“Giving Up Something To Gain Everything”
DURING THIS LATTER DAY END-TIME HARVEST, GOD IS CALLING FOR THE CHURCH TO MAKE A SACRIFICIAL OFFERING THAT IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICH HE REQUIRED OF ANY GENERATION BEFORE. THIS POSTURE THAT WE ARE TO TAKE IS CLEARLY PORTRAYED BY OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. AS WE GO THROUGH THIS LESSON, YOU WILL SURELY FIND OUT THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO “LEAVE SOMETHING, BUT WE ARE GOING TO GAIN EVERYTHING!” YES, IT MAY HURT BUT THE GAIN IS ASTRONOMICAL!!!
5 – Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
What mind was this?
6 – Who, (Jesus Christ), being in the form of God, (in heaven), thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 – But made himself of no reputation, (willfully and joyfully gave it up), and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
III. THE CALL TO THE CHURCH – THAT’S ME!
I JOHN 4:17
17 – Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world.
So, this eliminates …”that was Jesus” because we now have that same ability living inside of us. But how do I become in this world now who he is?
HEBREWS 12:1
1 - …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.
WEIGHT = ANYTHING/ANYBODY WHICH KEEPS YOU FROM BEING AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS DURING THIS END-TIME CALL.
SIN = THINGS WHICH ARE IN DISCORD WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
YOU CANNOT STRADDLE THE FENCE. YOU CAN’T PRAY IN CHURCH AND BOOGIE IN THE WORLD. HOUSE CLEANING – MIND CLEANING – FRIENDS CLEANING – MOUTH CLEANING.
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, WHEN YOU APPEAR BEFORE GOD, YOUR EXCUSES WON’T WORK BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. HE HAS GIVEN YOU:
· THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY – EPH. 4:11
· THE GOD KIND OF FAITH – ROM. 12:3
· MORE THAN 72,000 ANGELS – PSALMS 91
· PRINTED WORD – II TIM. 3:16
· WALKING WORD – JOHN 1:1-15
NOW, YOU SEE WHY “AS HE IS, SO ARE WE”
I. NOW, THIS IS HOW YOU LINE YOURSELF UP TO LIVE THAT MORE THAN A CONQUERING LIFE. “THE MODEL”
2 – Looking (constantly) unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith; who for the joy (this is why he was able to do it) that was set before him endured (bear, withstood, suffered, tolerated, and put up with) the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Sometimes we want to say like Jesus said in the garden …Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: And I understand because there are just some things and some people that if we were to cut off it would really hurt and so we say, Lord, is there another way? However, let us not forget the conclusion of Jesus statement…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. How was Jesus able to do this? His focus was on the joy set before Him. What joy? Him getting the name Lord and us being loosed from the grips of Satan and redeem into the family of God. Yes, I understand how hard it is and that’s why it’s going to require a sacrifice. Yes, I know sin seems good and it feels good and it sounds good but come on and help me out Brother Moses. Well, By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer the afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming greater riches than the treasures in Egypt…. (Heb. 11:24-26) Please get this – what you are holding on to is not worthy to be compared with what God has in store for you!
II. THE END-TIME DETERMINATION: WHAT IS THE POSTURE WE SHOULD HAVE?
JOHN 9:1-4
1 – And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 – And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 – Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 – I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
What are you saying Brother Jesus? We must undo what Satan has done. II Corinthians 4 says, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom that god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. So, what is this light? Verse five says, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.
Now keep this in mind, the word of God says, No man who has put his hand to the plow and look back is fit for the Kingdom. We must take up our crosses and follow him.
III. THE TITLE/JOB HAS ALREADY CHANGED HANDS!
5 – As long as I am in the world (Jesus), I am the light of the world.
14 – Ye are the light of the world…
PHILIPPIANS 2:9 & 10
9 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.
Yes, at the Name when I utter it with faith, according to the power that worketh in me, things have no other alternative but to bow!
* At the Name should – heaven, earth, under the earth
Matthew 28:18 – Power in heaven and earth
His Name is so potent it makes things in all three realms submit to it.
MARK 10:28 & 29
28 – Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 – And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s.
MARK 10:30 & 31
30 – But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 – But many that are first shall be last: and the last first.
V. PERSECUTIONS - - WITH THE BLESSING COMES PERSECUTIONS
ROMANS 8:18
18 – For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
VI. EVERY LEADER CALLED TO THE CARPET!
I PETER 5:1-4
1 – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 – Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples (examples) to the flock.
MAKING READY FOR THE RAPTURE!!!
4 – And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
Pastor Betty P. Peebles