The 9 basic principles of morning revival:
1) The unique center of morning revival is Christ.
2) The highest purpose of morning revival is mutual satisfaction.
3) The outstanding characteristic of morning revival is love.
4) The most critical experience of morning revival is life.
5) The most crucial exercise of morning revival is the spirit.
6) The necessary ingredient in our practice of morning revival is our opening through speaking (calling, confessing, praising, thanking, etc).
7) The long term key of our practice of morning revival is simplicity.
8) The ultimate goal of morning revival is our living.
9) The enabling factor of morning revival is grace.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Digesting the Word
Bible Verses
John 15:7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
Eph 6:17 And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, (18) By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit...
Words of Ministry
Many Christians have stored up much of the Word [through reading and studying] but have digested very little of it. Now is the time for them to digest the Word each day a little at a time. We need to pray with and over the Word sentence by sentence, clause by clause, phrase by phrase, and even word by word, digesting what we read. If we pray over the words that we read, the spiritual nourishment will come forth, and we shall be nourished and strengthened in the spirit.
While the Lord is moving, acting, motivating, and energizing within us, what shall we do? Should we keep our mouths closed? No, we shall certainly feel impelled to utter something. We shall surely express what we feel within. This is spiritual prayer, prayer in the spirit. The spiritual prayer expresses the moving of Christ within us. Christ in, through, and as the Word is moving, acting, motivating, and energizing within us. When this happens, we cannot be silent... We become the mouthpiece for the Lord to utter what is within us at that very moment. Then, whatever we ask, it is not only we who are praying but also He who is praying in
our praying.
If we abide in the Lord, keep ourselves always in contact and in fellowship with the Lord, and let the Lord with His word live, move, motivate, and energize within us, we would be unable to keep our mouths shut. What we speak will be a real prayer in the spirit.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-Study of John, pp. 413-416. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
John 15:7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
Eph 6:17 And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, (18) By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit...
Words of Ministry
Many Christians have stored up much of the Word [through reading and studying] but have digested very little of it. Now is the time for them to digest the Word each day a little at a time. We need to pray with and over the Word sentence by sentence, clause by clause, phrase by phrase, and even word by word, digesting what we read. If we pray over the words that we read, the spiritual nourishment will come forth, and we shall be nourished and strengthened in the spirit.
While the Lord is moving, acting, motivating, and energizing within us, what shall we do? Should we keep our mouths closed? No, we shall certainly feel impelled to utter something. We shall surely express what we feel within. This is spiritual prayer, prayer in the spirit. The spiritual prayer expresses the moving of Christ within us. Christ in, through, and as the Word is moving, acting, motivating, and energizing within us. When this happens, we cannot be silent... We become the mouthpiece for the Lord to utter what is within us at that very moment. Then, whatever we ask, it is not only we who are praying but also He who is praying in
our praying.
If we abide in the Lord, keep ourselves always in contact and in fellowship with the Lord, and let the Lord with His word live, move, motivate, and energize within us, we would be unable to keep our mouths shut. What we speak will be a real prayer in the spirit.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-Study of John, pp. 413-416. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Building Up with What We “Have”
Bible Verses
1 Cor 14:26 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.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.
Words of Ministry
There are two difficulties in the church. First, those who do not “have” think that they “have.” ...God has never said anything to him or worked in him. He has nothing within him, yet he likes to talk, and he likes to express himself. When this happens, the church is not built up. Second, some people are unwilling to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord may have spoken to a brother or a sister, yet he or she waits and holds back from speaking. In this way the church is deprived of the supply it deserves. If you find that you are empty inside, you should keep silent. If you know that you “have” something, you should supply the church. The Holy Spirit dispenses life to the meeting through what you have, making it possible for God's children to touch life. God may put a word within you; the same word may be in you while you are at work and while you are walking on the street. You realize that God has spoken to you. You should realize that this word is not for you alone but also for the church. When you “have” something, you should supply the church with what you have.
