"Arise, get thee to Zarephath;... behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." - 1 Kings 17:9
Because of our proneness to look at the bucket and forget the fountain, God has frequently to change His means of supply to keep our eyes fixed on the source. So the heavens that before sent us welcome showers become a brass, the streams that refreshed us are allowed to dry up, and the ravens that brought our daily food visit us no longer. But then God surprises us by meeting our needs through a poor widow woman, and so we prove the marvelous resources of God.
We are the representatives of God in this world, and we are here to prove His faithfulness. Our attitudes, our words, and our actions must all declare that He alone is our source of supply, or He will be robbed of the glory that is His due. He who sees in secret will take note of our needs, and He will meet them, not in stinted measure, but "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 1 Kings 17
Showing posts with label The Joyful Heart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Joyful Heart. Show all posts
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The Fruit of the Spirit is Self-Control
"But the fruit of the Spirit is… self-control." - Galatians 5:22
The end of this list, and thus the summit of a Christian's spiritual walk, is self-control. What commonly is spoken of as the Holy Spirit's government of us does not mean that He directly controls any part of us. That misunderstanding has lured Christians into passivity, or worse, deception, the end of which road is despair. But if we know that the Spirit is to lead man to the place of self-control, we are on the way to progress in spiritual life.
As believers, it is through our renewed will that the Holy Spirit rules. God's object in creation was to have man with a perfectly free volition, and his purpose in redemption is no different. The Christian is not obliged to obey God mechanically; instead his is the priviledge of fulfilling God's desires willingly and actively. We are perfectly free to choose or reject the various charges in the New Testament concerning life and godliness. They would mean nothing if God were to annihilate the operation of our own wills. The choice is ours: flesh or Spirit? And the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Galatians 5
The end of this list, and thus the summit of a Christian's spiritual walk, is self-control. What commonly is spoken of as the Holy Spirit's government of us does not mean that He directly controls any part of us. That misunderstanding has lured Christians into passivity, or worse, deception, the end of which road is despair. But if we know that the Spirit is to lead man to the place of self-control, we are on the way to progress in spiritual life.
As believers, it is through our renewed will that the Holy Spirit rules. God's object in creation was to have man with a perfectly free volition, and his purpose in redemption is no different. The Christian is not obliged to obey God mechanically; instead his is the priviledge of fulfilling God's desires willingly and actively. We are perfectly free to choose or reject the various charges in the New Testament concerning life and godliness. They would mean nothing if God were to annihilate the operation of our own wills. The choice is ours: flesh or Spirit? And the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Galatians 5
Monday, December 10, 2007
Hardness Drives People Off, Love Draws Them
"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." - 1 John 3:14
Many Christians stand up loyally for what is right, yet by the hardness of their attitude they offend against love. They have grown obsessive about righteousness, but deficient in charity. True, as Christian we should never compromise over the righteousness of God, but at the same time we should not strive with others.
Men and women are won by love, not by its opposite. In your contact with people, do not offend them. It is necessary, certainly, for you to obey God and not tone down His commands, but this should not lead you to offend your fellowmen by your attitude or your words. Hard inflexibility should give way in you to meekness and gentleness. That way, many will be attracted to the Lord. Hardness drives people off, but love draws them.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 1 John 3
Many Christians stand up loyally for what is right, yet by the hardness of their attitude they offend against love. They have grown obsessive about righteousness, but deficient in charity. True, as Christian we should never compromise over the righteousness of God, but at the same time we should not strive with others.
