Monday, March 28, 2011

Press!

Philippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

PRESS!

Being a disciple isn't easy. The word itself is related to the word discipline. Whether used as a term for correction or a term for devotion, the bottom line is being disciplined, or a disciple, requires work.

If you want to lose weight, you have to eat less than you're used to and exercise more than you're used to. Its work.

If you want to be good at an instrument, it requires not only that you practice, but that you practice with perfection in mind. Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Its work.

Want to learn a new language? You have to speak it to learn it. Want to run faster? You have to start running and force yourself to go faster. Want to be a better dancer? speaker? husband? wife? They all take concentrated effort. They take discipline. You have to become a disciple of what you want to do.

Its work.

Your life in Christ is no different. When you are born again, you are literally new. Christ births in you a brand new spirit, a spirit like His. But that spirit has to be fed, nurished, exercised, allowed to prosper. And it has to work within a physical body that has carnal feelings and mindsets that have to be overcome by this new spirit of Christ.

In short, its work.

Dear friends, press. Press through to the perfect. Press through to the passion, the design God has placed in you. Press through to your calling. Grab hold of it. Setbacks may in fact happen, but they shouldn't stop your press. Paul reminded us to 'forget those things that are behind.' Forget the gains and the failures and focus on the press. The pressing is where your breakthrough starts. The pressing is what drives your growth.

And that press, like the women who pressed through crowds to get to the Savior, or the centurion and the eunech who pressed through tradition, or Christ Himself who pressed through His humanity to His divinity to create our way back to the Father; that press will only bring you closer to God.

Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.' (John 14:6). He is the way. The press is the how. At Fellowship, we are ready and willing to show you both The Way and give you the process to do the how. We will work with you while the Lord works on you.

Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Press on!

Correction from last week: I referenced Psalm 131:14 and I should have written 139:14.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.
Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.  You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.


Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor