by Pedro Anosike | Oct 23, 2010 | Featured
“LET THIS MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, and took upon Him the form of a SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became OBEDIENT unto death, even the death of the cross.” How often have we read through this portion of scripture? So many discussions have been had around these passages, which I also have felt blessed to take part in. Yet, recently, it has been hitting me as a most sobering challenge. The mind the Lord is speaking of here is no doubt the mind of Christ. Verse 5 begins this statement with, LET this mind… which ought to inform us, of a surety, that this mind will not work unless we LET it. The mind of Christ as described here is totally foreign to the natural mind of man. The truth is that they are vehemently opposed to one another. Every believer has a hard time coming to grips with this truth as they grow in the Lord. We often end up fighting against the mind of Christ without even knowing it. The reason for this is seen in that our soul often lives in the realm of human reasoning. There is no greater opponent to faith in Christ. I have heard it said that the opposite of faith is sight. I believe that this is so, because it is what we see that causes us to reason, and wars against what is not seen. So, then, our reasoning is often at war with the Word of the Lord. Oftentimes when I listen to other believers speak, I can hear them arguing with the mind of Christ. We all have walked in this realm of unbelief from time to time. I have recently seen that this denial of the faith which we proclaim needs to be repented of. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. How many times have we heard people judge the degree of one’s faith in Christ by whether they get healed or not, or whether one is wealthy or poor? Such judgments are not the plumbline with which the Lord measures one’s faith. I’ve known many believers who are wealthy and prosper in the natural, as well as many who are poor in this world’s standards, yet I’ve seen both with a very similar problem. SELFISH PRIDE! A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses, or of the lack of them, for that matter. All such judgments and comparisons are of the flesh, and war in the carnal mind against the mind of Christ. The problem we all have in common is one that we would like to ignore. It is one that causes one man to fall in love with one thing in life, and another to fall in love with something completely different. One man may like to build up a bigger construction company, and another may like to build a larger church. The only difference, perhaps, being that the one justifies his efforts by saying that He is working for the Lord, and the other may use the excuse of provision for his family’s future. Down either (of these), or for that matter, any other road, there is the desire of self-satisfaction.
by Pedro Anosike | Oct 22, 2010 | Featured
There is a lust in the nature of man to please and satisfy himself. Yet, sad to say, one will measure the level of his success by the response of others. This produces many, many illnesses, for, usually, self is not satisfied until it gets its desired response from others who have their own expectations in mind. What a vicious circle! It is no wonder why so many say, “It is a dog-eat-dog world. Get all you can. I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine.” In this, we ought to clearly see the spirit of this world in direct opposition to the spirit of the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is impossible for man to admit to this problem, unless he truly has a love to be free from it. Even freedom from it then is not attainable, unless there is a heartfelt love for the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. He who seeks to save his life shall lose it. In such a walk it is needful, in this sense, for one to be in opposition to all that is of self.
After we do all we can do in an attempt to live the Christian life, we must face the reality that we are not able to. We must lose our life to gain eternal life. It is at the point of desperation for more of Christ that we see the futility of our own ways.
Today, we see so many thousands of “Christians” busy working for the Lord. Even the world admires what they term to be the sacrifice of their life for this or that “good cause.” Yet, even in all of our business for God, there often remains something very deep within our souls that is left untouched. The sad story is that many have served their whole life FOR the Lord, and gone to the grave never having done the works that are OF the Lord. There is a vast difference.
It is said of so many that this one or that one is really used of the Lord. Or better seen, yet when one dies after years of service, you hear many say how he or she was really used of the Lord. There is no question that many of these people were of those who loved the Lord. To be used of the Lord does not speak of intimacy with Him.
In the mind of man, there is very often a desire to do for God and help Him out. The problem with this mind is that the believer, very often, is the one who decides how to go about helping God out. Such a one determines the approval or disapproval of the Lord upon his labors by the means which men measure success. The acceptance or rejection of others is very important when self is alive and well. I am certain that most believers live in this mind from time to time, if not all of the time.
Here we are faced with a tremendous challenge. That is: I can work hard and help God out, or I can surrender to Him and allow His mind to be in me, in order that His Kingdom come in earth as it is in Heaven. Only the anointing which comes in the mind of Christ knows the things that are pleasing to the Father.
