Sermon Central
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The Exercising Christian
Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Apr 28, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: We have been given so many wonderful gifts from God as believers. But Peter calls us to deepen our effectiveness as believers through practice.
Passage: 2 Peter 1:5-11
Intro: We see them standing on the 18th green with a trophy and a check, or on the stage receiving the grand prize, or at the net on center court with the prize.
1. wow, $1 million for playing a game.
2. but really result of prioritizing the development of a particular skill or talent
3. each had raw talent that they honed so that they would be the best.
4. the Bible compares the Christian life to sports, but there are some things that make our experience unique.
5. while super talent is rare, believers all get the same treatment.
6. not gifts or talents, but what it takes to achieve the great prize.
7. saw last week, “everything we need”
8. Peter hinted at a choice in vv1-4.
9. look further, becomes much more specific in next 7 verses.
10. the potential of vv1-4 can be realized in our lives, but it requires that we make a choice and then act on it.
I. I Want to Know Christ
1. there are plenty of things we want
2. be rich, be smart, be strong, be athletic
3. Peter has challenged us to a new priority in v4
PP “participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires”
4. God’s original purpose was that we would be like Him, “in His image”
5. spoiled by sin choice, but made possible by removal of sin by blood of Christ
6. faith in that powerful death and resurrection has brought us to the door of greatness!
7. every believer in Christ stands completely capable of pursuing and achieving this miracle
8. so now equipped, able, called, Spirit-indwelt, full of powerful potential, “make every effort to add” v5
9. two powerful words translated here.
10. “to bring alongside of” + “to supply generously in addition to”
11. careful not to focus on our own human effort.
12. this is a call to use in our human experience what God has graciously given to us.
13. and specifically to seek to unwrap the dramatic changes in character that will free us from the tyranny of the flesh to mirror the incredibly effective and fruitful life of Christ.
14. clearly Peter is calling us to make a choice, to identify a priority that will cause us to take an entirely new path.
II. Expect Challenges
1. the qualities listed in vv5-7 are unusual
PP “goodness”=moral excellence…
2. many mirror fruit of Spirit, all are direct challenges to the way humans habitually do things
3. the pursuit of this kind of dramatic change is what makes some decide Christian maturity is not worth the effort.
4. each of these characteristics flies in the face of our flesh, our self-centeredness.
5. our flesh responds to these characteristics like a five year old boy to spinach…”Nooooo !!!”
PP Calvin and Hobbes
6. so many of these challenge our natural response, our “it’s all about me” mantra
il) we cannot pursue “love” in it’s truest sense and remain selfish. They are =polar opposites
7. expect resistance, expect excuses, expect a sudden increase of alternative priorities, of rationalizations to remain as you are!
Il) a person who begins a new diet and exercise program, aches, pains, hunger, etc.
8. the body, this flesh, is guaranteed to resist anything that will promote spiritual growth.
9. Satan and flesh extremely active on Sunday morning, any time we have opportunity to exercise our new nature.
9. we need to learn to tell our flesh to shut up!
III. The Alternative to Right Priorities
1. in the middle of this joyful call, a w arning
2. v9, “anyone does not have…” is a reference to a believer.
3. “forgotten purification”…so justified.
4. a person who has done nothing with salvation,
5. not cooperated with Spirit, not put into use the wonderful gifts God has given him.
6. result? Very interesting words=”blind”+ short-sighted, not seeing clearly”
7. 2nd words actually refers to squinting
il) take off your glasses
8. together, means he has the ability to see but his vision is not clear.
9. vision so blurry he has forgotten that he has been rescued from the very sinful behaviors and attitudes he is still engaging in
-sins of omission and comission
10. focusing on limitations, past failures, blind to his restored relationship with God and all it means.
Il) sign at Dobson Driving range, “don’t practice your mistakes” Flesh doesn’t need practice, it is a natural!!
11. result? V8 ineffective and unfruitful
12. there is little or nothing in his life that he can point to and say “look at what God is doing in my life”
il) this person sits in a Bible Study and the teacher asks, “Let’s hare what God is doing in our lives”, he doesn’t know God is supposed to be doing anything.
