The christian and the world – Part 1

The Lord Jesus Christ makes everyone who comes to Him an uncommon and extra-ordinary Christian. During His earthly ministry, all sincere seekers who came to Him received miracles. Sinners received forgiveness; the blind had their sight restored; the lame walked; the sick were healed; the afflicted and oppressed were liberated and the dead were brought back to life.

The Lord has not changed; He remains the same today. Hence, there should always be a proof of our encounter with Him. God does not want any of His children to remain stagnant in life. So, He wants the believer to come up higher and experience the spectacular. For this to be possible, the believer must understand that he is different from those he lives and relates with. He must recognise his position and inheritance in Christ. With Christ and the Holy Spirit indwelling him, he cannot be limited by any power or force on earth “because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

The Lord requires every prospective beneficiary of His promises to be: (1) A converted Christian – conversion from being a sinner to a child of God and conversion from being a weak believer to a conqueror. (2) A covenant Christian. As an heir of God and joint-heir with the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is a covenant-child. (3) A connected Christian – always connecting to heaven, the throne of mercy through Christ. (4) A consecrated Christian – willing to surrender all on the altar. (5) A continuing Christian and; (6) A conquering Christian. Fulfilling these conditions make uncommon Christians obey uncommon commandments.

Moses and the Israelites were able to cross the Red Sea because they obeyed an unusual commandment. The walls of Jericho collapsed because Joshua and the children of Israel obeyed an uncommon commandment from the Lord. At the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, there was a supernatural provision of extra wine because the disciples obeyed the uncommon commandment of Christ. Uncommon miracles, healing and deliverance come by absolute obedience to the uncommon commandments of the Lord.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Personal obedience to the Lord brings uncommon blessings into the life of a believer. The need for implicit obedience cannot be over-emphasised if we must enjoy all that the Lord has in store for us. To receive our promised blessings like Abraham, we must not allow fear of the unknown, doubt and uncertainty to hinder us from obeying the Lord. Believers need to emulate Abraham’s lifestyle of complete obedience. So, “ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn… Look unto Abraham your father… I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” Our obedience to the Lord must be borne out of personal conviction and resolution to follow Him to the end without minding what the world thinks or says about us.

If Christ is really our Saviour, we must be prompt in our response to His Lordship. Apostle Paul was prompt in his obedience to the Master’s call. “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace… immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”

Therefore, nothing should deter us from doing the will of God. His will may not please us or people around us, yet we are to obey Him. Our motives and actions must be guided by what pleases only the Lord.

As believers, perpetual obedience to the Lord entails that we serve Him at all times till the very end. We must dedicate all that we have, all that we are and all that we are going to be to the Lord. As followers of Christ, we must demonstrate unreserved commitment and loyalty to Him. Christ did that which pleased His heavenly Father; He never contradicted Him either in word or action. So, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Further Reading (King James Version): 1 John 4: 4; Hebrews 11:8; Isaiah 51:1,2; Psalm 119:60; Galatians 1:15,16; Philippians 2:5.