Growing in Faith: The Power of Repetition

"I have quoted this verse before but I want to repeat it again it's a verse that has often come to my mind second Peter chapter 1 and verses 12 to 15. Here's Peter writing verse one to all those who received a faith like ours and what does he say he says my aim is verse 11 that you might have an entrance into the Eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ abundantly supplied to you and therefore because I want you to have an abundant entrance into God's kingdom I will always be ready to remind you of these things even though you already know them and even though you've been established in the truth which is present with you." [00:07:23]

"Now why did Peter repeat what he had preached probably many times before? I've thought of that myself because I've often been prompted to share the same truths that I've often spoken to a church and the Lord says for two reasons one is there are people who are when they heard it earlier they were not serious about their Christian life so they never took it seriously but now they are so they need to hear it again and they're in the same church then there are others who were children maybe seven eight years ago and they have grown up now they're 16 17 years old and they are now eager to hear the truth." [00:14:06]

"The very fact that God's given us a Bible that we read again and again and again and again uh we never get tired of reading the same chapters and same verses again and again it is the same way in listening to God's word and so all those who preach God's word I always encourage them don't seek your own Honor by saying I won't repeat that because people will think I've got no other message to preach I said let them think that are you worried about what they think or you concerned that people in that church should grow spiritually some who need to hear it 10 times before." [00:31:54]

"Paul is concerned that these carnal Corinthians who are like that 600,000 should not wander around in the Wilderness but enter the promised land so he says in 1 Corinthians 10 Brethren I don't want you to be unaware that our fathers that was those Israelites were led by the cloud pass through their seed now these are miraculous experiences the Red Sea splitting open is a miracle the cloud leading them day by day by day for 40 years is a miracle they experience those Miracles yet it says God verse five was not pleased with them." [00:35:32]

"Do you know that a lot of people for whom God does Miracles he's not pleased with them do you know that a lot of people whose prayers God answers he's not pleased with them nobody in the Old Testament experienced such fantastic Miracles as these Israelites I mean if you got bread dropped from heaven for one day you'd never forget it for the rest of your life these Israelites had bread dropped from Heaven every day for 40 years they had water coming out of a dry dead Rock they had snakes being supernaturally killed by God just by looking at a wooden cross and things like this and yet God was not pleased with them." [00:40:44]

"Don't be satisfied that God answers your prayers that is no indication that God is happy with you and the Old Testament example of the Israelites is the clearest proof of that because many Christians think oh God answered my my prayer he must be happy with me no Jesus said God makes the sun to rise on the righteous and the unrighteous he sends rain on the wicked and the good two farmers one is a atheist and one is a wholehearted Believer they both plant seeds into their farm and both get an equal amount of rain the ungodly atheist and the God-fearing believer both get the same amount of rain from heaven and both get an equal crop." [00:44:48]

"Never never evaluate your life by any other standard and if you want to know whether you overcome sin if you want to know whether your house is built solidly on a rock just read Matthew Chapter 5 chapter 6 and chapter 7 and you'll see the type of sins mentioned there which are subtle things he's not talking there primarily about adultery and theft and no no no no he's talking about more inward sin things like seeking honor and doing things to impress people and inward attitudes towards others and not loving your enemies." [00:51:12]

"Living to please God is not just about avoiding sin but actively seeking to do His will. Jesus exemplified this by always doing the Father's will. This commitment leads to true spiritual fulfillment and victory. Our lives should be focused on pleasing God rather than seeking personal comfort or honor. This is the path to true spiritual fulfillment and victory. We must have faith that God will help us in our struggles, just as He helped the Israelites conquer the giants in Canaan." [01:18:32]

"God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to overcome. We must have faith that He will help us in our struggles, just as He helped the Israelites conquer the giants in Canaan. This faith is crucial for living a victorious Christian life. God promises that no temptation will be too strong for us if we trust in Him. We must take sin seriously and rely on God's strength to overcome it." [01:27:00]

"God has got more wisdom than you not to allow you ever to be tempted beyond your ability I thank God that that reality hit me many years ago before that I used to say lord it's too much for me I'm tempted I can't overcome it I can't overcome it I finished with that 50 years ago I change my attitude towards temptation just one thing I said Lord I believe your promise that you will not allow me to be tempted beyond my ability just like I will never allow my young little child to lift a suitcase or any weight that's too much for him you're a better father than I am he will not allow you to be tempted but with the Temptation he will give me the ability to overcome it." [01:31:40]

"God wants us to enter into the promised land of Victory and overcome every Canaanite giant no sin will be will rule over you he will not allow you to face a giant that is too strong for you if you read the book of Joshua I don't have time to show it to you but God did not allow Joshua to suddenly in one week overcome all the Giants in the land of Canaan took many many years he first went into Jericho you know that story and without even lifting a finger they got overcame Jericho God's power the wall fell down and the people were defeated what did they do God defeated them." [01:48:00]

"God wants you to be more than a conqueror I'll close with Romans chapter 8 please turn to Romans chapter 8 verse 35 Romans 8:35 who can separate you from the love of Christ tribulation that means trials and difficulties and persecution distress that means all types of problems you face that press you on persecution or famine that means you can't you don't have money to buy enough food that's a type of famine or not enough clothes to wear or danger or perhaps one day somebody's going to chop off your head because you're a disciple of Jesus nothing nothing can separate you verse 35 from the love of Christ." [01:53:40]