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This blog is meant to encourage you to do the good works, which were prepared beforehand for those who are saved by grace through faith.  It was for these good works that the Lord created us.

As the Scripture says:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10)

Resting from Work	Keeping Sundays Holy	Christian Sabbath is Sunday, not Saturday
The Lord's Day	Keeping Sundays Holy - Part II	Famous Christian Sabbath Observers
Sabbath Period	The Origin of the Sabbath	Righteous Deeds and White Robes
Doing What is Right	Your Rewards Are Based on Your Practice	The Law Established Through Faith
Law of Love in the New Testament	Deleted Scriptures in the Bible?	Why Paul Lived Like a Jew Among the Jews
Is Obedience Optional?	The Cost of Discipleship	Obedience by the Spirit
The Law Fulfilled in Us	The New Covenant	Costly Grace
Partaking of the Divine Nature -- Part I	Partaking of the Divine Nature -- Part II	God Has Not Rejected His Jewish People, Has He?
Faith Works!	The Spirit's Law of Life	The Spirit of the Law
Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth?	Righteousness by Faith not Law	The Ebb and Flow of Ministry for the Lord
Compelled by Love	God's Idea of Work	What Then Must We Observe
The Law is Good if Used Lawfully	The Sale of Christian Music and Art -- A Robbers' Den?	Remember the Eternal Law of God
All Our Deeds Are Known to the Lord	Practicing Your Righteousness	The Righteous Will Shine Forth as the Sun
The Ways of Life	Followers of the Way	Judging with Righteous Judgment
Holding Fast the Faithful Word	Whatever You Do, Do All Like This	The Conditional Security of the Believer
No Flesh Will Be Justified by Works	Wesley's Sunday Sabbath Keeping	Running from God
Spiritual Do-It-Yourself	Life by the Spirit, Not Under the Law	Walking by Faith
Obedient to the Heavenly Vision	The One Another Commandments	When the Lord was Angry with Moses
What Shall We Say to These Things	Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work	House of Idleness
Leaving Your Family for the Love of Christ	Overcoming the Fear of Death	Equipped for Every Good Work
Wesley and Henry on the Gospel Law	Run with Endurance	Faith in Action
Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. The Good Samaritan by Dan Burr of Dan Burr Illustration copyright 2013 used by permission.

You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

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___________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org. Partner with us online by giving to DMI.

Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials

Dear saints,

In 1987, a Korean pastor named Yong Park died tragically, and experienced both heaven and hell. He observed that some saints are richly rewarded in heaven, while others do not receive any reward; some saints have great big, glorious mansions in heaven, while others live in little, group homes. In fact, he saw that his own house was still small and unfinished, even after serving the Lord his whole life and pastoring a 5,000-member mega church (Mt 6:19-21). During this heavenly experience, he was told the reason for all these things. 

There are seven things you must do to build up materials, in order to build your heavenly home:

1. Worship and Praise to God

The first is your accumulation of worship and praise to God. 

Scripture says you were created to praise the Lord (Isaiah 43:21), and you are commanded to praise Him (Ps 148:5). You are commanded to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). You are to do so at all times (Heb 13:5; Psalm 34:1), even with clapping and shouting (Ps 47:1). Another way the Scripture teaches us to praise Him is with the holy dance (Ex 15:20; 2 Sam 6:14, 16; 1 Chr 15:29; Psa 30:11; 149:3; 150:4). Whenever you do these things with love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1Ti 1:5), you accumulate building materials in heaven that are used to build your home there.

2. Reading the Bible 

The second is your time spent reading the Bible. 

Read the Word, meditate on it, and scrutinize it, so you won’t be deceived (Ps 1:2; Ps 119:11, 105; Mt 4:4; 2 Tim 3:16). This also results in building materials being sent up to heaven that are used to build your mansion.

3. Praying to God

Third, your time spent praying to God. (1 The 5:17; 1 Tim 2:8; Phil 4:6; Mt 7:7). According to E.M. Bounds, in his book on the power of prayer, the average pastor only prays about five minutes per day. That is called prayerlessness, which is a sin. It was the same way in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed, and all His disciples were sleeping. But Jesus said, "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" (Mt 26:40). He asks you that same question today, "Could you not spend one hour with Me in prayer?" This must be a priority for each of us, because prayer is our lifeline to God.

