Sit, Walk, Stand

by Watchman Nee

An inspiring look at Ephesians and the believer's association with Christ, the world, and Satan.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Living, Christianity, Faith, Spirituality

77 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Watchman Nee (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; Foochow Romanized: Ngà̤ Táuk-sĭng; 1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly Hall, later which would be also known as the "Local churches" (Chinese: 地方教會). or more commonly as (聚會所) meaning "assembly hall"

Born into a Methodist family, Watchman Nee experienced a religious revival, and joined the Church of Heavenly Peace, Fuzhou in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. In 1921, he met the British missionary M. E. Barber, who was a great influence on him. Through Miss Barber, Nee was introduced to many of the Christian writings which were to have a profound influence on him and his teachings. Nee attended no theological schools or Bible institutes. His knowledge was acquired through studying the Bible and reading various Christian spiritual books. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences and trainings in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.

Reviews

[Joe Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of us so easily become confused with the whole grace, works, obedience thing. we are told to rest and trust god one minute then fight and run the race to win the next. This fantastic little book succinctly and clearly explains the relationship between understanding what has already been done before responding to that truth. Née is my favorite new creation teacher because he exlains so much, yet writes so little.. Clarity and brevity at its finest!. Must read!

[Nole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that took me longer to read than I would have thought when I looked at its diminutive size. I found myself reading a page and then going back to read it again several times. There were some very timely lessons for my own life in this book. This will be one of those books that I will go back and read again from time to time.

[Tal · Rating 5 out of 5]

when it comes to books that make an impact, change your thinking and move you beyond where you thought you could go, this book was it for me! so much insight and understanding! so much pressure removed! WOW! i must admit that the "walk" section did not impact me as much as the other two did, but this book is what i have been looking for! oh to have this revelation sink into my heart and change who i am. this is a must read for anyone who really wants to walk with God.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Too many Christians have all the doctrine but live lives that are a contradiction to it. The whole principle of Christian life is that we go beyond what is right to that which is well pleasing to him.”

A small, but well-presented book. Based on Paul’s letter to Ephesians, this book explores our position in Christ (sitting), our life in the world (walking), and our attitude toward the enemy (standing). This text is clear and easy to follow, yet profound. Far surpasses the wordy, self-referential works of later writers.

Interesting that a man who lived and worked in China seventy years ago is so popular today, but he was so effective there that he spent the last twenty years of his life in prison. Many of his works were published while he was in prison.

Best read at least three times.

“[God] asks us to live a life we can never live and do a work we can never do. Self is the only obstacle to that life and that work. ‘O Lord, deal with me.’”

[Todd Hudnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sit, Walk, Stand is based on the three key words which divide the book of Ephesians into its basic sections. Our position in Christ is one of sitting, our life in the world is one of walking and our attitude toward Satan is one of standing. The Christian's entire life is to be founded and lived out from the finished work of Jesus. In it's 78 pages the book concisely sums up a massive amount of Biblical theology and applies it to the believer's every day life. Watchman Nee takes the grand theological treatise of Ephesians and breaks it down into simple, memorable and practical statements. "Christianity begins not with the big DO, but with a big DONE" (pg. 14). "The all important rule is not to "try" but to "trust," not to depend upon our own strength but upon His" (pg. 38). "Our task is one of holding, not of attacking. We do not fight for victory, we fight from victory" (pg. 55). This is only a sampling of many profound statements, which have launched hundreds of sermons. The spiritual truths outlined in Sit, Walk, Stand are simple but profound, critical but often forgotten. The book is a great source for reminding us of these truths. Most of the works of Watchman Nee are wonderful. I recommend the novice to his writings start with this one. It is easy and quick to read yet covers the key understandings further explained in his larger volumes.

[Chan-Mi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read. It's only 63 pages, but each page is filled with jewels. This book has set me free from false pressure and expectations I was putting on myself. "We must know how to sit with Christ in heavenly places and we must know how to walk worthy of him down here, [and] we must also know how to stand before the foe."

[Tyler Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well timed read at the end of the year. The first chapter was especially worth re-reading slowly.

