Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (3)
Message One
Christ as Our Virtues, the Peace of God, Our Secret, and the One Who Empowers Us
THE EXTRACT OF THE OUTLINES
Scripture Reading:
Phil. 1:19-21 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, According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I will be put to shame, but with all boldness, as always, even now Christ will be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
I.The virtues of Christ that we experience in Philippians 4:5-9 are the expression of a life that lives Christ—Phil. 1:19-21a: (Monday)
A Paul considers forbearance and freedom from anxiety to be the first two aspects of the expression of a life that lives Christ—Phil. 4:5-6.
B Anxiety comes from Satan; it is the sum total of human living that disturbs believers from living Christ; forbearance comes from God; it is the sum total of a life that lives Christ—Matt. 6:22-34.
———————————————————————————————————————-
II.Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is near—Phil. 4:5: (Tuesday, Wednesday)
A Forbearance is actually the All-Inclusive Christ as the all-inclusive Spirit, with His bountiful supply—Phil. 1:19-21a.
B Forbearance is an all-inclusive virtue, which is Christ Himself; since Christ is forbearance, Paul’s living was forbearance—Phil. 1:21a.
III. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God—Phil. 4:6:
———————————————————————————————————————-
A Christ Himself is God’s peace which surpasses human understanding—Phil. 4:7. (Thursday)
B The result of communion with God in prayer is the enjoyment of God’s peace; God’s peace is actually the God of peace Himself—Phil. 4:9.
———————————————————————————————————————-
IV. Finally, brothers, what things are true, what things are dignified, what things are righteous, what things are pure, what things are lovely, what things are of good report—if there is any virtue and if there is any praise—take account of these things—Phil. 4:8: (Friday)
A These virtues are the six aspects of the governing of a life that lives Christ—Phil. 4:8.
B To be proper persons is to express God by His divine attributes in our human virtue—Gen. 1:26.
———————————————————————————————————————-
V.I can do all things in the One who empowers me—Phil. 4:13: (Saturday)
A The secret in Philippians 4 is to do all things in the Christ who empowers us—Phil. 4:13.
B Through the empowerment of Christ, we can live a life of contentment and be true, dignified, righteous, pure, lovely, and of good report—Phil. 4:11-12, 8.
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is near. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus—Phil. 4:5-7.
…In everything and in all things I have learned the secret. I am able to do all things in that One who empowers me—Phil. 4:12-13.
Word of Appetizer
What is the real expression of the living of Christ?
In Philippians 1:21 Paul declares, “For to me, to live is Christ.” This word is Paul’s inward testimony of reality. The virtues of Christ that we experience in Philippians 4:5-9 are the expression of the living of Christ.
Paul considers forbearance and being free from anxiety to be the first two aspects of the expression of the living of Christ; anxiety comes from Satan, is the totality of human living, and disturbs the believers’ living of Christ; forbearance comes from God and is the totality of the living of Christ; these two are completely opposite.
Spiritual Burden
In all kinds of environments, situations, and encounters, we need to learn Christ as our secret for gradual transformation (which is a metabolic change in the natural life); this practical and simple secret is to exercise to speak with the Lord constantly, and we will naturally live Christ.
“I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content. I know also how to be abased, and I know also how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret, both to be full and to hunger, both to abound and to lack. I am able to do all things in that One who empowers me.”
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
The virtues of Christ that we experience in Philippians 4:5-9 are the expression of the living of Christ.
Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is near. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is well spoken of, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, take account of these things.
I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content. I know also how to be abased, and I know also how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret, both to be full and to hunger, both to abound and to lack. I am able to do all things in that One who empowers me.
The Experience of Life
A person of forbearance is always fitting, and his demeanor is always proper; if we are forbearing, we will have the wisdom and ability to minister to the needs of others; we will also have sufficient knowledge concerning what to say to others and when to say it.
The result of our communion with God in prayer is enjoying the peace of God; the peace of God is actually God Himself as peace, who, by our union with Him in prayer, is infused into us to resist distress and resolve anxieties. The God of peace in Christ inspects before our hearts and thoughts, keeping us calm and tranquil (Isa. 30:15a); if we want to live a life free from anxiety, we must realize that all our encounters, whether good or bad, are God-appointed, with the purpose of causing us to reach our destiny of gaining Christ, living Christ, and magnify Christ.
Practice and Application
In all kinds of environments, situations, and encounters, we need to learn Christ as our secret for gradual transformation (which is a metabolic change in the natural life); this practical and simple secret is to exercise to speak with the Lord constantly, and we will naturally live Christ. “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
If we want to experience Christ as the Empowerer, we must be persons who pray constantly, coming to God, entering into Him, and living in the light of His face.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 Living the life of Christ is calm, tranquil, peaceful, and quiet (Phil. 4:5-6).
(Please illustrate that the first aspect of the expression of living the life of Christ is forbearance.)
T2 Living Christ means forbearance but without anxiety (Phil. 4:5-6).
(Please illustrate that forbearance is the totality of a proper Christian life.)
Day 2
T1 The Greek word for forbearance means not only being content with less than what we are due but also having sweet reasonableness (Phil. 4:5-6).
(Please illustrate that forbearance is all-inclusive because it contains all Christian virtues.)
T2 Forbearance is the Christ we actually experience (Phil. 1:21, 4:5).
(Please illustrate that all our failures and frustrations in the Christian life are due to our lack of forbearance.)
Day 3
T1 A forbearing person is one who always fits in, whose behavior is always suitable (Phil. 1:19-20).
(Please illustrate that forbearance also includes peace, meekness, and tenderness.)
T2 The human life of the Lord Jesus was full of forbearance (Phil. 1:19-20).
(Please illustrate that using the example of how the Lord Jesus spoke to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus illustrates that the Lord’s life is the best explanation of forbearance.)
Day 4
T1 Prayer is general, having worship and fellowship as its essence; petition is special, being for particular needs. (Phil. 4:6-7).
(Please illustrate that when we pray and make petitions, both should be accompanied by thanks to the Lord.)
T2 Believing that our environment is appointed by God (Phil. 4:6-7).
(Please illustrate that if we want to live a life free of anxiety, we must realize that all our experiences, whether good or bad, are appointed by God.)
Day 5
T1 Six aspects that regulate the life of living Christ (Phil. 4:8-9).
(Please illustrate that out of many Christian virtues, what six did Paul select as the regulating aspects?)
T2 All human virtues are created by God (Phil. 4:8-9).
(Please illustrate that our human virtues are created vessels to contain divine virtues, just as a glove is made in the image of a hand to contain a hand.)
Day 6
T1 When we teach people how to do things, we mainly teach them the secret (Phil. 4:11-13).
(Please illustrate that Paul not only learned the secret; he had been initiated and learned certain basic principles.)
T2 The basic principles of church life are entirely different from the basic principles of the world (Phil. 4:11-13).
(Please illustrate that what are the basic principles of the church—the Body of Christ?)
