Meet with the Saints for Corporate Worship in Spirit and on the Ground of Oneness

As believers in Christ, we must meet with the Lord’s children for corporate worship at the place that the Lord has chosen – in our spirit and on the unique ground of oneness, bringing Christ as the offerings and having much rejoicing in the Lord, for here we are one with God and with one another. Amen!

When we come together with the saints, each one of us can and should bring something of Christ; each believer in Christ has a unique portion of Christ, and it is our responsibility and privilege to bring the Christ we laboured on to the meetings of the church. Amen!

This is what the Lord is recovering today.

The Lord is working today in each one of us, both personally and together in the church, for Him to be enjoyed and experienced by the saints so that the saints would have their hands full with Christ when they come to the meetings of the church.

To many believers, it is quite accidental that they turn to the Lord and experience Him, and they have no idea what it means to enjoy the Lord.

However, we need to realize that, no matter what we do and where we are, even no matter how we feel, we believers in Christ should exercise our spirit to contact the Lord in every situation and in all things.

We may be doing our job at the office, we may be involved in taking care of many things related to work, or we may be at home resting or taking care of the family chores, and while we are doing all these things, we inwardly contact the Lord by exercising our spirit.

The Lord Jesus is not only on the throne in heaven administrating the whole universe to carry out God’s economy and desire; He is also in our spirit, right within us, and He is “one call away” – we can just call on His name to be one with Him.

Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21); when we call on the name of the Lord Jesus, we are freshly saved, for we touch Him in a fresh, new, and living way.

If we just call on the name of the Lord as we do this and that, though we may be busy outwardly doing so many things, inwardly we’re connected to the life supply of the Lord, and we enjoy His divine dispensing.

This should be our normal Christian life. In all things and at all times we need to exercise our spirit to inwardly remain in the Lord, abide in Him, by calling on His name and therefore unceasingly praying.

How can we pray unceasingly? We can’t be on our knees the whole day and the whole night.

But we can inwardly remain in a constant calling on the name of the Lord, always opening to Him and bringing to Him all things and all situations.

Amen, may this be our experience daily, and may we have our hands full of Christ when we come to the meetings of the church!

Meet with the Saints for Corporate Worship at the Place God has Chosen: in our Spirit and on the Ground of Oneness

The Bible gives us many types related to our meeting together with the saints for the corporate worship of God, and the first mention of this is in Deut. 12:5-7.

In the Old Testament God did not allow the children of Israel to worship God corporately and enjoy the offerings they presented to God in any place of their choice but in the unique place of His choice (see Deut. 12:8, 13, 17).

Three times a year they had to come together at the place God has chosen, which in those days was Jerusalem, to worship God corporately.

They were to come and worship God in the place of His choice, that is, to the place where God chose to put His name, the place of His habitation, and the place where His altar was.

There they were to bring their tithes, offerings, and sacrifices.

On the personal side, they could worship God at home or wherever they wanted to, for God is everywhere and He is their God.

But corporately, they were to come to Jerusalem, the unique centre of worship (2 Chron. 6:5-6; John 4:20) for the keeping of the oneness among God’s people, therefore avoiding the division caused by man’s preferences.

In the New Testament, the revelation concerning our corporate worship of God is very much the same, corresponding to the revelation in Deut. 12 at least in four ways: oneness, in the name of God, in the place of God’s choice, and with the cross and with Christ as the reality of the offerings.

We must meet with the Lord’s children for corporate worship at the place that the Lord has chosen – in our spirit and on the unique ground of oneness (Deut. 12:5, 11, 13-14, 18; 16:16; John 4:24).

Now that we have entered into the good land and we are learning to labour on Christ to gain Him and be filled with Him, we need to realize that we cannot do what is right in our own eyes when it comes to the corporate worship of God.

We can’t choose the place where to worship, for there’s no such thing as “the church of my choice” – in God’s eyes, there’s only one church, and that church is in the place of God’s choice – in the spirit and on the unique ground of oneness.

God chose to put His name in one place, and He chose one particular place in which His people should meet corporately.

First of all that place is the human spirit, the regenerated human spirit (John 4:24).

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.

We cannot and should not meet with eloquent speaking, talented singing, and with the gifts of the Holy Spirit as the centre; the centre and location of our meeting should be the mingled spirit.

We need to come to the place of God’s choice by exercising our spirit whenever we come to the meetings of the church.

First, God’s sanctuary, His habitation, is in our spirit (Eph. 2:22) and second, it is the church (1 Tim. 3:15).

For us to go into the sanctuary of God, we need to turn to our spirit and go to the meetings of the church.

It is in our spirit and in the church that we receive the divine revelation and the explanation to all our problems.

Where does God speak to us and reveal His economy to us? It is in our spirit. It is in our spirit that we can see a vision of God’s economy, the plan hidden in His heart from the ages (Eph. 3:9).

It is in our spirit also that we can receive the solution and explanation to all our problems.

In Psa. 73:17-28 the psalmist was perplexed concerning the situation of the wicked, who seemed to prosper immensely, while he as a righteous man was not doing well but rather, was persecuted and put down in many ways.

