Trusting God's Timing and Embracing His Promises

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering the Words of the Prophets and Apostles

Description: Peter urges believers to remember the words spoken by the holy prophets and apostles. This remembrance is not merely a mental exercise but a call to live out these teachings in our daily lives. By doing so, we ensure that our actions align with God's word and reflect His will. This act of remembrance helps us stay grounded in our faith, especially in times of doubt and uncertainty. It is a reminder that the teachings of the prophets and apostles are timeless and relevant, guiding us in our journey of faith. [16:43]

2 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV): "This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles."

Reflection: Think of a specific teaching from the prophets or apostles that has impacted your life. How can you actively live out this teaching today?

Day 2: Standing Firm Against Mockers and Doubters

Description: In the last days, mockers will come, questioning the promise of Jesus' return and following their own desires. This skepticism serves as a reminder for believers to stay firm in their faith. Understanding that God's promises are true and His timing is perfect, even if it seems slow to us, is crucial. The presence of mockers and doubters should not shake our faith but rather strengthen our resolve to trust in God's word and His promises. [26:06]

2 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV): "Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you faced skepticism or doubt about your faith. How did you respond, and how can you stand firm in your faith in similar situations in the future?

Day 3: The Power of God's Word in Creation and Judgment

Description: By His word, God created the heavens and the earth, and by His word, the world was once destroyed by water. The current world is reserved for fire, symbolizing a future judgment. This underscores the power of God's word and the certainty of His promises. Believers are reminded of the immense power and authority of God's word, which not only brought creation into existence but also holds the power to judge and renew it. This understanding should lead us to a deeper reverence for God's word and a commitment to live according to His will. [30:29]

2 Peter 3:5-7 (ESV): "For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly."

Reflection: How does understanding the power of God's word in creation and judgment influence your daily life and decisions? What changes can you make to align more closely with His will?

Day 4: Embracing God's Patience and Preparing for His Return

Description: God's timing is different from ours; a day is like a thousand years to Him. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. This patience is an opportunity for believers to prepare their hearts and live faithfully, ready for His return. Understanding God's patience should lead us to a sense of urgency in our spiritual growth and in sharing the message of salvation with others. It is a call to live each day with the awareness that His return could be at any moment, and we must be ready. [37:02]

2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV): "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace God's patience and prepare for His return? How can you actively work on these areas starting today?

Day 5: Recognizing Our Value to God

Description: The immense value God places on us is demonstrated by the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ. This profound love should remind us of our worth and compel us to share this message of salvation with others. Understanding our value in God's eyes helps us to live with a sense of purpose and mission, knowing that we are deeply loved and cherished by our Creator. It also motivates us to extend this love to others, fulfilling our mission as a church to share the gospel and make disciples. [53:20]

1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Reflection: How does recognizing your immense value to God change the way you view yourself and others? What steps can you take to share this message of love and salvation with someone in your life today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we gathered to worship and partake in the Lord's Supper, reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We read from Luke's Gospel, where Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples, emphasizing the significance of His body and blood given for us. As we transition into the summer months, we also began our study in 2 Peter 3:1-9, focusing on the importance of remembering the words spoken by the holy prophets and the apostles.

Peter's letter reminds us that in the last days, mockers will come, questioning the promise of Jesus' return. They overlook the fact that by God's word, the heavens and earth were created and that the world was once destroyed by water. Peter emphasizes that the current heavens and earth are reserved for fire, awaiting the day of judgment. However, God's timing is not like ours; a day is like a thousand years to Him. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance.

