Further Revelations: 1937 - 1950

D. Resuming Fellowship with Watchman Nee: 1946

By being in Shanghai again, Witness Lee had much opportunity to see Brother Nee after a separation of more than six years. While Witness Lee was in the north, Watchman Nee had been in the western interior. They had no correspondence during the war years, and Witness Lee was somewhat concerned whether his practice in Chefoo had been right or not. Also, at this time Peace Wang and Witness Lee were concerned for the recovery of Watchman Nee’s ministry. For this reason they they both took every opportunity to have fellowship with him. Many times they had fellowship concerning life, the Spirit, the work, the churches, and the Lord’s move in the recovery. In all these matters he helped them very much. In their fellowship Witness Lee related to him all the things he had practiced during their years of separation. His response was to encourage Witness Lee to carry out the same things in the other churches. They presented to him the urgent need to resume his ministry because of the restoration of the church in Shanghai and the wide doors opened in new fields. Witness Lee asked him to resume his ministry, but he told him that because of certain rebellious brothers, his ministering spirit would not allow him to minister to the church in Shanghai. Witness Lee realized from this that in order to recover his ministry, there was the crucial need of a revival among them.

Watchman Nee Stresses the Breaking of the Outer Man

Watchman Nee was fully open to both Peace Wang and Witness Lee and gave them instructions concerning the Lord’s work. In his fellowship with them, he stressed again and again the need to have the outer man broken that their spirit with the Holy Spirit might be released in their public ministry and personal contact with others. This was a great help to Witness Lee.

Revival in Shanghai

He stressed again and again the need to have the outer man broken that their spirit with the Holy Spirit might be released in their public ministry and personal contact with others

After staying in Shanghai for a short time, a revival began to come in among the saints, and the number of attendants in the meetings greatly increased. Many who were distracted by the storm in 1942, which caused the church in Shanghai to be closed, were recovered. The news spread rapidly to all the churches throughout the country. The churches in the provinces of Fukien and Kwangtung urgently invited Peace Wang and Witness Lee to visit them. Co-workers and leading ones from throughout the country were coming to Shanghai for fellowship. The decision was made that in April of 1948 a conference would be held for all the seeking ones throughout the country who could come and fellowship concerning the Lord’s recovery.

At the end of December 1947, Sister Peace Wang, Sister Rachel Lee, and Witness Lee first visited the church in Hong Kong and then proceeded from there to visit the churches in Canton, Swatow, Amoy, and Foochow, Watchman Nee’s hometown. During their three-week stay with the church in Foochow, a revival came in.

Before returning to the south, Witness Lee composed and compiled The Chinese Gospel Hymnal. While they were staying in Foochow, Watchman Nee inspected the manuscript and polished some of the gospel songs, especially the one entitled You Need Jesus.