T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Gospel of Mark - Chapter 1 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 2 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 3 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 4 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 5 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 6 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 7 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 8 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 9 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 10 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 11 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 12 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 13 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 14 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 15 Gospel of Mark - Chapter 16 Reflections After Reading the Gospel of Mark Key verse:  “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.” Reflections: The remarkable characteristics of the Lord Jesus as a Servant include the following: (1) Humbling Himself to Become a Servant  (Phil. 2:6–8) He did not present a background that would cause people to honor Him. He did not highlight a birth or life story that would make people respect Him. He only mentioned that He came from Nazareth—using despised Nazareth as His background (Mark 1:46). (2) Serving Through Prayer Praying in the wilderness before dawn  (1:35) (1) Drawing near to God at the best time of the morning. (2) Fellowshipping with the Father in the quietness of the wilderness. Going up the mountain to pray  (6:46) (1) Drawing near to God from a transcendent position. (2) Fellowshipping with God in a heavenly and spiritual realm. Serving through prayer (1) Ministering to God. (2) Seeking God’s will. (3) After knowing God’s will, being sent out to work. (3) Enduring Suffering and Labor He did not give a Sermon on the Mount, farewell discourse, or long teachings—His recorded words are few. The Gospel is filled with accounts of healing, casting out demons, and miracles—His works are many. He rose before dawn to pray in the wilderness, even neglecting meals—suffering and paying the price to serve faithfully. (4) Serving Faithfully Words such as “immediately,” “at once,” “soon,” “straightway,” “instantly,” and “without delay” appear forty‑three times, describing the Lord’s faithful and diligent service. (5) Hiddenness When helping people, He often said, “Do not tell anyone”— recorded four times: (1) Cleansing the leper (1:44) (2) Raising Jairus’s daughter (5:43) (3) Healing the deaf and mute man (7:36) (4) The Transfiguration (9:9) The poor widow who offered two small coins—her name is not recorded. The woman who anointed the Lord with ointment—her act must be remembered, yet her name is not mentioned. (6) Obedient Unto Death Driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (1:12). Praying in Gethsemane, desiring the Father’s will (14:36). Before Pilate, He answered nothing (15:4–5). Obedient unto death, moving the centurion to say, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (15:39). (7) Emphasizing the Gospel in Serving Humanity Jesus preached, saying that people must repent and believe the gospel (1:15). Leaving all for His sake and for the gospel (8:34–35; 10:29–30). The preaching of the gospel must also recount the story of this woman (14:9). Going into all the world to preach the gospel (16:15). Notes Teachings already explained in the Gospel of Matthew may be applied to the Gospel of Mark. To avoid repetition, they will not be explained in detail again in this book. For topics previously covered in Matthew, the Gospel of Mark will be explained from a different perspective. The aim is to use simple and accurate explanations to highlight key points, guiding readers to grasp the principles of Bible reading — to understand the light, spiritual principles, and insights in Scripture, and to apply them in daily life, work, and ministry. <-- BACK to New Testament

This book contains messages shared by the author between the years of 1985 and 1987, during times of training held at spiritual retreats for coworkers, church ministers, and preachers in locations such as the West Coast of the United States, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Indeed, we have witnessed the Lord’s clear confirmation and blessing. May glory be unto Him! The transcripts of these messages have been lightly edited and compiled into this volume to meet the needs of ministry. May the Lord use this work to guide readers into the path of serving Him, and bring revival to His Church! T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Chapter 1 —　 Ministering in the Lord’s Presence Chapter 2 —　 Ministering with the Lord's Co-working Chapter 3 —　 Ministering in the Lord's Blessings Chapter 4 —　 Ministering in the Great Love of the Lord Chapter 5 —　 Ministering in the Flow of the Holy Spirit Chapter 6 —　 Ministering in the Grace of the Lord Chapter 7 —　 Ministering in the Tearing Work of the Cross Chapter 8 —　 Ministering in the Pathway of Life Chapter 9 —　 Ministering in Coordination with the Church Chapter 10—　 Ministering in the Attainment of the Testimony of the Fullness of Christ <-- Back to "Ministry"

Introduction Colossians 3:3–4 says, “Your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is our life.” This reveals that the relationship between a Christian and Christ is a hidden one—an inner life, hidden in God Himself.Sadly, in these last days, Christians tend to focus on what is visible, external, and self-exalting. How greatly this runs contrary to the heart of God! (2 Corinthians 4:18) In 1993, the author delivered ten messages on “The Pathway of Inner Being” in churches across Taiwan and the Philippines. These teachings were offered to saints earnestly pursuing spiritual growth in the hope of attaining a fuller life in Christ—a deeper journey into spiritual maturity. T A B L E O F C O N T E N T Chapter 1:  Prayer, Bible reading, and Ministry Chapter 2: The Inner Feeling Chapter 3: The Inner Fellowship Chapter 4:  Inner Guidance Chapter 5: The Outer Man is Destroyed Chapter 6: The Inner Man Enters Into The Fullness of Life Chapter 7: Inner Knowledge Chapter 8: Inner Management Chapter 9:  Inner Purity Chapter 10: Inner Union with Christ <-- Back to "LIFE OF CHRIST"

Preface This book was compiled in response to an invitation from a evangelistic broadcasting company in the Philippines. In the year 1977, the speaker introduced "The Three Stages of the Christian Life" in a concise and straightforward manner through weekly Saturday broadcasts, covering a total of twenty topics. The recorded transcripts have been slightly edited and compiled into this book to meet present needs. May the Lord bless His own message . T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S STAGE I : Stage of Foundation Topic 1 - Born Again Topic 2 - Prayer Topic 3 - Reading the Bible Topic 4 - Assembling Together Topic 5 - Witnessing Topic 6 - Consecration Topic 7 - Purging of Sins Topic 8 - Rejecting the World STAGE I : Stage of Growth Topic 9 - Obedience of the Feelings of the Conscience Topic 10 - Having Fellowship with the Lord Topic 11 - Obedience to the Teachings of the Holy Spirit Topic 12 - The Pathway of Faith Topic 13 - The Life of Loving the Lord Topic 14 - Obeying the Will of God Topic 15 - Serving the Lord Topic 16 - Love One Another STAGE III - Stage of Maturity Topic 17 - Accepting the Cross Topic 18 - The Filling of the Holy Spirit Topic 19 - Christ is All Topic 20 - Christ as the Head <-- Back to "LIFE OF CHRIST"

Preface Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and might have [it] abundantly.” (John 10:10)  This means that Christians must reach the stage of abundant life in their progress along the walk in the path of life.  On the other hand, the Apostle Paul spoke about how the Israelites left Egypt, walked through the wilderness, and entered Canaan to signify walking in the path of the Lord.  Their failures serve as admonition for us, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (I Corinthians 10:1~11). The author of this book, in his messages delivered during the summer conference held at Baguio City, Philippines in 1990, pointed out 24 important spiritual experiences.  He used as background the journey of the Israelites—how they left Egypt, walked through the wilderness, and entered Canaan.  With their being born again as the starting point (observing the Passover at Rameses); followed by walking through the pathway of heavenly life station after station (journeying through the wilderness); and finally attaining the abundant spiritual life (entering Gilgal of Canaan to observe the Passover). These messages point out to Christians the goal and pathway of their lifetime pursuit.  At the same time, they provide the saints who are walking the spiritual pathway of life the means to check the extent of their own spiritual growth.  They also serve to encourage the readers to continue straining forward to what lies ahead and press on toward the goal (Philippians 3:13~14)!            Christian Ministry Training Center Bookroom October 1993 Synopsis The Journey of Spiritual Life  - out of Egypt, through the wilderness, into the land of Canaan Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 Ephesians 4:13 Exodus 3:8      God has a great plan to accomplish in the universe, and so He created all things and mankind. Knowing that man would fall, He prepared a perfect redemption.      This eternal plan of God is to establish Christ as the center of all things, granting Him the highest position, so that Christ may fill all things in the universe.     The reason God redeemed us is to connect us with His eternal plan and to make us co-workers with Him to fulfill this eternal plan. Therefore, after we are saved and born again, we must determine the direction of our lives, which is to align with God’s eternal plan. We must also recognize our calling, which is to fulfill God’s eternal plan.     The process of fulfilling God’s eternal plan is what we call the "Journey of Spiritual Life." Regarding this journey, there is a clear typology in the Old Testament: the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan. This time, we use the Israelites' journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into Canaan as the background to discuss the spiritual experience of Christians entering the fullness of Christ. Coming out of Egypt, journeying through the wilderness, and entering into Canaan is the representation of the spiritual journey      1 Corinthians 10:1-6 mentions that our forefathers were under the cloud and passed through the sea, referring to the Israelites coming out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. Later, they ate spiritual food and drank spiritual water. This means that while walking through the wilderness, God provided manna from heaven for them to eat and caused water to flow from the rock to sustain them. However, on this journey, most of the Israelites failed to enter Canaan and instead died in the wilderness. This serves as a warning for believers in the last days.      1 Corinthians 10 mentions twice that the experiences of the Israelites is our type (type means symbol in the original text). It shows that what the Israelites experienced in the past reflects what believers in the New Testament experience today, as a reminder for us, the saints of the last days, to be vigilant and avoid failure by living in indulgence and following the flesh, just as the Israelites did. As Romans 15:4 also says, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning..."      