WEBVTT 00:00:06.949 --> 00:00:11.830 Isn't that nice? The reality of our responsibility 00:00:11.830 --> 00:00:18.570 to love God. Now you see, over the last few months 00:00:18.570 --> 00:00:21.510 when we were teaching about obedience, the importance 00:00:21.510 --> 00:00:25.269 of obedience. Because if we are truly obedient, 00:00:26.190 --> 00:00:29.030 Then we will love God with all our heart, with 00:00:29.030 --> 00:00:31.850 all our soul, with all our might, with all our 00:00:31.850 --> 00:00:35.509 mind. And we will be able to love our neighbor 00:00:35.509 --> 00:00:39.710 as ourselves or as he has loved us as Jesus gave 00:00:39.710 --> 00:00:46.009 a new commandment. Today's message, let's connect. 00:00:46.950 --> 00:00:51.899 All right. Today's message. confirm your calling 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:54.780 and election by reminder of Christ's return. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:58.899 So interesting enough, what Peter does is he 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:02.200 reminds us several times in his second letter, 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:05.060 and there's a reason. It's not just a reminder 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:09.640 to live holy and right lives. That's the idea 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.859 of being prepared, but it's also the reminder 00:01:12.859 --> 00:01:18.329 of his return. That the calling and our election 00:01:18.329 --> 00:01:23.489 is confirmed when we not only continue to challenge 00:01:23.489 --> 00:01:25.909 each other, remind each other to walk in accordance 00:01:25.909 --> 00:01:28.609 to the word of God. But that we are also reminding 00:01:28.609 --> 00:01:31.689 each other of the importance of that life as 00:01:31.689 --> 00:01:34.590 being prepared for his return. Because he is 00:01:34.590 --> 00:01:37.129 going to come. And we're going to deal with that 00:01:37.129 --> 00:01:41.650 in chapter 3 of 2 Peter. So if you guys would 00:01:41.650 --> 00:01:46.459 turn there. 2 Peter chapter 3. I will read the 00:01:46.459 --> 00:01:51.459 first 10 verses, and then we will end up going 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:58.439 on into the message. He says, this is now the 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:00.840 second letter that I'm writing to you, beloved. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:06.500 In both of them, I am stirring you up. your sincere 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:10.020 mind by way of reminder that you should remember 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:14.039 the predictions of the holy prophets and the 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:18.900 commandments of the Lord and Savior through your 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:20.620 apostles. Let's pray. Father, I want to thank 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:22.759 you so much for your faithfulness. Thank you, 00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:25.199 Lord, for your word. As we go through this second 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:28.300 letter, this last chapter, I pray that you are 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:31.080 honored and glorified and that we would... rightly 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.180 handle the Word of God as workmen approve, but 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:35.560 also that your full counsel of your Word will 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:40.460 be taught as we dig into understanding what it's 00:02:40.460 --> 00:02:43.900 truly going to be like in the day of the Lord. 00:02:44.900 --> 00:02:47.199 Lord, we ask for your wisdom. We ask for your 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:51.419 truth. And we pray that you are honored and glorified 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:54.180 in and through it. In Jesus' name, amen. Verse 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:57.639 3, knowing this, first of all, That scoffers 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:01.159 will come in the last days with scoffing, following 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:05.120 their own sinful desires. They will say, where 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:08.560 is the promise of his coming? For ever since 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.360 the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:14.219 as they were from the beginning of creation. 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:23.810 For they deliberately overlook this fact. That 00:03:23.810 --> 00:03:26.449 the heavens existed long ago and the earth was 00:03:26.449 --> 00:03:30.069 formed out of water and through water by the 00:03:30.069 --> 00:03:34.810 word of God. And that by means of these, the 00:03:34.810 --> 00:03:38.650 world that then existed was deluged with water 00:03:38.650 --> 00:03:43.849 and perished. But by the same word, the heavens 00:03:43.849 --> 00:03:47.129 and the earth that now exist are stored up. for 00:03:47.129 --> 00:03:52.030 fire being kept until the day of judgment and 00:03:52.030 --> 00:03:55.949 the destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook 00:03:55.949 --> 00:03:59.210 this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one 00:03:59.210 --> 00:04:01.650 day is as a thousand years and a thousand years 00:04:01.650 --> 00:04:05.990 as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his 00:04:05.990 --> 00:04:08.750 promise as some count slowness, but is patient 00:04:08.750 --> 00:04:12.990 toward you, not wishing that any should perish, 00:04:13.189 --> 00:04:19.040 but that all Should reach repentance. But the 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:21.959 day of the Lord. Will come like a thief. And 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:25.339 the heavens will pass away. With a roar. And 00:04:25.339 --> 00:04:27.899 the heavenly bodies. Will be burned up and dissolved. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:32.379 And the earth and the works. That are done on 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:35.879 it. Will be exposed. May the Lord bless the reading 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:39.319 of his word. So the reason why we're only doing. 