Jesus declared: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:4-7

The thing that we are learning is that without Him we are completely lacking in knowledge and ability. “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by him all things consist. (All things were conceived in Christ – He is before). And He is the head of the body, the church: (The head is the realm of conception). He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (for in Him are all things conceived, ordained, brought forth, sustained) For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell. Colossians 1:16-19 His existence is the foundation and justification of all existence. As on the Mount of Transfiguration every other knowledge disappears – hear ye Him alone.

As we exercise real faith in Christ, prophetic faith, we find that the Spirit works within, and enables us to do what we never would have done, or could have done. “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 We must look at our situation today, and realize that each situation holds something for us. “No temptation has overtaken us except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that we may be able to bear it. 1Corinthians 10:12-13 The solution is in the present because we live in the present – but it is in the realm of the Spirit – on the other side of now.

At times, it may appear, that the Lord is not answering prayer or getting us out of the crisis. Neither is He changing it. To our perception, He is not doing all that we have asked for, and are waiting for - altering our situation or condition, and getting us out of it. We pray, and there is no change; there is no getting through. He is not doing it. Therefore, we must look at it in another way. There is something to discover in this. What does the Lord intend to teach and reveal in this situation, because He has promised that with the temptation He will also make the way of escape, that we may be able to resolve it. We must look for the provision that the Lord has made. If we can adopt that view, we shall discover that it is our way of deliverance. We can anticipate and expect the help of God, not only now, in our present situation, but also in the challenges that we face in the future. God desires to manifest. It is evident that He has determined to manifest because He has done so. His desire appears in us as a motivating force so that we are not moving in our own strength, yet we are continually being drawn towards the goal.

The unity with Jesus Christ that exists in us is expressed in two movements. There is an outward movement for He is the Creator. “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth”. We know that we have been joined to Him to bring forth the world to come. The vision becomes the present as we live it.

There is an inward flow. “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which he has purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.

Ephesians 1:9-11 We have a promise of completeness and fullness based on His ingathering and His relationship to that which has been created and that which is gathered. We exist in the midst of the work of God in Christ. It is in the present – on the other side of now.

*For more information on this topic simply E-mail Michael Brod at: michaelbrod@hotmail.com