God Given Chances (Part C)

God measures time by his purpose is not a tick of the clock, meets us, thereby establishing the seasons for somebody operates outside of the aging processes, seasons and clock we we know times on the issue for him. Yet God allows himself time as we know it, to give us chances. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of second Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue his message called God-given chances as he teaches through second Peter chapter 3, but there are those fools today.

When you reach not to mock, to them it is inconceivable, even ridiculous that the continuity of history should be disturbed by God for them to get this this thing is going to go on the way they are. God is not going to interfere some of them simply is no God or they just make up some rendering of God that is always tiny. It's always a small itsy-bitsy God comes out a hell teachings and coaching's. They can't believe that God will overrule mankind with the coming of Jesus Christ. And Peter is saying here. They are scoffing same with the promise of his coming. You been talking this Christie and rapture stuff all the snow.

Where is it coming will SS tell God he needs to do it now to satisfy you. Jeremiah he dealt with this 1715. That's not the years, the verse indeed they say to me, where is the word of Yahweh. Let it come now.

Nothing new so Peter could easily have counted and he probably did when he dealt with the scoffers. You know what the prophet that you were just same markings and was just as vain and silly then as it is now. What right is anyone to demand that God fulfill prophecy or do anything in their lifetime when they say well it again. If you have a tiny God then he has no rights you have the right set the thing about idolatry you possess the rights to the God you created, you assigned to him what you believe and if someone else that you join the bandwagon. The same thing as opposed to those who receive revelation from God that is backed up by prophecy. As we have no one else got it verse five he continues. Peter talking to the Christians about scoffers who include false teachers but not only false teachers. He says for this they willfully forget that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water by which the world then existed Paris being flooded with water very wet two verses for us where he says for this they willfully forget literally it is. This escapes them by their own will. In the Greek it's closer rendering is free will gone wrong. You have free will to make the choices you can make wrong choices.

You can't choose consequences of your choices that belongs to God call judgment is a judgment of the righteous is a judgment of the unrighteous. Of course Peter is talking about the activity of the third day were God separated the waters from the land. Global judgment of the flood that he is also talking about is a template from God that there is a greater judgment that God does interfere that he is given precedence that catastrophes can come from his hand. In verse six, by which the world then that existed Paris being flooded with water well.

Things don't continue as they were from the beginning and the geological record is loaded with observed evidence nicely observed evidence they can look at rocks of geologic geological record, you look at the rock strata there if you can find the manual Villa Koski's book, girls in collisions and Earth's in upheavals two different books.

You can find those books are out of print, there you have apparently an unbeliever examining the geological record globally and asking questions, and only the Bible can answer. And of course the world that he lived in the and he was a scholar of the world rejected his premise because they want to believe that God doesn't exist, that we would have a group that exists solely to prove that what they don't believe doesn't exist. I mislike let's create a group maybe we can have a ministry here. The anti-fairy ministry or like an atheist, but this a very well-known SRI will we you got that only fairies where we live 282 to prove that fairies don't exist to fairies.

For example, could you imagine something insane insane is that we would rent a building for sale at rent went well this evening's meeting brothers and we're going to discuss the nonexistent wings of the tooth fairy or how to such a little thing carry 1/4 you know something just keep going on with this know what if you have an alarm system and the fairy comes in and nobody's home. Just too many questions, so I know so the atheist and then very serious about proving what they don't believe exists. Not only does anybody else like this on earth.

Verse six. For by which the world then existed Paris being flooded with water. The Greek word for flooded gives us our English word cataclysm is interesting how these things is flat, cataclysmic in association with the flood.

It's cataclysmic knowing Jesus talked about the judgment of God on the. The antediluvian's those before the flood, and this the sodomites he plea pointed out is really the only thing he singled out about them. They didn't see it coming. They had every reason to see it coming. Thought a good look at all the other cities and they don't do this, not their position was let's get them to do this as was seen today the floods that those who were flooded out they had the preaching of Noah that are 420 years so there is a pulpit until it was too late to wait is to this day thou was on the cross of the two thieves comes out choice.

Luke chapter 17 verse 26 and as it was in the days of Noah, so will be also in the days of the Son of Man be.

Hate to drink the married they were given in marriage, until the day of Noah until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Since on show.

Likewise, he says, as it was also in the days of Lot. The eight they drank what they sold, they planted and built but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so, be the day when Son of Man is revealed. The crisis let me point this out to you when the judgment comes on those who being judged.

They didn't see it coming and want to that's what Peter says they willfully forget these things. He dismissed them. Verse seven but the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire, until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men, who were he says the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word God holds everything together. The hoax of climate man-made climate change. There is coming a God made climate change is called the great tribulation. Especially those last three and half years. There is going to be a lot of problems here but there. This man-made thing is of course just a political stunt, but unfortunately, as is the case it it has no shortage of dupes and they are reaching little children with this will growing up, terrorized his reason for being is quickly becoming their need to prove that the world is getting hot. What we won't stay on that we will move forward on this thesis preserve that is kept in store.

Interesting that word preserved in verse seven is where we get another English word Sarris storehouse a treasure and he continues by the same word God is actually God. Hebrews chapter 1 verse three. Speaking about Jesus Christ says this of him upholding all things by the word of his power.

All things and there we see Peter in agreement with that reserved for fire, what God is holding back his strengths as a question about that.

They estimate the core of the earth to be as hot as 10,000° with a lake of boiling liquid fire lava even other hot stuff to do because no one's been there with the camera so there could be some other things that hurt so in another category of fire against anyway.

You know minors do digging for gold in.

I believe South Africa. The gotten so deep the deepest mining for gold in the world. The temperature is 120° underground and there very far down I don't know.

Remember how far me a mile more. I'm sure but anyway should research that for border, but then you can wiki me after service Kucinich fact check me now anyway they can feel the digital and that's with the heat coming on is the son of God shining on them is coming from core there. My point is, God has charged the earth. The powder keys made in the power K and ignite whatever portions of anyone would know what he the springs of the hearse released the canopy of the earth above the earth will release everything with what was coming from the ground from the sky gods got moves earth carries its own judgment. That's what Peter is saying here is is reserved for fire, it is there is a built-in system of judgment that God will access when he's good and ready.

He says perdition of ungodly men, of course, this is the seriousness of it all. God will not make himself a liar to save souls or feelings he will not preach on hell in the sizes getting didn't mean it. I just use it to deceive you to got to get to deduce what when he says is going to be a judgment and is going to be a lake of fire and you will go there if you reject me, means every word of it.

Galatians 67 not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will reap.

And if you so unbelief or rejection against God, you will be rejected by guy. What would you expect what I rejected him. I hated them I've stepped on him all the life work that way all the ingredients for judgment burn up this planet are here and all the ingredients to be saved from the sure judgment of God's wrath there hereto in the gospel and that's where we come in. He says in verse eight but, beloved, there it is again. Do not forget this one thing that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day he's quoting Psalm 90 and there I'm in there.

Those that argue over this raises a little day and Misty says it's as a day, says that way. Psalm… That way.

Aaron Peter think God is not bound by time. That's a simple meaning of the verse, God measures time by his purpose is not the tick of a clock need, meets us, thereby establishing the seasons for us, but he operates outside of the aging processes in the seasons and clocks that we we know times on the issue for him. Yet God allows himself time as we know it, to give us chances. That's what we are talking about verse nine we come to the kingpin verse of this section, the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord will not be found neglectful negligent.

We also know what God's will is concerning the losses he's made it clear in the Bible and you when you get saved you, you know that God may delay his purposes but he does not abandon them.

And that is something that we can't lose sight of some supposed God is too lenient, as others propose that he is not lenient enough. Some supposed these not lenient enough, and to the point us. Discuss.

They enable sin to continue on the whole church is discoverable, applauding centers part of the natural thing of man on the right.

It is natural that is the sinful side but should the impenitent and those insensitive to others. The scoffers should they asked why does God delay and they they will ask and probably a crude form. What one short answer. God is populating eternity through those who believe him in this life who receive him and he knows the number that he is going to say okay have got the number I set out for Michael to get anymore. Now it all ends. The harvest is complete. Psalm 50 verse 21 these things you have done and I kept silent, you thought that I was altogether like you, but I will rebuke you and set them in order before your eyes. How serious is that how many people that the drugstore, the Greek gods as they were just humans on on steroids, spiritual steroids, Lucas opens up a little bit more were almost done. He says what is long-suffering towards us. The slowness of God is due at the slowness of God's judgment is due to his long-suffering.

The only reason why he has not opened up the judgment on earth is because he is still saving people on the earth.

First Corinthians 13 love suffers long and is kind. Psalm get the suffers long parks that I have a choice within a very kind. We are to suffer long-winded is that when those the terms and still retain kindness, the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness comes right after that and a lot of Christians are just not very kind.

