1.
We will be reading from verse 24 to
verse 29.
Now I rejoice in what was a struggle
for you, and I fill up in my
flesh what is still lacking in regard to
Christ's affliction for the sake of His Body,
which is the Church.
2.
I have become His servant by the commission
God gave me to present to you the
Word of God in His fullness, the mystery
that has kept hidden for ages and generations,
but is now disclosed to the saints.
3.
To them God has chosen to make known
among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this
mystery, which is Christ in you.
4.
To hope of glory, we proclaim Him, admonishing
and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
5.
To this end, I labour, struggling with all
His energy, which was so powerfully worked in
me.
Now I rejoice in what was a struggle
for you, and I fill up in my
flesh what is still lacking in regard to
Christ's affliction for the sake of His Body,
which is the Church.
6.
I have become His servant by the commission
God gave me to present to you the
Word of God in His fullness, the mystery
that has kept hidden for ages and generations,
but is now disclosed to the saints.
7.
To them God has chosen to make known
among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this
mystery, which is Christ in you.
8.
To hope of glory, we proclaim Him, admonishing
and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
9.
To this end, I labour, struggling with all
His energy, which was so powerfully worked in
me.
We thank the Lord for the reading of
His Word.
This morning we are glad and privileged to
have our brother Stephen Kong with us.
Let's pray.
Dear Lord, we want to thank Thee for
this privilege that we may come together in
Thy precious Name.
We thank Thee for Thy precious Word.
We pray that Thy Holy Spirit will breathe
upon Thy written Word and make it life
and spirit to us.
We commit this time into Thy hands and
trust Thee to bless us that Thou mayst
be glorified.
We ask in the Name of our Lord
Jesus.
Amen.
This morning we would like to share on
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The Apostle Paul talked about a mystery.
He said that mystery was hidden through the
ages and the centuries.
And yet that mystery has been manifested to
us, that is, to the saints today.
And what is that mystery?
That mystery is Christ in you, the hope
of glory.
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
And this mystery is the riches of the
glory of the mystery.
And the hope of the glory of the
mystery is the hope of glory.
Now brothers and sisters, what is a mystery?
If we use a modern word, we can
say it is a secret.
There in the heart of God is a
secret.
And this secret has been hidden in him
through the ages and the generations.
Now why is it that he has hidden
this secret in his heart for so long?
Because it is a wonderful secret.
It is a magnificent secret.
It is a glorious secret.
Or we may say it is the top
secret in God's heart.
It is something that is very deep in
the heart of God.
It is something that he desires to have
throughout the ages and the generations.
He is not able to reveal this secret
to man right away.
He has to prepare for the time of
the revelation of that top secret.
So we find that throughout the ages and
the centuries, that is when you read the
Old Testament, you find that God has been
preparing for the day to reveal that secret.
Until the fullness of time has come.
Then he reveals that secret to the saints
through the prophets and the apostles.
So today this is an open secret.
To us it is a secret that has
been opened up to us.
Now what is that secret?
What is that mystery?
That mystery is Christ gives you the hope
of the Lord.
You remember the apostle Paul.
He said in Galatians chapter 1 that it
pleased God to reveal his son in me.
We find that on the road to Damascus,
the Risen Lord appeared to Saul.
But it is more than something that appeared
to him.
Because at the time of his appearing to
Saul, by the Spirit of God actually Christ
is revealed in him.
Not only appeared to him, but revealed in
him.
We know that there is a great difference
between to and in.
Because if he just appeared to him, it
may be something external.
But to be in him, that is an
inward experience.
So here the Bible says Christ is in
you.
Not only to you, but he is in
you.
And that is the hope of glory.
Now brothers and sisters, I remember Andrew Murray
once said, he said salvation is not just
having our sins forgiven and going to heaven.
You know to common people, we generally think
of salvation as having our sins forgiven and
going to heaven.
Now of course this is great.
So far as we are concerned, if we
can have our sins forgiven, that is a
tremendous thing to us.
