Add “to Knowledge Temperance”

2 Peter 1:6

                A good synonym for Temperance is moderation.  To “temper” something means to bring it to a moderate state. In [Exodus 30:35] the Lord describes a mixture for a perfume to be used in the tabernacle and says “And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection (mixture) after the art of the apothecary (one who prepares compounds for medical purposes), tempered together, pure and holy:” In the previous verse [34] the Lord makes sure that all parts shall be of “like weight”. What he wanted was a mixture that was temperate, where no part of it was in excess. In [1Cor.12:24] “God hath tempered the body together,”   again, he wants no part to be excessive in the body (church) but for all to work together in moderation.

Peter now states that we should add to our knowledge temperance. We learned in our last lesson that knowledge is a clear and certain perception of truth. The Lord wants you to be temperate in all things; too much of anything is not good.

[PS.119:103] “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” [Prov.25:16] “Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.” Believe it or not, you can have too much of God’s words.

[Numbers 11] The children of Israel craved a good thing, flesh or quail to eat. They found out that too much of a good thing was bad.

[1Cor.9:25] Paul says “and every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” If you are in any type of sport, you know the moderation that must be had to succeed. This passage is also speaking of a crown that a Christian can receive for temperance. [1Cor.14:40] Paul says to “let all things be done decently and in order.”

[Phil.4:5] “Let your moderation be known unto all men “Temperance is a huge part of your testimony. If you are excessive in any part of your life people will make note of it.

Do you?  Eat too much, Sleep too much, Talk too much, Look in the mirror too much, spend too much, or Want too much? Do your emotions travel to extremes in either direction? Do you have mood swings in excess?

Do you? Read too much Bible, Pray too much, give too much, witness too much, or go to church too much? None of us have excesses in these areas.

If you are saved, then temperance is part of the fruit that the Spirit of God bears in your life, [Gal.5:22-23]. Are you bearing this fruit? The Holy Spirit will help you identify areas in your life where you are not temperate, but YOU must make the choices necessary to fix the problems. The Holy Spirit has never yet forced me, not to eat too much, etc. But the Holy Spirit will help you mortify the deeds of your flesh [Rom.8:13]