By Festus Ndukwe
Believing in the finished work of Christ and standing on it looks too simple and ordinary. If you don’t make them fast for seven days, pour oil on them, shake them, call down fire, spit or blow on them or make them sow seed of money they do not believe anything will happen.
Because of other kinds of gospel that are being preached, many Christians are corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ, 2Cor.11:3. In God’s wisdom God deliberately made the Gospel simple. Hidden in that simplicity is power that shatters the enemy into pieces.
For those who believe this Stone is precious, 1Pet.2:7a. For those who see it as too simple and foolish, and choose not to believe, this Stone is an offence that makes them stumble, 1Pet.2:8a.
The preaching of the cross was unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, 1Cor.1:23. Till today, the preaching of the cross, that is, Christ crucified, offends some people, Gal.5:11. Like the people of Israel many so-called Christians still stumble at this stumbling stone.
When a man does not believe that Christ being made for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor.1:30) is Strength for the believer and cover against the storms of life then he is stumbling at the Stone.
When a person finds it difficult to believe that being dead with Christ can deliver him from sin, Satan and other struggles, then he is stumbling at the Stone. When a person does not believe that affirming who he is in Christ or his identity in Christ and standing in that position against every opposition of the enemy then he is stumbling at the Stone.
Power has often been provoked for me when I affirm and rejoice in the place of prayer that God has made Christ to be wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption for me, 1Cor.1:30.
When the Bible says that God is my Strength, this is what it means. When the Psalmist said in Ps.71:16, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only, this is what he is referring to.
Any time I take my position in Christ I am deepening my root in Christ that the enemy will not be able to violate. Is it not what that Scripture is saying in Colossians 2:7? “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught..”
Brethren, the more Christ we know, and eat in the place of prayer the stronger we will be against our enemies. May the Lord Himself lead us to the shepherds’ tent and feed on Christ, SS.1:7,8.