Christ in You: The Transformative Mystery of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Indwelling Presence Transforms Our Lives

The mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" is not merely a theological concept but a transformative reality that empowers believers to live holy lives. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ dwells within us, providing guidance and strength to overcome sin and live in righteousness. This indwelling presence is a source of hope and glory, fundamentally changing how we perceive ourselves and our purpose in the world. As we embrace this mystery, we are called to live in a way that reflects the holiness and righteousness of Christ. [09:11]

Colossians 1:26-27 (ESV): "The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you allow the indwelling presence of Christ to guide your actions and decisions today?

Day 2: Divine Mysteries Reveal Our True Identity

While the world is filled with unsolved mysteries, the mystery of Christ in us is a divine secret revealed to believers. This revelation transforms our understanding of our identity and purpose, calling us to live in the light of God's truth. As we grasp this mystery, we are invited to see ourselves as God sees us—beloved, redeemed, and called to a higher purpose. This understanding challenges us to align our lives with God's truth and to live out our identity as His children. [07:19]

Ephesians 3:4-6 (ESV): "When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

Reflection: How does understanding your identity in Christ change the way you approach your daily interactions and responsibilities?

Day 3: Nurturing the Fire of the Holy Spirit

Just as the priests in the Old Testament were tasked with keeping the altar fire burning, believers are called to nurture the fire of the Holy Spirit in their hearts through prayer, worship, and obedience. This divine fire empowers us to live out our faith with passion and purpose, enabling us to be effective witnesses of Christ's love and truth. It is not something we can ignite on our own; it is a divine gift that requires our intentional care and attention. [13:05]

Leviticus 6:12-13 (ESV): "The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out."

Reflection: What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning brightly in your life?

Day 4: The Cleansing Power of Jesus' Blood

The blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin and declares us holy, a gift of grace that we receive through faith. This cleansing is not something we can achieve on our own; it is the foundation of our salvation and the means by which we are reconciled to God. Understanding the power of Jesus' blood invites us to live in gratitude and humility, recognizing that our righteousness is not our own but a gift from God. [28:23]

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

Reflection: How can you live in a way that reflects gratitude for the cleansing and redemption you have received through the blood of Jesus?

Day 5: Embracing the Mystery of Godliness

The ultimate mystery of godliness is that God became flesh in Jesus Christ, lived a sinless life, and died for our sins. This act of divine love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith and the source of our hope. Embracing this mystery invites us into a deeper relationship with God, challenging us to live in a way that reflects His love and sacrifice. As we contemplate this mystery, we are called to respond with worship, obedience, and a commitment to sharing the good news with others. [35:09]

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."

Reflection: How can you actively share the mystery of godliness with those around you, demonstrating the love and sacrifice of Christ in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory," a concept that has been hidden for ages but is now revealed to us through the scriptures. This mystery is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that changes how we live and interact with the world. The essence of this mystery is that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, dwells within us, empowering us to live holy lives. This indwelling presence is our helper, our guide, and our strength, enabling us to overcome sin and live in righteousness.

We also delved into the nature of mysteries, both in the world and in scripture. Mysteries like the Bermuda Triangle or the construction of the Egyptian pyramids captivate our imagination, but the mystery of Christ in us is of a different order. It is a divine secret that God has chosen to reveal to His saints, a secret that transforms our understanding of who we are and what we are called to be.

The sermon also touched on the importance of keeping the spiritual fire burning in our lives. Just as the priests in the Old Testament were tasked with keeping the fire on the altar burning, we too must keep the fire of the Holy Spirit alive in our hearts through prayer, worship, and obedience. This fire is not something we can ignite on our own; it is a divine gift that we must nurture and protect.

Furthermore, we discussed the significance of the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from sin and declares us holy. This is not something we can achieve on our own; it is a gift of grace that we receive through faith. The blood of Jesus is the foundation of our salvation, the means by which we are reconciled to God and made new.

