Introduction

Ladies and gentlemen, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I welcome you all with the warmest of hearts and the deepest of joy. We gather here today, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the grand narrative of God's love. We are here to seek, to learn, to grow, and to encourage one another as we navigate the path of faith, hand in hand, heart to heart.

Now, let's turn our hearts and minds to the Scripture for today. In 2 Peter 1:1-11 we read: "Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this gathering, for the fellowship we share, and for the word you have given us. We ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive your message today. Teach us, guide us, and help us to apply your word in our daily lives. We ask this in the precious and mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Harnessing Heavenly Help

The divine power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has given us everything we need for life and godliness. This is a profound truth that we must grasp and internalize. It's not about our own strength or abilities but about God's power at work in us. We are not alone in our struggles or challenges. We have access to a divine power source that is greater than anything we could ever imagine.

This power is for all who have faith in Christ. It's not about our status, our achievements, or our good works. It's about God's grace and mercy towards us. It's about His love for us, a love so great that He sent His only Son to die for us, so that we could have eternal life. This is the power that is at work within us, the power that we can harness for our lives. Now, how do we harness this heavenly help?

First, we need to recognize our need for it. We need to acknowledge that we can't do it on our own. God can help in every aspect of our lives and need His wisdom to make the right decisions. We need His strength to face our challenges.

Second, we need to seek this help. We need to pray and ask God for His help. We need to read His Word and learn from it and we need to spend time in His presence, listening to His voice.

Third, we need to receive this help. We need to open our hearts and let God's power work in us. We need to surrender our lives to Him and let Him take control. Let go of our pride and our self-reliance, and let God be God in our lives.

Lastly, we need to use this help. We need to put our faith into action. We need to live out our faith in our daily lives.

Consider the virtues Peter lists as well. We are also reminded to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These are not just nice qualities to have, but they are essential for our spiritual growth. They are the fruits of God's power at work in us.

Virtue is about living a life that is pleasing to God. We are to be doing what is right, even when it's hard. It's about being a person of integrity and honor.

Knowledge is about knowing God and His Word. It's about understanding His will and His ways and growing in our relationship with Him. We ought to be renewing our minds.

Self-control is about mastering our desires and impulses. It's about being disciplined and focused while being led by the Spirit, not by the flesh.

Steadfastness is about being faithful and consistent. It's about not giving up, even when things get tough. We are to be steadfast while holding on to God's promises, even when everything seems to be falling apart.

Godliness is about living a life that is centered on God. It's about seeking His kingdom first. It's about loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Brotherly affection is about loving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. It's about caring for each other, supporting each other, and helping each other.

Love, the greatest of all, is about reflecting God's love in our lives. It's about loving God, loving others, and even loving ourselves.

Harvesting from His Handouts

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the wisdom of the Word, let's turn our attention to the bounty that is freely given to us by our Heavenly Father ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO