Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank You that You have never stopped speaking to us; You have been speaking to us again and again. Your word is light and revelation; Your word is also spirit and life.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 9:1-41
Key Verses:
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned nor his parents, but he was born so, that the works of God might be manifested in him.
John 9:7 And He said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is interpreted, Sent). He went therefore and washed and came away seeing.
Filling the Blanks:
The blind man's going and washing indicates that he ( ) the life-giving word of the Lord. So he received ( ). If he had not gone to wash off the clay after having been anointed with it, the clay would have blinded him even more. Our obedience to the Lord's ( ) cleanses us and brings us ( ). (See John 9:7 note 3)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Truth Shall Set You Free
Let's Pray:
Lord, operate among and in us, that we can be free and that our spirits can be enlightened. May every word be food and supply to us.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 8:28-59
Key Verse: John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
Filling the Blanks:
In Greek the same as reality in John 1:14, 17. The truth is not the so-called truth of ( ) but the ( ) of the divine things, which is the Lord ( ) (see note 62 in ch. 14; 1:14, 17). This verse says that "the ( ) shall set you free," whereas v. 36 says that "the ( ) sets you free." This proves that the Son, the Lord Himself, is the truth. Since the Lord is the ( ) of God (Col. 2:9), He is the ( ) of what God is. Hence, reality is the very divine element of God realized by us. When the Lord as the great ( ) comes into us as ( ), He shines within us as ( ), bringing the divine element as ( ) into us.(See John 8:32 note 1)
Lord, operate among and in us, that we can be free and that our spirits can be enlightened. May every word be food and supply to us.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 8:28-59
Key Verse: John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
Filling the Blanks:
In Greek the same as reality in John 1:14, 17. The truth is not the so-called truth of ( ) but the ( ) of the divine things, which is the Lord ( ) (see note 62 in ch. 14; 1:14, 17). This verse says that "the ( ) shall set you free," whereas v. 36 says that "the ( ) sets you free." This proves that the Son, the Lord Himself, is the truth. Since the Lord is the ( ) of God (Col. 2:9), He is the ( ) of what God is. Hence, reality is the very divine element of God realized by us. When the Lord as the great ( ) comes into us as ( ), He shines within us as ( ), bringing the divine element as ( ) into us.(See John 8:32 note 1)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
An All-inclusive Wonderful Drink
Let's Pray:
Lord, we extol You, acknowledging that You are the One who gives the Spirit, the bountiful Spirit, all-inclusive Spirit, life-giving Spirit, the indwelling Spirit, not by measure. Hallelujah!
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 7:53-8:27
Key Verse:
John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
John 7:38 He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:39 But this He said concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed into Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Life Supply:
In Genesis 1 we have the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is just God Himself coming out to reach His creation. At the time of Genesis 1, within the Spirit of God there was only divinity. One day God became incarnated to be a man who was Jesus Christ. Thirty-three and a half years later, Christ was crucified. After crucifixion, He passed through resurrection and ascension, and the Spirit of God became the Spirit of the incarnated and resurrected Jesus Christ. Now the Spirit of Jesus Christ is reaching out to touch human beings. Formerly, it was the Spirit of God reaching out to touch God's creation only with divinity, but now the Spirit of Jesus Christ comes out to reach human beings with divinity, humanity, the effectiveness of His all-inclusive death, and with the element of resurrection. Before Christ was resurrected, such a Spirit was "not yet."
We may use the illustration of a glass of pure water into which many other ingredients are added. The pure water passes through one stage, and the milk is added. It passes through other stages in which honey, tea, and salt are added. Eventually, it becomes an all-inclusive drink. Before the pure water passed all these stations, such a wonderful drink was "not yet," although the pure water in the glass was there already. Now it is an all-inclusive drink. Likewise, the Spirit promised by the Lord Jesus in [John] 7:39 and 14:16-17 is not the Spirit with only divinity as His content, but the Spirit with divinity, humanity, the all-inclusive death, resurrection, and ascension. Now we not only have the Spirit of God, but also the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is such an all-inclusive Spirit that gives us the flow of the rivers of water of life. Sometimes when a child needs medicine, his wise mother will hide the medicine in a drink. When the child takes the drink, he gets the medicine. There is medicine in the all-inclusive Spirit. This medicine is the killing death of Christ that is in the Holy Spirit today. The more you say, "O Lord Jesus," the more you receive the all-inclusive Spirit. After a few minutes, you may feel the Spirit killing your temper, pride, selfishness, and other negative things... As this Spirit moves within us, the killing effect of the cross penetrates into our being. He will kill every negative element in our being. Furthermore, in this all-inclusive drink there is the nourishing ingredient. In this Spirit is all that we need. (Life-Study of John, pp. 220-221)
Questions:
1. What is the all-inclusive Spirit? (See John 7:39 note 1)
2. How do we experience this Spirit? (See John 6:63 note 3)
3. What is the purpose of searching the Scriptures? (See John 5:39-40, 39 note 1)
Lord, we extol You, acknowledging that You are the One who gives the Spirit, the bountiful Spirit, all-inclusive Spirit, life-giving Spirit, the indwelling Spirit, not by measure. Hallelujah!
