Transf >> Coord >> Exec

Transformation --> Coordination --> Execution


Ezekiel 1 tells us this: Wind, cloud, fire, electrum --> 4 living creatures --> wheels, which means (Step 1) transformation and conformation in the Spirit --> (Step 2) cooperation with the Head and coordination with the members in the Son --> (Step 3) expression of the Father's glory and execution of God's will.

Step 1 is our applying Christ as the living stone.

Step 2 is our applying Christ as the corner stone.

Ultimately, Christ will be the top stone for God's building (Step 3).

Here are four questions as a reality check: Are you being coordinated by others? Are you coordinating others? Do your fellow servants know what you are doing? Do you know what your fellow servants are doing?

Here is a short paragraph by Brother Lee: Whenever a church is proper, expresses the Lord, and has proper coordination,... the move of the Lord will be with that church. However, if a church claims to be proper and yet has no move of the Lord, something is wrong. If there is no increase in number year after year and no growth in life among the members, there is no move with that church. ... If a church is proper, it will have a great wheel at its side.

Relatedness

The relatedness among us is the capital of our heavenly bank account. When the capital is low, nothing gets done. When the capital is high, much can be accomplished. I want to have a "reality check" by asking 4 questions:

Q1. What would you experience when the capital is high? "I can count on you 100%." (inward one accord)
Communication is easy, smooth and effective, even when wrong words are used.
Fellowship is enjoyable, shining and life-giving.
I am free to share my feelings.
Confessing mistakes becomes spontaneous and sincere.
As a result, the saints are knit together and coordinated together.

Q2. What would you experience when the capital is low? Shaking hands over a fence (unity in form only).
I have to be careful about everything I say. (Communication is difficult.)
"Fellowship" becomes dry, surface-scratching, and reluctant.
I have to protect myself by hiding my feelings. I have to maintain my position.
Minimizing contact to avoid confrontation.
As a result, the saints are scattered.

Q3. What are the "deposits" that would raise the level of the capital? Philippians 4:5
Galatians 5:22
A good listener
Seeking mutual understanding
Apologizing sincerely when making mistakes
Supporting one another and appreciating one another

Q4. What are the "withdrawals" that would bring down the level of the capital? Lack of Philippians 4:5
Lack of Galatians 5:22 Ignoring others' feelings
Rigidly demanding and insisting
Reacting and over-reacting
Finding excuses or blaming others to defend self
Conditional love with string attached

* * * * * *
Building up the capital of relatedness takes time and effort. In fact, it takes God's divine nature and human virtues to build it up. It is a process of long-term accumulation. Shall we start making small "deposits" here and there? Shall we stay away from "withdrawals" at all cost?

A Balanced View

Judges 21:25 - those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Ruth 1:1 - Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.
Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people perish (no vision, no building up)
1 Samuel 8:7 - … but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
The book of Judges is concluded with free groups (Judges 21:25), which resulted in famine and departing from God’s economy (Ruth 1:1). The other extreme is organized religion with a system of hierarchy (1 Samuel 8:7).

The Body of Christ is not free groups, nor is it a man-made organization. The Body of Christ is simply God’s dispensing in Christ as the life-giving Spirit into believers to grow His extension, enlargement and expression.

The church is not democracy, nor is it dictatorship. It is simply our holding Christ as the Head and treating each other as members of the Body. Out from Christ all the Body, being richly supplied and knit together by means of the joints and sinews, grows with the growth of God. (Colossians 2:19)

The Body of Christ has no mechanical organization, yet it is so organically orderly.
There are no intermediaries in the Body, but members are harmoniously fellowshipping in love and in life.
There are no sub-heads in the Body, but members are wonderfully coordinated in oneness and one accord.

Look at your own body. Though every member is different in function, yet every one is in the same circulation, directly under the same head, expressing the same head, seeing the same, speaking the same, coordinating together for the same purpose. So also is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). May this vision govern us, control us, direct us, strengthen us, supply us, balance us, adjust us, head us up and build us up (Acts 26:19, Proverbs 29:18).

(An overflow from the 2010 spring ITERO)

A touchy situation

When A spreads false comments about B to C, what may happen?

