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)
Friday, May 29, 2009
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)
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