Part 3-4: The Holy Spirit and the Word of God

Bible Reading:

Hosea 7:8 — "Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned."

Ephesians 5:18 — "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit"

Colossians 3:16 — "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 — "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies."

Acts 6:4 — "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Ephesians 6:17-18 — "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

The Path the Lord Walks Today

Before we share the message, we would like to give a brief explanation. Last night a brother asked that in these days the Holy Spirit has been poured out among us and has filled us. If this continues, what difference is there between us and the Pentecostal groups or various charismatic movements? For they also receive the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit, and they actively preach this truth. Are we not becoming the same as these groups? For the sake of the road ahead, we feel we should give some clarification. Therefore, at the beginning we want to offer a brief explanation before we fellowship on this morning’s message.

This time, our increased attention to the matter of the Holy Spirit is entirely based on the Word of God. Our consistent attitude has always been this: whatever is in the Bible, we fully accept; whatever is not in the Bible, we completely reject. Everything that is in the Scriptures—not only the literal words, but especially the spiritual meaning expressed through the literal facts—we must receive and make it our experience, so that we may reach God’s purpose. In past days, the message and experience concerning the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit have been overly neglected in the church. Therefore, this time may be considered a recovery, a returning to make up what has been lacking. It is the marvelous leading of the Holy Spirit, the timely shepherding of the Lord, guiding us to receive the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit. In this matter, there is nothing special about us. Just as the Lord’s disciples Peter and John experienced it, just as Paul experienced it, and just as the saints throughout the generations experienced it, we also experience it in the same way. As far as the experience itself is concerned, there is no difference at all—it is entirely the same.

Take salvation as an example. Today, among the many Christian groups we see, every group has genuine Christians within it. They believe in the precious blood of Jesus and receive the redemption of the Lord Jesus. No matter which group they belong to, the fact of their salvation is exactly the same as the fact of our salvation—the only difference is the place where they gather. Or take baptism as another example. Many Christian groups today practice immersion baptism, and we also practice immersion baptism. As far as the experience of baptism is concerned—being united with the Lord in His death, burial, and resurrection—the way they experience it is the same way we experience it. It is identical. We earnestly hope that all of God’s people on earth may experience the full salvation revealed in the Scriptures, without distinction, all receiving the same grace. This is our heart. And we truly hope that the experience of the Holy Spirit will also be the same—that all Christians on earth may receive the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit, walk together on the path of the cross, pursue the goal which is Christ, and reach the full stature of Christ.

Therefore, it is not that we intentionally want to establish another group, nor that we deliberately want to be different from others. We hope that all Christians in the whole world may receive the same grace, be brought into one in Christ, be brought into one in the Holy Spirit, and together bear a unified testimony in the one Body of Christ. Truly, nothing could be more beautiful or more satisfying to God than this. This is the heart we bear. As to whether this can be achieved—that is entirely the Lord’s matter. The reason it is so difficult to reach this goal today is mainly because some groups insist stubbornly on certain teachings, and some groups have taken an extreme path, going beyond the teaching of Christ. In such conditions, it becomes difficult to bear a unified testimony.

Today the church may have thousands of gatherings on earth, yet their nature ought to be the same and their goal the same—that all are led by the Lord, allowing Christ to be the Head, giving the Holy Spirit the authority, and building up the Body of Christ. Setting aside for the moment those groups that reject the filling of the Holy Spirit, even among the groups that do receive the Spirit’s filling, there are differences. Some have received a particular commission, emphasizing divine healing and evangelism. God indeed uses them, and we wholeheartedly praise the Lord for that. Yet they often remain within that segment of experience and do not continue forward toward God’s eternal purpose and His eternal will. Naturally, they stay where they are, and God uses them within that limited sphere to carry out His limited intention.

There are others who, out of prejudice, form another group and claim to be the only true church—believing that apart from the early church at Pentecost, they alone are the church throughout all ages and all lands, denying every other church. Their workers do the same: all the workers in the world are not counted, and only their small number are considered the Lord’s servants. Such groups, having taken an extreme path, are truly difficult for anyone to follow.

Our heart, however, is to include all Christians — whether Spirit‑baptized or not Spirit‑baptized. As long as they are born again and saved, they are brothers and sisters. We gather together, break bread together, and move forward together. Yet we also hope that the salvation God reveals in the Scriptures, the salvation He desires us to receive, may be experienced by all of us together. Therefore, we help those who have not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit to receive the filling; we help those who have not yet walked the way of the cross to walk the way of the cross together. This is our desire16—not a restriction, not a boundary, and certainly not a regulation. Our measure should include all Christians. This is our attitude. This is the path the Lord is taking today among His people.

God Requires Us to be Balanced Christians

Now we return to our main subject. This morning is the final meeting of this conference. In the past three evenings we have spoken about the further experiences of the Holy Spirit after His outpouring and filling. This morning we will speak on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Before presenting the main topic, we must first let the brothers and sisters know that God requires us to be balanced.

The verse we just read, Hosea 7:8, says: “Ephraim is a cake unturned.” We all know that a cake must be baked on both sides before it can be eaten. It cannot be burnt on one side while the other side remains raw. The meaning is that it must be balanced. In the same way, a Christian, in the lifelong journey of following the Lord, must not lean toward only one kind or category of experience, becoming extreme and losing balance. For example, suppose my two hands—if my right hand is constantly exercised and becomes strong and well‑developed, while my left hand, lacking exercise, becomes thin and weak — such a sight would be quite unattractive. Or if my two legs were of different lengths, my walking would always be unnatural. Or if my eyes—one were larger than the other —it would look uncomfortable. Or if one of my ears were whole and the other deformed, it would also appear unpleasant. Likewise, if a Christian does not have a balanced life, whether from God’s view or from man’s view, he cannot bear a beautiful testimony.

A Christian who desires to move forward in a balanced way must first maintain balance in two matters: the Holy Spirit and the Bible — that is, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. These two must receive equal and balanced attention. In the past hundred years, although many Christians have placed considerable emphasis on the side of God’s Word—gaining much knowledge of the Scriptures, producing many writings, and offering much teaching, so that there has been much to read and much to hear—yet the side of the Holy Spirit has been greatly neglected, resulting in extreme lack of experience. Thus, a group of Christians has emerged who are hearers of the Word only, even becoming those who can hear but cannot do, Christians in name but lacking reality. On the other hand, in recent decades, some Christians have seen the preciousness of the Holy Spirit and have actively received the outpouring and filling of the Spirit, continually focusing on the Spirit. Yet they have neglected to be rooted in the Word of God, and thus have gone down another extreme path. Therefore, this morning we must address the matter of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, and the need to hold both in balanced emphasis.

God’s way of working is through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God

First, we must see that God carries out His work through His Spirit and His Word. Throughout the entire Bible we see that God uses two means to accomplish His will: one is the Holy Spirit, and the other is the Word of God. God completes His work by means of His Spirit and His Word.

1. Creation

We can look at this matter beginning from creation. The opening of Genesis chapter one says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep.” What could be done in such a situation? It continues, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” This is the very first action God took in His work of creation. Concerning the earth that had undergone judgment, this was the work of re‑creation. And the first step was that the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. Then it records, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Here, “God said” is the second step. First the Holy Spirit moved; then God spoke. When the word came forth, the thing was accomplished. From God’s work in creation, we can clearly see that on the one hand God uses His Spirit, and on the other hand He also uses His word to complete His work.

2. Redemption

After humanity fell, God had to prepare redemption. And in the work of redemption, we again see that God uses these two means. When God sent His Son to the earth, the Gospel of Matthew records that He was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. The Son of God came into the world through the Holy Spirit— it was the Holy Spirit who conceived the child in the virgin Mary. But the Gospel of John records, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” Matthew says that the Holy Spirit conceived and that the Son was born from Mary— that the Holy Spirit put on flesh. John, however, says that the Word became flesh. From this we see that in the work of redemption, God uses the Holy Spirit on the one hand, and His word on the other. When we say the Lord Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, that is correct; and when we say He was born of the Word, that is also correct. For in accomplishing His work, God operates through the Holy Spirit on one side, and through His word on the other.

When the Lord Jesus completed redemption on the cross, Hebrews tells us that He “through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God.” This means that the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, was nailed to the cross and accomplished redemption. But on the other hand, the four Gospels record that Jesus said, “It is finished.” And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Thus redemption was accomplished. Concerning the completion of redemption on the cross, Hebrews says it was accomplished through the Holy Spirit, while the Gospels record that it was accomplished through His word.

3. Man's Born Again

For Christ’s redemption to be applied to us and become our experience, it likewise comes through the Holy Spirit and the word of God. The very first step of our Christian experience of salvation is being born again. John 3:3 says, “Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Verse 5 continues, “Unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” From this we see that born again is brought about by the Holy Spirit. Yet 1 Peter tells us something further: “You have been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God.” Here it says that born again comes through God’s living word. These passages are both correct and do not contradict each other. God uses these two means to accomplish His work. Therefore, our salvation is the Holy Spirit giving us birth, and it is also God’s word giving us birth. Lacking either one would be impossible.

4. Shepherding Believers

After we are saved, the Lord’s way of shepherding us is no exception. Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.” The “green pastures” symbolize God’s word, because grass is the food of sheep, and the food of Christians is the word of God. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “O Lord God of hosts, Your words were found, and I ate them.” When sheep are led by the shepherd to green pastures and be filled, it signifies Christians being nourished and satisfied by enjoying God’s word.

On the other hand, the sheep are also led beside still waters. “Water” symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Drinking freely and fully brings rest. A sheep cannot survive by eating grass only and does not drink water. Likewise, a Christian who only listens to messages but has no experience of the Holy Spirit cannot live as a vibrant Christian. Conversely, if the sheep are given water to drink but no grass to eat, they also cannot live. In the same way, a Christian who is often filled with the Holy Spirit but doesn't experience God’s word will also be weak, empty, and spiritually emaciated, unable to live.

Our Lord Jesus, the good Shepherd who laid down His life for us, leads us forward as His flock by feeding us with His word on the one hand and supplying us with His Spirit on the other, guiding us along a level path. Brothers and sisters, I do not know whether in these days you have experienced both sides. Perhaps you read many spiritual books and have read the Bible to some extent, but if you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit, then you may be in the green pastures yet lacking the still waters. Or perhaps you are often anointed and filled with the Spirit, yet you neglect God’s word and do not spend time in the Bible to receive spiritual food—then you are missing the green pastures. We must have both in balance; this is the way God shepherds us.

5. Guiding Believers

Exodus 13:21–22 says, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” The Israelites’ journey through the wilderness into Canaan is a picture of Christians walking a heavenly path toward the fullness of Christ. The Israelites walked the wilderness road by following the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. The pillar of cloud symbolizes the Holy Spirit; the pillar of fire symbolizes God’s word. These two are the means by which the Lord leads Christians throughout their entire life on His way. Therefore, Christians must diligently understand the Lord’s will through the Scriptures, and also hear His voice through the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself: in these days, have you experienced the Lord’s word guiding you? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit teaching you? If you and I have neither the instruction of the Spirit nor the guidance of God’s word in Scripture, then we are not walking in the Lord’s way.

For the Israelites in the wilderness, whenever the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire moved forward, anyone who refused to follow would be left behind and eventually die in the wilderness. Only by continually following the cloud and the fire could they reach the good land of Canaan. Likewise, a Christian who does not receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit and God’s word cannot reach the fullness of Christ, but will become a defeated believer—one who falls in the wilderness. Brothers and sisters, may we not treat this as an old, familiar saying that goes in one ear and out the other. Rather, let us engrave it on our hearts, staying watchful and careful to be led by the Holy Spirit and by God’s word.

In the seven letters of Revelation, the Lord warns the churches to pay attention to one thing: never carry a name without reality, never lose spiritual substance. If there is doctrine without experience, repentance is needed. The Lord preserved the aged apostle John for the purpose of recovering the desolate church and restoring spiritual reality. When he wrote 1 John, he began with, “That which was from the beginning....concerning the Word of life” He did not say, “concerning Jesus Christ,” because when the Lord Jesus becomes our experience, He becomes our life. So John continues, “which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled.” In the last days, what must be recovered is spiritual reality, not merely doctrine. We must ask: in these days, how many times has God’s word—Scripture—been your pillar of fire? We long to hear from your testimony how God’s word has guided you.

For example, before I came to the Philippines this time, I kept asking the Lord what message He wanted me to bring. Please do not think that a worker can easily preach whatever he wishes; it is not that simple. Although I had prepared a series of messages, I felt no inward assurance. So I prepared another message, yet still felt no clarity. Then, one week before my departure, on the morning I was to speak at a retreat, just as I was about to read the Bible, God’s word came: I was to speak on “The Fire of Revival” in the Philippines. Immediately the Scriptures concerning the fire of revival—from the Old Testament to the New—began to shine. I became clear and assured within: God wanted me to speak on “The Fire of Revival” on this trip. This is an example of being guided by the pillar of fire.