They wanted to say hi to you and wishing they got something you do something they want. I hope the snow in here who were not ever that way. This God-given chances that he gives to man sinners to repent is not giving them chances because I just have nothing else to do. Kiss the because the other purpose and that is their salvation that they might repent. I think of my time as an unbeliever, and my brushes with death if I had died in that state be in hell right now God gave me chances preserve my life. I'm not so Norse is on that.

If I can use this word. I don't like using these words but anyway I'm I'm not being narcissistic because if God did that for me. He certainly is doing for everybody else is something we just loved me. We just given me chances given them to everyone. Psalm 14 verse one. Fuller said his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt.

He continues to say ones that say this deny God so there must be a reason of extraordinary force and significant that he holds back judgment. I why is he holding back judgment. He did it on the cross, when he was on earth he held back judgment. We all heard him say that to to those that were crucifying dividing his garments. Father forgive them in on what they're doing. They don't know the magnitude of messing with your son like this. This was beyond his mere sin and but here's the answer he's willing that none should perish with 23 Mercy 434 and Jesus said, father forgive them for they do not know what they do and they divided his garments, and a camel gambled for them.

They know what they were doing. Yet he withheld mercy. What is more intense than that, and in some ways this limitless power of God is limitless. Patients of well the power of God is limited, but the patience of God is not the long-suffering of God is not eternal.

It has terminus is a shelflife if you could find it and borrow form it would say expiration date death when those die thumbing their nose at God, the long-suffering stopped. The love is gone.

So many nasty characters throughout history, Haman, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot and and a host and a cast of millions. Why did not God judge them because other people were involved in God is doing his thing and extracting from those numbers. Those who would be saved. So these characters remained un-smitten would be so easy for God to strike and destroy again. He withholds his wrath. Why he is long-suffering and tells us here, not willing that any should perish somewhere during those days of those fiends. People were still getting saved. Some of them wrote books from of them after than the left of the war in the Pacific war in your some of those Christians wrote books about their experiences, and in those days, not willing to first Timothy 24. Speaking of God. He says who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That's what God wants. That's not his perfect will is perfect will gets done. There's no objection that the sun will shine tomorrow because that's his perfect will is nothing anybody can do about that. But then there is his permissive will he permits things even though it's not what he wants. It's not the ideal is not plan a he allows it to continue on is that he did this with Moses. For example, in, in a lesson in a less intense way.

When Moses insisted that I can't speak got okay fine essay like that, but I know I interpreted all send Erin but I wanted to send you without Erin. Now you got Erin and he incidentally he makes golden calf. So sure you're messing up Moses anyway. In the parables of the Lord. He's pretrade as a land owner who suffers in the last of all, I sent them my son and they killed him to the long-suffering of God. God is not lied to man about hell. This delay is found in Revelation 221. Also, he says to the church. I believe I believe is the church of Glamis. He says and I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality. She did not repent God's delay is all about long-suffering because he wants to save souls in the midst, and those of you who are saved within the last five years. Those who were Christians. 20 years ago asking for God to come back if he came back, you would not be saved. God knows what he's doing and we have to submit to that in spite of pain so I'm going to close now with a string of verses we have one portion of the verse to get to again.

Ezekiel 33 we all should know this. He tells the prophet say to them as I live, says Yahweh God says the Lord Yahweh I don't I Yahweh I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways. Why should you dial house of Israel. Matthew 20 30, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, one kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to or how often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks and then here it comes. Which you are not willing God was willing they were willing wanted to gather the chicks under his wings so he says Peter does but that all should come to repentance.

He told another group unless you likewise repent you will perish. She's serious about this God is willing to save all men, but he never saves anyone against their will you insist on not going to his heaven you will go to heaven or two more verses and will pray Luke chapter 15 verse seven and 10 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 just persons who need no repentance. Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents what is your purpose in this life.

What is our purpose here to cover up the truth because it offends people or to let him have it with as much love as we can muster have to think when were dealing with somebody. Sometimes they needed string upside their head. Other times they needed in doses we have to figure that out and be committed to it and not so preoccupied with our lives. Now I got a live that this week because what I say. I hopefully provided to close with this verse. Revelation 2217 and the Spirit and the bride say, come let him who hears say, come let him who thirsts.

Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely invitations of God.

That's all we have time for.

On today's edition of cross reference radio you've been listening to Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia as he teaches through the book of second Peter if you'd like to listen to more messages from this series or if you'd like more information about this program please visit our website cross reference radio.com. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program. Just search for cross reference radio in iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. What a great way to keep God's word with you wherever you go. We hope you'll tune in again next time. Is Pastor Rick continue studying through the Scripture right here on cross reference radio