Let’s understand how that God wants to lead us from Profession to Progression and from Progression to Perfection. God, help us all to go from our unbelief into a faith-filled maturity to handle what life brings.
Sermon Notes: https://www.heartofgraceministries.com/blog/after-the-fact/profession-perfection/#.VjYO0NKrTGg
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Profession – “He that saith he abideth in him”
At this stage Satan comes to destroy your thoughts and words that you lose all good things to say about God. Your testimony, encouragement and exhortation will be every now and then if ever.
People in this stage are having to fight against obsession and possession and into growing their confidence in salvation.
Progression – “Ought himself also so to walk”
At this stage Satan comes to take your time, energy and willingness so that you lose all desire to continue and obey or taking action for the glory of the kingdom of God.
People in this stage are are rebuking possible infestation and vexation and growing in their faith by their actions and profession.
Perfection – “Even as he walked”
At this stage Satan begins to attack all that is important to you: family, friends, jobs, possessions, and everything else important to us.
People in this stage are beginning to exorcise their flesh and starting to find balance in life, hope, happiness and devotion to God.
As we pass from Profession to Progression and from Progression to Perfection you can begin to identify where you are in God’s will based on the sorts of things you are enduring.
As we are on our journey with God, there are plenty of moments that attempt to come along and steer you away. There has to begin to be something stirred up from within you to remind you of how powerful that God is inside of you.
So how do I make myself remember? How do I stir up? How do I fight growing numb?
2 Peter 1:12-14
[12] Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
[13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
[14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
What we stir up within keeps us. What keeps us is what defines us. What defines us is what people see!
There are plenty of reasons to make yourself stay stirred up, so that you define yourself in some of the following examples:
Needless to say, this list goes on and on. I have to often remind myself as well as others that we are ALL subject to fall unto something, no matter how strong that we consider ourselves.
Hebrews 10:22-31
[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
[23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
[24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
[26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
[27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
[28] He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
[29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
[30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
[31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
We cannot forget or forsake the fact that assembling ourselves together is a powerful factor when it comes to the spirit of God. If we work together, a church can have an amazing service. On the opposite token, if we work against one another or refuse to make any efforts we will not be in the place that God intended for us to be.
Let us begin to consider one another once more. Let us promote unto good works, or in other words, let us only work on something if it is going to allow growth for the greater good of God in someone’s life. People that are going to be coming in that are in desparate need cannot have us in a place where we will not encourage them. We have to be ready, in and out of season!
We are held accountable for those that come in our midst that do not receive what God had intended due to the lack of obedience of the church. We can get past that if we are always stirred up and fluent in the spirit!