53.34
Well, all right. Amen.
00:26:53.38\00:26:55.34
The end from the beginning.
00:26:55.38\00:26:57.45
And so let's talk
about, first of all,
00:26:57.48\00:26:58.91
the nature of the Bible.
00:26:58.95\00:27:00.58
And, Jill, you
did this a little bit,
00:27:00.62\00:27:01.95
but I want to just expand on it.
00:27:01.98\00:27:03.32
The nature of the Bible.
00:27:03.35\00:27:04.69
First of all, the
Bible is the living word.
00:27:04.72\00:27:06.72
The book that breathes
if I could use that phrase.
00:27:06.76\00:27:09.69
It never stops breathing,
00:27:09.72\00:27:11.06
which shows when
we study the Bible,
00:27:11.09\00:27:13.56
we come to
realize, as John 1:1 says,
00:27:13.60\00:27:15.86
"In the beginning was the Word,
00:27:15.90\00:27:17.23
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
00:27:17.27\00:27:19.80
So you have John 1,
Genesis 1, and Hebrews 1.
00:27:19.83\00:27:22.87
Each of them has a
particular point in history
00:27:22.90\00:27:25.14
that they bring
to the forefront.
00:27:25.17\00:27:27.21
Genesis 1 brings the
beginning of our world.
00:27:27.24\00:27:30.41
John 1 takes us
back to before the world.
00:27:30.45\00:27:33.72
And Hebrews 1 takes us
00:27:33.75\00:27:35.38
and includes all
the other worlds.
00:27:35.42\00:27:38.35
You know, God
made various worlds.
00:27:38.39\00:27:40.89
The Bible is also
the historical word,
00:27:40.92\00:27:43.39
not just the living
word, but the historical word.
00:27:43.43\00:27:46.39
Look at Isaiah 46:9-10.
00:27:46.43\00:27:49.23
The Bible says, "Remember
the former things have old,
00:27:49.26\00:27:52.17
for I am God, and
there is no other.
00:27:52.20\00:27:56.07
I am God, and
there is none like me."
00:27:56.10\00:27:59.87
And this is how messianic
prophecies flow uninterrupted,
00:27:59.91\00:28:03.28
"Declaring the end
from the beginning,
00:28:03.31\00:28:06.08
and from ancient times
things that are not yet done,
00:28:06.11\00:28:10.02
saying," I love this,
"My counsel shall stand,
00:28:10.05\00:28:13.82
and I will do all my pleasure."
00:28:13.86\00:28:16.22
In other words, when
people try to interrupt
00:28:16.26\00:28:18.66
the flow of prophecy
or the flow of the world,
00:28:18.69\00:28:21.66
what we have to
be mindful of is that
00:28:21.70\00:28:25.13
God always has the final say,
00:28:25.17\00:28:27.34
"I will do all my pleasures."
00:28:27.37\00:28:28.70
In other words, "What I've
setup nobody could interrupt."
00:28:28.74\00:28:31.47
So when you get
discouraged about
00:28:31.51\00:28:32.91
what's happening
around our world,
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.28
whether politically, militarily,
00:28:34.31\00:28:36.58
socially, financially, whatever,
00:28:36.61\00:28:38.15
understand that God
is never out of control.
00:28:38.18\00:28:40.32
Amen.
00:28:40.35\00:28:41.68
Thirdly, the Bible
is a prophetic word.
00:28:41.72\00:28:43.28
That's why John
begins the Book of Revelation
00:28:43.32\00:28:44.99
by saying,
"Blessed is he who reads
00:28:45.02\00:28:47.56
and those who hear the
words of this prophecy,
00:28:47.59\00:28:50.56
and keep those things
which are written in it,
00:28:50.59\00:28:52.56
for the time is at hand."
00:28:52.59\00:28:55.23
Now the Bible...
00:28:55.26\00:28:56.60
Let's look at the relationship
of the Bible with prophecy.
00:28:56.63\00:28:58.93
First of all, the Bible
creates an intimate connection
00:28:58.97\00:29:02.10
between the
maker and the prophet.
00:29:02.14\00:29:04.17
Oh, that's good.
Amos 3:7. I love this.
00:29:04.21\00:29:07.48
"Surely the
Lord God does nothing
00:29:07.51\00:29:10.68
unless He reveals His secret
to His servants the prophets."
00:29:10.71\00:29:14.12
God could reveal it without us.
00:29:14.15\00:29:15.62
But God chooses to reveal
00:29:15.65\00:29:17.52
the unerring word
through erring man.
00:29:17.55\00:29:20.79
God chooses to
reveal the perfect
00:29:20.82\00:29:23.46
through the fragile.
00:29:23.49\00:29:25.26
God chooses men that
He could have bypassed,
00:29:25.29\00:29:27.83
and He gives them the
infilling of his spirit
00:29:27.86\00:29:30.20
so that it's not a
prophet interpretation
00:29:30.23\00:29:32.53
and then He
communicates through humanity.
00:29:32.57\00:29:34.50
And that's encouraging.
00:29:34.54\00:29:35.87
In other words,
God sees our role
00:29:35.90\00:29:38.34
in the unfolding of truth
as pertinent and relevant.
00:29:38.37\00:29:42.74
Not only that,
prophecy establish a contrast
00:29:42.78\00:29:46.25
between the one that creates
00:29:46.28\00:29:47.95
and the one that speaks.
00:29:47.98\00:29:50.75
2 Peter 1:21,
00:29:50.79\00:29:53.19
"For prophecy never
came by the will of man,
00:29:53.22\00:29:56.12
but holy men of God."
00:29:56.16\00:29:57.49
What kind of man? Holy.
00:29:57.53\00:29:58.86
"Holy men of God
spoke as they were moved
00:29:58.89\00:30:02.33
by the Holy Spirit."
00:30:02.36\00:30:03.70
So when somebody says,
00:30:03.73\00:30:05.07
when somebody says the
Bible is written by men,
00:30:05.10\00:30:06.84
they may be the penmen,
00:30:06.87\00:30:08.57
but it's like saying
the car is driving me.
00:30:08.60\00:30:11.61
The car doesn't drive me.
00:30:11.64\00:30:12.97
As expensive as it
is, it still needs me.
00:30:13.01\00:30:15.58
As able as we are to speak,
00:30:15.61\00:30:17.58
we cannot do it
without the power
00:30:17.61\00:30:19.55
and the presence
of the Holy Spirit.
00:30:19.58\00:30:21.78
And it will give God
glory when we recognize that.
00:30:21.82\00:30:24.95
Thirdly, the relationship
of the Bible with prophecy.
00:30:24.99\00:30:28.02
Prophecy confirms
the validity of divinity.
00:30:28.06\00:30:32.56
2 Timothy 3:16.
00:30:32.59\00:30:34.40
"All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God,
00:30:34.43\00:30:37.40
the validity of
divinity, and is profitable,
00:30:37.43\00:30:40.50
as you said, for
reproof, for correction,
00:30:40.54\00:30:42.14
for doctrine, for
instruction in righteousness."
00:30:42.17\00:30:44.77
While it has all those aspects
00:30:44.81\00:30:46.21
that are very vitally necessary.
