Go deep

Many Christians profess Jesus as Lord, the Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world. This is good and blessed. Sometimes, people stop at the forgiveness of sins and do not go deep into the reality of “Christ in you” –

Colossians 1:²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. ²⁷To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach,warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

1 Corinthians 6:¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

John 14:²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

I’m a visual thinker and this assists to keep things in perspective. I imagine myself inside a sphere… an encasement of small windows that I can open. This encasement is the armor of God and within it, I have nothing but peace, good cheer, contentment, joy, and most importantly, Christ. This is going deep –

Eph 6:¹⁰ Finally, my brethren,be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God,that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,to stand.

Here we are, within a bubble that is in the midst of this world. Inside this bubble is Light… Jesus.  Outside, there is a storm and it’s dark. I am in this world, but not of it –

John 12:⁴⁶ I have come as alight into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide indarkness.
John 17:¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The winds, rain, fiery darts, floods, etc. are continuously hammering up against this armor. If we hear what the Lord is saying, and do it, we remain in the Light:

Ephesians 6:¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Matthew 7:²⁴ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

While in the midst of storms, we can remain in good cheer if we choose wisely.. Go deep!

John 16:³³ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

When I choose to open one of the windows, my sphere will be filled with whatever window I open. The analogy of the storm and floods is one of thoughts that are hammering up against the mind.  They can be fear, worry, stress, anxiety, stress, an addiction (smoking), lust, or any other thought processes that are “of the world.” If I choose to entertain a specific window and open it, then I’m choosing to not listen to my Helper. When I open that window, my vessel fills with that flood –

Matthew 7:²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Stand with Christ and we’re good! This is dwelling deep with Christ –

Eph 6:¹⁴ Stand therefore,having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

Many other verses of the bible line-up very well with this analogy..  I’ll expand on this further in the near future (Now available: Go Deep! – Part 2)..  God bless you and yours.

joseph