He Is In Us!

Yesterday morning while taking my daily walk in the park, with my dog, I was reflecting on a teaching one of our pastors had given the previous night at a worship night. He was speaking about the fact that in John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about how the Holy  Spirit, the Father and Jesus Himself would take up residence in those who believe and follow Jesus. The passages, which I will share below are actually quite mind-blowing, if we take them fully to heart. Here are the three examples of several verses:

John 14:15-17,20,23 NIV

[15] “If you love me, keep my commands. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

[20] On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 

[23] Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

    -And-

John 15:4-5 NIV:

[4] “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

    -And- 

1 John 3:24 NIV:

[24] “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

In the past I have thought through these verses and they have always been a bit confusing, or maybe just overwhelming, to consider. If we graphed them all out, it is apparent that all three of the Trinity live in us who believe.  To quote a recent obnoxious T-Mobile commercial, “MIND—--BLOWN”!

This is clearly one of those things that we can’t fully grasp, but it is something I think we can experience.  What I was reflecting on while walking our dog, was how in the place of intimate worship we can encounter the Lord, sometimes in significant ways.  I know for me there are times that I am overcome, times where the Lord feels so close, times where I am shaken by His presence around me, on me or in me!  What I realized is that this is me just becoming aware, experientially of a spiritual reality that is true.  It is not that God is choosing to visit me in those moments, but rather that I become aware that He is present in those moments.

If He is in me, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, then much of the time I am unaware, and that makes me sad, for I believe this lack of experiencing His presence has everything to do with me, and the state of my heart and mind.

There have been many people, throughout the ages since Christ’s ascension, who seemed to walk through life embracing this “in-dwelling” reality. John (the author of the verses above) was clearly one.  Many of the saints of old and present, both Catholic and other denominational affiliations, have had such experiences. We tend to think that this experience of God’s indwelling presence is something that He reserves for the truly special individual, at least that is how I have often thought.  However, if we look closely at Jesus’ words, and the words of John, we see no distinction, or categorization of special individuals, rather it appears that this is true for all who believe!

My encouragement this morning is that I might start believing this reality is true, for it certainly is!!  I pray that I might become aware of God’s indwelling in me!  I pray that I might remove anything in my life that blocks my ability to experience this reality!  I pray that I might live my life aware of HIs presence upon me, and in me!

I pray that we all might experience this reality in greater measure!  

Amen and Amen!