by Pedro Anosike | Jul 3, 2011 | Body of Christ
Jesus made a statement in Luke 10:20 and it will pilot the thought in this article. The spirits being subject to us is beyond just casting out demons. It includes the power and wisdom we received from heaven where our names are written to overcome their alluring and deceptive doctrines.
Countless times I have heard people say things like “there will be a lot of surprises in heaven” and by this, they almost always mean they may be surprise to see themselves in heaven and others they did not expect will be there. It is wrong to assume someone else will not be in heaven and the assertion that you will be surprised to be there is erroneous and needs to be humbly but firmly corrected.
Being admitted into heaven is not like taking an exam after you have read very well or poorly and now, you just wait passively for the outcome.
Admission into heaven takes place now while we are living not when we are dead. Everyone who is admitted there now is part of the bride awaiting the ceremony that will be graced with the presence of the bridegroom and the heavenly host with God the maker of all things visible and invisible.
Everybody hoping to be surprised then, is also already surprised now as to why the devil and sin is dominating them. In contrast, all who know they are already admitted into heaven now are giving thanks and pondering why God has so love them to deliver them from the dominion of the devil and the grip of sins.
The truth and reality of 2 Cor 3:17-18, is certainly happening in all who are admitted into heaven now and waiting for the marriage supper.
The “Lord’s Prayer” taught us by Jesus indicates that God’s will happening in heaven must happen in God’s kingdom on the earth. If you are part of His kingdom on the earth, wake-up and “let” His will be done now in you. The devil is not powerful enough to stop it unless you have imbibed doctrines that demons are teaching today via false teachers and prophets (Matt 6:9-10, 1 Tim 4:1).
The will of God that is being done in heaven is not the pursuit of earthly ambitions but ceaseless worship and reverence to God Almighty.
God’s will that happens in heaven is happening IN His people’s lives today all over world in an increasing measure. Where each of us is now in Christ as parts of His Body is not the farthest we can go. Not believing you can break out into a new dimension will mean doubting God’s ability. And, if you doubt God’s ability to take you beyond your struggles, you will also doubt that anyone else is living beyond where you are now. This kind of unbelief (sin) leads to judgemental spirit, schism and multiplicity of erroneous doctrines that makes it impossible to live above sin and it impacts the fulfillment of Eph 4:13.
What is the secret for God’s will happening in some of His people? What are they “doing” to achieve this? The secret is simple! What they are “doing” is even simpler.
They trust and continue believing God! This may sound overly simple but ask yourself the question “how did I become a Christian?”.
You just believed in your heart and you were rescued from the kingdom of darkness and “translated” into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. For this reason, you are entitled to glorious inheritance in the kingdom of Light (Christ)
Now, if just believing in the finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ brought us wholistically out of the kingdom of darkness, think about how easier it is for the Spirit to give us victory over any besetting sin(s) which is only an integral part of the power of darkness. We must remember that the intention is to debar us from enjoying the inheritance but Mark 9:23 and Phil 4:13 NLT gives the key for consistent victory.
As we continue believing in the light God is reflecting in our minds Psalm 119:130, we are transformed from one degree of His glory to another. The word “another”, is not indicative of the totality of His glory that is available for us because 1 Cor 13:12 portrays another glory for the time when we see Him face to face. At the moment, He is moving us in the dimensions of His glory and this work being done in us by the Holy Spirit keeps us alive in Him, content, joyful, peaceful and demonstrating His glory to the world. This is the business of the gospel of Christ! Rom 14:17.
You may still ask what is your part to play? Well! Believe and submit to Him joyfully and any dark spot in you will be overtaken and snuffed-out by His glorious light. Note the heartwarming emphases at the end of 2 Cor 3:18, – The Lord who is the Spirit does the work.
Ours is to believe and that is the springboard to unimaginable degrees of glory in Christ.
You may be asking what about the other things a Christian should be doing! Like:
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Reading and meditating on the scriptures
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Praying, fasting, and being hard working
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Preaching the gospel to the lost and exercising your gift
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Admonishing and exhorting the brothers
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Attending the gathering of saints regularly for fellowship
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Giving to the household of faith and giving to the poor
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Honouring your father and mother
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Loving your spouse and loving your enemies
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Training your children in the way of the Lord
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Being Patient
Those are fallout from the change occurring inside of those the Holy Spirit is making more and more like Christ. Doing those things, is not what makes you “be” like Christ rather, Christ is absorbing you into who He is because you are believing and submitting, you are budding His nature and that is why it is Him working in you to will and to do His good pleasure (Gal 2:20, Phil 2:13 NLT).
