FAITH’S ADDITIONS

And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD TO YOUR FAITH virtue; and to virtue knowledge; – 2 Peter 1: 5

Faith is foundational. We don’t add faith to anything; we add other things to faith! As fundamental as faith is to the Christian life however, it is not sufficient to stand alone. Faith is never a Loner. Certain ingredients must be added to faith: virtue (excellence), knowledge, temperance (self-control), patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2 Pet.1:5-7). A life or ministry that is built on an isolated pillar of faith without the accompanying buttresses may be standing on risky ground.

To live by faith is first, to have the faith of the Son of God (Gal.2:20). For you to live by faith, you must first and foremost be born-again. Then, God releases into your spirit “the measure of faith” required for your Journey in destiny (Rom.12:3).

Second, is to add virtue, holy and excellent behaviour to your faith. To virtue, add the knowledge of God and of His Word, Ways and Will. Knowledge empowers; ignorance destroys (Hos. 4:6). Live above ignorance. To knowledge, add temperance or self-control. To self-control, add patience or perseverance. To patience, add godliness. To godliness, add brotherly kindness. To brotherly kindness add Love. Having been born-again, you must diligently develop your faith toward the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ – the measure of the Faith of the Son of God (Rom.12:3; Eph.4:13).

Third, is to allow everything added to your faith abound or increase in you. Be diligent in making them blossom and flourish in you. You achieve this through meditation and consistent practice of the Word of God as relating to each of these virtues. Failure to these qualities to your faith may lead to situations of spiritual barrenness, unfruitfulness, short-sightedness and blindness.