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“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11 NKJV)

 

Growth is defined as a development from a lower or simpler to a higher or more complex form; an increase in size, number, value, or strength; extension or expansion (The American Heritage Dictionary).

Naturally, this definition is true, but spiritually it is not accurate or applicable!

True spiritual growth cannot be defined or measured in terms of increase in size, volume, number, value, or strength.

The new creation is one with Christ, complete in Christ, filled with the fullness of Christ at the new birth.

Colossians 2:9-10 – NKJV

 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The Scripture amply teaches that believers lack absolutely nothing pertaining to life and godliness or necessary to live a godly life. In Christ, you are blessed with every spiritual blessing.

2 Peter 1:2-3 – NKJV

 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

Ephesians 1:3 – NKJV

 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

Therefore, true spiritual growth is not seeking to increase the size, height, stature, power, or glory of the new creation in Christ.

True spiritual growth is not seeking to improve on God’s divine and holy nature we received at the new birth or the quality of God’s kind of righteousness imputed to us at the new birth through faith in Christ.

True spiritual growth is not seeking more blessing, grace, anointing, authority, or divine abilities from the Holy Spirit. It is neither striving to do more good works to please God nor being acceptable to God.

If this is your concept or idea of spiritual growth, you will always be frustrated, for you can never by any means or effort add to or remove from what God has done in you and for you through the finished work of Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 – NKJV

 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

Your born-again spirit was sealed with the Holy Spirit at the point of regeneration until the day of redemption!

Ephesians 1:13-14 – NKJV

 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  

Ephesians 4:30 – NKJV

 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Sadly, because of the wrong but widely accepted concept of spiritual growth in the Church today, many believers are striving in vain to improve, increase, develop, educate, or mature their recreated or born-again spirits through various spiritual exercises.

As a result of ignorance, many believers today pray and fast because they want their spirits to become stronger, anointed, or powerful. They read and study God’s Word because they want their spirits to have more spiritual knowledge or understanding.

What sheer ignorance!

While it is good and right to pray and fast and read and study God’s Word; however, it is not for the sake and benefit of your recreated or born-again spirit.

Instead, prayer and fasting and studying God’s Word are for the sake and benefit of your soul (mind, will, and emotions), which still needs to be purified, sanctified, or renewed daily, and for the sake and benefit of your body which still needs to be disciplined and kept under control daily; for they are yet to experience full redemption (Jam. 1:21, 1 Cor. 9:27, Rom. 8:23, 1 Pet. 1:9).

However, your born-again spirit is already fully redeemed and perfected in Christ; it, therefore, needs no further growth, improvement, or development.

Your born-again spirit is presently in the perfect state of holiness, perfection, or maturity it will be throughout eternity.

Nothing is to be changed, removed, or added to your born-again spirit. It is entirely like Christ in every aspect.

1 Corinthians 6:17 – NKJV

 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

1 Corinthians 15:47-48 – NKJV

 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.

 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.

1 John 4:17 – NKJV

 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

If it is true that the believers’ born-again or recreated spirits are identical to Christ, why then are we still commanded to grow up into the full stature of Christ?

Man is not just a spirit; he also has a soul and body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 – NKJV

 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

While your recreated or born-again spirit is already full of Christ, your soul, and body are yet to receive or experience the fullness of Christ.

Though the full redemption of your soul and body is guaranteed, it is ongoing and will be completed in the future – at the physical return or full revelation of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:13-14).

Your recreated inward man is already fully conformed to the image or likeness of Christ, but your soul and body still bear the image of Adam, the fallen man.

You are identical to Christ in your spirit but not yet in your soul and body. Though you already have a new spirit, you are yet to have a new soul and body like Christ’s.

Growing into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ has nothing to do with your recreated spirit, but it has everything to do with your soul (your mind, will, and emotions) and your body.

While your spirit is already quickened and raised with Christ and is presently seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, your soul, and body are still full citizens of this earth (Eph. 2:4-6).

While the fullness of Christ is dwelling presently in your born-again spirit, your soul still has many negative and ungodly imprints and stuff of your old man that was crucified with Christ, and your body still has all the human weaknesses and frailties.

While all the desires and delights of your new inward man or recreated spirit are godly, pure, and perfect; however, those of your soul and body are often ungodly, impure, and imperfect and therefore need to be daily examined, purified, or renewed according to the truths of God’s Word.

Beloved, true spiritual growth is not seeking more from God but letting God have more of you. It is not praying and fasting and reading and studying God’s Word to strengthen, develop or educate your inward man (your born-again spirit), but rather to purify your soul or renew your mind and to discipline and bring your body into subjection to your inward man so that they also can experience and manifest the exceeding riches of grace in your spirit.

True spiritual growth is not seeking more power or anointing of the Holy Spirit but yielding more of your soul and body to the Holy Spirit so that His power and anointing in your inward man may flow or manifest increasingly unceasingly in and through your outward man.

In summary, true spiritual growth is growing in the revelation knowledge of Christ and becoming more and more like Christ, not in your spirit but in your thoughts, words, imaginations, perceptions, understanding, actions, or character.

This can only happen as your carnal mind is increasingly renewed through constant reading, studying, listening to, and meditating on the truths of God’s Word; likewise, as your body is increasingly disciplined and put under subjection through Spirit-led fasting and prayer.

Babes in Christ are believers who remain carnal or ungodly in their thinking after being born again. They refuse to constantly and increasingly put off their old ways of thinking and living and put on new ways of thinking and living according to that of Christ (1 Cor. 3:1-4).

We cannot genuinely claim that the Church is growing if we are only increasing in size, number, material prosperity, mental or intellectual or mental knowledge of God, spiritual gifting, or acquisition of earthly possessions, but not becoming more and more like Christ in our thoughts, perceptions, actions, values, virtues, conduct or lifestyle.

Friend, as a new creation, you have the fullness of Christ (His Spirit, Life, Nature, Glory, Wisdom, and Power) in you, but you must let it shine forth or manifest increasingly and continuously in your soul and mortal body.

That is true spiritual growth!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I am so excited to know that my spirit is already completely redeemed and that my soul and body will be fully redeemed at the coming of Jesus Christ. Help me, Holy Spirit, renew my mind and discipline my body continually while waiting for the physical return or revelation of my Lord Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15 RSV)

 

One of the primary characteristics of every living thing is growth. Synonyms for growth are: “development, increase, growing, maturation.”

Something is wrong somewhere when any living thing is not growing or developing as it should. Similarly, when a believer is not growing spiritually, there is a problem somewhere.

It is God’s plan and expectation that all His children will grow up in every way into the full stature of Christ. This is the God-ordained primary purpose or responsibility of church leaders.

Ephesians 4:11-16 – NKJV

 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ-

 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

That is God’s ultimate purpose for all His children in this world!

The general but wrong concept of spiritual growth in the Church today is that the believers are born again into God’s kingdom as spiritual babes or infants who then grow up into maturity as they feed regularly on God’s Word, fellowship daily with God in prayer, and participate in diverse spiritual activities in the church.