At the time the tabernacle was built in the Old Testament times, the people dedicated their gold and silver to God. The same is true with us today. We should give what we have. Some have a revelation, some have a teaching, and some have a hymn. Let everyone bring what he has.
In our daily walk, we should have constant communion with God and look to Him for His work in us, so that we will “have” something and be able to supply the church with what we have. We should remember that God guides us in the meeting according to what we already have--a hymn or a revelation. We must first have something that we can share with others. Since we have learned and accumulated something during our daily walk, we can be guided in the meetings and render a supply to others. What we give to the church should not be something that we come up with on the spur of the moment or something that is according to our own good idea but something we have in our daily life, that is, something God has given us during our daily life. If we supply the church with what we have, the church will be built up, and the brothers and sisters will receive help. If everyone supplies the church with what they have, the result will be living and rich.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 69-71. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
1 Cor 14:26 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.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.
Words of Ministry
There are two difficulties in the church. First, those who do not “have” think that they “have.” ...God has never said anything to him or worked in him. He has nothing within him, yet he likes to talk, and he likes to express himself. When this happens, the church is not built up. Second, some people are unwilling to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord may have spoken to a brother or a sister, yet he or she waits and holds back from speaking. In this way the church is deprived of the supply it deserves. If you find that you are empty inside, you should keep silent. If you know that you “have” something, you should supply the church. The Holy Spirit dispenses life to the meeting through what you have, making it possible for God's children to touch life. God may put a word within you; the same word may be in you while you are at work and while you are walking on the street. You realize that God has spoken to you. You should realize that this word is not for you alone but also for the church. When you “have” something, you should supply the church with what you have.
At the time the tabernacle was built in the Old Testament times, the people dedicated their gold and silver to God. The same is true with us today. We should give what we have. Some have a revelation, some have a teaching, and some have a hymn. Let everyone bring what he has.
In our daily walk, we should have constant communion with God and look to Him for His work in us, so that we will “have” something and be able to supply the church with what we have. We should remember that God guides us in the meeting according to what we already have--a hymn or a revelation. We must first have something that we can share with others. Since we have learned and accumulated something during our daily walk, we can be guided in the meetings and render a supply to others. What we give to the church should not be something that we come up with on the spur of the moment or something that is according to our own good idea but something we have in our daily life, that is, something God has given us during our daily life. If we supply the church with what we have, the church will be built up, and the brothers and sisters will receive help. If everyone supplies the church with what they have, the result will be living and rich.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 69-71. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A Proper Care for the Meetings
Bible Verses
1 Cor. 14:26 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. (29) And as to prophets, two or three should speak, and the others discern. (30) But if something is revealed to another sitting by, the first should be silent. (31) For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged. (32) And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; (33) For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Words of Ministry
First Corinthians 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit guides us by means of what we have, while verses 27 to 33 tell us that the guidance of the Holy Spirit is also in accord with the circumstances. For instance, the evening meeting in the church ends at nine o'clock. The Holy Spirit will not guide you to stand up and give a long talk when it is nearly nine; He will make you realize that time is running out and that you should not call a long hymn or talk too much. While you supply the church with what you have, you must also learn the lesson that “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” If you have something, you can bring it to the meeting, but you must consider what others have.
In the meeting there may be more than twenty brothers and each one may have a hymn; you also have a hymn. When you realize that two or three have called their hymns, you no longer need to call yours. There is no need for each of the twenty or more brothers to call a hymn; if this happens, the singing will go on until midnight. This is contrary to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants us to do all things becomingly and in order (1 Cor. 14:40). What we have qualifies us to supply others, while the circumstances teach us to be guided by the Spirit. In our meetings we should observe the principle of “two or three” (1 Cor. 14:29). The Spirit will not guide us to supply what we do not have, nor will He contradict the principle of “two or three.” If we have something before the Lord, we can be guided to stand up and speak. However, if other brothers have received the same thing, we should hold our peace.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 68-69. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
1 Cor. 14:26 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. (29) And as to prophets, two or three should speak, and the others discern. (30) But if something is revealed to another sitting by, the first should be silent. (31) For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged. (32) And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; (33) For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Words of Ministry
First Corinthians 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit guides us by means of what we have, while verses 27 to 33 tell us that the guidance of the Holy Spirit is also in accord with the circumstances. For instance, the evening meeting in the church ends at nine o'clock. The Holy Spirit will not guide you to stand up and give a long talk when it is nearly nine; He will make you realize that time is running out and that you should not call a long hymn or talk too much. While you supply the church with what you have, you must also learn the lesson that “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” If you have something, you can bring it to the meeting, but you must consider what others have.
In the meeting there may be more than twenty brothers and each one may have a hymn; you also have a hymn. When you realize that two or three have called their hymns, you no longer need to call yours. There is no need for each of the twenty or more brothers to call a hymn; if this happens, the singing will go on until midnight. This is contrary to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants us to do all things becomingly and in order (1 Cor. 14:40). What we have qualifies us to supply others, while the circumstances teach us to be guided by the Spirit. In our meetings we should observe the principle of “two or three” (1 Cor. 14:29). The Spirit will not guide us to supply what we do not have, nor will He contradict the principle of “two or three.” If we have something before the Lord, we can be guided to stand up and speak. However, if other brothers have received the same thing, we should hold our peace.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 68-69. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Each One Has
Bible Verses
1 Cor. 14:24 But if all prophesy and some unbeliever or unlearned person enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all; (25) The secrets of his heart become
manifest; and so falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that indeed God is among you. (26) 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.
Words of Ministry
First Corinthians 14 teaches us how we should meet. Verse 26 means that when we meet, some will have a hymn, some will have a teaching, some will have a revelation, some will speak in tongues, and some will have interpretation of tongues. Everyone builds up the church with what they have. The question of supply at the meeting is not settled at the time of the meeting but in our own house. What we have at home will be what we have at the meeting. What we do not have at home we will not have at the meeting. The “has” in this verse is not the result of personal preference, personal thought, or sudden emotional impulse. What a person receives as he exercises daily before God is what he “has”; they are the things that are constituted in the spirit. This spiritual accumulation is what we have, and it is what we can use to supply the need of the church in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Hence, those who have a hymn should supply the church with a hymn. Those who have a revelation should supply the church with a revelation. Those with a teaching should supply the church with a teaching. Every one supplies the need in the church with what he has, not with what he does not have. Whatever you have is what you can minister to the church. For instance, you may have a hymn that you want to sing; it keeps coming to you, and you cannot help it. This means there is music in your heart; there is a hymn in your heart. This is your hymn. You do not come to the meeting and look for a hymn. Rather, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you supply the hymn you “have” for the edification of the church. There may be a few words which have become very precious to you during the past few days. These are your words. Similarly, you may have a revelation or a teaching; you just supply the church with what you have. Brothers and sisters, what has the Lord done or said to you these days?
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 67-68. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
1 Cor. 14:24 But if all prophesy and some unbeliever or unlearned person enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all; (25) The secrets of his heart become
manifest; and so falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that indeed God is among you. (26) 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.
Words of Ministry
First Corinthians 14 teaches us how we should meet. Verse 26 means that when we meet, some will have a hymn, some will have a teaching, some will have a revelation, some will speak in tongues, and some will have interpretation of tongues. Everyone builds up the church with what they have. The question of supply at the meeting is not settled at the time of the meeting but in our own house. What we have at home will be what we have at the meeting. What we do not have at home we will not have at the meeting. The “has” in this verse is not the result of personal preference, personal thought, or sudden emotional impulse. What a person receives as he exercises daily before God is what he “has”; they are the things that are constituted in the spirit. This spiritual accumulation is what we have, and it is what we can use to supply the need of the church in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Hence, those who have a hymn should supply the church with a hymn. Those who have a revelation should supply the church with a revelation. Those with a teaching should supply the church with a teaching. Every one supplies the need in the church with what he has, not with what he does not have. Whatever you have is what you can minister to the church. For instance, you may have a hymn that you want to sing; it keeps coming to you, and you cannot help it. This means there is music in your heart; there is a hymn in your heart. This is your hymn. You do not come to the meeting and look for a hymn. Rather, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you supply the hymn you “have” for the edification of the church. There may be a few words which have become very precious to you during the past few days. These are your words. Similarly, you may have a revelation or a teaching; you just supply the church with what you have. Brothers and sisters, what has the Lord done or said to you these days?
