I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil.

3:14)

Volume 13, Episode II

February 2012

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Pressing on towards the GOAL

Every where I turn and ask people to set their minds on becoming mature disciples of Christ, I receive a typical answer: Brother Valy, I would love tobut I dont have time, besides, its too hard. I am telling youthis breaks my heart. How come Christians dont have time to prepare for what they have been destined for becoming like Christ, before the foundation of the world??? Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him (Eph. 1:4). This puzzles me a great deal! It is clear to me that we are facing a spirit of blindness which tries to cover the eyes of many believers through immaturity and ignorance (2 Cor. 4:4). This leads to not pursuing the heavenly goal, which is to become more and more like Jesus and be active Kingdom seekers. (But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matt. 6:33)). It is time that the people of God reschedule their lives and restructure their priorities. Paul so passionately writes but one thing I do (Phil. 3:13). John Wesley said, Let me be homo unios libri [a man of one book] (http://www.imarc.cc). It is clear that we cannot become the people God created us to be if we dont settle in our hearts that Christ, Gods Word and the Holy Spirits Guidance is our Number 1 Priority, from now on, in our lives. George Mueller understood this secret too. He wrote, I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and the meditation on it What is the food of the inner man? Not prayer, but To be FREE means that you can do the Word of God; and not the simple reading WHATEVER you WANT. And what you do of the word of God, so GLORIFIES God 100%. that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering it, and applying it to our hearts (http://www.reformedreader.org)

Lets PRAY: For NEW Disciples/Students to enroll in the ADT offered by URFM. For NEW seed of Spiritual Formation to find good soil in many churches and to grow exponentially. For NEW provisions to continue the Great Commission God called us to do. Amen!

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.

7767 FORD ROAD, YPSILANTI, MI 48198, USA, WWW.URFM.ORG, valy@urfm.org, (734) 972-5717

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VOLUME 13, EPISODE II

The true Christian Life is all about FREEDOM. Paul writes, It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Gal. 5:1). What is freedom??? Good question, isnt it? Dr. He is no fool who gives what he Neil T. Anderson once told me, To be alive cannot keep to gain that which he and free in Christ cannot lose. ~ Jim Elliot should be the Christians state of being. Unfortunately, it is sad to say that, only very few Christians experience this kind of state in their lives. Another way I like to define spiritual freedom is thisTo be FREE means that you can do WHATEVER you WANT. And what you do GLORIFIES God 100%. (Valy Vaduva, The Christian and Spiritual Transformation, URFM, AUDIO). Oh, how I love this definition! Oh, God, open the inner eyes of Your Church to see, with crystal clarity, the spiritual position they have in Christ. (See Eph. 1:17-23). Jesus purchased this FREEDOM for each of Gods children, however, the decision to experience it rests on our shoulders. We must give up our lives in order to gain the life eternal. (See Luke 9:23-24 and John 12:24-25). Inspired by this deep truth, the martyr Jim Elliot wrote, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. (NOTE: This can be found in the October 28, 1949 entry on page 174 (Chapter 4) of the 1978 hardback edition of the Journal and on page 108 (Chapter 11) of the 1958 hardback edition of Shadow of the Almighty.) Faithfulness of Christ's disciples to pracIf you are interested in becoming tice, repeat, and to pay attention to details gives them the following spiritual benefits: more like Jesus, URFM offers Freedom to understand God and His spiritual truths. Power to overcome sinful habits. everywhere in the world. Anyone Vision to guide their lives in a satisfactory who is interested may contact us for direction. Tenacity to continue without being stopped more details and to register. during difficult times.

ADT

Advanced Discipleship Training

Dear beloved Christian, it is your blood-bought right as a newborn-believer to experience freedom, power, vision and tenacity. Really! It is absolutely up to you. God gave you everything already. (See 2 Peter 1:4-11). Please do not be ignorant of WHO you really are in Christ. Live life at its fullest potential. Jesus declares, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10b). One can practice spiritual discipline to experience freedom and power needed for the abundant Christian life, or continue living an undisciplined life, remain immature, and therefore experience confusion, frustration, and bondage. It is up to you. However, it is your birth-right to become mature and free. What will you choose? The author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. writes, Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways. (http://www.leadershipnow.com). It is clear that for a meaningful Spiritual Life we need: (1) Inner spiritual disciplines, (2) Outer spiritual disciplines, and (3) Community spiritual disciplines. (NOTE: More about Inner, Outer and Community Spiritual Disciplines in the future issue(s).) With LOVE in HIS Service,

Valy Vaduva
PS: If you desire materials for Spiritual Growth and Maturity, please do not hesitate to contact us online at WWW.URFM.ORG. Please, if you have not done so already, RENEW your FINANCIAL COMMITMENT to support URFM and its efforts to continue making disciples in 2012. Thanks!