IF HE (JESUS) BE LIFTED UP. MEMORIZE: And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. John 12:32 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 5-6 Whenever Jesus is lifted up, be it in our churches or in our personal lives, something good usually happen. For example, John 12:32 says “And I, If I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” “If i am lifted up from the earth,” is a conditional clause. It means that if He is lifted up from the earth, He will draw all men to Himself i.e. save their souls. But if He is not, the opposite will happen. When you study this verse closely, you will appreciate that the responsibility of lifting Jesus up from the earth i.e. the grave, lies with ‘Someone’ else .That ‘Someone’ is the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:11 says, “but if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you.” Because the Holy Ghost lifted Jesus up from the earth, you – who have given your life to Christ - and I have been drawn to Him. “If i (Jesus) am lifted up...” informs us of the possibility of something else, things lesser than Christ – pastors, partners, work, achievement, parents, degree, etc - being lifted up. Many attribute their breakthrough to their pastors. “If not for my pastor, i will still be single. “If not for my pastor, i will still be childless. It is Jesus that gives breakthrough not man. He alone gives children not man. Some lift up their degrees and academic qualifications as if that was what got them to where they are today. Many who are far more qualified than you are jobless! If we desire to be effective in the area of evangelism, we must lift Jesus up not our church doctrines or denominations. The reason why we are not getting results when we witness on buses, streets, at work and share tracts is because we are trying to proof that Christianity is better than any other religion. The question is this, is that the Great Commission? The great commission is mainly telling people about Jesus not our church doctrine. Anyone who desires a meaningful achievement must learn to lift Jesus up this year. The fact that you don’t have a job today does not mean you will not have a meaningful achievement this year. The fact that you are uneducated today does not mean you will not have a meaningful achievement this year. The fact that you do not like what is in your medical records does not mean you will not have a meaningful achievement i.e. good health, this year. There are always opportunities, daily, to lift up the name of Jesus. The next time people ask about your marital life, especially when you are still waiting on God to bring the bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh, tell them Jesus is working overtime on the matter of your marriage. The next time the doctor talks about your health, tell him Jesus is healing you. Lift Him above your problems and watch Him solve your problems. NOTE: The more people thank you for what God is doing through you instead of thanking God, the lesser of His mighty ‘move’ you will experience. CONFESSION: Jesus, i lift you above every challenge i am facing. twitter@BroOluwatoki Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 21:38:59 +0000