YOU ARE IN CHRIST; CHRIST IS IN US AND THROUGH US

YOU ARE IN CHRIST; CHRIST IS IN US AND THROUGH US

“For in Him we live, and move, and have our BEING...”(Acts 17:28)

As a believer we have discovered a Life, the eternal zoe Life of God without beginning or end, that Jesus came to give to US abundantly; "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10). It is a Life originating in Christ, lived in Christ and ultimately consummated in Christ... the IN-Christed Life.

Much of our entering into and manifesting the In-Christed Life has to do with the renewing of our minds (Rom.12:2), “For as he thinketh in his heart, so IS he...”(Prov.23:7). With that in mind, let us consider some Scriptures that speak of the progression of the In-Christed Life.

CALLED in Christ -

Romans 8:29-30 speaks of our being CALLED; “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son... them He also CALLED: and whom He CALLED, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” The word translated as called is kaleho in Greek, meaning to call forth. It is from kelyouo, which means to incite by word. The Father foreknew us, foreordained us, and by His words spoke our calling into our being.

CHOSEN in Christ -

“He CHOSE us- actually picked us out for Himself as His own- in Christ BEFORE the foundation of the world...” (Ephesians 1:4 Amplified Bible)

“for many be called, but few CHOSEN.”(Matthew 20:16)... “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have CHOSEN you, and ordained you...”(John 15:16)

To bring clarity on this subject, let us consider a progression in the seedbed of Genesis 1:26-27:

CALLED - “God SAID, Let us make man...” God speaking His purpose

CHOSEN - “in Our image and likeness” - God choosing what kind of man to make

CREATED - “so God created” - God bringing to manifest that which He had called and chosen.

“For in Him we live, and move, and have our BEING...”(Acts 17:28).

This is why many are called, but few are chosen... it is not that the Father is out to exclude anybody. It is that many choose to live in the deception of the soulish psyche life, rather than the Christ Life. Thus few are chosen because the man the Father has chosen is the Christ-Man, Christ IN you the hope of glory. We are CHOSEN in Christ!

CREATED in Christ -

“For we are His workmanship, CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath BEFORE ordained that we should walk in them.”(Ephesians 2:10) To bring clarity, let us examine a spiritual principle at work:

CONSECRATED in Christ -

We are set apart, consecrated as priests unto God after the order of Melchizedek, and this consecration is only possible IN Christ. "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3) The life of Melchizedek was without beginning or ending of days, eternal Life... and that is the Life Jesus Christ came to give to us abundantly. This is the Life that is consecrated unto God, for it is His very Life in Christ manifesting through us.

CRUCIFIED in Christ -

Only something dead can be resurrected. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”(Colossians 3:3) “Knowing this, that our old man IS crucified WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed...”(Romans 6:6) Some are trying to ‘die daily” by effort and sacrifice... this may sound noble, but it leads to a deadly form of pride - false humility. We must RECKON ourselves dead, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:11), however to ‘die daily” by effort and sacrifice will lead to pride. When Paul penned those words, he literally faced physical death on a daily basis because of his message and the culture he lived in. Dead things don’t need to die daily, they’re already dead. Dying daily puts the focus on OUR sacrifice and denies the power of the cross. Jesus said “...if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.(John 12:32). It wasn’t just one Man on the cross, YOU were there also IN Christ. When He died, you died... it didn’t stop there though.

CONTINUE in Christ -

When He was resurrected, you were resurrected... or rather, the Christ Life within you was resurrected. Adam was not resurrected, he was dealt with ONCE and for all, for Jesus Christ was the LAST Adam. This is why Paul says “...nevertheless I LIVE, yet not I, but Christ lives IN me.”(Galatians 2:20) “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall CONTINUE in the Son, and in the Father.”(I John 2:24-25) We are to continue in Christ, in that which we heard from the beginning - the destiny that He spoke into us before He even formed us.

