Olives that have known no pressure

SEEING THAT WE HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

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At a certain point in our Christian life, the Holy Spirit will show us that we have been nailed to the cross, even though we restrict and hinder God as life. In other words, the Holy Spirit will show every pursuer and follower of the Lord a vision, a revelation, that his person has been put to death on the cross of Christ. This is a turning point that every lover and pursuer of the Lord must experience; it is unavoidable.

When we are saved or revived, we always have a certain amount of zeal, a love for the Lord, a desire to pursue Him, an eagerness to follow Him, and a fervency to express our love for Him. However, we soon discover that our very being hinders Him the most, even though we pursue and zealously follow the Lord. Regardless of whether we are good or bad, we are a hindrance to the Lord. At this moment the Holy Spirit will show us that we have been crucified. With such a view, we pass through a gate. From this point forward, we will begin to touch the way of life in our Christian living. We also will realize that we were merely being zealous and excited in our pursuit and love of the Lord and that we have not actually entered the pathway of life. When we are shown this mercy by the Lord, we will realize that our very person hinders and troubles Him the most.

The Holy Spirit will show us that the one thing that hinders the Lord the most in the universe is our person. Then the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to fully show us that our person has been put to death on the cross. At this point we will experience death; we will pass through a gate, and we will enter onto the pathway of the spiritual life. This is the beginning of our taking the way of the spiritual life. From this point forward, the Holy Spirit will bring us into the way of the cross every day, and He will bring us into the life of the cross.

Knowing Life and the Church
Chapter 6 The Way and Life of the Cross
(LSM)

Only overcomers understand the profound reality of this song, and realize that it can only be sung with holy tears in a melody that springs from the deepest love.

It is a sweet smelling savor to Jehovah ...

Bless our dear Father forever and ever !!

" I’m ashamed, my Lord, for seeking
Self to guard alway;
Though Thy love has done its stripping,
Yet I’ve been compelled this way.
Lord, according to Thy pleasure
Fully work on me;
Heeding not my human feelings,
Only do what pleases Thee."

It is not an easy thing to follow the Lord and share in His sufferings. Olives being crushed that is us. Ugh. If we want the Spirit (olive oil) in our spirit and the anointing, especially for others, we must be open to the Lord’s dealing. The chorus shows our reward. What we lose He pays or replaces with his own self. This is our experiience. It is glory. It happens from glory to glory by the Lord Spirit. This takes a life time.

Amen ! This song encourages me a lot in the situation I am going through.

The Christian life is not measured by Gain but by Loss. He who looses his soul life shall gain it.

Watchman Nee was a gift to the Body (the Church).

This song was sung in our virtual meeting today. So enjoy all the comments and fellowship here.

Wonderful hymn: The Lord must deal with our self thoroughly to be able to embrace Him only.

Hymn 626
SUBJECT: THE WAY OF THE CROSS-GAIN BY LOSS
METER: 8.5.8.7.D. with chorus.
AUTHOR: Watchman Nee
COMPOSER: Stephen C. Foster
1 Olives that have known no pressure
No oil can bestow;
If the grapes escape the winepress,
Cheering wine can never flow;
Spikenard only through the crushing,
Fragrance can diffuse.
Shall I then, Lord, shrink from suff’ring
Which Thy love for me would choose?

Chorus
Each blow I suffer
Is true gain to me.
In the place of what Thou takest
Thou dost give Thyself to me.
2 Do my heart-strings need Thy stretching,
Songs divine to prove?
Do I need for sweetest music
Cruel treatment of Thy love?
Lord, I fear no deprivation
If it draws to Thee;
I would yield in full surrender
All Thy heart of love to see.
3 I’m ashamed, my Lord, for seeking
Self to guard alway;
Though Thy love has done its stripping,
Yet I’ve been compelled this way.
Lord, according to Thy pleasure
Fully work on me;
Heeding not my human feelings,
Only do what pleases Thee.
4 If Thy mind and mine should differ,
Still pursue Thy way;
If Thy pleasure means my sorrow,
Still my heart shall answer, “Yea!”
’Tis my deep desire to please Thee,
Though I suffer loss;
E’en though Thy delight and glory
Mean that I endure the cross.
5 Oh, I’ll praise Thee, e’en if weeping
Mingle with my song.
Thine increasing sweetness calls forth
Grateful praises all day long.
Thou hast made Thyself more precious
Than all else to me:
Thou increase and I decrease, Lord—
This is now my only plea.

This song is the response a new believer should receive when they ask, "What is next?" In Luke 9:23-24 the Lord says, "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.…" We may be believers but not true disciples unless we receive and embrace this way of living and being. If our Lord and Master went this path we should not expect to do less. Oh, What a Savior!