Introduction
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV
A teacher I knew when I was a young Christian had a volunteer hold a glass that was filled to the brim with water. Then he walked up to the volunteer and softly bumped him. Of course, water spilled out of the glass as soon as he did. The question was, “Why did water spill out of the glass”? The volunteer replied, “Because you bumped me”. “Wrong answer,” said the teacher. “The correct reply is, water spilled out of the glass because the glass was full of water”. Then came the big question, “What comes out of you when someone bumps you the wrong way”?
Who resides within me – Christ or my nature? If I constantly refer to Christ as the one living inside me, why do I harbor resentment towards others? Why do I struggle with impulsive behavior and thinking negative thoughts? If Christ truly dwells within me, then shouldn’t I be overflowing with love and kindness under all circumstances?
Recently, I came across a thought-provoking phrase: “How is it that we speak in tongues but gossip in English?” Many similar questions have been on my mind. To explore these conundrums, let’s delve into two key areas of concern: God within me and the practice of prayer. Through this exploration, I hope we can gain a deeper understanding of how to reconcile the contradictions between my inner life (Christ in me) and my outer actions (the self in me). How can I nurture a closer relationship with God while still navigating the complexities of human nature?
Definitions
Flippantly
Speaking or using something without thinking first. As in using God’s words, often from memory, as though they are ours. This often occurs when we pray without first seeking Him and His will. We must seek first His Kingdom in our life, and “our life” also means in our prayer life.
Logos
We are taught that Logos means an “expression of thought,” as in the written word of God, as in the Bible is the written word. There are a few exceptions where it means almost the same as Rhema. For example, in John 1:1, it means “something spoken” (arche (G746). This refers back to Genesis where “God said….)
Prayer
Simply speaking, prayer is worshiping and praising God, sometimes for no reason other than that we love Him. However, in most cases of prayer, many, including myself, usually ask for something. Either for self (maybe forgiveness) or friends and family. I am extending this definition to include that prayer is seeking the will of God in regards to: healing, provision, worldly, and other worldly circumstances. Claiming God’s Word, regarding His promises, is not always prayer and is seldom effective if His reasoning and purposes are not considered. (more below)
Rhema
Rhema in Greek means “that which is spoken”. The best translation I found that I am using is by Thayer’s Greek Definitions, which defines Word as something that has been uttered, in either the past or the present, by a living entity. As opposed to the written word (logos). Do not think that Rhema is better than Logos. They both come from the same God. The application of Rhema and Logos must be from God’s perspective, not our thinking.
Let us Begin
God in Me
God has been defined in many ways: “pure energy” and “pure intellect and will” are two that I think of most. But reading the Bible correctly makes us realize He cannot be defined. There are no words in any language that describe God adequately. The Bible speaks well when saying we should “fear God”. In the Old Testament, when people or nations disobeyed Him, they died violently. They, their women, their children, all of their livestock, and their cities were leveled to the ground. We call it Genocide, extermination, yet done by God, not us. God has not changed. Why don’t we fear Him as we should? Instead, we flippantly recite scriptures as though they were magic and will answer our needs. Many of us use His name in any manner but with reverence and fear. In truth, if we should defy Him, we should die on the spot. It is only by His grace and mercy that we don’t die. I’m speaking of Christians and non-Christians alike. We believers should know God, but looking at the way we behave, we only think we do. I often get angered at the stupidity, arrogance, and stubbornness of Israel when I read the Old Testament. Are we any different?
God’s Purpose
God’s purpose in our lives is summed up by Jesus in His priestly prayer recorded in the book of John, chapter 17, specifically John 17:21
“…that they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one with Us.”
The “they” spoken of is we believers. Christians need to be of one accord, in Christ. As Jesus and the Father are one, we too must be one with each other and with Him. In the world we live in, we must be one with Christ, then Christ in us becomes our only hope. Otherwise, none of these things we call Christianity will work. But we don’t get it. It doesn’t happen to us as it should. There is much disharmony within churches and among families and friends. Although we’ve received the Word, we are growing very slowly, and some of us are not at all. Then we worry, we complain, we question everything – even God.
Holiness
There is only one kind of holiness, and that is the holiness of Jesus. Again, it is Jesus in you.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 ESV
This should be normal for us believers. It is what develops from our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our redeemer. It involves the “renewing of the mind” (Romans 12:2) and requires time and patience. This patience must dominate our souls. Anything else is of our “self”. When Jesus identified Himself with humankind, He made all things possible.
“…but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV
“You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” Leviticus 20:26 ESV
Correcting our approach to holiness requires a deeper understanding of what it truly means. We often mistakenly equate holiness with striving for perfection, but this is a misguided pursuit. In reality, true holiness comes from having the life of Christ within us. When we seek to achieve holiness through self-effort or external means, we inevitably fall short. Instead, it’s essential to surrender our lives to Christ and allow Him to take residence in our hearts. As we cultivate this mindset, patience becomes a crucial companion on our journey. Without patience (Luke 21:36), we’ll never arrive at the destination.
The Bible teaches us that Christ is our righteousness, not something we can earn or achieve through our efforts. Rather than striving for holiness as an outcome of our actions, let’s focus on surrendering to Christ and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. In this process, we’ll discover a profound freedom that’s been waiting within us all along. By shifting our focus from achieving holiness to embracing Christ’s presence, we can experience a deeper sense of peace, joy, and contentment in life. Our goal will no longer be to attain perfection but to surrender completely to His goodness and love.
