Christ in you, the hope of glory

We have a saying in YFC Canada, “what and how we pray is the result of where we pray from.”

The mystery of Christianity is that God himself comes and deposits His very nature (a nature revealed in Christ Jesus) into the believer. The gospel is that all who were born into Adam die, and can be reborn into Christ to share intimate fellowship with God. The fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5 is not a list of growing Christian virtues but the product of a deep, true and tangible reality—Christ by His Spirit lives in you! The mere presence of the Spirit’s fruit in our lives declares for all to hear, “the old has passed and the new has come!” The very presence of the Spirit in and with us is sign, seal and pledge of this reality (Ephesians 1:14 & 2 Corinthians 1:22). Our identity has forever changed from that of sinners and lost orphans to redeemed, holy, treasured, brilliant and generous Children of God.

God was well pleased for His fullness to dwell in Christ (Colossians 2:9) and in Christ, redeem you to Himself (Colossians 2:10). By His blood and body Jesus restored all that Adam lost. This unveiled secret unites heaven and earth and declares every believer as the new temple and dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:21-22). The result of the Gospel is Jesus Himself lives in and through the believer, through you!

As you pray this week, understand that you pray from a place of complete confidence before God. Jesus, by His cross, resurrection and Spirit assure you of your right standing and union with God. This right standing empowers your prayers for the sick, lost and broken. Your prayers accomplish incredible and mighty things because of where you pray from, union with God through Christ.