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Good day. Today's video Proof of Life is on the topic of study to show yourself approved unto God rightly dividing the word of truth. Proving yourself trustworthy, committed & faithful unto God. Prove, discern, recognize as genuine the Word of God delivered unto you; is it of God or man? Will you be recognized as genuine, one of God's sons or daughters at the judgment seat of Christ? You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry or by clicking on our archive page link above - Doctrine of Christ Ministry Archive. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good Morning. Today's video Fiery Trial is on the topic of...Our God is a consuming fire. James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (KJV) Psalms 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. (KJV) Malachi 3:2-3 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (KJV) Not all fiery trials come from Satan. As we go on please do keep in mind, that God does not tempt or try us with evil; man is drawn away of his own lust and enticed (James 1:13-15). Think about this, our God is a consuming fire; and there are times in our walk with the Lord that God will try or prove us to bring us to a better place, a more perfect or mature place in Christ his Son. Sometimes God will prune (chasten) us like a branch on the vine, but sometimes an area of our life takes fire to cleanse away the weeds so that it will be good ground for Him to regenerate new growth in that area of our spiritual garden. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (KJV) The materials that we use, in other words what we put into our relationship with the Lord will be tried; and it will manifest if it can withstand the fiery trial, whether it be of God or a temptation from Satan. Will your faith, your trust in God withstand (endure) or will you wither under trial? Will you trust God, even if you don’t fully understand what He is doing in your life? Remember we will get out what we put into it (2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatian 6:6-7). Would you be willing to give up and walk away from what you treasure on this earth; whether it be man’s wisdom and knowledge you acquired over time, or riches, houses, wives, children, brethren, or your church to follow Christ? Or will you be like the rich young ruler, in Matthew 19:16-22, who when he asked the Lord what he must do to inherit eternal life was told to sell what he had and give to the poor, and take up his cross and follow Him, he went away sorrowful because he had great riches? Paul suffered the loss of all things and chose to count them as dung or refuse that he may win Christ. Philippians 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (KJV) We (Greg and I) have been through our own wilderness experience these last five years; and suffered the loss of all things which were gain to us, but we also chose to count them as dung that we may win Christ, and be ambassadors for Christ holding forth the word of life in sincerity and in truth. Was our journey always easy? No, we went through the Lord’s furnace of affliction to burn off our old thoughts and ways. It has only been in the last year that the vision the Lord began us on this journey with has been speaking, and our desire is to be able to share it with others so that if the Lord calls them to a better place in their walk, they can run knowing that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. And we can truly say that we are in a better place spiritually, and moving forward to the promised land; eternal life with God our Father and with our Lord Jesus Christ. What are you willing to walk away from or let go of to inherit eternal life? God bless, and may you always being growing and maturing in our Lord Christ Jesus. Amen. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video The Son - Part22 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; once saved always saved? Only if you continue in the faith of the Son of God. The encouragement is to not neglect your salvation; don’t take it for granted. Each day we have a choice to continue in the faith remaining grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, Christ in you the hope of glory. Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (KJV) 1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? In Galatians chapter three it talks about those who began in the Spirit only to revert back to the flesh. We are warned throughout the scriptures to watch and pray always; to be sober and vigilant with our salvation because the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. And if we don’t keep watching diligently in the Spirit, the thief will find a way in and begin to steal, kill, and possibly destroy your salvation if he is not caught and cast out; all this because we are found sleeping (not watching). As we overcome and kill off those areas in our life that have been a hindrance in our walk and relationship with the Father in Christ, we need to be diligent in not allowing any leaven to enter in and begin to leaven the whole lump all over again. The warning is clear… Galatians 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (KJV) So there are many distractions in this world that seek to lure you back into sin; but it is up to you to stand fast in the faith, by keeping your flesh (old nature) in subjection to the Spirit of Christ within you. We have been given wisdom and power to overcome the world by Jesus Christ, who overcame, himself being tempted in every manner as we are and yet sinned not; having given us an example to follow, as well as having given us a great cloud of witnesses throughout the scriptures, and through our brethren who are following in Christ’s sufferings, overcoming themselves. Today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. Today, now faith; choose you this day whom you will serve; the god of this world and the lusts thereof or the God of all creation who gave his Son, Christ Jesus, for an example of overcoming the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and how to cultivate and grow in the fruit of the Spirit unto eternal salvation (Galatians 5:22-25). 2 Peter 1:2-11 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 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. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (KJV) Once saved, always saved? Let not your faith stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, Christ in you. Our brother Paul confessed in Galatians 2:20, so should we also. Wherefore dear brethren, we will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth. Don’t let those things which you have heard and have been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them (not of men, but by the Spirit of the living God; leading and guiding you into all truth concerning God our Father and his Son Christ Jesus our Lord) slip by you into sin unto death. God bless. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video Dead Set is on the topic of faith; faith without works (being a doer, not just a hearer only) is dead. Act on your faith; walk by faith and not by sight. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 40:29-31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (31) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)
Have you ever gotten in hurry only to end up frustrated by red lights; you know those days where it seems like we hit them all? Christians are like that, they get in a big hurry and then get frustrated and worn out because they get ahead of our Lord and act before hearing all His instructions. When driving, red means stop because it allows other traffic to move to the place they need to be, while you need to wait for the green light to proceed. Of course it goes without saying the perils one can get themselves into if they don’t wait and decide to proceed on red. Besides the trouble you get yourself into by breaking a simple law, it can hurt and affect others as well if you don’t obey simple instructions. The same holds true spiritually; many are used to man’s ways and timing, which seems to get more fast paced daily, and miss God’s way and timing, especially that patience part. There is definitely a big difference between man’s patience and the Lord’s. Knowing the difference can save you a world of hurt and frustration so that you don’t end up so weary and utterly falling short. Psalms 145:14-15 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. (15) The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. (KJV) Oh but I prayed and the Lord didn’t answer me so I just went ahead anyway. Well no wonder you fell as verse 14 makes reference to, and need to be picked up and dusted off again. Was it so much that the Lord didn’t answer your prayer, or maybe He didn’t answer it the way you thought He should, or in the time you thought was appropriate? Has the Lord failed you or any other of His people before, or was it you that failed to wait until you knew it was time to proceed forward, you know like getting the green light? So if you were the one that took off before the light changed, is it the Lord’s fault you ended up in a wreck and had to speed dial 911? Psalms 123:1-2 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (2) Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. (KJV) Think of a waiter, interesting name isn’t it for one that waits on customers in a restaurant? If the waiter is in a hurry and doesn’t get all of the order correct it ends up with a complaint from the customer and sent back to the kitchen to be redone. You know, my life before the Lord was one of always in a hurry, I never had time to do things right the first time; so think how frustrating it was when it had to be redone a second time to make up for my lack of patience in doing it right the first time around. Hebrews 6:12-15 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (13) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, (14) Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. (15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (KJV) It’s not like God has a history of failure, and it’s not like going to a casino where you hope to get a lucky break once in a while, but quite the opposite is true. I can’t think of anyone above God and neither could He, so when He made promises to Abraham as He has with all those that choose to believe Him, He swore it by Himself, guaranteed it in fact. What one needs to make note of though is, verse 12 points out not only hearing the message of faith but then being a doer of it, which sometimes includes patiently waiting on the answer. God’s word is forever settled in heaven and will endure, the question is will you be settled in His promise and endure to the end also so that you can obtain what is promised? Psalms 37:7-9 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (8) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (KJV) Oh by the way, did someone tell you this world is fair? If they did let me be the one to tell you it is not. Just like with negligent drivers who run red lights or drive too fast causing injury to others, man’s ways are not fair or just and never will be because they are stuck in a fallen realm and in bondage to their fallen natures. There are times you are going to endure grief, but be reminded that we are only on this earth for a short time and then our Lord is going to return and set things right, and put all those evil doers in their place. That’s why we are reminded that as much as possible we should live peaceably with all men. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God, because it causes one to react in the flesh rather than respond in a spiritual manner. Isaiah 25:8-9 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (9) And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (KJV) Red means stop; stop getting angry and in a hurry, but wait until there is a green light to proceed forward. Verse 8 reminds us of what is going to take place shortly for the body of Christ when they inherit this earth. When driving, one sets out for a certain destination and sometimes gets detoured or delayed for certain reasons, sometimes to avoid hazardous conditions. When driving forward in your walk with the Lord it is vital to be patient and endure to the end so that you can make it to the destination God intended for you also. Keep looking forward and forget what is behind, and wait till you see what God has for you. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. James 2:20-22 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (KJV)
Abraham was justified before God because he was willing to act on what he heard from the Lord, even to the point of offering up his own son, the one that had been promised to him for so many years. We have been promised a Son also, and God has delivered on that promise, now the question is, ‘are you following through on your end; you know, with that commitment you made to Him’? Are you acting on what you hear from the Lord, even if it totally contradicts what you see or think? Abraham did, and thus was used of the Lord to deliver His message of faith; being an example of a true believer, not only in word, but in deed as well. James 2:17-19 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (KJV) Oh but they believe in God, doesn’t that make them good people? Well the devils believe also; in fact they were actually a part of the heavenly realm at one time only to end up dead, separated from God for eternity, and so will all those that just hear the word of God but don’t act on it and follow through with the plan God had for them before the foundation of the world. Luke 12:16-18 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. (KJV) Isn’t it interesting that what may have started out in the Spirit someone decided they could perfect it by the flesh. Many Christians start out rich in faith bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit plentifully, but somewhere along the line what began with God has now become their own works. Oh but they preach from the Bible, yeah but so does the devil; he has been around a lot longer than you have and has twisted and perverted the word of God so that rather than living by faith many have created their own organizations thinking bigger is better, and what was once God’s creation is now their own, or so they think. Luke 12:19-21 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (KJV) God chose us so that we could be rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom. Many would rather find an easier path to follow, looking to kick back a bit. These works that man claims are of God are nothing more than their own creations, legends in their own minds, which will end abruptly when they find out the real difference between God’s work and their own conceited carnal concoctions. Isaiah 1:19-20 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (20) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (KJV) Willing and obedient; like faith and works, following through with what you hear so that you can get the results our Lord intended for you. The spirit is willing, now you need to get the body in subjection to it so that you can walk in the Spirit and not be in bondage to the desires of the flesh and its fallen nature. The Lord is not going to force you or beg you into His kingdom, but rather He would love to have you be a partaker of His divine nature; in fact it is His good pleasure to give you of His kingdom, now will you take it? James 2:22-24 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (23) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (KJV) Do you think you are always going to like what you hear from the Lord, or what He is asking you to do, or walk away from? I am sure that Abraham had to wonder what was going on, especially after waiting so long for the promise of a son to be fulfilled, only to be asked to give him up at the altar. What if God asked you to give something or someone up for His kingdom’s sake, would you follow through with His works and act on what you heard, or would you call it quits? Heck I wonder how many would squeal and complain if the Lord asked them to give up sports center for a day? Do you think Peter, Paul, and the rest of the people God used throughout the Bible enjoyed being mistreated the way they were for the kingdom’s sake; and yet aren’t you glad they endured and were able to deliver a message of encouragement that is still being read by the Church today? Hebrews 5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (KJV) Abraham’s faith was made perfect by works; being a doer of the word of God and not just a hearer only. Our Lord Himself was obedient, even to the point of death on the cross, choosing the Spirit over the flesh. You know, you can sit out in a field all day but it won’t make you a farmer. Many people sit in religious buildings and organizations year after year hearing a message but never acting on it, which won’t make them a Christian either. James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (KJV) And so are the people that never act and follow through with what they hear from the Lord; many sit idly by waiting for God to do something before they act rather than stepping out in faith and allowing God to confirm His word with signs following. Similar to driving, you need to get out on the road and then you will see the mile markers and signs that confirm you are heading in the right direction instead of sitting home waiting for someone else to drive you. Faith works. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 21:12-14 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (14) And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (KJV)
When you see the term ‘temple of God’ you should now be thinking about yourself; replacing the thoughts and ideas of buildings and religious organizations with the fact that you are the temple that God now occupies and wishes to work in and through. Once our Lord came into your life and basically turned your way of thinking upside down, what was once a house occupied with carnal thinking is now a communication center, a house of prayer between God and you, the believer. God sent His word and healed us so that we could be delivered from our destructions, letting His truth provide the freedom and way of escape. Now that the healing has taken place, including as we see in verse 14 bringing sight to the blind, it is vital that we allow the Lord to have His way so that we can continue to keep His house in order. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (KJV) Blessed are (not was or going to be, but right now this day blessed), those that are pure in heart; not losing sight of the victory we have in Christ but continuing in the faith hearing the message delivered by Christ and no longer walking according to the carnal senses. Without a vision the people perish. Without a pure heart being motivated by a love for God you will not be able to see God and His plan of salvation He has for you personally; but rather like with the blind, you will end up following what others are telling you. The Lord has removed the impurities in your life; things that were unhealthy to your walk have been cast out, like with cataract surgery, it improves the vision. It is up to you to hear the pure word of God for yourself; no longer relying on second hand versions or in many cases perversions, but exercising your spiritual senses, like a water filter, to keep yourself healthy. If you drew a glass of water and it was dirty and tainted, let alone the fact that it smelled awful, you wouldn’t drink it would you? Thus the reason why we have these senses; our physical ones, to keep our carnal bodies healthy; and spiritual senses to keep the spiritual one healthy and in order. Are you as diligent with your spiritual senses as you are with the physical? Knowing that the spiritual is so much greater than the physical do you honestly give more attention to the outward man or the inward one? How good is your vision today; is there division, blurriness, and double vision caused by being double minded and unstable? Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV) Thayer’s definition for ‘pure’: 53 hagnos- 1) exciting reverence, venerable, sacred 2) pure a) pure from carnality, chaste, modest b) pure from every fault, immaculate c) clean I found this definition for pure rather interesting; definition ‘a’, referring to the fact that it is free from carnality. Our Lord is very specific in the book of John to point out that it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing; the words our Lord speaks are Spirit and they are life, free from any impurities or additives of mankind. Just as mankind has polluted its waters over the years which has resulted in unhealthy often times unseen small impurities, mankind has tainted and added their own versions to the word of God to fit their own fallen lifestyles rather than rising up and walking in the realm of the Spirit. But many times also it is just a matter of lazy complacent Christians who are described as the blind followers of the blind, whose spiritual senses are dull and what could be referred to as stupid to the things of their eternal life. Are you able today to confidently, boldly, know that you are walking the path of life our Lord intended for you, or are you blindly following the leading of others because your eyes have gotten heavy and you are sleepwalking? Matthew 13:13-16 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (15) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (KJV) How is one able to see, but yet not see, how does that work? Have you ever heard the term ‘turning a deaf ear’, or how about looking the other way? Many read the scriptures but don’t see the spiritual meaning of them; they can hear what is being said but not know the meaning of it. Thayer’s definition for ‘gross’: 3975 pachuno- 1) to make thick, to make fat, to fatten 2) metaphorically, to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous) Talk about grossing someone out! It is people who profess to know God but have closed their eyes and ears to the truth, that being their spiritual ones. People that should know the truth and grow stronger in the Lord and the power of His might are blindly walking around like a bunch of drunks in the middle of the night. He that has ears to hear, let them hear; blessed are your eyes because you have allowed the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding so that you could walk in the realm of the Spirit and do those things that are pleasing in His sight, which by the way His sight is spiritual, looking to the inward. Have you got your ears on good buddy, that is how one is asked when being called for on a CB radio; and only those that have their eyes and ears open to the spiritual realm will be able to see God and the meaning of His word, while all others will be in a ditch spinning their wheels. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:3-8 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). 4. By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. 5. For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution or determination, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), 6. And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control (in knowing the truth there is self-control), and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety, commitment & obedience), 7. And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection (laying down your life), and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love (Christ formed in you). 8. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full, personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one). AMP
These are all attributes or characteristics of the divine nature which was formed, brought to maturity, within Jesus of Nazareth. He decreased by dying daily to the wants and desires of his fleshly nature (the nature of man) so that Christ (the attributes or characteristics of God) would increase and over take the old corrupt fleshly nature. Jesus Christ left us an example to follow: to put off the old man, and put on of the new man who is renewed in the knowledge of Him who created you, and to do this continually. As you do these things (put off the old, put on the new) the more you see who God is; you begin to understand His nature through experience in your own life in Christ; you begin to understand His love, His grace, and His mercy for us and how lovingly He provided us the way of fellowship with Him, and escape from this corrupt and dying world through Jesus Christ. As you do these things you will not be blind to the truth, the full personal knowledge of God and Jesus Christ who He sent; and you have His promise that you shall never fall. 2 Peter 1:9-12 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (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. (12) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. (KVJ) My beloved brethren, I pray that you will continue to make these qualities yours and let them increasingly abound in you, so that you are not idle or unfruitful in your walk but that you do come to a full personal knowledge of the truth that is in you. James 1:2-3 You must consider it the purest joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, for you surely know that what is genuine in your faith produces the patient mind that endures; (Williams New Testament)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition for ‘genuine’: Etymology: Latin genuinus innate, genuine; akin to Latin gignere to beget -- Date: circa 1639 1 a : actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character b : actually produced by or proceeding from the alleged source or author <the signature is genuine> c : sincerely and honestly felt or experienced <a deep and genuine love> d : actual, true <a genuine improvement> 2 : free from hypocrisy or pretense : sincere That which is real and alive in your walk with the Lord; that which is revealed personally to you from our Father in heaven is what is genuine. It is able to produce the peace that passes all understanding and keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus our Lord. Where there is peace, there is patience; and the mind of Christ which endures and has overcome. Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (KJV) Examine yourself, and consider what is genuine in your faith today. Is it of man or of God? For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. (KJV) God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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