The Things Which Are Jesus Christ's
Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.”
By David J. Stewart
In Luke 11:2 Jesus taught for us to pray for God's will to be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus said to pray, “THY WILL BE DONE.” In Heaven God's will is done by the angels and saints. Satan is not the god of Heaven as he is the “god of this world” (2nd Corinthians 4:4). In Heaven God the Father reigns supreme from His throne with the Son seated at His right-hand (Romans 8:34). The following Scripture sheds some light on what Jesus meant by “Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so in earth.” ”Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” This is what Jesus meant. We are to seek the things which are Jesus Christ's, that is, those things which are above. This includes preaching and sharing the Gospel with the unsaved (Luke 8:15; Romans 10:15). Everything begins with salvation, that is, being born-again of the Spirit of God (John 3:1-7; Romans 8:9) by the Seed of the Word of God (1st Peter 1:23). Being “born-again” is to have He, Jesus, Who is the beginning (Revelation 1:8) born in you.
The “things which are above” includes laying up eternal treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:20). Jesus told us how to lay up treasures in Heaven throughout Matthew Chapters 5 and 6 in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus spoke of being a light unto the world (Matthew 5:14)—He spoke of being “persecuted for righteousness' sake” (Matthew 5:10), He told us to “do and teach” the commandments of God (Matthew 5:19), Jesus told us to reconcile with others (Matthew 5:24), He told us not to lust (Matthew 5:28), He told us not to divorce (Matthew 5:32), He told us to love our neighbors (Matthew 5:43), and do good to those who do us evil (Mathew 5:44), and to give alms in secret (Matthew 6:1), and to fast and pray in secret (Matthew 6:1-16), and to diligently seek God in our life (Hebrews 11:6).
Heaven can be real and present now, here on earth, if we'll let it be. The Bible teaches that we're already citizens of the heavenly city as born-again believers (Philippians 3:20). The word “conversation” in Philippians 3:20 is the Greek word politeuma and means “citizenship.” We already posses eternal life my friend. Let us live our lives now as the citizens of heaven that we already are, and make good of the reminder of our temporary and short earthly life, because our eternal life has already begun in Christ Jesus. ”Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Amen and amen!
“The things which are Jesus Christ's” refer to living for OTHERS for Christ. We read this in Philippians 2:4-5, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Jesus thought about others—their need for salvation, the things that made them sad, their well-being, whether they were hungry, et cetera. Here's a Scripture revealing the precious nature of our Lord. Matthew 9:36,“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Notice that no one had to ask Jesus for anything, He “SAW THE MULTITUDE.” Jesus was looking on the things of others as Philippians 2:5 says. We ought to do likewise.
Jesus was paying attention to the right things. Most people today pay attention to all the wrong things, noticing people's faults, everything sinful, and the filth on television. We are living in a nation of characterless, spoiled rotten, little brats. Our churches today are like baby nurseries, which was the same situation in Paul's time. Galatians 5:15, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” It matters not if all the hordes of Hell come after me, I'm going to work harder and harder to lay up rewards in Heaven (Matthew 6:20), caring for the things which are Jesus Christ's (Philippians 2:21), and pleasing my Savior (Revelation 4:11).
John 12:43 tells us to seek the praises of God and not men. All of the Godless Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) singers today seek the praises of men instead of the praises of God. All of the apostate ministers and televangelists of the Ecumenical Movement are seeking the praises of men instead of the praises of God. 2nd Timothy 3:12 teaches that living godly in Christ Jesus brings persecution, not donations and sold-out tickets for CCM concerts. John the Baptist was offensive to most people. He stood alone, a VOICE (singular) crying aloud from the wilderness. I am likewise a VOICE crying aloud from the wilderness of cyberspace. My enemies are the Lord's enemies (Romans 8:31). I am taking God's side in every controversy. I am as narrow-minded as the Bible.
The Bible tells us how God wants us to live—how to speak, how to dress, how to behave, how to win souls, how to pray, how to obtain God's power, et cetera. The Bible is all we need. Jesus is the answer to all your problems. Philippians 2:21 says that most people don't care about the things which are Christ's. Most people don't care about the Bible. Hardly anyone is even born-again, let alone being a genuine Christian who desires to live for God and follow the teachings of the Bible. Most people are foolish, ignoring what's important to God. Judgment Day is coming. I don't know about you, but I want to be ACCEPTED OF HIM (2nd Corinthians 5:9), that I may escape the TERROR OF THE LORD (2nd Corinthians 5:11). This speaks of believers who will face the terror of the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:10-11).
Many people twist and misinterpret the Bible to fit their own wicked agendas, such as divorce and intoxicating one's self with booze. Even homosexuals these days are claiming that a God of love approves of homosexual love. It is lust, not love. Romans 1:26 calls homosexuality vile affections. “Vile” means “morally reprehensible,” offensive to God. Homosexuality is of the Devil. Drunkenness is of the Devil. Abortion, feminism, and divorce are of the Devil.
