II Peter 3:10-14
“The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. It will be a day in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the very elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also - and all the works that are within it - shall be burned up. Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be: in all holy conversation and godliness? We should be looking for, and hastening unto, the coming of the Day of God, a day in which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which will dwell Righteousness. Wherefore, my beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by Him at peace, without spot or blemish, and blameless.”
In First Peter, we are reminded that our lives are finite; we’re all going to die someday. And we’re also reminded that God’s word is going to survive the destruction of this planet:
I Peter 1:24–2:2
In First Peter, we are reminded that our lives are finite; we’re all going to die someday. And we’re also reminded that God’s word is going to survive the destruction of this planet:
I Peter 1:24–2:2
“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you. Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
Words have power; words can change our perception of the world. Words can express the unseen contents of our hearts. Sometimes we forget that we human beings have to express ourselves in order to remain spiritually and emotionally healthy. But this is true. It is also true that we determine how we express ourselves; we can either be negative, or positive when we express ourselves. It’s our choice…
Matthew 12:33-37 tells us, “[We can] make [our] tree good, and [our] fruit good; or else make [our] tree corrupt, and [our] fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [our] fruit. How [can the generation of vipers], being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person, out of the good treasure of their heart, brings forth good things: and an evil person, out of their evil treasure, brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that we speak, we shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned.”
We need to be careful of what we say…as I said before, words are powerful. And it is primarily through words that God has chosen to speak to his people.
Isaiah 28:11 “With stammering lips and another tongue will God speak to His people.”
The Endurance of the Word - Bibles on Church Communion Tables – they endure from year to year, from Pastor to Pastor, member to member, church building to church building. Adjectives we can use to describe God’s Holy Word:
Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This comment comes just one chapter after Paul advised Timothy in chapter 2, verses 15-19, to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babbling: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as a canker does: like Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who, concerning the truth erred, saying that the resurrection had past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 tells all believers to – “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,” and it identifies for us what the word of God actually is, when we read:
“Put on the whole armor of God, so you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
The Word of God is “The Sword of the Spirit!” – Our DEFENSE!
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
During his ministry, Jesus said, “Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 says the same thing, as does Luke 21:33). When he ascended to the Father, his words were the primary inheritance he left us. They serve as the evidence of His existence when they prove themselves to us, and they can, and they do; they are the basis of our faith. Test them and try them and see if they do not endure. THE WORD ENDURES.
John 15:4-11 records that Jesus said to his Apostles, “Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same will bring forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t abide in me, he will be cast forth as a branch, and will become withered; and men will gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he will be burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. In THIS is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit.”
Words have power; words can change our perception of the world. Words can express the unseen contents of our hearts. Sometimes we forget that we human beings have to express ourselves in order to remain spiritually and emotionally healthy. But this is true. It is also true that we determine how we express ourselves; we can either be negative, or positive when we express ourselves. It’s our choice…
Matthew 12:33-37 tells us, “[We can] make [our] tree good, and [our] fruit good; or else make [our] tree corrupt, and [our] fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [our] fruit. How [can the generation of vipers], being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person, out of the good treasure of their heart, brings forth good things: and an evil person, out of their evil treasure, brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that we speak, we shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned.”
We need to be careful of what we say…as I said before, words are powerful. And it is primarily through words that God has chosen to speak to his people.
Isaiah 28:11 “With stammering lips and another tongue will God speak to His people.”
The Endurance of the Word - Bibles on Church Communion Tables – they endure from year to year, from Pastor to Pastor, member to member, church building to church building. Adjectives we can use to describe God’s Holy Word:
Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This comment comes just one chapter after Paul advised Timothy in chapter 2, verses 15-19, to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babbling: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as a canker does: like Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who, concerning the truth erred, saying that the resurrection had past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 tells all believers to – “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,” and it identifies for us what the word of God actually is, when we read:
“Put on the whole armor of God, so you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
The Word of God is “The Sword of the Spirit!” – Our DEFENSE!
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
During his ministry, Jesus said, “Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 says the same thing, as does Luke 21:33). When he ascended to the Father, his words were the primary inheritance he left us. They serve as the evidence of His existence when they prove themselves to us, and they can, and they do; they are the basis of our faith. Test them and try them and see if they do not endure. THE WORD ENDURES.
John 15:4-11 records that Jesus said to his Apostles, “Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same will bring forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t abide in me, he will be cast forth as a branch, and will become withered; and men will gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he will be burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. In THIS is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit.”
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