CONSUMMATED in Christ -

“Making known to us the mystery of His will- of His plan, of His purpose. And it is this: In accordance with His good pleasure which He had previously purposed and set forth IN HIM, He planned for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and CONSUMMATE them IN Christ...”(Ephesians 1:9-10 Amplified Bible)

* We WILL see the fulfillment of Genesis 1:26-28; a many-membered MAN (male and female) in the image and likeness of God, filling the earth and subduing it...

* We WILL see the fulfillment of Ephesians 4:13 “...that WE might arrive at mature manhood, the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection.”

* We WILL see the ‘teleios’ Perfect Many-membered Man, the Second Man...

* We WILL see the manifestation of mature ‘huios’ Sons of God...

Most of this progression is actually PAST tense-

CALLED

CHOSEN

CREATED

CONSECRATED

CRUCIFIED

and then there’s-

CONTINUING

CONSUMMATION

It’s really a matter of becoming who we ALREADY ARE in Spirit, in Christ... bringing that finished work to manifestation in our individual and corporate Life. Let us press on to the ‘mark’ of manifesting the Life of Christ in the world, “because as He IS, so are WE in this world.”(1 John 4:17).

ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS

Why is this a problem? Their fascination with such sensational phenomena has distracted them from their one and only true Source, Jesus Christ.

Holding fast to the Head from whom all the body, nourished and knit together . . . grows with an increase that is from God (2:19).

This is serious, for only by abiding in Christ and holding fast to Him,experiencing the fullness of salvation and arriving at spiritual maturity.

Suggestions For Not Losing Our Focus

Keep Jesus at the center. Don’t seek an experience, seek Him.

A woman came to William Seymour at the Azusa Street Mission and asked him to pray that she would get the tongues. He replied, “Now see here, Sister Sadie, don’t you go seeking tongues. Seek Jesus. He is the One.”

Stay humble. Don’t allow spiritual experiences to become a basis for pride. Avoid an elitist attitude. After observing the collapse of several powerful, front-line ministers because of pride, Gordon Lindsay exhorted, “As one rises higher and higher in spiritual blessing and power, he must ever seek to become lower and lower and lower.”

2 Thessalonians 1:10 it says “when he shall come to be glorified IN His saints and admired IN all those who believe in that day”. It is Christ in you, your hope of Glory. “When he shall come to be glorified in His saints and be admired in all them who believe in that day”. sings, “I’ll be part of that first resurrection, I’ll be changed from the creature that I am”.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 “we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of us”. Its going to be God who receives the glory. When they see you, when they come over, when they bow to a people, they are going to be confessing this, Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

They will know its not you, they will know that it’s a new creation, a new man. There are only two men walking around on earth, one is called Adam, the other Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:43 “the day is come when the righteous shall shine like the sun”. Where is that light? Its inside of us. Christ, the light of the world. Christ in you, your hope of glory.

A PATTERN SON

Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15 says “this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern”.

We’ve been talking about Christ in you, your hope of glory. Christ coming forth in his people, Christ being seen on the earth, and it says in

Isaiah 60:1 “arise shine for thy light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, for behold the darkness (sinfulness, mans ways) will cover the earth and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall rise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee”.

That’s why Jesus came, he came to save sinners, sure, but another was so He could bring many sons to glory. He came to bring a people in full redemption back to God.

Jesus called them the overcomers, to him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne even as I overcame and am seated with my father in His throne. That’s the call we have in Christ, when we receive Jesus Christ into our lives, we have the potential to become a fully matured son of God, as we grow up, someone who looks like their Father.

God wants to deal with you, to change you, He wants you to grow up, God wants you to be like Him. The Christ Life is God’s Life lived through us. It will never end, never die, and neither will you. It’s Christ IN you, your hope of Glory.

Thanksgiving is a Holy Declaration of What We SEE When We LIFT UP OUR EYES.

"Therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS to His name." (Heb. 13:15) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1Thes. 5:18). Giving thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20). Thanksgiving (eucharisteo, from which we get the word Eucharist) means to be aware of our blessings and be filled with gratitude. Thanksgiving opens the vaults of the treasures of the Kingdom. Opposite of Thanksgiving: Ungratefulness, Complaining and Murmuring Examples: 1. Hebrew children, "Nor let us . . . grumble, as [Israel] did, and were destroyed by the destroyer" (1 Cor. 10:9-10). 2. Some of his disciples "Do not grumble among yourselves" (John 6:43) 3. Judas- (John 12:4-6) Then said one of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who was to betray Him) Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? He said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and held the moneybag and carried the things put in. Paul warned that, "in the last days . . . men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips" (2 Timothy 3:1-9). With Thanksgiving mentioned 6 x in Scripture: One of my favorites: (Col 4:2) Continue in prayer and watch in it with thanksgiving, Most thank God after the victory, after the provision, after the deliverance. 2 Kinds of thankfulness: After the victory or before the victory. Miriam and the people of Moses praised God and were thankful after the deliverance from the Egyptians. (Exo 15:1-6) Then the sons of Moses and Israel sang this song to Jehovah, and spoke, saying, I will sing to Jehovah, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea. Jehovah is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him, Jehovah is a Man of war; Jehovah is His name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; they sank into the bottom like a stone. Your right hand, O Jehovah, has become glorious in power. Your right hand, O Jehovah, has dashed the enemy in pieces. But, Jehoshaphat and the Hebrews praised and thanked God before the victory. (2Ch 20:17-18-19) You shall not fight in this battle. Set yourselves and stand, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for Jehovah will be with you.And Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground. And all Judah and the people of Jerusalem fell before Jehovah, worshiping Jehovah. And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel with a loud voice on high. (2Ch 20:20-23) And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you people of Jerusalem. Believe in Jehovah your God, and so you shall be established. Believe His prophets, and so you shall be blessed. And he consulted with the people, and he appointed singers to Jehovah and praisers to praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise Jehovah, for His mercy endures forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who had come against Judah. And they were beaten. For the sons of Ammon and Moab stood up against the people of mount Seir to completely kill and destroy. And when they had made an end of the people of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another. Abraham and the Sacrifice of Isaac: (Gen 22:4-) Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the ass. And I and the boy will go on to this way and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took the fire in his hand, and a knife. And they both went together. And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they both went together. And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. And he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And the Angel of Jehovah called to him from the heavens and said, Abraham! Abraham! And he said, Here am I. And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, nor do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked. And, behold, a ram behind him was entangled in a thicket by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. We SEE that the Father hears us BEFORE we pray (John 17:1-2). This is why we can be thankful. It is all about:"Lifting up our eyes." "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable . . . is right, whatever is pure . . . lovely . . . of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). Remember, Paul was writing to people in the ancient Roman world. It was full of evil, full of injustice, full of reasons to grumble and be upset; but instead, God calls His people to a higher realm, where we dwell on the things that are above. Jesus at the Tomb of Lazarus: (John 11:41-43) At the tomb of His dear friend Lazarus, Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD ME." Imagine this kind of assurance! Jesus didn't need to beg or intercede. A command to the dead was all that was needed, "Lazarus, come forth." Our Invitation Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” *Symbol- door in heaven- access to heavenly places (John 1:51) A door standing open in heaven is the door of prophetic revelation. The first voice was that of the Lord Jesus Christ (1:10). The Lord summoned John to come in order that he might receive a heavenly perspective of things which must take place on Earth. What Christ shows us is the throne room where the fullness of Christ is offered. The trumpet is inviting us into the Spirit to see the throne room and its function within the kingdom of our heart. The trumpet is the revelation or revealing voice of Christ. The throne room is a symbol of the Kingdom of God and the present reign of Jesus Christ. The Father wants us to come up higher so that we may get a new perspective and see things from His vantage point. Those who have been shaped in the darkness of the secret place need to lift their vision and allow the Spirit to show us what will happen after ‘these things’. It is necessary to ‘come up here’ and enter through the door in heaven. This door is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Only as we abide in Christ can we arise to a higher place of understanding and revelation of the plans of God. The enemy would love to have us so focused upon the problems and circumstances that we see nothing of what lies ahead of us. An earthly perspective weighs us down. It is understanding of what God has prepared for us that gives us the determination and stamina to keep pressing through to this new place. Thanksgiving is a holy declaration of what we SEE when we LIFT UP OUR EYES. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

Let's look at the Amplified for it says: (This is) the revelation of Jesus Christ (His unveiling of the divine mysteries). God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain thing which must shortly and speedily come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John.

This word revelation is awesome! The word is "apokalupsis" in Greek, and means "laying bare, making naked, a disclosure of truth, instruction, concerning things before unknown, manifestation and appearance." It is also "used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all."

The Lord has revealed Himself to us through His gospel! He is no longer the hidden Lord, but open and made known to all He chooses to reveal Himself.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:7, "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." This word "coming" is also "apokalupsis"! We see as we wait in the Lord's presence, He will begin to make Himself known to us! Paul wanted above all things to know His Lord.

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Phil. 3:10-11).

So, revelation means to unveil, to pull the curtain back, and to see that which has always been there.

The apostle John is seeing things in his century mindset. An example would be if you were trying to explain to the apostle Paul an airplane. You would say it's like a bird, but not with flapping but stationary wings. Revelation is written in apocalyptic language or literature. This book is a revelation by and of Jesus. The phrase "must shortly take place" uses a word indicating rapid execution. The phrase in verse 3 tells us that Revelation was intended for public reading in congregations, a practice the early church adopted from the synagogue.

Revelation 1:1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation is the Greek word "apokalypsis" which means: revelation, unveiling, uncovering, or manifestation. It is important to note that if something needs to be revealed, then it is hidden. This same word is used in Romans 8:19 concerning the sons of God; meaning that they are hidden.

Because it was signified (to be written or spoken in signs & symbols) the natural mind would not be able to comprehend what it was saying. It has to be revealed, uncovered by the Spirit of God. Only the mind that has the understanding of the keys can understand it. Just as the revelation came to Jesus and to John, so it is also coming to us today. It will be those that love Him, that love light rather than darkness, that will receive the impartation of the Spirit of God concerning the mystery, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" Col. 1:27. When He is through, He shall be our temple (Rev. 21:22).

Revelation is the only book that promises a blessing to those who will read, study, understand and apply the things that are written in it to their lives. There are seven blessings in Revelation including Rev. 1:3.

1. (Rev.1:3) Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.

2. (Rev 14:13) And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

3. (Rev 16:15) Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

4. (Rev 19:9) And he said to me, Write, Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

5. (Rev 20:6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.

6. (Rev 22:7) Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this Book.

7. (Rev 22:14) Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

In saying that, there are many who believe the Book of Revelation is too complicated or difficult. Some are fearful and intimidated with the rhetoric and flood of misinformation that has come from some of the scholars of this book. This overflow of propaganda has kept the human family fearful of reading the Book of Revelation.

Again the fact is it is the Scripture’s only book that declares a built in blessing to those who read it and understand it. The Hebrew understanding of blessing is empowerment to prosper, succeed, obtain objectives and goals, to have more than enough, to enjoy protection, and to enjoy length of days and life.

Angels, Ministering spirits

By nature angels are created spiritual beings (Heb. 1:14). Their nature is superior to human nature (Heb. 2:7), and they have superhuman power and knowledge (2 Sam. 14:17, 20; 2 Pet. 2:11). They are not, however, all-powerful and all-knowing (Ps. 103:20; 2 Thess. 1:7).

