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We are welcome to this week’s disciplers convocation. I also want to welcome everyone joining us through the Facebook Live transmission. We are sorry for the initial break up, we trust God who has reconnected you back has a message for you and you will not miss it in Jesus’ name.
Listen To MP3: The Two Most Important Forces That DEFINE YOUR CHRISTIANITY
Today we want to look at what has been titled “The Two Most Important Forces That Define Your Christianity.” Now, assuming we could do a practical, we could have said “is there anybody here that could define so, so and so” For example, if we want to define electricity, is there anybody here who can define it? I am sure if somebody comes out to give is an explanation or a definition, we will understand what electricity is by that definition. So, definitions has a way of describing things, helping us to know the breath, the length, the depth and the height of that thing. So, something that we don’t know before, we can begin to know it when we have an opportunity to know the definition.
So, today, we want to see The Two Most Important Things or Forces That Defines our Christianity. So your christianity as an individual is going to be different from other peoples’ own by these forces. How you respond to them would make the difference between you as a Christian and I as a Christian. So, you could have ten people attending the same church, listening to the same message, Pastored by the same man or a woman producing two different outcomes in life simply by their response to these two forces. Do we understand that? Because we know that it is possible for two people to be born by the same mother, nursed by the same mother, twins, but behave differently. Certain forces, which also applies to Christians also applies to the twins. They are feeding from the same source, but they are becoming different things or different people.
These forces, I want us to go to Galatians to see them. Galatians 5, many of us have read this Scripture, but the Lord wants to show us something to encourage us tonight. Galatians 5 from verse 1. I will love to read to verse 15 and I want us to follow.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised (and I want you to note these words [Indeed I, Paul, say to you[irrespective of your gender or denomination, irrespective of your age; I Paul say to you] that if you become circumcised Christ will profit you nothing (I want us to keep that in our hearts). 3 And I testify again (and I am sure we know the meaning of testify because it has a link with testimony, and we know that a witness is one who testifies. So, when Jesus said you shall be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth, so it means apostle Paul was at this moment witnessing, doing the work of an apostle. The same thing he was sent to do) to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace (I am sure this looks like strong words, but it is important that we share it together). 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even [c]cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
May the Lord bless the reading of His word in our hearts in Jesus’ name. The Two Most Important Forces That Define Your Christianity, from what we read in Acts of the apostles, talking about when the apostles first got to Antioch, the Bible says believers were first called Christians in Antioch, and the simple reason is because the unbelievers considered believers in Christ to be “little christs” because they were behaving like Christ. So, when we are talking about your Christianity, we are talking about the state of you being like Christ. That is our own working understanding of Christianity. It is about a state, the state of you being like Christ. What defines it, is what we are simply examining today, and I will conclude with that verse 6. Apostle Paul said “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”
In Christ Jesus, it is not about whether you are circumcised or not circumcised that defines who you are in Christ. Apostle even made a stronger statement earlier that if you are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. In another place he says you have become estranged from Christ you who attempt to justified by law, you are fallen from grace. These are strong words, and it concludes with faith working through love. Your circumcision or your lack of it is not what gives you the advancement in Christ Jesus. You do not become an important man or an important woman in Christ. We are not talking about a religion simply because you are now circumcised. Your circumcision could be something that you have to show off among your peers, but if it has to do with your placement in Christ or in God, your circumcision has little or no value for it.
So, what is the most important thing for you? Apostle Paul says it is faith working through love, and I want us to focus a bit on this tonight. In Christ Jesus, this is a very clear term for us. It is not in the world or in a particular local church, some churches could emphasize it, some places could emphasize it; but Christ does not pay emphasis on your circumcision or your lack of it. So, your justification is not because you have satisfied those conditions or portions of the law. So, you don’t stand tall simply because you have fulfilled the law before God. What gives you confidence in Christ is not in those things. It says what gives you confidence is faith working through love.
Now, when I was thinking about circumcision, I listed a few things that summarises it. Now, one of the things, among other things that I listed or I mentioned I noted about circumcision is, your sacrifice, or your sacrifices. You do not get advancement in Christ simply because of your sacrifices. They are not enough. You must not forget that those who are not in Christ are sacrificing. This is why they are not enough. So, if hat you think would make God to be pleased with you is what everybody is doing, then you should check it very carefully.
