Eph. 6:17-18 And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, by means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.
Helping to Fellowship
By that time the elders have to help such brothers learn to fellowship with the Lord. This is what we have said many times—to eat, drink, and enjoy God, to touch Christ every day, to have fellowship with Him, to absorb Christ, and to enjoy Him.
Up to this point, a certain number of brothers and sisters will be brought to a point where their functions will be manifested and their gifts will be realized. Furthermore, they will be able to minister their portion of Christ. They will be able to live in the fellowship and to eat, drink, and enjoy the Lord. How glorious is such a work in the church!
Perfecting in the Truth
Although these brothers and sisters are useful by this time, you will find out that they are not entirely clear in the understanding of the truth. You still have to perfect them in many ways concerning the truth. I can never forget the help I received from one brother ahead of me. Shortly after I had come in contact with him, within less than half a year, he sent me a Bible from far away. This was the New Translation by J. N. Darby. I can never forget that one day this brother came with two sets of books. When I looked at the two sets, I found that one was a book on the New Testament by Dean Alford. This was the authoritative word study of the New Testament. The other book was the Synopsis of the Books of the Bible by J. N. Darby. At that time I felt that these two sets were too precious. I can tell you that for over three days I did not eat well, not because I was too sorrowful but because I was too happy. Every word written in these two sets was like gold to me. They rendered me immeasurable help during those years. I am very clear concerning the perfection that this brother rendered me. (The Elders’ Management of the Church, msg. 11)
Helping Others to Solve Their Problems
In serving the Lord, everyone will sooner or later have some problems. These problems come from many areas. For example, some sisters have a genuine desire to serve. They have been helped through the previous eight aspects of coordination. Yet their husbands are very much opposed to their serving. This is a problem. As far as their husbands’ opposition is concerned, they can only stay at home and cannot come to the meeting or to the services. How are you going to help such a one with her problem? Dear brothers and sisters, it is not enough just to say spiritual words. Even in the preaching of the gospel, many times you must kneel down to the ground. Your cry must come before God always, and you must preach the gospel to others with sweat on your brow. Only then will others be saved. You cannot just say, “Look to God! Pray that God would work!” You can try and see if others will be saved this way. Brothers, this is not the way. There are duties that we have to fulfill.
Helping Others to Receive Burdens
The elders should not only help the brothers and sisters to solve their problems but should also help them in a definite way to receive some burdens from the Lord. They have been perfected to a certain extent and should receive a certain burden. Here you have to render them some help. Of course, this cannot be done in three or five words; there is the need for a long period of fellowshipping with the Lord. On the one hand, you need to contact them many times, fellowship with them much, touch their hearts, and know their feelings before the Lord. On the other hand, you have to pray for them always, to touch the Lord’s feeling and the Lord’s will regarding them. Gradually and naturally, you will be able to help them to receive a burden.
Taking Others to Learn
and Helping Others to Become Proper Vessels
After an elder has helped a brother or sister to receive a burden, immediately, he should take them along to learn to do the work. For example, when you help someone to pick up the responsibility of a district meeting, your duty is not yet finished. You must still help him to learn how to bear the responsibility of this district. You must show him in a practical way how to do the job. After he understands what you are doing, you have to ask him to do the same, while you are by his side to correct him. You have to take him along in the learning. This is what the elders have to do. Not only do the elders have to exercise patience to help the brothers and sisters learn, they have to help them to become proper vessels. Do not worry that their function may become greater than yours. You have to hope that among your disciples some will become the laureates. You have to do your best to perfect and help them to become proper vessels.
Leading Others to Accept the Cross and to Learn Brokenness
Without the cross, points one to twelve will all be wasted, and the person will be damaged. He will be damaged by greatness. You have spent so much energy and effort to perfect such a one. In the end his ambition and aspirations will cause your labor to disappear into thin air. If there is no cross in the coordination, the church will be without any protection. A person who has accepted the cross is not necessarily one who is broken. Our natural strength must go through God’s breaking. You have to allow God to touch you deeper, to touch the hollow of your thigh, so that you would fall down. You have to help the brothers to this stage. Otherwise, the coordination will not be long lasting.
Leading Others to Accept Coordination
It is at this point that we can have genuine coordination. This is not the coordination we had when we first entered into the service. It is the coordination that comes after we have learned many lessons. It is only at this point that such a person truly understands what it means to accept coordination before God. To accept coordination is nothing other than to accept the restriction of those who are fellow members and who are serving together with you. Coordination is a restriction; it is a total restriction by others. At this time we will have the genuine coordination, and at this time such a coordination will be in oneness, and it will be knitted together firmly and fitted together properly.
Leading Others to Know the Body
By this time these ones will come into a realm; they will touch something and will realize the glorious fact that the church is the Body of Christ. They will truly touch the reality of the Body. By that time you will have done a glorious work before the Lord. Only this can be considered the true building up of the church. Only this can be considered the true managing of the church. Only then is there a true coordination worked out.
This is the management of the church. If the elders will go on in this way, I believe many will discover a rich wellspring. (The Elders’ Management of the Church, msg. 12)
