Judges 7. Gideon, part 28: Why we ultimately do. Don’t lose opportunities due to carelessness.

Title: Judges 7. Gideon, part 28: Why we ultimately do. Don’t lose opportunities due to carelessness.      

 

Announcements:

 

What does he mean when Peter entreats us to be diligent to make certain about our calling and election? I am challenged to believe why eyes cannot see, ears cannot hear, and what has never entered into the heart of man by his own calculation.

 

2Pe 1:1 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:

 

Think of yourself as a literal slave of Jesus Christ, bound to Him forever. The slave lays aside his own interest and serves His master.

 

If the Master went away on a long journey, would we get lax in our serving Him? Would we say, "The Master is gone and cannot see us, let us serve ourselves with His riches."? This is another reason for not knowing the day of the Rapture. We must serve Him as if we are going to see Him today.

 

Isa 29:15 Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the Lord,

And whose deeds are done in a dark place,

And they say, "Who sees us?" or "Who knows us?"

 

Isa 29:16 You turn things around!

Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay,

That what is made should say to its maker, "He did not make me";

Or what is formed say to him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

 

2Pe 1:1 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:

 

The Christian is a slave to the Lord and understands His vast superiority. Our own interests are set aside and we serve our Master.

 

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

 

epignosis: 'involving the complete appropriation of all truth and the unreserved acquiescence in God's will, is the goal and crown of the believer's course' [Strachan]

 

2Pe 1:3 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.

 

God's power is the ability to do that which is impossible for man. When we consider God's power, we often think of Him creating the universe or splitting the Red Sea, but His power is also the virgin birth, becoming a man, saving the world through His incarnation and crucifixion, the resurrection.

 

This power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.

 

Everything granted by God is the believer's possession forever and without strings. These are for life and godliness (well devoted or well worship). Godliness: properly directed worship.

 

Notice that godliness is coupled with life. Christianity does not narrow life, but expands it by injecting it with devotion to God's magnificence and service of Him, which prior to salvation is absent from life. sd

 

Proper worship of God:

Gives life meaning, making it vital and significant.

Animates life by making it eternal.

Makes life ethical and good without confusion.

Makes life dynamic in learning and growth.

 

Such worship of God gives life meaning, making it vital and significant. It animates life and makes it eternal in substance and in impact. It makes life ethical or good and without confusion from man's different ideas of goodness, but singular of mission and purpose. It makes life dynamic in that learning and growth never ceases and so wonders of faith never cease. It makes life divine in nature.

 

How many in the world are going through life without meaning, purpose, vitality, joy, goodness, in which they are constantly growing and learning? How many have a life of adventure and meaning? The true worship of God provides these in abundance.

 

He called us by His own glory and excellence [virtue]. The gospel has with it the glory and excellence of the Lord and in faith we are compelled towards them and drawn to them.

 

When we believe in Christ His glory and virtue pull us towards Him. We may try to argue points of doctrine with those who flaunt faulty theories or the skeptic or the fool, but one thing they cannot argue against is that the life of the believer has been transformed to the very virtue of Christ and no theory or ideology can explain that.

 

Mat 5:16

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."