God Has Spoken.

Steve Gentry

[0:01] Yeah.

[0:09] Go ahead and have a seat. Welcome to Village Church. This is your first time [0:12] here. My name’s Steve, one of the pastors here at Village Church. And as [0:15] always, I’m thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you. If you have [0:19] a Bible, go ahead and open it to First Peter chapter one. We’re gonna be [0:23] starting in verse 10 this morning, but we’re making our way through First [0:27] Peter one as a means to get through the entire letter of First Peter. Peter

[0:32] wrote this letter to the dispersed church in different Roman cities. He [0:37] explains at the introduction. This is unique in the New Testament as it is a [0:41] letter to Gentile Christians who are at that time suffering for their faith in [0:46] Jesus Christ, as well as headed into a time of great persecution as followers [0:52] of Jesus. Letter began by focusing on the sovereignty of God and the victory [0:58] of the gospel, as it means that there is resurrection on the other side of

[1:02] death. And Peter’s point was that even in the face of suffering, it is the [1:07] resurrection that gives hope of victory, no matter the level of sacrifice that’s [1:12] going to be required in this life. So how do we know, though, these things to [1:17] be true? That really is what I think the answer between verses 10 and verse 12 [1:22] are. How do we know that the sovereignty of God is true? How do we [1:26] know that we can apply it to the lives that we live and hope that because of

[1:32] the resurrection of Jesus, there is a hope on the other side of the grave? How [1:37] do we know these things to be true? And ultimately, what I think Peter is [1:42] trying to tell us this morning is that we know these things to be true because [1:47] God has spoken. Those three words may be the most important words you can [1:54] understand in your life as a Christian. Those three words reveal many things to [1:59] us. But for our purposes, it ultimately reveals two things for our mercy. Our

[2:05] sermon this morning. First thing is that it establishes the knowability of [2:10] God. It means God can be known. How do we know God can be known? Well, because [2:15] God has spoken and in light of the fact that God can be known is the reality [2:22] that he’s involved in his creation. He’s not separate. Rather, he has [2:27] interjected himself. But the second thing that it means for our purposes in [2:32] our context is it notes the authority of God’s word. God has spoken and he has

[2:41] specific way and if he has given us specific words, then those words carry [2:48] more authority than any other message we will ever receive in this life. And [2:55] those two elements established what is the basis for why the apostle Peter can [3:01] invoke both the sovereignty of God in difficult circumstances as well as the [3:06] life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ having meaning for people of [3:11] faith. We know these things because God has spoken. We trust these things

[3:19] because God has spoken. God has spoken means that his word is superior to any [3:27] other word. If you’re picking up on a theme this morning, I need you to [3:32] understand, I’m going to hammer three words for 40 minutes. I hope you can [3:36] make it. And those three words are God has spoken. And from verse 10 to verse [3:43] 12, Peter establishes the priority of his words above everything else, [3:51] informing your very understanding of the world. Because of that, God’s

[3:57] sovereignty, as well as the activity of Jesus Christ through the lens of that [4:02] are established under a worldview in which God is active in revealing not [4:08] only that he exists, but who he is, what he is doing, what he wants from us and [4:17] what his plan is for our very lives. And we quite frankly can believe the gospel [4:23] of Jesus Christ because God has revealed it to us. Yes, in many ways, but he has [4:29] established it by his authoritative word in scripture. So why do I believe

[4:36] what I believe with the level of confidence that I believe it? It’s very [4:42] simple. It’s because God has spoken. That’s why once you begin reading with [4:48] me in first Peter one, starting in verse 10, he connects verses nine to verse 10 [4:53] by writing concerning this salvation. The prophets who prophesied about the [4:59] grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what [5:05] person or time the spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted

[5:10] the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to [5:15] them that they were serving not themselves, but you and the things that [5:21] have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you [5:29] by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. [5:38] We have a few things established between these three verses. And the first of [5:41] those things, number one this morning is that the gospel has always been God’s

[5:45] plan. The gospel has always been God’s plan. And it is the reason for which God [5:53] has made himself known. You see, God’s plan is not this secret knowledge that [6:01] you have to hope that you stumble upon at some point in your journey through [6:06] life. Rather, you need to understand God’s plan can be known and it can be [6:11] known with specificity. I don’t know if you’ve ever read the Bible, but there are a [6:15] lot of words in it. And throughout those 66 books that make up the scriptures,

[6:20] God has been very clear and he has made his plan known. But in the context of [6:27] first Peter was written, when you are in a moment of suffering, there is a [6:34] temptation to wish that you were born in a different time under different [6:39] circumstances because of the specific suffering that you are enduring at this [6:44] moment in time did not exist at another moment in time. And when Peter makes that [6:51] connection between verses nine and verse 10, it’s a very important connection.

