2. 4. Be Intentional – Then you will Grow 2 Peter 1:1–11 (p. 1124) 1 & 2 Peter

3. Growing in our Faith … ▲ “If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being Ineffective Unproductive Ineffective and Unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v 8) ▲ “... If you do these things you will stumble never stumble... (v 10)

4. 1. Set up for VICTORY ▲ His Divine Power (v 3) ■ Has given us everything we need ■ Through our Knowledge ● Right information and understanding (knowledge of reality) ● Intimate relationship (knowledge of person) ▲ His great & precious Promises (v 4) ■ Offered because of His “Glory” and “Goodness”

5. 1. Set up for VICTORY … ▲ The BENEFITS for us NOW: (adapting Greek philosophy) ■ Participating in the divine nature (v 4) ● Gk: implies permanence and immortality – like the gods ● Bible: Transformed into the image of Christ (Col 3:10; 2 Cor 3:18) ■ Escaping the corruption of Sinful desires (v 4) ● Gk: purification through – (i) contemplation of the divine, (ii) personal discipline, & (iii) detachment from world/body ● Bible: Purified through Christ’s blood, now live it (Rom 6:2, Eph 4:17)

6. 2. SEIZING the Opportunity Add – … to your Faith – Goodness … to goodness– Knowledge … to knowledge – Self Control … to self control – Perseverance … to perseverance – Godliness … to godliness – Brotherly Kindness … to brotherly kindness – Love

7. 2. Seizing the Opportunity … ▲ Possess these “… in increasing measure” (v 8) ■ Not absolutes – a growing in Christ-likeness ▲ A Call to CHANGE – ● Not just our HABITS ● Not just our ATTITUDES ● OUR VERY SELVES (deep inside !!!)

8. 3. SYMPTOM & CURE Being Ineffective and Unproductive is a symptom: ▲ Of NEARSIGHTEDNESS(v 9) ■ To the point of BLINDNESS ■ Seeing only what is right in front of you – Look UP! ▲ Of FORGETFULNESS(v 9)

9. 3. SYMPTOM & CURE… The “medicine” to cure these symptoms is: ▲ Being DILIGENT (v 5, 10) ▲ Making your CALLING sure (v 10) ■ Being SURE of God’s hold on you (you are HIS) ▲ DOING these things (Holy Living) (v 10)

10. The benefits to US A rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord.

12. Conclusion … ▲ God has set us up for victory / success ▲ We have a part to play to take hold of it ■ If we DON’T – we’ll lead ineffective, unproductive lives ■ If we DO– we’ll have joyful life in God – we’ll have victory over sin, – We’ll get a victory parade to enter Heaven