1. C takes in the false comments without verifying them.

--> B is isolated. C will stay away from B.

--> A and C may become a little circle.

=> No Building.
(Unfortunately, this is always the case.)

2. C goes to B to verify the comments, but they do not correct A.

--> A does not learn from this mistake.

=> Damages are not as big, but still No Building.

3. C goes to B to verify the comments. They go to A to correct A.

--> If A is not a learner , he remains in his fallen nature. => No Building.

--> If A is a learner, he will benefit from this correction. => Building Will Continue.

Three things are crucial:

a) Always verify. Never take in statements at their face value. VERIFY!

b) We have to be bold and gracious enough to correct sinning brothers. (Matthew 18:15-16)

c) Our repentance and confession, plus Jehovah's forgiveness will bring in the building. (2011 summer training)

This is very touchy and difficult. It takes the humanity of Jesus to handle this kind of situation.

Side Effects

Every seemingly good thing has side effects -

A house is desirable, but it will bring you troubles.

A big savings account is nice, but you are losing sleep over it.

A Lexus is fabulous, but who is driving whom?
Sun-light is lovely, but it may cause skin cancer.

A well-paying job brings you many benefits, but you just wish that you can quit right away.

(Don't misunderstand me; I do need proper housing, career, transportation, financing, etc., but they are not my God.)

With this understanding, enjoy the following hymn:

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/nt/547
1. Something every heart is loving:

If not Jesus, none can rest;

Lord, my heart to Thee is given;

Take it, for it loves Thee best.

2. Thus I cast the world behind me;

Jesus most beloved shall be;

Beauteous more than all things beauteous,

He alone is joy to me.

Nourish and Cherish

Nourish and cherish your body (cf. Ephesians 5:29). Brother Lee charged us to maintain a healthy living so that we may live long for the Lord's move.

Here is a brief summary of an on-line article (10-health-habits-that-will-help-you-live-to-100):

1. Don't retire. Stay spiritually active and mentally challenged.

2. Floss everyday (to reduce the probability of heart attacks).

3. Regular physical exercise. How about running 2 miles a day.

4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast.

5. Sleep at least 6 hours a day. (No food after 7:00 PM.)

6. Consume whole foods. Avoid white foods (white bread, white rice and white sugar).

7. Don't dwell on negative thoughts. (The joy of the Lord is the best anti-depressant.)

8. Stay away from toxins - smoking, alcohol, chemicals, etc.

9. Regularity is key. As much as possible, eat/sleep/exercise at fixed hour.

10. Stay connected. That's why all the saints need vital groups.

It is a hard work to nourish and cherish your body. Do the same with the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 5:29)

Relationships

Read 1 John 1:3, what do you see? It basically says that brother John touched God in an intimate way, then he brought others into the same enjoyment. In other words, his fellowship with other believers was based on his fellowship with God.

Read Ephesians 4:16, what do you see? It says "out from the Head (Christ)" we are connected. In other words, if I am under the headship of Christ properly, my connection with others would be valuable.

The vertical fellowship with the Head is the basis for the horizontal fellowship with others around us. The horizontal fellowship should be an extension or overflow from the vertical fellowship. Practically speaking, we have to find our own value, meaning and identification deep within us before any meaningful relationships can be established.

With the above understanding, the following types of inter-person relationships should be minimized:

1. Dependence upon others

Don't try to find values from other persons, things or matters. The only one we need to depend on is the Person in our spirit. He is the treasure within us. Without a firm rooting in the Lord, there will be no healthy relationships.

2. Dominance over others

Persons of dominance usurp the headship of Christ. They exercise control and force their decisions over people. Relationships with this kind of persons would not have long-term benefits.

3. Absence of mutuality

Healthy relationships should be based on mutual respect and mutual edification. You contribute and you receive. It is a two-way traffic. Any one-way giving, one-way receiving, lack of flexibility, or unwillingness to share will not produce any building-up.

4. Isolation, exclusion, and little circles

Am I in spirit?