Of special importance in the Old Testament is the ANGELOF THE LORD (Gen. 16:7; 22:11; 31:11). This Angel is depicted as a visible manifestation of God Himself. He has powers and characteristics that belong only to God, such as the power to forgive sins (Ex. 23:20–21). His similarities to Jesus lead many scholars to conclude that He is the pre-incarnate Word present with God at the creation of the world (John 1:1, 14). Jesus was and is the Angel of the Lord. The Lord used this messenger to appear to human beings who otherwise would not be able to see Him and live (Ex. 33:20). The Angel of the Lord performed actions associated with God, such as revelation, deliverance, and destruction. (2 Sam. 24:16; Zech. 1:12).

Angels guide and instruct good people (Gen. 24:7, 40; Ex. 14:19). This task is illustrated by the role the angels played in God’s giving of the Law to Moses (Acts 7:38, 53; Heb. 2:2). Sometimes their guidance comes through human dreams (Gen. 28:12; 31:11).Angels also protect the people of God (Ex. 14:19–20; Dan. 3:28; Matt. 26:53). They meet a wide variety of human needs, including relieving hunger and thirst (Gen. 21:17–19; Mark 1:13) and overcoming loneliness and dread (Luke 22:43). They sometimes deliver the people of God from danger (Acts 5:19; 12:6–11). There is never any mention in Scripture of healing angels. Jesus is the Healer!!

Fivefold Ministry of Angels: These verses show God’s purpose for angels. Angels exist to serve God in five ways: 1) to “bless the LORD” (in worship and service); 2) to “do His word” (concerning activities on Earth); 3) to heed the voice of God’s word (as it is spoken through the saints on Earth); 4) to minister on God’s behalf (as described in Heb. 1:14); and 5) to do God’s pleasure (as His hosts are at His direction). For other examples of the ministry of angels, see 2 Kin. 6:16, 17; Dan. 3:24, 25.

What do angels look like? The appearance of angels is correctly rendered “very awesome.” Angels appear in different forms depending upon their order of creation. For example, God’s messenger angel, Gabriel, has the appearance of a man (Dan. 9:21). From Ezekiel 28:13-14 we learn that cherubim (plural for “cherub”) are exotic and beautiful—covered with precious stones. Ezekiel 1:23 tells us that cherubim have four wings, while seraphim (plural for “seraph”) have six wings—two that cover the face, two that cover the feet, and two with which to fly (Is. 6:2).

Jesus was closely associated with angels. This verse reveals that He commissions His angels to do His bidding. An angel was used to announce Jesus’ coming birth to the Virgin Mary and her fiancé, Joseph (Luke 1:26; Matt. 1:20). Angels also attended Jesus’ birth and announced it to the shepherds (Luke 2:8). They protected Him from Herod’s jealous wrath (Matt. 2:13, 22); and later in life, at the end of His forty-day fast, they ministered to Him and strengthened Him, perhaps fed Him. (Matt. 4:11).During His agonizing struggle on the night in which He was betrayed, an angel strengthened Jesus in preparation for the Cross (Luke 22:43). These celestial creatures were present at Jesus’ resurrection (Matt. 28:2) and ascension (Acts 1:10).

A careful study will reveal that the New Testament activity of angels usually revolves around the ministry of Jesus and the establishment of His church on earth. They “minister” (Greek diakonia), referring to their “serviceable labor, assistance.” They are ministering spirits, or heavenly assistants.

In creation this is the order: 1. Godhead (Elohim) 2. Mankind 3. Angels (Psa 8:4-6) what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made him lack a little from God,(Elohim) and have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:

Angels hearken to the Word of God. Psalm 103:20-21 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. So, believers c command angels by the Word of God.

Angels do not have the power of a believer’s being. Ps 91 does say they will bear you up lest you dash your head against a stone.(Psa 91:11-12) For He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You in all Your ways. They shall bear You up in their hands, lest You dash your foot against a stone.