God provides for our growth as followers of Christ.

Introduction

Good morning. Wow what a crazy week it has been around the world! This virus has grown from a concern in China to something that dominates international news and our lives as well. It seems like every day something new on my calendar is moved back.

Today I want to encourage you all. This is not the first plague, it is not the first epidemic, it is not the first national emergency in the life of the church. In fact throughout history the church has been at it’s best in times of crisis.

Christian men and women throughout history have been those who have walked towards threats in our culture with boldness inspired by their faith in Jesus.

So this week let us be those who live with a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy

Let us live with wisdom taking necessary steps.

Let us live with love. Let us take time to love God first and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Let us live with self control.

As news continues to go crazy over this virus I want to encourage you.

Spend more time with the one who never changes.

Take a walk and pray and talk to God about all this.

Take time to journal and reflect.

Turn off the news, get out a pen and paper and make a plan for your family over the next few weeks.

Let us live the Godly life God calls us to.

Speaking of this godly life, let’s take a look at the passage for today.

Jesus’ power has given us all things we need for life and godliness.

Jesus’ power equips us to live a godly life.

Two dominating principles of a godly life. What defines a godly person.

What two ideas define a godly life?

An attitude of reverence before a divine and majestic God.

Actions of obedience toward God.

How does Jesus’ divine power help us live the godly life?

The Holy Spirit is one way Jesus’ divine power enables us to live a godly life.

Galatians 5:16–21 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

His power works through our knowledge of Jesus.

The word for knowledge here refers to an encounter with Jesus that begin with conversion and continued into the future.

Through our relationship with God He has equipped us with all we need for life and godliness.

In short, Jesus has provided all we need for life and godliness.

In short, Jesus has provided all we need for life and godliness.

What is calling ?

An invitation we can accept or deny.

Something deeper?

Romans 4:17 ESV

17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Romans 8:30 ESV

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 9:24–26 ESV

24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ”

God’s calling is this deep awakening and drawing He puts on the hearts of men and women drawing them to a deeper walk. He calls us to life change. He calls us in our hearts and through our lives to unthinkable sacrifice for unbelievable glory!

Calling is Awakening and Creating Faith

We are called to a magnificent faith!

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We are called out of moral and physical anarchy into the the beauty of a transformed life.

He has called us to His glory and excellence!

Through Jesus we have received incredible promises

Jesus promised he would return

2 Peter 3:4 ESV

4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Jesus promised that we would be made like Him.

The Divine Nature

To participate in the divine nature means to share in the moral qualities of Jesus.

We grow to live and think like Jesus.

Ephesians 4:24 ESV

24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Hebrews 12:10 ESV

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

We escape the corruption of sin

Romans 8:21 ESV

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Galatians 6:8 ESV

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians

It is not the material world that is corrupt it is the selfish desires that dominate human lives.

Conclusion

Through the working of Jesus we are called to a godly life.

Through our knowledge of him we have power to live this new life.

God calls us to a magnificent new life as believers.

God’s desire is to give us a new, divine nature.

As we live this new life in Christ we escape the corruption that is in the world because of sin.

We need to take spiritual supplements

Faith with Virtue

Virtue with Knowledge

Knowledge with Self-control

Self-Control with Steadfastness

Steadfastness with Godliness

Godliness with Brotherly Affection

Brotherly affection with Love

Increasing quantities keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful

These supplements to our faith keep us fruitful and effective as Christians.

If you don’t have these qualities you are nearsighted and have forgotten how you have been cleansed.

Diligently confirm your calling

Through your calling you are provided an entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

The more you know and know about Jesus the more you will have what you need for life and godliness.