The God-man Living vs. The Shepherding Living

 

The God-man Living vs. The Shepherding Living

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live in faith with the Son of God, whom he loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1 Peter 5:2-4 “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you…and when the chief shepherd appears you will be crowned with glory”;

John 21:15 After they had finished their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 

Item	The God-man Living	The Shepherding Living	Integrated Revelation
Meaning	Living God, expressing God, and representing God by living Christ.	Ministering the Christ whom we live into others for their growth.	The God-man living is the content; the shepherding living is its outflow.
Reason	God desires a corporate expression of Himself through many God-men.	God builds up the Body of Christ through shepherding.	Our being must precede our doing.
Illustration	A vine absorbing the life supply.	The vine supplying life to the branches.	Receiving life results in supplying life.
Another Illustration	Eating the Tree of Life daily.	Bearing fruit to nourish others.	Those who enjoy Christ become those who minister Christ.
Explanation	Abiding in Christ, fellowshipping with Him, and walking according to the Spirit.	Seeking, feeding, cherishing, restoring, perfecting, and caring for God's flock.	Shepherding is the spontaneous issue of the God-man living.
Result	Personal transformation into a God-man.	Corporate building up of the Body of Christ.	Personal maturity produces corporate building.
Goal	To live Christ.	To minister Christ.	Both consummate in the building up of the church and the New Jerusalem.
Life Direction	Living unto God.	Flowing out God to others.	Upward fellowship produces outward ministry.
Life Nature	Being filled with God.	Dispensing God into others.	Receiving precedes dispensing.
Nature of Service	An inward life.	An outward ministry.	Ministry always proceeds from life.
Center	Mingling with God.	Fellowship with God's people.	Mingling produces fellowship.
Supreme Pattern	Christ's God-man living for thirty-three and a half years.	Christ's shepherding ministry culminating in His life-giving death.	The same Christ manifested in two complementary aspects.
Highest Principle	Not living by the self.	Not shepherding by the natural life.	Christ Himself is everything.
Overview of Related Scriptures	The God-man Living  Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21; John 15:4–5; Romans 8:4; Ephesians 4:20–24; Colossians 3:4 Living in the Kingdom         John 3:3, 5; Romans 14:17; Matthew 6:33 The Divine Species             John 1:12–13; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:1–2 Living God     John 6:57; 2 Corinthians 3:18 Shepherding John 10:11, 14–16; John 21:15–17; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2–4; Hebrews 13:20 Building Up the Body          Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 2:21–22 The New Revival     Habakkuk 3:2; Hosea 6:2–3; Revelation 2–3; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 22:1–2

 

Spiritual Sequence

Order	The God-man Living	The Shepherding Living
1	Regenerated with God's life	Realizing the need of God's people
2	Enjoying Christ daily	Caring for Christ's flock
3	Being constituted with the truth	Feeding others with the truth
4	Being filled with the Spirit	Shepherding in the Spirit
5	Living Christ	Ministering Christ
6	Expressing Christ	Reproducing Christ in others
7	Being built up personally	Building up the Body
8	Becoming a mature God-man	Perfecting others to become God-men
9	Bringing in the new revival	Spreading the new revival

Spiritual Formula

The God-man Living → Filled with the Divine Life → Overflowing with God's Love → Shepherding According to God → Building Up the Body of Christ → The New Revival → The New Jerusalem

Mutual Relationship

The God-man Living	The Shepherding Living
The Life	The Supply of Life
The Root	The Fruit
The Fountain	The Flowing River
Abiding in Christ	Flowing out Christ
Inward Constitution	Outward Ministry
Enjoying Christ	Ministering Christ
Personal Experience	Corporate Building
Life Maturity	Life Multiplication
Kingdom Living	Church Living
The Foundation of the New Revival	The Practice of the New Revival

Summary Statement

The God-man living is the source of the shepherding living, and the shepherding living is the expression of the God-man living.

Biblical Examples

Person	The God-man Living	The Shepherding Living
Jesus Christ	Lived constantly with the Father	Sought the lost, fed the flock, and laid down His life
Peter	Transformed by the Lord	"Feed My lambs... Shepherd My sheep." (John 21)
Paul	"To me, to live is Christ."	Shepherded the churches with tears day and night
John	Abided in the Lord	Nourished God's children in love
Moses	Fellowshipped with God face to face	Shepherded Israel for forty years
David	A man after God's heart	Shepherded Israel with integrity

 

Practical Application in the Church Life

The God-man Living	The Shepherding Living
Morning revival	Feed others after enjoying the Lord
Prayer	Intercessory prayer
Feeding on God's Word	Sharing God's Word
Experiencing the cross	Caring for the weak
Walking in the mingled spirit	Contacting people's spirit
Following the Spirit	Leading others to follow the Spirit
Daily renewal	Daily visitation and shepherding
Living Christ	Ministering Christ

 

Ministry Burden

The God-man Living	The Shepherding Living
Every believer becoming a God-man	Every believer becoming a shepherd
Living Christ	Ministering Christ
Living in the kingdom	Building up the church
Being one with the Lord	Cooperating with the Lord
Growing in life	Perfecting others in life
Becoming a pattern	Reproducing the pattern

Ministry Emphasis

• The God-man living is the foundation of genuine shepherding.
• Without the God-man living, there can be no real shepherding.
• A genuine God-man living always issues in shepherding.

Prophesying Guidelines

1.      A God-man living is not imitating Jesus but allowing Christ to live in us.

2.      The God-man living is living in the kingdom as the divine species.

3.      A genuine God-man living spontaneously issues in shepherding.

4.      Shepherding is not merely a work—it is the supply of life.

5.      We shepherd not by natural affection but by the love of God.

6.      The God-man living expresses God; the shepherding living dispenses God.

7.      The new revival is produced by a group of God-men living a shepherding life.

8.      Every perfected saint should become a shepherd.

9.      The God-man living brings in the kingdom, while the shepherding living builds up the church.

10.    Today the Lord needs people who both live Christ and minister Christ.

Ultimate Conclusion

The God-man Living	→	The Shepherding Living	→	The Fulfillment of God's Eternal Economy
Living Christ	→	Ministering Christ	→	Building up the Body of Christ
Expressing God	→	Dispensing God	→	Producing the one new man
Being one with God	→	Fellowshipping with people	→	Building up the church
Living in the kingdom	→	Shepherding the church	→	Bringing in the new revival
Maturity in the divine life	→	Multiplication of the divine life	→	The New Jerusalem

 

One-Sentence Summary

The God-man living is the inward life and source of the shepherding living, while the shepherding living is the outward expression and overflow of the God-man living. Together they enable believers to live Christ, minister Christ, cooperate with Christ's heavenly ministry, shepherd God's flock according to God, build up the Body of Christ, bring in the new revival, and ultimately consummate in the New Jerusalem.

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Memorial Day Special Conference theme: The Urgent Need for a New Revival, Part Six: Shepherding According to God.