Pastor Ralph Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SABAPTIST Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? I am pastoring a couple who's 3 month old child faces open heart surgery in the next 48 hours. This is the third operation. It is life threatening... but they are quietly and assuredly trusting the Lord to heal - if it is His will and to use the surgeons to do His will, but if it is not His will that the child lives they are trusting the Lord... holding to his promises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddler329 Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? "Everything" is exactly that. The only reason we even have to ask what "everything" means is that this is too extraordinary a promise for us to accept easily. When things don't go the way we think they "should," we worry and doubt. This is where "knowing God" (in the sense of the Hebrew "yada") comes in, and "trust" too. If we allow ourselves to form a close enough relationship with God that we trust him without reservation, we will more easily hear the promptings of the Spirit and will follow them without question or concern. And we won't run out ahead of the Spirit either -- we'll just wait to be led. If we were always tuned in to the leading of the Spirit and never anticipated future developments to the point where we got "locked in" to a particular outcome with no flexibility to recognize that we might be on the wrong path, we'd never worry about anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartfelt Posted July 10, 2004 Report Share Posted July 10, 2004 His divine power has granted to us is stating that the provision has already been made to the believer. In receiving Christ (knowing Him) we are united in him and share in every spiritual blessing that will glorify God in our bodies. The Holy Spirit equips us to do this by revealing the mind of Christ to us through His word and teaching us the way of life and godliness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamdowner Posted July 10, 2004 Report Share Posted July 10, 2004 I am both encouraged and convicted by 2 Peter 1:3. - God has made provision for me in every single area of life: spiritual/moral; emotional/psyschological; physical/material/intellectual. He is truly the ultimate, comprehensive source to whom I should turn for everything. - My relationship with Him was initiated by Him. He chose me not because of my worth, but because of His love and mercy; because He could. So I can't earn His love any more, or any less. He calls me to respond to Him, not to prove myself. - But His call to me is to take Him up on His proposal - to develop an intimate relationship with Him. This is the only way I will experience His provision for my life to the extent that He desires for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted July 10, 2004 Report Share Posted July 10, 2004 When we truely know Christ, we can trust him for all we need. His provision is complete...physical,spiritual and emotional. He does not provide for some of his children and not others. His leadership does not fail. He does not take us to a place just to leave us on our own.....Oh what a saviour. There is nothing to fear because He already has the provision made for every trial. He is tenderly watching over each step we take. I am so thankful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamar Posted July 10, 2004 Report Share Posted July 10, 2004 With the knowledgeof God and the faith in him are like avenue where all our spiritual supports and comforts thathe sends to us, but we first have to acknowledge God for who he is and what he has called us out to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunilbernard Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? This is an age of knowledge abounding. In the last decade, knowledge has multiplied many times over. This is in the physical realm. But in the spiritual realm too, THE WORD is being spread through many sources. People are being accosted with the Word of God and their knowledge of who God is and what He does has increased. Their faith life too is increasing. The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of widsom. Wisdom is understanding God and hearing and obeying Him. That is godliness. My grace us sufficient for thee says the Lord. Under this circumstance, the spiritual man, who is walking in the fear of the Lord has wisdom to understand that His God, who knows everything about him, will supply all his needs in Jesus. That's how the man who is walking in step with the Lord will know that God's promises are true because he knows that God will not go back on His word and so all his needs will be looked after by God Himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyBeloved Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 This is a wonderful verse! Thank you Pastor Ralph for bringing it to our attention. The scope, extent, and boundries of "everything we need for life and godliness" is GOD has made every arrangement for our life in Christ and our godliness of life for Him. It is only through the knowledge of Christ that we can grow to be a more godly person. "Knowledge of Him" is a personal relationship with GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausmouse Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge (epign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickWong_sg Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What are the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? The bible tells us that we are created anew, all things has past away. That to me meant that when I receive Christ, I am also given all things promised to Christ which encompass physical, spiritual and intellectual abilities not just to live this life here and now but more importantly to become more Christlike in my demeanour as I walk my path to eternity. To achieve that, my knowledge or yada of God and His promises to me has to grow and grow evermore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetpilot_dave Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 I beleive that 'everything we need' is referring to what we NEED in God's eyes not our eyes. To those who have that knowledge of God, this is provided to us by Him to help us grow in Christ. When you are