The Election Count – Part 24

Time to wake up and watch!

Romans 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Unsaved people are dead. Saved people are alive. But some saved people are still sleeping.

Now that you have been awaken, and raised from the dead, and given light, now, you ought to stay awake and watch. Don’t go back to sleep with the lost!

That is what unsaved people do: sleep on in the night. And this is why they will be destroyed. The sword is approaching, but because their watchmen can’t wake up and watch in the night, they can’t see the sword coming. They can’t sound the alarm, blow the trumpet to wake up the men who are dead and sleeping. We ought to wake up and watch, or we are allowing our house to be broken up. You will lose your treasures, your rewards,

Matthew 24:43-44  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

I have a hard time with Jesus being the thief in this parable. I think the goodman was Adam, and the thief was Satan. But, likewise, Jesus will come on Satan’s house AS a thief.

Jesus is coming “as a thief in the night” to break up and destroy the house of Satan, the house of mankind, while he sleeps.

If we sleep with the dead instead of watch with the living and awake, what happens? I don’t know for sure. But, we may lose our house. Lose our treasures and rewards. If this parable is applicable to soul-winning, and likely it is, then we’d say that if we sleep, we will lose lives, souls.

If you’re not WATCHING, then you will lose those people that you thought were safe; saved.

“In what watch” – Satan came in the night. Jesus is coming in the night.

Luke 12:37-38  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: …  38  And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

He’s not coming in the daytime. He is coming in the night.

The night is divided up into “watches”.

These watches, even the final one called “the morning watch”, are all in the night.

Lamentations 2:19  Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: …

So it is in the night that the Lord will come. And it is in the night that we are to watch.

Micah 3:6-7  Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.  7  Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

Remember the “falling away first”? The day of the Lord is coming when the true gospel is almost completely hidden.

Jesus is coming when it is NIGHT. When there is no vision, prophecy, divination. There is no revelation, no understanding, no word of the Lord. There is no LIGHT, but it is DARK.

“The day shall be dark over them” – its supposed to be day. The Son has risen. But instead the day is dark over the lost. The day is become the night unto the lost.

Most Christian historians/scholars believe there were about 400 years were between the writing of the last book of the OT and the first coming of Christ. Similarly, it has been about 400 years since the publication of the King James Bible. One could say that man has not been given additional revelation from the Lord since 1611. The Lord has once again been silent for about 400 years.  Possibly further evidence (maybe a bit speculatory) that the Lord could be coming back really soon.

There was also 430 years from the promise of Abraham to when the Israelites were delivered from Egypt and the law of Moses was given to them.

Have you thought about why men are wearing face masks? Scripturally? Have you thought about whether face coverings have significance scripturally? I have..

I think there is something Biblical about face coverings. Something we can watch over in Scripture, and see the day approaching, “watching” for the coming of the Lord.

Micah 3:7  Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; [WHY?] for there is no answer of God.

The whole world has been literally covering their faces. Has that ever happened before?

Maybe its not random at all. Maybe God has us covering our faces for a different reason than to stop the spread of a virus. Maybe its there is no light of the gospel. Because there is no answer of God. God is done speaking until the end. Maybe He is letting the transgressors come to the full. He is watching for the harvest to be come. For the fullness of wickedness to be accomplished. Maybe He is ready to judge in furious rebukes. Maybe these masks are a sign of the day of the Lord being at hand.

But the covering of our faces is not for our health. It’s for our shame.

Jeremiah 51:51  We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.

Shame is here on all faces, not because of a virus, but because of the strangers, the false brethren, the false prophets who have come into the Lord’s house, the Church.

Psalms 44:15  My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

Mankind is confused and is brought to shame without the true gospel.

Psalms 69:7-9  Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.  8  I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.  9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

This is a passage about the Lord Jesus. His face was covered, to bear OUR shame.

The fulfillment of this prophecy is in the NT.

The only time “cover” and “face” are in the same verse of the NT.

Mark 14:65  And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

Man wants to cover his face for his health, but it is actually for his shame. Jesus took our shame, as His face was covered for us. But unsaved man’s face will be covered for eternity in the Lake of Fire.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  [We are not dead, and we are not children of the night. We are “night and day” different than the lost] 6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; [quit sleeping! Quit resting. Quit being at ease in Zion] but let us watch and be sober.  7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. [don’t sleep with the world, don’t be drunken with the world’s drinks] 8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [wake up, open your spiritual eyes and watch; be humble/serious/vigilant/wise/adult, put on your armour! pick up the sword (of the Lord) and put on your shoes (preparation of the gospel of peace!] 9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  [if we get wrath, its not what God has appointed for this world!]  10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  [you have eternal security. you will be saved either way, because you have been given light and life. But still, don’t sleep as those who are in the night, rather, watch!]  11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

The day is approaching. The time is short. This life is a vapour. Just a little time. Doesn’t feel like it, but God says it is so: I come quickly!

