One Accord and Crucial Aspects of the Book of Acts
Message One
The Continuation of the Book of Acts—the Corporate Continuation
of Christ
THE EXTRACT OF THE OUTLINES
Scripture Reading:
Acts 28:31 Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
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 continuation of the book of Acts is the continuation of Christ, taking the corporate life lived by perfected God-men as the reality of the Body of Christ—Acts 28:31: (Monday)
A. The book of Acts records God’s work; after chapter twenty-eight, there were still many vessels of God doing God’s work; God’s work is continuing on and has not stopped there—Acts 13:36a.
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B. The Spirit is proclaiming Christ through the believers of Christ, that Christ might be reproduced, multiplied, and propagated; this work has not yet been completed and still needs to continue for a considerable length of time—6:7, 12:24, 19:20 (Tuesday)
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II. The Bible prophesies the continuation of Christ in the book of Acts—Isa.53:10-11: (Wednesday)
A. Isaiah chapter fifty-three verse ten prophesies the continuation of Christ in His resurrection—Isa.53:10-11.
B. As the resurrection life, Christ regenerated all His believers, making them His brothers, who are the many sons of God; they are the members of God’s household, becoming the kingdom of God and God’s precious inheritance—John 11:25.
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C. The prophecy concerning the building up of the church began with the Lord in Matthew chapter sixteen and continued by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter four, verses thirteen through sixteen; this prophecy speaks of the church being built up in a particular way, which has not yet been fulfilled today—Eph.4:13-16.(Thursday)
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III. The Apostle Paul is an example to all believers—members of the Body of Christ—living Christ so as to magnify Christ, as His continuation—Phil.1:19-21a, Acts 9:4-5, 15, 26:18-19: (Friday)
A. Paul was a chosen vessel of Christ to contain Him, to be filled by Him, and to flow Him out as His fullness—Acts 9:15.
B. Paul lived by the Spirit of the all-inclusive Jesus for his preaching ministry, for the building up of the Body of Christ—John 7:37.
C. Paul cherished the saints in Jesus’ humanity and, from Christ’s divinity, fed them with all the truths of God’s eternal economy; he exhibited the word of the Lord Jesus in his life: It is more blessed to give than to receive—Acts 20:18-38, 1 Thes.2:1-12.
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D. In the Apostle’s long, unfortunate, and imprisoned voyage, the Lord preserved the Apostle in His transcendence, enabling him to live a life far beyond the realm of worry—Acts 28:5-9 (Saturday)
IV. The ultimate issue of the church is the coming New Jerusalem in eternity as the full and eternal expression of God; this should be the pattern we follow today of the Apostle Paul—Acts 28:31.
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I also am working.
Acts 28:31 Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered.
Matt. 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Word of Appetizer
What is the continuation of the book of Acts? What example did the apostle Paul give us as members of the Body of Christ as the corporate continuation of Christ?
The continuation of the book of Acts is the continuation of Christ with the corporate living of the perfected God-men as the reality of the Body of Christ. The book of Acts is a record of the work of God; after Acts 28 many of God’s vessels are still carrying on with His work; His work is continuing and has not stopped.
The apostle Paul, as a pattern to all the believers, the members of the Body of Christ, lived Christ for His magnification as His continuation.
Spiritual Burden
The continuation of the book of Acts is the continuation of Christ with the corporate living of the perfected God-men as the reality of the Body of Christ.
The fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy concerning the building up of the church and the preparation of His bride will bring Him back; now is the time for the Lord to fulfill His prophecy.
The ultimate issue of the church will be the New Jerusalem in eternity future as God’s full and eternal expression; this should be the reality and goal of all our gospel preaching today as we follow the pattern of the apostle Paul—“proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered”.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
The continuation of the book of Acts is the continuation of Christ with the corporate living of the perfected God-men as the reality of the Body of Christ.
The continuation of Christ in the book of Acts is prophesied in the Bible; the fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy concerning the building up of the church and the preparation of His bride will bring Him back; now is the time for the Lord to fulfill His prophecy.
The ultimate issue of the church will be the New Jerusalem in eternity future as God’s full and eternal expression; this should be the reality and goal of all our gospel preaching today as we follow the pattern of the apostle Paul—“proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered”.
The Experience of Life
As the resurrection life…, Christ regenerated all His believers…, making them His brothers and the many sons of God…, who are the members of God’s household to be God’s kingdom…and God’s precious inheritance.
The word of God is still growing and being multiplied for the increase of Christ. Grew refers to the growth in life, indicating that the word of God is a matter of life that grows as a seed sown into man’s heart for the increase of Christ, the growth of God, within us.
Practice and Application
God is after a corporate, shining vessel, a vessel of testimony, His children must be brought to the awareness of the Body of Christ and learn to live the Body life.
The apostle Paul, as a pattern to all the believers, the members of the Body of Christ, lived Christ for His magnification as His continuation. This should be the reality and goal of all our gospel preaching today as we follow the pattern of the apostle Paul—“proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered”.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 The Acts of the Apostles is a book without an ending (Acts 28:31, John 5:17)
(Please illustrate that after Acts chapter 28, many of God’s vessels are still carrying on with His work.)
T2 Every time God advances, He finds some vessels (Acts 28:31, John 5:17)
(Please illustrate that His work will go on until the kingdom and even until the
new heaven and the new earth.)
Day 2
T1 God is after the same vessel today is the church (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:12)
(Please illustrate that God is not after an individual vessel today, but a corporate one.)
T2 The kingdom of God is the expansion of Christ (Acts 5:42, 8:12)
(Please illustrate that Acts is a record of the spreading of Christ; it is also a record of the kingdom of God.)
Day 3
T1 From ancient times, from the days of eternity, the Triune God was preparing to come forth out of eternity into time (Micah 5:2, Isa. 53:10-11)
(Please illustrate that when Christ’s appearing will be complete.)
T2 Christ is extending His days by living in His believers (Isa. 53:10-11, Gal. 2:20)
(Please illustrate that the items produced by the fruit of the travail of Christ’s soul.)
Day 4
T1 There is a great prophecy in the Bible regarding the building up of the church and the preparation of Christ’s bride (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 4:13)
(Please illustrate that the fulfillment of this prophecy in Matthew 16:18 has not been fully realized.)
T2 Whatever the Lord has prophesied will surely be fulfilled (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 4:13)
(Please illustrate that the fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy concerning the building up of the church will bring Him back.)
Day 5
T1 We see Paul’s life, behavior, and character (Phil. 3:9, Acts 16:7)
(Please illustrate that Paul’s life was a life of living Christ and magnifying Him.)
T2 “The Spirit of Jesus” is the Spirit of the man Jesus (Acts 16:7)
(Please illustrate that Why was it that when the apostle Paul would go to a certain place to preach the gospel, “the Spirit of Jesus” did not allow him?)
Day 6
T1 Paul cared only to live Christ and to magnify Him (Phil. 1:19-21)
(Please illustrate that on the island of Malta Paul lived Christ and magnified Him as the life-giving Spirit. )
T2 Paul magnified Christ continuously in his adverse situation (Phil. 1:20, Matt. 28:18-19)
(Please illustrate that apparently, the apostle, as a prisoner in bonds, actually, as the ambassador of Christ with His authority.)
