Commitment to Truth

Cedrick Brown: Father, we thank you so much for the finished work of Jesus. We thank you that in Christ, and Christ alone, we have hope, we have purpose, we have all that we need according to righteousness and good deeds. God, as we now continue to ask you for your help from your Word, I pray now you would help me to help your people. I pray you remove every obstacle that may be in me and us that will prohibit us from really hearing from you and being transformed by you. Spirit of God, please come and do what you do best in my heart and our hearts so that we know without a shadow of a doubt we have been with you.

I love you and thank you so much for the privilege to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is enduring to your people week after week. In Jesus' name, amen. We are actually starting a new book. We were in the book of Luke for a very long time. Now we're shifting to the book of Second Peter. I would encourage you to do this. Go home and start reading First Peter and also Second Peter. They are very short books so you can get ahead in your lesson plan. My hope is that as you discover First and Second Peter, you'll continue throughout the entire book of the Bible.

As a quick background and backdrop to the book of Second Peter, I’m subtitling it this way: Remember to Keep Growing. You may think that's a weird thing to mention, but unfortunately, as followers of Jesus Christ, I believe once we begin to grow and have enough Jesus in us, it becomes very dangerous in some cases. In other words, we can think that we have arrived and we know just enough that will stop us from continuing to grow. We should be a people that are always growing, always moving forward in our faith, and helping others grow as well.

The author is Simon Peter, or Petros, the rock. He was one of the 12 disciples. He was a key apostle, thus considered what is called an eyewitness of the person of Jesus Christ. If you look at Second Peter chapter 1 verse 16, Peter exclaims this. But then he also is one who accompanied Jesus on what was called the Mount of Transfiguration, along with James and John. Peter also was a central figure in establishing the first-century church. He was present at Pentecost in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell upon them as previously promised by Jesus himself.

He was emboldened and empowered to preach two impactful messages that thousands of people came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that very day. Here's an interesting thing to note. Remember, the Scripture says that he denied Christ three times. Yet, the way Peter, historically, died was being crucified. But here's the sub-point to that. When he was about to be crucified, you know what he said to those who were going to crucify him? He said, "I'm not worthy to be crucified like my Lord. Crucify me upside down."

He went from not wanting to be at the foot of the cross of Jesus, denying him three times, to the point of saying, "If you're going to crucify me like my Lord, matter of fact, I want it worse than him." To me, that is an exclamation point as it relates to the transformational work of the Holy Spirit working in a man or woman's life when they encounter the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he begins to write this letter, his second letter to the church. In about 64 to 66 AD, he writes these words in Second Peter chapter 1 verses 12 through 15.

He says, "Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and have been established in the truth, which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by the way of a reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made it clear to me. I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure, you will be able to call these things to mind."

It was very clear that Peter was approaching his death because he said the Lord even pointed out to me that I'm going to die pretty soon. Think about this for a minute. You're about to die and there are probably three things customary to anyone who's about to die. The first thing is I want to make sure that I’m right before I die. I'm going to confess sins, confess my faults, and make sure I'm good with God. But then I'm going to also make sure I'm good with people, so there's a bit of reconciliation that occurs. Repentance, reconciliation.

The third is this, which I believe Peter then leans into. There's this reminder of some truths. It's almost like, "Before I go, let me leave you some nuggets to live on." You see that historically throughout the Scriptures with all the heroes of the faith, all the patriarchs of the faith. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all of them did this. David as well, before he died, they called people to the bedside and said, "If I messed up, I'm sorry. Matter of fact, let me leave you some truths before I go." Jesus himself even did it before he ascended to be with the Father.

He reminded the church that would be established that their responsibility and call is to ultimately take the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. Peter, like everyone else, is doing this same thing. Within these verses, you see about three things that he begins to unpack. "I will remind you of what you already know and have been established in." What does that say to you and I? Many times we walk with Jesus and we drift. We forget. I like to say we have selective amnesia.

He also says, "As long as I am in this earthly dwelling, I will stir you up by way of a reminder." Lastly, he says within these verses, "So that after my departure, you will then be able to recall these things to mind." I want to make sure you get it so that you can recall them when I’m gone. Within this sermon series, this is what I like to do. I want to uncover four truths. These are some truths that we're going to unpack, uncover, and you may say, "I already know this," but you probably should be reminded of it, just as Peter is reminding the entire church.

The first is this: We have everything we need. It sounds elementary, but we need to know we have everything we need. Secondly, there are false prophets and teachers that are out there. Thirdly, Christ is really returning. I know it's been taking a little while, but he's really returning, so don't forget this. Lastly, what's our conduct until Christ returns? That's what we're going to unpack during this sermon series together. Our sermon purpose is this: to stir the body of Christ to remember essential truths that fuel continual growth, guard against deception, and shape lives that are ready for Christ's return.

