WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.939 Good morning, everyone. Happy autumn. The dew point is 20.4 here today. So in Townsville, it sits around 24. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:24.100 ! So 20.4 is legit. If you're sweating, that's normal right now. So well done. 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:34.120 I just have to make light of things because Luke was trying to make me cry before in the start of that song. 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:45.060 I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't take much to tear up. So let's pray and ask God to help us focus on this part of his word. 00:00:46.260 --> 00:00:53.140 Before we do, I don't know if you can remember what we've been talking about, but basically what I've done is dragged one talk out over three talks. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:59.100 And the first part of the talk was really that God always keeps his promises. 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:04.400 The second part is God's not slow in keeping his promises. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:09.400 And the third part is live like you believe he keeps his promises. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:12.099 So that's what we're looking at today. Let's pray. 00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:17.400 Loving Father, thank you that you do keep your promises. It really is our hope. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:23.640 Father, your faithfulness, it holds us fast and we're very thankful for that. 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:32.480 We pray as we look at your word now that it would actually continue to hold us and shape us into the men and women that you've made us in your goodness to be. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.320 And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:41.359 When I was a kid, Christmas Day was huge, the anticipation of it. 00:01:41.539 --> 00:01:46.639 I've loved seeing these little, this gang of hoodlums out here in the foyer. 00:01:46.759 --> 00:01:47.699 I don't know if you've noticed them. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:50.819 These kind of six to ten year old boys out there. 00:01:50.919 --> 00:01:57.659 And I just think you guys are, you know, you're like two dagger tattoos away from 20 years in prison. 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:00.979 Like they, they just look awesome. 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:05.100 And I always liked that when I was a kid and so I've loved seeing them run around in their, in their gang. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:06.520 It's been fantastic. 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:07.880 Anyway, I was a rat bag. 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:10.460 Christmas Day was huge for me. 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:13.360 The anticipation of it would shape my life in the lead up. 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:18.000 I'd become quite hyper with my planning and my movements, my deception. 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:20.159 We lived in a small country town. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:23.319 The toy shop in our town was the chemist. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:31.719 I always, I always knew when mum and dad were buying the Christmas presents because we had to go and do a big shop in the bigger town. 00:02:31.959 --> 00:02:38.879 So we'd head over to Young and go to Grace Brothers or, you know, we'd head to Cootamundra, all the big cities around us. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.039 Mum and dad were pretty good at hiding it all. 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:43.859 They'd run decoys in the shops. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:50.359 You know, mum would take us grocery shopping and dad would duck off and go to the toy shop or whatever. 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.660 And then they'd somehow get it into the boot. 00:02:53.140 --> 00:02:54.960 We knew there was something in the boot. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:57.720 But we didn't have any access to it. 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:00.240 We wouldn't have seen a thing but we all knew it was there. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:08.980 And that's where I'd slip into my sneaky stealth mode at an opportune time when dad was at work and mum was glued to days of our lives. 00:03:09.100 --> 00:03:10.440 Google it if you don't know what it is. 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:18.500 I'd go into her, into their room and I'd climb up to the, you know how you've got the shelves in your built-ins, 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:20.520 then you've got the big long bit at the top. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:22.280 That's where they always kept the presents. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:23.539 Very predictable. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:30.379 I'd go up there and I'd always do a recon mission first because you don't know what you've got to do to look at the presents. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:35.639 So I'd go up there, do a recon mission, size up what needed to be opened and how complex it might be to open it. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:43.699 And then the next day I'd come back and I'd carefully peel off the sticky tape and have a look at what was inside. 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:46.979 As I said, I was a bit of a jerk. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:55.060 But each night I'd go to bed with a warm confidence that I knew exactly what was in store for me. 00:03:55.139 --> 00:03:59.099 And it just made me anticipate it so much more because I knew what I was going to get. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:00.000 Try it with your kids. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:07.899 I'd try to behave so I could avoid the threat that was raised in my childhood in the lead up to Christmas, 00:04:07.900 --> 00:04:12.319 which is, you know, if you do that again, Santa's not going to come. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.379 And I was like, well, I know what Santa's bringing, so I'm definitely going to try and behave. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:23.000 I couldn't wait for Christmas and just to get up at two in the morning and start playing with my toys. 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:29.800 This part of 2 Peter we're looking at this morning, it's not about how Christmas Day should shape our lives, 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:34.860 but it is about how the day of the Lord should shape all of our lives. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:41.580 In the passage we're looking at, Peter reminds us again what that day will be like. 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:47.340 And he tells us what life should be like as we wait for it. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:53.100 So if we believe that God always keeps his promises, that he's not slow in keeping his promises, 00:04:53.540 --> 00:04:55.600 how ought we to live in light of that? 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:58.560 Luke asked some really great questions before. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:08.220 You know, our lives are often shaped by future things, like the Easter weekend, birthdays, anniversaries. 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:13.620 They shape us, you know, because we're anticipating them and so we change, we do things differently. 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:20.759 I guess the question this part of 2 Peter asks us is, how are our lives changed in light of the day of the Lord? 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:25.180 Well, let's look at this last part of the passage. 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:30.099 The first section is basically saying, knowing everything will be destroyed, 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:34.039 we can wait well by living holy and godly lives. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:35.819 So this is like the stick, right? 00:05:36.159 --> 00:05:37.399 There's always a carrot and a stick. 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:38.060 This is the stick. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:42.680 Knowing everything will be destroyed, we can wait well by living holy and godly lives. 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:44.860 So from verse 11, Peter says, 00:05:44.980 --> 00:06:03.680 So Peter just reminded us yesterday that the day of the Lord will come 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.680 and the constituent parts of creation will be destroyed. 00:06:07.460 --> 00:06:08.579 They'll be laid bare. 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:13.620 Everything in it, everything done in the heavens and the earth will be exposed before God. 00:06:13.699 --> 00:06:14.519 There'll be no escape. 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:16.579 That's what we're waiting for. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:18.519 That's what's coming. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.719 We looked at all those passages in the Bible that talked about how each of us will be called 00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:25.919 to give an account to God for the things that we've said and done. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:27.060 There's no escape. 00:06:27.159 --> 00:06:27.899 We'll all be exposed. 00:06:28.039 --> 00:06:30.199 There's no fig leaf to cover us on the last day. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:33.259 Grace is set aside and judgment comes. 00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:34.740 That's what we're waiting for. 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:36.839 The destruction of the ungodly. 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:43.139 And the only way to avoid that destruction is to turn and put our faith in Jesus, 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:48.239 to receive his forgiveness, to live with him as Lord. 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:50.519 How great's that, right? 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.739 Best news I've ever heard in my life. 00:06:52.919 --> 00:06:53.779 It's a game changer. 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:58.179 It's only through Jesus that we're able to avoid that destruction. 00:06:59.239 --> 00:07:03.459 So in light of that, our time now, what should it be like? 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:05.439 It ought to be holy. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:08.219 It ought to be set apart for Jesus. 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:11.980 Since he's the only way that we'll make it through on that last day, 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:15.360 the best way for us to live our lives now is set apart for him. 00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:18.819 Our lives ought to be lived according to his word. 00:07:19.060 --> 00:07:20.360 That's what godly means. 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.500 Since we know that sin will be exposed and punished, 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:28.100 we ought not to do it while we wait. 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:32.280 I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I ran a marathon recently. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.100 You don't want to take weight with you on a marathon, right? 00:07:38.320 --> 00:07:39.879 Weight doesn't go well with you. 00:07:40.320 --> 00:07:42.800 So you want to get rid of it before the race starts. 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.460 Sin is not part of God's plan for his new creation. 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:48.180 So we want to get rid of it. 00:07:48.400 --> 00:07:50.939 We want to live holy and godly lives while we wait. 00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:54.459 It says here in verse 12, 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:55.540 as you look forward, 00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:59.079 and I noticed that's on the slides as well, 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:00.719 looking forward to that day. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.939 I don't think that's the best translation of this passage. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:05.939 What are you guys with an ESV? 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:07.600 What does it say instead of looking forward 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:09.420 in the start of verse 12? 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:15.379 Waiting for. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:16.600 Yeah, that's legit. 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:19.220 That's the actual Greek translation. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.800 You're all feeling like, 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:22.200 yeah, I know, that's why we used that version. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.000 I don't think it is saying 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.819 we should look forward to the destruction. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:30.340 I don't think that's what it's saying we should do. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:32.320 But we do know it's coming. 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:36.200 And so while we're waiting for it, 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.640 we ought to live perfectly good and just, 00:08:40.160 --> 00:08:40.980 holy lives. 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:45.020 It also says as we speed or hasten its coming. 00:08:46.400 --> 00:08:47.879 That's a complex idea. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:51.020 I think the idea there is 00:08:51.020 --> 00:08:52.879 because God is patient, 00:08:53.160 --> 00:08:54.640 not wanting any to perish, 00:08:55.300 --> 00:08:56.800 but everyone to come to repentance, 00:08:57.280 --> 00:08:58.480 that's what God wants 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:01.080 and that's why he's held off the day. 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:02.900 I think the idea is 00:09:02.900 --> 00:09:05.320 if we live repentant lives today, 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:08.900 if we live holy and godly lives, 00:09:09.640 --> 00:09:11.320 then in a sense, 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:14.080 we bring on the day of the Lord. 