How do I grow closer to God?

First thing you need to know...

You are called

by name, to know God

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Circle “called”

GOD WANTS YOU CLOSE TO HIM. He wants you to experience abundant life with Him. Because He desires what is best for you. And being CLOSE to Him is what is best for you!

Not only have you been called (Past tense) you are being called daily to meet with Him.

“Come and meet with me. Be with me. Know me deeper.”

Second thing you need to know…

You have what you need

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Underline “granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him”

By knowing Christ, which is answering the call to Christ, you have participated with God in opening up the pipeline, escalator, elevator, etc. to being close to God and living like God.

Circle Life and Godliness

By saying these two words, Peter is saying that we have the hose of life water lined straight up to our mouth. We can drink at any time. That is Life. Jesus said life is knowing God and Christ. Life is a relationship with life.

Godliness, is manifesting that eternal life in your life here and now. Its healing your temper, learning to love and be patient with your siblings, its thinking rightly about yourself, that you are loved and desired, it is living out your desire to never gossip again, it is having the discipline to read your bible daily and pray for each other, it is having desires that challenge your evil desires. Its living out your faith in Christ.

You have what you need! and God is giving you more than you need…

Third thing you need to know…

You have promises to claim

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Circle “precious and very great promises”.

God has promised to justify you, to sanctify you, and to glorify you.

These promises are how you can bank on “the divine nature”

Underline “partakers of the divine nature”

Alright… those are truths you need to hold on to and believe. God is at work. But you are a partner with Him in this. So what must you do?

Peter is about to say something super super important.

2 Peter 1:5 ESV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to…

Underline “make every effort”

does he say, “make no effort”? does he say, “make some effort”?

what does he say???

EVERY

One of my strengths is also one of my weaknesses…

I’m super gracious with people. especially you guys. When you want to go swim at the beach… I want you to be able to too.

When you are struggling to follow through on commitments, or reading your bible, or praying, or you are struggling with sin… My tendency is to remind you that God loves you and is patient with you…

What I really struggle with is holding people accountable. I struggle to tell people hard things that hey need to hear…

I’ve even said in the past that God is happy if you read one verse or two a day… As if you don’t have to do much…

But, what I struggle to say is that that is only if that is “every effort” for you to do. I lean towards grace more than I do accountability.

The reality is that we are called to “make every effort…” not as a work for love. But as a response to love.

Make every effort to…

Pursue virtue/moral excellence

Do what ever it takes to do the right thing at all times. WWJD

Live with integrity.

Find friends that will hold you accountable to living with integrity.

People you can ask, “call me out when you see me doing this” “pray for me about this”

Make ever effort to…

Pursue Knowledge of Christ

Do what ever it takes to know Christ more intimately

Pursue Him in His Word. Pursue Him in Prayer. Commune with your maker

The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude A. Opening Sermon (1:3–11)

wisdom and discernment come from knowing God/Christ and adopting his character.

This knowledge isn’t purely in your head. This is a knowledge that you are taking in like a sponge so that when you are squeezed, it is what you’ve been absorbing, in knowing Christ, that seeps out.

Get in the word. But also pray the word. Read the word with your friends. Pray the Word with your friends.

Pursue Self-Control

We must learn how to deny our fleshly desires and feed our spirit desires.

Galatians 5:17 ESV

17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Fasting is a great way to pursue self control.

Commit to being Steadfast

What is your spiritual endurance?

Walking up the stairs for the water slides. I barely had the endurance for that because I have not been steadfast in my exercise.

Are you exercising your faith?

How consistent are you with reading the scriptures? With praying for your friends? How consistent are you and your friends to pray for each other when you are together?

What has consistency in your life?

Are you consistent to be on tick tock, insta, play games, etc all day?

Are your consistent habits keeping you from creating Christ centered consistent habits?

I’ve heard many of you say “I’ve been too busy to read my bible, to pray, to meditate, etc.”

Sorry. but not sorry. That is a lie. You are only as busy as you let yourself be. We have more control over what we are consistently steadfast with than we admit. DON’T MAKE EXCUSES.

What is your culture?

Culture is what you tolerate?

Stop tolerating what is killing your soul!

Pursue Godliness

This is basically reverence for God that manifests in action.

Like, fearing God that causes you to act like it.

Or, considering God with such deep respect, knowing that He is watching every move you make, and that He deserves your obedience, love, respect, admiration, etc.

This is really about how you perceive God?

Is Jesus more your homeboy than He is you King?

Pursue Brotherly Affection

Going to be honest. I never had brothers and sisters. I wanted them so badly. But to be honest. I’ve watch people treat their siblings with such disrespect and love that I’ve been heart broken. I’ve watch my dad’s siblings become consumed with the past and allow it to fester bitterness and hatred.

Consider what Brotherly Affection SHOULD look like.

FORGIVENESS, KINDNESS, PATIENCE, SECURITY, COMMITMENT, GENTLENESS,

Surrender to Love

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Reflection Time