And if we will be going to heaven,
that is a great hope to us.
But if you read the Bible very carefully,
you find that salvation is more than just
having our sins forgiven.
It is more than just going to heaven.
Salvation is summed up in this, Christ
in you and you in Christ.
Christ is given to you that he may
be given.
This is the beginning and the end of
salvation.
This is for salvation.
That is what Andrew Murray said.
And this is what the Bible tells us.
So salvation is Christ in you.
You in Christ.
And Christ in you.
That is full salvation.
Now brothers and sisters, sometimes we find it
is very difficult to understand it.
You know when our Lord was on earth,
he was with his disciples and towards the
end of his time with them.
You remember in John chapter 14, our Lord
Jesus was ready to leave his disciples.
He was going back to heaven.
And because of this the disciples were very
sorrowful.
And you remember Philip asked the Lord a
question.
Philip said now if you will show us
the Father.
Then we will be satisfied.
And you remember what the Lord said to
him.
The Lord said Philip, I have been with
you for so long.
And you still do not know me.
Do you not know that if you know
me you know my Father.
Do you not know that I am in
the Father and the Father is in me.
But to Philip it was hard to understand.
Not only to Philip but to all the
disciples.
They could understand Christ was with them.
And Christ stood by them.
He was alongside with them.
But they could not understand how can one
person be another person.
You know when our Lord Jesus was on
earth.
The Word became flesh.
He is God.
And yet he took upon himself a human
flesh.
And while he was in the days of
his flesh.
He could only be by the side of
his disciples.
That is as close as he could be
with his disciples.
He was not able to be in his
disciples.
Nor his disciples be in him.
It is impossible.
Therefore to our human concept.
When our Lord Jesus said I am in
the Father and the Father is in me.
His disciples just could not understand how could
it be.
And I think probably the same thing is
true with us today.
And yet in the same chapter.
In John chapter 14.
If you turn to verse 20.
And the Lord Jesus said.
Chapter 14 verse 20.
In that day.
You shall know.
That I am in my Father.
And he in me.
And I in you.
In other words.
The Lord knew.
That Philip and the other disciples could not
understand.
How could the Father be in him.
And he be in the Father.
But the Lord said.
One day.
On that day.
You shall know.
Not just know mentally.
But to know experientially.
You shall know.
That the Father is in me.
I am in the Father.
And more than that.
You are in me.
And I am in you.
In other words.
That inward relation between the Father and the
Son.
Will become our experience.
As he is in the Father.
So we are in him.
And he is in us.
Now brothers and sisters.
Now how can this be possible?
The Lord said.
On that day.
Now if you read carefully.
John chapter 14 to John chapter 16.
He mentions that day a number of times.
Now what is that day?
That day does not refer to the day
of Pentecost.
That day refers to the day of his
resurrection.
Because on the day of his resurrection.
You remember our Lord appeared to his disciples.
And he breathed into them.
And said receive me the Holy Spirit.
Now brothers and sisters.
You remember.
When God created man.
He formed the body of man with the
earth.
And then he breathed into the nostrils of
that body.
He breathed into them the breath of life.
And man became a living soul.
Now here on the day of his resurrection.
He breathed into the disciples.
And said receive me the Holy Spirit.
So brothers and sisters.
It is on the day of his resurrection.
That we receive the Holy Spirit in us.
You know when you believe in the Lord
Jesus.
You are born of the Spirit.
Not only born of the Spirit.
But the Spirit came into you.
He will come into your new spirit.
So Ezekiel chapter 36 told us.
God said he will give us a new
spirit.
And that is our dead spirit.
Dead spirit.
Dead in sins and transgressions.
A spirit that was separated from God the
Spirit.
There was no communication with God.
The Holy Spirit would quicken our dead spirit.
He don't like.
And we have a new spirit.
And then the Holy Spirit will come and
dwell in our new spirit.
Therefore in Romans we are told.
The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit.
