The Bible tells us,
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"In the beginning was the Word
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and the Word was with God
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and the Word was God."
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It says, "To
receive with meekness
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the implanted word,
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which is able to save your souls
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and to be diligent to
present yourself approved to God
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rightly dividing
the word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel,
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our study today
is Feed My Sheep,
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1 and 2 Peter.
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Hello and welcome to our
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We thank you for
taking the time to tune in
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and join us for another
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thought provoking
study in the Word of God.
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Amen.
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With our Sabbath school lesson
overall theme Feed My Sheep.
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You know, when I
think about that,
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we have all
either fed or been fed
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because all we like
sheep need to be fed.
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And we're doing our
part as God has called us
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and equipped us to be
able to share with you,
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what comes from His Word,
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there is no better
food than the Word of God.
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So get your Bibles,
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if you have your Sabbath
school lessons get those,
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but if you don't have one
go to these following website
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absg.adventist.org
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and download lesson number 12
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that covers June 10 to June 16,
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and the overall theme
is The Day of The Lord
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for that lesson study.
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We want to thank
you for taking the time
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and your prayers
and support of 3ABN
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is always greatly appreciated
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to allow us to do
programs like this
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and we thank you for all
you do for the cause of God.
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We have with our panel today,
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faces that you
may have seen before
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because we're able to change
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in throughout the
study for this quarter,
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but we are so thankful
that Jill is with us today.
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Good to have you here, Jill.
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Thank you,
pastor. Jill Morikone.
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Pastor Tom Ferguson,
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the pastor of
the Marion district,
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also in the Illinois Conference
of call again ministry,
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good to have you here.
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Good to be here.
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Mollie Steenson's been
here at that anchor position
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that nobody wants,
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but we're thankful that
you have humbly performed
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what God has equipped you to.
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Thank you, Mollie,
good to have you here.
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And Shelley Quinn,
if I gave you hats,
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you wouldn't have
any place to put them.
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You do so many
things here at 3ABN,
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we appreciate all of
them. Loved every minute of it.
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Thank you so much.
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Shelley, as a matter of fact,
before we get into our study,
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would you have
our prayer for us?
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Surely. Okay.
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Heavenly Father, we do come
once again in the name of Jesus
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and Father, we come this
day to worship You in your Word.
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We're just so grateful to you
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that you didn't
leave us as orphans,
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You sent Your Holy Spirit
and You gave us Your Word,
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so that we could know
You and we know that knowing
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You is eternal life,
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and knowing the one
You sent Jesus Christ.
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So as we come to this,
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we ask now that we
would be emptied of self
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that You would
send Your Holy Spirit
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to be our
teacher speak through us,
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and Lord as always we pray
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that You will
give us ears to hear
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what the Holy Spirit has to say,
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and that You will
give us the unction
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to put these words into practice
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in Jesus name, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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The overall theme
is the day of the Lord.
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Now I wanted to just go ahead
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and talk about the
motive for a moment,
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because it's
amazing that Peter addresses
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something that only a few
New Testament writers address
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The Day of The Lord.
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There is a
theme that's mentioned
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quite a few times in the Bible
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as a matter of
fact to be specific,
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if you put in the
phrase Day of the Lord,
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you'll find 26 references
to The Day of the Lord.
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Not the Lord's day,
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it's quite a
different story all together.
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And it's not the end of...
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it's not the
second coming either,
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it is a series of...
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and when you read about
it, it's thought provoking
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but it's very humbling
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to know that the day
of the Lord is coming
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and people are
not preparing for it.
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Matter of fact, I like to begin
by going to the Book of Joel.
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Joel probably says more
about the day of the Lord
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than Isaiah,
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and Ezekiel, and Jeremiah,
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and we also have the
minor prophets like Amos,
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and Obadiah, and Zephaniah,
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they all talk about
the day of the Lord,
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but it is a frightening event
when you really think about it.
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Okay, let me get there now.
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And when Joel starts in Joel 2,
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I'm getting there now.
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Okay, Daniel,
there Joel, here we are.
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When Joel talks about it,
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he really walks
us through a picture
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that except you're
kept by the power of God
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this would take
you to a Psalms 91,
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where you would
realize you need to have
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a secret place of the most high,
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ain't that right, Shelley?
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Amen.
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Because the theme
here is just a one
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that says to the parishioner,
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listen for the
sound of the trumpet,
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to the preacher,
blow the trumpet.
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Isaiah 58, lift up
our voice as a trumpet.
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But Joel begins in
Joel 2, here it says,
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"Blow the trumpet in Zion."
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That's what Peter is
building on this trumpet
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that was blown by
the prophet Isaiah,
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and Jeremiah, and Amos,
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and Obadiah, and
Zephaniah all these prophets,
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"Blow the trumpet in Zion,
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and sound an alarm
in my holy mountain!
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Let all the
inhabitants of the land tremble,
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for the day of the Lord is
coming, for it is at hand."
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Jill, pick up on
verse 2 and 3 for me.
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"A day of
darkness and gloominess,
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a day of clouds
and thick darkness,
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like the morning clouds
spread over the mountains.
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A people come, great and strong,
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the like of whom has never been,
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nor will there ever
be any such after them,
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even for many
successive generations.
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A fire devours before them,
and behind them a flame burns,
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the land is like the
Garden of Eden before them,
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and behind them a
desolate wilderness.
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Surely nothing
shall escape them."
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Can you see that picture?
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Joel is writing this
in the context of locust,
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when they see the fields
they come in like a sand storm
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and they leave
absolutely nothing in their way.
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And so he's saying in essence,
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he's describing our
fears out breaking of
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what God unleashes
for the day of the Lord.
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In fact, the day of
the Lord it comes upon all,
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nobody's going to
escape the day of the Lord.
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It's right.
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So when Isaiah, the prophet
deals with the day of the Lord
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and this is a motif, in fact,
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it's a
developing theme throughout
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most of the Old Testament
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and touched on by the
New Testament writers.
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And so Peter now, he
takes us to the day of the Lord
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and he says,
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"In light of the fact of
the day of the Lord is coming,
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what shall we do?"
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Matter of fact, I'd like to
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go even a little
further into this,
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how is it going
to affect a humanity?
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Let's read verse 6.
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Pastor Tom, do you have verse 6?
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Go down to verse 9...
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But where are we now? In Joel?
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In Joel 2. Oh, okay.
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If you don't have it I could...
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I got it. You have it?
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Joel 2:6-9, it's
talking about the impact.
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Yes. That's 6-9.
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"Before them the
people writhe in pain,
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all faces are drained of color.
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They run like mighty men,
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they climb the
wall like men of war.
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Every one marches in formation,
and they do not break ranks.
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They do not push one another,
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every one marches
in his own column.
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Though they lunge
between the weapons,
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they are not cut down.
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They run to and fro in the
city and they run on the wall,
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they climb into the houses,
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they enter the
windows like a thief."
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And, Mollie,
pickup verse 10 and 11.
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Verse 10 and 11.
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"The earth shall
quake before them,
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the heaven shall tremble.
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The sun and the
moon shall be dark,
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and the stars shall
withdraw their shining
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and the Lord shall utter
His voice before His army,
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for His camp is very great.
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For He's strong
that executeth His word.
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For the day of the Lord
is great and very terrible
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and who can abide it?"
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And so when
Peter brings this out,
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you know, the new
king who can endure it.
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Amen.
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And so when you look at this,
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if you said there
was a storm coming,
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just recently, you
know, we have these storms,
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they say well tornadoes here,
a fire is here, floods here,
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snow here,
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but when you describe an event
of such magnificent proportions
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and say the entire world
is gonna be affected by it.
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It's amazing that people
will put off preparation forward
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and say, "Well, when it
comes, I'll be just fine,"
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because the day of
the Lord is a motif
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that's just amazingly powerful.
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But I want to
dive into 2 Peter 3,
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because now he
takes us and he reminds us
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in the lesson on
the line of authority.
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How important it is
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and I thought it was interesting
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that he
included in his writings,
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and included in this
lesson is a picture of Peter
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as this young
reluctant disciple.
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This disciple that
had to get out of himself
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before he can get into the Lord.
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And the Lord asked him
a question three times,
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and I want to go and read that.
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I'm going to read
John 21:15, 16 and 17.
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And this is something
that people have heard it
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number of times before.
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A wonderful exercise though,
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because in order for the Lord...
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It serves all of us.
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In order for the Lord to
be able to do anything for us,
00:09:06.68\00:09:11.11
He has to show
us our need of him.
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Amen.
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We can't be
filled with ourselves
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and do the work of God,
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so the Lord had to take Peter
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to a place where he
almost interrogated him
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to some degree
to get him to look
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at what his
condition in fact was.
00:09:24.99\00:09:28.96
So he says in verse 15,
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"So when they had
eaten breakfast..."
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Lord made sure he
had a full stomach.
00:09:34.57\00:09:38.04
"When they had eaten breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
00:09:38.11\00:09:40.91
"Simon, son of Jonah,
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do you love Me more than these?"
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And this is casual right now.
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He said to Him,
00:09:48.38\00:09:49.72
"Yes, Lord, You
know I love You."
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He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
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That's kind of it
begins in a nice way.
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But then Lord says to him
again the second time verse 16,
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"Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?'
00:10:00.73\00:10:04.63
He said to Him, "Yes,
Lord, You know I love You."
00:10:04.67\00:10:08.20
He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
00:10:08.24\00:10:12.51
He said to him the third time...
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And I can imagine Peter saying,
00:10:14.28\00:10:15.94
"Didn't you just
ask me this twice?
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Am I gonna give you
a different answer?"
00:10:18.78\00:10:20.38
He said to him the third time,
00:10:20.42\00:10:21.75
"Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?"
00:10:21.78\00:10:24.05
Peter was grieved
00:10:24.09\00:10:25.42
because He said to
him the third time,
00:10:25.45\00:10:28.12
"Do you love Me?"
00:10:28.16\00:10:29.49
And he said to Him,
00:10:29.52\00:10:30.86
"Lord, You know all things,
00:10:30.89\00:10:35.10
I love You."
00:10:35.13\00:10:36.46
Jesus said to
him, "Feed My sheep."
00:10:36.50\00:10:39.03
And I thought to
myself in this exercise
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.37
and you know, those of us
00:10:41.40\00:10:42.87
we get to the Greek and Hebrew
00:10:42.90\00:10:44.24
and all that
that's a fun thing to do
00:10:44.27\00:10:45.61
because the first two times
00:10:45.64\00:10:47.21
that Jesus asked
Peter, do you love me?
00:10:47.24\00:10:48.81
He said, do you agape me?
00:10:48.84\00:10:50.41
Do you agape me?
00:10:50.45\00:10:51.78
And Peter was not at
that unconditional place yet.
00:10:51.81\00:10:54.18
Yes.
00:10:54.25\00:10:55.58
And you know we have to
get people that are not at
00:10:55.62\00:10:56.95
that unconditional
place room to grow.
00:10:56.99\00:10:59.25
So with the light of
the day of the Lord coming,
00:10:59.29\00:11:02.09
He is saying,
00:11:02.12\00:11:03.46
"Where are you in
your walk with me?
00:11:03.49\00:11:04.83
Do you love me
unconditionally yet?"
00:11:04.89\00:11:07.10
And Peter finally answers,
"Lord you know, I agape,
00:11:07.13\00:11:10.13
I mean, I phileo you.
00:11:10.17\00:11:12.07
I love you like a brother.
