Bible Verses
Rom. 12:4 For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, (5) So we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
1 Cor. 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were the hearing, where would the smelling be? (18) But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He willed.
Words of Ministry
Brothers and sisters, none of us can be a passive member in the Body. As long as we are a member of the Body, we cannot be passive, and we cannot be a bystander in the meetings. When we come to the meeting, we should realize that we are a member in the Body of Christ and that we have to pray. They may be audible prayers or silent prayers. But we must at least pray and minister life to the Body. Some Christians are suppliers of life; once they come to a meeting, the meeting receives their supply even when they do not open their mouth to speak. Their very presence is a life supply to others. Wherever they go, death is swallowed up. Brothers and sisters, once we see the Body of Christ, we will inevitably see ourselves as members.
We are members of the Body of Christ. As members severally of this Body, we should seek to profit the Body. We should seek for ways to supply life and power to the Body. Even if we do not open our mouth in the meeting, we should pray silently, and even if we do not speak, we should always be looking to God. This is being Body-conscious. Once we see the Body, we will no longer say that we are dispensable or unimportant. Once we see the Body, we will say that we are a member of the Body and that we have a responsibility to fulfill. We should speak, and we should pray. When we come to the meeting, we will do whatever God tells us to do. We cannot be a bystander. Brothers and sisters, if we see the Body, we will not act in any other way. When we function this way, the life of the meeting will swallow up all death. Many meetings do not have enough power because the presence of death is too strong; there are too many bystanders in these meetings.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.247-248. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Being a Member in the Body (1)
Bible Verses
Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to be sober-minded, as God has apportioned to each a measure of faith. (4) For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, (5) So we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of
another.
Words of Ministry
The Lord has assigned a portion to each one of us. We should not consider ourselves greater than what we are. We should be faithful to the portion that the Lord has assigned to us, and we should honor the portion that the Lord has assigned to others. Many young people are always comparing themselves with others; they say that they have this and that, and that others do not have this and that. Or they say that they do not have this and that, and that others have this and that. Actually, it is impossible to make such comparisons. If you ask whether the hands are better or the eyes are better, I can only say that both are good. Those who see the Body will see that all the members have their functions; they will see that they are only one of the many members. They will not place themselves in a conspicuous position and make comparisons with others or usurp their places.
Once a Christian sees the Body, it will be impossible for him to be proud or jealous anymore. Since the Body is one, it will be the same if the work is done by others or by ourselves; there will be no difference at all. Whether the work is done by you or by others, the glory ultimately goes to the Lord alone, and the blessings go to the church. If you see the Body of Christ, spontaneously you will have this feeling within you. You will sense that the Body is one and that the work is also one.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.245-246. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to be sober-minded, as God has apportioned to each a measure of faith. (4) For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, (5) So we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of
another.
Words of Ministry
The Lord has assigned a portion to each one of us. We should not consider ourselves greater than what we are. We should be faithful to the portion that the Lord has assigned to us, and we should honor the portion that the Lord has assigned to others. Many young people are always comparing themselves with others; they say that they have this and that, and that others do not have this and that. Or they say that they do not have this and that, and that others have this and that. Actually, it is impossible to make such comparisons. If you ask whether the hands are better or the eyes are better, I can only say that both are good. Those who see the Body will see that all the members have their functions; they will see that they are only one of the many members. They will not place themselves in a conspicuous position and make comparisons with others or usurp their places.
Once a Christian sees the Body, it will be impossible for him to be proud or jealous anymore. Since the Body is one, it will be the same if the work is done by others or by ourselves; there will be no difference at all. Whether the work is done by you or by others, the glory ultimately goes to the Lord alone, and the blessings go to the church. If you see the Body of Christ, spontaneously you will have this feeling within you. You will sense that the Body is one and that the work is also one.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.245-246. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Needing the Fellowship in the Body
Bible Verses
Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, (16) Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Words of Ministry
Those who see the Body will spontaneously see the need of fellowship. They will spontaneously see that they cannot act independently. Fellowship is not a formal acquaintance but a spontaneous issue of the life of the Body. The common notion of fellowship among God's children is to visit a brother or a sister when we are free and chat with them a little. For most people this is fellowship. But fellowship really means a realization that we cannot go on alone, that we need to do everything together, with other members and with the Body as a whole. Although we cannot have all the brothers and sisters in the whole church come together, we can have two or three brothers come together and work according to the principle of the Body. We have to learn the principle of fellowship when we pray. We have to learn to fellowship when we encounter difficulties, and we have to learn to fellowship when we are seeking God's will, when we are not clear about our future, and when we do not understand God's Word.
