There is a New Self

Ephesians 4:24, “And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”.

Anything new attracts a different response – excitement, apprehension, curiousity, some expectation to say the least. Watch how people react to a new class, car, shoes, position, authority, etc. But we are talking of acquiring a New Self – new personality, character, behaviour, attitude, etc. This New Self will be patterned after God draped in ‘true righteousness and holiness’.

What does it mean to acquire a New Self? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here”! The coming of the New Self seems to infer the expiry and/or rejection of the ‘old self’ - with the acceptance of Christ.

The ‘old self’ is encumbered with too many inadequacies, too much baggage and far too unqualified to work in tandem with the believer in Christ. The ‘old self’ carries the nature of Adam. We were all born with it…filled with all kinds of vices – sin, iniquities, wickedness, etc. No believer can live a successful life under this toga, hence, the need for a New Self.

The New Self derives its life from the believer’s acceptance of the authority of the Almighty God through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. At repentance, the believer discards the ‘old self’ and as they embrace Christ, they become the New Self. The Book of Colossians 3:12-17 tells us a lot about the New Self;

“12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.

In summary, the New Self manifests new characteristics such as;

1.                  -Holiness, compassionate, kind, humility, gentleness and patience

2.                  -Forgiving

3.                  -Loving

4.                  -Full of the peace of God and gratitude

5.                  -Filled with the word of God and with praises to God

6.                  -Accountable to God

We can therefore appreciate the difference between the ‘old self’ and the New Self as highlighted in Ephesians 4:22-32;

“22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

26 “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 

27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 

28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.

Dumping the ‘old self’ and embracing the New Self is very crucial to our Christian journey and our ultimate destination which is in heaven. The New Man is the most significant manifestation of our original creation which is a prototype of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives in us and consequently, will continue to transform our lives until we conform to His image. Now, that’s a decision everyone of us needs to take…like right now!!!

You Will Need These Three Peeps!!!

Proverbs 27:17

“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”.

Teenage years are the period for the preparation for adulthood. I get very amused sometimes when I find some teens who can’t wait to become adults and when adulthood hits them in the face (it’s usually a matter of time), they begin to ‘form’ the “I’m too young” song. Well, goes to show that being an adult isn’t a piece of cake so it calls for preparation and emotional, intellectual and spiritual development. I have found and actually benefitted from the attention of three different people as a teenager. They are mentors, coaches and champions.

1.           Mentor

Proverbs 9:9

“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning”.

Mentoring is a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide someone with less. Mentoring seems to infer that the mentor should be older than the mentee (Titus 2:3) but that isn’t always the case. This is because age does not determine knowledge and experience. Take for instance, two teenagers who finished together from the same High School. While one went on to College, the other went to work in the family business. Years later, the college graduate needs some development in marketing and sales which his buddy has more knowledge and experience. Would a mentoring relationship between them be such a bizarre phenomenon?

A mentoring relationship provides immense benefits to both the mentee and the mentor. As a teenager, mentoring can help you in many ways such as;

·         Providing impartial advice and encouragement

·         Providing a supportive relationship

·         Assisting with problem solving

·         Improving your self-confidence

·         Offering professional development

John C. Crosby puts it this way, “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction”.

2.   Coach

Hebrews 12:11-13, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed”.

Coaching is a form of development in which a person called a coach supports the trainee in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance (Wikipedia). Coaching is mostly, known in sports circles but we are beginning to have coaches in nearly every activity – business coach, marriage coach, academic coach, career coach, relationship coach, life coach, etc. A life coach for instance, is someone that looks to empower others by helping them make, meet and exceed goals/changes in both their personal and professional lives.

A Coach helps you to;

·         Conquer your fears

·         Get an objective opinion

·         Connect with someone in your forte

·         Focus on your goals

“Who exactly, seeks out a coach?... Winners who want even more out of life” – The Chicago Tribune

3.   Champion

Hebrews 41:9-10, “You whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.

A champion is like a cheer leader - an enthusiastic and vocal supporter of someone or something. You will need someone who believes in you and is always rooting for you, motivating you to the successful achievement of your targets. Sometimes, things may seem unattainable and as if you are engaging in an endless pursuit. Well, then comes your champion to let you know that ‘it is not over until it is over’; to give you that further push to get to your destination.

A champion helps to boost your confidence in yourself and in your abilities. At some point, you may even begin to doubt your ability or resources to meet your goals. Then your champion shows up with your testimonial of your enviable accomplishments in past exploits and a reel of several sources of much needed resources and before you know it, you are rising to the occasion.

A champion also helps to boost your energy with support and encouragement. Champions don’t want you to be tired, bored or confused. At such a time, they can infuse you with enormous energy that you feel like taking on the world. That works wonders for creativity and perseverance.

“Everyone has the fire, but the champions know when to ignite the spark.” 
― Amit Ray

Conclusion

At some point in your life, you will need the companionship of these three characters – mentor, coach and champion; maybe not at the same time but at certain stages of your life. Therefore, it is important for you to begin to seriously cultivate relationships that will bring you close to people you can connect with at these three different levels. Such relationships require respect, productivity, and responsiveness and love to grow. And growing up is just a stare away!!!

Shine the Light of Excellence

Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

As teenagers, we are no longer too young to understand certain spiritual matters. We must begin to take our lives seriously knowing that we are here on a divine mission. That mission must be identified and fulfilled. And the quality of that mission is well spelt out – your life must impact others positively (that is what light does) and the impact is not to make you a celebrity but so that the Almighty God is glorified.