On the other hand, we must also continually receive the Holy Spirit’s teaching. From morning to evening each day, the anointing teaches us in all things. If in the past month you have not followed the teaching of the anointing, then spiritually you have remained in the same place for a month. We walk the Lord’s way by following both the revelation of Scripture and the Spirit throughout our whole life. There are countless examples of the anointing’s teaching. For instance, during a prayer meeting, when the Holy Spirit moves you and you pray out loud, that is one act of obedience to the Spirit. Or suppose we have an gospel meeting at the beginning of the month, and the Holy Spirit tells you to bring a certain classmate, or a certain gentleman, or a certain lady to attend—and you go and bring them. That is following the teaching of the anointing; that is being led by the Holy Spirit.

6. To set the saints free and transcendent

Not only so, for a Christian to be free and transcendent, the Lord also releases us through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. John 8:32 says, “The truth will set you free.” Of course, “truth” refers to the Lord Jesus, yet in another sense it also refers to God’s Word in the Bible. When God’s Word comes, it brings us into freedom. On the other hand, 2 Corinthians 3:17 also tells us, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” The Spirit of the Lord is the Holy Spirit. When He comes, He releases us from the bondage of the flesh and from earthly constraints. The Lord’s Word makes us free, transcendent, and victorious; likewise, the Lord’s Spirit also makes us free, transcendent, and victorious.

7. Cleansing the Church

The sanctification of the Church is the same. Ephesians 5 says, “To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Eph. 5:26–27). Water symbolizes the Holy Spirit or life. The “word” refers to God’s Word. This means that the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, enlightens us, burns away what is impure, washes us, cleanses us, and removes every spot, wrinkle, and stain until we are made completely holy.

Dear brothers and sisters, sometimes we receive the Spirit’s enlightenment through listening to messages or testimonies. Yet even more importantly, we must read God’s Word for ourselves, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us again through the Scriptures. In this way, we are washed with water through the Word.

For example, perhaps we have no interest in serving, and we are idle and unfruitful. One day, while reading the Scriptures, we come to Romans 12, and suddenly a verse comes with power: “Do not be slothful in zeal, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). You are deeply enlightened, and you pray, “Lord, forgive my coldness. Remove my corruption. Deliver me from laziness. Make my spirit fervent to serve You.” As a result, your coldness, laziness, selfishness, and disobedience—your spots and wrinkles—are cleansed away. In this way, the Lord, by His Spirit through the Word of Scripture, cleanses the Church again and again, repeatedly and continually, until the Church becomes holy and without blemish.

8. Reviving the Church

Let us take the revival of the Church as another example. The Lord also works through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Today many Christians hold a mistaken concept, thinking that we can work for the Lord. Yet after serving for a short while, they find themselves exhausted and unwilling to continue. Or at best, they force themselves to serve by sheer willpower. Here we must understand that all spiritual work is done by the Holy Spirit Himself, and it is God who accomplishes His work by speaking. In spiritual matters, human hands cannot intervene; man is absolutely powerless. If this is so, does man then have no responsibility? No—man still has a responsibility: to believe and to obey.

When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He said, “The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (John 5:25). Whenever God speaks, the work is accomplished, and the Church is revived. On the other hand, God also works through the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit enlightens, He causes people to be convicted concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, and they come alive and are revived. At times, when the Spirit grants revelation and shows you the beauty of the Lord, you run after Him. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is poured out upon believers, bringing revival. We must believe in God’s Word and also believe in the work of the Holy Spirit; then we will surely see God’s activity and the manifestation of His glory. At the same time, we must obey what God speaks and obey the voice of the Spirit. In this way, the Lord will display His glorious works.

Ezekiel records several visions concerning the revival of God’s people. Whether it is the river that causes everything dry to live again, or the breath that brings the dry bones back to life, both symbolize the work of the Holy Spirit. The river represents the Spirit’s work; the breath also represents the Spirit’s work—God’s act of revival. On the other hand, when God’s Word goes forth, it likewise brings revival, for “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” To be raised from the dead is the greatest revival. Thus we see that God revives His work through the Holy Spirit and through His Word.

9. Bearing Witness to Christ

Today the Lord keeps us on earth so that we may be His witnesses, and He leads us through the Holy Spirit and His Word. John 15:26 says, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me..” Brothers and sisters, when we were still sinners, the Holy Spirit came to convict us concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He brought us to the Lord Jesus and continually revealed Christ to us—showing us that He is the Son of God, the Savior, and unveiling His glory, victory, beauty, and greatness. He draws us again and again, causing us to run after Him, worship Him, and serve Him. All these are works of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3 says, “That He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Eph. 3:16–17). This refers to our receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled within, our inner man is strengthened, and Christ begins to rule within us, bringing us under His lordship. This too is the Holy Spirit bearing witness to Christ.

Galatians 5 further shows us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are all the very expressions of Christ when He was on earth. When we are filled with the Spirit, the Spirit produces this fruit in us so that we may live out the image of Christ. This also is the Holy Spirit bearing witness to Christ.

On the other hand, in John 5:39 the Lord Jesus says, “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” Thus, God’s Word—the Bible—also bears witness to Christ. We know that the Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament introduces Christ. Through its history, types, and poetry, it portrays Christ and prepares the way for His coming. The New Testament reveals Christ. The four Gospels speak of Christ incarnate and His accomplished redemption. Acts speaks of the ascended Christ continuing His work on earth through the Holy Spirit. The Epistles speak of how Christ becomes our life, growing, forming, and being constituted in us through the cross. Revelation speaks of the full testimony of Christ—His complete manifestation. Thus, the entire Bible, the Word of God, bears witness to Christ.

God Requires the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to Hold a Balanced and Supreme Place Among the Saints

From all the points mentioned above, it is not difficult for us to understand that God carries out His work through the Holy Spirit and through His Word. Therefore, the entire Bible also shows us that God requires the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to hold a balanced and fully superior place among the saints.

1. Being Filled with the Holy Spirit and Filled with the Word of God

The verse we read earlier in Ephesians 5:18 says, “Be filled with the Spirit.” Since God intends to accomplish His work in us through the Holy Spirit—and to bring it to fullness—He commands us to be filled with the Spirit. On the other hand, God also uses His Word to complete His work in us. Therefore, Colossians 3:16 tells us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” This means we must come before God, open our hearts, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, while at the same time seriously allowing God’s Word to equip us inwardly. On one hand, we are to be filled with the Spirit; on the other hand, we are also to be filled with the Word of God. By speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with hearts full of grace, we praise and sing to God (Eph. 5:18–19; Col. 3:16).

2. The Moving of the Holy Spirit and the Prophetic Word

For the edification of believers, 1 Thessalonians 5:19–20 says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt.” This means that God requires us as believers to honor the Holy Spirit and give Him His rightful place; likewise, we must honor the prophetic speaking, giving God’s Word the same place as the Holy Spirit. For prophetic speaking is the expression of God’s Word. We must receive guidance from both sides in a balanced way, so that we may be built up in a well-rounded manner.

3. The Most Holy Faith and Praying in the Holy Spirit

To enable us to stand firm in an ungodly generation, Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” Being built up on the most holy faith is to give God’s Word its rightful place. Praying in the Holy Spirit is to give the Holy Spirit an outlet. When both the Word and the Spirit are given their proper place, we experience them working together in a balanced way.

4. Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

When the apostles sought to work together with God and fulfill their ministry to the Lord, they said in Acts 6:4, “And will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Prayer signifies being brought by the Lord to a point where we no longer rely on our own methods or abilities, but serve and fulfill our ministry solely by the Holy Spirit. Thus Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” The ministry of the Word, on the other hand, signifies serving and fulfilling our ministry by means of God’s Word. Therefore Luke 1:37 says, “For no word from God will ever fail.” This means that when the word that comes from God is proclaimed, the power that accompanies it also goes forth. Thus, devoting ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word shows that both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God must be given a balanced and superior place.

5. The Sword of the Spirit and Praying in the Spirit

Brothers and sisters, the Bible place the Holy Spirit and the Word of God before us in perfect balance—even spiritual warfare is no exception. Ephesians 6:17–18 says, “Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” On the spiritual battlefield, if we are to overcome the devil, we must put on the whole armor of God. This includes taking up the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God—and praying at all times in the Spirit. This shows how crucial the balanced place of both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is in spiritual warfare.

We have briefly shared the importance of maintaining this balance between the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. May the Lord lead us to value and experience both the Spirit and the Word in a balanced way, so that He may guide us steadily and securely to continue walking on the path of His revival, pressing on toward the goal, which is Christ Himself.

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