The Spirit Of Christ Dwells In Me!

We’ve been talking about the truth that Jesus has come in the flesh, as compared to the lies of an anti-Christ spirit. Last week we talked about dealing with Disruptive Prayers. Before that, we saw why An Anti-Christ Spirit Says That God Doesn’t Need You.

We saw that an anti-Christ spirit denies Jesus has come in the flesh. Part of the truth that Jesus has come in the flesh is that his Spirit dwells in us. Our bodies are his temple. An anti-Christ spirit denies that Jesus has come in the flesh, so it denies that the Spirit of Jesus dwells in believers. It denies that the church is the body of Christ.

Jesus Became Like Us In Every Way

By coming as a sinless man, Jesus showed us what is possible for any man in right relationship with God the Father. Although Jesus is God, he became like us in every way. That means that he did all of his works as a man, not as God above.

Hebrews 2:14-17 (NRSV) Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.  Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters  in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God

Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

I once heard Todd White point out that scripture says God cannot be tempted (James 1:13), but it also says Jesus was tempted. The point is that Jesus, being God, really did become like us in every way. He needed the help of his heavenly Father just as much as we do.

John 5:19 (NRSV) Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.

Everything that Jesus did, he did through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. By coming in the flesh, Jesus demonstrated what is possible for any man who has been made righteous, cleansed by his blood, in right relationship with God.

I know that I can do what Jesus did, because Jesus came in the flesh. He was made like me in every way and he did his wonders through the empowerment of the same Holy Spirit that he has given me. He lives in me!

John 14:12 (NRSV) Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

Confronting Excruciating Pain And Much More

I went through a period of about a year where I progressively grew more and more to understand what it means that Jesus came in the flesh. During that year, I took a trip out of state with my family.

We visited a man who was suffering greatly. He had constant pain for many years. One of his legs was amputated due to diabetes. His skin was covered with sores and he had multiple physical problems. He was also living in sexual sin. Evidently, a great deal of mental torment and emotional pain went with all of the physical problems.

As we began to talk to him he said “God must have a reason for me to suffer like this.” My heart was stirred, angry about this suffering and the lies of the devil! I spoke to him about seeing God through Jesus. I said “Jesus is the same today, and it’s God’s will to heal you now. But God works by putting his Spirit in men. The church is the body of Christ, and the problem is that the church needs to grow and become convinced of who Jesus is. If God’s will is done through me right now, you will be healed.”

He said “Pray for me!” I and my sister, hearts full of fire, rebuked the pain and the disease. “Be healed now, in Jesus’ name!”

Shut Up You Lying, Anti-Christ Spirit!

 After spending considerable time laying hands on him and commanding healing, little changed. The pain level was the same. The only thing that he noticed was that his vision improved slightly.

I felt my heart drop in my chest. Disappointment. We got his hopes up, and then we let him down. I knew that it was Jesus’ will to heal him. But we weren’t able to demonstrate what I knew in my heart to be true.

At least that was what I felt. But then a thought came to me. The Bible says that I can do what Jesus did, because Jesus lives in me. I had just begun to realize that the Spirit of Christ dwelling in Christians is an extension of the truth that Jesus has come in the flesh. Therefore a spirit that denied I could do what Jesus did was a spirit that denied Jesus had come in the flesh. It was anti-Christ!

I didn’t say a word out loud, but my heart shouted. “Shut up, you lying anti-Christ spirit! You’re saying that Jesus doesn’t live in me and that I can’t do what Jesus did. But you’re a liar! This man will be healed, and Jesus will be glorified in this situation!” I was aggressive, strengthened in my innermost being by the power of the Holy Spirit, bursting with strength. I refused to be disappointed. I stood on truth, my heart screaming “Shut up!” to the devil.

Four days later I got a phone call from him. The pain was the same when we said goodbye to him. But by the end of the day, it was gone. Years of chronic, excruciating pain. Not a moment without pain-gone! Within four days, all of the sores on his body had cleared up.

Maybe sometimes you feel like you can’t do what Jesus did. It doesn’t matter what you feel. It’s a lie. If Jesus lives in you, you can do the same works and even greater works than he did. Step out and start doing them, no matter how you feel. Let the Holy Spirit strengthen you as you meditate on scripture and fill your soul with truth. Say “Shut you, you liar. Jesus lives in me!” to every voice that says you can’t do what Jesus did. Never back down.

If you liked this post, you may want to check out my Heaven Now book trilogy. It contains many similar insights into understanding simple gospel truths and exercising heaven’s dominion on earth. It’s also filled with testimonies of what happened when I put these truths into practice. I’m sure these books will encourage you and help you learn to walk as a heavenly person. Not only that, but your purchase supports our missionary work in Brazil and in every other place we go!