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Many Christians do not understand the reason they need to meet, but meetings are of supreme importance to Christians. History shows that meeting is a characteristic of the church. Prior to the existence of the church, mankind did not understand the value and function of meetings. It was not until the church was produced that men came to know the significance of meeting together, because meeting together enables men to accomplish many things that they otherwise could not.
In the Old Testament age, even before the church was produced, God’s people lived a meeting life. In the Bible the unique God called the children of Israel an assembly. They had to assemble together when they worshipped God and listened to His instruction. God gathered them together when He was ready to perform a great thing. During the forty years in the wilderness, they lived a life of assembling together. After they entered Canaan, the good land, they continued to follow God’s command and gather in Jerusalem at least three times a year to worship God corporately by keeping the Feast of the Passover (the Feast of Unleavened Bread), the Feast of Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. When they gathered together, either the priests or the prophets would instruct them according to the teachings of God. Great or important matters among them were also decided in such gatherings. After the children of Israel returned from their captivity, Ezra gathered them together and read the law to them (Ezra 7:10; Neh. 8). God’s people gathered together even in heavy rain to deal with their transgression against God until the whole matter was resolved (Ezra 10:7-14). Hence, the meeting life is a service of the church.
In the Gospel of Matthew the Lord Jesus mentioned the church twice: one time concerning the foundation of the church and another time concerning the church life. In chapter 16 we see that the foundation of the church is Christ as the rock (v. 18). Then in chapter 18, concerning the church life, the Lord said, “Where there are two or three gathered into My name, there am I in their midst” (v. 20). In the same chapter He also said that if an offending brother refuses to hear the brothers’ reproof, the brothers should tell it to the church (vv. 15-17). Thus, chapter 18 is on the church life.
In Acts when the church was ready to be brought forth as a child being delivered from a mother’s womb, one hundred twenty people gathered daily in the Lord’s presence to pray in one accord (1:13-15; 2:1). The church was produced through the gathering of the saints. After the church came into existence, those in the church gathered together every day. Later, they brought three thousand and then another five thousand to salvation. They lived the church life together (vv. 41-42, 46-47; 4:4; 5:42). The Greek word for church is ekklesia, meaning “a called-out congregation.” In Chinese the term was rendered as “jiao-hui,” meaning “a religious gathering.” This is a poor translation, because the church is not a religious gathering but an ekklesia, a gathering of the called-out ones.
The meaning of the word church can be clearly seen in the type of the children of Israel. When the Israelites were scattered in Egypt, God called them out into the wilderness to become an assembly. Even though there was no such title as the church, the gathering of those called out by God was the church, the assembly. The church life is a meeting life, an assembling life. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not abandoning our own assembling together.” Meeting together is the greatest, most practical, and most effective way for Christians to be built up. Meetings are extremely important to the Christian life.
A good meeting can be of tremendous help to a Christian, and a poor meeting can cause much harm to a Christian. Whether or not we are edified in our spiritual life hinges on the meetings of our local church. It is in the meetings that we can receive much edification and spiritual help. Although we receive benefits from praying to God, reading the Bible, and fellowshipping with God individually, and even from fellowshipping with the saints, none of these benefits can be compared with the benefits we receive in the meetings. If the meetings are poor, we will suffer a great loss. Sometimes a meeting might not seem poor, but if the Lord’s work, the Lord’s presence, and the Spirit’s moving are not present, it is a loss to the brothers and sisters.
A saint once shared his feeling with me, saying, “If I do not come to the meeting, I have no peace; however, if I come, I feel burdened.” The meetings are for worshipping and serving God. If our meetings are burdensome, we need to correct and adjust the meetings so that the saints do not suffer loss. If a meeting does not have the presence of the Holy Spirit, the saints will feel that the time is going by slowly, but if a meeting is full of the presence of the Holy Spirit, they will sense that the meeting goes by quickly. All the Lord’s workers and responsible ones in the church should pay attention to the matter of how to lead a meeting so that the brothers and sisters will benefit and not suffer loss.
