THE DAWN YEAR MONTH – JANUARY 2025: “BEING CHRISTLIKE”!
As we’ve delved into year 2025 and the month of beginning January 2025 with all hopes and aspirations in our various assembly’s, what’s your set label or sticker that will be your innermost consciousness defining your outward manifestation of God’s grace, to mark you out and to give you focus, the sense of stability, the sense of fulfilling purpose with God without distractions and as the guide lamp to carry you through the good and challenging times of the year and month as may be applicable in times. Have you thought of that? For me is to “BEING CHRISTLIKE”.
To some, their classic label is just to prosper, have enough material gains, have several avenues of making money and to have the best that the world have ever known to qualify them at the top seating places in “Church” to enable them show forth whatever they have accumulated and probably to get a special car parking spot, and others with several unimaginable. And they will do things that are not good to hear, by the way they pray, attend all kinds of places that the CHRISTLIKE won’t even dare think or imagine – just because of the lies they have been told by the megaphones that they listen to and less ears to God, because as for them this is their year for whatever is going on within them , anything that tends to be a stopper is sentence to death by any means – case close – because it’s by fire, fireworks, and force and any means. Is that you? I mean you in Christ Jesus. Thinking that way? Planning new strategies even if it means defrauding by any available scheme, so long as you’ve gotten what you want to booster your appetite? Wherein is the CHRISTLIKENESS Beloved of God!
“But the PATH of the JUST is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, ATTEND TO MY WORDS; INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO MY SAYINGS. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” Proverbs 4:18-23.
I am taking my time to redress myself of who Jesus is and His purpose and commission towards me so that I can be CHRISTLIKE in living for a purpose with fulfilment as an AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST. And at the same time, I am unveiling myself to know MORE of the Disciples of Christ Jesus that turns Apostle’s to know how they live to be CHRISTLIKE and were fulfilled in grace without such a high level of controversy that made many turn away from Christ; because I perceived and I foresee a future that will be defined by the Pentecostal religion if not already at work, wherein Christ Jesus is no longer the core, and only centre heart message and central place for all to serve God unreservedly, acceptably and to worship Him worthily; instead God and His Christ will be mentioned as a passing messages while matters of accumulation of things, titles by names, wealth pointing and success toward men and not after God and His Christ in pure essence, becomes the order being set with drama’s will becomes a norm and acceptable denominational doctrine overtime as if it’s scriptural. YOU NEED TO PAUSE. CHECK YOUR SPEED NOW before you become one who lives outside CHRISTLIKENESS.
Herein are things to know about the DISCIPLES of Christ Jesus. I hope you learnt something as the year comes along and you hear various megaphones making noise to ears and the boundless social media effects and nationalised multimedia newspaper and Television feedlines reels and such like:
“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they ASSEMBLED themselves with the church, and TAUGHT much people. And the DISCIPLES were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch” Acts 11:26.
The Disciple’s of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who were literally living the CHRISTLIKE life to the fulness in their manner of doing life and living godly were nicknamed by others as CHRISTIANS – as followers of Christ Jesus and His teaching. It was a derogatory label then, even though over the years it’s become more norm than to say I am born of God and disciples of Christ Jesus to avoid being categorised. However, that’s the world labelling and image and emerging concept of analysing who the Believer’s in Christ Jesus faith is all about [Acts 11:25-26; Acts 26:27-29; 1 Peter 4:15-16].
While on the other hand, the disciples of Christ Jesus face severe persecution and the Church then wasted by one man who labelled them under the tyranny of the state as created by the learned Brother Saul, who later because Apostle Paul, and who with his caucus labelled Christ disciples of his time then as People of: “THIS WAY”, “THE WAY” , “THAT WAY” [Acts 9:1-2; Galatians 1:1-24; Acts 19:19, 23; Acts 24:14, 22-23]. Using various naming to disregard Believer’s. I know he rather soonest you may have made a meme, just stand in the faith as representing of the God’s of heaven.