If you have been guilty of the sin of prayerlessness, the first step is to confess it to God, repent, and ask forgiveness. Do this, rather than simply trying harder or making a resolution to pray more, because we cannot reform ourselves. Once you repent and ask forgiveness, the Lord will set you free from that sin, and you will then be able to obey Him as you ought to.

As you pray, plead the blood of Jesus, put on the full armor of God, shout to the Lord, lift your hands straight up to God, attack the demons, and engage them in battle. Ask the Lord to give you true contrition for sin and tears of repentance. Seek His face (Jer 29:13; Ps 27:8). Pray in tongues (1 Cor 2:4-5; Jude 1:20; Eph 6:18). Pray that you may love with same love with which He loves you. 

As you pray, building materials are being sent up to heaven that are used to build your mansion.

4. Evangelizing Those Who Don't Know Jesus

Fourth, your time spent evangelizing to people (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 13:10; 16:15). The reward you receive from the Lord for this does not depend on the response of the people with whom you share the gospel, but rather on your obedience to God in sharing with them. This is the Great Commission that the Lord has given to us. He who has all authority in heaven and on earth -- who gave his life on the cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world, who is not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance -- has commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. As you do so, whether it is across the street or around the world, building materials are being sent up to heaven for your mansion to be built.

5. Tithes to God

Fifth, your obedient tithes to God. The Lord commands us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, and He promises that when we do, He will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we will not have room enough to receive (Mal 3:8-10). You can read more about this in my article on Christian tithing. 

A man named Emmanuel Agyarko had a vision of hell, in which he said: “I saw four pastors in hell, who were there because they did not pay their tithes. One was called Albert and another was Daniel, a pastor of Church of Christ and this church does not believe in tithing. Daniel said he told his congregation not to pay tithes, as it was no longer necessary. He was in hell for basically two things: first of all, he was not paying tithes himself; and secondly, because he also stopped others from paying it. For Albert, his church believed in paying tithes, but he thought it was meant for only the congregation, and that pastors were excluded from paying it. He wished he could come back to earth to start over again and pay his tithes. The other two pastors also did not pay, and one of them, thought simply he did not think he had to pay it even though he knew he should be paying it, and the other thought ministering before God is not working, so he thought there was no need to pay any tithes.” 

In Angelica Zambrano’s visit to hell, she said she saw a man who said, “I have stolen from God...At this very moment there are many people on Earth that are robbing the Lord like I did. When you return to Earth, tell all those people who don't want to give their tithes and offerings, not to steal from the Lord, otherwise, they’ll wind up in Hell, and no thief will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”  

Another Korean pastor named Yong-Doo Kim says, “People who did not properly tithe are ending up in hell.”

When you give to God, do it with love, and give to the Lord with true love. As you do, building materials will be sent up to heaven for your home.

6. Offerings to the Lord

Sixth, your offerings to the Lord (Mt 6:19-21; Lk 6:38). We are not only to give our tithes to the Lord, which is the first ten percent, but also our offerings above and beyond that. While tithes are to be brought into the storehouse where you are fed and cared for spiritually, offerings can be given to the church, or they can be given to Christian ministries and missions, as well as anyone who is doing the Lord's work. He who sows generously will reap generously, and he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly (2 Cor 9:6). One man gives freely yet gains even more, another withholds unduly and comes to poverty. A generous man shall prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed (Prov 11:24-25). Offerings include our alms to the poor as well. He who is kind to the poor will be blessed, because he honors the Lord (Prov 19:17). Whenever you give offerings, you will be accumulating building materials in heaven for your home.

7. Serving the Body of Christ

Seventh, your time spent serving the church in any way (Mt 20:28; Gal 5:13; 6:10; 1 Pet 4:10). You should have a servant's heart and do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The fruit God wants is your personal love, your personal help, and your personal concern. When you see an individual hurting and your own heart actually hurts with them, this is when you care! God's desire is that we be like Jesus, and we will always find Him moving in the areas of human need.

God desires for us to do good to all men, especially to the household of God (Gal 6:10). He wants us to represent Jesus and to be like Him. When you are helping people, you become a living word to them which says, "I care and God cares for you!" We become a word that is alive to them -- a living word.

Any Christian can accumulate building materials every day, because there are people who need help every day! When we care for them, we are bringing the heart of God to them in their place of need. When we do this for God, something goes into our storehouse in heaven!

