Let me use a coconut to illustrate something special. What’s valuable isn’t so much the outside container or shell. That certainly has its place of importance and value, but what I especially love is what is inside the coconut. When I drink the refreshing coconut milk and eat the coconut meat, that is what I am really after, and that has the most value to me.
The abiding presence of the Jesus Christ within us is a great treasure! It is such a precious and awesome truth! How exciting! The True and Living God, Jesus Christ our Savior lives in us by His Spirit. Posted below are some verses that help to make a solid Biblical basis for this special revelation.
There is a common phrase that is said when we are in agreement, or giving mental assent & think alike about something we are in unity with – ‘we’re on the same page’. Although this truth – ‘Christ in us’ obviously can perhaps include that element, it goes so much deeper in expression. ‘Christ in us’ is an experiential phenomena and mystery that is life-giving but hard to fully grasp or understand, yet so true! Jesus Christ abiding with us and in us, and us abiding in Him is wonderful news! He is a source of life, hope, and help! It is good news for all of us, especially to those who are lifeless, hopeless, and lost. It’s amazing that we can come to know our Creator, and experience His abundant life personally, within our lives!
‘Christ in you’ is a truth that has value beyond measure. Our lives contain something so valuable within.
I trust that the following Scriptures are a blessing to you as you consider them. They are a recap of of our message today (April 5, 2020) here in the PI.
COLOSSIANS 1:27
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is – CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.
JEREMIAH 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.
ROMANS 8:1,2
I love a Scripture song that can help us in our spiritual battle to be overcomers. Vs 1 helps us declare there is no condemnation when the accuser (the devil is the ‘accuser of the brethren’) comes to accuse us of our sinful past that has been forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Vs 2 declares that through the Spirit of life in Jesus set us free from sin and death.
THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION
TO THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS –
WHO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
AND NOT IN THE WORKS OF THE FLESH!
(Repeat)
FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST –
LIFE IN CHRIST – LIFE IN CHRIST,
THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST
MAKES FREE FROM SIN AND DEATH!
COLOSSIANS 1:27 (Other Translations)
Christ living in you, the hope of glory.
This truth is Christ himself, who is in you (in your hearts).
He is your only hope of glory.
Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!
CHRIST IS A TREASURE
I Corinthians 4:6,7
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7 But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Colossians 2:2,3
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of CHRIST; 3 In whom are hid all the TREASURES of wisdom and knowledge.
THE INDWELLING CHRIST
Revelations 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
> I will come in and fellowship / sup / eat with him
> I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
I Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
I Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is the temple of THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2 Corinthians 6:16
For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I WILL DWELL IN THEM and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
John 14:20
“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, AND I IN YOU.” (JESUS)
John 17:23
”I IN THEM, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one…” (JESUS)
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Ephesians 3:17-19
17 that CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS through faith… 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead DWELLS IN YOU, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit WHO DWELLS IN YOU.
I John 3:24
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
2 Thessalonians 1:9-12
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS (HOLY ONES) and to be admired among all those who believe… we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ maybe GLORIFIED IN YOU…
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ACTS 1:8 – You shall RECEIVE POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT comes upon you…!
John 7:38-39 – …out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (This he spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive…)
John 16:7-11 – (Holy Spirit exposes sin) Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit (through sinful character and deeds)
Don’t quench the Holy Spirit (stop the flow – power)
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL IS LOOKING FOR EXPRESSION THROUGH YOU.
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL FLOWS THROUGH YIELDED, HOLY & AVAILABLE VESSELS
LET’S SEE JESUS GLORIFIED – THE WAYS RECORDED IN THE BIBLE
ROMANS 1:16 – I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, IT IS THE POWER OF GOD!
LET’S NOT ONLY EXPERIENCE THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT BE FILLED & OVERFLOWING WITH THE SPIRIT (EPHESIANS 5:18; JOHN 7:38)
GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES DOESN’T REPLACE THE NEED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL (with our words) BUT THERE IS A POWERFUL WITNESS OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD THAT RESTS ON HOLY PEOPLE WHO HONOR HIM THAT CAN TRANSFORM AND CHANGE PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENTS AROUND US, WHEREVER WE GO!
SEVERAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Smith Wiggleworth
There’s a story of Smith Wigglesworth just sitting on a train without saying a word passers-by would fall on their knees and repent, and call out to God for mercy.
Charles Finney
A similar story is told of Charles Finney walking into a factory, and the presence of God being so manifest in his life that factory workers would fall on their knees, crying out to God for forgiveness.
THE SAME SPIRIT OF CHRIST DWELLS IN US
Be reminded that the same Spirit that was upon Jesus, and others, is also dwelling in you! Let the light of Jesus Christ shine through you!
Romans 8:11
THE SAME SPIRIT THAT DWELT IN JESUS, AND RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD DWELLS IN US! (Romans 8:11)
