Sandy B (3 Sep 2012)

Chinese brother in prison 21 years speaks of Preparation and Warning to the Church"
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.pdf
Morning Star Testimony Church

Doug Riggs, Pastor



http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2012/sandyb93.htm