00:30:46.24\00:30:48.21
First of all, never
forget that God is the one
00:30:48.24\00:30:50.48
who inspires it.
00:30:50.51\00:30:52.11
Prophecy confirms
the validity of divinity.
00:30:52.15\00:30:54.52
Also, there is a
forensic to prophecy.
00:30:54.55\00:30:58.79
I met somebody that
was a forensic detective,
00:30:58.82\00:31:00.96
and I thought,
what does that mean?
00:31:00.99\00:31:02.92
I said they look at
the dust of the evidence.
00:31:02.96\00:31:05.79
We look at the large
scene, they look at the dust,
00:31:05.83\00:31:08.13
they look at the fragments,
00:31:08.16\00:31:09.50
they look at the
DNA of a crime scene.
00:31:09.53\00:31:11.37
Well, there is
a DNA in prophecy.
00:31:11.40\00:31:13.30
Prophecy, the forensics
of prophecy points out that
00:31:13.34\00:31:16.60
prophecy is the timekeeper
of history, forensics.
00:31:16.64\00:31:20.94
So I use the phrase prophecy
is sometimes like a snail,
00:31:20.98\00:31:25.08
but it may be slow,
but it never stops moving.
00:31:25.11\00:31:28.08
Daniel 7:17.
00:31:28.12\00:31:29.98
Here is the forensics of it.
00:31:30.02\00:31:31.42
And the forensics
are certain and reliable.
00:31:31.45\00:31:34.29
"Those great beasts,
which are four, are four kings
00:31:34.32\00:31:37.23
which arise out of the earth."
00:31:37.26\00:31:38.93
Regardless of the
generation that you're in,
00:31:38.96\00:31:41.80
these four kingdoms will rise.
00:31:41.83\00:31:44.77
The forensics, God
says it's going to happen,
00:31:44.80\00:31:46.77
and you check the
DNA, it's in there.
00:31:46.80\00:31:49.17
Also, the forensics of prophecy.
00:31:49.20\00:31:51.11
Prophecy is the
confirmer of the Word of God.
00:31:51.14\00:31:54.94
Genesis 3:15.
00:31:54.98\00:31:56.48
One of the first
prophecy is given.
00:31:56.51\00:31:58.61
"I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
00:31:58.65\00:32:01.05
and between your
seed and her seed.
00:32:01.08\00:32:03.89
He shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise His heel."
00:32:03.92\00:32:07.46
From that moment on,
00:32:07.49\00:32:09.49
prophecy began to
unfold in a forensic sense.
00:32:09.52\00:32:12.79
What are the forensics
of that particular prophecy?
00:32:12.83\00:32:15.26
One of the first
aspects you'll find
00:32:15.30\00:32:16.80
when you go to
the dust of prophecy
00:32:16.83\00:32:18.47
is the place of
the birth of Christ.
00:32:18.50\00:32:21.37
Micah 5:2.
00:32:21.40\00:32:23.00
Now this was set
in the Garden of Eden
00:32:23.04\00:32:24.94
or outside the Garden of Eden.
00:32:24.97\00:32:26.61
But many, many centuries later,
00:32:26.64\00:32:28.84
the place of his
birth was pointed out.
00:32:28.88\00:32:31.31
And you can see the forensics
00:32:31.35\00:32:32.68
from the very prophecy
00:32:32.71\00:32:34.12
given to the
fulfillment of the prophecy
00:32:34.15\00:32:36.25
of the place of his birth.
00:32:36.28\00:32:37.62
Micah 5:2,
00:32:37.65\00:32:38.99
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
00:32:39.02\00:32:42.19
though you are little
among the thousands of Judah,
00:32:42.22\00:32:44.66
Yet out of you
shall come forth to Me
00:32:44.69\00:32:47.13
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
00:32:47.16\00:32:49.86
Whose goings forth
00:32:49.90\00:32:51.87
are from of old,
from everlasting."
00:32:51.90\00:32:55.30
So from the Book of Genesis
00:32:55.34\00:32:56.94
back to before this world began,
00:32:56.97\00:32:58.97
He planned an
entrance into human history.
00:32:59.01\00:33:02.18
Amen to that?
00:33:02.21\00:33:03.55
Amen. Amen.
00:33:03.58\00:33:04.91
Not only that, the Bible also,
00:33:04.95\00:33:06.28
another forensic aspect of
it is the heritage of prophecy.
00:33:06.31\00:33:09.88
The Bible
pointed out the heritage
00:33:09.92\00:33:12.62
that would precede
the coming of the Messiah.
00:33:12.65\00:33:16.06
Jeremiah 23:5.
00:33:16.09\00:33:19.19
"Behold, the days are coming."
00:33:19.23\00:33:21.23
Notice it's
coming, you can trust it.
00:33:21.26\00:33:23.37
"Says the Lord,
00:33:23.40\00:33:24.73
'That I will raise to
David a Branch of righteousness.
00:33:24.77\00:33:29.24
A king shall reign and propose,
00:33:29.27\00:33:33.74
and execute judgment
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.34
and
righteousness in the earth.'"
00:33:35.38\00:33:37.48
In the forensics, He's
not just going to show up,
00:33:37.51\00:33:39.91
but He's going to show up,
and He's still be in control.
00:33:39.95\00:33:42.68
The government,
righteousness, judgment,
00:33:42.72\00:33:45.85
He's going to reign,
He's going to be the king.
00:33:45.89\00:33:47.82
He's going to show up.
00:33:47.86\00:33:49.19
And here are the
specifics so that when He comes,
00:33:49.22\00:33:51.26
you don't just say He's here.
00:33:51.29\00:33:52.63
But everything
that was said about Him,
00:33:52.66\00:33:54.33
the forensics is coming to pass.
00:33:54.36\00:33:56.73
Third forensic
aspect of His lineage.
00:33:56.77\00:33:59.60
Luke 2:11,
00:33:59.63\00:34:01.60
"For there is
born to you this day
00:34:01.64\00:34:04.04
in the city of David a savior,
00:34:04.07\00:34:06.74
who is Christ the Lord.
00:34:06.78\00:34:08.58
When you follow the generations,
00:34:08.61\00:34:10.48
42 generations
from Adam to Christ, 42.
00:34:10.51\00:34:14.15
How do you rig that?
00:34:14.18\00:34:15.52
You cannot possibly rig that.
00:34:15.55\00:34:17.45
And finally, let's come
to the purpose of prophecy.
00:34:17.49\00:34:21.46
Two primary
reasons for prophecy.
00:34:21.49\00:34:23.39
One, believe in what I say.
00:34:23.43\00:34:26.49
John 14:29.
00:34:26.53\00:34:28.30
"And now I have
told you before it come,
00:34:28.33\00:34:31.73
that when it does come to pass,
00:34:31.77\00:34:34.60
you may believe."
00:34:34.64\00:34:37.11
And finally, the
purpose of prophecy
00:34:37.14\00:34:39.94
is not just to
believe in things,
00:34:39.97\00:34:42.14
beast and kingdoms
and nations and Babylon
00:34:42.18\00:34:45.21
and Medo-Persia
and Greece and Rome
00:34:45.25\00:34:47.78
and the rise and fall of empires
00:34:47.82\00:34:49.62
and all the various
things that take place.
00:34:49.65\00:34:51.72
But most importantly,
00:34:51.75\00:34:53.46
and the central
purpose of prophecy
00:34:53.49\00:34:55.72
is to believe in Christ.
00:34:55.76\00:34:57.69
Amen. John 13:19.
00:34:57.73\00:35:00.23
"Now I tell you
before it comes to pass,
00:35:00.26\00:35:03.37
that when it does come to pass,
00:35:03.40\00:35:05.27
that you may
believe that I am He."
00:35:05.30\00:35:09.17
Amen. Amen.
00:35:09.20\00:35:10.54
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:35:10.57\00:35:11.91
Thank you,
pastor, for that. Amen.
00:35:11.94\00:35:13.27
Wednesday's lesson is entitled
00:35:13.31\00:35:14.94
The Bible as History.
00:35:14.98\00:35:16.41
This is right up my alley
00:35:16.44\00:35:18.41
because I was a
history major in college.
00:35:18.45\00:35:21.95
And I think
Shelley did a good job
00:35:21.98\00:35:24.42
choosing these topics.
00:35:24.45\00:35:25.79
But, you know, I just
want to take a moment.
00:35:25.82\00:35:28.69
We're going to
have some scripture
00:35:28.72\00:35:30.06
in just a few moments.
00:35:30.09\00:35:31.43
We'll get into the scripture.
00:35:31.46\00:35:32.79
But I want to
just kind of solidify
00:35:32.83\00:35:34.16
or establish a trustworthiness
00:35:34.20\00:35:37.07
of the Bible's historical record
00:35:37.10\00:35:39.77
as we find it in scripture
00:35:39.80\00:35:41.37
because we live
in a day and time
00:35:41.40\00:35:43.17
where more and
more people, scientists,
00:35:43.20\00:35:46.94
just the average skeptic
00:35:46.98\00:35:49.04
is so skeptical of
the records of the Bible.
00:35:49.08\00:35:52.81
And for many, many centuries,
00:35:52.85\00:35:54.55
there has been this
worry, this skepticism of
00:35:54.58\00:35:58.72
whether or not we
can actually trust
00:35:58.75\00:36:00.59
the historical records
that are found in scripture.
00:36:00.62\00:36:03.56
And so my opening statement,
I love this statement.
00:36:03.59\00:36:05.79
It comes from the Smithsonian
Department of Anthropology.
00:36:05.83\00:36:09.33
And of course,
00:36:09.36\00:36:11.00
it's reported to have said this.
00:36:11.03\00:36:12.37
It says, "Much of the Bible,
00:36:12.40\00:36:13.97
in particular the historical
books of the Old Testament,
00:36:14.00\00:36:18.27
are as accurate
historical documents
00:36:18.31\00:36:20.68
as any that we
have from antiquity
00:36:20.71\00:36:23.35
and are in fact more accurate
than many of," get this,
00:36:23.38\00:36:26.75
"the Egyptian, Mesopotamian,
or Greek histories."
00:36:26.78\00:36:30.82
Now that's a big statement
because when you study history,
00:36:30.85\00:36:34.32
when you consider
history as some of the oldest
00:36:34.36\00:36:37.39
and what is considered
some of the most oldest, ancient
00:36:37.43\00:36:39.76
but yet trustworthy
historical documents in history
00:36:39.79\00:36:42.86
come from these
particular civilizations,
00:36:42.90\00:36:45.23
Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greek.
00:36:45.27\00:36:47.30
But it goes on to say,
00:36:47.34\00:36:48.67
These Biblical records can be
00:36:48.70\00:36:50.04
and are used as are
other ancient documents
00:36:50.07\00:36:53.44
in archeological work.
00:36:53.48\00:36:55.64
For the most part,
00:36:55.68\00:36:57.01
historical events
described took place
00:36:57.05\00:37:00.65
and the peoples
cited really existed."
00:37:00.68\00:37:04.09
Now this comes from
a non-religious source,
00:37:04.12\00:37:06.55
again, the Smithsonian
Department of Anthropology.
00:37:06.59\00:37:08.72
That's huge.
00:37:08.76\00:37:10.09
In other words, they're saying,
00:37:10.13\00:37:11.46
"Look, you can you can
trust this record that,
00:37:11.49\00:37:13.09
you know, we may
not be Christian,
00:37:13.13\00:37:14.46
and we may not necessarily agree
00:37:14.50\00:37:15.83
with this particular faith,
00:37:15.86\00:37:17.20
but we have found in
studying the histories,
00:37:17.23\00:37:19.97
the historical
record of scripture,
00:37:20.00\00:37:22.60
that it can be trusted.
00:37:22.64\00:37:23.97
And these things
are real and accurate."
00:37:24.01\00:37:25.81
Amen. Another person.
00:37:25.84\00:37:27.34
I'm just going to
kind of read through.
00:37:27.38\00:37:28.71
I like to go to
the professionals
00:37:28.74\00:37:30.75
when you're establishing history
00:37:30.78\00:37:32.31
and a historical
record of scripture.
00:37:32.35\00:37:34.42
It's best to go to those people
00:37:34.45\00:37:35.85
who have studied these things.
00:37:35.88\00:37:37.29
And Dr. Nelson Glueck
00:37:37.32\00:37:39.15
wrote a book back in 1959,
00:37:39.19\00:37:41.29
and he is a
historical scientist.
00:37:41.32\00:37:43.36
And in his book,
"Rivers in the Desert,"
00:37:43.39\00:37:44.73
notice what he says here.
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.09
This is powerful.
00:37:46.13\00:37:47.46
He says, "It may be
stated categorically
00:37:47.50\00:37:48.83
that no archaeological discovery
00:37:48.86\00:37:51.13
has ever controverted
a Biblical reference.
00:37:51.17\00:37:55.34
Scores of archaeological
findings have been made
00:37:55.37\00:37:57.74
which confirm in clear outline
00:37:57.77\00:37:59.74
or exact detail historical
statements in the Bible.
00:37:59.77\00:38:04.48
And, by the same token,
00:38:04.51\00:38:06.31
proper evaluation of
Biblical descriptions
00:38:06.35\00:38:08.48
has often led to
amazing discoveries."
00:38:08.52\00:38:10.72
And we have seen this
over the last 80 to 90 years.
00:38:10.75\00:38:14.26
Prior to this, there
were many, many years
00:38:14.29\00:38:15.82
where people were like you
know what the Bible says this,
00:38:15.86\00:38:17.96
but there was not really
a lot of sufficient evidence
00:38:17.99\00:38:20.46
because there hadn't
been a lot of archeological
00:38:20.50\00:38:23.23
findings up to that point.
00:38:23.26\00:38:24.60
There wasn't a lot of projects
00:38:24.63\00:38:26.00
in which these
archaeologists were going over
00:38:26.03\00:38:28.00
and digging and trying to find.
00:38:28.04\00:38:29.40
But over the
last 80 to 90 years,
00:38:29.44\00:38:31.47
we have started,
00:38:31.51\00:38:32.84
we have steadily
seen and witnessed
00:38:32.87\00:38:35.48
that these
archaeologists have went over,
00:38:35.51\00:38:37.11
they found these things.
00:38:37.15\00:38:38.51
And it's powerful
00:38:38.55\00:38:39.88
because you and I
as people of faith,
00:38:39.91\00:38:43.49
you know, we don't
necessarily need these,
00:38:43.52\00:38:46.76
you know, because we have faith
00:38:46.79\00:38:48.12
in what the Word of God
says but it helps, right?
00:38:48.16\00:38:50.03
It helps to be
able to see like, wow,
00:38:50.06\00:38:51.66
they actually dug this
thing up and they found
00:38:51.69\00:38:53.93
that we can trust the
historical record of scripture.
00:38:53.96\00:38:58.10
Dr. William F.
Albright, he's an archaeologist,
00:38:58.13\00:39:01.60
and he had this to
say in his book, powerful.
00:39:01.64\00:39:03.41
He says, "Thanks
to modern research,
00:39:03.44\00:39:05.07
we now recognize its
substantial historicity."
00:39:05.11\00:39:08.91
Speaking of scripture.
00:39:08.94\00:39:10.28
"The narratives
of the Patriarchs,
00:39:10.31\00:39:12.55
of Moses and the Exodus,
of the Conquest of Canaan,
00:39:12.58\00:39:16.48
and of the judges, the Monarchy,
00:39:16.52\00:39:18.35
Exile, and Restoration,
00:39:18.39\00:39:20.09
have all been confirmed
and illustrated to an extent."
00:39:20.12\00:39:23.12
And he says this,
00:39:23.16\00:39:24.49
"That I should have thought
impossible 40 years ago."
00:39:24.53\00:39:27.10
So when he
wrote this, he's like,
00:39:27.13\00:39:28.46
it's amazing what is coming out.
00:39:28.50\00:39:30.27
And you consider some
of the most incredible
00:39:30.30\00:39:34.00
findings they have
found over the last few years.
00:39:34.04\00:39:36.50
I think of the Tel Dan Stele,
00:39:36.54\00:39:38.61
which has been dated
back to the 9th century BC,
00:39:38.64\00:39:41.91
mentions the house of David.
00:39:41.94\00:39:43.75
Prior to this,
there were skeptics said,
00:39:43.78\00:39:45.58
you know what,
David's mentioned in the Bible
00:39:45.61\00:39:47.62
but there was no historical,
00:39:47.65\00:39:49.82
you know, solid
evidence that this man,
00:39:49.85\00:39:51.89
David, even existed.
00:39:51.92\00:39:53.46
And therefore, the skeptics,
00:39:53.49\00:39:54.86
the atheists could say,
00:39:54.89\00:39:56.22
"Oh, we can stamp out David,
it wouldn't get rid of David,
00:39:56.26\00:39:58.26
that we can just
completely dismantle
00:39:58.29\00:40:00.93
the biblical story
because it proves it
00:40:00.96\00:40:03.40
and proves that
it's not even important.
00:40:03.43\00:40:05.50
But of course, the
house of David shattering
00:40:05.53\00:40:07.87
a long-held view
that many skeptics
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.87
that David was
a mythical person.
00:40:09.90\00:40:11.37
That's the Tel
Dan Stele, of course.
00:40:11.41\00:40:13.21
Back to 7th century BC
The Mesha Stele describes
00:40:13.24\00:40:16.78
Moab's subjection under
Omri, the king of Israel.
00:40:16.81\00:40:20.52
It also references
the personal name of God,
00:40:20.55\00:40:23.12
the God of the Bible, Yahweh.
00:40:23.15\00:40:24.89
And contains again
00:40:24.92\00:40:26.25
the reference to
the house of David.
00:40:26.29\00:40:27.62
So many of these
things have been found
00:40:27.66\00:40:29.52
that proves the validity of
the historicity of scripture,
00:40:29.56\00:40:33.36
which is fantastic.
00:40:33.40\00:40:34.83
You know, just not too long ago,
00:40:34.86\00:40:37.07
as in the past 40, 50 years,
00:40:37.10\00:40:38.93
up to the past 40, 50 years,
00:40:38.97\00:40:40.84
there were people
that even questioned
00:40:40.87\00:40:42.47
the validity of
the New Testament
00:40:42.50\00:40:44.17
based on the fact that
00:40:44.21\00:40:45.54
there was no evidence
of a man named Pilate,
00:40:45.57\00:40:47.44
that the Bible says,
again, sentenced Jesus to death.
00:40:47.48\00:40:50.78
But that has since been
disproven because Pilate...
00:40:50.81\00:40:55.28
Of course, the Pilate stone
00:40:55.32\00:40:56.69
provides archaeological evidence
00:40:56.72\00:40:58.45
for the existence of a man
00:40:58.49\00:40:59.82
who sentenced Jesus
to death on the cross.
00:40:59.85\00:41:01.46
Skeptics frequently
denied his existence
00:41:01.49\00:41:03.56
until the
discovery of this stone,
00:41:03.59\00:41:04.99
which identifies,
00:41:05.03\00:41:06.36
notice Pontius Pilate
00:41:06.39\00:41:07.73
as the prefect of Judea.
00:41:07.76\00:41:09.30
And of course,
this was found in 1961.
00:41:09.33\00:41:11.90
So the Bible as history...
00:41:11.93\00:41:14.54
And I could go on
and talk about more,
00:41:14.57\00:41:15.90
the Dead Sea Scrolls,
00:41:15.94\00:41:17.27
which were found and unearthed
in a cave back in 1949.
00:41:17.31\00:41:21.18
You study these things,
00:41:21.21\00:41:22.54
and you see that
there's more and more evidence
00:41:22.58\00:41:24.61
that points to the fact
00:41:24.65\00:41:25.98
that when we study this word,
00:41:26.01\00:41:27.48
and we find the
history is written therein,
00:41:27.52\00:41:29.52
they can now be trusted.
00:41:29.55\00:41:31.05
It's almost like God saying,
00:41:31.09\00:41:32.42
"Look, I've been
holding this back for so long.
00:41:32.45\00:41:34.49
You know, I've been allowing you
00:41:34.52\00:41:36.36
to establish
this wonderful faith.
00:41:36.39\00:41:38.09
But now I'm going
to say go over there
00:41:38.13\00:41:39.46
and dig that
particular area over there.
00:41:39.49\00:41:41.03
I'm going to show you something.
00:41:41.06\00:41:42.40
I'm going to
prove something to you."
00:41:42.43\00:41:43.77
Powerful, when you consider
the skepticism surrounding
00:41:43.80\00:41:47.17
even the New
Testament and the four gospels.
00:41:47.20\00:41:50.07
I mean, there have been...
00:41:50.11\00:41:51.47
When I was in
college, and I studied
00:41:51.51\00:41:53.34
a lot of my emphasis of
study was early church history.
00:41:53.38\00:41:56.78
And it's just baffling even
within the Christian church.
00:41:56.81\00:42:00.68
How many scholars and
theologians are saying,
00:42:00.72\00:42:02.92
"Well, can we really trust that
00:42:02.95\00:42:04.55
it was really Matthew
that wrote the book of Matthew?
