Pray In The Holy Spirit

But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Jude 20-21 HCSB

We have a Watchman Prayer Ministry at our church. Each person (Watchman) agrees to pray for one hour each week at a specific time. The Watchman assumes his “watch on the wall” and prays for the ministers and ministries of our church, then calls the person who follows him on the wall to pass the watch. The objective is to have people praying for our church 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We currently have approximately 125 watchmen who pray for one hour each week. Obviously, we need 168 people to fill every hour for 7 days. This is a wonderful ministry, and I have witnessed firsthand the results of people praying.

Jude is encouraging his readers to pray in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within each believer to help convict of sin and serve as an encourager to live in a way that would be pleasing to God. When a person prays in the Holy Spirit, he is praying with power and strength. The Holy Spirit opens our minds to Jesus and His ways (John 14:26) and teaches us about Him (John 15:26).

Challenge: Is the Holy Spirit within you? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to control and guide you? The Holy Spirit will help you to resist temptation and know how to pray and what to say in prayer.

Where Are You Sending Your Money?

Many will follow their unrestrained ways and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them. They will exploit you in their greed with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep. 2 Peter 2:2-3 HCSB

It is not uncommon to turn on the television and find ministers who are preaching messages and asking for financial support of their ministries. Many offer gifts for a contribution of a certain amount. Once a donor is on the mailing list, he will receive multiple letters requesting donations.

It seems that things were no different in Peter's time. He warned his readers of the greed of false teachers. These teachers were willing to distort the truth and say whatever the people wanted to hear in an attempt to persuade them to give more money. These false teachers were more interested in making money than in teaching the truth of God's Word.

Challenge: Before you send money to a tele-evangelist or a ministry that has sent information to you in the mail, research and make sure they are legitimate. Evaluate what they are preaching and teaching. Are they serving God or simply promoting their own interests to get more money? Is the organization being a good steward of the money that has been given to them? Are they actually using the money to benefit others and to advance the kingdom of God? Remember that gifts to other ministries should be above and beyond your tithe to your local church.

Beware of False Teachers

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 HCSB

In the United States we just finished the presidential election. On election night I enjoyed flipping to different television stations to see what was being said about the candidates and the election results. Although all were reporting on the same event, each station seemed to have its own spin or interpretation of what was happening and to be in support of one specific candidate. The television ads leading up to the election also portrayed each candidate in a different manner. Who are we to believe? Where is the truth?

Jesus Christ had told His disciples that they should be aware of false teachers (Matthew 24:11 and Mark 13:22-23). Peter had heard the predictions and was facing the conflict created by the false teachers. They were twisting the teachings of Jesus and His disciples. They even made fun of Jesus and the significance of His life, His death, and His resurrection. Some claimed that Jesus was not a man at all and vehemently denied that He was God. Many of these teachers encouraged immorality and other sins.

Challenge: We must be aware of false teachers that we encounter each day. Many belittle Christ and His work. Any book, recorded message, sermon, or television message should be evaluated against the truths found in God's Word.

Inspired Word of God

First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 HCSB

Over 100 million Bibles are sold or given away for free every year in the world, according to The Economist. The Bible is the most widely distributed and best-selling book in the world. Its message is God's Word to mankind so we might know Him and understand how He is working in the world for our own good. In the United States we are fortunate to be allowed to own a Bible and to worship freely. There are many places in the world where it is illegal to have a Bible. Consequently, some believers world-wide are not privileged to have a copy of God's Word.

Peter is telling us in these verses that the Scriptures are not just words that have been made up by men, but they are actually the Words of God Himself. God allowed men to be involved in the writing of the Scriptures as each was inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit. Each prophet of the Old Testament was inspired by the Holy Spirit as he spoke and gave a Word from God. Our Creator made sure that what was written in the Bible was the message that was intended and was correctly communicated.

Challenge: Thank God for His Word and that you are privileged to have a copy. Spend time reading your Bible to know more about God and how you can live your life in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Considersupportingthe Gideon organization that faithfully distributes God's Word around the world.

How Can Jesus and Satan Both Be A Morning Star?

So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 HCSB

The first reference in the Bible to the morning star as an individual is in Isaiah 14:12: “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” Isaiah is referring to Satan's fall from heaven (Luke 10:18). In Revelation 22:16, Jesus identifies Himself as the Morning Star. Why are they both referred to as “Morning Star”?

The concept of a “bright morning star” is a star that outshines all the others and can still be seen even as the sun begins to come up and light the world. Satan was a beautiful creation of God, probably the most powerful of all of the angels. Jesus is the Lord of the Universe and is “The Light of the World” (John 9:5). This is in no way equating both Jesus and Satan. Satan's light only exists to the extent that God allows it to exist. Jesus' light exists to light the way to abundant life (John 10:10) while Satan's light is only a poor imitation of the one true and Bright Morning Star, Jesus Christ.

Challenge: As believers we are to reflect the light of Jesus so that others might come to know Him as Lord and Savior. How bright is your light shining? Are you reflecting the light of Jesus?

