{"id":7523,"date":"2013-02-13T18:09:35","date_gmt":"2013-02-13T10:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/?p=7523"},"modified":"2015-05-13T12:40:57","modified_gmt":"2015-05-13T04:40:57","slug":"living-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/living-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Living in Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

We must avoid the mistake of thinking that that we are a priority. Christ is first and foremost in life. We are to be obedient to Christ. The way to do this is to let Christ live in us totally.\u00a0We let Christ live in us because we love Him and not because of the benefits He gives us. True freedom is living in the freedom that Christ has purchased for us. That makes us a complete person. The culture in the world combined with its consumer-based economy is not going to make us complete. Self-motivation cannot also develop our full potential.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Charles Spurgeon warned us to resist the devil and he would flee from us. However, he said that the pressures from the flesh must also be fled from. Oswald Chambers said that we are our own worst enemies. We need to guard ourselves from \u201courselves\u201d because we can end up working on our own destruction.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A.W. Tozer said that the power of our flesh is a continuous danger and we need to be saved from this by having Christ capture us. Hudson Taylor wrote that he surrendered himself totally to GOD\u2019s service, including to the results. As His servant, Taylor would obey and follow Him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Apart from Christ, we can achieve nothing (Jn 15:5). It is only Christ who makes us new (Jn 3:7b&8; Rev 21:5).We need Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2) complete His work by having him live in us.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our flesh counts for nothing (Jn 6:63) said Christ. Other places of Scripture repeat this very important warning: Ps 60:11&12; \u00a078:39;\u00a0103:14-16; Is 2:22; 40:6&7; Jer 2:37b&c; 9:23; 17:5; James 4:14; 1 Pet: 1:24.\u00a0We were from dust (Gen 2:7; 3:19) and are worthless on our own.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Christ spoke of the kingdom of heaven being in us (Luke 17:21) and the pure in heart being able to see GOD (Matt 5: 8).\u00a0We must live in Christ and have His words stay in us (Jn 15:7). Billy Sunday said\u00a0that if we go to a garage, that does not make us a car.\u00a0 It is what\u2019s inside us that defines us. Unless Christ lives in us, sin will gain rapid control over us. Sin must be expelled and that can only continue if Christ lives in us as we live in Him and in His words.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

GOD \u00a0has \u00a0given \u00a0us \u00a0very \u00a0clear statements \u00a0of \u00a0our \u00a0spiritual \u00a0identity with \u00a0Christ \u00a0in \u00a0us. \u00a0He made \u00a0us \u00a0in \u00a0His \u00a0own \u00a0image (Gen1:27) \u00a0and he \u00a0has \u00a0now \u00a0restored \u00a0that \u00a0image \u00a0with Christ \u00a0and His Spirit \u00a0living in \u00a0us. \u00a0With the victory of Christ over sin and death for the new person (Mark 2: 21 & 22) He has established us (2 Cor 1:21) giving\u00a0 us \u00a0every\u00a0spiritual\u00a0 blessing (Eph1:3) making us a royal\u00a0 priesthood\u00a0(1 Peter 2: 9) seated in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6). This eternal heavenly citizenship (Phil 3: 20) should not be taken lightly. GOD has given us freedom (2 Cor 3:17).\u00a0 True freedom can only be enjoyed in GOD through Christ (Gal 5:1) and not on its own.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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We are part of the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12: 27 & Col 3:15).\u00a0 We live because Christ lives (Jn 14:19).\u00a0 GOD is our peace, strength and our refuge (Isa 27: 5, Hab 3:19), giving us victory in Christ, rooted and built up in Him (Col 2:6&7), conquering the troubles of the world through Him (Rom 8:37).\u00a0Christ Jesus is GOD\u2019s wisdom, His righteousness, holiness and redemption in us (1 Cor 1:30).\u00a0 GOD wants us refined (1 Thess 4:7) and we have to put on Christ (Gal 3:27).\u00a0GOD\u2019s righteousness through faith in Christ is in us (Phil 3: 9) and we have the Spirit of Sonship (Rom 8:15) with this faith in Christ (1 Jn 3:6).\u00a0 The love of GOD is perfected by living in His word and in Him, and in walking with Jesus (1 Jn 2:5&6). Success is walking with GOD like Enoch did (Gen 5:22-24), the first success story. With Christ, the truth is in us (Jn 14:6; 1 Jn 5:20). Our hearts and\u00a0minds are guarded by His peace (Phil 4:7).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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We need to allow GOD to work in us.\u00a0 It is not only our sins that we should resent but especially our self-centredness. Jesus is the complete source of our spiritual\u00a0life.\u00a0 We\u00a0 were\u00a0 born\u00a0 into\u00a0 Him\u00a0 and\u00a0 have\u00a0 been\u00a0 made\u00a0 complete\u00a0 in\u00a0 Him (Col 2 :10; 2 Tim 3 :17).\u00a0 He patiently works in our character. Our life is hidden with Him in GOD (Col 3: 3). We cannot do anything good on our own; the only way we can do anything good is to let GOD do it through us. St Paul when in prison, wrote \u201cI can do all things in Christ who strengthens me\u201d (Phil 4:13).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Note: <\/strong>Tony Dibble worships at Endeavour Christian Gathering in Mullaloo Perth, Australia for about 7 years. Prior to this, he was at Church of Our Holy Saviour, Labuan, East Malaysia. When he is in Kuala Lumpur, he now worships at Faith Oasis Fellowship Subang Jaya, Selangor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Dear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord\u2019s peace and love be with you. Amen. <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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References for pictures:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.sccarcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/slider1n.jpg<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/25.media.tumblr.com\/tumblr_mdblfoCs8T1r0wivmo1_500.jpg<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net\/hphotos-ash4\/314808_10151004861278540_1982168032_n.jpg<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.soulshepherding.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Freedom-Sunrise1.jpg<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.christchurchexmouth.co.uk\/communities\/1\/004\/007\/800\/421\/images\/4532837374_525x263.jpg<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com\/images02\/118\/90ba7bcfa5a441b09e3f1d3e141116ca\/l.jpg<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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