THE GROWTH OF THE BELIEVER
It is good to remind ourselves of the pattern of growth of all who come to the Heavenly Father, through the Messiah, His Son who is the Christ.
It gives to us who have gotten to a certain stage of maturity, a mirror to examine ourselves with, for the new convert a syllabus of growth and to the teacher a guideline as to how to teach our disciples to grow.
Let us look at these verses as written by Peter:
(NEVER GET TIRED OF READING THROUGH SCRIPTURES they are our spirits' food. Selah)
2 Peter 1:1,5-10(NLT)
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
These summarizes our growth pattern as believers which if every teacher and disciple follow just as verse ten says, "WILL NEVER FAIL" .
Enough of half baked believers. Having:
* Faith but no moral excellence:
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
* Moral excellence but no knowledge:
Romans 10:2-3
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
* Knowledge with no self control:
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
* but adding patience and endurance:
James 1:4
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
* then God's character LOVE:
1John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Let us also hear Paul's summary:
Colossians 1:8-11
He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
ONE SPIRIT!
Let us look into the mirror to see where we are to adjust. Let us look at our disciples, our children and even our members to see where we have erred. Let us seek this growth for all we lead to enjoy the salvation of the Heavenly Father.
Many powers are flowing in the world. Let's make sure that it is to the Almighty Father that we submit.
We will not fail, fall or falter. We will grow.
Glory to the Father. Halleluyah.
We are blessed.
Love
@the watcher
It gives to us who have gotten to a certain stage of maturity, a mirror to examine ourselves with, for the new convert a syllabus of growth and to the teacher a guideline as to how to teach our disciples to grow.
Let us look at these verses as written by Peter:
(NEVER GET TIRED OF READING THROUGH SCRIPTURES they are our spirits' food. Selah)
2 Peter 1:1,5-10(NLT)
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
These summarizes our growth pattern as believers which if every teacher and disciple follow just as verse ten says, "WILL NEVER FAIL" .
Enough of half baked believers. Having:
* Faith but no moral excellence:
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
* Moral excellence but no knowledge:
Romans 10:2-3
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
* Knowledge with no self control:
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
* but adding patience and endurance:
James 1:4
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
* then God's character LOVE:
1John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Let us also hear Paul's summary:
Colossians 1:8-11
He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
ONE SPIRIT!
Let us look into the mirror to see where we are to adjust. Let us look at our disciples, our children and even our members to see where we have erred. Let us seek this growth for all we lead to enjoy the salvation of the Heavenly Father.
Many powers are flowing in the world. Let's make sure that it is to the Almighty Father that we submit.
We will not fail, fall or falter. We will grow.
Glory to the Father. Halleluyah.
We are blessed.
Love
@the watcher
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