PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING
Missionary-Evangelist Esther Thornton
“THE
PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING”
God
wants us to live our lives to the fullest! He wants us to have a good
life - a king's life!
But, before we speak about our subject,
here are some funny things to put a smile on your face!
Jokes:
“Don’t Mess With Seniors…especially when it comes to money!
We
went to breakfast at a restaurant where the “Seniors’ Special” was two eggs,
bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.
“Sounds
good” my wife said, “But I don’t want the eggs.”
“Then
I’ll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you’re
ordering a la carte” the waitress warned her.
“You
mean I’d have to pay for not taking the eggs?” my wife asked incredulously.
“I’ll take the special.”
“How
do you want your eggs?”
“Raw
and in the shell” my wife replied. She took the two eggs home.
_______________
Goat
For Dinner:
The
young couple invited their aged pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in
the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were
having. “Goat”, the little boy replied.
“Goat?”
replied the startled man of the cloth, “Are you sure about that?”
“Yep”,
said the youngster, “I heard Pa say to Ma, “Might as well have the old goat for
dinner today as any other day.”
________________
In
Africa, they prepare a goat for a meal for you when you are being honored.
Pastor Mophat did this when we were there. He proceeded to BBQ the goat. It had
a decent flavor but I think it was just the idea of the thing that got to me,
so I only ate enough to be polite and appreciative. One day, after that, we
were driving in his car and he said he was going to stop and purchase a goat to
prepare for us once again. I could have taken this as a double blessing, but
instead I declined! I told him that he had honored us enough!
________________
Some
years ago when we attended a church in Ct. an offering was taken for the
District Superintendent’s wife who was celebrating her birthday. It was said
for the people to give a penny for each year of their age. The Superintendent’s
wife got in her purse and gave one dollar. Our oldest son, Bobby, who was about
7 yrs. Old whispered to us, “Is she 100 yrs. Old?
_________________
Philip.
3:13-14 LB
No,
dear brothers, I am still not all I should be; but I am bringing all my
energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, I press to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for
which God is calling me up to Heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for me.
[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
What
I want to share is in three parts:
I.
A Cry For the Anointing: Flesh vs. Spirit
II.
The Need for Refreshing the Body, Soul, and Spirit
III.
Wearing the Coat that my Father Has Given Me - The Mantle of God
I.
A Cry For The Anointing: Flesh vs. Spirit:
In
this day, there will be a sharp distinction or contrast between those who are
living according to the will of God and those who are not, or are doing their
own thing.
A
dear Jewish prophet once told of a true account that happened some years ago in
the Holy Land. An old container of oil was found in an ancient cave. It wasn’t
known what the substance was, and so they lit a match to it to see what would
happen. As the fumes went forth from this, all of the sheep in the area
peacefully grazed, right where they were. But, all of the goats immediately
began to run away!
This
is the day for reality. This is the day for true purpose. This is the day when
God’s people will be tested and proved if they have truth in their inward
parts. This is the day when, what has long-time been inside believers, will be
made manifest. God is causing it to be revealed now so that it can be taken
care of.
This
will happen for three reasons:
1.
God does not want believers to have to be ashamed before Him at Jesus’ coming
2.
God is bringing it forth now so that there will still be time to correct it.
3.
God is revealing this, particularly in leaders, so that others will not fall
because of them or, in some cases, because of their hypocrisy.
Judgment
will begin in the house of the Lord. But, if individuals refuse to submit to
God’s dealings, then He will be forced to set them aside, instead of using them
in fullness, as He desires to do.
This
is the difference - there will be those who will suffer for their own
wrongdoings. In contrast, will be those who are suffering according to the will
of God.
1
Peter 4:19
Wherefore
let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their
souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
1
Peter 2:20
For
what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God.
2
John 1:8
Look
to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we
receive a full reward.
1
Peter 4:11
If
any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let
him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
1
Cor. 3:12-15
Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Current
event of significance:
On
Jan. 12, 2005, scientists in China discovered a dinosaur in the belly of a
fossilized mammal. This was reported on Associated Press News. A prophet
recently stated that God was going to be showing ancient secrets to man to show
that He is God. This proves creationism and refutes evolutionism that has said
that mammals are descendants of dinosaurs.
This
year 2005 correlates with Psa. 105. Psa. 105 speaks of the glory of God being
revealed.
Prophets
are in agreement that God’s going to manifest His glory in this year of 2005.
The word that He gave me for this year is about the greatness of God through
His people.
You
can get a copy of this prophecy on our website: www.clatskanie.com/gef
I
was listening to CNN news on Monday, and the reporter was speaking of how advantageous
it would be to get the little microchip imbedded in a person - for credit, and
other business purposes. He said that he had one himself in his wrist. Is this
the mark of the Beast? No. Not as yet, but it is close at the door. He was
saying that is a couple of years, that it would be mandatory to have the
information on passports. He spoke of how they had been using microchips in
animals already and even children, so that if they get lost, they can find
them. But, what they don’t realize is that this system will be used by
Antichrist to monitor everything that a person does. There will be nothing that
is not known; there will be no privacy and it will ultimately be total control.
