Redeemed from the curse of law | July 17, 2016

The feelings are very deceptive, so be in the company of God, you will be in peace.

Acts 18:9-10, “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."

Today we will be reading from the book of Galatians 3:13-14 and today’s topic is, ‘Redeemed from the curse of law.”

Galatians 3:13-14

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

This passage of Scripture brings together the spiritual principles involved in our salvation from sin-Christ, by being made a curse for us, has redeemed us from the curse of the law. This passage also sets forth our spiritual and moral state before we were redeemed by Christ-we were cursed. And it sets forth our present spiritual state as redeemed people-we are blessed with all the blessings of Abraham and have received the promised Holy Spirit. Let us think about these various and related truths one by one.

The power and meaning of redemption: Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. So few in the church fully realize the impact of what redemption means in our lives. First it is to place value on something. The curse because of disobedience had caused us to become worthless, but Jesus Christ redeemed us, gave us back our value in the sight of God. He paid a lot to redeem us. He shed His blood on Calvary, we are bought with a price. Jesus gave His life for those who had lost their value, and redeemed them back to a place in position of joint heirs into the Father’s kingdom. Jesus fulfilled the promise to Abraham, that his seed, (not seeds as in many) but in his seed, Jesus Christ, all the nations of the world would be blessed. Since we are redeemed from the curse, we are no longer under sin’s dominion. He has given us authority, the keys of the kingdom. What we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, what we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The second Adam has placed us back in position to boldly approach God. What the first Adam lost, the second Adam redeemed back to us. What a glorious subject! The veil is rent in two, access to God is given, and Jesus becomes the first fruit.

We are redeemed through the blood of Christ - God had made the first covenant through circumcision, but man failed to keep covenant with God. So God made a better covenant, (read Hebrews) with better promises. God could not swear by any greater, so He sware by Himself. God gave His Word on it. He sealed it in blood. Not of bulls, goats, lambs or turtledoves, but the precious blood of Christ. John said, “Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” There is power in the blood. By grace are ye saved through faith, not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

The Curse is removed—if you read all the curses in Deuteronomy 28—you find that there were spiritual, physical, financial, family and other things that were cursed because of sin. Jesus removes the curses, so we can walk in the blessings of Father Abraham. The law didn’t disqualify the promises. Even though man failed to live up to the law, God sent His Son, who fulfilled the law, and turned the curse into blessings. We now can boldly approach the throne of grace, that we might receive grace and obtain mercy to help in the time of need.

The Blessings are poured down—every good and perfect gift come from above. Now instead of being aliens and strangers to the promises of God, we are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. Because Jesus defeated sin, sin has no more dominion over us. We are not bound by sin or to sin, we are free. We walk in the newness of life, we are a new creation, a brand new man.

Our reception is determined by faith not works - If someone doesn’t come to the faith in Jesus Christ, they still have not been brought nigh (near) by the blood. This walk wasn’t by flesh, Ishmael, sons of the bondwomen, but Isaac, sons of promise. The flesh and spirit won’t dwell together, throw out the bondwoman and her son. It is written, the just shall live by faith. You won’t receive until you believe. If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. So all the promises of God are conditioned on faith. Even our righteousness is tied to faith, not works. Abraham believed and it was accredited to him as righteousness.

There are two things in Galatians 3:13-14, which are worth noticing.

1- The blessing of Abraham.

2- The promise of spirit through faith through Christ Jesus.

There are many blessings in the Word given to Abraham either for him or those who would be through blessings would be blessed. The blessing of Abraham begin in Genesis 12: 1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

May we as children of God receive all God have for us through our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I. The first blessing is Genesis 12:1 ........ unto a land that I will shew thee:

God who desires to lead us by His Spirit would like to lead us to the place in our live to serve him.

A. Lead us to our spouse.

B. Lead us to our church.

C. Lead us to our education.

D. Lead us to our job.

E. Lead us in our calling.

We do this by letting the Holy Spirit Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

God doesn’t bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing.

II. Blessing number two of Abraham. Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, ...

A. We are part of a great family, the family of God.

B. We do not join it. You have to be born into to it by receiving Jesus.

1. Shaking hands with a preacher and joining church is not enough.

a. You must be born again.

III. Blessing number three in Genesis 12:2 ...... and I will bless thee,

A. God wants to bless us and meet every need of our lives. Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

B. He knows what we have need of before we know ourselves.

C. He wants us to have life and more abundantly. John 10:10 ..... The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

D. He will do more than we can think or ask. How by the power in us, which is the Holy Spirit. Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

IV. Blessing number four. Genesis 12:2 ...... and make thy name great,

A. Years ago my wife and I were guests of the Lord Mayor of Cheltenham, England. We were asked to sign the book of special guests. We signed our name below the signature of Queen Elizabeth the Queen of England. As I signed the book I was reminded of the Holy Spirit that Jesus has signed the Book of Life for me with His own precious blood. Praise the Lord!

B. We rejoice because God has made our names great because of Jesus.

V. Blessing number five Genesis 12:2 ............ and thou shalt be a blessing:

A. God wants us to be a blessing to all people.

B. Take the Gospel to the world.

C. Our lights need to shine in the sin dark world.

VI. Blessing number six of Abraham Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee,

A. God does not only want us to bless but also be a blessing. 

B. When we bless others we can expect it to come back to us.

C. Some people have told us that they have given to our missionary outreaches because of both my natural and spiritual tie to my great great grandfather ......Abraham. They said God would bless them because of it. I have replied that it is because of God’s promise not me.

VII. The seventh blessing of Abraham Genesis 12:3 ..... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

A. Our acts of obedience, faith, righteousness and walking in the Holy Ghost power will bless all the families of the earth.

B. We must desire it with all our heart and then we will bless all the families of the earth.

1. We do it when we walk and live in the Word and Spirit.

2. God is more anxious to bestow his blessings on us than we are to receive them.

There are two possible reasons so many Christians do not experience all the benefits of the blessing of Abraham.

1) They don’t know about;

2) They refuse to believe it.

Have you settled for a life that is far less than that which God has provided for you? I hear people talk about the situations of their life with such hopelessness, as though nothing can be done. Is this true? Is there nothing that can be done? I submit that the answer is an emphatic, “No!” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us. If you are saved, the blessing of Abraham is upon you. Are you experience victory through faith in the promises of God, or are you living in defeat because of your unbelief. This is your place, and your time, to turn around.

Christ is all we need to be redeemed from sin and the condemnation of sin. Faith in Christ is all we need to transform our life so that we are made righteous by God. Jesus Christ is made to us all we need. 

We hope you enjoyed today’s sermon. If you get some extra time, checkout this beautiful song. God bless!

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The Sacred Ordinance - Communion | July 10, 2016

The sacred ordinance | Communion (Sermon by Pastor James Xote)

In order to see Jesus Christ, the eyes of our heart needs to be open!

Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

In these verses is an account of the sufferings of Christ; also of the design of his sufferings. It was for our sins, and in our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered. We have all sinned, and have come short of the glory of God. Sinners have their beloved sin, their own evil way, of which they are fond. Our sins deserve all griefs and sorrows, even the most severe. We are saved from the ruin, to which by sin we become liable, by laying our sins on Christ. This atonement was to be made for our sins. And this is the only way of salvation. Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side. He was delivered to death for our offences. By his sufferings he purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God, to mortify our corruptions, which are the distempers of our souls. We may well endure our lighter sufferings, if He has taught us to esteem all things but loss for him, and to love him who has first loved us.

When you worship God only for finances, arrangements, promotion etc, and when you are not blessed by these you will be discouraged. But if you worship without any demands, He will bless you abundantly.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

There are two things we must understand:

1-Transubstantiation - Transubstantiation (in Latin, transsubstantiatio, in Greek μετουσίωσις metousiosis) is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, the change of substance by which the bread and the wine offered in the sacrifice of the sacrament of the Eucharist during the Mass, become, in reality, the body and blood of Jesus the Christ.

The Catholic Church teaches that the substance, or reality, of the Eucharistic offering (either bread alone, or bread and wine) is changed into both the body and blood of Christ.

Catholics believe that, in the offering of the Eucharist, the whole presence of Christ exists in:

- Transubstantiated bread, even in small fragments.

- Transubstantiated wine, even in a single drop.

2- Consubstantiation - Consubstantiation is a theological doctrine that (like Transubstantiation) attempts to describe the nature of the Christian Eucharist in concrete metaphysical terms. It holds that during the sacrament, the fundamental "substance" of the body and blood of Christ are present alongside the substance of the bread and wine, which remain present.

The doctrine of consubstantiation is often held in contrast to the doctrine of transubstantiation. While some Lutherans use the term "consubstantiation" to describe their doctrine, many reject it as not accurately reflecting the eucharistic doctrine of Martin Luther, the sacramental union. They reject the concept of consubstantiation because it replaces what they believe to be the biblical doctrine with a philosophical construct and because it implies that the body and blood are physically present in the same way as the bread and wine, rather than being present in an "illocal", supernatural way.

Illustration: It was 1553, when the Roman Catholic Queen Mary I, later known as “Bloody Mary” for her execution of so many reformers, came to the throne. Thomas Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury), Nicholas Ridley (Archbishop of London), and Hugh Latimer (Bishop of Worcester) were summoned to appear before a commission in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Oxford to be examined for their alleged Protestant heresies. They would not admit to a belief in transubstantiation, the Catholic belief that the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper literally become the body and blood of Jesus, and they were all found guilty. Ridley and Latimer were separated after their condemnation in St. Mary’s Church. They had to stay in separate houses as they awaited their execution in two weeks. , she killed over 288 Protestant Christians for the issue

The apostle describes the sacred ordinance, of which he had the knowledge by revelation from Christ. As to the visible signs, these are the bread and wine. What is eaten is called bread, though at the same time it is said to be the body of the Lord, plainly showing that the apostle did not mean that the bread was changed into flesh. St. Matthew tells us, our Lord bid them all drink of the cup, ch. Mt 26:27, as if he would, by this expression, provide against any believer being deprived of the cup. The things signified by these outward signs, are Christ's body and blood, his body broken, his blood shed, together with all the benefits which flow from his death and sacrifice. Our Saviour's actions were, taking the bread and cup, giving thanks, breaking the bread, and giving both the one and the other. The actions of the communicants were, to take the bread and eat, to take the cup and drink, and to do both in remembrance of Christ. But the outward acts are not the whole, or the principal part, of what is to be done at this holy ordinance. Those who partake of it, are to take him as their Lord and Life, yield themselves up to him, and live upon him. Here is an account of the ends of this ordinance. It is to be done in remembrance of Christ, to keep fresh in our minds his dying for us, as well as to remember Christ pleading for us, in virtue of his death, at God's right hand. It is not merely in remembrance of Christ, of what he has done and suffered; but to celebrate his grace in our redemption. We declare his death to be our life, the spring of all our comforts and hopes. And we glory in such a declaration; we show forth his death, and plead it as our accepted sacrifice and ransom. The Lord's supper is not an ordinance to be observed merely for a time, but to be continued. The apostle lays before the Corinthians the danger of receiving it with an unsuitable temper of mind; or keeping up the covenant with sin and death, while professing to renew and confirm the covenant with God. No doubt such incur great guilt, and so render themselves liable to spiritual judgements. But fearful believers should not be discouraged from attending at this holy ordinance. The Holy Spirit never caused this scripture to be written to deter serious Christians from their duty, though the devil has often made this use of it. The apostle was addressing Christians, and warning them to beware of the temporal judgements with which God chastised his offending servants. And in the midst of judgement, God remembers mercy: he many times punishes those whom he loves. It is better to bear trouble in this world, than to be miserable for ever. The apostle points our the duty of those who come to the Lord's table. Self-examination is necessary to right attendance at this holy ordinance. If we would thoroughly search ourselves, to condemn and set right what we find wrong, we should stop Divine judgements. The apostle closes all with a caution against the irregularities of which the Corinthians were guilty at the Lord's table. Let all look to it, that they do not come together to God's worship, so as to provoke him, and bring down vengeance on themselves.

We need a sound doctrine in our heart. Paul's says, let us not be feeding on milk anymore. Why many of us are confused, because we don't take the word of God seriously.

When God said, "This is my body, that's a presentation." He wants us to remember what He has done for us.

John 6:63

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

The human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven, but being God and man, that wondrous Person was truly said to have come down from heaven. The Messiah's kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness. As without the soul of man the flesh is of no value, so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and worthless. He who made this provision for our souls, alone can teach us these things, and draw us unto Christ, that we may live by faith in him. Let us apply to Christ, thankful that it is declared that every one who is willing to come unto him shall be made welcome.