[6:54] Verse nine, he’s talking about salvation. And then in verse 10, he turns to say, [6:59] concerning this salvation that I’ve been spelling out. And he gives the subject [7:06] that that salvation has emerged from promises that God made a long time ago. [7:16] And he states that Christians under the covenant of Christ are privileged to [7:24] exist on the other side of the cross. And that seems audacious in first Peter. [7:31] Because keep in mind, he’s writing to a group of people that are losing

[7:36] everything, even their lives. And he looks to them and he says, I don’t think [7:41] you understand what a blessing it is to live in the day and age that you live in. [7:45] He’s saying, do you not understand that the prophets from hundreds of years ago [7:51] when they wrote of the gospel of Jesus Christ first, they didn’t know

[7:58] specifically when what they were writing was going to happen, nor did they know [8:03] many of the specifics of what was going to happen in the gospel of Jesus Christ. [8:08] And even after they wrote the prophecies that they wrote, they then looked at the [8:14] very words that they had written and thought to themselves, what does that even [8:17] mean? Sometimes when we think about the scriptures, we think of those prophets. [8:23] They must have brought knowledge into their writings.

[8:27] These are the words of men. [8:28] And while, yes, these are the words of men to us, what Peter understands is that [8:34] these were words that were carried to them and brought through them under the [8:39] inspiration of the Holy Spirit. [8:40] And he says, even after these men wrote what they wrote, they had to study what [8:45] they had written to understand the concepts.

[8:50] And he says, these prophets longed to see the day that you are living in.

[9:01] And for these people who are suffering and maybe even for you right now, you may [9:05] think to yourself, how could anyone want to live right here right now with these [9:09] problems under these circumstances, with the chaos that’s going on in the culture [9:13] all around me? [9:14] And that is because Peter is driving them to really have a one track mind. [9:18] And Peter says, focus on Jesus.

[9:22] Focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. [9:26] He states that these Christians are privileged to be in the era that the [9:31] prophets longed to be in. [9:33] And do you understand that it even extends to our time right now?

[9:38] These Christians were living out the fulfillment of the promises and the [9:43] prophecies of God’s word. [9:45] Look at what Jesus Christ himself said in Luke 10, 24. [9:48] He says, for I tell you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see [9:53] and did not see it and to hear what you hear and did not hear it. [9:58] Jesus speaking audible words to the people surrounding him.

[10:03] And he says, people hundreds of years ago would have loved to hear my words.

[10:11] What a privilege to hear the very language of Jesus Christ, to hear the [10:15] audio from his voice and Jesus himself understands, you know what a privilege [10:20] it is to not just have the promises, but to know the fulfillment of those [10:24] promises, to see the fulfillment of the prophecy right in front of your face. [10:30] You can know God and you must know God through his revelation about himself, [10:36] friends.

[10:37] You know, God has not been quiet about his work, nor his plan. [10:41] I think sometimes there is a temptation to treat it that way. [10:45] God obviously wants to be known and can be known through his word. [10:49] And what Peter’s doing here is he is establishing both the superiority as [10:54] well as the authority of God’s word for an audience that needs to anchor their [11:00] hopes to the gospel because everything else is falling apart in their lives.

[11:05] And there’s a temptation when that is happening, not just to question what is [11:09] happening right here and right now, but to question eternity itself, to question [11:13] the purpose of your life, to question the context of your life, to question [11:17] your relationship with God, because that is what pain does to us.

[11:22] And Peter looks to them and he says, never question whether or not God has a [11:29] plan for you, because never question whether or not God has a plan for [11:33] everything. [11:33] I mean, God is a cosmic marketer.

[11:37] From Genesis 315 forward, God put billboard after billboard along the path [11:43] of life for everyone to see in so many different contexts. [11:48] And as his revelation progressed, God began with, there will be someone in [11:55] Genesis 315. [11:57] Then he moved on to, I will bring him through my people. [12:02] Then he began to say, salvation is coming.

