But he that lacketh...
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Text: 2 Peter 1:1-7
Intro: Today we will wrap up the preaching of our theme. However, my prayer is that we will never wrap up the working that are theme has and will continue to do. We will not finish today by giving another addition, but we will finish today by giving a final exhortation. We find this exhortation in the Scriptures and we find it in the two verses following our theme.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Our Title today is “But he that lacketh” but the content today is the exhort the saints to be spiritual and not to be sensual...
In our text, we see that he that lacketh these things is “blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged...” What Peter is describing for us here is one that is not spiritually sighted, but one that is sensually sighted. Therefore, in being sensually sighted they are blind, and near sighted, and have forgotten that they were purged from their sins.
Throughout the study of our theme we have continually used
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Just prior to this verse which speaks of the wisdom that is from above, which by the way is spiritual wisdom, the Bible warns us of another wisdom.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
If we compare spiritual with that which is spiritual we gain some understanding concerning the one that is sensual.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
In the book of Jude there is another warning concerning the sensual sighted.
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Throughout the Scriptures the Bible gives us example after example of the sensual being. Let’s quickly define it using the 1828 Websters.
Sensual: Pertaining to the senses, consisting in sense, or depending on it; as sensual appetites, hunger, lust, etc. It even gives a theological definition: Carnal, pertaining to the flesh or body, in opposition to the spirit; not spiritual or holy… It continues: Devoted to the gratification of sense; given to the indulgence of the appetites...
From this we get this understanding, that it pertains to my?!? FLESH! We have how many senses?
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
John deals with that which is sensual in three categories.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We are going to take a look at some different examples of the sensual being in our Bible.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
Read: Genesis 27:1-4, 18-29 Isaac was full of sensuality, He heard the voice of Jacob but had no discernment, he felt him, he smelt him, he hungered and his eyes were dimmed. Everyone of his senses come into play, and he was deceived. The blessing to his sons was to be a spiritual matter, and Isaac the great patriarch made it sensual.
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
There are many other examples throughout the Scriptures… And look when we consider the examples chosen some of these men and women were great servants of God, but they had moments when they were sensual.
Brynn has been watching a baby for a few months now. And do you know how a baby responds to everything? They cry, when any of her senses are triggered to the point of displeasure she cries. She cries when she is hungry, she cries when she is wet, and when she first starting coming over I’m pretty sure she cried for the fun of it. Spiritually what is the application to this?
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
When we first got saved everyone one of us was sensual because we didn’t know how to be anything else… But God has a plan for the baby Christian and that plan is that they would grow up.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Closing: There is not time for us to be blind, near sighted and forgetful.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.