To be fully empowered, we must overcome “self “so that we make our election sure!
We must become fully yielded vessels to The Holy Spirit in order to be fully empowered by THE SPIRIT.
How many prophecies are in the Bible? There are about 2,500. How many prophecies are in the books of other religions? Zero. How many prophecies have been fulfilled in Scripture? About 2,000. What does this tell you? The Bible is fully reliable. I made that point in yesterday’s writing about the precision of Jesus riding into Jerusalem precisely 173,880 days after the decree of Artaxerxes.
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Peter chapter 1:
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His Majesty.
17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a Voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.
18 And this Voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the Holy mount.
Peter expounds on the eyewitness accounts of the disciples when Jesus walked the earth. He continues:
19 We have also a more sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Scripture is a more sure Word for us to read, study, and meditate on so that we cleanse our minds of “self”. This will allow us to fully yield to The Holy Spirit and serve the needs of others thus reflecting Jesus Christ.
In His final Words, Jesus spoke and gave us the terms of eternal life or eternal death in Mark 16:
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
What does it mean to believe?
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Peter chapter 1:
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
The question that each of us should ask, “How am I going to finish this race?” When I was a younger man, I never asked the question. But now, it is one of the most important questions one must ask.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 9:
19 Now, even though I am free from obligations to others, I joyfully make myself a servant to all in order to win as many converts as possible.
23 I’ve done all this so that I would become God’s partner for the sake of the Gospel.
24 Isn’t it obvious that all runners on the racetrack keep on running to win, but only one receives the victor’s prize? Yet each one of you must run the race to be victorious.
25 A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever.
26 For that reason, I don’t run just for exercise or box like one throwing aimless punches,
27 but I train like a champion athlete. I subdue my body and get it under my control, so that after preaching the Good News to others I myself won’t be disqualified.
We are all in a race whether you realize it or not. I can see the finish line and have been writing about the prophecies soon to be fulfilled. Each of us must ask the questions, “Am I willing to be FATHER’S partner or not?” “Am I willing to totally subdue my body and get it under control?” Now is the time to make our election sure and not be disqualified! If we really believe The Word, we will respond and act according to It.
It doesn’t matter how you start the race, it is how you finish!