PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

Problems in the heart are often the cause of mental problems. If a person's mind is under attack by the enemy, this is an indication that his heart is wrong in some way....The mind is attacked because the heart is wrong. Perhaps someone has a certain ambition or desire in his heart. If this ambition or desire is not fulfilled and is not dealt with, the mind may be attacked.

Paul no doubt realized this; he knew that it was crucial for the hearts of the Colossians to be comforted and knit together in love. If their hearts were cared for in a proper way, the saints would have the riches of the full assurance of understanding. Their minds would once again function normally to understand spiritual things. When our hearts are comforted, our minds will function properly. But if there is a problem in our heart, there will be a problem in our mind also. The heart regulates the mind. Whether the mind is normal or abnormal depends on the condition of the heart....

PAUL'S STRUGGLE

In 1:29 Paul said that he struggled according to Christ's operation within him. This struggle was his labor to present every man full-grown in Christ. He endeavored to do this by announcing Christ, by warning every man, and by teaching every man in all wisdom.

CHRIST'S OPERATION

According to 1:29, the operation of Christ operates in us in power....

Some saints may feel that they sense very little of Christ's operation within them. The reason for this lack is the shortage of prayer. We need to go to the Lord with a repentant heart and say, "Lord, I am still so natural, so much in the self and in the old man. Lord, forgive me and cleanse me with Your precious blood. Lord, I desire to be enlightened, purified, and made transparent. I ask You to show me what You want of me. Expose me so that I may be filled with You." If we pray in this way, Christ's operation will have a way to operate within us.

I can testify that I am energized by Christ's operation. The more I pray, the more His operation energizes me. However, if I fail to pray, I would become cold and quiet. The reason you may sense little of Christ's operation within you is that you strive too much and pray too little to contact the Lord. By opening to the Lord in prayer, you give ground for Christ's operation to operate within you. Then you will be able to struggle according to this operation to present others mature in Christ.

Christ's operation operates in power. Paul refers to this power in Ephesians 3:7 and 20. In Ephesians 3:7 he speaks of "the operation of His power," and in 3:20, of the "power which operates in us." This power is the power of resurrection life (Philippians 3:10) within the believers (Ephesians 1:19). It is the very power that operated in Christ to raise Him from the dead, to seat Him at God's right hand in the heavenlies, and to subject all things under His feet (Ephesians 1:20-22). Hence, this power is the resurrection power, the transcending power, and the subduing power. According to Christ's operation in such a power, we may struggle to present others full-grown in Christ. Life-Study of Colossians, Message #17, pp. 137-144; Witness Lee, published by Living Stream Ministry 1984.)