January 1, 2017
Morning Service

II Pet. 1:

 

There was so much in the first 11 verses of this chapter I want to read it again. verses’  1-11.

2Pe 1:1-11  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.

 

Let’s finish chapter one;

2Pe 1:12-21  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; 

·        Hopefully we can see the importance of review, and Bible study.  If we don’t put you in remembrance of these things, then we are negligent in our calling.

(14)  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 

·         Peter is getting old, and he remembers the prophecy that the Lord gave concerning his life at the end;  Joh 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

·        Having the hindsight on this prophecy, this could be what Jesus meant.  Stretch forth thy hands, as did our Lord.  Another shall gird, and carry you wither thou wouldest not, or somewhere you don’t want to go.  The cross.  Peter was crucified upside down on a cross.

(15)  Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 

·        Peter says I will do everything I can to see that you are reminded of all these things.  Well God has certainly seen to it, that we can reread these truths whenever we want.

(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. 

·        And this is why all these early men of God were able to suffer martyrdom  the way they did.  THESE MEN WALKED BY SIGHT CONCERNING JESUS BEING THE MESSIAH.

·        They walked by faith on His second coming, and many of the promises, but not on the miracles, and the love they saw come from this man of Galilee.  They held Him, and they knew He was the Messiah, the Son of God.

(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. 

·        Mat 17:1-6  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,  (2)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  (3)  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.  (4)  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

·        When I read this I accept it by faith that this happened, they experienced it, so for them it was by sight, not faith.  It really happened, that’s why they weren’t afraid to die for Jesus, they knew everything He told them would come to pass.

(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: 

·        Peter means, besides this experience, we have all the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, in which Jesus fulfilled all of them.

·         These prophecies are as a light shining in a dark place.  Jesus said, Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

·        Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts, that is until you accept Jesus into your heart to lighten your life.

·        Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

(20)  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

·        You see, understanding the Word of God is not just for any one denomination, or group of people, it is for whosoever will let them come and drink of the waters of life freely.

Listen to the following:

(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.

·        God had the Bible written by holy men of God, so that all mankind could read, and understand it.  It says the same thing to all men.  Not just one man interpreting for many, but anyone with God’s help, and guidance, can understand what God has revealed for mankind.  Some of it He has yet to reveal, but when He does it will be for all, not just a few.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR WILL, AND THIS GREAT PLAN OF SALVATION KNOWN TO ALL MANKIND.   AMEN.