[Haymanot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sit, Walk, Stand is a small book with a big message. It’s sold as a study of Ephesians, but it’s much more than that. In 78 short pages the author describes the three aspects of the believer – to God, to man, and to the enemy. The best summary of the book is the one the author provides on the last page…

“The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by him and standing in him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength or a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world. And at the end of a grueling warfare with the hosts of darkness we are found standing with him at last in triumphant possession of the field.” (p.78)

This is boot camp Christianity, the sort of book every new believer needs to read.

That said, I have just come away from my latest reading of Sit, Walk, Stand wondering how I could have missed so much good stuff the first time around. About seven years ago I got our church in Hong Kong to study this book. To be honest, we weren’t ready for it. We were wearing the wrong glasses. It is only since I have learned to read everything through the lens of Jesus and His finished work that this book really begins to make sense.

Incidentally, this is a very common experience for me – reading old books as if for the first time.

Perhaps you’re like me – you read Sit, Walk, Stand many years ago and thought it was good but not great. If so, can I encourage you to take another look? To whet your appetite, here are 12 of my favorite sound-bites from the book. (Longer quotes will appear on GraceQuotes.com.)

On Sitting

“All true spiritual experience begins from rest.” (p.27)

“Whereas God worked six days and then enjoyed His sabbath rest, Adam began his life with the sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God’s rest, and then alone can he work.” (p.16)

“God is waiting for your store of strength to be utterly exhausted before He can deliver you. Once you have ceased to struggle, He will do everything.” (p.23)

“Just you stop ‘giving’ and you will prove what a Giver God is! Stop ‘working,’ and you will discover what a Worker He is!” (p.25)

Our Walk

“The all-important rule is not to ‘try’ but to ‘trust,’ not to depend upon our own strength but upon his… Too many of us are caught acting as Christians. The life of many Christians today is largely a pretense. They live a ‘spiritual’ life, talk a ‘spiritual’ language, adopt ‘spiritual’ attitudes, but they are doing the whole thing themselves.” (pp.38-9)

“Too often we think that the actual doing is what matters. We have to learn the lesson of not doing – of keeping quiet for Him. We have to learn that if God does not move we dare not move… The abiding principle of all true Christian work is: ‘In the beginning God…’ … You ask me what I mean by natural power. Put very simply, it is what we can do without the help of God.” (p.67)

“Have we discovered how good the Lord is? Then in us He is as good as that! Is His power great? Then in us it is no less great! Praise God, His life is as mighty as ever, and in the lives of those who dare to believe the Word of God the divine life will be manifest in a power not one whit less mighty that was manifest of old.” (pp.39-40)

“The question is one of practical sonship. True, God has ‘foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ’ (1:5), but we make the mistake of thinking that we have already ‘come of age’ – that we are already mature sons… All will reach ripeness somehow. But the Lamb is seeking firstfruits. The ‘wise’ in the parable (of the wise and foolish virgins) are not those who have done better, but those who have done well at an earlier hour.” (pp.33,44)

Taking a Stand

“Armies march into other countries to occupy and subdue. God has not told us to do this. We are not to march but to stand. The word ‘stand’ implies that the ground disputed by the enemy is really God’s, and therefore ours. We need not struggle to gain a foothold on it.” (p.54)

“Today we do not fight for victory; we fight from victory… When you fight to get the victory, then you have lost the battle at the outset.” (p.55)

“Because victory is His, therefore it is ours.” (p.56)

“If we believe the Lord, we shall not pray so much but rather we shall praise him more. The simpler and clearer our faith in him, the less we shall pray in such situations and the more we shall praise. Let me say again: In Christ we are already conquerors. Is it not obvious then that, since this is so, for us merely to pray for victory – unless that prayer is shot through with praise – must be to court defeat by throwing away our fundamental position?” (p.57)
___

[Jim Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Christian book I ever purchased. I have returned to it year after year. Watchman Nee is a brilliant writer and his insights on the power book of Ephesians is remarkable. For a new Christian this is a remarkable book to get our spiritual growth on the right track... to be seated with Christ in heaven.... rest.... is the foundation stone for both our walk and warfare in Jesus Christ. I've read much of Watchman Nee's writing but for me, Sit,Walk,Stand is the best of all.

[Nathan Slonaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should touch the hand of every believer - specifically those who are newly converted.

We MUST learn to “sit” - that “the work is not initially ours at all, but His. It is not that we work for God, but that He works for us. God gives us our position of rest. He brings His Son’s finished work and presents it to us, and then He says to us, ‘please sit.’ “

From there, we can “walk” according to His ways with our understanding of our life/role, and be able to “stand” on Christ’s finished work and grounds for our life, not fight for new ‘ground’ or new ‘victory’ against the enemy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is short but punchy, and it’s one that i think every believer needs to read

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny little book on Ephesians, but impactful! Definitely one I’ll return to.

[Richard Maffeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this Watchman Nee classic nearly thirty years ago. It is as fresh today and as full of spiritual insight for me as it was then. Rotted in St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Nee takes the reader through the steps outlines by Paul to become an overcomer in the spiritual battle all Christians face.

[Devon Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically Sit, Walk, Stand is not on my working list of best books, but the author, Watchman Nee, is. I read this book because my pastor preached from it this summer and gave out free copies at a function. (I was virtual, but I managed to snag one later.) He just finished up the series this past Sunday, and I finished the book. Not that it should have taken me that long: it weighs in at a very slim 67 half-sized pages. While only three chapters, it is still a little dense, so I read it along with the sermons. Roughly.

Using the book of Ephesians, Watchman Nee—a revered and fascinating Chinese pastor from the mid-twentieth century (who died in prison for his religious beliefs)—breaks down the oft-confusing idea of both being saved by grace and being asked to lead a righteous life. In concise and straight-forward language punctuated very occasionally by a story, Nee says we are first to rest (sit) in our position in Christ, then as a natural outflowing, walk the kingdom life, and then lastly, to stand in Christ’s name against evil. Walking and standing can only flow out of sitting. One will flow into the other. All of them are powered by God and have their end in His glory.

Most of what Nee says is just a nice break-down that a majority of Christians will agree with, theologically. There are a few moments, a few points, however, when there is some question as to whether or not he is theologically correct, at least in the view of some people. I had question marks and “hmm”s in the margin only a few times. Overall, though, this is the sort of book I will be returning to to review, because it is a wonderful, little, practical book about the Christian life. It is riddled with nuggets of wisdom, with quotes and stories that I am sure I have heard from other pulpits before, and with an earnest and concerned voice. It is also, as many good religious books are, a tall order. If you want to let this book change your life, you’re going to have to make big sacrifices to gain it all, which is a big part of the Christian faith. Nee supposes that a Christian can go through their earthly life without properly sitting, walking, and standing, but what is to be gained is far too important to let that happen.

I saw a reviewer suggest this book for new Christians. I think that is a great idea since it deals directly with building a faith from the first moments, up. I also think it’s about time for any Christian to realize they’ve stood the Christian life on its head and go about turning it back around again. It might come as a shock, as a struggle, but there are some important and beautiful truths here.

I would recommend this book for Christians of all stripes. It is a quick read, one that could sit on your bedside table for a few weeks, with the potential to change your life. It’s wisdom literature, and you’d do well to tack a few of his quotes up on your bathroom mirror.

QUOTES

“…it is only by placing our entire emphasis there that we can hope to realize the divine purpose for us, which is that ‘we should be unto the praise of His glory’” (pix).

“…every Christian must begin his spiritual life from that place of rest” (pxi).

“Most Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in order to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the true order” (p2).

“But Christianity is a queer business! If at the outset we try to do anything,we get nothing; if we seek to attain something, we miss everything” (p2).

“Our key word here is not of course, in its context, a command to ‘sit down’ but to see ourselves as ‘seated’ in Christ” (p5).

“What, then, is God’s basis for the outpouring of the Spirit? It is the exhalation of the Lord Jesus” (p6).

“Have you ever tried to save a drowning man? The trouble is that his fear prevents him trusting himself to you” (p11).

“…it was his sorrow that in the elder son he found no such applicant” (p13).

“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?” (p13).

