Let's Pray:
O Lord, open our eyes that we may really know how You were crucified, and entered into resurrection to become the consummated God with the effectiveness of death and resurrection.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 21:15-25
Key Verse:
John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was yet dark and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
John 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.
Life Supply:
Christ ascended to the heavens with a resurrected body, and now, in John 20, He comes back to the disciples also with a resurrected body (Luke 24:37-40; 1 Cor. 15:44). With a resurrected body, the Lord came into the room where the disciples were with the doors shut( John 20:19). Since the doors were shut, how could He enter with a body of bones and flesh? Our limited mentality cannot comprehend it, but it is a fact, and we must receive it according to the divine revelation.
Consider the illustration of a carnation seed. A carnation seed has a tiny, round body. But when it has been planted and has grown out of the ground, it has a stem and a blossom. Is this not also a body? Before the carnation seed was sown into the ground, it had a little body. After growing out of the ground, it had a different body. This is exactly what Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 15:44: "It is sown a soulish body, it is raised a spiritual body." The body is sown in one form and raised up from the ground in another form. The one sown is the original, natural body, and the one grown up is the resurrected body. After His resurrection, Christ had a resurrected body; yet it was physical and could still be touched. Even though the doors were shut, Christ entered into the room with this body.
[In John 20,] after the Lord showed them both His hands and His side, the disciples "rejoiced when they saw the Lord" (vv. 20). This was a fulfillment of the Lord's promise in 16:19 and 22, where He said, "You therefore now indeed have sorrow; but I shall see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you." Now the disciples saw the newborn "child" (vv. 21), who was the resurrected Lord born in His resurrection as the Son of God (Acts 13:33). As we shall now see, this fulfillment by His coming back to His disciples brought them five blessings: His presence, His peace, His commission, the Holy Spirit, and the authority to represent Him (John 20:23). (Life-Study of John, pp. 553-554)
Questions:
1. Why was Christ resurrected on the first day of the week? (See John 20:1 note 1)
2. Why did the Lord breath into His disciples after His resurrection? (See John 20:22 note 1)
3. How can we have life in His name? (See John 20:31 note 1)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
We May Believe That Jesus Is the Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, we worship You as the Son of God. Especially we worship You as the God-man. You are the real God and the perfect man. Lord, We are looking unto You.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 20:23-21:14
Key Verse: John 20:31
But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.
Filling the Blanks:
The Christ is the title of the Lord according to His office, His ( ). The Son of God is His title according to His ( ). His person is a matter of God's ( ), and His mission is a matter of God's ( ). He is the Son of God to be the Christ of God. He works for God by the life of God that man, by believing in Him, may have God's ( ). (See John 20:31 note 1)
Lord, we worship You as the Son of God. Especially we worship You as the God-man. You are the real God and the perfect man. Lord, We are looking unto You.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 20:23-21:14
Key Verse: John 20:31
But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.
Filling the Blanks:
The Christ is the title of the Lord according to His office, His ( ). The Son of God is His title according to His ( ). His person is a matter of God's ( ), and His mission is a matter of God's ( ). He is the Son of God to be the Christ of God. He works for God by the life of God that man, by believing in Him, may have God's ( ). (See John 20:31 note 1)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Receive the Holy Spirit
Let's Pray:
O Lord, with Your word, give us Your Spirit without measure and pour Him out richly upon us that we may be full of Your word and Your Spirit, that is, full of Your revelation and light.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 20:14-22
Key Verse: John 20:22
And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
This was the ( ) expected in John 7:39 and promised in 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; and 16:7-8, 13. Hence, the Lord's breathing of the Holy Spirit into the disciples was the fulfillment of His ( ) of the Holy Spirit as the ( ). This fulfillment differs from the one in Acts 2:1-4, which was the fulfillment of the Father's promise in Luke 24:49. (See John 20:22 note 1, paragraph 1)
O Lord, with Your word, give us Your Spirit without measure and pour Him out richly upon us that we may be full of Your word and Your Spirit, that is, full of Your revelation and light.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 20:14-22
Key Verse: John 20:22
And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