Men and women are won by love, not by its opposite. In your contact with people, do not offend them. It is necessary, certainly, for you to obey God and not tone down His commands, but this should not lead you to offend your fellowmen by your attitude or your words. Hard inflexibility should give way in you to meekness and gentleness. That way, many will be attracted to the Lord. Hardness drives people off, but love draws them.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 1 John 3
Monday, November 26, 2007
Have Root
"When the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away." - Matthew 13:6
The real trouble was not the sun, but the lack of roots. In the spiritual life roots represent that part of the life which has a secret history with the Lord. Those who live their lives only before men lack that secret history. May I ask you a straight question? What proportion of your life is lived in secret? Is any of it hidden from the eyes of man? Is your prayer-life limited to the prayers you utter in prayer meetings? Is your knowledge of the Word of God limited to what you preach? Are all your intimate spiritual experiences shared with other people? If so, then you lack roots.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Matthew 13
The real trouble was not the sun, but the lack of roots. In the spiritual life roots represent that part of the life which has a secret history with the Lord. Those who live their lives only before men lack that secret history. May I ask you a straight question? What proportion of your life is lived in secret? Is any of it hidden from the eyes of man? Is your prayer-life limited to the prayers you utter in prayer meetings? Is your knowledge of the Word of God limited to what you preach? Are all your intimate spiritual experiences shared with other people? If so, then you lack roots.
It is those Christians who have a history with God in the secret place who triumphantly survive the fiery trials of the way. If one day we are faced with the option of renouncing our faith or losing our lives, which will we choose? It is not in that day that the issue will be settled; it is now. If in that day we fail him, it will be because we have not sent down our roots deep enough today.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Matthew 13
Monday, November 05, 2007
Minister Before the Lord
"But the priests the Levites... shall come near to me to minister unto me." - Ezekiel 44:15
One condition basic to all that can truly be called ministry to the Lord is that we draw near to Him. He desires our worship; yet how hard we find it to drag ourselves into His presence! We shrink from the solitude, and even when we do detach ourselves physically from outside things, we find our thoughts wandering back to them. Many of us can enjoy working among people in the outer court, but how many of us give time to draw near to God in the Holy Place?
To come into His presence and wait upon Him demands all the determination we possess, and even means that we may have to be violent with ourselves. But let me be frank with you; it is impossible to stand afar and yet minister to Him. You cannot serve God from a distance. In the outer court, quite rightly, you approach people; in the Holy Place you approach the Lord. Come nearer, It is your priviledge.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Ezekiel 44
One condition basic to all that can truly be called ministry to the Lord is that we draw near to Him. He desires our worship; yet how hard we find it to drag ourselves into His presence! We shrink from the solitude, and even when we do detach ourselves physically from outside things, we find our thoughts wandering back to them. Many of us can enjoy working among people in the outer court, but how many of us give time to draw near to God in the Holy Place?
To come into His presence and wait upon Him demands all the determination we possess, and even means that we may have to be violent with ourselves. But let me be frank with you; it is impossible to stand afar and yet minister to Him. You cannot serve God from a distance. In the outer court, quite rightly, you approach people; in the Holy Place you approach the Lord. Come nearer, It is your priviledge.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Ezekiel 44
Monday, October 29, 2007
Provoke Not Your Children
"Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged." - Colossians 3:21
There is more instruction in the New Testament for parents than for children. This may be because the occupation of being a parent is harder than any other. It requires a God-given sensitivity. Authority must be used with restraint, because its excessive use may stiffen resistance. This verse warns us that insensitive parents can easily provoke their children to the point of discouragement.
In every way you are stronger than your child. You may subdue him by an overbearing will or simply by your physical strength. If you goad him to such an extent, then he will just wait for the day of liberation. When that day comes, he will throw off all restraint and claim freedom in everything. Ask yourselves, therefore, what kind of home it was that led the needy son to resolve, 'I will arise and go to my father.'
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Colossians 3
There is more instruction in the New Testament for parents than for children. This may be because the occupation of being a parent is harder than any other. It requires a God-given sensitivity. Authority must be used with restraint, because its excessive use may stiffen resistance. This verse warns us that insensitive parents can easily provoke their children to the point of discouragement.
In every way you are stronger than your child. You may subdue him by an overbearing will or simply by your physical strength. If you goad him to such an extent, then he will just wait for the day of liberation. When that day comes, he will throw off all restraint and claim freedom in everything. Ask yourselves, therefore, what kind of home it was that led the needy son to resolve, 'I will arise and go to my father.'
