Sermon Nuggets Mon Feb 21 Day of the Lord
Verses 2 Peter 3:9-18
Eph 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The Day of the Lord
As we have been thinking on 2 Peter for some weeks now previously we have seen how Peter encouraged us not to be troubled by those who scoff at the promise of the Lord's return. We are to remember the Word of God not the words of men. When we judge truth by the Bible it will be our anchor and our security. God has intervened in this world. The world events are in his hands. We see not only how the prophecies were fulfilled during Christ's first coming, but also how the prophecies are being completed in his second coming. But also remember that God's ways are not our ways. He is on a different time schedule that we are. For the Lord a 1,000 years is as a day and a day as a 1,000 years. Our task is to trust and obey to be ready and to be working.
As we are into another decade since our new millennium you will continue to be deluged with books and articles predicting the Lord's coming. The word is out by some calculations that it is suppose to take place in May of 2011. I caution you regardless of how well know or well intentioned the author or preacher is, to beware that they do not have any greater knowledge than the disciples of Jesus day when Jesus will return.
Are there signs that his coming will be soon? Yes! But I believe God has given to his church various signs so that we can always be expectant and ready. The first call of vs9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The first step to be prepared for the Lord’s return is by repenting of sin and turning to trust Christ for your salvation by faith. His patience is to see the children of God prepared to enter into His eternal kingdom. Are you ready for the second coming by knowing you are saved by the grace of the Lord through faith? (Eph 2:8,9)
Repentance is turning from your way, your thinking, and your sin and facing Christ, giving up the past and embracing Him for the future. It trusts him with you life, your soul, your mind, your spirit, your body, your being.
Although many will give attention to the signs prior to His coming it is clear in this passage we will be looking at, Peter is calling us to be a people who live for His glory and live as examples of light in our dark world. Believing in the second coming of Jesus and awaiting that Day of the Lord should make a difference in how you live not just what you believe.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Feb 22 Prophecy
Verses- 2 Pet 3:9-13
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
The Prophecy of His coming
Prophecy is prevalent in Scriptures. Some things happen because God said they would. And some things were given as warnings that might happen if a nation or a person did not change his ways. Many nations including Israel were warned in specific details of things that would happen if they did not repent. When they did not repent those prophecies came true. But another important aspect of prophecy is forth-telling God's word so the people might have a response of repentance, assurance, joy, hope, or whatever.
Often at Christmas time we look at Old Testament prophecies predicting the coming of the Messiah. Jesus was to born in Bethlehem, he was to escape to Egypt, he was to be born of a virgin, he was to be from the tribe of Judah, he was to grow up with powers of healing, he was to be despised and rejected, he was to be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, he was to be killed, pierced, without breaking of any bones. He was to rise again, and ascend to heavens. All of these predictions accurately occurred. We couldn't put all those details together to figure out his life before hand. Hindsight brought about the awareness of how carefully all of history was in the hands of God. He carried out exactly what he had planned. That is also the case with prophecies yet fulfilled.
Peter uses this phrase "The Day of the Lord". There are different teachings regarding this. Some teach "the coming of Christ" and "the day of the Lord" are actually two separate events. Some will teach because Peter says it will be like thief in the night there will be secret rapture. Others indicate it refers to the final judgment day after the Millennium. Now some think it includes all the Millennium, while others believe it refers everything related to his coming.
If you read other passages from Paul's letters you will see similar expressions are used interchangeable. In 1 Thessalonians Paul speaks of the coming of the Lord for the righteous and calls it the "day of the Lord" as he discusses the timing of these events. You might study that there are different phrases used in the Bible- the day of the Lord, the Day of Christ, the day of Lord Jesus Christ, God, that day, the last Day, His day, the revelation of Christ, the appearing of Christ, the coming of Christ. For those who want to distinguish between the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord, I think they run into trouble with the many passages that use both terms in the same context and calls it the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are four Greek words: Parousia which means coming or arrival. Epiphanias, meaning appearing or shining, being made visible. A third word is apokalupto- meaning disclosed or unveiled, revealed or revelations. And the last term is Hemeria "Day".
The context of the passage is the best way to understand their various interpretations. It seems to me that instead of thinking these are four different events it refers to four aspects of the same event.
We have the gospels which approach the same events of Christ's first coming with four views- Jesus as King, Jesus as Man, Jesus as divine and Jesus as the fulfillment of the coming Messiah.
There are times Paul and other N.T. writers want to show Christ's certainty and reality in his literal coming thereby using the word parousia. There are time when the emphasis of His coming is on his majesty and Jesus is revealed as King of Kings and Lord of Lords then apocalypto us used. There are times when the writer wants to encourage the hearts of those undergoing persecution to hang in there with perseverance. That visible return of his bodily presence gives that emphasis with Epiphanias. The context of the word gives various views of how we should see Jesus coming again, as he fulfills various roles of prophecy. So I do not think by this context that we are talking about a 24 hour day, but the event that beings the end of this world and the beginning of the next, prompted by the return of Jesus.
