To John and Doves,
Preparation and Warning to the Church
Notes from meeting with Brother YuWe were privileged to meet with an elderly
brother in Christ named Joshua Yu. Joshua is from China and as a younger
man he spent 21 years in a labor reform camp, better known to us as a
communist prison camp. This was one of the main highlights of our trip to
California and we praise God for the privilege, honor and opportunity that
He provided for us. We don't deserve to have spent two hours in his
presence. Yet every minute of it we were at ease and felt no strain or
discomfort, nor did we see any attitude of superiority in him. He is humble
and Christ is his life.
At one point during those two hours (which fled by too quickly!) Doug
asked him what he would say to the Church in America if he knew that
something like the Communist revolution was coming upon US. I quickly
got a piece of paper so that I could take notes. I am so glad that I did! I
wanted to pass what he said along to you.
1. The first thing he would say to the Church in America is: REPENT. He
said our hearts are not after the heart of God. We are lovers of ourselves, of
money, of the world. We must ask the Lord to enlighten us, to see that we
are poor, destitute, miserable, naked (Rev. 3:14-22). He said we should ask
the Lord to show us our REAL state. He used Peter as an example of not
knowing who he truly was, and afterwards of the deep repentance, to the
point of hating himself. He made it clear that it is the LORD that gives the
spirit of repentance (Acts 11:18). He said what we need is not ordinary
repentance, but what they call in China a "renting of your bowels." Deep,
deep repentance (Joel 2:12-13). Again, he said "Ask God to show us our
real selves." He also said that as descendants of Adam we are not able to
love God on our own. He must humble us. We must sanctify our lives,
thoughts and everything we do unto God.
2. He mentioned that his dear father, who was a co-worker of Watchman
Nee's and was martyred for Christ, lived the meaning of "abide in
Christ." I Jn. 2:28 says "And now little children, abide [live, remain
permanently] in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and
enjoy perfect confidence [boldness, assurance] and not be ashamed and
shrink from Him at His coming." He said this was his father's theme for
years and years, and should be ours as well. Constant, unceasing fellowship
with God, dependence upon God. The Lord wants to show Christians the
inner way of life, the path of life, the cross. We must be willing to be
crucified in our experience (co-crucified with Christ; Gal. 2:20).
At this point he talked about how we in America are easily 'hurt.' We have
'thin skin.' When he tried sharing truth out of love and kindness with
people upon arriving in America in the 1980's, he saw that they would get
hurt, easily offended. He said when we share with others it ought to be in
love, speaking softly, in meekness. Don't stand above others, higher, like a
teacher. "The spirit of teaching is the spirit of pride" said Watchman
Nee. Something Joshua (Wu) never forgot. We need to wash others' feet.
We were all talking about John being on the isle of Patmos for "the Word of
God and the Testimony of Jesus." Doug asked Joshua if he would define
what the 'testimony of Jesus' is. Joshua paused, looked at Doug, and said
"you first." This was a demonstration of humility and deference. It was
precious! After Doug shared, then Joshua said: REALITY, spiritual
reality. Joshua said this word is often on his heart. At a couple of points he
even wept. His moments of silence were as profound to us as when he
spoke out loud. He said we must pray for the Church to enter into spiritual
reality. Only if our heart is true to God, is perfect toward God will we
enter. When trial comes (as severe as the Communist takeover), it reveals
our hearts AREN'T perfect. He then quoted 2 Chronicles 16:9 which says:
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
show Himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is blameless (whole,
complete) toward Him." He said to ask the Lord to examine us and show us
where our hearts are not perfect (blameless), to commit ourselves to Him as
a lump of clay to the Potter. To pray: "Lord, do what You know is best to
conform us to the image of Christ." I can't begin to tell you the authority
and the weight of his words. ALL that he said to us that day was
confirmation of what the Lord has been saying to us in the depths of our
being for many years. It was so encouraging.
3. He told us we must ask the Lord to deliver us from anything displeasing
to Him. ANYTHING.
As we concluded our time together, he mentioned how strategic it is to
think on God's love, and to love one another. In I Peter 1:22 & 4:7-8 the
Holy Spirit stressed loving one another "above ALL
things." FERVENTLY!
Then in II Tim. 3 the Holy Spirit warns us about
men being lovers of self, lovers of this and that, and not lovers of
God. Brother Joshua said love must characterize us. Love for God and for
one another.
Finally, in light of John being the Apostle of love, he said that Watchman
Nee had commented that John's gospel is at the end of the Gospels, his
letters (I, II, and III John) are at the end of all the letters, and the book of
Revelation, which he also authored, is at the end of the Old and New
Testaments. John's message is FOR THE END!!! My spirit bore witness
to that.
We thank and praise God for this precious brother, and we would
encourage each of you to go to the website and order the two books that he
has published in English. There is a third coming out soon. One of the
books, called The Cross and Suffering is his own personal story of
imprisonment.
http://www.cctmweb.net/eng.htm
He walked us to the parking lot and kept following us out onto the walk. He
waved like a child and we knew that our spirits had been joined as one in
the Lord that day. We will never forget the blessing of being with that
precious brother! I pray that these notes will build you up in Christ and
inspire you to press on for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus (Phil. 3:7-17)
In His great love,
Lori Riggs
Link: http://www.dougriggs.org/Dear_Friends.pdfMorning Star Testimony Church
Doug Riggs, Pastor