HOW TO LIVE A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Introduction
When we look at the society around us today, the crisis, war and destructions, what comes to mind is fear. In the midst of all these is ever-growing poverty among the jobless and many people are worried, others becoming desperate.
At such moments, one message stands clear, don't lose hope. No matter what realities you are facing, remain the Christian you are, don't lose faith, put your absolute trust in the Lord.
Faith itself is hope and it has the power to make all things happen for you. A Christian must be of the mind and attitude that everything is possible through faith. Faith in God and holiness are major drivers of the new life in Christ.
A life of faith puts you in a new paradigm when you realize your God is the Almighty God. When you realize the sacrifices of Christ on the cross was for your blessing, to make Prince and Princes with grace and power to overcome challenges and triumph over them.
That is the dimension that will transform your thinking and life forever. You will stop living under circumstances and begin to live above them, which is the life of a Believer in Christ?
At such moments, one message stands clear, don't lose hope. No matter what realities you are facing, remain the Christian you are, don't lose faith, put your absolute trust in the Lord.
Faith itself is hope and it has the power to make all things happen for you. A Christian must be of the mind and attitude that everything is possible through faith. Faith in God and holiness are major drivers of the new life in Christ.
A life of faith puts you in a new paradigm when you realize your God is the Almighty God. When you realize the sacrifices of Christ on the cross was for your blessing, to make Prince and Princes with grace and power to overcome challenges and triumph over them.
That is the dimension that will transform your thinking and life forever. You will stop living under circumstances and begin to live above them, which is the life of a Believer in Christ?
Then you have to know that this wonderful journey of faith starts with holiness. It is nourished by obedience to the Word of God and prayer and the combination of faith and holiness is a strong force that can pull all the covenant blessings of the cross to you.
Preliminary conditions
Every kingdom has rules and law-abiding citizens of the kingdom enjoy all the benefits available to citizens, while disobedient citizens, though they are popular citizens will not find life easy if they continue to live in disobedience to the laws of the land.
The first step to living a new life in Christ is knowing who you are in Christ. If you know there is no limitation on you, though the enemy may try to hinder, it will help you to continue doing the right things and not be discouraged. Setbacks will surely come, but, by your words and action, they will pass.
To live and walk in the spirit, which is the new life in Christ, you must develop your spirit man through daily study and meditation on the word of God and asking for divine revelation. This is because the enemy we are fighting against is a spirit, his agents have yes to see into the spiritual realm. You cannot win any battle if you are dead in the spirit.
Are you asking me why we are fighting? Again the answer is that even though God has made all provisions for our godliness and living, we cannot possess our possessions in Christ without a fight. Sometimes back, an agent of satan asked me "If I thought I will become a man of God and succeed without a fight?". Moses sent out spies to survey the promised land, already given to them by GOD, yet God said they contend with the occupants of the land.
The spies came back thoroughly frightened by what they saw, the Anaks, the Giants were there. Beloved, if you will possess your possessions in Christ, you will have to contend with the giants in your promised land. They will never accept your pleading to leave...NO! They will only leave by force.
So, we need to understand how the Kingdom of God works and that to obtain the promises God has made to us, a strong force of faith and holiness is required. Christ has made all things possible, but you must believe it to receive it. You must also do the work of faith and pray without season to take delivery of those blessings.
To live and walk in the spirit, which is the new life in Christ, you must develop your spirit man through daily study and meditation on the word of God and asking for divine revelation. This is because the enemy we are fighting against is a spirit, his agents have yes to see into the spiritual realm. You cannot win any battle if you are dead in the spirit.
Are you asking me why we are fighting? Again the answer is that even though God has made all provisions for our godliness and living, we cannot possess our possessions in Christ without a fight. Sometimes back, an agent of satan asked me "If I thought I will become a man of God and succeed without a fight?". Moses sent out spies to survey the promised land, already given to them by GOD, yet God said they contend with the occupants of the land.
The spies came back thoroughly frightened by what they saw, the Anaks, the Giants were there. Beloved, if you will possess your possessions in Christ, you will have to contend with the giants in your promised land. They will never accept your pleading to leave...NO! They will only leave by force.
So, we need to understand how the Kingdom of God works and that to obtain the promises God has made to us, a strong force of faith and holiness is required. Christ has made all things possible, but you must believe it to receive it. You must also do the work of faith and pray without season to take delivery of those blessings.
How the Kingdom works
The kingdom of God offers you everything that Christ died for plus eternal life in heaven. There is protection from the attacks of the devil, good life if you are obedient to the word of God, success if you are diligent in what you do, and in the end eternity in heaven. But, to enjoy all these, you have to reject sin and hate everything that leads to sin.
You have to live a holy and righteous life. The bible says Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity, and God anointed Him with oil of gladness, above His fellows - Heb 1:8-9. That will have to be your testimony as well. You have to love righteousness and hate sin, do the work of Evangelism and all things are yours.