Fellowship means I cannot pray by myself, that I have to find two or three brothers to deal with a matter together. It means that I do not understand God's will by myself and that I seek to understand it together with two or three brothers. It means that I am confused about my own future and that I seek fellowship and I consider my future together with two or three other brothers and sisters. It means that I do not understand God's Word by myself and that I find two or three brothers to study God's Word together with me. Fellowship is to acknowledge that we are short, that we are inadequate, and that we need the Body. Fellowship is the acknowledgment of our own limitations and of the possibility of making mistakes by ourselves; it is receiving help from those who have spiritual discernment before the Lord. (This does not mean to ask for help only from those who are affectionate towards us.) I cannot go on by myself; I need the help of other brothers and sisters. The Body of Christ is a matter of life, and this life has feelings. This feeling will tell you that without fellowship, you cannot go on.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.246-247. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, (16) Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Words of Ministry
Those who see the Body will spontaneously see the need of fellowship. They will spontaneously see that they cannot act independently. Fellowship is not a formal acquaintance but a spontaneous issue of the life of the Body. The common notion of fellowship among God's children is to visit a brother or a sister when we are free and chat with them a little. For most people this is fellowship. But fellowship really means a realization that we cannot go on alone, that we need to do everything together, with other members and with the Body as a whole. Although we cannot have all the brothers and sisters in the whole church come together, we can have two or three brothers come together and work according to the principle of the Body. We have to learn the principle of fellowship when we pray. We have to learn to fellowship when we encounter difficulties, and we have to learn to fellowship when we are seeking God's will, when we are not clear about our future, and when we do not understand God's Word.
Fellowship means I cannot pray by myself, that I have to find two or three brothers to deal with a matter together. It means that I do not understand God's will by myself and that I seek to understand it together with two or three brothers. It means that I am confused about my own future and that I seek fellowship and I consider my future together with two or three other brothers and sisters. It means that I do not understand God's Word by myself and that I find two or three brothers to study God's Word together with me. Fellowship is to acknowledge that we are short, that we are inadequate, and that we need the Body. Fellowship is the acknowledgment of our own limitations and of the possibility of making mistakes by ourselves; it is receiving help from those who have spiritual discernment before the Lord. (This does not mean to ask for help only from those who are affectionate towards us.) I cannot go on by myself; I need the help of other brothers and sisters. The Body of Christ is a matter of life, and this life has feelings. This feeling will tell you that without fellowship, you cannot go on.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.246-247. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Monday, January 31, 2011
神有一個定旨和喜悅
聖經經節
以弗所一9：照著祂的喜悅，使我們知道祂意願的奧祕；這喜悅是祂在自己裡面豫先定下的，
羅馬八28：還有，我們曉得萬有都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人。
職事的話
神的喜悅是神在祂自己裡面豫先定下的。這就是說，神自己是祂永遠定旨的起始、來源和範圍。神有一個計畫，一個願望，並且照著祂的計畫，祂有一個定旨。宇宙的存在是照著神的定旨。天、地、萬物、以及人類，都是照著神所定的願望而有的。最終，這一切都要歸結於神的願望。
在宇宙中有一個願望，就是神的願望。因為這願望是神所定的，所以無人無物能推翻這願望。在地上發生的每一件事，都是為著這個定旨。我們這些神的眾子，有神的恩典在我們身上洋溢，我們乃是祂定旨的中心點；萬有都為我們效力。這奧秘乃是神將祂自己分賜到我們裡面，為祂自己產生召會。神在祂自己裡面定了這個願望。在這件事上，祂沒有和其他任何人商議。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自李常受著〝以弗所書生命讀經〞，第80及81頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
以弗所一9：照著祂的喜悅，使我們知道祂意願的奧祕；這喜悅是祂在自己裡面豫先定下的，
羅馬八28：還有，我們曉得萬有都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人。
職事的話
神的喜悅是神在祂自己裡面豫先定下的。這就是說，神自己是祂永遠定旨的起始、來源和範圍。神有一個計畫，一個願望，並且照著祂的計畫，祂有一個定旨。宇宙的存在是照著神的定旨。天、地、萬物、以及人類，都是照著神所定的願望而有的。最終，這一切都要歸結於神的願望。
在宇宙中有一個願望，就是神的願望。因為這願望是神所定的，所以無人無物能推翻這願望。在地上發生的每一件事，都是為著這個定旨。我們這些神的眾子，有神的恩典在我們身上洋溢，我們乃是祂定旨的中心點；萬有都為我們效力。這奧秘乃是神將祂自己分賜到我們裡面，為祂自己產生召會。神在祂自己裡面定了這個願望。在這件事上，祂沒有和其他任何人商議。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自李常受著〝以弗所書生命讀經〞，第80及81頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Having Lost the Function That Enables Us to Contact God
Bible Verses
Eph 2:1 And you, though dead in your offenses and sins, 2:5 Even when we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
Words of Ministry
Verse 1 says that we were dead in our offenses and sins. The words “being dead” refer to the dead condition of our spirit, a death that pervades our entire being. We were not only fallen and sinful; we were dead.
