Divine Presence in Time of Crisis

Divine Presence in Time of Crisis

1 Kings 17

            All of us have crisis from time to time.  We can see through Elijah that sometimes a crisis prepares us for another crisis.  In verse one we see Elijah saying to the king that there should be no rain or dew except when he would say so.  What a great boldness for the man of God.

            The Lord then led him to another crisis at the brook :3-7.  There the Lord would feed him by the ravens.  Where those scavengers found the bread and meat we are not told, but they brought it to Elijah and he drank of the brook.  Then because there had been no rain, the brook dried up and the prophet had no water.

            Following the Lord in obedience, he came upon a dismal situation  :10-12.  He came to a widow who had only a handful of meal and a little oil.  She was gathering a few sticks with which to build a fire.  She thought she would bake it for her and her son, and then they would die of starvation.  He asked her to make him a cake first, and he promised that God would provide.  She did so and the meal and oil did not diminish.

            Elijah tested the widow.  He asked her to make him a cake first.  He prevailed in the crisis.  Now the widow's son is dead.  Elijah took him into his own bedroom and prayed that he might be revived, and God answered giving life again to the son.  By this he won a pagan woman to God

            When the crisis comes, do you not have the same God that Elijah served?  Let us be encouraged to trust Him in every crisis we face.:

Last Days

Last Days

Gen. 49:1

            Genesis may seem like a strange place to find a text regarding last times.  Nevertheless, here it is right here in Gen. 49:1.  I must say that there is a lot of confusion as to what the last times may signify.

                   It is a reference to the Time of Jacob's Trouble.  Perhaps it is called that because it was Jacob to whom this word was given, but it is a time when God will judge Israel.  It is given again in Deut. 4:30, "When thou art in tribulation and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days..."   What is its time?  Peter announced it at Pentecost when he quoted from the prophecy of Joel, Acts 2:16-18, "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, ..."  He identified the Spirit of Pentecost.  It extends back as far as Christ's first Advent, Heb.1:2, "God, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, ..."  God spoke to the world in the last days through Christ.  This time lasts until the return of Christ to this earth, Acts 2:29, 30, "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David,...Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;"  These last times are also declared by John in 1John 2:18, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."  He identifies the time as being that of Antichrist.  He speaks of Antichrist (singular) which was and is yet to come, but he identified the time saying that there are many antichrists (plural) in the world already.

                   Many times people say to me Preacher, don't you think we are living in the last days?  I usually answer Yes, we have been ever since the day of Pentecost.  That is not what they want to hear, but it is scriptural.

                   The fact that we are in the last days, however, is no time for defeatism.  The day is coming when Israel as a nation will repent and be forgiven, Zech. 12:10; 13:1, "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness."   Don't let anyone tell you that this means the church.  It is the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Jesus may return at any moment, Matt. 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."  This is an age of Grace, Acts 2:21, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."   Now you tell me that is works salvation, and I will tell you that you don't know what you are talking about.  I must say that only elect ones will so call on our Lord, but His promise is that anyone who does shall be saved.  That is grace.  It is gracious election out of ruined sinners, recipients of absolute atonement, called by His compelling love, and given everlasting life..

The Announcement of the King

The Announcement of the King

Rev. 11:15

            Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom Come."  Here in our text the annojuncement is made that His kingdom has indeed come.  This is not talking about the time we are in right now meaning His kingdom is spiritual.  His kingdom is now spiritual, but He is here talking about a literal physical kingdom.  That time is following the Great Tribulation.  The King is about to be enthroned.

            Satan offered him these kingdoms when He was here, Matt. 4:8-11.  He would not receive them from Satan.  God gave them to Him, Ps. 2:8, 9.  He must subdue the nations, Ps. 2:1-5; Rev. 11:18.  He will return victoriously, Rev. 19:11-16.

            When He returns He will sit as Judge.  The saints will have already been judged in Heaven, 1 Cor. 3:12-15.  He will judge the nations, Matt. 25:31-34; Rev. 11:18, 19.  Corrupters of the earth will be destroyed, :18.  This writer believes we should still pray, "Thy kingdom come.", and he believes the time is very near.

The woeful condition of Israel and Judah

Did you like Genesis?  Perhaps you will like the first Chapter of my Book on Isaiah.

