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    Future Glory: Walking in the Power of Your God-Given Destiny
    Future Glory: Walking in the Power of Your God-Given Destiny
    Future Glory: Walking in the Power of Your God-Given Destiny
    Ebook139 pages2 hours

    Future Glory: Walking in the Power of Your God-Given Destiny

    By Sean McGowan

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    About this ebook

    Are you willing to cast off a Christian life of quiet submission for one that reflects Gods glory? Are you no longer satisfied with lukewarm Christianity and a lack of the manifestation of Gods power in this world? The Bible confirms that every believer has God-enabled potential to live in His power and glory. Christ followers are called to reflect His love to a lost generation. Will you take up the call to be Christ for othersnot Christ as man understands, but the Christ that truly lives and moves and has His way in us?

    It is time to cast off the restraints of religious tradition and embrace the principles of life promised by Jesus to His followers. Future Glory will show you how to receive Gods wisdom on the ability of every believer to bear fruit worthy of repentance. Scriptural backing is interwoven in a message for all believers to truly step into their destiny, just as God designed them to do.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWestBow Press
    Release dateOct 21, 2011
    ISBN9781449723712
    Future Glory: Walking in the Power of Your God-Given Destiny

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      Book preview

      Future Glory - Sean McGowan

      Copyright © 2011 Sean McGowan

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-2372-9 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-2373-6 (hc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-2371-2 (ebk)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2011914356

      WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      WestBow Press

      A Division of Thomas Nelson

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.westbowpress.com

      1-(866) 928-1240

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      Printed in the United States of America

      WestBow Press rev. date: 10/19/2011

      All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations noted NASB are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

      Scripture quotations noted NKJV are from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION®. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1992 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

      Scripture quotations noted NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1986 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Contents

      Preface

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Acknowledgments

      About the Author

      To Brooke, Savannah, and Shelby

      Preface

      How does one begin a journey into the mystery of God’s understanding? How do we cast off the way things are for the way things should be–as they were originally intended by God? I can only testify to my story, my journey. I have sought after God with my whole heart in a very trying time for myself and my family. I have sought His wisdom, and truly felt that I have received what I asked for. In more ways than I ever initially intended or imagined.

      God’s will for my life is to be a writer. And as I sit here today, with no formal writing degree or workplace pedigree, and nary a book published, it would seem an odd thing to ask of me. Yet I realize the calling of any man begins with a single step of obedience, and that I must choose to follow after God, even if His calling does not make sense to me. Obedience, independent of human understanding, forms the foundation of my first book. I cannot claim full credit, as God has guided my path and taught me greater wisdom within the process. But He chose me to deliver this message to you–and to that calling, I must be faithful.

      In my own Christian walk, I have been challenged by God to deal with my own sin and shortcomings. Although it has been a work in progress, I always had difficulty combining a God of infinite power with the seemingly acceptable slow change of an individual. Inspired by stories of drug addicts and prisoners who experience true lasting change almost instantaneously, I decided to seek Scriptural backing to a principle that seems present in our world amidst backsliders and wolves in sheep’s clothing. God can and will change His people and call them to a life of holiness–and we have everything we need to accomplish this.

      In Scripture, I found what I was looking for. I found spiritual fathers of the Old Testament that agreed with God’s calling over their lives and began to walk fully in His anointing. I read of common sinners whose encounters with Jesus encouraged them to live up to their calling to go and sin no more. And I found an assortment of beautiful messages written to various faith communities emphasizing that not only was holiness possible, it was expected. The Bible asserts that a people who call themselves after God’s own name ought to reflect the true attributes of a holy God.

      Yet in my own faith community, I found acceptance of pernicious lies. I heard the lie of the spiritual plateau: that a Christian brother would receive only what he could handle, and then just be left there by God until it was time to move to the next plane of spiritual existence. This concept did not settle well with my soul, for what kind of god invites us to relationship with him and then leaves us until we’re better prepared or better presentable? What would it say of God for Him to abandon us just as we begin to learn and grow in union with Him?

      That is not the God of the Bible, and any church or ‘help group’ that asserts this as the chosen path of God is far off base. Knowing God is not about ‘leveling up’ or moving from one principle of wisdom to another. A Christian could live his entire life only knowing that there is a God who loves him enough to send His Son to die for him and still gain entry to heaven. Yet sanctification and transformation are offered by a righteous God who wants the very best life for His followers.