[12:05] Then he revealed, and it is coming through the Messiah. [12:10] And then he began to just drop hint after hint after hint. [12:14] It was like a guerrilla marketing scheme where he tells you just enough to keep [12:18] you longing for the day that the release happens. [12:23] And then he came very publicly through the person and work of Jesus Christ. [12:30] And then Jesus lived his ministry in public, and then he died one of the most

[12:35] public of deaths that you could die in the Roman Empire on a cross, on a [12:41] roadside for everyone to walk by and glare and vilify and demean. [12:48] And then he rose from the dead very publicly. [12:53] And so when we treat Christianity as though we have some type of secret [12:59] knowledge, we must understand that while you need the power of God to receive it, [13:08] God has not been very secretive.

[13:11] It’s the worst game of telephone

[13:16] where instead of saying pass it on, we think God would say, keep it to yourself. [13:21] Religion is private. [13:23] Faith is too personal to share it with others. And the fascinating thing about [13:28] the way that God reveals himself as he comes and he interjects himself into the [13:31] lives of people. Think about Abraham, not expecting that he’s going to have a [13:35] dinner guest and God himself shows up.

[13:38] But he never says.

[13:42] This is too great for other people. [13:45] No, he says your descendants will outnumber the stars in the heavens.

[13:51] And how is that to happen? [13:53] Because God speaks through a megaphone. [13:56] God wants to be known. [13:58] He wants the information to pass on. [14:01] He has not been quiet about his work. [14:05] He has not been quiet about his plan.

[14:08] And so if you sit here today, a skeptic or an atheist, I will tell you right here and [14:13] right now, you are not a skeptic and you are not an atheist because there is not [14:18] enough information available for you. [14:21] God has been very vocal about who he is. [14:24] And that is why also with all of the evidences outside of scripture or [14:29] extra biblical evidence that we can glean from creation itself, Romans one tells us

[14:34] go outside, look at creation. [14:37] It screams this was not an accident. [14:41] It screams we did not just begin with nothing and then whoops. [14:46] All of this. [14:48] Now it looks and it says there is obviously a designer, there’s obviously [14:53] intelligence in everything.

[14:56] But even with that. [14:59] Doesn’t tell me who he is. [15:01] It doesn’t tell me what his name is. [15:04] It doesn’t tell me what he’s done. [15:06] It doesn’t tell me what he’s doing. [15:08] It doesn’t tell me what his plan is, or if there even is one.

[15:14] And God being such a failure at keeping a secret.

[15:20] So, okay. [15:21] I won’t just give you the natural. [15:24] I will also speak in special ways over history through certain men who are [15:31] responsible to make it known to you. [15:34] Says those prophets. [15:36] They did not receive the information for themselves.

[15:39] What does it say? [15:40] It says for you.

[15:43] All revelation has been given by God so that you can know he is Lord. [15:50] And the key there is if you sit in your sin, denying his existence, [15:55] denying his involvement, it is not because he cannot be known. [16:00] It is not because he has not been specific. [16:03] It is not because he hasn’t met the burden of proof. [16:06] It is simply because you don’t want to know him.

[16:10] It is simply because you love your sins so much that no matter what evidence I [16:18] would bring to the table this morning, it would not be sufficient because you [16:23] refuse to believe there is a God greater than you. [16:28] That is ultimately why God’s plan can be trusted.

[16:34] God had a plan. [16:36] The fulfillment of prophecy through Jesus proved it. [16:39] How can you trust the knowledge of God? [16:41] Because God has shown his trustworthiness. [16:43] Look at what Romans chapter one, the very beginning, Paul introduces himself. [16:47] He says, I am a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle set apart for the

[16:51] gospel of God. [16:52] But then note what he says after that, he qualifies it. [16:55] He says, how do I know the gospel of God? [16:58] Because he promised beforehand through his prophets were in the holy scriptures. [17:04] Paul says, this is not something that I came up with. [17:07] It’s not a position I have appointed myself to.

[17:10] This is not just some theory that I pulled out of nothing. [17:14] No, he’s made it known through the prophets and his holy scriptures. [17:19] And what did they tell Paul? [17:21] They told Paul everything concerning his son who was descended from David, [17:26] according to the flesh. [17:27] And where did he get that information?

[17:29] The Old Testament. [17:31] That’s where scholars note that Jesus explicitly fulfilled 300 Old Testament [17:38] promises and implicitly up to 570 Old Testament prophecies and promises. [17:47] The key is you can trust God because he keeps his promises and he keeps his [17:52] promises with great accuracy.

