Experiencing Christ vs. Enjoying Christ

 

Experiencing Christ vs. Enjoying Christ

"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body... and have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13)

Aspect	Experiencing Christ	Enjoying Christ
Primary Realm	In spirit  (Phil. 1:27 "...stand firm in one spirit")	In soul  (Phil. 2:2 "...make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit")
Types	- Manna in wilderness (Ex. 16:14-15) - Water from struck rock (Ex. 17:6) - Bronze serpent (Num. 21:9)	- Good fruit of Canaan (Deut. 8:8) - Land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8) - Land of rest (Deut. 12:9)
Significance	- Christ as life (Col. 3:4 "Christ who is our life") - Living out Christ (Gal. 2:20 "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me")	- Christ as satisfaction (Ps. 36:8 "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Your house") - Tasting Christ's sweetness (Ps. 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good")
Characteristics	- Union with the Lord in spirit (1 Cor. 6:17 "He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit") - Living in the mingled spirit (Rom. 8:16)	- Enjoying the Lord in soul (Ps. 63:5) - Renewal of mind (Rom. 12:2)
Distinctions	- Can experience Christ in suffering (2 Cor. 4:7-10) - Exercise spirit to contact the Lord (1 Tim. 4:7)	- Requires soul healing (Ps. 23:3) - Requires mind renewal (Eph. 4:23)
Illustration	- Like Paul experiencing Christ in prison (Phil. 1:20-21) - Counting all things loss (Phil. 3:7-8)	- Like David resting in green pastures (Ps. 23:2) - Like Mary sitting at Jesus' feet (Luke 10:39)
Examples	- Paul knowing the secret in all circumstances (Phil. 4:11-13) - Stephen's martyrdom experience (Acts 7:55-56)	- Psalmist enjoying God's presence (Ps. 16:11) - Bride enjoying the Beloved (Song 2:3)
Application	- Deny self (Matt. 16:24) - Walk according to spirit (Rom. 8:4) - Pray in everything (Phil. 4:6-7)	- Set mind on spirit (Rom. 8:6) - Praise and thank (Ps. 100:4) - Meditate on Word (Ps. 119:15)
Key Verses	- "That I may know Him..." (Phil. 3:10) - "Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20) - "Stand firm in one spirit" (Phil. 1:27) - "For to me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21)	- "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps. 34:8) - "Make my joy complete" (Phil. 2:2) - "Rejoice in the Lord" (Phil. 4:4) - "Bless the Lord, O my soul" (Ps. 103:1)
Relationship	Biblical testimony of their unity: 1. "I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil. 3:8) 2. "That your joy may be full" (John 15:11) 3. "Joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8)

 

Additional Notes:

1.      Balance of Experience and Enjoyment:

o   "Your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless" (1 Thess. 5:23)

o   "Worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)

2.      Path to Deepening:

o   "To be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6)

o   "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" (Phil. 4:6)

3.      Complete Experience:

o   "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight" (Ps. 19:14)

o   "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jer. 15:16)

 

*Please refer to the 2024 International Thanksgiving Conference  'Living the Christian Life and Church Life under God's Government for God's Economy'  Chapter 4 Becoming a Replica of Christ and Experiencing Christ as the Shepherd of Our Soul