How Can We
Know we are following The Truth?
Text:
2 Pet. 1:17-21
Intro:
Peter wanted them to remember what He told them because those things were true
and not like many cunningly devised stories. I can think of no more important
message for our day
I. Beware
of Cunningly devised Fables v. 16a
A.
The I saw and God told me group Hucksters and Hysters
1.
E.G. White card carrying angels & Enoch on the planet of Saturn
2. Benny Hinn Jesus will appear before
His appearing; Fidel Castro, Homosexuals
3. Restless Baptist church members God
told me? (where in the Bible did He?)
4. God might be GUIDING us many ways but
SPEAKS to us only in His Word
WE HAVE SOMETHING MORE SURE
II. Beware
of The Limitations of Personal Experiences vv. 16b-19a
A.
What could be a better guide to truth than the experiences of Apostles?
B.
There is Power in a personal testimony whether true or false I Jn. 1:1-2
C.
The Limits of even Apostolic Experiences
1.
Those experience belong to another person and not you or me (subjective)
2. Apostolic experiences are sure TO THEM
but not as sure to us as their inspired writing
a. Peter claims inspiration equal to
O.T. Prophets 2 Pet. 3:2; 15;
b. The Prophetic written word is more
sure than someone elses experiences
WE
HAVE SOMETHING MORE SURE
III. The
Sure Guide to Truth vv. 19-21
A.
More Sure because the Word is the light of truth v. 19 (Jn. 17:17)
1. The more you read the more light a
lamp that gets brighter
2.
What kind of Experiential Power within
a. Dissecting power Heb. 4:12
b. Discerning power Heb. 5:14; Isa.
8:20
c. Growing power I Pet. 2:2
d. Living power I Pet. 1:23-25
3.
The goal of the prophetic word is to
glorify Christ in your heart Rev. 19:10
B.
More Sure because it is not the
personal opinions of men v. 20
1.
The Word of God is not the writings of mens personal opinions
2. Truth is not restricted to isolated
proof texts
C.
More sure because it is Gods word directly to you v. 21 (Isa. 8:19-20)
D.
Let the Bible be your only guide to truth IT is MORE SURE than any other
thing
CONCLUSION
How can we know we are following the truth and not
fables or subjective experiences? When we test everything by the Word of God as
the final definition of truth.
BENNY HINN
The Spirit tells me Fidel Castro will die in the '90s. Oh, my! "Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed, but there will come a change in his physical health and he will not stay in power and Cuba will be visited of God. I will visit Cuba." (Prophecy For The 1990's, This Is Your Day, Orlando Christian Center, January 1, 1990)
Now hear this - I'm prophesying
this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is about to appear physically in
some churches and some meetings and to many of His people, for one reason -
to tell you He's about to show up." (TBN Praise-a-thon, April 2,
2000)
The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid-90s, 95, NO LATER THAN THAT, God
will destroy the homosexual community of America. [Round of applause] But he
will not destroy it with what many minds have thought Him to be. He will
destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and
be destroyed.
E.G.WHITE
The Lord has given me a view of other worlds, wings were given me, and an
angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The
grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song.
The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and
lovely. . . . I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than
those on the earth. . . . Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons.
There I saw good old Enoch, who had been translated. Early Writings, pp.
39-40.