This concept of spiritual growth presupposes that at the point of spiritual generation, the born-again believers (the new creations) are not perfectly like Christ in their born-again spirit, or at best, just “a miniature Christ.”

Therefore, this wrong concept of spiritual growth emphasizes the growth, increase, development, or maturity of the inward man, the believer’s born-again spirit.

All the spiritual exercises that those who hold or embrace this wrong concept of spiritual growth do are geared toward increasing the size, power, strength, anointing, or knowledge of their born-again spirits.

Though this concept may seem logical or sensible to our natural mind, it is inconsistent with the New Testament’s concept of spiritual growth!

The New Testament teaches that the product of the New or Spiritual Birth is a New Creation wholly conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, not a miniature of Christ.

Romans 8:29 – NKJV

 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined “to be conformed” to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (NKJV). 

Words in italics in the above scripture are not in the original manuscript.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – NKJV

 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

This Scripture is about the believer’s recreated or born-again spirit (the inward man) and not about his soul or body (the outward or physical man).

What does the Scripture teach or reveal about the believer’s new spirit, the regenerated inward man, or the new creation?

First, The Scripture teaches that the new creation was “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:24 RSV).

What does this imply?

It implies that the believer’s recreated spirit has God’s righteousness and holiness as his nature at the new birth. He is perfectly like Christ, who is the express image of God (I John 4:17, Heb. 1:1-3).

The believer’s born-again spirit cannot sin nor be contaminated or defiled by sin.

1 John 3:9 – RSV

 9 No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.

The believer’s recreated spirit is one with Christ!

1 Corinthians 6:17 – NKJV

 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Therefore, the believers cannot become more righteous, perfect, or holier than they are at the point of regeneration “because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 NKJV).

Therefore, true spiritual growth is not increasing in godliness, holiness, or righteousness!

Second, the Scripture teaches that the believer’s inward man is complete in Christ.

Colossians 2:9-10 – NKJV

 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

What is this scripture saying?

It is saying that just as the fullness of God dwells in Christ, the fullness of Christ now resides in the believer’s spirit.

What does this imply?

It implies that the new creation lacks nothing that Christ has!

As a new creation, your recreated inward man has everything pertaining to life and godliness.

Peter testifies to this truth.

2 Peter 1:1-4 – NKJV

 1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

As a new creation, you are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Paul aptly states this truth.

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 – NKJV

 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come–all are yours.

 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Ephesians 1:1-4 – NKJV

 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

As a new creation, your recreated inward man is anointed.

Paul bears witness to this truth.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – NKJV

 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

John the beloved also testifies to this truth.

1 John 2:20-21 – NKJV

 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

As a new creation, you are a joint heir with Christ.

Paul clearly states this truth.

Romans 8:16-17 – NKJV

 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

 17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (NKJV).

You are complete in Christ, filled with all His fullness as a new creation.

Colossians 2:9-10 – NKJV

 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 2:9-10 – AMPC)

9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

Therefore, true spiritual growth is not increasing in anointing, wealth, riches, possessions, or blessings!

Third, the New Testament also teaches that at the point of spiritual regeneration, the believer’s inward man or born-again spirit has the mind or understanding of Christ and is renewed in knowledge.

1 Corinthians 2:16 – RSV

 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Colossians 3:9-10 – NKJV

 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

The New Testament believers already have God’s Word engrained or implanted in their new spirits or hearts.

The Hebrew writer presents this truth.

Hebrews 8:10-11 – NKJV

 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

 11 “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.

What do all these scriptures imply?

They imply that the believer’s born-again spirit does not need to be taught God’s Word; it already has God’s Word implanted and thus knows the truth (1 John 2:20-21)!

Therefore, true spiritual growth is not an increase in a mere mental acquisition of the knowledge of God’s Word. It is not seeking to educate or enlighten your recreated spirit with God’s Word’s truths but rather to renew your mind according to the truths of God’s Word.

What is true spiritual growth?

Find out in the next part of this piece!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for recreating a new spirit in me at the New Birth. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me understand and appropriate the truths about my new spiritual identity and realities as a new creation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV)

 

God always employs and engages men as co-builders whenever He wants anything built on the earth. However, God always gives His co-builders a detailed specification, pattern, or blueprint for whatever He has called them to build for Him.

When God wanted an ark to be built on earth for the salvation of those who would believe and heed His warning before sending a great flood to destroy the world and its inhabitants, He employed Noah and delivered to him a detailed blueprint or plan for building the ark.

God instructed Noah in Genesis 6:14-16, saying,

14 “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

 15 “And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.

 16 “You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. (NKJV).

Likewise, when God wanted a tabernacle built in the wilderness so that He might dwell and walk among the children of Israel, He called Moses up to the mountain and showed Him the pattern of the tabernacle He wanted to be built on earth.

Having revealed to Moses the divine blueprint or pattern for the tabernacle, God commanded Moses, saying, “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exo. 25:40 NKJV).

Moreover, God delivered the divine building plans for the first temple to David. David then handed over the building plans to his son Solomon.

Therefore, David said to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:10-12:

10 “Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”

 11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;

 12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things. (NKJV).

The Scripture reports that God filled the tabernacle built by Moses and the first temple built by Solomon with His awesome presence and glory at their completion and dedication because the builders built according to the divine blueprint, plan, or pattern God had revealed and delivered to them.

God always approves the building built according to His revealed blueprint, plan, or pattern with His awesome presence and glory.

When Moses had finished the tabernacle and set it up according to the pattern God revealed to him, the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle to the extent that Moses could not enter into the tabernacle of meeting (Exod. 40:34-35).

Similarly, when Solomon had finished building the first temple according to the divine building blueprint, plan, or pattern delivered to him by his father, David, the glory of the LORD filled the temple to the extent that the priests could not enter the house of the LORD (2 Chro. 7:1-3).

God has not changed His ways of dealing with His co-builders today. He will not send any man to undertake any building project for Him without showing or giving him a clear blueprint, plan, pattern, or specification of what He wants.

And if the man builds according to the God-given pattern, God will fill the building with His awesome glory and take over the building entirely from men.

Sadly, unlike the faithful men of old who built for God according to His blueprint or pattern, many men who claim to be building for God today are not building according to God’s blueprint and pattern.

While God’s emphasis today is on building His Church (the Ekklesia) as a spiritual temple for Him on earth, the focus of carnal leaders today is on building impressive edifices, cathedrals, or monuments for themselves.

Any wonder God’s awesome glory is absent in our imposing buildings today!

God has a building project going on now on the earth. This building is not a physical temple or edifice but a company of people redeemed by the blood of Jesus and called out of sin, self, and the world to be separated unto God.

God’s present building on the earth is the Church (the Ekklesia). The believers, as living stones, are being “built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:21-22 NKJV).

What is God’s blueprint, plan, pattern, or model for building His Church today?

Jesus Christ!

First, the only true and divine foundation on which the Church (the Ekklesia) must be built is Jesus Christ.

Paul clearly states, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11 NKJV).

The foundation is very crucial to any building. It is the foundation that carries the weight of the building. Therefore, if the foundation is shallow, weak, or faulty, the entire building will also be fragile and liable to a sudden collapse.

