Michael O'Connor, Christ In You

Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory

By Michael O'Connor

Beloved in Christ: I was recently cogitating upon the great truth of “Christ-within,” when some marvelous insights were afforded me. I trust that what follows herein shall be a tremendous source of encouragement and help to each of you.

The title is drawn from the Scripture found in Colossians 1:27. Please note a list of Scriptures below, relating to the subject.

We are to be filled with God:

"And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:27).

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:17).

"At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you" (John 14:20).

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him" (John 14:23).

"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:" (John 20:22).

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).

"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11).

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Galatians 4:19).

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19).

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).

We are to be filled with God's Word:

"But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it" (Deuteronomy 30:14).

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11).

"The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130).

"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).

"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:3).

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).

We are to be filled with light:

"The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly" (Proverbs 20:27).

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon [or within] them hath the light shined" (Isaiah 9:2).

"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be [become] darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:23).

"If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light" (Luke 11:36).

"But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him" (John 11:10).

"In whom the god [Satan] of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto [into] them" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The Holy Spirit Within:

The Holy Spirit indwelling the Believer, is the very essence, substance, and being of the Father and the Son. Although there are “three which bear record in heaven, these three are One” (1 John 5:7).

ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD!

The Godhead is expressed very beautifully, yet basically, in the creation of man! The Three-In-One Deity speaks in Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...” There is a “double-positive,” here: “...in our image,” and “after our likeness...” This is to say: Let us make him exactly as we are! He was to be a mirror-image of the Godhead, and in his will, emotions, intellect, and personality, he was to be like God! (Such indeed was the case with Adam before his tragic fall.)

Now, the question must be posed: How many “Adams” were created: Were there three; one for each member of the Godhead? The answer is clearly, “NO!” God did, however, create one man; a tripartite being! (That is; one man, having:

1. A spirit.

2. A Soul.

3. A Body.

It may be perhaps better, stated: Man is a spirit, having a soul, who lives in a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

The Holy Spirit is eternally co-joined in the Godhead, but He is manifested in a peculiar office and ministry; for it is He who shall:

1. Convince the world concerning sin: “And when He [The Holy Spirit] comes, He will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (John 16:7-8, RSV).

2. Testify of Jesus: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26, KJV).

3. Guide us into all truth: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).

The Holy Oil:

The Holy Spirit is typified by the precious oil, used in the various ministries of the Tabernacle, and of the Temple. His works are ever an extension of (and in unity with) the Divine Godhead; very often related unto the Shekinah (Se-keen-ah) and the Anointing!

"Inner-light" is generated by the Holy Spirit, breathing upon, and quickening the Word of God within our beings! In the Old Testament, there are numerous references to light which is generated by oil; being again a type of the Holy Spirit! The customary source of illumination in ancient times (and in America, up until the turn of the Twentieth Century, and beyond) was either by tallow/waxen candles, or by oil lamps. Amazingly, such is yet the case in certain remote and primitive places in the Earth!

To achieve light from an oil lamp, four elements are essential:

1. A Vessel

(Bowl or Recepticle)

2. A Wick.

3. Oil.

4. Ignition.

The Golden Lampstand:

(Exodus 25:31)

While the King James Version refers to this as the “golden candlestick,” it in fact had no candles, but rather, seven upwardly reaching branches, with small oil-filled bowls of approximate tea-cup size, and wicks atop each; thusly making it rather a lampstand, than a candlestick.

The Beaten Oil:

"And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel" (Exodus 27:20-21).

There was a Divinely prescribed formula given for preparation of the oil used in the lampstand! It had to be made from unblemished olives borne by healthy trees! This oil was not to be pressed, but rather, beaten with special implements created for the purpose. Much could be written upon this subject, but for now, suffice that a “pressing” is accomplished in one weighty crushing, whereas, oil “beaten” from the olives, bespeaks an on-going process with many hard blows, and many “breakings.” This is highly significant in that this special oil was to be ordered in fresh batches, upon a consistent basis. The oil was to be freshly made! (No stale, rancid oil was permitted!)

The Beaten Gold:

It is significant also, that the lampstand was to be made of pure, beaten gold! Gold is ever a type of Deity/The Divine Nature. Our Lord has no “cheap, easy methods!” He did not order a quick, “gold-plating” process, nor a “gilding-dip;” but rather solid, purified gold, which had been so dealt with and refined, that it could stand-up beneath the “hammer!” (It was to be hand-wrought.) “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same” (Exodus 25:31).

