Christian Living 1
By ministry of Hope
On
the road to true servanthood 1
I have repented,
I am saved,
I'm on fire,
What is the next thing.
The first thing is then
as Paul wrote to the churches as to wether to be single or married, and or to
change your lifestyle, concerning being married to an
believer or unbeliever the following:
1 Cor 7:17 Only, let
each one [seek to conduct himself and regulate his affairs so as to] lead the
life which the Lord has allotted {and} imparted to him and to which God has
invited {and} summoned him. This is my order in all the churches.
And
to which God has invited and summoned him; which means the particular situation
of life, and the circumstances of it, in which men are providentially placed by
God, or are found in when He calls them by his grace; being married or
unmarried; joined to a believer or an unbeliever; being circumcised or
uncircumcised; a
servant or a master; and so this verse, may refer to what is to follow in life
as well as to what goes before:
Important
is that let him walk; being content with his station and kind of life in which
he now is, as long it is according to the Gospel, doing all the good he can do,
to those he is concerned with:
Basicly
we stay in the situation in which God called us, and from there we seek to
conduct and regulate our affairs so as to lead the life that the lord has
allotted to him/her.
And to bear fruit, in good works. (a good start)
Many
people in the time of Jesus, had the same questions,
they were sheep without a shepherd and after receiving knowledge of the truth,
they cried out to Jesus.
Luke 3:10 And the
multitudes asked him, Then what shall we do?
Luke
3:11 And he replied to them, He who has two tunics (undergarments), let him
share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do it the same way.
Luke
3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they
said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
Luke
3:13 And he said to them, Exact {and} collect no more
than the fixed amount appointed you.
Luke
3:14 Those serving as soldiers also asked him, And we,
what shall we do? And he replied to them, Never demand {or} enforce by
terrifying people or by accusing wrongfully, and always be satisfied with your
rations (supplies) {and} with your allowance (wages).
Noticed
that Jesus wasn't telling them to go out and preach the Gospel and heal the
sick, no His first concern was to keep in the sate of holyness after they had
believed onto the lord and repented from their sins.
Many
people are so drawn into the love of God and the new found salvation that they
now have the idea that they are going to live by faith. I'm not saying that
there should be a time, when God is calling you into a ministry that you
shouldn't do that by faith, but in general as a starter we remain and work to
make a living.
2 Thess 3:10 For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule
{and} charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.
2
Thess 3:11 Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly [that they are
passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty], being busy with other
people's affairs instead of their own and doing no work.
2 Thess 3:12 Now we charge and exhort such persons
[as ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
that they work in quietness and earn their own food {and} other necessities.
I want to be a disciple
(follower of Jesus)
I used to think when people showed interrest in the
Gospel to have them come to the altar as soon as possible, so they can
"get saved" . Tommorrow may be too late.
As this is true for some, I have found it to be equal
important to tell them what the Christian life is all about, so the person can
also intelligently make the discision to become a follower of Jesus, it is said
that 80% of the converts, fall back from the faith, I believe that the rate
should be much lower if the people were told what God requires them to be as a
follower of Jesus, becoming a disciple.
Mark 8:34 And Jesus called [to
Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come
after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of
himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a
disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving
steadfastly to Me].
Mark 8:35 For whoever wants
to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower,
natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his
life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it
[his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].
Mark 8:36 For what does it
profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal
kingdom of God]?
Mark 8:37 For what can a man give as an exchange (a
compensation, a ransom, in return) for his [blessed] life [in the eternal
kingdom of God]?
Mark 8:38 For whoever is
ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous (unfaithful) and
[preeminently] sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed
when He comes in the glory (splendor and majesty) of His Father with the holy
angels.
If the Gospel is truly presented by the word of our
Lord, people will understand where they choose for, this life or the eternal
life, the world or heaven.
Jesus realy laid it on the line with the quests at
house of a Pharisee.
Luke 14:1 ¶ And
it came to pass, as He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat
bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched Him.
After telling them some stories concerning the sabbat
and their own importance, he came down to what Christianity would cost them as
religious leaders, he didn't try to pursuade them with colorful promises and
great expectations, no he told them the truth.
Luke 14:27 Whoever does not persevere {and} carry his own cross and
come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke
14:28 For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit
down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish
it?
Luke
14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to complete [the
building], all who see it will begin to mock {and} jeer at him,
Luke
14:30 Saying, This man began to build and was not able (worth enough) to
finish.
Luke
14:31 Or what king, going out to engage in conflict with another king, will not
first sit down and consider {and} take counsel whether he is able with ten
thousand [men] to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Luke
14:32 And if he cannot [do so], when the other king is still a great way off,
he sends an envoy and asks the terms of peace.
Luke 14:33 So
then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.
We have to tell the whole
story, it is not our responsebility to save people, God is the one who saves,
we don't use any trickery to try to make people accept another Lord, but the
Lord of the bible, we always are, steadfast telling
the truth about following Jesus and eternal life.
As we will see that it is
impossible to come to Christ except the Father draw Him, the gospel is not attractive to people
of high standing or the self sufficient one, often we have to be unhappy,
unfulfilled, full of fear or fear of death, poor, or simply drawn by God's love
before we have an ear for the Gospel,
John 6:44 No one is able to come
to Me [Jesus] unless the Father Who sent Me attracts {and} draws him {and}
gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the
dead] at the last day.
Though many people are
interested securing eternal life, they have little ear for coming from among
the world and be seperated onto God for a holy life. Yet without this
seperation and being joined to Jesus we cannot bear fruit.
But
it is God's desire that we bear much righteous fruit.
When you bear (produce) much fruit, God is honored
{and} glorified and prove yourself to be true disciples.
John 15:4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me,
and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without
abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit
unless you abide in Me.
John
15:5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me
and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
John
15:6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown
out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and
thrown into the fire, and they are burned.
John
15:7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me]
and My words remain in you {and} continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever
you will, and it shall be done for you.
John
15:8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is
honored {and} glorified, and you show {and} prove yourselves to be true
followers of Mine.
John
15:9 I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me;
abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].
Holy labourers with integrity.
When
jesus was talking about " to follow me" He didn't talk about being something, He
never said to be an evangelist, missionairy or anything else, no he said "
you have to pick up your cross, deny yourself, renounce the wordly affairs,
Mark 8 and Luke 14. These things are more important " to obey is better than
to sacrifice 1Sam 15:22.
Often
when people are in the Lords service they think that they may use unlawful
things to reach the goal of getting people saved and to get the job done. But
no one is above the rules we have to play in earnesty and with integrity, no
matter the cost, never try a lie to get the job done, or skip a few to get more
results.
Our work for the Lord is
to stay in the Lord (I am the vine you are the branches) and can only be done
the right the way, His
way, would Jesus have done it?. Would He lie or shortchange anything? No never,
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Ps 111:10 The reverent fear {and}
worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom {and} skill [the preceding and
the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding,
wisdom, {and} meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their
praise of Him endures forever. [Job. 28:28; Prov. 1:7; Matt. 22:37, 38; Rev.
14:7.]
Moses
was chosen for a tremendous work for the Lord, but through one act of disobedience
he almost lost his life. We cannot put good
and bad on a scale and try outweigh the good against the bad. What if I
gain the whole world and lose my soul?
Ex 4:24 Along the way at a
[resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely
and almost fatally ill].
Ex 4:25 [Now apparently he had
failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing
his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin
of her son and cast it to touch [Moses'] feet, and said, Surely a husband of
blood you are to me!
Ex 4:26 When He let [Moses]
alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the
circumcision.
And he that winneth souls
[is] wise prov 11:30
The amplified bible reads
it like this;
Prov 11:30 The fruit of the
[uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures
human lives [for God, as a fisher of men--he gathers and receives them for
eternity].
Evangelicals
in particular have the urge to save the lost, the call
of the Spirit is to spread the Word of the Gospel so the power of the Gospel
can save many. God id never in a hurry, He owns the time, is not bound by it,
never the less we all feel that not one minute should be lost for bringin th Gospel to the unsaved. All Christians are summoned to
spread word, by our love, our actions and by preaching. Faith that worketh by
love Gal 5:6, A
faith walk by love is what jesus did and we are commissioned, to do the same.
As a
sactified vessel we maybe commissioned by the Lord to do extra ordinairy things
for the Lord by the gifts of the Holy Spirit in teaching, preaching, exorting,
a missionairy, pastor, and so on. But the primairy commission stands for each
one of us to be an example of Christ in word and in deed. And
to bear much fruit.
Matt 9:35 And Jesus went about all
the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good
news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every
weakness {and} infirmity.
Matt 9:36 When He saw the throngs,
He was moved with pity {and} sympathy for them, because they were bewildered
(harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a
shepherd.
Matt 9:37 Then He said to His
disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the
laborers are few.
Matt 9:38 So pray to the Lord of
the harvest to force out {and} thrust laborers into His harvest.
So
pray to the lord to send labourers into His harvest
Pray
that He will use each one of us.
Pray
with pity and compassion for the lost.
When
He (Jesus) calls you for a task.
We have no idea when we
are ready for the work God calls us, we may go to school and work in a church,
or other activties, but the task He will call you for is bigger than we are.
God is calling us often
as being unfit for the job, we have to cut the ties to the world and our
reliance on what the world promises. Let go of your own agenda, if you can't it
will be a thorn in the flesh. In luke 14 jesus called someone to become His disciple;
Luke 9:59 And He said to another,
Become My disciple, side with My party, and accompany
Me! But he replied, {Lord,} permit me first to go and bury (await the death of)
my father.
Luke 9:60 But Jesus said to him, Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go
{and} publish abroad throughout all regions the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:61 Another also said, I
will follow You, Lord, {and} become Your disciple
{and} side with Your party; but let me first say good-bye to those at my home.
Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, No
one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit
for the kingdom of God.
Luke 10:1 NOW AFTER this the Lord chose {and}
appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every
town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit).
Luke 10:2 And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain],
but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out
laborers into His harvest.
Send
into His harvest
Labour for the
Lord not for people.
Because we are so eager to serve the lord, we often
have that feeling to go out and tell the whole world, it exites us when we
think of all the souls we will save for Jesus.
I was and still am like that, but to be ahead of God will bring much damage to
others and ourselves, feelings do not always tell it as it is, we don't want to
lose that first love either, but we need to understand before we can be of good
value to God and to His people we have learn know God and His ways and to learn
our new self and we will have to go some trials and temptations and
chastisement, before we can inderstand
His ways and yield the fruit of a righteous life, discerning between good and evil.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous,
but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby.
We
have to become a stable and loving person under trials and tribulation, to
receive from the Lord.
James 1:2 ¶ My brethren, count it all
joy when ye fall into divers temptations,
3 knowing this: that the trying of your faith worketh
patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who
giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, never wavering; for he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive
anything of the Lord.
8 A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways.
But we have the assurance that God is in controle.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is
common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond
that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The labourer is not above
the law, we keep the honesty and sincerity with love as a banner of truth in
what ever circumstances we may be, many times it will serve the people when we
divert from the truth and many times we are tempted to submit to what seems to
benefit our circumstances at the moment, however whatever we do for the people
is what we are doing for the Lord and in so doing we honour His rules and His
way's, that we won't be found too light for the task and being dismissed.
Whatever we do we do it as onto the Lord.
Col 3:23 Whatever may be your
task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and
not for men,
Col 3:24 Knowing [with all
certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive
the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually
serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).
Col 3:25 For he who deals
wrongfully will [reap the fruit of his folly and] be punished for his
wrongdoing. And [with God] there is no partiality [no matter what a person's
position may be, whether he is the slave or the master].
God
gives all things to use in abundance
If
we stay true to the Lord we can count on His providence.
1 Tim 6:17 As
for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud {and} arrogant {and}
contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God,
Who richly {and} ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.
1 Tim 6:18
[Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal {and}
generous of heart, ready to share [with others],
1 Tim 6:19 In
this way laying up for themselves [the riches that endure forever as] a good
foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed.
For
we do not preach ourselves, but Christ as Lord, it is not about us nor is
it about the ministry we presumably will have, but it is to tell what God wants
us to tell the His people, again the truth and the whole truth, never
shrtchanging the message, only the truth will set the people free from bondage,
building rhe church id God's business, not the sower nor the reaper are of any
impotramce, but God who gives the increase
1Corinth 3:5 ¶ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom
ye came to believe, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos
watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then, neither is he that
planteth anything, nor he that watereth, but God who giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he
that watereth are one, and every man shall receive his own reward according to
his own labor.
9 For we are laborers together
with God; ye are God’s husbandry; ye are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God
which is given unto me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation,
and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth
thereupon.
11 ¶ For
no man can lay another foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon
this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble,
13 every man’s work shall be made manifest; for
the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire
shall test every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide
which he hath built thereon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he
Our aim for reward is later not now, if
we are looking for rewards from men, we are likely to water down the message
for gaining men's approval.
2 Cor 4:5 For what we preach is
not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants
(slaves) for Jesus' sake.
2 Cor 4:6 For God Who
said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam
forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and}
glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of
{Jesus} Christ (the Messiah).
2 Cor 4:7 However, we
possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail,
human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and}
exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from
ourselves.
Be
faithful, loyal, trustworthy, to what God is trusting
you with.
It may not be much in our
eyes, but what in the eyes of God, or do we still have
our own agenda to keep? First of all is to be truthful in moey matters at all
times, how do you want God to provide for you if you take matters in your own
hand and handle after the wisdom of the world?
NO, We cannot and if we do we failed the test for devine providence. We serve God not men and not money.
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in a
very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest {and}
unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest {and} unjust also in much.
Luke 16:11 Therefore if
you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful
riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?
Luke 16:12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to
another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that
is, the true riches]?
Luke 16:13 No servant is
able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will stand by {and} be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on
which you rely).
Luke 16:14 Now the
Pharisees, who were covetous {and} lovers of money, heard all these things
[taken together], and they began to sneer at {and} ridicule {and} scoff at Him.
I am to
small
God turns the small into the greater, for His glory.
If God has devinely appointed us
for a task, the task is greater then whast we are.
Our feelings will tell us, I can't do it, it is too
heavy, it is too big, it id God's delight to sustain you and build you up for
His calling to you. Remember that it does not depend on our ability, but mor on availability. It is then God's work to provide, and
it then yo Him all the glory..
1 Cor 1:26 For
[simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to
be] wise according to human estimates {and} standards, not many influential
{and} powerful, not many of high {and} noble birth.
1 Cor 1:27 [No] for God selected (deliberately chose)
what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls
weak to put the strong to shame.
1 Cor 1:28 And God also selected (deliberately chose)
what in the world is lowborn {and} insignificant and branded {and} treated with
contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose {and} bring to
nothing the things that are,
1 Cor 1:29 So that no mortal man should [have
pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.
Go
with a passion and love and care.
There
two kinds of servants, one who looks after himself and one who offers himself,
one needs people to build his ministry and one who gives
himself for the ministry.
Luke 10:33 But
a certain Samaritan, as he traveled along, came down to where he was; and when
he saw him, he was moved with pity {and} sympathy [for him],
Luke
10:34 And went to him and dressed his wounds, pouring
on [them] oil and wine. Then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an
inn and took care of him.
Jesus was moved with
compassion
Whenever Jesus moved upon the people, He was moved
with compassion, compassion is being loving kind and merciful toowards the
needy people.
Matt 9:36 When He saw the throngs,
He was moved with pity {and} sympathy for them, because they were bewildered
(harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a
shepherd.
Mark 6:34 As Jesus landed, He saw
a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they
were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Mercy in healing the
people.
Matt 20:30 And
behold, two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that
Jesus was passing by, they cried out, Lord, have pity {and} mercy on us, [You]
Son of David!
Matt 20:31 The
crowds reproved them and told them to keep still; but they cried out all the
more, Lord, have pity {and} mercy on us, [You] Son of
David!
Matt 20:32 And
Jesus stopped and called them, and asked, What do you
want Me to do for you?
Matt 20:33
They answered Him, Lord, we want our eyes to be
opened!
Matt 20:34 And
Jesus, in pity, touched their eyes; and instantly they received their sight and
followed Him.
We
are His own chosen ones (His own hand picked
representatives)
Paul
wrote the following to the Colossians
Col 3:12 Clothe yourselves
therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are]
purified {and} holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior
marked by] tenderhearted pity {and} mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of
yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering,
and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
Col 3:13 Be gentle {and}
forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or
complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has
[freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
Col 3:14 And above all these [put
on] love {and} enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds
everything together completely in ideal harmony].
Col 3:15 And let the peace (soul
harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your
hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your
minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you
were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to
God always].
Col 3:16 Let the word [spoken by]
Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] {and} dwell in
you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish {and} train one another in
all insight {and} intelligence {and} wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you
sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His]
grace in your hearts.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do [no
matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus
{and} in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through
Him.
The Banner is love
The great commandment in which all other commanments are
present, not by our accomplishments, but by our love will all men know that we
are follower of Jesus.
John 15:16-17
that you love one and other !
