IN CHRIST

            In this study we will be looking at who we are in Christ and our privileges as a child of the Living God.

            When Jesus was baptized and came up from the water…the Father identified Him.

"This is My Beloved Son in Whom I Am well pleased."

            Matt. 3:16-17 Matt. 4:1-11. What was in Christ that the enemy was attacking?  Christ's identity. "If You are the Son of God." Notice the enemy never said "If You are the Beloved Son of God"…satan knows nothing about love. Jesus used the Word of God (the Sword of the Spirit) in overcoming all temptation.

            For victory, through our Christian journey, it is imperative that we know who we are In Christ.   This is where our life is. Col. 3:3 "For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God." I love this scripture. What are your thoughts about being hidden in Christ? Ps. 32:7.

            During a storm, our electricity was out for 24 hours. I lay in bed that night covered with four blankets, my warmest pj's…gloves on my hands…a flashlight to read.  As I was laying there I thanked the Lord that I was in our house…I was hidden away from the storm…I had shelter. In every storm we are hidden in Christ. We are in His shelter. There is nothing to fear…we are "In Christ." Though the storm blow around us…we are safe…we are hidden IN CHRIST!

            I love the thought of being hid in Christ in God. It gives me comfort and security. I see safety. There is an old song…

"Shut in with God in a secret place…

There in the Spirit …Beholding His face…

seeking new power to run in the race…

I long to be shut in with God."

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

            Is there anything more important than to be part of a family? How do we become a part of a family?  We are born into a family or we are adopted into the family. We, as followers of Christ have two births. The Lord is involved in both. Ps 139:13-18. He covered us in our mother's womb.

ü      What are your thoughts when you realize He covered you in the womb?

                  With every natural birth there is water and blood. John 3:3-8. We must be born again. Not only do we experience a natural birth, there is a spiritual birth…"born of the Spirit."

ü      Thoughts?  

                  John 19:30-34. From Jesus pierced side. Flowed blood and water.  He gave His life for our salvation; for our new birth.

ü      Any thoughts on this? Do you find it intriguing that there are two births?

            In our first birth we did not have a decision.  With our second birth it is our choice.

ü      What are your thoughts about choice? Do you see it as a privilege? Why do you think God has allowed us choice?

            John 1:9-14. Here we see the power of choice. His own did not receive Him. As many who did receive Him; to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.  (vs. 13 this birth was not a natural birth it was from God.)  Born Again…the second birth. Vs.13…born of God.

            Receive in Greek is "par-al-am-ban'-o". "To take to one's self. To accept or acknowledge one to be such as he professes to be. Not to reject, not to withhold obedience. To receive something transmitted. To receive with the mind."

            Power in Greek is "exousia"… In the sense of ability…privilege. Force, capacity, freedom, mastery, superhuman, token of control, jurisdiction, authority, liberty, power, right, strength, power of choice, the power of authority (influence) and of right privilege. The power to rule or government, the sign of regal authority, a crown."

ü      What do you see in both of these Greek words? The Greek gives a rich understanding of the words.

ü       

            The Greek word for become is "ginomai" To cause to be (generate) to be ordained to be. Be published (I thought of our names written in Heaven), to become, to come into existence. Begin to be! Receive being. (I thought of receiving the new man…the new birth within our spirit)  To arise. To appear in history. Come upon the stage. To be made finished. Of miracles to be performed."

   ***   There were so many things that came to my mind through this word. To appear in history…for such a time as this. To come upon the stage. To perform miracles.  Wow!

ü      What stands out to you from this Greek word?  When we received Him He gave us the power to become Vs. 12…the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.

The Greek word for sons is "teknon" "a child as produced: child, daughter, and son. Offspring. All who are led by the Spirit of God and thus closely related to God.The votaries of wisdom, those souls who have, as it were, been nurtured and molded by wisdom. In the NT, pupils or disciples are called children of their teachers, because the latter, by their instruction, nourish the minds of their pupils and mold their character. Bonds of love, friendship, trust just as between parents and children." Romans 8:14 for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God.

ü      What comes to your mind when you realize you are a son- a child of God?

            We have seen one prerequisite "Receive"…now we see another…"Even to them that "believe on His Name"

.  Greek for believe, "pisteuo" To have faith, with respect to a Person. To entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ.) Believe, commit, to trust, put trust in. Of the thing believed. To credit, have confidence. To trust in Jesus or God, as able to aid in obtaining, or in doing something; saving faith."

ü      Believe…a wonderful word…do you have words for believe? Is believing a choice?

Believe on His Name…Name in Greek "Onoma" "The Name is used for everything which the Name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering the Name. For One's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds."  Matt 1:21. Jesus-"Jehovah is salvation" Romans 10:8-13 The Name of the Lord…salvation.

ü      What does the Name of Jesus mean to you?

             Philip. 2:5-11 Acts 3:6. There is Power in the Name of Jesus.  At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth.  And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father!!!.  We have received Him and believed on His Name…

 Through Jesus Christ our proclamation is "I am a child of the Living God."!!!

       

IN CHRIST...THE KINGDOM WITHIN

WELCOME TO THE NEW ADDITION TO "THE WORD...THE GREAT ADVENTURE...."


                                              IN CHRIST...THE KINGDOM WITHIN......

By Gloria Phifer

            My prayer for this study is that our eyes will be opened to our identity in Christ. Who we are!  Identity is a topic in the church today because the lord is bringing it to our attention.  He wants us to know "who we are in Him."

            Dictionary: "Identity…The fact of being who or what a person or thing is. . ."

That sounds simple enough but there is so much more to identity.

        ***   How  would you describe your identity to someone?

            In order to enter a country, you have to prove your identity. That is why there are passports and visas. On our way to Israel, before we could board the El Al air plane, we were taken separately, into a room and interrogated. "Why are you going to Israel? What is your purpose? Who is your leader? Etc.

            Returning to the United States, my passport proved my citizenship and my identity.  I am a citizen of this country with all the privileges.

            I would have to get to know you, to really know who you are. We need to know ourselves "In Christ."
****Romans 12:2 we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Greek for "renewing" is "anakainosis "(an-ak-ah-ee-no-sis). Wow! what a word. It means "Renovation…renewing. To renovate.

  **** " Have you renovated anything lately?

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      ****      How do we renovate our thinking? By the Word of God. Believing what the Word says about us and who we are. Do you want to know who you really are? Do you want to know how God sees you?    We need to know and believe who we are In Christ.

             We can believe lies about ourselves. When I was a child, for some reason, my parents thought I wasn't good in math. My step dad kept me up until eleven PM drilling me in math. I have found old report cards…"How is Gloria doing in math?"

The answer was, "Gloria is doing fine in math." I grew up thinking I wasn't good in math. I never put much effort into math…after all if I wasn't good at it, why try?

             One day at work, where I worked in the accounting department, (I had also worked as a teller at a bank)…I was balancing my work, which I did every day. And I realized the lie I had believed.  Lo and behold…I was working with math everyday and getting a paycheck for it for 15 years. (My thinking was renovated…I saw the truth.)

            Knowing the truth is very important. The Lord can show you a truth today that can totally set you free from a lie of a life time. Ask Him for Truth. Truth in who you really are. That is what this study is all about. The Truth of who you really are.

            God's identity of you…  John 8:31-32 Notice it is continuing in His Word and the Truth will set you free. "If you continue in My Word, then are you my disciples indeed: and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

            As we look at this study…please take it to heart. Meditate on the scripture and apply it to yourself…for instance…"I am the beloved of the Lord." Take the Word as it belongs to you…because it does! If you can worry…you can meditate. (I don't mean something bizarre); just thinking…pondering …chew on it. Place your name in the space. ------------I am the beloved of the Lord.   Philip. 4:1

****     Knowledge and believing the right things are life changers. Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge".

****       Prov 24:5 "A wise man is strong: yea, a Man of knowledge increases in strength." Notice that…knowledge increases strength!

****      Wisdom cries out. Prov. 8: 1-14" The Words of Wisdom's mouth are in righteousness…they are plain to him that understands and right to them that find knowledge.

" I believe Wisdom is Christ. 1 Cor. 1:23-24. "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Col.2:3 In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

***     IN CHRIST is all the power and wisdom of God!!!

****   In your opinion why is knowledge important? Why is the knowledge of who you are "In Christ"important? What will this knowledge do for you?

Ephesians 3:8-10 "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."  What a wonderful privilege to be part of that eternal purpose In Christ.

            Beloved, we are the body of Christ on this earth. We represent Him. Our lives belong to Him. We are on this earth for a purpose and our purpose is NOW. We have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this. The Lord knew the generation we would live in and He has equipped us. We must know who we are! It is imperative for this time and this place. We are called and we are chosen.

            We are on a journey to find "Who we are in Christ" and the Kingdom Within.

                                            Welcome to the journey.