The Ground of Resurrection

I am enjoying periodically a daily reading from T.Austin Sparks.  I do not get to it every day, but whenever I do, the 'deep things' of the Lord are revealed to me.  Today's reading touched me and here is a portion.

"Resurrection is not to be only something that happened with Jesus, but it is something that has happened in us and taken place inside of us. There is a counterpart of that by His risen Life imparted, that we have been raised together with Him. And that is not just doctrine either. That is real, that is vital truth and something to happen in us as well as in Jerusalem so many years ago. It is not just history and tradition, it is experience.... We have not only to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, but we have got to be alive ourselves with Him in that resurrection and on that ground."
(the author's italized and my bold)
If you get a chance, read the beginning of this and see why the author makes the statements above.
Grace and Peace

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/openwindows/003344.html

The "Much More" of your salvation

One of my father's (Lewis) favorite verses was Romans 5:10, "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through His life." I remember Dad getting real excited about the words 'much more' and the life we receive from the Father through the Son by the Spirit. I thought of him as I read this quote from Ian Thomas in the book I have been reading, The Indwelling Life of Christ.
     "Are you being saved by Christ's life? . . . this is the 'much more' of your salvation.
     Reconciled to God by Christ's death . . . and saved by His life - the one is a crisis of the moment; and the other is the process of a lifetime and on into eternity.
     . . . the crisis involves an initial act of faith that accepts Christ for what He did; the process involves an attitude of faith that continues to enjoy all that Christ is! For He not only died for what you have done; He rose again from the dead to take the place of what you are, which He does by His Holy Spirit indwelling you.
     This is the gospel, the whole of it. Anything less than this falls short of the gospel as revealed in the Word of God."
Amen and Amen.

Any Old Bush Will Do

A few months ago I stated that I would share a passage from a book by Thomas about how God can use any old bush. Let this truth permeate your being and bring you closer to Christ in you step by step.  Amen
Here is a possible monologue from the Father to Moses.

Ian Thomas, The Saving Life of Christ  p.68-69

 “Do you see that bush over there? That scruffy, scaggy looking thing – that bush would have done! Do you see this beautiful bush, so shapely and fine – this bush would have done! For you see, Moses, any old bush will do – any bush – if only God is in the bush!

   . . . it is not the bush that sustains the flame, it is God in the bush; any old bush will do!
(end of monologue)

   Did you ever make this discovery? Have you ever come to the place where you realized that all you can produce, at your best, is ashes? Did you ever come to the place where you presented yourself for what you are – nothing – to be filled with what He is – everything – and to step out into every new day, conscience that the eternal I AM is all you need, for all His will!

   This is the forgotten tense of the church of Jesus Christ today. We live either in the past tense or in the future tense. . . .  But we forget that He is the eternal I AM, the eternal present tense, adequate right now for every need!

   If you are born again, all you need is what you have and what you have is what He is! He does not give you strength – He is your strength! He does not give you victory – He is your victory!

   Do you understand the principle? Christ is in you – nothing less than that! You cannot have more, and you do not need to have less. Every day can be the glorious fulfillment of the divine end – “proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” as you present your body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Rom. 12:1-2)

   Only remember this – any old bush will do!”