Doing Away With Sin 13

Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said. (Joshua 14:12—NIV)

Conclusion

The twentieth century has witnessed the spiritual fulfillment of the Jewish feast of Pentecost in many places and among several denominations. This is the first time since the days of the Apostles that Pentecostal manifestations have been so widespread.

Now we are entering the twenty-first century. God is moving forward into the spiritual fulfillments of the last three feasts of the Lord: the Blowing of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and, finally, the feast of Tabernacles.

We simply cannot remain at Pentecost, so to speak, when the Spirit of God is calling us forward. Such change is unsettling, especially since some members of an assembly may hear the trumpet and move ahead while others do not seem to have ears to hear.

But the life of victory in Christ Jesus always is a one-on-one operation. It is always "to him who overcomes." We would love to bring our friends with us, but this is possible only as the Spirit of God touches them also.

One of the sufferings of Christ which we must experience is to be driven away from those with whom we have had years of joyous fellowship. But, as the Lord advised us, whoever esteems friends or even family more than they do Him is not worthy of Him. We must forsake all, if needs be, that we may prove to be a true disciple of Jesus.

So it is onward and upward—and still further ahead and further up. There is no retirement from the program of salvation. To our last day on earth (and who knows what takes place after that?) we are to be pressing on the upward way.

There is a Christ to be pleased. There is a kingdom to be gained. Who among us will cry: "Give me this mountain!"? These are the mighty men, and their reward is from the Lord Jesus.

The Lord's army is made up of volunteers who have been called from the foundation of the world. First we are called. Then it is up to us to volunteer to turn aside from our sinful, worldly nature and seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness with every fiber of our being.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus did His first miracle at that time.

The wedding on the third day is symbolic of the work of redemption that shall occur on the "third day," so to speak.

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 6:2—NIV)

Compare:

He replied, "Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'" (Luke 13:32—NIV)

Two thousand years of church history, and now we are coming to the third day. The Lord has kept the best wine until now.

It indeed is a new day, a wonderful day, a day of marvelous opportunity and also of dangerous deception. We can press forward into unimaginable victory and glory if we keep our eyes steadfastly on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is the call in your heart? If so, never, never, never quit. If you don't quit but keep praying, the Lord will bring you through every trouble no matter how great. He sits as King of the flood. He is in control of the universe. And He cares for you.

The fullness of the Divine inheritance is for all the sons of God. The sons of God are those who lay aside all else in order to gain Christ.

You can be one of these if this is what you desire with all your heart.

Why don't you set this brief essay aside right now and tell Jesus what it is you truly want. (from Doing Away With Sin)

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