This was the ( ) expected in John 7:39 and promised in 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; and 16:7-8, 13. Hence, the Lord's breathing of the Holy Spirit into the disciples was the fulfillment of His ( ) of the Holy Spirit as the ( ). This fulfillment differs from the one in Acts 2:1-4, which was the fulfillment of the Father's promise in Luke 24:49. (See John 20:22 note 1, paragraph 1)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Lord's Resurrection Had Been Accomplished
Let's Pray:
Lord, how we praise. We are so happy and full of rejoicing. We are in the heavenlies, in Your resurrection, in the pneumatic Christ, even the pneumatized Christ.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 19:38-20:13
Key Verse: John 20:1
Now on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was yet dark and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
Filling the Blanks:
The Lord's resurrection had been ( ), but the ( ) of it required the disciples' seeking in ( ) toward the Lord. It was thus that Mary the Magdalene discovered it and obtained the fresh ( ) of the Lord and the revelation of the issue of His resurrection: that His Father is the Father of those who believe into Him, and that those who believe into Him are His ( ). Peter and John only knew of the discovery; Mary obtained the ( ). The brothers were satisfied with having faith in the ( ) of the Lord's resurrection, but the sister went further and sought the resurrected Lord ( ), i.e., the personal experience of the Lord. (See John 20:1 note 2)
Lord, how we praise. We are so happy and full of rejoicing. We are in the heavenlies, in Your resurrection, in the pneumatic Christ, even the pneumatized Christ.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 19:38-20:13
Key Verse: John 20:1
Now on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was yet dark and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
Filling the Blanks:
The Lord's resurrection had been ( ), but the ( ) of it required the disciples' seeking in ( ) toward the Lord. It was thus that Mary the Magdalene discovered it and obtained the fresh ( ) of the Lord and the revelation of the issue of His resurrection: that His Father is the Father of those who believe into Him, and that those who believe into Him are His ( ). Peter and John only knew of the discovery; Mary obtained the ( ). The brothers were satisfied with having faith in the ( ) of the Lord's resurrection, but the sister went further and sought the resurrected Lord ( ), i.e., the personal experience of the Lord. (See John 20:1 note 2)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Immediately There Came out Blood and Water
Let's Pray:
Lord, cleanse our whole being so that we can be clean inside and outside. Lord, our lips, our ears, the eyes of our heart, and our spirit within all need the cleansing of Your precious blood.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 19:23-37
Key Verse: John 19:34
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.
Filling the Blanks:
This ( )-imparting death of the Lord's is typified by Adam's sleep, out from which ( ) was produced (Gen. 2:21-23), and is signified by the death of the one ( ) of wheat that fell into the ground for the bringing forth of many ( ) (12:24) to make the one bread the ( ) of Christ (1 Cor. 10:17). Hence, it is also the life-( ), life-multiplying death, the generating and reproducing death.
The Lord's pierced side was prefigured by ( ) opened side, out from which Eve was produced (Gen. 2:21-23). The blood was typified by the blood of the Passover ( ) (Exo. 12:7, 22; Rev. 12:11), and the water was typified by the water that flowed out of the smitten ( ). (See John 19:34 note 1)
Lord, cleanse our whole being so that we can be clean inside and outside. Lord, our lips, our ears, the eyes of our heart, and our spirit within all need the cleansing of Your precious blood.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 19:23-37
Key Verse: John 19:34
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.
Filling the Blanks:
This ( )-imparting death of the Lord's is typified by Adam's sleep, out from which ( ) was produced (Gen. 2:21-23), and is signified by the death of the one ( ) of wheat that fell into the ground for the bringing forth of many ( ) (12:24) to make the one bread the ( ) of Christ (1 Cor. 10:17). Hence, it is also the life-( ), life-multiplying death, the generating and reproducing death.
The Lord's pierced side was prefigured by ( ) opened side, out from which Eve was produced (Gen. 2:21-23). The blood was typified by the blood of the Passover ( ) (Exo. 12:7, 22; Rev. 12:11), and the water was typified by the water that flowed out of the smitten ( ). (See John 19:34 note 1)
Friday, July 18, 2008
Every One Who Is of the Truth Hears the Lord's Voice
Let's Pray:
Lord, we are gathered once again into Your name, the loving, rich, and protecting name. Here we would listen quietly to Your speaking. Speak to us the living word.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 18:28-19:22
Key Verse: John 18:37
... Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I would testify to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.
Filling the Blanks:
In view of the entire ( ) of this book, truth here denotes the divine ( ) embodied, revealed, and expressed in ( ) as the Son of God. (See John 18:37 note 1)
Lord, we are gathered once again into Your name, the loving, rich, and protecting name. Here we would listen quietly to Your speaking. Speak to us the living word.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 18:28-19:22
Key Verse: John 18:37
... Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I would testify to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.