00:04:39.870 --> 00:04:42.370 Verse 1 through 10, technically. You could probably 00:04:42.370 --> 00:04:45.009 do an entire sermon just on verses 1 through 00:04:45.009 --> 00:04:47.930 4. But as you know, we've been going through 00:04:47.930 --> 00:04:53.269 these letters in an introduction, in a broad 00:04:53.269 --> 00:04:56.209 covering of the letters so you understand why 00:04:56.209 --> 00:04:58.930 it was written and what it was written for. And 00:04:58.930 --> 00:05:02.509 the reality is, it really does practically fit 00:05:02.509 --> 00:05:08.610 for today. There is a lot of nonsense. Being 00:05:08.610 --> 00:05:11.310 taught concerning the last days. A lot of prophets 00:05:11.310 --> 00:05:16.069 preaching as if they know why they had a dream. 00:05:18.509 --> 00:05:22.829 That the Lord was coming. Well, thank you for 00:05:22.829 --> 00:05:27.829 letting me know. I didn't, I thought God's word 00:05:27.829 --> 00:05:30.850 was true. I mean, thank you for the heads up. 00:05:31.870 --> 00:05:36.139 And this all started since the beginning. You 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:38.680 guys probably remember one of our favorite false 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:43.980 prophets was Howard Camping. That's facetious. 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:48.879 I'm just being facetious, not a favorite. And 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:51.160 so the reason why I think it's important that 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:56.019 we handle this subject, since we do expository 00:05:56.019 --> 00:06:00.779 preaching, is that we must have a real good sound 00:06:00.779 --> 00:06:04.779 biblical overview. Of the Lord's return and the 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:10.339 day of the Lord. And Peter does a very good job 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:16.439 to summarize the reality of this truth. And it's 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.819 kind of cool to see God's providential hand through 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:22.199 the process of how we have gone through each 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:24.660 letter. And each letter over these last four 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:27.740 years have been exactly what we needed as a people. 00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:33.129 So principle number one. What is our responsibility? 00:06:33.430 --> 00:06:35.410 What's my responsibility? What's your responsibility? 00:06:35.790 --> 00:06:38.470 Let us stir up one another until his return. 00:06:39.930 --> 00:06:43.310 Our job, our responsibility is not just preaching 00:06:43.310 --> 00:06:47.230 the word, but it's to stir you to continue to 00:06:47.230 --> 00:06:50.970 preach the word. Right? I've said this before. 00:06:51.050 --> 00:06:52.850 There are many churches go, well, I have a vision. 00:06:52.970 --> 00:06:57.410 I'm glad. That's really nice. You know, and many 00:06:57.410 --> 00:06:59.149 times churches are looking for those pastors 00:06:59.149 --> 00:07:04.240 who are vision casters. When the reality is the 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.519 one thing they should be focused on casting is 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.240 getting the people to continue doing the mission. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:15.339 Preach the gospel. Pretty simple. But remember, 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.199 we have all these other visions that we're trying 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.959 to do. All those things are important. They matter. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:23.720 It's not that they don't matter. But if my vision 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:27.019 is to do this and not preach the gospel, then 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:29.730 I've lost the purpose of the mission. My mission 00:07:29.730 --> 00:07:32.110 is not to do the vision. My mission is to do 00:07:32.110 --> 00:07:37.430 the gospel. The vision is to help do the work, 00:07:37.509 --> 00:07:43.569 equip the saints. Very important. When a church 00:07:43.569 --> 00:07:46.230 is doing something outside of the gospel, then 00:07:46.230 --> 00:07:53.170 it's not a vision. It's a deception. So, how 00:07:53.170 --> 00:07:56.610 do we stir up one another until his return? Remind 00:07:56.610 --> 00:08:00.189 you. Of how you should live as a holy people. 00:08:00.990 --> 00:08:03.310 Obedient to the commandments of the Lord because 00:08:03.310 --> 00:08:06.269 you love him. The fact that God lives in you 00:08:06.269 --> 00:08:08.829 stirs you to move and live in such a way that 00:08:08.829 --> 00:08:12.810 I want to please him. And as a result, I am stirring 00:08:12.810 --> 00:08:16.970 you up until his return that you are busy doing 00:08:16.970 --> 00:08:27.990 the mission. Now, in Luke. 12, 35 says, stay 00:08:27.990 --> 00:08:33.269 dressed for action and keep your lamps burning. 00:08:33.809 --> 00:08:38.250 Do you hear that? Are you dressed for action? 00:08:38.409 --> 00:08:40.509 What does it mean to be dressed for action? Have 00:08:40.509 --> 00:08:45.149 you put on Christ? The helmet of salvation, the 00:08:45.149 --> 00:08:47.009 breastplate of righteousness, the buckle of truth. 00:08:47.250 --> 00:08:49.330 Are your feet fitted with the readiness of the 00:08:49.330 --> 00:08:51.629 gospel of peace? Are you carrying the sword of 00:08:51.629 --> 00:08:53.490 the spirit and know it well so you know how to 00:08:53.490 --> 00:08:55.590 handle your weapon? And do you have the shield 00:08:55.590 --> 00:08:58.570 of faith that you can extinguish the flaming 00:08:58.570 --> 00:09:05.809 darts of the evil one? Very important. Are you 00:09:05.809 --> 00:09:08.929 dressed in Christ? Have you put on his righteousness? 00:09:08.950 --> 00:09:11.590 It wasn't by an accident that this was mentioned 00:09:11.590 --> 00:09:15.000 today. We don't see Christ because of our own 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:17.220 righteousness. We will see him because of his 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:20.080 righteousness. He who knew no sin became sin 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:23.120 for us that we may become the righteousness of 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:27.779 God. Are you dressed for action? And are you 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:31.519 keeping your lamp burning? What lamp are you 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:36.879 burning? What lamp are you burning? Thankfully, 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.639 we're a non -denominational church. But the reality 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:44.559 is, Are you burning your lamp for your denomination? 