Matthew 22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen.
2 Peter 1:3-4 – For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
2 Peter 1:10-11 – Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall. Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Diligent – characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort; painstaking (the action of taking pains, diligent care and effort).
2 Timothy 2:15, 21 – Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 – And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Phillips – Yet you must go on steadily in all those things that you have learned and which you know are true. Remember from what sort of people your knowledge has come, and how from early childhood your mind has been familiar with the Holy Scriptures, which can open the mind to the salvation which comes through believing in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work.
His word has from when I was a child instructed me and given my understanding for salvation. It has made me complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for all of the good works He has made me for. Though His word He has put me together and shaped me up for the tasks God has for me.
You have through the years used your word to teach me the faith, to correct my errors, to re-set the direction of my life, and train me how to live. Your word has been the comprehensive equipment you used to fit me fully for all branches of the work I am called to.
The Word Equips
Ezekiel 3:1-4, 10 – Then He said to me, Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you. Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Then He said to me, Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them… Moreover, He said to me, Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely.
I must first hear a truth. Then I continue in it till the truth makes me free, till true faith comes, till it is an actual part of my being and becomes the strength to do it.
As I continue to feed upon the truths of the Word, they become more and more deeply ingrained deep within my heart. They become a part of my actual being, part of me. They take over my entire life. In the spiritual as well as the natural, you become what you eat.
It isn’t that I study things just to learn them as facts and doctrines. I feed on them and take them into my being where they become my strength and ability to live them. I renew my mind, and they replace the old thoughts with truth – which as it takes hold in my heart makes me free and transforms my life into His image – and enables me to do the things that become part of me, things I have always wanted to do, things I have known I should do and tried so hard to accomplish.
Proverbs 4:20-23 – My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
Out of your heart are the controlling forces of your life. If you heart and mind is filled with the Word of God, you will live a life and health and peace. The more of God’s Word (God’s ways of thinking) is in your heart as a part of you, the more of His abundant life you will be living.
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Transform – make over radically to a different form, composition, state or disposition. This is what happens when I renew my mind with the Word. THE WORD WLL RADICALLY CHANGE MY DISPOSITION.
I am transformed by changing the way I think, by conforming my thoughts to His thoughts.
Ephesians 4:22-24 – Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
I strip myself of my former nature and put on the new nature which has already been created in God’s image through being constantly renewed in the spirit of my mind.
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
The Word of God is the power of God unto my salvation. It enters my heart and becomes a part of me and gives me strength to do it.
The Word of god is our spiritual food. I have to eat it regularly and never become tired of it! And I can never exhaust the nourishment I get from it. It is as deep and never-ending as God. The Word is alive and feeds me and meets me where I am. It knows where my heart is and what thoughts are going through my mind and speaks to me based on this.
Hebrews 4:12 – For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
If I only ate something in the natural world until I knew how it tasted, I would starve. Many Christians live almost in a state of spiritual starvation (they only eat on Sundays and maybe Wednesdays. Or maybe they pull something out of their promise box at other times, like a taste of some sort of food they might like when the walk by the refrigerator. In the natural they wouldn’t be so stupid, why in the spiritual?) – and still try to live as God desires Christians to without taking in the nourishment and strength He has provided – and of course they fail more than prevail.
How can they live effectively as a Christian when they are not doing it in the way the Lord has provided – through Him in His strength and ability, through the knowledge of His Word, through the renewing of their minds and through fellowship with Him through the Spirit, through feeding the truth until it makes them free?
John 8:31-32 – If you continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.
I don’t just study to learn facts and doctrines. I feed on the Words of God and take them into my being where they become my strength and ability to live them. They become a part of my actual being. I renew my mind, and God’s truths replace the old thoughts and strongholds – which as it takes hold in my heart makes me free and transforms my life into His image – and enables me to do the things that become part of me.
I must first hear a truth. Then I continue in the truth, too feed on it till it makes me free, till true faith comes, till it is an actual part of my being and becomes the strength to do it. Then it will work for me. (Romans 10:8-17; John 8:31-32)
James 1:21 – …His Word is able to save my soul as it takes hold of my heart.
If I just listen once until I know a truth, it won’t be the salvation of my soul; it will only be knowledge. I have to continue in the Word until it makes me free; it has to take hold of my heart to be my salvation.
Luke 8:15 – But the seed on good soil stands for those which a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop.
Just hearing the Word once isn’t enough to bear fruit. You must hear the word and retain it and persevere in it through time. Then it will bear a crop. Continue in the Word till it bears the fruit that makes you free. Continue in the Word of liberty, then you will understand it and do it and reap the results of it.
Proverbs 2:1-7, 10 – Put your life’s effort into the Word, and you will find wisdom, wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Mark 4:24 – And He said to them, be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the truth you hear) will be the measure (or virtue and knowledge) that comes back you – and more (besides) will be given to you who hear.
Acts 20:32 – And now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Psalm 119:9, 11 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to your Word…Your word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Psalm 1:2-3 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he prospers.
Deuteronomy 4:40 – So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.
Deuteronomy 5:29, 31-33 – Oh that they had such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it may be well with them and their sons forever!… But as for you, stand here by me that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments with you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess. So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. You shall walk in all the way which the Lord you God has commanded you, that you may life and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.
Being with Him in His Word is being WITH HIM. Jesus is the Word.
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word as with God, and the Word was God.
Luke 24:15-16, 27-32 – While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. …Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. ..And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over. So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?
