SEVEN SUPLIMENTS FOR YOUR FAITH
II Peter 1:4-7
Introduction: Here is a story of someone who was in prison,
yet did not let her imprisonment take away her resolve to be productive and
succeed. Tonya Wilson, who is in prison for attempted first-degree murder after
she served as an accomplice and driver during a gang shooting in Tacoma. While
in prison Tonya applied herself, and worked towards a degree. In 2017 she graduated
with high honors. Six of Wilson’s family members came to the prison to watch
her graduate: three aunts, one sister, a cousin and her 84-year-old
grandfather. “It’s so nice to have people who have been with me for so long and
have had sustained faith in me, when I didn’t necessarily have it in myself,”
she said. She will be released next year and wants to become a teacher, but she
knows that’s a longshot.[1]
Tonya,
could have wallowed in self-pity, and resentment, but she ceased every
opportunity to be productive, applied herself, and worked hard as a result she
succeeded. Her story is a great example of determination, hard work, and
success. God wants all of us to be productive and successful. Is there a path
way that would lead us to productivity and success?
Last
week we looked at how the Apostle Peter encouraged the believers who were
undergoing persecution and facing the wrong teachings from false teachers that
threatened their very Christian faith. He showed them how God’s divine power
has given them everything to maintain their faith and combat false teaching. Today
we will see how just having faith in Christ is not an end in itself, and what
would keep us from being useless and productive and become credible citizens of
the society where we are called to exercise our faith. Peter gives the
believers seven supplements to their faith.
II Peter 1:4-7.
To
paint a picture of what life was like for Christians during 70 A.D. It was a confusing
time for Christians. Jesus was not among them anymore, he was taken up to
heaven. The apostles were leading the Church. Christians were hated and
persecuted for their faith. The foundation of Christian faith was severely
attacked by scoffers, sceptics and false teachers. Christians living under such
turbulent times must have been anchored by the Apostle Peter’s two letters.
In
his first letter Peter instructed Christians how to deal with persecution from both
inside and outside the church. In the second letter he taught them how to grow
up in the true knowledge of Christ so that they can discern and deal with false
teachers and evildoers who have come into the church. He instructed the
believers how to live a balanced life of faith and action. Let’s see how this
combination of faith and practice works out in our daily living.
I. EXTRAVAGENT
PROMISES:
Vs
4 “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so
that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world by lust.” Peter reminds the believers of the
extravagant and precious promises that were given to them by God himself. All
the promises of God are yes and Amen in Christ Jesus our Lord. The nature of
these promises is that we might participate in the divine nature. It doesn’t mean
that we will become like God, but we will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
All
the promises of God are exclusively meant for His children. All those who
believe in Christ become God’s children. Therefore, by faith we accept,
appropriate and do our best to live according to the promises of God, in this
corrupt and evil world.
As
we continue to put our faith to work, and hold on the path of obedience to God,
when our life on this earth comes to an end, we will be ushered into the
Kingdom of God to live with Him forever. That was and continues to be the hope
of every Christian who might be undergoing persecution for their faith.
What
is the purpose of God giving us all these great promises and blessings? So that
we can be self-sufficient and become indifferent to the sufferings of the world
around us? No! These promises and blessings come with awesome responsibility. God’s
grace calls the believers for total dedication. That’s what the words, “making
every effort” mean. Salvation is a gift we did not deserve but God gave it to
us and we received it by faith. That is just the beginning. Though, God has
poured His divine power through His Holy Spirit into our lives, we are required
to make every disciplined effort to supplement to our faith. We will be working
on the seven supplements to faith in the next coming weeks. Today we may look
at one of them
II. SEVEN
SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR FAITH:(Vs 5-7)
Vs 5-7 “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.”
There
is a huge market for “Supplements,” in the world today. There are more than
50,000 dietary supplement products marketed in the United States, and more than
half of the adult population consume dietary supplements, with the most common
ones being multivitamins. For those who fail to consume a balanced diet, the
U.S. National Institute of Health states that certain supplements "may
have value."[2]
I am sure some of you may have some on your shelves. Why are we so sold out on supplements? Because we believe they add
to what may be missing in our regular diet, therefore our quality of life may
be improved. The Apostle Peter recommended seven supplements that the early
Christians must add to their faith for their spiritual well-being. Similarly,
if we want to be healthy and live a productive Christian life we must also add
the same seven spiritual supplements to our faith.
The
word supplement is to give lavishly and generously. In Greek culture, the word was used for a
choirmaster who was responsible for supplying everything that was needed for
his choir. The word never meant to equip sparingly, but to supply lavishly for
a noble performance.
We need to add these supplements
lavishly to our faith. Let me share a few thoughts about faith.
God
has given us faith which is the basis of our lives. Faith is the first virtue
for all believers who want to be productive. It is the first step in a long
journey of productivity. Scripture tells us that only by faith we can please
God. On the other hand, having faith in Christ is not an end in itself, but
just the beginning. Listen to the advice of James, on faith and actions: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if
you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother
or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in
peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily
needs, what is the good of that? So, faith by itself, if it has no works, is
dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your
faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You
believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.”
James 1:14-19. These are powerful words,
let’s pay attention to them.
We
Christians, for so long have been talking the talk, but it is time that we rise
up and put our faith into action. Let’s show our love for God and for others
not merely by words but through actions.
That
is one reason why as a church we are getting involved in reaching out to the
Homeless in Taunton. Please join us and see your faith grow and come alive. I
guarantee you that, you will be blessed as you go out and minister to the poor
and the needy who are close to God’s heart. The apostle Peter was challenging
the believers of that time to supply in abundance seven supplements to their
faith so that they can live productive lives.
Let’s look at the first one:
I. Goodness:
In
other translation the word moral excellence is used. In classical Greek it
meant the God-given ability to perform heroic deeds. It is the quality that
makes someone to stand out as good. What is the basis for goodness? Where are
we called to be good? What are the consequences when we try to do good? Peter
gives us a framework in which goodness has to be put to work in first Peter. It
has to do with knowing that we have been saved by the goodness of God, we have
tasted that the Lord is good as Peter puts it. We have been given a new
identity.
1 Peter 2:9, “we are a chosen
people a royal priesthood and a holy nation and God’s special possession so
that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his
wonderful light.” Now with that
awareness we are being sent into our troubled world. “Dear friends, I urge you,
as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war
against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they
accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the
day he visits us.” I Peter 2:11-12.
In
essence, Peter is saying go live out the goodness of God right there in your
office among gossiping, faultfinding, broken, lost, hurting, seeking, sometimes
hostile co-workers, employees or bosses.
You are going to get some push back, they are surprised it says in
Chapter 4:4 that you do not join them in their reckless and wild living and
they heap abuse on you. Peter goes to an extent to say that it is
God’s will for us to do good, by doing so we could silence the ignorant talk of
foolish people. Part of doing good is to show proper respect to all.
We
are given quite a challenge, aren’t we?
But there is great purpose and meaning to be where you are as a child of
God! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us
do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of
believers. Galatians 6:9-10. Amen!
