Jesus begins to teach a parable about a farmer who went to plant in Matthew Chapter 13 and Verse 1- 9 and ended that verse by saying “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear”
There is a deception that is currently trending in the body of Christ and among us the young people. We seek deep revelations and Rhema, we go looking for men who can stir up our inner waters which is most beautiful in itself. However, a structure without a foundation is bound to fall
Listen, no structure can stand without a foundation.
We neglect the basic principles and seek the creation rather than the creator. I believe this is somebody’s word.
One of the basic foundations of every believer asides from studying the word and prayer is character.
Followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” in Antioch not just because they spoke in tongues and prayed for long hours. They were called "Christians" because their speech and behaviour were like Christ.
Christianity aims to look like Christ cos what Jesus did by coming to die is a bid to restore us to our original nature. Genesis 1: 26 “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us”. So we see here that man had an original nature of dominion and not just necessarily us looking like God in the physical image. Let’s leave this for another day
Apart from the fact that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22) therefore bringing Christ Jesus in the image of man for the forgiveness of our sins, Jesus also came to show us how to look, he came as a pathway to show us the way.
There is that which is called the nature of the flesh.
2 Corinthians 5:17 would tell us
“ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
So, there is that which is the old nature and the new nature and without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to walk in the new nature.
The old nature as we know is the fruit of the flesh while the new are the fruits of the spirit
Beyond the gifts of the spirit, our foundation as believers should be the fruits which will provide a solid ground for the gifts because anointing without character is annoying.
So, what are the fruits of the spirit and what is that of the flesh?
Paul began to write to the people in Galatia and said in the 16th verse;
There’s so much to dissect here but have you noticed that the first fruit of the spirit mentioned there is *LOVE*
I don’t get surprised when I see men of the world fighting each other cos scripture already said brothers will rise again brothers in the last days which we are in
But what marvels me is when I see we who have been bought with a price having strife amongst ourselves
I began to study the scripture one time and I noticed that scripture in the New Testament majorly emphasized love. Even Jesus when he began to give the disciples a new commandment in John 13:34 said; A new commandment I give you that ye *LOVE*
Why am I emphasizing love?
Love is one of the most powerful forces on earth. It can constrain (2 Corinthians 5:14)
What happens when we love is that we do not look at another as a friend or foe but as co-labourers. If you truly understand the power of loving one another, I tell you a lot of things will fall into place.
Scripture tells us that we are the body of Christ. In other words, whether Paul plants or Apollo waters, it is God that gives the increase. Whatever we do as the “Body of Christ”, we must note that one person may be the leg while another the hand and it will be a great error to shoot the leg with the hand of the same body.
This is what happens when there is unforgiveness in the body of Christ. You are merely shooting your leg.
One part of unforgiveness most of us don’t realize is that if you fail to forgive another, God himself won’t forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 said it all; “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
We must learn to not just behave in a particular manner when we go for programs and the opposite when we are outside of the building called the church. For we are temples, not just the physical building but carriers of his presence.
We who are born of God must look like God in Character first then the anointing will be undeniable.
The men in Antioch were not just called Christians because they were the anointed ones but because they could reflect a dimension of God in human form.
They reflected a character and so the power was undeniable. So, men looked at the disciples and said
"These men have been with the Christ"
When men look at you, can you become the scripture they desire to read??
We hear of great men and we marvel but I tell you the truth, no anointing can be sustained but on the wings of character.
Jesus in human form was so full of character that wherever he went, men desired to follow him. And this is our model.
I know we are men and women of prayer, but I show you a truth I have discovered over the years it is impossible to sustain any fire without character.
The same way you have the thread in a kerosene stove to give the fire direction is the same way you need a character to direct the fire that comes with the anointing.
[04/11, 20:50] Chibuokem Ogba: Likewise, Character is the fuel the anointing burns on
My brother will speak more on the anointing but let us get this straight as I begin to tidy up.
It is the spirit and the bride that says come ( Revelations 22:17)
There is a misconception in the body of Christ which some people claim to be people of the word alone while others claim to be people of prayer alone. So you go to some gatherings and they speak intelligently but neglect the place of prayer or you go for certain meetings and they labour in the place of prayer but neglect the truth of the gospel
Both are necessary for the master to come. It is the bride AND the spirit that says come
In the same way, it is Character AND the Anointing that make a Christian.
I am almost sure we have heard these words over and again.
Yet I plead with us, let us not only hearers of these words alone but doers
Acts 1: 1 “…of all that Jesus began both to do and teach…”
This is where the anointing comes in, it purifies. We must cry daily for him to show us the ancient path, to lead us along the eternal highway, to follow the footsteps of Jesus, to enter His rest
There was a pattern of Christian communal living that our fathers had that took them to great heights. There was this unity and bond among brothers. The disciples themselves were together in the upper room. What has happened to our unity of hearts and oneness of spirits?
If a generation must rise, we must look like Him. Therefore we must build in Character and The Anointing.
The aim is to look like him, so we much keep beholding him, we must sit under these teachings and allow them to germinate in our hearts.
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The devil can imitate the Gifts of the Spirit but not the fruits of the Spirit.
One who has the fruits cannot be fake.
So, the devil can only give fake prophecies and healing because he is without peace, patience, love etc.
The Fruits are an embodiment of characters and the Gifts are a capsule of the exhibition.
We will burn for God both in acts and life.
Good character is an anointing of its own.
It is on a note that we should prioritize what cannot be imitated in other to discern properly the fake from the real.
Selah!
#November Online Service Of Sons
4/11/2022
#Fire Clan Network
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