My Journey to the Local Church, and beyond...

ZNPaaneah · 01-16-2011, 02:44 PM

Well that was an enjoyable read, thank you.

I think to understand what is truly very confusing we need to consider a few principles. The Lord said "if you have known me you have seen my father". The children express the father. David has a spiritual, soulish and fleshly side. We can see this in his children. All the children involved in the rebellion were the fleshly expression. Solomon, the "wisest man on Earth" was the soulish expression. Finally, it is Nathan, who represents David's spiritual side. It is through Nathan that the prophecy to David is fulfilled (Mary is descended from Nathan). The soul is supposed to let the spirit take the lead, but as you have so clearly pointed out repeatedly Solomon usurps God's authority. As you have pointed out Solomon assumes that the prophecy will be fulfilled through him, but he is mistaken and his lineage is cut off from the promise. However, Joseph is descended from Solomon and so through marriage it is reunited with God's purpose.

Although there is nothing that will specifically tell you that Nathan the prophet is David's son, there is compelling evidence. First, the Bible tells us that all of David's other sons were caught up in rebellion, I would expect that would have disqualified all of them from the promise. Second, the first time we hear of Nathan the prophet he has direct access to the king (we don't know why). Read that story again and imagine it is a young son of David talking to his father. Third, we hear a lot about many of David's sons, if Nathan the prophet is not David's son then why don't we hear about his son Nathan who is a more important figure than Solomon (why would Jesus be descended through him rather than the other sons?)

NeitherFirstnorLast · 01-19-2011, 06:27 PM

Praise the Lord, brother! I hadn't considered this Nathan as that Nathan! Perhaps the evidence is not concrete, but it is very compelling. I always thought it odd that a commoner - even a prophet of God - would dare to speak to King David as Nathan did. I really found it surprising that he didn't even seem to consider he might lose his head for that. It certainly seems as though this relationship might be why... it also illustrates the significance of Nathan being left out of the counsel of Adonijah as well (1 Kings 1:10), for why else would Nathan be so concerned with the possible succession of this particular son of David?

ZNPaaneah · 01-19-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast

Praise the Lord, brother! I hadn't considered this Nathan as that Nathan! Perhaps the evidence is not concrete, but it is very compelling. I always thought it odd that a commoner - even a prophet of God - would dare to speak to King David as Nathan did. I really found it surprising that he didn't even seem to consider he might lose his head for that. It certainly seems as though this relationship might be why... it also illustrates the significance of Nathan being left out of the counsel of Adonijah as well (1 Kings 1:10), for why else would Nathan be so concerned with the possible succession of this particular son of David?

King David's seed was not through Solomon, it was through Nathan to Mary to Jesus. So, it was the guy that spoke the word of God, not the "wise" son.

NeitherFirstnorLast · 01-27-2011, 10:18 AM

Lord Jesus.

Last week I drove eight hours north east and visited with the dear brother who first introduced me to LSM. The brother who had always made time for me, cared for me and my family, prayed for us and with us, and who has been as much family to me or more than many blood relatives. He has heard that I have been "struggling with the ministry", and knows that I have been hear - speaking to the ones who left. As you all know, this is taboo - absolutely forbidden - and of course, he had genuine concern.

This brother grew up in the Recovery.... to him, this is THE Church. There is nothing here that is not good for consumption, and there is nothing worth regarding outside of it... "too much leaven in Christianity", he'd always say. Lord Jesus.

He never mentioned anything about what I was doing online while I was there, but I know the saints I've been meeting with here have discussed it with him. They've come to believe that I've been corrupted... "You have to be careful where you draw your water from!" I've been warned.

I left this brother's house the next day, and on the return trip he decided to pry a little - so he texted me and asked why I had been so quiet... why I seemed somewhat distant. I prayed about answering that.

You see, for two and half years I've struggled with the ministry. So much of what I read of Nee I enjoy - but I see no similarity between Lee and Nee, honestly. In Nee I see humility - a genuine Christian man on a genuine walk with God... but not so with Lee. ...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5... Only if we humble ourselves before the Lord, will He lift us up in joy and honor (James 4:10)

In any case, I came before the Lord in prayer - and felt lead that it was time. I read that night the story in 1 Kings 13, and saw what the Lord was saying. It was time. I was to eat and drink no more in this land, and go back another way. So be it, Lord.

