Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (2)
Message Five
Christ as the Image of God and the Treasure
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
2 Cor. 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who are perishing, in whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelievers that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine on them.
2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us.
Word of Appetizer
Second Corinthians 4:1-7 shows us that we may experience and enjoy Christ as the image of God and the treasure. What is the image of God and the treasure?
The image of God refers to Christ as our outward expression, whereas the treasure refers to Christ as our inward content. We should bear Christ as the image of God without, and we should have Christ as the treasure within. We need to enter into the rich and full enjoyment of Christ.
Colossians 1:15 speaks of Christ as “the image of the invisible God”; the image here is not a physical form but an expression of God’s being in all His attributes and virtues. Christ as the life-giving Spirit in us is the One who shines and works; this is the treasure we have in us.
Spiritual Burden
Within us, we have Christ as a wonderful treasure; outwardly, we bear Christ as the image of God, the expression of the Triune God. We need to experience and enjoy Christ as the treasure within and the image without.
We are weak because we are earthen vessels; however, a treasure within us, the vessel, enables us to keep ourselves open to the Lord, giving Him every opportunity to do everything He wants to do; this is the proper and genuine Christian life.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
Second Corinthians 4:1-7 shows us that we may experience and enjoy Christ as the image of God and the treasure.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 Paul speaks of “the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”.
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels”.
“That the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us”.
The Experience of Life
When we believed in the Lord Jesus, we received more than simply a Redeemer; we received the most excellent One in the universe. Although we are worthless earthen vessels, God has shined the precious treasure into us.
We are weak because we are earthen vessels; however, a treasure within us, the vessel, enables us to keep ourselves open to the Lord, giving Him every opportunity to do everything He wants to do; this is the proper and genuine Christian life.
Practice and Application
We need to pray, “Lord, I trust in You to defeat the god of this age; apart from You, I do not worship anyone or anything.” If we pray in this way, the divine light will shine, and we will receive revelation.
An open vessel is doing nothing but keeping itself open to be filled by the divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity. When the Lord fills us, He does everything for us. We need to experience and enjoy Christ as the treasure within and the image without
