Awakening to the Life of Christ Within Us

Devotional

Day 1: Believe Into Christ—Experiencing Union, Not Just Agreement

To believe in Jesus is not merely to accept facts about Him, but to move into a living, experiential union with Him—a radical shift from academic belief to a personal, transformative relationship. This union means that faith is not just a mental exercise but a wholehearted trust and movement into Christ Himself, resulting in eternal life and a new way of being. The invitation is to step beyond distant belief and embrace the reality of Christ’s presence and life within, allowing His love to redefine your identity and destiny. [06:05]

John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Reflection: In what ways have you settled for simply believing about Jesus, rather than believing into Him and experiencing His life within you? What would it look like to move from head knowledge to heart-union with Christ today?

Day 2: Receive the Breath of Christ—New Life by the Spirit

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” signifying the impartation of His very life into those who believe. This act echoes the creation of Adam, where God’s breath brought life, and now, through Christ, dead spirits are made alive—born again—by the indwelling presence of Jesus Himself. This new birth is not a distant hope but a present reality, where the living Christ takes up residence within, making every believer a carrier of divine life. [10:53]

John 20:19-22 (ESV)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has breathed His very life into you change the way you see yourself and your daily challenges? Where do you need to invite the Holy Spirit to bring new life today?

Day 3: Christ’s Life in You—Letting the Seed Grow

When you are born again, Jesus plants the imperishable seed of His own life deep within your spirit, and this seed is meant to grow, flourish, and overtake your old self. The journey of faith is about nurturing this seed—allowing Christ to increase and self to decrease—so that His life becomes the tree of your existence, transforming you from the inside out. As you water and tend to this precious life within, you are called to let go of self-centered living and embrace the joy of radical surrender, letting Christ’s presence shape your every thought and action. [19:31]

1 Peter 1:22-23 (ESV)
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense the old self resisting the growth of Christ’s life within you? How can you intentionally nurture the seed of Jesus in that area this week?

Day 4: Living in the Spirit—Listening and Responding to God’s Voice

Living by the Spirit is like entering a vibrant, unseen world—moving from the surface of ordinary life into the depths of God’s presence, where you learn to hear and obey His voice. This requires intentional listening, a willingness to respond with obedience, and a heart that values God’s life above your own desires. As you practice tuning your ear to the Spirit, you discover the joy and freedom of following Jesus’ leading, experiencing the supernatural reality of His guidance and power in your everyday life. [23:32]

Romans 8:14 (ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Reflection: Set aside ten minutes today to be still before God and ask, “Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me?” What do you sense, and how will you respond in obedience, even if it challenges your comfort zone?

Day 5: Treasure in Clay Jars—Displaying Christ’s Life Through Weakness

God has placed His extraordinary life and power within ordinary, fragile people, so that it is clear the strength comes from Him and not from us. Even in times of affliction, confusion, or weakness, the life of Jesus is displayed through us as we carry both His death and His resurrection power in our bodies. This reality invites you to embrace your limitations, knowing that Christ’s presence within you is the true treasure, and that His life shines brightest through your surrendered, imperfect vessel. [26:34]

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (ESV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Reflection: Where do you feel most weak or inadequate right now? How might God want to display His life and power through you in that very place?

Sermon Summary

The invitation is to open our eyes to the reality of what God has already accomplished in us through Jesus Christ. Too often, we wait for some dramatic spiritual experience to qualify us for the gifts and life God intends, but the truth is that, in Christ, we have already received everything we need. When we are born again, it is not just a change of mind or a new set of beliefs; it is a supernatural event where Jesus breathes His very life into us. This is not a distant theological idea, but a present, living reality—Christ Himself now dwells within us, making us carriers of His divine life.

This union with Christ is not merely academic or intellectual. The Greek word for “believe in” from John 3:16 is better understood as “believe into”—an experiential moving into Jesus, a merging of our lives with His. Just as Jesus breathed on His disciples after His resurrection, imparting the Holy Spirit, so too does He breathe His life into every believer. This life is not perishable, but imperishable, planted like a seed in our spirits, meant to grow and take over every part of who we are.

The challenge is not to strive for what we do not have, but to nurture and yield to what we have already received. The life of Christ within us is meant to increase, while our old selves decrease. This is not a loss, but a transformation into true freedom and joy, as we learn to listen for His voice and obey His leading. Living in the Spirit is like entering a new world—vivid, alive, and full of possibilities we never imagined. The more we surrender to this life, the more we become vessels through which God’s power and love flow to others.

