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For the Prize of the Upward Call

(Php3:1-16)

Our God is on high (Job31:28).

He is seated on the throne (Rev22:1),

He is in the heaven above heavens (2Ch6:21), and

He possesses the surpassing knowledge, the truth.

Faith is believing and adoring Him, and

The life of this faith is pressing on for the prize of the upward call.

When one acknowledges "the one above, he knows himself as "the lowly ”

Thus only natural to say, "What do I know? Just say the word."

Adam, the ancestor of mankind, sinned (Ge3:4-6) because

He was deceived by the devil, the corrupted angel who

Attempted to ascend to heaven, above the stars of God,

To sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north

But was cast down to Sheol (Is14:12-15) ” that is,

Beneath the highest heaven, the expanse, the universe (Ge1:6, 18; Pr15:24; Is14:9).

Nevertheless, God began His work of calling out from Sheol by

Rewarding those who respond to His calling.

While Adam hid after he sinned, when God called he responded and was

Clothed in the garment of skin (Ge3:9-10, 21).

When Abraham heard God's calling, he responded and received

The promise of many descendants and the land of Canaan (Ge22:17-18).

Furthermore, God led the Israelites to worship Him

On the mount where Moses was called (Ex3:4, 12).

The sanctuary where the name of Jehovah was

Reminded them that they were the people of God called out from Egypt (Is43:1).

Yeshua appeared and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days" (Jn2:19),

Because through the death and the resurrection of temple of His body,

He would give a new reward of the kingdom of heaven to

Those who are born above (Jn3:3-6) for

He is from above while men are from below (Jn8:23) and

He is the incarnate Word who came by water and blood (Jn1:1, 14; 1Jn5:5-8)

As He died, He said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed that the Father alone is eternally above (Php2:6-11);
2) By dying like the lowly condemned the devil who attempted to ascend above (1Jn3:8); and
3) By redeeming the sins of men made a way for them to receive the upward call and ascend above (Mt20:28).

The Father raised Him up and

Yeshua was taken up into heaven (Ac1:11).

From there the Holy Spirit came to

Those who received the name Yeshua and

Lets them know that Yeshua and His word are the Truth and

Also that they are lowly.

The man of the Spirit puts effort to

Destroy any argument, knowledge or thought that

Sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2Co10:3-5) for

He believes in the promised prize of the upward call from

The Lord Yeshua when He returns and

Longs to finally be taken up into the heaven above.

O Lord,

Since we will have to leave everything behind one day,

Let us not live just looking downward but

Look upward! Amen.