WHEN JESUS RETURNS... JUST HOURS FROM NOW!

"Hey Guys, these are not the LAST DAYS we're in, we are closing in on the FINAL HOURS before Jesus Christ returns. The most important question we can ask, and answer about, our own selves right now is, ARE YOU READY TO BE OFFERED?!!" --Keith, Brenda, and the TTM Team

ARE YOU READY TO BE OFFERED? 

         One of the very last things that Paul said just before he was beheaded was, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)."

           If Jesus Christ returned today could you say that you to have fought a good fight. Can you say that you have fulfilled God's plan or course for your life, have you kept the faith and, with a heart of joyful expectation been awaiting our Lord and King's triumphal return? If not, we encourage you to examine your life and begin preparing to meet our soon coming Lord. Key Bible prophesies predicting the second coming of Jesus Christ are being fulfilled every day now and His appearing could take place at any moment. We pray that He finds you "ready" to be offered!"

           Luke 21:27-28, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

           Because there are so many people today who do not attend a local church or have truly dedicated Christian friends to hang out with Brenda, our Partners and I would like to present you with an opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Also, for those of you who, for whatever reason, have drifted away from Him, we invite you to return home where you belong. Below, we have configured a prayer of salvation that is easy to understand. Now, right where you are, read and repeat out loud each line of this prayer. Giving your whole heart to Jesus Christ is the "most important" and "the best" decision you can and will ever make in your lifetime!"

           Invite Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, right there where you are, by praying this prayer to God, then relax and watch what God does...
... "Dear Father God, in the precious Name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of all lords, I lay my life at Your Feet. I come before You, confessing that I am a sinner, and I ask for You to forgive me of all my sins - those that I know I have committed, as well as those that I am not even aware of.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my Lord. I lay my life, and everything in it, at Your Feet, and ask that You please take me and begin to change me to be like YOU. I ask that You redeem the time that has passed, and allow me the opportunity to become exactly what You have predestined me to be, from before the foundation of the earth. I commit my life to You now, and thank You for receiving me as Your own. In the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, I pray, Amen."  And AMEN!!!

            WELCOME HOME!

            If you have just prayed this prayer, we want to congratulate you for making the greatest decision that you'll ever make! By accepting Jesus Christ, or rededicating your life to Him, as your personal Lord and Savior, you have begun the wonder-full process of being grafted into the family of God, and we welcome you "Home" to God's Family. We would also like to invite you to contact us so that we can send you information that will help you begin growing in your relationship and daily walk with God. We would encourage you to begin attending a Holy-Spirit-filled, Bible-believing church right away.

            We advise you to begin reading The Holy Bible daily, whether you understand it or not. Always remember, God's written Word in The Holy Bible is like no other book that has ever been written! When we rendezvous with The Person of The Holy Spirit as we read what God has written there, it becomes stored in our heart for The Holy Spirit to access it to bring to our remembrance.  You will find that the Scriptures will become applicable to whatever you are going through, at any given time!

            There are wonderful Bible teachers on television and on the radio that can, especially early in your walk with God, help you to begin receiving good teaching, and encouragement, right away. Although very informative, these programs are never to be a substitute for close relationships with people who love and serve God. At times, the transformation process that you have now begun will be difficult, and you will be tempted to go back to your old ways of living your old life. It will be during times like these that hanging out with strong Christian friends and mentors will be crucially important. There really IS strength in numbers!

            CONGRATULATIONS!!! We would like to be among the first to welcome you into the Family of God... right where you "belong", now and always! (Selah)

            And, remember, no matter what, KEEP PRESSIN' IN... learnin', and growin' w-i-t-h our Lord and Savior.  You might consider using our book XII SMOOTH STONES, the special collection of 12 life-changing teaching titles:

No Matter What!	The Magnetic Mantle or Why Cats... Have Kitties;
Fire, Pressure, and Them Slithery... Snakes	The Ultimate Home Gym
Vampires In The Church	STOP...
The Great Deception	The Invisible Man
God Is So Much Bigger Than You Think!	Die Empty!
Building Godly Friendships	The Secret To A Happy Life

          This collection of twelve teachings,
when taken to heart,
will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations...
"XII Smooth Stones"
available at
TowardTheMark online.

We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. If you have any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please  e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

May God bless you greatly as you carry this truth in your heart. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this blog, and all of our resources, possible by their faithful prayer and monthly financial support!

