NORMAL HUMANITY - IS GOD IN-DWELT?

I. Humanity which is not indwelt by Deity is sub-human

A. Can we offer any proof of that?

1. I give you proof from the only perfect human who has ever lived.

2. Jesus Christ was a real human being.

B. This means that He was the representative Man.

1. There were occasions on which He was challenged as to the source of His power to heal or work miracles.

2. On those occasions He answered, "the Son can do nothing of Himself."

3. His basic consciousness as a human was His awareness of His nothingness in Himself.

C. His statements about the Father often puzzled His disciples.

1. He would say, "I do what I see my Father do."

2. "My doctrines is not mine, but His that sent me.

3. The words I speak are not of Myself but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.

4. He that has seen Me hath seen the Father."

D. That relaxed attitude is to be the normal human experience. Why?

1. Because a vessel hasn't any ability except the capacity to contain.

2. Since the living god lives within us we can relax.

3. "My peace I give unto you..." there remains a rest for the people of God. We are to enter into His rest.

II. The People of God are Unique.

A. We would all admit Jesus was a unique person but you are unique in a particular way.

1. There is one way in which we are life Jesus.

2. Jesus passed through a vineyard, He used the reality of the vine and branches to teach them a vital lesson.

3. John 14:11, "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me."

4. 'As I have been the branch of my Father, His life flowing through Me - Now I am your vine and you are my branches' (John 15:4). His life flowing thru us.

B. We are to have the same union which He had with the Father and apart from Him you can do nothing.

1. That's what Paul meant in Gal. 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ.

2. Nevertheless I live..." That's the new Paul, a living, feeling, battling human.

3. But then he corrects Himself and adds, "...yet not I, but Christ lives in me."

4. He replaced the old self with Christ. The real I isn't I at all, it is Christ.

III. Your Other Self Is Christ

A. There are two selves joined in one. I Cor. 6:17

1. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.

2. That's the real self - not two spirits, just two merged into one.

3. This is the very thing Jesus said of Himself and the Father, "I and my Father are one."

4. He chose to allow the Father to determine His destiny.

B. This is the real meaning behind Romans 12:1-2

1. I present my body because He bought me on Calvary.

2. He paid the price for my whole being - now I give it back to Him in order that He use it for His glory and not for my self indulgence.

3. In simples works, your other self is Christ.

4. The two of you are indivisible - two selves joined into one.

5. That's why it is ridiculous to look around or above to find Christ.

C. You don't look around to find yourself do you? You can't escape yourself.

1. Your other self is Christ - you can't escape Him either.

2. I'm sorry, but Christ has to go where you go.

3. In the wonder of God's grace, He has tied Himself to us. You can't leave Him behind.

4. Where you go, He goes. He's your other self.

D. You contain Him, He motivates you, you are His means of expressing Himself.

1. God wants us to understand that our basic function is to have a constant recognition of Him.

2. How does this find expression in everyday life?

IV. I Don't Like That Person

A. We have an affinity for some people and not others.

1. We are made like that.

2. But we move from our emotions (souls) back to the inner reality of our Spirit.

3. Lord, I don't like them but you do - more than that you love them. So you love them thru me.

B. This business of emotions is deadly for Believers.

1. We often live with a sense of condemnation because we feel away from the Lord.

2. Or we may feel cold or guilty or weak.

3. This Christian has not discerned between the varying emotions of the soul and the unvarying reality of Spirit.

C. How can I be cold when I have the eternal flame within me - Jesus Christ.

1. You move back from affections and emotions.

2. The truth is not found in your feelings but in the Word of God.

3. This Word says there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ.

4. Satan will lie to you - reject them and recognize the reality of your Lord.

5. Where is He? He is in you - if so be that you are in Him.

D. How does this happen?

1. Recognize that you are a sinner and that you are separated from Him.

2. Believe that He loves you and died for your sin.

3. Trust Him to forgive you and that He freely receives you into His family.

4. When you believe on the Lord, He takes up His residence in you.