August 22, 2004
Service Theme - "Our God Is Truth"
2 Peter 1:12-21
Grab Hold of the Guidelines
I. Introduction
A. Illustration - F. B. Meyer wrote, It is a mistake to be always turning back to recover the past. The law for Christian living is not backward, but forward; not for experiences that lie behind, but for doing the will of God, which is always ahead and beckoning us to follow. Leave the things that are behind, and reach forward to those that are before, for on each new height to which we attain, there are the appropriate joys that befit the new experience. Don't fret because life's joys are fled. There are more in front. Look up, press forward, the best is yet to be! (as cited on PreachingToday.com)
B. Context - I think Meyer did a good job of expressing the truth of the passage we're studying today. The basic concept of what Meyer was saying and what Peter teaches us is the same: (NEW SLIDE) HANG IN THERE! HANG IN THERE! 2 Peter 1:12-21 is all about ways to hang in there and keep the faith.
III. Hang In There and Remember How to Grow!
A. Today we're going to do things a little bit differently. Instead of reading the whole passage and then taking it apart, we're to look at it in three sections. Peter tells us to remember how to grow, to remember who to know, and to remember what to trust. So let's start out by reading verses 12-15. (NEW SLIDE) I plan to keep on reminding you of these things-even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth. 13 Yes, I believe I should keep on reminding you of these things as long as I live. (NEW SLIDE) 14 But the Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that my days here on earth are numbered and I am soon to die. 15 So I will work hard to make these things clear to you. I want you to remember them long after I am gone. Peter's telling us to remember how to grow. He keeps referring to "these things." What are "these things"? The issues he just got done talking about that we dealt with last week.
B. (NEW SLIDE) First, he says to remember the progress chart. You remember what that is? The progression that show us where we are in becoming like Jesus, and what to do to get to the next level. (NEW SLIDE) I believe it was Albert Einstein who said that you can never solve your problems by using the same level of thinking that you used to create them. And that's true spiritually. So Peter says to start with knowing God, then add moral excellence, then knowing God better, then self-control, patient endurance, godliness, loving other Christians, and loving everyone with God's love. Remember how to grow.
C. (NEW SLIDE) Second, he tells us to remember to work at growing in faith. As we learned last week, verse eight told us that we will grow to become more productive and useful in our knowledge of Jesus as we grow our faith. I know it's a recap of last week, but Peter thought it important enough to give a reminder so it must be essential for us to remember.
D. (NEW SLIDE) Third, Peter tells us to stand firm in the truth. He says that we know them, we know what to do, so keep standing firm in the faith. How do we stand firm? Jesus says in Luke 6:46-49, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." We stand firm by putting the truth that the Bible teaches us into practice. 'Nough said!
E. (NEW SLIDE) Fourth, Peter tells us to make our lives living reminders of God's truth and how to grow in it. He says that he knows he's going to die, and he did when Nero crucified him upside down, so he's going to do everything he can so that we'll remember these truths long after he's gone. What better can we do than to follow Peter's example and make our lives living reminders of God's truth and how to grow in it? If we work at remembering the truth, at growing in Christ, at standing firm by walking in obedience, then our lives will be living reminders of God's truth and how to grow in it. Peter says to hang in there and remember how to grow.
IV. Hang in There and Remember Who to Know
A. Next, Peter tells us to hang in there and remember Who to know. Verses 16-18: (NEW SLIDE) 16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. (NEW SLIDE) 17 And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God's glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, "This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him." (NEW SLIDE) 18 We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain. What does all this mean?
B. (NEW SLIDE) First, Peter's telling us to remember the powerful and glorified Christ. Think about the awesome experience Peter and James and John had on that mountain where Jesus was transfigured. Matthew 17:1-9: After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." Peter was so overwhelmed by the experience that he didn't even know what he was saying at the time. And it's obvious that he was still overwhelmed when he wrote this letter. He tells us to remember the glorified Christ and that Jesus is coming again in His glory and power! And just think about what that power can do in our hearts and lives. Peter knew about the effects of that power, and that's why he reminded us of it.
C. (NEW SLIDE) Second, Peter tells us to remember that he and two other witnesses saw the glorified Christ with their own eyes, so we can trust in the truth of the teachings about Christ. Have you ever seen anything that was so powerful that it blew you away and transformed your life? For those who are parents, how about the first time you saw your baby? There are lots of possibilities, but the point is that Jesus in all His glory and majesty and splendor was witnessed by Peter and James and John and that revelation verified everything that Jesus ever taught. Peter tells us to remember the eyewitness accounts so that we know Who to know.
D. (NEW SLIDE) Third, he tells us to remember that God still speaks to us. God's voice speaking from the cloud was not for Jesus' benefit. It was for the benefit of those three disciples. And as Jesus' disciples we can hear God's voice speak to us through His Holy Spirit. All we have to do is to be willing to listen and to invest some time in listening for God's still small voice in our hearts. Peter tells us to remember that God still speaks to us.
E. (NEW SLIDE) Fourth, Peter tells us to remember that we too as joint heirs with Christ are beloved and can fully please God. Romans 8:16-17: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Paul's letter to the Roman Christians was already well circulated by the time Peter wrote his second letter, so Peter knew the truth of Paul's words. I believe that's one reason why Peter included those words that God had spoken on the mountain when Jesus was glorified. He wants us to remember that we like Christ are beloved and can fully please God by remembering these things and walking in obedience to them. He reminds us to hang in there and to remember Who to know.
V. Hang in There and Remember What to Trust
A. Peter wraps up this passage by telling us to hang in there and remember what to trust. Verses 19-21: (NEW SLIDE) 19 Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. (NEW SLIDE) Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place-until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts. (NEW SLIDE) 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves 21 or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. That's a mouthful of theological truth, but in a nutshell here's what Peter is teaching us.
B. (NEW SLIDE) First, he tells us to remember to trust God's written word. He says that because of everything they witnessed, all the apostles have even greater confidence in what was written by the prophets. The Jews called the Old Testament the Law and the Prophets. They lived their lives according to the Law, and they put all their hope in the prophets. Peter says to pay close attention to everything they wrote, because it all in one way or another points to Christ. And if we trust that God's written word is true, then we will live according to it. Peter says to remember to trust in God's written word.
C. (NEW SLIDE) Second, he tells us to remember that God still speaks through His word. He calls those words "a light shining in a bright place." Notice the present and continual tense he uses when he says, "shining." He didn't say "shined" or "will shine" or "might shine" or "stop shining." He said "shining" to emphasize the continually powerful speaking of God's word to our hearts. Remember that God still speaks through His word.
D. (NEW SLIDE) Third, Peter tells us to remember that God still speaks through His servants. He talks about the power of the Holy Spirit inspiring the prophets to write what they did. God used each prophet's personality and temperament to express those words, but the words still came from God through the power of the Holy Spirit. And whenever you hear solid and sound biblical preaching or teaching or prophesy, which means forth-telling God's truth, God is speaking through His servants. In fact, God can use each one of us to speak His truth as we submit to the leading of His Spirit and walk in obedience to Him. Peter tells us to hang in there and remember what to trust.
E. John Ortberg, in his book If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat, wrote, Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you. Sir Edmund Hillary made several unsuccessful attempts at scaling Mount Everest before he finally succeeded. After one attempt he stood at the base of the giant mountain and shook his fist at it. "I'll defeat you yet," he said in defiance. "Because you're as big as you're going to get-but I'm still growing." Every time Hillary climbed, he failed. And every time he failed, he learned. And every time he learned, he grew and tried again. And one day he didn't fail (as cited on PreachingToday.com). We fail in our walk with Christ because we fail to hang in there and remember. Remember how to grow. Remember Who to know. Remember what to trust. (NEW SLIDE) Remember that if we just hang in there and remember, God will be victorious in our lives and we will be changed to be like Him. Grab hold of the guidelines and remember!
VI. Conclusion
A. Please bow your heads and close your eyes out of respect for God and for each other's privacy. I want to read to you three thoughts that God gave Willow Creek senior pastor Bill Hybels that he shared last week at the leadership summit. These encouraged me to hang in there and remember, and I pray that they encourage you too. First, "you are right now a treasured child of the Most High God." Think about that for a moment. Second, "the cause that I have assigned to you is going to prevail and the combined forces of darkness will not prevail." Our church will be victorious! Think about that for a moment. Third, "I have surrounded you with some of the most loving, remarkable Christ followers on the planet - lean into them. Let them hold you up." Think about these truths for a few moments.
B. God's Church will prevail so hang in there and remember. Remember how to grow. Remember Who to know. Remember what to trust. Remember how much God loves us and has surrounded us with His love and that He's going to win. Let's be encouraged by all this. And let's go forth from this place and win! Let's pray.