Filling the Blanks:
In view of the entire ( ) of this book, truth here denotes the divine ( ) embodied, revealed, and expressed in ( ) as the Son of God. (See John 18:37 note 1)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Love with Which You Have Loved Me May Be in Them
Let's Pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You that there is such a divine love, a mutual love, from the Father to You, from You to us, and now from us to You. Lord, we love each other in the Triune God.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 17:25-18:27
Key Verse: John 17:26
And I have made Your name known to them and will yet make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.
Filling the Blanks:
The world neither ( ) nor ( ) the Father, but the Son and the Son's believers do. Hence, the Father loves the Son and His believers so that He gives His ( ) to both the Son and His believers. In this matter He is ( ) and just. In ( ) the Son's believers, the Father is holy (John 17:11). In loving the Son and His believers so that He gives the Son and the believers His ( ), the Father is righteous. (See John 17:25 note 1)
The love here is the love of the ( ). In this love the Father gave His ( ) and ( ) to the Son and His believers so that the Son and His believers can ( ) Him. The Son prayed that this love would be in His ( ) and that they would always have the sense of this ( ). (See John 17:26 note 1)
Lord Jesus, thank You that there is such a divine love, a mutual love, from the Father to You, from You to us, and now from us to You. Lord, we love each other in the Triune God.
Hymn: 117
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 17:25-18:27
Key Verse: John 17:26
And I have made Your name known to them and will yet make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.
Filling the Blanks:
The world neither ( ) nor ( ) the Father, but the Son and the Son's believers do. Hence, the Father loves the Son and His believers so that He gives His ( ) to both the Son and His believers. In this matter He is ( ) and just. In ( ) the Son's believers, the Father is holy (John 17:11). In loving the Son and His believers so that He gives the Son and the believers His ( ), the Father is righteous. (See John 17:25 note 1)
The love here is the love of the ( ). In this love the Father gave His ( ) and ( ) to the Son and His believers so that the Son and His believers can ( ) Him. The Son prayed that this love would be in His ( ) and that they would always have the sense of this ( ). (See John 17:26 note 1)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Vine and the Branches
Let's Pray:
Lord, cause us to see the intrinsic contents of Your Word and that we may understand to interpret the divine revelation according to Your desire in Your economy..
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 17:14-24
Key Verses:
John 15:4 Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing
John 15:7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
Life Supply:
In 15:1-11 we see that the vine and the branches are an organism to glorify the Father by expressing the riches of the divine life.
What is the difference between an organization and an organism? A table, for example, is an organization, for many pieces of wood are assembled to form one entity. Why is a table an organization and not an organism? Because in the table as a unit there is not one organ. There are no organs in a table because there is no life in a table. Apparently, our body is also an organization. However, it is much more than an organization because we have both organs and life. Since our body has both organs and life, it is an organism, not merely an organization. In like manner, the church, the Body of Christ, is an organism.
In John 15 this organism is likened to a vine tree. The grapevine is used as a figure of this wonderful organism. Within this vine tree we have the tree itself and all of its branches. The Lord Jesus said that the vine tree is just Himself (v. 1). He is the tree, and we are the branches of this tree. By this clear picture we can see that we are the branching out of the tree, for the branches are the branching out of the vine tree. If you were to cut off the branches, you would have just a bare tree without branches, and there would be no branching out of the vine. But today this universal vine tree has many branches, and these branches are simply His branching out. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was just a small man living in a certain place. But look at His branching out today: He has parts in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Manila, Taipei, Hong Kong, and throughout the world. Praise the Lord that throughout the whole earth we see the branching out of this vine tree! This is not an organization; it is an organism that has life with many organic elements, organs, and organic systems growing in it. (Life-Study of John, pp. 394-395)
Questions:
1. What is the organism of the Triune God? (See John 15:1 note 1 and note 2)
2. How can we abide in the Lord? (See John 15:7 note 2)
3. Please explain the work of the Spirit of reality. (See John 16:13 note 1)
Lord, cause us to see the intrinsic contents of Your Word and that we may understand to interpret the divine revelation according to Your desire in Your economy..
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 17:14-24
Key Verses:
John 15:4 Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing
John 15:7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
Life Supply:
In 15:1-11 we see that the vine and the branches are an organism to glorify the Father by expressing the riches of the divine life.
