FINISHING STRONG
STUDY VII
As we look closely in the word of God, we realise that there are many people God called and chose them to a particular purpose but they later backslide. We are told that the scriptures are supposed to instruct us and warn us. 1Cor 10:11-12, Rom 15:4We can learn that it's not whether you are anointed or not that matters, but the most important question is how you finish.
We are surrounded by people who were once mightily used by God but it's another story.
Jesus and Paul are the only two persons who finished well and also told us to follow their example.
Paul said that "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1Cor 9:27.… He then goes on to give the example of the Israelites in chapter ten, teaching us that though God delivered them from Egypt to take them to Egypt, only two of them entered the land of Canaan. Though many have supposedly"received Christ ", very few enter into everything that God has for them.
If we don't discipline our bodies to do what they should do, not what they want to do; we cannot finish well.
Paul says follow me as I follow Christ. 1Cor 11:1. This is to mean that we are to follow him as long as he is following Christ. If he stops following Christ, we stop following him. If a preacher who was your role model stops following Christ, you stop following the preacher and continue following Christ.
He says "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2Cor 11:3.
The way satan leads us astray is by corrupting our minds towards the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. He makes us to think that serving Christ is more important than your personal devotion to Him. He crowds our lives with religious activities and we have no time for meditation on Christ, Communion with Him and study of His word.
The devil will want us to think that if God blesses us materially, He is definitely pleased with you, but stop and think. Who are the richest people in your town or city or country? Can you honestly say that God is pleased with them? We can see that God can bless you materially even when you are displeasing to Him.
Interestingly, we can pray and read the bible and not meet Christ, and that would please the devil. We can be devoted to the text of the bible and not Christ; it is our devotion to Christ that is to be utmost in our lives. If we commune with Christ, He will cause our hearts to burn, Luke 24:32. If you listen to a man of God whom God is using, your heart will burn. Your life will be full of peace and rest, without any fear and full of joy.
Above all things, make your devotion to Christ number 1 each day of your life.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We have to fix our eyes on Jesus.
As long as Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus, he walked on water, but when he looked at the storm, he begun sinking but crying out immediately Jesus helped him. Mathew 14:27-32
If we look at the surrounding, we'll sink, if we look at people or circumstances or even our past, either good or evil we'll sink in worldliness, but if we fix our eyes on Jesus we will be overcomers.
Lam 3:51 says that my eyes affect my heart. Where your eyes are looking will affect your walk with God. If you look at circumstances, you will be distressed or depressed. If you look at people, you will be jealous or proud, if you look at past achievements, you will be proud. Don't look right or left, or back, but fix your eyes on Jesus and you will not sink. If temptation comes and you cry out to him to save you, He will. Don't be silent if you are drowning but call of him.
Meditate of the cross constantly and you will develop a deep love and reverence for Christ.
The evidence that your eyes are fixed on Jesus is that you will never give up or get discouraged in our fight against sin in our lives. Heb 12:2-4
As long as he sought God, God made him prosper... 2Chron 26:5b
Keep the fire on the alter always burning by constantly meditating on the cross of Jesus. Discipline your body. Guard you devotion to Christ more than anything else.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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