5-Steps to Ultimate Success

~ Do You Understand The Process? ~       

     

The Goal  ~  God’s goal for every Christian is that they become increasingly Christ-like. “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:” (Ephesians 4:17-21). This chapter continues by clearly presenting four things which need to be put in their proper place in order for meaningful progress in our metamorphosis towards Christ.

The fourth chapter of Ephesians tells us a lot about how to become increasingly Christ-like. In particular verses 17-32 give instructions regarding the new individual a Christian has become and how to engage in this world without grieving the Spirit of God. It is important to note that these instructions are given to those who have accepted the free gift of salvation through the death of Jesus Christ for their sins (Step 1). 

2.  Put Away Your Former Lifestyle  ~  “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22).  

3.  Put New Attitudes into Your Thinking  ~  “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23, see also Romans 12:1-2).  

4.  Put On a New Person of Holiness  ~  “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and do not sin:’ do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:24-30). 

5.  Put Away Wrong Emotions  ~  “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).  

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Promotion to Servant

In the business world, a good job title and description can be extremely valuable. We often evaluate one another, and evaluate our own level of “success,” by the significance of our title and the importance of our description. We seem to have a great need to be esteemed; and employees have even been known to trade an increase in pay for a more important title.
The Apostle Paul received his call into God’s service in a very dramatic fashion. While traveling on the road to Damascus, “A light from Heaven flashed around him” (Acts 9:3). Jesus spoke directly to Paul and told him exactly who He was. A few days later Jesus said Paul was “My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
With this endorsement, Paul could have chosen any title he wished – maybe “God’s Chosen Instrument” or “Chief Name Bearer of The Almighty.” After all, Paul’s new boss was the Creator of the Universe.
But once Paul developed a close relationship with Jesus, he saw Him as one who was, “In very nature God” (Philippians 2:6). But at the same time, Paul saw Jesus as one who “made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). With this type of role model, Paul was proud to receive his new title.
Romans 1:1
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.”
There is no greater title in God’s Kingdom than, “Servant of Christ Jesus” – no more significant job description than, “Set Apart for the Gospel.” Once Paul understood how Jesus lived and obediently served all the way to the cross, he rejoiced and devoted himself to serving with every last breath; “I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well” (2 Corinthians 12:15).
It’s understandably difficult to maintain the walk of a servant. All our worldly training tells us to climb higher and achieve more; but God calls us to love Him and humbly serve as His Spirit leads – nothing more, nothing less. We have been set apart for the gospel, and our lives are to be lived as Christ living through us. We always fall short of God’s plan when we attempt to promote ourselves and take control.
There are many openings in the Kingdom of God, but there can be only one job title and only one job description. Our Heavenly Father has called and offered a permanent promotion which far surpasses anything this world could ever offer. Let’s put aside our “need” to be in charge. Let’s humbly bow and proudly accept the promotion to Servant.

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Into The Storm

Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side” (Matthew 14:22). The disciples had begun to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose which caused them to “strain against the oars” (Mark 6:48). It was the middle of the night, and after already rowing about three and a half miles they found themselves fighting against the wind and waves.
Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had clearly heard and obeyed but they were still confronting a very difficult situation. The story continued as Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat to join Him, and then miraculously calmed the storm. But couldn’t the struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait until morning to travel?

This wasn’t the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus. During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose: “The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’” (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this first storm, the disciples asked each other “What kind of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, the disciples saw Jesus as an amazing man. But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm, the disciples began to understand.
Matthew 14:33
“Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’”
I do not believe that all storms are directly from God; but as was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm for the purpose of revealing Himself and drawing us closer to His side. While in the middle of a storm, we can see God’s love and witness His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. “These {storms} have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).

Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son as a sacrifice for our sin; enough to give us His Spirit as our guide; enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began in our lives. Let’s receive His love and learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let’s learn to look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every day. Let’s praise Him and look for new revelations of His love, even as we are sent into the storm.

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5 Steps to Obedience

~ Selected Psalms Show the Progressive Development of Godly Character ~  

Separation  ~  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). 

Forgiven  ~  “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Psalm 33:1-3). “Righteous” and “upright” in God’s eyes as one of His forgiven children.

Trust  ~  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing)” (Psalm 34:8-10).

Discipline  ~  “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law” (Psalm 94:12).   

Obedience  ~  “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:1-3). 

These selected Psalms show the truth of how God progressively sanctifies His people. First is the decision to accept Christ as Savior and to be separate from patterns of on-going evil which results in forgiveness. With forgiveness the child of God increases trust in God as he develops the necessary discipline to be consistently obedient.  

