About 750 years before Jesus was born, God chides the nation of Israel for their lack of faith in Him. They had turned their hearts to idols and served them as their gods.
As proof of His greatness compared to idols, God said the following in Isaiah 46:9, 10. "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.'" The proof He wanted them to see is that He is capable of telling the end from the beginning - that is, He tells us of future events and they happen as He said. The idols Israel served can't even speak and were made by man's hands. God states that fulfilled prophecy is a proof, or convincing reason, why Israel should place their faith and trust in Him.
What Prophecy?
What events does God have reference to in this message to Israel by the mouth of Isaiah? He refers to their history, the "former things of old." Let's look at a few of the events He may have reference to.
The Flood
Those Jews knew about and believed in the flood. Before the flood came, God appeared to Noah. Hebrews 11:7 says, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." God warned Noah about the flood and instructed him about how to save himself and his family from the coming destruction. He foretold the future event of the flood.
Their Land & Nation
Hundreds of years before the nation of Israel came into existence, God said they would exist. Speaking to Abraham God said in Genesis 12:1,2, "Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing." God promised Abram a land and the formation of a great nation. Israel was living proof that God can "declare the end from the beginning." Both the land of Israel and their Jewish nation fulfilled those promises to Abram.
The Captivity in Egypt and Their Deliverance
Every Jew knew the history of their captivity in Egypt. God told Abraham that it would happen and how many years it would be before they were to be delivered. In Genesis 15: 13-16 God said, "Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."
This fascinating prophecy tells of the captivity in Egypt ("strangers in a land" and "serve them") that lasted 400 years ("afflicted" 400 years) and of their deliverance (remember Moses?). So 400 years before the events happen, God reveals them to Abram.
Those Jews in Isaiah's day who were serving false gods had turned their backs on the God who kept His promise, made them a great nation, gave them the land of inheritance, and delivered them from the affliction in Egypt. Isaiah is trying to call them back; to wake them up to the fact that abandoning God would cause Him to keep another promise - loss of that land and a return to captivity at the hands of another nation if they remained unfaithful. Read 1 Kings 9:6-9.
Prophecies of Jesus
I want to list here just a few of the prophecies made concerning Jesus, the Old Testament passage in which they were made, and the New Testament passages that shows their fulfillment.
Jesus Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Luke 2:4-7
Jesus to be a Priest in the order of Melchizedek Ps 110:1,4 Hebrews 5:5-6
Entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah 9:9 Mark 11:7-11
Judas paid 30 pieces of silver to betray Him Zechariah 11:12 Matt 26:14-15
30 pieces of silver used to buy a potter's field Zechariah 11:13 Matt 27:5-7
Feet and hands pierced Ps 22:15-16 John 20:25-57
Buried in the tomb of the rich Isaiah 53:8,9 Matt 27:57-60
Jesus would be resurrected Psalm 16:10-11 Mark 16:5,6; Acts 2:30
A Foundation for Faith
Many today are amazed at Leonardo Di Vinci and wonder at the writings of Nostradamus. Neither of these men predicted with the accuracy of fulfilled Bible prophecy. We recognize that if they did see the future, something was revealed to them from outside of this world. If those men fascinate you, consider the fulfilled prophecy found in the Scriptures. This blog barely touches the hem of the garment when it comes to fulfilled prophecy.
The prophets of the Old Testament did not claim any special ability apart from God. They gave credit to God as the source of all their words. It is God who should impress us, not His spokesmen. When He can tell us the "end from the beginning" then do we not believe that He is in control of "the end from the beginning?" Such ability is beyond man. It is a divine ability. As such, this should build our faith in God and cause us to submit to His will. He promises us an eternal reward that is beyond our wildest expectation.
Won't you let fulfilled prophecy be a foundation of faith for you? If you want to study this or other subjects in more depth, please contact me. We can arrange a time to consider the things of God. You can email me or click over the the Facebook page and post a request. Thanks for reading.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Fairy Tales and Myths or Facts?
Reading the book of Luke reveals some very interesting things about the Bible. We'll use Luke chapter 1 as the basis for several key points.
Fairy Tales or Myths?
When you read your child a fairy tale, how does it begin? Something like, "Once upon a time in a land far away..." Notice how Luke's story of Jesus begins. Luke 1:5 reads "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth." Once upon a time is replaced by "in the days of Herod, the king of Judea" Herod was from a well-known, historical ruling family. The story didn't take place in a far away land. It was Judea, a place we can locate on our maps today. Zacharias was no made up character. He was a priest of the division of Abijah and his wife a descendant of Aaron.
Just the Facts
Luke, the writer, opens himself up for severe scrutiny by giving so much factual information. To witness just how vulnerable Luke is willing to be, read Luke 2:1,2 and Luke 3:1. These were no fairy tales. What we have from Luke is a factual account that takes place at a specific point in time. A point in time that can be verified for accuracy. Luke does not fear this scrutiny, else he would not have made himself vulnerable.
Credible Testimony
Luke was not a blogger. He was an investigator, a physician by trade. He carefully gathered information and assembled an orderly narrative of this story about Jesus. Luke 1:2,3 "...just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account..." Luke took testimony from eyewitnesses. The word "perfect" means complete. His account was not written until he had all the facts together.
The result of Luke's very serious effort is "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed" Luke 1:4. His writing was not simply to tell a story. Its design is to instill confidence in the reader -- a certainty that the things written are so.
Real Humans
Luke depicts real people who have real life struggles just as you and I. An angel appears to Zacharias. Is he excited about seeing this angel? Luke 1:12 "And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." Unlike many today who claim to see angels, Zacharias was afraid, like so many others in the Scriptures who experience these heavenly beings. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a similar reaction when Gabriel appeared to her. Luke 1:30, "Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
Because Zacharias didn't believe the angel, he became mute until his promised son was born. Reacting just as humans do, when the child was born the people were trying to communicate with him about the child's name. Luke 1:60 says, "So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called." Zacharias was not deaf, he was mute! Yet the people, in typical human fashion, made signs to him, probably speaking very loudly, asking for the name of the child.
Will You Read With Us?
So the story that continues beyond chapter 1 is designed "to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:77-79.
Will you read the book of Luke with us? Will you let Luke tell this story of Jesus to you? We offer to read this story with others and discuss what Luke says. We let him teach us and our conclusions come from his testimony, one who lived in the time of Jesus and so ably wrote a narrative to help us come to faith. Send us an email or comment telling us of your desire to read together.
Fairy Tales or Myths?
When you read your child a fairy tale, how does it begin? Something like, "Once upon a time in a land far away..." Notice how Luke's story of Jesus begins. Luke 1:5 reads "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth." Once upon a time is replaced by "in the days of Herod, the king of Judea" Herod was from a well-known, historical ruling family. The story didn't take place in a far away land. It was Judea, a place we can locate on our maps today. Zacharias was no made up character. He was a priest of the division of Abijah and his wife a descendant of Aaron.
Just the Facts
Luke, the writer, opens himself up for severe scrutiny by giving so much factual information. To witness just how vulnerable Luke is willing to be, read Luke 2:1,2 and Luke 3:1. These were no fairy tales. What we have from Luke is a factual account that takes place at a specific point in time. A point in time that can be verified for accuracy. Luke does not fear this scrutiny, else he would not have made himself vulnerable.
Credible Testimony
Luke was not a blogger. He was an investigator, a physician by trade. He carefully gathered information and assembled an orderly narrative of this story about Jesus. Luke 1:2,3 "...just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account..." Luke took testimony from eyewitnesses. The word "perfect" means complete. His account was not written until he had all the facts together.
The result of Luke's very serious effort is "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed" Luke 1:4. His writing was not simply to tell a story. Its design is to instill confidence in the reader -- a certainty that the things written are so.
Real Humans
Luke depicts real people who have real life struggles just as you and I. An angel appears to Zacharias. Is he excited about seeing this angel? Luke 1:12 "And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." Unlike many today who claim to see angels, Zacharias was afraid, like so many others in the Scriptures who experience these heavenly beings. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a similar reaction when Gabriel appeared to her. Luke 1:30, "Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
Because Zacharias didn't believe the angel, he became mute until his promised son was born. Reacting just as humans do, when the child was born the people were trying to communicate with him about the child's name. Luke 1:60 says, "So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called." Zacharias was not deaf, he was mute! Yet the people, in typical human fashion, made signs to him, probably speaking very loudly, asking for the name of the child.
Will You Read With Us?
So the story that continues beyond chapter 1 is designed "to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:77-79.
Will you read the book of Luke with us? Will you let Luke tell this story of Jesus to you? We offer to read this story with others and discuss what Luke says. We let him teach us and our conclusions come from his testimony, one who lived in the time of Jesus and so ably wrote a narrative to help us come to faith. Send us an email or comment telling us of your desire to read together.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Great Chilean Rescue
People all across the globe were riveted to their TVs Tuesday night waiting for the first of 33 miners to emerge from the rescue capsule. For many the rescue of the first man was quite an emotional experience.
A huge crowd gathered around the small opening that served as the life line and escape route for the miners. In the crowd were their rescuers, family and friends, employees of the mining company, the president of Chile, his wife and several others from the government. Surrounding that crowd were many from the media and through their cameras, the rest of the world looked on.
As the first miner emerged the huge crowd erupted into applause and cheers accompanied with tears of joy. Those reporting even gave in to their emotions just a bit as they chronicled the events of the evening. Those of us watching were silently cheering as well. I enjoyed the chants of the crowd as they expressed their national pride shouting, "Chi Chi Chi, le le le, Chile!" Everyone was overjoyed by the deliverance of the miners.
A Similar Picture From Scripture
"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10. Imagine a man trapped in sin. He is separated from God by his sin. Without a rescue he will perish in a Devil's hell. Some around him realize his desperate condition and tell Him about a Man who came to rescue him. They teach him of the love of God who sent His Son to pay the price for his sin so that he can avoid the destruction awaiting him.
As he learns more he develops his faith in Jesus. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6. He understands the need for repentance, a permanent change that must take place in his life so that his life will become like Jesus' life. "[God] commands all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30. He confesses His faith in Jesus. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. He responds in obedience by being baptized so that Jesus washes away his sins. "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Acts 2:38
Looking on are God and Jesus Christ. With them are the angels in heaven, a huge crowd of heavenly host who want this man to be rescued and saved. When he responds, heaven erupts in joy over this sinner who has repented.
Conclusion
We are so glad that the men in Chile have been rescued and thank God for their safety. We need to realize how many of our friends are trapped in sin, perishing as we live next door to them, work with them, and interact with them socially. Will we help to bring joy to the huge crowd in heaven by opening our mouths and telling these lost ones about the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Let's busy ourselves with an even greater rescue mission that results in even greater joy.
A huge crowd gathered around the small opening that served as the life line and escape route for the miners. In the crowd were their rescuers, family and friends, employees of the mining company, the president of Chile, his wife and several others from the government. Surrounding that crowd were many from the media and through their cameras, the rest of the world looked on.
As the first miner emerged the huge crowd erupted into applause and cheers accompanied with tears of joy. Those reporting even gave in to their emotions just a bit as they chronicled the events of the evening. Those of us watching were silently cheering as well. I enjoyed the chants of the crowd as they expressed their national pride shouting, "Chi Chi Chi, le le le, Chile!" Everyone was overjoyed by the deliverance of the miners.
A Similar Picture From Scripture
"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10. Imagine a man trapped in sin. He is separated from God by his sin. Without a rescue he will perish in a Devil's hell. Some around him realize his desperate condition and tell Him about a Man who came to rescue him. They teach him of the love of God who sent His Son to pay the price for his sin so that he can avoid the destruction awaiting him.
As he learns more he develops his faith in Jesus. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6. He understands the need for repentance, a permanent change that must take place in his life so that his life will become like Jesus' life. "[God] commands all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30. He confesses His faith in Jesus. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. He responds in obedience by being baptized so that Jesus washes away his sins. "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Acts 2:38
Looking on are God and Jesus Christ. With them are the angels in heaven, a huge crowd of heavenly host who want this man to be rescued and saved. When he responds, heaven erupts in joy over this sinner who has repented.
Conclusion
We are so glad that the men in Chile have been rescued and thank God for their safety. We need to realize how many of our friends are trapped in sin, perishing as we live next door to them, work with them, and interact with them socially. Will we help to bring joy to the huge crowd in heaven by opening our mouths and telling these lost ones about the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Let's busy ourselves with an even greater rescue mission that results in even greater joy.
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