Therefore, we must specifically highlight two aspects of the spiritual experience of Christians: the first is the goal , and the second is the path . Goal — The Fullness of Christ      Exodus 3:7-8 records: "The Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry... I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey" This passage clearly reveals that when the Lord planned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He explicitly set their goal: to enter the land of Canaan. The land of Canaan was the goal of the Israelites      In other words, God placed Canaan ahead as the goal for the Israelites. Although the Bible does not explicitly record this, it can be assumed that when they were about to leave Egypt, the children would certainly ask their parents, "Where are we going?" I strongly believed that their parents would have answered, "Moses is leading us to the beautiful land of Canaan." Thus, it is evident that from the young to the old, they all clearly understood that their destination was Canaan.      Similarly, today, as we walk on earth (the wilderness), we are not without goals or direction. Although it may seem far away and out of sight, there will come a day when we reach Canaan. So what does "Canaan" refer to? Thank God! The New Testament explains this to us: Canaan refers to the fullness of Christ, the abundance of Christ, the riches of Christ. Before the Israelites entered Canaan, the Bible used three expressions to describe it: "good" "spacious" and "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8) Good — The glorious beauty of Christ      In the entire universe, only Christ is the most beautiful. King David of Israel, who held the highest throne, enjoyed the greatest authority, honor, and glory. However, when he wrote Psalm 27:4, said: "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." This means that the beauty of the Lord surpasses everything; among millions, He is the most glorious. The attraction of His beauty makes us forget the pleasures of the earth, causing us to adore and long for Him. From this, we can see that Canaan is a good land, symbolizing Christ's glory and beauty. May the Holy Spirit reveal to us so that we can be captivated by Christ's beauty throughout our lives, acknowledge Him, follow Him, pursue Him, and seek nothing else. Spacious --- The breadth, length, depth and heigth of Christ      The Bible mentions the land of Canaan and further describes it as "vast" (or spacious). This indicates that Canaan is not only beautiful but also immeasurably large. "Vast" also refers to Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul devoted his life in pursuing to know Christ, and in Ephesians 3:18, he said: "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height...to know the love of Christ" The dimensions of "length, width, height, and depth" signify something beyond measurement—something unfathomable and surpassing human understanding. Throughout history and across cultures, people are left in awe when speaking about the vastness of Christ. Oh, my Savior Jesus Christ, Your vastness exceeds human comprehension, human discussion, and human praise. In other words, Christ's vastness is infinite. How long? Endless! How wide? Boundless! How high? Infinite! How deep? Unfathomable! Land flowing with milk and honey --- The infinite abundance of Christ      The third description of the land of Canaan is "a land flowing with milk and honey". Milk is produced when cows and sheep graze, and honey is produced after bees collect nectar from flowers. Therefore, "milk" and "honey" are the combined essence of both animals and plants. Additionally, the phrase 'a land flowing with milk and honey' also portrays the sweetness and abundance of that land. Colossians 2:9 says: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." This illustrates the infinite richness of Jesus Christ. As the hymn goes: He is so rich! He is so full! How can I tell all that I know? He is so sweet! He is so true! This I have tasted in my soul. The fullness of Christ is the goal of the saints      In the past, the Israelites regarded the land of Canaan as their goal.  Similarly, the saints of today (Christians) also consider Christ’s fullness as their goal in life.  Therefore, from the moment we are born again and baptized into Christ, we have to be clear and certain about our direction in life.  We must be aware that attaining Christ’s fullness is our goal. Count all things as rubbish to gain Christ      Before the apostle Paul met the Lord, his goal was to become a leader within Judaism. The direction he pursued was one of earthly wealth, fame, and status. However, through the Lord's mercy, one day on the road to Damascus, he met Jesus, and his life’s goal instantly transformed. He became clear about the meaning and purpose of life and determined that Christ would be the ultimate goal of his life. From then on, Christ became the focus of Paul's lifelong pursuit. When he wrote Philippians 3:7-8, he described how he regarded Christ as the goal of his life: "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Strain forward      Before he met the Lord, Paul was filled with great ambition and lofty aspirations within the religious world. He strictly adhered to the law, became a Pharisee, and was taught under Gamaliel—all of which demonstrated his hope to become a leader in the religious community, gain fame, and achieve power. However, after meeting Christ, he regarded all these things as loss, realizing that reputation, status, and glory would prevent him from entering into the fullness of Christ. Therefore, Paul considered all things as garbage in order to gain Christ. Hence, he devoted himself daily to pursuing Christ. Even at that point, he did not consider himself to have already attained it. By then, Paul had believed in the Lord and had been greatly used by Him for some years, accumulating profound spiritual experiences. Yet, he still said, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12) Press on toward the goal—Christ is our goal      Furthermore, he said: "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal." (Philippians 3:13-14). The goal is Christ. This signifies that although Paul was advanced in age and spiritually mature, the fullness of Christ is so infinite that there was still much to attain. Just as when Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, he was already old, yet the Lord said to him: "...there are still very large areas of land to be taken over." (Joshua 13:1). From this, we see clearly that the fullness of Christ is the ultimate goal for us Christians throughout our lives. Pathway      In the past, two to three million Israelites, led by Moses, left Egypt in a grand exodus and crossed the Red Sea. However, the Red Sea was not their destination; they had to continue their journey through the wilderness until they reached Canaan. This historical fact serves as a foreshadowing, illustrating how Christ today leads us on the journey of spiritual life, guiding us into His fullness. Thus, when we meet each other, we may ask one another,"Brother, what is your goal?" Some might reply, "My goal is to purchase a large piece of land in the future and build houses." Others may say, "My goal is to become a renowned entrepreneur." Still, others might express desires like immigrating to a certain place or other ambitions. Yet, these are not the true goals for us Christians, for we have only one goal—Christ. In Christ, there are infinite riches awaiting us to enter into, experience, and make our own. Regarding the path to entering into the fullness of Christ, there are four aspects of significance:" The pathway of Life      The path toward Canaan (the fullness of Christ) is the pathway of life. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years, the Lord provided manna from heaven daily as their food, meaning their sustenance did not come from the earth. Today, we consume rice, vegetables, and fruits that are products of the land, but during their forty years in the wilderness, they had no time to cultivate crops. Instead, they relied on gathering manna every morning for survival. When Jesus was on earth, He spoke to the people about manna, saying, "'It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' They said, 'Sir, always give us this bread.' Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.'" (John 6:32–35). To walk the pathway of life, one must rely on the bread of life for sustenance, which is why this path is called the pathway of life.      The Lord is the "bread of life". In a spiritual sense, it is through the bread of life that spiritual life grows. This is the pathway of spiritual life. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Therefore, Christians, having received Christ’s life, must continuously progress toward greater abundance. By receiving the spiritual sustenance from the Lord, they gradually grow and attain fullness.      David wrote a renowned golden psalm, saying of the Lord: "You are my Lord; my goodness is nothing apart from You. Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup." (Psalm 16:2, 5). Toward the end, he declared, "You will show me the path of life." (Psalm 16:11). Outwardly, David ruled as king, governing the nation of Israel; but spiritually, he walked the path of life. This idea was highlighted when, on Pentecost, the apostle Peter stood to deliver his first sermon. He quoted Psalm 16, emphasizing how David sought the Lord to reveal the path of life.      Matthew 7:13–14 records: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and [b]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." This passage presents two paths before us. The people of the world walk the road to destruction, which has a wide gate and a broad path. However, the Christians walk the path of life, which leads to eternal life and enters into the richness of Christ. Yet, the gate is small, and the road is narrow. Therefore, anyone who has received grace and believes in Jesus but returns to walking the same path as the world—the wide gate and broad road—ultimately chooses the path leading to destruction. May the Lord show us mercy and preserve us throughout our lives, helping us enter the narrow gate and walk the path of life. Hence, in the church, we do not speak about morality or religion, nor do we concern ourselves with discerning right and wrong, good and evil.      After God created the first ancestors of humanity, He established a garden in Eden in the East and placed the man He had created there. God caused every kind of tree pleasing to the eye and good for food to grow from the ground, and in the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil... God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. He also commanded, "Of every tree of the garden you shall freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:7-17)      This historical account reveals that God's intention for humanity is to engage with life and walk the path of life. Today, as we set Christ as our goal, we too walk the path of life. Reflecting on this, we might ask ourselves: Have our lives grown? Are they abundant? The heavenly path      When the Lord sent Moses to lead the Israelites out of the land of slavery in Egypt, He called them to walk the path of the wilderness. This road symbolized a heavenly journey until they entered the land of Canaan, which represents the fullness of Christ. During the Israelites' forty years in the wilderness, they dwelt in tents. Tents could be dismantled and set up again, move from place to place according to their journey and having no fixed shelter. The wilderness was a place where they could not take root, meaning that they had nothing on earth. In other words, the path was not an earthly path but a heavenly path. The Israelites' observance of Passover symbolizes Christians' acceptance of redemption and being saved and born again. Being born again is being born from above.      