as to a lamp shining in a dark place

Perhaps you look at Biblical prophesy as something of darkness from the past. Maybe in this 21st century we just don’t believe the lives and words of men like Jeremiah or Isaiah could shed any light on the struggles of our life.

If God has spoken through certain men of old, why send Jesus to fulfill the many prophesies already given over the millennia? Why would God have to send a Messiah to the mortal men of the world?

The Apostle Peter gives us an insight into what God has spoken through Jesus as a Prophet.

2 Peter 1:

• 

  we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

• we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
• he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
• we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven

¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Peter proclaims that God provided a first-hand witness, an intimate look at the Person of God Incarnate. Twelve Disciples witnessed the daily life and teaching of Christ Jesus. The rabbi, Jesus, spoke more than just a retelling of words of God.

Though Jesus the Messiah prophesied, He IS more than a Prophet.

• The most powerful predictions of Jesus Christ augmented even His highly acclaimed miracles.
• Jesus not only explained the scriptures, He taught how He fulfilled them.
• Christ foretold His own death on the Cross.
• Jesus amazingly told of HIs resurrection from the dead in 3 days!
• As a Prophet, the Messiah Jesus tells of His return.

The Disciples continued to preach the Gospel, the Good News that God IS involved in our lives in the Person of Christ Jesus.

The return of Christ Jesus in these last days will be a final fulfillment of all prophesy and perfection of God the Father’s plan of grace.

After His resurrection and even now, He sends true followers into the world to tell the Good News (Gospel) until the number of the elect will fill the streets of a glorious New Jerusalem.

Many are called; few are chosen.

Believe in the Son of Man: born as a lowly babe in a manger. Believe in the Christ child who become a refugee to Egypt in Mary’s arms. Believe in the witness of His glory on earth by sinners like Peter, Levi, prostitutes and Pharisees. Believe in Jesus crucified on a Cross by gentile Roman soldiers, convicted by corrupt religious rulers manipulating mob-ruled injustice.

Believe: Jesus IS risen from the dead! Believe scripture when we are told Jesus’ resurrection from the grave was witnessed by over five hundred mortals. He IS the Messiah of God, prophesied to return once more to rule in righteousness and love.

In the year of our Lord, 2015, we see only though a mist these dark days of so many suffering souls.

Let us be a light in Christ, a flicker of hope in the darkness of the sin so pervasive in the hearts and acts of mankind. Lord let your church and bride shed more than a flicker of hope on those lost souls who do not know the love of your great Light.

To be continued…

This is the fourth in a series of Christmas messages by Roger Harned. Please share the Gospel with others through your social media witness.