Solid Steps of Christian Growth – 2 Peter 1

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Christian Growth Lesson 16 C

Virtue The Inner Strength To Do Right

“Add to your faith virtue” Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I. Introduction (Phil 4:8)

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

A. Christianity begins with faith/confidence in Jesus Christ, but it doesn’t end there

B. Everyone who comes to Christ, comes as a wicked, condemned, lost sinner, with the desperate need to find forgiveness, and the ability to live free from the enslaving power of sin

C. The next step after salvation, is the need to build up some strength against sin – takes hard work (diligence) – not going to be easy!

D. Christianity is not a life lived secluded behind walls, but a life lived free from constant defeat, by building walls between you and some definite enemies

E. A Christian’s faith is directed towards God

F. A Christian’s virtue is directed towards sin and temptation

G. We are commanded to meditate on virtuous things ( Phil 4:8)

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

H. Let’s find out what those kind of things are

II. What is Virtue?

A. It is an old word – not used much today – too old fashioned I guess!

B. It is very rare word (Pr 31:10).

Not many people have virtue

Proverbs 31:10 KJV 1900
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

C. Definition

1. “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.” David Starr Jordan

2. Virtue simply is doing things God’s way (Ps 18:30) because it is the perfect way to do things.

Psalm 18:30 KJV 1900
30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

3. Virtue is a strength - a supernatural ability to say “no” to temptations and “yes” to right and good things - the ability to walk away from temptation ( Phil 4:13) –

it takes a lot of inner strength to do that because temptation usually is attractive and fun and enjoyable (see James 1:14,15)

Philippians 4:13 KJV 1900
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
James 1:14 KJV 1900
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:15 KJV 1900
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

4. Illustration of a Balloon:

a. b. Without virtue, a Christian becomes just like the world around it – is fashioned by the pressures around him – like a flat balloon With virtue, a Christian takes on a new shape that is formed by a pressure on the INSIDE – the filling of the Holy Spirit of God

5. The other word for virtue is FORTITUDE

a. With men, it is being MANLY, and strong, and not a push-over but full of back-bone and resilience, and grit and stamina

b. With women it is being FENMINE, and strong in their femininity and conviction and discretion

D. The opposite of Virtue is Vice

1. Virtues are what is RIGHT with a man

2. Vices are what is WRONG with him

3. Same is true with women

4. Vices are crimes, sins, wickedness

5. The ability to NOT be dominated by worldliness (vices) is a virtue – a strength – a power that is more powerful than a nuclear bomb

E. We all draw lines at how far we will go in our day to day decisions, and what we will do and won’t do – it is vital that we draw lines where the Bible says to, and NOT where our friends say to, or even where our heart tells us to

F. It is the first thing a Christian is to add to their life as soon as they get saved!

G. Too many believers get some faith, and then STOP right there! It is like learning ABC, and not going on and learning the rest of the alphabet, and learning how to read, and write, etc

H. Let me say this - Virtue is not an imposed morality – it is something that a Christian holds to personally, and by their OWN choice because of what God has told them in the Bible!

III. Examples of Virtue

A. Job 31:1; Psalm 101:3 – controlling your eyes

Job 31:1 KJV 1900
1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; Why then should I think upon a maid?
Psalm 101:3 KJV 1900
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

B. Ruth 3:11 – Resisted the temptation to just marry anyone – she waited

Ruth 3:11 KJV 1900
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

C. Jesus – a life full of virtue (inner strength)

D. Pr 12:4 – builds up her husband instead of making him ashamed

Proverbs 12:4 KJV 1900
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

E. David was a MAN’S MAN (1Sam 13:14)

1 Samuel 13:14 KJV 1900
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

F. Abigail was a STRONG woman (1Sam 25:21-35)

1 Samuel 25:21–35 KJV 1900
21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. 22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. 25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. 28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. 29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; 31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. 32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. 34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

IV. A Great Example of Virtue and Vice – David and Uriah (2Sam 11)

2 Samuel 11 KJV 1900
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. 6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? 11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; 19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. 23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate. 24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. 26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

A. Background (11:1-5)

1. David’s Boredom – had nothing to do –went out LOOKING for something that was exciting (and Satan provided something “exciting”)

2. David’s Bedroom – sees a woman bathing on her rooftop, and David STAYS watching her. Sends flowers and a card inviting her over for dinner and a movie – it quickly moves into the bedroom, and both David and Bathsheba broke their marriage vows that evening

3. David’s Belief – that no one would know – it was a ONCE OFF event

4. David’s Burden – little problem shows up (11:5) – no contraceptives, no RU-486 abortion pill, no abortion clinics – there is a baby coming, and people will ask questions!

