Who Is On The Lord's Side?

Exodus 32:1-6, 17-20, 25-28.

 Truly, the fact that today’s generation is filled with people who are bent on going their own way and people who are not bothered about what the Lord has said cannot be argued.  We find youths even in the Church seeking convenience in every area of life including in the worship of God.  Many care less about the standard of God in the matter of service to God, in relationship with others, in choice of career, etc.  Rather, they manipulate things to suit them not minding if the way or instruction of God on such issues are distorted.  Let’s consider three different states as can be identified with today’s youths and draw some inference and take decision.

Before Now (Exo. 24:1-18)

Just before Moses was called up into the mount to be with the Lord and to receive instructions, the children of Israel had some new encounters with God.  Once again, they heard the word of God and His judgments rehearsed in their ears, the book of covenant was read again to them.   They were all thrilled and with one voice said “All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.”  (Exodus. 24:3, 7).  In fact, they renewed their covenant with God.  They saw the glory of God like devouring fire on the top of the mount.

Many youths in their early adolescents or teenage life had glorious experiences of the Lord.  They received wonderful teachings and they believed in what they received (cons. 2 Timothy. 3:14-15). They memorized, recited and applied the memory verses given them as children and took same with them as they marched into the teenage life.  Parents, pastors, teachers, etc. taught them morals and values from homes, Church and school (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Proverbs 6:22; 2 Timothy 1:3).  These values were accepted, and many got the experience of salvation and much more.  They walked by the doctrines and principles of God in the place they found themselves, even true churches and served the God of their fathers (cons. Jeremiah 35:1-14).  Such life styles of moderation in dressing, having regular fellowship, prayerfulness, active participation in Church activities, regulating television programmes or movies watched, purity in relationship with the opposite sex, obedience and respect for parents and elders, adherence to examination rules and terms of service as apprentices, etc. were attended to with fear and in reverence to God (cons. Genesis 39:9b; 1 John. 2:15-17).  Though tender in age and strength, yet was like the young David before Goliath because of his trust and relationship with the God of his father (1 Samuel 17:22-25, 32-37).  He believed like a child and walked with God in innocency.  He fled sin as was instructed and believed that God was everywhere and watching as he had been taught.  He was neither crafty nor did he formulate excuses for his actions.  It was never difficult to admit to wrongs and errors done and to repent of them.  His peace with God and others abounded (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 5:1).  He sought and heeded to counsels (Proverbs 11:14).  At every opportunity, he renewed his covenant with God and kept his portion of the covenant (cons. Genesis 35:1-7).  This was the state of the youth before now, but what can be seen today?

On The Mountain By Night, On The Plains By Day

In His Steps, this is the heartbeat of every Christian youth. What youth can afford not to thread therein? A youth must cross the Rubicon of the way of multitudes to the side of no return, the side of the Saviour, come to an inexplicable awareness of this great Lord, the incomparable model, Jesus Christ. Thereafter he becomes a Christian who can be identified anywhere many years after (read the article  titled: "And They Were Called Christians".)

This article before you is to launch you into the secrets of His exploits if you must fulfill His injunction and promise (Lk. 19:13; Jn. 14:12). The teaching is "On the Mountain by Night, on the Plains by Day".

On The Mountain By Night: Explanation And Examples

In the physical, a mountain is a land mass that projects well above its surroundings. It takes great efforts and determination to climb a mountain because of its rough sides and slope but at the end the climber achieves his purposes. A mountain can be a place of extraordinary experience where God and man meet. The people of Old Testament including the children of Israel at different times had glorious visitations as the Lord descending on the mount. On one of the mounts at Moriah, Abraham experienced God as Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:11-14), at Mountain of God in Horeb, Moses saw the bush that burned which was not consumed (Exo. 3:1-2), when God came down in fire on Mount Sinai, there was smoke, quakes and the children of Israel heard the voice of the Lord (Exo. 19:16-19; 20:18; Deut. 4:9-12); there God gave Moses and Israelites the ten commandments and His statutes and judgments (Deut. 4:13; Exo. 20:1-3). At mount Carmel, Elijah and the Israelites saw the God that answers by fire (1Kgs. 18:36-39). When Jesus took some of His apostles to the Mountain, they (the apostles) saw a scene that so made them afraid that they temporarily forgot everything about themselves (Matt. 17:1-3). The different experiences at these different mountains remained memorials for generations after those that experienced them and for us today (Rom. 15:4; 2Pet. 1:16-18; Deut. 4:10-13; Heb. 12:18-19). They were glorious experiences indeed.