      The idea that one is left at a given ‘spiritual plateau’ originates from the message Satan delivers in the garden: ‘God is holding out on you.’ We are simply to seek Him, know Him, and walk humbly with Him. If I never learn another deep spiritual principle in the rest of my walk on this side of Heaven, I will delight that I know the Lord as much as I have gotten to know Him. I will not base that knowledge on wisdom accrued, knowledge attained, or number of books sold. I hope that you are hearing my heart on this matter.

      It is not the will of God that man be slighted or cheated. God freely gives man all he needs in life and godliness. And He gives man the greatest gift of all: the ability to have friendship and union with the most loving entity of the universe. It is God’s will that all come to know Him, are saved by Him, are changed by Him, and join with Him in an eternal and lasting relationship. Human relationships that ‘plateau’ or are said to be ‘not going anywhere’ eventually fade away and die. That is not God’s will for anyone.

      The second concern is the ‘way things have always been done’ concept that is prevalent not just in our world, but in our church. Even now, as I seek publishing, I have barriers against who I can present my work to. I have chosen to pursue the path of self publishing simply to get God’s message out, according to God’s timing. God activates His servants in the matter of His choosing, not based on the tradition of man. This prevailing concept has sent many a willing servant to years of costly seminary or theological study in order to be deemed ‘useful for the Kingdom.’ Where did this thinking come from?

      The only qualifications for entry into God’s Kingdom are a penitent heart and a willing spirit. God does not check resumes, He redeems them. He calls us to who we’re supposed to be, and helps us take steps to get there. Our circumstances never override God’s destiny for our lives–they compliment that destiny. The ways of man include certifications, diplomas, and letters of recommendation. The ways of God are above the ways of man–it is written in the Word. How far His ways extend into the world of church and Christian community may not be fully addressed by just one book, but that will definitely be explored and challenged in the pages that follow.

      Finally, my heart was troubled over the concept of the deathbed fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives. This theory arose from the many conversations with young and middle aged Christians who humbly admitted that they ‘had not yet arrived.’ Understanding our sinful hearts, it is acceptable to approach this with humility. However, it has become clear that many use this idea as a shield from seeking lasting change or even transformation. This mantra has become an excuse to remain in sin, embracing the faulty concept of ‘sin management.’ The Scriptures are clear that we are not qualified or expected to manage our sin, but to turn from it and give control of our fears and failures over to God. His authority removes sin from our record, and His power quickens us to walk without it. For Jesus loves the church (made up of believers) enough to remove all stain and wrinkle. He calls sinners to sin no more, not find better ways to cope or manage as they sin less and less. To believe we have any control or that we should manage our sin challenges the position of God in this healing process.

      A weakened showing of gospel power–that it has no authority until just before entering heaven–cheapens our testimony to the unbeliever. God would not call us to help heal and challenge the wicked and lost in the world around us if we could not partake of lasting change ourselves. We are called to walk in the light, just as He is in the light. Deathbed theology has no lasting impact on the world around us–except for those lucky relatives or hospice workers in our presence in the most glory filled hours of our lives. But if their manifestation of God’s glory is equally reserved to their day of exit from this world, God’s lasting change would not be properly displayed. His glory would be veiled–contrary to His purpose and His heart.

      Salvation is a wonderful gift of God. But it does not fully touch on the rest of God’s gifts to us. Jesus came that we may have life to the full. Although man is quick to measure this in capital gains, nothing can compare to the spiritual treasure of a life spent glorifying God with how we live and move in this world. Discipleship requires growth. The disciples of Jesus continually asked questions and often said the wrong things. Yet they remained in His presence, growing to eventually reflect His image to a fallen world. They kept their eyes focused on Jesus. Even when popular opinion did not favor their teacher, they knew they were in the exact place God called them to be.

      Christians are called to ‘put off the old man.’ Believing that total change happens only on the deathbed means one is actually ‘putting off’ the new man in Christ Jesus. God wills for man to be transformed into the likeness of His Son. For, in the image of God, man was created. When we decide to ‘put off’ godliness as a lesson for later in life, we limit God’s impact in our lives. Any thought or activity that blocks or delays the glory of God is not pleasing to Him, and will not be supported by a loving God who wants the best for us.

      My hope is that the issues brought to my heart, as explored in this book, will also quicken your heart to explore God’s glory. Please forgive the lack of Scriptural reference in this introduction–you will not be disappointed in the context of

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