“The High Calling of God” B. Keith Chadwell, June 9th, 2010 Php 3:13-16 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. I believe, with all my heart, that God is now opening a door to further revelation of His word, by the Spirit. Through this door is the opportunity, once again, to “see” the Mysteries of His rule within Christians who will choose to hear and obey. Behind this door of further revelation, is the reality and the simplicity of “This gospel of the Kingdom”. It is a door of opportunity, once again, which many Christians have been knocking, seeking and asking to be opened to them. As this door is being opened, some are now “seeing” through this open door and catching a glimpse of the Kingdom within us, which is; His New Creation. Still, Christians must choose to “ENTER” into and fully participate with our Lord in the rule of His New Creation, within us. For Christians not to “enter” in is to choose to remain outside, as it were, where the “old creation” crowd will remain. This is not about being born again of His Spirit or eternal life. It is about coming to full maturity in Christ, and the full manifestation of Christ in us. Paul said of this goal or promise; “I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” . It is about fully possessing our “promised land”. In the old culture or “old creation”, we see in Genesis 11: 1 “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.” We see; Man in the “old creation” was united in speech and in purpose, bent on making a name for......”themselves” !! Therefore, God's solution to this problematic behavior, for that time, is recorded in Genesis 11: “And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” (see the teachings: “Coming Out of Babylon ” & “A time & times and the dividing of time” ) Isaiah later said of the people of this Old Culture; “......Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Of course, that was BEFORE the Cross and the “NEW Creation”. So, what are we told to expect regarding the speech of this “NEW CREATION”? We are told by the prophet Zephaniah that THROUGH THE MESIAH, GOD PROMISED TO RESTORE TO HIS PEOPLE A PURE LANGUAGE.“........For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” So, in the “new creation”, God promised to; literally , change, overturn and return to His people “a PURE LANGUAGE” for the expressed purpose of being able to call upon the Name of the Lord and to SERVE Him with ONE CONSENT. We might even say....”In One Accord” (and see what the results of “one accord” might have been in the book of Acts.) “To Serve”....speaks of coming under the government of the King in His Kingdom or dominion within us. “With ONE consent” speaks of UNITY of mind and purpose, in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Servants of the Lord, we say; which speaks of total surrender of our own will and only doing our Masters bidding. “There is therefore a rest to the people of God”. This “Rest” is ceasing from trying to attain righteousness through our own efforts. This “Rest” is also ceasing from, not only our own works, but ceasing from doing our own thing, finding our own pleasure, and especially... speaking our own words. What did God say about the men and the language of the former culture who were united in language and purpose? Men in the “old creation” before God smote them in the mouth and scattered them, were united in speech and in purpose, bent on making a name for......”themselves” !! So, “...the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. So, God smote them in the mouth to break up their evil unity. Now, in the “new creation”, the Spirit was to be poured out from on high, and God would write His laws on the hearts of His people, not on stone and the “new creation” would speak with new tongues, and be united in purpose under ONE KING. And... so it was fulfilled in Christ. The Spirit was poured out on believers, which began to realize the inner washing and regeneration of the Spirit, not the outer washing of the flesh as in the “Old Creation”. And,....a “Pure language was restored to men, that they might call upon the Lord and serve Him with one consent.....but ONLY “as the Spirit gave them utterance”. But.....even those of the “new creation” could choose to remain in “Babylon”. In the old world culture, they were united in language and purpose toward their own goals and agendas and in such perverted unity, God said; nothing which they have imagined to do would be restrained from them. So, how much more, now, for those who are “in Christ” and are a “New Creation”? “Old things have passed away, and all things are become New”. Is it such a wonder then, that Jesus would say to His “new creation”;...”IF.....” “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Note: “IF My words, abide in you.... not ours. Now, IN Christ, whatever you can think or ask, that is in accordance with His will, will be done for you. Not, to continue to make a name for ourselves and satisfy our “flesh” but ONLY to “do and say those things we see that pleases and glorifies Him. A new Creation, manifesting Christ ONLY from within our hearts, with no shadow of turning. Today, we seek to enter into that place of perfection, which we may be able to see and which is promised in Christ for Gods “new creation”. Yet, we still war with an enemy within, the real “Anti-Christ”. This Anti-Christ is called “our flesh” and is, as it were; “our old creation” that resists the “New Creation” or the manifestation of the FULLNESS of Christ in us. Yet, now, even those “in Christ” who are “new creations”, still cling to some of the ways of “the old Creation” and often say as the Psalmist wrote: … “ ...With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?” Psa 12:4 Oh, yes.....we Christians, today, are still resisting the “pure language of the Spirit” to one degree or another. Why would we resist giving over, in full and complete release, our fleshly tongue to the only one who is able to tame it and use it to His glory. Many Christians are still in unbelief regarding the importance of this, restored, “Pure Speech” of the Spirit at this development stage of God's “new creation”. It is only when we choose to release God, through the Holy Spirit, to wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the spirit of His Mouth, that this sword can be used fully, as God intended, to make us free and thus move us on from “milk” to mature Son-ship. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Note, this work of the the “sword” is done within us. It is a work to separate, once again, the darkness from the light, it is the work of God, not our work, as we rest and He continues to work in us to perfect His “new creation”. Yet, we again, are like those the Psalmist spoke of, so long ago, by the Spirit of the Lord.... ...“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and ….........I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should SOON have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.” I have long known the absolute imperative for prayer in the Spirit. See my teaching; “I speak with tongues more than you all....Paul”  . Yet, down through the years I too have vacillated; from praying hours in the Spirit, days upon end, to; not much prayer in the Spirit. Looking back, I can see, without doubt, that my “walk in the Spirit” rose to the highest levels as I spent the most time praying in the Spirit. I once had the opportunity to share my views, up close and personal, on the importance of continual prayer in the Spirit with a new youth pastor of a mainline Pentecostal Church. His response was a very negative response. His response was terse as he indicating that he had “tried that” for a short time in Bible College and decided not to continue with such a practice. Not long after my conversation with him, he was dismissed from the ministry for; “conduct unbecoming”, as we used to say in the Marine Corps. I only mention this because I believe the Lord showed me that the consequences were, in part perhaps, the result of this young man scorning the practice of continuing, sustained, prayer in the Spirit. That, and his failing to “build himself up in the Spirit” as Jude suggests a Christian should, by praying in the Holy Ghost. “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your mostholy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ uunto eternal life. I, also, must admit; in my own lifetime, I have experienced being built up in the Spirit through continuing prayer in the Holy Spirit and the power of Christ in me to root out and overcome the lusts of the flesh.  And... have also suffered the consequences as a result of the extreme conflicts with my flesh when I did not. How can we ignore so great a gift or not use it to His glory constantly to pray in accordance with His will every time, all the time, to intercede for all saints, and to build ourselves up in the Spirit to be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might and see His glory fill us and spill over into neighborhoods and nations. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” ~ ~ ~