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Leave Everything And Follow

When Jesus walked on the earth, He called a few select people to follow Him as He ministered. There was something irresistible about His call – something that opened eyes to a new reality and caused a radical change.
Luke 9:23-25
“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
Peter, James and John were partners in a small fishing business on the Sea of Galilee. This was their source of support for themselves as well as their families. Yet when they heard the call to become “fishers of men,” they eagerly responded; “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:11).
Matthew (also called Levi) was a tax collector – a Jew appointed by the Roman government to collect taxes from his Jewish brothers. As a tax collector, Matthew made a good living; but he walked away from his life of security when Jesus called: “‘Follow Me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:27-28).
In the Old Testament, Abraham moved his entire household to follow God without even knowing where he was being sent (Genesis 12:1-5). Moses, at eighty years old, left the peaceful life of tending flocks to follow God’s call to confront Pharaoh (Exodus 3). And Elisha completely destroyed his old way of life when Elijah called: “He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. Then he set out to follow Elijah” (1 Kings 19:21).

Answering the call to follow will always require a change, but the change may not be in physical location, profession, or status. The change may not always bring hardship. King Solomon followed God and was the richest man on earth. Joseph followed God and was the second most powerful man in Egypt. There is definitely a change involved with taking up our cross and following, but the real change occurs in the heart. It’s a change where we learn “the secret of being content…whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). It’s a change where we leave our old values and priorities, and find complete fulfillment in Christ.
As we draw closer to our Heavenly Father, we will find His call to be irresistible. We will learn the freedom and power of daily being led by His Spirit. And, as with many others who have gone before, we will NEVER regret answering the call to leave everything and follow.

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The Mind of Christ

In the message “Stand Our Ground” we began with a statement that our Christian walk involves a process of renewing our mind. Paul wrote to the Romans about this renewal as an on-going process of transformation (Romans 12:2). He also wrote about a renewed mind as something which has already occurred; “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
The consistent message through all the New Testament is that through faith in Jesus we are given a new birth, with a new heart, a new Spirit, and a new mind. However, we are continually exhorted to live as a new creation, worship with a new heart, receive guidance and strength from a new Spirit, and make decisions and set priorities with a new mind. The life of a Christian, in many ways, involves learning to walk according to the transformed life we have already been given!
Philippians 2:5
“Your attitude (or mind in the KJV) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice for sin. But many portions of His life were for the express purpose of giving us an example by which to live. With all the power of the Universe at His command, He humbled Himself and demonstrated the mind and attitude of a servant; “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).

 The Son demonstrated a mind of obedience and lived to honor His Father in ALL He did; even though being obedient might result in discomfort or pain…or even death: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).
As He obediently served, Jesus also demonstrated a mind void of all pride. With more abilities than we can possibly comprehend, Jesus still gave all the glory to His Father; “By Myself I can do nothing…for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me” (John 5:30). His entire life became an example of how we are to be an empty vessel through which God may work.
Moments before He died – after being beaten, whipped, spit upon and nailed to a cross – Jesus still demonstrated the mind of supreme love and forgiveness; “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Though we know we have far to go, the mind of Christ becomes our example to follow. We must develop the mind of a humble servant, void of pride, who desires nothing more than for our Heavenly Father to work in and through our life. Let’s live as His Child, loving and forgiving others as Christ first loved and forgave us. We, who have been transformed, ought to continue the process of transformation, and more fully develop the mind of Christ.

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His Disciples

 One of the last commands Jesus gave was to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The making of a disciple is the complete work of the Holy Spirit; but we are told to join in this work by teaching people to believe in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, to humbly submit control of their life into His hands, and to “obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).
God’s Word contains the complete description of what it means to believe, submit, and obey. Jesus taught extensively on each of these issues. But the single command which will have the greatest impact on the world around us is the command to love.
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
The phrase “As I have loved you” ought to rip at our heart. Though there was nothing in us to deserve His love, Jesus gave His life. And long before He gave His physical life, He gave something even greater; He “made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). Jesus loved enough to give up who He was for those completely unlovable; and this is the level of love we are called to demonstrate to one another.
We are called to a sacrificial love – a love that gives and considers the needs of others ahead of our own. We are called to give our time, our tears, our understanding, and even our material resources when necessary. We are called to love enough to rejoice when others rejoice, but also to hurt when others hurt, and to forgive simply because Jesus first forgave us. We are called to love!
But notice why we are called to such love. Our love for others is certainly an expression of gratitude to God and a maturing process as we grow into the likeness of Christ, but Jesus also says our love for others is the one sure way of telling the world we are followers of Christ. Our love becomes an act of worship because, through love, we are boldly declaring Jesus is Lord! As we love – even when others may not “deserve” our love – we actively show the world the joy and peace found only in Jesus.
The world is overflowing with people who need love, who have run out of hope, longing for someone to let them know they care. We are those who must care! We must reach out to one another with a love that defies all worldly wisdom and understanding. We must love as Jesus loved us. This love will be used to work miracles; this love will bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father; this love will show the world that we are truly His disciples.

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