to cut their lives short to escape certain events like sickness and death. So as depicted in the movie “Pilgrim’s Progress”, our life journey is full of uncertainties and bends but we have to keep on moving to reach our destination.
I would say, Jesus was the only man who lived on earth and knew full well His purpose and His end, as seen from the scriptures.
While studying that portion of scripture, about Jesus in Gethsemane sometime back, the Lord gave me a revelation about the stages of a Christian’s life. That I have called the six Cs of a Christian’s life. My prayer is that it will give you insight about where you are and how to handle your situation.
Meanwhile I realize in Christianity there are so many words starting with the letter C, so you might get another C coming up.
1. The first C is Confession.
Rom 10: 9 says “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” So this is the first step that all believers take and so if you haven’t confessed you need to. I remember attending Born again fellowships for over one year without really confessing, but the remarkable experience that I had, was that I never use to understand the sermons. They all seemed like a hard subject to understand until the time I confessed.
I must say this stage comes with so much excitement especially if you felt the touch of the Lord. I remember the day I gave my life to Christ; I had so much peace and joy. I walked as if I was just bouncing in the air. And of course the whole first love bliss happens in this stage.
2. The second C is state of Confusion.
In this stage many Christians are looking for identity, purpose and ministry call. Who am I or what will I be. Yes when you become a Christian, you will definitely come across a teaching of the gifts of the Spirit and there will be pressure to know what your gifting is. You will also be challenged to see people serving in various capacities, and it will look like they are the chosen ones and most happy of all. At least it did occur to me that way.
I remember after two months of being a Christian I went for a one week youth conference. In this conference there was much emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit. Every day we would have a session for impartation and I saw several people fall down under the anointing, but nothing happened to me. I left that conference angry with God, because I believed that he had no gift for me. Several other conferences followed and there would be similar sessions and nothing still happened to me. No fire inside or chilling wind nor shaking or falling down. Time came when I started to avoid these sessions. I would walk out of the service to save myself from the heartache. This went on until I sought counsel from my spiritual father. I told him my experiences and how I felt and steps I had taken. Then he told me, “none of what you think is true. The Holy Spirit works in different ways. He can come to you quietly or shake you”. He added that every child of God has a gift of the Holy Spirit and that at the right time it would manifest.
His explanation stilled my fears and along the way I came to prove that he was right. By the way to date I have never fallen down under the anointing.
Moses went through that stage too. He was raised in Pharaoh’s house but his heart was with the Israelites. We are told that he killed an Egyptian to protect an Israelite. I believe that day he felt like a real defender of the weak. But then the next day he was shaken to the core, when he tried to intervene between two fellow Israelites who were hurting each other and one told him, who made you ruler and judge over us?. Moses ended up fleeing from Egypt. (Exodus 2:11-15). Can you imagine what went through Moses’ head while on the way to Midian? He went to the Midian Priest’s house but I believe he had many questions for the priest. How do you know?, you may ask.
Exodus 2:21 says, "then Moses was content to live with the man…..” To me this sounds like there was discontentment somewhere. A confusion of some sort. I even think that for Moses to have been bold to kill an Egyptian to defend an Israel, it might have crossed his mind some times that probably he was in a better position to help his brothers, because he was raised in the Palace. But when he was questioned it must have brought doubts in his mind.
Bill Hybel while talking about Holy Discontent said that Moses had it because he saw the suffering of the Israelites and knew God was able to deliver them yet it wasn’t happening.
I want to encourage somebody in this stage right now, don’t despair nor give up, like Moses and others; God has a good plan and right gifts for you. At the right time it will unfold. He allowed Moses to shepherd sheep in the desert for forty years, and part of his mission was actually spent forty years with the children of Israel in the wilderness.
In this stage, you do well to remember that it is a preparation period for the next stage. For Moses it took forty years and so the call and assignment over your life will determine to time lapse for your training. You will also meet up with people whom God will use to teach you the necessary skills. Moses stayed with Jethro a priest who taught him to be a mediator between God and the Israelites. And later we see Jethro teaching him a leadership style that the church has borrowed from to date.
3. The third C represents the Call
After a period of what seemed like God was missing in action, Moses had the burning bush experience where God came to send him to deliver Israel out of bondage. But Moses’s response was that of I can’t do it Lord. He had so many reasons but I also believe his experience of being asked who made you ruler and judge over us was still haunting him. He actually told God, “What if they do not believe me nor listen to me and say, “The Lord did not appear to you?” (Exodus 4:1). He was actually looking for an assurance that he wouldn’t be rejected again.
Like I mentioned earlier every child of God has a gift/a talent and an assignment. This is what the call is about. It’s partly why we were created. Some calls are big and full of uncertainties like that of Moses, but others are straight forward but all require unconditional obedience.
Many Christians however, think that this stage is for a selected few. You can learn from the parable of the talents. Each one of us has been given something to work with and we will be required to give an account before our master. Sometimes it may seem blurry but keep serving in whatever capacity you can and it will all become clear one day. I know of a Pastor who started out as a toilet cleaner moved to being an usher, then home cell leader to being a Pastor. Do not despise small beginnings they are stepping stones to the big thing God has for you.
The fourth C represents the Cup.
The cup here represents the kind of trials, pain, suffering that one will go through as a Christian (Isaiah 51:17). Jesus said, “My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me, nevertheless, not what I will but as you will and desire”.
Jesus’ cup contained the thirty nine lashes, the crown of thorns, and the agony of being separated from the father. When Paul had an encounter with the Lord, the Lord told Ananias to go and pray for him and added;
“…..Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the gentiles and their Kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9: 15b-16).