As I was preaching the gospel...I said to the people, “Friends, we Christian preachers must be honest and tell people what their real situation is. You are not only sinners—all of you are dead. You are all in a coffin and in a tomb. You may regard yourselves as cultured ladies and gentlemen, but actually you are dead and buried in a tomb. I tell you this because now Christ wants to make you alive and raise you up out of your coffin.” This is a good way to preach the gospel.
By being dead in offenses and sins, we lost the function that enables us to contact God. Spiritual death has annulled the function of our spirit. No matter how active we were in our body and soul, we were deadened in our spirit, unable to contact God.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 172-173. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph 2:1 And you, though dead in your offenses and sins, 2:5 Even when we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
Words of Ministry
Verse 1 says that we were dead in our offenses and sins. The words “being dead” refer to the dead condition of our spirit, a death that pervades our entire being. We were not only fallen and sinful; we were dead.
As I was preaching the gospel...I said to the people, “Friends, we Christian preachers must be honest and tell people what their real situation is. You are not only sinners—all of you are dead. You are all in a coffin and in a tomb. You may regard yourselves as cultured ladies and gentlemen, but actually you are dead and buried in a tomb. I tell you this because now Christ wants to make you alive and raise you up out of your coffin.” This is a good way to preach the gospel.
By being dead in offenses and sins, we lost the function that enables us to contact God. Spiritual death has annulled the function of our spirit. No matter how active we were in our body and soul, we were deadened in our spirit, unable to contact God.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 172-173. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Do Not Underestimate the Significance of Your Speaking
Bible Verses
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that
you may know... (19) And what is the surpassing greatness of
His power toward us who believe, according to the operation
of the might of His strength, (20) Which He caused to operate
in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His
right hand in the heavenlies,
Words of Ministry
If you saw that this power toward us is the power that raised
Christ from among the dead, would you still say that you are
weak? What we say is what we believe. If you say you are
weak, it means that you believe that you are weak. Do not
underestimate the significance of your speaking. Whatever God
speaks comes to pass. In principle it is the same with us. To
have faith is to speak what God speaks. When God says, “You
are saved,” we should say, “Amen!” Anyone who responds in
this way is saved. Likewise, if God says, “The divine power
is yours,” we need to say, “Amen!” Then this power will be
ours.
If we do not say that we have this power, we rebel against
the word of our Father. Our Father cannot lie; whatever He
says is true. Hence, we must take His word and believe it.
Forget your feelings, your condition, and your situation. Do
not say that a certain difficult situation cannot be under
your feet. The truth is that we are far above all and that
the divine power has subjected all things, including every
difficult situation, under our feet. Do not be distracted by
your environment, and do not believe your situation. Forget
everything and simply take the word, believe the word, and
declare the word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible
and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of
Ephesians, pp. 144-145. Both are published by Living Stream
Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that
you may know... (19) And what is the surpassing greatness of
His power toward us who believe, according to the operation
of the might of His strength, (20) Which He caused to operate
in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His
right hand in the heavenlies,
Words of Ministry
If you saw that this power toward us is the power that raised
Christ from among the dead, would you still say that you are
weak? What we say is what we believe. If you say you are
weak, it means that you believe that you are weak. Do not
underestimate the significance of your speaking. Whatever God
speaks comes to pass. In principle it is the same with us. To
have faith is to speak what God speaks. When God says, “You
are saved,” we should say, “Amen!” Anyone who responds in
this way is saved. Likewise, if God says, “The divine power
is yours,” we need to say, “Amen!” Then this power will be
ours.
If we do not say that we have this power, we rebel against
the word of our Father. Our Father cannot lie; whatever He
says is true. Hence, we must take His word and believe it.