Open your Bibles, if you can, to Second Peter. We're going to start with chapter 1, verses 1 through 12. As you turn in there, I want to give you some keywords based upon the previous verses that we just read. Here's the first found in verse 12: "I will remind you." To remind you of these things means this: after hints of suggestions. Think about this. How many times has the Spirit of God hinted? But after hints of suggestions, it's to cause one to remember or bring to remembrance, or to recall to another's mind, or to admonish of something.

Next keyword is the word "stir," we find this in verse 13, to wake up. Have you ever heard the term "the Great Awakening"? Second part of this word "stir" means this: to awaken, to arouse from sleep, of the sea which begins to agitate, and also to render one active. In other words, my hope is in this series that we become agitated. Lastly, if you go back to verse 12, it says, "Even though you already know them." This is super important to hold on to throughout this sermon series. The word "know" means this: belonging to a house or family.

There are certain things that I grew up in, the last of eight kids in Compton, California, in that household. But in the household that we now govern, my wife and I, there are different rules. By God's grace, my parents led me to Christ, through Christ, as best they could. But the deeper I have dug into Scriptures and had a greater revelation of the text, there are certain things that we now apply into our household. But if you've put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, there's a household that you're now a part of, and that's the household of faith.

We have a Father in the name of God who is perfect, and in his household, there are just things you should know. That's why this word "know" means belonging to a household or family. Specifically belonging to the household of God, there's a way that we are to live, think, and conduct ourselves being a part of God's household. Makes sense. What are some of the things we should already know and, again, these things belonging to the household of God? That's what we've got to start unpacking initially. I've given you some time to get to Second Peter chapter 1.

Let’s start with verse number 1. It says this: "Simon Peter, bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ," not a righteousness of yourself, but a righteousness that is found from God through Christ. "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness," and please underscore that in your Bibles.

"Everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence. For by these, he has granted to us his precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love."

When I first landed on these verses as a young believer, it changed my life. You'll see why as you keep reading. "For if these qualities are yours," and understand what it's saying, "they're yours," and they're yours if you've put your faith and trust in Jesus. "And are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Listen to verse 9. "For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and choosing you."

"For as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble." We're not going to jump ahead because we're going to get into all of this. "For in this way, the entrance into eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be abundantly supplied to you." A lot we're going to unpack. I'm only going to give you three answers to the question again: What are these things belonging to the household of God that we should already know and should be applying to our lives? Here's the first one found in verses 1 through 3: We are divinely empowered.

Whatever you say you can't, you're believing a lie. Here's the crazy part about it. If you're a parent, we can tell our kids, "You can do all things through Jesus who strengthens you." But when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we second-guess the Christ who lives within us. It says, "Seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life," horizontally on this earth, "and godliness," vertically. Two important words. The word "power." "His divine power," it means of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Father's strength.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Trinity is now empowering you and strengthening you and giving you the ability. It also means inherent power, which means that because you are who you are, inherently you are empowered. Power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature or which a person or a thing exerts and puts forth. Listen to what it says, church, "moral power," power to act morally. "Excellence of soul," so that's the material and the immaterial part of you. In other words, the material part of you, you can act morally well.

Immaterial part of you, the excellence of soul. It says, "This is power consisting in or resting upon," remember I just read to you Daniel, "heavenly armies, forces, hosts." Just let that digest for a little while. He empowers you. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, morally and within your soul, the hidden parts no one sees but him. On top of that, he layers it and says there are armies, forces, and hosts who are there to help you. Then he says he's granted to us everything pertaining to life.

Pertaining to life means this: of the absolute fullness of life, everything both essential and ethical, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed portions even in the world of those who put their faith and trust in Christ. It's only for the family. Godliness, we've been given everything pertaining to reverence, respect, and piety towards God. I'm taking my time through this and hopefully you're grabbing this, is that he has given us every single thing you need, you know you need, and things you don't even know you need.

Listen to what the Bible says. We are divinely empowered through the Gospel. Romans 1:16 says this: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and to the Greek," those of us who are non-Jew. Then we are divinely powered through the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 through 19 goes on to say this: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Skip to verse 18. It says, "For I will not presume to speak of anything except that what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit." Why? "So that from Jerusalem and roundabout as far as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel." In other words, he empowers us to preach the Gospel. First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 instructs that we are divinely powered through the word of the cross.

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God." It gets better than First Corinthians chapter 2 verse 4 and 5 says this: "My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest upon the wisdom of men but on the power of God." If we weren't convinced there, lastly, in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 16 through 20 describes that we are divinely strengthened on the inside.

