The Anointed Body of Christ in China — Denny Kenaston

The Anointed Body of Christ in China — Denny Kenaston

Hello, this is Brother Denny. Welcome to Charity Ministries. Our desire is that your life would be blessed and changed by this message. This message is not copyrighted and is not to be bought or sold.

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These messages are offered to all without charge by the freewill offerings of God's people. A special thank you to all who support this ministry. Well, I'm glad for that this morning. The wonder-working power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It hasn't changed from all eternity past into all eternity future. The power of the blood of Christ is the same. Also very grateful to be reminded again that they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

I'm glad for that reminder. I believe those were the very words that Elisha also spoke to his servant when he was, you know, looking at all the soldiers outside of the city. I believe those were his very words.

Oh, don't worry, he said. They that be with us are more than they that be with them. Those are the words of a man who is filled with God confidence because he's been in the presence of the living God.

Well, let's bow our heads for prayer for a moment here. Oh, God, our Father, we bow down to you again this morning in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. We come by the blood, Father. We know there's no other way that we can come.

We don't come bringing our own righteousness. We do not come bringing any of our past accomplishments of before thee. Oh, Father, we know that as we stand in your presence, we only stand by the blood.

Oh, Father, based on that, we pray release your spirit upon us, Lord, this morning because of the blood, Lord, because the price has been paid. Father, we pray that you will bind the devil and every evil spirit, Father, that would seek to hinder our meeting this morning, that would lie in the ear of our heart and our mind.

Oh, Father, drive out every one of them, Lord, that would hinder any one of us in this meeting. We trust you for that, God. Now speak to our heart, Father. Give us your word to us today. In Jesus Christ's name we pray.

Amen. You can open your Bibles to Psalm 48. We'll be reading there in a few minutes after a little introduction. The title of my message this morning is this. The Anointed Body of Christ in China. The Anointed Body of Christ in China.

Christ as the Anointed One and the Church as His Body

Back in February at the Leadership Seminar, many of you probably remember that I preached a sermon on Sunday morning called The Church, God's Anointed Servant. This sermon was a vision that came as an overflow from preaching on the Holy Spirit all week long in Leadership Seminar.

We learned at that time that the name Christ literally means Anointed One. And that every place where you see the word Christ, you could just as easily put in there, Anointed One. Thou art the Anointed One, the Son of the Living God, the Anointed One.

We also learned in that sermon that we, the church, are the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ, the Anointed One. And I think we just began to get a glimpse of what God's heart would be for any church.

Because we are the church, the Body of Christ, the Anointed One. Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 27 said these words to us. Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular. And a little earlier in that same chapter he said, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body.

We are the Body of Christ. Well, the sermon was visionary and filled with many holy ideals. The purpose for the sermon was to challenge us and to lift up our sights a bit and to help us to come to grips with where God would want to take us as a church.

The Father wants us to be Christ on the earth, His Anointed Servant. Well, I've been reflecting on the testimony of the Chinese house churches for some time. And I guess it's that way for all of us, that which we are spending most of our time reflecting on.

It comes up into our own hearts and that's what I've been inspired to speak about this morning. Because we heard the report there on Sunday evening at Bible school. I sat in an interview after that with those two men who shared with a desire to prepare an article for the remnant.

And I've been preparing that article for the remnant. And also we as a family have been reading through that little biography that they were selling there at the meeting on Sunday evening. We've been reading through that in the evenings.

It has my children on the edge of their seat pretty often. I don't know if you've looked into it, but there are many times they look over at me in shock, wondering if I could explain what I just read.

Because there are many, many things in there that are beyond their reach. So I'm thankful for that, but all these things have caused my heart's meditation and reflection to be on this church that is in China.

It is there. It is there today. They met earlier today. They are probably sleeping right now. They are all there, just as much as we are here today, they are there today. The church that is in China. In the midst of my meditations, God quickened my thoughts back to the sermon that I preached.

My heart was thrilled and challenged as I realized, here is a church that is an example of what I preached. Here is a church which is Christ's anointed body upon the earth. And the first thought that came through my heart, you know, was not much, but as I reflected on it more and more, I realized, that is an anointed body of Christ in China.

Christ being manifested in China. Idealism made real. You know, idealism is great, but idealism made real brings us face to face with reality. Face to face with reality. What more can we ask for than idealisms made real before our very hearts and our minds.

Studying Zion Through Psalm 48

In Psalm 48, we find a beautiful prophetic explanation of the church. I was so blessed by how God prepared so many things ahead of this message. I remember one of the brothers praying downstairs in the prayer room.

These very words, he said, Oh God, would you show us the Christ this morning. He prayed that in the prayer room. I was just in awe. And then the song about Zion, as we sang that beautiful song about Zion.

Well, brothers and sisters, we are Zion. We are Zion. And Psalm 48 is a beautiful prophetic explanation of Zion. The church is called Zion in Psalm 48. In this song, we are encouraged to study Zion. For our benefit, and we'll read the scriptures in a moment, but we are encouraged to study Zion.

For our benefit and for the benefit of the children that are in this room. For the benefit of the next generation, God tells us, God commands us to study Zion. And what I believe God is saying to us in that.

Now, I know what He was saying to the children of Israel as they read it in their day. Go back and remember the way that I worked in days gone by. But for us, I believe that God is telling us, I want you to read biographies.

I want you to study church history. I want you to reflect upon my church in different parts of the world and what she is like. Why? Because this God is our God. It says at the end of chapter 48. We must study Zion because this God is our God.

So that we can pass it on to our children. Well, that's what I want to do this morning. Study Zion in China. For this God is our God forever. Let's read Psalm 48. Shall we stand to our feet while we do that?

Reading Psalm 48. Great is the Lord. And greatly to be praised. In the city of our God. In the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation. The joy of the whole earth. Is Mount Zion. On the sides of the north.

The city of the great King. God is known in her palaces. For a refuge. For lo! The kings were assembled. They passed by together. They saw it. And so they marveled. They were troubled. And hasted away.

Fear took hold upon them there. And pain as a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish. With an east wind. As we have heard. So have we seen. Oh God grant it. As we have heard Lord. So let us see.

In the city of the Lord of hosts. In the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Sheila. We have thought of thy loving kindness. Oh God. In the midst of thy temple. According to thy name. Oh God.

So is thy praise. On to the ends. Of the earth. Thy right hand. Is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice. Let the daughters of Judah be glad. Because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion. Go around about her.

Tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks. Consider her palaces. That ye may tell it. To the generation following. Why? For this God. Is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide. Even unto death.

You may be seated. Precious words. To my own heart. Flashes. Beautiful flashes. Of revelation of truth. Came to my heart. As we read down through those verses. I am sure they did to yours also. Isn't that beautiful?

How the word of God can do that. How many times we've read that chapter already. But here we go. Down through the chapter again. And light. Just little light beams shine here and there. All the way down through the chapter.

That's God's word. It's quick. It's powerful. It's sharper than any two edged sword. And I would like us also to turn to Philippians. So we get a New Testament. Acknowledgement of the same principle. In Philippians chapter 3.

In verse 17. If you'll turn there yet. Paul. Gives us these words. After he gives his testimony. Of his anointed life. His powerful. Spirit filled. Anointed. Suffering. Serving life. After he gives that testimony.

He says these words to us. And I believe they apply to what we're doing today. Chapter 3. In verse 17. Brethren. Be followers together of me. And mark. Them. Notice the word mark. It was in. Psalm 48 also.

And mark them which walk. So as. Ye have. Us. For. An example. Why Paul? For many walk. Of whom I have told you often. And now tell you even weeping. That they are the enemies. Of the cross of Christ.

Whose end is destruction. Whose God is their belly. And whose glory is in their shame. Who mine earthly things. But our conversation. Is in heaven. From whence also we look. For the Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is saying. Our life. Is in heaven. The life. We live. Is in heaven. Paul. Is saying. That's. Zion. Brothers and sisters. And so I believe. With these verses. In. Psalm 48. And these. In Philippians chapter 3.

We receive encouragement. From God's word. This morning. To. Study Zion. To. Get a hold of a church history book. And see the grace of God. Manifested in the saints. That live before us. And get a hold of a biography.

And read with marvel. And how God worked in somebody else's life. And read the history of revivals. And see how God. Poured out his spirit upon his people. In days gone by. And yea. Even if we have such testimonies.

