Live the Spirit!

“Prepare by becoming Me.”

I had a dream once and the Lord spoke those words to me.

Every morning, we go through the ritual of preparing for something, like breakfast which is a must-have for most people. Physically, the food we eat becomes us! At work, we prepare for meetings or for other numerous activities. A whole week at home or at work may well be a preparation for a wedding or a big convention abroad. In fact, a whole job may be a preparation for another job with bigger pay and higher responsibilities. The tasks or the work then that we accomplish practically become us. Thus, we become parents by preparing ourselves to become parents. Likewise, the company president got his job because he did things that qualified him to gain that title and to become that officer.

Our whole life, as it is, is one big preparation for the next one – a continuing process of becoming what we should be. Thus, it is important to know how we must do what we need to do now. By imitating the example of Christ, we assure ourselves that we qualify for advancement to “higher grounds”.

Becoming like Christ (becoming Him) in our lives requires following the steps He took to become -- or to prove – Who He really is: The Son of God. His very first step was to be baptized by John in Jordan River. Although He didn’t need to, He did so to “fulfill all righteousness”. By doing so, He received the Holy Spirit Who then empowered Him to do mighty works.

At that moment of baptism, John heard the Father in heaven say to Jesus, “You are My Son in Whom I Am well pleased.” The prophets had foretold that moment when God would beget or “give birth” to His Son by giving Him the Holy Spirit in His fullness. Jesus was thus formally proclaimed by heaven as the Son of God and as God living among humans. Jesus, though human at that point, became the Father -- that is, shared in His perfect divine nature. The process was sealed completely by the giving of the Holy Spirit.

After that, Jesus went to the desert to fast and pray and was tempted by Satan. Was He tempted because He was vulnerable or because Satan knew he had to prevent Jesus from starting His work? Jesus knew the first step is always the hardest and steeled His spirit accordingly. That means He remained steadfast in the Holy Spirit. While Satan quoted and twisted Scriptures to tempt Jesus, Jesus answered with truth by the power of the Spirit.

In short, Jesus’ training for His work as Messiah meant facing the enemy face-to-face. He obviously wrestled with real temptations. His bouts with Satan were not childish games but life-and-death struggles of the human spirit against seductive worldly attractions, things that Satan held at his command.

To a certain extent, new-born believers must go immediately through an intense process of cleansing (sanctification) to put on new habits that will replace the old ones. Like Jesus, triumphant in the first bouts with Satan, one can go confidently walking with God carrying the assurance of protection and wisdom.

Next, Jesus chose His friends and fellow workers. We might say it was so easy for Him, having the eyes of God, literally. How about us who fall into bad company every now and then? Or grow cold in our relationships? He certainly had His frustrations over His disciples but He was patient and compassionate toward them. And His efforts bore much fruit.

We have to choose whom we live and work with carefully. With enough trust in God, we will be led to those whom He knows will enhance or complete our lives. They, like us, will falter in their walk but our duty is to share their burdens and to allow them to share ours. At Gethsemane, all that Jesus needed was company but His disciples were too tired to keep watch. Friendship or companionship is basically that – keeping watch together.

With enough good people to live and carry the load of life with, everything else is adjusting to the problems that may arise and reaping the harvest of doing good and doing well. Many more trials may arise, many more bouts with Satan may bring about sadness, pain and defeat; but becoming Jesus is overcoming this world.

Yes, Jesus did overcome the world. He overcame sin and death. He overpowered all His enemies. Except for those who still resist His testimonies, He has everything under His rule and authority. That is because He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Yes, that is definitely OVERCOMING THE WORLD! Hence, becoming Jesus is reigning with Him: He rules over our lives while we strive to rule over our own fleshly desires. Defeating Satan continually in our lives leads us to become like Jesus.

Yes, we "become Jesus" by also overcoming the world. We live like He did and work like He does to this day – saving as many souls from the clutches of Satan.

Our preparation may be hard and may take much time; but remember: If we live in the Holy Spirit Who is our gift from the Lord Jesus, the Spirit will do the work in us. Not by our own wisdom and power can we "become Jesus". Ours is simply to submit to His will. Ultimately then, we become Jesus when we live His Spirit!

Jesus became obedient to the Father until death. The first step in our preparation to join the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven is obedience through faith.

Live the Spirit!

(Photo above: Children in Intramuros play "piko", unmindful of people passing by. Do we behave like children when we play or do we play to become children again? Fun is truly ageless.)