The keys to enjoying the good life.
2 Peter 1:1-21
Introduction.
Today I want to share with you a message on the keys to enjoying the good life, The Apostle Peter according to his own testimony is about to give up his own life because of his faith in the Lord Jesus christ. In his last letter, He shares with the church the key’s to the good life.
So let’s all read our Text together.
2 Peter 1:1-21
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
#1 Everything concerning "life" and "Godliness" has been given to us.
2 Peter 1:3
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS OF LIFE
A.. GRACE AND PEACE 2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Thank God for his Grace, Amen. I just dont know where I would be with out his Grace. When I was out deep in the world doing my own thing, Going where I wanted to go Not giving one thought of God or anything that pertain to him. It was his Grace that kept me.
What Is grace? Webster says it this way.
unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification a virtue coming from God a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace.
Had it not been for his Grace Oh where would you be? His Grace is so real. Amen
THEN THERE IS HIS PEACE Verse 2. again
It’s peace in times of trouble that comes to your heart that keeps you. without the peace of God one just could not make it.
web say this about "peace"
freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
harmony in personal relations
Many of you have heard my story of when Lost my sight. Had It not been for the "peace" of God that came and rested in My heart, I Beleive I would have Lost my mind.
I will never know how a person that dont know God and has no desire for him, How do they get though storm’s in there Life.
When we stop and think about the Peace we Have that has been giving to us by God, we need to think Him with all our heart. Amen.
LETS CONSIDER DIVINE "POWER" THAT WILL PRODUCE DIVINE "PROMISES".
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
THE GOAL OF THE "PROCESS" IS TO SHARE THE "GOOD" NEWS. verse 4 again
I want you all to know that everyone under the sound of my voice has a story to tell. And gess what? your story has "Power" in it. You see It’s not always the "preacher" that needs to tell the story, But it’s you. out on your job in the work force, places where you go.
Your testimony can and will have inpact on other people. you may not think at the time it is doing anything. But I want you to know that It’s God working. When you tell it and you leave that person. God takes over.
STORY.
I know I share alot about my life. but that seems to be the way the Lord uses me many times. But I must share this story with you before we go on. I meet a young man at a Truck stop one night and I ask this man If he had a few minutes. I had had a incounter with this man name "Jesus" and I would like to tell him. He said he would, so I begin. I told him my story how I was A driver and I got where I would stop at Truck stop’s just to pick up "Tract’s and at night I would sit in my bunk and read them. It was’t long that I felt God Pulling at my heart and I found my self relizeing I was Lost with God. And One night I fell on my knees and ask Christ to come in my Heart and be my savior and Lord.
I left after my story and gave him some chick tract, and Prayed with him. It was months later I ran into this man again at another Truck stop. And he said to me can I tell you something? And he begin. He told me that when we departed last time I would go to bed at night. and found myself fighting to go to sleep, all he could hear was my words of How I came to christ. he said I could even hear your voice in my head. It got where I could not go to sleep. and One night I too was reading some tract that I picked up and I just wanted to say thanks for shareing with me. Because Now I too am a born again christian. Your story helped me find christ.
So you see my friend, every one of you has a story to tell, and it has Power in it. For it is GOOD news.
Thats the "Goal" of the Process to the good life. Amen.
BUT NOW THE CONDITION OF DIVINE LIVING IS JUST KNOWING JESUS.
QUSTION.
Do you know him? I mean really know him? Have you made him the Lord of your life? If so.
LET ME SHARE 3 MORE ELEMENTS WITH YOU THAT WILL HELP YOU.
#1 Jesus is the "Auther" of your faith.
Heb. 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
#2 Jesus "Authorizes" your ministery.
1 Cor 12:5....
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
#3 Jesus is our "Advocate" with the father
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
And Thats such great Blessing to know that we can enjoy the Good life that he has giving us. Amen.
Lets Pray.....................