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 7:53-8:27
Key Verse:
John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
John 7:38 He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:39 But this He said concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed into Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Life Supply:
In Genesis 1 we have the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is just God Himself coming out to reach His creation. At the time of Genesis 1, within the Spirit of God there was only divinity. One day God became incarnated to be a man who was Jesus Christ. Thirty-three and a half years later, Christ was crucified. After crucifixion, He passed through resurrection and ascension, and the Spirit of God became the Spirit of the incarnated and resurrected Jesus Christ. Now the Spirit of Jesus Christ is reaching out to touch human beings. Formerly, it was the Spirit of God reaching out to touch God's creation only with divinity, but now the Spirit of Jesus Christ comes out to reach human beings with divinity, humanity, the effectiveness of His all-inclusive death, and with the element of resurrection. Before Christ was resurrected, such a Spirit was "not yet."
We may use the illustration of a glass of pure water into which many other ingredients are added. The pure water passes through one stage, and the milk is added. It passes through other stages in which honey, tea, and salt are added. Eventually, it becomes an all-inclusive drink. Before the pure water passed all these stations, such a wonderful drink was "not yet," although the pure water in the glass was there already. Now it is an all-inclusive drink. Likewise, the Spirit promised by the Lord Jesus in [John] 7:39 and 14:16-17 is not the Spirit with only divinity as His content, but the Spirit with divinity, humanity, the all-inclusive death, resurrection, and ascension. Now we not only have the Spirit of God, but also the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is such an all-inclusive Spirit that gives us the flow of the rivers of water of life. Sometimes when a child needs medicine, his wise mother will hide the medicine in a drink. When the child takes the drink, he gets the medicine. There is medicine in the all-inclusive Spirit. This medicine is the killing death of Christ that is in the Holy Spirit today. The more you say, "O Lord Jesus," the more you receive the all-inclusive Spirit. After a few minutes, you may feel the Spirit killing your temper, pride, selfishness, and other negative things... As this Spirit moves within us, the killing effect of the cross penetrates into our being. He will kill every negative element in our being. Furthermore, in this all-inclusive drink there is the nourishing ingredient. In this Spirit is all that we need. (Life-Study of John, pp. 220-221)
Questions:
1. What is the all-inclusive Spirit? (See John 7:39 note 1)
2. How do we experience this Spirit? (See John 6:63 note 3)
3. What is the purpose of searching the Scriptures? (See John 5:39-40, 39 note 1)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
For the Spirit Was not Yet, Because Jesus Had not Yet Been Glorified
Let's Pray:
Lord, we extol You as the glorified One. We appreciate and treasure Your being glorified. Hallelujah, our Christ is the glorified Christ! Lord, give us a heart to seek after You.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 7:25-52
Key Verse: John 7:39
But this He said concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed into Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Filling the Blanks:
The Spirit of God was there from the ( ) (Gen. 1:1-2), but at the time the Lord spoke this word, the Spirit as the Spirit of ( ) (Rom. 8:9), the Spirit of ( ) ( ) (Phil. 1:19), was ( ) yet, because the Lord had not yet been ( ). Jesus was glorified when He was resurrected (Luke 24:26). After Jesus' resurrection, the Spirit of God became the Spirit of the incarnated, crucified, and resurrected Jesus Christ, who was ( ) into the disciples by Christ in the evening of the day on which He was resurrected (John 20:22). The Spirit is now the "another ( )," the Spirit of ( ) promised by Christ before His death.(See John 7:39 note 1)
Lord, we extol You as the glorified One. We appreciate and treasure Your being glorified. Hallelujah, our Christ is the glorified Christ! Lord, give us a heart to seek after You.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 7:25-52
Key Verse: John 7:39
But this He said concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed into Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Filling the Blanks:
The Spirit of God was there from the ( ) (Gen. 1:1-2), but at the time the Lord spoke this word, the Spirit as the Spirit of ( ) (Rom. 8:9), the Spirit of ( ) ( ) (Phil. 1:19), was ( ) yet, because the Lord had not yet been ( ). Jesus was glorified when He was resurrected (Luke 24:26). After Jesus' resurrection, the Spirit of God became the Spirit of the incarnated, crucified, and resurrected Jesus Christ, who was ( ) into the disciples by Christ in the evening of the day on which He was resurrected (John 20:22). The Spirit is now the "another ( )," the Spirit of ( ) promised by Christ before His death.(See John 7:39 note 1)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Entering into the Rest of the Good Land
Let's Pray:
Lord, do visit us, and anoint every attendant. Anoint the hearts, the minds, and the spirits. Lord, meet every need. Lord, even meet Your need through the speaking.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 7:1-24
Key Verse:
John 7:2 Now the Jew's Feast of Tabernacles was near.
John 7:3 His brothers therefore said to Him, Depart from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may behold Your works which You are doing.
Filling the Blanks:
God ordained the Feast of Tabernacles so that the children of Israel would remember how their fathers, while wandering in the wilderness, had lived in ( ) (Lev. 23:39-43), expecting to enter into the ( ) of the good land. Hence, this feast is a reminder that today people are still in the wilderness and need to enter into the rest of the ( ), which is the eternal ( ) (Rev. 21:2-3). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob also lived in tents and looked forward to this ( ) tabernacle (Heb. 11:9-10), in which there will be a river of water of ( ) proceeding out of the ( ) of God and of the Lamb to ( ) man's thirst.(See John 7:2 note 1 paragraph 3)
Lord, do visit us, and anoint every attendant. Anoint the hearts, the minds, and the spirits. Lord, meet every need. Lord, even meet Your need through the speaking.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 7:1-24
Key Verse:
John 7:2 Now the Jew's Feast of Tabernacles was near.
John 7:3 His brothers therefore said to Him, Depart from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may behold Your works which You are doing.
Filling the Blanks:
God ordained the Feast of Tabernacles so that the children of Israel would remember how their fathers, while wandering in the wilderness, had lived in ( ) (Lev. 23:39-43), expecting to enter into the ( ) of the good land. Hence, this feast is a reminder that today people are still in the wilderness and need to enter into the rest of the ( ), which is the eternal ( ) (Rev. 21:2-3). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob also lived in tents and looked forward to this ( ) tabernacle (Heb. 11:9-10), in which there will be a river of water of ( ) proceeding out of the ( ) of God and of the Lamb to ( ) man's thirst.(See John 7:2 note 1 paragraph 3)
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Lord's Words Are Spirit and Are Life
Let's Pray:
Speak to us the living word, the word of life. Lord, grace us, and speak into every one of our hearts. May You supply us, tend our wounds, heal us, and lead us on richly today.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 6:52-71
Key Verse: John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
Filling the Blanks:
After resurrection and through resurrection, the Lord Jesus, who had become ( ) (John 1:14), became the Spirit who gives ( ), as is clearly mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:45. It is as the life-giving Spirit that He can be life and the life supply to us. When we ( ) Him as the crucified and resurrected Savior, the Spirit who gives life comes ( ) us to ( ) eternal life into us. (See John 6:63 note 1)
Speak to us the living word, the word of life. Lord, grace us, and speak into every one of our hearts. May You supply us, tend our wounds, heal us, and lead us on richly today.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 6:52-71
Key Verse: John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
Filling the Blanks:
After resurrection and through resurrection, the Lord Jesus, who had become ( ) (John 1:14), became the Spirit who gives ( ), as is clearly mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:45. It is as the life-giving Spirit that He can be life and the life supply to us. When we ( ) Him as the crucified and resurrected Savior, the Spirit who gives life comes ( ) us to ( ) eternal life into us. (See John 6:63 note 1)
Friday, June 20, 2008
If Anyone Eats of This Bread, He Shall Live Forever
Let's Pray:
Lord, grant us again the living word, the fresh word, the high word, and the word of life and light. Bring us to the realm of heaven, so that we can walk with You and live with You.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 6:16-51
Key Verse: John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever;
Filling the Blanks:
Bread of life (John 6:35) refers to the nature of the bread, which is ( ); living bread refers to the condition of the bread, which is ( ). (See John 6:51 note 1)
At this point the bread becomes the ( ). Bread is of the ( ) life and is only for ( ); flesh is of the ( ) life and is not only for feeding but also for ( ). Before the fall of man, the Lord was the ( ) of ( ) (Gen. 2:9), which is only for feeding man. After man fell into sin, the Lord became the ( ) (1:29), which is not only for feeding man but also for ( ) him (Exo. 12:4, 7-8). (See John 6:51 note 2)
The Lord gave His body, that is, His ( ), ( ) for us that we might have ( ). (See John 6:51 note 3)
Lord, grant us again the living word, the fresh word, the high word, and the word of life and light. Bring us to the realm of heaven, so that we can walk with You and live with You.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 6:16-51
Key Verse: John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever;
Filling the Blanks:
Bread of life (John 6:35) refers to the nature of the bread, which is ( ); living bread refers to the condition of the bread, which is ( ). (See John 6:51 note 1)
At this point the bread becomes the ( ). Bread is of the ( ) life and is only for ( ); flesh is of the ( ) life and is not only for feeding but also for ( ). Before the fall of man, the Lord was the ( ) of ( ) (Gen. 2:9), which is only for feeding man. After man fell into sin, the Lord became the ( ) (1:29), which is not only for feeding man but also for ( ) him (Exo. 12:4, 7-8). (See John 6:51 note 2)
The Lord gave His body, that is, His ( ), ( ) for us that we might have ( ). (See John 6:51 note 3)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Coming to the Lord That You May Have Life
Let's Pray:
Lord, we are here seeking after You. May You open Yourself to us and dispense Yourself to us, so that every one of us may gain You from Your word once again. Lord, It is You who give life.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 5:31-6:15
Key Verses:
John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that testify concerning Me.
John 5:40 Yet you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Filling the Blanks:
To "search the Scriptures" may be ( ) from "come to Me" (John 5:40). The Jewish religionists searched the Scriptures but were not willing to come to the Lord. These two should go ( ); because the Scriptures testify concerning the Lord, they should not be separated from the Lord. We may contact the Scriptures, yet not contact the ( ). Only the Lord can give ( ). (See John 5:39 note 1)
Lord, we are here seeking after You. May You open Yourself to us and dispense Yourself to us, so that every one of us may gain You from Your word once again. Lord, It is You who give life.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 5:31-6:15
Key Verses:
John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that testify concerning Me.
John 5:40 Yet you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Filling the Blanks:
To "search the Scriptures" may be ( ) from "come to Me" (John 5:40). The Jewish religionists searched the Scriptures but were not willing to come to the Lord. These two should go ( ); because the Scriptures testify concerning the Lord, they should not be separated from the Lord. We may contact the Scriptures, yet not contact the ( ). Only the Lord can give ( ). (See John 5:39 note 1)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Having Passed out of Death Into Life
Let's Pray:
Lord, the present age is a dark and corrupted age, but You have saved us and have rescued us. You have also redeemed us and have dispensed Yourself into us.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 5:1-30
Key Verse: John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life.
Filling the Blanks:
The source of death is the tree of ( ), and the source of life is the tree of ( ) (cf. Gen. 2:9, 17). Hence, to pass out of death into life is to change the ( ) of one's living. (See John 5:24 note 3)
Lord, the present age is a dark and corrupted age, but You have saved us and have rescued us. You have also redeemed us and have dispensed Yourself into us.
Hymn: 1113
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 5:1-30
Key Verse: John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life.
Filling the Blanks:
The source of death is the tree of ( ), and the source of life is the tree of ( ) (cf. Gen. 2:9, 17). Hence, to pass out of death into life is to change the ( ) of one's living. (See John 5:24 note 3)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Naturalized or Reborn?
Let's Pray:
Lord, You have created for us a human spirit, and You regenerated our spirit. Eventually, Lord, You put Yourself as such a Spirit in our spirit and mingled with our spirit. Lord, we praise you.
Hymn: 309
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 4:27-54
Key Verse:
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 ... Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Life Supply:
A kingdom is always related to life. The vegetable kingdom is related to the vegetable life, and the animal kingdom is related to the animal life. If you want to share in a certain kind of kingdom, you first need the life of that kingdom. Only birds can partake of the bird kingdom because only they have the life of a bird. Likewise, only men can participate in the human kingdom because only they have a human life. So, without the life of God, how could we ever share the kingdom of God? .. We need the divine life. We need to be born again. Regeneration is the only way, the unique entrance, into the kingdom of God.
The divine life brings us into the kingdom of God. We were all born into the human kingdom. No one has ever been naturalized into the kingdom of man. For example, when a dog is born, he immediately finds himself in the dog kingdom. He knows everything about being a dog. There is no need for anyone to teach him to be a dog, saying, "Little dog, you must know that you are a dog, that you are in the dog kingdom, and that from now on you must bark every day." A dog is in the dog kingdom and knows all about being a dog by birth. This is why the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born into the kingdom of God. We cannot enter into the kingdom of God by learning or by being naturalized. Although you may be naturalized to be a citizen of a particular nation, you can never be naturalized into a kingdom. A dog cannot be naturalized into the cat kingdom. Suppose someone would say to a dog, "Little dog, I like you. I want to change your nationality. You were born into the dog kingdom, but I want to naturalize you into the cat kingdom." If you try to do this, you will cause the cat kingdom a great deal of trouble. The correct way to bring a dog into the cat kingdom is to regenerate the dog with the life of a cat.
When we were regenerated, we were translated into the kingdom of God. Colossians 1:13 says that God "delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." We were translated by being regenerated and now we are in the kingdom of God. When we called on the name of the Lord, the divine Spirit came into us, regenerating us and causing us to be born into the kingdom of God. Although you may know very little about the kingdom of God, your spirit within you knows about the kingdom. (Life-Study of John, pp. 107-109)
Questions:
Lord, You have created for us a human spirit, and You regenerated our spirit. Eventually, Lord, You put Yourself as such a Spirit in our spirit and mingled with our spirit. Lord, we praise you.
Hymn: 309
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 4:27-54
Key Verse:
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 ... Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Life Supply:
A kingdom is always related to life. The vegetable kingdom is related to the vegetable life, and the animal kingdom is related to the animal life. If you want to share in a certain kind of kingdom, you first need the life of that kingdom. Only birds can partake of the bird kingdom because only they have the life of a bird. Likewise, only men can participate in the human kingdom because only they have a human life. So, without the life of God, how could we ever share the kingdom of God? .. We need the divine life. We need to be born again. Regeneration is the only way, the unique entrance, into the kingdom of God.
The divine life brings us into the kingdom of God. We were all born into the human kingdom. No one has ever been naturalized into the kingdom of man. For example, when a dog is born, he immediately finds himself in the dog kingdom. He knows everything about being a dog. There is no need for anyone to teach him to be a dog, saying, "Little dog, you must know that you are a dog, that you are in the dog kingdom, and that from now on you must bark every day." A dog is in the dog kingdom and knows all about being a dog by birth. This is why the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born into the kingdom of God. We cannot enter into the kingdom of God by learning or by being naturalized. Although you may be naturalized to be a citizen of a particular nation, you can never be naturalized into a kingdom. A dog cannot be naturalized into the cat kingdom. Suppose someone would say to a dog, "Little dog, I like you. I want to change your nationality. You were born into the dog kingdom, but I want to naturalize you into the cat kingdom." If you try to do this, you will cause the cat kingdom a great deal of trouble. The correct way to bring a dog into the cat kingdom is to regenerate the dog with the life of a cat.
When we were regenerated, we were translated into the kingdom of God. Colossians 1:13 says that God "delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." We were translated by being regenerated and now we are in the kingdom of God. When we called on the name of the Lord, the divine Spirit came into us, regenerating us and causing us to be born into the kingdom of God. Although you may know very little about the kingdom of God, your spirit within you knows about the kingdom. (Life-Study of John, pp. 107-109)
Questions:
- 1. What is the true significance of regeneration? (See John 3:2 note 1)
- 2. Please explain "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". (See John 3:6 note 2)
- 3. How should we worship God? (See John 4:24 note 3)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Worshiping in Spirit and Truthfulness
Let's Pray:
Lord, Our hearts rejoice and our spirits leap. We treasure You deep within, and we want to be fully open to You to receive more of You, to take in Your riches, and to enjoy Your fullness.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 4:1-26
Key Verse: John 4:24
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.
Filling the Blanks:
This is our ( ) spirit. According to typology, God should be worshipped (1) in the ( ) chosen by God for His habitation (Deut. 12:5, 11, 13-14, 18), and (2) with the ( ) (Lev. 1--6). The place chosen by God for His habitation typifies the human spirit, where God's ( ) is today (Eph. 2:22). The offerings typify ( ); Christ is the ( ) and ( ) of all the offerings with which the people worshipped God. Hence, when the Lord instructed the woman to worship God the Spirit in ( ) and ( ), He meant that she should contact God the Spirit in her ( ) instead of in a specific location, and through ( ) instead of with the offerings. (See John 4:24 note 4)
Lord, Our hearts rejoice and our spirits leap. We treasure You deep within, and we want to be fully open to You to receive more of You, to take in Your riches, and to enjoy Your fullness.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 4:1-26
Key Verse: John 4:24
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.
Filling the Blanks:
This is our ( ) spirit. According to typology, God should be worshipped (1) in the ( ) chosen by God for His habitation (Deut. 12:5, 11, 13-14, 18), and (2) with the ( ) (Lev. 1--6). The place chosen by God for His habitation typifies the human spirit, where God's ( ) is today (Eph. 2:22). The offerings typify ( ); Christ is the ( ) and ( ) of all the offerings with which the people worshipped God. Hence, when the Lord instructed the woman to worship God the Spirit in ( ) and ( ), He meant that she should contact God the Spirit in her ( ) instead of in a specific location, and through ( ) instead of with the offerings. (See John 4:24 note 4)
Friday, June 13, 2008
God So Loved the World
Let's Pray:
Lord, Your mercy is rich and Your grace is abounding. We look to You for Your rich mercy and grace. Besides this, we have no way. O Lord, we are waiting for Your mercy.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 3:14-36
Key Verse: John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life.
