07/07/2026
Dear saints, we know that the Church Life is not an organization, but the living of the Body.
In the Lord’s recovery, “the church life” means our daily living together in the reality of the Body of Christ. It’s the practical expression of Eph. 4:16 that all the joints supplying and being knit together. This includes the meetings: Lord’s Day table meeting, prayer meeting, home meeting, gospel meeting. But it’s more than meetings. It’s living in the mingled spirit, calling on the Lord, opening to one another, and being perfected for the building up. To remain in it is to remain in this organic, living Body, not just attend a location.
So no matter what means passing through tests that would push us out and no matter what happens it covers every reason people leave: being offended by a saint, feeling weak or dry, having problems with serving ones, family pressure, job changes, or doctrinal confusion. In the recovery we learn that the enemy’s main attack is to get us out of the Body. Once you’re out of the church life, you lose the supply of the joints, the covering of the Body, and the normal growth in life. The word in the recovery is: the ground of oneness is priceless. Even if there are imperfections, to leave is to leave the stream of life. So we choose to remain, deal with our heart before the Lord, forgive, and go on.
Now, what are the practical ways to remain in the Church Life? How do we remain? First, by turning to our spirit and contacting the Lord daily, 1 Cor. 6:17. Second, by being in the meetings and in the blending, even when we feel low. Third, by not picking up offenses but picking up the cross. Witness Lee often said, “Don’t leave the ark.” Noah’s family stayed inside during the flood. The church life is the ark today. If we remain, the Lord as grace will carry us through every storm, mature us, and bring us into the consummation of the New Jerusalem. Remaining is a decision of our will, but it’s sustained by grace.