John 3:31 states: "He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all." This explains that we are born from above, born of heaven. Therefore, Philippians 3:20 says, "But our citizenship is in heaven." It is like the Chinese emigrants living in the Philippines today—through the Lord's care, many have applied for and obtained Filipino citizenship. Yet, no matter what, they still feel that their ancestral home is China; they firmly identify as Chinese. Likewise, while Christians live on the earth among the people of this world, we are born of heaven, and our identity is as citizens of heaven.      The Lord Jesus further told His disciples, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:16). This means that we are not people of this world; we are heavenly citizens, those who walk on the heavenly path. A servant greatly used by the Lord, Brother Bunton, once said, "Christians have only one road in life and only one grave in death," signifying that Christians leave the world without gaining anything from it.      No wonder Abraham longed for a better country, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16). Since we are citizens of heaven, it is only natural that we return to our homeland to enjoy our territory, inheritance, and heritage. A defining feature of Abraham's life was living in tents on earth, signifying that he was a sojourner and a temporary resident. His eyes were always fixed on that city with foundations, which is in heaven.      Brothers and sisters, there is a spiritual book called "Pilgrim's Progress." It states that we are all travelers walking this heavenly path. Abraham's eyes were always set on the city with foundations, and after many years, the holy city of Jerusalem was revealed in the Bible. However, Abraham in the Old Testament had already seen it through faith. Today, we too use the eyes of faith to see this glorious holy city, this better homeland. Therefore, we must tread firmly on this heavenly path today. The Bible records that when the Israelites walked in the wilderness, the Lord specifically instructed them to sew a blue tassels on the corners of their garments (Numbers 15:38). This signifies that they are heavenly citizens walking a heavenly pathway. The way of the cross      According to the typology in the Old Testament, the path the Israelites walked through the wilderness is the way of the cross. The Bible describes it as a "great and terrible wilderness" (Deuteronomy 1:19), meaning a harsh and challenging path—the way of the cross. This was ordained by God, for only by passing through the wilderness could they enter Canaan. In terms of experience, it signifies that only through the cross can one enter into the fullness of Christ. The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness. In the Bible, "forty" is the number of trials. For instance, the Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days, which also signifies the experience of the cross. Thus, walking this path of the cross entails many hardships, carrying the meaning of trials from the Lord.      When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). This means that the path of following the Lord is the way of the cross. Luke 9:23 further states, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." This implies that we have to take up the cross daily to follow the Lord and to walk the way of the cross, not attempting to put the cross down any single day. Those who lack revelation may shrink back in fear upon hearing this. However, there is truly nothing to fear, for the cross is not greater than His grace, and storms cannot hide His blessed face. I am satisfied to know that with Jesus here below, I can conquer every foe. Therefore, for those with revelation, the way of the cross is not difficult to walk.      Back then, the Israelites traveled from Rameses in Egypt to Gilgal in Canaan, completing a journey of forty-two stations. In the Bible, "forty-two" is the number representing suffering (Revelation 12:6). Indeed, the way of the cross is marked by hardships and trials, yet it is filled with God's grace, enabling us to complete this journey. Revelation 14:1-5 records, "The Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him were one 144,000... They follow the Lamb wherever He goes." This signifies that Jesus, as the Lamb, lived His life walking the way of the cross. The 144,000 followers of the Lamb symbolize those of us who dedicate our lives to following the Lord and walking the way of the cross. Having suffered with Him on earth, we now stand gloriously with Him in eternity on Mount Zion! How glorious! May the Lord reveal to us the preciousness of the way of the cross, so that we may stay on this path for life, and on that day, share in His glory in heaven. The path of faith      The path the Israelites took—from leaving Egypt, through the wilderness, and into Canaan—was also a path of faith. For the Lord gave them His promise: "I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites..." (Exodus 3:8). This signifies that the Israelites were to hold fast to the Lord's promise and walk this path of faith.      For the Israelites of that generation, they had never seen Canaan and relied entirely on believing in the Lord's promise, not on what they saw. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." They trusted in the Lord's word and moved forward in faith. However, the facts tell us that during the forty years in the wilderness, all those over twenty years old perished in the wilderness (except for Caleb and Joshua). They did not enter Canaan to inherit the promised land because of one reason—unbelief (Hebrews 3:19).      Today, we are like the Israelites, setting our goal towards the fullness of Christ. Our feet tread on the path of faith, aiming to enter into the fullness of Christ. The road we walk is a path of faith. If we lose faith or harbor an evil heart of unbelief, the result will likewise be failure and collapse, unable to enter into the fullness of Christ.      On the other hand, there is also a glorious example—Caleb and Joshua. After forty years in the wilderness, they ultimately entered Canaan, completing the journey of faith. The Bible says, "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully..." (Numbers 14:24). Caleb became a witness of victorious faith, inspiring us to walk the path of faith.      So how should we proceed, and what attitude should we have to complete the journey of faith? It is by "looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2). Christ enters into us, and His faith becomes our faith. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He will guard our faith, make it grow, and nurture it to perfection in the end. Spiritual Journey of the Israelites 1. The Feast of Passover  Christ is the everlasting life 2. Feast of Unleavened Bread Christ is the holy life 3. Consecrated to God Christ is Lord 4. Pillar of cloud and pillar of fire Christ’s guidance 5. Crossing the Red Sea The death of Christ 6. Bitter waters turned sweet Christ’s loving kindness and grace 7. Springs of water and palm trees Christ is our satisfaction and rest 8. Manna Christ is the bread of life 9. Rock of living water Christ is the water of life 10. Defeating the Amalekites Christ is the victorious life 11. Handing down of the Law Christ is the power for service 12. The Making of the Sanctuary Christ is the wisdom (vision) in service 13. Fire consumed all the complaints The trial and refining of the cross of Christ 14. Smote the greedy Christ is everything (world) 15. Miriam contracted leprosy Establishing the upright spirit of Christ 16. Not allowed to enter Canaan Establishing Christ’s spirit of faith 17. The destruction of the tribe of Korah Establishing Christ’s spirit of submission 18. Plague befell the assembly Establishing Christ’s spirit of gentleness 19. The budded staff Knowing the body of Christ 20. Moses acted without authorization Knowing the authority of Christ as the Head 21. Raised up the serpent of brass Setting our eyes upon Christ 22. Fornication and idolatry were punished Being filled with Christ 23. Crossing the Jordan The deeper death of the cross of Christ 24. Entering the land of Canaan Attaining the fullness of Christ   T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S The Spiritual Journey (1) The Spiritual Journey (2) The Spiritual Journey (3) The Spiritual Journey (4) The Spiritual Journey (5) The Spiritual Journey (6) The Spiritual Journey (7) The Spiritual Journey (8) <-- Back to "LIFE OF CHRIST"

Bible Reading: Romans 8:1-2,6,13,28-29 — "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death....For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.....For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.....And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." 2 Corinthians 3:6 — "who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23 — "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law....But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Failure After the Baptism of the Spirit Comes from Not Living According to the Law of the Spirit This morning’s meeting is the final session of our special gathering. In the past three evening meetings, we have emphasized two key points. The first is the baptism of the Holy Spirit , and the second is the law of the Spirit . The baptism of the Holy Spirit brings revival, while the law of the Spirit not only sustains revival but also leads us on the path of life—rooting us downward and bearing fruit upward. The experiences of many Christians in the past show us that there are those who were lukewarm—neither dead nor alive—who became fervent after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They overcame sin, forsook the world, and loved the Lord with zeal. However, not long after, they grew cold and fell back. Though they were fervent at the time of their Spirit baptism, their spiritual life and daily walk had not changed much. Gradually, they returned to their former state. After one year, two years, or three years, it seemed as if they had never received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at all. The reason is this: after receiving the baptism of the Spirit, they did not live according to the law of the Spirit. Therefore, beginning last night, we started to speak about this: after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must live daily according to the law of the Spirit. The Result of Living According to the Law of the Spirit We have previously referred to Romans chapter 8 to speak about how to live according to the law of the Spirit. In this Sunday morning’s meeting, we will again refer to this chapter to discuss the results of living in the law of the Spirit. By understanding these results, we can also test whether we are truly living according to the law of the Spirit. Deliverance The first result a Christian experiences when living according to the law of the Spirit is deliverance. As Romans 8:2 declares: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free...” This clearly shows that the law of the Spirit brings us deliverance. The Law of Sin Before a person experiences deliverance, they are bound by two kinds of bondage. The first is the bondage of sin. Romans chapter 7 devotes much of its content to describing the power of sin and how it binds people in the flesh. One passage says: “For I know that in me nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:18–24) This is Paul describing the struggle within the flesh—the condition of being bound by sin. About ten years ago, I went through a period of earnest striving to live rightly. I tried hard not to speak evil, to be humble, to avoid anger, to be patient and gentle. I even wrote these virtues on paper and placed it under the glass on my desk. After half a year, it proved completely ineffective. For a while, I endured by sheer willpower and seemed to succeed a little—but when I reached the limit of my endurance, I failed completely. I became proud again! I lost my temper again! All that effort brought no real fruit. This was because I was still bound by the law of sin. To understand the law of sin, we can use a simple analogy. Physics tells us that the earth has a law called gravity. No matter where you are in the world, if you let go of something, it falls downward. Without gravity, we wouldn’t be able to stand on the earth as it spins and orbits. Gravity is a law—unchanging and universal—pulling all things downward. Sin within us operates in the same way. It has a law—the law of sin—that rules over us, binds us, and keeps us from freedom. It makes us slaves to sin, compelling us to sin. We find ourselves unable to be patient, unable to be gentle, unable to avoid pride, unable to control our temper. This law of sin within us becomes our bondage. The Law of Death The second kind of bondage is the law of death . Ever since Adam sinned and fell, humanity has come under the dominion of death. God’s Word tells us: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) This death does not only refer to the physical death when our breath ceases. It also refers to a power, a law within us that rules over us. It separates us from God, dulls our spirit, makes us unable to hear God’s voice, and blinds us to His will. Therefore, Ephesians 2:1 says that we were dead in trespasses and sins. Deliverance from the Law of Sin and Death When we live according to the law of the Spirit, the result is that we are delivered from the law of sin and death and receive freedom. As Romans 8:2 says: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) Now we can use an appropriate analogy to explain this matter. About two days ago, astronauts boarded a rocket and left Earth for the moon. We know that such a massive American rocket is launched into space with astonishing force. The astronauts sit inside without exerting any effort; they simply sit there, and once the rocket ignites—boom—it propels them into space. Once they ascend, they surpass the range of Earth’s gravitational pull and enter another realm of space. From that moment on, the astronauts are freed from the law of Earth’s gravity. When we receive salvation and live in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit releases us from the law of sin and the law of death. That realm of freedom is beyond the reach of the law of sin and death—just like the astronauts who are freed from Earth’s gravity because the law of the rocket has delivered them. For example, when parents see their children misbehaving and repeatedly ignoring correction, they often resort to discipline. Most of the time, discipline is accompanied by anger. But sometimes, it is possible to discipline without getting angry. The key lies in whether you are living in Christ Jesus. If at that moment you are reading the Bible, praying, fellowshipping with the Lord, or meditating on the Holy Spirit, and suddenly someone comes to tell you how your child is misbehaving, you hear it and forget to get angry. This is the law of the Spirit releasing you—overcoming your temper and delivering you from the law of sin. Let us also give an example of deliverance from the law of death. In this morning’s breaking of bread meeting, we clearly sensed the Holy Spirit moving. Many brothers and sisters opened their mouths to praise and pray. Everyone prayed with ease, without pressure or effort—it flowed naturally. The reason is that we had entered into the spirit of the meeting and were living in the movement of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the law of the Spirit removed the death in our spirits. Our spirits had fellowship with God and spiritual sensitivity, so it was easy to open our mouths and pray. This too is the law of the Spirit releasing us—delivering us from the law of death. Life and Peace Romans 8:6 says: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Living according to the law of the Spirit inevitably brings life and peace. Brothers and sisters, the opposite of death is life; to be free from death is to enter into the realm of life. The result of sin is suffering, and its opposite is peace; naturally, when we are free from sin, we have peace. This is the result of being released by the law of the Spirit. When a Christian draws near to the Lord in the morning and feels comfortable before Him, this is called life. There is also an indescribable rest, which is called peace. Every Christian should enjoy this right; after being saved, one should always have life and peace within. If we lose life and peace, it proves that we are no longer in the Spirit, but rather in sin or in the flesh. At such times, we must quickly return to the law of the Spirit to enjoy life and peace, and to experience the fullness and rest in the Spirit. Strength and Victory Next result is strength and victory. Romans 8:13 says: “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” When we live in the flesh, many evil deeds will come out. For example, in daily life, sometimes we curse others, sometimes we argue, sometimes we even jealous and hate others, there are always be some disputes. But when we live in the Spirit, these evil deeds are put to death, and as a result, “you will live.” This “living” means the spirit is alive. In other words, you overcome. It is evident that living according to the law of the Spirit makes the spirit strong and victorious. In Taipei, five mornings every week, a few brothers and sisters gather to pray for one or two hours. As a result, the spirit becomes strong. When meeting friends to preach the gospel, the spirit comes forth; when there is a need to visit brothers and sisters, the motivation comes. Because with more prayer, we live more in the law of the Spirit, and as a result, we become strong and victorious. On the contrary, when there is little prayer, the spirit becomes weak. There's no burden for preaching gospel to friends, and no motivation to visit brothers and sisters in needs. Dear brothers and sisters, we need to live in the law of the Spirit so that we may have a strong spirit every day and live a victorious life. Whether a church is strong depends on how many people in the church live in the law of the Spirit. The more such people there are, the stronger and more powerful the spirit is, and the more victorious it becomes. Therefore, I hope brothers and sisters will do their best to attend prayer meetings. More prayer brings more living in the law of the Spirit. Living Out the Image of the Son of God Let’s look at another result from Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” If we submit to the working together of all things—every hardship, every difficulty, every challenge—and accept them without complaint, without resentment, without resistance, and without reason but simply submit to God’s arrangement in every circumstance, the ultimate result is that we are conformed to the image of God’s Son. This is also the result of living under the law of the Spirit. The Son of God was in heaven, people could not see Him; they only knew by faith that He is the Son of God. The heavenly angels could see His glory, righteousness, greatness, holiness, and honor, but His image was not manifested. Until one day, through the body of Jesus, He appeared, and His thirty-three and a half years on earth were the expression of the image of God’s Son. When we live under the governance of the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to work, we can live out the model of Jesus. This is also the result of living under the law of the Spirit. I truly hope that we can all submit to every circumstance arranged by God’s sovereignty and live out the image of God’s Son. Let me share a real experience. At the Taipei meeting hall, during the regular morning prayers, if everyone opens his mouth and prays earnestly, I feel very joyful. But if one or two people are not earnest, dragging their feet and praying listlessly, I feel annoyed inside. I think, “If you have no burden, you might as well not come.” At that moment, I am already in the flesh. But if I turn my thoughts to the Holy Spirit and say, “Lord, thank You, it is because the brothers and sisters are weak that they come to kneel before You.” The more I think this way, the more I sympathize and pray for them—not necessarily out loud, but silently in my heart. This is because living in the law of the Spirit results in being filled with love for them and not condemning them. This is also an experience of living out the image of God’s Son. So whenever we live in the law of the Spirit, we can submit and say, “Lord, You have sent these brothers and sisters who do not pray. My flesh may be displeased and annoyed with them, but I still thank and praise You, because this is what You have measured out.” When we accept this, we live in the law of the Spirit, and as a result, not only do we not condemn them, but we love and sympathize with them. By accepting the governance of the Holy Spirit and the working of all things, when we submit, we live out the image of Jesus. Sufficient as Ministers of the New Covenant We h ave j ust r ead 2   C orinthians 3 :6,  w hich s ays,  " who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. "   T his m eans t hat i f w e r ely o n t he Holy Spirit ,  t hat i s,  the r esult o f l iving i n t he l aw o f the H oly S pirit,  w e c an be suffiecint as ministers of t he n ew c ovenant. " Ministers o f t he n ew covenant" h as a   profound m eaning.  I n a   d eep s ense,  t he ministers o f t he n ew covenant r efer t o t hose w ho h ave r eceived a   c ommission f rom G od t o a ccomplish G od's  w ill i n the N ew T estament e ra.  I n s imple e xperience,  a ll matters of serving t he L ord b y t he H oly S pirit a re ministers o f t he n ew c ovenant.  I f w e l ive i n t he l aw o f t he H oly S pirit,  t he r esult w ill b ecome a n o utlet f or t he H oly S pirit.  Wh oever i s  t h e o u tlet o f  t h e H o ly S p irit i s  t h e minister o f  t h e n e w covenant. The m ost i mportant f eature o f m inistry i n t he N ew T estament e ra i s t o b e t he o utlet o f t he H oly S pirit.  I   p reach o n s tage,  a nd i f t he H oly S pirit c omes o ut o f m y m outh,  I   am a d eacon o f t he n ew covenanct .  I f t he H oly S pirit c annot c ome o ut o f m y m outh w hen I   p reach,  t hat s ermon i s j ust w ords and d octrines,  b ut n ot a   ministry o f t he n ew c estament.  B rothers a nd s isters,  ministry a nd d octrine a re t wo d ifferent t hings,  a nd t here a re t oo m any p eople p reaching i n C hristianity t oday,  b ut t oo f ew ministers .  Pa ul w a s a   minister, P e ter w a s a  minister , J o hn w a s a  minister , a n d G o d's w o rkers s h ould b e  ministers. D ear b rothers a nd s isters,  s o i s the g athering o f a ll t he s aints.  W hen w e b reak b read,  you a re m oved b y t he H oly S pirit,  a nd y ou p ray o ut,  this i s f ulfilling t he p rinciple o f a ministeri n the n ew c ovenant.  