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 67-68. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Praying Together in One Accord
Bible Verses
Matt. 18:19 Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens.
Acts 1:14 These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer...
Words of Ministry
We have to note the difference between personal prayers and prayers in the prayer meeting. When we are praying by ourselves, we only have to take care of our personal burden. But in the prayer meeting, we have to take care of the burden of the meeting, and we must not care for our personal burden alone. Therefore, in the prayer meeting, we have to learn to sense the feeling of the meeting. Some matters only require one prayer; there is no need to pray anymore for them because the meeting has no more burden for it. But some matters require more than one prayer; they need to be prayed about over and over again. If a burden is not released, we should not pray for another matter. We can only change the subject when the burden is released. Only then can we pick up another burden from the Lord to pray.
In the prayer meeting, we have to learn that when one prays for a matter, the second, third, fourth, and fifth person should also pray for the same matter. Even if one person can pray by himself or five persons can pray by themselves, when they come together, they may not be able to pray in one accord. The prayer of one accord is something that one learns. One person may know how to pray by himself, and five persons may know how to pray by themselves. But when they come together, they still need to learn a new kind of prayer; they need to learn to pray in one accord. Our prayer in the meeting is something that is learned; it is not something that we know how to do right from the beginning.
If two persons pray in one accord, God will answer this prayer (Matt. 18:19). This is not a small thing. We have to enter into others' feelings and know what the prayer of the church is. We have to learn to feel whether or not a prayer burden has been released. If we do this, we will know how to fulfill the ministry of prayer in the meeting.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 65-66. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Matt. 18:19 Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens.
Acts 1:14 These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer...
Words of Ministry
We have to note the difference between personal prayers and prayers in the prayer meeting. When we are praying by ourselves, we only have to take care of our personal burden. But in the prayer meeting, we have to take care of the burden of the meeting, and we must not care for our personal burden alone. Therefore, in the prayer meeting, we have to learn to sense the feeling of the meeting. Some matters only require one prayer; there is no need to pray anymore for them because the meeting has no more burden for it. But some matters require more than one prayer; they need to be prayed about over and over again. If a burden is not released, we should not pray for another matter. We can only change the subject when the burden is released. Only then can we pick up another burden from the Lord to pray.
In the prayer meeting, we have to learn that when one prays for a matter, the second, third, fourth, and fifth person should also pray for the same matter. Even if one person can pray by himself or five persons can pray by themselves, when they come together, they may not be able to pray in one accord. The prayer of one accord is something that one learns. One person may know how to pray by himself, and five persons may know how to pray by themselves. But when they come together, they still need to learn a new kind of prayer; they need to learn to pray in one accord. Our prayer in the meeting is something that is learned; it is not something that we know how to do right from the beginning.
If two persons pray in one accord, God will answer this prayer (Matt. 18:19). This is not a small thing. We have to enter into others' feelings and know what the prayer of the church is. We have to learn to feel whether or not a prayer burden has been released. If we do this, we will know how to fulfill the ministry of prayer in the meeting.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 65-66. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Riches Coming from Enlightenment
Bible Verses
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel (9) And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.
Eph 2:7 That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Words of Ministry
Riches come from enlightenment. When the light shines, we become rich. However, when we are enlightened, we do not have a feeling of increase but one of stripping. Once the light comes, all the former things are shattered, and what we originally had is torn down. It is true that when we are under the light, we have some increase before God. But on our side, we do not feel anything. What goes on before the Lord is one thing, and what goes on in our feeling is another thing. God may give us something once, twice, or three times. If we feel that we have increased, it proves that we have not seen anything. If we truly see something, we will feel as if we are newly saved and just starting out on our journey. It does not mean that we were not saved before this time; it means that in our feeling, we feel as if we were not saved. We feel empty and feel as if we never had a beginning. Hence, those who are rich feel that they have nothing under the light.