He (the Spirit) will glorify Me (Jesus),... (John 16:14)

And when He (the Spirit) comes, He will convict the world (us) ... (John 16:8)

As we turn our heart to the Lord and call upon His name, Lord Jesus! we immediately touch the Spirit in our human spirit. We may not have special feelings, but two things will happen spontaneously: exalting Jesus and convicting us. On one hand, the Spirit will glorify Jesus and cause us to appreciate Him, treasure Him, honor Him and love Him. On the other hand, the Spirit will expose us, condemn us, rebuke us and cause us to deny ourselves.

... no one can say, Jesus is Lord! except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

... call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

(notes based on "Ministry of Word" volume 121, July 1961)

Good vs. Pure

A good conscience vs. a pure conscience

1 Timothy 3:9 says, “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience,”

2 Timothy 1:3 says, “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience.”

For the exercise of our spirit, we need not only a good conscience but also a pure conscience.
When a brother cares more for the gospel work than for the Lord, the gospel is a substitute for the Lord in this brother’s life and work. It is something for the Lord, but it is not the Lord Himself. .... He has a good conscience, but he does not have a pure conscience.
(The above is taken from "The exercise of our spirit", Chapter 1. To read its entirety, visit http://ministrybooks.org/.)
Those with a pure conscience are taking Christ as their center and focus. Hence, their life and work build up the Body of Christ. Those with a good conscience may have the appearance of serving the Lord, but the Lord may not approve them (Matthew 7:23).

I am sorry

I was privileged to hear the following shared by the saints in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

God's eternal economy comes down to this sentence of 3 words: I am sorry.

God is Spirit, and those who worship God must worship in spirit and truthfulness. (John 4:24) The leading part of our spirit is conscience, so the real exercise of our human spirit is to take care of our conscience. As the Spirit enlightens us and exposes our mistakes, we cooperate with Him by saying to one another: "I am sorry." (John 16:8)

This is the real worship of God because it builds up the Body of Christ. This is the spirit of meekness and forbearance in the new man, which is the opposite of arrogance and dominance in the old man. (Colossians 3:8-10) As we take care of our conscience, the flow of the living water will continue flowing within us. May the Lord gain our person as His channel of blessing.

Two garments

Christians have to have two garments:

The first one is free according to the principle of grace;
The 2nd one is conditional according to the principle of righteousness.

When a sinner willingly repents and receives Jesus as his Savior, he immediately is covered with the first garment, which is Christ as his objective righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30; Luke 15:22). At this point, Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27); Christ is living in us as our inner life.

The first garment is just the beginning. Christians have to continue to “earn” the 2nd garment, which is Christ becoming our subjective righteousness (Revelation 19:8). As we deny our natural life and take Christ as our life in our daily walk, God’s nature will be constituted into us little by little everyday. At this point, we are in Christ (Philippians 3:9); Christ is lived out through us as our outer expression.

The first garment qualifies us to enjoy Christ as our grace (Luke 14:17) so that we may have the strength to run the heavenly “marathon”. The 2nd garment qualifies us for the wedding (Matthew 22:1; Revelation 19:7-9). Christians without the 2nd garment will be rejected by the Lord at His 2nd coming (Matthew 22:12).
Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). All Christians have the 1st garment, but few will have the 2nd garment for the wedding. Would you like to be the former or the latter?

Information is not revelation

The 12 spies came back with information based on objective facts:
…, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people are strong, and the cities are walled, … (Numbers 13:27-29)


Only Caleb and Joshua had revelation based on God’s word:Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. (13:30)

Information without revelation leads to disbelief, anxieties and failures:But the men that went up with him said, We will not be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than us. … we were in our own sight as grasshoppers … (13:31-33)
This is a lesson for all Christians. My conclusion is:
(1) Information seems good, but what we need is revelation.
(2) Don’t stay in our limited mind. Turn to our spirit and have our mind renewed by God’s mind through God’s speaking.
(3) Don’t go by our outward sight, go by our inward vision.
(4) Don’t focus on the surrounding environment, focus on God and His anointing within us.
(5) Don’t be a thinker, who reason and murmur; Be a drinker, who enjoy God as the tree of life and water of life.