Finally, we reflected on the ultimate mystery of godliness: that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, lived a sinless life, and died for our sins. This act of divine love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith and the source of our hope.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ in You, the Hope of Glory: The mystery of "Christ in you" is a transformative reality that empowers us to live holy lives. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ dwells within us, guiding and strengthening us to overcome sin and live in righteousness. This indwelling presence is our source of hope and glory. [09:11]
2. The Nature of Mysteries: While the world is full of unsolved mysteries, the mystery of Christ in us is a divine secret revealed to believers. This revelation changes our understanding of our identity and purpose, calling us to live in the light of God's truth. [07:19]
3. Keeping the Spiritual Fire Burning: Just as the priests were tasked with keeping the altar fire burning, we must nurture the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts through prayer, worship, and obedience. This divine fire empowers us to live out our faith with passion and purpose. [13:05]
4. The Cleansing Power of the Blood: The blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin and declares us holy. This is a gift of grace that we receive through faith, not something we can achieve on our own. The blood of Jesus is the foundation of our salvation and the means by which we are reconciled to God. [28:23]
5. The Mystery of Godliness: The ultimate mystery is that God became flesh in Jesus Christ, lived a sinless life, and died for our sins. This act of divine love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith and the source of our hope. It is a mystery that invites us into a deeper relationship with God. [35:09]
** [35:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - God's Way
[01:14] - The Necessity of Salvation
[02:02] - The Way, the Truth, and the Life
[05:15] - The Mystery Hid from Ages
[07:19] - Understanding Mysteries
[09:11] - Christ in You
[10:21] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[12:18] - Keeping the Fire Burning
[14:36] - The Chicken or the Egg
[17:07] - Defining Mystery
[19:20] - The Disease of Sin
[22:03] - Bringing Back the Glory
[25:07] - David's Praise
[28:23] - Justification and the Blood
[35:09] - The Mystery of Godliness

Sermon Clips

The Bible says here in Paul Paul in Colossians he says the even the mystery in verse 26 which was hid from ages and from Generations but is now made manifest to his Saints there are several mysteries in the Bible several mysteries in the Bible before I look at just a couple of them I want to say that there are also some mysteries in the world. [00:07:26]

The mystery uh among the Gentiles which is Christ in you that's a mystery it's a mystery because uh how can Christ be in you when he's in heaven but we know that he's in You by the Holy Ghost and when we receive the spirit of God Christ lives on the inside he comes to walk with us talk with us and to help us live holy. [00:09:15]

How many know you can't live holy without the Holy Ghost the Bible say there is none righteous no not one that's why we want that's why we need the Holy Ghost because he is our helper he comes to help us live holy amen I can't live right without him how many of you know I go right back to all the stuff I used to do. [00:09:46]

If you want to please God you got to keep the fire burning see because if the fire goes out Lord have mercy they could not start it on their own they needed the spirit of God to start the fire sometimes we try to start fires on on our own and sometimes we bring Strange Fire sometimes we bring fire that God didn't start. [00:13:15]

The same holy ghost that raised Jesus from the dead if he dwell in you glory to God he'll keep you how do I keep the fire burn I got to stay read his word meditate on his word worship Him Praise Him obey him confess to him all of us in here miss the mark let me let me let me show what this this thing about Christ in you the hope of glory. [00:14:04]

The blood of Jesus that paid our debt that paid for our sin when nothing else could help Jesus Paid It all all to him I owe s and left the Crimson Stain he washed it Whited and snow I couldn't save myself I couldn't help myself but it was the blood of Jesus somebody ought to give God a praise for the blood. [00:28:26]

When the blood is applied to your life he washes you he cleanses us and he declares us holy you're declared Holy by the blood of Jesus somebody say I'm Holy by the blood hey the blood of Jesus what can wash away my sin nothing but the blood all precious is that flow that makes me whiteed than snow nothing but the blood. [00:29:02]

It was not a tragedy it was a mystery it was the mystery that was hid from ages Jesus Paid It Off he paid a price I could not pay for a debt I owed a debt I could not pay Jesus paid a price he for me somebody shout hallelujah he paid it all all to him I oh s it left the crimsom stain but he washed it whiter than snow. [00:29:48]

The mystery of godliness that God was manifest In the Flesh seing of angels preached unto the world and received up in glory in other words God left his throne in glory he emptied himself made in the fashion of a man he humbled himself and became my man he took on the form of a servant he didn't come as a king but he came as a servant. [00:35:09]

He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus I got to praise him hey he left his throne is God In the Flesh yeah somebody shout hallelujah he's 100% man and he 100% God he emptied his glory so he could taste death for every man cuz nobody was Worthy to pay man's penalty. [00:35:49]

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life how do I believe on them do I just say I believe in the man upstairs the word believe means to trust in rely on depend upon put your confidence give him permission to come in your life. [00:38:28]

When he comes in your life fills you with his spirit yield to him confess him as your lord and your savior and he translates you out of the kingdom of darkness see because until we do that we Children of the devil you know if you're not born again you know who your daddy is the devil you say know how the devil ain't my father. [00:38:52]

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