You can all prophesy one by one… —1 Cor. 12:31

2023 MDC Message Six

Knowing, Experiencing, And Enjoying Christ
As Revealed In Philippians

Message Six

Attaining to the Out-resurrection

OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING

Reading the verses in each day.

Reading the main points in the outlines.

Pray-reading the verses:

Phil. 3:11 If perhaps I may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead.

Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Word of Appetizer

What is the out-resurrection? Can we reach the goal of the out-resurrection in this age, or can we only run the race and hope to reach the goal in the coming age?

“The out-resurrection” refers to the outstanding resurrection, the extra-resurrection, which will be a prize to the overcoming saints.

If we think that we must wait until the coming age to reach the goal of the out-resurrection but do not arrive at this goal in this age, we will not attain to it in the next age. Romans 8:11 reveals that we can attain to the out-resurrection in this age. The Spirit is dwelling in us to work the out-resurrection into our being in a real and practical way.

Spiritual Burden

We need to be conformed to Christ’s death so that by any means we may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead; this is the only way for the Lord to go on in His recovery, the only way to build up His church, the only way for the bride to make herself ready, and the only way.

Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting

The Revelation of the Truth

“The out-resurrection” refers to the outstanding resurrection, the extra-resurrection, which will be a prize to the overcoming saints. 

For Paul, to live was Christ as the out-resurrection.

Our Christian life has a goal, and this goal is the out-resurrection, the extraordinary resurrection.

The result of being conformed to Christ’s death is that we may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead.

To arrive at the out-resurrection indicates that our entire being is gradually and continually resurrected.

The Experience of Life

If we are being conformed to Christ’s death, we will be in the resurrection life of Christ, and in resurrection we will meet Christ, experience Christ, and enjoy Christ. If we remain in Christ’s death, allowing ourselves to be molded into its likeness, the outcome will be that every part of our being will be gradually resurrected.

The Spirit is dwelling in us to work the out-resurrection into our being in a real and practical way. God first resurrected our deadened spirit; He proceeds to resurrect our soul and our mortal body until our whole being—spirit, soul, and body—is fully resurrected out of our old being by His life and with His life.

Practice and Application

In order to attain to the out-resurrection, we need to know Christ in the power of His resurrection, know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings, and know Him by being conformed to His death.To attain to the out-resurrection is to arrive at the out-resurrection; this requires us to triumphantly run the race for the prize.

If we are conformed to Christ’s death, every part of our being will be gradually resurrected; thus, the Christian life is a process of resurrection. We can reach this goal only by living a crucified life.

PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK

Day 1

T1  The Out-resurrection  (Phil. 3:11; Heb. 11:35)

(What is the “out-resurrection”?)

T2 Christ attained to this out-resurrection through crucifixion and resurrection (John 20:6-7; Phil. 3:11)

(Please illustrate that this out-resurrection is actually Christ Himself in resurrection.)

Day 2

T1  Baptism is simply the beginning of our Christian life, and the out-resurrectionour Christian life is our goal (Phil. 3:10-11)

(Please illustrate that between baptism and the goal there is the long process of arriving at the out-resurrection.)

T2 Arriving at the out-resurrection is the result, the issue, of being conformed to Christ’s death (Phil. 3:10-11)

(Please illustrate that day by day, God is processing us from the natural life to the resurrected life.)

Day 3

T1 Paul was pursuing Christ in order to gain Him  (1 Cor. 9:24-26; Phil. 3:12-14)

(Please illustrate that with verses that how the apostle Paul was desperated to attain the out-resurrection.)

T2 The resurrection of life and the resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29)

(Please illustrate that there will be a distinction not only between the resurrection of the believers and the unbelievers, but also a distinction among Christians at the time of resurrection.)

Day 4

T1  We must endeavor to arrive at the goal during our lifetime  (John 11:25; Phil. 1:21)

(Please illustrate with examples that day by day how we can practice living the out-resurrection.)

T2  It is easier for me to overcome persecutions than to according to the natural life (John 11:25; Phil. 1:21)

(Please illustrate with experiences that the greatest hindrance in running the race toward the goalis is the natural life with its thoughts and habits.)

Day 5

T1  The Spirit is dwelling in us to work the out-resurrection into our being in a real way (Rom. 8:11; Gal. 2:20)

(Please illustrate that we need to be conformed to Christ’s death both in the church life and in our family life, dying to the old creation that we may live the new creation.)

T2 Just as the goal is the out-resurrection, so the prize is also the out-resurrection (Rev. 20:6; Luke 15:22)

(Please illustrate that we may reach the goal in this age, but we shall enjoy the prize in the coming age.)

Day 6

T1  The out-resurrection should be the goal and destination of our Christian life (1 Thes. 5:23; Rom. 8:6)

(Please illustrate that we can reach this goal only by being conformed to the death of Christ by living a crucified life.)

T2 The process of resurrection that we are undergoing today (2 Cor. 4:10, 16; Rom. 8:10-11)

(Please illustrate that the out-resurrection is not merely a future event, but a present process.)