Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Over the years I’ve had a lot of fun going up to the boundary Waters canoe area, having the opportunity to spend some time in God’s Great Northern Woods. Sometimes to get to the next lake you will have to go through a very small stream and at certain times they would flow contrary to the direction that you were heading. If the river was flowing fast enough it seemed like you had to work two to three times harder in order to get to where you want to go.
And this reminds me of the Christian Life.
As people in this world paddle down a lazy river, the people of God are striving to go upstream. We must make great efforts to get upriver so we can eventually disembark in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:23-24 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
To strive means to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. It is to struggle or fight so as to be victorious. Think of all the athletes in the world who strive during every competition to win the game. Think of all the students in high school that strive very hard to be on the honor roll. Many people choose to run in a large marathon every year, but it is the ones who strive the hardest that will obtain first place. The Christian Life is a race, one that we must run hard to win!
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.
Like pushing off from the starting blocks, the Christian race begins when we are baptized by submersion into the name of Jesus Christ, but from that point on, we must strive forward each day of our lives, perfectly focused on the everlasting prize of eternal life. To obtain that new world that is coming is going to require great effort on our part, after all, winning a successful race depends on how much that you really want it. We must make a daily commitment in our lives to mortify the flesh, turn from sinful living, and repent from dead works.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:1-5 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
There will be many people, including those who claim to be Christian who are turned away at the judgment. This is because they never really did the will of God from their heart.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
In regards to Spiritual goals, a Christian must be an extremely high achiever, because I guarantee you that there is no higher goal that one could strive for than to obtain eternal life. Through what Jesus did on the cross we have the opportunity to begin this race, but to please Him completely, we must strive hard to win!
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Have you ever had somebody tell you that you are a hard worker? Sometimes you can offer someone very good pay, but they still don’t show up for work! Other people are not motivated by money at all, and will give their best because they know in their heart it’s the right thing to do. We must give God our best! He has paid the entrance fee into this Divine race, and we must show Him how grateful we are by running as hard as we possibly can. As I have always taught my family, God will reward you when you serve Him in such a manner.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
As we run this race, we are going to enter into suffering and tribulation. People will try to prevent what you are doing, they will try to trip you up, they will cast out your name is evil, and try to knock you off course. But through all of this we must persevere in our faith, and to continue to press forward, keeping our eyes on the eternal finish line.
Philippians 3:13-14 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-4 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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
If you are ever going to win a race, you must fight to win!
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
When you begin the Christian race, you will find yourself fighting against everything in this world that is contrary to the teachings of Christ, and when everyone else is going with the flow, we must turn towards the light, and begin…….
…….Paddling Upstream
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 