THE GRACE TO LAY DOWN

1. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
2. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
   John 10:17,18 (NKJV)

• Jesus did not hold on to His position in heaven as something He could not do away with.

• Though He was equal with God, He humbled Himself to come in the form of man. He made Himself of no reputation.
• It was demean for Him, with all His glory in heaven, to come to the earth, suffer and died a shameful death like a criminal.
• He did not hold on to His position, authority, and honor in the heaven, He chose to die for mankind that we might be saved from the penalty of sin, death; and then be reconciled back to God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18).

• Paul admonishes us to imbibe this idea, we should let the mind be in us: mindset of humility, that is, mindset of condescending oneself (Philippians 2:5).

• It was this mindset that gave Jesus the exalted position He occupies today, it made His name higher than any other name (Philippians 2:9; Psalm 110:1).
• Whoever wants to be exalted should first of all strip himself or herself of every glory and honor that he or she presently has or possesses (Philippians 2:7; John 10:15,17,18).

1. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
2. Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
3. but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
4. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
5. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”Philippians 2:5-9 (NKJV)

• What gave Jesus Christ the name which is above every name is humility. He humbled Himself, He became a man, forsaken all His glory, and was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross, a shameful death (Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 5:8; Isaiah 53:3-10).

• In God’s kingdom, if you want to be exalted, humility is the key (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6; Philippians 2:7,8).
• If you are proud, full of self or ego, you cannot be exalted.

• Another principle is that you have to lay down what you have, to receive what God has for you.

• Jesus did not hold on to His reputation [divine privileges] in heaven, He laid it down. Though He suffered, but after the suffering He received a name that surpasses all other names (Philippians 2:6-11).

1. “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
2. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
   Philippians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

• For you to be lifted in this kingdom, you have to lay down what is precious to you to attain another level of glory (Philippians 3:7,8; Hebrews 11:17-19; 24-26).
• You want financial lifting, then be ready to sacrifice what you have: lay down what you have presently to move up to another level of financial blessing (1 Kings 3:3-5; Luke 6:38; 1 Corinthians 9:6; Philippians 4:15,16,19).
• You want to operate in the higher levels of the anointing, then you have to move up in your levels of consecration and commitments: Word intake, prayer, fasting and whatever the Holy Spirit may instruct you to do (Mark 9:29; Act 13:1; 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27).
• Lifting in God’s kingdom is not accidental!
• Whatever you want in the kingdom, you lay down something to receive it. You lay down what you have to receive what God has for you.

• This principles is applicable to any need that anyone may have.

• You need the fruit of the womb, Then what do you want to give to God? You need healing, Then what do you want to give to God?.
• Hannah needed a baby boy, she struck a deal with God: If you give me a male child, I will lend the child to you to be your servant (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 24-28).

• Kenneth E.Hagin

• Late Kenneth E. Hagin said he was bedfast in his teens with a deformed heart and an incurable blood disease. He then told God, You raise me from this bed 🛏️ of sickness, I will preach, go out there to proclaim the gospel, tell other people about you, and he meant it.
  Before he recovered, he started preparing messages, even on that bed of sickness. When he recovered, he started preaching and praying for people who were sick and did that for the rest of his life–ministered for about seventy years.
• You are down with sickness, if God heals you, what will you do for Him? Will you not go back to your former ways of life—fornication, adultery? Will you not go back into alcoholism and other petty sins?
• Will you go out there and tell other people about His goodness? Will you live your life to glorify His name?

• Remember, God’s blessings are conditional.

• If God gives you the fruit of the womb, ‘Will you lend the child to God, allow the child to be His minister, like Hannah did?’
• God needs more servants, ministers, whom He can send out to proclaim His goodness, Would you allow that child, given you by God, be a servant of His?

• You need to strike a deal with God.

• Jesus made a deal with God, He chose to lay down His reputation, honor, and glory, hence, His name was lifted, exalted above every other name in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth.
• In rank, hierarchy, He became one with God (John 14:9). God gave Him everything—put everything under His care (1 Corinthians 15:27).
• What do you want to sacrifice to attain higher levels in God’s kingdom?

• To receive what you are craving from God, what do you want to lay down?

• You may need to release, lay down worldly pleasures to receive your healing! You may need to forsake your fame, attainments in the world, and your glory in the Mafia—secret society, confraternity—before you receive what God has for you.
• You may need to break up with some relationship—friendship.
• God is demanding a thing from you, although it may be difficult for you to release, however, if you released it, you will be exalted, promoted, honored, and lifted to greater and higher level.

• Prayer

• Grace to lay down is impacted to you in Jesus name.
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
  Peace!