We Know He Lives In Us

1 John 4:21-24 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
 
DO we often stop to reflect on the wonderful truth that you live in him and he lives in us? The Holy God of heaven and earth has come in the third person of the Trinity to dwell in us. How can you know this is true for your life? You will know you live in the Spirit, and he dwells in you when you believe in Jesus and obey his commands.
   One sign of your belief and obedience is a heart that does not condemn you. Yes, a Christian’s heart must be aware of sin. But you must not be overwhelmed with guilt. Believing in Jesus, you will pursue God’s righteousness. And when you fall short of doing good, you will confess your sin. Then with the Spirit’s assurance that Jesus has redeemed you, you will let it go. A conscience overcome with guilt is a mind that does not trust in the effectiveness of Jesus’ death and resurrection. When the Spirit lives in you, you will reject Satan’s accusations and know you dwell in the shadow of God’s protective wings.
   When you live in the Spirit, and the Spirit lives in you, you will pray to know and receive God’s will. What is his will? The Bible tells us God’s will is to bear fruit for the kingdom, to make disciples, to love God and to love others. God’s will is to devote your life to revealing his holiness to a lost, broken and imprisoned world. God’s will is trusting his promises to focus your life toward heaven. God’s will is that you live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection now and forever.
   If you pray for those things, he will faithfully answer your prayers to guide you into that kind of life. He will not give you everything you desire regarding material goods or even keep you from trials. That certainly doesn’t keep you from praying for yourself and others regarding life’s challenges and life’s blessings. God will answer your prayers, “Yes.” “No.” or “Wait on me. Trust me.” within his will for your life.
   Because you live in the Spirit, and he lives in you, you continually gain a greater understanding of God’s commands and his effective will to guide your life. A growing knowledge of God leads to a greater communion with him in prayer. You love him. You desire to please him. You praise him for his goodness. You thank him for eternal grace over your life. You live in joy because you know nothing can separate you from the love of God. These things and more you know when you know you live in the Spirit, and he lives in you.