To be a Christian is to be a warrior.

The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world: it is a battle-field.

Neither must he reckon upon the friendship of the world; for that would be enmity against God.

His occupation is war.

Nov 21, 2011

The Forging of a Valiant heart!


Forge-- Any place where any thing is made or shaped.

Wherefore …
                  Brethren…
                              give diligence to make your calling and election sure…….


 Diligence.    Interested and persevering application; devoted and painstaking effort to accomplish what is undertaken; Persistence in service.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.  2Co 8:7 

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:11 -12


In addition to diligence, add…

Faith.  An entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation.

 For we walk by faith, not by sight: 2 Cor 5:7 

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6 

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Matthew 17:20 

Virtue.    Strength. Bravery valor. Moral goodness. Voluntary obedience to truth.

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.  Luke 6:19 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Peter 1:3 

Knowledge.    A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact;

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Rom 15:14 

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:  1Cor 1:5 -6

Temperance.   Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Gal 5:22 

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  2Pe 1:6 

 Patience.   The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.

In your patience possess ye your souls.  Luke 21:19   

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  Romans 5:3   

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Col 1:10 -11

Godliness.   A careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and commands; Christian obedience.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.  1 Timothy 4:8 

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  1 Timothy 6:6   

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  2 Peter 3:11 

Brotherly Kindness. Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses;

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.   Eph 2:7 

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Col 3:12 

Charity.   In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  1 Cor 13:4 -7

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col 3:14   


Diligence. Faith. Virtue. Knowledge. Temperance. 

Patience. Godliness. Brotherly Kindness. Charity.


…..for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11

What are you forging in the furnace of life?

1 comment:

  1. What are we forging in the furnace of life?

    Something much more valuable than silver or gold...

    Thank you for your posts! I'm looking forward to the next one.

    ReplyDelete