Jesus Christ is the only sure and solid spiritual foundation that can carry and sustain the spiritual temple God will inhabit and fill with His awesome glory.

God will not dwell in, walk among, and work in and through the people we build on mere religious rules and rites, human traditions or customs, vain philosophies, or worldly wisdom.

Sadly, many believers today are not being built on pure faith in the person and finished work of Christ. Instead, they are being built on the Old Testament laws, religious rites, human traditions, vain philosophies, wisdom, and words of men.

According to God’s blueprint, His Church must be “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Eph. 2:20-21 NKJV).

The Cornerstone is the first stone set in constructing a foundation, and all other stones are then placed in reference to this stone. The cornerstone determines the position of the entire structure or building.

As a living stone, every believer must be built, set, or aligned in reference to Jesus Christ – the Chief Cornerstone (Isa. 28:16)!

Building men upon the sure and solid spiritual foundation of Jesus Christ starts with teaching or presenting the gospel truth that salvation is purely by faith in the grace or provision of God for our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9, Tit. 2:11).

The salvation that is not entirely based upon pure faith in the person and the finished work of Christ is not a sure and solid foundation for a Christian life pleasing to God.

Second, according to God’s blueprint, His Church must be built with pure, sound, and wholesome words, doctrines, or teachings of Jesus Christ.

While laying a solid foundation for a building is very important, building with good and suitable materials is also essential.

Although the foundation may be rock-solid and strong, if the building is built with fake, inferior, or substandard materials, the building will not be strong or stand long before collapsing.

Therefore, God is not only concerned about building His Church on His recommended foundation (pure faith in Jesus Christ). But God is also very much concerned about the materials (the words, doctrines, or teachings) men are using to build His Church.

What is God-recommended building material for His Church?

The teaching of Christ!

The doctrine of the early apostles of Christ!

The only pure, sound, and wholesome words, teachings, or doctrines approved of God as the suitable building material for building His Church as His spiritual house on earth are those which Jesus taught in person and through the Holy Spirit to His early apostles. They are called “apostles’ doctrines” (Acts 2:42).

The teachings of Christ or apostles’ doctrines consist of Christ’s beliefs, views, perspectives, values, mindsets, principles, ways, or attitudes.

The body of truths Christ delivered to His early apostles to use in building His Church is divine, perfect, and complete.

While our understanding of these truths may be progressive, they are not progressive but constant; nothing can be added, removed, or modified.

The Scripture testifies that it “was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3 NKJV).

The word or teaching of Christ on every subject or issue is divine, authoritative, final, complete, perfect, and superior to any religious or spiritual leader.

Any doctrine or teaching that does not wholly conform to Christ and His early apostles in the New Testament is a fake, inferior or substandard building material for building God’s Church today.

Apostle Paul warns against false teachers using artificial building materials.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 – NKJV

 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Regrettably, many men who claim to be building the Church for God today are only building with fake or substandard materials – enticing words of human wisdom, vain philosophies, empty deceits, traditions of men, religious regulations, and principles of this world (Col. 2:8).

Today’s Church is primarily spiritually immature, weak, unstable, and carnal!

If God’s people are not constantly fed with pure and wholesome words of life (the teachings of Christ), we should not expect them to grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Many believers today hardly resemble Christ in their minds, will, emotions, and actions. This is simply because many of our spiritual leaders build believers with un-Christ-like materials today.

Beloved, are you called to be a co-builder with Christ?

You must be careful how you build and the material you use in building the Church!

Paul warns, “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” (1 Cor. 3:12-13 NKJV).

Gold, silver, and precious stones speak of wholesome doctrines!

Wood, hay, and straw are false doctrines!

You are building with wood, hay, and straw if you are teaching or feeding God’s people under your tutelage with doctrines that do not conform wholly to Christ and His early apostles in the New Testament. And when your work is tested with fire, you will suffer a significant loss.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 – NKJV

 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Dear friend, choose to build according to God’s blueprint. Your reward will be great in heaven.

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to understanding today to see and understand Your blueprint for building Your Church. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to be a wise builder who builds according to God’s blueprint, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV)

 

God’s building on the earth is the Church (the Ekklesia). This building is not an impressive or imposing physical edifice; instead, it is an assembly of a people called out from sin, self, and the world to God.

The Lord Jesus is the Chief builder of the Ekklesia!

Jesus aptly said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18 NKJV).

Although the Lord Jesus is building His Church, He calls some men into partnership with Him as co-builders, for the Lord Jesus takes delight in working in, with, and through mortal men.

Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” (1 Cor. 3:9 NKJV).

What a great privilege and huge responsibility to be God’s fellow workers or builders!

God’s delight has always been with the sons of men (Prov. 8:31). God delights in loving and intimate relationships with the people He created in His image. God desires to dwell in us and walk among us.

Paul queries the believers at Corinth, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (2 Cor. 6:16 NKJV).

The ultimate purpose of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins is to redeem, sanctify or set us apart for God to dwell in us, walk among us, and work in and through us.

Paul reveals this truth in his epistle to the Church at Ephesus.

Ephesians 2:19-22 – NKJV

 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

He further reveals that the Lord Jesus gave Himself for us, “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14 NKJV).

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).

Before the offering of the body of Jesus Christ on the cross to purify or sanctify us as God’s spiritual building or temple on earth, God was always calling for a physical building or temple to be built and set apart for Him so that He might dwell with men and walk among men (Exo. 29:42-46, Hag. 1:8).

God specifically commanded the children of Israel, saying, “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” (Exo. 25:8 NKJV).

But after Christ’s death on the cross, God no longer calls men to build or set apart a physical building or temple for Him to dwell among men. God’s delight is no longer in any physical building but in a spiritual building, His Church (the Ekklesia).

The born-again believers are now God’s building or temple, which God desires to dwell in, walk among, and work in and through!

Paul pointed out this truth to the Christians at Corinth, saying, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” (1 Cor. 3:9 NKJV).

“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (2 Cor. 6:16 NKJV).

Sadly, the delight or passion of many church leaders today is building impressive and imposing physical structures or temples for God rather than building the believers as a spiritual temple for God.

While much energy, strength, time, and financial resources are being expended today on physical buildings or temples for God, the believers who are God’s spiritual building or temple are left unattended.

We esteem physical buildings of no value or significance in God’s sight.

How we have misplaced our priority today!

Having been redeemed, justified, sanctified, or set apart to God, the born-again believers are the living stones built up as a holy temple for God’s habitation on earth.

Apostle Peter testifies, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:5 NKJV).

It is God’s utmost delight to see the believers today being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22 NKJV).

Therefore, anyone whose utmost passion, purpose, or priority is not building God’s people as a spiritual house or temple for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit is not a co-builder with Christ; instead, he is anti-Christ.

It is undoubtedly a great privilege and responsibility to be called and chosen by the Lord Jesus to be a co-builder of His Church with Him. Apostle Paul understood the enormous responsibility of being a co-builder with Christ. Therefore, he didn’t take the responsibility lightly.

Paul writes, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” (1 Cor. 3:10 NKJV).

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Col. 1:28-29 NKJV).

Sadly, many called to be co-builders with Christ today take this responsibility very lightly, not taking heed to build on the proper foundation, with the right building material, and according to God’s specification, design, pattern, or model.

This is why God rejects and refuses to dwell in or fill with His awesome presence what they have built.

It is sad but true that believers today are being divided and disjointed rather than joined together as living stones to grow into a holy spiritual house for God to dwell in and manifest His awesome power, presence, and glory on earth through men’s doctrines and denominations.

Today, the Church is torn apart by her carnal human leaders called to build her. These men are only after their selfish interests, ambitions, fame, vain glories, and material gains (1 Cor. 3:3-4).

It is sad but true that many spiritual leaders today called by the Lord into partnership with Him to build His Church for Him are now entirely engrossed or occupied with building names, empires, and monuments.

Consequently, the Lord is raising among His people today a new company of co-builders who will not build His Church according to the wisdom, pattern, principles, or ways of this world but according to His revealed divine wisdom, principles, and pattern.

Like the faithful builders of the tabernacle or temple of old, the new company of faithful co-builders the Lord is raising today will tarry in God’s presence (labor in God’s Word and prayer) until they see, know, understand, and receive God’s building plan, pattern and specification for the spiritual temple He desires to build on earth.

Then, they will arise in God’s might to build according to the plan, pattern, and purpose which God has revealed to them.

Beloved, are you one of the rising new generations of co-builders with Christ in this generation?

Today, the Lord is saying to you, “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD.” (Hag. 1:8 NKJV).

“And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exo. 25:40 NKJV).

What are God’s building patterns and material for His Church today?

Find out in the following piece!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, behold the ruins of Your building today on earth. Raise a new generation of co-builders with You who will build according to Your divine pattern, plan, and principles, and make me one of them, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:40 NKJV)

 

We all are builders, whether we realize it or not. We are constantly building somebody or something. Our buildings could be our lives, children, families, homes, careers, businesses, or ministries.

Although God gives us somebody or something to build, He is the builder of everything.

The Scripture states, “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” (Heb. 3:4 RSV).

Therefore, whenever God calls us to build for Him, He calls us to partner with Him.

As co-builders with God, we are not expected to build anything independently of God. Sadly, many people today are building without respect for God—His plan, process, pattern, principle, or purpose.

Although everybody is a builder, not everybody is a wise builder!

How do you know if you are a wise or a foolish builder?

There are primarily two ways to know: the tests of life and God’s response!

First, if you are a wise builder who builds according to God’s plan or pattern, following God’s instructions and principles, what you build will withstand life’s tests, trials, or pressures.

No matter what comes against your life, marriage, home, family, career, business, or ministry, if it is built on God’s solid foundation and according to God’s pattern, it will stand and not fall apart, crumble, or collapse.

The Lord Jesus aptly explains this truth in the Parable of the Two Builders.

Matthew 7:24-27 – NKJV

 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

 25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

 27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

You are a wise builder if you conform to Jesus’ teaching and example!

Many marriages, homes, families, businesses, and ministries are crumbling and falling apart today, not because Satan has become wiser, stronger, or fiercer in his attacks than he used to be, but simply because many are building independently of God and in utter disregard for God’s building plans, patterns, and principles.

When a believer chooses to build, run, or manage his marriage, home, family, business, or career according to the wisdom, pattern, ways, or principles of this world, whatever he builds cannot withstand the attacks of the devil or the pressures of life, but will eventually fall apart and collapse (Matt. 7:26-27).

Second, by God’s attitude or response to what you have built, you can know if you are a wise or foolish builder.

If God takes delight in what you have built and fills it with His awesome presence and glory, you are a wise builder.

When it was time to rebuild the temple, God said to the children of Israel, “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD.” (Hag. 1:8 NKJV).

For the believers, the ultimate end or purpose of whatever we build is God’s glory. Therefore, if God rejects what you have built and refuses to fill it with His presence, you are a foolish builder and have not built according to God’s pattern.

God’s awesome glory or presence is absent today in many homes, families, careers, businesses, and ministries. That shows we are not building today according to God’s plans, patterns, and principles.

God always shows His delight and approval of anything we build according to His specifications, plans, or principles by filling it with His awesome presence and glory.

Before Moses started to build the tabernacle for God in the wilderness, he was called up unto the mountain, where God showed him the divine design, plan, pattern, or specification for His tabernacle.

Afterward, Moses was instructed thus: “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exo. 25:40 NKJV).

Was Moses a wise or a foolish builder?

Consider God’s response or attitude towards what he built (Exo. 40:33-35)!

When Moses had finished building and setting up the tabernacle according to God’s specifications, God showed His delight and approval by His glory filling the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:33-35 – NKJV

33 And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

 34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Moses was a wise builder, for God inhabited and filled the tabernacle he built with His glory.

Likewise, when Solomon had finished building the Temple according to the divine plans and specifications delivered to him by his father David, the glory of the LORD filled the temple (1 Chro. 28:11-12).

2 Chronicles 7:1-3 – NKJV

 1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.

 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

That clearly shows that Solomon was a wise builder.

God’s awesome presence in what you have built confirms that you are a wise builder. If God’s awesome presence or glory is missing in what you have built, you are certainly not a wise builder.

Beloved, if you examine your home, marriage, family, career, business, or ministry and you cannot visibly see, perceive or discern God’s awesome presence or glory, you are not building in conformity to God’s specification or pattern.

What should you do?

Go up to the mountain!

Like Moses, go up into God’s presence (God’s Word) to see clearly and receive His blueprint or pattern for whatever He has called you to build for Him.

God’s perfect pattern, model, or example for all buildings today is His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-3)!

God said loud and clear from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matth. 17:5 RSV).

Friend, you can never build to God’s delight without knowing Jesus, believing in Jesus, surrendering to Jesus, listening to Jesus, obeying and following Jesus, and conforming wholly to Jesus’ teaching and example.

Jesus said, “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24 RSV).

Choose to be a wise builder today by building only on Jesus’ words and according to Jesus’ example!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Jesus Christ as the perfect pattern for building my life and all that You have given me to build. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me see and know Jesus deeper in the Scripture so that I can wholly conform to His pattern, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25 NKJV)

 

Jesus’ miraculous work on the man who was born blind evoked a chain of reactions. At first, the Jews did not believe the miracle had happened, although they had listened to the man’s testimony. So, they called his parents to interrogate them.

John records their interrogation.

John 9:18-20 – RSV

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight,

 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.

Still unsatisfied with the parents’ response, the Jews summoned the man again for another round of interrogation (John 9:24-35).

Sadly, like those Jews, many people today still don’t believe that Jesus still saves, heals, delivers, and does wonders and miracles.

Having failed to discredit the miraculous work the Lord Jesus had done on the man born blind, the Jews resorted to discrediting Jesus before the man while interrogating him.

“So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” (John 9:24 NKJV).

But the man quickly answered them, saying, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25 NKJV).

