A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY (PART IV)

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“Scripture Supersedes Experience”

By Akin Ojumu

Obsession with supernatural power and supernatural phenomenon has eclipsed the love and devotion of many Christians to Christ Jesus and His Gospel. Personal subjective experience like taking a 30-day trip to heaven to go receive divine lectures, for instance, has replaced the historic eyewitness accounts and testimony of those who actually saw Lord Jesus live, die, and rise again and ascend to heaven 40 days later.

Many of these Church folks who are susceptible to stories of otherworldly experiences often come across as devoutly pious and passionate. Unfortunately, they are impoverished as to the biblical basics that are able to anchor one’s faith securely in the harbor of God’s truth, love, and grace when confronted with the inevitable vicissitudes of life.  

Peter, more than anyone else in his time, understood that a faith based solely on experience, is a faith built on a sinking sand. The Word of God is the solid foundation upon which faith can be built in order to be able to withstand the torrential rain, the flashing floods, and the gusting winds of life that are bound to come someday.

It was for this reason that Peter reminded those trying to slander and defame him that the sure Word of Prophecy is the ultimate validation of his apostolic authority. He let them know that the indisputable confirmation that the Gospel message he preached was not a cleverly devised myth were the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

2 Peter 1:19
“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.”

No question, Peter felt unworthy to have witnessed everything Jesus did. His experience on the Mountain of Transfiguration was humbling and mind-blowing. Notwithstanding, these experiences in and of themselves were not sufficient proof that the Gospel was not a cleverly invented myth. Peter wanted the people to know that the Lord Jesus was who He said He was not just because of the spectacular things to which he was eyewitness.  

As far as Peter was concerned, what validated the deity of Jesus and His Gospel were the prophetic proclamations in the Old Testament about these events given hundreds of years before they occurred. To Peter, the Prophetic Word, which we said last time referred to the Scripture, was the definitive proof that Jesus is the Son of God.

In addition to being a more reliable authentication of the deity of Jesus and the validation of the Gospel than Peter’s firsthand experiences, the Prophetic Word, i.e., Scripture, is also like a lamp shining in the dark place to which we ought to pay attention. The Word of God is our guide through the darkness of this world.

Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The murky darkness of this fallen world keeps people perpetually blind to the Truth of the Gospel until the light shines. The light of God’s Word is the lamp of illumination and revelation. The Prophetic Word is a much-needed compass to help us navigate the highs and lows of this world. It keeps us from stumbling as we await the return in glory of the Morning Star, our risen Savior.

Lastly, the Prophetic Word is not invented by human minds. They are not cleverly devised stories meant to deceive. And they are definitely not insightful human predictions meant to encourage. Rather, the Word of God comes straight from the mind of God.

2 Peter 1:21
“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 prophecies of Scripture are the Words of God about the actions of God. And God always accomplishes what He sets out to do. Fulfillment of prophecies do not rely on human agency or cooperation of man. Whether or not the people to whom the prophecies were given had faith in God or in God’s prophet, prophecies from God always came to pass.

Isaiah 55:10-11
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my Word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Yet, the Grand Poobah of the Prophetic Movement in Nigeria wants you to believe that prophecies deliver on two faith systems namely, “Faith in God” and “Faith in God’s Prophet.” Nothing can be further from the truth. Such an assertion falls flat on its face when you subject it to the litmus test of Scripture.

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