Olivet Discourse Introduction
2 Keys to Understanding Scripture:
2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Peter 1:20-21, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
1. The Prophesies of Scripture:
a. No one has a personal right to their own interpretation of the prophecies of the Scripture. How the Holy Spirit inspired the prophecies of Scripture is the only acceptable understanding or interpretation. The prophesies of Scripture are not of private interpretation. The prophecies of Scripture are settled in Heaven forever, whether we like it or not, and they can’t be added to or taken away from.
2. A Word from The Lord:
a. If people hear that you have a “word from the Lord” for them, the church would be packed with people wanting to hear a word from God for them. But you do have a word from God for you today. Just read your Bible! You can’t get any closer to the will of God for your life than His written Word. No gift of the Spirit takes precedence or contradicts the Bible if it’s from God. We are to always judge utterances of prophecy by the Word of God, but when it comes to the prophecies of Scripture, they are not of any private interpretation. Our judgment of those scriptures is irrelevant. They are TRUTH (2 Peter 1:21)
3. Study the Bible:
a. (Psalm 119:1-11) Take the Word as it is and for exactly what it says. The Bible is not hard to read or understand. The KJV, often said to be the hardest translation to understand, is written on a 5th-grade reading level, while the NKJV and NASB read at a 6th-grade level; meanwhile, the popular NIV possesses an 8th-grade reading level.
b. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” To be a student of the Word means you study the Word. The problem is not with our understanding but our discipline. “Rightly dividing the Word of Truth” is only possible if you have been disciplined in studying the Word of God. And you’re not going to know it all overnight, in a year, in ten years, or in a lifetime. The Holy Spirit’s will guide you to ALL TRUTH, and He’s very good at His job if we’ll allow Him to do it!