2022 LORD’S MOVE TO ASIA (LMA) CO-WORKERS’ MEETING
Message Three
Serving and Perfecting Others to Serve Issuing
in the Spreading of the Church
Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 4:15; 1 Kings 7:14; Matt. 1:16; Eph. 4:12, 16; 2 Cor. 13:9; Col. 1:28; Phil. 2:17
I. Those who go out for the propagation must learn to be skilled in all areas; we should not seek to “specialize” in only one thing; rather, we should be able to do whatever is needed; we should learn to do everything that is needed in order to carry out our burden—1 Tim. 4:15; 1 Kings 7:14:
A. We are pioneers; therefore, we need to learn to be skilled in many areas; we should be neither rigid nor stiff; when we go out to work, there should be nothing that we cannot do; if there is a need, we can give a message, or we can do the children’s work; we should not have opinions, and we should learn while we work—1 Tim. 4:15; 1 Kings 7:14.
B. The workers must learn to be flexible in their work; our labor should not be rigid; we should consider the situation and be able to adapt—Matt. 1:16; 2 Cor. 3:6:
1. We need to be flexible; if it is difficult to lead the saints to study the Bible on their own, we should speak something concerning the Bible to stir up their interest; we can also ask questions related to the Bible; we should be willing to try different ways—Eph. 1:17.
2. We should not require others to accommodate us, neither should we demand that the environment cooperate with us; rather, we should be flexible to work in any environment and to fit in with the local situation; even if the local saints do not seem like suitable material and are barely alive, we need to supply them and enable them to rise up—2 Cor. 4:8-10.
C. We must learn to focus on what we do, and we should not analyze whether or not we are able to accomplish a job; we should not give ourselves the excuse of saying that we do not understand what we are doing; we should simply work, and there will be a result—2 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:58.
D. We need an attitude of being willing to labor; whether or not we can be effective in a locality depends on our person; there is a saying that a person can bring life to a dying business if he knows how to manage it—vv. 10, 58.
II. The co-workers should always perfect the saints; we do not work by ourselves; instead, we work with the saints to teach them to do what we do; we need to perfect others so that they are built up; this is the way that the church will be able to develop and expand—Eph. 4:12; 2 Cor. 13:9:
A. In the beginning of our work there was a rapid increase in numbers, but after a period of time we seemed to have come to a stop, and no matter what we did, there was not much increase; a primary problem has been that the co-workers do things themselves and have not been able to teach others; the saints will not be raised up—Eph. 4:12, 16.
B. Our present need is to change our concept and our system; we must learn to serve and how to serve with others; unless we have the right view and are willing to change our concept and our system so that every saint fulfills his function, we will not be able to multiply to ten thousand—Matt. 11:29; 13:15; Eph. 4:16.
C. The co-workers should bring forth useful saints; a laboring co-worker is a pillar, but he should gradually add other pillars to the building; when there are fifteen pillars in a local church, it is time for the co-worker to leave; this is the principle of our work—v. 12; 2 Cor. 13:9.
D. The co-workers should not replace but guide others; when the saints are able to take care of things, we should leave the services completely in their hands; then we can oversee from a distance; in this way we will produce capable saints who function according to their ability, and every brother and sister will be useful; then we can delegate a suitable service to every saint according to his function—1 Cor. 14:26; 12:11.
E. The way of the work, the proper way, is to help every brother and sister do the work himself or herself; it is not a matter of much service or little service; it is a matter of everyone serving; unless we are all serving together, we are not the church; this is our way today—Eph. 4:11-16.
III. We should spend time to perfect the saints and not take the easy way; we must not be afraid of the trouble or difficulties involved in perfecting the saints; we must also transcend our feelings by teaching and accommodating the saints; without such a spirit we can do nothing—Col. 1:28; Phil. 2:17; 1 Thes. 2:8:
A. We must change our concept; we should not say that the saints have no capacity; the problem is that we are short in perfecting them; if we will do a perfecting work, their capabilities will be brought forth—1 Tim. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:10, 14; Eph. 4:12.
B. The co-workers must learn to bring other saints with them; when you observe a particular skill in a saint, you must let him serve, and you must be willing to be led by him; if he makes a mistake, you can provide further guidance; only when we let others serve do we bring them into their function—1 Tim. 3:13; 1 Cor. 14:26.
