ZION WE WILL BE

The Burden of a Shepherd

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Session 02 Points

- Shepherding involves ministering life to people and requires a change in one's disposition, not just making a decision to do it. It requires love, interest, burden and prayer for people.

- To shepherd, one must first spend time with the Lord to consecrate oneself anew to this service. This involves being dealt with by the Lord regarding one's preferences and disposition.

- A shepherd must have an open ear to hear from the Lord, like a slave who is instructed by his master. By receiving a word from the Lord, the shepherd can sustain and encourage the weary ones.

- Shepherding flows out of having people in one's heart, not just giving advice or prophecies. It requires opening one's heart to others like the apostle Paul did.

- Four practices are given: 1) Have adequate contact with the Lord, 2) Learn to be dealt with by the Lord, 3) Pick up a burden for specific ones, and 4) Pray desperately for them with a loving and genuine concern.

Proper shepherding requires inner transformation and depends on receiving grace and words from the Lord to care for people with genuine love and burden.

1. Having adequate contact with the Lord: To minister life to others, we must first purposely spend time with the Lord Himself, the chief Shepherd. We need to go to Him with a clear purpose, open to Him about our desire to be a shepherd, and allow Him to shepherd us in this matter.

2. Dealing with our natural disposition: Shepherding requires a change in our disposition. We tend to contact people who match our taste, but to invite and care for people effectively, we should not have a particular taste. We must receive believers as the Lord receives them, which requires us to deal with our selective disposition through prayer and exposure in the Lord's presence.

3. Caring for people as the basic need in church service: While there are many practical things to do in the church, the primary thing is our care for people. The essential elements of proper shepherding are love for people, interest in them, burden for them, and adequate prayer. When these elements are present, we can effectively visit, contact, invite, and spend time with others.

4. Being instructed by the Lord to sustain others: To be a proper servant of the Lord, we must be instructable and teachable, like a slave with an open ear to hear what the Master has to say (Isaiah 50:4). By receiving instruction from the Lord, we can know how to sustain the weary ones with a timely word that brings Christ to them, reviving, comforting, inspiring, encouraging, and strengthening them.

The practice and application of shepherding involve a personal revolution through contact with the Lord, dealing with our disposition, prioritizing care for people, and being instructed by the Lord to minister life to others effectively.

Q1: What are the four main points of practice for shepherding others?

A1: The four main points of practice for shepherding others are: 1) Having adequate contact with the Lord, 2) Dealing with our natural disposition, 3) Caring for people as the basic need in church service, and 4) Being instructed by the Lord to sustain others.

1) Having adequate contact with the Lord

o Receiving the Lord's shepherding: By going to the Lord with a clear purpose and opening up to Him about our desire to be a shepherd, we allow Him to shepherd us first. This enables us to experience His care, guidance, and empowerment, which equips us to shepherd others effectively.

o Being filled with the Lord's life: Spending time in the Lord's presence helps us to be filled with His life. As we are nourished and supplied by Him, we have the divine life to minister to others. This is essential because shepherding is not merely about giving advice or solving problems, but about imparting Christ's life to those we care for.

o Receiving the Lord's burden: As we spend time with the Lord, He can impart His burden for people into our hearts. This God-given burden is what compels us to care for others genuinely and sacrificially. Without this burden, our shepherding may lack the necessary motivation and endurance.

o Being instructed by the Lord: In our contact with the Lord, we can receive His instructions on how to shepherd others. Like a slave with an open ear (Isaiah 50:4), we need to be teachable and receptive to the Lord's speaking. As we are instructed by Him, we will know how to sustain the weary ones with a timely word.

Having adequate contact with the Lord is the foundation for effective shepherding. It enables us to receive the Lord's shepherding, life, burden, and instructions, which are indispensable for ministering life to others. Therefore, we must prioritize spending time with the Lord and allowing Him to shepherd us first, so that we can shepherd others according to His leading.

2) Dealing with our natural disposition

Dealing with our natural disposition is a vital aspect of shepherding others effectively. Our natural disposition refers to our inherent preferences, tastes, and tendencies that influence how we interact with and care for people. To be effective shepherds, we must allow the Lord to touch and transform our natural disposition.

o Recognizing our limitations: We must acknowledge that according to our natural disposition, we tend to contact and care for people who match our taste. This selective preference limits our ability to shepherd others broadly and effectively. Recognizing this limitation is the first step towards allowing the Lord to deal with our disposition.

o Opening to the Lord: We need to open ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to expose our natural disposition. This involves spending time in His presence, asking Him to shine on us, and reveal any hindrances or biases in our care for others. As we pray, "Lord, shine over me, within me, and through me," He will expose areas that need to be dealt with.

o Receiving the Lord's dealing: As the Lord exposes our natural disposition, we must be willing to receive His dealing. This may involve confessing our limitations, repenting of our biases, and asking the Lord to transform our hearts. It requires humility, openness, and submission to the Lord's work in our lives.

o Embracing the Lord's love: To overcome our natural disposition, we need to experience and embrace the Lord's unconditional love for all people. As we spend time with Him and allow His love to fill our hearts, we will find our capacity to love and care for others expanding. His love will enable us to receive believers as He receives them, without partiality.

o Practicing to care for all: Dealing with our natural disposition involves practicing to care for all kinds of people, not just those who match our preferences. This requires stepping out of our comfort zone, reaching out to those we may not naturally gravitate towards, and learning to appreciate the unique value in each person. As we practice this, our disposition will gradually be transformed.

In summary, dealing with our natural disposition is a process that involves recognizing our limitations, opening to the Lord's exposing, receiving His dealing, embracing His love, and practicing to care for all. As we allow the Lord to touch and transform our disposition, we will become more effective shepherds, able to minister life to a wider range of people according to God's heart.

3) Caring for people as the basic need in church service:

Caring for people is the basic need in church service, as it is the primary focus and responsibility of believers in the church life. While there are many practical aspects of serving in the church, such as cleaning, maintaining facilities, and organizing events, the most essential and fundamental aspect is the care for people. Here are some key points to understand the importance of caring for people in the church service:

o The church is people: The church is not primarily a building, an organization, or a set of activities. The church is the people, the believers in Christ. Therefore, the primary focus of the church service should be on caring for and ministering to the needs of the people.

o Christ's example: As the Good Shepherd, Christ set the pattern for caring for people. His earthly ministry was characterized by His compassionate care for the needs of others, both physical and spiritual. As His followers, we are called to continue His shepherding ministry by caring for His sheep.

o The need for nourishment: Just as physical bodies need food to grow and be healthy, believers need spiritual nourishment to grow in the divine life. Caring for people involves ministering Christ as the life supply to meet their spiritual needs. This requires getting to know people, understanding their struggles, and ministering to them with a timely word.

o The need for relatedness: People need to feel connected, loved, and supported in the church life. Caring for people involves building relationships, showing genuine interest, and being there for one another in times of need. As we care for people, we foster a sense of belonging and community in the church.

o The impact on the church: When people are genuinely cared for, it impacts the overall health and growth of the church. It leads to a more vibrant and loving church life, attracts others to Christ, and facilitates the building up of the Body of Christ. Conversely, a lack of care for people can lead to a cold, indifferent, and stagnant church life.

To practice caring for people in the church service, we need to develop a genuine love for others, a burden for their spiritual welfare, and a willingness to spend time and energy ministering to their needs. This involves getting to know people, praying for them, visiting them, and being open to the Lord's leading in how to care for them.

In summary, caring for people is the basic need in church service because the church is people, and people need spiritual nourishment, relatedness, and support to grow in Christ. As we follow Christ's example and prioritize the care for people, we contribute to the health, growth, and testimony of the church.

(4) Being instructed by the Lord to sustain others.

Being instructed by the Lord to sustain others is a crucial aspect of effective shepherding. It involves being teachable and receptive to the Lord's speaking, so that we can receive His wisdom, guidance, and supply to minister to others. Here are some key points to understand the importance of being instructed by the Lord to sustain others:

o The need for divine wisdom: Shepherding others often involves complex situations, diverse needs, and personal struggles. Our natural wisdom and understanding are limited in effectively ministering to these needs. We need the Lord's divine wisdom to know how to handle each situation and person according to His will.

o The example of the slave with the open ear: In Isaiah 50:4, the Lord's servant is described as one who has an open ear to hear the Lord's instruction, so that he can sustain the weary with a word. This illustrates the importance of being teachable and attentive to the Lord's speaking, so that we can receive His timely words to minister to others.

o The Lord's specific guidance: Each person we shepherd is unique, with their own background, personality, and struggles. To effectively minister to them, we need the Lord's specific guidance for each individual. As we spend time with the Lord and bring each person to Him in prayer, He can give us specific insights, words, and ways to care for them.

o The supply of life: Ultimately, what sustains others is not just wise words or helpful advice, but the impartation of the divine life. As we are instructed by the Lord, He fills us with His life and enables us to minister that life to others. This life supply is what truly nourishes, refreshes, and strengthens those we care for.

o The impact of a timely word: A word spoken in season can have a profound impact on a person's life. As we are instructed by the Lord, He can give us the right word at the right time to meet a specific need. This timely word can bring encouragement, comfort, guidance, or conviction, depending on what the person needs at that moment.

To practice being instructed by the Lord to sustain others, we need to cultivate a habit of spending time in the Lord's presence, listening to His speaking, and seeking His guidance for those we shepherd. This involves setting aside time for prayer, reading His Word, and being open to His leading. As we do this, we will find ourselves being more attuned to the Lord's instructions and better equipped to minister to others.

In summary, being instructed by the Lord to sustain others is essential for effective shepherding. It enables us to receive the Lord's divine wisdom, specific guidance, life supply, and timely words to minister to the unique needs of each person we care for. As we learn to be teachable and receptive to the Lord's speaking, we will become channels of His sustaining grace to those around us.

Q2: Why is it important to purposely spend time with the Lord in order to shepherd others?

A2: To minister life to others, we must first be shepherded by the Lord Himself. We need to go to Him with a clear purpose, open to Him about our desire to be a shepherd, and allow Him to shepherd us in this matter. This personal contact with the Lord is crucial for effective shepherding.

Q3: How does our natural disposition affect our ability to shepherd others?

A3: According to our disposition, we tend to contact people who match our taste. However, to invite and care for people effectively, we should not have a particular taste. We must receive believers as the Lord receives them, which requires us to deal with our selective disposition through prayer and exposure in the Lord's presence.

Q4: What are the essential elements of proper shepherding?

A4: The essential elements of proper shepherding are love for people, interest in them, burden for them, and adequate prayer. When these elements are present, we can effectively visit, contact, invite, and spend time with others.

Q5: How can we be instructed by the Lord to sustain others?

A5: To be a proper servant of the Lord, we must be instructable and teachable, like a slave with an open ear to hear what the Master has to say (Isaiah 50:4). By receiving instruction from the Lord, we can know how to sustain the weary ones with a timely word that brings Christ to them, reviving, comforting, inspiring, encouraging, and strengthening them.

Notes from the Lessons on Shepherding for the Northern California Working Saints.

Importance of mutual shepherding within the church

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 04:21:00 +0000

Session 01 - Points

Importance of mutual shepherding within the church.

1. Shepherding one another is crucial for building up the body of Christ. Brother suggests that God will evaluate believers based on how well they cared for others.

2. Every believer, regardless of their spiritual maturity, needs shepherding and should also shepherd others. This mutual care allows the church to build itself up in life.

3. Brother quotes another Christian leader who emphasized that the most effective way to save people and revive the church is through small groups where everyone is a shepherd to one another.

4. Brother acknowledges that the concept of mutual shepherding is not yet fully practiced in many local churches, but believes it is possible and necessary for every church to become a shepherding church.

5. Ultimately, Brother points to Christ as the perfect example of a shepherd and encourages believers to imitate Him by tenderly caring for and ministering to the needs of others in the church.

Just as a shepherd tends to his flock,

We are called to care for each other, to take stock

Of the needs around us, to nurture and feed

The souls in our church family, to lead

With the heart of our Savior, the ultimate guide.

In mutual shepherding, let's not hide

Our own need for care, but humbly receive

As we minister love, and barriers leave.

For in this way, the body of Christ will grow,

Revived and vibrant, His life on show.

So let us pursue this simple yet profound call,

To shepherd each other, one and all.

This Hymn highlights the mutual shepherding within the church, the importance of caring for one another's needs, and the ultimate goal of building up the body of Christ. It also points to Christ as the model shepherd and the source of life for the church.

The spiritual burden

The urgent need for mutual shepherding within the church. every believer, not just leaders or those who are spiritually mature, should actively care for and minister to others in the church. This shepherding involves tenderly attending to others' needs, feeding them spiritually, and nurturing their growth in Christ.

This mutual shepherding is essential for the health and growth of the church. the lack of shepherding has led to a shortage of fruit and various troubles within the church. On the other hand, when believers take up the call to shepherd one another, it can lead to revival and the building up of the body of Christ.

Christ as the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. Believers are called to imitate this sacrificial, caring heart in their relationships with one another. if this vision of mutual shepherding is embraced, it will revolutionize individual lives and the church as a whole.

Ultimately, Church to reflect the heart of Christ by becoming a shepherding community where every member is both cared for and caring for others. This is the path to experiencing the life and growth that God intends for His people.

The Revelation of the Truth

1. Shepherding is the responsibility of all believers, not just for elders. Every member of the church, regardless of their spiritual maturity, should be involved in caring for others.

2. Mutual shepherding is essential for the health and growth of the church. When believers shepherd one another, the body of Christ is built up and experiences revival.

3. Shepherding is not primarily about teaching or problem-solving, but about ministering the life of Christ to others. It involves tenderly caring for others' needs and nurturing their spiritual growth.

4. Small groups or "vital groups" are a key context for mutual shepherding. In these intimate settings, every member can function as a shepherd to one another.

5. Christ is the ultimate model for shepherding. He laid down His life for the sheep and continues to care for His people. Believers are called to imitate this sacrificial, loving heart in their relationships.

6. The practice of mutual shepherding is often lacking in the church today, but it is possible and necessary for every church to become a shepherding community.

7. When the church embraces mutual shepherding, it will experience the life, growth, and revival that God intends. This simple yet profound practice has the power to transform individual lives and the church as a whole.

Shepherding is the sole responsibility of elders. Instead, they present a vision of the church as a community where every member is actively involved in caring for and ministering to one another, following the example of Christ, the good shepherd.

Q1: Who is the ultimate shepherd of God's people?

A1: Jesus Christ is the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

Q2: What is the responsibility of church elders in relation to shepherding?

A2: Church elders are called to Shepherd the flock of God, serving as overseers and patterns (1 Peter 5:2-3).

"Shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion but willingly, according to God; not by seeking gain through base means but eagerly; Nor as lording it over your allotments but by becoming patterns of the flock." (1 Peter 5:2-3)

Q3: How can believers minister to one another in the church?

A3: Believers should exhort and build one another up in love (Hebrews 10:24-25).

"And let us consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works, Not abandoning our own assembling together, as the custom with some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Q4: What is the goal of mutual shepherding within the church?

A4: The goal is to grow in Christlikeness and build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).

"But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Q5: What attitude should believers have as they care for one another?

A5: Believers should have the same mindset as Christ, humbly serving one another (Philippians 2:3-5).

"Doing nothing by way of selfish ambition nor by way of vainglory, but in lowliness of mind considering one another more excellent than yourselves; Not regarding each his own virtues, but each the virtues of others also. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:3-5)

Notes from the Lessons on Shepherding for the Northern California Working Saints.

Crucial points - Christ as the Great Light, the One Who Has Authority, the Physician, the Bridegroom, the Unfulled Cloth, and the New Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:42:00 +0000

1. The intrinsic significance of the training subject "experiencing, enjoying, and expressing Christ" is twofold:

a. It is the heart of the divine revelation and the central thought of God's eternal economy.
b. Our experience and enjoyment of Christ is for the corporate expression of Christ as the organic Body of Christ, consummating in the New Jerusalem.

2. Believers should forget the things which are behind and stretch forward to the things before, pursuing the vast, unexplored territory of Christ.

3. Paul's goal was the fullest enjoyment and gaining of Christ, with the prize being the uttermost enjoyment of Christ in the Millennial Kingdom.

4. Christ is presented in various aspects in the book of Matthew:

a. The great light
b. The one who has authority
c. The physician
d. The bridegroom
e. The unformed cloth
f. The new wine

5. Christ is the body composed of many members who are filled with Him, which is the new wineskin (the church life) to contain Christ as the new wine.

6. Among the church people, the new garment, the new wine, and the new wineskin have all been recovered, with the church (the wineskin) being God's ultimate goal.

7. Emphasizes the importance of understanding the intrinsic significance of the training subject and the various aspects of Christ presented in the book of Matthew.

Q1: What is the intrinsic significance of the overall subject of the training on experiencing, enjoying, and expressing Christ?

A1: The intrinsic significance of the training subject is twofold:

1) It is the heart of the divine revelation and the central thought of God's eternal economy.
2) Our experience and enjoyment of Christ is for the corporate expression of Christ as the organic Body of Christ, consummating in the New Jerusalem as the ultimate expression of Christ.

Q2: What did the centurion recognize about the Lord's authority, and how did it relate to his own authority?

A2: The centurion recognized that the Lord was a man under authority. Since the centurion himself was a man under authority, he had the authority to command those under him. He understood that to reign, one must first submit to the reigning of those over them.

Q3: What happened when man rebelled against God's authority in the beginning?

A3: When man fell and rebelled against God, unwilling to submit to His authority, man lost the authority of God. As a result, all the creatures under man were no longer in subjection to man's authority, leading to a fallen universe full of rebelliousness and insubordination.

Q4: What have been recovered among the church people, and what is the significance of the new wineskin?

