WEBVTT 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:08.740 Well before we get started I always get the privilege 00:00:08.740 --> 00:00:12.460 to announce whenever there's a new baby born 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:16.280 in our church and I'll be making these announcements 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:18.820 more regularly apparently in the spring as a 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:21.539 there's more and more more babies getting Born 00:00:21.539 --> 00:00:25.399 which I love to see that happening But in December 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:28.460 Caleb and Lizzie Friginal had their baby Colin 00:00:28.460 --> 00:00:33.179 the baby Colin was born in December. Yeah and 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:37.039 Yeah, we can clap for that. And then just a few 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:42.799 days ago on the 31st, Mazie and Mathias O had 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.159 their baby, baby Hazel was born. So yeah, exciting 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:50.420 times in our church whenever there's new babies 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:53.159 born into our church. It speaks to the life of 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.079 our church and the use of our church as well 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:00.060 and excited for them to have their children. 00:01:00.890 --> 00:01:04.549 And if you see them encourage them in that way 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:08.709 and you can also send them a text and Congratulate 00:01:08.709 --> 00:01:13.530 them as well So I want to let you guys know that 00:01:13.530 --> 00:01:16.329 well if you have your Bible Let's turn to a second 00:01:16.329 --> 00:01:19.329 Peter this morning second Peter chapter 3 this 00:01:19.329 --> 00:01:22.269 Sunday is kind of a kickoff Sunday into 2026 00:01:22.269 --> 00:01:26.400 and Kind of a time to like I said start thinking 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.280 about School tomorrow for some of you some of 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:32.340 your parents are like good my kids go back to 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:34.780 school tomorrow. I'm excited about that Others 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:37.480 you're like bummer got to go back to school tomorrow 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:40.640 You guys are thinking about the year and whatnot 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:43.060 and I just thought it'd be a good idea for us 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.200 to just consider and To think about and meditate 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:49.459 on how it is that you want to grow spiritually 00:01:49.849 --> 00:01:54.370 this year and encourage you and remind you of 00:01:54.370 --> 00:01:57.769 the blessed opportunity that you have and even 00:01:57.769 --> 00:02:00.150 command of scripture to grow in the grace and 00:02:00.150 --> 00:02:04.129 knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. last week 00:02:04.129 --> 00:02:07.629 thankful for Jonah and his Preparation and teaching 00:02:07.629 --> 00:02:10.009 last week as he really gave us the motivation 00:02:10.009 --> 00:02:15.169 behind spiritual growth the motivation Behind 00:02:15.169 --> 00:02:17.770 it and the driving factors of the Apostle Paul 00:02:17.770 --> 00:02:23.330 what he had Going into his desire for for Christ 00:02:23.330 --> 00:02:25.150 likeness and if you were here last week, then 00:02:25.150 --> 00:02:28.669 you remember him talking about the love of God 00:02:28.669 --> 00:02:32.949 controlling us talking about the hope of a future 00:02:32.949 --> 00:02:36.650 resurrection and these driving factors to cause 00:02:36.650 --> 00:02:40.229 us to think about why we should pursue Christ 00:02:40.229 --> 00:02:43.340 and become more like him. Well this morning I 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:46.620 want to put some practical pieces to that and 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:49.800 and even just to help us even practically Put 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:53.000 in place a plan. How is it that I will grow in 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.120 2026? Maybe you've already done this. It's already 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:58.840 What is it? July 4th? So maybe you're three days 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:01.259 into your new year's resolution Maybe some of 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:03.199 you are thought I'm just not gonna do that this 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:06.379 year and I'm just gonna See how it goes. And 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:09.699 we'll work with that as well. And some of you 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:11.439 are thinking, hey, this afternoon's gonna be 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.500 a good time. I'm gonna put a plan in place. I'm 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:16.740 gonna really consider how it is that I'm gonna 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:19.000 grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:21.500 Savior, Jesus Christ. And I hope that that is 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:24.159 your desire, that you wanna grow and become more 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:28.620 like Christ in 2026. So if you have your Bible, 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:32.120 let's look at 2nd Peter 3 verse 14 down to verse 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:35.479 18 Together and I'll pray for us and then we'll 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:39.280 jump in and see all that it has for us verse 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:44.340 14 therefore beloved Since you are waiting for 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:48.620 these be diligent To be found by him without 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:52.219 spot or blemish and at peace and count the patience 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:55.349 of our Lord as salvation Just as our beloved 00:03:55.349 --> 00:03:57.870 brother Paul also wrote to you according to the 00:03:57.870 --> 00:04:00.969 wisdom given him as He does in all his letters 00:04:00.969 --> 00:04:03.949 when he speaks in them of these matters There 00:04:03.949 --> 00:04:06.550 are some things in them that are hard to understand 00:04:06.550 --> 00:04:09.870 which the ignorant and unstable twist to their 00:04:09.870 --> 00:04:13.490 own destruction as they do the other scriptures 00:04:13.490 --> 00:04:18.649 You therefore beloved knowing this beforehand 00:04:18.649 --> 00:04:22.370 take care that you are not carried away with 00:04:22.370 --> 00:04:25.990 the error of lawless people and lose your own 00:04:25.990 --> 00:04:31.209 stability. Verse 18. But grow in the grace and 00:04:31.209 --> 00:04:34.430 knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:04:35.110 --> 00:04:39.470 To him be the glory both now and to the day of 00:04:39.470 --> 00:04:44.990 eternity. Amen. Lord, thank you for this time 00:04:44.990 --> 00:04:48.529 we have in your word. Lord, would you inspire 00:04:48.529 --> 00:04:54.180 us and motivate us. To be able to obey this charge 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:56.500 and this command that you've given to us to grow 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:59.120 in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:02.660 Jesus Christ May we be able even to look back 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:05.300 on on this year and see the grace that you've 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:08.560 given to us To grow and mature in the things 