WEBVTT 00:00:01.579 --> 00:00:04.240 I'd like today for the first sermon of this year 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:07.059 to bring a message on the state and vision of 00:00:07.059 --> 00:00:14.500 the church, 2026. Our text is 2 Peter chapter 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:19.859 1 verses 1 through 11. Hear now the word of the 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:24.620 Lord as written by the Apostle Peter. Simon Peter, 00:00:24.899 --> 00:00:28.579 a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ. to 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:31.839 those who have obtained like precious faith with 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:35.399 us by the righteousness of our God and Savior, 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:39.380 Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied to 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:42.500 you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:46.200 Lord, as his divine power has given to us all 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:50.280 things that pertain to life and godliness through 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.039 the knowledge of him who called us by glory and 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:58.479 virtue. have been given to us exceedingly great 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.000 and precious promises, that through these you 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.799 may be partakers of the divine nature, having 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:07.280 escaped the corruption that is in the world through 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:11.299 lust. But also for this very reason, giving all 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:15.239 diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:19.700 knowledge, to knowledge self -control, to self 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:23.719 -control perseverance, to perseverance godliness. 00:01:24.349 --> 00:01:27.590 to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly 00:01:27.590 --> 00:01:30.950 kindness, love. For if these things are yours 00:01:30.950 --> 00:01:35.870 and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful 00:01:35.870 --> 00:01:39.370 in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For 00:01:39.370 --> 00:01:42.290 he who lacks these things is short -sighted, 00:01:42.290 --> 00:01:45.349 even to blindness, and has forgotten that he 00:01:45.349 --> 00:01:48.549 was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, 00:01:48.730 --> 00:01:52.010 be even more diligent to make your call and election 00:01:52.010 --> 00:01:55.189 sure. For if you do these things, you will never 00:01:55.189 --> 00:01:57.810 stumble. For so an entrance will be supplied 00:01:57.810 --> 00:02:00.609 to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom 00:02:00.609 --> 00:02:05.430 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let's ask 00:02:05.430 --> 00:02:07.969 God's blessing on our time together. Father, 00:02:08.030 --> 00:02:11.169 this is such a rich passage and I thank you for 00:02:11.169 --> 00:02:14.650 it. I pray, Lord, that as we consider this and 00:02:14.650 --> 00:02:17.150 all that you have for us this morning, I pray 00:02:17.150 --> 00:02:19.789 that you would speak to our hearts by the power 00:02:19.789 --> 00:02:22.280 of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help us to prepare 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:25.060 for the year that is ahead of us, that we might 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:28.960 be steadfast, strong in faith, obedient to you, 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:33.259 Lord, glorifying you and honoring you and in 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:35.580 all things submitting to you. We pray, Lord, 00:02:35.659 --> 00:02:38.439 for your blessing on each one that is here today. 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:42.460 Open up our hearts, illuminate us by your spirit. 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:45.060 I pray that I might teach good and right things 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:48.379 in obedience to you. We pray in Jesus' name. 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:56.180 Amen. It is the year of our Lord, Anno Domini 00:02:56.180 --> 00:03:01.340 2026. A fresh page has been turned on the calendar 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:05.560 and time continues to advance. The glory of Christ's 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:08.139 kingdom becomes brighter and ever more glorious. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:12.659 And, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:18.520 3, we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:22.800 a mirror the glory of the Lord, are... being 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:28.080 transformed into the same image from glory to 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:34.400 glory just as by the spirit of the lord in october 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.840 of this year it will be three years since the 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:41.379 lord raised up this congregation and we praise 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:45.560 him for his great glory and grace in his masterful 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:49.599 and wonderful plan providentially bringing Grace 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:52.979 Reformed Church of Weiser into existence. Indeed, 00:03:53.139 --> 00:03:56.919 we hope and pray that this will remain a faithful 00:03:56.919 --> 00:04:00.800 congregation, not only in our lifetimes, but 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:05.639 in the centuries that lie ahead of us. It is 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:09.120 good from time to time to revisit foundational 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:13.659 principles, stones upon which enduring... local 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:17.040 congregations and churches are built for indeed 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.819 we are no longer strangers and foreigners we 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:23.100 are fellow citizens with the saints and members 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:25.819 of the household of god having been built on 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:28.860 the foundation of the apostles and the prophets 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:32.740 jesus christ himself being the chief cornerstone 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:35.899 in whom the whole building being fitted together 00:04:35.899 --> 00:04:40.639 grows into a holy temple in the lord in whom 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:46.529 you all You all also are being built together 00:04:46.529 --> 00:04:53.509 for a dwelling place of God in the spirit. As 00:04:53.509 --> 00:04:56.370 we are being knit together and the building of 00:04:56.370 --> 00:04:59.550 the holy temple in the Lord is happening, we 00:04:59.550 --> 00:05:03.870 want to maintain the foundation, the truths and 00:05:03.870 --> 00:05:07.769 the principles that undergird what we do and 00:05:07.769 --> 00:05:11.990 how we worship and how we live. There are many 00:05:11.990 --> 00:05:14.529 unknowns before us as we look ahead to this year. 00:05:15.649 --> 00:05:18.389 We will likely need to move out of this building 00:05:18.389 --> 00:05:21.870 by the end of the year, and we are praying and 00:05:21.870 --> 00:05:25.290 trusting that God will provide for us a suitable 00:05:25.290 --> 00:05:29.009 meeting place, a building that hopefully reflects 00:05:29.009 --> 00:05:32.209 the glory and the majesty of the Lord, but most 00:05:32.209 --> 00:05:35.889 of all, a place where God's people meet together 00:05:35.889 --> 00:05:40.660 in joyful and reverent worship. For the worship 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:43.579 of God orders and affects everything else in 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:46.759 life. And all actions, all other actions are 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:50.839 downstream of that worship. Revelation chapter 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:54.680 14 verse 6. An angel is preaching to all who 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:58.600 dwell on the earth. What does he say? Fear God 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:02.560 and give glory to him. For the hour of his judgment 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:06.779 has come. And worship him who has made heaven. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:11.079 And earth. The sea. And the springs of water. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:15.420 We are the circumcision. Who worship God in the 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:19.899 spirit. Rejoice in Christ Jesus. And have no 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:23.100 confidence in the flesh. Paul says in Philippians 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:26.500 chapter 3 verse 3. When David thirsts for God. 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:29.800 What does he say? He says when he was in the 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:34.160 wilderness of Judah. Oh God. You are my God. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:38.199 Early will I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. 00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:43.519 My flesh longs for you. In a dry and a thirsty 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:47.759 land where there is no water. So I have looked 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:51.100 for you in the sanctuary to see your power and 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:54.459 your glory. Because your loving kindness is better 00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:57.579 than life, my lips shall praise you. Thus I will 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:00.120 bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:03.160 in your name. This is from Psalm 63. And again 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.579 in Psalm 96. Honor and majesty are before him. 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:11.740 Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Now 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:14.699 on the first Sunday that we gathered, six families, 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:17.680 six households met at the Hamilton's home on 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:22.319 the last Lord's Day of October 2023. After that 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:25.639 service, in which I preached on hope in the midst 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:28.259 of judgment from the book of Habakkuk, we then 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:31.519 shared a meal together and went around the room 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.579 to voice our longings for a local congregation. 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:39.459 Among the desires expressed were these. We desire 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:43.860 a church marked by a high view of God and of 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:47.370 his sovereignty. A church characterized by the 00:07:47.370 --> 00:07:51.490 simplicity of the gospel. A church alive with 00:07:51.490 --> 00:07:55.250 fervent worship and fervent love among the saints, 00:07:55.389 --> 00:07:59.290 producing a rich and a deep fellowship. And a 00:07:59.290 --> 00:08:02.290 church set within a larger denominational structure 00:08:02.290 --> 00:08:06.550 that provides accountability and oversight, preferably 00:08:06.550 --> 00:08:10.660 Presbyterian in polity. I am very grateful that 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:13.600 God has granted us a great measure of all of 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.420 these desires, even much more than what we could 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:20.439 ask or think. The church has grown, not only 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.879 in numbers, but in a covenantal relationship 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.319 with each other, with rich and deep fellowship, 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.560 with love for our triune God, Father, Son, and 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:33.960 Holy Spirit, worship that is both reverent and 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.360 joyful. And the love of the saints and the fellowship 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.840 of those gathered together in Christ in this 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:43.220 local body. And for this we are very, very grateful. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.919 We are humbled. We are blessed beyond measure. 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:50.559 The Lord has added leadership as needed. And 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.960 we pray that God would raise up further and faithful 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:57.610 churchmen. men who love Christ's church and who 00:08:57.610 --> 00:09:00.210 are well established in faith and doctrine and 00:09:00.210 --> 00:09:03.090 will lead their families well, as well as men 00:09:03.090 --> 00:09:06.110 who are able and gifted to lead and to serve 00:09:06.110 --> 00:09:09.090 in the ministry of eldership or of teaching and 00:09:09.090 --> 00:09:12.509 exhortation in the diaconate, but also that every 00:09:12.509 --> 00:09:16.179 member Everyone, men and women, boys and girls, 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:19.559 would seek to use the gifts as God distributes 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:23.019 them. Of showing mercy with cheerfulness. Of 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:26.259 being diligent. Of being fervent in spirit. Or 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:29.580 serving the Lord and rejoicing in hope. Of being 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:34.220 patient in tribulation. Of continuing steadfastly 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:37.639 in prayer. And distributing to the needs of the 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:41.779 saints. And being given to hospitality. All of 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:46.169 these. from Romans chapter 12. But even as we 00:09:46.169 --> 00:09:49.990 remember and rejoice in what God has done, we 00:09:49.990 --> 00:09:52.669 know that the Lord has added to our number considerably. 00:09:53.129 --> 00:09:57.529 And so it is good to look at the first principles, 00:09:57.629 --> 00:10:01.850 the foundation stones given in God's word, and 00:10:01.850 --> 00:10:05.230 particularly at those mentioned in 2 Peter chapter 00:10:05.230 --> 00:10:10.690 1, to which we now turn. In verse 1 of this passage, 00:10:11.389 --> 00:10:14.009 It is written by the Apostle Peter. He calls 00:10:14.009 --> 00:10:17.990 himself Simon Peter, a bondservant and an apostle 00:10:17.990 --> 00:10:23.090 of Jesus Christ. This thus means that he is a 00:10:23.090 --> 00:10:26.330 servant of the Lord. He is an elder in the congregation. 00:10:26.570 --> 00:10:29.269 He calls himself an elder in another passage. 00:10:29.450 --> 00:10:32.129 But he also serves with apostolic authority. 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:36.000 Apostolic authority is something special that 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:39.879 was given to the apostles that the Lord Jesus 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.580 chose, that he taught, and that were endued with 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:48.759 apostolic power and authority. It was they who 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.440 then wrote the New Testament as they were inspired 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:56.779 by the Word and the Spirit of God. And so he 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:01.000 begins this letter just attesting to the fact 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.000 that Jesus Christ, has called him to be an apostle. 00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:08.860 And he writes to those who have obtained like 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:12.200 precious faith with us by the righteousness of 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:15.720 our God and Savior Jesus Christ. He desires that 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:19.039 grace and peace would be multiplied to all to 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.279 whom he is writing in the knowledge of God and 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:24.980 of Savior and of Jesus our Lord. Now Peter is 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:28.679 a general epistle. It is written to the church 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:32.559 at large. to those who are dispersed abroad, 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:36.860 and to all those who have obtained like precious 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:42.309 faith. Peter is not, 1 and 2 Peter are not. like 00:11:42.309 --> 00:11:45.470 Corinthians or Ephesians or Galatians or Ephesians 00:11:45.470 --> 00:11:48.250 where they were written as specific letters to 00:11:48.250 --> 00:11:52.509 specific congregations. No, these were written 00:11:52.509 --> 00:11:55.929 for all. And of course, we learn from all. It 00:11:55.929 --> 00:11:58.750 just has a different flavor to it than a letter 00:11:58.750 --> 00:12:00.470 that was written to a particular congregation. 00:12:00.889 --> 00:12:03.409 We learn from that, but we also need to understand 00:12:03.409 --> 00:12:06.049 what was going on. We'll see that when we get 00:12:06.049 --> 00:12:07.970 into the book of 1 Corinthians, which I plan 00:12:07.970 --> 00:12:11.840 to begin very shortly. So Peter is a general 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:15.600 epistle. And the faith is a precious faith. It 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.720 is a true one. It is one that is not based on 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.500 our works. But it is on the righteousness of 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:26.200 our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Now not all 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:28.960 faiths are equal. For some are the worship of 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:34.039 idols. Or of man's conception of God. Or of perhaps 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:36.759 some aspect of the triune God. But not in the 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:39.940 totality. as God has revealed himself in the 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:42.960 Holy Scriptures. The faith of which you speak 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.840 is that which is built upon the apostles and 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:50.019 prophets who wrote as they were moved by the 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:55.179 Holy Spirit. We are, as Jude commands us, to 00:12:55.179 --> 00:13:00.000 earnestly contend for the faith that is once 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:03.480 delivered to the saints. We're not looking for 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:06.399 a new faith. We do not expect a new revelation 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:11.350 to come up. No, this is the faith. It has been 00:13:11.350 --> 00:13:15.769 transmitted to us from the prophets and the apostles 00:13:15.769 --> 00:13:21.549 and it is an enduring one. The faith... which 00:13:21.549 --> 00:13:24.789 was written as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 00:13:24.970 --> 00:13:27.409 It is the faith is in the pure gospel that was 00:13:27.409 --> 00:13:30.389 lived by Abraham. It was testified of by Moses. 00:13:30.629 --> 00:13:33.129 It was lived and prophesied by the prophets, 00:13:33.309 --> 00:13:36.330 Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel and many, many 00:13:36.330 --> 00:13:40.009 others. It is demonstrated by Jesus who gave 00:13:40.009 --> 00:13:43.409 his life as an atonement for sin that whoever 00:13:43.409 --> 00:13:46.990 believes in him should not perish but have everlasting 00:13:46.990 --> 00:13:51.259 life. And it is the faith as taught by the apostles. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:55.080 Through Christ, Paul tells the Corinthians in 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:59.519 1 Corinthians chapter 16, he says, we have received 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:05.059 grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:09.600 in all nations for his name. Actually, that's 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.580 from Romans chapter 1, verse 5. We have received 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:17.039 this faith, and we are to be obedient to this 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:20.600 faith in every nation. Wherever the gospel goes 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.840 out, we are to be obedient to it, even these 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:28.500 many generations later. This does not change. 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:32.799 And now, as 1 Corinthians 16, 13 says, we are 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:36.700 all to take care to do what? To watch. To stand 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:40.460 fast in the faith. To be brave. To be strong. 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:45.759 This is what we are called to do. We have obtained 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:51.559 a like precious faith. It is a historic faith. 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:55.340 One that goes back to the apostles and to the 00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:58.899 prophets all the way back to the very beginning 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:02.480 of the book of Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1. 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:08.100 When God created the heavens and the earth. Number 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:12.080 two, he writes then of the knowledge of the Almighty, 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:16.139 of our God and Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.399 He says, grace and peace be multiplied unto you 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:22.299 through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our 00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:24.879 Lord. Through the knowledge of God and His Son, 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:28.519 Jesus Christ, this grace and this peace is multiplied 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:31.639 to us. It's not just added. It's not given in 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.379 a small measure. It's not given in a miserly 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:38.539 or a stingy way. It's divine favor and peace 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:42.259 with the Holy God. Can we have that when we are 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:45.159 sinful creatures and He is holy and cannot tolerate 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:49.360 sin? How is this? How can we have this grace 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:53.320 and peace be multiplied to us? Divine favor and 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:56.659 peace with the one who counts the number of the 00:15:56.659 --> 00:16:00.200 stars and he calls them all by name, as Psalm 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:04.559 147 says. This is astounding when you stop to 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:07.759 consider that there's approximately two trillion 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:12.860 galaxies in the known universe with each with 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:18.480 100 to million to 100 billion stars. So two trillion 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:24.399 galaxies and... 100 million to 100 billion stars. 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:26.940 We can't even comprehend these numbers. What 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:30.460 is it? So many sextillion, I believe it's, when 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:32.600 I looked it up, something like that. It's just 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:38.080 an unbelievable array just of the stars. He is 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:41.100 the one, this God, is the one who counts the 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:44.840 number of the stars. This is he of whom Isaiah 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.870 writes, saying, have you not known? Have you 00:16:47.870 --> 00:16:51.029 not heard? Has it not been told for you from 00:16:51.029 --> 00:16:53.429 the beginning? Have you not understood from the 00:16:53.429 --> 00:16:57.570 foundation of the earth? It is he who sits above 00:16:57.570 --> 00:17:00.990 the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are 00:17:00.990 --> 00:17:04.650 like grasshoppers who stretches out the heavens 00:17:04.650 --> 00:17:07.609 like a curtain. He spreads them out like a tent 00:17:07.609 --> 00:17:10.369 to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing. 00:17:10.609 --> 00:17:14.609 He makes the judges of the earth useless. Isaiah 00:17:14.609 --> 00:17:18.910 40, 21 to 23. This is he of whom David cries 00:17:18.910 --> 00:17:22.809 out, Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, 00:17:22.950 --> 00:17:25.390 you are very great. You are clothed with honor 00:17:25.390 --> 00:17:28.289 and majesty, who cover yourself with light as 00:17:28.289 --> 00:17:30.750 with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like 00:17:30.750 --> 00:17:35.130 a curtain. Psalm 104, verse 1 and 2. He is the 00:17:35.130 --> 00:17:39.769 I Am, the eternal self -existent one being, for 00:17:39.769 --> 00:17:44.539 whom there is no beginning and no end. Even as 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:47.640 the psalmist proclaims in Psalm 147 verse 5, 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:52.299 Great is our Lord and mighty in power. His understanding 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:56.220 is infinite. And dearly beloved, we have the 00:17:56.220 --> 00:18:00.019 privilege, the awesome and the incredible position 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:03.519 of coming into the presence of this holy God 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:08.460 through Jesus Christ and of knowing Him. How 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:11.660 can we even begin to comprehend Him? And yet, 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:16.859 Peter says we can have knowledge of him. We can 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:22.440 know him. The one who is before whom, before 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.779 whom the heavens and the earth fled away and 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:28.480 all nations before him are is nothing. But he 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:31.180 is the one who is and who was and who is to come. 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:39.240 What can I say when we are just overwhelmed with 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:43.579 such an incredible understanding? of the sovereignty, 00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:49.220 the holiness, and the almightiness of this God. 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:58.799 And yet, we can know Him. We can know Him. Grace 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:02.359 and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:09.160 of God. When we see Him for who He is, and we 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:13.539 see ourselves as we are, then indeed how can 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:18.220 we be puffed up or proud or self -sufficient? 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.980 But in order to be a faithful church, we must 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:28.619 also love Him. We must love Him. The fragrance 00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:30.960 of Christ should be evident and diffused all 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.460 around us, as the Word of God says in 2 Corinthians 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:38.799 2, verse 14, Now thanks be to God. who always 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.400 leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:47.880 diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:51.359 place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.940 among those who are being saved and among those 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:57.880 who are perishing. Therefore, dearly beloved, 00:19:57.940 --> 00:20:01.720 as a church, as a congregation, we should not 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:05.480 be known in our community simply because we might 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:10.009 be culture warriors as the term is today or because 00:20:10.009 --> 00:20:14.569 we are weird or because of our unique distinctives 00:20:14.569 --> 00:20:18.170 we should be known because of our love and knowledge 00:20:18.170 --> 00:20:24.210 of god and that we love to worship him and to 00:20:24.210 --> 00:20:27.009 know him and that it is our desire to please 00:20:27.009 --> 00:20:30.109 him and in that desire we live in covenant with 00:20:30.109 --> 00:20:33.450 each other and the triune god This works out 00:20:33.450 --> 00:20:35.910 in many ways as we will see in the following 00:20:35.910 --> 00:20:40.509 verses. Number three, we get to understand the 00:20:40.509 --> 00:20:45.009 divine power and the sufficiency of Christ. We 00:20:45.009 --> 00:20:47.990 have seen the glory and the sufficiency and the 00:20:47.990 --> 00:20:51.190 awesomeness of God the Father. Now we are looking 00:20:51.190 --> 00:20:54.009 at the divine power and the sufficiency of Christ. 00:20:54.269 --> 00:20:57.549 Verse three, as his divine power has given to 00:20:57.549 --> 00:21:01.799 us. all things that pertain to life and godliness, 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.299 through the knowledge of him who called us unto 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:10.819 glory and virtue. As adopted children of God, 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:14.920 having believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, we 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:17.460 then are recipients of Christ's divine power, 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:20.619 that of Jesus our Lord. Now this is not referring 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:23.680 to his authority, which indeed he has and is 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:26.799 attested to a number of places, such as in the 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:29.000 Great Commission. All authority has been given 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:31.359 to me in heaven and earth, Jesus says. But the 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:34.099 word here is not referring to his authority, 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:39.859 but it's to his power, as of a force and a strength. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:43.190 It's the word power. dunamis the greek word dumina 00:21:43.190 --> 00:21:46.509 dunamis which we we can get just a slight picture 00:21:46.509 --> 00:21:48.950 of it when we realize that the english word for 00:21:48.950 --> 00:21:51.450 dynamite is taken from this you know a lot of 00:21:51.450 --> 00:21:54.450 power and strength okay but this of course is 00:21:54.450 --> 00:21:56.450 so much more than that so don't think it just 00:21:56.450 --> 00:21:58.630 is in dynamite i'm just using that as a relating 00:21:58.630 --> 00:22:03.390 point it is not a force that of strength it is 00:22:03.390 --> 00:22:06.819 a word used of resources of armies, of performing 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:10.960 miracles, of influence and moral power and excellence 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:15.359 of soul. We are the recipients of the divine 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:21.019 power of Jesus Christ. And he is sufficient for 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:26.059 us. By his own power, he has bestowed on us everything 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:30.779 necessary for a real and genuine life, even a 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:37.279 happy life and godliness. In speaking of this 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:41.160 here, in this passage, this godliness, all things 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:43.299 that pertain to life and godliness, the idea 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:47.099 of godliness is the idea of worship. That is, 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:51.319 well to worship. Worship rightly directed. In 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:54.359 being given all things pertaining to life and 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:57.480 godliness, we are able to live and to worship 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:01.079 in a way that pleases Him. Because His divine 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:04.089 power has enabled us. and he has given to us 00:23:04.089 --> 00:23:09.490 all things necessary. Again, Peter emphasizes 00:23:09.490 --> 00:23:13.630 the knowledge of him who has called us by glory 00:23:13.630 --> 00:23:18.430 and virtue. The knowledge of him. So what is 00:23:18.430 --> 00:23:21.410 Paul's supreme desire? If we look over at Philippians 00:23:21.410 --> 00:23:26.930 3, verse 9, we see him encapsulating his desire. 