The Daily Word of Righteousness

Imputation and Transformation, continued

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

We certainly are not in the image and likeness of God as yet. However we have all eternity to grow into the image of our Father.

The only Man who fulfills the original Divine pronouncement concerning man is the Lord Jesus Christ. When His Bride is made in His image we will have Man as God intends for Him to be, male and female.

It is a grand plan and all the resources of the Godhead are bringing it to pass.

We have just discussed image. Also included in the work of transformation is our growth in union with God through Christ.

Union with God through Christ is as important as growth in the image of Christ. To be in the image and likeness of God and not be in union with God is a terrible fate indeed. It means we are another satan in the universe.

Satan desires to be like the most High. But he has no intention of being in union with the Most High.

There is a great danger in the Charismatic move of today. It is that the believers are seeking power. This will lead only to participation in the False Prophet. They also are promoting reconciliation with each other. This can be wholesome, but if the individual believers do not seek first a fiery union with God through Christ, the result of the reconciliation efforts will be another babylon (man-directed religion).

What we should be seeking is union with Christ, to be part of Him, to live by His Life. Then all the power we need will be available as we need it.

But to seek power of itself is a very wrong pursuit.

The Charismatic believers are at a fork in the road. Either they are going to try to use their gifts to save the world or they are going to submit themselves to Christ so He can use their gifts as He will. It is impossible to move past the Pentecostal experience until we decide to become part of the Servant of the Lord.

We must as an individual come to the Lord. We must renounce all of our religious ambition. We must tell the Lord we are laying our gifts, our ministry, our very life at His Feet to use as He will.

If we become a great leader, fine. If we are never heard of again, twice fine.

Christ is the Vine and the only Vine. We are to be branches from that Vine. Only then do we bear eternal fruit, the right kind of fruit.

Beware of trying to be God's man of faith and power. Flee from people when they attempt to exalt you. Get yourself out of the picture. Go to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you your self-seeking, your attempting to use His Glory for your own aggrandizement.

How wonderful it is to abide humbly with the Lord, out of the spotlight.

To be continued.