Today we continue our series, “As Jesus Is”, under the banner of the overall series for the year, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been looking at 1 John 4:16,17 for a couple of months now. I have been adding other passages to it. Right now we are looking at 1 John 4:16,17 and Philippians 2. Let’s get to it.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
The Apostle Paul said:
“In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form.
During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him up to the most important place and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.”
(Philippians 2:5-9 ERV)
Today I will, once again, focus in on this statement, “During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God.” In our last message, we looked at scriptures in John chapters 5, 6, 8, 12 and 14. In every statement we looked at, Jesus made it clear that He was not here to perform His will. He was here to perform the will of the Father. This is how we are supposed to live. This is how we put on the mind of Christ. This is how we live “As Jesus is, in this world!”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Jesus’ authority in the earth came from His submission to heaven. You are called to live with the same power and authority Jesus had. But this also means that you must live with the same level of submission He lived with. The more you die to self and the selfish desires of this world, the more the power of God will be manifested in, with and through your life.
- There was a human side and a God side to Jesus. Jesus did not live like God in the earth. He had to learn things. He had to go to school. He had to develop from a baby, to a toddler, to a boy, to a young man, to a man. He did not perform miracles until He was filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words, He did not perform miracles until He was a human with God inside of Him. And once God was inside of Him, He let God out. His power was not in His humanity. Jesus’ power was in the God living IN Him! He was fully obedient to God in every way. That was His power. Guess what? We can do the same! We can live the same way. We are humans with God on the inside of us. If we submit to God, we can live as Jesus lived, in this world!
- Jesus was the only perfect human to ever walk the planet. If there was ever a human who COULD rely on His humanity, it was Jesus. But Jesus refused to do it. He did nothing in the flesh. And we should all be glad He did not. If Jesus had chosen to do what He did in His perfect humanity, then He could not be an example for us. Because our humanity is not perfect. But since Jesus refused to operate in His humanity and He found His power in the God living IN HIM, Jesus becomes the perfect example for us. We can do that! We can emulate that! We can adopt that mindset. We are can submit to God. And if we do, we will live as Jesus lived, in this world!
- Your power is found in your submission. If you are Born-Again, God Himself is living in you. But the only way His power will be released in your life is if you submit to Him. If you choose to live your own life, make your own decisions, pursue your own desires and do things your own way, you will go to heaven, but you would have missed your opportunity in the earth. You will make it to heaven, only to realize that you had an assignment in the earth and you never fulfilled it because you were too selfish to die. God was not able to be seen IN or THROUGH you, because there was too much of YOU in the way. Wouldn’t it be a shame to get to heaven, only to realize that you walked around with God on the inside of you for decades, and you never let Him out?
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I have the mind of Christ. I am fully submitted to You in every way. My life is not about me. My life is ALL About You! I love You! I worship You! I live for You! I do what You tell me to do. I say what You tell me to say. I am a human conduit of the divine. When people come in contact with me, they come in contact with You! Because You are IN me and I am determined to let You out! As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
