Gtcotr/ws082416
The
book of First Peter focused on the pressures and persecutions which were aimed
at the Church and at the individual Believer from without. The devil wishes to
use forces outside of the Church and outside our lives to bring us to a place
of ineffectiveness for God. However, the book of Second Peter points out those
enemies who attack the Church and each individual Believer from within. These,
in many cases, are much more formidable foes.
The
Apostle Peter hopes that we take a close look at ourselves, the doctrines of
the Church which are being taught from our pulpits and those tendencies of
human nature to relax and become carnal and accepting of sin even in its
mildest forms. Satan is attempting to render us both individually and
corporately as ineffective for the cause of Christ.
For
these reasons Peter instructs us by the Holy Spirit to add some things to our
daily lives. Let’s read this portion and then we will further discuss the
importance of knowledge in granting us victory over the devil and the sinister
carnal forces at work against us.
Remember,
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual
wickedness in heavenly places. We must resist the devil for he desires to
devour us!
2 Peter 1
1 ¶ Simon Peter, a
bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like
precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by
glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to
us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
the world through lust.
5 ¶ But also for this very
reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are
yours and abound, you
will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Knowledge
of God and the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned five times and referenced twice
more in the first 8 verses of 2 Peter 1. Philemon 6 encourages us to take
knowledge of the good things which are in us in Christ. By seeking to
understand and embracing what can be known about God and who we are in Christ
and who Christ is in us, our faith becomes more effective in its working.
Hosea
4:6 ¶ My people are destroyed for lack
of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from
being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also
will forget your children.
1. Knowledge is Power to Multiply Grace
2. Knowledge is Power to Multiply Peace
3. Knowledge is Power to Receive from God
4. Knowledge is Power to Escape the Corruption of
the World
5. Knowledge is Power to Guide, Guard, and Govern
your Life
6. Knowledge is Power to Produce
2 Peter 1
9 For he who lacks these
things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was
cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be
even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these
things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be
supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
7. Knowledge is Power to Enter the Kingdom
What
Knowledge? Knowledge of Who you are in Christ and Who Christ is in you!
2 Peter 1
12 ¶ For this reason I will
not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are
established in the present truth.
13 Yes, I think it is right,
as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
14 knowing that shortly I must
put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
15 Moreover I will be careful
to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
If
the devil can move us as individuals or us together as a congregation or us as
the whole of the Church of the Living God in the earth to the place where we
stop policing ourselves and give in to the devil’s schemes and allow brotherly
love, Godly living or the unblemished Word to cease among us … he will have no
need to torment us for we will torment and destroy our own effectiveness to
work the will of God.
We
must know, protect, preserve and defend the Truth of the Work of God and spread
that knowledge. For the prophet declared:
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth
will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover
the sea.
Ephesians 1:17 that the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the
glory both now and forever. Amen.
Hosea 6:3 Let us know, Let us
pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the
morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former
rain to the earth.
