Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP200014S
|
00:01 Today, we launch a brand-new quarter
00:03 for 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:05 Our title is How To Interpret Scripture. 00:08 And this first lesson is the uniqueness of the Bible. 00:12 I want to encourage you to pick up your own Bible 00:15 as well as your copy of the quarterly. 00:17 If you don't have a copy, go to the following website 00:20 absg.adventist.org. 00:24 That stands for Adult Bible Study Guide.Adventist.org. 00:29 I want to encourage you to download it, 00:30 so you can join us for this edition 00:33 of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:05 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School panel. 01:08 I'm Jill Morikone, and we are on a brand-new set, 01:11 special thanks to the 3ABN team here. 01:15 And we're on a brand-new quarter, 01:17 How To Interpret Scripture. 01:19 I want to introduce to you our panel at this time. 01:22 And you will notice when I make the introductions 01:25 that our Sister Shelley Quinn is not with us this quarter, 01:29 we are going to miss her. 01:31 She's been with us from the very beginning. 01:32 But she'll be back next quarter. 01:34 But in her place, we have some new faces for you 01:38 on the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, 01:39 and we're excited about that. 01:41 To my left, Pastor Kenny Shelton. 01:43 Always a joy to study the Word of God with you. 01:45 It's a pleasure to be here 01:47 and study the Word of God with you, folks, too. 01:48 Amen. 01:50 To your left, my pastor, Pastor John Lomacang. 01:52 Thank you so much for being here. 01:54 Yes, we've experienced. 01:55 "Behold, I make all things new." 01:57 What a wonderful set. Praise God. 01:59 Absolutely. 02:00 And to your left, Pastor Ryan Day, 02:03 what a privilege to have you here. 02:04 Yeah, it's always a blessing to be here. 02:06 And I'm excited to study. Amen. 02:08 And to your left, the, 02:09 we would say the new kid on the block. 02:11 But maybe that's not the right way to put it. 02:13 We are delighted to have Jason Bradley join us here 02:17 on the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 02:18 And welcome, Jay. Thank you. 02:20 I'm looking forward to diving into the word 02:22 and learning about all of these important lessons. 02:24 Amen. Amen. 02:25 Before we go any further, let's go to the Lord in prayer 02:28 before we open up God's Word. 02:29 Pastor John, would you pray for us? 02:31 Loving Father in heaven, this is a new day, 02:33 a new quarter, a new opportunity. 02:36 And we pray that today, 02:37 You will pour into us a fresh anointing 02:40 and guidance of your Holy Spirit. 02:42 Thank you. 02:43 We have studied but, Lord, 02:44 it is not by might nor by power. 02:46 And so we pray today that You'll guide in our study 02:49 and those who are watching and listening. 02:51 May they receive what you intend 02:53 and may all the glory go to you in Jesus name, I pray. 02:55 Amen. Amen. 02:57 Amen. 02:58 Our new quarter. 03:00 How to interpret scripture is written by the Dr. Hasel, 03:03 Dr. Frank Hasel. 03:05 He is associate director of the BRI, 03:08 the Biblical Research Institute 03:10 there at the General Conference, 03:11 as well as Dr. Michael Hasel. 03:14 He is professor of religion 03:15 at Southern Adventist University, 03:18 as well as Director of Institute of Archaeology 03:21 and Lynn Wood Archaeological Museum. 03:24 That's a lot. That's a mouthful. 03:26 So we have two learned men 03:28 in the Word of God and archaeology 03:30 to guide us in our study here 03:32 of the Word of God. 03:34 The term Sola Scriptura, Latin, 03:38 by scripture alone means 03:41 the Bible and the Bible only 03:43 as the sole authority of faith, doctrine, and practice. 03:48 It's really the fundamental principle 03:50 of the Protestant Reformation. 03:52 If you think about Martin Luther, 03:54 what scripture in specific did he stand on? 03:57 "The just shall live by faith," 04:00 that taken, of course, from Habakkuk 2:4. 04:02 But he found it in the Book of Romans, 04:04 and he discovered that 04:06 we are saved by grace through faith, 04:08 "Not of works, lest anyone should boast." 04:11 I think of John Wycliffe. 04:12 He stood on the concept 04:14 that all should know, understand, 04:16 and read the Word of God in their own language. 04:20 Translating the Bible into the English language. 04:23 I think of us who sit on the scripture 04:25 that we ought to obey God rather than men. 04:28 And he paid with his life 04:32 the validity of that scripture 04:34 that we ought to obey God rather than men. 04:36 He stood on the Word of God over any tradition, 04:39 over any priest, or over any prelate. 04:42 I think of Zwingli. 04:43 He stood on the scripture that the Lord's Supper, 04:46 the eating of the bread 04:48 and the drinking of the grape juice 04:49 was symbolic of Christ's death on the cross. 04:54 I think of William Miller. 04:57 He stood on the scripture, Daniel 8:14, 05:00 "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, 05:03 then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 05:07 All scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 05:10 would probably quote this scripture, 05:11 every single lesson throughout this quarter. 05:13 All scripture is given by inspiration of God. 05:17 Now the word in Greek for all 05:19 means each and everyone. 05:22 So not specifically all scripture 05:25 in general is inspired, which it is, 05:27 but each and every scripture, Pastor Kenny, 05:31 is given by inspiration of God. 05:34 It is profitable for doctrine, 05:36 for reproof, for correction, 05:39 for instruction in righteousness 05:41 that the man of God may be perfect, 05:43 thoroughly furnished unto every good work. 05:46 That means the scriptures we like 05:48 and the ones we dislike, the ones we agree with, 05:50 and the ones we don't agree with, 05:53 the ones that make us feel good, 05:54 and the ones that might cut like a two-edged sword. 05:58 All scripture is inspired by God. 06:02 That's right. 06:03 And if you think about it, 06:04 if the principle of the Protestant Reformation 06:06 was that, the Bible and the Bible only. 06:09 Why are there so many different interpretations 06:13 of the Word of God? 06:15 Why do some Christians keep Sunday 06:18 and others keep Saturday? 06:19 And they both say 06:21 they're basing it on the Word of God. 06:22 Why do some believe you sleep in the grave 06:24 until Jesus comes 06:26 and others say you immediately go to heaven 06:28 or to an eternally burning hell? 06:31 Why do some people believe that 06:32 Jesus coming is literal, audible, visible, and imminent, 06:36 and others believe that a secret rapture 06:38 is going to take place? 06:40 The difference is interpretation 06:42 of the Word of God. 06:43 That's what we study this quarter. 06:46 How to interpret the Bible? 06:47 How do other Bible writers interpret the Bible? 06:50 How did Jesus interpret the Bible? 06:53 How our own reasoning and presupposition 06:56 affect our interpretation of the Bible? 06:58 How does context and language and the culture 07:01 affect our interpretation of the Bible? 07:04 That's what we study this quarter. 07:05 This particular lesson, the uniqueness of the Bible. 07:09 You think about the Word of God, 07:10 it's in two parts, right? 07:12 Old Testament, New Testament, 07:14 66 books, about 40 authors, 07:17 spanning 1,500 years in its time length of writing. 07:23 It's the first book known to be translated. 07:25 The first book in the West to be published 07:28 on a printing press. 07:30 The first book so widely distributed 07:32 in so many languages, 07:34 read by probably 95% of the world's population today. 07:39 The Bible contains prophecy and history and wisdom 07:43 and poetry and doctrine. 07:45 Most importantly, 07:47 the Bible is living and breathing. 