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There is a flow. Before God, we call it the "flow of the Spirit." In every age God insures that this flow is not interrupted, that it is always progressing. The flow of the Spirit is progressing in the churches today. Some time ago I was reading a compilation of Wesley's messages. I thank God because I can see that the flow of the Spirit has moved onward today. If we look back and examine Wesley, on the one hand, we have to admit that his work before God was tremendous and that perhaps our living cannot match his. On the other hand, however, the flow of the Spirit is moving on progressively today.
Here is a basic principle: If we do what God wants to do in our generation, we will get the flow of the Spirit. If, however, we always hold on to our past and demand that God do according to what we rank as important and desirable, we will not get the flow of the Spirit. It was all right to be a Martin Luther in the sixteenth century, but it would be insufficient just to be a Martin Luther in 1950. It was all right to be a Madame Guyon in the Medieval Age, but it would be insufficient just to be a Madame Guyon in 1950. It was all right to be a Wesley in the eighteenth century, but it is inadequate to be a Wesley in 1950. It was all right to be a Darby in 1828, but it is insufficient to be a Darby in 1950. God is ever pressing onward, and every instrumentality fulfills its function for the church. The flow of the Spirit in the church is always going forward.
Here many people have a basic weakness; that is, they do not recognize the flow of the Spirit in the church. In the church there have been many spiritual giants who have brought about many spiritual things. Today we are heirs to their riches. Saints like Martin Luther, Madame Guyon, John Nelson Darby, Evan Roberts, and Mrs. Penn-Lewis all left us with some spiritual wealth. We cannot thank and praise the Lord enough for this. Yet today even if we should succeed in being a Martin Luther, a Madame Guyon, a Darby, a Roberts, or a Mrs. Penn-Lewis, we would still be a failure because we would not have seen the central point — the flow of the Spirit.
Every age hinges upon a flow. We must admit that the whole trend of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is an onward trend. God has been revealed gradually and even progressively in age after age.
A brother in Hong Kong once asked me the significance of the book of Hebrews. I asked him, "What is the difference between the book of Acts and the book of Hebrews?" The book of Acts is a progressive book. When we get to chapter eight, we cannot go back to chapter two. The Lord had already gone to Samaria. If we go back to Jerusalem, how could we ever get to the uttermost part of the earth? Where the Lord is, there is the way. The Holy Spirit desired to go to Rome, and the Holy Spirit desired to go to the uttermost part of the earth. Going to Samaria was the first step; it was also a preparation for going to the uttermost part of the earth. Producing apostles among the Gentiles was a right and progressive thing to do. After the going out from Jerusalem, it would be wrong to have the desire to stay in Jerusalem. The apostles to the Gentiles kept going until they arrived at Rome.
The book of Hebrews shows us people with one of two identities — either Jew or Christian, but the book of Acts shows us people with double identities — they were both Jews and Christians. In Acts there was the record of the temple. At that time the Christians still visited the temple on the one hand and prayed in the meeting, "Lord, I consecrate myself to You," on the other hand. When they realized they had sinned, they would seek help from the priest on the one hand and pray on the other hand. At that time Christians divided their time between being Jews and being Christians. There were two sacrifices, two pardons, and two sin offerings. There was the cross, and there was also an animal — the lamb. The book of Hebrews speaks to the Christians who had shrunk back to Judaism: "Are you going to be a Christian, or are you going to be a Jew?" In Acts one could be both a Christian and a Jew, but in Hebrews he could not be both. We must choose to be one of the two. There can be only one redeeming lamb, one priest, and one temple. Therefore, Hebrews 10 says to not abandon the assembling of ourselves together (v. 25). If we stop meeting in Christ, there will be no more sin offering (v. 26). Hence, there is only one basic thought regarding Hebrews; that is, it is progressive. We must advance. The flow of the Spirit is always going onward.
Since the flow of the Spirit is ever advancing, what was done in Jerusalem would not be sufficient to meet the need in Rome. What was accomplished in Caesarea would not be adequate for today. The advancement spoken of here relates to the entire flow of the Spirit. God let Titus destroy Jerusalem because He could only allow the existence of one Jerusalem. After the church was established on the earth, God destroyed the other Jerusalem. The destruction of Jerusalem brought an end to the sacrifices. Jews might still keep the Passover today, but there is no more lamb. This is progress. God destroyed the first one. In Acts, one could have two identities. But when we come to Hebrews, we can have only one. This is a very serious charge — there is no longer an animal offering for sin.
