The Things That Are Working in Christ

If we want to be useful servants for God, we must have an ear for what is going on in the spirit world and in humility esteem others better than ourselves. What is spoken at our conferences should be the things that are working in Christ at that time. Take heed to what is at work in the body today—the words that come from the mouth of the Lord now. We must stand firm and put to death the things the Holy Spirit desires to have cleansed from the church. Eph. 2:14. It is only when the enmity is being broken down that we can have peace. Do you help bear burdens? Do you receive grace to break down the dividing wall of partition? On the cross with Him we get our victory! Forsake all earthly thoughts, and stay far away from all flattery and honor of man.

God wants to bring forth the church. We must be among those who recognize what is working in Christ. Let us stand before God’s face and preach the gospel in a way that enables God to bring about a new birth so that people can come to a new life. The outer court must also be helped and strength­ened. When someone is on the way out of the fellowship, we must take action and exhort and save the one who is on the verge of going astray.

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own au­thority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13. A prophet is in contact with God, and he must work so that the whole church comes into contact with God. He can look into the things that are to come, and in the Spirit he can see things that will happen before they happen. He must be circumcised from everyone and every­thing so that in poverty of spirit he can speak according to God’s promptings and not according to his own will. A prophet has heard a message from God. It is vital that he shares what he has heard and does not add to it all the things that he knows and understands. His words become a light that shines in a dark place and at the same time cause hearts to rejoice. These are words that you do well to heed.

The seriousness and hope of the gospel come to light through the message of the prophet. It is bright, glorious and blessed, and it judges the hidden thoughts and intentions of the heart. The prophetic Word has a tremendous power to save. “And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’” Acts 11:13-14.

“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” 1 Cor. 14:32-33. The ministry of a prophet brings order and peace in the church assembly. He sees the others as God’s elect, and he has a foresight that makes him able to speak with hope and faith for individuals. He consciously serves in a way that enables younger servants of the Lord to grow up, and he is thankful for the gifts of grace God has given to others for the help and profit in the work of the ministry.

We must all see to it that it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ that is at work in our gatherings. The church cannot live with an­other spirit. Therefore, we must serve the Lord and not serve before men with a desire to please them. The message must be proclaimed in purity, undefiled by earthly circumstances or situations. The things the Holy Spirit wants to proclaim contain food that nourishes and strengthens the church. If this gospel full of hope, faith and enthusiasm is not pro­claimed, no growth takes place. The ministry of a prophet contains bonds and delightfulness. It is free from that “guard dog” ministry of barking at outward things. The prophets serve according to the power God gives them and lead people into a vast freedom in the Spirit. With faith in God and the saints, they bring bread, confident that each individual can take a piece of that bread. They bring the part they have been given with enthusiasm, according to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Their words bring comfort, edification and exhor­tation. That is why their ministry is so valuable and necessary for the growth and development of a church. The prophets are subject to the church apostle and serve in fellowship with the servants whom God has appointed for each given time in the church.