Those good virtues can be natural just as plants do naturally bud but it is very temperamental and highly subject to vagaries of weather. This speaks of self righteousness. But, we seek after such thing which only the Lord does as evidenced with Aaron’s wooden-rod. That is not natural but spiritual. We as dead stick are taken by God, made alive and producing life (God’s nature and virtues) because of our belief and submission to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus by which, His will IS being done on our earth. I like what Jim Elliff once said, “No man presents himself to God perfectly, but all of us can tell when we present ourselves half-heartedly”. But, we do not glory in presenting ourselves half-heartedly while Christ gave Himself for us fully.
Therefore, we are invited to join Abraham the father of faith to be fully persuaded that God can and will bring us into His fullness as promised (Rom 4:21, Heb 4:1, 3:19). Committing our lives fully to God is not just the business of the dying like Stephen did Acts 7:59. Actually, he committed his life fully to God before that event of his death Acts 6:8 KJV, and so can we. Let us commit our lives fully to God by believing all He has promised Rom 6:14.
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James 1:18, warns us against doubting. Let all fears be gone! It is God Himself that is accomplishing this impossible work in us. We can look at men and women like Apollos, Epaphroditus, Timothy, Priscilla, Phoebe etc and know He who has done it in them in time past, is doing it again in us in this generation.
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To reiterate, our part is to love the Lord, submit and believe in His faithfulness.
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Everyone who is becoming more and more like Christ know they have found such favour with God, they are aware God is changing them and the sheer joy of it gives amazing strength! Nehemiah 8:10 Psalm 28:7-8.
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It is said, true godliness and spirituality is seen in simple things with amazing power!
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So, this transformation from one degree of glory to another shows itself in simple things such as:
Humility, putting away envy, quick to hear God, not in haste to speak, slow to anger and forgiving quickly.
Quick repentance (turn away from evil and not returning to it), and stability in the things God has already given victory.
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Quickly casting down thoughts that exalt itself against God’s way and seeking and pursuing peace Increasingly needing private discussion with Christ before making decisions and interceding much for others
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Increase in submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ and not judging people’s motive but their actions
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Loving increasingly the Body of Christ, an unusual leap in patience and increase in the use of kind words in the face of even severe provocation
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A healthy loss of interest in some legitimate things in order to travel light and painstaking for good conscience
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Fearing God more than man
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Eagerness and more deliberate readiness to reach out to the lost
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Unabated peaceful expectation of the Lord’s return
Those simple virtues carry tremendous power, producing astonishing results in general and for the gospel in particular! If the activities of heaven is happening inside you both while asleep and awake and budding out from you visibly, appearing in heaven will not be a surprise but one of unspeakable joy and peace marinated in unfathomable everlasting love that is reserved for sons of God clothed with immortality through resurrection John 6:40. So, the real surprise in Heaven is that, there will be no surprise!
Make these seasons a time to believe God like never before and live by faith- it has no drawbacks only profits all the way!
May the grace, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.
Maranatha!
by Pedro Anosike | Jun 18, 2011 | Body of Christ
The sacrifice of Jesus, as a Lamb, is far more superior to the Old Testament sacrifices of the blood of animals. And, we praise and glory in its penal and substitutionary benefits. Yet, there is more that He accomplished for us—particularly, that God now lives in man!
Everyone who repents and accepts Christ’s sacrifice is brought into the HOLY of HOLIES not into the outer court of the tabernacle. Hence, anyone who receives Christ is admitted into Heaven and if he or she were to die immediately after, Heaven will be their eternal home.
The outer court of the tabernacle had a fence made of thick fabric which separated the people and the priests who received their living sacrifices, to kill and present before God on their behalf since, they were not qualified to perform such a task. But, in the New Testament, all who believe in Christ, are commanded to kill their own sacrifice (mortify their flesh – minds) as members of the royal priesthood via Christ’s atonement and to present it as a living sacrifice Rom 12:1-2. What a great privilege! Glory to Immanuel! Matt 1:23. So, teaching that faith in Jesus Christ brings believers first into the outer court, then the holy place and eventually into the holiest place is erroneous and insulting to His sacrifice.
