Words Of Truth

First Peter 2:1-3
Desiring The Word To Grow In Understanding Of Our Lord

I. Introduction:

A. It takes a prepared heart for the word of God to be effective (Mark 4:14-20).

1. Before one can have his or her heart right, he or she has to get away from things that interfere (Ezekiel 18:31-32 and James 1:21).
2. Think about what Ezra did (Ezra 7:10).
3. In contrast to Ezra, consider what Rehoboam did not do (II Chronicles 12:13-14).

1. The things from our sinful pasts (Colossians 3:5-10).
2. Even for those who are not in a sinful state, there is a need to set aside the things that would weigh us down (Hebrews 12:1-3).

1. All malice [ill-will, desire to injure; wickedness] (I Corinthians 14:20, Ephesians 4:31, and I Peter 2:16).
2. All guile [craft; deceit] (Mark 7:20-23, I Peter 2:21-23, and I Peter 3:10; cf. Mark 14:1).
3. Hypocrisies (Proverbs 11:9, Matthew 7:1-5, and I Timothy 4:1-3; cf. James 3:13-17).
4. Envies (Proverbs 14:30, Proverbs 27:4, I Timothy 6:3-5, and James 4:1-5; cf. Mark 15:6-10).
5. All evil speakings [backbitings; Strong’s # 2636] (II Corinthians 12:20; cf. Psalms 15:1-3).
6. Why? Carnality prevents growth (I Corinthians 3:1-3).

1. From the standpoint of hunger and thirst (Isaiah 55:1-11).
2. From the standpoint of innocence and humility (Matthew 18:3-4).
3. Form the standpoint of the first works (Revelation 2:1-5).
4. Not from the standpoint of inexperience, as that would be a negative for those who should not be at that stage (Hebrews 5:12-14).

1. Defined: “1) to long for, desire; 2) to pursue with love, to long after; 3) to lust, harbor forbidden desire” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon; Strong’s # 1971).

1. “Long” (Romans 1:11).
2. “Earnestly desiring” (II Corinthians 5:2).
3. “Long after” (II Corinthians 9:14).
4. “Long after” (Philippians 1:8).
5. “Longed after” (Philippians 2:26).
6. “Desiring greatly” (I Thessalonians 3:6).
7. “Greatly desiring” (II Timothy 1:4).
8. “Lusteth” (James 4:5).

2. Think about the people of old, and how we should be far more interested in the law of liberty than they were in the Law of Moses which could not justify them. Yet, they were more attentive than many professed Christians ever are (Nehemiah 8:1-9; 9:1-3).

1. Every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5).
2. As silver tried in the furnace (Psalms 12:6).
3. Which is why we should love His word (Psalms 119:140).

1. Growth isn’t just about an accumulation of knowledge (II Peter 1:1-11).
2. Lacking knowledge is shameful for those that should have such as professing Christians (I Corinthians 15:34).
3. While Christians are expected to grow and such growth will result in greater knowledge, we have to be careful too (I Corinthians 8:1).

1. His word directly states that He is gracious (Psalms 145:8-9).
2. His word testifies of His kindness in ways we benefit from spiritually and physically (Titus 3:3-4 and Matthew 5:45).