SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 1:1-11
TEXT: Luke 10:42: “ONE THING IS NEEDED”
OPENING: In the hustle and bustle of the media driven world we live in, we can lose our focus on priorities. If you listen to the social media, they espouse several different priorities depending on the advertisers that contributing to their coffers.
In our text this morning, we see two sisters who had different priorities. In a Middle Eastern culture, when you invite someone to your house, you ought to prepare some food for your guest. So Martha was doing what culture said! How many know this morning that CULTURE CAN BE A DISTRACTION AND CAUSE US TO FOCUS ON THE WRONG KINGDOM?
Jesus’ response to Martha would be His response to many of us today:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but ONE THING is needed and Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her”.
Have you chosen the ONE THING?
In our Scripture reading this morning, Peter reminds us of that ONE THING, ONE THING wrapped up in 3 Words!
DILIGENCE: Are you a diligent believer? Have you made that “ONE THING” your priority?
Peter had been reminded many times by Jesus’ teaching about the “ONE THING”. At the Sermon on the Mount, Peter had heard Jesus say, “SEEK YOU FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
At Peter’s revelation of Jesus, the CHALLENGE OF THE CHURCH.
AT MARY AND MARTHA HOUSE
AT THE LAST SUPPER WHEN CHALLENGED BY JESUS
AND FINALLY PETER RECEIVED THE REVELATION AND THE POWER ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST. THAT HELPED HIM STAY FOCUSED ON THAT ONE THING!!!!
In our scripture reading today Peter establishes the FACTS:
: WE HAVE RECEIVED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
: GRACE AND PEACE WILL BE MULTIPLIED TO US AS WE GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST
: BECAUSE HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM
: BECAUSE GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US AND WE SHALL BE PARTAKERS OF HIS DIVINE NATURE AND ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST.
Those are the FACTS! FACTS! FACTS!
Therefore, because of those FACTS, we see 3 D’s:
1) BE DILIGENT: Diligent to what? TO ADD and TO GROW.
Add to your Faith, VIRTUE
Add to your Virtue, KNOWLEDGE
Add to your Knowledge, SELF CONTROL
Add to your Self Control, PERSEVERANCE
Add to your Perseverance, GODLINESS
Add to your Godliness, BROTHERLY KINDNESS
Add to your Brotherly Kindness, LOVE
The PROMISE is: IF YOU DO THIS YOU WILL BE NEITHER BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL.
Are you BARREN in your Christian walk? Are you BEARING FRUIT: LOVE, JOY, PEACE?
2) DISCIPLINE: To know that your call and election are sure.
PROMISE: The stronger you get, the less you will stumble.
3) DESTINY: You will have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom
Are you afraid of dying? I have spoken to a lot of Christians who are afraid of dying.
CLOSING: WE HAVE BEEN WIRED FOR ETERNITY but we allow VIRUSES to get into our MINDS AND POLLUTE OUR MINDS.
This morning, I challenge you to “SET YOUR MIND ON THE ONE THING “.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit spoke through the Prophet and said, MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE”.
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit through Peter said, “KNOWLEDGE OF HIS DIVINE POWER AND NATURE WILL MAKE YOU FRUITFUL NOT BARREN.”