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These Things - What Are They? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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  We can turn back to a reading in 2 Peter chapter 1.
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  I want us to read from verse 8 to verse 15 just now.
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  ! 2 Peter chapter 1 at verse 8.
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  !
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  For whoever lacks these qualities is so short-sighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
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  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure.
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  For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.
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  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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  Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities.
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  Though you know them and are established in the truth that you have,
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  I think it is right that as long as I am in this body to stir you up by way of reminder,
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  since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
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  And I will make every effort so that after my departure, you may be able at any time to recall these things.
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  There's a phrase, as you're reading through verse 8 to verse 10,
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  a couple of words that come together very often there, and it's these things, these qualities.
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  It's Peter repeating that again and again in a very powerful way.
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  And he says there in verse 12,
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  Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities.
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  So he's saying there's something very important here for us to draw attention to,
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  and to think to ourselves, well, what are these things,
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  what are these qualities that he's talking about that are so important,
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  and why are they so important for us?
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  Who of us would want to be known as a failure in the Christian life?
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  Who of us would want to have that marred against us,
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  that this person failed in their Christian life?
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  It's a stupid question for us,
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  because none of us would say that we want to be known as failures in the Christian life.
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  Every one of us wants, I hope, to seek to be the best Christian that we can be by the grace of God.
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  But yet you have in Peter himself one who at one point was seen as having failed the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  When you look in his own life, a life that, as you read here, seems to be coming to an end.
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  He's in the latter stages of his life.
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  In verse 14 he makes that clear for us,
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  Since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon.
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  There's this knowledge he has that his life is drawing to a close.
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  But yet he has learned so much in his life.
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  And many would probably remember him as a failure in some ways.
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  And especially because the night that the Lord Jesus was crucified,
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  he denied him three times.
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  And yet Peter, impulsive Peter as he often was,
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  he learned so much through that experience.
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  And especially seeing the grace of the Lord Jesus in restoring him,
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  in speaking to him in a very powerful way
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  to remind him that he was still one who loved the Lord
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  and who served the Lord throughout the rest of his days as well.
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  So you could look at Peter's life and see there were failings in it.
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  But by the grace of God, he was restored and kept going from strength to strength.
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  But how did he do it?
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  We live in a world that offers so much advice.
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  And there are books upon books written about how to be a better person.
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  Some of them are even written from a Christian perspective.
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  And you see the titles of them and you think,
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  well, what is that really going to tell to me?
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  Titles such as Think Better, Live Better, Become a Better You,
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  You Can, You Will.
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  And so they go on.
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  There's these titles of books that try and catch your attention
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  and think, well, how can I be a better person?
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  And so many of them are focused on ourselves.
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  Self-help topics.
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  But the reality is we cannot help ourselves.
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  And that's when we see the greatest book ever written before us this evening,
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  the Word of God.
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  God has given us his Word.
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  As we read in this chapter, we are reminded that it is the Word of God.
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  In verse 21,
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  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man,
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  but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
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  God gave us his Word.
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  The Old and the New Testament, the whole Word of God is our truth to live by.
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  It is where we find the help of God to live as we should.
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  And as you think back to the shorter catechism,
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  they were right when they wrote,
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  The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament,
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  is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify him and enjoy him.
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  The Word of God is the only rule that we need to glorify and enjoy him.
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  And so we have this truth before us.
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  And it's this truth that helps us, that guards us as we go along.
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  And so, how can we apply this truth to ourselves?
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  Well, that is what Peter is doing here as he's writing to these Christians long ago.
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  He's writing to people who were believers,
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  who had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  But he's writing to them to encourage them,
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  reminding them of these things that are so important.
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  Peter here is giving us the secret to a godly life.
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  The way that we are to live.
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  And when you look at this chapter, there's so many things in it.
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  And you see in verse 10, there's like a hinge on everything there as well.
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  How it speaks about making your calling an election sure.
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  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling an election sure.
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  For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.
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  So we're reminded of just how important these qualities, these things are.
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  It's about our calling and our election.
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  That God is calling us.
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  And that God has chosen his people.
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  It's not saying that we can change God's mind in term of election.
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  We know that God has chosen a people.
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  But he's talking here about making or calling an election sure.
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  Not adding anything to that.
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  But living by faith in the whole counsel of God.
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  The whole word of God.
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  Living by faith, looking to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Because it's not just this passive attitude that we have to have.
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  Well, if we are elect, we are elect.
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  And there's nothing we can do about it.
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  That's not what Peter teaches here in light of making our calling an election sure.
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  Faith goes together with works.
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  Faith is always active.
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  Should always be active.
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  And we should always be seeking to grow in our faith.
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  To be growing in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Knowledge is something that Peter mentions throughout this letter, the second Peter.
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  This knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  You see it there in verse 3 it is.
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  His divine power is granted to us.
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  All things are pertained to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us.
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  So we see there it is about growing in our faith.
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  In the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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  And so these things that he is speaking about, it's all about this growing in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  And so immediately we think, well, if Peter is writing these things,
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  if they are there to help us grow in our faith and in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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  are we willing to listen to them?
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  Are we willing to receive them?
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  Are we willing to work on our faith in order to grow in this way,
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  in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?
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  So we see Peter outlined here steps for us to help us to grow as Christians.
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  And as we go through these verses that we have before us,
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  and especially as we look,
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  secondly it's going to be at verse 5 and 6.
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  You see a list there of things that are these things.
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  That are these things that are so important.
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  But before we look at the list of these things,
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  I want us first to see what these things lead to.
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  So we're doing it a little back to front.
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  Verse 8 down to verse 15 makes clear what these things lead to.
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  And then secondly we will see what these things are.
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  And so there's four things that these things lead to.
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  Four things that these things lead to.
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  And so we're going to look at this first.
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  Four things.
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  Have you ever been somewhere
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  and you see things differently to somebody else?
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  You think about this time of year
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  when maybe you go round the shows.
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  The Point show's been on recently.
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  There'll be other shows coming up,
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  different parts of the island.
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  Many people go to all these different shows.
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  And things are put on display.
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  And prizes are handed out in different ways.
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  It may be for animals.
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  It may be sheep or cows or dogs.
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  These kinds of things.
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  You see other prizes being handed out for baking.
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  Other prizes handed out for crafts.
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  And you may be walking round with someone
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  who knows a lot more about, say, animals than you do.
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  And they're pointing out a sheep
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  and all the different qualities of the sheep in a pen.
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  And they could maybe pick out
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  that's the one that's likely to win.
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  Because they're seeing qualities in it
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  that the person who has no knowledge just can't see.
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  I would just see a sheep.
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  Not any qualities in that sheep, but just a sheep.
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  But the trained eye sees things differently.
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  And so it goes on in different ways.
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  When you look at crafts,
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  people will see the intricate details of crafts
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  that the unthrained eye just cannot see.
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  Or the baking, they'll taste something
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  that you just miss.
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  You don't have that trained palate
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  in order to see the difference in that.
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  We see things differently
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  in many different experiences.
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  We see that there are qualities there,
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  but we miss out
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  because we don't understand what they are.
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  But when you look at the qualities
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  that Peter is writing about here,
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  you see that there are qualities
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  that should mark out every Christian.
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  That you should be able to see
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  the qualities of faith in every Christian.
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  Now, we know that for some,
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  we look at it and we see it more clearly.
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  It's more evident.
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  And others will say the qualities
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  are hidden in different ways.
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  But everyone should have
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  or be seeking to be growing
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  in these qualities.
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  And that is the gift of faith
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  in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  And when we look at the qualities
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  that we see here,
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  we're reminded of just how
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  they would help us
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  in our Christian walk.
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  So what these things lead to first,
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  we see in verse 8,
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  beginning there.
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  For if these qualities are yours
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  and are increasing,
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  they keep you from being ineffective
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  or unfruitful in the knowledge
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  of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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  So there's the first thing
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  that these qualities lead to.
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  Instead of being ineffective
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  or unfruitful in our knowledge
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  of Jesus Christ,
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  we will be growing in our knowledge
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  of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  We all can have that sense
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  of being unfruitful,
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  but barren and bare in our hearts
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  and in our souls.
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  When we feel that there's
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  that distance with God,
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  when we're not right with God.
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  But these things,
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  these qualities,
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  are what can bring us closer
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  to God in that sense
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  of being fruitful,
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  of being fruitful
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  in growing in our knowledge
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  of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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  of being effective
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  in all of these things.
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  Because the more we know
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  the Lord Jesus Christ,
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  the more we are close
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  to the Lord Jesus Christ,
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  then the more we are going
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  to have that fruit
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  being born in our lives
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  and in our experiences.
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  And so who wouldn't want
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  to have this guarantee
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  of fruitfulness?
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  And that is what this word of God
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  is pointing,
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  is guiding us towards.
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  Being fruitful
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  and being discerning
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  as well as we see.
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  Secondly,
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  for whoever lacks
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  these qualities
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  is so short-sighted
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  that he is blind,
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  having forgotten
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  that he was cleansed
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  from his former sins.
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  So we see
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  there's this lack
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  of spiritual discernment
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  too if we don't have
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  these things,
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  these qualities,
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  we're spiritually blind.
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  Paul, the apostle,
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  he knew what it was
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  to be blind physically
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  but also spiritually.
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  I was so blind
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  to the love of God.
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  I was so blind
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  to the grace of God.
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  And yet when the Lord Jesus
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  came into his life,
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  when his eyes were opened,
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  he was amazed
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  that the love
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  that he would show
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  to a sinner such as him.
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  And these things
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  are what would have helped
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  Paul as well.
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  And so we see here
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  it is these gifts,
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  these things
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  that are able to help us
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  to discern
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  the love of God.
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  To see the love of God
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  in a more majestic way.
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  That second half
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  of verse 9 as well,
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  these things
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  remind us
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  of the guarantee
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  and the assurance
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  of salvation.
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  It says,
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  having forgotten
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  that he was cleansed
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  from his former sins.
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  How sin
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  attacks us
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  again and again
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  and when we're
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  forgetting these things,
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  it just weighs down
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  on us so heavily.
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  we lose that sense
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  of assurance
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  that comes through faith,
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  of the love of God,
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  that our sins
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  are forgiven
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  through him.
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  So we have this
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  lack of assurance
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  that can so easily
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  come into our hearts.
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  And then as you go
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  into verse 10,
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  you see the fourth thing there.
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  These things
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  give a guarantee
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  to us.
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  Therefore,
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  brothers,
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  be all the more diligent
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  to make your calling
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  and election sure.
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  For if you practice
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  these qualities,
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  you will never fall.
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  It sounds
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  quite a bold statement
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  to make
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  that you will
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  never fall.
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  There is always
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  that fear
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  of falling.
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  But what keeps us
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  from falling?
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  Practice
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  these things.
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  And that gives us
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  that assurance,
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  that guarantee
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  that we will not fall
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  from the love of God.
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  And so,
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  we have these four things
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  that this leads to.
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  That we will be fruitful,
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  that we will have
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  spiritual discernment,
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  that we will have
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  assurance in our salvation
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  that we will never fall
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  as a Christian.
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  So if you have
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  these four things
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  outlined to you,
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  who would not
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  want these things?
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  Who would not
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  want to have comfort
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  in all of these things?
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  And so we ask,
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  well,
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  how do we get that?
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  There must be
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  something quite
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  spectacular for us.
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  There must be
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  something
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  quite powerful.
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  Maybe it's hard
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  to get these things.
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  It will be out of the reach
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  of many of us.
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  Out of the reach
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  of the ordinary Christian.
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  Well,
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  the way Peter
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  is writing here,
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  he is reminding
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  that this is for all.
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  This is for everyone
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  who comes to faith
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  in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  So if we want
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  to have
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  these assurances,
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  what are these things
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  that we need?
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  Well,
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  then we come back
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  to verse 5 and 6.
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  And here we are told
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  what these things are.
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  what these things are.
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  We've heard what they lead to,
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  but what are
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  these things?
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  Well,
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  it begins
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  with faith.
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  Faith is the foundation
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  of it all.
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  For this
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  very reason,
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  make every effort
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  to supplement
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  your faith.
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  So it begins
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  with faith,
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  but it doesn't
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  end
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  with faith.
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  faith.
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  Because faith alone,
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  in order to grow,
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  it needs to be worked.
