The L * I * G * H * T Of Scripture

The L*I*G*H*T of Scripture*

2 Timothy 2:15

Sermon Objective: A sermon in response to Family Radio’s (Harold Camping) prediction of the end of the world, it gives five key principles that will help us “correctly handle the word of truth”

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)

So, you are all still here!!!! Somehow I am not surprised even though a self-proclaimed “Expert” on Biblical Eschatology said that Jesus would come back on May 21 (yesterday).

You may remember that in February I told you about Family Radio’s founder, Harold Camping, using his forum to tell the world that Jesus was coming back on May 21, 2011 – at 6 p.m. It angered me (still does) because of the abuse it puts some weaker Christians through and because of the disgrace it casts on Jesus’ church. Seriously, such nonsense makes the faith look foolish … it gives the Gospel a black eye!

This silly group put up billboards and sent out “missionaries.” Some even went on Caribbean Cruises to tell the vacationers to repent and be ready because Jesus was coming. Heh; even I might have been tempted to volunteer for that duty. Interesting enough, there message and ministry was only focused on the U.S. – I guess the rest of the world could just go to hell on that day.

Camping was called out by many people. One gentleman even told him to put his money where his mouth is and sign over his assets to him as of May 22. Can you believe it? Camping didn’t do it!

Seriously -- I feel sorry for the weaker saints who have been emotionally and spiritually traumatized by the fiasco. They have been led astray. A Fresno, California newspaper has a report of one man in New York who spent his entire life savings to tell people of the coming eschaton. He’s a pauper now and he’s not alone. Others quit their jobs and lived in sub-standard conditions over the past few months, going from place to place warning people.

And today … well what do you suppose those frail saints are thinking today? Do you think their faith is in a tail spin? I suspect it is.

The Camping fiasco reminds me of the words of Proverbs 30:4-5 -- “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."

I made a promise to you that Sunday in February. I told that once the day had passed I was going to preach on Biblical hermeneutics for apocalyptic literature – how to responsibly interpret, understand, and apply the Scriptures. This seems very apropos to me since I am also preaching through The Revelation, a book which many people think is about future end time events more than it is about the life you are living here and now.

I intend to keep my promise today.

For the past couple of years I have been modeling for you what I taught you in a Biblical Hermeneutics class last summer (“Pastor Ken’s Top 20 Rules of Thumb for Life Long Bible Study”). I have been modeling, to the best of my ability, principles and skills of interpreting the Bible in a manner that is responsible and transferrable.

Today, I want to boil those 20 principles down to five. I must confess that the acronym I am going to use today is not original with me. I am borrowing it (with some modification) from Hank Haanegraff’s book on apocalyptic hermeneutics titled “The Apocalypse Code.” In that book he gives six guiding principles that, when applied responsibly and faithfully, will equip Christians to properly understand Bible Prophecy – or any Bible text for that matter. The {modified} acronym that I will use has five: L*I*G*H*T.

Just as miner’s helmet light assists him/her in discovering gold beneath the surface of the earth, so the acronym L*I*G*H*T will aid you in drawing out of Scripture what God intends you to understand regarding the end times.

++++

There are certain “rules” that one cannot neglect or violate if they want to live very long or very comfortable. Take gravity for instance. If you choose to ignore it – you will do it at your own peril. The rule will not bend just for you. Ignore it and you can die!

In similar fashion, there are certain principles/rules that must not be neglected or violated if you want to properly understand and apply the Scriptures too. If you do … the outcome will be dangerous error. They may not be as high profile as the Camping fiasco but they will be just as severe. You will embrace false doctrine and live a life on false premises. However, if you will apply a few simple rules when you study the Bible your doctrine will be sound.