man overboard
I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God has made me his son, in the mold and pattern of Jesus. I know this because the Holy Spirit has given me the spirit of being a son, and he’s made me deadly sensitive to anything that would mess with that.
If I allow my identity to be continually swallowed in Jesus’ identity, there’s a good chance God can use me to be part of turning the world upside down (which is really right side up). Outside of this identity, there’s really very little besides degrees of lukewarmness and compromise; both of which get all warnings and no promises from God…not at all a good place to camp out.
There is hope for every single living breathing person alive right now that they don’t remain in coldness or (worse) lukewarmness toward God. Keeping in step with the Spirit means nothing less than diving headlong into that hope.
Outside of this identity, there’s really very little besides degrees of lukewarmness and compromise; both of which get all warnings and no promises from God…not at all a good place to camp out.
Agreed.
Glen, what do you mean by “that hope”? Col. 1:27 comes to mind. Thanks.
So that’s why you hear “Christ in you, the hope of glory” so much - and that’s exactly it. People say “ok, but how do I feel that? or how do I relate to Christ being in me?”
{I am feeling a new post coming on…having to do with the right to become the sons of God, having to do with this is how we know he dwells in us - by the Spirit he’s given us.}
In the meantime >>
Lukewarm is easy to get out of. Jesus came to baptize in the Holy Ghost and fire. We relate to Christ in us through the operation of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus, prays in us, leads us into all truth, (the list goes on)…but something is required of us: active faith.
Thanks Glen…I have some questions about “active faith,” and what that is/looks like, but maybe I have exceeded my Q & A session!?!
What’s funny is I was responding to Paul’s reply while you were asking your question & we posted at the same time - & ended up talking about the same verse.
By active faith, I mean participating in the supernatural work of the Spirit.
There are 2 ways to totally miss God here. One is to hear about all the Holy Ghost is doing in you and think that he somehow does it all mysteriously without you. The other is to pull a “God helps those who help themselves” & try to get God’s job done for him.
Active faith is asking, seeking, knocking; and it is also listening, yielding, cooperating. Everything God gives us in his Word must be mixed with faith or it is no good to us. Mixing faith is where the Word comes to life in our lives. I can give you an example from Romans 8.26-27 if you’d like.
Thanks Glen…I think I understand really what you have said!! This was/is an awesome blog and it has blessed me - thanks again!!!