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  Faith needs
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  to be exercised.
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  And so Peter
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  is here saying,
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  supplement,
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  add to your faith
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  in the sense
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  of growing
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  in your knowledge
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  of the Lord Jesus Christ
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  by practicing
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  these things.
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  So faith
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  is the foundation
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  of it all.
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  But then
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  what is
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  added
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  to faith?
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  Well,
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  we see
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  as we look
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  at verse 5,
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  for this very reason,
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  make every effort
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  to supplement
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  your faith
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  with virtue.
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  Virtue
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  is the first
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  of these things.
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  What is that?
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  What is virtue?
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  It's moral
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  uprightness.
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  It's holiness.
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  The word
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  literally means
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  excellent
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  living.
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  And that's
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  the way
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  that Peter
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  is writing
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  to us here.
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  And that's
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  the way
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  God
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  is writing
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  to us.
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  That we are
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  to look
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  for that
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  holiness
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  in our lives
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  at all times.
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  God said,
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  be holy,
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  for I am holy.
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  And we know
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  we can never
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  reach the holiness
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  of God.
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  He is holiness,
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  but we are
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  to seek
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  to live
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  in that way.
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  To know
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  the holiness
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  of God.
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  To know
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  that excellent
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  living.
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  And we all
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  know how
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  we fail
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  so often
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  in that.
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  When we are
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  falling in so
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  many different
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  ways.
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  But do we
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  let that
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  just grind
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  us down
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  or do we
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  let it
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  encourage us
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  again
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  to rise
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  up
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  and to
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  seek for
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  this holy
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  living?
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  We are
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  to live
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  by the
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  word
• 20:15
  of God.
• 20:17
  We are
• 20:18
  to live
• 20:18
  by the
• 20:19
  promises
• 20:19
  and the
• 20:20
  truths
• 20:20
  that we
• 20:21
  have
• 20:21
  in the
• 20:21
  word
• 20:22
  of God.
• 20:23
  We are
• 20:23
  to live
• 20:23
  that
• 20:24
  holy
• 20:24
  life
• 20:25
  depending
• 20:26
  on God.
• 20:27
  You think
• 20:28
  of Psalm
• 20:28
  25
• 20:29
  and it's
• 20:30
  really a
• 20:31
  prayer.
• 20:32
  Show me
• 20:33
  thy ways
• 20:33
  O Lord
• 20:34
  thy paths
• 20:35
  O teach
• 20:36
  thou me.
• 20:37
  There's
• 20:37
  this longing
• 20:38
  to live
• 20:39
  this life
• 20:40
  that is
• 20:41
  right
• 20:41
  with God.
• 20:43
  So add
• 20:43
  to your
• 20:44
  faith
• 20:44
  virtue.
• 20:47
  It was
• 20:47
  Dwight
• 20:47
  Moody
• 20:48
  who once
• 20:48
  said
• 20:48
  a holy
• 20:49
  life
• 20:50
  will make
• 20:50
  the deepest
• 20:51
  impression.
• 20:53
  Lighthouses
• 20:54
  blow no
• 20:55
  horns.
• 20:56
  They just
• 20:57
  shine.
• 20:59
  And so
• 20:59
  there is
• 21:00
  what we
• 21:01
  are to
• 21:01
  be as
• 21:01
  Christians.
• 21:03
  Holy
• 21:03
  examples
• 21:04
  to those
• 21:05
  around us.
• 21:06
  Adding
• 21:07
  to our
• 21:08
  faith
• 21:08
  virtue.
• 21:11
  And then
• 21:11
  he goes
• 21:11
  on.
• 21:13
  Add
• 21:13
  to your
• 21:14
  faith
• 21:14
  virtue
• 21:15
  and
• 21:16
  virtue
• 21:17
  with
• 21:18
  knowledge.
• 21:20
  So the
• 21:21
  second of
• 21:21
  these
• 21:21
  things
• 21:22
  knowledge
• 21:23
  and
• 21:24
  understanding
• 21:25
  of the
• 21:26
  truth
• 21:26
  and how
• 21:28
  to live
• 21:28
  it.
• 21:29
  We can
• 21:30
  all have
• 21:30
  an
• 21:30
  understanding
• 21:31
  of truth
• 21:32
  in some
• 21:33
  way.
• 21:34
  But
• 21:34
  to have
• 21:36
  knowledge
• 21:37
  is to
• 21:37
  add to
• 21:38
  that virtue
• 21:39
  of applying
• 21:39
  it all
• 21:40
  to our
• 21:40
  lives.
• 21:42
  How we
• 21:43
  can live
• 21:43
  with that
• 21:45
  knowledge
• 21:45
  of God
• 21:46
  and seeking
• 21:47
  to understand
• 21:48
  his word
• 21:50
  more and
• 21:51
  more.
• 21:53
  Where does
• 21:53
  the knowledge
• 21:54
  of God
• 21:54
  come from?
• 21:56
  It comes
• 21:57
  from being
• 21:57
  in his
• 21:57
  word.
• 21:58
  By seeking
• 21:59
  to indulge
• 22:01
  in his
• 22:01
  word day
• 22:02
  after day
• 22:02
  to seek
• 22:03
  that understanding
• 22:04
  that we
• 22:05
  find in
• 22:06
  his word.
• 22:07
  When you
• 22:08
  go to
• 22:08
  Psalm 119
• 22:09
  that psalm
• 22:11
  as a
• 22:11
  whole
• 22:12
  it speaks
• 22:12
  about the
• 22:13
  importance
• 22:13
  of the
• 22:14
  word of
• 22:15
  God
• 22:15
  in our
• 22:16
  lives.
• 22:17
  And at
• 22:17
  one point
• 22:18
  in that
• 22:18
  psalm
• 22:19
  in verse
• 22:19
  67
• 22:20
  the psalmist
• 22:20
  says
• 22:21
  before I
• 22:22
  was afflicted
• 22:23
  I went
• 22:24
  astray
• 22:25
  but now
• 22:26
  I keep
• 22:27
  your word.