Your friends and servants in Christ,
         

    

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
This blog message, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are also available, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways: 

~  "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook 

~   "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter 

~   "Between The Lines PODCAST" on TTM's Libsyn Channel
     (Podcast) Now Playing: PRESSIN' In... Toward The Mark Minute!

Special Feature...
  

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps, and we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
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Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

           Take me back to the top of this post.

           Take me to "Bring God a Sacrifice of praise" post.

           Take me to "God, why am I here?" post.

           Take me to "Murder by words?" post.

           Take me to "The BEST Fruit on the Limb" post.

           Take me to "We've Got to Let 'Stuff' Go" post.

           Take me to "Don't Take Your Gifts to the Grave" post.

           Take me to "Salvation is Every-Day Life" post.

           Take me to "Emergency Warning to Professing Witches" post.

           Take me to "Passionate Pursuit of Singleness" post.

           Take me to "We'll Miss You, Dad Shealy" post.

           Take me to "75 Years Ago: Pearl Harbor & Fleet Admiral Nimitz" post.

           Take me to "Our Military Vets Out of Sight...Out of Mind?" post.

           Take me to "Where to RUN When Trials Come" post.

           Take me to "Caught Up With Jesus" post.

           Take me to "True Leaders Speak Life" post.

           Take me to "Greatest Hindrance to Significance" post.

           Take me to Keith's MINI-Series of *Keep the FAITH* book, Chapter TWO.

           Take me to "Rattlesnake Revelation" post.

           Take me to "Gold Star Families Gave ALL" post.

           Take me to "Love of GOD" post.

           Take me to "My Broken Vessel's Fiery Trials" post.

           Take me back to "Magnetic Mantle...Why Cats Should Have Kitties".

           Take me to "Run TO the Roar!" post.

           Take me to "Overcoming Intimidation" post.

           Take me to "The Heart of Thanksgiving" post.

           Take me to "The Invisible Man" post.

           Take me to "The Abomination of Misrepresentation" post.

           Take me to "Living Among Thorns" post.

           Take me to Keith's Journey through Chapter ONE of *Keep the FAITH*.

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2017 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply | Visit TowardTheMark.com |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail

"See flipcard titles"

Milestone Celebration -- 35 Yrs Ago Today!

Proverbs 20:6, "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"

It was 35 years ago TODAY!  Celebrating a personal milestone of faith and the life-changing legacy of model leaders in the spirit.  We hope our blog today will help restore and grow your faith in those who are not just saying they love God and people, but are making it easy to clearly see by looking at the fruit their life bears.  As you read, you will witness a demonstration of the most incredible moments on this earth - when two people live their lives to give to and serve God and others... completely and unselfishly!  Knowing how crucial it is to have strong spiritual leaders who stand up as role models, who faithfully help lead us out of our old flesh nature, and who help guide us into the loving arms of God and fulfillment of His purpose for us in His Kingdom, Paul teaches, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
Yours in Christ, Keith (and Brenda)

The term  "One-in-a-Million" best describes the profoundly anointed lives and ministry of Pastors Clay and Dee Davis, true Heroes of the Faith.  In an age where we are seeing an ever-increasing shift away from God's biblical example for the Pastoral ministry, it is beyond refreshing to know these wonderfully successful shepherds of God's flock.  With nearly thirty-eight years in the ministry, since 1977, they have effectively reached thousands of people with the  love of Christ.  Their compassion and selfless sacrifices toward everyone that God has placed in their path has literally been second to none.  I know this to be true; I am one of those people.

In 1979, I was just wrapping up a two-year road tour with the first British Christian rock group to come to America, The Alwyn Wall Band.  As we would travel from city to city, I had the privilege of meeting and working with many pastors and their ministry teams.  As our tour was drawing to a close, I found myself desiring more of a relationship with a solid, steady Church family.  I had visited the Davis's church on the coast of North Carolina just a year or so earlier, and I could tell from the beginning of, and all throughout, my visit that there was something different about them.  They genuinely loved people in a way that I had only witnessed a few times before.  When I stood with them, I felt like I was "at home".

