THE HIGH CALLING in CHRIST JESUS

THE HIGH CALLING in CHRIST JESUS

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 Christian maturity is a process that takes time to develop and become a reality. In the Spirit we are perfect and complete in Christ Jesus, lacking nothing. But this power within us must become operative and manifest in our outer man and our natural surroundings. We must bring Heaven down to Earth. This Christ within us must be revealed to the dying world around us. Do not allow the potential within you to lie dormant and you life come to a standstill. Use the gifting given to you and answer the call to reach your Divine Destiny in Christ Jesus. We must never come to the place where we are only interested in our own spiritual development. Our hearts desire must be for all men to know and see the glory of God. Thou mighty Christ come forth in me today in power and purpose!! All Christian growth and maturity will vary from person to person. Each one of us will grow and develop at different times and at different rates. That s okay, each man in his own order. Bloom wherever you are planted. It is God who will grant our increase. There are various stages or levels, if you will, that we must operate in and experience fully. Even in the physical realm, growth from babyhood to adulthood varies from person to person. Each in their own time. As one grows physically, it is easy to determine his progress by education or physical stature. In the spirit realm it is quite different. You cannot judge ones growth by their natural surroundings. We can only determine this with the eyes of the Spirit, the mind of Christ. There are many people that have experienced a spiritual rebirth but have not progressed onto the next area of development in their lives. They remain at a standstill, content and not even knowing that there is more to be gained. Then again there are others which have grown in Christ very rapidly. It seems as though they have grown overnight, going from one stage to the next. They are sprouting up, growing by leaps and bounds. What is the reason for this? What is the difference between these two groups? What do they attribute their spiritual growth and progress to? What causes one to differ from another since God does not play favorites? We are all equal in His eyes. The nature of God is so vast and infinite that He reveals Himself to us line upon line and precept upon precept. As born again Christians we have come to know JESUS as our Savior upon the cross but there is more. We go on to experience Him as the Resurrected CHRIST who has given gifts unto men, but there is more. We then go on to know Him as LORD in His ascension, but there is more. Jesus Christ is our Alpha and Omega, heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool. We must bring Heaven down to the earth realm. To experience the fullness that is in Christ Jesus. We are not limited to this time space frame only, but we are also linked to the spiritual realm in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This is where our specific and individual development takes shape and form. Our spiritual development is mainly dependent upon us. We must make a conscious decision to grow or not. The choice to move on in God is in our control and grasp. God s desire is for us to grow up into Him in all things. We can experience NOW the abundant Lifestyle Jesus spoke about in John 10 Other people can help and assist us but ultimately the choice is ours. As we remain and stay yielded to the oversight ministries God has placed over us, we will experience a steady continuous growth in the Spirit.

The oversight ministries of the Holy Spirit and that of our Church family shape, mold and strengthen our development in the Kingdom of God. We need the dealings of the Holy Ghost to work on the inside, in our hearts. We need the body ministry to work upon our flesh in the outer man. God is dealing in our entire being, spirit, soul and body. He wants us complete and whole lacking nothing. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend It is like the potter that is working and shaping a vessel upon his potters wheel. He exerts a constant even pressure on the inside of the clay pot with his right hand. While at the same time, an equal amount of pressure is being applied to the outside of that vessel with his left hand. The combination of these two pressures causes that vessel to take shape and stay intact without being damaged by any uneven pressure. There is a forming, a turning, a shaping being realized as the clay pot begins to near it s completion. It would be impossible to put the finishing touches on the vessel with just one hand applying the pressure. It would crumble, fly apart and eventually be destroyed. That is why God has ordained every Christian to be under the leading of the Holy Ghost as well as that of the church family. Both are important. Both are instrumental in our growth and development in Jesus Christ. We can stop and stunt our growth at anytime if we so desire. God wants a yielded willing vessel to grow up into Him in all things. He will never force us. The privilege is ours to continue on into the deeper things of God and His Kingdom. God s eyes run to and fro looking for that person who desires intimate fellowship and Communion with Him. No matter where we are at in the Lord there is more to be realized and experienced on a daily basis. Come as you are, God knows your situation, He knows everything about you. Make a conscious decision to pursue the deeper things of God. Call unto Him and He will answer. The Spirit is constantly drawing and calling out to you to come near. Answer that call and you will experience things that you never thought possible before. Your life will take on a new sense of purpose with joy unspeakable and full ofg glory. Remember you are a new creature in Christ Jesus and He makes all things new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 The precious anointing of the Holy Spirit must be kept active and alive at all times. We must endeavor not to quench the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can remain where we are at and be content with what little we already have in God., but that is not His best for us. He will still accept us but His heart will be grieved Jesus has left every one of us an inheritance to accept and enjoy, NOW, TODAY. I for one, want all that God has for me. I want to go all the way no matter what the cost. It is both my right and my privilege to go boldly beyond the Vail with confidence and assurance of meeting the Father there. I want to know, as I am known. I want to see Him Father face to face. I want to become one with Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH. Anything short of that and I have failed.