I wrote to the brother a simple, brief letter of repentance. I had to go to work, and didn't have time to do more than confess there were a lot of things very wrong - and that I hadn't been faithful to follow the leading of the Spirit. I had become a hypocrite and I needed to repent of that. I promised to write him in detail on the Saturday, and I asked him not to respond yet to my brief letter....

He texted me back, and I will quote this dear brother because I found his texted response absolutely prophetic of the Lord's own speaking - although I think this brother would not see it so; he wrote:

"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 put 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."

Amen.

I took the Word, I believed the Word, and I declared the Word. I spoke the Truth in Love.

On Saturday night I spent hours wrestling with God - and He touched me and I had no hope of success... but I hung on until He blessed me. I wrote my brother as the Spirit lead - and confessed all. I won't go into it here - believe me brothers and sisters when I tell you that I plead with him to see certain things - reminding him of things he himself says he believes that the actions and traditions of LSM so clearly demonstrate against. I told him that I do not reject the Church Life as it is written by Nee... but that we are not practicing the Church Life. We have become a division, a sect with even higher walls than any denomination ever built. Walls that not only keep other members of the Body out, but also walls that keep us in - and prevent us from moving forth as the Body to serve the Lord and fulfill His Father's Will. I spoke to him of the testimony of our own functioning - the lack of growth, the loss of the blessings, the turmoils and the mistreatment of the brothers and sisters who have left - how we have been told to utterly reject them; but they are still Saved Children of God for whom Christ Himself suffered on the Cross. Held in His hands, He promised that nothing would ever snatch them away... and yet we cast them aside and call them "evil tailed ones"... Where is the love of Christ in our hearts for them? We don't have it.... Where is the fruit of the Spirit? How can we say we are abiding in Him and He in us if the fruit isn't here?

Lord Jesus. I told him that I would not reject the Church Life - but I would seek it. I would live it. I would fellowship as we were meant to - receiving all believers in Christ and submitting myself to Him who made me; that His will might be done. Lord Jesus! I told him I had had a wonderful fellowship the day before when we (my family and I) went to go and see a horse. The people we met with there were genuine believers, and we shared our testimony with them - we ate with them and enjoyed with them... and that Lord's Day we went to enjoy Christ with them. We went to a church building on a farm in the country... Three Hills, Alberta. It's a small place, saints. There were maybe all of 40 or us there; 41 with the Lord. He was there too. You could FEEL Him.

The Saints who came were from all walks of life. There were spanish folks, asian folks, and caucasians. Who would have thought, outside of LSM? There was no Pastor, but many who came up to speak... and the message was perfect; it was about Grace... about the fallacy of Anemic Grace and the lie of a Grace for Liberty. It was about the true meaning of Christ's all sufficient atoning work - and the work to which we are now called. Not to sit and sing and learn but to stand, proclaim, and minister Christ to all! If we are all a nation of Priests, then do we imagine that Priests simply sit and here what other brothers have to say? No. They received the Word with all humility, and prayed fervently on their knees before God for His ministration - so that they might comfort others with the comfort with which they themselves were then comforted.

I found a miracle in that place to which the Lord lead me; because amongst the brothers and sisters there a man presented himself to me: His name was David, and he came from China more than thirty years ago. He met the Lord in the Little Flock.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the Sound! Here in the middle of nowhere I meet a man who has been sent out by the Lord as a missionary... a man who left the Little Flock more than thirty years ago (and was condemned for it), but who followed the Lord to preach His Word. He has travelled all over the World, and he is here only until June before he must leave again. This man is well read of Nee, of Darby, of Stephen Kaung, and others of whom I haven't heard. He didn't know much of anything about Lee, and nothing at all about LSM.. but that's not the point: the point is this Brother followed the Leading of the Spirit. He was sent out, and he went - in spite of the condemnation.

