Stirring the Soul

Scripture Read: 2 Peter 1:[12] Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. [13] And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, [14] knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

Application: Stir = Seven occurrences; AV translates as “awake” twice, “arise” twice, “stir up” twice, and “raise” once.  1 to wake up, awaken, arouse (from sleep). 1a of the sea, which begins to be agitated, to rise; to arouse the mind; stir up, render active.

This is the universal answer to the question for anyone asking the question what is my ministry? No matter what the exact task you have from the Lord all of us are here to be used by You to agitate – in a godly sense – believers minds - to encourage and motivate them to serve You. This is a worthy goal indeed. Father I want to be the best at this I can be – I know this requires my full focus and not being distracted – whether it be by busyness, leisure or sin. Please enable and strengthen me to this task. I love you God very much. 

Security is His, Assurance is mine

Scripture Read:  2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; [6] and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; [7] and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. [10] Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; [11] for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Application: Diligent:σπουδάζω spoudázō “zealous effort” Stumble: πταίω ptaíō  "to fall" Perhaps all that is being said is that stumbling or falling is not to be regarded as an end in itself. But perhaps there is a certain crescendo from stumbling to falling, for the one who stumbles may get up again, pull himself together and stand on his feet, or he may fall and lie on the ground. Falling as a possible result of stumbling is perhaps a figure for the eternal ruin which threatens to overtake the Jews through their stumbling.

Here is assurance of salvation – the issue of security is God’s doing – the issue of assurance is ours. How do I know I am chosen and called – by practicing the characteristics that are Christlike! You can do nothing to remove yourself from God’s grace – it is all His from beginning to end – but the only way we can go to sleep with the peace that we are His is if in our life we have a growing evidence of Christlike characteristics. Thanks Lord for this gift – to know but not to be lazy about it! 

Adding the Biblical Way

Scripture Read: 2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; [6] and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; [7] and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NET © For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence,  to excellence, knowledge;

NIV ©For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

NASB ©Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

NLT ©So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.

NKJV ©But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

Application  moral excellence =  Superiority or being pleasing to God, or the superiority of God revealed in the work of salvation. Areté̄ (ἀρετή)  denotes in a moral sense what gives man his worth, his efficiency. In the NT: virtue, moral excellency, perfection, goodness of action. In 1 Pet. 2:9, aretás (pl.) is translated “praises.” The virtues as a force or energy of the Holy Spirit accompanying the preaching of the glorious gospel. ἀρετή is the attitude which the righteous must maintain in life and death. The same is true in relation to the only other passage in which there is reference to human ἀρετή, i.e., 2 Pt. 1:5: 

Some renderings leave the idea that these are to be added. Others leave the idea that this is what faith produces. They both lead to the same conclusion. Faith is an action word that has proactive ramifications. Your trusting belief will bring forth these other qualities. Either way you understand it – it lands you where you wanna be. One concept seems to be emphasizing what faith should produce  The other brings with it the clear sense that each step leads to the next. That is a good concept of how intertwined each quality is to the next – none can stand alone. I will spend more time in the next days meditating on these things. Thanks Holy Spirit for the insight and challenge!

Ladder to Success

Scripture Read:  2 Peter 1:1-4 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: [2] Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; [3] seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. [4] For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Application:  Notice the ladder to success here - His divine power - through the true knowledge of Him -  in order - you might become partakers of the divine nature - having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust You have given me Your power, thru the Knowledge of You – so I can possess a new nature and be delivered from the sin of this world.

Lust - ἐπιθυμία epithumía - to desire greatly. Strong desire, longing, lust. “What the NT has to say concerning ἐπιθυμία is not based on the reflection which seeks to dissect the nature of man. It is part of the preaching of repentance. The seriousness of man’s God-given duty has to be fully impressed upon him in order to stir his will to resolution in self-denial. There is here taken seriously that which moral self-observation cannot establish of itself. The essential point in ἐπιθυμία is that it is desire as impulse, as a motion of the will. It is, in fact, lust, since the thought of satisfaction gives pleasure and that of non-satisfaction pain.” 

This is perfect for me. Lord I need my will stirred. I ask that I spend this day in conscious thought of that. I do beg for Your mercy and patience. If by Your grace You would allow me – let me meditate on this today and come to this place without You having to chastise me. I respond to Your discipline – I want to be driven by love for You more then fear. I ask this based on Your loving kindness. Thank You Lord. Lord Jesus – have mercy on me – a fool!

The real Confirmation!

Scripture Read:  1 Peter [5:6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, [7] casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. [8] Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. [10] And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. [11] To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Application:  confirm  = στηρίζω – stērizō - to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix. to strengthen, make firm, to render constant, confirm, one’s mind. It presupposes that the Christians who are to be strengthened are under assault and in danger of becoming uncertain or slothful in their faith or walk. The effect or aim of strengthening is the impregnability of Christian faith in spite of the troubles which have to be endured

The idea of God establishing me is so important. I especially see the danger of me becoming slothful in my faith or walk as I grow older. I know what to do, what words to speak – all the things that are good and right in a committed walk but if done without real thought can actually become a very dangerous enemy. I see clearly Lord how I need to have You confirm me in my walk with You. I see this new enemy surfacing. If You do not help me oh God I will be in great duress. I refuse to remain quiet – I will cry out to You oh Lord - Father help me to stand firm. Whether it be through all the suffering – even that which is not really suffering – but more denying self. I need to stand firm there and wait on You. God I so want my life to count for something more then the flesh offers. Help me to be diligent and faithful and on fire. I love you Dad!

You can forbid!

Scripture Read: 1 Peter [5:6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, [7] casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. [8] Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. [10] And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. [11] To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Application: ἀνθίστημι anthístēmi - from antí - against, and hístēmi - to stand. To stand against, resist, whether in deed or word - to set oneself against, resist, oppose; to fall against or upon, resist; to forbid, hinder, withstand.

I really like the different forms of this word – I realize the sweat involved in the word resist – yet I am drawn very much to the idea of “forbid” It leads me to think of a resolve that a person takes and settles it with God – I need this. I need to forbid satan access to my life – I have that right according to Romans 6-7 It is clear the problem lies with my will – nothing else. Help me Lord – I want to see a victory here – but am afraid I am unwilling to pay the price. Thanks for your love God. I need to spend more time contemplating this.