Progress

1. Progress

2. 1 Peter 2:9

5. 2 Peter 1:5-11

6. Charity Brotherly Kindness Godliness Patience Temperance Knowledge Virtue Faith

7. The apostle has presented before us the importance of making continual advancement in the Christian life. There is no excuse for our lack of spiritual understanding. The successive steps in the path of progress are stated in the exhortation of the text, and we must take

8. these steps if we fulfill the requirement of God, and become fitted for the heavenly courts. The work of progress is not left wholly dependent on our weak human efforts; but as we endeavor to walk in the footsteps of the Redeemer, divine strength will be

9. imparted, that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us. Help has been laid upon One who is mighty to save, and as we strive to add these virtues, he will multiply grace, according to our need, from his own divine sufficiency. {RH, February 21, 1888 par. 2}

10. Faith

11. But without faith it is ____________ . Heb. 11:6

12. 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

13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jer. 29:13

14. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

17. Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

18. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Eccl. 9:10

20. Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

21. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15

23. Temperance / Self-control Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

24. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20

25. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. 9:27

27. It was by a failure to resist the inclinations of appetite that Adam fell in the Garden of Eden. But Christ came to take up the battle in behalf of man. He met and contended with the powers of darkness, and at every point where Adam fell, Christ won precious victories. {Pamphlet 105 5.1 (1898)}

28. Patience Temperance / Self-control Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

29. 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, 23

31. Godliness Patience Temperance / Self-control Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

32. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and

33. perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Tim. 6:6-10

35. Brotherly Kindness (philadelphia) Godliness Patience Temperance / Self-control Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

36. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:16

37. Charity / Love (agapē) Brotherly Kindness (philadelphia) Godliness Patience Temperance / Self-control Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

38. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Cor. 13:1

39. 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; Rejoicethnot in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Bearethall things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Cor. 13:4-7

40. Charity / Love (agapē) Brotherly Kindness (philadelphia) Godliness Patience Temperance / Self-control Knowledge Virtue (valor / excellence) Faith

41. Katsushika Hokusai

42. Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai

43. "If heaven had granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter." Hokusai, age 88 in 1849

44. If you strip yourselves of every hindrance to progress in the Christian life, your minds will be worked by the Holy Spirit, and you will become indeed "fishers of men." The salvation of God will go forth from you as a lamp that burneth. If your

45. own hearts are filled with light from above, you have the privilege, wherever you may be, of shedding light upon those who are in darkness. Continuing steadfast in God's service unto the end, you will be granted an abundant entrance through the pearly

46. gates into the heavenly city, where you will be greeted with the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." {RH, August 27, 1903 par. 22}

48. Tonight … Keeping the Water Flowing