THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHURCH
AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
THE RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH’S FOUNDATION
WEEK 10 – SATURDAY
Bible reading: 1 Cor. 12
Read and pray: “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)
THE FOUNDATION OF LOCALITY
IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR EXISTENCE
I realize that Brother Austin-Sparks was trying to correct us out of care for us. He had no bad intentions. However, it was like a doctor who makes a wrong diagnosis. What he considered to be our illness is actually our life. The local ground is not a sickness. If this element is removed, we cannot go on living.
It’s like someone who drinks tea and then breaks the teapot. He doesn’t realize that the teapot is needed to make more tea. Tea needs the teapot in order to exist. The blessing we experience comes from the fact that we remain on the ground of locality. We depend on this ground for our existence. It is what sustains us. So if we let others take it away from us, our “teapot” will be gone—not only the teapot they hate so much, but also the tea they enjoy.
So this is not a matter of good or bad intentions; we never doubted Brother Austin-Sparks’s intentions. He cared for us with a pure and zealous heart. We are very grateful for that. However, the foundation is a matter of revelation and not of personal opinion. This fellowship aims to give us light. If we ignore this fellowship, history will repeat itself, and there will be no blessing.
RECEIVING OTHERS WITHOUT
DAMAGING THE LORD’S TESTIMONY
Over the past two thousand years, God has raised up many useful ministries. In the United States, there are strong ministries in gospel preaching. God is great and has already raised up many spiritual people. Brother Austin-Sparks is one example. Even though he defends a ground very close to the local ground, he is not on the local ground.
There have been many people throughout history who have taken such a position. Some, though not standing on the local ground, have received more biblical revelation than we have. We are happy to receive supply from them, because these are riches God has given to His Church.
Even some people who were in Catholicism, like Madame Guyon or Brother Lawrence, were very important and spiritually gifted. We must receive the spiritual supply that comes through each of them. At the same time, however, we must be very clear that the Lord has raised us up to bear testimony of the one Body, so that there might be a built-up expression and representation in each city.
We do not demand that everyone have this vision. But we ask all the coworkers, whether brothers or sisters, to do their best to minister the gospel and the truth without touching or damaging the foundation of the church. If they are willing to cooperate, there will be no problem; but if they touch or damage the foundation, they will bring us many difficulties.
May the Lord grant us the grace to have a clear vision of these messages as we go forward. We must be sure of our standing and humble in receiving anything that may benefit us regarding the gospel, the truth, and the spiritual supply. But we must also be fully aware of the testimony the Lord wants us to bear.
We must hold this testimony firmly. We must not be foolish—neither holding this vision without standing on the ground, nor holding the ground while rejecting spiritual riches.
If we are firm in this matter, we will be able to help those we come into contact with. We receive spiritual supply from others, and we also help them. We must receive others’ help humbly and also know our testimony and our ground.
Whenever we contact others, we must bring them help. We should not speak about things that will not perfect them. Everything should be done unto building up. We should never withhold what may benefit others. If we can help others in this way without giving up our standing, the Lord’s testimony will be built up.
We should receive Brother Austin-Sparks’s portion. The problem came because he went beyond his portion and caused us harm. Moreover, the problem was worsened because some of our brothers lacked proper light. If Brother Austin-Sparks had not gone beyond his portion, there would have been no problem.
Likewise, if all our brothers had had a conviction about this matter, then even if Brother Austin-Sparks had gone beyond the limits, we would not have had any problems. Thus, the key is for us to have clarity concerning the foundation. If we are sure, no one will be able to shake us easily. People may say whatever they want—we will not waver.
We still maintain a normal relationship with Brother Austin-Sparks. Our relationship has not been affected. What we are emphasizing is how difficult it is for us to accept something different from us when it comes to the foundation of the church and the revelation of this truth, because the foundation of the church is our life, and it affects our testimony.
Enjoy more: Hymn 239
“Experience of Christ — As Life”
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