Forget your feelings, your condition, and your situation. Do
not say that a certain difficult situation cannot be under
your feet. The truth is that we are far above all and that
the divine power has subjected all things, including every
difficult situation, under our feet. Do not be distracted by
your environment, and do not believe your situation. Forget
everything and simply take the word, believe the word, and
declare the word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible
and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of
Ephesians, pp. 144-145. Both are published by Living Stream
Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
耶和華鑒察人心
聖經經節
撒上十六7：耶和華卻對撒母耳說，不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不揀選他。因為要緊的不是人怎樣看；人是看外貌，耶和華是看內心。
馬太十五8：“這百姓用嘴脣尊敬我，心卻遠離我；”
職事的話
大衛一生的遭遇是很奇特的，這些遭遇都是在那裡顯明他的心到底是如何。大衛在家庭中是被人輕看的。當神要撒母耳膏耶西的兒子作王的時候，耶西把他七個兒子都叫了來，惟獨忘了這一個兒子（撒上十六6-13）。但是這一個少年人的心是對的，他的心並沒有因著這樣的遭遇而失去了正當的情形。神對撒母耳說，『人是看外貌，耶和華是看內心。』大衛的內心是神所喜悅的，所以他能被神揀選，所以他能被神所用。
大衛打死歌利亞以後，神把他擺在一個環境裡，叫以色列的婦女說，掃羅殺死千千，大衛殺死萬萬。這兩句話，一句是試驗大衛，一句是試驗掃羅。正像箴言二十七章二十一節說，『人的稱讚也試煉人。』人稱讚你高一點，看你會不會驕傲；人稱讚你少一點，看你會不會妒忌。但是大衛並沒有被『大衛殺死萬萬』這一句話搖動，掃羅卻被『掃羅殺死千千』這一句話搖動了，就是這一句話把掃羅妒忌的心試出來了。（撒上十八6-9。）假使說，你和一位弟兄一同作一件事，有一個人當著你說那一個弟兄作得最好，他卻不說你好不好，你怎麼樣？恐怕最低的限度，你裡頭的感覺有一點不舒服，有一點不痛快。就是這一點不舒服，不痛快，就證明你裡頭還有一點不乾淨。你不是口口聲聲說『是為著神，不是為著人』麼？但是，就是這一句稱讚別人的話，把你的心搖動了，就證明你的心還不彀乾淨。所有環境上的遭遇，特別是常常接近我們的人對待我們的態度，是試驗我們的心的。
後來大衛作了王，因著一次大失敗，就遭遇極重的試煉，他親生的兒子尋索他的命，示每咒罵他，拿石頭砍他。他怎麼說呢？他的心真是像水晶一樣的清明，他說這是耶和華吩咐的，他還是仰望神施恩與他。（撒下十六5-12。）你千萬不要以為一切情形都是叫你受虧損，你要知道，乃是因為你的心不對纔受虧損，你的心如果對，你還是能彀得著益處的。所有的境遇不過是顯明你的心如何。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集“一般的信息”(卷一)，第217至219頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
撒上十六7：耶和華卻對撒母耳說，不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不揀選他。因為要緊的不是人怎樣看；人是看外貌，耶和華是看內心。
馬太十五8：“這百姓用嘴脣尊敬我，心卻遠離我；”
職事的話
大衛一生的遭遇是很奇特的，這些遭遇都是在那裡顯明他的心到底是如何。大衛在家庭中是被人輕看的。當神要撒母耳膏耶西的兒子作王的時候，耶西把他七個兒子都叫了來，惟獨忘了這一個兒子（撒上十六6-13）。但是這一個少年人的心是對的，他的心並沒有因著這樣的遭遇而失去了正當的情形。神對撒母耳說，『人是看外貌，耶和華是看內心。』大衛的內心是神所喜悅的，所以他能被神揀選，所以他能被神所用。
大衛打死歌利亞以後，神把他擺在一個環境裡，叫以色列的婦女說，掃羅殺死千千，大衛殺死萬萬。這兩句話，一句是試驗大衛，一句是試驗掃羅。正像箴言二十七章二十一節說，『人的稱讚也試煉人。』人稱讚你高一點，看你會不會驕傲；人稱讚你少一點，看你會不會妒忌。但是大衛並沒有被『大衛殺死萬萬』這一句話搖動，掃羅卻被『掃羅殺死千千』這一句話搖動了，就是這一句話把掃羅妒忌的心試出來了。（撒上十八6-9。）假使說，你和一位弟兄一同作一件事，有一個人當著你說那一個弟兄作得最好，他卻不說你好不好，你怎麼樣？恐怕最低的限度，你裡頭的感覺有一點不舒服，有一點不痛快。就是這一點不舒服，不痛快，就證明你裡頭還有一點不乾淨。你不是口口聲聲說『是為著神，不是為著人』麼？但是，就是這一句稱讚別人的話，把你的心搖動了，就證明你的心還不彀乾淨。所有環境上的遭遇，特別是常常接近我們的人對待我們的態度，是試驗我們的心的。
後來大衛作了王，因著一次大失敗，就遭遇極重的試煉，他親生的兒子尋索他的命，示每咒罵他，拿石頭砍他。他怎麼說呢？他的心真是像水晶一樣的清明，他說這是耶和華吩咐的，他還是仰望神施恩與他。（撒下十六5-12。）你千萬不要以為一切情形都是叫你受虧損，你要知道，乃是因為你的心不對纔受虧損，你的心如果對，你還是能彀得著益處的。所有的境遇不過是顯明你的心如何。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集“一般的信息”(卷一)，第217至219頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Transmission of Extraordinary Power to Us
Bible Verses
Eph 1:18 ...that you may know... (22) And He subjected all things under His [Christ's] feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, (23) Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Words of Ministry
Thirdly, the great power that operated in Christ has subjected all things under His feet. For Christ to be far above all is one thing; for all things to be subjected under His feet is another. The former is Christ's transcendency; the latter is the subjection of all things to Him. Here we see the subduing power, the power to subdue all things.
Fourthly, God's great power that operated in Christ gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church. It was through God's surpassingly great power that Christ received the headship in the universe. As a man, in His humanity with His divinity, Christ was raised up from the dead, was seated in the heavenlies, had all things subjected to Him, and was given to be the Head over all things.
