Today we continue our series, “As Jesus Is”, under the banner of the overall series for the year, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been looking at 1 John 4:16,17 and Colossians 1:24-27 for a while. I am about to transition to another passage. Before I do, I feel led to provide you a few closing thoughts from what the Apostles John and Paul taught us.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
The Apostle Paul said:
“I am happy in my sufferings for you. There is much that Christ must still suffer. And I gladly accept my part of those sufferings in my body for the good of his body, the church. I became a servant of the church because God gave me a special work to do. This work helps you. My work is to tell the complete message of God. This message is the secret truth that was hidden since the beginning of time. It was hidden from everyone for ages, but now it has been made known to God’s holy people. God decided to let his people know just how rich and glorious that truth is. That secret truth, which is for all people, is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory.”
(Colossians 1:24-27 Easy To Read Version)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Apostle John drove home a valuable message about God’s love. Knowing God loves you is one thing. But you must also believe the love. When you know AND believe the love God has for you, it changes your perspective of God and yourself. When you get the revelation of God’s unconditional love for you, it births a confidence inside of you that cannot be shaken. You enter every day with fearless confidence, because you know God loves you and He sees you no less than He saw His own Son.
2. The Apostle Paul taught us about God’s indwelling presence. He called the revelation of Jesus’ presence inside of us a “mystery”. That’s a good characterization. It’s hard to explain. It’s sometimes even hard to imagine. The God who sits on the circle of the earth lives INSIDE of us. The same Jesus who went to the cross is living INSIDE of us right now. As I write this message and as you read it, Jesus is in us both, watching us talk and think about Him. This is most certainly a “mystery” humanity struggles to grasp. But when we do, when we internalize the fact that God is literally living INSIDE of us, it changes everything.
a) God’s presence IN you is important when you go into a meeting and you are being asked questions you don’t have the answer for. At that point you realize the one living INSIDE of you has all the answers!
b) God’s presence IN you is important when you walk into a hospital room and you know you don’t have the power to heal anyone. But you quickly realize the one living INSIDE of you has the power to heal to sick and even raise the dead!
c) God’s presence IN you is important when you feel like you can’t take it anymore, like you don’t want to do it anymore, and you just want to give up. God ministers to you, from the inside, and reminds you that the one living INSIDE of you can do ALL THINGS! You then lift your head up and keep going!
3. To live “As Jesus is, in this world”, you must be convinced that God lives IN you (which is what Paul taught us) and that He wants to use you because of His unconditional love for you (which is what John taught us). When you combine the revelation of God’s presence and His love, what you have is a person who knows Jesus lives IN them and who feels loved enough to let Him out, despite their own faults, flaws and failures!
4. When you can say to yourself, “God lives INSIDE of me” and “God loves me”, you are in position to live, as Jesus lived, in this world! That’s the goal!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I know AND believe the love You have for me. You are love and You love me with an unconditional, unwavering and unfailing love. Your love is not based on my performance. Your love is based on Your dedication to me. So I believe and receive Your love. Furthermore, I know You live IN me. You have taken up residence INSIDE of me. This changes everything. There is nothing You cannot do. And since You live IN me and You love me, there’s nothing I cannot do! Which is why I boldly declare: “As Jesus is, so am I, in this world!” I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