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.459 of the Lord Lord in all we want to be transformed 00:05:12.459 --> 00:05:15.860 to become more like Christ Would you help us 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:21.500 to do that in Jesus name? Amen One of the traditions 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:25.439 that our family has around the Christmas time 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.519 is to one night during December we go down to 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:34.139 Bell Square down here and we shop and we go to 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:36.720 dinner together and then what has happened after 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:39.439 that is we've taken a picture of our children 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:42.540 since seven years ago. We've taken a picture 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:45.860 of them and each year we've been able to take 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:47.899 another picture and another picture and another 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:50.110 picture and another picture and it It was just 00:05:50.110 --> 00:05:51.569 one of those things that was like, hey, we took 00:05:51.569 --> 00:05:53.410 a picture last year. Let's take a picture again. 00:05:53.490 --> 00:05:55.110 And then it was, oh, remember we took a picture 00:05:55.110 --> 00:05:58.569 last year. We've taken it again. Well, now on 00:05:58.569 --> 00:06:01.129 your phone, it comes up as these memories of 00:06:01.129 --> 00:06:03.189 the picture of what happened the year before 00:06:03.189 --> 00:06:05.470 and the year before and the year before. And 00:06:05.470 --> 00:06:08.689 what you can see very clearly is you can see 00:06:08.689 --> 00:06:11.970 physical growth that is happening with my kids. 00:06:12.110 --> 00:06:14.649 In fact, If you know them, you know that all 00:06:14.649 --> 00:06:17.430 of them have grown substantially over the last 00:06:17.430 --> 00:06:21.470 seven years. And they have passed me up as far 00:06:21.470 --> 00:06:23.649 as height. And I'm finding out that I'm shrinking 00:06:23.649 --> 00:06:26.009 and no longer growing up, but growing out. And 00:06:26.009 --> 00:06:29.250 I'm working on that and trying to handle that 00:06:29.250 --> 00:06:32.790 myself. But you can see this clear physical growth 00:06:32.790 --> 00:06:36.829 that has happened year over year with my children. 00:06:37.310 --> 00:06:40.029 It is something that is real. It is something 00:06:40.029 --> 00:06:42.730 that you can see. It's something that is right 00:06:42.730 --> 00:06:45.250 in front of you. It's easy to measure, it's evident, 00:06:45.329 --> 00:06:48.129 and it's obvious the physical growth that you 00:06:48.129 --> 00:06:52.430 can see year over year. But as you know, physical 00:06:52.430 --> 00:06:56.389 growth reaches a peak. At some point, you stop 00:06:56.389 --> 00:06:58.670 growing. In fact, maybe you start going backwards, 00:06:59.129 --> 00:07:01.470 but my point is you stop growing physically. 00:07:01.969 --> 00:07:04.110 For some of you, you reach that peak in the fifth 00:07:04.110 --> 00:07:06.329 grade. You're like, that is it. My fifth grade 00:07:06.329 --> 00:07:08.389 was as tall as I got and everybody else passed 00:07:08.389 --> 00:07:11.009 me up by then. For others of you, you grew later 00:07:11.009 --> 00:07:15.790 on and into college. But unlike physical growth 00:07:15.790 --> 00:07:18.850 where there's a definite vertical ending where 00:07:18.850 --> 00:07:23.050 you stop growing, spiritually, there is no end 00:07:23.050 --> 00:07:27.170 to the growth that you can have. You never stop 00:07:27.170 --> 00:07:30.779 growing in the things of the Lord. You never 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:34.279 stop maturing in the things of the Lord there 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:37.620 There is never a moment for the believer where 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:40.879 they have arrived spiritually and can now kick 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:44.980 it into a Autopilot or can now say I've reached 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:48.180 a level of righteousness that I can just coast 00:07:48.180 --> 00:07:55.540 now in the Christian life This process of growing, 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:59.500 theologians call it the sanctification process. 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:03.759 And once you are saved, where you are declared 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:07.500 righteous, your justification, you are now on 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:11.199 a path called sanctification, which is just another 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:14.459 way to say the process of becoming more like 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:19.079 Jesus Christ. And that process continues on and 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:21.579 on and on, day after day after day, week after 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:24.519 week after week, month after month, year after 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.060 year, until you reach glorification, which is 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:31.319 a time when you pass from this world and enter 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:36.700 into eternity. The Bible speaks often about spiritual 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:40.059 growth. The Bible speaks of its importance to 00:08:40.059 --> 00:08:43.070 the believer. The more mature you are in Christ, 00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:45.909 the greater your enjoyment will be of this life. 00:08:46.029 --> 00:08:48.370 The more mature you are in Christ, the greater 00:08:48.370 --> 00:08:51.169 you will be able to handle suffering and hardship 00:08:51.169 --> 00:08:53.990 in this life. The more mature you are in Christ 00:08:53.990 --> 00:08:57.009 and the more you are like Christ, then you will 00:08:57.009 --> 00:08:59.789 receive and understand what peace and joy and 00:08:59.789 --> 00:09:02.250 happiness and the fruits of the spirit are in 00:09:02.250 --> 00:09:06.309 this life. To say it another way, it's this. 00:09:06.549 --> 00:09:10.269 All things get spiritually better for the believer 00:09:10.269 --> 00:09:17.190 as they mature in Christ. All things. When it 00:09:17.190 --> 00:09:19.830 comes to spiritual growth, the Bible then says 00:09:19.830 --> 00:09:22.470 things like this in 1 Timothy 6 -11, that we 00:09:22.470 --> 00:09:26.690 should be pursuing righteousness. In Romans 12 00:09:26.690 --> 00:09:30.009 -1, we are being transformed. In 2 Corinthians 00:09:30.009 --> 00:09:33.350 7 -11, we are perfecting holiness. In Philippians 00:09:33.350 --> 00:09:37.090 4 -13, we're pressing on towards the goal and 00:09:37.090 --> 00:09:40.509 Colossians 2 7 were being built up in the faith. 00:09:40.509 --> 00:09:44.289 This is a continual process for the believer 00:09:44.289 --> 00:09:48.529 over and over and over again. We are continually 00:09:48.529 --> 00:09:55.090 growing, continually maturing in the faith because 00:09:55.090 --> 00:09:59.129 no one has spiritually arrived. No one has reached 00:09:59.129 --> 00:10:04.659 sainthood, priesthood, where you are considered 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:08.840 fully mature. And the great thing about this 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:12.600 is, in God's providence, is this. The church 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:15.340 is always in this process together, and so it 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:18.340 actually is a unifying effect for the church. 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:20.779 Because we can look around to our left and to 00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:22.720 our right, and in front of us and behind us, 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.360 and go, yeah, that person, just like me, is battling 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:29.279 and growing in the things of the Lord always. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:33.120 and continually into this life. And it unifies 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:39.159 the church. Nobody says, hey, I'm a part of the 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.980 church, but I actually don't need to grow in 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:45.639 the Lord anymore. In fact, I'm the mature one 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:49.679 in the church. And the rest of you need to go 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:55.100 to Bible study. Not me. I've been saved for a 00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:57.799 number of years and my spiritual progress is 00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:02.840 outpacing the rest of you. Good luck with how 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:04.820 that's going. No, nobody's in that boat. We're 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:08.100 all in this together, growing and maturing in 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:11.279 the things of the Lord. As we come to this passage 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:14.279 this morning and kind of parachute here into 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:18.179 2 Peter, there is this admonition in verse 18 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:21.980 that we are to grow in the grace and the knowledge 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:26.379 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter is 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:28.659 coming down to his final writings that he has 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:32.120 for the church. This encouraging letter, this 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:35.240 exhortive letter, this letter that ends with 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:37.519 this command, and I always find this fascinating 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:40.480 whenever I jump back and think about these letters 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.320 that Peter wrote, is that he came to the end 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:46.799 of his life, And he does not come to the end 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.519 of his life and say to us, hey guys, this is 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:53.220 my final thing to say to you, and it is this, 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:59.600 don't deny Jesus Christ like I did. Don't go 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.960 there. Or he doesn't come down to the end and 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.919 say, hey, be somebody who gives people second 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:07.480 chances because I got a second chance in life. 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:11.200 Of all the things Peter could have said about 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:14.529 his own life and his own experience, He doesn't 00:12:14.529 --> 00:12:16.970 say any of those things. He comes down to the 00:12:16.970 --> 00:12:20.129 end of this book and he exhorts us with this. 00:12:20.429 --> 00:12:23.370 Here's what I want you to do. I want you to continue 00:12:23.370 --> 00:12:28.870 to grow in grace. Believer, continue to grow 00:12:28.870 --> 00:12:33.789 in knowledge and do it all to the glory of God 00:12:33.789 --> 00:12:37.629 until we all reach that day where we are in eternity 00:12:37.629 --> 00:12:43.509 with him. Peter understood because he himself 00:12:43.509 --> 00:12:46.250 was not always buttoned up when it came to the 00:12:46.250 --> 00:12:49.509 Christian life. He understood that there is a 00:12:49.509 --> 00:12:52.649 pursuit. He understood that we are going to fail. 00:12:53.309 --> 00:12:55.909 He understood that we're gonna wake up and we're 00:12:55.909 --> 00:13:00.049 not going to desire God on certain days. We're 00:13:00.049 --> 00:13:02.190 gonna wake up and we're not gonna wanna grab 00:13:02.190 --> 00:13:05.190 our Bible on certain days. We're gonna wake up 00:13:05.190 --> 00:13:07.649 on Sunday morning and we're not gonna wanna go 00:13:07.649 --> 00:13:11.610 to church on certain Sundays. He understands 00:13:11.610 --> 00:13:16.309 all of that. But he comes down to the end and 00:13:16.309 --> 00:13:19.710 he says, here's what I want you to do. My final 00:13:19.710 --> 00:13:22.889 sentence that I'm going to write, the final thought 00:13:22.889 --> 00:13:26.070 I want to place in your head, it is this, continue 00:13:26.070 --> 00:13:31.250 to grow in grace and knowledge. Keep the faith. 00:13:31.870 --> 00:13:37.909 Keep going. Continue to pursue Christ. Continue 00:13:37.909 --> 00:13:44.710 to mature. Now the context by which he has this 00:13:44.710 --> 00:13:48.549 final saying, there's a lot in chapter one, chapter 00:13:48.549 --> 00:13:51.370 two, and chapter three, and it is concerning 00:13:51.370 --> 00:13:56.970 salvation, suffering, sanctification, and then 00:13:56.970 --> 00:14:00.809 a whole chapter, chapter two, he warns us about 00:14:00.809 --> 00:14:05.110 false teachers. That false teachers are out there, 00:14:05.389 --> 00:14:08.690 and they are coming in with swift destruction. 00:14:09.389 --> 00:14:16.870 to destroy and derail your faith. But he says 00:14:16.870 --> 00:14:23.929 here, I want you to grow. Continue to grow. Continue 00:14:23.929 --> 00:14:27.690 to go back to the basics of Christianity. Go 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:30.789 back to the basics of what you already know. 00:14:31.789 --> 00:14:33.490 And this morning really what I'm gonna give to 00:14:33.490 --> 00:14:35.960 you and. Say to you and how I'm going to encourage 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:38.740 you a lot of it will not be brand new information 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:42.179 some of it will be in fact most of it will be 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:48.259 reminders just basic reminders I Feel like I'm 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.960 in good company doing that because turn back 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:52.600 with me in first or in second Peter chapter 2 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:56.539 or second Peter chapter 1 in verse 12 Even Peter 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:58.919 understands this and writing this letter. He 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:02.820 says therefore I intend always to what? to remind 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:06.179 you of these qualities. Though you know them 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.759 and establish them in the truth that you have, 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.620 I think it's right, as long as I'm in this body, 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:13.340 to what? To stir you up by way of reminder. I 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:16.840 wanna encourage you church family just by way 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:22.860 of reminder. He goes on, he says, I make every 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:26.460 effort, verse 15, so that after my departure, 00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:31.080 you may be able to what? at any time to recall 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:33.860 these things. I just wanna remind you of things 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:40.700 you already know. In chapter three and verse 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:42.600 one he says, this is now the second time that 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:45.980 I'm writing you, beloved. In them, in both of 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:50.240 them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:55.080 of reminder. Sometimes we just need to be reminded 00:15:55.080 --> 00:16:00.159 of the basics. We just need to recall what it 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:05.740 is that causes growth within our life And he 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:08.360 says it in verse 17 of the passage we just read 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:10.740 in chapter 3 says you therefore beloved knowing 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:14.820 this Beforehand you already know these things 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:20.779 So you're saying yourself great is this a pastor 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:24.220 Joe telling me to read my Bible Is this pastor 00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:26.360 joe telling me to pray is this pastor joe telling 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:29.139 me to serve? Is this pastor joe telling me? Yes. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:32.419 Yes. Yes and yes It is all those things. This 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:36.259 is that sermon this morning I want to just remind 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:41.080 you of these things Okay, so here's four four 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:44.659 action items towards spiritual maturity in 2026 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:47.720 Okay, four things that I want to give to you 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:53.039 this morning Number one is this Get motivated 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:58.480 for holy living get motivated Get motivated for 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:01.120 holy living look at verse 14 therefore beloved 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:06.660 Since you are waiting for these be Diligent underline 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:08.920 it circle it highlight it with your favorite 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:12.819 color be Diligent to be found by him without 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:16.160 spot or blemish and at peace he says therefore 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.900 beloved. What are you saying therefore? Well 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:21.700 the context here is this, he has just said in 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:24.819 verse 10 that the day of the Lord is coming like 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:28.519 a thief in the night. He's saying this, at any 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:33.059 moment Jesus Christ will return. At any moment 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:37.660 our Lord and Savior will come back to redeem 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.799 his people. We don't know when that is going 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:44.599 to be, but we know it's going to happen. It even 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:47.799 says that he is being patient. He is awaiting. 00:17:48.780 --> 00:17:52.660 Verse nine he is the Lord is not slow to fulfill 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:55.680 his promise as some count slowest But is patient 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.220 towards you not wishing that any should perish 00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:01.500 But that all should reach repentance and the 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:04.319 patience of the Lord is going on right now But 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:06.779 that patience will end and he will come back 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:11.460 And so he says for the believer, therefore beloved, 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:14.180 since you are awaiting these things, you are 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:17.539 awaiting for Christ to return, this is what I 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:21.440 need you to do. I need you to be motivated to 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:24.420 live the Christian life. I need you to be diligent. 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:31.400 And he says this with a pastoral heart, therefore 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:37.579 beloved, those I love, since you're waiting. 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:42.140 Be diligent to be found by him without spot or 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:47.559 blemish and at peace You're looking for Christ 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:50.799 return while you're looking towards his return 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:57.519 have this thought in your mind Be diligent some 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:02.279 of your Bibles may say make every effort Make 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:05.599 every effort. It's the same word that that Peter 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:09.869 uses even in this letter chapter 1 in verse 10 00:19:09.869 --> 00:19:14.589 He says therefore brothers be all the more diligent 00:19:14.589 --> 00:19:19.829 to confirm your calling and election make every 00:19:19.829 --> 00:19:24.130 effort The command here is this it it stresses 00:19:24.130 --> 00:19:28.710 our personal duty and our responsibility To be 00:19:28.710 --> 00:19:35.529 motivated and to be active The word here it has 00:19:35.529 --> 00:19:41.710 the idea of zealous persistence, zealous persistence. 00:19:42.569 --> 00:19:45.730 Make every effort that you can, muster up all 00:19:45.730 --> 00:19:50.390 the ability that you can to be found in Him with 00:19:50.390 --> 00:19:54.549 peace, spotless and blameless. This is not the 00:19:54.549 --> 00:19:57.569 mindset of, hey, I'm just going to let go and 00:19:57.569 --> 00:20:03.190 let God. Just let go, church, and let God. No, 00:20:03.390 --> 00:20:08.740 church, don't let go. Make every effort that 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:12.500 you can to be spotless. Make every effort that 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:15.740 you can to be more diligent, to be found by Him 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:19.039 without spot and without blemish. Don't let go, 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:24.500 rather do all that you can to pursue holiness. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:32.660 We have a responsibility. This verb is in the 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:36.910 active voice. There's a desire here. There's 00:20:36.910 --> 00:20:42.670 a motivation here to get moving spiritually Just 00:20:42.670 --> 00:20:45.869 recently I in the last few months I decided probably 00:20:45.869 --> 00:20:48.390 a good idea to start thinking about my own health 00:20:48.390 --> 00:20:52.089 and So I got a gym membership and decided I'm 00:20:52.089 --> 00:20:54.490 just gonna pay for the whole year that way it 00:20:54.490 --> 00:20:57.829 was much cheaper to do that and Was like okay. 00:20:57.829 --> 00:21:01.150 It's already paid for I better go and use this 00:21:01.150 --> 00:21:05.299 thing And so I started going to the gym and I 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.960 looked at a treadmill and I thought to myself, 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:09.400 I wonder how that thing works, huh? I wonder 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:12.799 what you do with that. It's like, oh, you hit 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:15.059 the go button and it starts moving and I better 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:18.880 too or I'll fall off. And