Who’s in You?
Jesus says in John 15:4-5, “abide in Me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same
brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing”.
Jesus prayed in John 17:20-23, which says “neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also, which shall believe on Me through their word. That they all may be one;
as You Father are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the
world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I
have given them, that they may be one; even as We are one. I in them, and You
in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that
You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me”.
The Bible says “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:
4); Paul was talking to believers. Paul also in Ephesians 5:14-20 says “wherefore
He says, awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you
light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is, and be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to your selves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving
thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ”. In order to be filled with the Spirit, you have to make room for Him.
A cup that is filled with water, has to first pour out its substance to make room to
be filled. We too have to put off the former life manner which is corrupt, the things
of the world which goes against the word of God, and be renewed in the spirit of
your mind, and that you put on the new man which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:25-32 lists the things which we
should do. Chapter 5:1-11 tells us how, verse one is the secret, which says “be
you therefore followers of God as dear children”. Find out what Jesus did and do
the same thing.
People look at the great people in the Bible as though any one of them
accomplished their greatness on their own, but God takes the weak things of the
world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:27-29), “but God has chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of
the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which
are not, to bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in His
presence”.
We can see this through out the Bible. Let’s look at Gideon in Judges chapter 6,
Gideon was hiding out trying to thresh wheat by the winepress, for fear of the
Midianites and the angel of the Lord appeared to him, ans said, to him, the Lord
Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor. Then the Lord Yahweh looked upon
him and said go in this your might and you shall save Israel from the hand of the
Midianites, have not I sent you? Gideon then explained that his family was poor in
Manasseh and he was the least of his fathers house. And the Lord Yahweh said
to him, surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.
Gideon gathered over 30 thousand men, but God said to him that he had too
many and gave him two tests for the men, and after there was only 300 men left.
In the natural it seemed hopeless, but God delivered the Midianites into their
hands. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and empowered him to do that
which he couldn’t do on his own.
Peter was afraid after the Romans arrested Jesus, and when he was confronted in
the courthouse, he denied Jesus three times, denying that he knew Him. But on
the day of Pentecost after that the Holy Spirit fell on him, he became bold and
preached a sermon that brought in three thousand into the church. Acts 5:14-16
says “and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and
women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them
on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might over
shadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about
to Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits,
and there were healed every one”. Peter was arrested and put in jail, but the
angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and
said, go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. The
next morning they came to let them out and found them not in the prison. When
they found them in the temple, the high priest and the Sadduces said to them did
not we strictly command you that you should not teach in this name? Then Peter
and the other apostle answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men.
Peter was afraid when they arrested Jesus, but after the Holy Spirit fell on him, he
was bold and unafraid.
Paul was persecuting the believers before his Damascus road conversion. After
being filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is
the Son of God. Paul went on to write a great portion of the letters in the New
Testament. Paul is the one that reveals the mystery to us (Colossians 1:25-28),
“whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given
to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which has been hid from
ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints. To whom God
would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom we preach, warning
every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus”.
In Colossians 2:1-14 Paul tells us many things, he wants us to know the mystery;
verse 2 says that their hearts might be comforted, being join together in love, and
to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the
mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. Verse 6-8 warns us “as you have
therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him. Rooted and built up
in Him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein
with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ”. He goes on to tell us in verses 10 “and you are complete in Him, which is
the head of all principality and power”. As long as we are in Him, we have the
victory.
In Colossians 3:1-4 the Bible says “if you then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your
affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your
life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall
you also appear with Him in glory”. Then in verses 12-17 Paul gives us the how to;
“put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ
forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfect-ness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the
which also you are called in one body, and be you thankful. Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by Him”; verse 16 is the key “let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly”; this is what Jesus said “if you dwell in Me and My words dwells
in you”. Lets keep the word of Christ before our eyes and ears.
Paul reveals that we have this mystery hidden in earthly vessels (II Corinthians 4:6-
7), “for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God and not of us”.
We are told to put on Christ (Romans 13:12-14), “the night is far spent, the day is
at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the
armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put you on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof”.
God says many times that “He will never leave us or forsake us”; so let us focus
our mind on that, knowing that He is with us, will give us confidence to do what He
tells us. Remember that the Bible says “I can do all things through Christ, which
strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 16, 2009
Jesus says in John 15:4-5, “abide in Me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same
brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing”.