Filling the Blanks:
Believing into the Lord is not the same as believing Him (John 6:30). To believe Him is to believe that He is true and real, but to believe into Him is to ( ) Him and be united with Him as one. The former is to ( ) a ( ) objectively; the latter is to ( ) a ( ) subjectively. (See John 3:16 note 2)
Lord, Your mercy is rich and Your grace is abounding. We look to You for Your rich mercy and grace. Besides this, we have no way. O Lord, we are waiting for Your mercy.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 3:14-36
Key Verse: John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life.
Filling the Blanks:
Believing into the Lord is not the same as believing Him (John 6:30). To believe Him is to believe that He is true and real, but to believe into Him is to ( ) Him and be united with Him as one. The former is to ( ) a ( ) objectively; the latter is to ( ) a ( ) subjectively. (See John 3:16 note 2)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Which Is Born of the Spirit Is spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, in Your organic salvation the first thing You do is to regenerate our spirit. Eventually, Lord, You put Yourself as such a Spirit in our spirit and mingled with our spirit to make us one spirit.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 2:23-3:13
Key Verse: John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
The first Spirit mentioned here is the ( ), the Holy Spirit of God, and the second spirit is the human spirit, the ( ) spirit of man. Regeneration is accomplished in the human ( ) by the Holy Spirit of God with God's ( ), the uncreated eternal life. Thus, to be regenerated is to have the divine, ( ) life (in addition to the human, ( ) life) as the new source and new element of a ( ). (See John 3:6 note 2)
Lord, in Your organic salvation the first thing You do is to regenerate our spirit. Eventually, Lord, You put Yourself as such a Spirit in our spirit and mingled with our spirit to make us one spirit.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 2:23-3:13
Key Verse: John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
The first Spirit mentioned here is the ( ), the Holy Spirit of God, and the second spirit is the human spirit, the ( ) spirit of man. Regeneration is accomplished in the human ( ) by the Holy Spirit of God with God's ( ), the uncreated eternal life. Thus, to be regenerated is to have the divine, ( ) life (in addition to the human, ( ) life) as the new source and new element of a ( ). (See John 3:6 note 2)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Changing Death into Life
Let's Pray:
Lord, we cannot give others life, much less give others the growth. Lord, the One who can give people life and growth is You, the Lord of life and the all-inclusive Christ.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 2:1-22
Key Verse: John 2:11
This beginning of signs Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed into Him.
Filling the Blanks:
The ( ) mentioning of any matter in the Scriptures sets forth the ( ) of that matter. Therefore, this first sign sets forth the principle of all the following signs, that is, to change death into ( ). (See John 2:11 note 1)
Lord, we cannot give others life, much less give others the growth. Lord, the One who can give people life and growth is You, the Lord of life and the all-inclusive Christ.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 2:1-22
Key Verse: John 2:11
This beginning of signs Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed into Him.
Filling the Blanks:
The ( ) mentioning of any matter in the Scriptures sets forth the ( ) of that matter. Therefore, this first sign sets forth the principle of all the following signs, that is, to change death into ( ). (See John 2:11 note 1)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Christ Is the Ladder Leading to Heaven
Let's Pray:
Lord, we pray that You reach every one of us. Come into us to touch our heart again, and open up our spirit and the understanding of our mind that we may understand Your word.
Hymn:309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 1:19-51
Key Verse: John 1:51
... Truly, truly, I say to you, You shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
Filling the Blanks:
This is the fulfillment of ( ) dream (Gen. 28:11-22). Christ as the Son of Man, with His ( ), is the ( ) set up on the earth and leading to heaven, keeping heaven open to earth and joining earth to ( ) for the house of God, ( ). Jacob poured oil (a symbol of the ( ), the ( ) expression of the Triune God reaching man) upon the stone (a symbol of the transformed ( )) that it might be the ( ) of God. Here in this chapter are the ( ) (v. 32) and the ( ) (v. 42) for the house of God with Christ in His humanity. Where this is, there is an open heaven. (See John 1:51 note 2)
Lord, we pray that You reach every one of us. Come into us to touch our heart again, and open up our spirit and the understanding of our mind that we may understand Your word.
Hymn:309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 1:19-51
Key Verse: John 1:51
... Truly, truly, I say to you, You shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
Filling the Blanks:
This is the fulfillment of ( ) dream (Gen. 28:11-22). Christ as the Son of Man, with His ( ), is the ( ) set up on the earth and leading to heaven, keeping heaven open to earth and joining earth to ( ) for the house of God, ( ). Jacob poured oil (a symbol of the ( ), the ( ) expression of the Triune God reaching man) upon the stone (a symbol of the transformed ( )) that it might be the ( ) of God. Here in this chapter are the ( ) (v. 32) and the ( ) (v. 42) for the house of God with Christ in His humanity. Where this is, there is an open heaven. (See John 1:51 note 2)
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Word Became Flesh
Let's Pray:
We really long for You from within, and we know that Your word is Your very Self, Your word is Your expression, and Your word is Your reaching us. We truly regard this.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 1:1-18
Key Verse: John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality.
