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Christian
Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy
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Forgetting What Lies Behind
Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV) “Brethren, I count not myself to
have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.”
The farther we go in the Lord the more we let go of the past. As we forget what
is behind us, we are able to press on toward the goal to win the prize. What is
the prize? THE FULLNESS OF ETERNAL LIFE!
Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV) “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself.” Most Christians believe when the Lord comes they will receive a
body like His. What we don’t understand is that such a change in our body will
take place only as we have sought to be changed in the image of Christ in the
same manner as Paul did.
The standard of Christianity in America is far below the biblical standard of a
vast comprehensive spiritual awakening which must take place if this generation
of believers is not going to be lost. We are not going to please the Lord until
we take up our cross and seek the Lord in prayer for strength and wisdom so we
can keep His commands.
Eternal life is not the same as eternal existence. Eternal life is the
incorruptible Life of God. How much of it we attain depends on our willingness
to be changed and follow Christ instead of having to do things the way we feel
is best. Salvation is not a plan to move us, but to change us so we are
acceptable to God wherever we are.
Daniel 12 tells us:
· Some will rise to everlasting life
· Some will rise to shame and everlasting contempt
· Some will rise to incredible glory
ALL OF THESE ARE A STATE OF BEING, NOT A PLACE TO LIVE!
When the Apostle Paul speaks of the believer who continues to walk after the
flesh, he never speaks about heaven or hell, but rather about the consequences
of living by the flesh (Gal & Rom).
Ephesians 4:1 tells us we must be found worthy of eternal life and the Kingdom
of God. Romans 13:11 tells us salvation will come in the future. In other words,
the fullness that we are striving for is out there to reach for daily.
We now have a deposit on eternal life. We have been sealed by the Lord until the
day of redemption comes. The day of redemption is the time when our body is
adopted by the Lord. Our body will be made alive by the power of Christ
(Eph.4:30).
This is more than being born-again. In order to receive the fullness of life in
our resurrected body, we must press toward the goal every day of our
discipleship. Even Paul said he had not attained, but he kept pressing toward
the mark. To grieve the Holy Spirit is to presume. The revival of the 90’s is
dead. The revival of today is a time of “repentance.” We must repent for all the
presumption we have had as we serve the Lord while thinking He will do what we
expect. Repentance must be sustained if revival is going to affect our spiritual
growth. Note: “Mercy does not permit presumption.”
In order to attain to the resurrection of the body, we must first attain the
inward resurrection by turning away from the world and becoming a living
sacrifice. The inward resurrection is attained as we continue to confess our
sins and transgressions through the Spirit of God to put them to death. It is
attained as we suffer in our prison of circumstances that the Lord permits.
Remember, God is not going to place a perfect, resurrected body onto a sinful,
disobedient inward nature -- not by grace, and not by mercy, nor any other
means.
We are not saved by works alone. But we are saved by works that cause us to
follow Christ diligently every day. True faith is always expressed in the right
kind of works, which is the diligent pursuit of Christ every day of our
discipleship. Apart from obedient faith, there is no genuine faith, only a
mental assent about Christ Jesus.
We receive Christ at a point in life; we are born-again of the Spirit of God; we
begin to turn away from worldliness; we pursue eternal life. If we don’t follow
on, we cannot be transformed into Christ’s image that God is looking for; and
there is no lasting fruit, and we are removed from the vine which is Christ.
Then we have no hope of gaining immortality. We have sown to the flesh, and we
will reap the consequences.
A doctor may be able to save us from a premature death. But if we do not do what
He says, we will not receive our healing. Faith ALONE in what the doctor says is
not sufficient. Jesus Christ can save us from spiritual death; but only as we DO
what He says. Merely believing is not enough – YOU MUST PUT BELIEF INTO
PRACTICE. In order to gain the prize, we must run the race according to the
rules.
1 Peter 1:5 (KJV) “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
We are now at the last of time as we know it. The Lord is revealing to us the
requirements to survive and LIVE. He is preparing us for the unexpected of which
we will emerge.
(Rom. 8:23-24) Many are groaning and travailing – there is a shaking going on
inside – ASK ANY SPIRITUALLY-MINDED PERSON. What we are hearing in our
spirit-man is “the Blessed Hope.” Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.
The righteous are tuning up their faith because they believe and hear the coming
of the Lord.
At one time we were a living soul. Now we are being made into a life-giving
spirit, not a living spirit, but a life-giving spirit [quickening](1 Cor.15:45).
We must overcome our fierce desire to maintain our own identity apart from
oneness with God through Christ. WHEN WE BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST, WE ALSO BECOME A TREE OF LIFE, A SOURCE OF LIFE TO OTHER PEOPLE.
The more of Christ we gain, the more we must give to those who are dying. All of
our suffering is so the FULLNESS OF SALVATION CAN BE IMPARTED TO US.
Eternal life is a gift only in the sense that God has made it possible for us to
attain life. The initial portion of God’s life when we are born-again enables us
to gain more and more and more life, until our inward nature is filled with the
fullness of God’s life. WE MUST LAY HOLD OF ETERNAL LIFE.
It is not what happens to us that determines the quality of our life. It is how
we interpret what happens to us that counts. Life doesn’t just happen – it comes
through our mindset of what we believe.
Philippians 3:8-9 says that “that I may win Christ, …through the faith of
Christ unto the righteousness that is of God by faith.” It is not a
part-time endeavor to be saved. It is a life sold out to God in every detail.
Pressing into the fullness of God is a struggle, a battle all the way, but don’t
lose sight that total victory is attainable if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
COMPLETE ATTENTION, PATIENCE, DILIGENCE, AND PERSEVERENCE - all the way to the
end.
We can make a difference and live the fullest of life for the Kingdom by doing
what some are doing, attempting to take the things of Christ to a “lost and
dying world.” OR, we can follow Christ and gain the power of His resurrection
and many will see and believe and be filled with all the fulness of Christ by
what He is saying to us today. Only those who are willing to wait on the Lord
will continually renew their strength. When you wait on the Lord, you will
worship. Without worship there is no spiritual renewal. These are the ones
becoming a part of His Glory. They are not working for Him, they are moving with
Him to bring life.
Question: ARE YOU GAINING ETERNAL LIFE OR WALKING IN THE FLESH?
· Are you anxious about decisions, or can you calmly wait with the Lord?
· Are you easily shaken when pressure strikes, or do you call upon the name of
the Lord?
· Do you have to have your way, or can you let go and let God have His way?
· Do you need to know now, or can you wait for the Lord to tell you
What is your flesh telling you, and what is the Spirit saying to you?
The goal is before us: forgetting what lies behind, we reach for the fullness of
life lived in and by the Spirit of God – spirit, soul, and body. We set aside
every hindrance to pursue His life. No tongue can describe the incomprehensible
authority, power and joy that have been set aside for our inheritance. 2Tim
4:7-8 (KJV) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
-Pr. Steve
November Newsletter 07 |
Forgetting What Lies Behind
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Pastor's Journal November 2007 | Giving
Thanks | Friend For Life
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Biblical
Counseling for Leaders
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