A MESSAGE From the Men & Boys - Fathers/Sons retreat at Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, AZ 6.12.2021

This is one of three short exhorations given at the Men/Boys - Fathers/Sons retreat at Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, AZ 6.12.2021.

MENS/YOUNG MENS MT. LEMMON Retreat

 A GUARANTEE of GOD According to TRUTH and HOPE

COLOSSIANS 1:3-5 
 3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 

RUNNING THE RACE OF THIS SINGLE LIFE TIME

"Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest of these are 'It might have been'."

This life is a testing ground, and for the saints, it's a race - how well we run will depend on our source of strength; either in our own strength, or by renewing (literally 'exchanging') our strength for the LORD's own (ISAIAH 40:31). Those who run well receive the prize (crowns, rewards, etc.).

Paul stated the following:

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; *but we an incorruptible*. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

WHAT’s YOUR PURPOSE?

GOD never does anything without a plan or purpose:

EPHESIANS 3:11-13
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Even before He said, “Let there be light”, He had a plan. We Christians know this plan revolves around the Person of Jesus Christ in accordance with the Holy Scriptures (PSALM 40:7). His plan includes His calling, His purpose for your life!

Jot these down to look up later: ROM 8:28; 9:11; EPH 1:11; 2 TIM 1:9

The LORD Jesus Christ understood that in just three of the thirty three years He lived on Earth, those final years, He would fulfill the Father’s Grand Purpose (JOHN 17:4).

It all built up to the moment when He was on that Cross (MATT 26:53-56; JOHN 3:14; 12:32), died for our sins, dealt the death blow to the kingdom of darkness (EPH 3:10; COL 2:15; 1 COR 15:25-27) when He rose from the dead (1 COR 15:4) and potentially altered the course of doomed humanity from certain, eternal damnation to the adoption by GOD as His children (EPH 1:5-7)!

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:30-33 – Manifesting Messianic Manna

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:30-33
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:28-29 – The WORK of GOD

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:28-29
28 Then they said unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of GOD? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of GOD, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:25-27 – FOOD for LIFE

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:25-27
25 And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea they said unto Him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. 27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for Him that GOD the Father sealed.

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:22-24 – SEEKING JESUS

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 6:22-24
22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.