Another day in bed, pretty weak from my muscle illness this evening, But reminded of a truth and thinking on it. I am so so thankful for His Word. Thinking on “The Ministry of Remembrance.” Hope it encourages you…
NOTE; THREE times Peter writes to the believers to REMIND THEM. – {v12-15} The problem is not that they or we don’t know Truth, But that we often FORGET THE TRUTH WE DO KNOW- and need to be REMINDED!
Part of Peter’s Ministry was THE MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE; Reminding the Believers of TRUTH, so they could connect Who they are “In Christ” what they have “In Christ,” and what they KNOW in Christ. For example they have “EVERYTHING THEY NEED FOR Life and Godliness” It is not that they are deficient but at times like them we too need to be REMINDED We have all we need “In CHRIST” to live this life …
CONSIDER GOD’S PROVISIONS;
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POWER FOR LIVING;
“…By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. “-{v3}.
To Live a Godly life takes “Divine Power.” The good news God has “given us everything we need for living a Godly life.” The order in the original Greek is first “everything He has granted.” In the context everything we need to grow spiritually has been provided. We lack nothing. we are “complete” In Christ “-{2:10} the word referring to the state of no deficiency! God is the source of this Divine power to live the Christian life. It is through the the full knowledge of God and Jesus Christ,the means by which this power produces this life of power and Godliness. ” Note that words derived from the stem duna— all have the basic meaning of “being able,” of “capacity” in virtue of an ability. Duna– is the root for English words like dynamic, dynamo, dynamite, etc. Dunamis is the word generally used by Paul of divine energy. Scripture uses dunamis to describe deeds that exhibit the ability to function powerfully (deeds of power, miracles, wonders) (eg, see Mt 11:20, 23, 13:54, 58, etc)”-{preceptaustin} This is not merely theory for the believer to agree with but power to experience, Power to love,Power to forgive, power to change one’s thinking and behavior to conform in alignment with God’s will and desire as revealed in his Word!- {Read Rom 12:2-3} Divine power produces change, the fruit of this power is Godliness! A love and desire for God , His things and living in concordance. He empowers and our responsibility is to live in the knowledge and choose to walk in his ways{Read Col 2:6}. If not been changed in Godliness then not experiencing Divine power!! But you have been born again, you do have Divine power working in you , you do have the power to live, loving God, loving others and power to being changed! The word “life”{Zoe} is the opposite of death. God imparts spiritual life, vitality the ability to live a new life, supernatural life! The word “GRANTED” emphasizes the generosity of the Giver. It carries the idea of the graciousness of the Giver. Not earned but generously, lavishly gifted! The believer has everything they need to live a reverential, loving obedient life of faith in their daily lives because God has provided the indwelling life and Power to do so!
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PROMISES FOR LIVING;
and they have “PRECIOUS AND MAGNIFICENT PROMISES” to be appropriated. “… 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.’- {v4}.
He has again gifted, “Given us” Note not just Given Peter or a few choice servants but he uses the word, “US”- all believers have been Gifted these precious and magnificent promises! Great and Precious promises” not to merely recite, admire but appropriate!
“Precious” speaks of honor, highly valuable, desirable as a precious stone. These promises are to be valued as they have precious eternal worth, as revealed in His Word!
“Magnificent” {Megistos-the only place in the NT this word is used!}… ” refers to greatest, exceeding great, or preeminent. “Promises,”….” (epaggelma) refers to a declaration to do something with implication of obligation to carry out what is stated. This word implies an emphatic public announcement. ” – {preceptaustin}-
Think on this GOD has publicly declared in His Word and has and is and will carry out each promise He has made! He is omnipotent. All powerful so He alone has the power to execute His promises! He is faithful to himself and His Word! Yours to rest and be assured of His great and magnificent promises for living!
He tells them to “Grow” or “add to…” their faith in regards maturing in their faith… now and what they are to DO.
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PROGRESS IN LIVING;
“In view of all 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 patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”-{v5-7}
He tells them to Grow or “add to…” “make every effort,…” NOTE; it is not “Let Go and Let God,” but he calls them to work out their salvation and it requires, discipline, dedication and Thinking Right and Doing right {Read Phil 2:12-13; 4:8-9} They are personally responsible in following The Lord’s will and ways in growing in their faith and developing Godly traits, NEW PATTERNS of living a God honoring life! Maturing in their faith… It is not a stagnant or dead faith but a living faith, that is changing us from the inside out, through his Divine Power and Promises at work. Phil 2:13 says “God is at work IN You both to desire and do for His good pleasure.”
4. PRODUCTIVE LIVING;
“The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”- {v8}
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PROBLEM!