If we are privileged enough. To have such modern day testimonies. Yea. Even study Zion. In this our day. To see how God is working. Somewhere else. Because this God. Is also our God. So let us walk about Zion this morning.

As. We were. Sitting and listening. Many of us to the report about the Chinese church. I. Sat. And wrote. Questions. Questions that I could ask. Questions. That would be important. Questions that I felt.

The answers to them. Would be a blessing. And a challenge to us. I sat while that man. And those two men were sharing. And I wrote questions. That I could ask in my interview. Which followed that meeting.

And what I'm sharing with you this morning. Is. The answers. And the insights that I gleaned. From the questions that I asked. Zion. In China. The anointed body of Christ. In China. Number one. The Chinese church.

Lively Congregations and Wholehearted Worship

They have lively. Responsive. Congregations. They have wholehearted. Singing. And lots of amens. And hallelujahs. They have a lively. Responsive. Congregation. The fire. Of God's love. Burns in their hearts.

As they gather together. And a lively church. Is the overflow of this. They're not into emotions. They're not into acting out things. They're not into whooping up their emotions. And calling that the spirit of God.

Evangelism as the Church's Commission

But the fire of God. Burns in their hearts. And a lively. Congregational meeting. Is the outflow of that. Number two. They believe. In evangelism. The great commission. Is their commission. Till Jesus Christ.

Returns. They believe. The only reason. That we are here. Is to evangelize. The world around us. They witness. At every chance. It's not something they do. Once a week. They do it. As they are going. All throughout.

Every day. They witness. At every opportunity. They. As a church. When they are persecuted. Have been promised. Peace. They have been told. Multitudes of times. If. You. Will just. Shut up. We will let you go home to your family.

If. You will quit. Preaching. To other people. We will not disturb your assemblies anymore. If you will just. Religion. To yourself. We will let you dwell in peace. We will not chase you like dogs. All over the countryside.

Anymore. However. Evangelism. Is the reason. Why we're here. And they cannot. And they will not stop. Their methods of evangelism. Are very simple. We heard a testimony of it there on Sunday evening. You go to a village.

That has never heard the gospel. And inquire. What is the. Hardest problem in the village. What is the most difficult thing in your village? Is it a demon possessed man down the road at the end of the village?

Is this somebody who is sick and dying of cancer over here? Find out what the most difficult situation is. In that village. Go. By God's grace. Solve the problem. When you have solved the problem. Then you preach the gospel to the people.

Those are their simple methods. Of evangelism. I was told by these men. As we spoke about evangelism. They said. We preach the gospel very differently. Than you do here in America. In America. Your gospel.

Is more of an intellectual. Proclamation. Of certain truths. Whereas in China. Fifty percent of what we do. Is proclamation. And the other fifty percent. Is a revelation. Of the power. Behind the gospel.

Fasting to Break the Yoke

And our Lord Jesus. Which we preach. That's their methods of evangelism. Number three. They practice fastings. Often. They have two kinds of fasting. In China. Note this. The first kind of fasting. Is simply this.

They're poor. They don't have any money. And many times they don't have any food. When they do not have any food. God is leading them to fast. They don't sit around and complain. Because they don't have any food to eat.

They don't sit and have a pity party. When there's no food. Or no bread to eat. They just simply say. God is letting us fast today. And they give their heart over to it. With all of their hearts. The other way that they fast.

Is. Purposeful. They. Fast and pray. To break the yoke. And these are the words that these two men shared with me. We fast to break the yoke. Fasting. Breaks the yoke. Dear brothers and sisters. That works the same over here.

As well as it does over there. Fasting. And prayer. Breaks. The yoke. If you have a yoke on you here today. I want to encourage you. There are ways. That those yokes. Get broken. So. They fast. When they run out of food.

And they fast. On purpose. At times. When a yoke. Needs. To be broken. Many fast and pray. For days. And days. At a time. He was sharing with me. One of the things they do. If they'll go out into a certain area.

To evangelize. And they sense nothing but resistance. When they go into that area. They stop evangelizing. Go back. Home. Gather together. Spend two or three days. In fasting and prayer. And then go back out into that area again.

And find the hearts of the people open. Because fasting and prayer. Breaks the yoke. These are their words. And that's done in a corporate way. That's not just one or two here and there. But if they. If I'll say a group of ten.