It is inevitably important that we recognize that being a babe in Christ does not indicate inferiority and being mature superiority. Both terms, are an indication of the level of understanding of what God has freely done and is doing in His new found dwelling place in the earth (Man). The word new, points to a new creation as Adam was new when God breathed into him 2 Cor 5:17. The better we understand it, the better we’re empowered and encouraged to expend our lives in worship to God and service to His creation.
In Hebrews 12:18-20, Paul, first clarified the truth that, believers in Christ are not brought into anything similar or close to the inferior experience of the people of old. Then, in Heb 12:22-24, he stated that, believers are brought right into the very presence of God because of the superior sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ. This, he said, is a good enough reason to heed God’s voice through the Holy Spirit to live in and for the gospel even with our blood (lives) if need be Heb 12:4.
Believers are in the holy of holies beholding God’s face in the face of Christ our High Priest who serves not at the outer court but in the most holy place 2 Cor 4:6. Therefore, the scriptures tells us, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23, 24). To worship in Spirit and in truth means to worship in the holy of holies!
In the Old Testament, though the levitical priesthood was ordained by God, only the high priest had a foretaste of worshipping in the Spirit (HOLIEST PLACE). The rest of the priests knew nothing about worshipping in the Spirit because a curtain demarcated them from enjoying this glorious privilege! Only the high priest worshipped in spirit though through the law. But, when Christ died, he tore the curtain, replaced the law with the dimension of truth to the worship in the Spirit; hence all believers are to worship only in spirit and in truth (Grace-Christ) not law.
So, firstly, Christ’s sacrifice knocked down the fence holding back the people from even daring to enter the outer court. Secondly, He tore open the curtain that kept those inside the outer court and holy place from entering the most holy place Titus 2:11 NKJV. Thirdly, He replaced the law, brought in the reality (Truth) signified by the show-bread which was only a shadow. The combination of knocking down the fence, opening the curtain and making the showbread (Truth) a mirror in which all within the tabernacle can and must look into and eat, necessitated the statement in 2 Peter 1:3, 1 James 1:23.
The Spirit and Truth resides only in the most holy place but overflows freely to the holy place and the outer court. In the New Testament, God has given saints the privilege to serve Him in the three compartments which, in a sense is one. John 10:9 says, “…….will go in and out and find pasture”. In and out signifies free movement in God (most holy place, holy place and outer court) and in our self (spirit, soul and body). While God dwells in our spirit, He flows to overshadow our minds and work through our bodies. Nevertheless, God’s dwelling place in man is the spirit!
The reason for the movement is to gain pasture (life). For example, we move in the most holy place, holy place and outer court for the following reasons:
Outer Court (Our Body)
In the outer court, we do what can be called bodily exercise e.g., marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling and we invite unbelievers to embrace the gospel (Jesus Christ) 1 Tim 4:8, Rom 12:1. This is part of the reason spirits (Angles) are not ordained to preach the gospel of Christ but we are! Nevertheless, without our outer court (body) we cannot preach the gospel. This is why preaching the gospel is what we MUST do now while we’re clothed with our mortal bodies and alive in the earth. Preach the gospel now beloved!
Holy Place (Our Mind)
In the holy place we fellowship with believers and that is where, we teach, reproof, correct and participate in training (practical exercise of our gifts) as part of His body which, makes any one a man or woman of God 2 Tim 3:16, 1 Cor 5:3-4, 12:4. The purpose is to be equipped (renewed in our minds) to do every good work which is to say, engage in the will and purposes of God on the earth Rom 12:2.
Holiest Place (Our Spirit)
In the most holy place, we fellowship with the Spirit of God alone in our private Acts 10:9, Matt 6:6. This type of worship will never end even after we are unclothed (sleep) temporarily to be clothed again at the right time with immortality. Truly, all who participate in this type of fellowship with Christ, will eventually be gathered together as one beautiful bride of the raised glorious King of kings and Lord of lords! Amen.
So, in Christ, we are free to engage life in all ramifications — marry and give in marriage, build houses, gain all the academic qualifications we need, go on holidays, eat, drink and enjoy as men with flesh and blood. Also, to make friends and share Christ with unbelievers at home and abroad. We have freedom in Christ to gather for fellowship as often as we choose, use our gifts and minds (the mind of Christ) to serve one another. We have free access and privilege to enter into personal divine communion with the Holy Spirit and Christ our Lord. All of this brings fulfilment to Luke 10:27, Eph 4:13.
Important Reminder
When in the holy of holies, we often need to be reminded that there are people outside of the outer court who need to be brought in and that earthly matters need to be attended to. For example, John the Apostle was caught up in the holy of holies (in the Spirit) but, if he did not return to participate in the outer court and holy place, we wouldn’t have had his letters and the encouragement it gives us today. Also, if God didn’t interrupt Peter with the strange dream, Cornelius would have carried on with philanthropic work and zeal without truth (Christ) which, does not make anyone part of Christ’ bride Acts 10:1-48, Eph 2:8, Acts 4:12.
When we’re in the holy place (gathering of believers), we need to remember that the brethren need to be encouraged by the gifts of the spirit in us and not leave it dormant. This is what the ministry gifts—Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, Shepherds and the spiritual gifts was given to believers for in the church 2 Cor 8:4, Eph 4:11-12, 1 Cor 12:7-11.
When in the holiest place, one’s attention is wholly on the Lord. This is the reason the scriptures tell us, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). John the apostle was certainly referring to something beyond their being with Jesus physically. See verse 1, 2, 5 and particularly 6.
True fellowship starts with hearing and seeing — and the place we hear and see is in our spirit which, has been brought into the holiest place by Christ. This is how we arrive at the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Christ. Anyone who is not in Christ can agree with every doctrine but cannot come to the unity of faith (not union of faiths) and knowledge of Christ which is, participation in the light 1John 1:6. Every believer in their private communion participates in the holiest place, making it possible to see and hear from the Spirit through the Truth. Without the Truth, all the teaching and encouragement from the five-fold ministries and the spiritual gifts in the body will not culminate to maturity (true understanding and devotion to God).
The ministries and spiritual gifts in the body serve to enlighten and confirm what the Spirit says to individual believers through the word. This is why the Holy Spirit is the Teacher who speaks to all Christians at all times, everywhere and in every situation. If the ministries and spiritual gifts fail to function or exercise for whatever reasons, the Teacher never, never fails to. For example, when the disciples deserted Jesus, the Holy Spirit was still with Him and when all but the Philippian Church abandoned Paul, for a season or in the many times he was arrested and alone, the Comforter was always with him Deut 31:6, Heb 13:5.
Finally, Before Christ came, God’s people never worshiped together in Spirit and in Truth in the same place (God’s presence). The practice was that one man (the high priest) entered His presence on behalf of the others or the man of God, went up to the mountain (God’s presence) to receive His word for the people.
In all the multitudes of sacrifices made in the Old Testament none sprinkled clean the heart of man. But, the Divine conception, birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ did and more than that, it PATICULARLY BROUGHT the unique benefit of the presence of God in Man as never before except when He first created him. The failure to studiously examine the purpose of this aspect of Christ’s achievement for us has led to many wrong doctrines which undermine the riches we have in Christ that help us abide in Him. Sadly, it has shamefully led to a loss of power to live a dimension of live ordained freely for God’s people in this dispensation of grace 2 Cor 4:7.
The weight of the statement in verse 7 of 2 Corinthians chapter 4 can hardly be fully comprehended by any mortal man. Nevertheless, the graciousness of God in giving us His holy word and the Holy Spirit Who lives in us and guides us into an knowledge of His word helps us to understand the revealed mind of God in things pertaining to our salvation. So, each person who is in Christ carries an immeasurable blessing within him or herself and the gathering together of all who are in Christ constitute God’s house on the earth, a bride being adorned for her Husband.
Therefore, there is a ration for you and I to eat in Christ which affects our spirit, mind and body to experience God’s awesome grace that helps us live in and for God beyond our own human capacity and abilities Mark 10:27, Matt 19:10-11, Eph 5:32. May God help us to eat it and enjoy the abundant life Christ has already made available for us John 10:10b, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”. Amen
Maranatha!
by Pedro Anosike | May 22, 2011 | Grace of God
Spirits clothed with immortal body do not and cannot repent, such is the situation with the devil and the fallen angels. They were created by God with the ability to do what they want. So, when they did evil it was their choice to do so deliberately. The devil and the fallen angels did not rebel against God and seek to rule man because they were deceived rather, they just chose to do what they did!
