October 16, 1998
This week we will once again look at the passage from Hebrews...
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
To recall what was written last week... He is... 1/ Father* 2/ Word* 3/ Holy Spirit* and that these three are One.
His will and plans... His revealer(declarer)... His power(makes known)...
All of the following scriptures are lessons by themselves. We need to bottom line each of them.
1/* John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
When all is said and done during the current dispensation God would have gathered to Himself a people, a bride for His Son, that will offer up worship to Him in spirit and in truth. Today as we gather together in churches and homes we need to take the opportunity to exercise this calling in our lives. Not only is this part of our pattern of works, it is also a privilege dearly bought by our Lord Jesus upon the cross. One of the purposes of God giving us the Holy Spirit is so that we can accomplish this purpose. It is through the exercise of this gift, being allowed to worship and know whom we worship, that we meet the Father and receive the blessings that come from His hand. There is no better place in the universe to be than before His throne, worshiping Him. We enter into the Holy of Holies in the heavens by faith when we worship God.
2/* John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you....Jesus abides in you through His word.
The word that John is referring to here is not just the written word but the spirit of the word written upon the hearts of men. This word becomes a part of who you are. This is not so much intellectual knowledge but rather a change in your spirit. We must learn to remain within Jesus and allow His words to remain in us. This my friend does take an effort on our part, for we too easily fall in step with the world and its way. The word of God must be brought back into focus by looking once again at Jesus and stepping by faith into Him. If you will not put the word into you; by hearing, by reading, by meditating... you not only reject the word but the Word also. Drink in His word and you take Jesus within you. Abide in Him and He in you.
3/* Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to create a bride for the Father's Son. The Holy Spirit is the link that binds us to our Lord and through Him to our Father. How can you know if you are abiding in the Son? Simple... look at the way that you are walking in this life toward others. By their fruits you shall know them... love, faith, patience, temperance, etc... It is certainly hard enough to try and live as a christian by following a code... but that is not what the Father is looking for. He is looking for a people that will be and have the same heart as His Son. For that, your heart must be changed. The only way that can happen is if you are obedient to the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Sure the flesh will strike at you, but if you are putting in the word of God... then pray...
*Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Remember that the Holy Spirit is not only a gift but a necessity if we are to follow Him. For without Him we can do nothing. That is why Jesus said the following...
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.*
When He spoke these words Jesus was referring to obtaining food, clothes, shelter and such other things that we need to live. Yet to truly live we need that which Jesus says to seek first... the kingdom and His righteousness. Everything else is of secondary importance. Do not try to get your house in order first but first get yourself established firmly in the kingdom and His righteousness. God will add those other needs when needed.
Why do we need to do it in this order?
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.*
You can work and slave all that you want to obtain the things that the world can offer you but in the end it will profit you little. If you have not yet come to Christ, your spirit is dead, both in this life and the life to come. If you have come to Christ you are a new creature for your spirit has been born again, yet, the spirit needs to be exercised or it will remain a dwarf. You cannot have life abundantly without exercising your spirit and you are putting your new life to come in jeapordy also if you do not mature. Tell me how you can be fit for the kingdom of God if you never exercise your spirit to make yourself fit for the kingdom of God? Spiritually fit?
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. :35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
I have heard so many people say that God is not a respecter of persons... and thank God that is true. If that were not the case, only the important persons would have a chance to obtain the kingdom. Yet how often do we look on a person's title within the church and consider him/her to be more holy or blessed or mature than the rest? Those titles do not hold any weight with God. What God does look upon is the heart and the actions that proceed from it.
1/ Fears Him... and that is simply another way of saying respect. If I were to put my hand into a fire I would be burned. The beginning of that knowledge of pain teaches me to respect the power and nature of fire, yet, when it comes to the Holy fire of God's presence we think that we can enter it any way that we want. We babble, laugh, and do things that are not always in the best interest of others or God's. Yes, perfect love casts out fear... but does it mean that we cast out our respect for Him as well. Remember who's presence it is that we are entering into and who it is that is also within us.
2/ Works of Righteousness... Again, simply the word of God motivated by the Spirit of God. No one when he first comes to the Lord knows how to judge what is right and what is wrong. We have so many motes and planks in our eyes it is impossible to see at all. We can even take the words of the new testament and beat one another with them. Why? Because we have not yet learned the truth, for we are still blinded by our flesh, our carnal mind. If we put in the word of God and follow the Spirits leading, we will be refined, but that takes time and effort. That is exercising your faith.
Those of us that are exercising our faith are rewarded by God. This is not the casual exercise of those at play but the exercise of those that are preparing to run a grueling marathon. It is for those who are diligently seeking God.
How?
By showing respect for.. the Father.. the Word............... the Holy Spirit
According to.................. His will....... through His word.. by His Spirit
So that we can............... worship...... abide....................... move
When you do these three ... you are diligently seeking Him.
All who come to God must seek to do those things, diligently, pressing for the mark...
Those who do ... receive the rewards.
Those who will not ... there is no reward.
My prayer for you is that God create in you a heart that will put Him first above all else so that you may receive the reward.
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