Let's Pray:
We believe that what You are doing here will close this age and will bring You in to have a new age, day by day, make them God-men, overcomers.
Hymn: 152
What from Thee can separate me?
Thou wilt love me to the end!
Oh! Thy love is so prevailing,
E'en Thyself with me to blend!
We two one will be for ever;
I am Thine and Thou art mine!
This will be my testimony:
In Thy love we'll ever twine!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 3:12-4:18
Key Verse:
Col. 3:15 And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful.
Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.
Life Supply:
In Colossians 3:12—4:6 Paul turns to the matter of the living of the saints in union with Christ. In 3:12-15 he speaks of the necessity of being ruled by the peace of Christ, and in verses 16 and 17, of the word of Christ dwelling in us richly. To live in union with Christ means that in our living we are not apart from Christ.
It is very easy in the church life to offend one another or to make one another unhappy. In the matter of arranging chairs in the meeting hall, a brother may be unhappy if the arrangement is not according to his opinion. But if we open to the Lord when we are offended and tell Him that we love Him, something heavenly will be transmitted into us. Then spontaneously we shall be happy with the one who offended us. This is an example of the peace of Christ arbitrating in our heart. This arbitrating peace preserves the oneness in the church life.
I can testify that often, when I have been unhappy with someone in the church life, I have contacted the Lord and called on His name. Many times I say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your presence, for Your anointing, and for everything You have been to me.” When I give thanks to the Lord in this way, the divine transmission begins to work. After a few minutes, I may be so full that I am beside myself with joy. Then spontaneously I begin to count the one who made me unhappy better than myself. When I see him the next time, I have no problem with him. Because I experience the Lord’s transmission and arbitration, I do not have problems with any of the saints in the Lord’s recovery.
When a local church is first established, the saints may experience a church-life honeymoon. But just as there is no permanent honeymoon in married life, there is no permanent honeymoon in the church life. Friction develops eventually between the saints. This friction causes the wrinkles Paul speaks of in Ephesians 5. If we do not have the peace of Christ arbitrating in us, wrinkles will continue to develop. But if the heavenly transmission supplies us with the divine element, the wrinkles will be removed metabolically. Then instead of friction there will be the arbitrating peace of Christ. (Life-Study of Colossians, pp. 239, 564)
Questions:
1. How is the Christian life a life in union with Christ? (See Col 2:6 note 2)
2. How does the peace of Christ arbitrate in our hearts? (See Col. 3:15 note 3)
3. How does the word of Christ dwell in us richly? (See Col. 3:16 note 1, note 2)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Christ Is All and in All
Let's Pray:
Lord, may we all hear Your voice. We are worthy of nothing. We are nothing, we have nothing, and we can do nothing. But we have You as our everything. Amen.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 2:18-3:11
Key Verse:
Col. 3:11 Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.
Filling the Blanks:
In the new man there is room only for ( ). He is all the members of the new man and in all the members. He is ( ) in the new man. Actually, He is the( ), His Body (1 Cor. 12:12). In the new man He is the ( ) and universality. He is the constituent of the new man, and He is all in all in the new man. (See Col. 3:11 note 9)
Lord, may we all hear Your voice. We are worthy of nothing. We are nothing, we have nothing, and we can do nothing. But we have You as our everything. Amen.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 2:18-3:11
Key Verse:
Col. 3:11 Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.
Filling the Blanks:
In the new man there is room only for ( ). He is all the members of the new man and in all the members. He is ( ) in the new man. Actually, He is the( ), His Body (1 Cor. 12:12). In the new man He is the ( ) and universality. He is the constituent of the new man, and He is all in all in the new man. (See Col. 3:11 note 9)
Friday, June 12, 2009
Having Been Rooted and Being Built Up in Him
Let's Pray:
Father, we extol You. It is of Your sovereignty that we can blend together. It is our blessing, our growing, our increasing and our building. It is everything to us.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 2:1-17
Key Verse:
Col. 2:6 As therefore you have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in Him,
Col. 2:7 Having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith even as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Filling the Blanks:
Like plants, we are living ( ). As such, we have been rooted in ( ), our soil, our earth, that we may absorb all His riches as ( ). These riches become the element and substance with which we grow and are ( ). To be rooted is for the growth in life. This rooting has been completed already. To be built up is for the building of the Body of Christ. This is still going on. Both these matters are in Christ. (See Col. 2:7 note 1)
Father, we extol You. It is of Your sovereignty that we can blend together. It is our blessing, our growing, our increasing and our building. It is everything to us.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 2:1-17
Key Verse:
Col. 2:6 As therefore you have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in Him,
Col. 2:7 Having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith even as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Filling the Blanks:
Like plants, we are living ( ). As such, we have been rooted in ( ), our soil, our earth, that we may absorb all His riches as ( ). These riches become the element and substance with which we grow and are ( ). To be rooted is for the growth in life. This rooting has been completed already. To be built up is for the building of the Body of Christ. This is still going on. Both these matters are in Christ. (See Col. 2:7 note 1)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory
Let's Pray:
O Lord Jesus, we tell You again that we love You. We treasure You. May Your name be exalted by the nations. May Your kingdom come, and may Your glory be manifested.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 1:15-29
Key Verse:
Col. 1:27 To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Filling the Blanks:
( ), who dwells in our spirit to be our life and person, is our ( ) of glory. When He comes, we will be glorified in Him. This indicates that the ( ) Christ will saturate our entire being that our ( ) may be transfigured and conformed to the body of His glory (Phil. 3:21). (See Col. 1:27 note 3)
O Lord Jesus, we tell You again that we love You. We treasure You. May Your name be exalted by the nations. May Your kingdom come, and may Your glory be manifested.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 1:15-29
Key Verse:
Col. 1:27 To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Filling the Blanks:
( ), who dwells in our spirit to be our life and person, is our ( ) of glory. When He comes, we will be glorified in Him. This indicates that the ( ) Christ will saturate our entire being that our ( ) may be transfigured and conformed to the body of His glory (Phil. 3:21). (See Col. 1:27 note 3)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Father Has Qualified You for a Share of the Allotted Portion of the Saints
Let's Pray:
Oh, Lord, We do love You; we love You with Your love. We are in Your love. Here we have the oneness, the oneness of the Triune God. Oh, what a wonder and what a blessing!
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 1:1-14
Key Verse:
Col. 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light.
Filling the Blanks:
God the Father has qualified us by the ( ) of God the Son and through the ( ) of God the Spirit for a share of the all-inclusive ( ) , the very embodiment of the processed Triune God, as the allotted ( ) of the saints.
This refers to the lot of the inheritance, as illustrated by the allotment of the good land of ( ) given to the children of Israel for their inheritance (Josh. 14:1). The New Testament believers' inheritance, their allotted portion, is not a physical( ) ; it is the all-inclusive ( ) . He is the allotted ( ) of the saints as their divine inheritance for their ( ) . (See Col. 1:12 note 1, note 2)
Oh, Lord, We do love You; we love You with Your love. We are in Your love. Here we have the oneness, the oneness of the Triune God. Oh, what a wonder and what a blessing!
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Col. 1:1-14
Key Verse:
Col. 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light.
Filling the Blanks:
God the Father has qualified us by the ( ) of God the Son and through the ( ) of God the Spirit for a share of the all-inclusive ( ) , the very embodiment of the processed Triune God, as the allotted ( ) of the saints.
This refers to the lot of the inheritance, as illustrated by the allotment of the good land of ( ) given to the children of Israel for their inheritance (Josh. 14:1). The New Testament believers' inheritance, their allotted portion, is not a physical( ) ; it is the all-inclusive ( ) . He is the allotted ( ) of the saints as their divine inheritance for their ( ) . (See Col. 1:12 note 1, note 2)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I Am Able to Do All Things in Him Who Empowers Me
Let's Pray:
Lord, be gracious to us, and pour Yourself out upon us and into us that we would have good fellowship in You and receive the best supply from You.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 4:10-23
Key Verse:
Phil. 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Filling the Blanks
This book, which is concerned with the experience of Christ, points out to us at the beginning, in ch. 1, that it is the ( ) supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ that enables us to live Christ, even to ( ) Christ under any circumstances, that we may enjoy Him as the uttermost ( ) . Here, at the end of the book, we are told that our experience and enjoyment of Christ must take place in our ( ) , which has been regenerated to be the dwelling place and vessel of the Triune God. Therefore, this is altogether a matter of the union and mingling of the processed Triune God, who has become the all-inclusive, ( ) Spirit, and the spirit of us, the tripartite men, who are being ( ) by such a Spirit. (See Phil. 4:23 note 2)
Lord, be gracious to us, and pour Yourself out upon us and into us that we would have good fellowship in You and receive the best supply from You.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 4:10-23
Key Verse:
Phil. 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Filling the Blanks
This book, which is concerned with the experience of Christ, points out to us at the beginning, in ch. 1, that it is the ( ) supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ that enables us to live Christ, even to ( ) Christ under any circumstances, that we may enjoy Him as the uttermost ( ) . Here, at the end of the book, we are told that our experience and enjoyment of Christ must take place in our ( ) , which has been regenerated to be the dwelling place and vessel of the Triune God. Therefore, this is altogether a matter of the union and mingling of the processed Triune God, who has become the all-inclusive, ( ) Spirit, and the spirit of us, the tripartite men, who are being ( ) by such a Spirit. (See Phil. 4:23 note 2)
Monday, June 8, 2009
In Nothing Be Anxious
Let's Pray:
We thank You that You cleanse us with Your precious blood. We trust in this cleansing that we might be kept in the fellowship with You, dear Lord¡ªthe Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 3:17-4:9
Key Verse:
Phil. 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Filling the Blanks:
The result of practicing fellowship with God in prayer is that we enjoy the ( ) of God. The peace of God is actually ( ) as peace (v. 9) ( ) into us through our fellowship with Him by prayer, as the counterpoise to troubles and the antidote to ( ).(See Phil. 4:7 note 1)
We thank You that You cleanse us with Your precious blood. We trust in this cleansing that we might be kept in the fellowship with You, dear Lord¡ªthe Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Hymn: 152
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 3:17-4:9
Key Verse:
Phil. 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Filling the Blanks:
The result of practicing fellowship with God in prayer is that we enjoy the ( ) of God. The peace of God is actually ( ) as peace (v. 9) ( ) into us through our fellowship with Him by prayer, as the counterpoise to troubles and the antidote to ( ).(See Phil. 4:7 note 1)
Pursuing Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your revelation and for Your move. We praise You that You have shown us Your economy, with Christ as the centrality and the universality. Oh, what a Christ we have!
Hymn: 1205
Press on, press on toward the goal-
The all-inclusive Christ.
To gain the prize of God's high call,
Press on, press on to Christ!
Pressing on! Pressing on!
Pressing on! Hallelujah for the prize
We're pressing on! On and on!
To gain the Christ of God!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 3:7-16
Key Verse:
Phil. 3:7 But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ.
Phil. 3:8 But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ
Life Supply:
After we receive the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, we shall be willing to suffer the loss of all things and count them refuse in order to gain Christ and be found in Him. As a result, we shall know Christ experientially. Therefore, verse 9 comes out of verse 8, and verse 10 comes out of verse 9. If we do not have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ (v. 8), we shall not be found in Christ, for it is having the excellency of the knowledge of Christ which makes us willing to suffer the loss of all things and count them as refuse in order to gain Christ and be found in Him. Then, once we have gained Christ and are found in Him, we shall know Him; that is, we shall enjoy Him and experience Him.
To gain Christ is one thing, and to experience Him is another. We may illustrate this difference by the difference between buying groceries and eating food which has been purchased and prepared. Gaining Christ may be compared to buying groceries, and the experience of Christ may be compared to the eating of the food we have first purchased and cooked. However, before we buy any groceries, we must first have the excellency of the knowledge of groceries. Before we purchase anything, we are first attracted by the excellency of the knowledge of that thing. Thus, first we have the excellency of the knowledge of the groceries, then we gain them by buying them, and finally we enjoy the food by eating it. In like manner, Paul first received the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, then he paid the price to gain Christ and be found in Him, and finally he experienced Christ and enjoyed Him. Paul realized that to gain Christ and be found in Him always results in knowing Him, in enjoying and experiencing Him.
You may know that Christ is joy, peace, and rest. Before you were saved, you did not have the peace. But now that you have received the Lord, you have peace and joy. By no means do I belittle these aspects of the knowledge of Christ. I certainly enjoy the Lord Jesus as my peace, rest, and joy. Nevertheless, we should not be content with such a limited knowledge of Christ, but should advance in our knowledge of Him. Oh, how we need the excellency of knowing Christ! (Life-Study of Philippians, pp. 172-173)
Questions:
1. How did Paul come to know the excellency of Christ? (See Phil. 3:8 note 3)
2. How do we know Christ and the power of His resurrection? (See Phil. 3:10 note 1, note 2)
3. What is "pray-reading the word"? (See Eph. 6:17-18)
Lord, thank You for Your revelation and for Your move. We praise You that You have shown us Your economy, with Christ as the centrality and the universality. Oh, what a Christ we have!