C. The elders and co-workers need to spend time and make an effort to perfect the saints; the patience and time are needed to teach the saints to do things; if we would be useful to the Lord and are concerned for His house, we must be desperate in our endeavoring; we must be those who care for nothing but the producing of useful saints; if we endeavor and work in this way every day, it will stir up the interest of the saints—1 Thes. 2:8; Acts 20:31.
D. In the matter of perfecting people, we will surely encounter obstacles and need to consider the environmental factors, but we should not make excuses for not going forward; whether or not the church can go forward positively altogether depends on whether we labor; in order to turn around our work, the brothers here must learn to devote their whole being to the labor; only then can we accomplish something—15:10, 58.
Ministry Excerpts:
EVERYONE NEEDING SKILLS IN ALL AREAS
RELATED TO THEIR FUNCTION
Those who go out for the propagation must learn to be skilled in all areas. We should not say that my gift is to preach the gospel, so the others should set up a platform and invite people so that I can give a good message. We should never have such a thought. Rather, we should learn to do everything that is needed in order to carry out our burden. We can set up a platform, we can invite people, we can usher, and we can speak with the gospel friends. We are pioneers; therefore, we need to learn to be skilled in many areas. We should not seek to “specialize” in only one thing; rather, we should be able to do whatever is needed. We should be neither rigid nor stiff.
We should all be able to do the children’s work. It is good enough to gather some children together and teach them to sing a few songs. One does not have to be able to sing well. On the contrary, children like the older sisters who sing short songs off-key. When we go out to work, there should be nothing that we cannot do. If there is a need, we can give a message, or we can do the children’s work. We should not have opinions, and we should learn while we work. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 2, “The Vision, Living, and Work of the Lord’s Serving Ones,” ch. 2)
Learning to Be Flexible in the Work
In addition to learning to coordinate and learning skills, the workers must learn to be flexible in their work. Sometimes the workers are rigid and cannot accommodate others. The medicine that a doctor prescribes for a patient can be taken in different ways. The medicine can be injected into the patient, or it can be taken as a pill, as powder, or as a solution. The same medication can be dispensed in many ways. Similarly, our labor should not be rigid. We should consider the situation and be able to adapt. (CWWL, 1958, vol. 1, “The Perfecting of the Saints and the Building Up of the House of God”, msg. 11)
Needing an Attitude of Willing to Labor
We need an attitude of being willing to labor. For example, if the brothers tell us to sweep the floor of the meeting hall, we should sweep it thoroughly so that it is very clean. When I was in the church in Chefoo I took the lead to clean the hall. Even though it was an old house, it was kept spotless and attractive. Every guest room had a different color scheme. For example, for the white guest room, every item from the bedding to the decorations was white; for the yellow guest room, every item was yellow. At that time, those who were responsible for taking care of the guest rooms were perfected by me. We should always seek to improve so that there is an atmosphere of freshness. In Chefoo I designed the church’s meeting hall, the sisters’ prayer room, and the brothers’ prayer room. However, I would often rearrange the furniture in the meeting hall, because I always sought to make improvements. In this way, when people came into the hall, they would have a sense of newness and realize that we had made improvements. This is the proper way to administrate the church.
If we are willing to receive these words, we will be very useful no matter what city or town we go to. Whether or not we can be effective in a locality depends on our person. There is a saying that a person can bring life to a dying business if he knows how to manage it. This principle also applies to a big church like Taipei or to a small church with only eight or nine brothers and sisters. We should never think that we would not have the opportunity to manifest our usefulness if we are in a small town. Such a concept indicates that we do not understand how to be useful. If we cannot be useful in a small locality, we will not be useful in a large locality. (CWWL, 1984, vol. 4, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 3: The Future of the Lord’s Recovery and the Building Up of the Organic Service,” ch. 6)
LEARNING TO TEACH OTHERS TO SERVE
Studying the Factors That Hinder the Increase
In this chapter we want to study the factors that have hindered our increase. In the beginning of the work in Taiwan there was a rapid increase in numbers, but after a period of time we seemed to have come to a stop, and no matter what we did, there was not much increase.
