Nougat 30

Let’s think a little about Death. No, not regular death, but the implications of dying in Christ. Sounds strange? Well, I invite you to consider today’s Holy Nougat

“So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Dead to the power of sin means we’re more than just immune to sin (sometimes new strains of diseases compromise our immunity), but that our spirit does not respond at all to the lure of sin. That’s some serious spirituality right there.

When something has power over us, we are its subjects. A Sustaining Community article argues that that which has power over, relies on fear to force, coercion, control, and domination to effect compliance in the object of power. How have we allowed ourselves to be forced, coerced or under sin’s control? What dominates our personality? Does fear have the upper hand of our lives?

If we become dead to sin’s power, then fear no longer undergirds our actions. We are free to do and be. Of course, in our dualistic thinking, death to something is life to another. So there’s Everlasting Life that counters the eternal death owing to submission to sin. But that eternal death can be avoided when we die to sin. In most instances, death to the power of sin means Life IN Christ Jesus.

For me, Life with/in Christ offers us a slightly different power dynamic. From the onset (Genesis 1:26-28), God’s offer to humanity was power with, power to do/be, and power within, which is far different from power under/over. In Love (the opposite of fear), we experience God’s patience, kindness, humility etc. And though we are called to ‘fear God’, it doesn’t seek to cripple us through manipulation or coercion.

Power with is shared power. Hence us being co-creators with God, having the potential to operate as God does, and to exercise creativity in the material. For God, despite God’s sovereignty, became equal to us (Philippians 2:7), for us to share power with God (Acts 1:8). In other words, God Chooses to divest God’s power!

Moreover, the book of Acts outlines Power To very clearly. The Gifts of God’s Spirit that are manifested through actions are evidence of power received by God to do/be that which is not common to all humanity. Healing, Diverse miracles, Prophetic utterances, and ‘Greater works’ we were assured we would do in Jesus’ name are aspects of the Power To.

It’s worth noting that the Power To do and Be is the result of God’s Power Within. For it is God’s Spirit Who dwells within that quickens us to new life in Christ (see Ephesians 2:1). This new life is what puts paid to sin’s Power Over us. This new life operates from Perfect Love, which dispels ALL FEAR!

So maybe it is time to Die to Sin’s power; leaving room for God’s power to come alive within us through Jesus Christ. Seems like a fair exchange to me.

Let’s live confidently from God’s power within and walk in our power to transform and co-create with Jesus.

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May all we seek be found in Christ