The Meetings and Spiritual Exercise of the Local Church

Additional Quotes about the Local Church by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee

Commenting on the way to come to the local church meetings, Witness Lee says:

Then we read, “I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise.” Even before we enter the house, there is joy and praise. I believe that this is the best verse to tell us the way to come to the meetings. Firstly, we must come with the multitude—it is better not to come by ourselves. Secondly, we should come with the voice of joy and praise. While we are on the way, either walking or driving, we may start the praising. Come to the meetings with the multitude; come to the meetings with the voice of joy and praise. I hope that one day, when Christians are going to the church meetings, everyone around will realize that they are on their way to the meeting because they are praising. Even in ancient times the Old Testament saints came to the house of God in such a wonderful way. How much more should we!

(Witness Lee, Christ and the Church, 66)

In another portion, Witness Lee encourages the believers to enjoy God’s presence in the local churches:

Brothers and sisters, let me check with you. Where is it that you sense most deeply that you are in God’s presence? I believe that you must answer that you sense God’s presence the most when you are in the local churches. I cannot tell you how many times, when I was in the meetings of the local churches, I was just before God. When I came with the multitude to the house of God, to the local church, I appeared before Him.

(Witness Lee, Christ and the Church, 65-66)

In this enlightening hymn, Witness Lee reveals the exhibition of Christ in the local church meetings:

1. Whene’er we meet with Christ endued,
   The surplus of His plenitude
   We offer unto God as food,
   And thus exhibit Christ.

Chorus
Let us exhibit Christ,
Let us exhibit Christ;
We’ll bring His surplus to the church
And thus exhibit Christ.

2. In Christ we live, by Christ we fight,
   On Christ we labor day and night,
   And with His surplus we unite
   To thus exhibit Christ.



3. Our life and all we are and do
   Is Christ Himself, the substance true,
   That every time we meet anew
   We may exhibit Christ.



4. In meetings Christ to God we bear
   And Christ with one another share,
   And Christ with God enjoying there,
   We thus exhibit Christ.



5. The risen Christ to God we bring,
   And Christ ascended offering,
   God’s satisfaction answering,
   We thus exhibit Christ.



6. The center and reality,
   The atmosphere and ministry,
   Of all our meetings is that we
   May thus exhibit Christ.



7. The testimony and the prayer,
   And all the fellowship we share,
   The exercise of gifts, whate’er,
   Should just exhibit Christ.



8. The Father we would glorify,
   Exalting Christ the Son, thereby
   The meeting’s purpose satisfy
   That we exhibit Christ.

(Witness Lee, Hymns, 796-797)

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