Great Things
2 Peter 3:8-12
July 7, 2002 AM
Subject: Holy Living
Central Theme: How should I live my life?
Objective: Every person should live holy lives because of four Greats.
Introduction: I don’t know about you, but I think about the coming of the Lord quite often. For some the coming of the Lord will bring relief. For others the coming of the Lord will bring bewilderment. For others, the coming of the Lord will bring feelings of regret.
I don’t know about you, but I have never liked being left out of a good thing. If there is something good, I want a part of it.
[Illustration: When mama said that there was ice cream waiting for me if I cleaned my room up real good, then I got in there and cleaned my room up real good. I wanted the good thing.]
How many here want good things? I sure do. I want good things both now and forever. God’s word tells us how we can have both.
READ 2 Peter 3:8-12
PRAY
In 2nd Peter chapter 3, we find some things that are going to happen. They will happen, it’s just a matter of time.
Peter says a remarkable thing in verse 11. He says that since you know all this stuff is coming, how should you live? I want to give you four Greats that ought to convince us to live godly and holy.
I. Great Day
Read Rev 6:12-17
Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
A. Of Wrath
1. Wrath is defined as anger exhibited in punishment.
2. It’s pretty bad when the strong men get scared.
[Illustration: I remember a time when I was in about the forth grade. My family had just gotten back from seeing a good movie. We lived in an apartment complex where the parking lot was detached from the main housing units. While we were walking from the car to the house, a big dog came barking and running up to us. It scared all of us, but it scared my step dad the most. He took my mom by the shoulders and put her in front of him to guard himself from the dog. My mom screamed even louder. I don’t remember what happened to the dog, but I know my step dad got a chewing out by mom.
It just doesn’t seem right when the strong act like they are the weak.]
2. This day that the sixth seal is broken will be a great day of wrath. There will be no heroes. There will be no strong men. Everyone’s courage will melt at the brightness of the coming of the Lord.
B. Who shall be able to stand?
1. Have you ever surrendered yourself to the inevitable? Like you’re in a situation where you know you’re going to fall. It’s just a matter of time. You can see yourself in slow motion. Soon you just try to limit the damage.
a) On this day, people will see it coming. They will be able to do nothing about it. They will try to limit the damage, but in the end they shall be destroyed by the power of Jesus’ voice.
2. This is a rhetorical question. The answer is that Christians will be able to stand and no one else.
a) Those who are holy and living according to godliness and holiness.
C. What is Holiness?
1. A Christian is considered holy when they are consecrated to God’s service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God.
2. Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance
D. What is Godliness?
1. Piety towards God.
2. The sum of all Christian virtues and duties.
3. it brings to the possessor blessings in this life and in the life to come.
[There is coming a Great Day]
II. Great Tribulation
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
A. Defined
1. Trouble or affliction of any kind
B. The worst is yet to come.
1. The world had yet to see the full wrath of God.
2. The flood of Noah’s day was nothing compared to what is going to happen at the end of the age.
C. How would you live if…
1. You knew the Lord was coming back in 2008?
2. You knew the Lord was coming back in 2004?
3. You knew the Lord wasn’t coming back until 2124?
4. You know the Lord was coming back tonight at 6:30 PM?
a) Would you come to church?
b) Would you spend the day in prayer and Bible reading?
c) Would you spend the day on the phone to unsaved loved one?
D. Peter says we ought to live in all holiness and godliness.
1. Get rid of anything in your live that keep you from being holy or godly.
2. Confess your sins to God and seek His face.
[There is coming a Great Day
There is coming Great Tribulation]
III. Great Noise vs 10
A. The heavens will pass away?
1. There will be nothing left.
2. Everything will be burned with fire.
[Illustration: On the 4th of July we heard some very loud bangs. Can you imagine what it might sound like if the moon exploded. What would it sound like if Mars exploded. Would the sound waves reach the earth. Sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum. But what about the sound of the whole earth going up in one big bang. What would the sound of billions of simultaneous nuclear explosions sound like?]
B. Sounds alert us to danger.
a) Sounds can tell me to exit the building because the smoke alarm is going off.
b)Sounds can tell me to pull over because there is an emergency vehicle that needs to get by.
c) Sounds can tell me that my car is about ready to break down.]
C. This Great Noise ought to alert us to the coming of the Lord and to godliness and holiness.
1. Must we wait for the trumpet of the Lord before we begin to live godly and holy lives. NO!
2. Must we wait for the elements to melt away. It’s too late!
[There is coming a Great Day
There is coming Great Tribulation
There is coming a Great Noise]
IV. Great Voice
Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
A. On the Cross.
1. Jesus said, “It is finished.”
2. He was talking about the work of redemption.
B. On the last day.
1. Jesus says that the present day earth is done.
2. Time shall be no more.
C. When God speaks. It is done.
1. God doesn’t have to say things twice. Once is enough.
2. There is coming a day when the voice of God will call out, It is done.
3. Where are you going to be on that day?
a) Will you be shouting with the Saints in glory or
b) Will you be screaming with the damned in hell?
V. Conclusion & Application
A. The Lord is Coming!
1. Never forget that the Lord is coming.
2. He is coming to fulfill everything that is in His book.
B. there will be some great things.
1. A Great Day
2. A Great Tribulation
3. A Great Noise.
4. A Great Voice.
a) When you hear the voice, it’s too late!
C. How should we then live?
1. In holiness
a) That means in obedience to every command of God.
b) The be in the center of His will.
2. In godliness.
a) In reverence to Almighty God.
D. There is a warning in Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
1. What does your conduct profess about your holiness and godliness?