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:16.160 We speed its coming. 00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:17.879 He wants repentance. 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:19.940 That's what he's waiting to see. 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:21.940 If we are repentant, 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:24.200 we therefore bring on the day of its coming. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:27.240 Be careful though. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:29.259 In reality, 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:31.519 we know from this same chapter 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.320 that none of us have any control 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:35.659 over God's timing. 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:39.019 It'll come the day of the Lord 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:40.480 like a thief in the night. 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:43.440 So Peter's not saying 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.879 if we all get our act together well enough as a church, 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:47.399 then God will come back. 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:49.220 He's just saying 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:51.500 as we get on with doing what he's asked us to do 00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:52.940 while we wait for that day, 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:54.340 we speed its coming. 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:57.620 We know God wants us to repent and not perish. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.800 So we speed the day of the Lord 00:09:59.800 --> 00:10:00.700 by living for Jesus, 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:02.259 living holy lives as we wait. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.980 The coming exposure and destruction of sin 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:08.759 ought to shape us to be godly. 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:11.680 I don't think I'm telling you anything 00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:12.360 you don't already know. 00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:14.340 Sin's going to be killed. 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:15.180 We don't want to be sin. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.179 We want to be godly. 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:19.199 A long time ago, 00:10:19.459 --> 00:10:22.199 I worked for Byron Bay Shire Council in Finance 00:10:22.199 --> 00:10:23.739 and one of my jobs 00:10:23.739 --> 00:10:27.039 was auditing the council-owned caravan parks, 00:10:27.699 --> 00:10:28.859 making sure the managers 00:10:28.859 --> 00:10:31.620 weren't keeping the park fees for themselves. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:33.219 They probably were. 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:36.399 Making sure they weren't doing favours for their mates. 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:37.459 They probably were. 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:39.259 It was really hard to check all that stuff up. 00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:41.079 They were paid really well, 00:10:41.359 --> 00:10:42.159 caravan park managers. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:44.179 Anyway, the thing is, 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:47.219 it was council policy to tell the managers 00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:49.699 that we were coming for the audit before we arrived, 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.319 which I always found really weird. 00:10:52.959 --> 00:10:54.699 Hey, we're coming to do a surprise check, 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.259 just giving you some notice. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.899 And because they knew we were coming 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:01.600 to expose dodgy stuff, 00:11:02.439 --> 00:11:04.659 they fixed everything before we got there every time. 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.799 Like they were literally waiting for us 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:07.939 with their books to show us 00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:09.120 how they were doing everything right. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:12.320 Like one guy at one of the parks in Brunswick Heads, 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.100 won't say which one, 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:15.419 you can ask me afterwards, 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:19.460 but he would bring like a bowl of king prawns 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.460 out to greet us. 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.159 And they were great. 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:28.179 They were just wanting to do everything right. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.740 They didn't want to lose the good wicket they were on. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:31.740 That's understandable, isn't it? 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:33.580 So they're like, we know the judgment's coming. 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:35.159 Let's get everything squared away. 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:37.419 Now, to be very clear, 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.100 we won't be able to cover up our sin 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.039 on the day of the Lord 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:43.759 with even the greatest bowl of king prawns. 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.839 You know, we heard yesterday 00:11:45.839 --> 00:11:47.459 that everything is going to be exposed. 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:50.719 And there's a lot to expose, isn't there, 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.819 in each of our lives. 00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:54.579 The only way we can make it through that day 00:11:54.579 --> 00:11:56.819 is through Christ. 00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:59.399 It's through faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:03.879 But knowing that everything will be exposed and destroyed, 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.279 we ought to still reshape our lives, 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:10.179 trying to get rid of as much sin as we can, 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.579 putting on holiness and godliness. 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:16.959 I've tried to get rid of sin through my Christian life, 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:19.459 and I found it really hard. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.759 Even with the help of the Spirit working in me, 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.559 sanctifying me, 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:25.039 I constantly feel like it's two steps forward 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:25.840 and one step backwards. 