That we are the children of God.
And we cry out Abba Father.
So dear brothers and sisters.
Let us remember this thing.
When you believe in the Lord Jesus.
Not only your dead spirit was quickened into
new life.
The Holy Spirit of God will come and
dwell in your spirit.
And that is the reason why you can
cry out to God Abba Father.
And that is what happened on the day
of resurrection.
Our Lord breathed into the disciples.
And said receive me the Holy Spirit.
So they have the indwell spirit in them.
Brothers and sisters.
We who believe in the Lord Jesus.
We all have the Holy Spirit dwelling in
our spirit.
And because the Holy Spirit is the spirit
of Christ.
He is the spirit of God.
He is God.
Therefore when the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
It is Christ who dwells in us.
It is God who dwells in us.
So the Lord said.
We will all come and abide with you.
Now do you know that God dwells in
you?
Do you know that Christ is in you?
Do you know that the Holy Spirit is
in you?
Brothers and sisters.
Often we think of salvation.
Is just having our sins forgiven.
And one day we will go to heaven.
Now of course this is great.
But what God has done is far more
than this.
He put Christ in us.
He put himself in us.
By his Spirit.
You know when Christ was in the flesh.
He could not be in his disciples.
Because he has the flesh.
But now in the Spirit.
He is able to be in us.
Dear brothers and sisters.
Our relationship with Christ Jesus.
Is not an external one.
It is an inner one.
Christ is in you.
Do you know Christ is in you?
Brothers and sisters.
Ask yourself.
Do you know Christ is in you?
Do you know that God dwells in you?
Do you know the Holy Spirit is in
you?
Now if you will turn to 2 Corinthians.
Chapter 13.
Verse 5.
2 Corinthians.
Chapter 13.
Verse 5.
Examine your own self.
If you have been in the faith.
Prove your own self.
Do you not recognize yourself.
That Christ.
Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
Unless indeed.
We be reprobate.
We need to examine ourselves.
To see if we are in the faith.
Now you say you believe in the Lord.
Jesus.
Alright.
Examine yourself.
Now how do you examine yourself.
Whether you are in the faith.
Prove your own self.
Do you know.
Do you recognize.
That Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
This is the test.
This is the proof.
That you are in the faith.
If you do not recognize.
That Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
Then you are a reprobate.
You are not really.
In the faith.
So it is very.
Very important.
Dear brothers and sisters.
You must know.
That Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
It is not just you believe.
On the Lord Jesus.
It is that when you believe.
In the Lord Jesus.
Jesus Christ comes.
And dwells in you.
This is the test.
That we are in the faith.
Whether you are really.
A true believer.
It depends on.
Whether Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
So ask yourself this question.
Do you know Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
The living Jesus Christ.
Is in you.
The Jesus Christ.
Who came into this world.
The Jesus Christ.
Who lived 33 years upon this earth.
The Jesus Christ.
Who was crucified on the cross.
The Jesus Christ.
Who was buried for 3 days.
The Jesus Christ.
Who was risen from the dead.
The Jesus Christ.
Who ascended to heaven.
Who sits at the right hand of God
the Father.
And one day he will come back.
Now this living person.
Lives in you.
He is in you.
Now do you realize that.
Now unfortunately to many Christians.
Their understanding of Jesus Christ is external.
That he is in heaven.
And you are on earth.
And there is such a distance between you
and Christ.
Now of course on the one hand.
It is true that Christ is now in
heaven.
Seated by the right hand of God.
Waiting for the day.
When all things shall be under his feet.
But on the other hand.
Today by his spirit.
He is in you.
He lives in you.
He is very living in you.
You know Christ in you is not dormant.
He is not just live there.
Doing nothing.
As if he is shut up in a
cockpit.
You know Christ in you is living.
There is a living Christ.
Lives in you.
And he is trying to live out his
life through you.
He is very active in you.
He talks with you.
He walks with you.
He is with you all the time.
Now do you realize that.
Some people ask this question.