The prerequisite of leading a meeting is that we must first enter into fellowship with the Lord. If we are not in fellowship with the Lord, a meeting will bring in burden and death. For example, if no one at a Lord’s table meeting has entered into fellowship with the Lord, all our elements of death will be combined when we are together, and the resulting death in the meeting will be unimaginable. We will bring in death if we have not entered into fellowship with the Lord before coming to a meeting. If this is the case, no one may have selected a hymn, and no prayers may have been offered even five minutes after the scheduled time for the meeting to begin. This is altogether a dead situation. The Lord’s table meeting is a real test to the condition of our spirit. If everyone’s spirit is deadened and quiet in a Lord’s table meeting, and no one has chosen a hymn or prayed, the responsible brothers may feel compelled to choose a hymn. But eventually, the more we sing, the more we will feel deadened and depressed. After the meeting someone might say, “The meeting today was really poor; it was very bad.” A young one might say, “I am not coming next time.” Who then is responsible for the meeting? We are all responsible. Hence, the prerequisite for leading a meeting is that we must all first enter into fellowship with the Lord. Then we can meet in the Spirit of the Lord.
If we all meet in this way, the meetings will issue in life and the living Spirit. However, if we meet outside of the fellowship with the Lord, the meetings will bring in death. In a meeting of four hundred people, if there are forty who live in fellowship with the Lord, allow the Holy Spirit to operate in them, and serve as channels of the Holy Spirit, that meeting will be uplifted and enriched. In order to enter into fellowship with the Lord, we need to touch His presence through dealings, prayer, and fellowship with Him prior to our coming to a meeting. In this way we will be enlivened, and others will be affected. Some saints have learned to live in the Lord and in the Spirit. When they enter a meeting, they bring the Spirit and life to the meeting. Thus, we should never take the meetings lightly, thinking that we can come in a casual way without living in fellowship with the Lord. We need to know that the prerequisite of leading a meeting is to enter into fellowship with the Lord and then enter a meeting in the spirit of fellowship.
Before we come to a meeting, we must enter into fellowship with the Lord. But once we enter a meeting, the first thing we must do is to touch the spirit of the meeting. For example, everyone at a wedding meeting is full of joy. But if two children are crying and making noise, some will say that they are not proper. Whenever we enter a meeting, we need to touch the atmosphere and spirit of the meeting in a spirit of fellowship. Every meeting, or every kind of meeting, has its spirit. If our spirit is living and sensitive, we will be able to touch the spirit of a meeting. For instance, we should not be singing, “Praise Him! praise Him! praise the Savior!” when we enter a memorial meeting. We should not be those who are without feeling or sensitivity. If the atmosphere of the meeting is sorrowful, we should be able to touch that spirit once we step into the meeting and immediately feel sorrowful. Even if we were praising the Lord on our way to the meeting, once we enter into the mournful atmosphere of the meeting, our inner feeling should be sorrowful.
The problem with many saints is that they neither care for the spirit of the meeting nor touch the atmosphere of the meeting. It is as if whatever is happening in the meeting has nothing to do with them. They are all smiles while someone is weeping in prayer. They do not care for the spirit of the meeting; instead, they are concerned only for their feeling. For example, in a table meeting the spirit of the meeting may cause everyone to sense the Lord’s dignity and greatness. Then a brother, unaware of the spirit and the atmosphere of the meeting, may select an irrelevant hymn as he enters the meeting. Because he has been singing and contemplating this hymn every day at home, he selects the hymn when he enters the meeting, regardless of the atmosphere of the meeting. He cares only for his feeling. Selecting hymns in this way is like laughing at a memorial meeting.