00:42:04.59\00:42:07.16
Can we really trust that
00:42:07.19\00:42:08.76
the guy that they
call Mark really wrote this
00:42:08.79\00:42:11.03
and he was a companion of Peter,
00:42:11.06\00:42:12.66
you know, recording
Peter's eyewitnesses,
00:42:12.69\00:42:15.30
you know, what he eyewitnessed?
00:42:15.33\00:42:16.67
Can we really
trust these things?"
00:42:16.70\00:42:18.37
And there have been
several scholars since then.
00:42:18.40\00:42:22.00
One dimension here,
Dr. Craig L. Blomberg, PhD,
00:42:22.04\00:42:25.77
who has been a huge,
00:42:25.81\00:42:28.38
he has attributed
huge findings in the area
00:42:28.41\00:42:32.11
of biblical history
and more specifically,
00:42:32.15\00:42:35.02
New Testament biblical history,
00:42:35.05\00:42:36.65
which is fantastic to see
00:42:36.69\00:42:38.65
that we can trust these things.
00:42:38.69\00:42:40.12
That they all have been
put through this ultimate test
00:42:40.16\00:42:43.59
to prove that we can truly trust
00:42:43.63\00:42:45.79
that Matthew was indeed
the one who wrote Matthew.
00:42:45.83\00:42:48.23
Mark, Luke, John,
all of these were really
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.27
the individuals who wrote it.
00:42:50.30\00:42:51.70
One particular
text that comes to mind
00:42:51.73\00:42:53.50
that I just want to
mention in closing here.
00:42:53.54\00:42:55.44
It's 1 Corinthians 15.
00:42:55.47\00:42:57.94
Let's read that
here. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
00:42:57.97\00:43:01.44
This is powerful to consider.
00:43:01.48\00:43:03.65
And in confirming
the Bible as history
00:43:03.68\00:43:06.58
because back in these days
00:43:06.61\00:43:07.95
they didn't have
copies of the holy text
00:43:07.98\00:43:11.99
that would come much later.
00:43:12.02\00:43:13.92
So in this particular culture,
00:43:13.96\00:43:16.02
they had to
depend on word of mouth,
00:43:16.06\00:43:18.49
oral representation.
00:43:18.53\00:43:19.96
And Paul exercised this.
00:43:20.00\00:43:21.43
Notice in 1
Corinthians 15:3-8, he says,
00:43:21.46\00:43:24.70
"For I delivered to you first
00:43:24.73\00:43:26.40
all that which I also received."
00:43:26.43\00:43:28.34
So he's
confirming I received this.
00:43:28.37\00:43:30.24
Now I'm passing it on to you.
00:43:30.27\00:43:32.04
"That Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,
00:43:32.07\00:43:35.18
and that He was buried
00:43:35.21\00:43:36.54
and that He rose
again the third day,
00:43:36.58\00:43:38.18
according to the Scriptures,
00:43:38.21\00:43:39.55
and that He was seen in Cephas,
00:43:39.58\00:43:41.75
then by the twelve."
00:43:41.78\00:43:43.79
Notice how he's establishing.
00:43:43.82\00:43:45.15
Christ was seen by this group.
Christ was seen by this person.
00:43:45.19\00:43:47.99
Verse 6 says,
"After this... Excuse me.
00:43:48.02\00:43:49.96
"After that, He was seen
by over five hundred at once,
00:43:49.99\00:43:54.00
of whom the greater part
00:43:54.03\00:43:56.50
remain to represent or present."
00:43:56.53\00:43:58.50
Excuse me. "But
some have fallen asleep.
00:43:58.53\00:44:00.77
After that He
also was seen by James,
00:44:00.80\00:44:02.90
then by all the apostles.
00:44:02.94\00:44:04.31
Then last of all,
He was seen by me also,
00:44:04.34\00:44:07.61
as by one born out of due time."
00:44:07.64\00:44:10.35
Now this is incredible
00:44:10.38\00:44:12.61
because this is
one of those statements
00:44:12.65\00:44:15.58
that would have been considered
00:44:15.62\00:44:17.49
somewhat of a
confession of faith or a creed,
00:44:17.52\00:44:20.19
an early testament creed
00:44:20.22\00:44:21.62
that a lot of skeptics
have said over the years.
00:44:21.66\00:44:23.66
You know, was
Jesus really resurrected
00:44:23.69\00:44:25.83
or it was a story
that was created over time?
00:44:25.86\00:44:29.93
You know, 60
years, 70 years, 80,
00:44:29.96\00:44:31.67
100 years afterwards.
00:44:31.70\00:44:33.20
But this particular text,
00:44:33.23\00:44:34.77
the very foundation
of the Christian belief,
00:44:34.80\00:44:37.67
it has been proven
through biblical archaeologist,
00:44:37.71\00:44:40.41
as well as biblical historians
00:44:40.44\00:44:42.61
who have proven
that this statement
00:44:42.64\00:44:44.85
would have been received by Paul
00:44:44.88\00:44:47.02
and communicated
throughout all of the cultures
00:44:47.05\00:44:49.68
and all of the
communities by word of mouth
00:44:49.72\00:44:53.05
and that we can trust
that this was definitely
00:44:53.09\00:44:55.56
the foundation
of historical belief
00:44:55.59\00:44:57.46
in these days.
00:44:57.49\00:44:58.83
And so we can trust
the Bible as history.
00:44:58.86\00:45:01.33
And I praise the Lord that
00:45:01.36\00:45:02.70
this is not just a book
of religious philosophy,
00:45:02.73\00:45:05.83
but it's history
that we can indeed trust.
00:45:05.87\00:45:08.74
So the Bible has
history. It's powerful.
00:45:08.77\00:45:10.94
There's so much
more I can say about it.
00:45:10.97\00:45:12.44
But I'm going to pass it
on to my brother over here.
00:45:12.47\00:45:14.58
Well, thank you, Pastor Ryan.
00:45:14.61\00:45:16.08
I mean, you are a
biblical historian,
00:45:16.11\00:45:19.01
it sounds like.
00:45:19.05\00:45:20.38
Passionate about
the Bible as history.
00:45:20.42\00:45:22.15
And I appreciate you
sharing that good word.
00:45:22.18\00:45:25.45
Thursday's lesson is on
00:45:25.49\00:45:26.82
the transforming
power of the word.
00:45:26.86\00:45:29.32
You know, when I think
of an eight-year-old boy,
00:45:29.36\00:45:31.83
I think of a boy
that's in third grade
00:45:31.86\00:45:36.10
throwing a football
around, playing basketball,
00:45:36.13\00:45:38.43
or building Lego
towers with his friends,
00:45:38.47\00:45:41.07
doing things that
kids like to do, you know?
00:45:41.10\00:45:43.84
Me personally, when
I was eight years old,
00:45:43.87\00:45:45.94
I love to eat lunch.
00:45:45.97\00:45:47.31
And guess what?
00:45:47.34\00:45:48.68
Now all these years later,
I still love to eat lunch.
00:45:48.71\00:45:52.88
But I don't think about
00:45:52.91\00:45:55.02
as an
eight-year-old ruling a nation.
00:45:55.05\00:45:58.12
In this lesson, we
will take a glimpse
00:45:58.15\00:45:59.65
into the reign of King Josiah
00:45:59.69\00:46:01.86
and the various generational
challenges that he faced.