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:27.279 I went for a jog with a guy 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:28.720 that I used to go to church with this morning 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.600 who lives somewhere around here, 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:33.600 and we were talking about just pornography 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:35.339 and temptation 00:12:35.339 --> 00:12:37.759 and how we're going at being faithful to our wives, 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:39.319 and he's heaps fitter than me, 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.860 so I was just trying to get him to talk 00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:42.459 as much as possible while I was running. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.279 But it's hard. 00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:46.220 But you know, 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.319 one of the things that's helped me 00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:49.659 to say no to sin 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:52.819 is this notion that one day 00:12:52.819 --> 00:12:53.919 Jesus will return 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.599 and everything will be exposed before him. 00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:01.860 I don't want to have my phone in my hand 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:03.360 looking at pornography 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.039 on the day the Lord comes 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.439 to judge the living and the dead. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:09.819 Even if I know my sins washed away 00:13:09.819 --> 00:13:11.579 by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.979 I don't want to be in that position. 00:13:15.079 --> 00:13:16.559 I don't want to be sitting around 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:18.099 bagging out Matt Hand 00:13:18.099 --> 00:13:19.839 when I'm talking to the rest of you guys 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.780 and Jesus turns up 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:22.800 and he goes, 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.879 what were you saying about Matt? 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.820 I mean, that's humiliating for me. 00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.700 I don't want to be sitting 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:30.019 on my net bank account 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.960 changing my giving 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:33.399 so that I can afford to pay 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:34.480 for my rental property 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:37.500 on the day the Lord Jesus returns. 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:40.240 I know I'm saved by grace. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.080 I know I'm washed clean 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.080 by the blood of Christ, 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:43.940 but I actually want to live for the Lord. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:46.280 And he is coming back. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:48.700 And he is going to expose sin. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.519 Peter says, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.960 since everything associated 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.879 with the sinful world 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:54.759 is to be destroyed, 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:56.980 we ought to wait for the day 00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:59.139 by living holy and godly lives. 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:02.500 So the coming judgment is the stick, 00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:05.220 but it's not just the destruction of sin 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.460 that should shape us. 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:09.280 There's the carrot of dwelling with God. 00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:11.879 Have a look from verse 13. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.580 Because we're going to dwell with God, 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.980 we should be spotless and blameless. 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.519 Verse 13 says, 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.540 but in keeping with his promise, 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:22.040 we are looking forward to a new heaven 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:23.100 and a new earth 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:25.620 where righteousness dwells. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:28.300 On the one hand, 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.160 we don't want to be sinning 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:31.300 as we wait for the day. 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.220 We don't want our sin 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:33.740 to be exposed on that day. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.720 But on the other hand, 00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:36.379 on that day, 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:39.759 we'll be dwelling with God himself forever. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.660 Like, I actually find it helps me 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:47.100 to live a godly life 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:49.000 by coming here and living with you 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.319 for these two days. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.120 It's bizarre. 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:55.899 But I actually think I'm more holy 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:58.980 when I live in the presence of godly people 00:14:58.980 --> 00:15:01.679 than in the rest of my life. 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:03.639 That's why Christian camps and conventions 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.320 and conferences are so great, right? 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:07.860 That's living with a bunch of sinners. 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:12.460 Imagine living in the home of righteousness, 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:12.660 righteousness, 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:16.400 in the place where God himself dwells. 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:20.680 Like Jesus rose from the dead 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:22.900 in the fleshy physical body, 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:25.900 we will also rise to be part of God's 00:15:25.900 --> 00:15:27.360 tangible physical creation, 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:30.500 God's promise that for all who believe in Jesus, 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.800 we'll be with him. 00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:36.019 We'll be with Jesus. 