At the time of Acts, Paul still had a vow (18:18). Please do not measure someone in a particular age according to God's absolute revelation. Today we must follow the flow of the Spirit. Wherever the Spirit goes, we should follow. It was not wrong for Paul to cut his hair and go into the temple to purify himself (21:26), because the flow of the Spirit had reached only to that stage. However, the book of Hebrews tears down the entire Jewish religion. The book of Hebrews says that since that which is perfect has come, Moses is over. God is progressing — in teaching and in the flow of the Spirit.
During the two thousand years of church history, the Spirit of God has been progressing all the time. Even after Acts 28, the Spirit of God is still going onward; He has never stopped. Acts has no ending. We are foolish if we think that the Holy Spirit has left the church. Actually, in every age God has always raised up some people. In every age the church has been progressing. From generation to generation, it is ever moving onward and ever progressing forward, even up to the present day.
Only those who walk according to God's heart are blessed with descendants. Michal bore no children (2 Sam. 6:23), yet Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, had sons (12:24). A descendant is the continuation of the line of the Holy Spirit — this is what I call the flow of the Spirit. We have inherited all the grace from our forefathers and ancestors; we receive our spiritual heritage from them. Is God's way an advancing way among us today, or is He moving through somebody else? This is what I call the authority of the Holy Spirit. Once we fail, the Holy Spirit will express Himself through somebody else. The authority of the Holy Spirit is like the trunk of a tree; it grows undeterred. Wherever the seal of the Spirit is, there God's way is.
What if this line is broken? We should study church history to observe God's footprints. Such footprints can be detected in history and in the church. When we look back to Martin Luther, we can see many weaknesses in him, but during his time, Luther's work was the peak of the work of the Holy Spirit. Today we are the fruit of Luther's work. None of us has a life that is long enough to manipulate this line.
Throughout the ages, the church has been like stepping stones in a stream. The work of the Holy Spirit on us is to make us stepping stones through which He can move. This is our greatest glory. If He cannot secure a way through us, He will choose another stone to step on. If He cannot be released through us, we will suffer the greatest loss. The seal of the Holy Spirit may be at a certain place at present, but where it will be ten years from now we cannot tell. Each day the Holy Spirit is bypassing men and setting them aside, group by group. Many people seem to have lost their usefulness. Therefore, we have to be on the path of the Holy Spirit. If the Spirit cannot accomplish anything through us, He must make a new start with somebody else. What a solemn matter this is!
We should always walk on the positive path. In the past twenty years, Brother T. Austin-Sparks has been concerned with the Body service. Some brought up this matter one hundred thirty years earlier, but there was no one walking on this path. The recovery of a certain truth is quite a different thing from actually walking on the path of that truth. It was not until the time of T. Austin-Sparks that this spiritual reality began to manifest itself. Now is the time for us to take the way of fully functioning in the Body service. Everything should be consecrated for the furtherance of the gospel. We attend school for the furtherance of the gospel, and we work for the furtherance of the gospel. The recovery of the Lord in the church is reflected in other areas as well. When the Lord has a move in the church, He makes a corresponding move in the world. We must reach the stage in which the whole Body is coordinating together in the service and the stage in which everything is for the gospel. When the whole church is serving, the Lord's coming will be at hand. At that time not only will teaching be released, but the Holy Spirit will be released as well. The church moves because the Holy Spirit moves first. As soon as the Holy Spirit moves, all will say "Amen" to His move. The Holy Spirit has moved on ahead of us, and we are following Him in this flow. Our words and our spiritual senses should all be up-to-date with the flow of the Spirit.
Watchman NeeApril 4, 1950
In reading the Bible, we find that God's revelation is always progressive and advancing. If we only pay attention to ultimate absolutes when reading the Bible and fail to see that revelation is progressive, we will not be able to keep up with God's way. God's revelation is progressive. The offerings in Genesis were less profound than the offerings in Exodus, while the offerings in Leviticus were deeper than those in Exodus. This is one example of progression. All the revelation in the Bible is progressive. If we put all the advancing stages together, we have a complete picture. The absolutes in the Bible are the sum totals of the individual advancements. — Excerpt
Our hearts are really full of joy to see that in these days God has gained people everywhere to speak for Him. Such speaking is like the flowing of a river. We only hope that He will be able to get through in Lingxia. We hope He would not just be in us through His indwelling, but that He would come in and go out among us, freely flowing out through us. Amen!
The message "Seizing the Opportunity" brought forth a deep responding "Amen" from our hearts! As we look back, we are filled with a sense of repentance! God was not short in granting us the grace, but we were ignorant of the times He was caring for us! We do not know what to say. We were too reserved in the past because we wanted to protect ourselves. As a result, we damaged the future of the church of God! Now we can only weep and repent.
God has recently shown us that the only way to attain wealth is to borrow empty vessels from the neighbors. He says, "Borrow...and not just a few" (2 Kings 4:3). Whenever we say there are no empty vessels, the oil stops! Therefore, please send us a few extra copies of all your publications, perhaps twenty, but at least fifteen, because the number of people in our meetings has increased from ten to twenty-three. Furthermore, most of us came from denominations, and we especially need nurturing and training in the truth. There are also one or two brothers and sisters in other places who need to receive these supplies.
Please remember us in your prayers and in your move of gospel migrations. We would like to remind you that we are a gateway to the gospel work among Tibetans and Moslems. The Lord measured this area to you long ago, so you would not be overstepping your bounds to come here.
Please include us in your prayers that God would have much mercy on us!
A little member in the Lord,Wang Guo-jingOctober 3, 1950
Mailing Address: Jing-Yun Book Store, Lingxia, Kansu province
Physically, I still need to rest another week, according to Brother Deh-bao's word; it is still too early to move around. If you think I need to go to Yungkang, I believe the Lord will protect and support me. I await your letter with instructions.
I do not know when you think it will be appropriate for me to return to Jinhua. I feel that my condition before the Lord is terrible both inwardly and outwardly! I believe that I have been going steadily downward on this trip from Jinhua to Hangchow. I feel a great darkness inwardly and outwardly. I cannot touch the Lord when I try to fellowship with Him. Sometimes I wonder if my spiritual pathway has reached its end. Do I still have a hope of rising up again? I do not know why I feel as if I have committed some great sin. The things which I thought were no longer with me (the things of the old creation) are still in me. The things which I thought I had (in the new creation) have completely disappeared. I do not know where they have gone. Sometimes I am so discouraged and disappointed that I hate myself. What kind of a person am I? I do not have any spiritual reality, and I have touched nothing of service. I can do nothing, but I am full of pride. When others do something well, I am jealous. I cannot tolerate a single critical sentence or attitude from others. I am weak and pitiful inwardly. It is beyond me to describe my present condition! Sometimes I really cannot stand it, and my uneasiness all too clearly shows where I am! It is a terrible suffering indeed!
I have no words to pray to the Lord concerning this condition. I want to cry, but have no tears. Therefore, I am really afraid to return to Jinhua. I used to think that I could handle everything and that I could solve the brothers' and sisters' problems. Now I do not even know how to solve my own problems. But if I do not return to Jinhua, what is the use of my staying in Hangchow? Sometimes I think it is useless for me to be anywhere. I am like salt that has lost its flavor. Sometimes I tell myself, "It is futile to serve any longer!" But I am not willing to quit. In this kind of condition, I really cannot receive any leading. Perhaps I do not need to seek any leading by myself. Wherever you put me is fine. If you think I need to return to Jinhua, I will return to Jinhua. I feel that I can do nothing. If you want me to go back to Jinhua, please give me a little time to study more about optometry. What do you think about this?
Beginning Monday, a few brothers began praying together every morning. I believe Brother Chao has probably written to you about this. The first two times were very oppressive; we were not able to release ourselves; nor could we sense what to pray. We could only confess our sins and pray for our hopeless condition. We did not touch the spirit at all, nor did we rise up inwardly. Each of us was there looking at the pitiful condition of the self. The more we prayed like this, the lower we sank, and the more we were oppressed! By the third morning, there was almost no prayer. This continued until Brother Chao prayed a few words about faith. He prayed about coming before God by faith. When he touched this point, everybody opened up inwardly. We turned and began to lift our praises to Christ for all of His accomplishments. We stopped looking at ourselves. We looked at Christ! He is our everything! We are not accepted before God based on ourselves; nor do we boast about ourselves before the enemy. We do not overcome the flesh in ourselves. Here we touched some praise in the spirit. It is unfortunate that we had turned back to our "self." The Lord showed us once again that we are fallen, that our heart is wicked, and that we cannot be used by God. We asked the Lord to give us deeper dealings. Please remember us in prayer, and protect us with your prayers.
