By: Randall E. Pickens, Sr.
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If you’re pressed for time, may I suggest you scroll to the “CLOSING STATEMENT” at the end of this article where there are some very important questions you should answer. These questions will reveal the relationship between you and your maker! Then return to this article to view the details regarding this life process.
Introduction:
My wife published an article titled, “A-vivid-illustration“. This article describes the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing the brokenness of our sin and is truly an excellent illustration. It reminded me of a sermon I presented previously and so I thought it would be a good time to revisit this sermon.
The 4 R’s of the Christian Life “Cycle”
The 4 R’s being referenced are: Revelation, Repentance, Remission, and finally Restoration. The point of this sermon was to explain that this is a process that continues throughout our life until the ultimate victory and finale disposition with God in heaven. As Pastors and teachers, we often apply catchy titles, phrases and sometimes even a bit of “shock effect” to garner your attention and create aids for lasting recall. However, this message is what I would characterize as a, “Utility” process; functional rather than attractive, or even painful as a process but essential to our development or what is referred to as soundness. In 2 Tim 4:3 Apostle Paul prophesied … “for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”; Apostle Paul goes on to say that there will even be a falling away due to this lack of soundness or understanding of the fundamentals of our faith.
I was blessed to be trained by a Pastorate that understood the importance of “foundational” truth. This is what I hope to convey to all who I may influence. I don’t want to be a “niche” ministry or in any way seem to speak to the itchy ear. I have received insights about prophecy and I want to share those insights but I do not want to be thought of as a niche ministry. I want to help build a well-rounded and firmly founded body of believers that will be able to stand in the face of challenges. What God wants for us is “soundness” and that comes through a working relationship with the Holy Spirit throughout our lives, this is an implied “Cycle”, this was demonstrated by the illustration Alice shared. The salvation of the mind is a progressive work. When we are born again our spirits are changed in the moment from death unto life, however, the scriptures tell us that the salvation of the soul (mind, will, and emotion) is progressive. Tit 3:5 … “according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (rebirth), and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Ghost”. The degree of change that we experience is directly proportional to the power that works in us. Remember the source of faith is hearing the Word. Rom 10:17 … “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.
A one-night stand or even a periodic encounter does not constitute a healthy relationship. For example, let’s consider you as a Facebook user were asked to take a BUDDYMETER exam regarding Jesus. Would you feel comfortable publishing your score? I’m serious, how well do you know Jesus? We must avail ourselves to the word of God and meditate on these life-giving morsels to reasonably expect to have a healthy relationship. I assure you, knowing the characteristics of God and His son Jesus are more important than anyone else in your life. If you don’t get that, therein lies the problem. Actually, knowing God and specifically Jesus is what assures all other relationships in our life will be sound as well.
We need a soundness that will see us through the next challenge to our faith, because challenges will come! We need a soundness that knows what the will of God is, because we can quote HIM verbatim. We need a soundness that results in a profession of faith that replaces, I THINK with IT IS WRITTEN! We need a soundness that exhibits the evidence of faith that has an “expectation” and not a timid “I hope so”. This is the soundness I thirst for! This is the soundness He called us to! So, how can we build such a firm foundation?
Let’s look to some scriptures that identify the 4 R’s. Also, note that 3 of the 4 R’s are acts of God toward us. The only R that must initiate with us is, repentance.
- Revelation from God:
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1Co 2:9-13 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might now the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
- Repentance:
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Rom 2:4 … the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Act 2:38 … Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 11:18 … Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life
Mat 4:17 … Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Remission:
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Luk 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Luk 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Restoration:
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect (restored), stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing (restored) shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection (restoration).
SUMMARY
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2Ti 3:14 But CONTINUE thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
These scriptures and so many more clearly describe an ongoing process; a cycle.
Closing Statement:
This is where you would expect me to present the case for buying into this process and convincing you to get serious about building a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Instead, I want to challenge you to try convincing yourself that the God of the universe is satisfied with a mediocre relationship with you. I want you to consider whether you should love, respect and admire the sacrifice of Jesus for your personal salvation; or tell me just what alternative do you plan to offer God when you stand before His throne?
Jesus asks us two very important questions!
Mar 8:36-38 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
I’m listening or better yet; God is listening!
Selah!
This sonnet says it all; https://seedsoffaithministries.com/how-will-you-meet-the-master/
HOW WILL YOU MEET THE MASTER?
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