Like A Rock

20, October 2002

Dakota Community Church

Like A Rock

Introduction:

2 Peter 1:5-11

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“For if you do these things you will never fall”

What things?

1. Make every effort.

2 Peter 1:5

5For this very reason, make every effort

In 1986, a group of researchers published a study of Japanese mothers and mothers in Minneapolis. The mothers were asked to rank the most important things that a child needs to succeed academically. The answers tell a lot about the difference in our two cultures today. The mothers in Minneapolis chose "ability." The mothers in Japan said "effort."

2. Add to your faith.

2 Peter 1: 5–7

“…Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

In other words – GROW! Don’t give up if you blow it, even if you blow it a thousand times.

A.) Goodness – Moral Excellence

Your ideal is what you wish you were

Your reputation is what others say you are

Your character is what you really are.

Truth, reliability, honesty, and confidentiality will be the pillars of my life.

B.) Knowledge

Hosea 4:6

6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests;

Notice that goodness came before knowledge. Knowledge without character does not impress God.

C.) Self-control

Proverbs 16:32

32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

D.) Perseverance

James 1:3-4

3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

What is the trial of faith?

It is the gap between “ believe that you have received It.” and “ it will be yours”.

Mark 11:22-24

22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ’Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

How long do I have to persevere?

Abraham called himself father of nations for 25 years before Isaac was born.

E.) Godliness

Godliness is really God – Like – ness

Indicators of godliness:

- Conduct

- Compassion

- Conversation

- Confidence

- Communion

F.) Brotherly Kindness

Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it. Do not hammer it. Alexander Maclaren

G.) Love

1 John 4:19-21

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Why grow?

- Grow because it will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive as a believer.

3. Remember who you are.

2 Peter 1: 9

9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them from his bucket. Many years before, in October 1942, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B-17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea. But there was an unexpected detour, which would hurl Captain Eddie into the most harrowing adventure of his life.

Somewhere over the South Pacific the Flying Fortress became lost beyond the reach of radio. Fuel ran dangerously low, so the men ditched their plane in the ocean... For nearly a month Captain Eddie and his companions would fight the water, and the weather, and the scorching sun. They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their rafts. The largest raft was nine by five. The biggest shark...ten feet long.