January 14, 2024
Morning Service

Chapter one is an encouragement for the young church to grow in their faith.  Peter assures us that we have been equipped to be successful as he reveals to us that; “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”  If we don’t have it, we don’t need it.  Peter then encourages us to give diligence to growing along our journey with Him.    Our journey begins with believing (faith) then grows into living a life of moral excellence (virtue) which is followed by getting to know God for who He really is (knowledge).  We then grow deeper as we begin to surrender our will to His (self-control) along with creating the ability to endure hard times while remaining faithful (perseverance).  Living a life in reverence of God (godliness) leads to treating those around us with respect and compassion (brotherly kindness) and the road ends with our crown jewel as all we do is defined by love.  This does not happen overnight, but it is a lifelong journey to seek perfection in all of these areas.  Peter called for us to put effort into being doers in these areas, not hearers only.  (Frog analogy).  Today Peter builds our confidence to be able to know the truth as it has been given to us.  We ended last week with his testimony of the things he is telling us came directly from his own ears and eyes.

2Pe 1:16-18 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  (17)  For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My Beloved Son; in whom I am well pleased."  (18)  And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

            Here is Matthew’s account of that scene.

 

Mat 17:1-8  Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;  (2)  and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  (3)  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.  (4)  Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  (5)  While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"  (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.  (7)  But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid."  (8)  When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

            Peter heard it, saw it and lived it. God made it very clear that Jesus now stands above all Law and prophets.  It is now His voice we are to follow.  Peter has no doubts about his confession that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God!”  This gives him a unique perspective that he now pleads with us to believe along with him.  You know how it is as you try to describe something you have seen and you want the person you are telling to see it just as clear as you. Imagine Peter’s frustration for those who chose not to believe something he knew was true and could help them.  He now points us to the Word as the voice of God that we are now to listen to for a source of the truth.

 

2Pe 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (20) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, (21) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Peter here is building our faith and confidence that our Bible is the Words of God, not just from men.  The words were written by man, but were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.  We can have confidence in the OT prophesies as we read things predicted about Jesus hundreds of years before His birth that came true.  It was prophesied that He would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and be a descendant of David (Psalms 132:17).  Isaiah 53 describes in detail all the Jesus experienced upon the cross for us.  Every single prophecy about the Messiah in the OT came true in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus!  That should make our confidence soar to new heights.

 

 Now our New Testament scriptures (letters to churches) have our confidence in that they were written by eyewitnesses, like Peter, who gave their lives defending his words as being the truth.  Again these men wrote the words, but as Peter tells us they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Listen to how Paul describes his writings:

 

1Co 14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

            The words we read in our Bible are “the commandments of the Lord.”  They are not like the “self-help” books that have ideas on how you can be more positive or work more efficiently.  These are the very Words of God and are alive speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.  God has chosen to speak to us, teach us, and guide us by this compilation of letters written by chosen men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit.  This Bible we have is the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.  Everything we believe needs to be based upon the teaching we find here adding nothing and subtracting nothing.  Revelations promises retribution for doing either (22:18-19).  As we read our Bible, we are having a conversation with our Creator.  We speak to Him through our prayers and He speaks to us through His Word.  We have an inside track to discern this Truth and that is the Holy Spirit with in each of us.  Jesus prophesies of this future time when the Spirit will come to every believer and what He does for us in John’s gospel.

 

John 16:13-15 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  (14)  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  (15)  All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

            Remember Peter telling us earlier that “all things pertaining to life and godliness will be given unto us?”  They are given to us through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Notice Jesus saying “all things that the Father has are mine” and then “He (the Holy Spirit) will take Mine and declare it to you.”  The Holy Spirit shows us the Truth and enables us to discern that truth from what is false.  John revealed more in his first letter.

 

1Jn 2:20-21 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.  (21)  I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

 

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

            The anointing he speaks of here is the Holy Spirit within us (abiding in us).  Through Him, we will know all things and be able to discern between what is true and what is not.  Each of us are also given the same Spirit and He will teach each of us the same things.  The Holy Spirit is our “Ace” up our sleeve, it guarantees us victory.  He is the avenue in which God speaks to us through His Word, guiding, teaching and helping us discern the Truth. It is through this firm foundation that God has given us that we can keep ourselves from being deceived.

            Today, I want you to grab a hold on the fact that the Bible we have in our hand is the very Word of God written by men, but inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The OT scriptures point to Jesus and the NT writings reveal Him to us.  As you begin to study your Bible, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes that you can understand what you read and then apply that understanding to your life.  Next week Peter will warn us to be on the lookout for that deception that will come.

 

Heavenly Father thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Enable each one of us to allow Him to work in our life guiding us to the truth and a closer walk with You.