In Rankin Wilborne’s book,\u00a0Union with Christ,<\/u> he raised the question I asked my class. He describes Batman as a rich man with \u201clots of cool gadgets\u201d [1]. Conversely, the spider bite is the only reason Peter Parker is a superhero. The encounter with the spider changed Peter from within. He became Spider-Man. Batman depends on outward trappings, not inner power.<\/p>\n
Now you know the answer. We\u2019ve been inwardly changed. We don\u2019t need to rely on our own strengths or special gadgets we conjure up.<\/p>\n
As believers in Jesus Christ, we\u2019ve become new. Jesus Christ now lives within us. We’re like Spider-Man, but are we still living like Batman?<\/p>\n
Jesus told His disciples, \u201cAnd I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.\u201d (John 14:16<\/strong>)<\/span><\/p>\n Paul confirms that the Holy Spirit of Jesus now lives inside believers, changing who we are. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation\u2014having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13).<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Like Spider-Man, our insides have been changed. We’ve been given unnatural powers, but what are they? Although it would be fun, it\u2019s not squirting webs to buildings and swinging through city streets.<\/p>\n Consider the following:<\/span> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,<\/em> gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB)<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Our new powers include:<\/p>\n What would it be like if we continually experienced these powers of Christ flowing through us?<\/p>\n But too often we forget about the power within. We might ask God to give us patience or self-control, when in Christ, we already have these things and much more.\u00a0 We have all of Christ available as we abide in His Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, wants to be<\/em><\/strong> our love<\/span><\/strong>, joy<\/span><\/strong>, peace<\/strong><\/span>, patience<\/span><\/strong>, kindness<\/strong><\/span>, goodness<\/strong><\/span>, faithfulness<\/span><\/strong>, gentleness<\/strong><\/span> and self-control<\/strong><\/span>. He is our Rivers of Living Water<\/span><\/strong> flowing from deep within us. [2]<\/p>\n May we stop relying on our personalities, disciplines of self-control, our educations, our skills, and our gadgets.<\/p>\n Jesus made it very clear what results we can expect from our human efforts: I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5<\/strong>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n And I\u2019m told that from the Greek, the \u2018nothing<\/em>\u2019 Jesus is referring to is a double negative. So, apart from abiding and relying on the Holy Spirit as we serve, our efforts produce nothing (nothing<\/strong>). That’s a lot of nothing.\u00a0Who\u2019s got time for that?<\/p>\n The life we\u2019re to live is a life of total dependence upon the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, who indwells us. After all, the Bible tells us that we died, and that Christ now lives within us. It would be the definition of insanity to live from our old, dead self when we\u2019ve been given newness of life. This new life is according to the mighty strength which raised Christ from the dead. [3]<\/p>\n I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and\u00a0the\u00a0life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20<\/strong>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Lord, Your Spirit has changed me forever. Please forgive me for trying to live this Christian life on my own without depending upon You.<\/em><\/p>\n You tell me that apart from You, I can do nothing. I\u2019m tired of wearing myself out, living life on my own. Trying to live apart from You is like Spider-Man fighting without his spider powers.<\/em><\/p>\n Never again, I pray. Please teach me how to live every moment of every day in the flow of Your Living Waters within me. <\/em><\/p>\n Please quickly stop me when I try and live life without You. \u00a0Teach me how to depend utterly upon You. <\/em><\/p>\n Have Your way with me, I pray. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s a real difference between asking God to help us<\/strong><\/em> improve and relying upon His Spirit within to empower us.<\/p>\n My dad is a great example of this. He struggled with alcoholism for decades. It cost him his marriage and almost his life.<\/p>\n But things changed. He ended up not drinking for the last fifteen years of his life.<\/p>\n One day I asked him how he did it. \u201cI tried everything,\u201d he said. \u201cAA and countless programs, but nothing worked. I\u2019d been asking God to help me quit, but it just wasn\u2019t working. Finally, I said, \u2018God, you have to do it, I can\u2019t.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n After praying this prayer, he cut the grass, opened a beer, and took a swig. It tasted awful. He spat it out, poured it all out and never had another drop of alcohol the rest of his life. My dad learned to depend on the power of God to deliver him when nothing else could.<\/p>\n [1] Union with Christ, Rankin Wilborne, David Cook, p. 52-53<\/p>\n [2] John 7:37-39<\/p>\n Unless otherwise specified, all verses are from the New American Standard Bible – NASB<\/strong><\/p>\n Other posts in our Everlasting Way Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Learning How to Overcome Emotional Numbness<\/a><\/p>\n Embracing God’s Amazing Love<\/a><\/p>\n Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em> <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n This collection of devotionals chronicles a heartfelt journey from a life of striving and self-reliance to one of growing surrender and trust in God.<\/p>\n Through personal stories of family struggles, cancer, grief, and unexpected trials, the devotions show that true, unshakeable joy comes not from perfect circumstances, but from the constant, loving presence of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an invitation to learn to let go of our burdens and find growing peace in God\u2019s greater story.<\/p>\n Finding Joy in Life’s Moments<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowingly set off a series of events which uncovers a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\nSpider Powers<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n
Reflections<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nNonfiction books by the Author:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nNovels by the Author:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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