TOPIC: TOPIC: MORE AFTER MORE
MEMORISE:
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. - (Luke 1:53)
READ: Philippians 3:5-14 (KJV)
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 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,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
MESSAGE:
In today's Bible reading, Paul recounted some of his great achievements. He stated that he was of the stock of Israel, a descendant of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, circumcised on the eighth day, and a Pharisee. After listing his achievements and attributes, he went on to say that he counted them all as loss and dung for Christ.
Paul was clearly one of the most knowledgeable apostles in the Bible. He was a lawyer and a Pharisee who had studied under a renowned teacher, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). For comparison, we can say that he attended the best university and studied under the most distinguished professor there. He had everything to boast of in terms of knowledge. However, when he gave his life to Jesus, he laid all his accomplishments at the Master's feet and allowed the Lord to use them for the advancement of His Kingdom. He humbled himself and submitted to Ananias, a disciple of Christ in Damascus and went on missionary trips with Barnabas, a Levite. Paul didn't allow his past achievements to stop him from pursuing the Lord wholeheartedly.
The secret to Paul's achievements in his walk with God can be found in Philippians 3:13:
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,
Paul was always ready to learn more. He never allowed what he had learnt previously to rob him of the things that God wanted to show and teach him. This must be your disposition if you want to walk closely with God and achieve great things in His kingdom. Lamentations 3:23 says that God's mercies are new every morning. If you keep holding on to yesterday's mercies, how will you be able to receive today's portion? There is always more beyond what you have, and God can always give you more than what you have received from Him already. However, it is only as you humble yourself to receive from the Lord that you can get more from Him. One of the greatest enemies of growth is an 'arrival' mentality. The moment people think that they have 'arrived' (gotten to the peak of success), they stop growing immediately.
Beloved, ask God to help you cultivate a heart that is ever hungry for Him and that constantly seeks to achieve greater exploits in His Kingdom. He will supply you with His grace in abundance so that you will keep soaring in Him.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me a deep hunger to seek You more.
AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PROVERBS 8-11
HYMNAL: 12 ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1 Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
2 At the sign of triumph
Satan's host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise! [Refrain]
3 Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity. [Refrain]
4 Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
unto Christ the King;
This thro' countless ages
men and angels sing. [Refrain]
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