“…Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.”
1 John 4:4
This verse from John reminds us that the power of God within us far surpasses any challenges or adversities we may face in the world. This leads us to a fundamental question: Who is God to me? How do I know Him? Knowing and serving are necessities for eternal life, that quality of life that exists now and forever. Who and how we know Him and serve (worship) Him, form the flow of His eternal life.
Elijah, in 1 Kings 18:21, challenged Israel, “If the LORD is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!" Moses set before Israel a choice, Deut. 30:19 . Jesus gives us the way, John 14:6, but then lets us know which path leads to life and which leads to death, Matthew 7:13-14.
1 Cor. 6:19; demands consideration of the question, who is my God and how I will serve Him?
“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don't own yourselves.”
Our Scripture verse today from 1 John reads; “You are of God little children and have overcome them.. (every spirit that is Anti-Christ which is now at work in the world) ..because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
In the Old Testament, Israel carried the presence of God in the Ark of the Covenant. When the Ark was among them, the power of God was with them. As New Testament believers, born again by the Spirit of God, we experience His presence within us. We have become the “Ark of God.” As carriers of His presence, our understanding of Him shapes what we can bring forth from within. He’s always the same but we are the ones encouraged to grow up.
Ephesians chapter four urges us to grow up INTO HIM in all things, emphasizing that knowing God is a lifelong journey. How can we comprehend an infinite God unless He reveals Himself to us? Thankfully, He does. According to 1 Corinthians 2, the Spirit Himself knows, understands, and reveals all that the Father is.
Our pursuit of knowing and growing in Him should define our lives. The more we know Him, the more we yield and obey. It is our obedience that works out our salvation and produces growth with Godly character.
God doesn’t just provide information; He gives revelation. When we obey that revelation, it leads to transformation and transformation ultimately displays the glory of God. Christ in us, manifested rightly, is the hope of glory.
May we continually seek the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, striving to be His people, strong and doing great exploits in His name, because we know the greater one who lives in us.