WHAT IS THE MARK?
"The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' So he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'" - John 20:25
It is no longer fashionable to see people bearing tribal marks on their faces as the times have changed, but very instructive for us in the Christain faith is that, times cannot change, there has to be marks that clearly distinguish the Christain from others.
You say you are a Christain, please pardon my doubt, and like Thomas, until I put my finger in your crucified life with Him, and if I feel Jesus, I would go further and put my hands by your side. If I do not see the marks of a crucified life, I will not believe. It is not acceptable to say that this spiritual marks are not fashionable. Though they are not superficial marks, yet the one who bears the mark is easily identified.
In the old testament the mark was essentially superficial as a circumcised male is quickly identified as a child of God. But God kept saying to them that your foreskin is not enough, He kept saying He would rather have their hearts circumcised and their lives changed and bearing fruits, rather than people who erroneously think that feats have replaced the fruits.
I have treated the topic "Bearing the Mark" before, precisely on the 30th of September 2014, and we stated what the instruments of the marks are and the effects of the mark in the life of the believer, but today we will take it a bit further to see what the mark really represent.
A mark can be a scar or a sign for identification, it could also be a measure of success, as it applies with a goal. If a student doesn't get to a particular mark, he may not be said to be successful. By the grace of God, we would try to see what this implies in the different aspect of a man's life.
A MARK OF EXEMPTION TO LIVE
"Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." Exo 12:13
If you have never at anytime believed in the shedding of blood for the remission of your sins, then you do not have a mark to live, the blood of Jesus is a sure sign for the believer to be spared from the destruction that is in the world. The life of any flesh is in the blood but there is a more potent blood that causes every man to live spiritually and that is the blood of Jesus.
The blood of Jesus is a cleanser to the sins of the world and it is also what justifies us before the Father, if the blood doesn't speak for you, then there is no mark of exemption over your life. It is destruction that applies to anyone who has never asked for that the blood should work for him or her. When the angel of destruction sees the mark, he will surely pass over.
He shed His blood on the cross that you should have the blood upon your life. I strongly believe that there are people who are church goers of whom the blood is not a sign in their lives. These set of people think that they are saved by their family line, they depend more on personal morality than on the workings of Jesus upon them. They are themselves the lawgiver and the judge over their spiritual lives. Such cannot be said to be a sign, this is just superficial works that cannot take anyone anywhere.
"From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." - Gal 6:17
It is trouble for those who do not bear the mark of Jesus, it is hardship and emptiness for those who do not bear the marks of Jesus. The lack of the life that satisfies, is definitely a pointer to the fact that the person is without the mark.
The marks of Jesus are the fruits of the spirit and if they cannot be found in you, all other things are a justification for destruction. Begin to know that a man without signs or marks of Jesus is running at risk, even though you are a church attendee and a worker, if the marks are not seen, the devil has a permission to trouble you.
To get the mark is not a stroll in the park, it takes a dying for the fruits to bear, it takes a surrendering for Him to settle with your life. Be sure to know what is at stake here.
Every man of the house of Israel could easily tell their lineage, but that will not be sufficient in your safety...every household has to be identified by the blood then. In this new testament, for every soul, it is personal you have to make sure that the blood, the fruits are seen before you can be said to live the spiritual life.
A MARK TO REACH
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Phil 3:14
It is easy to be ambitious in the secular, but when it comes to the matter of our faith, we say because it is a grace walk, that our works cannot do anything. Nothing can be farther from the truth. We are not saved by works but we are not saved without works either. We must begin to reach for a mark in the faith in order to measure our walk.
A Christain life without a mark to reach, is a risk of complacency, if there is measure for your faith walk, you will be a destitute and a wanderer of the faith also. Maybe you think there is really nothing to do and that you will just be taken to heaven because you believe..that is too risky.
Dear friend, sometimes the mark we are reaching for will come in role models who have gone ahead of us, so that we can measure our standing too. If you have not been baptised in the Holy Ghost, that is a mark or point you have to reach, and if you have, have you experienced some things you have heard and seen from the scriptures, that is another mark to reach.
"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." - 2Tim 4:8
There are degrees of glory that shines in us, and if one degree is attained, become ambitious for a higher level of glory and don't just sit there, a non-progressing Christain is a regressing Christain. Until wonders are without measures in my life, I will keep pressing, the only thing is that, just make sure that the mark you are reaching for is sanctioned from above.
I will also like to state clearly that the Christain faith is not really a career and may not have to carry all the extremes or desperation of the secular world, it is just that, a longing and a desire to allow God be revealed in us, is a worthy mark or goal and that should settle well in our hearts. Any mark we are reaching unto that excludes the marks of identifying Christ in us is definitely carnality at work.
After this walk and reaching of marks on earth, it must point on the path of heaven, the gates of heaven should be the final lap where we breast the tape and there is overflowing joy...but before you set your eyes to that final lap, the kingdom works must be seen in you here on earth and you must become spiritually ambitious to reach it. The more ambitious we are about the things of the faith, the more pronounced the marks of Jesus will be in us.
A MARK OF DESTRUCTION
"and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." - Rev 13:17-18
Anyone who doesn't bear the mark of Christ will be forced to bear the mark of the beast, and that doesn't just signify who a person belongs to, but it also signifies that the person is meant for destruction. I hope that we know that it is not a matter of scriptural exposition but of a reality that cannot be overlooked.
At that time when the trumpet of the Lord will sound and time will be no more and when the saints are taken up into the sky, I do not know what will really happen because I would have caught the flight too by God's grace...but one thing is sure, survival would be based on this mark of destruction for those left behind.
There are those who were bent on superficiality here on earth that they ignored the mark of identification with Jesus and also don't care about spiritual progression, but just as it is here on earth, a mark has to be given - and this some people will choose voluntarily. I pray that will not be your case in Jesus name. Much more than my prayers, do something about your identification now while you can.
"And the LORD said to him, 'Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him." - Gen 4:15
The reason you are still alive today and have not been killed is because His mercy endures, though the signs and the works of the flesh are all spelt out on you, and it seems your premium with the devil is an everlasting one. Don't be deceived, the Lord has kept you alive so you can be saved from destruction.
The devil may have given you a mark of destruction yet, your case is not all hopeless, the Lord will make His grace sufficient for you. We have heard of people who were demonic and dined with the devil, who later repented and living a new life. Such people were at one time, the property of the devil, but they didn't die because the Lord wants to have them. If you have been marked for destruction, there is an heavenly intervention for you to live.
Even if you have committed murder before like Cain, though there may be punishment or regrets, you can be saved from eternal destruction. You definitely shouldn't condemned yourself to that fallen state, the Lord can still erase the handwriting of the devil and put His mark on you. Paul was an unrelenting servant of the devil until God changed Him. Your case can be the same.
CONCLUSION
The marks of Jesus needs to be seen for identification, you also need to be pressing toward a mark, so that you don't get marked for destruction.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
It is no longer fashionable to see people bearing tribal marks on their faces as the times have changed, but very instructive for us in the Christain faith is that, times cannot change, there has to be marks that clearly distinguish the Christain from others.
You say you are a Christain, please pardon my doubt, and like Thomas, until I put my finger in your crucified life with Him, and if I feel Jesus, I would go further and put my hands by your side. If I do not see the marks of a crucified life, I will not believe. It is not acceptable to say that this spiritual marks are not fashionable. Though they are not superficial marks, yet the one who bears the mark is easily identified.
In the old testament the mark was essentially superficial as a circumcised male is quickly identified as a child of God. But God kept saying to them that your foreskin is not enough, He kept saying He would rather have their hearts circumcised and their lives changed and bearing fruits, rather than people who erroneously think that feats have replaced the fruits.
I have treated the topic "Bearing the Mark" before, precisely on the 30th of September 2014, and we stated what the instruments of the marks are and the effects of the mark in the life of the believer, but today we will take it a bit further to see what the mark really represent.
A mark can be a scar or a sign for identification, it could also be a measure of success, as it applies with a goal. If a student doesn't get to a particular mark, he may not be said to be successful. By the grace of God, we would try to see what this implies in the different aspect of a man's life.
A MARK OF EXEMPTION TO LIVE
"Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." Exo 12:13
If you have never at anytime believed in the shedding of blood for the remission of your sins, then you do not have a mark to live, the blood of Jesus is a sure sign for the believer to be spared from the destruction that is in the world. The life of any flesh is in the blood but there is a more potent blood that causes every man to live spiritually and that is the blood of Jesus.
The blood of Jesus is a cleanser to the sins of the world and it is also what justifies us before the Father, if the blood doesn't speak for you, then there is no mark of exemption over your life. It is destruction that applies to anyone who has never asked for that the blood should work for him or her. When the angel of destruction sees the mark, he will surely pass over.
He shed His blood on the cross that you should have the blood upon your life. I strongly believe that there are people who are church goers of whom the blood is not a sign in their lives. These set of people think that they are saved by their family line, they depend more on personal morality than on the workings of Jesus upon them. They are themselves the lawgiver and the judge over their spiritual lives. Such cannot be said to be a sign, this is just superficial works that cannot take anyone anywhere.