Here, in Nigeria, we value electrical light a lot because we do not have regular and constant electricity. So we shout, “NEPA” whenever power is restored. But it isn’t the light we are ‘celebrating’ but the power company. What an irony!

If you look at this light matter again, you will find that light makes no noise at all but you cannot ignore its value. Light illuminates – a place becomes bright when there is light; Light brings knowledge – people are said to be enlightened having come out of ignorance; Light gives life – plants get food through photosynthesis from sunlight; Light drives away fear – darkness which makes one afraid is driven away by light; Light treats health issues – babies with jaundice are exposed to light (electricity/sunlight) for treatment, etc.

But the quality of our light must be that of Excellence. What is Excellence? Excellence speaks of something outstanding; of distinction; most superior when compared to others. In our word, thought and action, we are expected to lead in the quality of excellence.

Pastor Timothy was a young man like some of you. Apostle Paul told him in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity”. Just like Timothy, you can distinguish yourself and excel in anything…just make sure that it is in something good.

When you excel in school, at work, in church, in your neighbourhood and nation, in behaviour and character, your light will surely shine. People will notice you; recognize you; and be influenced by you.

Many people like good things. King Nebuchadnezzar was one of such. He liked premium quality; the type we refer to as top of the range… to serve him in the palace. In Daniel 1:3-4, the Bible tells us that the King ordered for a selection of young men of excellent quality – no disability, handsome, very intelligent, and knowledgeable in current affairs, full of wisdom and understanding. The King asked for distinguished young men. That was how people like Daniel, Meshach, Shedrach and Abednego were selected from among the many youths of Israel. They were the very best. No wonder the Bible says in Proverbs 22:29, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank”.

When your light is of excellent quality; when you distinguish yourself in whatever you do, people at the top will be looking for you, not ordinary men. Your light, at that point, cannot be hidden. I heard some time ago of a young lady who was struggling to build her business making moi-moi. And many people testified that her moi-moi was very good. A few years later, she was invited to the United States White House to serve moi-moi… yes, moi-moi - aka bean pudding.

Let me encourage you today, that from now henceforth, mop up every relevant information and knowledge that you will ever receive like a sponge and use them to make the difference in your life and the life of others out there.

Our God is the epitome of excellence. He is the Most Excellent King; the Most Excellent Father. He created excellence – Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good…”. And He created us in His image – so we can shine in His excellence.

Loving People Who Don’t Love You

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).

Late American singer, Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010), sang the song with the lyrics, “It’s so good, loving somebody, and that somebody loves you back”. It is not only good but it is also very easy to love those we know, and those who love us too. But to love our enemies? Now, that’s a tough one. Now, you just might be imagining loving that bully in school; that work colleague that told lies against you; that neighbour that keeps gossiping about you; those brethren that humiliate you in church every Sunday, etc. Love them? Noooo way!

The Enemy

Dictionary.com describes an enemy thus: “a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent; an armed foe; an opposing military force…” This is the same character that Jesus’ instructs us to love. Yes, they hate you, but you…love them. Yes, they are nasty to you, but you…love them. Yes, they are obnoxious but you…love them. And yes, Jesus said so.

According to Jesus

Jesus must have stunned his audience when He delivered the Bible verse above. There is no Old Testament Law anywhere that teaches us to hate our enemies. God hated the religion of the pagan nations, but hating our enemies was not part of the Law of God. It was not taught in the Old Testament, and it was not taught by Jesus Christ. He asked us to love our enemies, not hate them.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was notorious for shattering the cultural norms of the day. He spoke with a Samaritan woman, a people despised by the Jews, which would have been unheard of in those days (John 4). The Jews regarded them as a half-breed and traitors and avoided them totally. But Jesus, reduced all such cultural norms to nothing, and said “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28).

Reward Evil with Good

The Apostle Paul instructed the Christians in Rome to never avenge themselves against their persecutors, but, “To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20).

Doing good to an enemy is a godly response to hatred. Remember that while we were still yet “enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” which is contrary to human nature because “one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die” (Romans 5:7-10a), but to die for one’s enemy, and an ungodly, wicked one at that? Pretty difficult but that is what distinguishes us as believers.

How to Respond to Hate

James and John were not called the Sons of Thunder for nothing. The Bible records that they actually wanted to call down fire down from heaven to consume the village which rejected Jesus but Jesus rebuked them for that (Luke 9:54-56). They had probably forgotten that Jesus said, “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

The Book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament, says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21-22). We are also told in Luke 6:35, “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil”. That’s like killing them with love. Instead of hate making you bitter, love makes you better!!!

Love is God’s Character

Jesus calls us to a new standard, a higher standard – we are to raise the bar! The world may have made it popular to dislike those who hurt and hate us but we must not toe that line. We are made of sterner stuff. We have our DNA lined with love which comes from God, our Maker – the embodiment of love. Where they hate us…we love them! Jesus taught us to demonstrate love to all kinds of people—no matter what faith, nationality, or personality—enemies included. When we love our enemies, we truly reveal that Jesus is Lord of our life.

Conclusion

We should not give our enemies what they deserve….we give them what they need, and what they need is love. It takes uncommon grace to understand how we can love those who don’t love us. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can truly love and pray for those who wish us nothing else but harm (Romans 12:14-21). Remember, the Holy Spirit is our Teacher (John 14:26) and He is ever-available to unravel every mystery of life. So, you can love your enemies without reservation.

(With excerpts from Jack Wellman’s “What The Bible Teaches About Loving Our Enemies”)