Focus: Asset or Liability?

Text: Rev.5:12

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive POWER, and RICHES, and WISDOM, and STRENGTH, and HONOUR, and GLORY, and BLESSING."

Christ the Lamb of God is worthy, and He is now sitting on the throne of the universe.

*What makes the Lamb worthy to receive the goods and gains of His redemptive death?

His worthiness lies in having been slain for our redemption. Our eternal salvation is due to Him. He is our sacrificial Lamb. He paid His dues and became our Redeemer. According to Paul in Philippians 2:6-8, He went through the process of condescension for our sake - from being in the form of God to self-emptying to becoming like us and taking our human form to humbling Himself and being obedient to the point of dying a vicarious death on the cross. That was really going from top to bottom. The one born king died on the cross like a criminal.

*Who brings the goods and gains of salvation to the worthy Lamb of God?

The 24 elders said in their song, "Thou art worthy… for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation…" (Rev.5:9). By shedding His blood He became the Redeemer of all the redeemed. It is the redeemed who bring the Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honour, Glory, and Blessing to the Redeemer.

Now, as the redeemed of the worthy Lamb, what are you bringing to the feet of Christ, our Redeemer? The 24 elders brought to the feet of Christ their crowns. The believers of the early church laid their RICHES at the feet of the Apostles. The Scripture says, "For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet…" It is said of Barnabas that "having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet" (Act.4:34-37).

Are you an asset or a liability in the kingdom of Christ? Is Christ feeling your impact, your gravity, your influence? Scripture tells us that we are saved to serve. We have been redeemed to bring power, riches, strength, honor, wisdom, glory and blessing to Christ - the Lamb slain. Let Christ feel the impact of your weight and wealth.

•Joseph brought HONOR, GLORY and WEALTH to God. Glory means weight and substance.

•Kings and Queens on seeing the WISDOM, GLORY and WEALTH of Solomon, magnified God. It is on record that the Queen of Sheba blessed the name of the Lord for Solomon's wisdom.

•Samson used his divine STRENGTH to fight the Lord's battles and brought glory to His name.

•In the days of Zerubbabel, the Lord said to the people, "Go up to the mountain, and BRING wood, and BUILD the house, and I will take PLEASURE in it, and I will be GLORIFIED, saith the LORD… and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God" (Hag.1:8,14). Malachi says, "BRING ye all the tithes into the storehouse…" (Mal.3:10). God says to Moses, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they BRING me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering" (Ex.25:2). God made this demand upon His people while they were in the desert, and still, they brought more than enough that Moses had to stop them from bringing more. They gave willingly and wholeheartedly.

David says, "For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee" (1Chron.29:14). David was determined never to give to God that which cost him nothing (2Sam.24:24).

•Daniel and his friends made kings and their kingdoms bow to God. Nehemiah, Mordecai and Esther wielded political POWERS to the glory of God. Kings and kingdoms were toppled for their sake.

•Every time someone BLESSES God because of you, you are bringing BLESSING to the slain Lamb of God. The Queen of Sheba BLESSED the Lord because of Solomon. The women of Bethlehem BLESSED the Lord because of Naomi. Peter, Paul and others brought the BLESSING of saved souls to the Lord. Paul and his colleagues turned the world upside down for Christ.

Let me ask again, are you a liability or an asset to Christ? What is Christ gaining from your life on earth? Of all that God is doing in your life, what is He getting back in return. Who is thanking God because of you? What are you rendering to God for all His benefits toward you? Getting and giving go together. Jesus Christ is worthy to receive all you have to offer Him.

*What does this mean for the redeemed?

It means that we have to work hard enough to bring in dividends to the Lord. Be not slothful in business, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Don't settle on being only a receiver - taking from God with nothing to give back to Him. Don't worship God in vain. Don't let your worship be for mouth. Certain women followed Christ everywhere and served Him with their substance (Lk.8:3). If you are rich, let Christ feel it. Invest in the kingdom of Christ. Worship and sacrifice are forever linked. Be an asset, not a liability.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter