e177 What is Your Truth on the Ground? (Part 3, Spiritual Maturity, Peter’s parting words)

This is Faith to Witness 99, motivating us to hear God and share the Shepherd.  

Season 3 Episode 177 What is Your Truth on the Ground? (Part 3, Spiritual Maturity, Peter’s parting words)

Here’s the gist, human. The young, ambitious Peter, and the young, skeptical James grew up, spiritually. From baby Christians, eye witnesses of our Savior on earth, to spiritual leaders in the early church. Two voices that prompt us to grow toward God by living a life that represents his truth on our ground.

The simple scripture-based exercise in e175, e176, and now e177 is meant to call out my faith, your faith and how it is defined by our spiritual maturity in action. 

God’s Word illuminates his faithfulness by what I do. There is no substitute for God’s Word. I love immersing in it and letting God’s Spirit speak. 

My faith is defined by my spiritual maturity in action, his truth on my ground. God’s Word illuminates his faithfulness by what I do. 

So the answer to our rhetorical question: “how much clearer does God need to be?” 

“He is perfectly clear.” 

And my advice to us? Grow up, human. 

E177. 

Peter had been living his truth on the ground for 30+ years following Jesus’ ascension at the time he completed his letters. We have looked at James and Peter, how they stood for the truth in their purpose to build the early church. 

Why are we doing this? Because we are seeking the clarity that comes when God’s persuasion settles in to the daily life of someone who has submitted his free will to and heard the truth from Jesus first-hand. 

We considered how we are maturing in Christ in Peter’s first letter in e176. Now, today, as Peter was growing toward his crucification, he brings the message home to our soul in a way we cannot forget. But let’s make sure we don’t. 

Growing Toward His Spirit

In his second letter, Peter continues to name behavior that shapes how mature we are in Christ. And how to grow toward his Spirit. Peter addresses the behaviors of false teachers, describing them as “these people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.” While important to know as we mature, today we are concentrating on taking a cue on our behaviors, not the behaviors of false teachers, to take measure of our own spiritual maturity. If you missed Part 1 with James, and Part 2 with Peter in his first letter, circle back to them when you have a moment. 

As we have been doing in this scripture-based exercise, your cue is when I say: 

Consider…  And the scripture will follow.

Let’s get started. 

Consider how God has given you everything you need to spiritually grow up.

Consider how as you grow you are participating in God’s divine nature.

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Consider how your spiritual maturity grows in increasing measure.

2 Peter 1:5-8

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Protect Against a Spiritual Relapse

Consider how easy it is to have a spiritual relapse if we are not adding to our faith the fruit of the Spirit. 

2 Peter: 1:9

9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Consider how refreshing your memory and those of others that these qualities grow measure for measure when you mature in Christ.

2 Peter: 1:12-15

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Consider that your spiritual maturity rests in the power of Peter’s witness of Christ, and in the power of your witness of Christ in you.

2 Peter: 1:16-18

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 7 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Consider how your life has its origin not from your human will, but from God through the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter: 1:20-21

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

How We Mature Toward A New Heaven and New Earth

Consider how you are maturing toward wholesome thinking. 

2 Peter 3:1-2

3 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Consider the importance of your spiritual maturity to testify to others. God is waiting for you to witness his presence so someone on your path can “come to repentance.” 

2 Peter 3:8-9

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Consider how you mature toward the righteousness of a new heaven and a new earth.

2 Peter 3:11-13

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Consider how you are maturing in the grace of our Savior, and knowing him, knowing his glory.

2 Peter 3:14, 18

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 

And verse 18.

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Embrace Growing as a Mighty Warrior for God’s Faithfulness

Peter. He stood face to face with Jesus. He had conversations with our Shepherd. He lived his life trading measure for measure, that what he does in action, will receive a reciprocal strengthening of his character. He came to understand that spiritual maturity is embracing the glory-bound spiritual gain of things. His life convinces us of this: that a full investment in our obedience yields the highest spiritual return. 

I encourage you to take time to read 2 Peter at some point this week for the full context. It would not be a bad thing to read through 1 Peter and 2 Peter to go for a fuller retention of this concept. Peter’s measure of spiritual maturity. 

The young, ambitious Peter, and the young, skeptical James grew up, spiritually. From baby Christians, eye witnesses of our Savior on earth, to spiritual leaders and two voices that prompt us to grow toward God by living a life that represents his truth on the ground.

This simple scripture-based exercise is meant to call out my faith, your faith and how it is defined by our spiritual maturity in action. God’s Word illuminates his faithfulness by what I do. 

We covered a lot of scripture over the last three weeks. There is no substitute for God’s Word. It has saved me right now. I love immersing in it and letting God’s Spirit speak. I know that if I settle in to listening to God, he matures my understanding of his nature. We need to internalize his Word.

So I ask us again, “how much clearer does God need to be?”

And I affirm: “God is perfectly clear.”

Are you gonna stay with this? I am. I need to grow up. So do you. And we should because how we grow is key to witnessing to others. To share our growth journey and how God is making us a mighty warrior for his faithfulness. Show up on the front lines of this world’s spiritual battle. Let’s go.