Releasing the power of a Christ filled lifeThere is emerging on the earth, an army, the likes of which have not been seen before. It is an army of ‘dreaded champions’. Both Enoch and Joel prophesied their coming hundreds of years ago.
‘Enoch the 7th from Adam prophesied about these men: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones.’ Jude 14
‘Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?’ Joel 2.10-11
They are dreaded because they cause dread to come into the camp of the enemy. They are champions because they do not live for themselves but champion the cause of their king Jesus. Creation itself has been waiting for these champions to be revealed. ‘The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.’ Romans 8:19
Christ The Mighty One
The enemy is not afraid of you or me but of Christ in me and Christ in you. It is Christ in you that is the hope of glory. What makes this army dangerous and causes fear in the camp of the enemy is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the mighty one. He is the one the enemy fears. He is the giver of life and the one who restores and heals the broken.
The emerging dreaded champions; greatest characteristic is their Christlikeness. They are effective because they are like Christ. They are strong because Christ lives in them strong. They are fruitful because Christ is being formed in their character. They understand that they only have authority to the degree that the King lives in them. Jesus said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go….. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." …Matt 28:18-20
All authority is his and he lives in us. The stronger he lives in us the greater the authority we walk in. The stronger Christ’s character and nature are formed in us the greater the authority we walk in.
God’s Ultimate Purpose for your life
God’s ultimate purpose for your life is for Christ to be formed in you. The Apostle Paul said,
19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19
Salvation or becoming a Christian is only the beginning of the journey. God desires for you to become like Christ, it is his highest purpose for you. The journey towards becoming like Christ will take a lifetime and is the greatest work God wants to see achieved in you.
The Process
We must also understand that becoming like Christ is a process. It is not a one time event. The Apostle Paul wrote,
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
The word transformed comes from the same root word that we derive ‘metamorphosis’. It is the same process a tadpole goes through to become a frog or a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. It is a gradual process but also at times a painful process. The pain and struggle a caterpillar goes through in coming out of a cocoon actually is essential for it to become a healthy butterfly. In the same way the Lord will allow us to go through things that seem tough or painful but are essential to form the nature of his son in us. Jesus is our ultimate example,
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8
God allowed Jesus to go through things that developed him and made him. The same is applicable to us.
The verse above from Corinthians helps us understand that we reflect what we look at and also become like what we look at. If we look to Christ and expose ourselves to him we will then reflect him to the world around us.
Sadly many believers having been looking at the wrong things and then wondered why they are struggling. We must change our focus and allow Christ to live in us Strong.
The Method
God uses three things to help us in our journey into Christlikeness. Firstly, the Bible.
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
It’s living and active, sharp, judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Word reveals who we are but also who we should be. For the Word to be effective, you must, read the Word, hear the Word, study the Word and memorise and meditate upon it.
Secondly, the Holy Spirit.
26 "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. John 15:26
It is the Holy Spirit that reveals Christ to us, in us and through us. It is important for us to be led by the Holy Spirit in our day-to-day life.
14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
Thirdly, circumstance.
God uses the circumstances of life to form Christ in us. If we look through the Bible we see how God did this with Moses, David, Joseph and others. He allowed them to go through wilderness experiences and desert times to develop and change them as people. The wilderness prepares us for our promise land.
The Lord will use a combination of all three things above working together in your life for Christ to be formed in you.
Over To You
You have an opportunity to rise up and be apart of this end time army of believers, a dreaded champion of the last days. This is achieved by releasing the power of a Christ filled life. I encourage you to embrace the Lords highest purpose for you so that the nature of Christ is formed in you. You are a Champion in the making!
Article used with permission.
For more info on Steve Uppal, please click onto All Nations Church
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