What is the difference between an organization and an organism? A table, for example, is an organization, for many pieces of wood are assembled to form one entity. Why is a table an organization and not an organism? Because in the table as a unit there is not one organ. There are no organs in a table because there is no life in a table. Apparently, our body is also an organization. However, it is much more than an organization because we have both organs and life. Since our body has both organs and life, it is an organism, not merely an organization. In like manner, the church, the Body of Christ, is an organism.
In John 15 this organism is likened to a vine tree. The grapevine is used as a figure of this wonderful organism. Within this vine tree we have the tree itself and all of its branches. The Lord Jesus said that the vine tree is just Himself (v. 1). He is the tree, and we are the branches of this tree. By this clear picture we can see that we are the branching out of the tree, for the branches are the branching out of the vine tree. If you were to cut off the branches, you would have just a bare tree without branches, and there would be no branching out of the vine. But today this universal vine tree has many branches, and these branches are simply His branching out. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was just a small man living in a certain place. But look at His branching out today: He has parts in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Manila, Taipei, Hong Kong, and throughout the world. Praise the Lord that throughout the whole earth we see the branching out of this vine tree! This is not an organization; it is an organism that has life with many organic elements, organs, and organic systems growing in it. (Life-Study of John, pp. 394-395)
Questions:
1. What is the organism of the Triune God? (See John 15:1 note 1 and note 2)
2. How can we abide in the Lord? (See John 15:7 note 2)
3. Please explain the work of the Spirit of reality. (See John 16:13 note 1)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Divine and Mystical Realm
Let's Pray:
Lord, we do praise You. The Father has loved You and has given You all His glory. And You love us. You have given us the Father's name, life, and glory, Lord Jesus, we worship You.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 17:1-13
Key Verse: John 17:11
... Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, that they may be one even as We are.
Filling the Blanks:
To be kept in the Father's name is to be kept by His ( ), because only those who are born of the Father and have the Father's ( ) can participate in the Father's ( ). The Son has given the Father's ( ) to those whom the Father has given Him (v. 2); hence, they share the Father's name by being kept in it, and they are one in it. (See John 17:11 note 2)
Lord, we do praise You. The Father has loved You and has given You all His glory. And You love us. You have given us the Father's name, life, and glory, Lord Jesus, we worship You.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 17:1-13
Key Verse: John 17:11
... Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, that they may be one even as We are.
Filling the Blanks:
To be kept in the Father's name is to be kept by His ( ), because only those who are born of the Father and have the Father's ( ) can participate in the Father's ( ). The Son has given the Father's ( ) to those whom the Father has given Him (v. 2); hence, they share the Father's name by being kept in it, and they are one in it. (See John 17:11 note 2)
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Spirit of Reality Comes
Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank You for Your presence all the time. Lord, You are the Spirit, so You are present with us all the time. Your presence means everything to us in our life and in our work.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 16:5-33
Key Verse: John 16:13
But when He, the Spirit of reality, comes, He will guide you into all the reality; for He will not speak from Himself, but what He hears He will speak; and He will declare to you the things that are coming.
Filling the Blanks:
The work of the Spirit is, first, to ( ) the world. Second, as the Spirit of ( ) He guides the ( ) into all the reality; that is, He makes all that the Son is and has real to the believers. All that the Father is and has is ( ) in the Son (Col. 2:9), and all that the Son is and has is ( ) as ( ) to the believers through the Spirit (vv. 14-15). This declaring is the ( ) of the Son with the Father. Hence, it is a matter of the Triune God being wrought into and ( ) with the believers. Third, the Spirit ( ) the things that are to come, which are revealed mainly in Revelation. (See John 16:13 note 1)
Lord, we thank You for Your presence all the time. Lord, You are the Spirit, so You are present with us all the time. Your presence means everything to us in our life and in our work.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 16:5-33
Key Verse: John 16:13
But when He, the Spirit of reality, comes, He will guide you into all the reality; for He will not speak from Himself, but what He hears He will speak; and He will declare to you the things that are coming.
