Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
2 1 2024
No Audio Version
The first step on any journey or time of growth is the commitment to wanting something different and spending some time getting to know the object of your affection…Jesus. Let’s take a deeper look into what Peter says about growing in an intimate relationship with God. I must caution you this is a very deep letter from Peter encouraging Christians to live out the purpose of their lives in Christ.
He challenges his followers to continue their growth…
to continue striving in faith, love, and service to God.
2 Peter 1 Growth in Christian Virtue
1Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus ,
To those who have received and possess [by God’s will] a precious faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.
5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), 6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, 7and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].
8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive regarding the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.
(I promise you will need to read this again, slowly).
How often has one asked:
Why do I feel distant from God? Why do I feel alone and unhappy with myself? What can I do?
He is giving us these answers but he will not throw pearls out among people who are not serious or who are playing a game with their mouths but not their hearts.
The first step on any journey or time of growth is the commitment to wanting something different. This passage lays out a clear path… vs 2 of having a true, intimate knowledge of Jesus. We cannot have that growth without reading and pondering his word. VS 4 says he has bestowed on us his magnificent promises SO THAT we might escape the immoral freedoms and become sharers of his divine nature. He tells us in vs 5 to exercise our faith. and to DEVELOP moral excellence, insight, and understanding. Just like the scrawny kid next store who doesn’t feel like he fits and starts working out to build up his body. He exercises to build muscle, Peter says in vs 8 he speaks as these qualities increase and as you GROW becoming more spiritually mature by studying, they will KEEP YOU from being unproductive and unproductive about Godly knowledge and having a deeper relationship with God.
He calls them in vs 9 as being blind…shortsighted… actually closing their eyes to the spiritual eyes they may even be saying they are seeking. Oblivious that he was cleansed from his old sins and what that really means.
I spoke with a man today who said he was broken and felt this sense of despair in his life. I asked him how long he had been adrift or apart from God. He said I go to church almost every week. I asked him again. He said I am pretty faithful in attending. I told him the church pews are full of people who are still unsaved, or who are living in sin but they still go to church.
God is not about a church building but about God and being loved and adored by his children. I said there are still too many lost souls in church. Peter says in vs 10 to be fully aware of God’s calling you and choosing you… when we do our behavior and attitude will be that of a Christ child…He said as you grow and develop these virtues you will not stunt your spiritual growth and will even lead others away from their sins and depressions. He says you will lead a life…live a life, filled with grace and it will provide an entry into his kingdom…even here on earth.
The first step on any journey or time of growth is the commitment to wanting something different.
2 Peter 3 tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is not referring to physical growth like you might see from a plant. Rather, this passage is referring to the spiritual growth of growing closer to God.
Like that man today you must first want to.
2. Focus on Your Relationship with God.
3. Pray for Growth.
4. Memorize and Meditate on God’s Word.
5: Seek Wisdom and His promise and it will find you.
6. Don’t walk alone. We need to be part of a small group. They will walk with you and lift you up when you fall and need encouragement and be there in the battles that will come. Just as you will be there for them. If we do not work on growing Godly virtues then we become a claiming bell or symbol.
Our Courageous Mens Group begins Monday at the Land O Lakes campus of Grace Family Church 7pm
Come Join Us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAiDJZ4cdfA
I have loved you Matt Henry
