The Ministry, Vol. 06, No. 07

Book excerpt: In this issue of The Ministry, we include six messages from the Spring 2002 International Elders and Responsible Ones' training held in Anaheim, California. The general subject of the training was knowing the Body, and these six messages were on the specific topic of the principles of the Body. The remaining messages on practical fellowship concerning the function of the elders and building up the Body will be included in the next issue of The Ministry. Message One, concerning the vision of the Body, tells us that we need revelation to know the reality of the Body of Christ and to usher us into the realm of the Body. This heavenly vision includes three things: "Me," "Jesus," and "chosen vessel" (Acts 9:4-5, 15). Message Two, concerning the constitution of the Body of Christ, unveils that the Body of Christ is constituted with the Triune God and His redeemed people, with His redeemed people as the outward framework and the Triune God as the inward element. Message Three reveals three levels of the oneness of the believers: 1) in the Father's name and by the Father's divine life, 2) in the reality of the sanctifying word, and 3) in the divine glory for the expression of the processed, mingled, and incorporated Triune God (John 17:6-24). Message Four testifies that the genuine oneness of the Body of Christ is the oneness of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3). Message Five shows how the church ground is constituted of three crucial elements: 1) the unique oneness of the universal Body of Christ, 2) the unique ground of the locality in which a local church is established and exists, and 3) the reality of the Spirit of oneness. Message Six concludes this section on the principles of the Body by pointing out the blessing of life on the ground of oneness (Psa. 133). We also include a report concerning a recent conference in Armenia.