07:48 And Holy Spirit inspired. That's right. 07:51 Our memory text is Psalm 119:105. 07:55 Psalm 119:105. 07:57 "Your word is a lamp to my feet, 08:01 and a light to my path." 08:04 On Sunday, we look at the living Word of God. 08:08 I've kind of rephrased it, 08:10 Jesus as the living Word of God. 08:15 Turn with me to Deuteronomy 32. 08:16 We're going to look at Deuteronomy 32. 08:20 This is what I would call Moses' last will and testament. 08:25 Now we all know that he struck the rock. 08:28 Remember that whole story? 08:29 And how God said you're not going to go over 08:32 into the promised land because of this sin. 08:36 So before Moses passes away, 08:39 he gives, as it were, his last address in words 08:43 to the children of Israel. 08:45 You imagine if you were sending your child off to war 08:49 or your spouse has cancer or they're going... 08:53 Maybe your child is going to college, and you think, 08:55 "Maybe I'm not going to see them for a while." 08:58 What would you want to tell them? 09:00 And this is what Moses 09:02 wants to tell the people that he loved, 09:03 the people that he worked with for so many years. 09:07 Deuteronomy 31 is his declaration 09:10 that the children of Israel will forsake God. 09:15 It's pretty sad. 09:16 Will worship other gods 09:17 and there is coming consequences 09:20 for what they're going to do. 09:22 Now Deuteronomy 32 is this song of Moses. 09:26 It reminds God's people of who God is. 09:29 So in future generations, 09:30 they can look back and see who God is, 09:33 what He did for them. 09:35 It's the prediction that 09:36 they are going to follow other gods 09:38 and they will forsake Him. 09:40 The judgment of God that will be coming for their sin 09:43 and an appeal to recognize God for who He is. 09:47 Righteous and holy, all powerful. 09:50 The God who will provide atonement. 09:52 So we're in Deuteronomy 32. 09:53 Let's look at verses 45 to 47. 09:57 "Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 10:00 and he said to them, 10:02 'Set your hearts on all the words 10:03 which I testify among you today, 10:05 which you shall command your children 10:07 to be careful to observe, 10:08 all the words of this law. 10:10 For it is not a little thing for you, 10:12 because it is your life, 10:16 and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land 10:19 which you cross over the Jordan to possess.'" 10:21 Why is it your life? 10:23 Because the Word of God has life-giving power. 10:27 Romans 4:17. 10:28 "God, who gives life to the dead 10:30 and calls those things which are not 10:33 or which do not exist 10:34 as though they already did." 10:36 Yes. 10:38 There is life-giving power in the Word of God. 10:41 Let's look at John 1. 10:43 John 1 begins the same way Genesis 1 began. 10:47 In the beginning, the same words, 10:49 in the beginning. 10:50 John 1:1. 10:52 "In the beginning was the Word," 10:54 that's Jesus Christ, 10:56 "and the Word was with God and the Word was God." 11:00 This talks about the divinity of Christ 11:02 because in the beginning He, Jesus, was with God 11:05 and Jesus was God. 11:07 Meaning Jesus Christ is divine. Verse 2. 11:10 "He was in the beginning with God." 11:12 That's the preexistence of Christ. 11:15 Verse 3. 11:16 "All things were made through Him, 11:18 and without Him nothing was made that was made." 11:20 That's Christ as creator. 11:22 Verse 4 "In Him was life, 11:24 and the life was the light of men." 11:27 Christ is the creator is the author of both 11:30 physical and spiritual light. 11:32 Verse 5 "The Light," Jesus, the gospel, 11:36 "shines in darkness, 11:38 and the darkness did not comprehend it." 11:40 Jump down to verse 14. 11:42 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 11:47 and we beheld His glory, 11:48 the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 11:51 full of grace and truth." 11:53 Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. 11:57 God has always desired that connection with His people. 12:03 Four lessons that I get in closing here from Jesus 12:07 as the living Word of God. 12:09 Number one, all scripture reveals Christ. 12:14 If Christ is the word, then His Word, Pastor Kenny, 12:18 is going to speak to us of Him, 12:20 His word will reveal Him. 12:22 Number two, the Word has life-giving power. 12:27 John 6:63. 12:29 "The words I speak to you, 12:30 they are spirit and they are life." 12:34 Number three, we're commanded to eat, 12:36 as it were, the Word of God. 12:39 Now this is not physically chew, 12:41 but this is to assimilate, take in the Word of God. 12:46 Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll of God's Word. 12:49 John in Revelation was told to eat the scroll 12:52 and devour it. 12:53 Jeremiah was told 12:56 "Your words were found, and I ate them, 12:59 and your word was to me the joy 13:01 and rejoicing of my heart." 13:03 Jesus said at the temptation in Matthew 4:4, 13:05 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 13:08 but by every word that proceeds 13:10 from the mouth of God.'" 13:12 And lesson number four, 13:13 God's Word gives us faith. 13:16 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 13:19 God's Word gives us joy. 13:22 When we eat it... 13:24 In Jeremiah 15, a word becomes His word, 13:27 becomes the joy and rejoicing of our heart. 13:31 God's Word brings us comfort. 13:33 Romans 15:4 "Whatever things were written 13:35 aforetime were written for our learning, 13:37 that we through patience 13:39 and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." 13:41 God's Word brings us conviction of sin. 13:44 Hebrews 4:12, "The Word of God is living and powerful, 13:47 and sharper than any two-edged sword." 13:50 God's Word brings us conversion. 13:52 Psalm 19:7. 13:53 "The law of the Lord is perfect, 13:55 converting the soul." 13:56 God's Word brings us victory over temptation and sin. 14:00 Psalm 119:11. 14:01 "Your word have I hid in my heart 14:03 that I might not sin against you." 14:05 God's word brings us truth. 14:08 Sanctify them through your truth. 14:10 Your word is truth. 14:11 I'm so grateful for the Word of God 14:14 in this study we have this quarter. 14:15 Pastor Kenny. Amen. 14:17 Praise the Lord. What a setup, huh? 14:18 Ain't that wonderful? Is that the whole quarter? 14:21 So praise God for that. 14:22 We appreciate all that you do and each one of you 14:25 who are there studying with us today. 14:26 I have Monday's lesson, 14:28 who wrote the Bible and where? 14:31 That seemed like a simple question. 14:33 When you go to study, it is a little more complicated 14:34 than what maybe we might think 14:36 that the Bible is simple, we can understand it 14:38 by the grace of God. 14:40 Bible, we realize as we study, 14:41 is written by many, many different people 14:43 from many different kinds of backgrounds, 14:46 some on their missionary journey 14:48 when they wrote some were in prison, 14:50 some were in exile, 14:51 and some were even in palaces when they wrote. 14:55 But the thing is good that 14:56 all by the unction of the Holy Spirit 14:58 and power of God. 14:59 So who wrote the Bible and where? 15:01 Well, you know, actually some who wrote the Bible 15:03 were herding sheep. 15:05 They were sheep herders. 15:06 So that really encouraged me, 15:07 really to say God can use whom He wants to use. 15:09 Ain't that wonderful to know that? 15:11 God will use who He wants to use. 15:12 You don't have to have a special position 15:14 or high position or low... 15:15 Whatever it might be. We can be herding sheep. 15:17 And God can use us to help finish this work. 15:19 That was good news. 15:21 So regardless of our position 15:23 and regardless of their position, 15:25 who wrote scripture, 15:26 they all had one thing in common. 15:28 I think you brought that out very well 15:29 is the power of the Holy Spirit. 