00:11:12.10\00:11:13.54
He said, "Okay, if that's where
I'm gonna meet you, go ahead."
00:11:13.57\00:11:15.90
Because Peter had
not yet been converted.
00:11:15.94\00:11:18.04
And later on you find
that Peter was hesitant
00:11:18.07\00:11:21.04
about following the Lord
by pointing to John and say,
00:11:21.11\00:11:24.18
"Well, what about him?"
00:11:24.21\00:11:26.05
The reality of it is
when the Lord calls us
00:11:26.08\00:11:28.05
in order for us to
follow the line of authority
00:11:28.08\00:11:30.49
and that's why
I begin with this,
00:11:30.52\00:11:32.12
Peter had to understand
that the line of authority
00:11:32.15\00:11:34.59
was Jesus first
and him after that.
00:11:34.62\00:11:37.16
Amen.
00:11:37.19\00:11:38.53
It's never the
other way around it,
00:11:38.56\00:11:39.89
the minister is not
the line of authority,
00:11:39.93\00:11:41.23
the conference is not
the line of authority,
00:11:41.30\00:11:42.86
it is only as we
are under Christ.
00:11:42.90\00:11:44.57
Amen.
00:11:44.60\00:11:45.93
It is only as we
follow His leading,
00:11:45.97\00:11:47.34
His Word that
any line of authority
00:11:47.37\00:11:49.37
can be established.
00:11:49.40\00:11:50.74
Jesus had to let Peter
know, I'm the line of authority.
00:11:50.81\00:11:52.87
Wherever I say
to you go, you go.
00:11:52.91\00:11:55.14
If I say follow, you follow.
00:11:55.18\00:11:56.58
Don't hesitate,
don't be lackadaisical.
00:11:56.61\00:11:59.51
And so we, I want
to share a few things,
00:11:59.55\00:12:01.85
three practical things
that came out in lesson
00:12:01.88\00:12:03.89
that I studied about
the line of authority,
00:12:03.92\00:12:05.95
because the mission of
the spiritual leader is...
00:12:05.99\00:12:08.96
four points I brought out,
00:12:08.99\00:12:10.33
to remind the
members of the Word
00:12:10.36\00:12:13.53
that came from
the holy prophets.
00:12:13.56\00:12:15.83
You know, Peter didn't
have a Bible like we have today.
00:12:15.86\00:12:18.70
He had the Old Testament.
00:12:18.73\00:12:20.74
He had the
writings of the prophets,
00:12:20.77\00:12:22.37
so when they
communicated as Jesus did,
00:12:22.40\00:12:25.01
when he communicated, he
communicated from the words
00:12:25.04\00:12:27.88
that were already
established and reiterated
00:12:27.91\00:12:30.08
by the prophets of old.
00:12:30.11\00:12:31.81
So our job today,
00:12:31.85\00:12:33.42
in the
generation we have phrases
00:12:33.45\00:12:35.68
like the New Testament Church,
New Testament Christians.
00:12:35.72\00:12:40.59
Well, the Old Testament
is often looked down upon,
00:12:40.62\00:12:42.79
we have to remind our members
00:12:42.82\00:12:44.93
and we have to remind each other
00:12:44.96\00:12:46.43
that the authority of God's Word
00:12:46.46\00:12:48.00
runs from Genesis all
the way to Revelation.
00:12:48.06\00:12:50.23
Absolutely. Amen. That's right.
00:12:50.27\00:12:51.90
There's no break,
there's no Old Testament
00:12:51.93\00:12:53.57
against New Testament,
00:12:53.60\00:12:54.94
or Paul against
Jesus, Peter against John,
00:12:54.97\00:12:58.37
you notice how
they oftentimes we say,
00:12:58.41\00:13:00.54
"Well, here's what Jesus said."
00:13:00.58\00:13:01.98
But then somebody
said, but Paul said.
00:13:02.01\00:13:04.75
Well, here's what Jesus
said, but Dr. Luke said.
00:13:04.78\00:13:07.35
You know, they
baptized in Jesus name,
00:13:07.38\00:13:09.25
but I said what Jesus said
00:13:09.28\00:13:10.62
baptize in the
name of the Father,
00:13:10.65\00:13:11.99
Son, and Holy
Spirit, but Luke said
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.76
and we pit each other,
00:13:13.79\00:13:15.12
we pit Bible authorities
against the words of Jesus,
00:13:15.16\00:13:19.46
trying to find that
those are old things.
00:13:19.49\00:13:22.60
We have to remind people that
there is no such thing as old
00:13:22.63\00:13:24.93
when it comes to God's Word.
00:13:24.97\00:13:26.74
So we have to point the
church back to the Bible,
00:13:26.77\00:13:28.44
so let me give you
three practical things.
00:13:28.47\00:13:30.97
Go to Acts 17:11,
00:13:31.01\00:13:32.91
three practical steps to guard
00:13:32.94\00:13:36.41
against eroding the
truth of God's Word.
00:13:36.44\00:13:39.45
Three practical steps
00:13:39.48\00:13:42.15
against eroding the
truth of God's Word,
00:13:42.18\00:13:44.15
because the
controversies will come.
00:13:44.19\00:13:47.16
Acts 17:11, who
didn't I have read yet,
00:13:47.19\00:13:49.42
we'll start with Shelly.
00:13:49.46\00:13:52.59
"These were more fair-minded
than those in Thessalonica,
00:13:52.63\00:13:56.33
in that they received
the word with all readiness,"
00:13:56.36\00:13:59.50
speaking of the Bereans.
00:13:59.53\00:14:01.24
"And searched
the Scriptures daily
00:14:01.27\00:14:03.27
to find out whether
these things were so."
00:14:03.30\00:14:06.27
First very important point,
00:14:06.31\00:14:08.81
if you're not
searching the scriptures
00:14:08.84\00:14:10.41
on a daily basis,
00:14:10.45\00:14:11.98
you're not ready
for the day of the Lord.
00:14:12.01\00:14:13.72
Yes, okay.
00:14:13.75\00:14:15.32
If you're not searching
the Bible on a day-by-day basis
00:14:15.35\00:14:17.95
'cause Peter said,
00:14:17.99\00:14:19.32
"The day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night."
00:14:19.35\00:14:21.46
So if you know
the thief is coming,
00:14:21.52\00:14:23.02
you don't know
when he's gonna come,
00:14:23.06\00:14:24.39
he's not gonna send an email,
00:14:24.43\00:14:25.76
he's not gonna
send a prior notice,
00:14:25.79\00:14:27.13
he's going to come.
00:14:27.13\00:14:28.46
And all the
events that he describes
00:14:28.50\00:14:29.83
in verse 10 and 11
of 2 Peter 3 will occur.
00:14:29.86\00:14:32.93
The one thing we can do to
prepare for the day of the Lord
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.20
is search the scriptures daily.
00:14:35.24\00:14:36.97
To see whether
what we're being told
00:14:37.01\00:14:39.31
is in fact
supported by God's Word.
00:14:39.34\00:14:41.84
Second thing is 1 Peter
2:9, this is really important,
00:14:41.88\00:14:46.65
this is a most powerful one.
00:14:46.68\00:14:50.59
I'll have Jill read that one
00:14:50.62\00:14:52.39
because this is one of
those beautiful passages,
00:14:52.42\00:14:54.79
and this is
something we have to realize
00:14:54.82\00:14:56.19
about our position in God.
00:14:56.22\00:14:57.66
1 Peter 2:9? Yes.
00:14:57.69\00:14:59.19
"But you are a
chosen generation,
00:14:59.23\00:15:00.96
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:15:01.00\00:15:03.30
His own special people,
00:15:03.33\00:15:05.33
that you may
proclaim the praises of Him
00:15:05.37\00:15:07.07
who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light."
00:15:07.10\00:15:10.71
When we consider
the truth of God's Word,
00:15:10.74\00:15:13.01
it is not just light,
00:15:13.04\00:15:14.41
what kind of light
is it say it together.
00:15:14.44\00:15:15.78
Marvelous. It's marvelous light.
00:15:15.81\00:15:18.08
Sometimes we don't estimate
who we are in the sight of God,
00:15:18.11\00:15:23.02
we talk down about ourselves,
we talk about our past,
00:15:23.05\00:15:28.49
we relish that's
why I like when Jesus
00:15:28.52\00:15:30.96
asks the man at the pool,
do you want to be made well?
00:15:30.99\00:15:34.10
To want to be made well, mean,
00:15:34.13\00:15:36.03
you have to understand
who you are in Christ,
00:15:36.06\00:15:37.57
we are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood,
00:15:37.60\00:15:41.04
a holy nation and we would
have not just been given light,
00:15:41.07\00:15:44.51
we've been
given marvelous light.
00:15:44.54\00:15:47.34
Remind your
congregants as teachers
00:15:47.38\00:15:50.88
and as leaders in the church,
00:15:50.95\00:15:52.28
remind your people
that they are special
00:15:52.31\00:15:54.15
in God's sight.
00:15:54.18\00:15:55.52
He doesn't choose
those who are throwaways.
00:15:55.55\00:15:59.39
He always brings us
00:15:59.42\00:16:00.89
to the place of a new birth
00:16:00.92\00:16:02.42
and a new standing in Him.
00:16:02.46\00:16:04.46
And then the other
thing, encourage one another,
00:16:04.49\00:16:06.59
not just to know the
truth but to love the truth.
00:16:06.63\00:16:08.70
Pastor Tom, 2
Thessalonians 2:10,
00:16:08.73\00:16:13.30
before we transition to
the next part of our lesson,
00:16:13.34\00:16:15.67
which is the Scoffers.
00:16:15.70\00:16:17.71
2 Thessalonians 2:10.
00:16:17.74\00:16:20.58
Look at that.
This is a danger here.
00:16:20.61\00:16:22.81
"And with all
unrighteous deception
00:16:22.84\00:16:25.75
among those who perish,
00:16:25.78\00:16:27.32
because they did not
receive the love of the truth,
00:16:27.35\00:16:29.45
that they might be saved."
00:16:29.48\00:16:30.82
Wow.
00:16:30.85\00:16:32.19
It's not enough to have an
understanding of the truth,
00:16:32.22\00:16:35.29
you've got to love the truth.
00:16:35.32\00:16:37.73
If you don't love the truth,
00:16:37.76\00:16:39.16
you will fall into the
category of being unprepared
00:16:39.19\00:16:42.43
for the day of the Lord,
00:16:42.46\00:16:43.80
and then you
could become a scoffer,
00:16:43.83\00:16:45.17
which is what Jill
is gonna talk about.
00:16:45.23\00:16:46.57
Yeah.
00:16:46.60\00:16:47.94
The scoffers were for
that we're going to 2 Peter 3.
00:16:47.97\00:16:51.01
Yes.
00:16:51.07\00:16:52.41
2 Peter 3, we're going to
look at verses 3 and 4 here.
00:16:52.44\00:16:56.44
Okay.
00:16:56.48\00:16:57.81
And you read 1 and 2
00:16:57.85\00:16:59.58
so we're picking
up right after that.
00:16:59.61\00:17:01.68
"Knowing this first
that scoffers will come
00:17:01.75\00:17:05.32
in the last days."
00:17:05.39\00:17:07.22
Wow.
00:17:07.26\00:17:08.59
I'm gonna stop
there for just a moment.
00:17:08.66\00:17:10.33
In the last days the
end of time we believe
00:17:10.36\00:17:13.26
that we're living
in the end of time.