• 22:29
  So a
• 22:30
  lack of
• 22:30
  understanding
• 22:32
  a lack of
• 22:33
  knowledge
• 22:33
  in the
• 22:34
  word of
• 22:34
  God
• 22:34
  a falling
• 22:35
  away from
• 22:35
  the word
• 22:36
  of God
• 22:36
  leaves us
• 22:37
  so often
• 22:37
  afflicted.
• 22:38
  But the
• 22:39
  psalm
• 22:39
  says no
• 22:40
  now I
• 22:41
  keep
• 22:42
  your word.
• 22:43
  Your word
• 22:44
  is what
• 22:45
  is guiding
• 22:46
  me.
• 22:46
  What is
• 22:47
  helping me.
• 22:48
  And so
• 22:48
  we need
• 22:49
  that knowledge
• 22:50
  of the
• 22:50
  word of
• 22:52
  God.
• 22:52
  Do you
• 22:52
  have that
• 22:53
  hunger
• 22:53
  for God's
• 22:54
  word?
• 22:55
  Do you
• 22:55
  have that
• 22:55
  desire and
• 22:56
  longing
• 22:57
  for God's
• 22:58
  word day
• 22:58
  by day
• 22:59
  that it
• 22:59
  is the
• 22:59
  word of
• 23:00
  God
• 23:00
  that teaches
• 23:02
  us how
• 23:03
  to glorify
• 23:03
  and how
• 23:04
  to enjoy
• 23:05
  him
• 23:06
  forever?
• 23:07
  To seek
• 23:08
  more of
• 23:09
  that knowledge
• 23:10
  of God
• 23:10
  in his
• 23:11
  word.
• 23:13
  And then
• 23:13
  to knowledge
• 23:14
  is added
• 23:15
  self-control.
• 23:17
  And again
• 23:20
  this is
• 23:20
  something we
• 23:21
  always have
• 23:22
  to work
• 23:22
  on in
• 23:23
  our life
• 23:24
  as well.
• 23:25
  Faith is
• 23:26
  the foundation
• 23:26
  but again
• 23:27
  and again
• 23:28
  we are having
• 23:28
  to exercise
• 23:29
  our faith
• 23:30
  in all of
• 23:31
  these things.
• 23:32
  Self-control.
• 23:34
  So often
• 23:34
  our lives
• 23:35
  will go
• 23:36
  the direction
• 23:36
  of I'll
• 23:37
  do as
• 23:38
  I please.
• 23:40
  But that
• 23:40
  is going
• 23:41
  away from
• 23:42
  the word
• 23:42
  of God.
• 23:43
  Our lives
• 23:44
  are not
• 23:44
  to do
• 23:44
  as we
• 23:45
  please
• 23:46
  but to
• 23:47
  do as
• 23:47
  God
• 23:48
  wills.
• 23:50
  Psalm
• 23:50
  40
• 23:51
  speaks of
• 23:52
  it.
• 23:52
  To do
• 23:52
  thy will
• 23:53
  I take
• 23:54
  delight.
• 23:55
  And it's
• 23:55
  seeking that
• 23:56
  delight
• 23:56
  in God.
• 23:57
  Otherwise
• 23:58
  we are
• 23:58
  seeking
• 23:59
  delight
• 23:59
  in
• 23:59
  ourselves
• 24:00
  that so
• 24:01
  often
• 24:01
  leads us
• 24:02
  along
• 24:03
  the wrong
• 24:04
  path.
• 24:04
  Self-control
• 24:06
  is something
• 24:07
  that we all
• 24:08
  have to
• 24:08
  work on.
• 24:09
  And we
• 24:10
  know it
• 24:10
  only too
• 24:11
  well how
• 24:11
  often we
• 24:12
  have to
• 24:12
  do it.
• 24:13
  One writer
• 24:14
  puts it
• 24:15
  like this.
• 24:16
  We have
• 24:16
  to show
• 24:16
  self-control
• 24:17
  on our
• 24:18
  tongues,
• 24:19
  our tempers
• 24:21
  and our
• 24:22
  temptations.
• 24:23
  These three
• 24:24
  areas of
• 24:25
  life where
• 24:26
  we have to
• 24:26
  show self-control
• 24:27
  our tongues,
• 24:29
  our tempers
• 24:30
  and our
• 24:30
  temptations.
• 24:32
  And we
• 24:33
  know only
• 24:33
  too well
• 24:34
  how easy
• 24:35
  it is to
• 24:36
  lose control
• 24:37
  in all of
• 24:38
  these things.
• 24:39
  In our
• 24:40
  tongues
• 24:40
  and how
• 24:41
  we speak
• 24:42
  to
• 24:43
  others
• 24:43
  or about
• 24:44
  others
• 24:45
  we have
• 24:46
  to show
• 24:46
  self-control.
• 24:48
  In our
• 24:48
  tempers
• 24:49
  when we
• 24:50
  start losing
• 24:51
  control of
• 24:52
  our temper
• 24:53
  we have
• 24:53
  to show
• 24:54
  self-control
• 24:55
  to come
• 24:56
  back to
• 24:57
  the word
• 24:57
  of God.
• 24:59
  In our
• 24:59
  temptations
• 25:00
  we know
• 25:01
  the Lord's
• 25:02
  prayer
• 25:02
  how he
• 25:02
  says
• 25:03
  lead us
• 25:03
  not into
• 25:04
  temptation
• 25:04
  but deliver
• 25:05
  us from
• 25:06
  evil.
• 25:07
  We need
• 25:07
  to show
• 25:08
  self-control
• 25:09
  and so
• 25:11
  these things
• 25:12
  they're all
• 25:12
  building
• 25:13
  together.
• 25:15
  So we
• 25:16
  have that
• 25:17
  self-control
• 25:17
  and then
• 25:18
  add to
• 25:18
  self-control
• 25:20
  steadfastness.
• 25:22
  Steadfastness
• 25:23
  this means
• 25:24
  endurance.
