THE PRACTICE HANDBOOK FOR THE DISTRICT SERVING ONES
SERIES ONE
BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR THE DISTRICT SERVING ONES
Message Six
Becoming Patterns of the Flock
1 Pet. 5:3 Nor as lording it over your allotments but by becoming patterns of the flock.
1 Tim. 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
TAKING THE LEAD TO DISPENSE
THE RICHES OF CHRIST INTO OTHERS
The desire of God’s heart is to dispense Himself into man. This is the central point of the whole Bible. God’s economy is to carry out the dispensing of Himself into man. We share in this economy through our stewardship, our ministry of dispensing the riches of Christ. After the riches of Christ have been dispensed into us, we need to take up the burden to dispense them into others. With God these riches are His economy; with us they are the stewardship; and when they are dispensed by us into others, they become God’s dispensation. When God’s economy reaches us, it becomes our stewardship. When we carry out our stewardship by dispensing Christ into others, it becomes the dispensation of God into them. Hence, we have the economy, the stewardship, and the dispensation.
Those who bear responsibility in the local churches need to share in the stewardship of God. This means that the elders should be those who take the lead to dispense the riches of Christ into others. Although Christ is all-inclusive and preeminent, there is still the need for Him to be dispensed into the members of God’s family. This dispensation takes place through the stewardship. Hence, between the unsearchably rich Christ and the members of His Body, there is the need of the stewardship. All those who take the lead in the Lord’s recovery and have responsibility for the care of the churches need to realize that they have a part in such a divine stewardship. We are not here to carry on an ordinary Christian work. For instance, we are not concerned merely with teaching the Bible in an outward way. Rather, we desire to serve the riches of Christ to all the members of God’s family. In our conversation with one another, we need to minister the riches of Christ. Even when we are invited to the homes of the saints for dinner, we need to dispense the riches of Christ. This is the stewardship of God. (Life-study of Colossians, msg. 11)
NEEDING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE LEAD,
TO TEACH, TO RENDER CARE,
TO TAKE HEED, AND TO SHEPHERD
Taking the Lead
In the New Testament the first requirement for the elders is that they take the lead (1 Thes. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17). Many people can preach the gospel, preach the word, and edify others, but in regard to taking the lead, they are helpless. Taking the lead is not an easy matter. Many people know how to get to their destination, but they may not be able to tell others how to get there. For example, we may ask someone for directions to a certain place, and he may know the way to get there himself; nevertheless, when he points out the way to us, it is quite possible that he will point in another direction and provide an indirect route. We might even get lost. Therefore, it is not a small matter for someone to take the lead in a locality where saints have been raised up to meet as the church.
Being Apt to Teach
The second requirement for elders is to be apt to teach. Teaching is not easy; it requires labor in word and teaching (v. 17). The teaching required of the elders is not general but specialized; otherwise, there would not be the need for labor. For example, a person can easily speak a message for an hour without much need to labor; however, if he truly wants to release a burden and speak the truth into the saints, helping them to enter into the truth, there is the need for much labor.
When school teachers and college professors begin to teach others, even though they have previously taken many courses while in school, they must labor and study even more in order to collect the items that they have studied over the years and compile them into a set of teaching materials. In this way the teaching materials cover the main points and follow a definite sequence so that what is taught is presented clearly and logically. Such teachers are good teachers and are well liked by the students. If a teacher speaks aimlessly in the classroom, it is difficult for the students to follow. This teaching method does not last because it becomes unbearable for the students.
If the elders in the church want to teach the brothers and sisters, they must spend time and effort to labor in God’s word. Those who do not labor in the word are not able to teach, because they have nothing to teach. Hence, in the matter of teaching, the elders need to study teaching materials and teaching methods. They need to learn how to teach properly so that what they teach can be imparted into others.
Caring for the Church
In addition to knowing how to take the lead and teach, the third requirement for the elders is that they need to know how to “care for the church” (3:5). Care for is an excellent translation; the elders should not merely manage but care for the church. To manage is easy, but to care for a matter is not so easy. It may be quite easy for a brother to manage a brothers’ house, but it is not easy for him to care for the brothers’ house. To manage the brothers’ house, he needs only to ask the brothers to wake up at 5:30 A.M., have morning watch at 6:00 A.M., and go to bed at 10:30 P.M. This is to manage the brothers’ house; however, to care for the brothers is more troublesome. To do so properly, he may need to wait at the door for the brothers to come home in order to find out why they have come home so late at night. This requires both time and energy. To care for someone is to look after him, to serve him, be concerned for him, teach him what to do, and give him what he does not have. This depicts how the elders should care for the church.
