The Power Of Prophecy Part 1 Series

1. Lucifer & Pharaoh. Nebuchadnezzar & Belhsazzar.

King Darius. Cyrus. Alexander the Great. EVEN Judas.

2. What could they all possibly have in common?

a. All of them living in different times in different places.

b. WELL -- They all thought they could OUTSMART God.

c. They all thought their way was better than God’s.

d. They all thought they could get away with their rebellion and disobedience against the Word of God.

e. WELL – They were all wrong!

f. And with the exception of Nebuchadnezzar, it appears to us that their mistake was fatal, eternally fatal!

OH YES: There WAS one more thing that tied them all together.

• One very important thing that we must heed & hear.

• They didn’t TAKE GOD’S WORD SERIOUSLY OR SOBERLY!

The word that CLEANSES:

Psalm 119.9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

His Word that CLARIFIES:

Psalm 119.105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

His Word that PROTECTS:

Psalm 119.11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

His Word that PROPHESIES:

Ezekiel 12.25 "For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it," says the Lord GOD. "

Yes, God is able to predict the future with amazing accuracy.

• God in His omniscience… He knows ALL things.

• And since He knows all things,

• He’s able to predict 100% of the time what will happen!

• He’s right. He’s on target. He can be trusted all the time!

• His WORD is so reliable, that we can look back and see it!

1 Kings 8.56 "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.

ISN’T THAT COMFORTING TO You THIS MORNING… Here in that orange/green/blue chair, in this commons room, in Columbia Middle School, in Aurora, in Colorado, in the United States, on the North American Continent, on this planet, in this solar system…

• There it is in your laps, open, marked, read, received.

• God’s Written Word reserved just for you, just for me.

• In a language we can understand and act upon!

Matthew 5.18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Psalm 119.89 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

1 Peter 1.23-25 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

How do we know this Book is True? Why should we trust it?

• Those are good questions with many good answers, but guys, I’ll tell you what is so incredible about this book: PROPHECY!

PROPHECY is SO VERY important. It’s a key piece of understanding the Word and understanding the times in which we live.

• Sometimes we’ll be accused of being obsessed with prophecy.

• But over 1/4th of the Bible is predictive prophecy.

NOTE: I believe it’s neglect of the study of prophecy that has produced so many problems in the church & outside of the church.

• Many cults have gone off the deep end with prophecy and many have followed them wholeheartedly. Why?

• Because the church hasn’t taught the flock prophecy!

NOTE: So if you’re going to study the Scriptures, and teach the Word, we’re going to spend a lot of time talking about prophecy.

• Really, it’s the ONLY HOLY BOOK that dares to do so!

• No other religious writings dare to jump into that arena with such startling clarity & pinpoint accuracy.

NOTE: You’ll recall very early on in the ministry of Jesus. He walks into the synagogue, takes the scroll of the day into His hands.

• He opens it to Isaiah 61. – LET’S LOOK AT LUKE 4:16ff

• The first message Jesus ever taught was one on prophecy.

• It’s just plain exciting to see God in this light, predicting and telling us things before they come to pass!

NOTE: The power of prophecy. It’s amazing!

• God who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent.

• He steps outside of our time & space