00:17:13.29\00:17:15.53
That's right.
00:17:15.56\00:17:16.90
That Jesus is about soon to come
00:17:16.93\00:17:18.27
if you think about
that image from Daniel 2,
00:17:18.33\00:17:20.47
we're in the toenails.
00:17:20.50\00:17:22.17
You know, we're all
the way down the head,
00:17:22.20\00:17:24.31
and the body, and the torso,
and the legs, and the feet,
00:17:24.34\00:17:27.11
and we're down to the
toes at the very end of time.
00:17:27.14\00:17:30.58
At the end of time,
there is many scoffers
00:17:30.61\00:17:32.91
and we hear them
about the second coming,
00:17:32.95\00:17:35.68
"Is Jesus really coming?
00:17:35.72\00:17:37.32
I've been waiting a long time
00:17:37.35\00:17:38.82
and I don't think
He's been coming."
00:17:38.85\00:17:40.52
He hasn't come yet
and everything continues
00:17:40.56\00:17:43.22
as it has from the beginning.
00:17:43.26\00:17:45.89
He's the God of love,
00:17:45.93\00:17:47.23
there's not gonna be any
punishment of the wicked.
00:17:47.30\00:17:50.20
We hear scoffers on the Sabbath,
00:17:50.23\00:17:52.53
God's not that particular,
00:17:52.57\00:17:54.70
it does not matter
what day you go to church on
00:17:54.77\00:17:57.14
or what day you worship on.
00:17:57.17\00:17:58.77
After all the Ten Commandments
were nailed to the cross.
00:17:58.81\00:18:02.28
Why is God so fussy about
what you do on the Sabbath?
00:18:02.31\00:18:06.15
We hear scoffers
about marriage as long as,
00:18:06.18\00:18:08.92
he and I love each other,
that's all that really matters.
00:18:08.95\00:18:13.49
I feel right about this,
00:18:13.52\00:18:14.86
God wants me to
be with this person,
00:18:14.92\00:18:16.66
isn't God the author of Love?
00:18:16.69\00:18:19.36
God just wants me to be happy.
00:18:19.39\00:18:22.16
Dangerous teachings
00:18:22.20\00:18:23.73
when we start to scoff, we mock,
00:18:23.77\00:18:25.87
we make light of what
the Word of God teaches.
00:18:25.90\00:18:30.17
So let's look at these scoffers.
00:18:30.21\00:18:31.64
We'll see an
interesting connection
00:18:31.67\00:18:33.04
between the scoffers
00:18:33.07\00:18:34.44
and walking
according to your own lust.
00:18:34.51\00:18:37.88
In the Greek,
the word for scoffer
00:18:37.91\00:18:39.85
is a mocker or a scoffer,
00:18:39.88\00:18:41.35
but by implication
it's a false teacher.
00:18:41.38\00:18:44.39
So we can say as we talk
about these scoffers, who say,
00:18:44.42\00:18:46.99
"Where is the
promise of Your coming?
00:18:47.02\00:18:48.59
All things have continued
00:18:48.62\00:18:49.96
as they were
from the beginning."
00:18:49.99\00:18:51.36
We're talking
about false teachers.
00:18:51.39\00:18:54.03
Then it continues,
we're in 2 Peter 3.
00:18:54.10\00:18:59.00
They are "Scoffers
come in the last days,
00:18:59.03\00:19:02.27
walking according
to their own lusts,"
00:19:02.30\00:19:05.77
and saying, "Where is
the promise of His coming?
00:19:05.81\00:19:08.51
For since the
fathers fell asleep,
00:19:08.54\00:19:10.05
all things continue
00:19:10.08\00:19:11.58
as they were from the
beginning of creation."
00:19:11.61\00:19:15.72
Walking according
to their own lusts,
00:19:15.75\00:19:18.42
walking in lust can
lead to false teachings,
00:19:18.45\00:19:21.19
and false teachers
instead of submitting themselves
00:19:21.22\00:19:26.56
to the authority
of the Word of God,
00:19:26.59\00:19:28.60
oftentimes exalt what they think
00:19:28.63\00:19:31.13
or their own
preconceived notion or opinion
00:19:31.17\00:19:34.07
above the Word of God.
00:19:34.10\00:19:36.71
False teachers
live like they want,
00:19:36.74\00:19:39.87
they do away
with godly restraints,
00:19:39.91\00:19:42.11
it's like you
become above the law.
00:19:42.18\00:19:45.18
I remember...
00:19:45.25\00:19:47.18
And you see this
happen, unfortunately,
00:19:47.22\00:19:49.62
in many different denominations,
00:19:49.65\00:19:51.62
people who, I
remember one gentleman pastor,
00:19:51.69\00:19:54.99
he stood in the pulpit preached
the Word of God with power.
00:19:55.06\00:19:59.46
And was very strict
in his interpretation
00:19:59.49\00:20:05.27
of what you should do?
00:20:05.33\00:20:07.17
How you should live?
00:20:07.20\00:20:08.84
How you should act?
00:20:08.87\00:20:10.27
And all of that almost
to the point of the people
00:20:10.31\00:20:12.74
sitting in the pews
would be discouraged.
00:20:12.77\00:20:15.64
Wow, where is Jesus
giving me the power,
00:20:15.68\00:20:18.71
enabling me to do this...
00:20:18.75\00:20:20.12
this is a great deal of rules
and I'm struggling with this.
00:20:20.15\00:20:23.85
And then just a
little while later
00:20:23.89\00:20:28.12
behind closed doors,
00:20:28.16\00:20:30.29
who he really was came out
00:20:30.33\00:20:32.23
and he was walking
00:20:32.26\00:20:34.00
according to His own lust,
00:20:34.00\00:20:35.63
thinking himself above
00:20:35.66\00:20:37.30
even what he had
preached from the Word of God
00:20:37.33\00:20:40.20
and putting his own thoughts,
00:20:40.24\00:20:43.81
his own opinions
above the Word of God,
00:20:43.84\00:20:46.41
becoming above the law.
00:20:46.44\00:20:48.44
False teachers seek to
gain recognition, honor,
00:20:48.51\00:20:52.71
and a following,
they don't depend on God
00:20:52.75\00:20:56.22
but depend on
what other people say.
00:20:56.25\00:20:58.32
So if Pastor John says,
00:20:58.35\00:20:59.72
"Jill, you did a
really good job here."
00:20:59.75\00:21:01.96
And then what do you think,
00:21:02.02\00:21:03.36
you're starting to depend
on what somebody else says
00:21:03.39\00:21:06.09
instead of depending on God.
00:21:06.13\00:21:08.43
So false teachers look
00:21:08.46\00:21:10.20
to maybe the people
in their congregation,
00:21:10.23\00:21:12.40
to the
accolades of other people,
00:21:12.43\00:21:14.37
they get propped
up by other people,
00:21:14.40\00:21:17.14
instead of depending
on the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:21:17.17\00:21:19.57
And the third
thing, false teachers
00:21:19.61\00:21:21.04
also seek to gain their
livelihood and security,
00:21:21.08\00:21:25.31
they sacrifice
truth for security.
00:21:25.38\00:21:28.15
Now it's not a bad thing to
want to support your family,
00:21:28.18\00:21:31.65
it's not a bad thing to
want to gain a livelihood,
00:21:31.72\00:21:34.59
and that's a good thing.
00:21:34.62\00:21:35.96
A workman is worthy of his hire.
00:21:35.99\00:21:37.53
But in a special sense,
00:21:37.56\00:21:38.89
false teachers will be willing
00:21:38.93\00:21:41.60
to sacrifice truth
in order to keep a job,
00:21:41.63\00:21:45.60
in order to have
that financial gain
00:21:45.63\00:21:49.04
or financial security.
00:21:49.07\00:21:50.47
Let's look at 2 Timothy 4.
00:21:50.51\00:21:53.17
We mentioned this
earlier, 2 Peter is like
00:21:53.21\00:21:56.81
Peter's last will and testament
written before his death.
00:21:56.85\00:22:00.62
And 2 Timothy would be
Paul's last will and testament
00:22:00.65\00:22:03.89
written before his death.
00:22:03.92\00:22:05.62
So 2 Timothy 4,
00:22:05.65\00:22:09.92
Paul's counsel to Timothy.
00:22:09.96\00:22:12.06
Now this is a counsel
to stand firm for truth
00:22:12.09\00:22:15.30
and not become a false teacher.
00:22:15.33\00:22:17.33
That's right.
00:22:17.37\00:22:18.70
So let's read, Pastor Tom,
you want to take first one?
00:22:18.77\00:22:22.04
Which verse now? 2 Timothy 4:1.
00:22:22.07\00:22:25.01
Verse 1, "I charge
you therefore before God
00:22:25.04\00:22:27.64
and the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.08
who will judge the
living and the dead
00:22:29.11\00:22:31.11
at His appearing
and His kingdom."
00:22:31.15\00:22:34.15
Now it's a serious charge,
00:22:34.18\00:22:35.65
because he's
charged before the Lord God.
00:22:35.68\00:22:38.09
Okay, Pastor
John, verse 2? Yeah.
00:22:38.12\00:22:40.16
"Preach the word!
00:22:40.19\00:22:41.76
Be ready in
season and out of season.
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.23
Convince, rebuke, exhort,
00:22:45.26\00:22:47.76
with all
longsuffering and teaching."
00:22:47.76\00:22:50.70
You wanted to say King
James, be instant in season
00:22:50.73\00:22:54.44
and out of season that
King James wants to come now.
00:22:54.47\00:22:56.47
Exactly.
00:22:56.50\00:22:57.84
But to preach the Word of God
00:22:57.87\00:22:59.24
to be ready to
share the Word of God,
00:22:59.27\00:23:01.71
to convince, rebuke, exhort,
00:23:01.74\00:23:03.21
there's nothing here
about putting your own thoughts
00:23:03.24\00:23:05.65
above the Word of God.
00:23:05.68\00:23:07.02
There is nothing here
about depending on other people
00:23:07.05\00:23:09.25
or being propped
up by other people,
00:23:09.28\00:23:11.32
there is nothing here
about sacrificing truth
00:23:11.35\00:23:14.86
or compromising
truth to preach...
00:23:14.89\00:23:16.52
You know, I want to add because
you open that door for me,
00:23:16.56\00:23:18.73
be instant.
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.10
Yes.
00:23:20.13\00:23:21.46
You know what instant,
everything today is instant,
00:23:21.50\00:23:22.83
microwave.
00:23:22.86\00:23:24.20
In other words it says,
00:23:24.23\00:23:25.57
don't wait for the
occasion to get you ready,
00:23:25.60\00:23:26.94
be ready for the
occasion before it comes.
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.50
Amen, that's great.
00:23:28.54\00:23:29.87
Mollie, you want to do verse 3.
00:23:29.90\00:23:31.37
Verse 3, "For the time will come
00:23:31.41\00:23:33.58
when they will not
endure sound doctrine,
00:23:33.61\00:23:35.98
but after their own
lust shall they heap
00:23:36.01\00:23:38.31
to themselves
teachers, having itching ears."
00:23:38.35\00:23:41.12
Verse 4 too.
00:23:41.15\00:23:42.55
"And they shall turn away
their ears from the truth,
00:23:42.58\00:23:45.89
and shall be
turned unto fables."