Our God is a rich God. He does not wish to see His children being in poverty. His works are not works of wood, grass, and stubble. The vessels He uses are not vessels of dishonor. He is a rich God, and His vessels are rich vessels. God's riches are deep and profound; they are such that “there is no room for it” (Mal. 3:10). His grace is always such that there is not room enough to receive it! His works in us are always such that there is not room enough to receive them. God does not work in a stingy way. He is not weak or miserly. This rich God can make us rich people. He is always giving us more and more. Every time He gives us something, we feel as if we are receiving it for the first time. This may sound strange, yet this is a fact. May the Lord be merciful to us, so that we truly see something before Him and so that we truly have the light. The proud ones are the foolish ones, and they are always poor ones. May the Lord empty us so that we can enter into His riches.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, p. 62. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel (9) And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.
Eph 2:7 That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Words of Ministry
Riches come from enlightenment. When the light shines, we become rich. However, when we are enlightened, we do not have a feeling of increase but one of stripping. Once the light comes, all the former things are shattered, and what we originally had is torn down. It is true that when we are under the light, we have some increase before God. But on our side, we do not feel anything. What goes on before the Lord is one thing, and what goes on in our feeling is another thing. God may give us something once, twice, or three times. If we feel that we have increased, it proves that we have not seen anything. If we truly see something, we will feel as if we are newly saved and just starting out on our journey. It does not mean that we were not saved before this time; it means that in our feeling, we feel as if we were not saved. We feel empty and feel as if we never had a beginning. Hence, those who are rich feel that they have nothing under the light.
Our God is a rich God. He does not wish to see His children being in poverty. His works are not works of wood, grass, and stubble. The vessels He uses are not vessels of dishonor. He is a rich God, and His vessels are rich vessels. God's riches are deep and profound; they are such that “there is no room for it” (Mal. 3:10). His grace is always such that there is not room enough to receive it! His works in us are always such that there is not room enough to receive them. God does not work in a stingy way. He is not weak or miserly. This rich God can make us rich people. He is always giving us more and more. Every time He gives us something, we feel as if we are receiving it for the first time. This may sound strange, yet this is a fact. May the Lord be merciful to us, so that we truly see something before Him and so that we truly have the light. The proud ones are the foolish ones, and they are always poor ones. May the Lord empty us so that we can enter into His riches.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, p. 62. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
The Blessing of Knowing Our Poverty (2)
Bible Verses
Matt .5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
James 4:6 But He gives greater grace; therefore it says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Rev .3:17 Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Words of Ministry
(Part 2 of 2)
Poverty is not a hindrance if it does not come with pride. But nothing can be done about poverty when it is in a proud person. Poverty is not the problem. Being like Laodicea is a problem because Laodicea was poor and proud yet thought that she was rich. In the spiritual realm, it is hard to find a person who is poor but not proud. On the contrary, it is often the rich ones who are not proud. It is a pity that many of God's children go around in circles and never advance. The sole reason that they suffer loss is because they think that they have something.
Did she [the church in Laodicea] have something? Yes, but what she had was of no benefit to her. If she really had something, she should have rejoiced, yet she was wretched and miserable. She did not behave as if she had anything. Her wretchedness and misery tell others that she was poor.
Poverty is always linked to blindness. Those who are spiritually poor are always blind. The blind ones always think that they are rich. Those who have not seen the cross think that they know the cross. Those who have not seen the kingdom think that they know the kingdom. Those who have not seen the Body of Christ think that they know the church. All those who think that they have something are poor. Whenever we truly see something, we will not dare to boast that we are rich. Whenever our eyes are opened, we will see that we are naked. Only the foolish ones boast of what they have. A Laodicean is poor, but does not see his own poverty. This is a warning to us.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 58-60. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Matt .5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
James 4:6 But He gives greater grace; therefore it says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Rev .3:17 Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Words of Ministry
(Part 2 of 2)
Poverty is not a hindrance if it does not come with pride. But nothing can be done about poverty when it is in a proud person. Poverty is not the problem. Being like Laodicea is a problem because Laodicea was poor and proud yet thought that she was rich. In the spiritual realm, it is hard to find a person who is poor but not proud. On the contrary, it is often the rich ones who are not proud. It is a pity that many of God's children go around in circles and never advance. The sole reason that they suffer loss is because they think that they have something.
