搜尋此網誌

2013/11/14

Morning Nourishment-The Experience, Growth, And Ministry Of Life For The Body(W6-4)

WEEK 6 — DAY 4

Morning Nourishment

Rom.5:17 "For if, by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."

Heb. 2:14 "Since therefore the children have shared in blood and flesh, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the devil."

   Another condition of one who is full of the stature of Christ is that he reigns with Christ. One must attain to the position of reigning with Christ in order that his life might become mature. If we desire to learn whether or not we are mature in life, we should ascertain whether or not we can reign in the spiritual life. We cannot ask a six-year-old child to rule; even if we crown him king and give him reign, with everything subject to his control, he will run off to play ball. If the life is insufficient, there is no possibility of reigning. When one's life attains to maturity, he reigns automatically....Authority is based on life. When life matures, it can reign. Therefore, the experience of reigning depends on the maturity in life.

   When our life attains unto maturity and fullness, we will be raptured and transfigured. At that time, we will be seated with Christ on the throne and reign with Him. All that we are will be full of the stature of the fullness of Christ, and all that we do will be to reign with Christ. The same principle applies today to the maturity of life. When our life attains to the full stature of Christ, then we are able to reign with Christ. (The Experience of Life, pp.378-379)

Today's Reading

   Another issue of one who is full of the stature of Christ is that of dealing,together with Christ, with the enemy. To deal with the enemy is to fight the warfare. However, we should not use the term warfare here, because it does not convey the meaning of full maturity in life. When we are really full of the stature of Christ and our life has attained unto full maturity, our spiritual warfare is over. Then we are seated far above all in a victorious position and need only to deal with the enemy.

   It was in the same process that the Lord Jesus fought the battle. From the time of His temptation at the beginning of His ministry, He continually fought with Satan. But when He ascended to the throne, He ceased fighting.Nevertheless, He continues to deal with the enemy, until eventually he will be subdued beneath His feet and become His footstool (Heb. 1:13). When we attain to the stage of dealing, together with Christ, with the enemy, it is proof that our life has attained to its highest peak.

   For a victorious one, there is no need to fight. All he needs to do is to be situated in a certain place; then all the robbers and prowlers will disappear completely, daring no more to act foolishly or do evil. His awe-inspiring reputation has been gained through much warfare in the past. This example explains the principle of Christ in dealing with the enemy. If neither Christ nor His name were in this universe today, imagine how much more violent Satan would be! It is simply because Christ is dealing with the enemy today that wherever the name of Christ is lifted up, the enemy flees, and the power of darkness vanishes.

   When the life of a Christian reaches this stage, every part of his being comes to maturity. He is waiting to be raptured to enter into glory with Christ.

   When the life experience of a Christian attains to the full stature of Christ,it has reached the climax. He shares the same position with Christ, and he reigns and deals with the enemy together with Christ. His whole being is filled with the element of Christ. Aside from the fact that the body has not yet been transfigured into the body of glory, all else has reached its highest or final point. The life experience of a saint in Christ thus comes to a conclusion.Other than waiting to be raptured and entering into glory, there is nothing else left to be desired. (The Experience of Life, pp. 379-381)

Further Reading: The Experience of Life, ch. 19; How to Administrate the Church, chs. 5-6

沒有留言: