The Ministry, Vol. 04, No. 01

Book excerpt: In this issue of The Ministry, Brother Lee speaks from a heavy burden concerning fruit-bearing. In John 15 the Lord says that every branch in Him that does not bear fruit the Father will take away. This does not mean that a branch of the vine that does not bear fruit will perish. Rather, it means that such a branch is in danger of losing the enjoyment of the rich supply of Christ. On the contrary, the more we as branches produce new believers as fruit, the more we enjoy Christ. The proper way to bear remaining fruit is not the way of gospel campaigns and big speakers but the inner, hidden way of life. As branches of the vine we must impart life to others to bring forth the fruit of life in a hidden way. The three messages which follow are the conclusion of the messages given in the Memorial Day Conference in Chicago, Illinois concerning the new revival. The subject of Message Four in this series is living the life of a God-man to be conformed to the death of Christ through the power of the resurrection of Christ for the reality of the Body of Christ. Death and resurrection are vital to our Christian life and to God’s economy. Such a life of dying to ourselves and living to God is for Christ, the first God-man, to be formed in His many members, the many God-men, for the building up of His organic Body that the economy of God might be carried out. Message Five indicates that we need to shepherd people according to the pattern of the Lord Jesus in His ministry for the carrying out of God’s eternal economy, and Message Six concludes with the fact that shepherding is to take all-inclusive, tender care of the flock. Last of all, we include reports concerning the Lord’s move in Mexico, Taiwan, and Russia, as well as an announcement which gives the dates of the upcoming conferences and trainings in Europe.