• 25:27
  Endurance
• 25:28
  a faith
• 25:28
  that endures
• 25:29
  no matter
• 25:30
  what goes
• 25:31
  on around
• 25:31
  us
• 25:32
  no matter
• 25:32
  what we
• 25:33
  hear that
• 25:34
  will tempt
• 25:34
  us away
• 25:35
  from
• 25:35
  believing
• 25:36
  the word
• 25:36
  of God
• 25:37
  we endure
• 25:38
  in all
• 25:39
  situations
• 25:40
  because we
• 25:42
  hear so
• 25:43
  often those
• 25:43
  who will
• 25:44
  cast away
• 25:45
  God's word
• 25:46
  how it's
• 25:46
  false
• 25:47
  how it's
• 25:47
  not truth
• 25:48
  how we
• 25:49
  don't need
• 25:49
  it
• 25:49
  but yet
• 25:51
  we are
• 25:51
  to be
• 25:51
  steadfast
• 25:52
  even when
• 25:54
  things are
• 25:54
  going against
• 25:55
  God's
• 25:56
  cause
• 25:57
  in so many
• 25:57
  ways
• 25:58
  we are not
• 25:59
  to turn
• 25:59
  and drift
• 26:00
  with a
• 26:00
  tide
• 26:01
  we are
• 26:01
  to swim
• 26:02
  against it
• 26:02
  to endure
• 26:03
  to go
• 26:04
  that direction
• 26:05
  that the
• 26:05
  Lord is
• 26:06
  putting us
• 26:07
  in and
• 26:08
  to hold
• 26:09
  fast
• 26:09
  in the
• 26:10
  faith
• 26:11
  again
• 26:12
  someone
• 26:13
  describes
• 26:14
  it as
• 26:14
  the vine
• 26:15
  that clings
• 26:16
  to the
• 26:16
  tree
• 26:17
  when the
• 26:18
  wind
• 26:19
  is blowing
• 26:20
  against
• 26:21
  the vine
• 26:21
  it's blowing
• 26:22
  it against
• 26:22
  the tree
• 26:23
  so it's
• 26:23
  held closely
• 26:24
  to it
• 26:25
  or when
• 26:26
  the wind
• 26:26
  is blowing
• 26:27
  into its
• 26:27
  face
• 26:28
  it's
• 26:29
  sheltering
• 26:29
  behind
• 26:30
  the tree
• 26:30
  so the
• 26:31
  wind
• 26:31
  cannot
• 26:31
  push it
• 26:32
  away
• 26:32
  and it's
• 26:33
  that way
• 26:34
  that we
• 26:34
  are to
• 26:35
  endure
• 26:35
  by holding
• 26:37
  fast
• 26:37
  close
• 26:38
  to the
• 26:38
  Lord
• 26:39
  when the
• 26:40
  storm
• 26:40
  is on
• 26:41
  our back
• 26:41
  we are
• 26:41
  being pushed
• 26:42
  closer to
• 26:43
  him
• 26:43
  when the
• 26:44
  storm
• 26:44
  is in
• 26:45
  our face
• 26:45
  we are
• 26:46
  sheltering
• 26:47
  behind
• 26:47
  him
• 26:48
  we are
• 26:48
  there with
• 26:49
  him
• 26:49
  always
• 26:50
  we are
• 26:50
  showing
• 26:51
  endurance
• 26:52
  and remembering
• 26:53
  the promises
• 26:54
  of God's
• 26:55
  word
• 26:55
  promises
• 26:56
  like he
• 26:56
  says in
• 26:57
  Hebrews
• 26:58
  13
• 26:58
  5
• 26:59
  I will
• 27:00
  never
• 27:00
  leave
• 27:01
  you
• 27:01
  I will
• 27:02
  never
• 27:02
  forsake
• 27:03
  you
• 27:03
  we have
• 27:05
  all these
• 27:05
  promises
• 27:06
  that help
• 27:07
  us
• 27:07
  to be
• 27:08
  steadfast
• 27:09
  and then
• 27:11
  we add
• 27:12
  to
• 27:12
  steadfastness
• 27:16
  godliness
• 27:17
  again this
• 27:20
  word means
• 27:20
  just walking
• 27:21
  in light
• 27:22
  of the
• 27:23
  greatness
• 27:23
  of God
• 27:25
  recognizing
• 27:26
  who he
• 27:27
  is
• 27:28
  added on
• 27:29
  to
• 27:29
  holiness
• 27:29
  as we
• 27:30
  see the
• 27:30
  holiness
• 27:31
  of God
• 27:31
  we see
• 27:32
  godliness
• 27:33
  we walk
• 27:34
  in light
• 27:34
  of his
• 27:35
  greatness
• 27:36
  everything
• 27:38
  that we
• 27:39
  are doing
• 27:39
  we are to
• 27:40
  do in
• 27:41
  the fear
• 27:42
  of the
• 27:42
  Lord
• 27:42
  and that
• 27:43
  is wisdom
• 27:44
  that is
• 27:45
  wisdom's
• 27:46
  beginning
• 27:46
  the fear
• 27:47
  of the
• 27:47
  Lord
• 27:48
  that we
• 27:49
  are in
• 27:49
  awe
• 27:49
  of God
• 27:50
  that we
• 27:51
  are living
• 27:52
  in light
• 27:52
  of the
• 27:53
  greatness
• 27:53
  of God
• 27:55
  so we
• 27:56
  have
• 27:56
  godliness
• 27:57
  godliness
• 28:00
  in the
• 28:00
  sense of
• 28:01
  everything
• 28:01
  that we
• 28:02
  do
• 28:02
  is for
• 28:03
  his
• 28:04
  glory
• 28:05
  and then
• 28:07
  godliness
• 28:07
  we add
• 28:08
  brotherly
• 28:09
  affection
• 28:10
  brotherly
• 28:11
  love
• 28:11
  and again
• 28:14
  we see
• 28:15
  this how
• 28:15
  it's closely
• 28:16
  linked
• 28:16
  to godliness
• 28:18
  and holiness
• 28:18
  when we
• 28:19
  love the
• 28:19
  Lord
• 28:20
  with all
• 28:20
  our heart
• 28:21
  we love
• 28:22
  our neighbor
• 28:22
  as our
• 28:23
  self
• 28:24
  brotherly
• 28:25
  affection
• 28:26
  a love
• 28:27
