Intro: As we come to rest this week on the Love of God during our celebration of Christ’s First Advent, we must pay attention to the importance of prophecy as the Way to prepare our hearts for the Second Advent of Christ. Prophecy is a word from God; spoken or written. Jesus is the Living Word of God, so if we are going to grow, we must decide to allow Jesus to speak into our lives, right?
In our passage today, the Apostle Peter wants us to focus on the resurrected Christ whose very breath is embedded in Scripture. The purpose of the Word is to lead us into the depths of God’s holiness. “God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture [Old and New Testaments] for it is God-breathed [his breath is embedded in his Word]. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you (2 Tim 3:16-17).
When we come to the Word of God, we must rely on the Helper—the Holy Spirit—or we will not understand the deeper meaning of God’s prophetic Word to our hearts. God is Love and he wants to communicate the Truth of Love to our souls; therefore, may we invite the Holy Spirit to subdue the darkness that tries to cloud our thinking and instead welcome the Truth. That means when the Word exposes our rebellion, we must welcome the necessary correction.
2 Peter 1:19-21 (TPT) Prophecy
19 And so we have been given the prophetic word—the written message of the prophets, made more reliable and fully validated by the confirming voice of God on the Mount of Transfiguration. And you will continue to do well if you stay focused on it. For this prophetic message is like a piercing light [lamp] shining in a gloomy place [dark] until the dawning of a new day, when the Morning Star [Light Bearer] rises in your hearts [subduing the darkness].
20 You must understand this at the outset: Interpretation of scriptural prophecy requires the Holy Spirit, for it does not originate from someone’s own imagination. 21 No true prophecy comes from human initiative but is inspired by the moving of the Holy Spirit upon those [holy men and women] who spoke the message that came from God [his inspired and trustworthy words].
Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading your children by your prophetic word. Be the Light in my darkness and inspire me to move with your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.