“Abide in Me…” —John 15:4
“In the matter of determination. The Spirit of Jesus is put into
me by way of the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I then have to build my
thinking patiently to bring it into perfect harmony with my Lord. God will not
make me think like Jesus— I have to do it myself. I have to bring
“every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
“Abide in Me”— in intellectual matters, in money matters, in every one of the
matters that make human life what it is. […] Am I preventing God from doing
things in my circumstances by saying that it will only serve to hinder my
fellowship with Him? How irrelevant and disrespectful that is! It does not
matter what my circumstances are. […]It is unnecessary to change and arrange my
circumstances myself. Our Lord’s …. never chose His own circumstances, but was
meek, submitting to His Father’s plans and directions for Him. Just think of
how amazingly relaxed our Lord’s life was! [….] You say, “Yes, Lord, just a
minute— I still have this to do. Yes, I will abide as soon as this is finished,
or as soon as this week is over. It will be all right, Lord. I will abide
then.” […] In the initial stages it will be a continual effort to abide, but as
you continue, it will become so much a part of your life that you will abide in
Him without any conscious effort. – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His
Highest
“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the
promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the
redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” –
Ephesians 1:13-14
The Holy Spirit enlivens your new self toward God. You put your faith in Jesus and God puts His
Spirit in you. The very same Shekinah
Glory that led the Children of Israel in the desert … the very same that resided
in the Holy of Holies in the temple. Now
you are the temple … and that Spirit leads you, or will if you will follow.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” – 1
Corinthians 6:19-20
Think about how amazing that is.
Now think about the reverence that you show with respect to that amazing
fact of your new life in Christ.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was some physical – visible change
when you accepted Jesus .. .when you were born again by the Spirit? A daily
reminder every time you looked in the mirror. Like Oswald Chambers wrote – it requires deliberate
action on our part.
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked.
“Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God
unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but
the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying,
‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its
sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is
with everyone born of the Spirit.’” – John 3: 4-8
Nicodemus didn’t understand because even though he was a teacher
of the precepts of God, he only had a natural understanding of the facts he was
teaching. Be careful that you don’t make
the same mistake. The Spirit of God will
give you understanding but only if you seek it.
If you rely on yourself and your culture you will miss it and struggle
in your Christian life. Think about it.
Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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