This study was first taught on July 30, 2013

Topic: The Essence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives (6.7): The Joy of Works

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we saw a further motivation to ensure that we have, and abound in, the supplies of faith as we yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. From the Easy-to-Read Version of v.10 of our scripture text (2 Peter 1:1-11), it reads in part, “My brothers and sisters, God called you and chose you to be his. Do your best to live in a way that shows you really are God's called and chosen people ...” and, from the Good News Bible of the same portion of scripture, we read, “So then, my friends, try even harder to make God's call and his choice of you a permanent experience …” We are thus enjoined to be earnest in having the supplies to our faith worked into us, as this would prove to all and sundry, God’s calling and election of us; as against the prevalence of Christians who are careless, reckless, and lackadaisical about God’s calling and election.

As much as God’s calling and election cannot be earned or laboured for, every Christian has a responsibility to ensure that it is secure for him. Every Christian must thus do his very best to ensure that he keeps within the expectations of God’s call and election of him, or else, he will lose not only his calling, but also, eternal life. And while it is true that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, the bible has shown us instances of individuals and even groups of people who, having disregarded God’s call, found themselves on the wrong side of eternity, in hell!

We noted last week that though Lucifer was beautifully made, with all the instruments of worship built into him, when pride was found in him, God’s calling was eternally discarded by him; and even though the gifts were never taken away from him, they became perverted and corrupted; and we see such perversion and corruption, manifesting as satanic wiles, Satan worship in music, and several other evil manifestations. We also saw the examples of, Judas Iscariot, Gehazi, King Saul, and the tribe of Ephraim—all of who lost their calling and election, because they were not diligent to keep their calling. They did not allow the transforming power of God’s word to affect their lives, but rather, continued to live in sin—covetousness, greed, disobedience, idolatry, etc. There were several warnings to churches in the Book of Revelation, to repent of their ways, lest they be lost forever. These were all people who were called and chosen by God for His purpose, but who ended very badly, losing the promised eternal life. We saw that they lost out in the end not because God could not keep them, but because they disregarded their spiritual development and did not depart from iniquity, but persisted therein.

As much as one may ask, “But why did God call and choose these people in the first place, since He would have known that they would disregard their calling?” It is significant to note that God gives everyone the opportunity to be saved and redeemed in eternity; however, people still have the choice of taking it seriously or treating it with levity! When God calls and chooses a person, that person is not perfect; however, God makes provision for that person’s imperfections to be made perfect, by the operation of the Holy Spirit Whom He has given to all those who are born again. Every individual who cooperates with the Holy Spirit, by allowing Him to work the supplies of faith into his life, makes his calling and election sure; and, every individual who refuses the Holy Spirit’s work in him, invariably disregards his calling and election, and ultimately loses it. Therefore, God continually encourages every believer in Christ to work out his salvation with fear and trembling, and to continually grow in the supplies of faith; thus making it clear to heaven and to hell that God has indeed called and chosen such a believer, and that he truly belongs to God!

Scripture Text(s)
2 Peter 1:1-11
Tonight, we shall conclude on this aspect of fruit-bearing in the believer, by taking a look at the joy of allowing the Holy Spirit work into us, the supplies of faith. We pray that none of us will be found wanting in glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Two things of tremendous eternal value are promised the believer in Christ if he abounds in the supplies of faith—he will never fall away from the path of life, and, he will have unimpeded access into heaven!
2 Corinthians 4:13; Hebrews 11:1, 6; 6:4-6; 10:35-39; James 2:14-19; 1 John 3:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:10; Colossians 4:14; 1 Peter 4:18; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Acts 7:54-56; 2 Kings 2:11; Hebrews 11:5; Ephesians 5:1—6:9; 2 Peter 1:12-19.

Conclusion
We have, tonight, seen the joy and tremendous eternal value of allowing the Holy Spirit do His work of ‘dunging the ground’ of faith in which we have been planted by the Lord (Luke 13:6-9). Not only is there the guarantee of never falling away from the love of God, but also, there is the assurance of unimpeded access into the everlasting kingdom of our God and our Lord!

For this cause, we must yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him work the supplies of faith into our lives, to help us exhibit a living faith, as we act in a manner that shows that we are truly expectant of eternity; that is, by purifying ourselves daily, departing from iniquity, mortifying the flesh, permanently doing away with worldliness, and, living by the word of God, among others. Now, let us redouble our efforts and enthusiasm to abound in the supplies of faith, because of the eternal value—the guarantee of eternal life! Paul, a principal apostle, knew the very grave danger of being over-confident and ending up in hell—unfortunately, Demas did not learn well from Paul, and went back into the world. Peter, another principal apostle, also knew the danger of a dead faith, thus, he documented it for our benefit, so that we would not miss eternal life. As a reminder also, we need to know that willfully turning away from the path of righteousness after becoming partakers of the kingdom and of the goodness of God, has severe repercussions; but by the grace of God, we shall not be of them that turn back unto perdition, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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