HOW TO BE USEFUL TO THE LORD
CHAPTER SIX
WEEK 3 - TUESDAY
Bible Reading: Romans 12
SERVING THE LORD WHILE TRUSTINGIN THE INNER SOURCE OF LIFE (2)
In the early days, almost every time I stood up to speak in the Lord’s name, I had stomach problems, and the pain was indescribable. All I could do was pray and consecrate myself, and then, the next time I spoke, I had to pray and consecrate myself again. It was because I was desperate that, in the Lord’s hand, I could be launched. That is where our usefulness lies. Usefulness is not something we naturally have, nor is it innate. On the contrary, only when Christ finds a way, an opportunity, and a means to manifest Himself through us will we be useful.
An elderly sister often tells me, “Brother Lee, it seems like you can never stop speaking. After you speak, you have more to say.” In fact, the reason I can be here is entirely due to God’s mercy and grace. I have so many things to say because within me there is a source—the endless source of eternal life. The only question is whether we will limit Him or not. If we limit Him, we are finished and will have nothing. What we learn in our mind is very limited, but the source of life that exists within us is unlimited.
I can testify that many times what I spoke from the pulpit was something I had not even thought of half an hour before the meeting. I discovered a secret: every time I am about to speak, I need to consecrate myself greatly. My prayer is: “Lord, here is a person who may have been somewhat careless at other times, but this time wants to place himself completely in Your hands, set himself entirely aside, and absolutely forget himself. Lord, may You manifest Yourself. May You work and make Yourself known through this person.”
Sometimes I did this half an hour before the meeting, but at other times, right after the first hymn, someone would come up to me and say, “Brother Lee, please speak.” At such moments, what could I say? I had to gird myself, not with an external belt, but with the inner belt, at that very instant, and say to the Lord, “Lord, I am in Your hands. Please manifest Yourself.” That was how the words began to flow, and the message was released.
Therefore, we serve the Lord not by trusting in ourselves but by depending on the One who is within us. Our wealth and resources are not the natural things we possess; rather, they are the life within us, which is the living Christ, the immeasurable Christ.
The problem is that although we have this Christ, we do not give Him room. We have this life, but we do not give it the opportunity to grow. We have not fully consecrated ourselves to the Lord, nor have we been deeply disciplined and broken. Since we do not allow Him to have space and the opportunity to grow, He cannot reveal Himself, and consequently, we cannot minister to people.
LIFE MANIFESTS DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES
The life and blood cells that flow to the ears and enable us to hear also flow to the eyes to enable us to see, to the mouth to enable us to speak, and to the legs to enable us to walk.
The life is the same, and so are the blood cells, but they manifest different functions in different members. We all have exactly the same life within us—the life of Christ. When it gains ground in you, it may manifest the function of a teacher. When it gains ground in someone else, it may manifest the function of an elder. When it gains ground in me, it may manifest the function of a deacon. Although the manifested functions are different, the life remains one, and Christ remains one.
The difference is not in nature but in function, and different functions are for different services. Service is the fruit of this and is based on it. When the life of Christ gains ground in us, it will manifest a function. This is ministry and service.
Enjoy more: Hymn 425
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