O r y ou h ave a n e xperience b ehind y ou,  a nd y ou testify before b rothers and s isters through the moving of the Holy Spirit,  this i s also t he m inistry o f new covenant .  I f w e l ive i n t he l aw o f t he H oly S pirit,  we c an b e sufficient to become m inisters o f t he n ew c ovenant.  Ot herwise, w e  w i ll r e turn t o  t h e ministry in t h e O l d T e stament r i tuals. T he d ifference b etween t he N ew T estament a nd t he O ld T estament i s n ot i n the s cale,  f ormality,  a nd o utwaard performance .  The b iggest d ifference i s w hether i t i s a n o utlet f or t he H oly S pirit.  W hoever i s t he o utlet o f t he H oly S pirit i s in the s ervice o f t he N ew Testament ,  w hich i s t he s ervice u nder the p rinciple o f ministry of t he n ew covenant.  W hoever d oes n ot b e a n o utlet o f t he H oly S pirit i s in t he s ervice o f t he O ld T estament,  serving in l aws,  r ituals,  h eredity,  a nd t radition.  B rothers a nd s isters, there is a big d ifference.  To day, G od i s w atching from heaven m illions of C hristians serving H im o n e arth.  B ut those who serve u nder t he principle of ministry of new covenant are really f ew. May G od r aise u p e ach o f u s t o s erve w ith n ew ministry p rinciples a nd b e an o utlet f or t he H oly S pirit.  W hen w e p ray,  w e a re m oved b y t he H oly S pirit t o p ray;  W hen w e t estify,  w e a re m oved b y the H oly S pirit t o t estify.  W hen w e v isit t he s aints,  w e a re a lso m oved b y t he H oly S pirit.  W hatever t he H oly S pirit t ells m e t o s ay, I will say. A nd whatever the Holy Spirit tells me to d o,  I   w ill d o. In all aspects of l ife,  w ork,  and s ervice, we rely on t he H oly S pirit.  Fo r it is by the Holy Spirit that w e  c a n b e sufficient for t h e ministry o f  t h e n e w c o venant. T oday,  m any C hristian g roups p reach t he g ospel,  l ead p eople t o s alvation,  w orship,  s ing h ymns,  a nd l isten t o s ermons,  a lmost a ll o f w hich a re O ld T estament m inistries a nd a ctivities.  W e h ope t o r eceive G od' s m ercy a nd b ring p eople t o t he L ord,  r eturn t o G od's  w ord,  h elp t hem r eceive the H oly S pirit, to b e an o utlet o f t he H oly S pirit,  a nd r esume t he s ervice o f t he N ew T estament e ra.  T here i s a lways a   s ituation that a ffects m any g roups a nd C hristians to e mbark o n t he p ath o f minstry in t he N ew T estament.  I t i s s till a   d ivine m ission,  n ot a   m atter o f how many poeple,  b ut a   m atter o f the n ature.  W e m ust m aintain t he n ature o f t he N ew T estament. In   short,   we   must   live  well in   the   law   of   the   Holy   Spirit,   so   that  we will naturally   have   the   service   of   New   Testament ministry. Bearing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit T he l ast p oint i s t o b ear t he f ruit o f t he H oly S pirit.  G alatians chapter 5   s peaks o f o ur l usts,  o r f lesh, at war w ith the H oly S pirit.  W hen w e a re s aved,  t he H oly S pirit d wells i n u s.  B ut w e a lso h ave A dam's  f allen d isposition i nside,  s o t hese t wo f orces h ave l ong b een at war w ithin.  W hen w e o bey t he f lesh,  t he H oly S pirit i s t roubled a nd m akes u s lost our peace .  T he m ore carnally minded w e become ,  t he m ore p ainful i t w ill b e.  If  w e  l i ve i n  t h e l a w o f  t h e H o ly S p irit, t he Ho ly S p irit takes the position in us, a n d we e v entually b e ar t h e f r uit o f  t h e H o ly S p irit. G alatians 5 :22- 2 3 t ells u s, " The f ruit o f t he H oly S pirit i s l ove, j oy, p eace, p atience, k indness, g oodness, f aithfulness,  g entleness,  and s elf-control. "  These n ine t hings a re the v irtues o f C hrist,  t he c haracteristics o f G od's  l ife,  a nd the t estimony that t he L ord w ants o f b elievers.  Th ese v i rtues c a nnot b e  o b tained t h rough l e ssons, e f forts, o r  p r actice, b u t g row na turally. T herefore,  a fter G alatians c hapter 5   s peaks o f t he f lesh f ighting w ith t he H oly S pirit,  a nd a lso m entions t he n ine f ruits o f t he H oly S pirit,  chapter 6 : 8   s ays,  " Whoever s ows i n the f lesh w ill r eap c orruption f rom t he f lesh,  a nd w hoever s ows a ccording t o t he H oly S pirit w ill r eap l ife f rom the H oly S pirit."   As  l o ng a s  w e  a l ways o b ey t he Ho ly S p irit a n d l i ve i n  t h e l a w o f  t h e H o ly S p irit, w e  w i ll b e  a b le t o  r e ap l i fe a n d h a ve t h e f r uit o f  t h e H o ly S p irit. P salm 1 :2- 3   a lso s ay,  " Blessed i s the m an w ho l oves t he law o f t he L ord a nd t hinks a bout i t d ay a nd n ight.  H e w ill b e p lanted l ike a   t ree b y a s tream,  a nd i t w ill b ear f ruit i n i ts s eason."  I t m eans t o ponder o n the w ord o f t he L ord a nd l ive i n t he l aw o f t he H oly S pirit,  a nd t he r esult i s l ike a   t ree b y t he s tream. It bears f ruit in season because it's by the stream. Similarly, t he t ree of l ife b ears f ruit of the Holy Spirit i n t he f low o f t he H oly S pirit.  N o w onder the l ast c hapter of R evelation a lso s ays t hat t here i s a   t ree o f l ife t hat b ears f ruit e very m onth b y t he r iver  (R evelation 2 2 :1-2 ).  obviously, t h e f r uits o f  t h e H o ly S p irit can never be taught, l e arned, o r  made, b u t c o mpletely g r own out of li ving i n  t h e l a w o f  t h e H o ly S p irit. A lthough w e c annot f ully a rticulate the r esults o f l iving t he l aw o f t he H oly S pirit,  we h ave a lready l isted s o m any k ey p oints that are t ruly e nough f or u s t o b e e ncouraged  a nd d rawn t o a life in the l aw o f the H oly S pirit a nd to l ive out t he t estimony o f r evival. May the fire of revival burn among us through the messages of this conference until  the ends of  the earth! <-- Back Part 3 -->

Bible Reading: Romans 8:1-2 — "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:4-5 — "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:13 — "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:15 — "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'” Romans 8:26-29 — "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." John 6:63 — "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." Romans 7:6 — " But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." After Spirit Baptism, One Must Live by the Law of the Spirit In this four-part series on the theme of “The Fire of Revival,” we’ve emphasized two key points. The first two nights focused on the first point: “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.”  Starting tonight, we turn to the second point: “The Law of the Spirit.”  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a promise from God to every believer, and when received, it brings great revival. But how long can that revival last? Can one continue walking in the path of spiritual life? That depends entirely on whether the person who has received the Spirit baptism is living according to the law of the Spirit. Today, many churches have embraced the Pentecostal experience and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After being filled with the Spirit, they gain power and actively use the gifts of the Spirit—healing the sick, casting out demons, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, preaching, and more. They labor tirelessly from the beginning to the end of the year, praying fervently and working diligently. Their influence on the world and humanity is undeniably strong. Yet, in terms of spiritual maturity, many remain in a childish and carnal state, with shallow understanding of spiritual matters. They neglect deeper spiritual experiences—failing to root downward and bear fruit upward. From the perspective of spiritual growth, they are still infants. (1 Corinthians 3:1) This is a serious deficiency in spiritual life. Therefore, after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must both maintain the revival atmosphere—bringing the gospel to a dark generation and igniting lukewarm churches with love for the Lord—and also deepen our spiritual roots through experiential learning. Otherwise, we risk becoming like Ephraim— a cake unturned. (Hosea 7:8 ) To fulfill both aspects, the law of the Spirit  is the key. Spirit baptism is not the end, but the beginning of the journey of spiritual revival. From there, we must obey and live by the law of the Spirit. For example: A car without gasoline cannot move; pushing it manually is exhausting. But once fueled, it no longer needs human effort and can carry many passengers. Likewise, a church without the power of the Holy Spirit must rely on human methods and strength to operate, which is burdensome and difficult. But if the church is filled with the Spirit, empowered by Him, then every meeting and ministry becomes light and effective. However, once the car is running, it must still obey traffic laws to drive safely and avoid accidents. Similarly, believers and churches that have received Spirit baptism must obey the law of the Spirit and live in it. Otherwise, they cannot progress on the path of life and may even provoke unnecessary resistance, hindering others from receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Path to Living by the Law of the Spirit Among all the chapters in the Bible, Romans chapter 8 speaks most clearly about the Law of the Spirit. This chapter gives detailed teaching on how to live according to the law of the Spirit. At the beginning of Romans 8, the Holy Spirit is given a striking title: “the law of the Spirit of life.”  Verse 2 says: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” This means that the Holy Spirit, called the Spirit of life, has a law that sets us free. We call this law "the law of the Spirit". In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is referred to by many names, such as: The Spirit of Christ  (1 Peter 1:11), The Spirit of truth  (John 14:17), The eternal Spirit  (Hebrews 9:14), The Spirit of glory  (1 Peter 4:14), T he Spirit of life  (Romans 8:2), etc... All these titles refer to the Holy Spirit. Tonight, we focus on the title “Spirit of life”, which connects the Holy Spirit with life itself—like a bridge linking the Spirit’s power with the path of life. We are not only to serve with the Spirit’s power and gifts, but also to grow in spiritual experience so that our lives reach maturity. This Spirit of life has a law—the law of the Spirit—which leads us onto the path of life. In summary, Romans chapter 8 begins by telling us that the Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of life", and He has a law—"the law of the Spirit"—that guides us to walk the path of life and into a life of spiritual living. This life is marked by authority, power, glory, beauty, and victory, fully manifesting the virtues of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must both receive the baptism of the Spirit and live according to the law of the Spirit. Now, let us look into Romans chapter 8 to understand how to live by the law of the Spirit. Standing in the Position of Being "In Christ" The first essential step to living by the law of the Spirit is to stand firm in the position of being “in Christ.”  Romans 8:1–2 says: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” The phrase “in Christ Jesus”  appears twice in these verses, emphasizing that to live by the law of the Spirit, we must stand firmly in the position of being "in Christ Jesus" .  