The Beaten Flax:

Also significant is the fact that the “wicks” were to be fashioned from flax fibers, which had been beaten and hammered, to release them from their confining husks. The flax strands were then to be soaked in water, and cleansed and combed. This was achieved by drawing them repeatedly through the sharp spikes of the Hetchel! Beloved, these processes bespeak the dealings and breakings by the Holy Spirit, in the way of the “Crucified-Life.” Below is a marvelous song, well known to many around the world:

"Every valley shall be exalted,

Every mountain and hill be made low: -

Then we shall merge together,

And the River of God shall flow!

Flowing, flowing, flowing into God;

Flowing, flowing, flowing, into God!

It takes a melting; It takes a breaking;

It takes a breaking; It takes a melting;

It takes a melting; It takes a breaking,

To be flowing into God!"

What a marvelous thought, that as our Lord had a Lamp in His natural Holy Place (in both the Tabernacle and the Temple), so likewise, He has a typically corresponding Lamp, in His Living Temple (the Body of Christ). Every Believer is called and designed to be a lamp (a light in this dark world) unto our Lord!

The “golden wick bowl” speaks of our regenerated spirit, which is filled with oil (the Holy Spirit). As the flaxen wick (speaking of our humanity) remains saturated, thence can the fire from God's altar ignite it, enabling it to burn with a clear, bright witness of the glorious Christ within!

"Humble Yourselves... Under The Mighty Hand Of God.”

(1 Peter 5:6)

There is also the matter of discipline and correction for those who would be used as light-bearers in the Holy Place! We must be trimmed (even as every fruit-bearing tree must be pruned). For this reason, our Lord in His infinite wisdom commanded that along with the lampstand and snuffers, there should be made also of pure gold, the “tongs” (this speaks of the preaching and teaching; especially in a doctrinal sense, of the Word of God), for the purpose of trimming the wicks. Anyone who has used oil lamps of any kind will know that when the wick has burned brightly for any length of time, there is created upon the flame-journal, a hardened black crust of carbon ash. If this is not kept trimmed-back, the wick will eventually begin to smoke and smolder, throw sparks, and eventually burn out! (A wick un-dealt with and un-tended, is incapable of sustaining for very long, the fire of God!)

Be Filled, And Re-Filled:

Along with the above is the responsibility of each one of us to receive the Holy Spirit (be about receiving the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38). Again, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to “be filled with the Spirit [be BEING filled]” (Ephesians 5:18) This speaks of a continual refilling of the Holy Spirit. If the oil runs low within our spirits, our light will be extinguished. Such was nearly the case in Eli's day, due to his decrepit physical condition, and his blindness; coupled with the rebellion, negligence, and ineptitude of Hophni and Phineas, his dissolute sons (the lampstand in the Temple was nigh to being extinguished)! “And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD...” (1 Samuel 3:3).

God's Refining Fire:

Lastly, we must not fear nor shrink from the touch of the “Divine Flame,” upon our lives; without which we would remain in darkness! In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah experienced a profound meeting with God (Isaiah 6:1). As he beheld the manifest glory of God in the Temple, he saw by glaring contrast, his own condition, and that of his peers! Instead of shrinking away in fear, he set a glorious example for all who would come before our Lord for cleansing and purging. Isaiah cried out: “...Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips...” (Isaiah 6:5). In response to his heart-cry, one of the seraphim then flew and took a live coal from off the altar of God, and placed it upon Isaiah's mouth! (Isaiah 6:6-7).

The Live Coal:

Without the fire of God in our lives, we would be swallowed-up by the gross darkness of the Adamic nature! Without the live coal from off the altar of God, to touch our lips, we should remain with our speech undealt with; unclean, and unacceptable unto our Lord (as is the rife condition in this hour of many professing Believers)! The setting for Isaiah's vision was the “Holy Place,” in that he saw the doorposts move and tremble, and the “House” filled with smoke. This fact establishes that the “live coal,” was taken not from the exterior altar of sacrifice, but rather from the Golden Altar of Incense, which stood before the veil in the Holy Place. It was a live coal of frankincense, with which the Seraph touched his lips. Frankincense is typical of the prayers, praises, and worship going-up from the People of God! When our mouths are filled with prayer, praise, and worship, there shall be no room for:

Murmuring; complaining; back-biting; slander; gossip; lies; exaggeration; insinuation; innuendo; evil concupiscence; cursing; swearing; smutty jokes; dirty stories; idle words; excessive talking, etc.

