Scripture referenced 17 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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Romans 15:13 opened the service as a prayer for the congregation
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Keep this verse
Isaiah 53:5-6
quoted by the Jesus character in the courtroom drama to explain substitutionary atonement
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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John 3:16
quoted by the Jesus character in the drama and referenced again in the sermon proper
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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Acts 16:31
quoted by the Jesus character: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
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John 14:6
quoted by the Jesus character: no one comes to the Father except through me
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
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2 Peter 3:9
the Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance
9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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2 Peter 3:10
the day of the Lord will come like a thief
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
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Matthew 24:43
if the master of the house had known when the thief was coming he would have stayed awake
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
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1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night while people say peace and security
2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
3 For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.
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1 Thessalonians 5:4
you are not in darkness for that day to surprise you like a thief
4 But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
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Revelation 16:15
behold I am coming like a thief, blessed is the one who stays awake
15 “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn’t walk naked, and they see his shame.”
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2 Peter 3:11-12
what kind of people ought you to be, living holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God
11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
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2 Peter 3:13
looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells
13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
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1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Paul laid a foundation as a wise builder; fire will test the quality of each one's work
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;
13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
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2 Peter 3:14
make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him
14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
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John 14:2
in my Father's house are many dwelling places, I go to prepare a place for you
2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.
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Jude 1:24-25
benediction: to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you without fault
24 Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,
25 to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
This message came from 2 Peter, continuing a weeks-long walk through the letter. The pastor worked through what the text says about the patience of God and the coming day of judgment, and what that means for how Christians live right now. A short original courtroom drama performed by members of the congregation opened the door for that conversation.
What was said
The sermon picked up where last week left off, with the line that God is not slow in keeping His promise. The pastor pressed on that word "slow." The day of judgment is coming, he said, and the only reason it has not arrived is that God is patient, wanting everyone to come to repentance rather than perish. That patience is not permission to delay.
The courtroom drama gave the congregation two characters to think with: Little Miss Gossip, who minimized what she had done, and Mr. Lost, who knew exactly how guilty he was and said so plainly. The pastor pointed out that minimizing is the natural move. Most people measure themselves against someone worse and feel comfortable enough. But any guilt is enough guilt to be separating us from God, so the comparison does not help.
Repentance, the pastor said again as he has in previous weeks, is a genuine change of mind and direction. It cannot be mechanical. It has to come from the heart. The drama showed Mr. Lost at rock bottom, right at the edge of something true, and the pastor said that is exactly the posture in which someone is ready to receive what Jesus offers. As long as a person is still minimizing, they are not there yet.
The passage describes the day of the Lord coming like a thief. Nobody knows when a thief is coming, and you cannot prepare for what you do not see. The pastor connected this to Jesus in Matthew, to Paul in 1 Thessalonians, and to Revelation, where the same image appears. The point is not fear but readiness, and for those who have already trusted Christ, it is something to look forward to rather than dread.
He then brought in a passage from 1 Corinthians about builders and foundations. The foundation is Christ, and nothing else qualifies. But how a Christian builds on that foundation matters. Work built from wood, hay, and straw will not survive the fire of that day. A believer can be saved and still have lived in a way that was ineffective, unproductive, or even harmful to God's kingdom.
Peter's call in the passage is to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. The pastor was clear that this is only possible through Christ and through the daily work of walking with the Holy Spirit. It is a call to holiness directed at people who have already accepted the gospel, not a second requirement for salvation. He closed by naming two kinds of Christians he had heard from that week: those who cannot wait for the Lord to return, and those who are asking God to use them to reach more people before He does. He said both responses are right.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- The pastor talked about how Little Miss Gossip started by minimizing her guilt, saying things like 'who hasn't let a few words get away from them.' In what ways do we tend to minimize our own sin, and what makes that so easy to do?
- Mr. Lost said he felt like he was 'right on the edge of something big' even before he understood what it was. Have you ever had a moment like that, where you sensed you needed something but couldn't name it yet? What did that feel like?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Read the full transcript 6,852 words
0:01
Alright. Good morning everybody. How are we? Alright. That sounds good actually.