A CHRISTIAN, you say you ARE? You must come to realise under what umbrella are you acclaiming it, otherwise it becomes another religious remarks you carry thinking it’s heavenly not knowing you’ve teased on a reason – and it’s the reason I am after for you to know and actual and escape from as many of the do so many religion we do that’s not CHRISTLIKE but to fulfil human righteousness and not that which is of God [Romans 10:1-5]; You must know then that you ARE born of God and you ARE of God and you ARE God’s vehicle and vessel of change, in changing and influencing lives and making an effectual difference for the good of others, for God in Christ Jesus stead. And the label should be you are CHRISTLIKE. And your being born of God means then you ARE Christ FOLLOWER, SOLDIER of Christ, Christ WITNESS, MISSIONARY and AMBASSADOR of God in Christ Jesus stead. You can ARISE today and let it be that you are living for who you ARE of God in Christ Jesus stead not just what you are nicknamed as you take on the challenges of the faith in the grace.
My first understanding of the word ‘CHRISTIAN’ as to becoming a Christian is to understand that:
*It was a derogatory nickname given to those who are and were genuinely followers, witness and Missionary of Christ as in the book of Acts epistles. [Acts 11:26; Acts 26:27-29; 1 Peter 4:15-17].
*And when you take the word CHRIST out of the word CHRISTIAN, you are left with ‘IAN’. And ‘IAN’ means to me – ‘I AM NOTHING’. Meaning, one is of no WORTH, but ONLY in WORTH, because of Christ in you and you in Him. Otherwise, it’s religion, sectarianism, dogmas and religious bondage and tradition of men.
Christ Jesus NEVER called His own born of God children the term – Christian, instead He called us as He called them in scriptural context – DISCIPLE, FOLLOWER, SOLDIER, WITNESS, MISSIONARY and AMBASSADOR of God in Christ Jesus stead. Amen.
The word Christian is an illusion that has been purported for too long that what it designated then at the first use toward followers of Christ Jesus is not what it does indicates and represents to many people today. Today, loads of people claims to be Christian’s because they found themselves in one religious Church while they live contrary to the context of the Gospel of God in Christ Jesus stead, but when there’s a trial of their faith in Christ Jesus, they will almost deny it not arbitrary abandoned their acclaimed faith.
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:15-17.
Are you just called a Christian or you are indeed a – DISCIPLE, FOLLOWER, SOLDIER, WITNESS, MISSIONARY and an AMBASSADOR of God in Christ Jesus stead. It’s your choice to align yourself today for your reality as you do life and living godly in God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
DID YOU SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN – I HOPE YOU KNOW GENUINELY WHAT IT OUGHT TO MEAN TO ENABLE YOU THAT’S BORN OF GOD AS CALLED TO LIVE THE CHRISTLIKE.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the DISCIPLES were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch” Acts 11:26.
“King Agrippa, BELIEVEST thou the prophets? I know that thou BELIEVEST. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou PERSUADEST me to be a CHRISTIAN. 29 And Paul said, I WOULD TO GOD, THAT NOT ONLY THOU, BUT ALSO ALL THAT HEAR ME THIS DAY, were both ALMOST, and ALTOGETHER such as I AM, except these bonds” Acts 26:27-29.
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:15-17.
“Now then we are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us . . .” 2 Corinthians 5:20.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be WITNESSES unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” Acts 1:8.
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that WARRETH entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a SOLDIER” 2 Timothy 2:1-4.
“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance. 12 They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, And the little hills rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing” Psalms 65:11-13/NKJV
“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: 28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” Colossians 1:27-29.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” 2 Peter 1:19-21.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His PURPOSE” Romans 8:28.
“In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His PURPOSE, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, 12 So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!” Ephesians 1:11-12/AMP Classic Edition.
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:8.
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this CAUSE came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” John 18:37.
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was LED by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered . . . 14 And Jesus returned in the POWER of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all . . . 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the GRACIOUS WORDS which PROCEEDED out of His mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?”. Luke 4:1-22 [Matthew 4:1-11].
The horse is PREPARED against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord’ Proverbs 21:31.
“Seest thou a man DILIGENT in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” Proverbs 22:29.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ . . . 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain . . . 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” Philippians 1:6, 21, 27.
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:1-11.
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” Philippians 3:1-15.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” Galatians 2:20-21.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Further Scriptural Reading Text: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 8:1-8.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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