The Master's Indwelling

1. Carnal Christians: A State of Spiritual Infancy and Sin

“Some have lived many years as believers, and yet always remain babes; others are spiritual men, because they have given themselves up to the power, the leading and to the entire rule of the Holy Ghost.”

Spiritual Immaturity. Many believers remain in a state of spiritual infancy, characterized by a lack of growth, constant need for help, and inability to contribute to the common good. This is akin to a child who, despite being years old, still requires constant care and cannot function independently. This state is marked by a lack of spiritual strength, joy, and the beauty of holiness.

Sin and Failure. Carnal Christians are marked by continual sin and failure, often struggling with issues like temper, envy, and bitterness. They may be active in church and ministry, yet these underlying issues persist, indicating a deeper problem. This is not merely about individual sins, but a sign of an unhealthy spiritual life, where the flesh dominates over the Spirit.

Unreceptiveness to Truth. The carnal state makes believers unfit for receiving deeper spiritual truths, requiring them to be fed with "milk" rather than "meat." They may admire and understand spiritual teachings, but their lives remain practically unaffected, lacking the true sanctification of the Spirit. This is not due to a lack of intelligence, but a lack of spiritual receptivity.

2. The Self-Life: The Root of Compromise and Failure

“Self turned to God is the glory of allowing the Creator to reveal Himself in us. Self turned away from God is the very darkness and fire of hell.”

Self as the Center. Self is the power of self-determination given by God, meant to be an empty vessel for Him to fill with His life. However, when self turns inward, it becomes the root of pride, independence, and separation from God. This is the very essence of sin, inherited from the fall of man.

Works of Self. The self-life manifests in self-will, self-confidence, and self-exaltation, leading to compromise, failure, and a divided heart. Self-will seeks to please oneself, denying Jesus in the process. Self-confidence leads to self-trust and self-effort, rather than dependence on God. Self-exaltation manifests as pride, jealousy, and a desire for human praise.

Denying Self. Deliverance from the self-life requires denying self, taking up the cross, and following Christ. This means choosing the Christ-life over the self-life, making Christ the law of existence. It is not merely about suppressing self, but about allowing Christ to live His life in us, casting out self and keeping it out.

3. Waiting on God: The Key to Knowing Him Above Circumstances

“My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him.”

God Above All. The true Christian life is marked by a deep, personal relationship with God, where He is more real and present than any circumstance. This means that trials, temptations, and even blessings do not separate us from Him. This is not merely intellectual knowledge, but a living experience of God's presence.

The Need for Waiting. Many believers fail to know God because they rely on human efforts, teachings, and religious activities, rather than waiting for God to reveal Himself. This waiting is not passive, but an active seeking of God's presence, a conscious silence of the soul before Him. It is a recognition of our littleness and a desire for God to take hold of us.

Silence and Stillness. Waiting on God involves being still before Him, without words, allowing Him to take possession. It is about recognizing that God is the source of all life and that we are empty vessels meant to be filled by Him. This stillness is not just for prayer, but for all of life, carrying the consciousness of God's presence into our daily activities.

4. Entrance into Rest: A Journey from Unbelief to Faith

“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

The Promise of Rest. There is a rest available to believers, a life of faith where God keeps us in His power, providing for every need and granting victory over every enemy. This is the "Canaan life," in contrast to the "wilderness life" of wandering, want, and defeat. It is a life of trust, where God is the source of all.

Confession of Lack. Entering into this rest requires an honest acknowledgment that we have not yet experienced it, confessing our guilt and unfaithfulness. This is not a gradual process, but a decisive break from the wilderness life, a recognition that our past has been marked by sin and dishonor to God. It is a humbling of self before God.

Faith and Surrender. The rest is not attained by human effort, but by trusting God to bestow it. It requires a willingness to give up everything for this pearl of great price, including worldly pleasures, self-will, and past religious experiences. It is a complete surrender to God, allowing Him to lead us into His perfect rest.

5. The Kingdom First: God's Rule as the Ultimate Priority

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”

God's Kingdom Above All. The Kingdom of God, in all its breadth and glory, should be the one thing we live for, with all other things being secondary. This is not merely about seeking salvation, but about making God's rule and righteousness the ultimate priority in our lives. It is about aligning our hearts with God's heart.

God's Nature and Man's Purpose. God, as infinite love and blessing, is the source of all happiness, and man, created in His image, finds fulfillment only in His likeness. The Kingdom of God is a rule of righteousness and love, where God is all in all. It is the highest nobility to be one with God in His Kingdom.

Attaining the Kingdom. Attaining this requires giving up everything for it, living every day in the desire to maintain that position, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom must be within us, with God the Father and Christ the Son dwelling in our hearts. It is a life of sacrifice, where God's will is our highest joy.

6. Christ Our Life: Dependence, Surrender, and Resurrection

“Christ who is our life.”

Christ's Life as Our Model. Christ lived a life of absolute dependence, trust, and surrender to God, and He expects us to imitate this. This is not merely about copying His actions, but about embracing the very root of His life. It is about understanding that Christ's life is meant to be our life.