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:50.639 Are you burning your lamp for the gospel? Are 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:53.200 you burning your lamp for America? Are you burning 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:58.440 your lamp for the nation called the church? Which 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.679 lamp are you burning? Are you burning your lamp 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:11.379 at both ends? Christ says, burn your lamp. And 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:14.519 it's interesting because Peter talks about that 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:20.840 in chapter 1, does he not? 2 Peter 3, 1 through 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:27.639 3. This is now the second letter. I'm writing 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:32.820 you, beloved. And in both of them, I am stirring 00:10:32.820 --> 00:10:38.159 you up. I'm stirring up your sincere mind by 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:42.139 way of reminder. So what happens in families, 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:48.159 right? We get comfortable. Right? I got to tell 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.539 you, my wife never lets me get comfortable. You 00:10:52.539 --> 00:11:01.720 know, come home, want to chill. She's like, you 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:06.539 got to do the dishes. I'm like, well, yes, dear. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:12.259 It's a reminder that the work is never done. 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:18.580 The work is never done. 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:24.220 7. Notice what it says here. As a reminder, the 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:27.480 end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:31.259 -controlled, sober -minded for the sake of your 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:36.720 prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:42.460 Since love covers a multitude of sins. He reminds 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:45.080 us there. He tells us how we should be living. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:49.620 And he's reminding us again. I am stirring up 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:53.879 your sincere mind by way of reminder. That you 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.779 should remember the predictions of the holy prophets. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:01.440 And the commandments of the Lord and Savior through 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:05.039 your apostles. Interesting. What is he reminding 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:12.690 us? Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, the Psalms. Christ 00:12:12.690 --> 00:12:21.029 is and will return. There is that day. It will 00:12:21.029 --> 00:12:24.049 happen. And what he's doing here is he is letting 00:12:24.049 --> 00:12:27.389 them know, don't forget what the Lord had given 00:12:27.389 --> 00:12:30.590 you through his word, through the prophets and 00:12:30.590 --> 00:12:35.820 the apostles. Remember, they had talked about 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:38.639 this. Why? Because God's word is true and you 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:46.279 can take it to the bank. It will happen. It's 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:52.279 giving Peter's statement authority. It is the 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:55.240 word of God that claims this truth. Remember 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:58.860 the predictions of his return. You know because 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:02.159 he promised he would come the first time. And 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:07.559 he did. Matthew 24, 44. Look what Jesus says. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:17.159 Therefore, you also must be ready. For the Son 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.740 of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:24.029 Are you ready? Are you ready? Because when we 00:13:24.029 --> 00:13:26.929 get to the other part of this chapter and we 00:13:26.929 --> 00:13:30.549 start to read what happens to the earth and everything 00:13:30.549 --> 00:13:35.710 that is ungodly, you want to be ready. It is 00:13:35.710 --> 00:13:38.990 a terrifying thing to be in the hands of an angry 00:13:38.990 --> 00:13:42.850 God. Not only does he have love and grace for 00:13:42.850 --> 00:13:45.370 his people, but he is angry towards sin and he 00:13:45.370 --> 00:13:49.909 will utterly destroy it. Down to the smallest 00:13:49.909 --> 00:13:56.940 particle. He actually says that here. Knowing 00:13:56.940 --> 00:14:02.360 this first of all, that scoffers will come in 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:09.279 the last days with scoffing. Hear that. Are you 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:15.080 ready? Can you, knowing fully the word of God, 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.820 be able to defend the faith that God has faithfully 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:23.580 entrusted to you? Can you handle the word of 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:25.779 God in such a way that when someone comes to 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:30.039 debate you or scoff you or to malign the reality 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:32.059 of Christ's coming, can you defend it properly? 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:36.419 You'd be surprised how many people aren't ready. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:43.519 Why? Because we had faithless men teaching a 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.419 faithless gospel to a faithless people. What 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:54.759 is faith? God's promises are true. And knowing 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:59.860 that he will faithfully commit them to you on 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:03.600 your behalf for the glory of Christ. Being sure 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.039 of what you hope for and the evidence of what 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:08.980 you don't see. I know God is faithful to keep 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:13.580 his word and he will do it fully. It's an amazing, 00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:17.340 beautiful thing. Now, what's interesting about 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:20.620 this word. Here in the last days was scoffing 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:27.080 following their own sinful desires. Epithumia 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:30.779 is the word here. It means desire what is forbidden. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:36.779 That these faithless preachers, these faithless 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:43.500 teachers, they only seek the desires of the flesh. 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:51.090 Why is this so important? I think because in 00:15:51.090 --> 00:15:55.590 the days that we live in right now, the leaders 00:15:55.590 --> 00:15:58.309 of the world are surrounding themselves with 00:15:58.309 --> 00:16:02.490 faithless people. Second principle. The fool 00:16:02.490 --> 00:16:05.929 says in his heart there is no God. He also says 00:16:05.929 --> 00:16:09.350 he's not coming. But history reminds us that 00:16:09.350 --> 00:16:12.549 there was a flood. Noah had flood insurance. 00:16:13.070 --> 00:16:16.809 And do you have fire insurance? Because this 00:16:16.809 --> 00:16:24.409 time, It'll be burned. What was Noah's flood 00:16:24.409 --> 00:16:29.990 insurance? The promise of the word of God. I 00:16:29.990 --> 00:16:34.049 will keep you through this wrath. And he did. 00:16:35.029 --> 00:16:39.309 Noah believed him and he built a boat. And we 00:16:39.309 --> 00:16:41.649 know because last week we talked about what happened 00:16:41.649 --> 00:16:45.269 to Noah. The scripture says that the day it started 00:16:45.269 --> 00:16:50.750 to rain. Noah was put in the boat, and God closed 00:16:50.750 --> 00:16:58.610 the door. Matthew 24, 37 through 39. For as were 00:16:58.610 --> 00:17:03.370 the days of Noah, so will the coming of the Son 00:17:03.370 --> 00:17:07.410 of Man be. For as in those days before the flood, 00:17:07.509 --> 00:17:10.190 they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving 00:17:10.190 --> 00:17:13.029 into marriage, until the day when Noah entered 00:17:13.029 --> 00:17:16.880 the ark. Do you hear that? The reason why Jesus 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:20.259 says it this way is a reminder that Noah entered 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:23.960 the ark the day the wrath started. Get that. 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:28.420 Forget about all the other crazy nonsense you're 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:32.259 being taught. The day the wrath started, Noah 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:40.359 was put into the ark. The very day. And God closed 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:43.730 him in. And when they were unaware until the 00:17:43.730 --> 00:17:46.970 flood came and swept them all away, except for 00:17:46.970 --> 00:17:53.289 Noah, who was in the ark, so will be the coming 00:17:53.289 --> 00:17:56.490 of the Son of Man. Oh, thank God that you will 00:17:56.490 --> 00:17:59.769 be in Christ. That's the point of the removal 00:17:59.769 --> 00:18:04.470 of God's people. He is our ark. He is our security. 00:18:06.009 --> 00:18:14.039 He is our safety. And then in Peter 3, 4 through 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:17.940 7, 2 Peter, they will say, where's the promise 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:22.779 of his coming? Oh, don't you know? It's coming. 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:25.640 They're going to say it. They're saying it now. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:29.259 For ever since the father fell asleep, I want 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:35.880 you to notice how Peter uses this language. He's 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:39.940 talking to, he's talking about the Jews. Making 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:44.819 fun of the believers. Where's this coming? Reminds 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:49.319 me of a prophet. We talked a little bit about 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:58.099 that. Elijah and the 250 priests of Baal. Well, 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:01.279 in the same way, they're going to try to say, 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:04.960 ah, God's not real. Do you know what the percentage 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:13.250 is of atheist Jews? It's over 65%. Did you guys 00:19:13.250 --> 00:19:19.769 know that? They don't believe in God. They believe 00:19:19.769 --> 00:19:23.349 in the law called the Talmud. That's what they 00:19:23.349 --> 00:19:28.309 believe in. That's their God. And that's why 00:19:28.309 --> 00:19:33.230 Paul says the God is their stomach. So they make 00:19:33.230 --> 00:19:37.369 fun of the reality of the deity of Jesus because 00:19:37.369 --> 00:19:42.720 they never believed. In the living God. It's 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:46.319 a crazy statistic. Just look up Pew. Where is 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.619 the promise of his coming? For ever since the 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:51.440 father fell asleep, all things are continuing 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:53.740 as they were from the beginning of creation. 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:58.880 It's interesting. It's an atheistic view. John 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:03.339 MacArthur puts it this way. It's immutable uniformitarianism. 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:07.220 You're like, say that word. He just coined it. 00:20:08.109 --> 00:20:14.990 But it's so true. Immutable uniformitarianism. 00:20:15.329 --> 00:20:21.150 The unchanging uniformity. John MacArthur states, 00:20:21.329 --> 00:20:24.069 quote unquote. For they deliberately overlook. 