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Colossians 3
Monday, October 01, 2007
Walk by Faith, Not by Sight
"We walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Forgive me for saying here something rather elementary about how God delivers us from living by our feelings and leads us into the state of living by faith. When you first find the Savior, you cannot but be happy. Everything is so wonderful, and everything is so new! But this feeling passes, and then what do you think? Because you are not as joyful as when you were first saved, have you lost your spirituality? Certainly not! To think so is to display a serious misunderstanding of Christian experience.
A simple illustration will help us. I lose a watch. When I find it I am happy. When four or five days have elapsed, I am no longer as happy as I was. After a few more days, that happiness may have entirely gone. What has happened? My watch has not been lost again. All that I have lost is the feelings I had at the time of finding it. This is the Christian life.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5
Forgive me for saying here something rather elementary about how God delivers us from living by our feelings and leads us into the state of living by faith. When you first find the Savior, you cannot but be happy. Everything is so wonderful, and everything is so new! But this feeling passes, and then what do you think? Because you are not as joyful as when you were first saved, have you lost your spirituality? Certainly not! To think so is to display a serious misunderstanding of Christian experience.
A simple illustration will help us. I lose a watch. When I find it I am happy. When four or five days have elapsed, I am no longer as happy as I was. After a few more days, that happiness may have entirely gone. What has happened? My watch has not been lost again. All that I have lost is the feelings I had at the time of finding it. This is the Christian life.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sing Praises
"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises." - Psalm 57:7
Our problems in life are in general of two kinds. The first kind is circumstantial, arising from the turn of events. This may be met and overcome by prayer. The other kind is more personal, the suffering of being hurt or humiliated by others. For such affronts and misunderstandings prayer does not seem to avail. I myself had prayed, and I know. It is futile to wrestle with such problems and to strive in prayer about them. I want to suggest that you should turn instead to praise.
You should bow your head and say to the Lord, 'Lord, I thank you. I receive this bad treatment as from Your hands and I praise you for it all.' By so doing you will find that everything is transcended. What the Lord has permitted to come to you cannot be wrong. Everything that He does is perfect. As you thus praise God, your spirit rises victorious over your problems and God Himself takes care of your hurt feelings.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Psalm 57
Our problems in life are in general of two kinds. The first kind is circumstantial, arising from the turn of events. This may be met and overcome by prayer. The other kind is more personal, the suffering of being hurt or humiliated by others. For such affronts and misunderstandings prayer does not seem to avail. I myself had prayed, and I know. It is futile to wrestle with such problems and to strive in prayer about them. I want to suggest that you should turn instead to praise.
You should bow your head and say to the Lord, 'Lord, I thank you. I receive this bad treatment as from Your hands and I praise you for it all.' By so doing you will find that everything is transcended. What the Lord has permitted to come to you cannot be wrong. Everything that He does is perfect. As you thus praise God, your spirit rises victorious over your problems and God Himself takes care of your hurt feelings.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Psalm 57
Monday, August 27, 2007
God's Will and God's Glory
"When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward." - Exodus 40:36
Just as all God's speaking to His people in those far-off days was from between the cherubim of glory, so all His leading of them onward was by means of that same glory. In the cloud by day and the fire by night the glory of God appeared, and by it they moved. For us, too, all revelation of God's will issues from His glory. See the glory of God in relation to any matter and we have discovered God's leading in regard to it. You ask me 'Is this His will?' I reply by asking in turn, 'Is God's glory resting there?' Discern that, and you need wait for nothing further. For the divine glory itself expresses the divine will. Guidance is thus simply a matter of correspondence to that. Where God's glory rests we need not ask the way.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Exodus 40
Just as all God's speaking to His people in those far-off days was from between the cherubim of glory, so all His leading of them onward was by means of that same glory. In the cloud by day and the fire by night the glory of God appeared, and by it they moved. For us, too, all revelation of God's will issues from His glory. See the glory of God in relation to any matter and we have discovered God's leading in regard to it. You ask me 'Is this His will?' I reply by asking in turn, 'Is God's glory resting there?' Discern that, and you need wait for nothing further. For the divine glory itself expresses the divine will. Guidance is thus simply a matter of correspondence to that. Where God's glory rests we need not ask the way.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Exodus 40
Monday, August 20, 2007
Fear is Satan's Calling Card
"Neither give place to the devil." - Ephesians 4:27
Without some foothold in us, Satan cannot operate. Hence, his first tempting of us will be aimed at securing some ground; the next will be an assault from the ground he has secured. One very large territory, perhaps the largest, that he operates from is fear.