The words “to the church” in verse 22 imply a transmission. Whatever Christ, the Head, has attained and obtained is now being transmitted to the church, His Body. In this transmission the church shares with Christ all His attainments: the resurrection from among the dead, His being transcendent over all, the subjecting of all things under His feet, and the headship over all things. The church comes out of this power. The little word “to” indicates the source of the church. This power, which is transmitted to the church, will accomplish the glory and fulfill our hope.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 143. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph 1:18 ...that you may know... (22) And He subjected all things under His [Christ's] feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, (23) Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Words of Ministry
Thirdly, the great power that operated in Christ has subjected all things under His feet. For Christ to be far above all is one thing; for all things to be subjected under His feet is another. The former is Christ's transcendency; the latter is the subjection of all things to Him. Here we see the subduing power, the power to subdue all things.
Fourthly, God's great power that operated in Christ gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church. It was through God's surpassingly great power that Christ received the headship in the universe. As a man, in His humanity with His divinity, Christ was raised up from the dead, was seated in the heavenlies, had all things subjected to Him, and was given to be the Head over all things.
The words “to the church” in verse 22 imply a transmission. Whatever Christ, the Head, has attained and obtained is now being transmitted to the church, His Body. In this transmission the church shares with Christ all His attainments: the resurrection from among the dead, His being transcendent over all, the subjecting of all things under His feet, and the headship over all things. The church comes out of this power. The little word “to” indicates the source of the church. This power, which is transmitted to the church, will accomplish the glory and fulfill our hope.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 143. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Believers are as Powerful as Christ?
Bible Verses
Eph 1:18 ...that you may know... (19) And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the might of His strength, (20) Which He caused to operate in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,
Words of Ministry
This power is toward the believers. It is like the electrical power that is continually being transmitted from the power plant to our building for our daily life. In the same principle, the divine power is being transmitted into us continually....
The surpassingly great power of God toward us is according to the operation of the might of His strength which He wrought in Christ. God's power toward us is the same power that operated in Christ. As the Body we participate in the power that operates in the Head. The great power that operated in Christ firstly raised Him from among the dead. This power has overcome death, the grave, and Hades, the place where the dead are held. Because of God's resurrection power, death and Hades could not hold Christ.
