Philippians 3:12 Not that I did already obtain, or have been already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by the Christ Jesus;
13 brethren, I do not reckon myself to have laid hold; and one thing -- the things behind indeed forgetting, and to the things before stretching forth --
14 to the mark I pursue for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 As many, therefore, as [are] perfect -- let us think this, and if [in] anything ye think otherwise, this also shall God reveal to you, [Youngs Literal Translation]
Knowing God’s Grip
.. He has come to that place where he knows God has got a grip on him. That’s what The Lord wants you to know also because this will help you in your trials and tribulations that you go through when everything seems to go out of control. When it seems to go from bad to worse. When it seems that God has forsaken you you will have that experience that He has laid hold of you – His hand is upon you. We become aware of this holding, this firm grip and we are in great trouble if we try to turn aside or try to get out of that grip. You’re going to be in trouble because you’ve allowed God to have a firm grip over your life. You say to me ‘ how do I know? ‘ It’s Romans 12 v 1 ..
..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.
Honest And Open To God
.. You’ve given yourself back to The Lord on the alter. ‘ Here am I, I give myself back now to You. ‘ What is that doing? You are saying ‘ have a hold over me, have a grip on me. It’s needful because I am my own worst enemy. ‘ Saints that do that are those who have an understanding of themselves. They have a certain insight about their heart. It’s called honesty, it’s being open and honest before The Lord you see. Because they are aware that they can deceive themselves ..run away ..go through all the motions they ask The Lord to preserve them from all of that..
Calling Out To God
.. That is why God then will have that firm grip over you. The Apostle Paul was doing exactly the same. He became aware of his wretchedness .. his weakness. He became aware of what he could do, but he called out to God that God would be the strength of his heart .. his mind .. his being. And God will do it. this is why He allows us to go through the trials and the testings – many times it’s to get our attention.. .. ..
God’s Eternal Plan
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves
Ephesians 3:7 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Obey My Voice
Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
Deuteronomy 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Deuteronomy 28:14 and thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
God’s Irrevocable Calling
1 Petr 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
John 10:28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
