A Vision for the Spiritual Life of a Disciple of

Christ

​’To conquer as a spiritual man, living in his spiritual home, as a

living sacrifice, which is his spiritual worship.’

A vision speaks to embracing or holding a future state of being or accomplishment in mind. During the
2nd world, one might say that there were 2 starkly opposing visions or future states at play. So
important were these visions to the warring factions, that each was prepared to give life and limb in the
achievement of these visions. Truth be told, and perhaps never more so in all human history than then,
did the vision for the future state of world, hang in the balance. What's interesting, is if we now apply a
similar biblical narrative to the future state of the world, we are not left with any doubt as to the outcome.
Or said another way, nothing whatsoever hangs in the balance as to the outcome of the world, and all
past, present and future humanity. I'll skip the detailed bible lesson in this regard, other than to say, the
main and closing act of this world (in its current state), will be the return of Christ for His bride, the
Church. This incredible and somewhat outlandish event, is summarized in Revelation 19:6-8;

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and
like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the
Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine
linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Of course, this bride referred to here is the New Testament Church, or what Peter helps us understand
to be, not a building like that of the Jewish temple, or even the one we attend on Sunday, that is made
with the hands of man. No, Peter reminds us that as we...

'come to him (Jesus), a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and
precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy
priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 2:4-5.

1
Indeed, Peter is reminding us that we in fact, are now the very building blocks (living stones) of God's
spiritual house - that is, his Church. But more than that, we are also his priests, and (with reference to
the Old Testament tradition) still required to offer up our spiritual sacrifices. Fortunately, Paul helps us
make a bit more sense of how this is practically and physically possible in Romans 8:9-11, which reads;

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit
of him (God) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Paul is clearly teaching that the only way we can consider ourselves living stones in God's Church, is
through the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit within each one of us. Accordingly, without
the Holy Spirit, there is no spiritual life, and without spiritual life, there can be no spiritual sacrifices or
worship. Again, a little further on in Romans 12;1-2, Paul provides further clarity in this regard;

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Accordingly, Church as we are to understand it through the teachings of Peter and Paul, must 1st and
foremost be understood as an individual human being, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, called to stand
before Jesus, not simply in song, but essentially in a holy and acceptable state of worship, as a living
sacrifice. That is, having been transformed in their worldly thinking, they are able to discern and perform
the (good, acceptable and perfect) will of God - of which being clothed in fine linen (bright and pure),
that is our righteous deeds - must be of primary importance! (referring back to Revelation 19:6-8).

Having said all of this, it is only fitting that the resurrected Lord himself, have the final say in the matter
of better understanding His bride, as declared through his promised rewards to the 7 churches, in the
book Revelation (chapters 2 & 3). It is the Lord's final call for his Church, that is each one of us living
stones and members of his bridal party, to conquer...

To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God
- Rev 2:7

The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death
2
 - Rev 2:11

To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone,
with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.
- Rev 2:17

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over
the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces,
even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.
- Rev 2:26,28

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out
of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
- Rev 3:5,6

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of
it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new
Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
- Rev 3:12

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat
down with my Father on his throne.
- Rev 3:21

Accordingly, the biblical vision Called 2 Conquer holds up for each and every conquering disciple of
Christ, is to be a person who has built a home for the Holy Spirit to take up fruitful residence in their life.
Or more clearly stated, 'to conquer as a spiritual man, living in his spiritual home, as a living sacrifice,
which is his spiritual worship'.

To learn more about building your spiritual home, take the C2C assessment ​HERE​, and receive your
personalized and free spiritual home report and blueprints.

For a more detailed analysis and understanding of what the C2C proposed church model looks like,
click ​HERE​, or to visit our website go to - ​http://www.called2conquer.org/