” But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins”-{v 8-9}
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PROOF;
“So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”- {v 10-11}
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PONDERING ON SCRIPTURE;
“Remind You“
“Therefore, I WILL ALWAYS REMIND YOU about THESE THINGS—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. “- {v12}
“…And it is only right that I should KEEP ON REMINDING YOU as long as I LIVE.” -{v13}
“.. For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, so I WILL WORK HARD to make sure you always REMEMBER THESE THINGS …AFTER I am GONE.”-{ v 14-15}.
He takes personal responsibility to know “THESE THINGS” for himself and then taking interest in others to REMIND THEM, by passing them on as well as writing them down, where you and I benefit also!
THREE TIMES he writes to “REMIND them “ He said he would “work hard” at this for their present benefit and for after he leaves them, to RECALL, when the LORD takes him home!
He works hard at the MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE to benefit OTHERS!
We See This Truth in Deut 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today ARE TO BE ON YOUR HEARTS. IMPRESS THEM ON YOUR CHILDREN. TALK ABOUT THEM when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. WRITE THEM them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.” Here God tells them the purpose of life is to LOVE Him and then He refers to his Commandments- His Word- to become absorbed in them and then share them beginning with their children… Put the Word of God before themselves constantly, so it may Guide, govern their lives…- The MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE!
The MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE;
Peter reminds them of truths that are foundational in verses 1-16, as a compass always returns to due north so they can gauge living by looking at the Truth the Lord has laid out for them of His Provisions, Power for living,-{v3}; Promises to encourage,-{v4}; Progress in pursuit of Godly character,{v 5-7}; etc.. and how he works hard to keep these truths in front of them and so much so, that even when he dies and is gone he will have left them with truth they can recall as he has shared it so often with them. Like a soldier on a barrack square is drilled with repetition that eventually they can react spontaneously as they have been drilled so often in proper technique, so too the believers able to respond to living for Him having been taught, reminded so often through the MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE exercised by Peter lovingly for their spiritual benefit and growth in Godliness!
What Are the truths you are and can lovingly share with others to aid them?
Jesus shared several times that He must die, be buried but on the third day be raised, and after He was, the disciples remembered and it happened ” REMEMBER What He said…. THEN they REMEMBERED WHAT HE HAD SAID”-{Luke 24:5-8} You Can’t remember if you have not heard. He too taught by REPETITION.
So too, we can and KNOW…
8.HOW TO PREPARE Yourself for the MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE is To…
Look for the LORD as you Come To His Word. Who is He, What is He like, what did He do, what does He say…, etc.. LOOK FOR HIM IN THE SCRIPTURES -{Read Luke 24:27}…
- READ the Truth
- KNOW the Truth
- SUBMIT to the Truth
- THINK On The Truth
- OBEY the Truth
- SHARE the Truth
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PRACTICING THE MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE;
* READ – REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND REPEAT WHAT YOU HAVE READ!…
* READ – REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND REPEAT WHAT YOU HAVE READ!…
* READ – REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND REPEAT WHAT YOU HAVE READ!…
SHARE The Truth- Share What You KNOW- READ… REACH OUT…REPEAT…Again and Again! PASS ON THE TRUTH-
READ -REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND REPEAT… READ AND REPEAT THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD…. REPETITION!
AND YOU ARE ….PRACTICING… THE MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE!
- SHARE The Truth- Share What You KNOW. Be it little or much– SHARE IT
- READ… REPEAT…Again and Again! PASS ON THE TRUTH- AND YOU ARE ...PRACTICING THE MINISTRY OF REMEMBRANCE!
At Times It Is Not That We Don’t Know The Truth But That We Forget It, And we NEED SOMEONE to REMIND us!
{Read Nehemiah 7:10, which speaks of Ezra preparing himself. And God giving him the opportunity to share and influence a nation in Nehemiah 8}
You Have A Ministry Of Remembrance; Your Time in His Word is that you may Know Him more and more. Be reminded of Him and His Word to shape your THINKING -{Read Rom 12:2-3} AND TO … SHARE His truth with others, to ENCOURAGE, EQUIP them for DAILY LIVING, to Love Him and Others!
** It Is Not acquiring INFORMATION for information sake but for APPROPRIATION of Bible INFORMATION that the Holy Spirit uses that Produces TRANSFORMATION and the EXALTATION of The LORD! A Mutual ministry of REMEMBRANCE *
Read His Word, THINK on His Word. SHARE what You Know of Him and His Word!
“Let The Word Of Christ RICHLY Dwell WITHIN you, with all wisdom teaching…”-{Col 3:16}
Remember HIS Word, Remind Others of His Word- REPEAT… Peter was committed to this for how long? “…As Long As I LIVE!” It is a continual Ministry, service for the betterment, benefit of others!
READ- REACH OUT- REPEAT!
Exercise Your Ministry Of Remembrance.