Part 1-4: The Fire on Araunah's Threshing Floor of

Bible Reading:

1 Chronicles 21:1—“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel."

1 Chronicles 21:7–18 —“And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel.So David said to God, ‘I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.’And the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying,‘Go and tell David, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.’”’So Gad came to David and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Choose for yourself,either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or three days the sword of the Lord—the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.” Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.’And David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, ‘It is enough; now restrain your hand.’ And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.And David said to God, ‘Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep—what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people, that they should be plagued.’Therefore, the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

1 Chronicles 21:26–28—"And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.So the Lord commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath.At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.”

Colossians 1:16–17—“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 —“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

Satan Hates the Revival of God’s People

This morning, we will speak about the fire on the threshing floor of Araunah. When David was king, he led the people of Israel to victory over the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, Ammonites, and other nations, establishing a strong and powerful kingdom of Israel. With the enemies subdued, peace reigned throughout the land. Yet it was precisely during this time of national prosperity and spiritual revival that Satan’s intense hatred was stirred. He could not bear to see Israel flourishing in revival, so he rose up to attack. This time, Satan did not use foreign nations to wage open war against Israel. Instead, he worked secretly, inciting David’s heart to take a census of the people. In doing so, David greatly sinned against the Lord. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Since God’s blessing is without limit, His people are not to be numbered. But David, provoked by Satan, acted foolishly and counted the people of Israel—thus gravely offending God.

Revival Interrupted by Pride, Self-Satisfaction, and Self-Exaltation

On the other hand, David’s decision to number the people of Israel revealed the pride, self-satisfaction, and desire for self-exaltation within him. This motive offended God, and as a result, He brought calamity upon Israel. Thus, the revival was interrupted, and its continuation came to a halt. In the same way, when a Christian is experiencing revival—or when a church is being revived—Satan will spare no effort to attack, doing everything possible to lead God’s people into failure. He cannot bear to see believers thriving in revival or churches flourishing in spiritual renewal. When believers are being built up, loving the Lord, pursuing Him, serving Him, and growing in spiritual stature, Satan refuses to remain passive. He seeks every opportunity to strike, especially when God’s people are inattentive or spiritually weak. He launches both open assaults and hidden schemes, using various deceptions and traps to hinder revival—not only stalling it, but causing decline and even spiritual collapse. Therefore, we must be especially vigilant. Whenever we experience even a measure of revival, we are prone to relax, lose watchfulness, and even become proud and self-sufficient. As a result, we fall into Satan’s cunning schemes, and revival is halted, leading to spiritual failure!

When the Israelites conquered Jericho, their morale soared, and the people were filled with the atmosphere of revival—for the first great city of Canaan had fallen! Fallen! But when they went on to attack the next city, the small town of Ai, they suffered defeat. This was a painful lesson, a sobering experience that must serve as a warning. The reason for their crushing defeat after the great victory at Jericho was simple: they underestimated the enemy and relied on themselves. They did not seek the Lord before going to battle, nor did they depend on the Holy One of Israel in their advance. Likewise, when a believer is revived by the Lord—burning with zeal, strong in love for Christ, pursuing Him, serving Him—and begins to feel self-assured, that is often the moment when they are most vulnerable to failure in the smallest matters. As we mentioned yesterday, sometimes it’s just a little leaven that enters in, or a single drop of honey. Yet these small intrusions of leaven and honey can lead to the entire revival being stalled, and even to a state of spiritual decline and defeat.

The Fire on Araunah’s Threshing Floor — The Restoration of Revival

When a Christian or a church falls into failure after experiencing revival, how can that revival be restored? There is only one way: the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor. Though Satan uses every scheme and spares no effort to hinder and destroy the revival of God’s people, God is forever victorious. He continues to move forward, and through the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor, He restores His people from failure back into the condition of revival. After David’s failure, when the revival among the Israelites came to a halt, it was the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor that brought restoration—not only returning the people to their former spiritual vitality, but also laying the foundation for something greater. David, in obedience to the Lord’s command, instructed his son Solomon to use that very threshing floor—where the fire had fallen—as the site for building the temple. From there, the people gradually ascended to the peak of revival.

