Series: 2 Peter
Title: You Do Well to Take Heed
Text: 2 Peter 1: 19-21
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Date: January 28, 2012
The most important thing for the believer is the word of God. This gospel is the means God has ordained to gather together his church and keep his people.
After telling us of that which he witnessed with his own eyes and heard with his own ears concerning the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter says (2 Peter 1: 19-21.)
Title: You Do Well to Take Heed
THE SCRIPTURES WE HEAR THROUGH THE GOSPEL-DECLARATION ARE AS A LIGHT THAT SHINETH.
A Sure Word. This is not man’s word. It is the revelation of the mind and purpose of God—the will of God. The men used to write the scriptures were divinely ordained and gifted of God--21: For 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.
Timothy 3: 16:…all scripture is given by inspiration of God,”
You Do Well To Take Heed to this Word. Search these scriptures daily to see if what you hearing preached is so.
Acts 17: 11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Isaiah 8: 20: To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Remember scripture is not interpreted in the light of human wisdom, only in the light of the Holy Ghost and by comparing scripture with scripture--20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
1 Corinthians 2: 13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Remember the best commentary on scripture is scripture. We don’t search the Scriptures, to prove what we think is true, but to find out what God says is so. Scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation--v19: 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:
Proposition: Peter is writing concerning the second coming of Christ. We are yet in a dark place in that we see through a glass darkly. There is coming a perfect day when Christ shall return in his full shining brilliance and the Perfect Day shall dawn and the Daystar shall arise. But let’s first consider this in light of a sinner’s conversion and then secondly in light of our waiting on that day as believers.
I. A WORD ABOUT THE DARK PLACE-- as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
This world is a dark place in which believers sojourn and the darkest place on earth is the natural heart. God withdrew all spiritual light when Adam sinned. The natural light of reason and conscience leave a sinner accountable to God. But by that one transgression in Adam a total eclipse of God’s light left sinners in profound spiritual darkness.
Without the light of God shining into our hearts we are altogether darkness.
Isaiah 60: 2: For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:
Romans 1: 21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
You may be an intellectual sunbeam as far as: worldly study and ability, wealth, even natural disposition but until the Sun of righteousness arises in our hearts this is the description of the sinner
Ephesians 4: 18: Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Two things that the natural heart cannot see—sin and righteousness. We need light to see the darkness of our sin.
Illustration: In the darkness of a cave you cannot see the darkness. But with the slightest light you can begin to perceive darkness.
We need Light to see the righteousness of God
2 Corinthians 4: 6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 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
II. THE DAY DAWN AND THE DAY STAR --
Like each day’s dawning there are some things the same in each sinner when the heavenly Light shines and day begins to break in the heart AND there are some things not exactly the same. First let’s consider some things which are the same
All must hear the light of truth through the word, the gospel of Christ revealed in the scriptures. All must be taught the darkness of their own flesh.
Romans 3: 10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
All must be taught that Christ is all the believers Righteousness. He has accomplished the work of perfecting his people so that believers rest in Christ alone through faith. All must be brought to the same Christ, the same sin cleansing fountain. All are justified and made the righteousness of God the same way: by God the Father, by God the Holy Spirit, by God the Son Christ Jesus, by grace, through faith.
2 Corinthians 4: 3: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
It is the same DayStar that arises in each new heart—the same Light lights all God’s saints—that Light is Christ the Light. Christ is the Star prophesied to come from the lineage of Jacob
Numbers 24: 17: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Malachi 4: 2: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Revelation 22: 16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Matthew 2: 2: Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Luke 1: 78-79: The dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
2 Timothy 1: 10: Christ is the Savior who “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel”
Christ is the Light of righteousness. He was made sin, who knew no sin—by his bruise, with his stripes—God alone is the Justifier of all who believe on Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of the law, the everlasting Righteousness of his people, the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe. And Christ is the Prophet who instructs us in light in the new heart
John 8: 12; Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Also, this is the same, this Light is irresistible. The Lord used the wind for his analogy of the Holy Spirit’s work. "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." And the Holy Spirit’s analogy of the sun rising is the same.
Who can stop the sun from rising? Not one. When Christ begins to shed his beams in the new heart none can stop this dawning of light. And where his Light begins to shine he will continue to shine: "He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." These things are the same in all who are born of God: Christ the Daystar is the same Light which lights all those born from above.
But there are some things that may appear different about the breaking of day in the heart of a child of God. Light may come suddenly as in the case of Saul of Tarsus. Or more slowly like it did with Nicodemus.