A4: Among the church people, the new garment, the new wine, and the new wineskin have all been recovered. The new wineskin is the church life that contains Christ as the new wine. The church, as the wineskin, is God's ultimate goal.

Q5: What does it mean that Christ is the body composed of many members who are filled with Him?

A5: Christ is the body composed of many members who are filled with Him. This refers to the church as the new wineskin, which is the corporate expression of Christ. The church life contains Christ as the new wine.

The Greatest Love story in the Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:37:00 +0000

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 2:9
"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which have not come up in man's. heart; things which God has prepared for those who love Him." John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life."

Romans 5:8

"But God commends His own love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Mark 12:30

"And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength."

GOD LOVES MAN

In this universe, there is a wonderful romance. It is the greatest love story. It is the earliest, longest, purest, deepest, strongest and the most mysterious of all love stories. The two parties in this love story are God and man. Could you believe that as a man, you are actually involved in this greatest love story of all? You may not have realized it yet, but the fact is God loves you. Yes, it is true that God really loves you. How sweet it is to know that someone loves you. How much sweeter still, to know that the One who loves you is God Himself! Yes, God has loved you even before you were born! In eternity past, God already had man in His heart and in time God created man in His image, according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26). After God created man, He said, "very good" (Gen. 1:31). This shows how pleased He was with man and how much God loves man because this man bears His image and likeness.

THE HEAVENS ARE FOR THE EARTH

THE EARTH IS FOR MAN

MAN IS FOR GOD 

God prepared everything for man. He first created the heavens for the earth and then the earth for man and eventually man was created for God. The heavens were ready, the earth was ready, and man who was created a tripartite being, with a spirit, soul and body (1 Thes. 5:23) and who was placed by God in the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:8) was also ready. The entire setting was right. The scene was beautiful. However, as in so many love stories, there was a third party, there was a spoiler.

SATAN'S FRUSTRATION

There was an evil and jealous third party who came in to frustrate and attempt to spoil this wonderful relationship between God and man. This spoiler is Satan, the adversary, God's enemy. Satan hates to see God gain man for Himself. He also hates to see man loving and enjoying God in true love and worship. Hence, he always tries to poison man, deceive him and draw him away- from God, from listening to God, from knowing God, and eventually from loving God. Throughout the history of God's relationship with man, Satan has always been trying to blind man towards God's love and God's good intentions for man. He puts doubts, injects fears, causes misunderstandings and questionings and fills man's heart with the cares of this world and the anxieties of life, with the intention that man's heart would be hardened towards God. He does not want God and man to love each other. He is jealous of God and he tries his best to damage the man created by God. Actually, he is trying to usurp God's position and wishes to capture and enslave man for himself.

GOD'S DETERMINATION IN HIS Love FOR MAN

But praise God! Our God is determined to get what He wants and He is wiser and stronger than Satan. God would never force man to worship or love Him. There can never be true love, when one party is forced against his or her will. God loves man; God wants man to choose Him voluntarily. God's love and mercy reaches man even when man has rebelled and rejected Him. God commends His own love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Even though man had been deceived by Satan and had rejected God, God would not give up on man. He loves man and wants to save man for His own eternal purpose. He comes to man again and again until man's heart would turn to Him, receive Him and enjoy fully the love of God.

THE FIRST AND THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT—TO Love GOD 

God loves man so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to come and die for man that man may live. God is even willing to come into man to be one with man, to be man's life and life supply. He knows that unless man receives God into him and has His divine life, man can never be satisfied. Man can never find true happiness and meaning in life apart from God because man was created for God. Without God, man is just an empty vessel. Man needs God. The secret is for man to love the Lord his God from his whole heart and from his whole soul and from his whole mind and from his whole strength. Love is the indispensable element for man to experience God and all that God has prepared for man. The love of God is the secret to man's happiness.

John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life. If man would believe and receive Jesus Christ the Saviour into his heart, God's Spirit would enter into man's spirit to regenerate man's spirit. God would reveal to man all the deep things of God; and all the wonderful things which God has prepared for man will be realized and enjoyed by man. Things such as God Himself being our inheritance, our portion, our enjoyment; we being partakers of God's divine life and nature, being made holy even as God is holy; Christ being our all in all, our Saviour, Redeemer, Lord, Friend, Shepherd, Prophet, Priest, our hope of glory etc.; all these will be ours if we would believe and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

BE A LOVER OF GOD!
Dear friend, God loves you. Would you not be a lover of God? What can be better than God? Why would you choose to remain in your present godless situation and continue to be deceived by Satan, who just wants to spoil the relationship between God and man? Love is the greatest, love has attracted us to follow Jesus, love has motivated us and love has given us strength to serve Him and to give our everything to please Him. We love Him willingly and of our own volition because He has first loved us. The love of Christ constrains us to follow Him. We have no regrets, and our life is fixed on God alone. Nothing can ever change the mutual love of God and man for each other. We were cheated once in the garden of Eden by Satan, but God has opened our eyes to see His real intention and love for us. When God loves us, He loves us.to the end. Dear friend, I challenge you to act right now. Believe in Jesus Christ and obey the first and greatest commandment, that is to love God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength. Your life will be changed and you will begin a new life, a life in a love union with Jesus Christ our Lord and God.

A Prayer
Dear friend, I invite you to pray the following prayer. "0 Lord Jesus, I need You. Lord Jesus, I thank You for loving me and for dying for me. Lord, I receive You into my heart. Lord, fill me with the love of God and lead me to live a life of loving God and serving God. Lord, I realise that without You, without God, my life is meaningless. Lord Jesus, I love You and I give myself to You. Lord, be with me all the days of my life. I pray in Your precious name. Amen."

இந்த ஆண்டின் முடிவில் கர்த்தருடனான ஒரு விசேஷித்த நேரம்

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 16:05:00 +0000

இந்த ஆண்டு முடிவுறுகையில், கர்த்தரிடம் ஜெப பிரதிபலிப்பு, நன்றிகூருதல், பசுமையான அர்ப்பணிப்பை வழங்குதல் ஆகியவற்றுக்காக நாம் அவருக்கு முன்பாக நேரம் செலவழிப்பது ஆவிக்குரியவிதத்தில் ஆரோக்கி-யமான ஒரு பயிற்சியாகும். ஒவ்வொரு காரியமாக பல புறம்பான மற்றும் பொருளாதார வழிகளில் கர்த்தர் நம் தேவைகளைச் சந்தித்திருப்பதற்காக அவருக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்துதல் தவிர, நாம் விசுவாசிகளாக அனுபவித்து-மகிழ்ந்திருக்கிற அற்புதமான உள்ளான மற்றும் நித்தியமான காரியங்-களுக்காகவும்கூட நாம் சிந்தித்து, அவருக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்தவும் முடியும். இவை, நம் பௌதிக கண்களால் அல்ல, மாறாக நம் இருதயத்தின் உள்ளான கண்களால் கண்டிருக்கிற, இப்பிரபஞ்சத்திலுள்ள மிகவும் நிஜமான மற்றும் நிலைத்திருக்கிற ஆசீர்வாதங்களாகும்.

இதைப் போன்று நாம் கர்த்தரோடு ஒரு விசேஷித்த நேரம் செலவழிக்கும்போது, அவருடன் நம் வழக்கமான அனுதின நேரத்திற்கு அப்பாற்ப்பட்டு, நம் இருதயங்கள் திறந்தும் மென்மையாகவும் ஆகின்றன, மேலும் நம்மிடம் பேசுவதற்கு நாம் அவருக்கு இன்னொரு வாய்ப்பைத் தருகிறோம். இந்த ஆண்டின் முடிவில் கர்த்தராகிய இயேசுவுக்கு நம் நன்றிசெலுத்துதலையும் துதித்தலையும் வளமாக்கும்படி நாம் ஜெபித்து பரிசீலிக்கக்கூடிய ஒருசில காரியங்கள் கீழேயுள்ளன

1. நித்திய ஜீவன்

“பாவத்தின் சம்பளம் மரணம்; தேவனுடைய கொடையோ நம்முடைய கர்த்தராகிய இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவினால் உண்டானநித்திய ஜீவன்”(கிரேக்கு).

நம் கர்த்தராகிய கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவிலுள்ள நித்திய ஜீவனே தேவனுடைய கொடை என்று கூறுகிறது. நாம் இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவுக்குள் விசுவாசித்திருப்பதால், நமக்கு நித்திய ஜீவன் இருக்கிறது! இந்த நித்திய ஜீவன் என்றால் என்ன? எப்போதுமேயிருக்கிற ஜீவனைவிட மேலானது, இந்த ஜீவன் சாட்சாத்து தெய்வீகமாக, தேவனுடைய சிருஷ்டிக்கப்படாத ஜீவனாகும், இதை ஆவியானவரால் நம் ஆவியில் மூலம் பெற்றிருக்கிறோம். இப்போது, மனிதர்களாகிய நாம் தேவனின் தெய்வீக ஜீவனையே பகிர்ந்துகொள்கிறோம்! தேவனுடைய பூரணமான, ஐசுவரியமான, மகிமையான, முழுமையான, தூய்மையான, அளவற்ற ஜீவன் இப்போது நம் ஜீவனாக, நாம் ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் அனுபவித்துமகிழ்ந்து, வாழ்வதற்காக இருக்கிறது. புதிய ஏற்பாட்டு மீட்டுத்திருப்புதல் படிவத்தில் இந்த வசனத்தின்விவரிப்பதுபோல, இந்த அற்புதமான, காணமுடியாத கொடை ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட இலக்கிற்காக நம்மில் கிரியைசெய்கிறது:

“நித்திய ஜீவன் என்பது மூவொரு தேவனின் சாட்சாத்து ஜீவனாகும். நாம் தேவனால் நீதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருப்பதின் அடிப்படையில் இந்த ஜீவன் நமக்குள் உட்பகிரப்பட்டிருக்கிறது, மேலும் இது பரிசுத்த-மாகுதல் மற்றும் மறுசாயலாகுதல் மூலம் நம் ஆள்தத்துவம் முழுவதிலும் இப்போது பரவிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இது, கர்த்த-ருடைய மகிமையின் வெளியரங்கமாதலில் ஒரு பங்கைக் கொண்டிருக்க (கொலோ. 3:4) நாம் ஏற்றவர்களாக ஆகக்கூடுமாறு நம் ஆள்தத்துவம் கர்த்தருடைய சாயலுக்கு ஒத்தசாயலாக்கப்-படுவதையும் நம் ஆள்தத்துவம் கர்த்தருடைய மகிமைக்குள் கொண்டுவரப்படுவதையும் விளைவிக்கும்.”

இதுவே நாம் சொந்தமாக்கியுள்ள நித்திய ஜீவன்! இது நம்மை ஆற்றலூட்டு-கிறது, நம்மில் பரவுகிறது, நமக்குள்ளிருந்து நம்மை மறுசாயலாக்குகிறது. நம்மில்நிறைவேற்ற மிக அதிகமாக செய்யும் அவரது நித்திய ஜீவனை நமக்குத் தருவதற்காக ஆழ்ந்து சிந்தித்து தேவனுக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்த நேரத்தை எடுத்துக்கொள்வோம். இந்த ஆண்டு அவரது தெய்வீக ஜீவனை நாம் அனுபவித்துமகிழ்ந்திருக்கிற எல்லா நேரங்களுக்காக நாம் அவருக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்தலாம். நாம் அவருடைய வார்த்தையில் அவரால் ஊட்டப்பட்டு அவரது நாமத்தைக் கூப்பிடுவதின்மூலம் அவரது ஐசுவரியங்களை அனுபவமாக்கியிருக்கிறோம். இந்தப் புதிய ஆண்டில் அவரது ஜீவனில் அதிக அனுபவமகிழச்சிக்காகவும் வளர்ச்சிக்காகவும் நாம் அவரிடம் ஜெபிக்கலாம்.

2. காணாமலிருந்தும் நாம் அன்புகூருகிற இயேசு கிறிஸ்து

“அவரை நீங்கள் காணாமலிருந்தும் அவரிடத்தில் அன்புகூருகிறீர்கள்; இப்பொழுது அவரைத் தரிசியாமலிருந்தும் அவரிடத்தில் விசுவாசம் வைத்து, சொல்லிமுடியாததும் மகிமையால் நிறைந்ததுமாயிருக்கிற சந்தோஷமுள்ளவர்களாய் களிகூர்ந்து” - 1 பேதுரு 1:8.

நம்மில் ஒருவரும் இயேசுவை நம் பௌதிக கண்களால் எப்போதுமே பார்த்திருக்கவில்லை, ஆயினும் நாம் அவரை நேசிக்கிறோம். நாம் ஒருபோதும் பார்த்திராத யாரோவொருவரை நேசித்து விசுவாசிக்கிறோம், மேலும் இதன் விளைவாக நாம் சொல்லமுடியாத மகிழ்ச்சியால் நிறைகின்றோம். இது எப்படி முடியும்? கலாத்தியர் 1:15-16ல் அப்போஸ்தலன் பவுல் செய்தது போலவே, ஒன்றும் நம்மிடத்திலிருந்து வருவதல்ல, மாறாக எல்லாம் நம்மில் தம் குமாரனை வெளிப்படுத்த பிரியமாயுள்ள தேவனிடமிருந்தே வருகிறது என்று நம்மில் ஒவ்வொருவரும் சாட்சிபகர முடியும். நாம் இயேசுவின் உள்ளான தரிசனம், மதிப்பு, அழகு ஆகியவற்றைப் பார்த்திருக்கிறோம். தேவனுடைய வார்த்தையில் நமக்கு வெளிப்படுத்தியபடி, இயேசு கிறிஸ்து மெய்யாகவே ஒப்பிடமுடியாதவர். அவரே தெய்வீகத்தோடு மெய்யான தேவன், பூரணமான மனுஷீகத்தோடு நிஜமான மனிதர். அவரே பாவமற்றவர், ஆயினும் அவர் நம் பலவீனங்களில் நம்முடன் பரிதபிக்க முடியும்; அவர் பலமானவர், துணிவுள்ளவர், ஆயினும் சாந்தமுள்ளவர், தாழ்மையானவர்; அவரே முற்றிலும் பிதாவின் சித்தத்தைச் செய்து, நமக்காக மரித்து, நம் ஜீவனாயிருக்க இப்போது நம்மில் வாழ்கிறார்! அவரிடம் கவர்ந்திழுக்கப்படாமலும் அவரை நேசிக்காமலும் நம்மால் இருக்க முடியாது.
நம் உள்ளான கண்கள் நம் ஆவியிலும் தம் வார்த்தையிலும் கர்த்தராகிய இயேசுவைக் கண்டிருக்கிற இந்த ஆண்டின் தருணங்களுக்காக நாம் கர்த்தருக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்தவும் அவரைத் துதிக்கவும் முடியும். நாம் எவ்வளவாய் அவரைப் பார்த்திருக்கிறோமோ, அவ்வளவாய் நாம் அவரை நேசிக்கிறோம். அவரே இப்பிரபஞ்சத்தில் மிகவும் நேசிக்கப்படத்தக்கவர். நம் அன்பு முழுவதிற்கும் மிகவும் பாத்திரமானவரை நாம் நோக்கிக்கொண்டிருக்கையில், அவரிடமே நம்மைக் கவர்ந்திழுப்பதற்காக நாம் அவருக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்தலாம், அவர் தம் அன்பினால் நம்மை நெருக்கட்டும், மீண்டும் நாம் நம் அன்பை அவருக்கு வழங்கட்டும்.

3. நாம் அவரைப் போலவே இருப்போம்

“பிரியமானவர்களே, இப்பொழுது தேவனுடைய பிள்ளைகளாயிருக்கிறோம், இனி எவ்விதமாயிருப்போமென்று இன்னும் வெளியரங்கமாக்கப்படவில்லை ஆகிலும் அவர் வெளியரங்கப்படும்போது அவர் இருக்கிறவண்ணமாகவே நாம் அவரைத் தரிசிப்பதினால், என்று அறிந்திருக்கிறோம்.” – 1 யோவான் 3:2 (கிரேக்கு).

இன்னும் வெளியரங்கமாகாதிருப்பதைப் புரிந்துகொள்ள இந்த வசனத்தின் 1வது குறிப்பு நமக்கு உதவுகிறது:

“நாம் தேவனுடைய பிள்ளைகளாயிருப்பதால், அவர் வெளியரங்க-மாகும்போது நாம் ஜீவனின் முதிர்ச்சியில் அவரைப் போலவே இருப்போம். அவரைப்போல இருப்பதென்றால் ‘நாம் என்னவா-யிருப்போம்’ என்பதாகும். இது இன்னும் வெளியரங்காமாகவில்லை. தேவனுடைய பிள்ளைகளுக்கு மிகவும் உயரிய ஆசீர்வாதத்துடனான ஒரு மாபெரும் எதிர்காலம் இருக்கிறது: நமக்கு தெய்வீக சுபாவம் மட்டும் இருக்காது, தெய்வீக ரூபத்தையும் ஏந்தியிருப்போம். தெய்வீக சுபாவத்தில் பங்கெடுப்பதென்பது ஏற்கெனவே ஒரு மாபெரும் ஆசீர்வாதம் மற்றும் அனுபவமகிழ்ச்சியாகும், இன்னும் தேவனைப் போலவே இருப்பது, அதாவது அவரது ரூபத்தை ஏந்தியிருத்தல் மிகப்பெரிய ஆசீர்வாதமாகவும் அனுபவமகிழ்ச்சி-யாகவும் இருக்கும்.”

தேவனுடைய வார்த்தை வியப்பூட்டும் உண்மையை நமக்குக் கூறுகிறது: விழுந்துபோன, மீட்கப்பட்ட பாவிகளாகிய நாம், நம்மைக் குறித்த எதினாலும் அல்ல, மாறாக தம் தெய்வீக ஜீவனில் முதிர்ச்சிக்கு வந்தடைவதினால், ஒருநாள் அவரைப்போல இருப்போம். நாம் நித்திய ஜீவனையும் சுபாவத்தையும் பெற்று, அதிகமாக அனுபவத்துமகிழ்கையில், சிறிதுசிறிதாக இந்த ஜீவன் கிறிஸ்துவின் சாயலுக்கு நம்மை மறுசாயலாக்குகிறது. இதன்மூலம், தம் ஜீவனால் பிறந்த பல குமாரர்களைப் பெற்று, அவரை வெளிக்காட்டும் தம் முதற்பேறான குமார-னாகிய இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவின் சாயலுக்கு ஒத்தசாயலாக்கப்படும் தேவனுடைய இருதய வாஞ்சையை அவர் அடைகின்றார்.
நாம் தெய்வீக ஜீவனில் வளர்ந்துகொண்டிருப்பதை உணரவோ நம் ஆவிக்குரிய முன்னேற்றத்தை இனங்காண்பதோ நாம் வழக்கமாக செய்வதில்லை என்றாலும், திரும்பிப்பார்ப்பதின்மூலம் நாம் எவ்வளவு தூரம் வந்திருக்கிறோம் என்பதை நாம் உணர்ந்தறிய முடியும். இந்த ஆண்டின் முடிவில், அதிகப்படியான, இயல்பான வேலையை கர்த்தர் நம்முள் செய்திருக்கிறார் என்பதை நாம் பரிசீலித்து, நம்மை அவரது ஜீவனில் முதிர்ச்சிக்குச் சீராகக் கொண்டுவர அவரது நம்பகத்தன்மைக்காக அவரைத் துதிக்க முடியும்!

கர்த்தரிடம் நம் மாறுத்தரம்

கடந்த ஆண்டில் கர்த்தர் நம் யாவர்மீதும் இப்பேர்ப்பட்ட இரக்கத்தை வைத்திருக்கிறார்! இந்தக் காரியங்களைப் பிரதிபலித்து, நமக்காக அவர் செய்திருக்கிற எல்லாவற்றுக்காகவும் நமக்கு அவர் எல்லாமாக இருப்பதற்-காகவும் கர்த்தருக்கு நன்றிசெலுத்தி நாம் நேரம் செலவழிக்கையில், நாம் அவரிடம் அர்ப்பணிப்பின் புதிய ஜெபங்களையும் ஏறெடுப்போமாக:

“கர்த்தராகிய இயேசுவே, நீர் என்னில் வளருமாறு, உம் நித்திய ஜீவனால் வாழவும் அதில் அதிகம் பங்கெடுக்கவும் வருகின்ற ஆண்டுக்காக நான் என்னை உமக்குத் தருகின்றேன். கர்த்தாவே, நாம் உம்மை நேசிக்கிறேன். நீர் என் அன்பு முழுவதிற்கும் பாத்திரமானவர். நான் என் இருதயம் முழுவதையும் உமக்குத் தருகின்றேன். மேலும் கர்த்தாவே, நீர் என் முழு ஆள்தத்துவத்தையும் உம் சாயலுக்கு ஒத்தசாயாலாக்கும்படியும் தேவனுடைய குறிக்கோள் நிறைவேறும்-படியும் உம் தெய்வீக ஜீவனோடு ஒத்துழைக்க நான் என்னை உமக்குத் தருகின்றேன்.”

அனைத்து வசனங்களும் பரிசுத்த வேதாகமத்தின் மீட்டுத்திருப்பப்பட்ட படிவத்திலிருந்து எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன .இந்த பகுதி Bibles for America இல் இருந்து எடுக்கப்பட்டு மொழிபெயர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளது .)
All verses are quoted from the Holy Bible Recovery Version, and this portion has been taken and translated from Bibles for America

Crystallization-Study of Leviticus (1) - Banner song Mp3

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 02:24:00 +0000

BANNERS FOR THE DECEMBER 2017 SEMIANNUAL TRAlNING

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① Through His speaking in the Tent of Meeting,

God trained His people to worship and partake of Him

and to live a holy, clean, and rejoicing life.

② We need to realize that we are not absolutely for God

and that in ourselves we cannot be absolutely for God,

and then we need to take Christ as our burnt offering—

the One who lived a life that is absolutely for God.

③ By exercising our spirit to touch the Spirit consolidated in the Word,

we are constituted with Jesus,

and the human living of Jesus becomes our human living.

④ Christ is the peace offering between God and God’s people

for their co-enjoyment in fellowship to have the vital-group church life,

to have the Lord’s table meeting, and to consummate in

the New Jerusalem as the ultimate peace offering.

Click to Download music sheet

Taken from : http://melodyoflilies.com/
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Not celebrating Christmas for 5 reasons

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 13:51:00 +0000

The First, if we read and check the Bible, we will find that the four Gospels did not tell us at all when Jesus' birthday was.
The second , because pope of the Roman Catholic Church could not find the birthday of Jesus in the Bible, they found that in the Greek mythology the sun god’s birthday is December 25th . Thus they announced December 25 as the Lord Jesus’s birthday to celebrate Christmas which is actually celebrated as the birthday of a pagan idol.
The third, every week we remember (celebrate) the death and resurrection of the Lord more than celebrating the birthday of the Lord Jesus. The birthday of the Lord Jesus is only for His death and resurrection. Otherwise, the birthday of the Lord Jesus is meaningless. His birth is just to prepare a physical body so that He may shed His blood to be crucified to redeem us for the sake of our salvation. Thus, we may have God's life, be children of God even to become God in life , nature and expression , but not in the Godhead for producing and building up the Body of Christ , consummating in the New Jerusalem . This is the true intention of the Lord and the true purpose of the Lord's birth.
The fourth, the Lord Jesus clearly commanded us in the Bible several times that we , Christians , on every Sunday (on the Lord’s day) must remember (celebrate) the death and resurrection of the Lord. That is why all Christians on every Sunday (on the Lord’s day) must be sanctified to go to the Lord's table meeting because this is the way to fulfill the Lord Jesus's above commands .
The fifth , the most important one, we care most about Christ rather than mass or mas, that is, we really care about how much we gain and live out the reality of Christ. We all need to ask ourselves how much the reality of Christ we actually live out in our daily livings ? For example, do we live out Christ as our long-suffering , long endurance , great patience, constant and unchanging love, great faith in hardships , restraint in all things, loving your enemies. These above are the realities of Christ, do we really live out in our difficult situations and daily living ? Living out Christ's reality, is true celebration of Christmas because to live out the Lord Jesus is equal to give birth to(= express) the Lord Jesus from within you in your practical living.

Feeding the New Believers with baby food - Concerning Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 13:06:00 +0000

In one of the home meetings, a family of new believers proposed that their family and the saints exchange Christmas gifts. When this suggestion was made, the saints simply smiled and tried to avoid the issue by turning the conversation to a hymn and a portion of the Word. The meeting ended without any further mention of Christmas. But a few days later, another reference was made to something of Christmas by one of the family members as the family was traveling to one of the meetings with the team. The family has been brought into the enjoyment and experience of the Lord on many occasions,yet the saints are somewhat concerned as to how to share with them concerning the celebration of Christmas without offending them.

In speaking with the new believers, you should never forget that they are babes and that they must be fed with baby food. When they raise a question concerning Christmas, you should use the subject of Christmas to feed them. You should not try to adjust them harshly, since this would not be treating them as babes. The nursing mothers not only feed their little ones, but they also cherish them by playing with them. To play with them is to cherish them. This cherishing makes them happy. Once they are cherished and feel happy, the mothers feed them. You must learn how to “play” with the new believers. Your aim in playing with them is to feed them; therefore, you should not become too occupied with the subject of Christmas. You may say in a tender and loving manner, “Christmas is here because of Christ. Without Christ, there would be no Christmasholiday. The story of Christmas began because Christ came to be our Savior. Although you may have a Christmas tree, you must make sure that you get Christ.” You should gradually turn them from the false things of Christmas to the reality of Christ. As you turn them to Christ, saying something about Christ, spontaneously you are injecting them with Christ. Eventually, through this kind of tender fellowship, they will feel happy that they know something about the real meaning of Christmas, and soon they will forget about exchanging Christmas gifts. You should exercise your patience and wisdom, but you should not forget your goal of ministering Christ into the new believers as their nourishment.

The year I got saved, I learned that Christmas was a falsehood. I began to fight with anyone who held on to something of Christmas. That was wrong. Gradually, I have learned to “play” with the spiritual babes. We all have to learn this secret. In the Western world, there is the problem of the Christmas celebration, but in the Far East, especially in China, there is the problem of the traditional feasts which occur three times a year. It is difficult for the young believers to overcome these feasts and celebrations, but with the Lord’s help, we can help them by applying the principle which I have presented here.

This portion was taken from the book called (The Exercise and Practice of the God-Ordained Way, Chapter 22, Section 2) by Bro Witness lee

கிறிஸ்துமஸைக் குறித்து - டிசம் 25 - கிறிஸ்து பிறந்த நாளா ?

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 03:37:00 +0000

தற்போது, அரசியல்ரீதியான பாபிலோன், மதரீதியான பாபிலோனைவிட முனைப்பு குறைந்துள்ளது. அரசியல்ரீதியான பாபிலோன் சற்று ஓயும் நிலையில் இருக்கிறது, அதேசமயம் மதரீதியான பாபிலோன் செழிந்தோங்குகிறது. உதாரணமாக, உலகம் முழுவதும் கொண்டாடப்படும் கிறிஸ்துமஸ், முற்றிலும் பாபிலோனிலிருந்துவருவதாகும். கிறிஸ்துமஸில் பங்குபெறுதல் ஒரு சிறிய காரியமாகத் தோன்றக்கூடும், ஆனால் பாபிலோனியப் பகுதியாக இருக்கிற எதுவும் தேவனின் பார்வையில் அருவருப்பாயிருக்கிறது. ஒரு மனிதன் பேசுவதும் மற்றெல்லாரும் கேட்பதுமான சபைக் கூடுகைகளிலுள்ள அமைப்பும் பாபிலோனின் பகுதியாக இருக்கிறது. இந்தப் பாபிலோனிய மூலக்கூறு நம் மத்தியில் தங்கியிருக்க அனுமதிக்கப்படாதிருக்க வேண்டும். (Life-Study of Isaiah, Msg. 26)

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் எனும் நடைமுறையை அழிப்பதைக் குறித்து நான் குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்பட்டிருக்கிற ஒரு கட்டுரையைச் சமீபத்தில் வாசித்தேன். உண்மையில், கிறிஸ்துமஸ் எனும் நடைமுறையைத் தாக்கும் எந்த நோக்கமும் என்னிடம் இல்லை. என்னுடைய நேரம் மற்றவர்களுக்குக் கிறிஸ்துவை ஊழியஞ்செய்கிறதினால் முழுவதும் ஆக்கிரமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆனால் நான் கிறிஸ்துவை மற்றவர்களுக்கு ஊழியஞ்செய்கையில், கிறிஸ்துமஸ் தன்னிச்சையாகவே அம்பலமாக்கப்படுகிறது. ஆம், நாம் முழுவதும் கிறிஸ்துவுக்காக அக்கறைகொண்டு, பெயரளவிலான கிறிஸ்துமாஸ் அல்லது கிறிஸ்துமஸ் என்பதைக் குறித்து மறந்துவிட வேண்டும் என்று நான் கூறியிருக்கிறேன். நாம் கிறிஸ்தவர்களாக இருக்கிறோம், ஆனால் கிறிஸ்தவத்தின் “துவம்” என்பதற்காக அக்கறைகொள்ளக் கூடாது என்றும் நான் கூறியிருக்கிறேன். கிறிஸ்துமஸையோ கிறிஸ்தவத்தையோ எதிர்க்கும் நோக்கம் நிச்சயமாக என்னிடம் இல்லை. எனினும், என்னுடைய ஊழியத்தில், நாம் கிறிஸ்துவுக்காக அக்கறைகொள்ளவும் நிஜமான கிறிஸ்தவர்களாக இருக்கவும், ஆயினும் “மஸ்” அல்லது “துவம்” என்பனவற்றோடு சம்பந்தப்படாமலிருக்கவும் வேண்டும் என்று நான் கூறியிருக்கிறேன். குறிப்பிட்ட நபர்கள் இப்படிப்பட்ட வார்த்தையைக் கேட்கும்போது, கிறிஸ்தவத்தை எதிர்ப்பதையும் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் எனும் நடைமுறையை அழிப்பதையும்குறித்து அவர்கள் என்னைக் குற்றஞ்சாட்டுகின்றனர். (Life-Study of Second Corinthians, Msg. 17)

புளிப்பை எடுத்துக்கொண்டிருப்பது கத்தோலிக்க சபை மட்டுமல்ல, புரொட்டஸ்டன்ட் ஸ்தாபனங்களும், குழுக்களும் கூட. ராக் இசை மற்றும் நாடகம் ஆகியன மக்கள் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும்படிச் செய்வதற்கு ஆவிக்குரிய காரியங்களை எளியதாக ஆக்க பயன்படுத்தப்படும் புளிப்பின் வகைகளாக உள்ளன. நான் சீனாவில் இருந்தபோது, சுவிசேஷம் பிரசங்கித்தலுடன் கூடைப்பந்தைக் கலந்திணைத்த ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட நிறுவனங்களிலுள்ள சில இளம் மனிதர்களைப்பற்றி நான் அறிவேன். சுவிசேஷம் பிரசங்கிப்பதற்காக கூடைப்பந்தைப் பயன்படுத்துவதும்கூட புளிப்பே. அநேகர் இதன்மூலம் இரட்சிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர் என்பதில் நான் சந்தேகமுறுகிறேன். Y. M. C. A. இன் முழுக் கோட்பாடும் புளிப்பாக உள்ளது, ஏனெனில் Y. M. C. A. இன் இலக்கு பரலோக தரத்தை பூமிக்குரிய மட்டத்திற்குக் கீழாகக் கொண்டுவருவது, ஓர் உலகப்பிரகாரமான விதத்தில் சமயச்சார்பற்ற சமுதாயத்துக்குச் சுவிசேஷத்தைக் கொண்டுவருவது. கிறிஸ்தவத்தில் அநேகக் காரியங்கள் புளிப்பாக உள்ளன. கிறிஸ்துமஸ், ஈஸ்டர், விக்கிரகங்கள், படங்கள், உருவங்கள், ராக் இசை, நாடகம் மற்றும் முழு Y.M.C.A. அமைப்பு ஆகியன இவற்றுள் உள்ளடங்கும். தேவனின் குறிக்கோளுக்காக கிறிஸ்துவல்லாத எதையும் எடுக்காதிருக்க நாம் கவனமாயிருக்க வேண்டும், ஏனெனில் அவரைத் தவிர வேறெதுவும் புளிப்பாக உள்ளது. ஆ, தந்திரமானவன் தன் இரைக்காக காத்திருந்து அருகே பதுங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறான்! மக்கள் ஆவிக்குரிய காரியங்களை அனுபவமாக்குவதற்கு அவற்றை எளிதாகச் செய்யும் விருப்பம் நம் மனித சுபாவத்தில் இருப்பதால் நாம் எளிதில் அவனது இரையாக ஆக முடியும். ஆனால் ஆவிக்குரிய காரியங்களைத் தொட மக்களுக்கு உதவுவதற்கு நீங்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் எதுவாயினும் அது புளிப்பின் ஒரு மாதிரியாகும். சுவிசேஷத்தை அறிவிக்கவும், மக்களை கிறிஸ்துவிடம் கொண்டுவரவும் தூய்மையான, பரிசுத்தமாக்கப்பட்ட வழி ஜெபமும், வார்த்தையின் ஊழியமும் ஆகும். வேறு எந்த வழியையும் எடுக்காதீர்கள். ஜெபித்து, வார்த்தையை ஊழியஞ்செய்தபிறகு, மக்கள் இன்னும் சுவிசேஷத்தைப் பெற்றுக்கொள்ளா-விட்டால், அது கர்த்தரைப் பொறுத்தது. மக்கள் நம் வார்த்தையைப் பெற்றுக்கொள்வார்களா இல்லையா என்பது பிதாவின் சித்தத்தைப்பற்றிய ஒரு காரியமாகும். நம் சுவிசேஷப் பிரசங்கித்தலில் உதவுவதற்கு எந்தத் தந்திரத்தையும் பயன்படுத்த நாம் விரும்பவில்லை. ஒவ்வொரு தந்திரமும் புளிப்பாக உள்ளது. நாம் ஒரு வேலைக்காக அல்லது ஓர் இயக்கத்துக்காக இல்லை—நாம் இயேசுவின் சாட்சிக்காக உள்ளோம். (Life-Study of Matthew, Msg. 38)

வெளிப்படுத்தல் புத்தகம் எழுதியதிலிருந்து அதிகபட்சம் பத்தொன்பது நூற்றாண்டுகள் கடந்துவிட்டன. இந்த நூற்றாண்டுகள்தோறும் சாத்தானுக்கும் தேவனுக்கும் ஒரு போராட்டம் நடைபெற்றுவந்திருக்கிறது. கிறிஸ்துவை இடமாற்றஞ்செய்ய சாத்தான் வெவ்வேறு வழிகளில் முயன்றுவந்திருக்கிறான். இதன் விளைவாக, நான் உட்பட நம்மில் பலர், மிகவும் சிறிதளவே கிறிஸ்துவைக் கொண்ட நிறுவனமாக்கப்பட்ட கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்குள் பிறந்தோம். உதாரணமாக, கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டத்தில் எவ்வளவு அதிகமான கிறிஸ்து இருக்கிறார்? இன்றைய கிறிஸ்தவத்தில் சத்தியம் மற்றும் பொய்யின் ஒரு கலப்படம் இருக்கிறது. மிகவும் சொற்ப விசுவாசிகளே ஆழமான மற்றும் முழுவதுமான விதத்தில் சத்தியத்தை அறிந்துள்ளனர். (Life-Study of Acts, Msg. 65)

