The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Ruler, #3

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

"Until Christ be formed in you."

The twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation is describing the forming of God's Conqueror, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Church, the heavenly Zion, by means of the travail of the ministries of the Church. This mystery (Christ in you) will be finished at the time of the seventh trumpet.

There are two aspects of the Christian redemption taking place now: one, the saints are being prepared and encouraged to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit so they may go forth in power as Christ's witnesses; and two, Christ is being formed in the saints and they are growing up in Him in order that the Body of Christ may be perfected.

The saints are being prepared and encouraged to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Christ is being formed in the saints.

When the Body of Christ has been perfected, the Head can return and Christ—Head and Body—can perform the work of the Servant of the Lord.

The following verse describes the work of Christ, the Servant of the Lord:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment [justice] to the Gentiles [nations]. (Isaiah 42:1)

Before the Head can return and bring justice to the nations of the earth, the Church, the Body of Christ, "Zion," must be built up.

When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (Psalms 102:16)

One of the two great works of the Church Age is the building of the Church, the Body of Christ.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ: 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: (Ephesians 4:12,13)

As we have stated, the two purposes of the Christian Era are one, the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom to every creature; and two, the perfecting of the Body of Christ.

These two aspects are being emphasized in our day. We are being prepared to bear the end-time anointing so we may be power-filled witnesses of Jesus' atoning death and triumphant resurrection. Also, Christ is being formed in us in preparation for the rule of the Kingdom of God over the nations of the earth.

The double anointing of power for bearing witness of Christ, and the crucifixion of our personality so we are living no longer but Christ is living in us, are both required for the installation of the Kingdom of God upon the earth.

These two works will take place during the "days of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound" (Revelation 10:7).

As a Christian believer and disciple of the Lord Jesus we have a responsibility to bring the Good News to every creature. The bringing of the Gospel of the Kingdom to every nation requires that we receive a powerful baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The second aspect, the formation of Christ in us, while it is a testimony to the earth today, is also—and primarily—for our eternal service to the Lord God of Heaven as one of His servants (Revelation 22:3).

To be continued.