KEYS TO A FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE
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OUTLINE
1.VIRTUE
2.KNOWLEDGE
3.TEMPERANCE
4.PATIENCE
5.GODLINESS
6.BROTHERLY KINDNESS
7.LOVE
THE MESSAGE
KEYS TO A FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE
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1.VIRTUE
The word of God admonishes the beleivers to add to their faith those qualities which would make their christian life fruitful. There are many christians who are living barren lives inspite of their faith in Christ. Therefore the word of God tells them to add virtue to their faith. A life of virtue is a life of power and boldness .
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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2 Peter 1:5-11
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
1 JOHN 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
HEBREWS 10:35
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
PSALM 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; e delivered me from all my fears.
2.KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is vital for a victorious christian life. God’s people perish because of lack of knowledge. The beleiver must constantly grow in the knowledge of God and his word. He must be aware of the promises and the commandments of God. He must know the principles of christian living. A basic ignorance of these precious truths will cause him to live a defeated life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Hosea 4:6
my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
JOHN 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
3.TEMPERANCE
Temperance is a great protection in the life of a beleiver.It helps him live a balanced life and protects him from self destruction due to extreme lifestyles. It is a life of self control. Lack of temperance will lead to ruin in the life of a beleiver.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ECCLESIASTES 7:16-17
Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
PROVERBS 30:7-9
"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the LORD ?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
4.PATIENCE
Patience is a quality of God. God is patient and long suffering. He expects his children to display this divine attribute of patience. Many children of God lose many blessings because of their impatience. Patience helps the christian to live a fruitful christian life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JAMES 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
JAMES 5:10-11
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
5.GODLINESS
Godliness reveals the nature of faith that a person has. Some may have faith in Christ just to receive some blessings .But true godliness means a hunger for God .The heart longs for God and to reflect his nature. It is not enough just to have faith in christ without living a godly life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I TIMOTHY 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
6.BROTHERLY KINDNESS
A sad condition in the body of Christ is a lack of brotherly kindness. Among those who claim to have faith in Christ often there is a lack of brotherly kindness which often leads to strife and bitterness. The word of God says anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and does not have eternal life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PSALM 133:1-3
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
I JOHN 3:14-15
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
I JOHN 4:20-21
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
7.LOVE
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Love is the most important quality that a beleiver is expected to display and practise in his christian life. The word of God says that even great spiritual gifts and acts of charity without true love is worthless in the sight of God. All professions of faiths without love is meaningless and will count for nothing in the end. May God help us to add to our faith all the qualities that will make our faith in Christ a fruitful one.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 CORINTHIANS 13: 1-8
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
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