The month of December 2019 has been declared a month that God Almighty is re-assuring and reminding us by saying, He has Ransomed us, We are Precious to Him, He has made us Honorable and He Loves us, through his Prophet as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Brethren these words of assurance are very strong words and when God speaks, He means it, because He is not a man that He should lie neither the son of man that He should repent.
He says he has ransomed us because He paid a price that no one else would have paid on our behalf.
The Bible said He sent his Son our Lord Jesus to redeem us from the curse of the law over 2000 years ago, Jesus paid the price in full over our lives, so let no man or demon trouble you henceforth.
He says we are precious to Him; the Bible says we are the apple of God’s eyes and our walls are continually before Him, he says no strand of our hair will fall to the ground except he commands it.
He said if need be, He will give others, nations in exchange for us. Isaiah 43:3
He says He has made us honourable people, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9
And finally, He says He loves us: John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’.
1 John 3:1 ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God’! He said yet again, if He gave us His only begotten Son, what else, will He not give to us. Romans 8:32
Brethren the year 2019 is rolling away in a few days’ time and my prayer for us is that our lives and our expectation in Him will not roll away with the year, God Almighty will meet us all at the very point of our needs in Jesus Mighty name.
I believe that these re-assuring words are coming at the very right time and I pray that we will continue to bask in the Glory of God’s words as it comes alive in our lives and destinies.
The title of the message that God Almighty with the help of the Holy Spirit is bringing to us today is ‘You Have Been Bought with a Price: Please come with me to the Book of
1 Corinthians 6:1-20 says: ‘For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s’.
One of the things we all have in common as human beings is that we all have bodies, a spirit and soul, and God is speaking to us today, reminding us that we belong to Him, that He bought us with a price and we are commanded to glorify God with and in our body and spirit. We cannot afford to live our lives in the way and manner we like but we must pattern the way we live our lives to Jesus, that’s why Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy his spiritual son to emulate him even as he emulates Jesus Christ. Brethren there is a very dangerous doctrine from the pit of hell that is being taught now in the Church of God and it says that Jesus is your saviour, but he is not your Lord. So yes I accept that Jesus saved me but He can’t tell me what to do, what to say, what to hear, what to wear, what to eat, where I decide to go or who I decide to associate with. Brethren such a fellow is heading to destruction because the Bible says ‘there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end is the way of destruction and death. Yet he said also for the fellow that accepts Him as Saviour and Lord, that He will order his/her steps and He will take delight in it.
He says he has ransomed us because He paid a price that no one else would have paid on our behalf.
How Can I Glorify God with and in my body and spirit?
Be genuinely born again, sanctified and filled with Holy Spirit. John 3:3 ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Let us make sure that this flesh of ours has been mortified and not sleeping, and our spirit man always alive and feed with the word of God)
Our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and the scribes, only then will we enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 5:20 ‘For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Example Luke 8:10-14 ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted’.
We need to follow peace with all men, as much as it lies in our power:
Hebrews 12:14: ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord’:
Matthew 18: 22 ‘22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven’.
Brethren always ask for the spirit of discernment to find out the reason why people have come into your life, it could be for a reason, for a season or for a lifetime. People come into your life either to subtract or add or to divide or multiply.
By ascending into the hill of the Lord and remaining there continuously (The Presence of God, that holds the fullness of His Joy and has pleasure at His right hand forevermore)
Psalm 15:1-5 (NLT) Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbours or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honour the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.
We must endeavour to have full possession of the fruit of the spirit, Brethren this is very important in our lives as children of God, it will help us live a victorious Christian life and see us home in Jesus name. (Depart from me I know ye not: but Lord we did so and so in your name)
Galatians 5:22-25 ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit’.
We must love the appearing of the Lord, that is our hope in Him, that we will see Him one day, and be like Him. What propels us to get up from our beds and dress up to get ready for work, for some people it is because they love what they do, and ultimately it is because there is a reward for us either at the end of the week or month (a salary).
2 Timothy 4:8 ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing’. May He find us watching, praying, sober, vigilant, & waiting, May He find faith in us in Jesus Mighty Name.
Conclusion:
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) ‘And so, dear Brothers and Sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’.
He says he has ransomed us because He paid a price that no one else would have paid on our behalf.
The sermon, You Have Been Bought For A Price, by Pastor (Mrs) Anthonia Obafaiye, was delivered on December 15, 2019.