In recent years, many young brothers and sisters have experienced revival from the Lord. At nearly every Baguio gathering, there have been moments of spiritual revival—some great, some small. Yet not long after, many gradually slipped. Some even returned to doing things that displeased the Lord and sinned against Him. So when we find ourselves in such a condition again, how can we be restored? As mentioned earlier, we need the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor. Only the work of the Holy Spirit—symbolized by that fire—can bring us back to our original place of revival. Now, we can look at David’s experience to understand how to call down the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor once more.

Humbling Oneself to Receive Discipline and Rebuke

After David’s failure, what became most evident in him was his humility in accepting God’s discipline and rebuke. Whenever we fall short, the Lord’s discipline and correction, whether severe or gentle, are always meant to bring us into humility. For God’s work of revival can only be manifested upon a foundation of humility. The Word of the Lord tells us: “God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5) Many times, God blesses us and revives us. Yet, because we cannot bear the weight of His blessing, pride creeps in—our hearts are lifted up, and our spirits become stubborn. This forces God’s blessing to halt, for He can only give grace to the humble and must resist the proud.

David was a deeply spiritual man. When he sinned against the Lord by numbering the people, he immediately humbled himself under God’s discipline and rebuke. The Lord sent Gad to present him with three choices of judgment: three years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of plague in the land destroying throughout Israel. David, being a man who knew God, replied to Gad: “Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” (1 Chronicles 21:13) He recognized his own wretchedness, corruption, and utter brokenness. Apart from seeking God’s mercy, there was no other way forward. Outside of the Lord’s mercy, there is no salvation. David humbled himself, knowing that only by looking up in humility to God’s mercy could the revival be restored. When the angel of the Lord brought the plague, seventy thousand Israelites died. Revival came to a halt, and the nation began descending a sorrowful path. In that moment, David lifted his eyes to the Lord’s mercy and again declared: “Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great.” His humility reached such depths that, when he saw the angel of the Lord at Araunah’s threshing floor, he and the elders clothed themselves in sackcloth and fell on their faces to the ground. “Clothed in sackcloth” signified deep sorrow and repentance—a visible expression of profound humility. “Fell on their faces” revealed a posture of desperate pleading for mercy and grace. David’s humble acceptance of God’s discipline and rebuke was ultimately accepted by the Lord.

There was a brother who, when he first came to faith in the Lord, was in a very good spiritual condition. But after some time, he turned his heart toward the world. Whether indulging in the pleasures of sin or pursuing material desires, he spared no effort in enjoyment and was relentless in his pursuit—not wanting to fall behind others in worldly gain. He continued chasing after pleasure until the Lord’s loving discipline came upon him. One day, while riding his motorcycle, he crashed into a bridge pillar and fell to the ground. His hands, feet, body—even his face—were injured, requiring more than twenty stitches. It was in the hospital that he began to confess his sins and plead for the Lord’s forgiveness. And the Lord, in His mercy, healed him quickly. Yet within a few months, he returned to drinking and resumed a sinful lifestyle. So once again, the Lord’s discipline came. This time, his career suffered a major blow. That was when he truly repented and humbled himself. He knelt down and cried out: “Lord, have mercy on me, have mercy on me. This time I truly repent—it’s not a false repentance. I genuinely return to You. Please forgive me.” Because he humbled himself and accepted the Lord’s discipline and rebuke, revival began to stir in him again. He was then filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to walk in renewed revival. Brothers and sisters, humbling ourselves to accept correction and discipline is a foundational key to restoring revival. For God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Restore the testimony upon the foundation of God's word

Because of David's humble plea, the angel of the Lord instructed Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah. David obeyed and did as Gad had spoken in the name of the Lord.

The Threshing Floor of Araunah

The reason the Lord directed David to go to Araunah’s threshing floor carries deep significance. At that time, Araunah was threshing wheat—symbolizing the provision of food. This reveals that Araunah’s threshing floor is a place of spiritual nourishment, a place where God speaks. Dear brothers and sisters, whenever we begin to stray from the road to Emmaus and no longer walk the highway to Zion, we must quickly return to Araunah’s threshing floor—to the Word of God—to seek and wait upon the Lord. It means coming before the speaking God to wait and seek Him. Apart from this, there is no other way. You and I have only one destination: to come before the Lord and inquire of Him. For spiritual life, spiritual food, and spiritual words all come from the Lord. In other words, the Lord speaks through the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, and through people, events, and circumstances. There is no second place to go. Therefore, we must return to Araunah’s threshing floor. For example, if you’ve recently felt spiritually cold—living each day in a lukewarm, abnormal spiritual state—then come before the Lord in prayer and say:“Lord, what should I do in this pitiful condition? Now I’ve come to Baguio to attend a special conference. Lord, this is Araunah’s threshing floor. I’ve come before You to hear Your Word. Please speak to me.” When you do this, the Holy Spirit will surely work in a marvelous way, and revival will come upon you.