Adam deliberately joined Eve who was deceieved to sin against God 1 Tim2:14. But, Adam and Eve had a chance to repent because they were clothed with mortal body which made them human with spirit. Hence, the human body is not a curse but a blessing from the all wise and Almighty God. He knew man was going to fall but praise God he clothed man with the mortal flesh. The human spirit can only repent while in the mortal body—though it is weak, it serves its purpose in God’s scheme of things!
In Matt 26:41, Jesus said, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Though the flesh is weak, it can receive help from the spirit through the exercise of faith Proverbs 18:14a “When the flesh is bruised, the spirit sustains it”. This is the reason God has gifted all mankind with faith to call on Him for redeemption through His Son Jesus Christ.
Man needs to be humble, wise and repose their God given faith in Jesus Christ!
It is when the spirit becomes unwilling that a major problem is at hand. Then, the body runs riot freely unchecked or unrestrained—this accounts for why man was dominated by the sin-nature and hence practices sinning.
How important it’s for mankind to remember that Eve and Adam’s sin happened because they failed to have faith in God and consequently in His instruction to them. It is only through the spirit in man that man communicates with God by faith and receives grace or power to bring the flesh to submission to God.
Proverbs 18:14 asked a rhetorical question, “a bruised spirit who can bear?” In other words, when the spirit fails to exercise faith in God, it’s crushed and wounded. And, when it suffers, the flesh cannot help it because faith can only be exercised to communicate with God by the spirit while in the body John 6:63, 1 Cor 7:19, Phil 3:3. This is the reason God has appointed to man a time on the earth to repent (receive a willing and submissive spirit) before death because once the spirit leaves the body, it cannot repent while unclothed 2 Peter 3:9, Heb 9:27.
While I am not a strong believer of the testimonies of those who say they died, had a conversation with Jesus, God or God’s angels and came back to life, I do not dismiss it either. Almost all of such testimonies I have heard gave a context which I consider dearly because of the scriptural tilt which is this; they had to come back to their body to repent and accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
After the resurrection of the dead, man will for the first time since God created man fellowship with God clothed with immortal body though still human 1 Cor 15:53. This glorious blessing is entered only through the gospel 2 Tim 1:10. This is mind boggling! All who truly have this hope, cannot be dissauded from pursuing well-doing, ceaseless gratitude, praise, worship and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ the only source to immortality Rom 2:7, Acts 4:12.
It is impossible to consider any soul that fails to take advantage of the privilege the gospel presents to mankind as wise, no matter the level of academic and material achievement or power that soul possesses.
If you have not taken advantage of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, which is meant for your salvation, I plead with you to seriously consider doing so today, even now! Consider these scriptures as you take steps to believe and confess Jesus for the salvation of your soul Isaiah 1:18, Luke 5:32, John 3:16, Rom 10:9-11.
In view of the great redemption we have in Christ and the priviledge of immortality, the scripture both exhorts and admonishes us thus; “Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and … all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 Cor 1:7, 1 John 3:3 NLT).
The greatest authentication that a believer is still holding to the grace of God with the hope of Christ’s return is the believer’s pursuance of purity. This authentication is for the believer himself or herself because the pursuance of purity associated with looking on to Christ’s return is very personal and does not entail proving oneself to others. Only God discerns thoughts against every action man takes. I believe it’s on this platform that God advises his children to leave judgement (condemning) to Him.
Definitely, we can judge a wrong or evil deed by identifying it as wrong or evil and we must do so as part of godliness, but never are we called to judge another person’s motive.
In conclusion, John 4:24, is a call for us to keep our bodies subject to our spirit and not to let the body defile our spirits which is to say, present your body as a living sacrifice Rom 7:18, 12:1, 21.
God’s graciousness in Christ Jesus is to be accepted and received now while the dispensation of salvation is wide open to the gentiles and especially while we are still in our mortal bodies breathing air.
As saying goes, “Make haste while the sun shines” or, as an African adage puts it, “catch the black goat while there is day light, else, when the night falls, the dark colour of the goat makes it difficult to see clearly to catch it”.
May the love, peace and grace of God abound to you in every way.
Maranatha!
by Pedro Anosike | Jan 31, 2011 | Eschatology
Spiritual blindness leads to hypocrisy. God wants His people whom He has conformed to the Image of Christ through regeneration to get rid of greed, self indulgence, wickedness and unfaithfulness through His grace, the knowledge and understanding of His Son (Rom 8:29, Rev 17:14).
