[countmeworthy]

[QUOTE=aron;6552]

I think that there is a two-fold problem with the 'anointing' here, as it relates to our history among the local churches. First, we can pray and praise and minister, and surely we desire God to add His anointing to our efforts. But if we are critical of our brethren in faith, pointing out their faults and begrudging their gifts, then it becomes problematic for God to anoint us.

Excellent insight and posting Aron. At one time, or in separate 'localities' while Brother Lee was on the pulpit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit was with the LC as a whole (I'm guessing). But as the spirit of arrogance and pride slithered it's way in through the famous sayings: 'we ARE the Lord's RECOVERY. We ARE -God's move on the earth today-, the Spirit that had anointed the LC ministry departed.

In my naiveness, I thought the same GLORIOUS 'church life' we experienced in San Diego was throughout the entire LC. Most likely, it was not the case. Many former co-workers who knew Brother Lee probably saw the writing on the wall way before any of us in the U.S. did. Many nonetheless, KNEW the LORD & listened to HIS VOICE not to interfere. For GOD is ALL knowing and knew how everything would pan out. That's why to my knowledge Lee never talked much about T Austin Sparks if he ever did.


Side bar here: Witness Lee should have dropped his first name from Witness and changed it to 'Brother' because that is how he is known. Rarely does anyone ever refer to Watchman Nee as BROTHER NEE...not so with Lee. He was NEVER referred to WITNESS LEE other than his books/messages were penned using the name WITNESS. Think about it. How ODD does it sound for anyone to say 'Witness LEE' said. It was always 'Brother Lee said'... So legally, he should have changed his name from Witness Lee to BROTHER Lee.

Aron wrote: And even moreso, secondly, if we refuse to be reconciled with our former fellow-workers who are not 'absolute' enough for our present doings, which we assume to be God's sole move on the earth today, and instead we come and offer our gift (of praises) with a line of unreconciled brethren outside, I don't think God can really accept that gift.

HE CAN'T !!! And the LORD will have to refine the gold in them/us by FIRE. Can't be a speck of dirt on the GOLD. Going back to the 3 main parts of the Temple. In the TEMPLE, we have the outer court, the inner court and the Holy of Holies. In our human makeup, we are composed of the Flesh, the carnal makeup (the outer court), the soul (the inner court) and our spirit (the Holy of Holies). I guess we all know this...but thanks for indulging me.

Outside the gates & in the outer court, people saved or unsaved give thanks. A non believer even gives THANKS. (Someone gives a good speech and a round of applause is given to the speaker. And the speaker then Thanks the crowd.) That's easy to do.
Psalm 100 speaks of entering the GATES with Thanksgiving. Lukewarm, Carnal Christians, nominal Christians,, Christians by NAME only all give thanks to God entering the outercourt through the gates...but most just STAY there. Then those with a real born again experience but not yet sanctified, enter the inner court with Praise. They make a Joyful noise unto the Lord. They are able to give Thanks and Praise. But because they do not live Holy, Sanctified lives, they can't enter into the Holy of Holies, in spite of all the JOY and Clamor they make with their sounding cymbals.

The only way to enter into the Holy of Holies is being sanctified...which is a process of crucifying the flesh...and we cannot even crucify the flesh in our FLESH!! Only JESUS in us is crucified THROUGH the POWER of the Holy Spirit that works IN us. It is NOT of ourselves whatsoever. This is not about living the life of a monk. It is not an outward form of 'sanctification' as many of us looked to have while in the LC with our uniform look. Sanctification from the SPIRIT changes our tastebuds, our inner lives, our thinking, etc.. This is in many ways a very personal, subjective thing. I KNOW I'm 'preaching to the choir here'. Thanks for humoring me all the same.
And WITHOUT giving THANKS and PRAISE, we cannot enter in either. We HAVE to give THANKS. We HAVE to PRAISE our GOD. We need those 2 ingredients to enter into the HOLY of HOLIES. We have to enter through the gates. Once in the outer court, we have to enter into the inner court and THEN we enter into the Holy of Holies.

Once we enter the Holy of Holies..the deepest part of our being, man...we never want to leave. For that is where the Presence of GOD is...His GLORY, the PEACE of GOD which surpasses ALL understanding. He fills our cup and our cup runneth over. That is when we cannot help ourselves to talk about the things of GOD..to present CHRIST JESUS to unbelievers because we are sooo filled with HIS LOVE, with HIS PRESENCE, with HIS ANOINTING.

Aron wrote: This (LSM) ministry, in my view, has a legacy of unreconciled relationships.

And it's gotten WORST through the years with all the quarantines and lawsuits!

Aron wrote: My thought is that if we really desire the anointing, we must first be reconciled with our brothers and sisters.

ABSOLUTELY right ON ! We are instructed in James 5:16 to confess our faults one to another. The result will be HEALING. We ain't gonna be healed if we don't confess our faults one to another...and again we can only confess from the HEART...with a repentant spirit for a broken and a contrite heart GOD will not despise. It cannot simply be WORDS without heartfelt contrition.
From James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

This is NOT an easy thing to do because the flesh, our carnal mind will think up of every reason why it's THEIR FAULT...THEY have to repent. NOT ME! THEY have to apologize. NOT ME!

For the sake of the LC discussion, a HUGE problem there is we have never WITNESSED an apology from the leadership to ANYONE. Now the leadership has been instructed to shepherd the sheep and to be an example. So if the leadership criticizes and never apologizes with a broken and a contrite heart via the enlightenment of the Word of God through the Holy Spirit, how do they expect the SHEEP to follow suit ? Sheep are mostly dumb. Those who remain steadfast in the Word of God, seeking HIM in all of HIS WAYS, dying to self, washing themselves with the Water by the Word and cleansing themselve with the BLOOD of the Lamb, will grow up to be shephards. We may be shepherds of just a few little lambs but if we're faithful in shepherding a few, we will be rewarded in the Kingdom to rule and reign over many with GODLY dominion.

The scriptural references are:
Ephesians 5:26

That HE might sanctify and cleanse it (the church)with the Washing of Water by the Word

. It goes without saying the Blood of Jesus Cleanses us, Sanctifies and draws us NEAR to HIMSELF...and HE even does the Washing and Cleansing and Sanctification...NOT us in our own natural carnal SELF!!!

Aron wrote: I know that I myself can be tempted toward inflammatory rhetoric. It is soooo easy to see the splinter in the others' eyes!

Yes...and I too TRY to be cautious of how I write, how I speak. We are living in the hour of apostasy & it is spreading like a wild fire out of control....everywhere there are believers. So we have to exercise discernment with Wisdom from the Anointing within us to speak with the boldness of a LION King and the gentleness of a Lamb. Not always easy!

Aron wrote: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment than ran down..." (Ps 133).

And THERE the LORD COMMANDS the BLESSING....even life forevermore.
THE LORD COMMANDS the BLESSING when we dwell together in unity. MAY THE LORD extend His MERCY on us, His MERCY which endures forever!!!

Aron wrote: In spite of the many "turmoils" and "rebellions", in spite of the dissociations from the GLAs and now the Brazilians, this promise still holds.

Indeed it does. Amen to that.
Thanks for replying to my post(s) Aron...and for reading mine.