“Nothing has done greater damage to our Christian testimony than our trying to be right and demanding right of others” (p20).

“My life is to be governed by the principle of the Cross and of the perfection of the Father” (p20).

“’If we only try to do the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. We have to do something more than what is right’” (p21).

“We have nothing to stand for, nothing to ask or demand. We have only to give” (p21).

“How does my wristwatch go? By moving first, or by being moved? Of course it goes because first it is moved by a power outside itself” (p23).

“You were surely not wrong in seeking love from God? No, but you were wrong in seeking that love as something in itself, a kind of package commodity, when what God desires is to express through you the love of His Son. / God has given us Christ. There is nothing now for us to receive outside of Him” (p25).

“…things! Held by us out of relation to Christ they are dead” (p26).

“Our holiness will therefore by spelled with a capital H, our love with a capital L” (p26).

“The all important rule is not to ‘try’ but to ‘trust’” (p27).

“Nothing is so hurtful to the life of a Christian as acting; nothing so lessed as when our outward efforts cease and our attitudes become natural…” (p28).

“Praise God, His life is as mighty as ever, and in the lives of those who dare to believe…” (p28),

“God does not command what He will not perform; but we must throw ourselves back on Him for the performance” (p29).

“…it is not a question of what we will get out of it. It is a question of what the Lord must have now” (p38).

“…we fight from victory” (p43).

“If we believe the Lord, we shall not pray so much but rather we shall praise Him more” (p45).

“It is clear they do nothing of themselves. They use the Name” (p50).

“The end is the preeminence of the Son of God, and evangelism is bringing in the sons among whom He shall stand preeminent” (p54).

“God’s name can never be a ‘rubber stamp’ to authorize work that is ours in conception” (p55).

“We have to learn that if God does not move we dare not move” (p55).

“…naturally gifted though we may be, we dare not speak, except in conscious and continual dependence on Him” (p56).

“Somehow, in our history with God, we must experience that initial crippling touch of His hand to weaken our natural strength, so that we stand forth on the ground of resurrection life in Christ alone…” (p57).

“God never asks us to do anything we can do” (p58).

***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***

[Ben Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIT
-We are seated with him in the heavenly places…AMEN AND AMEN! The Christian life start with us recognizing our position with Christ and that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

The 2nd page comes out with this banger…. “For Christianity begins not with a big DO, but with a big DONE” His blood has washed away every sin and his blood as redeemed us

WALK
-once we have got the “SIT” part right and that there is nothing that we can do to earn Gods favor, this is where the practical Christian living comes in. We depend fully on God to supply us with every good work. We do not try and do better and love better but rather we trust that through His spirit and His power alone that we can love others well


STAND
“We must not ask the Lord to enable us to overcome the enemy, nor even look to him to overcome, but praise him because he has already done so; He is Victor.”

We stand on His Promises and what He’s Done….

🎶

What He's done
What He's done
All the glory and the honor to the Son
My sins are forgiven
My future is Heaven
I praise God for what He's done

🎶

Also never heard anyone mention this author before and then tonight in my seminary class the professor asked if anyone has heard of him…what are the odds

[Brice Karickhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooks Lemmon sent me this book along with a Christmas card. What a super star!!

I’d read it once before (and I guess I forgot to add it to Goodreads the first time bc it was just a couple years ago). Just as good the second time around.

The critic in my doesn’t always love Nee’s writing style. It’s always like his outline is amazing, but on a paragraph to paragraph basis, the ideas don’t seem that coherent. One of those books where you could probably take two random paragraphs 20 pages apart and switch them and not notice. Jam-packed with truth nonetheless, and short enough that any imperfections in style don’t really have the chance to get to you.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview on the book of Ephesians. Nee reminds us that the every part of faith in action flows from a place of sitting in the presence of God and receiving from Him first. I loved the way that he emphasized our dependence on God in all things.

[Leslie Boothe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because it’s such a short and sweet read that is nourishing to the soul. It simplifies our faith in Jesus in a complex world. 60 pages of wisdom and kindness. Just a good devotion for someone like me who finds myself constantly complicating my faith.

[Shae Whittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something to say about this being one of the best books I’ve ever read and it’s only 67 pages!

