A quote from the “Christ As Us” web site:
“Now in our generation there is a rising 'voice', another rushing wind of the Spirit, speaking one collective word, which is Paul's "mystery hid from ages and generations, which is Christ in you."
In the past, this has been a hidden truth, known only to a few in each generation but, today, it is being shouted from the housetops, spoken from the mouths of many who will bring their own light as to who Jesus Christ is in their unique temple of His own body.
That simple word is this; "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."
This word is bringing to the Body of Christ the fulfillment of its purpose, as our attention has been diverted from ourselves and our perpetual weakness onto the Living God who, by His Spirit, is manifesting Himself as Christ in our individual human lives. Those who discover this total consciousness-changing Reality, know the time of "the singing of the birds has come."
This site is full of resources on living the life of Christ in us.
http://www.christasus.com/
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Union Life
A quote from the Union Life Web Site:
"Dedicated to an expanding awareness of God's mystery, which is Christ in you.
Welcome to the official web site of Union Life magazine. Continuing the work of Union Life, we are "dedicated to an expanding awareness of God's mystery, which is Christ in you." We encourage people everywhere to see themselves as the beloved of God, and to see that the Trinity is accessible to them at all times.
Through the simple practice of the prayer of silence, anyone who is seeking intimacy with the creator God can come into His presence at any time and rest there. Out of this simple, trusting act will come an awareness of one's belovedness, a new way of seeing, and the gradual healing of one's soul."
Find many articles and helpful studies on contemplative prayer and the life of Christ in us.
http://www.unionlife.com/index.html
"Dedicated to an expanding awareness of God's mystery, which is Christ in you.
Welcome to the official web site of Union Life magazine. Continuing the work of Union Life, we are "dedicated to an expanding awareness of God's mystery, which is Christ in you." We encourage people everywhere to see themselves as the beloved of God, and to see that the Trinity is accessible to them at all times.
Through the simple practice of the prayer of silence, anyone who is seeking intimacy with the creator God can come into His presence at any time and rest there. Out of this simple, trusting act will come an awareness of one's belovedness, a new way of seeing, and the gradual healing of one's soul."
Find many articles and helpful studies on contemplative prayer and the life of Christ in us.
http://www.unionlife.com/index.html
Norman Grubb
“Norman Percy Grubb was born Aug. 2, 1895 in England. Although his father was an Anglican pastor and he was raised in a Christian home when he was a teenager he was asked by a family friend if he belonged to Christ. It was then that he asked Jesus Christ to be his savior.
He was educated at Trinity College in Cambridge and while there had the vision for Inter-Varsity Fellowship, now known as Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. He served in WW I and was injured and sent home to recover. While in the hospital he was given a tract telling of C. T. Studd’s work in the Belgian Congo. He knew God’s call for him to join this work.
In the months to come he met and married Studd’s daughter, Pauline and they sailed for Africa to join her father. After serving the Africans Norman found himself in a dire predicament. He found he could not love them as he knew God would have him do. It was then that God gave him and Pauline a verse that would be the cornerstone for the rest of his life’s work...Galatians 2:20.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Norman and Pauline remained in the Congo for ten years. Their first child, Noel, died there. God gave them three more children, Paul, Priscilla and Daniel. Norman remained with the mission group began by C. T. Studd, Worldwide Evangelization Crusade, until his retirement in 1965.
His retirement turned out to be God’s redirection for his life. He traveled the U.S. and England until he was 95 years old sharing Paul’s mystery of the gospel. Christ in you, the hope of glory...presenting every man perfect in Christ coupled with Gal 2:20 was the foundation for him to give to the body of Christ their full inheritance in their salvation.”
The article listed in the Link section of this blog is:
Romans 6 to 8-
“Paul’s Key to the Liberated Life”
Here is a quote from this 3 part study of Romans 6-8:
“But Paul had made a unique discovery, to which he refers as his special revelation in his Galatian letter, when he spent three years alone in the Arabian desert. It was that there is this sin virus deposited in us since the Fall (to which he refers in Romans 5:12-21), and that as our Lord Jesus Christ has represented us on the cross, His body was as ours in God's sight, as though the sin-expresser just like ours ("made sin"); and when he died, out went that sin spirit and so out out of us, and in the tomb in His resurrection in came His own Spirit, and so into us.”
More about Norman Grubb at:
http://www.normangrubb.com/
He was educated at Trinity College in Cambridge and while there had the vision for Inter-Varsity Fellowship, now known as Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. He served in WW I and was injured and sent home to recover. While in the hospital he was given a tract telling of C. T. Studd’s work in the Belgian Congo. He knew God’s call for him to join this work.
In the months to come he met and married Studd’s daughter, Pauline and they sailed for Africa to join her father. After serving the Africans Norman found himself in a dire predicament. He found he could not love them as he knew God would have him do. It was then that God gave him and Pauline a verse that would be the cornerstone for the rest of his life’s work...Galatians 2:20.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Norman and Pauline remained in the Congo for ten years. Their first child, Noel, died there. God gave them three more children, Paul, Priscilla and Daniel. Norman remained with the mission group began by C. T. Studd, Worldwide Evangelization Crusade, until his retirement in 1965.
His retirement turned out to be God’s redirection for his life. He traveled the U.S. and England until he was 95 years old sharing Paul’s mystery of the gospel. Christ in you, the hope of glory...presenting every man perfect in Christ coupled with Gal 2:20 was the foundation for him to give to the body of Christ their full inheritance in their salvation.”
The article listed in the Link section of this blog is:
Romans 6 to 8-
“Paul’s Key to the Liberated Life”
Here is a quote from this 3 part study of Romans 6-8:
“But Paul had made a unique discovery, to which he refers as his special revelation in his Galatian letter, when he spent three years alone in the Arabian desert. It was that there is this sin virus deposited in us since the Fall (to which he refers in Romans 5:12-21), and that as our Lord Jesus Christ has represented us on the cross, His body was as ours in God's sight, as though the sin-expresser just like ours ("made sin"); and when he died, out went that sin spirit and so out out of us, and in the tomb in His resurrection in came His own Spirit, and so into us.”
More about Norman Grubb at:
http://www.normangrubb.com/
Norman Rideout
Norman Rideout
The Rideout family are missionaries in Thailand. You can see more about their ministry at:
http://www.therideouts.com/Ministry.htm
A quote from their web site:
“Norman Rideout is the son of a missionary to Thailand, Ken Rideout, and moved to Thailand as a young toddler. He grew up in Bangkok, Thailand and considers Thailand his home. Norman is fluent in English, Thai and Karen dialect. He never intended to be a missionary, but as a young married man he was called into the mission field. He moved his wife, Debbie, to Bangkok from the United States in 1983. Both of their sons, Micah and Matthew, were born in Thailand.
Norman began his work in southern Thailand before returning to Bangkok as an instructor at Christ for Thailand Institute, a ministry of Christ for the Nations. As an instructor he was invited by one of his students to preach in his Karen village in the mountains of Northwest Thailand and his life would never be the same. The Karen people were open to the gospel and received these men well. Norman began to sense the Lord’s leading him to this people group and he moved to Chaing Mai in 1989 to begin what would become Ponta Geet Sampan.
The Karen tribe inhabits the mountainous region on the Thailand/Myanmar (Burma) border. There are approximately 11 million in the Karen nation, but less than one million are in Thailand as of 2004. This tribe, like most, was Animist (dark spirit worship) with very limited exposure to Christianity.”
Norman Rideout has an excellent message on the life of Christ describing how Christ lives through them in Thailand. One particular quote in this audio message: “The book of Acts should be our standard, our starting point for today. We should expect nothing less in the life of the church.”
This is the link for the powerful audio message entitled, “ The Ministry of Christ in You”:
http://www.therideouts.com/
The Rideout family are missionaries in Thailand. You can see more about their ministry at:
http://www.therideouts.com/Ministry.htm
A quote from their web site:
“Norman Rideout is the son of a missionary to Thailand, Ken Rideout, and moved to Thailand as a young toddler. He grew up in Bangkok, Thailand and considers Thailand his home. Norman is fluent in English, Thai and Karen dialect. He never intended to be a missionary, but as a young married man he was called into the mission field. He moved his wife, Debbie, to Bangkok from the United States in 1983. Both of their sons, Micah and Matthew, were born in Thailand.
Norman began his work in southern Thailand before returning to Bangkok as an instructor at Christ for Thailand Institute, a ministry of Christ for the Nations. As an instructor he was invited by one of his students to preach in his Karen village in the mountains of Northwest Thailand and his life would never be the same. The Karen people were open to the gospel and received these men well. Norman began to sense the Lord’s leading him to this people group and he moved to Chaing Mai in 1989 to begin what would become Ponta Geet Sampan.
The Karen tribe inhabits the mountainous region on the Thailand/Myanmar (Burma) border. There are approximately 11 million in the Karen nation, but less than one million are in Thailand as of 2004. This tribe, like most, was Animist (dark spirit worship) with very limited exposure to Christianity.”
Norman Rideout has an excellent message on the life of Christ describing how Christ lives through them in Thailand. One particular quote in this audio message: “The book of Acts should be our standard, our starting point for today. We should expect nothing less in the life of the church.”
This is the link for the powerful audio message entitled, “ The Ministry of Christ in You”:
http://www.therideouts.com/
Dan Stone
Dan Stone has written an excellent book:
The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out “by Dan Stone and Greg Smith, © copyright 2000 by One Press, - presents the good news of God’s full grace—not just forgiving us, but coming to live His life in us. God never meant us to live the Christian life through our own strength and ability. As many have discovered, usually through years of failure, that’s impossible!”
Articles by Dan can be accessed at this web site:
http://www.christasus.com/Letters/DSPage.htm
In the article included in the links section of this blog site, “One Plus One Equals One”, Dan Stone answers the following questions:
“What would it be like if Paul's phrase, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory,’ were a daily reality in our lives? Is it even possible? Is there anything we can do to make it happen?”
The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out “by Dan Stone and Greg Smith, © copyright 2000 by One Press, - presents the good news of God’s full grace—not just forgiving us, but coming to live His life in us. God never meant us to live the Christian life through our own strength and ability. As many have discovered, usually through years of failure, that’s impossible!”
Articles by Dan can be accessed at this web site:
http://www.christasus.com/Letters/DSPage.htm
In the article included in the links section of this blog site, “One Plus One Equals One”, Dan Stone answers the following questions:
“What would it be like if Paul's phrase, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory,’ were a daily reality in our lives? Is it even possible? Is there anything we can do to make it happen?”
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Until Christ is Formed in You
Gal 4:19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
John 3:30
"He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Matt 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Is there a relationship between these scriptures?
We know Christ comes to live in us however the whole Christ takes up residence in our hearts when we believe in Him, not part of Christ. So, how can He be formed in us if He is already here?
The literal meaning of Christ being formed in us is:
“Until a mind and life in complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ shall be formed in you”.
How does our mind and life come into complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ? The recent blog entitlted, “Renewing the Mind” describes one way our minds become in harmony with the mind of Christ. When our minds are renewed they are in harmony with the mind of Christ. So, the renewing process is one way Christ is formed in us.
As we decrease, He increases. As we deny ourselves, He increases. When we yield to Him, He increases. When we submit our will for His, He increases and we decrease.
As we follow the leading of the Spirit, giving up our will for His, depending on His strength and grace, we are coming into harmony with the mind of Christ and His life is being expressed through us.
The spiritual reality is we have been born again, born of His Spirit and our spirit is now one with His Spirit. The Son of God lives in us through His Holy Spirit. As we decrease, He increases and we become more in harmony with this reality. People begin seeing more of Him and less of us until this becomes the normal occurrence in our lives. Not only was this Paul’s desire for the Galatians, it is God’s desire for our lives.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
John 3:30
"He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Matt 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Is there a relationship between these scriptures?
We know Christ comes to live in us however the whole Christ takes up residence in our hearts when we believe in Him, not part of Christ. So, how can He be formed in us if He is already here?
The literal meaning of Christ being formed in us is:
“Until a mind and life in complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ shall be formed in you”.
How does our mind and life come into complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ? The recent blog entitlted, “Renewing the Mind” describes one way our minds become in harmony with the mind of Christ. When our minds are renewed they are in harmony with the mind of Christ. So, the renewing process is one way Christ is formed in us.
As we decrease, He increases. As we deny ourselves, He increases. When we yield to Him, He increases. When we submit our will for His, He increases and we decrease.
As we follow the leading of the Spirit, giving up our will for His, depending on His strength and grace, we are coming into harmony with the mind of Christ and His life is being expressed through us.