Let us keep in mind that we cannot approach God unless He first draws us. He has already placed his incorruptible seed within us and that desire and want is in that seed. (it s just dying to get out) If I plant an apple seed, apples will grow from that seed. If I plant a tomato seed, a tomato will also grow. When God planted His seed within us, what do you think will grow? Himself!! We are the only ones that can stop its growth. I am persuaded that nothing else can keep me from attaining God s best for me. Romans 8:38-39 The very nature of that seed will grow and develop in God. Do you think that God would plant His Mighty Seed in us and not expect it to grow or develop? He is looking for an increase, a mighty harvest to come forth in the midst of us. He is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth to spring up in us, 30, 60 then 100-Fold. There are certain criteria and commands that we must follow. Certain checkpoints and roadblocks are along the way to insure a proper and correct growth for the individual believer. As long as our hearts remain pure, we will always be drawn unto the Father by His mercy and love. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Let us go on to discover the way, the truth and the life of the Kingdom of God. Come up hither Deut. 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: At our initial salvation experience Jesus descended down to our earth and met us where we were at. It did not matter what condition we were in, He was still faithful and came to us. Now it is time for us to press on unto maturity and meet the Lord where He is, the realm of the Spirit. We must ascend into that realm of the Spirit and experientially be seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We must worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. We do not choose the place to worship, He does! Three times in the book of Revelation the Lord calls unto us to arise and meet Him at the place where His Name is recorded. Rev 4:1 Come up hither I will show you things which must be. Rev 11:12 Come up hither Rev 21:9 Come hither I will show you the bride I. GODS PURPOSE FOR MAN A- GENERAL CALLING 1. To be individually and personally conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ 2. To be like Him in all things. 3. To remain in Unity with the body of Christ in love and in fellowship. 4. To proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel of the Kingdom.

B. SPECIFIC CALLING 1. To fulfill our individual calling and ministry. 2. To reach forth for the prize of the high calling. 3. To become a joint of supply of life and strength. The general calling remains the same for all... to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus. We must submit ourselves to the original plan of God and be restored in the things that Adam gave up and forfeited. Remember, Adam was created in both the image and likeness of God. Sin changed that and Adam acted differently in his attitude and service unto God. The day he sinned he did die. He died in his spirit towards God and lived towards the dictates of the world around him. So much in fact that in Gen 5:3 states that Adam brought forth children in his own image and his own likeness. He was now set out to establish his own kingdom on his own terms. He still possessed a desire to serve and rule, but he chose the wrong Kingdom. The specific calling will depend on the individual calling and election that comes to us through the vehicle of the Holy Spirit. We all have been chosen and ordained to bear much fruit. John 15:16 We have this anointing and ministry already resident inside of us and it must be released. We were all given gifts and talents to build up the Kingdom of God in our lives and our communities. We are to occupy (put to full use) till Jesus comes again. Remember the 3 servants were all given talents 10, 5 and 1. Each according to the gift of God bestowed on them. Two of them bore much fruit by doubling God's investment in them. The third man was fearful and hid his talent in the earth (we are made of earth) We must strive to allow the talents in us be active and productive to be pleasing to God the Father. II. THE VISION OF GOD 1. The long range vision and goal of God 2. The short range vision and goal of God. Hear the Vision Understand the Vision Walk in the Vision Adopt the Vision Adapt to the Vision Advance in Vision Proverbs 29:18 without a vision the people are unrestrained (run wild - disintegrate) Before we operate in our vision we must first receive a divine blueprint from God. Just as Moses received the plans for the tabernacle upon Mt Sinai, we too must inquire of God and receive our divine blueprint for our lives. Climb UP to the mountain of God and experience a supernatural encounter with your Creator. Spend time in His presence and experience peace, joy and understanding that only can be found in Him. Allow Him to show you the plans and purpose he has for you and your life. He desires to bring you to YOUR EXPECTED END. Jeremiah 29:11. This has become your personal responsibility.