Jesus
is coming and He is coming soon! Strengthen that which you have and God will
give you more. Maybe you have failed in some areas of your life. Strengthen
that which remains and God will pick you up and will lead you forth.
A
lady had a vision and she said that Jesus told her that 50% of people will be
saved when Jesus comes in the rapture. I hope it’s that many and even more! God
is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
II.
A Need for Refreshing the Body, Soul, and Spirit:
(1)
Refreshing for the Body:
3
John 1:2
Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy
soul prospereth.
Rejoicing
people have good health: a joyful heart is a good medicine; it does the body
good; it works an excellent cure and makes for a quick recovery. According to Dr.
Ern Crocker of Sydney, Australia, people who find it easy to laugh have fewer
heart attacks.
There
is a true story told of a man who had an incurable disease and was paying a lot
of money to stay in the hospital. He finally got tired of it and asked his
family to take him out of the hospital and put him in a hotel. He asked them to
bring him all the funny clean movies of the past, so they did. He watched these
movies and laughed and laughed the belly kind of laughter. To make a long story
short, he was released from the hospital and was completely healed of his
disease. And, as far as we know, this man wasn’t even a Christian. But, because
he was applying a principle of God’s Word, he still received healing in his
body!
(2)
Refreshing the Soul: mind, emotions, and will
Refreshing
our minds:
The
mind can be the devil’s workshop and this is the doorway that he will use to
get to a person. But, we can choose to think on good things.
Philip.
4:8
Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.
We
should not worry:
Philip.
4:6
Be
anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
So,
we are to cover our mind with the blood and think only on good things without
worry.
Allow
creativity in your mind and do not be set in your ways. God wants to give us
new thoughts and ideas for the ministry of God.
Have
the “victor” and not “victim” mentality.
Refreshing
our emotions:
When
our mind is focused on that which is good, our emotions will follow and will be
healthy emotions.
Laughter
is a good medicine. Don’t take life too seriously that you fail to see the
humor in it.
When
our oldest grandson was young, he accidentally hit my vase in the living room
and broke it with a nerf ball. He had been told not to throw it in the house
and so got a verbal correction from his father. He ran into our TV room and
threw himself down, crying. I jumped up and followed him, but in the process, I
tripped on the phone cord and landed in a heap on the floor beside him! We both
began to laugh and laugh! Finally, I said, “Joshua, what do you think if the
most important to Nana? You or the vase? And, he answered, “I know that I am”.
The next time he came for a visit, Grandpa has glued the vase back perfectly
and we showed it to Joshua. I said, “You can’t even tell it has been broken!”
And, he wore a big smile of relief! In times of stress, it is healthy to laugh!
Psa.
126:1-2
When
the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. [2]
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said
they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
Rejoicing
people rejoice in spite of circumstances
When
you can rejoice, you can hand your burdens up to God and He will carry them for
you:
There
was a story about some horses drawing a heavy load of logs. They began to
struggle and they couldn’t get up the hill. The driver took some logs off the
wagon but nothing happened; he took more logs off but again nothing happened.
They were now very tired but at last the driver took all the logs off the wagon
and prodded the horses gently. They started slowly but gained momentum until
they went all the way to the top.
Discouragement
drains us and makes light loads seem heavy. The Holy Spirit will come along
side of us and He knows how many logs to unload. The horses are more important
to the driver than the logs; and we are more important to God than our burdens.
So, He will take off enough burdens so we can regain our strength to go on.
Refreshing
our Will:
Kathyrn
Kuhlman once said: “We must yield our will to the will of the Father”. Then, we
will have a healthy and strong will to serve God.
Acts
3:19
“…
the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” This will
strengthen our will to serve Him.
(3)
Refreshing our Spirit:
The
spirit is that part of us that will live forever and where God’s Spirit dwells.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to have full reign in our spirit, then the times
of refreshing will come to us through the Father. We will become revitalized
and the fire of God will burn brightly in our hearts.
We
refresh our spirits by spending time in God’s presence - reading and meditating
upon His Word - and spending time in prayer, not only speaking to God, but
listening.
Sometimes,
listening to anointed teaching or preaching or anointed music can refresh our
spirits, as well.
Note: When you are refreshed, then you can chart your course,
as God’s Spirit leads you; you can stay on course; and you can finish your
course.
2
Tim. 4:7
I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Paul
speaks of 3 men who began their course with good intentions but only two of
them reached the finish line:
The
first is Demas: “For Demas hath forsaken me,having loved this present world…”
The
second is Mark: But, he deserted Paul because of hardships. But he did come
back to finish his course in the face of failure and ridicule. And, even after
Mark deserted Paul, Paul received him back and said that he was profitable to
him!
The
third man was Paul himself.
2
Tim. 4:5-8
But
watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
make full proof of thy ministry. [6] 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: [8] Henceforth 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.
Refreshing
the soul and spirit involves total adherence to the Word of God and total
yielding to the Spirit of God. Then, we will not run the race in vain and we
will be fit servants of God.
___________________
Global Evangelism Fellowship, Inc. http://www.clatskanie.com/gef
Rev. Esther Thornton
(503)728-3388 (503)728-2834 (Fax)