Jesus prayed in John 17:20-23, which says “neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also, which shall believe on Me through their word. That they all may be one;
as You Father are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the
world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I
have given them, that they may be one; even as We are one. I in them, and You
in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that
You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me”.
The Bible says “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:
4); Paul was talking to believers. Paul also in Ephesians 5:14-20 says “wherefore
He says, awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you
light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is, and be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to your selves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving
thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ”. In order to be filled with the Spirit, you have to make room for Him.
A cup that is filled with water, has to first pour out its substance to make room to
be filled. We too have to put off the former life manner which is corrupt, the things
of the world which goes against the word of God, and be renewed in the spirit of
your mind, and that you put on the new man which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:25-32 lists the things which we
should do. Chapter 5:1-11 tells us how, verse one is the secret, which says “be
you therefore followers of God as dear children”. Find out what Jesus did and do
the same thing.
People look at the great people in the Bible as though any one of them
accomplished their greatness on their own, but God takes the weak things of the
world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:27-29), “but God has chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of
the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which
are not, to bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in His
presence”.
We can see this through out the Bible. Let’s look at Gideon in Judges chapter 6,
Gideon was hiding out trying to thresh wheat by the winepress, for fear of the
Midianites and the angel of the Lord appeared to him, ans said, to him, the Lord
Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor. Then the Lord Yahweh looked upon
him and said go in this your might and you shall save Israel from the hand of the
Midianites, have not I sent you? Gideon then explained that his family was poor in
Manasseh and he was the least of his fathers house. And the Lord Yahweh said
to him, surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.
Gideon gathered over 30 thousand men, but God said to him that he had too
many and gave him two tests for the men, and after there was only 300 men left.
In the natural it seemed hopeless, but God delivered the Midianites into their
hands. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and empowered him to do that
which he couldn’t do on his own.
Peter was afraid after the Romans arrested Jesus, and when he was confronted in
the courthouse, he denied Jesus three times, denying that he knew Him. But on
the day of Pentecost after that the Holy Spirit fell on him, he became bold and
preached a sermon that brought in three thousand into the church. Acts 5:14-16
says “and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and
women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them
on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might over
shadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about
to Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits,
and there were healed every one”. Peter was arrested and put in jail, but the
angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and
said, go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. The
next morning they came to let them out and found them not in the prison. When
they found them in the temple, the high priest and the Sadduces said to them did
not we strictly command you that you should not teach in this name? Then Peter
and the other apostle answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men.
Peter was afraid when they arrested Jesus, but after the Holy Spirit fell on him, he
was bold and unafraid.
Paul was persecuting the believers before his Damascus road conversion. After
being filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is
the Son of God. Paul went on to write a great portion of the letters in the New
Testament. Paul is the one that reveals the mystery to us (Colossians 1:25-28),
“whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given
to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which has been hid from
ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints. To whom God
would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom we preach, warning
every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus”.
In Colossians 2:1-14 Paul tells us many things, he wants us to know the mystery;
verse 2 says that their hearts might be comforted, being join together in love, and
to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the
mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. Verse 6-8 warns us “as you have
therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him. Rooted and built up
in Him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein
with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ”. He goes on to tell us in verses 10 “and you are complete in Him, which is
the head of all principality and power”. As long as we are in Him, we have the
victory.
In Colossians 3:1-4 the Bible says “if you then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your
affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your
life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall
you also appear with Him in glory”. Then in verses 12-17 Paul gives us the how to;
“put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ
forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfect-ness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the
which also you are called in one body, and be you thankful. Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by Him”; verse 16 is the key “let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly”; this is what Jesus said “if you dwell in Me and My words dwells
in you”. Lets keep the word of Christ before our eyes and ears.
Paul reveals that we have this mystery hidden in earthly vessels (II Corinthians 4:6-
7), “for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God and not of us”.
We are told to put on Christ (Romans 13:12-14), “the night is far spent, the day is
at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the
armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put you on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof”.
God says many times that “He will never leave us or forsake us”; so let us focus
our mind on that, knowing that He is with us, will give us confidence to do what He
tells us. Remember that the Bible says “I can do all things through Christ, which
strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 16, 2009
