HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE AND FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN (PART 5).
TEXT:
"I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ." (Philemon 1:6, Amplified Version)
In the Christian faith, knowledge is power. Indeed, the difference between one Christian and the other is marked by knowledge. Effectiveness and fruitfulness in the Christian faith is closely tied to what you know and whether or not you put to work what you know.
In the Scripture reading for today, from the Book of Philemon verse 6, Apostle Paul opens our eyes to the understanding that the way our faith becomes effectual and fruitful, or the way it begins to work for others to see, is by acknowledging what we already have in Christ. In other words, our faith begins to work effectively when we have a good knowledge of our inheritance in Christ Jesus.
Now, if the good knowledge of our inheritance in Christ is what is needed to be fruitful and effective as God's Children, then we can understand why there's so much ineffectiveness and fruitlessness in the Church today. Truth is, there's so much ignorance of God's Word amongst God's Children (see Hosea 4 verse 6 and Isaiah 5 verse 13).
For instance, we all know that faith in God is a major key that determines whether or not we are able to live effective and fruitful lives as Christians. Out of ignorance, a whole lot of Christians very often pray asking God to increase their faith, seeing that by it, we do exploits for God. But the truth is that every believer is given the same measure of faith at salvation (Romans 12:3; 2 Peter 1:1; Galatians 2:20). That being so, what we need to do is to use what God has already given us. In Luke 17 verses 5 to 10, the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith and He told them to use what they already had. Actually, you don’t need more faith; you need to realize that you already have faith. Yes, the Word of God shows us what we have. Therefore, ignorance of God's Word tantamounts to ignorance of your position and possession in Christ. Period!
As it is with faith, so it is with wisdom, righteousness, love, peace, power or ability and what have you. John 1 verse 16 reveals to us as follows:
"And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."
Under the New Covenant, we all have all received Christ's fullness! Note that the word "received" is in the past tense.
As a Christian and at your rebirth, God gave you everything you needed to be effective and fruitful in life. Old things passed away, and all things have become new (2nd Corinthians 5 verse 17). In your spirit, you received the same measure of faith, the same power, the same wisdom, love, patience, temperance, meekness and the same ability as every other Christian (see Galatians 5 verses 22 to 23).
We may boldly affirm that our spirits are all identical to the Lord Jesus Christ in every way. Our spirits aren't in the process of growing and maturing because they are already complete; we've already got everything on the inside! In fact you are one third complete as a Christian.
Now, it's your soul and body that are in the process of change, not your spirit. At the Second Coming of Christ, or when you die and go to Him, the change in your soul will be instantly completed. Then when the Lord returns, your spirit and soul will be reunited with your glorified body. At that time, all three will be perfect. Hallelujah!
That being the case, the rest of your present Christian life should be spent learning how to manifest in the physical realm what's already in your born-again spirit. That's the way your faith becomes effective and fruitful. But it begins by working out your salvation by acknowledging every good thing in you in Christ, until the day of redemption.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, as I renew my mind daily with the Word, may you give me to know who I am and what's rightly mine in Christ, that with it, I might work out my salvation, in Jesus name.