KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Pet 1:6 KJV” And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

We learnt from our previous study that in order to stand strong in Christ, one ought to be diligent to add to his faith in Christ, knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance. Today we consider some extra qualities that we have to be adding up to make us strong and unmovable in our faith. Our key scripture says we add patience to temperance.

 Patience is the ability to bear or endure contrary situations without getting bitter, murmuring or complaining, but with an inner assurance that through the power of God’s word everything is well.

2 Thess 1:4 KJV “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” Patience is always based on the comfort of the word of God.

 To add patience to our faith, means, to accept whatever the word says or promises about any situation and to declare that, if the word says so, then it is settled. Hebrews 6:12.

In addition to patience is godliness. Godliness is the act of living by the counsel of the scriptures. It involves approaching every matter in life from the scriptural point of view.

 Godliness is simply, being scriptural in your dealings.

The call to add up godliness is to strictly adhere to biblical counsel in everything. Some people try to suggest that according to the scripture we must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s (Matt 22:21).

By this statement they mean you can honor certain traditional demands even if it opposes God’s word.

This is a subtle work of Satan to deceive many. There should be no occasion you act contrary to God’s word. That scripture was ONLY referring to paying taxes to the government which was a godly act, and not to pour libation, or do any other things unto demon spirits, which is an ungodly act.

The scripture says further, that “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:7). This time the word talks about brotherly kindness and love. Kindness and love are basically about the same thing. Kindness in the Greek language is brotherly love, or Philadelphia in the Greek language. This is to place a very high value on all persons and cherish them dearly.

 You can’t love what you treat as common.

It is the strong ones who go out of their way to support the weak.

 The selfish are very inward looking and that leaves them with much sorrows.

This makes the selfish person very weak, vulnerable and hurting. Free yourself from such bondage to genuinely love all persons, thereby stabilising your inner strength.

Dear one, if these qualities abound in you, you will be very fruitful and will never give up your grounds or faith in Christ.

THOUGHT: MAINTAIN YOUR LOVE FOR IT IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 6:12 KJV” That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.

Hebrews 6:1 KJV” Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”