Please click on link for part-1 of this article. What does it mean to be in Jesus? (1) – Feast of light
In Him we partake of God’s righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:21, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (NKJV)
-He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us: He made Jesus a sin offering for our sakes. He made Jesus, who had no sin, who never made an error or disobeyed God to share (or partake) in our sins, wickedness and disobedience. All our sins were imputed into Jesus, and therefore became the perfect and eternal sin offering for you and me.
-That we might become the righteousness of God in Him: that through our union with Christ (when we accept Jesus as Lord) we partake of the righteousness of God. That by being united with Jesus, we are made right or righteous before God.
- In Him, we have unrestricted access to God
Ephesians 3:12, Because of Christ and our faith in him,[a] we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. (NLT)
I think the NLT translation communicates this benefit that we have in Him (referring to Jesus) so beautifully
In Jesus Christ our Saviour, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
1. We are to come into God’s presence boldly and confidently. We should never come into God’s presence with doubt, with uncertainty, not sure if you are accepted or worthy to be in His Presence. Yes, we should have reverential fear when we come into His Presence as He is the Lord of Host, the God of the Heavenly army, or hosts of heaven but yet in Christ we can approach God with confidence as a son would still approach a dad who by his political office is the president of America. When President Biden’s children come to see him, they don’t go there with apprehension or uncertainty, they enter his office with boldness, knowing that he may the president of America but yet he is their “daddy”.
2. Then two things qualify us to approach the presence of God with boldness and confidence;
– Because of Christ (that refers to my union with Christ). Our union with Christ. Our relationship with Jesus Christ qualifies mortal men like us to approach The Presence of The Almighty God with boldness and confidence.
– Our faith in Him (Jesus) qualifies us to enter the presence of God with boldness and confidence. So faith is also needed in entering God’s presence. If you have no faith that your prayer time or bible study time will bring you into God’s presence. It becomes a spiritual activity that is devoid of God’s presence.
- Being In Him is connected to fruitfulness.
John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (NKJV)
Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The branches are simply extension of the vine. And therefore cannot survive or do nothing without being connected to the vine. The vine is the source of all things good and perfect
Our success, victory, promotion, fruitfulness, spiritual empowerment comes from Jesus (Our vine). Without being truly connected to Him, we cannot attain these things. A branch that is cut off from its tree, will soon wither. Because a tree branch must stay connected to its tree to remain fruitful and productive.
You want divine spiritual empowerment, you must be connected to the vine.
You want divine victory, you must be connected to the vine.
- Obeying God’s will and word keeps you in Him (Jesus)
1 John 3:24, “The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him. By this we know and have the proof that He [really] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us [as a gift].” (AMP)
How do I keep in union with God and God in union with me? By keeping His commands. Obeying and doing His will. How do I keep in fellowship with God and God keeps fellowship with me? By keeping His commands. Obeying His will. How do I remain in Him and He remains in me? By keeping His commands. Obeying His will. You cannot keep disobeying God and think you will remain in Him.
Obeying God is crucial if you must remain in Him. When Samson one of the Judges in Israel kept disobeying God, he became disconnected from God (Read Judges 16). And when he needed the divine strength in him to arise and deliver him from the clutches of the Philistines, he found out that, he was powerless! He was no longer in union with God and Samson didn’t even realise it. This is the terrible consequence of stubbornly being disobedient before God, you lose union with God and you may not even know it.
- Before the world began, God choose us to be in Him
Ephesians 1:4; just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (NKJV)
1. God choose me to be united with Christ (to be in Him; referring to Jesus) before the world began. Powerful reality, that before I was formed in my mother womb, before even the earth was formed, I existed in Christ. Before the world was made, I was chosen by God to be united in Christ. This is the mystery and sovereignty of God’s holiness and purpose in action. All we can say is, “Lord thank you for choosing us to be in Christ before the world began, in Jesus Name”. For you and I have done absolutely nothing to deserve it but for His grace and sovereignty alone.
2. And the purpose of God choosing us to be in Jesus Crist, is that we be holy (set apart for Him) and blameless before Him
3. And His love for me is the driving force in choosing me to be in Christ before the world began. His love was the driving force in wanting me to be holy and blameless before Him. Someone declare, “Lord thank you for loving me before the world began in Jesus Name”
- Being in Him, means you must reflect Christ in words and deeds
Colossians 2:6; Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], (AMP)
How do you walk in Him or in the Spirit? Be in union with Him. Imitate Him in thoughts, words and deeds because you are His dear child. (Ephesians 5:1)
My Comforter says this is how you put on Jesus;
-Living a life that reflects Christ Jesus in word’s and deeds
-Living a life that draws people away from sin and into the knowledge of God
Additionally, we put on Jesus, walk in Him or walk in the Spirit when we “starve” the activities of our flesh. You must put the flesh in “prison”! Do not give your flesh freedom!
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts. (Romans 13:14 NKJV)
The flesh needs provisions in other to fulfil its lustful desire. When I was in boarding school, my parents bought me lots of provision so that I can eat and be filled. But some children unfortunately came with little provision and in no time, they suffered hunger! In the same manner the more I provide provisions for the flesh, it will feed on it, grow fat, and cause me to succumb to sinful desires and actions. But when I starve the flesh of those provision it becomes too weakened to cause me to sin. For example you are a believer that watches worldly musical TV channels is providing your flesh with “provisions” to fulfil its desire. In my teengae days they called it MTV Base (as I was into worldly R&B music and rap music too) and majority of the time, the songs are either filthy or have a load of naked women to feed the lust of men and naked, muscular men to feed the lust of women. You watch such channels day in day out as a believer. You are just feeding your flesh with the provisions it likes. Your flesh grows fatter. The result is very soon spirit husbands and wives commit immorality with you in your dreams. And don’t think it means nothings! As a consequence, now in the physical as a husband you are seriously lusting over women and indulging in perverse acts or you are a wife, but now you are having sexual fantasies over other men because you have loaded your flesh with the provision it likes.
You have to starve the flesh of what it wants if you will succeed in putting on Jesus or walking in the Spirit. If you don’t starve the flesh of its “provisions”, eventually your flesh will pull you out of Him.
Two certain ways to deal with flesh is to meditate on God’s word and pray daily as guided by His word and His Spirit in you.
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18 ESV)“
Joshua 1:8 – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
These verses encourages us to meditate on God’s word daily and to pray at all times but also to persevere in prayer. If you engage in these two keys (Prayer & Meditation of God’s Word) daily, you will subdue “flesh” with the Holy-Spirit also helping you.
God bless you.
Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins. I repent of my sins. Lord Jesus come into my life and be my Lord now and forever in Jesus Name“
Prayer: Holy-Spirit please empower me to subdue every “flesh” in me that wants to cause me to live in sin and disobey God, in Jesus Name
Feast of Light Word Ministry