Without some foothold in us, Satan cannot operate. Hence, his first tempting of us will be aimed at securing some ground; the next will be an assault from the ground he has secured. One very large territory, perhaps the largest, that he operates from is fear.
'Fear is Satan's calling card,' a beloved counselor used to say to me. Whenever you accept his calling card, you will receive a visit from him. Fear him and he comes; fear not and he is held at a distance. No child of God need be fearful of Satan, even though he roar as a lion and his teeth are drawn. Within us is One who by demonstration is greater than he.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Ephesians 4
Monday, June 25, 2007
Ten Days
"Ye shall have tribulation ten days." - Revelation 2:10
What is the meaning of this 'ten days'? When Abraham's servant wanted to carry off Rebecca, her brother and mother requested that she stay with them ten days. When Daniel and his friends would not allow themselves to be defiled by the king's food, they asked the officer in charge to try them for ten days. When David was humiliated by Nabal, it happened that after ten days the Lord struck Nabal and he died. So the words must have a meaning in the Bible. It seems possible that they indicate 'just a short time.' Is this the Lord's meaning in his message to the church at Smyrna?
He seems to be saying, first, that there are certain days marked out for our suffering, and that those days are calculated by Him. They are inescapable, but after they are over we shall be freed. On the other hand, He seems to affirm that the trials are brief. The ten days are but a short time. No matter what tribulation you pass through before God, it will soon be past. Be faithful therefore. He awaits you with a crown of life.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Revelations 2:8-11; 1 Samuel 25
What is the meaning of this 'ten days'? When Abraham's servant wanted to carry off Rebecca, her brother and mother requested that she stay with them ten days. When Daniel and his friends would not allow themselves to be defiled by the king's food, they asked the officer in charge to try them for ten days. When David was humiliated by Nabal, it happened that after ten days the Lord struck Nabal and he died. So the words must have a meaning in the Bible. It seems possible that they indicate 'just a short time.' Is this the Lord's meaning in his message to the church at Smyrna?
He seems to be saying, first, that there are certain days marked out for our suffering, and that those days are calculated by Him. They are inescapable, but after they are over we shall be freed. On the other hand, He seems to affirm that the trials are brief. The ten days are but a short time. No matter what tribulation you pass through before God, it will soon be past. Be faithful therefore. He awaits you with a crown of life.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Revelations 2:8-11; 1 Samuel 25
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sacrifice of Praise
"Through Him then let us offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually." - Hebrews 13:15
Praise of God is Satan's target. I do not say he does not oppose prayer; for you only have to start praying to God and sure enough, he intervenes. Yet even more does he assault the praises of God's children. He would gladly exert all his strength to prevent God receiving one word of praise, for if prayer is frequently a battle, praise is victory. At the sound of it Satan flees. I discovered this during the first two years of my Christian life, and have not ceased to rejoice in the peace of heart it has brought me.