Closing Words

This message is only for those who have been born again, and know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This message is not explaining how to get to heaven, because you cannot get to heaven by your own good works, rather you must be born again. 

These are the deeds or works of obedience in which one who is saved accumulates materials for his Heavenly home. If one is lacking in these areas, he will have no materials to build his home. Whenever you do something with faith, whatever it is, Jesus will build your house bigger and higher.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Faith in Action, Run with Endurance, Faith Works, Walking by Faith, Obedient to the Heavenly Vision, The Four Tallest Homes in Heaven, Living on Earth as They Do in Heaven, Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work, Living a Life Worthy of the Lord, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Faith in Action

Today I'd like to write to you about faith in action, which is what the ancients were commended for. (Heb 11:2). The ancients lived by faith, demonstrating their faith by their deeds (James 2:18). Here are some examples in Hebrews 11 of how their faith and their actions were working together (James 2:22):

Brought a Better Offering

"By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead." (Heb 11:4)

Taken from this Life

"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away." For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." (Heb 11:5)

Built an Ark

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith." (Heb 11:7)

Obeyed and Went

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." (Heb 11:8)

Made His Home in the Promised Land, Lived in Tents

"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise." (Heb 11:9)

Looked forward to Heaven

"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Heb 11:10)

Was Enabled to Bear a Child

"And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise." (Heb 11:11)

Offered Isaac

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son." (Heb 11:17)

Reasoned That God Could Raise the Dead

"Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death." (Heb 11:19)

Blessed His Sons

"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future." (Heb 11:20)

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." (Heb 11:21)

Spoke About the Exodus

"By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones." (Heb 11:22) 

Hid Their Child

"By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." (Heb 11:23) 

Refused Prestige

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter." (Heb 11:24) 

Chose to Be Mistreated

"He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." (Heb 11:25) 

Regarded Disgrace for Christ of Greater Value

"He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." (Heb 11:26)

Left Egypt

"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Heb 11:27)

Kept the Passover and Sprinkling of Blood

"By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel." (Heb 11:28)

Passed Through the Red Sea as on Dry Land

"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." (Heb 11:29) 

Marched Around Jericho

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days." (Heb 11:30) 

Welcomed the Spies and Was Not Killed

"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." (Heb 11:31) 

Conquered Kingdoms, Gained the Promises, Shut Lions’ Mouths

"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets..." (Heb 11:32)

"...who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions..." (Heb 11:33)

Quenched Flames, Escaped the Sword, Routed Armies

"...quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies." (Heb 11:34)

Received Back Their Dead, Were Tortured, Refused Release

"Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection." (Heb 11:35)

Faced Jeers, Flogging, Chains, and Imprisonment

"Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment." (Heb 11:36)

Stoned to Death, Sawed in Two, Killed by the Sword, Persecuted

"They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—" (Heb 11:37)

Wandered in Deserts and Mountains, Living in Caves and Holes

"the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground." (Heb 11:38)

The Faith of Christ

We must not forget the faith of Christ, as the apostle culminates this passage with the exhortation to focus on Him: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)

Even Christ lived by faith. The faith of Christ is the literal translation of the Greek expression pistis tou christou, which Paul used in Galatians 2:16 (twice); 2:20 (Son of God); and 3:22, as well as Romans 3:22, 26; and Philippians 3:9. The Greek word "pistis" means "faith, trust, or faithfulness", while "tou christou" means "of Christ". The word "tou" simply means "of". It does not mean "in". The Greek word for "in" is "en" or "eis", not tou.

Therefore, understanding pistis tou christou as a reference to Christ’s own faith or faithfulness is grammatically and theologically possible (Toews volume on Romans, 108-110). While this is mistranslated in the NIV as "faith in Christ", several other versions translate it as "the faith of Christ" or "the faithfulness of Christ" (eg., see above verses in King James Version, NET Bible, 1599 Geneva Bible, and the Tyndale Bible of the 1500's).

More on this here and here. 

