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The basic theme of Psalm 119 is the practical use of the Word of God in the life of the believer. When you consider that the writer probably did not have a complete Old Testament, let alone a complete Bible, this emphasis is both remarkable and important.

The emphasis in this, the longest psalm, is on the vital ministry of the Word of God in the inner spiritual life of God’s children. It describes how the Word enables us to grow in holiness and handle the persecutions and pressures that always accompany an obedient walk of faith. 

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 The emphasis in this, the longest psalm, is on the vital ministry of the Word of God in the inner spiritual life of God’s children. It describes how the Word enables us to grow in holiness and handle the persecutions and pressures that always accompany an obedient walk of faith. 

When you are telling a story that is foundational to the beliefs and hopes of a people, it is important to tell it well. Luke the historian had many sources at his disposal when, under inspiration, he wrote the story of Jesus’ birth. In his day, many things were known about Jesus that have since been forgotten. All writers choose what they will include and how they will word the story. 

One series of sevens, the seventieth week, stands out as distinct in the prophecy of Daniel 9. The prophet marks a clear division between the first sixty-nine weeks and the seventieth week, but what Daniel didn’t reveal is the nature or the length of the gap separating the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks. We have to turn to the New Testament for that information

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THE CONQUEST BY A MAN 

The human race may have collapsed into sin and been conquered by Satan, but there’s one Man whom Satan could not defeat. 

The Right Man at the Right 

Time Galatians 4:4 is a great summary of what happened in history when God’s program of crushing Satan was fulfilled. "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law."

The Right Man at the Right Time  

Galatians 4:4 is a great summary of what happened in history when God’s program of crushing Satan was fulfilled. "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law." Jesus came at just the right time in history. When all the factors of history had come together to make it the right time, God sent Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin.
 

The opening chapters of Genesis look at the creation account as the beginning of human history and the setting for the beginning of the cosmic conflict between God and Satan. Man’s creation was first recorded in Genesis 1:26. "Then God said, ’Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’" Verse 27 then describes the fulfillment of God’s intention. "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 1195). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

 Prophecy and Human History 

The unfolding of human history is really the outworking of God's plan to demonstrate His glory and defeat Satan forever using lesser creatures, human beings, who would serve and obey Him. 

There is no question that Jesus is the centerpiece of prophecy. And He is the cause of prophecy in the sense that the purpose of God’s plan was to present a gift of redeemed humanity to His Son. Jesus is also the content, the subject, of prophecy. There’s no guesswork about this either, because we have Jesus’ word on it. He said so Himself, to two of His discouraged disciples on the road to a little village called Emmaus.

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 1188). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

The doctrine of eschatology involves a lot of details, and they’re important. Libraries full of books have been written to discuss and examine the details of God’s prophetic drama. In fact, we are going to examine many of these details in part 8.

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 1184). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

A Perspective to Gain 

Peter also had something to say about the way prophecy ought to promote holy living:

 The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. (2 Peter 3:10-12a) Peter said a day is coming when your house, your car, the clothes in your closet, and the money in your bank will burn. The malls at which you shop for your clothes will burn. The earth as we know it is going to melt away. So a good understanding of prophecy can give us a reference point for living.

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (pp. 1177-1178). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

 PROPHECY PROMOTES WORSHIP AND PRAISE  

When he came to the end of Romans 11, Paul was concluding a complex discussion of God’s plan for Israel. We’ll have a lot to say about Israel in this study of future events, because Israel is so key to the unfolding of prophecy. Here I just want to touch on a few highlights as we see how Paul concluded this section.  

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 1180). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

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PROPHECY REVEALS GOD’S CHARACTER  

The second reason prophecy is important is that it reveals to us the character of God. When you understand God’s program, you get to know more about Him. The prophet Isaiah made a powerful statement of God’s character and knowledge as it relates to His prophetic program:   

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 1175). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

PROPHECY HELPS AUTHENTICATE THE BIBLE  

One of the questions people often ask is how we Christians can claim that the Bible is true as opposed to any other holy book. What makes the Bible distinct from other writings that claim to be from God?  

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The grace of God also trains us in how to live the victorious Christian life. Paul says, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).  

Israel’s Rejection Not Total 

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [a]But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

God’s mercy is distinct from His grace in that grace means giving a person something he doesn’t deserve, while mercy is identifying with someone’s misery. 

According to Ephesians 2:4-5: "God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)."  

Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 183). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Romans 5 contrasts the first Adam with the last Adam (Christ). Paul says, "Just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" (v. 12). In other words, "In Adam all die" (1 Corinthians 15:22). We will die because Adam sinned. We were "in Adam" when he sinned. Adam was our titular head; that is, he was our representative.

Loving Others 

That’s the beautiful thing about admitting "I can’t love so-and-so." You are absolutely right. You can’t, but that’s not the question. The question is, Can God love this person? Then you’d better get hooked up with Him. 

In 1 John 4:19-20, John concludes, "We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, ’I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." Anyone who says he loves God and can’t love others is lying through his two front teeth. You can’t be consumed with God and not love other sinners. He doesn’t like what they do, but He loves sinners. 

When you get consumed by the love of God, it overflows you and spills out onto others. If God has poured His overflowing love into your heart, others can’t help getting hit by the splash.  Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On (p. 177). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

 Sermon by Dr. Tony Evans 

Sermon by Dr. Tony Evans

A discussion from the men about "What has FBC Meant to Us" Our panelists: Deacon Arnold Davidson, Deacon Clyde Steverson, Teacher Maurice Lytle, Deacon Al Washington.