* You can now watch a video of this message at: https://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live.
(Read 2 Peter 3:17,18)
For the past month we have been in a mini-series entitled, “Growing in Grace,” and it is part of the overall series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Today we will close out “Growing in Grace.” I won’t send out a message tomorrow, since it is Independance Day, and I will start a new series on Monday.
Let’s close out this series with Peter’s final words in his second and final letter. Peter said, “Dear friends, you already know about this. So be careful. Don’t let these evil people lead you away by the wrong they do. Be careful that you do not fall from your strong faith. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him, now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:17,18 ERV).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The enemy will attempt to draw you away from God. Just like we have a real God, we have a real enemy. Satan is not going to idly sit by and watch as you maximize your purpose and potential. Satan will do all he can to derail you from your destiny. That’s why Paul told us to “be careful.” The Apostle warned us that people will attempt to lead us away from God, which is why he urged us to grow in grace by growing in the knowledge of God.
2. Maintain your strong faith. The Apostle Peter said, “Be careful that you do not fall from your strong faith.” Another translation reads, “Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.” If you have strong faith this morning, if you can say that you are entering this day with a secure footing, then don’t think for a minute that it cannot change. The fact that your faith is strong today is great. The fact that your footing is secure right now is awesome. But don’t rest on your laurels. Don’t relax your faith. Don’t lose your focus. You must live every day of your life with a determination to maintain your faith, by God’s grace. If you lose your focus, you can find yourself slipping, and if you are not careful, you can slip far enough to where it can cost you dearly.
3. Grow in grace by growing in the knowledge of God. After warning us about many things the Apostle Peter closes his letter by saying, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him, now and forever! Amen.” This series has been all about growing in grace as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The more know we about God and the grace He already provided us, the more we can access His grace with our faith. By accessing more and more of God’s grace with our faith, we actually get to grow in the grace God has already provided. That is God’s goal. He blesses us by His unearned grace and He expects us to access the blessing with our faith.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for taking the time to teach me Your Word. Over the last few weeks I have grown in grace by growing in the knowledge of You. The more I know about You (Your character, attributes and nature), and the more I know about my divine assignment (which You gave me before the world began), the more I can access the grace for my assignment with the faith You gave me. You bless me by Your unearned grace and You expect me to access Your grace with my faith. But even then, I cannot boast or take credit. I would not even have faith if You did not give it to me. You made plans for me before the foundations of the world by Your grace. You saved me by grace while I was a sinner. You use me by grace now as I seek to live a life pleasing in Your sight. And You freely give me all things by Your grace as I access them with my faith; knowing that my faith came to me by Your grace. You dealt me the measure of faith I have. So Father, I enter this day and the rest of my life, determined to live by faith, to stay focused, and to make the most of the life You have given me. With my faith I access Your grace and I get to live the life You planned for me to have. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
