God Has Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear, But of Power, and Love and a Sound Mind - Part 1183

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God -- who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began -- but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (II Timothy 1:7-10)

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ writes to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, saying, "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance; that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (II Peter 3:4-5)

"For this they willingly are ignorant of -- that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (II Peter 3:5-7)

What Peter is saying here is that the Lord Jesus is not slack concerning His promise. He will return to gather His church -- the body of Christ -- His bride, when that one last soul finds the peace and joy that comes from personally knowing the King of kings and Lord of lords. When that one last person has removed from his being all religious garments and instead become clothed in His righteousness -- the righteousness that only comes from Jesus.

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (II Peter 3:8-10)

"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, for when they shall say, "Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." (I Thessalonians 5:2-3)

But we brethren are not in darkness, that the day of the Lord should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day ... therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, for an helmet, the hope of salvation, for God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." (I Thessalonians 5:1-10)

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God ... Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (II Peter 3:11-18)

If you haven't already, repent by asking Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask Him to become Lord in your life. Be water baptized / buried in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-42)

Study His Word, particularly the new testament which He purchased with His own holy blood. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord included your salvation because He -- even before the world was formed desired that you would enter His fold. In so doing, may your joy be full.

Stand in the offering plate.