Grow in Grace and in Knowledge — Tow Siang Hwa

The Theme of Growing in Grace and Knowledge

2 Peter 3 verse 1. The second epistle beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before By the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first.

There shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own last and saying Where is the promise of his coming? For since the father's fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of that is they refuse to believe what they know To be true. Yes, they're willingly ignorant that by the word of the Lord the heavens were of created of old and the earth Standing out of the water and in the water.

Whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now By the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and petition of ungodly men.

The Two Judgments: Water and Fire

Pause here and think. Yeah, we have read of two judgments the first was by water When the whole world was flooded over and the evidence of this is seen everywhere. Everywhere you go in all the continents in all the mountains in all the hills wherever you go from the Grand Canyon to the Colorado to the Rocky Mountains.

To the 12 Apostles in Australia you just go to Malaysia go to Philippines go to China. All those rocks laid down by water. Are the evidence of the first judgment. Now we are talking of two judgments. The first was by water and God will not judge by water again because he's promised.

And it says the second time it will be by fire. Are you ready for that? Now, let's read on verse 7. But the heavens and the earth which are now By the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire. Against the day of judgment and the petition of ungodly men that is the destruction and punishment of ungodly men.

Do not be included in this group verse 8 but beloved be not ignorant of this one thing that One day is with the Lord as a thousand years a thousand years as one day. Because time in God's sight is immaterial.

God dwells in eternity. He doesn't go by Seiko watch doesn't watch use a time clock at all. Verse 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men come slackness, but it's long-suffering Toward us not willing that any should perish, but they all should come to repentance.

But you must go and tell them as I said just now. Do you know of a friend who is still outside Christ a relative somebody? Do you know nobody bring them? For the Lord is long-suffering patient waiting Longing for these people to come to hear the gospel that they may not perish but come to repentance.

Verse 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night In which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise how this will be we do not know but Do not be on earth at that time because it will be very very sad.

The elements shall melt with fervent heat earth also and the works that are therein shall be Burned up seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. What manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness?

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God. We're in the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and The elements shall melt with fervent heat. Understand the elements it is said the elements are the smallest particle that cannot be divided.

That's why they are called Atom, you know, it's a Tom atom. Atom means what? Indivisible. Cannot cut in the two Tom. This is from two Greek words. But the Word of God says all these atoms will dissolve.

Amazing when the Creator says dissolve. They will dissolve with great fervent heat. You know how one atom bomb the releases the heat of thousands of conventional bombs one bomb. So here it is. God can do things.

We do not know verse 13. Nevertheless, we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore beloved seeing that these you look for these things be diligent.

And being be found of him in peace without spot and blameless. Verse 18 our key verse our theme verse. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and Forever.

Amen, let us pray may I invite you wherever you are to spend just a moment in silent meditation. Speaking to the Lord out of your heart for he searches Every heart he knows the secrets of every heart.

He knows you better than you know yourself. Spend just a moment in quiet prayer. Whatever is on your heart. You speak to the Lord and he will hear and answer eternal and Almighty Heavenly Father the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who has sent his only begotten Son. To be our Saviour and Redeemer the one whom we love and worship. Oh Lord our God hear our prayer. Bless all these thy people gathered here this morning everyone who has come with a seeking heart with expectations.

That we do not know, but you know, oh Lord our God Thou has heard all their pleas and their prayers and may thou answer each one according to the faith and according to thy promise. We thank thee for the return of this holy day.

The day that thou has appointed for thy people to remember thee to honor thee and to worship thee. May we truly regard this day and treat it as a holy day and that we will not in any way dishonor thee on this day, but we'll live in the knowledge and expectation that soon we will be gathered together with thee and And Together in the everlasting Sabbath.

Find the rest Which you only can give to us Heavenly Father. I pray for that blessing on this church the true life BP Church. That all the leaders pastor and elders and session and all the members will be fervent in spirit serving the Lord.

