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| The Christian Development Index: Eight steps to growing in the Christian life.
RECOGNITION: "Blessed are the poor in spirit." - Matthew 5:3
The first step in our Christian walk is to recognize our need to grow. If we do not recognize the need for growth then we will simply remain stagnant and things that stagnate will rot and stink. The law of physics states that, "a body at rest tends to remain at rest until acted upon by another force." In our existence, life itself is a force to be reckoned with. By design, life puts pressure on us to change. We age, move, interact with others. In other words, life is designed to take us somewhere, whether we want to go or not: our bodies to the earth from which they were taken, our souls to the spirit who gave us life, or to everlasting separation known as damnation.
Imagine, if we could not feel pain. Some would consider that a blessing, but it would be a curse. We would never know if we cut ourselves, unless we could see the cut or if someone told us. Imagine if we were deaf and blind. Even with sight and hearing we cannot see or hear what is going on inside of our bodies, unless we could feel pain. Imagine if we had an infection. We would not know it, until it consumed us.
Sin is an insidious infection that will consume us, unless it is removed. Jesus is the great Physician who removes our infected soul (mind, will, and emotions) and gives us a new one. He substitutes his righteousness for our wickedness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby, making us acceptable to a righteous God. We are justified, as though we had never sinned. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation (substitute) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." - Romans 3:23-26 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2Co 5:21
When we believe in Jesus, and place our trust in him, "God does not deal with us after our sins: nor reward us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth so treat is his mercy toward them that fear (reverence) him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear(reverence) him." - Psalm 103:10-13
We are justified, as though, we had never sinned. One way that I've heard it described is like a military group in combat. While waiting for their orders, a grenade is thrown in among them. One heroic soldier throws himself upon the grenade, absorbs its explosion, and saves the lives of the others. That's what Jesus has done for us. Mankind was innocent until sin infected the human race. There was no other way to rescue us but that Jesus came and took our place in its destructive path.
And so we love him because he first loved us and gave himself for us. Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13
However, he also tells us to sit down and count the cost. Lu 14:28,33 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?[33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
As he gave his life for us, he expects us to give our life to him. We stop living for ourselves and others and start living for him. That's how we can love our enemies; not because they are lovable, but because we love him, who has loved us all, even our enemies. PROMISE: The door to the kingdom of God is opened to you, when you recognize your need to be saved! The kingdom of: righteousness (relationship), peace (faith), joy (inner strength). -Romans 14:17
REPENTANCE: "Blessed are they that mourn." - Mt 5:4
Our trust, affection, hope, and eyes are upon him. That's the definition of Repentance: to stop going our own way, turn around, and start going God's way. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
He qualified that birth by saying,
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross (self-sacrifice) daily, and follow me." - Luke 9:23.
The Apostle Paul writes to us,
"God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed (paid back) unto him again? For of him and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever, Amen.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 11:32-12:2
Jesus also, said,
"He that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it." - Matthew 10:38-39
"The thief comes not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, but I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:10
On the surface, it seems that "serving" the will of someone else would be slavery. However, we find the real adventure is in denying what is superficial in our lives (our own will), trusting someone who we cannot see, and being gratified by the results of his divine intervention.
We live for and unto him, who has promised to guide or "shepherd" us.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge him, he will direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging bread." - Psalm 37:23-25
"For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." -
2 Corinthians 5:21
All this help, guidance, acceptance, and righteousness is offered to you,
"If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with your heart you believe unto righteousness; and with your mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:9-10,13
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1John 1:9
"Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:6-8 PROMISE: You shall be Comforted (guidance and correction) - Psalm 23; Proverbs 3:5-6; Luke 4:18
RELINQUISH: "Blessed are the meek."- Matthew 5:5 AXIOM of truth: Meekness is not weakness; but your power under God's control. Jesus said, Lu 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [24] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. [25] For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Three instructions are given to us by the Lord: 1. Deny (turn your trust away from) self. 2. Take up his "cross" (instrument of execution), daily. 3. Follow (be like) Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The only way to following Jesus is to relinquish our dependence upon self. Self-dependency separates us from the inheritance promised to the meek. Meekness, by definition, is anathema to self-determination and pride, which is self-glory. Therefore, denial of "self" is key to walking with God. In the study on curses, we learn that four things bring a curse and all four begin with "self". The world is upside down in its understanding of life, so, when the scripture records that the disciples had "turned the world upside down" in Acts 17:6, it is really stating that they turned the world right side up. The flesh says: "To thine own self be true"; "look out for number one"; "If it is to be it is up to me". These are all false statements that are contradictory distractions from the truth that Jesus taught us." Again, Jesus said, Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The truth that Jesus gives is not the truth that we perceive, through our physical senses. It has been demonstrated numerous times, our physical senses are not reliable when it comes to truth, because they are easily deceived. Truth comes through the spirit not through the intellect; through the conviction of the heart not the reasoning of the head. Jesus made the statement, Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
There are two economies in the world: wealth obtained by possession or "earning" our way, and wealth through inheritance or receiving more than we deserve. The latter is the teaching of Jesus. Mt 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [27]Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
When we give up our self-determination and self-sufficiency, then we place God in the position to bless us with the inheritance of the earth. Remember, Jesus is called the good shepherd. As the shepherd, he takes responsibility for our lives: to feed us, clothe us, house us, protect us, and heal us. We need to realize that Jesus came to accomplish three things, in his life on earth:
1. redemption of our eternal spirit (John 5:24; 14:6), 2. healing of our mortal body (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 8:11), and 3. provision for our pilgrimage on earth (Lk. 22:35; 3 John 2).