The kingdom of God offers you everything that Christ died for plus eternal life in heaven. There is protection from the attacks of the devil, good life if you are obedient to the word of God, success if you are diligent in what you do, and in the end eternity in heaven. But, to enjoy all these, you have to reject sin and hate everything that leads to sin.
You have to live a holy and righteous life. The bible says Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity, and God anointed Him with oil of gladness, above His fellows - Heb 1:8-9. That will have to be your testimony as well. You have to love righteousness and hate sin, do the work of Evangelism and all things are yours.
Abundant life in Christ is not for baby Christians, it is a life of power and blessing. You are against every shade of darkness and Satan and his agents will be fighting back, at least to hinder or stop your progress. I love the grace message and other motivational speaking about faith, but until you know the truth, you cannot be free.
The truth is that to walk in newness of life, you must be delivered from sin and worldliness. The bible says: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty - 2 Cor 6:17-18
You are not a winner in the Kingdom of God until you have dealt with sin and all unrighteousness. There is no victory in Christ without holiness. Victory over sin and holiness is not possible without the Holy Spirit working in you. This is why it is very important for believers, after receiving Christ to get the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
The Actual Life:
The new life in Christ begins when a person is established in holiness. It is a life of faith, holiness and good works. It is a life dependant on God and expensed in doing His will and not ours. It is a life of no impossibility, a life of soul searching and winning, a life dominated by the word of God and trusting fully in God.
It is a life of prayer and power, it is a life that glorifies the Lord. The Bible says that you’re more than a conqueror, an assurance of victory that awaits you in life. Jesus says: “If you drink any deadly thing, you’ll not be hurt” (Mark 16:18). You can’t be poisoned, because the life in you is divine.
However, this secured Christian living has a condition attached to it. You must be holy. You must not live in sin, support or encourage anything that promotes sin. The flesh must be dead in your life and the love for God and man replaces the 'old man' in you. It is a life of responsibility towards God and man, of loving the Lord and your neighbours as yourself, without which your faith is in vain.
The new life in Christ can be summarized thus:
1. It is a life that starts with a struggle as the person amends his old ways of thinking and living. The adjustment to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires and sin, and to embrace the life of the new man, created in the image of God, in righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
2. This newness begins to evolve with every new day. As you study and meditate on the word of God and obey them, there is a great transformation that takes place in the life of the person. Their old way of living is replaced with living for the Lord. Their old way of thinking is replaced with thinking on the truth of Jesus. Their old way of speaking is replaced with a speech that is full of grace and edifying.
3. The life of Christ becomes real to the person daily as you discern between what is godly and ungodly, what is good and evil, what is pleasing and what is not pleasing to God and sticking to what is good and pleasing to the Lord.
4. There will be mockery in the beginning as you decide not to follow the ways of your friends, either in talking, dressing or selfish and aggressive pursuit of things. Friends and relatives will mock, laugh and call you names, waiting to see how you will end. To them, as you give up pleasures of this life, refuse to cheat or tell lies, they will call you foolish and miserable. But, unknown to them your life of peace and joy is just beginning and will continue till you meet your Saviour in eternity.
5. Life sold out to Christ: You are living every day, a life surrendered to Saviour Jesus Christ, then, you have to set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
6. A Spirit-filled and bible believing life that secures you a seat with Christ, in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers. Your life is hidden in Christ and Christ in God and so, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" - Rom 8:1-2
7. A life of faith that is trusting God and the truth He revealed in His WORD to rise above your circumstances. You are setting your eyes on The LORD and saying, “No matter what I see, hear or feel, I will trust my God to do what He has promised to do!”
When your bills tell you that you’re drowning in debt, you know your God will provide all you need (Philippians 4:19). And when the enemy (or friends or family or circumstances) whisper that you will never have the life you dream of, you know that your God is a God with good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
8. It is a life that honours God in word and action. You honour God with your faith and works of faith, and God in return confirm your words and actions with signs and wonder. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God tells you, “I will honour those who honour me.” To honour means “to make heavy with glory; to highly esteem, promote, exalt or lift up.” Some people would say that it’s wrong for any person to be promoted or exalted, but Scripture says something different.
9. It is living a lowly life devoid of boosting, no matter your level of achievements. A life submitted unto God, that can resist the devil, drawn to God with cleansed hands and purified hearts. Apostle James says in James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6 says “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.” It is His plan to bless you.
10. It is life in the Word of God, lived by:
- Discovering what The WORD has to say about your life
- Speaking The WORD over yourself, your life and your family
- Believing God’s WORD wholeheartedly
- Speaking positively about yourself and your life
- Praising God for who He is
- Praying continually for wisdom and direction
- Thanking God for every good thing He has done and is doing for you!
Conclusion
The conclusion is that we are living in the last days, the King is coming. Jesus Christ is coming to rapture the saints and my prayer is that you will be among them. It starts from receiving Him as Lord and Saviour.
The bible says “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. If you have not received Him, make that confession in prayer now, don't wait for another.
FIRE...
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