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NOTE: The Secret isn't something new
at all. Nor is it exclusive to any one person or to any one group. It
is just not very well known ... or exercised ... by many
people. No fault of God, though. It's just that not too many truly
hunger and thirst for righteousness. Especially if too many other
things clutter their mental landscape.
No matter how much time we spend
studying the Bible OR how many times we have read over the same
thing(s), there are always new things that God reveals to us, and
brings out which we didn't notice in any of the previous readings. So,
in that regard, learning from the Word of God is a never ending
process. "It’s all about Jesus." It’s not about me, and
it’s not about you. The Old Testament is Messiah (Jesus)
concealed. The New Testament is Messiah (Jesus) revealed. So, in
addition to knowing who Jesus "really" is, our relationship with Him is
the MAIN THING. Therefore, my position is **IF** we don’t keep
the main thing the main thing ... with laser focus ... it is only a
matter of time until we will fizzle ... or burn ... out. The reason I
say this is because I am convinced it takes BOTH knowing who Jesus
really is, and having a right relationship with Him ... with laser
focus ... in order to have Proverbs 3:5-6 fulfilled in your
life ... "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths."
The very moment things like praying,
studying the King James Version of the Bible, going to Church or
anything else regarding the work of the Lord, become a chore or a
drudgery, a person is in trouble Spiritually speaking. And, unless they
make a conscious effort to "renew" themselves in the Lord, and keep the
flesh (the old you) under subjection to the Spirit of God, a person
will fall by the wayside. Does this mean when a person does grow weary
or weak they are backslidden. No, not at all! However, the person will
need to address these issues pretty quickly. This is why it is so
essential that we know how ... and be prepared ... to light our own
fire, or to "... stir up the gift of God, which is in thee ..." (2
Timothy 1:6), or by the ... renewing of your mind ... (Romans
12:2 & Ephesians 4:23) AND by the " ... renewing of the Holy
Ghost ... (Titus 3:5) ... " ... DAY BY DAY." (2 Corinthians
4:16).
Singing a "new song" unto the Lord is
mentioned several times in the Book of Psalms. And, in a couple places
in the Book of Revelation it was revealed, and shown, as actually
happening in the future. At any rate, there are some (although, NOT me)
who say, "There's nothing new under the sun," implying things like
trains, airplanes, airports, automobiles, space ships and such are not
unique to the last hundred years or so. They assert or imply that
ancient civilizations had 'em, too. Granted, there isn't anything which
God doesn't know in the past, present or future, but there's just a
whole bunch man doesn't know, even **IF** they may "think" they do. God
knows the beginning from the end and vice versa. Here's just a couple
things which the Bible says about God on this subject ... Declaring the
end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not
yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my
pleasure: (Isaiah 46:10) AND " ... calleth those things which be
not as though they were (Romans 4:17).
And, here's some other interesting
Scriptures about "new things" and such ...
Numbers 16:30 But if
the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow
them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into
the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the
LORD. [NOTE: the next 5 verses are pretty sobering. It did happen.]
Isaiah 42:8-10 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 48:6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. Jeremiah 31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Mark 1:21-28 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. Acts 17:16-23 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. After being completely delivered, the years since mile marker 7, on Dec. 10, 1985, have confirmed the secret of achieving ... and maintaining ... victory in Jesus over and over again. And, I say this unequivocally. The secret is staying in the Word of God, keeping the main thing the main thing (which is knowing who Jesus "really" is, and having a right relationship with Him), knowing the difference between "saying" a prayer and "praying" a prayer ... and doing it ... making your calling and election sure, staying focused on that calling, not being so Heavenly minded that you're no earthly good, loving others AND helping others with no strings attached, expecting absolutely nothing in return, burying the past, and never looking back, staying true to yourself (otherwise, you won't be true to God or anyone else), never being too far away from an altar of repentance, or too proud to say "I'm sorry" or to take the blame, as well as practicing what you preach ... and by all means DON'T EVER, EVER, EVER QUIT! |