0:08
I mean, weather's not so great, but here you are. Here we are. Would you stand and while you're standing, I wanna sing well, I do wanna sing, but I also wanna share a verse. Romans fifteen thirteen, there's our our my prayer for us today. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.
0:29
Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, may it be so. Amen.
0:40
Awaken my soul come away. It's a hunger to see, a hunger to see to thirst. Awaken first love come away. And do as you did, I first spirit of the living God. Come fall fresh on me.
1:31
Come wake me from my sleep and blow through the caverns of my soul for me to overflow. To over overflow.
1:49
Amen. Let's sing verse two.
1:52
Awaken my soul, come away to worship with all your strength. To worship with all your strength. The spirit of the living God. Come fall fresh on me. Come wake me from my sleep.
2:25
And go through the caverns of my soul. For me to overflow. It's overflow. I'm saying spirit come and fill this place. Spirit come and fill this place.
2:52
Let your glory now in vain.
3:01
Sing that again. That's our prayer, our song.
3:04
Spirit, come and fill this place. Let your glory now in there. Spirit of the living God, come fall afresh on me. Come wake me from my sleep. Blow through the caverns of my soul for me to overflow.
3:57
Alright, y'all y'all can have a seat. Have a few announcements for you this morning. Well, if you're visiting from out of town, welcome to Wyoming. If the weather didn't do that for you yesterday, we've got Monday nights are happening. What's happening?
4:13
We're on tomorrow.
4:16
We're on tomorrow. Songs and Psalms series and meal music message. I don't know what's on for dinner yet but we'll be there at 06:00 and you're welcome to come.
4:27
Amen. We got Vacation Bible School coming up June 24 through the twenty eighth. It is nine to twelve in the morning. There is going to be, I think there's another slide. Yeah.
4:38
There's a volunteer meeting between services downstairs today. So if you're volunteering for Bible School June twenty fourth to twenty eighth, there is a volunteer meeting downstairs for you. Liz Owings, right back there in the back, is kinda leading that meeting. So June twenty fourth to twenty eighth, that would be a lot of fun. We love to have kids come in.
4:58
So bring bring yours, bring others, you know, ask them first, but bring them, you know. Get them in here. It's a miraculous mission. Jesus saves the world is the theme. Immigrant hope is gathering shoes, and they are working towards 25,000.
5:14
That's their goal. 25,000 pairs of shoes is what they're trying to raise. Laurie says that they're one of the rooms of their house is filling up steadily with shoes, and they're distributing and it helps people in lots of different countries. So if you would, bring in new or lightly used shoes for immigrant hope. The Liberator, the original courtroom drama is happening today.
5:36
If y'all came in today and you didn't know that, you're blessed with this. So that's gonna happen right after the song service. We have a volunteer work team. It's kind of a stateside mission trip. So this is happening.
5:48
We're going to Gillette, July 10 through the thirteenth. Gary, would you stand up over here? Gary is kinda heading this up, leading this team. It's to help y'all remember that Scott Eichens thank you, Gary. That's him.
6:01
Go see him. If you wanna go on this trip, go see him afterwards. Alright? So Scott and Pam Eichen and their family are rebooting or planting. Really, it's more like planting a church, but it's in an existing building, so there's some repairs needed.
6:15
And it'll be painting in light carpentry and probably maybe a little electrical, a little plumbing stuff. Not quite sure yet, but Gary's more sure than I am. So if you would ask him, he'll tell you. And if you miss a message, they're available like everything on the Internet. You know, it's available so you can go back and catch one of those if you missed one.
6:37
And connect hour is happening between services today. Down the hall, this way in the fellowship hall, there'll be coffee and donuts and fruits and all kinds of stuff down there. That's good. I think that that's it. Is there donuts?
6:49
I heard donuts twice. There's donuts down further into the hall. All right. Anything else should be in your paper bulletin. If you have a paper bulletin in your hand, read that.
6:59
You'll know what's going on, or you can grab one on the way out and you can look at it throughout the week. Is there anything I'm forgetting? Nothing I'm forgetting. Good. Well, welcome, and I'm glad you're here.
