Witness Lee also said for you to serve God well, executing His vision for you, your person (self) must have been dealt with by the Cross. John the Baptist in Luke 3:16-17 said, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Matthew 16:24-25 says we must all carry our cross. If you are not carrying the cross, then you are not a Christian, not to talk of being a minister. We have to be identified with the Cross through the pain, trials and situations beyond your control. Trials come and go, being set in cycles, it is not permanent but the cross is permanent-it identifies you with Christ as you choose to flaunt your faith in Him and readiness to lose all instead of succumbing to the lures of this world that promises you promotion or wealth, if you will only partake of sin.
Trials have to do with purification of character. In Luke 3:16-17, the picture here is an ensample of the wheat being poured on the floor and beaten with flails, after which, it is carried into a pan and thrown up and down for the wind to blow away the chaff.
Figuratively, that is you being thrown up and down the wildernesses of life…when you are thrown up, your heart is in your mouth as you struggle to land safely but His everlasting arms are there to catch you, so you don’t get wounded, like the mother eagle does when training her child to fly.
In another instance, they lay the wheat on the floor and allow oxen to walk over it many times; that explains the weight that Christians feel they are carrying sometimes-during trials. After that, it is thrown up and down to allow the chaff to be blown off by the wind. Those are the trials (cross) we don’t have an answer to, especially when we have to deny self or promotion when the glory of God is at stake.
The trials removes the chaff (making us empty of self) and ready for God’s use while the other trial which comes as a result of breaking the hedge (Eccl. 10:8) teaches us lessons like ‘why won’t you be robbed, why were you outside late at night? These trials are caused by us.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and will give you rest Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:28-29
It is an ox that is put on a yoke, figuratively, Jesus is saying am the on, I am the one walking on you to make sure that the character you don’t have, is gotten and the one you have that is not good is thrown away. Jesus is the one ensuring that what He has not planted in you is removed. The question is ‘are you willing to allow the character of God to be formed in you?
Character build up is of a necessity and if you don’t do it, Jesus won’t see you
True Christianity.
The above three indices mentioned will produce practical Christianity, We minister character to people, not just words What we call character is actively the life of Jesus being displayed. That is the main reason why He calls people 19 groom them to show us to the wee she is, so are (1John 4:170) Paul said same 20pr. 9:2 (NLT) says, “The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter w hearts; everyone can read it and recognise our good work among you?
You are the one who will enjoy the benefits of character build up God will w through you and it will be obvious. Those who have need the d character will not be able to stay on the road to the City of God for instance, fine early in the morning for quiet site is an aspect of the spiritual, which becomes character when you maintain This is character and has nothing to with spirituality or how did you are in the lord is a feature your developed Are we going to stay in this the Christian City al forward to the Cry of God. Those who go to the City of God will pass through the wilderness and as you persevere you get to a stage in your life where you are adopted by God. That is sonship in the true sense of the word. In the Jewish tradition, there are different ceremonies for different stages of the life; till the person comes of age for adoption. Some may have to repeat that stage until the desired character is seen in them. In the Bible days, until you get to that stage, you are just one of many persons in the house (a child). That is the child that is under tutelage-described as one who cannot inherit in Galatians.
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Gal. 4:1-2
We all have to pass through that road, build-up to become “better persons”-one who deserves to be in the City of God. How else can one explain this scripture in 2Pet. 1:10 (NIV)? “So, dear brothers and sisters work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away and God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
The working hard here is to add all the virtues mentioned in vs 5-7, namely, to your faith add virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.
Don’t stay in the Christian City, face the city of God, but know this: it is only the characteristics of God that will take you into the city of God.