00:23:27.130 --> 00:23:30.640 What is it? To gain Christ. and to be found in 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.119 him, not having my own righteousness, which is 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:35.940 from the law, but that which is through faith 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:39.220 in Christ, the righteousness which is of God 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:44.440 by faith, that I may know him, and the power 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:49.200 of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:52.240 sufferings, being conformed to his death, if 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.400 by any means I may attain to the resurrection 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:58.390 from the dead. Now this is no name it and claim 00:23:58.390 --> 00:24:01.410 it. This is not just an easy believism where 00:24:01.410 --> 00:24:03.690 you just say, yes, I believe and nothing changes. 00:24:04.170 --> 00:24:07.809 No, Christ... takes us from the depths of sin 00:24:07.809 --> 00:24:11.690 and depravity. He washes us clean from our sins. 00:24:11.849 --> 00:24:16.210 He renews us. He adopts us and calls us to know 00:24:16.210 --> 00:24:19.509 him and brings to us a most glorious condition 00:24:19.509 --> 00:24:24.150 to his glory and to his virtue, his excellence, 00:24:24.210 --> 00:24:29.069 and his moral goodness. Jesus is able to do all 00:24:29.069 --> 00:24:32.869 of this. And he does do this for us. For he is 00:24:32.869 --> 00:24:36.630 fully sufficient for all that is needed to bring 00:24:36.630 --> 00:24:39.930 us into this wonderful state. We all have sinned. 00:24:39.930 --> 00:24:43.329 We have fallen short of the glory of God. We 00:24:43.329 --> 00:24:45.910 have missed the mark. There is no way that we 00:24:45.910 --> 00:24:48.529 can pull ourselves out of the muck and of all 00:24:48.529 --> 00:24:51.769 the other junk and make ourselves clean. But 00:24:51.769 --> 00:24:56.309 we have been justified freely by his grace. Through 00:24:56.309 --> 00:24:59.349 the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom 00:24:59.349 --> 00:25:02.309 God set forth as a propitiation by his blood. 00:25:02.430 --> 00:25:05.710 Through faith to demonstrate his righteousness. 00:25:08.569 --> 00:25:11.509 This takes away all boasting from us. Because 00:25:11.509 --> 00:25:14.589 it is the work of Christ. We cannot look around 00:25:14.589 --> 00:25:18.009 and say look what I. Now we can be tempted to 00:25:18.009 --> 00:25:20.190 do so, but we're not looking rightly when we 00:25:20.190 --> 00:25:23.150 do. When we see God in all of his holiness, and 00:25:23.150 --> 00:25:25.789 when we see Jesus who has equipped us and brought 00:25:25.789 --> 00:25:28.990 us to this place, when he has given to us all 00:25:28.990 --> 00:25:31.569 of these wonderful things, and he has equipped 00:25:31.569 --> 00:25:35.529 us, he has given to us all things that pertain 00:25:35.529 --> 00:25:39.329 to life and to godliness through the knowledge 00:25:39.329 --> 00:25:45.349 of him, then we must confess we are not worthy. 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:50.779 We are not worthy of this. We cannot boast except 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:56.940 we boast in him. As glorious as all of this is, 00:25:57.079 --> 00:26:00.380 and it is truly glorious, there is yet more in 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:06.460 this passage. And we go to verse 4. Peter says, 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:09.200 by which, and he's referring to the divine power 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.279 and the knowledge of Christ, by which has been 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:16.380 given to us. Exceedingly great and precious promises. 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:23.359 That through these ye might be partakers of the 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:28.519 divine nature. Having escaped the corruption 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:33.660 that is in the world through lust. I don't know 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:37.000 that we can fully understand how is it that we 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.079 as Christian believers are partakers of the divine 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:44.869 nature. That is such. And a packed statement. 00:26:45.029 --> 00:26:47.670 And yet Peter goes right on. It's like, and we 00:26:47.670 --> 00:26:52.009 need to stop. What is this? That we are partakers 00:26:52.009 --> 00:26:55.670 of a divine nature? That God cleanses us through 00:26:55.670 --> 00:26:58.890 Jesus? And that we are made, we are renewed? 00:26:59.029 --> 00:27:02.430 We are made alive? We are made to be able to 00:27:02.430 --> 00:27:06.230 serve him? And through this that we receive a 00:27:06.230 --> 00:27:10.000 divine nature? We are partakers in it? Having 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:12.220 escaped the corruption that is in the world through 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:15.099 lust. This is astounding brothers and sisters. 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:18.900 The wonderful promises given in all the scripture. 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:23.079 Through and in Christ come to his church. To 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.880 the children of God. Who believe in Jesus Christ 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:29.480 through faith. Now these promises are spoken 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:32.700 of in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 20. Like 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:36.559 this. He says. For all the promises of God are 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:39.789 in him that is in Christ. They are yes. and in 00:27:39.789 --> 00:27:42.789 him, amen to the glory of God through us. That 00:27:42.789 --> 00:27:45.329 means when we look at all of the great and glorious 00:27:45.329 --> 00:27:47.869 promises of God in every part of the scripture, 00:27:48.029 --> 00:27:51.930 including the Old Testament, in Christ, they 00:27:51.930 --> 00:27:59.369 are yes and they are amen. And it is to us. Through 00:27:59.369 --> 00:28:02.130 these truths and promises, you are made a partaker 00:28:02.130 --> 00:28:05.220 of the divine nature which transforms you. So 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:07.599 what is this? You escape the corruption of your 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:10.140 mind and will that come through concupiscence, 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:13.779 through wrong desires, through cravings and longings 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:16.779 for what is forbidden or for lust is the word 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:19.839 that is used here. But this is much more than 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:23.119 sexual lust, although that is included. It encompasses 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:26.200 all disordered desires and inclinations toward 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:29.380 forbidden things. Lust is one form of it, but 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:32.900 concupiscence is a bigger word. It's a big word, 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:36.099 but it encompasses the whole, the whole of wrong 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:38.640 desires and cravings and longings for what is 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:42.599 forbidden. We escape the corruption of our mind 00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:45.720 and will that comes through that, and instead... 