Sisters Wu and Kwei went to Changloh; they will return to Hangchow in twenty days. (They have already returned to Hangchow. — Editor)
Your brother in the Lord,Jien-bangSeptember 28, 1950
Mailing Address: c/o 48 Gang-Er Alley, Hangchow
Thank the Lord that the first baptism meeting in Jiaxing received the blessing of peace. There were seventeen brothers and sisters who were baptized into the Lord's church. God had mercy on me, one who is lazy, weak, and fearful, and who has unprofitably occupied a place in Jiaxing for many years. For this reason, I marvel and grieve all the more. I can only praise God with all my strength in tears. Thank God. On that day the whole church praised God with joy such as they had never experienced before!
We look to God to have mercy on us and to guide these newly baptized, fresh, and living brothers and sisters that they would go on in the way before them. We are young and weak, and we are prone to ruin things. We hope the elderly brothers can come to teach us often.
Your little brother in the Lord,Wang Wen-jiangAugust 28, 1950
Mailing Address: 40 Xian Chang Street, Jiaxing, Chekiang province
I received the book you gave me for the edification of the new believers. Thank the Lord! The new brothers were not the only ones edified; I was edified first. Although I have believed in the Lord for many years, I am inwardly weak, poor, and pitiful! I lack basic training. I could never find this kind of light if I spent my entire life studying by myself. Thank the Lord for having mercy on me, even though I am so unworthy! I look forward to the beginning of the third training session at Kuling. I often kneel in prayer to ask for God's mercy! I will return to Shanba on the twenty-sixth. Brother Yu and Brother Chu left Sian on the twenty-fifth for Linjin, Zhengzhou, and Hsuzhou before returning to Shanghai.
Your brother in the Lord,Chao Xu-dongSeptember 25, 1950
Mailing Address: 29 Jie-Fang Road, Shaba, Suiyuan province
(Brother Yu and Brother Chu received a desperate invitation from the church in Tsinan after they had arrived in Hsuzhou, so they went to Tsinan. On October 21 they returned safely to Shanghai from Tsinan. We hope these two brothers will fellowship more with us about their visit in the past two months to the churches in the Northwest and to the churches along the road between Tientsin and Shanghai. — Editor)
We have recently learned something about how to discern the Body of Christ. There are many brothers who have seen the importance of serving God, consecration, and the church preaching the gospel. We were lacking in the matter of the gospel in the past. We now are preparing to learn how to testify (to outsiders). We read the Bible and pray every day, and every Lord's Day we serve the Lord in different areas. Many brothers are willing to learn from the Lord's grace. Please pray that the brothers would be able to serve God faithfully. Please introduce us to the brothers in Hangchow so that we could have fellowship with them.
Your brothers in the Lord,Yin Song-sheng, Yin Zong-mingAugust 13, 1950
Mailing Address: Liban, Sheng county, Chekiang
By the Lord's arrangement, the church in Ningpo has rented a flat in a building on the 5th Floor, 14 Zhan-Chuan Street. When everything is fixed up, our meetings will move to that address. Please pray for us much before the Lord.
Chang He-nian, Wang Jian-jenSeptember 12, 1950
Mailing Address: 406 Hou Ma Road, Jiangbei Shore, Ningpo
Thank God for arranging for some of us to be at Kuling. Although there are only five (Brother Kuo Jian-liang, Brother Cheng Chiang, Sister Hai-jen, Sister Bi-xia, and myself), we are all in one accord for the gospel and the service. Although we are weak and immature, we are willing to give our all. We are really busy with the affairs of the clinic, the school, the church, and the Ministers' House. We have no free time from morning to night, but we all thank God and are very joyful. We all go out for the gospel, and we coordinate in the church service with the local responsible brothers. There are forty to fifty people here on the mountain. Most are sick people, children, and elderly women. There are also a few brothers who did the heavy work in the Ministers' House. They now are coordinating together with us to serve God. They (voluntarily) decline wages and rejoice in serving here. We are the only ones bearing the responsibility. Please remember us often.
