You Have Everything You Need

If you have your Bibles, turn to 2 Peter, chapter 1, could we stand up and read this? We’re going to read four verses together. I do just to remind us that what we’re about to do is not hear a person’s opinions and some thoughts that I have from the week, but these are the very Words of God that we’re about to read. So just in reverence for that, let’s recognize that these Words really did come from God, and let’s treat them as such and have a reverence for this that we don’t have for other people’s advice or other people’s thoughts. This is coming from God Himself.

2 Peter chapter 1: Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them, you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. [2 Peter 1:1-4 ESV]

Father, I pray that You would now open our eyes up to everything these verses scream out to us. May we treat them with honor, not just by understanding, but living them out. God, bless us. Please bless us this morning by letting us understand Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. Remember, a couple of weeks ago we talked about Simon Peter. We talked about how he was an apostle, but it’s interesting because what he says here- Some would say an apostle, pretty much everyone would say, “Why that’s really the highest authority He gives a man here on the Earth.” He’s a sent one, a called one from God Himself, and yet, the interesting thing, as you know, when Peter writes, he doesn’t start off and say, “I’m an apostle.” He goes, “I’m a servant.” You know how we’re really into titles, and if any of you are doctors, you want to make sure people call you “doctor.” I am Dr. Chan, not mister. I don’t just have my master’s. Dr. Chan. I’m not, but if I did, I would make you do that. (Laughter)

But it’s so beautiful the way Peter starts off. He goes, “I’m a servant. The first thing you’ve got to know is I’m a servant of God, and that’s really all I need. I’m a servant of God, and I happen to be an apostle. I happen to be called by God to be starting this church and having this great calling.” But it’s interesting, because right after he says that, “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,” he says, “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours.” Isn’t that great? Here he is as apostle, and the first thing he wants to say is to make sure you understand that you have a faith that’s of equal standing of his. The first thing out of his mouth is, ‘I’m a servant, and yeah, I’m an apostle, but understand, we’re on the same level field right here. You and I, we’ve got equal status before God.’ And I just want us to think about that for a second because I’ve got to ask you, do you really believe that? Think about these words: those who have obtained a faith of equal standing. Do you believe that you have a faith of equal standing as Peter? Imagine if Peter, if we could resurrect him, and he were standing on the stage right here. You know Peter, “walked on water” Peter? That Peter? That walked with Jesus? That Peter that Jesus used to pen these Words? That Peter that Jesus used to really help establish His church? And he’s standing here, would you sitting in your seat believe that you have equal standing with him, or is there a side of you that goes, “Well, he’s got this super relationship with God…and…” We’ve got to end this. We’ve got to stop thinking that somehow- You’ve got to end this belief that you’re some less-loved child of God because I think a lot of people really believe that.

Over the years, I’ve heard people make statements many, many times, where people would go, “Well, that’s you!” As I talk about my relationship with God and His faithfulness and His goodness and this intimacy I have with Him, they go, “Well, that’s you. You’ve got this thing going.” Kind of like what I was saying I do with Tim sometimes. It’s almost like, “Well, that’s different. He’s a missionary, and he was a good kid, and he doesn’t struggle with this stuff. He’s different.” And Scripture’s going, ‘No, no, no, wait a second. This is Peter speaking, and he’s saying we’ve got a faith of equal standing.’ We’ve got to quit this mindset that I’ve got something over you, or Tim’s got something over you, or Peter’s got something over you because he himself says we’ve got a faith of equal standing.