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.960 We'll be with God. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.540 So when it says at the end of verse 13 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:41.019 where righteousness dwells, 00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:43.080 I don't think it's primarily talking 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.100 about our righteousness, 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:47.600 but it's talking about God, 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.759 God's righteousness. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.639 We'll actually be at home with God. 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:55.680 We'll be dwelling where righteousness itself dwells. 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:56.900 This is our future. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.519 Not just the destruction of the old, 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:01.660 but the coming of the new. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.860 Life with God himself. 00:16:05.160 --> 00:16:06.080 You know how you always feel 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.080 a little bit cleaner after a church camp. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:11.420 We'll be living in some ways, 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.040 not in others, 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.700 but we'll be living with God himself 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:19.160 for all eternity in the new creation. 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:22.060 And so Peter says in verse 14, 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:24.360 the new life with God should shape our lives too. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.180 We ought to make every effort 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:28.080 to be found spotless, blameless, 00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:29.180 and at peace with him 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:30.620 because this is our future. 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.740 Eternal peace with the righteousness of God. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:36.879 Knowing that that's what we're part of, 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.899 we ought to be spotless and blameless today. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.500 It's a bit like when we decided to move 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.820 from Townsville to Bathurst. 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:47.340 We knew our new life was going to be different. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.899 We gave away all our tropical plants. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:53.240 My wife is, 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:56.279 I don't want to talk out of school and be judgy, 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:58.500 but she idolises plants. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.939 There are more pot plants in our house 00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.740 than any other item. 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.500 When we moved down, 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.639 she had to get rid of all the tropical plants 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:07.119 because they just wouldn't survive in Bathurst. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.099 We have frosts there. 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:11.099 We got rid of our sweat-soaked shirts. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.139 They carry a smell 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:15.200 that just wouldn't be welcome in New South Wales. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.019 We bought puffer jackets. 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:22.640 You don't even wear a hoodie in Townsville. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.240 I'm not even kidding. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.640 You have no use for a hoodie. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.059 We bought puffer jackets. 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:29.640 We got a fire pit as a gift from our church 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.720 as a going-away present. 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.480 We bought thermal underwear. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:36.279 It's dead serious, 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.180 and that's the key. 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.940 If you move to a cold place, 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.240 thermals are key. 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.259 We bought jeans. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:46.440 I have not worn jeans for 12 years, 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.859 and you feel weird wearing jeans in Townsville. 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:50.720 You feel like you're from the 80s or something. 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.960 I've got three pairs of jeans now. 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:55.460 We changed all this stuff 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.059 because we knew we were going to live. 00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:59.660 It reshaped our lives. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.700 That's what Peter's saying, 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:04.180 living with righteousness, 00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.420 dwelling with God in glory, 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.259 ought to do today. 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:08.400 We ought to be spotless and blameless 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.359 because that's our future. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.619 If our faith is in Jesus, 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.619 we need to ask ourselves, 00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:17.439 well, if I know where I'm going because of that, 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.519 what do I need to take? 00:18:19.659 --> 00:18:21.039 What do I need to get rid of? 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:25.679 I think we'll need hearts that love Jesus 00:18:25.679 --> 00:18:26.879 and depend on him, 00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:29.979 hearts that find joy in living his way, 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.899 that know that God's good. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.439 I think that's a great thing for us to work on, 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:36.959 acquiring now before we get to live 00:18:36.959 --> 00:18:38.619 with righteousness and glory forever. 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:42.379 And I don't think we'll need stuff. 00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:46.179 If we thought this life on earth 00:18:46.179 --> 00:18:48.219 was all that we had in store for our future, 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.919 then we would try and accrue as much stuff as we could. 