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Monday, June 1, 2009

Add Virtue

Text: 2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

1. ADDITIVE ~ VIRTUE
What is the meaning: Morally good; acting in conformity to the moral law; practicing the moral duties, abstaining from vice; as a virtuous man or virtuous woman. It means always choosing the right way. It means when you and I are faced with a choice between right and wrong, that we will choose the right. It means when you are home alone or a thousands miles from home, when no one knows you that you will still do right. It means to courageously do right.

I. Virtue as Responsibility
God has Called His children to Virtue. Not every Christian will answer the call to courageously do right. Not every Saint will earnestly contend for the faith or fight a good fight. But there are many who have and they can be found throughout the Bible. David, Daniel, Ruth, John the Baptist, Paul and Stephen just to name a few, but the greatest of all these is my Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Ill: mother calling her child to super. An obedient child will come; a disobedient child will miss something that will help him or her to grow. Without a proper diet children will not develop properly. The same with the child of God, without a proper diet you will not develop properly. You will be weak and anemic.
God has Commanded His children to Virtue. God's plan is very simple; it can be summed up with two words.
1. Come ~ and get saved
2. Go ~ and serve
Know where in the Bible are we commanded to come and get religion and know where in the Bible do we see God giving permission to serve self. But many do. If you are a child of God you have a responsibility to add to your faith virtue!

II. Virtue's Reputation
After Salvation, a person's behaviour should change in such a way that it is noticeable. Many times unbelievers will criticize new believers for being so different but that should not stop us from courageously doing right. It didn't stop first century Christian nor should it stop you.
John 4:27-29 had five husbands ~ had a reputation ~ yet she had meet Jesus.
Mark 5:13-15 this man was possessed ~ this man had a great problem ~ yet he meet Jesus.
Acts 19:18-20 What happened? They meet Jesus and it made a difference.
Courageously doing right will do two things.
1) It will bring Persecution. 2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If you live godly, you will be picked on!!!!
2) It will bring a noticeable difference. Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
It will be noticeable by, Attitude & Action. The good thing concerning your attitude and action is that it will determine your altitude. How high can you fly? You will either sore with the eagles or set with the buzzards.

III. Virtue's Reward
Pro 31:10 Asks us a simple question, Who can find a virtuous woman?
Then continues to reveal a reward, "for her price is far above rubies."
The Bible says that, People with virtue are valued people.

We are all adding things to our lives on a daily basis, the question is, are you adding virtue?
Are you Courageously making right decisions?
If you wish to grow as a Christian you need to add to your faith VIRTUE

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