In the last letter regarding the Abundance of God – Part 1 we discussed significant definitions and concepts that are paramount to understanding the ways of God. Today I’ll be discussing 5 Keys to accessing God Provision, which I think you’ll find significant.

Five Keys to God’s Provision
There are five keys regarding how believers receive provision from God. Today we’ll cover the first key.

The first key
God’s provision is in His promises. What I mean by that is simply that we can find in scripture how God thinks and acts towards providing for His children. I’m speaking about both the New Testament and the Old Testament. Unfortunately, some pastors and Christian Bible teachers are claiming that the Old Testament is no longer valid for New Testaments believers. This is a lie from the devil and should not be accepted as truth. Both covenants are vitally important in the life of every believer.

We begin by looking at 2 Peter 1:2-4: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (NKJV)

This is one long sentence – one single thought, that conveys the benefit of God’s promises. In these precious words we see that the Christian life is one of multiplication. It’s not simply static. By that I mean it’s not about “holding on” to what you have. Nor is it even about simple addition. It is undeniably about multiplication. This comes to us through“the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” When you’ve followed God for as long as I have, you realize that everything the believer will ever need comes to us from God through Jesus. We need no other source of supply and no other vehicle to get that supply.

Notice the verb tense that Peter uses in verse 2 of this scripture, “has given.” We see that God has already given us all we are ever going to need for now and forever. His provision is for every area of our lives – as it says in His word – for life and godliness.

Often Christians pray on the basis of great misunderstanding. Believers ask God to give them something that He has already promised in His promises and that He has already given. From my perspective, I don’t think it’s easy for Him to answer that kind of prayer. Why? Because by answering them He would support their misunderstanding. Sometimes we have to adjust our thinking in order to pray the kind of prayer God is actually able to answer. We will find that God literally wants to answer our prayers, but we need to pray correctly. Thanking God is often more appropriate than asking of Him.

Notice again in these promises, “all things” are included in “the knowledge of Jesus Christ.” When looking at the original Greek of this scripture, it says that Jesus, “called us to His own glory and virtue.” Make note that it is not our glory, but His. It’s not our virtue, but His. God has already given us everything we are ever going to need, and it is all contained in the knowledge of Jesus. What does this mean?

The Greek word for “knowledge” could be translated also as “acknowledging.” It can mean both knowledge or acknowledging. I think this is important. In today’s contemporary culture, knowledge appears to be the goal of most. God’s word tells us that wisdom is most important. I have learned that it not enough to intellectually know about Jesus. we need to effectively acknowledge Him as Lord in our individual lives.

Let’s look at verse 4,“…By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,…” 

Now here is the key… God has already given you and I everything we are going to need. You may ask, then where is it? It is in the promises of His written word. God’s provision is in His promises. This is the vital truth that we do well to grasp. It is up to us to learn of them and apply them to our lives through faith.

May I suggest that you say this to yourself over and over until it becomes a new part of your thinking. Say it this way. “My provision is in His promise. Make written notes to yourself. Write this on Post It’s or cards and place them all throughout your home or office and/or car. Place this where your eye can see it…and say it so that your ear can hear it. “My provision is in His promises.”

Next, let’s look deeper into another amazing promise in the same Scripture: “…that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Verse 4

I wonder whether current day Christians understand this language. I don’t know how it could be said any better than it was said in this verse. It means that “we become Partakers of God’s own nature.” We need to see ourselves as having received the potential to acquire a divine nature. We are told that we can have the actual nature of God living in us.

I’m aware of the abuse regarding the Scriptures and I’m trying to distance myself from the abuse of many current day Bible teachers with extreme caution and accuracy. Yet, in the final analysis, I believe the truths I’m presenting here are quite accurate. Let’s put this in perspective.

God’s divine nature is incorruptible. In modern English we might say it this way… God’s divine nature is pure, just, honorable and reliable. But everything in this world is corruptible. Or we could say it this way… This world in impure, unjust, dishonorable and unreliable. We could go on to add other adjectives describing this world and the world system as immoral and untruthful.

It seems logical therefore, that if we are to become partakers of the divine nature of God, then we must be able to be delivered from the corruption of this world. Not in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, which is available to every believer. We each have the potential to live with God’s nature in our spirit.

Let me try to summarize what I think Peter has told us in verses 3 and 4. Allow me to reduce these verses into five statements, which in succession could describe the first key of God’s provision of His promises.

1. God’s divine power has given us everything we will ever need for now and forever.
2. This power exists in rightly knowing and acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus.
3. God’s provision is His promises.
4. As we apply God’s promises, we become partakers of God’s nature.
5. As we become partakers of God’s nature, we are delivered from the corruption of this world.

May I suggest that you not merely read this newsletter once. Maybe not even twice. Why not internalize this information and develop yourself into someone new and stronger than ever. Take time to actually meditate on the teaching of this letter – but primarily meditate on the words of the Scriptures.

The reason I’m suggesting this is because the revelation of God’s provision, although freeing, is so contrary to what most people have been taught, it will take time to assimilate. Scripture tells us that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). This is why it is so different to what most Christians think that this information cannot be absorbed in just a few minutes. We are called to renew out minds and think as God thinks instead of how the world thinks. I believe you’ll find that to accomplish that regarding any truth of God, it demands more than just a few moments. If you’ll expose your entire mind and being to these truths repeatedly, there’s a great change that can literally become a part of the new you.

“Thank you for helping with the weekly Bible teachings.” With your help we will continue to preach and teach His word until at every opportunity the Lord provides. He has led us to continue preaching to the remnant Church and continue to win the lost whenever possible. We each must take action–for the sake of our families, our future, and the world as we know it, we must take a stand for Jesus. I hope you will join us through prayer and generous giving today while there is still time to keep teaching and proclaiming the life-changing gospel of Jesus.

(left) Dale Black with long-time friend since 1963, and former football/baseball teammate, varsity football for Western Pioneers – Jeff Kahn.  Together we are preaching the gospel of Jesus in Ms. Lorraine Roger’s 2nd grade class at Maranatha Christian Academy this week (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa).

You remain in our hearts and prayers. Remember also, with God nothing is impossible!
Dale & Paula  

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