00:20:24.950 --> 00:20:31.569 Thelo lanthano. They willfully keep hidden. Out 00:20:31.569 --> 00:20:34.650 of sight, out of mind is the idea. Romans chapter 00:20:34.650 --> 00:20:38.470 1. Turn there. Verse 19. For what can be known 00:20:38.470 --> 00:20:41.569 about God is plain to them because God has shown 00:20:41.569 --> 00:20:45.130 it to them for his invisible attributes, namely 00:20:45.130 --> 00:20:48.130 his eternal power and divine nature, having been 00:20:48.130 --> 00:20:50.809 clearly perceived ever since the creation of 00:20:50.809 --> 00:20:53.309 the world in the things that have been made so 00:20:53.309 --> 00:20:56.450 that they are without excuse. For although they 00:20:56.450 --> 00:20:59.470 knew God, they did not honor him as God and give 00:20:59.470 --> 00:21:02.430 thanks to him, but became futile in their thinking 00:21:02.430 --> 00:21:07.369 and their foolish hearts were darkened. Out of 00:21:07.369 --> 00:21:13.730 sight, out of mind. Thalo Lanzano. They don't 00:21:13.730 --> 00:21:19.730 really care. This fact, the reality of this truth, 00:21:19.970 --> 00:21:22.869 that the heavens existed long ago and the earth 00:21:22.869 --> 00:21:26.029 was formed out of water and through water by 00:21:26.029 --> 00:21:28.829 the word of God. I want you to get this. I don't 00:21:28.829 --> 00:21:31.470 know how it was taught to you. Hopefully you're 00:21:31.470 --> 00:21:34.690 not an evolution creationist. Doesn't exist. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:40.380 The reality is that God had brought together 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:43.980 hydrogen and oxygen. Whether it's gas or liquid, 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.500 no one knows. What we do know is that it was 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:52.359 present. And out of that, God creates everything. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:57.299 What a powerful God we have. And that was his 00:21:57.299 --> 00:22:02.220 point. God destroyed the earth with water the 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:04.700 first time by the very thing that he created 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:11.910 it. Except this time, not so much. Verse 6. And 00:22:11.910 --> 00:22:16.390 that by means of these, the world that then existed 00:22:16.390 --> 00:22:21.509 was deluged with water and perished. We know 00:22:21.509 --> 00:22:25.809 what that looks like in Genesis 6 .13. And God 00:22:25.809 --> 00:22:28.569 said to Noah, I have determined to make an end 00:22:28.569 --> 00:22:31.910 of all flesh. For the earth is filled with violence 00:22:31.910 --> 00:22:36.569 through them. Behold, I will destroy them with 00:22:36.569 --> 00:22:40.190 the earth. With the earth. The very thing that 00:22:40.190 --> 00:22:43.230 I created for my glory that they may live and 00:22:43.230 --> 00:22:46.529 walk with me, that very thing I will destroy 00:22:46.529 --> 00:22:51.829 them with. Except this time, not so much. Look 00:22:51.829 --> 00:22:56.230 what it says in chapter 7, verse 23 and 24. He 00:22:56.230 --> 00:22:58.789 blotted out every living thing that was on the 00:22:58.789 --> 00:23:01.009 face of the ground, man and animals and creeping 00:23:01.009 --> 00:23:04.450 things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted 00:23:04.450 --> 00:23:08.289 out from the earth. Only Noah was left and those 00:23:08.289 --> 00:23:11.230 who were with him in the ark. And the waters 00:23:11.230 --> 00:23:14.710 prevailed on the earth for 150 days. If you want 00:23:14.710 --> 00:23:18.210 to know, was God making sure everything was dead? 00:23:19.470 --> 00:23:21.710 I don't know about you, but treading water for 00:23:21.710 --> 00:23:24.809 150 days is an impossibility. Now, if you're 00:23:24.809 --> 00:23:28.730 a great swimmer, maybe a Navy SEAL, you might 00:23:28.730 --> 00:23:30.490 be able to do it for like two days. But there 00:23:30.490 --> 00:23:33.250 comes a time when every muscle in your body is 00:23:33.250 --> 00:23:37.190 going to cramp up and you're going to sink. God 00:23:37.190 --> 00:23:40.549 made sure even the best of swimmers were sinking. 00:23:40.789 --> 00:23:44.190 But look what it says in verse 7. But by the 00:23:44.190 --> 00:23:47.849 same word, the same word that God created all 00:23:47.849 --> 00:23:54.160 things out of ex nihilo, out of nothing. The 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:57.099 same word, by the same word, the heavens and 00:23:57.099 --> 00:24:00.339 the earth that now exist are stored up for fire, 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:06.059 judgment, purification. There's one thing that 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:10.700 water can't do. It cannot purify the soul of 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:13.099 its sin. There's one thing that fire can do. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:18.980 Destroy everything. Being kept until the day 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:22.279 of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. 00:24:22.829 --> 00:24:32.990 Revelation 20. Verse 11. Then I saw a great white 00:24:32.990 --> 00:24:37.009 throne and him who sat on it. And from his presence, 00:24:37.029 --> 00:24:41.829 earth and sky fled away. And no place was found 00:24:41.829 --> 00:24:45.029 for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, 00:24:45.069 --> 00:24:47.789 standing before the throne. And the books were 00:24:47.789 --> 00:24:50.529 opened. And another book was opened, which is 00:24:50.529 --> 00:24:53.500 the book of life. And the dead were judged by 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:57.880 what was written in the books according to what 00:24:57.880 --> 00:25:01.599 they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:04.440 were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:06.700 who were in them. And they were judged, each 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:09.299 of them, according to what they had done. Then 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:13.779 death and Hades were thrown into the lake of 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:17.180 fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 00:25:18.089 --> 00:25:20.109 And if anyone's name was not found written in 00:25:20.109 --> 00:25:21.670 the book of life, they were thrown into the lake 00:25:21.670 --> 00:25:26.029 of fire. The idea of fire is a total annihilation. 