00:46:01.89\00:46:06.29
Now we're going to be
jumping around a little bit,
00:46:06.33\00:46:08.13
so I hope that
you will bear with us
00:46:08.16\00:46:11.63
as we go through this lesson.
00:46:11.67\00:46:13.27
The odds were really stacked
00:46:13.30\00:46:15.14
against King
Josiah at an early age.
00:46:15.17\00:46:17.61
His father, King Amon,
00:46:17.64\00:46:19.24
was executed in his
own house by his servants.
00:46:19.27\00:46:22.68
Now, imagine, you
know, your dad being killed,
00:46:22.71\00:46:26.51
murdered by people that
work for him, his servants.
00:46:26.55\00:46:32.05
I can only imagine
what kind of impact
00:46:32.09\00:46:33.99
that had on King
Josiah as a little kid.
00:46:34.02\00:46:38.53
King Josiah had a lot
of evil men in his family
00:46:38.56\00:46:42.46
as we will see when
we jump into this lesson.
00:46:42.50\00:46:46.33
We're going to be
covering quite a few verses.
00:46:46.37\00:46:50.27
And so now,
hopefully by now, I mean,
00:46:50.31\00:46:53.07
we are on
Thursday's lesson and hopefully
00:46:53.11\00:46:55.11
by now that you have
your Bibles in hand and open.
00:46:55.14\00:46:59.51
If you don't grab a
pen and a piece of paper
00:46:59.55\00:47:01.58
because we're going to go
through quite a few verses.
00:47:01.62\00:47:04.82
And I'm going to be looking
to my lovely panelists here
00:47:04.85\00:47:09.99
to triple and
quadruple team this
00:47:10.03\00:47:12.49
so we can get
through this portion.
00:47:12.53\00:47:15.46
Let's open up our Bibles
00:47:15.50\00:47:16.83
to 2 King 22:3-20
00:47:16.87\00:47:23.17
and we have to go 3-20.
00:47:23.20\00:47:25.87
Verses 3-20.
00:47:25.91\00:47:27.24
Jill, would you mind
reading verses 3-8 and...
00:47:27.28\00:47:30.11
2 Kings 22:3? Correct.
00:47:30.15\00:47:32.18
And, Pastor Lomacang,
will you read versus 9-14.
00:47:32.21\00:47:36.69
And, Pastor Day, if you
would read verses 15-17.
00:47:36.72\00:47:40.29
Sure.
00:47:40.32\00:47:41.66
"Now it came to pass,
in the eighteenth year
00:47:41.69\00:47:43.63
of King Josiah,
00:47:43.66\00:47:44.99
that the king sent
Shaphan the scribe,
00:47:45.03\00:47:47.00
the son of Azaliah,
the son of Meshullam."
00:47:47.03\00:47:50.00
Now I see why you
had me read. Mercy.
00:47:50.03\00:47:51.53
"To the house of
the Lord, saying,
00:47:51.57\00:47:53.90
'Go up to
Hilkiah the high priest,
00:47:53.94\00:47:56.07
that he may count the money
00:47:56.10\00:47:57.44
which has been brought
into the house of the Lord,
00:47:57.47\00:47:59.51
which the doorkeepers
have gathered from the people.
00:47:59.54\00:48:02.51
And let them deliver it
00:48:02.54\00:48:03.88
into the hand of
those doing the work,
00:48:03.91\00:48:05.68
who are the overseers
in the house of the Lord.
00:48:05.71\00:48:08.32
Let them give it to those
00:48:08.35\00:48:09.68
who are in the house of
the Lord doing the work,
00:48:09.72\00:48:11.82
to repair the
damages of the house,
00:48:11.85\00:48:14.52
to carpenters and
builders and masons,
00:48:14.56\00:48:17.06
and to buy timber and hewn stone
00:48:17.09\00:48:19.46
to repair the house.
00:48:19.49\00:48:22.06
However, there need be
no accounting made with them
00:48:22.10\00:48:24.90
of the money
delivered into their hand,
00:48:24.93\00:48:26.97
because they deal faithfully.'
00:48:27.00\00:48:29.80
Then Hilkiah the high priest
said to Shaphan the scribe,
00:48:29.84\00:48:33.44
'I have found
the Book of the Law
00:48:33.48\00:48:35.14
in the house of the Lord.'
00:48:35.18\00:48:36.64
And Hilkiah gave
the book to Shaphan,
00:48:36.68\00:48:38.91
and he read it.
00:48:38.95\00:48:40.28
Amen. Wow.
00:48:40.32\00:48:42.82
Number nine? Yes.
00:48:42.85\00:48:44.25
Okay.
00:48:44.29\00:48:45.62
"So Shaphan the
scribe went to the king,
00:48:45.65\00:48:47.42
bringing the king word, saying,
00:48:47.46\00:48:49.36
'Your servants
have gathered the money
00:48:49.39\00:48:52.49
that was found in the house,
00:48:52.53\00:48:53.86
and have delivered it
into the hand of those
00:48:53.90\00:48:56.13
who do the work,
00:48:56.16\00:48:57.50
who oversee the
house of the Lord.'
00:48:57.53\00:48:59.13
Then Shaphan the scribe
showed the king, saying,
00:48:59.17\00:49:02.37
'Hilkiah the priest
has given me a book.
00:49:02.40\00:49:05.47
And Shaphan read
it before the king.
00:49:05.51\00:49:07.41
Now it happened,
when the king heard
00:49:07.44\00:49:08.81
the words of
the Book of the Law,
00:49:08.84\00:49:10.21
that he tore his clothes.
00:49:10.25\00:49:12.61
Then the king
commanded Hilkiah the priest,
00:49:12.65\00:49:16.69
Ahikam the son of Shaphan,
Achbor the son of Michaiah,
00:49:16.72\00:49:22.19
Shaphan the scribe,
00:49:22.22\00:49:23.56
and Asaiah a
servant of the king, saying,
00:49:23.59\00:49:26.56
'Go, inquire of the Lord for me,
00:49:26.59\00:49:28.56
for the people
and for all Judah,
00:49:28.60\00:49:30.73
concerning the
words of this book
00:49:30.77\00:49:32.87
that has been found,
00:49:32.90\00:49:34.64
for great is the
wrath of the Lord
00:49:34.67\00:49:36.07
that is aroused against us
00:49:36.10\00:49:37.44
because our
fathers have not obeyed
00:49:37.47\00:49:39.47
the words of this book,
00:49:39.51\00:49:40.84
to do according to all
that is written concerning us.
00:49:40.88\00:49:43.78
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam,
00:49:43.81\00:49:47.48
Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah
00:49:47.52\00:49:50.59
went to Huldah the prophetess,
00:49:50.62\00:49:53.36
the wife of
Shallum the son of Tikvah,
00:49:53.39\00:49:56.56
and the son of Harhas,
keeper of the wardrobe.
00:49:56.59\00:50:01.00
She dwelt in
Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.
00:50:01.03\00:50:03.97
And they spoke with her."
00:50:04.00\00:50:05.53
Amen. Pastor Ryan.
00:50:05.57\00:50:07.64
Verses 15-17.
