Missions Paul

Peter has just said that God’s promises are ultimately for His glory to be seen and His goodness to be displayed in and through our lives, in order not for our own desires to be accomplished but that we have His divine nature. Do you really want this? If so then it will cost.

God is working in our lives by His Spirit and He is making us more like Christ. Agreed.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness …” (2 Peter 1 v5)

Faith which is from God relies on God and not our own efforts.

A Scottish missionary, John Paton (1824-1907) working in the New Hebrides islands in the South Pacific Ocean in a culture of cannibalism, widow sacrifice, infanticide, ancestor and idol worship was translating the Bible into their language but had not word for ‘belief’ or ‘faith’. Nobody trusted anyone. They didn’t need the word for trust. Then one day his indigenous assistant came into his study and Paton said, “What am I doing? The answer was “you’re sitting on a chair” he then changed position and raised both feet off the floor, ‘and now?” His assistant used a verb which means “to lean your whole weight upon” and Paton had his word for faith and trust. We understand this. We lean on God for everything.

Faith which is from God relies on God and not our own efforts.

However, Peter says there are things we must do that God will not do. We are to make every effort to add. This will cost us. It is at our expense. We will have to give, lose, back down and walk away from some things. It will take effort, we will have to diligently do this, it will not just happen, God will not do it and we will not be able to rely on our human nature to do this, we choose, it is a decision we make. And here then is what we must add that God will not do.

Goodness, virtue, moral excellence.

Wherever we go and whoever we are with be exemplary in your character. Don’t let it be said of you that you are not a good person. Speaking of someone this week I said ‘they are just a great person without guile’. I was describing how I had never seen them speak ill of someone. Their character was good and wholesome.

How do people perceive you? Sometimes we do not know because we have blind-spots and we need someone to reveal to us what only others see. Some people live with the same character flaws all their lives. They can be gifted but not have goodness. They can trust God but not be trusted. They can worship a beautiful God but not be very nice.

Make every effort to add goodness to what you believe and speak about.

The promises of God for His glory and goodness are the foundation for Divine Power in your life. That’s what Peter said, but why?

^“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter v 3-4)

The only reason why we desire Divine Power should be that we participate in, we possess, we sound like, we look like and we have … the divine nature. This is the ultimate goal surely for anyone behind the pulpit or sat in the pew! We want to be more like Jesus. We desire a godly life.

God’s promises are ultimately for His glory to be seen and His goodness to be displayed in and through our lives in order not for our own desires to be accomplished but that we have His divine nature.

Be careful what you reach for.

God is committed to you.

But we must understand the promises of God are far more than randomly selecting one from the Bible and then expecting a better day.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1 v 3-4)

The promises of God are centred around and built upon the foundation of 2 components: His glory, so that others will see Him in you; and His goodness, a perfect goodness. Simply put: the Divine Power to live contains His very great and precious promises which centres on His glory and goodness in your life. God is committed to you which means His commitment is for others to see Him and His goodness in you. He is so committed to you He has given very great and precious promises.

We all know what it is like to live with broken promises. Even the most trusted person can fail you. But God is committed to us for His glory and goodness. I am sure it is time to step into those unswerving promises of God and step out in His Divine Power.

God’s promises are sure and certain.

Every generation of believers have faced the reality of needing to hold onto a promise keeping God.

Maybe this is you today.

At the beginning of Luke’s gospel it says, “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.”

In the time of “evil” there was a man named “Jehovah has remembered” whose wife was called ‘God is my promise’.

In the time of a murderer of 2 of his sons, nearly all his wives and his father in law there lived a couple who believed that God remembers His promises.

In the time of one of the wicked, self-absorbed, ambitious, and jealous (even to the point of massacring innocent children) rulers there lived a couple who had built their whole life on the promises of God.

Do you get it?

It matters not how dark the world can get nor who rules the land we live in. In the midst of fear from the threats of man and the lies and manipulation of selfish people there can live lights shining bright, waiting and available to the story of God. Faithful names holding on to a much more faithful God.

So let us lay hold on the promises of God today for He is committed to us. His glory and goodness in your life is His aim. It is there that we receive very great and precious promises:-

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.  Psalm 55:22

The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4

Today try something different.

Instead of coming up with some good idea to fix the situation. In the place of putting your trust in what man says. Rather than relying on some man-made policy, process and structure. Do something different to what the majority seem to avoid but remain in their anxious state. It is in this verse:-

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1 v 3)

The key to divine power to change that situation is not found anywhere else but in you aligning yourself up with what God is saying and doing; it is to move from perhaps only a strong belief in Him but a casual knowing of Him to that of knowing Jesus in prayer, worship, the meditation of the Bible and listening to the Spirit.

The key to divine power is to return to our calling towards and of His own glory. This is where we must continually be. This the call above all calling. This calling is not to a place, people or platform but to Him and His presence in our lives. To decrease so that He will increase. To let His brightness and majesty be seen in our lives. It is not about me but about others seeing Him in me. Divine power to fix anything comes through this glory.

The key to divine power is to recognise our calling is found in His goodness. He is good and everything He does is good and for good. Within this goodness we find courage to face the battle; self-discipline to resist temptation; generosity of hand; surrendered ego; desire for truth.

“Take a breath will you!” Ever said that to anyone? Your friend was so excited they just kept talking and talking, words tumbled out of their mouths. In the Greek these next verses demonstrate Peter doing just that. We have put them into sentences however Peter said them in only one sentence such is his passion for what he is saying.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 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; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1 v 3-7)

I include the whole of what Peter said to show you his passion! We will unpack them over the next few days.

His divine power has given us everything we need …

When everything was barren, life-less and dark the greatest creative, explosive, divinely empowered act took place! (Genesis 1:1-2).

