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Friday, December
12, 2008
Lost And Found
Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had
translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him. (KJV)
We have talked the last few days about
the similarities between Enoch and the Church, and how it correlates and
becomes more alive to us; how we can relate spiritually to what took place
in his walk. Once we have been translated, raised up, and able to be seated
with Christ we will no longer be found living a life of sin, but rather
speaking and operating in a new realm. Without faith, without hearing the
message being delivered by Christ, then it is impossible to please our God
or give an accurate testimony to what is taking place in His realm, which
means we are not pleasing in His sight. So as with Enoch, once you have
been translated and are not found any longer walking a dead end path, where
would you expect to find yourself once you have been translated as well?
Philippians 3:7-9 But what things were
gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count
all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith
of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (KJV)
Well for starters, the first things you
are going to find out is that what you thought in the past, your way of
thinking, will be of no benefit in your new life or walk in the Spirit. So
what you had chalked up as being in the good column before can now be
placed in the loss column, you know like that stuff about being a good
person? Take for instance a term I hear so often and have even uttered
myself in the past, “Well I go to church and I don’t hurt anyone; I try and
do my best and treat others the way I would like to be treated”; the only
thing God considers righteous, justified, or in good standing with Him is
our ability to hear personally the message He has for us being delivered
through Christ, so that we can find our place in the body of Christ and do
those things that are pleasing in His sight. So if you really desire to
stay seated in the heavenly realm, then you need to realize that it has
nothing to do with your works, and everything to do with what works; that
being what Jesus Christ has done and desires to do through us, period.
Philippians 3:10-11 That I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain
unto the resurrection of the dead. (KJV)
You know, for Enoch to be translated it
meant that he had to leave something behind, and that would be the world
and the things of it. For you to be translated as well and seated with
Christ you to will have to leave this fallen realm behind so that you can
partake of the new life in Christ and stay in good standing with Him.
Another way of putting it, many desire to go to heaven but few are willing
to die to get there. Many are called by God and taste the goodness of His
realm for a season, then fall away back into their old ways and thoughts
which is why only a few are really chosen that are willing to endure to the
end. Paul came to the realization for himself that in order to stay seated
with Christ and in good standing with Him, that by any means, whatever it took,
he was going to fight the good fight of faith and attain this resurrection.
Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that
I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13)
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Once you have been raised up and have
truly partaken of the new life in Christ, you find that nothing else
compares to the love of God which is shed abroad in our heart. The more one
partakes of this new life the less likely they will return to the old dead
one they escaped from, by a daily renewing of their mind so that they can
continue to walk in the newness of life. Once you become a new creation in
Christ then all the old thoughts and ways of the flesh need to be discarded
and forgotten, replaced with a new insight from above so that our Lord can
now do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ever ask or of think;
in other words, nothing is impossible to those that believe. Continue to
press toward this mark for the only prize that will last for eternity so
that you are no longer just a visitor in the realm of God, but have become
a permanent member of the family of God which is in Christ.
2 Peter 3:13-14 Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness. (14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for
such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without
spot, and blameless. (KJV)
When you were raised up, and are now
seated with Christ in His heavenly realm your affection and viewpoint has
now changed from one that was below, to one that is above. Your affection,
your desire, has now changed from the carnal realm to the Spiritual realm;
and that which was temporary is now replaced with an eternal vision.
Remember, the Lord asked that when He returned would He find faith, would
He find anyone left that was willing to give testimony to the things above,
because they have abandoned the things below. When Enoch left this realm
and was translated he was no longer found in this realm, but was now seated
in a heavenly one. When our Lord returns for His Church where will you be
found? Only those that look to the realm of the Spirit will find the new
life available in Christ, the only realm that God considers righteous. Only
those that look and set their affection on things above will be found in
good standing with our Lord, letting His peace rule, without spot and
blameless as well.
Hebrews 12:2 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 is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God. (KJV)
God made this same Jesus that mankind
crucified, both Lord and Christ, who is now seated at the right hand of God
to give us a firsthand account of not only the beginning of our faith, but
how to endure to the end as well. The more you stay seated with Him the
more you will be able to give an accurate account of His plan of salvation
also to anyone that is seeking an escape from this present evil world. So
how will you finish your walk with the Lord, and who is dictating and has
the most influence on you today, is it hearing the message of deliverance
through Christ, or are you seeking something else you think will bring
life?
Williams New Testament translation
of Hebrews 11:5-6
5. By faith Enoch was transplanted from
earth, so that he did not experience dying; and he could not be found,
because God had transplanted him from earth. For before he was transplanted from earth
evidence was given him that he pleased God; 6. but without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that
there is a God and that He gives rewards to all who earnestly try to find
Him.
Do you see the similarities in your walk
as well as with Enoch? You were translated into a new realm so that you
would no longer have to experience death, a spiritual death separated from
God and His plan of salvation. So will you rise up to a higher standard and
live according to the Word of God so that you can stay seated and not fall
from grace? You were lost and then you were found; and now the question is
where will you be found when the Lord returns for His Church?
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