Eyewitness News

For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18 HCSB

I was sitting at the red light waiting for the light to turn green when suddenly a car coming the other direction ran the red light and struck the car that was coming from the side street. I got out of my car and began helping the girl that was in the car that had been hit. The side of her car was bent in and broken glass was everywhere, even in her hair. The paramedics came to assist her and then the police arrived. They wanted a statement from those who had witnessed the accident. I told them what had happened because I was there and had observed everything.

In these verses, Peter is referring to the transfiguration of Jesus(Matthew 17:1-7). Peter was an eyewitness when he went with Jesus, James, and John up on a high mountain. There Jesus was transfigured and His clothes became as white as snow. Moses and Elijah were present talking with Him. A voice from Heaven said Jesus was the beloved Son of God and that He was very pleased with Him. Peter used this experience to validate that what he had taught them was not something he had made up, but it was from the One and Only Powerful God of the Universe.

Challenge: Have you ever wondered how Peter, James, and John identified Moses and Elijah? They did not have pictures to reference. Evidently, they automatically knew who they were. In heaven all believers will have new bodies and will be able to instantly identify others. Thank God for the message of hope and forgiveness that Peter brought to his readers and has now been passed down through the ages to you. You may not have been a witness to the transfiguration, but you are a witness to the transforming power of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

We Are All Going to Die

I consider it right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has also shown me. 2 Peter 1:13-14 HCSB

Periodically, I have the opportunity to officiate at a funeral. As a part of my message I remind people that we are all going to die, we just don't know the day and time. I also remind them that there is a real heaven and a real hell and that our choices here on earth will determine where we spend eternity.

Peter knew that his time on earth was near the end. Many years prior Christ had predicted the kind of death that Peter would face (see John 21-18-19). Peter was martyred for his faith. Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside down at his request because he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord – Jesus.

Challenge: If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you do not have to worry about where you will spend eternity. As a believer you are assured that you will have eternal life in heaven when you die. Someday you will lay aside your tent (your body). Take seriously Peter's advisement to follow the actions of faith he described in 2 Peter 1:5-7.

Keep Practicing

Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. 2 Peter 1:12 HCSB

When I played golf in college I usually practiced or played every day. Professional golfers practice for hours every day. Many times they will play a practice round before a tournament begins. They also spend hours on the practice range hitting balls and on the putting green to practice their putting. It is not because they do not know how to play golf but because they are trying to fine tune their swings and putting so they can play even better.

The same is true in our Christian lives. We need to constantly be fine tuning our lives so we become more and more like Jesus Christ. Just as an athlete must execute the basic fundamentals of the sport, a Christian must execute the basic fundamentals of faith. We must faithfully practice and learn how we can improve and become better witnesses for Jesus Christ. In this verse Peter tells his readers that even though he has said it before, he is going to keep on reminding them to live by the principles and truth that God has established.

Challenge: Keep practicing the fundamentals of faith and seek to become more like Jesus in every area of your life. Do not become bored or impatient with messages or teaching about how to live as a Christian. Instead, become like an athlete who continues to work towards his goal of being the best.

Would There Be Enough Evidence to Convict You?

Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 2 Peter 1:10 HCSB

I believe in the doctrine “Once saved, always saved.” A person cannot lose his or her salvation by sinning, but I do question if some people are really saved when their lifestyle and how they treat others does not reflect a Christ-like character. Obviously, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We cannot do anything to save ourselves. Our good works do not save us. We are all saved by the grace and mercy of God. Even after we accept Christ as Lord we will continue to sin, but we all should be striving to live differently. We should be living to please God and to bring honor and glory to Him.

It seems that some of Peter's readers had the idea that because they were saved by grace, it did not matter what they did because they would be forgiven. Consequently, they were following false teachers and living in sinful behaviors. In this verse Peter encourages followers of Christ to live as described in 2 Peter 1:5-7. In so doing, we are confirming that we are saved. As we strive to live righteously, we will avoid the temptations and traps of the devil. When a non-believer does not see any evidence that a person is a believer, he may wonder why he should become a believer.

Challenge: Believers should live their lives differently, setting the example of how to live. Their lives should reflect the love and compassion of Jesus Christ – even for those who are sinners and often unloveable. What does your lifestyle and actions say about your life and salvation? Would there be enough evidence to convict you if you were arrested for being a Christian?

Increasing or Decreasing?

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8 HCSB

I had the privilege of playing on the golf team for my college many years ago. My golf game used to be pretty good. There was a par-three golf course on our college campus where I would play a few holes when I had time between classes. I practiced or played just about every day. Now I seldom practice and do not get to play very often. My game has suffered and I am no longer able to play as well. As a result, my skills and talent have decreased over the years.

This verse is referring to the qualities that are mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love). These are the qualities that should be increasing in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. As a person becomes more like Christ he becomes useful and fruitful in God's kingdom work. Often when a person accepts Christ, he is so excited about his new faith that he reads his Bible everyday and begins telling others about Jesus. As time goes on however, the excitement and commitment to Jesus seems to decrease instead of increase. The follower may become useless and unfruitful.

Challenge: Are you increasing or decreasing in becoming more like Jesus Christ? Have you become complacent in your devotion to Christ and your desire to grow as a disciple of Jesus? Pray that God would help you to be useful and fruitful.