Am I Ready to Go Down the Road With Delight? – March 27,2011
Am I READY to go through God’s school of life (learning to live, learning to be, learning to relate to God, to myself, to my world and to others)? Am I seeing right, thinking right and acting right? How is my sight? my attitude? my action? my reaction? Is my journey through my teens a learning and a loving to learn?
Learning does not always seem like fun. Learning often is difficult and requires effort and work and study and repetition. Learning is not always what we would like or want. Think of the young student learning his multiplication tables--going over the same things again and again in what seems like ENDLESS REPETITION! Is that something that can be enjoyed?
Should I expect to enjoy the learning process? Should I expect to enjoy the results of learning? (Is it worthwhile to know how to multiply?) Can I really take delight as I am learning?
The full and final results of school and growing up do not find their place until later on as an adult when I begin to put to work all the experience of those years of learning, whether in business, work, home, hospital or whatever.
How can I enjoy the learning process? How can I learn to love learning? The following 5 D’s are needful:
Discover - (1) You must Discover your ignorance. That is, you need to find out where you really are. Where are you on the road? Find out where you are, what you know and what you do not know. "And if any man think that he ______anything, he ______yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2). Take a good, realistic look at yourself and discover where you are, why you are (noting your age, grade, etc.), and what is really there for you to learn and to understand.
(1Co 8:2) And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Determine - (2) You must Determine to tackle and face this hour, this day and this situation. Don’t run and hide, but keep at it and tackle the problems and challenges one by one as they come (see Romans 12:2).
(Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Develop - (3) You must Develop and grow and increase as you move from one stage to the next. As there are GROWING PAINS (sometimes growing children have pains in their legs and perhaps elsewhere), so also there are KNOWING PAINS. Not every child goes through growing pains (or hurts). In the same way, some young people seem to breeze through school without much pain or difficulty. For others it is a hard struggle, and going from one stage to another is often hard and often hurts. Some have great difficulty with arithmetic or math; others have trouble with English; some do well in class but find it very hard to play sports in gym because they are not as skilled or talented physically as others; some find it easy to talk and to socia1ize; others do not. DON’T LET DIFFICULTIES, HARD PLACES AND HARD THINGS STOP YOU FROM TRUSTING AND TRYING TOMORROW (see Lamentations 3:19-27).
Lam 3:19-27
(19) Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
(20) My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
(21) This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
(22) It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
(23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
(24) The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
(25) The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
(26) It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
(27) It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
Delight - (4) You must Delight in your developing and in your learning at each stage (see Psalm 37:4, 5, 23-27). Just as the artist delights at each stroke of the brush and the athlete delights in each day’s training, so you must delight in life’s daily lessons and trials.
Psa 37:4-5
(4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:23-27
(23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
(24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(25) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
(26) He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
(27) Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Desire - (5) You must Desire the next stage (the next day, the next month, the next year, the next exercise experience of your soul) in order to make progress and to advance. Time moves on and you must move on. You can look ahead without fear and dread: "Take no thought (be not anxious, don’t worry) for TOMORROW" (Matthew 6:34).
(Mat 6:34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the dayisthe evil thereof.
You may think of each stage as another step to climb on a stairway:
Each step brings you higher up and makes it easier to see and gives you more to see. To make progress as you should, three things are needed: the right attitude, the right atmosphere and the right action.
1. The Right Attitude
My attitude should be as follows: "This hour is for me. This is an hour of time which belongs to God which has been given to me. I want to be THANKFUL for it and in it and through it. God has a purpose and a process to awaken me and to mold me and to cause me to know Him and to be learning of Him and from Him (Matthew 11:29--Take my yoke upon you, and _LEARN____ of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.). God does and God will supply all my _NEEDS_ (Philippians 4:19). As I take each step I must never forget that I am an _AMBASSADOR__ for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)--representing Him, living for Him, speaking for Him."
- (Php 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
- (2Co 5:20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
I represent Christ in a hostile world, and thus I must have:
2. The Right Atmosphere
Are believers IN the world (John 17:11,15; Philippians 2:15)? _NO___ I am IN the world, but I am also IN the Lord God (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1). A diver is IN the water (and under the water) but he is also IN a diving suit which has tanks containing the air from above. So also the believer who is in the world is also in the Lord, having and receiving the air and atmosphere of heaven.
- (Joh 17:11) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as weare.
- (Joh 17:15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
- (Php 2:15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
- (2Co 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Jesus said, "In the world (the world and its system with its sun and air, its warmth and cold, its persons and problems, its sin and suffering and swearing, its nice people and its not so nice people, etc.) ye shall have tribulation (trouble, pressure): but be of good cheer, I have _OVERCOME____ the world." (John 16:33) Not only are you IN the world, but in the first part of John 16:33 Jesus said that you are "IN _ME_." If I am a believer (one who is believing), then I have access to the God of heaven and earth and I can live In His atmosphere and under His government.
(Joh 16:33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
3. The Right Action
I must continue to face and tackle life right where I am each step of the way. All the things that I need and all the things that I find missing, such as:
wisdom and knowledge for my ignorance / strength for my weakness / companionship for my loneliness /guidance for my walk and talk this day
God’s working to win over my self working which is wrong in thought, in words, and in what I do
The more I realize these needs, the more I will realize my need for the God who can supply these things.
As I continue to act right and walk right as I go from step to step, I must remember four things:
1) Life’s Journey is a CONTEST.
There is a constant contest of right versus wrong; truth versus error. There is victory and defeat; winning and losing:
THE GREAT CONTEST (see 1 Cor.9:24-27; Gal.5:16-23)
1Co 9:24-27
(24) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
(25) And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
(26) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
(27) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Gal 5:16-23
(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
(18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Jesus said, "I have _OVERCOME______the world" (John 16:33)
(I’M THE VICTOR AND THE CONQUEROR!)
His believers say, "We are more than __CONQUERORS____ (Romans 8:37)
(SUPER-CONQUERORS!)
(Rom 8:37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
2) Life’s Journey is a CONFLICT.
It is a battle of words and wits, hurts and harms, kill and killing (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 5:7).
Eph 6:10-18
(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
(11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
(15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
(16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
(18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
2Co 10:3-5
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(Gal 5:7) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
3) Life’s Journey is a CONCERN.
The people, problems and pressures around us tend to make us worry and be anxious (see Matthew 6:25-34; 10:26-39; Philippians 4:6-7), but...
Mat 6:25-34
(25) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
(26) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
(27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
(28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
(29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
(30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven,shall henot much moreclotheyou, O ye of little faith?
(31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
(33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the dayisthe evil thereof.
Mat 10:26-39
(26) Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
(27) What I tell you in darkness,thatspeak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear,thatpreach ye upon the housetops.
(28) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
(30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
(31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(32) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
(33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(34) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
(36) And a man's foesshall bethey of his own household.
(37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Php 4:6-7
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4) There is CONFIDENCE and COMFORT.
Paul said (even during a difficult time when he was in prison), "I am CONFIDENT (convinced, assured, fully persuaded, certain) of this very thing..." (Philippians 1:6). Paul knew for sure that God was working (Philippians 2:13) and that He would continue that good work which He started, and He would someday complete that good work. Because of this, Paul and every believer is comforted and should be able to say, "Thank You!" "In EVERYTHING (In every situation of life, in every stage and as I take each and every step) _GIVE___ _THANKS______!" (1 Th.5:18).
(Php 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(Php 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(1Th 5:18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
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