The Process of Christ. Christ's life process—birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension—is a pattern for our own spiritual journey. We receive our life from God, live it in dependence on Him, give it up to Him in death, are raised by Him, and live in glory with Him. This is the path to true transformation.

Christ Living in Us. The key to living a life of perfect trust is not our own effort, but Christ living His life in us. This requires a constant awareness that our life comes from God and is maintained by Him. It is about surrendering our will to His, and allowing Him to work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

7. Christ's Humility: The Essence of Salvation and Transformation

“He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Humility as Salvation. Christ's humility is not just a virtue, but the very essence of His life and the salvation He brings. It is the divine humility that brought Him to earth, marked His life, and led Him to the cross. It is the very heart of His character.

Humility as Our Need. Pride is the root of all sin, and humility is the salvation we need most. It is the only way to be restored to our right relationship with God, to be empty vessels for Him to fill. It is the key to unity, peace, and love among believers.

The Spirit of Humility. The Holy Spirit brings the humility of Jesus into our hearts, transforming us into His likeness. This is not merely an external change, but a deep, internal transformation, where we take the place of a servant, seeking to be nothing before God and man. It is the very breath of Heaven in our souls.

8. Complete Surrender: Giving All to Christ for His Mastery

“And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not all he had, save the bread which he did eat.”

Christ as Master. Just as Potiphar entrusted everything to Joseph, we must give up everything to Christ, making Him master over our whole being. This is not merely about accepting Christ as Savior, but about surrendering our entire lives to His control. It is about recognizing His worthiness to be trusted.

The Measure of Surrender. This surrender must be complete, encompassing our heart, mind, and outer life. It means giving up our affections, thoughts, relationships, time, money, and business to Christ. It is about making Him the overseer of all we have, with no reservations.

The Blessing of Surrender. When we surrender all to Christ, God blesses all that we have, bringing peace, rest, and freedom from responsibility. It is a life where God is all in all, where we rest in His care and guidance. It is a life of prosperity, both inwardly and outwardly.

9. Dead with Christ: The Power of the Cross in Daily Life

“I am crucified with Christ.”

Union with Christ's Death. We are not only saved by Christ's death, but we are also united with Him in His death. This means that we are dead to sin, just as Christ died to sin on the cross. This is not merely a theological concept, but a living reality for every believer.

The Power of the Cross. The power of Christ's death is not just for atonement, but for daily living. It is the power that breaks the hold of sin, enabling us to live a life of victory. It is the power that crucifies the flesh and brings forth the life of the Spirit.

Marks of a Crucified Life. A life that is dead with Christ is marked by humility, impotence, and restfulness. It is a life where we are utterly dependent on God, where we have given up all self-effort, and where we find our rest in Him. It is a life rooted in the death of Jesus.

10. Joy in the Holy Ghost: The Fruit of God's Presence and Power

“For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

The Joy of Jesus' Presence. The Holy Spirit is given to make the presence of Jesus an abiding reality in our hearts, bringing a joy that no one can take away. This is not just an emotional feeling, but a deep, abiding sense of Christ's nearness and love. It is the very essence of the Christian life.

The Joy of Deliverance. The Holy Spirit also brings the joy of deliverance from sin, sanctifying us and making us free from its power. This is not just about forgiveness, but about transformation, where we are made holy and pleasing in God's sight. It is the joy of living a life that honors Him.

The Joy of Love and Service. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of love, uniting us with God and with one another. This love is not just a feeling, but a powerful force that compels us to serve others and to work for God's kingdom. It is the joy of losing our lives in love for others.

11. Triumph of Faith: Resting on God's Word for Victory

“And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him.”

Faith Seeking and Resting. Faith begins with seeking and struggling, but it must progress to resting on God's Word. This means accepting God's promises without needing signs or wonders, trusting that He will fulfill what He has spoken. It is about resting in the assurance of His love and power.

The Power of God's Word. God's Word is not just a collection of words, but the very power of God. When we believe His Word, we are connecting with His power, allowing Him to work in us and through us. It is about trusting that His promises are true and that He will do what He has said.

Triumphant Faith. Triumphant faith is not just about believing in God's power, but about giving our whole lives to Him, allowing Him to be our Lord. It is about taking our place as believers, influencing our homes, communities, and the world for His glory. It is about living a life of victory, resting on His Word.

12. Power in Prayer: The Spirit's Intercession and God's Will

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Our Ignorance in Prayer. We often do not know how to pray or what to pray for, but the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities, interceding for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. This is not a weakness, but a recognition of our dependence on God. It is a call to humility and reliance on the Spirit.

The Spirit's Intercession. The Holy Spirit prays in us, with longings and desires that go beyond our understanding. This is not just about our own needs, but about God's will for the world. It is about allowing the Spirit to lead us into deeper levels of prayer.

God's Will and Our Surrender. God searches our hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit, answering our prayers according to His will. This is not about getting what we want, but about aligning our desires with His. It is about surrendering our will to His, trusting that He knows what is best.

Last updated: January 26, 2025