Now one may wonder if these experiences belonged to only those who have mountains in their areas to climb in order to encounter God. The coming of the Messiah, Jesus, has given every one of us a better privilege and we do not need a physical mountain to enjoy the mountain experience (Jn. 4:19-24). The worship of God MUST be in spirit and in truth which is what the conference has been addressing since we began. So, what then is the mountain today? The mountain for a child of God is that place and time when he separates himself and rises above his surroundings through prayers, supplications, wrestling, studying and meditation of God’s word (Gen. 32:24-28; cp. Ezra. 7:10; Neh. 8:1-3, 5-6, 8; Matt. 26:36).

The Lamb And The Lion

For many youths who have embraced the Saviour Jesus Christ through teachings, testimonies, prayer sessions are already walking in the steps of the Master and experiencing glorious transformations. We want to look in depth into an interesting topic The Lamb And The Lion. We want to see from the perspective of a lamb and a lion (qualities that can be viewed as contradictory). Every Christian youth must possess and exhibit these qualities to maintain an acceptable Christian life and succeed as sheep in the midst of ravening wolves in a wicked and viper-filled generation.

Briefly, let’s see the following: (1) Jesus the Lamb (2) Jesus the Lion (3) The Christian Youth as a lamb (4) The Christian Youth as a Lion and (5) Christian Youth, Rouse yourself for the hour’s need.

Jesus, The Lamb

A lamb, in the physical, is the young of a sheep (Ex.12:3,5). It is innocent, harmless, dependent on its leader. The lamb is used to describe one who is meek, lowly, quiet, harmless, leadable and affectionate (Is. 53:7; Acts 8:32-33). John, the Baptist introduced Him as the lamb of God (Jn.1:29). He is our Passover Lamb, like the passover lamb offered in Egypt on the eve of their departure (1Cor.5:7) for the remission of the sins of the whole world (Matt.26:28; Gal.1:3,4).

Jesus, like the lamb, manifested calmness, quietness, harmlessness all through His earthly business even through to death. His sinless and pure life proved His being the qualified choice (Acts 8:32,33; Heb.7:26; Isa.53:7; 1Pt.2:22,23). Like a lamb, He did not avenge Himself but depended on the Father (1Pt.2:23). He did not find it hard to say "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me" (Jn.4:30; cons. Heb.4:15). He is the Lamb of God indeed.

And They Were Called Chriatians

Acts 11:22-26

Citizens of a nation are called by the names of their nation. Nigerians are citizens of Nigeria, Americans of America, British of Britain, Togolese of Togo, etc. The people of a particular country can be identified with certain characteristics prevalent in them such as colour, culture, language, occupation, etc,. Also, within families (immediate and extended), members can be referred to by the names of their families such as the Philips, Owolabis, Okories, Musas, etc,. You find resemblance amongst those members - physical, characters/habits, career/occupation, etc,. Christians, therefore, are named after Christ and must definitely have marks or characteristics found in Him that are prevalent in His members (the Christians). What are those likely marks that were seen in the disciples which must necessarily be in today’s disciples that set them apart and got them that tag ‘Christians’.

The Indispensable Early Marks That Needs Be.

For anyone to possess and manifest any of the qualities and virtues in the Lord Jesus Christ, he must first have the Spirit of Christ in him (Rom. 8:9). This happens at salvation when a sinner on realizing the purpose of the death and resurrection of Christ for him, totally submits to it, confessing all sin from a broken heart and consciously accepts Jesus into his life (Tit. 2:14; 1Tim. 2:5-6; Gal. 1:3-4; Eph. 1:13; 2Cor. 5:5). This is the first step, after which the saved youth surrenders his whole spirit to the next operation of letting the Holy Ghost deal and destroy whatever nature of sin that remained which could revive interest again in things he has given up. Jesus hated iniquity, had dominion and victory over it and loved righteousness (Heb. 1:9; Matt. 4:1-11). For the child of God, bearing the name of the Saviour to tread this path as commanded (Rom. 6:11-14), he must also be able to withstand and quench all the fiery darts (including those that are technologically induced) and overcome compromising influences from ‘friends’, ‘peers’, ‘so-called Christians’ and from the pits of hell. This has to be by the power of the Holy Ghost that comes into the saved and sanctified child of God (Heb. 1:9; cons. Jn. 3:34; Act. 4:16-21, 31; 3:37-39; Eph. 5:18). The beauty of Jesus will radiate more and more as this child of God learns more about the Lord Jesus through these experiences and greater commitment/consecration to His service, prayer and the word (Rom. 8:4-6; Gal. 2:20; 5:16-18; Phil. 1:21). The Spirit of God in him naturally manifests His fruits in that individual (Gal. 5:22-25). These are sweet experiences for him. The same were in Jesus and made it easy for Him to obey the Father, living to please him, loving him, showing kindness, mercy and compassion, praying through the night, eating the word, sacrificing his life, etc,. This is the mind all must possess (Phil. 2:5) and the effects are those examples representing the steps and path left for the believer to walk in and tread (1Pet. 1:21). At this point, any youth having these testimonies can begin to say "he that hath seen me hath seen ....." (cons. Jn. 14:8-9). He has become a Christian.

