We lift up Jesus as we honour him. We must do so with our lives and our lifestyles. Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26 say that for I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. Colossians 3:12 says that put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
We can lift Jesus Christ if we live by the word of God. Our lives must honour Jesus whether in public or secret because Jesus judges from the heart so nothing can be hidden from him. Christ is best lifted up in our lives by our deeds and not by our lips, Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6. We must lift up Jesus to reciprocate his many blessings upon our lives most of which we do not see or even reckon.
Our spiritual security
Paul said in Hebrews 13:5 that keep your life from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, I will never fail you nor forsake you. Paul has set out the conditions for our spiritual security. He has described in 2 Corinthians 10:4 the nature of weapons for our security. He says the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Isaiah 54:17 says that no weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, says the Lord. Can we not lift up Jesus for these assurances?
Psalms 91:4 say that God will cover you with his wings, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. God is a shield for all those who take refuge in him, Psalms 18:30. We have this as our inheritance because of Christ Jesus. God’s shield is his salvation, 2 Samuel 22:36. The salvation is through Christ Jesus. Just as God was with Abraham so shall he be with us, Genesis 15:1. Psalms 28:7 says the Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Christ Jesus must be lifted up.
Weapons of spiritual warfare
Our battles in life are primarily spiritual warfare. Jesus has given us intangible weapons by which we can wage and win the wars. Ephesians 6:16 says that besides all these take the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. So apart from God’s protection for us through Christ Jesus, he has equipped us with spiritual weapons for our spiritual battles. These are assurances of divine security against our souls for which we must lift up Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 19:11 that you would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above. To the extent that no power from above has been given to anyone beyond Christ Jesus, we are assured of victory of the soul if in battle and Christ Jesus is our captain. Colossians 3:3 says our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Jesus is our guard, guardian and eternal security so lift him up.
Philippians 2:9-11 say that therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Why do we complain as people without hope when the name of Christ Jesus is above all names?
Christ Jesus is our banner of welfare in spiritual security and warfare. In Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar for the Lord and named it as the Lord is my banner. Psalms 60:4 says that thou hast set up a banner for those who fear thee, to rally to it from the bow. Jesus’ banner over us is his unfailing love by which we have grace, mercy and peace. Join us to lift him up and to celebrate him with gratitude.
Jesus compliments our weakness
Jesus did not leave us alone but adequately provided for our weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says that my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. With grace we do not have limitations. Romans 11:6 says that but if it (our salvation) is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Jesus’ grace does the work for us and we take the benefit without anxiety to God’s glory. John 14:26 says that but the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. The Holy Spirit is our intercessor, Romans 8:26, 27 and 34. The Holy Spirit is our divine companion and teacher.
Paul affirms this fact when he said in Philippians 4:19 that God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is also our intercessor and intercedes on our behalf always, Romans 8:26, 27 and 34. We have cause to be thankful to Christ Jesus. We have no cause to complain or refuse to lift up Jesus Christ upon knowing through Jesus Christ what God expects from us aside his providence.
Truthfulness of Christ Jesus
Paul tasted of the goodness of God through Jesus Christ and said in Romans 8:35-38 that who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? He says in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. He says for I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says that give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Psalms 55:22 says cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Paul celebrated Jesus in spite of all his challenges and we must celebrate Christ Jesus also. Jesus has taught us the truth and it is left to us to accept or reject. It is our prayer that we must focus on what Jesus has done for us so we can celebrate him. It is the future that matters and not what we have today. Our souls matter more than anything and Christ Jesus deserves thanks.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please give us a sense of appreciation that we may with a clean heart, celebrate you for your saving grace; for preserving our lives; for giving us tools of hope and assurance; and for your Holy Spirit to be our counselor in all things. Father we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!!
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