2 Peter 1:5
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love”
FAITH in itself is believing to receive. You don’t just believe rather you depict what you believe by taking the necessary steps.
James 2:26 “For as the body without spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Our previous article on How To Grow Your Faith In Christ elaborates more on the potency of faith and the need to exercise our faith as believers as said in scriptures; faith without action is dead.
Nonetheless, after exercising your faith is expected of us, as believers to add certain contributing factors to fast track our faith steps based on scriptures. 2 Peter 1:5
1. VIRTUE
Virtue according to the Merriam Webster dictionary is a conformity to a standard of right (a particular moral excellence.) A commendable quality of trait. Being virtuous is key when it comes to faith. It is incomplete to be full of faith yet be disobedient to your parents.
Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honor your father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with thee, and thou may live long on earth.
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 any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Glory to God Almighty, scriptures have perfectly outlined certain virtues required from us as Christians.
Being truthful
Being honest
Being just
Being pure
Being lovable, full of meekness, temperance, goodness, joy, peace, gentleness and faith.
2. KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association according to the Merriam Webster dictionary.
This clearly cut out experience or association is prerequisite to
How then do you get experience about a thing as a believer?
Be acquainted with the word.
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word.
How do you know if you do not ask, read or make sacrifices? In scriptures many Major, Minor Prophets, servants and believers made it through knowledge by making themselves available.
One may ask, how do I know?
➢ Read the word. For ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. This clearly cuts out not being knowledgeable makes you entangled (blind, deaf, dumb) 1 Samuel 3:21
Psalm 119:105 KJV
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The word of God is an eye opener which gives you freedom in the heart manifesting in your life and all you do.
And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Mark 16:20
As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Being abreast with the word of God makes you more powerful.
➢ Read the signs.
A sign is an unusual occurrence. Often times we miss our blessings because we are reluctant to read the signs after our step of faith. After your faith action, be open and alert to count the unusual occurrence, it builds up your faith and empowers you to flow of the divine power at work in you.
How Do I Read The Signs?
1. Weigh the events.
2. Check response and add praise for a successful accomplishment/ fulfilment.
3. Catch the visions, revelations and encounters quickly. Matthew 2:12, Genesis 46:2-4
Severally, God speaks to us through His word by catching revelations per the scriptures we are reading. Often times, He gives us direction through encounters hence we being vigilant about the signs to remain steadfast.
➢ Sacrifice
One might be wondering how offering a sacrifice could fetch you knowledge. Interestingly, I had a knowledge about one aspect in my life after sowing a seed to my spiritual father through an encounter which brought deliverance, there after a mighty breakthrough.
John 12:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if die, it brings forth much fruit.
Always endeavor to complete your faith steps with seed sowing. Always sow vision seeds; they become covenants which the Lord reminisce to have your prayers answered. Remember Hannah? Abel?
Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. ……….”
Psalm 126:5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
➢ Ask
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
1 Samuel 30:8 “And David enquired at the LORD, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
Pray, when you pray create a harmonious environment to hear from the Lord. As much, Prayer is a dialogue and not a monologue. Be on guard to have directions from God through the ministration of the Holy Spirit or visions (encounters)
4. Self – Control
Self – control is restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions or desires.
The ability of not showing you feelings or not doing the things that you feelings make you want to do.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
A man is entitled to have control over his or herself especially their temper, emotions and flesh.
It is imperative to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit because He is our comforter and leader.
Pride which is the topmost secret sin of believers makes one lose control as much as the leader (Holy Spirit) is not obeyed.
Any humble believer is obedient to God’s instruction (word of God) and our leader. Obedience in itself is an act of faith.
➢ What To Control
1. Your thoughts/imaginations.
2. Your words.
3. Your temper.
4. Guard your heart.
5. Food intake.
6. Actions.
7. Flesh.
8. Attitude/ outlook.
5. PERSEVERANCE
Perseverance: is to persist in a state, enterprise or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition or discouragement.
A continuous effort to achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition.
Romans 2:7 “To them who by patience continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life”
Persistence breaks resistance. You can’t break barriers until you have the faith that persists.
Proverbs 4:25-26 “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Persevere
Persevere
Persevere
How to Persevere
1. Read the word, pray.
2. Pay attention to revelations.
3. Be humble.
4. Be hopeful. Look unto Jesus the author and owner of our faith.
5. Fear nothing no one can harm you.
6. GODLINESS
The word godly is divine.
Godliness is the quality of state of being spiritually pure or virtuous.
The quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devoutness and moral uprightness.
To be wise is to live in godliness, reflecting the nature of the kingdom of God in the course of everyday life.
Cleanliness, faithfulness, truthfulness, holiness, heavenly minded, pure in heart, thoughts and deeds.
What Godliness is not?
1. Pretense.
2. Eye service.
3. Back biting.
How to be Godly.
1. Read, obey and apply the word. (Be wise, wisdom is the application of word.
2. Let love lead.
3. Be pure in heart. (full of forgiveness, joy)
7. KINDNESS
Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. Is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistance or concern for others without expecting praise or reward in return.
Luke 6:38 KJV
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. u For with the same measure that ye mete v withal it shall be measured to you again.
Proverbs 11:24-25 KJV
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, x but it tendeth y to poverty. [25] The liberal z soul shall be made fat.
The shunamite woman having a change of story from barrenness to bearing a son after offering Prophet Elijah a shelter.
2 Kings 4:9-10 KJV
And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. h [10] Let us make a i little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
2 Kings 4:8 KJV
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great d woman; and she constrained e him to f eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither go to eat bread.
2 Kings 4:14 KJV
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
2 Kings 4:16-17 KJV And he said, About this season, according k to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. [17] And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
The Widow’s Olive multiplied after sharing with the Prophet Elijah
2 Kings 4:6 KJV
And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
8. LOVE
In John 3:16, God loved the world that He gave, the highlighted word there is gave, precisely giving.
You love by giving not by receiving. As you keep up your faith in Christ Jesus, make giving a part of you.
Channels of Giving.
1. Sow seeds
2. Give to the poor and needy.
3. Give to your parents.
4. Honor your prophets.
5. Support God’s kingdom.
6. Pay your tithes and first fruit.
7. Be a kingdom financier.
Forms of Showing Love.
1. Care giving.
2. Frequent check ups
3. Payer for all. Job 42:10 “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” I SEE THE LORD EMPOWERING YOU TO ADD ALL THIS TO YOUR FAITH.
ALL GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST, FOR HE IS LORD OVER ALL. Philippians 2:11