The spiritual reality is we have been born again, born of His Spirit and our spirit is now one with His Spirit. The Son of God lives in us through His Holy Spirit. As we decrease, He increases and we become more in harmony with this reality. People begin seeing more of Him and less of us until this becomes the normal occurrence in our lives. Not only was this Paul’s desire for the Galatians, it is God’s desire for our lives.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Renewing the Mind
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We can either conform to the world or be transformed. How are we conformed to this world?
Conforming to the world is pretty easy. We do not have to work hard at having carnal minds since we are born with them. The world does a pretty good job, along with our DNA at conforming us to its standards. Conforming to this world is as simple as jumping in a raft and floating down the river.
The mind is an amazing thing. Each of our minds are the same but also different. The mind contains our personality, memory, fleshly desire, ambition, fear, identity, confidence or lack thereof, attitude and so much more as well as common functions of the brain.
The human mind at its best has accomplished much and at its worst, destroyed much. Why should we be concerned with transforming our minds? Why not enjoy the natural mind and go with the worldly flow of the river currents?
Romans 8:7
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able {to do so,}
Gal 5:17
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Also note in Romans 12:2: it says we are transformed so we can prove the will of God. The opposite is also true, if we are not transformed, we do not prove the will of God. By proving the will of God, we learn that His will is always best, much better than our will.
Galatians 5:17 says our flesh is in opposition to God and does not want to please God. It is actually at war with the Spirit living in us. The flesh is not able to do the will of God. What are we to do? We are transformed by the renewing of the mind. As the renewing occurs the will of God is done in our lives. Renewing is a crucial aspect of our Christian walk and growth. Of course, God understands this dynamic and wants to lead us in the renewing process.
Eph 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
This is the part of the mind that contains the capacity for spiritual truth and the faculty of perceiving things: recognizing good from evil. He is constantly revealing new truths in His word, showing us His glory and grace, illuminating the light vs dark and good vs evil in our daily walk.
2 Cor 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
The renewed used in this 2 Cor scripture is one of new strength and life. We are receiving new life each day, even though our bodies grow older.
He will lead us through His indwelling Spirit in setting our minds on Him, on things above with renewing thoughts and activities. He wants to lead us into His presence that we might learn to enjoy and trust in the reality of our oneness with Him. During these times of basking in the refreshing of His presence, a transformation takes place as new strength and life are imparted each day.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We can either conform to the world or be transformed. How are we conformed to this world?
Conforming to the world is pretty easy. We do not have to work hard at having carnal minds since we are born with them. The world does a pretty good job, along with our DNA at conforming us to its standards. Conforming to this world is as simple as jumping in a raft and floating down the river.
The mind is an amazing thing. Each of our minds are the same but also different. The mind contains our personality, memory, fleshly desire, ambition, fear, identity, confidence or lack thereof, attitude and so much more as well as common functions of the brain.
The human mind at its best has accomplished much and at its worst, destroyed much. Why should we be concerned with transforming our minds? Why not enjoy the natural mind and go with the worldly flow of the river currents?
Romans 8:7
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able {to do so,}
Gal 5:17
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Also note in Romans 12:2: it says we are transformed so we can prove the will of God. The opposite is also true, if we are not transformed, we do not prove the will of God. By proving the will of God, we learn that His will is always best, much better than our will.
Galatians 5:17 says our flesh is in opposition to God and does not want to please God. It is actually at war with the Spirit living in us. The flesh is not able to do the will of God. What are we to do? We are transformed by the renewing of the mind. As the renewing occurs the will of God is done in our lives. Renewing is a crucial aspect of our Christian walk and growth. Of course, God understands this dynamic and wants to lead us in the renewing process.
Eph 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
This is the part of the mind that contains the capacity for spiritual truth and the faculty of perceiving things: recognizing good from evil. He is constantly revealing new truths in His word, showing us His glory and grace, illuminating the light vs dark and good vs evil in our daily walk.
2 Cor 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
The renewed used in this 2 Cor scripture is one of new strength and life. We are receiving new life each day, even though our bodies grow older.
He will lead us through His indwelling Spirit in setting our minds on Him, on things above with renewing thoughts and activities. He wants to lead us into His presence that we might learn to enjoy and trust in the reality of our oneness with Him. During these times of basking in the refreshing of His presence, a transformation takes place as new strength and life are imparted each day.
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