  for the
• 28:28
  Lord's
• 28:29
  people
• 28:29
  and when
• 28:31
  you think
• 28:32
  of that
• 28:32
  brotherly
• 28:33
  affection
• 28:33
  you think
• 28:35
  of Peter
• 28:36
  and how
• 28:38
  much he
• 28:39
  knew
• 28:39
  of that
• 28:40
  brotherly
• 28:41
  affection
• 28:41
  when he
• 28:44
  had denied
• 28:45
  the Lord
• 28:46
  Jesus Christ
• 28:47
  the Lord
• 28:49
  didn't
• 28:50
  reject him
• 28:50
  he didn't
• 28:52
  put him
• 28:52
  away
• 28:52
  but he
• 28:54
  showed
• 28:55
  that
• 28:55
  brotherly
• 28:56
  affection
• 28:57
  in restoring
• 28:58
  a brother
• 29:00
  in his
• 29:01
  faith
• 29:02
  and bringing
• 29:03
  him back
• 29:04
  he had
• 29:05
  denied him
• 29:06
  three times
• 29:08
  and yet he
• 29:09
  asked him
• 29:09
  that question
• 29:10
  Simon
• 29:11
  Peter
• 29:12
  do you
• 29:13
  love me
• 29:14
  yes
• 29:15
  Lord
• 29:16
  you know
• 29:17
  that I
• 29:18
  love you
• 29:18
  was Peter
• 29:19
  response
• 29:20
  Peter
• 29:21
  here he
• 29:22
  is in the
• 29:23
  latter stages
• 29:23
  of his
• 29:24
  life
• 29:24
  as he's
• 29:25
  thinking of
• 29:26
  brotherly
• 29:26
  affection
• 29:27
  you can
• 29:28
  imagine him
• 29:28
  almost
• 29:29
  welling up
• 29:30
  in tears
• 29:30
  thinking of
• 29:32
  the love
• 29:32
  that Jesus
• 29:33
  had shown
• 29:34
  to him
• 29:35
  and that's
• 29:36
  the love
• 29:36
  that he is
• 29:37
  saying to
• 29:38
  show to
• 29:39
  others
• 29:39
  to show
• 29:41
  that love
• 29:41
  to our
• 29:42
  brothers
• 29:43
  and sisters
• 29:44
  in Christ
• 29:45
  when you
• 29:45
  know
• 29:46
  the love
• 29:47
  of Christ
• 29:48
  it's a
• 29:49
  wonderful
• 29:50
  thing
• 29:50
  to be able
• 29:51
  to share
• 29:52
  it with
• 29:53
  others
• 29:53
  so we
• 29:53
  have
• 29:54
  brotherly
• 29:54
  affection
• 29:55
  and then
• 29:57
  brotherly
• 29:57
  affection
• 29:58
  you add
• 29:59
  to that
• 30:00
  love
• 30:01
  now here
• 30:04
  it's
• 30:04
  slightly
• 30:04
  different
• 30:06
  he's talking
• 30:07
  about
• 30:08
  that
• 30:08
  self
• 30:09
  sacrificing
• 30:10
  love
• 30:11
  for the
• 30:11
  Lord
• 30:12
  that
• 30:13
  never
• 30:14
  ending
• 30:14
  love
• 30:15
  for God
• 30:16
  that
• 30:17
  exhibits
• 30:17
  itself
• 30:18
  in
• 30:18
  everything
• 30:19
  that we
• 30:20
  do
• 30:20
  the very
• 30:22
  same
• 30:22
  love
• 30:22
  that God
• 30:23
  has shown
• 30:24
  to us
• 30:25
  and when
• 30:27
  it says
• 30:27
  when God
• 30:28
  so loved
• 30:29
  the world
• 30:29
  that he
• 30:30
  gave
• 30:31
  his only
• 30:32
  son
• 30:32
  when we
• 30:33
  see the
• 30:34
  sacrificial
• 30:35
  love
• 30:35
  of God
• 30:36
  that is
• 30:37
  what drives
• 30:38
  us surely
• 30:39
  then to
• 30:40
  grow in
• 30:40
  our knowledge
• 30:41
  of him
• 30:42
  who called
• 30:43
  us from
• 30:43
  his own
• 30:44
  glory
• 30:44
  who called
• 30:46
  us to
• 30:46
  his own
• 30:47
  glory
• 30:48
  and excellence
• 30:48
  as it
• 30:49
  says
• 30:49
  there
• 30:50
  earlier
• 30:50
  on
• 30:51
  in
• 30:51
  verse
• 30:51
  three
• 30:52
  we are
• 30:53
  looking to
• 30:53
  grow
• 30:54
  in our
• 30:54
  knowledge
• 30:55
  of him
• 30:56
  of the
• 30:57
  Lord
• 30:57
  Jesus
• 30:58
  Christ
• 30:59
  by seeing
• 31:00
  what he
• 31:00
  has done
• 31:01
  for us
• 31:02
  the love
• 31:04
  of God
• 31:05
  that did
• 31:05
  not spare
• 31:06
  his own
• 31:07
  son
• 31:08
  how much
• 31:09
  do you
• 31:11
  love
• 31:11
  the
• 31:11
  Lord
• 31:12
  these
• 31:15
  things
• 31:15
  are there
• 31:16
  for us
• 31:17
  they seem
• 31:19
  like you
• 31:20
  would think
• 31:20
  they would
• 31:20
  be very
• 31:21
  difficult
• 31:21
  things to
• 31:22
  grasp
• 31:23
  to attain
• 31:24
  to
• 31:24
  but really
• 31:26
  when you
• 31:26
  think of
• 31:27
  faith
• 31:27
  faith is
• 31:29
  in many
• 31:29
  ways
• 31:29
  we can
• 31:30
  over
• 31:30
  complicate
• 31:31
  it
• 31:31
  it's a
• 31:32
  simple
• 31:33
  thing
• 31:33
  to believe
• 31:35
  in the
• 31:36
  Lord
• 31:36
  Jesus
• 31:36
  Christ
• 31:37
  but it's
• 31:38
  a faith
• 31:39
  that is
• 31:39
  to grow
• 31:40
  a faith
• 31:42
  that is
• 31:42
  to grow
• 31:42
  through
• 31:43
  these
• 31:44
  things
• 31:44
  through
• 31:46
  these
• 31:46
  things
• 31:46
  that then
