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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/796983
I think sometimes we take that for granted! We read exciting stories in the Old Testament and wish God would deal with us like He did with Abraham or Moses. We wish He’d send an angel when He wants something from us, or talk to us out of a burning bush. But, really, that would be a big step down. Abraham just got to hear from God every once in a while. He had to wait years for special supernatural appearances. We have the life of God dwelling right here inside us. We’re created in Him of the same spiritual substance and He’s walking with us and talking with us all the time. What exactly is He saying? For one thing, He’s talking to us about being holy, about reckoning ourselves dead to sin. He’s speaking to us about living differently than the world does. There’s nothing more miserable than being born again and continuing to live like the world. When we’re in that condition, we know just enough about God to not really enjoy sin and not enough about Him to stay out of it. That’s no way to be! Yet it’s exactly how a lot of Christians live. Instead of setting their affections on things above and drawing near to the Lord through the Word and through prayer, they spend all their time on natural things. They live a sloppy, lazy spiritual life and then when they get themselves into trouble they act like, This is a big shock! Why did this happen to me? Of course, God is merciful, so if we find ourselves in that situation we can call out to Him and He’ll respond and help us. But that’s not the way we, as believers, ought to live. The Most Exciting Adventure Ever! We’re not supposed to be conformed to this world. We’re not designed by God to be under its domination. We’re destined to walk as overcomers in the realm of the spirit. As Romans 8:29 ("NKJV") says, we’re “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” That image is already perfect and complete in your inner man. Because Jesus is living in your spirit, you’re already just like Him on the inside. What you’re doing now is learning to walk in a way that allows Him to increasingly come forth on the outside. You’re learning to manifest in your life the reality revealed in Colossians 2:9-10: “In [Jesus] the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]” ("AMPC"). Talk about an exciting adventure! As a new creation in Christ, you’re on the most thrilling mission imaginable. You’re in the process of looking more and more like Jesus. Living in the power of His resurrection life, you’re developing your capacity to walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. What’s more, you have the mighty Holy Spirit as your own personal trainer. If you’ll listen to and obey Him, you can’t lose. “But Gloria,” you might say, “I’ve been thinking the Holy Spirit is going to tell me to go to China or Africa as a missionary or something—and I’m eager to do it. But so far He hasn’t said anything.” Oh, He’s said things, all right. He’s always speaking to us. You’re probably just not hearing Him because you’re focused on things you consider big and important—like moving to a different continent, and He’s talking to you about the basics. ****** article continues on p. 30 ****** BVOV : 29