THE MANIFESTATION OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. Text: 2 - TopicsExpress

THE MANIFESTATION OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. Text: 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. /Our concern presently shall be the pathway to resurrection life, how we may manifest the life of Christ. Let us be clear about what we mean by resurrection life or the life of Christ. It is first a life of freedom from both outward and inward sin on one hand and secondly a life wholly pleasing to God in doing only His will on the other hand. Jesus said in Psalms 40:7-8 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. This resurrection life is simply the life of Jesus Christ represented in the garden of Eden by the Tree of Life. Adam never partook of it. That is one reason we say there is progression in the work of redemption because we are today privileged to be partakers of His life ( the Tree of Life). At the risk of being tedious let us say again that the basis of this life is death and resurrection! We must stand on Calvary ground. We have not only died in Christ but have also risen in Him. We must see that all things hindering us was finished there on the cross. We must see that the Fall of man was there reversed and so we are now free to taste the other tree! We must see that this life is in one and only one person- the son of God, the Tree of Life. And presently that Jesus Christ in us is the only hope of glory! Paul said in Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I live, yet not I, but Christ! We are not here concerned with the outworking of this life but the pathway to the experience! On that note let us remind ourselves about an incident in the old testament. In Numbers chapter seventeen the children of Israel entertained a suspicion whether Aaron was the only one accepted to minister before the Lord. They thought surely they could also minister and murmured against Moses and God. How did God resolve the contention? He told Moses that every tribe of Israel should by their headman bring before Him a dry rod with their names written on them. Moses was to lay the rods in the tabernacle of Witness for a full night. God said anyone whose rod buds in the morning is the one whose ministry is acceptable to Him. Numbers 17:7-8 says And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. So by this God not only brought the contention to rest but also demonstrated once and for all that the principle of death and resurrection is the basis of any acceptable ministry to Him. Ministry on any other basis is rejected and will be burnt up at the last day. Think about it! A dry rod! One full night! Buds, Blooms, Blossoms and yields Almonds. Are we not, in a sense, all dry rods? Then we need to be, figuratively, laid up for a full night in other to bud! So how does God accomplish this in our lives? And what are we to do? * First a handing over of our life to the Spirit as rods were handed over to Moses * Secondly a daily carrying of our cross. * Thirdly a following wherever He leads. We shall briefly expand these points as space permits. First we must note the cooperative working of the Trinity in our redemption. It is God that conceived the plan of our salvation. It is Jesus Christ that procured our salvation on the cross. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to communicate, administer and bring us into the experience of all that Jesus procured for us! So we must be subject to the Holy Spirit as we stand on the Calvary ground believing all we see on the cross! It is written in John 16:14-15 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. In other words the Spirit will take what Jesus has procured and make it ours in experience. So a walk in the Spirit is a necessity! In short a must! The second thing we must do is to daily carry our cross! Jesus said in Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. The cross is an instrument of death! The meaning is that we should be willing for any night the Spirit passes us through, even unto death! They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb... and by not loving their life unto death (Rev.12.11). God dares to lay up his generals in lowly places for a night! Moses in the backside of desert, for a night! Daniel in lions den, for a nighty! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace of fire, for a night! Joseph, Peter, Paul and Silas in prison all for a night! Paul made a discovery in the following scriptures, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Are you still with me? The treasure is within the earthen vessel which must be broken to let out the fragrance! This is the pathway to resurrection life! Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. Paul says he takes pleasure in Gods nights for out of it comes buddings. Look at that! May God make us willing to do away with cross-less Christianity! Do you notice that our days are spanned by nights. Good nights precedes good mornings! ... Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (psalm 30:5) . The principle of death and resurrection is the principle of fruitfulness! Jesus says in John 12:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. But what may we classify as Gods nights? The apostle gave us the list in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. **So at times the apostle had nothing to eat and no clothes to wear** Finally we must follow Him. We are no more in control! The direction of our lives is with Him. We cannot tell where He leads tomorrow. We must wait to be shown what to do! We must go where He goes and work where He works! For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Rom.8.14). God has never delegated any man to direct His work! All, great and small, are required to follow His Spirit. I must take my leave here! Think about what is here written! And may God help us! When we see again, we shall be discussing Fools, Riches and Devils. Until then take this verses and let them be with you. Matthew 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Luke 12:20-21 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God./ *awaketorighteousness* *thedayisfarspent* *nonightthere*