[17:55] And Amos three, seven states that God didn’t keep his activities secret. [17:59] Look what he says. [18:00] He says the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his [18:05] servants, the prophets.

[18:09] Prophecy is not disconnected from reality. [18:13] It’s not disconnected from people. [18:15] It was given for the faith of God’s people. [18:20] Sometimes we treat it though, as though it’s some kind of secret knowledge that [18:24] you need a guru or a futurist to explain to you. [18:29] I was raised in the church and so I’ve seen a lot of things.

[18:33] Oh boy. [18:35] I remember back in the eighties, someone thought that they had secret knowledge [18:39] and they said there’s 88 reasons that Jesus will return in 1988. [18:44] And then when he didn’t, there were 89 reasons Jesus was going to come back in [18:50] 1989. [18:51] They forgot one.

[18:54] I’ll never forget in my own church. [18:57] I in October of 1994 scared me to death. [19:01] I was just a lad. [19:02] In October of 1994, I was told with great authority, Jesus would be returning in [19:09] October of 1994. [19:11] So much so there were people that I knew that scheduled dinner parties so that

[19:17] they could all be together when that trumpet sounded. [19:20] I was at home because my parents didn’t believe it. [19:23] We just watched TV and then we went to bed and got up the next morning and they [19:31] were really disappointed. [19:32] I was not because that is not how God treats prophecy. [19:38] We’re always looking for some meaning behind the meaning behind the meaning.

[19:42] We’re always looking for some mathematical formula. [19:45] We’re always looking. [19:46] Well, what world leader represents this? [19:48] And I can tell you over four and a half decades, there are a lot of world leaders [19:53] at every time that represented this, that or the other thing. [19:56] And they just keep dying.

[19:57] And some prophecy expert just keeps replacing them. [20:02] Russia is the bear. [20:03] But of course, America is the eagle.

[20:09] We always are. [20:11] And it’s not that I don’t want America in prophecy. [20:14] This land is my land. [20:15] This land is your land. [20:16] I like it here. [20:19] But we’re always looking for these things that will give us just an edge of

[20:23] secret knowledge. [20:25] God is not in the business of keeping us in the dark. [20:30] God wants us to know exactly what we need to know exactly when we need to know [20:35] it. [20:36] And when he said no man knows the hour, do you know what he meant? [20:40] I can give you the secret Greek, interlinear, Gnostic knowledge that only

[20:46] Steve Gentry alone has.

[20:49] No man knows the hour literally means no man knows the hour. [20:54] And it’s not more complicated than that. [20:58] A few examples in Micah five to the prophet Micah gives us the birthplace of [21:05] Jesus so we would know where you, oh, Bethlehem, a frathe who are too little [21:11] to be among the clans of Judah from you shall come forth for me, one who is to [21:17] be ruler in Israel, who is coming forth is from of old from ancient days.

[21:23] And you knew ancient days at that point. [21:25] God, [21:27] Jeremiah 23, five, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord. [21:32] When I raise up for David a righteous branch and he shall reign as king and [21:38] deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land, they knew [21:42] that anybody that’s referred to as the righteous branch is the Messiah.

[21:47] This is of the lineage of Christ as well as the activity of Christ. [21:50] And these are just two of hundreds of examples that the prophets pondered and [21:55] sought to understand. [21:56] But God was making clear he would bring salvation and he did it through Jesus [22:02] Christ. [22:04] And that’s why you need to understand number two this morning.

[22:06] God’s revelation is grace to you. [22:10] God’s revelation is grace to you. [22:11] That is what is meant to be. [22:13] There is a grace of God even speaking. [22:18] So when I say God has spoken, understand I am making a statement about God’s [22:23] grace.

[22:23] God speaking is an act by which we have redemption from. [22:29] God could have an all of his power chosen to disconnect from creation as the [22:34] deists would claim and not reveal himself to us in miraculous ways. [22:39] But instead one means by which God gives revelation is that he does the [22:44] miraculous. [22:44] He brings the supernatural.

[22:47] God could have at the moment of sin, cut himself off from his creation, [22:52] condemned every single one of us. [22:56] But instead the revelation of scripture reveals a plan of redemption. [23:02] You see, that is the grace of God’s voice to us. [23:06] He speaks in order to redeem. [23:11] It is true that if you reject revelation, if you reject even the revelation of

[23:16] Christ himself, you will be condemned. [23:19] But understand God could condemn you without ever using a word.