Will You Cross The Rubicon Today?

Before us this day, is a question that must be answered but not in a haste or without serious and in-depth consideration. This is because many people in time past have had to answer similar questions but before long went contrary to the answers they offered or gave. This is the reason the Lord is approaching us from a new angle and language that anyone that must answer must do so with every consciousness in him and an understanding of its implications. (cons. Luke. 14:28-32). The question is "will you cross the rubicon today?".

To cross the rubicon is a common phrase among youths especially students. It refers to Julius Caesar’s case of the Rubicon River to wage civil war with Rome on January, 10, 49BC. River Rubicon is a small river in Northern Italy, it marked the boundary in ancient times between Italy and Gaul (the frontier boundary of Italy). There was a law then that forbade any general with a standing army from crossing this river and entering the Roman heartland. To do so was considered as treason. Meanwhile, Caesar had been ordered to resign and disband his army because his increasing popularity seemed to pose a threat to the ruling powers. Caesar, not willing to surrender his political ambition and power must needs cross the River to confront the power in-charge. This was a time of serious decision - either to submit to the command or cross over to confront the power that be, but that would mean opting for a civil war, marking a point of no return. On coming to the banks of the Rubicon, he meditated and thought deeply of his next step, he said to his troop ‘still we can retreat! But once let us pass this little bridge, - and nothing is left but to fight it out with arms!’. Soon, on sighting a challenging incidence, ran to the river and sounded the ‘Advance’ and crossed to the other side declaring that THE DIE IS NOW CAST, marking the point of no return. This began the civil war.

This account has not been given for us to justify Caesar’s action but to actually illustrate what happens in many lives and to help us see and understand what it takes if we must tread in the steps that the Lord is directing us to. We shall now briefly consider what the Rubicon is to us, what happens before the Rubicon, crossing the Rubicon and what is obtainable across the Rubicon.

This Jesus! More About HIM

　

Man, generally, have had cause to choose who to admire and look up to. This is a prevailent characteristic of youths. They have role models they aspire to be like and for the ambitious ones they do all they can to tread in the shoes of such and break records to excel beyond them (their role models). 

Their attraction to these ones could be their lifestyle (dressing, oratory ability, etc); proficiency or prowess in any field of specialization (football, music, academics, politics, entertainment, etc); physical appearance, leadership ability (diverse peer groups - human rights activities, ‘approved’ or unapproved touts operating at the bus-stops, airports, immigration offices, ports, etc on different levels, religious groups, etc).

Many youths go about wearing shirts and rings displaying their attachments to football stars or clubs, others, carry the hair-dos of musicians, dress-code of their spiritual leaders, sing and talk about them. Evidently their lives, career, perception are moulded and modelled to a large extent towards those of their models (cons. Act.22:3; 22:25,27,28) and some youths become great and famous, while some fall out just like those they have looked up to. 

The achievements may be accepted and applauded by man but God’s measurement looks for GOOD SUCCESS which carries with it completeness in all areas. This is the reason the Lord is bringing to us His choice of model. He is not just a model but an incomparable model, one in time and beyond time, trend, technology, who discoveries and circumstances cannot outwit (Matt.2:13-16; 27:62-66; 28:1-6). He is a model from the foundation of the world and approved through eternity (cons. 1Pt.1:20; Gen.3:15; Rev.5:1-14). 

He is the Lord JESUS CHRIST into whose shoes and path any youth who desires life and peace today, tomorrow and eternally must step into and thread. So, let’s hear and learn more about Him.

This Jesus! Who Is He?Any youth who walks into the waiting hands of Jesus has one thing or the other to say about Him experientially (Read More On Have You Crossed the Rubicon Today?). God is indescribable and so His son is actually indescribable (Is.46:5; 40:18,25,28; 55:8-9; cons. 1Kgs.19:9-13; Rom.11:33). In a nutshell, note that - He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last ( Rev.1:8,11,17; 22:13; Is.44:6). Popular saying one may say, but these are the declarations of a FINAL authority, the ‘descriptive’ summary of His personality and one who has accomplished all task and not one who is still on course or competing for recognition or victory while alive or dead (Rev.1:8,17,18; cons. 1Kgs.20:11). What does this mean? Imagine being enveloped by this Jesus and He in-dwelling you.

