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TO WIN CHRIST, WE SHOULD...

PHILIPPIANS 3:8-14

1. Count those things that were gain as loss - for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.

2. Be found in Him. Lose self-righteousness and take on His righteousness by faith.

3. Seek to know Christ. Experience the power of His resurrection. Share in His sufferings. Conform to His death.

4. Lay hold of Christ. Forget those things which are behind. Reach forth for those things ahead.

5. Press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

RUNNING THE FAITH RACE REQUIRES...

HEBREWS 12:1-2

1. The removal of every weight .

Weights:

• slow a racer down

• may not necessarily be bad (lawful but not expedient)

2. Laying aside besetting sins.

To beset means to surround, hem in, attack from all sides, decorate around.

Easily besetting sins:

• weary / weaken the faith of the believer

• are a reproach to the believer (sin is a reproach)

• create a barrier between the believer and the move of the Holy Spirit

3. Patience (Endurance)

• Complete dependence on God to help us live victoriously as believers every step of the way. We must never outrun God.

4. Focus on God.

• Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

DO NOT WORRY...

1 - God commands us not to worry. Worry is sin.

Matthew 6:25.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Philippians 4:6-7 - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

2 - Worry does not solve your problems at all.

Matthew 6:27

THE GOOD NEWS:

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

3 - Worry halts you - especially spiritually.

A person who worries finds it difficult to pray, worship, fellowship, etc.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Isaiah 43:2 - When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown. When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames.

Hebrews 13:5b - I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.

4 - Worry could affect your health negatively.

Proverbs 13:12

THE GOOD NEWS:

Psalm 73:26 - My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

5 - Worry puts the devil above you - it makes you feel defeated.

Proverbs 12:25.

THE GOOD NEWS:

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

6 - Worry fills your heart with fear - fear is of the devil.

THE GOOD NEWS:

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN CHRIST, THE VINE...

1. You have whatever you ask for.

John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

2. God is glorified.

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified...

3. You bear much fruit.

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit...

4. You reflect marks of true discipleship

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

5. You bask in the love of Christ.

John 15:9-10 - As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

6. You experience overflowing joy.

John 15:11 - These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT...

1 - For Comfort

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

2 - For Counsel

John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

3 - For Help

Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

4 - As Intercessor

Romans 8:27 - And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

5 - As Advocate

Romans 8:16 - The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

6 - For Strength

Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

7 - As Standby

John 14:16 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

10 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN STUDYING THE BIBLE...

1. Context

- Who is speaking/to whom?
- What's the event/time/circumstance/location?
- What's the subject matter being addressed?

Interpreting scriptures out of context is the root of a lot of bible heresies.

2. Connectedness

Words such as and, therefore, but, whereas, because, for, etc. help to link you back to verses/chapters that are related and give you a broader picture of what the passage is talking about.

e.g.
Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 5:5 - And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

3. Repetitions

Point to emphasis; which will give you an idea of what God wants you to focus on or pay attention to in the passage.

e.g.
Ephesians 1 - in whom, in Christ, in Him...

Isaiah 43 - I am the Lord, I am He, I am God...

4. Principles

Are fundamental truths; and there are a lot of these in the bible.

e.g.
Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Proverbs 10:4 - He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5. New Creation Realities

These are truths the bible says about anyone who is in Christ; they are realities about who you are in Christ. Personalize them.

e.g.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

John 10:28 - And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

6. Warning / Caution

Are important to guide us in our Christian walk.

e.g.
1 John 5:21 - Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Philippians 3:2 - Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

7. Promises / Assurances

That you can hold onto from scriptures; they strengthen your faith.

e.g.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Colossians 1:27 - To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

8. Instructions / Commands

Tell us expressly what to do and how to obey scriptures.

e.g.
2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

9. What it says about GOD

This improves your knowledge of who God is and helps you worship and relate with Him better.

e.g.
Psalm 115:3 - But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

10. What it says about People

What God wants you to understand about yourself or people in general.

e.g.
Psalm 37:23 - The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

PURPOSE OF GOD'S CALL OVER BELIEVERS...

1 - For obedience & holiness

Romans 1:5-7 - By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 - For fellowship with Jesus & other believers

1 Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

3 - For justification & glorification

Romans 8:28-30 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

2 Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 - For eternal life & perfection

1 Timothy 6:12 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

5 - To inherit a blessing

1 Peter 3:8-9 - Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

6 - To follow in Christ's steps

1 Peter 2:20-21 - For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

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