00:23:45.92\00:23:49.02
This is talking about people
00:23:49.06\00:23:50.43
who actually want
to hear false teachers,
00:23:50.46\00:23:52.56
would you say that's accurate?
00:23:52.59\00:23:53.93
Yeah, that' right.
00:23:53.96\00:23:55.26
People sitting under and
they want to hear false teacher,
00:23:55.33\00:23:57.30
so if you are...
00:23:57.33\00:23:59.83
We'll get to
that in just a moment.
00:23:59.87\00:24:01.27
Shelley, let's read
verse 5 and then I'll see that.
00:24:01.30\00:24:03.14
Verse 5, "But you be
watchful in all things,
00:24:03.17\00:24:06.84
endure afflictions, do
the work of an evangelist,
00:24:06.88\00:24:09.74
fulfill your ministry."
00:24:09.78\00:24:11.81
So I just want to make
an appeal to you at home,
00:24:11.85\00:24:14.65
whether you are a
pastor, a leader, an evangelist,
00:24:14.68\00:24:18.49
a Sabbath school teacher,
00:24:18.55\00:24:20.49
whether you are
training your children,
00:24:20.52\00:24:22.86
as you mentioned
on another program.
00:24:22.89\00:24:24.23
That's right.
00:24:24.26\00:24:25.59
Whether you are in any position
as an elder, or a deacon,
00:24:25.63\00:24:27.96
or a deaconess in any
position of spiritual authority
00:24:28.00\00:24:31.17
sharing in the church,
00:24:31.20\00:24:32.63
do not become, do not
become a false teacher
00:24:32.67\00:24:36.54
and do not let the
opinions of other people,
00:24:36.57\00:24:40.08
private interpretation,
00:24:40.11\00:24:41.74
do not let what
people say to you about you,
00:24:41.81\00:24:45.81
against you, sway
you from the Word of God.
00:24:45.85\00:24:49.32
That's right.
00:24:49.35\00:24:50.69
Preach the word, be instant
in season and out of season,
00:24:50.72\00:24:53.62
whether the people who
are in your congregation want,
00:24:53.66\00:24:57.13
as Mollie read,
want false teachings,
00:24:57.16\00:24:59.59
don't let that sway you,
00:24:59.63\00:25:01.33
be honest and
faithful to the Word of God.
00:25:01.36\00:25:05.13
Be watchful in all things,
there will be afflictions,
00:25:05.20\00:25:07.77
it says endure afflictions,
there will come afflictions,
00:25:07.80\00:25:11.64
endure, do the
work of an evangelist,
00:25:11.67\00:25:13.78
fulfill the ministry
that the Lord Jesus Christ
00:25:13.81\00:25:17.08
has called you to do.
00:25:17.11\00:25:18.58
And we know if
we are faithful...
00:25:18.61\00:25:20.75
That's right.
00:25:20.78\00:25:22.15
..one day God will
give us that crown of life.
00:25:22.18\00:25:24.72
That's right. Amen.
00:25:24.75\00:25:26.09
I want to look
at one more verse.
00:25:26.12\00:25:27.46
This is we're
going back to 2 Peter.
00:25:27.49\00:25:30.76
Okay.
00:25:30.79\00:25:32.16
2 Peter, where is the promise?
00:25:35.80\00:25:38.97
We're going back
to a verse we read,
00:25:39.00\00:25:40.34
"Where is the
promise of His coming?
00:25:40.37\00:25:41.87
For since the
fathers fell asleep,
00:25:41.94\00:25:43.77
all things continue
00:25:43.81\00:25:45.14
as they were
from the beginning."
00:25:45.21\00:25:47.24
And I know many times,
00:25:47.28\00:25:48.61
we as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians
00:25:48.68\00:25:50.01
are looking forward
to the coming of Jesus,
00:25:50.05\00:25:52.95
so don't be discouraged.
00:25:52.98\00:25:54.92
Don't say, "Oh,
he hasn't come yet,
00:25:54.95\00:25:57.22
Mollie Sue and I've
been waiting my lifetime.
00:25:57.25\00:26:00.32
Do the work God has
called you to do today.
00:26:00.36\00:26:04.09
Make sure your heart and
life is ready with God today,
00:26:04.13\00:26:08.40
reach out and evangelize.
00:26:08.43\00:26:10.80
Share with your neighbors
with those in your community,
00:26:10.83\00:26:13.10
with your family,
share Jesus Christ today
00:26:13.13\00:26:15.84
while you have time.
00:26:15.87\00:26:17.21
Amen. Wow.
00:26:17.24\00:26:18.57
Amen. Thank you, Jill.
00:26:18.61\00:26:19.94
Lot of provoking thoughts there
00:26:19.97\00:26:21.31
about how
important it is to remember.
00:26:21.34\00:26:23.18
And then I thank you
for bringing in the writings
00:26:23.21\00:26:24.78
of the Paul there in 2 Timothy,
it's really, really good.
00:26:24.81\00:26:28.08
He's saying this to a young man
00:26:28.12\00:26:29.45
who's about to
enter the ministry,
00:26:29.48\00:26:31.02
"Don't be discouraged,
I'm about to leave the scene
00:26:31.05\00:26:32.92
but you have to
take up the chorus."
00:26:32.95\00:26:34.69
Pastor Tom, a
thousand years is a day.
00:26:34.72\00:26:38.09
Yes.
00:26:38.13\00:26:39.46
A thousand years...
00:26:39.49\00:26:40.83
Sometimes we want the
Lord to move more quickly
00:26:40.86\00:26:42.86
than we do than...
00:26:42.90\00:26:46.10
Sometimes we want the Lord
00:26:46.13\00:26:47.64
to move more
quickly than He does.
00:26:47.67\00:26:50.04
There we go. That's right.
00:26:50.07\00:26:51.41
That's what I'm trying to say.
00:26:51.44\00:26:52.81
And when it comes
00:26:52.84\00:26:54.18
to the mission of
the Adventist church,
00:26:54.21\00:26:57.11
you know, it's been a
long time since we say,
00:26:57.15\00:27:00.42
we're living in
the time of the end
00:27:00.45\00:27:02.95
and the end of
time is to be at hand
00:27:02.98\00:27:05.09
because there's
a little difference
00:27:05.12\00:27:06.45
between the time of the
end and the end of time.
00:27:06.49\00:27:08.36
There's a special
gospel for this hour,
00:27:08.39\00:27:11.63
and it just seems as
though there's been a delay.
00:27:11.66\00:27:14.00
As a matter of
fact, during the delay
00:27:14.03\00:27:16.40
there have been these scoffers
that have been mentioned.
00:27:16.43\00:27:18.83
That's right.
00:27:18.87\00:27:20.54
As a matter of
fact some people say,
00:27:20.57\00:27:21.90
"Well, we don't
even teach that anymore,
00:27:21.94\00:27:24.04
we don't even want
to think about that."
00:27:24.07\00:27:25.77
It's been 173 years
00:27:25.81\00:27:28.74
since the beginning
of the time of the end.
00:27:28.78\00:27:31.61
Now we know that
Noah preached 120 years,
00:27:31.65\00:27:33.85
it's been more
than that at this time
00:27:33.88\00:27:36.15
and as a result we're wondering,
00:27:36.18\00:27:38.15
why the delay, Lord?
00:27:38.19\00:27:39.92
Why will we have this
mission, why this delay?
00:27:39.95\00:27:42.86
Well, I invite you to
turn with me to Romans 15.
00:27:42.89\00:27:46.73
And, Jill, I was wondering
if you could read verse 5.
00:27:52.40\00:27:56.60
Romans 15:5,
00:27:56.64\00:27:58.07
"Now may the God of
patience and comfort
00:27:58.11\00:28:00.38
grant you to be
like-minded toward one another,
00:28:00.41\00:28:03.51
according to Christ Jesus."
00:28:03.55\00:28:06.31
And He is the God of what?
00:28:06.35\00:28:08.02
Patience. Patience.
00:28:08.05\00:28:09.38
Patience.
00:28:09.42\00:28:10.75
He is a patient God.
00:28:10.79\00:28:12.35
It's one of those things that
we have to develop is patience,
00:28:12.39\00:28:15.72
He actually develops that in us,
00:28:15.76\00:28:17.26
is the correct way to say that,
00:28:17.29\00:28:18.79
because we do want
him to move more quickly.
00:28:18.83\00:28:20.86
Sometimes it's in reaching
out to someone we care about,
00:28:20.90\00:28:23.43
sometimes it's
changing our circumstances,
00:28:23.47\00:28:25.70
but you know, there's
another reason why the delay.
00:28:25.73\00:28:27.90
Psalm 103:8,
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.27
"The Lord is
merciful and gracious,
00:28:29.30\00:28:31.94
slow to anger, and
abounding in mercy."
00:28:31.97\00:28:34.78
Yes.
00:28:34.81\00:28:36.14
And our Lord is not only patient
00:28:36.18\00:28:38.28
but He is abounding in mercy.
00:28:38.31\00:28:40.92
Amen.
00:28:40.95\00:28:42.28
Now I also think about what
is God up to in the meantime.
00:28:42.35\00:28:46.09
Well, He has a
commission for us.
00:28:46.12\00:28:47.49
I want us to turn to
something that's familiar.
00:28:47.52\00:28:48.99
Let's go to Revelation 10.
00:28:49.02\00:28:53.36
Revelation 10
00:28:53.40\00:28:55.50
and we're gonna
look at verse 11.
00:28:55.53\00:29:00.67
You know, as a
Seventh-day Adventist Christian,
00:29:00.70\00:29:02.94
I realize that there is a force
00:29:02.97\00:29:05.97
constantly trying
to get me off course.
00:29:06.04\00:29:10.35
Forgetting the main thing,
00:29:10.38\00:29:11.88
the main thing
has to maintain...
00:29:11.91\00:29:13.62
It needs to continue to
be the main thing in my walk.
00:29:13.65\00:29:17.49
And verse 11 of
Revelation 10 says,
00:29:17.52\00:29:19.72
"And he said to me,
'You must prophesy again
00:29:19.75\00:29:21.76
about many peoples,
nations, tongues, and kings.'
00:29:21.79\00:29:24.63
" And what they were
to do is share a message
00:29:24.66\00:29:26.90
that no one had
ever heard before.
00:29:26.93\00:29:29.30
Christ had move
into the most holy place,
00:29:29.33\00:29:31.50
the judgment hour is here
00:29:31.53\00:29:33.30
and there is a
message that must be shared.
00:29:33.34\00:29:35.64
And what happens is that message
00:29:35.67\00:29:38.51
is it needs to be focused on,
00:29:38.54\00:29:39.91
that message is something God
has commissioned us to share.
00:29:39.94\00:29:43.85
Well, we know that,
that message is found
00:29:43.88\00:29:45.38
in Revelation 14:6-11,
three angels' messages.
00:29:45.45\00:29:50.19
But what is the enemy
up to at the same time?
00:29:50.22\00:29:53.12
Let's turn to Revelation 16.
00:29:53.15\00:29:56.89
I like this revelation
thing, my favorite book.
00:29:56.93\00:30:00.03
It's a
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:30:00.06\00:30:01.86
As a matter fact,
there's 404 verses
00:30:01.90\00:30:03.80
and 276 of them
quote the Old Testament.
00:30:03.83\00:30:07.64
That's right.
00:30:07.67\00:30:09.00
So here we are in verses 13-16
00:30:09.04\00:30:11.34
of Revelation 16.