Taking Heed
The fourth requirement for the elders is that they need to take heed. Acts 20:28 says, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.” One is able to walk and move freely in an empty meeting hall; he can also jump, run, or even roll around. However, if the meeting hall is well furnished with tables, desks, and chairs, it is not that easy for people to walk around. If they are not careful, they will stumble, cause others to stumble, or even break the windows. Thus, Paul says that the elders need to take heed to themselves and to all the flock. This shows that the responsibility of the elders is not simple; it encompasses many aspects.
Knowing How to Shepherd
The fifth requirement for an elder is to know how to shepherd (John 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2). Shepherding includes teaching (Eph. 4:11). Shepherding may seem to be relatively easy and involve merely feeding children milk; in reality, it is not easy because shepherding is not merely to feed people. It also includes providing them with warmth. In other words, the shepherding one must provide tender care so that the one being cared for has a feeling of warmth. A brother may be discouraged to the uttermost, but when we talk to him and supply him with life, his heart is comforted and his inner being is warmed up. This is shepherding.
NOT LORDING IT OVER THE SAINTS
BUT BEING PATTERNS TO THEM
On the negative side, an elder must not lord it over the saints (1 Pet. 5:3). In Greek, to lord over is to be someone’s master. If an elder thinks that he is a kind of master, puts on airs, and lets people know that he is an elder and that everyone must listen to him, his eldership is utterly annulled. In the Bible the Lord taught that among us we have no masters except One (Matt. 20:26-27). This means that none can be a master over others. Among us, we are slaves to one another. Even the elders should be slaves to the brothers and sisters. We may be familiar with the saying that every ruler is a servant of the people. Even a president calls himself a servant of the people. When he meets with the common people, he should not put on the airs of a president. If he puts on the airs of a president, he is not a good president. A good president always feels that he is lower than the common people and that the common people are the true masters of the nation; he is but a public servant to these masters. This concept is undoubtedly influenced by the Bible.
In the church life, however, there are always some who misunderstand the meaning of the word elder. Consequently, they overly revere the elders. This is not proper. All the elders must remember that they are not higher than the brothers and sisters; among us there is no such thing as the “airs” of an elder. It is said that in a certain locality, the brothers and sisters tremble when they knock on the door of the elders’ room; this is wrong. We should not create such an atmosphere for the elders. If there is such an atmosphere, even if the church has increased into many districts, it cannot be built up. Moreover, even if it is built up, the building up will not last. We all need to pay attention to this matter.
The elders, moreover, must be patterns to all the saints. First Peter 5:3b speaks of “becoming patterns of the flock.” For the elders to become patterns of the flock implies that elders are also sheep, except that they are the head sheep. As such, they need to be patterns. In New Zealand many flocks of sheep can be seen, and the wonderful thing about those sheep is that they all follow the sheep at the front, proceeding in two lines. The first two sheep are the head sheep. When the head sheep stop, the rest of the sheep also stop, when the head sheep turn right, all the sheep turn right, and when the head sheep turn left, all the sheep turn left. They do not need any command. The flock single-heartedly follows the head sheep. It is the same in the church life. The brothers and sisters simply follow the elders. If the head sheep, representing the elders, do not move forward but instead try to drive the sheep from the rear, the sheep will not know where to go. It is unreasonable and illogical for the head sheep to lead in this way.
THE LIVING BEING A PATTERN
If the elders would practice these points in taking the lead, teaching, rendering care, taking heed, shepherding the saints, and not lording it over them or putting on airs, the church will surely be strong and rich. If the elders take the lead in all things, whether visiting people, knocking on doors, preaching the gospel, having home meetings, having small group meetings, or having morning revival, sooner or later their pattern will spread and become a help to all the churches.
The living of the elders is a pattern. If the elders do not practice certain things, it will be difficult for the saints to practice them. For example, if the elders are not punctual in attending the meetings, it will not be easy for them to encourage the brothers and sisters to come to the meetings on time. In fact, this may leave the saints with the impression that the elders exercise special privileges to come to the meetings whenever they want, while expecting the saints to come early. This will cause resentment in the saints’ spirits. Hence, all the elders must set an example by their own actions. This kind of leading is the best. When the saints recognize the elders as the head sheep, they will simply follow the elders however the elders lead them.
NEEDING TO ADVANCE AND ABOUND
IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH
First Having the Knowledge
of the Truth Themselves
The elders need to advance and abound in the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 5:17b). If we want to pursue the truth today, the simple way is to properly study the Life-studies. Many have dropped their jobs, forsaken the world, and joined the full-time training. In the training, during a twenty-four hour day, apart from eating, resting, and sleeping, the trainees spend all their time pursuing the truth. Although there are teachers in the training center who teach courses, they cannot read the Life-studies for the trainees; the trainees must study and enter into the Life-studies for themselves.
Then Teaching Others
In pursuing the knowledge of the truth, no one should say that there is no opportunity; in particular, the trainees should not feel that there are not enough teachers. Everyone can enter into the Life-study messages. Even if there are some portions that you do not understand, you can all come together to discuss and learn from one another. Thus, you will be able to find a way. If you become well versed in all the twelve hundred plus Life-study messages, you will be an outstanding person in regard to the knowledge of the Bible. On the other hand, we need to see that everywhere there is the urgent need of the ministry of the word. Therefore, we need to all be filled and equipped with the truth contained in the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Not only so, one by one we need to practice to speak the truth. We now have an excellent opportunity. In Taipei alone, there are several dozen districts. Every district provides the opportunity to speak and is waiting for the ministry of the word. There are currently several hundred people in the training, and they can all go to different districts to minister life according to what they have learned. There is no need to give lengthy messages. To speak for five to ten minutes is sufficient. If we do this, the meetings in these districts will be immediately enriched.
In the Lord’s work we must be right toward God, toward others, and toward ourselves. If I meet with the brothers and sisters for seven years and they remain the same, I am not right toward myself. Hence, we must all rise up to enter into the truth. If we would pay attention to the aspect of truth as well as to the aspect of life, we will be very useful. From now on, regardless of where we are and who we are, whether working saints or housewives, whether students or business people, whether full-time serving ones, elders, or co-workers, we must all pursue the truth.
Pursuing the Life-studies
First, we need to pursue the Life-studies. There are over twelve hundred Life-study messages. No matter how busy the elders may be, they need to spend at least ten minutes each day to read the Life-studies. In this way they can finish a message in three days. In one year they will have read at least one hundred and twenty messages, which is one-tenth of the twelve hundred messages. If they read in this way for ten consecutive years, they will be able to finish all the Life-studies. If we enter into the Life-studies in such a way, the elders will definitely be different. Every one of them will be able to speak for the Lord and minister life.
Having a Daily Revival before the Lord
Second, we all need to have a daily revival before the Lord. According to the principle of God’s creation, when the day dawns, it does not stay bright forever; it remains bright for twelve hours at most. There are twelve hours in the night to provide us time for respite, consideration, and reflection so that we can consider whether the day was a success or a failure and hope that tomorrow morning will be a new day, a new beginning. The Bible says that God’s lovingkindness and compassions are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-24). Every morning Jehovah God is our new portion that rises with the sun. His compassions are always new. We should all have a new beginning before God every morning, a beginning that is different from the past. We should forget yesterday and have a new beginning today. Today is a new revival, and every morning we need to have a revived living.
We should not excuse ourselves by saying that we are weak. We may be weak, but the Lord is not weak. First John 4:4 says, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” In addition, Paul says, “I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me” (Phil. 4:13). In Philippians 1:19 he also speaks of “the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” The promises are available, the Spirit of Jesus Christ is within us, and the One who empowers us is with us; these are all for us to apply.
Every morning when we come to the Lord’s word, we need to tell the Lord, “Amen, Lord. This is Your word. I read Your word not only in the morning but also in the evening. Lord, I do not have to wait until the morning to be revived; I want to be revived in the evening.” We should have this kind of attitude and have such a transaction with the Lord; we should not remain in our old way. May the Lord have mercy on us.
GROWING IN LIFE UNTO MATURITY
Having the Experiences of Life Themselves
The first thing the elders need to pursue is that they may advance and abound in the knowledge of the truth. The second thing they need to pursue is the growth in life unto maturity; they must first have the experiences of life themselves.
Ministering to Others
The elders not only need to pursue the growth in life; they also need to be able to minister to others.
For the Building Up of the Church
and the Producing of
Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones as Materials
Our former condition was that not much gold, silver, and precious stones were produced. If all the churches in every locality want to produce gold, silver, and precious stones, the elders must be the first in whom gold, silver, and precious stones are produced. These materials will be produced from the knowledge of the truth and the growth in life; these are the basic factors. Only these two factors—the knowledge of the truth and the growth in life—are able to produce gold, silver, and precious stones (3:10, 12). Both are indispensable. In order to produce gold, silver, and precious stones, both truth and life are needed.
NEEDING TO BE REVIVED EVERY MORNING
AND TO LIVE AN OVERCOMING LIFE EVERY DAY
Throughout history the revivals brought in by the Pentecostal movement were all short-lived because of the shortage of life. Fifty years ago we too promoted this kind of revival, but because of the experience we have gained in the past fifty years, in addition to seeing the lack of influence left from those revivals, we now have a greater realization of the importance of life. We truly need a revival, but this revival must be lasting. If a person lives on the earth for only twenty years, his existence is not that significant, but if a person lives up to eighty years, his existence is more significant. In other words, only something that lasts is significant. What we ask of God is a lasting revival, that is, one that follows God’s law of creation, in which there is a new beginning every morning like that of the dawning of the day. Only this kind of revival is meaningful. We need to be revived every morning.
Moreover, we need to confess our sins every day, not only once but many times. This may be compared to washing our hands. We wash our hands every day, not once but many times. A brother who is a medical doctor said that he washes his hands over twenty times a day because he contacts at least ten patients a day. He washes his hands before and after he contacts each patient. If a doctor does not want to get sick, he needs to wash his hands frequently.
No matter how perfect a person may think himself to be, if he does not confess his sins, his living is a failure. If he lives an overcoming life, there will be the confession of sins every day. We have failures, shortcomings, and are negligent throughout the day; we are not that upright and righteous. There are many sins that we need to confess. Experience tells us that after our hands have been washed, they become contaminated within five minutes. This contamination is not from without but secreted from within. This contamination requires our cleansing. For example, when someone picks up a clean cup, he will find that after a while the handle of the cup becomes oily; this is due to the oil secreted from his hand. We need to realize that we are filthy. When we live for an hour, there is an hour of filth. Our source is unclean. As long as we live, we are unclean. Hence, we need to confess and constantly ask for the Lord’s cleansing. The degree to which we confess our sins is the degree to which we are forgiven, cleansed, and able to receive the Holy Spirit.
After Morning Revival,
Calling on the Lord and Enjoying the Lord
as the New Portion in His Word
Psalm 119:147-148 speaks of a seeker of the Lord rising up, seeking Him, and having fellowship with the Lord in His word before the night watches. Lamentations 3 also says that God’s grace, compassions, lovingkindness, and presence are new every morning and that we should enjoy Him as our portion (vv. 22-24).
Confessing to the Lord and
Receiving the Infilling of the Spirit
In our living, we need to confess our sins to the Lord and receive the infilling of the Spirit (1 John 1:9; Acts 13:52).
Walking according to the Spirit
to Live Christ
Moreover, in our daily life we need to walk according to the spirit in order to magnify Christ and live Christ (Rom. 8:4; Phil. 1:20-21a).
Praying Unceasingly—
Calling on the Lord Unceasingly
Christians often ask, “How can we pray unceasingly?” To pray unceasingly is to call on the Lord without ceasing. We can pray unceasingly by calling on the Lord unceasingly, regardless of time, place, or what person or matter we are facing (1 Thes. 5:17).
Preaching Christ
in Season and out of Season
We should not be so spiritual as to think that when we preach Christ, we need to consider whether or not it is the opportune time; this is not right. Paul says, “Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2). This means that regardless of what time it is, we can speak of the Lord and preach Him to others.
Being Diligent to Meet Together
Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not abandoning our own assembling together…but exhorting one another; and so much the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Relying on the Bountiful Supply of the Spirit
and the Empowering of the Lord
If we desire to fulfill the aforementioned points, we cannot do so by ourselves. We can do so only by the bountiful supply of the Spirit and the empowering of the Lord (Phil. 1:19; 4:13).
The purpose of this fellowship is to pour out my concern; I hope that all of us will realize that this is a critical moment. May the Lord be merciful to us and cause us to have a reconsideration and a new beginning. We truly do not desire to be the same as before but seek to advance according to the new way. (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,” msg. 2)