Hymn: 1205
Press on, press on toward the goal-
The all-inclusive Christ.
To gain the prize of God's high call,
Press on, press on to Christ!
Pressing on! Pressing on!
Pressing on! Hallelujah for the prize
We're pressing on! On and on!
To gain the Christ of God!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 3:7-16
Key Verse:
Phil. 3:7 But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ.
Phil. 3:8 But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ
Life Supply:
After we receive the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, we shall be willing to suffer the loss of all things and count them refuse in order to gain Christ and be found in Him. As a result, we shall know Christ experientially. Therefore, verse 9 comes out of verse 8, and verse 10 comes out of verse 9. If we do not have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ (v. 8), we shall not be found in Christ, for it is having the excellency of the knowledge of Christ which makes us willing to suffer the loss of all things and count them as refuse in order to gain Christ and be found in Him. Then, once we have gained Christ and are found in Him, we shall know Him; that is, we shall enjoy Him and experience Him.
To gain Christ is one thing, and to experience Him is another. We may illustrate this difference by the difference between buying groceries and eating food which has been purchased and prepared. Gaining Christ may be compared to buying groceries, and the experience of Christ may be compared to the eating of the food we have first purchased and cooked. However, before we buy any groceries, we must first have the excellency of the knowledge of groceries. Before we purchase anything, we are first attracted by the excellency of the knowledge of that thing. Thus, first we have the excellency of the knowledge of the groceries, then we gain them by buying them, and finally we enjoy the food by eating it. In like manner, Paul first received the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, then he paid the price to gain Christ and be found in Him, and finally he experienced Christ and enjoyed Him. Paul realized that to gain Christ and be found in Him always results in knowing Him, in enjoying and experiencing Him.
You may know that Christ is joy, peace, and rest. Before you were saved, you did not have the peace. But now that you have received the Lord, you have peace and joy. By no means do I belittle these aspects of the knowledge of Christ. I certainly enjoy the Lord Jesus as my peace, rest, and joy. Nevertheless, we should not be content with such a limited knowledge of Christ, but should advance in our knowledge of Him. Oh, how we need the excellency of knowing Christ! (Life-Study of Philippians, pp. 172-173)
Questions:
1. How did Paul come to know the excellency of Christ? (See Phil. 3:8 note 3)
2. How do we know Christ and the power of His resurrection? (See Phil. 3:10 note 1, note 2)
3. What is "pray-reading the word"? (See Eph. 6:17-18)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
We Must Be Like-souled, Genuinely Caring for the Things of Christ Jesus
Let's Pray:
Lord, cover us and give us a clear understanding and an open spirit . Lord, cover us that we may have a clear, pure, and even purified fellowship so that You can show us Your way.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 2:17-3:6
Key Verse:
Phil. 2:20 For I have no one like-souled who will genuinely care for what concerns you.
Filling the Blanks:
This book deals very much with the believers' ( ). We must strive together with one soul along with the personified faith of the gospel (1:27); we must be joined in soul, ( ) the one thing (v. 2); and we must be ( ), genuinely caring for the things of Christ Jesus (vv. 20-21). In the ( ) work, in the fellowship among the believers, and in the pursuing of the Lord's interests, our soul is always a ( ). Hence, it must be transformed, especially in its leading part, the ( )(Rom. 12:2), that we may be of one soul, ( ) in soul, and like-souled in the Body life. (See Phil. 2:20 note 1)
Lord, cover us and give us a clear understanding and an open spirit . Lord, cover us that we may have a clear, pure, and even purified fellowship so that You can show us Your way.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 2:17-3:6
Key Verse:
Phil. 2:20 For I have no one like-souled who will genuinely care for what concerns you.
Filling the Blanks:
This book deals very much with the believers' ( ). We must strive together with one soul along with the personified faith of the gospel (1:27); we must be joined in soul, ( ) the one thing (v. 2); and we must be ( ), genuinely caring for the things of Christ Jesus (vv. 20-21). In the ( ) work, in the fellowship among the believers, and in the pursuing of the Lord's interests, our soul is always a ( ). Hence, it must be transformed, especially in its leading part, the ( )(Rom. 12:2), that we may be of one soul, ( ) in soul, and like-souled in the Body life. (See Phil. 2:20 note 1)
Friday, June 5, 2009
It Is God Who Operates in Us
Let's Pray:
Lord, we do not like to do anything by ourselves. We are in fear and trembling before You. Lord, save us and rescue us from making mistakes.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 2:5-16
Key Verse:
Phil. 2:13 For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure.
Filling the Blanks:
The willing is within; the working is ( ). The willing takes place in our ( ), indicating that God's operation begins from our ( ) (cf. 4:23) and spreads into our mind, emotion, and will. This corresponds with Rom. 8, where we see that God works from our spirit (Rom. 8:4), through our mind (Rom. 8:6), and eventually into our ( ) . (See Phil. 2:13 note 4)
Lord, we do not like to do anything by ourselves. We are in fear and trembling before You. Lord, save us and rescue us from making mistakes.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 2:5-16
Key Verse:
Phil. 2:13 For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure.
Filling the Blanks:
The willing is within; the working is ( ). The willing takes place in our ( ), indicating that God's operation begins from our ( ) (cf. 4:23) and spreads into our mind, emotion, and will. This corresponds with Rom. 8, where we see that God works from our spirit (Rom. 8:4), through our mind (Rom. 8:6), and eventually into our ( ) . (See Phil. 2:13 note 4)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
To Me, to Live is Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, we look unto You for You to visit us. Lord. We open up our heart. We open up our spirit. We open up our entire being to You. We want to gain You. Lord, do grant us Yourself.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 1:20-2:4
Key Verse:
Phil. 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ...
Filling the Blanks:
Paul's life was to ( ) Christ. To him to live was ( ) . Christ was not only his life but also his ( ) . He lived Christ because Christ lived in him (Gal. 2:20). He was one with Christ in both life and living. He and Christ had one ( ) and one living. They lived together as one person. Christ lived within Paul as Paul's ( ) , and Paul lived Christ without as Christ's ( ) . The normal experience of Christ is to live ( ) , and to live Him is to ( ) Him always, regardless of the circumstances.(See Phil. 1:21 note 1)
Lord, we look unto You for You to visit us. Lord. We open up our heart. We open up our spirit. We open up our entire being to You. We want to gain You. Lord, do grant us Yourself.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 1:20-2:4
Key Verse:
Phil. 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ...
Filling the Blanks:
Paul's life was to ( ) Christ. To him to live was ( ) . Christ was not only his life but also his ( ) . He lived Christ because Christ lived in him (Gal. 2:20). He was one with Christ in both life and living. He and Christ had one ( ) and one living. They lived together as one person. Christ lived within Paul as Paul's ( ) , and Paul lived Christ without as Christ's ( ) . The normal experience of Christ is to live ( ) , and to live Him is to ( ) Him always, regardless of the circumstances.(See Phil. 1:21 note 1)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Bountiful Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank You for opening Your word to us. In Your word we have seen the light, we have been reproved, and we have also received the life supply. Your word is light.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 1:1-19
Key Verse:
Phil. 1:19 For I know that for me this will turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Filling the Blanks:
The Spirit of Jesus Christ is "the Spirit" mentioned in John 7:39. This is not merely the Spirit of ( ) before the Lord's incarnation but the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit with ( ) , after the Lord's ( ) , ( ) with the Lord's incarnation ( ), human living under the cross, crucifixion, and resurrection. The holy ( ) ointment in Exo. 30:23-25, a compound of olive oil and four kinds of spices, is a full type of this ( ) Spirit of God, who is now the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Eventually, this ( ) Spirit of Jesus Christ becomes the ( ) Spirits of God, who are the seven ( ) of fire before God's throne to carry out His administration on earth. (See Phil. 1:19 note 4)
Lord, we thank You for opening Your word to us. In Your word we have seen the light, we have been reproved, and we have also received the life supply. Your word is light.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Phil. 1:1-19
Key Verse:
Phil. 1:19 For I know that for me this will turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Filling the Blanks:
The Spirit of Jesus Christ is "the Spirit" mentioned in John 7:39. This is not merely the Spirit of ( ) before the Lord's incarnation but the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit with ( ) , after the Lord's ( ) , ( ) with the Lord's incarnation ( ), human living under the cross, crucifixion, and resurrection. The holy ( ) ointment in Exo. 30:23-25, a compound of olive oil and four kinds of spices, is a full type of this ( ) Spirit of God, who is now the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Eventually, this ( ) Spirit of Jesus Christ becomes the ( ) Spirits of God, who are the seven ( ) of fire before God's throne to carry out His administration on earth. (See Phil. 1:19 note 4)
Praying at Every Time in Spirit and Petition concerning All the Saints
Let's Pray:
Lord, Visit each one of us and touch us. Touch our spirit that You may gain us, that we may gain You. Blend us all together that You may have a way to go on for Your recovery.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 6:14-24
Key Verse:
Eph. 6:17 And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God,
Eph. 6: 18 By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.
Filling the Blanks:
This phrase modifies the verb receive in v. 17, which tells us to receive not only the helmet of salvation but also ( ) . This indicates that we need to receive the word of God by means of all ( ) and petition. We need to ( ) to receive the word of God. (See Eph. 6:18 note 1)
Lord, Visit each one of us and touch us. Touch our spirit that You may gain us, that we may gain You. Blend us all together that You may have a way to go on for Your recovery.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 6:14-24
Key Verse:
Eph. 6:17 And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God,
Eph. 6: 18 By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.
Filling the Blanks:
This phrase modifies the verb receive in v. 17, which tells us to receive not only the helmet of salvation but also ( ) . This indicates that we need to receive the word of God by means of all ( ) and petition. We need to ( ) to receive the word of God. (See Eph. 6:18 note 1)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Putting on the Whole Armor of God
Let's Pray:
Lord, destroy the enemy's work, the work of darkness, the work of the spiritual forces in the air. Rebuke Your enemy and shame him, and bind all the evil spirits.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 6:1-13
Key Verse:
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil.
Filling the Blanks:
To fight the spiritual warfare, we need not only the power of the Lord but also the ( ) of God. Our weapons do not avail, but God's armor, even the whole armor of God, does avail.
The whole armor of God is for the ( ) Body of Christ, not for any ( ) member of the Body. The church is a corporate warrior, and the believers are parts of this unique warrior. Only the ( ) warrior, not any individual believer, can wear the ( ) armor of God. We must fight the spiritual warfare in the ( ) , not as ( ) . (See Eph. 6:11 note 2)
Lord, destroy the enemy's work, the work of darkness, the work of the spiritual forces in the air. Rebuke Your enemy and shame him, and bind all the evil spirits.
Hymn: 1205
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 6:1-13
Key Verse:
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil.
Filling the Blanks:
To fight the spiritual warfare, we need not only the power of the Lord but also the ( ) of God. Our weapons do not avail, but God's armor, even the whole armor of God, does avail.
The whole armor of God is for the ( ) Body of Christ, not for any ( ) member of the Body. The church is a corporate warrior, and the believers are parts of this unique warrior. Only the ( ) warrior, not any individual believer, can wear the ( ) armor of God. We must fight the spiritual warfare in the ( ) , not as ( ) . (See Eph. 6:11 note 2)
Personal Spirituality or Building Up of the Body of Christ?
Let's Pray:
Lord, we praise You that You have made us Your temple; we are Your dwelling place. We and You as two spirits have become one spirit. We pray that You bless us. Amen.
Hymn: 840
Freed from self and Adam's nature,
Lord, I would be built by Thee
With the saints into Thy temple,
Where Thy glory we shall see.
From peculiar traits deliver,
From my independent ways,
That a dwelling place for Thee, Lord,
We will be thru all our days,
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 5:22-33
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ,
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Life Supply:
Ephesians 2:22 speaks of the building up of the church, but it gives only the principles; it does not give the details. However, the details are found in 4:16. “Out from Whom all the Body, fitted and knit together through every joint of the supply, according to the operation in measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.” By growing up into the Head, the members of the Body have something to share with one another. Furthermore, there will be the operation in the measure of each part, and the result will be the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love. In order to have the reality of this verse, we must be perfected by the gifts given to the Body by the Head. The saints are not perfected merely by learning doctrine. On the contrary, they are perfected through being fed. This feeding causes them to grow. For example, an infant does not need anything to be added on to his body to perfect him. As he grows, the members of his body develop and begin to function normally. A mother does not perfect her baby by teaching him to use the various parts of his body; she perfects him by feeding him. The more a child grows through receiving proper nourishment, the more the members of his body will come into their function. In the same principle, the members of the Body are perfected not by teaching, but through the feeding that causes them to grow.
