Snippets from Fellowship 7-9 May 2024

In fellowship with a senior brother, new light and revelation were bestowed upon me. Though much of the fellowship were absorbed inwardly and rather subjective, some of them can be articulated for future reference or perhaps, to serve as reminder. Herein I record them as snippets, a gleaning from the fellowship of iur spiritual farm.

As a minister of God’s word, we must always keep the word fresh in our being. Be careful to store the word of God. This requires a person to be one who is dwelling and abiding in the word of God. The word must operate in us; the more the word operates, the more the word shines. The anointing Spirit makes the word fresh and shining. Whatever we have received through teaching or revelation must be kept fresh. Then, the saints will receive the life supply. The Lord's teaching does give knowledge but they are outward instruments to convey the inward revelation.

The Lord need brothers who can speak the word of God and minister God as light and revelation. 

The God of glory appeared to Abraham. It pleased the Father to reveal the Son in us and announce the gospel in us. When we receive more and more revelation concerning Christ, we receive light. 

Abraham left his Father because he saw the revelation and obeyed. Revelation then produces faith. This should be a daily event. 

Do not underestimate the simple things.

How do you gain the revelations?

It all begin by seeing the revelation. God use time. Abraham’s experiences in time frames. 73+20+17+17 years, a toral of127 years.

Exercise your spirit even to the point that it becomes a habit.

The Holy Spirit always guide us. The Spirit reminds you of what you what He has revealed.

We need the Holy Word opened to us.

We need light in our understanding.

Where death operates, light operates. 

Gain the storehouse of nourishing and enduring word. Gain this unique possession. The most important thing is to gain the unique possession, no matter what we do. Gather the unique possession. Do not look for the outward thing.

On Persecution

If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler into others’ affairs; But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. (1 Peter 4:14-16, RecVer)

To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, If perhaps I may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11, RecVer)

The Lord’s recovery is watered by the blood of martyrs. Where death operates, life operates. Even Hudson Taylor's coworkers where martyred in China. In 1910, many prayers have been offered by the saints for the persecuted Christians. Br. Watchman Nee was raised up during this period. The first generation coworkers, except for few, all died in the prison. 

Do not compromise. Be faithful unto death. Persecution is not strange. Be properly ambitious before the Lord. We do not know how long we can freely preach the full gospel. Where persecution is the highest, there the Christian population is also the highest. Where persecution is, resurrected will be.

Build up a local church and send people out.

Love the Lord Jesus and the word of God. 

If people love the word of God, half the work is done. The word will operate in them. A regenerated man has the capacity and taste of the word of God. Blend the saints into one without any preference. Only the one who is bendable can blend others. 

Jealousy and selfish ambition go together. Deny the self, forsake the soul life, and agree with the Lord. Jealousy has to be killed. Otherwise, the church cannot be built.

Our learning has to be completed. Appreciate your brother and learn from him. We need one another. Learn the lesson of knowing who you are not. Bear the cross. This will liberate us. Accept the brothers' portion and that will make you complete. 

Generalist

To be able to do a little bit of everything. That doesn't mean we should not be specific. We need to have many learnings and be balanced. If we only are specific, we don't know there are many necessary lessons to build up the Body of Christ. 

For example, an evangelist must know how to shepherd, teach, and build up the Body of Christ, in addition to evangelism. The more we learn different aspects, the more we know when and how much to emphasize. To be an adequate apostles, he must be a generalist. 

On Ephesians 4:11

Not everyone is an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher, but everyone must be able to function as any gifted ones.

Learn to be a generalist. Teaching and shepherding are the most important gift.

To be good shepherd and teacher is to pray for. Be a generalist. Humble yourself. Appreciate your brothers' function. Be balanced. 

"Watchman Nee is the most balanced person," said Witness Lee.

Even if the increase comes, you should never feel that the increase was because of you. Don't exalt anyone aspect. 

Or he who exhorts, in that exhortation; he who gives, in simplicity; he who leads, in diligence; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness. (Romans 12:8, RecVer)

A gift of who can lead. Study 2 Samuel 23, its an example of "he who leads."

Everything we do has to be for the building up.

What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26, RecVer)

Your gift must be for the building up, never for tearing down. The safest thing to be is to be a generalist. Do not be so sure of what you think you know.

To be balanced is to be coordinated. Being the oldest may give you the temptation to usurpt the headship of Christ. Being the senior most or the oldest does not make one the head of the church. Only Christ is the Head. There cannot be a "pope" among us. No pontification. Be a slave. The Lord Jesus did nothing apart from the Father. 

"Down with all the popes", write a hymn.

If your hand or leg stumble you, cut it off.

Blend the saints into one. All the lumps and independent items in you be cut off. Be bendable. 

Wherever you serve, does it perfect oneness or damage oneness. It is possible to damage the Body of Christ with good intention. Your natural man must be dealt with, even your good intention. 

You must be blind in the sense that all the saints should be beautiful. You must have many many learnings. As leading one, a big danger is, you like certain kind of brother. Don't choose. Work with whoever the Lord places you with. If you choose, you will suffer. Sometimes, the one you choose may become the biggest opposer. Learn not to choose. 

Time is the best test. Time will manifest who is who. 

Unless you are blind, you cannot discern anything. Learn to look to the Lord. In resurrection, we will have some amount of discernment, by His mercy. We need discernment. Be death to your natural discernment. This is needed to blend the saints together. 

Bring others into function. Love all the brothers. Use all the brothers. Be balanced between discernment and using everyone. 

Do not be narrow hearted, either by selfishness or narrowness and lack of learning. If your learning is enlarged, your heart will be enlarged. 

Sevenfold oil needs sevenfold shining. The lampstands needs seven times more oil.