Acts 10:38 KJV
[38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
John 5:19,30 KJV
[19] Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. [30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
It is clear that the source of Jesus’ power while on earth was the presence of God that came on him at baptism. God was with him to accomplish God’s mission on earth. God worked through Jesus to bring salvation to mankind and reconciled men back to their God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20. According to the above scripture in John 5, Jesus only did what he saw the father do, basically His mission was to replicate what is happening in heaven on earth, he brought the kingdom of God to us because that is the will of the father.
God the father, worked through Jesus, God the son, to bring goodness to mankind, to deliver us from our sins and their numerous consequences, to bring salvation to our soul, to deliver us from the power of darkness and translate us into his kingdom, to destroy all the works of the devil and finally to bring us back into God’s presence, that is; restore the link that was lost in the garden when Adam sinned. This link is through the Holy Spirit that came upon the 120 at Pentecost. Just exactly as it came on Jesus at baptism. What made Jesus who he was while on earth was the presence of God and the same same presence is what we have as believers.
John 14:16-18 KJV
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:16-18 KJV
Jesus, knowing the need for us to have this same presence, made the promise of the Holy Spirit before his departure so that He can through the Holy Spirit continue the work of the father through as many that believes and receives him. So that the saying can also be true that How God anointed you with the Holy Ghost and with power, and you went about doing good, healing all that are oppressed of the devil because God is with you! This is exactly the mission, this is the reason why you were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. God wants to work His work through you.
You will notice that while Jesus was on earth and God the father in heaven, the work was still done because there was a connection. Jesus only did what he sees the father do and says what he hears the father say. The distance between heaven and earth was not a barrier at all. You will also notice that distance was also never a barrier to Jesus, he healed people instantly by just sending the word, remember Jairus’ daughter. Remember also the woman with the issue of blood who got healed by touching the helm of his garment. Now Jesus is no longer here physically but His Spirit is in every Spirit filled believer as an abiding presence, so that he can the continue the work and not hindered by distance. The bible says in Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:8 KJV
[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
The same Jesus that was on earth is the same Jesus that is here today, he has not diminished in power, grace or anointing. The potency of his word is still the same if it is rightly applied. He can still do what he did then now and even much more through willing vessels. The Apostles did greater works than Jesus, Peter’s shadow healed the sick, this was never recorded of Jesus. People were healed by touching Pauls Apron, the closest Jesus had was somebody touching his garment but he did greater works through the Apostles and he wants to do greater works through you. It is the same Jesus, he has not changed or diminished, if we apply the same principle that Jesus applied and the same principle the Apostles applied, we will get the same result. Jesus unlocked the God in him and released him into the world. The Apostles unlocked the Christ in them and released him to the world. The Christ in you need to be unlocked and released to the world. This is the manifestation that the world is waiting for.
Colossians 1:27 KJV
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
The presence of Christ is on you as a permanent indwelling, you carry him everywhere you go as a believer but His presence will not manifest until you intentionally unlock this presence. The question now is, how do I unlock this presence?
ACKNOWLEDGE HIS PRESENCE: Become more aware that he is with you, become more sensitive to him, become more spiritually inclined knowing that you are first a spirit and he can only connect with you in the spirit. Becoming more aware of His presence will inform the things you do and the things you say because you will avoid doing things that will hurt or deactivate the presence of God in your life. Becoming more aware of His presence will determine how you act when you find yourself in challenging or troubled situation. John said greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. If this is your mantra, you will realize that you always be in charge of situation, you will be the one to determine what happens around you. You will command people’s attention and strangers will submit to you. Demonic forces and evil spirit will not be able to stand your presence. The bible says the evil bows before the good and the wicked at the gate of the righteous. Proverbs 14:19. When you command God’s presence nothing evil will be able stand around except the ones you permit. Whenever you get into a place, the first thing to do as a Carrier of Gods presence is to take Charge, if you don’t, others will do because there can’t be a vacuum in leadership. Whenever I attend meetings be it secular or Church meeting, I first of all take authority over the meeting and subdue all opposing forces. I dictate the meeting by the authority of Christ in me and people have wondered how this happens. I remember attending a meeting with some top management team of some reputable banks. My top management already perceived that the meeting was going to be a tough one, backed out and sent me, one of them even made a joking statement that he is not sure that I will come back alive from the meeting but friends guess what? I did not just come back alive, I returned with positive report to the admiration of all. How did this happen? I took charge by activating the presence of God, took authority over the meeting and to my amazement all the people that have hitherto threatened fire and brimstone, succumbed and where visibly subdued. Glory be to God! You can do the same thing. Acknowledge him everywhere you go. Whenever you get to a place, announce his presence and watch him move on your behalf. Shalom! To be continued.
CONFORMING TO HIM: Romans 12:2. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. One of the other many ways of unlocking the Christ in you if to conform to Him, His ways, His pattern and not conforming to this worlds pattern. We are in the world but we are not of the world. The world has its own system and word also has a system. The pattern of Christ cannot be found in the world system but in the word system. This is why we read the admonition of Paul in the above text encouraging believers not to conform or shape their lives by the world pattern but rather let the word of God determine and influence your every day life. Allow Christ through his word to influence your actions and your words. Do not do anything without consulting with him, before you speak, ask him for utterances, before you act, ask him for instruction and direction. You will notice an example in John 5:19-30, Jesus could do nothing except he first consult The Father. Whatever he says is what he hears the Father say and therefore he was able to unlock the power of God in him to manifestation. Likewise you a Christian and carrier of His presence, when you incline to Him for direction and instructions before any action, you automatically activate and release the power Christ into such actions or speech because what you say is what he already said and what you do is what he already did. Conforming to the image and the pattern of Christ may not be so spontaneous but a gradual integration of ones mindset and attitudes consciously and deliberately to line up with His will and purpose. It requires a consistent exposure to the word of God to renew your mind and replace your old thinking pattern to that of His. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV 16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. If truly we have the mind of Christ them we have been conformed to the image and likeness of Christ. If truly we have conformed, then we ought to manifest who we are.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NIV
[15] Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. [16] But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
TRANSFORMATION: One other main reason why Christ came is to transform us to become like him, transformation is the end product of gradual conformation. If we consistently conform to His pattern and his ways by daily looking at His word, which is His image, then we will eventually be transformed to becoming like him. This was in the original plan of God when he created Man. He gave him a mandate in Genesis 1:26, Be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and subdue! The word replenish means to fill again anew. God wanted Adam to fill the earth with His own kind of specie, made in the image and likeness of God but Adam due to sin and the fall failed and evil persist earth. The coming of Jesus was to come and fulfill this mandate, replenish and subdue. So as we Christians are continually conforming and being transformed to the image and likeness of Christ, we are fulfilling this mandate, we are replenishing the earth with Christ like people. Once we are transformed, we influence others too to conform and be transformed. So as a Christian, whenever you enter into a place, know that your mandate includes replenishing, subdue and transform people around you to conform to the image and likeness of Christ. This is one of the first and main ministry of Christ, reconciling men to Christ and the same ministry he handed down to us as Christians at his departure in Matthew 28:19-20 KJV
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Friends, Christ came to reconcile us to God and to transform us to become like Christ here on earth. Once we are transformed, it becomes our duty as Christ like people to reconcile and transform others so that we can replenish the earth and eventually subdue the kingdom of the devil. The question therefore is ‘have you been transformed? If yes, are you in the business of reconciliation and transformation? If yes, glory to be to God but if No, enlist now and do the work of Christ. I wish you all a wonderful month of manifestation.
Pastor Ayodele Abisagboola.