Through the growth of life, we shall also arrive at a full-grown man and at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The fullness of Christ is the Body of Christ, Christ’s expression. With this Body there is a stature with a measure. When the Lord’s work in His recovery began in this country a number of years ago, we could see very little of the measure of this stature. Praise the Lord that over the years the measure of the stature has increased! This increase is the result of the perfecting of the saints through the ministry of Christ. However, as we all admit, we are still in the process of growth. The more we grow, the more we shall be able to function and to have the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love. This is our need today. (Life-Study of Ephesians, pp. 753-754, 758)
Questions:
1. How is the Body of Christ built up? (See Eph. 4:12 note 3; 16 note 8, note 9)
2. How can the saints be perfected? (See Eph. 4:12 note 1; 2 Cor. 13:9 note 2)
3. How can each member of the Body function according to its own measure? (See Eph. 4:16 note 7)
Lord, we praise You that You have made us Your temple; we are Your dwelling place. We and You as two spirits have become one spirit. We pray that You bless us. Amen.
Hymn: 840
Freed from self and Adam's nature,
Lord, I would be built by Thee
With the saints into Thy temple,
Where Thy glory we shall see.
From peculiar traits deliver,
From my independent ways,
That a dwelling place for Thee, Lord,
We will be thru all our days,
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 5:22-33
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ,
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Life Supply:
Ephesians 2:22 speaks of the building up of the church, but it gives only the principles; it does not give the details. However, the details are found in 4:16. “Out from Whom all the Body, fitted and knit together through every joint of the supply, according to the operation in measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.” By growing up into the Head, the members of the Body have something to share with one another. Furthermore, there will be the operation in the measure of each part, and the result will be the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love. In order to have the reality of this verse, we must be perfected by the gifts given to the Body by the Head. The saints are not perfected merely by learning doctrine. On the contrary, they are perfected through being fed. This feeding causes them to grow. For example, an infant does not need anything to be added on to his body to perfect him. As he grows, the members of his body develop and begin to function normally. A mother does not perfect her baby by teaching him to use the various parts of his body; she perfects him by feeding him. The more a child grows through receiving proper nourishment, the more the members of his body will come into their function. In the same principle, the members of the Body are perfected not by teaching, but through the feeding that causes them to grow.
Through the growth of life, we shall also arrive at a full-grown man and at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The fullness of Christ is the Body of Christ, Christ’s expression. With this Body there is a stature with a measure. When the Lord’s work in His recovery began in this country a number of years ago, we could see very little of the measure of this stature. Praise the Lord that over the years the measure of the stature has increased! This increase is the result of the perfecting of the saints through the ministry of Christ. However, as we all admit, we are still in the process of growth. The more we grow, the more we shall be able to function and to have the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love. This is our need today. (Life-Study of Ephesians, pp. 753-754, 758)
Questions:
1. How is the Body of Christ built up? (See Eph. 4:12 note 3; 16 note 8, note 9)
2. How can the saints be perfected? (See Eph. 4:12 note 1; 2 Cor. 13:9 note 2)
3. How can each member of the Body function according to its own measure? (See Eph. 4:16 note 7)
Being Filled in Spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, we give You all the ground. May You make home in us, be the Head in us, and fill us up, so that we would all be built up to be the fullness of God and His expression in this age.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 5:1 -21
Key Verse:
Eph. 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit,
Eph. 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord.
Filling the Blanks:
To understand the will of the Lord is the best way to redeem our ( ) (Eph. 5:16). Most of our time is wasted because we do not know the ( ) of the Lord.
To be drunk with wine is to be filled in the ( ) whereas to be filled in the spirit (our ( ) spirit, not God's Spirit) is to be filled with Christ unto the ( ) of God. To be drunk with wine in our physical body causes us to become dissolute, but to be filled in our spirit with Christ, with the fullness of God, causes us to ( ) with Christ in speaking, singing, psalming, and giving thanks to God and also causes us to ( ) ourselves to one another. (See Eph. 5:17 note 1, 18 note 1)
Lord, we give You all the ground. May You make home in us, be the Head in us, and fill us up, so that we would all be built up to be the fullness of God and His expression in this age.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 5:1 -21
Key Verse:
Eph. 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit,
Eph. 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord.
Filling the Blanks:
To understand the will of the Lord is the best way to redeem our ( ) (Eph. 5:16). Most of our time is wasted because we do not know the ( ) of the Lord.
To be drunk with wine is to be filled in the ( ) whereas to be filled in the spirit (our ( ) spirit, not God's Spirit) is to be filled with Christ unto the ( ) of God. To be drunk with wine in our physical body causes us to become dissolute, but to be filled in our spirit with Christ, with the fullness of God, causes us to ( ) with Christ in speaking, singing, psalming, and giving thanks to God and also causes us to ( ) ourselves to one another. (See Eph. 5:17 note 1, 18 note 1)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Putting on the New Man
Let's Pray:
Lord, in these days, You are teaching us to speak the things of a new culture in a new language. Lord, we ask You to give us the new language for the new culture.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 4:17-32
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:24 And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality.
Filling the Blanks:
The new man is of Christ. It is His ( ), created in Him on the cross (2:15-16). It is not individual but ( ) (Col. 3:10-11). In this corporate new man ( )is all and in all -- He is all the people and in all the people. (See Eph. 4:24 note 2)
Lord, in these days, You are teaching us to speak the things of a new culture in a new language. Lord, we ask You to give us the new language for the new culture.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 4:17-32
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:24 And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality.
Filling the Blanks:
The new man is of Christ. It is His ( ), created in Him on the cross (2:15-16). It is not individual but ( ) (Col. 3:10-11). In this corporate new man ( )is all and in all -- He is all the people and in all the people. (See Eph. 4:24 note 2)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Causing the Growth of the Body unto the Building up of Itself in Love
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. We love each other in the Triune God.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 4:4-16
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Filling the Blanks:
To grow in life is to grow into the ( ), Christ, but to ( ) in the Body of Christ is to operate out from Him. First, we grow up into the Head; then we have something that is out from the Head for the ( ) of the Body. (See Eph. 4:16 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. We love each other in the Triune God.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 4:4-16
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Filling the Blanks:
To grow in life is to grow into the ( ), Christ, but to ( ) in the Body of Christ is to operate out from Him. First, we grow up into the Head; then we have something that is out from the Head for the ( ) of the Body. (See Eph. 4:16 note 1)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Being Diligent to Keep the Oneness of the Spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, how we praise You that there is oneness among the Triune God. We worship this oneness of the divine Trinity. Oh, what a blessing that the Father loves You, and You love us!
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 3:20-4:3
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:3 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
Filling the Blanks:
The oneness of the Spirit is the Spirit ( ). To keep the oneness of the Spirit is to keep the ( ) Spirit. If we act apart from the Spirit, we are divisive and lose the oneness. If we stay in the life-giving Spirit, we ( ) the oneness of the Spirit. (See Eph. 4:3 note 1 )
Lord, how we praise You that there is oneness among the Triune God. We worship this oneness of the divine Trinity. Oh, what a blessing that the Father loves You, and You love us!
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 3:20-4:3
Key Verse:
Eph. 4:3 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
Filling the Blanks:
The oneness of the Spirit is the Spirit ( ). To keep the oneness of the Spirit is to keep the ( ) Spirit. If we act apart from the Spirit, we are divisive and lose the oneness. If we stay in the life-giving Spirit, we ( ) the oneness of the Spirit. (See Eph. 4:3 note 1 )
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Christ May Make His Home in Your Hearts through Faith
Let's Pray:
Lord, we worship You. You are the centrality and the universality of God. May You enlighten us, that we would see Yourself, so that You would make home in our hearts.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 3:9-19
Key Verse:
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love.
Filling the Blanks:
Our heart is composed of all the parts of our soul -- ( ), emotion, and will-- plus our conscience, the main part of our spirit. These parts are the inward parts of our being. Through ( ) Christ came into our spirit (2 Tim. 4:22). After this, we should allow Him to ( ) into every part of our heart. (See Eph. 3:17 note 1)
Lord, we worship You. You are the centrality and the universality of God. May You enlighten us, that we would see Yourself, so that You would make home in our hearts.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 3:9-19
Key Verse:
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love.
Filling the Blanks:
Our heart is composed of all the parts of our soul -- ( ), emotion, and will-- plus our conscience, the main part of our spirit. These parts are the inward parts of our being. Through ( ) Christ came into our spirit (2 Tim. 4:22). After this, we should allow Him to ( ) into every part of our heart. (See Eph. 3:17 note 1)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Announcing to the Gentiles the Unsearchable Riches of Christ as the Gospel
Let's Pray:
Thank You, Lord, that You are still giving. The Father has given us to You, and You have given to us the Father's name, word, even His glory. Lord, We desire to give You to others.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 2:20-3:8
Key Verse:
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel.
Filling the Blanks:
The apostle announced not doctrines but the ( ) of Christ. The riches of Christ are what Christ ( ) to us, such as light, life, righteousness, and holiness, what He ( ) for us, and what He accomplished, attained, and obtained for us. These riches of Christ are unsearchable and untraceable. (See Eph. 3:8 note 3)
Thank You, Lord, that You are still giving. The Father has given us to You, and You have given to us the Father's name, word, even His glory. Lord, We desire to give You to others.
Hymn: 840
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 2:20-3:8
Key Verse:
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel.
Filling the Blanks:
The apostle announced not doctrines but the ( ) of Christ. The riches of Christ are what Christ ( ) to us, such as light, life, righteousness, and holiness, what He ( ) for us, and what He accomplished, attained, and obtained for us. These riches of Christ are unsearchable and untraceable. (See Eph. 3:8 note 3)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Church
Let's Pray:
Lord, may this glory be expressed among us this morning. Lord Jesus, may You glorify the Father’s name. Bless Your children, build Your church, and shame Your enemy.
Hymn: 824
The Church is Christ's own Body,
The Father's dwelling-place,
The gathering of the called ones,
God blended with man's race;
Elect before creation,
Redeemed by Calv'ry's death,
Her character and standing
Of heaven, not of earth.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 2:11-19
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Eph. 2:10 For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.
Life Supply:
If we put together all these seven aspects of the church, we see a wonderful picture of the church as the Body to express Christ, as the new man taking Christ as the person, as the kingdom with rights and responsibilities, as the family with life and enjoyment, as God’s dwelling place for God to live in, as the bride for Christ’s satisfaction, and as the warrior for fighting the battle and defeating the enemy so that God can accomplish His eternal purpose. This is the church.
The subject of the book of Ephesians is the church. Ephesians covers seven aspects of the church, the first of which is the church as the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. In order for a living person to be complete, he must have a body as his expression. The Body of Christ is the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The riches of Christ may be likened to all the rich foodstuffs produced in America. These riches are not for exhibition; they are for eating. As we eat of the rich American foodstuffs, these riches seem to disappear into us. When these riches are digested and assimilated by us, they become part of us. As a result, they are no longer the riches, but the fullness. Thus, the husky young American men, who assimilate so much of the rich American foodstuffs, are the fullness of America. By means of this illustration we can differentiate between the riches and the fullness. The riches are the food which has not yet been taken into us. But when the food is eaten, digested, and assimilated, it becomes the fullness. The riches of Christ are all the items of what Christ is. When we digest and assimilate into our being the riches of Christ, these riches become part of us, and we become the fullness of Christ.
What the church does is not as important as what the church is. The church is the Body, the new man, the kingdom, the family, the dwelling place, the wife, and the warrior. What we do does not mean very much, but what we are means a great deal. In such a church as described in Ephesians Christ is expressed. Through such a church Christ, the Person, is lived out. In such a church there is the kingdom of God with rights and responsibilities and the family of God with life and enjoyment. This church is also God’s dwelling place, Christ’s satisfaction, and God’s warrior fighting the battle for His eternal purpose. What a church this is! (Life-Study of Ephesians pp. 1-2, 5-6)
Questions:
1. What are the seven aspects of the church unveiled in the book of Ephesians? (See Eph. 1:1 note 1, 1:22-23)
2. Please explain the divine transmission of Christ to the church. (See Eph. 1:19 note 2; 22 note 3)
3. How do we become the fullness of God? (See Eph. 1:23 note 3)
Lord, may this glory be expressed among us this morning. Lord Jesus, may You glorify the Father’s name. Bless Your children, build Your church, and shame Your enemy.
Hymn: 824
The Church is Christ's own Body,
The Father's dwelling-place,
The gathering of the called ones,
God blended with man's race;
Elect before creation,
Redeemed by Calv'ry's death,
Her character and standing
Of heaven, not of earth.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 2:11-19
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Eph. 2:10 For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.
Life Supply:
If we put together all these seven aspects of the church, we see a wonderful picture of the church as the Body to express Christ, as the new man taking Christ as the person, as the kingdom with rights and responsibilities, as the family with life and enjoyment, as God’s dwelling place for God to live in, as the bride for Christ’s satisfaction, and as the warrior for fighting the battle and defeating the enemy so that God can accomplish His eternal purpose. This is the church.
