Abide in Christ — Borne in His Body
We are examining what it means to abide in Christ. We have seen some of the wonderful blessings this has provided for us. In John 15, Christ tells us that when we abide in Him, we will enjoy the Father’s special care. It appears from Jesus’ comments, the floodgates of God’s favor and goodness are opened toward us in Christ. He chose you and appointed you to abide in Him and enjoy every blessing that is associated with your connection. The life and power of the Holy Spirit within us is a confirmation of this new life.
This abiding life produces dramatic results in us. Jesus called and appointed us to receive, submit, accept, and expect extra-ordinary things from our connection with Him. The blessings we have in Christ are completely opposite from the life we had before we came to know Him. As you abide in Him, everything that pertains to Christ is open for you to receive.
The Holy Spirit is prepared to apply the full riches of the blessings that are in Christ. As we receive His blessing and favor, we should begin expecting extra-ordinary things to happen. His grace, mercy and goodness is worked into us and becomes our portion. The depth of His love begins to be expressed toward us and in us. His joy that gives us strength remains in us and is made full. His power is demonstrated in and upon us. God is ready to take you into an even greater grace, mercy, love, joy, and fellowship in Christ. He is ready to fill you with all of the fulness of Christ. He prepared all of these blessing in advance.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God prepared in advance before you knew that you needed it. Before you needed grace, God had it ready to give. Before you knew that you needed to be saved, God provided a Savior and was ready to save your soul. Before you needed to be healed, Jesus bore in His body the price for your healing. God is prepared to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.
What God has prepared must be received.
Do you realize that you need His blessing and favor today? It is good news when you know that you need help and that God can help you.
Listen to what God said to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 NLT This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
The NKJV says: ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
How many times have you not known? Most of us are faced with a multitude of situations that we do not know what to do. The Lord Who formed the earth and established it and knows all things says, “Ask Me!”
God said the same thing to the Psalmist.
Psalm 91:15 NIV84 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
As soon as we realize we need help and call out to God, there is sufficient power, mercy, and grace in Christ to do it.
God is able to do this without our cooperation.
The Lord God Jehovah is sufficient to do anything. He has the supreme power to create and sustain. He has the power to generate and regenerate. He has the power to develop and enhance. He is sufficient to do it on His own.
God has tied His blessings in our lives with abiding in Christ.
As we abide in Him, the fruit comes. As we call out to God, He answers us.
God has allowed each of us the unique free will to accept or reject Christ and all that He gives.
The Holy Spirit made it clear that when we put on the whole armor we are enabled to stand regardless of what the adversary throws against us. The covering and blessing comes by abiding in Him. God is not going to supernaturally implant the Word of God into us. You have to read the Bible and apply it to your life. He is not going to arbitrarily replace our desires with His. We have to surrender to His will and way. He is not going to make us trust in Him, but when we trust and rely on Him, He loads us with His blessing and strength. He will not make us pray and worship. Prayer and worship from our innermost being opens up the floodgates of God’s blessings. He will not make us walk in righteousness or lift up the shield of our faith.
He says: “Here is this blessing and life. If you chose Me and My word and way, I will give you rest from all of your striving.”
What God is providing for us in Christ Jesus works in every area of our existence! It just works. This life of victory must be lived out in our daily walk and life and in our spiritual life in Christ. This is not just spiritual work. The life of triumphant victory in Christ is deeply connected to our relationships with God and with others. Some of your victories are related to your everyday life, your natural and human situations and desires. Some of your victories refer to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Since there are abundant opportunities for trouble, difficulties and trials, we need the rest and help that comes from Christ.
Jesus has disclosed the fact that if we continue to abide in Him and submit to Him, He is going to work it out for us.
He is able to help you in your everyday battles. He is able to heal your body and soul. He can take care of your physical and spiritual need. Jesus illustrated God’s care and provision clearly in one of His sermons.
Matthew 6:25 NIV84 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matthew 6:26–27 NIV84 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:32-33 NKJV For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Listen to the great word that God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 46:3–4 “Listen to me! All you people who have been upheld by Me since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you.”
Since the day you were given life in Christ, He has been carrying you.
You know the branch does not carry the vine, but the vine carries and holds up the branch. He has been holding you up and sustaining you. He has sustained you and strengthened you. He has strengthened and helped you. He has defeated your enemies and has given you new life, hope and peace. He is healing your wounds and your bodies. He is carrying your sorrow and flooding you with His joy and peace. No burden you bear is more than He can deal with. He is strong enough to deal with every blow the enemy brings against you. This is why He keeps telling you: “Trust me with all your heart and see My glory revealed in your life.” He keeps saying: “I am the Lord who heals you.” He keeps reminding you to, “Cast all of your anxiety and worry on Me, because I care for you!” There is a healing stream of His Spirit, power and blessing coming to you right now.