Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (3)
Message Two
Knowing Him as Our Pattern and Take Him as Our Pattern
THE EXTRACT OF THE OUTLINES
Scripture Reading:
Phil. 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped,
But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men; Phil. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
I. For us to experience Christ and live Christ, we must know Him as our pattern and take Him as our pattern—Phil. 2:5-11: (Monday)
A In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul presents Christ as the pattern; we must allow this pattern to be infused into us—Phil. 2:5-11.
B The pattern of the Christian life is this God-man Savior who emptied Himself, humbled Himself, and was exalted and glorified by God—Phil. 2:6-9.
C The principle of this pattern is that a person with the highest life and position would rather live a lowly life—Phil. 2:6-8.
———————————————————————————————————————-
II. Christ our pattern is not only objective but also subjective and experiential—Phil. 2:5, 12-13: (Tuesday)
A The One who set forth the pattern, and who Himself is the pattern, is now the indwelling God operating in us—Phil. 2:13.
B The principle of Christ as our inner pattern for our living is that even if we have the highest standard or the highest position, we should not grasp it—Phil. 2:6-7.
———————————————————————————————————————-
C Christ, who is our pattern, is now the life within us—Col. 3:4. (Wednesday)
III. If we would take Christ as our pattern, we need to have the mind of Christ as our mind—Phil. 2:5:
A Paul not only took Christ as his life and expression outwardly, but also took the mind of Christ as his mind inwardly—1 Cor. 2:16.
B The mind of Christ being in us means that this mind is living; the mind of Christ is actually Christ Himself, because the Person of Christ is manifested in His mind—Phil. 2:5.
C We need to open ourselves so that what was thought in Christ Jesus can be in us—Phil. 2:5.
———————————————————————————————————————-
IV.We need to know the obedience of the Son—Phil. 2:5-11, Heb. 5:7-8: (Thurday)
A Philippians 2:5-7 is one section, and 8-11 is another section—Phil. 2:5-11.
———————————————————————————————————————-
B We need to have the mind that was in Christ Jesus within us—Phil. 2:5. (Friday, Saturday)
C Salvation is not only for man’s joy, but also for man’s obedience—Rom. 1:5, 16:19, 26, Titus 3:1.
D If one touches God’s authority, obedience is simple, and understanding God’s will is also simple, because the Lord has always been obedient and has given us the life of obedience—John 11:25.
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped, But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men; And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.—Phil. 2:5-11.
Word of Appetizer
The central point of Philippians chapter two is taking Christ as our pattern, our model; how are we to experience Christ and live Christ?
If we want to experience Christ and live Christ, we must know Him as our pattern and take Him as our pattern, taking the mind of Christ as our mind, and knowing the obedience of the Son.
Spiritual Burden
If we want to experience Christ and live Christ, we must know Him as our pattern and take Him as our pattern, taking the mind of Christ as our mind, and knowing the obedience of the Son.
In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul presents Christ as a pattern; we must allow this pattern to be infused into us; we must be His companions in Christ’s human living, especially in emptying Himself, humbling Himself, and not regarding equality with God a treasured possession to be grasped, and not grasping it.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
If we want to experience Christ and live Christ, we must know Him as our pattern and take Him as our pattern.
Our pattern Christ is not only objective but also subjective and experiential.
If we want to take Christ as our pattern, we need to take the mind of Christ as our mind.
We need to know the obedience of the Son.
The Experience of Life
Our pattern Christ is not only objective but also subjective and experiential; the One who set the pattern, and who Himself is the pattern, is now the indwelling God operating within us; Christ, who is our pattern, is now the life within us; we have the crucified Christ as our pattern, and this pattern is the crucified life within us. Whenever we live a crucified life, God will bring us into the power of resurrection. When we take Christ, this crucified life, as our pattern for daily living, He is exalted within us.
Practice and Application
We must be His companions in Christ’s human living, especially in emptying Himself, humbling Himself, and not regarding equality with God a treasured possession to be grasped, and not grasping it.
We need to open ourselves so that “the mind which was also in Christ Jesus” may be in us; if we are to have such a mind, we need to be one with Him in Christ’s affections.
We should obey authority; this is a great matter; we all should walk the Lord’s way, taking His principle of obedience as our principle of obedience.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 The central point of Philippians chapter two is Christ as our pattern, our model (Phil. 2:5-8).
(Please illustrate that this pattern is the standard of our salvation.)
T2 Death on the cross is the ultimate point of Christ’s humiliation (Phil. 2:5-8).
(Please illustrate that what are the seven steps of the Lord’s humiliation?)
Day 2
T1 Work out your own salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).
(Please illustrate that what does it mean for the Apostle Paul to command us to work out our salvation?)
T2 God operates in us for His good pleasure, causing us to will and to work (Phil. 2:12-13).
(Please illustrate that we cannot work out our own salvation, but God, the One operating within us, can.)
Day 3
T1 Christ is not only our outward pattern; He is also our inward life (Col. 3:4, Gal. 2:20).
(Please illustrate that Christ is this inward life, causing us to experience Him and thereby live out a crucified life.)
T2 Only the crucified life can live out this pattern (Col. 3:4, Gal. 2:20).
(Please illustrate that through experience, it is clear that we indeed have the life within us that can empty ourselves and humble ourselves.)
Day 4
T1 The Father and the son are co-equal, co-powerful, co-existent, and co-eternal (Phil. 2:6, John 14:28).
(Please illustrate that the Father and the Son are distinct in person, which is not a distinction in basic nature but an arrangement within the Godhead.)
T2 The Lord’s obedience was more difficult than His creation of heaven and earth (Phil. 2:6).
(Please illustrate that the Lord, on one hand, cast aside authority when He came to earth, and on the other hand, took up obedience.)
Day 5
T1 God must find obedience in the universe (Heb. 5:8-9, Rom. 1:5).
(Please illustrate that why did the Lord come to earth to be a man, completely like all created men?)
T2 The Lord’s birth was God’s coming forth (Heb. 5:8-9, Rom. 1:5).
(Please illustrate that the Lord did not act as authority on God’s side, but came to man’s side to be limited by man, becoming a slave.)
Day 6
T1 The Lord Jesus returned to heaven by being a man, becoming in human likeness, and being exalted by God (Phil. 2:9-11).
(Please illustrate that what is the principle of obedience?)
T2 Only an obedient person is useful (Phil. 2:9-11).
(Please illustrate that a person’s usefulness is not in whether he has hardships, but in whether he has learned obedience through hardships.)
