Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith,
and Loving the Lord’s Appearing
In Order to Receive the Reward of Christ As the Crown of Righteousness
Message Five
Receiving the Kingdom Reward of Christ
as the Crown of Righteousness
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
2 Tim. 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Psa. 45:13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within the royal abode; / Her garment is a woven work inwrought with gold.
Word of Appetizer
How can we prepare to receive the kingdom reward of the crown of righteousness today?
In order to enjoy Christ as the reward of our kingdom, we must love the appearing of the Lord, both His appearing to us today and His coming to be with His people the second time; this is by staying on the narrow way, being watchful in life, and faithful in service, that we may be constituted the bride of Christ.
In order to receive Christ as the reward of the crown of righteousness in the age to come, we must experience and enjoy Him as our subjective, living righteousness in this age.
Spiritual Burden
In order to enjoy Christ as the reward of our kingdom, we must love the appearing of the Lord, both His appearing to us today and His coming to be with His people the second time; this is by staying on the narrow way, being watchful in life, and faithful in service, that we may be constituted the bride of Christ.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
In order to enjoy Christ as the reward of our kingdom, we must love the appearing of the Lord, both His appearing to us today and His coming to be with His people the second time; this is by staying on the narrow way, being watchful in life, and faithful in service, that we may be constituted the bride of Christ.
In order to receive Christ as the reward of the crown of righteousness in the age to come, we must experience and enjoy Him as our subjective, living righteousness in this age.
The Experience of Life
Christ as our objective righteousness makes us righteous before God when we repent, turn to God, and believe in Christ; Christ also becomes our subjective righteousness, the living and real manifestation of Christ, which is the shining forth of the transcendent light of God through living Christ.
The embroidered garments are the subjective Christ woven into our character, embroidered into our very being, becoming our living righteousness; this embroidery represents the work of the transforming Spirit; the Holy Spirit is working day by day, embroidering Christ into us stitch by stitch, becoming our wedding garment.
Practice and Application
Loving the appearing of the Lord and loving the Lord Himself are inseparable; we must be lovers of God in order to maintain the overcoming standard of the church, that we may accomplish God’s economy; the Lord promised to give the crown of life to those who love Him, and they will inherit the kingdom.
In order to receive Christ as the reward of the crown of righteousness in the age to come, we must experience and enjoy Him as our subjective, living righteousness in this age.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 Paul’s life and work aimed at the Lord’s appearing and His kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1, 7-8)
(Please illustrate that how the Lord’s appearing, His coming back, is our warning, encouragement, and incentive.)
T2 The root of the church’s degradation is the loss of the first love for the Lord (2 Tim. 3:2, 1 Tim. 6:10, Rev. 2:4)
(Please illustrate that what seven categories of lovers are mentioned in the three Epistles to Timothy.)
Day 2
T1 The crown is given as a reward to the overcomers who run the race, apart from the Lord’s salvation (1 Cor. 9:25, 2 Tim. 4:8)
(Please illustrate that why the crown in 2 Timothy 4:8 is called “the crown of righteousness.”)
T2 Few believers realize that the Lord Jesus will return as the righteous judge (2 Tim. 4:8)
(Please illustrate that how Christians should be warned and encouraged to prepare themselves to stand before this Judge.)
Day 3
T1 Subjective righteousness is the expression of the living God within us (Phil. 3:9)
(Please illustrate that how Paul desired to be seen as living in God’s righteousness, not by keeping the law, but by living Christ.)
T2 Christ’s becoming righteousness from God to the believers has two aspects (Psa. 45:13-14)
(Please illustrate that how the two aspects of righteousness are also typified by the two garments of the queen in Psalm 45:13-14.)
Day 4
T1 “The king’s daughter is all glorious within the royal abode” (Psa. 45:13a)
(Please illustrate that how the “abode” here refers to the church taking Christ as her dwelling place.)
T2 “A woven work inwrought with gold” and “She will be led to the King in embroidered clothing” (Psa. 45:13-14)
(Please illustrate that what two garments the queen has in Psalm 45.)
Day 5
T1 The kingdom of the heavens is the reward for the overcoming saints (Matt. 7:21, 2 Tim. 4:18)
(Please illustrate that, according to Matthew 7:21, what two things we need to do to enter the kingdom of the heavens.)
T2 We are the sons of the Father God, and the Father is light (1 John 1:5, Matt. 13:43a)
(Please illustrate that how today the believers shine as lamps, but in the coming age, the overcomers will shine as the sun.)
Day 6
T1 The coming kingdom will be the inheritance joyfully received by the overcomers (Matt. 25:21)
(Please illustrate that how the overcoming believers will also feast with the Old Testament overcomers in their Father’s kingdom.)
T2 In the coming kingdom, the overcoming believers will reign with Christ (Rev. 2:26-27, 20:4b)
(Please illustrate that how in the realization of the coming kingdom of the heavens, the overcoming believers will rule over the nations.)
