FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 14, 2021

From: Paul Gage

pauljg_64055@yahoo.com

FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 14, 2021
​

FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING

​​FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD\ZION

JANUARY 14, 2021 

Greetings to all the Saints around the world,

 As we each continue our daily journey toward the Kingdom of God/Zion, we know that others before us have also made this journey. As one song states, "We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road, and those who've gone before us line the way. Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace." You can find the song, called, "Find Us faithful" by Steve Green, on the internet.

 Let us "picture" Enoch and Zion cheering us on to the finish line anxious to fall on our necks and kiss us and us them. Though things may look very bleak, at this time, for many reasons, keep in mind that great reunion, and especially meeting our Lord and Savior.

 In the mean time, remember these words from Titus 2:11-14, "For the grace of God which bringeth  salvation to all men, hath appeared; Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." This speaks of our "living for the kingdom of God/Zion." In Doctrine and Covenants 46:9 a,b "...and ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually."

 There is an old saying, "Practice makes perfect."  but that is not true. It is "Perfect practice that makes perfect." We cannot attain Zion and/or Celestial Glory by half-heartedly living on a terrestrial or telestial level. Applying effectively the disciplines of fasting, prayer and study we move closer each day to the kingdom and a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

 The fundamental basic to Celestial Glory is obedience to all God's commandments. Celestial law, if obeyed, leads to changes within persons that in turn, make changes manifest in outward expressions. There is no plan or set of rules which takes persons beyond telestial or terrestrial levels other than Celestial Law. Thus practicing virtue and holiness continually will lead us to the kingdom. The mission of Enoch remains the same for latter-day sons and daughters of God; their mission, our mission, stated in one simple, yet dynamic sentence, "And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and He dwelt in the midst of Zion." Genesis 7:77.

 The task of Celestial Law, is to cause souls to look up and see the higher interpretation of gospel principles so that they may be encouraged to live them in that self-same direction. Onward to Zion, faithful and strong.

 God be with you.

 Paul Gage