September 25, 2012

^"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;"  II Peter 1:5-6

 

Self-control is mentioned here as one of the graces that must be developed to work out the faith that God imparts to believers. According to Peter that faith gives us "everything we need for godliness".

Self-control is also listed among the gifts of the Spirit that are evidence of a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

Cleary, self-control, the ability to get a grip on your passions and emotions, is a sign of Christian maturity.

The are three options I have observed for dealing with life:

1) Self-Dedication

By this I refer to a totally self-indulgent life-style. This attitude of life not only lacks self-control but it has no desire for self-control.

A self-dedicated person gratifies every whim as often as possible. Whatever this person wants they get it.

Greed, lust and sensuality are al they live for.

2) Self-Medication
 

The lack of self-control characterized by the self-dedicated life leads to feelings of anxiety, loss of self-respect, shame, depression and addicitons. In an attempt to deal with the emotional and psychological pain caused by self-indulgent behavior, a person will self-medicate with one or more of the following:

 

*Alcohol consumption (I need a drink)

*Food as comfort

*Eating disorders

*Exercise disorders

*Gaming (OnLine Gaming Anon) (1/10 young people)

*Internet activities (61% addicted – FB, Twitter, stock trading, gambling, etc)

*Prescription drugs (1/12 HS seniors– Vicodin 1/20 — OxyContin)

12-17 year olds abuse prescription drugs more than ecstasy, heroin, crack/cocaine and meth combined.

*Substance abuse (cigarettes, marijuana, meth, cocaine, etc)

*Sexual promiscuity

*Gambling

*Spending

 

Unfortunately, these behaviors not only fail to help you get a grip on life but instead get a grip on your life.

 

3) Self-Control

 

Of course, this is the only acceptable life-style for Christ-followers. Rejecting a life of self-indulgence and a life of self-medication takes a strength greater than you have.

 

How then do I achieve the self-controlled life?

 

That will be answered over the next several blog posts. But for now, which life-style most characterizes you?

 

What has a grip on you?

 

Lust?

 

Greed?

 

Addiction?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 24, 2012

^"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control"  II Peter 1:5-6

 

God, through Christ, has given you everything you need for godliness. That is amazing truth!

 

Now it is up to you to allow God's Spirit to develop these graces to live out through your attitudes and actions. Peter urges you to "bend every energy" toward adding to your faith. The word for "add" means to support what God wants to accomplish.

 

You are to add to your faith moral courage to choose what is right and the practical knowledge to discern what is right.

 

To "goodness" and to "knowledge" you are to add "self-control".

 

Uh, oh! That's a tough one!

 

According to William Barclay, the word used for "self-control" means literally "the ability to take a grip of oneself".

 

Do you have a grip on yourself?

 

Are you in charge of your emotions or do your emotions get the best of you?

 

Which has a stronger hold on you faith or feelings?

 

The battle between reason and passion IS the struggle of the human condition. No one really wants to live and indifferent life devoid of passion. Nor should you live an indulgent life

giving in to every passionate desire.

 

Bringing these two in balance is further complicated for a Christian who has a sinful will at war with the Spirit of God. This is a struggle you are probably familiar with. The great Apostle Paul was and expressed it like this:

 

^"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:15-25

 

As you identify with the frustration expressed in these verses, take hope from the knowledge that both Paul and Peter discovered how to live with great passion under the grip of self-control!

 

Are you struggling to get a grip on your emotions? Do you find yourself still struggling to balance passion and reason?

 

I will be dealing with that this week. You will not want miss any of the upcoming posts!

 

In the meantime, yield your struggle to the Holy Spirit and lean on His strength!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 23, 2012

"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness, knowledge...." II Peter 1:5

The knowledge that is required to strengthen your faith is a practical faith that arises out of a relationship with Christ.

To have this knowledge you need to begin with a head knowledge. But also you need a HEART knowledge.

Jesus prayed for that:

John 17:20-25 -  “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.

 

The Apostle Paul thought it is important:

 

II Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

Romans 5:5 – “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

 

Peter had a heart knowledge of Jesus. I am sure he remembered fondly of the enounter he had with the resurrected Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus tenderly reassured him that He had forgiven Peter and that He stilled believed in him! That day Peter was restored and called back to ministry. It was after that day he had his greatest ministry because now he had not just a head knowledge of Christ but a heart knowledge as well!

 

THE GOAL OF HEART KNOWLEDGE IS TO KNOW THE HEART OF GOD!

 

You can’t know God well until you get your heart right! Is your heart right?

The knowledge you want to add to your faith is a HEAD knowledge and it is also a HEART knowledge but what you really need is a HOLY knowledge!

Peter knew about that, too!

I Peter 1:13-16 – ^“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

 

As he wrote these words to these early Christians I am sure he was fondly remembering that day in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell upon him and the other 119 Christians who were there. He must have had a warm feeling as he recalled preaching under the anointing of the Spirit and how 3,000 responded to his words by accepting Christ!

 

It is good to have a HEAD knowledge of God. It is even better to possess a HEART knowledge of Him, but the fulfillment of those levels of knowledge only comes when you receive a HOLY knowledge!

 

Do you have that holy knowledge? Have you received the Holy Spirit? Is your will surrendered to His will so His Spirit can fill you?

 

THE GOAL OF A HOLY KNOWLEDGE IS TO KNOW THE HOLINESS OF GOD!

 

September 22, 2012

“Make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness, knowledge….” II Peter 1:5

 

According to, William Barclay, the original Greek word used for knowledge is “gnosis” a practical knowledge, that knowledge which enables a man to decide rightly and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances of life.

 

It is easy to think that knowledge is the key to gaining access to all the good things God wants you to have. Most world religions teach you some version of this idea - the way to God is through meditation and enlightenment. Unfortunately, some Christians buy into that notion.

 

Peter teaches just the opposite. In the first few verses of this chapter he stresses the truth that when you received Jesus as Savior you also received everything you need to live a godly life. So, the purpose of knowledge when added to moral courage, is to help you know how to live out what God has put in.

 

You must know it so you can grow in it so you can show it!

 

What do I need to know about knowledge?

You Need A Head Knowledge

 

Here’s your “head” start:

 

Romans 12:1-2 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

II Corinthians 5:17 –“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!”

 

You need to know God and You can’t know God well until you get your mind right! You can't get your mind right without a knowledge of the Word and a personal relationship with Christ.

 

Peter must have been thinking how he got to know Jesus after he left his nets and began following Him. Peter heard the teachings, marvelled at the parables, beheld the miracles and then declared in an inspired moment, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!"

 

By following Christ, Peter gained knowledge of Who He was!

 

That is how you will know Him and how I will know Him. Paul said, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God!"

 

Have you gotten your head right? Do you know Who Jesus is? Are you learning form His Word?

THE GOAL of HEAD KNOWLEDGE IS TO KNOW THE MIND OF GOD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 21, 2012

When you trusted Christ for salvation you received everything you need for godly living! Now you just need to keep your eye on the prize of spiritual maturity and be intense about living out what He has put in!
 

 

“Make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness, knowledge….”
 

According to, William Barclay, the original Greek word used for knowledgeis “gnosis” a practical knowledge, that knowledge which enables a man to decide rightly and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances of life.

 

A contemporary illustration of this knowledge are the replacement referees in the NFL. Because the regular officials that work for the League are striking for better wages or benefits or something. So, to counter the strike and prevent a delay in the start of the season, the NFL contracted with college officials to call the games.

 

Two weeks into the season there have been more bad calls than usual and therefore, more complaints and criticisms than normal.

 

What is the difference? It is football and they are football officials. They know the rules by heart and the rules are essentially the same. So why are they struggling?

 

The difference is experience with the speed of the game and the intensity of the play. The only way to adjust to it is to actually officiate some games at this level so they can learn to apply the rules of the game to the real time action of each play on the field. Knowing the rules is one thing but interpreting those rules while world-class athletes execute a play in a split second while millions of fans are watching around the nation is quite another thing!

 

No doubt, some of the officials will adjust their knowledge to the higher level of play and some will not.

 

That is "gnosis" - learning to apply what you know to the speed and complexities of daily life.

It is translating theoritical knowledge into godly decision-making.

 

 

If you are going to benefit from all the blessings God has bestowed upon you through His grace in Christ Jesus, you must learn to wisely apply His knowledge to righteous living in this world. That can only be done by getting in the game and gaining experience.

 

Know His wisdom until you show His wisdom by how you live!

 

 

 

 

September 20, 2012

"make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge" II Peter 1:5

Do you find it hard to grasp the fact that God has actually given you EVERYTHING you need to live a godly life?

 

Well, it is true! Peter says so in this great portion of Scripture!

 

Now it is up to you to accept that truth by faith and begin to act upon it.

 

So, Peter says, "add to your faith goodness". The word for "add" means to "lavishly support". Support what? You support what God wants to build into your faith.

 

"Goodness" means "moral courage". If you are going to strengthen your faith you obviously must have the courage to apply your faith to your every day living.

 

How do you know what to do?

 

By adding "knowledge" to you faith.

According to, William Barclay, the original Greek word used for knowledge is a practical knowledge, that knowledge which enables a man to decide rightly and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances of life.

Your faith grows when you know what God wants you to do in a certain situation and you find the courage to do it.

All the great heroes of faith in the Bible had to make courageous decisions to do what they knew was right.

Abraham knew he had to leave his homeland even when he did not know where God would take him. He courageously left and followed God.

Moses knew he had to raise his rod over the Red Sea even though many of his people were doubting him. He courageously raised his rod.

David went charging toward Goliath with just a sling and five stones because he knew the giant had to pay for blaspheming of God. David showed courage!

What do you know you should do but haven't had the moral courage?

Will you add to your faith goodness and to your goodness knowledge?

 

 

 

 

 

September 19, 2012

^"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge" II Peter 1:5

 

A couple of months ago I bought my first smart phone. Funny how a smart phone can make me feel dumb.

 

There is more technology built into my Droid than there was in the Apollo 11 moon landing. Everything I can ever need from a phone has been built into it from the day I bought it and brought it home.

 

The trick is for me to increase my knowledge of what the phone can do for me and how to use it to my best advantage. It is up to me to know how to apply all that Motorola programmed into that phone

 

One way to do that is to read the manual that came with the phone. It contains all the instructions needed to know how to apply the smarts from the phone! Another way is to use it everyday and apply it to real life situations.

 

So I learn from study and I learn from applying what I learned through my study.

 

In the same way, God, through the grace of Jesus Christ has built into you everything you will ever need to glorify Him and serve others. Your responsibility is to know what He has given you and learn how to use those blessings in victorious living.

 

How do you do that?

 

First, you do it by reading and studying God's manual, The Bible! Read it and meditate on it daily. It will give you knowledge about God and about yourself and about what God has programmed into your Spirit.

 

Second, every day you live what you learned and turn the knowledge into to practical application. Faith fleshes out what God has filled within!

 

The word Peter used for "knowledge" means "practical application" or "the wise us of knowledge" not just the gathering of information.

 

No matter how much has been built into my phone it is only as valuable to me as my ability to apply it to my tasks.

 

In the same way, all that God placed within you at salvation is of little value unless you apply it wisely to daily living.

 

"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness, to goodness, knowledge".