Let us not, however, make the mistake of equating praise with joyfulness. Look at the Scriptures. It was out of the pressure upon his people that God drew forth so many of the songs that there delight us. He does not measure praise merely by its exuberance. For in its nature praise is sacrifice. Not only must we exalt His name when we stand on the summit and view the promised land; we must learn also to compose psalms of confidence in Him when we walk through the valley of the shadow. This is praise in truth.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Hebrews 13
Praise of God is Satan's target. I do not say he does not oppose prayer; for you only have to start praying to God and sure enough, he intervenes. Yet even more does he assault the praises of God's children. He would gladly exert all his strength to prevent God receiving one word of praise, for if prayer is frequently a battle, praise is victory. At the sound of it Satan flees. I discovered this during the first two years of my Christian life, and have not ceased to rejoice in the peace of heart it has brought me.
Let us not, however, make the mistake of equating praise with joyfulness. Look at the Scriptures. It was out of the pressure upon his people that God drew forth so many of the songs that there delight us. He does not measure praise merely by its exuberance. For in its nature praise is sacrifice. Not only must we exalt His name when we stand on the summit and view the promised land; we must learn also to compose psalms of confidence in Him when we walk through the valley of the shadow. This is praise in truth.
The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Hebrews 13
Monday, April 16, 2007
Wait On The Lord
"In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." - Isaiah 30:15
Desire for haste bespeaks an emotional nature. Emotion is usually hasty. It is extremely hard for the hasty Christian to wait on the Lord, to know His will and knowing it, to walk a step at a time in that will. Indeed we who are His own are incapable of following the Spirit until our emotions are truly yielded to the cross. We need first to learn there the "patience of Jesus Christ," for let us remember that out of a hundred impatient actions, scarcely one is in the will of God.
「你們得救在乎歸回安息；你們得力在乎平靜安穩」賽30：15
衝動、急躁乃是人的天性。人的情緒常常是急率的。性急的基督徒很難等候神，明白祂的旨意；或在明白之後，很難遵照神的旨意，一步步按部就班地行。的確，屬神的人，除非先讓其情緒接受十字架的對付，否則不可能順從聖靈行事。我們必須先在十字架上學習「耶穌基督的忍耐」。讓我們切記，在一百樁缺乏耐心的草率行動裏，很少有一樁是合乎神旨意的。
因為神知道我們性情的衝動，所以祂屢次用我們的同工、弟兄、家人及環境來作我們的煞車工具。神行事從不匆忙，因此祂很少將祂的能力託付給急躁的人。
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Isaiah 30
Desire for haste bespeaks an emotional nature. Emotion is usually hasty. It is extremely hard for the hasty Christian to wait on the Lord, to know His will and knowing it, to walk a step at a time in that will. Indeed we who are His own are incapable of following the Spirit until our emotions are truly yielded to the cross. We need first to learn there the "patience of Jesus Christ," for let us remember that out of a hundred impatient actions, scarcely one is in the will of God.
Because He knows the impetuosity of our nature, God frequently uses our fellow workers, brethren, family, or environment to put the brake on us. For God never performs anything hurriedly; consequently, He will rarely entrust His power to the impatient
「你們得救在乎歸回安息；你們得力在乎平靜安穩」賽30：15
衝動、急躁乃是人的天性。人的情緒常常是急率的。性急的基督徒很難等候神，明白祂的旨意；或在明白之後，很難遵照神的旨意，一步步按部就班地行。的確，屬神的人，除非先讓其情緒接受十字架的對付，否則不可能順從聖靈行事。我們必須先在十字架上學習「耶穌基督的忍耐」。讓我們切記，在一百樁缺乏耐心的草率行動裏，很少有一樁是合乎神旨意的。
因為神知道我們性情的衝動，所以祂屢次用我們的同工、弟兄、家人及環境來作我們的煞車工具。神行事從不匆忙，因此祂很少將祂的能力託付給急躁的人。
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Isaiah 30
Monday, April 09, 2007
Ministry in the Spirit (靈裏的事奉)
"我的食物就是遵行差我來者的旨意，作成祂的工。" - 約4：34
屬靈的事奉，最奇妙的特性之一，就是它能使投身其中的人煥發更新。就拿主耶穌在敘加井旁的經歷作例子。祂在雅各井旁，像撒瑪利亞婦人要水喝，那時祂真的是又饑又渴。然而祂對這個罪人之關切，使祂暫時忘卻自己的需要，祂顧不得口乾舌燥，而與她深入長談，透過這段談話，祂把生命之水傾注到她乾渴的靈魂中。不久門徒返回，看到主耶穌精神爽朗的樣子，十分驚訝，私下彼此對問說，莫非有人拿甚麼東西給祂吃了麼？當然，真正的秘訣乃在於主將生命之水次給那撒瑪利亞婦人喝之後，祂自己的乾渴也得著滿足了。靈裏的生命及靈裏的事奉，常常都是這個樣子。
"My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work." - John 4:34
A wonderful feature of spiritual ministry is that it refreshes the one who engages in it. Take, for example, the incident of Jesus at the well of Sychar. He was genuinely thirsty when He asked the woman for a drink, but in His concern for her as a needy sinner He ignored His own condition. Instead He engaged her in a conversation that ministered the water of life to her soul.
