Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Spirit of Christ in us (Week 5:1)

Topic: Week 5- Christ in us
Theme for 6 Weeks- Who is Jesus and what difference does it make?

Read Romans 8:9-11

I’d like to begin this week with the “big picture” idea of the Spirit of God living within us. We not only have God revealed to us, in Jesus, when he came to live and be one of us (the Incarnation). But, we have not been left alone for we have been given the Spirit of God to be within us (the Indwelling).

In this passage Paul says that the Spirit dwells/lives within us. He says that: the "Spirit…Spirit of God…Spirit of Christ…Christ" lives within those who are in the Spirit, who have given their lives over to follow Jesus. This Spirit can be said to be the very Spirit of Jesus living within- Christ lives in me! (Galatians 2:20).

We are called to follow Jesus, but we are not left alone to do this. The very Spirit of Christ lives within and empowers us to follow in the way of Jesus.

Many have written off the Sermon on the Mount and other teachings of Jesus as impractical; “You can’t do it!”- so, it’s written off. I will agree, but only in this way: you can’t do this merely on your own will power and determination.

And that’s the point: we aren’t alone. Jesus didn’t teach us to follow him, or call us to this new way and the kingdom of God, in order to frustrate us or just give us some theoretical teaching that was never intended to be lived out. But, neither did he leave us without power or alone; he came to live within and set us free to walk in this way of the “upside-down kingdom!”

That fills me with hope!

Question: Have you thought about the power that resides within you- Christ in you, enabling you to follow Jesus in your daily life?

Prayer: “’Have your own way, Lord! Have your own way! Hold over my being absolute sway! Fill with your Spirit till all shall see, Christ only, always, living in me’ (Adelaide Pollard). I pray this in your name, Amen.”

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