The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959, volume 5, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee in November 1959 through January 1960. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1959 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of volume 1 in this set. The contents of this volume are divided into two sections, as follows: 1. Nine messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the fourth part of a training that began on October 5, 1959, and concluded on January 22, 1960. The messages in this section were given in November and December 1959 and are included in this volume under the title Synopsis of Exodus. 2. Thirty-seven messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the fifth part of a training that began on October 5, 1959, and concluded on January 22, 1960. The messages in this section were given from the end of December 1959 through January 21, 1960, and are included in this volume under the title Synopsis of Leviticus.
The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959, volume 4, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee in October 1959 through January 1960. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1959 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of volume 1 in this set. The contents of this volume are divided into five sections, as follows: 1. Two sessions of fellowship given in Taipei, Taiwan, in October 1959 as part of a training concerning service. These messages are included in this volume under the title The Purpose, Regulations, and Standard of the Training. 2. Twenty messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the winter of 1959. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Lessons on Prayer and are included in this volume under the same title. 3. Eighteen messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in midweek meetings held in October 1959 through January 1960. These messages were originally published in The Ministry of the Word in 1962 and 1963 and were previously published in a book entitled Life and Building in the Gospel of John. They are included in this volume under the same title. 4. Seven messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the third part of a training that began on October 5, 1959, and concluded on January 22, 1960. These messages were given in November and December 1959 and are included in this volume under the title Synopsis of Genesis. 5. A two-part topical outline of the Bible prepared in Taipei, Taiwan, in November and December 1959. This outline is included in this volume under the title A Topical Outline of the Bible.
At the time of regeneration, all believers receive the divine life and are begotten as children of God. Yet, this life most grow and it does so by regulation unto maturity and function. This regulation comes from revelation and issues in obedience. This word is crucial for our progress and training in the divine life for our maturity and function in our living and service to God.
The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959, volume 3, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee in September through December 1959. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1959 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of volume 1 in this set. The contents of this volume are divided into four sections, as follows: 1. Personal notes consisting of two sets of outlines for gospel meetings held in Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in September and November 1959. These notes are included in this volume under the title Witness Lee's Personal Notes. 2. Twenty-five messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the fall of 1959. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Lessons for New Believers and are included in this volume under the same title. 3. Five messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the first part of a training that began on October 5, 1959, and concluded on January 22, 1960. Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5 were previously published in a book entitled On Knowing the Bible. Chapter 3 was added based on notes taken by Brother K. H. Weigh and his wife, Lin Yi-tian. The messages that compose the first four chapters were given on October 6 through 9, 1959, and the fifth message was probably given shortly thereafter. The five messages are included in this volume under the same title as the previously published book. 4. Ten messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the second part of a training that began on October 5, 1959, and concluded on January 22, 1960. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Ten Lines in the Bible. Later, two appendices were added based on notes taken by Brother K. H. Weigh and his wife, Lin Yi-tian. The exact dates for the speaking of these messages are unknown, but they were given in the winter of 1959. The ten messages and the two appendices are included in this volume under the same title as the previously published book.
During the first few months of 1959, Brother Witness Lee's first wife was in the final stage of her terminal illness, and he spent most of his time accompanying her. No conferences were held, and no messages were recorded during this period of time. His wife died on April 24. On May 26 through 30 Brother Lee began to have a series of meetings with the co-workers on a new direction of the work in Taiwan. His speaking during this period is included in the first part of volume 1 of this set. After this, on June 4 he traveled to Hong Kong and stayed for two days, during which time he had a brief meeting with some of the co-workers. He then traveled to the Philippines. There he released some messages on Christ and the church and conducted a Bible study on the Gospel of John. His speaking in the Philippines is included in volume 1 of this set. After his visit to the Philippines, he returned to Hong Kong at the end of July and conducted a two-week young people's conference on July 25 through August 9. At the end of this conference he held six question-and-answer sessions with co-workers and district serving ones. Brother Lee's speaking during his two visits to Hong Kong are included in volumes 1 and 2 of this set. On August 16 he returned to Taiwan and began planning for the new stage of the work in Taiwan. Beginning on September 20 he conducted six days of gospel meetings in the largest stadium in Taipei, with more than ten thousand in attendance. This was preceded by three preparation meetings and four follow-up gospel truth meetings. On October 5 he began a training on how to perfect new ones, which extended until January 22, 1960. His speaking in Taipei during the second half of 1959 is included at the end of volume 2 and in volumes 3 through 5 of this set. The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959, volume 1, contains messages, personal letters, and reports given or written by Brother Witness Lee in January through November 1959. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1959 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of this volume. The contents of this volume are divided into six sections, as follows: 1. Personal letters and reports that were published in Church News, Issue Nos. 19 through 23 and 26 through 33, in January through November. These letters and reports are included in this volume under the same title. 2. Two messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 26. These messages are included in this volume under the title The New Direction of the Work. 3. Four messages given in Manila, Philippines, and Taipei, Taiwan, in 1959. The first three chapters were previously published in a book entitled Our Vision--Christ and the Church. Later, a fourth chapter was added based on notes taken by Brother K. H. Weigh. The four messages are included in this volume under the same title as the previously published book. 4. Twenty-eight messages given in Manila, Philippines, in the summer of 1959. These messages are included in this volume under the title Revelations in John: Seeing the Essential Significance of Life and Building. 5. Four talks given in Hong Kong in June through August. These talks are included in this volume under the title A Record of Several Talks in Hong Kong. 6. Six messages given in Hong Kong on July 25 through August 9. These messages, plus an appendix, are included in this volume under the title Experiencing God as Life to Live the Church Life.
The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959, volume 2, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee in June 1959 through September 1961. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1959 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of volume 1 in this set. The contents of this volume are divided into five sections, as follows: 1. Fourteen messages given in Manila, Philippines; Hong Kong; and Taipei, Taiwan, on June 14 through December 14, 1959. Chapters 6 through 9 consist of messages given in Manila on June 14 through July 7, chapters 1 through 5 consist of messages given in Hong Kong on July 27 through the first part of August, and chapters 10 through 14 consist of messages given in Taipei on August 19 through December 14. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Christ Making His Home in Our Heart and the Building Up of the Church and are included in this volume under the same title. 2. Fourteen messages given in Hong Kong on July 27 through August 8, 1959. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Knowing and Experiencing God as Life and are included in this volume under the same title. 3. Fourteen messages given in Hong Kong on July 31 and August 1, 1959 (chapters 13 and 14), and in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 10 through September 1, 1961 (chapters 1 through 12). These messages were previously published in a book entitled Leading the Young People with the Word and the Spirit and are included in this volume under the same title. 4. Six messages given in Hong Kong on August 12 through 16, 1959. These messages are included in this volume under the title Questions and Answers concerning Life and Service. 5. Thirteen messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, on August 31 through October 1, 1959. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Christ Being the Burden of the Gospel and are included in this volume under the same title.
In this issue we will continue the four lines of ministry that began in the first issue of Ministry Digest (vol. 1, no. 1). The first line--The History of the Lord's Recovery--continues with chapters 21 through 24 of The History and Revelation of the Lord's Recovery, which are in volume 2 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1981. These chapters speak of the recovery of the practicality of the church life, the troubles without and the troubles within during the spread of the testimony in the United States, and the advancement of the Lord's recovery in the Unites States. The second line--Words for New Believers--continues with chapters 16 through 19 of Lessons for New Believers, which are in volume 3 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959. These chapters speak of the ground of the church, the division of the church, our practice related to the expression of the church on the ground of locality and our attitude toward organized Christianity, and serving the Lord. The third line--Maturing in Life--continues with the final chapter of The Way for a Christian to Mature in Life, which is in volume 3 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1955, and then begins chapters 1 through 3 of a new book, The Purpose of God's Salvation, which are in volume 3 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1961. The final chapter of The Way for a Christian to Mature in Life speaks of experiencing the transforming work of gold, silver, and precious stones as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 3. The third line then continues with a new book that begins by focusing on Christ being the central purpose of God, the church being the Body of Christ and the fullness of Christ, and Christ making His home and the church being filled. The fourth line--The High Peak of the Divine Revelation--continues with the final two chapters of The Divine and Mystical Realm, which are in volume 4 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1994–1997, and then begins chapters 1 and 2 of a new book, The Experience of God's Organic Salvation Equaling Reigning in Christ's Life, which are in volume 5 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1994–1997. The speaking in these chapters concerns regeneration and renewing and sanctification and transformation.
