Category: More to Come

As we remember the already blessings of knowing Christ, let’s pray for more of the Spirit’s filling to live in the blessings, as we proclaim aloud these passages.

Colossians 3:1-4 NIV – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Matthew 5:3-12 NIV
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that I have been “raised with Christ” and my “life is now hidden with Christ.”  I anticipate that “more” is to come as your Spirit empowers me to live each day in the “blessed” life that you have made available for me in Christ.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s worship the Lord as we sing “More to Come” by Passion (click here).

– EK

 

 

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV – Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Helen Roseveare was an English Christian missionary who ministered in the Congo for 20 years from 1953 to 1973 and continued to serve the Lord faithfully until her passing at the age of 91.  Here is what she shares about what it is to strain “toward what is ahead” in her message titled, “A Call for the Perseverance of the Saints” (posted on desiringGod.org):

“Now we will consider the second ‘one thing.’ In Philippians 3:13 Paul writes, ‘I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do . . .’ ‘One thing I do’ is in the present tense — the present-active tense. ‘One thing I am doing. Forgetting what is behind, straining to what is ahead, I am pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.’ Hosea 6:3 says, ‘Keep on keeping on.’ That is a literal translation from my Swahili Bible — ‘Keep on keeping on.’ Don’t give up; rather, follow on to know the Lord to the end. Jesus said, ‘You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved’ (Matthew 10:22).

Even when discouragements come or a feeling of weariness or of growing older, keep going! Don’t give up. We have to continue steadfast daily with To please him as our motto. Pleasing him in everything — in every choice that has to be made: the petty little choices, as well as every great, large choice. It doesn’t matter what the choices, let our motto be: In everything to please him. This should be our commitment for life.”

Prayer: Father, I trust that your Spirit will enable me to “keep on keeping on” in faithfulness to you, even when there are struggles, frustrations and weariness.  From the small to the large things, in everything, help me to please you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

May we be renewed in trusting the Lord’s “keeping” in our lives as we worship with “You Keep Your Promises” by Charity Gayle (click here).

– EK

 

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV – Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

“Paul outlines two stages for achieving his goal. The first is ‘forgetting what is behind.’ The image is powerful: Paul is like a runner refusing to be distracted by the competitors behind him.” (Grant R. Osborne, Philippians: Verse by Verse)

“The forgetting here is not about having no memories about the past, that would be an impossibility, but it is about not letting things that distract you influence you in the race. You can’t run well with your head turned back. This is a powerful image that God wants us to run really well, and the first step is not letting things distract you to take you out of the race. And since we are still in the ‘Receive the Spirit’ series, it is entirely consistent with what Paul would say, that it is about anything that distracts you from experiencing and being filled with the Spirit!

We are people of the Spirit. Let us ‘forget what is behind’ anything that distracts from being filled with the Spirit, let there be an enlightening experience as the Spirit opens our eyes to see things for what they are and be even more aware to say ‘no’ to distractions and be ready in our hearts to be filled with the Spirit.” (From Pastor Mark’s Message)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the things that are distracting me so that I may be aware and say “no” to these distractions. Instead, I long for you and would you fill me with your Spirit more and more?  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s confess our longing for the Spirit’s filling as we sing “Holy Spirit” by Jesus Culture (click here).

– EK

“The heart knowledge of God tends to holiness: The more I know of God, the more I am constrained to admire Him, and to say, ‘What a lovely, good being He is!’ and especially when I see His wondrous love in Christ Jesus to such a guilty, wicked creature as I am. Therefore my heart is constrained to seek to imitate God, to seek to do something in return for His love, and to be more like God Himself.

The heart knowledge of God also tends to our usefulness in His service here: It is impossible that I can enter into what God has done for sinners without being constrained in return to seek to live for Him, to labor for Him. I ask myself, ‘What can I do for Him who has bestowed upon me His choicest gifts?’ Hence I am constrained to labor for Him. According to the measure in which I am fully acquainted with God, do I seek to labor for Him. I cannot be idle.” (George Mueller, George Muller on Faith: A 30-Day Devotional Treasury)

As God’s dearly loved children and his servants, it is the Spirit given response and desire of our hearts to want to know him more and to seek to live our lives for him.

Let’s prayerfully agree and proclaim aloud this passage twice.

Philippians 3:7-8a, 11 NIV – But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as your Spirit testifies in my heart how I am a dearly loved child of God, I confess that I want to know you more.  I will seek to follow you, live for you and to labor for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s follow along in prayer and in worship with this song, “Knowing You, Jesus”, by Graham Kendrick (click here).

– EK

Philippians 3:8, 12 NIV:
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

“Our safety is seen in the words ‘because Christ Jesus has made me his own.’ In other words, our security is not based finally on our grip on Christ, but his grip on us. The crucial thing to see is that the firmness of Christ’s grip on us produces our pursuit of him. ‘I press on . . . because Christ Jesus has made me his own.’ Our security does not produce drifting or worldly indifference or spiritual disinterest.

So my conclusion is that what Paul is pursuing in Philippians 3:12 is ultimately Christ himself. And the most essential practical strategy of this pursuit is to count Christ himself as supremely valuable (‘because of the surpassing worth’) and to count everything but Christ as worthless by comparison.” (John Piper, “How Do You Press On to Make It Your Own?”, desiringGod.org)

As we consider Christ’s grip on our lives, may our hearts be kindled in our pursuit of him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is your love that has captured my heart! May all that I do today revolve around you and my pursuit of you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s commit our hearts to the Lord in a fresh way today as we continue in worship, singing “Because of Jesus” by Charity Gayle (click here).

– EK