The more I study the New Covenant the more my natural mind struggles to grasp the vastness of its realities.

Especially when it comes down to my relationship with Jesus!

Jesus laid down His life so that I don’t have to die. He did that so that He could have no more reason for separation.

These truths are enough to meditate the rest of your life without exhausting the complete depth of their meaning. God had a much deeper purpose. He wanted to be united with us!

To be honest, my logical mind is trying to throw it out. It doesn't make sense. It sounds too good to be true. But God keeps on highlighting the scriptures and approving it as reality.

Therefore I wrote this story to make it more alive in me and increase awareness because I don’t see many people speaking about it.

Undeniable union

Paul finished his second letter to the church in Corinth with these words:

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV).

We are told to check ourselves to see whether we’re in the faith. This faith is the realization that Jesus is in each one of us.

What does that mean?

God is a Spirit and spirits are able to live inside of physical bodies. Just like people are able to inhabit houses.

I believe that when an unclean spirit inhabits a human being it has to build up an influence. It cannot just simply take over the person from the moment it enters. Humans have to be submitting to the influence of the spirit knowing about the entity or not. The control is gained gradually as the person submits and opens up more doors for the spirit to eventually take control.

In case of a manifestation, there’s not much control that the person still has.

I’m sharing about this because sadly it’s easier to relate about the taking over of an unclean spirit instead of the Holy Spirit.

When we put our faith and trust in Jesus or surrender our lives to Him, His Spirit comes to live in us. Unlike the unclean spirit, He’s the Spirit of Life. He doesn't want to manipulate. We need Him if we want to live and not perish.

Moreover, God wants to influence and work through us. But He will not force His will if we don’t cooperate with Him.

Cooperation

This is where it gets harder for the natural mind to accept it.

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9, ESV).

The word fellowship in the original Greek (koinōnia) is broader than just a friendship or conversation. It speaks of unity, cooperation, partnership and participation.

The first thing that comes to mind when we look for an example is marriage. Marriage has all the aspects of the koinōnia.

No wonder why Paul is illustrating the union with God using the covenant of marriage.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:31–32, ESV, emphasis mine).

Also, Jesus in His priestly prayer asking the Father that we might realize the inseparable unity with Him.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20–23, ESV).

Unity was essential to Jesus. If He emphasized it so much, it must be vital for us too!

This unity is not just for its own sake but for a specific purpose.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. “(John 15:5, ESV).

Only by being connected to Him, one is able to produce good fruit. Without Him, it’s impossible to bear everlasting fruit.

Unity with Jesus produces life and the ability to be effective. We have koinōnia with the almighty God to be fellow workers in the purpose He has given us.

The end of myself

I have nothing if I separate myself from Jesus. I cannot produce good fruit if I’m not drawing life from the Giver of life.

It’s beautiful how ERV puts it:

“You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.” (Colossians 2:7, ERV).

If I’m called to depend on Christ only, that means I’m not going to strive using my own efforts! No branch struggles to produce fruit by itself. It’s a natural outcome of the connection with the vine.

Paul was working hard to establish believers in the truth of the Gospel.

“[Jesus] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29, ESV, brackets and emphasis mine).

Paul didn’t say with all my energy but with His energy. The was clearly another force that was empowering the apostle to do the work!

Therefore, if it’s Jesus in me who does the works, then I shouldn’t toil out of my own efforts and capabilities. The only action I’m able to legally make is to move out of His way.

Only then I can be victorious! Only then there’s no reason to boast. When I’m weak, given up on my own effort, He can be strong and work mightily through me.

My job is to move out of the way and give Him the steering wheel.

As John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30, ESV).

I choose daily to allow God to take over control. If I don’t surrender, if I don’t decrease, He can’t force me.

God isn’t a puppet master who uses us to achieve His purposes, but a good shepherd who leads!

Closing thoughts

There’s so much that can be said about this topic. It’s throughout the entire story of the New Testament.

The early church understood it and ran with it. That’s why God was doing so many incredible signs as they witnessed. They allowed God to work through them.

I feel a nudge by God in my heart to surrender daily. No more trying to make sense of it. No need to do more in order to achieve more.

Only letting go knowing that when I’m weak, He can be strong.

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