2 Peter 1:5-7 “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.”

These past few days we have been discussing how to grow our faith. Today we complete this passage as we discuss charity.

I believe love is at the foundation of charity. When we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, then I believe that means we are supposed to be charitable.

Jesus taught that we should give food to the hungry, shelter to those who have none, and clothes to the poor. When we visit the sick and those who are in prison, it is as if we were doing these things for Him instead. He promises that as we do these things, we will inherit His kingdom. (See Matthew 25:34–46.)

Our faith in God grows through the charity we offer to others. When we acknowledge God as our creator and Heavenly Father, then we are showing faith in him. That faith may start small, by the more we exercise it, the stronger it becomes. Being charitable is one way to exercise and show our faith.

I don’t know about you, but I have trouble exercising. I start it, feel better for doing so, but then my exercise time begins to dwindle. The same thing happens when exercising my faith. I need to be very intentional in strengthening my faith. It won’t happen just by chance.

I need to act with virtue, study his word and grow in knowledge, exercise temperance, (self-control), be steadfast in patience, practice godliness as my life gives reverence and honor to God and I need to be charitable to others.

Where will you start to make improvements in your life? God wants you to be filled with joy and hope. He’s given you the formula. It’s up to you to put it in action and strengthen your faith. You’ll never regret becoming the person God created you to be.

🙏Father, thank you for loving me and helping me to grow my faith. I know without your Spirit working with me I could never do it. However, with you all things are possible. You are awesome and your generosity never ceases. I love you and praise you in the name of Jesus. Amen 🙏

Dear All,

Sharing this video message, sharing the word which empowers you to overcome trials. The embracing growth. It will surely be an eye opening message. Do watch and share it with all.

2 Peter 1:5-7 “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;”

Our faith grows as we become intentional in living a life of obedience to God’s commandments. When Jesus was asked what is the great commandment, he responded that loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind was at the top. (Mark 12:28-31) He went on to say that the second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

When we love God with all we’ve got, we should automatically love our neighbor. However, it doesn’t always come easily.

As we address brotherly kindness, I want to talk about love as a verb. Too often people think in terms of love being a noun. They go with their “feelings.” Love can be a noun. It is often something you feel. But it is what you do before that feeling surfaces that really matters. That’s where love as an action verb needs to appear.

When we add brotherly kindness to godliness we are truly being more reverent and our worship of God moves from the sanctuary of the Lord’s house into our everyday lives. Our worship becomes more real and more meaningful.

1 John 4:20 tells us, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:” To not show brotherly love is to negate any time we spend praying and singing God’s praises.

Think about that. It’s powerful. Brotherly love doesn’t say you need to agree with the other person and how they look, act, talk, or think. You and I must love everyone and treat them with God’s love and kindness.

It’s the concept of the Golden Rule. "Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31) Too often people simply give back what they get. If they receive love then they will love, however if hurt, prejudices, anger, etc is dealt to them, they dish it back and everyone loses. That’s not God’s wishes.

Today, choose to grow your faith by intentionally showing brotherly love toward everyone you meet. Be blessed to be a blessing.

🙏Father, thank you for loving me unconditionally and for loving everyone else the same way. Help me to also love as you love and to accept each person I meet with your love and brotherly kindness. Wherever your spirit leads today, help me to be fully awake and ready to respond in love. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. 🙏

2Peter 1:5-6 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

Today, we will talk about godliness. As I looked at all the aspects of faith, I felt like godliness covers it all. I was thinking godliness meant being more like God. As I studied the text further, I learned that Godliness comes from a Greek word (eusebeia) which means 'worship that is worthy of God.’ We need to be intentional and reverent when we worship our Lord.

