God can never fail. God gives us the perseverance to cling to Him. What He had to say will come to pass. "For He says, and it happens; He commands, and it is done. (Psalm 33:9)
Philippians 3:10-14
God made a choice about Paul and Paul understood that. He was always grateful to God for that. Paul thought he was serving God, but he realized that he was actually fighting against that God he wanted to serve. When you realize that, it changes your life. Simon had received his guests in his home. He had given the honors to each guest, only when the Lord came, no one cared about Him. He didn't receive a welcome kiss, or even wash His feet. But there, in that place, there was a woman of ill repute. All those who considered themselves to be of the upper class would not even exchange words with her. Among the Pharisees there were no faults. They tried to put into practice the whole law of Moses. That is religion.
Philippians 3:8-9
Righteousness is not what we make, but what we live. We don't do it for people to see. There is a difference between obeying Moses and obeying God. Paul was grateful for the change in his own life.
Philippians 3:12
There is a price. "The athlete is not crowned unless he fights according to the rules." (2 Timothy 2:5)
1 Corinthians 9:24 / Philippians 3:12
There are rules that are required. Perfection is the goal. What is perfection? Perfection is the end point. When you have reached perfection, there is nothing more to do. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) Perfection is our Father. To be perfect, we must live up to the image of our Father. How can I achieve perfection?
1 Peter 5:6-10
God is a potter. A potter, he takes the clay as a lump but he already has the image in his head. He removes and trims in order to achieve the image he has in mind.
We must look out for each other because some are weak. The lion looks at the herd and will attack the weakest. First he will isolate him, then he will come and attack him. That is why it is very bad not to come to the assembly. "Let us not forsake our assembly, as is the custom of some" (Hebrews 10:25) Your children should also come to the assembly. Why would you want to leave them at home?
It is God who does all this. But how does He do it? God perfects you through His Word. That's how He sizes you up. When you stay home, God takes good care of you. Your place is in the assembly to hear the Word. When you are in the assembly, you feel the presence of God. He prunes us and shows us what is wrong. "And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry and for the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12): 11-12) "Therefore we thank God continually that when you received the word of God, which we made known to you, you received it not as the word of men but, as it really is, as the word of God, which works in you who believe. " (1 Thessalonians 2:13) When you receive this Word, it must act. In order for it to work, you must be sensitive. You come to His house because you understand the importance of being there. "They continued in the apostles' teaching, in the fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers. (Acts 2:42) Why is fellowship important? A body does not have only one arm. Each member has its place, and that is how the body becomes strong. A body that is divided loses its strength.
"If my people, upon whom my name is called, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) "The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul. No one said that his possessions were his own, but everything was common to them. (Acts 4:32) The gift is always for the common good, always for the edification of the Body. "For we were all baptized into one Spirit, into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) You enter the Body through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Everyone enters the Body and takes his or her place. When all are assembled, the Body will move forward. "... until all the Gentiles have entered. (Romans 11:25)
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Every member must be in his place. The Body must be complete. Our Lord is the head, but the head needs the Body. We are the Body of Christ. The world must see that Jesus Christ is risen and they will see this through us. These gifts are for the world to see Jesus in action. Before we can leave this earth, the world must see Jesus. "To him who overcomes" (Revelation 2:26) God comes looking for overcomers. Christ has overcome all things.
Revelation 3:10-11
There will come a time when people will be forced to compromise.
Philippians 3:12
You must also take hold of Him. If God has chosen you, has taken hold of you, then something must be happening inside you. Then you are not a man, but you follow this Jesus. The disciples were determined to follow this Jesus. If you don't see God, you're not going to follow through. You have to see Jesus. God asks us not to always go back. The Lord has forgiven you, He has forgiven you all your sins. Now you have to walk ahead.
What is the heavenly calling? Stop looking to the left or to the right. Who is this person who can block you when God has freed you? I must go forward.
Psalm 20:1-5
Go with that. The blockages are over!