Looking Like the Master

1. Looking Like the Master Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, October 6, 2013

2. 2 Peter 1-11 1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

3. 2 Peter 1-11 4 Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge,

4. 2 Peter 1-11 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. 2 Peter 1-11 9 For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

6. Last time • Difference between moralism and following the way of wisdom and love • Becoming an apprentice to Jesus • Other options: apprentice to laws, to a group, or to Bible • All of these substitute means for end • Two ditches: legalism & ‘anything-goes-ism’

7. 2 Peter 1:5 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge . . . 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness

8. Self-Control • What is it? • How does one get it?

9. What is self-control? • In this context, it is something that is added to faith and goodness and knowledge • Greek word, τὴν ἐγκράτειαν (enkrateian), means ‘in power or dominion’ and refers to power over one’s appetites, self-mastery

10. Negative and Positive Definition • “Like a city breached, without walls,
    is one who lacks self-control” (Proverbs 25:28) • “One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city” (Proverbs 16:32)

11. In what areas of life? • Anger • Sexuality • Drunkenness • Eating • Exercise • Arguing • Depression • Sub-conscious

12. What helps? How do we get it? • Thinking of Jesus, particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane or on the cross with forgiveness • David Moore’s word: React or reflect • Making mistakes and realizing how little your anger accomplishes • Sinning and realizing that it only adds to your pain • Getting tired of the shame

13. What helps? How do we get it? • Seeing people who walk it out and wanting to be like them • Experiencing the joy that comes when we handle something well • Maturity that grows through real life circumstances • But a couple of other ideas as well . . .

14. Proverbs 31:1-8 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2 No, my son! No, son of my womb!
    No, son of my vows! 3 Do not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those who destroy kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    or for rulers to desire strong drink;

15. Proverbs 31:1-8 5 or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
    and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty,
    and remember their misery no more.

16. Proverbs 31:1-8 8 Speak out for those who cannot speak,
    for the rights of all the destitute. 9 Speak out, judge righteously,
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

17. Philippians 2:12-13 12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

18. The Secret Ingredients • Vision (Proverbs 31) • God’s power (Philippians 2) How do we obtain enough of these to make a difference? Confession, Faith, Acting it Out, Rejoicing