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 months. This week we added Colossians 1 to it. Let’s get back to both passages today.
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:
“I am happy in my sufferings for you. There is much that Christ must still suffer. And I gladly accept my part of those sufferings in my body for the good of his body, the church. I became a servant of the church because God gave me a special work to do. This work helps you. My work is to tell the complete message of God. This message is the secret truth that was hidden since the beginning of time. It was hidden from everyone for ages, but now it has been made known to God’s holy people. God decided to let his people know just how rich and glorious that truth is. That secret truth, which is for all people, is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory.”
(Colossians 1:24-27 Easy To Read Version)
Today I will focus in on this statement: “I am happy in my sufferings for you. There is much that Christ must still suffer. And I gladly accept my part of those sufferings in my body for the good of his body, the church.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Embracing all Jesus is, is amazing. It’s liberating. It’s empowering. It’s life changing. But don’t forget that it should also be sobering. The world hated Jesus. The world persecuted Jesus. The world ultimately did all it could to kill Jesus. (Of course, no one could actually kill Him, and He had to willingly lay down His life). My point is that fully embracing Jesus and all that He is, means there will be people who will be vehemently against you, because they were vehemently against Him. And you have to be okay with that. Don’t back down. Don’t cave in. Don’t quit. Don’t cower. Believe what you believe and don’t be ashamed of it! If you deny Jesus, He will deny you!
- Jesus said, “If the world hates you, remember that they hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as it loves its own people. But I have chosen you to be different from those in the world. So you don’t belong to the world, and that is why the world hates you. Remember the lesson I told you: Servants are not greater than their master. If people treated me badly, they will treat you badly too. And if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too. They will do to you whatever they did to me, because you belong to me. They don’t know the one who sent me.” (John 15:18-21 ERV). If you are going to live “As Jesus is, in this world”, then you are going to have to be okay with people disliking you because of who you are and what you believe. When you have the approval of God, you have to be okay with it, even when it means you don’t have the approval of men.
- Paul taught us to be okay with suffering for the cause of Christ. If we are going to walk in the power of Jesus’ resurrection, then we must be willing to partake in the fellowship of His sufferings.
- I believe the Bible is clear that it IS God’s will for us to prosper. He wants us to maximize the purpose and potential He placed in us before the world began. God wants us to become the men and women we are destined to be. But prosperity does not mean we have been promised a “cake-walk”. You will have to overcome many challenges on the road to prosperity, and the good news is that God has already equipped you to overcome them all! But overcome them you must!
- Some have mistaken God’s will for us to prosper to mean that life is going to be easy. Especially today. In today’s society many live with a sense of entitlement. They believe the world owes them something. And when they hear people like me make the following statements, they feel even more entitled. We say: “You are ALL THAT JESUS IS, in this world!” “Everything Jesus is, is who you are!” “God has called you to live AS JESUS IS, not in heaven, but in the earth. NOW! In this world!” These are great statements and they are all true. However, none of them mean you are not going to suffer. None of them promise an easy path. None of them guarantee a pain-free journey. What the Gospel boils down to is the mystery Paul explained in our text. Here is the mystery: “Christ lives in you!” So you will face all you must face, but you will not face it alone! Here’s some math you should remember when you are facing a challenge: You + Jesus = Victory! Every time! But you can’t have victory without opposition!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I am ALL JESUS IS! This means I will face some of what Jesus faced. I am okay with that. I please You, even when it means I am displeasing to man. I believe You, even when others oppose me for it. I am not ashamed of the Gospel. I don’t back down. I refuse to turn my back on You. I don’t deny You. I don’t hide my relationship with You. I don’t succumb to the pressures of this world. I am not afraid of taking You public! While is why I boldly declare: “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.
