My entire life I was raised in a Christian family; but I didn't receive the Lord until I was 21 years old in September 1995. At that point my life began to change outwardly in my environment and inwardly in my whole being. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was happening to me. Initially what drew me the most was the presence of the Spirit. Part of the work of the Spirit is to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. I believe that was my experience in coming to Christ, because the life that I lived was absolutely contrary to God and His eternal purpose. The unique sin that convicted me was that I did not believe into Christ (John 16:9). After that, and even simultaneously I would say, the second thing was through the Lord's presence I found out that I was dead, not physically but spiritually.

I was saved through a believer in the local church who read the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. Eventually, nine months after I was saved, I began to meet with the church in Fairborn. There are a few things I would like to say about the ministry of these two servants of the Lord. The first book I read was called The Three Parts of Man and through that book and the speaking of others I realized that I have a human spirit and not only that, but God Himself dwells in my regenerated spirit and not just eons away in the heavenlies. His dwelling place is man (1 Peter 2:5). His desire is to have man and He will be forever expressed through man (the church composed of all His believers).

I would like to testify that this ministry ministers the Spirit to me. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (1 Corinthians 3:6). This is not just mere teaching of the Bible. No, it is the ministering of God into people through Christ as the life-giving Spirit. Yes, I learned a lot about the deep truths of the Bible like the Triune God, the all-inclusive Christ, God's economy (His plan), the Body of Christ, and the New Jerusalem, but all the more I received life. Our God is a speaking God and when I went to my first meeting in the church a believer was speaking and I had a registration in my spirit saying, "That's it" you found it, this is real.

I cannot exhaust the preciseness, the accuracy, the enjoyment, the deep truths that have opened vaults, doors, many gateways to experience and know Christ. There is one particular truth that Witness Lee called the central revelation of the Bible, the trunk of the tree, and that is God's economy, God's plan, His arrangement to dispense himself in Christ into his chosen and redeemed people. I could write volumes upon volumes about the ministry of Witness Lee and Watchman Nee. Because of this ministry, this speaking, which I truly believe with all my heart has its source in God the Father, I know the meaning of human life, I know why I exist and breathe. It is absolutely, irrefutably for God's economy. We were created by God and for God so that He can be expressed fully through the church, which will consummate in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2, 9-10). And last, but not least, I would say this is my biggest testimony I love the Lord Jesus Christ. Honestly I am falling in love with this marvelous Person whom I've never seen yet who lives in my spirit.

Neil Gordon Small

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