It is impossible to discredit Jesus before someone who has had a divine encounter with Jesus!

As pointed out in the first part of this piece, the miraculous work was a sign for the Jews and us today.

Let us examine the purposes or implications of this sign.

First, the man was blind from birth when he had not done anything right or wrong. Jesus told His disciples that the man’s blindness was not caused by his sins or that of his parents (John 9:3).

This implies that our spiritual blindness from birth has nothing to do with our sins. It is simply one of the consequences of the original sin, the sin of the first man, Adam. We are sinners from birth, not by our sins, but by the disobedience of Adam.

Paul states, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:19 NKJV).

Having become alienated from the life of God from the womb, our minds have become darkened and unfruitful in knowing or discerning the things of the Spirit of God.

Paul testifies, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14 NKJV).

Second, the miraculous sign was to unveil the Lord Jesus to the Jews then and to all men today as “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9 NKJV).

Jesus came as the Light into the world so we might not continue to abide or walk in spiritual darkness.

Jesus declares, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 NKJV).

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46 NKJV).

Although the blind man did not invite or ask Jesus to restore his sight, Jesus came to him and gave him his sight.

Likewise, while we were straying into destruction because we were spiritually blind, God came down in the person of Jesus to give us light so that we might not abide in darkness and eventually perish in darkness.

What a Good, Loving, and Merciful God!

Third, the miraculous sign reveals that we must put our faith in Christ before our spiritual sight can be restored.

Although Jesus had done all the works, He needed to do on the blind man, until the man acted upon Jesus’ words, his sight was not restored.

John writes, “When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.” (John 9:6-7 NKJV).

Similarly, although Christ had accomplished the work of our salvation, yet until you put your faith in Christ and His redemptive work, you will remain in your sins and spiritual blindness.

Without imploring God, He sent down His Son, Jesus Christ, to come into the world to accomplish the work of our salvation through His shameful and painful death on the cross.

Paul states, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8 NKJV).

Although the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men in the person of Jesus Christ; however, grace alone cannot save anyone; you must put your faith in the provision of grace for you to be saved.

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and His finished work at the cross!

Paul testifies, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 NKJV).

Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour has rejected God’s only provision for his salvation. Such a person will die in his sins and spiritual ignorance!

Beloved, you were born spiritually blind into a world full of darkness. It is indeed a double tragedy!

From birth, you were wandering and groping about in darkness, walking in the futility of your mind, having your understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God (Eph. 4:17-18).

However, there is good news for you. What is the good news?

The Light has come into the world (John 3:19)!

Jesus Christ has come into the world to give you light (spiritual understanding), so you may know the true God and be reconciled to Him.

Apostle John states, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20 NKJV).

The divine light or spiritual understanding the Lord Jesus gives us is His divine Life. The Scripture testifies, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4 NKJV).

Without having divine life in your spirit, you are still in darkness, without spiritual understanding.

How can you receive this divine life and thus have divine light or understanding?

By believing, confessing, and surrendering to Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour!

Paul presents this truth in his epistle.

Romans 10:8-10 – NKJV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John also writes, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NKJV).

Friend, Jesus Christ, the true Light, is still in the world, giving life and light to all who believe in Him, receive Him, and follow Him.

Why would you continue to abide and walk in darkness?

Welcome Jesus Christ (the true Light) into your life today, and you will never again abide and walk in darkness.

Jesus assures, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV).

Follow the Lord Jesus, and you will never again walk in spiritual darkness!

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ, the true Light, into the world to give me the light of life. I receive and confess Jesus Christ today as my Saviour and Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9:41 NKJV)

 

No other miracles performed by the Lord Jesus generated so many controversies, debates, or arguments as the giving of sight to the man who was blind from birth.

It all began with Jesus’ disciples asking, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2 NKJV).

Their religious belief or mindset was that the man’s defect was God’s severe punishment for the terrible sins of his parents or perhaps the appalling sin God knew the man would commit in the future.

But the disciples were greatly surprised by the Lord’s answer that “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (John 9:3 NKJV).

This was contrary to the popular religious belief or philosophy of those days!

There is no doubt that this man who was born blind and his parents were sinners like the rest of the people, and sickness can be linked with sin (Rom. 3:23, John 5:14, Deut. 28:21-22).

However, in this case, Jesus said their sins had not caused this blindness.

What was responsible for the man’s blindness from his birth?

Sin, in general!

“This man was not born blind because of one person’s sins but because sin, in general, had corrupted the perfect balance God had created in nature. Therefore, some maladies happen, not as a direct result of an individual’s sins, but as an indirect result of sin in general” (Andrew Wommack’s Commentary).

Moreover, Jesus did not imply by His reply to His disciples’ question that it was God who made this man blind so that He could heal him at a particular time and so be glorified. Unfortunately, this is the belief of many religious people today.

The Good and Loving God would not do such wickedness to be glorified!

Jesus wanted His disciples to know that no matter the cause of this man’s blindness, it was the work of God to heal him. No matter the cause of your infirmity or sickness today, it is God’s work and delight to heal you (1 John 3:8, Matt. 8:17, 1 Pet. 2:24).

Immediately after the miraculous healing of the man who was born blind, all the people who had known him before were amazed, saying, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” (John 9:8-9 NKJV).

Afterward, they brought the man to the Pharisees, asking him how he had received his sight.

The man’s testimony generated more controversies!

John reports, “Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.” (John 9:16 NKJV).

As their custom was, the Pharisees were displeased that Jesus had performed the miracle on the Sabbath. They were blind to the spiritual significance or implications of the sign.

According to the account of John, all the miracles the Lord Jesus performed were simply signs pointing to something far greater than the actual miracles. Giving sight to this man who was blind from his birth was another sign intended to unveil Jesus and His mission to the Jews.

What did Jesus intend to show or say to the Jews then and to us today through this sign?

Let us carefully examine them!

First, Jesus wanted the Jews and all men today to know that we were spiritually blind from birth.

As it was in this man’s case, our spiritual blindness was not caused by our sin but by the original sin, the sin of Adam. Our spiritual blindness was the direct result of our alienation from the life of God from the womb (Eph. 4:17-19).

Our spiritual blindness is responsible for our constant straying from the right path to the way that leads to death and destruction. The Bible often calls us “the lost sheep of God.”

The Scripture states, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:6 NKJV).

Anyone who fails to admit that he is a sinner by birth or nature is still spiritually blind. Similarly, anyone who fails to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only Savior God sent to save us from our sins is indeed spiritually blind.

This is why the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9:40-41 NKJV).

Although the Pharisees, like all men, were born sinners, they would not admit it. Their self-righteousness utterly blinded them to their sinful nature.

They were so spiritually blind that despite all the signs Jesus wrought before them to prove that He was their Messiah, they rejected Him and called Him “a sinner, a blasphemer, and Beelzebub” (Matt. 10:25).

They said to the man Jesus gave his sight, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” (John 9:24 NKJV).

“We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” (John 9:29 NKJV).

They were indeed a bunch of spiritually blind men!