After spending time with the Lord and analyzing our situation, we are clearer concerning our situation. A primary problem has been that the co-workers do things themselves and have not been able to teach others. Suppose three brothers go to a new locality to serve. Since they have a heart for the Lord, new ones are gained. If the co-workers teach these new ones, raise them up, perfect them, and bring them into the service, the co-workers will gain some “apprentices.” It is regrettable, however, that we have neither learned to bring the saints into the service nor learned to perfect the saints. Instead, we do everything by ourselves and thus unconsciously replace the saints. As a result, the saints do not know how to function, and the responsible ones do everything.
The scope of what two or three people can do is limited. Hence, if we cannot teach and lead others, the work will come to a standstill.
Learning to Serve and Serving with Others
Our present need is to change our concept and our system. We must learn to serve and how to serve with others. This responsibility lies first with the co-workers and then with the elders. We have fellowshipped concerning this in the past, but in our practice we continued in our habit and disposition. As a result, useful saints have not been raised up. We must remember not to replace the saints but rather to bring them into the service with us. We should learn to serve, know how to serve, and also teach others to serve. This is contrary to our habit. As human beings, we tend to avoid difficult things and do what is easy. It is easier for water to flow downstream. Our habit has been to take the easy way. Indeed, it is not easy to teach others to do things. Now the co-workers must learn to teach others to serve.
It takes a great deal of effort to perfect others. Some co-workers do not care much about others. They like to work by themselves. They may say that it is sufficient to know how to work. They do not care how others take care of the work. It is not easy to serve with five or six brothers. We must make an effort. In order to serve with them, we must understand their situations and accommodate their schedules. We also need to consider how to correct them and guide them. Hence, it is not easy to teach others. Teaching others requires much effort and time. It seems that we spend less time and energy to do things by ourselves. However, if we continue in this way, the work will not have results, and we will not have descendants. Our present way is easy, not difficult. A mother who wants to educate her children must spend time and exert some effort. If she is not willing to spend time and exert some effort, it will be difficult for her to keep her children on the right track. Educating one’s children requires more than just a few days of work.
…We must change our concept. We should not say that the saints have no capacity. The problem is that we are short in perfecting them. If we will do a perfecting work, their capabilities will be brought forth. Without a perfecting work, no capacity can be developed in the saints. The capacity in the saints cannot come forth without perfecting. They must be perfected to do more than attend meetings, listen to messages, and help take care of some business affairs. These matters cannot draw out the interest and capacity of the saints. If we would be useful to the Lord and are concerned for His house, we must be desperate in our endeavoring. We must be those who care for nothing but the producing of useful saints. If we endeavor and work in this way every day, it will stir up the interest of the saints.
Spending Time and Making an Effort to Perfect the Saints
The elders and co-workers need to spend time and make an effort to perfect the saints. It is convenient to do things by ourselves, but mothers know that patience and time are needed to teach children to do things. The effort we make is not in vain, because apprentices are produced, and the saints are perfected. …In order to learn, we must study. It is easy to perform routine tasks, but specialized tasks require learning. Our specialized task is to learn how to work with the saints.
Perfecting the saints and producing useful ones are the responsibility of both the co-workers and the elders. The co-workers, the elders, and the responsible ones in the districts and the other serving saints must not be afraid of the trouble or difficulties involved in perfecting the saints. They must also transcend their feelings by teaching and accommodating the saints. Without such a spirit we can do nothing. It is wrong to think that no one is useful. Wherever we are, we must work to the extent that even the saints who seemingly have no capacity become useful. We must make use of every kind of material; we must perfect the saints. We must coordinate, use the environment, and produce useful saints.
Our Coordination Becoming Effective
The work and the church are progressing very slowly because we do not serve with the saints in order to teach them. Furthermore, we seldom coordinate with others. Those who have some capacity are passive, and they yield to others. The position of the senior elders and the co-workers is not the important issue. Our concept must be changed, and the system must be changed. The senior elders will continue to serve as elders, but they should not limit or hinder the other saints. Moreover, the middle-aged saints should be brought into the eldership to assist the senior elders. This would be very good. We must not keep things in our hand. We must be willing to hand things over to other saints and to teach them. Then those who are younger will be raised up by the Lord to be useful. Concerning this point, our concept must change, and our system must change. This is not just a matter of having a new way of doing things. It is altogether a matter of changing our concept. When both the co-workers and the elders begin to perfect the saints, our coordination will become effective. May the Lord have mercy on us. (CWWL, 1971, vol. 1, “Shepherding the Church and Perfecting the Young People,” ch. 3)