It is your God given right. We must first see ALL things in the Spirit realm [heavenlies] before it ever becomes a reality on this natural earthly plane. Matthew 6:10 The Word must become flesh and health and strength to our bones. We must run in the God given power that comes resides in us. We are seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus NOW and our mind and focus must remain there to bring all things back down to earth. Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is being done in heaven. Don't put it off in the future somewhere. Like Jacob s ladder we can ascend and descend and ascend up again. Ascending and descending daily, continuously. We have total access to the open heavens around us. Remember we must first ascend before we can ever descend and remain in heaven. John 3:13 SELAH. III. THE PEOPLE IN THE VISION OF GOD 1. Disciples Luke 9:23 Learning 2. Workers Luke 10:1-2 Doing 3. Fathers Luke 9:1-2 Reproducing The Church s goal for the individual: 1. To be Established. By the preaching of the Word. 2. To Explain. By the teaching of the Word. 3. To Equip all... Training by word and example. 4. To Exercise allow the use of ones giftings 5. To Extend to all. To reach out with the Word. God saved & called us according to His purpose II Tim 1:9 He called us before the foundation of the world. I Cor 2:7 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God. I Peter 1:2 To be conformed to the image of His Son. Rom 8:29 GOD KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING Isa 46:9-10 1. God s call existed before we did anything right or wrong. 2. God knows our weaknesses, He still bestows grace on us. 3. God sees the things that are not as though they are. 4. God s call is not based upon our actions 5. God calls us to walk blameless before Him and not man. 6. God desires truth in our inward parts. 7. Our actions will reflect His uniqueness in us. 8. We must walk right before God and man.

HOW WE GROW IN GOD A. We grow by: 1. Principle what we believe. 2. Precept what we say. Psalm 119:4, 168 3. Practice what we do. Matt 23:1-3 4. Personal experience what we have done Phil 3:1-7 I Pt 5:3 B. Multiplication. 1. The gathering of material together into one place. 2. We are cut, shaped, hewn and measured I kings 5:17 I Kings 18:6-7 I Peter 2:5 3. We must be prepared to fit in our proper place. Isa 51:1-2 Eph 2:19-22 4. It is only God who grants the increase in us. C. Assembling. 1. We can have a heap of material gathered together, this does not make a house. It must be assembled. 2. We must be properly assembled and fitted together. 3. Being rooted and established in the faith. Col 2:7 4. We must become a joint of supply. 5. Praying in the Holy Ghost. Jude 20 6. Praying and speaking in tongues. I Cor 12 7. Whatever we join ourselves to, we soon will become an expression of that very thing. D. Materials used in building 1. Gold - silver - precious stones.. Imperishable. can withstand the pressure and the purification process The only things that will remain and stay are those things that have withstood the test of Gods divine fire. Heb 12:26-29 Everything will be reduced to ashes and disappear. Gold = the deity of God Silver = redemption Precious stones = the formation of a gem, gifts of Spirit. Prov 17:8 Our works will be tested to find out our motivation. a. Works according to Gods word gold b. Works inspired by the Holy Ghost. silver c. Works motivated by love precious stones

2. Wood - hay - stubble. Perishable Cannot withstand the pressure and purification process. They are reduced to ashes in the purification of the fires. Wood - hay - stubble = things that are reproduced out of the earth. Fire tests and appraises the character and worth of our personal actions. Job 23:10 He is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap. Malachi 3:2 A refiner and purifier of silver. Malachi 3:3 Fullers soap. Washing of water by the Word. I Cor 6:11 Eph 5:26 Titus 3:5 1. Not having spot. Jude 13 II Peter 2:13 Jas 1:27 2. Not having wrinkle. 3. Not having blemish. I Peter 1:19-22 There is coming to the Church today a second cleansing from the very hands of God. He cleansed the temple two times in His earthly ministry. Once at the beginning of his ministry and the other at the ending of His ministry. God first cleansed your temple at the beginning of your walk with Him, at salvation (Passover) He is cleaning our temple now at the end of our salvation (Tabernacles) Remember that God is not out to clean up your act and save you. What He is doing is getting rid of all things inside of us that offends, the wood, hay and stubble. He is out to PROTECT His investment in you and me. We were bought with a price and we are not our own. As He does the Temple sweep, He is actually preserving His life and His ministry inside of us. He will not allow the tares to grow inside of us and choke out the wheat (incorruptible seed) that is within us. An enemy has sown the tares and he let them both grow for a season till the harvest was ripe and ready. Matt 13:29-30 OUR SPIRITS ARE INFLUENCED and DEVELOPED BY: 1. Natural things Focusing on the external man and his surroundings. knowledge of the 5 senses. 2. Evil things focusing on any other powers but Jesus Christ. Other spirits. 3. Spiritual things focusing upon God and God alone. the knowledge imparted to us through the Holy Spirit.