Listen to what it says. "That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond we ask or think."

This is where we take this verse out of context. We think that it's us, but it says this: "according to the power that is within us." Never forget, you have everything you need to divinely represent God. But here's the other piece of that. Never forget that you have everything you need to deal with any person on this planet that you need to deal with. He empowers you to divinely represent him and he empowers you to navigate and deal with life, amen. Secondly, we find in verse number 4, and hopefully I can get through all three of these today.

Verse 4 is that we, it's super important to always know that you possess all of God's magnificent promises. Merriam-Webster defines a promise this way: a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specific. It is formally defined as a legal binding pledge that gives the recipient the right to expect performance or as a result to expect success, improvement, or excellence. This is what God says in his Word in Second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7 through 12. God promises us the supernatural power to handle life in the midst of life's frustrations and disappointments.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, why? So that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal bodies. So death in us is life in you."

When you're dying to yourself, it brings life to others. Listen, he promises to help us in our weakness. In Romans 8:26 through 37, I'm going to read to you in part. It says this: "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and he searches the hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Skip to verse 28. It says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for our good." These are all promises, church, all promises. Listen to lastly, we look at verses 33 through 39, several promises nestled within there. Go back and just slow down and read Romans 8. It says this: "What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" It's a rhetorical question. It's like if God's for you, who can be against you? Then it goes on to say, "He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him over for us all, second point, second promise, will he not also with him freely give you all things?"

Operative word: "with." You ask him for things that are not associated and attached to Christ, chances are you're going to be waiting a very long time. Third, you find in verse 33, it says, "God is the one who justifies," so he's a justifier. Then you look at again, skip to same verse, verse 33. No, 34, it says this: "who also intercedes for us." Verse 35, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?" Verse 37, "But in all these things we are overwhelmingly conquerors through him." These are all, listen, if I just opened the Bible and read to you all the promises, we would never finish them in our lifetime.

We have so many promises to remember. But here's the one I want you to take away with you today. Remember always that Christ, and God your Father, God the Holy Spirit, are always devoted to you. No matter how you act, no matter how I act, no matter what side of the bed you wake up on, he's completely devoted to you. Lastly, for today we find in verses 5 through 7, we should start applying whatever we have been given. I believe one of the biggest challenges within the body of Christ is this: is that we want more from God before we start responding to God.

"Give me more then I'll do. Show me more then I'll do. Can you do this, this, this, God, and then I will serve you? When I get here, then I'll do this. When I get this, then I'll give you this." Somehow we reverse conditions on the God. Intentionally or not intentionally, there's times, "Okay, you know, when my work schedule changes then I'll get involved and serve." Your work schedule will never change, for the record. Or he'll change it for you like joblessness. Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

If you don't change it, he will change it for you because he loves you. Right? "Okay, God, I'll give when I get out of debt, I'll start giving." You get out of debt but now you're on vacations and that's just what we do. That's the sin nature of his people. We have to become people who understand that yes, I have not been to seminary but I can still tell people about Jesus, because once I was blind, but now I see. You see, that's why he says this for us to remember, "Now for this very reason, applying all diligence."

Seven times he uses this term, "in your," "in your," "in your," seven times. Whenever you see repetition in the Scriptures, it's saying, "Listen up." So he says, "You have this. In your, apply. In your, add to. In your." So it's not saying to you wait to get something. It's saying to you and I, you have it already. Yeah, you may not necessarily be morally excellent in all things, but as morally excellent as you are, add to it. Maybe you're not as faithful as you should be, but he's given all of us a measure of faith, apply it, add to it.

Follow me? That's one of the biggest challenges in the body of Christ is, "Well, let me get perfect and then I'll start applying." No, applying all diligence. This word "diligence" here means this: applying with haste, applying all earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything. Can you imagine that if you showed up to work tomorrow and said, "I'll get to that, boss"? Right? For whatever reason we get into the church context and we can't extrapolate that.

We understand deadlines, we understand responsibility, we understand performance. You do your job, you get paid. You don't do your job, you get fired. But to me, I believe that is taking advantage of the grace of God. "I'll get to you, God. I'll do it on my own timing." Again, the more we get to know about Jesus and his Word, then we begin to spiritualize it with terms like this: "Well, you know, I’m still seeking the Lord." About what? Serving? He's commanded you.

I always try to help myself and help others by just saying it this way. You don't wait for the opportune time to do anything for God. You get in the boat, raise the sail, and let the Spirit of God move. Once you get out there, he'll begin to give you the compass and the map. But what most believers do is that they get in the boat and they stay tethered to the dock. "Well, you know, I don't really trust." We stay tethered because of pain, past hurts, past disappointments. "Well, you know, the other church, the other pastor, well you know, I tried but nobody supported me. Nobody showed up."

Well, what if God wants you to spend a period of time in your ministry by yourself with Jesus? I've learned that's a really good refining time. But it doesn't mean you don't do it. Romans chapter 12 verse 3 through 8, we go through this verse in our spiritual gift class. It's beautiful because it initially sheds the light on God's grace, but then it shifts towards the character of the person. Then it gets into almost like, "Okay, now you need to just get busy. For through the grace given to me," this word "grace" is synonymous with gifts, or charisma, which is the Greek word there where we get the charismatic church from, charisma.

"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself." Why? It's because grace is given, gifts are given, and they're not for the gifted, but they're for the gift-giver. For the gift-giver to be glorified through you. So don't think too highly of himself, but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. "For just as we have members in one body, all the members do not have the same function. So we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually members one another."

Listen now to verse 6. "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly." This word "exercise" is synonymous with diligence. "If prophecy, according to the portion of his faith." In other words, you prophesy no matter what. "If service, in its serving, or he who teaches, in his teaching, or he who exhorts, in his exhortation, he who gives, with liberality, he who leads, with diligence, he who shows mercy, do it cheerfully." Do you hear it? It's almost like if you've been given this, do it!

What are you waiting on? The heavens to open up? What are you waiting on? Utopia? What are you waiting on to be asked? What are you waiting on to grow spiritually deeper? This is a requirement to the household of God. You're part of the household. This is what family members do. Let me end with these last few verses. Hebrews 6:9 through 12 describes the things that should accompany in our salvation. "But beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown towards his name in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints."

"And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promise." Then Jude chapter 1 verse 3 challenges us to contend for the faith that's handed down to us. "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints."

We contend. You hear the words and the terminology. It's like you do it, you do it excellently, you contend, you get busy, you get it done. So whatever context you're in today, and this is something I want you to get. Whatever context you're in, because context changes, apply what you know. Context is not going to change. If you're waiting for it to change, it's not going to change. Apply what you know and trust God for the change. Have you ever put a sticky note on somewhere visible so you won't forget?

On a refrigerator, on a mirror, on your phone. I think they say the older you get, more sticky notes you need. Right? But here's a challenge I believe is true. The older we get in our faith, the more sticky notes we need. In other words, we need reminders all around us. We need things around us to stir us, to say, "No, don't you dare get complacent. Don't you dare sit on that bench. Don't you dare just ride the wave. Don't you just dare live on fumes. Stay active, stay engaged, stay purposeful, meaningful. Leave the dock and let the Spirit of God take you wherever he wants you to be, amen."

Today when you leave, think about sticky notes. Whenever you see a sticky note, let the Spirit of God remind you and stir you. Let’s pray. Father, we thank you so much for the sticky notes that you give us. We thank you, God, that your Word is real, is true, it’s intentional, it's purposeful, it's life-changing, it's transformational. God, I pray that as you change us, you're able to empower us to facilitate change in other people. Today, I pray for your people that you would empower us, oh God, to be light and salt in a dark, dying world.

If there's anyone under the sound of my voice right now who says, "Hey, Pastor, I just need help with life," my answer to you is Jesus. If you need and want this answer, I'd like to just lead you in a short prayer. That prayer is just one can call a sinner's prayer, a prayer of salvation. It’s just simply surrendering your life to Christ and Christ alone. You could just repeat it after me. Just say, "Lord Jesus, forgive me, for I have sinned against you, because I've chosen to live my life apart from you. But I now realize that you, Jesus, came to die for me. You were buried for me, and you rose again from the grave just for me."

"Jesus, would you just please forgive me and wash me clean by your blood? I ask that you would just come into my heart and my life to live forever as my Lord and my Savior. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to honor you all the rest of my days until I see you face to face." Can you also just pray right now for people that maybe you know that you would like to share the Gospel with? Maybe it's a friend, family, co-worker, neighbor, barista, whoever it may be. Just pray that God can use you to give them the good news of Jesus Christ.

Can you also pray for that person that you'd like to bring next Sunday? The Scripture says go into the highways and the hedges, compelling people to come in that your house of worship may be filled. God, I pray you use your people in this area. Can you also pray for our evangelism walk today? There'll be people representing our church who will go door to door throughout community throughout our communities, giving them invitations, praying for them. Can you pray for open doors? Philippians 4 says pray for open doors. Today, let's pray for open doors.

Lord, we thank you, we believe that you are going to do these things, and we pray that you're going to remind those of us who already know these things that are connected to the household of faith. Let us never forget them. In Jesus' name, amen.

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