Becoming Like Jesus: Who Is God?Sample

The Power of the Spirit > Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV The Spirit of God, present with God and one with God from the very beginning is the intangible, animating aspect of God’s nature. Throughout the Biblical story, we get several word pictures of what the Spirit is like. He’s the breath of God, the wind of God, the fire of God. He descended on Jesus like a dove, He led the Israelites as a pillar of cloud, He rested on the disciples as tongues of fire. It is God the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. And this same death-defying power of God inhabits each one of us. > And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11 NIV It is this Spirit who works in us to renew us and transform us into the image of Christ. He comforts and convicts us. He empowers us to do the will of God. He is, in fact, the tangible, continuing presence of God with us. Jesus, surprisingly, said that it was better for Him to go away and ascend to Heaven so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would come to be with us and dwell in us. What a thought. The temple that now houses the God of heaven and earth is you and me. That’s why we can say with confidence that we have everything we need for life and godliness. The Spirit assures us of the Father’s love and seals us in the Son’s grace. > And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit , 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession —to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV We are marked for redemption. Set to receive an inheritance that cannot be corrupted. And this is no trivial marking, not a set it and forget it kind of deal. God didn’t number you off from a crowd and walk away. He placed Himself, His breath, the very essence of who He is inside of you. Do you realize how special and set apart that makes you? Do you realize the power you have? The Spirit God has given us is not one of fear or slavery, but of power and adoption. It’s a Spirit that brings freedom wherever He goes. Chains cannot help but fall off, seas split, and walls come crashing down when the Spirit of the living God shows up. You carry the death-defier with you wherever you go. And submitted to Him, you are empowered to live a life that is genuinely worthy of the calling from God you have received. So walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The more you submit to the Spirit, the more freedom you will experience. The more joy and peace you will have as He reminds you what’s ahead of you. The more boldness you will carry as He strengthens you and teaches you. The more restoration and life you, and the people around you, will see as He shapes you into the image of Christ. How do you draw near to this three-in-one God who has gone to such lengths to reveal Himself to us? You simply come. You make space for Him in your day and life. You seek Him, because when you do He promises to be found. There’s so much more of Himself that He is inviting you to discover. Check out the Switch Bible Plan Becoming Like Jesus: Silence and Solitude to learn more about meeting with God.