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Reaching: Stretching out; extending; touching by extension of the arm; attaining to; gaining; making efforts to vomit.
Greek: Epekteino [ep-ek-ti’-nom-ahee]: reach forth unto [1]. middle from (epi) and (ekteino); to stretch (oneself) forward upon :- reach forth. Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. an intensive form of (epi, "forth"), is used in Phil. 3:13, RV, "stretching forward" (AV, "reaching forth"), a metaphor probably from the foot race (rather than the chariot race), Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.
Are you reaching forth to what lies ahead or are you stuck in the doldrum of yesterday and the failures that are so prevalent there. This is not what God expects of us. If we are to change, we are going to have to get into the Word of God and allow the things written therein to bring faith to your heart and a snap in your step. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (NLT2) So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Many years ago, the Lord spoke to me and straightened me out with a story from the New Testament. He made it quite clear that it was my responsibility to make sure that the things that He provided for me, especially in the material realm, are my responsibility to exercise faith of using them for the Kingdom of God. Mark 4:23-25 (NKJV) If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
After this word He continued to explain the process and why so many Christians never get to where God wanted or intended for them to be. Matthew 25:26-29 (NKJV) But his Lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. So, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. Fear has a devastating impact on the believer who has hoarded or stopped his move forward with the responsibility to use what he has. The church has lived in America for so long that we have gone fat and sassy and this is about to come to an end. My advice is that we wake up and find out the plan of God for our life and ‘get with the program’.
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