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:50.619 We feed on Christ. We are partakers of the divine 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:53.880 nature. How do we feed on Christ? Well, we feed 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:58.539 on Christ through his word and through the sacrament. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:01.259 Word and sacrament. We see this, John chapter 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:04.440 6. It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:07.279 profits nothing. The words that I speak to you 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:10.829 are spirit and they are life, Jesus says. And 00:29:10.829 --> 00:29:14.190 then John 6, 53 and 58, and also 1 Corinthians 00:29:14.190 --> 00:29:17.890 10, verse 16 and 17, talk about the sacrament, 00:29:17.930 --> 00:29:20.230 and that is the cup of blessing which we bless. 00:29:20.450 --> 00:29:23.410 We say this every Sunday. Is it not the communion 00:29:23.410 --> 00:29:26.509 of the blood of Christ, the bread which we break? 00:29:26.609 --> 00:29:29.029 Is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 00:29:29.250 --> 00:29:32.430 For we, though many, are one bread and one body, 00:29:32.470 --> 00:29:35.250 for we all partake of that one bread. And so 00:29:35.250 --> 00:29:40.190 as we read God's word and it's illuminated, to 00:29:40.190 --> 00:29:43.190 us by the Holy Spirit. And as we partake of the 00:29:43.190 --> 00:29:47.329 sacraments together and thus we together are 00:29:47.329 --> 00:29:51.029 experiencing the presence of Christ with the 00:29:51.029 --> 00:29:55.430 word and the sacrament and we are made partakers 00:29:55.430 --> 00:30:02.450 of the divine nature. We are transformed into 00:30:02.450 --> 00:30:05.880 his image. 2 Corinthians 3. But we all, with 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:08.339 unveiled faces, I used this before, but I'm going 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:11.559 to do it again. We are transformed as we behold 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:14.700 in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and thus we 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:17.559 are transformed into that image from glory to 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:22.059 glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. I go 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:25.519 through all of this from 2 Peter because I want 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:27.900 to show you the rich inheritance that you have. 00:30:28.410 --> 00:30:31.029 This is what we are striving for, brothers and 00:30:31.029 --> 00:30:33.849 sisters. This is what we are looking for. This 00:30:33.849 --> 00:30:36.430 should be the experience of every child of God 00:30:36.430 --> 00:30:39.829 and of every local congregation. Where we bow 00:30:39.829 --> 00:30:43.089 before the Lord, we experience his grace to us, 00:30:43.250 --> 00:30:47.230 we have the word in the sacrament, and we are 00:30:47.230 --> 00:30:50.289 filled with the Holy Spirit and become partakers 00:30:50.289 --> 00:30:59.289 of the divine nature. Well, What are we to do 00:30:59.289 --> 00:31:02.609 with all of this? I've just laid out here in 00:31:02.609 --> 00:31:06.309 this first half hour of this sermon just all 00:31:06.309 --> 00:31:10.349 of the glorious position that we have in Christ. 00:31:10.509 --> 00:31:15.210 This position and how this affects us as a congregation. 00:31:15.769 --> 00:31:19.609 But Peter does not stop there. As a faithful 00:31:19.609 --> 00:31:22.950 pastor and shepherd, which he is, he goes on 00:31:22.950 --> 00:31:26.390 and he drives the point home. Because he now 00:31:26.390 --> 00:31:29.049 comes and says, in light of all of this, now 00:31:29.049 --> 00:31:32.450 what are you to do? What are you to do in light 00:31:32.450 --> 00:31:35.269 of this great truth? You're not going to work 00:31:35.269 --> 00:31:37.109 yourself into salvation. No, you've received 00:31:37.109 --> 00:31:39.650 it. You've been adopted. But what are you to 00:31:39.650 --> 00:31:42.569 do? Do we just sit around and rejoice? Oh, God 00:31:42.569 --> 00:31:45.390 is great. God is good. We thank him for all of 00:31:45.390 --> 00:31:49.650 these blessings. Or do we labor on his behalf? 00:31:49.970 --> 00:31:53.269 And here's what Peter says. He says, therefore, 00:31:55.730 --> 00:32:01.849 for this reason, with all diligence, add to your 00:32:01.849 --> 00:32:07.329 faith these things. That is, you are to pay attention 00:32:07.329 --> 00:32:12.829 and you strive to develop these qualities, the 00:32:12.829 --> 00:32:16.609 qualities of the children of God, the qualities 00:32:16.609 --> 00:32:22.700 of faithful congregations. As James 2 As James 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:25.980 says in chapter 2, verse 18, he says, I will 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:30.740 show you my faith by my works. I will show them 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:33.460 to you. I will demonstrate them to you. We are 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:37.460 not saved by our works, but we are to demonstrate 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:40.980 that faith by our works. And so he goes on here 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:44.920 and he says so. Add to your faith, giving all 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:48.279 diligence. You add to your faith these things. 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:50.880 I'm going to go down through them fairly rapidly. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:54.980 They're worthy of great study and of great expansion, 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:58.519 but I don't have time to do that today. One is 00:32:58.519 --> 00:33:01.140 that you add to your faith virtue. What is this? 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:06.160 This virtue here is a word that speaks of exhibiting 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:10.440 valor and moral excellence, as in a godly energy. 00:33:11.069 --> 00:33:15.069 Or even manliness. And the pursuit of a course 00:33:15.069 --> 00:33:19.970 of thought, action, and feeling. So you do this. 00:33:19.990 --> 00:33:23.410 You go about to add to your faith these things 00:33:23.410 --> 00:33:28.710 with a godly energy. We're going to go for this. 00:33:29.210 --> 00:33:32.549 Let us go for this as a congregation. As we look 00:33:32.549 --> 00:33:35.210 at the year ahead of us. Let us develop our faith. 00:33:35.309 --> 00:33:38.569 Let us abound in the virtues in all of these. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:41.740 As a congregation. Both in our personal lives. 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:46.960 And into one another. So there's virtue. Valor. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:49.980 Moral excellence. There's knowledge. We are to 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:53.559 grow in the knowledge of the word of God. And 00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:56.299 of the Christian religion. With moral wisdom 00:33:56.299 --> 00:34:00.200 that translates into right living. And so I encourage 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:04.059 you to read. To study. To think. To hear the 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:08.659 word. To go after the knowledge of God. Of course, 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:12.940 this also includes prayer. But we are to add 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:17.679 to our knowledge. Add virtue to our faith and 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:20.980 then add knowledge. The third is, this must be 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:24.659 done with self -control. This is the virtue of 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:28.119 one who masters his desires and his passions. 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:33.260 He is self -controlled. He or she, I should say. 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:37.340 Number four, we then add to that. Perseverance. 