Time To Know Christ And Him Crucified!

       At a point in his ministry, Apostle Paul was in Athens where his spirit was vexed and provoked because of the numerous idols the people of the city worshiped (Acts 17:16-33). The amazing thing about the Athenians and the foreigners that lived among them is that they loved to listen to and debate new ideas on a daily basis: “Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). One could argue that the time we live in presently is not too different from the said Athenian society. Many today love to hear new things and debate them daily. Like the Athenians that gather in their Areopagus, we have the Social Media Verse to hear and debate new things. Even our Churches and Fellowships are not left out. It is good to be curious, but in our curiosity and quest to know new spiritual things, it will be tragic to leave the important things we should be curious and seek to know about and go chasing things that are of no eternal value to us on the long run as sons of God. 

      Many children of God know men of God, know their denominations, doctrines but are not too conversant with the God they claim to serve. If there was ever a time to know and be well acquainted with our God, it is NOW! This is the time we must know Christ as our personal Lord, and Him crucified - what it means. Knowing this will help us live lives of Kingdom impact, and in preparation for His Return. To successfully know Him, there is a mindset we must have to live to please Him in this life and in preparation to reign with Him when He returns: “And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake” (2 Corinthians 5:15, AMP). Beloved, the Life of Christ is not a FAD to be debated to see how we can fit it to our own lives! 

      When we gave our lives to Him, we are compelled daily by the Holy Spirit to take on His life, denying/crucifying ours in order to live daily to please Him, because that is the ONLY way to escape and live above the corruption of this world. To truly claim to KNOW Him, we must crucify the Flesh in us. The Flesh is the mindset of living apart from God (Romans 7:7-25)! This mindset (Flesh) was not acquired but born in and with us: “Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). Thus, it must DIE for us to live the Life of Christ: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Also, “For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those whose lives are in the flesh are unable to please God” (Romans 8:7-8). Don’t be deceived, the flesh and the Spirit of God cannot co-exist. This means, if you claim to be Born Again but you still indulge in the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-21), your good confession is a LIE! 

      How then do we put Mr Flesh to death? The ONLY way is to surrender it at the foot of the Cross to be destroyed and uprooted from our lives just like a stubborn son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). Don’t be deceived, Flesh cannot be reasoned with, quieted, counseled, trained or hidden. It must be crucified! Christ came to abolish the works of darkness and turn us back to Him. Have you ever wondered where the works of darkness are? Jesus taught everyday for three and a half years on the face of the earth. This is to tell us that these works that He came to expose, abolish and destroy are anchored in the souls of people! His coming was not just to heal us of all our diseases, feed us and prosper us. If these were the only reasons He came, He didn’t need to have come because Moses, Elijah, Elisha and many other prophets did the same. But they could not help the people take out Flesh. The laws could not accomplish the desired results because of it (Romans 7:13-25). That was why Christ had to come and die so that Mr Flesh can die permanently! 

      We cannot play the hypocrite or pretend anymore! The Return of Christ for His Bride is closer now than when we first believed. It is time, to go out of your way to KNOW HIM FOR YOURSELF, and He will teach You Himself: “The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in Him” (1 John 2:27). God bless you as you surrender your life to Him afresh!