The woeful condition of Israel and Judah

The Book of Isaiah is a book of salvation. Isaiah prophesied to both the Kingdom of Israel in the North and the Kingdom of Judah in the South. In Isaiah 1:1 we see that he prophesied in the days of the kings, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and of Hezekiah. These all reigned in Judah.

The call to the Heavens to hear and to the earth to give ear is a call to all the world to hear the word of the Lord, The word to be heard was that the Lord had brought up children meaning the Jews, but they had rebelled against Him. It wasn't that they had not worshiped, but they had worshiped in a non scriptural manner. Their heart was not in it. Our Lord reasons that while the ox knows his owner, and the ass knows his master's crib, yet Israel had not considered God's word. Verses 4-8 speak to the total depravity of man. “Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.  Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.  Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.  Isa 1:7  Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.  Isa 1:8  And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.”  They had forsaken the Lord, and they had provoked Him.

Verse 9 introduces us to Divine Election. “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.”  God has a remnant. If He did not, Israel, like Sodom, would have been destroyed. Israel must know that her very survival is because of the grace of God. The salvation of sinners is the same. Were it not for divine election, no one would be saved.

God hates sin. It matters not whether it be the sin of unconcern :1-4, provocation of God to wrath :4, or insincere religion :10-17. Sin is Serious. It is progressive :5. It is pervasive :5, 6. We must sound His call :18-20. It is most reasonable.

Verses 21-23 show the faithful city, Jerusalem, playing the harlot and becoming unfaithful. Verses 24-26 speaks to the judgment of God on the rebellious city. God will convert her with judgment and with righteousness :27-31.

Chapter 2 looks ahead to see what was in store for Judah and Jerusalem. It is a prophecy of the establishment of the Lord's house in the end time. His house shall be exalted, and the nations shall flow to it. Many will be going to the Lord's house to be taught of His ways and walk in His paths. From Jerusalem shall flow the Law and the word of the Lord. He will judge the nations and turn the weapons of warfare into food producing implements. Wars will come to an end.

Will God overlook their sin? Absolutely not! Israel enjoyed the blessing of God in prosperity, but they added false religion to their condition. Their land full of treasures, they also filled it with idols. They are called to fear the Lord :10. The day is coming when the haughty shall be brought down and the Lord shall be exalted. It is described in verses 13-19. “Isa 2:13  And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,  Isa 2:14  And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,  Isa 2:15  And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,  Isa 2:16  And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.  Isa 2:17  And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.“ Isa 2:18  And the idols he shall utterly abolish.  Isa 2:19  “And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”  In that day men shall cast their idols of silver and gold to their moles and the bats. They will fear the Lord and bow to His sovereignty.

The message continues in chapter 3. God is said to have taken from Judah and Jerusalem bread and water, mighty men, men of war, judges, prophets, prudence, and old men, captains of fifty, honorable men, counselors, cunning artificers, and eloquent orators. Immediately after that, God said in verse 4, "And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them." This He seems to have done in our own nation. Our halls of government are staffed with men of age, but the decisions they make are very often so childish that it is pitiful.

Our Lord follows that with the warning that the people will be oppressed each one by his neighbor. Children will behave proudly against the ancient or against their parents and other elders. Again this is seen in our land today. The respect for our parents and our elders that we were taught is too often not found today. Base men will exalt themselves against the honorable. In such a time a man may have a rich brother. He will implore that rich brother to become their ruler and that he take the circumstances to heart and try to correct them. The poor-rich brother will continue confessing that he is not an healer, that he has neither bread nor clothing, neither does he desire to rule.

In verse 8 Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen because of their rebellion against God. Their countenance shows their guilt, and they declare their sin as Sodom. They do not hide their homosexuality. Again their guilt is also ours as a nation today. The woe of God is on them and us.

In verse 10 the righteous are encouraged. They shall eat of the fruit of their labors. God's people are oppressed by the childish rulers. Women rule over them :12.  Divine inspiration accurately records the reign of women in various places, but in scripture such was never the pleasure of God. The leaders cause the people to err. God stands to judge. In verse 15 God's people are beaten down. The haughtiness of religious people have been at least partially responsible for the Lord's anger. God's judgment will include the scab or leprosy, and He will remove their fine clothing, leaving them naked. God will take from them the items of their pride, chains, bracelets, mufflers, bonnets, leg ornaments, headbands, crisping pins, glasses, fine linen, hoods, and veils. Instead of smelling sweet they shall stink, their girdle will be rent, and well set hair will be lost for baldness. Instead of a stomacher they shall have to wear sackcloth, and burning will be theirs instead of beauty. Victory at war will be gone, and the people will lament and mourn. The devastation will be so great that the condition of chapter 4 will be true.

