The Spiritual Journey (1)

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 10:1-6

Exodus 3:7-8, 12:6-11, 13:14

Introduction

The purpose of this message is to help all Christians who are truly saved to determine the direction and goal of their lives—so that they may enter into the fullness of Christ. It also aims to guide newly baptized Christians onto the path of life. Some may have been baptized for two, three, or even five to eight years and still haven’t stepped onto the path of life—they may just become a Christian who attends church services. We sincerely hope the Lord blesses this message so that every truly saved and baptized Christian can clearly see and walk this spiritual path of life.

Furthermore, by laying out this path clearly, we also hope to stir more seasoned brothers and sisters to not become complacent, but to press on and let their spiritual life continue maturing. Some think that loving the Lord and serving in the church after salvation is enough—yet their spiritual growth is stagnant. Even those who are eager to walk the Lord’s path may find themselves stuck at a certain level, unable to break through into the abundant life. May the Lord have mercy on us and grant that each Christian continually presses forward until they reach the fullness of Christ.

So how do we enter into the fullness of Christ? The Bible clearly reveals this through the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan. Their journey represents the spiritual path of a believer and the route to God's eternal purpose and will.

 I. The Journey into Egypt

First of all, let's look into the background of the Israelites' journey into Egypt.

1. From Adam to Abraham

   After God created the first humans, He placed them in the Garden of Eden. Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, He expelled them—this was God's first divine judgment on man. Adam and Eve had children outside Garden of Eden, and their descendants multiply. After a period of time, until Noah's generation, the Bible records: "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually....He was grieved in His heart...said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air...'” (Gen. 6:5–7) So, God judged that generation with a flood—this was His second judgment on mankind.

   Only righteous Noah and his family—eight in all—were saved. His descendants continued, but soon the sons of Ham attempted to build a tower in the land of Shinar (Babel). They said: "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered."(Gen. 11:4)Their motive wasn’t to glorify God, but to elevate themselves, provoking God’s anger. He then confused their language and scattered them across the earth—this became the third judgment.

2. From Abraham to Israelites Going to Egypt

   Following the big flood and tower of Babel, God chose and called one man from among the nations—Abraham. Because of his obedience, God promised to make him a great nation, and Abraham became the forefather of God’s people—chosen to bear witness on earth. God’s entire purpose was now rooted in Abraham and his descendants. Obeying God’s call, Abraham left Ur of Chaldea and went to God's promise land—Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey—symbolizing the richness of Christ. His son Isaac and grandson Jacob also lived there.

   Later, during a severe famine, Jacob and his family—the twelve tribes, seventy people in all—left Canaan and moved to Egypt, where Joseph was already a high official. They settled in Goshen, prospered and became mighty. However, after Joseph died, a new Pharaoh arose who didn’t know Joseph and became jealous of the Israelites’ strength. So he oppressed them through forced labor and harsh treatment, in order to stop the growth of Israelites' population and to avoid their growing further stronger.

   "Egypt" represents the world. "Pharaoh" symbolizes satan. Ih the spiritual world that our fleshly eyes cannot see, the devil reigns and controls this world. This is what was said in 1 John 5:19, "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one." God sent Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, and into the land of Canaan. The Israelites represent believers, saints, or disciples.Their deliverance and journey to Canaan symbolizes God bringing His people into the fullness and glory of Christ.

   
   

II. The Condition of Egypt—Man's need for Salvation

When Moses confronted Pharaoh, asking for the Israelites to be freed, Exodus 5:1–2 recounts:"Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may [a]hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'”And Pharaoh said, 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.'”

1. Not Knowing God

   Pharaoh’s response demonstrates that the world under satan’s control neither knows nor honors God—it outright rejects Him. This is why Christians should reject world. The world stands in opposition to God. Don’t we see this clearly today? When we share the gospel, we’re often met with inexplicable rejection. Many believers from non-Christian families long for their loved ones to accept Jesus, only to face hardened hearts and strong resistance.

2. Desire for Fleshly Pleasures

   Exodus 16 and Numbers 11 record that the Israelites continually reminisced about Egypt’s meat pots and flavorful foods—cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. These foods stimulates appetite. Spiritually, these symbolize indulgence in the flesh. Ask yourself—how many young people today are drawn to the pleasure-driven lifestyle the world offers? No doubt, the world is really filled with too many fleshly enjoyment, which are like cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic,....

