Joy (contributed by way of David)

joy:
# It's at the heart of abundant living (Ps. 16:11).
# It glorifies God (Psalm 66).
# It's a powerful testimony (Ps. 126:1-2).
# It's a characteristic of the kingdom of God (Ro. 14:17).
# It's a source of strength and energy, even in the toughest times (Neh.
8:10).
# It's one of God's gifts to us (Gal. 5:22).
# It's commanded (Phil. 4:4).

the Cross and Growth- Sun Jul-17-2005

the Cross and Growth- Sun Jul-17-2005

every revelation comes with the Cross

4 verses in Cornithians
2 Cor 10:7
do we really see? : the inward revelation and dealing of the Cross
the worldly wisdom, outwardly - in the mind/soul
Spiritual reality

8 problems of looking outwardly:
1. 1 cor 1:1-12
human preference caused splits in the body
. 1 Cor 3: 21
. 1 Cor 3: 10-15 only God judges the works

2. 1 Cor 5
the world made people tolerate to sin
verse 6; the Cross must be applied to our tolerance

3. 1 Cor 6
God's government in His family

4. 1 Cor 7
the real issue about marriage
7:35

5: 1 Cor 8
people living by conscience, by knowledge - in the body people should live by love

6. 1 Cor 10-11 assemble life
1a. head covering
1b. Lord's table

7. Spritual gifts
- using the gifts to compete with each other
every gifts is a gift of love to built His body

8. Doctrines seems outwardly 1 Cor 15
the literal word of God + logic = carnality
the Word of God+ Revelations + the Cross

- every assembly has to go through these problems
the Cross to deal with the outwardly worldly view
the strong hold of self-centerness - til we learn to stop trusting the outwardly things

the outwardly reality and the inward reality
finished work of the Cross - manifestation of the love of the Cross

the disciplines are the love of God

outward doctrines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The dealing of the carnality at the same time of Cross dealing with Paul
dealing with love, doesn't losse his patience.
revealtion and the stick - when I am weak, then I am strong
lesson: when we think we are strong, actually we are weak

when Paul was first served, why he was not sent by God?
Paul is guilty of each one of the eight faults
- by the dealing of the Cross, God makes the inward reality for Paul
the same wisdom through the work of the Cross

7-10-05 CBM - Sun Jul-10-2005

7-10-05 CBM - Sun Jul-10-2005

the working of the Cross --> empty vessell- >abiding in Christ ---> grow in the Word of the Lord

7/10/05 CBM morning Christian Chen

- breath well,eat well, sleep well: life of faith
- exercise well: life of love, fullness of life


20yrs Romans, 1/2 Cor; 33yrs
continuing theme - growing in Christ
1 Cor 3:1-2
law of the growth of life

the reasons of hindering the growth of the new life ? rinckles

Ephesians 33 years - Rev 2:1
- the things that is in the beginning

- the tradition of Chinese women's small feet
a piece of clothes to wrap the life within - the flesh: the only way: the oppression of the Cross: the finished work of the Cross

the growth : quality vs. quantity

----------------------------------------
The reasons of not eating well

two reasons:
1. book of Matthew: God's work
60% direct word of Christ
some special places in Matthew only
Matthew 18:21- Christ explains the reason of forgiveness

the problem is flesh, the continuing working of the Christ: remember the Word forget the world

space for the word of the Lord
emptying the vessels
Luke 9:23: take up the Cross daily and follow the Lord
Colossians 3:16 - sit at the feet of the Lord and receive the working of the Cross

2. the buziness of our life: I am the vine you are the branches, abide in me, and I will abide in you

The Willed Love and the Given Love

Fit for the eyes and taste
something rised to say love

All else I would forsake
claims the soul to my dove

Fervantly burning
Painfully longing
never quenchable desire, admirable soul.


Not long, not very long
some smokes only may be found
Excited memory becoming the past
NOW, I am, as soberly cold as I was born

++

Pulling, pulling,
pulling apart
A broken soul, how can it say love

The most dreadful, deadly,
it is your love
stinky with human's colors and wiz

Far from me, yee hypocrite,
Mind your own business of love!

+++

Doom, is the end
unless a Seed be sowed
His name was Given
where love reveals its root

but, how, I say, how
Digging up deep, climbing up high
exhausted and hopeless for this love belongs, mine
the darkness is too heavy, Can you wipe off its woe?

Fainted in efforts, sleeping at last
then a clear voice whispering
I am thy hiding place

-oh, the wonderful love that is given
Can I see thy face
where it is no longer I will
but thy love that is given through His name

so I boast in my weakness
that Thy grace may be seen.