2023.03.19.Sermon Notes. For if these things be in you and abound. A formula for Growing in Christ
William Akehurst, HSWC
KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 1:5-11
Scriptures Referenced: Galatians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Ephesians 5:8-11, Luke 9:23-27, Romans 1:16-17, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18, John 3:16-17, Acts, 16:30-31, Acts 4:10-12, Psalms 34:1-3, 1 Chronicles 26:01-14
DIVINE POWER IN US
Galatians 4:6 (NLT) And because we are HIS children, GOD has sent the SPIRIT of HIS SON into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
BIG IDEA: What is the formula for Growing in Christ? Peter said, Grace and Peace be multiplied in YOU in the Knowledge of GOD and JESUS our LORD. Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control + Perseverance + Godliness + Brotherly Kindness + Love = FRUITFUL GROWTH IN FAITH
GOD’s LIGHT has shone in our hearts to give the LIGHT of the KNOWLEDGE of the GLORY of GOD, in the face of JESUS CHRIST.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS
FAITH COMES BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS
2 Peter 1:5-11 (NKJV)
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
FRUITFUL GROWTH IN THE FAITH
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control + Perseverance + Godliness + Brotherly Kindness + Love.
SOUNDS SIMILAR TO THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT IN GALATIANS 5:22-23
SEARCH OUT THESE THINGS, FIND WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD
Ephesians 5:8-11 (NKJV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
JESUS never said…
Listen to your heart.
Be true to yourself. (Remember the poem “to thine own self be true”. That’s not what JESUS said)
Trust your gut.
Feel good about who you are.
Happiness is what matters.
Just be a good person.
JESUS actually said…
Luke 9:23-27 (NKJV)
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
DENY THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS, AND GO AFTER JESUS UNASHAMEDLY.
SIDE NOTE on vs. 27: In Matthew 9:18-26 is the account of the daughter who had died and her father went to find JESUS to heal her. What did JESUS say she was doing? She was asleep, not tasting death.
I AM NOT ASHAMED
Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
I AM RENEWED EVERY DAY
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I CARRY THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (NKJV)
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
THE CROSS REPRESENTS GOD’S POWER OF SALVATION
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? BELIEVE
Acts 16:30-31
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
BY NO OTHER NAME JESUS CHRIST
Acts 4:10-12 (NKJV)
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME
Psalms 34:1-3 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Benediction
1 Chronicles 29:10b-14(NLT) 10 Then David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly:
10b “O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
12 Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
13 “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
Blessed be the name of the LORD. Amen
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
