A PRECIOUS FAITH

A PRECIOUS FAITH

SCRIPTURE: 2 PETER 1:1-­15 CONCEPT: ALONG WITH FAITH, THE BIBLE IDENTIFIES SEVEN THINGS THAT MUST BE ADDED TO OUR FAITH TO HAVE A FRUITFUL AND ABUNDANT LIFE.

AS CHRISTIANS ALL OF US BEGIN THIS JOURNEY ON THE ROAD CALLED CHRISTIANITY BY BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST. JOHN 3:16 SAYS THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. AND WHOSOEVER, BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING FAITH. BY BELIEVING OR IF YOU WILL HAVING FAITH IN JESUS WE ARE SAVED AND ALLOWED TO BEGIN OUR VOYAGE CALLED CHRISTIANITY. WE KNOW THAT FAITH IS CRITICAL IN THAT WALK BECAUSE EPHESIANS 2:8 SAYS THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH, NOT OF OURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. WE CAN’T BE SAVED, WITH FAITH. TO TAKE THIS WALK WITH GOD, WE ARE TOLD TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH AND THAT OUR FAITH MAKES US WHOLE. JESUS SAID ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU AND THAT WHEN HE SAW OUR FAITH BEING EXHIBITED, HE HEALED AND BLESSED EVEN THOSE WHO DIDN’T DESERVE IT. YES FAITH IS AN ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE FOR CHRISTIAN AND IT IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH WE STAND. BUT VITAL AS A HAVING FAITH IS, FAITH BY ITSELF IS NOT ENOUGH. NO. THERE ARE THINGS THAT MUST

ACCOMPANY OUR FAITH IN ORDER TO HAVE A FULL CHRISTIAN LIFE. LOOK AT V.5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith; NIV- For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith; NLT, Supplement your faith. THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US TO ADD OR SUPPLEMENT OUR FAITH. YOU SEE, ANYBODY CAN SAY THEY BELIEVE IN GOD. OVER 80% OF THE WORLD BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A GOD, BUT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH, THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED. OUR FAITH NEEDS TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY THINGS THAT WILL MAKES US PRODUCTIVE AND FRUITFUL. GOD SHOWED ME THESE THINGS AND HELP ME TO REALIZE THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS MUST PURSUE THESE SEVEN THINGS IN ORDER TO GROW INTO THE PERSONS THAT GOD WOULD HAVE US TO BE. IF YOU WILL, LET ME BRIEFLY SHARE THEM WITH YOU, IN HOPE THAT THEY WILL BECOME A ROAD MAP AND NAVIGATION CHART FOR YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK WITH GOD. I HAVE GIVEN YOU A CHART THAT I HOPE WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THESE STEPS AND TO BEGIN TO PURSUE THEM.

THE FIRST STEP IN V5, SAYS THAT WE MUST WITH ALL DILIGENCE ADD TO

OUR FAITH VIRTUE. VIRTUE IS ANOTHER WORD FOR BEING GOOD. IT IS GOD LIKE CHARACTER OR MORAL EXCELLENCE. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FAITH AND GOD’S PROMISES AND ACT LIKE YOU NEVER GOT SAVED. NO OUR FAITH IN GOD, HAS TO HAVE ADDED TO IT OUR STRIVING TO ACT LIKE GOD. YOU CAN’T BE A HELL RAISING, BACKBITING, GOSSIPPING, UNRIGHTEOUS, LYING, SEXUALLY IMMORAL PERSON AND GROW IN THE LORD. IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. YEAH, IT’S A GREAT THING TO ACCEPT JESUS AND TO HAVE A MEASURE OF FAITH AND BE THE RECIPIENT OF GOD’S GREAT PROMISES; BUT IF YOU WANT TO WALK WITH GOD, WE CAN’T ACT LIKE THE DEVIL. TELL SOMEBODY ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE. THE END OF V.5 TELLS US THAT WE MUST ADD TO OUR VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE. YOU SEE JUST ACTING LIKE GOD, WITHOUT KNOWING ABOUT GOD IS SIMPLY A PERFORMANCE. IT’S LIKE ACTING CHRISTIAN, BUT NOT KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN. IT’S LIKE ACTING LIKE YOU’RE A MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER.IT’S LIKE TRYING TO MAKE SOMEBODY HAPPY BUT NOT KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THEM HAPPY. WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS WE PERISH.

TELLS SOMEBODY WE HAVE TO ADD KNOWLEDGE TO OUR VIRTUE. TO VIRTUE, V6 TELLS US, TO ADD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE. TEMPERANCE MEANS SELF CONTROL. IT’S A WONDERFUL THING TO KNOW WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED AND WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST, BUT IF YOU NEVER LEARN TO CONTROL YOURSELF, YOU AND I WILL ALWAYS BE DISTRACTED BY OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONTROLLED BY OUR FEELINGS AND USED BY THE DEVIL TO FULFILL HIS WILL AND NOT GOD’S WILL FOR OUR LIVES. WE’VE GOT TO ADD SELF CONTROL LOR TEMPERANCE TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. TELL SOMEBODY THAT WE’VE GOT TO ADD SOMETHING TO IT. IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT WE’VE GOT TO ADD TO OUR TEMPERANCE OR SELF CONTROL PATIENCE (NIV-­PERSEVERENCE, NLT -­ PATIENT ENDURANCE). EVEN IF WE LEARN TO CONTROL OURSELVES, IF WE FAIL TO BE ABLE TO WAIT ON GOD, WE’LL LOSE HEART AND BEGIN TO FEEL IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THE BIBLE SAYS, NOW ABIDETH FAITH HOPE AND LOVE... FAITH IS NOW, HOPE IS LATER AND LOVE IS FOREVER. WITHOUT PATIENCE, WE CAN’T HAVE HOPE. AND WITHOUT HOPE, WE’LL GIVE UP ON THE PROMISES OF GOD. TELL SOMEBODY YOU’VE GOT TO ADD PATIENCE TO YOUR TEMPERANCE. ADD SOMETHING TO IT. THE END OF V6 SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO ADD TO OUR PATIENCE

GODLINESS. GODLINESS IS SEEING LIFE AS GOD SEES IT AND BELIEVING THINGS THAT GOD SAYS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS THE WAY THE WORLD LOOKS AT IT, WE ARE LIVING LIFE IN A WORLDLY WAY. THAT THE GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF EMPTY AND THAT ITS A RAT RACE AND THAT WE BETTER GET FOLK BEFORE THEY GET US. EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF AND GOD FOR US ALL. BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS THE WAY GOD DOES, WE BEGIN TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DESPITEFULLY USE US. WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS THE WAY GOD DOES AND WALK IN THOSE WAYS, WE STRIVE FOR PEACE AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT BEING FIRST, OR HAVING THE LAST SAY. WE LEARN TO HUMBLE OUR SELVES AND WAIT ON GOD. TELL SOMEBODY WE HAVE TO ADD TO OUR PATIENCE GODLINESS. ADD SOMETHING TO IT. TO GODLINESS V7 SAYS WE HAVE TO ADD BROTHERLY KINDNESS. THE BIBLE SAYS, HOW CAN YOU LOVE ME WHO YOU CAN NOT SEE AND NOT LOVE YOUR BROTHER WHO YOU CAN. NO MATTER HOW GODLY YOU THINK YOU ARE. NOT MATTER HOW MUCH FAITH OR TEMPERANCE YOU SAY YOU HAVE. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR SELF AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE THINGS OF GOD, WITH YOUR GODLY SELF; IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO YOUR BROTHER AND WALK RIGHT BY YOUR SISTER AND REFUSE TO SAY GOOD MORNING. THEN

YOUR RELIGION IS IN VAIN. YEAH WE MUST LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS, SOULS AND MIND. BUT DON’T MISS THIS PART AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. TELL SOMEBODY WE HAVE TO ADD TO OUR GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS. ADD SOMETHING TO IT. AND TO OUR BROTHERLY KINDNESS, THE END OF V7 SAYS WE HAVE TO ADD TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS CHARITY OR LOVE. YOU SEE, GOD IS LOVE. YOU CAN SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS, HAVE ALL FAITH AND EVEN GIVE YOUR BODY TO BE BURNED, BUT IF YOU HAVE NOT LOVE, IT WON’T PROFIT YOU NOTHING. NOW ABIDETH FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE, BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS. LOVE SUFFERS LONG AND IS NOT PUFFED UP. IT DOESN’T ENVY NOR SEEK IT’S OWN. LOVE NEVER FAILS. TELL SOMEBODY, WE’VE GOT TO ADD TO OUR BROTHERLY KINDNESS LOVE. ADD SOMETHING TO IT. V8-­10 SAYS, “ 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither

be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE ADD TO OUR FAITH THESE SEVEN THINGS. WE WILL GROW IN CHRIST AND THROUGH THEM WE WILL NEVER BE BARREN OR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD. WE WON’T JUST HAVE FAITH, BUT IT’LL BE FRUITFUL FAITH AND WE WON’T JUST BE

ALIVE, BUT WE’LL HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE. V9 TELLS US WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T ADD THEM 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

WITHOUT THEM, WE’LL FORGET THAT WE ARE SAVED AND BEGIN TO ACT LIKE WE CAN’T REMEMBER WHOSE WE ARE OR THAT WE HAVE FAITH AND PROMISES FROM GOD. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

NLT-­ 10 So, dear brothers and sisters,[c] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

WORK HARD TO ADD TO YOUR GOD GIVEN FAITH AND PROMISES THESE THINGS. SEVEN THINGS. SEVEN STEPS. ADDITIONS AND GOD PROMISES THAT WE WILL NEVER FALL AND THAT ONE DAY, YOU’LL RECEIVE AN ABUNDANT WELCOME AND GRAND ENTRANCE INTO HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. TO THAT PLACE WHERE THE WICKED WILL CEASE FROM TROUBLING AND THE SABBATH WILL HAVE NO END.

TO THAT PLACE WHERE EVERY DAY WILL BE SUNDAY AND THE SABBATH WILL HAVE NO END.

AS I SAID IN THE VERY BEGINNING, OUR CHRISTIAN WALK BEGINS WITH BELIEVING IN JESUS. ROMANS 10.9 SAYS, IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN THY HEART THAT HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. HE DIED FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AND PAID THE PRICE TO ALLOW US TO COME BACK TO GOD AND BE BORN AGAIN. TO START OVER WITH GOD. IS THERE ONE WHO NEEDS TO START OVER WITH GOD. IS THERE ONE, WHO NEEDS TO BE BORN AGAIN. LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID, IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE/SHE IS A NEW CREATURE. OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY, BEHOLD… ANY BODY NEED TO BE BRAND NEW. A NEW MAN …WOMAN. THEN COME!