Brothers and sisters, no where in Revelation does Christ call His overcomers from one of the seven churches into another. He doesn't seek for them to abolish their buildings and to meet together in a single place. The Lord has placed each member of His Body where He will - for His purpose; and the overcomers are those who know His voice and who Obey His voice, and do as He leads - wherever that might be.

There is One Body, One Bride of Christ - but He hasn't revealed her yet. He will gather them on the day that He appears - and no sooner. Saints, if you want to see Him sooner, live Him sooner. Let Him live through you... and do not expect that it will be easy. The World hated Him, and the servant is not greater than the Master.

It has been five days now, and I have not heard a word from my brother. The silence is deafening. Lord Jesus, I have Your peace - but I want to ask for Your peace for my brother. Lord Jesus, give him ears to hear, Lord. Let him hear Your voice.

PS: I wanted to title this post "Leper, Outcast, Unclean". If you're familiar with it, this is the mantra recited by Stephen R. Donaldson's character Thomas Covenant in a fantasy series I enjoyed very much as a child. Sometimes saints, we are treated as Lepers for declaring the Word of the Lord... but do not be dismayed. Christ ministered to the lepers. When they asked it of Him, he healed them... and sent them to the priests to testify concerning Himself.

Preach the Word Saints, and listen for His voice. Jesus Christ is still my Lord, and always will be.

Amen

01-27-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast

Brothers and sisters, no where in Revelation does Christ call His overcomers from one of the seven churches into another. He doesn't seek for them to abolish their buildings and to meet together in a single place. The Lord has placed each member of His Body where He will - for His purpose; and the overcomers are those who know His voice and who Obey His voice, and do as He leads - wherever that might be.

There is One Body, One Bride of Christ - but He hasn't revealed her yet. He will gather them on the day that He appears - and no sooner. Saints, if you want to see Him sooner, live Him sooner. Let Him live through you... and do not expect that it will be easy. The World hated Him, and the servant is not greater than the Master.

It has been five days now, and I have not heard a word from my brother. The silence is deafening. Lord Jesus, I have Your peace - but I want to ask for Your peace for my brother. Lord Jesus, give him ears to hear, Lord. Let him hear Your voice.

Amen! I hear and feel with my spirit your words. I haven't been to a LD meeting since early September. My spirit is bothered and saddened by negative prophesying I've witnessed. I spoke to one elder in my locality, but he brushed it aside as it being one person's feeling. I cannot subject my spirit to that type of speaking. It's best to depart and find a healthy fellowship to take the Lord's Table with.

ZNPaaneah · 01-27-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast

Lord Jesus.

Last week I drove eight hours north east and visited with the dear brother who first introduced me to LSM. The brother who had always made time for me, cared for me and my family, prayed for us and with us, and who has been as much family to me or more than many blood relatives. He has heard that I have been "struggling with the ministry", and knows that I have been hear - speaking to the ones who left. As you all know, this is taboo - absolutely forbidden - and of course, he had genuine concern.

This brother grew up in the Recovery.... to him, this is THE Church. There is nothing here that is not good for consumption, and there is nothing worth regarding outside of it... "too much leaven in Christianity", he'd always say. Lord Jesus.

He never mentioned anything about what I was doing online while I was there, but I know the saints I've been meeting with here have discussed it with him. They've come to believe that I've been corrupted... "You have to be careful where you draw your water from!" I've been warned.

I left this brother's house the next day, and on the return trip he decided to pry a little - so he texted me and asked why I had been so quiet... why I seemed somewhat distant. I prayed about answering that.

You see, for two and half years I've struggled with the ministry. So much of what I read of Nee I enjoy - but I see no similarity between Lee and Nee, honestly. In Nee I see humility - a genuine Christian man on a genuine walk with God... but not so with Lee. ...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5... Only if we humble ourselves before the Lord, will He lift us up in joy and honor (James 4:10)

In any case, I came before the Lord in prayer - and felt lead that it was time. I read that night the story in 1 Kings 13, and saw what the Lord was saying. It was time. I was to eat and drink no more in this land, and go back another way. So be it, Lord.

I wrote to the brother a simple, brief letter of repentance. I had to go to work, and didn't have time to do more than confess there were a lot of things very wrong - and that I hadn't been faithful to follow the leading of the Spirit. I had become a hypocrite and I needed to repent of that. I promised to write him in detail on the Saturday, and I asked him not to respond yet to my brief letter....

He texted me back, and I will quote this dear brother because I found his texted response absolutely prophetic of the Lord's own speaking - although I think this brother would not see it so; he wrote:

"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 put 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."

Amen.

I took the Word, I believed the Word, and I declared the Word. I spoke the Truth in Love.

On Saturday night I spent hours wrestling with God - and He touched me and I had no hope of success... but I hung on until He blessed me. I wrote my brother as the Spirit lead - and confessed all. I won't go into it here - believe me brothers and sisters when I tell you that I plead with him to see certain things - reminding him of things he himself says he believes that the actions and traditions of LSM so clearly demonstrate against. I told him that I do not reject the Church Life as it is written by Nee... but that we are not practicing the Church Life. We have become a division, a sect with even higher walls than any denomination ever built. Walls that not only keep other members of the Body out, but also walls that keep us in - and prevent us from moving forth as the Body to serve the Lord and fulfill His Father's Will. I spoke to him of the testimony of our own functioning - the lack of growth, the loss of the blessings, the turmoils and the mistreatment of the brothers and sisters who have left - how we have been told to utterly reject them; but they are still Saved Children of God for whom Christ Himself suffered on the Cross. Held in His hands, He promised that nothing would ever snatch them away... and yet we cast them aside and call them "evil tailed ones"... Where is the love of Christ in our hearts for them? We don't have it.... Where is the fruit of the Spirit? How can we say we are abiding in Him and He in us if the fruit isn't here?

Lord Jesus. I told him that I would not reject the Church Life - but I would seek it. I would live it. I would fellowship as we were meant to - receiving all believers in Christ and submitting myself to Him who made me; that His will might be done. Lord Jesus! I told him I had had a wonderful fellowship the day before when we (my family and I) went to go and see a horse. The people we met with there were genuine believers, and we shared our testimony with them - we ate with them and enjoyed with them... and that Lord's Day we went to enjoy Christ with them. We went to a church building on a farm in the country... Three Hills, Alberta. It's a small place, saints. There were maybe all of 40 or us there; 41 with the Lord. He was there too. You could FEEL Him.

The Saints who came were from all walks of life. There were spanish folks, asian folks, and caucasians. Who would have thought, outside of LSM? There was no Pastor, but many who came up to speak... and the message was perfect; it was about Grace... about the fallacy of Anemic Grace and the lie of a Grace for Liberty. It was about the true meaning of Christ's all sufficient atoning work - and the work to which we are now called. Not to sit and sing and learn but to stand, proclaim, and minister Christ to all! If we are all a nation of Priests, then do we imagine that Priests simply sit and here what other brothers have to say? No. They received the Word with all humility, and prayed fervently on their knees before God for His ministration - so that they might comfort others with the comfort with which they themselves were then comforted.

I found a miracle in that place to which the Lord lead me; because amongst the brothers and sisters there a man presented himself to me: His name was David, and he came from China more than thirty years ago. He met the Lord in the Little Flock.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the Sound! Here in the middle of nowhere I meet a man who has been sent out by the Lord as a missionary... a man who left the Little Flock more than thirty years ago (and was condemned for it), but who followed the Lord to preach His Word. He has travelled all over the World, and he is here only until June before he must leave again. This man is well read of Nee, of Darby, of Stephen Kaung, and others of whom I haven't heard. He didn't know much of anything about Lee, and nothing at all about LSM.. but that's not the point: the point is this Brother followed the Leading of the Spirit. He was sent out, and he went - in spite of the condemnation.

Brothers and sisters, no where in Revelation does Christ call His overcomers from one of the seven churches into another. He doesn't seek for them to abolish their buildings and to meet together in a single place. The Lord has placed each member of His Body where He will - for His purpose; and the overcomers are those who know His voice and who Obey His voice, and do as He leads - wherever that might be.

There is One Body, One Bride of Christ - but He hasn't revealed her yet. He will gather them on the day that He appears - and no sooner. Saints, if you want to see Him sooner, live Him sooner. Let Him live through you... and do not expect that it will be easy. The World hated Him, and the servant is not greater than the Master.