7:10
We're gonna sing a few more. Should we do the shaky shake hand time? Yes. Okay. Alright.
7:16
For
7:17
all you introverts.
7:18
We're on the balance Alright. Right Would you all stand up and greet one another? We'll bring you back together with a song. Hey. Hey.
8:12
Who am I? Who am I that the highest can would welcome me? I was lost, but he brought me in. All his love for her name. All his love for her name.
8:33
When the sun sets, the sun sets free. Always free he has ransomed me, his grace runs thee. While I was a slave to send Jesus die for Yes, he died for me whom the sun, whom the sun sets free, who is free indeed. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am.
9:31
In my father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am and I'm chosen. I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who you say I am.
9:57
You are for me not against me. I am who you say I am. Sing that again. I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who you say I am.
10:14
You are for me, not against me. I am who we say I am. I am who we say I am. Who the sun sets free. In my father's eyes, there's a place for me.
10:54
I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. In my father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes.
11:17
I am.
11:24
Oh, Lord, as we sing that song, I I can't help but but think of this new identity that we have in you by trusting in you, by turning from ourselves, turning from turning from sin and turning to you. Good old fashioned repentance and forgiveness of sins, the good old gospel message. I thank you for that that this beautiful message of so if the son has set you free, you'll be free indeed. Jesus, you said that, and you mean that. You didn't say things you didn't mean.
11:54
You also said in my father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would not have told you for I go to prepare a place for you. Thank you, God, for the place that you prepare for us and glory. God, we, eagerly wait for that day. But in the meantime, in the here and now, would we be about your business loving you and loving one another in Jesus name.
12:16
Amen.
12:39
Blood from thy wounded silent flow be a sin, the double cure. Safe from brow gonna
13:22
of
13:23
All for sin could not atone. But I must say, and I will alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I thing. Naked come to the foredress, helpless look to the foregrades, bow that to the fountain fly. Wash me save, don't roar I die.
14:10
Wash me save, roar I die. And while I draw this pleading bread, when my eyes shall close in death. When I soar to worlds unknown, I see thee on thy judging throne. Rock of ages well for me. Let me hide myself in thee.
14:53
Let me hide myself in thee
15:07
Y'all can have a seat. I'm going to invite the frontline team to come forward. God, I thank you for this morning, this beautiful morning. Your mercies, lord, they're new every morning. Your promises are yes and amen.
15:20
They're true and so God, we just arrive thankful putting breath in our lungs today. The Psalms say, let everything that has breath praise the Lord. We thank you for the opportunity to do that corporately and we come together lord doing more than we could do by ourselves. Lord, I pray also that you would accept these offerings, these tithes, and that you would bless em and like you did with the loaves and the fish, you would multiply them and you would extend them to bless others. We ask you to meet physical and temporal needs, lord, but the primary purpose that we put these is to share the gift of eternal life that you have given us.
16:04
So, in Jesus name, we want to do both. We don't want to divorce social justice and the proclamation of the gospel. They should go hand in hand in the way that we live our life, the way we use our words. So, Jesus, would you do what you will among us this morning by your spirit, lord. May we do the father's bidding.
16:26
In Jesus name, we ask you humbly to bless this offer. Amen.
16:44
I've heard sit, I'd imagine climb a mountain, just be with the one he loves. How many times has he broken from it? It has never been done. I've never found the highest mountain, but I'll walk the hill in Calvary. Just you, I'd give everything.
17:37
I won't give my life away. I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean just be with the one he loves. Well, all his dreams are in empty motion. It can never be done. I've never swam the deep past ocean, but I walk on a raging sea.
18:21
Just be with you, I'd do anything. There's no price I would not pay. Just be with you, I'd get everything. I wouldn't give my life away. And I know you don't understand the fullness of my love.
18:54
I would die upon the cross for your sins. And I know that you don't realize how much that I gave you, and I promise to do it all again. Just be with you, I've done everything. There's no price I did not pay. Just be with you.
