Friday, June 19, 2020

Francis Harper Message for 6/19/2020

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Francis Harper


Francis Harper Message for 6/19/2020

“This One Thing I Do . . .”
(Philippians 3:13-14).
 
            “. . . 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).

            “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). He was not deterred by his knowledge of that which awaited him there.

            We need to have the word FOCUS imprinted upon our minds and beware of all of the distractions and attractions of the world that may cause us to drift off the pathway to the kingdom. I will never forget my first flight to Europe, how after flying through many hours of darkness, at sunrise, our plane landed safely, on a small island in the Azores. I wondered how our pilot had located such a small island in such a big ocean? I thought of how any deviation along our flight path, if it had not been corrected, we would have missed the tiny island by many miles.

            We need to keep our eyes singled [focused] on the purposes of God in our lives. “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you, and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore sanctify yourselves that your eyes be single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him: for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will” (Doctrine and Covenants 85:18-a-b).



           Jesus had much to say about staying focused on the GOAL and remaining faithful until it is reached. He also demonstrated it. He could say: “It  is finished” (John 19:30). He cautioned those who hastily made commitments to follow him without counting the cost of discipleship.        “. . . a certain man said unto him, Lord, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not    where to lay his head” (Luke 9:57-58).

            At another time Jesus said: “Settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which      I shall teach, and command you” (Luke 14:28). Jesus was saying, in other words, before you make a commitment to keep all of my teachings and commandments, take some time to think about it. Count the cost of discipleship. Ask yourself; will I be able to be his disciple, relying upon the Lord’s assistance and the support of other dedicated followers of Christ? 

            “For which of you intending to build a tower, setteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have money to finish his work? Lest unhappily after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish his work, all who behold, begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. And this he said, signifying there should not any man follow him, unless he was able to continue” (Luke 14L29-31).

            Nearly all of us are guilty of putting secondary things first in our lives. One said to Jesus, “Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62). Who then can say, I am fit for the kingdom of God?
 
 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Dear Ones,
 
            Far too many of those who enter the waters of baptism do not keep their baptismal covenant which is to “come with broken hearts and contrite spirits, witnessing before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins . . .” (Doctrine and Covenants 17:7).

            Nephi described the covenant of baptism in these words: “My beloved brethren [and sisters] I know that if ye shall follow the Son with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ by baptism: yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 13:16).

            Nephi warned: “But behold, my beloved brethren [and sisters], thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying, After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments by baptism . . . and after this should deny me [in word or deed], it would have been better for you, that ye had not known me (2 Nephi 13:18).

            Then he added: I know this, that unless a man [or woman] shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved” (2 Nephi 13:21). See also Mark 13:13.

            Nephi continued: “And now my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far, save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save; Wherefore ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men [black, white or brown]. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 13:27-30).

            Dear Ones, I fear that in our eagerness to add to the membership of our Restoration Branches we may have failed to sufficiently warn, those we have baptized, of the consequences of not faithfully keeping their baptismal covenant to the end of their lives.

            Likewise, those who accept a call to priesthood, should be warned: “Therefore all those who receive the priesthood receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved; but whoso breaketh this covenant, after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 85:6-g-h).

            Please join me, even now, in the presence of God and each other; “This one thing I do . . . I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Amen
 
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
  




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