When we enter a meeting, we must touch the atmosphere, the spirit, of the meeting. We must put aside our personal feeling and be sensitive to touch the atmosphere of the meeting by the spirit of fellowship. We should do this in the Lord’s table meeting, the prayer meeting, the fellowship meeting, and the meeting for the ministry of the word. For instance, we may have prepared a message to give in a meeting, but when we enter the meeting, we may touch an atmosphere that is not in line with the message we prepared. We should drop the original message and speak another message. Sometimes when we are talking with others, we must drop what we intended to say because the atmosphere is inappropriate. At that moment we need to observe the countenances of others, touch their feelings, and then speak accordingly. In conclusion, when we come to a meeting, we must exercise our living spirit within to touch the spirit and atmosphere of the meeting. Only when we have inwardly touched the atmosphere do we have anything to express, either by selecting a hymn or offering a prayer. We must always touch the feeling of a meeting with our spirit.
Before we come to a meeting, we must enter into fellowship with the Lord. Then as we enter a meeting, we must touch the spirit of the meeting. Furthermore, we must prepare ourselves and open our spirit so that the Holy Spirit can use us as a channel to speak for Him. However, some saints have made up their mind before coming to a meeting that they will not open their mouth, because they want only to attend a meeting and to listen to a message. They are determined to merely listen. This is because they think that the prayer meeting is for the praying ones to pray and the ministry meeting is for the ministering ones to minister; therefore, they come to listen. This is wrong. We should not have this kind of thought. We should open our spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to use us as a channel to speak for Him.
In some localities the responsible brothers always sit in the front at the Lord’s table meeting. We cannot find this in the Bible. There are only brothers at the table meeting; there are no responsible brothers. The primary reason the responsible brothers sit in the first row should be for the convenience of making announcements. I am afraid, however, that the responsible brothers have the concept that they are responsible for leading the table meeting. We need to be clear that no one should be taking the lead in the table meeting. Strictly speaking, there should be no particular seating arrangement at the Lord’s table. For example, sometimes I sit at the front in the meeting; at other times I sit with a younger brother. In this way the saints have the impression that there is no special seating at the Lord’s table: I am a slave of God and a brother to them.
The saints must be clear that there is no special seating in the Lord’s table meeting. Otherwise, ten years from now, all the elders will be sitting in the front row and will consider that they are leading the meeting. All the responsible brothers should realize that there is no special order established by men. Any order established by men is erroneous. Brother George Müller of England sat at the very back in every Lord’s table meeting. Although that was quite good, some might have the impression that it was too much. When we come to the Lord’s table, we should not have a concept regarding who should sit at the front and who should sit at the back. The new believers, the newly saved ones, should sit at the front with those who have been saved for a longer time. For example, if there are four children in a family, the youngest would always sit next to the father at mealtimes. This is the order in a family. Breaking of bread, being a family matter, should also keep the same order.
In the churches in Taiwan, the opening and closing of the meetings, whether at the Lord’s table, prayer, or fellowship meeting, are done by responsible brothers. Almost every time, one of the responsible brothers selects a hymn at the beginning of the meeting, and then everyone else joins in to sing. Imperceptibly, it seems that only the responsible brothers are priests. However, in the New Testament age we are all priests. The saints in all the churches should be clear concerning this. The co-workers, elders, and ones responsible for the home meetings should avoid selecting hymns at the beginning of the table meeting, prayer meeting, and fellowship meeting in order to not replace the priestly function of the saints. In addition, they should not conclude the meeting for the saints. Among us there should be an atmosphere of “not replacing.” All the saints should participate and function in the meetings. The leading ones among us should not nullify the spirit of the brothers and sisters by serving as priests on their behalf. May the Lord have mercy on the churches so that the leading ones will not be the only ones responsible for beginning and ending the meetings but that all the saints would function in this way.
The responsible brothers in all the localities should avoid replacing the saints in selecting hymns at the beginning of a meeting. Any saint can select a hymn according to the moving of the Spirit. In this matter the sisters are not excluded; they can also pray and sing according to the moving of the Spirit. The responsible brothers should never be the only ones to take care of the beginning and ending of a meeting. The responsible brothers are responsible for the administration of the church, that is, to take the lead in administrating the church. However, at the table meeting all the saints come together before the Lord. Moreover, blessing the bread and the cup should not be done exclusively by the responsible brothers. Rather, the responsible brothers should perfect the newly saved ones to bless the bread and the cup. For example, we can begin to perfect a brother who was saved and baptized yesterday to bless the bread and the cup and to pass them to the saints at the table meeting.
If a father assigns the youngest child to distribute some candy to everyone in the family, there will be a sense of sweetness; however, the feeling will not be as sweet if the father assigns the oldest brother to distribute the candy. At the Lord’s supper the Lord said to His disciples, “Take, eat...Drink of it, all of you” (Matt. 26:26-27). There is no reference to Peter being at the front. Hence, especially in the Lord’s table meeting, we should not have a set order. At the end of the Lord’s table meeting a responsible brother can stand up and make the announcements concerning the move of the church. During the Lord’s table meeting there are no responsible brothers; everyone is a brother. If we are not clear in this matter, the meeting will not have a good beginning. All the brothers and sisters will focus on the responsible brothers, thinking that the responsible brothers should be the first to select a hymn and pray. This will quench the spirit of the meeting. Before God we do not have any order in the Lord’s table meeting. Before we come to the meeting, we must enter into fellowship with the Lord; in the meeting we must touch the feeling of the spirit and select hymns according to the inspiration of the Spirit. After singing, we should all pray, testify, or speak.
After a meeting begins, once we touch the spirit of the meeting, we will begin to function. Let us now speak concerning selecting hymns. Do not consider this to be an ordinary matter. Selecting hymns in a meeting involves many details. In order to select hymns, we need knowledge in two aspects. First, we must know the hymn categories: some hymns are for praising, some for prayer, some for spiritual warfare, some for edification, some for gospel preaching, some for touching the Spirit, some for remembering the Lord, and some for worshipping the Father. We must have knowledge of the different categories of the hymns if we want to select proper hymns in a meeting. Otherwise, we are likely to make mistakes in selecting hymns. Second, we must understand the progression of the meeting. This may be likened to the four seasons of the year. For each season we wear clothes of different thickness. We dress lightly in summer, warmer in fall, and the warmest in winter. Likewise, the hymns we select in a meeting should be altogether according to the atmosphere and course of the meeting. Therefore, in selecting hymns, we must be clear concerning the different categories of hymns and also know the atmosphere and progression of a meeting.
In the entire course of a meeting we need different hymns for different sections of a meeting. For example, we may have ten kinds of hymns to meet the need of different sections of the meeting. The first hymn should be an opening hymn. After the opening hymn we should lead the saints into the subject of the meeting. Hence, the second hymn should be an introductory hymn that brings the entire meeting to its central subject. Sometimes, if there may not have been a strong release of the spirit of a hymn, there is the need for a third kind of hymn, a strengthening hymn. At such a time we need to strengthen the spirit. But if the strengthening hymn is not sufficient, we will need a fourth kind of hymn that can uplift the spirit. However, a hymn for uplifting the spirit does not necessarily have to follow a strengthening hymn. A fifth kind of hymn is a turning hymn. When someone selects the wrong hymn and the singing begins to drag, there is the need to turn by selecting another hymn. For example, in a meeting where everyone senses the Lord’s greatness and exaltedness, a brother may select a gospel hymn. At such a time there is the need for someone to select another hymn immediately. A sixth kind of hymn, similar to a turning hymn, is a correcting hymn. For example, someone may select a hymn about praising the Lord after the bread and cup have been passed. At this time someone should correct this choice by selecting a hymn related to the worship of the Father. A seventh kind of hymn maintains the spirit. If the meeting has not reached its conclusion, there is the need to maintain the spirit of the meeting. An eighth kind of hymn fills the gap and adjusts the length of a meeting. Sometimes if the meeting is too long and needs some adjustment, someone can adjust it with a hymn. The ninth kind of hymn is a concluding hymn, and the tenth kind of hymn is a lingering hymn, a hymn for lingering before sending people off. Sometimes a meeting has ended, yet it seems that the meeting is still not over; at such times there is the need for a “sending off” hymn. This is based on Genesis 18. When Abraham was reluctant to let Jehovah go, he walked a distance with Him to send Him off (v. 16).
