2 Peter
1:3,4 The Promises are found in Him
Intro: In our study last time we saw where Peter tells us here in v.3 that all we need to enjoy life to the fullest / walk in Godliness
A)Has already been given to
us not will be but has been given to us already the
minute we were born again
B) What has been
given is found in the Knowledge of Him
1)
As
well as thru the Exceedingly great & Precious promises
C) How many Promises are there ? if you consider every verse is a promise Over 30,000- Some look at it that way
1)
But we do know that there are 7,487 promises made from God to man
About Health & Happiness
/ Peace & Prosperity / Freedom/ security
D) Another book $3.00
investment the Jesus person Pocket promise book
1)
Awesome
little book that takes promises & places them into categories that go w/
certain needs that we have ( Great little book)
A)Are based on an O.T. formula that is clearly seen in the
Book of Duet. 11:22-28
22For if you
carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to doto love the
LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him23then
the LORD will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will
dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves. 24Every
place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness
and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea,
shall be your territory. 25No man shall be able to stand against
you; the LORD your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all
the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.
26Behold, I set
before you today a blessing and a curse: 27the blessing, if you obey
the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; 28and
the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn
aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you
have not known.
B) Now here is the formula v.22 If you carefully keep the commandments / Love the Lord w/
all heart / walk in ways & Hold fast to Him
1)
If you do that V.23 THEN the Lord says Then I will drive out the
Problems before you & do wondrous things in you / w/ you
C) So they follow this formula If you Keep the commandments / THEN I will come thru for You
1) And we See that formula over & over again concerning the Promises that are in the O.T.
But there in lies the Problem: I like the THENS but the
problem I have is w/ the IFS
A)If I
love the Lord w/ all my heart / if I keep ALL
the commands / if I WALK in all His ways / if I HOLD FAST to Him
B) This is where it breaks down for me My problem is its Real IFY
no matter how hard I try I end up failing in one of these areas
1) RESULT IS that frustration sets in because I am not able to meet the conditions I dont always do the ifs
C) THEREFORE I cant expect to receive the THENS according to this formula - So I fail miserably and I get frustrate
So ends up in Frustration which shouldnt surprise me
because that was the purpose of the O.T.
Old Cov. all along Frustrate me
A) Gal. 3:24,25 Paul says The
Purpose of the Law was to teach us a lesson to school us to show us our need
of Christ
B)To show us that we are not righteous/ that we fail in the if parts
Therefore we cannot enjoy the Thens because we fail miserably
C) And the Lord says that is all I want you to see all I want you to understand that you cannot earn blessing salvation
1) That you cannot keep a standard of righteousness - that qualifies you to
receive the blessings that God want to heap on you and do for you
So O.T. promises follow this formula If/
then - But Paul the Apostle
writes something there is 2 Cor.1:20 Amazing
A)20For all the promises of God Paul is referring here to all the Promises in the O.T. the N.T. wasnt fully written yet
B) So Paul is referring here to all of the promises that follow this If/ Then formula
20For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,
to the glory of God through us.
C) CATCH THIS: Now it is not If / then but yes and amen - let it be
O.T. Promises if /
then based on my performance causes me to say woe is me
A)But there in 2 Cor. 1:20 Paul says all the promises are Yes in Him
kept by Him fulfilled through Him and it is yes / amen- in Him
B) Instead of going woe is me I say wow is He! Jesus is Awesome!
C) Listen close: Tune in listen up take heed- Jesus has fulfilled all the ifs in the
O.T. JESUS loved the Father perfectly
A) Jesus did keep all the commandments/ Jesus did walk in all his ways flawlessly Jesus did hold fast to the Father
B)Therefore the thens that follow are given to Him
1) So wonderful proud of Jesus good for Him happy but what good
is that to me - I fail miserably - Listen 1 Cor. 1:26
26For you see your
calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are called. 27But God has chosen the foolish things
of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of
the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the
base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, 29that no flesh should glory in
His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from Godand righteousness and sanctification
and redemption31that, as it is written, He
who glories, let him glory in the Lord.
