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Living Holy
Choose Wisely
The choice of life and death is before us all.
St. Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
St. Luke 13:23-24
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
God has mandated non-negotiable principles and truths for the lives of mankind. If these mandates are followed and applied, lives will inevitably be transformed and the blessings of God realized. Even so, God has not taken away the one thing that will determine whether the door will be opened or remain closed for His glory to be revealed, the power of choice. God will not force His will upon anyone, but rather, everyone is persuaded of themselves and choose Him from a loving and obedient heart.
What About Us?
A question asked by many believers after having sacrificed all for the sake of the Gospel.
St. Mark 10:28-30
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Peter made a statement ("Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee;" St. Mark 10:28) begging a question undoubtedly many believers have asked themselves at some time or another, what about us?
Prayer, the Key to the Kingdom
Have you learned and experienced the worth of prayer?
Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
God has provided a powerful resource for the His people, PRAYER. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (St. Luke 18:1). Prayer is that special time when requests can be submitted to God and every care can be laid upon Him (Philippians 4:6; I Peter 5:7). The saints have been given the unique privilege and opportunity to unburden themselves, exercising the faith to believe God will intercede on their behalf.
The Mind of Christ
What does it really mean to be like Christ? Do we handle the affairs of day-to-day living totally surrendered to the will of our Heavenly Father? Are we like minded as Christ?
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
How many times has the praise resounded in the church, “To be like Jesus, how I long to be like Him”? Probably more times than any individual can count. As earnest as the desire may be, it is not something that happens through mental assent or drawn from a strong personal will. Being like Christ in reality is having the mind of Christ, only possible through a heart transformation.
Sanctified, Meet for the Master’s Use
While separation from corrupt influences is a personal choice, a transformed life is a personal experience with God that only comes from receiving the grace of sanctification.
2 Timothy 2:21
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
There is no greater joy than to see a sinner and the ungodly come to Christ. Heaven and earth rejoices over the redemptive work of our Lord and Savior.
There is a misconception that an individual can come to Christ, ask for forgiveness, move on, and continue business as usual. Christ suffered, shed His blood, and died to secure salvation for mankind. The world at large stands accountable to respond to this great act of love by living holy and righteous before the Lord.
That I May Know Him!
What is the cost of establishing a relationship with our Lord and savior? How do we really get to know him?
Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
How does one get to know another individual? Are frequent telephone calls made between both parties? Are there mutual interest and activities they enjoy together Do they enjoy the pleasure of one another’s company? Or, are the personalities simply compatible with each other? This may be how friendships are formed out side of Christ but certainly not how one gets to know our Lord and Savior.
Manipulation or Empowerment
As we lead others to Christ, we need to examine our role in their life and our motive
1 Peter 5:2-3
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willing, not for filthy lucre, but of ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
The church, the body of baptized believers, belongs to and is directed by God. God’s leaders, pastors, elders, ministers, etc., are accountable to God as to how they discharge their office. It must be clearly understood that God’s people do not belong to a person, church or an organization. To cross this fine line of demarcation (personal ownership) is to tread on an area that God did not intend. When a person or group of people are viewed as belonging to or controlled by someone, the spirit of manipulation is at work.
Fear God!
Examine the life of the wisest man that ever lived and learn from his experience — you’ll rightly conclude that the fear of God is indeed the beginning of wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Solomon, according to scripture, was the wisest individual that ever lived; unparallel by anyone be fore or after him (I Kings 3:12). After Solomon was anointed king over Israel and assumed the throne of his father David, God in a dream spoke to him “ask what I shall give thee” (I Kings 3:5). Overwhelmed by the countless number of God’s people and his inadequacy to judge them, Solomon requested an understanding heart to “discern between good and bad” (I Kings 3:9). With his selfish desires ignored and touching the heart of God, he was granted wisdom beyond compare.
A Question of Love
What is your motive in kingdom building?
St. John 21:15-17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou know est that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
“Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Jesus asked Peter a simple yet poignant question that cut through any self ish agendas and identifies the true motive for kingdom building. After being presented with the same basic question three (3) times, Peter was somewhat “grieved” (St. John 21:17). In view of his rela tionship with Christ, Simon Peter could not understand the persistence of the request. When Peter heard the type of death he was going to die, he understood the daunting cost of building the kingdom of God predicated only upon love.
Where There Is No Vision, The People Perish
Do You Understand the Vision of God?
Proverbs 29:18 a
Where there is no vision, the people perish:.. (KJV)
When the people do not accept divine guidance, They run wild... (NLT)
There is no greater misconception in the church community than the interpretation of the word “vision.” Typically, vision is understood and presented as a project or program to enhance the church’s bank account or an economic stratagem to improve the social ills of the community. Although these agendas are good in their proper place, nothing could be further from biblical truth.