"From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." - Gal 6:17
It is trouble for those who do not bear the mark of Jesus, it is hardship and emptiness for those who do not bear the marks of Jesus. The lack of the life that satisfies, is definitely a pointer to the fact that the person is without the mark.
The marks of Jesus are the fruits of the spirit and if they cannot be found in you, all other things are a justification for destruction. Begin to know that a man without signs or marks of Jesus is running at risk, even though you are a church attendee and a worker, if the marks are not seen, the devil has a permission to trouble you.
To get the mark is not a stroll in the park, it takes a dying for the fruits to bear, it takes a surrendering for Him to settle with your life. Be sure to know what is at stake here.
Every man of the house of Israel could easily tell their lineage, but that will not be sufficient in your safety...every household has to be identified by the blood then. In this new testament, for every soul, it is personal you have to make sure that the blood, the fruits are seen before you can be said to live the spiritual life.
A MARK TO REACH
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Phil 3:14
It is easy to be ambitious in the secular, but when it comes to the matter of our faith, we say because it is a grace walk, that our works cannot do anything. Nothing can be farther from the truth. We are not saved by works but we are not saved without works either. We must begin to reach for a mark in the faith in order to measure our walk.
A Christain life without a mark to reach, is a risk of complacency, if there is measure for your faith walk, you will be a destitute and a wanderer of the faith also. Maybe you think there is really nothing to do and that you will just be taken to heaven because you believe..that is too risky.
Dear friend, sometimes the mark we are reaching for will come in role models who have gone ahead of us, so that we can measure our standing too. If you have not been baptised in the Holy Ghost, that is a mark or point you have to reach, and if you have, have you experienced some things you have heard and seen from the scriptures, that is another mark to reach.
"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." - 2Tim 4:8
There are degrees of glory that shines in us, and if one degree is attained, become ambitious for a higher level of glory and don't just sit there, a non-progressing Christain is a regressing Christain. Until wonders are without measures in my life, I will keep pressing, the only thing is that, just make sure that the mark you are reaching for is sanctioned from above.
I will also like to state clearly that the Christain faith is not really a career and may not have to carry all the extremes or desperation of the secular world, it is just that, a longing and a desire to allow God be revealed in us, is a worthy mark or goal and that should settle well in our hearts. Any mark we are reaching unto that excludes the marks of identifying Christ in us is definitely carnality at work.
After this walk and reaching of marks on earth, it must point on the path of heaven, the gates of heaven should be the final lap where we breast the tape and there is overflowing joy...but before you set your eyes to that final lap, the kingdom works must be seen in you here on earth and you must become spiritually ambitious to reach it. The more ambitious we are about the things of the faith, the more pronounced the marks of Jesus will be in us.
A MARK OF DESTRUCTION
"and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." - Rev 13:17-18
Anyone who doesn't bear the mark of Christ will be forced to bear the mark of the beast, and that doesn't just signify who a person belongs to, but it also signifies that the person is meant for destruction. I hope that we know that it is not a matter of scriptural exposition but of a reality that cannot be overlooked.
At that time when the trumpet of the Lord will sound and time will be no more and when the saints are taken up into the sky, I do not know what will really happen because I would have caught the flight too by God's grace...but one thing is sure, survival would be based on this mark of destruction for those left behind.
There are those who were bent on superficiality here on earth that they ignored the mark of identification with Jesus and also don't care about spiritual progression, but just as it is here on earth, a mark has to be given - and this some people will choose voluntarily. I pray that will not be your case in Jesus name. Much more than my prayers, do something about your identification now while you can.
"And the LORD said to him, 'Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him." - Gen 4:15
The reason you are still alive today and have not been killed is because His mercy endures, though the signs and the works of the flesh are all spelt out on you, and it seems your premium with the devil is an everlasting one. Don't be deceived, the Lord has kept you alive so you can be saved from destruction.
The devil may have given you a mark of destruction yet, your case is not all hopeless, the Lord will make His grace sufficient for you. We have heard of people who were demonic and dined with the devil, who later repented and living a new life. Such people were at one time, the property of the devil, but they didn't die because the Lord wants to have them. If you have been marked for destruction, there is an heavenly intervention for you to live.
Even if you have committed murder before like Cain, though there may be punishment or regrets, you can be saved from eternal destruction. You definitely shouldn't condemned yourself to that fallen state, the Lord can still erase the handwriting of the devil and put His mark on you. Paul was an unrelenting servant of the devil until God changed Him. Your case can be the same.
CONCLUSION
The marks of Jesus needs to be seen for identification, you also need to be pressing toward a mark, so that you don't get marked for destruction.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
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