19:26
I gave everything. Yes. I gave my life away. Just be with you and just be with you and just with and just be with you
19:54
Amen. I, we have the pleasure this morning of having a little original courtroom drama that was written by one of our own and acted in by one of our own, directed by one of our own. All the props were made by our own So, this is going to be fun. It's called the the Liberator Hopefully, it'll carry a message and then I'll come up afterwards
21:16
Be seated. Court of law is now in session. Baylor, please bring in our first offender. One little miss Gossip. Miss Gossip, you have been charged with slander.
21:57
It seems you've been spreading lies about your friends. What do you have to say for yourself?
22:04
Yes, your honor. I understand that is the charge. I feel it's a bit severe to bring me before the jury for such a small crime.
22:15
Miss Gossip, did you commit the crime as stated, or are you innocent?
22:21
Well, yes, I did. I mean, who hasn't let a few words get away from them, right?
22:31
Your honor. This behavior must not go on. I recommend we throw the book at Little Miss Gossam.
22:52
Throw the book? Really? That's the weirdest sentence I have ever heard. But I guess it beats jail time.
23:06
No,
23:10
miss gossip. It's an expression. It me never mind. There will be no book throwing today. Jury, please read your verdict in this case.
23:29
Bailiff, take her away. Sentencing will be read at another time. I will now read the charges brought before me today against a second defendant, a mister I am lost. Criminal endangerment, assault and battery, two counts, and felony possession of class three narcotics. The jury has deliberated in this case.
24:15
Please read your verdict. Mister, I'm lost. You are found guilty. Would you like to say anything on your behalf prior to sentencing?
24:37
Yes, your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, January twentieth of last year was the worst day of my life. I had been living out of my car for several weeks. My family was fleeing from me, and the only thing getting me through each day was the thought of my next fix and possibly seeing my children again. But I knew that with each hit I took, that reality was farther and farther away, but I couldn't stop.
25:29
I was drowning in sorrow and self hate. That night, I made a call to meet up with my dealer, and I was already out of my mind driving like a maniac. I nearly hit several people. When I pulled into the parking lot that night to meet my dealer, I saw that he wasn't there. I started to go crazy.
25:57
I I I was looking for my phone to call him, but I couldn't find it. So I started tearing apart my car. And when I realized I didn't have my phone, I'm told I grabbed a man off the street and demanded to make a phone call. Of course, he didn't have the number I needed. And when he refused, I threw him to the ground and started pummeling him.
26:22
When another man came to help, I I threw him to the ground as well and started beating him with my fists. The police came. They they dragged me away and threw me in jail, and rightfully so. But ever since that day, your honor, I feel like I've been so close to figuring out some truth, something, but I can't find it. I I don't know.
26:57
I'm crawling on my hands and knees. I I'm drowning, and I need help. I need help.
27:12
Mister Lost, while I can certainly sympathize with your plight, it is clear that you are guilty of all these offenses. When a man has committed such crimes, he must pay for them. This is the law of man, and we are bound to it. Bayleth, please bring in miss Gossip, and we will continue with
27:42
the sentence.
27:59
Miss Gossip, Mr. Lost, I understand that you've committed vastly different crimes. However, the law dictates the punishment should fit the crime. The wages of sin is death. No.
28:22
I sentenced you both to
28:23
death. Wait.
28:26
What is this? Get out of my courtroom.
28:31
Hear me out. Hear me out for a moment. This will be quick. I've come to take these people's place. I will pay their penalty.
28:40
You you what? Who do you think you are?
28:44
I am he, Jesus. As Isaiah fifty three five and six prophesied, but he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and the punishment that bought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us have turned to our own way, and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. Your honor, since I will pay their crime, may I please talk to the defendants alone?
29:24
I suppose. Jury?
29:41
What do you mean you take my place? I mean, didn't you hear the jury? I'm guilty. I did all those things. Lots of other terrible things.
29:51
I deserve what I get.
29:53
I don't think you understand. I know you both did what they said you did. I'm not saying you're not guilty. What I am saying is, I'm taking your place. You don't deserve it.