15:31 Power of the Holy Spirit, where they were called by God, 15:34 they were inspired by God. 15:36 Some were eyewitnesses to it. 15:38 Others were reading it and studying it 15:40 and asking questions about the Word of God. 15:43 2 Samuel 23:2 simply gives an illustration. 15:47 It says, "The spirit of the Lord spake by me, 15:50 His word was in my tongue." 15:53 So the Holy Spirit then speaks through man. 15:55 We have to be willing, though, don't we? 15:56 We have to be willing vessels for the Holy Spirit to use 15:59 so we can speak the words that God has, 16:01 that He wants out there. 16:03 Notice this, 16:04 in writing the different backgrounds of the Bible, 16:06 you can see the personalities. 16:08 I thought this was interesting. 16:09 You can see the personalities of each writer. 16:12 If you really dig in, you dig in, and you look, 16:14 you can see the personalities. 16:15 Well, we talked before did not speak 16:18 or in speaking as, 16:19 you know, basically they just wanted to speak. 16:22 They spoke as they were directed 16:24 by the Holy Spirit of God. 16:25 2 Peter 1:21. 16:27 And we know that the word is inspired by God. 16:31 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that you mentioned. 16:34 Paul writes in Romans 15:4. 16:36 Very interesting. 16:37 He says "Whatsoever things were written aforetime." 16:41 So I want us to keep that in our mind, 16:42 whatever things were written aforetime. 16:44 To me, that refers to the Old Testament. 16:47 So let's keep that in mind because, 16:49 you know, some people just believe in New Testament, 16:51 they believe in the Book of Acts alone or whatever. 16:53 But we're talking about all scripture 16:55 as we get into our study 16:56 is going to turn out more clearer. 16:58 "Whatever things were written aforetime 16:59 were written for our," what, "our learning, 17:02 that we through patience 17:03 and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." 17:06 And I don't know about you, but you know, 17:08 when read the Word of God, 17:09 it just brings hope and brings encouragement 17:11 and strength. 17:13 Sometime when you're seeing there is no hope, 17:14 when there seem to be no direction, 17:16 we can go to the Word of God and there is direction. 17:19 Paul makes it very, very clear about the nature of, 17:22 the permanent nature of the Old Testament 17:24 along with the New Testament 17:26 because at this time, 17:27 the New Testament realizes 17:28 kind of in the process of production, 17:32 but always would hold its place 17:34 as a moral instructor and a guide. 17:37 Praise God, we have this guide, would give us hope. 17:40 And once again, the understanding 17:42 to the force of scripture 17:43 comes in 2 Timothy 3:16 simply, 17:45 the last part was what? 17:47 Or first part, "All scripture is given by..." 17:49 Inspiration. "Inspiration of God." 17:51 So I like that. We can count on that. 17:53 Praise God. 17:54 I like the quote, it's from first selected messages 26. 17:57 First Selected Messages 26. 17:59 It says God has been pleased. 18:01 That means He's happy. Amen. 18:02 God is happy to give us scripture. 18:04 God wanted us to have scripture to lead us 18:06 and to guide us, to communicate. 18:08 So what it says here. 18:09 God has pleased to communicate His truth 18:11 to the world by human agents, 18:14 and he himself, by the Holy Spirit, 18:17 qualified men enable them to do His work. 18:20 He guided the mind in the selection of 18:23 what to speak," notice, "and what to write. 18:27 The treasure was in trusted to earthen vessels, 18:30 yet, it was, none the less, from heaven. 18:32 So that's good, right? 18:34 It's not just for me, it's from heaven 18:35 these messages came. 18:36 So again, we have many different writers, 18:38 many different places, many different, 18:41 different times and different circumstances. 18:44 But notice, the message was always the same. 18:46 Amen. It was the same truth. 18:48 It was the same God, same Jesus, 18:52 the same salvation. 18:53 The plan of salvation was there. 18:55 Each one spoke about it. 18:56 It was revealed in the same way be confused about it. 19:00 And notice this. 19:02 How amazing, at least in my mind, 19:03 how amazing it is that His ways. 19:06 And it was in Romans 11:33. 19:08 His ways are past. 19:10 His ways are past finding out. 19:12 You know, I find that, 19:14 you know, just try to comprehend 19:17 how God put all of these things together in scripture 19:19 that we'll be studying about this whole quarter, 19:21 how God wants us to study and to be a part of us. 19:24 Let's look at several of the writers 19:25 of the background in Exodus 2:10. 19:29 Now remember, we're talking about here the background, 19:33 Exodus 2:10 says, "And the child grew..." 19:36 I think you'll recognize it pretty quick here. 19:38 "And the child grew, 19:39 she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, 19:41 and he became her son. 19:42 And she called his name," what? 19:44 Moses. She calls his name Moses. 19:46 Notice this, and she said, 19:48 "Because I drew him out." 19:50 He was drawn out. 19:51 So God is using someone 19:52 that was drawn out of the water, as it were, 19:54 someone that maybe it seemed like was rejected. 19:55 Someone who's, you know, 19:57 God can use whom He wants to use. 19:59 Notice what Amos says. 20:01 Amos 7:14. 20:03 And you've heard this said a lot. 20:05 Have you ever heard this, somebody say, 20:06 "I'm not a prophet, nor am I a son of a prophet"? 20:09 Did you heard that? 20:10 I believe it came from this passage. 20:11 Right, okay. 20:13 Amos 7:14 says, 20:14 Amos says, "I was no prophet, 20:16 neither was I a prophet's son, 20:19 but I was a herdsman, 20:21 and a gatherer of wild figs." 20:24 Again, that gives me encouragement. 20:25 God's going to use in these last days. 20:27 There's no doubt about it. 20:28 He's going to use those 20:29 who come in from the plow, as it were. 20:31 He's going to be able to use those 20:32 and maybe doing electrician and those who are carpenters. 20:34 He's going to use the laities. 20:35 He's going to use anybody that wants to be used. 20:38 And this really is encouraging. 20:39 He said, "I'm not a prophet, I'm not son of a prophet." 20:41 Man, I herd sheep or I herd cattle 20:43 or whatever it might be. 20:45 But didn't God use Amos in a very special way? 20:46 That's right. Absolutely, He did. 20:48 I love Jeremiah. 20:50 I've always loved the Book of Jeremiah. 20:51 Jeremiah 1:4-5 it says, 20:54 "Then the word of the Lord came unto to me, saying," 20:57 I love this, "Before I formed thee in the belly." 21:00 Did you get it? 21:01 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. 21:04 And before thou camest forth out of the womb 21:07 I sanctified thee, 21:08 I ordained thee a prophet unto the nation." 21:12 So really we think about 21:14 ordination and different things. 21:15 The main thing is that we are ordained by God. 21:18 It's good to be recognized in the world 21:20 and ordination, so and so forth. 21:21 But the main thing is to be ordained by God 21:24 because he called before you were born. 21:28 Before you were born, before you were born, 21:31 while you were still in the womb. 21:33 God is making a call. God has a plan. 21:36 And I hope that it unravels as we go through 21:38 this study the next several weeks 21:40 before He made a call. 21:42 And it was I ordained thee a prophet unto all nations. 21:45 We may not be a prophet, 21:47 but God has called to do a special work. 21:48 And I think we need to make sure that we, 21:50 by the grace of God, 21:51 follow the plan that God has for us. 21:53 Daniel, I love Daniel. 21:54 The last quarter when we studied the book of Daniel. 21:57 And in the Daniel, he was a captive. 21:59 Notice this, but he became head, 22:01 head president over Babylon. 22:03 Daniel 6:3. 22:05 The Bible says, "Then this Daniel was preferred 22:07 above the presidents." 22:08 Why was Daniel preferred? Why? 22:11 "Because he had an excellent spirit, 22:13 the Bible said, was in him, 22:15 and the king thought to set him over the whole realm." 22:19 Can God take whom He wants to? 22:21 Can He put you in the position He wants you to be in? 22:23 There though, sometime in the world that we live in, 22:26 they try to maybe keep you from certain position. 22:29 They hold back some time. 22:31 You maybe, you've met people like that. 22:32 They don't. But you know what? 22:33 You can't be held back if God before you, 22:36 who can be against you? 22:37 God's going to put you out there. 22:38 God's going to put you in the place 22:40 He wants you to have, 22:41 He's ordained before you were born. 22:42 So if you're going through some of those things today, 22:44 don't become discouraged. 22:47 Man can't stop you. 22:48 He may try, but God has ordained, 22:50 and God has called you. 22:51 Matthew 9:9. I love this here. 22:53 Closing up a call about the call of Matthew. 22:55 I marvel, I marvel of how Jesus just passed by 22:59 and made a call and people responded. 23:01 The call of Matthew "And Jesus passed forth 23:03 from thence, he said, 23:05 a man named Matthew, sitting at the... 23:07 He saw a man receipt of custom, 23:09 and He saith unto him, 23:10 Follow me. 23:12 And he arose," and what did he do? 23:13 Followed him. He Followed him. 23:15 I mean, isn't that amazing? 23:17 To me, that is amazing that God just made a call. 23:19 Here's a businessman. 23:21 Whether he was a crook 23:22 or whether he was doing the right thing. 23:24 But study on that. God called him. 23:27 I think he is a good man. 23:28 God called him and he just got up 23:30 and he followed him. 23:31 When God made the call for you, and He made the call for me, 23:33 did we just get up and forsake everything else 23:36 and just follow Him in that instance? 23:38 You know, we need to do that as God calls 23:40 and be sure and follow Him. 23:42 So God calls those whom He would 23:45 and those whom He can trust. 23:47 And I've asked myself that every day. 23:49 Am I an individual that God can trust? 23:51 We need to be trustworthy. 23:54 If we are trustworthy, God's going to call. 23:56 God's got a big tremendous work for each one of us to do. 23:59 Just be ready when he calls, 24:01 answer that call from every walk of life. 24:05 Pin the words that God said to pin. 24:08 They were inspired by the Holy Spirit. 24:10 And certainly, the Word of God is something 24:12 we need to keep out there, 24:13 and we need to keep it before the people 24:15 because it is inspired, it leads us into eternal life. 24:19 I love that. 24:21 So when He calls, what do we do? 24:22 We respond. We respond. 24:24 Absolutely, we respond. 24:25 And we do it with, well, you know, 24:27 the excitement, right? 24:28 Because God has wonderful things for us. 24:30 So keep ears open, mind, heart open 24:32 because God's calling, you just respond. 24:34 Amen. 24:35 Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny, 24:36 what an incredible study. 24:38 We're going to take a short break. 24:39 We'll be right back. 24:41 Ever wish you could watch 24:42 the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:45 or share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? 24:48 Well, you can by visiting 24:50 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 24:53 A clean design makes it easy 24:55 to find the program you're looking for. 24:57 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:01 so you can follow along. 25:03 Sharing is easy. 25:04 Just Click share and choose your favorite social media. 25:07 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 25:11 Welcome back to our study 25:13 of the uniqueness of the Word of God. 25:15 We'll continue with Tuesday. 25:16 Pastor John Lomacang. 25:18 And I have the Bible as prophecy. 25:21 Now this is amazing because we're going to be studying 25:23 how to interpret the Bible 25:25 and prophecy is a very significant part of 25:27 how the Bible should be interpreted. 25:29 And there are three particular components. 25:31 I'm not going to go through the lesson as it is outlined. 25:33 But I want to approach it from a different perspective, 25:36 from the perspective of topology, 25:38 Christology, and anthropology, 25:41 or anthology more specifically. 25:43 The Bible has a nature to it that I want to talk about. 25:47 First of all, let's talk about the nature of the Bible. 25:49 You know, there are many books that are written, 25:51 but prophecy adds to the veracity, 25:55 and the validity of the Bible. 25:57 Said another way if I could predict something, 26:00 and it comes to pass, 26:01 then I know that what was predicted 26:03 came from a reliable source. 26:05 I mean, if you think about just the life of Christ 26:07 and because it talks about the messianic prophecies 26:09 in this particular lesson. 26:11 If you think about how many things 26:12 are needed to be setup ahead of time 26:15 in order for Christ to be verified 26:17 that He is in fact the Messiah, the eternal one, 26:20 you would have to literally manipulate history 26:23 at every point 26:25 in order for these prophecies to come true, 26:26 or you would have to have 26:28 foresight and insight to understand 26:31 how the future is going to unfold. 26:33 You would have to literally manipulate 26:35 and pre-program every person 26:37 that would put his hand to writing a scroll. 26:39 And people that will be in positions of political power 26:43 and positions of authority 26:45 and people through generations, 26:47 you would have to literally manipulate 26:49 everything in human history, 26:50 or you would simply have to be God. 26:53 Well, all right. Amen. 26:55 The end from the beginning. 26:57 And so let's talk about, first of all, 26:58 the nature of the Bible. 27:00 And, Jill, you did this a little bit, 27:01 but I want to just expand on it. 27:03 The nature of the Bible. 27:04 First of all, the Bible is the living word. 27:06 The book that breathes if I could use that phrase. 27:09 It never stops breathing, 27:11 which shows when we study the Bible, 27:13 we come to realize, as John 1:1 says, 27:15 "In the beginning was the Word, 27:17 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 27:19 So you have John 1, Genesis 1, and Hebrews 1. 27:22 Each of them has a particular point in history 27:25 that they bring to the forefront. 27:27 Genesis 1 brings the beginning of our world. 27:30 John 1 takes us back to before the world. 27:33 And Hebrews 1 takes us 27:35 and includes all the other worlds. 27:38 You know, God made various worlds. 27:40 The Bible is also the historical word, 27:43 not just the living word, but the historical word. 27:46 Look at Isaiah 46:9-10. 27:49 The Bible says, "Remember the former things have old, 27:52 for I am God, and there is no other. 27:56 I am God, and there is none like me." 27:59 And this is how messianic prophecies flow uninterrupted, 28:03 "Declaring the end from the beginning, 28:06 and from ancient times things that are not yet done, 28:10 saying," I love this, "My counsel shall stand, 28:13 and I will do all my pleasure." 28:16 In other words, when people try to interrupt 28:18 the flow of prophecy or the flow of the world, 28:21 what we have to be mindful of is that 28:25 God always has the final say, 28:27 "I will do all my pleasures." 28:28 In other words, "What I've setup nobody could interrupt." 28:31 So when you get discouraged about 28:32 what's happening around our world, 28:34 whether politically, militarily, 28:36 socially, financially, whatever, 28:38 understand that God is never out of control. 28:40 Amen. 28:41 Thirdly, the Bible is a prophetic word. 28:43 That's why John begins the Book of Revelation 28:45 by saying, "Blessed is he who reads 28:47 and those who hear the words of this prophecy, 28:50 and keep those things which are written in it, 28:52 for the time is at hand." 28:55 Now the Bible... 28:56 Let's look at the relationship of the Bible with prophecy. 28:58 First of all, the Bible creates an intimate connection 29:02 between the maker and the prophet. 29:04 Oh, that's good. Amos 3:7. I love this. 29:07 "Surely the Lord God does nothing 29:10 unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." 29:14 God could reveal it without us. 29:15 But God chooses to reveal 29:17 the unerring word through erring man. 29:20 God chooses to reveal the perfect 29:23 through the fragile. 29:25 God chooses men that He could have bypassed, 29:27 and He gives them the infilling of his spirit 29:30 so that it's not a prophet interpretation 29:32 and then He communicates through humanity. 29:34 And that's encouraging. 29:35 In other words, God sees our role 29:38 in the unfolding of truth as pertinent and relevant. 29:42 Not only that, prophecy establish a contrast 29:46 between the one that creates 29:47 and the one that speaks. 29:50 2 Peter 1:21, 29:53 "For prophecy never came by the will of man, 29:56 but holy men of God." 29:57 What kind of man? Holy. 29:58 "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved 30:02 by the Holy Spirit." 30:03 So when somebody says, 30:05 when somebody says the Bible is written by men, 30:06 they may be the penmen, 30:08 but it's like saying the car is driving me. 30:11 The car doesn't drive me. 30:13 As expensive as it is, it still needs me. 30:15 As able as we are to speak, 30:17 we cannot do it without the power 30:19 and the presence of the Holy Spirit. 30:21 And it will give God glory when we recognize that. 30:24 Thirdly, the relationship of the Bible with prophecy. 30:28 Prophecy confirms the validity of divinity. 30:32 2 Timothy 3:16. 30:34 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 30:37 the validity of divinity, and is profitable, 30:40 as you said, for reproof, for correction, 30:42 for doctrine, for instruction in righteousness." 30:44 While it has all those aspects 30:46 that are very vitally necessary. 30:48 First of all, never forget that God is the one 30:50 who inspires it. 30:52 Prophecy confirms the validity of divinity. 30:54 Also, there is a forensic to prophecy. 30:58 I met somebody that was a forensic detective, 31:00 and I thought, what does that mean? 31:02 I said they look at the dust of the evidence. 31:05 We look at the large scene, they look at the dust, 31:08 they look at the fragments, 31:09 they look at the DNA of a crime scene. 31:11 Well, there is a DNA in prophecy. 31:13 Prophecy, the forensics of prophecy points out that 31:16 prophecy is the timekeeper of history, forensics. 31:20 So I use the phrase prophecy is sometimes like a snail, 31:25 but it may be slow, but it never stops moving. 31:28 Daniel 7:17. 31:30 Here is the forensics of it. 31:31 And the forensics are certain and reliable. 31:34 "Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings 31:37 which arise out of the earth." 31:38 Regardless of the generation that you're in, 31:41 these four kingdoms will rise. 31:44 The forensics, God says it's going to happen, 31:46 and you check the DNA, it's in there. 31:49 Also, the forensics of prophecy. 31:51 Prophecy is the confirmer of the Word of God. 31:54 Genesis 3:15. 31:56 One of the first prophecy is given. 31:58 "I will put enmity between you and the woman, 32:01 and between your seed and her seed. 32:03 He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." 32:07 From that moment on, 32:09 prophecy began to unfold in a forensic sense. 32:12 What are the forensics of that particular prophecy? 32:15 One of the first aspects you'll find 32:16 when you go to the dust of prophecy 32:18 is the place of the birth of Christ. 32:21 Micah 5:2. 32:23 Now this was set in the Garden of Eden 32:24 or outside the Garden of Eden. 32:26 But many, many centuries later, 32:28 the place of his birth was pointed out. 32:31 And you can see the forensics 32:32 from the very prophecy 32:34 given to the fulfillment of the prophecy 32:36 of the place of his birth. 32:37 Micah 5:2, 32:39 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 32:42 though you are little among the thousands of Judah, 32:44 Yet out of you shall come forth to Me 32:47 The One to be Ruler in Israel, 32:49 Whose goings forth 32:51 are from of old, from everlasting." 32:55 So from the Book of Genesis 32:56 back to before this world began, 32:59 He planned an entrance into human history. 33:02 Amen to that? 33:03 Amen. Amen. 33:04 Not only that, the Bible also, 33:06 another forensic aspect of it is the heritage of prophecy. 33:09 The Bible pointed out the heritage 33:12 that would precede the coming of the Messiah. 33:16 Jeremiah 23:5. 33:19 "Behold, the days are coming." 33:21 Notice it's coming, you can trust it. 33:23 "Says the Lord, 33:24 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness. 33:29 A king shall reign and propose, 33:33 and execute judgment 33:35 and righteousness in the earth.'" 33:37 In the forensics, He's not just going to show up, 33:39 but He's going to show up, and He's still be in control. 33:42 The government, righteousness, judgment, 33:45 He's going to reign, He's going to be the king. 33:47 He's going to show up. 33:49 And here are the specifics so that when He comes, 33:51 you don't just say He's here. 33:52 But everything that was said about Him, 33:54 the forensics is coming to pass. 33:56 Third forensic aspect of His lineage. 33:59 Luke 2:11, 34:01 "For there is born to you this day 34:04 in the city of David a savior, 34:06 who is Christ the Lord. 34:08 When you follow the generations, 34:10 42 generations from Adam to Christ, 42. 34:14 How do you rig that? 34:15 You cannot possibly rig that. 34:17 And finally, let's come to the purpose of prophecy. 34:21 Two primary reasons for prophecy. 34:23 One, believe in what I say. 34:26 John 14:29. 34:28 "And now I have told you before it come, 34:31 that when it does come to pass, 34:34 you may believe." 34:37 And finally, the purpose of prophecy 34:39 is not just to believe in things, 34:42 beast and kingdoms and nations and Babylon 34:45 and Medo-Persia and Greece and Rome 34:47 and the rise and fall of empires 34:49 and all the various things that take place. 34:51 But most importantly, 34:53 and the central purpose of prophecy 34:55 is to believe in Christ. 34:57 Amen. John 13:19. 35:00 "Now I tell you before it comes to pass, 35:03 that when it does come to pass, 35:05 that you may believe that I am He." 35:09 Amen. Amen. 35:10 Amen. Praise the Lord. 35:11 Thank you, pastor, for that. Amen. 35:13 Wednesday's lesson is entitled 35:14 The Bible as History. 35:16 This is right up my alley 35:18 because I was a history major in college. 35:21 And I think Shelley did a good job 35:24 choosing these topics. 35:25 But, you know, I just want to take a moment. 35:28 We're going to have some scripture 35:30 in just a few moments. 35:31 We'll get into the scripture. 35:32 But I want to just kind of solidify 35:34 or establish a trustworthiness 35:37 of the Bible's historical record 35:39 as we find it in scripture 35:41 because we live in a day and time 35:43 where more and more people, scientists, 35:46 just the average skeptic 35:49 is so skeptical of the records of the Bible. 35:52 And for many, many centuries, 35:54 there has been this worry, this skepticism of 35:58 whether or not we can actually trust 36:00 the historical records that are found in scripture. 36:03 And so my opening statement, I love this statement. 36:05 It comes from the Smithsonian Department of Anthropology. 36:09 And of course, 36:11 it's reported to have said this. 36:12 It says, "Much of the Bible, 36:14 in particular the historical books of the Old Testament, 36:18 are as accurate historical documents 36:20 as any that we have from antiquity 36:23 and are in fact more accurate than many of," get this, 36:26 "the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories." 36:30 Now that's a big statement because when you study history, 36:34 when you consider history as some of the oldest 36:37 and what is considered some of the most oldest, ancient 36:39 but yet trustworthy historical documents in history 36:42 come from these particular civilizations, 36:45 Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greek. 36:47 But it goes on to say, 36:48 These Biblical records can be 36:50 and are used as are other ancient documents 36:53 in archeological work. 36:55 For the most part, 36:57 historical events described took place 37:00 and the peoples cited really existed." 37:04 Now this comes from a non-religious source, 37:06 again, the Smithsonian Department of Anthropology. 37:08 That's huge. 37:10 In other words, they're saying, 37:11 "Look, you can you can trust this record that, 37:13 you know, we may not be Christian, 37:14 and we may not necessarily agree 37:15 with this particular faith, 37:17 but we have found in studying the histories, 37:20 the historical record of scripture, 37:22 that it can be trusted. 37:24 And these things are real and accurate." 37:25 Amen. Another person. 37:27 I'm just going to kind of read through. 37:28 I like to go to the professionals 37:30 when you're establishing history 37:32 and a historical record of scripture. 37:34 It's best to go to those people 37:35 who have studied these things. 37:37 And Dr. Nelson Glueck 37:39 wrote a book back in 1959, 37:41 and he is a historical scientist. 37:43 And in his book, "Rivers in the Desert," 37:44 notice what he says here. 37:46 This is powerful. 37:47 He says, "It may be stated categorically 37:48 that no archaeological discovery 37:51 has ever controverted a Biblical reference. 37:55 Scores of archaeological findings have been made 37:57 which confirm in clear outline 37:59 or exact detail historical statements in the Bible. 38:04 And, by the same token, 38:06 proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions 38:08 has often led to amazing discoveries." 38:10 And we have seen this over the last 80 to 90 years. 38:14 Prior to this, there were many, many years 38:15 where people were like you know what the Bible says this, 38:17 but there was not really a lot of sufficient evidence 38:20 because there hadn't been a lot of archeological 38:23 findings up to that point. 38:24 There wasn't a lot of projects 38:26 in which these archaeologists were going over 38:28 and digging and trying to find. 38:29 But over the last 80 to 90 years, 38:31 we have started, 38:32 we have steadily seen and witnessed 38:35 that these archaeologists have went over, 38:37 they found these things. 38:38 And it's powerful 38:39 because you and I as people of faith, 38:43 you know, we don't necessarily need these, 38:46 you know, because we have faith 38:48 in what the Word of God says but it helps, right? 38:50 It helps to be able to see like, wow, 38:51 they actually dug this thing up and they found 38:53 that we can trust the historical record of scripture. 38:58 Dr. William F. Albright, he's an archaeologist, 39:01 and he had this to say in his book, powerful. 39:03 He says, "Thanks to modern research, 39:05 we now recognize its substantial historicity." 39:08 Speaking of scripture. 39:10 "The narratives of the Patriarchs, 39:12 of Moses and the Exodus, of the Conquest of Canaan, 39:16 and of the judges, the Monarchy, 39:18 Exile, and Restoration, 39:20 have all been confirmed and illustrated to an extent." 39:23 And he says this, 39:24 "That I should have thought impossible 40 years ago." 39:27 So when he wrote this, he's like, 39:28 it's amazing what is coming out. 39:30 And you consider some of the most incredible 39:34 findings they have found over the last few years. 39:36 I think of the Tel Dan Stele, 39:38 which has been dated back to the 9th century BC, 39:41 mentions the house of David. 39:43 Prior to this, there were skeptics said, 39:45 you know what, David's mentioned in the Bible 39:47 but there was no historical, 39:49 you know, solid evidence that this man, 39:51 David, even existed. 39:53 And therefore, the skeptics, 39:54 the atheists could say, 39:56 "Oh, we can stamp out David, it wouldn't get rid of David, 39:58 that we can just completely dismantle 40:00 the biblical story because it proves it 40:03 and proves that it's not even important. 40:05 But of course, the house of David shattering 40:07 a long-held view that many skeptics 40:09 that David was a mythical person. 40:11 That's the Tel Dan Stele, of course. 40:13 Back to 7th century BC The Mesha Stele describes 40:16 Moab's subjection under Omri, the king of Israel. 40:20 It also references the personal name of God, 40:23 the God of the Bible, Yahweh. 40:24 And contains again 40:26 the reference to the house of David. 40:27 So many of these things have been found 40:29 that proves the validity of the historicity of scripture, 40:33 which is fantastic. 40:34 You know, just not too long ago, 40:37 as in the past 40, 50 years, 40:38 up to the past 40, 50 years, 40:40 there were people that even questioned 40:42 the validity of the New Testament 40:44 based on the fact that 40:45 there was no evidence of a man named Pilate, 40:47 that the Bible says, again, sentenced Jesus to death. 40:50 But that has since been disproven because Pilate... 40:55 Of course, the Pilate stone 40:56 provides archaeological evidence 40:58 for the existence of a man 40:59 who sentenced Jesus to death on the cross. 41:01 Skeptics frequently denied his existence 41:03 until the discovery of this stone, 41:05 which identifies, 41:06 notice Pontius Pilate 41:07 as the prefect of Judea. 41:09 And of course, this was found in 1961. 41:11 So the Bible as history... 41:14 And I could go on and talk about more, 41:15 the Dead Sea Scrolls, 41:17 which were found and unearthed in a cave back in 1949. 41:21 You study these things, 41:22 and you see that there's more and more evidence 41:24 that points to the fact 41:26 that when we study this word, 41:27 and we find the history is written therein, 41:29 they can now be trusted. 41:31 It's almost like God saying, 41:32 "Look, I've been holding this back for so long. 41:34 You know, I've been allowing you 41:36 to establish this wonderful faith. 41:38 But now I'm going to say go over there 41:39 and dig that particular area over there. 41:41 I'm going to show you something. 41:42 I'm going to prove something to you." 41:43 Powerful, when you consider the skepticism surrounding 41:47 even the New Testament and the four gospels. 41:50 I mean, there have been... 41:51 When I was in college, and I studied 41:53 a lot of my emphasis of study was early church history. 41:56 And it's just baffling even within the Christian church. 42:00 How many scholars and theologians are saying, 42:02 "Well, can we really trust that 42:04 it was really Matthew that wrote the book of Matthew? 42:07 Can we really trust that 42:08 the guy that they call Mark really wrote this 42:11 and he was a companion of Peter, 42:12 you know, recording Peter's eyewitnesses, 42:15 you know, what he eyewitnessed? 42:16 Can we really trust these things?" 42:18 And there have been several scholars since then. 42:22 One dimension here, Dr. Craig L. Blomberg, PhD, 42:25 who has been a huge, 42:28 he has attributed huge findings in the area 42:32 of biblical history and more specifically, 42:35 New Testament biblical history, 42:36 which is fantastic to see 42:38 that we can trust these things. 42:40 That they all have been put through this ultimate test 42:43 to prove that we can truly trust 42:45 that Matthew was indeed the one who wrote Matthew. 42:48 Mark, Luke, John, all of these were really 42:50 the individuals who wrote it. 42:51 One particular text that comes to mind 42:53 that I just want to mention in closing here. 42:55 It's 1 Corinthians 15. 42:57 Let's read that here. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. 43:01 This is powerful to consider. 43:03 And in confirming the Bible as history 43:06 because back in these days 43:07 they didn't have copies of the holy text 43:12 that would come much later. 43:13 So in this particular culture, 43:16 they had to depend on word of mouth, 43:18 oral representation. 43:20 And Paul exercised this. 43:21 Notice in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, he says, 43:24 "For I delivered to you first 43:26 all that which I also received." 43:28 So he's confirming I received this. 43:30 Now I'm passing it on to you. 43:32 "That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 43:35 and that He was buried 43:36 and that He rose again the third day, 43:38 according to the Scriptures, 43:39 and that He was seen in Cephas, 43:41 then by the twelve." 43:43 Notice how he's establishing. 43:45 Christ was seen by this group. Christ was seen by this person. 43:48 Verse 6 says, "After this... Excuse me. 43:49 "After that, He was seen by over five hundred at once, 43:54 of whom the greater part 43:56 remain to represent or present." 43:58 Excuse me. "But some have fallen asleep. 44:00 After that He also was seen by James, 44:02 then by all the apostles. 44:04 Then last of all, He was seen by me also, 44:07 as by one born out of due time." 44:10 Now this is incredible 44:12 because this is one of those statements 44:15 that would have been considered 44:17 somewhat of a confession of faith or a creed, 44:20 an early testament creed 44:21 that a lot of skeptics have said over the years. 44:23 You know, was Jesus really resurrected 44:25 or it was a story that was created over time? 44:29 You know, 60 years, 70 years, 80, 44:31 100 years afterwards. 44:33 But this particular text, 44:34 the very foundation of the Christian belief, 44:37 it has been proven through biblical archaeologist, 44:40 as well as biblical historians 44:42 who have proven that this statement 44:44 would have been received by Paul 44:47 and communicated throughout all of the cultures 44:49 and all of the communities by word of mouth 44:53 and that we can trust that this was definitely 44:55 the foundation of historical belief 44:57 in these days. 44:58 And so we can trust the Bible as history. 45:01 And I praise the Lord that 45:02 this is not just a book of religious philosophy, 45:05 but it's history that we can indeed trust. 45:08 So the Bible has history. It's powerful. 45:10 There's so much more I can say about it. 45:12 But I'm going to pass it on to my brother over here. 45:14 Well, thank you, Pastor Ryan. 45:16 I mean, you are a biblical historian, 45:19 it sounds like. 45:20 Passionate about the Bible as history. 45:22 And I appreciate you sharing that good word. 45:25 Thursday's lesson is on 45:26 the transforming power of the word. 45:29 You know, when I think of an eight-year-old boy, 45:31 I think of a boy that's in third grade 45:36 throwing a football around, playing basketball, 45:38 or building Lego towers with his friends, 45:41 doing things that kids like to do, you know? 45:43 Me personally, when I was eight years old, 45:45 I love to eat lunch. 45:47 And guess what? 45:48 Now all these years later, I still love to eat lunch. 45:52 But I don't think about 45:55 as an eight-year-old ruling a nation. 45:58 In this lesson, we will take a glimpse 45:59 into the reign of King Josiah 46:01 and the various generational challenges that he faced. 46:06 Now we're going to be jumping around a little bit, 46:08 so I hope that you will bear with us 46:11 as we go through this lesson. 46:13 The odds were really stacked 46:15 against King Josiah at an early age. 46:17 His father, King Amon, 46:19 was executed in his own house by his servants. 46:22 Now, imagine, you know, your dad being killed, 46:26 murdered by people that work for him, his servants. 46:32 I can only imagine what kind of impact 46:34 that had on King Josiah as a little kid. 46:38 King Josiah had a lot of evil men in his family 46:42 as we will see when we jump into this lesson. 46:46 We're going to be covering quite a few verses. 46:50 And so now, hopefully by now, I mean, 46:53 we are on Thursday's lesson and hopefully 46:55 by now that you have your Bibles in hand and open. 46:59 If you don't grab a pen and a piece of paper 47:01 because we're going to go through quite a few verses. 47:04 And I'm going to be looking to my lovely panelists here 47:10 to triple and quadruple team this 47:12 so we can get through this portion. 47:15 Let's open up our Bibles 47:16 to 2 King 22:3-20 47:23 and we have to go 3-20. 47:25 Verses 3-20. 47:27 Jill, would you mind reading verses 3-8 and... 47:30 2 Kings 22:3? Correct. 47:32 And, Pastor Lomacang, will you read versus 9-14. 47:36 And, Pastor Day, if you would read verses 15-17. 47:40 Sure. 47:41 "Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year 47:43 of King Josiah, 47:45 that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, 47:47 the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam." 47:50 Now I see why you had me read. Mercy. 47:51 "To the house of the Lord, saying, 47:53 'Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, 47:56 that he may count the money 47:57 which has been brought into the house of the Lord, 47:59 which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 48:02 And let them deliver it 48:03 into the hand of those doing the work, 48:05 who are the overseers in the house of the Lord. 48:08 Let them give it to those 48:09 who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, 48:11 to repair the damages of the house, 48:14 to carpenters and builders and masons, 48:17 and to buy timber and hewn stone 48:19 to repair the house. 48:22 However, there need be no accounting made with them 48:24 of the money delivered into their hand, 48:27 because they deal faithfully.' 48:29 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 48:33 'I have found the Book of the Law 48:35 in the house of the Lord.' 48:36 And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, 48:38 and he read it. 48:40 Amen. Wow. 48:42 Number nine? Yes. 48:44 Okay. 48:45 "So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, 48:47 bringing the king word, saying, 48:49 'Your servants have gathered the money 48:52 that was found in the house, 48:53 and have delivered it into the hand of those 48:56 who do the work, 48:57 who oversee the house of the Lord.' 48:59 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, 49:02 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. 49:05 And Shaphan read it before the king. 49:07 Now it happened, when the king heard 49:08 the words of the Book of the Law, 49:10 that he tore his clothes. 49:12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, 49:16 Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, 49:22 Shaphan the scribe, 49:23 and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 49:26 'Go, inquire of the Lord for me, 49:28 for the people and for all Judah, 49:30 concerning the words of this book 49:32 that has been found, 49:34 for great is the wrath of the Lord 49:36 that is aroused against us 49:37 because our fathers have not obeyed 49:39 the words of this book, 49:40 to do according to all that is written concerning us. 49:43 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, 49:47 Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah 49:50 went to Huldah the prophetess, 49:53 the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, 49:56 and the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. 50:01 She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter. 50:04 And they spoke with her." 50:05 Amen. Pastor Ryan. 50:07 Verses 15-17. 50:09 "Then she said to them, 50:10 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 50:12 'Tell the man who sent you to Me, 50:14 'Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, 50:16 I will bring calamity on this place 50:18 and on its inhabitants, 50:20 all the words of the book 50:21 which the king of Judah has read 50:24 because they have forsaken Me 50:25 and burned incense to other gods, 50:27 that they might provoke Me to anger 50:30 with all the works of their hands. 50:32 Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place 50:35 and shall not be quenched.'" 50:37 Wow. Mercy. 50:39 Wow. 50:40 In the verses that we just read, 50:41 we can see that King Josiah discovered that 50:44 along with the nation of Judah, 50:46 he was in desperate need of change. 50:49 Now Judah was a nation 50:51 that was so steeped in tradition 50:53 that they had strayed away from worshiping 50:56 the one true God. 50:57 Evil tendencies had been cultivated 50:59 for many generations. 51:01 And one of the things that I love about King Josiah 51:04 is that when he heard the conditions of the covenant, 51:06 he took immediate action. 51:09 And did a lot of spring cleaning. 51:13 All right. 51:14 It was time to get rid of the idols 51:16 and all of the things 51:17 that weren't pleasing in God's sight. 51:19 Believe it or not, as you know, 51:21 we had been discussing prophecy. 51:24 This is actually prophecy being fulfilled. 51:26 Turn with me, to 1 Kings 13, 51:29 and we're going look at verses 1-3. 51:33 1 Kings 13:1-3. 51:40 All right. 51:42 "And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel 51:45 by the word of the Lord, 51:47 and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 51:50 Then he cried out against the altar 51:52 by the word of the Lord, 51:53 and said, 'O altar, altar! 51:55 Thus says the Lord, 51:56 'Behold, a child, Josiah by name, 52:00 shall be born to the house of David, 52:03 and on you he shall sacrifice the priests 52:06 of the high places who burn incense on you, 52:09 and men's bones shall be burned on you.'' 52:12 And he gave a sign the same day, 52:15 saying, 'This is the sign which the Lord has spoken. 52:18 Surely the altar shall split apart, 52:21 and the ashes on it shall be poured out.'" 52:23 So, we see prophecy being fulfilled. 52:25 Josiah was named before he was born. 52:29 Amen. 52:30 God knew him and he had purpose. 52:32 That's right. 52:33 So I thought that was quite interesting in the lesson. 52:37 There are so many lessons 52:38 that can be learned from this situation. 52:41 But here's just a few of them. 52:43 I know you like lists, Jill. 52:45 So I've got four right now. 52:48 When we know better, we must do better. 52:50 Now it sounds simple. 52:52 But how often do we know better? 52:54 And then we kind of go 52:56 in the opposite direction, sometimes. 52:58 We will be held accountable for what we know. 53:01 Number two, we must study God's Word. 53:05 And number three, 53:06 we are to follow God and not men. 53:08 And we shouldn't get caught up in tradition. 53:10 Tradition will lead you 53:12 in a place that you don't want to go. 53:14 And it can be a good thing. 53:15 But you need to learn why you're doing something, 53:19 you know, you often hear, 53:20 "I'm fifth generation, this denomination. 53:23 I'm sixth generation, this denomination. 53:26 I'm seventh generation." 53:28 Why do you believe what you believe? 53:30 "I don't know. My grandma did it." 53:33 Get out of the habit of tradition. 53:36 And as the lesson so beautifully states. 53:38 The discovery of the Word of God leads to conviction, 53:43 repentance, and the power to change. 53:45 Yes. 53:47 I also love the fact that, 53:49 you know, the personal testimony 53:51 is such a powerful, powerful thing. 53:54 We're going to skip through some of the notes here 53:56 as time is escaping us. 54:00 You know, the testimony of a person really shows 54:04 how God is moving and working in their life. 54:08 For me personally, drugs and pleasure 54:10 used to be my idol. 54:11 You see that king Josiah, the nation of Judah, 54:17 they struggled with worshipping idols and drugs 54:21 and pleasure were my idol at the time, 54:23 and I strayed away from God for a period of 14 years. 54:27 I could have died in my sins, 54:28 and I almost did at one time. 54:31 But I praise the Lord for a praying mother 54:35 who trained up a child in the way he should go. 54:38 And now, you know, I did stray away, 54:41 but praise the Lord. 54:43 Coming back before it's too late. 54:47 And so that brings me to my last point is, 54:50 are you in need of a transformation today? 54:54 Is there anything that is standing in your way 54:57 between your relationship with God? 55:00 What idols do you have in your life? 55:03 Today is the time for spring cleaning. 55:05 That's right. Amen. 55:06 Amen. Absolutely. 55:08 Thank you so much, Jason. Each one of you. 55:10 What an incredible study of God's Word. 55:12 And what a great appeal for us 55:14 to make that choice to follow Him. 55:16 I want to give each one of you 55:18 a few moments to share a closing thought? 55:19 Pastor Kenny. 55:20 Well, I think it's very paramount here 55:22 what we realize is that 55:23 the holy man of God wrote 55:25 as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 55:26 There's no doubt about it. 55:27 The Bible is real, 55:29 can be proven in many different ways, 55:30 as you brought out in here. 55:32 Reminds me, the old song says, Give me the Bible. 55:34 Holy message shining. 55:36 Thy light shall guide me in thy narrow way. 55:39 Precept and what is it? Promise? 55:40 Promise. That's right. 55:41 Law and love combining. 55:43 That light alone the path to peace can show. 55:45 And just simply Isaiah 40:8, 55:47 "The grass withereth, 55:49 and the flower fadeth away, 55:50 but the word of our God, shall stand forever." 55:52 Amen. Amen. 55:54 My summary is going to be very simple. 55:55 God said it, I believe it. 55:59 That settles it for me. That settles it. 56:01 Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. 56:03 You know, there was so much more 56:05 that I wanted to cover in my lesson. 56:07 You know, dealing with the Bible as history. 56:08 But I just want to make this point. 56:10 You know, if we can trust the fact 56:12 that history confirms 56:13 that Jesus really did raise from the dead 56:16 and that these historical evidences of Christ 56:21 actually being raised from the dead, 56:23 which is one of the foundational 56:24 teachings of Christianity, 56:25 what does that say about 56:27 what the Bible teaches us about the future? 56:29 I love this text in Romans 8:11, 56:32 it says, "But if the spirit of Him 56:33 who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 56:37 He who raised Christ from the dead 56:39 will also give to your mortal bodies 56:44 through His spirit, who dwells in you 56:47 give life to your mortal bodies." 56:48 So just as Christ was resurrected, 56:50 we can look forward to the future 56:52 and what the Bible tells us that we also can be resurrected 56:55 and receive that immortality in Jesus Christ. 56:57 Amen. 56:59 God's word has the power to transform your life. 57:02 And so if you're tired of making behavioral modifications 57:05 and you're looking for a genuine transformation, 57:08 go to the Word of God. 57:09 Study the Word of God. 57:11 Internalize the principles found 57:13 in the Word of God 57:14 and allow them to be played out in your life. 57:17 It's time to get beyond 57:19 just the mere head knowledge and dive in full force. 57:23 Get that spring cleaning going. 57:25 Get rid of those idols. 57:26 Praise the Lord. Amen. 57:28 Thank you so much, Jason, and Pastor Ryan, 57:30 and Pastor John, and Pastor Kenney, 57:32 for your study of the Word of God. 57:34 This is the only lesson number one. 57:37 So we have an incredible quarter here for you. 57:40 I want to close with this quote 57:42 from the Great Controversy, page nine. 57:44 "In his word, God has committed 57:46 to man the knowledge necessary for salvation." 57:50 So we want to encourage you here at 3ABN 57:53 and to open up God's Word and study it. 57:56 Next week, join us for the origin 57:58 and nature of the Bible. |
Revised 2020-04-02