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:41.179 Perseverance is a steadfastness and an endurance 00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:44.659 not swerved from your purpose and your loyalty 00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:48.000 to God and the Christian faith even by the greatest 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:51.079 trials and sufferings. Trials and sufferings 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:54.159 are hard. They are difficulty. You might experience 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:57.599 in this year great difficulties that shake you 00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:04.380 to the very foundations. Do not. let it swerve 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:07.840 you from your constancy and your faithfulness 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:10.940 and your love for God and your love for the saints. 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:15.960 Be faithful in this and persevere. Be steadfast 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:22.360 and endure. To this, we are also to add godliness. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:25.579 This godliness, one of the good English word 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:29.400 for it is that of piety. It's reverence and respect 00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:34.159 for God. and his word and of course this includes 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:37.500 the reverent and the right worship of God from 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:40.840 the heart to this then we are to add brotherly 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:45.260 kindness and love these two are very very close 00:35:45.260 --> 00:35:47.840 but the word brotherly kindness is the word Philadelphia 00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:50.400 y 'all have heard of the city of Philadelphia 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:53.079 do you know why it was named that it was to be 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:56.760 the city of brotherly love named that by I believe 00:35:56.760 --> 00:36:00.289 it was William Penn Philadelphia is the Greek 00:36:00.289 --> 00:36:03.130 word for it. It's the love which Christians cherish 00:36:03.130 --> 00:36:07.269 for each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:36:07.769 --> 00:36:13.369 We are to add brotherly kindness to our faith. 00:36:13.630 --> 00:36:16.989 And this is coupled together with agape, that 00:36:16.989 --> 00:36:22.250 is fervent love, brotherly love, affection, goodwill, 00:36:22.329 --> 00:36:27.340 and benevolence one toward another. And so I 00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:29.900 have a few things to just follow up on this as 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:32.400 we look over to add all of these things. How 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:36.840 does this impact us then in the church? One of 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:39.800 the things to watch out for as the years roll 00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:44.360 on is that of stagnation in relationships. Where 00:36:44.360 --> 00:36:48.340 relationships just kind of become stale or commonplace. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:52.059 When we don't stop and consider the glories of 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:54.860 our Christ and the blessings of our brothers 00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:59.389 and sisters. Watch out for stagnation in relationships, 00:36:59.630 --> 00:37:03.030 where we just kind of get easy with each other, 00:37:03.150 --> 00:37:07.269 but then we just kind of just grow a little distant. 00:37:07.610 --> 00:37:10.570 Maybe we have other interests, and so just these 00:37:10.570 --> 00:37:13.409 things come, and we don't have that fervent love 00:37:13.409 --> 00:37:17.030 of the saints, one for another. Watch out for 00:37:17.030 --> 00:37:20.829 that, for stagnation. Keep it fresh. We are blessed 00:37:20.829 --> 00:37:23.309 with a rich and covenantal life with one another 00:37:23.309 --> 00:37:25.929 in the life of the body. Let us maintain in a 00:37:25.929 --> 00:37:29.650 freshness and an intense love for one another. 00:37:29.909 --> 00:37:32.690 And sometimes this means doing hard things. Sometimes 00:37:32.690 --> 00:37:35.429 this means approaching one another, working through 00:37:35.429 --> 00:37:38.789 difficult situations. Sometimes it means confronting 00:37:38.789 --> 00:37:42.829 sin. Sometimes it means taking a meal to someone. 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:46.659 All sorts of things are involved in this, but 00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:49.599 we need to have that love burning in our hearts, 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:53.440 not only for God, but also for his people, especially 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:59.239 those within our congregation. Each Lord's Day, 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:03.539 as we gather to worship, let us renew our covenant 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:09.590 with God and with each other. We renew it. We're 00:38:09.590 --> 00:38:12.670 here for each other. We love one another. We 00:38:12.670 --> 00:38:15.369 will do hard things for each other. We will help 00:38:15.369 --> 00:38:18.769 bear each other's burdens. We will pray for one 00:38:18.769 --> 00:38:23.150 another and exhort one another. This also means 00:38:23.150 --> 00:38:26.070 greeting one another. And it also means welcoming 00:38:26.070 --> 00:38:29.050 the visitor and the stranger, being interested 00:38:29.050 --> 00:38:32.429 in them. Yes, you can do this even if you're 00:38:32.429 --> 00:38:35.769 shy. And no, this is not just for the elders 00:38:35.769 --> 00:38:39.789 and their wives. This is... For all. We are to 00:38:39.789 --> 00:38:43.150 welcome. Welcome those who come in. Make sure 00:38:43.150 --> 00:38:45.849 that you greet them. Say hello. That is part 00:38:45.849 --> 00:38:48.449 of the covenantal love. That needs to abound. 00:38:48.469 --> 00:38:51.909 And splash out to others. Because our faith. 00:38:52.130 --> 00:38:55.670 In that way. Our belief. And our knowledge of 00:38:55.670 --> 00:38:59.110 God. Is to be one that rejoices. One that reaches 00:38:59.110 --> 00:39:01.909 out to others. And pulls them in. Draws them 00:39:01.909 --> 00:39:09.050 in. With love. And care. We can do this in welcoming. 00:39:10.150 --> 00:39:14.030 We should also greet and get to know the other 00:39:14.030 --> 00:39:16.769 members of the congregation. How will you have 00:39:16.769 --> 00:39:19.030 fervent love for one another if you don't know 00:39:19.030 --> 00:39:22.409 each other? And so, in our fellowship meal, seek 00:39:22.409 --> 00:39:24.949 out someone you don't know well and sit with 00:39:24.949 --> 00:39:27.829 them, showing interest in them and their lives. 00:39:28.349 --> 00:39:31.710 Sometimes there's a work day for the men in doing 00:39:31.710 --> 00:39:34.150 something. It's a good way to get to know one 00:39:34.150 --> 00:39:37.380 another well as you work side by side. I'm glad 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:39.480 to see the ladies' meeting starting again and 00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:41.699 just the fellowship there that is happening and 00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:43.940 the older women teaching the younger women. That 00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:47.079 is a good thing. Lord willing, this month we're 00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:48.980 going to start our first. We're going to have 00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:52.079 a men's meeting, just a gathering together. Maybe 00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:55.800 have a campfire and we'll be able to visit together, 00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:58.619 get to know one another. We can talk about issues 00:39:58.619 --> 00:40:00.840 or problems that someone is facing and we can 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:03.760 look at... at some type of a study together. 