How can we strengthen our belief in all that "the prophets have spoken"? The Road to Emmaus Reminder “ ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!’ ” (Luke 24:25) Why Belief Sometimes Wavers • We forget fulfilled prophecies already confirmed (Joshua 21:45) • Cultural voices undermine Scripture’s authority (Colossians 2:8) • We neglect regular, prayerful exposure to the prophetic books (Hosea 4:6) Ways to Strengthen Our Belief in All the Prophets Have Spoken • Immerse Yourself in the Whole Counsel of God – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) – Schedule balanced reading plans that include both major and minor prophets. • Look for Christ in Every Prophecy – Jesus said, “You pore over the Scriptures…these are the very Scriptures that testify about Me.” (John 5:39) – Trace prophecies such as Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9, and see their New Testament fulfillment. • Remember Fulfillment Builds Faith – “Not one of the good promises the LORD had made…failed” (Joshua 21:45). – Keep a journal listing prophecies and their historical fulfillments (e.g., Babylon’s fall—Isa 13:19-22; Jeremiah 51:24-26). • Yield to the Spirit Who Inspired the Prophets – “No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever brought about by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) – Ask the Spirit to open your eyes each time you read (Psalm 119:18). • Verify, Don’t Dismiss – The Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” (Acts 17:11) – Compare sermons, books, and media claims with the prophetic text itself. • Integrate Prophecy into Worship – Read prophetic passages publicly (1 Timothy 4:13), sing hymns rooted in prophetic themes, and celebrate fulfilled prophecy at communion and Christmas. • Cultivate Obedient Response – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) – Apply prophetic calls to repentance and justice (Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:24). • Anticipate Future Fulfillment – “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) – Study end-time prophecies (Daniel 7; Zechariah 14; Revelation 19-22) with expectancy, not speculation. Encouragement to Persevere “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) |
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