It has been five days now, and I have not heard a word from my brother. The silence is deafening. Lord Jesus, I have Your peace - but I want to ask for Your peace for my brother. Lord Jesus, give him ears to hear, Lord. Let him hear Your voice.

PS: I wanted to title this post "Leper, Outcast, Unclean". If you're familiar with it, this is the mantra recited by Stephen R. Donaldson's character Thomas Covenant in a fantasy series I enjoyed very much as a child. Sometimes saints, we are treated as Lepers for declaring the Word of the Lord... but do not be dismayed. Christ ministered to the lepers. When they asked it of Him, he healed them... and sent them to the priests to testify concerning Himself.

Preach the Word Saints, and listen for His voice. Jesus Christ is still my Lord, and always will be.

Amen

Brother this letter if full of the personal experience of the Lord and the Lord's working in your life. It is far better to be wrestling with the Lord and true to your spirit than it is to be complacent. The Lord be with you and with your spirit.

NeitherFirstnorLast · 01-27-2011, 05:18 PM

Thank you brother,

ZN, I read your testimony after I made that last post. Thank you for what you expressed there - for it being real - for how you felt. I feel that. On the one hand, I know I followed His leading. Finally. I have wrestled for so long a time... And I still love my brothers and sisters left behind. They were so much a part of our lives... I don't know almost what to do. Lord, I leave it all to You.

I've been reading "The Church Divided", this week. There's a lot of good speaking there, from brothers and sisters throughout the churches, about what the "ground of Oneness" is really supposed to look like; and about what it isn't.

Thanks so much to all of you, for being here for those of us who wrestle to know Him more fully. You have a purpose in the Body, and you've helped this member more than you know.

In Christ,

Ray.

NeitherFirstnorLast · 02-13-2011, 05:50 PM

Wow, am I broken.

I prayerfully considered a move from my locality, with my family, back in August. In October, with the Lord's blessing, I made the move - and my family stayed behind for a month while I made ready to move.

In November, I moved my family 1400 kilometers from home (840 miles) from our house to a new place the Lord provided - three acres and a beautiful house to rent... although it's an hour and a half drive from the office.

It wasn't supposed to be that way. My office was supposed to be close - but it didn't work out... the acquisition of the office from which I was supposed to be working didn't work out... and won't - until October 2011. For now, I drive.

My job doesn't mean to me what it used to. I knew I moved out here not for this job, but for something else - but what? I have applied for other jobs, but nothing has worked out. I want to use what I have been given for Christ, but how? I am in sales - and the two Christian radio stations I've applied with have not had positions to offer me.

The business with which I took a job is losing money - a lot of money - and unless things turn around by the end of this month, there will be serious consequences. We are renting this beautiful house, and the landlord now wants to put this house on the market.

I can lose my job, and I can lose my home, and Praise the Lord He is in control. I Praise the God who gives, and takes away.

Today I lost my son. He is our eldest. He is charged with a very serious crime, and I can't talk about that. I love him, and we've prayed for him for a long time. Yesterday he spoke to a lawyer, and she told him to plead not guilty to the crime of which he is accused, because if we all lie for him, he might get off. Lord Jesus, how can he just get off? He has admitted in a video taped confession to his crime. His victim has given video-taped testimony against him. He has counsellors to whom he has confessed, and there is no chance - no chance whatsoever, of escaping the consequences of his sins. I told him that, and he was enraged. I told him to lie is a sin, and that he needs to stand for Christ. He is 15, and he is furiously angry. He wants to escape the consequences of what he's done - and by telling him there's really no way out - that he needs to face what's he's done and place his trust in the Lord - he reacts with seething anger. He hates me. He threathens me. He will not listen.

I don't know what to pray for anymore. I really feel like this time, I've lost him. For the first time, I feel like I don't know what the Lord has in mind for him. I don't know where this is going - and I need prayer.

We aren't much with the saints in LSM anymore - and they were our family. Our own family are unbelievers, and we cannot turn to them. Even if we did, they would revile our son for what he did - they would welcome his demise. We've met with a few other believers out here, but not enough to really trust them with this in prayer.