His birth, death and purpose was talked about from the time the enemy thought he had twarted God’s purpose altogether (Gen.3:15). Through the passage of time, it looked as though it would not be but the Lord kept renewing the information (Deut.18:15,18; Ps.2:1-7; Is.7:11,14; 53:1-2; Lk.1:30-31). At the appointed time, the child came amidst glorious incidents having the eternal mandate of the Lord God on Him (Is.9:6-7; Lk.2:8-11,13-14,25-38) with testimony of COMPLETE development (mental/intellectual, physical, spiritual and social) (Lk.2:52). What does this mean? Walking In His Steps guarantees the fulfilment of God’s eternal mandate and purpose for that youth notwithstanding the passage of time, milestones and obstacles (Is.46:9-11).

This Jesus, a man with virtues that endeared Him to God and man and brought spirits and circumstance to bow at His feet with testimonies of His works bearing witness to who He is (Jn.8:29; 12:19; Matt.8:27; Mk.1:27).In His relationship with God, though God Himself, He submitted, in His humility, to be begotten and made like men, who He created that He may die on their behalf for the forgiveness of their sin and salvation (Ps.2:7; Phil.2:5-8; Jn.1:14). He lived by precept and practice loving the Lord and doing all to obey and please Him (Jn.4:34; 6:38; 5:19-20,30; 8:29). He honoured the Father in the face of temptation (Matt.4:1-11). He maintained an unbroken relationship with God in prayer (Matt.14:23; Lk.6:12) and service (cons. Jn.4:31-34; 2:13-17). His relationship with His Father was so wonderful that Jesus told Philip that "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (Jn.14:6-9). God confirmed and approved Jesus in all ways (cons. Lk.3:19; Matt.3:16-17; 17:1-5; Jn.12:27-30; Acts 2:22; 10:38). We cannot enumerate them all.

In His relationship with man, Jesus left indelible marks in the lives of all that encountered Him. Men that sat in darkness, ignorance bondage and sin saw the Light and came into Father - Son relationship with God as He ministered and taught the gospel of the kingdom (Matt.4:14-22; Lk.5:1-3; Jn.3:1-21; 4:5-26,28-30). Through further teachings and example, He made disciples out of those that followed and listened to Him and prepared same for the kingdom of God (Matt.5:1-2; 13:10-11). The sick, blind, lame, troubled, diseased rejoiced on meeting Him because their needs were met according to the testimony of the Scriptures (Lk.4:16-19; Matt.4:23-25; 12:22; Lk.7:11-16). His love and compassion were manifested over all. Socially, Jesus interacted with the high and low without compromise, fear or favour but held the banner of righteousness and God’s kingdom high (Matt.19:16-24; Jn.5:5-8,14; Lk.15:1,2). All those who were stamped ‘condemned’ were recovered for God’s kingdom - the publican, the tax collector, the harlot - were all transformed (Matt.9:9-13; Lk.19:1-10; 7:36-50; Jn.8:3-11). His presence at social gatherings left a difference and testimony (Jn.2:1-3, 6-10). On daily basis, He proves that His invitation is to all and none will be cast out (Matt.11:28-30; Jn.6:37).

Jesus is the greatest intellectual (Heb.1:9). By heavenly wisdom, He solved the puzzles in the lives of men, discussed with the intellectuals of this world and answered the crafty (Lk.2:46-47; Matt.17:10-13; 22:15-22; Mk.1:21-22). With parables, incidents and other things they were conversant with, he drove home his messages and doctrines to the learned and illiterate, the disciples and the Pharisees such that none had any excuse for not understanding (Matt.13:31-35; Mk.13:28-31; cons. Jn.7:40-48). God commands that we hear Him and of course, many came out to hear Him at His time (Matt.17:5; Lk.5:1,15).

Jesus has never spared and will never spare the evil spirits nor ugly circumstances that came the way of those who called upon Him knowing He came to destroy their works (1Jn.3:8; Mk.5:1-18; Lk.5:4-6; 7:12-15; Mk.1:23-27; 4:35-41). They were all subject to Him.

Jesus is the embodiment of all godly virtues and good works made available to us. He is complete. He is the STAR to be desired and followed. He is the incomparable model.

 Every youth’s heart should be panting and yearning with a cry "O! To be like thee!"  He has promised to work in you both to will and do of His good pleasure (Phil.2:13). Do you want to be sound and complete physically, mentally, in favour with God and man? Then step into His path now!