BE STEADFAST: GROW AND GO

by Tammy Phillips
October 11. 2021

“…some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable [people] twist to their own destruction, as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures. ¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, since you know [this] beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:16-18 NKJV)

Have you ever had anyone twist your words to make themselves be in a better light?  Peter tells us that people will twist the word of God for their own use.  When Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted, Satan twisted and tried to tempt Jesus with the word of God.  Do not think for a minute that the false accuser will not try to distort; put to the rack; torture; overstretch; dislocate the word of God and attempt to lead us into destruction.   This is why everything we hear and do needs to be aligned with the word of God.  If anything, we hear or read does not align with the Word, it is error and needs alignment.   However, if we are not reading and spending time studying the Word, how in this world would we have a clue what is wrong?

Peter plainly tells us to BEWARE! We are in danger of falling out of line and “falling from your own steadfastness, “if we listen to the twisting of the unlearned and unstable. When we don’t listen nor accept the truth, we are out of line with the word of God and are in danger of falling.  Remember…

Truth is plumb.

How do we keep standing and avoid stepping into error?  How do we remain steadfast and aligned?  Peter tells us:

1. Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” (2 Peter 1:2 NKJV)

We grow in grace by growing in knowledge. 

2. Grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

We grow in knowledge by giving all diligence.  There is that word again, diligence.  We grow and go by “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, [you] will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8 NKJV)

Be diligent and fruitful in knowledge:

• Labor to know Him.
• Be transformed by Him.
• Be more like Him.
• Be diligent like Him.
• Have faith like Him.
• Be virtuous like Him.
• Be knowledgeable like Him.
• Be self-controlled like Him.
• Persevere like Him. 
• Be reverent, respectful and in awe of Him.
• Love like Him.
• Love Him.

When we grow in grace and the knowledge of Him, we remain steadfast and prevent a fall in times of apostasy. When we guard our hearts and minds in all diligence, we grow and continue to stand in Him.

I enCOURAGE you to live like a “last days” Christian.  2 Peter 3 is a great outline of how to do just that.  Remember the word.  Jesus is coming.  Know scoffers will come.  Don’t be a scoffer.  Be prepared and watch for Him.  He is not constrained by time.  He could come anytime but He is not slack concerning his promise.  He is coming, but He is longsuffering to want all to repent. Change your mind.  Turn to Him.  Open the door to Him in every area of your life.  Invite Him to come in and abide.  Ask Him what kind of person He wants you to be.  Be diligent in pursuing Him and your relationship.  Get to know Him and His Word.  Grow in in the grace and knowledge of Him to keep you from falling. Keep on keeping on.  Stand. Be diligent.  Be resolute. Give Him the glory forever!