Go out to a certain area to evangelize. And all they get is resistance. They come back and report to the church. And the whole church says. Okay. Next move. We're going to fast and pray for three days.

Prayer, Intercession, and Spiritual Church Government

Before we go back into that place again. That's how they practice. Fasting. In the Chinese church. Number four. They are a praying people. They believe in prayer. Life is filled with prayer for these people.

They're leaders. Not every little leader. Of every little house church. But they're leaders. They're major leaders. Spend three to four hours each day. In prayer. Alone. In prayer. They have all night prayer meetings.

Many of them. Their all night prayer meetings. Are such. That when the morning time comes. You better be careful. As you walk out. Of that cement floor building. Because. They've been crying. All night long.

And you will slip. And fall. In their tears. Because they've been crying. All night long. They have. Also. Full time intercessors. Among them. Who spend. Their entire life. And most of the hours. Of every day.

Praying. And interceding. For God's. Further. Work. In China. And whatever other burdens. Come their way. Leaders get thrown into prison. Things like that. There are certain ones. Who lock themselves away.

And intercede. For hours and hours. Every day. They have those. In the church. God's. Anointed. Body. In China. They pray. Like Jesus. Prayed. In the midst. Of their sufferings. Many times. As I've been.

As we've been reading through. This little. Book. This story. About the Chinese church. Many times. I took note. Of this fact. In the greatest. Amount. Of sufferings. When you would think. They would absolutely.

Give up. For the pain. That they're going through. At those moments. Their hearts. Just. Break forth. In intercession. For the land of China. Imagine that. Sound familiar to you? That's exactly. What the Lord Jesus did.

That is exactly. What he did. And it seems. Like the sufferings. That they go through. Bring them in such. Close contact. With the heart. Of the Lord Jesus. That they find themselves. Interceding. Right there.

In the midst. Of the hardest. Things. That they're going through. Things that. As we read them. We sit in shock. I mean. The children. Sit in shock. When I read. The little stories to them. They think.

How could. Anybody. Endure. That. And here they are. Totally. Lost. To all. That's going on. Praying. For those people. In China. That they would hear the gospel. And be saved. They are. A praying. People.

Their church. Government. Is very interesting. Is highly. Spiritual. They spend. Much. Much. Time. In prayer. For any. Major decision. That is going to be made. In the church. They have. What they call. Operational. Elders. And old. Spiritual. Guiding. Elders.

The operational. Elders. Are. Elders. Who. Busy. About. The church. Work. They're. Preaching. To the people. They're. Out. Visiting. Their. Counseling. People. They're. Overseeing. The work. That is going on.