Like the Pharisees, anyone who thinks he can earn, merit, or deserve God’s love, acceptance, salvation, favor, or blessings by observing or keeping some religious laws, rules, regulations, or rites is spiritually blind and ignorant.

Beloved, the Mosaic Law was given to open your eyes to your utter depravity, bankruptcy, or sinfulness so that you may cry out to God, saying, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24 NKJV).

The Mosaic Law was intended to expose your inherent but hidden weaknesses, deficiencies, or inadequacies so that you may humbly turn to and wholly trust the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:19).

Paul reveals, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24 KJV).

Regrettably, after the Lord Jesus Christ has come as the Saviour into the world, many religious people today, like the Pharisees of old, are still religiously observing and keeping the Old Testament laws as a means of obtaining God’s love, acceptance, salvation, favor or blessings.

These are spiritually blind people today!

Anyone who is still seeking, striving, or struggling to please, impress or compel God, or to earn, deserve, or merit God’s love, acceptance, salvation, favor, or blessings by his good or religious works, performance, adherence to some religious rules, or by his self-righteousness is spiritually blind and ignorant.

Beloved, God’s blessings are only available in and through Christ Jesus. It is faith in Christ that pleases God. Salvation and all its attendant blessings are available to you today purely by grace through faith alone in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ.

Paul testifies to this truth amply in his epistles.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – NKJV

 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 3:20-22 – NKJV

 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.

Romans 5:1-2 – NKJV

 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

What are the other spiritual significances of this miraculous sign?

Find out in the following piece!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for sending Jesus Christ as the Light to heal me of my spiritual blindness from birth. I acknowledge today that I was born spiritually blind, but I receive Jesus Christ, the true Light, and I begin to see and walk in His Light, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“When Jesus saw him lying, and knowing that he had spent much time, He said to him, Do you desire to be made whole?” (John 5:6 MKJV)

 

The miraculous healing of a certain man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years by the pool of Bethesda was one of the great signs Jesus chose to unveil Himself and His mission in the world to the Jews (John 5:1-16).

Sadly, the Jews did not discern or understand the sign. Beyond the miracle, the miraculous sign was intended to proclaim to the Jews the arrival of a new dispensation entirely different from that of the Law, the dispensation of Grace.

The miraculous sign was also intended to turn the eyes of the Jews away from Moses and the Old Covenant so that they may be fixated on the Lord Jesus, the embodiment and dispenser of grace and the mediator of the New Covenant (John 1:17, Tit. 2:11).

Sadly, like many believers today, the Jews saw only the miracle, but they were blind to its spiritual significance or implications.

Let us consider what they missed or failed to see!

First, the timing of the miracle or sign was very significant.

Jesus chose to show them the sign at the most celebrated feast of all the feasts of the Jews in Jerusalem, the Feast of Passover (John 1:5).

Moreover, the sign was performed on the Sabbath Day (John 5:9). The Sabbath governed the whole life of the Jews. It represented everything in the life of Israel. That explains why the man was scolded and Jesus persecuted after the miracle.

John reports, “The Jews, therefore, said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” (John 5:10 NKJV).

“The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.” (John 5:15-16 NKJV).

Second, the setting or place where Jesus chose to perform the sign was very significant.

The sign was performed in Jerusalem, at the pool of Bethesda, at the very center of Israel (John 5:2).

This was very symbolic!

Bethesda means “the house of mercy; for therein appeared much of the mercy of God to the sick and diseased” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary).

John 5:2-4 – NKJV

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

What a perfect place for Jesus to unveil Himself as the embodiment and dispenser of God’s grace and mercy!

Third, the man on whom Jesus chose to perform the sign was also very significant.

Although there was a great multitude of sick people by the pool of Bethesda, Jesus chose to heal a certain man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years and who had always struggled or made several personal efforts to obtain God’s mercy by stepping into the pool first after the angel had stirred up the water. But sadly, all his efforts had been in vain, and he also needed a man to help him.

That is why when Jesus asked him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” The sick man chose the opportunity to explain his helplessness to Jesus.

“The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (John 5:7 NKJV).

What a helpless condition to be!

This sick man is an accurate and perfect picture and representation of the children of Israel in the wilderness for thirty-eight years when their sins bound them from entering the rest God had prepared for them.

The Scripture records, “And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the LORD had sworn to them.” (Deut. 2:14 NKJV).

Although this sick man was very close to having rest from his infirmity, he could not enter into it. Likewise, although very close to the rest God had prepared for them, the people of Israel couldn’t enter into it, and no man could help them.

The Scripture testifies, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Heb. 3:18-19 NKJV).

Therefore, they wandered and wasted away in the wilderness for thirty-eight years in their helpless condition under the law.

Although now settled in their Promised Land, the Jews were yet to experience the proper and divine rest God intended for them. Such a rest is impossible under the Mosaic Law, for only the Lord Jesus can give such a rest.

That is why Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NKJV).

The Jews were heavily laden with the Mosaic Law when Jesus came. The Mosaic Law had become a heavy burden upon the people.

The Pharisees had given them more than 2000 regulations for their lives as their interpretations of the Law of Moses. No man could keep such rules, not even the Pharisees themselves.

The Lord Jesus reprimanded them, saying, “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Matt. 23:4 NKJV).

What a bunch of hypocrites!

Like the Jews, all men are transgressors of the law, laboring and struggling under the bondage of the law. It is not sin that binds men but the law. Without the law, sin is powerless!

Paul reveals, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” (1 Cor. 15:56 RSV).

“(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” (Rom. 5:13 NKJV). 

Sin only has dominion over man under the law (Rom. 6:14). Therefore, man’s real problem is with the law. God gave us the law, and we could not keep it. So, we became transgressors of the law and thus separated from the Holy God and disqualified from His blessings.

It was indeed a helpless condition! No man could help us. But because of His selfless love for us, God came down in the person of Jesus to help us.

Beloved, Jesus came to free you from the bondage of the Mosaic Law and sin so that you may arise and walk in perfect liberty as a son of God.

Paul aptly states this truth in his epistle.

Galatians 4:4-7 – NKJV

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Therefore, anyone who rejects the Lord Jesus as his personal Saviour and Lord has rejected true freedom and thus chosen to remain under the bondage of law and sin.

You can never be free from sin until you receive by faith the Lord Jesus (God’s grace personified) and surrender unreservedly to His Lordship.

Until you begin to live under grace, sin will continue to have dominion over you, and you will continue to struggle in vain to be free, for sin only has power over people living under the law.

Paul states, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14 NKJV).

Today, Jesus asks you, “Do you desire to be made whole?”

Friend, you must quit struggling and trying on your own to free or save yourself from your sins. Just say, ‘Yes, Lord’ to Jesus, and He will make you completely whole and free, even as He did to the man by the pool of Bethesda.

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending me grace and truth in the person of Jesus Christ. I choose to stand firm and constantly walk in the liberty by which Christ has made me free. I refuse to be entangled again with any yoke of bondage, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2 NKJV)

 

It is a mere self-delusion for any believer to seek to follow Christ and experience a victorious Christian life without taking up his cross daily. The cross is not something to bear or experience once in a lifetime or occasionally, but daily or constantly (Luke 9:23).

