Crucified with Christ Today, The Power Of Our Faith, And Our Future Redemption
Crucified with Christ is such a beautiful phrase to a believer.
The true beauty and power of being crucified with Christ is living the crucified life. If we take a more intentional look within ourselves we might see that for the most part, our flesh really isn’t that dead. And in reality, we like it that way because death to our flesh can be excruciatingly painful.
However, if we desire to see the manifested power of God in our lives, (and I think most of you would say, “I want to.”) death to our flesh is of utmost importance. Paul wrote about death of his flesh in Galatians 2:20 and the redemption of our body in Romans 8:23.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:23
As we look at these 2 verses we find ourselves positioned and living in the tension of two spiritual realities, a past tense crucified with Christ and future tense redemption of our body.
The Struggle is Real!
Paul also wrote about the struggle he faced with his flesh in Romans 7:15-25. This was his infamous, I do what I don’t want to do and don’t do what I do want to do passage. I am so thankful that Paul saw it necessary to share his own struggle with us. At least we know that we are not alone in the battle with our flesh. The entire chapter of Romans 7 reminds us of the struggle we all face living as a new creation in an old body of flesh.
Here is the verse I most identify with in Romans 7.
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:24
Paul knowing the answer when he wrote the question, immediately answers his rhetorical question, I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25)
Our physical existence and our spiritual reality have our earthly feet walking in a faith journey that sometimes feels like teetering from side to side while walking on a tightrope.
The truth is, we are all human and are going to make mistakes. 1 John 1:8 says, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. While we strive for perfection, we won’t get there until we stand face to face with Jesus and He completes His work in us.
The amazing thing about this part of our journey is that He gave each of us a measure of overcoming faith.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly,
as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3
The Obstacle of Manifested Power
The very next thing Paul talks about in Romans 12 is the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit living in us. Jesus filled us with Himself by giving us His Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 tells us that His Holy Spirit helps with our weaknesses and makes intercession for us. And Ephesians 3:20 says, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.
However, we will not live out the power of our faith and the Holy Spirit in us if we are consumed with self. Our “self” is the greatest enemy to seeing the manifested power of the Holy Spirit.
In John 3:30 John the Baptist said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.”
I truly think we all would say, Amen to that statement. We definitely want Jesus to increase in our lives. However, I also think we aren’t grabbing a hold of the necessity for us to rid ourselves of our self.
We live in a “do what makes you happy” world. Now don’t get me wrong, I want to be happy just like the next person. But how can we decrease when our focus in only on making ourselves happy.
Anxiety is one of the top issues of our day, Christian or non-Christian. Statistics don’t even need to come into play on this one, because if we open our ears, we hear people talking about being anxious or “my anxiety” all day, every day. If we looked at some of the top medications dispensed in our day and time, as the wife of a pharmacist, anxiety meds are high on the list.
Self-Examination – (Don’t bail on me now!)
The problem with anxiety is an inward focus. Once we begin to experience a state of anxiousness, our own feelings, thoughts, and fears have taken center stage. So my question is, “How then can we experience the manifest power of the Holy Spirit in our lives when all we can think of is our self?”
I am asking you to not tune me out, but to receive this as encouragement to look within and reexamine. And then, I ask you to allow me to intrude one step further, “How can we truly be or say that we are crucified with Christ if ‘me, myself, and I’ are our top concern?”
The very next passage that comes to my mind is Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
And we all shout, Hallelujah and Amen!
Romans 8:1 is one of those verses that we most often only focus on the part that makes us feel good about ourselves, but Romans 8:1 has more to speak to us. Here it is in its entirety.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
Romans 8:1
Do you see that even where condemnation is concerned that our flesh is the perpetrator of the very thing we do not want, condemnation?
Bringing condemnation is not what I seek. But instead I seek to bring awareness to the hinderances and damage our unrestrained flesh and self, do to our power walk of faith.
High-fives to the sisters who hung in there!
If you are still reading, it shows me you want to live in the power of your faith and the Holy Spirit in you or you would have closed the page when it got too uncomfortable to bear. I celebrate your desire for Jesus to be manifested in your life.
Let’s make this one commitment to ourselves and to God. In those moments when we recognize that our self stepped up tp center stage. Instead of turning to anything else, let’s turn our attention and focus to God, who while invisible in person, is tangible in Scripture.
First, say a prayer,
“Lord God, I recognize that my concerns and focus have turned inward. I want You, and the power of Your Holy Spirit to be manifested in my life. Help me crucify my flesh and redirect me as I turn to Your Word to release ‘me’ and embrace You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Second, get in God’s word.
The book of Psalms is a great place to get when we need to turn our attention off ourselves and to God. Need a suggestion? A few of my favorite Psalms are Psalm 42, 46, 61, 62, 90, 91, and 92. I recommend reading until you know your focus shifted from you to God.
I believe this one commitment can help transform us from living self-centered to living crucified with Christ and walking in the power of our faith as we await our future, sure and true redemption.
Much Love & Blessings!
