Prepared for the Days Ahead
God warns His faithful ones of impending disaster to call them to holiness and remind them that He is still in control.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the urgency of being spiritually prepared for the imminent return of the Lord, as described in 2 Peter 3:10. He warns that faithful believers must not be swept away by fear during sudden disasters, but instead find peace in knowing God remains in control. The message is directed towards the faithful remnant, urging them to examine their conduct and align their lives with Christ's teachings in anticipation of the coming judgment. Wilkerson encourages believers to live in holiness and godliness, as the world will face divine dissolution. Ultimately, he calls for diligence in maintaining peace and blamelessness in the sight of God.
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"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [suddenly]" (2 Peter 3:10). God uses faithful servants -- sometimes those with national pulpits and at other times humble, unknown, hidden watchmen -- to deliver his words of warning. Only those who are not in love with this world and yearn for the coming of the Lord will have the message ring true in their hearts.
God warns his faithful ones so that when sudden disaster strikes, they are not swept away with fear. When dreadful events occur, God's people must know that what has happened is not an accident or a random act. They are to have the peace of Christ in their hearts, knowing that our God is still master of the universe. They will not panic when other men's hearts are failing them for fear at all the frightful things they see coming on the earth.
Peter goes on to say, "The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (3:10).
To whom is the apostle Peter addressing these words? The answer is found in 2 Peter 3:1: "Beloved, I now write to you." He is addressing the faithful remnant of believers. Whenever we hear words like Peter's, our first response is to recoil. "There's too much bad news today. Why do we have to hear this message now? Why not just let it happen?" But Peter had a reason: "Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (3:11).
In light of the sudden dissolving of all things, God's beloved people ought to check their own behavior. Those who look for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy ought to be conformed to the image of Christ, in conduct, in conversation and in thought. Make no mistake, the fire is coming. And for that reason, we are to "be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless" (3:14).
Sermon Outline
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God's Warning to His Faithful Ones
- God uses faithful servants to deliver his words of warning
- The message must ring true in the hearts of those who yearn for the coming of the Lord
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The Purpose of God's Warning
- To give God's people peace in the midst of disaster
- To remind them that God is still master of the universe
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The Response to God's Warning
- We must check our own behavior in light of the coming judgment
- We must be conformed to the image of Christ in conduct, conversation, and thought
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The Call to Holiness
- We must be diligent to be found by God in peace, without spot and blameless
Key Quotes
“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [suddenly]” — David Wilkerson
“Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” — David Wilkerson
“Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must check our behavior, conversation, and thought to be conformed to the image of Christ.
- We must strive to be holy and diligent to be found by God in peace, without spot and blameless.
- We must have peace in the midst of disaster, knowing that God is still in control.