When we are talking about circumcision I said that we are talking about your sacrifices. Another thing we are talking about when it comes to circumcision is your religion. Your religion is not what gives you place in Christ. You cannot say because you are religious, you are so pleasing to Christ and you are in Christ Jesus. Another thing is that your circumcision could also connote your denomination. Don’t say the reason why we walk in authority is because we belong to so and so church or we belong to so and so ministry. All that does not give you a place or ensure your authority in Christ Jesus. And I don’t want us to forget the story of the seven exorcists who took it upon themselves to use the name of Jesus to cast out demons. They said “in the name of Jesus whom Paul preach we exorcise you.” And the demons said “Paul we know, Jesus we know, who are you?”
So, these people saw Paul doing something, perhaps when they were associating with a group where Paul was, by virtue of gathering they thought that they had seen Paul and how he does his thing. And so, because of association by gathering, they thought they could also claim that life that Paul was living. Paul was living a life in Christ. Paul was in Christ, and because he had a life and authority in Christ, (and this is where I don’t want us to miss it). All of us can claim to be members of churches or denominations, but do we all walk in authority? This is where the mater comes up, the matter of authority. You can claim to be a member of A and another a member of B, but the question is: who is having authority in Christ?
These demon possessed people said “Paul we know, Jesus we know.” We knew Paul simply because he is in Christ, we know Christ because God sent Him to the earth. Who are you? Where is your place? So, apostle Paul said “but in Christ.” I am sure we remember the Scriptures that says if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature. He is a creature that walks in authority and is not afraid. Because the Bible says God has not given us the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. So, a man who is in Christ Jesus is the one that has the Spirit that God has given us in Christ. The Spirit of power, the Spirit of love, the spirit of sound mind; do we understand that?
So, there is a difference between a card-carrying member of a church and a man being in Christ, and now, knowing full well that being in Christ is not about your sacrificing, or about your religion or denomination. Another thing is it is not about your giving. Anybody can give. There are some religion that when they want to appease God, they just give. They don’t need to live a wonderful life, they just believe they are pleasing God and they can get anything they want from God through that means. Circumcision also connotes that, it is not about your giving. So, a man could boast and think with all that I have given, I should get this and that from God. It is not possible, because it is not about your giving. So, a man who has not even given has also not been condemned simply because he has not given anything, because it is not just about your giving.
Another thing that we want to note about circumcision is your appearance, how you appear or how you choose not to appear is not important. It is not enough for Bible says God looks at the heart. Man looks at the outward appearance. In the case of Samuel and the sons of Jesse, God said for man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. So, your outward appearance can make people to love, but it does not mean God would love you. So, what makes people to follow you is not necessarily what makes you to be somebody that God is well pleased with, knowing full well that Christ pleased God, a man or a woman in Christ is expected to please God.
We are saying your sacrifices, your religion, your appearances, your denominations, your giving does not necessarily please God, and we will find out why. Another thing, which is the last point here, is your words. The question then is: what can then define my own Christianity, making it different from someone else’s Christianity? The Bible says in verse 6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” The question is: What is faith meant to do? What is love meant to do? What is it?
When we are talking about faith, very quickly, we are talking about the things you do. You will hardly hear faith when you don’t hear any action. You hardly see faith without anything done. So, now, Bible says “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” That substance is a visible proof of the state of your heart. We may not be able to see your heart, but we can see your faith by your actions. Don’t forget the Bible says circumcision or uncircumcision does not avails much, but faith working through love. But you doing things.
You know we are talking about the two forces that defines your Christianity. The first thing is the force of faith which talks about the things you do. The force of faith refers to the things you do, in this context, that is what we want to say. The things you do. The second thing is, Bible says “Faith working through love.” And that even shows us that actually, faith works. It says faith working through. So, faith normally work, but it shouldn’t just be any kind of work. Don’t forget we have said your circumcision talks about your sacrifices, your religion, your denomination, your giving, your appearance and your words; these are the things you do.
That is why we said the things you do are not enough, you are not a good Christian simply because you do things. Everyone does things. That is why faith is not enough. Bible says faith that is working through love, this kind of faith engages love. And so, what does it imply? What you do is good, but it is not enough. It says how you do it, faith working through love. That is the how. It is not just how you do it, the love goes beyond how you do it. It also talks about why you do it. So, we listed a few things:
- Your sacrifices. If you are in Christ Jesus, you will sacrifice.
- It says your giving, if you are in Christ Jesus you will give.
- Your appearance, if you are in Christ Jesus, you will have a form of appearance.
- If you are in Christ Jesus, you will speak words.
The question is: How do you speak words? How do you sacrifice? How do you give?