Did she [the church in Laodicea] have something? Yes, but what she had was of no benefit to her. If she really had something, she should have rejoiced, yet she was wretched and miserable. She did not behave as if she had anything. Her wretchedness and misery tell others that she was poor.
Poverty is always linked to blindness. Those who are spiritually poor are always blind. The blind ones always think that they are rich. Those who have not seen the cross think that they know the cross. Those who have not seen the kingdom think that they know the kingdom. Those who have not seen the Body of Christ think that they know the church. All those who think that they have something are poor. Whenever we truly see something, we will not dare to boast that we are rich. Whenever our eyes are opened, we will see that we are naked. Only the foolish ones boast of what they have. A Laodicean is poor, but does not see his own poverty. This is a warning to us.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 58-60. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Monday, August 02, 2010
The Blessing of Knowing Our Poverty (1)
Bible Verses
Rev. 3:14 And to the messenger of the church in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God: (17) Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, (18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire that you may be rich, and white garments that you may be clothed and that the shame of your nakedness may not be manifested, and eyesalve to anoint your eyes that you may see. (19) As many as I love I rebuke and discipline; be zealous therefore and repent.
Words of Ministry
(Part 1 of 2)
Among God's children, there is a problem of a Laodicean attitude and a Laodicean heart. A man who thinks that he is rich but, in reality, is poor has a Laodicean attitude and a Laodicean heart.
In spiritual matters, the matter of having or not having is easy to resolve, but the matter of being poor or being rich is not as easy to resolve. Those who have nothing can easily see God, but those who have a little do not easily see God. Many people have nothing before God, and they often meet God. The worst kind of people are those who have a little; they understand a little of this and a little of that. But do they really know? Do they really understand? No. They speak a great deal, but they have not moved a single inch or advanced a single step. They are poor ones indeed.
The biggest problem with poverty is that a man will not easily admit that he is poor. Those who have nothing readily admit that they have nothing. If they have something, they say so, and if they do not have something, they also say so. This is very simple and clear. But poverty is something relative. In spiritual matters, God can deal with those who have nothing. Those who are poor, however, are hindered by the little that they possess. They think that they have something, and they become proud and self-sufficient.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 57-58. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Rev. 3:14 And to the messenger of the church in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God: (17) Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, (18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire that you may be rich, and white garments that you may be clothed and that the shame of your nakedness may not be manifested, and eyesalve to anoint your eyes that you may see. (19) As many as I love I rebuke and discipline; be zealous therefore and repent.
Words of Ministry
(Part 1 of 2)
Among God's children, there is a problem of a Laodicean attitude and a Laodicean heart. A man who thinks that he is rich but, in reality, is poor has a Laodicean attitude and a Laodicean heart.
In spiritual matters, the matter of having or not having is easy to resolve, but the matter of being poor or being rich is not as easy to resolve. Those who have nothing can easily see God, but those who have a little do not easily see God. Many people have nothing before God, and they often meet God. The worst kind of people are those who have a little; they understand a little of this and a little of that. But do they really know? Do they really understand? No. They speak a great deal, but they have not moved a single inch or advanced a single step. They are poor ones indeed.
The biggest problem with poverty is that a man will not easily admit that he is poor. Those who have nothing readily admit that they have nothing. If they have something, they say so, and if they do not have something, they also say so. This is very simple and clear. But poverty is something relative. In spiritual matters, God can deal with those who have nothing. Those who are poor, however, are hindered by the little that they possess. They think that they have something, and they become proud and self-sufficient.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 57-58. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
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