2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Peter took the time to include some teachings from God that were important to him when he gave his testimony to the dispersed early church. Persecution is often a vicious experience, displacing people from their homes, causing economic hardship, and challenging faith. Peter understood this and was inspired by God to say the things that would combat this effectively. Today’s passage, 2 PET 1: 19-21, is built on his sharing of his first-hand experience at the transfiguration that I wrote about yesterday. “So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that no one can explain by himself a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the will of man, but men were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.”
Just because Christ’s teachings had been made known and His apostles were serving their ministries, Peter wanted to remind those hearing his message that they should still believe the teachings and prophecies of the OT with which they had been raised. They were to pay attention to these teachings, a practice that wopuld improve their confidence in them. The world we live in is a place of darkness. Without faith, living here is like walking into a dark, dank cave in which one soon finds himself lost and afraid. When danger looms, the unbeliever can’t see it or defend himself against it. PS 119: 105, “Your word is like a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path,” the Psalmist writes. That citation gives us a crucial truth as well as any in the Bible. When we hold to our faith, we are equipped by God to deal with the darkness in this world. EPH 6: 13-18, “So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the evil one. And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people.” In 1 PET 1: 19, the “dawning of the day” signals the end of the church age. The “rising of the Morning Star” pictures Christ coming for His saints.
If one is going to convince others whose faith is being challenged by their circumstances, he will need to provide a compelling body of information. This information must be something to which the recipients of this message can relate, must be accurate to God’s teaching, and be relevant. In my heart, I know that before beginning to write this letter, Peter must have gone to the Lord in prayer. That’s a good thing for all of us to do before we are to study the Scriptures or do anything in God’s name. When we seek our Lord out, He is there for us. Many people from the early church had been raised hearing the prophecies in the OT. Since they were alive in 64-65 AD, they could look back on their past history to know which prophecies had already been fulfilled, just as we can. DT 18: 21-22, “You may wonder how you can tell when a prophet’s message does not come from the Lord. If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and what he says does not come true, then it is not the Lord’s message. That prophet has spoken on his own authority, and you are not to fear him.” Because their perspective (and ours) is that some prophecies have already come true and some await fulfillment, they could have a clear idea which prophets were real ones, ones that really did speak God’s words. Peter wanted his readers to know that real prophecies originate from God and not from mankind. The OT prophets were messengers commissioned to deliver His word with accuracy and at the time He commanded.
Les Feldick and I agree right down the line with the Precepts Ministries teaching that we should allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. If you have not seen Les’ TV Bible study, “Through the Bible,” which comes on channel 41- KPXM from 6-6:30 AM Mon.-Fri. and from 4-4:30 PM Sunday on channel 45-KVBM in the St. Paul, MN area and on Dominion Sky Angel [a satellite add-on to Dish Network] several times a week in the rest of the country, please consider giving yourself the benefit of his fine teaching. Les’ wonderful teaching can be accessed on-line at www.lesfeldick.org, his home page, and I hope you will visit it. A person can not really understand one Scripture fully, especially if it is taken alone or out of context. That is why our Abba has given us other citations as cross-references to help us have a more profound understanding of what God inspired a particular prophet or writer of canon to say.
Paul’s teaching on the origin of Scripture is clear in 1 COR 2: 13, “So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain Scriptural truths to those who have the Spirit.” These words are described as “God-breathed” in some versions of the Bible. Not only are they arising from God, but they have very important functions in our lives. 2 TIM 3: 16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” Can that be any clearer? Let me share a wonderful way to summarize what Peter is saying in this entire passage: TRUST! T=totally; R=relying; U=upon; S=Scriptural; T=truth. That is truth from God, not man. It blesses our lives, gives us much-needed guidance when we need it, and helps to bring us closer to that Day when we will meet with our Lord in air on our way to the great wedding feast of the Lamb. I look forward to seeing each of you there!
PRAYER: O Lord, You have given us the Scriptures including the teachings of the OT prophets, it’s historical accounts, the Torah (first five books of Moses), the power of Job’s faith while suffering, ethical teachings, the wise sayings of Solomon and others in Proverbs, poetry, precious songs that build faith in the Psalms, the Gospel accounts of the NT, the history of the early church (Acts), the writings of Paul and others of the church age (epistles), and the magnificent vision fulfilling all prophecies in Revelation. Throughout it’s pages, You choose to reveal Yourself to us in the most marvelous ways, ways that bless our lives abundantly when we take the time to understand them. When we take in these wonderful Scriptures, You are also equipping us to live in a dark world without being destroyed by its evil and to be victorious in the spiritual warfare to which we are subjected. This coupled with the sacrifice of Your Son on the cross for us are compelling reasons for us to know how much You love us. We come to You undeserving and humbled to offer You our adoration, worship, praise, honor, trust, obedience, thanks, trust and eternal loyalty. Peter’s message to us matters. We dedicate ourselves to acquiring the ability to discriminate between Your truth and lies from the adversary by studying and believing the precious teaching You offer us through the Scriptures. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will begin taking up the subject of 2 PET 2, false teachers, with verses 1-3. Our Lord loves us so much that He wants is to have discernment which can only come from Him. He knows we will have our faith challenged by the lies of false teachers and arms us to deal with this. Just think of how much He loves us personally today; it’s a great way to begin our day. Even when we feel like we are in the “belly of the beast” struggling with trials and temptations, He is right there with us. He feels our pain, guides us to find ways to solve our problems, and exercises great patience with us. Now, that’s my idea of love! My husband, Peter, and I send your our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn