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From the Pastor's Desk July 31, 2005 MANY YEARS AGO I read a little booklet by Watchman Nee* with the simple title: “Sit, Walk, Stand.” This memorable title helped to fix the subject matter into my heart and it has become for me a helpful way of assessing my own Christian life. In this little booklet, Watchman Nee takes a look at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and shows us the essence of our association with Christ, the world and the devil. After his victory on the cross, Christ is seated in a position of authority and rest at the right hand of God (1:20) and we are seated with him (2:6). This has implications in our interaction with (walk in) the world, (4:1) as well as how we stand against the devil (6:10). This particular application of the gospel message is this: As believers we live on the basis of what Christ has already done. He has finished dealing with our sins so on that count we can rest in him and with him. What follows is that the finished work of Christ on our behalf determines our ongoing behaviour in the world as children of light. Further because Christ has won the victory, we have the authority and the power to stand against devil. With this simple understanding we are able to grow in grace in our lives and see the kingdom of God advance in our own spheres of influence. * A reviewer states, “Watchman Nee (1903-1972) is remembered for his leadership of an indigenous church movement in China as well as for the books that continue to enrich Christians throughout the world. Beginning in the 1930's, he helped establish local churches in China that were completely independent of foreign missionary organizations and were used to bring many into the kingdom of God. From them came many of the house churches that continued a faithful witness when Western missionaries were forced to leave the country. Arrested in 1952 and found guilty of a large number of false charges, Watchman Nee was imprisoned until his death in 1972.” *********** And God raised us up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6)
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