Embodying Faith: The Call to Virtue

1) "When we talk about Thrive, we're talking about what it takes to grow, to develop, to flourish, to prosper. We've talked about the T in Thrive, truth, because thriving requires the right foundation. We've talked about hope, because thriving requires the right aspiration. We've talked about responsibility, because thriving requires personal commitment, investment, accountability, and dedication. We've talked about the I in Thrive, who I am. To the I am, and who the I am is to me. Amen. And so we've arrived, that's T-H-R-I, we've arrived at the V in Thrive. And so for the V in Thrive, we're going to talk about this thing called virtue." [03:19] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2) "If you add these things, you'll abound. And you won't be barren or unfruitful. You'll thrive. And so the end result being neither barren nor unfruitful but thriving. There's this whole chain of things that we can add and abound in. And we're not going to cover all of these tonight. This is not a however many of these seven point sermon. But we're going to talk about the first couple of those because it talks about the first thing you add to your faith is virtue. It says add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge. And so the whole chain begins with faith. Because you cannot get anywhere in the kingdom of God without faith." [06:47] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3) "A church that has no faith is dead. But a church that has faith but no virtue. If no virtue is being added. Then that church might not be dead. But it certainly isn't thriving. We better be careful that we don't become a church that has faith but no virtue. There's faith. But there's no more virtue. There's no moral standard. We believe in God. But we don't take on his character. You're a believer. But you're not a disciple. You may operate in the gifts of the spirit. But you don't have the fruits of the spirit. We seek after miracles. But we don't live according to his word." [10:07] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4) "There's plenty of people in this world today who are knowledgeable. But there's no virtue. They know that there are know it all. But there's no character. They're rich in information. But they're morally bankrupt. They could be a biblical scholar. But there's again they have not taken on the character of Christ. There's no fruit of the spirit in their lives. Knowledge without virtue. Listen to this. Knowledge without virtue is how you get gossip. Because you want to know everything. But you don't know. You don't have the grace of what to do with that information." [11:52] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5) "There are plenty of people in this world who believe in God. But they live in immorality. And then there's plenty of people who know the word. And know doctrine. But they don't know virtue. I've got to be authentic to what I believe. And to what I know. I've got to have virtue. Because there's somebody out there searching for someone who actually lives real to the word. They're looking for families who have homes where the faith goes beyond the Bible quote on the wall. They're looking for families where there's virtue." [13:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6) "Here's the thing about virtue. It doesn't come from you or me. It comes from Him. Isaiah 64 and 6. All our righteousness is as filthy rags. It says our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. God is the source of virtue. When you receive the Holy Ghost. You receive the power to live holy unto God. God does not give us the Holy Ghost because of our virtue. God doesn't extend His grace to us with His Spirit. Because of anything virtuous or righteous within us. He simply sees your faith. He sees you reaching for Him. And then He extends His grace. And He reaches for you." [15:27] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7) "When it comes to changing somebody's life. And filling somebody with His Spirit. God's not looking for someone who's good enough. He's not looking for somebody with a good resume. He's looking for faith. And in His mercy and His grace. He puts virtue in you. When you come to Him believing that He can. He puts the virtue in you. He changes your life. He puts His character on you. He starts to change how you act. He starts to change how you walk. He starts to change how you talk. He puts virtue in you. It comes through the Holy Ghost. It comes from Him." [17:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8) "Virtue is more than just about physical healing. It's about the virtue that heals families. And heals brokenness. And heals people's lives. I can be filled with the Holy Ghost. And be full of his character. And I can live above the corruption of this world. I can live above the lust and confusion. I can live above abuse. And hate. I can live above lying and stealing. I can live above cheating. And the moral short cutting. I can live with virtue. I can live holy." [19:40] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)