The power of paying attention (2 Peter 3:17-18)

This is our final Sunday in the study of 2 Peter. The concepts of Biblical growth and spiritual maturity are of monumental importance. We know that Jesus will come again and these things will be fulfilled. Events are going to get worse and will not get fixed until Jesus comes again.

In the end, people will fall away from the faith they once loved. If we are not careful about the evil influences around us, they will pull us away from our faith.

1. Never allow the evil influence of others to hinder you from faithful service to Christ. You can’t hang around the wrong crowd and turn out right. If you associate with negative people, you will end up negative. If you associate with unspiritual people, you will end up unspiritual. If you are pulled away from the faith by negative influences, it is your own fault.

There are going to be fleshly influences that come against us. So get your wisdom and influence from the right sources. Grow in grace.

2. Spiritual growth is a Biblical command and a daily choice. We can’t get around the fact that the writer says, “I want you to grow.” And so we have to make the choice to grow. The path is clear. We just have to take the path. If you want the spiritual power, you have to submit to the process of spiritual maturity.

• Keep your head down. Have some humility about you. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride goes before destruction. Only by pride comes contention. Anything good in you, God did it. Anything rotten in you, you did it.
• Keep you knees bent. Pray without ceasing. Arrogant and self-righteous people don’t pray. Seek the face and the favor of God. You have not because you ask not.
• Keep your eyes fixed. We tend to be socially and technologically distracted. Set your affection on things above. Seek Him first and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Keep your sword sharp. The sword of the spirit is the word of God. The Bible is a double-edged sword. Even Jesus used the word of God to combat temptation. If you are not in the word of God, you are not in the will of God.
• Keep your back straight. We have too many limp-wristed, sissified pastors who do not preach the truth of the word of God. We don’t have to walk around dreading the devil. We are to combat the devil. God honors those who resist the devil. God blesses courage.
• Keep your mouth shut. Every one of us is tempted to spout off whatever is on our mind. There are some times when it’s best just not to talk. We talk about things we shouldn’t and stay quiet about the things about which we should speak. The one member of our body that can lead to destruction is the tongue. Sometimes silence is deafening.
• Keep your hands busy. We all have talents. God has gifted us and organized our hearts. We work even while we wait. Laziness is the scourge of the American church. If you do not use your talents in the context of the local church, then you are wasting the gifts God gave you.

3. Jesus gets all the glory for the work He is doing in our lives. IF you are paying attention, you know God is working in your life. Get out of the way and let God move. Look for opportunities right now. God shares His glory with no one.