Time to Wake Up
Text: 2 Peter 1:13-21
Can you see Jesus with the eye of faith? Will you believe the Bible with the heart of faith? Why not let the Holy Spirit of God carry you with the hand of faith? Peter, up in age, and fixing to move off the scene is inspired to write to CHRISTians that they might stir up their minds.
1. Can you see Jesus as the Son of God with the “EYE of FAITH”? (2Pet 1:16-18)
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”
Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus, including His life, miracles, death, and resurrection. Even though he denied Jesus as predicted, he repented and was used of God in a mighty way, bringing the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10).
He deserves worship and praise!!!
2. Will you believe that the Bible is the Word of God with a “HEART of FAITH”? (2Pet 1:19)
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”
Interesting to note, Peter did not rely upon his experiences alone, rather he emphasized the “word of prophecy.”
This is important because today people are believing and talking about their experiences more than the authenticity of the Bible. However, the Scriptures are the believer’s final authority. Experiences are not equal with the BIBLE! It supersedes everything.
Jesus affirmed the Scriptures,
“4And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:44-47).
The Bible claims to be inspired. Paul writes the following,
3. Why not let the Holy Ghost of God carry you with the “HAND of FAITH”? (2Pet 1:20,21)
“20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The word “private interpretation” is ἐπίλυσις (ep-il’-oo-sis), which means explanation, interpretation; release.
Conclusion: The word “stir up” is διεγείρω (dee-eg-i’-ro), which means to arouse completely: I wake out of sleep, arouse in general, stir up. Would you agree with me, that we need to be stirred up? Awakened?
A good reason for CHRISTians to WAKE UP is because many are lost without Jesus and without hope.
There we have it. If we see JESUS as the Son of God, believe the Bible as the Word of God, and are carried by the Holy Spirit of God, then our minds and hearts will be stirred up….awakened.
Early in the morn before school, when I was a boy, my dad used to say, “It’s Time to Wake up”!