But then he entered into the sanctuary of God and he perceived what is really going on, for the Lord’s light shone on the whole situation.

When we exercise our spirit and come to the meetings of the church, we are clear concerning our situation, we receive the solution to our problems, and we have an explanation to our most perplexing questions.

To go into the sanctuary of God, we need to turn to our spirit and go to the meetings of the church.

This is so real and true in our experience.

Furthermore, we must keep the unique oneness of the Body of Christ on the genuine ground of oneness.

The practice the church life is the practice of having one church for one city, one city with only one church.

If you read Acts 8:1; 13:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; and Rev. 1:11 with an exercised spirit and an unveiled heart you will see that it is so simple and clear in God’s eyes – one church is in one city, and one city has only one church, which is the church in that city.

Some may say that this is quite legal and restricting, and it is true – for this is the place of God’s choice, His way of restricting the corporate worship of His people so that they may be kept in oneness.

God is wise, and in His wisdom, He has chosen one place – our mingled spirit – where we can worship Him, and He has ordained for one church to be in one city and for one city to have only one church.

When all the believers in a city like New York come together as one, being the church in New York City, what glory is that to the Lord and what shame is that to the enemy! Amen!

It is here, on the genuine ground of oneness, that we enjoy the Lord as the anointing oil, the refreshing dew, and the commanded blessing of life (Psa. 133).

Whenever the saints dwell in oneness, exercising their spirit and being on the genuine ground of oneness, they enjoy the Lord as the anointing ointment, the refreshing dew, and the commanded blessing of life.

Lord Jesus, we want to come together with the saints for the corporate worship of God at the place of Your choice. Amen, Lord, we want to exercise our spirit as we come to the meetings of the church on the genuine ground of oneness. Hallelujah, the sanctuary of God is in our spirit and in the church! Amen, Lord, we turn to our spirit and come to the meetings of the church to be on the genuine ground of oneness and thus offer You the worship You desire. We exercise our spirit and come to meet on the ground of oneness so that we may receive the divine revelation and the explanation of all our problems. Oh Lord, thank You for unveiling us to see the way to worship You corporately and the place God has chosen for our worship! Save us from exercising our preference in our corporate worship of God. We want to take Your choice and Your way in our worship of God together with the saints so that You may be satisfied! Amen, Lord, keep us on the genuine ground of oneness, exercising our spirit to worship You so that we may enjoy You as the anointing oil, the refreshing dew, and the commanded blessing of life!

Characteristics of the Place the Lord has Chosen for His People to Worship Him Corporately

Our desire to worship God is commendable, and our heart to worship Him and praise Him is good, but we also need to take His way to worship God and be in the place of His choice when it comes to our corporate worship of God.

Both the Old and the New Testament give us a few characteristics of the place the Lord has chosen for us, His people, to worship Him corporately.

Looking at the general situation and condition in Christianity today we can see that, to a large extent, the enemy has been quite successful in dividing the Body of Christ into many little portions, such as denominations, sects, free groups, and “ministries”.

Though all these seem to do a good work, having the Bible as their base, the result of their work is a further division in the Body of Christ.

The Lord yearns for His people not to follow their choice and preference in their worship of God but to take His preference and choice and come to the place the Lord has chosen for His people to worship Him corporately.

First of all, the place chosen by the Lord must NOT have any name other than the name of Christ (Deut. 12:5; Rev. 3:8).

Our gatherings are in the name of the Lord Jesus, not in any other name.

As seen in Matt. 18:20 and 1 Cor. 1:12, we meet in the name of the Lord, and the reality of this name is the Spirit (v. 3).

If we denominate ourselves by any other name, if we call ourselves the so-and-so church, that is spiritual fornication in God’s eyes, something that He hates.

Today so many dear believers love the Lord and pursue Him, but they are not in the name of Jesus but in the name of a person or of a certain denomination. Oh, Lord!

Second, the place chosen by the Lord is full of the exercise of the spirit, for God is Spirit and we can worship Him ONLY in spirit and in truthfulness (Eph. 2:22; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:32).

The habitation of God is our mingled spirit, our spirit that has been regenerated by God and is now indwelt by Him (John 3:6; Rom. 8:16; 2 Tim. 4:22; Eph. 2:22).

Whenever we come together, the primary thing we should do is be in our spirit, exercise our spirit, and do all things in the spirit.

When we exercise our spirit in the meetings of the church, we offer God the worship He desires (John 4:24; 1 Cor. 14:15).

Third, the place chosen by the Lord is a place of the enjoyment of the riches of Christ (Deut. 12:7, 18; Psa. 36:8-9; 1 Cor. 14:26).

When we exercise our spirit and release our spirit in the meetings of the church, each one of us has a portion of the riches of Christ, and we enjoy Christ together.

On the negative side, we deny the self and reject the natural life and the flesh. On the positive side, we worship God with Christ and Christ alone.

Our meetings are through the cross and by the Spirit to minister life to one another for the building up of the Body of Christ.