[23:24] But instead, God’s revelation reveals a plan for redemption, and that is great [23:31] grace. [23:33] So understand God is not only transcendent and above creation, God makes [23:37] himself imminent. [23:39] He interjects himself in history by revealing himself to real people in real [23:44] places and real times.

[23:47] And the gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest grace that can ever be known. [23:51] But the key is that he can be known. [23:56] Even if it seems too specific and exclusive to you, it’s a grace that he [24:01] does it at all. [24:03] And that is the grace of revelation. [24:06] Revelation finds its climax, of course, in the person and work of Christ.

[24:10] Note what Hebrews one says long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to [24:15] our fathers by the prophets. [24:18] But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the [24:24] heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [24:31] So God not only sends us his son, he echoes through all of creation. [24:35] He is not new.

[24:38] He’s not just some new kid with a new mission to redeem. [24:41] No, he is God, a very God. [24:43] He is co-equal with the father. [24:45] Co-equal with the spirit. [24:46] He is the creator of all that is. [24:49] And so when the cultists come and they say Jesus was created, we know he wasn’t

[24:54] created. He’s the creator. [24:56] He’s the ancient of days. [24:59] He’s the first, the last, the alpha, the omega, the beginning and the end. [25:05] God, a very God. [25:08] Therefore, it would only make sense for Jesus to be the greatest revelation of [25:14] God to us and for us.

[25:17] All of history leads to Christ and all of history leads from Christ. [25:25] I know not everything is the gospel. [25:28] There are many things to do and learn that are not directly connected to the [25:32] gospel. But what Peter is telling us through this text is that the ultimate of [25:39] everything is the gospel. [25:42] It takes priority above absolutely all things.

[25:47] And Peter is telling us through this text.

[25:51] And if you seek to undermine the gospel with other knowledge, you are a fool.

[25:58] You’ve lost the plot. [26:01] You’ve moved somewhere that God never intended for you to be, because the gospel [26:05] is so vital. [26:08] That God would move the history of the world itself around the gospel. [26:13] Apart from Jesus, Revelation itself loses meaning. [26:20] Therefore, the very crux of our lives is Jesus Christ.

[26:25] The reason for that is God’s plan for the gospel is what he was working towards [26:31] and revealing all along. [26:33] And so why would you ever try to undermine its impact by saying something else is [26:41] more worthy of your focus?

[26:44] You know, proclaiming the truth of God is ultimately what is loving to others. [26:50] First Corinthians, two thirteen explains how we can know if something is of God. [26:55] He says, we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom, but taught by the [27:02] spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. [27:07] What is he saying? [27:07] The revelation of God is not of human origin.

[27:13] It’s not just something that people figured out in and of themselves. [27:16] And it is essential to understand that the purpose of life can not be found in [27:22] human wisdom.

[27:25] For centuries, philosophers have pondered the mysteries of existence, of purpose, [27:31] and even origin, whether it is epistemology or ontology, we must understand [27:36] that human wisdom cannot redeem no matter how impressive it is. [27:43] That is why why most philosophy is nothing more than self-congratulatory [27:47] navel gazing. [27:49] It is a pursuit of seeking God while only looking within human wisdom.

[27:55] You will never find God inside of your mind. [27:58] You must find God inside of his word. [28:02] You will not find the spirit in Aristotle or Plato. [28:05] You will only find it through the power of the spirit, illuminating the word of [28:11] God so that it becomes a fire of faith and purpose in your life. [28:17] That is why we dedicate our lives to the truth of God as found in his word,

[28:23] because it is the sure word is certain. [28:29] There’s never been a moment that I have spent in scripture that’s been wasted.

[28:35] But I can tell you, there’s a lot of moments I’ve spent outside of scripture [28:37] that have been wasted.

[28:40] I read a lot of books. [28:42] It’s part of the gig. [28:44] I spent a lot of time in studying so that I can make sure I don’t sound too [28:48] stupid up here. [28:50] I know I sound a little.

[28:54] But I tell you, I read a lot of books and I don’t make my whole way through it, [28:57] and it’s because they’re just so dumb. [29:00] It’s terrible. [29:00] Sometimes I’ll be reading a book and I’ll get 20, 30%. [29:03] I usually give a book two or three chapters before I make my final judgment. [29:06] My final judgment is, is this endurance raise worth it?