00:25:27.809 --> 00:25:30.190 In Revelation, the scripture says that Jesus 00:25:30.190 --> 00:25:35.049 is a God of war. He has declared war upon all 00:25:35.049 --> 00:25:38.910 things that are ungodly and sinful. That is a 00:25:38.910 --> 00:25:42.450 reality. When Christ comes, he's not coming to 00:25:42.450 --> 00:25:45.789 save. He's coming to destroy. And those who are 00:25:45.789 --> 00:25:49.390 saved in him, he has promised to keep. Look what 00:25:49.390 --> 00:25:51.890 it says here. Christ will keep his promise to 00:25:51.890 --> 00:25:54.470 deliver his people from his wrath and to bring 00:25:54.470 --> 00:25:57.910 to nothing all that is wicked and corrupt. 1 00:25:57.910 --> 00:26:01.329 Thessalonians 5, 9 through 11. For God has not 00:26:01.329 --> 00:26:04.309 destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation 00:26:04.309 --> 00:26:07.450 through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:11.180 That whether we are awake or asleep, we might 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:14.400 live with him. Whether we are walking this earth 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:17.359 or we are buried in it, if you are in Christ, 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:21.920 you are alive in him. Therefore, encourage one 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:23.839 another and build up one another just as you 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:31.019 are doing. Again, Paul states the same thing. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:36.339 Which Peter gives Paul recognition for the same 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:39.180 thing. What's interesting in verses 8 through 00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:42.539 10, and we're done, is in the original language 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:48.880 it says, but you not overlook this one. That's 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:51.319 what it says in the original. I don't know why 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:54.920 they use the word do not when it's specifically 00:26:54.920 --> 00:27:00.230 talking to you. But you as God's people. Do not 00:27:00.230 --> 00:27:03.210 overlook this one reality, this one truth, this 00:27:03.210 --> 00:27:06.029 one fact. And they use the word fact in the English, 00:27:06.130 --> 00:27:10.190 but it's not there in the Greek. And the point 00:27:10.190 --> 00:27:15.029 is, don't overlook this truth, this reality. 00:27:16.250 --> 00:27:19.750 That with the Lord, one day is as a thousand 00:27:19.750 --> 00:27:21.809 years, and a thousand years is as a day. And 00:27:21.809 --> 00:27:25.430 trust me, many believers get this wrong. To be 00:27:25.430 --> 00:27:29.700 like, see, you know. A day is as a thousand years 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:31.559 and a thousand years is as a day. And they just 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:35.640 decide to throw it into their ecclesiastical 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:41.920 arguments. It's not what he means here. Peter 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:44.940 clarifies what he means here. This idea that 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.720 one day is as a thousand years and a thousand 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:50.920 years is as a day just means with God, time doesn't 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:55.619 matter. And he clarifies this truth. If you're 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:59.019 God and you sit outside of time, a thousand years 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.980 this way and a thousand years this way looks 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:06.599 the same. As one day, the Lord is not slow to 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:10.440 fulfill his promise as some count slowness. I 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:12.500 got to tell you, the ESV has done a phenomenal 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:18.079 job in translation here. Can't say it any better. 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:22.339 The Lord not slow his promise as some count slowness. 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:28.099 In other words, Time doesn't matter. What matters 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:31.599 is his promise. And if we know that God keeps 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:33.880 his promise, notice what he says here in the 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:37.799 original, but patient toward you. He's talking 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:41.839 to the church. When he says you, he's not talking 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:44.039 to lost people because lost people don't read 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:47.700 the word. It's specifically a message to you. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:51.700 This is what Peter's writing to them. This is 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:54.880 a letter to the church. But is patient toward 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:59.259 you. Not wishing, not willing, not pleased that 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:05.160 any. The word any is tis. And I've looked at 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:09.200 the BLB and I've looked at Step Bible, Strong's, 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:13.099 all the concordances say the same thing. Certain 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:19.640 one or some of many. Do you get that? He's not 00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:23.920 wishing that the certain ones, you. Not wishing 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:28.960 that some of many, you, should be destroyed. 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:33.500 In what? The fire. That's what he's talking about 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:38.200 here. Context is everything. But we know, we 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:40.279 got those favorite little messages we got to 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:42.680 put together. Just to take things way out of 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:45.200 context so that we don't understand. So that 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:47.680 when you see things happening, fear is present. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:52.190 I don't live in fear of the day. I live in joy 00:29:52.190 --> 00:29:55.690 and expectation. That's what keeps me preaching 00:29:55.690 --> 00:29:59.710 the gospel. That's the point. I mean, knowing 00:29:59.710 --> 00:30:03.849 that I belong to him and that when he comes, 00:30:03.910 --> 00:30:06.769 I will be put, that I'm in him as Noah was in 00:30:06.769 --> 00:30:11.849 the ark, protected from his wrath. That he has 00:30:11.849 --> 00:30:14.809 not destined me for his wrath, but he is faithful 00:30:14.809 --> 00:30:17.529 to keep his promise that I will continue with 00:30:17.529 --> 00:30:19.990 him forever. What's interesting is this next 00:30:19.990 --> 00:30:22.559 word. Notice what it says here. But that all, 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:29.099 pas, all the whole should reach, should proceed, 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:33.980 should turn. All of what? All of tis, all of 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:38.660 the certain ones, all of the some of many. All 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:43.059 of you should turn, should come to the change 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:47.059 concerning any and all. elements of life. That's 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:49.819 the idea. Repentance is not turning away from 00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:53.619 sin by itself. Repentance is turning toward God 00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:58.740 away from sin. Not turning from sin to go to 00:30:58.740 --> 00:31:04.200 God. Listen, if God left me to my own demise 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:06.440 to turn from the very thing that I love more 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:10.099 than anything on the planet. That I gave my mind, 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:13.839 my body, my money, my thoughts to. Why in the 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.819 world would I leave the thing I love the most 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:19.779 to go to the one I hate? Think logically. But 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:22.559 God has presented himself to us in holiness and 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:26.059 goodness. And in his justice has paid a price 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:30.079 for us that we cannot pay. By placing his wrath 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:32.660 on his son. And then we see the beauty of that 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:34.960 reality because of the regeneration of the Holy 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:39.420 Spirit in my heart. I turn him and I go, oh my 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:44.720 gosh, that's beautiful. I want that. And I turn 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:47.039 to God and I look at my sin and I go, I don't 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:51.900 want that. That is repentance. Biblical repentance 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:54.859 is a turning to God away from sin. That's what 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:57.599 biblical repentance is. It's the change that 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.920 happens by the power of the Holy Spirit in the 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:03.579 entire life of the individual. They become a 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:08.279 new creature. The doctrine of regeneration. But 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:11.759 the day of the Lord will come like a thief. We 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:14.619 know that. 1 Thessalonians 5. Everybody likes 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:17.200 to quote these verses, I know. If you ever want 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:22.660 to wreck your eschatology, Just read 1 Thessalonians 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:28.400 5 and 2 Thessalonians 2. Read it. And you go, 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:32.440 I got a conundrum now. What do I do with that? 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:36.660 But look what it says, verse 4, 1 Thessalonians 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:41.559 5, 4. But you are not in darkness, brothers, 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:45.099 for the day to surprise you like a thief. And 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:47.119 Peter again says the day of the Lord will come 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:49.799 like a thief. And why are so many believers surprised? 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:53.920 Why are so many believers surprised? And what 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:56.759 do they do? They go to their churches and sit 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:59.359 in their pews and are looking. But they do nothing. 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:04.140 They're not ready. They're not doing the work. 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:08.660 It should drive you to work. Jesus is coming. 00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:11.779 I want to work. Jesus is coming. I want to be 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:14.640 found faithful. Jesus is coming. I want to be 00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:19.940 busy. Jesus is coming. You know the best way 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:22.180 for you to look for his return is to do what 00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:26.220 he's commanded. Not sit on your bum looking up 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:28.539 wondering, I wonder if he's going to come today. 