Then the question again is: Why do you sacrifice? What is your goal, what are you looking for? Let us quickly go to the book of Matthew 6, so that we will see example of how and why. What you do is not enough. Why you do it and how you do it defines your true identity in Christ Jesus. Matthew 6, from verse 1; the Bible says:
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men (do we see one word there that we have mentioned before? It says “take heed that you do not do” Don’t forget the first thing is, when we said faith working through love, the first thing is faith, that is, the things you do right? It now says take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men), to be seen by them (talking about how you do. This Scripture is not telling you and I not to do charitable deeds, because that would mean not to walk in faith. But walk in faith but ensure it is not in lust) Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed (because it is essential), do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues (don’t you see it? So, it does not exclude people in the church. The hypocrites are in the church. They do good in the church. The do great things in the church. They sow, they give, they can even say “God bless you in the church” but Bible says don’t be like the hypocrites who do that. See why they are hypocrites) and in the streets, that they may have glory from men (Can you see why they do what they do?
So they were not doing their good, their charitable deeds by love, they are doing it so that they can have glory from men). Our focus is faith working through love, charitable deeds that is powered by love. Charitable deed that is done simply because of your heart for God and no other ulterior motive. So, when you are speaking in tongues, and people are hearing languages that they have never hear before; the question is: Why? Is it so that men can know you as man who has all the tongues in the world? or that you may connect with God and draw His hand in the midst of the people.
The things you do are good, it is good that you are doing things, but that is not enough. We must not be a group of people who are busy doing things in the name of God, we must do things for God in a manner that pleases Him and glorifies Him.
Let us continue. It says “Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Why did the Bible say that? Because in reality people will glorify them. When a pastor does all manner of gymnastics, boasting of his exploits in South Africa and all of that, and how he travelled in first class, lodged in a five start hotel, this and that, at the end of the day, people will give glory to him. This is why the Bible says surely they have their rewards. He has a perishing reward, the type that fades with time. A time will come these people will leave you, when their eyes become clear, but the reward is temporal. But see what the Bible says in verse 3.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (See how. When you are being nice, it s not because you want to show off. It is just because that is the state of your heart), 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
Can we see, when we said your circumcision could even include your words. They believe if they can speak so many things, God will hear. The Bible says do not be like them. I am sure we know that these “them”, they are also a people. That is why we are talking about the forces that defines us, or separates us from the rest so that when people see us, they wouldn’t just say these ones are not true Christians. These are people that are really following after the Christ Jesus. Why? What they do, they do it with a different heart.
It is not enough for anyone to dip his hands into his pocket and dash the poor people money. God wouldn’t be too overly excited because we are doing that. What really impresses God is why you are doing it. Are you doing it simply because if you don’t do it, these people will suffer and you don’t want them to suffer, or you are doing it so that your street people will know that you are the best or nicest person in the neighbourhood? Anything you want to do, you must ask yourself: why am I doing this? Am I doing this, demonstrating faith simply because I am in love with God and His work or because I just want to show somebody or show something off?
Pastors can separated simply because of these things. When a pastor is preaching, why is he doing so? What does he intend to achieve? You know, it is possible for a man of God that is invited in a place to preach so much and the people listening are wowed, screaming that they haven’t heard such a message before, but he knows he is preaching that way simply because he knows someone in the audience could invite him to come preach at another time in his own church too. God is judging our motives. Why we do what we do is more important than the things we do. Your love substantiate your faith, your love confirms your faith.
Declaring you are a man of faith is not enough! How you demonstrate that faith is what draws God’s heart to your heart. I pray that God will help us in Jesus name. One of the few things that I noted here is that talking is very easy and cheap. As I am talking here right now, anybody can talk. Another thing that is very easy is leading. Another thing is serving. Anybody can serve. The question is: why do you serve? Why do you lead? Why do you talk? Is it because it is an obligation, or because it is easy. Don’t do the things that are easy, it is not enough. You must ask yourself the question why do I do it? And I pray that the Lord will help us In Jesus’ name.
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary, in the book of Luke 1 from verse 26, and the angle of the Lord shared the vision with her; she said “How shall these things be? What you asked me to do, how shall it be since I do not yet know a man.” I am not circumcised (I am just using the word here. And the angel said “don’t worry, it would be done by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit will do it, He will overshadow you. And then she now said “let it be unto me according to your word.” She decided to submit her life to the will of God. Is it because she want to show off that she is a virgin, No! Not because she wants to show off as the one who gave birth to Jesus, No!
She simply wanted to demonstrate faith. Because when you are told you will conceive in your womb, no man will touch you, it will happen by the Holy Spirit, it has never happened before this time. You have to trust God to believe enough that it would happen. And she said let it happen just as God has said it. Why did she say that? Because she loves God, and that is one thing that we must never forget. She loves God. The question is: Why do we do what we do? Do we do to show off, or do we do it because we love God.
I pray that God will help us in Jesus’ name.
Source: Centre for New Dimension Leadership
