This is an interview of Brother Joshua Yu an underground Chinese worker that suffered 21 years in a labor camp for the gospel. Doug Riggs interviewed him in 2005.
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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.
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“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from: Principles for the gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ.Since 2012, a growing group of believers in North America started to warn of coming persecution to western countries. This message was shared in a variety of ways. One of the responses to this was to compile a book taking principles from underground Churches around the world of how they thrived under pressure and persecution. The volume, Principles for the Gathering of Believers, had in a short time over 50,000 downloads in ebook format and much interest was shown. Some new house churches started through this and other existing groups were encouraged.