No Longer a Sinner - Conformed to Christ's Image

God's glory within us increases incrementally as we cooperate with His Spirit's discipline and direction. We reflect this glory to the world around us and draw people to Him who want more of Him in their life as well.

His sanctifying work starts with the rebirth of our spirit and continues throughout our lifetime, as the imperfect in us is transformed into the perfected (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2).

As God's Spirit transforms us with the mind, likeness and divine character of Christ, we change from one stage of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is not a matter of Him changing us from one stage of sinner to the next.

We are no longer a worm, but a butterfly soaring in the spiritual realm of life. Our inner man is drawn by the Spirit of God into ascending realms of spiritual maturity, rather than Him dragging us out of our penchant toward one sin and then another (Ephesians 4:13).

This sanctifying work starts with the rebirth of our spirit and continues throughout our lifetime, as the imperfect in us is transformed into the perfected (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2).

Our cooperation with God's Spirit insures that our perfection continues without disruption until we are completely conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 13:12).

Christ, who is the image of God and abides within us (John 1:14, 14:9), gives us both the desire and power to work out our salvation in cooperation with God's Spirit (Colossians 1:15; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 1:3).

As we focus on Christ, as if looking in a mirror at His image in us, we reflect increasing stages of His glory. We realize that our carnal nature is all but dead, and that Christ is our whole life (Ephesians 3:3-4).

Prayer:

Father God, reveal to us that only the veil of sin, which so easily hinders us if we take our mind off Christ, will thwart our personal journey into perfection. Help us to allow Your Spirit to cut away the dead skin of the flesh, so that we walk in unity with Your Spirit and in the likeness of Christ in us.

Remind us to continually focus on Your glory reflected on the face of Christ within us. Fill us daily with Your Spirit and allow us to totally submit until He takes full possession of our body, spirit and soul - our thoughts, choices and feelings. Our whole desire in our life is to reflect Your glory to the world around us and to draw everyone in our sphere of influence to a closer walk with You.

Thought for the Day:
Our dark and sinful soul is transformed into the image of Christ as we consistently walk in His marvelous light. 

- 1 Peter 2:9

God's Dynamite Power within Us

The word “dunimis”, pronounced “doo’-na-mis”, is the root for the word “dynamite”. It means to have mighty power residing within, by virtue of its nature.

This is the same word used to describe the power by which Jesus raised Himself from the dead. Jesus claimed that no one could take His life from Him and only He had the “dunimis” power to raise it up again (John 10:18).

Once we come to Christ through salvation, all of this “dunimis” power is also resident within us. It is equal to a zillion fireworks going off inside of us at one time.

The electric light does not come from the light bulb, but from the electricity flowing to the bulb. The power in us does not come from us, but from God’s “dunimis” power working in us and lighting up our world through us.

Christ’s light shines in our hearts. We radiate Christ to the world in the same way that a light bulb radiates light in a dark room. We are connected to the power of God's Spirit flowing through us on a continual basis.

We just follow the leading of God's Spirit moment by moment and we live in fullness of joy, even in negative circumstances (Psalm 16:11). We accomplish great works for the Lord, not by our righteousness, but by His righteousness within us (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Bible is full of illustrations of God calling men and women - imperfect, weak and unprepared people - who slayed great Giants and routed mighty armies in the name of the Lord.

There is nothing God calls us to do that He will not also provide us with everything we need to sustain us and to guarantee His success through us in the endeavor.

Prayer:

Father God, help us to realize the amazing power, which You provide within us in order for us to walk in Your will for our life. Remind us to continually walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of our flesh.

Call us to the ministry You have prepared for us and then empower us to walk by the guidance and sustenance of Your Spirit through the entire endeavor. This way, we will further Your Kingdom on the earth and we will reap the rewards You prepared for us before You created the earth.

Thought for the Day:

As we walk in the Spirit, continually connected to Him, we do the works God created us to perform by His dynamite power within us, and our Father God is always well pleased with us. - Matthew 3:17