Service for the Building Up of the Church
Message Two
Serving with a Vision, according to Revelation,
and in the Body for the Building Up of the House of God
Opening Word of the Prophesying Meeting
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
…Neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation by Jesus Christ—Gal. 1:12
For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, So we who are many are one Body in Christ, and individually members one of another—Rom. 12:4-5
Word of Appetizer
After Saul fell, he asked two questions. First, he asked, “Who are You, Lord?” Second, he asked: “What shall I do, Lord?” What is the significance?
The first question relates to knowing the Lord; the second relates to receiving the Lord’s vision.
The way of Paul’s preaching came from the heavenly vision, and the content of his preaching came from revelation; his way was heavenly, and his content was the living Christ Himself.
Spiritual Burden
We need a vision for the way of service and a revelation for the life of service.
It is crucial for us to realize that we cannot serve without the Body. The entire Christian serving is a service carried out in the Body.
We must not focus on anything other than the work of God to build His house.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
Our service to God must be with a vision and according to revelation. Vision and revelation are the way and the life of service.
As believers in Christ, we are members of the Body of Christ, and we serve God in the Body.
Our service is for the building up of the house of God. God wants saved and edified believers to be coordinated and built together as His dwelling place.
The Experience of Life
We (the believers) are members one of another and are coordinated in one Body. To know the Body of Christ is to realize that we are only members and that we cannot do anything without others. If we have seen the Body, we will no longer be divisive, we will not be individualistic or independent, and we will be willing to be blended, without any complaining, murmuring, or criticism but with love, forgiveness, sympathy, forbearance, and longsuffering.
Practice and Application
When we serve the Lord, we should serve in the position of a member, in coordination with others.
We need to care for the building up of God’s house. If we want to be Christians who match God’s desire and meet His need in this age, we cannot be trapped in ourselves; we must come out of ourselves to care for God’s need.
Using Key Verses to Have a Bird’s-Eye View over the Whole Outline
Key Verses (1)
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision—Acts 26:19
To reveal His Son in me that I might announce Him as the gospel among the Gentiles, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood—Gal. 1:16
I. Our Service to God Must Be with a Vision and according to Revelation
• Before Paul encountered the great light on the road to Damascus, he had tradition, knowledge of religion, and zeal but no vision or revelation.
• Service according to revelation involves meeting God, being shined on by God, receiving revelation from God, and being burdened in spirit by God.
• Vision and revelation are the way and the life of service; the way to serve God comes from the vision, and the life to serve God comes from revelation.
Key Verses (2)
For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we who are many are one Body in Christ, and individually members one of another—Rom. 12:4-5
Do not be slothful in zeal, but be burning in spirit, serving the Lord—Rom. 12: 11
II. We Are Members of the Body of Christ, and We Serve God in the Body
• According to the New Testament, the believers are members one of another and are coordinated in one Body.
• We need to be clear that we need the Body; it is crucial for us to realize that we cannot serve without the Body or have spiritual life outside the Body; the entire Christian living is a living in the Body, and the entire Christian serving is a service carried out in the Body.
• If we have seen the Body, we will no longer be divisive, we will not be individualistic, and we will be willing to be blended, it is with such a Body life that there is a real impact in our service.
Key Verses (3)
In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit—Eph. 2:21-22
His disciples remembered that it was written, “The zeal of Your house shall devour Me.” —John 2:17
III. Our Service Is for the Building Up of the House of God
• God wants saved and edified believers to be coordinated and built together as His dwelling place; leading people to be saved and leading believers to grow in life are merely procedures; God’s ultimate goal is the building up of His house.
• When the Lord Jesus was on earth, the center of His work was to build a house for God; hence, He was devoured by the zeal of God’s house; we must come out of ourselves to care for God’s need; we must care for the building up of His house.
Prophesying Topics—Twelve Topics per Week
D1
T1 Our service to God must be with a vision and according to revelation. (Acts 26:19; Gal. 1:12)
(Please illustrate that Paul’s service and work came from a vision.) (Refer to Outline I. A. 1-5)
T2 It is possible to zealously serve God under Satan’s influence. (John 16:2)
(Please illustrate that our service to God can be used as an instrument of Satan to destroy God’s move.)
D2
T1 When the Lord called Saul, He flashed a light around him. (Acts 9:3-4)
(What are the two questions that Paul asked after Saul fell?)
T2 Service according the revelation and natural service (Gal. 2:1-2) (Refer to Outline I. B. 1-3)
(Please illustrate that our service to God may be according to revelation, or it may be natural.)
D3
T1 Vision and revelation are the way and the life of service. (Acts 26:19; Gal. 1:16)
(Please illustrate that the way to serve God comes from the vision, and the life to serve God comes from revelation.)
T2 Serve God in the body (Rom. 12:4-5)
(Please illustrate that the entire Christian serving is a service carried out in the Body.)
D4
T1 The Christian service is not something individual; it is something corporate. (Rom. 12:1) (Refer to Outline II. A, B, C)
(Please illustrate that The Christian service is something of the Body, in the Body, with the Body, and for the Body.)
T2 With respect to serving in the Body, the emphasis is on the coordination in service. (1 Cor. 12:12)
(Please illustrate that we should serve in the position of a member, in coordination with others.) (Refer to Outline II. B, D-F)
D5
T1 Our service is for the building up of the house of God. (Eph. 2:21-22)
(Please illustrate that we preach the gospel in order to save sinners and lead the new believers to be spiritual for the building up of His house.)
T2 God’s desire is to have a house; this is His purpose. (Eph. 2:21-22)
(Please illustrate that God wants saved and edified believers to be coordinated and built together as His dwelling place.)
D6
T1 We need to care for the building up of God’s house. (John 2:17; 2 Cor. 11:28)
(Please illustrate how the Lord Jesus and the apostles cared for the building of God’s house when they worked on earth.)
T2 The difference between man’s need and God’s need. (Phil. 2:21)
(Please illustrate that our need simply reflects God’s need.) (Refer to Outline III. B. 3-5)
