Words does not suffice to thank God enough for all His tender, fine and intimate care for His children. Especially in this age of the Body, Christ the Head operates through the members of His Body and operates in the members. A very fine and specific operation was done yesterday; I called it "Operation Spiritual."
For a healthy body, a normal and timely health check-up is needed. For spiritual health too, God carries this out in His sovereignty. Yesterday, a brother whom I treasure so much since the time I came to serve the Lord full-time, fellowshipped with us (a few brothers from both Delhi and Gurgaon) and "operated us spiritually." It was a great help and blessing to me personally; I believe the same happened with my fellow brothers too. Diagnosis from "God's operation theater" results in the following prescriptions:
The Word of God
The Word of God must be eaten daily and digested normally. Any lack in the Word of God results in spiritual deficiency issuing in many minor and major problems. A balanced healthy intake of the Word of God must never be neglected or overlooked. The Word of God must become flesh in the believers. Our living must be the living out of the Word of God.
Prayer and Pray-reading the Word
Personally and corporately, there must be regular prayer. Brothers serving in the church must come together regularly for prayer. We serve God by prayer. Before any work is carried out, there must be prayer. Brothers must learn to pray and pray and pray until the Lord breaks through in them and moves through them. With God, impossibilities become possibilities through prayer.
Accompanying prayer, there must also be the pray-reading of the Word of God. Only the digested Word in the believers can be the constitution and living out of the Word of God. Whenever brothers come together, there must be prayer and pray-reading the Word of God. This will change the inward being of the brothers.
Proper Person
Out person matters a lot in the Lord's work. The Lord's inward working in us is necessary to deal with all the negative hidden germs within. There are many blind spots which are veiled from us, but could be seen by others, especially by the more matured brothers in the Lord. When we are open to fellowship, the Lord will grace us to deal with all these negative elements and heal us. Only by such inward healing, we can become a proper person- a useful vessel to the Lord.
Not Playing Politics
Brothers should never play politics in the church, especially in administrative affairs of the church. Everything should be done by prayer and fellowship in coordination. Self ambition, opinion, pride and preferences must all be put to the cross, and resurrection life should prevail. All that we do must be in resurrection, in the new man.
Not Perfectionist
While we desire that every work done must be the best as we serve the Lord, who is the best of all, and indeed, we must give our best to the Best of the best. But one danger must be avoided. Do not be a perfectionist. Though it is best to be perfect in all our works, we must also be flexible to be adjusted and meet the urgent need. Our desire for perfection should not hinder the progress of the Lord's work. We must be flexible to meet the need of the time even if the work is not hundred percent perfect.
Coordination
No one can serve the Lord alone. In the age of the Body, we must serve the Lord in the Body in coordination. One who does not learn to coordinate does not know the Body and cannot serve the Lord in the Body. God is not after individualistic spirituality, but after a corporate-built-up Body. Only the Body can fulfill the desires of the Head.
Legality Versus Looseness
There must be a balance between legality and looseness. On the one hand, we must not be legal, yet we must not be loose either. Whenever necessary, we must exercise discipline and chastisement, but at the same time, we must be flexible, supplying life to the saints. We must not be too loose either where things get out of control and become a mess. Strictness must be balanced, so also looseness, so that life may be ministered to the saints for the building up of the Body of Christ.
For a healthy body, a normal and timely health check-up is needed. For spiritual health too, God carries this out in His sovereignty. Yesterday, a brother whom I treasure so much since the time I came to serve the Lord full-time, fellowshipped with us (a few brothers from both Delhi and Gurgaon) and "operated us spiritually." It was a great help and blessing to me personally; I believe the same happened with my fellow brothers too. Diagnosis from "God's operation theater" results in the following prescriptions:
The Word of God
The Word of God must be eaten daily and digested normally. Any lack in the Word of God results in spiritual deficiency issuing in many minor and major problems. A balanced healthy intake of the Word of God must never be neglected or overlooked. The Word of God must become flesh in the believers. Our living must be the living out of the Word of God.
Prayer and Pray-reading the Word
Personally and corporately, there must be regular prayer. Brothers serving in the church must come together regularly for prayer. We serve God by prayer. Before any work is carried out, there must be prayer. Brothers must learn to pray and pray and pray until the Lord breaks through in them and moves through them. With God, impossibilities become possibilities through prayer.
Accompanying prayer, there must also be the pray-reading of the Word of God. Only the digested Word in the believers can be the constitution and living out of the Word of God. Whenever brothers come together, there must be prayer and pray-reading the Word of God. This will change the inward being of the brothers.
Proper Person
Out person matters a lot in the Lord's work. The Lord's inward working in us is necessary to deal with all the negative hidden germs within. There are many blind spots which are veiled from us, but could be seen by others, especially by the more matured brothers in the Lord. When we are open to fellowship, the Lord will grace us to deal with all these negative elements and heal us. Only by such inward healing, we can become a proper person- a useful vessel to the Lord.
Not Playing Politics
Brothers should never play politics in the church, especially in administrative affairs of the church. Everything should be done by prayer and fellowship in coordination. Self ambition, opinion, pride and preferences must all be put to the cross, and resurrection life should prevail. All that we do must be in resurrection, in the new man.
Not Perfectionist
While we desire that every work done must be the best as we serve the Lord, who is the best of all, and indeed, we must give our best to the Best of the best. But one danger must be avoided. Do not be a perfectionist. Though it is best to be perfect in all our works, we must also be flexible to be adjusted and meet the urgent need. Our desire for perfection should not hinder the progress of the Lord's work. We must be flexible to meet the need of the time even if the work is not hundred percent perfect.
Coordination
No one can serve the Lord alone. In the age of the Body, we must serve the Lord in the Body in coordination. One who does not learn to coordinate does not know the Body and cannot serve the Lord in the Body. God is not after individualistic spirituality, but after a corporate-built-up Body. Only the Body can fulfill the desires of the Head.
Legality Versus Looseness
There must be a balance between legality and looseness. On the one hand, we must not be legal, yet we must not be loose either. Whenever necessary, we must exercise discipline and chastisement, but at the same time, we must be flexible, supplying life to the saints. We must not be too loose either where things get out of control and become a mess. Strictness must be balanced, so also looseness, so that life may be ministered to the saints for the building up of the Body of Christ.
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