WHERE IS YOUR PRIORITY? 1. On the body - Fleshly - cares and the goods of this world. 2. On the mind Soulish - knowledge and wisdom 3. On the Lord Spiritual - the nature and character of God. OUR CONCEPTION OF GOD DETERMINES WHAT WE DO FOR GOD! 1. As a child we see the Giver - what we can get from Him 2. As a teen we see the Savior what we can do for Him. 3. As a father we see the Father how to be like Him. SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY 1. Not able to receive strong doctrine. I Cor 3:1-2 14:20 2. Still need tutors and governors. Gal 4:1-3 3. Is unstable in ones faith. Eph 4:14 4. Speaking yet as babes. I Cor 3:1 5. Under bondage. Gal 4:3 6. Still on milk. Heb 5:12 Steps to achieve maturity 1. Put away the childish things. I Cor 13:11 2. Gain understanding of Gods Word. I Cor 14:20 3. Press towards the mark. Phil 3:14 4. Exercise your senses. Hebrews 5:14 5. Overcome temptation. I John 2:14 Promises of growth 1. With strong hands shall be stronger and stronger Job 17:9 2. We go from strength to strength. Psalm 84:7 Heb 5:14 3. We will grow and flourish. Eph 4:15 Psalm 92:12 4. Shine more and more unto that day. Prov 4:18 5. Enlarge our borders. II Samuel 22:37 Isa 54:2 6. Hasten your understanding. I Cor 14:20 7. Grow as the cedar tree. Psalm 92:12 8. So your profiting may appear to all. I Tim 4:15 9. Changed from glory to glory. II Cor 3:18

As in the natural we grow by eating and exercise. Eating 1. Desire the sincere milk of the word. I Peter 2:2 2. Eat the bread of the Word. I Cor 9:10 3. Eats meat. Heb 6 Exercise 1. Exercise your senses. Hebrews 5:14 THE GOAL IS TO FINISH Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14-15 Message Bible 14 I am off and running, I am not turning back. 15 So lety s keep focused on that goal,those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision you will see it yet! No one would ever think to enter a race without having the intention of winning. Why go through all the time and effort in training only to quit and drop out in the middle of a race. We have entered a race with the intention of finishing in the top third. [30-60-100] We will win the gold, the divine nature of God. Remember we are running in a relay race where others have run before us and are sitting down waiting for us to finish our leg of the race. We are running the anchor leg with others cheering us on. When we finish then all can receive the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14 Heb 11:40 Running the Race 1. Run that you may attain the prize. I Cor 9:24-26 2. Pressing onward, reaching forward. Phil 3:14 3. Stripping off all excess baggage. Hebrews 12:1 4. Running not in vain, keeping Gods word Gal 2:2 Phil 2:16 5. Running without any hindrances. Gal 5:7 6. Fight the good fight, finish your course. II Tim 4:7 7. Crown of righteousness laid up for you. II Tim 4:8 8. All run in a race only one receives the prize. I Cor 9:24 9. Moving forward, deviate not to the left or right. Deut 4:32

A RUNNER MUST 1. Strive to win the prize there is only one winner, the corporate body of Christ. 2. Stay on the course fight - finish and have faith. 3. Press onward... have endurance. 4. Look forward keeping your eyes upon Jesus 5. Get rid of all excess weight any hindrance that slows us 6. No interference s... obeying the truth 7. Get to the finish line... the Lord Jesus Christ TOWARDS THE GOAL I PRESS ON. Our prize and our goal is the upward call in Christ Jesus. 1. We must fix our eyes on the right goal. Our reward or prize is not heaven, a mansion or golden streets. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He becomes our prize and we become His inheritance. We are to be conformed to His image [outward appearance] and likeness [inward character] 2. Our goals are determined by our motives. Why do you want to go to heaven? Why do you want to be a preacher? We often place our faith on and in our goals. 3. You will become exactly what you pursue after. Do you want to glory in God and God glory in you. or glory in yourself. HINDERANCES TO OUR GROWTH 1. Complacency It s not automatic, I press towards the mark 2. Discouragement personal problems Leave them behind. 3. Idleness Senses not exercised. 4. Pressures - wrong focus on trials and tribulation. 5. Mind set You have the mind of Christ. HOW TO ENSURE GROWTH 1. Become active in your fellowship. 2. Pray for one another daily. 3. Become a joint of supply where you are planted. Often times our ministry takes place outside of the church environment. 4. Use your time, talent and treasure for Gods glory. 5. Instead of criticizing offer suggestions. We must become a part of the solution instead of the problem.

6. Seek Godly Counsel from your oversight ministries 7. Judge no man after the flesh. Motivate Yourself. A. Set up a daily routine for studying and reading the word B. Institute conservation to stimulate witnessing. Examine yourself II Cor 13:5 A. Am I growing? B. Is the fire burning? C. Is there any change in my life? D. Am I a good example? Phil Socash psocash@comcast.net