Possessing your Soul
“In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19 KJV
To have the mind of Christ in you, you must learn how to possess your soul (your mind, intellect, and will). Get rid of the moods, not by praying but by kicking them out of your life. (OC May 29th My Utmost for His Highest) Animosity toward anyone, kick it out; anger with family and friends, kick it out; fear, kick it out; do you worry about everything (a Martha syndrome see Luke 10:38-42), kick it out; things don’t quite go your way, kick it out; are you upset with life, kick it out. If you “kick it out,” you will not think about it anymore because you know it is in God’s hands, and Christ in you can handle it. If you don’t think you can do this, pray, read the word, get involved in God things, and do not let idleness overcome you, but overcome idleness. Do something. Seek this and you will succeed, but you must ask, seek, and knock. It will not be given to you without you giving something back. Time with Him, having Christ in you, in your body, in your mind, in your actions. First things first, seek first the Kingdom and then…. Without the “seek first,” you will have an empty, uneventful, boring, and unfruitful life, affecting no one. It takes effort. You must “bite your tongue” many times and not let old habits and thoughts take over. The old saying, “If you have nothing to say, say nothing at all”. I can add, don’t even think that way. Put it out of your mind and deeds. Do not let it be a part of you. All worrying does is allow someone else or something else to control your life. Let Christ take control of all things.
How Should We Pray
So much has been taught and written on prayer that I hesitate to mention anything here. However, in keeping with my introduction above, I must say something. As a young Christian, I was always taught that if you didn’t know how to pray, pray the Word of God (the logos), and you will never go wrong. Good advice. I have prayed quite successfully that way since then. However, many times I prayed and saw no results. Why? I now strongly feel that we should be praying the Rhema of God rather than the Logos of God. To have God’s Rhema, we must have the mind of Christ.
Examples
It is God’s will that all be saved.
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
Now this is God’s will; however, will all be saved? No! We know that not all will be saved.
“And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.” Matthew 24:22 ESV
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 ESV
“For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 ESV
God does answer all prayers, however, we must remember that prayer is supernatural and should never be spoken from our “common sense”. Prayer should always come from “Christ in me.” Prayer is not common sense; it is supernatural, and God will answer in His way. This is a prayer that brings forth power that generates hope and produces miracles.
Other Prayers
Other prayers I’ve heard prayed are mostly a “quick draw” of scriptures we know, thinking they are proper and God’s will for the moment. They are often used as a “name it and claim it scripture” because they are God’s word (logos).
“If we will pray, regarding our own lives, ‘Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best.” (Oswald Chambers – OC)
If we pray God’s Word, are we always praying God’s will? I am saying otherwise. Seek first His will (Kingdom), then pray His Word (Rhema). It is only through prayer that we can discern His mind.
Often I’ve heard family, friends, and at times even myself pay this way, and I cringe when I hear it.
1. I call those things that are not as though they were.
“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Romans 4:17 ESV
These scriptures speak of Abraham (the father of many nations), who in the presence of God, whom he (Abraham) believed “… calls into existence the things that do not exist”. This does not mean that we can use this scripture on any occasion we think it calls for. It is God who does this, and He did it at the creation of the world. Abraham believed He (God) could also have done this if he had sacrificed Isaac, which he did not.
2. I often hear prayer for healing in a like manner, saying, “you are healed”, or “you were healed”, etc., according to the logos. But we need Rhema to do this if we expect it to work.
3. When we pray in this manner, it often sounds like we are commanding God to do something just because we have seen it in the Word. This can become very dangerous for our spiritual and physical health. We cannot command God as in “I call you healed”, or “I command life and not death”.
These types of prayers do not come from Christ in you. They come from you knowing the Word (logos) and not the will (Rhema) of Jesus. As said above, we “flippantly” use scriptures, thinking God will answer them as we quote them, not knowing His will for what we pray. Sometimes we hit the mark because sometimes it is God’s will for the conditions. However, we must always realize that He has a higher purpose.
Our go-to crutch often comes from the verse in Isaiah 55:11 ESV
“…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,” Isaiah 55:11 ESV
True, but note, “goes out from My mouth (God)” as in the creation. Not my mouth (me) or the Logos without His will. God must do the speaking, not us.
Summary
If you are Born Again, Christ is in you in the form of the Holy Spirit. It is He who is energizing your spirit given to you when you were conceived. It is that energized spirit that makes you Born Again. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit in you also fills you with power (Acts 1:8). Cultivate this relationship with Christ above all other things you do. Make it happen. The most powerful word I can think of in Christianity is Abandon. It is only through abandonment of self that you will see Christ live in you – “Christ in you the hope of glory”. (Colossians 1:27).
Conclusion
How much of Christ is in me? How do I respond when aggravated by stress, family, job, sickness, outside and internal influences, and even God, when I don’t see results to prayer? Am I angry, confused, or disappointed? Do I give up out of frustration, especially when I see others blessed? Jesus’ response to what happens to others is the same response He gives us when we question others’ blessings. “What is that to you?”.
“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:22
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 2:5 ESV
When you have the mind of Christ, you will see God in a better light than you ever did. It is then that you will pray, and whatever the result, you will understand.
Christ In Me
It’s not I, for flesh and blood decay,
But Christ within, my spirit’s sway.
The old self fades, like morning dew,
As Jesus lives, and all is new.
In me, a fire burns, pure and bright,
Guiding me through the darkest night.
It’s not my will, but His that guides,
Illuminating paths, side by side.
My thoughts, once bound by fleshly chains,
Now break free, like wings that soar in gains.
The cross of Christ, my every need,
A source of strength, a heart that bleeds.
No longer I, but He who’s made me new,
A living vessel, filled with His hue.
In Him, I live, and all is well,
For Christ within me, forever will dwell. (AI generated on my computer)
Enough Said
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16, ESV)
