Judges 7. Gideon, part 26: Why we ultimately do. Don’t lose opportunities due to carelessness.

Title: Judges 7. Gideon, part 26: Why we ultimately do. Don’t lose opportunities due to carelessness.      

 

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An amazing revolution of transformation has happened to man. He has been elected in Christ and in His image. Each one of us must be who we are and stop entertaining who we are not.

 

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

 

Rom 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

 

The glorious story is told in five words, "foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified."

 

We have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. At salvation we were entered into union with Christ and the plan of God for our lives is revealing to us what this magnificent title and position entails. When we see it through the eyes of our heart, our way, our conduct, our whole way of thinking will be in harmony with who we are. We do because this is who we are.

 

Foreknown by God to believe, predestined to walk in Christ's manner.

 

Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

 

Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,

 

Eph 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

Php 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

 

Col 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge [epignosis: full knowledge or knowing it and living it] of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

 

"filled with the knowledge of His will" - epi,gnwsij[epignosis] = full or complete knowledge. Knowing His will and living His will.

 

Col 1:10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge [epignosis] of God;

 

Col 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

 

Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

 

The Father qualified us to share in the inheritance by giving us a divine nature. We must be more and more certain of who we are in Christ.

 

1Th 2:12 walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

 

2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

 

2Th 3:8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you;

 

2Th 3:9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example.

 

1Jo 2:4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

 

1Jo 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

 

1Jo 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

 

3Jo 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;

 

3Jo 6 and they bear witness to your love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

 

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

 

Rom 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

 

Foreknown to believe, predestined to walk in Christ's manner, elected to have Christ's full inheritance, justified as perfectly righteous, glorified to share in all of God's glory and goodness.

 

This is our story. This is our reality. No believer is excluded or has any smidgen less. Man has always dreamed of something like this but never knowing what it really was and never knowing even the first step towards it. If this remains a fairy tale to you or in any way an unreality then you will continue to settle for far less in life.

 

Carnal believers and unbelievers do not strive for more than God offers but far, far less. God doesn't restrict life, but expands it greatly by adding godliness.