屬靈的事奉，最奇妙的特性之一，就是它能使投身其中的人煥發更新。就拿主耶穌在敘加井旁的經歷作例子。祂在雅各井旁，像撒瑪利亞婦人要水喝，那時祂真的是又饑又渴。然而祂對這個罪人之關切，使祂暫時忘卻自己的需要，祂顧不得口乾舌燥，而與她深入長談，透過這段談話，祂把生命之水傾注到她乾渴的靈魂中。不久門徒返回，看到主耶穌精神爽朗的樣子，十分驚訝，私下彼此對問說，莫非有人拿甚麼東西給祂吃了麼？當然，真正的秘訣乃在於主將生命之水次給那撒瑪利亞婦人喝之後，祂自己的乾渴也得著滿足了。靈裏的生命及靈裏的事奉，常常都是這個樣子。
"My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work." - John 4:34
A wonderful feature of spiritual ministry is that it refreshes the one who engages in it. Take, for example, the incident of Jesus at the well of Sychar. He was genuinely thirsty when He asked the woman for a drink, but in His concern for her as a needy sinner He ignored His own condition. Instead He engaged her in a conversation that ministered the water of life to her soul.
Then the disciples returned. To their surprise, the Lord looked so refreshed that they began to ask one another where this provision had come from. The answer was, of course, that in giving another to drink of the living water, He Himself had found His own thirst satisfied. Life in the Spirit and ministry in the Spirit are always like this.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 4:1-34
Monday, April 02, 2007
Bring in the Light
"And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not." - John 1:5
There is a great danger today of concentrating attention on questions of dark things and making them the subject of conversation. We invite darkness by discussing it, seeking to deal with it, or even thinking about it. The Christian must learn in this to set aside everything that is negative and be occupied with the positive.
Darkness cannot be driven out of the world, but light can swallow it up. The reverse is never true. There is no such thing as darkness swallowing up light. Light is light wherever it is, even under a bushel. Let me repeat: here even in this dark world, light is light. All the world's darkness cannot extinguish it, but must itself retreat before even the glow of a tiny candle. When you meet darkness, it is absurd to dispel it. Just bring in the light.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:1-5
There is a great danger today of concentrating attention on questions of dark things and making them the subject of conversation. We invite darkness by discussing it, seeking to deal with it, or even thinking about it. The Christian must learn in this to set aside everything that is negative and be occupied with the positive.
Darkness cannot be driven out of the world, but light can swallow it up. The reverse is never true. There is no such thing as darkness swallowing up light. Light is light wherever it is, even under a bushel. Let me repeat: here even in this dark world, light is light. All the world's darkness cannot extinguish it, but must itself retreat before even the glow of a tiny candle. When you meet darkness, it is absurd to dispel it. Just bring in the light.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:1-5
Monday, March 05, 2007
A True King
"One that ruleth over men righteously, that ruleth in the fear of God…" - 2 Samuel 23:3
David is so often called in Scripture 'King David' because he was a true king in spirit as well as in title. He was a king at heart. When a giant threatened Israel, Saul trembled, and so did all the people. Only David was unafraid. There is no fear in the heart of a king.