I rejoice that I will be judged individually by God (Romans 14:12-14). If no one else wants to do right, I still can. The Bible teaches in 1st Corinthians 3:8 that I will be rewarded individual for my OWN LABOURS. If you don't want to serve Jesus, then you're the fool; but I will receive rewards for my own labours. I am glad that I have complete control over my happiness in Heaven. Jesus PROMISED that everything that we do, even giving a cup of water in Jesus' name will be rewarded.
Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Likewise, you have the same opportunity to lay up treasures in Heaven (Hebrews 6:20). God encourages us to serve Jesus Christ that we may lay up treasures in Heaven. Jesus goes on to state that there's no thieves in Heaven. There won't be any thieving bankers, lawyers, judges, or corrupt politicians in Heaven to swindle us out of our money. Jesus PROMISED that the possessions that He'll give to us in Heaven will be safe, secure, and lasting. There won't be any moths to eat our clothes, nor rust to corrode our things. Jesus mentioned these facts to challenge us to get busy for God.
It is perfectly acceptable to serve God with our motive being receiving nice things in Heaven from our Lord. That is our Lord's PROMISE. I capitalize the word PROMISE because everything in the Christian life, including our salvation, is based upon the unchanging PROMISES of an unchanging God (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Titus 1:2 says that eternal life is a PROMISE from God to those who believe on Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus said in Luke 6:23...
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
And again in Luke 6:35 we read...
Luke 6:35 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
Notice that we are to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, AND DO GOOD, AND LEND, HOPING FOR NOTHING. These are the things which are Jesus Christ's. Most people hate their enemies. In fact, many people hate others for merely not responding to a “hello,” or for not responding to an e-mail. One of your bitterest enemies may be someone to whom you failed to respond to their e-mail. This is how sensitive, insane, and wicked American society has become today. If you hate someone over an e-mail or because they ignored you, you are not right with God.
Jesus said that we're no better than the heathen if we only say “hello” to those whom we know (Matthew 5:47). I say “hello” to people all the time who ignore me. I've e-mailed many people who never wrote back. I've had people deliberately mistreat me for no reason, just to be mean. I could tell you hundreds of stories about people who have abused me, mistreated me, or done me wrong. Yet, I choose to let all that go and pray for them, knowing that God will hold men accountable for every word spoken on Judgment Day (Matthew 12:36). We are all going to be judged by God. God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). Pride is self-idolatry. God says that holier-than-thou people are as smoke in His nose that irritates Him. Isaiah 65:5,“Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.”
I guarantee you that Gossiping, hateful, malicious believers aren't the soul-winners they ought to be. You can't be soul-conscious at the same time you're consumed with hateful thoughts toward others. Those Christians who love Jesus Christ and are aggressive about winning souls to Christ are too busy to gossip, slander, and tear others down.
“There is exactly as much pride in you as there is criticism of other people.”
SOURCE: Pastor Jack Hyles, from the needful sermon HOLIER THAN THOU OR SMOKE GETS IN YOUR NOSE.
Luke chapter 6 is perhaps the most ignored chapter in the Bible, in which Jesus teaches for believers to turn the other cheek—bless those who curse us, be kind to those who are mean, say hello to those who ignore us, pray for those who despitefully use us, do good to those who do evil unto us, give to those who cannot give anything back, and to give ourselves away for others in Jesus' name. Many people live by the sinful motto—Do unto others as they do unto you, being vindictive. Others live by the motto—Do unto others before they do unto you, being malicious. But the Bible tells us in Matthew 7:12, known as THE GOLDEN RULE—Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Hardly anyone lives by this teaching of Jesus Christ.
I dare say 1 out of 100 people are genuine born-again Christians today. Matthew 7:13-14 supports this, affirming that most people are indeed going to Hell when they die. Few people are saved. When Jesus' disciples asked Him if there are few that be saved, Jesus replied in Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” The fact that MANY will seek to enter into heaven, but will be denied is evidence that MOST PEOPLE are deceived by religion. There are going to be a lot of shocked and terrified Roman Catholics when they die, realizing that Hell is going to be their eternal abode in doom, torment and damnation (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9).
The things which are Jesus Christ's are summed up in 2 Commandments: 1) love God, and 2) love thy neighbor. This means caring and preaching hard against sin. Few Christians are interested in soul-winning. Most Christians, including ministry leaders, are more interested in cutting each other's throat that fetching souls to Christ for salvation. It is tragic how churches today are nothing more than gossip centers, tearing each other down, bathed in self-righteous hypocrisy. These are the hypocrites who gather together at their hypocritical prayer meetings to degrade other Christians.