The Holy Spirit, Evangelism, and Continual Filling

They're. Busy. Going. Here. Going. There. Preaching. All. Those. Things. These. Are. Called. Operational. Elders. Where. They. Also. Have. Old. Spiritual. Guiding. Elders. Who. Spend. Most. Of. Their. Time. Alone. With. God. These. Are. Men. Whose. Legs. Have. Been. Broken. Again. And. Again. And. Again. And. They. Can't. Travel. Anymore. They. Can't. Get. Out. Here. And. There. And. They. Just. Spend. The. Day. Alone. In. Prayer. And. Here's. Where. We'd. Like. To. Go. Preach. The. Gospel. Here's. The. Decision. We. Need. To. Make. And. They. Lay. Them. Before. These. Old. Leading. Elders. And. The. Elders. Take. Them. Before. God. To. Hear. God's. Voice. On. The. Subject. And. The. Operational. Elders. Come. Back. Two. Or. Three. Days. Later. And. These. Old. Men. Say. Here's. What. The. Lord. To. Do. About. This. And. Here's. What. The. Lord. Says. To. Do. About. This. The. Operational. Elders. Say. Thank. You. My. Brothers. And. They. Go. On. And. Do. The. Work. Of. God. Church. Government. Is. Highly. Spiritual. Have. Mercy. On. This. Lord. They. Believe. In. The. Power. Of. The. Holy. Spirit. Every. Believer. Must. Be. Filled. With. Holy. Ghost. It's. Not. Just. For. The. Leaders. They. All. Must. Be. Filled. With. The. Holy. Ghost. And. They. Believe. In. Continual. Fillings. Of. The. Holy. Ghost. Not. Many. Not. One. One. Every. Day. Not. One. Every. Day. Many. Times. A. Day. Continual. Filling. Of. The. Holy. Spirit. And. The. Evidence. What. Is. The. Evidence. Of. Continual. Filling. Of. The. Holy. Spirit. It. Is. Not. Tongues. They. Don't. Believe. That. Though. They. Have. Some. Of. That. Among. Them. But. It's. No. Big. Thing. What. Is. The. Evidence. The. Fire. Of. Winning. Souls. Is. The. Evidence. That. You. Are. Being. Continually. Filled. With. The. Holy. Spirit. As. They. Look. On. At. Americans. They. Feel. That. Christians. Are. Selfish. About. The. Holy. Spirit. We. Take. Our. Blessing. And. We. Sit. On. It. We. Have. A. Sweet. Time. With. The. Lord. We. Sit. On. They. Have. A. Sweet. Time. With. God. They. Go. On. And. Tell. Somebody. Else. About. It. They. Feel. We. Are. Selfish. With. The. Holy. Spirit. And. That's. Why. We. Have. So. Little. Of. Him. Because. We. Want. Him. For. Us. For. Our. Pleasure. For. Our. Blessing. Whatever. When. They. Believe. The. Spirit. Was. Poured. Out. For. Reason. Ye. Shall. Receive. Power. After. That. The. Holy. Ghost. Has. Come. Upon. You. And. Ye. Shall. Be. Witnesses. Unto. Me. And. All. Those. Places. That. Bring. The. Baptism. Of. Blood. Into. The. Life. Of. The. Believers. And. They. Have. Thousands. And. Thousands. Of. Testimonies. To. Prove. That. What. They. Believe. Is. True. Number. Seven. They. Have. Millions. Of. Youth. That. Are. On. Fire. They. Have. Millions. And. Millions. Of. Young. People. Who. Are. On. Fire. For. God. Hear. That. Young. People. Praise. God. Do. Here. Millions. Them. That. Are. Sold. Out. At. An. Early. Age. Multitudes. Of. Young. People. Thirteen. And. Fourteen. Years. Old. Know. What. It's. Like. To. Run. Like. Scared. Rabbit. From. A. Meeting. From. Their. Persecutors. They. Know. That. From. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Years. Old. Many. Of. Them. That. At. That. Age. Have. Been. Beaten. Because. Their. Faith. And. They. Go. Everywhere. Witnessing. About. The. Grace. Of. God. That. Is. In. Christ. Jesus. Number. Eight. We've. Got. A lot. Of. These. So. We'll. Keep. Moving. They. In. And. Practice. Miracles. They. Believe. In. And. Practice. Miracles. This. Is. The. Testimony. Of. These. Two. Men. Eighty. Percent. Of. The. Church. In. China. Have. Personally. Experienced. A. Miracle. Working. God. In. Their. Life. And. Because. Of. That. Their. Faith. Is. Strong. They. Can. Believe. God. For. Anything. Miracles. Is. Part. Of. Their. Methods. Of. Evangelism. They. Believe. It. Is. The. Character. The. Very. Character. Of. God. To. Heal. And. They. Believe. That. God. Heals. They. Have. Miracles. Among. Men. People. Have. Been. Transported. From. Place. To. Another. Like. Philip. Didn't. Know. How. They. Got. Where. They. Got. But. Here. They. Were. One. Man. Started. Running. He. Knew. It's. Two. Hours. To. Some. Bitty. Head. Down. Here. On. The. Earth. With. A. Great. Big. Almighty. God. Sitting. Up. In. Heaven. If. God. Wants. To. Take. Philip. From. One. It's. So. That. Way. Among. Them. That. When. Some. Precious. Soul. Dies. They. Go. To. That. Place. Where. The. Person. Is. Dead. To. Seek. God. To. Find. Out. If. God. Wants. To. Raise. Him. From. The. Dead. Or. Let. Him. Go. On. The. Glory. It's. So. Much. Believed. In. Among. Them. That. They. Don't. Go. To. See. The. Dead. Comfort. The. Widow. They. Go. To. Pray. And. Ask. God. If. He. Wants. This. Guy. To. Stay. Dead. Very. Different. They. Believe. In. Miracles. But. They. Do. Not. After. Miracles. Miracles. Follow. After. Them. It's. No. Big. Deal. To. Them. They're. Not. Running. Around. Wanting. To. Do. Miracles. And. Get. A. Big. Crowd. Of. People. Them. As. If. There's. Somebody. Special. It's. Nothing. To. Them. It's. No. Big. Deal. They. Don't. Make. A. Big. Deal. About. It. Just. Happens. I. Like. Number. Nine. They. Believe. The. Book. Of. Acts. That. Book. Called. Acts. Is. Part. Of. The. Bible. Acts. Is. For. Our. Day. They. Believe. The. Book. Of. Acts. Normal. Christianity. And. They. Live. In. The. Reality. Of. It. All. The. Time. They. Believe. That. The. Book. Of. Acts. Is. Our. Example. Of. The. Anointed. Body. Of. Christ. Functioning. Upon. The. Earth. They. Believe. That. Number. Ten. They. Believe. In. And. Experience. Continuous. Revival. They. Have. Been. Experiencing. Revival. For. Fifty. Years. Flashes. Of. Flames. Bursting. Forth. Again. And. Again. And. Again. Over. The. Fifty. Years. Since. The. Communists. Took. Over. In. China. They. Believe. And. Experience. Continuous. Revival. Evangelism. And. Persecution. Are. The. Two. Secrets. Of. Their. Continuous. Revival. I. Asked. Them. So. Okay. What. Are. The. Secrets. For. Continuous. Revival. And. They. Said. Very. Simply. There. Are. Only. Two. One. Is. Evangelism. The. Spirit. Of. Revival. Or. May. I. Say. The. Spirit. Of. God. Broods. In. Evangelism. And. Evangelism. Brings. Persecution. And. Persecution. Brings. Purifying. And. Brokenness. And. More. Of. The. Spirit. God. And. The. Spirit. Of. God. Brings. Evangelism. And. It. Just. Goes. Back. And. Forth. Like. That. Number. Eleven. They. Are. A. Non. Resistant. People. And. That. Didn't. Surprise. Me. At. All. Didn't. Surprise. Me. At. All. Because. When. You. Take. Persecution. And. You. Put. It. Up. Next. To. Non. Resistance. Those. That. They. Go. Together. You. Every. Place. The. Bible. It. Goes. Together. God's. People. Are. Supposed. To. Suffer. Persecution. Not. Fight. Against. It. They. Believe. In. Non. Resistance. They. Love. Their. Enemies. And. Show. Them. Love. They. Love. The. Enemies. Who. Throw. Them. In. Jail. And. Show. Them. Love. They. Pray. For. Them. They. Love. Their. Enemies. That. Are. In. Jail. Who. Beat. Them. And. Take. Their. Food. Away. Will. Turn. Around. The. Next. Day. And. Bring. The. Food. And. Lay. It. At. The. Feet. Of. The. One. Who. Stole. Their. Food. The. Day. Before. And. Give. It. To. Them. In. Jesus. Name. They. Love. Their. Enemies. They. Pray. For. Their