”looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.“
Hebrews 12:2-3 NKJV
You’ve probably heard about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He preached a sermon to the religious leaders that still packs a sting! He had done nothing wrong, but because he dared confront them concerning their ways of being and doing, they stoned him to death.
”When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.“
Acts 7:54-60 NKJV
Amazingly, in the midst of their violence toward him, Steven speaks of seeing Jesus, and then demonstrates the ultimate in forgiveness concerning those who were killing him.
You see, Steven was following Jesus to the end; and a true follower of Jesus will be found demonstrating His way of being and doing, no matter what.
Yes, Steven’s eyes were on Jesus. Indeed, his focusing on Jesus provided the strength he needed to be a good witness—even praying for those who were attacking him—even until he “fell asleep.”
You see, where you are looking, will not only determine where you are going, but will also determine whether you are encouraged to carry on, or tempted to fall away into despair.
Indeed, as we see in our opening scripture, Jesus’ resolve was strengthened by His focusing on His mission: obedience to the Father, even being obedient to the shame and suffering of the cross.
Friend, if we look at our circumstances, or what other people are doing or saying or “might be thinking,” we will not be able to finish our course well. But, if we look at Jesus, if we look at what He did to extend salvation to us, while also considering what that salvation brings for now and eternity, we will finish well.
Remember, Peter was able to walk on water until the storm distracted him from looking at Jesus (Matthew 14).
So, no matter what, look at Him! Keep looking at Him! Don’t ever look away!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,“
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
In terms of maintaining our resolve to fully follow Jesus no matter what, we are often our own worst enemies. You see, in clinging to those things that prove to be self-defeating in terms of our Christian walk, we are providing the means of our own failure.
For example, a person could resolve that they wanted to be a great runner—or at least to be able to run a race without quitting or otherwise being disqualified. But, if that person will not divest of those things that are contrary to the goal, the resolve to obtain the goal will not survive the contrary forces from which they have refused to disengage.
Now, still using the example of a racer, if they want to be able to run a race and finish, and they are extremely overweight, or insist on running with their phone in their hand, or are wearing very heavy shoes, etc., their own self-imposed hindrances will most likely cause their resolve to crash and burn.
In our opening scripture we see that the writer of Hebrews, after having detailed the great Hall of Fame of Faith (Hebrews 11), instructs that if we are to do what they did (yes, all of that is in the word, “therefore”), we must lay aside self-imposed hindrances.
Please understand, we most certainly will encounter hindrances over which we had no control (in terms of their coming our way), but we are in a better position to deal with those hindrances when we have divested from that which is self-defeating (in terms of our victory).
I’ve seen—in more than one movie—boxers training in very contrary and harsh conditions. Why would someone do this? Well, if you can carry out what you need to do even when faced with adversity, you gain a new level of strength and don’t have to worry about “surprises” keeping you from being at the top of your game.
The apostle Paul, having exhorted the people to seek those things which are above, then turns to explain that in order to seek the things which are above with Christ, we must reject and divest of the “old man,” along with those ways of being and doing.
”Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.“
Colossians 3:5-11 NKJV
Friend, we want to be prepared for whatever may come to try to steal our resolve in terms of our faith walk. That being the case, our first step toward being able to put on those things which help us to succeed, has to be putting off that which is not expedient, even if it is not a “sin” per se.
We talked yesterday about being able to have the atmosphere of Heaven with us even in the midst of the doings of the hordes of Hell. Yes, the atmosphere of Heaven brings rest and peace, even in the midst of the storm. But, if we refuse to divest of that which is contrary to our peace and His plan, then we will never find that Place where the works of the enemy are stripped of power against us.
Remember: Your resolve will dissolve if you lose your rest because you won’t divest!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“
Philippians 3:10-14 NKJV
I have a theory; I believe that no one has ever resolved to lose weight when they are hungry. In fact, I believe that most declarations about losing weight are made in the context of a feeding frenzy. However, when that bloated, uncomfortable belly deflates a bit, and hunger (or boredom, or stress) kicks in, that “resolve” to lose weight evaporates into a bag of Oreos (or myriad other old food “friends”).
Now, as you might suspect, I am not trying to get you to resolve to lose weight. I am making the point to you that it’s easy to say that we have resolve concerning something; but the test, the proof of that resolve, is whether it will endure testing.
We have begun this year at Ararat Church by examining our need for resolve. If we are to continue to prepare ourselves for the soon coming of our Lord—part of which is bringing in the last harvest of souls—we must have resolve concerning our own Christian walk.
Indeed, we must have an inner determination to fulfill all of our purposes in God, to pursue all that to which God has given us access, as well as to decouple ourselves from all forms of attachment to the world’s way of being and doing.
Perhaps the old song says it best: “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” But of course, as seen in our opening scripture, Paul expressed that sentiment millennia ago.
Friend, 2024 is going to be a rough ride for the world. Now, I say, “for the world,” because we have access to the “mobile home” of the Kingdom of God in which to make the journey.
You see, as we, through faith, dwell in the Presence, Peace, and Power of God in Jesus Christ, we can keep the atmosphere of Heaven with us even as the hoards of Hell attempt a final coup against the Rule of Christ.
But, make no mistake, if we waver in our faith, waver in our resolve to fully follow Christ, waver in our trust in Him, we’ll share that gut-wrenching ride with the world.
Over the course of this year we will be offering instruction, prayer and encouragement to stay the course toward the High Call of God in Jesus Christ.
By God’s grace, we will become more attuned to the Holy Spirit, more conscious of God’s Presence, more obedient to Christ’s rule and more ready and willing to speak the will of God into our daily lives, no matter what we are facing.
We know that we are living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ. As such, there is much work to do and many hindrances to be overcome. But remember, we are THE BODY OF CHRIST! He is with us to help us endure what we must, while doing what we must.
Are you in? Will you join us in our RESOLVE to finish well?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!