The Purpose of Prophecy

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The Purpose of Prophecy Jon Sherman, Lead Pastor 8.28.2016

SAY WHAT? What is prophecy? Forth-telling / preaching

Ezek. 3:17, Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Fore-telling / predicting SO WHAT? Why prophecy?

To validate that the Bible is God’s Word / inspired

2 Pet. 1:20-21, Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. To validate that God is God / sovereign

Isaiah 46:11, What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. NOW WHAT? Now what do we do with it? Watch & pray

Luke 21:36, Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Be calm & courageous

John 16:1-4, All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. Believe & heed

John 13:19, I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 2 Pet. 1:19, We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Connection Group Questions Taken from the sermon on August 28, 2016 Daniel & The Purpose of Prophecy n Questions for “Group Discussion” • Read Isa. 46:11. How does seeing God fulfill His promises strengthen our faith for future trials? • Read Luke 21:36. How do we “watch and pray” during our time with God • Read 2 Peter 1:19. How can we avoid focusing on “the darkness” around us in our everyday lives? n Questions for “Personal Growth” • Monday: Review: Daniel 1-4…These past few months we have studied our way through the entire book of Daniel. Let’s take some time to review and reflect on what we have learned. From the first four chapters of Daniel, list the main theme, key passages, and what stuck out to you the most from each. Make a list of how you will apply these four chapters to your life. (For example: “I will set a regular prayer time schedule that I will not allow to be interrupted.”) Really think this through as you go about this process this week. As you work through these, also make a list of the characteristics of Daniel that you want to imitate in your own life. • Tuesday: Review: Daniel 5-8…With Daniel 5-8, repeat the same process. • Wednesday: Review: Daniel 9-12…With Daniel 9-12, repeat the same process. Now, please look at the Book of Daniel as a whole. What do you identify as the overarching theme? Take the list of characteristics you made about Daniel and lift them up in prayer. Ask God to mold and shape you to be a man or woman who, like Daniel, remained faithful and upright. • Thursday: Review: The prophetic Word in Daniel…Daniel is certainly one, if not the, most important prophetic books of the Bible. Today, focus on reviewing all of the prophecies of Daniel. If time permits, make a table or chart that lists each prophecy, to whom it was given, the method by which it was given, and when it was or will be fulfilled. Praise God that the prophecies of His Bible come to fruition 100% of the time! • Friday: Prophecy: Spiritual Food…How would you define “prophecy”? Google this as well as “biblical prophecy”. Did you know that prophecy constitutes almost one-third of the Bible?!?! To ignore prophecy would be to ignore a significant portion of God’s Word. Please read what the New Testament writers have to say about the importance of prophecy and living in anticipation of Jesus’ return: Romans 13:12-14; 1 Peter 4:7-11; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation 1:3, 19:10. How does prophecy serve as “spiritual food” (giving hope and encouragement) for you? Thank God for His inerrant and inspired prophetic Word!