Sermon Tone Analysis

Hold on to the Holy Bible

2 Peter 1:19-21 (Initial reading: vs. 16-21)

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - March 24, 2013

*Robert Leroe asks a good question: "Has the bookmark in your Bible moved lately?" (1)

*Verse 19 tells us that we would do well to "take heed" to God's Word.

That means to pay attention to His Word and devote our thoughts to it.

The word picture is "taking hold of something," holding on to God's Word in our minds.

*God wants us to keep holding on to His Word.

And Peter shows us why.

1. First: Hold on to God's Word, because it is the surest source of truth.

*These verses begin with that wonderful mountain-top experience, when Peter, James and John got to see at least a little of the infinite glory of Jesus Christ.

Then in vs. 19 in the KJV, Peter said: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."

*How do we know that the Bible is "more sure"?

-- How do we know that it is the surest source of truth?

[1] We know first because of Peter's testimony in these verses.

*Yes Peter saw the revelation of Christ's glory on the Mount of Transfiguration.

And Peter never doubted that.

(By the way: neither should we, because that mountain top experience is part of God's Word today.)

But Peter himself testified that God's Word is more sure than the vision of Christ's glory they saw on the mountain.

*And we can see how Peter could say the Old Testament Scriptures were more sure than their time on the mountain.

-The Word of God was more sure because it came through more witnesses.

-And it was more sure, because sometimes we can't believe our own eyes.

*James Merritt explained it this way: "Now only three people saw this vision, and heard this voice, and (Peter) was one of those three.

They were on that Mountain of Transfiguration, and saw Jesus in all of His glory.

They heard the voice of God who said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'

*Their experience was glorious and wonderful, but Peter also knew something about that experience, and that is: It was one never to be repeated, and one that can never again be experienced.

*So where does that leave us who have had no vision and heard no voice?

-- Well, Peter tells us that God has given us something better than experience: the Word of God.

The point that Peter is making is this: The word of God is more sure than what our eyes can see, and what our ears can hear."

*On Tuesday, October 13th, 1998, over 100,000 people gathered at a farm in Conyers, Georgia.

Why were they there?

-- It was because of a 47-year-old Catholic woman named Nancy Fowler.

Nancy claimed to have had hundreds of visits from both the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ since 1991.

Nancy also said that the Virgin Mary was going to give her a final message that Nancy would speak to the world.

Over 100,000 people came by bus, car, and plane, hoping to see an appearance of the Virgin Mary, and hoping to hear what Mary might say to Nancy Fowler.

*But Merritt made the point that if someone had simply said, "I'm going to that farm and read the true Word of God, people would have passed by with a yawn."

*Then Merritt said: "I want to give you fair warning: Never accept subjective experience over objective revelation.

The Word of God is more sure than a vision you might see or a voice that you might hear.

If I had a vision, I might misunderstand it.

I might not remember it.

I might misinterpret it.

If I were to hear a voice I might miss part of what was said.

Neither visions nor voices can compare with the value of the Word of God.

*Between Moses and Matthew, Malachi and Mark, Lamentations and Luke, Jeremiah and John, Amos and Acts, and Proverbs and Paul, we have God's complete once-for-all revelation."

(2)

*How do we know that the Bible is the surest source of truth?

-We know because of Peter's testimony in these verses.

[2] And we know because Old Testament prophecies have come true.

*Think for a moment how hard it is to predict the future.

Listen to examples from "The World's Worst Predictions":

-In 1773, King George II said the American colonies had little stomach for revolution.

-In 1939 The New York Times said the problem of TV was that people had to glue their eyes to a screen, and that the average American wouldn't have time for it.

*And tragically, on May 31, 1911, at the launch of the Titanic, an employee of the White Star Line proudly said: "Not even God himself could sink this ship."

Less than a year later, 1,500 died as a result of that boastful attitude.

(3)

*We don't know that's going to happen tomorrow.

But God sees the end from the beginning.

And He has revealed it in His Word.

*Consider the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus Christ.

One source listed over 350 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled when He was on the earth.

*Here are just a few examples:

-About 1,000 years BC, Psalm 2:7 prophesied that the Messiah would be the Son of God.

Here the coming Messiah said: "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'"

*This prophecy was fulfilled many places, including the baptism of Jesus.

Matthew 3:17 says, "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

*About 725 years BC, Micah 5:2 prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.''

*About 700 years BC, Hosea 11:1 prophesied that He would be called out of Egypt: "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son."

*This prophecy was fulfilled when King Herod sent his soldiers to murder all the baby boys in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:13-15 says:

13. . .

behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.''

14.

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

15. and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son.''

*About 520 BC, Zechariah 11:12 prophesied that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver: "So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver."

*This prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-16:

14.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

15. and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?''

And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

16.

So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

*And about 1000 BC, by the mouth of King David, God prophesied the way the Messiah would die.

Psalm 22:16 says, "For dogs have surrounded Me; The assembly of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet."

*We know that the Bible is the surest source of truth, because these and hundreds more Old Testament prophecies have been literally fulfilled.

[3] We also know because God's Word has stood the test of time.

*The Bible has been ridiculed, rejected, banned and burned.

But it has never and it will never pass away!

In Matthew 24:35 Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

*We know that God's Word is the surest source of truth, because God's Word has stood the test of time.

[4] We also know because God's Word has miraculous power to change our lives.

*As one preacher said: "The Bible has transformed the lives of millions of people.

It has motivated them to be missionaries and martyrs.

It has made them better spouses, parents, friends, neighbors, and workers.

Countless people would agree with the words of David in Psalm 19:7-11:

7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10.

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."

(4)

*Gaylord Kambarami had a wonderful testimony about the life-changing power of the Word of God.

He was the General Secretary of the Bible Society in Zimbabwe when he tried to give a New Testament to a very grouchy, hot-tempered man.

The man said he would take the New Testament, but only so he could tear out the pages, roll them up, and use them to make cigarettes.

*Gaylord told the man, "I understand that, but at least promise to read the page of the New Testament before you smoke it."