Living on fallen planet Earth under the curse of God has been more than a sereal challenge throughout the duration of man’s existence since the fall of Adam, but it has always been the determination of God to preserve mankind, who is the object of His affections and the focal point of His great love. These are the hard facts taught in the Word of God, yet man tends to operate in unbelief and reactionary mode rather than faith in the true and living God. With these things in mind, our teacher Pastor Landis Fisher has chosen to begin this new year with a motivational message to jump start us into action which he has titled: ” Harnessing the Power of Persistent Faith”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:1 – 5 (KJV)
(Ecc 11:1) Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
(Ecc 11:2) Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
(Ecc 11:3) If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
(Ecc 11:4) He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
(Ecc 11:5) As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Phillipians 3:7 – 15 (KJV)
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 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,
Php 3:9 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:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 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.
Php 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,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) The whole of life is comprised of many things out of our personal control; but there are not any things at all that are out of God’s Control; therefore, let us learn to put the associated fears, anxieties, pressures, worries, etc. of past problems, present and potential circumstances, set-backs, mistakes, accidents, even achievements, in their proper places, and let us focus on knowing that our perfect LORD is working out all such things for our good and His glory.
2) Since we know that the Scriptures teach that “Eternal Life” is a quality of relationship with the living God and His Son, Jesus The Christ; who has been given to settle everything that was destroyed or damaged by the sin of Adam; and that this entire idea is God’s, (not ours!); let us learn to harness the power of CONFIDENCE IN THE REALITY THAT GOD IS FOR US WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST JESUS! People who do not know the one and only True God, (Who is the Father of our LORD JESUS Christ) are the ones God is seeking to learn to worship Him (Properly) and He has commissioned US to go teach them about HIM!
3) Since God is for us, no one can successfully be against us; His Gospel is centered in historic fact, embedded in time, the MOST REAL of any professing religion, philosophy, or man-made belief system; therefore, our faith in Him who did not spare His own Son, ought to be persistent, bold, confident, impulsive, spontaneous, joyful, therapeutic, universal, unwavering, powerful and contagious!