God had determined to explode His blessings (grace, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of His Son to the bride—the church) in this generation like a cluster bomb. God’s intent is always purposeful and creative so, why this unleashing of His blessings?
Ephesians 3:10 holds an answer to the intent of God in blessing the church at this time of the end: [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere (Amplified bible).
Christ’s Image
His image is a portrait of the totality of His person- spiritual and human (fully God and fully Man) and it is only that type of sacrifice God has accepted for atonement and salvation (1 Pet 1:19, John 1:29). Christ is the Spirit of God in our spirit and He has made us conformed to His image in the sight of God (Rom 8:29). This is where the boasting of a Christian lies (1 Cor 1:30 NIV). Christ is our righteousness and our righteousness is of God not of ourselves (Phil 3:9). All praise and glory be to our Saviour and Lord—Jesus Christ. Amen.
At the point of our believing and receiving Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Saviour and Lord, His act of regenerating us makes us completely saved and accepted by the Almighty God. If such a soul falls asleep after that moment, the eternal home of that soul would be the bosom of God. Indeed, salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone. But, if God who sustains life in a soul were to keep that soul awake on the earth, he or she is bound to live heavenly (godly and righteously) on earth and show forth the praises of God (1 Pet 2:9). No preacher should debar the saints of this glorious privilege by teaching what deviates from the Apostle’s doctrine as given to them by Jesus Christ Himself John 15:10. If anyone does, let such a one be accursed! (Gal 1:8-9).
Christ’s Stature
Irrespective of our chronological age, we all are brought into Christ as babies though fully saved but needing to mature (grow in grace ). Christ’s stature which the church (the gathering together of individuals in Christ) is exhorted to grow in ( see Eph 4:13) speaks of His visible character or life style which is summarized as full of grace, love, forgiveness, holiness, righteousness, mercy, power, faithfulness, joy, peace, long-suffering, compassion, gentleness, goodness and truth. This personage of Christ is who God predestined us to walk in by the grace He has made available to us who are in Christ (Eph 2:10). Walking in it is not what gives us salvation but it serves as light to the world (Matt 5:14, Phil 2:15) and gives God good pleasure and honour (Phil 2:13, 1 Sam 2:30).
Mortal men are gaining understanding of Jesus Christ in a way that is transforming and leading to a reverence of Him and a desire to see Him appear to consummate the marriage feast that all generations of godly and righteous men and women have longed for without ceasing.
This transformation is cleaning inside the cup – our minds (Matt 23:26, 25, Luke11:39, Rom 12:2) and producing visible obedience outside the cup- our bodies (Rom 12:1) to Christ.
The essence of God increasing the Church’s understanding and reverence for Jesus Christ is so that we may be the more diligent and earnest to hear and do the biding of His voice. That way, we will continue to abide in Him as our minds are set on Him and not on anything else. This is the safeguard from drifting to another spirit that is fighting to govern those who dwell on the earth (Heb 2:1-4).
God is hastening this matter of moving His Church from one degree of glory to another to enable us do His will with the heart of love and fear as a preparation for the world to come which is not subjected to angels but to Christ for the full benefit of His people -the bride of Christ and to the eternal praise, glory and honour of God almighty (Phil 2:13 NLT, Heb 2:5-9, 1 John 3:3 NLT).
Awake Zion
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into (Prov 25:28, 4:23). You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:35-40).
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end (Heb 6:11).
Jesus is coming soon… it’s not just a fact. It is the truth. (Phil 4:5). This truth; should serve to wake us up from slumber. Awake! Zion and get to the high mountain for the time of your exaltation is at hand (not physical mountain and doesn’t necessarily entail anyone leaving their legitimate source of livelihood). Prepare; for streams of people are coming to you seeking the highest mountain (the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Saviour- the prince of peace) in your midst.
Maranatha!
by Pedro Anosike | Nov 22, 2010 | Featured
It is very easy for man to turn every beautiful gift of God to his own means for achieving his own selfish desires and it always leads to sincere errors and misplacement of priorities fostered by misinterpretation of God’s word that is perfect and well capable of converting the soul and keeping it in the straight and narrow.
The extract below from George Warnock’s book ” Beauty For Ashes Part 4” -Chain Reaction in Realms of the Spirit- Chap 6, being lead by the spirit: sheds helpful light to bear in mind as one desires to be lead by the spirit of God.
