Local Church Discussions - View Single Post

Indiana · 12-11-2016, 11:14 AM

Question asked of Watchman Nee in China 1947
“If a servant of the Lord from another Christian group gives us more or higher spiritual light, do we receive it?” Watchman Nee thought for a while and then said: “God did not give us all the light. If somebody gives us more light, we should be very glad to receive it!”
[/COLOR]

from an email correspondence - it was bcc'd to 99 recipients, some current and former leaders included.

Agape Leadership
http://www.amazon.com/Agape-Leadersh.../dp/0936083050
CLICK on the picture.

Of course brothers, we all know we are short, including me, that is for certain. I don't know anyone who has failed more than me. But we can be honest with ourselves and with one another concerning the oneness and the price our Lord paid "that they all may be one..."

You wondered, "How would the Local Church have been today had Witness Lee rather followed the lead of the Englishman [Robt Chapman] instead of his beloved Irishman? [Darby]"

Far different. We would not have wonderful ministry churches, as now prevail, rather than love that should prevail, according to WL's own word (below). When love PREVAILS all the members are included and built up that life could prevail also and a way be opened up into the hearts of new ones.

Our brother Witness Lee knew the great lack that "knowing all the mysteries" cannot replace. Darby came to realize this also - both of them at least as they approached the last lap in their ministry. Chapman, however, lived this way all through his Christian life, according to all accounts, including Darby's. He was known as the apostle of love among the Brethren and elsewhere.

Quotes from A Word of Love 1996

"From the beginning of brother Lee's ministry in the United States clear to the end of it, although we heard marvelous things, we heard comparatively little about love. Near the end of his ministry, however, he did speak more concerning the need for love among us. He said, "In the last few years, we have appreciated the Lord's showing us the high peak of the divine revelation. My concern is that although we may talk about the truths of the high peak, love is absent among us. If this is the case, we are puffed up, not built up. The Body builds up itself in love".

"He actually began to speak in this way starting in 1988 and, intermittently, to the end of his ministry, addressing the elders on a number of occasions more definitely about this need. He said, "according to my observance throughout the years, most of the co-workers have a human spirit of "power" but not love. We need a spirit of love to conquer the degradation of today's church…this is what the recovery needs." He also stated, "only love prevails" and that "love is the most excellent way". He said it is the way to be an elder or a co-worker, and that it is the way to handle the saints. He proclaimed that it is the way to do everything and to be anything in the church life."

"Many of you are good speakers, knowing the higher truths. The truths we hold are much higher than those in Christianity. However, we do not have fruit because we are lacking in the Father's loving and forgiving heart and the Son's shepherding and seeking spirit. We condemn and regulate others rather than shepherd and seek them. We are short of love and shepherding. These are the vital factors for us to bear fruit, that is, to gain people. I am very concerned for our full-time training. Do we train the young ones to gain people or to regulate people? We have to reconsider our ways, as Haggai said (1:5). Our way is not right; something is wrong." (Used in In the Wake of the New Way, 2002)

I like the truth; and truth should prevail, as well as love, wherever believers assemble, for the building up and the oneness in the Body of Christ. Praise the Lord!

I don't know if you have considered the content of these websites recently, ______, but it is what I felt to put down in a spirit of fellowship for sharing publicly and individually to past and present local church members and to inquiring ones about the Local Churches.

www.lordsrecovery.us

www.leadersofthelordsrecovery.us

Brother Indeed
http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/article/6363

12-11-2016, 11:14 AM	#90
Indiana Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 718	Re: Agape Leadership - Robt Chapman of the Brethren Question asked of Watchman Nee in China 1947 “If a servant of the Lord from another Christian group gives us more or higher spiritual light, do we receive it?” Watchman Nee thought for a while and then said: “God did not give us all the light. If somebody gives us more light, we should be very glad to receive it!” [/COLOR] from an email correspondence - it was bcc'd to 99 recipients, some current and former leaders included. Agape Leadership http://www.amazon.com/Agape-Leadersh.../dp/0936083050 CLICK on the picture. Of course brothers, we all know we are short, including me, that is for certain. I don't know anyone who has failed more than me. But we can be honest with ourselves and with one another concerning the oneness and the price our Lord paid "that they all may be one..." You wondered, "How would the Local Church have been today had Witness Lee rather followed the lead of the Englishman [Robt Chapman] instead of his beloved Irishman? [Darby]" Far different. We would not have wonderful ministry churches, as now prevail, rather than love that should prevail, according to WL's own word (below). When love PREVAILS all the members are included and built up that life could prevail also and a way be opened up into the hearts of new ones. Our brother Witness Lee knew the great lack that "knowing all the mysteries" cannot replace. Darby came to realize this also - both of them at least as they approached the last lap in their ministry. Chapman, however, lived this way all through his Christian life, according to all accounts, including Darby's. He was known as the apostle of love among the Brethren and elsewhere. Quotes from A Word of Love 1996 "From the beginning of brother Lee's ministry in the United States clear to the end of it, although we heard marvelous things, we heard comparatively little about love. Near the end of his ministry, however, he did speak more concerning the need for love among us. He said, "In the last few years, we have appreciated the Lord's showing us the high peak of the divine revelation. My concern is that although we may talk about the truths of the high peak, love is absent among us. If this is the case, we are puffed up, not built up. The Body builds up itself in love". "He actually began to speak in this way starting in 1988 and, intermittently, to the end of his ministry, addressing the elders on a number of occasions more definitely about this need. He said, "according to my observance throughout the years, most of the co-workers have a human spirit of "power" but not love. We need a spirit of love to conquer the degradation of today's church…this is what the recovery needs." He also stated, "only love prevails" and that "love is the most excellent way". He said it is the way to be an elder or a co-worker, and that it is the way to handle the saints. He proclaimed that it is the way to do everything and to be anything in the church life." "Many of you are good speakers, knowing the higher truths. The truths we hold are much higher than those in Christianity. However, we do not have fruit because we are lacking in the Father's loving and forgiving heart and the Son's shepherding and seeking spirit. We condemn and regulate others rather than shepherd and seek them. We are short of love and shepherding. These are the vital factors for us to bear fruit, that is, to gain people. I am very concerned for our full-time training. Do we train the young ones to gain people or to regulate people? We have to reconsider our ways, as Haggai said (1:5). Our way is not right; something is wrong." (Used in In the Wake of the New Way, 2002) I like the truth; and truth should prevail, as well as love, wherever believers assemble, for the building up and the oneness in the Body of Christ. Praise the Lord! I don't know if you have considered the content of these websites recently, ______, but it is what I felt to put down in a spirit of fellowship for sharing publicly and individually to past and present local church members and to inquiring ones about the Local Churches. www.lordsrecovery.us www.leadersofthelordsrecovery.us Brother Indeed http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/article/6363