More Thoughts On “Living Water”

I have to continue to say that Living Water by Bruther Yun is amazing.  I’ve been stunned as I’ve been reading it what substance he has in the Lord.  There have been several times that I have been reading the book and felt as if Brother Yun was quoting scripture and instead it turned out to be Brother Yun himself speaking with such authority that the words seemed apostolic in their very nature.  Figure that one out, huh?

One of the things that has struck me as I’ve been reading the book has been the way the Chinese church encourages each other to remain faithful to Jesus.  Brother Yun seems to be always talking about it from one perspective or another.  It seems crucial to the life of their churches that they would gather and exhort and encourage one another to remain faithful to Jesus.

One story he told was about a pastor who was imprisoned for his faith.  This pastor was miraculously delivered from jail, but as soon as he was freed, he felt remorse because he could no longer encourage his fellow cell-mate (also a believer) to stay true to Jesus.  So what does he do?  What ever any other healthy, faith filled believer would do-break back into jail by the power of the Holy Spirit to encourage the cell mate to stay true to Jesus.  This pastor left the prison after encouraging the cell mate, but what a story!

Now here’s the tricky part.  We need to be encouraged and exhorted to remain true to Jesus in the exact same way as the Chinese church, only we have to be encouraged to remain true to Jesus in our comforts.  They have to encourage each other to remain true to Jesus in their pain.  But the need is the same.  If you’re reading this and you’re a believer in Jesus, make plans now to find another believer and encourage them. Don’t just tell them how cool they are, but admonish, exhort, and encourage them to remain true to Jesus despite the comforts or persecutions that are coming their way.  Encourage them not to give into money or comfort or threats or persecution.  Tell them to love Jesus for His sake regardless of the outcome.  The results will have eternal consequenses.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching,” Hebrews 10:23-25, ESV.