• 31:47
  give us
• 31:47
  these
• 31:48
  comforts
• 31:49
  and assurance
• 31:50
  of being
• 31:51
  fruitful
• 31:51
  of being
• 31:53
  discerning
• 31:54
  of having
• 31:55
  assurance
• 31:56
  and of
• 31:57
  never
• 31:58
  falling
• 31:58
  it is
• 32:00
  these
• 32:00
  things
• 32:00
  this list
• 32:01
  in verse
• 32:01
  five and
• 32:02
  six
• 32:03
  that we
• 32:04
  are to
• 32:04
  put into
• 32:04
  practice
• 32:05
  are we
• 32:07
  willing
• 32:07
  to
• 32:08
  exercise
• 32:09
  our
• 32:10
  faith
• 32:10
  and how
• 32:12
  much
• 32:12
  do we
• 32:13
  love
• 32:14
  the
• 32:14
  Lord
• 32:14
  who
• 32:15
  loved
• 32:16
  us
• 32:16
  and
• 32:17
  gave
• 32:17
  himself
• 32:18
  for
• 32:18
  us
• 32:19
  it's
• 32:20
  good
• 32:21
  to see
• 32:21
  so many
• 32:22
  young
• 32:22
  people
• 32:23
  out
• 32:23
  this
• 32:23
  evening
• 32:24
  I want
• 32:25
  to tell
• 32:25
  you a
• 32:25
  little
• 32:25
  story
• 32:26
  about
• 32:26
  a little
• 32:27
  girl
• 32:27
  and how
• 32:28
  she was
• 32:28
  put
• 32:29
  to the
• 32:29
  test
• 32:29
  a story
• 32:30
  for us
• 32:30
  all
• 32:31
  to
• 32:31
  consider
• 32:32
  a mother
• 32:33
  wanted
• 32:33
  to put
• 32:34
  her
• 32:35
  to the
• 32:35
  test
• 32:36
  to teach
• 32:36
  her
• 32:37
  a
• 32:37
  lesson
• 32:38
  and what
• 32:39
  she did
• 32:40
  was as
• 32:40
  they were
• 32:40
  going to
• 32:41
  church
• 32:41
  one
• 32:42
  Sunday
• 32:42
  morning
• 32:42
  she gave
• 32:44
  her daughter
• 32:45
  a five
• 32:46
  pound note
• 32:47
  and a
• 32:48
  one pound
• 32:48
  coin
• 32:49
  and she
• 32:51
  said to
• 32:51
  the daughter
• 32:51
  put whichever
• 32:52
  one you
• 32:53
  want into
• 32:54
  the collection
• 32:55
  plate when
• 32:55
  it comes
• 32:56
  round
• 32:56
  and keep
• 32:58
  the other
• 32:58
  one for
• 32:59
  yourself
• 32:59
  and she
• 33:01
  left that
• 33:01
  with her
• 33:02
  daughter
• 33:02
  and they
• 33:04
  were sitting
• 33:04
  in church
• 33:05
  and the
• 33:05
  collection
• 33:05
  plate
• 33:06
  as it
• 33:06
  was
• 33:06
  in that
• 33:06
  church
• 33:07
  it came
• 33:07
  round
• 33:08
  they passed
• 33:08
  it round
• 33:09
  and they
• 33:10
  put into
• 33:10
  the collection
• 33:11
  the mother
• 33:11
  didn't look
• 33:12
  to see
• 33:12
  what her
• 33:12
  daughter
• 33:13
  did
• 33:13
  but after
• 33:14
  the service
• 33:15
  she asked
• 33:16
  her
• 33:16
  well what
• 33:16
  did you
• 33:16
  do
• 33:17
  did you
• 33:18
  give the
• 33:18
  five pound
• 33:19
  or did
• 33:20
  you give
• 33:20
  the one
• 33:20
  pound
• 33:21
  and the
• 33:22
  daughter
• 33:22
  replied
• 33:23
  well
• 33:23
  I was
• 33:24
  going to
• 33:25
  give
• 33:25
  the five
• 33:26
  pound
• 33:26
  but then
• 33:27
  the man
• 33:28
  in the
• 33:28
  pulpit
• 33:29
  said
• 33:29
  the Lord
• 33:30
  loves
• 33:30
  a cheerful
• 33:31
  giver
• 33:32
  and I
• 33:33
  thought to
• 33:33
  myself
• 33:34
  will I
• 33:34
  be much
• 33:35
  more
• 33:35
  cheerful
• 33:35
  if I
• 33:36
  gave the
• 33:37
  pound
• 33:37
  coin
• 33:37
  and kept
• 33:38
  the five
• 33:39
  pound
• 33:39
  for myself
• 33:40
  and so
• 33:41
  that's
• 33:41
  what she
• 33:42
  did
• 33:42
  but what's
• 33:44
  the lesson
• 33:45
  to be learned
• 33:45
  in that
• 33:46
  for us
• 33:47
  is life
• 33:48
  about
• 33:49
  getting
• 33:49
  for ourselves
• 33:51
  is the
• 33:51
  Lord saying
• 33:52
  that the
• 33:52
  less we
• 33:53
  give to
• 33:53
  him
• 33:54
  the more
• 33:55
  we keep
• 33:55
  for ourselves
• 33:56
  the happier
• 33:56
  we'll be
• 33:57
  no
• 33:58
  the Lord
• 34:00
  is telling
• 34:01
  us
• 34:01
  that what's
• 34:02
  important
• 34:03
  in life
• 34:03
  not just
• 34:05
  for now
• 34:05
  but for
• 34:06
  all our
• 34:07
  days
• 34:07
  and for
• 34:08
  all eternity
• 34:09
  is to
• 34:10
  recognize
• 34:11
  that he
• 34:11
  gave
• 34:12
  everything
• 34:13
  for us
• 34:13
  and that
• 34:15
  we are to
• 34:15
  give all
• 34:16
  for him
• 34:17
  to find
• 34:19
  out all
• 34:20
  these
• 34:20
  assurances
• 34:21
  for ourselves
• 34:22
  we are to
• 34:23
  practice
• 34:24
  these things
• 34:26
  these things
• 34:28
  that remind
• 34:28
  us that
• 34:29
  the most
• 34:29
  important
• 34:30
  thing
• 34:30
  is to
• 34:31
  believe
• 34:32
