Abundant Provision

INTRODUCTION

When you think of chasing glory, what comes to mind?

Glory means distinguished, splendrous, radiant

Think of the sunset and the sunrise. They are praiseworthy and leave people in awe. There is a natural glory to God’s creation. It is glorious!

Think of the athletes that achieves the highest goal. They are distinguished and proven. They are glorious!

Think of the home that has been remodeled and had a complete transformation. When you see the side by side views of the old and the new, there is a distinguished difference that is usually glorious!

It’s fascinating to me that the glory we see in nature is a direct reflection of God’s glory and His provision. Likewise, the glory we see in the created requires much provision as well!

Last week we looked at what it means to truly live abundant lives. We looked at the reality that our own self-righteousness and the temptations of this world steal, kill, and destroy abundant life, but that through God we can still have abundant life by knowing Him and by listening to His voice. This week I want to unpack that idea a little more and see that we can experience abundant life because of God’s abundant provision!

2 Peter 1:1–11 ESV

1 Simeon 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: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1) Profound Faith (v. 1-2)

We have an equal faith in Jesus through His righteousness

We experience multiplied grace and peace the more we know Him.

This knowledge is not a head knowledge, but rather a life knowledge.

Have you ever seen the difference in the work of an young engineer and of a man with a lifetime of experience?

God has provided for us an equal faith with those who directly followed Him. We can grow in realizing this faith as we also walk with Him.

2) Profound Living (v. 3-4)

We are divinely powered by the Holy Spirit to live godly lives.

How we live will depend on what fuels us.

God fuels our lives to operate in godliness by …

…calling us to his own glory and excellence.

…granting to us His precious and very great promises

…His own divine nature that empowers us to escape the corruption of this world

We need to focus on God’s calling to live in Him, walk in these promises, let our lives be shaped by His divine nature.

3) Profound Character (v.5-7)

Not just faith…,

but virtue… and not just virtue…

but knowledge… and not just knowledge…

but self-control… and not just self-control…

but steadfastness… and not just steadfastness…

but godliness… and not just godliness…

but brotherly affection… and not just brother affection…

but love… for God and for one another...

This is why the church is so important. We need to be together to have genuine concern for one another and to grow in our love for God together!

These qualities and characteristics help to shape our lives in Him! They help us to grow in life knowledge of God and to realize what we have been called to when we are called to His glory and excellence!

4) Profound Assurance (v. 8-11)

When we grow in Godly character we grow in our assurance of God’s provision.

These characteristics prevent ineffectiveness in knowing Jesus through experience.

When we have a lack of these characteristics they highlight a lack of truly understanding Christ’s work on the cross and the grace by which we are saved and are being saved!

These characteristics are assurances of our calling and election. We are called by Christ to walk in faith and faithfulness to Him.

As we grow in godly character we are growing in firsthand knowledge of God’s provision and in the experience of His Eternal Kingdom that doesn’t start the moment we die on this earth, but rather the moment we die to ourselves and have new life in Him.

That’s why Peter writes, “For in this way (calling and election) there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

RESPONSE

IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU REALIZING THE FULLNESS OF FAITH PROVIDED BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS?

WHAT PROMISES OF GOD THROUGH JESUS ARE YOU WALKING IN AND LETTING SHAPE YOUR LIFE?

OF THE CHARACTER QUALITIES MENTIONED, WHICH ONES ARE EASIER? WHICH ARE MORE DIFFICULT? HOW CAN YOU RELY ON GOD’S PROVISION FOR THOSE MORE CHALLENGING?

WHEN YOU EXPLORE YOUR LIFE, WHAT CONFIRMATION DO YOU SEE OF GOD’S CALL TO SALVATION? IN WHAT WAYS IS HIS GLORY BEING REVEALED THROUGH YOU?