How Christ is Formed in Us
BY Apostle Aje Pelser
12 June 2016

God has prepared these ways to form Christ in us.

God uses apostles to help us access those ways. Paul give s a graphic comparison to how it feels to see Christ formed in people – to get people connected to Christ in the first place is a battle. Evil forces try to prevent souls getting saved, and people getting born again. Think about when Jesus was born, how Herod killed infants to try and prevent the kingdom of Jesus coming into the earth. That is the same in a corporate sense when a Church representing the Body of Christ is planted. All hell breaks loose to try and stop it and make people give up. The reason is when the corporate Body of Christ is revealed, there is a shift of principalities and the entrance of the Kingdom of Light – darkness has to been displaced.

Consider your own life, when people have tried to warn you and help you, how that resistance to the truth almost prevented you from entering into God’s will for your life. I believe at this stage God’s Spirit will help us pray more along those lines for souls. We are busy with the great harvest and the goal is to see Christ formed in people.

The Good news is that we have a Helper and we will expand on the ways that the Holy Spirit helps us to see Christ formed not only in our lives, but in those entrusted in our spiritual care.

Let’s investigate this scripture in a little more depth:
Gal 4:19 My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
NKJV
Or put differently, “My children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be outwardly expressed in you.” Wuest’s Translation

“Travailing” or “giving birth” means that “he is straining every nerve and exerting all his pent-up love for them in earnestly praying for them. He is praying that Christ be again formed in them”

The word for “formed” in the Greek means:
“To give outward expression of one’s inward character.”
The example used is like a tennis player showing excellent form and winning. IN other words, “the outward expression of his inward ability to play tennis, was excellent.”
The verb “formed” is in the passive voice, meaning the subject of the verb is passive – inactive or does not act himself, but is acted upon by an outward agent. The Holy Spirit is the agent manifesting/ forming/ giving an outward expression of our inward Christ.

Ways that the Godhead Works to see Christ formed in us:
Wuest expands:
“God the Father keeps Himself in the background and puts forth His adorable Son.
God the Son keeps Himself in the background and gives the ministry of glorifying Him to the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit keeps Himself in the background and manifests forth the Son.
Observe the infinite humility of the three Persons of the Godhead.
The only three Persons in the universe who have the prerogative of putting themselves forward and of glorifying themselves do not do so.”

Ways that the Holy Spirit works:
He is also a sent one. The “Sent” dynamic that forms Christ in us. When Jesus went to heaven He sent his Spirit to be with us.
Joh 15:26 \”But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Joh 16:14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
This means that Jesus does not glorify Himself but leaves that to the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to take of the things of Christ and show them to the believer.”
“The Christian’s life is a prism through which the Holy Spirit breaks up into its component graces, the beauty of our Lord.” It remains therefore that a believer needs to develop an intelligent awareness of the work of the Holy Spirit in his life to reveal Christ within. Dr. Max I Reich said:
“If we make room for the Holy Spirit, He will make room for the Lord Jesus.”

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (From Harvester Reformational Church Foundation Course.)
What is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:11 The Baptism in the Holy Spirit has confused many. They are afraid it is not of God; that they may receive some other spirit other than the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 7:11 God says He will only give you good things when you ask Him.
Luke 11:11 God will only give you the Holy Spirit when you ask Him. Nothing more and nothing less.
Joel 2:28:32 It is an insult to God\’s integrity to even think that you will receive less than what you have requested.
The Holy Spirit has taken the place of Christ here on earth by dwelling in us.
John 14:16 Jesus\’ prayer is for us to have the Holy Spirit.

The role of the Holy Spirit
He is a comforter.
He will eternally abide within us.
He is the Spirit of Truth.
He is a teacher. He brings things to our remembrance.

How will you know Him (the Holy Spirit)?
John 14:18 By Him dwelling in you. The Holy Spirit comes to us, Jesus in fact comes to us.
John 15:26 The Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus.
John 15:27; Acts 1:8 The Holy Spirit will make you become a witness of Christ.

What happens when you are baptized into the Holy Spirit?
Acts 1:8; Romans 8:31, 37 You receive power to witness and live a victorious life.
2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:15-16 You receive the seal of God that you are His child.
Romans 8:14 You are led by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:8, 13, 31 You receive boldness.
Acts 2:42 Signs and wonders take place.
Acts 2:4; Acts 10: 44-46; Acts 19:2-4; You speak in a new tongue (language), a spiritual language.
Acts 6:8 Your own faith increases.

Our ultimate purpose is actually His purpose – to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ! Romans 8:28,29

So let the Holy Spirit continue to form Christ in you. Ask God to fill you with his Spirit, and if you have experienced this baptism, share it with someone else so that Christ can be formed in them too!