We are called to recognize that we are not ordinary; we are supernatural beings because Christ lives in us. The gifts of the Spirit are not for our own benefit, but to be given away, to bring life and hope to those around us. As we nurture the seed of Christ’s life within, allowing Him to increase and ourselves to decrease, we will see His extraordinary power displayed through our ordinary lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. Christ’s Life Is Already Within Us The moment we are born again, Jesus breathes His very life into us. This is not a future promise, but a present reality—His Spirit now dwells in us, making us carriers of divine life. Our task is to recognize and live from this truth, rather than waiting for some external experience to validate what God has already done. [11:52]
2. Union with Christ Is Experiential, Not Merely Intellectual Believing “into” Christ means moving beyond mere agreement with doctrine into a living, experiential union with Him. This union transforms us from the inside out, as His life becomes the animating force within us. The Christian life is not about self-improvement, but about Christ’s life growing and expressing itself through us. [13:15]
3. The Seed of Christ Must Grow and Overtake Our Old Selves When Jesus plants His life in us, it is like a seed meant to grow, expand, and eventually overtake our old nature. This process requires intentional nurturing—watering, exposure to the light of God’s presence, and a willingness to let go of self. As Christ increases and we decrease, His life becomes the “tree” of our existence, bearing fruit for others. [19:31]
4. Listening and Obedience Unlock the Power of the Spirit The supernatural life is accessed not by striving, but by learning to listen for God’s voice and responding in obedience. When we value His life within us above our own preferences, we become sensitive to His leading and see His power released through us. This is the path to living in the Spirit, where ordinary moments become opportunities for God’s extraordinary work. [23:32]
5. We Are Vessels of God’s Power, Not Its Source God’s presence in us is described as a treasure in clay jars—fragile, ordinary vessels carrying extraordinary power. Our weakness and limitations are not obstacles, but opportunities for God’s life to be displayed. As we embrace our dependence on Him, we become conduits for His love, healing, and hope to a world in need. [26:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - Stories of Birthdays and Spiritual Gifts
[02:32] - Faith, Prayer, and Receiving from God
[04:30] - The Ball and the Dogs: Receiving and Giving Spiritual Gifts
[06:05] - John 3:16 and the Nature of Belief
[08:27] - The Resurrection and Jesus Breathing on the Disciples
[09:40] - The Significance of Jesus’ Breath
[10:53] - The New Birth: Christ’s Life in Us
[11:52] - Becoming Carriers of Divine Life
[13:15] - Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life
[14:26] - The Reality of Christ Within
[15:26] - Greater Works and the Indwelling Spirit
[16:36] - The Mystery of Union with Christ
[19:31] - The Seed of Christ Growing Within
[20:20] - Decreasing Self, Increasing Christ
[23:32] - Learning to Listen and Obey
[26:34] - Treasure in Clay Jars: God’s Power in Us

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 3:16 (ESV) — > “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 20:19-22 (ESV) — > On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (ESV) — > But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Observation Questions

In John 3:16, what does it mean to “believe in” (or “believe into”) Jesus, according to the sermon? [06:05]
What did Jesus do for the disciples in John 20:22, and why is this significant? [09:40]
According to 2 Corinthians 4:7, what is the “treasure” that we carry in “jars of clay”? [26:34]
The sermon describes the new birth as more than a change of mind or beliefs. What supernatural event does it say happens when we are born again? [10:53]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that “believing into” Jesus is an experiential moving into Him, not just agreeing with doctrine. How does this change the way someone might understand faith? [06:05]
When Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” what does this tell us about the kind of life He gives to believers? [09:40]
The idea of Christ’s life as a seed planted in us is mentioned. What does it mean for this seed to “grow and overtake our old selves”? [19:31]
2 Corinthians 4:7 says we are “jars of clay” carrying God’s power. How does recognizing our weakness help us depend on God’s strength? [26:34]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to stop waiting for a dramatic spiritual experience and instead recognize what God has already done in us. Are there areas in your life where you are waiting for “more” before you step out in faith? What would it look like to act from the truth that Christ’s life is already within you? [11:52]
“Believing into” Jesus is described as moving into a living, daily relationship with Him. What is one practical way you can nurture this union with Christ this week? [06:05]
The life of Christ is like a seed meant to grow and take over our old nature. Is there a part of your life where you sense God is asking you to let go of self and let Christ increase? What step could you take to surrender that area? [20:20]
The sermon says that listening and obedience unlock the power of the Spirit. Can you think of a recent time when you sensed God prompting you to do something? How did you respond, and what might help you listen and obey more readily? [23:32]
We are described as “jars of clay” carrying God’s treasure. How do you feel about your own weaknesses or limitations? How might God want to use those very areas to show His power and love to others? [26:34]
The gifts of the Spirit are not for our own benefit, but to be given away. Is there a gift or resource God has given you that you could use to serve or encourage someone else this week? What would that look like? [04:30]
The sermon compares living in the Spirit to entering a new, vibrant world. What is one area of your life where you want to experience more of God’s presence and power? What is a small step you can take to “dive in” this week? [22:00]

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