3. The Pleasure of Sin

   Hebrews 11:25 says of Moses: "…choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the [a]passing pleasures of sin." As the son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses could have inherited the throne. He enjoyed lavish royal comforts in the Egyptian palace, along with freedom for lusts of the flesh. He can enjoy the pleasures of sin. Yet he chose to suffer with God's people instead of temporary sinful delight.

4. Oppressive Labor and Heavy Burdens

   At that time, the Israelites were loaded with burdensome labor building the city for Pharoah. They spent the days under the hot sun mixing clay, making bricks, or working the fields, they were harshly treated. This depicts not only Israel's physical hardship but also the exhausting toil of human existence. In today’s world, people run themselves ragged, mentally and physically, chasing after livelihood, using their strength and mind to plan and calculate day and night. These are all burden and labor.

5. Slaves to Satan

   Just as Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites, the devil enslaves the souls of mankind today. Before accepting Jesus, we all lived under satan’s rule, bound by sin and compelled to do what we ought not to.

6. Loss of Life

   Pharaoh eventually ordered all Israelite baby boys to be thrown into the river—a plan to extinguish future generations. This chilling act symbolizes satan’s plan to drive people to continual toil and despair, to walk towards spiritual death.

   
   

Under these six conditions, Israel needed divine deliverance, just as mankind today urgently needs God’s salvation.

III. God's Salvation

So, just how vast is God’s salvation? Oh! It is immeasurably wide, broad, and deep—because the Christ of infinite abundance is God's salvation itself. Once we are saved, God places us in Christ, allowing us to enjoy this abundant redemption. Dear brothers and sisters, how can we experience and enjoy this fullness?

From a spiritual standpoint, the Israelites’ journey from Egypt into Canaan illustrates the abundant salvation in Christ. When the Israelites left Egypt, they had to clearly set their direction and goal—which was the land of Canaan. Entering Canaan was their final destination. Likewise, God's ultimate purpose in creating and redeeming mankind is to bring them into the richness of Christ. God has ordained that Christ must fill all things. Therefore, we must be filled by Christ, reflecting His glory throughout the universe, with Christ seated in the highest and most exalted place. This grand process is illustrated in the stages of Israelites's journey—from Egypt to Canaan.

The Israelites originally lived in the land of Egypt. Because of the Lord's mercy, He sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt. Moses is a type of Jesus Christ, who leads you and me out of Egypt—that is, the world. They had been dwelling in Rameses, a representative region in Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses to lead the people to depart from Rameses. They journeyed through Succoth, through Edom, to Pi-Hahiroth, then crossed the Red Sea. They arrived at Marah, at Elim, and reached the Wilderness of Sin. Afterwards they came to Rephidim, and then to Mount Sinai—traveling station by station, one stop after another. We will elaborate the spiritual experiences that Christians encounter one by one using these stations that Israelites traveled, until they ultimately cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan. In the end, all the people entered the beautiful land of Canaan, showing that God's plan had been fulfilled.

Concerning the spiritual condition of Christians today, we can categorize it into three types.The first catogory consists of Christians who remain in Egypt. Though they may have believed in Jesus for thirty or even fifty years, they have never truly departed from Egypt—they remain spiritually stuck. The Apostle’s words in 1 Corinthians 10 serve as a warning to this kind of believer in the end times. If you are a Christian who has dwelt in Egypt for decades, we hope that through this message the Holy Spirit will guide you out of Egypt.

The second catogory are the Christians who walk in circles in the wilderness, ultimately dying there. Most Christians make it as far as Mount Sinai, only to end their journey there. May the Holy Spirit stir your heart and urge you to continue moving forward into a victorious life.

The third category consists of Christians who enter Canaan, like Caleb and Joshua. They led the next generation into the land of Canaan. At this point, each of us must reflect and ask ourselves, "Since I believed in Jesus, how far have I journeyed on this spiritual path? What station am I at? " May the Lord open our inner eyes and draw us forward.

Now, we will go deeply into each stop of the Journey.