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:54.319 We'd be constantly trying to have the latest iPhone. 00:18:54.479 --> 00:18:57.219 We'd be constantly trying to build our investment portfolio. 00:18:57.479 --> 00:18:59.119 We'd be constantly trying to accrue 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.899 as much worldly popularity as we could. 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:03.479 But none of that stuff is in the home of righteousness. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:07.299 And so we don't need to be accruing that. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.519 It'd be like taking tropical plants to Bathurst. 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:12.539 There's no purpose in it. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:17.279 If we know we're going to be part of the new creation, 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:19.700 we're already rich. 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:23.339 We have a secure, great, abundant inheritance. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:27.159 And so we can show we're looking forward to that day 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:31.980 by shedding ourselves of stuff quite willingly and freely today. 00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:35.519 We can be generous today with our worldly wealth 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:37.740 because we know we have eternal wealth 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.679 in the home of righteousness. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:43.600 I wonder how much your life today 00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:48.060 is shaped by the promise of being part of God's new creation. 00:19:50.600 --> 00:19:54.200 Your legacy isn't on this earth. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.039 It's in glory in Christ. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:01.779 My dad was always obsessed with leaving a significant legacy 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.539 behind here on earth, 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:06.380 but he didn't have faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:11.600 And I reckon the greatest legacy that we have 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:12.820 and can leave our children 00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:15.720 is to have faith in the Lord Jesus 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.100 and to be with him in glory. 00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:21.500 Live your life like you know where you're going 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:24.200 and get rid of everything that won't help you to get there. 00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:27.600 Work out what you think needs to go 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:29.160 and what you think needs to stay. 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.680 So the coming destruction, 00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:33.340 the coming home of righteousness, 00:20:33.560 --> 00:20:35.000 those things should shape us today. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:38.940 But also the third thing is the knowledge of the timing 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.960 behind the day of the Lord. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.079 That should shape us today. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.819 And this is a bit of a revision of yesterday. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:47.980 Knowing the only reason God hasn't brought on that day 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:50.700 is because he doesn't want any to perish. 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:53.140 That should shape our lives today as well. 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.099 Have a look at verse 15. 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.900 This is where Peter's, 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:59.359 he's repeating what he said basically previously. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:03.859 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:07.479 just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you 00:21:07.479 --> 00:21:09.159 with the wisdom that God gave him. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.379 This time we have, 00:21:12.459 --> 00:21:14.099 in case you didn't pick this up yesterday, 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:18.059 is time God's given us to repent 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:20.719 and it's time God's given others to repent 00:21:20.719 --> 00:21:23.879 that should absolutely shape our lives, right? 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:28.880 If you haven't turned your life to put your faith in Jesus, 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:31.820 God's given you this time to do that. 00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:35.980 That's a really important thing for you 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.780 to get your head around. 00:21:37.800 --> 00:21:40.140 Sometimes if people make it through cancer 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:42.500 or make it through some kind of illness, 00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:44.980 they might think to themselves, 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:47.340 oh, God's given me this opportunity now, 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.180 I really have to turn my life around. 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:51.580 But the reality is every breath you're given 00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:52.880 is an opportunity to turn 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:54.240 and put your faith in the Lord Jesus 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.100 that God's given you. 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:58.340 This could be that opportunity for you right now, 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:01.000 the time to take off your crown 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:03.259 and put yourself under the crown of King Jesus. 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:06.539 And if you have put your faith in Jesus, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:09.400 as we said yesterday, 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:12.240 God's given you this time to help others to turn to him. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.380 So we want to live holy and godly lives. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:18.060 We want to be spotless and blameless. 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:20.379 But we want to be all of that, 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:22.259 knowing that God's left us here 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.159 to help others to turn and believe. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.299 Bearing that in mind 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:29.859 is key to living for God in light of the day. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:32.419 God's patience means salvation. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.119 You know that song? 