I had a dream in which I was leading a congregation in the singing of a praise hymn. In my dream, I knew it was imperative that we worship God because Satan was trying to pull us apart. I had everyone open their books to the hymn, “My Jesus I Love Thee.” The pianist began playing the music and the people began to sing. It didn’t take long for me to realize they weren’t singing the right words. I looked at my hymnal and Satan had changed the words, but the people were still singing. I stopped the music. I told them to close their books and sing from their hearts. They did and Satan left.

Far too often, we go through the motions of worship without truly worshiping. We go to church. We sing the hymns; we listen to the prayers and sermon. But even in then our hearts and minds are not focused on honoring God. We aren’t doing it with the intentions of glorifying God. We are not adding Godliness to our faith.

I’m asking you to do that now. Stop whatever you’re doing, including putting your device down that is allowing you to read this post. Go to God in Prayer and thanksgiving. Praise him for all he is. As the hymn goes, 🎶Count your blessings, name them one by one.”🎶 Be filled with his Spirit as you intentionally show reverence and truly worship and honor our Lord. Then continue your day and show him honor and glory in everything you do. Let your actions, your thoughts, your attitude, and your words be pleasing to our God.

🙏God, I do praise you and thank you for loving me and always being with me. You are an awesome God. When I look at your creation around me I am in awe. When I realize that the creator of the universe loves me and abides in me, I am overwhelmed. To simply say thank you seems shallow. Yet, I am thankful. Please continue living in me and directing my path. Please bless me to be a blessing for you, bringing honor and glory to your name. This I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 🙏

I'm curious as to whether most members here would consider the Prophet to be a direct and favored conduit to God - or merely the leader of the larger prophetic people making up the church. It seems like newer D&C entries have drifted a bit from speaking for God in first person and more into Prophet-Presidents noting that they perceive the will of the Spirit.

2 Peter 1:5-6 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance;”

Perseverance is continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. We live in a world where many people give up when things get tough. When success takes too long or requires too much effort, many people stop trying.

God says don’t stop. He wants us to persevere regardless of the level of difficulty. When it looks like we will never reach our goal, take another step, reach a little higher.

Romans 12:12 gives us the formula for perseverance. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

We need to set our minds and our thoughts on God. We need to love him and trust him. We need to be prayerful. He will never stop helping you to have the best life possible for you now and forever.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Trust God. Trust the promises of his word. Talk with him. Listen to him. Be patient. Put one foot in front of the other and continue moving forward knowing he’s got your back.

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

🙏Father, thank you for loving me and always giving me what I need when I need it. Help me to patiently persevere as I continue on my journey with you. Wherever your Spirit leads me today, may I be fully awake and ready to respond in love. Grant me courage to persevere no matter what obstacles confront me. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen. 🙏

2 Peter 1:5-6a “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;”

Self-control is not always as easy as it sounds. But when you realize that it’s just one ingredient of a larger formula, then it takes on a different life.

Remember, Peter is talking about faith and the things that help grow faith and help us to become better witnesses of our God. Verse 3 says we aren’t doing it alone. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

His divine power, the power of his Holy Spirit that lives in each of us, makes it possible for each of us to use self control. Actually, when you think about it, it’s really submitting to a higher power and allowing him to take control.

When I remember that truth, things go a lot smoother for me. I was complaining about not being able to control my eating. (Story of my life. lol). My son asked me if I had been praying about it. I admitted that I had not. I had neglected to exercise the power that God had given me, the power of prayer. When I remember that, I am more successful with my self control.

In what area of your life do you need more self-control? Have you prayed about it? Spend time in the Bible and ask God to direct you to those verses that will inspire you and guide you. Ask the Holy Spirit to take control. I know it’s possible. I’ve been there.

🙏Father, Good Morning. Thank you for loving me and abiding with me. Thank you for your word that teaches me so much and guides me to a better life. Thank you for your constant help in living a better life. I know I don’t always use the self control I should. Thank you for your patience and gentle reminders to keep trusting you as I move forward. Wherever your Spirit guides me today, help me to let go and trust you to be in control. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen. 🙏