If you look at the testimony of scripture from Genesis to Revelation, you will see that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal God. To draw people into a relationship with God. To transform people in that new life in Christ. And then to reproduce the very life of Christ within the individual experience and within the corporate experience we call the church.

What do you believe about Jesus? Jesus Christ is the promised messiah, the God man, the bold prophet, the compassionate healer, the bondage breaker, the perfect example, the atoning sacrifice, the resurrected Lord, the interceding high priest, the returning King. What you believe about Jesus will change your life today and tomorrow and for all eternity.

Who do we really say Jesus Christ is? What do we really believe about Jesus? Because what we believe affects how we feel and how we live and the eternal destiny of our lives. And what we believe about Jesus will effect everything about our spiritual journey.

We feel guilty. We are aware of our inadequacy. We know how we fall short. But for some reason we spiritualize that. You'd think the hight of spirituallity is feeling guilty. Your best sermons are when you leave feeling really bad about yourself. There is nothing spiritual about being guilty. Guilt is a step in a process towards, freedom, forgiveness, hope, restoration.

The agnostic has a thought in his mind when he thinks about God. He says, "I don't know if there's a God." The hindu has a thought in his mind when he thinks about God; "there are many gods." Everybody has a basic notion, understanding, preconceived idea of God. The question is, is it acurate or not?

But here is what I discovered. You probably have discovered this to. That first step, which at the time, seems all encompasing, and it really is, is really the first big step followed by alot of smaller steps. Because every step of spiritual growth is an act of surrender.

What we believe affects our view of God. Relationships, marriage, parenting, hope, how we respond to struggles and trials. How do we answer the deepest questions about life. What we beieve affects all of that. Your mind matters. Your thoughts matter. Your thoughts today are going to affect the kind of person you are going to become tomorrow.

God has called us to live sanctified lives that demonstrated His life within us.

And so Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes a letter about how God has a plan and purpose for history and a plan and purpose for our lives. God even uses suffering and spiritual warfare as a means to reveal His grace to us and to stregnthen us and to empower us.

We have brothers and sisters who are really facing struggles. So when we face struggles, we need to let that be a reminder to not only pray for ourselves but to pray for one another.