The reason that we so often fight against the mind of Christ is because it is not a mind that seeks the glory and acceptance of man. (This includes self-acceptance). This mind needs no approval from men and it diminishes self. All of our personality traits — the things which we and others enjoy so much about us — is in jeopardy when the mind of Christ is at work.
It is no wonder why we have an entire age where Christians find no pleasure in the cross of Christ, but only in singing about resurrection victory, while living a life which differs not from the world. This also explains why we have an entire church age which longs to be entertained. It cheers them to live on with no cost on their part, all under the guise of Christianity.
by Pedro Anosike | Oct 22, 2010 | Featured
Grace is undeserved favor – God to man.
Enoch found grace with God – he walked with God, and God took him as He desired.
Moses found grace with God – he talked to God face to face and lived; he received the ten commandments written by the finger of God; he led a miraculous life from Egypt to Canaan; died and was taken away by angels, and did not see corruption.
Elijah, the prophet, found grace with God – he lived a life of power and spiritual authority; was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Jesus Christ, our great benefactor, the very author of grace, with all the faculties of God fully developed in Him, showed us what it meant for man to live by the grace of God. He was the embodiment of grace, peace and love. In Him, we beheld the glory of God. He is the grace of God.
God dealt with the patriarchs individually according to His promises. He dealt with Israel, His choice as a nation, under the law, according to His promises. The prophets stressed repentance in their prophetic writings, and encouraged Israel to take advantage of the GRACE which God always makes available to man. They stressed repentance as an inward work which renews the heart, as a gift of God’s Grace.
God’s Grace envelops mercy, lovingkindness, goodness and forgiveness. His AMAZING GRACE includes the Divine Power to equip man to live above his fallen state, thus fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
God, therefore, exonerates Hnnself from blame, because GRACE is His free gift to everyone. Accept it and you have life; reject it and you are lost. Grace is from the beginning to the end of our salvation. Justification is through grace. When one comes to Jesus in repentance, God in His grace treats him, the guilty one, as if he had never sinned. Here FAITH, which is also a gift of God, is exercised to accept this forgiveness “not of yourselves,” Ephesians 2:8, but the will of God. Ephesians 1:13 speaks of Consecration and Baptism as the next step in grace – a provision for the conquest of sin in the believer’s life. It is, therefore, necessary that one must be at an AGE and STAGE to recognize sin.
NO GRACE, NO GOSPEL: Every step in the Christian life is due to GRACE. Romans 8:28-30 shows there is a calling, a justification, and a glorification, with a responsibility in between; obedience being the moral attitude.
Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.”
So many times, we Christians fail so miserably with our loved ones and the world in general, forgetting that the whole creation groans and travails, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. Before the world can have that witness, we, the people of God, must overcome the nature within us that is contrary to HIS DIVINE NATURE.
There is a work to be done in the soul – the mind, the emotions, the will and the desires (this is man) – by daily exercise, which necessitates getting to the throne of grace – i.e. forgive, that you might be FORGIVEN.
The trouble with many Christians is that sin does not appear EXCEEDINGLY SINFUL. The Holy Spirit has not been allowed to permeate the soul to do the purifying work to which the heart and conscience bears witness. They always seem to be either excusing themselves or accusing one another; therefore manifesting anger, malice, strife, wantonness, love of pleasure, divisiveness, cunningness, impatience, bitterness, selfishness, ego (which exalts self almost or altogether above God), fear, contention, pride, etc. – fruits of the flesh in general. All these are enmity against God, having one’s personality organized in the wrong direction.
Because the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, God makes provision for man in mercy and grace – that we might find the grace needed for the situations of each day.
It matters not how much one prophesies, preaches, imparts healing, teaches or is involved in any church activity; one needs to find GRACE to help when accused, robbed, beaten, reviled, cursed or caused pain or grief. The believer does not draw from the abundance of words in one’s own vocabulary or from one’s own strength, but rather from the abundance of GRACE from the THRONE OF GRACE. This will glorify God and produce much overcoming strength.
Matthew 5:21-28 shows that under grace, anger is equated with murder, and a wrong look is equated with adultery.
To stand on one’s pride and depend on and use one’s strength is frustrating the GRACE OF GOD, whereby we are S-A-V-E-D – saved from having been born in sin and shaped in iniquity – being saved from our own self nature – being saved from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal.
by Pedro Anosike | Oct 21, 2010 | Featured
It takes GRACE to deny the man and let the CHRIST come forth. It takes abiding, not in and out, hot and cold, here and there, back and forth, sometimes up and sometimes down. “Who shall abide?” He that hath clean hands and a pure heart. God will give grace to the humble and succor fhe weak, that he/she may be able to stand under all circumstances and conditions and glorify his Heavenly Father.
