Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Content with obscurity? Who wants that? Everyone wants the limelight, the center stage with the spotlight beaming on you. But it is not about you, but, all about Him. "When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too--the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ". (Col.3.4) Being content with obscurity, therein lies the challenge. We claim that it is about Him when in reality we are striving to build a name for ourselves. We strive to be world acclaimed, and world-renowned but all of these are just the toga of self-effort. We have left behind the true light of the world. Little wonder, sons are manipulating instead of manifesting. John the Baptist got it right when he said I must decrease while he must increase. (see John:3:30) because he knew that it was not about him but Christ. Jesus counted it not robbery to be equal with God but for the sake of the assignment, he humbled himse...

For a while, I confused the words invisible and invincible. While one means "unable to be seen" the other means "unable to be defeated". And both words could apply to your life. Your real life is invisible - unable to be seen and you can become invincible. "Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life". (Col.3.3 MSG) The Bible says your old life is dead and that your new life, which is your real life is invisible to spectators. How and why is it invisible? It is invisible because it is in Christ. The Bible says your life is hidden in Christ in God "For ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col.3.3 NKJV) That's how you became invisible to the spectators. And because you are hidden in Christ and you are invisible, you have also become invincible. Because for anyone to defeat you, that one has to first defeat God and then defe...

"Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. (Col.3.2) Let every action be taken with the benefits of heaven in mind. It is not so much about trying to get to heaven but that we are conscious of our presence in heaven that we act not as earthly being seeking a heavenly experience but as heavenly citizens having an earthly experience. So we act heavenly, we speak heavenly, and live heavenly. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Thinking about heaven a lot helps you cope with earthly challenges. No this isn't escapism, it is reality. Your reality is what you believe it is. The other part of our text says "Do not only think about things down here on earth". That means we are permitted to think about things down here on earth but we must remember that heaven is our home, our destination. The more you lend your time to a thing, the more that thing lends itself to you. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Think about heaven, talk a...

We have been told to not be heavenly conscious to the point where we are of no earthly good. But we have become too earthly good that we are no longer heavenly conscious. We forget that heaven is what the scriptures have required us to seek after. Jesus says aim at, strive for, and seek His Kingdom and when we succeed at that, whatever we need to become of earthly good is supplied. "Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also". (Luke.12.31) The Apostle Paul took this thought forward and says if we are risen with Christ - and we are - to a new life, and share in His resurrection from the dead we must aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above. "If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God". (Col.3.1) We must pursu...

Many have asked the question of why there are so many churches but very little impact on society. It appears as though the more churches we have, the more prevalent vices in society multiply. It is not a 21st-century problem. The Apostle Paul asked similar questions to his audience at Colossae. He inquired, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, Touch not; taste not; handle not; (Col.2.20-21) Why do we judge our salvation by the things we can touch, taste, and handle? When the weightier things such as evil thoughts and desires are left unchecked. Jesus told us that it is from the heart that they proceed "For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander".(Matt.15.19) We should deal first with the heart, the source. The Apostle Paul says we are not saved because we subject ourselves to stricter and...

"But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God". (Col.2.19) There is so much to say about who you are connected to. Who you connect to make all the difference in the world. The Bible says he that is joined to the living has hope and a living dog is better than a dead lion (Eccl:9:4) He that is connected to the living has hope. Job tells us that once a stump of a tree smells the scent of water it is going to bud. "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. (Job.14.7-9) We look at and talk of connection in all the wrong ways. Our text tells us to whom we should be connected. It...

Every detail in the Bible has its significance. When the Bible says to take up your cross and follow Christ some may not understand why. Yes, the cross represents the suffering of Christ, so the cross is now a symbol of suffering. But it is not without its significance and it is also a symbol of victory. When you take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ, you are identifying with Christ in the most significant way. You are saying that you belong to Jesus, but much more you are saying I am willing to die if need be on this cross just as Jesus did. Even though no one expects you to die, because Jesus has done that but you are expected to live a life of sacrifice, denial, and crucifixion if it comes to that. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross". (Col.2.15) Jesus dying on the cross disarmed powers and authorities. He made a public show of them. In fact, one translation says "he...

Every accused person always has a charge list that is brought against them. For mankind, our accuser is the devil. The Bible says he accuses us before the Father day and night. "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night". (Rev.12.10) The accuser is cast down. But that's not all. Yes, the devil is a liar and he accuses the brethren and some of the things he accuses you of, you may have done and as a result of may stand in judgment before God. That's the reason Jesus came and died on your behalf so that he could set you free. In doing this, he canceled the record that contained the charges against you and he nailed them to the cross. "He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross"...

One of the truest expressions of the love of our King and Christ is meeting the need of the needy. This is no mean task, it is daunting as well as it is rewarding. The Apostle Paul quoting the Master reminded us that "it is more blessed to give than it is to receive". "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts.20.35) While most of our minds are trained and programmed to receive, we are told that giving has more blessings attached to it. If we receive we are blessed, but if we give we are more blessed. Little wonder we see these believers in our text begging to be part of the contribution that was going on. "Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]." (2Cor.8.4 Amp.) He says they we...

"You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins". (Col.2.13) This verse is divided into two halves. One tells us about sin, the cause of sin, and its consequences. While the other half tells about the work of Christ on the cross and its resultant effect - made alive and forgiven all our sins. Sin is a killer. Every sin in some way leads to death unless and of course something is done to change its course. Man sinned and was headed for death but Jesus Christ died on behalf of mankind and truncated that process. The Bible says "You were dead because of your sins and your sinful nature...". This shows us that sin is different from sinful nature. A believer may sin, that is fall into temptation but that is different from one who lives in and enjoys sin - sin nature. The Apostle John tells us that much in 1 John.2.1 - "My little children, these thin...

We have heard people say, I am crucified with Christ but not many say I am buried with Christ nor I have risen with Christ. But the power in these seeming simple realities cannot be overemphasized. And the Bible speaks to these realities. Spiritual though they are, they speak to a physical significance. And having this understanding can mean the difference between night and day. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead". (Col.2.12) The crucifixion can necessary for the death to take place. He could have chosen to die in just any way but there was a specificity to it. So that scripture can be fulfilled. And the same amount of significance is also attached to the burial and then the resurrection. Why is the burial significant? If you are not buried with Him in baptism, how can you resurrect with Him? So his death is a set-up for the burial that is a set-up for th...

I was discussing with a friend the other day and he showed me a sack that was meant as a bag of rice and he complained saying, "See how small this bag has become and it is meant to be a full bag of rice. And this is not complete, he concluded. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power". (Col.2.10) Unlike that bag of rice, the Bible says we are complete in Him - nothing missing, nothing broken, whole. I like the way the Amplified Bible renders this verse. Let's look at it : "And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. (Col.2.10) In Him, I am made full and have come to the fullness of life in Christ. Jesus talked about coming so that we may have life, more life, and abundant life. (see John:1...

In Christ, we can see and hear God clearly. When Jesus asked his disciples who men said he was, while others were giving approximate answers, Peter heard directly from the Father. We know this because Jesus said to him "flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father which is in heaven." "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (Matt.16.17) This was direct access to the Father. This is what Jesus wants for us - to have access with and to the Father. That was Why He came to reconcile us to the Father. "Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him". (Col. 2.9) Jesus is the expressway to the Father. He declared that he is the way... and no one can...

Jesus Christ is the center of the world. He is the center of history, he is the divider between history and the future. He is the center of time and eternity. You may wonder what I am driving at. I will tell you. But first, let's look at our text: "Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ". (Col.2.8) It talks about empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and the evil powers of this world and not from Christ. By contrast, we could say the reverse of these things come from Christ viz worthwhile philosophy, high-sounding sense, and divine thinking. I say all of that to say that anything that draws you away from Christ is not of God. Any philosophy, wisdom nuggets, and reasoning that does not point you to Christ is high-sounding nonsense. Any learning that takes you away from Christ instead of...