Spreading good germs

Human reactions and sentiments are contagious among groups of friends. For example, loneliness is contagious. Read this: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DepressionNews/loneliness-contagious-researchers/story?id=9211377

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/7871149/Divorce-is-contagious.html

Likewise, if your friends are violent, unruly, messy, depressed, or addicted to something, chances are you will be just like them. Hence, the Bible tells us NOT to be fashioned according to this age (Romans 12:2). Instead, we should stay away from this kind of persons.

Likewise, if your friends are loving and pursuing Christ, chances are you will be just like them. Hence, the Bible tells us to pursue Christ with this kind of persons (2 Timothy 2:22).

Likewise, your reactions and sentiments may be contagious too. If you are sloppy, indifferent, disobedient and individualistic, you are NOT building up people around you. Hence, the Bible tells us to deny who we are and let Christ come in to be our life and nature. We need to be saved by the Lord, then people around us may be saved as well (1 Timothy 4:16).

Proverbs 13:20 says: He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be troubled. Therefore, stay away from bad germs (Romans 16:17); let the Spirit of life swallow up all the bad germs within us; enjoy and spread the good germs - God germs. Amen.

Sunizing & Sonizing

Christ is "sunizing" us and "sonizing" us

Christ is the rising sun visiting us from on high (Luke 1:78). Don't stay in the shadow of darkness and death. Get a ”suntan” instead. Don't feel depressed and miserable during the long winter in Michigan. Get a “sun treatment” (Malachi 4:2)! Eventually, Christ is making us shine like the sun (Matthew 13:43). Thank the Lord for "sunizing" us everyday.

Christ, as a man, has been made the Son of God through death and resurrection (Romans 1:3-4). He has brought humanity into divinity. He is the Author of our salvation. A new and living way has been cut open for us. All we need to do is to make us available to Him and follow Him. Christ is making us sons of God (Romans 8:29) as many members of the Body of Christ. Praise the Lord for "sonizing" us everyday.

Enjoy the following hymn while we are being sunized and sonized. May the Lord keep us in this glorious process until the end. Amen! http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/ns/47

Thinking from Eternity

Hebrews 11:1 defines what faith is - Faith is the substantiation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 信就是所望之事的質實，是未見之事的確證。

This verse is telling us to think from God's perspective, or to think from eternity, or to think from New Jerusalem. Not only do we think from God's point of view, we live it out today. We think --> We are --> We do.

My career is nothing from God's perspective, though I need it today for my existence. This thought will set me free from many anxieties and bondage.

My accumulation of earthly wealth (bank account, house, etc.) is nothing if I think from eternity. This thought will teach me how to handle my finance today according to God's purpose.

I am nothing. Hence, I will endeavor to gain Christ, to enjoy the riches of Christ and to be constituted with God's life and nature today. What a bargain! This thought will make me a heavenly marathon runner. I need to grow up into Him in all things.

Paul had the same perspective in Philippians 3:7-But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ. 從前我以為對我是贏得的，這些，我因基督都已經看作虧損。

Since I will be made the same as God eventually - as meek as God, as kind as God, as patient as God, as righteous as God, as loving as God, as kingly as God - I would walk today as if I have already arrived at the destination - New Jerusalem.

Since I will be made part of the Body of Christ ultimately, I would walk today accordingly.

For to me, to live is Christ. (Philippians 1:21) 因為在我，活著就是基督

Be renewed!

Here is a good one by Einstein: "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking which created them".

In other words, the current problems are created by the current thinking. Unless our thinking is renewed the same problems will remain.

... but be transformed by the renewing of the mind ... (Romans 12:2)

And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Ephesians 4:23)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:5)

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

Stars

Christ is the morning star, shining in the age of darkness. Christians are stars because we are children of light and God is expressed through us (John 12:36, Philippians 2:15, Revelation 1:16). Therefore, we should give heed to God's word until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19).

However, it is very likely that Christians may become "wandering stars" (Jude 13). Christians who follow the footsteps of Cain, Balaam, and Korah are wandering stars (Jude 11). Seemingly, they have the appearance of a star, but actually

They wander (vs. focusing on God's purpose - Christ and the church);.
They deviate from the truth (vs. fixing on the heavenly revelation);
They follow their own ways (vs. taking God's narrow way);
They drift (vs. staying on God's economy).

In medical terms, a wandering star is like a free radical, which is an atom that has at least one unpaired electron and is therefore unstable and highly reactive. Free radicals can damage cells and accelerate the progression of various diseases.

Don't be a free radical who damage the Body of Christ;
Be a living star who build up the Body of Christ for expressing God corporately.

Character --> Destiny

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, For from it are the issues of life.

你要切切保守你心，因為生命的果效發之於心。(Proverbs 4:23)

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. 因為心思置於肉體，就是死；心思置於靈，乃是生命平安。(Romans 8:6)

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, …

你們的言語總要帶著恩典，好像用鹽調和,... (Colossians 4:6)

For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure. 因為乃是神為著祂的美意，在你們裡面運行，使你們立志並行事。(Philippians 2:13)

... But the people who know their God will show strength and take action.

…惟獨認識神的子民，必剛強行事。(Daniel 11:32b)

Discuss in Resurrection

As we are discussing matters at home, it is very easy to do it in the old man. The usual outcome is either debating in anger or enduring in silence. Is there a 3rd way? Yes, read the following:

... much discussion (Acts 15:7)... If we truly know the flesh and cooperate with the indwelling Christ to crucify our flesh, we will be able to discuss not in a natural way but in the new creation. Remaining silent during the time of fellowship may be an indication of spirituality, but it is a weak indication... A stronger indication of spirituality is to discuss in the spirit. (taken from page 129, Chapter 16 of "Basic Principle concerning the Eldership")

Remaining silent is better than fighting. Discussing in resurrection is what we need.

Foot-washing

... He loved them to the uttermost (John 13:1)

Which act of the Lord expresses His uttermost love for us? It is not His quenching our thirst, nor is it His healing our sicknesses. It is His washing our feet and our washing one another’s.

Foot-washing is the end point of God’s love because it has everything to do with God’s purpose – building up of the Body of Christ. Through proper foot-washing, the disciples are brought into a state of pleasant fellowship in brotherly love. Without genuine fellowship (flow of life), the building progress will come to a halt.

Without John 13, John 14-17 would be impossible. Foot-washing issues in God’s dwelling, abiding in the vine, and oneness in the Body. Life is for building through mutual fellowship.

We may be physically together, but the pleasantness and sweetness may not be there. Life definitely is there, but the flow of life may not. What should we do? We should restore the flow of life through foot-washing. But how?

Rose from supper and laid aside His outer garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself; (John 13:4)

To wash brothers’ feet we have to lay aside our garments (virtues, standards, concepts, demands, etc.). We need to empty ourselves and lower ourselves. People are NOT pushed into the flow of life. People are cherished into the flow of life.

Therefore:

Don't push; cherish. Don't condemn; confess.

Don't provoke; provide. Don't suppress; supply.

Don't overwrite; overflow. Don't talk too much, listen much. (Isaiah 50:4,5)

Don't remove ice with force; tenderly melt it with warmth. (Colossians 3:12-15)

(an overflow from Message 10, Fall 2010, FTTA)

Silo Mindset

What is a silo? Silo is a stand-alone structure, typically cylindrical, for storing grain. A silo mindset is a stand-alone, self-focused mind -- "my" interest, people under "my" care, "my" group meeting, "my" locality, etc.

Abram, which means "exalted father", was a silo. He had to be brought down from his self-exalted status and multiplied. He was changed to Abraham - the father of many nations.

Sarai, which means "my princess", was also a silo. She had to be broken and multiplied. She was changed to Sarah - princess (with "my" been terminated by the Lord).

Please keep in mind that this name change did not come until Genesis 17. It took Abram 5 chapters (with many successess and failures, including losing God's presence for 13 years) to arrive at this stage.

"Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
We too have to be brought down from our "throne" so that God's life may be multiplied through us. Let the mind of Christ be in us (Philippians 2:5). What is His mind? This is a mind that is Christ-focused and Body-centered.

Thank the Lord for saving us all the time from our narrow mind and granting us largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore (1 Kings 4:29), so that we would
- know how to go out and come in among God's people (1 Kings 3:7), - dispense life by speaking words of grace and revelation, and
- take care of God's interest -- the building up of His dwelling place.

He must increase, but we must decrease. Amen.