REMAIN IN ME - PART 2
SUNDAY 01 OCTOBER 2023
"If you remain in me" is an adverbial clause of condition stated by the Lord Jesus Christ, which I highly praise in my alone time, because Jesus' style of group of words or lexicon are a complete set of meaningful influences inspired by the Spirit of truth. More below!
Reference: John 15:7 New Living Translation (NLT) "But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted."
Having clearly segregated the above Scripture reference into 3 parts of expository discussion, today's focus is on the first segment, namely, "If you remain in me." The subject-matter denotes our divinely-based origin (In Christ). Jesus didn't say, "if you remain outside of me", but "in Him", which suggests that He is a solid and "one-of-a-kind" dimension. When you remain in Him, no system of operation or external forces can withstand your existence. And as you function in Him, you easily demonstrate the quality of "unshakeable effects." Got it? Hallelujah!
Question: How do you remain in Christ? Colossians 2:6-7 has the answer. And it reads, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (NIV). Notice that verse 6 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him..." To continue to live our lives "in Him" suggests that we are responsible for maintaining that moral commitment by developing our existence in Christ in a concentrated state of reassuring solidity. And we must not belittle or ignore this perception of personal responsibility. As a born again Christian, you must ensure that you live your life in Him; get rooted and built up in Him, so you can be well established and strengthened in faith.
If you belong to Christ, and you abide in Him, understand that He reigns in you, and He conquers all your challenges through you. In another way, you conquer and reign in Him and through Him. Now acknowledge that by remaining in Him, you have become the custodian of these inner truths, which are very powerful, solid and empowering. Furthermore, 1st John 2:6 read, "Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked" (ESV). Now watch this: This Scripture didn't say, "You should walk in the same manner as He walks" but rather "You should walk in the same manner as He walked." What does this mean? How He walked, is a "simple past tense", which implies a recommendation of "how He functioned in the earth realm".
How did Jesus function on earth? Firstly, He walked in absolute victory and dominion. Secondly, He was habitually unperturbed, and exceptionally found in state of serene calmness, even in the midst of trouble, difficult situations, crisis and raging storms. Thirdly, regardless of opposing forces or negative influences, He was never disconnected from His sense of purpose, and was never found wanting. Fourthly, His problem-solving strategies were out of the ordinary and the attitude or essence of the atmosphere He sustained was heavenly, to an extreme degree. Fifthly, His words triggered the Spirit and life (John 6:63 KJV), and He provided all-round excellent benefits and solution to the problems of many.
Beloved, by familiarising ourselves with the above-mentioned demonstrations, we can soundly grasp the way He walked on earth, and more so, it's important to be deeply conscious of the manner in which He functioned and be moved to function accordingly - by the help of His Spirit at work in us. We must never take such consciousness for granted, so as to walk in the same manner as He walked. That's exactly how to remain in Him. It is by the Spirit alone!
You don't remain in Christ by hanging around with a negative state of mind or by identifying with sin, bitterness, worries, unbelief, anger, idolatry, witchcraft, impurity, corruption and debauchery. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25 NIV). Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - John 15:4-5; Romans 8:9; Colossians 3:1-3; 2 John 1:9.
Exuberant Declaration: I permanently dwell in Christ Jesus and my growing awareness of this truth is constantly actualised under the influence of the leading process of the Spirit. No matter the chaos, trials and complexity arising throughout the world, I have and enjoy unsearchable peace in Christ because, in Him, I have overcome the world. Praise God!
