SOUNDS FROM HEAVEN
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. – Matthew 3:16-17
In the history of mankind, nobody has influenced the world like the Lord Jesus Christ. Some may not like Him some may never accept Him as Lord and Saviour; you may call Him a teacher; you may call him a prophet; some may say He is not the son of God. Whatever you want to say about Jesus Christ, you cannot ignore Him. One thing is certain: whether you are a Christian, Muslim, or idol worshipper, you cannot ignore Jesus Christ. Why? Even dates that you write on paper has been influenced by His coming into the world. So you talk about years before Christ (BC), and years after Christ’s death (AD). So if we talk about 2017, it means 2017 years after the death of Christ (i.e. 2017 AD).
Jesus is the most influential person in all of man’s existence. Physically, the sick are still being healed in His name. There is no other person in the world in whose name people can be healed. In Jesus’ name, captives are set free. Demons are still being cast out in His name. When it comes to material prosperity, there is no one who has ever lived who was more prosperous than Jesus Christ. No one on earth past or present can ever claim to have more houses than our Lord, Jesus Christ. Everywhere you go, you see houses built and dedicated to Jesus: Houses of the Lord. All these things happen about Jesus because He heard a sound from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased
.”
Our elders say that if you want to be great, study great people. If you want to prosperous, study those who prospered. This is why when you want your son to learn a trade, you do not take him to someone who failed. You rather take him to someone who is doing the same line of business and has succeeded. If you want to succeed, study the successful. If you want to be influential, study the influential. If you want to be someone that the world will never forget, then
study the One who the world cannot forget. If you want to be like the One whose influence is still on the world thousands of years after He had gone, study the Lord Jesus Christ!
A Little Study of Jesus
Jesus is the most influential, the richest, and the unforgettable. Before you die, may the world pay attention to you. Here are a few lessons about Jesus.
- Jesus was very Diligent – If you study Jesus Christ, you will find out that He was a very hard working person. In John 9:4, He says,
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
– Proverbs 22:29 says,
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 21:25 says,
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
It is one thing to desire be wealthy, influential and great. It is another thing to actually make it happen. Wealth, influence, and greatness are predicated on hard work and diligence. Some people want to sit at home and dream of success. It does not come from dreaming, but from hard work.
Jesus was Committed – He was committed to doing God’s will. In John 4:34, Jesus says,
… My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Jesus was a hundred percent committed to doing the will of God. He was so committed that He would rather do the work of God than to eat.
- Jesus was committed to building the Father’s Kingdom – not his own kingdom. Matthew 16:18, Jesus says,
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
God is looking for people who will build His kingdom. God is looking for those who will go and win souls. God is looking for genuine treasurers. A young man once said to God,“ Lord, keep all the glory and give me the gold. With the gold, I will build your kingdom so that You can have more glory”. I think it is a very good prayer.
- Jesus was Committed to Putting God First – in everything.
When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, He first hallowed the name of God, followed by asking for G’sodKingdom. In John 14:28, Jesus says,
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
Jesus always puts God first. This is why the Bible says we should honour God with our first fruits in Proverbs 3:9-10.
- Jesus Surrendered Absolutely to God’s Will – In Luke 22:42, He says;
Saying, ‘ Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done’.
In other words, Jesus always yielded His will to whatever the Father wants. Whatever God says must be final. I am not surprised that in Mark 12:41-44, Jesus remarked that the widow who gave all she had gave the greatest – total surrender. Yet some have a problem with tithe. Tithing just requires a tenth of what you have while we have a widow who gave a hundred percent.
- Jesus Christ was Holy – In John 14:30 Jesus says this about Himself:
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
Jesus refused to compromise. Today, there are many Christians who will compromise to get money. Jesus never did that. Also, money gotten through wrong will lead to sorrow (Jeremiah 17:11). Holiness is indispensible for a life
of exceeding greatness.
- His Decision to Serve God was Voluntary– John 10:17- 18 says,
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Your decision to serve God, to do is will, to surrender to Him absolutely, and to be committed to his Kingdom must be voluntary, if you desire a life of unlimited greatness. It must not be because somebody is watching. It must come from within your soul. Then the God who sees in the secret will reward you openly.
I believe that as you take these principles and begin to apply them, the Almighty God, who is watching from heaven, will call you out and say, “You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased”! So shall it be for you, in the name Jesus.
Search your heart, and find out why with all your prayers and services you attend, your breakthrough has not yet come. Is it because God knows you are not diligent? Is it because God has checked your commitment and found you wanting? Is it because you are always ready to compromise if you get the opportunity? Do you need to witness more?
Search your heart at this hour and go to God in repentance in every area where you are falling short. Then ask Him for grace to live a life that is totally pleasing to Him. Such is a life of exceeding greatness.
Prayer Points
Father, I have searched my heart and I know that I have not measured up to your standard. I know that it is not your fault that my breakthrough has not come. The problem is with me. I am asking for your mercy.