Please, pray for us. Pray for my son. He needs to see whom he can trust - the Lord. He needs to know he must stand as a man to answer for what he has done. Lying is no way out for him.

Please pray for us.

01-16-2011, 02:44 PM	#1
ZNPaaneah Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 7,105	Re: My Journey to the Local Church, and beyond... Well that was an enjoyable read, thank you. I think to understand what is truly very confusing we need to consider a few principles. The Lord said "if you have known me you have seen my father". The children express the father. David has a spiritual, soulish and fleshly side. We can see this in his children. All the children involved in the rebellion were the fleshly expression. Solomon, the "wisest man on Earth" was the soulish expression. Finally, it is Nathan, who represents David's spiritual side. It is through Nathan that the prophecy to David is fulfilled (Mary is descended from Nathan). The soul is supposed to let the spirit take the lead, but as you have so clearly pointed out repeatedly Solomon usurps God's authority. As you have pointed out Solomon assumes that the prophecy will be fulfilled through him, but he is mistaken and his lineage is cut off from the promise. However, Joseph is descended from Solomon and so through marriage it is reunited with God's purpose. Although there is nothing that will specifically tell you that Nathan the prophet is David's son, there is compelling evidence. First, the Bible tells us that all of David's other sons were caught up in rebellion, I would expect that would have disqualified all of them from the promise. Second, the first time we hear of Nathan the prophet he has direct access to the king (we don't know why). Read that story again and imagine it is a young son of David talking to his father. Third, we hear a lot about many of David's sons, if Nathan the prophet is not David's son then why don't we hear about his son Nathan who is a more important figure than Solomon (why would Jesus be descended through him rather than the other sons?)

01-19-2011, 06:27 PM	#2
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	Re: My Journey to the Local Church, and beyond... Praise the Lord, brother! I hadn't considered this Nathan as that Nathan! Perhaps the evidence is not concrete, but it is very compelling. I always thought it odd that a commoner - even a prophet of God - would dare to speak to King David as Nathan did. I really found it surprising that he didn't even seem to consider he might lose his head for that. It certainly seems as though this relationship might be why... it also illustrates the significance of Nathan being left out of the counsel of Adonijah as well (1 Kings 1:10), for why else would Nathan be so concerned with the possible succession of this particular son of David?

01-27-2011, 10:18 AM	#4
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	...And Beyond... Lord Jesus. Last week I drove eight hours north east and visited with the dear brother who first introduced me to LSM. The brother who had always made time for me, cared for me and my family, prayed for us and with us, and who has been as much family to me or more than many blood relatives. He has heard that I have been "struggling with the ministry", and knows that I have been hear - speaking to the ones who left. As you all know, this is taboo - absolutely forbidden - and of course, he had genuine concern. This brother grew up in the Recovery.... to him, this is THE Church. There is nothing here that is not good for consumption, and there is nothing worth regarding outside of it... "too much leaven in Christianity", he'd always say. Lord Jesus. He never mentioned anything about what I was doing online while I was there, but I know the saints I've been meeting with here have discussed it with him. They've come to believe that I've been corrupted... "You have to be careful where you draw your water from!" I've been warned. I left this brother's house the next day, and on the return trip he decided to pry a little - so he texted me and asked why I had been so quiet... why I seemed somewhat distant. I prayed about answering that. You see, for two and half years I've struggled with the ministry. So much of what I read of Nee I enjoy - but I see no similarity between Lee and Nee, honestly. In Nee I see humility - a genuine Christian man on a genuine walk with God... but not so with Lee. ...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5... Only if we humble ourselves before the Lord, will He lift us up in joy and honor (James 4:10) In any case, I came before the Lord in prayer - and felt lead that it was time. I read that night the story in 1 Kings 13, and saw what the Lord was saying. It was time. I was to eat and drink no more in this land, and go back another way. So be it, Lord. I wrote to the brother a simple, brief letter of repentance. I had to go to work, and didn't have time to do more than confess there were a lot of things very wrong - and that I hadn't been faithful to follow the leading of the Spirit. I had become a hypocrite and I needed to repent of that. I promised to write him in detail on the Saturday, and I asked him not to respond yet to my brief letter.... He texted me back, and I will quote this dear brother because I found his texted response absolutely prophetic of the Lord's own speaking - although I think this brother would not see it so; he wrote: "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 put 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." Amen. I took the Word, I believed the Word, and I declared the Word. I spoke the Truth in Love. On Saturday night I spent hours wrestling with God - and He touched me and I had no hope of success... but I hung on until He blessed me. I wrote my brother as the Spirit lead - and confessed all. I won't go into it here - believe me brothers and sisters when I tell you that I plead with him to see certain things - reminding him of things he himself says he believes that the actions and traditions of LSM so clearly demonstrate against. I told him that I do not reject the Church Life as it is written by Nee... but that we are not practicing the Church Life. We have become a division, a sect with even higher walls than any denomination ever built. Walls that not only keep other members of the Body out, but also walls that keep us in - and prevent us from moving forth as the Body to serve the Lord and fulfill His Father's Will. I spoke to him of the testimony of our own functioning - the lack of growth, the loss of the blessings, the turmoils and the mistreatment of the brothers and sisters who have left - how we have been told to utterly reject them; but they are still Saved Children of God for whom Christ Himself suffered on the Cross. Held in His hands, He promised that nothing would ever snatch them away... and yet we cast them aside and call them "evil tailed ones"... Where is the love of Christ in our hearts for them? We don't have it.... Where is the fruit of the Spirit? How can we say we are abiding in Him and He in us if the fruit isn't here? Lord Jesus. I told him that I would not reject the Church Life - but I would seek it. I would live it. I would fellowship as we were meant to - receiving all believers in Christ and submitting myself to Him who made me; that His will might be done. Lord Jesus! I told him I had had a wonderful fellowship the day before when we (my family and I) went to go and see a horse. The people we met with there were genuine believers, and we shared our testimony with them - we ate with them and enjoyed with them... and that Lord's Day we went to enjoy Christ with them. We went to a church building on a farm in the country... Three Hills, Alberta. It's a small place, saints. There were maybe all of 40 or us there; 41 with the Lord. He was there too. You could FEEL Him. The Saints who came were from all walks of life. There were spanish folks, asian folks, and caucasians. Who would have thought, outside of LSM? There was no Pastor, but many who came up to speak... and the message was perfect; it was about Grace... about the fallacy of Anemic Grace and the lie of a Grace for Liberty. It was about the true meaning of Christ's all sufficient atoning work - and the work to which we are now called. Not to sit and sing and learn but to stand, proclaim, and minister Christ to all! If we are all a nation of Priests, then do we imagine that Priests simply sit and here what other brothers have to say? No. They received the Word with all humility, and prayed fervently on their knees before God for His ministration - so that they might comfort others with the comfort with which they themselves were then comforted. I found a miracle in that place to which the Lord lead me; because amongst the brothers and sisters there a man presented himself to me: His name was David, and he came from China more than thirty years ago. He met the Lord in the Little Flock. Amazing Grace, how sweet the Sound! Here in the middle of nowhere I meet a man who has been sent out by the Lord as a missionary... a man who left the Little Flock more than thirty years ago (and was condemned for it), but who followed the Lord to preach His Word. He has travelled all over the World, and he is here only until June before he must leave again. This man is well read of Nee, of Darby, of Stephen Kaung, and others of whom I haven't heard. He didn't know much of anything about Lee, and nothing at all about LSM.. but that's not the point: the point is this Brother followed the Leading of the Spirit. He was sent out, and he went - in spite of the condemnation. Brothers and sisters, no where in Revelation does Christ call His overcomers from one of the seven churches into another. He doesn't seek for them to abolish their buildings and to meet together in a single place. The Lord has placed each member of His Body where He will - for His purpose; and the overcomers are those who know His voice and who Obey His voice, and do as He leads - wherever that might be. There is One Body, One Bride of Christ - but He hasn't revealed her yet. He will gather them on the day that He appears - and no sooner. Saints, if you want to see Him sooner, live Him sooner. Let Him live through you... and do not expect that it will be easy. The World hated Him, and the servant is not greater than the Master. It has been five days now, and I have not heard a word from my brother. The silence is deafening. Lord Jesus, I have Your peace - but I want to ask for Your peace for my brother. Lord Jesus, give him ears to hear, Lord. Let him hear Your voice. PS: I wanted to title this post "Leper, Outcast, Unclean". If you're familiar with it, this is the mantra recited by Stephen R. Donaldson's character Thomas Covenant in a fantasy series I enjoyed very much as a child. Sometimes saints, we are treated as Lepers for declaring the Word of the Lord... but do not be dismayed. Christ ministered to the lepers. When they asked it of Him, he healed them... and sent them to the priests to testify concerning Himself. Preach the Word Saints, and listen for His voice. Jesus Christ is still my Lord, and always will be. Amen