30:07
That's what I'm going to do because I love you. God so loved the world. He sent his only son that whoever believes in him might have eternal life. I didn't come to help those who have everything squared away. I came to help those who are lost and have realized they're at the end of themselves.
30:30
But I can't ever repay this. How can I thank you?
30:33
Me too.
30:35
By loving my father and loving everyone. This is what I ask. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. No one comes to the Father except through me. Remember what I've done for you here today, and take that love with you to everyone you see.
30:58
Turn away from the evil things in this world and the consequences that follow them. If you accept my gift, you will be changed forever because of me. Do you accept this gift?
31:12
I accept.
31:15
I accept.
32:03
Wow. Thank you. That's good. I think y'all know what I do. I just keep on going forward in scripture, right?
32:10
But we've been talking about judgement for weeks now. Everything in second Peter for the past three or four messages has been about judgement and it's it's real. It's very very real and what it said earlier is that judgement looms over them or hangs over them. At that point, he's talking about the false teachers, the ones who are still walking in darkness or even promoting the darkness. We have I think we have.
32:39
Do we have it? We have a little passage this morning. I'm just going to go forward from right where we stopped last week, but I appreciate the cast of players there and the script writer, the director, thank you very much for doing that. Y'all can do that. Go ahead.
32:53
I ended right here last week, and I think that it's good. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He's not slack. He's not slow. What is going to come to pass his day of judgement or that great and mighty day of the Lord.
33:16
It's coming. It's coming and just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it's not coming. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand him to be slow or slowness. Instead, he is patient with you and he's not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance and repentance, I've mentioned last week was a changing of the mind, a turning away from your sin. Now, little miss gossip up here.
33:44
When she minimized, didn't she? When she started off, she minimized. She was like, what everybody's done it, right? Yeah, everybody's guilty of it. But that still means you're guilty.
33:54
And then she said, well, who hadn't done? Well, she's going back to minimizing thinking about, well, relative thinking. And most of our country these days are relative thinkers. They think, well, I'm better than the next guy. I'm better than them.
34:06
If I'm above 50, right? It's the one who do more good than bad. Maybe I ought to put something into that boot at the grocery store. Maybe I ought to do some maybe I'll do something nice for somebody because I I really kinda blew it. So try to balance it out.
34:23
The balance is not that's not the way this works though. Last week I asked out loud, said, can you remain neutral? No, you cannot remain neutral. I wish I had said it as a statement. You cannot remain neutral.
34:37
Okay, when I said, can I, can you remain neutral? I got a yes. No. We start off guilty. We start off by our nature guilty and then as soon as we can make a conscious choice, we do and we're guilty but any guilt is enough guilt to be separating us.
34:59
That's why he's wanting everyone to come to repentance. He wants for that to be the case but it has to be real. It has to be responsible. You cannot be an automaton. You cannot be a robot that just chooses him because he wants for you to choose him.
35:14
You agree Obedience has to be something that's from the heart Repentance has to be something from the heart. I have been going the wrong way and I want to turn around and I'm incapable of turning around. I'm right there on the edge of truth, mister Lost said. I'm right there on the edge of something big that's and that is it. When you hit to the very bottom, rock bottom.
35:37
You get to the bottom, that's that's when you're ready to accept it. As long as you're minimizing, as long as you're thinking about, well, I'm, you know, I'm doing alright. You probably not going to hit rock bottom. You're not going to get to the place. I'm I'm fine.
35:49
I'm fine. This goes on. The Lord's not slow and keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Sentencing is coming. Actually, the verdict is coming.
35:59
You all start out guilty. Jesus has paid the price for anyone who would accept that payment. God is wishing that or wanting that everyone should come to repentance and not perish and he quoted John three sixteen, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him and when if you have a problem with him saying it towards the end that it's it's what you're one decision away from a bad bad life or you're one decision away from a good good life. You have to hear what the decision is and then choose it or you remain in your sin. Are you there?
36:38
Do you understanding how this goes? Geddy Lee, Rush, right? Y'all know that guy? Says, if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice, alright? If you think, I'm going to put that off.