B. David’s Plan (11:6-13)

1. Counted on Uriah just being like every other man

2. But Uriah was NOT like most other men

a. Most would have jumped at the chance to escape a fight and duty

b. Most men would have LOVED to be at ease and at home and in comfort while others risked their lives

3. Uriah had character a. Had convictions – wouldn’t ignore his responsibilities to his fellow soldiers – wouldn’t take advantage of his freedom from the fight b. He openly said what DAVID should have said (11:11)

C. David’s Ruin (11:14-17, 26-27)

1. Decides to murder Uriah to hide his sin

2. Uses his general, Joab to carry out his deed

3. Decides he can carry on like nothing ever happened – his little sin would never mean anything, and he could just get on with his life!

4. But God judges David

a. With Absolom turning against him

b.

c. By killing his newborn son And causing David to lose his kingdom for a while

D. Uriah’s Praise by God – one of God’s great men in the Bible!

E. These two men:

1. One had character (Uriah) – was a REAL man that will for all eternity be honoured in heaven as a real man of honour and character

2. And one was without character/virtue (David) – he was a coward, and a wimp, and a weasel, and a sissy, and a loser!

F. Which one was MORE of a man?

Which one had GREATER strength? Which one withstood pressure, and lived by principle and conviction? And which one lived by opportunity and by stealth?

V. What is a Christian Without Virtue?

A. In Bondage – to the haunts of the past and of guilt from sins

B. In Fear – of what will happen if when they get caught

C. In Danger – of ruin and defeat – there already is enough enemies, and troubles against a Christian to be bringing MORE upon your own head

D. The key to protection from Satan, and blessing from God is living a life of inner strength and virtue instead of muscles and beauty and caving into the pressures of sin, the world, and the devil!

VI. How to Improve Your Virtue

A. Loathe (hate) the vices, the sins in you – the quickness by which you give into temptation and pressure from friends and the world

1. Choose the good, and hate the evil in your life and in this world (Ps 97:10; Pr 8:13) – on a day-by-day basis

Psalm 97:10 KJV 1900
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Proverbs 8:13 KJV 1900
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.

2. Do things Christ’s way, by faith, trusting that He will work everything out for your good

3. Live by virtue, by the strength of the Holy Spirit in your life

B. Get Lively – get a life project that takes up your time – your family, your job, a ministry in the church, a big house project, a college course, a degree!

C. Learn the lives of the people in the Bible – they are real people, with real problems, whom God has recorded to show us REAL solutions

1. If you won’t take the time to study your Bible, then you are wasting your time as a Christian

2. You will not move on and grow strong, unless against temptation you learn how to endure long

D. Constantly add virtue to your way of thinking, loving, living

1. It is not a one time GOODNESS act that you do

2. But a constant development of your ability to live right and godly – walking the straight (hard) and narrow way of a Christian!

E. Love God’s laws – thank God for rules, and limits on your life – keeps you OUT of the deadly traps (snares) of the devil

F. Look always for a way of escape when facing any temptation (1Cor 10:13)

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1. There always is one – God makes sure of it

2. Pray and ask for a way through, and to make it apparent

3. Then, DON’T DEBATE – just act against the temptation as Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife tempted him – RUN!

VII. Conclusion

A. Everyone who comes to Christ, comes as a wicked, condemned, lost sinner, with the desperate need to find forgiveness, and the ability to live free from the enslaving power of sin – that’s what it means to be saved!