The tallest trees have the deepest root system in place otherwise they wouldn't withstand the turbulence of the wind and the storms of life. The Bible says you are deeply rooted in Christ, therefore no lay back anymore. "You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." (Col.2.7) You have got what it takes to succeed. The irony is that you are the last person to see that. Everyone around you can see it but you. It brings to mind the story of Gideon. He was hiding under caves even though he could deliver Israel from the hands of their captors. What is holding you back is nothing but the fact that you are comfortable where you are. As a result, you are laid back. Tell yourself, no lay back no more. I'm going to tell you what the Lord told Gideon, ...

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." (Col.2.6) Inherent in the faith that got you saved is the power to make you walk in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was by faith that you were saved, by faith also you walk in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to walk in Christ Jesus? Let's read the amplified version to answer that question "As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him." (Col.2.6 Amp.) So to walk in Christ Jesus is to regulate your lives and conduct in union and conformity to Christ Jesus. John:1:1 - 14 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same as the word of God, therefore walking in Christ Jesus is walking in conformity with the word of God. So you regulate your decisions by the dictate of the word of God, you regulate your thoughts by the word of God, and the decisions you make must conform with the word of...

Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge who neither feared God nor man but because the widow persisted and kept asking the judge to avenge her, the Bible says the judge did. But at end of that parable Jesus asked a question: "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke.18.8) Meaning, if God who is just chooses to avenge you, will you have the faith to receive from it. Along with persistence, you must add faith. That is what steadfast faith is about. A faith that takes God at His word irrespective of the circumstances. "For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ." (Col.2.5) Paul says that he was beholding the steadfastness of their faith in Christ. A steadfast faith is a stubborn faith, one that refuses to succumb to prevailing circumstances. The A...

I have heard it said that in life there are options. In fact, one of the greatest lessons I have learned in life is that there are options. But with these options also come inner conflicts or struggles. If you only have one course of action to take, there will not be inward struggles because the nature of that course of action resolves that inward conflict for you. "For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face and known me personally." (Col.2.1) The Apostle Paul says there is an inner conflict that he is engaged in. Why? He has the options of those in Colossians,  those in Laodicea, and the new ideas that he is prospecting - those whose faces he has never seen. The reason these options are presented is that we want what's best for us and also because we do not know for certain what tomorrow ho...

We are perfect in Christ. We are not trying to be perfect by living holy lives and acting right but we are living holy and acting right because we are already perfect in Christ. Jesus praying in John 17:17 spoke about the believer being sanctified by the word of God. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John.17.17) We could read that verse thus and do no violence to the text:  perfect them through thy truth: thy word is truth. The Apostle Paul also shared the same concept in Eph.5.26 - 27 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish". Once again we see the ingredients or the interplay of sanctification and the word of God. In our text, Paul the Apostle repeated this concept "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that...

One's attitude amid trouble is what stands one out. Suffering comes to all, if not God will be unjust and unfair. And the reason is simple, your suffering or trial is also your opportunity. The name of Jesus was exalted above all else only after he went through the cross. David talked about going through the valley of the shadow of death. It is just a going through, it is not your destination. " [Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ 's afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church". (Col.1.24) Paul says I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings. Your attitude in the midst of suffering tells what side of the divide you'll end up in. James tells us that when we fall into divers temptations that try us, that is our opportunity to begin to count our blessings. That is not the time to see your pain, you...

The notion that man would stand before God without a single fault is alien to most human thinking. This is because man is too sin conscious. A wise man has said that one should be conscious of sin but not sin conscious. Jesus standing before Pilate was declared faultless. Hence Pilate washed his hands to say this man is faultless but if you insist on killing him, my hands are free. "Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him". In dying, Jesus brought us also to the place where we are blameless and without a single fault before the Father. "yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault". (Col.1.22 NLT) We are holy and blameless standing without a s...