00:30:11.37\00:30:15.14
"And I saw three
unclean spirits like frogs
00:30:15.18\00:30:17.88
coming out of the
mouth of the dragon,
00:30:17.91\00:30:19.58
out of the mouth of the beast,
00:30:19.61\00:30:20.95
and out of the mouth
of the false prophet.
00:30:20.98\00:30:22.32
For they are spirits of
demons, performing signs,
00:30:22.38\00:30:24.45
which go out to
the kings of the earth
00:30:24.49\00:30:26.32
and the whole
world to gather them
00:30:26.35\00:30:28.26
to the battle of that
great day of God Almighty.
00:30:28.29\00:30:31.19
'Behold, I am coming..."
00:30:31.23\00:30:32.59
By the way I want
to stop right there.
00:30:32.63\00:30:34.00
This battle is waging
00:30:34.03\00:30:35.63
and I'll tell you when it comes,
00:30:35.66\00:30:37.67
we had a discussion
off camera about media.
00:30:37.70\00:30:40.67
Boy, with this
battle of Armageddon,
00:30:40.70\00:30:42.50
there's all kinds
of ideas out there,
00:30:42.57\00:30:44.07
but it's the whole
world warring against God
00:30:44.11\00:30:46.24
and His message
and His children.
00:30:46.27\00:30:48.81
And verse 14,
00:30:48.84\00:30:50.35
"Behold, I am coming as a thief.
00:30:50.38\00:30:52.95
Blessed is he who
watches, and keeps his garments,
00:30:52.98\00:30:55.65
lest he walk naked..."
00:30:55.68\00:30:57.02
What are those garments
that they're are to keep?
00:30:57.05\00:30:59.72
Christ... Robe of righteousness.
00:30:59.75\00:31:01.16
Christ robe of
righteousness. Amen.
00:31:01.19\00:31:02.92
Otherwise they
see their nakedness
00:31:02.96\00:31:04.96
and they see their shame.
00:31:04.99\00:31:06.83
"And they gathered them together
00:31:06.86\00:31:08.16
to the place called
in Hebrew, Armageddon."
00:31:08.20\00:31:12.03
This is not this
little valley of Megiddo,
00:31:12.10\00:31:14.00
it is actually a battle,
00:31:14.04\00:31:16.37
a worldwide war that's going on.
00:31:16.40\00:31:18.84
There is a war of words,
00:31:18.87\00:31:20.84
there is a battle over the
mind in the hearts of humanity.
00:31:20.88\00:31:23.58
Amen. That's right.
00:31:23.61\00:31:25.21
And there are two messages
that are going out there.
00:31:25.28\00:31:28.78
One of them is the
pure unadulterated message
00:31:28.85\00:31:31.25
that Christ has,
00:31:31.29\00:31:32.62
that those that have
Christ's righteousness
00:31:32.65\00:31:33.99
are sharing in its totality,
00:31:34.02\00:31:36.99
and then there is Babylon,
00:31:37.03\00:31:38.99
there is the confusing message
that is warring against it.
00:31:39.06\00:31:42.76
And every soul that hears
00:31:42.80\00:31:44.77
that has the
opportunity to hear the truth,
00:31:44.80\00:31:47.00
God has given them an
opportunity to hang on
00:31:47.04\00:31:48.97
to their life line,
00:31:49.04\00:31:50.37
the enemy goes in
00:31:50.41\00:31:51.74
with an attack of all
this counterfeit to counter
00:31:51.77\00:31:56.31
what God is
doing in their lives.
00:31:56.34\00:31:57.88
So there are two
choices for humanity.
00:31:57.91\00:32:00.62
Now what is the final
thrust of his message?
00:32:00.65\00:32:03.15
Revelation 18, the final thrust.
00:32:03.18\00:32:07.02
You know, there
are people that have...
00:32:07.06\00:32:09.39
I remember being a
child, it was in the 1970s,
00:32:09.42\00:32:12.56
and I think I was
about 12 years old,
00:32:12.59\00:32:15.06
and I remember standing
around the adult saying,
00:32:15.10\00:32:17.00
the Lord's going
to come in five years,
00:32:17.03\00:32:18.90
I can just tell he's going
to come from all the signs.
00:32:18.97\00:32:21.87
And here I am today,
00:32:21.94\00:32:24.11
and I'm not even sure if
all of them are still alive,
00:32:24.14\00:32:26.68
they were saying that.
00:32:26.71\00:32:28.24
But there is a
faithfulness to the message,
00:32:28.28\00:32:31.98
we must be
faithful to the message
00:32:32.05\00:32:33.45
because Revelation 18:4
is going to be a reality.
00:32:33.48\00:32:36.75
"And I heard another
voice from heaven saying,
00:32:36.79\00:32:38.69
'Come out of her, my people,
lest you share in her sins,
00:32:38.72\00:32:40.92
lest you receive of her plagues.
00:32:40.96\00:32:42.66
For her sins have
reached to heaven,
00:32:42.69\00:32:44.43
and God has
remembered her iniquities.'"
00:32:44.46\00:32:46.23
Judgment is coming,
00:32:46.26\00:32:47.60
the time of the end
is about to be at hand.
00:32:47.60\00:32:50.37
Now the message
that God has for me
00:32:50.40\00:32:55.50
is not only the
three angels' message,
00:32:55.54\00:32:57.54
but he wants to share that
00:32:57.57\00:32:59.27
with the power
of the fourth angel,
00:32:59.31\00:33:01.74
which you see in Revelation.
00:33:01.78\00:33:03.18
As a matter of fact,
00:33:03.21\00:33:04.55
it's the elect
that are sharing it,
00:33:04.58\00:33:05.95
is those that are in Christ,
00:33:05.98\00:33:07.32
those that are not drawn away
00:33:07.35\00:33:10.02
as a result of the delay.
00:33:10.05\00:33:13.02
There are reasons
that God is delaying.
00:33:13.05\00:33:16.06
And number one I think,
one of them is that message
00:33:16.09\00:33:18.86
is not being faithfully
shared as it could be.
00:33:18.93\00:33:23.67
What's another
reason for the delay?
00:33:23.70\00:33:25.03
Let's go to Revelation 7.
00:33:25.07\00:33:26.87
And I want to look at the first
three verses, Revelation 7.
00:33:33.68\00:33:38.21
And, Mollie, would you be
00:33:38.25\00:33:40.72
so kind to us
to read verses 1-3?
00:33:40.75\00:33:43.59
"And after these
things I saw four angels
00:33:43.62\00:33:46.62
standing on the four
corners of the earth,
00:33:46.65\00:33:48.66
holding the four
winds of the earth,
00:33:48.72\00:33:51.23
that the wind should
not blow on the earth
00:33:51.26\00:33:53.40
nor on the sea nor on any tree.
00:33:53.43\00:33:56.16
And I saw another angel
ascending from the east,
00:33:56.23\00:33:58.83
having the seal
of the living God.
00:33:58.90\00:34:01.10
And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels
00:34:01.14\00:34:04.54
to whom it was
given to hurt the earth
00:34:04.57\00:34:07.68
and the sea, saying,
00:34:07.71\00:34:09.04
'Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees,
00:34:09.08\00:34:12.35
till we have sealed
the servants of our God
00:34:12.41\00:34:15.05
in their foreheads."
00:34:15.08\00:34:16.42
That's right.
00:34:16.45\00:34:17.79
So God is in the
work of transforming lives
00:34:17.82\00:34:22.36
and until that is
complete, when I want him,
00:34:22.42\00:34:26.13
if my child is one of
those that needs to be reached
00:34:26.19\00:34:29.03
and needs to be
brought into the fold,
00:34:29.06\00:34:31.53
would I want him to
hurry up and get here?
00:34:31.57\00:34:33.94
No.
00:34:33.97\00:34:35.30
It's to the
degree of my love for Him
00:34:35.37\00:34:37.91
and for those
that He longs to save,
00:34:37.94\00:34:41.14
that will help
develop my patience.
00:34:41.18\00:34:43.38
That's right.
00:34:43.41\00:34:44.75
That very love that I
receive from Him for each.
00:34:44.78\00:34:47.02
Now does anyone here
know the day or the hour
00:34:47.05\00:34:50.49
that they're gonna
close their eyes and sleep?
00:34:50.52\00:34:52.45
No. No.
00:34:52.52\00:34:53.86
If the Lord delays His coming,
00:34:53.89\00:34:55.59
that will be a
surprise for everyone, right?
00:34:55.62\00:34:57.59
We don't know
the day or the hour,
00:34:57.63\00:34:59.06
but there is a
seasonal sometimes,
00:34:59.09\00:35:01.06
sometimes it happens suddenly,
sometimes we see it coming.
00:35:01.10\00:35:04.50
I thought about Noah and
his family entering the ark
00:35:04.53\00:35:08.20
and then the door
shutting in seven days
00:35:08.24\00:35:10.17
and then the end came.
00:35:10.21\00:35:11.54
God does it's...
00:35:11.57\00:35:14.08
God's people are
not as blindsided
00:35:14.11\00:35:15.91
as those that are
caught up in the whirlwind
00:35:15.94\00:35:17.41
that's out there.
00:35:17.45\00:35:19.78
And I also think about
another reason for the delay,
00:35:19.81\00:35:23.79
there are watchmen
00:35:23.82\00:35:26.02
that Ezekiel 3 and
Ezekiel 33 talks about.
00:35:26.05\00:35:30.89
A faithful watchman
will be sharing the truth,
00:35:30.93\00:35:34.46
sharing the message that
the hearers need to hear,
00:35:34.50\00:35:38.43
and if they reject that message,
00:35:38.47\00:35:40.97
it's on the hearer.
00:35:41.00\00:35:43.94
If they accept it
not only as the messenger
00:35:43.97\00:35:48.18
but also the one
receiving that message is saved.
00:35:48.21\00:35:51.55
And if those that have
00:35:51.58\00:35:53.72
what God wants to
share and do not share it,
00:35:53.75\00:35:57.52
and someone is lost as a result,
00:35:57.55\00:36:00.39
who does God hold accountable?
00:36:00.42\00:36:01.79
Yes. Yeah.
00:36:01.82\00:36:04.06
And I really know that the...
00:36:04.09\00:36:05.96
I believe that the enemy knows
00:36:05.99\00:36:08.43
how to trip us up and he
wants to get us off the message,
00:36:08.46\00:36:11.70
so that we're not sharing it.
00:36:11.73\00:36:13.07
And so that not only are
others lost but so are we.
00:36:13.10\00:36:16.87
There is
something that God is up to
00:36:16.91\00:36:18.71
and He wants us to
be in step with Him.
00:36:18.74\00:36:22.14
You know, another
reason why the delay is
00:36:22.18\00:36:25.65
we're wrapped into
time and God is not.
00:36:25.68\00:36:29.15
Amen.
00:36:29.22\00:36:31.05
There is a time
for our beginning
00:36:31.09\00:36:32.59
and there is a time for our end,
00:36:32.62\00:36:34.69
and God is everlasting.
00:36:34.72\00:36:37.56
That's right.
00:36:37.59\00:36:38.93
And as a result His
patience is everlasting.
00:36:38.96\00:36:42.06
He will do things
in a perfect time.
00:36:42.10\00:36:45.20
Amen and amen.
00:36:45.23\00:36:46.57
Beautiful expounding on
the delay, thank the Lord.
00:36:46.60\00:36:50.81
And, but we do know
00:36:50.84\00:36:53.91
that the day of
the Lord is coming.