Ah, but David feared God. Saul became envious and persecuted him, driving him into exile. Then, on at least two occassions, David found Saul at his mercy and had the opportunity of killing him. However, without a command from God he would not lift a finger against his oppressor. Whoever cannot control his own spirit is no king. A true king is a king under all circumstances; he reigns everywhere.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Samuel 24
David is so often called in Scripture 'King David' because he was a true king in spirit as well as in title. He was a king at heart. When a giant threatened Israel, Saul trembled, and so did all the people. Only David was unafraid. There is no fear in the heart of a king.
Ah, but David feared God. Saul became envious and persecuted him, driving him into exile. Then, on at least two occassions, David found Saul at his mercy and had the opportunity of killing him. However, without a command from God he would not lift a finger against his oppressor. Whoever cannot control his own spirit is no king. A true king is a king under all circumstances; he reigns everywhere.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Samuel 24
Monday, February 26, 2007
Drawn by Christ
"Draw me; we will run after Thee." - Song of Songs 1:4
Our spiritual energy in following Christ springs from more than inward impulse, even by the indwelling Spirit. It results rather from some power drawing us to Him as the Spirit makes Him more real and precious to us through the Word. Far beyond our experience, we are given new revelations of the beauty and majesty of our Lord, and as a consequence are pulled by an irresistible longing to approach ever closer to Him.
Notice the effect that such a devoted following of Christ has upon others. It is I who am drawn, but is we who run after Him. In other words, there is something contagious and inspiring about a Christ-dominated life. What a privilege to be so drawn by His love that we influence others to run after the Lord in pursuit of their own closer walk with Him!
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Song of Songs 1
Our spiritual energy in following Christ springs from more than inward impulse, even by the indwelling Spirit. It results rather from some power drawing us to Him as the Spirit makes Him more real and precious to us through the Word. Far beyond our experience, we are given new revelations of the beauty and majesty of our Lord, and as a consequence are pulled by an irresistible longing to approach ever closer to Him.
Notice the effect that such a devoted following of Christ has upon others. It is I who am drawn, but is we who run after Him. In other words, there is something contagious and inspiring about a Christ-dominated life. What a privilege to be so drawn by His love that we influence others to run after the Lord in pursuit of their own closer walk with Him!
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Song of Songs 1
Monday, February 12, 2007
Brotherly Love
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God." - 1 John 4:7
The life within the children of God is so rich that it is possible for them to love all their brothers and sisters in Christ. Such love is the spontaneous fruit of God's Holy Spirit. There is no difference between loving one brother and loving them all, for the same love is shown to the one as to the many. He is loved just because he is a brother, because they are brethren. The number of persons has no bearing here, for the love expressed is 'of God.' Brotherly love is love of all the brethren.
Let us be careful lest we do things that violate that love. Do not allow your brotherly love to desert you because of wounds received, for this will have sorry consequences. God has put many brothers and sisters in our way, here and now, to be the targets of love. These give us the opportunity to realize in costly, concrete terms our love toward God. Never boast of your love to God; just learn to show love to the brethren.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 1 John 4
The life within the children of God is so rich that it is possible for them to love all their brothers and sisters in Christ. Such love is the spontaneous fruit of God's Holy Spirit. There is no difference between loving one brother and loving them all, for the same love is shown to the one as to the many. He is loved just because he is a brother, because they are brethren. The number of persons has no bearing here, for the love expressed is 'of God.' Brotherly love is love of all the brethren.
Let us be careful lest we do things that violate that love. Do not allow your brotherly love to desert you because of wounds received, for this will have sorry consequences. God has put many brothers and sisters in our way, here and now, to be the targets of love. These give us the opportunity to realize in costly, concrete terms our love toward God. Never boast of your love to God; just learn to show love to the brethren.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: 1 John 4
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