You may be like the blind man given sight whose vision was yet blurred and he saw men as trees. You may not realize that your soul is passing from night to day. All we see at first are the clouds of our corrupt fallen nature and it almost overwhelms you with despair!
Illustration: Some days are cloudy—the sun is shining—our perception is clouded—the same sun still shine!
What do you do? Wait on the Lord. When Christ is arisen in your soul you will know it, you will be able to do nothing else but repent from your sins and believe on him and follow him.
Intellectual, logical understanding is not saving Light. Christ quickens the inner man into an irresistible desire for Christ. His Light claims our entire being.
His Light drowns-out all the natural lights we once put our confidence in. So that we have to confess him and follow him and take heed to his Words—for then we know his words are the words of eternal life. That is when a believer believes and is made anew, consecrated to Christ. This is the new birth!
In natural creation the Lord made this atmosphere a tabernacle for the sun. In the new birth the believers newly created heart is made a tabernacle for Christ the Sun, he enlightens the eyes.
Psalm 19: 5: Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6: His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Look to Christ, the Light of God’s glory: not to self, not to knowledge, not to an experience or a profession. Read this word seeking Christ’s face not to save face.
Proverbs 4: 18: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
III. NOW LET ME GIVE A WORD FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON CHRIST AND AWAIT THE SHINING OF THAT PERFECT DAY.
As of right now we are still in the twilight before the perfect daybreak of glory. For now, many shadows surround us. But every artist knows it takes light and darkness to make the object in the picture stand out—so the dark shadows cause us to ever lay hold on Christ the object of our faith.
There are the shadows of spiritual ignorance yet in our path. We have understanding but how little we really understand! We know but how little we actually know!
1 Corinthians 13: 9: For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10: But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
There are even cloudy days when we just can’t see Christ the Light. Like Job,
Job 30: 28: I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
Unless we are walking in the light as he is in the light we are not able to detect as easily when we are without light. Give all diligence to dwell always as closely to Christ the Light as you can. Give heed to the Christ’s word as much and often as you can. We do well to take heed to this gospel until the day dawn.
Hebrews 2: 1: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Hebrews 10: 25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The most important thing is to hear the gospel with our brethren. Each believer’s presence matters—never think it doesn’t. What if you were the only one to show up? It is that discouraging for your brethren when you are missing. Give heed, so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
As we face shadowy clouds and strong winds of providence look to Christ.
Job 37: 21: And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
God uses strong wind of painful providence to cleanse us. But faith which knows that Christ is our Light even in the troubling clouds shall be guided by the "bright light that is in the cloud," and not taken away by troubling clouds.
Live not so much with our eye on the present clouds, but with our eye set on the horizon of that future glory: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."
Then there is that "valley of the shadow of death." Never was it as dark on this earth as after Christ entrusted his Spirit into the hands of God on the cross. Yet, never did the light of God’s glory shine so bright. He arose.
Here is the sweetness of Christ our Light—by his death, Christ so destroyed death, that death to the believer is but a shadow. He said, "If a man keep my sayings he shall never see death." Like Simeon when he beheld the Light said, “Now I can depart in peace for I have seen thy salvation”.
When does this day dawn for the believer? When does this DayStar arise for the believer?
Illustration: The natural day dawns on us now sometimes as soon as we close our eyes on our pillow.
You see that dear saint who just took their last breathe of this sin-filled toxic air—the day-just dawned and the Day Star just arose in their hearts—their very next breathe is in the crisp clean air of perfected holiness. Then "I shall be satisfied, when I awake in his likeness."
But others will remain and that the perfect day of glory will be at the second coming of our Lord in majesty and great power, to gather together his elect, and consummate the bliss of his church.
"He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all those who believe."
In a little while the day will break, the shadows will flee away, and we shall bathe our souls in Christ’s full, unclouded, endless light. It will be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds. There will be no need of the sun or the moon in that city—John said, “for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Re 21:23.) Brethren, think on the day when we shall see him as he is. The day with no more night of sin or any of its effects
Now the exhortation in our text is simple and easy to understand--2 Peter 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. Let us heed this word of exhortation. You do well that you take heed.
Song of Solomon 4: 6: Until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Now my brethren, if the day breaks before next Thursday we will meet in that heavenly city at the foot of the Lamb our Light. But if not, then Lord willing, I am coming here again to this hill of frankincense to hear of his marvelous Light in the mountain of myrrh. How about you? Oh, we do well to take heed. I hope to see you then.
Amen!