We need to be reminded, dear brothers and sisters, that we need to exercise our spirit in the meetings of the church and function in our measure to speak and release the riches of Christ so that we may have the enjoyment of these riches.

When we all do this, we apprehend with all the saints what the breadth, the length, the height, and the depth are, and we know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, being filled unto the fullness of God (Eph. 3:20-22). Amen!

The place chosen by the Lord is a place of rejoicing (Deut. 12:7, 12, 18; Psa. 42:4; 122:1).

There is much rejoicing in the meetings of the local church on the genuine ground of oneness and in the mingled spirit.

How can we not rejoice when we have God’s presence with us and we all bring the riches of Christ to have a corporate worship of God in spirit?

Here, on the ground of oneness and with the exercise of our spirit, we bring our portion of Christ as the reality of the tithes, the offerings, and the sacrifices, and here we are one with the Lord and with one another for God to gain His worship in spirit and in truthfulness.

Lord Jesus, we gather together with the saints in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We refuse to be denominated by any other name but the name of Jesus, for we gather together in the name of Jesus and no one else! We love You, Lord Jesus, and we exercise our spirit as we come to the meetings of the church. May our meetings be filled with the riches of Christ flowing out of all the saints as they exercise their spirit and function in their measure for the building up of the church. Amen, Lord Jesus, may our church meetings be filled with the enjoyment of the riches of Christ expressed and exhibited by the saints! Hallelujah, we rejoice as we come together in the name of Jesus, with the exercise of our spirit, and on the genuine ground of oneness, for here we have Christ as our everything and we offer this Christ to God for His satisfaction! Father, You are satisfied with Your Christ who was enjoyed and experienced by us and is now offered back to You! We worship You, Father, in spirit and in truthfulness, on the genuine ground of oneness!

References and Hymns on this Topic

• Inspiration for this article/sharing comes from the Word of God, the enjoyment in the ministry, a sharing by brother Minoru Chen in the message for this week, and portions from, The All-inclusive Christ, p. 181, by Witness Lee (by Witness Lee), as quoted in the Holy Word for Morning Revival on, Laboring on the All-inclusive Christ Typified by the Good land for the Building up of the Church as the Body of Christ, for the Reality and the Manifestation of the Kingdom, and for the Bride to make Herself Ready for the Lord’s Coming (2023 Winter Training), week 12, entitled, Living a Life of Enjoying Christ as the Good Land with the Temple, the Dwelling Place of God, and the City, the Kingdom of God, as Its Issue.
• Similar articles on this topic:
  – The unique ground keeping the oneness, a portion from, The Practical Expression of the Church, Chapter 9, by Witness Lee.
  – Oneness with God for His Manifestation, via, New Jerusalem blog.
  – The Beliefs and Practices of the Local Churches, via, Contending for the Faith.
  – The Church on the Ground of Oneness, via, Holding to Truth in Love.
  – Being Recovered to the Unique Ground of Oneness and the Enjoyment of Christ’s Riches, a Church in Regina newsletter.
  – Enjoying Christ with God on the Ground of Oneness, Guidelines for the exercise of the Lord’s day Prophesying Message Nine, outline via, Church in Markham.
  – Assailing the Ground of Oneness (1): The Genuine Ground of the Church According to the Teaching and Practice of the New Testament, via, Shepherding Words.
  – What is the proper ground for the building up of the Church? More via, Living to Him,
  – The Genuine Ground of Oneness, Message 1: Oneness in the Four Great Acts of God, a video message by brother Lee.
  – Settled on the ground of the unique oneness, a portion from, The Heavenly Vision, Chapter 3, by Witness Lee.
  – The Unique Place of God’s Choice for Keeping Oneness—Deuteronomy 12, via, The ground of the church.
  – A Practical Testimony of Oneness, via, An Open Letter.
  – 3 Key Verses on the Holy Spirit with Our Human Spirit, via, Bibles for America blog.
  – Concerning the Church Life, via, Local Churches.
• Hymns on this topic:
  – In spirit and reality / We meet to worship Thee, / And every principality / Must fall down or must flee. / Reality, reality, / O what a joy to see, / That Christ may be enjoyed by usvAs our reality. / A Person, Thou hast come in us, / Into our spirit now, / And quickened us until we know / Our inner man art Thou. / O praise Thee, Lord, we sense Thee thus, / Forever inwardly; / Thy Person in each one of us / Is our reality. (Hymns #1182 stanzas 1-2)
  – This oneness is the Church’s ground, / The ground of common standing, / The only ground of unity / The Spirit is demanding. / The Church in actual practise thus / May keep her vital union, / And her expressions locally / Be built up in communion. (Hymns #831 stanza 4)
  – Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus, / Losing sight of all but Thee, / O what joy Thy presence gives us, / Calling up our hearts to Thee! / Loved with love which knows no measure, / Save the Father’s love to Thee, / Blessed Lord, our hearts would treasure / All the Father’s thoughts of Thee. (Hymns #204 stanzas 1-2)