Who We Are In Christ

Today, I want to share about God’s love and who we are in Christ. This is a recap of what we learnt at Church ICF on Sunday, November 4th, 2024 here in Iringa.

So, the service began with a short documentary movie by the Voice of Martyrs on the Martinez Family in Colombia. The movie previews the work done by different missionaries and pastors called to minister and serve in dangerous, red zones like Colombia. They work to serve the community, serving throughout their lives. Preaching the gospel, bringing the Kingdom closer, or rather bringing awareness of the Kingdom to the people.

So, one of the things they are working on is uniting the drug gangs in Colombia. And yes, the Southern America’s deep region in general. They work to bring relief, love, and the Kingdom’s influence to that place. The Kingdom of God is a solution to many things that man faces. Christians who understand this will choose to be sent and be a part of what God is doing committedly.

A personal share…

It was at that moment a prayer was called for—a prayer for the people in the Gospel and Kingdom front line. People, we, Christians do not think much about. This is due to how comfortable we are in the places we are. The gospel is freely preached where we are, Bibles are a choice to read or not and our prayers are about us and not even the Kingdom.

We, Christians, and believers, have become comfortable with the lives we live and the systems we have running our lives. Blinded by the selfishness of being, living, not seeing the condition, the what is going on of the Church, we as believers are part of. Forgetting the now, this very critical moment. The purification, refining, cleansing, and purging hour. Daniel 12:10

Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

Book of Daniel

Who we are in Christ Jesus

When we believed, God had first and foremost made us a new creation. What happened in the Garden of Eden was answered, and man became a creation God intended from the beginning through Christ Jesus. Blood was poured, covering us, and redeemed, reconciling us back to God, Himself. As God looks upon us, He sees the Holy Blood of Christ, and with that sacrifice, we a new creature that can host Him as living temples.

By becoming new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); we are able, to become and be made more in Jesus. That is why believing Christ is the Key, foundation and beginning. It is a decision. In Christ, we are more than we can imagine. Believe.

Bible books to read:

Just mentioned a few to build upon.

• Children of God – John 1:12
• Righteousness of God – 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Temple of God – 1 Corinthians 6
• Heirs of God – Romans 8:17
• Redeemed –  Ephesians 1:7
• Light of the world –  Matthew 5:14
• Salt of the world –  Matthew 5:13
• His beloved – 1 John 3:1 (thinking of reading the book of Hosea again)
• Citizens of heaven – Philippians 3:20
• His treasured possession (yes, us) – Malachi 3:17
• Partakers of the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:4
• John 4:23-24; His beloved, loved one, one who can be intimate, commune and fellow with and in Him (us partaking of Himself, how powerful this is)

• What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8
• We are blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
• We became servants of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given to us through the working of his power. Ephesians 3
• Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

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How rebellious, blinded and corrupt must we be, not to respond to something so pure, holy and glorious?
Intimacy.
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How are we holy in Christ?

When we believe, we are changed, becoming more like Christ. And with that journey, we are taught, the Spirit of God teaches, leads and helps us to live a holy life. We are holy because He is holy.

• As children, the children of light are light
• Be you holy as your father is holy
• We are the righteousness of God, we do not make ourselves holy or righteous, but He does
• We are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we can and are holy when we receive the Spirit
• We are carriers of the glory of Christ

Believing separates us. Understanding will help us discern what Christ is doing in us through the Holy Spirit. Here are some of the things that Christ works in us when we believe through the Holy Spirit. Our old habits, our minds, our walk is renewed, changed and remodeled to righteousness, holiness and purity, godly nature.

Darkness	Light
Separation	Presence
Self	Service, others
Corruption & evil desires	Righteousness & Holiness
Falsehood & lies	TRUTH
Stealing	Work & giving
Unwholesome talk	Build each other up
Anger, malice, slander, rage	FRUITS of the Spirit love, peace, joy, kindness, patience (forbearance), faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, self-control
Unwise, foolish	Wisdom
Drunkenness	Filled with the Holy Spirit
Sexual immorality	Self-control, faithfulness, purity
Gluttony, greed, etc	Self-control

The Word says the following about who are in Christ according to the book of Ephesians;

For we wrestle not against the flesh and blood, but against rulers, principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Understanding the schemes of the enemy. Ephesians 6

How to deal with them

PRAY; Ask for an understanding of the root cause of what you face. Always, ask to understand the foundations.

Remember;

• It is not an equal equation, good and evil, darkness and light.
• Jesus is the LORD, the devil was an angel.
• Jesus overcame the powers of sin, death and the grave already.
• Whatever is, is just an aftermath of the then victory and the coming revelation. It is like when you kill a snake and the tail still keeps jumping around, moving.

The Armour of God

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Weapon	Representation	against…
Belt	TRUTH	LIES
Breastplate	Righteousness	twisted feelings, darkened heart, identity loss, evil desires
Shield	FAITH	doubt, attacks, fear, worry, etc
Shoes	Good News of Peace	Discouragement, contentment, self focus
Helmet	Salvation	high-mindedness, misaligned thoughts, influences
Sword	WORD of God	LIES twisted assurance

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.