The subject of the book of Ephesians is the church. Ephesians covers seven aspects of the church, the first of which is the church as the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. In order for a living person to be complete, he must have a body as his expression. The Body of Christ is the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The riches of Christ may be likened to all the rich foodstuffs produced in America. These riches are not for exhibition; they are for eating. As we eat of the rich American foodstuffs, these riches seem to disappear into us. When these riches are digested and assimilated by us, they become part of us. As a result, they are no longer the riches, but the fullness. Thus, the husky young American men, who assimilate so much of the rich American foodstuffs, are the fullness of America. By means of this illustration we can differentiate between the riches and the fullness. The riches are the food which has not yet been taken into us. But when the food is eaten, digested, and assimilated, it becomes the fullness. The riches of Christ are all the items of what Christ is. When we digest and assimilate into our being the riches of Christ, these riches become part of us, and we become the fullness of Christ.
What the church does is not as important as what the church is. The church is the Body, the new man, the kingdom, the family, the dwelling place, the wife, and the warrior. What we do does not mean very much, but what we are means a great deal. In such a church as described in Ephesians Christ is expressed. Through such a church Christ, the Person, is lived out. In such a church there is the kingdom of God with rights and responsibilities and the family of God with life and enjoyment. This church is also God’s dwelling place, Christ’s satisfaction, and God’s warrior fighting the battle for His eternal purpose. What a church this is! (Life-Study of Ephesians pp. 1-2, 5-6)
Questions:
1. What are the seven aspects of the church unveiled in the book of Ephesians? (See Eph. 1:1 note 1, 1:22-23)
2. Please explain the divine transmission of Christ to the church. (See Eph. 1:19 note 2; 22 note 3)
3. How do we become the fullness of God? (See Eph. 1:23 note 3)
We Are His Masterpiece
Let's Pray:
Lord, open Your heart to us again and unveil what is hidden in the depths of Your good pleasure. Lord, we like to be open to You. We do not want to have anything covering us.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 2:1-10
Key Verse:
Eph. 2:10 For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.
Filling the Blanks:
We, the church, the ( ) of God's work, are a poem expressing God's infinite wisdom and divine design. The heavens, the earth, and man, created by God, are not God's masterpiece; but the ( ), the Body of Christ, the ( ) of the One who fills all in all (1:23), the corporate and universal ( ) (v. 15), is a masterpiece. (See Eph. 2:10 note 1)
Lord, open Your heart to us again and unveil what is hidden in the depths of Your good pleasure. Lord, we like to be open to You. We do not want to have anything covering us.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 2:1-10
Key Verse:
Eph. 2:10 For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.
Filling the Blanks:
We, the church, the ( ) of God's work, are a poem expressing God's infinite wisdom and divine design. The heavens, the earth, and man, created by God, are not God's masterpiece; but the ( ), the Body of Christ, the ( ) of the One who fills all in all (1:23), the corporate and universal ( ) (v. 15), is a masterpiece. (See Eph. 2:10 note 1)
The Body of Christ Is the Fullness of the One Who Fills All in All
Let's Pray:
Lord, help us to realize that Your work today is to make home in our heart and to saturate us with Yourself, so that our whole being can be filled with You unto the fullness of God.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 1:15-23
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Filling the Blanks:
To the church implies a kind of ( ) . Whatever Christ, the Head, has attained and obtained is transmitted to the church, His ( ) . In this ( ) the church shares with Christ in all His attainments: the ( ) from the dead, His being seated in His transcendency, the subjection of all things under His feet, and the ( ) over all things.
Toward us who believe (v. 19) and to the church indicate that the divine power, which includes all that the Triune God has passed through, has been installed into us once for all and is being ( ) into us continually, causing us to ( ) Christ richly and to have the proper ( ) life, (See Eph. 1:22 note 3)
Lord, help us to realize that Your work today is to make home in our heart and to saturate us with Yourself, so that our whole being can be filled with You unto the fullness of God.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 1:15-23
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Filling the Blanks:
To the church implies a kind of ( ) . Whatever Christ, the Head, has attained and obtained is transmitted to the church, His ( ) . In this ( ) the church shares with Christ in all His attainments: the ( ) from the dead, His being seated in His transcendency, the subjection of all things under His feet, and the ( ) over all things.
Toward us who believe (v. 19) and to the church indicate that the divine power, which includes all that the Triune God has passed through, has been installed into us once for all and is being ( ) into us continually, causing us to ( ) Christ richly and to have the proper ( ) life, (See Eph. 1:22 note 3)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Heading up All Things in Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, we worship You. You are the centrality and the universality of God. You are the Head of all things, and You are also our Savior. May You enlighten us, that we would see Yourself.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 1:7-14
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:10 Unto the economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him.
Filling the Blanks:
God made Christ the ( ) over all things. Through all the ( ) of God in all the ages, all things will be headed up in ( ) in the new heaven and new earth. The ( ) participate in this heading up by being willing to be headed up in the church life, by ( ) in life, and by living under Christ's light. When everything is headed up in Christ, there will be absolute ( ) and ( ) , a full ( ) out of the collapse. This will begin from the time of the ( ) of all things. (See Eph. 1:10 note 3)
Lord, we worship You. You are the centrality and the universality of God. You are the Head of all things, and You are also our Savior. May You enlighten us, that we would see Yourself.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 1:7-14
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:10 Unto the economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him.
Filling the Blanks:
God made Christ the ( ) over all things. Through all the ( ) of God in all the ages, all things will be headed up in ( ) in the new heaven and new earth. The ( ) participate in this heading up by being willing to be headed up in the church life, by ( ) in life, and by living under Christ's light. When everything is headed up in Christ, there will be absolute ( ) and ( ) , a full ( ) out of the collapse. This will begin from the time of the ( ) of all things. (See Eph. 1:10 note 3)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
God Chose Us before the Foundation of the World
Let's Pray:
Lord, You chose us before the foundation of the world, and You created us and called us. You have also redeemed us and have dispensed Yourself into us. Lord, we thank You.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 1:1-6
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love.
Filling the Blanks:
This book speaks particularly of the church and unveils the church in its seven aspects as (1) the Body of Christ, the ( ), the expression, of the One who fills all in all; (2) the new man, a ( ) man; (3) the kingdom of God, with the ( ) as citizens; (4) the ( ) of God, a family full of life and enjoyment; (5) the dwelling place of God, in which He may live universally, a holy ( ) in the Lord, and locally, the dwelling ( ) of God in our spirit; (6) the bride, the ( ) , of Christ for Christ's rest and satisfaction; and (7) the warrior, a ( ) fighter, who deals with and defeats God's enemy to accomplish God's eternal purpose. (See Eph. 1:1 note 1)
Lord, You chose us before the foundation of the world, and You created us and called us. You have also redeemed us and have dispensed Yourself into us. Lord, we thank You.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Eph. 1:1-6
Key Verse:
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love.
Filling the Blanks:
This book speaks particularly of the church and unveils the church in its seven aspects as (1) the Body of Christ, the ( ), the expression, of the One who fills all in all; (2) the new man, a ( ) man; (3) the kingdom of God, with the ( ) as citizens; (4) the ( ) of God, a family full of life and enjoyment; (5) the dwelling place of God, in which He may live universally, a holy ( ) in the Lord, and locally, the dwelling ( ) of God in our spirit; (6) the bride, the ( ) , of Christ for Christ's rest and satisfaction; and (7) the warrior, a ( ) fighter, who deals with and defeats God's enemy to accomplish God's eternal purpose. (See Eph. 1:1 note 1)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ Be with Your Spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, we open ourselves to You and to one another. Grant us an open fellowship, a fellowship that is so free, so refreshing, in the spirit, a fellowship that overcomes all kinds of frustrations.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 6:11-18
Key Verse:
Gal. 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Filling the Blanks :
Our ( ) spirit indwelt by the Spirit, who is the focus of God's( ) blessing stressed so much throughout this book. It is in this spirit of ours that we experience and enjoy the Spirit as the central blessing of the ( ) .
Christ, the Spirit, the new creation, and our spirit are the four basic items revealed in this book as the ( ) thought of God's economy. Christ is the( ) of God's economy, and the Spirit is the ( ) of Christ. When Christ is realized through the Spirit in our spirit, we become the new ( ) . Hence, our(spirit) is vital for us to live the life of the new creation for the fulfilling of God's( ) . (See Gal. 6:18 note 2)
Lord, we open ourselves to You and to one another. Grant us an open fellowship, a fellowship that is so free, so refreshing, in the spirit, a fellowship that overcomes all kinds of frustrations.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 6:11-18
Key Verse:
Gal. 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Filling the Blanks :
Our ( ) spirit indwelt by the Spirit, who is the focus of God's( ) blessing stressed so much throughout this book. It is in this spirit of ours that we experience and enjoy the Spirit as the central blessing of the ( ) .
Christ, the Spirit, the new creation, and our spirit are the four basic items revealed in this book as the ( ) thought of God's economy. Christ is the( ) of God's economy, and the Spirit is the ( ) of Christ. When Christ is realized through the Spirit in our spirit, we become the new ( ) . Hence, our(spirit) is vital for us to live the life of the new creation for the fulfilling of God's( ) . (See Gal. 6:18 note 2)
Monday, May 18, 2009
If We Live by the Spirit, Let Us also Walk by the Spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, Do we live in our spirit with Your Spirit? Do we move in our spirit with Your Spirit? Lord, do we fellowship with You in our spirit with Your Spirit? Lord, remind us all the time.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 5:24-6:10
Key Verse:
Gal. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
Both the walk in v. 16 and the walk in this verse are by the ( ) and are regulated by the Spirit. The former refers to a general, ( ) walk; the latter, to a walk that takes God's unique goal as the direction and ( ) of life, and a walk that follows the ( ) as the elementary rule, the basic principle. Such a walk is cultivated by living in the new creation (6:16 and note 2), by pursuing ( ) in order to gain Him (Phil. 3:12 and notes), and by practicing the ( ) life.(See Gal. 5:25 note 2)
Lord, Do we live in our spirit with Your Spirit? Do we move in our spirit with Your Spirit? Lord, do we fellowship with You in our spirit with Your Spirit? Lord, remind us all the time.
Hymn: 824
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 5:24-6:10
Key Verse:
Gal. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
Both the walk in v. 16 and the walk in this verse are by the ( ) and are regulated by the Spirit. The former refers to a general, ( ) walk; the latter, to a walk that takes God's unique goal as the direction and ( ) of life, and a walk that follows the ( ) as the elementary rule, the basic principle. Such a walk is cultivated by living in the new creation (6:16 and note 2), by pursuing ( ) in order to gain Him (Phil. 3:12 and notes), and by practicing the ( ) life.(See Gal. 5:25 note 2)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Christ or Me?
Let's Pray:
Lord, we are still so natural, even, Lord, our purpose, our motive, and our intention are altogether impure. How much, Lord, we need the cleansing of Your redeeming blood.
Hymn: 475
One with Thee, Thou Son eternal,
Joined by faith in spirit one,
Share we in Thy death inclusive
And Thy life, O God the Son.
One with Thee, Thou Son beloved,
Part of Thee become thru grace,
Heirs with Thee of our one Father,
We're Thy Spirit's dwelling pace.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 5:1-23
Key Verse:
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Life Supply:
In [ Galatians 2:20] Paul says, on the one hand, “no longer I” and, on the other hand, “I live.” How can we reconcile this? Once again I wish to point out that this is not an exchange of life. The way to interpret the Bible properly is by the Bible itself. This means that other verses are needed if we are to understand this verse. Romans 6:6 tells us that our old man has been crucified with Christ. This verse helps us to see that the very I who has been crucified with Christ is the old “I,” the old man. As regenerated people, we have both an old “I” and a new “I.” The old “I” has been terminated, but the new “I” lives. In Galatians 2:20 we have both the old “I” and the new “I.” The old “I” has been crucified with Christ, terminated. Therefore, Paul can say, “no longer I.” However, the new “I” still lives. For this reason, Paul can say, “I live.”
Once again the illustration of grafting helps our understanding. After a branch has been grafted into a productive tree, the branch continues to live. However, it lives not by itself, but by the tree into which it has been grafted. Furthermore, the tree lives in the branch which has been grafted into it. The branch now lives a grafted life. This means that it lives, not by itself, but by the life of the tree into which it has been grafted. Furthermore, this other life, the life of the productive tree, does not live by itself, but through the branch grafted into it. The life of the tree lives in the branch. Eventually, the branch and the tree have one life with one living. In the same principle, we and Christ also have one life and one living.
It is the same in our relationship with Christ today. We and Christ do not have two lives. Rather, we have one life and one living. We live by Him, and He lives in us. If we do not live, He does not live; and if He does not live, we cannot live. On the one hand, we are terminated; on the other hand, we continue to exist, but we do not live without Him. Christ lives within us, and we live with Him. Therefore, we and He have one life and one living. (Life-Study of Galatians, pp. 86, 88-89)
Questions:
1. Please explain "no longer I, but Christ"? (See Gal. 2:20 note 2)
2. How do we live the life of God? (See Gal. 2:20 note 5)
3. How do we receive the promise of the Spirit? (See Gal. 3:14 note 3)
Lord, we are still so natural, even, Lord, our purpose, our motive, and our intention are altogether impure. How much, Lord, we need the cleansing of Your redeeming blood.