இது என் போதனையல்ல. நாம் புதிய ஏற்பாட்டிலுள்ள தூய வார்த்தையிடம் திரும்பினால், நாம் கிறிஸ்து என்ற பதத்தையும், கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் என்ற பதத்தையும் காண முடியும் (அப். 11:26). எனினும், கிறிஸ்தவம், அல்லது கிறிஸ்துமஸ் எனும் பதங்கள் வேதத்தில் இல்லை. ஒருவித “துவம்” அல்லது “மஸ்” கிறிஸ்துவுடன் சேர்க்கப்பட்டிருக்-கிறது. கிறிஸ்துமஸ் மாயை. மக்கள் ஒரு சிறு மரத்தின்மீது விளக்குகளைத் தொங்கவிடும்போது, அது ஒரு “துவம்” மற்றும் “மஸ்” ஆகும். அதுதான் மாயை. நாம் மதத்தைக் குறித்து எச்சரிக்கையாயிருக்க வேண்டும்: மதம் மாயை. இப்போது மதத்தின் மாயையைக் குறித்து, ஒருசில காரியங்களை நாம் பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும். முதலாவது, மதத்திற்கு, ஒரு புறம்பான பெயர் இருக்கிறது (2:17). சமீபத்தில், முடி கத்தரிக்க நான் ஒரு முடிவெட்டும் கடைக்குச் சென்றேன். முடிவெட்டுகிறவர் கிறிஸ்மஸ் ஆராதனையில் கலந்துகொள்வதைக் குறித்துப் பேசினார். அங்கு எத்தனை பேர் இருப்பார்கள் என்று அவரிடம் கேட்க நான் அந்த வாய்ப்பைப் பயன்படுத்-தினேன். அவர், “உங்களுக்குத் தெரியுமா, இது ஒரு மதக் கடமைதான். சிலர் ஆண்டுக்கு ஒருமுறை கிறிஸ்துமஸ் சமயத்தில் மட்டுமே ஆராதனையில் கலந்துகொள்கின்றனர்” என்று கூறினார். இங்கு மதத்தின் மாயையின் ஓர் எடுத்துக்காட்டை நாம் காண்கிறோம்: ஒரு கத்தோலிக்கராக இருப்பதன் பெயரைக் காத்துக்கொள்வதற்கு, ஒரு மதக் கடமையாக ஆண்டுக்கு ஒருமுறை ஆராதனையில் கலந்துகொள்ளுதல். இவர் எவ்வகையான விசுவாசி? வெறும் புறம்பான ஒரு பெயரையுடைய ஒரு விசுவாசி. நீங்கள் ஆவியில் நிஜமாக இருந்து, நீங்கள் ஓர் உண்மை-யான விசுவாசி என்ற கருத்துடனிருந்தால், அது அற்புதமானது. எனினும், நீங்கள் நிஜத்தில் குறைவுபட்டு, வெறுமனே புறம்பான பெயரை காத்துக்-கொண்டால், அதற்குப் பொருளேதும் இல்லை. அது மாயை. (Life-Study of Romans, Msg. 4)

இன்று இலட்சக்கணக்கான கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் மதச்சார்பற்ற உலகத்தைவிட இன்னும் மதரீதியான உலகத்தால்கூட ஆக்கிரமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். கிறிஸ்துமஸை உதாரணமாக எடுத்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்.. கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டம் நிச்சயமாக மதரீதியான உலகத்தோடு தொடர்புடையது. நீங்கள் இன்னும் கிறிஸ்துமஸை அனுசரித்துவந்தால், நீங்கள் புதிய சிருஷ்டிப்பில் இருக்கிறீர்கள் என்பது சந்தேகத்திற்குரியது. கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டம் தேவனின் புதிய சிருஷ்டிப்போடு எந்தச் சம்பந்தமுமில்லை. (Life-Study of Galatians, Msg. 30)

மனிதமாம்சமாகுதல் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் உடன் இணைக்கப்படக்கூடாது. கிறிஸ்துமஸ் உடன் தொடர்புடைய எல்லாம் எரிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். நீங்கள் சீனாவுக்குச் சென்று, கற்றறிந்த மக்களுக்குச் சுவிசேஷம் பிரசங்கித்து, கிறிஸ்துமஸை குறிப்பிடுவதானால், அவர்கள் உங்களுக்குச் செவிகொடுக்க-மாட்டார்கள். கிறிஸ்துமஸ் மரங்கள், மிட்டாய்கள் நிறைந்த மூட்டைகள், கிறிஸ்துமஸ் தாத்தா போன்ற இப்படிப்பட்ட காரியங்கள் மிகத் தாழ்வானது, மேலோட்டமானது, குழந்தைத்தனமானது என்று அவர்கள் கூறுவார்கள். இது தேவனின் வார்த்தையிலிருந்து வரும் சுவிசேஷமல்ல. இது புறச்சமயத்துக்-குரியது, இது மத்தேயு 13:33 இல் கர்த்தராகிய இயேசுவால் குறிப்பிடப்பட்ட புளிப்பு, கர்த்தர் தீர்க்கதரிசனமுரைத்தபடியே “பெண்ணினால்” கத்தோலிக்க மதத்துக்குள் கொண்டுவரப்பட்டது. இவ்விதமான பிரசங்கித்தலால் கற்றறிந்த மக்கள் எவ்வாறு நம்பவைக்கப்பட முடியும்? நீங்கள் தெருவில் உள்ள ஏழைக் குழந்தைகளை நம்பவைக்கலாம், ஆனால் கருத்தூன்றிய மக்களை நீங்கள் நம்பவைக்க முடியாது. (Life-Study of Hebrews, Msg. 8)

மாம்சத்திற்குரிய அனுபவித்தல்களில் அவிசுவாசிகளோடு பங்குபெற நாம் அக்கறைகொள்வதில்லை என்பது அவர்களுக்கு விநோதமாகத் தோன்றும். குறிப்பாக, நாம் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாடவோ, கிறிஸ்துமஸ் விருந்துகளுக்காக அக்கறைகொள்ளவோ இல்லை என்பதை அவர்கள் விநோதமாக சிந்திக்கக் கூடும். இந்தச் சீர்கெட்ட உலகத்தின் வழி, அதாவது கோணலும் மாறுபாடுமான தலைமுறையின் வழி சுகபோகம் மற்றும் ஒழுக்கக்கேட்டின் பாணியைப் பின்பற்றுவதாகும். ஆனால் இந்தப் பாணியின்படி நாம் அவர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து ஓடமாட்டோம். (Life-Study of First Peter, Msg. 26)

இந்த விசுவாசத்துரோக சபையினுடைய செயல்களின் மிகக் கவனத்தை ஈர்க்கிற உதாரணங்களுள் ஒன்று, பெயரளவிலான கிறிஸ்துமஸ். நமக்கு கிறிஸ்து தேவை, ஆனால் நமக்கு மாஸ் (பெருந்திரள்) தேவையில்லை. பெயரளவிலான கிறிஸ்துமஸ் நாளான, டிசம்பர் 25 ஆரம்பத்தில், சூரியனை வணங்கிய பழங்கால ஐரோப்பியர்களின் நாளாக இருந்தது. டிசம்பர் 25 சூரியனின் பிறந்தநாள் என்று அவர்கள் கூறினர். விசுவாசத்துரோக சபை ஐரோப்பாவுக்குப் பரவியபோது, அவள் இந்தப் பழங்கால வழக்கத்தைத் தன்மயமாக்கினாள், ஏனெனில் அவள் அவிசுவாசிகளில் ஆயிரமானோரை சபைக்குள் கொண்டு வந்திருந்தாள். இந்த அவிசுவாசிகள் தங்கள் கடவுளின் பிறந்தநாளைக் கொண்டாட விரும்பினர். ஆகையால், அவர்களுக்கு இணங்கிப்-போக, விசுவாசத்துரோக சபை டிசம்பர் 25 ஐ கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறந்தநாளாக இருக்கும்படி அறிவித்தது. இதுவே கிறிஸ்துமஸின் தோற்றம். இரண்டு பாபிலோன்கள், என்ற புத்தகம் விசுவாசத்துரோக சபைக்குள் கொண்டு-வரப்பட்டிருந்த தீய, பிசாசுத்தனமான, பேய்த்தனமான காரியங்களை அம்பலமாக்குகிறது. எதிர்மறையான பக்கத்தில், இந்தச் சித்திரத்தை நாம் பார்த்தால், பின்பு நேர்மறையான பக்கத்தில் நாம் என்னவாக இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று நாம் அறிவோம். (Life-Study of Revelation, Msg. 13)

கிறிஸ்தவ பயிற்சிகளைக் குறித்து அடிக்கடி கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விகள்:

கிறிஸ்துமஸ்—டிசம்பர் 25—கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பின் நாளாக இன்றைய காலண்டரில் நியமிக்கப்பட்ட நாள். கிறிஸ்தவர்களும் கிறிஸ்தவரல்லாத-வர்களும் சமமாக அதைக் கொண்டாடுகின்றனர். ஆனால் கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பை நினைவுகூரும் ஒரு கட்டளை வேதத்தில் உள்ளதா? இந்த நாளில்தான் கிறிஸ்து பிறந்தாரா? இன்றைய கிறிஸ்துமஸ் வழக்கங்களும் நடைமுறைகளும் கிறிஸ்தவ தோற்றத்திற்குரியதா? அல்லது கிறிஸ்துமஸ் என்பது புறவினத்திற்கும் கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்கும் இடையே கலப்படத்தின் ஓர் உதாரணமா?

கிறிஸ்து குளிர்காலத்தில் பிறக்காதிருத்தல்

கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பு, முழு பிரபஞ்சத்திலும் நிகழ்ந்த அதி முக்கியமான நிகழ்வுகளில் ஒன்றாக இருக்கிறபோதிலும், கிறிஸ்துமஸைக் கொண்டாடுவதின் மூலம் இன்னும் அதை நினைவுகூர்வது என்பது கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் செய்யும்படி தேவன் விரும்புகிற ஒன்றல்ல. கர்த்தருடைய பிறப்பைக் குறித்த துல்லியமான எந்த நாளும் வேதத்தில் இல்லை என்பது கர்த்தர் ஒருபோதும் தம் பிறந்தநாளைக் கொண்டாட உத்தேசிக்கவில்லை என்பதைச் சுட்டிக்காட்டுகிறது. மாறாக, தம் மரணத்தை நினைவுகூரவும் தம் இரண்டாம் வருகையை எதிர்நோக்கியிருக்கவும் அவர் நம்மிடம் விரும்புகின்றார் (1 கொரி. 11:26; வெளி. 22:12).

கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பைக் குறித்த உண்மையான நாளைப் பொருத்தவரை, டிசம்பர் 25 என்பது சந்தேகமாக இருக்கிறது. இயேசுவினுடைய பிறப்பின் வேளையில் இருந்த வானிலை, அது டிசம்பரில் நிகழ்ந்திருக்க முடியாது என்பதைச் சுட்டிக்காட்டுகிறது. இயேசு பிறந்தபோது, மேய்ப்பர்கள் இரவில் ஆடுகளைக் கவனித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தனர் என்று லூக்கா 2:8 நமக்குக் கூறுகிறது. குளிர்காலத்தின் நடுவே மாலைவேளையில் உள்ள குளிரான வானிலை மிகவும் கொடூரமானது; நவம்பரின் தொடக்கத்திற்கு முன்பே, அதாவது, குளிர்கால மாதங்களின் தொடக்கத்திற்கு முன்பதாகவே, யூதேயாவிலுள்ள மேய்ப்பர்கள் தங்கள் மந்தைகளை வீட்டிற்குக் கொண்டுவருவது வழக்கமாயுள்ளது. எனவே, கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பு டிசம்பரில் இருந்திருக்க முடியாது.

கி.மு. 4ல் ரோமப் பேரரசர் அகஸ்டஸ் இராயர், தன்னிடம் எத்தனை அடிமைகள் இருப்பதையும் எவ்வளவு வரிகளை தான் சேகரிக்க முடியும் என்பதையும் அறிந்துகொள்ள, ஒரு கணக்கெடுப்பு எடுக்கப்படுவதற்கு ஓர் ஆணையைப் பிறப்பித்தார். சிரியாவின் (இங்கு யூதேயா மிகப்பெரிய ரோம-கட்டுப்பாட்டிலான மாகாணத்தின் பகுதியாக இருந்தது) ஆளுநராக இருந்த கியூரினியஸ், அதே ஆண்டில் யூதேயாவின் கணக்கெடுப்பிற்காக முதல் சேர்க்கையை எடுக்க ஆணையை செயலாற்றினார். அசெளகரியமான கடுமையான குளிர்கால மாதங்கள், புயல் மற்றும் மழைக்காக குளிர்காலத்தில் பாதுகாப்பற்றதும் இனிமையற்றதுமான பயணங்களை மேற்கொள்ள, வாக்காளர் பட்டியலில் பதிவுசெய்ய தேசத்தின் எல்லாப் பகுதிகளிலிருந்து தங்கள் சொந்த மாவட்டங்களுக்கு மக்களின் பயணஞ்செய்தல் அவசியமாக்கின, அதிகாரிகள் வரி சேர்க்கைக்காக ஒதுக்கியுள்ள காலமாக இருந்தது என்பதைச் சுட்டிக்காட்ட எந்த வரலாற்றுக்குரிய பதிவுகளும் இருக்கவில்லை. தெற்கத்திய கலிலேயவிலுள்ள நாசரேத் எனும் நகரத்திலிருந்து தெற்கத்திய யூதேயாவிலுள்ள தன் சொந்த ஊரான பெத்லகேமுக்கு யோசேப்பு மரியாளுடன் சென்றான் என்பது பதிவுசெய்தலுக்கான ஆணைக்குக் கீழ்ப்படிதலாக இருந்தது (லூக். 2:1-5). கர்ப்பிணியான மரியாள் நாசரேத்தி-லிருந்து பெத்லகேம்வரை 190 கி.மீ பயணஞ்செய்திருப்பாள் என்பதும் சாத்தியமற்றதாக இருக்கிறது, ஏனெனில் ஒரு கர்ப்பிணிப் பெண் குளிர்காலத்தின்போது பயணஞ்செய்வது ஏற்றதல்ல என்பது கருத்தில்-கொள்ளப்பட்டது (மத். 24:20; மாற்கு 12:18).

கிறிஸ்துமஸின் கணிப்பு வேதவாக்கிய பதிவுடன் முரண்பாடாயிருத்தல்

களஞ்சியத்தில் ஒன்றுகூடிய தம் பெற்றோர்கள், தங்கள் மந்தையுடன் மேய்ப்பர்கள், தங்கள் காணிக்கைகளுடன் “மூன்று இராஜாக்களாலும்”, அறிவித்த தூதர்கள் மற்றும் வெளியேயுள்ள நட்சத்திரத்தாலும் சூழப்பட்டு, முன்னனையில் குழந்தை இயேசுவைக்கொண்ட வழக்கப்படி சித்தரிக்கப்படும் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் பிறப்புப்பற்றிய காட்சி இயேசுவின் பிறப்பின்போது உண்மையில் நிகழ்ந்ததின் துல்லியமான பதிவு அல்ல.

இயேசுவிடம் மேய்ப்பர்களின் வருகையும் சாஸ்திரிகளின் வருகையும் வெவ்வேறு நேரங்களிலும் தனித்தனியான இடங்களிலும் நிகழ்ந்தது. மத்தேயு 2:1-12, லூக்கா 2:1-20 ஆகியவை இயேசுவின் பிறப்போடு தொடர்புடைய கதைகளின் தனித்தனி கணக்குகளைப் பதிவுசெய்கிற இரண்டு வேதவாக்கிய பத்திகளாகும். நாம் மத்தேயு 2ம் அதிகாரத்தில் மேய்ப்பர்களைக் காண்பதில்லை, மேலும் நாம் லூக்கா 2ம் அதிகாரத்தில் “மூன்று இராஜாக்களையும்” காண்பதில்லை. லூக்கா 2ம் அதிகாரம், மரியாள், யோசேப்பு ஆகிய இருவரையும் முன்னனையில் கிடக்கும் குழந்தை இயேசுவையும் இறுதியாக கண்டடைந்த மேய்ப்பர்களுக்கு தூதர்கள் தோன்றும் சித்திரத்தை வழங்குகிறது (வ.16). மத்தேயு 2ம் அதிகாரம் கிழக்கிலிருந்துவந்த சாஸ்திரிகளை (அல்லது ஞானிகள், இராஜாக்கள் அல்ல) சித்தரிக்கிறது, இவர்கள் நட்சத்திரத்தைக் கண்டபின், இப்படிப்பட்ட ஒரு நட்சத்திரம், தொலைதூர யூதேயாவில் மாபெரும் இராஜா பிறந்திருப்பதற்கான ஓர் அடையாளமாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று நம்பி, புதிய இராஜா பிறந்திருப்பதாக எண்ணப்பட்ட எருசலேமாகிய தலைநகரத்திற்குப் புறப்பட்டுச்சென்றனர், ஆனால் ஏரோது இன்னும் இராஜாவாக ஆளுகைசெய்வதையே கண்டு, அவனால் விசாரனைசெய்யப்பட்டனர். அந்த நட்சத்திரத்தின் வழிகாட்டுதலின்கீழ் அவர்கள் பெத்லகேமுக்கு வந்துசேர்ந்த நேரத்தில், கிடங்கின் தற்காலிக, கரடுமுரடான புகலிடத்திலிருந்து ஒரு வீட்டிற்கு யோசேப்பு மரியாளையும் இயேசுவையும் இடம்பெயரச்செய்ய முடிந்தது. அவர்கள் அந்த வீட்டிற்குள் நுழைகையில், குழந்தை இயேசுவும் மரியாளும் மட்டும் இருப்பதைக் கண்டனர் (வ. 11). கர்த்தரின் பிறப்புக்குபின் சில காலத்திற்குள்ளாகவே இது நிகழ்ந்திருக்க முடியும், இதனால்தான் ஏரோது, சாஸ்திரிகளிடமிருந்து துல்லியமாய்க் கேட்டறிந்த காலத்தின்படி, பெத்லகேமிலும் அதன் அனைத்து எல்லைகளிலும் இருந்த இரண்டு வயதும் அதற்குக் குறைவானதுமான எல்லா ஆண் குழந்தைகளையும் கொலைசெய்ய கட்டளையிட்டான் (மத். 2:16). மேலும், சாஸ்திரிகள் மூன்று விதமான காணிக்கைகளைக் கொண்டுவந்தது, அவர்கள் மூன்று சாஸ்திரிகள் என்று அர்த்தங்கொள்ளவேண்டிய அவசியமில்லை என்பதே உண்மை.

கிறிஸ்துமஸின் துவக்கம் புறச்சமயத்துக்குரியதாய் இருத்தல்

‘கிறிஸ்துமஸ்’ என்ற கட்டுரையின் கீழ், கத்தோலிக்க கலைக்களஞ்சியம் கூறுகிறது: ‘சபையின் ஆரம்ப நாட்களில் இப்படிப்பட்ட ஒரு பண்டிகை இல்லை...சபையின் ஆரம்ப பண்டிகைகளினிடையே கிறிஸ்துமஸ் ஒன்றாக இருக்கவில்லை...’ ஆரம்ப நாட்களிலுள்ள கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் இயேசுவின் பிறப்பை நினைவுநாளாக கொண்டாடவில்லை.

முதல் மூன்று நூற்றாண்டுகளில் கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் தங்கள் விசுவாசத்திற்காக கி.பி. 325 வரை உபத்திரவப்படுத்தப்பட்டனர். நிசியா சங்கத்திலுள்ள ரோமப் பேரரசன் கான்ஸ்டான்டைன் நிசியா பிரமாணத்தை முறைப்படுத்தியபோது, முழுவதும் அதை நியமனத்துக்குரியதாக, சட்டஞ்சார்ந்ததாக ஆக்கி, அதை பேரரசின் அரசாங்க மதமாக ஆக்கினான். தங்கள் புறவின பண்டிகைகளை விட்டுவிட விருப்பமில்லாத ரோம-தன்னாட்சிக்குட்பட்ட மாகாணங்களை அனைத்திலுமுள்ள பெயரளவில் மனம்மாறியவர்களைத் திருப்திப்படுத்தும் முயற்சியிலும், மதத்தின் காரியத்திற்கு அவர்களைக் கீழ்ப்படுத்துவதிலும், பல்வேறு கடவுள்களைக் கனப்படுத்தும் அநேக புறவின மத பண்டிகைகளையும், நடைமுறைகளையும் கிறிஸ்தவத்துக்குள் கான்ஸ்டான்டைன் தத்தெடுத்தான். கிறிஸ்தவப் பிறப்பைக் கொண்டாடும் புறவின தன்மைக்கும், வீணானதன்மைக்கும் எதிராக அநேக உண்மையுள்ள விசுவாசிகள் எதிர்ப்புகள் செய்தபோதும், கி.பி. 354 இலிருந்து ரோம பஞ்சாங்கம், பல புறவின மதங்களால் கொண்டாடப்பட்டு வந்த டிசம்பர் 25ஐ கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பின் தேதியாக கருதப்பட வேண்டும் என்று முதல் தெளிவான அறிக்கையைத் தந்தது.

முன்பு கிறிஸ்தவத்துக்கு மனமாற்றமடைவதில், ரோம குடிமக்களிடையே மித்ராயிசம் மிகப் பரந்து-விரிந்ததாயும், மிக ஆதிக்கஞ்செலுத்துகிற புறவின மதமாகவும் இருந்தது. மித்ரா பண்டைய பெர்சியாவில் (இன்றைய ஈரான்) சூரியக் கடவுளாக இருந்தது. நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு முன் அலெக்சாண்டரால் பெர்சியர்கள் தோற்கடிக்கப்பட்டபிறகு, படைவீரர்கள் மித்ராவின் வழிபாட்டை ஆசியா முழுவதும், ஐரோப்பாவுக்கும் கொண்டுவந்தனர், அங்கு அது டியூஸ் சால் இன்விக்டஸ் மித்ராஸ் என்று அழைக்கப்பட்டது. இது ரோம மற்றும் கிரேக்க உலகங்கள் முழுவதும் ஒரு விடுமுறையாக டிசம்பர் 25ன் கொண்டாட்டத்தை ஊக்குவித்தது. கத்தோலிக்க கலைக்களஞ்சியம் இவ்வாறு கூறுகிறது, “கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பு, குளிர்கால சூரிய சலனத்தின் தேதியில் நியமிக்கப்பட்டது, ஏனெனில் இந்த நாளில், சூரியன் அதின் வடக்கத்திய வானங்களுக்கு திரும்ப ஆரம்பித்தபோது, மித்ராவின் புறவின வழிபாட்டாளர்கள் டயஸ் நடாலிஸ் சோலிஸ் இன்விக்டை (வெல்லயியலாத அல்லது ஜெயிக்க இயலாத சூரியனின் பிறப்பை) கொண்டாடினார்கள்...பிரபல்யமான சூரிய பண்டிகை டிசம்பர் 25ம் தேதி கொண்டாடப்பட்டது, நம் டிசம்பர் மாதத்துக்கான பொறுப்பின்மீது ஒரு பலமான ஆதாரம் கொண்டிருக்கிறது.

டிசம்பர் 25ன் உச்சநிலைப்படுத்தும் குளிர்கால சூரிய சலனத்தின்போது, பேரிரைச்சலான வாரம்-முழுதும் நடைபெறும் சர்டனிலியா, புருமாலியா என்ற பண்டிகைகளுடன் சனிக்கிரகத்தையும், மற்ற வேளாண் தெய்வங்களையும் கனப்படுத்த இந்த விழாவை ரோமர்கள் பின்பற்றினர். இந்த இரண்டு புறவின பண்டிகைகளும், கி.பி. 530ல் கிறிஸ்தவ ஆதிக்கத்தினால் இந்த பிரபல்யமான வழக்கத்தை எடுத்துக்கொள்ளும் அளவுக்கு அவை ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்தின. ரோம சபை, டிசம்பர் 25ஐ கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பாக சட்டப்படி அறிவிக்க துறவி டையான்சியஸ் எக்சிகியூசுக்கு ஆணையிட்டது.

குளிர்கால இடைக்கால பண்டிகையும் அநேக மற்ற கலாச்சாரங்களால் கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. எகிப்தியர் அதை இசிஸ் மகனுக்கும், வானத்து இராணிக்கும், ஒசிரியஸ் மற்றும் கோரசுக்கும் உரித்தாக்கினர். கிரேக்கர்கள் அதை தங்கள் தெய்வங்களான அப்பொல்லோ, டியான்சஸ், அடோனிஸ் இவற்றுக்கு உரித்தாக்கினர். அரபியாவிலுள்ள செபேனியர்கள் இதை சந்திரனின் பிறப்பாக கொண்டாடினர். சாக்சோனியர்கள், ஸ்கான்டிநேவியன் என்ற யுத்தத்தின் கடவுளாகிய தோரைக் கனப்படுத்துவதில் யூலைக் கொண்டாடினர். ஸ்காட்லாந்தில், கோக்மேனி என்று கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. இங்கிலாந்தில், நார்டிக் கடவுளாகிய பால்டருக்கு இது கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. பாபிலோனியர்கள், ‘மதுஅருந்தும் பண்டிகையாகிய’ பாக்கஸ் என்ற பண்டிகையுடன் பாலின் பிறப்பைக் கொண்டாடினர்.

கி.பி. 600ல், விசுவாசத்தின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு உதவ கிறிஸ்தவத்துக்கு நடைமுறையிலிருக்கும் உள்ளூர் மதரீதியான வழக்கங்களைக் தத்தெடுக்க கேட்டர்பரியில் முதல் தலைமைக் குருவாக இருந்த அகஸ்டினுக்கு போப் ஒன்றாம் கிரிகோரி அறிவுறுத்தினார். புறவின சமயத்தாரின் இந்த கியுமோன்கஸ் அமல்கமேஷனும், கிறிஸ்தவமும் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் என்று இன்று அறியப்படுகிற விந்தையான கலவையில் முடிவுற்றது.

கிறிஸ்துமஸின் வழக்கமும், நடைமுறையும் விக்கிர ஆராதனையாக இருத்தல்

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் மரம்—கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்கு முந்தைய காலத்திலுள்ள ஸ்காண்டிநேவியர்கள் மரங்களை ஆராதித்தனர். எகிப்தில் பேரீச்சை மரம் ஒரு மத சின்னமாக வீடுகளுக்குள் கொண்டுவரப்பட்டது. ரோமில், சனி கிரக பிறப்பைக் கனப்படுத்துவதில், தேவதாரு மரம் பொம்மைகளைக் கொண்டு அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டது; பூமிக்குச் சூரியனின் திரும்பிவருதலைச் சுட்டிக்காட்ட மெழுகுவர்த்திகள் மரங்களில் கட்டப்பட்டன. முலாம்பூசிய ஆப்பிள்களையும் மற்ற காணிக்கைகளையும் அந்த மரத்தின் கிளைகளில் கட்டுவதன் மூலம் மதபோதகர்கள் ஊடினை கனப்படுத்தினர். ஜெர்மனியர்கள் யூல் கடவுளை தொழுது கொண்டாடுவதிலும், உயிர்த்தெழுந்த சூரிய கடவுளுக்கு பண்டிகை அனுசரிப்பதிலும் பசுமையான மரங்களைப் பயன்படுத்தினர்; அவர்கள் நல்ல அதிஸ்டத்தின் ஒரு சின்னமாக அதை வீடுகளுக்குள் கொண்டுவந்தனர். மரங்களை வெட்டி அவற்றை வீடுகளில் அலங்கரிப்பதில் புறவினத்தாரின் வீணான மற்றும் விக்கிர ஆராதனைக்குரிய வழக்கங்களை கற்பதைக் குறித்து எரேமியா 10:2-5ல் கர்த்தர் நம்மைப் பலமாகத் தடைசெய்கிறார்.

மாலைகள்—ஆரம்ப நாட்களில், புற சமயத்தார் நல்ல அதிஸ்டத்தை வெளிப்படுத்த பண்டிகைகளில் மாலைகளைக் கொண்டு ஆராதனை இடங்களை அலங்கரித்தனர். ஆனால், கர்த்தரையே தன் நம்பிக்கையாக வைக்கிற மனுஷன் பாக்கியவான் (சங். 40:4). அவர்மேல் நம்பிக்கையாயிருக்கிற மனுஷன் பாக்கியவான் (சங். 38:4).

ஓக்மரக்கிளை, பெரிப் பழங்கள், வெண்பெரி ஒட்டுச்செடி—வெண்பெரி செடியின்கீழ் முத்தம் கொடுக்கும் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் பழக்கம் சனி கிரக பண்டிகையிலிருந்து வந்தது. ஓக் மரக்கிளை, பெரி பழங்கள், வெண்பெரி செடி ஆகியன, அவற்றின் கீழ் நின்று முத்தம் கொடுக்கிறவர்களில் கருவளத்தின் சக்தியைத் தூண்டி, அந்தக் கடவுள் மற்றும் பெண் தெய்வத்தின் ஆவிகள் தங்களுக்குள் நுழையும்படி ஆலயங்களின் வாசல் வழிகளிலும், வீடுகளிலும் தொங்கவிடப்பட்டன.

அன்பளிப்பு-கொடுத்தல்—இது சனிகிரக மற்றும் ஜனவரி புத்தாண்டு பண்டிகையை ரோமர்கள் கொண்டாடுவதிலிருந்து துவங்கியது. அன்பளிப்புகளைப் பறிமாறுகிற இன்றைய கிறிஸ்துமஸ் நடைமுறை கர்த்தருடைய பிறப்பின்போது பரிசுகள் வழங்கப்பட்டன என்பதன் அடிப்படையில் இருக்கிறது. ஆனால் அந்த ஞானிகள் கர்த்தருக்கு காணிக்கைகளைச் செலுத்தினர் மற்றவர்களுக்கு அல்ல.

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் தாத்தா—ஜன்னல்கள் வழியாக பரிசுகளை எரிந்து பிள்ளைகளுக்கு பரிசுகளைத் தரும்படி நான்காம் நூற்றாண்டில் புனித நிக்கோலாயஸிடம் கூறப்பட்டது. அவர் புகைப்போக்கி வழியாக வீட்டுக்குள் நுழைகிறார் என்ற நம்பிக்கை, கெர்த்தா எனும் பெண்தெய்வம் நெருப்பு இருக்கிற இடத்தில் தோன்றி, அந்த வீட்டுக்கு நல்ல அதிஸ்டத்தைக் கொண்டுவருகிறது என்பதை நம்பிய பழைய நோர்ஸ் புராண கதையிலிருந்து வருகிறது.

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டம்—இன்று கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டங்களில் மகிழ்ந்துகளியாடுதலானது, புசித்தல், குடித்தல் பல பாணிகளில் கூத்து ஆடை அணிதல் ஆகியவற்றில் தீய நோக்கத்துடன் திளைப்பதால் எடுத்துக்காட்டப்பட்ட சனிகிரக மற்றும் ப்ருமாலியா என்ற பழங்கால புறச்சமய பண்டிகைகளின் அதே நிலையில் உள்ளது. “ஜனங்கள் புசிக்கவும் குடிக்கவும் உட்கார்ந்து விளையாடவும் எழுந்திருந்தார்களென்று எழுதியிருக்கிறபடி, அவர்களில் சிலர் விக்கிரகாராதனைக்காரர் ஆனதுபோல நீங்களும் ஆகாதிருங்கள்” என்று பவுல் நம்மை எச்சரித்தார் (1 கொரி. 10:7).

முடிவுரை

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் நினைவுகூருதல் என்ற தன் செய்தியில் சகோதரர் வாட்ச்மென் நீ இவ்வாறு கூறுகிறார், “பல விசுவாசிகளின் அபிப்பிராயத்தின்படி, இரட்சகரின் பிறப்பை நினைவுகூரும்படி ஒவ்வோர் ஆண்டும் ஒரு நாளைக் கொண்டிருப்பது ஒரு நல்ல காரியம்தான்...ஆனால், ஒருவரது அபிப்பிராயத்தைத் தவிர, தேவ வார்த்தையான வேதமே, ஒரே தர-அளவுகோல், அதிஉயர்ந்த தர-அளவுகோல். நம் கரிசனை மனிதன் பேசுவதின் அடிப்படையில் இல்லாமல், தேவன் பேசியிருப்பதன் அடிப்படையில் இருக்கிறது...கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பை நினைகூருவதற்கான கட்டளை வேதத்தில் இருக்கிறதா?...தேவன் கட்டளையிடாத காரியங்களும் தேவன் கட்டளையிட்ட காரியங்களும் ஒரே அளவில் முக்கியத்துவம்வாய்ந்தவை என்பதை வேதத்தில் விசுவாசிப்பவன் மட்டுமே அறிவான்...கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாடுவதற்கு தேவன் ஒருபோதும் முற்றுப்புள்ளி வைக்கவில்லை என்று பலர் கூறுகிறார்கள்...தங்கள் பாவத்திற்கு ஒரு சாக்குபோக்கையும் மாம்சத்திற்கு ஒரு வாய்ப்பையும் கொடுக்க கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் வேதவாக்கியத்தை ஆராய்வது வருத்தத்திற்குரியது... ‘தேவன் கட்டளையிடாததை செய்ய எவ்வாறு துணிவோம்’ என்று கூறும்படி நமக்குத் திறனளிக்க தேவன் நமக்கு அதிக பலத்தைத் தருவாராக.”

தேவத்துவத்தில் அல்லாமல் (1 கொரி. 8:6), ஜீவனிலும் (1 பேதுரு 1:3) சுபாவத்திலும் (2 பேதுரு 1:4) (அவரது பிள்ளைகளாகுமாறு நம் மறுபடிஜெநிப்பித்தல்மூலம்–யோவான் 1:12-13) மனிதன் தேவனாகும்படி (அவரது மாம்சமாகுதல்மூலம்) தேவனை மனிதனாக்குவதே கிறிஸ்துவினுடைய பிறப்பின் உண்மையான உட்கருத்து. தேவப் பிள்ளைகளாக நாம் உலகத்தில் இருக்கிறோம், ஆனால், நாம் உலகத்திற்குரியவர்கள் அல்ல (யோவான் 17:11, 14). நாம் உலகத்திலிருந்து முற்றும்முடிய பிரிந்திருந்தால், சபை வாழ்க்கைக்கான ஒரு தூய வாழ்க்கையை (1 தெச. 5:23) ஒரு பரிசுத்த வாழ்க்கையை நாம் வாழ்வோம். புறசமய கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டத்திலுள்ள களிப்பும் கேளிக்கையும் நம் பரிசுத்த வாழ்க்கையை முற்றுகையின்கீழ் தள்ளும். விக்கிரக வழிபாடு ஒரு பயங்கரமான பாவம். கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டத்தில் பங்குபெறுவது கர்த்தர் வெறுக்கும் ஓர் அருவருப்பாகும். கிறிஸ்துவே எல்லா பண்டிகைகளில் நிஜம்; நம்மிடம் நிஜமான கிறிஸ்து இருப்பதால், நமக்கு நிழல் தேவையில்லை (கொலோ. 2:16-17; யோவான் 1:14). வெற்றிச்சிறக்காத சூரிய கடவுளின் நாளை உலகம் கொண்டாடுகையில், சாத்தான், உலகம், பாவம் மற்றும் மரணத்தை வெற்றிச்சிறந்த உண்மையான நீதியின் சூரியனான கிறிஸ்து (மல். 4:2) நமக்குக் இருக்கிறார். நமக்கு கிறிஸ்து தேவை, ஆனால், கலப்படமான அந்த ‘மஸ்’ தேவையில்லை.

கிறிஸ்மஸ் என்பது கிறிஸ்தவத்தால், போஜனத்திற்குச் சேர்க்கப்பட்ட ஒரு புளிப்பாக இருக்கிறது (மத். 13:33). 1 கொரிந்தியர் 5:6-8ல் பவுல், புளித்த மாவை கழித்துப்போடவும் அதற்குப் பதிலாக புளிப்பில்லா அப்பப் பண்டிகையை, அதைத் தொடர்ந்து வரும் பஸ்காவை (யாத். 12:15-20) கைக்கொள்ளவும் நமக்கு புத்திசொல்லுகிறான். இது முழுமையான கால அளவான ஏழு நாட்கள் நீடிக்கிறது, இது நம் கிறிஸ்தவ வாழ்க்கையின் முழு கால அளவையும் அடையாளப்படுத்துகிறது. நம் போஷாக்கு மற்றும் அனுபவமகிழ்ச்சியாகவுள்ள கிறிஸ்துவாகிய புளிப்பில்லா அப்பத்தை ஆசரிப்பது ஒரு வாழ்நாள்-முழுவதுமான பண்டிகையாகும். அவர் மட்டுமே உண்மையான ஜீவ நிரப்பீடு, சத்தியம், முற்றிலும் தூய்மையானவர், கலப்படம் இல்லாதவர், நிஜத்தால் நிறைந்திருப்பவர்.

நாம் தெரிந்துகொள்ளப்பட்ட இனமாகவும், ஒரு இராஜரீக ஆசாரியத்துவமாகவும், பரிசுத்த தேசமாகவும், அவருக்குச் சொந்தமான ஜனமாகவும் இருக்கிறோம் (1 பேதுரு 2:9). விசுவாச துரோகமான இந்த யுகத்திலே, உலகத்திலிருந்தும், கலப்படங்களால் நிறைந்துள்ள சீரழிக்கப்பட்ட கிறிஸ்தவத்திலிருந்தும் பிரிக்கப்பட வெளியே வரவும் அவற்றிலிருந்து பிரிக்கப்படவும், அவளது வாதைகளைப் பெறாதபடி அவளது பாவங்களில் பங்குபெறாதபடியும் கர்த்தர் ஜெயங்கொள்பவர்களான நம்மை அழைக்கிறார் (வெளி. 18:4). மறைவான மன்னாவை ஜெயங்கொள்பவர்களுக்குப் புசிக்க கொடுப்பதே ஜெயங்கொள்பவர்களுக்கான கர்த்தரின் வாக்குதத்தம் (வெளி. 2:17). நாம் கர்த்தரை நேசித்து, உலகத்தையும் அதன் அனுபவமகிழ்ச்சியையும் கைவிட்டால், ஒரு அனுபவத்திற்குரியரீதியிலும் மேலான விதத்திலும் நாம் கர்த்தரை நிச்சயமாக அனுபவித்துமகிழ்வோம்.

உங்கள் வாசிப்புக்கான வேத வசனங்கள்

எரேமியா 10:2-3 – “புறஜாதிகளுடைய மார்க்கத்தைக் கற்றுக்கொள்ளா-திருங்கள்; வானத்தின் அடையாளங்களாலே புறஜாதிகள் கலங்குகிறார்களே என்று சொல்லி, நீங்கள் அவைகளாலே கலங்காதிருங்கள். ஜனங்களின் வழிபாடுகள் வீணாயிருக்கிறது; காட்டில் ஒரு மரத்தை வெட்டுகிறார்கள்; அது தச்சன் கையாடுகிற வாச்சியால் பணிப்படும்.”

1 கொரி. 5:8 – “ஆதலால் பழைய புளித்தமாவோடே அல்ல, துர்க்குணம் பொல்லாப்பு என்னும் புளித்தமாவோடும் அல்ல, துப்புரவு உண்மை என்னும் புளிப்பில்லாத அப்பத்தோடே பண்டிகையை ஆசரிக்கக்கடவோம்.”

1 கொரி. 10:14 – “ஆகையால் எனக்குப் பிரியமானவர்களே, விக்கிரக-ஆராதனைக்கு விலகி ஓடுங்கள்.”

The Spiritual Significance of the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 05:09:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:14, 16; Jer. 8:7, 20; Mal. 4:2; Col. 2:16-17; Rev. 21:5, 23; 22:2; Ezra 7:9; 8:21, 23

THE VISIBLE BODY SPEAKING FORTH
THE INVISIBLE CONTENT

Although all the countries in the world use the Gregorian calendar, that is, the so-called solar calendar, those who study calendars acknowledge that the Chinese lunar calendar is more compatible with the seasons of the year. For example, spring begins during the first month of the lunar calendar; it can be said that the beginning of the lunar calendar marks the beginning of a year. This beginning, like all the visible and physical things created by God in the universe, has spiritual significance. Behind everything that is visible and physical, there is something that is invisible and spiritual. For example, every person has a body, but the purpose of our body is to contain the human life. The body is tangible and visible, but the life within the body is intangible and invisible. Although there are both visible and invisible aspects of man, the reality of a man is determined by what is invisible. When a person dies, his spirit and soul depart, but his visible body remains. Nevertheless, everyone knows that a person is no longer with us when he dies, even though his body remains. The reality of a man does not depend on what is visible and tangible but on what is invisible and intangible.

Similarly, all the systems in the universe have outward forms and inward contents; the forms are visible, whereas the contents are invisible. The outward, visible forms speak of the inward, invisible contents. In the universe some of the systems include the sun and the moon, and other systems relate to time. There are three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, thirty days in a month, and twenty-four hours in a day. Many people know that these systems of time are related to astronomy, and they even speak of how the times and seasons affect living things in creation. However, if we ask the ones who knew these things to speak of how the inward and invisible matters relate to these systems, they will be perplexed because they can see only the outward forms. They cannot comprehend the operation of the inward contents.

By studying the Word of God, in the first chapter of Genesis we can see that God created light-bearers, including the sun and the moon, for signs, for seasons, and for days and years (v. 14). At the end of the Bible, Revelation 21:23 says, “The city has no need of the sun or of the moon that they should shine in it, for the glory of God illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Neither the sun nor the moon will be needed in the New Jerusalem, because God will be the light, and the Lamb will be the lamp. Hence, there will be no need for the shining of the sun or of the moon. This indicates that days, months, and years, as well as seasons, are depictions of things that pertain to God. The sun and the moon are mere symbols, outward forms, but the inner reality is Christ. Even before we come to the end of the Bible, there is a word of promise concerning Christ at the end of the Old Testament, which says, “Unto you...will the Sun of righteousness arise” (Mal. 4:2). Since there is a sun in the heavens, we need to ask why there would be a need for the appearing of another sun. Those who know God will be able to answer that the sun in the heavens is an outward form that serves as a symbol of the invisible Sun, which is Christ. Christ is the light of the people in the world (John 1:4). People can truly touch light only when they touch Christ. Therefore, days, months, years, and seasons are symbols that have a mysterious content, which is Christ Himself.

DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
BEING OPPORTUNITIES PREPARED BY GOD

Why did God order the universe according to days, months, and years? Scientists tell us that the existence and growth of living things, whether plants or animals, are regulated by the cycles of days, months, and years. God has ordained days, months, and years for the existence and growth of living things. Anyone who has ever lived in northern China is aware of the fact that the time for planting and sowing is in the spring of every year. If the planting and sowing of seed are not accomplished during the spring, a farmer will say, “Let us wait until next year to plant our seed.” If the time span of the universe consisted of one long day, there would be only one opportunity for life to exist and grow. Thus, if there were existence and growth during this period of time, there would be existence and growth, but if there were a failure to exist and grow, there would not be another opportunity for life to exist and grow. Thankfully, God has prepared and ordained numerous opportunities in the universe, not just one opportunity. If we experience a failure during one year, there will be another year. If our work is not successful this year, we can start again next year.

This is true not only in matters related to living things; it is true even in matters related to business, education, and a career. If we have not done well in our business this year, we can start again in the coming year. If we fail an exam this year, we do not have to be discouraged, because we can study more and take another exam next year. If we experience some failure in our career this year, we should not worry, because a new year is coming. We would not have much hope if the time frame of the universe consisted of one long year. Then those who failed in business or failed a college exam would not have another chance. Thankfully, this is not our situation, because there is always an opportunity next year, and if we are not discouraged, we can take advantage of the coming opportunity. The opportunity for a new beginning is related to God’s good pleasure.

In God’s arrangement we have opportunities not only from one year to the next but also from one month to the next. Merchants must make both yearly and monthly statements. They reconcile their accounts at the end of each year and at the end of each month. If business has not been good, there is always the hope that next year it will be better. Furthermore, God gives us opportunities not only year after year and month after month but also day after day. It is truly wonderful that we have a new opportunity every twenty-four hours. If we do not do well today, we can start again tomorrow. If we fail today, we can rest for a night and have a new opportunity in the morning. Days, months, and years are truly meaningful. Most living things grow day by day, month by month, and year by year. Human beings are no exception to this rule.

All these outward matters speak of spiritual matters. God is our sun and our light-bearer. We depend on Him for our existence and for our growth in life. He is constantly presenting us with opportunities to grow. Being defeated in a certain matter does not mean that we will have no further opportunities to overcome. According to the changing of days, months, and years, God gives us new opportunities every day, every month, and every year.

EVERY DAY, MONTH, AND YEAR
BEING A NEW BEGINNING

In our spiritual life we have spiritual days, months, and years. In the Old Testament God charged the children of Israel to keep the passover before leaving Egypt. This was a great beginning. He wanted them to consider the month of Abib, the first month, to be the beginning of months, the first of the months of the year (Exo. 12:1-2; 34:18). The Israelites kept the passover as a new beginning; it was not a small beginning but a great beginning. Because of this beginning, they were able to serve God according to an order of worship in the tabernacle. The book of Numbers also speaks of “the beginnings of your months,” which refers to times set according to new moons (10:10; 28:11). A new moon is a lesser beginning. The beginning of a year is a great beginning, whereas the beginning of a month is a lesser beginning. God also required the Israelites to worship daily in the morning and at night (Lev. 6:9, 12). The beginning of a day is a small beginning. The days, months, and years of the Israelites were full of spiritual significance. When we are saved, we experience the reality of the passover, which is a great and new beginning. Thereafter, God desires that we have a new beginning every month and even a new beginning every day.

When I was saved by the Lord’s grace, I truly experienced the Feast of the Passover. At that time I had an earnest desire to pursue the Lord, read the Word, preach the gospel, and offer material things. However, as men, we are weak, and even though I had such a desire, I was not successful in practice. Instead, I failed frequently. As I look back at my life during those years, I feel as though I was short in reading the Word, poor in prayer, loose in preaching the gospel, and unfaithful in material offerings. Many times it seemed as if I had reached the end of a month marked by a waning and even a disappearing moon. Yet, amazingly, at these very moments a new spiritual moon would arrive. I was able to let the previous experiences pass and begin again as if it were the first day of a new month. From the first day of this new moon, my reading of the Word was fresh, my prayer was enjoyable, and my zeal for preaching the gospel was stirred up again. I was in the enjoyment of the shining of a new spiritual moon. This shining would last for several weeks, as if my experience, like the moon, were rising to the full. However, a full moon does not last very long; it was not uncommon to lose this sense of fullness in my spiritual pursuit. Consequently, at a certain point and often for no apparent reason, I would not feel like getting out of bed. I also would lose my desire to read the Bible, my strength for prayer, and my interest in preaching the gospel. This was the waning of my spiritual moon. After eight or ten days in this condition, it would seem as if the moon had disappeared completely. Rather than light, I had a sense only of darkness. Even in the midst of this discouragement, however, there would be the coming of a new moon. Then, once again, I would feel like getting up in the morning, reading the Bible, praying, and preaching the gospel. I believe that we all have had such experiences related to a spiritual new moon.

In addition to the experience of a new month, we also have experiences of a new day. For example, we may hear a message on the Lord’s Day encouraging us to rise up early in the morning to draw near to the Lord, to read His Word, and to fellowship with Him. After hearing such a message, we may be touched throughout the day and look forward to the coming of the next morning. Consequently, we will rise up early the next day in order to have morning watch and to draw near to the Lord. As a result of this morning watch, we enjoy an overcoming life the whole day without a failure. With such an encouraging experience, we again rise up early the next morning to have fresh prayer and sweet fellowship with the Lord. Even though we may experience no failure in the morning, a little carelessness may cause us to lose our temper in a small way in the afternoon. Because of this little failure, we will be somewhat depressed and discouraged when we return home. Nevertheless, after resting at night we can have a new beginning when we rise up in the morning. We can pray to the Lord and fellowship with Him so that the brightness of His shining may rise up in us once again. This is the experience of a new day.

In spiritual matters we all experience new days, new months, and new years. The beginning of the approaching lunar year should not point us only toward a new day or a new month but to the beginning of a new spiritual year. We should have more than a new day or a new month; we should also have the experience of a new year. Regrettably, many Christians celebrate a new calendar year every year, but they never enter into a new spiritual year. Many Christians have been saved five, ten, or even twenty years, and at the end of a year they buy food and new clothes, put their houses in order, and close their business in preparation for the new year. While they celebrate the new year, they do not prepare themselves for a new year spiritually. Thus, there is no proper ending, no new preparation, and hence, no new beginning.

KEEPING A SPIRITUAL NEW YEAR
BEFORE GOD

At the end of the year, some saints not only enter into a new calendar year but also into a new spiritual beginning. At the end of the year and at the beginning of a new year, they go before God to review and settle their condition before God from the passing year. Just as a businessman settles his account at the end of the year, we should review our spiritual account before God. If we balance only our outward account but not our inward account, we will enter into a new calendar year but not into a new spiritual year.

I hope that from this year forward every saint will have a proper spiritual conclusion to a passing year and a proper beginning of a new spiritual year. Not only should we have a conclusion related to outward matters, such as our career, our education, and our domestic affairs, but even more, we should have a conclusion in regard to spiritual matters. At the end of a year, we need to go before God and settle the accounts related to our spiritual condition. We need to consider before the Lord how we have spent our time and the things in which we failed and in which we overcame. We need to consider the areas in which we responded to the Lord’s demands and in which we rejected the Lord’s will. We need to bring our spiritual condition before the Lord in order to settle accounts and have a proper clearance so that we can have a new beginning.

THE CHANGING OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
DEPENDING ON LIGHT-BEARERS

There are two very important principles concerning days, months, and years. The first principle involves their relationship to light-bearers, and the second principle involves their relationship to death and resurrection. In regard to the first principle, days, months, and years are related to light-bearers, that is, to the sun and the moon. A day consists of the time that it takes for the earth to revolve on its own axis, whereas a year consists of the time that it takes for the earth to revolve around the sun. Every twenty-four hours the earth revolves on its axis, and during this time there is one appearing of the sun. Furthermore, every three hundred sixty-five days the earth revolves around the sun in the solar system. A day involves a small revolution, but a year involves a great revolution. Both the changing of a day and the changing of a year are in relation to the sun. The changing of a month is related to the revolution of the moon around the earth. Both the sun and the moon are light-bearers. Every changing of days, months, and years is related to light-bearers. Because there are light-bearers, there are days, months, and years.

Every change in our spiritual experience involves light, whether it is a great change like a new year, a lesser change like a month, or a small change like a day. Whenever we encounter light, there is a change. When we met God, who is light (1 John 1:5), there was a change. When we met Christ, who is God and who is light (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46), there was a change. God in Christ is our light-bearer. Without the sun, there are no days or years, and without the moon, there are no months. Likewise, if a person does not encounter God in Christ, there will be no spiritual change, either great or small. Every change in our spiritual condition depends upon meeting God.

In order to have a new spiritual year, we need to specifically seek God’s face and meet Him. We should bring our condition, past and present, to Him and place it before Him in the light of His face in order to receive His shining. He is facing us, waiting for us, and open to us. We should not think that we are the ones who are seeking God; actually, He is seeking us and waiting for us. Rather than being closed, we should open ourselves to Him. We should not treat our days in a loose manner. When we approach a new calendar year, we should come to God and open ourselves to His light concerning not only the state of our earthly affairs but also the condition of our spiritual life. We need to spend some time in the presence of God, presenting our past and present condition to Him and allowing Him to shine on us. As the Spirit, He will come to us, and with His Spirit there will be light shining on the items that we place before Him. When we encounter God in Christ as the Spirit coming to us as light, we will have a new beginning. When we encounter light, we will also encounter God as the light-bearer. These encounters bring in changes that are like the changes associated with days, months, and years. If we want to have changes, from small changes to great changes, we must meet God.

THE PRINCIPLE OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
BEING DEATH AND RESURRECTION

I know of some brothers and sisters who have always fasted and prayed through the night at the end of a year, especially on New Year’s Eve. They go before God, bringing their life and work and their spiritual condition from the previous year to Him, praying about item after item in order to receive God’s enlightenment. When they encounter His shining concerning their shortages, failures, weaknesses, and mistakes, they confess them before God and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. With the exposure of their defects and deficiency, they also pray to be supplied and filled with God. Through this, they receive fresh grace, fresh enlightenment, fresh power, and fresh promises from God. Thus, they have a new beginning before God. Their past is terminated, and there is a new beginning for their future. This illustrates the second principle related to days, months, and years, which is the principle of death and resurrection. The ending of a day and the beginning of a new day illustrate death and resurrection. Likewise, the ending of a month and a year and the beginning of a new month and a new year illustrate death and resurrection. The ending and the beginning of days, months, and years signify death and resurrection.