Filling the Blanks:
The work of the Spirit is, first, to ( ) the world. Second, as the Spirit of ( ) He guides the ( ) into all the reality; that is, He makes all that the Son is and has real to the believers. All that the Father is and has is ( ) in the Son (Col. 2:9), and all that the Son is and has is ( ) as ( ) to the believers through the Spirit (vv. 14-15). This declaring is the ( ) of the Son with the Father. Hence, it is a matter of the Triune God being wrought into and ( ) with the believers. Third, the Spirit ( ) the things that are to come, which are revealed mainly in Revelation. (See John 16:13 note 1)
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Organism of the Triune God
Let's Pray:
Lord, bless and use Your speaking. We know that Your intention is to build up the Body of Your Son, which is the organism of the Triune God. Lord, we can do nothing. We trust in You.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 15:1-16:4
Key Verse: John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Filling the Blanks:
After we go forth to produce ( ) in the Lord, we need to care for them. The best way is to set up meetings in their ( ) to cover and protect them that they may be ( ) for by being nourished and taught, and may become the ( ) fruit, living in the branches of the true vine, that is, in the ( ) of Christ, to be Christ's increase. (See John 15:16 note 3)
Lord, bless and use Your speaking. We know that Your intention is to build up the Body of Your Son, which is the organism of the Triune God. Lord, we can do nothing. We trust in You.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 15:1-16:4
Key Verse: John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Filling the Blanks:
After we go forth to produce ( ) in the Lord, we need to care for them. The best way is to set up meetings in their ( ) to cover and protect them that they may be ( ) for by being nourished and taught, and may become the ( ) fruit, living in the branches of the true vine, that is, in the ( ) of Christ, to be Christ's increase. (See John 15:16 note 3)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Incorporation of God and Man
Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank You that we could come back to You to wait on You until You show us this universal view of Your universal incorporation. Lord, we are short of words to utter it.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 14:7-31
Key Verse: John 14:20
In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
Filling the Blanks:
John ch. 14 unveils the way God ( ) Himself into man. In the dispensing of Himself into us, God is ( ). He is one, yet He is three: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Son is the ( ) and expression of the Father (vv. 7-11), and the Spirit is the ( ) and realization of the Son (vv. 17-20). In the Son (the Son is even called the ( ) Isa. 9:6) the Father is expressed and seen, and as the ( ) (2 Cor. 3:17) the Son is revealed and realized. The Father in the Son is ( ) among the believers, and the Son as the Spirit is ( ) in the believers. God the Father is hidden, God the Son is ( ) among men, and God the Spirit ( ) into man to be his life, his life supply, and his everything. (See John 14:7 note 1)
Lord, we thank You that we could come back to You to wait on You until You show us this universal view of Your universal incorporation. Lord, we are short of words to utter it.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 14:7-31
Key Verse: John 14:20
In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
Filling the Blanks:
John ch. 14 unveils the way God ( ) Himself into man. In the dispensing of Himself into us, God is ( ). He is one, yet He is three: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Son is the ( ) and expression of the Father (vv. 7-11), and the Spirit is the ( ) and realization of the Son (vv. 17-20). In the Son (the Son is even called the ( ) Isa. 9:6) the Father is expressed and seen, and as the ( ) (2 Cor. 3:17) the Son is revealed and realized. The Father in the Son is ( ) among the believers, and the Son as the Spirit is ( ) in the believers. God the Father is hidden, God the Son is ( ) among men, and God the Spirit ( ) into man to be his life, his life supply, and his everything. (See John 14:7 note 1)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Lord Is the Way and the Reality and the Life
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: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 14:1-6
Key Verse: John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the reality and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.
Filling the Blanks (Please double-click the blanks):
This book has two main sections. The first section, chs. 1--13, points out how Christ, as the eternal ( ), came through ( ) to bring God into ( ) that He might be the life and life supply to man. The second section, chs. 14--21, unveils how Christ, as the man ( ), went through ( ) and ( ) to bring man into ( ) for the building of God's habitation, which is the building of the ( ) (Matt. 16:18) and which is related to the ( ) of the New Jerusalem (Heb. 11:10; Rev. 21:2). In the entire universe God has only one ( ), that is, the building of His living habitation with His redeemed people. (See John 14:2 note 3)
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: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 14:1-6
Key Verse: John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the reality and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.
