SUNDAY, 16TH MARCH, 2025
PERSISTENT PRODUCTIVITY – Pastor Chris
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love (2 Peter 1:5-7 NKJV).
The Apostle Peter, through the Holy Spirit, outlines in the verses above, some of the qualities we must add to our lives in order to be persistently productive. Observe what the 8th verse says: “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” (2 Peter 1:8).
This means you don’t have to struggle for productivity in your spiritual life. All you have to do is do what the Word says: (2 Peter 1:5-7 NKJV) “…add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” These qualities in you will work on their own to ensure you’re neither barren nor unfruitful in the full and precise knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, many know the Lord only in their heads. They can recite the names of God and quote scriptures, but the results are missing in their lives. Why? It’s because they haven’t added these virtues. Notice that it says, “…If these things be in you, and abound….” That means these virtues must be in you in large quantities—in increasing measure.
That’s why, for example, you should never utter words like, “I have very little patience.” No! God wants patience to abound in you. Declare instead, “I’m a very patient person. I don’t get agitated, fretful or anxious in the face of challenges. Challenges are a blessing; they’re the springboard for my promotion.” Also, always declare, “I lavishly express the love-nature of the Father and radiate the beauty and glories of heaven to my world.”
2 Peter 1:9 says, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Without these virtues, one becomes short-sighted, unable to perceive the visions of the Spirit or the glory ahead. It accounts for why some don’t experience the kind of spiritual growth that the Lord has destined for them. But for those who have added these virtues, there’s always expansion. Their visions are ever-increasing. They experience continual growth and fresh impact. Their knowledge of the Lord is productive and impactful. Hallelujah!
PRAYERDear Father, I thank you for your Word that builds me up and establishes me in the truth. My knowledge of you is productive and I’m fruitful in every good work. Thank you for enabling me to abound in faith, patience, love, and godliness, producing results that glorify you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Colossians 1:9-10
For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Philippians 1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 1:26-56 & Deuteronomy 5-7
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 23:13-22 & Exodus 25
