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Bible Basics Greater is He that is in Me Part 2

A] I John 4:1-6; Read all Amplified Bible;

1] Verse 4; Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

a] Last time I discussed the plausibility of the dark side being able to inhabit folks maybe even (most likely) against their will.

b] And if the devil and his minions can have sway over folks against their will to do evil, then it is certainly reasonable to expect that God can inhabit people, as the verse declares for good and or good purposes. Who could argue with that?

2] I want to pick up on verse 4 again.

a] To keep this in proper context the verses declare, there is an antichrist spirit in the world, back then as well as now, especially now, right around the corner.

b] As the verse states that since we are saved, not to worry the Greater/Greatest One lives and abides in us. And as a result we are able to overcome this spirit because of Christ’ power over it and is now (Christ) in us.

1] However, some poor soul without Christ is overwhelmed at every turn and held captive by the devil, antichrist or anything else demonic.

2] It’s imperative we understand the great miracle behind this revelation of the indwelling presence of the Lord, (what it took for this to happen) or we may not fully appreciate the fullness of this great truth and it’s benefits.

c] You don’t think this verse is just about being protected from an antichrist spirit of deception do you?

d] In order to unlock this great revelation of truth, we need to look back at the Lord’s birth for the answer. A brief look at some important text from which to build a foundation for our study.

3] Luke 1:31-35; KJV; read this carefully

a] Verse 35; the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee.

1] Most that have been in the Lord for a right good while know about the “Incarnation of Christ” (the birth of Christ) I’m sure.

2] It is imperative we understand why the Holy Ghost had to Father the Lord Jesus Christ. Here’s why.

b] Romans 5:12, Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world.

1] The human race was contaminated by Adam and Eve’s original sin.

2] Verse 18; therefore as by the offence of one, (Adam) judgement came upon all men to condemnation.

3] As most folks know, humans were born with a sin nature that wasn’t from God. And as a result, like the verse says, all would be under it’s condemnation.

a] And for that reason Jesus could NOT have an earthly father named Joseph. (Although many in the movie industry try to convince people that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, a lie)

b] It matters not that the Lord could have walked sinless on the earth for those 33 years. If anyone else other than the Holy Spirit was to be part of the procreative process in bringing forth the One who was to become the spotless Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, Christ’ efforts would have been in vain. Absorb!

4] As was revealed prior, there was “no uncontaminated blood” to be found on the earth as all it’s inhabitants were under the sin curse (Adam). There had to be an outside initiator of uncontaminated blood that would ultimately be shed for mankind, namely God the Holy Spirit.

a] Now we know why the Holy Spirit had to father the Child Jesus!

b] Per Bible Scholars, the blood of the infant/fetus comes from or is derived from the father side of the equation at conception. I’m no Doctor, just sharing what I read.

c] Putting this together, Mary gave Christ His humanity, (a fleshly body). God gave Him His Divinity, is that cool or what? Remember Jesus was fully man and fully God, not a hybrid.

d] So miraculous was this process of being born of the Holy Spirit Jesus would say;

1] John 8:33; You are from beneath, I am from above, you are of this world, I am not of this world! Wow!

2] So how does this effect us? Glad you asked.

4] Gospel of John 3:1-4; KJV; Read all

a] Verse 3; Verily I say unto thee, except a man be “born again” he cannot see the Kingdom of God. This is the very core of what we believe and receive.

b] Be very sure this born again experience is not a fictional experience, it really needs to happen in ones life. But how? Nicodemus asked the same question.

c] Verse 5; Jesus says; except a man be born of water and of the Spirit

1] It’s obvious we are born of the water, (physical birth) but how do we get born of the Spirit?

2] I brought out the point about Jesus not being able to be born of an earthly father in order to be Holy, the same holds true for the person who is to be saved.

3] Consequently; we need a second birth to deliver us from the contamination of the sin curse due in part of the earth being under the curse of original sin.

d] Verse 7; The Amplified Bible; Marvel not, (do not be surprised, astonished) at My telling you, you must be born anew, (from above)

1] Did you catch that, from above, the exact same birth method Jesus experienced, an act of the Holy Spirit. We too needed this Heavenly Blood in order to be born again.

2] The beauty of this great truth is this, just as Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit to born we too are born of the same Spirit to be born again. You might want to read this a couple of times, ponder on it, this is huge.

e] To some up this point, by receiving Jesus as you/me/our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit births us into the Kingdom of God.

1] So complete is this powerful work of God toward us that Paul would say in;

a] II Cor. 5:17; therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are new.

1] Catch that, new creature, never been one like us before, babies are new creatures, so are babes in Christ.

b] I Peter 2:2; As newborn babes, (Yes), desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.

c] As far as God was/is concerned you are a new creation. I submit we are more Heavenly spiritually speaking than most folks realize.

2] Verse 20; Now then we are ambassadors for Christ!

a] Ambassadors represent the country they are from to other countries that they are not from. The old man of our life’s country used to be terra firma, (planet earth) but the new creature by way of new birth is from Heaven. Remember we are sojourners from a foreign land.

b] I quoted Jesus saying as much, He said, I am from above, you are from beneath. Could we not say the same now?

c] There is so much that could be shared along this line.

5] Are there any tangible evidences and or differences from the old man to the new man? How about a ga-zillion, just a few of the many.

a] I John 3:9; Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1] One of the first evidences of being born from above, sin has lost it’s power over you and your taste for it. However; that doesn’t mean you will be sinless. I could write a book on this, I know I needed saving/delivering!

2] I John 1:8. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

3] This is not behavior modification as in operant psychology. If I just quit doing some evil stuff and bad things, or promise to open doors at the store for the elderly, etc I must be ok.

b] I John 3:14; We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren, he that loveth not abideth in death.

1] In my own life before Christ showed up, I got to where I hated people, they would steal, lie, harm, etc. But as soon as I gave my life to the Lord that all changed very fast.

2] Jesus forgave me of so much I couldn’t hold that stuff against folks anymore. Family really took note of that, it speaks loudly, I forgive you for Christ hath forgiven me.

3] This is imperative, if you want to go far with the Lord fast, forgive all and love all and look out, the truth still sets you free

c] I Cor. 2:14; But the natural man (old man of the flesh) receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.

1] Another great sign of an inner experience/encounter with God;

I can see clearly now, the rain (sin) is gone, the old song.

2] I remember when I was going in the Army back in the 60’s, Red Cross gave all a Red New Testament, The first Chapter of Mathew seemed foolishness to me, I chucked it, what a fool.

3] Isn’t that where the world is, they don’t see what we see plainly.

II Cor. 4:4, the god of this world hath blinded them to the truth.

6] Last, we end where we started; I John 4:4: The Greater One abides within is a fact in the Christians life.

a] Now you realize just how dramatic and miraculous an experience this born again experience is.

I’m not the same me and neither should you be the same you.

I’ve been born again from above, I don’t even see myself as the same me. I even marvel some times of what God has done in me! Phil 1:6.

b] And for this reason; Phil 4:13; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Why? Because the Greater/est One abides within.

1] It can be no other way, what I could never do before, I do by the power of God within.

c] You/me/we literally are of God, that changes everything.

1] So, who shows up now? Is it you? Hope not, you tried that right? Or is it Christ in you? We better get that one right!

d] Long after I’ve shared this word with you, you may ponder upon it and say, it’s the truth, the Greatest One does abide within.

e] Say this to yourself; I’ll never be the same, it’s Christ in me, I can make it, I can do it! Amen

7] Drop this Ministry a line to let us know if this outline was of benefit to you, Pastor Tom

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