Your sister,Zuo Fu-ruSeptember 24, 1950
Mailing Address: Kuling Ministers' House, c/o Xin 14 Hai-Guan-Xiang, Foochow
We began to have prayer meetings in November 1948. We also had gospel meetings for a period of time. However, we were unable to start regular meetings because we did not have enough light. There was a long conference at Ninghai in December 1949, and one of the brothers among us attended. After he returned, we felt burdened to start meetings on the Lord's Day morning. By the Lord's mercy, we began on January 29, 1950. There were about twenty people in the meetings. Since then we have had two conferences by the brothers from Ningpo. More than thirty brothers and sisters were baptized. We started the Lord's table on June 18 (the Lord's Day) and began to break bread to remember the Lord.
As we look back on the past, we see that the Lord's mercy and leading have been with us until today. We must give honor and glory to our God! We truly feel weak and immature; indeed, we need the supply of prayers from the brothers and sisters in other places. We hope that we could be notified when the churches near us have conferences.
Mailing Address: Christian Meeting Hall, Xiao-An Street, Yuyao
The Lord has shown me much mercy during this past year as I have been learning to serve God in coordination with the church. I am still studying at Tsinghua University. The word I received at Kuling has given me gradual, inward enlightenment, and I have begun to have some experiences. As I consider this, I feel that it is the Lord's great mercy! There are now more than twenty brothers and sisters in school. We have prayer, fellowship, edification of new believers, and sporadic gospel meetings. Although there are many difficulties, they just bring in more of God's grace. Increasingly, we feel the importance of the edification of the new believers. If these basic matters are not learned well, these new ones have no future. Therefore, the brothers and I are going over the lessons, and we are begging the Lord to bring us into the spiritual reality of these lessons. We have seen the Lord's blessing. After we spoke about rising early, I called the brothers the next morning and tried to get them up. Despite much encouragement, they could not do it. We prayed specifically about this matter in a prayer meeting and asked the Lord to save us. Everyone confessed, repented, and begged the Lord for mercy. The next day everyone made a turn and got up early. This really was the Lord's blessing.
Brother Caleb recently asked me to learn the science of farming and ranching, and to pick up some practical skills in preparation for migrating to the Northwest. If the Lord leads, I am willing to go to a spiritually strategic location with a large population where there is a future for the gospel. If I migrate, the edification of new believers will be an even more important subject in my service among the brothers and sisters. As long as a local church is able to, it should have such classes. I heard more than half of the messages concerning the edification of new believers at Kuling, and I was able to secure notes on the rest, but my notes are incomplete. Could you give me a printed copy of what was shared at Kuling?
A young member,Sun KaiAugust 3, 1950
Mailing Address: c/o 9 An Nei, Kuan Street, Peking
By the mercy of the God of love, we were introduced to the fellowship of two brothers from Sheng county, and we received help from them. Through God's marvelous leading, Brother Hua Tien-min and Brother She Fei-wu came to the city of Xinchang. (They were arrested while they were meeting in Fangkou and were brought to the jail here. When we heard this, we bailed them out on the same day.) These brothers supplied us with some truth. Then Brother Yu Cheng-hua came for several meetings and gave us much precious light. As a result of these meetings, we began to meet in the Lord's name in May and began to walk together with the children of God in the way of the service in His house. The Lord gave us special grace in July by sending Brother David Hsu to Xinchang for four days of fellowship, and the brothers and sisters were helped to see the Lord Himself. We started the table on the Lord's Day, September 24, and began to break bread to remember the Lord. There was a total of twenty-seven, including nine brothers and sisters who had been newly baptized. (Several brothers and sisters gradually have been added.) Everything directs us to His presence and His glorious light, but we are so young and weak! For this reason we are sincerely and fearfully sending you this letter to plead with you, who have also received grace and are at the frontline of God's churches and saints, to uphold us with your prayers and to give us deep and long fellowship. We do this with the hope that we could be built up with you as God's dwelling place and as members one of another to manifest the testimony of the oneness of Christ's Body. Honor, glory, and authority to His name forever! Amen.
For the brothers in the church in Xinchang,Wu Huan-ting, Yu Cheng-rong, Lu Ting-zhenOctober 1, 1950
Mailing Address: Baoli Clinic, Xinchang
Since you left Sheng county, those with a heart to serve God have been strengthened by the light they have seen. They are not as easily influenced and led astray as in the past. After we preached the gospel in one accord to the outsiders, the number of inquirers increased to more than twenty. More than ten will be baptized next Lord's Day. Some did not receive the light, but instead hated it; they have joined others in slandering us. Through the shining of the light, though some were stumbled, others were revived. This is just like the situation the Lord faced when He was on the earth. The brothers can only respond with silence. We hope that the number of saved ones increases.