I. The Feast of Passover — Christ as Everlasting Life (Exodus 12:1-11)

[Rameses]

Every one of us must experience the spiritual reality of the Passover. If you haven’t yet fully gone through this experience, it’s time to seek the Lord and complete it. And if you’ve only partially undergone this experience, ask the Lord to let you go through it entirely. The Passover represents the experience of Christ becoming our eternal life. When we believe in Jesus, we receive Christ as our everlasting life. Jesus Christ Himself is our salvation. By believing and receiving Him, He dwells within us. This section outlines eight key spiritual experiences. Some believers may only experience the first two or three. Others may reach five or six. But may the Lord bless us so we can deeply and personally experience each one.

1. God's Mighty Hand

   Exodus 13:14 states: "By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." The first Passover experience is the mighty hand of God.

   1. Striking Pharaoh and Egypt — God Removes Barriers to Faith

      When Moses repeatedly appealed to Pharaoh to let the people go worship the Lord in the wilderness, Pharaoh stubbornly refused. So God sent the Ten Plagues upon Egypt—manifestations of His mighty hand. These miracles could only be accomplished by God’s power. Despite the devastation, Pharaoh hardened his heart until the tenth plague, when God struck down every firstborn in Egypt. All firstborn from Pharaoh’s household to the slave’s child, even the livestock were dead. Only then were the Israelites finally released.

      This tells of the background of our redemption. It is not because we are good and qualified to believe in Jesus, nor is it our talents which enable us to receive the eternal life. It is purely because God's work. He removed the barriers that kept us from believing. Just as Pharaoh had to be broken by God's judgment before Israel could leave. The Bible reords: "By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Some people only turn to Jesus after hitting rock bottom—through hardship, illness, or brokenness. That’s when God's mighty hand intervenes.

   2. Parting the Red Sea (a Miracle)

      Even after the Israelites experienced the Passover, they were still in Egypt’s territory—still under Pharaoh’s reach. Similarly, Christians who have not been baptized are still under the world’s influence and power. Baptism is like crossing the Red Sea—a symbol of being dead, burried, and risen with Christ.

      God instructed Moses to camp near the sea, prompting Pharaoh to think they lost their way and were trapped. He pursued them with his army. When He almost caught them, the Israelites looked and saw the Red Sea in front while Pharoah's army is at the back, they felt hopeless. At the critical moment, God told Moses to stretch out his hand. Moses stretched out his hand and the Lord sent a mighty east wind drying the Red Sea in one night. The waters parted, creating dry ground with walls of water on either side. The Israelites walked through safely. Pharaoh’s army followed, God command Moses to stretch his hand again, and the water returned to it's full depth, all Pharoah's horses, chariots and horsemen were drowned.

      This historical fact reveals that with God's mighty hand, He use different situation, even miracles to lead us to believe and be baptized, fully separate us from the world and satan’s power; So that we may move forward to the fullness of Christ. One day, when we stand in glory, we will sing the song of salvation, praising the Almighty God: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?" (Rev 15:3-4)

2. The Blood of the Lamb

   Let us go into the details of the Passover of Israelites in Egypt. In Exodus 12:21, "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin....For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the [a]lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you." (Exodus 12:21-23)

   In typology, "Slaughtering the lamb" represents Jesus’ death on the cross. "Hyssop dipped in blood and applied to the doorposts" symbolizes our faith in the blood of Christ. "The angel passing over homes with blood" shows that the firstborn are spared judgment because the lamb has taken their place. The “firstborn” represents us—those deserving death under God's judgment. But because the lamb was slain and took the place of the firstborn. So too, Christ died in our place, satisfying God's righteous requirement and sparing us from God's condemnation.

   In terms of experience, today we have received Jesus into our hearts. Now the question is: Have you received the cleansing of Jesus Christ (lamb)? When we sincerely accept and trust the precious blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven.

   On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it and gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, saying, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28) The writer of Hebrews adds: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22) Just as the angel “passed over” when he saw the blood, God passes over our sin when we accept the cleansing by the blood of Christ, sins are forgiven and we are filled with the peace of salvation and the joy of redemption.