Diligent in the daily quest of holy things. To serve thee in the dark and evil day to realize the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ is so near and this world Does slide away into a deeper and deeper? sinfulness.

Oh Lord our God Save us. Save us from this sinful world that we will not be swept into the current of worldliness of Unchristian living in a world of tension and turmoil. May thy people look to thee. Our Heavenly Father bless the children That have gone to the Sunday school.

Please help the teachers to give the Word of God with love and with power that young lives be saved and converted and This church may grow. Oh Lord our God help all of us this morning to think and to dwell on the theme Out of the book out of the words written by thy servant Peter.

That we may all consider how we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our heartfelt prayer. May thou answer it as we sit at thy feet. May thou speak to us by thy spirit.

We ask it in Jesus name. Amen. If you are here last week Ask you another question. Do you remember what we preached about the passage we read and The lesson we learn. Maybe it's good. We have a little revision.

Revisiting Galatians 5: Walking in the Spirit

Revision is the secret of learning. So you turn with me to Galatians so that before we go into today's message. We all have a little revision. How about that, please? Galatians chapter 5 and to revise.

I Will not be preaching to you a new message, but I urge you invite you just read together with me all the verses that we are going to read and The book we read from us Galatians. The chapter is chapter 5 and we read from verse 16 to the end.

So are you ready? Want everybody to read please everyone, you know when I Attend the Mandarin service. The fervency is double the English-speaking people double easily. I don't know why for some reason and they say in China is trouble when they go to China everybody who comes to worship is filled with the spirit because the Opportunity to worship is not easily available.

And they're under surveillance, but when they have the opportunity they are really filled With the spirit and they read they sing they pray with great fervency oftentimes with tears. This is in China and we get the semblance of it in a Mandarin service, but with the English, they're cool as cucumbers.

I say please pray that the Holy Spirit touch your heart and you will be in the spirit to be Really worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth. So please read together Galatians 5 Verse 16 together, please.

This I say then walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary the one to the other so that we cannot do the things that you would.

But you may be led by the spirit. You are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these. Adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envying murders drunkenness revelings and such like of The which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things Shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy, peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with affection and lusts.

If ye live in the spirit Let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be desirous of vainglory provoking one another. Envying one another amen. Question again, how is your walk? How was your walk the last week after you heard that message did it touch your heart.

To say I better look into my life. Your walk is the way you live the way you think the way you talk the way you conduct your whole Lifestyle, how was it in the past week? You had the sermon didn't you of course?

Did it touch you did it move you? Did it sink into your heart and did it cause you to say I think I better change in some part of my life. This is my prayer to all of us here that you will consider. That God will remind you and by the way as I Preach one thing you must do not just listen pray.

You know what I mean? You cannot understand what you hear except you keep on praying Holy Spirit, please. Cause me to understand. For what I'm talking is The Word of God, and this is powerful stuff is deep stuff.

And it concerns our spiritual life our spiritual well-being our spiritual welfare. And you cannot absorb it Unless the Holy Spirit convicts you. You agree. If you are not in the spirit you never pray for the Holy Spirit you here one year in one year out you go home.

You're unchanged nothing happens, but I say if you come here you took the trouble to come it is an investment investment in your time and energy in your Expense of driving or taking a bus here. This is an investment.

What for? Of course you come for some benefit pray. Pray that the Spirit of God will touch your heart and cause you to receive the message with joy. For every word of God is profitable to cause us To change our lives for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction their righteousness.

This is the purpose of the Word of God, so I say as I preach you pray. Who wrote this back to 2nd Peter, please have your Bibles turned there now 2nd Peter who wrote 2nd Peter of course you say Peter.

Peter’s Failure, Conversion, and Commission to Feed the Sheep

That's right. Then my next point is this who was Peter. How much do you know what do you know about Peter I? Think most of us will remember that Peter denied the Lord three times right. Do you not remember that of course you do.