Super convenient too because I need to read this about 4 more times already

[Claire Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I will always think of my life with the Lord through the lens of "sit, walk, stand." Thank you Jesus for the gift of this book!

"The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by him and standing in him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength for a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world. And at the end of a grueling warfare with the hosts of darkness we are found standing with him at last in triumphant possession of the field."

[Mateo Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is very scripture based and concise. One big take away is that it’s not always about what you are doing, rather what has already been done through Christ. This is a book I would want to read again.

[Vivi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book because it encouraged me, fixed my eyes on the Lord and tought me some very important things, like resting in what Jesus did for me. There were however parts of the book I couldn't agree on or rather said I didn't like, how Watchman Nee wrote very confident about parts of scripture that many people would understand completely differently. I have a hard time when theologians don't explain that there are other ways to understand this particular scripture and don't argue why they choose the point of view. I know this wasn't Nee's purpose in this book, but this manner of approaching a lot of scripture left kind of a bitter taste in my mouth because many things weren't concrete enough and seemed rather mystical.
Well, maybe someone really has to know God better to understand these things fully?! I don't know.

[fleegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book because it's short (64 pages) and very much to the point. He kind of reminds me of Joyce Meyer in that they're both "Here's what you need to do; do it." kind of people. Although when Joyce says it it's more like, "Stop being an idiot and do what you're supposed to do." The premise of this book is basically Christians should first learn how to sit (or rest) with God. Then they should learn to walk (live a righteous life in Christ) with God, and finally they should learn to stand with God. The standing business pertains to spiritual warfare. All of this he gleans from Paul's letter to the Ephesians
I kind of wish I had read this book 5 years ago.
Then again, I never would have read this book 5 years ago.

[Austin Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sit, Walk, Stand: The Process of Christian Maturity by Watchman Nee is a short book about Ephesians and three different aspects (sit, walk, stand) found in it.

In this book, Watchman Nee portrays the Christian life in three different ways. In this short read, we find that by 'Sit'ting 'Walk'ing and 'Stand'ing are all different actions all believers must experience to become useful to the Lord and to please God. By understanding these aspects of our Christian life, we can express God through everything we do and say.

A great book for anyone wondering what is required of us, believers, to live a proper Christian life.

[Chris Linehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, little book on faith and how to operate as a Christian. While I tend to feel like no new theology is good theology, I don’t understand why this has such a strong following. Nee lays out a sound and strong Christian perspective, but I was expecting more. It might be that I went from Lewis, a theologian who was equally a phenomenal writer and philosopher to Nee. Nee’s story is much more compelling than his writing. His best point of emphasis is on reminding the Christian that his battle is fought, not from just a position of power, but one of already achieved victory. That was my biggest takeaway from the book.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out really strong, but got a little murky in the middle. I agree wholeheartedly that we must learn to rest in Him before we can work for Him and with Him. However, I found myself questioning some of Nee's thoughts. Some of them sounded a little too much like the "name it and claim it" gospel. Also, It seemed like he was making demands of God, which is dangerous territory. It's possible I could have misunderstood. I tried to research a little of Nee's theology but didn't find clear answers. So overall I am on the fence on this one.

[Brooks Lemmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message of this little book is one that every disciple must grasp. First we must Sit with Christ, knowing who God is, who we are, and the many promises that God gives us in scripture. Second we must Walk in holiness, forgiveness, and love because we have been made holy, are forgiven, and are loved. Third we must Stand firm against the enemy with the knowledge of all that we learned while sitting. Read this book!

[Ben De Bono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, awesome book. It totally blew me away, especially the final section on warfare. I was fairly knowledgeable about spiritual warfare heading into this one, but Nee really added some perspective to the whole topic that I'd never considered before. This one's a must read.

[Saphraneet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watchman Nee has a wonderful way of explaining spiritual truths. By using just the three little words sit, walk, stand, found in the book of Ephesians, he reminds us of the power available to us to live our Christian lives.

[Josh Balogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great concise break down of the book of Ephesians. I try to read this book yearly as it's simplicity helps clear the clutter and refocus on the essentials of the faith.