One might not be aware of one’s own spiritual growth, (which is good, no space for being puffed up), but others with whom you come in contact will surely witness that you have been with the Lord. This is one’s testimony.
Each day should bring us closer to that mark of the high calling. The Divine Nature must be engraved deep in our souls, that as the months and years go by, we mellow, not in churchianity or in church politics, but in CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
by Pedro Anosike | Oct 21, 2010 | Featured
The following article came together out of the conviction of the Holy Spirit within my own life. Although at times I may refer to a condition I see in other believers, it is not at all my intention to set myself apart from anyone else. This is truly one area where none can be set apart from any other. Just the thought that we are free of such an illness ought to reveal to us that we are yet entangled in it.
It is only possible for me to even make mention of such things by the grace that I have received from the Lord to do so. I am well aware of the pride of man that yet smolders within my own heart. It has only been since the first of this year that the Lord has been removing the blinders from my eyes in this area of my soul.
It is certainly the greatest enemy to our walk in the spirit. We’ve blamed the devil, other people and circumstances for our troubles, when, very often, the worst enemy we have is the selfishness and the deceitfulness of our own hearts. The root of all such wickedness is pride.
Pride manifests itself in various ways. Regardless of its manifestation, it is always after the interest of one’s own self.
I am convinced that there is enough pride and rebellion in the nature of fallen man to send himself to hell without any help from Satan. Satan constantly seeks who he may devour by gaining entrance through the lusts and desires of man’s selfishness. This is the dust which he has been given to eat. He works where men seek to save their own lives.
Due to the multitude of spirits that are at work to accompany self-interest, it is often that pride will appear in various forms of godliness, and be readily accepted by those of whom it desires acceptance. The root of it all is pride, and regardless of its outward appearance, it is after recognition and selfishly demands a response from others. The desired response may vary from one individual to the other, depending on what spirits one yields oneself to. However, regardless of the response desired, self cannot be satisfied without recognition from others.
What you are about to read is a statement of repentance. The greatest fool is the one who remains a fool. A wise man is able to recognize his foolishness, but a fool is too proud to admit the truth, even when it is known. The truth of Jesus Christ always reveals the foolishness of man. The love of God can only be manifested in the absence of self.
I am most grateful for the harness of the Lord. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is the faithfulness of our God. His loving kindness is better than life!
I. THE SEARCHING OF OUR HEARTS
We often ask the Lord to search us, try us, know our hearts and see if there be any wicked way in us. Yet, what do we think about when we pray this way? In such a prayer, it is foolish to believe that the Lord needs to check our hearts because He doesn’t know what is in them (see Hebrews 4:13).
In Genesis 3 and verse 9, the Lord did not ask Adam where he was because he didn’t know or he wasn’t certain. The Lord was not searching frantically to find Adam. It was Adam who was in need.
When Abraham was asked to offer up Isaac, the Lord did not sit back, not knowing what was in Abraham’s heart. He wasn’t fretting over the possibility of Abraham failing to obey His command, and how that might affect the generations to come.
It is in the divine plan of God for a people to cry out to be conformed to the image of His Son. In responding to such a cry, the Lord asks of us to give Him our hearts. Not part of it, but ALL of it. It is not possible for the Lord to answer such a cry without obedience to His call for surrender. Yet, even as we say, “Father, I give you my whole heart,” the Lord is much more aware than we are of the things which we are still holding on to. Nevertheless, if such an offer is given out of a pure desire for the Lord to change us into the image of His Son, the Lord begins to answer our prayer (1st John 5:14-15).
In the process of cleansing and sanctification, we must realize that there is absolutely NO holiness outside of Jesus Christ. There is no overcoming that is done independently of Him or that is of self-effort. Neither can there be any overcoming without death to the self-life, and there is no death to self that is pleasing to the Father that is of our own design. All such self-imposed slaughter of the self-life will always remain outside of Christ; therefore keeping us entangled therein. The only one who can overcome is that same one who already has overcome, and that same Spirit desires to overcome and live His life in us. We must follow Him in submission to His Headship.
This is where the Lord begins to reveal to us the things in our soul life which keep us from a closer walk with Him. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. This is the baptism of fire. This is the pruning Jesus spoke of in John chapter 15, verse 2.