Filling the Blanks (Please double-click the blanks):
This book has two main sections. The first section, chs. 1--13, points out how Christ, as the eternal ( ), came through ( ) to bring God into ( ) that He might be the life and life supply to man. The second section, chs. 14--21, unveils how Christ, as the man ( ), went through ( ) and ( ) to bring man into ( ) for the building of God's habitation, which is the building of the ( ) (Matt. 16:18) and which is related to the ( ) of the New Jerusalem (Heb. 11:10; Rev. 21:2). In the entire universe God has only one ( ), that is, the building of His living habitation with His redeemed people. (See John 14:2 note 3)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
We Also Ought to Wash One Another's Feet
Let's Pray:
Lord, teach us and guide us, even in our fellowship with one another. Show us the way. Lord, we still need more leading, more guidance.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 13:1-38
Key Verse: John 13:14
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
Filling the Blanks:
In John chs. 1--12 ( ) came and brought forth the ( ), composed of the regenerated ones. In their spirit the regenerated ones are in ( ) and in the heavenlies, but in their body they are still living in the ( ) and walking on the earth. Through their contact with earthly things they often become ( ). This ( ) their fellowship with the Lord and with one another. Hence, there is the need for the washing with the Holy Spirit, the word, and ( ). This is the washing away of their dirtiness that their fellowship with the Lord and with one another may be maintained; it is not the washing away of their sins by the ( ) (1 John 1:9). This is why, after ch. 12, there is a need for such a sign in this chapter. (See John 13:5 note 2)
Lord, teach us and guide us, even in our fellowship with one another. Show us the way. Lord, we still need more leading, more guidance.
Hymn: 474
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 13:1-38
Key Verse: John 13:14
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
Filling the Blanks:
In John chs. 1--12 ( ) came and brought forth the ( ), composed of the regenerated ones. In their spirit the regenerated ones are in ( ) and in the heavenlies, but in their body they are still living in the ( ) and walking on the earth. Through their contact with earthly things they often become ( ). This ( ) their fellowship with the Lord and with one another. Hence, there is the need for the washing with the Holy Spirit, the word, and ( ). This is the washing away of their dirtiness that their fellowship with the Lord and with one another may be maintained; it is not the washing away of their sins by the ( ) (1 John 1:9). This is why, after ch. 12, there is a need for such a sign in this chapter. (See John 13:5 note 2)
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Grain of Wheat Bears Much Fruit
Let's Pray:
O Lord, we pray that You will open our eyes that we may really know You. You have become the Spirit, and today You live in us to make us God. O Lord, we pray that You will cause us to see.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 12:25-50
Key Verses:
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:25 He who loves his soul-life loses it; and he who hates his soul-life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life.
Life Supply:
The Lord is a grain of wheat, and there is no other way for that grain of wheat to increase except for it to fall into the ground and die. This is the way to have the multiplication of life.
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it will simply remain one grain and will never produce anything. But, praise the Lord, after it dies and grows up, the one grain becomes the many grains or the much fruit. These many grains or much fruit are the church. This is the way for the church to come into being. This is also the way for the Lord to increase the church. This has to be the way for us to bring the church into existence and to increase it. We must face human welcome by death, by taking the cross. The way for the church to come into being and to increase is not by human glory; it is by the death of the cross.
Among the many missionaries who went to China was a sister named Margaret E. Barber who was sent there by a British mission. She was accused falsely, called back to England, and later vindicated by the Lord. Then the Lord burdened her to return to China. She was not sent by any mission but went there by faith, settling in a little town named Pagoda, very close to Brother Watchman Nee's hometown. She stayed there purposely, not visiting other places. In a sense, the Lord sowed her there as a grain of wheat. She remained there for years, dying there in 1929.
Do not be troubled by the temporary success of others' outward activities. Let the Lord have some time, and He will vindicate His way in life... Such a work is not a matter of activity, but of life. This is the work of life to produce and increase the church. We may use the illustration of making artificial flowers. If you were to hire people to make artificial flowers, a great number could be produced within a short time. However, if you are going to grow flowers, it will take a longer time. You must first sow the seed. The seed will grow and multiply. Then more seed will fall into the ground and grow and multiply again and again. This kind of multiplication will last for a long time. What kind of increase do you expect to have—artificial flowers produced by outward labor or genuine flowers produced by life? (Life-Study of John, pp. 313-315)
Questions:
1. Please explain the multiplication of life? (See John 12:24 note 2)
2. What is the issue of the multiplication of life? (See John 10:11 note 1)
3. How can we become the sons of light? (See John 12:36, 1:12 note 1)
O Lord, we pray that You will open our eyes that we may really know You. You have become the Spirit, and today You live in us to make us God. O Lord, we pray that You will cause us to see.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 12:25-50
Key Verses:
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:25 He who loves his soul-life loses it; and he who hates his soul-life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life.