You cease to follow Christ and experience victory in your Christian life whenever you shun or evade the cross!

In the first part of this piece, we began to examine what the Scripture teaches about the right cross to take up daily and what it implies to take up the cross daily.

Let us briefly recap the main points.

First, the cross is your daily choice to voluntarily obey and follow the Lord Jesus, notwithstanding the cost. Whatever is forced upon you is not your cross!

Second, the cross is a life of daily submission to God’s plan, process, will, and way.

Taking up your cross implies your willingness to embrace with joy whatever comes out of your complete submission or obedience to the Lord and your pursuit of the ministry you have received from the Lord (Acts 20:22-24).

Third, the cross is the altar of sacrifice. Bearing the cross implies a willingness to give up all, even your physical life, if need be, for the sake of Christ.

Fourth, the cross is a symbol, mark, or evidence of death. But much more than this, the cross is also an instrument of death.

Your self-life (old man) was terminated through the cross (Rom. 6:6). The cross is also the divine means or instrument for releasing Christ-life in your mortal body (2 Cor. 4:11, Gal. 2:20).

Let us further discover from the Scripture the right crosses the believers should bear or take up daily to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fifth, the cross is an identity:

While the Lord Jesus does not expect you to bear or wear a physical cross daily as an ornament, the cross symbolizes public identification with Christ.

Bearing the cross implies not being ashamed of Christ before anybody, anywhere or anytime. It is you being a faithful witness and ambassador for Christ.

Taking up your cross daily implies readiness to propagate, promote, defend, and contend for the teachings, values, principles, or ways of Christ, notwithstanding the threat to your life or the persecution you may face.

Despite the threat to their lives, the early Disciples of Christ publicly identified with Christ, proclaiming His Lordship and propagating His teaching (Acts 4:1-21, 5:26-42).

Although Nicodemus believed in the Lord Jesus, he could not be an ardent follower or a disciple of Christ because he was unwilling to take up his cross by identifying publicly and openly with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Being a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night to relate with Him because he was ashamed or afraid of being associated, identified, or seen with Jesus by his friends, colleagues, or relations (John 3:1-8, 7:50).

Suppose you are also ashamed or afraid of identifying publicly and openly with Jesus Christ and His gospel anywhere, any day, or before anybody. In that case, you are not yet ready to be His disciple.

Taking up your cross daily is a mark of identity with Christ. It shows the world that you are genuinely committed to Christ and His teaching!

Sixth, the cross is a mindset:

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “mindset” as “a fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations; a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations; an inclination or a habit.”

In other words, you only see, interpret, and respond to situations and people based on the state of your mind.

Jesus Christ came into the world with a mindset to serve and not be served, giving His life as a sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus said to His disciples, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave– “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:27-28 NKJV).

You cannot be a disciple of Christ without having the same mindset or mental attitude that Christ possessed.

Although Jesus Christ was God in every respect, He did not reckon His equality with God as something to hold unto firmly. Christ emptied Himself of His glory as God and took on the nature or form of a servant to save us.

This is the mindset expected of anyone who desires to be a disciple of Christ!

You can only follow the Lord Jesus Christ daily if you set your mind as Christ set His mind or possess the same mental disposition or attitude as His.

Therefore, Paul admonishes us to have the same mental attitude or disposition as Christ.

Philippians 2:5-8 – WNT

5 Let the same disposition be in you which was in Christ Jesus.

 6 Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped.

 7 Nay, He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Him the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men.

 8 And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross.

Taking up your cross daily to be an ardent follower of Jesus implies arming yourself with the same mind or mental attitude as Christ.

It means thinking like Christ, seeing things like Christ, interpreting things like Christ, and having His mental attitude, inclination, disposition, or character.

Apostle Peter also admonishes us to arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-2 – NKJV

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

The mindset of the early disciples was to please the Lord at all times, notwithstanding the cost.

They said, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well-pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor. 5:9 NKJV).

That was our Lord Jesus’s exact mindset when He came into the world (Heb. 10:5-7, Matt. 26:39, John 4:34).

Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38 NKJV).

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:30 NKJV).

It takes the mindset not to seek or do your own will but the perfect will of the Lord in every matter or situation to be a disciple of Christ.

This kind of mindset is the cross you are expected to bear daily. When you cease to have this mindset, you will seek or do your own will.

Lastly, the cross represents a lifestyle:

The natural or flesh life ends at the cross, and the supernatural or Christ-life starts at the cross (Rom. 6:1-6). Therefore, the cross marks the beginning of a new lifestyle or manner of living.

Paul testifies, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4 NKJV).

No one can walk in the newness of life if he has not been to the cross (Gal. 2:20). Therefore, bearing the cross implies living or expressing a crucified life, which is the resurrected life. It denotes selfless living. It is living for Christ and His cause.

This is what Apostle Paul meant when he said, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Cor. 5:14-15 NKJV).

You cannot be a disciple of Christ if you still want to continue to live for yourself!

The cross depicts the lifestyle of a person entirely dead to himself – to his selfish desires, dreams, ambitions, or pursuits in life, but alive to Christ.

It is a lifestyle that reflects the love, wisdom, power, and glory of Christ. The cross speaks of total or unreserved dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:8-10).

Therefore, taking up your cross daily implies letting Christ live in and through you!

This is what Paul meant by declaring, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 NKJV).

Beloved, you cannot be a disciple of Christ if you still want to live or run your life, family, career, business, or ministry your way and by your strength, wisdom, or effort.

Bearing the cross daily is ceasing to live for yourself, to yourself, and by yourself daily, but rather for the Lord Jesus, to the Lord Jesus, and by the grace of the Lord Jesus daily.

Friend, what is your choice today?

Do you want to take up your cross daily and follow the Lord Jesus, or do you want to continue to evade the cross daily?

You need to decide today!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for showing me what taking up my cross daily means. From this day, I pledge to cease to live for myself, to myself, and by myself. So help me, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.  

“Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 NKJV)

 

The Lord Jesus is certainly not expecting anyone to take up a replica of the wooden vertical stake on which He was crucified as his cross daily.

The Lord Jesus surely does not command anyone to bear or wear the cross daily as a religious emblem or as a physical ornament, adornment, or jewelry on his body to follow Him.

Moreover, the Lord Jesus has not called or given anyone to bear, embrace, or endure sickness, infirmity, failure, poverty, temperamental weakness, or negative emotion as his cross.

These are the works of the devil. The Scripture clearly states that the Lord Jesus came into the world to destroy all the devil’s works and deliver us from them all (1 John 3:8).

Sadly, many zealous but ignorant believers today are bearing, embracing, and enduring daily the devil’s works (sickness, infirmity, poverty, oppression, affliction, failure, etc.) as their crosses and even rejoicing in them.

Having carefully examined the wrong cross that the born-again believers must not take up daily in our last piece, let us now consider the right cross that the Lord Jesus commands and expects us to take up daily to follow Him.

First, the cross is a choice:

The cross is not anything forced upon you without your permission or cooperation. But it is something you personally, voluntarily, and deliberately choose to bear, take up, endure, or experience for the sake of Christ.

