Stakes Is High, Part 2

Scripture

2 Peter 1:12–15 MSG

12 Because the stakes are so high, even though you’re up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I’m not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. 13 This is the post to which I’ve been assigned—keeping you alert with frequent reminders—and I’m sticking to it as long as I live. 14 I know that I’m to die soon; the Master has made that quite clear to me. 15 And so I am especially eager that you have all this down in black and white so that after I die, you’ll have it for ready reference.

2 Peter 1:16–21 MSG

16 We weren’t, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: 17 Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” 18 We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears. 19 We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. 20 The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. 21 And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Introduction- Words I Never Said

Song by Lupe Fiasco ‧ 2011

It's so loud, inside my head

With words that I, should have said

As I drown, in my regrets

I can't take back, the words I never said

Now we can say it ain't our fault if we never heard it

But if we know better, then we probably deserve it

Never said

I can't take back, the words I never said

Have You Ever Heard The Term?

"Stakes are high" means that the potential consequences of success or failure are significant and important. This implies a situation where a lot could be won or lost, leading to increased pressure and a need for careful decision-making. Here's a more detailed explanation:

Important Outcomes:When the stakes are high, the outcome of a situation has considerable importance.This could be related to a large sum of money, a critical career decision, or a high-stakes competition. 

Risk and Reward:High stakes often involve a high degree of risk, meaning there's a greater chance of losing something valuable if the situation doesn't turn out as planned. 

Pressure and Careful Consideration:The potential for significant gains or losses creates pressure, requiring individuals to carefully consider their actions and make strategic choices. 

Gambling Metaphor:The term "stakes" originates from gambling, where it refers to the money or other things of value that are risked in a game. In a broader sense, it applies to any situation where there's a significant potential for loss or gain. 

Examples:High-stakes situations can include:

Gambling: A high-stakes poker game where large amounts of money are at risk. 

Business: A high-stakes negotiation where the outcome could significantly impact a company's future. 

Sports: A championship game where the stakes are the title and the potential for fame and fortune. 

Personal Life: A critical career decision that could affect one's future success and happiness. 

Why Peak Performance Fizzle

Christopher Bergland

SPORT AND COMPETITION of Psychology Today

Posted September 20, 2024

Superfluidity is the ultimate state of flow. Muscle movements seem to happen automatically and effortlessly when you're in the zone and experiencing peak performance associated with frictionless flow states.

"Choking" under pressure is the antithesis of superfluidity. When athletes choke, motor coordination becomes discombobulated and muscle movements lose smoothness. The jerkiness associated with choking causes athletes to fumble, drop the ball, double-fault, triple-bogey, or strike out.

The ability to perform with grace under pressure when the stakes are high is rooted in the automatic muscle memory held in the cerebellum (Latin for "little brain").

Overthinking causes the big brain's frontal lobes to "clamp down" on cerebellar feedback loops, disrupting the preparatory activity in the motor neocortex needed to automatically move muscles in smooth pursuit of a target, which leads to underperformance (Chabrol et al., 2019).

This study sheds light on why it's so easy to psych yourself out in ways that cause your muscles to freeze up in high-stakes, high-reward situations.

But what can you do when the stakes are high, and you want to hit it out of the park? The researchers suggest that the best way to avoid choking under pressure is to let go and "unclamp" your frontal lobes by not overthinking.

As senior author Aaron Batista explains in a September 2024 news release, 

"If people trying to avoid choking under pressure were to benefit from our study, we suggest they could beat it by finding the right balance between self-awareness and self-control, and just generally keeping it loose when the stakes go up, even if there is a natural tendency to clamp down."

Transition To Body- Words Peter Said

2 Peter 1:12–15 MSG

12 Because the stakes are so high, even though you’re up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I’m not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. 13 This is the post to which I’ve been assigned—keeping you alert with frequent reminders—and I’m sticking to it as long as I live. 14 I know that I’m to die soon; the Master has made that quite clear to me. 15 And so I am especially eager that you have all this down in black and white so that after I die, you’ll have it for ready reference.

Our Faith Of Equal Standing With The Simeon Peter, A Servant & Apostle of Jesus Christ

2 Peter 1:1–2 ESV

1 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: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Simeon Peter Heard With Acceptance

2 Peter Exposition

Simeon Peter Peter here uses both his names—Simon or Simeon—which was his first name, and signifies “hearing with acceptance,” and happy are they who have the hearing ear and the receptive heart.

2 Peter Exposition

There is no higher honor than to be a servant of God. “To serve God is to reign.” An ancient philosopher was the author of that maxim, and Christianity fully endorses it. He is a true king who is a servant of God. In this respect, all believers are on a level with Peter, but here is his distinguishing title, “a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ,” a sent one, one who had seen the Lord, and who could bear personal testimony to the fact of his existence, his death, and his resurrection.

Equal Standing

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 58.34 ἰσότιμος, ον

pertaining to that which is of equal significance or value—‘equal to, of the equivalent kind as.’

2 Peter Exposition

The faith of the weakest believer in Jesus is the same kind of faith as that which was found in Simon Peter, who stands among the very first of the worthies in the College of Apostles.

Body

(Replicate) Faithful Witness Of The Listening Disciple

2 Peter 1:16–18 ESV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Eyewitnesses

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 24.46 αὐτόπτης, ου; ἐπόπτης, ου

one who has personally seen

Majesty

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 87.21 μεγαλωσύνη, ης; μεγαλειότης, ητος

a state of greatness or importance—‘prominence, greatness, importance.’