The world will respond to this assertion by saying that "It is irresponsible to sit around, waiting for God to send money from heaven." and "Isn't it in the Bible that God helps those who help themselves?" - No it isn't in the Bible and the concept that "God helps those who help themselves" is contrary to his teaching. However, God does expect our complete agreement, cooperation, and obedience.
Jesus taught us to work (John 5:17; 9:4) and the Apostle Paul wrote that a man who would not work to provide for his family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8) It is when we work as unto the Lord, relinquishing our "self" provision and preservation unto him, and complying with his will, that we are blessed with his provision. If you do not know what his will is, how can you comply with his will? The Bible records his will and testament. (Hebrews 9:15-17; John 17:17) Therefore, we study it "day and night", so that we may prosper and have good success. (Joshua 1:8) Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
In other words, we must "relinquish" control of our lives, into his hands, before we can prosper, thereby. PROMISE: You shall inherit all things. - Revelation 21:7; Matthew 6:33
REPLENISH: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." - Mt 5:6 Before we can be filled, we must be emptied. Old ideas and misconcepetions must be abandoned, so, that we can take up the mantel of new thought. Jesus said, Mt 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
We are vessels or bottles of life. What we put into our thoughts will produce the spiritual product called faith. Therefore, faith in God and God's faith operating in us cannot happen until we have been made new, through the first three steps above. The Apostle Paul wrote, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The Apostle Peter wrote, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." - 1 Peter 2:2 After we have abandoned our old ways and thoughts, we are empty, ignorant, and in need of discipleship. The fundamental place that we can begin is learning from the ones who helped us receive salvation; milk is the predigested food of others. Then we can get into the simple things of scripture and spend time on our knees, hearing from the Holy Spirit, who will "teach us and bring all things to our remembrance." (John 14:26) As we grow from infancy, we can more distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit. Hearing from him is the most important thing, as it is written; 1 Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Based on evidence found in scripture, this process takes about three years, before we become a self-feeder, one who is capable of "rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) Jesus was three years, with the disciples and Paul was three years being taught of the Lord (Galatian 1:17-18). The writer of Hebrews admonishes the church to continue to grow and not stagnate: Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
The promise is to us and our children that we will be satisfied with our walk with the Lord: Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Ps 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. [15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. [16] With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
PROMISE: You shall be satisfied. Ps 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
RECEIVE: "Blessed are the merciful." - Mt 5:7 Lu 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
To be merciful, is to be compassionate and tender hearted. As we help others, we demonstrate the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5;5). It is then that we receive help from God. SEC/ G3629. oiktirmwn oiktirmon, oyk-tir'-mone from 3627; compassionate:--merciful, of tender mercy. . Ac 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
This is the way of God's economy: first sacrifice and then benefit. In the previous sections, you will notice that we had to sacrifice our lives to God and be filled with his word before could receive the benefits of our relationship with him. Now, this verse teaches us to do the same to other people and the benefits of our sacrifice will come back to us compounded over, again. First sacrifice to God from whom we receive compassion for our fellow man and then sacrifice to others that you may receive the same, again, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall people give unto you. God challenges us, yes, dares us to test him in the area of giving. He places his honor and integrity on the line, in this area of life. And his promise is secure that he will do it. Ec 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
. Ec 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. [9] Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. [10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [11] And I will rebuke the devouirer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. [12] And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. Nu 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? He is not obligated to give us his great provision in the way that we want it or in the time frame that we may set; however, he is the Good Shepherd that laid down his life for the sheep. Shall he not care for his own and honor us with his great provision according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:19) Remember, there are three reasons why Jesus came to earth(Psalm 103:3-5):
1. Purchase us from death. (Acts 20:28) 2. Heal our mortal bodies. (Romans 8:11; 1 Peter 2:24) 3. Prosper us in the way, to do his work on earth. (3 John 2; Matthew 6:33)
With confidence in him who promised then, we can give, without reservation, remembering this admonition in proverbs: Pr 21:13 ¶ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
PROMISE: In your helping, you shall be helped.
