01/15/2016
Our study today deals with faith, prayer, and grace, but it goes a bit further by telling us how we are to bear fruit in our faith, and gain knowledge in Jesus Christ, by realizing the divine order of these things.
“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. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV
As I read a message written by E.M. Bounds this morning he said that "faith is kept alive by prayer." He told us that "every step in this adding grace to grace is accompanied by prayer."
I have long prayed that God strengthen my faith through fostering His attributes in me. We pray for many things in our lives... Some physical and some spiritual, but the most important prayer we pray is to know our Lord more intimately. Through our knowledge of Him our faith increases without bounds, and through the gifts and blessings we receive from Him in return our relationship grows deeper, and our righteousness blossoms into full bloom.
Peter gives us a step by step recipe for increasing our faith. He also tells us what happens if we are negligent in these things. Here is a passage that helps us to understand this…
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:9-11 KJV
Peter uses the word fall in this passage, but we often refer to it as backsliding, yet regardless which word we choose to use, the result is the same... We return to our old sinful ways and lives. So to keep this from happening to us, we should pray for God's help as we lean into Him, and realize His power in our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. Do we know how to pray for these things as we seek to increase our faith and gain an abundance of God’s grace?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing my prayers as I pray that you help me maintain a steadfast faith, and keep me sure footed as I walk with you through the valleys, climb every mountain, and overcome my weakness in times of temptation, unproductive thinking, and when my spiritual stamina begins to fail. Teach me Lord to be a more perfect reflection of you, and to exhibit your characteristics to the world, just as your Son Jesus has always done. Let my prayers lead to a greater faith, and to a stronger anointing of your grace. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who never leaves me alone with my frailties, and who shows me a route of escape from every temptation which is beyond my ability to resist. You are merciful Father and hold me firm in my faith as I pray for your grace, and victory over the efforts of the dark one. In you, and my belief in the blood of your Son Jesus, I am saved, redeemed, and protected against all evil and every worldly device that rises up against me. Your Word is my sword and my shield, and my faith holds it strong before me against every blow that Satan attempts to strike and undo me with. I praise your name Lord, and worship you in every storm, and in doing so I receive certain victory against all odds, and every challenge. Hear me now as I pray, and use the measure of faith you have imparted to me to remove every mountain. In this I give you all the glory forever and ever, for great are you always.
Rich Forbes