2 Peter 3:14 Be Found by Him in Peace

 

Intro: Here in  Ch. 3 Peter has been talking about the Lord’s coming / that day that is coming all things will be dissolved / New H. & Earth

A)We have seen where Peter declared in v.9 the reason that the Lord delays is He is waiting for more people to be Saved / None perish …

 

B) The remainder of the Chapter deals w/ how we should live – what are lives are to be marked by in light of the COMING 

 

C) Now my intention today was to  finish the Chapt. But the Lord wouldn’t let me get past the first part of v.14 –READ

1)   SO I will trust that this will be a timely and encouraging for us this morning !!!

 

 Peter begins Therefore : in light of this & Looking forward to these things – Be diligent to be found by Him in Peace

A)Now understand Peter is speaking in the present tense – when He says to be found by Him – talking RIGHT NOW

 

B)In light of everything going on in your Life / in light of everything taking place in the world Presently – Be diligent to be  found by Him in Peace

 

 

Peace is the opposite of War : Homes or Countries

A)In War there is bombs going off / guns being fired / hatred that is seen & felt / there are hurtful words / hurt feelings/ hurt Hearts

 

B) Peace is the opposite of turmoil / opposite of Chaos / of Confusion

1)   There are many things that can attack us & seek to Rob us of our peace

 

C) Sudden tragedy / Illness / Financial Crisis / Any unforeseen Burden /

 

 

 

Interesting at this time of the year – TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY

But for many It is EVERYTHING  but that 

A)Season & a time of stress / of worry / of unordinary Busyness /

 

B) We have so Commercialized – Christmas that it becomes a time of burden rather than blessing.

 

Peter’s words are interesting – Be diligent – Effort / Priority / Pursuit to be found by Him in Peace

A)We say things like – that is such a peaceful place -  tranquil / restful –

   May that be the condition the Lord finds our hearts today

 

B) A stillness/ a quietness / a restfulness /  that is the condition the Lord desires for our hearts – even in the mist of the Storm

     1) Jesus in the boat w/ His disciples – asleep

 

C) Be Found by Him in Peace

 

Jesus is the Prince of Peace

A)As prince all of the resources of the Palace are at His disposal – which means there are unlimited resources available to us

 

B) He has an abundance of Peace – Peace of God has nothing to do w/ the situation on the outside

1)   But everything to do w/ the condition of our hearts on the inside

 

C) We are prone to want the Lord to Change our circumstances – but what He really wants to do is Change our HEARTS

 1) Paul   In Col.3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts

 

D) Let it Rule = a Choice on our parts - 

Lightfoot “ Where ever there is a conflict of motives /impulses  or reasons we must let the peace of Christ step in & decide which is to prevail

 

 

Rule = to umpire

A)Baseball fans know that the man in the black suit who stands behind the catcher rules on the FIELD  and makes the calls.

 

B) I love to see a manager all upset / yelling / screaming / kicking dirt and the umpire is unruffled – Firmly says Your gone !!!!

1) That is the idea here: let the calmness of Christ rule in your Hearts .

 

Barclay : The way to right action is to appoint Jesus Christ as the arbiter between the conflicting emotions in our hearts; and if we accept his decisions, we cannot go wrong.

 

C) We do that by allowing His word to dwell in us richly – meet each situation w/ the Word & allowing his spirit to prevail

 

II. Why Let Peace Rule & How

A)1st – Because of who you are: BELOVED – Divinely Loved / much loved

 

B) Note this is the same title the FATHER has given to HIS SON / Baptism

     "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

 

C) God the Father looks at God the Son & says you are my much loved Son & I am so pleased w/ you !        That was the Fathers heart toward Jesus

1)   Now perhaps you are thinking why wouldn’t that be Jesus was perfect.

       Of Course the Father would feel that way about Jesus / Me on other hand

 

Guys listen if you are a Believer in Jesus today – Know this :  that is the FATHER’S heart toward  you  today - who know Him!

A)You are His beloved Sons & daughters & it has nothing to do w/ what you have done this past week - yesterday - this morning

 

B) But it has everything to do w/ what Jesus did for You on Calvary.

 1) Faith in Him & His work / We are placed in Him / and He comes to live in

     us – Father sees us in His Son – as HIS BELOVED !!!

 

Now It is interesting to trace that word thru scripture - see how often the Lord refers to us in that fashion.

A) For instance - In Song of Sol. In a passage - which speaks symbolically of the Lord’s relationship w/ the Church - we read I am my beloveds & He is mine His banner over me is love

 

B) Eph. 1:3  Made us ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

 

1 Jn.3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

  

 What Kind of Love ? A Father kind of Love? 

A) Love that finds Pleasure in Knowing you are His

 

B)School play who are your eyes on?  Who is your focus/ Pictures of ? 

    ( Did you see my KID?)

1) Be a tree or the wind / a little lamb / - Best Tree/ Wind / Lamb this world

      has ever seen !!!!

 

Max Lucado    God is a proud papa Frig picture: wallet - photo

 

Love that speaks of acceptance :

A)Think about when a baby is born - honest - most are kind of ugly - but to that parent gorgeous    “He is so beautiful” - no he isn’t - maternal love –

  1) Plus a guy had better say that after his wife – labor for 10 hrs

 

B) Never seen parents hold a conference:  should we keep it !

Nor do they lay out a Criteria :

 1) When my kids were  born I didn’t sit down & say now if you are going to be a Salvato certain rules of house need to abide by !

 

C) When they were born & they were  in !       Born again?   Your in !

 

 

 

It is a love that says I will be there you can count on me !  I’ll be there !

