THE INCARNATION CONTINUES - Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you. The Second Coming is actually in you — right now. Christ was first formed in Mary’s womb; now He’s being formed in you. It’s a truth unique to Christianity and no other religion. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus made His first invasion into Bethlehem. His second great act of indwelling happens when you open your heart to Him. Jesus Christ is inside of you this very moment. The incarnation didn’t finish but continues… in you. One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.” - “[My] labor pains for you… will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” — And so you’ve celebrated Christmas, the coming of Jesus to this world. And what a thing to celebrate! The entire pageant comes down to this: Jesus took on a genuine humanity. And of course, this late in the Story, I hope it’s nearly impossible for you to celebrate Christmas without your heart turning toward His return. One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.” But what struck me this Christmas was this: the Second Coming is actually… the Third Coming. Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you. The Second Coming is actually in you — right now.

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The Incarnation Continues

Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you. The Second Coming is actually in you — right now. 

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Christ was first formed in Mary’s womb; now He’s being formed in you. It’s a truth unique to Christianity and no other religion. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 

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Jesus made His first invasion into Bethlehem. His second great act of indwelling happens when you open your heart to Him. Jesus Christ is inside of you this very moment. The incarnation didn’t finish but continues… in you. 

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One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.”

John Eldredge

 

“[My] labor pains for you… will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” — Galatians 4:19 NLT

 

And so you’ve celebrated Christmas, the coming of Jesus to this world. And what a thing to celebrate!

The entire pageant comes down to this: Jesus took on a genuine humanity.

And of course, this late in the Story, I hope it’s nearly impossible for you to celebrate Christmas without your heart turning toward His return.

One day soon, Jesus will return to this earth, with His army, to make a final end of evil and to usher in the coming of a Golden Age. This is referred to as the “Second Coming.”

But what struck me this Christmas was this: the Second Coming is actually… the Third Coming.

Christ came to Bethlehem. And then He comes to dwell in you.

The Second Coming is actually in you — right now.

Christ was first formed in Mary’s womb; now He’s being formed in you. It’s a truth unique to Christianity and no other religion.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27 NASB

Jesus made His first invasion into Bethlehem.

His second great act of indwelling happens when you open your heart to Him.

Think of it — Jesus Christ is inside of you this very moment. The incarnation didn’t finish but continues… in you.

I receive it, Lord!

I receive Jesus Christ into every part of my life and my being!

Yes, Lord — come and be formed in me today!

Your Turn

What part of your life do you feel Christ wants to transform today and in the coming year? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Excerpted with permission from Restoration Year: A 365-Day Devotional by John Eldredge, copyright John Eldredge.

John Eldredge is the director of Ransomed Heart™ in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. John is the author of numerous books, including Wild at Heart, Epic: The Story God is Telling, Walking with God, Fathered by God, Waking the Dead, Desire, and Love & War (with his wife Stasi). John and Stasi live in Colorado with their three sons.

FaithGateway is brought to you by HarperCollins Christian Publishing and is dedicated to helping you grow and share your faith.

https://www.faithgateway.com/the-incarnation-continues/#.YE8yt9IzaJA

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REJOICING IN AFFLICTIONS - When Jesus bore all the sin of the world, He produced the potential of removing real harm from all sin, pain and suffering that we would encounter. This means that whatever evil challenge that confronts us, if we believe, we have the potential of converting that evil into a "friend," or into a blessing not only for ourselves but for others in this fallen world. Paul did not say that he merely endured his suffering and afflictions, but that he actually rejoiced in them and took pleasure in them. His afflictions were actually filling up those afflictions of Christ's that were lacking. Paul also stated that his afflictions were working for the benefit of the Body of Christ, the Church. Jesus paid the entire price for sin on the cross and by His resurrection He applied that to us. In that regard there was nothing lacking. What was and is lacking is what is called vicarious intercession. Our afflictions in some secret way, bring others into the saving knowledge of Jesus and into His Kingdom.

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Afflictions In Life

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Even if we do not sow bad seeds, afflictions and challenges will come. If we are walking close to the Lord Jesus in intimate fellowship with Him, He will give us peace during our challenging times. Paul actually rejoiced in them and took pleasure in them.  Whatever evil challenge that confronts us, we have the potential of converting evil into a "friend," or into a blessing not only for ourselves but for others in this fallen world - all the pain, suffering and affliction become a blessing. 

Larry Chkoreff

International School of the Bible 

It is inevitable that humans will suffer afflictions in life. 

Some people go out of their way to pursue comfort and thus are experienced in avoiding many afflictions, but not so with believers who are committed to obeying and following Jesus. 

While I do not understand everything about why we suffer afflictions and have challenges in our lives, there are some things that I have learned and that I do know.

a.  If we sow bad seeds in our lives, we can suffer unnecessary afflictions.

b.  Even if we do not sow bad seeds, afflictions and challenges will come.

How are we to handle afflictions?
If we are walking close to the Lord Jesus in intimate fellowship with Him, He will give us peace during our challenging times. 

Often, in my life, He will let me know personally that He is aware of what I am going through and is walking with me. That in itself is great comfort!

The secret

Colossians 1:20 – “and by Him [the Father] to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Sin is the cause of pain and suffering in this world. 

However, when Jesus bore all the sin of the world, He produced the potential of removing real harm from all sin, pain and suffering that we would encounter. 

This means that whatever evil challenge that confronts us, if we believe, we have the potential of converting that evil into a "friend," or into a blessing not only for ourselves but for others in this fallen world.

Of course, we are not perfect, but if we continually confess our sin, He continually keeps us clean. 

Therefore, if you believe this, all the pain, suffering and affliction must, by law, become a blessing. 

It is not up to you to predict how the blessing will take place, it is only your task to believe and worship God for His wonderful miracle that took place in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Paul knew about this

Colossians 1:24 - “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Notice that Paul did not say that he merely endured his suffering and afflictions, but that he actually rejoiced in them and took pleasure in them.  Why could he say this?

Paul knew the secret
Notice in Colossians 1:24 above, that Paul said that his afflictions were actually filling up those afflictions of Christ's that were lacking. 

Paul also stated that his afflictions were working for the benefit of the Body of Christ, the Church. How could this be?

While I do not understand everything about this, I do know this, not only by Scripture but also by personal experience. 

Jesus paid the entire price for sin on the cross and by His resurrection He applied that to us. In that regard there was nothing lacking. 

I believe what was and is lacking is what is called vicarious intercession. 

Our afflictions in some secret way, when reconciled, bring others into the saving knowledge of Jesus and into His Kingdom. 

Look at Old Testament Joseph as an example
Joseph suffered greatly at the hands of his brothers and at the hands of the authorities in Egypt while he was a prisoner. 

However somehow Joseph's testimony was, "But God was with me." 

When he was finally delivered from prison and made prime minister over Egypt, he not only was personally delivered and rewarded, but his afflictions caused God's people, all of Israel to be saved. 

That is an example of what our afflictions will do if suffered in faith.

Now look at this entire passage in Colossians in this context.

Colossians 1:19,20,24-27 - “¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross

“²⁴ I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

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.”

Notice the end result that Paul had in mind through his sufferings, in verse 27. 

He knew that his afflictions would reveal to many that mystery that Christ actually lives in them! 

I submit that often the only way that God can reveal that secret to many is through our afflictions. 

I have some very specific personal testimonies about this that have amazed me!

About International School of the Bible - ISOB

This is to summarize what God is doing through International School of The Bible (ISOB) around the world.  All the Glory goes to God as we watch what He is doing!

Carol Chkoreff and Larry Chkoreff never intended to start a ministry like ISOB.  We were teaching 8th grade Sunday School at Mt. Paran Central and North Church of God since 1983. At the same time we were overcoming very challenging circumstances in our lives.  I ended up writing about our overcoming through God's direction and path for these 8th graders.   I am not especially qualified in education as a writer. I have had no previous experience.  Therefore, any fruit from anything that we have written is totally to the glory of God and from His grace and anointing.  My writing style is not professional; it is rather conversational, geared towards the simple. 

Beginnings.

As we were ministering at Mount Paran Safehouse (downtown Atlanta) in 1994-1996, we were asked to develop discipleship lessons for the homeless people.  As we did that, the Lord spoke an unexpected promise to us through Psalms 68:11.  "The Lord gave the word, great was the host (army) of those that published it."  We had no idea what that meant. But now we do.  Writers write, printers print, but publishers distribute.  The great host of publishers that we see publishing our books, freely of course, "blows our minds!"   These "publishers" are mostly simple pastors in Third World and persecuted nations.

Psalm 68: 12 says, "Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil."  Carol and I have tarried at home, but we have seen the "spoil."  The Mount Paran Central missionary to Ghana, Kingspride Hammond, who also worked at Safehouse while we were there, spoke a prophetic word to me.  He said that our discipleship school for the homeless would someday be called International School of The Bible.  I laughed, sort of like Old Testament Sarah did!

http://isob-bible.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=322