There was a sister who, when she first believed, was fervent in her love for the Lord. But after a period of time, she gradually grew cold toward Him. One morning, the Holy Spirit suddenly reminded her: “Are you going to keep going on like this?” She responded, “Lord! What’s wrong with me lately? I don’t enjoy reading the Bible, I don’t like praying, and I hardly want to attend gatherings. Oh! How did I become like this?” Despite her lack of interest, she began reading the Bible. That day, she happened to read 1 John 4:8–9: "For God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” She was struck by the words—God’s love was revealed to her. She continued reading and came to verse 16: “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.” These words touched her deeply. In her heart she said, “The Lord loves me like this—I should know it, believe it, and rise up to love Him.”So she rose up—she began attending gatherings, praying, reading the Bible, and even testified in the meetings. She was revived. Praise the Lord!

Brothers and sisters, sometimes when we grow cold, fail, or backslide—when we’re walking downhill spiritually—the Lord disciplines us with love to humble us. But He doesn’t stop there. He wants to bring us to Araunah’s threshing floor, to the presence of the speaking God, so we may inquire of Him. Suppose you’re in Baguio and suddenly get a headache, or someone starts sneezing, or another has a fever. Don’t immediately conclude it’s because you didn’t cover yourself well or caught a chill yesterday. No—use these outward circumstances to seek the Lord. Ask Him: “Why do I have a headache, a runny nose, a fever?” The first thing to do is go to Araunah’s threshing floor and inquire of the Lord.

A few months ago, while I was in Taipei, something suddenly appeared in my chest area. It hurt when I moved my hand. I immediately went before the Lord in prayer, seeking if He had something to say. The Lord said: “You’ve had a lot of work lately, running here and there, but you’ve spent too little time drawing near to Me. That is a sin.” I said, “Lord! Forgive me. I’ve truly spent too little time with You. My prayers are few, and my work is too much. Please forgive me.” After confessing, I asked the Lord if there was anything else I had done to offend Him. But I felt no further conviction—I was clear. According to the Lord’s word, I humbled myself and confessed. Then, in the name of the Lord, I commanded the illness to leave and the lump to disappear. After praying, the pain lessened in a day or two, and within a few more days, it was gone. Brothers and sisters, when we receive God’s discipline—whether great or small—it means revival is near. At that moment, don’t forget to return to the Lord, to Araunah’s threshing floor, and inquire of Him. If the Lord tells us something, we should do it.

1. Building the Altar

   David did another important thing at Araunah’s threshing floor—he built an altar to the Lord, following the command of the Lord’s messenger. The altar symbolizes testimony, it refers to restoring the testimony based on the foundation of God's word. When God seeks to restore His work of revival, He must first obtain a group of vessels. Only then will the fire of revival descend upon these vessels, just as fire came down upon the altar. Brothers and sisters, it is my earnest hope that we may all, according to the Lord’s word, become vessels of testimony—rooted in the living word of God and living out the testimony of Christ.

2. Offering the Burnt Sacrifice

   After David built the altar, he then offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and the Lord sent fire down upon the altar of burnt offering. This morning, we want to spend a bit more time speaking about the burnt offering. Throughout the entire Bible, we see that the fire of revival—representing the work of the Holy Spirit—most often descends upon the burnt offering. We’ve already seen the fire before the tabernacle—it came upon the burnt offering. We’ve also seen the fire on the rock at Ophrah, which burned when lamb meat was offered (which also symbolically refers to the burnt offering). Yesterday, we saw the flames on the rock at Zorah, again burning upon the burnt offering. And this morning, we see that when David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings at Araunah’s threshing floor, fire came down from heaven onto the altar of burnt offering. The Lord commanded the angel, who then sheathed his sword, and the plague was immediately stopped. The hindrances to revival were removed, and the forces that had destroyed revival were eliminated. Thus, the Israelites were restored from their failure—because the fire fell at Araunah’s threshing floor. When the Holy Spirit works, every difficulty—whether personal, familial, in ministry, in coordination—whatever the challenge, it all passes away. Every spiritual plague is completely wiped out. When the fire fell at Araunah’s threshing floor, the plague across the nation ceased, and all difficulties were resolved. But remember: this fire fell upon the burnt offering.

