II PETER 1:12-21 Lesson # 3
TRUE AUTHORITY
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Q What is the sign of true spiritual authority in your opinion?
An = Let them answer but do not comment.
Q Is position, or title important?
An = 1) To show respect to authority, whether civil or secular, is appropriate. One should respect elders, parents, priests (ministers), secular authorities (Romans), the king, etc. It is true that often one is in a position of authority because of their qualifications or the respect others have placed in them to allow them in such positions. However, the Bible tells many stories of wicked kings, wicked high priests, etc.
2) Spiritual authority, however, is another matter. There are those who speaks for the Lord with an authority that must be obeyed? The end of II Peter will speak to this issue in three ways: Spiritual authority is based on the care given by the authority, spiritual experience, and the prophetic word.
III. Authority Which Cares: II Peter 1:12-15.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:12
Q Why does the leader, pastor, or parent need to be one who reminds, as well as a teacher of new information, that cuts new ground?
An = Let them answer, make no comment.
Q Have you ever resented your parents that “reminded you” of your obligations or have you ever been thankful that they “reminded you” of crucial responsibilities?
An = Let them answer. Good authorities love those they instruct or lead. Reminding is usually done to help. At times, we initially resent such reminders, but when we are in a proper state of mind, truth is truth.
RQ It often depends on how it is done, does it not?
Let’s see if Peter does it in such a way that is less irritating as possibly can be.
Q How is Peter, as a good spiritual authority, softening the irritation in verse 12?
An = He gives them credit for knowledge (i.e. “I know you already know these truths”), and he gives them status as presently established in such truth. In other words, he is not putting them down. He acknowledges their intelligence and learning. Peter does not belittle.
Q Can you give an example of this being done in your presence by an authority you know?
An = Let them give examples, and only give one if they fail to come up with one. You want them to see that such approaches are possible today, but must be worked at.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:13-14.
Q How is Peter softening possible aggravation with these statements?
An = He appeals to his approaching death. He states he knows that he will die soon.
Q Would this not soften you?
An = Let them answer. It is true that most of the teaching we do, or the instruction that is given to us, is not in a death-bed situation. However, at times we do depart from a group at the end of a Sunday School class, or class room at a School, or students graduate, leave the church or we are about to leave. RQ Would not this amount to the same thing? When we leave certain situations or our “students” or “children” leave us, there is a special “soft” time to teach and impact those we love.
Note: Peter is wisely using such a “softening” technique so that his listeners will hear. He is not “guilt tripping” them as you will soon see, but trying to remind so as to bless. He knows that if they listen to him, he will secure goodness and blessing for them. He is not using this emotional appeal for consideration for himself, or self-aggrandizement, but unselfishly using this emotional “trump card” for their benefit.
Good leaders use good technique to love, not bring praise to themselves.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:15
Q What is Peter’s goal in such reminders?
An = That after he is gone they will call them to mind. True spiritual authority serves and loves the sheep. Peter is only doing what his Lord did and fulfilling his Lord’s command in John 21:15-17.
Note: The first test of a good spiritual leader is one who loves those being lead. He looks into their future and reminds them for their own good.
IV. Authority With Authentic Spiritual Experience: Peter the EyeWitness. II Peter 1:15-18.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:16
Q What is Peter stating here?
An = He is seemingly stating two things. The foundation of their teaching is not a “clever tale” but is anchored in history. Peter was there, in the flesh. He was an eyewitness. He is also stating his own claim for being listened to as a credible spiritual authority. God granted him actual life experience that he was to give witness to. He had experiential knowledge of what he was talking about.
Q What role should life experience play in our listening to those who claim to have spiritual authority?
An = For one thing, this brings in an element of humility. We cannot usually by our effort control history. Our praying, our education, our position, etc. cannot overcome the fact that some people were there and others were not. It was God’s choice as to who was there and who was not. Secondly, some spiritual experiences do give a reality to our lives that brings true authority, that position and education do not. Christianity is not just about position or education but about life. It is therefore not unusual that “life experience” should count for so much. Thirdly, how experiences are recorded or told about is very key to their genuineness. Watch who is emphasized in Peter’s account….
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:17-18
Q Who is glorified in this story, Peter or Jesus?
An = It is Jesus. Notice the words “honor”, “glory” “Majesty Glory”, “beloved Son”, “well pleased” all refer to Jesus or God. All Peter claims is that he heard and was there.
RQ Is it tempting when a spiritual experience is recounted to subtly tell the story in such a way that our substantialness or glory is brought out?
Q Can you give an example of a leader telling a story of spiritual life experience that brought glory to God and not themselves?
An = It would be best if they count recount a story. Give one only if they do not.
Note: Peter is a genuine spiritual authority with the right to call them to remembrance. He was an eyewitness, that focuses the center light on His Lord. It is easier to listen to “reminders” from leaders who have real life experience and who are not egotistical in their recounting of their life’s experience.
V. The Authority of the Prophetic Word: II Peter 1:19-21.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:19
Q What does this mean? What is a prophetic word?
An = This could mean the Old Testament prophets but more likely Peter is referring to present day prophets and prophetesses in the church. They gave words of prophecy. Prophecy does not necessarily mean “prediction” or “foretelling” but “forthtelling”. A word of prophecy was a word from the Lord.
Q Can you give a modern, or present day example of a word of prophecy?
An = Let them give their examples. The early church was alive with words of prophecy. Philip had four daughters that were prophetesses (Acts 21:9), Timothy had a word of prophecy pronounced over him (I Timothy 1:18, 4:14), Agabus in Acts gave prophetic words (Acts 11:28, 21:10).
Q How does Peter view such prophetic words according to verse 19?
An = 1) They are words they would do well to pay attention to. 2) They were to serve as guides, as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in their hearts. These words were not to be put aside, and they were to be like light in a dark world.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:20-21.
Q What is Peter’s point here in these verses? What do they have to do with spiritual authority?
An = In verse 20, Peter is saying, prophecy should not be privately interpreted, as prophecy is not of man’s will, but comes when men (would include women here) are moved by the Holy Spirit from God.
Peter is no doubt demonstrating that words of prophecy are to be heeded but to watch out for those who have “private” messages coming from their own will. Spiritual authority is not in the claims made but in the Holy Spirit of God.
RQ How does one understand when someone is giving a prophecy from God and therefore has spiritual authority and when are such prophecies coming from private interpretation?
This is what we will discuss next week.
Homework: Read chapter two and build a list of what makes a false prophet according to II Peter 2. Bring your list next week and we will compare them.