Set Your Mark
God told Joshua the way to succeed (Joshua 1-8-9) which says “This book of the law
shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate, therein day and night, that
you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then you shall make
your way prosperous and then you shall have good success. Have not I commanded
you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed, for
the Lord Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go”.
The same principles that God told Joshua applies to us today. The word of God
should be continuing to come out of our mouths. Speaking what God says;
remember we have to return God’s word to Him (Isaiah 55:11) God said “so shall My
word be that goes forth out of My mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please; and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.
The power is released when we return His word to Him, otherwise a Bible left on the
table will not release any of the promises in it. Psalms 37:37 says “mark the perfect
man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace”. Jesus only spoke
what He heard the Father say.
We have to aim high; David writes in Psalms 17:15, he says “as for me, I will behold
Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake with Your likeness”. In
Ephesians 3:20 the Bible says “now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask, or think, according to the power that works in us”. God is
willing and able to bless us, but it is up to us to ask for and think big things.
We are to set our eyes on things above, the Bible says in (Colossians 3:1-3) “if you
then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the
right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. For
you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God”. So let us set our eyes on the
word of God (Proverbs 4:20-23) “My son, attend to my words, incline your ear to my
sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes, keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart
with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life”.
Let us look at the woman with the issue of blood, she pressed through (Mark 5:25-
29), which says “and a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years.
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had,
and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. When she had heard of Jesus,
came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, if I may touch but
His clothes, I shall be whole. And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up,
and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague”. She set her mind on
the word of God (Malachi 4:2), says “but to you that fear (reverence) My name shall
the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings, and you shall go forth, and
grow up as calves of the stall”. She believed the word of God and she acted upon
the word. She drew her healing out of Jesus, remember that He said “who touched
Me”, and His disciples said that there was a throng touching Him, but she touched
Him with faith.
Paul pressed for the mark of the prize (Philippians 3:8-15), which says “Yea,
brethren, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them,
but dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in Him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His
death. If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I
had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count
not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind, and reaching forth to 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 be otherwise minded. God
shall reveal even this to you”.
We have a blood brought covenant rarified by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:6), which
says “But now has He (Jesus) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also
He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better
promises”. And we are entitled to the promises of God (Galatians 3:29) “and if you
be Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”.
The promises are there and we are entitled to them, but we have to set our mark and
dig in and find God’s promises in His word, than we will overcome in our lives. Jesus
said “if you continue in My word, then are you My disciple indeed. And you shall
know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. The Bible says “for all the
promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us” (II
Corinthians 1:20). I know that you have heard people say that God sometimes says
yes, no or later, but let’s read that scripture again; “for all the promises of God in Him
are yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us”.
Hebrews 6:11-14 says “and we desire that every one of you do show the same
diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end. That you be not slothful, but
followers of them who though faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God
made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swear by
Himself. Saying, surely blessing, I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you”.
Under the Old Testament we read how they were blessed (Deuteronomy 28:1-14),
verses 2-6 says “and all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you if you
shall hearken to the voice of the Lord Yahweh your God. Blessed shall you be in the
city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body,
and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your kine, and
the flocks of your sheep. Blessed shall be your basket and your store. Blessed shall
you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out”. And we have
a better covenant.
Set your mark on a relationship with God instead of a mere religion. A lot of people
know about God, but few have entered into a true relationship with Him. The Bible
tells us to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you “ (James 4:7-8a). This
indicates that we have to make the first move.
Religion is man’s attempt in trying to reach a holy God, but a relationship is God
reaching down to man with a loving heart and all we need to do is to accept it, by
reaching up. We are called the bride of Christ, therefore we are to become one with
Him (John 17:21.23) which says “that they all may be one; as You Father, are in Me,
and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You
have sent Me. I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and
that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have
loved Me”.
We have to set our mark to doing all things to the glory of God (Colossians 3:15-17)
“let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one
body, and be you thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father in
Him”. When you remember that God says that He will never leave us or forsake us,
actually you are taking Him everywhere you go. Let us take that to heart, and be
conscience of what we do.
Paul writes in Romans 6:11-16, he says “likewise reckon you also yourselves to be
dead indeed to sin; but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield you our members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield
yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for
you are not under the law; but under grace. What then? Shall we sin; because we
are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom
you yield yourselves servants to obey his servants you are to whom you obey;
whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 17 2009
God told Joshua the way to succeed (Joshua 1-8-9) which says “This book of the law
shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate, therein day and night, that
you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then you shall make
your way prosperous and then you shall have good success. Have not I commanded
you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed, for
the Lord Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go”.