Peter was the spokesman if you want to give him a word to describe Peter. He said he's the mouth. He talks before he thinks too often and that night after the Lord's Supper Jesus said to Peter Simon Watch out Satan is going to stumble you, but I have prayed for you.

I said there was the greatest Revelation our Lord prays for us even now. Hebrew 725 says he makes intercession for us in heaven. Wonderful. You believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you saved by him? You say wonderful salvation.

I was saved, but please understand. He not only saves you once. But he continues to save you. He prays for you, so he said to Peter Peter Be encouraged. I have prayed for you. That your faith failed not you're going to do something very silly.

Something you will regret afterwards you are going to do it. But I have prayed for you, and I say you thank God. God prays for you. You may not know it, but this is The scriptures and it says I pray for you that your faith fail not and When listen to this carefully he says to Peter when you are converted strengthen your brethren.

While there is a warning There is also a word of encouragement. Peter you are going to stumble badly tonight. But I pray for you that your faith fail not. And then when you are converted. You know the Lord had a wonderful plan to convert Peter not that he was not saved.

But here conversion means I shall change you. We all need to be converted to be changed in our outlook of life our way of life. Our lifestyle needs to be converted. So Jesus said to Peter When you are converted Strengthen your brethren.

Then what did Peter said to Jesus? Lord you think So poorly of me. I'm ready to go with you to prison and to the death even you know Lord. That's me Peter. Yes, of course Jesus knew him too. Well. I say you know Our Lord knows us better than we know ourselves.

You agree to that. Well you say maybe not. Well Peter might have said that but in the very next breath Jesus said to him Peter you said you're willing ready right now to go to prison with me and to die for me.

Tonight before the court closed three times. You're gonna deny me twice and He did that he denied the Lord three times. You say well, what is the use for Peter. No more use. Is it that right. You Denied the Lord break your promise.

Not even to say I'm a Christian. You dare not even let people know you're a Christian. No use. Please we have a wonderful Lord. Never say you're no use. Only thing is you have no faith. We all need the faith to turn to the Lord and Peter in spite of his Miserable performance.

After the resurrection at the lake site in Galilee you remember what happened? Do you remember? Having finished breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter. Peter. Do you love me? Love me more than all these things.

Yes. Then the Lord says feed my sheep. Second time the same thing then the Lord says feed my lambs. Third time the same thing. And Peter was very Grieved in his heart Lord. Why do you keep asking me this thing?

You know already of course Jesus knows but this is to remind you Peter. You did that me three times now. I am asking you three times. You will never never forget again. Do you love me really. So I said the Lord says the same thing to all of us.

Do you really love me. And To Peter he says now if you really love me feed my sheep. You know that when Jesus rose to heaven all that he has on earth is sheep you and me. We are his best and only possession his heritage we are his we are very precious to him and to Peter.

He gave that special command you feed my sheep. Question. Did Peter forget this wonderful? Second commission. Answered no never again. After that at Pentecost he was converted. We all need that conversion.

What is the conversion. The conversion is the filling of the Holy Spirit? When the day comes that you confess all your sins and Peter with a group of disciples in the upper room prayed for ten days. What do you think they were doing for ten days?

Praying. Confessing their sins of course all the sins. You know the apostles how disunited the group they were. Squabbling quarreling even after the Lord's Supper when the Lord turned out they were all quarreling about who is going to be the top dog.

When Jesus brings in the kingdom who is going to be the number one prime minister minister of this and the other they were all quarreling when after the Lord's Supper. Now you say we all need to be converted, how are we converted?

Ten days. Prayer and supplication. United prayer. At that time they begin to pour out their sins confess their sins sins of rivalry of jealousy of envy of hatred one for another until the Holy Spirit came when day of Pentecost.

Now, this is just by way of introduction so do you know after that whereas Peter was at one time so afraid to talk about Jesus after that he could not stop talking about Jesus. I Said that's the same with all of us until the Holy Spirit comes and changes our life.

