Let us read from Luke 3:21,22, “Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”” This was the Father’s testimony of Jesus life. We may have also been baptized and we may be praying too; but is God pleased with our lives? When we look at the Israelites, they too went through a symbol of baptism by passing the Red Sea, God answered their many prayers for food and water; but in 1 Corinthians 10 we read that God was not pleased with their life.
Jesus’ public ministry started at the age of 30. Before that He had a hidden life which he lived pleasing the Father. There was an authority placed over Him and He was subject to him. We have authority in our workplaces, in our homes; are we subject to the authority placed over us? In Luke 2 we read of young Jesus visiting the temple with His parents. In verse 51 we read, “And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” This was the way Jesus lived. He lived in subjection to His imperfect parents. This is how we should take up our cross and follow Jesus – we may have imperfect authorities, but we have to be submissive to them. If we rebel against the authority that God has placed over us, God will not be pleased with our lives.
In Hebrews 4:15, 16 we read, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Jesus had a flesh like ours and was tempted in every way as we are, but He did not sin even once. We can go to Him when we are tempted. In Hebrews 5:7 we read, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” We can follow Jesus’ example when we are tested. With prayers and supplication, cry out to the Father so that He can save us from spiritual death. Jesus learnt obedience through His sufferings (v8). Jesus had to fight daily to out to death his will and flesh. He went through daily suffering and learnt obedience and became perfect and a source of eternal salvation for all of us (v9). In John 6:38 Jesus says that He came to do not His will but the will of the Father. This was the way that Jesus pleased the Father. If we too seek to do the Father’s will at all times, The Father will give us an overcoming life through the trials we face each day and will be pleased with our life. Let us draw near to God.
In Acts 16:31 we read, “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”” Are you willing to believe in Jesus? The promise is for us and our household. Are you willing to repent and have a change in your life? In Romans 10 :8,9 we read, ““The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;” Let us examine our lives to see those areas in our lives which we haven’t submitted to God and where we need to repent. If you heard this word today, let us repent. Let us come to God and repent in the areas where we have not taken up the cross. We do not know how long we will live. We don’t know if tomorrow is ours. Today is the day of repentance. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of Christ. If there is anyone that hasn’t received this word in your heart, I pray that you may come into the joy of salvation.
Let us come to the word we first read. Baptism is the symbol of the death and resurrection. In Romans 6 we read of that those who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death. There was no need for Jesus to be baptized. And as we are united with Jesus with Jesus death, we are also united in His resurrection. When we go through baptism, we are putting to death our old man so that we will no longer be slaves to sin. In verses 8-11 we read, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This is the victorious life to which we have been called.
In Mathew 4 we read of Jesus’ temptations right after His baptism. Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and then; He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus was tempted by the devil. Jesus was capable of doing all the things that the devil tempted Him to do, but He did God’s will. Jesus was not lead by His flesh or will. Let us follow Jesus example. At the time of temptation, we should have a word of God to fight against Satan. Our strength shouldn’t be in our flesh or what we have. If we compromise during temptation, God will not be pleased in our lives. We need to put God first in our lives always. When the devil found that He couldn’t get Jesus to sin, he left Him.
Let us repent from all rebellion in our lives. Let us seek to put to death our flesh daily. In Galatians 2:20 we read, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” This is the way we are to live. Our flesh will always hinder us from doing God’s will. We have to put it to death. Let us have faith in God that He will give us victory. In Hebrews 3:12,13 we read, “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” God wants His nature in our live. Let us claim it every day. In Revelations 3 we read that Jesus is standing at the door and knocking. Will you allow Jesus into the chambers of your heart which was under Satan’s control? As Jesus suffered and overcame and is at the right hand of the Father and to those who overcome Jesus has promised that we can sit with Him on His throne. Let us all be encouraged today.
May God bless all of us.