In the future, we will tell you of our pitiful condition, and hope that you will give us the Lord's word in exhortation.
Your brother,Chou En-ciAugust 26
Mailing Address: Christian Meeting Hall, Si-Chien Street, Sheng county, Chekiang province
We would like to share a few things concerning how the Lord led us in the way of migration that we might participate in His grace.
Over one hundred brothers and sisters in Jiazaowan signed up to migrate and passed through the confirmation of the church. Later, the list was reduced to seventy. It was decided that there would only be twenty-three families with a total of seventy-three people, including adults and children. In the eleventh month of the last lunar calendar, we sold our goods and received forms permitting us to move. We asked Brother Feng to buy fields for us in Hufang. But as time went on, it became more and more difficult to sell our possessions, and the more we lowered the price, the less people wanted to buy them. The proceeds from selling our possessions was barely enough to cover our travel expenses. Nevertheless, our inward feeling pressed us more and more. If we worried about the future and calculated our budget, we would not be able to move. The brothers and sisters felt that they should go by faith because the migration was a move of faith anyway. Therefore, we prayed earnestly and asked the Lord to make arrangements. Later, it was easier to sell our possessions, but we did not get a very good price for them. Brother Feng sent us a letter telling us that he had bought fields in Hufang. We only had to wait for the moving permits.
Some of the brothers and sisters had even sold the huts in which they lived, but they were still waiting for the moving permits. The permits seemed to take forever, and we became a bit anxious. We fasted and prayed together in one accord for one morning, and the Lord revealed His word to a brother: "Fear ye not, stand still" (Exo. 14:13). We continued to pray earnestly with tears for our gospel migration. In the end, God's word came to us again, saying, "Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak thou unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (v. 15). We knew that He did not want us to pray any longer, but instead wanted us to move forward. Three or four brothers prayed and asked, "How do we move forward?" We wanted to obtain moving permits and go in a proper way. That afternoon someone came to help us. During the night of March 9, we received our moving permits. The next day we made arrangements for the boat, the train, and our baggage. We left in the middle of the night on the third day, and we arrived safely in Yiyang at 2:00 in the afternoon the following day.
After arriving in Yiyang, we learned that the sale of the fields in Hufang was not consummated because they belonged to landed gentry. Thank the Lord that He wanted us to learn a new lesson. We wanted to buy fields in a place where the harvests were better and where we were closer to the city. How could we have guessed that He wanted us to wholly follow Him without relying on anything else and to wait for what He Himself had arranged? We were a large group, so we decided to go to the meeting hall at the First Farm to wait for God's arrangement.
We prayed and waited for ten days before going to Tungzhia, Yiyang, to see if there was any place there to start a farm. When the brothers returned, they felt that there was sufficient land to start a farm. After praying and consulting with Brother Feng, we decided to first buy more than twenty Chinese acres. We sent brothers and sisters, who could do preliminary work, to the edge of the fields to build three small houses that would shelter us from rain and provide places to sleep at night. We did not realize that the first half of the year is very rainy. There were not even three or four days of clear weather. While the rain was heavy, we were alone in the mountain wilderness without any neighbors. Our beds on the floor got wet from the ground, and the roof leaked. All we had was the Lord's presence. Sometimes we sat under umbrellas for the whole night. It was really a new lesson to learn. When the brothers saw our condition, they worked hard at their tasks: cutting grass, sawing lumber, and building wood houses. Through the encouragement of the Lord's love and by His grace, we built five large houses. We crowded all the brothers and sisters in together to save money. We continued buying fields, building houses, plowing the fields, and ordering more materials. Presently, we have a good beginning.
The director of the Farmers' Cooperative, the mayor of the village, and the county executive all examined our moving permits and expressed satisfaction that we had gone through the required procedures correctly and thoroughly. They asked us to tell them of our qualifications. We told them that we believed in Jesus and that we were just poor farmers. They said that they believed us, and granted us permission to remain in this mountain wilderness.
We have had meetings here for two Lord's Days. In the morning there is a gospel meeting and a prayer meeting. In the afternoon, there is a meeting in which we sing hymns, pray, and sometimes the brothers share something. As a result of our gospel, thirteen families have received the Lord; six of them have had some background in the gospel, while the other seven are brand new in the faith. The Lord Himself must continue working among the natives of Kiangsi.