The work of searching, trying and pruning belongs exclusively to the Lord. Most Christians do not understand that such a working is the sole purpose of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many are far more interested in signs and wonders. Let us not embrace the gifts, and disregard the greatest desire of the Father. He desires us to bear fruit that we might glorify Him (John 15:8).
The Lord is faithful to show us what is asked of us in this conforming process. That is shown to each of us in the command to follow Him day by day.
The command to follow Him demands a response of obedience from us. Having faith in the Lord is seen in our obedience to heed His call to follow after Him (John 15:14, Hebrews 11:8).
So the light of the Holy Spirit searches and tries our hearts to lead us into a deeper and deeper call from the Father to go on in Him (Hebrews 4:12). Our part is to agree with the Lord to rule over every area of our soul life. As He reveals to us our heart each step of the way, He says just as he did to Adam, “Where are you?” It brings no pleasure to the Father for us to make excuses, but to agree with the findings of His great light. This agreement is acknowledged by the confessing of our faults. When we agree with the Lord and repent of our weakness, then its rule over our soul suffers a violent blow. As we surrender again to Him who has already overcome the world, we are conformed even the more to His likeness (James 5:16).
by Pedro Anosike | Oct 21, 2010 | Featured
Not very long ago, a situation arose in which a child of God behaved very unseemly. On seeking the Lord about the matter, and with much grief of heart, the words came strongly to me, “Grace and Stature.” This was followed by greater clarification of the word, “GRACE.” Though GRACE in one sense means unmerited favor, which is from God to man, yet it involves a work in man’s soul in its more extreme application.
AMAZING GRACE: ” ‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me on.”
This song speaks of grace as a beginning work, a work of continuation and a work to the end. Through grace comes Salvation, but it also takes grace to love, to forgive, to be patient, to be kind and gentle, to endure all things, to be loyal, etc. It is, therefore, the continuing in the grace of God that leads one into that final bliss, which is the heart’s cry of every true believer. There is a standard of inexhaustible fullness set by God for man. For this reason, the true and noble child of God will not rest or be satisfied with his or her own soul attainment until this fullness is achieved, which is divine perfection. The presence and power in the human soul enables man to be delivered from the human nature (earth bound) to the divine (heavenly).
Christ must reign through grace in the hearts of believers until all enemies (all the contrary and unsubdued nature) are put under foot. Believers who resist this operation in their daily lives frustrate God’s plan for their soul’s salvation, and fall terribly short of the glory of God. For this glory, the whole creation is waiting.
It is therefore possible to receive forgiveness of sins initially, and not grow IN GRACE; then the ugly attitude of the human soul will manifest very unseemly.
Through God’s grace, the believer can say the right words and not offend, but rather love, respect and regard one to another, have proper control over the members of the body, thereby bringing the mind in harmony with the Spirit; then there will be no place for the Devil.
STATURE – Webster’s Dictionary: time of life, age or one’s height to stand, growth, maturity, development.
There is natural or physical, political, and Spiritual stature.
Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST.”
Stature depicts a standing and a height in Christ that would put one in a position, not above his brother, but risen above the flesh or carnal nature; standing firmly in the Divine nature; refusing, through His grace, virtues and excellence to return to the weak and beggarly elements. There is a place of integrity in Christ to be attained, maintained and sustained above the rudiments of this world, where the believer will no longer be a tool or an instrument of the enemy in any way. We have been raised up with HIM FAR ABOVE PRINCIPALITY AND POWER, and made to sit in HEAVENLY PLACES. Believers are His workmanship created unto GOOD WORKS. Although stature means time of life, age and maturity – one can be many years a believer or Christian, and experience very little spiritual growth or maturity. Year after year finds him or her going around the same mountain, having the same weaknesses and behaving the same old way; not experiencing much change in character. On the other hand, some show such growth and maturity in a few months that the difference is apparent. Growth and experience should be most important in one’s spiritual life. Anything that hinders one’s growth and progress should be dealt with before it is too late, when it would become so much a part of that person’s nature that separation becomes absolutely difficult or almost impossible.
Spiritual growth is not flourishing in the gifts, or being an outstanding ministry. Paul said he had to be careful, lest after placing many into the Kingdom, he would himself be a castaway. The gifts and ministries and every blessing of the Spirit is to bring the believer into union and harmony with God. The tendency is to glory in the gift and not the Giver.