John 15:16 You have not chosen Me,
but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you
might go and bear fruit {and} keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be
lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My
Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.
John 15:17 This is what I command
you: that you love one another.
John 13:34-35
John 13:34 I give you a new
commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you
too should love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all [men]
know that you are My disciples, if you love one
another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
1Peter
4:10-11 Use the gifts to benefit one another
Often times we start using our giftings to help
others, but when recognition comes the gift become the ministry and the
ministry our goal, we receive the gifts to help one and other in the church for
the good of all.
1 Pet 4:10 As
each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious
divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's
many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts
granted to Christians by unmerited favor].
1 Pet 4:11
Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who utters] oracles of God; whoever
renders service, [let him do it] as with the strength which God furnishes
abundantly, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ
(the Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever (through
endless ages). Amen (so be it).
Sanctification
is more important then achievement and performance.
See Holy labourers with integrity are few,
The means do not serve the purpose
in the Kingdom of God, God is Holy and so are we, when we do His work we do it
His way, for God is the condition of the worker more important than the work,
inspite of your calling, it is God's desire that we are pure and Holy, and He
will chastise ayone who needs it. In fact the more important
the calling the more severely the chastisement.
James 3:1 NOT MANY [of you] should
become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my
brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard
{and} with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater
accountability and the more condemnation].
The
call for a holy life, integrety and truthfulness are the things God delights in
people to posses before anything else.
Heb 12:14 Strive to live in
peace with everybody and pursue that consecration {and} holiness without which
no one will [ever] see the Lord.
The test comes
with the call, the supplement comes with the test.
1 Thess 5:23-24 He who calls you, will also sanctify you, He will
also do it !!!
1 Thess 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly
consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound
{and} complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
(the Messiah).
1 Thess 5:24 Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] {and}
utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and
keeping you].
Consecrated
Saints
1 Thess 4:3 For
this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set
apart for pure and holy living):
This is what I mean when
we talk about the truth and the whole truth, consecrated saints, picking up
your cross dayly, being tested for your faith being chastized for disobedience
and being purified by the trying fire of God, who wants to know?
If nobody has taught you the truth of the
Christian life.
You will not be prepaired for the testing when they
come and you will not understand it when you go through it and detest it,
become rebellious or start rebuking the devil thinking that he wants to keep
you from the lord, while you should submit and resist the devil.
Most people don't want to hear it, when you become a true child of God, are you
willing to suffer even unto death? Loss? Giving up the
world? Dying to self? Forsake sin? Suffer unrighteously? Deny yourself? Jesus
said these words.
Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His
disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let
him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests]
and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly
to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
Matt 16:25 For whoever is bent on
saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal
life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].
Matt 16:26 For what will it profit
a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in
the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed]
life [in the kingdom of God]?
Matt 10:39 Whoever finds his [lower]
life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].
Where are these things
preached today, what church or preacher is prepairing people to die (if need to
be) for Jesus sake and for our own sake, not many are telling you that without
holyness no one will ever see the Lord Hebr 12:14, and the writer is referring
to the holyness of state we receive when we first are born again, he is talking
about people who had to resist sin in trials and tribulation and were in danger
of falling away from the faith, from grace, stopped believing, from trusting
and believing the promises of God and His ability to get us through every
circunstace in life and finish the race. After long suffering, we have the
tendency to start to waver and to start trusting God, this is what trials and
tribulation endure and don't stop when ask God to take
it away. But listen If you are a true child of God, He will correct us, if not
you are not a child of the living Lord. (Hebr 12:8)
Heb 12:2 Looking away [from all
that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader {and} the Source of our faith
[giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its
Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of
obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising
{and} ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of
God.
Heb 12:3 Just think of Him Who
endured from sinners such grievous opposition {and} bitter hostility against
Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that
you may not grow weary {or} exhausted, losing heart {and} relaxing {and}
fainting in your minds.
Heb 12:4 You have not yet
struggled {and} fought agonizingly against sin, {nor} have you yet resisted
{and} withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.
Heb 12:5 And have you [completely]
forgotten the divine word of appeal {and} encouragement in which you are
reasoned with {and} addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly {or} scorn
to submit to the correction {and} discipline of the Lord, nor
lose courage {and} give up {and} faint when you are reproved {or} corrected by
Him;
Heb 12:6 For the Lord corrects
{and} disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every
son whom He accepts {and} welcomes to His heart {and} cherishes.
