THE GRACE TO LAY DOWN

17 “THEREFORE MY FATHER LOVES ME, BECAUSE I LAY DOWN MY LIFE THAT I MAY TAKE IT AGAIN.
18 "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 (Philippians 2:6,7).
He made Himself of no reputation.
It was demeaning to Him, with all His glory in heaven, to come to the earth, suffer and died a shameful death like a criminal (Philippians 2:5-8).
He did not hold on to His position, authority and honour in 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; Philippians 2:7-9; 1 John 2:1,2).

Paul admonishes us to imbibe this idea, we should let this 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 that 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 of every glory and honour that he presently has or posseses (Philippians 2:7; John 10:15,17,18; 1 Corinthians 3:18).

5 LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS,
6 WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER IT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD,
7 BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT, AND COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN.
8 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.
9 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 the self or ego, you cannot be exalted—God looks at the proud afar off (Psalm 138:6).

Another principle is that, you have to lay down what you have, to receive what God has for you (1 Corinthians 3:18).
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).

10 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,
11 AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER."
Philippians 2:10,11 (NKJV)

Note:
• 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 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. 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 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—he ministered for about seventy years.

These are important questions to answer in your heart if you need God's intervention in your situation:
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 or whatever?
• Will you not go back into alcoholism and other petty sins?
• Will you go out there and tell people about His goodness?
• Will you live your life to glorify God's 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, the goodnews of Christ Jesus, 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, honour and glory, hence, His name was lifted, exalted above every other name in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth (Philippians 2:5-11).
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 the higher level of greatness in God’s kingdom?

The candid question to answer is, in order to receive what you are craving or desiring from God, What do you you want to lay down?
• You may have to release, lay down, worldly pleasures to receive your healing (1 Timothy 5:6).
• You may have to forsake your fame, attainment in the world, and your glory in the Mafia—secret society, confraternity—before you receive what God has for you (Philippians 3:7-11).
• You may need to break up in your relationship—friendship—with some people (1 John 2:15-17).

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, honoured, and lifted to greater and higher level of honour and greatness (Philippians 2:9-11).

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