It is time to wake up and WATCH! What does that mean? Watch the sky?

Ecclesiastes 11:4  He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

If you sit there and watch the sky, you won’t be sowing and reaping. You won’t be WATCHING.

How do we watch? By 1) edifying and 2) praying!

Firstly, we watch in edifying: building the church. By learning and teaching doctrine.

It is by doctrine that we watch.

But what do we watch for and what do we watch against… in the doctrine?

There are 3 jobs of the Christian. There are 3 ways in which we are to watch in EDIFICATION.

Firstly, the Bible says that we are the shepherds and the sheep of his pasture.

Now as shepherds and sheep, how do we watch in EDIFICATION?

As shepherds, what do we watch for, and what do we watch against?

What do we watch for? We watch for the flock!

What do we watch against? We watch against wolves coming.

Acts 20:28-31  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Feed my sheep! Give the sheep life, and protect the sheep from the wolves who would take away their life. WATCH the house!

To watch, is to watch over the sheep, and watch against the wolves.

Even if you’re not a pastor, watch for those YOU oversee. Watch for yourself, watch for your wife, children, your friends, your family, for the lost which YOU have been given the unique position to help save. Watch in the church!

Why can’t the sheep can watch too?! When the wolf comes, he comes with subtlety. Call attention to the shepherd so he can warn and deliver the sheep. Warn the Pastor so He can protect the sheepfold.

Matthew 7:15-16  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

We watch for wolves in sheep’s clothing. WE all need to know how to identify them: by their FRUITS.

Their FRUIT is their WORDS. The fruit of their LIPS. Their fruit of a man’s mouth.

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

We watch for souls; for eternal life. For the sheep and against the wolves.

What is the second way in which we are to watch in EDIFICATION?

Secondly, the Bible says that we are like watchmen, upon the walls of the city.

Ezekiel 3:17  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

So then now as watchmen, what do we watch for, and what do we watch against?

We watch against the sword coming. And we watch for salvation!

Ezekiel 33:2-7  Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:  3  If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;  4  Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.  … 5  … But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.  …  7  So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

When The Lord comes, He comes with a sword. He comes as a thief. The watchman’s job is to watch for the sword coming, and to sound the trumpet, sound the alarm of war, to warn the people!

Jeremiah 4:19  My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

I think that is what the trumpet always is to the Lord. Think about the rapture, think about the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

See also: Isa 26:19-20 (hide thyself), Revelation 4:1-2 (a trumpet talking with me)

The trump, the sound of the trumpet, is a warning: an alarm of war.

The Lord calls with the trumpet to His people to come out from among the wicked city before He destroys her (Revelation 18:4, Song of Solomon 2:10-13).

Our job is to hear the word of God, and WARN the people from Him.

Lastly, the Bible also says that we are stewards of The Lord’s house, and thus, we watch for our Lord Jesus to return!

Luke 12:42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

We are “to feed the church of God”. But we don’t physically give them meat and drink. As the apostles said, “it is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve tables”. Well then what are we stewards over? What do we minister to the house?

1 Corinthians 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Stewards like shepherds are to 1) feed the house with doctrine – with the body of Christ 2) oversee and protect the house.

Matthew 24:42-43  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

So the first thing we watch in is in EDIFICATION in the Word. For the flock against the wolves. Over the house, against the sword. We watch to edify, to feed the house, to feed the flock of God.

Secondly, we watch in PRAYER.

Colossians 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

1 Peter 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Matthew 26:40-41  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Ephesians 6:13-18  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

As soldiers, we are to put on our whole armour, and watch in PRAYER for the people of God; for yourself and for the brethren. And for me!

Pray for those under your care. Pray that souls may be saved. Pray that you might have strength and wisdom to win them.

Its not just for pastors to watch. He says to all: watch!

Mark 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Hear the word at His mouth and “give them warning from me”.

Watching is done in prayer and in edification; in praying, in studying, and in teaching doctrine.

How does a man find wisdom? Pray and search! Cry out and seek after it!

Mark 14:41-42  And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  42  Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

Jesus said sleep on and take your “rest”. Where do men “rest”?

Ruth 1:9  The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Luke 11:24  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

We rest when we are home. We are not to be at ease, we are not to be at home, at rest, in this world.

Matthew 11:28-29  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Salvation without works is rest. Our spirits are at rest in heaven because they are home.

But what we have here, with our soul and spirit which is here in our bodies on the earth, we ought to labor until we are also taken home. It is not yet a time of rest.

Proverbs 24:30-34  I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;  31  And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.  32  Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.  33  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  34  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Sleeping, instead of waking and tending the fruit of the vineyard, will cause the vineyard to be ruined.

Sleeping will make you poor.  Sleeping will allow the sheep to be scattered by the wolves.

Sleeping is what the lost do. Just a little more sleep! Just a few more minutes. I’ll wake up soon. This is why people lose their jobs!

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

What manner of persons ought ye to be? And how can you be those persons, without awaking and watching? In edification, and in prayer.

The Election Count – Part 13

The race

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We have a race set before us. But it is not a fleshly race. We do not wrestle flesh AND spirit. We do not race fleshly AND spiritually.

It’s a race. And as with a race, there is the possibility that we may WIN the race.

It’s just one race. It’s just one day. It might feel like a long time, but its just a little time. It may be race, but like a marathon, to win it requires training, patience and mastery.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [run to obtain what? Eternal life? No… but the prize, the crown!]  25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We run a race. But the race is not to succeed in this world. It is not to retire with the most money, or experiences, or accomplishments. It is not to make a mark on this world, or leave a legacy for our children. It is not to get ahead in this world. It is not to make this world a better place. It is not to make this country a safer and better and more loving place. It is not to Make America Great Again. It is not to strive more than all the other countries of the world to make America First. That may be Donald Trump’s race. That may be America’s race. Man’s race. But it is not our race.

We run a spiritual race, to win a spiritual prize: an incorruptible crown.

Now that may not be super enlightening to you. Maybe you’ve heard all these things, seen all these passages before. You might get that at any church on any Sunday in this country. But its still vague isn’t it? You can say that, and still preach that we run the spiritual race by serving in the community, and donating to charity, and running a soup kitchen, and being a loving parent, a diligent worker, giving your children a good education, building a profitable business, or a non-profitable business, building houses for the homeless, fighting for justice. How do you know that’s not right? We haven’t seen enough Scripture yet to say otherwise. I haven’t shown you anything yet that explains the race.

What is “the race”? What is it not? How do we know? It could be anything really, right? Just work hard! Just get your business done well, and quickly, and don’t give up, don’t stop running, don’t stop working!

But thankfully, I can show you more. I can show you that those types of sermons would be garbage piles of lies. I can explain “the race” to you. Because Paul leaves no confusion as to what “the race” is, and how “the race” is run.

Our race that we run, is TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL of the Grace of God.

Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course [my race] with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul’s concern, much more than for his own life, was to have finished his course. He ran to finish HIS course. He ran to finish his ministry. To Testify the Gospel of Grace… to the Gentile churches where the Lord sent him. This was Paul’s course. The one set before him.

That was His course, and ours… is different, but it’s for the same goal. It has the same finish line, and it’s run in the same place. Our course, is ALSO in the Gospel. The purpose of the “the race set before us” is not to GET saved. Rather, it is TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL so that many others may get saved. And if we run that race, and win it, we will receive a prize.

How do we win? By rejecting this world and testifying the gospel.

Philippians 3:13-15  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  14  I press toward the mark [I run to the finish line] for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

This was Paul’s race, his course, which he was chosen to run. A course of a high calling. Mine is similar, but not the exact same course. Yours is as well. We all have our own course, but we should all be like minded.

Because Paul wins his race, doesn’t mean I lose mine! Because I win my race, doesn’t mean you lose your race. We are on different courses. You win your crown by running and winning your course, the race that is set before you, while I will run my course, the race that is set before me, to win my prize. And we can both win / get crowns! But we both must run, BY TESTIFYING THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. That is the only way to run it – Scripturally.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Many believe this passage says that Paul could lose his salvation, and that he was striving against his flesh to not lose his salvation. But there is no proof of that private interpretation. The word “castaway” does not appear  anywhere else in the Bible. So you can’t say for sure that a castaway is a lost person.

What is more conclusive is that the context of the passage is not “obtaining salvation”, but rather it is obtaining or winning rewards. Paul is speaking from his desire to be in the winner’s circle; champion’s ring. In the Master’s ring of honor, with those Masters that also won prizes; these are crowns of mastery.

Different courses, but all of our courses have the same purpose: to serve the Lord in the testifying of the Gospel. Your job is to contribute to souls being won with the gospel, however The Lord has enabled you and put upon you to do!

Maybe that is by preaching from a pulpit, or preaching by door-knocking, or warning and witnessing on the street or standing in line at the bank or supermarket. Maybe its just testifying to each of your friends and family in a one-on-one setting. Maybe its by arranging a meeting between your friend and your Pastor. Maybe its by arranging an opportunity for your Pastor to preach the gospel to your whole family at a wedding or funeral. Maybe that is simply by supporting those that do go forth and preach. For the wives, maybe its staying by the stuff, keeping the children safe at home while the preachers are out preaching. Maybe its training others to preach, and raising your children to understand and preach the gospel. Maybe any or all of these things.

(But if there is no preaching the gospel, testifying the gospel of the grace of God, there is no “running”.)

So the question you need to answer for yourself is, how can I run “the race”, “my course”, by testifying the gospel of the grace of God?

Maybe we have different courses, but we all run the same WAY. Because there is only ONE WAY. Jesus is The Way.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We ought to get people in The Way of the Lord (Christ) that they may be saved, and then strengthen them to run their race, all the way to the Father / the finish line! You run in The Way. You run in Jesus. He is The Way. He is the beginning, the middle and the end of The Way. Jesus is your course, Jesus is your race.

Living a pretty good life is not running the race. Being a good Christian is not running the race. Managing soup kitchens and charity programs and non-profit organizations, and being a good parent, and being a diligent worker, and being an honest person, is not running the race.

The race is in The Way. And the Way is Jesus. The Way is the gospel, the way is eternal life. We ought to labour, work, RUN, in eternal life. RUN in Jesus. But RUN, with patience!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

This race is about THE MASTERY. The crown won by the winner of the race, is a Crown of Mastery.

If you want to be a Master in heaven, you need to be a servant here. You need to be humble here.

You need to be Temperate here. This is what a Master, an expert, must be. Diligent and not distracted. Not easily discouraged. Not faint hearted. Calm. Patient. Focused. Not fearful.

A master doesn’t freak out about small things. He is experienced. Well-trained.

The master of a craft (a master baker, tailor, electrician, engineer, scientist, doctor, gymnast, quarterback, etc.) doesn’t have other hobbies. He doesn’t party and get drunk. He doesn’t waste his time. He uses every bit of it to perfect his works. He has one addiction: his craft. “they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints”.

We need to be Patient! You don’t run a marathon without patience. You don’t walk! No you RUN. But you run calmly… you run as fast as you can, but with temperance, with patience.

If you want to have mastery in Heaven, you need to be temperate in all things (eternal life). Temperate (calm, patient, focused, experienced) in testifying the gospel of the grace of God. This is how you ought to run.

The best runners don’t run marathons without good training and coaching. If you’re serious about The Mastery, then its time for you to get trained, and focused, and to start running to the Lord. Its time to “run the race” to win the prize. Its time to master testifying the gospel.

Maybe that is practicing your presentation of the gospel. Maybe that is practicing your opening, your warning. Maybe that is getting over your fears of warning members of your family or friends. Maybe that is getting over your fears of warning a complete stranger. Maybe it is getting over your fears of even offering a meeting with another soul-winner. Maybe it is studying the doctrine so you are confident in answering some of the most common questions you might get. Maybe it is all of this.

But this is what a Master runner does. He focuses, and trains himself, and practices, and labours, and then when he runs, he wins! It’s time to be a Master of your craft.

But how do I do it? How do I run? How do I win the prize? … again, its no mystery … you win souls!

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God

Paul’s singular focus, rejecting this life, was to finish his course of testifying the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.

And when he had done it, when he had “ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears”, being “pure from the blood of all men”, and “was ready to be offered” (die for Christ) then Paul was able to say that he HAD finished his race! Likewise, You can be assured to win the Master’s Crown, by warning every single person that God leads you to. Every one that God gives you the opportunity and responsibility to warn. Warn them all, and thus win many to the Lord.

2 Timothy 4:6-8  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  [nothing moved Paul from continuing to run the course] 8  Henceforth [from now on – now that I have worked my whole life and didn’t stop believing the gospel, and didn’t give up preaching it… henceforth, what? Henceforth I am saved from wrath and I get to go to Heaven? No…] there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

This race is not about obtaining salvation. His race is about obtaining a prize, a reward for fighting the fight, for diligently doing the work of the ministry, for testifying the gospel of the Grace of God.