As the result of my working with so many pastors over my years of touring, mixed with my hunger to grow in my knowledge of God's written Word, I began to develop the ability to recognize whether a pastor is truly called of God to be a shepherd over His flock, or not.  In my experience, I have found that, of the countless thousands of those who occupy the role of pastor over a congregation, there are a rare few who have God's heart for His people AND who truly share God's passion to see those in his care raised up to fulfill, with God, the plan and purpose God created in them before the foundation of the earth.  From the very moment when I was privileged to meet this anointed couple, The Holy Spirit revealed that I was indeed in the presence of a pastoral team who was truly ordained and anointed by God to care for His Children.  I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they truly love God and His people with a tremendous passion!

Just today, as I was reflecting on the new year of 2015 coming tomorrow, it donned on me that, on this New Year's Eve 35 years ago, December 31st, 1979, I stood at a very important crossroads in my life and ministry.  Just weeks prior to this memorable occasion, I received two unique and incredible invitations, simultaneously, offering me opportunities to go out on another Christian rock music tour.  The first offer I received was from Dana Key of the group "DeGarmo and Key", and the other was from Jerry Chamberlain of the group "Daniel Amos".  Both bands were very successful and well-known as contemporary Christian rock groups.  Wow!  I was overjoyed to get just one great offer, but now I had to decide between two great offers, both from really outstanding bands!  What do I do?  

The real dilemma can be summed up with this one question, "Do I take the well-travelled road I was familiar with, and go back out on tour where I know I'm comfortable and enjoy ongoing accolades that come with the rock-and-roll band lifestyle; or do I take a huge leap of faith and believe God to fill my desire to homestead with the NC Church Family?  This time of year for a fresh move to the coast of NC couldn't have been worse for finding, both, a place to live and a 9-to-5 job!  Being the middle of the winter, the coast of NC would be all-but boarded-up until it came summer-time again, bringing resort-goers from local areas and out-of-town.  Truth is, I knew in my heart the way I needed to go - to put down my roots in a good Church family and prepare for an even more fruitful ministry in the coming years.  So, from my hotel room in Charlotte, NC, I called Pastor Clay to ask if he would pray with me concerning this decision I had to make.  He greeted the opportunity with open arms.  I shared with him how I had learned, first-hand, that, without the individual people in the local church bodies becoming engaged in raising up and nurturing newly-committed believers, like those we led to the Lord through our concerts, there was a terrible disservice being done in the lives of those new believers.  Once I finished pouring out my sorrow and concern for the new recruits too often being left to fend for themselves after we led them to Christ, and once I shared with him my new-found options for my next season of ministry, Pastor Clay paused briefly.  Then, with all the love of a gentle Papa, he said, "Brother Keith, come on home!"

At that, I packed up my things, gassed up the car, and drove seven hours to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where Pastors Clay and Dee Davis led a vibrant and steadily growing congregation.  It wouldn't be long until I would discover how the conversation we had that New Year's Eve was going to profoundly change my life and ministry forever!

I didn't waste any time learning all about the spirit-filled Davis couple!  I have to say that their journey in the past, and the journey of each day in our new ministry together, was incredible and curious as only God could work out, being our Source and Supply!

The majority of the Davis's ministry has been in the eastern part of the country.  However, they actually both got their start growing up in the west.  Clay Davis was born in Livingston, Montana and was raised working on his family's ranch.  Dee Oslund was born in Spokane, WA and worked with Civil Defense throughout her high school years.  Clay joined the U. S. Air Force in 1951, taking technical training courses on Aircraft Engine Maintenance at the University of Southern California.  After being on a ground crew for maintaining B-29's in Denver, he transferred to Chanute AFB, IL where he trained airmen on B-29 and B-50 propeller engines.  Further into his 10 years of active duty service, he became a technical school instructor teaching airmen how to maintain jet engines on B-36s and B-52s.

During his active duty tours of service, Clay attended The University of Southern California, University of Illinois, San Jose State College, Wake Forest University and the USAF College Institute.

Airman Clay Davis met Miss Dee Oslund in Spokane, WA in 1953.  He was vacationing at the same area lake resort where she was with her family on vacation at the same time.  This is where it really gets  good!  The way they met is definitely one of the most unique hookups that I've ever heard of!  While Airman Davis was enjoying a swim with his buddies one day, he began to get cramps and lost control of his limbs.  He began to drown.  At the time that this was happening, Dee was sun-bathing on the dock and noticed that Clay went under the water, but did not come back up.  Realizing he was potentially about to drown, she ran to a nearby boat, jumped on board, and quickly made her way out to save him.  She dove into the water after him, searched under water until she found him by grabbing his hair, and pulled him up and out to safety.  She literally saved his life that day.  What a catch!  Little did they know that the events of that day were not only a divine appointment, but also marked the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship.  They were married in September 1954 and haven't looked back since.