Heb 12:7 You must submit to {and}
endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For
what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train {and} correct {and}
discipline?
Heb 12:8 Now if you are exempt
from correction {and} left without discipline in which all [of God's children]
share, then you are illegitimate offspring {and} not true sons [at all].
Finely the testing of our faith!
You see testing is always
about our faith. How do we react, are we going to turn from or to the Lord, The
good fight of faith for salvation is being tested, to see if it wil stand up
against the circumstances of life, if we keep the faith we will have the reward
God has for us and Salvation is the outcome of our faith.
1 Pet 1:3 Praised (honored,
blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His
boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet 1:4 [Born anew] into an
inheritance which is beyond the reach of change {and} decay [imperishable], unsullied
and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Pet 1:5 Who are being guarded
(garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that
final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
1 Pet 1:6 [You should] be
exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be
distressed by trials {and} suffer temptations,
1 Pet 1:7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may
be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable
gold which is tested {and} purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is
intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ
(the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
1 Pet 1:8 Without having seen Him, you love Him;
though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult {and} thrill
with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.
1 Pet 1:9 [At the same time] you
receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your
souls.
God is able to keep us and
get us through if we are willing to let go of life itself, Jesus said therefore
who will lose his life for my sake shall find it, this is what refining, tried
by fire is all about, all the impurities are burned away, but we have to stay
focussed on Jesus in the proces the author and finisher of our faith. God will
never leave us or forsake us, and He will protect us. Also He is able to keep
us from falling and present us blameless Jude 1:24
Ps 5:11 But let all those who
take refuge {and} put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing {and}
shout for joy, because You make a covering over them {and} defend them; let
those also who love Your name be joyful in You {and} be in high spirits.
Ps 5:12 For You, Lord, will
bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right
standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround
him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).
He is able to keep us from falling and present us
blameless.
Jude 1:24 Now to Him Who
is able to keep you without stumbling {or} slipping {or} falling, and to
present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His
glory in triumphant joy {and} exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]--
Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit
2 Thess 2:13 But we, brethren beloved
by the Lord, ought {and} are obligated [as those who are in debt] to give
thanks always to God for you, because God chose you from the beginning {as His
firstfruits (first converts)} for salvation through the sanctifying work of the [Holy] Spirit and [your] belief in
(adherence to, trust in, and reliance on) the Truth.
He will return soon, and will I be
ready!
Are you rapture ready, what
will be the criterea by which we are judged, many people believe when they are
born again they are part of the bride, that will once meet the Lord in the air
( 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
It is for those that hold on to their testimony and are washed in the blood of
the Lam.
Do not soil your clothes (stain your soul)
Rev 3:4 Yet you still have a few
[persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall
walk with Me in white, because they are worthy {and}
deserving.
Rev 3:5 Thus shall he who
conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase {or}
blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] {and}
I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels.
You say I am rich and in need of nothing
Rev 3:17 For you say, I am rich; I
have prospered {and} grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize {and} understand
that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Rev 3:18 Therefore I counsel you
to purchase from Me gold refined {and} tested by fire, that you may be [truly]
wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity
from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.
Modern day gospels doesn't ecknoweldge and understand this
vital part, they don't know how to buy gold, for they have rejected this truth,
and have become blind and poor and nude and stained and ashamed.
To
be purified, clothed, sanctified, Gods Holy people
Rev 3:19 Those whom I [dearly and
tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict {and} convince {and} reprove
and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic {and} in
earnest {and} burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
And the following is what it is all about,
(a far cry from running after richness and personal gain here an now !)
His Bride
Rev 19:8 She has been permitted to dress in fine
(radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies,
represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and
conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people).
A Holy Church to Himself
Eph 5:27 That He might present
the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such
things [that she might be holy and faultless].
This is my aim, to live a righteous
life, being cleansed by the washing of the Word and being purified by the fire of
trials and tribulations, testings and temptations, being sanctified by faith,
being saved by grace, being washed from every stain, by the blood of the lam,
being clothed in white linen, a fruit of rigteousness through Jesus and righteous lif in
rightstanding with God.
Heb 12:14 Strive to live in peace
with everybody and pursue that consecration {and} holiness without which no one
will [ever] see the Lord.
May The Lord Bless and
keep you as you travel on the narrow road, that will
lead you to your eternal home with Him.
God
Bless