Note: Examples of verses with the expressions "faith in God", "faith in Christ", and "believe in Christ Jesus" using "eis" include 1 Pet 1:21, Jn 14:1, Act 24:24, Col 2:5, and Gal 2:16. The expressions, "faith in Christ" in Col 1:4, as well as "faith in Christ Jesus" in 1 Tim 3:13 and 2 Tim 3:15 all use "en". Therefore, the expression "faith in Christ" is certainly found in Scripture, where "eis" and "en" are used interchangeably to mean "in". My main point above was simply to show that there is another biblical  expression, "the faith of Christ" or "the faithfulness of Christ", which uses "tou" (of), and connotes a different meaning.

The Faith of God

Finally, I would like to present to you a truth that some will find difficult to accept, but it is true nevertheless: even God has faith in Himself.

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Heb 11:3)

Our understanding of how God created the entire universe at His command is by faith. That understanding of ours is not based on reason or scientific evidence, although both of those have been proven to fully support our understanding of the creation. He made all visible things that we see around us -- on earth, in the sky, and in space, and He made them out of what was invisible. He calls things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17). He had confidence about what He hoped for and assurance about what He did not see. That is the very definition of faith (Heb 11:1). He believed in His own power and ability. He knew that He was capable of doing what He wanted to do, therefore He believed in Himself, which only He can do, because He alone is God. He is all-sufficient. All things are possible for Him (Matt 19:26), and absolutely nothing is too difficult for Him (Jer 32:17). He simply spoke the Word, and the universe  came into existence (Gen 1:3).

Someone may argue that God does not have faith. However, anyone who denies that God has faith in Himself would have to prove that. It would be quite silly to insist that God does not believe in Himself, wouldn't it? Why would He command us to believe in Him, if He did not even believe in Himself and His own ability to call things that are not as though they were.

The Scripture says, "I believed, therefore I have spoken." (2 Cor 4:13:14). Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak. God put His own faith in action and taught us by His example how to put into action our faith in Him. 

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mar 11:22-24)

For more on this, please see The Faith of God.

Closing Words

The ancients were all commended for living by faith and demonstrating their faith by their deeds (Heb 11:2; James 2:18,22). They brought a better offering. They were taken from this life without experiencing death. They built an ark. They obeyed and went. They made their home in the Promised Land, living in tents. They looked forward to heaven. They were enabled to bear children. They offered their children to God. They reasoned that God could raise the dead. They blessed their sons. They spoke about the exodus. They hid their child. They refused prestige. They chose to be mistreated. They regarded disgrace for Christ of greater value than worldly treasures. They left Egypt, persevered, and saw Him who is invisible. They kept the Passover and sprinkling of blood. They passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. They marched around Jericho. They were not killed. They conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained the promises, shut the lions’ mouths, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the sword, became powerful in battle, routed foreign armies, received back their dead, were tortured, refused release, faced jeers, flogging, chains, and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, sawed in two, killed by the sword, went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes.

While all of these ancients were commended for their genuine faith that was demonstrated by actions, we don't focus on them; rather, they are the cloud of witnesses surrounding us, as we are now the ones running the race. Instead, our focus is on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who led by example with His own faith in action.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Run with Endurance, The Active Nature of Faith, Faith Works, The Faith of God, Walking by Faith, Overcomers in This Life, From Self-confidence to Confidence in the Lord, Obedient to the Heavenly Vision, Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work, Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials in Heaven, Living a Life Worthy of the Lord, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Run with Endurance

Dear friends in Christ, 

Let me encourage you today, especially those of you who feel like giving up. 

The Scripture says, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Heb 10:36)

That applies to everything you do within God's will, including all your service to the Lord. You need to persevere. You need to hang in there to the very end. Keep on believing God. Keep trusting the Lord!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal 6:9).

The promise that you will reap a harvest at the proper time is conditional. It is only given if one does not become weary in doing good, and does not give up.

As Jesus said, "The one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mt 24:13).

It's not the quitters who will be saved. He made that clear in his parable of the sower, in which one of the seeds was sown on rocky soil, where it sprouted quickly, but was quickly scorched by the sun (Mt 13:5-6). The Lord said this represents someone who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy, but when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he soon falls away, because he has no root and lasts only a short time (Mt 13:20-21). The one who falls away from the Lord will not be saved, so you mustn't do that. Likewise, no matter what you undertake to do that is in God's will, you need to stand firm until the end, and finish what you started just as God always does (Phil 1:6).

