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What Your Positions and Possessions Have in Common

As we get ready to move into this study, let’s take a quick look at the characteristics that all of your 101 Riches in Christ share in common.

1.They are known to us only through God’s inspired, infallible, authoritative Word. We become aware of these gifts only through God’s revelation, by “sola Scriptura” – by Scripture alone. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

2. They are the result of God’s work, not by the efforts of men, churches, or governments. They are solely and completely a work of God. They are the result of monergism, i.e., the work of One. They are NOT the work of synergism, or combined and cooperative effort and energy. “But as many as received (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

3. They are the result of God’s sovereign volition, not man’s volition. It was God who chose to give you these gifts. “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37)

When I am making a motivational presentation, I often talk to the audience about a journey of discovery that I call: “See Me, Free Me, Be Me”

“See Me, Free Me, Be Me”

I like to encourage people to stand on a solid core of Christian doctrine and belief. My doctrine and my faith are like the pedestal that supports a statue. If my pedestal of doctrine and faith is strong and solid and wide, the statue will stand tall and straight, solid and secure. Children may climb upon the statue, heavy winds and rain may pound upon it, tree limbs might even come crashing down upon it, but the statue will remain upright, sturdy and formidable. But if the pedestal on which the statue rests is made of inferior materials, if it is weak or crumbling, a relatively slight push will cause the statue to topple over, possibly to shatter into pieces.