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Wayne Manago

53 sermons

November 2008

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08 New Year - Old Advice for a Brand New Year - 2pet 3 10-18

2 Pet 3:10–18

*“OLD ADVICE FOR A BRAND NEW YEAR”* 
*2 Peter 3:10-18*
IMBC Hobart, IN – 01-06-08 am
* *
INTRODUCTION:
 
; What does a new year mean to you?
 
; It could mean 365 days of life and happiness, but the Bible warns in *Proverbs 27:1*, "Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know not what a day may bring forth." 
 
; In the year 2008 it could mean 52 weeks of business, prosperity and good health, but James cautions in *James 4:13-14*, "Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there, and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow, You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
 
; A new year, therefore, is a period unknown, a sea uncharted, a mystery unexplained and a highway as yet traveled.
 
; The truth of the matter is only GOD knows what the next 359 days of 2008 holds for you (for Nick and Nina it meant a mild heart attack for Nick and angioplasty on New Year’s Day)!
 
; Some of you listening to this message this morning may have the numerals 2-0-0-8 carved on your tombstone and on your death certificate.
 
;  The year 2008 could mark the end of your earthly journey, and it will usher you into Heaven or Hell for all eternity.
 
; Are you personally prepared for such a possibility?
 
; But, for others, 2008 will be the new year of beginning for new careers, the adventures of marriage and or the responsibilities of parenthood.
 
; For Bible-believing Christians, 2008 will mean 52 Sundays for worship, 52 Sunday School Lessons, 52 Mid-week prayer meetings, 365 personal devotional times and many opportunities to tell others the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
; The opportunities in the New Year through Jesus Christ are truly unlimited!
 
; I want to assure you that as you face the unknown future, you do not have to face it alone, Christ wants to walk with you and give you the needed strength for what lies ahead in the unknown new year.
 
; As I have stated many times from this pulpit, “God never dispenses His sovereign grace in advance to deal with the unknown—He dispenses it only as it is needed!” 
 
; I would like you to join me in *2 Peter 3:10-18* to look at some "*Old Advice For A Brand New Year*" as recorded in God's inspired Word the Bible, as written by the Peter.
 
; Peter recorded for you some pertinent exhortations about facing the unknown future.
 
; Let's pray and seek the Lord's direction as we look to the inerrant Word of God for some comfort and direction for the New Year 2008.
 
; I would like to give you 4 powerful pointers that  Peter gave the Christians in A. D. 66 to assist them for the unknown that lie ahead in their quest to serve the Lord.
 
; Let’s pray!
 
I.  */LIGHTLY HOLD TO THAT WHICH IS /*
    */TEMPORARY/* – *2 Peter 3:11-12a *“Since all these
     things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you 
     to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking and hastening the 
     coming of the day of Lord,”
 
A.   The Resolution of Peter's Writings
 
    1.  The word “since” (KJV "therefore") in *vs. 11* is 
         important because it directs the readers mind 
         back to the first ten verses, which give the 
         reason for following these challenges given 
         by Peter in *vss. 11-18*.
    2.  The Lord’s soon return--it will be both 
         surprising and catastrophic: "like a thief in the 
              niqht" states *vs. 10*, only God knows the 
         exact time, but we must be prepared!
    3.  The "day of the Lord (God)" describes a coming 
         end-time event that begins with the rapture 
         of the church and ends with the destruction 
         of the heavens and the earth and the 
         beginning of eternity.
    4.  The resolution of Peter's Writing is to warn of 
         impending danger and thus urge Christians 
         to unite around Christ and be prepared for 
         His soon return.
 
  B.  The Relevancy of Peter's Writings
 
    1. What Peter penned in A.D. 66 is still a  
        relevant challenge for those of us who live in 
        the 21st Century and still anticipate the Lord 's 
        soon return.
    2.  If the Lord's return is imminent and I believe 
         it still is, you must see the need for this first 
         challenge from Peter, lightly grasp or hold on 
         to that which is temporary, because all that 
         will matter, when Christ returns, is that which 
         is eternal.
    3.  Because of Christ’s imminent return, you 
         must loosen your grasp on the things of this 
         earth, because they are temporary and will 
         all pass away (you can’t take anything with you when 
             you go).
    4.  Because Christ’s return is truly eminent and 
         you should be living your life prepared for 
         and expecting His soon return.
    5.  In Paul’s letter to Titus he stated, "We should               
             live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 
             looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our 
             great God and savior Jesus Christ" *Titus 2:12, 13*.
 
II. */LIVE HOLY AND GODLY LIVES/* - *2 Peter *
*     3:14 *“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be 
       diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless  and 
        blameless;”
 
A.    When You Live Holy You Will Experience Peace with God.
 
1.   Actually this phrase appears last in this                     verse in the original Greek structure; it is the concluding thought to this verse “be diligent to be found by Him (Jesus) in peace.”
2.   The Christian knows that through Jesus Christ he has been declared righteous (justified) by faith and that because of that work of Christ he now has peace with God, *Romans 5:1* "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
3.   When you choose to live in the light of God's                     Word on a daily basis and have open fellow-                     ship with the Father and His Son, then and                     only then will you experience this peace which is referred to in this verse.
4.   This peace with God is a daily experience of                     confessing sins, receiving God's forgiveness and being purified from all unrighteous-                     ness according to *1 John 1:9*.
 
B.    When You Live Holy You Will Spotless and Blameless.
 
1.   How does the Christian who possess a sin                     nature live righteously on this earth?
2.   Peter's challenge is that Christian’s are to be found, “without spot and blameless.”
 
      a.  Christians should have a spotless 
           character and a blameless reputation like 
           their example the Lord Jesus Christ (see *1 *
*            Peter 1:19* “but with the precious blood of Christ, 
                 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
      b.  This is a reminder that soon all will stand 
           in the presence of a holy God, your final 
           Judge, this should serve to motivate each 
           one of us to live a holy and pure life.
      c.  This type of life is in stark contrast to the 
           false teachers mentioned earlier in *2 *
*            Peter 2:13*.
      d.  Who are you following and patterning 
           your lives after? If it is anyone but Christ 
           you are in danger of being misled and                     
           disillusioned.
    3.  The words, “holy living” [conduct] and “god              
             liness" in *vs. 11* appear in the present tense,                    
         signifying that every aspect of the 
         believer’s life should be separated from 
         the world and set apart unto God.
    4.  The Christian’s life and conduct should,  
         without apology, point to the Savior Jesus 
         Christ! Does yours?
 
III.  */BE ALERT TO DECEIVERS/* - *2 Peter 3:17*
      “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on 
          Your guard so that you are not carried away by error of un- 
          principled men and fall from your own steadfastness,”
 
  A.  The Susceptibility to Error
 
1.   The phrase, “knowing this beforehand" reminds us of the danger of error that constantly lurks at the door of each one of our lives.
2.   Let me tell you how susceptible you actually are to falling prey to error; if you are not in the Word of God daily and you are not seeking God’s wisdom daily you are on the verge of being led astray with the philosophy and thinking of this present world.
3.   The Word of God serves to purify your thinking and thus draws you closer to Him and His ways.
4.   If you are forsaking your Bible reading and devotions; you may be closer to error than you would want to believe (Bible reading challenge in the afternoon service).
 
  B.  The Warning Against Wicked Individuals 
       Desiring to Deceive You.
 
1.   Peter had just warned of this problem in                 *Chapter 2:1-3:3* it was fresh on their minds.
2.   Sometimes deception will be blatant and                 other times it will be subtle.
 
      a.  Adam and Eve
      b.  Angel of Light, *2 Corinthians 11:14*
      c.  Satan is the father of lies *John 8:44*
         
3.   This hurts to have to say this but, I seriously believe some of you have already been duped by believing that your way of life is pleasing to God when the Bible speaks directly against some of the things you are presently involved in or not involved in (take heed to the warning).
 
C.  Error Will Rob You of Joy and Your Affectivity  
     for God  "fall from your own steadfastness"
 
1.   The particular danger being addressed is not that of falling from grace (that is impossible), but from the firm settled principles of religious truth into error that deceives.
2.   Satan has no reason to bother Christians who are cold, calloused and disillusioned; they are accomplishing nothing for the cause of Christ!
3.   He is hot on the trail of those who are deter-mined to live their lives for God!
 
IV. */STRETCH YOUR SPIRITUAL STATURE/* 
     *2 Peter 3:18* "But grow in the grace and knowledge of 
        Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ…”
 
  A.  Christians Must Grow – It’s Only Natural
 
1.   Illustration: a young child getting measured at the doorframe by his parents.
2.   *1 Peter 2:2* states, "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,"
3.   Are you growing, maturing and changing into the person God desires you to be?
4.   If not why Not?
5.   Are you desiring God’s Word and studying it daily and learning all you can about your re-lationship with Him? 
 
!   B.  Two Specific Areas of Peter's Concern
 
1.   “Grow in Grace”
 
      a. Grace is the key to any growing developing 
          relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
      b. It is the outward demonstration of the fruit 
          of the Spirit in One’s life visible for all to see.
      c. One commentary explains it this way, ”Growth 
              in *grace* is not increased head knowledge or tireless 
              activity; it is increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus.” [1] 
 
2.   “grow in knowledge”
 
a.    Knowledge means acquaintance with the 
Lord through His written word—the Bible.
b.    Growth in knowledge means increasing study of and subjection to His words, works, and ways.
c.    Remember that the Scriptures warn that  knowledge alone puffs up and leaves a person empty; but when in tandem with grace, knowledge will ultimately lead to spiritual growth and maturity for the studying believer.
d.    The only way this can take place is by 
           being in God’s Word daily, along with 
           regular church attendance and a 
           determination to live for God no matter how 
           difficult it may be at times. 
 
CONCLUSION: 
 
;  In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only babies." 
; A frothy question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes--whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth and maturity take time.”[2]

\\ ----
[1]MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: /Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments/. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. 2 Pe 3:18

[2] From Sermonillustrations.com

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