This crown of righteousness is not given for being born a son. But rather for running and winning the race. For becoming a master. A master of the gospel.

We need to run the race, striving to WIN it. Striving for the prize. Striving to become masters.

But this is a spiritual race. It is not carnal. It is the opposite of carnal. The things of this world, and what the flesh desires and strives for desires, are contrary to running the race. You can’t run both races.

Ephesians 2:2-3  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The flesh has its own course. Its own race. Its own way. And the unsaved walk in that way. This way is not THEY WAY (Jesus), but the wide and broad way that leadeth many to destruction. The way of the American dream. The way of working and striving and fighting for a better place in this world. The way of world peace. The way of self righteousness. The way of striving for honour and praise of men. Running for a reward of men, and not of the Lord.

This is the way the world walks. And the way that your flesh still desires to walk.

And THIS is why Paul says:

1 Corinthians 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly [with flesh]; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The flesh wars against the Spirit. You need to wrangle it and bring it into subjection. You need to fight against it. Weaken it!

A castaway – Paul was not going to lose his salvation. But he could lose his crown of mastery.

This is the race we run: to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

We run this race, temperately, patiently, but speedily and diligently, to receive a prize.

A crown of righteousness. A Master’s crown.

Daniel 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Turn many to righteousness. Win many souls. Win your race. Be a Master. And shine as the stars for ever and ever.

The Election Count – Part 1

The Election

We just had Election Day in the Unites States this past Tuesday. So I want to talk about the election. After winning a very close race, we have a new President-Elect. Also, if you haven’t heard there has been a lot of news about the counting of the election. I’ve been watching a fair amount of news coverage recently and I suppose maybe some of you have too. Some of these things have been, admittedly hard for me to watch. I think its worth discussing some of these things from a spiritual perspective.

This may or may not be for you today. But it certainly is for me. I need to hear it. So maybe God will be talking to you in this message. But I know he will be talking to me.

Maybe you will learn something, maybe you won’t. But this is how I believe we should be thinking of these strange and frightening (or exciting?) current events that we are living through.

Its very easy to get totally wrapped up in the news. Especially news that could affect your life. News that could dramatically change the place you live, and possibly the future of yourself and your family.

I’ve been watching it. To much of it, honestly. My flesh eats it up. Some of it is so interesting. Some is so dramatic. Some of it is so exciting. Some of it is downright frightening. Some of it makes me angry. Some of it pisses me off.

We don’t often talk about current events in this church, and we really NEVER talk politics, but this current situation is a BIG one for all of us. And its been on my mind a lot, and possibly its been on yours a lot too.

I can’t get to all of it today. But here is what you need to know, and what in time we will discuss:

• The Election and the Election Count
• Governments and Ordinances (Submit!)
• Politics (not for Christians)
• America is not our country! (We are strangers)
• America offers us no safety! (our only trust is in the Lord)
• The Kingdom of God (The Lord is our King, this is the kingdom of men. Mind not earthly things)
• Our race, our fight (Spiritual – our focus should be on spiritual things)
• An Open Door (We should pray for our rulers)
• A Civil War? (this is not our fight)
• That Dreadful Day (that day is approaching – Get ready!)
• We Win

So I want to talk about the Election Count today.

But.. maybe not the Election that you are thinking of!

What Election am I talking about? The 2020 Presidential Election? The Congressional Race? We’ll touch on it… but No. I’m talking about the Election of the Bible.

1 Thessalonians 1:4  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

There is an election according to the Bible. An election made of God. This is The Election to God. The only one He cares about.

Mark 13:20  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect‘s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

God has chosen – elected His people. Us! The Brethren are elected of God. How?

The election is not by popular vote. The Election is not by works.

Romans 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

We didn’t campaign to be elected. We didn’t work at all!

We were elected before we were even born!

The Election is by grace.

Romans 11:5-6  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Who is this election? We are the election of grace. We are God’s choice.

We have been called of God, chosen of Jesus Christ and confirmed of the Holy Spirit. We’ve been sworn in, not with a hand placed on the Bible, but by the living Word of God proceeding out of our mouths. We’ve not been appointed to a 4-year term. We’ve been established for ever. We are the Elect. How? By God’s grace. God is the elector!

With what reasoning have we been elected?

1 Peter 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: …

He just foreknew us. He foreknew that we would be saved. He would open our ears and we would believe on His Son. He foreknew that we would receive grace WITHOUT WORKS!