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The Necessity of Fruitful
Characteristics
When we think
about essential qualities that are
needed during difficult times, we cannot
afford to miss the fruit of the Spirit.
These are character traits, designed to
keep us from stumbling and help us to
hold firmly to the path no matter what
season we may be experiencing.
2 Peter 1:5-8 But also for this very
reason, giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6to knowledge self-control, to
self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love. 8 For if these things are
yours and abound, you will be neither
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The above passage mentions things we are
to add diligently to our faith. These
are character traits we must put some
effort into if they are to become a part
of our new nature. These attributes take
root in our lives as we yield to God’s
Spirit. As we put on the new man created
after Christ, it causes an agreement in
the Spirit that allows God to clothe us
with these excellent attributes. So Paul
said, “To this end, I also labor,
striving according to His working that
works in me mightily.”
For the
Holy Spirit to work mightily on our
behalf, we must be equally yoked to what
He desires to do. Otherwise, we end up
frustrating the grace of God, and He is
unable to work on our behalf, which is
why Paul said, “To this end, I also
labor.”
Have you ever been
involved with another person on a
project only to discover you must work
equally together to complete the task?
You were very zealous to get started and
do an excellent job, but you soon
realized the person appointed to work
with you didn’t care about the project
nor pull their weight. As a result, you
could not finish the project as a team
with excellence. In the process, the
only thing you accomplished was
frustrating one another.
I think
this often happens in the spiritual
realm. In our laboring together with
God, He desires to work mightily on our
behalf while we are less than diligent
and lack enthusiasm. As a result, we
frustrate the grace of God, and the work
He desires to do in us doesn’t get done.
It’s unfinished! Our lack of enthusiasm
quenches or limits what He wants to do
in and through our lives. To activate
God's grace or supernatural ability, we
must agree with Him by yielding
wholeheartedly to His desires.
With this in mind, let’s look at the
attributes mentioned to understand why
they are so essential no matter what
season we may be going through.
Virtue is voluntary obedience to truth
and the strength that comes from
straining, stretching, and extending.
Knowledge is understanding the truth
of God’s word applied to our lives. It
follows virtue or willing obedience.
When we obey His Word or Spirit, we
receive further knowledge and
understanding of His ways and purpose.
Self-Control is the ability to
control your emotions and desires or
their expression in your behavior,
especially in difficult situations.
Self-control requires instant obedience
to the initial promptings of God’s
Spirit.
Perseverance is a
continued effort to do or achieve
something despite difficulties, failure,
or opposition: the action or condition
or an instance of persevering:
steadfastness.
Godliness is
Christian character and much more. It
involves pure devotion to God, which
results in a life that is pleasing to
Him.
Brotherly Kindness is the
quality of being friendly, generous, and
considerate. It includes being
thoughtful, compassionate, warmhearted,
and unselfish towards others.
As Peter
closes this section, he admonishes us to
make our calling and election sure by
diligently adding these fruitful
characteristics to our lives. If we do,
we assure ourselves we will never
stumble nor lose our way but will be
abundantly guaranteed and supplied an
entrance into the everlasting kingdom.
All this takes delighting in God,
trusting in Him, and resting in Him as
you allow these attributes to be worked
out. We are to strain, stretch and
extend in doing so.
1 Peter
1:10-11 Therefore, brethren, be even
more diligent to make your call and
election sure, for if you do these
things, you will never stumble; 11for so
an entrance will be supplied to you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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The
"Rise of the Anointed Ones"
is a 40-day devotional book
that perfectly fits our
present times. As you read
through the 40 devotionals,
you will find a beautiful
blend of timeless truths
fitly applied to today's
culture and challenges. The
majestic flow from theme to
theme contains powerful
prophetic revelations as God
calls His Anointed Ones to
rise. Each of these
devotionals stands on its
own, but together they will
propel the reader into a
rewarding journey of
experiencing God's presence
in tumultuous times. Each
devotional ends with a
Davidic poem in nature
flowing like a delightful
stream with heavenly
impartations. "Rise of the
Anointed Ones" is like a
voice in the wilderness
calling God's beloved away
from all that distracts to
Him who is jealous for His
bride.