Gossip and railing against others is of the Devil. Shutting one's toilet mouth is one of the things of Jesus Christ. Do you know what a Biblical hypocrite is? Jesus taught in Matthew 7:3-5 that a hypocrite is someone who thinks someone else is a bigger sinner than them self. James 2:10 says you're as guilty as the worst sinner, and so am I, and if you truly realized that you'd stop condemning others and behaving like Satan, who accuses the brethren day and night unto God (Revelation 12:10). Satan means “the accuser.” Are you like Satan? You are if you're always critiquing others.
I am the biggest sinner I know, and so are you if you're right with God. Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” What a precious Scripture! The Law of God condemns all humanity as being guilty before God (Romans 3:19). Jesus did not come into the world to condemn anyone, but to save the lost (John 3:17). Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.“ One of the things of Jesus Christ is sharing the Gospel with others. Luke 8:15, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” God wants you and I to share the Gospel with others (Romans 10:15; Proverb 11:30). Jesus said in Luke 8:15 that those who have an honest and good heart will preach the Gospel.
“Did you know when the Devil will fight you the most? At the last round before you win the victory.”
SOURCE: Pastor Jack Hyles, from the excellent sermon WHEN SATAN IS AT HIS WORST.
We are living in the Last Days and the Lord's return is near, which is why Satan is relentlessly attacking the best Christians and churches...
Why Things Are So Bad These Days
“Ladies and gentleman, do you want to know why the television programs have gotten as rotten as the Devil in recent years? Do you want to know why the narcotic problem is a menace to almost every high school in this nation? Do you know why that the plays and movies have become full of nude scenes? Do you want to know why that cursing is allowed on television, and things that used to be censored are now accepted? Do you want to know why that mini-skirts are running rampant, and you want to know why that Communism, and Rock music, and all the dirty things that Satan has caused in our generation; do you want to know why they're here?
I'll tell you why, Jesus is coming soon! The Devil is going to get put down soon, and he knows he has but a short time. So he comes in the last days of this age and says, “I'm going to have great wrath, great fury, I'll launch every weapon I have, I'll launch every gun I have, I'll take every bit of the arsenal out of Hell and point it at the people on earth.”
Now here's one of the tragic things about this entire Scripture (i.e., Revelation 12:12), and that is the Devil is wiser than we are. We also know we have but a short time. He knows he has a short time, he gets busy; we know we have a short time, we stay home and watch television... We've got to stay busy for God!”
SOURCE: Pastor Jack Hyles, from the excellent sermon: 'WHEN SATAN IS AT HIS WORST'
People are quitting on God left and right...
Don't Quit
“I love sports. ... Occasionally I have a few heroes and one of my heroes is Jim Ryun, the miler. I pulled for him to in for 4 years to win the Olympic mile race. To me it was the highlight of the Olympics. It was the only thing in the Olympics I had to watch. ... I wanted to watch him (Jim Ryun) win. And you recall how that in the preliminary race, the trial run, Jim Ryun should have won the race hands down. But he tripped over a fella, and fell. I'll never forget it. I was watching. He fell over a runner, and fell to the center. He was groggy for awhile, he got up. He'd worked 4 years, running miles and miles a day, dedicated to one goal, one goal, one goal... get that Olympic medal.
And now everything has stumbled and fallen on the cinders of a track. He's yards behind, no way to catch up, he's half a lap behind, What did he do? Anybody else would have got up and just walked to the side. He got up, 200 or 300 yards behind, and kept on going. He kept on going. He came in last, but didn't quit. He didn't quit. He crossed the finish line. And I thought, there is the greatest miler that's ever run a mile in this world's history. There's a man who'll run a mile faster than any man in history coming in a miserable last, but he didn't quit. You may not can win, but you can finish.”
SOURCE: Pastor Jack Hyles, from the excellent sermon WHEN SATAN IS AT HIS WORST.
Proverb 6:16-19 lists 7 things which God's intensely hates and the first sin listed is A PROUD LOOK. The humble servant is the one who God uses. God hates a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, feet quick to mischief, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, a false witness that telleth lies, and he that soweth discord.
These are the things that God has excessive hatred for. Notice that the Bible didn't list abortion, murder, homosexuality, dancing, drunkenness, idolatry, or all the things that most people would list. The sin which God hates most of all is a proud look. Pride is self-idolatry. God says that holier-than-thou people are as smoke in His nose that irritates Him. Isaiah 65:5,“Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.” Are you as irritating smoke in God's eyes and nose?
May we all look upon the things of OTHERS, having the mind of Jesus Christ in us, caring about the things which are Jesus Christ's. Most people have “i” trouble, thinking they're better than others. The middle letter in the word sin is “i.” Are you holier-than-thou? The humble servant is the one who God uses.
Proverbs 28:14, “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." —2nd Thessalonians 1:8