When Jesus says "It is my body and blood?" It is a memorial. We are directly making a communion with God.

Those words were first used in reference to the Lord’s Supper by Jesus himself. The apostle Paul recorded them in 1 Corinthians 11.

He quoted Jesus as saying of the broken bread and the cup of the covenant,

"Do this in remembrance of me."

Those words remind us of two basic facts: that Jesus wants us to remember him and that we are prone to forget.

The Lord’s Supper makes it clear to us that Jesus wanted his followers to remember that His ministry on earth was completed on a cross, where he suffered and died for the sins of the world.

He wants us to remember the cross as the ultimate demonstration of his love for undeserving, self-centered sinners.

And he wants us to remember that following him means being identified with him.

It means taking up a cross — suffering as he suffered, forgiving as he forgave, loving as he loved, and dying as he died.

Let’s make the Lord’s Supper a memorable celebration and not just a routine ritual.

We need Preparation and Participation.

I. Through preparation.

Let your mind travel back to that night when Jesus was betrayed.

Remember the setting of the supper and the meaning he gave it.

We are not just casual observers we are part of what happened that night.

Walk with Christ, sit with Christ on the night when he instituted the supper.

II. Through participation.

For a memorable observance of the supper, we need to come in the right spirit.

Be still.

Remember the God we bow before is our creator, our redeemer, Our sovereign Lord.

Approach him in a spirit of reverence and humility.

Count your blessings and thank him. Open your whole life to God.

Remember that you do not come alone to the supper the supper.

Your brothers and sisters in Christ are here.

Pray that we will all sense God’s nearness, His love, His strength, His purpose.

For a memorable observance of the supper, we need to examine ourselves and confess our sins to God.

For a memorable observance of the supper, we partake of the elements in faith and meaningful remembrance.

We believe the bread and the grape juice received in faith remain bread and grape juice.

We believe that partaking of them in the spirit Jesus demonstrated will heighten our awareness of God’s presence and of his call to us to follow him.

Gathered around the Lord’s Table, we remember we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper, conscious of the Lord’s presence, the Lord’s power, and the Lord’s purpose.

From the table, we look back to the cross on which Jesus died and we look forward to his coming in glory.

There are so many covenants mentioned in the bible, but the one at Mt. Sinai is as important as it exposes the sin. It is easy to become morally stiff rather than being spiritually active.

The Lord's Supper is a very memorable service as it reminds us what God has done for us and what God will do with us.

Illustration: When I was pursuing my Masters in Theology, during the completion my classmates gave me a lungi (authentic cloth, as observed worn by majority of men in southern states of India), I will remember it for some times or maybe I might forget that over time. God doesn't gives us such gifts which we may forget. He gave His life for me (us) that I will never forget. 

We hope you enjoy this encouraging song by Matt Redman - "Once Again "

Let God continue to speak to us that we don't become fools. We hope you enjoyed today's sermon. See you next week, God bless!

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Press on | July 3, 2016

Welcome back to 'The Nathan Report'!

A beautiful day with the word of God. Today we will be studying about keeping a focus on our life. Like Paul says, I will "Press On!"

Illustration:

A hungry tiger smelled a deer and started chasing that smell. Suddenly he started getting smell of a rabbit and leaving deer, this hungry tiger started chasing the smell of that rabbit. While chasing he got a smell of a rat and this tiger started chasing the rat. The rat found a small hole and vanished. The lion ended his day in disappointment and more hungry than he began his day.

Many times we don't try to do one thing and at the end of the day we say, I wasted my day.

