2 Peter Series - Hold to a State of Undistracted Attention

                             Hold to A State of Undistracted Attention

2 Peter 3:1-10 - Part 1

Peter in his old age and final letter, is wrapping up all that he has exhorted the believers to remember. He is probably in Rome, and sees the epitome of man’s abilities and knows that all of this is going to be destroyed by God.

   Peter tells the believers to remember what God has spoken through the Holy Spirit in the letters he has sent to them. These are the same words of the holy prophets who spoke of the last days on earth before God brings judgment. Let’s look at the first part of the text.

 “My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you, both letters are reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.” (MSG)

Peter has come to the end of his lifetime on earth. He exhorts all believers to hold fast to the words of the holy prophets, especially pertaining to the last days. In the Roman empire, there were many prophetic things being achieved or initiated: a world under one ruling power (Dan. 7), a government program of taxation enhanced by the giving of freedoms to those who would fully comply with the mandates of this governmental system (Rev.13). Peter instructed by the Holy Spirit reminds the believers to not give into trusting in man, or a deceptive man-made government inspired by evil. (Jer. 17:5,7; Ps. 146:3; Isa. 2:22)

Application - It is so easy today to get our minds off track when God said to pay undistracted attention to His Word. We can watch the bites of the spectacular on the news, who try to simulate the viewers' minds to believe that man is in control. They clip here, contrive there to produce a convincing synopsis to distract people away from what God’s Word says about the last days. There are also many choices that would draw us away from the “follow me” that Jesus commanded. 

Remember, false teachers are out there. I’m reading a book called, Another Gospel by Alisa Childers, it exposes the progressive movement in churches today and the divergence they are making from historical Christianity.

Then there are the lies, from the chief of liars, on man’s ability to bring back the status quo, or for others the new normal, a one world of peace brought about by mankind unifying under the guise of a one world government. The world is ripe for this deception, the trouble is so are many of those who attend churches today. We forget what the holy prophets have spoken to us. Many are trusting in man to find an end to the pandemic, to stabilize the economy, and end the destruction of the ecological chaos to our planet. 

There is only one answer, listen to what God told us. If America, particularly the church would do as 2 Chronicles 7:14 said, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We would see the healing that God promised. First, humble ourselves. We are too arrogant, prideful, and rebellious towards God today. The alibi, “It is not us, it is the other persons.” is as old as the Garden of Eden. We are content to be apathetic and compliant to the world rather than listening and doing what God said through the holy prophets. God comes first, not last! If we are to see God still his hand of judgment, we must come to our knees. And we must repent, just as John the Baptist spoke to the religious as well as the pagan world, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near...Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matt.3: 2,8-10 

We forget the holy prophet’s words, we think that because we go to church, follow some laws of virtuous standards, we are God’s children. The holy prophets spoke of God “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” Jesus said.  “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jn. 8:31-32

God's desire for the church is to turn and face him when they pray, to seek his path and his will for their lives. God hears every word spoken by his people, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” Matt. 12:36 And he will hold us accountable for them. I know that I, for one, must repent of words spoken in haste or angst. Jesus’ words on prayer in Luke 18 should remind us on how to pray, first the persistent woman, “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Lk.18:4-8, Then the Pharisee and the tax collector, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Lk.18:10-14

Will Jesus find the faithful praying in humility and in persistence? And last the promise, “I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

If we are going to see true deliverance from this pandemic and sinful world, it will be because the church humbled themselves, sought God’s face in truth, repented, and abstained from their wicked ways.

Next, Peter addresses the issues of persecution, taunting, and mockery from the unbelieving world. Let’s look at the text, “First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their petty feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.” (MSG)

Peter remembers the scoffer’s words during Jesus’ time on earth. Religious leaders and pagan alike scoffed at Jesus as he walked with his disciples, while he had the cross on his back, and while he was hanging on the cross. ( “Hail, king of the Jews!” “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” “If you are really the Christ, save yourself!” “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him.” “Isn’t he the carpenter’s son?”) 

Peter’s angst was finally under control. He knew that many more would scoff, mock, and jeer at believers just as those had done to Jesus and the other apostles. In the last days, the mockers and scoffers will have a heyday, enjoying one another’s jokes and jeers with a slap on the back, and a knowing wink. They will reduce everything down to the filth of the gutter to which their lives have become. They will trust in their petty feelings instead of the word of the Lord. They will belittle the warnings on the coming of the Lord for His church and the coming wrath of God. “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming?” They will reason away the promises of God, even though they will be without excuse for their sins (Rom. 1:18-20 - “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

 Peter saw that the people were looking at life from a rearview mirror. All of our family as far back as we can remember lived through tough times, so shall we. We have heard all these promises of Jesus’ coming back, and we haven’t seen it or any differences in our world. They saw the Roman empire and the pagan culture as their new world, and all these promises they had heard all came to nothing.

