What kind of people do we ought to be?   2 Peter 3:10-18

• Tonight, we are coming to the end of 2 Peter 
• If you haven’t been here every Wednesday as we went through 1^st and 2^nd Peter, please go back and listen to the recordings 
• Summary: 1st Peter – Speaking to a persecuted church to give them hope, encouragement and comfort them in Christ – Even though they suffer for a little while, glory awaits them 
• 2^nd Peter: – He changes the tone and speaks of false teachers in the church… How to oppose them and truly stay ready so we are not deceived. Thus, we may complete this race set before us. #Readyourword
• Pastor Crystal spoke about the Word of God being true, about Gods timeline, about Gods faithfulness …and I feel like Peter carries that theme to the end of his book
• Our text today: 2 Peter 3:10-18 (Nkjv)
• Question for you!!
  • If  a little boy and girl approaches you at the store or any other place and asked you
  • Excuse me sir/ma’am – I am trying to figure this thing called life, what kind of person do I ought to be? – What would be your response?
• I am sure – it would be something like this; You ought to be a kid that obeys your parent, kind, joyful, respectful, hardworking, and all these attributes of the world 
• What if the same question was posed to you while you were here at church?
• Would your answers be the same or would the environment change the answer?
• I will tell you what would influence your answer – Content – Content matters 
• Let’s take Apostles Peters words:
  • Excuse me sir/ma’am – the Bible tells me that the heavens will vanish ( with a mighty roar) and everything will be destroyed with intense heat, oooh and everything we have built for ourselves here on earth will be burned up- So what type of person should I be?
• Peter is asking some really good questions today and totally helping me out as well
• What type of person should you be in Holy conduct and godliness – Remember he is speaking to a church who are supposed to be having godly conduct?
• He tells them in Vs 14: (Amp) So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him].
• I believe that this possible if we don’t allow the things of this world to corrupt us – we can be blameless 
• 1 Peter 1:16  (Nkjv) – because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
• And putting things in perspective – that all we work so hard for will be burnt up, we ought to evaluate our daily dealings 
• As I read this text and sought the Lord on it – I came across this question and I feel like there might be one or two of you who might be wondering this as well 
• Here it is: If, everything that we work towards and for; is going to be burnt up, including the heaven and the earth to prepare for a new heaven and earth, why go to work- why plan this life, why work hard? – isn’t it all going up in flames?
• I realize that this is not hidden information:
  • 1 Corinthians 3:13 (NLT) But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
• At the end of this life, however long or short, one thing for sure will be required-an account of the work you have been doing.
• And the test is fire:
  • 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (NLT) If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
• So, what kind of worker do I ought to be? 
• Matthew 7: 24-27 (Nkjv) – 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
• Jesus is saying, we have all been called to build – work – and when we hear His word and do as commanded, we are building on a foundation that even though exposed to wind, storm, Covid, Diseases, Bad government, though the wind beat on it, it will stand strong
• As Peter puts it, though we get persecuted, false teachers come and there are things that are trying to steal us from Christ, we will stand strong in we listen and do what God has commanded us in His word!
• This right here is why I lean on the Lord- what a tragedy to labor day in and day out only to realize that it was all vanity of vanity 
• Proverbs 16:1 – We humans make plans, but the Lord has the final word
• When you know this and you look at Peters text that states: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief “you consider your works more diligently”
• What a pity if you work so hard without consulting God, building a life that is self-directed – “best life now” only to finish the project and be ready to get that famous passive income (I want it as well) only for the Lord to come that very night 
• The Bible actually tells us of such a story:
• Luke 12:16-21 (NLT) Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
• Everyone here has a gift that the Lord has given them. Some more pronounced than others
• What are you doing with the gift you have?
  • I think of people like Michal Jackson (Thriller), Whitney Houston (Will always love you) – Those with great voices that they have wasted – If we could see a sneak peak of when God was awarding them that gift – what would the conversation look like vs when their gift use was tested?
  • What about your ability to sing, speak, influence & lead people, make friends, build something, gentleness, discernment, word of wisdom, prophesy 
• Say Amen if you know Marcus Ford, I met him at AT&T and later we become friends – about 9-10 years ago, we agreed to pray and fast…story
• This gift of reading Marcus’s mail – over the years – How do I use it?
  • To pray for him, encourage him, build him up or do I use it for my own gain or take advantage of him? 
• Your gift differs, but one day there will be a scale of fire
• I was listening to someone who said:
  • Every time he is on stage, he reminds himself that people are excited about the God given gift not him, this keeps him humble 
  • People cannot differentiate between the gift and the person 
  • But you have to responsibility of knowing the difference and to remember there is a requirements 
  • Without the gift, they get me- they get nothing, there is nothing good in me
  •  James 1:17 (Nkjv) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
• When I think about all these stuffs, I start weighing everything I am doing 
• Like weighing your luggage before you head to the airport- You know they will weigh your bag
• And the God Lord knew this already hence the text below now has some weight 
• 2 Peter 3:15 (Amp) And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God],
• Yes, this is for those who don’t know Christ but it so much for us as well who need to make adjustments in our lives – He is delaying judging and avenging wrongs 
• What do we ought to do? 
• You guys are asking amazing questions even this late in the sermon 
• Say Amen if you know who King Solomon is?
• The dude had everything, I mean everything – Wealth, Fame, Wisdom, Influence, Power and yes whatever he could imagine, he got it- equivalent of #bestestlifenow
• At the end of his life, just when he was about to go meet God to get his work weighed under fire;  he concludes
  • Ecclesiastes 12:13 (Nkjv) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
• Let me give you a quick summary because I don’t have the time go over How important the fear of the Lord is and how we as a society have forgotten what it is to fear the Lord – Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name!!!
• Say “Praise God” if you have been coming to prayer night, and “pray for me” if you have not 
• We have been speaking about asking God for wisdom – and here it is:
  • Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
• Solomon is throwing a “Hail Mary” to all of us after his heart was turned away from the Lord because he did not have the fear of the Lord – and he like dude- I messed up big time …if you want to stay grounded – Fear the Lord!!I have wisdom, but its all a waste if it doesn’t begin with the fear of the Lord
• If you want all your works not burn up – Fear God and you will have wisdom to:
  • Know what kind of person you ought to be 
  • Know what kind of worker you ought to be 
  • What we ought to do in every aspect of our lives – marriage, kids, work, gifts given 

• Peter concludes:
• 2 peter 3:17 (NKJV) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

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