By Pastor Elijah,
Associate Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
Philippians 3:7
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Exodus 5:1-2 God saves Israelites but not they be free but they may worship. God didn't save us to make a religion but saved us for a relationship.
Christianity is Relational, not "Religional"
Knowing Christ can be illustrated with the journey of a space rocket. It is made magnificent, whole and packed but once launched and begins its journey for it to get to its destination it has to lose some of its parts. So we are we begin as we are but as we get deep in him we have to lose some stuff from the world to get deep in him.
Knowing and pursuit of Christ comes with a price tag. An old vessel cannot carry new wine.
Putting off the old man
When Christ tells to leave something its because you don’t need it. Salvation may have many theological terms and definition but I simplify salvation as all about choices we make. The choices we make determine who we become. Every day you make a choice and they determine who and what are you becoming. We live in bondage because we are not free, We are set free by knowing the truth. The word of God doesn't deliver but the word that you know. This truth is a person (Christ himself)the more you know him the more free you become.
Christian character (Virtue)
Virtue is the measure of closeness to God.
Knowledge of God doesn't make you Godly (they shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free. It takes more than knowledge to keep one free )if it did Satan would still be in heaven, he knows the word back and forth, Muslims, Atheist do too but what brings the difference is the Christlike a character that we bear(we shall know them by their fruits)
If Virtue and knowledge run a sprint knowledge will win but when they do a marathon virtue takes the medal home because knowledge will get tired but virtue will continue. It means the secret of our sustainability is in our character of him not our knowledge of him. You can exhaust knowledge sources abt him but when He is within you he is teaching you daily.
When Christ comes in you he touches everything from the mind to how your feet walk (Peter was betrayed by his walk) He transforms your talk(you observe etiquette, protocols, respect to other people.
You become an ambassador of the kingdom. when you wrong people you don't say everybody does it but apologize.
Colo 3:1-14- putting off the old self and put on a new self. You are not yet delivered into salvation if I can still look at you and trace the old man.,i.e characteristics of old man tempers, tribal lines, lust, flesh desires.
If asked how to grow spiritually u say read the word and pray. Have u not been doing it???
We just read the bible to cure themselves of the guilt of not reading the word. We don't grow by looking at the book and mumbling words
You can study the bible out of competition/publicity (PR)
Jer 29;13 - law of encounter. 24:7- seeking him with everything
Reading the bible doesn't mean u thirst after God it can be u are not yet employed, married, succeded in ur biz, bought a car, promoted, lifted, anointed.
Are still hungry for God or your thirst was quenched?
It's believed Eve was easy caught for the serpent because she was a secondary recipient of God’s word compared to Adam who knew God on a one on one relationship.
Philippians 3:7 whatever was for my gain I now consider it a loss.
To God, I am a fragrance to the world in the fragrance of God
The submarine illustration for getting deeper in God
Jer 29;13 - law of encounter. 24:7- seeking him with everything
Reading the bible doesn't mean u thirst after God it can be u are not yet employed, married, succeded in your biz, bought a car, promoted, lifted, anointed.
If we are to remain in God it means we have an encounter with him that is bigger than money, achievements, success, investments that he means more than anything in your life.
God is looking for people that are dead to self for him to fill and walk in them among men. i.e Enoch walked with him until he was no more.
The place of encounter is the place of pruning, dealing with the flesh,
Intimacy and loving him, where he washes us Isaiah 6.1
It's not the place where men meet God is a place where those who are desperate for him lay and live. Until you die the word will never be alive, prayer power will never be activated in ur life.
Its the place of a room for two, you and him only. No phones, wifi but you and the lord. You can be a good bible reader, a prayer warrior but do u have time for God.
Its a place of quenching thirst for those who know how to hunger after him Psalm 42:1 As the dear panteth. What do u pant after? What replaced your thirst for him?
John 7:38-whoever thirst of him let him drink streams of living water shall flow.
Its a place of receiving divine direction and course i.e Saul to Paul, shepherd Moses to deliverer Moses
Brokeness is not for sinner only, it's the state of heart that declares ur consistent dependence on God.
God spoke to me and said blessings are not to classify you among men but to classify sons of the kingdom among sons of this world by how they advance the kingdom.
No everything you go through is for binding and loosing there are things we go through just to draw you close( instruments of encounter).
Righteousness
James 1:13- after every test, there is a blessing.
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