We discussed the importance of trusting God, even when His timing seems slow to us. Our focus should be on living faithfully and obediently, preparing for His return. The heart of our faith is not just about understanding God but trusting Him and being ready for His coming. We are reminded that our value is immense in God's eyes, demonstrated by the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Our mission as a church is to share this love and the message of salvation with others.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Remembrance: Peter urges us to remember the words spoken by the holy prophets and apostles. This remembrance is not just a mental exercise but a call to live out these teachings in our daily lives, ensuring that our actions align with God's word. [16:43]
2. Mockers and Doubters: In the last days, mockers will question the promise of Jesus' return, following their own desires. This skepticism is a reminder for us to stay firm in our faith, understanding that God's promises are true and His timing is perfect, even if it seems slow to us. [26:06]
3. God's Creation and Judgment: By His word, God created the heavens and the earth, and by His word, the world was once destroyed by water. The current world is reserved for fire, symbolizing a future judgment. This underscores the power of God's word and the certainty of His promises. [30:29]
4. God's Patience and Our Readiness: God's timing is different from ours; a day is like a thousand years to Him. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. This patience is an opportunity for us to prepare our hearts and live faithfully, ready for His return. [37:02]
5. Our Value to God: The immense value God places on us is demonstrated by the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ. This profound love should remind us of our worth and compel us to share this message of salvation with others, fulfilling our mission as a church. [53:20]
### [53:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:37] - Opening Prayer
[07:35] - The Lord's Supper
[09:12] - Transition to Sermon
[15:42] - Introduction to 2 Peter
[16:43] - Remembering the Words of the Prophets
[18:48] - Purpose of Peter's Letter
[19:38] - The Accuracy of Scripture
[22:39] - The Second Coming and Our Responsibility
[23:26] - Trusting God Over Understanding
[24:04] - The Struggle with Obedience
[24:45] - The Heart of the Church
[25:27] - Mockers in the Last Days
[26:06] - Doubts and Skepticism
[28:25] - The Power of God's Word
[30:29] - Creation and Judgment
[32:25] - The Cleansing Power of Water
[34:41] - The Cleansing Power of Fire
[36:22] - Preparing for Judgment
[37:02] - God's Patience and Our Readiness
[39:21] - God's Timelessness
[45:39] - The Eternal Perspective
[48:31] - The Importance of Relationships
[49:57] - God's Desire for Repentance
[51:40] - Our Value to God
[53:20] - The Price Paid for Us
[54:51] - The Mission of the Church
[56:09] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Peter remind the believers to remember in 2 Peter 3:1-2?
According to 2 Peter 3:3-4, what will mockers say in the last days?
How does Peter describe God's creation and judgment in 2 Peter 3:5-7?
What does Peter say about God's perception of time in 2 Peter 3:8-9?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important for believers to remember the words spoken by the holy prophets and apostles? How does this remembrance impact their daily lives? [16:43]
How should believers respond to mockers who question the promise of Jesus' return? What does this skepticism reveal about the mockers' understanding of God's promises? [26:06]
What is the significance of God's patience as described in 2 Peter 3:9? How does this patience reflect God's desire for humanity? [37:02]
How does the sacrifice of Jesus Christ demonstrate the immense value God places on us? How should this understanding influence our mission as a church? [53:20]

Application Questions

Peter emphasizes the importance of remembering the teachings of the prophets and apostles. How can you incorporate this practice of remembrance into your daily routine? What specific steps will you take this week to ensure you are living out these teachings? [16:43]
When faced with skepticism or mockery about your faith, how do you typically respond? Reflect on a recent experience and consider how you might respond differently in light of Peter's encouragement to stay firm in faith. [26:06]
God's timing is different from ours, and He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish. How can you cultivate patience in your own life, especially when waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled? What practical steps can you take to align your perspective with God's timing? [37:02]
Reflect on the immense value God places on you, demonstrated by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How does this understanding affect your self-worth and your interactions with others? What specific actions can you take to share this message of salvation with someone this week? [53:20]
The sermon mentioned the importance of living faithfully and obediently in preparation for Jesus' return. Identify one area of your life where you struggle with obedience. What steps can you take to address this struggle and live more faithfully? [24:04]
How can you actively participate in the mission of the church to share God's love and the message of salvation? Think of one person in your life who needs to hear this message. How will you reach out to them this week? [54:51]
The sermon highlighted the importance of relationships over material possessions. Reflect on your current priorities. How can you shift your focus to invest more in relationships that matter for eternity? What specific changes will you make this week to prioritize these relationships? [48:31]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The value of something is determined by the price that is paid for it. For example, gentlemen, when you purchase that ring for the young lady that is your wife now, or when you made those investments in that, it determines its value, isn't it? How you value the relationship. We also say we spend, we say we spell love, T-I-M-E sometimes. Value matters. What kind of value did God place upon your life and your eternity? What did he give to redeem you, to make you right? His one and only son." [51:40](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

2. "The Lord is not slow about his promises some count slowness but is patient towards you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Did you hear that last phrase? What is the heart of the creator? Is it judgment? Does he want to blast us? Does he want to annihilate us? Does he want to condemn us to hell and say away with you? Check the scripture out again. What did he say? What did Peter say? Why is things you know the things that you'd like to seem to me like God sometimes moves at molasses moves really slow why is he why is he so patient he doesn't want any any to perish but for all to come to repentance he wants everybody there he loves us he's giving us time for our hearts to turn and change." [49:57](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

