WHAT'S NEXT?
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WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU ARE SAVED?
“CHRIST is not going to come for us until He has come through us. The only hope the world has now is the CHRIST in us. "
---- Neville Johnson
As believers, Galatians 2:20 should be constantly at the forefront of our faith. Neville Johnson explains that, "It is not what we do for Christ that secure our place in Heaven, but who we have become". Evidence of this can be found in Matthew 7:21-23, where the LORD warns that not all who called Him Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven but only those who does the will of the Father. That is, we have to resemble CHRIST in character and qualities - walking in love, truth, humility and righteousness.
The parable of the wise and foolish virgins is another sobering reminder of this truth, where only 5 of the 10 virgins are saved. That's only 50% of Christians [all the ten virgins represent Christians].
There is still much work need to be done on our part before the LORD returns for His brides. Examine our motives daily - are we walking in Truth and righteousness? Are we proclaiming the Good News of the LORD? Are we healing the sick? [this is something we can do in person or spiritually when we intercede for the sick in prayer]? Are we walking in humble service to GOD and to others?
In Scriptures, we find the LORD stresses - on many occasions - the ultimate aim is the union between Him and His brides - something akin to a marriage. For this union to happen, the brides must first resemble the Bridegroom, who is JESUS. In life, the same is also true when the bridegroom finds certain qualities in the bride that resembles him that he loves. That's the main reason why they marry.
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When we are born again through this Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in us. When one is in CHRIST, he is a new creation. Your body is also the temple of the Holy Spirit by which GOD's Holy Spirit dwells.
In the LORD's prayer, when we say; Thy will be done on earth... Earth - has another implication, referring to us [we are made from the earth. When GOD first made Adam and Eve, He fashioned them out of earth].
Therefore, we first have to bring CHRIST to the world by living out our Christian values..... as it is in Heaven. Neville Johnson reinforces this point, "The only hope in this world is the CHRIST in you, because He made it that way."
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Teresa of Avila, who lived in the 16th Century understood the significance of this truth when she proclaimed, "CHRIST has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are His body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours."
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Rev. Neville Johnson echoed the same sentiment when he said, "CHRIST will not be coming for you until He has come through you. Right now, the only hope the world has is the CHRIST in you."
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One essential heart attitude is, whatever tasks we are called to do, we do them with GOD; we do not do them for GOD as this implies self-will. We lay down our own ambition and agenda. There is a difference. The LORD looks at our heart; our intentions.
He is the vine and we are the branches. A branch cannot bear fruits if it is separated from the vine. A good analogy is a fridge. It may have all the latest features built into it but if it is not plugged into the mains, it is useless and cannot operate at its full potential. Likewise, we need to be yoked to GOD. The danger is one could potentially live out one's entire life not fulfilling the destiny God has called us to if we are not living in His Will for us. In order to know His Will for us, that calls for waiting on the LORD, seeking Him in prayer. This brings us to the next important point: developing a prayer life.
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A prayer life is key
Believers need to establish a committed prayer life. The early Church - during the time of the Apostles - spend a great deal of their time in prayer - seeking the LORD, contemplating on the Word [Scripture reading], practising daily repentance or reform, listening to Rhemas. Everyday, we should have a set time to come before the LORD in prayer. Just like an appointment with a friend where we meet at a certain set time, this is a Divine appointment with the LORD.
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Another important component to our prayer life is fasting. Our prayer is most effective and powerful when we fast and pray. The LORD taught His disciples, "When you fast...". He did not not say, "If you fast..." It means fasting is an essential component in our prayer life.
The Bible also records many examples of important missions being accomplished when believers pray and fast at the same time. When the prophet Jonah warned the king of Nineveh that GOD is going to bring destruction to the city, the king immediately repented, proclaimed a fast to be observed by his people, asking the Ninevites to repent of their evil ways, humble themselves and pray. GOD relented and spared Nineveh from destruction.
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Our good works
Another point here is, we should not presume God's will for us. We need to seek Him and ask: Lord, what is your will for me? What do you want me to do? We need to get confirmation directly from the LORD. The LORD says, 'Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find.' Therefore, keep asking until you receive a clear confirmation. For this to happen, we need to wait on Him - to master the art of waiting on the LORD. More on this subject can be found here.
Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:6 explains that faith expressed through love is works. This truth is further reinforced by Apostle James when he remarks, "Show your faith by your works."
After you are baptised in the Holy Spirit, your spirit man is now activated*. Consider therefore your every action - is your 'acts of love' aim to please God by serving Him and serving others - consistently - day in, day out?
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Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by his works faith was made perfect?
James 2:21-22
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It is who you have become that determines your place in Heaven - how much you have become like the LORD, not what you have done for God in your life.
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- REV. NEVILLE JOHNSON
Neville also cautioned that 'Outer Court Christians' will not survive in the Last Days. We need to develop a personal relationship and intimacy with GOD - to be able to hear His Voice and discern His Will for us in every situation, yet remain humble, with a teachable spirit. The mindset needs to change from an infant [being merely a believer] to being a mature Christian - that is, mature in the things of GOD [discipleship].
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The greatest danger for any believer is having this mentality, thinking that 'once saved always saved', sinking into complacency. This is one of the greatest lie from the pit of hell, as Bible clearly shows.