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:32.819 Oh, there's a cloud. I like that one. That looks 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:38.220 like a chariot. Oh, he's not there. But that's 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:40.980 what people do. And then the heavens will pass 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:45.740 away with a roar. What should you be doing being 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:48.779 busy? Why? Because when he returns, the heavens 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:52.799 will pass away with a roar. Isn't that what it 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:57.359 says in chapter 20 of Revelation at the judgment 00:33:57.359 --> 00:34:00.460 seat? This word roar means a crash or a loud 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:03.579 noise. And the heavenly bodies, the natural universe, 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:09.980 the elements, this word bodies means the smallest 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:15.110 of things. The things you can't even see, he 00:34:15.110 --> 00:34:20.630 is going to burn up and dissolve, demolish. He 00:34:20.630 --> 00:34:25.389 will burn it up and demolish it. And the earth, 00:34:25.489 --> 00:34:30.010 the land, the world, and the works, all the accomplishments 00:34:30.010 --> 00:34:34.309 of men that are done on it will be exposed. They 00:34:34.309 --> 00:34:38.869 will be unhidden. They will be found out. So 00:34:38.869 --> 00:34:41.940 how should you live as a people? As we are reminded 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:44.940 of the liberty that we have been freely given. 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:50.239 Is our work just to be, attend church, go home? 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:55.579 Or is our work is to preach the gospel to all 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:58.179 creatures? Don't you want to be found busy working? 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:01.159 My wife and I, I've got to use this. My wife 00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:04.980 and I was talking about Mary and Martha. And 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:11.019 this will hit home for some of the moms. She's 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:14.460 doing a great job mentoring them. Now, she shared 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:17.000 with me, I want to be a Mary. I want to be at 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:19.679 Jesus' feet. You ever notice that Jesus never 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:22.260 rebukes Martha for her service? That's not why 00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:24.480 he rebuked her. He didn't go, you know, you should 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:27.280 be like Mary and be sitting down. He never says 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:33.079 that. Martha's problem is she's focused on Mary. 00:35:35.150 --> 00:35:36.829 It's like I'm doing all this work in the house 00:35:36.829 --> 00:35:39.190 and I'm left to do this by myself. Or tell her 00:35:39.190 --> 00:35:41.090 to get up. I mean, this is ridiculous. This is 00:35:41.090 --> 00:35:43.449 her responsibility. I mean, she's a woman after 00:35:43.449 --> 00:35:45.969 all. Because she's rebuking her sister for being 00:35:45.969 --> 00:35:52.269 lazy. But he never rebukes Martha for work. He 00:35:52.269 --> 00:35:57.750 says, Mary has chosen the better. What's the 00:35:57.750 --> 00:36:02.250 better? Not doing any work? No. She has chosen 00:36:02.250 --> 00:36:09.650 me. But Martha, if Martha served Christ and was 00:36:09.650 --> 00:36:13.090 busy for serving Christ because of her love for 00:36:13.090 --> 00:36:17.429 her Savior, for her God, she would have chosen 00:36:17.429 --> 00:36:19.510 the better. But Mary wasn't worried about Jesus 00:36:19.510 --> 00:36:21.690 and serving him. She was worried about getting 00:36:21.690 --> 00:36:24.210 the work done. So it's not by an accident that 00:36:24.210 --> 00:36:28.210 God calls us to be busy. The question is, what 00:36:28.210 --> 00:36:32.670 is your purpose and reason for being busy? To 00:36:32.670 --> 00:36:37.039 please him. When you settle in and lay at his 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:39.960 feet, you do it because you want to please him. 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:45.679 When you serve and work, you serve and work because 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:48.199 you want to please him. What's interesting is 00:36:48.199 --> 00:36:55.480 you hear the second time Martha is found working 00:36:55.480 --> 00:37:00.860 is when Mary is before Jesus and she takes the 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:04.579 alabaster jar and breaks it. And anoints him. 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:08.860 And the disciples go, Judas, that's a lot of 00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:14.300 money. But you never know, what most people don't 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:15.719 know is there's this little statement in there. 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:22.619 It says, as Martha was serving, never rebukes 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:25.619 her for not serving. Why? She learned her lesson. 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:30.460 The service that she had rendered was for his 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:35.550 service. She was focused on the Savior and serving 00:37:35.550 --> 00:37:39.829 him, not focused on her sister as she broke the 00:37:39.829 --> 00:37:47.190 jar. Are you busy? Are you serving? Because that's 00:37:47.190 --> 00:37:50.909 my challenge to you and your freedom. We don't 00:37:50.909 --> 00:37:52.610 just have a freedom to gather. We have a freedom 00:37:52.610 --> 00:37:54.730 to preach. And there are many brothers and sisters 00:37:54.730 --> 00:38:00.030 who are dying for preaching because they don't 00:38:00.030 --> 00:38:03.780 have the freedom. in their land, but they have 00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:05.860 the freedom in their spirit. Father, I want to 00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:07.539 thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness. 00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:13.360 Thank you for this word. May we always be busy 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:20.579 knowing that you are and will fulfill your promise 00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:24.679 that you will return and that everything on this 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:28.559 earth will be burned. Everything concerning the 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:32.360 ungodliness of men will be Exposed and destroyed. 00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:37.900 That you'll be honored and glorified as the king 00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:40.380 who reigns and sits on the throne. We praise 00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:41.579 you and thank you in Jesus' name.