Tag: Identity in Christ

Are you making use of your blessings?

Whenever I think about the planets, water animals and nature in general I am always amazed at the wisdom of God!

Just imagine the size of the earth and the speed at which it is moving and it’s shape and gravity! It’s mind boggling!

That’s why I agree with the words inspired by the Holy Spirit but written by Paul the apostle:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You and I are blessed beyond what we can ever imagine! To be united with Christ is the greatest blessing that opens us to ALL other blessings! Just like you can’t explain how God knew how to create the universe so also you cannot explain how you can be so blessed. What we can can do however is to believe and enjoy the blessings!

Here is how I take advantage of these blessings! I allow myself to rest in the truth that I am blessed! Then I ask for directions from God and I attempt whatever I sense God asking me to do! I believe that whatever God asks me to do will go well! I repent when I fall into the temptation of wanting to do things my way or get faster results.

It is sometimes not easy to be at peace when my senses tell me that things are not going well. But over the years, I have come to learn that it is foolish not to trust the creator of heaven and earth!

Yes! You are blessed! Activate more blessings by obedience!

Are you reigning in this life like royalty?

When Jesus was crucified, He was identified as King of the Jews! Yes, it was designed to mock Him but the truth is that Jesus operated on earth as a king and He is King! And you and I are supposed to operate in this life as Jesus operated. Like a kings!

“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Here is what I believe this scripture means. Kings operate by authority that is enforced by their kingdom. When a king goes around, he is protected and supported by the people of his kingdom!

Since we have been redeemed and united with Jesus, we have the support and protection of the Kingdom of God! The angels will enforce every declaration we make in line with the purpose and vision of the Kingdom of God.

It’s time to open your mouth to declare what God has said concerning the church, His children and you in particular. Do not agree that the church is insignificant. No! Do not agree that you cannot do what God says you can do.

I believe that the church of God and I will have a bigger harvest of disciples for Jesus every year from now on! I declare it so and I am working hard at it! The gates of hell will not stop us!

Yes! Let’s reign together through Jesus Christ. We cannot reign without Jesus. This means we reign as we obey Jesus and operate with His authority!

Do you know that all things are yours?

Okay I know that I need to tell you the context. How can all things be yours when you know that there are many things that belong to other people?

“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭3:21-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you are one spirit with Jesus, then whatever Jesus has is yours.

Instead of trying to get things, make a request for what you need as if you are calling it from the warehouse.

If you are a disciple and committed to disciple making with Jesus, there is no reason why the resources you need will not be delivered.

Unless our Lord thinks you need something better!

Do you know all things are yours? Yes! I know and I pray that I keep on knowing!

Are you enjoying the wisdom that Jesus gives?

Wisdom is something that is sometimes difficult to transfer or measure because it involves actions that cannot be evaluated at an instant.

There are decisions I made 15 years ago when I sensed that God was calling me to invest my life into the ministry that looked foolish then. They don’t look so foolish now! I can only imagine what would happen 10 years from now! And in eternity!

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—” I Corinthians‬ ‭1:30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If Jesus has become wisdom from God for us. It means that you and I have the same wisdom that God has as we obey Jesus in us!

There are some decisions I also made that prove foolish now but looked wise 15 years ago. One that comes to mind is closing my growing online platform that connected students with tutors. The work got too much and I did not know how to monetize it. The main problem is that I did not use the wisdom of Jesus! I never took the time to ask God for direction.

Oh how I wish we all would know this truth and tap into it always! Jesus is my wisdom. So I must listen to Him and obey Him and I would operate at the level of God. Does that mean that I would be the richest person on earth? No. It means that if I take full advantage of this wisdom! I will be the most fulfilled person on earth! Filled with peace that is beyond human understanding! And I would enjoy this peace for all eternity! This in my opinion is more valuable than all the money on earth!

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You have the wisdom of God at your disposal! Use it! Ask! Believe! Obey!

Yes! I’m making great effort to take advantage of the wisdom that Jesus gives me every day! I pray that I will always be bold to take action. Especially when the wisdom of Jesus looks foolish to me!

Are you maximizing your union with Jesus Christ?

Every time I attend or officiate a wedding or see photos of a wedding on Facebook I am reminded of the amazing blessings of marriage.

