Page 70 - First Steps 2023
P. 70

Yet the outcome is a co-
            herent whole, a complete pic-  Not Sure About Prophesies Being
            ture. There’s a unified theme.   Fulfilled? Check These…
                That doesn’t happen by         Here are just eight examples: Jesus
            accident.                      would be born at Bethlehem (Micah 5:2
                                           and Matthew 2:1); preceded by a mes-
                                           senger (Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:1-2);
                • Because of fulfilled     enter Jerusalem on a donkey  (Zechariah
            prophesy                       9:9 and Luke 19:35); betrayed by a friend
                God promised hundreds      (Psalm 41:9 and Matthew 10:4); be
            of years before Jesus arrived   betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah
            on the scene that a Mes-       11:12 and Matthew 26:15); money would
                                           be thrown in the Temple (Zechariah 11:13
            siah would come. God made      and Matthew 27:5); Jesus would remain
            specific promises about the    silent before accusers (Isaiah 53:7 and
            birth and life of Jesus—more   Matthew 27:12-14); and Jesus’ hands and
            than 300 are recorded in the   feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16 and
            Old Testament that are then    Luke 24:38-40).
            fulfilled by Jesus.
                That so many prophecies would come true—that all the predictions

            would come true—defies the odds-makers.
                And it boosts confidence that the Bible is to be believed.
                By the way, if God is faithful to keep all his promises to his people
            who were waiting for a Savior, he’ll be just as faithful keeping his prom-
            ises to you.
                Promises about salvation. About heaven. About what life will be like
            as you live it as a disciple.


                • Because of testimony from others
                If the Bible is so powerful, it should have some impact on people,
            right?
                It does.
                Read these personal testimonies aloud:


                 “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place

                held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.”—George Müller

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