An opening hymn serves two purposes. First, it calms the saints’ hearts. Often our hearts are not settled when we walk into a meeting. The singing of a hymn can calm our hearts. Second, an opening hymn allows time for all the saints to arrive. The second hymn should bring the saints’ hearts into the central subject of a meeting. In short, because the first hymn is for the preparation of the saints’ hearts, the singing should be living. But we should not go too high too fast; rather, we should sing verse by verse to calm the saints’ hearts so that they may be brought into the presence of God. Hence, no matter what kind of meeting we are in, we can select a longer hymn for the first one. The second hymn brings the saints into the central subject of a meeting, leading them into the spirit of a meeting.
Suppose in a prayer meeting we sense that the atmosphere is for the spreading of the gospel; we should not select a hymn that does not have the flavor of prayer. Even though a hymn of encouragement can be used in ministering the Word or in encouraging the brothers and sisters to preach the gospel, it is not appropriate in a prayer meeting. Therefore, if we select the wrong hymn, it will be difficult to go on in the meeting. If we are not familiar with the hymns and expect to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are waiting for a miracle. Hence, a knowledge of the hymns and the selection of hymns are very important.
An opening hymn should be long enough for the spirit of the saints to be fanned into flame. If a hymn is not long enough, the saints will not be sufficiently “pumped up” in their spirit; they will be like those who are out of breath when they run home from the street and go directly to the dining table. In order for the opening hymn to stir up and uplift the spirit of the saints, the tune must be powerful, and it must be easy to sing; moreover, the lyrics should be of adequate length. For instance, Hymns, #213 is a good hymn for beginning the table meeting. If all the brothers and sisters sense that the Lord is full of glory and honor, then they can sing Hymns, #127, and continue with Hymns, #183. To do this, however, we must have some spiritual skill, and the spirit of the meeting must also be able to keep pace. Otherwise, as a rule, after singing Hymns, #127, we will not be able to find another hymn as a continuation because the singing has already reached the peak. For this reason we might need to reserve Hymns, #127 for later and sing Hymns, #183 first. However, if we are experienced in spirit and realize that even though Hymns, #127 is high, it cannot fully express our inner feeling; then perhaps we can continue with Hymns, #141. In such an uplifted spirit we can break the bread to remember the Lord, singing, “Jesus, Thy head, once crown’d with thorns, / Is crown’d with glory now; / Heaven’s royal diadem adorns / The mighty Victor’s brow” (stanza 1). If we all remember the Lord in this way, the brothers and sisters will receive an unimaginable supply.
I hope that the responsible brothers in the various localities will bring this matter to the Lord and learn to put it into practice. Otherwise, although we may give people food in our meetings, we may cause them to have indigestion. Meetings are for the edification of the saints, but if we do not know how to meet in a proper way, we will not only fail to edify the saints but also ruin their spiritual appetite. If we begin a meeting with Hymns, #183, continue with Hymns, #127, follow with an uplifted blessing, and then go on to Hymns, #141, the saints will surely feel comfortable and receive nourishment.
We all need to be serious and familiarize ourselves with the hymns. We should even memorize some of the hymns. The leading brothers, in particular, must spend time in this matter; otherwise, their work will be meaningless. Some of the leading brothers may say that they have a blueprint in their hand, yet after a while what they are attempting to carry out may become dead and full of the flesh. If so, there is a problem. Therefore, we need to have a careful consideration concerning the blueprint. Sometimes a blueprint may not be entirely accurate, so it is best that the brothers do not design a blueprint by themselves; rather, they should do it in coordination with the saints. Even if we have a correct blueprint, however, our way and method may not be right. Sometimes we lead the saints to consecrate themselves and to begin with their spirit, but we have not led them to deal with their sins. This is not appropriate. The Holy Spirit never works together with the flesh. Thus, if we work by the flesh, we are finished. We must all learn this lesson: once we touch the Lord’s work, we must learn to reject and deal with our flesh.
