Having the spirit of Christ – Part 3

Jesus took the form of a bond servant and left His heavenly glory and came in the likeness of men. As preachers, we know the vast contrast between the heavenly glory and the earthly glory, which amounts to nothing. Jesus obeyed to the last and because of all these things, the Lord has highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above all names (Philippians 2:9).

If I am a Christian, I should show it and if I am a pastor, I should show it. Some Pastors are filled with disobedience to church leaders and not interested in what they are saying. If you ask them whether they are in Christ, they will say yes and if you ask them whether they are new creatures, they will say yes. Then, when you give a simple instruction, it will be disobeyed. How do disobedience and self-will agree with the concept of the new creature? When your husband keeps complaining and your wife keeps complaining, how does it agree with the concept of the new creature? How do we be new creatures in stubbornness, disobedience, arrogance and self-will? To some of us, we are new creatures because we carry the Bible, we read it and we preach.

Paul addressing the Jewish brethren in Romans Chapter 2:21 asked them a piercing question: “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?” Is it not reasonable that a man should teach himself before going to teach others? We all have been to school and I do not remember a class teacher who was not a master of the subject that will come into the class to teach. All the teachers are masters of their subjects and they knew everything about that subject. You, therefore, who pray for others that God will touch them and change them from inside out, don’t you pray for yourself? Should a man not know that he is the most important prayer point? How long shall we continue getting it wrong and blaming it on weakness of the flesh?

At the place of baptism in Mathew 3:16, God gave a wonderful testimony about Christ, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” It can be said of you and it can be said of me. If anybody tells you that testimony can only be for Jesus, please don’t believe it. It can also be for us. Some people say that God does not have a favourite, but I know that a man can be God’s favourite. If he presses forward in holiness, uprightness, justice, righteousness, honesty, rejects everything the devil is bringing and is totally submitted to God, why will he not be God’s favourite?

At the Mount of transfiguration, while they were still talking, a bright cloud overshadowed them and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Ye Him!” (Mathew 17:5) You should get the testimony first and then you can go and speak for God. Why should anybody speak for God without testimony? Jesus had the testimony and the Father said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Please listen to my beloved Son.” You must submit your life completely to God and then you can say like Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
• Today’s Nugget: Christ lives in me.
Prayer: Lord help me to submit my life completely to Christ.
Prayer lines: 08054477940. E-mail: servantofgod111@yahoo.com
Rev. Pastor Ejikeme Ejim, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.