Sit, Walk, Stand: The Process of Christian Maturity (8 page)

I was awakened by the direct rays of the sun through the single window of our attic. “This isn’t rain!” I said. It was already past seven o’clock. I got up, knelt down and prayed. “Lord,” I said, “please send the rain!” But once again, ringing in my ears came the word, “Where is the God of Elijah?” Humbled, I walked downstairs
before God in silence. We sat down to breakfast—eight of us together, including our host—all very quiet. There was no cloud in the sky, but we knew God was committed. As we bowed to say grace before the food, I said, “I think the time is up. Rain must come now. We can bring it to the Lord’s remembrance.” Quietly we did so, and this time the answer came with no hint whatever of rebuke in it.

“
Where is the God of Elijah?
” Even before our “Amen” we heard a few drops on the tiles. There was a steady shower as we ate our rice and were served with a second bowl. “Let us give thanks again,” I said, and now we asked God for heavier rain. As we began on that second bowl of rice, the rain was coming down in bucketfuls. By the time we had finished, the street outside was already deep in water, and the three steps at the door of the house were covered.

Soon we heard what had happened in the village. Already, at the first drop of rain, a few of the younger generation had begun to say openly, “There is God; there is no more Ta-wang! He is kept in by the rain.” But he wasn’t. They carried him out on a sedan chair. Surely he would stop the shower! Then came the downpour. After only some ten or twelve yards, three of the coolies stumbled and fell. Down went the chair and Ta-wang with it, fracturing his jaw and his left arm. Still determined, they carried out emergency repairs and put him back in the chair. Somehow, slipping and stumbling, they dragged or carried him halfway round
the village. Then the floods defeated them. Some of the village elders, old men of 60 to 80 years, bareheaded and without umbrellas as their faith in Ta-wang’s weather required, had fallen and were in serious difficulties. The procession was stopped, and the idol taken into a house. Divination was made. “Today was the wrong day,” came the answer. “The festival is to be on the fourteenth with the procession at six in the evening.”

Immediately we heard this there came the assurance in our hearts, “God will send rain on the fourteenth.” We went to prayer: “Lord, send rain on the fourteenth at 6:00 P.M. and give us four good days until then.” That afternoon the sky cleared, and now we had a good hearing for the gospel. The Lord gave us over thirty converts—real ones—in the village and in the island during those three short days. The fourteenth broke, another perfect day, and we had good meetings. As the evening approached, we met; and again, at the appointed hour, we quietly brought the matter to the Lord’s remembrance. Not a minute late, His answer came with torrential rain and floods as before.

The next day, our time was up, and we had to leave. We have not been back. Other workers asked for those islands, and we never question anyone’s claim to a field. But for us the essential point was that Satan’s power in that idol had been broken, and that is an eternal thing. Ta-wang was no more “an effective god.” The salvation of souls would follow, but was in itself secondary to this vital and unchanging fact.

The impression on us all was a lasting one. God had committed Himself. We had tasted the authority of the name that is above every name—the name that has power in heaven and earth and hell. In those few days we had known what it is to be, as we say, “in the very center of the will of God.” Those words were no longer something vague or visionary to us. They described an experience we had ourselves been through. Together we had been granted a brief glimpse of “the mystery of his will” (Eph. 1:9, 3:9–10). We would go softly all our days. Years later I met “brother Wu.” I had lost touch with him, and in the interval he had become an airline pilot. When I asked him whether he still followed the Lord, “Mr. Nee!” he said. “Do you mean to say that after all we went through I could ever forsake Him?”

Do you see what it means to “stand”? We do not try to gain ground; we merely stand on the ground which the Lord Jesus has gained for us, and resolutely refuse to be moved from it. When our eyes are really opened to see Christ as our victorious Lord, then our praise flows forth freely and without restraint. Singing with melody in our hearts to the Lord, we give thanks for all things in His name (5:19–20). Praise that is the outcome of effort has a labored and discordant note, but praise that wells up spontaneously from hearts at rest in Him has always a pure, sweet tone.

The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by Him and standing in Him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord
Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength for a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world. And at the end of a grueling warfare with the hosts of darkness, we are found standing with Him at last in triumphant possession of the field.

“Unto him . . . be the glory . . . for ever” (3:21).

Endnotes

1
. The Chinese custom is for everyone to have his own personal
tu-cheng
, a seal or die bearing the characters of his name carved in wood, stone or ivory in an individual design. The impression is usually made with an opaque red ink. This is felt to be less easily forged than a handwritten signature, and the seal is kept under lock and key and used for signing checks and other personal documents—
Ed.

2
. Wang is pronounced with an
a
as in “car” and with the final
ng
very lightly sounded. The name means “Great King.”—
Ed.

Sit,
Walk,
Stand

Study Guide

by

Rebecca English

About this Study Guide

W
atchman Nee’s little classic, compiled from messages preached in China, touches on important foundational truths—truths easily overlooked in our restless twenty-first century culture. Nee’s simple but profound illustrations give a refreshingly clear picture of Scripture’s teaching on the Christian life.