started getting on 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:21.480 a treadmill and looking over at the weights and 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:23.359 thought, hey, I should probably lift those things 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:27.539 too and see what happens if I do that. And started 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:30.150 just trying to be more active and take. take 00:21:30.150 --> 00:21:33.329 some initiative when it comes to physical health 00:21:33.329 --> 00:21:36.589 and been going now and trying to stay in this 00:21:36.589 --> 00:21:40.329 routine. But there's been times where I've been 00:21:40.329 --> 00:21:44.309 to the gym, and I see people there who have made 00:21:44.309 --> 00:21:47.950 the effort to get to the gym, but then they do 00:21:47.950 --> 00:21:52.089 absolutely nothing while they're there. And I'm 00:21:52.089 --> 00:21:56.049 just thinking to myself, why'd you even come? 00:21:57.160 --> 00:22:00.160 Like it's way more comfortable on the couch in 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.059 your outfit Than it is to actually be end of 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:08.119 the gym Sitting there looking at the person on 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:14.079 the treadmill. I Mean you're almost there like 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:18.200 you're so close like you did the hard part You 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:22.700 walked in Okay, you're there Now, what does it 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:25.380 take to get you motivated to hop on the thing? 00:22:26.589 --> 00:22:29.670 and not just look at everybody else doing everything. 00:22:30.289 --> 00:22:32.210 Look at that person now, they're really working 00:22:32.210 --> 00:22:35.750 hard over there. No wonder they're in shape. 00:22:36.829 --> 00:22:39.650 Look at that person over there, yeah. I'm just 00:22:39.650 --> 00:22:42.730 gonna enjoy my latte I grabbed at Starbucks on 00:22:42.730 --> 00:22:45.690 the way to the gym. Watch everybody else go to 00:22:45.690 --> 00:22:52.390 work. This motivation just stops at some point. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:55.859 Like you know what's right to do, but it just 00:22:55.859 --> 00:23:00.660 hits a wall. And Peter's saying here that you 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.740 need to be diligent, you need to be motivated, 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:05.920 you need to remind yourself Jesus is going to 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:12.460 come back, how will he find me? Will he find 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:16.160 me to be someone that was in him without spot 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:21.470 or blemish doing what I can to... to pursue holiness 00:23:21.470 --> 00:23:30.049 in this life. It was in me to say, God, I'm doing 00:23:30.049 --> 00:23:33.509 what I can to pursue Christ. I want to be inspired. 00:23:33.549 --> 00:23:36.089 I want to be disciplined for holy living. And 00:23:36.089 --> 00:23:38.809 we know this church, there are no shortcuts to 00:23:38.809 --> 00:23:42.769 sanctification. And our world loves shortcuts. 00:23:45.049 --> 00:23:50.819 We love the fact that we can order Online and 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:54.200 it come was in seven to ten days and Some of 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:56.960 your eyes like no, I don't like that. I Want 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:01.660 it tomorrow? Amazon in fact, I only buy it if 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:04.319 you can get it to me in the next six to ten hours 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:09.970 Okay, we love shortcuts We're built to get things 00:24:09.970 --> 00:24:12.609 now and so when it comes to the Christian life 00:24:12.609 --> 00:24:14.950 We want to read our Bible and we want to believe 00:24:14.950 --> 00:24:17.470 that all of a sudden I read it once I deserve 00:24:17.470 --> 00:24:22.269 the change in that moment. I read it once and 00:24:22.269 --> 00:24:27.269 That's not how the Christian life works There's 00:24:27.269 --> 00:24:31.670 no drive -through customized Drink that we can 00:24:31.670 --> 00:24:35.430 drink called immediate sanctification There's 00:24:35.430 --> 00:24:41.640 no double shot of that drink We have to keep 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:44.420 pursuing. We have to be motivated. We have to 00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:48.200 keep striving to present ourselves approved of 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:51.039 God as workmen who are not ashamed as it says 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:54.660 in 2nd Timothy 2 15 and and some of you are thinking 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:58.339 wow pastor like You're just telling me. I just 00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:00.480 need to try harder and try harder. In fact, I 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:02.160 feel like you're maybe even calling me a bum 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:05.660 right now because of this. I wanna tell you this, 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.700 I've been there before, where you're like, I 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:10.779 really wanna do this, but I keep running into 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:13.359 that wall. I'm with you, I've been there before. 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:17.039 And the fundamental change that you need to make, 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:18.759 you ready? You ready? Well, write this down. 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:20.539 The fundamental change that you need to make 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:23.339 is this. You need to wake up tomorrow morning 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:27.960 and you need to admit that you can't do it. Wake 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:31.220 up tomorrow morning and go, God, I can't pursue 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:35.650 you without your grace. Wake up tomorrow morning 00:25:35.650 --> 00:25:38.789 and go, I can't get into work tomorrow and live 00:25:38.789 --> 00:25:41.410 the Christian life apart from your grace. And 00:25:41.410 --> 00:25:45.710 I'm going to live my life grace infused tomorrow. 00:25:47.529 --> 00:25:52.109 Entirely dependent on your grace to pursue holiness. 00:25:54.049 --> 00:25:56.089 Instead of saying, I'm just gonna pull up my 00:25:56.089 --> 00:25:59.869 bootstraps and I'm just gonna get it done. No, 00:25:59.890 --> 00:26:01.529 you're gonna wake up and go, I can't get it done, 00:26:01.829 --> 00:26:06.470 Lord. I need you, I need your grace. I don't 00:26:06.470 --> 00:26:08.509 want to read my Bible, but by grace would you 00:26:08.509 --> 00:26:11.789 give me a desire to read my Bible today? By grace 00:26:11.789 --> 00:26:14.230 would you give me a desire to pray today? By 00:26:14.230 --> 00:26:16.869 grace would you give me a desire to serve today? 00:26:18.549 --> 00:26:22.130 And when you do that, you then begin to be motivated 00:26:22.130 --> 00:26:24.950 no longer by your effort, but you get to be motivated 00:26:24.950 --> 00:26:32.630 by the grace of God in your life. And we keep 00:26:32.630 --> 00:26:36.869 pursuing Christ by the grace of God. By grace, 00:26:39.650 --> 00:26:44.150 I can defeat sin. By my own power, I cannot. 