REMOVE: "Blessed are the pure in heart." - Mt 5:8
Happy are those who judge themselves; they will not need judgment. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." -Ro 4:8 Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
How then shall we "purify" ourselves from defilement? 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ps 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. Ps 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
What benefit is there in "seeing" God? We see with our spiritual eyes and hear with our spiritual ears. Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. [20] For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Re 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
If we are to obey the father, then we must see things from his point of view. How can we obey except we know his will? How can we know his will, except we see it in with our spiritual eyes? Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
If we are to be healed, converted, and have understanding we must: abandon our self-justification, see with our spiritual eyes, hear with our spiritual ears, and turn from our selfishness that leads to spiritual obesity. Re 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Mt 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. [23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! [24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mighty men of God have fallen because of an elevated evaluation of their position, experience, and accomplishments, in the things of God. In judging ourselves, which is comparing ourselves against the perfection of our Lord Jesus, we find our selves short of his requirements. Therefore, humility is the result of judgment from which God can lift us up and seat us together with him in Christ Jesus. Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, happy (blessed) is he that judges and purifies himself for he will be seated together with Christ in his throne. PROMISE: You will see our heavenly Father, understand his ways, and be seated with him in heavenly places..
Reconcile: "Blessed are the peace makers." - Matthew 5:9 Da 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Most students of scripture understand Daniel's seventy weeks to be weeks of years. The Hebrew word in the text, means to "seven" something. In this case, specifically, years. SEC H07620. ewbv shabuwa`, shaw-boo'-ah or shabuan {shaw-boo'-ah}; also (feminine) shbu.ah {sheb-oo-aw'}; properly, passive participle of 7650 as a denominative of 7651; literal, sevened, i.e. a week (specifically, of years):--seven, week. Obviously, Daniel would not be alive to see the fulfillment of his prophecy, however, it was given to him to write, so, that future generations would know the divine plan of salvation and God's direct intervention in it. The purpose of the seventy weeks of years: (Seven is the number of completion. God will complete his plan for man upon the earth.) 1. "Finish transgression (rebellion)." As we read in the previous step of growth, "Blessed is the man to whom God will not impute sin." - Romans 4:8 God will not count him guilty on the basis of his sin, only on the rejection of God's antidote for sin. God "finished" the transgression against him through Jesus Christ. He is no longer counting up sins. (2 Corinthians 5:19) There is only one criterion that affects our eternal disposition: the acceptance or rejection of God's offer of peace, through Jesus. 2. "To make an end of sin (offences, violations against holiness). “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. [11] For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. [12] As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. [13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” - Ps 103:10-13 3. "To make reconciliation for iniquity (perversity, immorality). "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." - Ro 3:26 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Ro 8:31 We are justified, as though we had never sinned. God remembers our sin no more and our remembrance of them will be wiped away, in the Christian judgment. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10) 4. "Bring in everlasting righteousness." 2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21[ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Sin cannot abide with God. However, he loves us so much that he took our place in judgment, in that we might abide with him. Therefore, we are declared righteous when we are clothed, with his righteousness and not our own. Jesus described this phenomenon in a parable about a king who invited his friends to the wedding of his son. They all made excuses, as to why they couldn't come. So, the king (God) sent servants (missionaries) into the world to invite strangers to the wedding. Each "commoner" was given a wedding garment to wear, so, that there would not be some with poor clothing and some with rich clothing. However, one man refused to wear the wedding garment. When the king saw this act of defiance, he was insulted and threw the man out of the reception. (Matthew 22:1-14) Jesus is our righteousness and he desires to clothe us with himself. Ga 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
5. "Seal up the vision". Up until the time that Jesus came, God revealed his will, plan, and purpose in the vision and dreams of the prophets. Those prophecies are established and we are in the era of observing those prophecies being fulfilled. God told Daniel, "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Da 12:9