In the Lord’s recovery during the past five hundred years the church’s knowledge of the Lord and His truth has been continually progressing. This monumental and classical work by Brother Witness Lee builds upon and is a further development of all that the Lord has revealed to His church in the past centuries. It is filled with the revelation concerning the processed Triune God, the living Christ, the life-giving Spirit, the experience of life, and the definition and practice of the church. In this set Brother Lee has kept three basic principles that should rule and govern every believer in their interpretation, development, and expounding of the truths contained in the Scriptures. The first principle is that of the Triune God dispensing Himself into His chosen and redeemed people; the second principle is that we should interpret, develop, and expound the truths contained in the Bible with Christ for the church; and the third governing principle is Christ, the Spirit, life, and the church. No other study or exposition of the New Testament conveys the life nourishment or ushers the reader into the divine revelation of God’s holy Word according to His New Testament economy as this one does.
In this issue we will continue the four lines of ministry that began in the first issue of Ministry Digest (vol. 1, no. 1). The first line--The History of the Lord's Recovery--continues with chapters 25 through 28 of The History and Revelation of the Lord's Recovery, which are in volume 2 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1981. These chapters provide a brief account of the Lord's recovery in the United States, South America, Korea, Africa, and Australasia and a word concerning the Lord's recovery being a living, not a work. The second line--Words for New Believers--continues with chapters 20 through 23 of Lessons for New Believers, which are in volume 3 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959. These chapters speak of preaching the gospel and the practice of fellowship. The third line--Maturing in Life--continues with chapters 4 through 7 of The Purpose of God's Salvation, which are in volume 3 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1961. This line focuses on the unsearchable riches of Christ, the purpose of God's salvation, five practices essential to the fulfillment of God's purpose, and our need to experience Christ as both God and man for the church life. The fourth line--The High Peak of the Divine Revelation--continues with chapters 3 through 6 of The Experience of God's Organic Salvation Equaling Reigning in Christ's Life, which are in volume 5 of The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1994–1997. The speaking in these chapters concerns conformation and glorification and then concludes with three manifestations of what it means to reign in life.
This issue of The Ministry of the Word contains the eight messages of the international training for elders and responsible ones hosted by Living Stream Ministry in Anaheim, California, on March 24-26, 2023. The general subject of this series of messages is "Knowing, Experiencing, and Living the All-inclusive Christ for the Genuine Church Life." God's will, which is His eternal purpose and desire in the universe, is that Christ be everything to us and be wrought into us as our life and every- thing. We need to see a heavenly vision of God's intention to make Christ everything to us, and we need to be freed from all distractions and brought back to Christ Himself so that we may know Christ, experience Christ, enjoy Christ, express Christ, and be constituted with Christ. The issue of our being brought back to Christ Himself is the genuine church life, which is Christ realized, experienced, and expressed by all the saints in a corporate way. The church life is nothing other than the all-inclusive Christ with His unsearchable riches experienced and enjoyed by us and expressed through us. The genuine church life can be realized only by the experience of Christ as everything to us in our daily life. The development of Christ into our inward being issues in the genuine church life. God's intention in His economy is to work Himself into us not only as our life but also as our person. We need to take Christ as our person for the church as the one new man, in whom Christ is all and in all. Just as the Lord lived because of the Father by taking the Father as His person, so also we should live because of the Lord by taking Him as our person. We also need to take Christ as our living for His magnification. To take Christ as our life, our living, and our person equals doing all things—including in our daily life, service in the church, prayer, and speaking—in the name of the Lord Jesus, which is our being one with Christ. Furthermore, as the Lord's people who are living in the all-inclusive Christ, we need to labor on Christ, seeking Christ and enjoying Christ in every situation, by exercising our mingled spirit so that He produces Himself in us through our labor. Christ's God-man living duplicated in His members is the reality of the Body of Christ. The reality of the Body of Christ realized through our being blended together, as typified by the meal offering, is the corporate living by the perfected God-men, who are genuine men but are not living by their life but by the life of the processed God, whose attributes have been expressed through their human virtues. We must redeem the time to enjoy Christ as the supreme preciousness of God so that we can be constituted with Him to be men of preciousness, even preciousness itself, as His personal treasure for us to become the New Jerusalem as a miraculous structure of treasure for His glory. The Report and Announcements section at the end of this issue contains "A Training Center for the Full-time Training in London" and important information concerning upcoming conferences and trainings hosted by Living Stream Ministry and a website link for information related to similar events in Europe.