Although there are different teachings on this, for what it is worth that is my read. More tomorrow.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Feb 23 Peril
Verses: 2 Peter 3: 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
The Peril of His Coming
In the prophecies of the second coming of Jesus there will be peril and great destruction. It will be a sudden surprise, unexpected for many, yet it is visible to all, heard by all. Someone asked me last week how that is possible. In our day and age did not the whole world watch the downfall of Egypt? Or previously over and again there was the replaying of the crashing of the Twin Towers on 9-11-01? What will be invented in the future will be even more mind bogging as the world closes in to the Day.
There will be judgment. Peter reminds us of the cosmic explosion the destruction by fire, and even the heavens, the stars, like stated in Joel's prophecy will be blackened. It will be catastrophic. The heavens will pass away with a great noise. While "the heavens" could refer to the atmosphere, I believe it could also refer to the ways we see the universe including the stars.
The peril toward the earth is elements will be destroyed by fire, and earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Listen to a couple similar passages Mk 13:24,25 "But in those days following that distress the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; The stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shakened."
Jesus further tells John to write in Rev 6:12-14 "I watched as he opened the 6th seal there was a great earthquake, the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to the earth, the sky receded like a scroll rolling up and every mountain and island was removed from its place." That certainly sounds to me like total destruction. That is the end of this world as we know it.
Doyle Evans an astrophysicist of Los Alamos Scientific Lab in New Mexico noted that an explosion occurred in a nearby galaxy known a N- 49 of a gamma radiation that lasted for only 1/10 of a second. If that had occurred in our galaxy, it would have instantly vaporized earth.
Should this be cause for despair? Not at all, for Peter also tells us that it will usher in a new order. We look forward to this "new heavens and new earth" because of God's promise.
Two ants were walking on this beautiful spring day on a golf course. A duffer came along and set up his ball right by them and swung several times hitting the dirt around the ball. Each time the ants were shaken. Finally one ant turned to the other and said, "If we want to stay alive, we'd better get on the ball."
Friend, that's the point of Peter message. If you want to escape destruction you better get on the ball. The words of this prophecy are not conditional. It isn't that it might happen if we do not straighten up, but that it will happen this is a promise just as assured and real as Jesus first coming. If destruction is complete and inevitable then how are we to invest our energies? This is the Lord's call for personal holiness, inner peace, evangelistic zeal, doctrinal steadfastness by growth in grace and knowledge.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Feb 24 Preparation
Verses- 2 Peter 3: 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
The Preparation of His Coming
People do not expect it when thieves come to rob you. During the Holidays a movie often shown is "Home Alone". Remember the story of a boy left accidently by himself while his family flew to France? Some robbers are hitting homes that are vacated during the holidays and this home was on their list. They were surprised this little boy was there to meet them with all his various inventions of to do battle with them. I asked the obvious, "Why didn't he just go to the police since he knew the thieves were coming?" But then you wouldn't have this Hollywood story.
If you know thieves are coming you are prepared. There will be some who are prepared and some who are not prepared for Jesus coming. All are not surprised. Many are looking forward to it. Others will be blind sided in their sinful ways.
Rev. 21 speaks of the new heaven and earth. Prophecies are not just predictions they are also proclamations that are to have an effect on us primarily for the here and now. The reason the Lord tells us as much as he does about the second coming is that we might be prepared for it spiritually and live lives that will assure us of the rewards of his saints.
When I was growing up a popular question I would hear asked by ministers is what would you want to be found doing when the Lord returns? Although it made good preaching, Christ is with me all the time. It isn't as if it will be a surprise to Him what I am doing. I bring Christ into all of my activities now. But the challenge was to live a life for eternity not concentrating on things that pass away.
But the point is preparation, which isn't only having Christ as your savior; it is living a life to receive the rewards. Our call is to be holy, not happy. WE are to live fully and wholly unto Him and set apart from ungodliness.
If you received God's gift of salvation by grace through faith you have made your peace with God. You are ready to grow in his grace, to love and serve and help one another. What happened when you and I cannot live that type of life? Peter fell lots of times, but here is where the grace of God comes in. Forgiveness is a wonderful gift. The Holy Spirit begins working in us to make us more like Jesus. I get so impatient I want to be free from all temptations of sin right now. But I am not. God shows me that I am accepted by His work and when I stay focused on Him He'll do the rest. That is why personal prayer and Bible reading is so important for our spiritual health. It reminds us of truth and the will and ways of God in our lives.
