Shammah Temple Fellowship: Sermon of July 7, 2024
By Gad Ndayihimbaze
Theme: How should Believers stay awake as they wait for the coming of Jesus?
Reference scriptures: 2 Peter 3:1-18
As we read in Matthew 25 about the 10 brides, all the ten were waiting for the same person – the bridegroom. Some got tired, some fell asleep… In a while, they heard voices about the coming of the bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and kept their lamps full of oil, while the 5 foolish of them had no oil and therefore failed to go with the groom. As Believers today, we are also called to be wise and let that wisdom leads us to value what should be valued and ditch what Jesus judges we should let go.
But, how can we stay awake for the coming of Jesus?
- By holding so tight the promises we have from our Lord
When Peter wrote this letter, he noted with pain that not everyone was still waiting on Jesus. Even some preachers were teaching false doctrines to get people away from what mattered – the coming of Jesus.
Daniel in the book of Revelation and Paul in Thessalonians 4:16 came back to the fact that Jesus is coming back; He is returning to take the church with Him; and some will wake up on a surprise that He didn’t take them with Him. What an unfortunate waking up call!
But we are not allowed to forget His promises. “That you should remember the words spoken in the past [about the future] by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior given by your apostles [His personally chosen representatives]” (2 Peter 3:2).
How do the promises help us stay awake?
- They show us the faithfulness of God
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteousness character], for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2: 13).
- They allow us to endure hard times
- They remind us our eternal hopes
- By leading righteous lives
After reminding Believers why Jesus waiting a bit more to come back [as He waited for the perfection of His bride, so that no one is left unsaved], Peter also reminded them that they are not able to count times the same way Jesus does.
As we wait on Him, we should lead stainless lives so that He finds us in all the peace He left for us.
“The Lord does not delay [as though He was not able to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
What can help us to lead righteous lives?
- Constant study of scriptures
“Your commandments make me wiser that my enemies, for your words are always with me” (Psalms 119:98).
- Commit to practice what the scriptures ask us to do
“For Ezra had set his heart (resolved) to study and interpret the Law of the Lord, and to practice it and teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
- Commit to keep humility in growing adding godly virtues in our lifestyle
“For this very reason, applying your diligence in your faith to, develop more excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).
In short, as Believers, we are called to wait for Jesus willing to follow His way but not only looking forward to His eternal promises to us all, but also commit to lead righteous lives in all we do. May the Lord help us to achieve just that as we expect Him to take us to His heavenly Father in the heavens.