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:36.440 Strong as a mighty rock, 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:38.059 a refuge in the... 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.099 That's as much as I'm going to do. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.779 This is a big reason why we try to live differently. 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:46.240 I don't know if you're familiar with Peter's first letter, 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.259 but this isn't a novel idea for Peter, 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:53.220 this notion that living today is to help people turn to Jesus. 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.779 One of my favourite verses in 1 Peter, 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:59.420 and one of the reasons why I think 2 Peter is also written by Peter, 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:01.039 is where he says, 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.879 we ought to live such good lives among the pagans, 00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:06.159 that though they accuse you of doing wrong, 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:08.259 they may see your good deeds 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.839 and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:14.079 So Peter's saying in 1 Peter, 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:16.940 yeah, live holy and godly and spotless and blameless lives. 00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.039 In order that, 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:20.720 people might turn and give glory to God. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.940 That's why we're here. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:26.220 So be shaped by the coming destruction, 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.519 be shaped by the new home we have with the Lord, 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:30.879 but also be shaped by the timing, 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.879 knowing God is leaving us here, 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.559 desiring that none will perish, 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.720 but everyone will repent. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.720 You know, 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:43.379 before we moved down to New South Wales, 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.079 and this is a confession, 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.980 this is not a brag, 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:48.240 we decided we wanted to invite 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.740 as many of our non-Christian friends 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:52.039 to our last church service as we could. 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:55.099 We just thought we'd go to town with it, 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:57.259 because this is our last chance. 00:23:58.399 --> 00:24:01.339 And so we just invited everyone 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:05.079 in as many awkward conversations as we could 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:07.359 from every sphere of our life that we were involved in. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:10.500 We knew it could be our last chance to help them. 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:14.180 But how dumb is that, right? 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:16.119 To live somewhere for 12 years, 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:19.599 like that's at least 600 Sundays, 00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:22.839 and then to wait until the last one 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.339 to ask everybody to come. 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:28.579 Every day could be our friend's last chance 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.219 to hear the gospel. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:35.039 That's the only reason God has left us here 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.039 and not yet returned. 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:40.819 How does that reality shape the way we live and speak today? 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:45.000 You know, I know that there'll be some people in this room 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:47.299 who are great at talking to people about Jesus. 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:49.419 There are always people like that. 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:53.079 They always make me feel like half a Christian, 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.919 but I also love having them in my church, 00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:56.899 because some people are just really great. 00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:58.519 Like, you'll be in a conversation with them, 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.019 and you'll be sitting there thinking, 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.899 how can I keep this conversation going? 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:03.099 I might talk about sport. 00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:04.500 Next thing you know, they'll go, 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:06.859 oh, so have you ever been to church before? 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.919 And you're like, oh my goodness, 00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:11.039 this conversation just went next level. 00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:13.320 And they'll start talking about Christianity, 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.560 and I'm sitting there thinking, 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:16.960 hang on, I'm the minister here. 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:20.560 There are some people who are really gifted evangelists. 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.300 I think the Bible speaks like that. 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.220 But don't be mistaken, 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:26.779 the reason God has left all of us here 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:29.960 is in order that we might live lives 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:32.180 that actually help people to turn and glorify God. 00:25:32.820 --> 00:25:33.700 All of us. 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:36.360 And I don't think I've ever said to anybody, 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:40.779 hey, do you want to come to church this weekend? 00:25:40.959 --> 00:25:43.259 I know it's, and they've been offended. 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:46.819 I don't think it's a special gift 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.279 to ask somebody that question. 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:51.639 Or to say to somebody on Monday, 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.500 I went to church this weekend, 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.000 and it was great. 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.819 You ever been to church? 