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:06.679 And we'll vary that from month to month as we 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:10.400 begin that here in the month of January. And 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:13.980 then, how do we encourage this fervent love and 00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:16.699 this brotherly kindness? We do it by being hospitable, 00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:19.920 inviting others into our homes, working together 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:23.679 in the projects, and living life together. Well, 00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:26.539 Peter goes on then, and he says, for if these 00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:28.940 things, all of these things here that I just 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:32.510 mentioned, faith, virtue, knowledge, self -control, 00:40:32.670 --> 00:40:35.170 perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, 00:40:35.550 --> 00:40:40.449 love. If these things are yours and they abound 00:40:40.449 --> 00:40:45.809 in you, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful. 00:40:46.849 --> 00:40:51.329 Barrenness and unfruitfulness is undesirable. 00:40:51.849 --> 00:40:55.050 We don't want to be barren and unfruitful. But 00:40:55.050 --> 00:40:58.750 rather, as we seek after these things, we will 00:40:58.750 --> 00:41:01.150 not be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge 00:41:01.150 --> 00:41:04.210 of Jesus. You want to grow in your faith? You 00:41:04.210 --> 00:41:06.250 want to grow in the knowledge of Jesus? Love 00:41:06.250 --> 00:41:10.570 His people. Add to these things, all these things. 00:41:11.469 --> 00:41:14.610 And you will grow in your knowledge of Christ. 00:41:14.929 --> 00:41:18.230 He goes on to say, therefore, brethren, be even 00:41:18.230 --> 00:41:21.690 more diligent to make your call and your election 00:41:21.690 --> 00:41:24.730 sure. For if you do these things, you will never 00:41:24.730 --> 00:41:27.550 stumble. For so an entrance will be supplied 00:41:27.550 --> 00:41:30.869 to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom 00:41:30.869 --> 00:41:37.139 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One other 00:41:37.139 --> 00:41:39.760 thing that I would like or one other application 00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:45.059 that I would to make in that I come back again 00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:47.579 to what I mentioned earlier and that is our life 00:41:47.579 --> 00:41:51.900 together begins with joyful and reverent worship. 00:41:52.219 --> 00:41:54.739 And it flows downstream of that. So I'm going 00:41:54.739 --> 00:41:57.579 to give a few more applications of this. One 00:41:57.579 --> 00:42:01.239 is do not casually miss or neglect the Lord's 00:42:01.239 --> 00:42:04.900 Day meeting. make it your point that whenever 00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:07.079 possible of course there's sickness and there's 00:42:07.079 --> 00:42:10.900 travel but whenever possible be there be there 00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:13.280 at the lord's day meeting to worship our lord 00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:18.239 together and to fellowship with his saints with 00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:20.980 the people of god this is the renewal of our 00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:25.280 covenant with god and with each other we worship 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:30.079 the lord in the beauty of holiness now also as 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:32.539 It's given a couple times in the New Testament. 00:42:33.179 --> 00:42:36.079 Elders and teachers are to stir up these gifts 00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:37.920 of the congregation. That's what I'm doing right 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:41.019 now. But we're also commanded to stir up love 00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:43.559 and good working in one another. So it's not 00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:46.739 only for elders and teachers. It's also for one 00:42:46.739 --> 00:42:49.559 another. So consider these passages. Hebrews 00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:52.960 10 and verse 24. Let us consider one another 00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:57.650 in order to stir up love and good works. not 00:42:57.650 --> 00:43:00.030 forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. 00:43:00.269 --> 00:43:03.530 You see the thing right there is assembling together. 00:43:03.610 --> 00:43:06.389 When we come together, there's a love, there's 00:43:06.389 --> 00:43:08.670 a unity, there's the word, there's sacrament, 00:43:08.750 --> 00:43:11.150 there's all of the things, there's the blessing, 00:43:11.289 --> 00:43:14.449 there's the meal together. All of this together 00:43:14.449 --> 00:43:19.929 stirs up love and good works. which is why he 00:43:19.929 --> 00:43:22.510 says, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves 00:43:22.510 --> 00:43:26.670 together as the manner is of some, but exhort 00:43:26.670 --> 00:43:30.230 one another, and so much more the day, so much 00:43:30.230 --> 00:43:32.730 more as you see the day approaching. And this 00:43:32.730 --> 00:43:35.690 is where exhortation to one another should not 00:43:35.690 --> 00:43:38.269 just come from the elders and teachers. It also 00:43:38.269 --> 00:43:41.190 should come from each other, blessing and encouraging 00:43:41.190 --> 00:43:45.219 and exhorting one another. Paul tells Timothy, 00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:48.019 he said, I remind you to stir up the gift of 00:43:48.019 --> 00:43:50.059 God which is in you through the laying on of 00:43:50.059 --> 00:43:54.440 my hands. And then Peter in chapter 3, he says, 00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:58.179 Beloved, I now write to you the second epistle, 00:43:58.239 --> 00:44:02.719 in both of which I stir up your pure minds by 00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:06.199 way of reminder that you may be mindful of the 00:44:06.199 --> 00:44:09.840 words which were spoken before by the holy prophets. 00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:13.559 and of the commandment of us, the apostles of 00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:17.460 the Lord and Savior. Right there, it covers the 00:44:17.460 --> 00:44:20.440 whole thing. The prophets and the apostles, we 00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:24.679 stir up your pure minds through the word of God 00:44:24.679 --> 00:44:29.519 and through exhortation. Lastly then, as we are 00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:34.860 a worshiping people, as we are this holy temple 00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:38.800 that God is building right here in this small 00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:45.400 town, Let us then take the gifts of God and the 00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:50.300 knowledge of God that we have and that we will 00:44:50.300 --> 00:44:54.380 continue to receive and let us take it out into 00:44:54.380 --> 00:44:58.940 the world. I remember a preacher preaching a 00:44:58.940 --> 00:45:03.300 sermon one time entitled Love with Shoes On. 00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:10.150 We take all that God has blessed us with. And 00:45:10.150 --> 00:45:14.949 that God will increase in us throughout this 00:45:14.949 --> 00:45:17.750 year. And then we take it out into the world. 00:45:17.829 --> 00:45:20.650 We take it out in the way, in the relationships, 00:45:21.530 --> 00:45:24.630 in business. We take it out in hospitality. We 00:45:24.630 --> 00:45:27.309 take it out in the care of the poor and in love 00:45:27.309 --> 00:45:29.849 for Christ's church and in love for the community 00:45:29.849 --> 00:45:32.409 in which we're placed. And we take it out in 00:45:32.409 --> 00:45:36.849 prayer and in your families and with a zeal for 00:45:36.849 --> 00:45:41.369 God. and for his church. Not a misguided zeal, 00:45:41.489 --> 00:45:43.909 for there are some who have misguided zeal, but 00:45:43.909 --> 00:45:48.929 in a transformed, holy zeal that affects all 00:45:48.929 --> 00:45:52.869 of our life. Let us go forth then, encouraged 00:45:52.869 --> 00:45:56.510 by the word of God for this year. May it be a 00:45:56.510 --> 00:46:00.170 year of great blessing, of a growth and increase 00:46:00.170 --> 00:46:05.030 in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ in 00:46:05.030 --> 00:46:07.730 this congregation. In the name of the Father, 00:46:07.809 --> 00:46:10.329 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let's pray.