The same principles that God told Joshua applies to us today. The word of God
should be continuing to come out of our mouths. Speaking what God says;
remember we have to return God’s word to Him (Isaiah 55:11) God said “so shall My
word be that goes forth out of My mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please; and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.
The power is released when we return His word to Him, otherwise a Bible left on the
table will not release any of the promises in it. Psalms 37:37 says “mark the perfect
man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace”. Jesus only spoke
what He heard the Father say.
We have to aim high; David writes in Psalms 17:15, he says “as for me, I will behold
Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake with Your likeness”. In
Ephesians 3:20 the Bible says “now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask, or think, according to the power that works in us”. God is
willing and able to bless us, but it is up to us to ask for and think big things.
We are to set our eyes on things above, the Bible says in (Colossians 3:1-3) “if you
then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the
right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. For
you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God”. So let us set our eyes on the
word of God (Proverbs 4:20-23) “My son, attend to my words, incline your ear to my
sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes, keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart
with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life”.
Let us look at the woman with the issue of blood, she pressed through (Mark 5:25-
29), which says “and a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years.
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had,
and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. When she had heard of Jesus,
came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, if I may touch but
His clothes, I shall be whole. And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up,
and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague”. She set her mind on
the word of God (Malachi 4:2), says “but to you that fear (reverence) My name shall
the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings, and you shall go forth, and
grow up as calves of the stall”. She believed the word of God and she acted upon
the word. She drew her healing out of Jesus, remember that He said “who touched
Me”, and His disciples said that there was a throng touching Him, but she touched
Him with faith.
Paul pressed for the mark of the prize (Philippians 3:8-15), which says “Yea,
brethren, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them,
but dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in Him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His
death. If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I
had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count
not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind, and reaching forth to 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 be otherwise minded. God
shall reveal even this to you”.
We have a blood brought covenant rarified by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:6), which
says “But now has He (Jesus) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also
He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better
promises”. And we are entitled to the promises of God (Galatians 3:29) “and if you
be Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”.
The promises are there and we are entitled to them, but we have to set our mark and
dig in and find God’s promises in His word, than we will overcome in our lives. Jesus
said “if you continue in My word, then are you My disciple indeed. And you shall
know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. The Bible says “for all the
promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us” (II
Corinthians 1:20). I know that you have heard people say that God sometimes says
yes, no or later, but let’s read that scripture again; “for all the promises of God in Him
are yea, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us”.
Hebrews 6:11-14 says “and we desire that every one of you do show the same
diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end. That you be not slothful, but
followers of them who though faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God
made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swear by
Himself. Saying, surely blessing, I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you”.
Under the Old Testament we read how they were blessed (Deuteronomy 28:1-14),
verses 2-6 says “and all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you if you
shall hearken to the voice of the Lord Yahweh your God. Blessed shall you be in the
city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body,
and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your kine, and
the flocks of your sheep. Blessed shall be your basket and your store. Blessed shall
you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out”. And we have
a better covenant.
Set your mark on a relationship with God instead of a mere religion. A lot of people
know about God, but few have entered into a true relationship with Him. The Bible
tells us to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you “ (James 4:7-8a). This
indicates that we have to make the first move.
Religion is man’s attempt in trying to reach a holy God, but a relationship is God
reaching down to man with a loving heart and all we need to do is to accept it, by
reaching up. We are called the bride of Christ, therefore we are to become one with
Him (John 17:21.23) which says “that they all may be one; as You Father, are in Me,
and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You
have sent Me. I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and
that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have
loved Me”.
We have to set our mark to doing all things to the glory of God (Colossians 3:15-17)
“let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one
body, and be you thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father in
Him”. When you remember that God says that He will never leave us or forsake us,
actually you are taking Him everywhere you go. Let us take that to heart, and be
conscience of what we do.
Paul writes in Romans 6:11-16, he says “likewise reckon you also yourselves to be
dead indeed to sin; but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield you our members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield
yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for
you are not under the law; but under grace. What then? Shall we sin; because we
are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom
you yield yourselves servants to obey his servants you are to whom you obey;
whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 17 2009