If it is forced upon you, it is no longer your cross!

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23 NKJV).

It is you that must take up your cross willingly or voluntarily!

His Father or any man did not force the Lord Jesus to bear His cross and die on it. He personally and deliberately chose to suffer and die for our sins, not out of pity or a sense of obligation, but out of His selfless and pure love for us.

The Scripture attests to this truth.

John 10:17-18 – NKJV

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me and die on His cross, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

While Apostle Paul was staying in the house of Philip, the evangelist, the Holy Spirit, through Prophet Agabus, revealed and described to Paul the cross (the suffering or persecution) awaiting him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11).

On hearing this prophecy, all the brethren around Paul pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem so that he might evade his cross. But what was Paul’s response?

The Scripture reports, “Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 NKJV).

Paul had a choice in this situation. He could choose not to go up to Jerusalem and thus evade persecution. But Paul willingly or voluntarily embraced suffering, persecution, imprisonment, and death to finish his race and the ministry he had received from the Lord Jesus (Acts 20:24).

Paul took up his cross willingly; nobody forced it upon him!

Taking up your cross speaks of your unwavering decision, fixed resolution, and strong determination to obey the Lord and do His will wholeheartedly, eagerly, and gladly notwithstanding the outcomes or consequences of your choice.

God didn’t force the cross on His Son or any early disciples and apostles. You should, therefore, not expect God to force your cross upon you. You can choose whether to take up your cross.

The cross is a choice; you can take it up or evade it through compromise or conformity with the world.

You will always have to choose either to be separate from the world and thus face hatred and persecution from the world or compromise and conform to the world and thus escape hatred and persecution (John 15:18-19 NKJV).

Second, the cross implies submission:

The gospel without the cross is without any power to save any soul. The gospel is the message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18).

The way of salvation is the way of the cross, for it was the cross that paved the way for us to be reconciled to God. The cross is God’s plan, process, or method for our salvation!

While the Lord Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, His flesh protested passionately three times against drinking the cup of trembling and fury for our sins. Still, the Lord released and submitted Himself three times to His Father’s plan, process, and will to redeem us, which is to taste death for every man on the cross.

The Scripture records, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt. 26:39 NKJV).

Bearing the cross is perfect submission to God’s plan, process, will, and way despite the protest of the flesh.

It implies a willingness to embrace with joy whatever comes out of your complete submission or obedience to the Lord and out of your pursuit of the ministry you have received from the Lord (Acts 20:22-24).

You are not yet ready to be a disciple of Christ if you are only willing to gladly and eagerly obey or submit to God’s will when you know the outcomes will benefit you.

Third, the cross speaks of sacrifice:

God’s redemption plan is incomplete without a sacrifice for our sins. God’s righteousness and justice demand that He thoroughly punishes every transgressor of His Law. We all are transgressors of God’s law and thus deserve to receive the wages of sin (death).

However, God’s love and mercy prepared a perfect substitute for us as a propitiation or atoning sacrifice for our sins. The cross was the altar where the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, was slaughtered and offered as a sacrifice for our sins (John 1:29, 36, Heb. 10:10-14, 1 John 2:2).

While the cross was the place of ultimate sacrifice, the Lord’s journey to the cross was full of unimaginable sacrifices from the very start. Although Jesus was fully God in every form, He emptied Himself of His attributes, privileges, and glory as God (Philip. 2:7-9).

We might never be able to conceive or imagine all that Jesus sacrificed for our redemption until we reach heaven.

Nobody can be a disciple of Christ without imbibing or learning the art of sacrificing. It starts with you presenting yourself daily as a living sacrifice unto the Lord for Him to do with your life as it pleases Him (Rom. 12:1-2).

Taking up your cross daily implies a willingness to sacrifice all, including your physical life, if need be, for the sake of Christ!

If there is anything that you hold so dear to your heart that you cannot sacrifice or give up for the sake of Christ and the gospel, then you are not yet ready to be a disciple of Christ.

The early Disciples of Christ gave up all, including their physical lives, for the sake of Christ and the ministry they had received from the Lord (Mark 10:28-30, Luke 5:5-11, 27-28, Philipp. 3:7-8).

That is what you also are called and expected to do!

Fourth, the cross denotes death:

The cross is symbolic of death. Anyone seen bearing his cross was already condemned to death by the Roman authority in those days.

Even now, wherever you see the cross, whether on a piece of land or the newspaper pages, you first think of death, for it is often used to mark that death has occurred.

The cross is evidence of death. The fruit you bear reveals or shows the world that you are crucified with Christ.

Is there any fruit in your life that validates your claim that you have been crucified with Christ?

If not, you are not bearing your cross daily!

Much more than being a symbol, mark, or evidence of death, the cross is also an instrument of death. Natural life is terminated through the cross. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave up His life for us on and through the cross.

Paul testified that he was crucified to the world and the world to him through the means of the cross.

He said, “But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal. 6:14 ASV).

The cross is God’s instrument for terminating our sinful and self-life and releasing the supernatural or Christ-life in our mortal body. Your old man or corrupt self was destroyed through the agency of the cross (Rom. 6:6).

If there is no death, there can be no resurrection. The end of the old man marks the beginning of the new man. The end of self-life marks the beginning of the Christ-life. Therefore, you cannot experience or walk in the newness of life without first experiencing death through the cross (Rom. 6:4, 7:4-5).

Bearing the cross daily is reckoning yourself to be dead to sin, self, and the world, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11).

It is walking in the revelation that you are no longer a debtor to the flesh to obey or gratify its passions, lusts, dictates, and desires. It is learning to deny self daily, to say “No” constantly and continuously to the flesh.

While in Gethsemane, the flesh wanted to dictate to the Lord Jesus, but He refused. The flesh prompted Him to rebel against His Father’s will three times, but the Lord ignored the flesh constantly until the flesh was subdued. Having subdued the flesh, the Lord Jesus arose in victory to accomplish His mission on earth (Matt. 26:37-46).

That is what it means to take up your cross daily!

You must never get tired of saying “No” to the flesh and saying “Yes” to the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus said you must bear or take up your cross daily, always, or constantly.

Beloved, manifesting Christ-life is impossible when the self-life has not been terminated and abolished through the cross. These two kinds of life are parallel; you cannot experience or express both simultaneously.

It is only as you daily reckon, consider or regard yourself as being dead to sin, the flesh, and the world, but alive to God in Christ that Christ can live, work and manifest Himself in and through you (Rom. 6:11, Gal. 2:20).

Until you truly see yourself as dead with Christ, you cannot see yourself as one who is resurrected with Christ and alive with Him.

You have to see, know and understand that you are no longer a debtor to the flesh before you can be bold to say “No” to the flesh whenever it tries to dictate to you, influence, direct, or control you (Rom. 8:12-13).

Find out more about the cross you are expected to bear daily in the following piece!

 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for terminating my sinful and self-life on the cross. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to allow the cross to work daily in me so that I may manifest the supernatural life (Christ-life) in this world, in Jesus’ name. Amen