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory Prayer

Daniel 9:1-19

            Here is an interesting example of intercessory Prayer.  Daniel had just received the vision of the coming of the Medo Persian (Iranian) empire followed by the Grecian and then followed in the latter times by Anti Christ. He had read Jeremiah's prophecy and how the Jews would be freed to return from the Babylonian Captivity to their land at any time.  He then began to pray.

            He prayed in humility.  This prayer was more than his usual prayer.  It was his custom to pray toward Jerusalem 3 times a day 6:10.  This special prayer was prompted by his reading Jeremiah's prophecy 25:11 of the Jews' return to their land.  He acknowledged the greatness of God :4.  He called Him the great and dreadful God.  Perfect wisdom will produce a fear of God.  He acknowledged that God was a God of covenants, and that He kept His covenant.  He also acknowledged Him as a God of love for His people.

          Then Daniel began a confession of sin.  He confessed that Israel had departed from God's precepts :5 "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:"   He also acknowledged that this had been done in wicked rebellion against God.

          In verse 6 he confessed that they had refused to hear God's preachers.  This too was a wicked sin.  To reject the message of God's preachers was in effect to reject the word of God.  In verses 7-9 He continued to acknowledge that God was fully right to judge them for their sin.  On top of this they were prayerless.  There was a little saying that went around when I was quite young that said, "The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible."  Not Bible but true.  The same could also be said about prayer.

         Then what did he pray?  He begged God to hear him :17-19.  In verse 16 he prayed God to have mercy on his people.  That is the way of intercessory prayer.  He prayed that God would answer him for God's own sake :19 "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." 

         What an example for a pastoral payer!  Would you dare to pray this prayer when you pray your pastoral prayer next Sunday?  I mean when you pray whether you call it pastoral prayer or not.

Genesis

 Here I give you the first chapter of my book on Genesis.  If you like it, you can get the whole book at www.amazon.com.  Go to the Amazon link and search for Genesis by Moody Roberts.  I believe you will find it to be a blessing.

Genesis

Chapter 1

CREATION

The title of this book lets us know right off what it is about. Genesis is a translation from a Hebrew word that means "nativity; figuratively nature: - generation, nature (-ral)." Thus we understand it is a book of the beginnings. We can find a seed plot for almost every doctrine taught in the Bible right here in this book of beginnings.

Can you think of a time when there was not any people, no sun nor moon, no stars, no space, no light, no dark, no angels, and no devil? That is a time when there was nothing. In the day of creation there was nothing to start with. In all this nothingness there was One Being, and He was All. If there was nothing, where did God dwell? This is a question the natural mind could never answer, but God has. See Isa_57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

When there was nothing but eternity God dwelt there, and nothing else existed. Here is the beginning of the doctrine of God. Here is also a great dilemma for evolutionists. Evolution has to have something to evolve from even if that something is nothing but a some sort of glob.

There is the question, does God even exist? There are those who say that He does not exist.  His own creation, however, supports His existence. Note Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” The invisible things of this verse are His eternal power and Godhead. Paul, in this verse, declares that those things are clearly seen. In other words creation itself testifies to God's existence. In addition to that, fulfilled prophecies also support His existence. His existence is also corroborated by His spoken word. The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books. These books were penned by about 40 authors over a period of about sixteen centuries; yet they are in complete agreement.

This shows us right from the beginning that the theory of evolution is false. Evolution has to have something to evolve from. There was no sun to revolve on its axis until the earth broke off from it. There was no amoeba in the sea from which life could evolve: there was no sea for the amoeba.

It is a fact that in eternity God just spoke into existence the heavens and the earth all in some sort of glob. He does not describe the heavens for us, but He does say that the earth was without form and void. In verse one God created the materials out of which He would form His creation. The earth was covered with darkness. There are some things at this point which we can see having been given being.