00:26:44.289 --> 00:26:47.390 I need your grace today. Ephesians 6 -10. Be 00:26:47.390 --> 00:26:50.289 strong in the Lord and in the strength of His 00:26:50.289 --> 00:26:55.869 might. Let me give you another. Moving on here. 00:26:57.029 --> 00:27:00.890 Let me give you another. Action item for 2026 00:27:00.890 --> 00:27:03.589 is this number two guard against false teachers 00:27:03.589 --> 00:27:05.789 Guard against false teachers and there's a lot 00:27:05.789 --> 00:27:09.130 of them out there church And we need to be reminded 00:27:09.130 --> 00:27:11.269 of this. There's a lot of false teaching going 00:27:11.269 --> 00:27:17.269 on out there Verse 15 talks about the patience 00:27:17.269 --> 00:27:19.630 of our Lord is salvation. It talks about Paul 00:27:19.630 --> 00:27:23.490 how he wrote and Peter's talking about the things 00:27:23.490 --> 00:27:27.509 that Paul wrote and how it is inspired word of 00:27:27.509 --> 00:27:30.319 God and then He says in verse 16, he says, there 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.700 are some things in them that are hard to understand, 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.720 to which we say, yeah, there are. I've read the 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.380 book of Romans. There's some things that are 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:39.799 hard to understand that Paul wrote. He says this, 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:43.940 the ignorant and the unstable twist to their 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:47.319 own destruction as they do other scriptures. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:50.599 He's talking about the way that false teachers 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:54.279 twist and distort scripture because they don't 00:27:54.279 --> 00:28:00.640 know the meaning of the text. He's saying there 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:04.660 are those who are out there That want to act 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:08.579 as if they know what the Bible says Yet, they 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:12.519 are ignorant and they're unstable and they twist 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:19.950 scripture For their own well -being And what 00:28:19.950 --> 00:28:22.430 this means is here, the word there, you can see 00:28:22.430 --> 00:28:24.769 it in your Bible, it says ignorant. The word 00:28:24.769 --> 00:28:27.569 ignorant simply means they're untaught, they're 00:28:27.569 --> 00:28:30.390 unlearned, they have no education, they're ignorant. 00:28:30.930 --> 00:28:33.990 It points not so much to their lack of knowledge, 00:28:34.069 --> 00:28:35.910 but more to their lack of training. They have 00:28:35.910 --> 00:28:38.549 not been trained to be able to interpret scripture 00:28:38.549 --> 00:28:41.089 and provide an accurate understanding of what 00:28:41.089 --> 00:28:43.230 it says, and an accurate understanding of what 00:28:43.230 --> 00:28:45.849 it says would then lead to a practical understanding 00:28:45.849 --> 00:28:50.779 of that truth. They have undisciplined habits 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:54.240 in their mind. They're they're ignorant of fundamental 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:58.720 principles of hermeneutics They have little appreciation 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:03.960 for actual Bible study They disregard the importance 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:07.680 of context and an accurate interpretation of 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:11.710 the Word of God And because of that, they're 00:29:11.710 --> 00:29:15.069 unstable, meaning they have these faulty convictions 00:29:15.069 --> 00:29:19.890 in their life. They're unsteady, unsettled in 00:29:19.890 --> 00:29:22.710 their mind. Their habits have not been fully 00:29:22.710 --> 00:29:26.549 trained to come to biblical convictions, accurate 00:29:26.549 --> 00:29:30.230 biblical convictions. And it says there, you 00:29:30.230 --> 00:29:32.490 therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, 00:29:32.609 --> 00:29:35.329 take care that you are not carried away with 00:29:35.329 --> 00:29:39.559 the air of lawlessness. of lawless people and 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:46.119 lose your own stability. These untaught, unstable 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:49.880 people are leading people astray and they're 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:56.799 swiping the feet out from underneath them. And 00:29:56.799 --> 00:30:02.720 they're doing this by distorting scripture. Which 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:08.599 means to put a wrench in it, to torment. entirely 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:14.279 twisted to their own liking. In church, more 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:18.900 than ever before, can anybody grab a microphone 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:23.980 in a room, call it a podcast, and start broadcasting 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:28.460 this stuff? Church, don't be ignorant of this. 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:33.900 There are so many people out there who are twisting 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:39.900 scripture for their own liking. People who are 00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:42.900 listening to podcasts and and watching reels 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:44.960 over and over again and going wow, that's really 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:50.619 good stuff. It's trash It's not really good stuff 00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:58.339 These are untrained uneducated people with a 00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:03.440 microphone And we have to be careful we have 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:07.799 to be on guard you will lose your footing Being 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:13.359 trained by someone who is untrained. Being trained 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:16.980 by people who have no idea what they're talking 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:20.900 about spiritually. Say, Joe, you're passionate 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:22.900 about this. Yes, I recently listened to one for 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:24.200 like five minutes. I was like, you've got to 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:28.460 be kidding me. People like this stuff? People 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:33.039 think this is good? They can get a dose of this 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:40.990 every day? Find good trained men and women to 00:31:40.990 --> 00:31:46.390 sit under who understand hermeneutics and how 00:31:46.390 --> 00:31:48.269 to interpret the word of God and are willing 00:31:48.269 --> 00:31:54.309 to give you the meat of scripture. Not just another 00:31:54.309 --> 00:32:00.109 sounding point. Guard yourself from this error. 00:32:00.130 --> 00:32:07.200 It is so dangerous for your soul. It stunts your 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:14.619 spiritual growth. I don't think Peter here is 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:19.380 just talking about those who claim to be pastors 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:23.500 or shepherds or educators. I think even Peter 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:26.259 is talking about those who are your friends. 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:36.460 Those who are your influences. He's talking about 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:41.920 anybody who claims to have some sort of authority 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:48.380 on the things of the Word of God that are simply 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:52.480 ignorant, they're unstable and they twist to 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:56.700 their own destruction. Church, who do you listen 00:32:56.700 --> 00:33:13.029 to? What are you reading? Is it healthy? In 2026, 00:33:13.170 --> 00:33:17.829 what have you decided to do as far as what will 00:33:17.829 --> 00:33:20.450 influence your heart and your mind this year? 00:33:25.369 --> 00:33:27.849 And I have no idea what it is that you listen 00:33:27.849 --> 00:33:30.769 to online. I have no idea if you're a radio guy 00:33:30.769 --> 00:33:34.130 or a podcast person. I don't know if you listen. 