A Fresh Stirring

Please take your Bible to 2 Peter 1:12-15…

Read Text: 2 Peter 1:12–15

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Introduction: The theme for 2026 and the title for today’s message, as you have already seen in the bulletin, is “A Fresh Stirring”.

Throughout history, we can see times when God stirred His people. One of the best examples of this is in our own country. The Great Awakening of the 1730’s and 1740’s swept this country. What is interesting is that just 100 years before the Great Awakening, the Puritans were just arriving on the shores of “America”. The Puritans were known for their theological depth and personal application. They knew the truth, and they practiced it. They were a people that were freshly stirred. But, 100 years passed by, and there came a need for a fresh stirring. The churches in America during the 1700’s weren’t off the rails in false doctrine, they weren’t so unorthodox that we couldn’t consider them Christians, no, they knew the truth. But they became cold to it. They became apathetic to it. Does this sound familiar?

Context: Peter just recently wrote his first epistle to this scattered church and just a few years later writes his second letter. It seems that as we come to 2 Peter that this scattered church had become similar to the 1700’s Christianity. It doesn’t take long for apathy to creep in. The same is true for us.

Transition: This morning, I would like to give you four truths about this “Fresh Stirring”.

I. The Need — v. 12

Do you know why so many Christians live in an “unstirred” state? It is because they don’t think they need to be stirred. They are comfortable. They are complacent. Complacency will destroy you spiritually. Why do we become complacent? It is because we know so much! We are professional Christians. We wake up, put the right clothes on, talk the right talk, act the right way, even believe the right things, but our hearts are far from God. Is that possible? Absolutely!

Go with me to Revelation 2, and keep your hand there because we will come back again to this in a moment but notice what God has to say about the church at Ephesus.

Ephesians was written and then a few decades later this letter was written. This church needed a Fresh Stirring. For all their good, they left the one thing that mattered the most, their love for Jesus. What is revival? What is a fresh stirring? In a sentence, it is simply this: falling in love with Jesus again.

II. The Means — v. 13 “remembrance”

It is important to note that God uses our memory to stir us up. Not teaching us something new, but remembering something that we already knew. Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. A fresh stirring is not when we learn something new about God, but when we go back to what we already know and enjoy it once again! Look at Revelation 2 one more time…notice verse 5!

“Remembrance” was Moses’ tool as well. The word “remember” is used 14 times in the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was the second giving of the law. Not a new law, but the same law given again. Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

(1) Remember your State

(2) Remember your Salvation

(3) Remember your Savior

You want to be stirred? Remember.

III. The Urgency — vv. 14-15

The tabernacle was temporary. So is our life. Peter knew he was going to die soon. Jesus told him that he would die a martyrs death. He did not have time to waste. Neither do we.

Are you urgently seeking revival? A fresh stirring? What if Jesus came back today? Are you okay with your relationship with Him?

IV. The Goal — v. 8

What is the goal of this stirring? To bear fruit. To be used by God. To be usable.

Conclusion: You may be saved, but are you stirred? Is it real? Is it fresh to you? Just like those in the 1700’s needed an Awakening…so do we.

knowledge and remembrance go together. “Knowledge” is used a lot in this first chapter.