There is an earth even though it is without form which God had brought out of chaos. There is darkness, and there are deep waters.  Verse 2 tells us that the Spirit of God moved (or brooded) over the waters. This is our first mention of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

Then we read, "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” This was not a light bearer like the sun; it was some sort of diffusion of light that divided the light from the darkness. This was the first day. Then day after day God created something new The second day He created the heaven out of the waters. The third day He caused the dry land to come up out of the waters and called it earth. The waters were called seas. God caused that the earth would bring forth grass, herbs, and trees. Each of these were also equipped to reproduce themselves. On the fourth day of creation God made the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day God created all the life that dwelt in the seas and in the air. These too were equipped to reproduce themselves. God even commanded them to reproduce themselves. On the sixth day God made all earth life, animals and creeping things.

Then on that sixth day He climaxed His creation by making man in the image of God to be the god of this world or to rule over everything in this world. He was made under law. Man, as god of this world, having dominion over everything, is the first mention of God's kingdom.

See one other thing in this chapter concerning the beginning of things. That is time. In eternity there was no such thing as time. The very first words here are "in the beginning". The beginning of what? Eternity has no beginning, so it cannot mean the beginning of eternity.

What else then can it be except the beginning of time. Thus we see the days of creation.

Certain attributes of Deity are also seen in this chapter. First there is eternity. We have seen that God inhabited eternity. Omnipotence is seen in His power to simply by speaking bring into existence something that did not exist. We can also see His wisdom in the order of creation.

For instance the earth and all other creation was created before man so that man would have a home and sustenance. His omnipotence is seen in His designing and making creation. His love is seen in His providing for man.

In verses 28-31 we have God's first Covenant. God stipulated that Adam and Eve were to replenish the earth, have dominion over it, eat its herbs and fruits, and refrain from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He stipulated that the day they would eat of that tree would be the day they would die. This is the first mention of death.

Whatever Happened

            Whatever happened to the America I knew?  When I was a teenager in school, there were no police any where on the campus.  Why?  Because the worse crimes we has was playing hooky and throwing spitballs.  Did none of our students get drunk?  Yes, but such was done under cover and was not known on school campus.

            When I was a boy, riots and protests were strange events we read about happening in Ohio, DC, or NY.  We knew nothing of such.

            When I was a boy, both the Democrat and the Republican Parties were civilized.  Being in one or the other did not disrupt friendship with someone who was of the other party.  In the halls of government one would refer to his opponent as the gentleman on the other side of the aisle.  There was respect for each other.  We were all Americans regardless of what country we or our ancestors came from.

            What has happened?  We threw God out of our public schools and refused to hang His Ten Commandments anymore.  Since then we have bred rebellion and distrust.  We have played, while Nero played his fiddle, with Socialism until we have Democrats running as Socialists.  With it we have reaped a generation of young people who have been taught Socialism rather than the merits of our Historical America.  This has produced its expected results of anarchism.

            This is seen in the opposition to Judge Kavanaugh.  Where in the Constitution is a citizen given a right in the process of confirming a Supreme Court nominee?  It is supposed to be the president nominates.  Then the Senate approves or denies approval.  There is absolutely no place for the anarchy we are seeing now.

            All this anarchy is done in the name of free speech guaranteed by the first amendment of the constitution they want to destroy.  I suggest action should be taken not to infringe on the first amendment free speech.  I do suggest, however, that the Federal Government should make it mandatory that when accusations that have no fact or proof  are brought against a nominee or candidate, the accuser should be tried for slander and punished with the strongest penalty for that crime.  The First Amendment was never meant to be a protection for destroying a man or woman’s character.  Only men like President Trump and Judge Kavanaugh with the strongest character could withstand the onslaught that has been brought against them.

            IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY.

These are my thoughts.  What do you think?

           

For His Glory

For His Glory

Ezek. 36:27, 29, 31

            God is jealous for His own Glory.  Let us look first at the text from a prophetic standpoint.  It is a promise to Israel of restoration :24.  This is not about the Babylonian Captivity; it is a promise to take scattered Israel out of all countries of the world and bring them back into their own land. 

            It is a promise of National Conversion :25-27.  God will clean them from all their filthiness and from their idols.  He will give them a new heart. He will give them a new spirit, the Spirit of God.  He will cause them to walk a new walk.