If we knew the surpassing greatness of the divine power that operated in Christ, we would never again use our weakness as an excuse. In relation to such a power, our weakness means nothing. Expecting me to sympathize with them, the sisters have often told me that they are weak vessels, but I do not sympathize with their weaknesses because the heavenly electrical power is available to them. With this power there is no weakness.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 141-144. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph 1:18 ...that you may know... (19) And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the might of His strength, (20) Which He caused to operate in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,
Words of Ministry
This power is toward the believers. It is like the electrical power that is continually being transmitted from the power plant to our building for our daily life. In the same principle, the divine power is being transmitted into us continually....
The surpassingly great power of God toward us is according to the operation of the might of His strength which He wrought in Christ. God's power toward us is the same power that operated in Christ. As the Body we participate in the power that operates in the Head. The great power that operated in Christ firstly raised Him from among the dead. This power has overcome death, the grave, and Hades, the place where the dead are held. Because of God's resurrection power, death and Hades could not hold Christ.
If we knew the surpassing greatness of the divine power that operated in Christ, we would never again use our weakness as an excuse. In relation to such a power, our weakness means nothing. Expecting me to sympathize with them, the sisters have often told me that they are weak vessels, but I do not sympathize with their weaknesses because the heavenly electrical power is available to them. With this power there is no weakness.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 141-144. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Believing in God’s Wisdom
Bible Verses
1 Pet 1:6 In which time you exult, though for a little while at present, if it must be, you have been made sorrowful by various trials, (7) So that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes though it is proved by fire , may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Words of Ministry
We should not only believe in God's love but also in His wisdom. He loves us, and He knows everything. His love never changes, and His wisdom never errs. Nothing will come upon us that is not profitable for us. God's power will bring us through everything we need to go through, and this power will enable us to bear the burdens that come upon us. Therefore, we can say before the Lord, “Thank the Lord. Praise Him because His will is never wrong.” Praising God for His grace is initial praise; praising Him for His will is mature praise. Initial praise is praising Him for what we have; mature praise is praising Him for what we lose. Brothers and sisters, we can rest, and we can rejoice because in everything we see God's love, His wisdom, and His power.
In the book The Streams in the Desert (Oct. 24), there is this passage: “A piece of iron that is worth five dollars will be worth $10 when it is cast into a horseshoe. If it is made into needles, it will be worth $350. If it is made into fine blades, it will be worth $32,000, and if it is made into springs inside watches, it will be worth $250,000.” What is the difference between a piece of iron worth $10, $350, $32,000, and $250,000? It is the same material, but after many trials and much beating, it becomes stronger, more pliable, and more valuable. In order to make us more valuable, God brings us through many trials and beatings. In order to become a useful and valuable vessel before the Lord, we must not bemoan the things that God has allowed to come upon us. Instead, we should rejoice and rest. We should say to the Lord, “Father, I thank You, because everything You have allowed to come upon me is good.” If we submit to the will of God, our heart will find rest, and we will be filled with joy. Our mouth will be full of praise, and our burden will no longer be a burden.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.211-212. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
1 Pet 1:6 In which time you exult, though for a little while at present, if it must be, you have been made sorrowful by various trials, (7) So that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes though it is proved by fire , may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Words of Ministry
We should not only believe in God's love but also in His wisdom. He loves us, and He knows everything. His love never changes, and His wisdom never errs. Nothing will come upon us that is not profitable for us. God's power will bring us through everything we need to go through, and this power will enable us to bear the burdens that come upon us. Therefore, we can say before the Lord, “Thank the Lord. Praise Him because His will is never wrong.” Praising God for His grace is initial praise; praising Him for His will is mature praise. Initial praise is praising Him for what we have; mature praise is praising Him for what we lose. Brothers and sisters, we can rest, and we can rejoice because in everything we see God's love, His wisdom, and His power.
In the book The Streams in the Desert (Oct. 24), there is this passage: “A piece of iron that is worth five dollars will be worth $10 when it is cast into a horseshoe. If it is made into needles, it will be worth $350. If it is made into fine blades, it will be worth $32,000, and if it is made into springs inside watches, it will be worth $250,000.” What is the difference between a piece of iron worth $10, $350, $32,000, and $250,000? It is the same material, but after many trials and much beating, it becomes stronger, more pliable, and more valuable. In order to make us more valuable, God brings us through many trials and beatings. In order to become a useful and valuable vessel before the Lord, we must not bemoan the things that God has allowed to come upon us. Instead, we should rejoice and rest. We should say to the Lord, “Father, I thank You, because everything You have allowed to come upon me is good.” If we submit to the will of God, our heart will find rest, and we will be filled with joy. Our mouth will be full of praise, and our burden will no longer be a burden.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.211-212. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
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