SPIRITUAL SUCCESS

Spiritual success only comes through knowledge of the Word. It takes diligence and perseverance in the things of God to become a success, just like it takes diligence in the workplace to become a success in your profession.

II Peter 1:3

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”

God has given to each Believer everything they need to live a good life physically and spiritually. He didn’t say there were to be no battles, but He expected us to take the Word of God, the promises of God, the Covenant of God, the Name of Jesus and come through every battle the victor. Everything we need is provided for in the Word of God.

The next few verses are from the Amplified Bible.

“By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape from moral decay (rottenness and corruption) and corruption that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of divine nature.”

“For this reason adding your diligence, employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence) and in exercising virtue develop knowledge, and in exercising knowledge develop self control and in exercising self control, develop steadfastness and in exercising steadfastness, develop godliness.”

Virtue means excellence of person, having many qualities. In the King James Bible the word (steadfastness) in translated patience.

God expects us to rise above our lower nature and develop godliness which means excellence of spirit. In other words we are to feed on the Word of God until it brings our natural man under subjection to God Word. We are to represent the Kingdom of God here on earth just like Jesus did when He walked the earth. Jesus ministers through us, therefore we should put forth every effort to become as Christ like as possible.

James 1:17 tells us that there is no variableness or shadow of turning with God, in other words He does not change, He does not move off His Word. He is steadfast, He is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER, and that is the way we must be if we are to win in the battles of life. We are to be fixed or settled on the Word of God. When something is fixed on something else it becomes a part of that structure. When you attach a door to a house it becomes a part of that house. That’s the way we must be, one with the Word of God.

John 17:21

“That they (the Believer) all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, they (the Believer) also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Jesus is praying that we will be in Him, and He in us so that the world will recognize Him as Savior. Just like the door and the house, the door is not the house but a part of it. We are not Jesus, but we are a part of His Body. He is in us, working and speaking through us. He is the Master, we are the vessel, and as we continue in His Word it will renew our minds and develop Jesus’ character in us. When we remain steadfast, steady, and grounded in God when trials come our way, it will witness to those around you.

As Children of God we should respond differently than those who don’t know God. We have the Greater One in us to strengthen us and hold us steady on the Word of God. Now, we don’t remain steadfast and just endure, No, we remain steadfast and WIN. Patience is God-given and it works in the face of opposition or oppression. Patience is a spiritual force and it comes from God to hold us steady when the winds of adversity are howling around our house.

We are God’s Children and He is calling us to be steadfast in our faith. The great spiritual power that is moving in the earth today is working through those who have developed steadfast faith. God is using Believers that are not moved by circumstances, or what they see and hear. There is a lot to be worried about in the world today if you allow yourself to focus on the world system instead of what God is doing.

Scripture tells us to exercise self control and that simply means to take control of self. This may sound a little foolish, but many people never take control of their thinking, their acting, what they desire, or what they subject others to. Our bodies are subject to our minds, what we think about, and that is why God tells us to renew our mind and bring it into subjection to the Word of God. If you don’t restrain and govern the mind, but just let it feed on all the trash that is available, it will rule your body. You will not get your prayers answered, and find yourself in a disaster when the trials of life come your way. Self control is very, very import to the Child of God. It may be a surprise to some but what we choose to do, most of the time is of our own doing. No one make you sin, sin is a choice.

Self control will develop steadfastness which is most important when you are standing in faith for an answer to prayer. Without steadfast faith you will loose the faith battle the first time Satan whispers doubt in your ear. To be steadfast is a high calling because it will develop godliness, and Godliness is the character of God that the Holy Spirit will develop in us as we look to Him as our Teacher, Guide, Strengthener, Stand By, Counselor, and Power from on high.

II Peter 1:8 (KJ)

“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.”

In other words if you will develop the character of Jesus, and His Character abounds in you then the Word of God will make you fruitful in your natural life and spiritual life. You will dwell in the secret place of the most High and abide under His Shadow. Psalms 91:1. You can read the rest of the chapter and find out what blessings will be yours.

We want to be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord, and what the Word of God says. We want the Word of God to direct our path, speak to us, and put us over in life, to make us successful in our calling and our walk of faith. I am sure this is the desire of every Child of God.

One last thing, and that is, if Satan could just take from us our rights in Christ, he would not need to deceive us. Remember this the next time you are standing in faith for your answer. If you didn’t get what you prayed for, why does Satan waste his time trying to get you to doubt. Anytime he comes around peddling doubt, you can be sure that your prayer has been answered. All you need to do during these times is keep the armor of God on and hold steady and when the battle is over you will still be standing and the victory will be yours. Ephesians 6:13-17. It is most important for us to be diligent in the things of God. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, develop a listening ear to God voice. His word tells us His sheep know His voice. He is speaking, are you listening?

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