The Fail Proof Way To Have A Great Life

The Fail Proof Way To Have A Great Life

II Peter 1:5-15

If I were to ask you this morning…how many of you would say you had a good life?

How about a GREAT life? How many then?

Do we even know the definition of having a great life…

If we don’t then how can we know if we have it or not?

Peter tells us in II Peter 1:5-15 tells us THERE ARE 7 THINGS, WHICH IF WE ACQUIRE, will lead us to have a great life.

This is one of the most important passages in all of Scripture for the believer, a passage that must be studied and heeded time and again. It covers the great things (qualities and virtues) which are to be in the life of the believer.

2 Peter 1:5 - 15 (NKJV) 5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

Peter says here that there are some things in our control that determine what kind of life we live here below.

If there are, and they reside in our own power, we need to be figuring out how to use them!!!

This morning I want to answer three questions that have the power to enhance your life…

How many people would pay big money to go to a seminar with some big name spokesperson to find out the seven Fail Proof secrets of having a great life…this is good stuff…get in on it!!!

First, what are "these things"?

Second, how powerful are these things?

Third, how important are these things?

1. WHAT ARE THESE THINGS?

There is the charge to add these things to one's life. The word "add" (epichorēgēsate PWS: 46) means in addition to God's great salvation—right along side of what God has done—add these things. And give all diligence to adding them. Hasten, jump, act now to add them; don't wait. Be energetic and earnest, strenuously work to add these things to your faith and salvation. There are a lot of people in the church today who think salvation is all there is…they come into the church and get saved…they pick out their pew…and they sit there week after week…wondering why they are not experiencing the abundant life…they are missing out on the good stuff…Being a child of God is not what we are…it’s who we are…and according to Peter, if we are missing out on the good stuff, it’s noone’s fault but our own!!! So what do we add?

1. Add "virtue" (aretēn PWS: 4234): moral excellence and goodness of character; moral strength and moral courage.

Webster’s says a : conformity to a standard of right : MORALITY b : a particular moral excellence

In our application it means always doing things in a Christian manner…

2. Add "knowledge" (gnōsin PWS: 2274): practical intelligence, practical knowledge, practical insight. It means knowing what to do in every situation and doing it; it is practical, day to day knowledge that sees situations and knows how to handle them. Remember the charge: we must add knowledge to our faith. So how do we do that? We change our minds to conform more with the mind of Christ…

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We renew our minds by putting in it the things of the Lord until He starts to push the things of the world aside…that’s when we start to function in the “knowledge of Christ”.

3. Add "temperance" (egkrateia): to master and control the body or the flesh with all of its lusts. It means self-control… the master of desire…appetite…and passion, especially sensual urges and cravings.