[kisstheson]

Here is something else that really touched me from Message One of “That They May All Be One, Even As We Are One”: The brothers in Manila began to send invitations to TAS to come to Manila starting very early in 1962 (the terrible church split in Manila took place in 1961). As TAS earnestly sought the Lord regarding if, and when, he should travel to Manila, for a long time the leading from the Lord was: “No. Not Yet.” TAS had asked the Lord to speak to him through His Word regarding Manila. Finally, one day, as TAS was reading Isaiah chapter 52, he had a real "rhema" experience of Isaiah 52:12b, and he knew this was the Lord’s direct word to him regarding Manila: “For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Brother TAS knew this meant that the Lord was already in Manila, brooding over the situation there, and that the Lord would fully take care of all the practical matters in London while TAS was gone.

(Here is something encouraging for the sisters: The Lord gave TAS’s wife a "rhema" word as well, just for her encouragement regarding Manila.)

I am touched by this matter for at least two reasons. First of all, this is one example among many which shows that the presence of the Lord did not completely leave TAS from 1957 onwards. TAS certainly does not boast, but he mentions little experiences like this between him and the Lord many times during these messages. There was definitely a sweet, intimate, fellowship between him and Christ that lasted right up until his death in 1971. Having the presence of the Lord, both individually and corporately, is a major point in these messages. When one considers all this, along with the obvious anointing that is on these messages, the traditional LC mythology falls flat. The traditional LC account maintains that TAS permanently lost both the presence of the Lord and the anointing for his ministry when he “refused the way of the Spirit” by disagreeing with WL over the doctrine of locality. TAS’s own words prove otherwise. His walk with the Lord and his ministry both deepened during the course of the 1960’s and into the early 1970’s.

Secondly, the fact that TAS waited two years to come to Manila, even though the group in Manila was obviously in an extremely tough situation, is to me a really precious lesson, especially for all the dear ones in the GLA today. TAS himself said that if he had come immediately when he was first invited “something very important might have been lost for two years.” While a co-worker of TAS, C. R. Golsworthy (and his wife) came and offered some help, I believe that the “something very important” that the Lord did not want TAS to interfere with was the precious opportunity for these dear suffering brothers and sisters in Manila to find Christ in a real way for themselves. No more second-hand Christ from the “minister of the age”. No more second-hand Christ from headquarters. These ones were given the rare privilege of finding Christ and knowing Christ by faith, and faith alone. Yes, just faith. “Naked” faith. No human crutches. No man-made substitutes. This can sound scary until we remember that by faith the Lord is always with us while we walk through the valley of the shadow of darkness. In my heart I believe that the GLA is in such a privileged position today. May the Lord continue to be so gracious to those in the GLA as they learn once again to follow the Lamb for themselves. You dear ones in the GLA are His beloved sheep and He has promised that you can hear His voice and that the voice of another you will not follow. Don’t be too quick to look to any man to “rescue” you from this unique opportunity to regain your simplicity in Christ!

When the time was right, TAS’s speaking became an incredibly rich source of blessing for these dear ones. As Herald Hsu states in his testimony: “TAS held two special conferences and delivered 42 messages, leading us and the whole body of Christ into spiritual and heavenly realms.” Praise the Lord that TAS did not spoil this rich blessing by coming to Manila too soon!