Sit, Walk, Stand: The Process of Christian Maturity (9 page)

  
5. Our walk not only begins, but
proceeds
, on the basis of “the finished work of Another” (p. 15). In order to move forward in the Christian life, what is required of us?

  
6. Ephesians 1:6–7 tells us that our salvation is a gift of God, not gained by works. Further experiences in the Christian life are to develop, in the same way, from our seated position:

      
• The power of the Holy Spirit for service.
According to Acts 2:33, what is the basis for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Does the Bible teach us to strive for this blessing (Eph. 1:13; Gal. 3:2, 5)?

      
• Becoming a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:4 affirms God’s plan for His people “before the foundation of the world,” and Ephesians 4:4 sets forth what the body
is
. Since these facts are already established, how then do we become members of the body (p. 16)?

      
• Our sanctification.
Our holiness, like everything else, proceeds from resting in Christ. What is the picture given in Romans 6:2–4 and Galatians 2:20 to show this?

  
7. How can we be sure that we are “in Christ” (p. 18, 1 Cor. 1:30, 2 Cor. 1:21)?

  
8. Romans 6:6 tells us it is a historic fact that we
have been
crucified with Christ. “Do you believe that? It is true! Our crucifixion with Christ is a glorious historic fact. . . . When that fact dawns upon us, and we rest back upon it (Rom 6:11), then we have found the secret of a holy life” (p. 19). Have you ever experienced the relief that comes from recognizing this fact? If so, share or write your testimony. If not, ask the Lord to reveal whatever is holding you back from trusting Him.

  
9. Nee says that we know “too little of this in experience” (p. 19). Review the illustration he gives about someone making an unkind remark about you. Can you relate? What is the reason for our ongoing difficulty in similar situations?

10. God waits for us to despair of our own efforts to walk before He steps in to help us (pp. 20–21). Why do you think we
want
to keep trying when resting is so much easier? What keeps us insisting on our self-effort?

Section 3

11. God delights in giving (Eph. 2:4, 6). When we try to do His work ourselves, we grieve His heart. In the same way, the father of the prodigal son rejoiced in lavishing gifts on his repentant son.
Compare the father’s response to the returning son (Luke 15:20–24) with his response to the older son’s behavior (Luke 15:25–32). He extended love to both, but which son made Him glad? Write down or discuss personal attitudes in which your life may reflect the older son, and others in which you have experienced the forgiveness and acceptance of the repentant son.

Do you think that if you cease trying to please God, your good behavior will cease? If you leave all the giving and all the working to God, do you think the result will be less satisfactory than if you do some of it? It is when we seek to do it ourselves that we place ourselves back again under the Law.

Lesson 3

Chapter 2 . Walk

I
n chapter 2 Nee unfolds the teaching of Ephesians regarding practical Christian living. This chapter too is divided into three general sub-thoughts on the matter.

Nee begins by restating that our conduct (“walking”) never develops correctly unless we are first at rest (“sitting”). However, once we understand the doctrinal truth of our rest in Christ, the
practical
outworking of the Christian life will follow. This becomes especially visible in the area of relationships with others.

He then impresses on us the
standard
of walking to which we are called. It is the perfect, impossible standard of the love of God! Human effort tries to set its own measure of right and wrong, but again we are brought to the fact that it is only Christ’s life in us that is sufficient for this demand.

Nee’s third focus in walking concerns
timing
. Since the word “walk” denotes progress—moving toward a goal—Nee challenges us to redeem the time by being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. We can waste
time and still be saved “as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15), but we will have lost much through the foolish squandering of our lives.

Section 1

  
1. Read Ephesians 4:1–6:9.

  
2. It has now been well established that “all true spiritual experience begins from rest.” But it’s also true that “it does not end there” (p. 25). If “sitting” describes our doctrinal position in Christ, what does “walking” represent (p. 25)? Write down the definitions of the word “walk” that Nee gives.

  
3. A principal element of our Christian “walk” concerns our relationships. In reality, the way we relate to others exposes the true state of our inner “sitting” with Christ (pp. 26–27). Look at Ephesians 4:25–32 and consider whether your life exhibits the “new man” described there. If not, what can you do about it?

Section 2

  
4. God’s standard is perfection (Matt. 5:48) as conveyed in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7). This is an impossible demand! Based on principles
from lesson 2, what is God’s provision for us in approaching such a standard?

  
5. Nee states, “Nothing has done greater damage to our Christian testimony than our trying to be right and demanding right of others. . . . As Christians our standard of living can never be ‘right or wrong,’ but the cross” (p. 29). What is this “principle of the cross” that Nee refers to (also see p. 39)? Where do our standards of “right and wrong” come from? What does it mean to do “more than what is right” (p. 30)?

  
6. Knowing we cannot attain holiness through our efforts to be “right,” Nee asks, “What is the secret strength of the Christian life? From where does it derive its power?” (p. 32). What answer does he give? What do Ephesians 3:20 and Colossians 1:29 tell us?

  
7. God has provided a way for us to attain His perfection, but we must be
willing
for God to work in us so we can “work out our own salvation” (Phil. 2:12–13). “Until we are willing for God to work it in, it is useless for us to try to work it out” (p. 33). Take a few minutes to reflect on attitudes in your life that may manifest unwillingness to give Christ lordship of your spiritual life.

  
8. Too many Christians are acting, says Nee. This is the result of self-effort and, once more, reveals our desire to be “right.” Think about these two quotes: “The all-important rule is not to ‘try’ but to ‘trust’”
(p. 36) and “Our life
is
the life of Christ, mediated in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit Himself, and the law of that life
is
spontaneous” (pp. 37). How would these truths address our problem of “acting”?

  
9. If our
doctrine
(Eph. 1–3) is not followed by real Christian
living
(Eph. 4–6), then we are a contradiction. Nee says that it would be better to have no doctrine than to be a contradiction (p. 39). Does Scripture support such a statement (compare to James 2:14–26)? Can you find other passages that shed light on how Christian behavior should follow correct doctrine?

Section 3

10. Besides speaking of our conduct, the word “walk” speaks also of progress, of moving toward a goal. How does this progressive aspect of walking apply to Scripture’s exhortation to redeem the time (p. 40, Eph. 5:15–17)?

11. God is looking for firstfruits (Rev. 14:1–5). First-fruits, according to Nee, are not necessarily of better quality, but represent those saints who wisely redeemed the time and were wholly dedicated to the Lord. Their lives were more fully used to God’s glory, and as such they become a special offering to Him (pp. 41–42). Are you redeeming the time—living
fully for the glory of God? List or discuss practices in your life that may, or may not, result in eternal value.

12. Nee uses the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1–13) to illustrate our need to be
continually
filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Continual filling will make us fruitful in service, prepare us for the return of Christ (Matt. 25:13) and result in oneness among believers (Eph. 4:3, 15–16, 5:19; Rev. 14:3). What are some practical ways that we as Christians can redeem the time? What are some things that, although good, can waste our time in light of eternity?

13. Like Paul, we should press forward eagerly (1 Cor. 9:23–27, Phil. 3:8–14) because the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). What are some evidences in our culture that “the days are evil”? Although political activism and other such practices can be useful in opposing wicked plans, what does Scripture indicate is God’s will for believers living in evil days?

God has given us Christ. There is nothing now for us to receive outside of Him. The Holy Spirit has been sent to produce what is of Christ in us; not to produce anything that is apart from or outside of Him. . . . What we show forth outwardly is what God has first put within.

Lesson 4

Chapter 3 . Stand

T
his final chapter on “standing” focuses on the important principle of spiritual warfare. Nee breaks his teaching into the customary three sections; he then concludes with a story from which we can gain some extra insight.

The chapter begins with a general explanation of spiritual “standing” as it pertains to our personal lives. Standing depicts a defensive posture in our warfare in which we
hold fast
the ground that Christ has already won. Nee reiterates that if we are not first seated, then walking from that position of rest, we will not be able to effectively stand against the Enemy.

The next concept is more in-depth. Though our warfare is mainly from a defensive standpoint, there is also a sense in which we are to take the offense. This is when we must lay hold of God’s promises by faith, through prayer and/or action. This can be a difficult subject to understand and is interpreted by Christians in various ways. Nee is basically saying that offensive warfare
can only effectively be done
in Jesus’ name
—when it is backed and approved by God Himself, and not just something we hope He will approve.

Third, Nee looks further at using the name of Jesus as it regards service to Him. He marvels at the boldness of God in entrusting His name to us. He then outlines four characteristics of the kind of ministry to which God will fully commit Himself.

Nee finishes with a personal testimony to bring home the outworking of these principles. It is stirring to see how God did commit Himself to work that was done in His name as Nee and his co-workers sought to know His mind in the matter at hand.

Section 1

  
1. Read Ephesians 6:10–24.

  
2. Christians must be prepared for conflict. But if we have not first learned to “sit” and then to “walk,” we will not be able to effectively “stand.” Nee warns, “If [any Christian] is deficient in either of these [sitting or walking], he will find that all the talk about spiritual warfare remains only talk; he will never know its reality. Satan can afford to ignore him, for he does not count for anything” (p. 50). Have you encountered this reality in your life or ministry? Talk about or write down some examples.

  
3. We have already learned that both sitting and walking proceed from Christ’s power in us (Eph. 1:19 and 3:16). Compare these two verses to Ephesians 6:10 to see the continued necessity of resting in Christ in this matter of spiritual warfare.

  
4. Look more closely at Ephesians 6:10–17. The weapons show us that our warfare is, in the main, defensive. Thus, we are called to stand on the ground Christ already gained. Nee says that “when you fight to
get
the victory, then you have lost the battle at the very outset” (p. 53). Why is this so?