Good morning strong ones!
I love the word PURSUE! Doesn’t it give you a burst of energy just thinking about it?
The word, “PURSUE” means to chase, follow, go after, make a continuing effort to overtake, reach or attain.
In 1 Timothy 6:11, we’re told what TO PURSUE,
- 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things (verses 9-10) and PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
I would like to show you HOW to go about PURSUING these things:
First, do a word search on these words; find where they are located in the bible because God’s Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89) and God will never alter the Word that has gone our out His mouth (Psalm 89:34). Plus, remember that God has magnified His Word above His Name (Psalm 138:2).
Second, believe that righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness are already dwelling in you. You just have to make a continuing effort to go after them and apply them in your lives, deliberately!
Third, decide that these are God’s will for your life. God’s Word IS His will and if you see it in the Word, it’s God’s will for your life.
Forth, ask God to cause these things to be a part of your life. We’re encouraged in John 14:13-14 and First John 5:14-15 to ask anything (according to His Word), in Jesus’ Name, and it WILL be given to you. The Father is glorified in this.
Fifth, meditate on these promises daily (Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 4:20-23).
Sixth, begin to operate in these, by faith. We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that it’s impossible to please God without faith. In Matthew 22:37-40, we are told to LOVE the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Hebrews 6:12 tells us to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. And James 1:2-4 tells us to employ patience so that we will become perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Seventh, begin to confess these in your life. I think the concept of “confession” has gotten a bad rap. This is how we got saved, according to Romans 10:9,10.
Eighth, call these things into your life [even if they’re not there yet]. According to Romans 4:17-22, Abraham believed the promise of God and didn’t consider anything else. It says, “Against hope, he believed in hope.”
Ninth, don’t speak anything contrary to these things . According to Proverbs 6:2, we are snared by the words of our mouth and that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
Tenth, believe that you have already received righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness into your born-again, recreated spirit.
Eleventh, forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against. Forgive those who have wronged you, according to Mark 11:25.
Twelveth, live in the fear of the Lord. The fear of God is to refuse to do anything that displeases Him Proverbs 19:23 says, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil. Also, according to Psalm 34:7 and 9, the angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them…There is no want to those who fear him.
Thirteenth, be consistent and persistent in these things, like the importune woman in Luke 18.
Lastly, PURSUE these things through prayer, fasting and obedience.
Remember:
- You have been made the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- GODLINESS is of value in every way, as it holds promise for our present life and also for the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).
- We have been saved by grace, through FAITH (Ephesians 2:8).
- The LOVE of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
- Love is PATIENT (1 Corinthians 13:4)
- 1 Peter 3:4 tells us that a GENTLE and quiet spirit is very precious in the sight of God.
Also remember that the fruit of the spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and self-control. They are in you, just waiting to come out!
You are beautiful and precious to God and to me,
Lisa Gordon
Gordon Ministries