When things had been put on hold, when life was not moving how it should have done and the people were not who they should have been the instruction was that things would not change by human effort and attempts at purity but by a move of divine power (Zechariah 4:6).

When the disciples were wondering what to do next as they faced impossible odds of launching anything of a next chapter to a story they didn’t at that time fully understand, a sound came suddenly, like a violent wind filling the whole house where they were sat. Tongues of fire separated and came on them individually as divine power moved over their lives (Acts 2:1-4).

Luke 1: 34-35  “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Divine power. Power from on high. The Holy Spirit is the answer.

How will I accomplish what is before me? The Holy Spirit, divine power.

How are my loved ones going to find Christ? The Holy Spirit, divine power.

How will the permanent turn into temporary? The Holy Spirit, divine power.

When divine power overshadows you, miracles happen. His divine power gives us everything we need …

The opening of 2 Peter finishes that sentence off and is a help to those who God has blessed or promoted in some way or has a level of authority today.

“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1 v 1-2)

If God has elevated you or brought success into your life ….

• Never forget your story of grace. “Simon Peter” was his original name and a nickname given by Jesus for the reason of moving him into his destiny. He was born Simon and that man needed Jesus to transform his life. Never forget your roots especially if where you are today is a whole lot better than where you came from. Never forget when you had nothing and when you were nothing before Jesus changed everything for you.
• Never over inflate your credential. “…a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” reveals that he was fully aware of his previous proud impetuosity. He had learned humility and he taught this trait in his first letter commanding us to clothe ourselves with humility because God opposes the proud. He is an apostle, a man of authority, having witnessed the resurrection, but he is Christ’s servant who knows the importance of washing feet.
• Never view the Christian faith through inequality. “To those who … have received a faith as precious as ours” is a reminder that all believers share the same faith. There are no followers of Jesus who are non-Christians. Peter had first-hand experience with the family of Cornelius (Acts 10) of God giving the same saving faith to non-Jews as the Jewish followers of Jesus.
• Never dethrone Jesus in your life. “…through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” is a tremendous verse to use the next time the JW is at your door! We bear the hallmarks of Jesus in our lives; His teachings; His story and the truth that He is God. There is no room for idols.
• Never stop knowing God more. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” is a call to pursue Him so that we can be like Him so that these 2 most protective of gifts, grace and peace, keep us from falling away.

And so finally we end the first letter of Peter. We do so in how he started and his message throughout. We are aliens and strangers in this world, but we have each other, encourage and strengthen one another as we journey through the struggle.

“She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (1 Peter 5 v 13-14)

1. You have the Church. Belonging to Christ, He died for her and He has empowered her. She sits in Babylon. Rome. An uncomfortable place to be. It’s tough. But they are your family.
2. You have your Calling. You are chosen. For a purpose. He has you.
3. You have your Influence. Mark. Peter’s spiritual son. His gospel was greatly influenced by Peter. Look around. You are an influencer of the next generation. You can be.
4. You have Love. Minister out of this. Let love be your first response. Reach out with love.
5. You have Peace. It is found in your walk with Jesus. It is there to receive.

We are coming to the end of this first letter that Peter has written to Christians who are suffering for their faith. He has given them encouragement and directions for how to live in this oppressive world as a follower of Jesus. Even to the end we find nuggets of truth that help us.

“With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.” (1 Peter 5 v 12)

Some translations have Silas or Silvanus and it is probably the same chap who appears in Paul’s letters. Here is the important lesson:

When you are struggling as these early Christians were then remember these 3 things:

1. Never struggle alone, find a helper, a friend, Peter had Silas, who do you have?
2. Know what God has said to you by His Spirit and through His Word, what is that? Write it down.
3. Stand on the truth of that word/promise. Do not waver. Stay strong. Speak it out. Hold fast. Don’t give up.

That’s how the ending of the doxology of Peter can be paraphrased (Message).

“To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5 v 11)

What power is coming against you?

Maybe you feel the weight of its pressure is too heavy to bear?

Remember, He is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17)

So let us align ourselves in prayer with who He is. He has dominion. He is Sovereign and it will never change.

There are times we need to remind ourselves with who God is before we begin to pray.

We should align our perspective with God’s perspective.

God is more than the sum total of the things that we or others are conscious about. He is a beyond and behind God. He is above and absolute God. He is the owner and omnipotent God. He is master and mighty God. He is ruler and righteous God. He is creator and controller God. And the Sovereign Lord is in control of you and the situation you are in. He will get the last word.

It may not feel like it is done in the right way but God will in a little while make everything right.

It may feel like you have lost your position but God will in a little while stand you on your feet.

It may feel like you are weak but God will in a little while bring new strength to you.

It may feel like everything is collapsing upon you but God in a little while will create a new foundation for you.

Hang in there. The suffering is a short season. It is a little while.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5 v10)

Peter has mentioned this before, ‘a little while’. It was right at the beginning of his letter, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”  (! Peter 1 v 6)

I wrote the following from that verse, over 6 weeks ago now, “I woke this morning thinking of P who has gone through a barrage of criticism that has been unkind and unjust. It seems like it has come from many only because their voices are loud but as always it comes from only a few. I pray that this morning he and his wife hold on. I pray they realise this is momentary. It’s just for a little while….”

Six weeks on now ‘P’ has survived the onslaught and the tide is turning for him and I am thankful to God for this. It was but for ‘a little while’.

This life may throw rocks at you and no matter how much you pray they just may not stop.

You may just have to keep going when all you want to do is give up.

Even if the world puts you on a cross it doesn’t mean you are the one who is defeated.

It’s just for a little while.

This is the heart of the Christian message. This is your message.