B. The FIRST thing a Christian is to add to their life as soon as they get saved is virtue - build up some walls between you and sin

C. Too many believers get some faith, and then STOP right there!

D. David Starr Jordan profoundly said, “Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.”

E. Do you have that ability – to do what is right and good when all the world around you is sinning against the Lord?

F. Virtue is the ability to walk away from temptation –it takes a lot of inner strength to do that because temptation usually is attractive, fun and enjoyable

G. King David is a good example of lack of virtue – wasn’t man enough to turn away, and wasn’t man enough to accept responsibility for his sin

H. We all need to add a lot of virtue to our lives before we watch another TV show, turn on the radio, or sit down with our schoolmates and friends SOLID STEPS OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH LESSON 16 C

Continued

Lesson 16C Add To Your Faith Virtue

(Moral Excellence)

Scripture Lesson: II Peter 1:5-7

2 Peter 1:5–7 KJV 1900
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Peter 1:5–7 KJV 1900
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
The Christian's Thought Life
The mind is the starting point for behavior.
Philippians 4:8 (KJV 1900)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We Must Learn To Think Christianly.

GET RIGHT, THINK RIGHT, LIVE RIGHT.

1 Peter 2:9,

1 Peter 2:9 KJV 1900
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Moral excellence is the inner strength to do right, the courage to live out your faith and fight against temptation; how to maintain a clear conscience.

“ WISDOM is knowing what to do next,

SKILL is knowing how to do it, and

VIRTUE is doing it.”

Psalm 18:30 KJV 1900
30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Virtue is a strength -

a supernatural ability to say “no” to temptations and “yes” to right and good things.

The opposite of virtue is vice - virtues are what is right with a man and vices are what is wrong with him.

What Does Moral Excellence Looks Like Without Faith?

A Christian’s FAITH is directed towards God.

A Christian’s VIRTUE is directed towards sin and temptation.

How To Add Moral Excellence To Our Faith

A Christian’s moral excellence is derived from the Word.

Romans 10:17, II Timothy 3:16-17,

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Romans 10:17 KJV 1900
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

James 1:22-25,

James 1:22–25 KJV 1900
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James 3:10-12,

James 3:10–12 KJV 1900
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10,

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 KJV 1900
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Being a Christian demand having a spiritual backbone; the conviction of faith and the willingness to stand and live by faith.

1 Corinthians16:13,

1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV 1900
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

A WORD ABOUT MORAL COWARDICE.

A coward is someone who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc., A timid or easily intimidated person.

Pilate: Failed To Use His Authority To Free The Innocent (Jesus).

Luke 23:20-25, Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting,

Luke 23:20–25 KJV 1900
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

So, Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Moral Cowardice Knows What Is Right, But Will Not Do It.

James 4:17,

James 4:17 KJV 1900
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Moral Cowardice Tries To Justify Itself Before It Peers.

Peter: A Man who knew the Truth but Failed to Acknowledge It. Matthew 26:69-72,

Matthew 26:69–72 KJV 1900
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

Moral Cowardice Values Safety Over Truth.

Moral Cowardice Fears Consequences Of Standing For Truth.

A WORD ABOUT MORAL COURAGE

PAUL: A Man who Publicly Resisted Sin.

Gal 2:11-14,

Galatians 2:11–14 KJV 1900
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

Moral Courage Is Public About Its Faith.

DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS:

Commitment to the True God. Daniel 1:8,

Daniel 1:8 KJV 1900
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Moral Courage Requires Purpose Of Heart.

Moral Courage Trusts In God.

Dan 3:16 -18,

Daniel 3:16–18 KJV 1900
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Moral Courage Will Not Compromise.

Dan 6:7,10,

Daniel 6:7 KJV 1900
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Daniel 6:10 KJV 1900
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

1 Timothy 5:21, doing nothing with partiality. lay hands on anyone hastily, Do not nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 5:21 KJV 1900
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Our Need For Moral Courage.

It Takes Courage To Practice Moral Purity.

1 Pet 4:3-5,

A COMMUNITY OF VIRTUOUS PEOPLE

Bible Study Follow Up Chat Questions:

1. Do you have an energetic, vigorous faith? Is it active, alive, and growing?

2. Are you fulfilling your intended, created purpose?

3. What does your life reflect to others about the nature and character of God?

4. When was the last time you publicly stood for truth?

5. What actions are you taking in maintaining moral excellence in your household?

6. Describe situations in which you are aware of evil being called good (Isaiah 5:20).

Isaiah 5:20 KJV 1900
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

7. What is a moral compass? And why do you need one?

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