Woodmen Valley Chapel

Jesus’ Timing is Not Our Timing (v1-6) Jesus’ Purposes Are Not Our Purposes (v7-15) Jesus is Near in Our Suffering (v17-36) Jesus Has a Purpose (v38-46, 53)

PRAISE THE KING © 2014 Farren Love And War Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)), Integrity's Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)), Integrity's Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG | CCLI Song # 7032344 -- CCLI License # 4206300 THERE IS A KING CCLI #7138218 | Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hammer © 2019 NO OTHER NAME #7019979 by J Houston and J Myrin 2014 © Hillsong Music Publishing THERE IS A SAVIOR CCLI #7161380 | Glenn Packiam, Jon Egan, and Micah Massey NO OTHER NAME CCLI #7019979 | Joel Houston and Jonas Myrin

From our limited perspective we can be left to wonder if God has abandoned control of the cosmos. Peter reminds us not to misinterpret god’s patience for slowness. While God’s complete and total judgement will come like a thief in the night, until then we are called to persist in living and preaching the gospel.

False teachers were plaguing the early church by scoffing at the idea that Christ would return to judge the world. At the root of their mocking was the fact that they were living for their own sinful desires. To justify living in their sin, these false teachers scoffed at the thought that Jesus would return in power and glory. Peter wants to stir up in his readers, by way of reminder, that Christ is indeed coming back and they can stand firmly on the foundation of God’s Word. When scoffers come we need to remind ourselves of the truth of Scripture looking back to what God has done, realizing what God is doing, and look in faith to what God will do.

Having listed off the depravity of the False teachers, Peter now demonstrates how their calls to freedom actually lead to slavery. Claiming to be followers of Jesus, these false teachers and their empty words easily slide back into the muck and mire of sin. We need be aware of the danger of false teaching and it’s lure aware from God.

False teachers, and those who willfully follow them are driven by arrogance. We are warned here that they even go further than angels would dare to go, and refuse to be convinced of their error. The hope against this kind of presumptuous arrogant falsehood is submission to God’s truth… even if it is presented by a talking DONKEY!

While it may seem like the unrighteous are living lives with no consequences while the righteous suffer, Peter looks back through the scriptures to remind his audience that God will indeed judge the ungodly and He is faithful to rescue those who seek refuge in Him.

False teachers are subtle and very dangerous. They do not just bring destruction into their own lives, but they also destroy their followers. The cost of believing and following false teaching is just not worth it. Our hope is in the forgiveness of Christ and in following His Truth. BATTLE BELONGS © Phil Wickham Music, Simply Global Songs, Sing My Songs, and Remaining portion is unaffiliated HE LIVES CCLI #7133098 | Anthony Skinner, Chris McClarney, and Jonathan Smith © Capitol | Alive, Forgiveness, Freedom, Glory, Honor, Jesus, Praise, Resurrection, Salvation IS HE WORTHY #7108951 by A Peterson & B Shive 2018 Jakedog Music FIRM FOUNDATION CCLI #7188203 | Austin Davis, Chandler Moore, and Cody Carnes WORTHY OF MY SONG Phil Wickham

The revelation of truth in Christ is sure because of two undeniable tenets: 1. Eyewitnesses 2. The Prophecies of Christ.

As Peter looks unswervingly at the end of his life, he encourages his readers to live out eight qualities that will keep them from being ineffective in this life. You don’t know if you're remaining time is fifty years or a handful of years. Peter tells us how to make a difference in the time we have.

When you say you know God, are you saying you know of him or you know him intimately? When we have faith in Jesus, God bestows righteousness on us and we are holy in his sight, however, we are challenged to pursue holiness and righteousness in the sight of the world thereafter. For salvation sake, we are holy immediately upon faith. However, for the mission sake we must constantly and progressively allow God to refine us and make us more like him, more holy and more righteous. Lack of understanding of either righteousness (before God and before man) will lead to poor spending of the resources God has given us. Are you constantly striving to know God more intimately, to grow in holiness and righteousness all out of an understanding of your holiness before God because of your relationship with Jesus?

The apostle Peter was outspoken, brash and over-confident. But after he had failed our Lord Jesus Christ and received his forgiveness, he was transformed and never to be the same. Peter wrote his second letter shortly before his martyrdom to people who were facing opposition for their faith to encourage them that we in Christ are truly changed and, through his Spirit, able to live the life to which he has called us

David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). It is rather fitting then, that David’s final Psalm is not one of lament or concern, but a victorious song of praise. As followers of Christ, we recognize that storms will come but confidently assert that we are built upon the rock (Mt. 7:24), and consequently choose to worship him and thank him for his deliverance.