Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am posting this sermon one day earlier than I thought I would. There is supposed to be a major winter storm in my area starting tonight. I didn't know if I would be able to get to the library tomorrow, so I am just going to post the sermon today. I would ask that you please pray that this won't be a bad storm. They are calling for ice, and that worries me. Thank you for your prayers. I also want to thank the Lord for providing the opportunity to post this message.
Today, we are continuing with our series of messages on the book of II Peter. In our passage today, Peter is relating to his readers that he wants to make sure that they have an understanding of the things of the Lord. He states that he is going to continually remind them of how to live a life in accordance with the Lord's principles right up until it is his time to depart this earth. It is Peter's hope that after he is gone, those who have been under his spiritual leadership will remember what he has taught them and reiterated to them so many times.
As Peter is writing this second epistle, he knows that he doesn't have much longer to be on this earth. The Lord has revealed to him the way in which he will die. As a good spiritual leader, Peter is concerned for the welfare of those over whom he has spiritual responsibility.
In verses 16-18, Peter wants to point out to his readers the reality of the message that he has preached down through the years. In verse 16 he says, "We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." Peter is telling the people that he has first hand knowledge about Jesus. He and the other Apostles were eyewitnesses of what Jesus did and what He said. They saw that He had risen from the dead, and they saw Him ascend into Heaven.
One of the incidents from the life of Christ that Peter points the people to is the Transfiguration. Peter says that he was one of those who was on the mountain when the voice from Heaven said, "This is my Son whom I love, with Him I am well pleased." Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him up the mountain. There, Jesus was transfigured, and he communicated with Elijah and Moses. On the mountain, the Father confirmed that Jesus was the divine Son, and the Father was pleased with all that the Son was doing.
Peter had first hand knowledge of this event. He heard the voice. He knew that Jesus was who He said He was. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah. He was the Son of God and God the Son. Peter is a reliable witness of the glory of Jesus Christ and of His message.
In verses 19 and 20, Peter gives another proof that what He has told the people all of these years about Jesus is true. Peter points his readers to all that the prophets said about the Messiah. The prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus.
In the book of Acts, there are sermons that Peter preached that are provided to us. In his messages, Peter pointed to what the prophets said and how Jesus is the fulfillment. In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter pointed out that David was a prophet, and Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises God made to David. On another occasion, Peter pointed out that Moses prophesied about the coming one. In fact, Peter stated that Samuel and all the prophets after him testified about the coming of Christ.
We have a reliable message when it comes to the life and teachings of Jesus. We have the witness of the fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah, and we have the eyewitness testimony of men like Peter who saw Jesus in all of his power and glory.
If you have never placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I hope that you will do it today. Jesus did live. He did die on the cross, and He rose up from the grave. He calls on each of us to come to Him, and receive the gift of life that He offers. Amen
Prayer Requests And Other Matters
This has been a busy week. I thank the Lord that the money from my job came in. I have had a good week in writing, and I am thankful for that. This upcoming week, I am supposed to start a part-time job. I'm nervous about it, and I'm not looking forward to it. Please pray that my feelings will improve. What I wish above all is that my writing would advance to the place where I don't have to have a part-time job to help out. I would also like to have more time for ministry.
In other matters. Please continue to pray for Australia. That country is having a mess with the fires. So many people and animals have been harmed. Pray that the fires will end soon.
Puerto Rico has been rocked by earthquakes this week. Pray that people will get the aid that they need. The people in Puerto Rico have been through enough.
Pray for peace in the world. Pray that tensions between Iran and the US will be reduced. Pray for peace in Syria, Libya and Afghanistan.
Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Congo.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Ivory Coast and Myanmar. Pray that many will come to faith in Jesus.
Next week, I am not sure of the blog schedule. I will try to post things in a normal manner, but I am unsure. I will try to post the sermon on Friday again next week. May God bless you all. Amen
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