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)
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