Finding Jesus Christ

 

‘And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.’

Jeremiah 29:13

Background

Beloved, on a special day, the Lord spoke to me to teach His people how to find Jesus Christ. Initially, I thought He was talking about unbelievers not believers but He impressed it upon my heart that the believers need to find Jesus Christ. This was a bit worrisome to me and as I typed this, it became clearer to me as I remembered the following bible passages, ‘‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.’ Matthew 15:8; ‘Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,’ Isaiah 29:13.

This write up will give an insight into how every Christian can truly find Jesus Christ and live the optimal life God ordained for each and every one of us.

Beloved, finding Jesus Christ goes beyond the first step into your relationship with God which is to repent of all your sins and accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour. No. Finding Jesus Christ is a deeper aspect of your belief. It requires your time, focus and resources. Just like the very definition of ‘to find’, which means, ‘to discover something especially by searching for it’, You will have to invest much more than you intended to, to be able to find Him.

 

This work will take you through the understanding of who our Lord Jesus Christ is; some of His personalities; simple steps to finding Him so that you can be able to truly showcase Him to the world and win souls to Him.

 

Who is Jesus Christ?

‘’ 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.’’

 

Every believer knows who our Lord Jesus Christ is. If not, the person is not a believer yet. Romans 10:9 says that ‘that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’

Jesus Christ like we all know is the Son of God who came to the world to save all of us from the bondage of sin. When God created Man in Genesis chapter 1, He made everything beautiful and gave man dominion over every creature. However, man failed God through disobedience in Genesis chapter 3 which opened the doorway to sin. God the Son, that is our Saviour Jesus Christ had to come in human form to redeem man and reconcile us to God. This sacrifice by our Lord Jesus Christ brought a lot of attributes to the world and humanity which we refer to as the personalities of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We will look at some of these attributes to gain better understanding of who Jesus Christ is.

Jesus Christ is God: John 1:1-3 reads, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.’ Jesus is God and part of the Holy Trinity. He existed before creation yet was humble enough to take the form of man to save us all. Philippians 2:5-7 reads, ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.’ As God, He has dominion over all creation and every power in heaven and on earth. He created us in His image (see Genesis 1:26) so we have dominion as Him. This was how it was designed initially and every believer enjoys this mandate when he or she realizes it hence the need to teach believers to find Jesus Christ. After the creation of Man, God ceased from creating. Man is a co-creator with God but cannot create anything positive if he does not recognize that he has this power and authority to create. However, people create the negative things they see in their lives through their spoken words and thoughts.

Questions to ponder on: As one created in the image of God, what have you created? Do you have charge over your life and circumstances? Do you stand to decree as God did or you still look for someone (your Pastor or Prophet) to decree upon you? Do not get me wrong, there is a place of fellowship with other believers and mentorship but if you become dependent on man then you have not truly found Him.

If you cannot answer these questions in the affirmative, then you truly need to find Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our Saviour & Redeemer: Matthew 1:21 reads, ‘And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ And Romans 8:1-2 reads, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.’ Our Lord Jesus Christ came for the sole aim of reconciling us to God by redeeming us from the power of sin and death. This was paid for in full by His death on the cross of calvary. Therefore, we have power over sin and death.

Questions to ponder on: Do you still meddle with sin? Are you afraid of death (both physical and spiritual)? Do you look unto your Pastor or Priest for salvation? Who do you turn to when you experience fear? Do you still allow the weight of sin keep you down?

Beloved, for everyone who cannot answer No to these, you need to find Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our Advocate: 1 John 2:1-2 reads, ‘My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.’ An Advocate is a defender, a mouth piece that speaks up for the rights and privileges of another. Our Lord Jesus Christ is our defender. The devil accuses us daily before God but our Lord Jesus Christ speaks for us and defends us.

Jesus Christ is our righteous Judge: John 5:22 confirms this as it reads, ‘For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son’. We have Him as an advocate to defend us from all false accusations and appeal on our behalf when we are guilty of the accusation. Also, He sits on His throne to judge the world. He is the one who can upturn evil judgements against us. When He stands for us, no one can accuse us. Romans 8:31 reads, ‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’. No one beloved.

Questions to ponder on: Do you feel defeated in certain areas of your life? Do you still feel that you are under any curse or bondage? Have you been suffering from any threat from any evil quarters and it does not seem like God is answering your prayers? If you feel so, you need to truly find Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our Friend: John 15:14-15 tells us so, ‘You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.’ Jesus Christ chose us as His friends. As a true friend, He made available to us all that we need for life and godliness. He did not withhold anything from us but freely gave us all things. We have free access to the Father through Him, our dependable friend.  

