From: Paul Gage
FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
DECEMBER 25, 2020
Merry Christmas to all the Saints around the world,
We have been concentrating for some time on the spiritual disciplines necessary for our spiritual growth and development. Most, if not all, Christians as well as those of the Restoration probably know all we need to know about fasting, praying and studying. We have all the scriptures. We have the instructions, scriptures, commandments from God. What else do we need?
A fellow elder recently had an experience. He had asked the Lord about what can we do now or what should we do now. The answer was basically the same as we find in Luke 11:42 "...and observe to do all things which I have commanded you, ..." In many cases there are advisors, counselors, etc. but when it comes down to the task, someone has to do it. That is called application. If paragraph one is correct, then we need to take what we know and do it. Our neighbors, Saints, friends, or whoever may never see or even know that we fast, pray and study, but do they see the application of those things in our living for the Kingdom?
In 1973, the church published a book entitled, "Concepts of Zion." It was a compilation of about 40 articles, about Zion and there was a wide range of those who wrote articles. Charles R. Hield had an article entitled "Zion-God's Challenge for His Restored Church." One sentence reads, "God's purpose was that the city of Zion might be a light to the world, an ensign to all nations concerning Christ." He also includes a statement by Frederick M. Smith from a 1936 Saints' Herald which says, "The sacrifice of body and mind and means to the work is what is demanded at this hour, an unreserved consecration and devotion to the Cause of Zion, which is the chief function of this church." This calls for the application in our daily lives of the benefits of our fasting, praying, and studying.
Robert Taylor, in an article entitled, "Zion-the Call to Action, reminds us that, "The call of Zion in our day is a call to be where the action is-the action of service. It is a call to share, to serve, to communicate, to implement, to be where the needs are. It is a call to "live out" the gospel. This is the meaning of Incarnation.
Arthur A. Oakman in his article, "The Building of a Celestial People," makes this profound statement, "So then a celestial people would be those who, through their sacrificial lives, sustained the life of others. Zion is the fruitage of the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. When he is incarnate in us, as God was incarnate in him, THEN Zionic conditions will obtain on the earth." This is the application of the results of our spiritual disciplines in our living for the Kingdom of God. Oakman continues, "The life of the church consists in the conviction of those who are sincerely living its teachings."
Jesus, our great example, in the Sermon on the Mount gave us most, if not all, of what we need to help bring forth the Kingdom of God on earth. Read Matthew chapters five and six and go forth each day determined to live for the Kingdom of God, even Zion, as you prepare for Celestial Glory.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.
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