  in the
• 34:33
  Lord
• 34:33
  Jesus
• 34:33
  Christ
• 34:34
  and to
• 34:35
  seek to
• 34:36
  have more
• 34:36
  and more
• 34:37
  knowledge
• 34:38
  of him
• 34:39
  and all
• 34:40
  his promises
• 34:41
  for this
• 34:42
  very reason
• 34:43
  Peter says
• 34:44
  make every
• 34:45
  effort
• 34:45
  to supplement
• 34:47
  your faith
• 34:48
  to add
• 34:49
  these things
• 34:51
  they're all
• 34:52
  important
• 34:53
  it's not
• 34:54
  faith first
• 34:55
  and then
• 34:56
  and then
• 34:57
  and something
• 34:58
  you're doing
• 34:58
  as you're
• 34:59
  going on
• 34:59
  in life
• 34:59
  but it's
• 35:01
  all together
• 35:01
  believe
• 35:03
  and live
• 35:05
  and work
• 35:06
  on your
• 35:07
  faith
• 35:07
  make your
• 35:08
  calling
• 35:09
  an election
• 35:10
  sure
• 35:11
  for if you
• 35:12
  practice
• 35:12
  these qualities
• 35:14
  you will
• 35:15
  never fall
• 35:16
  there's wonderful
• 35:18
  promises for us
• 35:19
  but there's
• 35:20
  challenges
• 35:21
  do you
• 35:22
  believe
• 35:23
  and are
• 35:24
  you making
• 35:25
  your calling
• 35:26
  an election
• 35:28
  sure
• 35:28
  may the
• 35:29
  Lord help
• 35:30
  us to do
• 35:31
  so let us
• 35:32
  pray
• 35:32
  Lord our
• 35:35
  gracious God
• 35:36
  we thank you
• 35:37
  that you do
• 35:38
  indeed exercise
• 35:39
  our faith
• 35:40
  and teach us
• 35:40
  to exercise
• 35:41
  it too
• 35:42
  and we pray
• 35:43
  that you will
• 35:44
  help us
• 35:44
  in all of
• 35:45
  these things
• 35:46
  that we'll
• 35:47
  be able
• 35:47
  to apply
• 35:48
  them to
• 35:48
  our own
• 35:48
  lives
• 35:49
  and to
• 35:49
  our
• 35:49
  experiences
• 35:50
  help us
• 35:51
  that we
• 35:52
  would have
• 35:52
  that desire
• 35:53
  to grow
• 35:53
  in our
• 35:54
  knowledge
• 35:55
  of the
• 35:55
  Lord Jesus
• 35:56
  Christ
• 35:57
  the one
• 35:57
  who gave
• 35:58
  his all
• 35:59
  for us
• 35:59
  Lord help
• 36:01
  us we pray
• 36:01
  and guide us
• 36:02
  in all of
• 36:03
  these things
• 36:03
  as we ask
• 36:04
  it in
• 36:05
  Jesus name
• 36:05
  Amen
• 36:06
  we're going
• 36:11
  to conclude
• 36:12
  by singing
• 36:13
  to God's
• 36:13
  praise in
• 36:14
  Psalm 128
• 36:15
  in the
• 36:16
  Sing
• 36:17
  Psalms
• 36:17
  version
• 36:18
  Psalm 128
• 36:19
  page 172
• 36:22
  we can
• 36:24
  sing the
• 36:24
  whole of
• 36:25
  this
• 36:25
  Psalm
• 36:25
  Psalm 128
• 36:28
  how blessed
• 36:29
  are all
• 36:29
  who fear
• 36:30
  the Lord
• 36:30
  who walk
• 36:31
  the way
• 36:31
  that he
• 36:32
  has shown
• 36:33
  success
• 36:34
  and blessing
• 36:34
  will be
• 36:35
  yours
• 36:35
  you'll eat
• 36:36
  the fruit
• 36:36
  that you
• 36:37
  have grown
• 36:38
  and so it
• 36:39
  goes on
• 36:39
  we'll sing
• 36:40
  the whole
• 36:40
  of this
• 36:41
  Psalm
• 36:41
  to God's
• 36:42
  praise
• 36:42
  Amen
• 36:43
  How blessed
• 36:49
  are all
• 36:51
  who fear
• 36:53
  the Lord
• 36:55
  who walk
• 36:57
  the way
• 36:59
  that he
• 37:01
  has shown
• 37:03
  success
• 37:04
  and blessing
• 37:06
  blessing
• 37:07
  will be
• 37:10
  you'll eat
• 37:12
  the fruit
• 37:14
  that you
• 37:16
  have grown
• 37:17
  your wine
• 37:23
  will be
• 37:25
  a fruitful
• 37:27
  wine
• 37:29
  and
• 37:30
  round
• 37:31
  your table
• 37:33
  will be
• 37:36
  place
• 37:37
  your children
• 37:40
  like
• 37:42
  young
• 37:43
  olive
• 37:44
  shoes
• 37:46
  the sea
• 37:47
  who fears
• 37:50
  the Lord
• 37:52
  is blessed
• 37:54
  may you
• 37:58
  be
• 37:59
  behold
• 37:59
  to behold
• 38:00
  you
• 38:00
  behold
• 38:00
  Jesus
• 38:01
  and
• 38:02
  good
• 38:04
  from Zion
• 38:07
  make
• 38:08
  God's
• 38:09
  blessing
• 38:10
  flow
• 38:11
  your
• 38:13
  children's
• 38:15
  children
• 38:16
  may
• 38:18
  receive
• 38:20
  May
• 38:22
  God
• 38:23
  God
• 38:23
  of Israel
• 38:26
  peace
• 38:28
  be
• 38:28
  shown
• 38:29
  after the
• 38:32
  benediction
• 38:33
  I'll go to the door
• 38:34
  to my right
• 38:34
  we'll close
• 38:35
  with the benediction
• 38:35
  now may grace
• 38:37
  mercy and peace
• 38:38
  from God
• 38:39
  Father
• 38:40
  Son
• 38:40
  and Holy
• 38:41
  Spirit
• 38:41
  rest upon
• 38:43
  and abide
• 38:43
  with you all
• 38:44
  now and forever
• 38:45
  more
• 38:45
  Amen
• 38:46
  Amen
• 39:16
  Thank you.