00:36:53.94\00:36:56.14
That there is the soon
return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:36:56.18\00:36:58.91
What I look at...
00:36:58.95\00:37:00.35
Now, Mollie, as
you get into this,
00:37:00.38\00:37:01.72
I thought it was amazing,
00:37:01.75\00:37:03.08
how are you gonna handle
a lesson entitled "So What?"
00:37:03.12\00:37:05.99
Is it all has to
do with relevance.
00:37:06.02\00:37:08.66
Okay. So what?
00:37:08.69\00:37:10.13
And a young man
had waxed eloquently.
00:37:10.16\00:37:15.66
As he witnessed
to his own mother
00:37:15.70\00:37:18.13
about the death of
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:37:18.17\00:37:20.60
and the promise
of His soon return.
00:37:20.64\00:37:23.37
He was feeling
quite proud of his self
00:37:23.41\00:37:26.21
because of how eloquent
00:37:26.27\00:37:28.18
he had presented
the argument to her.
00:37:28.21\00:37:31.65
But you know
what his mother said?
00:37:31.68\00:37:34.25
So what's that had
to do with me, so what?
00:37:34.28\00:37:37.95
She was saying,
how is that relevant.
00:37:37.99\00:37:40.89
Relevant,
relating to our bearing
00:37:40.92\00:37:44.56
upon the matter at hand.
00:37:44.59\00:37:46.93
He had given her
a beautiful truth,
00:37:46.96\00:37:49.90
a truth that
every one of us hold to.
00:37:49.93\00:37:52.90
A true faith is intrinsic
in the name of the denomination
00:37:52.93\00:37:56.71
that we're a part of
the Seventh-day Adventist.
00:37:56.74\00:37:59.67
What is the advent?
00:37:59.74\00:38:01.28
What does that word
mean? Second coming.
00:38:01.31\00:38:02.68
The soon return of the
Lord Jesus Christ, "So what?"
00:38:02.71\00:38:06.01
she said.
00:38:06.05\00:38:08.35
The teaching of the soon
return of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:38:08.38\00:38:11.89
is foundational to us.
00:38:11.92\00:38:14.02
We all just take it for granted
that everybody believes it
00:38:14.06\00:38:17.56
because without the
return of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:38:17.59\00:38:21.36
the whole gospel
message falls to the ground.
00:38:21.40\00:38:25.53
Now we're going to look at how
Peter addressed the relevance
00:38:25.57\00:38:30.67
of the return of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:38:30.71\00:38:32.24
Okay.
00:38:32.27\00:38:33.61
But in the New Testament
there are 260 chapters.
00:38:33.64\00:38:38.65
I like to do statistics,
you all know what to...
00:38:38.68\00:38:41.62
260 chapters,
00:38:41.65\00:38:44.15
Christ return is
mentioned 318 times,
00:38:44.19\00:38:48.49
statistically,
00:38:48.52\00:38:50.26
that is one verse over 25 pages.
00:38:50.29\00:38:53.19
Wow. Amen.
00:38:53.26\00:38:54.93
The Lord's return is
mentioned or alluded to.
00:38:54.96\00:38:58.67
Now let's look in 2 Peter 3,
00:38:58.70\00:39:02.90
we're going to
look at verses 10-13.
00:39:02.94\00:39:06.64
And the scripture says,
00:39:06.68\00:39:08.01
"But the day of
the Lord will come."
00:39:08.04\00:39:09.94
This is Peter's
expounding on the second coming.
00:39:10.01\00:39:14.58
"But the day of the Lord
00:39:14.62\00:39:15.95
will come as a
thief in the night,
00:39:15.98\00:39:17.75
in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise."
00:39:17.79\00:39:21.72
You know, we talk
about the secret rapture.
00:39:21.76\00:39:25.69
You ever heard of
the secret rapture?
00:39:25.73\00:39:28.46
Have you ever
read Thessalonians,
00:39:28.50\00:39:30.33
you know, Thessalonians
is a very noisy book.
00:39:30.37\00:39:32.67
That's right.
00:39:32.70\00:39:34.04
And then I look here
00:39:34.07\00:39:35.40
and the heavens pass
away with a great noise.
00:39:35.44\00:39:38.21
I don't think it's gonna be
a secret to tell you the truth.
00:39:38.24\00:39:40.14
No. Not at all.
00:39:40.18\00:39:41.51
"And the elements will
melt with fervent heat,
00:39:41.54\00:39:43.71
both the earth and the works
00:39:43.75\00:39:45.08
that are in it
will be burned up.
00:39:45.11\00:39:47.22
Therefore, since all
these things will be dissolved,
00:39:47.25\00:39:51.55
what manner of person..."
00:39:51.59\00:39:53.29
Peter ask, "Ought you to be
00:39:53.32\00:39:56.39
in holy conduct and godliness,"
00:39:56.46\00:39:59.33
He's saying you better be ready.
00:39:59.36\00:40:01.90
Amen.
00:40:01.93\00:40:03.26
"Looking for and hastening
the coming of the day of God,
00:40:03.30\00:40:06.27
because of which the
heavens will be dissolved,
00:40:06.33\00:40:08.87
being on fire, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat?
00:40:08.90\00:40:13.17
Nevertheless, we
according to His promise,
00:40:13.21\00:40:17.05
look for a new
heavens and a new earth
00:40:17.08\00:40:19.71
in which righteousness dwells."
00:40:19.75\00:40:22.38
Now in Matthew 24,
00:40:22.42\00:40:25.59
we read a parable
00:40:25.62\00:40:28.26
about a wicked servant
and a faithful servant.
00:40:28.29\00:40:33.19
But before we go to Matthew 24,
00:40:33.23\00:40:35.66
as a matter of fact,
00:40:35.73\00:40:37.07
you can go there if you want to,
00:40:37.10\00:40:38.43
but I want us
to look at John 14.
00:40:38.47\00:40:43.27
Okay.
00:40:43.30\00:40:44.64
I'm going to read
just the first 3 verses,
00:40:44.67\00:40:47.61
John 14.
00:40:47.64\00:40:50.58
This is Jesus speaking, He says,
00:40:50.61\00:40:53.42
"Let not your heart be troubled.
00:40:53.45\00:40:55.15
You believe in
God, believe also in Me.
00:40:55.18\00:40:58.49
In My Father's
house are many mansions,
00:40:58.52\00:41:00.66
if it were not so,
I would have told you.
00:41:00.69\00:41:03.53
I go to prepare
a place for you."
00:41:03.56\00:41:05.89
Now what is Jesus doing?
00:41:05.93\00:41:07.66
He is going to
prepare a place for us.
00:41:07.66\00:41:09.43
Amen.
00:41:09.46\00:41:10.80
"And if I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:41:10.83\00:41:13.00
I will come again and
receive you unto Myself,
00:41:13.03\00:41:16.17
and where I am,
there you may be also."
00:41:16.20\00:41:18.41
Now back to the
parable that is in Matthew 14,
00:41:18.44\00:41:23.11
it seems that a
master has gone away,
00:41:23.14\00:41:26.82
it's Matthew 24.
00:41:26.85\00:41:28.62
24. 24, okay.
00:41:28.65\00:41:29.98
Matthew 24, "A
master has gone away
00:41:30.05\00:41:34.79
with the promise to return
00:41:34.82\00:41:37.79
but for some reason, His
return has been delayed."
00:41:37.83\00:41:43.23
Now I wanted to read in John 14,
00:41:43.30\00:41:47.07
because we have a
master has he gone away?
00:41:47.10\00:41:50.31
Has he promised
to come again? Yes.
00:41:50.34\00:41:53.24
You know, what he's doing now,
he's preparing a place for us.
00:41:53.31\00:41:56.68
And you looked at
the delay of His coming
00:41:56.71\00:42:00.95
and we've expounded
beautifully on the fact
00:42:00.98\00:42:03.39
that He is
definitely going to return.
00:42:03.45\00:42:06.76
Now one of the
servants was very diligent,
00:42:06.82\00:42:11.13
he was faithful and
all of his responsibilities
00:42:11.16\00:42:15.90
and because of his diligence,
00:42:15.93\00:42:19.10
he was commended
00:42:19.17\00:42:21.24
and he was promised
that he would be made a ruler
00:42:21.27\00:42:25.27
over all of the Master's goods.
00:42:25.31\00:42:28.11
Now what was he?
00:42:28.14\00:42:29.48
He was faithful
and he was diligent.
00:42:29.51\00:42:32.65
Now the other servant
and this is Matthew 24,
00:42:32.68\00:42:35.82
you can look in
verses 48-51, I'll read that.
00:42:35.85\00:42:40.76
The other servant
says in his heart.
00:42:40.79\00:42:44.29
Where does he say it?
00:42:44.33\00:42:45.66
In his heart. He
said that in his heart.
00:42:45.69\00:42:48.13
"My master is
delaying his coming,"
00:42:48.16\00:42:51.50
Do some people Jill say
00:42:51.53\00:42:53.03
that the Master is
delaying in His coming.
00:42:53.07\00:42:54.44
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
00:42:54.47\00:42:55.80
That was one of those
false teacher teachings,
00:42:55.84\00:43:00.74
one of those that were
trying to lead people astray,
00:43:00.78\00:43:04.71
He's delaying His coming.
00:43:04.75\00:43:06.85
"And he begins to
beat his fellow servants,
00:43:06.88\00:43:10.49
and to eat and
drink with the drunkards,
00:43:10.52\00:43:13.49
the master of that
servant will come on a day
00:43:13.52\00:43:17.39
when he is not looking for him
00:43:17.43\00:43:19.06
and at an hour
that he is not aware of,
00:43:19.09\00:43:23.26
and will..."
00:43:23.30\00:43:24.63
This is what's
going to happen to him.
00:43:24.67\00:43:26.84
"And will cut him in two
00:43:26.87\00:43:28.94
and appoint him his
portion with the hypocrites."
00:43:28.97\00:43:31.54
Wow.
00:43:31.57\00:43:32.91
"There shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth."
00:43:32.97\00:43:36.24
So we need to say to our self,
00:43:36.28\00:43:39.51
"Do I want to be
that faithful servant?"
00:43:39.55\00:43:41.65
Yes.
00:43:41.68\00:43:43.02
"Or do I want to
be that evil servant?"
00:43:43.08\00:43:44.79
Now what is the lesson
we can learn from this?
00:43:44.82\00:43:47.49
I think, it's a warning
00:43:47.52\00:43:49.72
that we shouldn't
lower our standards,
00:43:49.76\00:43:52.79
that we've got to
ever be fervently.
00:43:52.83\00:43:56.16
I like that word,
00:43:56.23\00:43:57.57
it's the effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man
00:43:57.60\00:44:01.94
that availeth much.
00:44:01.97\00:44:03.61
We can't get
lackadaisical and lukewarm...
00:44:03.64\00:44:07.08
That's right. Like
that Laodicean Church.
00:44:07.11\00:44:09.78
We can't be lukewarm.
00:44:09.84\00:44:11.41
Christ is returning
00:44:11.45\00:44:13.21
and he's looking
for faithful servants,
00:44:13.25\00:44:16.08
who are about
their master's business,
00:44:16.12\00:44:18.39
there can be no complacency.
00:44:18.42\00:44:21.29
His coming is
closer than it's ever been.
00:44:21.32\00:44:25.09
Now what is the relevancy?
