How to Enjoy the Bountiful Supply of the Spirit in Philippians 1:19

   Have you ever wondered what the basic thought of the Bible is?  Take at look at this statement  that begins Chapter 36 of the Life-Study of Philippians:  The basic thought of the Bible is that the Triune God desires to work Himself into man so that man may take Him as life and live Him.  Then Witness Lee points out that instead of taking the Bible as food Christians come and pick up ethics, culture, religion, and philosophy. 

He gives 2 classic verses on the Bible being food—

With some of my grandkids checking out crabs!

Thy words were found and I did eat them.  Jeremiah 15:16

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

In Chapters 35-37 of the Life-Study of Philippians Witness Lee shares about how praying the word or pray-reading as he calls it is a great way to receive the bountiful supply of the Spirit.  These excerpts come from pages 318-320: 

The best way to eat the word is to  pray-read….When we read the word, we should mingle our reading with prayer. As we exercise our eyes and our mind, we should also exercise our spirit to touch the Spirit. Then all that is in the Word will become in our experience the bountiful supply of the Spirit….In their time of personal devotions some Christians may read Psalm 133. As they read, they may begin to analyze and to ask about the precious ointment, the beard, the skirts, the dew, and Mount Hermon. Instead of receiving the bountiful supply, they are left with many unanswered questions.  But if we pray-read Psalm 133, we shall take this portion in the way of life.  As we pray-read, we may say, ‘Behold, amen! How good and how pleasant, amen.’ By taking the Word in this way, we shall apply the all-inclusive Spirit to our inner being  (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Philippians. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1980, Print).

     Like most of us learned along the way, the foods that we eat contain germ killing elements.  And as we eat, we’re not even aware that this process is taking place.  By eating properly, our body can fight disease. Isn't it amazing that it’s the same for maintaining our spiritual health?  At the end of this chapter brother lee encourages us to come to the word of God prayerfully every day.  So in more ways than one we are what we eat!

You can listen to excerpts from the Life-Study of Philippians given in 1980 on The Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.  The commentary is excellent.

Blog Update 5/22/14:  Check out the  new free book put out by Bibles for America called A Life of Forbearance But Without Anxiety. 

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Philippians:

What is the Bountiful Supply of the Spirit in Philippians 1:19?
What Does It Mean to Magnify Christ in Philippians 1:20-23?
How Does Religion, Philosophy & Culture Relate to Philippians 3:5-6?
Have You Ever Wondered What Gaining Christ is in Philippians 3:8?
Why Does Paul Put Anxiety and Prayer Together in Philippians 4:6?
What's Paul's Secret in Philippians 4:12?
What Does It Mean to Live Christ in Philippians 1:19-21?
From the Life-Study of Philippians:  What's the Theme of the Bible?
What is the Sacrifice of Faith in Philippians 2:17?