Only in Christ can the law of the Spirit make us free and operate freely without hindrance. How Do We Live “In Christ”? It’s not through our own striving or effort that we enter into Christ. Rather, when we receive the Lord Jesus, God places us in Christ. It is God who puts us there—not us climbing in by our own strength. In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul said, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus…” In truth, God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. But in experience, we are placed in Christ when we believe in Him. This requires the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so we can see that we are already in Christ. John 15 describes the experience of being in Christ. Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. When we are joined to Him—abiding in Christ—we bear much fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is not something we learn, struggle to produce, or manufacture. It flows naturally from abiding in Christ and receiving His fullness. This is what it means to stand in the position of being in Christ—it is a life of communion with the Lord. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, once felt powerless in his ministry in China, serving became burdensome and difficult. But the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to see that Jesus is the vine, and he is a branch—not trying to become a branch. He realized that all that Christ has is already his. From that moment, he was released. Because he stood in Christ, the law of the Spirit set him free. Dear brothers and sisters, to live by the law of the Spirit, we must stand in the position of being in Christ. This life in Christ requires understanding that we are already in Christ—and maintaining that reality through daily prayer, Bible reading, and communion with the Lord. Many Spirit-baptized believers treasure the experience of Spirit baptism but neglect the importance of living by the law of the Spirit. As a result, they repeatedly fall into immature and carnal patterns. A sister, after being filled with the Spirit in a meeting, joyfully sang “Hallelujah” and praised God. After the meeting, she exclaimed how wonderful it was—she had never experienced such joy. She felt superior to those who hadn’t received Spirit baptism. She got carried away with her feeling of relief. But when she returned home and saw her children making a mess and fighting, she lost her temper and beat them. Soon after, she felt sorrowful and knelt before the Lord, weeping and confessing: “Lord Jesus, forgive me! I lost my temper again and hit my children. Have mercy on me! Deliver me from this corrupt flesh…” If someone opposed to Spirit baptism had witnessed this, they might say, “What’s the use of Spirit baptism? Even being filled with the Spirit doesn’t change much.” This shows that Spirit baptism is not graduation—it’s just the beginning. After baptism, we must stand in Christ. Only by abiding in Him can we live by the law of the Spirit and experience true freedom and victory. Thank the Lord, some sisters in recent years have not only received Spirit baptism but also live by the law of the Spirit. They maintain beautiful communion with the Lord—whether working at home or walking outside, they are constantly in fellowship with Him. After baptism, they became more spiritually sensitive, quickly dealing with even the smallest offenses against the Lord. As a result, their homes are filled with the Lord’s presence. This is the fruit of living by the law of the Spirit. If you already have communion with the Lord before receiving Spirit baptism, praise God! After baptism, that communion can grow deeper, and your union with Christ becomes stronger—enabling you to continue living by the law of the Spirit. One more experience of being "in Christ" to be mindful of, is to bow before the throne of Christ and submitting to His rule. Our natural flesh loves to be seen and assert opinions—especially in ministry, where we often want to take charge, using our hands and try to accomplish God's work. But remember: when man takes the lead, he steps out of Christ. We must wait, seek, and rely on the Lord in all things—letting Him reign, decide, and govern. Only then can we truly stand in Christ and live by the law of the Spirit. Following the Holy Spirit The second key to living by the law of the Spirit is to follow the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 8 begins by introducing the law of the Spirit, and then explains how to live within it. Verse 4 says: “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” This means that we, the redeemed, are those who do not follow the flesh but follow the Spirit. As mentioned earlier, standing in Christ means living in communion with the Lord—being drawn to Him, sensing His loveliness, His preciousness, His glory. This daily love, obedience, and longing for Him is the essence of communion. But on the other hand, since the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we must also follow the Spirit, listen to His voice daily, be attentive to His movements, and not to grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30), nor should we quench His prompting (1 Thessalonians 5:19 ). Instead, we must actively obey Him. The apostle John, in his mature years, also taught: “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27) This means we should obey the voice of the anointing—that is, the indwelling Holy Spirit. As we follow the Spirit’s teaching through His anointing, we abide more deeply in Christ and grow in union with Him. A sister who had received Spirit baptism went out during a typhoon to buy groceries. It was dusk, and the wind and rain were intensifying. She intended to take a taxi, but the Holy Spirit forbade her and prompted her to walk. As she walked, she saw a young man lying on the roadside, bleeding from his head—he had been hit by a taxi. She called out to some young passersby to help lift him and arranged for another taxi to take him to a nearby hospital. She offered to cover the medical expenses and asked someone to notify his family. The next day, the young man’s brother came to the hospital, grateful for her help and refusing to let her pay. She took the opportunity to share the gospel with them. Because she obeyed the Holy Spirit, she bore a beautiful witness of Jesus Christ. Dear brothers and sisters, after receiving Spirit baptism, our inner being becomes more open and sensitive to the Spirit’s voice. We must continually pay attention to His promptings, His warnings, and His voice. This is the teaching of the anointing. When He teaches us, we must follow immediately and obey consistently. The result of following the Spirit is that we naturally live by the law of the Spirit and unknowingly express the life of Jesus. One morning, a sister went to the market and saw someone selling rat poison. She remembered the rodent problem at home and decided to buy some. But the Holy Spirit strongly forbade her. She ignored the Spirit’s warning and bought it anyway. On her way home, the Spirit continued to convict her, making her feel uneasy and troubled. Yet she still refused to obey. When she arrived home, a government official came to inspect her property documents. She set down her grocery basket—along with the rat poison—and went upstairs to retrieve the papers. At that moment, her two children came home, saw the poison, mistook it for candy, and ate a large amount. Soon they cried out in pain. When she realized what had happened, her face turned pale, and she rushed them to the hospital. But it was too late. The children could not be saved. Everyone was heartbroken over the tragic loss. Because she did not follow the Holy Spirit and acted on her own judgment, she failed to live by the law of the Spirit. Her grief and regret were overwhelming, and the name of the Lord was dishonored, with her testimony severely damaged. Let us hope that in all things, big or small, we will follow the Holy Spirit—so that we may truly live by the law of the Spirit. Setting the Mind on the Holy Spirit The third principle is to set our minds on the Spirit .  Romans 8:5 says: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” This verse links living according to the Spirit with setting our minds on the Spirit. To live by the law of the Spirit, we must not only follow the Spirit—we must also set our minds on the things of the Spirit. Clearly, setting our minds on the Spirit is a vital part of spiritual life. To experiece this, we must first understand that when we were saved by grace, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us. Therefore, we must constantly turn our thoughts inward—toward the Spirit. This is what it means to set our minds on the Spirit. In every aspect of life—our routines, actions, conduct—we must continually return to the inner life and think on the Spirit. The result is that we naturally live by the law of the Spirit and walk in victory. A brother, revived by the Lord, began to pursue Him fervently. Each morning, he would rise to spend quiet time with God. But one day, a tofu vendor stopped outside his house, ringing a bell and shouting loudly. Many neighbors came to buy tofu, and the noise disrupted his quiet time. Frustrated, he angrily rebuked the vendor for stopping at his door. Though he had a burning desire to love and seek the Lord, he failed in that moment. Later, the Lord led him to experience what it means to set his mind on the Spirit. After that, he was no longer disturbed by the vendor’s noise and could still draw near to the Lord and read His Word—demonstrating the victory of Christ. Another brother, who had walked with the Lord for many years, commuted daily by ferry. One evening, on his way home, a nearby ship dumped waste oil into the sea. A strong wind blew the oil onto his clothes. Normally, such an incident would provoke anger. But surprisingly, this brother remained calm and silent. His colleague beside him was outraged and wanted to confront the crew. Yet the brother just let it go. Why? Because he was setting his mind on the Spirit and living by the law of the Spirit. As a result, he bore a beautiful witness of Jesus Christ. Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body by the Holy Spirit Romans 8:13 says, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”  This means we must continually live under the law of the Spirit and rely on the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body. This is not achieved by human willpower or strength, but is the natural result of abiding in Christ Jesus, walking according to the Spirit, and setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. While we live on earth, we often encounter sinful deeds of the flesh, as described in Galatians 5:19–21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like...” All these must be put to death by the Spirit. Do not think that receiving the baptism of the Spirit automatically makes one spiritual. Remember, if someone who has received the baptism of the Spirit does not live under the law of the Holy Spirit, they may instead live under the human spirit or the spirit of the world, manifesting many works of the flesh. Therefore, after receiving the Spirit, we must stand firm in Christ, continually follow the Spirit, and set our minds on the Spirit. In doing so, the Spirit—who brings the death of the cross—will put to death the fleshly behaviors in us, enabling us to live a spiritual life. Brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us today is the Spirit sent by the Lord Jesus after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. This Spirit dwells in us with the power of the cross to put to death. As long as we follow the Spirit, set our minds on Him, and give Him full authority, we will be able to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. At a recent gathering in Cebu, a brother who is in car business shared his testimony. He said that after receiving the baptism of the Spirit, he was filled with joy and often communed with the Lord. One time, a store clerk in his company made a mistake on an order form, causing the wrong goods to be shipped from Manila. This situation could have easily provoked him to anger and harsh rebuke over the employee. But instead, he went into his office to pray. As he prayed, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and joy overflowed, dissolving all anger and judgmental thoughts. This is what it means to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. Praise the Lord! Prayer Romans chapter 8 continues the theme of how to live under the law of the Spirit. Verse 15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” This means the Spirit we have received is the Spirit of sonship, and one of His functions is to move us to open our mouths in prayer, calling God our Father. Therefore, if we want to give the Holy Spirit more room within us and allow His functions to be more fully expressed, prayer is indispensable. The more we pray, the more the indwelling Spirit is released, and the more the law of the Spirit operates in us. For example, in a gathering, the more people pray, the more the Holy Spirit has an outlet. That meeting will feel fresh, free, and full of release—because the whole gathering has entered into the law of the Spirit. Yet man is fallen and often unwilling to pray. So God, out of necessity, raises up circumstances—allowing trials to come upon believers to drive them to draw near to the Lord and pray. Sadly, many people, even when faced with hardship, still do not understand the need to come before the Lord in prayer and look to Him for guidance. Instead, they struggle painfully, relying on their own strength. But once a person acts in their own strength, they are living in the flesh. Only when we fully surrender to the Lord, depend on Him, and pray to Him, can we live under the law of the Spirit. May the Lord be gracious to us, making us people of prayer, and may the church become a praying church. Sometimes the Holy Spirit leads us to pray in the spirit with tongues, expressing spiritual insights that cannot be conveyed through understanding alone. At times, we are filled with praise—praise that surpasses ordinary expressions. But there are also times when we are brought into the experience of Romans 8:26, where we feel a deep sorrow that cannot be grasped by the mind. Some brothers or sisters, when praying in tongues, enter into a sense of sorrow, causing those praying around them to be moved to tears. The tone of their prayer carries a sorrowful spirit, and one can deeply sense the groaning of the Holy Spirit. It is not loud shouting, but rather the groaning of the Spirit expressed through tongues. This kind of prayer in tongues also helps us live under the law of the Spirit. Submitting to the Full Governance of the Holy Spirit In principle, if a person fully obeys the Holy Spirit and gives Him full authority, they will naturally live under the law of the Spirit. However, the flesh and natural tendencies of man are often rebellious, stubborn, and self-centered. Therefore, the Holy Spirit works through all things to subdue us, using every circumstance to bring us into the law of the Spirit and conform us to the image of God's Son. This brings us to a crucial point: we must submit to the full governance of the Holy Spirit. Remember, the Holy Spirit not only dwells within us, but also orchestrates our surroundings to break our hardness and prune away selfishness, pride, self-confidence, self-righteousness, self-promotion, boasting, insistence, and personal preferences — leading us into the law of the Spirit. Brothers and sisters, the law of the Spirit described in Romans chapter 8 also calls us to submit to the Spirit’s full governance. Everything around us—people, events, circumstances—that we dislike, that frustrate us, that provoke anger or offense, we must fully surrender to the Lord. Whether in the home, society, or church, anything that touches our personal interests, soul-life preferences, or inclinations must be laid down before the Lord. In doing so, the Holy Spirit will clearly guide us to walk in the law of the Spirit and live out the image of God's Son. There was a sister who, after receiving the baptism of the Spirit in a certain fellowship, became fervent in spirit. She would attend meetings late into the night, often returning home past midnight. She could no longer prepare meals on time or attend to her children’s education. Her husband, who was not yet clear about salvation, became very displeased. The sister ignored his reasonable concerns, neglected her duties as a wife and mother, and even went so far as to blame her husband for not believing in the Lord. She loudly declared her intent to sell their old house and donate the proceeds to the church. This led to serious conflict between the couple, and the husband eventually brought the matter to our attention. This was a result of failing to submit to the full governance of the Holy Spirit, and it damaged her testimony. On the other hand, I’ve seen believers who, by submitting to the Spirit’s governance, lived out the glory of the Lord. A brother worked at a company with a meager salary that barely supported his family. His wife supplemented their income through sewing, but she was less spiritually mature and often expressed dissatisfaction, complaints, and criticism toward her husband. Yet he recognized that this was the environment the Lord had measured out for him, and he remained silent. He saw every hardship as part of the Spirit’s governance and submitted to the Lord’s will. Over the years, his spirit became tender. During the breaking of bread and prayer, his prayers flowed with anointing—free from condemnation, judgment, or hardness. Instead, they were full of gentleness, love, and the outpouring of life and spiritual supply. May we all learn to submit to the governance of the Holy Spirit and live out the glorious image of the Lord. Obeying the Living Word of God Beyond Romans chapter 8, we want to highlight two additional passages of Scripture that help us live under the law of the Spirit. The first is found in John 6:63, where the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” The Lord’s words are the Word of God—they are living (Hebrews 4:12). When His Word enters us, our spirit is strengthened and fully enlivened. To keep our spirit continually uplifted, vibrant, fresh, and walking in the law of the Spirit, we must obey the living Word of God. This is not about the dead letter of Scripture, nor human interpretations, but the Word revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Bible. Whether in early morning devotion, daytime reading, evening meditation, or during gatherings, when the Holy Spirit reveals the Word to us—sometimes by stirring our hearts with spiritual insight—that is the moment the living Word of God comes to us. And when it does, we must obey immediately. Whatever the Lord says, we follow. In doing so, our spirit remains lively and strong day by day, continually living under the law of the Spirit. Serving the Lord According to the Newness of the Spirit Another key passage is found in Romans 7:6, which says: “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” This means we are to serve the Lord according to the newness of the Spirit. To live under the law of the Spirit, this is an absolutely essential condition. Often in ministry, the Lord initiates a work, the Holy Spirit begins something good, and people quickly respond to co-labor with God. This is ideal. However, human tendencies inevitably mix in—people prefer to serve according to past traditions and habits. As a result, the work of the Spirit is pulled down to the level of the flesh and ministry is completed by human effort. The Holy Spirit then ceases to work, and we are no longer living under the law of the Spirit. Therefore, we must be especially careful in our service to the Lord—it must be according to the Spirit. Whether it’s visitation, preaching the gospel, leading people to Christ, or any activity in a gathering—prayer, fellowship, sharing messages—we must break free from tradition, habit, and old mindsets, and instead follow the fresh leading of the Spirit. For the Holy Spirit is like the wind—He does not conform to fixed patterns. For example, when helping someone receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it’s not simply a matter of laying hands and expecting the Spirit to fill them. If the Spirit moves us to lay hands on a certain brother, and we do so, he may indeed be filled with the Spirit. But if another sister requests the same, and we assume that laying hands will automatically result in her being filled—without sensing the Spirit’s leading—we are acting according to the oldness of the tradition, habit, and past experience. As a result, she may not be filled with the Spirit. May we all seriously serve the Lord according to the newness of the Spirit. In doing so, the work of the Holy Spirit will be sustained, and the church will continually be revived, manifesting freedom, victory, and glory. May the Lord be gracious to us, enabling us to live under the law of the Spirit and follow Him daily. <-- Back Next Chapter -->

Bible Reading: Luke 12:49 — “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ” Acts 1:8 — “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 2:3 — “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.” John 7:37-39 — “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Acts 2:38 — “Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [a]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 5:32 — “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Isaiah 57:15 — “For thus says the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” John 3:34 — "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure." The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Brings Thorough Revival In Luke 12:49, the Lord Jesus Himself said: “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49) This fire was truly cast down at Pentecost. When the disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended like flames of fire. Thus, the fire of revival began to burn from Jerusalem, spreading throughout all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. However, the challenge lies with man. After nearly two thousand years of history, the church has fallen from the heavenly realm back to the earthly. Due to the corruption of sin and the influence of the world, the church has changed in nature. Furthermore, human methods and organizational structures have replaced the position of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a desolate condition—an outward form without the actual power of the Spirit. Yet today, God is still calling a group of people to be vessels of the Holy Spirit to revive His church. Last night, we spoke of a crucial aspect of revival: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Lord revives His church through the work of the Spirit. But the scope of the Spirit’s work is vast—He uses various means to bring revival to His church. For example, John 5:25 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25) When God’s Word comes, revival happens—this is the work of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, leading them to self-examination and renewal. Others are revived by the love of the Lord stirring their hearts. So in His work of revival, God uses many methods. But one essential and often neglected aspect—one that leads the church into the most fundamental and thorough