Category Archives: 2 Peter

2 Peter, 2020, For Fun, FYI, It's a Bonus Post, Pictures, Questions

Did you know?

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Did you know Peter read Paul’s Epistles? 
I think he did.
2 Peter 3:16. 
Well, let’s start at verse 14 for the fun of it. 

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.  source 

And look at that Peter calls his readers, beloved. I remember in some recent studies I was comforted and encouraged at the depth (what I saw in the Text) of love Paul had for his people. And I think as I study Peter more I will find he had great love too. 

Our beloved brother Paul.
Wow.

According to the wisdom given to him, he wrote to you. 

And then verse 16. as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of things, . . .

Peter read Paul’s Epistles. 

I like that!

One more thing. Did you know the word PEACE appears 397 times in the NKJV? 

2 Peter, 2020, KWT Paraphrasing, Psalms

My No Fret Chapter

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Psalm 37.
It’s my No Fret chapter. GOD tells me (and you) to Fret Not. And there is much these days to Not Fret about.

Also in the Psalm, I found the words (verse 10): “yet a little while“. If you are like me, you have surely heard or said: “little while, my foot, it’s been years!” And it was then I was reminded and gratefully so! 2 Peter 3:8.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 NKJV source

So Fret Not that folks are still lying; that folks are still plotting and carrying out unspeakable evil. GOD knows. In the scheme of it all, it has only been a couple of days.
He has not looked away.
He has not forgotten.
He has not winked.

2 Peter 3:8-9  (NKJV) 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. source

As Psalm 37 tells us: 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. source

And one more counsel from Psalm 37 (verse 3 and verse 27) for this post.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. source

So, that is His counsel to me today.
Fret Not about ______________ and what she/he is doing; the lies they are telling. It won’t be long as HE counts long (and His timing is NEVER wrong). For now, you (that would be me) TRUST ME (that would be HIM) and DO GOOD. Dwell where you are and feed on MY Faithfulness . . . not that other stuff.
And how do I do good?
Verse 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. source
Let’s see depart from evil.
Take no part in it.
Pray against it.
Stand against it but love the people who are doing it.
Pray earnestly for them and wait for GOD, and take action as He provides.
Dwell. Abide. Occupy.
Till I (that would be HIM) come.

Abba, I offer this post for You to do with as You will; for You to bring those who need it, and when they come please speak and love on them so they KNOW You and trust You. Amen and amen in Yeshua’s name.

1 Corinthians, 2 Peter, 2019, Ephesians, Questions, Repentance, Salvation

The Response!

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17 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls],  18 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart. source

Please see the brackets in the third line around unbelieving. It is really important for us to grasp Paul is penning about not just any Gentiles, but the unbelieving, as there were many Gentiles in the Community (Church, Body) at Ephesus. Another clue for us that when a Gentile became a follower of the Jewish Messiah, they became family. Yeshua (Jesus as you may address Him) has One Family, One community.

But what of these unbelieving Gentiles? It was a term his readers understood; well understood. Outcasts. Banished from the Commonwealth of Israel.

BUT look it’s self-banishment! It’s not GOD’s will that any be banished! (See 2 Peter3:9)

Self-banished. What a word! What does it mean? Banished means sent away as an official punishment.

A few questions.
How often do we send ourselves away from fellowship with GOD because we have deemed ourselves unworthy?
How many of us see the bottom layer of that thinking?
When we self-banish ourselves, who’s the judge, the jury and the executioner?
Who alone has that Office and Responsibility?
So what are we doing when we self-banish?
What would cause us to do that?
(Subtle Pride.)
But it’s still damnable pride, is it not?

But wait! Does not the Scriptures tell us to judge ourselves so that we will not be judged?
Absolutely! It does! See 1 Corinthians 11:31. So what’s the factor here? The Response!

Pride sends us away!
Repentance draws us close!

1 Corinthians 11:31 Amplified Bible (AMP) 31 But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. source

Please see it!  And correcting our behavior! That’s what repentance does. It corrects our behavior. Pride, even subtle pride, keeps us banished.

Repentance. Oh, what a beautiful, loving, holy gift!  Let us unwrap it as often as necessary!

Oh, Father, thank You, thank You for the gift of repentance! Pour out Your holy gift of conviction with repentance again and again that we may fellowship with You continually.  Amen and amen in JESUS name.