How do I know.
That Christ lives in me.
How do I know that he is in
me.
When did I hear him talk to me.
You know some Christians say well.
Christ talk to me.
And it puzzles some other Christians.
He said how does Christ talk to you.
Do you hear it with your ear.
Christ talk to you by the indwell spirit.
Now do you hear his voice.
You know we are so busy hearing noises
all around us.
That we fail to hear the voice of
Christ.
When God speaks to you.
It is a still small voice.
There in your spirit.
You hear him talk to you.
Let me illustrate.
Now after you believe in the Lord Jesus.
After you become a Christian.
Do you not have this experience.
Now suppose you are a very talkative person.
And you like to talk.
And when you talk you usually talk out
of control.
And sometimes you exaggerate.
Sometimes you even tell lies.
You say it is white lies not black
lies.
And you are used to that.
Or sometimes you criticize people.
You judge people.
It becomes a habit to you.
That is what you have been doing all
along.
You do not feel bad about it.
But after you believe in the Lord Jesus.
Do you not have such an experience.
When you are talking.
And you begin to exaggerate.
Or you begin to criticize.
You find there is a check within you.
As if someone is checking you.
And say now that is enough.
Do not talk anymore.
If you talk more you will sin.
Do you have such an experience.
I believe you do.
You know just like you are driving a
car.
And as you are driving.
You have to brake the car.
So you find the Holy Spirit in you.
He is applying the brake.
And say that is enough.
Stop.
Now brothers and sisters.
Listen to me.
What is your reaction.
It is because you have been talking.
And you just neglect that brake.
And just talk off.
But after you have done that.
You feel bad in your conscience.
You have to go to the Lord.
And confess.
And ask the Lord to cleanse you.
With his precious blood.
Otherwise your relationship with the Lord.
Is interfered.
Now this is how the Lord is talking
to you.
So Christ in you is living.
He is talking to you.
He is teaching you.
Now sometimes.
When you are reading the word of God.
Suddenly you find as if a light has
come.
As if light has shone upon the word
of God.
And the word of God begins to speak
to you.
You know.
We read the word of God.
But sometimes when we are reading the word.
All we read is just black words on
white paper.
And after we have read it.
We forgot it.
But sometimes.
When you are reading the Bible.
Suddenly the light shines.
And the word begins to speak to your
heart.
And this is how the Lord speaks to
you.
Brothers and sisters.
Christ in you.
Is very living.
And that is the reason why.
You find in 1 John chapter 2.
You find that there is an anointing within
you.
There is an anointing in you.
And that anointing will teach you in all
things.
And what he teaches is true and is
not false.
If you listen to the anointing.
You abide in Christ.
Now the anointing refers to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is working in you.
He is like an ointment.
He will apply that ointment upon your wound.
And there is a soothing feeling within you.
He is teaching you in all things.
And whatever he teaches is true.
And we need to obey the teaching of
the anointing.
Sometimes you feel someone within you is talking
to you.
He is teaching you.
Now do you obey him?
Often times young Christians.
Will come to you and ask.
Can I do this?
Can I go there?
Tell me what God's will is.
You know.
When he is asking such question.
If you know how to help that young
brother or sister.
Instead of telling him outright.
You can do this.
You shouldn't go there.
If you just tell him.
Now how do you feel yourself?
You know when a young brother or sister
ask a question.
It shows that something is bothering him.
And at the same time.
The Holy Spirit is teaching him something.
But he would rather ask other people.
Than to listen to the Holy Spirit within
him.
Actually he already knows.
But he is trying.
To ask people.
Now.
When he ask a question.
Can I do this thing?
He already knows he couldn't do it.
But.
He ask a question.
If someone tell him you shouldn't do it.
Oh.
He says.
I will ask another one.
And if he ask enough people.
He will get the answer that he want.
But.
It may not be the answer of God.
Because.
The Holy Spirit within you.
Has already.
Taught.
So brothers and sisters.
Christ.
In you.
That is.
A great mystery.
He is in you.
Now what is glory?
You know glory.
Is very difficult to define.
As a matter of fact.
All the terms in the Bible.
Are difficult to define.
Because.
They are beyond.
Our human comprehension.
Because they are so rich.
And our glory.
Is very difficult.
To explain.
We find that sometimes.
The Bible.
Use glory.
Instead of the word God.
God and glory.
Are one.
Glory.
Manifests.
The character of God.
Glory.
Shows forth.
The acts of God.
Glory.
Is fully manifested.
In our Lord Jesus Christ.
So it is a very difficult word.
To explain.
But one day.
I was reading a book.
I think probably.
Some of you.
May have read it.
It is something written by.
Our dear brother.
T.
Austin Spock.
And he put it.
In a very simple way.
He said.
What is glory?
Glory.
Is.
When God.
The creator.
Is satisfied.
With.
The things he created.
Glory.
Is.
How it ought to be.
Now is it not true?
When you are doing something.
And it turns out to be.
How it ought to be.
You feel a change of glory within you.
Now when God.
Look upon us.
And he saw.
That we are.
What we ought to be.
What he has created us.
For.
And when this happens.
Then glory appears.
Now brothers and sisters.
He told me.
To put it in a simple way.
Christ in you.
Is the secret of glory.
If Christ is not in you.
You will never be able.
To get into glory.
You remember the bible said.
One day.
Our Lord Jesus.
Will lead many sons.
Into glory.
But.
How can he lead.
Many sons into glory.
Unless.
He has already.
Incorporate.
Work.
You know.
No man can see God.
If God will bring you.
To his glory.
And there is not glory.
Within you.
You cannot stand.
That glory.
So you find that glory.
Must be working to you first.
The character of Christ.
Must be.
Worked into your life.
God's character.
Must become your character.
He must transform you.
From glory to glory.
According to the image.
Of his beloved son.
And how is he going to do that.
It is through Christ.
In you.
Because Christ is in you.
So there is the hope.
Of glory.
We have a blessed hope.
And the blessed hope is.
That we will be transformed.
And not just in the future.
But even today.
From the day that we believe in the
Lord Jesus.
Christ is in you.
And the Holy Spirit will begin to do
the work of transformation.
And he will deal with what is the
natural.
What is endemic.
He will deal with all these.
All the flesh.
And he will make Christ increase in us.
The character of Christ will characterize us.
We are being transformed.
And Christ will take over our life.
Instead of we live by ourselves.
Christ lives in us.
Just as Apostle Paul said.
The need to live is Christ.
No longer us.
It is Christ who lives in you.
I am crucified with Christ.
It is Christ who lives in me.
Brothers and sisters.
This is glory.
You know whenever you see Christ in a
brother or a sister.
You see glory.
But whenever you see a brother or sister
in himself or herself.
That is you see Adam in brothers and
sisters.
A derision.
Glory is Christ in you.
So dear brothers and sisters.
We have a blessed hope.
Christ in you.
He is the secret to glory.
Now it is true.
When he is transforming you.
There will be suffering.
So far as your old Adam is concerned.
Your old self is concerned.
You may have to suffer.
You have to deny yourself.
Take up the cross.
And follow the Lord.
But the result is glory.
Christ will be formed in you.
And you will be perfected in Christ Jesus.
And this is what the Lord is doing
today.
So dear brothers and sisters.
Do keep this word in your heart.
Christ in you.
The hope of glory.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father we want to thank thee.
For thou has already revealed to us.
That Christ is in us.
And this is the hope of glory.
Oh how we praise and thank thee.
Thou has not only called us.
But thou has also justified us.
And thou who has justified us.
Thou will also glorify us.
And Lord we do turn our hearts towards
thee.
That we may be transformed.
By thy spirit.
From glory to glory.
That Christ may be fully formed in us.
That thou may look at us and say
this is how we ought to be.
May all glory be unto thee.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.