There are many things that still must come to pass before the Lord returns, things that are clearly written in scripture that we might be aware of the time and season in which we are living. These things were written so that we the Church could stand fast, and keep our focus on our responsibility of each of us perfecting our call to holiness while endeavoring to fulfill the purpose for which we have been elected/enlisted/chosen by the Captain of our salvation.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (KJV)
2Ti 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (NASB)
We all have not only been called to be holy for the Lord is holy, it is both a commandment and a necessity; for without holiness no one will see God on favorable terms. Equally true is that each of us have been given a certain rank and file in the army of God whereby we are to . . . no, whereby we must labor together with other members of the body of Christ according to the effectual working of His grace given each and everyone of us. None of this has to do with God being a respecter of persons, rather it is in His wisdom that He has dispersed His gifts unto men with the seemingly greater gifts also bearing the greater responsibility. Nonetheless, regardless the uniqueness of our individual calls to ministry given by our Father, every believer’s priorities should be for His name’s sake to be wholeheartedly seeking and doing His will “according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
2 Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall.
Sisters and brothers, we must make our callings certain (not in vain), for there has been given to each an everyone of us “grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ,” meaning our Lord has equipped each and every one for a unique function in His body that by having ears that hear what the Spirit is saying we can collectively work together making Christ known and warning men to flee the wrath to come. This is why we study to show ourselves approved, that we might not only rightly divide the Word of truth, but be applying it as well, thereby proving all things as we submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God . . . for there is no place for rouge independent “Christian ministers.” That is not to say that true men and women of God at times will not feel alone, but their hearts are ever seeking others with whom they may labor to God’s glory.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
In His wisdom God has so designed it that if we are to experience “what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God” then we must recognize and accept that God have forced us to surrender to the purpose of His calling in each of our lives with all humility and charity, or we will never be able to convince the world in which we live of the reality of God’s love if it is not manifestly evident amongst ourselves. For it is by the love we are to be exercising one for another, when we truly love others as He loved us with the laying down of His life that men will know we are in fact His disciples. It is for this purposed we have been called workout our salvation (freedom from sins) and utilize the empowerment by His Spirit.
1Pe 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.
The adversary is always trying to get the bride of Christ distracted, moved off centered and shaken in her faith concerning the coming of our Lord and Savior and therefore also removed from the purpose our callings. When men allow themselves to lose this necessary and simple focus, they become susceptible deception leaving their hearts easy targets for the deceitfulness of sin. Before long the adversary can stir up in the unguarded heart of a believer a lust of religious approval (seeking the praise and approval of men) making it easy to be led astray with a lust for ministry (I want people to hear what I have to say) leaving them full of the deadly pride of religion (I thank you Lord I am not like other men, I am different and special).
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1st William – For all that is in the pseudo-church, the lust of the approval, and the lust of ministry, and the pride of religion, is not of the Father, but is of the devil.
We need to keep ourselves within the simplicity of Christ. He has redeemed us, we are bought with a price and we are not our own. He has called us all to holiness; to be like Him. We must be “fitly joined together” and by His wisdom are “compacted,” or forced to accept these things if we are to truly experience His fullness and allow Him to complete that which He has begun in us.
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
It is time we grow up and truly awake to the righteousness unto which we have been called and fully realized why we were forgiven in the first place; for our forgiveness was only to be a starting point and is not of itself the end of the race we’re been called to run.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
With all that is going on in the world we need to earnestly and fervently pray and faint not, asking the Holy Spirit to help us both labor and pray effectually to the end of warning all men to flee the wrath the come and to completely surrender to the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ.
1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run [as if you want to be that one], that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
Peace to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Gates of the City 