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The Path to Perfection
10/16/11
What is your definition of “perfection”?
Perfection -The condition, state, or quality of being free from all flaws or defects.
So I guess this leaves humans out, we are far from perfect.
The Bible has a slightly different definition
Perfection
5051. teleiotes, tel-i-o-tace'; from G5048; a completer, i.e. consummater:--finisher.
God wants us to finish what we start.
(2Ti 4:7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
The opposite of perfection is backsliding
Backslide -
1. To lapse morally or in a practice of a religion
2. To revert to a worse condition.
(2Ti 4:10) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto
Thessalonica; ……
(2Pe 2:20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with
them than the beginning.
What’s worse than going to Hell?....... Going, knowing you could have gone to Heave.
God wants us to grow and move forward with our faith and trust in Him.
(Heb 6:1) Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on
unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God,
Here the writer says “You know enough of the basics, time to move on to a higher learning.” There’s more
for us, we just have to press forward.
Ever walk a path uphill? (uphill.JPG)
The longer you go, the more tired you get. But, when you reach the top, the view is worth it.
(Spruce-knob-autumn-morning-fall-sky.jpg)
(Php 3:14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We are pressing forward toward the goal God has set for us. The path may be long, but we need patience to make
the journey.
All too often we have “kid syndrome”…… “Are we there yet?”
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1 Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
By taking this path of perfection, we are growing in the Lord.
2 Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both
now and for ever. Amen.
So, what’s along this path? (The Path to Perfection)
1 Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the
Lord, and admonish you;
1 Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
We need to honor and respect church leaders. They are doing a work for God and we need to help them every way
we can.
We need not biker among ourselves nor sow discord in the church. We shouldn’t “stir things up” between
ourselves or with our leaders. God wants peace and harmony in the church.
1 Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the
weak, be patient toward all men.
We should warn, with love, those whose lives are not under control. Their soul is at stake. We shouldn’t “bash”
them, but rather help them to be the person God wants them to be.
There are some that are discouraged or are afraid of difficulties. Encourage them! God wants us to help each other.
We are servants of God, and servants help
And we must do this with patience. Lovely patience….. a difficult trait to master. And we are to be patient with
EVERYONE…. Our kids, our spouse, our friends, our enemies, people in the checkout line……
1 Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among
yourselves, and to all men.
Don’t try to “get back”. Just because someone has done something to you, this does not give you the excuse to act
the same. Be nice to them. Get back with kindness….. they won’t know how to act.
1 Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
No matter what happens, be thankful, be glad. We often don’t know the bigger picture, but god does. You may not
be able to change a situation, but you control how you react to it.
1 Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
What more can be said?...... Pray, Pray, Pray. Prayer works wonders.
1 Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
This goes along with verse 16, no matter what happens, be thankful for it. You may ask, “how can you be thankful
when your son was arrested?” Today he is drug free.
1 Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
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In Matt 3:11 it states we were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Don’t quench the fire….
Fire is quenched by taking away fuel, don’t quench this holy fire by being lax in the spirit.
Fire is also put out by dirt….Don’t pile on dirt of the world. We have been freed from this filth and the lusts of the
world.
1 Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
By prophesyings we are to understand the preaching of the word, and the applying of the scripturesto
our lives. This we must not despise. The Word is for our perfecting.
1 Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Don’t take my word for what I say, I could tell you anything. Study the word of God for yourself.
John 5:39 tells us to “Search the scriptures…” and 2Ti 2:15 tells us to “ Study to shew thyself approved..”
1 Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
If is looks bad, don’t do it.. When in doubt, don’t. The world is watching you and is looking for anything it can
find to fault you.
It’s a long path. One that will take your entire life. But it’s a rewarding one. It may get tiring, but we need to keep
going forward. The reward?
The view from the top! (Spruce-knob-autumn-morning-fall-sky.jpg)
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Tim 4:8 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.
Finishing something gives us a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
(Back to 2 Tim 4:7 )
I don’t know about you, but I love “Well done’s”.
In 1999, Zoe Koplowitz's, age 50 from New York, took a time of 30 hours and 10 minutes to complete the Boston
marathon.. The slowest in the course's history.
However, it did nothing to detract from her achievement: she has multiple sclerosis and did the entire marathon on
a pair of purple crutches.
(ZK.jpg)
Towards the end, Ms Koplowitz, who was frequently forced to stop after being plagued by painful spasms, was
moving at 1mph. Heavy traffic also forced her to use the pavement, which added to her discomfort. But she was
determined to finish the race.
Are you as determined with your walk with God? Will you finish the “race”?
As we have seen, the “Path to Perfection” is not about being flawless, but more about perseverance and
determination….. determination to finish.
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