Point 3. PURSUING A GLORIOUS CROWN WITH SINGLE-MINDED STEADFASTNESS
1 Peter 4:14-19; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 3:12-14; Hebrews 3:6,14; 1 Peter 5:8,9; Job 27:6; 2 Timothy 1:13,14; Revelations 2:25-29; 3:11
Though there might be suffering, be committed, faithful and steadfast, and focus your mind on your goal, to win the crown on the Final Day. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14). Happy am I when reproached for righteousness. Is a murderer, thief, evil doer, or busybody in other men’s matters a true member? NO! If you will hide all the murderers, thieves and rogues because they profess that they are members of Deeper Life, thinking you are protecting the name of the Church, God will judge you because you are supporting churchianity and not the word of God (1 Peter 4:15). “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16). The only suffering acceptable before God is that you are a Christian, standing for righteousness, being Christlike, preaching the gospel and sound doctrine and you are being persecuted. That is praise worthy. Don’t strive for mediocrity but strive from maturity (1 Corinthians 9:25). “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” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Keep your eyes, body and tongue in subjection. You will not be a castaway but you will stand by the word of God. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12). Your persecution and suffering will not be in vain, but you will reign with Christ. There are some people who think that they are forever secure whatever they do. But in this Church there is leadership, and if we know that you did something wrong, we will call you back to the Scriptures and discipline you; if we do not know, Heaven knows; judgement begins in the house of God. You will not fall (2 Peter 3:17). “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:6,14). You will hold on unto the end and not fall by the wayside. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:9). How are you going to resist Satan? You start in a small way and resist that individual that is inconsequential in your life by saying No! Then when another higher person comes, you say No. Because practice makes for perfection. Remember, whatever you do, wherever you go, do not say yes when you ought to say no. Don’t just crumble like that; you will stand for holiness and righteousness. “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live” (Job 27:6). If anything will cause you to lose your righteousness, you let it go, so that you can hold fast to righteousness. This is how to keep the crown. “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” (2 Timothy 1:14). That good thing, salvation, holiness, righteousness, and the crown, keep unto the end. “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelations 3:11). No man will take my crown, deprive me of my rewards nor take holiness and heaven from me. Amen.
Ponder on this! The paradox of the Christian life is that suffering makes saints stronger; battles make saints brighter and better believers; and persecutions make pilgrims purer. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! If you are still living according to your former manner of life, although you say you are saved and converted, such salvation and conversion have no record in Heaven. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Hard Sayings – Does your conscience ever challenge, accuse, alert, remind or speak to you? Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – When you do secretly things that are not right in the sight of God, you forget that the eyes of the Lord can see what you are doing in the secret and His ears can hear. You live as if there is no God; you are a practical atheist and do not believe in the Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence of God. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – It is a godly character free from secret sin that marks us out as children of God. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Key words – Suffering will come but let it not be as a result of sin, but for righteousness. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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