When I awakened this morning my mind was instantly flooded with verses and truths from God’s Word. It almost seemed like a carry-over from my dreams while I was sleeping. Almighty God, the Holy Spirit, my loving Teacher, was illuminating – shining the light brighter than ever before on those truths.
2 Peter 3:18 – Grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The better I know Him, the deeper my intimacy with Him, the more I’ll live on the broad plain of grace.
- In the power of His resurrection. To know the power outflowing from His resurrection which He reproduces in me, the power of His present resurrection living.
- In the fellowship of His sufferings. To so deeply share His sufferings. For me it has at least 2 aspects. (1) Whatever hurting comes, use it to deepen my relationship with Him as He uses it to conform me to His image. (2) In prayer to seek such oneness with the Father that I will understand what breaks His heart and pray accordingly in the Spirit.
In Gethsemane Jesus said – watch with Me (Matthews 26:38) – show Me that you care – show Me that you love Me. But the disciples missed it. I don’t want to miss any opportunity to show Him that I care – to show Him that I love Him more than myself or anything else.
To be made conformable to His death. Jesus did not take up His Cross for the first time at Calvary. He denied Himself (Matthews 16:24) and took up His Cross daily by not doing things to please Himself but (John 8:29) but only things that pleased the Father. To deny myself means to deny myself the control – I am not the master – I am not in charge. Jesus is the Master – the Controller – and fully in charge.
How can I fully experience resurrection victorious living?
Dr. C Stanley - Yield yourself to the prevailing control of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 1:21 – To live is Christ living His life in me. To die is gain because to die to self is to live the life for which I was redeemed.
For several days most of my waking hours, day and night have been captivated with the insights of my long-time pal Oswald Chambers. Even though he is in heaven he has been for many years and continues to be one of my most trusted, loved and respected mentors. I have selected a few of his statements. Listen to his wise words “Co-certification: Have I made this decision about sin that it must die right out in me? Sin must die out in me, not be curbed or suppressed or counteracted, but crucified. Take time with God and say – Lord, identify me with Thy death until I know that sin is dead in me. Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death. Am I prepared to let the Spirit of God search me until I know what the disposition of sin is – the thing that lusts against the Spirit of God in me? Will I agree with God’s verdict on that disposition of sin – that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? I cannot reckon myself – dead indeed unto sin – unless I have been through this radical issue of will before God. Have I entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ until all that is left is the life of Christ in my flesh and blood? Any strand of our own energy will blur the life of Jesus.
We have to keep letting go and slowly and surely the great full life of God will invade us in every part”.
The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9-10) and because we are in Christ we are indwelt by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Paul said – to die is gain. Gain because physical death is our passport to heaven. Gain because dying to self does not leave us empty but fills and floods us (Ephesians 3:19) with God Himself - - me out – God in. It must be Christ in me (Colossians 1:27) or else I have no hope of reflecting God’s glory. I am crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) nevertheless I live. But it is not my life I am living, neither is it my faith by which I am living. Jesus gave HIMSELF for me and now imparts to me His very life (not a copy) and His very faith. His life becomes mine and (John 11:26) I will never die.
I will never die because the LIFE OF GOD cannot die. Last week I heard a message by Dr. Stanley and he said, “No Christian can ever be buried.” My mind joyously grabbed that and ran with it. So I said to myself – I expect to shed my outer garment, which I live in while still here on earth, they rejoice in heaven – knowing (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) that my old clothes will be transformed to adorn me in timeless beauty forever.
Again Dr. Stanley – “who wants to take wrinkles to heaven?”
If the Lord calls me Home before the Rapture, do not believe the marker on my grave which says that I’m in there. Recognize the lie.
I read (Galatians 5:22-25) about the outflow of this life. If we have died with Him (2 Timothy 2:11-12) we shall also live with Him. If we endure - -? This suggests to me (Colossians 1:24) making up what needs yet to be done in building the body of Christ. To make known all around the world the suffering of Jesus at Gethsemane and Calvary and to tell the reason for His suffering and the free offer of full salvation. We are empowered to share the Good News of the Gospel with poor moths of the night who fly ever closer to the flame.
If we have been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:5) we share His resurrection by a new life lived for God. The Holy Spirit cannot be present as a Guest in a house. He invades every part of me and takes charge of everything. My part is to walk in the light and obey everything he reveals. It takes Omnipotence to live the life of the Son of God in mortal flesh.