            God promises to restore their prosperity :28-30.  He will increase their corn.  He will multiply their fruit on the trees, and He will increase the harvest off the land.

            Let us look at the passage as an application to the conversion of a sinner.  Just as Israel was found polluted among the nations :24, 29, 31 so are we seen to be polluted in our depravity.  Just as God will restore Israel in His grace :24; likewise He has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world.  Just as He will one day convert the nation and give them life :26, 27; likewise He has quickened us who were dead in trespasses and sins and made us alive in Christ.  Just as He will give repentance to Israel :31; He has also given repentance to us.  Just as He will give His Spirit to Israel :27; He has made His Spirit to indwell us.  For Israel and for us He does not do this out of necessity but for His own glory :22, 23, 32.

            Forgive me for not including the script of the noted verses.  It would have just made this too long.

God Against the Nations

God Against the Nations

Jer. 46:1, 2

            In verse 1 we are told that the word of God is against the Gentiles.  The word Gentiles means nations.  Israel is God's People, and He is against the nations.  This chapter lists some particular nations who are the objet of his hate.  With verse 2 we see the first one mentioned is Egypt.  According to Matt. 25:31 at His return, Jesus will judge the nations.

            Let us look at Egypt.  First Egypt enslaved Israel before she was a nation.  Pharaoh dethroned King Jehoahaz in Jerusalem according to 2 Kings 23:33, 34.  Here in verses 3-10 God calls them to Judgment.  In verses 11-26 God outlines the devastation that will come upon her.  Still Israel is encouraged: 27, 28.  Strangely enough Egypt is also encouraged Isa. 19:17-22, 25.

            Next we see Tyre and Sidon or Lebanon 47:4.  Against them God has appointed His wrath. Then Moab is seen under the judgment of God.  In 48:47 we are told that she shall be taken captive.  In 49:2 the Ammonites are to be desolate and burned.  In verse 7 we are introduced to Edom.  Let us note that these three (Moab, Ammon, and Edom) are today's Jordan.  Verse 7 and following describe the devastation of Edom.  Moving to verse 23 we learn of the judgment on Syria.  "Damascus is waxed feeble and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrow have taken her, as a woman in travail."   Then we pass to verse 34 where the word of the Lord is against Elam or Iran.  Verses 35, 36 tells us God will break her bow, and He will bring the winds and scatter them so that they shall no longer be a nation.  Then there is Babylon.  Chapters 50, 51 are given over to the destruction of Iraq or Babylon.  Babylon today is a flourishing city.  Babylon was not destroyed when she fell to the Medes and Persians.  She must be restored and destroyed.  She must be burned, and her end is compared to Sodom and Gomorrah.  Christ will return to this earth in vengeance.

Peril of not Adding

Peril of not Adding

2 Pet. 1:9

            I have previously written on Peter's admonition to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.  Verse nine takes us into a new phase of this admonition.  We are reminded of the peril, if we fail to add those things to our faith.

            First, there is blindness.  The word means smoked up.  It is like when the wick is turned too high in an oil lamp, it will smoke up the globe, and the light cannot shine through.  Peter said if we do not add those things we are blind or smoked up.  He adds that we cannot see afar off.  In other words we live for the immediate presence.

            Second, he says the one not adding those things has forgotten what his salvation is all about.  His salvation has become like an old shoe.  To such a one our Lord's sacrifice has lost its value.  He has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  This in turn reverses his affections, and he no longer sets his affections on things above as we are told in Col. 3:2.

            Third, perseverance is required as in verse 10.  We are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure.  Now we must know we can not bring about our election and calling.  Neither can we keep ourselves saved.  The admonition is that we make sure that we have been among that number.  We are to work at adding the graces of verses 5-7.  The believer is expected to grow in grace.  That is not into grace but in grace into which we have been called.  See Heb. 6:9-12.  We are even to aspire to an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord according to verse 11.

Adding Love

Adding Love 

 2 Pet. 1:7

            In previous articles we have discussed Peter's injunction to us that we add to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and godliness.  In verse 7 he continued to instruct us to add brotherly kindness and charity.  When we go back to the Greek text, we find something very interesting.

            In the Greek text of the New Testament there are two words that are translated love.  They are philos and agape.  I shall discuss their meaning as we go along in this article.  Both of these words are used in this verse.