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:37.359 Learn better by listening or learn better by 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:40.279 reading but my challenge to you and my exhortation 00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:43.900 and reminder to you is this That there are ignorant 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:47.099 and unstable people who would love your mind 00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:52.900 They would love your mind and You have to be 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:59.400 on guard you have to be oh so careful Spiritually 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:01.759 mature people are attracted to spiritually mature 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:04.849 people Spiritually mature people are attracted 00:34:04.849 --> 00:34:07.910 to spiritually mature authors. Spiritually mature 00:34:07.910 --> 00:34:11.550 people are attracted to spiritually mature messages 00:34:11.550 --> 00:34:17.050 and teachings and music. Immature people are 00:34:17.050 --> 00:34:23.469 still attracted to immature people. What's going 00:34:23.469 --> 00:34:27.389 on in your mind and in your heart by way of what 00:34:27.389 --> 00:34:30.369 you listen to and what you read and just be reminded 00:34:30.369 --> 00:34:33.829 of Paul, or of Peter. and what he says here. 00:34:34.690 --> 00:34:36.530 Let me give you a third thing. Number three. 00:34:37.190 --> 00:34:41.829 It's this. Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus. 00:34:42.710 --> 00:34:46.929 Grow in grace. Grow in knowledge. We must be 00:34:46.929 --> 00:34:51.489 always in the process of growing. This is a present 00:34:51.489 --> 00:34:55.469 imperative, a command to continually be passionate 00:34:55.469 --> 00:34:59.460 in your pursuit. Peter starts this whole letter 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:03.059 and in second Peter in verse 2 of chapter 1 He 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:05.320 says may grace and peace be multiplied to you 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:08.360 in the knowledge of God of Jesus our Lord said 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:10.400 a little bit differently but the principle is 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:13.360 the same it's it's bookended here continually 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:16.739 be growing in the things of the Lord and here's 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:19.340 why he gives it he gives it to us very clearly 00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:22.559 why verse 17 take care that you are not carried 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:25.380 away by the air of lawless people lose your own 00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:29.039 stability verse 18 but what but grow and the 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:31.260 grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:35.340 Jesus Christ if you are not growing you are in 00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:39.230 danger of being carried away by the air of those 00:35:39.230 --> 00:35:43.570 who are spiritually unstable and immature and 00:35:43.570 --> 00:35:48.010 you will lose effectiveness you say it another 00:35:48.010 --> 00:35:52.070 way is this the way to not lose your grip and 00:35:52.070 --> 00:35:56.070 and be spiritual discerning is by growing in 00:35:56.070 --> 00:35:58.050 the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior 00:35:58.050 --> 00:36:01.429 Jesus Christ or to say it another way the antidote 00:36:01.429 --> 00:36:04.650 to deception and destruction is growth in grace 00:36:04.650 --> 00:36:09.340 in the knowledge of God That's the antidote. 00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:15.340 We must be continually growing so that we are 00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:18.239 not carried away, so that we don't lose our spiritual 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:22.000 footing. And church, we cannot live off of bread 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:29.360 that we have eaten five and ten years ago. We 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:35.780 can't live Off of spiritual truths that you learned 00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:46.559 15 years ago 10 years ago We've got to be back 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.900 in the truth We've got to be back in the word 00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:52.840 growing and learning with a new freshness those 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:56.769 truths that you did learn 20 30, 15 years ago, 00:36:57.010 --> 00:36:59.929 are they brought a fresh in your mind and a newness 00:36:59.929 --> 00:37:02.710 that is causing growth in your mind, not just 00:37:02.710 --> 00:37:05.570 a reminder of what you learned, but it is changing 00:37:05.570 --> 00:37:08.650 and transforming your heart. Are there new principles 00:37:08.650 --> 00:37:14.090 that you're holding onto? May we not be Christians 00:37:14.090 --> 00:37:17.550 who had an era of our life where we matured greatly, 00:37:17.789 --> 00:37:20.510 and ever since then, we've just feeding off of 00:37:20.510 --> 00:37:23.320 that maturity. But we're constantly growing, 00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:26.699 constantly learning. Yes, you're gonna have moments 00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:28.739 where you're gonna grow faster than others in 00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:30.639 different eras of your life. Maybe it's because 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:32.900 of the surroundings of people that have been 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:35.860 encouraging you, or a small group, or Bible study, 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:38.579 or maybe it's even suffering where you just grew 00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:42.219 more in an era, but don't allow that to be the 00:37:42.219 --> 00:37:48.380 only era of your life. Continually grow, continually 00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:56.130 learn. He says to grow in grace Thomas Schreiner 00:37:56.130 --> 00:37:58.329 says grace is the foundation of the lives of 00:37:58.329 --> 00:38:00.809 believers and is entirely God's gift And yet 00:38:00.809 --> 00:38:04.309 believers are exhorted to grow in it to be nurtured 00:38:04.309 --> 00:38:07.010 in it to be strengthened by it Grace is not a 00:38:07.010 --> 00:38:09.710 static reality believers are to grow in it until 00:38:09.710 --> 00:38:12.909 the day they die Otherwise, they might be carried 00:38:12.909 --> 00:38:16.110 away by the lawlessness of the false teachers 00:38:16.110 --> 00:38:24.989 We say what is this grace this grace is the favor 00:38:24.989 --> 00:38:28.730 of God for sure, but grace throughout the Bible 00:38:28.730 --> 00:38:32.710 also speaks of beauty. You always hear this saying, 00:38:32.989 --> 00:38:35.969 that person is so graceful. You say, oh, that 00:38:35.969 --> 00:38:41.949 person's really graceful. There's just this infusion 00:38:41.949 --> 00:38:45.789 of grace into the heart that changes somebody 00:38:45.789 --> 00:38:49.489 where their heart is just like God's heart. This 00:38:49.489 --> 00:38:52.389 isn't just moral change, this is an internal 00:38:52.389 --> 00:38:57.940 heart change. Where you see the image of God 00:38:57.940 --> 00:39:04.239 on their life You see it decorated on their life 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:07.400 it's like that Christmas tree that we just all 00:39:07.400 --> 00:39:10.840 decorated or Seen around where there's the