We need power to overcome sin. We need power to do God's will in all areas, including the use of our gifts and ministries. We need power in order to keep pressing forward in God. We need power to keep our attention centered on things above where Christ (and we) are at the right hand of God. We need power to live victoriously and joyfully in the present spiritual darkness.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, (Ephesians 3:17—NIV)

The special purpose of our being strengthened with power in our inward nature is that Christ may dwell in our hearts, and this through faith. All of God's promises are fulfilled in us as we, having become aware of the promise, choose to believe what God has said, and then wait patiently for the fulfillment.

Over fifty years ago the Lord spoke to me that there would come a move of salvation after Pentecost, a step forward in the Lord, and that this new thrust forward would have to do with Christ in us. I preach this wherever I go, not so much Christ with us, or the historical Christ, but Christ in us. There is a tremendous difference!

A minister took me to task on this. He said I was implying other Christians did not have Christ in them.

This is not at all what I am saying. Rather I am following Paul. Paul knew the saints in Ephesus had a portion of Christ in them. Now the issue was to have more of Christ, still more of Christ, and even more of Christ until Christ had been formed in them and was dwelling in them.

We have to have a strong inward nature in order to receive all of Christ that God has planned for us.

The more of Christ we have in us the more of God's love we have in us.

There is a lot of talk about love today, in society as well as in the Christian churches. Most of it is powerless, as far as I am concerned. It is an appeal to soulish, adamic love. Adamic love has little power. It will fail at the slightest irritation.

God's love and adamic, human love are not even related. The one is corruptible and will turn into hate if it is provoked sufficiently. But God's love is of a different quality. It does not proceed from the good intentions of the human being. It comes from above and is of the very Life of God.

Lasting love for God and for other people comes from Christ alone. It works in us as Christ is formed in us and dwells in us.

Believers sometimes say there is no law but the law of love, therefore we do not have to keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles. This is something like saying we need a university degree but do not have to go to kindergarten. Of course we have to keep all the commandments of the New Testament. We show our love for Christ by keeping His commandments! We are enabled to keep the commandments of the New Testament by coming to the Mercy Seat in Heaven and asking God for help.

He always hears that prayer!

To be continued.