Eng:914  Chin:658  Kor:658  Span:412  Tag:914  Fra:-  Por:427 

Lyrics:Witness Lee
Music:German melody
Meter:8.7.8.7.D

This hymn has a unique tune

 

 1  For the Church should be our service,

       'Tis the perfect will of God;

    'Tis the only way of working

       Which the Lord's apostles trod.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 2  For 'tis God's eternal purpose

       That the Church His vessel be;

    He intends that all our service

       Build His Church continually.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 3  All the gifted persons given

       To the Body by the Head

    Are to aid the Church's building,

       That to fulness she be led.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 4  All the gifts and all the functions,

       All the spirit's power shown,

    All the ministries are given

       For the Church and that alone.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 5  All the preaching of the Gospel,

       All the teaching ministry,

    Every other kind of service

       For the Church alone should be.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 6  Ministry is for the Churches,

       Not the Church for ministry;

    All the lampstands are the Churches,

       Not a form of ministry.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 7  This will keep the Church's oneness,

       Saving us from every sect;

    This will ever test our motives,

       And our aim will thus correct.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.

 

 8  Lord, deliver us from our work,

       From the work of any sect;

    For Thy Church alone we'd labor

       And its building up effect.

 

For the Church should be our service,

   Not our aims to satisfy;

This the perfect will of God is,

   And with it we must comply.