Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

This morning, I told you about an article regarding “Why Waiting Is Torture.”

You may have remembered that:

The experience of waiting, whether for luggage and lining up for the next movie or Richmond Nightmarket, is defined only partly by the objective length of the wait.

The expert on lines say that occupied time (walking to baggage claim) feels shorter than unoccupied time (standing at the carousel).

To further add to this illustration, Alex Jones also talked about other experiences of people waiting, such as going on an elevator.

Have you ever rode on an elevator with a lot of mirros in it?

Have you ever wondered why there are mirrors?

This is also why one finds mirrors next to elevators.

The idea was born during the post-World War II boom, when the spread of high-rises led to complaints about elevator delays.

The rationale behind the mirrors was similar to the one used at the Houston airport: give people something to occupy their time, and the wait will feel shorter.

With the mirrors, people could check their hair or slyly ogle other passengers.

And it worked: almost overnight, the complaints ceased.

The idea was born during the post-World War II boom, when the spread of high-rises led to complaints about elevator delays.

The reason behind the mirrors was similar to the one used at the Houston airport: give people something to occupy their time, and the wait will feel shorter.

With the mirrors, people could check their hair or slyly stare at other passengers.

And it worked: almost overnight, the complaints ceased.

As we are waiting for the second coming of Jesus, God did not just leave us here on earth with nothing to do as we wait.

That would be boring.

The Bible can be described as a mirror.

James 1:22-

As you are looking intently at this book, the Bible tells you what are you to do about your life and it gives you ways to “kill time” as you wait for Jesus’ second coming OR you wait for the time when the Lord takes you home.

Looking at this book means that you are obeying the word of God and equipping yourself to be prepared to meet Jesus face to face.

Failing to do what this book tells us is like someone who forgets what he was like.

As you are looking intently at this book, the Bible tells you what are you to do about your life and it gives you ways to “kill time” as you wait for Jesus’ second coming OR you wait for the time when the Lord takes you home.

Looking at this book means that you are obeying the word of God and equipping yourself to be prepared to meet Jesus face to face.

Knowing that Jesus is coming back, how should that truth and reality affect our lives?

What are the implications?

We looked at this morning so I invite you to turn there one more time.

We looked at verses 1-10 where Peter gives an explanation on why Jesus is taking so long to come back.

We will see in verses 11-14 how Christians are to live out their faith as they wait.

READ.

Exposition

Peter begins in verse 11 that since Jesus Christ is coming back to end human history, what kind of people ought we to be as Christians?

It is not simply knowing in our heads that Christ will come back.

If you truly believe that Jesus is coming back and know the outcome of this world, then those truths ought to motivate you to respond appropriate and to live a new quality of life.

I see four principles from his passage alone that provide helpful instructions for us.

1. Christians Are To Live A Holy Conduct

Perhaps the word holy or holiness may not be too familiar to some of you, and it may sound too archaic and religious, especially in our society.

Perhaps the word holy or holiness sounds too archaic and religious.

Holy means set apart from the world and set apart toward God.

God Himself is Holy.

He is utterly pure and unique.

He does not have moral corruption.

There is not a hint of sin in God.

Christians who have been saved and forgiven by God through Jesus Christ should know that holiness is not an optional lifestyle.

Peter is telling us to live holy lives.

Holiness ought to be our conduct; our way of life; our way of living as we wait for the coming of the Lord.

Practically, it means distancing ourselves from the ways, values and behaviours of this sinful world.

It does not mean totally escaping from the city and society (and be on youth retreat for your whole life).

God placed you in the world, but not of the world.

Holiness also practically means to identify the ways and values of God.

You are to grow in holiness because none of us are completely perfect and holy.

You are to be different and unique from the world to the point that your friends and teachers can tell that you are radically different from them because you are a follower of Jesus.

It means

If you truly believe that Jesus is coming back and know the outcome of this world, then you are to live a holy conduct.

2. Christians Are To Live A Godly Conduct

“Patience is a virtue” as some have wisely said.

However, “godliness is a virtue.”

Godliness is a fearful and pious attitude towards God.

What is your behaviour like towards God? Do you fear Him? Do you devote you whole life worshipping Him? Do you love Him?

Do you actually fear Him?

Scoffers who questioned the 2nd coming of Jesus led them to live ungodly lives.

You can read all about it in .

They indulged in sin and following their sinful desires.

They have no fear of God.

They do not tremble before Him.

They curse and blaspheme God.

They are greedy for lustful gains.

They do not love and obey Him.

They are enslaved by their own selfishenss and corruption.

That is not who Christians are to be.

Now, maybe you are thinking that holiness and godliness are too high of a goal to pursue.

Maybe you feel that you can’t live up to that standard.

If you are having those thoughts and feelings, then great!

Because you can’t do it by yourself.

God did not leave you alone, but He has given You Himself to empower you.

This does not mean that you’ll be perfect, but it does mean that there is maturing, growing up and perhaps adulting to do.

None of us were born as an adult, right?

We were born as babies.

It’s similar to the Christian life.

When you became a born-again Christian, you became a spiritual infant.

But, as time goes on, you will grow to become spiritually mature.

You should become more and more holy and godly as God is.

3. Waiting With Eagerness For The Lord’s Return

The motivation for living a holy and godly lives is waiting with eagerness for the Lord’s Return.

That is what “waiting for” means.

It is waiting, but with an attitude.

You are looking forward to something.

I’m sure you experience this in your life.

Think about it this way: During school year, you may be looking forward to the next break, but you have to wait as you are studying at school.

Some of you always look forward to the annual youth retreat, but we’re leaving tomorrow, so you would have to wait for next year’s retreat.

The New Testament continuously reminds and tells us to wait and always look forward to Christ’s return, and let me give you one example.

As Christians, we should be waiting and looking forward to Christ’s return with enthusiasm, who is our hope.

Some Christians in the world unfortunately write signs on a board and declaring judgment upon the world.

They’re the doomsdayer who continuously predict disasters.

4. Speed Up The Lord’s Return

This might be a weird statement given by Peter.

It makes it sound like Christians like us have the power to advance the 2nd coming of Jesus.

It may seem to suggest that God Himself does not know when the end will come unless His people do something.