Sunday Words of Encouragement February 16, 2020

Our Sunday School teacher (GT) continued his lesson series on “Why did God create man?” Today’s lesson was titled “What in the World is Going On?” GT said that earlier in the week he was thinking on the lines of “What in the Heaven’s is Going On?” but he realized that was not the correct focus.

Matthew 4:1-11 tells how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. GT at first thought Jesus, being God, wouldn’t be tempted. Then he rethought how Jesus was now man and although he was spiritually strengthened by his fasting and prayer, he would have been physically weak. Also, GT realized that Satan did have the authority to offer temptations to Jesus. From the beginning, Satan has always been seeking to separate man from God.

God created man for His purposes and set him to rule over the earth. Man gave away that authority. 1600 years passed from the time of Adam and Eve being cast out of Eden to the days of Noah. God looked down and saw only wicked people other than Noah. He started over after the flood but he started again with flawed man. In less than 500 years, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Even though God set aside the nation of Israel as a new people, His special people, they still did not live up to the righteousness of God.

God gave the law through Moses but man still couldn't live up to them. Man couldn't be restored until Jesus. Restoration of the original relationship doesn't occur until Jesus returns and brings in the new Jerusalem. When the end comes, Jesus will put all enemies under his feet and then all, including Jesus, will be subjected to the authority of God – as it was at creation. 1 Corinthians 15:22-28.

Jesus felt the stresses of a man. When he said “…the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak” he was speaking of himself as well as the disciples. Matthew 26:40-41. When Jesus was tempted by Satan there may have been a temptation to bypass Calvary and take the kingdoms then. An example of doing the right thing at the wrong time.

Now we live in an anti-God world. Jesus taught His disciples and us how to pray: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” Matthew 6:10.

2 Peter Chapter 3 tells of the final days. He begins stating he is writing to ‘stir up wholesome thinking’ and ‘refresh your memory’. V1-2. He notes that the future destruction is being reserved for fire. Further, that the Lord isn’t slow, He is patient, waiting for all to come to repentance. V9.
Finally, Peter warns us to “be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18.

This song works for the message today.

Verses for Today:
2 Peter 3:10-13
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Lord, I give thanks that you have made the sacrifice for my future. I thnk you for your patience and grace!