Philippians 3:13-15

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned as if the apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so as not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself forward towards his point; expressions showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. He who runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but press forward as fast as he can; so those who have heaven in their view, must still press forward to it, in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavours. Eternal life is the gift of God, but it is in Christ Jesus; through his hand it must come to us, as it is procured for us by him. There is no getting to heaven as our home, but by Christ as our Way. True believers, in seeking this assurance, as well as to glorify him, will seek more nearly to resemble his sufferings and death, by dying to sin, and by crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts. In these things there is a great difference among real Christians, but all know something of them. Believers make Christ all in all, and set their hearts upon another world. If they differ from one another, and are not of the same judgment in lesser matters, yet they must not judge one another; while they all meet now in Christ, and hope to meet shortly in heaven. Let them join in all the great things in which they are agreed, and wait for further light as to lesser things wherein they differ. The enemies of the cross of Christ mind nothing but their sensual appetites. Sin is the sinner's shame, especially when gloried in. The way of those who mind earthly things, may seem pleasant, but death and hell are at the end of it. If we choose their way, we shall share their end. The life of a Christian is in heaven, where his Head and his home are, and where he hopes to be shortly; he sets his affections upon things above; and where his heart is, there will his conversation be. There is glory kept for the bodies of the saints, in which they will appear at the resurrection. Then the body will be made glorious; not only raised again to life, but raised to great advantage. Observe the power by which this change will be wrought. May we be always prepared for the coming of our Judge; looking to have our vile bodies changed by his Almighty power, and applying to him daily to new-create our souls unto holiness; to deliver us from our enemies, and to employ our bodies and souls as instruments of righteousness in his service.

When your mind is divided, you are distracted and it is so difficult to focus on one thing and we end up failing to focus on our goal.

1 Thessalonians 3:6

“But now when Timothy came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:”

Proverbs 12:11

“He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.”

Proverbs 16:3

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Job 1:3

“His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”

Genesis 13:2

“Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.”

Genesis 6:12-13

“¹³ And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh,for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

Genesis 30:43

Ruth 2:1

“Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.”

1 Kings 10:23

“Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.”

Proverbs 13:9

“The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

If God is not present then money is the priority.

Job 31:24-25

“24 “If I have made gold my trust

or called fine gold my confidence,

25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant

or because my hand had found much.”

Mark 4:19

“But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”

2 Timothy 4:10

“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.”

1 John 3:17

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Deuteronomy 8:4

“Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.”

Paul is very clearly talking (Philippians 3:14) about what he is teaching. People are confused. Some people says don't pray this way or that way. A prayer is a direct communication with God but now a day many people have come to their conclusion.

You are not here by accident. God has a purpose for you. God took hold of Moses. To gain what Moses gained, he lost everything. When Moses went to see the prince, he did not go as a prince's friend, but as a servant of God. And because God has taken hold of him, he went into 40 years wilderness.

Don't count the blessings of things, but count for the blessings of what God ha don't to you in your life.

No matter how many failures have you seen, press on!

Illustration: When amateur wrestlers fight, they generally apply oil on their bodies and they don't let their opponents to get hold of them. If their opponent get hold of them, they may lose.

So if anger, bitterness and the past faluers take hold of you then you will not be able to move forward.

But if takes hold of you then, you don't fail.

Church has become a very weak church today because we only want to know God as 'Jehovah Jireh'. We must have a zeal to know God the way Paul wanted to know God in His suffering. So whether we get or not anything or even we loose for chirst inspite of it we will be stong and will depend on God.

What set Paul apart from other people was what Paul said, "I want to know Him, I want to be at His feet, I want to know about the power of His resurrection, I want to know the way of God, and I want to know everything about God."

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Do not be distracted in your life. Like Paul said, "Press on!"

Illustration: a beautiful princess said, "I will marry to someone who will loose in a race with her. Many princes came to race and during race she lured them by throwing gold coins on the track. Many got lured and because of utilizing the time for picking up the coins, they lost. But there was one prince, who said, "I don't want this gold or the money, I want her." And eventually he won the race and got married to her.

Don't count on the things of these world. Focus on God and His ways and allow him to get hold of you.

What does His life teach us? Exactly what Paul said in our text, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

How do we press on? We keep on praying, reading God’s Word, and living the life as best we can!

Spiritual perfection? NO! There is no such thing. Our only perfection is in Christ, but spiritual growth and maturity should be our goal in life. Only one life. This will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.

II Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood. But there must be self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors. Those who are led away by error, fall from their own stedfastness. And that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after, and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, for ever.

Our hope and prayer for each of you is that you would know Christ; that you would value your relationship with him above all else. And that you would know that Christ has taken hold of your life for a purpose, not just to take up a seat on Sunday, but to live out your unique calling to make Christ known. In that pursuit, hard times will come, people will let you down and you might fail as well. So determine now to be people who PRESS ON to the end. We hope you enjoyed today's sermon, God Bless!

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Original source: Jialiang Gao

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