In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul exhorts the Church to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Revelation Chapter 3 records how GOD sees the various churches with their varying degree of faith. We should constantly strive to improve and reform our life, imitating the Church of Philadelphia - the faithful Church.
The Christian life is difficult; we cannot deny this fact. This path requires constant effort on our part - to live by God's Truth and not the world's truth, to uphold righteousness in our dealing with others, perfecting our Christian charity and love for others. JESUS is the way to life, and we are taught to enter by the narrow gate .
This calls for a closer walk with the LORD, spending more time before Him in prayer, conforming more and more to His image and likeness. 'Being saved' does not give us the green light to fall back into sin, worldliness or complacency, compromising our faith and standards set by God's Commandments.
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Our life will have its share of trials and persecution. GOD allows these things in our lives in order to shape our character. We move from glory to glory. Rick Joyner explains, " Be like Him, and do what He did; learn to recognise His voice. That's it. Keep the main thing, the main thing."
If we are disciples of Christ, and Christ went through a bitter passion as a ransom for our sin, are we - His servants - any greater than the Master himself? For no servant is greater that the Master whom he/she serves. We just need to look to JESUS. There is no victory without the cross.
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A life of repentance is necessary
Beware of a false doctrine circulating in the world today known as the Hyper-grace doctrine that renounces the need to repent and confess our sin. These hyper-grace preachers teach that all past, present and future sins have already been forgiven, and therefore there is no need to ask for forgiveness or confess it. This is a grave error. If this is true, Christians will live out their lives in a state of complacency, no longer abiding by the Commandments of God. The enemy knows that it is sin that separates man from God, His Creator. This is why the Apostle Peter reminds the Church that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking souls whom it can devour." It will stalk and attempts to tempt believers to sin, thus placing us before the judgment of God.
Just like there is the original as well as counterfeit goods in the world, likewise there is also false doctrines being preached. We must also refer to the Word of GOD as the foundation of our faith. Repentance is central in our walk as believers. In Matt 3:2, we are told to 'repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Rick Joyner elucidates, " Repentance makes way for the LORD."
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In the hands of the Master Potter
We are constantly being tested by the trials and tribulations of life, refined in the furnace of affliction. Our faith is such that we must be teachable. Like a soft clay, we must be humble and open to correction from the LORD, the Master Potter.
In His infinite wisdom, His skilful hands relentlessly shape and reshape, mould and fine-tune us daily ... The more we humble ourselves and cooperate with this process - viz. the softer our heart is, the better the final outcome will be. The shape of a hardened clay is set and cannot be moulded any further. Likewise a hardened heart.
Only the Master Potter knows what processes He will need to subject the clay to, in order to arrive at the Masterpiece - viz. the image and likeness of Christ. The clay is just a clay and cannot comprehend its end result. Neither can it shape itself and is dependant on the skilful hands of the Master Potter.
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Hebrews 3:15 | NKJV
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The prophet Bob Jones explains that every Born Again Christians is imparted with gifts, and we are to use our gifts for the service of the Kingdom. The parable of the talents reinforces the need to use our talents to further the Kingdom of Heaven as this is the assignment of every believer. Matthew 25: 14-30
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Do I resemble JESUS in character? Am I compassionate towards others? Am I kind and merciful, just and righteous? With the LORD, there is rectitude - that fine balance between justice on one end, and mercy on the other. JESUS explains, Love and righteousness cannot be separated; they go hand in hand.** Ask, therefore, the Holy Spirit to guide us each day in our decision-making. He is the Helper, not the doer, who communicates with our spirit man and points us in the right direction, if we seek Him. We, who exist in the physical realm, will need to play our part by translating that into action. Therefore, work out your salvation with fear* and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
- excerpt taken from page 204, Love Letters from Jesus Christ
Characteristics of a Disciple
Our compass: Matthew 6:33
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Decisions made on this command can keep us in his will. Decisions made on any other priority will lead us away from His will.
- RICK JOYNER
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Footnote
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Bride - the brides of Christ belong to the Body of Christ - that is, Christians as a whole - but not all Body of Christ are the brides of Christ.
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fear - here, it refers to the holy fear of God, who judges all things done
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activated* - we are made of 3-in-1 ie. body, soul and spirit in the image of God, just as God is made up of the Most Holy Trinity -Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. While the spirit man is within us, it needs to be activated by being born again through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that communicates with our spirit man. You can watch this channel here to get a clearer picture.
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Outer Court Christians - refer to the Tabernacle which Moses erected while the Israelites were still in the wilderness. It is not just a Tabernacle dedicated to GOD but has important spiritual significance for Christians. It represents the various stages of our faith in GOD. The Outer Court is the biggest area in the whole Tabernacle layout. This is also where most Christians spiritually find themselves in. When one is baptised, one becomes an Outer Court Christian, These are Christians accustomed to religious activities, with superficial routines, void of sincere, passionate, encounters with GOD. They are content with worship from afar. They are comfortable with where they are, hearing stories of GOD and what happen beyond the veil [this is the veil separating the Inner Court from the Holy of Holies] but could not imagine themselves being present there seeing and touching it. They are consigned to a secondhand account of what the presence of GOD was like. Relationship with GOD brings one into the Holy Place [the covered tent in the Tabernacle of Moses].