00:44:25.13\00:44:27.73
That remember I
used that word relevant,
00:44:27.76\00:44:31.03
the mother said, "So what?"
00:44:31.07\00:44:33.03
What is the
relevancy, "So what?"
00:44:33.10\00:44:36.07
The relevancy is the
coming of Christ is a reality.
00:44:36.10\00:44:39.64
He really is
going to return. Amen.
00:44:39.67\00:44:42.28
If we're alive at
the second coming,
00:44:42.31\00:44:46.78
we better be found faithful.
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.32
That's right.
00:44:48.35\00:44:50.62
But if we're not
alive at the second coming,
00:44:50.65\00:44:53.42
if we've already fallen asleep,
00:44:53.46\00:44:56.29
we better have
been found faithful
00:44:56.32\00:44:59.23
when we fell asleep.
00:44:59.26\00:45:01.10
You know there is no place
00:45:01.13\00:45:02.96
where you can be
that evil servant
00:45:03.00\00:45:06.23
that loses his fervency.
00:45:06.30\00:45:08.30
Now I started to say,
00:45:08.34\00:45:10.31
we need to live
our lives like the Lord
00:45:10.37\00:45:13.07
is returning
tomorrow and I change that.
00:45:13.14\00:45:14.78
That's right,
it's a very good point.
00:45:14.81\00:45:16.64
I changed it to we
better live our lives
00:45:16.71\00:45:20.55
like the Lord
is returning today.
00:45:20.58\00:45:23.35
And this is a question I
wanted to leave you with.
00:45:23.39\00:45:27.36
If you knew, if
we could just know
00:45:27.39\00:45:29.79
and all we wouldn't like to know
00:45:29.82\00:45:31.53
the day the Lord is returning,
00:45:31.56\00:45:33.66
what would you do different?
00:45:33.70\00:45:35.00
What if you knew
beyond a shadow of a doubt
00:45:35.03\00:45:38.30
that the Lord
was going to return
00:45:38.33\00:45:40.17
this afternoon at 2 o'clock?
00:45:40.20\00:45:43.81
What would you do different
00:45:43.84\00:45:45.37
than what
you're doing right now,
00:45:45.41\00:45:47.18
what should be a bit different?
00:45:47.21\00:45:49.41
We should be just as
vitally and fervently involved
00:45:49.48\00:45:53.58
in doing the work of the Lord
00:45:53.65\00:45:55.78
not knowing when He's returning,
00:45:55.82\00:45:57.79
then if we knew that He
was returning immediately,
00:45:57.82\00:46:00.72
that's the relevancy.
00:46:00.76\00:46:02.82
That's "So what?" So what? Yes.
00:46:02.86\00:46:04.66
The Lord is
really going to return
00:46:04.69\00:46:06.76
and it's sooner
than it's ever been.
00:46:06.80\00:46:08.90
Wow. Amen and amen.
00:46:08.93\00:46:10.30
That's beautiful.
00:46:10.33\00:46:11.67
Which leads to the final appeal.
00:46:11.70\00:46:13.03
It does indeed.
00:46:13.07\00:46:14.40
You know, it's interesting
00:46:14.44\00:46:16.54
again what I love about
Peter is throughout his letters,
00:46:16.57\00:46:20.11
Jesus Christ is his focus.
00:46:20.14\00:46:21.74
That's right.
00:46:21.78\00:46:23.11
You know, and he's in
1 Peter talking to people
00:46:23.18\00:46:26.05
who are being
persecuted from without,
00:46:26.08\00:46:28.58
but now he's talking about
the trouble with from within
00:46:28.62\00:46:31.79
and we could call
that a form of persecution,
00:46:31.82\00:46:34.22
but essentially,
he's just said...
00:46:34.26\00:46:37.13
as you've just said, you know,
00:46:37.16\00:46:38.66
since evil is
going to be destroyed
00:46:38.69\00:46:41.63
at the day of His
coming, and all the sinners,
00:46:41.66\00:46:44.67
and all the evil is
going to be burnt up.
00:46:44.70\00:46:46.77
What Peter is now going on
to say in this final appeal
00:46:46.84\00:46:50.84
is live holy lives
and don't be swayed
00:46:50.87\00:46:55.61
by these false teachers.
00:46:55.64\00:46:57.21
So Thursday's
lesson, the final appeal,
00:46:57.25\00:46:59.71
we're to look
at 2 Peter 3:14-18,
00:46:59.75\00:47:05.49
so let's just
begin here in verse 14,
00:47:05.52\00:47:08.09
that's 2 Peter 3:14.
00:47:08.12\00:47:11.39
"Therefore beloved..."
00:47:11.43\00:47:12.93
Now he's changing tones
'cause he's talking to those,
00:47:12.96\00:47:17.17
them in a precious way.
00:47:17.20\00:47:19.13
He says, "Looking
forward to these things,
00:47:19.17\00:47:21.97
be diligent to be
found by Him in peace
00:47:22.00\00:47:25.64
without spot and blameless."
00:47:25.67\00:47:28.04
You know, this is a
second time in his writing,
00:47:28.08\00:47:29.94
that he has used
this word diligent.
00:47:29.98\00:47:31.65
Remember, in this same epistle
in chapter 1 and verse 10.
00:47:31.68\00:47:37.29
He said, "Therefore,
brethren be even more diligent
00:47:37.32\00:47:41.06
to make your call
and election sure,
00:47:41.09\00:47:43.73
for if you do these
things, you will never stumble."
00:47:43.76\00:47:47.10
Well, what's the
opposite of diligence?
00:47:47.13\00:47:50.03
You just said it,
when you become complacent,
00:47:50.07\00:47:53.23
when we become lazy,
we're not being diligent.
00:47:53.30\00:47:57.44
Apathy is a very
dangerous heart condition
00:47:57.47\00:48:00.68
and we have to be careful.
00:48:00.71\00:48:02.41
So Peter is warning us,
00:48:02.44\00:48:04.61
them and us to live in eager
00:48:04.65\00:48:08.25
expectation of Christ's return.
00:48:08.28\00:48:11.02
Let's look at
verse 15, 2 Peter 3:15,
00:48:11.05\00:48:14.36
"And consider that the
longsuffering of our Lord
00:48:14.39\00:48:17.56
is salvation, as
also our beloved Paul,
00:48:17.59\00:48:22.26
according to the
wisdom given to him,
00:48:22.30\00:48:26.60
has written to you."
00:48:26.63\00:48:28.77
Mollie, why don't
you look up Romans 2:4.
00:48:28.80\00:48:31.97
And Tom, why don't
you look up 1 Timothy 2:4.
00:48:32.01\00:48:36.11
So here he's saying
00:48:36.14\00:48:39.25
that God's long suffering
00:48:39.28\00:48:43.15
is something that
we're to be thankful for him.
00:48:43.18\00:48:45.49
And now he's mentioning
Paul, it's interesting
00:48:45.52\00:48:47.69
that he's bringing
in Paul's writings,
00:48:47.72\00:48:49.32
we'll address
that in just a second.
00:48:49.36\00:48:51.39
And Paul did write
00:48:51.43\00:48:52.89
about the long
suffering of the Lord.
00:48:52.96\00:48:54.60
In Romans 2:4, what does he say?
00:48:54.63\00:48:57.03
Romans 2:4, "Or despise
thou the riches of His goodness,
00:48:57.10\00:49:01.94
and forbearance,
and longsuffering,
00:49:01.97\00:49:04.47
not knowing that
the goodness of God
00:49:04.51\00:49:06.88
leadeth you to repentance?"
00:49:06.94\00:49:08.28
Amen.
00:49:08.31\00:49:09.64
So it's God's
goodness, this long suffering,
00:49:09.68\00:49:11.65
His patience is for our good.
00:49:11.68\00:49:13.48
And, Tom, 1 Timothy 2:4?
00:49:13.52\00:49:16.69
"Who desires all men to be saved
00:49:16.75\00:49:18.59
and to come to the
knowledge of the truth."
00:49:18.62\00:49:20.62
See God is not
going to shut down,
00:49:20.66\00:49:24.06
when we wonder why
He hasn't returned,
00:49:24.09\00:49:27.66
the only reason
God hasn't returned
00:49:27.73\00:49:29.63
is because He really
had, the desire of His heart
00:49:29.70\00:49:31.93
is that all would be saved.
00:49:31.97\00:49:33.87
And so He is not going to close
off the door of opportunity
00:49:33.90\00:49:37.97
till He knows that
we've reached that point,
00:49:38.01\00:49:40.24
where people are not gonna turn
to Him again, so Hallelujah.
00:49:40.31\00:49:44.28
Now in 2 Peter 3:16,
00:49:44.31\00:49:47.82
he's continuing to talk about
00:49:47.85\00:49:49.52
the beloved
brother Paul and he says,
00:49:49.55\00:49:52.69
"As also in all his epistles,
00:49:52.72\00:49:55.76
speaking in them
of these things,"
00:49:55.79\00:49:59.76
'cause Paul also wrote
about the second coming
00:49:59.83\00:50:01.96
in the holiness
required to the believer.
00:50:02.00\00:50:04.53
But he's then Peter says,
00:50:04.57\00:50:06.57
"In which are some
things hard to understand,
00:50:06.63\00:50:10.31
which untaught
and unstable people
00:50:10.34\00:50:14.34
twist to their own destruction,
00:50:14.38\00:50:16.38
as they do also with
the rest of the Scriptures."
00:50:16.44\00:50:19.35
So he's speaking of
Paul with great affection
00:50:19.38\00:50:22.75
and he's actually
verifying that Paul,
00:50:22.78\00:50:26.15
you see here, he says,
00:50:26.19\00:50:27.86
"They do also with the
rest of the Scripture,"
00:50:27.89\00:50:29.76
so he's
comparing Paul's writings
00:50:29.82\00:50:32.19
to the rest of the
Old Testament scriptures,
00:50:32.23\00:50:34.10
and he is
giving him the validity
00:50:34.10\00:50:37.37
that he is God ordained
and these are authoritative.
00:50:37.40\00:50:41.57
But do you think
that Peter had problems
00:50:41.60\00:50:45.24
understanding Paul's writings?
00:50:45.27\00:50:48.01
No, he's not saying
that he didn't understand,
00:50:48.04\00:50:51.55
he says which
untaught and unstable people
00:50:51.58\00:50:57.25
misunderstand and twist.
00:50:57.29\00:50:59.62
So even though they had
00:50:59.65\00:51:01.32
very different
backgrounds and personalities,
00:51:01.36\00:51:03.76
and even though
they were preaching
00:51:03.79\00:51:05.33
from different perspectives
00:51:05.36\00:51:06.70
and Paul was God's
ambassador of grace
00:51:06.73\00:51:09.03
and he really
spent a lot of effort
00:51:09.06\00:51:12.90
in explaining
righteousness by faith,
00:51:12.93\00:51:15.04
whereas Peter's talking more
00:51:15.07\00:51:16.81
about holy living
and Christian service,
00:51:16.87\00:51:20.71
but they never ever
contradict one another.
00:51:20.74\00:51:23.51
And as a matter of fact,
00:51:23.55\00:51:24.88
as we've been
going through here,
00:51:24.91\00:51:26.88
through 1 and 2 Peter,
00:51:26.92\00:51:28.25
I think my eyes
have been opened in a way
00:51:28.28\00:51:30.29
that I've not seen
before as clearly before,
00:51:30.35\00:51:34.02
how much they
have the mirror image
00:51:34.06\00:51:36.39
of this same message.
