THREE NAILS
PURPOSE
Psalms 1 says "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night." - We should pursue the Father through His word, discover His Son through an intimate relationship and seek the narrow path by listening to the Holy Spirit.
“FOR WE ARE GOD’S HANDIWORK, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.”
-EPHESIANS 2:10
God does not make mistakes. We don’t understand His plan. He has created within us all a Purpose for His Plan. When operating within our purpose, we will begin to produce fruit. This fruit is not for us or because of the works we have done. We produce fruit for other people to eat because we are connected the Vine, who is Jesus Christ.
“FOR YOU CREATED MY INMOST BEING; YOU KNIT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB. I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE; YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL; I KNOW THAT FULL WELL.”
-PSALMS 139:13-14
When we begin to see that God’s Plan is larger than our understanding, praising Him will be the only response.
“AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, SO ONE PERSON SHARPENS ANOTHER.”
-PROVERBS 27:17
We are to be in community with each other, helping to carry the daily burdens, to mourn with those in pain and encourage each other throughout our individual sanctification in Christ.
“ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE. FOR THE GATE IS WIDE AND THE WAY IS EASY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTIONS, AND THOSE WHO ENTER IT ARE MANY. FOR THE GATE IS NARROW AND THE WAY IS HARD THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND THOSE WHO FIND IT ARE FEW.”
-MATTHEW 7:13-14
It is not that the path is hidden or a secret, it is that we don’t see the path as the best option using human logic. Using God's teachings to better understand His will seems to be illogical with the world – swimming against the current. Jesus came to bring Heaven to Earth, to provide a way back to the Father that re-establishes the relationship from Genesis 2, where He walks with us.
“WHOEVER DOES NOT TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.”
-MATTHEW10:38
We are all asked to surrender ourselves to the Lord’s will. This means there will be things we are called to do that will be difficult, cause heartache and could potentially lead to pain. Great leaders will never ask people to do things they themselves are not willing to do or have not already done. Jesus suffered and died so that we might be saved – He has accomplished the work. He is now inviting us to participate in it with Him.
“COME, FOLLOW ME”, JESUS SAID, “AND I WILL SEND YOU OUT TO FISH FOR PEOPLE.”
-MATTHEW 4:19
So simple – Come on, lets go! When a Father asks his little kids if they wanted to go to the store. They never ask where they were going, if they needed to bring anything or if they were going to be taken care of while they were out there – They simply got in the truck and off they went. Is this how you answer the call of Jesus? Or do you find yourself wanting to have your questions answered before you say yes to following Him? What would it be like if you just gave Him your YES and trusted that He will be faithful?
“LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”
- MATTHEW 5:16
You might be the only “Jesus” someone ever gets to experience. Meaning, that if Jesus is with you, He should be physically tangible in how you interact with others.