How do we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming? Well holy living as something to do with it. Living out Christ in our world will affect our world.
When we read in the book of Revelation that there will be people of all tribes and all peoples and all nations, there is no question that it is our job to spread this truth world wide. It is a clear motive of the US Center of World Missions in California to spearhead a united effort to evangelize the unreached peoples groups of the world who have never heard the gospel message. It does not mean each person comes to Christ, but the nations have received the message of Christ We are part of that plan to help unreached peoples get reached. Sending missionaries is part of that plan. Evangelism is part of that plan. We are part of that.
D. L. Moody tells the story that when General Sherman went to Atlanta for more troops he left the fort, in Kennesaw Mountains with a little handful of men to guard some rations that he had brought there. General Hood however attacked the fort. For a long time that battle raged fearfully. Half of the men were either killed or wounded. The general in command was injured 7 times in that battle. When they were about to run up the white flag and surrender the fort, they had seen a signal on a mountain some 15 miles away. "Hold the fort; I am coming" W. T. Sherman.
That message fired up the hearts of those who remained and they were able to hold out until reinforcements came. They kept it and the supplies from going into the hands of their enemies.
So our heavenly commander has given us that same signal message of challenge and assurance. Let us hold the fort with patience and courage and hope, for the battle will soon be over and victory will be complete.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Feb 25
Verses 2 Peter 3: 15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
The Purpose of His Coming
I want to comment that Peter tells us that Paul wrote about Jesus coming too. Paul spoke of it in all his letters. Peter says Paul includes some things that are hard to understand. (Boy, am I glad he put that in there. First, I agree with Peter. Some of what Paul says is hard to understand.) But notice how Peter treats Paul's writings. He uses the term "Scriptures" and so they are. Peter realized Paul's guidance was from the Holy Spirit and his personal walk with Christ.
Although they had some earlier differences as recorded in Galatians 2, Peter and Paul were on the same team. It was important for them to preach teach and see others saved for the glory of Jesus Christ. Peter was even encouraging the church to read and follow Paul's inspired letters as Scripture. He warned that many are misinterpreting them and making them say things Paul did not intend. Even though they had different audiences, God’s truth ultimately united them and corrected Peter.
I think Peter is mentioning three simple but real purposes behind Jesus return. The first two reasons we have already mentioned. He is coming to judge he wicked and to reward the righteous. Many parables talk about the separation of the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats the wise virgins and the foolish virgins, those with the garments and those without. We will be separated from God or live forever in his presence base on our faith in Christ alone.
But there is also evidence that there are further rewards for the believer, which I think are jobs and tasks we will be given based on our faithfulness to our work on earth. What we have done for Christ is part of a different type of judgment.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ will be glorified and honored and worshipped. We come to worship Him corporately as well as privately. There will be the final performance when Jesus will become completely glorified by all of creation. So now we need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How can you grow in grace? That does not mean we will be given more grace. You will not have more of Christ than you already have. You cannot have more salvation than what he has already given you. You cannot be more justified or more forgiven than you are or were on that day of your salvation. You will never be more accepted by Jesus than you are now, nor any more or less than any other Christian. Jesus cannot love us more than he does already.
However, there is difference in the display of our grace and our understanding and appreciation and love and service of Christ in our lives. We do not all have the same knowledge of Jesus and aren't as close to Christ in love. We grow in love for him and in service of him and in obedience to him and in faith in trusting him and courage to stand up for him and in zeal of making him known. We grow in brotherly love and grow in humility. Grace is not dependent upon how many years we have been a Christian either. For there are young people that are more mature in their faith and in their life and in their knowledge of God than many Christians who have been saved for 30-40-50 years, but have not gotten beyond the baby stage of maturity.
The first century Christians underwent persecution. They got closer to Christ as they depended upon Him more. They grew in grace under suffering and hard times.
Jesus does not want us stagnant but growing in our faith and our understanding. We are not to be lazy, but working. Do you live for temporary pleasure? It will pass. But to Him be glory both now and forever; the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Jesus is coming again, because in the first coming he came to earth to die, now he is returning to dwell as Lord forever, the first coming he came as man of sorrows and now as the Mighty God, before he came as the lamb of God now he will come as the lion of Judah. Before as the prince of peace and now as the King of Kings an Lord of Lords. Before he came as the author of salvation, now as the finisher of faith, before he came to atone for sins, now he is coming as the judge of the righteous and unrighteous. Before he came to accomplish our salvation, now he is coming to receive our praise.
Jesus is coming in glory to be glorified to the earth, to show Satan demons, those who pierced Him and those who ignored Him to show those who love Him and those who do not, that He is God and there is none else like Him. All creation will bow their knees before Him and worship.
We are to give him glory now as well as forever! Are you prepared?
Pastor Dale
