Simply Said: Jan. 7, 2019

The call to Christ is a call of discipleship, and inherent within that call is an assumed obedience to the whole counsel of God. I remember getting saved and coming to an understanding , that the way toward knowledge of the holiness of God and the responsibility of His call in our lives could only be by ascertainment in the study of said Word of God. We cannot limit the work of the Holy Spirit and He prompting, according to the will of God. We must remember that everyone that comes to Christ has a prominent place in the body of Christ that will carry out a vital portion in God’s ultimate plan on this face of the earth. Some may seen by sight to be insignificant, but in reality those you don’t see may be doing more eternal work than the one’s you actually see. So I imply here, that coming to Christ is the beginning of new things for each and every believer. Old things pass away and all things become new. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 So often today, everything is about activity, and yet the greatest accommodation we can make is to make ourselves available to God’s Word and also as Paul implied to Timothy, “Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”2nd Timothy 2:15 Our call is to God, who sent His son, and in obedience to the call of God, the Holy Ghost conforms us to the image of Christ, and that can begin very early in a believers life. But I have noticed also, that the fowls of the air, and the devil himself, likes to snatch those away who do not begin to eat the Word of God as their daily bread. So many spend so much time learning the verses that are in their case important to their faith, and yet the whole counsel of God is often overlooked as people for some reason seem to stay often in immature aspects of the Christian faith. I ask the question this morning. What happened to these words that were so important a few years ago. Luke 9:23 “For whosoever will save his life, will loose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged; if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.” How is your spiritual perception this morning. Are you seeing what God sees and have you learned of Him who called you, that you are motivated deep in your soul, to be a vessel fit for the master’s use, holding fast to truth and not letting go of the eternal value’s inherent in those glorious epistle’s of the whole counsel of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16-17

Whether we are seen as someone important (man’s view) is not essential to the reality of who we are in Him who called us. I have met some who looked has humble as a crumble pie, and yet, they were so indwelt with the presence of God, you just wanted to listen to them share their thoughts on what God was doing in their lives and it was amazing to hear. No wonder the Kingdom of God does not come by observation. It is not by sight, but by faith. There was no beauty that would make you want Jesus and yet, he impacted the lives of people in such unique ways, that they followed him and didn’t ever look back. In verse 26 of Luke 9 we read these powerful words. “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall com in his own glory, “ I have shortened it here a bit, for my observation is that many have a good beginning, but quickly grow weary, due to a lack of knowledge, because they don’t continue in the Word as a disciple. What is a disciple. One who is disciplined with those disciplines bringing forth the truths that have been ascertained through the wisdom of those words God reveals unto those who are in the scriptures. We do not teach the way Jesus did often. Jesus is healing a child brought to him, right after He and the disciples had been on the mountain and Moses and Elias had appeared and talked with Jesus. Peter, John and James were all heavy with sleep, and when they awoke they spoke with Jesus. In verse 33, Peter says to Jesus: “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias, not knowing what he said.” While they yet spoke, there came a cloud and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear ye him.” God certainly did have a way of getting the disciples attention! One of the biggest aspects of discipleship is learning of Him who called us. So often we see the men of the Old Testament who God used in miraculous ways as almost supernatural. They seemed to produce miracles at times, and their survival surpasses understanding, and yet the number of years of intimate relationship is often forgotten when we measure these men. Yet think of it with me this morning. Unlearned men can have their lives transformed by God in a moment in time and a short time later, just a few years, questioning and misunderstanding, and then understanding and going forward, they were powerful men and women in the world, because of whom they knew. They knew what life was and what the source of life was. If we understood the power of God working in us we would be amazed. If it is just us working for Jesus, it is a little thing. But if Jesus is working in us it is life and love and compassion and grace and mercy and truth that is eternal, enabling us to bring others into the Kingdom of God. There are far too many Christian hiding their light under a bushel. Luke 11:33 says it well. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye, therefore when the eye is single, the whole body also is full of light. But when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.” Who are we reflecting today in our life. No matter what circumstances are going on. Jesus then says: “Take heed therefore, that the light which is in thee is not darkness.” You should read verse 36 also. There is one way for this to begin. Get into the Word of God and study to show yourselves approved. It is a discipline that will spare you much grief, and you will also learn that there are consequences that come with being a spiritually led man or woman of God. But do not let that hinder you, for God called you unto Himself, that ye might have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God, and that the righteousness of Christ might shine through your vessel unto others.

 

I will close with these thoughts today. In Acts 8:1 we read these powerful words. How many words must be spoken to change a man’s heart? This is exactly where Saul (Paul later) was at. “And Saul was consenting unto his death.” (whose?) Steven was preaching to the whole counsel that was examining him, and in the end he was condemned to die, and Paul was there watching.) “and at that time there was a great persecution and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” He was in pursuit of Christians that he might destroy their faith. On the way he encounters Christ, and you can read of that in Chapter 9, and being called of God, in a few moments in time on that road to Damascus, Saul’s life was changed. How does your life change. Many of you are in bondage to a number of things and it keeps you from coming or committing yourself to Christ. What in the world are you waiting for. Was Saul chasing Christ? No, but he was after the disciples of Christ. Listen to Christ’s words to Saul. “Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting me? Saul replies: “Who are you?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom thou persecutes: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Is Christ prodding you this morning. Even if you said a pray, are you still resisting God. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall loose it, and whosoever shall loose his life shall preserve it.” Paul’s life was transformed by an encounter with Christ, and he became one of the chief apostles of Jesus Christ. An enemy one moment and a short time later a disciple of Christ. Have you come to Christ yet? If you have are you a disciple, one that is learning and growing up in him, or did you say a prayer and then just continue your life as it always has been. Let God finish the work He started by teaching you those things that belong to life and godliness and let go of those things that are of the flesh and that are unprofitable. God has better things for you today. Christ calls individuals unto himself. He doesn’t call us unto gifts, though some might come, but unto Himself, the living Word of God, and it is He that works in you to transform you by the renewing of mind and the cleansing of your heart and setting you apart from the works of the flesh that you might glorify Him here on this earth.


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