2 Peter 1:12-15 Lord, Remind Me – audio

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Text: 2 Peter 1:12-15

Introduction.

1. Recently, at one of the Friday Night Sings, we sang a song that really spoke to me.

2. The title is Remind Me, Dear Lord. By Dottie Rambo.

The things that I love and hold dear to my heart Are just borrowed,

they’re not mine at all; Jesus only let me use them to brighten my life,

So remind me, remind me, dear Lord

(Chorus)

Roll back the curtain of mem’ry now and then,

Show me where you brought me from and where I could have been;

Just Remember I’m a human and humans forget –

so remind me, remind me, dear Lord

Nothing good have I done to deserve God’s own son,

I’m not worthy of the scars in His hands; Yet he chose the road to

Calv’ry to die in my stead – Why he loved me, I can’t understand

3. We so often need reminded!

4. 2 Peter 1:12-15.

For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

5. Thankfully, we have a God who knows us and knows that we need reminded so often!

6. What are some of the things of which we need reminded?

Body

I. LORD, WHEN I AM TEMPTED TO GIVE UP, REMIND ME THAT YOU NEVER GAVE UP ON ME.

A. At one time or another, all of us have been tempted to hang it up.

1. The parable of the sower teaches us that two out of three who obey the gospel will not remain faithful.

2. What are the causes of their falling away?

3. Matthew 13:20-22.

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

a) Persecution – which comes in many forms.

b) The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches.

4. There are other things that make us want to throw in the towel.

a) Disappointment in ourselves.

b) Disappointment in others.

B. When you are tempted to give up, remember that Jesus didn’t give up on you!

1. He endured mocking and ridicule for you. Matthew 27:27-29.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

2. He was beaten for you. Matthew 27:26. Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

3. He carried that cross until He couldn’t carry it anymore. Matthew 27:32. Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.

4. He was crucified for you.

5. My precious Savior suffered pain and agony, He bore it all, that I might live.

C. Lord, when I am tempted to give up, remind me that what I am going through is NOTHING compared to what you went through for me!

II. LORD, WHEN I AM TEMPTED TO FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF, REMIND ME OF MY BLESSINGS.

A. We all get sad from time to time.

1. Jesus did. John 11:35. Jesus wept.

2. Many things cause us to be sad.

a) Seeing sin in the world.

b) Disappointment in others.

c) Death of a loved one.

d) Troubles at work or school.

e) Troubles in relationships.

f) Financial problems.

g) Health problems.

3. It has been said that all of us are either just getting out of a trial, just getting into a trial, or we are in a trial right now!

B. What happens, though, is we often go from feeling sad to feeling sorry for ourselves.

1. A person who feels sorry for himself is one who starts to think that he has it worse than anyone else.

2. He focuses inward on his pain and sorrow rather than outward.

3. He starts to get a little angry with the world and maybe even God.

C. When we start to feel sorry for ourselves, we need to remember our blessings!

1. I don’t care who you are and what problems your having, if you are in Christ, YOU ARE BLESSED!

2. Spiritually we are blessed. Ephesians 1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

3. Physically we are blessed. Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

a) Are you going hungry? Many in the world are.

b) Do you have a roof over your head. Many in the world don’t.

c) Do you have warm clothes for the cold weather that is coming. Some don’t.

4. When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost…Count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

D. Lord, remind me of my blessings.

III. LORD, WHEN I GET ANGRY WITH OTHERS, REMIND ME THAT I AM NOT PERFECT EITHER.

A. It is not a sin to get angry.

1. Jesus got angry. Mark 3:1-5.

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

2. We are told to be angry. Ephesians 4:26. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

B. We are to be angry without sin. We are not to let the sun go down on our wrath.

1. It is one thing to be angry about sin and another thing to hold a personal grudge.

2. Maybe it would help us to be more forgiving if we remember, we are not perfect either.

3. Matthew 18:21-35.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

C. Lord, remind me that I am not perfect either.

IV. LORD, WHEN I PUT THINGS OFF, REMIND ME THAT LIFE IS SHORT.

A. Procrastination is a universal problem.

1. We put off things, intending to do them later.

2. We put off…

a) Work around the house.

b) Getting into shape.

c) Working on our relationships.

d) Obedience to the gospel.

e) Talking to others about Jesus.

B. Lord, remind us that we may not have a tomorrow.

1. James 4:13-14.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will[g] go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

2. Life is too short to procrastinate!

3. None of us is guaranteed another day.

Conclusion

1. Lord, remind me…

2. When I am tempted to give up, remind me that you never gave up on me.

3. When I am tempted to feel sorry for myself, remind me of my blessings.

4. When I get angry with others, remind me that I am not perfect either.

5. When I procrastinate, remind me that life is short.

Delivered on: September 16, 2012. Streetsboro.