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(1)
Introduction.
Click here to view the BIG PICTURE again.
From the picture we see that through the Cross of Christ we are lifted back to a place of being able to attain God's high calling, the inheritance He has for us. But we are only placed on the fist step of an upward staircase which represents our Christian walk from glory to glory and from faith to faith. God has a specific walk for each one of us in the context of His overall purpose.
Group or Individual Activity: Think about/discuss why you think a picture of Moses and the burning bush was used for this section. Read Ephesians 2:10 and think about/discuss what we have been 'recreated' in Christ Jesus for. Read also Ephesians 1:13-14(it would also be good to read again Ephesians 1:3-6 and Ephesians 1:7-12) and think about/discuss what God's provision is for our present walk of faith. Who empowers us for our mission ? (See also Acts 1:8).
(2) Saved and Called.
We are saved and then must enter into our CALL (we are not called to be saved, but saved to be called). This call will comprise of God's GENERAL call to all Christians but will also be a SPECIFIC call to each one of us (see next lesson).
Each one of us will have a call in the context of God's BIG PICTURE (i.e. in the context of Missions). According to God's word, 'the end' (destination point) will not be reached until every tongue, tribe and nation has heard the Gospel message (See Matthew 24:14).
It is imperative we learn to walk in God's call for our lives. Our Spirit has BEEN SAVED at new birth ('Justification'), but our Soul (Mind,Will and Emotions) is BEING SAVED ( Philippians 2:12)) through 'Sanctification' so we are to have more of the MIND of Christ ( Philippians 2:5, 1 Peter 4:1), the WILL of the Father ( John 5:30, Matthew 26:39 , Philippians 2:13) and the EMOTIONS of the Holy Spirit( Romans 15:13). When Jesus comes back for His bride, we WILL BE SAVED in our Bodies ( 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 , 1 Thessalonians 5:23) which will be the time of our 'glorification', the entering into our inheritance.
Our present Christian walk is the time our Souls (Mind,Will and Emotions) are being saved. By faith we are to link in with the Will of the Father just as Christ said 'not My will but Your be done'. We can only do this if our minds are being renewed daily to think as Christ thought and our emotions are redeemed so that we can shine forth the light of the Kingdom and indeed be light in the darkness.
(3) Conclusion.
Our present Christian walk must link in with God's original intention to see the earth full of people bearing His image, ruling and reigning with justice and righteousness. We do this by faith, reckoning ourselves as seeds of Abraham and of David - we can be a part of redeeming the two strands of Fallen Kingdom and Lost Humanity. We must be as Lions to the Kingdom of darkness (Spiritual Warfare) and as Lambs to Lost Humanity, leading them sacrificially to the one perfect sacrifice for their sins - Jesus!
We will be looking at how we can practically align our lives now to be a part of God's strategic end-time army, reaching all people groups for Christ so that we hasten His coming (See Matthew 24:14). Our aim must be that of the Apostle Paul, to reach the unreached, setting them free from the counterfeit kingdom of Satan and bringing them into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (See Romans 15:20).
Now we will look at what we are ultimately saved into...
·STAGE FIVE: Glory - Our Ultimate Destiny.