[29:10] And I’ll get there and I’ll be getting angry because I’ll be like, you thought [29:16] this was worth writing. [29:19] You thought this was putting pen to paper and you thought this was worth me [29:24] spending my time. [29:25] I could be doing something else, reading your book. [29:28] And then I begin to get angry because I think about the publisher.

[29:32] I mean, you published this. [29:34] And I don’t think about the fact that it costs money. [29:36] I think I want a refund.

[29:39] So probably 20, 30% of the books that I begin, I never finish. [29:44] Some of them I just throw up on the shelf and I’ll be frank with you. [29:47] I’ll be honest. [29:47] I get a little in the flesh. [29:49] Some of them make their way into a trash can with a quickness.

[29:55] And you say, why? [29:58] I say, because when I think about the wisdom of man, what do I compare it with? [30:03] I compare it with the wisdom of God.

[30:06] When I’m reading a text, I ask myself, does this aid me to understand God’s [30:10] word more or does it distract me from God’s word, detract from God’s word and [30:16] confuse me where God’s word is concerned? [30:18] Because when I read a book, I’m not always thinking about myself. [30:21] I’m thinking about everyone else that is invited to waste their time on nonsense. [30:28] And it’s rubbish.

[30:31] But I can tell you there’s one book.

[30:36] Or it does not distract. [30:38] It does not detract. [30:40] It does not confuse. [30:42] It always enlightens. [30:44] It always has power. [30:46] It always builds me up.

[30:48] It always strengthens my faith. [30:50] And it is the word of God.

[30:55] The word of God is where I bring my doubts and I walk away with certainty. [31:03] So of all the things that you can ingest in your life, friends, make sure that of [31:12] first importance is the word of God, because it is greater than any philosopher [31:17] I have ever read than any theologian I have ever pontificated with, of any [31:23] inspiration I have ever sought and of any leadership guru that I have ever sat [31:28] under the tutelage of.

[31:31] The word of God is the word of God. [31:36] And that statement alone means that is primary. [31:39] It is above it all. [31:41] Look at what even Peter himself, and I love this section of scripture years ago. [31:45] When I came across this and I really realized what Peter was saying, I was kind [31:49] of dumbfounded.

[31:51] In second, Peter won the next Peter. [31:53] It’s the sequel. [31:54] First, Peter was so good, they demanded a sequel. [31:57] In second, Peter won starting in verse 18. [31:59] Know what Peter says? [32:02] He says, we ourselves speaking of himself, he says, we heard this very voice born

[32:06] from heaven for we were with him on the holy mountain. [32:09] Now, just to give you context, what Peter is talking about here is in the gospel [32:14] accounts, there’s the narrative of the Mount of Transfiguration where Peter, [32:19] James and John are up on the mountain and Jesus is transfigured. [32:23] The text tells us before then they see a bit of his glory. [32:27] They see a bit of the Shekinah and Moses and Elijah show up and Jesus is

[32:32] chit chatting with Moses and Elijah. [32:34] Now I don’t know about you, but that’s extraordinary. [32:38] But then past that Peter says, we heard the voice born from heaven. [32:42] If you read the narrative, God, the father speaks into the situation about his son. [32:48] And so Peter is saying, I audibly heard the voice of God. [32:53] If anybody says that now, don’t listen to them.

[32:56] But when Peter says it, it’s a real thing. [32:58] But then verse 19, and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed.

[33:07] Underline that to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place [33:14] until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. [33:20] And you’re probably familiar with verses 20 and 21, knowing this first of all, that no [33:25] prophecy of scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation for no prophecy was ever [33:30] produced by the will of man. [33:32] But men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

[33:37] And so verses 20 and 21 very clearly are setting up the supremacy of God’s word above [33:43] all and the supremacy of prophecy as not coming from human authority, but rather as [33:50] coming directly as revelation from the Holy Spirit. [33:53] But what boggles my mind is verses 18 and 19, because what he’s saying is I audibly [33:59] heard the voice of God. [34:01] I was on the Mount of Transfiguration.

[34:03] I saw Jesus have a conversation with Moses and Elijah and Moses and Elijah weren’t [34:09] around at that point.

[34:12] And Peter says.

[34:15] The word of God in your hand. [34:19] Is more fully confirmed. [34:23] Then what I experienced on the mountain, because the temptation for people to say is [34:28] if I could only have an out of body experience.

[34:34] If I could only see something as spectacular as Jesus transfigured before me, if I could [34:43] only hear an audible word from God. [34:47] And Peter looks to the church and he says, you have something better. [34:53] You have the book. [34:56] You have the Bible. [34:58] It is a prophetic word, more fully confirmed.

