Obtaining the Present Christ with His Presence Corporately (2)

Being in the Meetings to Obtain the Lord's Presence

1. It is good to bring the present Christ to the meetings.

2. It is even better to come to the meetings with weaknesses and limitations to obtain the present Christ.

It is good to bring the present Christ to the meetings, yet it is even better to come to the meetings with weaknesses and limitations to obtain the present Christ. To our feeling, we should have a victorious day and then come to the meeting. In actuality, however, we often come to the meetings feeling dead and having suffered defeats. Should this prevent us from coming to the meeting? Not at all; bring all your death, for the Lord said that when we gather with even two or three, He will be there with you.

3. Obtaining the Lord's presence to operate properly for the testimony of Christ through different kinds of meetings:

In the church life there are basically three kinds of meetings: the prayer meeting, the neighborhood or small group gatherings, and the Lord's Day meeting, during which time most churches have the Lord's table. In addition the church may have other kinds of meetings, such as gospel meetings or new beginners' meetings, but these first three are the three we will consider.

a. Gathering for prayer to execute the divine operation together with the heavenly Christ through means of our prayer and fellowship in His presence.

The prayer meeting should be a time for us to execute God's economy. As we are praying in His presence, we know what He is doing. This kind of prayer is a fellowship, and we pray according to this fellowship. As we pray, more fellowship out of the Lord's presence comes forth. We then pray accordingly. To pray and fellowship together in this way enables all the saints to carry the burden of the church together. The elders' fellowship produces a direction for the church, but all the saints are needed to carry it out practically. This is accomplished through the prayer meetings.

b. Gathering in the neighborhood groups.

The prayer meeting is an executive meeting. The neighborhood meeting, however, is a sweet household gathering for mutual enjoyment and care. In such a gathering the practical and spiritual matters related to each individual are cared for in sweet fellowship. You should know everyone's situation. You should know what each saint's condition and history is; you should be able to tell me a lot about each person in your group. If you don't know who is in your household, you will never be able to build it up.

In such a gathering, you are not only together in a spiritual way; you are also together in practical matters. Whether you are spiritual or practical when you are together depends upon the individual need.

c. Gathering for the Lord's testimony.
The prayer meeting is for the execution of the Lord's will, the neighborhood gathering is for the household care, and the Lord's Day morning meeting is for the Lord's testimony.

(1) When the whole church comes together to remember the Lord and worship the Father through hymns, thanksgivings, praises, testimonies, and even brief fellowship related to experiences and truth

During this time the whole church comes together to remember the Lord and to worship the Father through hymns, thanksgiving, praise, testimonies, and even short fellowship related to truth and experience.

(2) Ministering by those who have ministry, according to their portion

Furthermore, on the Lord's Day there should be ministering by those who have ministry, according to their portion.

If I were to tell an experienced brother who had some ministry that he could only share the same length of time as a brother who had very little, would that seem right? Can their measure compare? We must see that the way is for the organic Body, not for the way itself. It is very good for those who have a greater measure to minister a little more, if the Lord so leads.

You need a church life in which the Spirit leads. We should all function and operate according to our portion and measure. On the Lord's Day morning, the saints should share according to their portion. For some, one minute may be enough. Others might share much longer for the sake of the saints.

(3) All prophesying one by one according to our portion and through our daily labor, experiences, and inspirations with proper utterance

We should honor our portion, and we should also respect the portion of others.

Conclusion

Whether it is gospel preaching as the overflow of life, or prophesying through the meetings, these exercises will grant us the present Christ with His presence. It will also grant us a higher level of satisfaction and enjoyment in His presence with its fullness.