Hymn: 475
One with Thee, Thou Son eternal,
Joined by faith in spirit one,
Share we in Thy death inclusive
And Thy life, O God the Son.
One with Thee, Thou Son beloved,
Part of Thee become thru grace,
Heirs with Thee of our one Father,
We're Thy Spirit's dwelling pace.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 5:1-23
Key Verse:
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Life Supply:
In [ Galatians 2:20] Paul says, on the one hand, “no longer I” and, on the other hand, “I live.” How can we reconcile this? Once again I wish to point out that this is not an exchange of life. The way to interpret the Bible properly is by the Bible itself. This means that other verses are needed if we are to understand this verse. Romans 6:6 tells us that our old man has been crucified with Christ. This verse helps us to see that the very I who has been crucified with Christ is the old “I,” the old man. As regenerated people, we have both an old “I” and a new “I.” The old “I” has been terminated, but the new “I” lives. In Galatians 2:20 we have both the old “I” and the new “I.” The old “I” has been crucified with Christ, terminated. Therefore, Paul can say, “no longer I.” However, the new “I” still lives. For this reason, Paul can say, “I live.”
Once again the illustration of grafting helps our understanding. After a branch has been grafted into a productive tree, the branch continues to live. However, it lives not by itself, but by the tree into which it has been grafted. Furthermore, the tree lives in the branch which has been grafted into it. The branch now lives a grafted life. This means that it lives, not by itself, but by the life of the tree into which it has been grafted. Furthermore, this other life, the life of the productive tree, does not live by itself, but through the branch grafted into it. The life of the tree lives in the branch. Eventually, the branch and the tree have one life with one living. In the same principle, we and Christ also have one life and one living.
It is the same in our relationship with Christ today. We and Christ do not have two lives. Rather, we have one life and one living. We live by Him, and He lives in us. If we do not live, He does not live; and if He does not live, we cannot live. On the one hand, we are terminated; on the other hand, we continue to exist, but we do not live without Him. Christ lives within us, and we live with Him. Therefore, we and He have one life and one living. (Life-Study of Galatians, pp. 86, 88-89)
Questions:
1. Please explain "no longer I, but Christ"? (See Gal. 2:20 note 2)
2. How do we live the life of God? (See Gal. 2:20 note 5)
3. How do we receive the promise of the Spirit? (See Gal. 3:14 note 3)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Until Christ Is Formed in Us
Let's Pray:
O Lord, we like to be remodeled. Transform us in the view concerning Your Body, Your church, which is Your heart's desire. Lord, we want to know You in this desire.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 4:8-31
Key Verse:
Gal. 4:19 My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you.
Filling the Blanks:
Christ has been revealed in us (Gal.1:16), He is now ( ) in us (2:20), and He will be ( ) in us (4:19). To Him the law has conducted us (3:24), and in Him we are all ( ) of God (3:26). It is in Him that we inherit God's promised ( ) and enjoy the all-inclusive ( ) (3:14). Furthermore, it is in Him that we are all ( ) (3:28). We should not be deprived of all profit from Him and thus be severed from Him (5:4). We need Him to supply us with His ( ) in our spirit (6:18) that we may ( ) Him. (See Gal. 4:19 note 3)
O Lord, we like to be remodeled. Transform us in the view concerning Your Body, Your church, which is Your heart's desire. Lord, we want to know You in this desire.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 4:8-31
Key Verse:
Gal. 4:19 My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you.
Filling the Blanks:
Christ has been revealed in us (Gal.1:16), He is now ( ) in us (2:20), and He will be ( ) in us (4:19). To Him the law has conducted us (3:24), and in Him we are all ( ) of God (3:26). It is in Him that we inherit God's promised ( ) and enjoy the all-inclusive ( ) (3:14). Furthermore, it is in Him that we are all ( ) (3:28). We should not be deprived of all profit from Him and thus be severed from Him (5:4). We need Him to supply us with His ( ) in our spirit (6:18) that we may ( ) Him. (See Gal. 4:19 note 3)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Crying in Our Spirit, "Abba, Father!"
Let's Pray:
O Lord Jesus, fill our minds and our mouth with Yourself so that we would not talk about anything else, but would only talk about Christ and His glorious Body. May this one thing fill our hearts.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 3:15-4:7
Key Verse:
Gal. 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!
Filling the Blanks:
Rom. 8:15 says that we who have received a spirit of ( ) cry in this spirit, "( ) , Father!" whereas Gal. 4:6 says that the Spirit of God's Son is crying in our hearts, "Abba, Father!" This indicates that our ( ) spirit and the Spirit of God are mingled as one, and that our spirit is in our ( ) . This indicates also that the ( ) of God is realized by us through our subjective experience in the depth of our being. In verse 6, Paul appealed to such an ( ) of the Galatian believers for the supporting of his revelation. This appeal was quite convincing and subduing because it contained not only objective doctrines but also subjective, experiential ( ) . (See Gal. 4:6 note 3)
O Lord Jesus, fill our minds and our mouth with Yourself so that we would not talk about anything else, but would only talk about Christ and His glorious Body. May this one thing fill our hearts.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 3:15-4:7
Key Verse:
Gal. 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!
Filling the Blanks:
Rom. 8:15 says that we who have received a spirit of ( ) cry in this spirit, "( ) , Father!" whereas Gal. 4:6 says that the Spirit of God's Son is crying in our hearts, "Abba, Father!" This indicates that our ( ) spirit and the Spirit of God are mingled as one, and that our spirit is in our ( ) . This indicates also that the ( ) of God is realized by us through our subjective experience in the depth of our being. In verse 6, Paul appealed to such an ( ) of the Galatian believers for the supporting of his revelation. This appeal was quite convincing and subduing because it contained not only objective doctrines but also subjective, experiential ( ) . (See Gal. 4:6 note 3)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
We Might Receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith
Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank You for opening Your word to us. In Your word we have seen the light, we have been reproved, and we have also received the life supply. Your word is light.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 3:1-14
Key Verse:
Gal. 3:14 In order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Filling the Blanks:
The physical aspect of the blessing that God promised to Abraham was the ( ) (Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 26:3-4), which was a type of the all-inclusive ( )(see Col. 1:12 and note 2). Since Christ is eventually realized as the all-inclusive life-giving ( ) (1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17), the ( ) of the promised Spirit corresponds with the blessing of the land promised to Abraham. Actually, the Spirit as the realization of Christ in our experience is the good land as the source of God's bountiful supply for us to enjoy.(See Gal.3:14 note 3)
Lord, we thank You for opening Your word to us. In Your word we have seen the light, we have been reproved, and we have also received the life supply. Your word is light.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 3:1-14
Key Verse:
Gal. 3:14 In order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Filling the Blanks:
The physical aspect of the blessing that God promised to Abraham was the ( ) (Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 26:3-4), which was a type of the all-inclusive ( )(see Col. 1:12 and note 2). Since Christ is eventually realized as the all-inclusive life-giving ( ) (1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17), the ( ) of the promised Spirit corresponds with the blessing of the land promised to Abraham. Actually, the Spirit as the realization of Christ in our experience is the good land as the source of God's bountiful supply for us to enjoy.(See Gal.3:14 note 3)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
It Is no Longer I Who Live, but It Is Christ Who Lives in Me
Let's Pray:
Lord, we need You to deliver us from trusting in ourselves. We do not like to have any trust in ourselves. We are fearful of this.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 2:14-21
Key Verse:
Gal. 2:20a I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me;
Filling the Blanks:
In Gal. 2:20 No longer I does not indicate an ( ) life, a life in which Christ comes in and we go out. " As regenerated people, we have both the old "I," which has been ( ) (Rom. 6:6), and a new "I," concerning which Paul said, " ( )live." The old "I" was resurrected and ( ) was added to it. On the one hand, Paul had been ( ) , but on the other hand, a resurrected Paul, one who was regenerated with God as his ( ) , still lived. Furthermore, although Paul said, "No longer I," he also said, "It is Christ who lives in me," for it was ( ) who lived, but it was in ( ) that He lived. The two, Christ and Paul, had one ( ) and one ( ) .(See Gal. 2:20 note 2)
Lord, we need You to deliver us from trusting in ourselves. We do not like to have any trust in ourselves. We are fearful of this.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 2:14-21
Key Verse:
Gal. 2:20a I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me;
Filling the Blanks:
In Gal. 2:20 No longer I does not indicate an ( ) life, a life in which Christ comes in and we go out. " As regenerated people, we have both the old "I," which has been ( ) (Rom. 6:6), and a new "I," concerning which Paul said, " ( )live." The old "I" was resurrected and ( ) was added to it. On the one hand, Paul had been ( ) , but on the other hand, a resurrected Paul, one who was regenerated with God as his ( ) , still lived. Furthermore, although Paul said, "No longer I," he also said, "It is Christ who lives in me," for it was ( ) who lived, but it was in ( ) that He lived. The two, Christ and Paul, had one ( ) and one ( ) .(See Gal. 2:20 note 2)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
God Reveal His Son in Me
Let's Pray:
Lord, we worship You. May You enlighten us, that we would not only know Your church, but would see Yourself, so that You would make home in our hearts.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 1:15-2:13
Key Verse:
Gal. 1:16a To reveal His Son in me that I might announce Him as the gospel among the Gentiles,
Filling the Blanks:
God's heart's desire is to reveal ( ) in us that we may ( ) Him, receive Him as our ( ) (John 17:3; 3:16), and become the sons of God (John 1:12; Gal. 4:5-6). As the ( ) of the living God (Matt. 16:16), He is far superior to Judaism and its traditions (vv. 13-14).
God's revealing of His ( ) to us is in us; it is not outward but inward, not by an outward ( ) but by an inward ( ) . It is not an objective revelation but a subjective one. (See Gal. 1:16 note 2, note 3)
Lord, we worship You. May You enlighten us, that we would not only know Your church, but would see Yourself, so that You would make home in our hearts.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 1:15-2:13
Key Verse:
Gal. 1:16a To reveal His Son in me that I might announce Him as the gospel among the Gentiles,
Filling the Blanks:
God's heart's desire is to reveal ( ) in us that we may ( ) Him, receive Him as our ( ) (John 17:3; 3:16), and become the sons of God (John 1:12; Gal. 4:5-6). As the ( ) of the living God (Matt. 16:16), He is far superior to Judaism and its traditions (vv. 13-14).
God's revealing of His ( ) to us is in us; it is not outward but inward, not by an outward ( ) but by an inward ( ) . It is not an objective revelation but a subjective one. (See Gal. 1:16 note 2, note 3)
Monday, May 11, 2009
Christ Might Rescue Us out of the Present Evil Age
Let's Pray:
O Lord, we pray that You will deliver us from this religious age that we may truly enter into the state which You are after in Your economy.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 1:1-14
Key Verse:
Gal. 1:4 Who gave Himself for our sins that He might rescue us out of the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father.
Filling the Blanks:
The books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians form a cluster of Epistles that make up the ( ) of the divine revelation in the New Testament. The essential subject of these four books is ( ) and the ( ) . Galatians reveals that Christ is versus ( ) with its law; Ephesians reveals the church as the ( ) of Christ; Philippians concerns the ( ) , the living out, of Christ; and Colossians unveils the all-inclusive and all-extensive Christ as the ( ) of the Body.
Here the apostle emphasized that the purpose of Christ's giving Himself for our ( ) was to rescue us, to pluck us, out of the ( ) religion, the present evil ( ) . (See Gal. 1:1 note 1, 4 note 2)
O Lord, we pray that You will deliver us from this religious age that we may truly enter into the state which You are after in Your economy.
Hymn: 475
Today's Verses and Footnotes: Gal. 1:1-14
Key Verse:
Gal. 1:4 Who gave Himself for our sins that He might rescue us out of the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father.
Filling the Blanks:
The books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians form a cluster of Epistles that make up the ( ) of the divine revelation in the New Testament. The essential subject of these four books is ( ) and the ( ) . Galatians reveals that Christ is versus ( ) with its law; Ephesians reveals the church as the ( ) of Christ; Philippians concerns the ( ) , the living out, of Christ; and Colossians unveils the all-inclusive and all-extensive Christ as the ( ) of the Body.
Here the apostle emphasized that the purpose of Christ's giving Himself for our ( ) was to rescue us, to pluck us, out of the ( ) religion, the present evil ( ) . (See Gal. 1:1 note 1, 4 note 2)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Triune God—the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, the victory is Yours, and we enjoy the blessing. Thank You, Lord Jesus. We worship You as we worship the Father. We worship the divine Trinity in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn: 608
What mystery, the Father, Son and Spirit,
In person three, in substance all are one.
How glorious, this God our being enters
To be our all, thru Spirit in the Son!
The Triune God has now become our all!
How wonderful! How glorious!
This Gift divine we never can exhaust!
How excellent! How marvelous!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 13:1-14
Key Verses:
2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Life Supply:
In 2 Cor. 13:14 we have a threefold blessing: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." This threefold blessing involves the Triune God, for here we have the grace of Christ the Son, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
To speak of the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is actually to say that the love is God, that the grace is Christ, and that the fellowship is the Holy Spirit. Thus, we have God the Father as love, we have God the Son as grace, and we have God the Spirit as fellowship. This means that we have the Triune God in a direct way as our enjoyment. What we have is not merely a blessing from Him or by Him.
In the New Testament the real blessing is the Triune God Himself. As we have pointed out, this blessing is threefold, a blessing of grace, love, and fellowship. With love as the source, grace as the course, and fellowship as the transmission, the Triune God reaches us to be our life, our life supply, and our enjoyment. Now in a practical way we can enjoy the Triune God all day long. This is our unique New Testament blessing.
After His resurrection, Christ charged His disciples to disciple the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19), that is, to bring the believing ones into the Triune God, into an organic union with the processed God, who has passed through incarnation, human living, and crucifixion and has entered into resurrection. It is based upon such an organic union that at the conclusion of his second Epistle to the Corinthians the apostle blesses the believers with the blessed Trinity in the participation of the Son's grace with the Father's love through the Spirit's fellowship.
Thus, it is evident that the divine revelation of the trinity of the Godhead in the Holy Word, from Genesis through Revelation, is not for the study of theology, but for the apprehension of how God in His mysterious and marvelous trinity dispenses Himself into His chosen people, that we as His chosen and redeemed people may, as indicated in the apostle's blessing to the Corinthian believers, participate in, experience, enjoy, and possess the processed Triune God now and for eternity. (Life-Study of 2 Corinthians, pp. 523-524,527,529)
Questions:
1. Discuss the Divine Trinity in 2 Cor 13:14.(See 2 Cor 13:14 note 1 paragraph 1)
2. How is the three-fold blessing of the Triune God dispensed into us?(See 2 Cor 13:14 note 1 paragraph 2)
3. What is the meaning of "baptizing all the nations into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"? (See Matt 28:19 note 4, note 6)
Lord, the victory is Yours, and we enjoy the blessing. Thank You, Lord Jesus. We worship You as we worship the Father. We worship the divine Trinity in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn: 608
What mystery, the Father, Son and Spirit,
In person three, in substance all are one.
How glorious, this God our being enters
To be our all, thru Spirit in the Son!
The Triune God has now become our all!
How wonderful! How glorious!
This Gift divine we never can exhaust!
How excellent! How marvelous!
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 13:1-14
Key Verses:
2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Life Supply:
In 2 Cor. 13:14 we have a threefold blessing: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." This threefold blessing involves the Triune God, for here we have the grace of Christ the Son, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
To speak of the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is actually to say that the love is God, that the grace is Christ, and that the fellowship is the Holy Spirit. Thus, we have God the Father as love, we have God the Son as grace, and we have God the Spirit as fellowship. This means that we have the Triune God in a direct way as our enjoyment. What we have is not merely a blessing from Him or by Him.
In the New Testament the real blessing is the Triune God Himself. As we have pointed out, this blessing is threefold, a blessing of grace, love, and fellowship. With love as the source, grace as the course, and fellowship as the transmission, the Triune God reaches us to be our life, our life supply, and our enjoyment. Now in a practical way we can enjoy the Triune God all day long. This is our unique New Testament blessing.
After His resurrection, Christ charged His disciples to disciple the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19), that is, to bring the believing ones into the Triune God, into an organic union with the processed God, who has passed through incarnation, human living, and crucifixion and has entered into resurrection. It is based upon such an organic union that at the conclusion of his second Epistle to the Corinthians the apostle blesses the believers with the blessed Trinity in the participation of the Son's grace with the Father's love through the Spirit's fellowship.
Thus, it is evident that the divine revelation of the trinity of the Godhead in the Holy Word, from Genesis through Revelation, is not for the study of theology, but for the apprehension of how God in His mysterious and marvelous trinity dispenses Himself into His chosen people, that we as His chosen and redeemed people may, as indicated in the apostle's blessing to the Corinthian believers, participate in, experience, enjoy, and possess the processed Triune God now and for eternity. (Life-Study of 2 Corinthians, pp. 523-524,527,529)
Questions:
1. Discuss the Divine Trinity in 2 Cor 13:14.(See 2 Cor 13:14 note 1 paragraph 1)
2. How is the three-fold blessing of the Triune God dispensed into us?(See 2 Cor 13:14 note 1 paragraph 2)
3. What is the meaning of "baptizing all the nations into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"? (See Matt 28:19 note 4, note 6)
Friday, May 8, 2009
He Has Said to Me, My Grace Is Sufficient for You
Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank You for Your mercy and for the blessing under Your mercy. Lord, we thank You for Your abundant grace, which is so sufficient for us.Lord, We thank You.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 12:1-21
Key Verse:
2 Cor 12:9 And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ might tabernacle over me.
Filling the Blanks:
Sufferings and trials are often ( ) by the Lord for us that we may experience Christ as grace and ( ). Hence, in spite of the apostle's entreaty, the Lord would not remove the ( ) from the apostle.
For the sufficiency of the Lord's grace to be magnified, our ( ) are required; for the perfectness of the Lord's power to be shown forth, our ( ) is needed. Hence, the apostle would most gladly boast in his weaknesses that the ( ) of Christ might tabernacle over him. ( ) is the supply, and power is the strength, the ability, of grace. Both are the resurrected ( ), who is now the life-giving Spirit dwelling in us for our enjoyment. (See 2 Cor 12:9 note 1, note 2)
Lord, we thank You for Your mercy and for the blessing under Your mercy. Lord, we thank You for Your abundant grace, which is so sufficient for us.Lord, We thank You.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 12:1-21
Key Verse:
2 Cor 12:9 And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ might tabernacle over me.
Filling the Blanks:
Sufferings and trials are often ( ) by the Lord for us that we may experience Christ as grace and ( ). Hence, in spite of the apostle's entreaty, the Lord would not remove the ( ) from the apostle.
For the sufficiency of the Lord's grace to be magnified, our ( ) are required; for the perfectness of the Lord's power to be shown forth, our ( ) is needed. Hence, the apostle would most gladly boast in his weaknesses that the ( ) of Christ might tabernacle over him. ( ) is the supply, and power is the strength, the ability, of grace. Both are the resurrected ( ), who is now the life-giving Spirit dwelling in us for our enjoyment. (See 2 Cor 12:9 note 1, note 2)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
We Are a Pure Virgin to Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, we are simply here, open before You, waiting on You. Lord, we put this time into Your hands. Lord, break it, bless it, and make it an endless blessing.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 11:1-33
Key Verse:
2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2 Cor 11:3 But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your thoughts would be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity toward Christ.
Filling the Blanks:
In the garden of Eden, ( ), the wife of Adam, was deceived by the serpent, ( ), through his questioning and undermining of God's word, and was thus carried away to the tree of knowledge and distracted from the simplicity of eating the ( ) of ( ). Here the church in Corinth, the (pure) virgin betrothed to Christ, was being deceived by the Judaizers.
Because of this undermining preaching, the apostle was fearful that the Corinthians would be distracted by the teachings of the Judaizers and would be separated from the genuine appreciation, ( ), and enjoyment of the precious ( ) of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as their life and their ( ). (See 2 Cor. 11:3 note 2)
Lord, we are simply here, open before You, waiting on You. Lord, we put this time into Your hands. Lord, break it, bless it, and make it an endless blessing.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 11:1-33
Key Verse:
2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2 Cor 11:3 But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your thoughts would be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity toward Christ.
Filling the Blanks:
In the garden of Eden, ( ), the wife of Adam, was deceived by the serpent, ( ), through his questioning and undermining of God's word, and was thus carried away to the tree of knowledge and distracted from the simplicity of eating the ( ) of ( ). Here the church in Corinth, the (pure) virgin betrothed to Christ, was being deceived by the Judaizers.
Because of this undermining preaching, the apostle was fearful that the Corinthians would be distracted by the teachings of the Judaizers and would be separated from the genuine appreciation, ( ), and enjoyment of the precious ( ) of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as their life and their ( ). (See 2 Cor. 11:3 note 2)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Weapons of Our Warfare Are Powerful before God
Let's Pray:
Lord, we can do nothing, we can have nothing, and we can be nothing. Lord, this is what we are. But we trust in You. You are everything to us.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 10:1-18
Key Verse:
2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful before God for the overthrowing of stonghold.
Filling the Blanks:
Since spiritual warfare is not against ( ) but against spiritual forces (Eph. 6:12), the weapons should not be fleshly but ( ). Such weapons are powerful to overthrow the ( ) of the enemy. (See 2 Cor 10:4 note 1)
Lord, we can do nothing, we can have nothing, and we can be nothing. Lord, this is what we are. But we trust in You. You are everything to us.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 10:1-18
Key Verse:
2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful before God for the overthrowing of stonghold.
Filling the Blanks:
Since spiritual warfare is not against ( ) but against spiritual forces (Eph. 6:12), the weapons should not be fleshly but ( ). Such weapons are powerful to overthrow the ( ) of the enemy. (See 2 Cor 10:4 note 1)
Monday, May 4, 2009
God Will Supply and Multiply Our Seed
Let's Pray:
O, Lord Jesus, 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: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 8:16-9:15
Key Verse:
2 Cor 9:10 Now He who bountifully supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and cause the fruits of your righteousness to increase.
Filling the Blanks:
God cares for His children and ( ) them in two ways: in the way of miracles, as shown by the ( ), and in the way of natural law, as shown by ( ) and reaping. Concerning both of these means of supply, ( ) is the source. He is the One who sends the manna, and He is the One who ( ) the seed for sowing and the bread for food. Having a deep realization of these facts and possessing a thorough knowledge of God's economy, the apostle had the ( ) and the ( ) to encourage the impoverished saints in Macedonia (8:2; 9:2) to give of what they had to meet the needs of others. (See 2 Cor 9:10 note 1)
O, Lord Jesus, 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: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 8:16-9:15
Key Verse:
2 Cor 9:10 Now He who bountifully supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and cause the fruits of your righteousness to increase.
Filling the Blanks:
God cares for His children and ( ) them in two ways: in the way of miracles, as shown by the ( ), and in the way of natural law, as shown by ( ) and reaping. Concerning both of these means of supply, ( ) is the source. He is the One who sends the manna, and He is the One who ( ) the seed for sowing and the bread for food. Having a deep realization of these facts and possessing a thorough knowledge of God's economy, the apostle had the ( ) and the ( ) to encourage the impoverished saints in Macedonia (8:2; 9:2) to give of what they had to meet the needs of others. (See 2 Cor 9:10 note 1)
We Abound in This Grace Also
Let's Pray:
Lord, We look to You for Your rich mercy and Your abounding grace. Besides this, we have no way. O Lord, we are a group of pitiful ones who gather at Your feet waiting for Your mercy.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 7:8-8:15
Key Verse:
2 Cor 8: But just as you abound in everything, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love in you from us, abound in this grace also.
Filling the Blanks
The act of love shown in the giving of material things to the ( ) saints. The believers' grace was the issue of God's grace, which was motivating them. In the fellowship concerning the ministry to the saints, the apostle referred to the grace of ( ) parties: (1) the grace of ( ), which was given to the Macedonian believers to motivate them and enable them to give with (liberality); (2) the grace of the ( ), which allowed the believers to participate in the ministry to the needy saints; (3) the grace of the ( ), which was their ministering of material things to the needy ones ; and (4) the grace of ( ), that He became ( ) that we might become ( ). (See 2 Cor 8:7 note 5)
Lord, We look to You for Your rich mercy and Your abounding grace. Besides this, we have no way. O Lord, we are a group of pitiful ones who gather at Your feet waiting for Your mercy.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 7:8-8:15
Key Verse:
2 Cor 8: But just as you abound in everything, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love in you from us, abound in this grace also.
Filling the Blanks
The act of love shown in the giving of material things to the ( ) saints. The believers' grace was the issue of God's grace, which was motivating them. In the fellowship concerning the ministry to the saints, the apostle referred to the grace of ( ) parties: (1) the grace of ( ), which was given to the Macedonian believers to motivate them and enable them to give with (liberality); (2) the grace of the ( ), which allowed the believers to participate in the ministry to the needy saints; (3) the grace of the ( ), which was their ministering of material things to the needy ones ; and (4) the grace of ( ), that He became ( ) that we might become ( ). (See 2 Cor 8:7 note 5)
Do Not Become Dissimilarly Yoked with Unbelievers
Let's Pray:
O Lord, forgive us. We are still quite contaminated. We need Your cleansing. Forgive us and cleanse us that we might be kept in the fellowship with You.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 6:1-7:7
Key Verse:
2 Cor 6:14 Do not become dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Filling the Blanks
In 2 Cor. 6:14, Dissimilarly means diversely, implying a difference in ( ). This refers to Deut. 22:10, which forbids the ( ) together of two dissimilar animals. Believers and unbelievers are diverse peoples. Because of their divine nature and holy ( ), the believers should not be yoked together with the unbelievers. This should be applied to all intimate relationships between believers and unbelievers, not only to ( ) and business.
