Many people read 2 Peter 1:4 and think, “I wish that were true in my life,” but it is true, and it has the power to set you free from temptation and sin.
2 Peter 1:4 (NLT):
"And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Key #1 How do God’s promises give us His divine nature?
03:27 Key #2 How do we access the power of these promises?
06:12 Key #3 How do God’s promises help us overcome temptations and sin?
07:37 Ephesians 4 Tells Us What to Do
07:55 Romans 12 Tells Us How
10:33 Activation
Key #1: How God’s Promises Give Us His Divine Nature
Key Point: God’s promises contain the power to change you from the inside out.
God’s Promises Are Seeds:
1 Peter 1:23 (NIV):
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God."
God plants His Word—His promises—like seeds in your heart. These seeds grow into the life and character of God when nurtured.
The Parable of the Sower and the Seed:
Mark 4:3-9: Jesus explains that your heart is the soil for God’s Word.
God’s Word never fails, but the attitude of your heart determines how much fruit it will bear.
Ask yourself: Is your heart ready to receive and nurture God’s promises?
Key #2: How We Access the Power of God’s Promises
Key Point: Faith is the connection point.
Scripture:
Hebrews 4:2 (AMP):
"The message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith."
Example: The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, never entering the Promised Land because they didn’t believe in God’s promise. Their lack of faith kept them from victory.
Faith Activates God’s Promises:
Faith is like plugging an appliance into a power outlet. Without being connected to the source, the appliance is lifeless.
Similarly, without faith, God’s promises remain unused in your life.
Illustration:
Electricity transforms lifeless appliances into tools of purpose. In the same way, faith activates God’s promises, bringing His power to your life.
Key Truth:
2 Peter 1:4: God’s promises are “the power source” that enables you to share His divine nature and escape sin. But faith is what connects you to that power.
Key #3: How God’s Promises Help You Overcome Temptations and Sin
Key Point: God’s promises empower you to resist sin and live in victory.
A New Nature:
When you are born again, God gives you a new nature—a godly nature.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT):
"Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."
Your new nature isn’t free from challenges. The old nature still tries to pull you back, but God’s promises give you the strength to resist.
Practical Application:
A. Throw off your old sinful nature: Surrender everything to God.
Romans 12:1 (NLT): “Give your bodies to God… Let them be a living and holy sacrifice.”
Surrender is an ongoing process of trusting and obeying God.
B. Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes:
Romans 12:2 (NLT): “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Replace worldly thoughts and desires with God’s truth. Memorize His promises and speak them over your life.
Psalm 119:11: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
C. Put on your new nature: Walk in the life God has given you.
Romans 12:2: Renewing your mind with God’s promises transforms you into a new person who reflects His character.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Activation: Practical Steps to Resist Temptation
Identify Promises for Your Struggles:
Engage with the Promises:
Read, declare, and pray them daily until they become anchored in your heart.
Speak God’s truth to your temptations.
Renew Your Mind Daily:
Protect your heart and mind by consistently meditating on God’s Word.
Engage with God’s promises, not just through reading, but by making them personal and actionable in your life.
Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but God’s promises are the key to lasting change.
As you read, declare, and live out God’s promises daily, your heart will begin to change. You’ll find strength to resist temptation and live in victory. Don’t give up. Keep renewing your mind with God’s Word and trust that His power is working in you. God’s promises never fail (see Isaiah 55:11), and God is faithful to complete the work He started in you (see Philippians 1:6).