According to the Fire Bible Global Study Edition (2010, pg. 2024) commentary on this scripture, it’s said that “In Christ’s kingdom, suffering for his sake is a sign of God’s highest favour. It is often the way to a truly fruitful and effective ministry and it results in a great reward in heaven”.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. (James 1:1-4)
Truth be told, many times we admire the anointed men of God and we pray to be like them, but you forget that they underwent a process. They drunk from the cup of suffering. A couple of guys have declared themselves to be Jesus but I wander if they would be willing to go through the pain and suffering what He went through.
Meanwhile each one of us has a cup to drink from. James says that God won’t give us what we can’t handle.
It’s unfortunate that some people have thrown in their towels during this stage because they misinterpreted it as God’s punishment and hatred for them. The bible says that we haven’t had to suffer to the extent of shading blood, so lets endure. It won’t last forever.
King David said in Psalms 71:20-21 “Though you have made me see troubles, any and bitter, you will restore my life again from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honour and comfort me once again”.
It is true that the more bitter the content in your cup, the more honour you will get. For more encouragement checkout the testimonies of God’s servants that inspire you, you will be surprised to know what they went through before they got to that place that you admire them.
The Fifth C is the Cross.
In all the four gospels the scripture about the cost of being Jesus’s disciple is recorded. Infact in Mathew it is recorded twice (Mt 10:38, 16:24)
When Christians preach the gospel to non-believers, they never mention the cost that is involved, but Jesus talked openly about it.
“Large crowds were travelling with Jesus and turning to them he said; “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-26)
Someone would say to Jesus that was a dangerous marketing strategy. You never tell you would be customers that when you buy my product there will be costs attached to it. But Jesus never used trickery. He gave them a wholesome message so they could make an informed decision.
But now that you found yourself in the boat, whether you were told or not, understand that each one of us has a cross to carry. Infact in Mathew 10:38 Jesus said, “And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me”.
Yes some Christians have had to lose their families for the sake of Christ. I remember when I gave my life to Christ, my family members weren’t very happy. They even threatened to banish me from home, but the new found love with Christ was stronger than any persecution I went through.
At the cross you will face rejection, shame, and ridicule. It’s a place of great loneliness. You bear the pain all by yourself. It’s a place of total surrender. Jesus said your will and not mine be done. It’s a place of being stripped whatever that will mean and of dying to self. Other people know the pain of being falsely accused and yet not having the opportunity to defend yourself.
“….If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Mt 16:24-25)
I heard a story of someone whose son was involved in an accident and he screamed at God, “Where were you when my son was involved in the accident?” And a voice answered; “right where I was when my son was being crucified on the cross”
Then he again said, “Lord why me” and the voice said, “why not you”.
God has the right to deal with us the way He sees fit, because He is our Lord. So you do well to surrender and not fight. And even though it may feel like you have been abandoned, He will always give us the grace to go through it. Think about the messages of encouragement or testimonies that you come across during this period. That’s all God’s way of saying you are not alone and I care.
Good news is that it’s never in vain. Look at what Jesus attained after his crucifixion. He redeemed the world from the power of darkness and reconciled humanity back to God. Your pain will bring healing to so many people.
The sixth C represents the Crown
Many believe that our reward is in heaven only but God rewards his servants even here on earth. He told Abraham, “Do not fear for I am your great and exceeding reward”. And he blessed him abundantly here on earth.
King David was one man that suffered greatly but God did him good. He settled him, gave him rest from his enemies and honored him to be in the genealogy of Jesus. Think about Job. After all his pain and losses God blessed him with a double portion.
Jesus was rewarded with Joy; his name was exalted above all names on earth and heaven. He sits at the right hand of the Father. It’s written “after the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied…..Therefore I will give him a portion among the great , and I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death…” (Isaiah 53:11-12)
Earthly rewards from God.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus said that the master of the servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man with the five talents had gained more and his master said, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Mathew 25:23). This was evidence that God actually rewards his faithful servants. His reward may include;
His Presence/Annointing. Moses went through all those Cs and when he asked the Lord to show him His glory, God said, “…..I will do the very thing you have asked because I am pleased with you and I know you by name” (Exodus 33:17) .He also added, “I am making a covenant with you . Before all your people I will do wonders never done in any nation in all the world”.
Most men and women of God had to pass the test by going through these levels before they received power of the Holy Spirit for ministry.
Honour-After going through shame and being ridiculed, God will reward his servants with honour.
Zephaniah 3:19b, 20b say, “I will give them praise and honour in every land where they were put to shame.”…..”I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth”
I know of a man of God that had a very humble beginning, too many hardships to count but he was faithful to God and God did reward him with honour. And several others have been too.
Good harvest of souls. The other reward is the number of people you will impact and be a blessing too. I do ministry with the teens and it’s been a blessing to see them grow in the Lord and very humbling to hear them call me their role model. These children have a special place in my heart. But I know that this would have never been possible if I hadn’t passed the Cs.
Material blessings. Some Believers are sensitive to this, because of the prosperity gospel. But God owns the earth and everything in and he created these things for His children to have a good life. It’s unfortunate that many in the church are still struggling with poverty. But the Lord also rewards His children who pass His tests with wealth. The Bible says He takes pleasure in the prosperity of his children. I may not mention names here but you can do research for yourself. The God who blessed Abraham still blesses His children.
Psalms 128: 1-4 says, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways, you will eat the fruit of your labour, blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Ps112:3 says “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord………wealth and riches are in his house...”
Blessings passed on to your offspring-
Ps 112:1-3 says, Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house and his righteousness endures forever.”
Conclusion
I pray that from this sermon, you will help you gain understanding and encouragement that after it all a crown of victory awaits you. And that whatever you are going through won’t last forever, it will pass away. The Lord’s target is to make us glorious and it takes a process which may be rough. But all things work for our good.