a christian, God gives us an amazingly different knowledge of him and reveals more of himself to us the closer we walk with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godsservant Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 It is said that man cannot understand anything that has no beginning or end, therefore it is impossible for us to understand the meaning of "everything". The beautifulness of God's gift is that of extention of our sin bound understanding abilities. God has given us the ability to grow and in growth reach closer to him. The verses of Matthew about not worrying come to mind here. Is it not true that God provides for the bird, and yet we doubt his provision for us. In knowing God and walking with him every moment our knowledge brings everything we need for life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Spaulding Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? God knows what we really need--not necessarily our "wants"--but those things He knows are good for our spiritual lives. When we accept Him as Lord, He adds to our salvation what we need--both in this life as well as what we need to increase our spiritual understanding and growth in knowledge of Him and our ability to withstand the evil the devil uses, attempting to separate us from God. Knowledge and knowing God are what this promise is based upon. We cannot just ask God to be a "santa claus" and shower us with secular things, nor even for life and godliness if we do not KNOW Him personally! And then, we must realize that He knows better than we what is required for us to grow ever closer to Him! Looking at the answers give, I am grateful for some of the insights--especially hausmouse--that this promise is in past tense! Just waiting for us to come to Him in penitence and acceptance of Who He is and His desires for us! Great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeannie4jc Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 When I read this it told me that ALL of my needs are met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, and it also says to me that God said my people perish from the lack of knowledge. You need to have knowledge of God's Word and what it says about you. In other words you need to understand who you are in Christ Jesus and Walk in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinclair Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? The power to grow does not come from within us but from God's divine provision. God divine power give us everyithing we need to live a life of Godliness. If we try to live a goldly life in our own strength we would continually sin and always feel defeated. But God's allow us to particfipate in His Divine Nature so that we will be able to have victory of sin and lead a godly life. When we are born again the Holy Spirit come in an empowers us so that we will know the difference between good and evil. However, to enjoy this privilege we have to come into a relationship with God. through His Son Jesus Christ by faith and continue to grow in knowledge by studying and living out God's Word daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccs Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? What are the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? God has given those that believe in His Son Jesus Christ everything they need to have the power of moving mountains if need be for His glory. . . WE HAVE THE POWER of Him who lives inside us which is the Holy Spirit. Through Him all things are provided for us to be able to shine forth His glory. . . What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? Knowledge represents an understanding of who God is, we gain knowledge of who he is by studying, His word, meditating, and prayer. When we choose to live as he instructs us to we will have all things that pertain to life; physical and spiritual and most of all fellowship with our Lord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seedsoflove Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Of course we know this to mean that God will provide for everything we need but yes, there are boundries. In Matthew 6:33 it tells us that if we "seek Gods kingdom and His righteousness first then all these things will be given to you as well". If we ask Him for foolish or selfish things we can expect that He will NOT provide them for us. If we are asking so as to put His kingdom and His righteousness first He WILL give us all we ask for and more. Again it goes back to having faith in Him also that He will provide for us exactly what we need. He knows us intimatly after all He created us but how well do we know Him? How can we be sure we are asking Him according to His desire? We have to get to know Him intimatly. We always need to be seeking the "knowledge" that Peter is talking about so we can have faith that we are asking God for things we need correctly and not selfishly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Life, when referred to in Scripture, means Life as God would have us live it. Therefore it is abundant, blessed, victorious, creative, noble, pure, fresh, beautiful, well reported, (see Phil4:20). It glorifies God as Jesus did in His days on the earth. It is powerful, righteous, loving, truthful, healing, instructive, demonstrative, uplifting, encouraging. It blesses other people and is fruitful in the gifts of the spirit for the benefit of mankind, unselfish and altogether remarkable. The scope of this life covers every situation abundantly, with the glory of the Lord, for nothing is impossible with God in the Name of Jesus. There are no boundaries for the repentant, forgiving child of God who is effectively living this life, except those imposed by the incomplete learning process of the individual. God has not placed boundaries on it. Knowing God, or knowledge, has everything to do with it. Jesus dying prayer on the cross was that His Father should forgive us because we don't know what we do. Our ignorance (of God) is the limiting factor in life or Life. Therefore we need to do every conceivable thing to "study to show ourselves approved", not only in the sense of knowing Scripture back to front, but also in the translation of that knowledge into the power source for our own lives, by knowing God Himself, in person and having that intimate relationship with Him that never ceases to grow and amaze us, being filled with the Holy Ghost, being a person "after God's own heart" like king David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassyblue8 Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Believing there is a God (which I always did) and knowing who He is and what He has done are two different things. Since my rebirth or if you will my becoming "born again" I have grown in my knowledge of Him through His Word and have grown closer to Him as my Father. I talk with him in my heart and if no one is around, out loud. Let me tell you He has provided for me in every way that a Father would and so much more because He is God. I have not had a super hard life but at times it has been like, pardon me, hell on earth but He has always provided me with His grace and love to see me through the hard times. If it weren't for my Father in heaven, I wouldn't have been able to cope with two very tragic things in my life, the desertion of a husband after 17 years of marriage and three children and the murder of my 22 year old precious daughter Amy Joy three and a half years ago. He was with my in "my valley of the shadow of death." He has provided for me spritutally, economically, emotionally and in everyway. I live and breath and have my being in Him. He has given me "new life" and He gives me the grace to live a godly life. Sincerely, from PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grace Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 2Peter l:3 simply states that all we ever need for this life physically and spiritually has been provided to us . What we need is to draw close to Him and apply what has been given to us , to our lives and for His glory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What are the scope and extent and boundaries of everything we need for life and godliness. what does knowledge or knowing god have to do with this promise? This is such a powerful verse and when you read it you realize that any shortcomings on our part are not because God has not provided. It is our failure to use what He has provided. This is saying that God has made EVERY provision for our lives in Christ and our godliness of life for Him.(We are saved for His glory). We are trophies of His grace. We do not have it in ourselves but He gave it to us and it requires us to be in prayer and intimate fellowship with him to use that which He has given us. If we don't spend time with Him how do we know Him. We can go through our lives saved and never do a good work when we are so equipped because we don't know what is available to us and what He asks of us for which He has already provided. What a tragedy!! Matthew Henry says " knowledge of God and faith in Him are the channel by which all spiritual supports and comforts are conveyed to us". I know many people who don't read the Bible (and yet believe every word is true). The joys we miss out on when we neglect our first love and reading His Word. This verse inspires me to want to be all that God intends for me to be and to continue working toward that end. God Bless! Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truthseeker Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Yes, He did give us everything we need. There is no excuse for us to not grow in Him these days. Of course, being from the United States, where we are currently free to speak and worship freely, is an advantage. Anyway, we have the largest tool which is the Bible, God's word. God's will isn't different for each person...it is the same. He is the unchanging God. The Bible clearly states God's will for all men (that includes women). We have missionaries, preachers, teachers, evangelists, gospel and Christian singers and musicians and hopefully parents to raise children in the way of the Lord. We have the T.V. which is more commonly used for lesser kinds of viewing but can also be used to grow in the Lord due to the religious networks. They offer many wonderful programs that I love and which enrich my whole family in the Lord. The internet, which offers many different avenues of growth such as what we are doing now. In every aspect of life, we can find God, if we try. There are choices to every path. What we watch, what we listen to, what websites we visit, what we talk about with friends and family, what places we visit, what books we read, what activities we take part in, what crowds we hang around...all come with choices...those which glorify God and those which don't. So, having so much at our fingertips that will either cause growth in the Lord or will pull us back a little further into the world, we have choices to make. The truth still is that we have everything we need, if we'll just use it. Again, our main and greatest tool is the Bible. We do have to be careful and pray for discernment in many of the false doctrines that are found floating around. There is only one truth and reading our Bibles, with the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us, the truth will reveal itself. Your sister in Christ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Nabors Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? First, we must be careful to distinguish between "need" and "want" when reading this verse. Too many times, people don't recognize the distinction. Second, we have been promised everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of God, meaning through our intimate relationship with God. This implies that, to receive everything needed, a person first needs to establish an intimate relationship with God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesus4al Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? My Bible says: "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: "I take this to mean that we who are in The Family of God have been given EVERYTHING that is necessary to live an abundant life in The Spirit. We must get to 'know' God however. This doesn't mean that we are to know all truth, all at once. After inviting Him into our heart, HE abides with us; HE takes up residence with us and speaks to us through our conscience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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