Hence, the apostle exhorted them not to be ( ) yoked with unbelievers but to be ( ) that they might be fully reconciled, brought back, to God. (See 2 Cor 6:14 note 2)
O Lord, forgive us. We are still quite contaminated. We need Your cleansing. Forgive us and cleanse us that we might be kept in the fellowship with You.
Hymn: 608
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 6:1-7:7
Key Verse:
2 Cor 6:14 Do not become dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Filling the Blanks
In 2 Cor. 6:14, Dissimilarly means diversely, implying a difference in ( ). This refers to Deut. 22:10, which forbids the ( ) together of two dissimilar animals. Believers and unbelievers are diverse peoples. Because of their divine nature and holy ( ), the believers should not be yoked together with the unbelievers. This should be applied to all intimate relationships between believers and unbelievers, not only to ( ) and business.
Hence, the apostle exhorted them not to be ( ) yoked with unbelievers but to be ( ) that they might be fully reconciled, brought back, to God. (See 2 Cor 6:14 note 2)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Consecration
Let's Pray:
Lord, do cover us with Your prevailing blood. We want to be new persons. Lord, grant us mercy and grace that we all may be willing to renew our consecration to You.
Hymn: 445
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impluse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 5:9-21
Key Verses:
1 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us because we have judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died;
2 Cor 5:15 And He died for all that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.
Life Supply:
In 2 Cor. 5:14 Paul goes on to say, "For the love of Christ constrains us." Once again the word "for" indicates a connection, a continuation. We are ambitious to please the Lord, for His love is constraining us. The love of Christ in verse 14 is the love which was manifested on the cross through His death for us.
The Greek word rendered constrains literally means presses on from all sides, holding to one end, forcibly limiting, confining to one object within certain bounds, shutting up to one line and purpose, as in a narrow, walled road. The same Greek word is used in Luke 4:38; 12:50; Acts 18:5; and Philippians 1:23. In such a way the apostles were constrained by the love of Christ to live to Him and to be well-pleasing to Him.
We have seen that to be constrained means to be pressed from all sides and held to one end. When we are constrained, we are limited, as if walking on a narrow, walled road, and forced to go in a certain direction. Although we love the Lord, we are not always willing to take His way. Without being walled in by Him, we probably would have escaped from Christ and the church. But the love of Christ constrains us; it presses us from every side and holds us to one goal. We have no other way. There is no other way for us to take. Actually, this is not our choice. If the choice had truly been ours, we all would probably be somewhere else today. No, it is not up to us to make the choice; it is the love of Christ that constrains us.
According to 5:14 and 15, the love of Christ constrains us to live to Him. Verse 15 says, "And He died on behalf of all, that those who live may no longer live to themselves, but to Him Who died for them and has been raised."
If we would live to the Lord, we must deny our outward man. The outward man is the flesh. When we live to Christ, we do not live by our outward man, by our flesh. This means that living to Christ requires that we live by our inward man, by our regenerated spirit. (Life-Study of 2 Corinthians, pp.317-318,319-320)
Questions:
1. Why should we consecrate ourselves to the Lord? (See 2 Cor 5:14 note 1, 2)
2. What is the meaning of consecration? (See 2 Cor 5:15 note 2)
3. How do we experience "our inner man...being renewed day by day"? (See 2 Cor 4:16 note 3)
Lord, do cover us with Your prevailing blood. We want to be new persons. Lord, grant us mercy and grace that we all may be willing to renew our consecration to You.
Hymn: 445
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impluse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 5:9-21
Key Verses:
1 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us because we have judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died;
2 Cor 5:15 And He died for all that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.
Life Supply:
In 2 Cor. 5:14 Paul goes on to say, "For the love of Christ constrains us." Once again the word "for" indicates a connection, a continuation. We are ambitious to please the Lord, for His love is constraining us. The love of Christ in verse 14 is the love which was manifested on the cross through His death for us.
The Greek word rendered constrains literally means presses on from all sides, holding to one end, forcibly limiting, confining to one object within certain bounds, shutting up to one line and purpose, as in a narrow, walled road. The same Greek word is used in Luke 4:38; 12:50; Acts 18:5; and Philippians 1:23. In such a way the apostles were constrained by the love of Christ to live to Him and to be well-pleasing to Him.
We have seen that to be constrained means to be pressed from all sides and held to one end. When we are constrained, we are limited, as if walking on a narrow, walled road, and forced to go in a certain direction. Although we love the Lord, we are not always willing to take His way. Without being walled in by Him, we probably would have escaped from Christ and the church. But the love of Christ constrains us; it presses us from every side and holds us to one goal. We have no other way. There is no other way for us to take. Actually, this is not our choice. If the choice had truly been ours, we all would probably be somewhere else today. No, it is not up to us to make the choice; it is the love of Christ that constrains us.
According to 5:14 and 15, the love of Christ constrains us to live to Him. Verse 15 says, "And He died on behalf of all, that those who live may no longer live to themselves, but to Him Who died for them and has been raised."
If we would live to the Lord, we must deny our outward man. The outward man is the flesh. When we live to Christ, we do not live by our outward man, by our flesh. This means that living to Christ requires that we live by our inward man, by our regenerated spirit. (Life-Study of 2 Corinthians, pp.317-318,319-320)
Questions:
1. Why should we consecrate ourselves to the Lord? (See 2 Cor 5:14 note 1, 2)
2. What is the meaning of consecration? (See 2 Cor 5:15 note 2)
3. How do we experience "our inner man...being renewed day by day"? (See 2 Cor 4:16 note 3)
Our Inner Man Is Being Renewed Day by Day
Let's Pray:
Lord, take away all the veils. We need to see something that is deep within You. We do not want knowledge; We desire to touch Yourself as the life-giving,transforming Spirit.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 4:13-5:8
Key Verse:
2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
Filling the Blanks
As our mortal ( ), our outer man, is being consumed by the killing work of death, our inner man, that is, our regenerated ( ) with the inward parts of our being (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10; Rom. 7:22, 25), is being ( ) renewed day by day with the ( ) of the resurrection life. (See 2 Cor 4:16 note 3)
Lord, take away all the veils. We need to see something that is deep within You. We do not want knowledge; We desire to touch Yourself as the life-giving,transforming Spirit.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 4:13-5:8
Key Verse:
2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
Filling the Blanks
As our mortal ( ), our outer man, is being consumed by the killing work of death, our inner man, that is, our regenerated ( ) with the inward parts of our being (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10; Rom. 7:22, 25), is being ( ) renewed day by day with the ( ) of the resurrection life. (See 2 Cor 4:16 note 3)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
We Have This Treasure in Earthen Vessels
Let's Pray:
We pray that You would not only speak to us but also dispense Yourself into us through Your rich word. We want to gain You and have Your element added into us.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 4:1-12
Key Verse:
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us.
Filling the Blanks:
In the apostles' speaking concerning their ministry for God's new covenant, ( ) very significant and expressive metaphors were used to illustrate how they, as the ( ) of the new covenant, and their ministry were constituted, how they behaved and lived, and how their ministry was carried out:(1) ( ) in a triumphal procession for the celebration of Christ's victory; (2) Incense-bearers to scatter the ( ) of Christ; (3) ( ) written with Christ as the content; (4) ( ) beholding and reflecting the glory of Christ in order to be transformed into His glorious image; (5) ( ) vessels to contain the Christ of glory as the excellent treasure . These vessels are like today's camera, into which Christ the figure enters through the flash of God's shining. (See 2 Cor 4:7 note 1)
We pray that You would not only speak to us but also dispense Yourself into us through Your rich word. We want to gain You and have Your element added into us.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 4:1-12
Key Verse:
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us.
Filling the Blanks:
In the apostles' speaking concerning their ministry for God's new covenant, ( ) very significant and expressive metaphors were used to illustrate how they, as the ( ) of the new covenant, and their ministry were constituted, how they behaved and lived, and how their ministry was carried out:(1) ( ) in a triumphal procession for the celebration of Christ's victory; (2) Incense-bearers to scatter the ( ) of Christ; (3) ( ) written with Christ as the content; (4) ( ) beholding and reflecting the glory of Christ in order to be transformed into His glorious image; (5) ( ) vessels to contain the Christ of glory as the excellent treasure . These vessels are like today's camera, into which Christ the figure enters through the flash of God's shining. (See 2 Cor 4:7 note 1)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Ultimate Goal of God's Economy
Let's Pray:
Lord, we worship You that You are the Word and this Word is the Spirit. When the reality of this Spirit enters into us to makes us God in life and nature, but not in Godhead. Lord,Thank you.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 3:7-18
Key Verse:
2 Cor 3:18 But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
When we with unveiled face are beholding and reflecting the ( ) of the Lord, He ( ) us with the elements of what He is and what He has done. Thus we are being transformed ( ) to have His life ( ) by His life ( ) with His life ( ). (See 2 Cor 3:18 note 7)
Lord, we worship You that You are the Word and this Word is the Spirit. When the reality of this Spirit enters into us to makes us God in life and nature, but not in Godhead. Lord,Thank you.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 3:7-18
Key Verse:
2 Cor 3:18 But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
When we with unveiled face are beholding and reflecting the ( ) of the Lord, He ( ) us with the elements of what He is and what He has done. Thus we are being transformed ( ) to have His life ( ) by His life ( ) with His life ( ). (See 2 Cor 3:18 note 7)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Letter Kills, but the Spirit Gives Life
Let's Pray:
Lord, we extol You again, acknowledging that You are the One who gives the Spirit, the bountiful Spirit, life-giving Spirit, the indwelling Spirit, not by measure. Oh, this really meets our need!
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 2:12-3:6
Key Verse:
2 Cor 3:6 Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Filling the Blanks:
The Spirit of the living God, with whom the apostles ministered ( ) into the believers to make them the ( ) letters of Christ . Unlike the Mosaic ministry for the Old Testament, the apostolic ministry for the New Testament is not of dead ( ) but of the living ( ), who gives life. (See 2 Cor 3:6 note 2)
Lord, we extol You again, acknowledging that You are the One who gives the Spirit, the bountiful Spirit, life-giving Spirit, the indwelling Spirit, not by measure. Oh, this really meets our need!
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 2:12-3:6
Key Verse:
2 Cor 3:6 Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Filling the Blanks:
The Spirit of the living God, with whom the apostles ministered ( ) into the believers to make them the ( ) letters of Christ . Unlike the Mosaic ministry for the Old Testament, the apostolic ministry for the New Testament is not of dead ( ) but of the living ( ), who gives life. (See 2 Cor 3:6 note 2)
Friday, April 24, 2009
God Firmly Attaches Us with You unto Christ
Let's Pray:
Lord, be one spirit with us, and speak to us that we would see this organic union. Release the riches in Your word in a most definite way that all of us would enjoy Your sweetness.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 1:15-2:11
Key Verse:
2 Cor 1:21 But the One who firmly attaches us with you unto Christ and has anointed us is God.
Filling the Blanks:
God establishes the apostles with the believers in ( ). This means that God firmly attaches the apostles together with the ( ) unto Christ, the anointed One. Hence, the apostles and the believers are one not only with Christ, the anointed One, but also with one ( ), sharing the ( ) that Christ has received of God.(See 2 Cor 1:21 note 2)
The apostles with the believers have been attached to Christ, the ( )One. This shows that the apostles ranked themselves with the believers in being attached to Christ by the ( ) Spirit, not considering themselves a special group separate from the believers in God's all-inclusive ( ).(See 2 Cor 1:21 note 3)
Lord, be one spirit with us, and speak to us that we would see this organic union. Release the riches in Your word in a most definite way that all of us would enjoy Your sweetness.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 1:15-2:11
Key Verse:
2 Cor 1:21 But the One who firmly attaches us with you unto Christ and has anointed us is God.
Filling the Blanks:
God establishes the apostles with the believers in ( ). This means that God firmly attaches the apostles together with the ( ) unto Christ, the anointed One. Hence, the apostles and the believers are one not only with Christ, the anointed One, but also with one ( ), sharing the ( ) that Christ has received of God.(See 2 Cor 1:21 note 2)
The apostles with the believers have been attached to Christ, the ( )One. This shows that the apostles ranked themselves with the believers in being attached to Christ by the ( ) Spirit, not considering themselves a special group separate from the believers in God's all-inclusive ( ).(See 2 Cor 1:21 note 3)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
He Comforts Us in All Our Affliction
Let's Pray:
O Lord Jesus, we need You once again to forgive us, cleanse us, and anoint us in a rich way. Nourish us abundantly. May we be cared for, healed, comforted, and uplifted.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 1:1-14
Key Verse:
2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort;
2 Cor 1:4 Who comforts us in all our affliction that we may be able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Filling the Blanks:
Comfort implies being cheered. A title such asthe Father of compassions and God of all comfort is ascribed here to God because this Epistle is one of ( ) and encouragement, written by the apostle after he had been comforted and encouraged by the ( ) of the Corinthian believers. The rebuking and condemning in the first Epistle to the Corinthians were intended to cause the Corinthian believers to turn( ) to and stress Christ; the comfort and encouragement in this Epistle were intended to bring them to ( ) and enjoy Christ. (See 2 Cor 1:3 note 2)
O Lord Jesus, we need You once again to forgive us, cleanse us, and anoint us in a rich way. Nourish us abundantly. May we be cared for, healed, comforted, and uplifted.
Hymn: 445
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 2 Cor 1:1-14
Key Verse:
2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort;
2 Cor 1:4 Who comforts us in all our affliction that we may be able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Filling the Blanks:
Comfort implies being cheered. A title such asthe Father of compassions and God of all comfort is ascribed here to God because this Epistle is one of ( ) and encouragement, written by the apostle after he had been comforted and encouraged by the ( ) of the Corinthian believers. The rebuking and condemning in the first Epistle to the Corinthians were intended to cause the Corinthian believers to turn( ) to and stress Christ; the comfort and encouragement in this Epistle were intended to bring them to ( ) and enjoy Christ. (See 2 Cor 1:3 note 2)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
One Man Speaking or All Prophesying?
Let's Pray:
Lord, open the secrets of Your Word so that we may learn how to prophesy that the churches may be built up. We desire to see the defeat of the enemy. even crush him under our feet.
Hymn: 864
Whene'er we meet with Christ endured,
The surplus of His plentitude
We offer unto God as food,
And thus exhibit Christ.
Let us exhibit Christ,
Let us exhibit Christ;
We'll bring His surplus to the church
And thus exhibit Christ.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 16:1-24
Key Verses:
1 Cor 14:26 What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
1 Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
Life Supply:
In addition to calling on the name of the Lord, those in the early church did a great deal of speaking about the Lord Jesus. They spoke about Him to one another and to the unbelievers. Their speaking was a way of prophesying, the kind of prophesying emphasized in the New Testament. Unlike the prophets in the Old Testament, those who believe in Christ do not need to wait for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon them in order to prophesy. From the time we first called on the name of the Lord, Christ as the living Spirit has been in our spirit. For this reason, Paul could say, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit” (6:17). How marvelous that the Spirit is mingled with our spirit! Furthermore, this spirit is subject to us (14:32). Because our spirit is subject to us, there is no longer the need to wait for the Spirit to come upon us. Instead, we simply need to exercise our spirit. Surely the Christians in the beginning of the church life exercised their spirit to speak to one another and to unbelievers on behalf of the Lord.
Whenever we gather together in the meetings of the church, we should exhibit what we daily enjoy of the Lord. In an exhibition people manifest or display something they have or have produced. It is possible to exhibit only what we have, not what we do not have. The proper Christian meeting should be an exhibition of our Christian life. It should be a display of the riches of Christ we experience in our daily walk. If we exercise our spirit to contact the Lord daily, then in the church meetings we shall have something of Christ to share with the saints.
I have the full assurance that the Lord intends to recover our intimate daily contact with Himself and our living by Him. In particular, I expect the Lord to gain the young people in this regard because they are less under the influence of tradition. Let us all rise up to repudiate traditional Christianity. If we repudiate the religious traditions and care only for the living Christ, we shall have a proper spirit, a spirit of power, love, and a sober mind. Then in the meetings we shall bubble over with the Spirit. The more we speak of the Lord, the more we shall have to say. (Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, pp.576-577, 582)
Questions:
1. What is the most important matter in the church meeting? (See 1 Cor 14:1 note 3)
2. How should we prepare for the church meeting? (See 1 Cor 14:26 note 1)
3. Can we all prophesy? (See 1 Cor 14:31 note 1)
Lord, open the secrets of Your Word so that we may learn how to prophesy that the churches may be built up. We desire to see the defeat of the enemy. even crush him under our feet.
Hymn: 864
Whene'er we meet with Christ endured,
The surplus of His plentitude
We offer unto God as food,
And thus exhibit Christ.
Let us exhibit Christ,
Let us exhibit Christ;
We'll bring His surplus to the church
And thus exhibit Christ.
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 16:1-24
Key Verses:
1 Cor 14:26 What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
1 Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
Life Supply:
In addition to calling on the name of the Lord, those in the early church did a great deal of speaking about the Lord Jesus. They spoke about Him to one another and to the unbelievers. Their speaking was a way of prophesying, the kind of prophesying emphasized in the New Testament. Unlike the prophets in the Old Testament, those who believe in Christ do not need to wait for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon them in order to prophesy. From the time we first called on the name of the Lord, Christ as the living Spirit has been in our spirit. For this reason, Paul could say, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit” (6:17). How marvelous that the Spirit is mingled with our spirit! Furthermore, this spirit is subject to us (14:32). Because our spirit is subject to us, there is no longer the need to wait for the Spirit to come upon us. Instead, we simply need to exercise our spirit. Surely the Christians in the beginning of the church life exercised their spirit to speak to one another and to unbelievers on behalf of the Lord.
Whenever we gather together in the meetings of the church, we should exhibit what we daily enjoy of the Lord. In an exhibition people manifest or display something they have or have produced. It is possible to exhibit only what we have, not what we do not have. The proper Christian meeting should be an exhibition of our Christian life. It should be a display of the riches of Christ we experience in our daily walk. If we exercise our spirit to contact the Lord daily, then in the church meetings we shall have something of Christ to share with the saints.
I have the full assurance that the Lord intends to recover our intimate daily contact with Himself and our living by Him. In particular, I expect the Lord to gain the young people in this regard because they are less under the influence of tradition. Let us all rise up to repudiate traditional Christianity. If we repudiate the religious traditions and care only for the living Christ, we shall have a proper spirit, a spirit of power, love, and a sober mind. Then in the meetings we shall bubble over with the Spirit. The more we speak of the Lord, the more we shall have to say. (Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, pp.576-577, 582)
Questions:
1. What is the most important matter in the church meeting? (See 1 Cor 14:1 note 3)
2. How should we prepare for the church meeting? (See 1 Cor 14:26 note 1)
3. Can we all prophesy? (See 1 Cor 14:31 note 1)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Last Adam Became a Life-giving Spirit
Let's Pray:
Lord, how we thank You that we can come to You through Your Word and Your Spirit. We thank You that today You are so much to us. You are the Spirit who gives life.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 15:35 -58
Key Verse:
1 Cor 15:45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul''; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
Through creation Adam became a living ( ) with a soulish ( ). Through resurrection Christ became a life-giving ( ) with a ( ) body. Now He is a life-giving Spirit in resurrection, with a spiritual body, ready to be ( ) by His believers. When we believe into Him, He enters our spirit, and we are joined to Him as the life-giving ( ). Hence, we become one ( ) with Him (6:17). Our spirit is made ( ) and is resurrected with Him. Eventually, our present soulish body will become a ( ) body in resurrection, just like His. (See 1 Cor 15:45 note 1)
Lord, how we thank You that we can come to You through Your Word and Your Spirit. We thank You that today You are so much to us. You are the Spirit who gives life.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 15:35 -58
Key Verse:
1 Cor 15:45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul''; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.
Filling the Blanks:
Through creation Adam became a living ( ) with a soulish ( ). Through resurrection Christ became a life-giving ( ) with a ( ) body. Now He is a life-giving Spirit in resurrection, with a spiritual body, ready to be ( ) by His believers. When we believe into Him, He enters our spirit, and we are joined to Him as the life-giving ( ). Hence, we become one ( ) with Him (6:17). Our spirit is made ( ) and is resurrected with Him. Eventually, our present soulish body will become a ( ) body in resurrection, just like His. (See 1 Cor 15:45 note 1)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Christ Has Been Resurrected, We Also Will Be Resurrected
Let's Pray:
Lord, we are open to You and are ready to receive You and Your word. We want to know Your resurrection in the spirit. Be one spirit with us so that we can be one spirit with You.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 15:20-34
Key Verse:
1 Cor 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Filling the Blanks:
( ) was the first One raised from among the dead, becoming the firstfruits of resurrection ... Christ as the firstfruits of resurrection is the ( ) from among the dead that He might be the ( ) of the Body (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:20-23). Since He, the ( ) of the Body, has been resurrected, we, the ( ), also will be resurrected. (See 1 Cor 15:20 note 2)
Lord, we are open to You and are ready to receive You and Your word. We want to know Your resurrection in the spirit. Be one spirit with us so that we can be one spirit with You.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 15:20-34
Key Verse:
1 Cor 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Filling the Blanks:
( ) was the first One raised from among the dead, becoming the firstfruits of resurrection ... Christ as the firstfruits of resurrection is the ( ) from among the dead that He might be the ( ) of the Body (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:20-23). Since He, the ( ) of the Body, has been resurrected, we, the ( ), also will be resurrected. (See 1 Cor 15:20 note 2)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Not I But the Grace of God Which Is with Me
Let's Pray:
Give us the word of grace to speak Your grace. And we know the reality of this grace as the processed and consummated Triune God is the all-inclusive Spirit as God¡¯s consummation.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 14:34-15:19
Key Verse:
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain, but, on the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God which is with me.
Filling the Blanks:
Not I but the grace of God equals no longer I ...but ...( ) in Gal. 2:20. The grace that motivated the apostle and operated in him was not some matter or some thing but a living person, the resurrected ( ), the embodiment of God the Father who became the all-inclusive life-giving ( ), who dwelt in the apostle as his ( ). (See 1 Cor 15:10 note 2)
Give us the word of grace to speak Your grace. And we know the reality of this grace as the processed and consummated Triune God is the all-inclusive Spirit as God¡¯s consummation.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 14:34-15:19
Key Verse:
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain, but, on the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God which is with me.
Filling the Blanks:
Not I but the grace of God equals no longer I ...but ...( ) in Gal. 2:20. The grace that motivated the apostle and operated in him was not some matter or some thing but a living person, the resurrected ( ), the embodiment of God the Father who became the all-inclusive life-giving ( ), who dwelt in the apostle as his ( ). (See 1 Cor 15:10 note 2)
Saturday, April 18, 2009
You Can All Prophesy One by One
Let's Pray:
Lord, we do not like to have a doctrine or teaching in dead letters. We are here for touching You deeply in the depths of Your word. We desire to go down to the bottom to see You.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 14:13-33
Key Verse:
1 Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
Filling the Blanks:
This is like the Feast of ( ) in ancient times. The children of Israel brought the produce of the ( ), which they had reaped from their labor on the land, to the feast and offered it to the Lord for His enjoyment and for their mutual participation in fellowship with the Lord and with one another. We must labor on ( ), our good land, that we may reap some produce of His riches to bring to the church ( ) and offer. Thus the meeting will be an exhibition of ( ) in His riches and will be a mutual enjoyment of ( ) shared by all the attendants before God and with God for the ( ) up of the saints and the church. (See 1 Cor 14:26 note 1)
Lord, we do not like to have a doctrine or teaching in dead letters. We are here for touching You deeply in the depths of Your word. We desire to go down to the bottom to see You.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 14:13-33
Key Verse:
1 Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
Filling the Blanks:
This is like the Feast of ( ) in ancient times. The children of Israel brought the produce of the ( ), which they had reaped from their labor on the land, to the feast and offered it to the Lord for His enjoyment and for their mutual participation in fellowship with the Lord and with one another. We must labor on ( ), our good land, that we may reap some produce of His riches to bring to the church ( ) and offer. Thus the meeting will be an exhibition of ( ) in His riches and will be a mutual enjoyment of ( ) shared by all the attendants before God and with God for the ( ) up of the saints and the church. (See 1 Cor 14:26 note 1)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Desire Especially That We May Prophesy
Let's Pray:
Lord, open the secrets of Your Word so that we may learn how to prophesy that the churches may be built up. We desire to see the defeat of the enemy. even crush him under our feet.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 13:1-14:12
Key Verse:
1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Filling the Blanks:
Since to prophesy is to speak for the ( ) and speak forth the ( ), that is, to minister ( ) to people, which is the main element in the church ( ), prophesying requires the divine ( ) to fill it as its content. (See 1 Cor 14:1 note 3)
Lord, open the secrets of Your Word so that we may learn how to prophesy that the churches may be built up. We desire to see the defeat of the enemy. even crush him under our feet.
Hymn: 864
Today's Verses and Footnotes: 1 Cor 13:1-14:12
Key Verse:
1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Filling the Blanks:
Since to prophesy is to speak for the ( ) and speak forth the ( ), that is, to minister ( ) to people, which is the main element in the church ( ), prophesying requires the divine ( ) to fill it as its content. (See 1 Cor 14:1 note 3)
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