Racing for the Goal
June 10th, 2007
scribe: Priscilla Van Sutphin
Heb 12:1-2 NKJV The Race of Faith
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
“ Why does it say ‘the race of faith’ the Lord said to me.” I said, because we grown in faith just as we grow in grace and glory, step by step our faith should grow, even as our soul matures in the knowledge of You ? My thoughts went to 2 Peter about how we add to faith virtue, etc. Then I wait on the Lord to speak again…
“The object of the enemy’s traps and taunts is to get you to step OUT OF FAITH. Every accusation he brings against you is to get you to step out of faith with My GRACE, and every accusation against ME he speaks to you to get you to give up on serving and obeying ME, and to get you to distance yourself from ME, so that you will not walk in RELATIONSHIP with ME. He tries to get you to not trust ME, and to throw doubt into the equation so that you will go and do your “own thing” and walk in rebellion rather than wisdom from above.
If he can make you feel like you are unloved by ME, then you become hopeless. You begin to think you can never be good enough to be accepted. But just like a child doesn’t have to do anything to be loved by a parent as a baby, I LOVE YOU. You can’t DO anything to make Me to love you more. Though your obedience is a measure of showing your love for ME. NOTHING you do or say makes me love you more or less. My love is unconditional. There are many people in hell, whom I loved and tried to get to follow ME, but who chose not to seek ME with all their hearts, and minds, and souls. They chose to go their OWN WAY.
That is the mainstay of all witchcraft and rebellion against ME, is for man to choose his OWN PATH. That happened at Babel, when I told them to scatter across the earth and multiply and they decided that they knew better than I what to do, and were tempted then into defiance against ME. So they built their OWN KINGDOM and did what they wanted, rather than what I wanted them to do. It is a battle of the will, using the mind. Your will must be FREE of demonic bondage for it to be free to follow Me. How do you get it free someone may ask. By walking in FAITH even when you don’t FEEL like it.
This is the nature of the sacrifice of praise. You know you should praise ME, but you don’t always FEEL like it. But you set your heart on communion, so you turn on the music, or pick up the guitar, or the WORD and begin to praise ME. You may not FEEL like it, but you do it, and after doing it for a while, then you feel like it ! Your will comes into alliance with MY WILL BY BEING IN MY PRESENCE. I am always with you, but you are not always with Me.
That is, I am in you, but you are not always thinking of ME, or anything spiritual. But I want you to be spiritually minded, not carnally minded. For the carnal mind breeds death. So the spiritual disciplines are to keep you thinking heavenly. You are to be heavenly MINDED – CHRIST MINDED. Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. It becomes easy after a while to grow slack in discipline, thinking you’ve done this or that before, or that this thing is more important and the enemy will try to get you away from your time with ME, but I LOVE YOU and treasure our time together. I love hearing your voice, even as you love to hear Mine. I love seeing you play and laugh even as you love to play and laugh with your children or grandchildren. I love time with you. I love when you are aware that I am with you, and acknowledge My presence. I love when you think of ME while fixing dinner, or sewing up a garment, or cleaning house, or doing your work. I love it when you turn to me at lunchtime to just read the word for a few minutes. I am NOT standing over you with a whip saying, “ that wasn’t enough”. I see each moment of turning to ME. I see your HEART that longs for more of ME, and I am pleased with such things.
Phil 2:5-8 NKJV The Humbled and Exalted Christ
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
1 Cor 2:16 NKJV For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
I want you beloveds, to have patience for one another as I have patience for you ! In a swimming race where one person has to wait for the last one to finish his lap, before going diving into the water. That person cheers on the other person, and WAITS, and must WAIT on the other before he goes ahead. Just like in such a race. I am waiting for some to “catch up with” the race of faith. I am a PATIENT FATHER and I wait on My children, and in times of great visitation, I come and pour out My grace and power, that ALL may catch up with the race ! I want you to BELIEVE for that beloveds. I want you to not lose hope, even when bad things happen in the earth, in politics, in governments, in the world.
I want you to understand that everything that happens has it’s source in ME that you would not give into fear. FAITH IS THIS. You must TRUST in ME as your Source of everything you need. You must believe that I love you and you are the apple of My eye. You must believe My word is TRUTH, over the “untruths” the world and the devil speak. You must put ALL TRUST in ME. If you need wisdom, I am here. If you need provision, I see, and I am here and will answer. When you need LOVE, I am WITH YOU, IN YOU, and AROUND YOU, and I will give you all you need.”
Lam 3:31-41 NKJV For the Lord will not cast off forever. 32 Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies. 33 For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush under one's feet All the prisoners of the earth, 35 To turn aside the justice due a man Before the face of the Most High, 36 Or subvert a man in his cause — The Lord does not approve. 37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed? 39 Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD; 41 Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.
Hab 3:17-19 AMP Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! [Rom 8:37.]
19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
Acts 20:24 NKJV But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
