The Pathway to Growth

2 Peter 3:18 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

2 Peter 1:5-11 

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 

6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 

7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 

11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12-13 

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Sharing about Jesus

Who is one person you could share Jesus with today?

One of Jesus’ greatest commands is to tell others about Him. It can be scary to share about Jesus with others, whether it’s with a stranger or a close friend. But, don’t let fear keep you from telling someone about Jesus today. 

The reward is far greater than anything bad that might happen - that person’s salvation!

Loosing

Never feel sad on losing anything in your life. Because whenever a Tree loses its leaf, a new leaf is ready to take its place.

LORD - 5

Scripture References for Lord.

These details are taken from - “Nelson’s Complete Concordance”.

	Exodus
Chapters	Verses
18	1	8	9
	10	11
19	3	7	8
	9	10	11
	18	20	21
	22	23	24
20	2	5	7
	10	11	12
	22
22	11	20
23	17	19	25
24	1	2	3
	4	5	7
	8	12	16
	17
25	1
27	21
28	12	29	30
	35	36	38
29	11	18	23
	24	25	26
	28	41	42
	46
30	8	10	11
	12	13	16
	17	20	22
	34	37
31	1	12	13
	15	17
32	5	7	9
	11	14	22
	27	29	30
	31	33	35
33	1	5	7
	9	11	12
	17	19	21
34	1	4	5
	6	9	Contd.,

Family

Proverbs 21:19 

Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Proverbs 19:13 

A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

Proverbs 11:22 

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

Psalms 133:1 

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Psalms 128:6 

and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

Psalms 101:2 

I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.

Job 1:5 

When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job's regular custom.

Esther 1:22 

He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people's tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household.

Esther 1:20 

Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

2 Samuel 6:20 

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

2 Samuel 6:16 

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

Man’s Concerns

Faith

Romans 10:17 

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Galatians 5:6 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Fear of God

Joshua 24:14 

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

1 Peter 2:17 

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Fear of Man

Proverbs 29:25 

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Isaiah 51:12 

“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass,

John 12:42 

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

Joy in the midst of tribulations

1 Joy in the midst of trials of various kinds

James 1:2 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds

2 Joy in great suffering

1 Thessalonians 1:6 

You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

3 Rejoicing because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name

Acts 5:41 

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

4 Those who are tested with Christ, in his suffering, rejoice

1 Peter 4:13 

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

5 The joy of Christians could not be taken away by the world

John 16:21-22 

21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 

22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Thoughts 

- If your Gospel isn't touching others, it hasn't touched you!   

- When you do everything you can do, that’s when God will step in and do what you can’t do.

Evangelism:

"Prayer is buried, and lost and Heaven weeps.  If all prayed the wicked would flee from our midst or to the refuge." - Evan Roberts
"Prayer is the midwife of mercy, which helps to bring it forth." - Matthew Henry

Sins mentioned in the Bible

Failure in duty

Ezekiel 34:2-6 

2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 

3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 

4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 

5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 

6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

Polluting house of God

Ezekiel 44:7 

In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant.

Desecrating holy vessels

Daniel 5:23 

Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

Eating sin offerings

Hosea 4:8 

They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.

Setting heart on sin

Hosea 4:8 

They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.

Our Help in Prayer

How should we cooperate with the Spirit’s intercession for us? First, we must recognize God’s authority, holiness, and glory. Then we need to submit our lives to His leadership. When we do, God’s will and desires become foremost in importance for us.

Finally, we must submit our future to Him, trusting Him to bring great good out of negative as well as positive events our lives.

Three Questions - ?

Have you received “eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord?

Are you a sinner “in Adam”?

Or

Are you a son “in Christ”?

Quote

“The irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time.”

Word of God

1 John 5:14

“We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases Him.”

Things to Seek

God’s Kingdom First:

Matthew 6:33, Luke 12:31

God in Prayer:

Matthew 7:7

To edify the Church:

1 Corinthians 14:12

Things Above

Colossians 3:1

Happiness:

Yesterday is but a dream tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day.

LORD - 4

Scripture References for Lord.

These details are taken from - “Nelson’s Complete Concordance”.

	Exodus
Chapters	Verses
9	29	30	33
	35
10	1	2	3
	7	8	9
	10	11	12
	13	16	17
	18	19	20
	21	24	25
	26	27
11	1	3	4
	7	9	10
12	1	12	14
	23	25	28
	29	31	36
	41	42	43
	50	51
13	1	3	5
	6	8	9
	11	12	14
	15	16	21
14	1	4	8
	10	13	14
	15	18	21
	24	25	26
	27	30	31
15	1	3	6
	11	16	17
	18	19	21
	25	26
16	3	4	6
	7	8	9
	10	11	12
	15	16	23
	25	28	29
	32	33	34
17	1	2	4
	5	7	14
	15	16	Contd.,