My walk with Christ Guidelines
Topic: Productive christian ~Part 3 By Cephas Aziabou
Anchor scripture:
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Welcome to part 3 of the series on Productive Christian! Last week, I left you with quite a number of questions. One of these was "Are your fruits Christlike?" I hope this particular episode will help you find an answer to it.
To be a christian is a call to walk with God. Christianity is not an organization you join but a life you experience. Christians are the redeemed people of God. In the old testament, the people of Israel were noted to be the only people or nation of God. That's true per the covenant God made with Abraham. Notwithstanding, God had a plan for all nations to become his people by Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Anyone who believes in Jesus, His death and His resurrection and confesses Him as Lord has become part of the family of God. Wow! What a privilege!
1 Peter 2:9 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 marvelous light:
Becoming a member of God's family is an experience because:
1. It wasn't done by registration. This is why a man can have his name in the church book but not necessarily in heaven's.
2. It wasn't based on qualification. It is not the good we did that made us become a member of God's family. This is why a man can do good yet end up in hell. Simply doing good out of natural compassion does not earn you eternal life.
To be part of God's family is an experience because
1. It is a free gift of God through faith.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:. It is not in our power to save ourselves but grace found us and we responded.
2. Becoming part of the kingdom of God or of God's family is internal. It is the recreation of our sinful spirit after the likeness of Christ; God coming to live in our spirit. Awesome, right?
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
By these two verses, it is clearly seen that the new birth experience is God coming to live in the spirit of man by Christ, to enable him to worship God or have fellowship with Him. Look at how Kenneth Hagin put it in his book
The Spirit within and the Spirit upon
"The Holy Spirit comes within the believer in the New Birth or as it is sometimes called, conversion, being born again, receiving remission of sins, receiving eternal life, or receiving Christ as Savior and Lord." (page 29).
From the discourse above it is clear that to be a member of God's family or to become a child of God is not something natural but supernatural.
John 1:12 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: It is by the power of God (grace or Christ) that we have become children of God. Hallelujah! it's so exciting, isn't it?
The point here is that a Christian is a human being God has imparted His very nature into his spirit. Christianity is also the decision of man to follow the example of Christ: His character and ministry by subjecting to his teachings.
Let's look at the first time the word "christian" was used in the Bible:
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
It is in Antioch that the disciples of Christ were first called Christians which simply means like Christ. Amazing!
Do you now understand why people don't understand a particular sister or brother who claims to be a christian yet nothing of Christ is seen in his or her lifestyle? Per their understanding, if someone says he or she is a christian then Christ must be seen in the way he or she does his or her things and this is true.
Take a minute and ask yourself "What has changed since I became a christian."
Of course I'm not referring to the number of cars or houses or certificates you have been able to procure for yourself; if Christianity is an experience then something has to change from within you.
If we say we are recreated after the nature of God which is after holiness and righteousness then we should have something to show to the world; this is what I call christian productivity.
Jesus lived a blameless life as a good example we ought to follow.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:. As I said earlier in the previous episode, we don't go around convincing people to believe we are Christians.
It is not even about the church we attend; what people are looking for is Christlike character in us. The anchor verses have stated the fruit of the Spirit we ought to bear as a result of our new nature in Christ. It is not our power though but it will take a conscious effort of ours to bear these fruits.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Christ (grace ) is at work in us.
Remember 1 Peter 2:9 we quoted earlier that a purpose is attached to our new citizenship: to praise God.
1 Corinthians 10:33 says all that we do should glorify God. We are called to know Christ and reveal Him. Our actions and inaction's speak louder than our words.
One last thing I would like us to look at concerning Christ is His ministry. Christ didn't come just living a holy life but he was also going about His Father's business, doing the work of God (blessing lives).
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
A productive christian does not just live a holy or godly life but he does good, working the works of God: preaching the Gospel, healing the sick among others. Kenneth Hagin calls the ability of the believer to be bi-functional in Christ a dual working of the Holy Spirit.
He puts it this way, "The indwelling of the Spirit is for fruit-bearing, and the outpouring of the Spirit is for service. Understand that our calling as Christians is to bring lost souls to God anyway possible.
One essential way is to preach the salvation message to all. Remember the command Jesus gave His disciples at the beginning of His ministry and at His resurrection.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The command is GO PREACH. This command has not changed; God is still sending out.
Don't just be a good, nice christian or gentle christian, you must be zealous for God when it comes to service. The reason why we go to church and attend programs is to be strengthened to respond to the call of God upon our lives.
You don't have to be a preacher before. Your work, career or business is your mission field; it's a bait to attract souls to Christ. Dear christian, let this mindset of Christ be in you; don't just do business because of money. Be a kingdom minded believer!
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus promised us power and the essence of the power is to go and harvest souls for His name's sake.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
The only way we can be sure people are getting saved is when the believer is preaching the Gospel to the hearing of unbelievers. It is not just our kind gestures. We must preach the salvation message.
In the next series I will be taking you through a course that will help you work towards meeting God's standard for your life. God bless you and do have a nice time with Christ!
I pray for you that you will be found a faithful servant at the coming of Christ. Have a fruitful week!
Cephas Aziabou Godson (visionary)
God bless you for reading!
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ANAM......Our generation in all nations for Christ!!