The schedule at the farm is as follows: We rise at 5:00 for a prayer meeting. We eat breakfast at 6:00. After breakfast, everyone goes about his own work. Some go to Yiyang to buy rice and other goods. Others engage in carpentry, plowing, farming, or cattle raising. Others cut grass, carry wood, cook, or wash, etc. We eat lunch at 11:30 and dinner at 6:30.
Our budget has enough funds for another month or two. The brothers and sisters are doing their best to save money. We only eat dried vegetables, pickled rutabagas, and rice. We hope that by the Lord's grace this will be enough. Thank the Lord that the brothers' and sisters' appetites have increased for this kind of food. It has made us remember the word of the Scripture which says, "Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it/Than a house full of feasting with strife" (Prov. 17:1).
Regarding industrial production, we are presently very busy with our farming and do not have time for it. When we have time to plan for it, we will add this activity to our list.
For those who migrated to Tungzhia, Yiyang,Chao Ji-tang, Nee Jia-li, Nee Lin-diMay 5, 1950
This book is a single volume with 251 pages. Price per volume: 13,500 yen. Postage is ten percent of the purchase price. There is an additional charge for registered delivery.
There are fifty-two lessons in this book. Lessons 1 through 16 cover the experience of a person from his beginning as a sinner through his knowledge of salvation. Lessons 17 through 26 cover matters that a believer should practice after he is saved. Lessons 27 through 52 cover things that a believer should know and pursue after he is saved.
For believers who are not clear about their salvation, the goal of studying these lessons is to know the Lord's salvation. For believers who are clear about their salvation, the goal is to provide them a foundation in all the basic matters of the Bible.
There is much light in these topics. (Some of it was not discovered by the editor, but was communicated through men whom God has used in the past, and subsequently became light to the editor.) All of these topics are very precious, and are desperately needed by many of God's children.
Witness Lee, Editor
1) The Condition of Man, 2) God's Love, 3) The Redemption of Christ, 4) The Work of the Holy Spirit, 5) Repentance and Believing, 6) Forgiveness, 7) Cleansing, 8) Sanctification, 9) Justification, 10) Reconciliation with God, 11) Regeneration, 12) Eternal Life, 13) Release, 14) Salvation, 15) The Proof of Salvation, 16) The Assurance of Salvation, 17) Obeying the Sense of Life, 18) Living in the Fellowship of Life, 19) Consecration, 20) Dealing with Sin, 21) Guidance, 22) Obeying God's Will, 23) Being Filled with the Holy Spirit, 24) Preaching the Gospel, 25) Serving the Lord, 26) A Few Matters concerning the Believers' Living, 27) The Knowledge of God, 28) God's Faithfulness and His Righteousness, 29) God's Choosing and Predestination, 30) The Union of God and Man, 31) The Person of Christ, 32) The Precious Blood of Christ, 33) Law and Grace, 34) In Adam and in Christ, 35) The Believers' Two Natures, 36) Three Lives and Four Laws, 37) Union with Christ, 38) Service in the New Testament, 39) The Believers and Sin, 40) Reward, 41) Entering the Kingdom of the Heavens, 42) Sufferings, 43) The Church, 44) Angels, 45) The Devil, 46) The World, 47) Sin, 48) Death and Resurrection, 49) Judgment, 50) Heaven and Hell, 51) The Believers and the Rapture, 52) Christ's Second Coming. (There are three charts in the book.)
This book is being typeset now. There are 129 pages. Each copy will cost 6,500 yen. Postage is an additional ten percent. There is an additional charge for registered delivery.
This book has a total of 114 pages. Each copy costs 5,600 yen. Postage is an additional ten percent. There is an additional charge for registered delivery.
The Gospel Book RoomP. O. Box 5008, ShanghaiOctober 30, 1950
Those who live in Shanghai can come to our store at 145 Nanyang Road to purchase these books. Those outside of Shanghai can wire money to purchase them. Please send your money to The Gospel Book Room. (Do not wire money to an individual's name.) If you wire money through the post office, you must include the name of our branch office. Please mark: Jingan Temple.
To whom it may concern:
We plan to print a 1951 Believers' Daily Calendar to meet the spiritual needs of the brothers and sisters everywhere. Although last year's calendar had many defects because of difficulties in the circumstances, we hope to do our best to improve and correct this year's efforts. We will do our best to make the price, wrapper, paper, shipping, and other matters up to our standard. This year we are asking the co-workers here, in other parts of China, and from overseas to supply us with the contents. We believe this will meet the needs of the brothers and sisters.
In addition to a daily calendar for the believers, we hope to print another yearly calendar.
The price for the Believers' Daily Calendar will be half a unit of the Foochow currency, including shipping. (According to the exchange rate at the time of printing, half a unit equals 3,000 yen.) We have calculated the price of the yearly calendar in yen. Each calendar will cost 300 yen including shipping. One is expensive, and the other is cheap. If the brothers and sisters in your locality want to order calendars, please send us a letter with your order by the end of October so that we will know how many have been pre-ordered. If you wire money through the post office, please mark it with the name of our branch office: "Nan Street Post Office." If the brothers and sisters around your area want to pre-order, please pass on this information to them also.
The Foochow Gospel Book StoreOctober 2, 1950
Mailing Address: Hsin 58 Jin-Men Road, Foochow
NATURE: To show the way to serve, to help the serving ones and the churches in the different localities go on, and to solve problems related to the ministry.
FREQUENCY: We publish irregularly.
PRICES: We have no set price.
SUBSCRIPTION: All who wish to subscribe to this publication should clearly write their name, address, and number of copies and send it to Distribution Department, The Gospel Book Room, P. O. Box 5008, Shanghai.
ATTENTION: 1) When subscribing, please write neatly and make sure the address is clear. 2) We ask those subscribers from different provinces to please include the name of their province. 3) When changing your address, your name must be the same as when you first subscribed. It is best if you can also send us the number from the wrapper of your copy.
WIRING MONEY: If God's children could help with the costs of publication according to the amount God has given them, we would be happy to accept it. If you are wiring money, please wire it to Gospel Book Room Distribution Office, 145 Nanyang Road, Shanghai. If you are wiring money through the post office, you will need to write our branch name. Please mark: Jingan Temple.
1) We have explained the nature of this publication above. Many things in this publication are directed to brothers and sisters who are in fellowship with us and learning to serve together with us. There are many places with which we are not acquainted, but which have earnestly requested our publication. We feel we are obligated to share this publication with them. We hope you would do your best to understand what you are reading and try not to misunderstand. If you misunderstand, what benefit will you obtain?
2) The new issues of The Christian and The Present Testimony will be delayed. Please forgive us.
3) There are still some copies of the fourth issue of The Testimony. Those who want copies should send us a letter. We will limit it to one copy per person until all have been given out.
Distribution Department, The Gospel Book RoomOctober 1950
Recently some outside publications have criticized our testimony and attacked our co-worker, Brother Watchman Nee. We have remained silent about these publications because we do not like to argue. On the one hand, we wanted to learn the lessons before the Lord, and on the other hand, we wanted to allow the Lord Himself to vindicate us. In the final analysis, the thoughts and desires of everyone's heart will be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ. May the Lord have mercy on us so that we would always fear Him! With respect to the person of Brother Watchman Nee, however, we can testify in one accord before the Lord that he is one of God's faithful servants. Although he engages in some form of business, his goal has never been to gain anything for himself. We are all in one accord with him in the matter of the truth, in the matter of the service, and in the matter of his business. We respectfully announce this to all the brothers and sisters who care for us, and we ask you to pray for us.
Tang Shou-ling, Yu Cheng-hua, Chang Kuang-rong,Stephen Kaung, Tu Tsong-chen, David Hsu, Chu Chen,Chang Yu-zhi, Miao Yun-chun, Ruth Lee, Peace Wang,Phoebe ChangOctober 22, 1950
The editor of the former Last Days Magazine (it is now called The Christian Digest) has always been a pastor in a denomination, so he naturally carries the tendencies of his background. He has maintained a great amount of communication with me, but he has never taken this way. The article entitled "Hastening the Lord's Coming," which appeared in the fourth issue of that magazine, was written by me as a favor to a friend. I had no other intention in writing it. Before publication of the article, I knew nothing about what he would write concerning me in the editor's introduction at the end of my article. I have always condemned sectarianism according to God's word. I am writing this explanation because the brothers and sisters from many places have written to inquire about the matter.
Tang Xing October 18, 1950
