Experiential Oneness with Christ: God is Light (Podcast)
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Spiritual facts and Life time lessons
Christianity is not patterned to a religion rather it is patterned to Christ, so when you got born again; the aim is to bring you into experiential oneness with Christ and before you can enjoy this oneness two things must happen to you.
1. Born again: Good News Translation John 3:3 Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.” it is clear from this scripture that your journey with Christ and His Kingdom begins at the point of being born again, though some people end their journey here but I tell you the truth, any man who end his journey with Christ simply by getting born again and goes to sleep will not experience certain dimensions of Christ here on earth. For instance; for an American to come into Nigeria he or she needs a visa, so without the visa no legitimate entry. For the fact that he or she enters legitimately with a visa does not give him or her right to vote and be voted for in Nigeria, there are certain rights and privileges he or she cannot enjoy by virtue of being in Nigeria until he or she fulfil certain laws in Nigeria to grant him such rights. So it is in the Kingdom of God, a man who just got born again is only permitted to enter the Kingdom of God and for him to participate in the Kingdom he needs to fulfil necessary laws and that brings us to the second fact
2. Born of Water and Spirit: Good News Translation John 3:5 “I am telling you the truth,” replied Jesus, “that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Please note that water and Spirit are two essential systems in the Kingdom of God, we will see that later. The second steps after a man is born again is to be born of water and Spirit, these two systems holds the Key to enter into the Kingdom experience.
So a man who is born again can only see the Kingdom of God but it will take a man who went further and be born of water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. To see the Kingdom is like having a perception of God and His kingdom but when you go further and get born of water and the Spirit the Kingdom becomes more real to you because you have enter into its experiences.
Jesus Christ Himself demonstrated this fact when He came on earth before He started His Kingdom experience here on earth He was born of water and the Spirit. Good News Translation Mark 1:9-11 Not long afterward Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”
Another fact to note is that as a child of God, you cannot have any experience outside that which Christ had. So when you begin to work for God and walk with Him; every of your experience must flow from Him who is the author and finisher of our Faith. No wonder St. Paul prayed Good News Translation Philippians 3:10-11 All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.
So it is not just enough to claim to know Christ, you must also experience his power, share in His sufferings and become like him in His death. Some pastors and preachers will tell you that Christ suffered it all so you don't need to suffer again; please let me tell you the gospel truth, if Christ suffered you will suffer; am not saying that you will suffer because you went and steal or commit murder no! That is not part of Christ suffered experience. The suffer here is in trials and temptation in regards to your faith in Christ Jesus. If Christ died and rose again, yes you will die and rose at the day of rapture. If Christ demonstrated power you will demonstrate same etc.
So our experience in life as far as Christ and His Kingdom Advancement is concern must be pattern to His life, death and resurrection.
God is Light
St. John is the one teaching us here and He is speaking not as one who heard from someone but as one who has seen, touch, and walk with Christ Jesus. See Good News Translation 1 John 1:1 We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it.
1 John 1:5 Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.
This was the first reality that Christ thought His disciples;God is Light and if anyone must follow Christ and walk with Him, such a person must possess that light in him. Because that light was the light of men see John 1:4.
Secondly, the light which Christ brought to us has no trace of darkness in it at all rather the light shines in darkness and darkness has no understanding of it, we can see that throughout the life time of Christ on earth,
God is Light manifested through Christ for us to see. The scriptures recorded that throughout His days on earth that He went about doing good, healing the sick, raising the dead and setting the broken hearted free.
So Every believer in Christ Jesus is expected to Shine the light of Christ into this world see Good News Translation Matthew 5:14-16 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Good News Translation 1 John 1:6-7 If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions. But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.
Anywhere you find yourself, Christ is looking upto your light to shine especially in this dark, corrupt and wicked world; we cannot claim to be walking with Christ and still be indulging in sexual immorality, lust, envy, pride, murder, backbiting, cheating,etc all these and more are works of darkness and Christ is looking unto us as His faithful ambassadors here on earth to let our light outshine these evil deeds.
Finally, from today let's keep a check on the way we live; don't just be a Christian by mouth but be a Christian in deed.
United Methodist Hymnal
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
Prayers
Faithful God we bless you for yet another week. We thank you for the grace you have given us in a time like this to hear your most holy word. Father cause us to not just be hearers but doers of your word. Give us the grace to renounce every works of darkness and to live in the marvellous light of your Son Jesus Christ that through our words and deed we may faithful represent you here on earth to the glory and honour of God the Father! Blessed be God Forever more in Jesus name! Amen
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