From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 6:17.
Nimes 17 – 01 – 2021.
Recently, I was given a dramatic revelation where I found l myself in the dream surrounded by people while an unknown woman was insulting, threatening and bullying me before the crowd. I held my peace because I don’t even know what or how to answer her for the perplexity and embarrassment; it appears I was caught unaware and have nothing to say for a defense against her injurious word (they also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that opens not his mouth. Psalms 38:12-14) which I attentively and patiently endured before the watching crowd.  But as soon as she finished and was walking away from the place where she thought she have me crucified before the crowd by her evil, dramatic and spectacular insults and abusive words, behold, there appeared a very big truck on a high speed that crush her to death beyond recognition (woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at evening tide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us. Isaiah 17:12-14) just like Jezebel’s body who once troubled God’s people and the nation of Israel through her whoredom and witchcraft manipulation was devoured by the birds of the air beyond recognition at death before her burial (2 Kings 9: 30 -35) as I found myself smiling in response to divine vindication as I awake from my sleep to witness a quick and rapid response and defense from God who avenges me (Psalms 18:47) against the troublers of the peace of my Israel. Note: the voice and response of God against our aggressor, oppressor and troublemaker is dreadful and powerful than our reaction to defend and seek for any personal justification before men: for what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called (to bear the mark – character – stain – smear – blemish of Christ): because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously. 1 Peter 2:20-23.
Once you’ve learnt how to cast all your cares upon him that cares for you, nothing and no one should become a burden too heavy to bear to you. If you allow him, God will take care of all your personal troubles (Job 5:19), but he will also deliver you from all the troublesome, evil- minded and restless people who might seek to make themselves a thorn in your flesh, a burden and a yoke heavy to weigh you down or to hinder you in anyway: he will rough handle them with a very strong rebuke for their futile and pointless efforts to destabilize you. To kick against the prick is to fight against the peculiar people who are in covenant of everlasting peace with God. It is nothing but a direct confrontation and fight against the Lord who is the refuge, defense and the Savior of the upright in heart (Psalms 7:10): but when he (God) gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: that the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. Job 34:29-30.
Sennacherib king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army to take Jerusalem, having successfully invaded and taken other nations around them in what King Hezekiah called the day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth (Isaiah 37:1-3): do you still remember what the Lord God did to him and his armies for the vengeance of his attempted assaults to trouble the people of God ? The angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So, Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. Isaiah chapters 36 & 37.
The scripture text before us this morning perfectly explain itself that the mark on Apostle Paul is a mark of Christ, which indicate to us that it was not a new or a strange spot on the body of beloved Apostle, but that the Lord himself once had the same mark on his body during the days of his flesh, while the other apostles had the same mark as well before or after the Lord Jesus was taken away from them to heaven. In his birth, the Lord did not come into the world from heaven with any sickness or disease in the body prepared or given him by God, been a body without sin – hence without sickness, but that himself bear our sicknesses and diseases on his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed.
This mark of the Lord is not our personal infirmities which the Lord has borne on his own body on the tree: but if it is the mark of any stripe, an imprint of slaps on the face or cheek or punch in any part of the body received for his name’s sake, they should be considered as the mark of Christ. Matthew 5:39. Whatsoever is done to the green tree, if it is done on the dry tree should be considered as the mark of Christ. The persecution of those who are born of the flesh (church goers, carnal and sensual religious people having not the Spirit. Jude 1:19. 1 Corinthians 2:14) against those that are born of the Spirit of God (now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Galatians 4: 28-29) is because of the identical mark of Christ on them – if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, Christ promised. John 15:20. The mark of Christ also speaks of different difficulties, challenges and personal cross bearing which individual believer in Christ Jesus is called to bear on a daily basis after Christ, and the reproaches they have to endure in him (wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:12-14): that sufficient are those troubles which for our encouragements and comforts of scriptures are called our light affliction (for which reason we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17), none should seek or attempt to trouble, by adding any grievous yoke heavy to bear upon the Israel of God – the new creatures in Christ Jesus: for the Lord’s yoke is easy, and his burden light. Galatians 6:15-16.
Except that Apostle Paul was not crucified to death like his Lord was killed, there was no other injury done to Christ that he did not experience for his name’s sake (but the Lord said unto him, go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. Acts 9:16): this is the mark of Christ, but it was never the filling up (now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. Colossians 1:24) of what is lacking in the travail of Christ soul for his church (for this, Christ was personally satisfied and the Father required no further sacrifice than the continual intercessory prayer of our faithful High Priest seated at the right hand of God to save us to the end. Isaiah 53:11), then the Apostle being a partaker of the cup which his Lord has once drank from and others as well drank of the same cup (Mark 10:39): this is the evidence of his foolish boasting, not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool (2 Corinthians 11:17-33), the reasons of his pride and chastening from the Lord by the thorn of the flesh sent to keep him humbled. 2 Corinthians 12:7.
I just want you to pause for a moment to think about the humiliation and sufferings of Christ in the days of his flesh, his physical isolation, the rejection and abandonment Christ endured from his own Jewish brethren who refused to receive him as Savior and Lord (John 1:11): also, from certain of his disciples (from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66): the homelessness of the Son of man who have no place to lay his head (and it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou go. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Luke 9:57-58): the mockery of evil names calling on Christ as one having a demon and a deceiver: the threats on his life among which was the attempt to lapidate the Son of God to death with stones: the false accusations and humiliation; much more, his death on the cross (Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. But they cried, saying, crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Luke 23:20-31): these are the summary of the mark of Christ which is expected to be found on his true brethren, the partakers of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God (2 Timothy 1:8); but they are also partakers of the glory which shall be revealed at the appearing of Jesus – if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. 1 Peter 5:1.
But not all believers in Christ Jesus bear or have this mark of Christ on them (a) such as those from whom the enemy take away the incorruptible seed of the word from their heart as soon as they received it, lest they should do anything with it: (b) those with no root in themselves (not rooted and grounded in faith, not rooted and grounded in Christ, his word and in his love), but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by they are offended: (c) those the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful, apart from those who received the word in a good and honest heart, which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:19-23.  
Live the gospel life and people will see the mark of Christ clearly all over you as his written epistle, known and read by all men. Philippians 1:27. Were the early disciples not first called Christians at Antioch because of the mark of Christ seen on them as an identical mark of the same characteristic features or print of Christ’s life that all men could see the impression or the glimpse on them? The Lord knows them that are his: surely, he knows his sheep by name and his sheep bears his marks on them, and they follow him wherever he leads them!
The mark of Christ on believer’s life is visible, both in the physical world for men to see (yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12) but will hate them for it (blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of sake. Luke 6:22): also, from the spiritual realm for the angels to behold, because we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.1 Corinthians 4:9. By this mark, the angels of God knows those who are keeping the word of God; those who fears him and are serving and walking after him in Spirit and truth in preparation for the final mark of separation and preservation that they shall receive on them by those holy angels at the time that shall be appointed by God to keep them away (and the Lord said unto him, go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. Ezekiel 9:4-6) from the imminent wrath of God that is coming upon the world of ungodly sinners on the awful day of the Lord’s judgmental visitation to purify the earth of its evil and abominable works. Amos 5:18-20.
Make no mistake, the mark of Christ is not a tattoo’s mark of his image on the body as some religious and ignorant people would have it on themselves. The bible forbids anyone to make any imprint (you shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:28) of any image or print of God, neither of Christ on himself: not of his cross, neither of any other image on the body or flesh for whatever reason.
I know many good guys out there who for one reason or others are ashamed of the physical scar on them as they seek to cover the flaw on their body from been seen by men by cosmetic products or by surgery to alter it: but the scar or the mark of Christ can no true believer cover or hide to shy away from it because the mark will betray him that he belongs to Christ and Christ is his through his speech and lifestyles. Matthew 26:73. It is the mark of a peculiar identity with Christ in his saints with power of attraction to bring them into everything and anything the Lord had once gone through on earth for his body’s sake. The mark of Christ is a spiritual birthmark that can be found on every believer who is genuinely born of water and of the Spirit of the living God. Those who have truly and practically escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts have the mark of Christ on them as they labor or strive daily to die daily to the flesh and to suffer (forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.1 Peter 4:1) it that they should do away completely from sin. Should anyone further or additionally seek to trouble or disturb the peace of such Israel of God? But my God shall likewise trouble them! Note: those with the mark of Christ should live and walk in all sincerity and truth as those who are alive from the dead: they should have to put away, and separate from the company of any false brother or sister in the church – Achan (Joshua 7:1) who have the form of godliness but is denying the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:1-5), whose spiritual corruption and lifestyle will open the door of an unnecessary but preventable spiritual attacks and troubles for them if they should keep to the company of such wicked and ungodly believer. 1 Corinthians 5:8-13.
The marks of Christ speak of the righteousness of Christ and of his perfect or complete obedience and submission to the will of God in his beloved as those who are under the law of Christ, freed from sin and indebted to live in the Spirit to fulfill the righteousness of the law through the law of the spirit of life which has made them free from the law of sin and death. This mark is the power in readiness to revenge all disobedience and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ once their obedience is fulfilled: for whosoever teaches another should first teach himself, for Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto God, even unto death on the cross.
The mark or scar of Christ speaks of the present daily spiritual warfare which believer is engaged because of his testimony of Christ and of the word of God which he keeps against the displeasure and the wrath of the old serpent in a world under his control, whereby he separated himself and have come out of the world to be the Lord’s (Romans 9:26): his daily labor to cease from his own works in order to keep himself continually in the rest of God wherein he has already entered, and of his patience endurance against the contradiction of sinners to please God in a world that seek to remove the Creator out of his property (by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26. Psalms 24:1. Note: a servant cannot serve two masters: therefore, you cannot have the mark of Christ and the mark of the world on you to defile your religion if you are spotted by the world: this is spiritual defilement that can disqualifies you from entering heaven (James 1:27) if you don’t repent from worldliness and remove its deferments from your body, soul and spirit. Come out of Egypt (world) as Moses once did to bear and suffer reproach of Christ, and to follow Christ without the camp (out of worldly lifestyles) in sanctification against worldly conformity to the place where he died to sanctify you, bearing his reproach. Hebrews 13:12.
Presently, God will do anything to secure the inner peace of his children, and he will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth, to give them peace always by all means that no one, nor anything should trouble them that have the mark of Christ on them. Though, they express inner joy inexplicable full of glory as of their right to live and serve God daily in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, yet, they walk mournfully in reverential fear before their God (you have said, it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the Lord speak often one to another: and    the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not. Malachi 3:14-18) trembling and keeping to his word, should anyone dare seek to add any unnecessary yoke or burden upon them apart from their present estate in the Lord who will not dare to add any other burden to the present troubles and spiritual dilemma of his beloved; but my God shall likewise trouble such and give their lives in replacement for the lives of his children – the righteous is delivered out of trouble, but the wicked come in his place. Proverbs 11:8.
Do you have no certain dwelling place of habitation or roof under your head as at present? It is nothing to be ashamed of because Christ has once been there for your sake and you are just drinking from the same cup your Lord once drank from: rejoice that you are a partaker of the suffering of Christ or that you also have this mark on you, so that when his glory shall be revealed, you might be also glad with exceeding joy. Have any of the brethren you once trusted in the Lord betrayed you or have they fraudulently robbed and stolen from you? Do not lose heart and don’t be offended for the financial troubles caused you by their action because the Lord has once been stolen from by his own financial treasurer – Judas Iscariot. Christ become an enemy and was crucified because of truth; have you been rejected by your brethren because you chose to walk in the truth through the straight gate and narrow way of no compromise in holiness? It is the mark of Christ, the mark of the spirit of glory and of God that rests upon you: on your part, Christ is glorified, but on their part, he is evil spoken of, but sooner very soon, he will appear for your glory and they shall be ashamed.
Apostle Paul commands Titus to remind the brethren to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:1), while he wrote to the Thessalonians church to warn the unruly Christians among them, so that such should walk, behave and speak wisely (1 Thessalonians 5:14) and not wild or disorder to cause any trouble for anyone in the church or for the church in general: not to be ruffian or a troublemaker by their selfish, rebellious, self- willed and unmanageable – provoking spirit and comportment –  as for a person who stirs up division ( a man of strife and contentious spirit – trouble maker), after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:10.
Let no man (believer or unbeliever) troubles me, for I bear in my body the marks of Christ….an odious (offensive- revolting) married sisters in the church (Proverbs 30:23) and she that is contentious in her marital home (Proverbs 21:19) shall inherit the wind for the troubles she brings into her household (it is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. Proverbs 11: 9 & 29), let no man pity her for her wickedness, selfishness and foolishness for she will not change. Proverbs 27:22. Problematic and troublesome unbelieving husband or wife should go if they seek to add to the yoke of their spouse in the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:15) because God has called us to live in peace. Trouble makers, either in word by strife of tongues (thou shall hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues – go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceive not in him the lips of knowledge. Psalms 31:20. Proverbs 14:7) or by physical violence dealings and action (cast out the scorner and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. Proverbs 22:10) should be sent away from our company: the Lord tries the righteous: but the wicked and him that loves violence his soul hates. Psalms 11:5.