(5) One Verse More. Gal_4:19 :
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the transformative process of having Christ formed within us, urging ministers to focus on this spiritual growth in their preaching.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the transformative process of Christ being formed within believers, likening it to the growth of a chick in an egg, where the life of Christ gradually absorbs all other elements of life. He urges ministers to focus on preaching the profound truth of the indwelling Christ, moving beyond mere political and social concerns to reveal the depth of what it means to have Christ in us. Meyer expresses a deep longing for believers to experience this spiritual birth and growth, highlighting the importance of understanding our unity with Christ and the Father.
Text
"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." You know, of course, that an egg has in it a little embryo of life, and the nutriment, the viscous fluid upon which it shall grow; and every day the little life germ pecks into this more and more, and the chick is formed in the shell. Until now there has been a good deal more of other elements in your life than of Christ, but from now the Christ is going to grow and increase and absorb into Himself everything else, and be formed in you.
Brother ministers, will you forgive that I have stated the truths of Christ's holy gospel so imperfectly? How can human words tell what Christ is prepared to be?
But let me entreat you to pass by a great deal of political life, and it may be, (though it is not wrong), of the social life around you; and I charge you to live to preach the deep philosophy of the indwelling Christ, and let men know what Jesus meant when He said:
"In that day ye shall know that I am in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding the Birth of Christ in Us - The Process of Spiritual Growth - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- II points: - The Importance of Christ's Formation - Overcoming Other Elements in Our Lives - The Absorption of Christ into Our Being
- III points: - The Call to Ministers - Living Beyond Political and Social Life - Preaching the Indwelling Christ
Key Quotes
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” — F.B. Meyer
“Until now there has been a good deal more of other elements in your life than of Christ.” — F.B. Meyer
“I charge you to live to preach the deep philosophy of the indwelling Christ.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Commit to daily practices that foster spiritual growth and Christ's presence in your life.
- Encourage others in your community to understand the importance of Christ's formation within them.
- Seek to live beyond societal distractions and focus on the deeper truths of the gospel.