You will be so tight-lipped. So shy. How can I let people know I'm a Christian? I don't know where to start what to say. Terrified. No until the Holy Spirit comes then Peter will stand up. With the rest where before how many thousands thousands and thousands were in Jerusalem.

Testifying of the risen Christ without fear. The only fear he had was fear of God fear to offend God. I say you pray for this. Once the Holy Spirit comes in your life He changes you you cannot stop talking about Jesus to other people.

Praying for other people and doing something for the Lord. You cannot stop it. Why as the Lord says Peter? When you are converted. Strengthen your brethren now Peter never forgot that so that to the end of his life from the day He received the second commission until the time he wrote the epistles could have been 30 years or more, right?

So he wrote these two Epistles so wonderful and the point I want to stress with you today is The third chapter. So please turn there second Peter chapter 3. Verse 11 we cannot go through all the verses, but just a few so that we all be reminded of what we are here for verse 11 to Peter 3 11 Peter reasons with us look we've read all the other verses and Are you convinced that there is a second judgment coming?

Holy Living in a World Awaiting Judgment

Are you? Don't be fooled and Deceived now Straits Times news is getting better and better. Especially after the new PM came in you know things really improve and people are really upbeat and The other day I read in the front page MMD says Things have never been so good.

We are just poised. Poised for a upsurge of the economy was be everybody's is wonderful. What do you say? It's all right. It's all right. It's better to have a boom than to have depression right. Of course now this is the catch when things are on the upbeat and Economy is booming away.

That is a time when the great temptation will come. Verse 11 seeing them that all these things shall be dissolved all the wonderful buildings Structures Designs now with this multi-billion dollar casino complex and things coming up everybody says wonderful listen verse 11 All these things shall be dissolved.

Nothing will be left one day all that the people are planning. And I'm not saying that you must not plan you must not build and you must not do anything. No no we're not saying that. The world has its own agenda.

We have our own agenda. Please do not confuse the two our agenda is not the world's agenda. You've got to know your own agenda. God has a plan for you. You're not part of the world so listen verse 11 Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved.

What manner of persons are you to be? Yes in all holy conversation meaning Living conduct lifestyle the way you conduct things means conversation and Godliness. Consider this please. Consider what? Considered you came to this service this morning as a member or a worshipper or a friend of true life Bible Presbyterian Church.

Because you are a Christian. Because you are a confessed and professed believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I said what for? Just to come every Sunday pay your dues and Pretend that you are Christian.

I said that's a waste of time do not waste your time do something else better. Don't come. But if you do come, please come earnestly honestly sincerely and Meaning means what you come for right? Now you come here the Word of God says are you praying?

Are you praying for the Holy Spirit to convince you of the truth? For unless Holy Spirit convinces you of the truth my preaching is nothing is nothing. Verse 11 says seeing that all these things shall be dissolved all the things you see the wonderful high-rise buildings everything Not here around the world New York Sydney London all these places they're all under this category of Destined for destruction.

Why they're all under the God of this world and these things have a lifespan a limit to it. Do you know that if so, what manner of persons are you to be verse 11 to be in the all holy living and Godliness.

How to have holy living in that unholy world. This is the biggest problem with Christians. Christians today Is very difficult. Agree. Who doesn't know that? Agree, of course. It is a very difficult thing, but I say is it possible difficult.

But possible yes by faith and by the grace of God. It is a very difficult thing. Yes, I agree, but God gives grace Enables us and that is the theme of today. Read on now, please verse 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that you look for such things.

What do you look for? What do you look for daily? Please Don't look at the things of the world, but look at the unseen things to come. For the things that are seen are temporal the things that you do not see are eternal and Those things God is preparing for them who love him for them who believe in him.

