Intermediate Sunday School 6 February 2022 : Fulfilment of the Prophetic Scriptures I

Text: Matthew 2:13-18
6 February 2022

 

INTRODUCTION

1. What is the doctrine of “Prophecy?”

a) Prophecy is not Prediction
b) It is certainly not Guesswork
c) It is God Revealing His plan for the Future

2. One of the most important features about Prophecy

a) The Concept of Fulfilment
b) A Prophecy would require Fulfilment
c) Or it remains an unfulfilled Prophecy

A STUDY OF THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY

# 1
Fulfilment of the Prophecy of the Virgin Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ

1. Prophecy uttered

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

a) Prophecy of Isaiah the prophet
b) Given to King Ahaz

2. Prophecy fulfilled

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:20-23

a) Explained by an angel to Joseph
b) Isaiah 7:14 was cited
c) This Prophecy was fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

# 2
Fulfilment of the Prophecy of the Birthplace of the Lord Jesus Christ

1. Prophecy uttered

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” Micah 5:2

 

a) By the Prophet Micah
b) He prophesied in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah
Micah 1:1
c) He foretold of God’s Plan
i) To raise up a Ruler
ii) This Ruler is of Divine origin
iii) He is “everlasting”

2. Fulfilment of this Prophecy

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Matthew 2:5-6

a) Birthplace
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah
b) There will come a Ruler
c) He will shepherd Israel

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LEARNING ABOOUT PROPHECY AND FULFILMENT

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honour and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:16-21

1. Our Faith

a) It is not made up of “devised fables”
b) There were eyewitnesses of the glory of the Lord Jesus

2. The Prophetic word

a) It is confirmed through fulfilment
b) It is compared to light that shines in a dark place
c) It is like the morning sun that shine brighter and brighter

3. The Scriptures

a) It is not of personal origin
b) It is not privately interpreted
c) Prophecy came from God
d) Holy men of God wrote the books of Prophecy
e) The Holy Spirit moved and guided the writers of the Bible