00:51:36.42\00:51:38.46
So it's just really powerful.
00:51:38.49\00:51:40.46
But he's saying that
false teachers twist this,
00:51:40.50\00:51:44.83
they would take
the message on grace
00:51:44.87\00:51:47.07
and then they would
try to make it that,
00:51:47.10\00:51:50.34
oh, you have a
license to sin now,
00:51:50.37\00:51:52.41
and that
happens in all churches,
00:51:52.44\00:51:55.11
even in the
Adventist church it can happen,
00:51:55.14\00:51:57.68
that somebody gets
00:51:57.71\00:51:59.31
an imbalanced teaching on grace.
00:51:59.35\00:52:02.28
As matter of fact, I
heard about a "Grace messenger"
00:52:02.32\00:52:06.62
going into one church
00:52:06.65\00:52:08.56
and when he finished his series,
00:52:08.59\00:52:10.79
you'll be appalled at this."
00:52:10.83\00:52:12.53
But the head
elder actually said,
00:52:12.56\00:52:15.86
"Well, praise the Lord,
00:52:15.90\00:52:17.23
I can come out of the
closet about my pornography.
00:52:17.30\00:52:20.47
I'm saved by grace." Wow.
00:52:20.50\00:52:23.07
So the message,
00:52:23.14\00:52:24.57
see what we've gotta understand
00:52:24.61\00:52:26.21
is everything is by God's grace,
00:52:26.24\00:52:28.84
everything, but God's,
00:52:28.88\00:52:30.61
if you understand
God's gifts of grace,
00:52:30.68\00:52:32.45
you'll understand
the effects of grace
00:52:32.48\00:52:34.28
because His greatest gift
is He gave His Son for us.
00:52:34.32\00:52:39.15
Amen. That's right.
00:52:39.19\00:52:40.52
Jesus is His greatest gift,
00:52:40.59\00:52:41.92
the Holy Spirit is
another great gift of grace
00:52:41.96\00:52:44.93
as is the Word of God.
00:52:44.96\00:52:46.96
Amen.
00:52:47.03\00:52:48.33
So if you understand it's Christ
00:52:48.36\00:52:50.57
and the spirit in
the word living in us,
00:52:50.60\00:52:52.50
this is God's grace.
00:52:52.53\00:52:54.20
Then you understand that
grace is His divine assistance,
00:52:54.24\00:52:57.87
His supernatural
power for salvation,
00:52:57.91\00:53:00.44
we can only obey by grace.
00:53:00.48\00:53:03.24
Paul who is God's
ambassador for grace,
00:53:03.31\00:53:07.18
said in Philippians 2:12,
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.38
"Work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling."
00:53:09.42\00:53:12.72
I mean, he was
constantly pointing,
00:53:12.75\00:53:14.62
but then he comes right
back, in the next verse it says,
00:53:14.66\00:53:17.46
"But not in your own strength
for it's God who works in you
00:53:17.49\00:53:20.13
to will and to do
His good pleasure."
00:53:20.16\00:53:22.36
So we know that we can
only obey by God's grace.
00:53:22.40\00:53:26.40
And then let's look
at this Roman 6:15-19,
00:53:26.43\00:53:30.31
I think I have just
enough time to read this,
00:53:30.34\00:53:33.07
because false teachers
were promising liberty.
00:53:33.11\00:53:39.21
But people and
they love to hear it,
00:53:39.25\00:53:41.82
you know, why the
itching ears love to hear it,
00:53:41.85\00:53:43.59
because then they,
00:53:43.62\00:53:44.95
their cherished sin can be kept.
00:53:44.99\00:53:46.86
You know, it's kind of like,
00:53:46.89\00:53:48.22
oh, yeah, you can
give me liberty here.
00:53:48.26\00:53:50.73
And people thought they had
their favorite since justified,
00:53:50.76\00:53:53.80
but look what Paul
said in Romans 6:15-19.
00:53:53.83\00:53:57.23
"What then shall we sin
00:53:57.27\00:53:58.60
because we are not
under law but under grace?
00:53:58.63\00:54:00.47
Certainly not! Paul says.
00:54:00.50\00:54:03.10
Do you not know that to whom
00:54:03.14\00:54:04.87
you present
yourselves slaves to obey,
00:54:04.91\00:54:07.11
you are that one's
slaves whom you obey,
00:54:07.18\00:54:09.38
whether of sin leading to death
00:54:09.41\00:54:10.95
or of obedience
leading to righteousness?
00:54:10.98\00:54:13.08
But God be thanked that
00:54:13.11\00:54:14.45
though you were
once slaves of sin,
00:54:14.48\00:54:16.45
yet you obeyed from the heart
00:54:16.48\00:54:18.42
that form of doctrine to
which you were delivered.
00:54:18.45\00:54:20.59
And having been
set free from sin,
00:54:20.66\00:54:23.83
you became slaves
of righteousness."
00:54:23.86\00:54:25.66
Amen.
00:54:25.69\00:54:27.03
"I speak in human terms
00:54:27.10\00:54:28.80
because of the
weakness of your flesh.
00:54:28.83\00:54:31.17
For just as you
presented your members,"
00:54:31.20\00:54:33.60
he's saying in the past,
00:54:33.64\00:54:34.97
"you presented your members
and slaves of uncleanness,
00:54:35.00\00:54:38.71
and of lawlessness
leading to more lawlessness,"
00:54:38.74\00:54:42.58
breaking God's law
00:54:42.61\00:54:43.95
leading to more
breaking God's law.
00:54:44.01\00:54:45.88
"So now present your members
00:54:45.91\00:54:48.85
as slaves of
righteousness for holiness."
00:54:48.88\00:54:52.22
That's right.
00:54:52.25\00:54:53.62
So we can see that
Paul and Peter have messages
00:54:53.66\00:54:58.66
that echo Christ's teachings,
00:54:58.69\00:55:01.30
they echo the Old
Testament prophets.
00:55:01.33\00:55:03.97
And now let's go
on in 2 Peter 3:17
00:55:04.00\00:55:06.70
'cause I have
such a little time.
00:55:06.74\00:55:08.57
He says, "You
therefore, beloved,
00:55:08.60\00:55:11.97
since you know this beforehand,"
00:55:12.01\00:55:14.24
that all of this is coming.
00:55:14.28\00:55:16.08
"Beware lest you also fall
from your own steadfastness,
00:55:16.11\00:55:19.45
being led away with
the error of the wicked."
00:55:19.48\00:55:24.65
You know, Peter or Paul wrote,
00:55:24.69\00:55:27.72
"Be careful lest you
think you stand you fall."
00:55:27.76\00:55:30.59
So they're both
saying the same thing.
00:55:30.63\00:55:32.93
And then he goes on
and in verse 18, he says,
00:55:32.96\00:55:35.23
"But grow in the grace
and the knowledge of our Lord
00:55:35.26\00:55:38.43
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:55:38.47\00:55:40.17
To Him be the glory
both now and forever.
00:55:40.20\00:55:43.04
Amen and amen." Amen.
00:55:43.07\00:55:44.67
The more we know about Jesus,
the more we grow in grace,
00:55:44.71\00:55:48.98
and the smaller
the chance will be
00:55:49.01\00:55:51.51
that we will be swayed
00:55:51.55\00:55:53.38
by false teachers
to stand for truth,
00:55:53.45\00:55:58.02
we have to grow in the knowledge
00:55:58.05\00:56:00.46
and draw closer to Jesus Christ.
00:56:00.49\00:56:02.76
Amen.
00:56:02.79\00:56:04.13
Wow, Shelley,
Mollie, Pastor Tom, Jill,
00:56:04.16\00:56:08.16
this day of the Lord
lesson brought out so many
00:56:08.20\00:56:12.43
and so many things that
we need to be reminded of,
00:56:12.47\00:56:14.70
and I summarize it in
five really quick points.
00:56:14.74\00:56:18.54
I like the way you...
00:56:18.57\00:56:20.01
I summarize what
you said, Shelley,
00:56:20.04\00:56:21.51
commit yourself completely...
00:56:21.54\00:56:23.71
Yes, amen. Amen.
00:56:23.78\00:56:25.11
To the Lord.
00:56:25.15\00:56:26.48
I like that, grow in
grace not into grace.
00:56:26.51\00:56:30.75
We're already in
God's saving grace,
00:56:30.82\00:56:32.59
grow into grace.
00:56:32.62\00:56:35.52
If you were
given 10 more seconds,
00:56:35.56\00:56:37.26
what else would you add to that?
00:56:37.29\00:56:39.79
That it is as we
exercise the power
00:56:39.83\00:56:42.96
that God gives us
that we grow in grace.
00:56:43.00\00:56:45.60
That's right.
00:56:45.63\00:56:46.97
Mollie, what about you?
00:56:47.04\00:56:48.44
That everything is
going to be destroyed,
00:56:48.47\00:56:51.64
everything we see is
going to be destroyed,
00:56:51.67\00:56:54.08
everything that is
wicked is going to be destroyed,
00:56:54.11\00:56:56.54
it's only by the
grace and mercy of God
00:56:56.58\00:56:58.58
that we will stay in
true in that end time.
00:56:58.61\00:57:00.62
Amen. Pastor Tom?
00:57:00.68\00:57:02.32
The delay is for our good. Amen.
00:57:02.35\00:57:05.52
And our perfect
God has a perfect plan
00:57:05.55\00:57:08.92
that He will see to fruition.
00:57:08.96\00:57:10.66
That's right. Jill? Amen.
00:57:10.69\00:57:12.09
I'm blessed by reading Peter
because I see where Peter was,
00:57:12.13\00:57:16.46
you look at the gospels
and where God brought him...
00:57:16.50\00:57:19.60
That's right.
00:57:19.63\00:57:20.97
To see the transforming
grace of God in his life.
00:57:21.04\00:57:22.94
That's right.
00:57:22.97\00:57:24.31
Remember these
very important points,
00:57:24.34\00:57:25.67
Jesus is our only authority.
00:57:25.71\00:57:27.91
There is no other
foundation other than Christ
00:57:27.94\00:57:29.91
we can build on.
00:57:29.94\00:57:31.68
The antidote of
scoffing is the truth,
00:57:31.71\00:57:33.92
accept the truth and you will
not become a scoffer and deny
00:57:33.95\00:57:37.39
the soon return of our Lord.
00:57:37.42\00:57:38.99
Pastor Tom, God
is not in a hurry,
00:57:39.02\00:57:41.16
he has all the time in the world
00:57:41.19\00:57:42.52
but we don't unless we
accept Him as our Savior.
00:57:42.56\00:57:45.56
And, Mollie, I like that.
00:57:45.59\00:57:46.93
What are we gonna
do about it, "So what?"
00:57:47.00\00:57:48.46
You've heard all
these challenges,
00:57:48.50\00:57:50.07
what are you going to
do about it in your life.
00:57:50.13\00:57:52.70
And finally,
Shelley, once again,
00:57:52.73\00:57:54.10
commit yourself
wholly to the Christ,
00:57:54.14\00:57:55.77
that wants to commit everything
00:57:55.80\00:57:57.21
He has to not
only our salvation,
00:57:57.27\00:58:00.34
but to His eternal gift.
00:58:00.41\00:58:02.11
May God bless you,
00:58:02.14\00:58:03.51
until we see
you again in Christ.
00:58:03.58\00:58:06.55
Amen. Amen.
00:58:06.58\00:58:08.18