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:01.559 I don't think they're radical conversations, right? 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:04.679 For some reason, we're terrified to have them. 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:08.019 But I don't think when the Bible talks about gifts in evangelism, 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:10.279 those two questions are what he has in mind. 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.920 It's such a big thing, the coming day of the Lord. 00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:16.720 It will be the end of this life. 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.120 It'll be the full stop. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.740 And it'll be the beginning of eternity. 00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:25.120 It's bigger than Christmas for an eight-year-old. 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:29.140 It's bigger than anything coming that's shaping our lives. 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:33.000 Peter finishes his letter by saying, 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:35.740 that's pretty much why he's written this letter. 00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:38.620 He says in verse 17, 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:41.959 we've been forewarned about this day. 00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:45.319 And rather than falling from our secure position, 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.979 rather than jeopardizing our place in the new heavens 00:26:48.979 --> 00:26:51.679 and the new earth where righteousness dwells, 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:55.459 we ought to constantly be reshaping our lives towards it, 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:58.059 growing, as he says in verse 18, 00:26:58.199 --> 00:27:00.639 in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.619 Jesus Christ, 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:04.619 becoming more and more dependent on him. 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:10.079 Can I encourage you as we finish up this weekend 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:12.979 to do something that I find harder and harder to do 00:27:12.979 --> 00:27:13.679 as I get older? 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:17.699 And that's just to lean into growing in your faith. 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:20.219 I know God keeps us. 00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:22.419 I did my final college year thesis 00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:24.359 on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. 00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:26.519 I know that he'll hold us to that day. 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:29.059 But do you know one of the things that he holds us with 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.179 is the scriptures. 00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:33.219 He actually speaks to us through them 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.660 and he tells us to hold on. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.120 Lean into growth. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:41.519 As you go through life, you accrue more baggage. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.519 Physically, I've accrued more baggage. 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.660 Financially, I've accrued more baggage. 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:49.740 Relationally, I've accrued more baggage. 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.720 Mentally, I've accrued more baggage. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:55.420 Continuing to take one step after the other 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:57.819 in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.839 leaning into the wind instead of letting it carry you 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:03.079 because it feels so nice to be carried for a while, 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.620 leaning into the wind. 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:07.220 It's the most important thing 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:10.079 because the day of the Lord is coming 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:13.360 and we all want to be standing firm on that day 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:17.180 because that's where righteousness dwells 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.900 and if our faith is in Christ, 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.180 we'll be there with our creator. 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:25.539 So whatever else you feel squeezed by your life in at the moment, 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:28.539 don't let it be your faith. 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:31.840 Let that push everything else to the side 00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:34.980 and continue to stand firm until the day of the Lord. 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:39.720 May it be today that it'd make that easier. 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:41.700 I'm going to pray. 00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.839 Our Heavenly Father, 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:48.160 these truths that you speak to us in your word, 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:50.759 most of us here, we've heard them many times. 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:54.339 We know that you always keep your promises. 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:56.400 We've sung songs about it for years. 00:28:57.600 --> 00:29:00.000 We know that you're not slow in keeping your promises. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:03.700 We know that we ought to live holy and upright lives 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:06.380 while we wait for the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:09.900 But Father, take that head knowledge 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:12.839 and move our hearts by your spirit. 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:17.319 Father, help us to stand firm. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:21.460 Father, help us to put off sin 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.960 and to put on righteousness. 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:28.859 Father, help us to live such good lives among the pagans 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:30.859 that though they accuse us of doing wrong, 00:29:30.979 --> 00:29:32.219 they see our good deeds 00:29:32.219 --> 00:29:36.479 and turn and glorify you. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.559 Lord, we know you've kept us here for a time. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:47.240 Help us to use it well while we wait. 00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:52.439 We need your help with this by your spirit 00:29:52.439 --> 00:29:54.439 because we are weak in the flesh. 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:58.059 So we pray this in Jesus' name. 00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:59.099 Amen. 00:29:59.099 --> 00:29:59.200 Amen.