01-27-2011, 05:18 PM	#7
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	...And beyond... Thank you brother, ZN, I read your testimony after I made that last post. Thank you for what you expressed there - for it being real - for how you felt. I feel that. On the one hand, I know I followed His leading. Finally. I have wrestled for so long a time... And I still love my brothers and sisters left behind. They were so much a part of our lives... I don't know almost what to do. Lord, I leave it all to You. I've been reading "The Church Divided", this week. There's a lot of good speaking there, from brothers and sisters throughout the churches, about what the "ground of Oneness" is really supposed to look like; and about what it isn't. Thanks so much to all of you, for being here for those of us who wrestle to know Him more fully. You have a purpose in the Body, and you've helped this member more than you know. In Christ, Ray.

02-13-2011, 05:50 PM	#8
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	Prayer Request Wow, am I broken. I prayerfully considered a move from my locality, with my family, back in August. In October, with the Lord's blessing, I made the move - and my family stayed behind for a month while I made ready to move. In November, I moved my family 1400 kilometers from home (840 miles) from our house to a new place the Lord provided - three acres and a beautiful house to rent... although it's an hour and a half drive from the office. It wasn't supposed to be that way. My office was supposed to be close - but it didn't work out... the acquisition of the office from which I was supposed to be working didn't work out... and won't - until October 2011. For now, I drive. My job doesn't mean to me what it used to. I knew I moved out here not for this job, but for something else - but what? I have applied for other jobs, but nothing has worked out. I want to use what I have been given for Christ, but how? I am in sales - and the two Christian radio stations I've applied with have not had positions to offer me. The business with which I took a job is losing money - a lot of money - and unless things turn around by the end of this month, there will be serious consequences. We are renting this beautiful house, and the landlord now wants to put this house on the market. I can lose my job, and I can lose my home, and Praise the Lord He is in control. I Praise the God who gives, and takes away. Today I lost my son. He is our eldest. He is charged with a very serious crime, and I can't talk about that. I love him, and we've prayed for him for a long time. Yesterday he spoke to a lawyer, and she told him to plead not guilty to the crime of which he is accused, because if we all lie for him, he might get off. Lord Jesus, how can he just get off? He has admitted in a video taped confession to his crime. His victim has given video-taped testimony against him. He has counsellors to whom he has confessed, and there is no chance - no chance whatsoever, of escaping the consequences of his sins. I told him that, and he was enraged. I told him to lie is a sin, and that he needs to stand for Christ. He is 15, and he is furiously angry. He wants to escape the consequences of what he's done - and by telling him there's really no way out - that he needs to face what's he's done and place his trust in the Lord - he reacts with seething anger. He hates me. He threathens me. He will not listen. I don't know what to pray for anymore. I really feel like this time, I've lost him. For the first time, I feel like I don't know what the Lord has in mind for him. I don't know where this is going - and I need prayer. We aren't much with the saints in LSM anymore - and they were our family. Our own family are unbelievers, and we cannot turn to them. Even if we did, they would revile our son for what he did - they would welcome his demise. We've met with a few other believers out here, but not enough to really trust them with this in prayer. Please, pray for us. Pray for my son. He needs to see whom he can trust - the Lord. He needs to know he must stand as a man to answer for what he has done. Lying is no way out for him. Please pray for us.