Everything We Need....Unleashing the Power! 2

Well I hope you spent some time thinking on the truth we covered yesterday. To understand that God has provided all we need to live a godly life and even gave us the power to do so is AWESOME! Jesus said in John 10..."I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly." God's purpose to both reconcile sinful man (or woman...I am an equal opportunity kinda guy for you ladies) to HIMSELF and then give them to power/ability to find life....true life which HE called abundant life. That statement alone stirs me. The Creator of the Universe, the Earth, the Animal Kingdom, Plant life, Humanity and even life itself says HE has come so we MIGHT have.....Life, More Abundant life. This would be defined as life outside of the realm of our own abilities, desires and understanding. We often believe that God simply uses the gifts we already have and talents we already exercise to glorify Him..... but not entirely so dear believer. If godliness were attainable by Human effort or work then we would already be there.... But it is NOT. True godliness equals true life. An interesting study.... Our treasure today continues to be found in 2 Peter 1.... Read verses 3-11 again as we focus a bit on this passage.... ...And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. vs 4 Two key phrases that mark the beauty of this passage...... vs. 3...God has given us... and again in vs. 4 ...he has given us great and precious promises. Here is the wonder of God's grace revealed....He has given us all we need to live a godly life and He has given us promises that enable us to share in His divine nature and escape the world's corruption.... He has given us His goal (godliness or godly life) and the means (ability/power) to get there. It is His promises that are the means of His getting us to His goal. Scripture, God's written revelation to us, is His instruction book in greater measure than we could ever imagine. It is there HE introduces us to HIM. Who HE is. How HE works. What HE plans and so on. It is estimated that there are some 10,000 promises in God's word. He acts in accordance to it. So for us to attain godliness, we will only do so as HE reveals Himself, and His ways to us and then performs His work in us! So now we have the goal as well as the power to attain the goal so what dynamic is left? Well, this is where we come in.... What is our role in the whole scheme of things here? Verse 5-7 is our answer.... In view of all of this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and with patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. I will leave today with us considering the portion of verse 5.... Make every effort to respond to God's promises...Is that true in your life. Are you (and I for that matter) making EVERY EFFORT in our relationship with God? Is our relationship with HIM THE MOST IMPORTANT relationship we have? Is HE above all people and things in our lives? Are we giving HIM the time each day that is necessary for us to adequately engage our hearts to His? Our attitudes and actions to HIS plans for us? For the vast majority of American Christians our relationship with HIM pales in comparison to our own agenda, our families, our jobs, our fleshly desires. If we want to unleash the power of the Supreme God in our lives we must come to Him, His way and using HIS methodology. It is not 92% HIS and 8% mine but 100% HIS way. HE is God. HE is the Absolute Authority in Life as HE is Life. He has so much planned and purposed for us, His creation, yet so often we don't even scratch the surface. Saturate your heart and mind in HIM and in HIS word. Don't just do it for one day or two. May this become your life's goal, to have and enjoy the godly life HE has planned. Let nothing or no one keep you from lining up at the table of God's provision. Life is at stake. Your's, mine and other's lives. Anything other than a life lived in harmony with HIM, in love with HIM is a powerless example of Christianity and a public tragedy. He has provided all we need! It is done! Believe it! Receive it! Act on it! Read His promises, base your life on what HE has said..... You'll be glad you did! Blessings Bruce