Sit, Walk, Stand
is a brief discussion of the book of Ephesians. It highlights progressive steps in the life of faith using three words seen repeatedly in Paul’s epistle: “sit,” “walk” and “stand.” In it are helpful insights into biblical doctrine and how that translates to practical Christian living.

At first glance, Nee’s straightforward explanations make a study guide seem unnecessary. But in looking deeper, valuable sub-points can be found in each chapter. A careful review of them brings out many details which could be overlooked in initial readings of the book. So believing it will be a helpful addition, CLC Publications has included a study guide in this edition of
Sit, Walk, Stand
.

The guide can be used either individually or in a group setting. Each lesson begins with summary thoughts of the chapter, followed by questions that bring out major themes. Supporting Scripture is also included. Comparing the book’s teaching to the Bible will provide a personal grasp of scriptural truth, which is certainly what Nee had in mind.

The guide is broken into four lessons covering the book’s introduction and each of the three chapters. The lessons can also be divided into several sessions, since the sections within each lesson can easily lead to extended study. A pad of paper or a journal is recommended for working out questions, especially for individual study or for reflection between group meetings.

As with any theologian’s, Nee’s conclusions on certain biblical topics may not be fully accepted by every student of Scripture. Regardless of his personal approach, his teaching on the believer’s need for continual fullness of the Spirit, for redeeming the time and for knowing the mind of God is certainly scriptural. “If on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you” (Phil. 3:15). May you receive much blessing and encouragement from this practical little volume.

Lesson 1

Introduction

T
oo often in our Christian zeal we set out to please God by whatever practical means are presented to us. It might be through our activity-laden churches, from our own sense of duty or interest, or to meet other people’s expectations. The church of today, as in other generations, has largely misunderstood the Christian life to mean action.

But Nee begins with these words: “If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God, it must be properly adjusted to Him in all things” (p. 7). He stresses that we have to approach Christian living in a certain order if we are to become mature and useful. Using plain illustrations, he shows that we must be
in
Christ before we can
do
anything for Him.

So what does that mean? To help us see clearly, Nee divides the book of Ephesians into three parts: a doctrinal section (Eph. 1–3) and two practical sections (Eph. 4:1–6:9 and 6:10–24). He then defines these by the keywords “sit,” “walk” and “stand.”

  
1. To begin, look at the simple outline on page 8. Write it down, and then ponder this statement: “Of all Paul’s epistles, it is in Ephesians that we find the highest spiritual truths concerning the Christian life” (p. 8). What are these truths?

  
2. Spend some time looking over the book of Ephesians to find why it was written, and to whom. Review its subheadings in your Bible and get a feel for its general message.

  
3. Now look again at Nee’s outline. Recognize the natural divisions in the book of Ephesians which form the three sections he suggests. Read specifically verses 2:6, 4:1 and 6:11 to see the source of the three keywords for which
Sit, Walk, Stand
is named.

  
4. Does the “sit-walk-stand” sequence give you a new perspective on the book of Ephesians and on living the Christian life? In what ways do you think you might be living “out of order” in regard to the progression explained here? How does it affect your usefulness to God?

  
5. Make a list of things you typically spend time on in any given day. Considering what you actually
do
(not what you
want
to do), what are your priorities? How much do “activities” drive your Christian life?

To be useful in God’s hand, a man must be properly adjusted with respect to all three [aspects]: his position, his life and his warfare. He falls short of God’s requirements if he underestimates the importance of any one of them.

Lesson 2

Chapter 1 . Sit

C
hapter 1 examines the all-important foundation of the Christian life. Nee looks at three elements of being seated with Christ in order to underscore its significance.

First, he portrays “sitting” as a visual picture of
resting
. Since our human tendency is to act rather than rest, Nee emphasizes that God has a completely different approach to holy living than we do. Thoroughly resting in Christ is vital before we can properly “act” in the Christian life.

Second, Nee explains that it’s not just salvation that begins with resting. All growth and service must also come from the foundation of Christ’s finished work. So Nee explores
various facets
of the Christian life that must start from a position of rest.

And third, he states that because it is the very nature of God to
give
, our efforts to accomplish our own salvation or growth cause the Lord pain. If we can learn to receive His goodness, we will delight His heart and find true rest in Him.

Section 1

  
1. Read Ephesians 1–3.

  
2. “Christianity is a queer business!” proclaims Nee. Living the Christian life is different from what we expect, “for Christianity begins not with a big do, but with a big done.” What is Nee driving at here? Consider it in light of Ephesians 1:3 and 2:8 and Hebrews 1:3. What is the fundamental principle on which the Christian life is based “from start to finish” (p.13)?

  
3. Ephesians 1:20 and 2:6 assert the facts of Christ’s position—and ours with Him. It is not that we are asked to sit down; instead, we’re told that in Christ we
are
seated. Luke 14:17 further expresses God’s invitation to rest in His finished work. Have you recognized your position of being seated in Christ? Does it seem strange that simply recognizing this could make a difference in the way you feel and act in your Christian life? How could it change your daily living?

  
4. On pages 13–14 Nee reviews the story of Adam’s creation on the sixth day—at the end of God’s working. How does this illustrate that our Christian life is to begin from a place of rest? Compare this picture to the New Testament parallel found in John 5:17 and 19:30.

Section 2