Nothing that is truly worthwhile comes easily without making any effort. Anything we seek to do that is of eternal value is going to come with challenges and resistance, because we have an enemy that always tries to stop us from doing God's will. That's why we need to be persistent like the importunate widow (Lk 18:1-8). You need to press on, stay the course, and refuse to cave to the enemy.

We also need to remember that trials come to test our faith, in order to produce perseverance in us. James wrote:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (Jas 1:2-4)

This means that what you need to do is change your perspective on the trials, and consider it pure joy. You must let perseverance finish its work in you, which is the only way you will become mature and perfect.

You need to stand firm and let nothing move you, giving yourself fully to the Lord's work, as Paul the apostle wrote:

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1Co 15:58)

Before you undertake to do something for the Lord, whatever that may be, you need to pray and ask Him if this is something He wants you to do. Once you hear from Him that it is His will for you to do it, and you have confirmed that it is, by checking the Word of God to make sure it does not contradict Scripture, then that is your direction from God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is what you received when you were in the light.

Once you set out to accomplish it, you will often encounter a crisis of belief, where you will question whether you really heard from God. In those moments when you are in a crisis of belief, you must remember in the dark the direction you received when you were in the light, and follow it by faith without wavering. You must be obedient to the heavenly vision, as Paul was (Ac 26:19).

The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 is filled with accounts of saints who kept the faith and endured to the end like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. That's our great cloud of witnesses, who have gone on into glory before us, and now it's our turn to run this race. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:1-2).

You must run with perseverance (Greek, hupomonē, endurance). No one else can do that for you. But be sure that what you are running is the race marked out for you, and not the race you have marked out for yourself, or the race that someone else has marked out for you. Be sure it is the will of God you are doing, and not your own. And be sure it is not something you are doing simply to please man.

And don't put any confidence in the flesh. If you put your confidence in yourself, then you will surely fail, as Peter did. Remember that he said, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." (Mat 26:33, 35). Of course, we all know that he did deny the Lord that very same night, and the Lord knew in advance that it was going to happen. But the Lord didn't condemn him, because He knew that it was satan's plan to try and sift Peter like wheat. Rather, he prayed that Peter's faith would not fail.  

Therefore, put your confidence in the Lord, not in yourself, and avoid making prideful oaths like, "I will never do this or that." Rather pray with that same intensity, "Lord help me never to deny you. help me to never quit, never give up, never give in, and never give over to the enemy. Help me never to love my own life, even so much as to shrink from death. Help me endure to the end. May Christ always be exalted in my body whether by life or by death. I trust in you, Lord, to keep me."

Notice it says to fix your eyes on Jesus. That's because all our confidence is in Him, and not in ourselves. We know that, if it were not for the grace of God, then we, like Peter, would deny Him, too. But Jesus is the author and the finisher of your faith. He authored your faith, and He will finish it. He is our perfect example, who endured the cross, finished the work the Father had given Him to do, and sat down at the right hand of God. He knows no defeat. He never fails. His love never fails. And His words will never pass away. 

Closing Words

Run with perseverance the race the Lord has marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of your faith. He who authored your faith will finish it. Trust in Him to keep you until the end, because he who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.

You should not quit, give up, give in, or give over to the enemy. You won't accomplish anything worthwhile that way. Unless you are quitting something sinful or bad for you, like cigarettes, heroin, or lying, for example, then you should always finish any good work for the Lord that He told you to do, unless He tells you to stop. There is no reward or honor in heaven or on earth for quitting. Keep the faith. Be faithful in all things. Stand firm and endure to the end. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. If what you are doing is the will of God, then finish doing it. God always finishes what He starts, and we must be imitators of God. 

I hope this has encouraged you not to quit doing God's will.

Attributes: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, all rights reserved, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Faith in Action. The Active Nature of Faith, Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials in Heaven, Overcomers in This Life, From Self-confidence to Confidence in the Lord, Walking by Faith, Obedient to the Heavenly Vision, Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work, Whatever You Do, Do All Like This, Faith Works, Pleasing the Lord, Living a Life Worthy of the Lord, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Wesley and Henry on the Gospel Law

In my article The Spirit's Law of Life, I have written about the biblical expression, known as "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus", which is used in the New Testament Scriptures to refer to the rule of life in the Kingdom of God for all those who believe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I call it "the gospel law" or "the gospel rule", which we must obey. As I wrote in that article, there are seven expressions used in the New Testament Scriptures to refer to this gospel rule, and one of them is "the law that gives freedom", which is found in James. He wrote: "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom," (Jas 2:12). 

In today's post, I simply want to share with you a couple of excerpts from the commentaries on that verse by two famous and well-respected English preachers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries -- Matthew Henry and John Wesley, equating "the law of liberty" with the gospel. I hadn't realized that they did so until after I had written that previous article of mine, but now that I have discovered what they wrote, I want to post it here in support of my point.

John Wesley

When I checked, out of curiosity, to see what Wesley had to say about the law of liberty, here is what I found. He wrote:

"So speak and act - In all things. As they that shall be judged - Without respect of persons. By the law of liberty - The gospel; the law of universal love, which alone is perfect freedom. For their transgressions of this, both in word and deed, the wicked shall be condemned; and according to their works, done in obedience to this, the righteous will be rewarded."

Wesley understood that the law of liberty that James spoke about refers to the gospel, saying that it is the law of universal love. I know that it's a foreign concept for most people these days to think of the gospel as a law, but it's biblical, and it alone is perfect freedom, as Wesley stated. He often follows what Matthew Henry said in the century before him, but usually says it in much more concise terms. 

Matthew Henry 

Here is what Matthew Henry believed as I do that the law of liberty is the law of Christ (1 Co 9:21). In his commentary on James 2:12, he wrote:

"James directs Christians to govern and conduct themselves more especially by the law of Christ. So speak and so do as those that shall be judged by the law of liberty, Jas_2:12. This will teach us, not only to be just and impartial, but very compassionate and merciful to the poor; and it will set us perfectly free from all sordid and undue regards to the rich. Observe here, 

1. The gospel is called a law. It has all the requisites of a law: precepts with rewards and punishments annexed; it prescribes duty, as well as administers comfort; and Christ is a king to rule us as well as a prophet to teach us, and a priest to sacrifice and intercede for us. We are under the law to Christ. 

2. It is a law of liberty, and one that we have no reason to complain of as a yoke or burden; for the service of God, according to the gospel, is perfect freedom; it sets us at liberty from all slavish regards, either to the persons or the things of this world. 

3. We must all be judged by this law of liberty. Men's eternal condition will be determined according to the gospel; this is the book that will be opened, when we shall stand before the judgment-seat; there will be no relief to those whom the gospel condemns, nor will any accusation lie against those whom the gospel justifies. 

4. It concerns us therefore so to speak and act now as become those who must shortly be judged by this law of liberty; that is, that we come up to gospel terms, that we make conscience of gospel duties, that we be of a gospel temper, and that our conversation be a gospel conversation, because by this rule we must be judged. 

5. The consideration of our being judged by the gospel should engage us more especially to be merciful in our regards to the poor (Jas_2:13): For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Take notice here, (1.) The doom which will be passed upon impenitent sinners at last will be judgment without mercy; there will be no mixtures or allays in the cup of wrath and of trembling, the dregs of which they must drink. (2.) Such as show no mercy now shall find no mercy in the great day. But we may note, on the other hand, (3.) That there will be such as shall become instances of the triumph of mercy, in whom mercy rejoices against judgment: all the children of men, in the last day, will be either vessels of wrath or vessels of mercy. It concerns all to consider among which they shall be found; and let us remember that blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

That was so well stated. Just to recap some of his key points, he wrote, The gospel is called a law, Christ is a king to rule us, and we are under the law of Christ, which is a law of liberty, an easy a yoke and a light burden; for serving God, according to the gospel, is perfect freedom, and we must all be judged by this law of liberty that will determine the eternal condition of all men. Therefore, we must speak and act now as becomes those who must shortly be judged by this law of liberty;

Closing Words

I think that both Henry and Wesley made excellent points, and I couldn't have said it better myself. I hope this has helped to explain and clarify the doctrine of obedience to the gospel that I teach, in accordance with Scripture, as well as the expression "the gospel law", that I wrote about in my article on The Spirit's Law of Life. If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so.

Attribution notice: Scripture quotation taken from the Holy Bible NIV.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, please see The Spirit's Law of Life and Part II to that article, called The Spirit of the Law.  You may also like Law of Love in the New Testament, Led by the Spirit, Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth?, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page.  You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.