In 1961, Clay left the USAF to go to work for IBM in Atlanta, GA.  There he would come to be promoted to Field Manager for the Norfolk, VA office.  Though the IBM office was in Norfolk, Clay and Dee chose to live in Virginia Beach, only a few miles from the Rock Church of Virginia Beach.

While still working a full-time job with IBM, Clay became increasingly involved in the ministry at the Rock Church.  At first, Clay was primarily responsible to oversee the construction program for the church's new state-of-the-art facility being built in the early '70s.  In 1977, after the obvious leading of the Holy Spirit, Clay resigned his position with IBM so he could go to work at the church on a full-time basis as their Business Manager.  Sister Dee soon resigned from her position where she had been working with Virginia National Bank, so she could begin to manage the church's new bookstore.  She soon found herself involved with speaking prophetically into the lives of the store's patrons.  She soon became "Momma" to everyone in the church building.

Recognizing God's obvious touch on both of their lives, their pastor, Bishop John Gimenez, approached them about becoming the pastors of the first satellite Rock Church.

Toward the end of 1977, they moved to Colington, NC where they would accomplish an amazing number of  feats in just four years of serving there.  They started an accredited Bible Institute, a Christian Academy (K-4 through 12th grade), a wonderfully successful clothing and food distribution ministry, built a beautiful new worship center complete with offices and classrooms, built a parsonage, and the list goes on.  Besides their accomplishing all of those things, they did them without ever going into debt.

As great as these accomplishments were, they can't even begin to be compared to the hundreds of lives that God was able to profoundly save and raise up through their ministry.  Sister Dee, while deeply involved with every aspect of their work, somehow found the time to counsel folks on a regular basis, head up the hospitality ministry, serve as the church's secretary, be a model wife, and be a model mother to four very active children.

One Sunday morning after service, I remember the first big miracle that I had ever witnessed taking place in their home.  As was a custom of Sister Dee's, she invited a large number of people from church to come to their home for lunch after Sunday service.  This one particular afternoon, as we arrived at their home, I made my way into the kitchen to offer my help.  Without hesitating, Sister Dee handed me a bowl of vegetables and ask if I would help set the table.  As I looked at the food that she had prepared, I glanced in the dining room at the number of people there that she had invited, and I couldn't help but notice the fact that we were going to have a five loaves and two fishes situation on our hands.  As Sister Dee began serving what was obviously not enough food to feed everyone, I began to notice something remarkable.  The amount of food seemed to mysteriously multiply!  By the time we left that afternoon, not only did every one of us wind up with plenty of food on our plates and have a full tummy, but we noticed that there was, somehow, plenty of food left over as well!  Everyone not only left the Davis home that day with their fill, but was thoroughly amazed at what they saw God do through these precious saints.  The more that I have had the privilege of walking with them as the wonderful, remarkable servants they are, the more obvious it has become that these kinds of things are pretty-much common-place in their lives.

From 1982 to 1985, Pastors Clay and Dee founded Proclaim Christian Center and Haven Home for Girls in Winston-Salem, NC.  While in Winston Salem, Pastor Clay served on the Governor's Task Force to rewrite the maternity laws for NC.

The home for unwed pregnant girls went on to do great things in the lives of many young women!  Under their loving supervision, at last count, 55 beautiful babies were brought into the world through their Haven Home for Girls.

Their endless sacrifice and ministry in Winston-Salem have shaped the lives of many young men and women who serve in both part-time and full-time ministry today.  Through their lives, they produced a Godly heritage that continue to reach many people for Christ.  Pastor Clay would go on to enact vital guidelines for "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" in both NC and VA.  Those guidelines have vastly improved the way those facilities operate.  What a bountiful harvest!

