Msg #1919 Keep Building, Keep Growing

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). Peter prescribed the building blocks the believer uses to continue in Christ's Word and be a disciple indeed (2Peter 1:5-7). “Faith” is the noun form of the verb “believe,” so in essence Peter says add to your “things believed” virtue; and to “strength and moral excellence” knowledge; and to your Bible knowledge temperance; and to your “habitual moderation and restraint in regard to indulgence of natural appetites and passions, i.e. calmness and sedateness” add patience; and to “suffering afflictions, pain, toil, and calamity with calm unruffled temper and endurance without murmuring or fretfulness” add godliness; and to “reverence for God's character and his law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, righteous judgments, and Word” add ... Well, it would be wise to let the mortar set under those five layers before we start adding the last two. Recall in our staggered wall building model it takes six blocks of faith, i.e. things believed, to add these five layers of “things.” Faith cometh by hearing the Word, but notice that these last three layers of a disciple's growth come from life, and struggle, and trials of your faith. That mortar needs to set and some maturity needs to come before brotherly kindness and charity can rest securely on a stable disciple who is not carried about by every wind of doctrine. This week add another block of faith and give all diligence to “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness...” We will mix more mortar and pick up the trowel again next week. Oh, Moms, Happy Mothers Day.

An Essay for week #19 May 12, 2019

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs190512.mp3

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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