   When I was young, after a gospel meeting, many people came to the front to accept Jesus. There was a middle-aged man, smelling of alcohol with visible pain etched on his face, obviously burdened with deep sorrow. He looked like someone whose well-educated. He asked me, “I’ve committed grave sins—can I be forgiven?” Immediately, I showed him 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So if you believe and open your mouth, kneel down, confess to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness, no matter how serious your sins are, He will forgive all your sins. Praise the Lord! Hearing this, he knelt down, tears flowing freely as he confessed before the Lord. He had committed unspeakable wrongs, which left him broken inside and drowning in guilt. But once he received Christ’s forgiveness, his sorrow turned to joy. His face radiated peace. He has experienced the blood of the lamb on the doorpost. Brothers and sisters, have you experience thorough confession before the Lord? Have you the feeling on guilt in your heart? Come and confess before the Lord anytime. Just like how the hymn goes:

   There is Power, Power! Wondrous working Power!

   In the Blood of the Lamb.

   There is Power! Power! Wonder working Power!

   In the precious blood of the Lamb

3. The Flesh of the Lamb

   After the lamb was slaughtered and its blood applied to the doorframe, something more was required. Exodus 12:8 declares: "Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire..."

   1. Eating Roasted — Believe in Christ who died in ourpPlace

      Spiritually, this means that Jesus Christ was judged by God on the cross for our sins, burned with fire by God. To eat roasted lamb is to believe in the Jesus who was crucified on our behalf. Eating the flesh raw would symbolize believing only in Jesus' teachings. We should understand that believing in Jesus' principle of love or moral doctrines alone cannot be saved. True salvation requires believing that Jesus is the Son of God, crucified for our sins—burned by the fire of God's wrath and judged by God. As a hymn says:

      For He bore my sins, justice killed Him,

      He was punished, but it was in my stead!

      He died on the cross, but it was in my stead,

      He died to bear my sins.

   2. Receiving Strength — Christ as Eternal Life

      "Eating the flesh of the lamb" not only represents Jesus Christ crucified to redeem me. At the same time, it implies He became our life. John 6:53 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." Meaning that whoever receives the flesh and blood of the Lord has eternal life (Christ Himself living within us).

      Brothers and sisters, has Christ entered into you and become your life? If Christ is your eternal life, an evidence is being filled with inner strength of salvation. that lets us walk the path of salvation. For if one eats the flesh of the lamb, he will have the strength. Once I went to Taiwan during winter, a brother treated me to hot pot lamb, after eating, I felt amazingly warm and have to remove my coat. Similarly, when we accept Jesus Christ as our life, we receive the strength of salvation and full of joy!

      A brother was being asked how he was converted to a Christian. He said he saw a certain senior brother in the church, this brother smiled often and greeted people warmly at church entrances. He himself was a seller of idol merchandise, lived in sorrow and emptiness. After believing in Jesus and being saved, he departed from idols and turned to the true God, his whole countenance changed. His heart is full of peace and joy. After we believe in Jesus, we receive Christ as our eternal life, and we have the strength to walk the path of the Lord.

4. Unleavened Bread

   During the night of Passover, the Israelites not only ate the roasted lamb meat—they also had to eat unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8). Just as we eat rice or bread along with our meals.

   1. The Taste of a Sinless Life

      This bread had to be unleavened—without yeast. In Scripture, yeast (leaven) symbolizes sin. So unleavened bread represents the sinless. When a person receives Jesus and is truly saved, there is a new experience called eating “unleavened bread.” It means you begin to develop a taste of sinless life. The life of Christ within you begins to repel sin.

      For example: A young child once begged his mother for candy. She didn’t have any, so she gave him a small spoonful of sugar from the kitchen. He loved it. Later, when he found a jar of white powder, he thought it was sugar and tried to eat it—only to immediately spit it out. It was salt. No one needed to correct him—his taste instinctively rejected it. Because human life has an instinct to distinguish different tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty. Likewise, the sinless life of Christ within a believer develops a spiritual “taste”—a discernment. You begin to feel unsettled when confronted with sin. A normal Christian will feel torment in their spirit when they were overcome by temptation.

   2. The Power of a Sinless Life

      1 John 3:9 says: "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." This shows us that the life of Christ within a believer not only has the taste of a sinless life, but also has the power to live a sinless life. Some new believers misunderstand salvation—thinking they can sin freely and just apply the cleansing of blood afterward. While Christ’s blood does have eternal cleansing power, salvation also includes the unleavened bread—the sinless life of Christ within. When we have Jesus life in us, there is a taste of sinless life that dislike sin, at the same time it empowers us to overcome sins.

      A young brother was revived by the Lord in the special conference in Baguio a year ago. Though he had been a Christian for years, he struggled with a gambling addiction—betting two or three times a week. He even invited friends to gamble in his house. Praise the Lord! At the special conference, he encountered Christ afresh—he ate the unleavened bread. From that moment, he broke completely with gambling.

      Once when I returned to Taiwan, a youung brother came to me and asked if I know him. I couldn't recognize. He said he's the son of so-and-so, then I remembered. His father was my good friend, and I had baptized him. He was addicted to alcohol. His life was a wreck—no one could convince him to stop drinking. But after receiving Jesus and ate unleavened bread, he received the power of sinless life, he quit alcohol permanently. He even led his entire family to faith and began serving the Lord faithfully.

5. Bitter Herbs

   The Israelites were not only required to eat the roasted lamb and unleavened bread, but also to eat bitter herbs.

   1. Sorrow and Repentance Over One's Past

      Bitter herbs is too bitter to swallow. It's spiritually means that after one received the Lord Jesus, he will experience the painful remorse for his former corrupt and sinful life. One summer, I was invited to preach in Singapore. After the message, a brother asked, “Would you like to try some bitter tea?” Curious, I accepted a small cup. But as soon as I took a sip, I immediately spit it out—the bitter taste was unbearable. At that moment, I grasped a small glimpse of what it meant for the Israelites to eat bitter herbs during Passover.

      When the Apostle Paul met the Lord on the road to Damascus, he asked, “Who are You, Lord?” The Lord replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” He then realized that Jesus is the Son of God. The Bible records,"And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank." (Acts 9:9) This illustrates how he grieved deeply over his past rebellion and sin.

   2. Grieve for Sin

      A Christian who truly observed the Passover will feel sorrowful and remorseful for his ignorance to resist and offend the Lord in the past. On the other hand, he will grieve if he fall into sin.

      A young sister testified in a fellowship in Thursday afternoon. She had just graduated from high school in the Philippines. Before graduation, the school hosted a dance party in a luxury hotel. She spent over a thousand pesos on a gown. That night, she felt the Holy Spirit nudging her: "You shouldn’t go—you belong to the Lord.” But since the party venue is in a big luxury hotel in Manila. And she has paid the fee. So she thought she would just go and would not dance. As the music began, couples flooded the dance floor. Sitting there in the midst of it all, she was overwhelmed with inner torment. Even after returning home, she felt deeply troubled—convicted that she had displeased the Lord. She broke down in tears, repenting before God asking forgiveness for giving in to temptation. She is a Christian who ate bitter herbs, one who grieved and felt pain after being stained with sin.

      Another young brother worked as a senior staff member in a company. Whenever foreign clients visited, he had to accompany them to dinner. Sometimes clients asked him to accompany them to places with inappropirate entertainment. He couldn’t refuse due to his job. But he felt deeply tormented inside. Eventhough he dare not engage in sinful activites, just stepping foot in that place made his spirit feel like it was pierced with needles. His spirit could only be relieved after he returned home and confessed his sin before God.

6. Belt on the Waist

   That night, they ate the flesh of the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Their waist also had to be girdled with a belt (Exodus 12:11)

   1. Humility

      To gird the waist refers to humility (1 Peter 5:5). For wearing a belt on the waist is to take on the posture of a servant. In our experience, when we believe in Jesus, eternal life enters us, and we become children of God, serving the true and living God. Therefore, to serve the Lord Jesus, we must take the position of a servant and humbly minister to our Master.

   2. Vigilance

      Girding the waist also signifies vigilance. After a person is saved by grace, they must ask themselves whether they have truly "girded their waist." Today, many Christians have left Egypt but haven’t fastened the belt around their waist. In the past, the Israelites could not walk the wilderness path without girding their waist. To gird the waist is to demonstrate diligence and to serve the Lord from the posture of a servant. Yet today, many Christians may have partaken of the lamb, but they have not girded themselves. For instance, though Sunday worship begins promptly at nine, some arrive leisurely and late—this shows a lack of girding. Those who do not gird themselves are unfit to walk the Lord’s path.