Luke 24:45 – Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..
It can happen in an instant. You can hear and hear and study and study, but suddenly….He opens your mind and suddenly – you understand. It is like a flash of light into a dark place that can actually change your entire life and situation.
This is a result of continually praying Ephesians 1, that He would open the eyes of my heart to understand and grasp all of the wonderful things He has provided, the things that eye has not seen and ear has not heard, those glorious things set apart for those who love Him, things revealed only by the Spirit.
Take Heed & do it
Luke 6
The one who:
- Comes to me,
- Hears what I have to say,
- And puts it into practice
Is digging down to rock-bottom and laying the foundation upon it this rock. When the flood comes, it will not shift or move or fall.
The one who:
- Comes to me,
- Hears what I have to say,
- But does not act upon what he hears
Is like the building of soft earth without foundation. When the flood comes, it will collapse and fall down in ruins.
Ezekiel 33:30-32 – As for you, son of man, your people who talk of you by the walls and in the doors of the houses say one to another, every one to his brother, come and hear what the word is that comes forth from the Lord. And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear the words you say, but they will not do them; for with their mouths they show much love, but their hearts go after and are set on their [idolatrous greed for] gain. Behold, you are to them as a very lovely [love] song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument, for they hear your words but do not do them.
Proverbs 4:4, 13, 22 – Lay hold of my words with all your heart…Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life….they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
Proverbs 7:1-3 – Keep my words and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Hebrews 2:1 – For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
James 1:23-25 – For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
John 8:31-32 – …if you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.
Keep going over the same things again and again. Until you have got it enough so that you am living it fully, there is more to find. There are treasures hidden in the midst of things you already know and have heard hundreds of times that you have yet to discover. And it is worth every effort and every cost – even on days when it seems repetitive and boring.
Proverbs 2 – I continue to turn my ear to wisdom and apply my heart to understanding. I continue to call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding. I make it my life’s quest as looking for silver, searching for it as for hidden treasure. So I will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
John 8:31-32 – I continue in the word, proving myself a true disciple –I shall know the truth and the truth will make me free.
2 Peter 1 – Grace and peace continue to be my in abundance as my knowledge increases. All that He has given, all the He has provided is mine through knowledge. Continue in the Word till it lights up the dark areas.
- 12, 19 – Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
I continue in the word. I continue to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place. The day will dawn and the morning star will arise in my heart. I will get it. I will see it. I will live it.
Psalm 119:130-131 – The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted [with eager desire], for I longed for Your commandments.
Fight to Lay Hold
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
He desires that we all prosper and succeed. But most Christians I know are always struggling and never quite reaching the successful abundant fruitful life spoken of in the Word. Why is that? It is because the degree you prosper in life is directly connected to how much your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 – Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
God has a wonderful plan for every person, but not everyone will reach it. Few actually will live the highest plans of God. Many are called but few are chosen.
Why is that? It takes a fight to get to it.
Matthew 20:16 – So those who [now] are last will be first [then], and those who [now] are first will be last [then]. For many are called, but few chosen.
Matthew 22:14 – For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen.
Philippians 3:12-14 – Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
I will need to strain forward press on towards the goal in order to lay hold of, grasp and make my own that for which Jesus has laid hold of me for, to win the prize to which God in Christ is calling us upward.
1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.
It takes a fight to lay hold of the eternal, abundant life to which you were called.
The calling is there for us all. Who will hear and press and fight and put forth the necessary diligence to reach the full calling. Many are called but few are chosen. The chosen ones are the ones to do what it takes to get there.
Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Diligent – characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort; painstaking (the action of taking pains, diligent care and effort).
There is a diligence necessary to draw near to God and live in the full blessing He desires for us all. There must be a steady, earnest and energetic effort on our part – sometimes lasting what seems like a lifetime.
2 Timothy 2:15, 21 – Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. So whoever cleanses himself shall be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
It is up to you if you want to be a gold vessel set apart for the highest purposes. You prepare yourself by cleansing yourself from everything that hinders you.
Study, be eager, do your utmost to present yourself to God, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing the Word of God. Whether you are a gold vessel or a earthen vessel is connected to what you do with His Word. It is the Word that cleanes us and fits us for the Word to which we are called to do.
Mark 4:24 – And He said to them, be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back you – and more (besides) will be given to you who hear.
The measure of thought and study I give to the truth I hear will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to me.
Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Psalm 1:2-3 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he prospers.
The ones who prosper are the ones who meditate on the word day and night and are careful to do what they hear. They are the ones who attain the highest places God desires for them. They are the ones who bear fruit and prosper in whatever they do.
Proverbs 2:1-7 – My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,
- Receive the Word.
- Treasure up the commandments.
- Make your ear attentive to God’s wisdom.
- Incline and direct your heart and mind to understanding, apply all of your powers to the quest for it.
- Cry for insight
- Raise your voice for understanding.
- Seek wisdom as for silver.
- Search for wisdom as for hidden treasures.
THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. He has hidden away wisdom and stored it up for the righteous. The ones who are diligent and study and seek Him are the ones who will find it.
So the highest places, the greatest blessings, a life in the perfect will of God is for those who are diligent and go after these things with all of their heart and life.
Many are called to high things but don’t prepare themselves to be a gold vessel. The call is out. Who will hear and take heed and fight the necessary fight to take hold and keep hold and put forth the diligent effort necessary to get there?