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Notes for:  It's Time to Grow Up! Pastor Vernon

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain uto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virture.  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partaker of the ddivine nature; having excped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virture: and to virture knowledge; add to knowledge tmperance and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity...... 2 Peter 1:3-7

Faith
 
1. We can grow in Christ!
In order to grow in Christ we as believers need to allow God to development many characteristics in us. The Word of God says that as Christians we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The first characteristic that needs to be developed is faith.
 
2. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see.” Bible hope is expecting what God has promise with joy. Hoping without faith will result in nothing.
 
3. How can we get more faith?
Did you know that God has given all who has made Jesus their Lord and Savior a measure of faith, and that Jesus is the creator and the developers of the faith?He is there to help our faith grow. How? By obeying His Word of course! God’s Word is filled with God’s faith. If we hear (believe, receive, and do) what God says in scripture and His message, that faith that is in the Word will deposited in our heart to strengthen and add to the faith that God has already given us. Our faith will become stronger and grow.

 

 

Virture
 
1. Virtue is holy living!
Did you know that God expects us to be holy as He is holy? What is holy living? It is moral excellence. It is knowing how to behave in all situation and circumstances!
 
2. How?
Hebrew 12:2 says “Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.” How do we do that? Verse 1 of Hebrew 12 gives the answer. “Give your bodies to God because of His loving-kindness to us. Let your bodies be a living and holy gift given to God. He is pleased with this kind of gift. This is the true worship that you should give Him.”Once this is developed in us, then He can teach us something and we are on our way to victorious living.
Knowledge
 
We need to get to know God and study and understand His Word: the Bible scripture, His wisdom, His precepts, and His teachings. The Bible says God’s people are destroyed because of knowledge. What kind of knowledge?
 
2 Peter 2: 18
“Grow in the loving-favor that Christ gives you. Learn to know our Lord Jesus Christ better. He is the One Who saves. May He have all the shining-greatness now and forever. Let it be so”
 
Proverbs 3: 20-24
"My son, listen to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. Do not let them leave your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life.
 
2Timothy 3: 16 & 17
"All the Holy Writings are God-given and are made alive by Him. Man is helped when he is taught God’s Word. It shows what is wrong. It changes the way of a man’s life. It shows him how to be right with God. It gives the man who belongs to God everything he needs to work well for Him."
 
Psalm 1:1-3
"Happy is the man who does not walk in the way sinful men tell him to, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit with those who laugh at the truth. But he finds joy in the Law (Word) of the Lord and thinks about His Law (Word) day and night. This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him."
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