In the spring of 1985, Pastor Clay and Sister Dee were asked by Pastors Arlie and Jerri Whitlow to come and join them, as co-pastors, in their new church plant in Sterling, Virginia.  Pastor Clay and Dee then turned the Winston-Salem work over to Pastors Phil & Kathy Dowdy, moved to Sterling, rolled up their sleeves, and went right to work.  Their dedication and expertise played a key role in the church's reaching, and even exceeding, its goals in much less time that ever expected.  Once again, God flowed through them to impact countless lives.  From those tremendously effective years in Sterling, right through to the present times, these humble servants continually touch many others.  Despite both of their recently mounding physical challenges, Pastor Clay and Sister Dee never cease to gird themselves with the towel of loving service, and carry out assistance to whomever God brings their way.

Pastors Clay & Dee Davis now reside in the northern VA area where they are close to two of their four children.  Although they are retired from full-time pastoral ministry, they continue to regularly have the opportunity to mentor young pastors and other church leaders.

Would that the Church of Jesus Christ have more pastors like Clay & Dee Davis!  Over the past 35 years, these precious servants of God have richly bless my life in a most profound, wonderful way!

With the close of 2014 upon us, would you prayerfully consider including Toward The Mark in your end-of-year giving? Your gifts are tax-deductible, and every gift helps.  Best of all, when you partner with us by regular monthly contributions, you help encourage the 6,220+ people who take part in this ministry's resources every month (on average).  You certainly encourage us by sharing the vision and passion of TTM - to make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached. Thank you in advance for your ongoing or new sponsorship and support!

Tax-deductible Contributions.

Email questions or mail check payable to TTM, Inc. to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152

For more Scripture-based truths to help as you Press Toward "one-ness" with The Heavenly Father, check what else we have available:

~"Toward The Mark's Wisdom-Packed Wednesdays" Facebook page;
~Keith's "Between The Lines" Podcast channel;
~"Sharing with you the Secrets God Whispers" monthly web messages; and
~"TTMSingingSgt" on Twitter.

PLEASE... Stop Stinkin'!

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." Ephesians 5:2

Are you aware that everything we do or say in life, like rising smoke from a campfire, either goes up before the throne of Almighty God as a sweet smelling fragrance or a putrid stench?  Paul, commending the saints in Philippi for their obedience to the things of God, wrote,

"For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God."  (Philippians 4:16-19)

Paul made reference again to a sweet smell when he was encouraging the Ephesians to love others in the same way that Jesus does.  He said, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. (Ephesians 5:2)  Can this be said of you?  Does the smoke from your life that continuously rises up before the throne of Almighty God put a smile on His face or does it turn His stomach?  If the latter is the case, I have a message for you straight from God Himself,  "Please... Stop Stinkin'!"

Sadly enough, each of us at some point in our lives has been exposed to someone that, how shall I say this, just outright stunk!  Whether in school, at work or somewhere else, most of us can recall having had suffered the discomforts of being subjected to the likes of the hygienically challenged.  The fact is, if we do not daily apply the necessary time and effort needed to maintaining physical cleanliness in our lives then we will inevitably offend the vast majority of those that we come in contact with, especially those who practice good personal hygiene themselves.  The same can be said of our spiritual lives.  Paul, emphasizing the utter importance of purity in his instruction of  the men of Ephesus on how they should treat their wives said,

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27)

As I read this scripture, I was drawn to the word blemish or blemished especially since it is something that we are not to be if our lives are to give off a sweet smell.  I grabbed my trusty old dictionary and started digging.  As I read through the various descriptions of the word blemished I discovered something rather interesting.  As one of its definitions I found the word soiled.  I then looked up the word soiled and found as one of its definitions the word sully.  Having never heard the word sully used in any conversation that I have ever been a part of, I almost ignored it.  Curious about its meaning, I went ahead and looked it up as well.  I was glad that I did!  I found that the very first definition of sully was, To soil; to dirt; to spot; to tarnish. Sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.  I was immediately draw to the term sacrilegious smoke especially since it ties so well into the context of our letter.

What is sacrilegious smoke?  Since we all pretty much know what smoke is I once again referred to the pages of my trusty dictionary to see what it had to say about the word sacrilegious.  It simply said, The violation of sacred things.  So then, keeping in context with the first paragraph of our letter it would stand to reason that sacrilegious smoke would in fact be something that smells terribly offensive to God.  Now, if the violation of sacred things (meaning disobedience to God's Word) is displeasing to Him, then what would it take to please God?  That's simple, obedience to His word and His word alone!  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:19-20)  Throughout all of scripture obedience to God's word has been the key to bringing joy to His heart!

