STEP UP!
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
I started preparing this message on Saturday, a day of fasting, God kept pouring thoughts into my heart that I now put in words…..the thoughts kept flowing down like waterfalls…..lovely….
Bible always emphasized on ‘going to the next dimension’ in our life, never did God want us to get stuck, stagnate and rot. 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) states: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." You may go to church, worship and at times also be in the volunteer team serving the Lord but at times with a dry spirit. Anybody listening? Somewhere down the line, you lost your zeal, your passion, your ‘go-crazy-for-God-spirit’ but you are now doing things monotonously and tediously. Waking up early for prayers, fasting or reading the Bible now seems hard and strenuous, anybody listening? This is danger zone! I am going to talk about ‘STEPPING UP’ for God!
Two days back I received a text from a dear sister in Christ, who is a converted Christian from orthodox brahmin background; however, she did not have proper mentoring and guidance and thus she was going through a roller coaster life of ups and down and was not tutored to handle persecutions that would indeed definitely come. She asked me, ‘why should I wait so long, why should I suffer, cannot blessings come soon..and so on’ The text was a clear pointer that she needs more knowledge of the Bible. Knowledge of Christ, proper understanding of the Bible, regular Bible reading, being connected to good, sound Christian fellowships are key to growing in Christ, which are sacrosanct for every believer.
I would like to take Romans chapter 6 and explain to you, verse 1 opens with a question: What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" This verse follows the statement in Romans 5:20-21 that where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Paul asks if this abundance of grace means Christians should keep on sinning to get even more grace, he gives us a bang ‘NO’ as an answer. Friend, Apostle Paul did not stop with telling us that the ‘abundant grace’ of God saved us from the miry clay but then he goes on to say that this does not give us a license to persistently keep sinning. God wants us to DUST OFF the sins, leave that area of sin and now make all efforts to STEP UP and get into another area of ‘HOLY LIFE’. Hallelujah!
I would like to further explain through three steps:
1. DEAD TO SIN
2. ALIVE IN CHRIST
3. NEW LIFE WITH CHRIST
1. DEAD TO SIN
Romans 6:6” We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
God did not save us from the deadly pit through His precious blood not for us to live a status-quo life but God is looking for TRANSFORMATION. Anybody listening? There is not an iota of change in the lives of the some so called saved-Christians, they say ‘religion is personal’. Oh yeah? Jesus was crystal clear in His words when He said, ‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.’ Matthew 5:14 Anybody listening?
After my salvation experience through the miraculous birth of my son Joshua, I entered the bank where I worked like a tsunami wave. I shared my testimony during all the breaks available at work, stayed away from toxic-gossip groups, started eating alone on the terrace steps which eventually turned out to be a place of fellowship where my ministry started. Glory to Jesus!
In John 8:10-11, Jesus, left alone with a woman accused of adultery, asks where her accusers are. Upon hearing they have all left, he declares that he does not condemn her either, telling her, "Go now and sin no more." Jesus offered her abundant grace, did not condemn her but at the same time requested her to repent and turn away from her sinful life and take a NEW DIRECTION in her life away from all evil contacts. That may include deleting all EX mobile contacts, friends that took you in the path of destruction, unhealthy habits and more. Are you listening? One particular family were suffering from severe demonic attacks because of idol worship, I helped the entire family move to a new location , far away from where they were earlier staying. I did not stop with just giving them instructions, I travelled myself from Hyderabad, stayed with the family, helped them find a new house and also introduced them to a church pastor. You cannot on one side live with idols and expect deliverance. SIN NO MORE.
How does one live a holy life and not sin at all? God is not looking for 100 percent monks, he wants a heart that is surrendered to Him and clinging to Him daily for strength.
2) ALIVE IN CHRIST
GRATITUDE PUSHES YOU TO SHINE FOR CHRIST
GRATITUDE MOVES YOU TO A HIGHER ALTITUDE
GRATITUDE FUELS YOUR GROWTH
EVERYDAY THINK OF HIS GOODNESS, WRITE IT DOWN & BE GRATEFUL(Example David thanked God for saving him from a lion and a bear while he was protecting his father's sheep.) 1 Samuel 17:34-37
Friend, waking up early for prayers, reading the Bible, going to Church, fasting, memorizing scriptures, praying and meditation are all part of spiritual growth which are not ‘legalistic burdens’ but these are intentional spiritual discipline that helps us to stay firm and intimate with Christ.
TESTIMONY: For the last 25 years I have been very strictly conducting myself in this and it works, it would work for you too. I do also maintain a dairy, marking my prayer timings, my Bible reading portions and also a journal where I write ‘insights’ I receive during my Bible reading. This helps me monitor my spiritual life, I also advice my groups that they intentionally read this many chapters of the Bible so that they just don’t recklessly read here and there. I just suddenly remembered a word while writing this portion and that is ‘SKIMMING’. Let me explain: Skimming is a fast, selective reading technique used to grasp the general gist, main ideas, or overview of a text without reading every word. They read for a general overview rather than deep understanding and this is how some people read the Bible. They CARELESSLY and frivolously skim through the Bible- no wonder they don’t understand Christian life.
Friend, what would push the woman who got grace and forgiveness from Jesus despite being caught red handed for adultery, to move on to live a ‘life without sin?’ GRATITUDE! Yes, everyday she would wake up and think of her past dirty life and now the new beautiful life in Christ, the heart of contentment and satisfaction now propels her to STEP UP and live a holy life.
A grumbling heart, complaining heart can never see the goodness of God. Philippians 2:14 -16 states, 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.’
ILLUSTRATION:
I would like to quote the words of Oprah Winfrey, a globally influential American media executive, talk show host, television producer, actress, and philanthropist. She is 71 years old now and when asked what keeps her still shining, working and ticking, she replied, ‘GRATITUDE!’ She said that while walking through her huge, beautiful house and palatial lawns , she would think back to her childhood days when she lived in an outhouse without electricity, water and basic facilities, this makes her to move forward and still help the community with her story.
3) NEW LIFE
Romans 6:4”We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Apostle Paul said: I die daily!
1 Corinthians 15:31 ‘I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.’
Apostle Paul said, “I die daily.” When I talk about this, I remember the statement of Christ that should revolutionize one’s life: “Carry the cross and come behind me daily.” Let me tell you something, if the Words of Christ found in mount sermon does not hit us like missiles then it just means one thing - it has not touched us at all. The mount sermon should instil fear and terror in our hearts! It did for me, though. The words of Jesus, ‘I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart’, should permeate deep into our heart. As the Word goes deep into the roots of our life, then fruits of the Holy Spirit shows up on the outside. After reading His Word, how could one continue to watch secular movies and many other programs on TV that is nothing but subtle porn stuff? Can we say like David in Psalm 119:104”Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
Rev Billy Graham said: “Living for Christ, walking in His way, will not be an easy path. The way of the cross is not an easy one, but He never said it would be easy. “
God bless you!
