{"id":3517,"date":"2015-09-13T00:10:42","date_gmt":"2015-09-13T07:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3517"},"modified":"2015-09-13T07:13:24","modified_gmt":"2015-09-13T14:13:24","slug":"913-jesus-christ-lives-in-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/09\/13\/913-jesus-christ-lives-in-you\/","title":{"rendered":"9\/13: Jesus Christ Lives in You (\u7bb422:17-27 \u6797\u540e13:1-14 \u8d5b30:19-32:20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u7bb422:17-27 \u6797\u540e13:1-14 \u8d5b30:19-32:20<\/h2>\n

Jesus Christ Lives in You<\/h2>\n
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I brought in a boxing glove as a visual aid. I dangled the glove and showed how ineffective it was without a hand in it. Then I put my hand in the glove, made a fist and punched the air so that everyone could see the difference it made to the power of the glove.<\/p>\n

I was speaking at a prison for teenagers in Oxford. I was a theological student at the time and was given the opportunity to speak in a chapel service.<\/p>\n

The prison chaplain at the detention centre, who was helping with my training, pointed out that it was an inappropriate illustration for a prison, since it might suggest that Jesus and violence were closely associated! Apart from that, he agreed that it was a good analogy.<\/p>\n

What I was trying to illustrate was the difference it makes when Jesus Christ comes to live in you by his Spirit. Without him we are weak (2 Corinthians 13:4), like the glove without the hand in it. But when Jesus Christ comes to live within you, you have God\u2019s power in your life (vv.4\u20135).<\/p>\n

This is what it means to be a Christian (Romans 8:9). This is life transforming. Jesus Christ is alive today. He lives in you by his Spirit. If you \u2018realise\u2019 (2 Corinthians 13:5) this, it will transform the way you live your life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Fill your heart with the wisdom of God<\/h2>\n

Proverbs 22:17-27<\/a>How healthy is your heart? Have you filled it with God\u2019s wisdom? Just as what you put in your mouth affects the health of your body, what you put in your heart really matters.<\/p>\n

The writer of this section of Proverbs urges you to keep the wisdom of God\u2019s Word in your heart<\/em>and have them ready on your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord: \u2018Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I teach you. You\u2019ll treasure its sweetness deep within; you\u2019ll give it bold expression in your speech. To make sure your foundation is trust in God…\u2019 (vv.17\u201319a, MSG).<\/p>\n

He then lists thirty \u2018principles \u2013 tested guidelines to live by\u2019 (v.20, MSG). These are thirty \u2018truths that work\u2019 (v.21, MSG), the first four of which are in today\u2019s passage.<\/p>\n

The first is about how we treat the poor and needy (vv.22\u201323). The second is about how to avoid becoming ensnared by anger and a bad temper: \u2018Bad temper is contagious \u2013 don\u2019t get infected\u2019 (vv.24\u201325, MSG). The third is a warning against gambling and practical advice on how to avoid getting into debt (vv.26\u201327).<\/p>\n

These sayings are wise principles, which help us to live life well. Yet they are grounded in an understanding that the heart of wisdom is more than good advice. It is about putting \u2018your trust\u2026 in the LORD\u2019 (v.19). As we learn the wisdom of Scripture (for example, by learning Bible verses), our trust in the Lord is deepened (Proverbs 22:19).<\/p>\n

In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is \u2018the Wisdom\u2019 of God<\/em> (1 Corinthians 1:30). Because Jesus lives in you, you have the wisdom of God in your heart.<\/p>\n

Lord, thank you that you live in my heart by your Spirit. Thank you for the power of the Word of God. Help me to read it, learn it, meditate on it and have your words ready on my lips that my trust may be in you, the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Realise that Christ Jesus is in you<\/h2>\n

2 Corinthians 13:1-14<\/a>Do you realise that Jesus Christ lives within you? The apostle Paul had no doubt that Jesus Christ was living in him<\/em>. He realised that in the words he spoke to the Corinthians, \u2018Christ is speaking through me<\/em>\u2019 (v.3).<\/p>\n

Paul had the advantage of meeting the risen Jesus. He was able to write with great confidence, \u2018for to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God\u2019s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God\u2019s power we will live with him to serve you\u2019 (v.4).<\/p>\n

Self-examination is important and is totally different from self-condemnation: \u2018There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus\u2019 (Romans 8:1). He urged them to \u2018examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it\u2019 (2 Corinthians 13:5a, AMP). The purpose of self-examination is so that you can see what is wrong in your life, admit it, turn from it and be set free by Jesus.<\/p>\n

Paul urged the Corinthians to realise that just as Jesus Christ lived in him, so too \u2018Jesus Christ is in you\u2019 (v.5). Paul talks far more often of us being in Christ than Christ in us. Nevertheless, the passages in which he puts it the other way round are remarkable. In Colossians 1:27 Paul writes, \u2018Christ in you<\/em>, the hope of glory\u2019, and here too he writes about Christ being in you, and the difference it makes: \u2018Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you?<\/em>\u2019 (2 Corinthians 13:5).<\/p>\n

This is what turns our weakness into strength (v.9). This is why he prayed for their perfection<\/em>(v.9), and was able to urge them to \u2018aim for perfection<\/em>\u2019 (v.11).<\/p>\n

Of course, none of us will reach perfection in this life. Being a perfectionist is unhealthy. But we can all aim to live in a perfect relationship with God and with one another. He appealed to them, \u2018be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you\u2019 (v.11).<\/p>\n

How is this possible? Paul ends with the words of \u2018the grace\u2019. It is the \u2018amazing grace\u2019 (v.14a, MSG) of Jesus that enables us to be constantly forgiven and cleansed. It is \u2018the extravagant love of God\u2019 (v.14b, MSG) filling our hearts that enables us to aim for perfect love. It is \u2018the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit\u2019 (v.14c, MSG) of Jesus living in us that enables imperfect people to grow into maturity and one day see him face to face. Only then will we reach perfection.<\/p>\n

Lord, thank you that you live within me by your Spirit. May your amazing grace flow out of everything I do. Fill me today with the knowledge of your extravagant love and the intimate friendship of your Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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3. Know God\u2019s love poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit<\/h2>\n

Isaiah 30:19-32:20<\/a>It is the result of Pentecost that the Spirit of Christ comes to live within you. God\u2019s love for you is poured into your hearts by the Holy Spirit of Jesus (Romans 5:5). It is his Spirit who gives you the realisation that you are a child of God, and that Christ lives in you.<\/p>\n

In this passage, Isaiah sees six pictures of God:<\/p>\n