“ For in him we live, and move, and have our being. “ - Acts 17:28
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The Man with 2 Names - The Greek Life - Conclusion
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This week, we are zeroing in one statement Paul made to the Athenian philosophers,
All Mankind is IN Him, and He is ( to a certain extent ) IN all mankind. That’s how we have Life, and Live... consuming what He has provided, to sustain ourselves... down to every molecule of the oxygen we breathe.
That, however, is not the whole story.
A. Like the Wilderness Tabernacle, and the Temple that came after, we reflect the Trinity in a number of ways.... We are a trinity of body ( water, earth/matter, breath of God ) , soul ( which has 3 parts too... thinking/logic/rationality, feeling/emotions, wanting/will/intention ), and spirit.
This spirit is distinct and separate from the Life-giving Spirit within us. You can think of the spirit within man as being your worldview, your moral compass, your most deeply held convictions, your most ingrained reactions ( e.g. male/female )... different from your rational, emotional, or intentional person.
The analogy with the temple is this... Body = Outer Court... Works of service and praise...( sacrifices , thanksgiving and free will offerings ) happen here.
The soul, is the Holy Place. It feeds on the Bread of God, and offers up Prayers like incense.... all illuminated with the sevenfold LIGHTED Lamp of the Spirit! Everything here is God-made... and of gold!
Our spirit is like the Holy of Holies.... ideally a place where we have the Law as our possession, the promise of our priesthood ( Aaron’s rod ) , and the promise of eternal provision ( Manna ). Our spirit is where we sprinkle the blood of the Lamb on the mercy seat, and receive Grace for our sin... Hallelujah!! This place is in darkness... it resides beneath our conscious mind, deeper than our oldest memories... and is invisible to modern science....it is in the thought/spiritual realm/dimension.
Mans moral compass is compromised at birth by sin. Growing up in a fallen world, we can make choices that “sear” our conscience, or cause “spiritual calluses” to develop. We “deaden” ourselves to the moral voice that we were all born with, just as we were born with the ability to see, hear, think, feel, do!....
.....so even though we are always PHYSICALLY IN Him in one sense, in another sense, there is a constant battle within Man to SPIRITUALLY pull away .... This is why there is a separate and distinct command from Christ to ....
John 15:4–7 (AV): “ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is —withered—; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. —-If ye abide in me—-, —-and—- —-my words abide in you—-, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples.“
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Is this a different kind of living, moving , .....having our being..... ? The answer is yes, and this is Spiritual Life!
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Our spirit is renewed at Salvation by the Holy Spirit.... our moral compass reset ... as it were. Our mind and soul is now open to the wisdom, ideas and thoughts of God Almighty, and we have a heightened sensitivity to sin... our own besetting sins, and those of others. Our feelings and emotions are impacted too... when we feel anger against injustice or are moved with compassion ... that is new to us! Finally, we submit to the Will of God ( albeit imperfectly ) in our choices and daily actions. It’s a complete transformation... ——- a software upgrade for your mind!!!
The alternative.... spiritually, you “wither”... that means you DIE.... that’s what selfishness does to you... KILLS you spiritually, causes you to indulge in wickedness, and your destiny is to be burned. Contrast that with the promise...” you shall ask what ye will” .... being in harmony with God means a synchronization of His desires with ours... so what we ask is in line with His Heart and of course He is pleased to grant our petitions! Pray often!
B. Why and How then, to Abide?
The Why is easy...God is glorified by the fruits we produce in this world... our actions, as disciples of Him who showed us the Way to live.
The How is also given to us. He will transform you into His likeness, but you have to be an intelligent and willing partner in that enterprise!
—-Stop fighting, and REST in Him. Abiding .... is the OPPOSITE of running around or going someplace else!—-
It signifies stopping, staying... stop running around trying to please Him with your dirty laundry like works.... wait on Him to give you a Word or kindness in season by which you can bless someone!
The church at Ephesus was rich in works, but forgot their first Love... Christ Himself! The Martha church today is running around trying to do mighty and publicly acclaimed ( by men ) works/ministries, but the Mary church is content to sit at His feet and listen to Him!
God will provide for Himself His chosen servants, people like Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy.... and others like them down the ages.... preachers, evangelists, missionaries...to carry out His Will to spread the gospel. These persons have no choice in the matter... just as Paul did not... and the work/plan of God will proceed through the servants He has chosen.
That is His destiny for them... for us, it is to be salt and light in our corner of the world. You don’t have to worry about the work God will sovereignly do globally, just be faithful to Him where you are!
We are not going to lose out in any way... we are eligible for the —exact same rewards—- that they are...
.... don’t believe us? Here it is.....in Christ’s own words...
Matthew 10:41–42 (AV): “ He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet {Christ} shall receive —a prophet’s reward—; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man {Christ!} shall receive —a righteous man’s reward.— And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones —a cup of cold water only—- in the name of a —disciple—-, { an average joe, not a world leading missionary! } verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”
That’s why we need His words abiding in us. Like a smart Gardner, He prunes us, props us up, tends to us... and gives us His guidance so that we can be EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT fruit bearers.... RESTING in Him... that’s how you can produce MUCH fruit.... without Him, you can be busy 24/7 and produce nada.... ?
This is the smart Christian... the diligent disciple, striving to follow His Masters footsteps of ...Love to all, being as wise as the devil himself (serpents) but as harmless as doves... the gentle Spirit!
Firmly PLANTED in our individual homes and neighborhoods ... we are the branches that bless those around us, as parts of His Body. We do not have life or fruit except that provided by Him who gives us the fruits and gifts of the Spirit... through His Presence and through the Word!
His Word, abiding in us, and communicated by us, changes our character so that we can grow up to know the good, and refuse the evil. It gives us wisdom, hope, and peace, and informs us, that His work is a LIGHT burden for everyone to carry.... compared with the tiresome yoke that Religious Service puts on us!
He is everywhere ... so just chill.. ? ... He has work for you to do where you are!
This is the Spiritual Life that we will enjoy eternally! Fellowship with our Saviour, our Loved Ones, and an eternity of knowing and serving an infinite God!
Be happy, be joyful... God has your back, He wants nothing more from you than to Love and Know Him, and through that knowledge, to perform actions that glorify Him in this world!
Hallelujah!