. Enemies. They. Will. Not. Fight. Back. They. Believe. Suffering. Love. Releases. The. Captives. From. The. Bondages. That. They're. In. And. They. Will. Not. Fight. Back. For. Love. For. The. Souls. That. They're. Dealing. With. At. Time. They. Believe. In. Non. Resistance. Number. Twelve. They. Believe. In. Holy. Living. They. Are. A. People. That. Are. Very. Word. Centered. The. Bible. Is. Precious. To. Them. They. Hang. On. Every. Word. They. Believe. One. Of. The. Greatest. Needs. In. The. American. Church. Is. That. We. Know. The. Bible. But. Don't. Obey. The. Bible. And. They. Word. Centered. People. They. React. And. Grieve. At. Loose. American. Christianity. It's. Confusing. To. Them. They. Wish. We. Would. Stay. Home. They. Don't. Want. Us. To. Bring. Our. Mixed. Up. Confusion. Over. To. Their. Land. And. Oh. How. Sad. It. Is. That. Many. American. Christian. Organizations. Will. Try. Their. Way. To. Get. Into. China. And. Just. Jump. Start. Doing. Their. Thing. Over. There. Not. Even. Stopping. To. Ask. This. Persecuted. Church. What. God. Is. Saying. To. The. Church. In. China. It's. As. If. We're. Proud. We. Know. Just. What. To. Do. And. We. Go. In. There. And. Set. Up. Our. Drums. And. Our. Bands. And. All. That. Nonsense. Stuff. And. We. Look. Utter. Shock. At. Our. Worldly. Ways. They. Believe. In. Holy. Living. They. Are. A. Simple. Conservative. People. No. Show. No. Ostentation. They. Would. Think. We're. Dressed. Pretty. Fancy. Even. Here. They. Believe. In. Meeting. In. Houses. Now. You. May. Say. Oh. They. Have. To. Because. The. Church. Buildings. Would. Be. Burned. Down. Well. May. Believe. In. Church. In. Houses. It. Is. The. Secret. Of. Multiplication. Many. Little. Fires. Burning. Many. Other. Places. Scattered. All. Over. The. Area. It. Is. The. Secret. Of. Multitudes. Leaders. Because. If. You. Have. Church. In. House. You're. Gonna. Have. A. Whole. Lot. More. Leaders. Than. If. You. Have. A. Church. This. Big. They. Believe. In. Meeting. In. Houses. They. Feel. Strongly. About. It. They. Feel. That. It. Was. The. Leading. Of. God. That. They. Should. Meet. In. Houses. And. They. Wouldn't. Change. That. If. All. Of. A. Sudden. The. Doors. Opened. Up. And. They. Could. Have. Church. In. Buildings. They. Believe. In. Meeting. In. Houses. The. Church. In. China. Is. Basically. A. Lay. Movement. No. Bible. Schools. Just. God. Fearing. Men. Full. Of. The. Word. And. Full. Of. The. Holy Ghost. Serving. The. Spirit. Of. God. Who. Doesn't. Need. Any. Help. Amen. He. Doesn't. Any. Help. They. Just. Serve. Him. And. Many. Times. They. Meet. In. Forests. And. Caves. Number. Fourteen. Their. Theology. Is. Simple. Here's. Their. Theology. We. Seek. To. Hear. The. Shepherd's. Voice. And. We. Obey. That. We. Seek. To. Hear. The. Shepherd's. Voice. And. We. Obey. Their. Simple. Theology. Jesus. Is. Coming. Be. Ready. And. Evangelize. Until. Comes. Their. Simple. Theology. So. Refreshing. To. Hear. Their. Simple. Theology. Of. Unity. And. I. Know. Their. Persecuted. Situation. Helps. Them. I. Mean. You. Can. Lose. Your. Head. If. Join. Yourself. To. The. Church. Their. Simple. Theology. Of. Unity. And. The. Persecution. Allows. A. Simple. Theology. Of. Unity. They're. Not. Picking. Each. Other. Apart. Because. Doesn't. Believe. Just. Like. I. Do. They. Don't. Do. That. And. Sometimes. When. They. Do. According. To. These. Men. They. Find. Themselves. In. Jail. Chained. To. The. God. They. Start. Praying. Together. Guess. What. They. Repent. For. Their. Rotten. Attitudes. And. God. Gets. The. Glory. Number. Fifteen. They. Have. Set. Their. Sights. On. The. Muslim. World. They. Their. Sights. On. The. Muslim. World.

