Our focus this month is on abiding, following, and practicing – all things we are to do, but why do we do them? An answer would be authority. Yes, you read that correctly, authority. When we abide in Christ, follow Christ’s example, and practice spiritual disciplines to be more like Christ, ultimately, we surrender to His authority and work of formation in our lives.
I am going to go out on a limb to say, if we are following Jesus, each of us desires for Him to use our lives to see more of God’s Kingdom on earth and less of the enemy’s kingdom flourishing. This is a beautiful desire. Yet to be more than a desire, it must become something we do daily.
Yet again, if this is something we do, why do we do this?
In 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, the Apostle Paul says, “Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”
While each word of those verses is inspired, I want you to focus on four: In Christ and Through Us.
As we abide, follow, and practice, the Holy Spirit works in us.
As we serve, love, and live, the Holy Spirit works through us.
All of this happens under the authority of Christ. If we allow the Spirit’s shaping process in our lives, it produces a fragrance, an aroma of Christ, to those being saved and those who don’t follow Jesus. What an honour! A teacher of mine, Terry Wailing, describes how God shapes us under Spiritual Authority as a loop.
See if you recognize this pattern in your own life.
In Us – Spiritual Authority – Character Formation – Wounding/Pain –
Wounding/Pain – Character Formation – Spiritual Authority – Through Us
We abide in Christ, following Christ’s example, and practice spiritual disciplines, so Christ in us, then through us, dismantles the works of darkness by extending the Kingdom of God.
In 2022 here is a big issue: Followers of Jesus have lost sight of why we abide, follow, and practice. When this happens, we chase shortcuts. We value gifting over character. Surrender to our flesh. Abide and follow inferior authorities falsely promising to get us where we desire, only quicker, less painfully, yet in reality, we are being deformed.
Christ-like influence flows out of spiritual authority.
When it comes to authority, the why behind the what, honestly ask the following four questions:
1. Who is in control of my life?
2. Am I following Jesus, or am I inviting Jesus to follow me around each day?
3. To see genuine change, what do I rely on?
4. Can I admit where I need Jesus?
Most reading this, I am assuming, have decided to give their lives to Jesus. Glory! But what about going beyond a decision by trusting the Spirit’s leading you deeper? If this is your heart’s desire, let the Spirit’s lead form you, under the authority of Christ, as you abide, follow, and practice spiritual disciplines.
Because the world doesn’t need more Christianity, it needs more surrendered, aligned, broken, and vulnerable people following Jesus deeper as He forms us to be the aroma our lost and broken world desires to smell.
Martin Epps
So good, that is exactly what the Holy Spirit is really bringing home to me these days. I must abide and submit to his leading in order to change. I can’t do it on my own. If I want to expand the kingdom of God and partner with God to destroy the works of darkness, I must daily submit to him first to receive his love and grace afresh and deal with the darkness in my own heart with no mercy. Yes, no mercy not because I want to be harsh or legalistic but because I am starting to realize the more I give in to anger, frustration and fear, the more I help the devil and hurt myself and others. Papa God knows better. We can trust him to let him change us even if it hurts for a moment. Comment provided by Johanna Schlager