"Not I, But Christ:"

(Galatians 2:20)

We have shared some beautiful thoughts on the golden lampstand, but the main emphasis herein is upon the “Golden Bowls,” which are the repositories for the beaten oil. Should our most gracious Lord Jesus choose to use anyone of us in any capacity, we have absolutely nothing whereof to boast, save in Jesus Christ; crucified, risen, and coming again! Wherefore prideful boasting, when we remember that even though we are the repositories/receptacles of the Holy Spirit, we must seek re-fillings in order to keep ourselves saturated, nor can we of self ignite our own wicks! We must be in the place of an anointed priesthood (ministry), skilled and trained in the care of the wicks, and as well in the re-filling of the bowls, and the igniting of the lamps.

1. The Word of God trims our wicks.

2. The Holy Spirit re-fills our bowls.

3. The Fire of God ignites us.

Without Him, we would remain but dry, life-less wicks; dead, cold, and of use to no one! Until we become saturated with the Holy Oil, and until the Fire of God touches our lives, we cannot give light! It is a sovereign working of God! Let us remember this always!

A Well-Known Gospel Chorus:

Without Him, I could do nothing,

Without Him, I'd surely fail;

Without Him, I would be drifting -

Like a ship without a sail.

But with Jesus, I can do all things,

With His help, I surely not fail;

Through His blood, I'm more than a conqueror,

In His wonderful name, I prevail!

Chorus:

Jesus, Oh, Jesus,

Do you know Him today?

Please don't turn Him away!

Jesus, Blessed Jesus;

Without Him, how lost I would be!

Hold fast that which is good:

The impress of the Holy Spirit for this article is that we be sound vessels, capable of bearing-up under the weight of His Divine infusion. The writer of Hebrews 2:1 admonishes us:

"See that ye let none of these things slip" (Greek: “leak out”).

It behooves every one of us to see that our cisterns are in good repair to hold the “Water of Life.” Oh! May our vessels (even though but humble, earthen ones) be strong to bear to the hungry, “corn, wine, and oil,” and the “finest of the wheat.”

Lord, help us to keep our “water-skins,” “wine-skins,” and “oil-skins,” supple and sound, as we carry your Gospel unto those, perishing upon the Jericho Road! Amen!

The condition which causes animal skins (KJV = bottles) to dry out, crack, and disintegrate, is not an abundance of use! Indeed, being used is what best preserves them! Deterioration is caused by disuse and emptiness, which ruins them! Skins kept filled with water, wine, or oil, will last for many years! Oh! How tragic to allow them to run-dry, resulting in their ruin and decay!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we pray that you will encourage and help us, every one; to keep our lamps full, and burning brightly; and our spare-vessels filled to the brim, for this pilgrimage-journey unto the Great Marriage Feast! Fill us to overflowing, that we may be able to give freely unto others, of the good treasures of your Kingdom! Amen!

I Surrender All:

Jesus “learned obedience by the things which He suffered [Greek = permitted]” (and by the breakings and hardships He allowed, in His life) (Hebrews 5:8). His life was a daily exercise in submitting Himself unto the will of His Father! His will, emotions, and intellect were totally upon the altar! He lived only to obey and please His Father! His life was not His own! Beloved, can we even imagine the life of sterling sacrifice which our Lord Jesus presented upon a daily basis unto His Father? For all who would be “light-bearers” in the Holy Place, there must be a life of surrender and self-abnegation; a life accompanied with many breakings and dealings of the blessed Holy Spirit.

Defensed City, Or Open Field?

We are not to be an “open field,” whereupon the Enemy may come and go at will! He shall make an attempt, but he is a trespasser and a usurper! He came to Jesus, but Jesus gave us a key when He said:

"...for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me" (John 14:30).

Why was this true? The answer is: Because Jesus was absolutely filled, and overflowing with all things Holy and Divine! Satan had no investment, nor anything of his “merchandise” in Jesus Christ, as listed below; nor any other type of unrighteousness, nor anything whatsoever of his evil traits and attributes!

Self-will

Disobedience

Rebellion

Unforgiveness

Revenge

Violence

Murmuring

Gossip

Slander

Sarcasm

Railing

Cruelty

Dishonesty

Crookedness

Thievery

Lies

Slander

False-witness

Uncleanness

Pornography

Immorality

Fornication

Adultery

Divorce

Lust

Alcoholism

Drug-abuse

Laziness

Ostentation

Gluttony

Greed

Gambling

Extortion

Rage

Retaliation

Murder

There was absolutely no “ beach-head” whereupon to place the sole of his foot (not even one square millimeter)! Jesus had surrendered all to the Father, with no part held back! Satan can only gain legal access to us if we have accepted of his merchandise into our “city.”