Life Supply:
The Lord is a grain of wheat, and there is no other way for that grain of wheat to increase except for it to fall into the ground and die. This is the way to have the multiplication of life.
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it will simply remain one grain and will never produce anything. But, praise the Lord, after it dies and grows up, the one grain becomes the many grains or the much fruit. These many grains or much fruit are the church. This is the way for the church to come into being. This is also the way for the Lord to increase the church. This has to be the way for us to bring the church into existence and to increase it. We must face human welcome by death, by taking the cross. The way for the church to come into being and to increase is not by human glory; it is by the death of the cross.
Among the many missionaries who went to China was a sister named Margaret E. Barber who was sent there by a British mission. She was accused falsely, called back to England, and later vindicated by the Lord. Then the Lord burdened her to return to China. She was not sent by any mission but went there by faith, settling in a little town named Pagoda, very close to Brother Watchman Nee's hometown. She stayed there purposely, not visiting other places. In a sense, the Lord sowed her there as a grain of wheat. She remained there for years, dying there in 1929.
Do not be troubled by the temporary success of others' outward activities. Let the Lord have some time, and He will vindicate His way in life... Such a work is not a matter of activity, but of life. This is the work of life to produce and increase the church. We may use the illustration of making artificial flowers. If you were to hire people to make artificial flowers, a great number could be produced within a short time. However, if you are going to grow flowers, it will take a longer time. You must first sow the seed. The seed will grow and multiply. Then more seed will fall into the ground and grow and multiply again and again. This kind of multiplication will last for a long time. What kind of increase do you expect to have—artificial flowers produced by outward labor or genuine flowers produced by life? (Life-Study of John, pp. 313-315)
Questions:
1. Please explain the multiplication of life? (See John 12:24 note 2)
2. What is the issue of the multiplication of life? (See John 10:11 note 1)
3. How can we become the sons of light? (See John 12:36, 1:12 note 1)
Friday, July 4, 2008
The Propagation of the Divine Life
Let's Pray:
Lord, we not only worship You as the speaking God, but even more we worship You that You are the Word and this Word is the Spirit. The reality of this Spirit enters into us to be our element.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 12:1-24
Key Verse: John 12:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Filling the Blanks:
Christ had the glory with God (John 17:5). His ( ) caused His divine glory to be ( ) in His flesh. Through His death and resurrection His glory was ( ), producing many ( ), which become His increase as the expression of His glory... In the Lord's last words to the believers in chs. 14--16, there are three concrete, corporate ( ) of this glory: the Father's ( ) (the church) in 14:2, the branches of the ( ) (the constituents of the Body of Christ) in 15:1-5, and a ( ) corporate man (the new man) in 16:21. All three denote the ( ). (See John 12:24 note 2)
Lord, we not only worship You as the speaking God, but even more we worship You that You are the Word and this Word is the Spirit. The reality of this Spirit enters into us to be our element.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 12:1-24
Key Verse: John 12:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Filling the Blanks:
Christ had the glory with God (John 17:5). His ( ) caused His divine glory to be ( ) in His flesh. Through His death and resurrection His glory was ( ), producing many ( ), which become His increase as the expression of His glory... In the Lord's last words to the believers in chs. 14--16, there are three concrete, corporate ( ) of this glory: the Father's ( ) (the church) in 14:2, the branches of the ( ) (the constituents of the Body of Christ) in 15:1-5, and a ( ) corporate man (the new man) in 16:21. All three denote the ( ). (See John 12:24 note 2)
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Lord Is the Resurrection and the Life
Let's Pray:
O Lord, we pray that we may really know You, how You as merely God were incarnated, lived a human life, were crucified, and entered into resurrection.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 11:17-57
Key Verse: John 11:25
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes into Me, even if he should die, shall live.