Filling the Blanks:
That the Word became ( ) means that the Triune God became a man of flesh in the likeness of a sinful man. By so doing God entered into sinful man and became one with sinful man. However, He had only the ( ) of a sinful man and not the ( ) of a sinful man. Hence, He was a ( ) God-man, the complete God and the perfect man, having two natures, the ( ) nature and the ( ) nature. (See John 1:14 note 2, paragraph 1)
We really long for You from within, and we know that Your word is Your very Self, Your word is Your expression, and Your word is Your reaching us. We truly regard this.
Hymn: 309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 1:1-18
Key Verse: John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality.
Filling the Blanks:
That the Word became ( ) means that the Triune God became a man of flesh in the likeness of a sinful man. By so doing God entered into sinful man and became one with sinful man. However, He had only the ( ) of a sinful man and not the ( ) of a sinful man. Hence, He was a ( ) God-man, the complete God and the perfect man, having two natures, the ( ) nature and the ( ) nature. (See John 1:14 note 2, paragraph 1)
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Reading Schedule for The Gospel of John
We will start reading the Gospel of John on Monday (09/06/2008). May the Lord be with you in your reading!
Friday, June 6, 2008
A sample
The Word Became Flesh
Let's Pray:
We really long for You from within, and we know that Your word is Your very Self, Your word is Your expression, and Your word is Your reaching us. We truly regard this.
Hymn:309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 1:1-18
Key Verse: John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality.
Filling the Blanks:
That the Word became ( ) means that the Triune God became a man of flesh in the likeness of a sinful man. By so doing God entered into sinful man and became one with sinful man. However, He had only the ( ) of a sinful man and not the ( ) of a sinful man. Hence, He was a ( ) God-man, the complete God and the perfect man, having two natures, the ( ) nature and the ( ) nature. (See John 1:14 note 2, paragraph 1)
Tomorrow: Christ Is the Ladder Leading to Heaven
Let's Pray:
We really long for You from within, and we know that Your word is Your very Self, Your word is Your expression, and Your word is Your reaching us. We truly regard this.
Hymn:309
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 1:1-18
Key Verse: John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality.
Filling the Blanks:
That the Word became ( ) means that the Triune God became a man of flesh in the likeness of a sinful man. By so doing God entered into sinful man and became one with sinful man. However, He had only the ( ) of a sinful man and not the ( ) of a sinful man. Hence, He was a ( ) God-man, the complete God and the perfect man, having two natures, the ( ) nature and the ( ) nature. (See John 1:14 note 2, paragraph 1)
Tomorrow: Christ Is the Ladder Leading to Heaven
Recovery Version Study Group(RSG) - BURDEN
This message is from Vital247.
THERE IS THE DESPERATE NEED OF THE LIVING TRUTH
Suppose that on this earth among the human race there had never been such a book as the Bible. If we had not had a Bible in our hands during the past 2,000 years since the Lord Jesus resurrected and ascended to the heavens, everything would be in the air and nothing could be solid. Even the things concerning the Spirit could not be solid. The Spirit depends upon the Word. This is why the Lord said that the words that He spoke to us are spirit (John 6:63)… Without the Word the Spirit might be just “a phantom.” … whenever people contact the holy Word, many times they get the Spirit … A principle has been set up through history that there is the desperate need of the living truth to produce the church, to help the church exist, and to build up the church.
THE MOST PROFITABLE WRITINGS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE THE LIFE-STUDY MESSAGES WITH THE NOTES OF THE RECOVERY VERSION
Through the past ten years up to the present time it has been fully proven among us that the most profitable writings and publications are the Life-study messages with the notes of the Recovery Version. I wrote these things, not for scholarly study for people to get a degree, but for life ministering, for truth releasing, and for opening up the books of the Bible.
THIS IS NOT TO REPLACE THE BIBLE，BUT TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE BIBLE
The holy Word itself says in Psalm 119:130: “The opening of Your words gives light,”… Nearly everywhere you go today you find a Bible, but who has entered into the Bible? There has nearly been no entrance. Many have a copy of the Bible, but the Bible has been closed and nearly never opened. Now the Lord has given us a key, an opener. I consider our writings as the opener to open the holy Word. I believe that those of you who have read the Life-study messages can testify honestly that these messages with the notes of the Recovery Version have opened up a certain chapter or a certain book of the Bible to you. This is not to replace the Bible, but to bring people into the Bible.
SPENDING AT LEAST THIRTY MINUTES IN THE WORD EVERY DAY
We should help the saints to build up a practice or a habit that every day they would spend at least thirty minutes in the Word…. Some saints may decide to study the book of Romans or the book of Hebrews. They should study every day either three times of ten minutes each or one time of thirty minutes. We should charge them to pray-read two or three verses of this book every day. Then they have to study the accompanying message.… The saints do not need to pray-read the Life-study messages, but they have to pray-read the biblical verses in order to get the help to enter into the truth conveyed in these few verses. They also need the help of the notes and the Life-study messages to enter into the truth.
AFTER ONE YEAR OF STUDYING THE BIBLE IN THIS WAY，THERE WILL BE A SOLID CHANGE
After one year of studying the Bible in this way, there will be a solid change in the saints’ home life, private life, and church life.
Therefore, as leading brothers try your best in your locality to stir up an atmosphere and to create a hunger and thirst in the saints after the Lord’s truth. Tell them that the truth is in the unique holy Word and that the best help to usher them into the Word is the Recovery Version with the notes and all the Life-studies. Of course, we should not practice anything legal. We should not make these things a legal matter that the saints are required to do. However, if the saints do love the Lord’s recovery, they must get themselves fed all the time with the healthy food that they may be strong. As a result of eating a proper, regular diet, the saints will be strong and the Lord will have a strong testimony. (Elders' Training, Book 03: The Way to Carry Out the Vision, pp. 102-104, 108~111 )
THERE IS THE DESPERATE NEED OF THE LIVING TRUTH
Suppose that on this earth among the human race there had never been such a book as the Bible. If we had not had a Bible in our hands during the past 2,000 years since the Lord Jesus resurrected and ascended to the heavens, everything would be in the air and nothing could be solid. Even the things concerning the Spirit could not be solid. The Spirit depends upon the Word. This is why the Lord said that the words that He spoke to us are spirit (John 6:63)… Without the Word the Spirit might be just “a phantom.” … whenever people contact the holy Word, many times they get the Spirit … A principle has been set up through history that there is the desperate need of the living truth to produce the church, to help the church exist, and to build up the church.
THE MOST PROFITABLE WRITINGS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE THE LIFE-STUDY MESSAGES WITH THE NOTES OF THE RECOVERY VERSION
Through the past ten years up to the present time it has been fully proven among us that the most profitable writings and publications are the Life-study messages with the notes of the Recovery Version. I wrote these things, not for scholarly study for people to get a degree, but for life ministering, for truth releasing, and for opening up the books of the Bible.
THIS IS NOT TO REPLACE THE BIBLE，BUT TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE BIBLE
The holy Word itself says in Psalm 119:130: “The opening of Your words gives light,”… Nearly everywhere you go today you find a Bible, but who has entered into the Bible? There has nearly been no entrance. Many have a copy of the Bible, but the Bible has been closed and nearly never opened. Now the Lord has given us a key, an opener. I consider our writings as the opener to open the holy Word. I believe that those of you who have read the Life-study messages can testify honestly that these messages with the notes of the Recovery Version have opened up a certain chapter or a certain book of the Bible to you. This is not to replace the Bible, but to bring people into the Bible.
SPENDING AT LEAST THIRTY MINUTES IN THE WORD EVERY DAY
We should help the saints to build up a practice or a habit that every day they would spend at least thirty minutes in the Word…. Some saints may decide to study the book of Romans or the book of Hebrews. They should study every day either three times of ten minutes each or one time of thirty minutes. We should charge them to pray-read two or three verses of this book every day. Then they have to study the accompanying message.… The saints do not need to pray-read the Life-study messages, but they have to pray-read the biblical verses in order to get the help to enter into the truth conveyed in these few verses. They also need the help of the notes and the Life-study messages to enter into the truth.
AFTER ONE YEAR OF STUDYING THE BIBLE IN THIS WAY，THERE WILL BE A SOLID CHANGE
After one year of studying the Bible in this way, there will be a solid change in the saints’ home life, private life, and church life.
Therefore, as leading brothers try your best in your locality to stir up an atmosphere and to create a hunger and thirst in the saints after the Lord’s truth. Tell them that the truth is in the unique holy Word and that the best help to usher them into the Word is the Recovery Version with the notes and all the Life-studies. Of course, we should not practice anything legal. We should not make these things a legal matter that the saints are required to do. However, if the saints do love the Lord’s recovery, they must get themselves fed all the time with the healthy food that they may be strong. As a result of eating a proper, regular diet, the saints will be strong and the Lord will have a strong testimony. (Elders' Training, Book 03: The Way to Carry Out the Vision, pp. 102-104, 108~111 )
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