‘Arrested for Christ‘
God has given man the free will to make life choices. Man is free to take decisions concerning where to belong and who to serve, however, God never fails to offer life transforming opportunities and privileges through His anointed vessels for man to make informed life choices. (Deuteronomy 30:19)
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…”
Despite God’s advice for man to chose life considering the attendant benefits, so many people have chosen death and have lived in total separation from God. Satan and his cohorts have blindfolded their minds not to receive the light of the gospel of Christ and to believe in Jesus.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
The good news is that Jesus stands at the door of the heart of everyone to knock by His word delivered through local church services; Christian blogs, websites and podcasts; social media platforms among others. Jesus transforms the life of anyone who allows Him to come in.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
Further, the Holy Spirit plays His role by convicting sinners who have chosen the path of death. Aside conviction, the Holy Spirit is in the business of arresting or converting sinners to be under the authority of Jesus Christ.
In the case of Paul, Jesus Christ arrested him on his way to Damascus; where he planned to go and persecute the early Christians. (Acts 9:1-7)
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.”
Paul was convicted that Jesus, who spoke to him after the light shone from Heaven, is real. By this conviction, he asked what the Lord wanted him to do. Many people receive the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ; respond to altar call or specific call for service, but later go back to their old ways because they are not convicted about God’s reality and what He expects them to do for Him.
At the point of initial salvation, it is expedient one asks God to reveal what He wants him or her to do for His kingdom throughout the Christian journey. It is important to discover how relevant we are in God’s kingdom. It is common to see people say the prayer of salvation and later go back to their vomit. They have failed to understand the call they responded to is a total ‘arrest’ for Christ. Since God hardly forces people to accept Him, He allows them to escape back to the kingdom of darkness. The Bibles warns us about backsliding in Hebrews 10:38 and Hebrews 6:4-6. It takes the grace of God to return to Christ after backsliding.
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6
Further, Jesus told us that anyone who accepts Him and looks back to satan is not fit for His kingdom.
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
There is a second chance for those who have disobeyed God or fallen away from God’s family. Repent and return to God. (Jeremiah 3:22)
“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 3:22
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” Hosea 14:4
To be arrested for Christ goes beyond confessing Him as Lord and Savior; it is to be taken into the custody of Jesus Christ and subjected to His authority. It is difficult to continue in the Christian journey without living under the authority or Lordship of Jesus. This is where many people have missed it; responding to altar call but refusing to make Jesus Christ their Lord. You cannot say that Jesus Christ is your Lord when you are still living in disobedience to God. You cannot serve two masters at a time.
You are reading this message as a new covert or a believer who has been in the Christian journey for years and yet to totally surrender to the Lordship of Jesus; it is not too late to take the right decision to subject your body, soul and spirit to God.
In your closet, I urge you to ask God what He wants you to do for Him. This will determine how far you will go in your Christian journey. The Bible says only those who journey to the end shall be saved – ultimate or final salvation.
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
It is true that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14), but prayerfully ask God what He has called or chosen you to do. The Bible says that God has created His children unto good works; so you are not meant to serve the kingdom of darkness any longer after being arrested for Christ. God has created you to glorify you. Hallelujah!
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30
Any sinner or unbeliever the Holy Spirit convicts and converts receives the gift of the righteousness of God; becoming justified before God and every guilt of sin before the ‘arrest’ is washed away by the blood of Jesus. My prayer is that you and I will totally and continually surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new……For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17;21
If you are yet to receive the gift of righteousness, say this prayer of salvation.
Sunday Omori
HEM Int'l 