A More Sure Word of Prophecy Matt. 17: 1-7 & 2 Peter 1:15-21 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In the book of Matthew Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on the mount and is transfigured before them. When this takes place God speaks from heaven and says “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” In the book of 2 Peter when he is referencing what God said, Peter makes the statement that we have a more sure word of Prophesy.
What Peter is referencing is that with the written word of God there is a more sure word of Prophesy than the spoken word of God. We are not taking anything away from God’s spoken word but if God wrote it down, which he did, then we have a more sure word of Prophesy. The written word is better than the spoken word. For instance when a parent tells a child to do something they might misunderstand or hear a word incorrectly, but if the parent gives the child a list of things to do and when do to them then there is no misunderstanding.
Why is the written word better than the spoken word?
1) It cannot be altered except by the author (Eccl 8:4)
- While it is true that man has tried to alter the word of God since it was given, God left us a promise that he would preserve his word (Psalm 12:6-7). This he has done for us in the King James Bible.
- Even though I cannot fully explain it there is a direct connection between Jesus Christ and the word of God. Jesus is called the Word of God seven times in the King James Bible. Three times in John 1:1, one time in John 1:14, one time in 1John 1:1, one time in 1 John 5:7, and the last and most definitive time in Revelation 19:13.
- If we could get a hold of this truth it would change the way we think and act toward God’s word.
2) It is more clear (2 Peter 1:20-21)
- We have all said at one time or another that we wish God would just show up and speak to us in person as he did with the people in the Old Testament. But the truth is that he has given us his word and everything we need is in it. The problem is that we fail on our end when it comes to communicating with him through his word.
- If God did speak directly to us we might forget or misunderstand, but with the written word it is more clear and we can reference it whenever we need to.
3) It gives us something to cling to (2 Peter 1:19)
- During WWI and WWII how many soldiers wrote letters home to their family and didn’t return. Don’t you know that those family members held on to those letters and valued them above everything? Those letters are all they have left.
- In verse 19 Peter says the more sure word of Prophesy is a light that shineth in a dark place. As a saved person there will be many dark valleys that you will have to endure, and the word of God will be all that you have (Psalm 56:1-13)
4) It can be called to remembrance (2 Peter 1:15)
- When something is recorded or written down it can be referenced later. There is a wonderful example of this in Esther with Mordecai (Esther 2:21-23 with 6:1-12)
- God is a record keeper and everything we do is recorded. One day God will call to remembrance those things that we have done.
We have plainly seen why the written word is better than the spoken word, but how can we apply this to ourselves. In John 19:22 Pilate says in regards to the inscription that he wrote and had placed over Jesus when he was on the cross, “what I have written, I have written”.
If our actions speak louder than our words which they do then what is written in the journal of our lives. When the day is over everything that we wrote through our actions is just like Pilate said it is written and will not be changes.
What have you written for the Lord in the time that he has given you?