The Living to Him Podcast

In the book of Numbers, God asked Moses to number His people according to their age. In particular, God charged a specific group of Levites “to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting (4:47).” Although these age groups are Old Testament types and not to be applied literally in the New Testament, we can apply their spiritual principles to our experiences in the church life today. This week we continue the series titled, “Markers along Our Spiritual Race,” with speaking from brother Minoru Chen. This meeting was held during the 2015 Thanksgiving Day Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The video and original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/12/working-saints-fellowship-at-the-2015-international-thanksgiving-day-conference/

“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). This week we begin a new series titled, “Markers along Our Spiritual Race,” with speaking from brother Minoru Chen on having a proper evaluation of our responsibility according to our station in life and in light of the Lord’s appearing. This meeting was held during the 2015 Thanksgiving Day Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The video and original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/12/working-saints-fellowship-at-the-2015-international-thanksgiving-day-conference/

“But if I delay, I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15). “Do not upbraid an elderly man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, elderly women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity” (1 Tim. 5:1-2). This week we conclude the series titled, “A Man of God Caring for the Church of God,” with speaking from brother Ron Kangas regarding the function of the younger saints bearing responsibility in the church. This meeting was held in August 2015 with working saints in Orange County, California. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/09/working-saints-fellowship-august-12th-2015/

“Give heed…to God’s economy, which is in faith” (1 Tim. 1:4). “[Hold] the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” (1 Tim. 3:9). “And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). This week we continue the series titled, “A Man of God Caring for the Church of God,” with speaking from brother Ron Kangas on fourteen aspects of a God-man caring for the church of God as revealed in First and Second Timothy. This meeting was held in August 2015 with working saints in Orange County, California. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/09/working-saints-fellowship-august-12th-2015/

Timothy was a young coworker of Paul, who described him as a “man of God” (1 Tim. 6:11) and someone who is “like-souled” with him (Phil. 2:20). Although Timothy was merely a young adult at the time, Paul perfected him and entrusted him with the care of the church and charged him to “fully accomplish [his] ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). This week we begin a new series titled, “A Man of God Caring for the Church of God,” with speaking from brother Ron Kangas on how Paul and his young coworker Timothy became a reproduction of Christ as the man of God to care for the church of God. This meeting was held in August 2015 with working saints in Orange County, California. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/09/working-saints-fellowship-august-12th-2015/

“The working saints are the core group in the church life today. On the one hand, Christ desires to gain you. On the other hand, the world wants to occupy you. Are you going to go after the world? Or are you going to go after Christ? How you choose depends on your valuation of the object chosen” (Witness Lee, Messages Given to the Working Saints, p. 352, Living Stream Ministry). This week we conclude the series titled, “The Backbone of the Church Life,” with speaking from brother Andrew Yu regarding several practical points for our going on in the church life. This meeting was held during the 2015 International Memorial Day Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/06/young-working-saints-fellowship-at-the-2015-international-memorial-day-conference/

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For he who sows unto his own flesh will reap corruption of the flesh, but he who sows unto the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). This week we continue the series titled, “The Backbone of the Church Life,” with speaking from brothers Jim Miller and Tom Goetz on the critical role of the working saints in the church life. This meeting was held during the 2015 International Memorial Day Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/06/young-working-saints-fellowship-at-the-2015-international-memorial-day-conference/

“If the working brothers and sisters are to be adequately and properly participating in the church life, they need to receive the life supply continuously. What you need is not so much to do something, to learn something, or to bear some burdens. What you need is mainly to receive the life supply” (Witness Lee, Messages Given to the Working Saints, p. 330, Living Stream Ministry). This week we continue the series titled, “The Backbone of the Church Life,” with brothers and sisters from different localities testifying of their experiences in the church life. This meeting was held during the 2015 International Memorial Day Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/06/young-working-saints-fellowship-at-the-2015-international-memorial-day-conference/

“In order to meet the Lord’s present need, we must first recall our past experiences and vision. Second, we have to respond to the Lord’s attraction and calling. Third, we have to renew our past commitment and consecration” (Witness Lee, Messages Given to the Working Saints, p. 366, Living Stream Ministry). This week we begin a new series titled, “The Backbone of the Church Life,” with brothers and sisters from different localities testifying of their experiences in the church life. This meeting was held during the 2015 International Memorial Day Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2015/06/young-working-saints-fellowship-at-the-2015-international-memorial-day-conference/

Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13. As believers who love the Lord and who are standing for His testimony, we must not be ignorant of the schemes of God’s enemy in his attacks on the church. In order to help educate and inoculate us against such attacks, the co-workers in North America have released a series of articles on ShepherdingWords.com, which expose the stratagems of the devil.   This week, we have a narration of the article entitled “Assailing the Ground of Oneness (4): Are “House Churches” Biblical?” originally published on December 16, 2019. As “house churches” gain popularity among believers, partly as an alternative to large denominations, we must carefully examine their scriptural basis in the New Testament. Proponents of “house churches” claim that there are New Testament examples of such churches within the cities of Rome, Laodicea and Colossae. This article, however, points out clearly the error of such claims by closely examining each of the scriptural passages, all of which describe how believers met together as local churches (one church in one city) and not as “house churches.” No matter the justification, teaching concerning many house churches in a city divides the Body of Christ and must be repudiated by us for the sake of the oneness among the believers. May the Lord supply us through this speaking and equip us to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. The original article can be found at: https://shepherdingwords.com/assailing-the-ground-of-oneness-4-are-house-churches-biblical/. The copyright for this material belongs to shepherdingwords.com and is used with permission.