There are great things coming amazing things. You cannot understand you cannot imagine today, but they are true. In as much as your faith is unseen, but it is true in the unseen Savior. It is true. I know he's my Wonderful Lord who died on the cross who rose from the dead and he ascended to heaven is coming again.

Is that true? You ask yourself. I say if you don't think it's true go home. You are in the wrong place. You see now we are here to believe the Word of God and to embrace it and to Instill it right it in the heart because we know is true what the Lord says.

I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again. Is that true? All right, you really believe this is true now read on verse 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that you look for such things be diligent, please don't practice your Christianity half-heartedly with a bit of reservation and Never want to give your whole heart and life to the Lord always a little bit only and the rest you keep for the world.

I said, please do not do that be diligent and be found of him in peace without spot and blameless. Can you say this? Can you see your Christian life is without spot and blameless? How can you know? Go to the mirror and look at the face.

How your face looks? Who came to church this morning and did not use a mirror? Is there anyone you hands up? I give you a thousand dollars right away. Right. All of us did that, right? What is the matter of your soul?

Here it is. The Word of God is a mirror. Did you read the Word of God this morning? You go to the Word of God every day and God will show you what you really are how you really look. You don't know until you go to the mirror of God's Word.

He'll tell you you show you your real person your real self. Then you will cause you to say wow. I never knew I Never knew what never knew. I look so awful So tainted. So corrupted. I need to change you go to God's Word.

So this is what it says. Be diligent be serious. Take your Christianity seriously because God was very serious about your salvation. God was so serious. He sent his son to die for you. Is that serious?

Now you say you receive the salvation grace freely by grace. You don't have to pay anything you get it free. Now says it is free so cheap. I do nothing. I said don't. Please value the blood of Jesus Christ is beyond price.

It's so precious a shape for you. Now he says be diligent, please be serious about your religion about your Christianity and So that when the Lord comes You may be in peace. You will not be terrified.

Wow. The Lord is here. What should I do? I can't hide. I can't run. Please don't there is no need to come and make peace with God now. Without spot and blameless so that you can stand before him. Finally verse 18 now, this is the crunch verse key verse the theme.

Coming Boldly to the Throne of Grace

But grow in grace and in knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the whole thrust of this letter. Peter never forgot what the Lord told him at the lakeside in Galilee, right? How many of you have been to Galilee sail on the sea?

We were there two months ago. You want to go again? Let's go and there you see the beautiful sea and there was the Lord Jesus Who the 11 disciples and he talked to them and he said to Peter Peter you really love me.

If you love me feed my sheep three times. Peter never never forgot. So that's why he wrote this epistle full of love for the sheep full of care and Instruction on how my sheep how the sheep of God may grow in grace and in knowledge.

So this is it the theme verse grow in grace. Are you growing? Are you going? It's a spiritual life growing or going. Please be very serious this morning. How can you grow to grow in grace and what is grace?

You know what is grace and how can I grow in grace? I give you just a verse. We don't have too much time, but I think we have time for this. The book is Hebrews. All right, you turn backwards a few pages not very much.

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16 we read together shall we Hebrews 416. I think you all got to sharpen your sword drill when they say Hebrews 412 or 416 you should get it. Like that and not starting from Genesis, please don't you don't need to verse 16.

Okay, everybody read please. Let us therefore come boldly Unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need again, please Hebrews 416. Let us therefore come boldly Unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

How can I grow in grace. Answer is here, right? Please see again. Here is the answer given by Paul. Probably Paul. I think he was a writer of Hebrews, although he doesn't say so. And the answer is in Hebrews 416.

I ask you are you growing in grace? And you say how can I grow in grace? Answer is Hebrews 416. Can you remember this if I come next week? I'll ask you a question again, but of course I'm not coming next week.

Hebrews 416 shall we read again once more, please everyone so you will not forget. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. That we may obtain mercy and find grace to find in time of need to help in time of need now.

Let us quickly in the time available analyze this verse. It says therefore come boldly. Amazing. Which of you can walk to the Istana and see the president anytime you like? Is there anyone here? In the old days when I work in the university I get invited there once a year once a year and not boldly but sheepishly go there to see the big man and for one hour and Then quickly sling away.

But here is the king of the universe. Please understand the Creator the great God's Redeemer and he says to us come boldly any time. But always with heart prepared though. Don't just come haphazardly come boldly with heart prepared expectant and Confident that when I come to the board of the throne of grace boldly God is going to meet my need.

This is the promise. What do you need? Grace. This is what I'm saying this morning. What do you agree? What do you need this morning is grace and the answer is how to get? Hebrews 4 16 come boldly who say so.

The Lord Jesus says I am there waiting for you. You know, the problem with us is not because God is not there. He's always there not because the throne of grace is not available. It is always available.

What is the problem then? We don't go to the throne of grace. We don't pray so many Christians do not pray don't know how to pray. That's why I wrote 66 prayers about 20 years ago in order to instruct people how to pray so that you know how to go to the throne of grace and what to say the Throne of grace now here it is.

Please follow Verse 16 doesn't therefore come boldly. Yes anytime not haphazardly not anyhow, but Boldly meaning I have put my faith in the Lord. I know he will not cast me out He will not reject me. I can come boldly in that sense.

Do you come did you pray this morning? How can I get grace. Answer is here because you don't pray don't get grace and what is grace. Grace is God's enabling For you to do the things you never knew we could do for you to smile in the midst of sorrow obstacle setback Disappointments even in death you can face it with a smile.

That is grace who can give you that grace. Can you get out of a novel by watching a film in a cinema or by some pep talk and say I'm now Able to face death. I say you cannot get it anywhere else right.

Let us therefore come boldly always every morning noon and night come boldly to the throne of grace and here the Savior is waiting. He never fails that appointment. He's always there. The problem is we do not go All right back to verse 16.

Therefore come boldly to that throne of grace and there meet with the Savior who's waiting for you. The Savior is always waiting for you and Now when you come there, please do not hurry stay a while. Meditate and Search your house yourself before the Savior and speak with him.

He's longing to speak with you and when you speak with him pray with him. He is going to do wonderful things. You never knew in your life to strengthen your faith for when you have the faith Then you have the grace to face difficulties.

I said Disappointment. Yes, it will come. When you have the grace of God, you can face disappointments setbacks failures. Even death by his grace you can face it and you can say I Know my Redeemer lives.

I know in him. There is a Victory over death so you can face those things. Yes. Read on please come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy when you come God gives you mercy. What is mercy mercy is not?

Punishing you for the things you deserve. Though is there anyone here who doesn't need mercy at all? Oh My friends we all need that mercy. All of us are sinners. All of us deserve punishment. But when you come to the throne of grace, there is mercy.

You will find mercy and grace. Here is the source of grace. Right. We are going to conclude. Did you come this morning? Did you receive the grace? Did you ask for grace, please? Let there be a change in your prayer style.

We live in a society of everything fast. Fast food and there's enough fast prayers very fast. I Don't know God knows all I need so my prayer is so fast finish please. The Lord is waiting for you and he is waiting there to have communion with you.

How do you have communion? How do you have fellowship? How do you have a time of? Intercessory prayer a time of Supplication. You go and see the king and you have some urgent matter. You don't just say King.

This is it. Take it and I run away. You don't you take time and the king is there. So gracious so happy to see you you take time and he says what you will obtain mercy. We all need mercy. Oh If not for God's mercies will be finished.

So stay a while stay at the throne of grace and he gives you mercy and he will give you grace upon grace. All the grace you need plus a bonus more than what you need to Sustain you for the next trial the next time you meet with something very terrible you have grace.

You can face it. You can go through life with complete confidence in the Lord. Now we end to Peter 3 18. Right, but grow in grace. This is Peter's prayer for all of us. Because the Lord says feed my sheep.