[35:03] Pay attention to it as you would pay attention to a lamp leading you through a dark [35:10] place until the return of Christ.

[35:16] When you are filled with doubt.

[35:20] When you lack knowledge. [35:23] When you lack understanding.

[35:27] Don’t go to self-help gurus. [35:31] Don’t go to the leadership gurus. [35:34] You don’t need Tony Robbins seminars.

[35:38] Peter says, I saw Jesus transfigured and I go to the book.

[35:46] This is the source of salvation, friends, for all who believe this is what the world [35:52] desperately needs. [35:54] Do not ever shy away from speaking the truth of God in a world filled with lies. [36:02] Because number three this morning, understand revelation is designed to multiply [36:08] faith in Jesus. [36:10] Yes, it is designed to multiply my faith in Jesus, but understand that it’s not just

[36:15] mine and it’s not just yours. [36:17] Look at what verse 12 says. [36:18] I love the way verse 12 says this. [36:21] It was revealed to the prophets that they were not serving themselves. [36:28] But you.

[36:30] The things that have now been announced to you to those who preach the good news [36:36] to you. [36:38] It always goes back to the great commandment.

[36:42] Love God. [36:44] Love others. [36:45] Love others. [36:46] But what Peter is specific on is love others is not some arbitrary command. [36:51] Love others is not just some pie in the sky. [36:53] Love others is not just be nice.

[36:55] Love others is not love is love. [36:57] Love others is the word of God. [37:01] Is if you want to love them, give them the book.

[37:06] Is the prophets were not put in their position, were not given their power, were [37:11] not revealed futures. [37:12] The prophets were not in their office so that they could walk with swagger. [37:18] So they could say, well, friend, I’m a prophet.

[37:23] Is the prophets weren’t serving themselves. [37:25] They were serving you.

[37:27] Prophets were serving me. [37:30] But then it makes this great statement. [37:34] Is the original recipients of first Peter understand they found themselves in an era [37:40] where the storyline of scripture had gone from the fall of man in the book of [37:46] Genesis, where Moses actually revealed the purpose of creation, the sinfulness of [37:54] humanity because of the garden and the promise of redemption to come in Genesis

[37:58] 315. [38:00] Then God brings more prophets. [38:04] The sin of man is proven even more. [38:07] But now we have the promise that there will be a Messiah who will save us from [38:14] our sin. [38:15] And then the coming of Jesus, where he is God, a very God living day by day on this

[38:22] earth goes to the cross, rises from the dead for the purpose of redemption. [38:27] And now he looks to this church and he says, you’re in the era where the promises [38:36] of God are bringing restoration through the preached word of God. [38:43] What does he say? [38:45] He says, announced to you through those who preached the good news.

[38:53] We are still in that era. [38:55] Do you realize that the storyline of scripture, the great arc of the narrative [39:01] of God’s word finds us in a place where redemption is known to us and we make it [39:09] known to others. [39:12] The question is, how do we do that?

[39:16] Well, first we have to trust it.

[39:19] It begins with me. [39:20] It does because I have to receive salvation. [39:22] If you are not a Christian, you cannot make disciples of Christ. [39:25] It’s intuitive. [39:27] I have to be a follower of Jesus Christ. [39:30] It’s like that analogy.

[39:31] I love giving this analogy when you’re on the airplane and it’s the only ride you’ll [39:36] ever take where they begin to warn you. [39:38] If everything goes wrong, here’s how you handle yourself. [39:40] All right. [39:40] And the masks fall down and they’re like, before you put it on your child, put it on [39:45] yourself because everybody knows if you’re a parent, your first instinct is I got to

[39:50] save my child’s life rather than mine. [39:51] And they warn you if you’re fiddling around with their mask, you might pass out before [39:56] you put it on their face. [39:57] And then you both die, which, by the way, if the masks fall, it’s probably what’s going [40:03] to happen anyway. [40:03] I’m just saying.

[40:05] All right. [40:05] I’m just saying, you know, it’s true. [40:09] All right. [40:10] My last words would be very cynical. [40:12] I would just be like, well, the masks have fallen family. [40:14] It’s over.

[40:15] This is it. [40:16] Not a lot of hope left.

[40:20] It’s the same thing with discipleship. [40:22] If you ever hope to make disciples of Christ, you kind of need to be a disciple of Christ. [40:27] So begins with you, but it’s not about serving yourself. [40:32] It’s serving others and making sure that if I am a disciple, I live to disciple other [40:38] people.

