November 02, 2014 | Tom Dunham
Passage: Philippians 3:12-14
‘Elongate’ Yourself for God!
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14
It is amazing how people will stretch themselves to the limit for the things they love … … …
Here are some Christian disciplines in which we can ‘elongate’ ourselves for God – along w/ exemplary Biblical & historical heroes:
- The simple practice of reading the Bible …
- David Livingstone & his ‘twice a year Bible’ …
- For one day this week, would you stretch your reading? …
See Job 23:12 …
- The sublime practice of prayer …
- George Muller – prayer warrior of the 19th century …
- Would you, for one day this week, stretch your prayer time? …
- See I Thessalonians 5:17 …
- Scripture memorization & meditation …
- A Christian medical student whose grades skyrocketed …
- Would you stretch your memory work this week? …
- See Joshua 1:8 …
- Giving …
- Would you join w/ us in our Tithe of the Tithe campaign for the
Fargo Submerge Church plant? …
- See II Corinthians 8:1-4 …
- Fasting – the ultimate cleanse …
- Stretch yourself by skipping a meal (or 2 or 3) this week …
- See Isaiah 58:6 …
- Serving …
- Stretch yourself by committing to saying ‘yes’ …
- See Proverbs 11:25 … & I Corinthians 16:15 …
- Share the gospel …
- Stretch yourself – pray for one person to share Christ w/ this week … or invite to church …
- See I Corinthians 9:23 …
- Early rising …
- Stretch yourself by getting up early! …
- A partial list of Bible heroes who rose early: Abraham (Gen. 22:3) … Jacob (Gen. 28:18) … Moses (Ex. 24:4) … Joshua (Josh. 3:1) … Samuel (I Sam. 15:12) … David (I Sam. 17:20) … Jesus! (Mark 1:35)
Now a few more heroes …