The Spirit of Jesus Christ

 Some may say that Christ is head of the church, but when it comes to matters outside “the church” they hesitate and question, because of fears from belligerent dictators, world financiers, disease, famines and wars. Fear strips us from living “normal lives.”

 If we are not careful, we start to believe that these things have authority and just maybe God doesn’t care, leaving our hearts waning with thoughts of hopelessness and despair. As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult to fully enjoy the Lord and His vast supply. It is impossible to walk in light and darkness simultaneously. When we accept the light of His love we rise above the powers of darkness and hopelessness.

If we received the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Christ, the Anointed ONE, we have a win –win situation. Paul, a man acquainted with many trials and persecution, came to this conclusion. ¹⁹ because I know that through your encouragement and prayers and through the help of the Spirit of Jesus the Anointed, I will soon be released from this dark place. ²⁰ I don’t expect that dishonor and shame will plague me in any way, but I do hope that I will continue to be able to speak freely and courageously about Jesus, and that now and forever the Anointed One will be glorified and placed above all else through this body of mine—whether I live or die. ²¹ For my life is about the Anointed and Him alone.

 Jesus demonstrates the human side in which he was able to live victoriously, thus we need that constant supply of the same Spirit. Christ, refers to the resurrection side of the Lord’s victory; we are also in great need of that resurrection power.

Christ, Our Life Supply

Do you fear that the evils in this world will intensify so much that it will overthrow every Godly institution and work? No circumstance or condition should in any way cause us to stop eating and drinking (believing) in the absolute sovereignty and Lordship of Jesus Christ. The concept of eating and drinking Christ comes from John 6… ⁵⁶ If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you will abide in Me and I will abide in you. ⁵⁷ The Father of life who sent Me has given life to Me; and as you eat My flesh, I will give life to you. ⁵⁸ This is bread that came down from heaven; I am not like the manna that your fathers ate and then died! If you eat this bread, your life will never end. Eating and drinking simply means to believe and trust the Lord for our life supply and satisfaction.

The reality is that all things are governed by the Lord, according to His timetable and His purpose. He allows certain things to be for a moment. Nothing and no one can operate outside of His permission. He is the head of all things, not just the creator but the head of all things, and all things must answer to Him.  Rev. 15: 3,4 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying ,“Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Ancient emperors, Middle East dynasties, European dictators, supporters of all slave economies, African warlords, and eastern dictators, drug lords, the good, the bad and the indifferent, all must answer to the Lord.

Christ, Our Living Hope

DON’T QUIT! PERSERVER, STAND, BELIEVE, BELIEVE. Live this life in spite of the many twists and turns, ups and downs by fully partaking of God’s divine provision. Some years ago, someone printed these words on a card I found and I took it to heart. “If you meet me and forget about me you have lost nothing, but if you meet Jesus and forget about him you have lost everything.” That, my friend, is real. Jesus is the spiritual rock, that is alive and constantly presently.

Christ Our Rock

 The rock in  1 Corinthians 10:4 was  unveiled as Christ.  In addition to that revelation Paul added that the rock "followed " them. This certainly animates the rock, doesn’t it? This rock that supplied water was constantly present with them. Since the rock was alive, it infers that the water which was supplied was also alive. Here the New Testament gospel comes alive with a pre-cursor or harbinger -a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; or  a sign.  The experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness clearly reveals the possibility of accomplishing God’s plan in spite of the many twists and turns, is by fully partaking of His divine provision.

What a lesson for us in New Testament times! Take a look at Paul’s words in Phil. 1:19, 20 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Paul had a revelation of the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The same Spirit Jesus spoke about in John 7:39 would be made available to those who believed into Him, for out of their bowels this flow would never stop, as long as they did not stop believing.

Christ, Our Supply

We must build and develop our spirit to run this life-race. I Cor. 10:3, 4 reads: All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water; for they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. We know that the food they ate was manna and they drank of a spiritual rock. Today our manna is Christ and He gives life to us. The spiritual rock again is Jesus. Likewise, for the New Testament believers, the Rock (Christ) was struck to yield that water. The “drink” supplied is the Spirit, and the act of drinking, is our response. It is our believing into Christ, the act of faith. As we eat, we are exercising our belief in Christ, and the stronger He becomes in us; enabling us to be fit or built up to run this race. We are made to identify with His suffering and his bountiful supply.

Christ, Our Reward

It is essential that we are disciplined by the Holy Spirit. Good athletes discipline their body for a race or any athletic endeavor. One who diligently trains endures much pain and sacrifice in preparation for an important race. True athletes give themselves completely to every endeavor to attain the prize. Nothing is too demanding. He or she cannot afford to give into the comfort of excuses and sloppy living, not if they really want to win. They are mindful to eat foods that build and strengthen the body; they cannot live a life of revelry for they know that such indulgence serves to break down the body. Rest is crucial; mental acuity is necessary. One will push the body beyond its limits… to win the prize. 

Life in the spirit, the love and life of God through Jesus Christ is our reward. Should we live any less unto Him? Is it ok to live sloppy lives? Are we accountable? Will grace allow us slide through with casual or no effort on our part, not even a cry for help?

 The church at Ephesus worked hard and endured patiently without quitting yet they were lacking. They were admonished to return to their first love. If Christ is not our sole love we will not be able to finish the race. . Our genuine love for Him encourages us to yield to the Spirit's discipline which qualifies us to win the race so that we may reign with Him. Our reward is Christ. He is eternal and does not fade or diminish. 

Christ, Our Life

We were encouraged by the word of God to live in and by the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus. Let us not get caught napping, and miss the reward of reigning with Christ. Revelation 2 regarding the angel of the church in Ephesus, God says: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.” But you walked away from your first love— "Turn back! Recover your early love.

• Ephesians. 3:19 –Experience the love of Christ and live life in the FULLNESS of God.
• Romans 8:13 – If God has taken up residence in our life, we have no obligation to sin. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. When we put to death the deeds of our sinful nature, we will live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
• Col. 3:5 – Our old life is dead and our new life is alive in Christ. Put to death things that are shaped, fashioned, built by carnal thoughts and feelings and live in the spirit through Christ in God.