We are X-men and Avengers! (John 15:19) (Passion Translation)

 

    Yes, we're going with the superhero theme again! We are X Men and Avengers! The opening scripture defines it immediately.  

John 15:19, If you were to give your allegiance to the world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own.  But because you won't align yourself with the values of this world, they will hate you.  I have chosen you and taken you out of the world to be mine. 

    Christ has spoken and we need to listen.  Christ, Chi Rho (X), Chi Alpha, we are Christ's men and women, therefore X Men! And, we are not of this world! Just as the X Men we all have power and that power comes from the spirit that lives inside of us.  It is that same power that raised Christ from the dead and that is the greatest power in the universe.  

Romans 8:11, Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God's Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, He will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you! 

    As X Men, we must go out and bring in more X Men! We must go and make disciples! We must go out and save people (Matt. 28:19-20)! It is that power within us that saves the people we encounter (Romans 10).  

Ephesians 1:13, And because of Him, when you who are not Jews heard the revelation of truth, you believed in the wonderful news of salvation.  Now we have been stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.

John 16:8-14 AMP

8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment: 9 about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message]; 10 about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me; 11 about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.

12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]. 14 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you.

Galatians 1:11-12, Beloved ones, let me repeat emphatically that the gospel entrusted to me was not given to me by any man.  No one taught me this revelation, for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus Christ. 

    When the world sees the Spirit within us, that is what brings them to Christ and it's what we need to show them everyday! Our actions should prove more than our words and we have many other gifts of the spirit that prove He is real through our actions.  There are other "powers" He has given us to prove His love to others through us:

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions, joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart and strength of spirit.  Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

    Finally, when we go on the offensive though, we must gather together to gather strength and suit up to defeat the evil one, who prowls like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  It is our duty as Avengers/X Men to protect other believers and non believers.  Believers so that they don't ever forget His power and love.  Non believers that they might see His love and that they will see, believe and come home to Christ! 

Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP (SUIT UP!)

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having [b]tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 15 and having [c]strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [d]shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [e]God’s people. 

1 Cor. 12:12-13, Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ.  For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body.  And no matter out status, whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free, we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit. (see vv. 14-27 also)

Hebrews 10:25, This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing.  In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate the day dawning.

BELIEVERS ASSEMBLE!!!!