Stirred Up by Way of Reminder

Introduction

2 Peter 1:12–15 ESV

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Have you ever forgotten something that was very important?

I have never forgotten anything in my life.

Explanation

2 Peter 1:12 “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.”

Peter is intentionally reminding the church of these qualities.

As a young pastor, one of the biggest mistakes that I made was that I always wanted to teach something new.

It is good to desire to teach something in a fresh way, when often, we are called to teach what has always been taught.

We pray for establishment in these virtues - not a knowledge of them.

The reason we teach the same thing over and over again is because we desire for someone to be established - not just knowledgeable.

For my longtime Christians - are you ever bored in a Bible study?

You might be valuing knowledge more than application.

Value holiness and the application of these virtues to your life.

My job is not education. My job is pastoral, which means that while I am educating you, I am hopefully walking with you and helping you to do what God is placing on your heart.

When we look at this list - faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love - Do we live them, or do we just know what they are?

Do you have a desire to grow in brotherly affection?

Are you exhibiting self-control?

QUESTION: Is there something in your life that you know is write, because you have read it in the Bible, but you just haven’t it.

2 Peter 1:13 “I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,”

Peter says, “I am not going to stop doing this work.” I sense a Godly stubbornness in his proclamation. “You may not like what I do, but it is what I do.”

Jim Shaddix and Daniel Akin - The Benefits of Remembering

Remembering sustains our godliness

Our human hearts are forgetful. We forget why certain aspects of godliness are important. We forget that certain sins are harmful.

We gain strength to stand in God’s plan when we are constantly reminded of the truth.

Remembering stimulates our passion “stirred”

Peter is contemplating the length of time he still has on the earth.

He realizes that has a small window to teach these things. He also realizes that they have a short time to act upon them.

We tend to believe that we have forever to serve the Lord on this earth. We have a short time, so we must be stirred to serve and love and go.

Remembering strengthens our readiness

If we only use the Bible like an instruction manual - to be consulted when we don’t know what to do next - then we will never be ready to face the challenges of the day.

If we only use our Bible as a dictionary - to be looked at when we don’t know the meaning of something - they we will never have a transformed life.

If we allow the Bible to soak into our souls, then we will be ready for everything that this life will throw our way.

When you teach a child to drive, do you want them to be able to drive instinctually because they know the rules of the road OR do you want them to stop and consult the manual.

I am not saying that you should feel ashamed to open your Bible in times of need, but I would prefer than you are so filled with the Scriptures, that you would be able to remember instead of research.

To be honest, to know where to look takes knowing the word and studying it intensely.

You can’t just ask God a question and open your Bible to a random page. Those results would be disastrous.

Unfortunately, I did this stuff as a teenager. The problem was, I would open to the middle of the Bible, and that was normally Isaiah or Jeremiah. And most of what God told Isaiah and Jeremiah was difficult.

2 Peter 1:14-15“since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”

You gain a clarity when your life is drawing to an end.

Peter knows he is going to die, and he is wanting to make sure that he does the right things and the best things.

“after my departure you may be able to recall these things”

Peter wants them to be able to remember the word of God.

He wants them to recall it. Not research - recall.

Invitation

Grow in your knowledge of the word.

Grow in your application of the word.

Remember, remember, remember.