Filling the Blanks:
Bethany, this house of feasting was a miniature of the church life and depicted the situation of the ( ): (1) produced by the ( ) life (Lazarus) (11:43-44); (2) composed of cleansed sinners Simon the ( ) (Mark 14:3); (3) outwardly afflicted (Bethany); (4) inwardly feasting in and with the ( ) of the Lord (v. 2); (5) having more ( ) than brothers (vv. 2-3); (6) having members with different functions: ( ) Martha, ( ) Lazarus, and ( ) Mary (vv. 2-3); (7) spotted by the false one ( ) (v. 4); (8) persecuted by ( ) (v. 10); (9) being a test and exposing people (vv. 6, 10); and (10) bringing in many ( ). (See John 12:1 note 1)
O Lord, we pray that we may really know You, how You as merely God were incarnated, lived a human life, were crucified, and entered into resurrection.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 11:17-57
Key Verse: John 11:25
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes into Me, even if he should die, shall live.
Filling the Blanks:
Bethany, this house of feasting was a miniature of the church life and depicted the situation of the ( ): (1) produced by the ( ) life (Lazarus) (11:43-44); (2) composed of cleansed sinners Simon the ( ) (Mark 14:3); (3) outwardly afflicted (Bethany); (4) inwardly feasting in and with the ( ) of the Lord (v. 2); (5) having more ( ) than brothers (vv. 2-3); (6) having members with different functions: ( ) Martha, ( ) Lazarus, and ( ) Mary (vv. 2-3); (7) spotted by the false one ( ) (v. 4); (8) persecuted by ( ) (v. 10); (9) being a test and exposing people (vv. 6, 10); and (10) bringing in many ( ). (See John 12:1 note 1)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
But for the Glory of God
Let's Pray:
Lord, we extol You as the glorified One. We appreciate and treasure Your being glorified. Hallelujah, Lord, give us a heart to seek after You as the glorified One.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 10:31-11:16
Key Verse: John 11:4
But when Jesus heard it, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
Filling the Blanks:
Here life no longer faced ( ) with its rituals, but it was frustrated by many human ( )... Opinions, which come from ( ), belong to the tree of ( ), but the Lord here was actually the tree of ( ) for people to ( ). (See John 11:8 note 1)
The Lord does not reform or regulate people? He ( ) people and ( ) them out of death. Hence, the first of the nine cases in chs. 3-11 was a case of ( ), and the last was a case of ( ), revealing that all the aspects of Christ as ( ) to us, as unveiled in the other seven cases, are in the ( ) of regeneration and resurrection. This last case was the actual changing of death into ( ). (See John 11:14 note 1)
Lord, we extol You as the glorified One. We appreciate and treasure Your being glorified. Hallelujah, Lord, give us a heart to seek after You as the glorified One.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 10:31-11:16
Key Verse: John 11:4
But when Jesus heard it, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
Filling the Blanks:
Here life no longer faced ( ) with its rituals, but it was frustrated by many human ( )... Opinions, which come from ( ), belong to the tree of ( ), but the Lord here was actually the tree of ( ) for people to ( ). (See John 11:8 note 1)
The Lord does not reform or regulate people? He ( ) people and ( ) them out of death. Hence, the first of the nine cases in chs. 3-11 was a case of ( ), and the last was a case of ( ), revealing that all the aspects of Christ as ( ) to us, as unveiled in the other seven cases, are in the ( ) of regeneration and resurrection. This last case was the actual changing of death into ( ). (See John 11:14 note 1)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
There Shall Be One Flock, One Shepherd
Let's Pray:
Lord, lead us all the days of our lives. Thank You that You are strengthening our inner man that we could be persons in this age fulfilling Your purpose by building up Your Body.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 10:1-30
Key Verses:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.
John 10:16 And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must lead them also, and they shall bear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
Filling the Blanks:
The one flock signifies the one ( ), the one Body of Christ (Eph. 2:14-16; 3:6), brought forth by the Lord's eternal, divine ( ), which He imparted into His members through His ( ) (vv. 10-18). The fold is ( ), which is of letter and regulation, and the flock is the ( ), which is of life and spirit. (See John 10:16 note 2)
Lord, lead us all the days of our lives. Thank You that You are strengthening our inner man that we could be persons in this age fulfilling Your purpose by building up Your Body.
Hymn: 203
Today's Verses and Footnotes: John 10:1-30
Key Verses:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.
John 10:16 And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must lead them also, and they shall bear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
Filling the Blanks:
The one flock signifies the one ( ), the one Body of Christ (Eph. 2:14-16; 3:6), brought forth by the Lord's eternal, divine ( ), which He imparted into His members through His ( ) (vv. 10-18). The fold is ( ), which is of letter and regulation, and the flock is the ( ), which is of life and spirit. (See John 10:16 note 2)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
