THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

Series: 01-2021
 
Pressing Towards the mark for the Prize
 
“To press towards the mark” means “to forcefully push against oppositions in order to meet a set goal(s)”.  It is a consistent forceful push against resistance to achieving set targets. The Christian Faith is unlike most of the other faiths.  The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Head and Owner of the church to Whom every true Christian holds total allegiance, teaches His followers as follows: 
 
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
 
This injunction for believers to love their enemies should be a heart motivated one as shown by the early apostles in the New Testament.  There was never a time it was recorded in the bible that these early Christians prayed for the death and destruction of the Romans and Jewish people who persecuted them, rather they were grateful to GOD for the privilege to suffer for His sake (Acts 4:17, 21, 23-24, 29; Acts 5:40-42; Acts 7:59-60; Acts 16:23-25).  
 
Persecution is part of our Christian walk with GOD in this world.  Our LORD JESUS teaches us that this is inevitable.  He says to His disciples and by extension believers today “ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake” (Matthew 10:22; Luke 21:16-17).  Believers will be hated and persecuted by the world and its systems because it hated and persecuted the LORD JESUS CHRIST (John 15:20). 
 
As we step into this new year and subsequently, later years, the rate of persecution will continually rise.  This is because the devil knows that his time is very short (Revelation 12:12).  His aim of increasing the intensity of persecution and sufferings of true believers is to make the love for CHRIST in believers to wane and to eventually die off (2 Thessalonians 2:3).  
 
Aside persecutions, believers will be faced by a lot of activities that are outrightly sinful (2 Timothy 3:1-4) or those that may come across as normal, that is conforming to acceptable practices but could lead to great sinful acts (1 Corinthians 6:12).  
 
As believers we must be ready for persecutions and sufferings because of our faith as we live through our sojourn on earth (2 Timothy 3:12).  Paul and the other early apostles and believers of old faced persecutions as part of their Christian experience.  We do not pray for them, but they do come.  It may be your turn this year to face it; it could also be my turn.  Whether we face persecutions or not, we have to be ready for them and identify with fellow believers who may be facing them.  
 
We as believers should be mindful of our engagements as we live our day-to-day lives this year and always.  Let us learn to pause and make it a habit to ask ourselves if what we are engaged with at every point in time is edifying (1 Corinthians 10:23).  We, believers do not have the freedom to do all that others do (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).  Let us ask for the HOLY SPIRIT’s grace to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” as we “run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking 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).
 
Let us be reminded that “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:12-14).
 
As believers we must be self-controlled in all that we do in order to win an incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).  A crown? Yes, and more than one: because it’s not just a crown but crowns.  We have the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:; crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19); crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10); crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) and many more.  
 
Before we conclude this message, we will like to commiserate and identify with all our dear brothers and sisters who lost their relatives and loved ones last year 2020.  I pray GOD to comfort every one of you and grant you all the grace to bear these losses.  For those of them who died in the LORD, we thank GOD for their lives and I pray that we shall meet one day in glory to part to no more.  
 
For those of us still alive on this side, we have to follow the admonition of apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 “.......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.”  Brethren no matter the challenges of life, we must determine to move on without looking back.  The good LORD will give us the grace to overcome.
 
Happy new year to you all.  The joy of the LORD will continually be our strength at all times.  The GOD of heaven Who has ushered us into this year will prosper us in sound health, peace and goodness in JESUS’ name.
 
Till we meet again on this platform, I remain yours in CHRIST JESUS, brother Mike Dike.
 
GOD bless you.

thus says the word of GOD. not the message of ''it must be good for a christian on earth. we must not suffer etc.''

oludyke:
THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

Series: 01-2021
 
Pressing Towards the mark for the Prize
 
“To press towards the mark” means “to forcefully push against oppositions in order to meet a set goal(s)”.  It is a consistent forceful push against resistance to achieving set targets. The Christian Faith is unlike most of the other faiths.  The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Head and Owner of the church to Whom every true Christian holds total allegiance, teaches His followers as follows: 
 
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
 
This injunction for believers to love their enemies should be a heart motivated one as shown by the early apostles in the New Testament.  There was never a time it was recorded in the bible that these early Christians prayed for the death and destruction of the Romans and Jewish people who persecuted them, rather they were grateful to GOD for the privilege to suffer for His sake (Acts 4:17, 21, 23-24, 29; Acts 5:40-42; Acts 7:59-60; Acts 16:23-25).  
 
Persecution is part of our Christian walk with GOD in this world.  Our LORD JESUS teaches us that this is inevitable.  He says to His disciples and by extension believers today “ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake” (Matthew 10:22; Luke 21:16-17).  Believers will be hated and persecuted by the world and its systems because it hated and persecuted the LORD JESUS CHRIST (John 15:20). 
 
As we step into this new year and subsequently, later years, the rate of persecution will continually rise.  This is because the devil knows that his time is very short (Revelation 12:12).  His aim of increasing the intensity of persecution and sufferings of true believers is to make the love for CHRIST in believers to wane and to eventually die off (2 Thessalonians 2:3).  
 
Aside persecutions, believers will be faced by a lot of activities that are outrightly sinful (2 Timothy 3:1-4) or those that may come across as normal, that is conforming to acceptable practices but could lead to great sinful acts (1 Corinthians 6:12).  
 
As believers we must be ready for persecutions and sufferings because of our faith as we live through our sojourn on earth (2 Timothy 3:12).  Paul and the other early apostles and believers of old faced persecutions as part of their Christian experience.  We do not pray for them, but they do come.  It may be your turn this year to face it; it could also be my turn.  Whether we face persecutions or not, we have to be ready for them and identify with fellow believers who may be facing them.  
 
We as believers should be mindful of our engagements as we live our day-to-day lives this year and always.  Let us learn to pause and make it a habit to ask ourselves if what we are engaged with at every point in time is edifying (1 Corinthians 10:23).  We, believers do not have the freedom to do all that others do (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).  Let us ask for the HOLY SPIRIT’s grace to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” as we “run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking 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).
 
Let us be reminded that “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:12-14).
 
As believers we must be self-controlled in all that we do in order to win an incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).  A crown? Yes, and more than one: because it’s not just a crown but crowns.  We have the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:; crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19); crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10); crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) and many more.  
 
Before we conclude this message, we will like to commiserate and identify with all our dear brothers and sisters who lost their relatives and loved ones last year 2020.  I pray GOD to comfort every one of you and grant you all the grace to bear these losses.  For those of them who died in the LORD, we thank GOD for their lives and I pray that we shall meet one day in glory to part to no more.  
 
For those of us still alive on this side, we have to follow the admonition of apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 “.......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.”  Brethren no matter the challenges of life, we must determine to move on without looking back.  The good LORD will give us the grace to overcome.
 
Happy new year to you all.  The joy of the LORD will continually be our strength at all times.  The GOD of heaven Who has ushered us into this year will prosper us in sound health, peace and goodness in JESUS’ name.
 
Till we meet again on this platform, I remain yours in CHRIST JESUS, brother Mike Dike.
 
GOD bless you.
 

Amen, the journey is not easy but Through Jesus we shall overcome every obstacle our way. Hope to wear the crown