Page 128 - The Christian Life and the Church Life_Government of God

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Message 8
The Recovery of the Church as the Israel of God

In 1988 and 1999, there was a very serious turmoil in the nature of
rebellion much worse than the one in 1978. When Brother Lee had the
Lord’s leading to address the matter, he emphasized again and again the
truth concerning the Body of Christ. Brother Lee had a meeting with a group
of leading brothers in a certain country, and he pointed out a matter which
has had a profound effect on me, personally, for more than thirty years. One
characteristic of Brother Lee’s speaking was that he was always accurate,
faithful to the Scriptures, and never exaggerating; and this was his main point
– all the problems among us in the Lord’s recovery are caused by not knowing
the Body, not caring for the Body, not honoring the Body, and not doing what
is best for the Body. That turmoil in 1988 and 1999 was led by some of the
more experienced co-workers. Some may use the term co-workers, yet I do
not know with whom they are working with – I am more inclined to say you
are just workers full-time. But anyway, these were very influential brothers
and it was by their talking that they damaged lives, churches, even entire
countries. And the underlying cause for this was not honoring the Body, not
caring for the Body, and not knowing the Body – all because they are not
conscious of the Body. Hence, any problem that is taking place anywhere in
this country have this as the source.
In the chapter in the book The Experience of Life on “Knowing the
Body”. this is the first basic matter on the fourth stage in the experience of
life. Towards the end of the chapter, Brother Lee points out three things that
indicate, even prove, whether or not someone truly knows the Body.
The first proof is that it is impossible for someone who knows the
Body to be individualistic. In other words, it is impossible for him to take
serious action without thorough fellowship. Some workers are governed by