00:50:07.67\00:50:09.44
"Then she said to them,
00:50:09.47\00:50:10.81
'Thus says the
Lord God of Israel,
00:50:10.84\00:50:12.17
'Tell the man
who sent you to Me,
00:50:12.21\00:50:14.74
'Thus says the Lord, 'Behold,
00:50:14.78\00:50:16.24
I will bring
calamity on this place
00:50:16.28\00:50:18.38
and on its inhabitants,
00:50:18.41\00:50:20.25
all the words of the book
00:50:20.28\00:50:21.62
which the king of Judah has read
00:50:21.65\00:50:24.15
because they have forsaken Me
00:50:24.19\00:50:25.95
and burned
incense to other gods,
00:50:25.99\00:50:27.89
that they might
provoke Me to anger
00:50:27.92\00:50:30.46
with all the
works of their hands.
00:50:30.49\00:50:32.69
Therefore My wrath shall
be aroused against this place
00:50:32.73\00:50:35.86
and shall not be quenched.'"
00:50:35.90\00:50:37.83
Wow. Mercy.
00:50:37.87\00:50:39.20
Wow.
00:50:39.23\00:50:40.57
In the verses that we just read,
00:50:40.60\00:50:41.94
we can see that King
Josiah discovered that
00:50:41.97\00:50:44.31
along with the nation of Judah,
00:50:44.34\00:50:46.61
he was in
desperate need of change.
00:50:46.64\00:50:49.61
Now Judah was a nation
00:50:49.64\00:50:51.58
that was so steeped in tradition
00:50:51.61\00:50:53.85
that they had
strayed away from worshiping
00:50:53.88\00:50:55.98
the one true God.
00:50:56.02\00:50:57.52
Evil tendencies
had been cultivated
00:50:57.55\00:50:59.95
for many generations.
00:50:59.99\00:51:01.46
And one of the things
that I love about King Josiah
00:51:01.49\00:51:04.23
is that when he heard the
conditions of the covenant,
00:51:04.26\00:51:06.90
he took immediate action.
00:51:06.93\00:51:09.76
And did a lot
of spring cleaning.
00:51:09.80\00:51:13.27
All right.
00:51:13.30\00:51:14.74
It was time to
get rid of the idols
00:51:14.77\00:51:16.57
and all of the things
00:51:16.60\00:51:17.94
that weren't
pleasing in God's sight.
00:51:17.97\00:51:19.77
Believe it or not, as you know,
00:51:19.81\00:51:21.34
we had been discussing prophecy.
00:51:21.38\00:51:24.05
This is actually
prophecy being fulfilled.
00:51:24.08\00:51:26.75
Turn with me, to 1 Kings 13,
00:51:26.78\00:51:29.65
and we're going
look at verses 1-3.
00:51:29.68\00:51:33.89
1 Kings 13:1-3.
00:51:33.92\00:51:40.70
All right.
00:51:40.73\00:51:42.23
"And behold, a man of
God went from Judah to Bethel
00:51:42.26\00:51:45.70
by the word of the Lord,
00:51:45.73\00:51:47.14
and Jeroboam stood by
the altar to burn incense.
00:51:47.17\00:51:50.34
Then he cried
out against the altar
00:51:50.37\00:51:52.17
by the word of the Lord,
00:51:52.21\00:51:53.54
and said, 'O altar, altar!
00:51:53.58\00:51:55.51
Thus says the Lord,
00:51:55.54\00:51:56.91
'Behold, a
child, Josiah by name,
00:51:56.95\00:52:00.82
shall be born to
the house of David,
00:52:00.85\00:52:03.25
and on you he shall
sacrifice the priests
00:52:03.28\00:52:06.45
of the high places
who burn incense on you,
00:52:06.49\00:52:09.22
and men's bones
shall be burned on you.''
00:52:09.26\00:52:12.29
And he gave a sign the same day,
00:52:12.33\00:52:15.16
saying, 'This is the sign
which the Lord has spoken.
00:52:15.20\00:52:18.40
Surely the altar
shall split apart,
00:52:18.43\00:52:21.00
and the ashes on it
shall be poured out.'"
00:52:21.04\00:52:23.14
So, we see
prophecy being fulfilled.
00:52:23.17\00:52:25.77
Josiah was named
before he was born.
00:52:25.81\00:52:29.44
Amen.
00:52:29.48\00:52:30.81
God knew him and he had purpose.
00:52:30.85\00:52:32.38
That's right.
00:52:32.41\00:52:33.75
So I thought that was
quite interesting in the lesson.
00:52:33.78\00:52:37.55
There are so many lessons
00:52:37.59\00:52:38.92
that can be learned
from this situation.
00:52:38.95\00:52:41.79
But here's just a few of them.
00:52:41.82\00:52:43.32
I know you like lists, Jill.
00:52:43.36\00:52:45.66
So I've got four right now.
00:52:45.69\00:52:48.46
When we know
better, we must do better.
00:52:48.50\00:52:50.43
Now it sounds simple.
00:52:50.47\00:52:51.97
But how often do we know better?
00:52:52.00\00:52:54.57
And then we kind of go
00:52:54.60\00:52:56.37
in the opposite
direction, sometimes.
00:52:56.40\00:52:58.84
We will be held
accountable for what we know.
00:52:58.87\00:53:01.91
Number two, we
must study God's Word.
00:53:01.94\00:53:05.38
And number three,
00:53:05.41\00:53:06.75
we are to
follow God and not men.
00:53:06.78\00:53:08.62
And we shouldn't get
caught up in tradition.
00:53:08.65\00:53:10.22
Tradition will lead you
00:53:10.25\00:53:12.35
in a place that
you don't want to go.
00:53:12.39\00:53:14.52
And it can be a good thing.
00:53:14.56\00:53:15.89
But you need to learn
why you're doing something,
00:53:15.92\00:53:19.09
you know, you often hear,
00:53:19.13\00:53:20.76
"I'm fifth
generation, this denomination.
00:53:20.80\00:53:23.40
I'm sixth
generation, this denomination.
00:53:23.43\00:53:26.13
I'm seventh generation."
00:53:26.17\00:53:28.47
Why do you
believe what you believe?
00:53:28.50\00:53:30.47
"I don't know.
My grandma did it."
00:53:30.51\00:53:33.21
Get out of the
habit of tradition.
00:53:33.24\00:53:36.04
And as the lesson
so beautifully states.
00:53:36.08\00:53:38.88
The discovery of the Word
of God leads to conviction,
00:53:38.91\00:53:43.08
repentance, and
the power to change.
00:53:43.12\00:53:45.75
Yes.
00:53:45.79\00:53:47.52
I also love the fact that,
00:53:47.56\00:53:49.72
you know, the personal testimony
00:53:49.76\00:53:51.46
is such a
powerful, powerful thing.
00:53:51.49\00:53:54.10
We're going to skip
through some of the notes here
00:53:54.13\00:53:56.33
as time is escaping us.
00:53:56.36\00:54:00.54
You know, the testimony
of a person really shows
00:54:00.57\00:54:04.34
how God is moving and
working in their life.
00:54:04.37\00:54:08.01
For me
personally, drugs and pleasure
00:54:08.04\00:54:10.21
used to be my idol.