“Let us not emphasize this matter of being led by the Spirit, in the context of things temporal or geographical. These are important too, but if we are faithful to be led by the Lord into living truth, and into realms heavenly and spiritual, then I am sure we will find ourselves doing the right things regarding the temporal, and being in the proper place geographically. If we are moving in the Spirit, and walking in God’s will, we will always discover that we are in God’s place at God’s time. I believe all this is a vital part of Jesus’ promise: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
One of the things the lord has been teaching me over the years and which I am still learning day by day is that all of his business is inspired and accomplished by His spirit. So desiring to fervently join oneself to Gods’ business as He inspires it will always mean readiness to hold His admonition in Rom 12:3-8 also fervently.
Close attention to Rom 12:3-8 above reveals the following:
[a] It is admonished to every member including those who have been gifted with any of the five-fold ministries and the elders in Christ’s body in the context of a local assembly.
[b] It is the responsibility of each member of the body of Christ at a local assembly to be faithful to think soberly according to the measure of faith and grace God has given to him in such a way that honours God.
[c] It is not the responsibility of anyone else to enforce upon another.
[d] It forbids that any man should assume or be assigned a responsibility beyond his measure of faith and grace.
[e] It also means that none should be depraved or suppressed to function to the measure of faith and grace given to him or her by God.
These understanding shows that if one thinks of himself with more than the measure of faith and grace already existing in one’s life at a particular time, the person dishonors God and it shows itself in the way it generates schism or disrupts the fellowship of the gathering of saints.
Also, if one thinks of himself with less than the measure of faith and grace already existing in his life at a particular time, he dishonors God and robs the gathering of saints the blessing God intents to flow out from him as a vessel or temple. So thinking more highly or less of oneself is dishonoring God. Treating any vessel of God more highly or less as needed is also dishonoring God and creating room for the enemy to attack that vessel and consequently the Church.
Paul was almost tempted to boast because his authority (measure of faith and grace) was challenged unduly. Also, Paul and Apollos was at one time looked upon more highly than they ought not to be and they resisted the brethren from such mindset that dishonor God and put them in danger. It also occurred when Barnabas and Paul was almost worshiped as deity by some pagan oriented community that was freshly embracing the message of Christ.
Everyone in Christ is either contributing positively or negatively to God’s business on the earth. You and I need to withdraw often to examine our lives closely in the light of the above exhortation. The body of Christ must be given fervent attention but not in and with the fleshly mind.
I believe we’re once again in a time of great opportunity to be used by God to demonstrate His love and power to the dying world and to His discouraged sheep that are fast being swept away by every wind of doctrines.
There is a returning to our first love for one another that I believe God is waiting on us for that will usher in an incredible response to our prayers for demonstration of His power in us to heal, do miracles, signs and wonders at a pace, magnitude and depth that will not only equal what we read in the early Church but even more as prophesied by Joel and confirmed by Jesus Christ.
As we keep drawing close to the time of God, the need to obey God’s instruction on how to build His temple will be more urgent and needed.
One instruction that stands out is the instruction not to quarry the stones of the temple in the temple house but to do it at the site where the stone is- shaping it to fit its place at the temple house (1 Kings 6:7). By interpretation, every stone (each believer) must at their private place give God chance to shape them into what He intends to use them for in His house (church-gathering of saints). It is time for brothers that tends to work together and those working together to love themselves deeply and know themselves not just after the manner of flesh but more importantly after the spirit as God have known each vessel.
Private disagreements must be seen as private and settled fast in sincerity privately without making it the Church’s issue and then dragging others into it because of the influence (measure of faith and grace) God has given us. All God given faith and grace is for building up not for religious politics. Thank God He has anointed the ears of His sheep with ear salve to enable them hear His teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteous conducts and love. The warning for us is to be wise and fear God who remains a consuming fire even in our dispensation of grace.
May the Lord continue to multiple His mercy and grace to His Church that in all things, in thought, words and deeds; we might please Him as He weighs the intentions and actions of each lively stone in His house.
Maranatha!
is not a curse but a blessing from the all wise and Almighty God. He knew man was going to fall but praise God he clothed man with the mortal flesh. The human spirit can only repent while in the mortal body—though it is weak, it serves its purpose in God’s scheme of things!