Article 41

By Steven J. Hogan

The slogan, “Be the Best You Can Be,” is instructive to all of us. As people, we should want to be the best we can be, but as believers, we should desire to be all that God wants us to be. Being who God wants us to be means that we need to be taught and trained by Him for His purposes on this earth. Growing and becoming more like Jesus Christ, being useful to God, being their able servants, is truly what’s most important, and is what we should want more than anything else.

To be a servant of God, a disciple and soldier of Christ in this life, is most encouraging, and the highest privilege. Think of it this way, that in a spiritual sense, you are to be a member of the Special Forces, a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger. Isn’t it good to set the bar high, to have God’s standard in view, knowing that’s what it will take for you to fully carry out His plans for your life? Matthew 5:48 says it well, “Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

There is an abundance of stories in the Bible about believers being used by God for His unique, eternal and glorious purposes. There are the stories of Noah, Moses, Deborah, Gideon, Ruth, David, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Mary, Peter, Susanna, Paul, Paul’s nephew, and many others, ones who are to be models and examples to us. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

Set your sights high. See what God wants you to be. Know that God has special plans for you. Realize that you are in training, and are always in training. Understand that what you are going through, with relationships, with trials, at your job, in your church, and in your own personal life, is part of God’s sovereignly designed, spiritual regimen for you. Your heavenly Father wants you, His child, to grow up, to be strong in faith, hope and love, to increase in wisdom and discernment, to be courageous, and to do the work He has called you to do. “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

Since God has your life all planned out, then He must know exactly what He’s doing, day after day, month after month, and year after year. As I look back, I can more clearly see how God has faithfully, wisely, lovingly and purposely been working in and through my life. Who I am today, what I am doing today, and what God wants me to do tomorrow, relates directly to what He has been doing in my life for the past 64 years. (Psalm 139:16). “I am what I am by the grace of God, and His grace toward me did not prove vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

I think of Moses, and he was 80 years old when he received his most important task, a God-planned assignment that took up the last 40 years of life. We live in a world where most people retire from their job sometime in their sixties, but we are to never think of retiring from serving God. Don’t ever quit working for God, don’t ever retire from your spiritual service. Yes, we may not physically be able to do what we did in the past, but physical limitations will never keep God from using us, and from doing His spiritual work in and through us. In fact, sometimes our physical weaknesses are the means by which we do our greatest work for Him. As long as we have life and breath, we are to work for God, like Moses, and like David. “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.” Acts 13:36

My desire is to remind you to be working for God, and to help you see that He is teaching you, discipling you, always making you more like Christ, always preparing you for the work He wants you to do. Now that we are living in the end times, it is important and, in fact, imperative for you to see the need to be specially trained by God so you can be all that He wants you to be. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were the last generation of believers to be living during this church age, and that many of us will be here on earth when Christ returns to rapture the Christians. “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming, will come, and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:37

I am convinced that hundreds of millions of Christians will be living during Daniel’s 70th week, not having been raptured before it, like so many erroneously believe. A great multitude of believers will be living during the rule of the Antichrist, going through great tribulation, and suffering persecution like never before in the history of the world. It will not be easy. It will be the most difficult time of your life. You need to be a member of God’s “Special Forces” if you are to spiritually survive and successfully carry out the mission He has for you.

But sadly, many Christians are totally oblivious to what will be taking place. It really is a shame that so many believers are worldly, in error, or just plain ignorant with regards to the soon coming of Christ, and the rapture of the church. “How is it that you do not know how to interpret this present time?” (Luke 12:56). “The men of Issachar understood the times, and knew what Israel should do.” (1 Chronicles 12:32). “Do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11). Might we wake up from our sleep; might we be alert and aware of what is going on in the world; might we know what God’s Word says about the end times, the future of the church, the future of the Jews, the future of unbelievers, and the future of our world.

The Jews have returned to Israel, over 6.4 million of them, and that is the reason we know we are living in the end times. Matthew 24:4-8 describes the “beginning of birth pains,” those events signaling to us that we are in the beginning stage of the end times. This means there are still many years to go before the start of Daniel’s 70th week, the revealing of the Antichrist, the return of Christ, and the rapture of the church. I am convinced that God is now, at this time, raising up men and women, His own “Special Forces,” for the days and years ahead, and for the work He has prepared for us. Jesus Christ is building the church with His return and the rapture in mind. Many who are unsaved are being saved, and are then being discipled for one of the most important and strategic times in the history of mankind. This then is the time, as we see the approaching storm, for you to be trained, for you to be ready to do all God has in store for you, and for His church.

I have no doubt that God will have all His people in place, people praying, people serving, people preaching, people making disciples, people doing the work He wants them to do. I have no question that God will succeed, that His eternal plans will not fail, that He will faithfully carry out His work through His faithful saints, servants and soldiers. Yes, God is sovereign, for He has chosen the people He wants for the work He has planned to carry out. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain.” (John 15:16). Yes, God chooses, but it is also true that He doesn’t want us to be just sitting around, waiting for something to happen. As God’s people, we should pursue Him, and should want to be trained, so we can help to fulfill His plans. “I love those who love Me, and those who diligently seek Me, will find Me.” Proverbs 8:17

I think of athletes and their amazing dedication and devotion to their sport. I think of how hard they train, how diligently they work out, how they are so disciplined, and so driven to be a success in their sport. And they may be training for only one event, one Olympics, or one season, and all for some earthly glory. Might we learn from their example. Might we be determined to be all we can be for God. Might we be spiritually working out, spiritually staying in shape, with a commitment to be the best we can be for the purposes of God, the work of God, and the glory of God. Might we be fully equipped, knowing all we need to know, believing all we need to believe, and doing all we need to do. “Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body, and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-29

I write this to stir you up to want to be this kind of a person for God. You need to seek God, see what lies ahead, know what He wants you to be, and be excited that you can be serving Him during these last years before the start of Daniel’s 70th week, and the return of Christ. Don’t miss your calling, your assignment, the work God has already planned out for you. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). Be loving God. Be trusting God. Be trained by God. Be faithful to Christ. Be living for Christ. Be filled with the Spirit. Be walking by the Spirit. Count the cost. Sacrifice your life for the Lord. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Listed below are some key truths, commands and lessons God has been teaching me during my life, and I want to pass them on to you. By writing these out, I am by no means, saying I have arrived. I know well my weaknesses, my sin, my inadequacies and my failures. I know I need to keep growing. But I am determined to keep going, to not give up, to not quit, to persevere to the end of my life, or to the end of this age. These are life lessons, lessons you can’t learn in a day or a week or a month, but over time, over the years, in all kinds of ways, in all kinds of situations, and with all kinds of people. I could give stories and examples for every truth and lesson, but I wanted to give you bullet points, and as you continue on for the Lord, and are being trained and used by Him, then He will give you your own life experiences.

Be thankful that you can be alive at this special time in history, these last years before the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the Day of the Lord. Know that you are a servant of the living, holy and true God. Know that He is training you for His special plans. Know that you are to fulfill His purposes, for the good of the church, the good of the world, and for the glory of God. Be willing to do whatever God wants you to do. And do today the work He wants you to do today, knowing that He has work for you tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, until that time, whether by death or by rapture, He takes you home to heaven.

 

LIFE LESSONS: FIFTY FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS

1. The Word of God – Loving and delighting in God’s word. “O, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 97:1, Psalm 1:2, Matthew 4:4

2. Seeking and knowing God – Personally knowing God, and walking with Him. “I want to know Christ.” Philippians 3:10, Ephesians 1:17, 1 John 4:16

3. Loving God and Jesus – Loving God deeply and passionately. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30, John 14:15, Psalm 18:1

4. Loving people – Loving the people God puts in your life. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31, John 15:12-13, 1 John 4:7

5. Knowing who you are – “Beloved, now we are children of God.” 1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:1

6. Praying – Taking the time to pray, to intercede, to ask God for things. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7, Hebrews 11:6, 1 John 5:14-15

7. Communion – Having close and continued fellowship with God. “Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and glory.” Psalm 63:1-8, Mark 6:31-32, Luke 10:42

8. Fearing God – Respecting God, holding Him in the highest regard. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7, Deuteronomy 10:12, Psalm 33:18

9. Humility – Being humble before God and people. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt You.” James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5, Matthew 23:12

10. Trusting God – Trusting the Lord, having faith in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 17:7, Psalm 56:3

11. Authority – Submitting to the authorities God puts in your life. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…” 1 Peter 2:13-14, Romans 13:1-5, Colossians 3:18-25

