Living in the Reality of the Body of Christ by Keeping the Principles of the Body
Message Three
Experiencing the Work of the Cross for the Body and Living in the Unique Fellowship of the Body
Opening Word of the Prophesying Meeting
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Rom.6:6 Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves;
1 Cor.2:2 For I did not determine to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and this One crucified.
1 Cor.10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ? Seeing that there is one bread, we who are many are one Body; for we all partake of the one bread.
Word of Appetizer
Why if we would live in the reality of the Body of Christ, we need to experience the work of the cross for the Body and in the Body?
The cross leads us to the Body; the knowledge of the cross brings us the knowledge of the Body of Christ. The cross leads to the Body, and the cross operates in the sphere of the Body.
In the Body of Christ we cannot go on without the cross. Life and work in the Body necessitate drastic dealings with the flesh, and such dealings necessitate a deep knowledge of the cross of Christ.
Spiritual Burden
If we would live in the reality of the Body of Christ, we need to experience the work of the cross for the Body and in the Body.
Since the Body of Christ is uniquely one universally, the fellowship of the Body of Christ is also uniquely one universally. The divine fellowship is the reality of living in the Body of Christ; by being restricted in this fellowship, the Body of Christ is kept in oneness
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
If we would live in the reality of the Body of Christ, we need to experience the work of the cross for the Body and in the Body. The cross leads us to the Body; the knowledge of the cross brings us the knowledge of the Body of Christ.
Since the Body of Christ is uniquely one universally, the fellowship of the Body of Christ is also uniquely one universally.
The Experience of Life
In the Body of Christ we cannot go on without the cross. Only after the cross has wrought a deep work within us will we be able to be limited by and coordinate with the other members of the Body.
The fellowship of the Body of Christ is the stream of the divine life; as the stream of the divine life flows within us, there is the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Whenever we come to the Lord’s table, we come to practice the unique fellowship of the universal Body of Christ.
Practice and Application
we need to experience the work of the cross for the Body and in the Body. The cross will dig away our natural life, our own activities, and any disproportionate growth. Matt.16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Eph.4:3-4 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace: One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling; we must keep the unique oneness of the Body of Christ, because this oneness is the oneness of the Spirit and also the oneness of the Body of Christ.The fellowship, the circulation, of the divine life in the Body brings all the members of the Body into oneness.
Using Key Verses to Have a Bird’s-Eye View over the Whole Outline
Key Verses (1)
Rom.6:6 Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves;
Eph.2:16 And might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it.
1Cor.1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor.2:2 For I did not determine to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and this One crucified.
12:27 Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually.
Experiencing the Work of the Cross for the Body
Ⅰ If we would live in the reality of the Body of Christ, we need to experience the work of the cross for the Body and in the Body.
Ａ The cross leads us to the Body; the knowledge of the cross brings us the knowledge of the Body of Christ.
Ｂ The cross leads to the Body, and the cross operates in the sphere of the Body.
Ｃ In the Body of Christ we cannot go on without the cross.
Ｄ The revelation of the Body is very costly, for it touches the spring of our natural life.
Key Verses (2)
1John1:3 That which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Eph.4:3-4 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace: One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
For the Body of Christ to live in the unique oneness of the Body of Christ
Ⅱ Since the Body of Christ is uniquely one universally, the fellowship of the Body of Christ is also uniquely one universally.
Ａ Just as there is the circulation of blood in the human body, so there is a circulation in the Body of Christ—a circulation which the New Testament calls fellowship.
Ｂ The fellowship of the Body of Christ is the stream of the divine life; as the stream of the divine life flows within us, there is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
Ｃ The divine fellowship is the reality of living in the Body of Christ; by being restricted in this fellowship, the Body of Christ is kept in oneness.
Ｄ The unique fellowship of the Body of Christ is related to the unique oneness of the Body of Christ.
Key Verses (3)
Phil.1:5 For your fellowship unto the furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now,
1Cor.10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ? Seeing that there is one bread, we who are many are one Body; for we all partake of the one bread.
For the Body of Christ to live in the unique oneness of the Body of Christ
Ｅ The fellowship among the churches is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
- Because there is one Spirit, there is only one Body, and there is only one circulation of life in the Body; this circulation is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
- The local churches should fellowship with all the genuine local churches on the whole earth to keep the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
- Among all the churches that compose the one universal Body of Christ, there is no organization, but there is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
Prophesying Topics—Twelve Topics per Week
D1
T1 Everything in the old creation has been condemned and terminated by the cross. （Rom.6:6）
（Please illustrate that why we cannot resort to human methods, tactics, and skills (which we have used in the past) to deal with the affairs of the church?）
T2 In order to know the Body of Christ, we have to deal with our natural life. (1Cor.1:18;23)
（Please illustrate that the cross leads to the Body, and the cross operates in the sphere of the Body）
D2
T1 The Body becomes the realm within which the cross works (Col. 1:20; 3:15).
（Please illustrate that by experience that the cross is indispensable to the church; it is indispensable among Christians.）
T2 In the spiritual work, no one is free to do everything.(Matt.16:24)
（Please illustrate that by experience you have to learn to be restricted and allow others to do what you cannot do yourself.）
D3
T1 Everything that does not come from Christ cannot get into the Body. (1Cor.1:18)
(The cross is not the end in itself. It is a divine means to a divine end. The end is the Body. )
T2 If we really know the cross, it will lead us into the Body. (Rom.6:6;Gal.2:20)
（Please illustrate that we must realize that a revelation of the Body is very costly.）
D4
T1 The fellowship in Christ’s Body…is the circulation of the Spirit. （1John1:3）
（When this one Spirit is circulating within the Body of Christ, what kind of elements are all circulating.?）
T2 The one thing that should rule us is the divine fellowship. （1Cor.1:9;12:12-13;27）
（Please illustrate that by being restricted in this fellowship, the Body of Christ is kept in oneness.）
D5
T1 One body and one spirit.(Eph.4:3-4)
（Please illustrate that there is only one circulation of life in the Body; this circulation is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.）
T2 keep the unique fellowship of the universal Body of Christ (1Cor.10:16-17)
（Please illustrate that the fellowship among all the local churches is the universal fellowship of the Body of Christ. ）
D6
T1 The Lord’s table is also a testimony that we who belong to Christ are one.(1Cor.10:16-17)
（Please illustrate that as we enjoy Him in partaking of His blood and body at His table, we express and practice the fellowship of the Body of Christ.)
T2 The Lord’s body and blood are unique. (1Cor.10:16-17)
（Please illustrate that the fellowship of the Body of Christ is expressed and practiced in our partaking of Christ’s blood and body at the Lord’s table.）