Questions to ponder on: Do you feel lonely, betrayed by the worldly friends? Do you seek companionship from people who do not want your friendship? Do you still approach Jesus Christ as a servant? If your answer to these is yes then you need to find Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the soon coming King: Beloved, a lot of Christians are in denial of this. The word of God in Matthew 24 gave us an in-depth description of what to expect and the assurance that Jesus Christ will come again to take His people home and reign in majesty. Verses 1-12 prophesies have been fulfilled in the world already. With the advent of Information and Communication Technology, one cannot predict when the end of the world will hear the gospel but if you are sensitive in the Spirit, you will know that the end is already here. When He comes, we will reign with Him in His kingdom. As Christians we already have dominion and should reign over all things while fulfilling His mandate to us.

Questions to ponder on: do you exercise your God-given dominion mandate on earth? If not, you need to find Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our Healer- Jehovah Rapha: 1 Peter 2: 24 tells us that ‘who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose ^[a]stripes you were healed.’’ Jesus Christ faced pain on earth to bring healing to us. Therefore, no evil is permitted to afflict us. All we need is our faith in every challenging situation that Jesus Christ already paid the price

Questions to ponder on: do you exercise your faith or show fear in the face of affliction and ill-health? If yes, you need to find Jesus Christ.

Why do we need to find Jesus Christ?

‘ for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Acts 17:28

Beloved, we are because He is. We must find Jesus Christ to:

• Validate our faith and confession. Until we find Him, we will not be living our optimal life. The attributes listed above will not be made manifest in our lives.
• To establish our ministries on earth. Without the power of God which is the Holy Spirit, we cannot fulfill our calling.
• To enjoy a fulfilled life
• To qualify to reign with him in eternity

 

How then can we find Jesus Christ?

‘And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’ 2 Chronicles 15:2

‘I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.’ Proverbs 8:17

We must seek Him when He can be found. When is this time that He can be found? For as long as we have breath in us, we have the opportunity to seek and find the Lord.

To find Him, we must:

• Desire Him: Jeremiah 29:13 states thus; ‘And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.’ Likewise, Deuteronomy 4:29 said; ‘But from there you will seek the Lordyour God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ Finding our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ starts from the point of deep desire. Desire is defined as a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. We must want Him. We must thirst for Him. Be eager to know more about Him. Have an unquenchable crave for Him, His presence, power, glory, all. We must start from this point of absolute desire.
• Go to Him: James 4:8 admonishes us to, ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.’ Just like we look for, search out and stretch to receive anything we desire, we must go beyond the level of desiring Him to actually going to Him. When you go to Him, you surrender wholly to His authority and leadership. You die to self and allow The Holy Spirit to rule your life. You can do this through consistent fellowship, prayers and meditation on the word of God. Wait upon Him to speak. Do not be in a hurry to reel out your shopping list and run away whenever you pray. Tarry in His presence and hear Him speak to you through His word or messages dropped into your Spirit man. You must diligently and daily wait on Him in the place of prayer and fasting.
• Take in all that He releases: This exercise is not about you but Him. He is ready to pour into you but you must be in tune to receive all that He releases to you as you search for Him. Revelation 22:17 instructs us thus, ‘And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.’ The quest to find Jesus Christ opens us up to receiving the gifts of the Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 and the fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
• Believe in Him: John 14:12 tells us that, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.’ We believe by living the word. A good example is the reactions of Christians in the face of the global epidemic- corona virus. This has exposed a lot of the Christians against their claims that they believe in God. They share fear instead of Faith. They allow the wisdom of men to take over the solid foundation of God. If we believe in Him, we must act in line with our faith always. To find Jesus Christ, we must show our level of belief in our daily action and disposition.

 

What happens when we find Jesus Christ?

• We enjoy unlimited power like that of Jesus Christ. John 7:38 says, ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’
• Enjoy The fullness of The Holy Spirit. Joel 2:28 reads, ‘And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.’
• Fulfill the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20, ‘Gotherefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”’
• Impact humanity through our Ministries: John 14:12 says, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.’ The work of God cannot be done without the power of God. This power is available only to those who diligently seek the Lord so if anyone wants to impact lives, win souls and help humanity, they must first find Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Our Christianity is incomplete without the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ. He makes all the difference hence the need to find Him. Most Christians stop at the level of repentance without seeking to know and grow in this relationship with the Lord hence the level of powerlessness in the church. Jesus Christ is calling on every Christian to rise up and find Him so that they will enjoy the life He planned for them both here on earth and in eternity. Interestingly, He is not far because He told us in Revelations 3:20, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.’

 

Prayer

‘Almighty God, give me a heart that is stayed on your Son, my Saviour Jesus Christ. Let the Holy Spirit give me revelation into this and help me to find and daily walk with my Saviour so that I will fulfill my ministry on earth and in eternity enjoy the fullness of your eternal glory through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen’