GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIVING A GODLY LIFE. IN VIEW OF
THIS, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO RESPOND TO GOD’S PROMISES. SUPPLEMENT YOUR
FAITH WITH A GENEROUS PROVISION OF MORAL EXCELLENCE, AND MORAL
EXCELLENCE WITH KNOWLEDGE, AND KNOWLEDGE, WITH SELF CONTROL. THE
MORE YOU GROW LIKE THIS, THE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND USEFUL YOU WILL BE IN
THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. SO DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
WORK HARD TO PROVE THAT YOU REALLY ARE AMONG THOSE GOD HAS CALLED
AND CHOSEN. DO THESE THINGS AND AND YOU WILL NOT FALL AWAY.
2 PETER 1: 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
1ST RUNG – FAITH
2ND RUNG – MORAL EXCELLENCE
3RD RUNG – KNOWLEDGE
4TH RUNG – SELF CONTROL
THE ABILITY TO CONTROL ONESELF, IN PARTICULAR, ONE’S EMOTIONS AND
DESIRES, OR THE EXPRESSION OF THEM IN ONE’S BEHAVIOR.
FAILURE TO EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL DEMONSTRATES THAT WE WORSHIP
OURSELVES MORE THAN GOD.
WHEN WE PUT THE WILL OF OURSELVES OVER THE WILL OF GOD WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY WORSHIPING OURSELVES.
WHEN WE FAIL TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER OUR NEEDS, DESIRES, AND EMOTIONS,
WE WILL HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE AROUND US.
WHEN WE FAIL TO EXERCISE CONTROL OF OUR TEMPER WE BREAK THE SPIRITS OF
PEOPLE AROUND US.
YOU BECOME WHAT THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE SAY ABOUT YOU.
THE TONGUE HAS POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH, AND THOSE WHO LOVE IT WILL EAT
ITS FRUIT.
1. ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE YOUR HEART
2. PUT A FILTER ON WHAT I ALLOW IN MY HEART
3. DECIDE TO SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE
4. SPEAK WORDS OF AFFECTION
5. SPEAK WORDS OF PRAISE
6. SPEAK WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
7. SPEAK WORDS OF HEALING
8. SPEAK WORDS OF FAITH
BETTER A PATIENT PERSON THAN A WARRIOR, ONE WITH SELF CONTROL, THAN ONE
WHO TAKES A CITY.
LIKE A CITY WHOSE WALLS ARE BROKEN THROUGH IS A PERSON WHO LACKS SELF
CONTROL.
MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TAKE NOTE OF THIS: EVERYONE SHOULD BE
QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY, BECAUSE
HUMAN ANGER DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD DESIRES.
THEREFORE, GET RID OF ALL MORAL FILTH AND THE EVIL THAT IS SO PREVALENT
AND HUMBLY ACCEPT THE WORD PLANTED IN YOU, WHICH CAN SAVE YOU.