12. Other people – Putting others first. “With humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Ephesians 5:21

13. Grace – Depending on God’s grace every day. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 1:2

14. Meditation – Thinking about God’s word, and getting it into your heart. “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:15

15. Walking in the Spirit – Being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16-25, Ephesians 5:18, John 14:16-17

16. Purpose and vision – Knowing and carrying out God’s purpose for your life. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare, and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:9-11

17. Sovereignty – Seeing God’s sovereignty in your life. “Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9, Daniel 4:35, Romans 8:28

18. Obeying God – Doing what God wants you to do. “I delight to do Thy will, O God. Thy law is in my heart.” Psalm 40:8, Psalm 119:1-8, John 14:21

19. Righteousness – Doing what’s right, not what’s popular. “Having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:18, Proverbs 10-12, 1 Samuel 15:22-23

20. Forgiveness – Knowing God’s forgiveness, and forgiving others. “Forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” Colossians 3:13, Colossians 2:13-14, Matthew 18:33

21. Serving – Being a servant to God and to others. “The greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” Luke 22:27, Romans 12:11, Hebrews 3:5

22. Stewardship – Using your time, abilities and money wisely. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10, Luke 19:17, 1 Corinthians 12

23. Church – Being in a holy, loving, Bible-teaching church. “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Hebrews 10:24-25

24. Training others – Be an example, and teach others to obey. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2, Psalm 78:5-8

25. Communicating – Learning to listen, and to speak. “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” James 1:19, Luke 2:46, Ephesians 4:29

26. Trials – Learning to trust God as you go through trials. “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.” 1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2, Romans 5:3-5

27. Sin – Getting victory over temptation and sin. “Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me.” Psalm 119:133, Romans 6, Genesis 4:1-8

28. Error – Discerning lies and errors, and staying away from evil. “Hate evil, you who love the Lord.” Psalm 97:10, Matthew 24:4, Psalm 119:104

29. Relationships – Having fellowship and building good friendships. “As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow slave in the Lord, will bring you information.” Colossians 4:7-17, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 Samuel 18:1-3

30. Hope – Looking forward to the future God has for you. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13, Colossians 1:27, Romans 15:13

31. Thankfulness – No matter what happens, always give thanks. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:17, Psalm 100:4

32. Wisdom and discernment – Learning what is right and wrong, better and best, and making good decisions. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6, Philippians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

33. Promises – Having promises for your life. “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4, 2 Peter 3:13, Psalm 32:8

34. Witnessing – Being a witness to the lost. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8, Acts 26:16, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

35. Encouraging – Faithfully building up the believers. “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is called today.” Hebrews 3:12-13, Hebrews 10:24-25, Galatians 6:10

36. Learning – Being taught by good teachers. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Acts 18:26, 2 Timothy 2:2

37. Working – Being a hard worker, and a diligent worker. “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.” 2 Timothy 2:6, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Proverbs 21:5

38. Physical disciplines – Disciplining your body and being self-controlled “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is of some value.” 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 1 Timothy 3:2-3

39. Warfare – Fighting and battling for God. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness…” Ephesians 6:10-18, Nehemiah 4, 1 John 2:14

40. Courage – Not being afraid, but being courageous. “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10

41. Unity – Being of like mind with other believers. “That you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:2, Psalm 133

42. Perseverance – Never give up, but keep going for God. “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7, Galatians 6:9, James 5:11

43. The Past – Remembering the deeds of the Lord. “I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.” Psalm 77:11, Psalm 78:5-11, 1 Samuel 7:12

44. Contentment – Being satisfied with what you have. “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Philippians 4:10-13, Psalm 23:1

45. Prophecy – Knowing about and looking forward to Christ’s coming. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30, Daniel, Revelation

46. God’s plan for me – Being content with your lot in life. “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.” Psalm 16:5, 1 Corinthians 7:17-20, Romans 8:2

47. Sacrifice and suffering – Be willing to suffer for Jesus. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21, Matthew 5:10-11, Matthew 24:9

48. Patience – Waiting on God, and being patient with people. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Colossians 3:12-13

49. Rebounding – Getting up after sin or failure. “When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” Psalm 37:24, Psalm 51, Philippians 3:12-14

50. Living for Jesus – “To live is Christ, and to die is gain… Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” Philippians 1:21-26, Colossians 1:27-29, Philippians 3:7-10