Faith: A Spiritual Health Checkup Pray for & dismiss children to Sunday School. Take 30 seconds and greet someone next to you. A Disciple’s spiritual supplements

A Disciple’s Spiritual Supplements Opening Introduce theme of new series. This morning, and for the next few weeks, I want to recommend some supplements that will transform your life. I’m sure we’ve all had that moment when someone recommends a dietary supplement. And we’re like, really? (skeptical) Dude, you’ve got to try this supplement, it will change your life” How much does it cost? $200 a tablet [acting as if they are doing you a favor]. But, you can finance it if you want?” Actually, it’s not just me that recommends these supplements but the Apostle Peter in his 2nd letter to the church at large. Identify goal of new series It’s time to become who we are in God’s sight. Identify goal of this AM Point you to our Father I’m going to finish a little earlier so that we have time to respond to the Word. PRAY!

Previous Sermon Series Each and everyone one of us, if we believe Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, has the call to be a disciple and the call to make disciples. Give overview of previous sermon series. Summary: We’re a distinct people, with a distinct purpose. A resurrection people (victorious) with a resurrection purpose (the renewal of all things). Transition: we’re on a journey!

A Disciple’s Spiritual Supplements Now we’re on the journey, we need to know what is required of us, in order to reach our destination!

Ephesians 4:30 30 … do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8) Ephesians 4:30 has challenged me recently. The verse is in the context of the call to live us a distinct people. Grieve= Lypeo (loo-peh-o) To offend, insult, to distress, inflict emotional pain. Share personal story. The grief of the Holy Spirit is strongly linked to our purity. Our purity is a result of His grace. But, unless that Grace leads us to Holiness then it isn’t grace. Holiness is an issue of our character. Read Matthew 5:8 We’re going to unpack this verse more later but I want us to turn to the passage that we’re going to be based in for the next couple of months.

2 Peter 1:1-11 1Simeon 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. 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, Introduce Passage Peter is in the last chapter of his life and is writing to all Christians to warn against complacency and heresy. He is determined to remind and refresh the people of God of what it takes to grow into maturity. To become the fullness of that which God intends for us. Read Passage ”obtained a faith of equal standing with ours” Humbling. There are no 2nd class citizens in the Kingdom of God.

2 Peter 1:1-11 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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 

2 Peter 1:1-11 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 

2 Peter 1:1-11 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A Disciple's Spiritual Supplements What should I take? Why should I take them? Virtue Knowledge Self-Control Steadfastness Godliness Brotherly Affection Love Keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful (1:8) Whoever lacks these…is so nearsighted that he is blind (1:9) You will never fall (1:10) [Our calling provides] an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1:11) Supplement/ add= epichorego (ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o) Metaphor from ancient Greek drama festivals where a rich individual covered all the expenses of the equipment, the training and putting on the plays. They had to co-operate with the director and the local authorities to make it a success. Generous and costly co-operation. We must co-operate with the Holy Spirit in the transformational process he is doing in us to make us more like Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Health Checkup 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8) Blessed [approved by God] are the pure in heat [those with a clean, unmixed heart for God], for they shall [continuously] see God [in life and in eternity]. Read Story of Anna Mae Pennica. And yet there is a seeing that surpasses even this- and is seeing God! Before we can start taking our spiritual supplements we need to have a spiritual health checkup. Read Matthew 5:8 Psalm 24 Pharisees= “Blessed are the outwardly clean, for they shall see God” (R. Kent Hughes) Pure in heart= a heart that does not bring mixed motives and divided loyalties to its relationship with God. Analogy: when you’re in a conversation with someone and you know they aren’t really listening to you. Pure= focus, absorption, concentration, sincerity and singleness. This is one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century Heart= mind, emotions and will.

Spiritual Health Checkup Be honest with God about the condition of your heart. Acknowledge that only God can make your heart pure and yet we have a role to play. Fill yourself with God’s Word. Think about what you will be in eternity. Achieving this beatitude seems impossible. What are we to do? Depend on His grace. Co-operate with the Holy Spirit in transforming us into the image of Jesus. Application: Those who are yet to put their faith in Jesus You need a new heart. To be born again Those who have put their faith in Jesus Point 4= The hope will hold onto.