3. "And we focus so much of our effort and our time on the other stuff that we don't focus as much as we need to on the relationships that we've been given you because what's going to matter you know i don't know how that works in heaven when there's you know it says there's no tears there's no suffering but what about those that you love that aren't there because of their own choice whatever they chose to do and we can't control it we can't make people follow jesus we just can't it would be nice if we could in a way but that that wouldn't mean it would be their decision that and god allows us to make that choice as individuals and we plead and we beg and we encourage and we implore and we want people to be there with us and they're people that we that matter so much that we can't control it we can't control it." [48:31](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

4. "And Peter was reminding these believers the importance of that I got that was a a wild rabbit I chase and we want to look at this last verse as we close out here and what Peter says and I am going to close out don't worry the lord is not slow about his promises some count slowness but is patient towards you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance did you hear that last phrase what is the heart of the creator is it judgment does he want to blast us does he want to annihilate us does he want to condemn us to hell and say away with you check the scripture out again what did he say what did Peter say why is things you know the things that you'd like to seem to me like god sometimes moves at molasses moves really slow why is he why is he so patient he doesn't want any any to perish but for all to come to repentance he wants everybody there he loves us he's giving us time for our hearts to turn and change." [49:57](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

5. "And the lives that we have been given matter. How valuable are you to God? How much does God value you? If he were to put a price tag on your life, what would it be? Buck 75? That's a joke. I just threw that, I don't know where that number came from, just in my head. I think I saw the story the other day. Something was at buck 75. But anyway, we all know this principle, and you've heard me say this many times, and you'll probably hear me say it many more. The value of something is determined by the price that is paid for it." [51:40](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "And it's not so much that we understand God but that we trust him. Now as parents, our children sometimes don't always do what we tell them to do. Is that fair? Happens to all of us as parents. And when we were children, we didn't do everything that our parents told us to do, did we? See, I'm trying to get your parents to confess now, folks. Because we didn't. I mean, I've got that testimony clear. If you want to call and ask my mother that question, I'll give you her number. You can call her and she'll tell you, no I didn't. I didn't do everything. I didn't do everything she asked me to do. In fact, a lot of times, even still, I don't do everything she asked me to do. But that's just part of the struggle. We struggle with that. And we struggle with that whole idea of obedience. But in our walk with God, we sometimes don't do everything that God asks us to do either. And I think that was an issue for these believers. But anyways, Peter's trying to share with them. I love what he says here in the beginning. That all of this, he's trying to stir them up. And it's by way of reminder that they should remember the words spoken before him by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. He wants them to keep that word true and close to their hearts and minds and to remember it so that when they live the lives that they live, they are living and walking in obedience to the Son of God and to the Savior who saved their souls." [24:04](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

2. "And he describes today perfectly. Doesn't he? What he says in verse 3, Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking. That sounds kind of funny to me. Following after their own lusts, saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since his fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. This is all just a ruse. He's not coming back. What are you all worried about for? That seems to be what they're saying. And we have people in our world today that will mock the Christian faith and other beliefs as well. For anybody that says that things are going to change or there's going to be a return or God's going to do what he needs to do. They're like, no, we've always heard this and nothing has changed." [25:27](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

3. "And by his word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and the destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that the Lord with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. And the Lord is not slow about his promises. Some count slowness, but is patient toward you. Not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance." [18:02](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

4. "And Peter was reminding these believers the importance of that I got that was a a wild rabbit I chase and we want to look at this last verse as we close out here and what Peter says and I am going to close out don't worry the lord is not slow about his promises some count slowness but is patient towards you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance did you hear that last phrase what is the heart of the creator is it judgment does he want to blast us does he want to annihilate us does he want to condemn us to hell and say away with you check the scripture out again what did he say what did Peter say why is things you know the things that you'd like to seem to me like god sometimes moves at molasses moves really slow why is he why is he so patient he doesn't want any any to perish but for all to come to repentance he wants everybody there he loves us he's giving us time for our hearts to turn and change." [49:57](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

5. "And the lives that we have been given matter. How valuable are you to God? How much does God value you? If he were to put a price tag on your life, what would it be? Buck 75? That's a joke. I just threw that, I don't know where that number came from, just in my head. I think I saw the story the other day. Something was at buck 75. But anyway, we all know this principle, and you've heard me say this many times, and you'll probably hear me say it many more. The value of something is determined by the price that is paid for it." [51:40](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

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