And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. Spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
— Ruth 3:8-9

When Boaz discovered Ruth at his feet, risking everything, including her reputation, he asked her, “Who are you?” I somewhat believe that he knew, but he was in a state of marveling. (more…)

And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. Spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
— Ruth 3:8-9

You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace.
— The Song of Songs 4:9

At midnight, Boaz was startled at Ruth’s presence. We can imagine him stretching out his leg and suddenly discovering someone else lying there. He was startled. I like this. In a positive sense, we have the ability to startle the Lord. (more…)

So Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
— Ruth 3:6-7

The Bible tells us that Boaz, after eating and drinking, was cheerful (Ruth 3:7). Perhaps he sensed intuitively that something wonderful was about to take place. (more…)

Ruth said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
— Ruth 3:5

We have to marvel at Ruth’s obedience to Naomi. If I were Ruth, I would have been filled with questioning and apprehension. “Clothes? Which clothes? And what if I go there and I cannot find Boaz? And if I do, what if he sees me and kicks me out? Or if I am able to find him and sleep there, what if he should wake up and get upset with me? (more…)

The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.
— Philippians 4:9

If we as a group do not seek to equip ourselves as Brother Lee has, it is nonsense to say, “The future of the Lord’s recovery is bright with promise.” We should not cheat ourselves. If we are not familiar with the Bible, if we do not have spiritual insight, and if we do not have spiritual experience, it is useless to proclaim that we are for the Lord’s recovery. (more…)

You should have high revelations when you read the Bible, but you cannot have high revelations if you do not have rich experiences of life, and you cannot have rich experience in life if you are not equipped with the truth in the word. (more…)

The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.
— Philippians 4:9

I speak with you concerning the example brother Lee left us with  in the hope that you might develop the desire to carry forward the Lord’s testimony. (more…)

Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.
— First Corinthians 11:1

One time in Cleveland a brother not yet in the recovery asked brother Lee about a certain verse. I did not even know where it was located. It seemed that brother was purposely testing Brother Lee. But Brother Lee simply opened his Bible and told the brother, “This is the verse you are talking about.” (more…)

Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.
— First Corinthians 11:1

Our brother Witness Lee knows the Bible by heart. Can I say the same? My constitution cannot compare to his. He is rich in revelation. By the Lord’s mercy and with Brother Lee’s help, I have received revelation and touched the central vision, but not as richly as he has. (more…)

Besides having the spirit of the ministry, you must also have the equipping of the ministry. Even when your spirit is rich and full of feeling, full of burden, and full of commitment from the Lord, you must still have adequate equipping if you desire to minister the riches you possess. (more…)

When we speak, we should have the spirit of support and guidance. Therefore, what we speak must be understandable to those who hear us. (more…)

We have to be careful about our prophesying. There are many  who are speaking for the Lord, but what really matters is who the speaker is. (more…)

If you do not have any constitution of life, you will not be able to speak for the Lord. Even should you fast and pray and repent, your speaking will only be at best like the speaking of Balaam’s donkey. (more…)

If you desire to be constituted as a prophet, that is, if you desire to be constituted with the ministry of God’s word, then you must have a living that is regulated by the divine life. Only then can you be constituted with the ministry of life. (more…)

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.
— Colossians 4:17

Besides a lack of constitution, another reason a person may be unable to supply life is that he does not fulfill his ministry before the Lord properly. Instead, he ignores, or neglects, his ministry. (more…)

Having life is different from having the ministry of life. Having life does not guarantee that you indeed have a ministry of life. When we believe, we receive the divine life. When our spirit is released, life is released. When some share, they become very inspirational, making people nervous. Sometimes such a brother speaks very well, but when you ask him to repeat what he has shared, he is unable to do it, for that is not his portion. In other words, that is not his ministry. (more…)

“It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
— Ruth 3:4

When I was young, I gave myself to the Lord for the church. Today, I am in the church life for the Lord. Eventually we all must be able to say, “Lord, I love You. I am only following You. (more…)

This conference was focused on considering how the exercise of the sisters could bless and uplift the church life. Rather than giving messages, Brother Titus mainly provided some very practical fellowship to help all the saints (not only the sisters) in this regard.

He began by reviewing the current situation of the churches in the Great Lakes area. He then reminded us that the two brothers who raised up the local churches in the 20th century, Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, were themselves helped very much by sisters. (more…)

“It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
— Ruth 3:4

Like Ruth, we need to take note of where the Lord lies down. This is where we must go to consecrate ourselves to the living person of Christ, not anywhere else. (more…)

“Go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:3b

Many believers never experience a consecration that is between themselves and the Lord alone. They spend hours talking on the phone but have very little communication with the Lord. (more…)

“Go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:3b

Naomi told Ruth not to make herself known to Boaz until he had finished eating and drinking. This is the experience of those who offer back to the Lord in their consecration what He has worked into them. (more…)

“Stay for the night.”
— Ruth 3:13a

In Ruth 3:13–14, Boaz tells Ruth to sleep there until dawn. How long will this be in our experience? We cannot say for sure, but there is a prolonged period during which the Lord is waiting for us to mature. During this time, others will misunderstand us. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:2-3

After all her preparations, Ruth had to go down to the threshing floor. From this point, her experience would be in darkness, in the night. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:2-3

In chapter one of the book of Ruth, Ruth gave herself according to what she had seen of God. In chapter three, she gives herself according to the God whom she has experienced. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:2-3

Sometimes we feel prevailing and hopeful. Maybe we have just given a good testimony. We feel so acceptable at that time. Or maybe we feel our years as a Christian have made us more acceptable to the Lord than others who seem further down the ladder. No, we should only bring to the Lord and consecrate to Him what He has done in us. (more…)

“Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord Jehovah. Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.”
— Ezekiel 16:8-9

And these things were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
— First Corinthians 6:11

According to Ezekiel 16, the covering, the washing, and the anointing are all accomplished by the Lord. (more…)

“Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord Jehovah. Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.”
— Ezekiel 16:8-9

Ruth was to anoint herself and change her clothes (Ruth 3:2-3). What do the anointing and the clothing refer to? The clothes in Ruth and the skirt in Ezekiel 16 refer to the same thing. (more…)

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin.
— First John 1:7

Sometimes, though you may not have spent time alone with the Lord, you still experience cleansing as you fellowship with others. (more…)