The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1983, volume 1

Book excerpt: The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1983, volume 1, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee from January 18 through December 21, 1983. In 1983 Brother Lee spoke eighty-five messages that were published in Life-study of Jude, Life-study of 1 Peter, Life-study of Exodus, Life-study of 1, 2, and 3 John, Life-study of Leviticus, Life-study of James, and Life-study of Mark. These Life-study messages are not included in The Collected Works of Witness Lee. During the first week in January Brother Lee was in Irving, Texas. He then traveled to Anaheim, California, and except for a one-day visit to Long Beach, California, he remained in Anaheim until the end of the third week in April. Brother Lee then returned to Irving and remained there until the middle of May. During this period he visited Houston, Texas, for a weekend conference. From Irving he traveled to Europe and ministered in Stuttgart, Germany, until the end of May. At the end of his time in Germany, Brother Lee also visited Tubingen. At the beginning of June Brother Lee returned to the United States, visiting New York City during the first week in June and then traveling to Irving and remaining there for two weeks before proceeding to Anaheim. Brother Lee remained in Anaheim until the middle of July, and then he visited Berkeley and San Jose, California, before returning to Anaheim at the end of July. From the beginning of August until the end of the third week in November Brother Lee ministered in Anaheim. He then traveled to Irving and remained in Irving until he returned to Anaheim at the beginning of 1984. The contents of this volume are divided into nine sections, as follows: 1. Ten messages given in Anaheim, California, and Irving, Texas, on January 18 through June 13. These messages were previously published in a nine-chapter book entitled Practical Talks to the Elders and are included in this volume under the same title. 2. Four messages given in Anaheim, California, on January 20 through February 10. These messages are included in this volume under the title Fellowship with Serving Ones. 3. Six messages given in Anaheim, California, on January 23 through August 14. These messages are included in this volume under the title Fellowship concerning the Enjoyment of Christ and a Practical Way for the Lord's Recovery. 4. Five messages given in Chinese in Anaheim, California, on February 11 through 13. They were previously published in a book entitled The Five Great Mysteries in the Bible and are included in this volume under the same title. 5. Nine messages given in Chinese in Anaheim, California, on February 20 through April 17. They were previously published in a book entitled The Subjective Experience of the Indwelling Christ and are included in this volume under the same title. 6. Five messages given in Chinese in Anaheim, California, on February 22 and 23. They are included in this volume under the title The Central Vision and the Unique Ministry. 7. Four messages given in Chinese in Anaheim, California, in February, March, and October. The date of the first message is unknown; the second through fourth messages were given on March 7 and 31 and October 22. The four messages are included in this volume under the title The Chinese-speaking Meeting and the Coordination of the Body. 8. Eleven messages given in Irving, Texas, on April 22 through December 18. They are included in this volume under the title Miscellaneous Messages Given to the Church in Irving. 9. Nine messages given in various gatherings of elders and responsible brothers in Irving, Texas, on April 29 through December 21. These are included in this volume under the title Perfecting the Saints to Preach the Gospel, Present the Truth, Minister Life, and Walk according to the Spirit in Order to Bear the Testimony of Jesus.