From: jesus_is_lord To: List Member Subject: Runnin' Date: Saturday, December 30, 2000 5:46 AM jesus_is_lord --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, THAT HE MAY RUN THAT READETH IT. Thank God for the word, the Bible. The Lord gave us the word so that we can read it and RUN in the way of His commandments. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, beautifully extols the many merits of God's word. What a gorgeous chapter to those who love the law of God. ********* Dear CHRISTIAN Friends: Greetings in the name of the ONLY wise God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Last night, Friday, December 29, 2000 I made a trip to the grocery store. I parked some distance from the store and exited the truck into crisp, chilly air. I began to jog. This took my mind back to some years ago when I ran track. I did a lot of winning and a little losing--but I ran to obtain a corruptible crown. Now I run to obtain an incorruptible-- 1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So RUN, that ye may obtain. 9:25 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. When I ran track in the world, I made physical sacrifices and did things that I did not feel like doing so that I could win my races. I did not feel like running in 90 degree heat. I did not feel like sweating. I did not feel like having cotton-mouth. I did not feel like jogging for a couple of miles (especially as a sprinter). I did not feel like I wanted to be exhausted after practice. But I did those things so that I could win races. Now that I am running in the precepts of the Lord, I make spiritual and physical sacrifices. I may not like them at first, but in the end, I am stronger and I run better. ************A DIFFERENT KIND OF RACE*************** Bodily exercise profiteth little and I no longer spend my time at the gym or running around somebody's track. My housework, churchwork, and sensible eating habits keep me in good enough physical shape. I am still a runner, but I run a vastly different type of race now. I'm running for eternal life. Philippians 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, 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: 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; 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 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. 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, 3:14 I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. 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. 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. I run a spiritual race now. A race where my running is not in vain. In this race, I am but one more leg of a long relay of God-fearing men and women who have worshipped God through the millenia. The baton of the everlasting gospel (Rev. 14:6-7) has been passed from generation to generation. *************ANALOGIES***************** **I used to exercise my body. NOW I exercise my spirit in the word and will of God. I'm not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word. **I used to exercise my heart with covetous practices. NOW my senses are exercised to discern good and evil. **I used to run for a trophy. NOW I run for Jesus. **When I ran track, sometimes I'd put little weights on my legs as I practiced. That way when it came time for a race, I'd be lighter and faster. NOW I'm LAYING ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET ME so that I can run strong and hard for Jesus. **When I ran track, I looked to my coach for his approval. Now I'm LOOKING TO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH. Hallelujah and amen. Hebrews 12:1-2 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. My race is no longer meaningless. It is no longer vanity. I know exactly Who I belong to. I know exactly what He requires of me. And I delight to do His will. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection. I am learning to bring EVERY thought to the obedience of Christ. II Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do NOT war after the flesh: 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are NOT CARNAL, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 10:5 CASTING DOWN imaginations, and EVERY HIGH THING thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY thought to the OBEDIENCE of Christ; As an unregenerate, I ran careless and aimless. Not so anymore-- I Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, NOT as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 9:27 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. I no longer run the way of the Gentiles and they think I'm crazy because I don't-- I Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4:4 Wherein THEY THINK IT STRANGE THAT YE RUN NOT with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ***************WHY RUN?********************* When I breathe my last breath, I want an entrance ministered ABUNDANTLY unto me into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I don't want to scrape by trying to serve two Masters. I LOVE Jesus. Those that love Him keep His commandments. I want to run in His commandments--ALL of them. Some people say they want to go to heaven to see their mother or their father. Some people wonder what we will do in heaven. As for me, I want to see Jesus. He is the prize that I am running for. He is made unto me wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. King Jesus is eternal life-- 1 John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that ETERNAL LIFE, which was with the Father, and was MANIFESTED unto us;) John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. King Jesus is the Object of my affection. HE is the prize. He is why I am running this race even when difficulties arise. The difficulties cannot be compared to the glory of Christ. My spirit has gotten a glimpse of something otherworldly. **********************COME UNTO THE MOUNT****************** I am not come unto the mount that might be touched as in Moses' day. I've come to something much better-- Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto MOUNT SION, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of ANGELS, 12:23 To the GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to GOD the Judge of all, and to the SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT, 12:24 And to JESUS the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel. I am come unto Mount Sion and my mind is being continually transformed by the power of the LIVING God. He floods my mind with thoughts of heaven. I want purity. Pure doctrine. Pure living. Pure mind. I want to live above the world. I want to fellowship with the pure in heart. I want to run as a wise masterbuilder laying the foundation which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Cor. 3:11). Paul says that every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. I'm learning to yield to the purging work of the Father. John 15:1 I am the true vine, and MY FATHER IS THE HUSBANDMAN. 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARETH FRUIT, HE PURGETH IT, THAT IT MAY BRING FORTH MORE FRUIT. In the year 2000, I experienced deep purging, but the word once again was my comfort. No chastening for the present seemeth joyous, but rather GRIEVOUS, but AFTERWARD it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS in them that are exercised thereby. I am going to be RIGHT when the chastening is over. What son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son WHOM HE RECEIVETH. I have been received by the Lord. That is a wonder. ****************A PILGRIM AND A STRANGER************** The Christian is a pilgrim and stranger in the earth because he is looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. Many who profess Christ speak as though they want to live in this world forever. I do not. This world is not my home and it has nothing for me. I've tried the best that the world has to offer and found it stinking dung. To depart and be with Christ is far better, but it is expedient for some that I live. We've been left down here to witness to the lost and encourage/exhort the believer. I know that when my earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, I have a building of God, an house NOT MADE WITH HANDS, eternal in the heavens (see 2 Corinthians 5:1). ************BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH************** Paul wrote most of the books of the New Testament. These things were written that we may run. He gives a word of exhortation to the Philippians that applies today-- 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 2:15 That ye may be BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS, THE SONS OF GOD, WITHOUT REBUKE, IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE NATION, AMONG WHOM YE SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD; 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, THAT I HAVE NOT RUN IN VAIN, NEITHER LABOURED IN VAIN. 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 2:18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Paul went through many trials and tribulations as he penned the epistles. Let us not make light of the things he endured by not reading and heeding his words. Paul died in defense of the gospel. Let us not be slothful in the word. Let us not walk lukewarm and careless. We must return to the old paths that Jeremiah referred to. We must die to the world and live unto Christ. *************CONCLUSION******************** Song of Solomon 1:4 Draw me, WE WILL RUN AFTER THEE: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. Isaiah 55:5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and NATIONS THAT KNEW NOT THEE SHALL RUN UNTO THEE BECAUSE OF THE LORD THY GOD, AND FOR THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; FOR HE HATH GLORIFIED THEE. for Jesus' sake, sis. tracy -- http://www.jesus-is-lord.com ...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6 ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to jesus_is_lord-unsubscribe@listbot.com