36:53
You don't know when this is coming. The Lord's promise is not slow. It's coming. We don't know when it's going to be. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
37:03
Do you know when a thief's coming? If you knew when a thief's coming, you prepare for him, right? Even when you prepare for him, you still don't know where he's coming. You don't know when it's going to happen. If you think that's an unusual thing, it's all over the New Testament but know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and he would not have let his house be broken into.
37:26
First Thessalonians, Paul used it. So, it was Jesus in Matthew. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, well, there's peace and security. Nothing's ever happened, right?
37:37
Immediately before this in second Peter, they said, where is this coming you're talking about? It's been going on and going on and he's still not here. It's been going on like this since the very beginning. Our ancestors died thinking that too. There's peace.
37:52
There's security. Then sudden destruction will come upon them. Just as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, they will not escape. Something is building obviously for a pregnant woman. She knows that it's coming but she doesn't know exactly when it's coming, right?
38:07
And when it does, there's no denying it. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. So, if you've already made the decision, I'm going with that, Jesus. I'm going with what he said. He paid the penalty for my sin.
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He lived a perfect life. He did not deserve death. Yet, he took death on for anyone who would accept his offer and God validated that and resurrected him from the dead. The the sin is paid for if you want it, if you will accept it, if you will take it, if you continue though to minimize which thank you little miss Goss that you didn't continue to minimize. You said, I accept that.
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Yes, that's a better option. I think we all start off minimizing and trying to go, ugh. Surely, it's not as bad as that guy. That guy did all kinds of bad stuff. All I did was just a little tidbit here and there.
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We all stand guilty until we make that decision and belief It resounds. The gospel resounds. It makes sense and you go, that is my only way out. I take that. Behold, I'm coming like a thief.
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This is Jesus again in Revelation. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeping his garments on that he may not go about naked and be exposed. The day of the Lord will come like a thief and it goes on to describe it a little bit and said, the heavens will disappear with a roar. The elements will be destroyed by fire. This is the second time in second Peter but it's a new cost definitely a New Testament concept.
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That this world that we now know is not going to always be as it is. Heavens will disappear with a roar. The elements will be destroyed by fire. The earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
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Now, this is written to Christians. So, it's talking to Christians. It's a call to holiness and there's not any doubt about that. With our courtroom drama and with the subject matter at hand and knowing that there are only two paths and one of em is the path to destruction and it is wide and it is easy and then it's easy with a lot of harsh consequences, okay? During and after and then, there's the straight and narrow way of the gospel and it is continually entrusting yourself to a faithful God and the only provision that he's made.
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It's the only way that he's made. It it is exclusive and that's hard for our society to hear. The exclusivity of Christ. Okay, back to the text. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
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Well, what kind of people ought you to be? Is that a rhetorical question? He follows it up with you ought to live holy and godly lives. You ought to live holy and godly lives. You ought to eschew your sin.
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You ought to get away from what it was that had entrapped you and God has made a way for you to be able to do that. He gives the gift of the Holy Spirit and he will show you the way. Submit your will to his will and he will continue. You have to walk it daily. His mercies are new every morning, daily.
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He will be with you. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. He'll send a comforter. He will convict of sin, convince of righteousness, and illuminate his word.
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As you look forward to the day of God and speed, it's coming. If you if you hear that there is a day coming that is going to the heavens just go out with a roar and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. If you hear that, you're either looking forward to it or you're scared to death of it if you're honest. He's speaking to Christians and he says, as you look forward to the day and you speed it's coming, be telling people You know, be telling people I don't know if this is the first scripture I'd start off with quite honestly but it's a good one. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
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Y'all remember this in first Corinthians? We covered this several years by. By the grace of God given me, Paul says, I laid a foundation of a wise builder. I went in and I shared the simple gospel of the grace of God. You have not done anything to deserve it just like mister I am lost said, but I'm guilty.
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You don't get that, right? I'm not saying I'm innocent. You're you can't take my punishment because you feel sorry for me. No, I'm guilty. I deserve what I'm going to get.
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The simple gospel is that it is God's love. It is through God's love that he offers by grace, unmerited favor, forgiveness from sin and that's what Paul went and he shared in the synagogue with biblical backing and then to the Gentiles with biblical backing and anything else he could get his hands on, okay? He went to everywhere else. By the grace of God given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder and someone else is building on it there in Corinth but each one should build with care. Build up from the foundation.
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Stay true to the cornerstone. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that's already laid. It's exclusive. It really is. If it weren't biblical, I wouldn't be telling you.
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It was. It is. Christ is the way, the truth, the life. If anyone builds on this foundation, whether he's using gold or silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw. Their work will be shown for what it is.
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Only that which matches up with the foundation built on Christ will last. Their work will be shown for what it is because the day, capital D, that's that great mighty day of the Lord. Peter's been talking about the whole time. Paul talks about a lot. Jesus talks about it quite a bit.
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It will be revealed with fire and the fire will test the quality of each one's work and if what has been built survives, the builder will receive reward and if it's burned up, the builder will suffer loss. Yet, yet they'll be saved. Even though it's one only escaping through the flames. Now, this is for believers too. This is about Christians who have accepted the payment for their sins as a penalty and they are saved and they are going to always be saved but you can be ineffective and unproductive.
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It's possible as a Christian to be ineffective and unproductive. It's possible to actually cause harm to the kingdom as a Christian by the way you live your life. Are you with me? The day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, the elements will melt in the heat but in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new Earth where righteousness dwells. As you look forward to the day, as you look forward to it.
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I I heard two Christians this week and it's Christians that don't normally say this. There are there are several camps. One of them is, I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait.
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I'm thinking about it all the time and then there's another camp that's like, lord, please tarry a little longer so we can pull more people out of that great chasm out of the pit. Use me today. Lord, how long to do your will? Show me how you'd have me walk so that they listen to what I say. Please.
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I heard a couple people this week saying, whoo. Even so, come Lord Jesus. In keeping with the promise. We're looking forward to. We should always be looking forward to.
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Peter calls it the incorruptible hope. Now, when he's writing this, it's right around the time of Nero burning Rome, blaming it on the Christians. There's a persecution that is starting that is getting pretty rampant and he's written the first epistle and the second epistle about this. He knows that it's a hard time. He knows it's a hard time where they are.
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He knows it's a hard time where he is and I know it's a hard time where you are. If you believe the Bible. You're in a very small minority. If you act on it, you're in a smaller minority. So then, dear friends I love it.
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He turns the corner again. So then, dear friends. Yeah Reminder hey, so then, dearly beloved agape toy, beloved ones, so then, dear friends, it's kind of, woah, okay, we were talking about the end of the world right there for a second. Now, you just called me a beloved one but oh, I'm in that. Yes.
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I am looking forward to it. That's right. Okay. What do you want to tell me now, Peter? So then, since you're looking forward to this, since you're looking forward to it, then, make every effort.
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Please, make every effort. It's a call to holiness, people. Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. Man, the only way that's going to happen is through Christ because human human beings all born with the sin nature act on it, thrive in it in a lot of cases or they go after it. I wouldn't say they thrive in it.
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They go after it and enjoy the sin. It's just finished talking last week about the dog returning to its vomit. The pig that goes back and wallows in the mud even though it's been cleaned. Dear friends, since you're looking forward to this, I mean, you are saying that you believe, choose this day who you'll serve. Make every effort to be found spotless and blameless and at peace with him.
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Spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. That's where I want to be and I think that's what Peter is asking of all of us. We had a play and a sermon and we're ten minutes short of the hour. Anybody else got anything? Word from the Lord Peter, you got something?
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Come on. Anybody? No. I just I think God's amazing. Little personal word of testimony.
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The fact that he can use flawed human beings and he will. It's amazing and it's not just preachers and it's not just people who study. It's people who are serious about God's will. I want you to do what you will through me, lord. Just use me.
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I'm a I'm a I'm a pawn in the game. I don't care what you do with You just use me. Move me about this life. Use me as best you can. I want to be spotless.
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I want to be blameless. I want to be whiter than snow. We get an illustration. Overnight Would y'all pray with me? Lord God almighty, I thank you lord that you have called us into your family.
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I thank you lord that you've given us a few simple, simple things. Look to me. Look to me. I'm the way. I'm the truth.
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I'm the life. Look look to me. Jesus said, pick up your cross. There's some work involved in living out the life that you've been given that's eternal and abundant life. There's some work involved in it after the fact.
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Take up your cross daily and follow me. Take me seriously. Pay attention. Love people the way I love people. I'll do it.
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I'll do it through you. I'll do it through you. Even when it's hard, I'll do it through you. Giving you a gift to the Holy Spirit. I want you to go forward.
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In Jesus name, that's what that means to do things in Jesus name. God almighty, I pray right now that you would do that, that you would touch hearts and you'd convict lives out here today that they can live spotless and blameless and pure through the power of the Holy Spirit which you've given. That there need be no fear of that great mighty day that's coming that we can actually look forward to it. Lord, I also as I stand up here, I think there are a whole lot of people in our society that don't fear it, and they're not looking forward to it because they just think it is not gonna happen. Everything just continues just like it always has.
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Why should we be? It's just another religion. Wish we could get over that. No hell below us. Above us only sky.
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God, would you convict us and convince us and move us in the direction of your kingdom? Amen. May we set our hearts, lord, in allegiance to your rule and your reign. May we be a part of your kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Would you all stand?
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Yeah. We're gonna sing of this, but let me just say it first so we can hear it multiple times this morning. How great the chasm that lay between us, how high the mountain I could not climb, in desperation I turned to heaven and I spoke your name into the night. Then through the darkness, your loving kindness tore through the shadows of my soul. The work is finished.
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The end is written. Jesus Christ, my living hope.
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How great the calzone that lay between us. I'll have a mountain I could not climb. In desperation, I turned to heaven and spoke your name into the night. Then through the darkness, your loving kindness tore through the shadows of my soul. Who could imagine so great a mercy?
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What heart could fathom such boundless grace? The God of ages stepped down from glory to wear my sand and bear my shame. The cross is spoken. The cross is spoken. I am forgiven.
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The king of kings calls me his own. Beautiful savior, I'm yours forever. Jesus Christ, my living hope. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
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Praise the one who set me free. Hallelujah. Death has lost its grip on me. You have broken every chain. There's salvation in your name, Jesus Christ, my living hope.
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Let's sing that again. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Praise the one who set me free. Hallelujah.
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Death has lost its grip on me. You have broken every chain. There's salvation in your name, Jesus Christ, my living hope. Then came the morning that sealed the promise. Your whole buried body began to breathe.
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Out of the sights, the roaring lion declared the great and no hope among them. Yours is the big, Jesus, yours is the big. Hallelujah. Raise the one who set me free. Hallelujah.
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Death has lost its grip on me. You have broken every chain. There's salvation in your name. Jesus Christ, my living hope. My Hallelujah.
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Praise the word and set me free. Hallelujah. Death has lost its grip on me. You have broken every chain. There's salvation in your name.
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Jesus Christ, my living. Jesus Christ, my living Amen.
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Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and that is actually possible. If you're here this morning and you don't know that's actually possible, it's actually possible. It's actually possible to walk forward in God's grace and to keep from stumbling. I didn't give a traditional invitation to come down to the front this time, but the the invitation is always always open. Now elders, would y'all just make your way up here real quick?
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Well, during this benediction, elders of this church. I I have gotten the word a couple times in the last little while that I was intimidating, which I find funny. But I can't see how I'm more intimidating than Matt Litzerman. But if if yeah, sorry. He's a very, very loving brother.
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But he looks more intimidating than I do, doesn't he? I'm I'm up here with a group of elders and I serve, and it's a pleasure, absolute pleasure to wake up in the morning knowing that, I long to do your will, Lord, show me. And and and he will and he does. So I want y'all to know that it's not just me. We are all inviting you at any time that you have a struggle or a problem and you can find one of us.
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We are welcoming y'all to come with it. Okay? Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault or with and with great joy to the only God, our savior, may there be glory and majesty and power and authority through Jesus Christ, our lord, before all ages now and forevermore. Amen. Amen.
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