Maintain or Excel… We must Excel            

(Psalm 44:1-3) “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. (Psalm 102:13) “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.” God’s desire from the beginning, was to have a people He could call His own. A people who would love, honor, and cherish the sacred relationship He had put in place. He created Adam and then designed a family for him. His commandment was, “Be fruitful and multiply.” He loved His creation and wanted to have a personal relationship with them! Then sin entered in and ruined the relationship that God desired to have. Now, there was a barrier. So, the process began to reunite man with God.

As time went on, a number of people were faithful who trusted and obeyed God and helped move God’s program in the right direction. But we must always remember that God was never caught by surprise! The plan from the beginning was in place from before the foundation of the world! God promised Abraham, that he would be the father of a great nation. As time continued, Jacob would find “The House of God”, and his name would change to Israel. One family would enter Egypt through Joseph, and later under the name of Israel, they would come out a great nation. That nation would make a covenant with God and become the “Church in the Wilderness.” God declared to them, if you will serve me, you will be my “peculiar treasure.” Even though they would fail to make good on their promise, God’s plan would not falter.  The coming of Jesus Christ would provide once again the pathway for man to be reconciled to God. But at the cross, the plan would go even further: the blood of Christ would not only provide man’s redemption but would also purchase The Church of God. Jesus would declare, “It is finished” and he would sanctify Her and give His last earthly instructions to the newly purchased Church. He would return to the Father, with a promise to send The Holy Ghost to guide ‘Her’ into all truth. The Church then gathered together in obedience to Christ, and The Holy Ghost came and filled all that were there. This group of 120 people would right away expand to 320, and even more in the days that followed. The “Early Church” would reach the known world with the gospel. But, once again, apostasy would enter in among the members, eventually leading to what would be known as the “Dark Ages.” But there would still be a few who were faithful, who were determined to again find The Church of God!

I remind us that She never ceased to be. She was only hidden for a time, just as it was written in prophecy. But once again, Her beauty was uncovered! Once again, Her glorious doctrine began to shine and compel those who desired truth to come and gather under Her banner! Again and again, there would be, (and are still today) those who would try to change Her and undermine Her doctrine. But, the exclusive invitation, to be a part of the glorious Church that Christ purchased, has been extended to everyone. Jesus declared, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it!” She will not be defeated!  Those who stay true to Her will never fail! Don’t be one of those who fight against Her. They will lose! But once again, take up the sword and shield, and remain faithful in your service! As members of The great Church of God, let us once again, have the vision, let us once again, have the zeal! Let us once again, be determined to forget the things of the past and to excel; let us march on to victory! Someone is going to complete this work!  Now is our opportunity! We must not… we cannot let it slip through our fingers!

Many of you have been in the Church for a long time. You have helped the Church to maintain, and carry on in times of difficulty, and I commend you for your service! “Thank you”! But, I must say today, to every member, young and old, it’s high time that we not only maintain, but we must excel! We must move forward! We must complete our task! God is, and He always will be, faithful! But you and I must prove ourselves faithful! (Ephesians 5:27) “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Revelation 19:7,9) “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And he saith unto me, write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. and he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God.” Psalm 102:13 declares, “the set time, is come.” Zion has the favour of God! Her time of victory is now! Our time is now! (Zechariah 13:8-9) “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein and I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God.”

Others have failed to honor the covenant that they made with God. Again you and I must also make our choice. Who will you serve? There will be someone in this generation who will allow the Holy Ghost to refine and purify, and use them to do a work that has never before been accomplished! They will be His faithful people! (Malachi 3:3-4) “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Malachi 4:1-3) “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

We must submit to The Holy Ghost! We must give Him full control. He will do his great work in those who will submit to Him. Through them, greater things will be accomplished than have ever been done! But Isaiah 4:4 tells us, these things that God desires to do, will be done by “the spirit of judgement, and by the spirit of burning.” His fire will either purify us or consume us. (Heb 12:29) Those who will allow him to purify their life, those who are willing to lay aside weights and sins, those who are willing to put on spiritual things, will be the ones who make up the Bride He’s coming back for. (1 Peter 2:9) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” You and I are the people that have been chosen by God, for this present work! Let the Church be the Church!

Let’s stay faithful, until that glorious day when He returns.