00:54:10.25\00:54:11.71
You see that king
Josiah, the nation of Judah,
00:54:11.75\00:54:17.55
they struggled with
worshipping idols and drugs
00:54:17.59\00:54:21.16
and pleasure were
my idol at the time,
00:54:21.19\00:54:23.36
and I strayed away from
God for a period of 14 years.
00:54:23.39\00:54:27.43
I could have died in my sins,
00:54:27.46\00:54:28.80
and I almost did at one time.
00:54:28.83\00:54:31.73
But I praise the
Lord for a praying mother
00:54:31.77\00:54:35.30
who trained up a child
in the way he should go.
00:54:35.34\00:54:38.71
And now, you
know, I did stray away,
00:54:38.74\00:54:41.11
but praise the Lord.
00:54:41.14\00:54:43.11
Coming back
before it's too late.
00:54:43.14\00:54:47.62
And so that brings
me to my last point is,
00:54:47.65\00:54:50.55
are you in need of a
transformation today?
00:54:50.59\00:54:54.26
Is there anything that
is standing in your way
00:54:54.29\00:54:57.06
between your
relationship with God?
00:54:57.09\00:55:00.16
What idols do you
have in your life?
00:55:00.20\00:55:03.03
Today is the time
for spring cleaning.
00:55:03.06\00:55:04.97
That's right. Amen.
00:55:05.00\00:55:06.67
Amen. Absolutely.
00:55:06.70\00:55:08.40
Thank you so much,
Jason. Each one of you.
00:55:08.44\00:55:10.77
What an incredible
study of God's Word.
00:55:10.81\00:55:12.41
And what a great appeal for us
00:55:12.44\00:55:14.68
to make that
choice to follow Him.
00:55:14.71\00:55:16.85
I want to give each one of you
00:55:16.88\00:55:18.21
a few moments to
share a closing thought?
00:55:18.25\00:55:19.58
Pastor Kenny.
00:55:19.61\00:55:20.95
Well, I think it's
very paramount here
00:55:20.98\00:55:22.32
what we realize is that
00:55:22.35\00:55:23.69
the holy man of God wrote
00:55:23.72\00:55:25.05
as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost.
00:55:25.09\00:55:26.42
There's no doubt about it.
00:55:26.45\00:55:27.79
The Bible is real,
00:55:27.82\00:55:29.16
can be proven in
many different ways,
00:55:29.19\00:55:30.69
as you brought out in here.
00:55:30.73\00:55:32.23
Reminds me, the old
song says, Give me the Bible.
00:55:32.26\00:55:34.83
Holy message shining.
00:55:34.86\00:55:36.46
Thy light shall
guide me in thy narrow way.
00:55:36.50\00:55:38.97
Precept and what is it? Promise?
00:55:39.00\00:55:40.34
Promise. That's right.
00:55:40.37\00:55:41.70
Law and love combining.
00:55:41.74\00:55:43.07
That light alone the
path to peace can show.
00:55:43.10\00:55:45.54
And just simply Isaiah 40:8,
00:55:45.57\00:55:47.74
"The grass withereth,
00:55:47.78\00:55:49.11
and the flower fadeth away,
00:55:49.14\00:55:50.68
but the word of our
God, shall stand forever."
00:55:50.71\00:55:52.71
Amen. Amen.
00:55:52.75\00:55:54.08
My summary is
going to be very simple.
00:55:54.12\00:55:55.78
God said it, I believe it.
00:55:55.82\00:55:59.65
That settles it for
me. That settles it.
00:55:59.69\00:56:01.79
Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:56:01.82\00:56:03.76
You know, there was so much more
00:56:03.79\00:56:05.33
that I wanted to
cover in my lesson.
00:56:05.36\00:56:07.00
You know, dealing
with the Bible as history.
00:56:07.03\00:56:08.93
But I just want
to make this point.
00:56:08.96\00:56:10.30
You know, if we
can trust the fact
00:56:10.33\00:56:12.43
that history confirms
00:56:12.47\00:56:13.80
that Jesus really
did raise from the dead
00:56:13.84\00:56:16.27
and that these
historical evidences of Christ
00:56:16.30\00:56:21.28
actually being
raised from the dead,
00:56:21.31\00:56:23.08
which is one of the foundational
00:56:23.11\00:56:24.45
teachings of Christianity,
00:56:24.48\00:56:25.81
what does that say about
00:56:25.85\00:56:27.18
what the Bible
teaches us about the future?
00:56:27.22\00:56:29.88
I love this text in Romans 8:11,
00:56:29.92\00:56:32.09
it says, "But if
the spirit of Him
00:56:32.12\00:56:33.46
who raised Jesus from
the dead dwells in you,
00:56:33.49\00:56:37.66
He who raised
Christ from the dead
00:56:37.69\00:56:39.33
will also give to
your mortal bodies
00:56:39.36\00:56:44.93
through His
spirit, who dwells in you
00:56:44.97\00:56:46.97
give life to
your mortal bodies."
00:56:47.00\00:56:48.54
So just as
Christ was resurrected,
00:56:48.57\00:56:50.21
we can look
forward to the future
00:56:50.24\00:56:52.71
and what the Bible tells us
that we also can be resurrected
00:56:52.74\00:56:55.61
and receive that
immortality in Jesus Christ.
00:56:55.64\00:56:57.95
Amen.
00:56:57.98\00:56:59.31
God's word has the
power to transform your life.
00:56:59.35\00:57:02.58
And so if you're tired of
making behavioral modifications
00:57:02.62\00:57:05.79
and you're looking for
a genuine transformation,
00:57:05.82\00:57:08.06
go to the Word of God.
00:57:08.09\00:57:09.76
Study the Word of God.
00:57:09.79\00:57:11.19
Internalize the principles found
00:57:11.23\00:57:13.19
in the Word of God
00:57:13.23\00:57:14.63
and allow them to be
played out in your life.
00:57:14.66\00:57:17.77
It's time to get beyond
00:57:17.80\00:57:19.23
just the mere head knowledge
and dive in full force.
00:57:19.27\00:57:23.34
Get that spring cleaning going.
00:57:23.37\00:57:25.37
Get rid of those idols.
00:57:25.41\00:57:26.81
Praise the Lord. Amen.
00:57:26.84\00:57:28.18
Thank you so much,
Jason, and Pastor Ryan,
00:57:28.21\00:57:30.65
and Pastor John,
and Pastor Kenney,
00:57:30.68\00:57:32.88
for your study
of the Word of God.
00:57:32.91\00:57:34.48
This is the only
lesson number one.
00:57:34.52\00:57:37.22
So we have an
incredible quarter here for you.
00:57:37.25\00:57:40.39
I want to close with this quote
00:57:40.42\00:57:42.02
from the Great
Controversy, page nine.
00:57:42.06\00:57:44.49
"In his word, God has committed
00:57:44.53\00:57:46.90
to man the knowledge
necessary for salvation."
00:57:46.93\00:57:50.77
So we want to
encourage you here at 3ABN
00:57:50.80\00:57:53.17
and to open up
God's Word and study it.
00:57:53.20\00:57:56.10
Next week, join
us for the origin
00:57:56.14\00:57:58.04
and nature of the Bible.
00:57:58.07\00:57:59.57