The course of our spiritual journey involves a continuing experience of death and resurrection. An ending and a beginning always are followed by another ending and another beginning. These endings and beginnings correspond to Paul’s word in Philippians 3:13, which says, “Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before.” Forgetting the things which are behind refers to an ending, and stretching forward to the things which are before refers to a new beginning.

On the first day of a new year we should realize that the previous year is behind us and that a new year, a new beginning, is before us. The former things have passed away, and all things should be new. In the light of the Lord, our former weaknesses, failures, and mistakes will come to an end, and we need not bring them with us. With a new year, we can have a new beginning, a good beginning, starting in resurrection. The meaning of the changing of days, months, and years is related to encountering God as light and to experiencing death and resurrection. We need to meet God, and we need an ending and a new beginning. We should not remain in our old experiences, whether good or bad, because both the good and the bad have been terminated so that we can begin anew.

THE CHANGING OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
DEPENDING ON GOD HIMSELF

Every change within us, whether it is associated with days, months, or years, depends on God. God is light, and even death and resurrection are of God. Whenever we meet God, we meet light; when we meet God, we touch both death and resurrection. Whenever we meet God, we are in the presence of light; when we meet God, we enter into death and resurrection so that there is an ending and a new beginning.

God’s work in the universe is a work of renewing. He wants to end the old things and begin something new. When His work is accomplished, He will be able to declare that all things are truly new (2 Cor. 5:17). The proper celebration of a new year is to have a new beginning. We need to go before God and touch His presence. When we touch God and meet God, we will enter into a new year and have a new beginning.

SEPARATED FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

Meeting God in this way is not the same as the New Year celebrations of worldly people. People in the world celebrate the arrival of a new year outwardly, but they do not experience a new spiritual beginning. Their noisy way of celebration can be likened to the celebration of the children of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai, who were sitting down to eat and drink and rising up to play. Their sitting down to eat and drink and rising up to play were related to idolatry (Exo. 32:4-6; 1 Cor. 10:7). Worldly people today celebrate the new year by sitting down to eat and drink and by rising up to play. When those who belong to God spend time to meet God at the beginning of a new year, their meeting with God is not a time for celebration. Rather, it is a time of sorrow, weeping, and fasting. When we see the desolation of our personal situation, the failures related to the church’s condition, the need for salvation in many sinners, the shortage in function of many saints, the lack of accomplishment related to the Lord’s will, and the frustration of God’s plan, we will be full of sorrow and repentance.

Ezra 7:9 speaks of the first day of the first month, saying, “On the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon.” Ezra left Babylon, a place of degradation, on the first day of the first month; this is very meaningful. According to 8:21, Ezra proclaimed a fast for all the Israelites who intended to return to the Holy Land so “that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight way for ourselves and for our little ones and for all our possessions.” All the Israelites who left Babylon, a place of degradation and captivity, needed to fast on the first day of the first month to grieve, confess, regret, and repent before God, asking Him for His grace and mercy.

If, by God’s mercy, we meet God and are enlightened by Him at the beginning of a new calendar year, we will mourn and weep instead of celebrate. We will fast instead of feasting and grieve instead of rejoicing. We will weep and grieve, and we will pray and petition. Then we truly will have a new beginning of a new spiritual year. May the Lord be merciful and gracious to us to bring us into a new spiritual year, year after year. May we go before Him and ask Him to give us a new beginning. May we be under His enlightenment and receive His mercy. Such a seeking will bring us into victory and deliver us from the worldliness and celebrations associated with a new calendar year.

(Witness Lee, God's Need and God's Goal ) www.ministrybooks.org

Leaving Our Tradition and Old Concepts to come to the Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 14:32:00 +0000

Concerning the technique for meeting, there are no rules or regulations. Regardless of what kind of meeting we have—for the Lord’s table, for prayer, for study, or for a message—we almost always sit and wait for a hymn. There is no such teaching that we should always start the meeting with a hymn. From where did we learn this? This is simply a tradition that has crept in. Whether starting with a hymn is right or wrong depends on Christ and the Spirit. Moreover, from whom did we learn that only the responsible brothers should announce a hymn? Who gave us this kind of regulation? We should not condemn the responsible brothers for this, because it is we who have been too much of a “tomb.” Because we do not take the responsibility, the so-called responsible brothers are forced to act as the “clergy.” We may say that we do not have a laity and a clergy, but in actuality we do. Each of us is responsible for this. May the Lord be merciful to us.

We have to change our concept. Our old concept must be dropped. This is not a matter merely of changing the forms. This is a matter that depends on our daily life. We all have to live by Christ. We all have to labor on the good land, and we have to exercise our spirit. Then when we come to the meeting, there is no need to wait. There is no need to have either a prayer or a hymn first. Everything will come out spontaneously. The right way to meet requires that we have a proper daily walk, have an adequate experience of Christ, and exercise our spirit. Then our spirit will be strengthened, living, active, and positive. Then when we come to the meeting, we will spontaneously pray.

Some may say that this spontaneous way will cause confusion. I do not believe it will, but I would even prefer this kind of living “confusion” to a deadened order. If we all live in the spirit to experience Christ, whatever we pray when we come to the meeting will be right. Variety will produce beauty. If we could go to the feasts of the people of Israel, we would see the variety of the riches of the surplus. If we all pray from our experience of Christ by exercising our spirit, even if there is a variety, there will still be the beauty, and there will be the flow of life.

Because we have been influenced by certain kinds of regulations, each one comes just to sit here. We are used to doing this. I am not saying that we need a change of form. Rather, we need a change in life and a change of concept. Then we will be truly diligent, zealous, active, positive, strong, and living in the spirit. As Christian brothers and sisters, we have to conduct our Christian life in this way, day by day laboring on Christ and experiencing Him by our spirit. We must learn how to exercise our spirit, be strengthened, be living, and be active and positive in our spirit to experience Christ all the time.

Then whenever we come to the meeting, we must realize that it is our duty to share something. Deuteronomy 16:16 tells us that the people of God could not appear before Jehovah empty-handed. They had to come to the feast with something of the good land. Likewise, we need to have something of Christ to bring to the meeting. Then we all will be open to Him, and there will be a way widely opened for the Holy Spirit to move among us. Many riches of Christ will come out and be offered to God for His satisfaction and for our enjoyment in the presence of God with one another. This is our way of meeting and our worship to God. In this way there will be no forms, regulations, laity, or clergy. Rather, all the living members will bring something of Christ to offer to God by the exercise of the spirit. This is the proper way to meet.

We are on the way of recovery, and this way to meet is an item in the Lord’s recovery. We have to drop the old way, the way of form and regulation taken from the tradition we formerly practiced. Let us look to the Lord and cooperate with Him. I say again, we should not merely change our form, but we must change our realization, our concept, and our way of life. Then we will come to the meeting in the living way, with a new way of life under a new realization.

Read from the full text of this book

(The Ground of the Church and the Meetings of the Church, Chapter 3, by Witness Lee)

Crystallization Study of the Genesis Banner song

noreply@blogger.com (Zion) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 04:25:00 +0000

God’s intention in creating man

in His image and according to His likeness

is that man would receive Him as life

and express Him in His attributes,

and God’s intention in giving man dominion

is to subdue His enemy, recover the earth,

and exercise His authority over the earth.

The tree of life as the center

of God’s eternal economy typifies Christ,

the embodiment of the Triune God,

to be life and the life supply

to the tripartite man as a vessel

for the corporate expression of God—

this is the central thought of God.

As God’s people love God and spend time

to fellowship with Him in His word,

God infuses them with His divine element,

making them one with Him as His spouse,

the same as He is in life, nature, and expression.

The seed of the woman is the individual Christ—

the One who bruised the serpent

through His death on the cross—

and also the corporate Christ—the man-child,

including Christ as the Head

and the overcoming believers as the Body—

who will defeat God’s enemy

and bring in His kingdom so that

His eternal purposemight be accomplished.

Living Christ In our Human Virtues

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 13:37:00 +0000

Moreover, in Philippians 1:21 Paul said that to him, to live was Christ. If a person is confused in his mind, muddled in his emotions, and indecisive in his will, he does not have the expression of love, light, holiness, and righteousness, and neither can he live Christ. Furthermore, in 4:8 Paul said, “Brothers, what things are true, what things are dignified, what things are righteous, what things are pure, what things are lovely, what things are well spoken of, if there is any virtue and if any praise, take account of these things.” To be true means not to be hypocritical and not to lie. To be dignified means to be worthy of respect and to invite reverence. To be righteous is to be right before God and man. To be pure is to be single in intention and action, without any mixture. To be lovely means to be lovable, agreeable. To be well spoken of means to be of good repute and to be attractive. In addition, there are virtues of excellence and things worthy of praise. These eight items are far superior to the principles of propriety, justice, honesty, and sense of shame taught by the Chinese philosophers. When I was young, I felt it was rather strange that Paul spoke about living Christ in chapters one, two, and three, and then in chapter four, instead of speaking about living Christ, he spoke about living out these virtues.

In 4:9 Paul went on to say, “The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things.” These things refer to the eight items that were previously mentioned. Paul seemed to be saying, “I have lived out these virtues, and you also have to practice these virtues which you have seen in me. In this way the God of peace will be with you. If you live out these virtues, you will enjoy the God of peace.”

EXPRESSING THE HUMAN VIRTUES BY BEING IN CHRIST

Then in 4:13 Paul said, “I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me.” All things refer to the virtues previously mentioned. When the young people read these eight items, the more they read, the more they will realize that they cannot do these things. They may say, “We have been saved for only a short time, and we are just ordinary people. How can we do these things? Perhaps only the older ones who have been exercised in these things for decades can do them.” However, Paul’s word here is a promise. He “who empowers me” is Christ, who is also the Spirit of Jesus Christ with a bountiful supply, as mentioned in Philippians 1:19. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is Jesus Christ Himself with a bountiful supply. He supplies and enables us to live out the things that are true, dignified, righteous, pure, lovely, and well spoken of, as well as any virtue and any praise. All we need is just to be in Him, and He will empower us to live out these virtues.

The phrase “in Him who empowers me” does not sound like proper Chinese. Consequently, the translators of the Chinese version of the Bible rendered this verse as “I am able to do all things by Him who empowers me.” They rendered in as by, that is, by depending upon. Suppose I cannot walk; then I have to walk by depending upon someone who gives me support. This is the meaning of by. But the Bible does not say “by Him” but rather “in Him.” This is hard to comprehend. Let me use electricity as an illustration. For example, there are electric lamps, telephones, and other appliances in a house. But if there is no flow of electricity, then the lamps will not light up, the telephones will not work, and all other electrical appliances will not operate. When the electricity is transmitted, then the electric lamps, telephones, and appliances will be “in the electricity”; consequently, the lamps will light up, the telephones will work, and the motors of the other appliances will begin to operate. Strictly speaking, the electric lamp lights up not by the electricity but in the electricity. Christ is like the electricity; He is the One who empowers us just as the electricity empowers the electrical appliances. We are able to do all things in the “electricity,” in Christ, who empowers us.

EXPERIENCING CHRIST’S INDWELLING

Now let us see how we can experience Christ’s indwelling. The Lord Jesus was thoughtful. He did many things, none of which was foolish. He spoke many words, none of which was unclear. Whenever He spoke, He spoke just the right amount, neither too much nor too little. His emotions were well balanced. He exercised His anger when warranted but with restraint, and His love was also tempered. Furthermore, His will was steadfast. All His expressions were love, light, holiness, and righteousness. He was true, dignified, righteous, pure, lovely, and well spoken of. Furthermore, He was virtuous and praiseworthy. He was the real goodness and the genuine beauty; He was God. In some ways, we are like Him. He has thoughts, and so do we. He has emotions, and so do we. His will is steadfast, and so is ours. Jesus loves, and so do we. Jesus is honest and upright, and so are we. Jesus is holy, and so are we. Jesus is righteous, and so are we. Although there is a difference in degree, we are of the same kind because we were created in His image.

The Lord Jesus is not only wonderful but also mysterious. When you open up your heart and receive Him as your Savior, He comes into you and dwells in you to be your life and everything. How does He come into you? The Bible says that He died for us, was buried, and was resurrected. Now He has become the life-giving Spirit. Today He is the omnipresent Spirit; He is everywhere. Whoever believes into Him and calls upon Him, He will enter into this one to be his life and content. This is the most marvelous thing in the world. The Lord comes into us to dwell in us, and this is what we refer to as His “indwelling.” The indwelling Christ is the embodiment of God and the life-giving, omnipresent Spirit. He has a mind, emotion, and will; He is also love, light, holiness, and righteousness. In the beginning we were created in His image, so we also have a mind, emotion, and will, as well as love, light, holiness, and righteousness. However, we were only an empty shell without the content and reality. We were just like the empty glove that was made in the form of a hand. One day, God became flesh as the Lord Jesus. He lived the human life, died, resurrected, and became the life-giving Spirit. The life-giving Spirit is the Lord Jesus with His mind, emotion, and will and the God who is love, light, holiness, and righteousness. The Spirit enters into us like the hand that fits into the glove to become its content and reality. Thus, we are no longer those who are empty, without content. Our created human virtues are no longer merely a shell because Christ is in us as the reality.(The Subjective Experience of the Indwelling Christ, Chapter 5, by Witness Lee)

Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from (The Subjective Experience ofthe Indwelling Christ, Chapter 5, byWitness Lee)

Crystallization-Study of The Psalms (2)Banner songs

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:54:00 +0000

2011 Winter Training Banners:

Whenever God's people exalt Christ,
giving Him the preeminence
in every aspect of their living,
there is restoration and revival.

To take God as our habitation,
our eternal dwelling place,
is the highest and fullest
experience of God.

God's heart is set on Zion,
the city of God, with Christ within it,
and on Zion we have the church
as the Body of Christ
and God's economy for His testimony.

The praise in the Psalms
issues in the consummate praise
with Hallelujahs
because the earth
has been fully recovered by God
and brought under the reign of Christ
with the kingdom.

A key view of the New Testament (THE KINGDOM OF GOD)(1)

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:25:00 +0000

A KEY VIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD(1)

I. THE DESIGNATIONS

The kingdom of God has many aspects, as revealed in the New Testament by the following different designations:

A. The Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God (Matt. 12:28) is a general term that refers to God’s reign (Matt. 6:10, 13b; Dan. 6:26b). Its scope is unlimited, comprising eternity past, the patriarchs, the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, the church in the New Testament in this age, the millennial kingdom in the coming age, and the new heaven and new earth in eternity future. The words spoken by the Lord in Matthew 21:43 and the parable preceding it in verses 33-41 show us that the kingdom of God was there with the children of Israel in the Old Testament, but due to their rejection of the Lord, it was given to the church in the New Testament.

B. The Kingdom of the Heavens

The kingdom of the heavens (Matt. 16:19) refers to the ruling of the heavens (Dan. 4:26). It began on the day of Pentecost when Christ poured out the Holy Spirit and established His church (Acts 2), and it will continue until the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:7). Its scope is narrower than that of the kingdom of God, since it includes only the church in this age and the millennial kingdom in the coming age. It is a section within the kingdom of God; hence, it is also called the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15, cf. Matt. 4:17; Mark 4:11, cf. Matt. 13:11). The kingdom of the heavens has three aspects: its reality, its appearance, and its manifestation. Its reality and its appearance are the inward and outward aspects of the church in this age; its manifestation will be in the millennial kingdom in the coming age.

C. The Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son

The kingdom of the Son of God’s love (Col. 1:13) is composed of the church in this age, the millennial kingdom in the coming age, and the new heaven and new earth in eternity (cf. 2 Pet. 1:11). The emphasis in Colossians 1:13 is on the kingdom of God’s beloved Son in this age as the reality of the church, into which all the believers have been transferred (John 3:5).

D. The Kingdom of Christ and of God,the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ,and the Eternal Kingdom of the Lordand Savior Jesus Christ

The kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5), the kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ (Rev. 11:15), and the eternal kingdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:11), all refer to the millennial kingdom in the coming age and to the new heaven and new earth in eternity as His eternal kingdom which will be brought in by Christ’s second coming (Dan. 2:34-35, 44; Heb. 1:8). The overcoming believers in the church in this age, the defeated ones not included, will first enter into the millennial kingdom in the coming age to inherit the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens in the millennium as their reward; and then they, together with the believers who are defeated in this age but will be perfected in the millennium, will enter into the new heaven and new earth in eternity to enjoy the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth as their eternal portion.

E. The Kingdom of the Fatherand the Kingdom of the Son of Man

The kingdom of the Father mentioned in Matthew 13:43 and 26:29 refers to the heavenly part of the millennial kingdom in the coming age, which is the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens. Only the perfected saints in the Old Testament and the overcoming believers in the church in this age will be able to enter into and enjoy this kingdom (Heb. 12:23; 11:39-40; Matt. 8:11; 13:43). The kingdom of the Son of Man (Matt. 13:41) refers to the earthly part of the millennial kingdom in the coming age. It is the kingdom prepared for the nations who will be restored in the coming age as its people (Matt. 25:34). It is also the kingdom in which the restored kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6), that is, all Israel who will be saved in the future, will be the priests (See point III.B.1 in this lesson).

F. The Kingdom Preparedfrom the Foundation of the World

The kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34) is the earthly part of the millennial kingdom, in which the restored nations will dwell as the people (Matt. 25:46b).

Life-Study Fellowship from Brother Andrew Yu

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:18:00 +0000

Life-Study Fellowship from Brother Andrew Yu

Brother Andrew Yu has created a thirteen-minute video to encourage the saints to continue in and develop the habitual reading of the Word and the Life-studies. “I wish that all the young people, the working saints, and all the saints in general would get into the Life-Study and read the Life-study messages.