In keeping with the tradition of this study thus far, let's take a look at the word "obedience."  In that same dictionary, "obedience" is defined as "submissive to authority; yielding compliance with commands, orders or injunctions; performing what is required, or abstaining from what is forbidden."  Question: how can we be submissive to authority if we do not invest the necessary time and effort to familiarize ourselves with the will of the One in authority? Paul teaches us,

"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God." (Colossians 3:22)

How can we truly obey a master that we are not familiar with?  It is simply not possible if we do not have an intimate knowledge of both our Master  and his commands!  The same is true where our relationship with Jesus is concerned!  John teaches us,

"He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) 

It is not enough to say we love Jesus.  We must show our love by keeping His commandments.  Jesus said,

"He that hath My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. (John 14:21)

In order to become pleasing to Him we must first, love Him with our whole heart and secondly, fall passionately in love with His  Word as well as regularly studying the scriptures and putting them in to practice in our everyday life! This must be our way of life! James wrote,

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.  But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:22-25)

You see, doers of the word will be pleasing to God because their lives will, by nature, give off smoke that rises up before His throne as a pleasingly sweet smelling fragrance.  On the other hand,  being a hearer of  God's written word alone and not a doer of it will generate from one's life the "sacrilegious smoke" or putrid odor that we mentioned a moment ago.  Paul said, "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." (Romans 2:13)   Disobedience to God's word fuels the fire that produces sacrilegious smoke or an offensive odor from our lives.

Now, let's take this a step further up and further in!  What is the word of God?  Whenever I  ask or have asked this question in various group settings, except for the very few who truly understand, the response is always the same.  They raise their Bibles in the air and shout, "THIS is God's Word!"  As true as that is however, it still falls short of God's original purpose for gifting us with the scriptures to begin with.  God's written word was never intended to be an end in and of itself, but a means to an end!  That end being our intimate relationship with Him.  Paul said in his letter to the Romans, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Just as Paul told his disciples, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1), we are to follow this same example where the written word or the scriptures are concerned. 

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

In other words, as we are faithful to meditate on the written word of God, the time will eventually come when we will enter the place where we will actually hear the Spoken word or Voice of God.  This is where the fullness of life really begins!  You see, it's really very simple, reading the written word of God prepares us to recognize and hear the voice of God!  This is what Matthew meant when he said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God'." (Matthew 4:4)  The primary reason that much of the Church is in the impotent condition that it finds itself in today is because so few of her members have realized that the written word of God is simply the doorway into our being able to recognize and hear the spoken word, or voice of God Himself.  This enables us to possess the most valuable prize of all, a close and intimate relationship with the true and living God!

Do you see why it is so important that we learn and obey the written word?  Because it lays the groundwork for our being able to hear God when He speaks to us.  It is only by His Spoken word or voice that we can receive His anointing and leading into all good things.  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)  Sure, a life lived solely by the written word of God will by nature be beneficial to anyone who lives by it.  But if we want the abundant life that Jesus came to provide, we must diligently seek Him with our whole heart, listen for and obey His every word!  "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)  We must know His voice!  Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)  Those who hear and obey the voice of God will always send up a sweet-smelling savor that will bring pleasure to the heart of our wonderful King!

I would like to point out that the power that is contained in God's voice is the most wonder-filled power, period!  So much so that there are no words that can even begin to adequately describe it.  I believe if you were to ask David just how accurate his description of God's voice was in the 29 chapter of Psalms he would probably tell you that he wrote it down in the best way he knew how.  And I'm also pretty sure that he would follow that statement up with, Truthfully, it cannot be done, God's voice cannot be described with words!  Keeping that in mind, read how he tried to described it, The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

"The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; yea, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the hinds to calve, and discovers the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory." (Psalms 29:4-9)

Don't forget, it was that same Awesome Voice that has spoken everything that ever was, and will speak everything that ever will be, into existence -- *Stay tuned!*  And you be sweet now, ya hear?!

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We would like to invite you to check out these additional Scripture-based resources made available by the faithful support team family of Toward the Mark, Inc.:
~ Keith's "Between The Lines"Podcast on LibSyn;

~ Brenda's TTMSingingSgt on Twitter; and

~ Featured Scripture Messages each month on our website.

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