There were twelve gates of entry into the ancient city of Jerusalem, and there are twelve gates of entry into our lives, in that we are typically a “city” or “house of dwelling,” for our Lord.

Right eye

Left eye

Right Ear

Left Ear

Right Nostril

Left Nostril

Mouth

Right Hand

Left Hand

Right Foot

Left Foot

Sex organ

When these gates are surrendered unto our Lord Jesus, and guarded by His precious blood, all is well! Conversely, when any one, or more of them are compromised and yielded to the dark Kingdom, there comes filth, corruption, perversion, and every evil work in the wake of backsliding (first in heart, and then increasingly, until a state of total falling-away, is reached).

A True Example:

Such was the case of one young man, who backslid to such an extent, that he found himself again, and again, in various cities; walking mile after mile, day and night (on the Bowery, and in other dangerous ghettos), drinking from flat bottles of cheap booze, as he sought to by dope, cheaply enough to accommodate his limited funds! The Scripture speaks of such persons as those who:

"...weary themselves to commit iniquity" (Jeremiah 9:5).

As a result of this young man's departure from his “Father's house,” unto, the “far-country,” his health broke-down, and his very mind, will, and emotions were affected! Through our Lord's infinite grace, he (as the “Prodigal Son”) was gloriously reclaimed and reinstated to fellowship, although the physical dissipation, and the damage wrought by sin was not immediately healed! At the most recent report, this brother still needs a touch of divine mercy for the full healing and restoration of the impairments sustained! Please pray earnestly for him (and so many like him). Our Lord Jesus is very gracious, and perchance in His clemency, He shall heal and restore:

Our Lord is “...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance!” (2 Peter 3:9).

"Ye Did Run Well; Who Did Hinder Thee?"

(Galatians 5:7)

The major problem in the above case-history, is that this brother allowed the treasures of grace and truth, to “slip” (leak out from his vessel)! Because he was no longer full to overflowing with God, a vacuum was created, allowing for an infusion of evil and darkness!

The fullness of God in the life of a Believer, displaces all that is evil and unrighteous from the kingdom of darkness! When we are full of God, there is room for nothing else!

We are commanded to: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). The backslider knows to do good, but does it not! “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Because his life was no longer filled with God, there was a gnawing emptiness, which influenced him to accept forbidden things from the underworld, into his “city!” This is to say, that he embraced and received from the enemy of his soul, “merchandise” from the world of darkness; thusly allowing for a demonic stronghold; a “beach-head” to be established in his life! The beach-head created by rebellion, disobedience, and backsliding served to accommodate future moorings of the old, “Black-Freighter” from Hell! Had there been no beach-head in his life, the Black-Freighter (Satan's slave-ship) would have found no “port of entry,” nor any “wharf-slip” wherein to make fast, to offload his cargo! Backsliding is invariably the result of Believers refusing to work out their own salvation! That is, not keeping filled with God, His Word, and His Spirit! It is rebellion against God Himself, which causes such Believers to perceive that they have little or no time to study God's Word; to pray; to win souls; and to engage in fellowship with fellow Believers!

Be Ye Holy As I Am Holy:

God never instructs us to do anything that He will not help and enable us to achieve! There is no failure in God! He has given to us a Divine provision for a victorious life of godliness and Holiness; a life above, and separate from this crooked and perverse generation! Yes! He has made for us a Plain Path, but it is our signal responsibility to seek after, pursue, overtake, and apprehend that path! We are told to:

"...apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12). Yes, dear reader, it is your responsibility to “...work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Below are two very pertinent Scriptures which I pray you shall read again, and again, until they become a part of your experience:

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

Along with these blessed verses, I am reminded of a very powerful Gospel song, which has been sung for many years, but which may be unknown to the present generation. I only wish it were possible to sing it for you at this moment! Hopefully very soon we will have the audio capability on this website for doing just that.

Will Jesus Find Us Watching?

When Jesus comes to reward His servants,
Whether it be noon or night,
Faithful to Him will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright?

If, at the dawn of the early morning,
He shall call us one by one,
When to the Lord we restore our talents,
Will He answer thee, “Well done”?

Have we been true to the trust He left us?
Do we seek to do our best?
If in our hearts there is naught condemns us,
We shall have a glorious rest.

Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching,
In His glory they shall share;
If He shall come at the dawn or midnight,
Will He find us watching there?

Refrain:

Oh, can we say we are ready, brother?
Ready for the soul’s bright home?
Say, will He find you and me still watching,
Waiting, waiting when the Lord shall come?