A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call To Serve God's Purpose

 

    2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

    GOD's GOOD PURPOSE

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Ephesians 1:4-6

For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

    Romans 8:28,29

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

    Philippians 2:13

For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

FULFILLING GOD's PURPOSE

    God knows you. He formed you, created you. He calls you and I to be one with Him through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. The call, the invitation, still cries out to the lost, the dying, the hopeless, the despairing, the lonely, the homeless. 

    His servants go into the alleys, the streets, highways and the thoroughfares, preaching the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ; teaching holiness and discipleship in the power of The Holy Spirit. We go that His purpose might be fulfilled not only in us but in those who believe and receive the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

    The kingdom of God advances every time a soul gets saved. Every time a sinner repents and is baptized into the Name of Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord and Savior of their lives, the enemy of our souls-Satan-loses another battle and The Lord gains a faithful follower and friend. 

    Everyone is predestined to salvation but not everyone will accept it. It is such an incredible thing to believe that Someone would die for us! It boggles the mind. But if the seed lands in the heart, then the heart begins the search for the Truth. Jesus Christ is The TRUTH. Therefore, everything He speaks and does is TRUTH. That's a fact that cannot be broken or misconstrued. 

    Paul tells in Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." That's me. That's you. 

    THE HOLY CALLING

Holy means set apart, sacred. Calling means invitation. God is giving us a sacred invitation to come near to Him. He calls us to repent of the sins which keep us separated from Him; for He is a holy God and requires His people to be holy as well. This can only happen when we keep a penitent heart, a humble spirit, a loving attitude towards God.

    Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD: "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

    Diving Love calls us into God's presence, where we recognize and realize that His love exceeds our sins and covers us completely when we sincerely let go of the desire to do that which has kept us separated from Him. As we reach God's presence, we drop all pretence and cry out to God to save us. And He does. 

    I am a sinner saved by grace. God's grace. God's purpose is being fulfilled in me. Who I was before my sins were forgiven is now who I am now that I am forgiven.

Ephesians 2:8-10

    (paraphrased) By grace am I saved through faith; not of myself: it is the Gift of God. 

    Not by works {that I have done}, so I cannot boast {of this miracle wrought in me}. 

    I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as my way of life.

FULFILLING GOD's PURPOSE

God So Loved - We The Kingdom

 Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened - Petra

Have My Heart - Maverick City/TRIBL

 You Come For The Broken - UPPERROOM

God Has His Purpose - ASOP

 Refiner - Maverick City

Fly Eagle Fly - Whiteheart

 All My Hope - Crowder

Whosoever Meaneth Me - classic hymn

 Above All - Michael W. Smith

    

    

    

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - For This Purpose

 

1 John 3:8

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5319

Manifest(ed): make visible, make clear, make known, to illumine, bring to light

From the Greek word 'phaneroó' (pronounced fan-er-o'-o).

EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY

With regards to Christ, it is His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection and His ascension. 

The first people to see Him were Joseph and Mary, His earthly parents. The last people to see Him, before He ascended to heaven, were the eleven apostles (Judas having died and Matthias not yet selected). He arrives humbly and quietly. All the hoopla and fanfare occurred within minutes of His birth. He came to this earth in an unusual manner and He left in an equally unusual manner. But He was seen by people both times. 

Matthew and Luke give His birth announcements. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give us accounts of His life and ministry. The four gospels according to books also render eyewitness accounts of His death and His resurrection. The Book of Acts gives eyewitness testimony of His ascension. 

THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTS ARRIVAL

"To destroy the works of the devil". 

    What are these works and who is this devil? Everything that is not of God and His Christ is of the devil, which is why he is referred to as antichrist: against Christ. Though there have been many such antichrists through the centuries, the final antichrist will be fully revealed when the abomination of desolation makes himself known by setting himself up in the temple (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Matthew 24:15). 

    In Genesis 3:1, the serpent questioned God's Word. In Genesis 3:4, 5 the serpent lied about the veracity of God's Word. 

    Ezekiel 28:11-19, though spoken of to a mere man has a double meaning. It also refers to the devil's origins. Isaiah 14:11-17 (cf) Luke 10:18 wherein Satan falls from heaven. Revelation 20:2 refers to the devil as: dragon (huge fabulous [both in size and covering] serpent), ancient serpent (original/from the beginning snake), devil (accuser/slanderer) and Satan (adversary). 

ACCOMPLISHING HIS PURPOSE

    During Christ's three year ministry preaching the gospel of God we are given many examples and parables of how to overcome the enemy of our souls. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus overcame his attempts at manipulations with THE WORD OF GOD, "It is written" was His response all three times (Matthew 4:1-10; Luke 4:1-12). 

    When Satan riled up people to throw stones at Jesus, He hid Himself and escaped. But when Satan incited a mob to demand that Jesus be crucified, the purpose of Christ's arrival was set in its final motion. It is through the cross that God's purpose for His only begotten Son's earthly stay was fulfilled. 

    Being God's Lamb, He is sacrificed to atone for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), from the beginning to the end, from the first people to the last people: one time for all time. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world". The whole world, not just parts of it, not just certain segments of time in it, but all the world.  Hebrews 2:14 "to destroy him who holds the power of death, the devil". 

    Being God's only begotten Son, He is raised from the dead because death could not hold Him. Acts 2:24, Acts 10:40. Death has no power over Life, for Jesus is Life (John 1:4, John 14:6).  

    A person would have to read, and study out, all four gospel books, plus Acts and Hebrews to gain just a taste of, a glimpse of, what Jesus Christ had to do in order to accomplish God's purpose of destroying the devil and all his works. 

    It is our faith in Christ and our faith in God that accomplishes God's purpose in us through the blood which He shed on the cross and His being raised from the dead which overcomes the devil's destruction in us and in our lives (Romans 3:25). Simple Truth for chaotic times. 

BELIEVE ON HIS NAME

The Promise of Salvation and being given The Holy Spirit  is given to not only the head of the house but to everyone living under that person's roof. Acts 16:15, 31; Acts 18:8.

The Promise of Salvation and being given The Holy Spirit  is given to everyone who hears the gospel message being preached and receives it. Acts 2:38, 39.

The Promise of Salvation is given on an individual basis. Mark 16:16; John 3:18, 36; Romans 10:9, 10, 13. 

    Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you, too, will be saved. Saved from the punishment of sin, for Christ took our sins upon Himself when He was on the cross. Isaiah 53:4, 5; 1 Peter 2:23, 24.

1 John 4:15

If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives) in him, and he (lives) in God.

    It's why I can sing, This World Is Not My Home. For my home is in God and His home is in heaven. Have you made the Lord your home? Has He taken up residence in you? The Love of God was made manifest in the Person of Jesus Christ and this Love lives in me. It is why I urgently beg you to reconsider and to believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. 

    His return is imminent. He's coming to take His people home with Him. 

    

HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US by Fernando Ortega

HIGH PRIEST by Rivers & Robots

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE by Daniel Thornton (classic hymn)

 

 

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - The Light Still Shines

 

Matthew 2:2

"Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 792

Star: a star, a group of stars, stars strewn across the sky

From the Greek word 'astér' (pronounced as-tare'). In connection with the Greek word 'strónnuó' (pronounced strone'-noo-mee), wherein we get our English word 'astronomy'. 

HIS STAR, HIS PURPOSE

This start had one purpose: to light the way for those seeking the newborn baby King to worship Him. First, the shepherds who were nearby. Then, the wise men from the east, who traveled two years to reach Him. When the star had fulfilled its reason for being, it was seen no more. 

No matter how long it takes us to reach Jesus, as long as our intent is pure, our goal will be reached. And when our purpose in Christ has been fulfilled, we too, will be taken up and seen no more on this earth. Woe, to those whose names are called that are not ready. For no one will ever be 'good enough' to see God's face and live. Only they who are pure in heart. And the only way we can be pure in heart is to have Jesus Christ living in our hearts. 

THE LIGHT STILL SHINES

That light shined in the night sky to lead the way. It stood out from all the other twinkling stars, so it must have been visible to the naked eye. For both the shepherds and the wise men could see it without aid. 

But we know that while that light shone briefly, there is another Light which shines permanently. During His earthly ministry Jesus told His disciples, in John 8:12, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 

And again in John 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Knowing He would be taken out of the world, He also let them know that they would be the light, too, 12:36 "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light." After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them." 

THE PURE LIGHT

Proverbs 4:18

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Philippians 2:14, 15

14. Do everything without complaining or arguing,

15. so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Everywhere and in all things we are instructed to be honorable men and women of God: in our everyday life, where people around us see our actions and hear our the words that come out of our mouths and in the privacy of our own thoughts, where only God knows what we are thinking and the true intents of our hearts. 

Let us be the Lighthouse that shines the Light and Love of God through Jesus Christ into the darkness of this world in which we live, that wandering souls may see Jesus and be saved from wreck and ruin.

JESUS IS THE LIGHT by Carman

LIGHT OF THE WORLD by Hillsong United

Intentional Worship -- Daniel 6

 Daniel 6:10 

Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

In Daniel's day once the king had written a law and enforced it, the king could not rescind that law. He could, however, make a new law voiding the wrongful law. Until then the bad law remained in effect, especially on the first day it's put into practice. 

Knowing this document, this law, was now in effect Daniel deliberately with full intention of disobeying the unreasonable law prayed three times a day to God. His enemies were always watching him to see if they could catch him doing something illegal. Knowing that Daniel prayed three times a day to his God, they purposefully created and suggested to the king that he enact a law to thwart Daniel's time with God.

Daniel 6:4-8

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, "King Darius, live for ever. 

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

In Daniel 6:9 we read that the king signed this egregious document, this outrageous law. And now we get to the heart, the meat, of our study: Daniel's intent. 

In the privacy of his own home, in the room he had previously chosen to pray in, Daniel knelt three times a day and prayed to God, thanking Him. 
Can we do that? Knowing that laws have been written against us, laws which will throw us in prison, laws that will attempt to thwart our relationship with God, laws that when enforced will take our very lives? Can we thank God then? How can we thank God then, if we aren't thanking Him now? 

Our worship towards God needs to be intentional, on purpose with purpose. God knows our hearts. If our hearts aren't right with God, then He can't hear our worship: it falls on deaf ears. We must get our hearts aligned with His that He may be glorified in our worship. After all, the purpose of our worship is to love and adore on Him. 

"O Come Let Us Adore Him"  is a call to worship God, first sung by angels at Jesus' birth. But it's more than just a 'Christmas Carol', it's a pleading call to "come and adore God and the Son of God." "Adoration" is fervent (intensity of spirit, burning, enthusiastic) and devoted (zealous, passionate) love, reverence and respect. 

It is impossible to intentionally worship God under these definitions if our hearts are not right with God for our worship comes from our heart, from our souls. What is our soul? Our mind (our thoughts and how we think), our attitude (how we portray what we think and believe, our emotions), our will (putting our thoughts into action, speaking or doing said actions). 

When a person believes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation, their soul becomes saved. We are Saved out of the darkness of sin which separates a person from God. We sincerely and intentionally repent of the sins which we have committed against God and His Word; and He forgives us. We pray for His Holy Spirit to live in us and mold us into the people created us to be, discarding the uncleanness that is in our hearts and replacing it with the Word of God, which we read and study daily that it might be written in our hearts by God. 

Psalm 95:6

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

We who have walked out of the dark and into the His Light rejoice for the mercies of God on us, for His compassion and lovingkindness towards us! How can we not thank Him for all He has done for us? We bow now, we kneel before Him INTENTIONALLY and ON PURPOSE, WITH PURPOSE. 

Isaiah 45:23

By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone out from My mouth, a Word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Romans 14:11

It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God."

Philippians 2:8-11

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Daniel's faith in God, his love for His God, was greater than any law that the king could produce. Nonetheless, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, where he remained safely, for the Lord God had shut the lions' mouths and kept them from killing Daniel, which was the intent and purpose of the men who rose against him. And then they were thrown into the lions' den and received their intent upon themselves. 

Daniel's faith was counted unto him as righteousness. He is mentioned once more in the Book of Hebrews, in 'The Hall of Faith': Verse 33: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:22= "My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.” )

Again I ask, is your worship intentional? Are you and I purposefully, with a righteous heart, worshiping God? We can only answer these questions truthfully when we allow the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us when we have done wrong in God's sight and bring us to repentance when we kneel before Him with humble hearts, seeking His face and eagerly listening for His voice. 

His Star, His Purpose, His Glory

STAR

Numbers 24:17

"I shall see Him, but not now; 

I shall behold Him, but not nigh:

There shall come a STAR out of Jacob, 

and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,

and shall smite the corners of Moab,

and destroy all the children of Sheth."

Matthew 2:2

"Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen

 HIS STAR in the east, and we have come

to worship Him."

PURPOSE

Matthew 1:21

"And she will bring forth a Son, and 

you will call His Name Jesus, 

because HE will SAVE His people 

from their sins."

Luke 2:10-11

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: 

for, behold, I bring you TIDINGS of GREAT JOY.

which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a SAVIOR,

which is CHRIST THE LORD."

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only 

begotten Son, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM

SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, 

unto us a Son is given,

and THE GOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulders.

And He will be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR,

THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER,

THE PRINCE OF PEACE."

Matthew 28:18

"ALL AUTHORITY 

in heaven and earth has been given to Me."

GLORY

Revelation 5:12-13

"In a loud voice they said: 'Worthy is The Lamb 

that was slain to receive POWER and RICHES

and WISDOM and STRENGTH 

and HONOR and GLORY and BLESSING!'

And I heard every creature in heaven, 

and on earth, and under the earth and in the sea,

and all that is in them, saying,

'To Him who sits on the throne, 

and to The Lamb, 

be PRAISE and HONOR and GLORY and POWER

forever and ever!"

John 8:54

"Jesus answered, 'If I glorify Myself, my glory means nothing.

The One who GLORIFIES Me is My Father,

of whom you say, 'He is our God'."