Jesus Was Born In Bethlehem True But Was He Born In You

Jesus was born in Bethlehem

TRUE

But was He born in You

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - The 1st of December my wife and I went to the Christmas tree lighting in our town, it was a very nice event. The high school band played Christmas songs, they gave out free hot chocolate, Santa Clause came through downtown on a Fire truck and we all were waiting for the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train to pass, which until 11:00 p.m. never came by. In the park where the tree lighting was, they have a life size Nativity scene set up. While I was near the nativity scene there was this little boy there about 3 or 4 years old. He looked at the nativity scene and said with such excitement look mommy a baby. His mother said that’s baby Jesus and the little boy said Who?

Worldwide billions of people celebrate Christmas without ever giving thought of the birth of Jesus Christ. People celebrate Christmas by decorating for the holiday, buying presents, exchanging gifts, eating superb Christmas meals, and spreading messages of goodwill, joy, and love. This holiday has become an integral part of our lives. Although we celebrate Jesus being born in Bethlehem, sadly many people are like the little boy at the nativity scene and still are saying WHO?

Yes, we celebrate Jesus being born in Bethlehem, but has He been born in you!

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURE: - Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you”. Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

What is meant by Christ formed in you? This is what being Born Again is all about. Just as a child develops in the womb as it takes the form of mankind, so are we being formed into the image of Christ by the Holy Ghost working in us. As we grow in grace that likeness becomes more and more defined, till at last we reach the stature of the fulness of Christ and reflect His image in our lives. It is Spiritual birth, Spiritual formation, Discipleship, Growth, and most importantly becoming Christlike. It means Jesus Christ is in our hearts and His Spirit lives and dwells in you.

When Christ is born in you He dwells within you, He lives out His own perfect life, His perfect will through your life Galatians 2:20 says, “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”. When Christ lives in us, we don’t desire or fulfill the lust of the flesh, but we walk in the spirit. Our will is to do His will. Jesus said in John 5:19 says, “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise”.

When Christ is born in you your thoughts become His thoughts because we develop the mind of Christ Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. You think like Christ your mind is not persuaded by what the world says and does, wrong is wrong and right is right regardless of what the world may say or what laws they may try to pass.

When Christ is born in you the love of Christ controls you 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us”. It is the love of Christ, not our love for Christ that has the constraining power over our life. His love for us keeps us in the straight and narrow way. It is His love that keeps us from going astray. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way”. When Christ is born in us He directs our walk. David said He leads me in the path of righteousness for His name sake Psalm 23:3. That is the meaning of John 16:13 “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”.

SUMMARY:- When Christ is born in you, He dwells in you He takes up residence in you, His perfect will is manifested through you, your thought are His thoughts, your ways are His ways, He constrains you from going astray keeping you in the straight and narrow by ordering your steps until as Ephesians 4:13 says, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”. Until we are Spiritually mature and are like Him.