Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional ; Thursday, 4th July 2019 ;
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc., DD ;
WE’RE ONE WITH CHRIST ;
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (Acts 9:3-5).
The scripture passage above is a clear reference to the inextricable oneness of Christ and the Church. Before his conversion, Saul wreaked havoc in the early Church and persecuted Christians everywhere, until he had an encounter with the Lord, who intercepted him and asked, “…Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
Jesus intimately identifies Himself with the Church. Read again, His words to the injurious Saul of Tarsus in our opening Scripture. The Master didn’t say, “Saul, why persecutest thou, my followers?” Rather, He took it personally because we’re of the same stock with Him. An attack on the Church is an attack on Jesus because He’s the Vine, and we (the Church) are the branches. We have His very life; He brought us into union with Himself.
Always remember that anything you do for, or against the Church is unto Christ. Persecuting the Church is persecuting Jesus because He’s the head of the Church: “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). The head and the body go by the same Name—Christ! Thus, we’re members of the body of Christ.
Being born again, you’ve been baptized into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.” As a member of the body of Christ, you don’t answer a name that’s different from that of the head or of the body, which is Christ. This is to help you see who you are, where you are, and what you have; you’re one with Christ.
When He was raised from the dead, you were raised up together with Him. Now that He’s seated on the throne, you’re seated together with Him in the place of dominion, glory, and authority. Therefore, rule the world and dominate your environment with the glory of Christ!
CONFESSION
I’m seated together with Christ in the place of dominion, glory, and authority, reigning and ruling over circumstances and situations, dominating my world by the power of the Holy Ghost! Glory to God forever!
FURTHER STUDY:
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Ephesians 5:29-30
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 17:1-15 & Job 3-5
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Luke 6:31-38 & Deuteronomy 32