2022 LORD’S MOVE TO ASIA (LMA) CONFERENCE

Message One
Propagating Aggressively in Unfavorable Environment

Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:9; Rev. 1:9-10; S. S. 4:8, 15; Dan. 11:32b; Phil. 3:13-14

I. Today, like Paul and John, we should not be bothered by the opposition and restriction in the environment; instead, we should turn to the Lord to see a clearer view of His economy—2 Tim. 1:15; Rev. 1:9-10: (CWWL, 1982, vol. 1, “Releasing the Truth in the Midst of Opposition”)

A. Paul’s ministry was prevailing, but it met opposition, and eventually Paul was bound, put into prison, and ultimately martyred; humanly speaking, his ministry was terminated by his martyrdom; instead, God’s word was released through Paul in such an environment, and this word is still spreading today—2 Tim. 1:15. (CWWL, 1982, vol. 1, “Releasing the Truth in the Midst of Opposition”)

B. John was exiled to the island of Patmos because he was faithful to God’s word and because he was for the testimony of Jesus; this island was in the middle of the ocean, with precipitous rocks and barrenness on all sides; under such circumstances, the glorious Christ revealed Himself to him and gave him new revelations—Rev. 1:9: (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” msg. 1)

1. Although his body lost its freedom on the island of Patmos, his spirit was not bound; the island of Patmos could not block the heaven above his head; on the contrary, it brought his spirit in touch with heaven—v. 10. (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” msg. 1)

2. John’s spirit was free and uninhibited by the surroundings; he had the life of ascension (Eph. 2:6); his spirit was neither bound nor stirred up by his soul, and he was able to fellowship freely with the Lord and receive fresh revelation. (CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” msg. 1)

II. We should not complain that the work has assigned us to a distant village and has never sent us to a good place; it is true that the work has made such an arrangement for us, but we should work on the barren land and turn it into a place that is as flourishing as Lebanon; wherever we go, we should have an enterprising spirit—1 Thes. 1:3; S. S. 4:8, 15; Dan. 11:32b: (CWWL, 1968, vol. 2, “The Motive, Coordination, and Function of the Lord’s Serving Ones,” ch. 4)

A. In Matthew 25 the one-talented slave saw that the other slaves received either two talents or five talents; moreover, he considered that the environment was unfavorable; it seemed that the Lord did not arrange favorable circumstances for him; instead, the Lord wanted him to reap where He did not sow and gather where He did not winnow; the Lord does not bargain with us; we should work to the extent that we are able to reap where the Lord did not sow and gather where He did not winnow—vv. 14-30. (CWWL, 1968, vol. 2, “The Motive, Coordination, and Function of the Lord’s Serving Ones,” ch. 4)

B. We need such an enterprising spirit so that whatever we do will be excellent; we need to say, “Lord, praise You; since You want me to reap, You need to be responsible for the reaping; even if I have to lay down my life, I would rise up against the environment”—1 Tim. 4:10; Phil. 3:13. (CWWL, 1968, vol. 2, “The Motive, Coordination, and Function of the Lord’s Serving Ones,” ch. 4)

C. We must have a strong determination that anytime we go to a meeting, we must light a fire in that meeting; we need to be like Elijah, who called fire down from heaven even when the ground was covered with water (1 Kings 18:33-38); we all need this kind of attitude, this kind of spirit. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

III. We should not allow any circumstance to quench our burden for the Lord’s work; we work even if the worst hardship befalls us; we work even if harsh poverty meets us; as long as we are clear that we are serving the Lord, we should charge forward without any fear—1 Tim. 1:7; Dan. 11:32b: (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

A. “Thirty-seven years ago, the situation in mainland China changed suddenly. At that time all the co-workers gathered together in Shanghai to prepare for the change. Brother Nee said specifically in that co-workers’ meeting that I should leave the country. Eventually, I was the only one who left; all the rest stayed behind for the Lord’s testimony.…Then suddenly I was sent to the small island of Taiwan.” (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

B. “When I first arrived in Taiwan, I did not know where I should meet.…When I returned to my dwelling, which was a small place with only two rooms, I fell on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I asked myself, ’What am I doing here in Taiwan?’…Everything around me was disappointing and discouraging.” (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

C. “However, since I was already in Taiwan, I reasoned, ’What can I say?’…So I took the train and visited Shin-ju, Taichung, Zhia-yi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung along the way. That visit gave me a burden. I felt that much could be done. When I returned, I fellowshipped with the brothers, and we decided to begin the work there.” (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

D. “Once we began our work, God’s blessing was there. We decided to preach the gospel, but the meeting place was not large enough.…We decided to contract some people to enclose it with bamboo fences, bricks, and wooden props. It provided a temporary overflow space for meeting. That space later became the “Workers’ Home.” This was how we began our work in Taiwan.” (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

E. Do not think that if we are rejected, we will have no more places to go; no matter how difficult the situation is, as long as we have the Lord’s presence, we can go against all odds; one characteristic of a Christian is that he can go against the tide and move forward by beholding the Lord’s face—Phil. 3:14; 1 Cor. 15:58. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

F. When the missionaries came to China, they also faced trying situations; everywhere they went, they faced opposition and cold water; rocks were thrown at them, and some were even martyred; yet they were not discouraged; they pressed on and did not turn back for a moment; eventually, they opened the door of the gospel in that old, conservative land—Phil. 4:13-14; John 14:27. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

G. We are not qualified to do the Lord’s work if our intention is to wait for all things to be ready before we preach the gospel; if we want to be in the Lord’s work, we must learn to strive even when there is nothing for us to work with—Dan. 11:32b; Phil. 4:13. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 8)

IV. We should not excuse ourselves, but should have an aggressive, bold, and daring spirit to carry out the Lord’s commission—”The secret to my work is that I do not know what difficulty is. I only know to give myself to work. I do not care for the result; I only care to labor diligently. You can say that my secret is simply to work. I do not care about the circumstances; I only care to work. For the past sixty years you can see the result of such work. As long as we work, there will be the result.”(The Ministry, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 14-15) (2000 ITERO-Fall, msg. 2)