   
   

The Beginning, Restoration, and Continuation of Revival All Require Burnt Offerings

In recent days, many have been waiting for the fire of revival to descend. In truth, this fire has already begun to burn, and many have received it. However, it is not yet widespread—many brothers and sisters remain in a spiritually stagnant state. Therefore, we must earnestly ask the Lord to let the fire of revival spread to every corner of the church, so that every believer may be revived. But let us not forget: the beginning, restoration, and continuation of revival all require the offering of burnt sacrifices. Only then can the fire of revival descend from heaven. Brothers and sisters, each of us must offer burnt sacrifices here in Baguio.

Offering Ourselves Repeatedly and More Deeply

Scripture shows us that burnt offerings were offered every morning and evening—meaning we must offer ourselves repeatedly and more deeply. Some among us have already made such offerings many times, but we must continue. Others have never offered themselves before, and now is the time to do so. In previous messages, we’ve said that symbolically, the burnt offering refers to Jesus Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without blemish to God—a fragrant sacrifice, pleasing to Him. In our experience, the Lord Jesus also stirs us with His love and leads us by His Spirit to offer ourselves to Him as pure virgins.

Colossians 1:16 says:"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." This shows that the purpose of all creation is for Jesus Christ. God, in His infinite wisdom, has His eternal plan and ultimate goal. He created humanity and the universe for Christ. We were made for Him. We have to be clear that our shared goal is to live for Jesus Christ, as God ordained from eternity. Verse 17 continues:"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." He upholds "all things by the word of His power." (Hebrews 1:3) We exist because of Him—not merely to eat, drink, and enjoy life, but to live for Jesus. God appointed Christ to inherit all things, so we must wholly live for Him. Therefore, we must offer ourselves more deeply and completely to live for HIm.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 says:"For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." Whether from the perspective of creation or redemption, Jesus made and saved us to live for Him. His love—expressed through the cross and His shed blood—compels us. Paul, moved by this immeasurable and unfathomable love, urges us to live not for ourselves but for the risen Lord. So we must offer ourselves again and again.

In the Old Testament, when a bull or lamb was placed on the altar, it no longer belonged to itself—it was set apart for God. Today, stirred by the Lord’s love, we place ourselves on the altar as living sacrifices, as burnt offering, offering ourselves to the Lord. Romans 12:1 says:"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." God delights in this. When we offer ourselves in this way, heavenly fire descends—burning in you and me—and the Holy Spirit revives us. Brothers and sisters, let us once again offer ourselves more deeply and completely.

Our life has only one meaning: to live for Jesus. Whether studying, teaching, doing business, being a parent or child—everything is for Jesus. There is no second purpose. With this clarity, our goal is firm and unshakable: a lifetime lived for Jesus. Our path is firmly set and unchanging: walking highway of Zion, the heavenly way, the way of the cross. This is the life of the altar, the life of the burnt offering.

These recent messages focus on foundations. First is the experience of the sin offering—repentance, forgiveness, and peace through the blood of Christ. Second is the burnt offering—total consecration. Without this second foundation, no amount of teaching will help. If the foundation is not set, there is no way to build. We must first encounter the Lord, repent, receive peace of forgiveness, and experience His precious blood. Only then can we enter into the experience of offering ourselves. Without this second foundation, Christians cannot walk the path properly. Sometimes, God lovingly disciplines us to lead us to offer ourselves.

When I was a teenager, I was moved by a sermon and offered myself to the Lord. But soon after, I turned to the world. One day, I became ill—my cheek swelled painfully, and I couldn’t sleep. The Holy Spirit reminded me: I had offered myself, yet I still love the world. I wasn't living for the Lord, but for my own future. I prayed, “Lord, forgive me. I forgot I had consecrated myself. I love the world for my future. Forgive me and heal me, and I will live for You. Whatever You want me to do, I'm willing to obey.” Within days, I was healed. That offering was deeper than before—but still not enough. A few years later, I again pursued worldly status. The Lord disciplined me again, this time not illness but through a life-threatening event. I repented and said, “Lord, this time I truly want to live for You.” He protected me and saved me from the disaster. Later, during a move of the Spirit in the church, the Lord spoke again: "Offer yourself completely, without reservation. Surrender yourself, give up your future and choices. Go whereever I lead you. Do whatever I ask of you. Surrender yourself without condition." I hesitated before the Lord's request, saying, “This is too hard. I have to re-consider.” But one night, the Lord said, “If you won’t offer yourself, I will take your life tonight. Then what future do you have?” Like the foolish rich man in the Bible, who planned to build a bigger barn and store his crops and goods. And he said to his soul, "...take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" (Luke 12:20) Lord Jesus asked me that night, if I lost my soul today, shall I still plan for the future? I surrendered. I said, “Lord, You are sovereign. I give myself to You.” After I surrender myself, His love filled me. I knew He would never fail me. He loves me, His love and grace will not leave me all my life. He is responsible to lead me and keep me. I feel that His love is so great that I bow down on my knees and I offered myself fully, even publicly in church. I knelt and gave everything—my spirit, soul, body, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, my being, possessions, future, life, and family—to Jesus. I wept and offered myself sincerely, without reservation.

Dear brothers and sisters, be clear and thorough in your consecration. Mark the time and place of your full surrender. You may realize your offering has not been complete, you still have reservation. It was not an offering without condition. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to lay the foundation and offer the burnt sacrifice—giving your entire future to the Lord. May this offering be made today before the Lord, so that the fire of revival from heaven may come upon us.

Offering the Peace Offering

To bring down the fire from the threshing floor of Araunah, another offering must be made—the peace offering. The peace offering refers to Jesus Christ offering Himself to God. Through His atonement, He brought peace, reconciling us to God. If we want to bring down the heavenly fire, we must not only offer the burnt offering—giving ourselves completely—but also offer the peace offering, which signifies deep fellowship and intimate union with God. We must live a life of continual communion and unity with Him. Just as a lamp must be connected to a power source to shine, and a fan must be plugged in to spin, all electrical appliances must be connected to power to function. In the same way, when you dedicate yourself to the Lord and are fully connected to Him, the fire from heaven will burn ever more brightly within you.

We truly hope that each of us will wholly offer ourselves and come before the Lord, living in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, without any gap from God. May we experience His presence daily, commune with Him through the Bible, through prayer, and sometimes through hymn—living each day in truer, fresher, and deeper fellowship. When we offer the peace offering in this way, the fire from heaven will descend, consume us, and the church will continually be revived.

The Foundation of the Temple

Later on, it was on the very threshing floor of Araunah—where burnt offerings and peace offerings had been made—that Solomon, David’s son, built the temple. This temple, which symbolizes the building of the church, had its foundation laid on Araunah’s threshing floor, not anywhere else. This means that the church is built upon a group of God’s people who have truly encountered the Lord, thoroughly confessed and repented of their sins, been cleansed by the precious blood, offered themselves as burnt sacrifices, lived in deep fellowship with God, and received the heavenly fire—the powerful working of the Holy Spirit upon them. Only upon such a foundation can the church be built. Without fire descending from heaven, the temple cannot be built. Likewise, wherever the Holy Spirit is not at work, there can be no true building of the church. Remember: it is only upon the working of the Holy Spirit that the church can be built. Wherever the fire of Araunah’s threshing floor is present, there the temple will be established.

Decision

Dear brothers and sisters, if we desire to bring forth the fire of revival, then this morning we must take one specific action: to offer ourselves concretely to the Lord. This is a solemn moment, and we ask that everyone approach it with reverence before God. Whoever is willing to offer themselves to the Lord—whether it is for the first time, a renewed offering, or one made many times before—if you are willing and joyful in heart to dedicate your entire life to the Lord, please stand. Do not feel pressured; this must be voluntary. If you are willing to offer yourself to God, please stand. Thank the Lord—nearly all of us have stood, willing to give ourselves to Him. And to mark this moment with seriousness, we now ask all brothers and sisters who have stood to kneel in prayer, and formally present yourselves to the Lord before Him.

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