THE CALL

The call of Abraham was a type of the call to the Christian life. Genesis 12:1 says “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” I believe these instructions are clearly spelt out. It’s a call to a life of consecration to God and to His divine purposes. But unfortunately, there is a lot of compromise in our response to the call today. It is very common to find believers who want to mix earthly culture with their Christian life. I believe this is because these believers have not really understood that Christianity is a call that entails leaving and cleaving – just like marriage. You see, there can’t be a mix of the both! I’m yet to see a culture on earth that doesn’t have a demonic influence in it. 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us that the devil is the god of the system presently operating here on earth. It says “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The devil tries to influence everything on earth, but as New Creation in Christ, we must stand out and refuse to bow or condescend to his influence.

The Word of God clearly tells us in Philippians 3:20 “…our citizenship is in heaven…” (NIV). In the Kingdom of God, dual citizenship is illegal. Some believers still cling tightly to their earthly descent to the point that the Heavenly citizenship has no reflection or expression in their lives. 1 Peter 2:9,10 makes it so clear that “But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” also we see in 2 Corinthians 5:17,18 “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things [are] of God…” The Christian life is a call to a new identity – entirely! John 1:12,13 says “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

This is not to say we should have nothing to do with our earthly relatives. But if we claim to follow the foot steps of Jesus, then we must ask ourselves intelligent questions like: what was the place of earthly culture in the life of Jesus during His earth walk? When we ask the Holy Spirit questions like this and upon critical research, we would easily put things in the right perspective. Then we can follow in Jesus’ steps. If not we would miss it greatly. It’s about total consecration to God and His eternal purposes on earth – nothing else!

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

I bring you a seasoned Word from the heart of the Master to your very heart. I believe that the greatest gift a man can ever receive on earth is the gift of access to the Name of Jesus. This gift is obtained at the new birth i.e. when you become born again. At the new birth the seeker uses the Name of Jesus for the first time and this introduces him or her to a world of possibilities, a place where everything is possible through that Name called JESUS. God has given the New Creature the power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus. Glory to God! I believe Christmas should be a celebration of Jesus Himself, the salvation that He brought to the world and the gift of His awesome Name. The Name of Jesus is a defence (Prov. 18:10). The Name of Jesus is a place of authority and power. The Name of Jesus is the hope of the believer. The Name of Jesus is access. The Name of Jesus is the key that unlocks the unlimited resources of Heaven. The Name of Jesus is God’s greatest revelation of Himself. The Name of Jesus is all the Names of Jehovah and their benefits combined in one – all in one! Hallelujah! With the Name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips we become armed and dangerous, too hot for the adversary to handle. It is the Name of Jesus that makes the New Creature endangered specie. The New Creature in Christ is not only to use the Name of Jesus to claim things or to get things done but he is primarily designed to live in and by that Name.

Now take a look at this, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Did you see that? The first emphasis of the Archangel Gabriel about the Baby-Son (Jesus) Who was to be birthed by Mary was the Name and the Name is directly linked to the salvation of mankind. A name is that which describes the character of a person or thing. The Name Jesus means ‘saviour’, the same meaning for the Word Joshua or Yeshua in Hebrew. Every New Creature was baptized into the Name of Jesus at the point of salvation (Matthew 28:19). I hear the Holy Spirit say that the reason this is so, is because the moment that salvation connection is made through any man, woman, boy or girl, all the resources of heaven is at the disposal of the one who got saved. This is to say that salvation is the door that introduces us to all that God is and has. Through salvation, a new relationship is birthed and by virtue of that relationship, all that God has now belong to the believer. Salvation is the door that leads to an eternal experience in God. God now becomes your Father. The word ‘father’ means source. The Father then becomes responsible for us. This all happens because of the Name of Jesus. Peter understood this revelation and spoke these words to the people in Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” This is the time to let the world know about this. The world need help, it is searching everywhere. Never has the Gospel been more relevant than at this moment. The world needs to know that there is salvation in no other than in the Name of JESUS. We dare not be silent at this moment. We must speak out. This is our season, this is our time.

Every believer in Jesus Christ ought to use the Name of Jesus Christ every single day we live. We ought to undo the works of the devil in the lives of people every where we go through that powerful Name. We must be conscious of that Name every moment just the way we are conscious of our senses. We do this through meditation on the Name. Think on that Name. Ponder on the power of that Name, let the Holy Spirit flood your spirit with the Wonders and realities of that Name. Then you can do as Peter did in Acts 3. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6). Peter was conscious of what he had to give in this situation. It is so good to know that even if you don’t have money in your pocket you can get things done through faith in the Name of Jesus! This makes us unlimited. Glory to God! It doesn’t matter what and what and what we don’t have. What is most important is what we have – the Name, that awesome Name of Jesus. Hey, it’s time for us to start giving what we have – the Name of Jesus! Philemon 6 helps us to understand that the communication (expression) of our faith will be more effective by acknowledging the things that we have in Christ Jesus. I want you to observe what Peter said to the crowd that gathered to see what has happened “And when Peter saw [it], he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?... the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus… And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” (Vs. 12,13 & 16)! I believe that the Church is yet to understand how powerful we are with the Name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips.

Please prayerfully consider these Words. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [Phil.2:9-11]. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him…And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” [Col.3:17,23].
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].” [John 14:13,14]. “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” [John 16:23]. “Blessed [be] he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.” [Psalm 118:26].

My prayer for you today is that the Holy Spirit will flood your heart with light along this line. I pray that every limitation you have ever known will give way as you begin to use the Name of Jesus by revelation. Please give someone the gift of introducing him/her to the Name of Jesus this Christmas season. Make your season count for the glory of God! I pray that you have a blessed Christmas and an exceptional New Year!

LIFE DIGEST - VOL. 12

This is fresh & real! Get inspired to live as God has ordained for you. Check out the 12th Edition of LIFE DIGEST. Read great articles from Dr. E.W. Kenyon, Dr. T. L. Osborn, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist David Hathaway and from Billy Graham’s Ministry. Just click on this link: http://www.lifecommissionministry.org/WebPDF/ld12.pdf to open and download the PDF version. I pray it blesses you!