Brother Lee spent over twenty years in putting together this wonderful, wonderful volume and it would be a big, big pity if in the Lord’s recovery we know about it but have never read it.” May we be those who invest our time to be constituted with the Word, to appreciate the Word, and to propagate the Word. Praise the Lord!

Do You Have God with You?

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Do You Have God with You?

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which is translated, God with us).

The last part of Matthew 1...deals with the names of Jesus and Emmanuel....Now we come to the second name, Emmanuel....Whenever you have some experience of Jesus, you will be able to say that He is God with you....Jesus is nothing less than God Himself. He is not only the Son of God, but also God Himself. Some good writers have said that apart from Jesus we can never find God.

God is with Jesus, and God is Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was not only with God, but the Word was God (John 1:1). This Word became flesh and was called Jesus.

When we experience Jesus, He is Emmanuel, God with us. We have heard that Jesus is our comfort, our rest, our peace, and our life. Jesus is so much to us. If we would experience Him, we would immediately say, “This is God! This is not God far away from me, or God in the heavens, but God with me.” Whenever we experience Jesus in a certain way, we realize that Jesus is God with us. Jesus is our salvation. After we experience this salvation, we say, “This is God with us to be our salvation.” Jesus is our patience.

But when we experience Him as our patience, we say, “This patience is God with me.” Jesus is the way and the truth, but when we experience Him as the way and the truth we say, “This way and this truth are just God with me.” Hallelujah, Jesus is God with us! In our experience, He is Emmanuel.

A prayer

Lord Jesus, reveal Yourself to me not only as the Son of God but also as God with me. Grant me the daily experience that God is with me. Lord, also remember _____. Cause them to experience and see You as Emmanuel. Amen.

A Lover of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:26:00 +0000

A Lover of Christ

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him. (23) Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make an abode with him.

Song of Solomon 5:16 :His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Words of Ministry
To believe in Him [Jesus Christ] is to receive Him, and to love Him is to enjoy Him. We all have believed in Him. This means that we all have received Him. But the problem today is whether we love Him or not. Although you have received the Lord Jesus and He is now within you, you may not love Him. We need to be a lover of the Lord Jesus all day long.

His presence is always related to our love toward Him. The more we love Him, the more we enjoy His presence. What is His presence? It is simply the enjoyment of Himself. As long as we have His presence, we enjoy Him. The more we love Him, the more we shall have His presence.

The more we are in His presence, the more we shall enjoy all that He is to us. We only need to love Him. Knowing means nothing; only loving counts. How we all need to love Him! I have been loving Him for fifty years and today I feel that He is more lovable than ever. No one is as lovely as He is. Song of Songs says that He is altogether lovely (5:16).

(Words of Ministry taken from Witness Lee, Life-study of John)

The Church Being a Feast

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:04:00 +0000

The Church Being a Feast

Bible verses

John 12:1 "Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead."

(2)"Therefore they made Him a supper there; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of the ones reclining at table with Him."

Matthew 22:2 "The kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son."

Words of Ministry

Bethany means house of the poor or house of affliction. Outwardly, the church may be poor and afflicted. The church on earth may not be rich in material things; it should be rich with the enjoyment of the Lord in His presence. The outward people will always look down on the church, saying that it is poor and full of affliction. They do not have a spirit to realize how rich we are in the enjoyment of all that the Lord is to us.

Although there was nothing outwardly attractive about that little house, inwardly it was filled with feasting, resting, and satisfaction. Not only the Lord Jesus was feasting and resting, but so was everyone else who was there. It must be this way in the church life... Outwardly, everything may be poor; inwardly, however, everything is precious, sweet, and dear. We have the sweet sensation that we are with the Lord and that the Lord is with us. He is feasting with us and we are feasting with Him. Both He and we are resting. Everyone is at rest and everyone is satisfied. This is the church life.

His presence means very much to the church life. The church life is a life that absolutely depends upon the Lord's presence. Without the Lord's presence, the church life is empty. Inwardly, the church life is a feast... Here there is always a feast prepared for the Lord and His people. Not only the Lord Himself enjoys it, but all the people who are with Him enjoy it as well... The church is a place where the Lord and His people come together to feast with one another and to enjoy one another.

(From pages 302-303, Life-Study of John by W. Lee, Living Stream Ministry)

The Church Being Formed with Resurrected People

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:29:00 +0000

The Church Being Formed with Resurrected People

Bible verses:

John 12:1 Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

(2) Therefore they made Him a supper there; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of the ones reclining at table with Him.

(3) Then Mary took a pound of ointment, of very valuable pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

Colossians 2:13 And you, though dead in your offenses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our offenses;

Words of Ministry

Let us now consider several points concerning the miniature of the church life found in John 12. Firstly, it was produced by resurrection life. Lazarus was present as a sign that the church is produced by resurrection life. The church does not come into being by man's organization, man's wisdom, man's work, or man's teaching. It comes into being by resurrection life.

Bethany was the place where the Lord accomplished His last sign—the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Therefore, Bethany is the place where the Lord raised up the dead. The believers there issued from the Lord's resurrection life. This is exactly where the church is—in the place of resurrection where the Lord as resurrection life raises people from the dead. Originally, we were dead, for we were dead in sins (Col. 2:13). But the Lord has raised us up from the dead; He has quickened and regenerated us. The issue of this is that we who have shared in His resurrection life have become the church.

The church is the produce of the Lord's resurrection life. In the natural life there is no church. The church can only come into being through the Lord's resurrection life. Such a church in resurrection life is the place where the Lord can find rest and satisfaction with us and where we can feast with the Lord.

(From pages 300-301, Life-Study of John by W. Lee, Living Stream Ministry)

THE BODY OF CHRIST

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:09:00 +0000

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Scripture Reading: Eph. 3:4-6; Col. 3:4-11; Rom. 12:3-5

THE CHURCH BEING THE BODY OF CHRIST

In this message we will speak on the Body of Christ. In the New Testament, Paul was the only apostle who used the expression the Body of Christ to denote the church. In other places in the New Testament, the church is called the temple of God, the household of God, etc. But Paul specifically said that the church is the Body of Christ. The subject here is not us becoming the sons of God or becoming Christians. We are talking about how the church becomes the Body of Christ. We can say that the church is Christ in a different form. Christ was the only begotten Son of God. Now He has become the Firstborn. Christ plus all the sons—the church—is the one Body.

There are no individual persons in the church; there is only Christ in the church. Anything that issues from Christ is the church. The church comes fully out of Christ and is one with Christ. There is no need for a Christian to do anything or change anything in order to be in Christ. As long as a man is regenerated, he is in Christ and becomes a part of the Body of Christ.

THE BODY OF CHRIST BEING A MATTER OF LIFE

The church as the Body of Christ is absolutely a matter of life. The church as the Body of Christ is not a doctrine; it is of life. A man cannot become a part of the Body of Christ just by understanding it. He becomes a part of the Body of Christ through regeneration. This is absolutely a matter of life; it has nothing to do with knowledge or doctrine.

As Christians we need very much to see the Body of Christ. But the only way we can see the Body of Christ is by God's revelation. We cannot understand the Body of Christ with our mind. Even if we have all the knowledge there is about the Body of Christ, we still may not have seen the Body of Christ or touched the reality of the Body. Only those who have received revelation from God will see the Body of Christ, and only they will enter the reality of the Body.

Romans 12 tells us that the church is the Body of Christ, but it does not explain how the church becomes the Body of Christ. In order to understand how the church becomes the Body of Christ, we have to understand Romans 5 through 8. Chapter five tells us that all men are joined to Adam and that man derives his life from Adam. Through Adam's fall, all men have become sinners and have been joined to the old man.

Chapter six tells us that the old man has to be dealt with; it has to be crucified with Christ. Through Christ's redemption, we have died and resurrected. Chapter seven says that a man should no longer live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Chapter eight goes on to explain how we live according to the Spirit.

THE BODY OF CHRISTBEING THE CONSUMMATION OF THE WORK OF THE CROSS

The consummation of the work of the cross is the church. The work of the cross goes as far as the Body of Christ and consummates with the Body of Christ. Hence, the knowledge of the cross brings us to the knowledge of the Body of Christ. The cross brings a man to a state of weakness and inability, one in which he totally loses hope in the old creation. When he is brought to this point, he is delivered in a real way from the old creation and brought into the new creation. Everything in the old creation has been condemned and terminated by the cross.

The Body of Christ is the new creation; it has nothing to do with the old creation. If we resort to human methods, tactics, and skills (which we have used in the past) to deal with the affairs of the church, the result will only be disastrous. God does not approve of anything that is from the old creation, and He will not allow anything from the old creation to remain in the new creation. Everything of the old creation must pass through the cross and remain on the cross. The church has no use for anything that comes from the old man. The church only takes that which issues from Christ.

When man fell, he fell because of his own concepts, choices, and judgments. Therefore, God will not allow anything that issues from the old creation to gain the upper hand. The "backbone" of the natural man must be broken; the hollow of his thigh must be touched. Before he will submit to God, he must be crippled and fall flat on his face. This is what God is doing in the new creation. He is smashing everything of the old creation, and He is constituting us with everything that issues from Christ so that we can become the Body of Christ in practicality. I saw the evil of man's flesh twelve years ago in Philippians 3, Romans 5, and John 5. For seven months I was hesitant to make any move at all, because I knew that everything that issued from the flesh would be rejected by God. God wants to remove everything in man that is from the flesh. God's children must first deal with the natural life. If they deal with their natural life, they will be in the Body spontaneously, because the Body of Christ is composed of everything that issues from Christ. Nothing of the old man can remain in the Body. As soon as a man passes through the experience in Romans 5 through 8, he can enter into the experience of Romans 12.

Today the church is divided because Christians are living in the wrong realm and the wrong sphere. Christians are not living in the new creation or in the reality of the Body of Christ. They are living only in the superficiality of doctrines, which belongs to man's natural life and is part of man's oldness. If every Christian was willing to be dealt with and to leave the natural things and the old creation behind, and if every one of them was willing to live in the reality of the Body of Christ, there would be no more divisions. May the Lord be merciful to us to see what the Body of Christ is. May the work of the cross usher us into the Body of Christ.

(From , The Body of Christ by W. Nee, Living Stream Ministry)

The Work of the Ministry

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:49:00 +0000

The Work of the Ministry

In Ephesians 4:12 the Apostle Paul says, “For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ.” The four kinds of saints who are endued with a special gift in verse 11 have only one ministry, that is, to minister Christ for the building up of the Body of Christ, the church. This is the unique ministry in the New Testament economy (2 Cor. 4:1; 1 Tim. 1:12).

The building up of the Body of Christ is the work of the ministry. Whatever the gifted persons do as the work of the ministry must be for the building up of the Body of Christ.

In the excerpts from the ministry that follows, we see the kind of work a worker does in doing the work of the ministry.

He is one who
(1) carries out God’s New Testament ministry;
(2) carries out the work of the church;
(3) works in the Body;
(4) does only the work of the Lord’s recovery; and
(5) builds up the Body of Christ:

Great resolutions in heart

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:29:00 +0000

Great resolutions in heart

Judges 3:12-13 says that Jehovah strengthened Israel’s enemies, but 4:6-16 reveals that Jehovah was fighting for Israel. This shows that God is a God of incarnation. God wants man to match Him so that He can move. If Israel had not fought, God would not have fought for them.

However, because Israel did fight under Deborah in a proper order, God fought for them. The principle is the same with us today. If we do not go out to gain sinners, God will not go, but if we go, God also will go. However, this kind of going out needs a searching of our heart and a resolution in our heart.

God will not work until we become active in this searching of our heart and making resolutions in our heart. This is the way to fight the battle; this is the way to preach the gospel; and this is the way to gain sinners to become members of Christ.

"A Through View of the Body of Christ"

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:03:00 +0000

A portion from "A Through View of the Body of Christ"

[After regeneration] we are no longer individual persons,but members of the Body of Christ.Hence,we must not be disconnected from the Body.No member must be disconnected from the Body;once disconnected,the members are finished.Today every one of us is a member;a member of the Body of Christ.This Body of Christ is the church.Why do i say the Body and not the church?Because the church is a gathering,but the Body is an organism.A congregation can be dismissed,but a body cannot be disconnected.You may stop coming to meetings,but you must not be disconnected form the Body.It may be possible sometimes to miss the meetings,but once the Body is disconnected,it is finished....Those who are in the meetings may not be in the Body,but those who are in the Body are definitely in the meetings....Those who are disconnected from the Body will definitely not come to the meetings.Therefore,being absent from the meetings may be somewhat risky;if you are not careful,you may soon be disconnected from the Body.Not coming to the meetings is close to being disconnected.
The church is a kind of congregation,but the Body is a matter of life.All of us have life,but if we say that each one of us has been joined to the church,it is not so accurate.The real significance is that we have become the members of the Body of Christ,posseseing the same life and needing one another.This is to be members one of another.Therefore,whatever we do must be in the Body,joined to the Body,and regulated by the Body,because we are one Body.This is a wonderful matter.

THE HEART DESIRE OF GOD

noreply@blogger.com (TAMIL ARASAN) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:38:00 +0000

THE HEART DESIRE OF GOD

We must see that the church is the heart desire of God—the New Testament reveals it as such. God's desire in this age and in the whole universe is to have the church. His purpose in creation was to produce a church. His purpose in redemption was for the church. In fact, all that God does is for the church. All the work of gospel preaching, all the work of the edification of saints, all the work of teaching the Word—all these various ministries—are for the church.

The gospel preaching must not be for gospel preaching but for the church. The Bible teaching must not be just for Bible teaching but for the church. The edification of saints must not be merely for edification but for the church. All works and ministries in God's intention must serve the church. We are not saved for our own salvation. We are saved for the building up of the church. The church is God's heart desire.

If we are deeply impressed with this, we can no longer be indifferent. The church will be supreme and primary to us. We will be delivered from wrong and distorted concepts, and our entire Christian service will be revolutionized. We will no longer seek just to bring people to the Lord and help them to grow and love the Lord, but we will do everything for the building up of the church. Wherever we are and whatever we do will be for the church.

Consider the apostle Paul. After he saw the heavenly vision and his life was revolutionized, for what did he work? It is more than clear that he worked for nothing but the church. Did he build up his own ministry? He did not. Everything he did was for the church. If you took away the church, there would be nothing left for Paul to do.

Are you such a person? I am afraid that you have many things besides the church. You may be doing a work for the Lord, but it is not church-centered. The church is our test. The church proves where we are. We must see that it is the church upon which God's heart is set and be governed accordingly.

Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee. THE VISION OF THE CHURCH. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.

ZION WE WILL BE

The Burden of a Shepherd

Importance of mutual shepherding within the church

Crucial points - Christ as the Great Light, the One Who Has Authority, the Physician, the Bridegroom, the Unfulled Cloth, and the New Wine

The Greatest Love story in the Universe

GOD LOVES MAN

இந்த ஆண்டின் முடிவில் கர்த்தருடனான ஒரு விசேஷித்த நேரம்

Crystallization-Study of Leviticus (1) - Banner song Mp3

Not celebrating Christmas for 5 reasons

Feeding the New Believers with baby food - Concerning Christmas

கிறிஸ்துமஸைக் குறித்து - டிசம் 25 - கிறிஸ்து பிறந்த நாளா ?

The Spiritual Significance of the New Year

Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:14, 16; Jer. 8:7, 20; Mal. 4:2; Col. 2:16-17; Rev. 21:5, 23; 22:2; Ezra 7:9; 8:21, 23

THE VISIBLE BODY SPEAKING FORTHTHE INVISIBLE CONTENT

DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARSBEING OPPORTUNITIES PREPARED BY GOD

EVERY DAY, MONTH, AND YEARBEING A NEW BEGINNING

KEEPING A SPIRITUAL NEW YEARBEFORE GOD

THE CHANGING OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARSDEPENDING ON LIGHT-BEARERS

THE PRINCIPLE OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARSBEING DEATH AND RESURRECTION

THE CHANGING OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARSDEPENDING ON GOD HIMSELF

SEPARATED FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

Leaving Our Tradition and Old Concepts to come to the Meeting

Crystallization Study of the Genesis Banner song

Living Christ In our Human Virtues

EXPRESSING THE HUMAN VIRTUES BY BEING IN CHRIST

EXPERIENCING CHRIST’S INDWELLING

Crystallization-Study of The Psalms (2)Banner songs

2011 Winter Training Banners:

Whenever God's people exalt Christ, giving Him the preeminence in every aspect of their living, there is restoration and revival.

To take God as our habitation, our eternal dwelling place, is the highest and fullest experience of God.

A key view of the New Testament (THE KINGDOM OF GOD)(1)

A KEY VIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD(1)

Life-Study Fellowship from Brother Andrew Yu

Do You Have God with You?

A Lover of Christ

The Church Being a Feast

The Church Being Formed with Resurrected People

THE BODY OF CHRIST

The Work of the Ministry

Great resolutions in heart

"A Through View of the Body of Christ"

A portion from "A Through View of the Body of Christ"

THE HEART DESIRE OF GOD

THE VISIBLE BODY SPEAKING FORTH
THE INVISIBLE CONTENT

DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
BEING OPPORTUNITIES PREPARED BY GOD

EVERY DAY, MONTH, AND YEAR
BEING A NEW BEGINNING

KEEPING A SPIRITUAL NEW YEAR
BEFORE GOD

THE CHANGING OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
DEPENDING ON LIGHT-BEARERS

THE PRINCIPLE OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
BEING DEATH AND RESURRECTION

THE CHANGING OF DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS
DEPENDING ON GOD HIMSELF

Whenever God's people exalt Christ,
giving Him the preeminence
in every aspect of their living,
there is restoration and revival.

To take God as our habitation,
our eternal dwelling place,
is the highest and fullest
experience of God.