They. Are. Not. Afraid. To. Evangelize. The. Muslims. And. The. West. Is. The. West. Is. They. Are. Not. Afraid. They. One. The. Secrets. To. Evangelizing. A. Muslim. They. Are. Not. Afraid. To. Die. They. Are. Not. Scared.

They. Walk. Right. Into. A. Situation. Where. Muslims. Are. And. Afraid. To. Die. That's. A. Secret. To. Evangelizing. Muslims. In. Another. Country. Not. Here. We. Safe. Here. But. Over. There. You. Can't. Be. Afraid. to die.

And number three, they are confident that God will manifest Mount Carmel's everywhere they go. Mount Carmel's? If God be God, then serve Him. And if Allah be God, then serve Him. And the proof is very clearly displayed.

They believe in a confident Mount Carmel demonstration of the power of the Gospel. So they're not afraid to go to a Muslim country. Hey, no big deal. So we're going to die? No big deal. But if we don't die, we're going to challenge them to the very depths.

We're going to find the biggest problems they have. And bless God, you talk to those Muslims. They have multitudes of problems. We're going to find the biggest problem they have and solve it in Jesus' name.

The Chinese Church's Warning to the West

And then we'll talk to them. And guess what? Most of them will listen when they go. Number 16. What do they think about the West? I felt this was worthy for us to ponder a bit. What do they think about the West?

Number one, they are very burdened about the West. They are very burdened for us. They believe we are bound and hindered by traditions. And therefore, the Spirit of God cannot lead us where He wants to go because we got our traditions.

And I'm not just talking about us. I'm talking about the whole of the United States. We're not talking about Mennonite traditions now. We're just talking about the way that we do it. Number three, they believe we follow programs.

And it's hard to hear the Spirit of God. You know, we have everything all planned out, all our programs. This happens at this time. This happens at this time. You finish preaching here. We have our lunch at this time.

We got everything all programmed. We've programmed the Holy Spirit right out of the thing. And I don't mean us. I mean America. Because I know that we feel strongly about some of these things. Listen to this one.

We laugh in church. They cry in church. That's their interpretation. We laugh in church. They cry in church. Very different church service. Amen? They believe we are overcharged with luxury and materialism.

And therefore, we cannot hear the voice of the Spirit. They believe that many function with little or no Holy Spirit's presence in their meetings. And lastly, their simple message to America is given in one word.

One word. Repent. Repent. That's all they would say to America. Repent. Repent. Number 17, they love God extravagantly. I don't think I really need to say any points on that. The whole thing that I've been giving are points on that.

They love God extravagantly. They serve God full-time and live in poverty because of it. They serve Him full-time and they live in poverty because of it. The Bible is a sacred book to them. They memorize chapter after chapter after chapter.

Some of them don't even have a Bible. So they will copy chapters of the Bible when they get together with other believers who have a Bible and take their little treasure home with them and read it and memorize it and hide it in their hearts.

They count the Bible sacred, holy, sanctified, set apart, precious gift. That's how they see the Bible and they spend hours memorizing and reading it. And lastly, they have a radical view of persecution.

Persecution as Joy and Participation in Christ's Sufferings

They have a very radical view of persecution. What do I mean by that? To them, it is a joy. It is a joy. We don't look at it that way, but they do. It is a joy. To suffer for Christ is a joy. Again, they're over there in the book of Acts, aren't they?

That's the way it was there. It was a joy. To them, it is a joy. They believe that persecution brings life. Death worketh in us, but life worketh in you. We are always delivered over unto death. Why? That the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our mortal bodies.

They believe that. They're radicals. They are bold and not afraid. They're not running and hiding everywhere. They're not hiding in a somewhere and never opening their mouth for God. They're bold. They are confident.

They do not cower in the face of their persecutors. They are poised in God like Elijah, John the Baptist, and the Lord Jesus. They are poised in God. That's one thing that has gripped my heart is I have pondered those people.

They're like Jesus, you know? I mean, Jesus was in complete control when he was hung on the cross and died for our sins. He was in complete control. And they are too. I mean, think about it. Pilate, he said to him, why aren't you talking?

Don't you know who I am? Don't you know that I have power to crucify you or power to release you? And Jesus looked him dead in the eyes of his heart and said, whatever power you have, it came from above.

In other words, I'm not afraid of your power, fella. You can't do anything to me that my Father in heaven doesn't allow you to do. I'm not afraid of you. That really puts a new twist on the whole thing of being confronted by persecutors.

You know what I mean? They are poised with a confidence in God when they face their persecutors. Sometimes God confounds the persecutors before their very face. And other times God allows those persecutors to beat them till they're dead.

Preparing for Coming Persecution

But it doesn't matter to them because they are not afraid to die. Well, we have walked around Zion here a bit this morning. What shall we do? It's good to walk around Zion. It's a blessing. It stirs us.

It challenges us. Maybe even thrills us. But brothers and sisters, now we get down to the gist of the message. Though we're at the end of the message, we get down to the real crux of the whole matter.

What do we do with what we've heard? That is a big question. What do we do with what we've heard? You know, I thought about it. Persecution is coming. Do you believe that? Let me see your hands if you believe that.