Understanding the implications of your hope in Christ (Part 2)

Hello! A blessed and refreshing day to you my dearly beloved! I welcome you to ARISE devotional for today Tuesday the 27th of December 2022 on the platform of the Builders Forum. My name is Abraham Olufemi Ojeme.

Please let me remind you again that today is the very llast Tuesday this year. Don’t live it carelessly and so watch out for some specific goodness of the Lord coming your way today according to the scripture in Eccl. 7:8a.

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:………

So shall it be for you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Today is the second day on our devotional series for this week with the topic,

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF YOUR HOPE IN CHRIST

The Lord impressed in my spirit man that Christmas being in the very tail end of the year is not a coincidence.

It is to set the pace for the new year following.

Since Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, that frame of mind must follow you into the new year.

Yesterday, we deliberated extensively on why we must look forward to a glorious 2023.

We looked at the identity of the personality we celebrate on Christmas according to the scripture in Col. 1:27 and please permit me to read TPT.

(TPT)  Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!

Can you see the implication of Christ in your life?

He floods you with the expectation of glory and He becomes in you a heavenly treasure chest of hope.

That is not an empty hope but one filled with the riches of glory for you.

Also, we understand from the scripture that the following year 2023 can’t be anything less in blessings than 2022.

That is the covenant the believer has with the Lord in line with Pro. 4:18 and please permit me to read the CEV translation.

(CEV)  The lifestyle of good people is like sunlight at dawn that keeps getting brighter until broad daylight.

But the Bible describes the kind people who are entitled to this hope of a guaranteed far more glorious life in 2023.

They must be people of peculiar lifestyle.

Listen to how different translations of that scripture describe these particular kind of believers.

The KJV describes them as;

(KJV)  But the path of the just…….

(ERV)  The path of those who live right..…..

(GW)  But the path of righteous people..…

(BBE)  But the way of the upright.…..

(TPT)  But the lovers of God walk on the highway of light…….

You discover that this hope is not just for anybody.

There are demands for it to find expression in your life.

We agreed that the responsibilities for having this hope is our assignment for the rest of this week.

Meanwhile, please listen again and again to yesterday’s edition of the devotional on this series.

From the scripture we expounded on above, one inevitable requirement for this hope to work is SANCTIFICATION.

I know this is no longer a popular word in our pentecostal circle, although that is supposed to be our identity as Holy Ghost people.

Listen to the demand of the scriptures in 1 Jn. 3:3 concerning this hope.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

This is the guiding law for everyone irrespective of position, age or status.

It is not just any kind of sanctification, it has a standard.

The purification must be exactly as that of Christ. Wow!

Yes sir, that is the standard. If you are interested, then comply.

It was the standard in the Old Testament, it is still the standard now. God has not changed and will not change.

Listen to the scripture in Is. 52:11 and please permit me to read the GW translation.

(GW)  Run away! Run away! Get away from there! Do not touch anything unclean. Get away from it! Make yourselves pure, you Levites who carry the utensils for the LORD’S temple.

It is a command for anyone who desires the presence of the Lord.

So it was and so it is even now. Listen to the scripture in 2 Tim. 2:19.

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Can you see again? This law is for everyone without exemption.

As a matter of fact, there is no excuse strong enough for you to mess around with iniquity if this hope is your desire.

Like I say;

What wrong is wrong, no matter how many people are doing it and what is right is right, even if there is no one doing it.

This is very important particularly at this period of the year when everyone is thriving for fulfillment and glorious entrance into the new year coming.

Oftentimes, we allow the excitement of the victory of Calvary to cloud our understanding of the responsibilities of redemption.

There is no gain saying it that because of the hope that the Cross offers, we can see ahead the glorious things waiting for us ahead.

But along with those wonderful promises are demands.

Listen to the scripture in 2 Cor. 7:1.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Sir, you are the one to do the cleansing. It is a personal responsibility.

I agree with you that holiness is not a destination, but you must begin from somewhere and remain on that path of purity.

Do you see the tense used to describe the holiness in that scripture?

perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

That is present continuous tense. You must consistently remain in that act of cleansing yourself.

So my dear, what should be your assignment in these few days remaining this year?

Do a thorough check on yourself. The word cleansing in the above scripture is katharizō in Greek and it means to purge oneself.

You will have to identify those things that must be eliminated from your life to create space for the things of God.

It doesn’t matter how minute they may be. If it doesn’t align with the word of God, then it is not needed in your life.

Do a three dimensional check – spiritual, mental and physical.

And in order for this to be possible, engage your conscience and the Holy Spirit.

Where there is a willing heart, there will always be a way.

Listen to David reasoning with the Holy Spirit in Ps. 51:2-3.

2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

God has not changed. He will attend to you.

I leave behind for you this song by Timothy Reddick – Free indeed. Enjoy!

Please let me pray for you.

• I pray for a circumcised heart for you today for sincere repentance.
• The blessings and joy of the season will not cloud your conscience for sincere alignment with the word of God.
• The same encounter that open you up to the blessings of Calvary will not become a license for lasciviousness in your life.
• I pray that you grant access to the Holy Spirit to do a perfect work of cleansing in you.
• Having come this far with the Lord this year, you will not miss out.
• Receive the grace to let go whatever has to go in your life.
• In the same vein, receive the grace to receive whatever the Lord has for you no matter how demanding it may be.
• Every weight that will affect your flight into 2023 is ejected from your life today.
• I command every shackle of hindrances in your life destroyed today.
• You are free at last from all those encumbrances in the name of Jesus Christ.

Welcome to your liberty in Christ at last. Congratulations. Amen and amen.

Peace!