Here is what this means to You & Me - You are placed in
Him everything He has is yours- it is all available to you
A)You have been placed in Him & He is in you by His Spirit
B) So
when Peter says all things have been given
. Knowledge of Him/ Through Him , received exceedingly great and
precious
1) No more condition Now just a believing available to me / embracing of them walk in that reality- ENJOY
C)Wow- what a thought all the promises of God
7,487 are now available for me to claim not based on what I do but He did
1) It is all about who He is the promises are linked to WHO HE IS
D) So what ever the need might be
the answer is found in Jesus Who He is what He has
done / what He is still doing For us / IN us / Thru us
1) Give a few Examples
NEED: Wisdom Wisdom = Knowledge applied it is the right
use of Knowledge it is Knowing the right thing to do at right time
A young salesman walked up to the
receptionist and asked to see the company's sales manager. Ushered into the
office, he said, "I don't suppose you want to
buy any life insurance, do you?"
"No," replied the sales manager curtly. "I didn't think so," said the salesman dejectedly, getting up to leave.
"Wait a minute," said the sales manager. "I want to talk
to you." The salesman sat down again, obviously
nervous and confused. "I train
salesmen," said the sales manager, "and you're the worst I've seen
yet. You'll never sell anything until you show a little confidence and
accentuate the positive. Now, because you're obviously new at this, I'll help
you out by signing up for a ten-thousand-dollar policy."
After the sales manager had signed on the dotted line, he said helpfully, "Young man, one thing you'll have to do is develop a few standard organized sales talks."
"Oh, but I have," replied the salesman, smiling.
"This is my standard organized sales talk for sales managers.
Prov.3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,& the man who
gains understanding;
A)Blessed = Oh how happy is the
man
PROMISE: Isa. 2:3 He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.
Psa.32:8 I will
instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Fulfillment
in Jesus = Isa. 9:6 Wonderful Counselor
A)John 8:12 I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk
in darkness, but have the light of life.
James 1:5 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to
all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
B)Life is full of lots of problems & Challenges / some complex
1) We find ourselves in need of wisdom Who do we go to where do we find it ? James says Go to Jesus is the Wonderful
Consider the traits of a good Counselor see if Jesus
fits the role
A)1st important
factor He needs to be CLOSE & ACCESSIBLE
B) Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us just a prayer
away
1) No secretary to call no appointment to be made FREE
C) He is never away on a trip His ear is always opened
2nd You want to know that your conversation is
going to be Confidential
A)You dont want it to appear
in the Church Bulletin next week
B) Which means we can bring to Jesus our most intimate matters
1) We have all had friends who have betrayed our trust but we dont have to worry about that w/ Him
3rd want the counselor to be Compassionate
& relatable
A)Helps when He has gone thru
what you are going thru My talk w/ N. the other day spiritual attack Suicide
B) Jesus
was tempted in all ways as we are yet w/out sin - Sympathize
4th Cognizant of us He knows us / Knows what
is best for us
A)In counseling it helps to
know some background
B) People make recommitments what happened
C) Listen to what John says concerning Jesus Knowledge of us
Ch. 2 24But Jesus did not
commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25and had no need
that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
D) Cant fool Him fool me / not Him / Jesus knows everything about you & Loves
you anyway Mike at Augie's
5th Want Him to be capable Worst thing to
poor out your heart to someone have them say ( Wow that is too bad )
A)Col 1 3in whom
are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge./ v.9 For in Him dwells
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
6th Want Him to be able to Communicate
A)Prayer Two way dialogue
His spirit speaks to our hearts
B) Plus He has given us the counselors manual for the human heart
1) THE WORD
C) With credentials like that why would we want to go to anyone else
D) Question is are we willing to wait on Him for an Answer
Listen we can w/ confidence come to our wonderful counselor
& Bring to Him the hurts / failures / the deep needs & aspirations of
our lives
A)Prayer of application Wonderful
counselor I yield my foolishness to your wisdom, my perplexity to your
guidance, my darkness to your light, my future to your presence, my life to
your way & your will.