Application - I just read an article posted on a web magazine, Once Again the Left is Comparing Christians to the Taliban. Here is the link. http://links.prophecynewswatch.com/ss/c/7Toi5Awa1BPn_ASgQJ_YkSZsergMCKKC3pZfPpaSZCndiGgU39k_k4aJi7zmm6Vx8feCYM7OHmLxGKSqywDyAhLr1vpdZH8JsASzYlozh7A/3ez/JcDvRqheTZ6WBBT7lme3kw/h8/uMTApgOwVui9fIM1nR3nklUwh-SBBhfmcamjFO2nsek

We are seeing the jeers, mocking, and scoffing increase in America. What is even more alarming, is the scoffing from within the Christian churches. If you hold to a traditional or historical view of Jesus you are looked at as antiquated, out of touch with this world, Your God ordered men, women, children killed, He a murderer, and You and your God don’t understand our feelings on LGBTQ and same sex relationships. To name a few. Peter knew all of these same jeers, mockings, and scoffing. And scoffing from within the church in America, if you believe in the rapture, you have an escapist mentality, or you are an alarmist.

Pertaining to the Covid vaccine, just because some in the church decided to trust God and not vax, they are being told they are the reason that everyone is getting sick, they are the carriers. I have had a number of friends outside the church as well as inside the church who have told me this. 

God has His timetable on the coming of Jesus for the Church. No one is going to know, only the Father. Peter told us to pay undistracted attention to the holy prophets and words of the apostles, of which he was the leader. 

Again Jesus told us that we would be mocked and persecuted in the last days, “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. ‘Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.’” Lk. 6:22-23 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Jn. 15:18 

The apostle Paul as well spoke by the Holy Spirit on mockers and scoffers, In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Tim. 3:12; That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:10; and Jesus told his disciples, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt. 5:44 

This last verse is the most important in our days. We must be like Jesus and forgive them for they really don’t know what they are saying. Lk.23:24, just like those in Peter’s day, they are looking through the rearview mirror. They don’t see what is coming ahead because they are distracted by the schemes of the enemy of God. They are not listening or paying attention to the holy prophets or the writings of the Apostles. Please pray for those who mock, scoff, and jeer.

Peter’s words now focus on the God of the promise, and all that he has created and has promised. Let’s look at the text, “They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.” (MSG)

The religious people and the pagan seem to conveniently forget all that God had done in the past. The creation of the universe, its galaxies, and solar systems. They look into the night skies and marvel at the splendor and awesomeness of the stars, and yet do not understand or comprehend their origins. They have given them names after other gods, and made them the object of worship. 

 

God made it clear, he is a jealous God, and he will not share his glory with anything else. They had heard the Word on the creation of all that exists from the ancient writing, the holy prophets, and the Apostles. God created everything. He also judges everything. The same water that he formed the world from, he used to destroy the world in judgment of sin (the world-wide flood). They also heard that God who created fire will one day destroy the world by fire in judgment of sin. In this final judgment by God, He is ready when the time is right to speak the word and the total destruction of all the galaxies will come even in the view of desecrating skeptics, mockers, and scoffers.

Application - I believe many have heard about the creation of the Earth by God, but many have rejected God in favor of the evolution theory. God is not fazed by the rejection of people, His will and purpose will happen. He has shown the world his power and glory in the previous judgments, yet he is poised, ready to give the word, and after the Church is taken out, and His wrath is poured out on the unbelieving, He will again use fire to judge the world. 

It is interesting that fire has a good purpose on Earth, it serves as an agent of renewal and change on the ecosystems. God has chosen fire to judge His creation. He said in Rev. he would create a new earth (Rev.21). 

I wonder if the fire from the wrath of God during the Great Tribulation will have cleansed the Earth of all that tainted it and in its wake a new Earth will arise from the ashes during the Millenial reign of Jesus Christ. Any thoughts? What I do know is that Jesus will reign on Earth for a thousand years and rule with an Iron scepter over believing and unbelieving people who will bow down and call him Lord. (Rev.19) The Church will not be there because we’ll have been taken into heaven and have glorified bodies, no second death for the Church. 

If you have not made a decision to follow Jesus, please today, with undistracted attention, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. I’m again going to include the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). If you have already asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then share this message with someone who hasn’t. 

A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis