Known & Loved: Now What?
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Psalm 139 reveals that we are comprehensively known by God.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.17 How amazing are your thoughts concerning me How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
John 3:16,17 reveals that God’s love is comprehensive.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Hebrews 12:2 reveals that we represent joy to Jesus.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The 2 categories of lies Satan tries to sell us on…
We aren’t enough.
God isn’t enough.
2 Peter 3:17,18
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 1:3-11
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
We are given an abundance of grace and peace.
We are given knowledge that produces divine power.
We are given promises.
2 Peter 1:3-11
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
“We Pedal He Powers”
(Like a moped)
2 Peter 1:3-11
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure (implication: we are never done adding), they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-7
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
Goodness = Quality of moral excellence
Knowledge = Ability to discern God’s will and align my life to it
Self-control = Avoid falling prey to temptations – and learning to stay away from tempting situations.
Perseverance = Endurance – the ability to bear up under, steadfastness in faith in times of trial
Godliness = Pleasing God in every phase of life
Mutual affection = Love expressed to fellow Christians
Love = Sacrificial action on behalf of one another
What does "pedaling" look like in these 7 additions?
It starts with…
- Getting on the Moped. Ask God “what’s next?” (you might already know) What addition will move the needle the most in securing your position in Him, in making you effective and productive.
- Pointing the front tire in that direction. Make the decision to grow. Set your mind.
- Start peddling. Peddling looks like…
- Prayer –Prayer is an open invitation to link our spirit with the Holy Spirit.
- Study – Studying the Bible exposes the lies we believe and provides the Truth to live by. Studying the Bible is an open invitation to link our minds with the Father’s mind.
- Worship – Worship reorients our world from being self-centered God-centered. Self-centeredness is Death – God centeredness is Life! Worship is an open invitation to link our hearts with Jesus’ heart.
- Fellowship – Fellowship breaks the power isolation wields. It’s easier to fall for a lie when you are by yourself physically or emotionally. Fellowship is an open invitation to Christ’s body the church.