MY FRIENDS DON’T GIVE UP, BUT PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE!!!

Sep. 7, 2015

MY FRIENDS DON’T GIVE UP, BUT PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE!!!

Daily, we must “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Phil. 3:14 (KJV). The weekend is over, our high filled church experience has ended.

The Holy Spirit was sure entertaining at church and since we were only entertained we feel comfortable enough to remove some of our armor, which will then leave us completely vulnerable to Satan.

Or, to use Jesus analogy from Luke 11, we cleaned our house for the weekend, but have not taken the time to fill it with the character of God no farther than our weekend’s spiritual praise team and worship experience.

That tells me life as a part time Christian is complicated because during the week “we, never seem too let our light so shine before men, [and women] that they may see our good works, as we glorify our Father which is in heaven” Matt 5:1`6 (KJV).

The question we must now ask our self, do we represent Christ in every situation and circumstances of our life? Are our lives centered on Christ daily? In addition, is there limits in what we will do for Christ?

If we have answered no too the first two questions and yes to the last one, than this journey Christ has placed us on has becomes problematic, because “if any man or woman be in Christ, he or she must be a new creature in every situation and circumstances of our life for the old things are passed away.”

As a Christian the battle rages daily so self must die daily. Remember every time we try to do good, Satan will always present an alternative plan as to what we watch with our eyes or hear with our ears, or what we allow to come out of our mouth or where we allow our feet to take us.

Endurance, is the ability through our faith to stay strong as we continue to “press toward the mark for the prize” “despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.” My friends, Christ is coming soon, and He will bring His reward with Him to repay each of us according to our deeds, that we have accumulated on our journey to the promise land.

Our commission is to go out on the front lines of the Battle field and serve in our communities as we take the good news to those who have lost hope. But the reward my friends, being paid according to our deeds that is what we seek, that is what the plan of Salvation was all about.

Christ is a living example that lived among us and demonstrated that it can be done and Satan can be defeated for “there is no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” 1 Cor. 10:13 (NIV). And one day soon my friends, “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again” we will receive our reward for “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:14-17 (NKJV)

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)