I Corinthians 9: 24-26 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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,
Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Philippians 3:8-9 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, 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
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Even as I have stepped away this week to both mourn and rejoice over the loss of my precious father, and his “graduation” to new life in Heaven, life for those who remain here, goes on. If there ever were two events with the potential to de-rail me, I’d say the death of my dad, (one of my dearest friends) and the re-election of Obama are right there at the very top of the list. But this is no time to pull out of the race. Not even for a little while. It is time for renewed committment to fighting the good fight, to reckon all things as loss, for the ultimate gain of the gospel and to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 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. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:1-14) Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) and… Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13)
My longing for Jesus to come and remove us from this old world has increased greatly in the past 8 days alone. But God’s Word tells me: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise (and) let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
When I was younger and in better health, I was a runner. I didn’t compete, except with myself. I’d set distance goals and periodically increase them. The last mile is always the hardest mile. That portion of the run when you are almost there, and you are also almost out of strength, the “finish line” is in sight, but your legs are threatening to fail, everything hurts, your muscles are screaming for relief, and you are sucking in all the oxygen you possibly can, and it’s barely enough. Then a strange thing happens. Suddenly there is nothing but you and that goal. No awareness of the brutal pounding your body is taking as you give the last of what is in you. No awareness of pain. There are people who have finished races with torn muscles and broken bones. Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts. Zechariah 4:6
Do not be afraid of what lies ahead. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Mtt. 10:19 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost Mark 13:11
Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Daniel 3:25 (and) My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me. Daniel 6:22
If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
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The redefinition of ‘tolerance’
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The Translation: The Rapture and Return of Jesus Christ, Watchman Video Broadcast, Pastor Mike Hoggard
To be honest with you, I am not sure I like where Hoggie is going with this series, which will be in 3 parts, (part 2 due out today or tomorrow). Regardless of whether I like it or not, though, I am willing to listen. Pastor Hoggard has never taken a “rapture position” before as far as pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, because as he has stated, he feels it’s “not that simple”. I always say that if your beliefs can’t stand up to scrutiny, they aren’t worth much to begin with. So as a pre-trib rapture believer, I’m interested in hearing what Pastor Hoggard has to say on this subject. I believe most of the “differences” (in how true students of scripture “see things”) are not as mutually exclusive as we think, just a matter of slightly different perspective, and as the day grows closer, and God sheds more light on these times, as long as we all keep searching the Word, we’ll see what we need to see, when we need to see it.
Serve Him in the Waiting 