Read and pray: "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
The situation on earth today requires a strong testimony, and a strong testimony requires much labor. Thus, there is a great need for many to serve the Lord full-time. But to labor for the Lord, the Word must be fully constituted in you.
I want to emphasize again that the Lord’s recovery is not a common Christian work. On the contrary, it is the Lord’s present move to carry out His New Testament economy, which was not fully carried out in the past. As those who have heard His word concerning His New Testament economy, we must say to Him: “Lord, we are here for Your move on the earth.
We do not want to merely acquire the knowledge of biblical teachings. We want to have the burden to have all the New Testament teachings constituted in us so that, like Paul, we may be vessels to carry out Your economy. We are even willing to serve You full-time.” If the situation requires us to have a job to support ourselves and others, we should do so. Otherwise, we should be willing to dedicate all our time to the Lord’s ministry.
Concerning God’s New Testament economy, the need on earth today is immense. It is much greater now than in past centuries when missionaries went out to preach the gospel and teach the Bible superficially across vast territories. Superficial gospel preaching and Bible teaching will never carry out God’s New Testament economy. This does not pave the way for God to accomplish His eternal plan.
Since the Lord has enlightened us concerning His economy and has even given us the burden and commissioned us to carry it out, we all need to consider this matter seriously. We should not think: “I have already visited many groups and denominations, but none of them satisfied me. Now I feel the churches in the Lord’s recovery are very good, and I am satisfied just to enjoy the church life here.” Such an attitude is completely inadequate. All the brothers in the Lord’s recovery need to be built up in the burden of the New Testament economy.
When some hear about the need to have a burden to carry out God’s New Testament economy, they may think they are not talented or gifted and therefore cannot do much. However, if they are serious with the Lord and saturated with the riches of the divine economy, especially as conveyed in the Life-study messages, they will be able to care for various people among their relatives, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and classmates. At the very least, each of us can care for ten people, not by preaching a shallow gospel or presenting a common teaching, but by ministering the deep truths of the New Testament economy.
If we are saturated with such an economy, whenever we speak about it, the truth will flow. Moreover, people will be able to understand what we are saying. If all the saints in the Lord’s recovery take care to minister the truths of the divine economy to ten people, there will be an excellent result for the Lord’s interest. These people will have the truth constituted in them through us and, in turn, will pass it on to others. This will result in a wonderful multiplication.
We need to realize that in all nations, people are searching for the truth. They may be evil and worldly, but they still desire the truth. They want to know the real meaning of human life. Thus, we all need to have the burden to spread the truth concerning God’s New Testament economy. In carrying out this burden, we should not follow the trend of today’s Christianity. Instead, we should follow the pattern of the apostle Paul, as presented in Acts. For the sake of the Lord’s propagation, let us all saturate ourselves with God’s economy and help others to be saturated with it.
I encourage the young people to set aside two years, after graduating from college, to serve the Lord full-time. I suggest that they spend half of their day making a thorough study of the New Testament with the help of the Recovery Version, footnotes, and Life-study messages. In this way, whether they continue to serve full-time after the two years or not, they will be fully saturated and established in the truth of God’s New Testament economy.
In addition to their morning study, they can use the rest of the time to preach the gospel and contact people. I encourage the young people to consider this matter seriously. We in the Lord’s recovery are not here to be ordinary church members, carrying out a common Christian work. Like Paul, our work should revolutionize the situation on earth. He is an excellent pattern for us today: not only did he bear the burden of God’s New Testament economy, but he also labored with his own hands, making tents to support himself and help others. If we are also faithful to labor for the Lord’s purpose, He will take care of our needs. Then, we will be able to support many full-time workers, not only in this country but also in many others.
For example, if ten brothers are faithful to provide financial support for one worker, out of every thousand brothers, one hundred could go out to serve full-time. This is especially true in the United States, where, according to the Lord’s sovereignty, the economy is very strong.
Those who have the burden to serve full-time to carry out God’s New Testament economy should not go empty-handed. Instead, they should go with a full knowledge of the truth, at least a full knowledge of the New Testament.
We thank the Lord for opening the New Testament to us. I believe that in the coming years, the saints will see more riches in the Word. May all the saints in the Lord’s recovery be saturated with the riches of God’s economy and delve deeper into the Word to find more riches. As we continue to bear the burden of God’s economy, we should not worry about opposition.
Often, those building a highway face opposition. However, they proceed, removing obstacles and filling holes so the highway can be constructed. Let us advance with this spirit to carry out God’s New Testament economy, presenting its teachings to those in need. Many, upon hearing this, will be convinced and will receive it. Others may oppose it. However, instead of arguing, simply present the truth to them. Though they may reject it once and again, eventually, the Lord will gain them through our faithfulness.
Let us all be filled with the riches of God’s New Testament economy and then carry out the burden for it positively and aggressively. We can all become aggressive if we are filled and saturated. I hope that in the coming days, there will be a great increase for the Lord’s propagation. May there be a genuine revival across the earth!
Enjoy More: Hymn 263
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