Being a Vessel Unto Honor, a Fully Equipped Man of God,
by Being Empowered in the Grace Which Is in Christ Jesus
to Fully Accomplish Our Ministry in the Unique Ministry of God’s Economy
Message Three
Being Empowered in the Grace Which Is in Christ Jesus to Be Teachers,
Soldiers, Contenders, Farmers, and Workmen
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. 2:1-2 You therefore, my child, be empowered in the grace which is in Christ Jesus, and the things which you have heard from me through many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who will be competent to teach others also.
2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth.
Word of Appetizer
2 Timothy reveals that in these last days, before the Lord’s coming, we need to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus to be faithful people. Who are these people?
The theme of 2 Timothy is a preventative against the degeneration of the church. … [In 2:1-15 there are] five special appellations for the preventative. … If we read these verses carefully, we will see that Paul thought that Timothy and his other fellow workers should be teachers, soldiers, athletes, farmers, and workers. We need to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus to be faithful people, who are teachers, soldiers, athletes, farmers, and workers who rightly handle the word of truth.
Spiritual Burden
Even in a period of degeneration, in a downward flow, where most of God’s people are taken captive, we need to remain among God’s remnant, those who are merciful and faithful to Him.
Timothy was fully equipped and equipped to supply God’s word, not only to care for the local church, but also to face the ever-increasing degeneration of the church. He was of the same mind as the apostle Paul, truly caring for the church and all the saints, reminding them how Paul lived in Christ.
In these last days, before the Lord’s coming, we need to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus to be faithful people, who are teachers, soldiers, athletes, farmers, and workers who rightly handle the word of truth.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
Even in a period of degeneration, in a downward flow, where most of God’s people are taken captive, we need to remain among God’s remnant, those who are merciful and faithful to Him.
2 Timothy reveals that in these last days, before the Lord’s coming, we need to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus to be faithful people, who are teachers, soldiers, athletes, farmers, and workers who rightly handle the word of truth.
The Experience of Life
We must look to the Lord, that we may be graced and receive His grace in Christ, the Beloved, to run our race, that we may receive a reward in the age to come, receiving Christ as the imperishable crown. When we eat Christ as the Tree of Life, the divine attributes, which kept the Tree of Life from being touched by those who were fallen, are now dispensed into us, making Christ our righteousness, sanctification, and glory, so that we may display Christ as the manifold wisdom of God to the whole universe.
Practice and Application
We need to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus to be faithful people, who are teachers, soldiers, athletes, farmers, and workers who rightly handle the word of truth.
We must shepherd the saints by teaching God’s economy. We shepherd people by dispensing the divine life to them in Jesus’ humanity to care for them, and by teaching them the divine truth in Christ’s divinity to nourish them.
To fight the good fight for the Lord’s interests on earth, we must rid ourselves of all earthly entanglements and hold fast to eternal life, not trusting in our human life.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 During the time of the church’s decline, we need to remain among those who have always been faithful to Him (1) (2 Tim. 1:16, 1 Cor. 4:17)
(Please illustrate that how Onesiphorus and Timothy remained among those who had always been faithful to Him during the time of the church’s decline.)
T2 During the time of the church’s decline, we need to remain among those who have always been faithful to Him (2) (2 Tim. 4:11, 2 Cor. 2:13).
(Please illustrate that how Luke and Titus remained among those who had always been faithful to Him during the time of the church’s decline.)
Day 2
T1 Being strengthened in grace (2 Tim. 2:1-2)
(What is “grace”?)
T2 Receiving a good deposit of the riches of the grace of God’s new covenant economy (2 Tim. 2:1-2)
(Please illustrate that the more we are strengthened in this grace, the more we can teach others.)
Day 3
T1 Whenever we minister Christ to others, we find ourselves in a battle (2 Tim. 2:3-4, 1 Cor. 14:8).
(Please illustrate that we should not only be teachers who deliver the good deposit to others, but also soldiers who fight for the interests of God.)
T2 The ministry of the Lord is a matter of warfare (2 Tim. 2:3-4)
(Please illustrate that the church is the cosmic, holy army that fights in the universe for God against His enemies.)
Day 4
T1 It is important for a runner in the race to run quickly (2 Tim. 2:5, 1 Cor. 9:25-26)
(Please illustrate that when we are running to win the crown, we should not wait. Instead, we should run to reach the goal.)
T2 Knowing and maintaining the position of ascension (Acts 2:36)
(Please illustrate that a person who wants to have authority must not shrink back in his spirit. He must be willing to actively and proactively use God’s authority to deal with all the works of the enemy.)
Day 5
T1 The farm that God cultivates to grow Christ (2 Tim. 2:6-7, 1 Cor. 3:9)
(Please illustrate that as farmers, we need to be patient.)
T2 Milk and solid food (1 Pet. 2:2, 5:12)
(Please illustrate with experiences that our way of taking in the Word of the Lord is to taste it, suck it, eat it like milk, and receive it like solid food.)
Day 6
T1 The Lord’s workers need to cutting straight the word of the truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
(Please illustrate that the main elements of truth are Christ as the mystery and the embodiment of God, and the church as the mystery and the body of Christ.)
T2 Truth refers to the reality of the content of God’s New Testament economy (Psa. 119:130)
(Please illustrate that cutting straight the word of the truth is to reveal without bias the reality of the divine economy revealed in the New Testament.)
