Introduction:     Peter’s readers were living in an environment that was extremely hostile to cause of Jesus Christ.  Peter knew that if they were to stand under the pressure and make an impact on their world they would have to grow strong spiritually.  And so Peter gives instruction that not only fortified their faith, but will help us become what I would like to call, "Highly Effective Christians" in our society as well. I want to be a Highly Effective Servant of my Lord and Savior.  As a pastor, my greatest desire for you as a Church is to see you grow and mature into Highly Effective Servants of Jesus. Here we discover... what I want to call Eight Habits of Highly Effective Christians. Why I use the term habits...  habits must be established, built into our lives.  Peter admonishes us to "add" or build our faith. The first habit I find here is foundational.  Highly effective Christians PRACTICE SPIRITUAL DILIGENCE. Look at verse 5 and notice that Peter underscores....

I.          THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRACTICING SPIRITUAL DILIGENCE (V. 5)
We seem to live in the day of additives. There are vitamin additives designed to supplement your diet. There is STP, a gasoline additive that is supposed to give a little extra "umph" to your car. There is even Grecian Formula to add a little color to your hair. You will notice in verse 5,  that Simon Peter give the instruction, "Add to your faith," then he names seven things we are to add or build upon the foundation of faith. Let's clarify however that in order to add to your faith, you must have saving faith. Peter's readers had saving faith.  Look again at verse 1and you will see that Peter addressed this letter to "them that have obtained like precious faith...”. Peter speaks here of a "precious faith". This faith that Peter speaks of is not the FALSE FAITH of the heretics, nor the PHONY FAITH of the hypocrite, or the FRUITLESS FAITH of one who merely professes faith. Peter describes this faith as "precious" I believe for two important reasons. First, because of...

A.        The Object of our Faith
Who is the object of the Christians faith?  Note I said who not what?  Who... Jesus. Saving faith is precious because it is through faith in Jesus Christ that one is born into the family of God. John's Gospel tells the story of Nicodemus.  Jesus told him that to enter heaven he "must be born again".  Jesus went on to explain that to be born again one must put their faith in the Lord Jesus.  I think secondly, that Peter describes saving faith as "PRECIOUS FAITH", because of...

B.         The Outcome of our Faith
The Bible declares that if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, then you have become... “A NEW CREATURE" (2 Cor. 5:17 ). Peter knew the reality of the transforming outcome of placing faith in the person of Jesus Christ.  Before Peter trusted Jesus as his Savior, he was a foul mouthed, self centered, cowardly, compromising man.  But Jesus saved him and transformed him into a mighty instrument of righteousness. Notice in the opening sentence of this letter, Peter identifies himself as, "A SERVANT AND AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST". The Christian life begins when one places their trust in the Savior, but Peter wants us to understand that becoming a Christian is not the end, it is the beginning.  The Christian life is to be "added to". Look again at verse 5 and note that we are to be "GIVING ALL DILIGENCE" as we add to our faith. The word "diligence" refers to the earnest, zealous, exertion of oneself. This matter of adding to our faith, seeing our faith strengthened and enriched demands our diligence. No one grows in the spiritual realm automatically. I wish as a pastor I could just put people in a room push a button and bang... it would produce a mature, growing, effective believer for the kingdom of God .  But that is not possible. It takes intentional effort. (Illustration: Hershel Walker of the Dallas Cowboys was the smallest kid on his high school team at age 15.  He is in diligent pursuit of being able to play pro football. Not one of us can afford to dillydally around spiritually.  We must be in a diligent pursuit of becoming all the Lord wants us to be. Highly effective Christians understand this responsibility. Now look back at verses 3 and 4 for a moment and I want you to see that as we endeavor to diligently add to our faith, Peter reminds us of...

II.         THE RESOURCES FOR PRACTICING SPIRITUAL DILIGENCE (VV. 3-4)
Can we be successful in the process of adding to our faith? Is spiritual growth for every believer? The answer of course is yes!  There is absolutely no reason why you can not grow spiritually if you want to grow. Peter tells us that if we will practice spiritual diligence we can expect to have two very important Divine resources at our disposal.

In verse 3 we see that we have...

A.        God's Power To Enable Us (v.3)
Notice that Peter says that the Lord's "divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." Peter is saying that our Lord's Power is sufficient! The provision of power that is available to us is able to provide all that we need in relationship to life and godliness. Peter's point is that "divine power" not only produces new life in the believer, but it also can enable us to live godly. It will enable us to add to our faith. (Illus. The story is told of a woman living in a remote valley in Wales who went to a lot of trouble to have electricity installed in her home. Because she was the only customer in the area, installation was very expensive. Three months later her consumption of electricity was less than a single price unit.  When asked whether the cost of installation was worth while she said, "Oh, yes!"  "I switch it on every night to see how to light my lamps.  Then I switch it off.") Can you imagine that?  With unlimited light and power at her disposal she continued the weary grind of filling and lighting of her lamps. That pictures many Christians. They could be growing, but they are mired in mediocrity.  They are failing to rely on the power of Jesus to enable them to live victoriously for Jesus. Notice also, that as we attempt to diligently add to our faith, we not only have at our disposal... God's Power To Enable Us, but we have...

B.         God's Promises To Encourage Us (v.4)

Verse 4 says we have been given, "exceeding great and precious promises...” Someone has said that in the Word of God there are 7487 promises made to mankind by God. The promises of God are described as "great and precious".  They are great because of their source.  They come from God.  They are precious because of their significance.  Their value is beyond calculation! Think of some of those promises.  The believer is promised... eternal life (Jn 3:16 ), strength when weary (Isa. 40:28-31), reward when obedient (Rev. 22:12), comfort for trial (2 Cor. 1:3-5), victory over temptation, answers to prayers, companionship when dying!  And that is to name just a few. Friend we can depend on God's promises. You can trust the promises of GOD!!!!! Oh I trust you will tap into these resources and let Christ mold you into all he wants you to be! Then let me finally mention...

III.       THE REWARDS OF PRACTICING SPIRITUAL DILIGENCE (VV. 8-10)
No doubt there was probably someone in the crowd that Peter was writing to, and maybe even someone in our crowd who might be thinking,  Yeah I know I need to get more diligent about my spiritual development but is it really worth it. They have the attitude some have regarding New Years resolutions. The problem is that they fail to see the future reward. Listen... it is worth the price to add to your faith with diligence. For example, in verse 8, Peter says, "If these things be in you...”  If we will build these spiritual habits into our lives...

A.        We Will Be Equipped (verse 8)
If you build these habits into your life you will become a useful, fruitful, growing Christian.

B.         We Will Be Enlightened (verse 9)
Peter says that those who neglect these habits are blind. Blind to heavenly things and engrossed in earthly things. They lack spiritual perception and forget the work of God's
grace in their hearts.

C.        We Will Be Established (verses 10-11)
We will have confidence.  We won't "fall", literally stumble. We will continue on the path of growth.

Conclusion:       Today, are you saved?  Do you know that if you died today that you would go to heaven?  Put your faith in Jesus. Christian... do you want to be a highly effective servant of Jesus Christ?  If so it is going to cost you something.  Are you willing today to commit yourself to give it your best effort?