A) In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics Derek Redmond of the US was favored win 400 meter race!/ Man: Shirt –hugged ../  Hat just do it

 

B) In one sense that is like what the heavenly Father did for us - saw us crumpled on the track

  1) Unsuccessful - in trying to keep law / to do right / fallen short/ down

     Not a prayer in the world of finishing the race - let alone winning!

 

C) He, in His love; compassion sent His son/ to win it for us / to pick us up & to even carry us ACROSS  the finish line !

    

So its a love that feels pleasure in Knowing you are His / A love that Speaks of acceptance / Says I’ll be there/      A love that never gives up! 

A)Story of the Prodigal / Jesus told in describing the love of the Father !     Love that line       “ Saw him a long way off “     Didn’t give up !  

 

B) He who began a good work  in us will be faithful to complete it !!!!

 

C) So we can Let the peace of Christ rule in our Hearts today / we can be found by Him in Peace – because of who we are in Him / to Him

1)   His Beloved – His Banner of us is Love !!!!!

 

2nd Because of what Christ has done

Jn.16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

A)Note the contrast between “in Me” and “in the world.”

      In Christ there is peace; in the world there is tribulation.

1)   “In Me” is the key. In ourselves, we have nothing; but “in Christ” we

        have all that we need.

 

A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it.

   Dwight Lyman Moody

B)This is the position we need to claim: we are in Christ, and therefore we can be overcomers 

1)   Every believer is either overcome or an overcomer.

 

C) Romans 8 We are more than conquerors thru Him who loves us !!!

 

So “Be of good cheer!” Jesus says / this is one of our Lord’s repeated statements of encouragement. Literally it means, “Cheer up!”

A)There is the “good cheer” of His pardon & His power (Matt. 9) / of  His presence (Matt. 14:22-27).

 

B)Here in John 16:33, He announces the “good cheer” of His victory over the world. We are overcomers because He has first overcome for us.

 

PROMISE Psa. 29:11         The LORD will give strength to His people;

          The LORD will bless His people with peace.

 

Isa. 26: 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,

          Because he trusts in You.

 

C)No matter what the situation Jesus is faithful to see us thru / to help us out !!!! – Get us to the other side – if we would look to Him / trust in

 

D) So we can be found by Him today in Peace – Knowing What He has done for us -  Rom. 5:1 Peace w/ God thru Christ conquering work

                                                                                                                    

3rd Because of Who Has been Sent

Jn. 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

A)The Peace that Jesus offers is  not as the world gives

 

Once there was a man who lived with his wife, two small children, and his elderly parents in a tiny hut. He tried to be patient and gracious, but the noise and crowded conditions wore him down.

 In desperation, he consulted the village wise man. "Do you have a rooster?" asked the wise man.  "Yes," he replied.  "Keep the rooster in the hut with your family, come see me again next week."

 

 The next week, the man returned and told the wise elder that living conditions were worse than ever, with the rooster crowing and making a mess of the hut. "Do you have a cow?" asked the wise elder.

 

The man nodded fearfully. "Take your cow  into the hut as well, and come see me in a week."

Over the next several weeks, the man--on the advice of the wise elder--made room for a goat, two dogs, and his brother's children.

 

 Finally, he could take no more, and in a fit of anger, kicked out all the animals and guests, leaving only his wife, his children, and his parents.

The home suddenly became spacious and quiet, and everyone lived happily ever after.

 

That is the how the world seeks to find peace – Look on the bright side

A)The peace which the world offers us is the peace of escape, the peace which comes from the avoidance of trouble and from refusing to face things.

 

B) The peace which Jesus offers us is a peace that is so unlike the world – Peace that surpasses understanding

1) No experience of life can ever take it from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering can ever make it less.

 

C) It is independent of outward circumstances.

 

It is a peace that is based not in Prevailing circumstances but the Presence of His person – note v.26 of Jn.14

v.26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

 

Jesus knew that we would need help to make it thru this life – So He gave us the Spirit to walk w/ us each step of the way

A)To teach us / Remind us / Convict us / to Guide us – voice from the word & to our hearts

 

B)And He has given us the spirit to Empower us w/ the Power necessary to live for Him / walk w/ Him

 

C) In Gal. 5 Paul instructs us to walk in the Spirit = To be led by / Depend upon the Power of the Spirit – doing so result in absence of the flesh

1)   Hatred / Anger / selfishness /

 

D) Replaced by Love / Joy Peace - 

 

In the Philippines The driver of a cargo wagon was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.

 

E) That is us when we don’t choose to walk in the spirit

 

 

His heart for us today – Be found by Him in Peace – Knowing

He is in Control

A)Some people have a fear of flying – I don’t  in fact worse part of flying for me is – when land – stand in line waiting to get off

 

B) I enjoy the experience – relax – read – watch edited movie

1)   Now I don’t understand flying – I know it has something to do w/ the laws of aerodynamics that supercedes the law of gravity

 

C) But I can get on an airplane – fly to the other side of the world & not even think about it – resting in the Plane

Now here is what is interesting about flying taking off early in the morning / sun is coming up – Look out one window – Bright

A)Look out the other and it is dark – sun isn’t hitting that side yet

 

B) Similar experience – plane is partially in a cloud – look out the left window – sky is blue sun shinning

1)   Look out the right side – it is all cloudy – can’t see a thing

 

Walking w/ Jesus can be a similar experience – sometimes the view looks bright & sunny / at other times dark & cloudy

A)But He would have us to rest in Him the way a person sleeps on a plane knowing He is going to get us to the destination

 

B) Because – He loves us - / What He has done for us / And Who He has sent to Help us !!!!

 

 

Hip -

 

 

Phil .4: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.