Take Hold of That for Which Christ Took Hold of You - Apples of Gold - March 11, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 11, 2009

“Take Hold of That for Which Christ Took Hold of You”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Paul said, “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Now when Paul says that Christ Jesus “took hold” of him, that was an understatement.

Do you recall when Jesus took hold of Paul?  He was on the road to Damascus when a brilliant light shone from heaven and Jesus Himself spoke to him.

Now the question “Why?”  Why did Jesus take hold of Paul?

In Acts 9:15 the Lord said, “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

And there’s more.  In Acts 22 Paul was told, “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth.  You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.”

I’m talking about the Apostle Paul’s specific assignment from God.

And there’s more.  Acts 26 records more of what Jesus told Paul that day on the road to Damascus.  “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you.”

Now I want you to soak up the awesomeness of all that.  God told Paul that he would see Jesus and hear words from His mouth.  Jesus said He would show Paul things, and then Paul would pass them along to the rest of us.

That is why Jesus took hold of Paul.

Paul knew that, very clearly.  And that became the focus of his life.  And that’s why he said, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

And now I have a huge question for you.  Why did Jesus take hold of you?

This is important because if you know that, then you know what to focus on.  You can point your life in that direction and press on with all your might.

“How can I know that?” you ask.  “How can I know specifically why Jesus took hold of me?”

Well, for Paul it was easy.  At the point of his conversion, Jesus told him precisely why He was taking hold of him.

And that leads us to this question.  Is that something Jesus did just for Paul, or is it something He does for all of us?

Well I certainly think Paul was unique.  His calling was outstanding.

But the Bible talks about many callings and giftings.  These things are divvied up by Jesus to His people, the church, the body of Christ – us!

And ever since then there are thousands if not millions of testimonies of people whose life was taken hold of by Jesus, and then they discovered why.

I’m currently reading the complete memoirs of Charles Finney.  He talks plainly about his conversion, how Christ took hold of his life.

And then he began preaching.  He knew he was supposed to preach.  He was called to preach. 

His training was as a lawyer, not a preacher.  But when Christ took hold of him he just knew that he was to be a preacher and that’s what he did for the rest of his life.

Now listen.  He didn’t keep dabbling in the law.  He was still offered cases, but he turned them down.  That was not his calling.  That was not why Jesus took hold of him. 

Instead, he pressed on, reaching out to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him.

I look at it like this.  You are a big bundle of potential.  It includes your calling and your gifts.  This is God’s purpose for your life.  And when Christ takes hold of you, it is so you can fulfill this potential.  From that point on, it is your duty to press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of you.

Now some people are saying, “Doug, I have no clue what that is.  I’m nothing special.  I don’t know why Christ took hold of me.  I would press on, but I don’t know what to press on towards.”

First of all, I would recommend you link up with someone more spiritually mature, someone who can mentor you through this process.  They can help you discover God’s purpose for your life.

Second, let me say this.  For many people, including the Apostle Paul and Charles Finney, they knew their purpose from the time of their conversion.  So think back.  Go back to the time when Christ took hold of you.  Could it be that the Lord spoke to you at that time?  Look for the seeds of your calling at the time of your conversion.

And most of all, I recommend that you get alone with God and draw near to Him.  I thoroughly believe He will speak to you as you open yourself up to Him.  Dedicate yourself to prayer and to the Word of God. 

I don’t think God will hide this from you.  You need to get on with your life.  You need to focus your energies.  You need to press on in one direction with all your might.

So if you don’t know already, it’s time to find out.

It’s time to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-