What an awesome month of April we have had thus far. Every service has taken us from one level of glory to another and this Sunday was not an exception.

Pastor began her teaching by charging us to spend a lot of time speaking in tongues regularly, “for he that speaketh in unknown tongue edifieth himself” 1 Corinthians 14:4. She instructed us to learn to be free in our spiritual expressions; because in doing so, we train our spirits to gain the mastery. She reminded us that at times, we may receive an urge to speak in tongues while listening to a message or while doing random chores, and admonished us not to bottle up such urges, instead we should give them expression by speaking in tongues at that moment. She informed us that this practise would turn out to be a good defense in the evil day when our spirit will need our body to respond in a certain way. Giving an example of what happened in Acts 10:44 where Cornelius and his household while listening to the word of God were suddenly imparted by the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues, She explained that such uncommon urges are often signs of an impartation coming upon us, a sign that something has happened inside of us and we build on that impartation as we speak in other tongues.

Pastor went on to show us what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? “ Matthew 16:24–26

She enlightened us that the Christian journey does not end with believing in Jesus, following salvation, it is important to not allow ourselves to be intertwined with the world. As Christians, we have been called to lose ourselves as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:15, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”. We see that Christ’s purpose and expectation in dying for us is that we would live for him. The Christian life isn’t just about going to church but about continuing the life Jesus lived on the earth.

Diving into the main for the day, pastor reminded us that having died with Christ, death no longer has dominion over us. The word of God makes it clear that Jesus died in our stead and that it is appointed unto men once to die, hence we have fulfilled the death obligation. Pastor explained that the reason Christians may die is due to the rebellious nature of death. She read further from Colossians 2:20-22

“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?”

Here, we saw that we are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, no longer subject to the principles of the world and the realities of those alive to the world. The Christian who subjects himself to such principles has chosen to live beneath himself because even the world recognizes that there are those who cannot be affected by its principles.

Reading the rest of the passage, Pastor made us understand that following the principles of the world might make us seem to be wise, but it is a show of wisdom that would not satisfy the cravings of the flesh.

“Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh” Colossians 2:23

The word of God wants us to have the mindset of the heavenly man, imposed on the earth by God, not subject to the principles of this world but placed on the earth to reign, rule and deliver. To live this live absolutely, we have to put away fear completely.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” Hebrews 2:14-15

The fear of the death puts men in bondage and people only fear what has the ability to hurt them, Jesus through his death delivered us from the fear of death showing that death does not have any ability to affect the Christian anymore, we have received the gift of righteousness and abundance of grace so we reign much more than death, we have no fear of death knowing we cannot be affected, instead if death shows up to affect someone else, we use the ability we have received to command it out and stop it’s effect.

What a glorious life we have received!

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