I wonder how many movies have been made and stories told of a person from a very poor background who falls in love with a very rich person. What intrigues me the most is that as soon as they get married they both become equally wealthy and influential!

Each time I think of a wedding, I think of 2 people becoming one! I think mostly of our union with Jesus!

“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Wow! When we become disciples of Jesus! We become one spirit with Him! We can use His name and authority! We have access to all the resources that He has. We are one spirit with Him!

The best way to maximize our union with Jesus is through obedience that comes from knowing and loving Him! Love translates to obedience when one party is infinitely more than the other!

There is a lot more that you can take advantage of because of your union with Jesus! Just remember always that you are united to Jesus! You can enjoy everything that Jesus would enjoy or suffer if He was in your shoes physically! This is awesome!

Wow! Think about it! United with God! One spirit with Him! powerful!

Everyday this season I am sharing about the benefits of being disciples of Jesus! This is why I am committed to making disciples. I ask each benefit as a question. So that you can say! Yes!

Yes I am learning to maximize my union with Jesus! No limits! I have access to all the resources I need! Hallelujah!

What are some other things that come to mind when you remember that you are one spirit with Jesus? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Are you enjoying your constant access to God?

I don’t know if you have ever tried to see the president of a nation or not? But I’m sure you can imagine how difficult it would be. I’m sure you can imagine the protocol involved and that you may not be allowed to see him or her anyway.

I remember how challenging it was for me when I first applied for a visa to travel to Canada to study in Dec 2000. I had to travel from Nigeria to Ghana and I waited in line for hours.

Why is it so difficult to gain access to important people? There are many reasons but one obvious one is that too many people want to see them at the same time!

Imagine if the president adopted you as a child, then you would have a different level of access. Imagine if you are living in the same house as the important person. Then you have even more access!

God our Heavenly Father is infinitely greater than a president and we have constant access to Him.

When we believe what God has done for us through Christ Jesus and we receive Him as our savior from sin, we not only become children of God we become united with Him! We have constant access to God because He lives with us it our body!

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yesterday, I asked if you were enjoying the love of God as Father! There are many benefits to enjoy when we believe and receive the love of God as father! One of it is access to God!

Today I want to remind you that God is as close to you as He can ever be. When you repented and accepted the salvation that Jesus offered and obeyed God, He came to live with you! Now, all you have to do is enjoy the access! Talk to God always and obey Him always.

Everyday this season I am sharing about the benefits of being disciples of Jesus! This is why I am committed to making disciples. I ask each benefit as a question. So that you can say! Yes!

Yes I am so glad I have constant access to God. I can talk to Him anywhere and at anytime. I’m glad that the Almighty God dwells in me. I don’t have to go to any place or ask anyone to help me talk to God! Lord please help me to always be conscious of this truth.

Are you enjoying your constant access to God? Please share with me in the comments section below!

Are you enjoying the love of God as your Father?

It is one thing to be loved and another thing to accept and enjoy that love. God loves everyone completely and unconditionally but only those who accept this love, enjoy the benefits of His love.

Several years ago I went to help a new member of our church family move. He had this beautiful sound system that must have cost him a lot. When it was time to move the sound system he told me not to touch it because he wasn’t sure I would know how to handle it. So I sat down and watched him do it. That is when this truth became even more obvious to me.

What the man did not know is that although I was a pastor, I had a masters of Engineering and I had spent 6 months learning how to repair and maintain such systems. And that I have been taking care of such systems for many years since my training. So the man got my love and expertise but he did not enjoy the full benefit of it because he did not know or believe.

When you believed and you received Jesus as savior, you were accepted as a child of God and you can now enjoy all the benefits of being a child of God!

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Everyday this season I am sharing about the benefits of being disciples of Jesus! This is why we want everyone on earth to enjoy the same benefits. I ask each benefit as a question. So that you can say! Yes!

Yes I am enjoying the love of God as my Father! What about you? Please share in the comments section below.

Do you have Everlasting Life?

This week I will share in a few paragraphs every day on the immense benefits of being in the kingdom of God! I will attempt to answer these questions. What are the benefits of being a disciple of Jesus? Why am I so grateful that I am accepted as a disciple of Jesus? Why is it that I and millions of other disciples are willing to leave everything that the world offers to follow Jesus? Why are we willing to go through pain and sacrifice of comfort and sometimes our lives just to share this good news with other? I will ask if you have these benefits to remind you to say I have [the benefit]!

The first one is everlasting life, eternal life! Or divine life!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You receive forgiveness for sins committed and you also receive the life of God that enables you to stop sinning. That is what everlasting life means!

God the righteous Judge, has made a way for us not to pay for the sins we committed and has made a way for us to have a new life! His righteous type of life. Jesus pays for our sins.

This would not sound like good news to a person who thinks that he is not that bad. But for those who know that a righteous Judge cannot overlook sin, then it’s the best news you can ever get.

If you have sinned then you are doomed unless you accept the finished work of Jesus! I’m so glad I have been forgiven! I have everlasting life! I’m no more a condemned criminal under God’s righteous judgement! The righteous Judge has made a way for me to go free and to live with His righteous life so that I can live like Him!

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

Hallelujah!

It’s Invaluable!

Eternal life! The very life of God! The love of God! The light and wisdom of God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Unspeakable Joy! A loving family! Forgiveness of sins and deliverance from the bondage to sin! All these and more are available to you and I curtesy of Jesus Christ!

Wow! What did we do to deserve all these? Nothing. All these are available because God loves us!

So how do we access this? You must be born again! It’s an exchange! Our messed up life for His eternal life!

You cannot have His eternal life if you think your present unregenerate life has some value!

Unless you see your life without Jesus as useless in comparison to what God has for you in union with Jesus, you will not see the Kingdom of God! You will not appreciate the kingdom of God and you will not accept the kingdom of God!

Now that you see what making disciples involves, you can see that for anyone to be born again, a miracle must occur! The good news is that there are miracles already prepared by the Holy Spirit for you and I to discover!

I’m on the lookout for a miracle as I share the invaluable blessings of the Kingdom of God with all the people around me!

Share your thoughts! What made you give up your useless life for eternal life? For me. Jesus opened my spiritual eyes to see and desire the unconditional love of God that was revealed in Jesus. It took some years though for me to fully accept that my life without Jesus is completely useless in the context of eternity! Your turn!

All that is Mine is Yours

How rich are you? Are you rich because you have a positive net worth? A lot of money in the bank? Does God see you as rich? Does that even matter? What do these words from Luke 15:31 mean?

I’m always happy when I read the parable of the lost son in Luke 15. There are 3 thing that make me happy but today I will only explain one. I will list the other 2.

I am happy because I sense the heart of God the Father! He loves us all and wants to have a relationship with us.

I am happy because I have been lost but now I am home. I have a very joyful and intimate relationship with God

The third thing that makes me happy is that I have access to all the resources of God our heavenly Farther! I am rich! Very rich and in fact I can never be poor! (Luke 15:31).

My brother, my sister it is impossible for you to be poor! You are from the family of the owner of the universe! He owns everything including the people! We lack only because we are still trying to have our own riches instead of joining with God and accessing all His resources! What we should be doing is meeting needs with our skills and making disciples of the people whose needs we meet.

So stop trying to get rich or pursuing wealth! You are only moving money from one of your accounts to the other. If you operate from the truth, the money you need will always be available (Luke 15:31?).

What I have noticed in this scripture is that if your chase wealth, importance, approval from people or even God by acting right, you only get some of the resources! And like the elder brother you will always feel as if you don’t have enough. Luke (15:29).

God has committed all His resources to one major project! What Project? Finding His lost Children. That is what would make our Heavenly Father rejoice! That is what Jesus our elder brother came to do! To seek and save the lost.

Today as you go about your daily activities, remember to use them to help in this project of finding the lost children of God!

If any good parent discovers that their child is gone. That he or she left home without warning! They would commit all their resources to find that child.

All our Heavenly Father’s resources are ours as long as we are committed to the project of making disciples! Seeking and finding the lost children of the Father. So we are rich! We are not looking for money! We are looking for people!

If you want a jump start on your journey to seek and save the lost! You can start with the Free BiVo Minister Course!

Talk to me: How rich are you? What are your thoughts?