Thursday, February 05, 2004 (88)
THE HIGH CALLING OF THE CHURCH. The intent and design of the Lord is that He might share His glory with His people. That stretches far beyond casual Christianity [If there is such a thing]. Too many are content to be forty percent Christians, while the Lord would have all to be one hundred percent. When such marvelous Spiritual riches are offered, why should we live in Spiritual poverty? His people have been called to glory and virtue. His voice is constantly heard through His Word. He is not slack in making known all the divine gifts and abilities that He has made available. We are called to share and share alike in all of His eternal glory and power. His spiritual gifts are only understood as we acquire knowledge of Him, and that comes by the study of the Word of the Lord. Every Christian should be a student of the Word. 1 Pet. 5:10
THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. Limitless, boundless a spirituality that knows no ultimate, in measure, time or any other dimension or capacity. As the Lord is absolutely unlimited so will be the fulfillment of that high calling. It is a Godly calling, it is spiritual, it is eternal and everlasting, and it is for the here and now, this very present time. Even more so, as we approach the end of the age. That high calling is something worth striving for in our spiritual lives. Its prize is the greatest ever. There is no greater reward than to be a part of that glorious Bride of Christ in these last days. Phil. 3:14 The mighty working of the Word of the Lord is constant and daily as we expose ourselves to it. Either by reading it or hearing it preached. For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of the Lord. The effectual working of the Word will involve the working and manifestation of the divine nature within us. The dwelling of that divine presence in us is that which sanctifies and purifies us from all the works of the flesh. The Lord will have a glorious church in the end of the age and what makes her glorious is the divine nature and being of the Lord Himself that dwells within her spirit nature. 2 Pet. 1:4 The new man, that man who has been born of the Spirit, is in a process of renewal. He is undergoing a process of spiritual creation with the intent that he be made in the image and likeness of the Lord. That does not mean, in theory, but in full actuality. The Lord wants His very own to be like Him in every aspect of the word. Possessing the same Spirit and being as that which makes God to be God. Col. 3:10 The new man has a new spirit, a new mind, new aims, a whole new language, a new love, all things become new. He can be no longer the old corrupt man but now is renewed after the Lord Himself. The new man is created after the likeness of the Lord in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. 4:23-24 If we will permit the Lord to do in us what He wants to do we will see an entirely different brand of Christian in the church. If we do not commit to His will and way we will find ourselves on the outside looking in at those who were privileged to enter into the marriage of the Lamb. Remember, five were wise and five were foolish. Mt. 25:1-12