No Longer I

[Galatians 2:20 NKJV] 20 “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.

This is one of my favorite verses. It can be hard to grasp, but the whole point is that it is no longer I who live – not the old me anyway, but a brand new me with the Spirit of God living in me and through me. It would seem this happens all at once, yet for me it has been a process.

[John 3:30 NKJV] 30 “He must increase, but I [must] decrease.

The old me is dead and buried. It took that revelation to set me free from an addiction to alcohol and this verse helped me walk that out.

[Romans 8:2 NKJV] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

I had to reckon myself dead to those things that held me prisoner and learn to remain so in order to overcome them. What an amazing exchange – my sin and addictions for His Spirit – and the strength to overcome.

[Romans 6:4-6 NKJV] 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be [in the likeness] of [His] resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

[Galatians 5:24 NKJV] 24 And those [who are] Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

For years, I prayed for eyes to see in the Spirit and ears to hear in the Spirit, for wisdom and discernment.

[Isaiah 35:5 NKJV] 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

When I walk in the Spirit and look, I now see through the eyes of the Spirit. When I walk in the Spirit and listen, I now hear through the ears of the Spirit. This is how Jesus was able to do what he saw His Father do and to hear what His Father was saying ,and we can do the same thing.

[Galatians 6:14 NKJV] 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

This is not from us or of us, it is of the Spirit of God – the dear dear Holy Spirit dwelling in us! You see,

[Colossians 3:3 NKJV] 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Oh what joy! What a Savior! What a God! We are Spirits who live in a body and possess a soul. Thank God it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me! And, He gave us His authority when he ascended:

[Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV] 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.

Hallelujah! Praise God for His loving-kindness, his mercy which is new every morning, his faithfulness and grace. We love and adore you Lord for you alone are worthy! Thank you for coming to live inside us and for all the gifts of the Spirit! I pray for an increase in faith for each and everyone of us, that we may walk in the fullness of your Spirit and minister to men as we should. Thank you that it is no longer we who live, but you the Holy Anointed One who lives in us! In Jesus name I pray. Amen!