[40:42] The original recipients understand what Jesus, excuse me, Paul said to young Timothy. [40:51] We’re used to 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17 when we talk about the Bible. [40:56] But just before that, Paul admonishes Timothy. [40:59] He says, trust the sacred writings because that’s what led you to Christ. [41:05] Therefore, it is what you will disciple others towards Christ with. [41:10] In verse 14, he says, as for you, Timothy, continue in what you’ve learned and firmly

[41:14] believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you’ve been acquainted [41:20] with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus [41:27] Christ. You have any idea how vitally important that is. [41:30] They are able to make you wise. [41:33] Why would you ever discount the word of God? [41:36] Why would you ever disparage the word of God?

[41:39] Why would you ever lead anybody somewhere else as though they needed something more [41:44] than they needed the word of God? [41:46] There is no other book in existence that you can look at and say it is what makes [41:53] you wise for salvation. [41:56] That is what the world needs. [41:59] But then in verse 16, the famous part, all scriptures breathed out by God and profitable

[42:08] for teaching, reproof, correction, for training and righteousness. [42:12] Why? So that the man of God may be complete. [42:16] Equipped for every good work.

[42:20] I love education. [42:23] I love being smarter than everyone else.

[42:28] I love knowledge. [42:31] I’ve built my entire life around that.

[42:35] But it does not say. [42:38] To be complete, you need a full library.

[42:44] Does not say to be complete. [42:47] You need all of the other knowledge for the follower of Jesus.

[42:53] This is sufficient. [42:57] There’s nothing else in the world that I can say that about. [43:00] God has spoken.

[43:08] Therefore, it leads me to consider. [43:11] Both the privilege and the responsibility of receiving revelation.

[43:19] I have had a life that mirrors what is written about Timothy here from childhood. [43:25] I have been acquainted with the sacred writings. [43:28] I have had a life by which the word of God has been in front of me the whole time. [43:34] And in the movement that I grew up in, sure, it was flawed, just like every other [43:39] movement, but there was one thing. [43:42] It was one thing that was hammered to me my entire adolescence

[43:47] that has kept me on the right path. [43:50] And that one thing is the Bible is the word of God. [43:58] That one thing was the B.I.B.L.E. [44:02] That’s the book for me. [44:04] I stand alone on the word of God, the B.I.B.L.E. [44:09] That one thing.

[44:13] And it led me to build my entire life around a book.

[44:20] Because it. [44:23] Makes you wise for salvation.

[44:28] We must never take for granted as we are tempted to do, [44:33] and I know how easy it is to be tempted to do this, [44:36] must never take for granted the treasure [44:40] of revelation that is contained in scripture. [44:43] There’s nothing like it. [44:46] There’s nothing greater.

[44:48] There are so many competing voices in this world fighting for your attention. [44:53] Never lose sight that there is only one thing [44:58] that God has made clear belongs to him and it is his voice. [45:04] He has spoken his word, builds your faith and equips you [45:10] to multiply it in the lives of others. [45:13] And very quickly, he closes this verse.

[45:18] Things into which.

[45:21] Angels long to look. [45:25] That just sounds cool. [45:27] Just sounds cool. [45:30] And we’re saying is understand that there are beings that God created long ago, [45:35] and they have had a front row seat.

[45:39] And they are amazed at the work of God in this world. [45:44] Angels cannot receive the gospel as we do. [45:48] So they look. [45:50] They watch. They wonder. [45:54] And all of it builds to where they worship God [45:59] for his power and his glory

[46:03] through what they’re seeing him do through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[46:08] Live.

[46:10] To keep giving them a great show. [46:16] A few application points this morning.

[46:19] No, God, by responding to his revelation.

[46:23] That’s how he’s known. [46:24] He hasn’t made it a secret. [46:26] He’s made it very public. [46:29] Secondly, God has proved his trustworthiness through the gospel. [46:34] Because of Jesus, I know his word is true. [46:38] Third, trust God’s word above the wisdom of man.

[46:42] So a lot of talking heads in this world that wants you to trust them.

[46:46] Way everything by scripture. [46:49] And then finally, make God known. [46:53] From his own words. [46:56] We are not used car salesmen trying to get people to buy Jesus from us.

[47:04] Evangelism and discipleship. [47:08] Just mean give them truth. [47:12] Give them the word of God.