      Dear brothers and sisters, if your waist is not girded, you have no spiritual future. You cannot walk the path of the Lord, let alone speak of entering Canaan. One of the Lord’s greatly used servants was D.L. Moody, an evangelist. He once said that he had never seen a lazy person truly saved. Lazy people even find kneeling to pray troublesome. A few casual words before a meal suffice, and the idea of reading the Bible isn’t even considered. With such an attitude, how can one leave Egypt? Proverbs 26:15 says, "The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth."

      I once knew a brother who was formerly quite careless in character. Later, he heard the gospel and accepted Jesus as his Savior. God’s abundant salvation came upon him. Not only did he apply the blood of the lamb, but he also ate the flesh of the lamb, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. From then on, he girded his waist with a belt. Every Sunday before 8:00 a.m., he would come to the meeting place to clean—even in Taiwan 40 years ago, when modern sanitation wasn’t available—he served diligently and faithfully, carefully cleaning the toilets.

7. Sandals on Feet

   "...with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet” (Exodus 12:11). At that time, all Israelites who were to leave Egypt had to wear sandals, for one cannot walk the wilderness road barefoot.

   1. Separation from the World

      With “sandals on feet”, one is separated from the earth. In its spiritual sense, it refers to being cut off from the world. Anyone who wishes to leave Egypt must be separate from the world. Those who are not separated from the world cannot leave Egypt. Not wearing sandals means remaining in Egypt forever. Sadly, today many Christians are spiritually barefoot—may the Holy Spirit enlighten us!

   2. Walking the Way of Peace (Spreading the Gospel of Peace)

      Brothers and sisters, when you return home from school or work, do you keep your shoes on or take them off? Of course, you take them off to rest. But when you head out in the morning, you put your shoes on. Therefore, wearing shoes also means being ready to walk.

      Ephesians 6:15 tells us: "And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." This means we should preach the message of reconciliation with Christ. The best ways to stay separated from the world is to preach the gospel.

      Before I experienced spiritual revival, I had three close friends. We were always together and enjoyed each other’s company. Even afterwards, they still liked being around me. But if I didn’t separate from them, I couldn’t walk the Lord’s path—they loved the world and recreation. Yet I firmly resolved to follow the Lord. What could I do? So I shared the gospel with them and earnestly encouraged them to believe in Jesus. They refused and began to distance themselves from me. That’s how our separation began. We remained friends, but our paths diverged. Today, many brothers and sisters become entangled in relationships with non-Christians and end up unable to walk the Lord’s path—because they don't have sandals on the feet. May the Lord have mercy.

8. Staff in Hand

   "Staff in hand" (Exodus 12:11). The Israelites were to leave Egypt by journeying on a path. They were not only to gird themselves and put on their sandals, but also to take up a staff.

   1. Walking the Lord’s Path by His Strength

      What is the use of a staff? It is a tool to support us when we lack strength. In foreign countries, elderly people are often seen carrying a staff, showing that it helps sustain our strength. From experience, after we are saved, the Lord becomes our strength and our help, enabling us to walk His path. As Psalm 84:5 says: "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage."

      When someone holding a staff lays it down, it means they are about to rest or to sleep. The moment he picks up the staff, it signals he is ready to walk. Yet many forget to keep their staff in hand. Therefore, holding the staff also signifies a life filled with strength. Through prayer, we receive the Lord’s power to walk His way.

   2. A Life Empowered

      Holding a staff also implies living with strength. Anyone who has lost the vitality of life and fallen into despair, if he holds a staff (praying continually), he will receive strength and become a person full of hope.

      There was a brother who was a learned teacher. Tragically, he lost his sight and sank into despair, even contemplating ending his life. But thanks to the Lord’s mercy, during a church evangelistic meeting, another brother brought him to hear the gospel. There he encountered the Lord in that gospel meeting, he immediately experienced the Passover—eating the flesh of the lamb, along with the unleavened bread and bitter herbs. He girded his loins, wore his sandals, and took up his staff to begin walking the Lord’s path. Three or four years later, on Sundays when I went out to minister, he would often take my place at the pulpit. Once a man in despair, through prayer he received strength from the Lord and became a hopeful person, deeply aware that life is full of meaning.

      May the Lord use this message to shine the light of the Holy Spirit, guiding us into the eight key aspects of the Passover and leading us to experience its full significance.

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