Today’s Reading:
REVELATION 21: 1-7
“He who overcomes will inherit all things. And he will be my son.” (Rev. 21:7)
Life is not a bed of roses. There are challenges everywhere. The battle started from cradle to the grave. If life is a battle, then Christian life is a double battle. Anyone who wants to live as a Christian has a battle to face. And the enemy of our soul is not relenting day and night. He is marshalling his hosts to fight us tooth and nail so that our focus can be shifted and we lose our reward. In our text's verse, the memory verse, Jesus said ‘he who overcomes will inherit all things’. The corollary of that statement is that “he that doesn’t overcome will inherit nothing”. This is a matter. The word “overcomer” connotes or presupposes a fight, battle or war. So, for a child of God to overcome, he must have fought, it is only a fighter that overcomes. No one is called an overcomer without being involved in a battle. As Christians our struggle can be summed up into 3’s and they are: Sin, Satan and Self. If a child of God can overcome these three enemies, then the kingdom of God is certain. Of these three enemies, the greatest is not Satan as people think neither Sin, but self. Satan uses sin and perfects the work with the support of Mr. Self (flesh). So Satanic work or mission cannot be carried out without the approval of Mr. Self.
Self is also known as flesh, Adamic nature, sinful nature, I/me/myself, natural man, carnal man, etc. It is that part of us that we inherited from Adam. The nature that was passed down to us from our parents, which biology calls genes. It is that part of us that doesn’t want to change or be challenged. If not for Christ, the self wants to remain unchanged. When you hear someone saying “That is the way I was born, we usually get angry in our family and that is who we are”, that statement comes from Mr. Self. Once the self is conquered, sin and Satan lose their power over your life. The only solution to this self is found in Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
You need to accept the fact that the self cannot take you to heaven. It must be brought to Calvary to be crucified and die daily. That is the only way you can be an overcomer who will inherit all things. This battle with sin, Satan and self is a daily combat. You must be aware and lean daily on Jesus to work in you so that you can overcome for by strength shall no man prevail.
JAMES ALADE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Oh Lord, deliver me from sin, Satan and self in Jesus’ name.
Power of self over my life lose your hold in Jesus’ name.
I will finish well to inherit all things in Jesus’ name.
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