In the last few posts we have looked at the great “I am” statements of Jesus. When we know who He is then we know who our Father is. When we know who our Father is then we know what it is to be His child. When we know what it means to be His children then we know what it means to be His body. If we know what it means to be His body then we know what it means to be like Jesus. Yay! Now we get to be like Jesus.
Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. (AMP)
That is the plan. That has been the plan. That has always been the plan. Like seeds planted in a field that break out of the dirt and become fruit bearing trees…mustard seeds and trees…we were seeds of Jesus from before the beginning of time and have sprouted into His image. He breathed His breath of life in us and we came alive in Him and from Him. He did it to Adam and then Adam died like a seed that needed to be planted. Now He breaths into us His superior air, His very breath, and we come to life as a new creation, resurrected as a sprouting seed of Jesus, filled with Him, joined to Him, engulfed in Him. That is pretty awesome.
Jesus is the good news. We are no longer separate from God in our understanding but joined to God in His greater reality. We are no longer running from an angry God that is a figment of our deceived imagination but running with God as a bride of Christ. We are no longer apart from our creator but filled with creation.
Col 1:15 [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. 16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. 17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). (AMP)
and don’t forget this one:
Col 1:19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. (AMP)
oh yeah…this one too:
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (ESV)
and this one is really awesome since HE IS IN YOU!
Col 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (ESV)
All the fullness of God in us:
Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (ESV)
A few years ago I was trying to encourage someone. I was talking about how our evil nature was killed, destroyed, annihilated, on the cross in Jesus. I was telling them that I don’t struggle with the reoccurring sins that I used to struggle with. I was saying that it feels good to do good and I don’t get stuck on trying to be a better person because I am a better person. Jesus made me a better person (perfect actually). At the time of this conversation I did not have the revelation of our identity like I do today. I can say that this conversation was a powerfully prophetic look at where I am today. The best part of that encounter was his statement (insert curled lips and spittle right here): “Who do you think you are, Jesus?” Wow! Well, I am not Son of God come to save the world but I am the son of God who can change the world. I don’t have all the answers but I am joined to and filled with the one that does have all the answers. I may not know how to counter a persuasive, carnal debate about this or that but I have the breath of life in me.
I wonder if what the devil said to Eve still applies today? Are we still hearing the famous phrase “Did God really say?” Isn’t that the beginning of every debate in a church? Isn’t that what my friend was saying to me? Isn’t the enemy still challenging our identity? Doesn’t the enemy use people with the crowbar of religion as his tools for identity destruction?
There is a huge difference between an air of superiority and superior air. I don’t claim to actually know anything well enough to tell anyone that “this is it and you are wrong.” I can say that I am filled with superior air and the very resurrection power of God is in me and wants to get out of me. Wait, Paul said the same thing:
1 Cor 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)
So I say get to know who Jesus is in a relationship with Him. Just like a marriage there should be joy in the union, conversations, love, exchange of stories, learning each others desires and hopes and dreams. In that union you will come to know your Father. He is sooooooooooooooooooooo good His very person radiates manifest goodness that the Bible calls GLORY! You are filled with the Holy Spirit who is pointing you to Jesus, revealing the Father, sharing His love, blasting you with His glory and releasing the same glory everywhere you go. I don’ think that is an air of superiority but extremely and absolutely superior air.
Yay God!
Lance
alancetotheheart 