Christopher

 

Sermon - Christopher

To the Lovers of the Word  May the Holy Spirit Father, who has prepared a spiritual feast, grant it as a blessing and bestow the privilege of bearing Christ! Amen.

In the Holy Scriptures, it is clearly written: “The womb that bore Him.” However, the mystery lies in this—that during baptism itself, one puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27). Today, let us learn about the sacred lesson of “bearing Christ,” “carrying Christ,” and “putting on Christ”—a theme we can call Christophorism.

Throughout the Bible, those who bore Christ are the ones who truly put Him on. They are the Christ-bearers—the Christophers. To truly understand them, one must read the Bible with depth and reverence.

You may have read the Bible, but perhaps have not discovered its mysteries and doctrines. Merely reading without spiritual insight is not truly reading the Bible. There are two primary methods of reading the Scriptures:

1. Parāyaṇam – continuous recitation
2. Adhyāyanam – deep study or meditation

Parāyaṇam implies reciting fluidly without interruptions. But now, let us enter into the lesson.

Let us now proceed into the meditation based on John 14:10–17: “He shall dwell with you and shall be in you.”

What does this mean?

• With you: refers to Him being near you, by your side to protect and help.
• In you: means He dwells within your inner being.

That is the essence of Christophorism. When He comes into us, we begin to carry Him. Only when He dwells in us, do we truly become bearers of Christ. When the One who was once with us enters into us, we then become Christophers.

This is a sacred mystery. These two dimensions—“with you” and “in you”—are beautifully evident in the life experience of Sadhu Sundar Singh. Has anyone among us experienced Him coming into them? Even if He is not within, He is still with us—isn't He?

Is the word “Christopher” mentioned anywhere in the Bible?

Directly, the term Christopher does not appear as a word or title in any verse of the Bible. However, the concept of being a Christ-bearer is deeply rooted in Scripture.

For example, John 14:3 contains a hidden mystery pointing toward the Christophor experience:

“That where I am, there you may be also.” This verse hints at a union—being with Him in the same place—suggesting a spiritual closeness that reflects the essence of Christophor: bearing Christ within.

Father. Devadasu Ayyagaru’s Experience (A Christophor-like Encounter):

This is not a mere past event. Though it happened before, this experience is not to be disregarded as history—it bears spiritual relevance even now.

During a time of personal burden, Father Deavadasu was in prayer. As he poured out his soul before the Lord, the Lord came and spoke to him in a divine encounter:

1. “I know your heart is filled with sorrow.”
2. “I am not only with you, but I am also in you.”

That single word—“I am in you”—imparted great strength to Ayyagaru. The Lord being with him meant surrounding him with protection. But the Lord being in him meant He had taken residence within.

Wasn’t Ayyagaru, then, bearing Christ? Though the word “Christophor” isn’t found as such in the Bible, this is a true Christ-bearer experience.

Have you heard His voice saying, “I am not just with you, I am in you”?

To those who’ve had this intimate encounter, raise your hands—so others who hear may be inspired. For this is more than theology; it is the living experience of union with Christ.

“I am the Light of the world,” Jesus said.

He is the Light. He explained that this Light is remembered and revealed through the idea of Christophor.

• “With” = To be beside us and help us. This is necessary.
• “In” = To dwell within us so we may experience all the fullness of His riches.

That is the secret of bearing Christ—Christophor is not a title, but a state of spiritual indwelling.

Isaiah 14:10–12 At one time, the archangel stood by the throne of God in heaven. But because he fell, he was cast down from near the throne to the realm of the air. That is why he is now known by names such as the ancient serpent, Satan, and Antichrist. When he was at the throne, his name was Lucifer. The name Lucifer means “Morning Star” or “Shining One.” That star—once radiant—fell and came into a state of darkness, and now remains bound in that realm. This is a story that took place before the creation. What a great blessedness he lost!

1. He lost the blessedness of being near the throne.
2. He lost the blessedness of being an archangel.
3. He lost the blessedness of being one among the chief angels.
4. He lost the blessedness of being the shining star.

These four blessings were lost—that is what makes this truly sorrowful.

“Morning star” = “Day star.” The name Morning Star refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lucifer had the name Morning Star when he was near God’s throne. The name Morning Star belonged to the archangel near the throne. The Lord Jesus also bears the name Morning Star.

Just as the archangel was in the Lord, and the Lord was in the archangel—so also, now God dwells with us and in us. This indwelling is not fully known through water baptism alone. Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in their midst"—that is God being with us.

But after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, He is poured out into us—that is God dwelling within us. That is the true oneness. This is the Christophoric order (those who carry Christ within). This mystery is subtly embedded in Isaiah 14:12.

Satan had two names:

1. First — Christopher
2. Then — Lucifer
   The story of Christopher has ended.

Lucifer means Morning Star.
Christopher means Bearer of Christ (the one who carried the Lord).

In both names, there is the suffix "pher", which means bearer. This is what study truly means—to discover such deeper insights. Until now, reading the Bible has mostly been a ritualistic parayanam (recitation). For example, we have read Isaiah 14:12 many times, yet merely as recitation. Parayanam means reading without deeply engaging.

If the Telugu Bible had clearly translated “Morning Star” ,it would have been easily understood.

My father could recite the Ramayana fluently and without error. The word Anargalam (fluent) comes from the idea of study without mistake. You all may know this — adhyayam (chapter) and adhyayanam (study) are related words. When the Lord said, “Learn from Me,” He was calling us to true study — adhyayanam. We can read the Bible fluently (anargalam), but we must learn completely from the Lord Himself.

Is there anyone who reads the Bible without mispronunciations, interruptions, or murmuring? There should be. It must be read fluently and correctly.

Some people read the first line, skip the second, and read the third — many read like this. But there are those who read without error. In Rajahmundry Lutheran Church, there were three such pastors:

1. Pastor James
2. Pastor Richard James
3. Pastor Benjamin

Learn to read like that. Then the Word of God truly enters us.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
That is Christopher — the bearer of the Word.

Through parayanam (recitation) and adhyayanam (study), the Word comes into us. That Word is God Himself. That is what it means to bear Him. Therefore, blessed are you who carry the Word of God — the Bible — and in so doing, carry Christ, and bear the Triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have the mindset that the Lord is with you and within you.

1. Are you someone who is suffering from illness?
2. Are you burdened with debt?
3. Are you going through troubles?
4. Are you distressed about your children?
5. Have you been subjected to shame or humiliation?
6. Has the work you planned failed?
7. Are you longing for a child?
8. Do you sometimes struggle with unbelief?

Then remember the lesson of Christopher — believe that He is with you and in you.
When you believe this, your lack, your troubles, and your hardships will flee. The blessings that are meant for you will come. Most importantly, He Himself will come and dwell within you. So, if after hearing so many teachings you still have unbelief — that is dangerous.

Are there any among you who lack the power or courage to testify about the Lord Jesus?
Believe this message, and you will receive the power to witness and courage.

Are there any brave ones here, who can chase Satan away boldly and make him flee in fear? Then now is the time for prayer — not just for current trials, but even for new upcoming challenges. Pray!

Prayer: Compassionate Father! We know how great You are and how merciful You are. That is why we remember and worship You today, acknowledging that You are with us, within us, and for us. Lord Jesus, You were born for us, taught us, suffered for our sake, died on the cross for us, were buried for our sake, and bore the cross on our behalf. You said, “You too carry the cross for Me. My yoke is easy.” For this, we offer our heartfelt thanks and praise.

After hearing so many teachings, there should not remain even the smallest blemish in our hearts. Therefore, we now pray: remove all such impurities from the hearts of those who are seeking You in prayer. Cleanse them completely and fulfill all their desires according to Your will. We bring this supplication before You with faith and thanksgiving.

Prayer for the Oil: Father, this oil is the oil You have spoken of. Though oils may be sold and used in various ways in the marketplace, this is the oil You have mentioned and recorded in the Bible. Therefore, it is the one oil that is sufficient for every kind of affliction. There is no oil in Scripture greater than this.

Still, we acknowledge that the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit, the oil of gladness, and the spiritual oil are divine in nature. Ours is a physical oil. Therefore, Lord, just as You blessed it in former times, bless this oil even now. Let it be used properly and effectively according to Your purpose. We also ask that You regard even the forgotten requests placed in prayer as though they have been spoken. We humbly plead this before You. Amen.