tree 00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:13.920 which has life within itself, but the the ornaments 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:17.329 on top of it make the tree glisten and shine 00:39:17.329 --> 00:39:19.269 bright. That's how it is for the believer. It 00:39:19.269 --> 00:39:21.929 is God that brings life to the believer, but 00:39:21.929 --> 00:39:25.889 it is the grace, the ornaments upon it that bring 00:39:25.889 --> 00:39:29.869 it shine and glisten and glow in the Christian's 00:39:29.869 --> 00:39:35.909 life. That's a graceful person. The grace of 00:39:35.909 --> 00:39:41.989 God gives us patience. The grace of God allows 00:39:41.989 --> 00:39:45.530 us to forgive. The grace of God is internal, 00:39:45.530 --> 00:39:49.010 but is Surely displayed externally I think of 00:39:49.010 --> 00:39:51.989 first Peter 3 3 to 5 this is don't be concerned 00:39:51.989 --> 00:39:54.170 about the outward beauty that depends on fancy 00:39:54.170 --> 00:39:56.349 hairstyles expensive jewelry beautiful clothes 00:39:56.349 --> 00:39:58.789 You should be known for the beauty that comes 00:39:58.789 --> 00:40:01.530 from within the unfading beauty of a gentle and 00:40:01.530 --> 00:40:07.110 quiet spirit Which is so precious to God The 00:40:07.110 --> 00:40:18.230 internal And we need to grow in this grace The 00:40:18.230 --> 00:40:20.630 grace of God truly becomes the strength of a 00:40:20.630 --> 00:40:23.570 man and a woman because it's not his strength, 00:40:23.570 --> 00:40:27.949 it's God's strength. It also says there that 00:40:27.949 --> 00:40:29.809 we need to grow not only in grace, but we need 00:40:29.809 --> 00:40:33.630 to grow in what? In knowledge. There is a premium 00:40:33.630 --> 00:40:36.510 on knowledge in the Bible that we are filled 00:40:36.510 --> 00:40:40.050 with truth, continually growing in our understanding. 00:40:40.230 --> 00:40:45.210 Listen, your ability to grow in grace depends 00:40:45.210 --> 00:40:48.909 on your understanding of truth. More truth that 00:40:48.909 --> 00:40:50.650 is taught the more knowledge that is taught the 00:40:50.650 --> 00:40:53.809 more graceful one can be so we grow in knowledge 00:40:53.809 --> 00:40:58.690 And we grow in grace. Let me give you some steps 00:40:58.690 --> 00:41:01.929 for how to do that I've got 11 will be here till 00:41:01.929 --> 00:41:08.070 1 o 'clock I've got some here for you up on the 00:41:08.070 --> 00:41:12.570 screen. I Think I've got them we got we got steps 00:41:12.570 --> 00:41:16.030 for them number one ask God to give you a desire 00:41:16.030 --> 00:41:19.340 for him number one Start there. I don't have 00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:21.679 a desire. Okay, you got to ask for it. I can't 00:41:21.679 --> 00:41:23.840 give you a desire I really want to if you can't 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:27.300 tell I really want to but I can't only God can 00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:31.780 give you a desire for him Number two recognize 00:41:31.780 --> 00:41:34.079 that you can't grow apart from the grace of God 00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:39.920 God causes growth Number three remove any hindrances 00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:45.000 and repent of any sin What hindrances are keeping 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:51.800 you from growing Remove any hindrances and then 00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:56.719 repent of any sin. What sin is causing you? To 00:41:56.719 --> 00:42:06.780 not desire the things of the Lord Read your Bible 00:42:06.780 --> 00:42:10.199 You knew it was gonna be in that list, right? 00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:16.320 Read your Bible you gotta read your Bible You 00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:21.699 gotta pray. And pray. And keep praying. And pray 00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:29.139 when you don't want to pray. Serve in the church. 00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:32.159 Find a way to serve in the church. Serve others. 00:42:34.579 --> 00:42:39.579 Give generously of your resources. Take communion. 00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:47.780 Be baptized. Share your faith with unbelievers 00:42:47.780 --> 00:42:51.519 Practice the one another's there's the obedience 00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:56.420 factor there And then think less of self and 00:42:56.420 --> 00:42:59.900 more of Jesus I actually had 12 I Keep adding 00:42:59.900 --> 00:43:01.940 to these lists and I keep forgetting how many 00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:07.980 I've added Think less of self and more of others 00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:11.219 you say Joe. I know these things. I know you 00:43:11.219 --> 00:43:15.829 know these things This isn't a matter of knowledge. 00:43:16.869 --> 00:43:21.670 This is a matter of practice And may God by his 00:43:21.670 --> 00:43:28.190 grace motivate us in 2026 inspire us To grow 00:43:28.190 --> 00:43:30.190 in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior 00:43:30.190 --> 00:43:33.070 Jesus Christ. The last major point is this because 00:43:33.070 --> 00:43:37.809 I told you there's four It is this glorify God 00:43:37.809 --> 00:43:43.039 for any growth That's verse End of verse 18 to 00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:46.539 him be the glory right to him be the glory. Let 00:43:46.539 --> 00:43:48.659 me just say this about your sanctification Maybe 00:43:48.659 --> 00:43:51.500 this will be helpful Okay, your sanctification 00:43:51.500 --> 00:43:53.619 is more about the glory of God than it is about 00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:59.000 you It's more about the glory of God than it 00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:02.480 is about you So your sanctification is actually 00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:06.400 not So much about you as it is about what God 00:44:06.400 --> 00:44:10.079 and his glory? He gets all the glory for your 00:44:10.079 --> 00:44:13.260 growth. He's the one that caused the growth He's 00:44:13.260 --> 00:44:14.920 the one that matured the growth and therefore 00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:16.860 he gets all the glory for the growth therefore 00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:21.340 This is actually about God and his glory in your 00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:25.039 life Lord, thank you for our time in your word 00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:28.300 and Hopefully this was an encouragement Lord. 00:44:28.300 --> 00:44:32.000 I know these messages can often feel like we're 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:36.219 never doing enough and feel like more discouraging 00:44:36.219 --> 00:44:38.980 than encouraging, and I hope that's not the case. 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:42.920 I hope there's a recognition in our own life 00:44:42.920 --> 00:44:45.139 of where we're falling short, a recognition of 00:44:45.139 --> 00:44:47.940 where we do need to change some habits, we do 00:44:47.940 --> 00:44:51.480 need to repent of sin, we do need to just get 00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:53.840 more discipline, and hopefully in this message 00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:56.039 there's a reminder that all of this depends on 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:59.559 the grace of God. We cannot move forward apart 00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:03.099 from your grace, and we lean on that grace each 00:45:03.099 --> 00:45:06.389 and every day. Lord Jesus, would you help us 00:45:06.389 --> 00:45:08.429 to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord 00:45:08.429 --> 00:45:13.170 and Savior Jesus Christ And may we give you all 00:45:13.170 --> 00:45:17.429 the glory We pray these things in Jesus name. 00:45:17.449 --> 00:45:18.010 Amen