Honor

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 87.4 τιμή, ῆς; δόξα, ης

honor as an element in the assignment of status to a person—‘honor, respect, status.’

Glory

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 79.18 δόξα, ης

the quality of splendid, remarkable appearance—‘glory, splendor.’

Heard

Hebrews 4:2 ESV

2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

{

(Replicate) Faithful Witness Of The Listening Disciple

}

(Receive) Illuminating Witness Of The Prophetic Word

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Prophetic

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.462 προφητικός, ή, όν

pertaining to divinely inspired utterances—‘prophetic, of the prophets.’

Word

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.98 ῥῆμα, τος; λόγος, ου

that which has been stated or said, with primary focus upon the content of the communication—‘word, saying, message, statement, question.’

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

John 4:39–42 ESV

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Confirmed

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.90 βέβαιος, α, ον

pertaining to being able to be relied on or depended on—‘dependable, reliable, trustworthy.’

Pay attention

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 30.35 προσέχω

to pay close attention to something, with the possible implication of agreement—‘to pay close attention to, to consider carefully.’

Illustrate: lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns & the morning star rises i.e. what paying attention to the prophetic word does for our hearts

Hearts

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 26.3 καρδία, ας

the causative source of a person’s psychological life in its various aspects, but with special emphasis upon thoughts—‘heart, inner self, mind.’

{

(Replicate) Faithful Witness Of The Listening Disciple

(Receive) Illuminating Witness Of The Prophetic Word

}

(Represent) Powerful Witness Of The Holy Spirit

2 Peter 1:20–21 ESV

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

No Prophecy

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.460 προφητεία, ας

an utterance inspired by God—‘inspired utterance, prophecy.’

Not From My Own Interpretation

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.141 ἐπιλύω; ἐπίλυσις, εως; φράζω

to explain the meaning of something, with the implication that the text in question is difficult or complex—‘to explain, meaning, explanation.’

Interpret= Explain

Mark 4:34 ESV

34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Matthew 15:15 ESV

15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”

What Comes Out The Mouth Proceeds From The Heart

Matthew 15:16–20 ESV

16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Not Produced By Will Of Us

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.2 θέλημα, τος

that which is desired or wished for—‘wish, desire.’

Men Carried Along By The Holy Spirit

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 36.1 ἡγέομαι; προΐσταμαι; κατευθύνω; φέρω; ἄγω

to so influence others as to cause them to follow a recommended course of action—‘to guide, to direct, to lead.’

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 ESV

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

{

(Replicate) Faithful Witness Of The Listening Disciple

(Receive) Illuminating Witness Of The Prophetic Word

(Represent) Powerful Witness Of The Holy Spirit

}

Transition To Close-

He has done marvelous, He has done marvelous things

A MAN died who was extremely wealthy. His will was full of art pieces—very expensive art pieces. This man had a son who had died before him, a son whom he loved, and this son would have been his only heir. Soon after the death of the wealthy man a public auction was held that included the valuable art pieces. People came from all over the world because of those works of art. Over a thousand people gathered to participate in the auction. The auctioneer began the auction by offering up for sale a portrait, painted by the deceased son. It was a rather plain painting—not at all like the other expensive art pieces. The floor opened for bids, but there weren’t any. After what seemed like a long silence, a little old man walked down the aisle. As he neared the front of the room, the auctioneer recognized him. He had been the servant of the wealthy man.

He meagerly and almost shamefully offered a couple of dollars from his pocket for the child-drawn portrait. The auctioneer hit his gavel and said, “Sold!” The many people in the room shifted with excitement, preparing for the main part of the selling to begin. But much to their surprise and chagrin, the auctioneer hit the gavel again and said, “Auction over.” The room filled with loud chatter and confusion, wondering at the early close of the auction. The auctioneer went on to explain. In the will of the master, the instructions specifically said to offer for sale the painting drawn by his son first, and that whoever gets the painting of his son gets the whole art collection. The master had decided well in advance that whoever loved his son and accepted him could not only have his son’s work, but all the other benefits that belonged to the father.41

Evans, Tony. Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (p. 25). (Function). Kindle Edition.

2 Peter 1:17 ESV

17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”

John 5:22–23 ESV

22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

Author: Anonymous

Soprano: He has done marvelous, He has done marvelous things. Praise the Lord.

Alto: Marvelous marvelous, marvelous, Marvelous things. Praise the Lord.

Tenor: He'd done marvelous, he has done things. Praise the Lord.

Bass: He has done marvelous things. Praise the Lord.

For Every Mountain by The Kurt Carr Singers ‧ 2009

I've got so much to thank God for So many wonderful blessings And so many open doors A brand new mercy Along with each new day That's why I praise You And for this I give You praise

For waking me up this morning That's why I praise You For sending me on my way That's why I praise You For letting me see the sunshine Of a brand new day A brand new mercy Along with each new day That's why I praise You and for this I give You praise

You're Jehovah Jhireh That's why I praise You You've been my Provider That's why I praise You So many times YouÂ've met my need So many times You rescued me That's why I praise You I want to thank You for the blessing You give to me each day That's why I praise You For this I give You praise

For every mountain You brought me over For every trial you've seen me through For every blessing Hallelujah, for this I give You praise

Close- Not Just A Prophet- Jesus is Our Righteous God & Savior, The Christ..

2 Peter 1:1–2 ESV

1 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: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.