NEED Peace of Mind / Peace in the heart
A)Been said that peace is the
most sought after commodity and at the same time the most elusive or treasures
B) French Historian : 3,130 yrs of war to 230yrs of peace
PROMISE Psa. 29:11 The LORD will
give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Isa. 26: 3 You will keep him in
perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Fulfillment
Jesus is the Prince of Peace
A)As prince all of the
resources of the Palace are at His disposal which means there are unlimited
resources available to us
B) He has an abundance of Peace Peace of God has nothing to do w/ the situation on the outside
1) But everything to do w/ the condition on the inside
C) We are prone to want the Lord to Change our circumstances but what He really wants to do is Change our Character
The Peace that Jesus supplies meets our needs in 4 areas
1st Peace w/ God
Rom. 5:1
1Therefore, having
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through
whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
A)Justified declared
righteous -
Peace & righteousness go together Isa. 32:17 7 The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of
righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
Our Lords first concern wasnt
Peace it was righteousness Peace at any price was never a statement found on
his lips
Peace w/out Righteousness is
victory for the enemy false peace
Jer. Wept Jer. 6:14 They
dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.Peace, peace, they
say, when there is no peace.
JESUS
BROUGHT PEACE THRU THE CROSS
A) Peace w/ God
1) Access
into presence the veil rent
2nd Peace w/ in To those who love Him / His
very presence in their lives Brings peace Rom. 8:1
A)Eph. 2:14 He is our peace not just something He gives but
it is who He is
B) Matt. 11:28 Come unto me . Rest
3rd Peace in the Mist of difficult circumstances
A) John 14:27 Peace I give is not as the world gives - Phil 4:7 Peace that surpasses understanding
B) 2 Cor. 12:9 9But he said to me, My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christs power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christs sake, I
delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
C) TROUBLED TO REJOICING
1) Storm Jesus is at rest we should be at rest
4th Peace w/ others Paul called this in 2 Cor.
5 the ministry of Reconciliation
A)God doesnt give us this
peace so that we can just sit back and enjoy it
B) He gives us this peace so that we might plunge ourselves into the tangled problems of a needy world and share the peace of Christ w/ those
1) who are at war w/ God & themselves & each other
C) He is our Peace Found in Him resting in Him/ Drawing near to Him
NEED Protection You feel
attacked on every side / Attacked from w/out those who have misinterpreted
your actions / Motives
A)Misunderstood your words
B) ATTACKED FROM W/ IN
Spiritual Oppression the enemy and his forces are on your heals
PROMISE : Psa.91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa.114 Lord talks about
being a Sanctuary for His people
Fulfillment Jesus is our Rock
/ Fortress / Overseer Advocate
A)Rock was a place to hide
David cave of adullam
Prov.18:10- The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
2Tim.1:12 I am not
ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able
to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
1 Peter 5 Overseer of our souls
1 John 2:1 Advocate against
the enemy -
NEED Strength &
Refreshment
A)Busy week ahead a lot on
your plate / looking at the week past looking at tomorrow HELP
B) Heavy trials going thru / struggling w/ temptation / feeling dry
Promises : Psa. 68:35 35 God is awesome
in his sanctuary.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Isa 40:31 those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will
fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk
and not faint.
Dan. 11:32 but the people who know
their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
Fulfillment
in Jesus Isa 9:6 Mighty God
A)Zech. 4:6 Not by might
Power to serve
B) Power to walk Jude Now unto Him who is able
C) Power to resist Temptation - 1 Jn 4:4 4You are of God, little children, and have
overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
D) Power over trials Rom 8:37 37Yet in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I
am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor
depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Refreshment : John 7:37 If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and
drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his
heart will flow rivers of living water. 39But this He spoke
concerning the Spirit, whom those £believing in Him would
receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given,