We are in the time of the end, in that; Israel is back in the land. This has started the end time clock ticking again, as we can see in the events that have followed their nationalization: wars, rumors of wars, famines, disease, earthquakes in various places, all over the world terrorism, crime and wickedness abound everywhere, as well as, false prophets and false messiahs. In response to the chaos and for global economic stability, nations gather themselves together forming global alliances. In other words, the close of the 69th week and the opening or the 70th week is upon us. 6. "Seal up the prophecy". In concert with the chaos that is upon the earth, God tells Daniel to seal up the prophecy. To place a seal upon something indicates that it cannot be changed. The die is cast. These things shall come to pass and are coming to pass before our very eyes. Daniel could not fully appreciate the prophecy and the vision that he had been given. It was not for his time period. God told him that "the words are closed up and sealed 'till the time of the end." 7. "To anoint the most holy". This is the time of the glorious millenniual reign of Jesus Christ. The word "anoint" means to empower. Jesus was cut off in the prime of his youth, because his time to reign had not, yet come. He laid aside his power or glory (Philippians 2:5-11), so, that he could take our sin upon himself and dispense with it as far as the east is from the west that it might be remembered no more. (Psalm 103:10) However, after the tribulation, it will be his time and we shall reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6) Before Jesus comes to conquer the world, He has made us his olive branch of peace extended, to the world. Those who reject God's offer of peace and plan of reconciliation, serve to justify his final judgment to come. 2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Therefore, we must be about our Father's business declaring his mercy at every opportunity, before the great and terrible day of the Lord (Joel 2:11,31), so, that we might please him who as called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2Co 5:11 “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”
Our rewards await us, both here in this life and in the world to come. Truly, we who lead someone to Jesus are happy. Promise: You shall be called the children of God.
Resist: "Blessed are you who are persecuted for righteousness sake." - Matthew 5:10 Our testimony is not, always, welcome or popular. (John 15:18-20) Remember, our mission is twofold: (1) to offer peace to a rebellious people, (2) and to justify the Lord's judgment to come. Again, in offering peace to a rebellious people we "demonstrate" God's mercy and in suffering the wrath of their rebellion against the truth, we "demonstrate" God righteous judgments. Life is a demonstration; not an experimentation. What will your life "demonstrate": lust, greed, and selfishness; or sacrifice, benevolence, and mercy? The "called" are elected to imitate the life of Jesus. He came to show us: the "way" that we are to live with God (John 14:6), the "truth" that will set us free (John 8:32), and the "life" that is abundant in him, right now. (John 10:10) This abundant life, in Jesus, is not without challenges. Our enemy, the devil, roams about seeking whom he may destroy. (1 Peter 5:8) We are instructed to submit ourselves to God and "resist" the devil. (1Peter 5:7; James 4:7) Then he will flee from us. Too many, Christians attempt to engage the enemy in battle. Even Michael the arch angel would not so much as raise a railing accusation against the devil; but declared "The Lord rebuke you." (Jude 1:9) We are not called to fight. We are called to follow the example set before us by Jesus the Good Shepherd. His way of beating the devil at his own game was to let him win the first battle and then use his own wickedness to destroy his power over us. Here in is a lesson. Evil is self-destructive. Given time it will, always, implode and righteousness shine forth in victory. Therefore, we wait upon God to do justice, righteously. Tips to the peace makers:
- Soft answers turn away wrath.
- Demonstrate the love of God, in your actions. This will get their attention.
Our trust in Jesus will put him in the position to defend us. He will not impose himself in our battles, as long as, we are leading the fight. Allowing him to take over, assures our victory. Therefore, we are called "more than conquerors", through him who loves us and gave himself for us. (Romans 8:37) We are called to give ourselves to and for him. (Romans 12:1) We are heirs of his great promises if we suffer with him. (Romans 8:17) So, let us enter into his rest that in letting him shine through us the world will see the mercy of our God, who desires that none should perish; but that all should be saved. Promise: Yours is the kingdom of heaven - Matthew 5:10 Here is the other book-end of Jesus' homily. The beginner, as well as, the graduate is promised the kingdom of heaven. It is the kingdom of heaven that is our reward, whether we receive salvation and die before we mature in the Lord, as did the thief on the cross, or we live a long life with Jesus and graduate with honors. It is in keeping the vision of the kingdom ever before us that motivates us to endure all things, whatsoever the Lord has commanded us, and remember he has promised, "I am with you, always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) Be blessed by it. Dennis Evans
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