            First, let us consider adding brotherly kindness,  This term "brotherly kindness" comes from the Greek philos.  This word is a love of the emotion.  It is loving because we find something in the person we love that is lovely and worthy of love.  It is the word "Philadelphia."  This is a compound word phila from philos and adelphos meaning brother.  It is fraternal affection or loving one's neighbor, kindred, or friend.

            Then we are told to add charity.  The word here is not charis from which we get our word charity.  It is from the word agape.  This word speaks of a love of the will.  It is a love that can be commanded and Jesus did so command us to love one another as He has loved us.  Now for those who will write me saying we cannot love in this way; I refer you to Christ's command.  You can take it up with Him.  Jesus did not love us because He found something lovely in us or something worth loving.  No, He was not moved by emotion to love us.  Rather He determined by His own will to love us in spite of ourselves.

            This word edifies.  In 1 Cor. 8:1 we are told that knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.  In other words it builds up.  Are you building anyone up?  It covers a multitude of sins.  In 1 Pet. 4:8 we are told that charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  It fulfills the commandment as seen in 1 Tim. 1:5 "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:"

            In verse 8 of our current chapter We are told that when we add all these things to our faith we shall be neither barren or unfruitful.

TGP Additives

TGP Additives

2 Pet. 1:6

                   I have previously written of Peter's admonition to add virtue and knowledge to our faith.  In verse 6 we are told to add temperance to that knowledge.  Many people think of temperance as meaning only abstaining from alcoholic beverages.  The word really means more than that.  It means self control.  Many there are who never touch the alcoholic beverage but are intemperate because they cannot control themselves.  We are to control what we love,  Col. 3:2, 3 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."   Do not say you can't help what you love.  Rather set your affections or love on things above.  Furthermore control your will or decisions even your thoughts.  See 2 Cor. 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"  Temperance is a proper action.

                   Then we are told to add patience to our temperance.  Patience is a proper attitude.  It is the product of suffering.  You may pray for it all your life and never attain to it.  It is when you are called on to suffer for Jesus sake that you develop patience.  See. Rom. 5:3 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"  It is enduring or remaining under your load without getting bitter.  "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:" 2 Thess. 1:4.  It is associated with hope.  See Lamentations 3:18-26.

                   Now He tells us to add godliness to our patience.  Here is a proper aspiration.  It is the purpose of our praying 1 Tim.2:1, 2.  "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."  God has equipped us for godliness.  Verse 3 of 2 Pet. 1 tells us that God has given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.  Godliness is a Holy ought to which we should aspire 2 Pet. 3:11, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,"

                   Happy are we if we add these to our faith.      

That I May Know Him

That I May Know Him

2 Pet. 1:5

            Recently I wrote of adding virtue to faith.  Tonight I should like to continue that with adding knowledge as noted in verse 5.  This is not worldly knowledge.  That is all right if we do not let it get in the way of our knowing Christ.  Some people seem to be proud of their attained knowledge.  Some others seem to be proud of their ignorance.  We do well to know as much of this creation as possible, if we use it for the right purpose.  The knowledge we need to add, however, is spiritual.  It is getting to know our Lord in a fuller way. 

            In some ways we already know Him.  We know Him as the Great Creator John 1:3.  There we are told that all things were made by Him and that without Him nothing was made.  We know Him as the Judge, One to Whom the Father has delivered all judgment John 5:22.  Men may blaspheme Him today, but the day will come when they must give account to the One they blasphemed.

            To our faith and virtue we must add knowledge of Him as King.  We have been born into His kingdom John 3:3, 5.  His kingly relation is maintained over us in His Lord ship Rom. 10:9.  Born into His kingdom by the new birth, we have become recipients of a new nature.  This we see in 2 Pet. 1:4 where we are told that we have become partakers of the divine nature.  That certainly does not mean we become little gods.  It does mean that in the new birth we receive the nature of God in us.

            We should also add our knowledge of Him as Father.  We have literally been adopted into the royal Family of God Rom.8:15-17.  Adoption is a most precious thing.  Do you know God as your Father?  Our adoption grants us the privilege of prayer Rom. 8:15.  Out adoption should encourage our faith and cause us to seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness.  Our adoption should motivate us to live a holy life.