STAYING THE COURSE pt 1
2 Timothy 4:7 KJV “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
Old Proverb: Many aspiring people have taken time and effort to climb the ladder of success, only to reach the top and discover it was standing against the wrong wall.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 MSG “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause!”
2 Timothy 4:7 AMPC “I have fought the good (worthy, honourable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.”
SO WHAT WALL SHOULD OUR LADDER BE RESTING ON?
Well people are God’s building they are His priority, The wall is Salvation and the building is the kingdom of God…
The ladder of SUCCESS we are applying to this is WIN, Consolidate, disciple, send
Ephesians 2:20-22 NKJV “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
YOU ARE CALLED BY NAME
II Timothy 1:9 NKJV “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”
- You need to be convicted of your CALL in your own spirit (that is an integral part of your faith / one of the ingredients of Faith is becoming convinced and making a quality decision to Believe the Word) WE WERE TAUGHT TO SAY IT LIKE THIS, IF THE WORD SAYS IT, THAT SETTLES IT AND I BELIEVE IT- THE END
- YOU need to know the PURPOSE (which I will touch on shortly)
Isaiah 45:3 NKJV “I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.”
- This happens in layers or levels as you become familiar with His presence and His principles (in that order)
Psalms 91:1-2 NKJV “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.””
OUR PURPOSE
The purpose may be general (for everybody) but it becomes specific when you step out to be a DOER and start walking with Him in the Spirit!
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Look at Jonathan Khan
Mark 12:30-31 NKJV “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””
WHEN you are convinced YOU WILL STEP INTO OUR CALLING, by choosing to follow Jesus becoming a disciple (a leader of leaders) (PLEASE JOIN US ON THE JOURNEY)
We can often struggle with this because we feel inadequate:-
Called by Your Name
So often we think, “If I had more talent, a better personality, and if I knew the right people, I could do something great.” But as long as you feel as though you’re lacking, you don’t have enough, and you were shortchanged, you’ll make excuses to be less than your best. Today’s Scripture reminds us that what matters is that God approves you. God called you by name. People didn’t call you. People don’t determine your destiny. People can’t stop God’s plan for your life. God equipped you. God anointed you. When you come to the end of your life, you don’t have to answer to people. You’ll answer to Almighty God. Don’t let what some person says or does make you feel less-than or unqualified. You’ve been handpicked by the Creator of the universe. You are lacking nothing for the season that you’re in right now. Now quit thinking about all the things that you don’t have and all the things that you wish were different.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You know me by name and that Your call upon my life is not subject to other people’s approval. Thank You that You have freed me to live for You and to become the best me that I can possibly be. I trust in You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THE LORD HAS SHARED WITH ME THE PAST TWO YEARS TO HELP ME STAY THE COURSE: Three scripture in this giving to me: TRUST / PATIENCE / HUMILITY
TRUST
Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
PATIENCE (Finishing Strong needing nothing)
James 1:1-8 NKJV “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
HUMILITY
1 Peter 5:7-10 NKJV “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