revival—is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When a person is baptized in the Spirit, their entire being is immersed—spirit, soul, and even body are revived. Not only is sin driven out, but even sickness may be healed. This is total revival—spirit, soul, and body—ushering the believer into a deep and transformative renewal, and setting them on the path of revival. This path of revival must be walked in the law of the Spirit. In doing so, our hearts burn with passion, we are empowered, we love the Lord, and our lives grow. Our gatherings become orderly, not chaotic, and we bear a glorious and full testimony of Christ. We will speak more about the law of the Spirit tomorrow night. Tonight, we continue to focus on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Believers Still Need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit After Pentecost Today, some people believe that since the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Gentiles in Cornelius’s household also received it, then both Jewish and Gentile churches were baptized in the Spirit at their inception. They argue that this baptism represents the body of Christ, and since we are saved into that body, there is no need for a separate baptism in the Spirit. However, this interpretation is completely inaccurate. If that were the case, then why—many years after Pentecost—does Acts chapter 8 record that the people in Samaria believed in Jesus and were baptized in water, yet Peter and John still had to come and lay hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit in a tangible way? (Acts 8:14–17) Furthermore, Acts chapter 19 tells us that when Paul was in Ephesus—more than twenty years after Pentecost—he asked the disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). This meant: Has the Holy Spirit come upon you? Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? They replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul realized they had believed incorrectly, so he preached the gospel to them again. They then believed in Jesus and were baptized. But even after baptism, the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. So Paul laid hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were baptized in the Spirit (Acts 19:5–6). This shows that being born again and saved is one matter, and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is another. Clearly, those who are born again after Pentecost still need to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Last night, we also spoke about the tremendous blessings that come with receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit—it brings great benefit to individuals and to the church. Therefore, it is only natural that we hope each of you will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit So how can we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is entirely the same as receiving salvation and being born again. It does not depend on studying methods—it simply requires a willing and simple acceptance. However, because there are many hindrances on our part, it’s helpful to highlight a few points that can assist us in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Desire To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a person must have a deep desire from the heart. The Lord Jesus clearly said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). This refers to believers receiving the Holy Spirit. So before one can drink—that is, receive the Holy Spirit—there must first be thirst, which means desire. As long as you are someone who earnestly desires the baptism of the Spirit, the Lord will surely grant it to you in His time. A young sister once testified that she had longed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit for two years. When she came to Baguio, the Lord indeed gave it to her. She was filled with joy and peace, and confidently testified that she would now be able to overcome many pressures and difficulties. Praise the Lord! Brothers and sisters, if you and I have hearts that truly desire, the Lord will surely let us experience it. Isaiah 44:3 says, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty.” This also shows that if we thirst, the Lord takes responsibility to pour out His Spirit upon us. May the Lord stir up within us a heart that longs for Him. Simple Faith The Lord Jesus first said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). If you’re not thirsty, how can you drink? If a cup of water is placed before me and I’m not thirsty, I’ll simply ignore it. Likewise, when the Holy Spirit comes to offer Himself to you, if you don’t want Him, you won’t receive Him. So first comes thirst—desire—and then comes drinking. How do we drink? Jesus continues, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). So drinking means believing. With simple faith, we can receive. As soon as you and I believe, the Spirit is given to us. The expression of faith is praise; when we praise, the Holy Spirit fills us. It’s that simple—no need to study further. When we preach the gospel, we often encounter people who say, “Let me study it first.” We respond, “You don’t need to study.” They might say, “I’ve only heard it once, I need to hear it for another year or two.” But in reality, even after years of studying, they still don’t understand and continue to study. After years of research, they still haven’t received salvation. Believing in Jesus isn’t about research—it’s about faith. Likewise, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit isn’t about study. Believe, and you will receive. Believe, and you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s that simple. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He poured out the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). All we need is simple faith to receive. Galatians 3:14 says, “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” . There was a sister who longed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. During a Spirit-filled gathering, she praised the Lord in faith. When she cried out “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord,” the Holy Spirit was poured out abundantly upon her. She received the baptism of the Spirit and began to speak in tongues. Repentance, Confession, and Emptying Oneself When Peter stood up to testify on the day of Pentecost, those who heard the message were deeply convicted. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “ Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This shows that once a person repents and confesses their sins, they are to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” here refers to the Spirit being poured out. New believers, in particular, often receive the Holy Spirit easily after repentance. Over the years, when we’ve preached the gospel and baptized new believers, we’ve helped them receive the baptism of the Spirit. As they repented and prayed, they were quickly filled with the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, older believers—those saved for seven, eight, or even ten-plus years—often find it harder to be filled. That’s because after believing in Jesus, many let the world and sin creep back in. Unless they repent, confess, empty themselves, and fully turn to God, the Holy Spirit will not come in. Moreover, many seasoned Christians are blocked by inaccurate teachings, doctrines, and traditions, which prevent the Spirit from filling them. Therefore, we must empty ourselves of old mindsets, doctrines, teachings, and traditions, and turn wholeheartedly to the Lord. When we do, we are quickly filled with the Holy Spirit. One brother had attended a certain church for over ten years. He longed to be filled with the Holy Spirit and sought it everywhere, but never received it. Then he heard my testimony: that one must lay aside old ideas, past traditions, even teachings they thought were most correct, and fully empty themselves before the Lord. He began to pray in that way, and indeed, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. It was truly miraculous—not something learned, but simply believing and repenting according to the Lord’s word, and receiving the promised Spirit. Another sister had been spiritually cold and distant from the Lord for many years. But she encountered the Lord in a gathering. She confessed her sins and repented, asking the Lord to forgive her shortcomings. It was the Lord's Table, during worship and praise—as she repented and emptied herself from the heart, she was powerfully filled with the Holy Spirit while praying and began to speak in tongues. Her prayer was orderly, pleasant to hear, edifying, and deeply moving to everyone present. Consecration When we are willing to fully consecrate ourselves to the Lord, it becomes much easier to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament typology, the fire from heaven would often fall upon the altar of burnt offering. The altar represents the cross, and the initial experience is consecration. When you offer yourself to the Lord—holding nothing back—and pray with an open heart before Him, the Holy Spirit fills you. There are countless examples of this. Humility Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit’” . The Lord desires to dwell with the humble, so those who are humble are truly blessed. Both the apostles James and Peter also said, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Where there is humility, there the Holy Spirit can be poured out. Yet how foolish we often are—not only lacking humility, but being proud and self-exalting, always thinking we are right, the best, and spiritually superior to others. Such pride and arrogance often become major obstacles to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only when we humbly bow before the Lord does His throne become present; and once His throne is established, rivers of living water—life from the Holy Spirit—begin to flow. Over the years, we’ve often witnessed powerful movements of the Holy Spirit in our gatherings. There would be prayer, singing, testimonies, fellowship, and messages. The hungry would come and leave satisfied. But sometimes, even in the midst of these gatherings, the Spirit seemed to stop moving. Though there were prayers, testimonies, and messages, there was no flow of living water. A few of us who were serving would kneel before the Lord and seek His light. We discovered that it was often due to our own pride—thinking we were capable, knowledgeable, or sufficient. Once we repented, confessed, asked for forgiveness, bowed down, and humbled ourselves, the flow of the Spirit returned in the next gathering. The Holy Spirit’s stream only flows downward—it cannot climb upward. Water flows into valleys, not mountaintops. Humility is truly a vital key to being filled with the Holy Spirit. Another essential factor in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is obedience. When Peter testified before the council, Scripture says, “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Here, the Holy Spirit is described as “given to those who obey.” This means the Spirit is granted to the obedient. Where there is obedience, there is the fullness of the Spirit. Even the smallest resistance between us and the Lord—any unwillingness to obey—will cause the Spirit’s outpouring to stop immediately, because He gives to those who obey. Therefore, before the Lord, we must walk in daily obedience, so that the Holy Spirit may continually fill us. Pray in One Accord To be baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is often easier to receive during gatherings than individually. However, it must be through prayer in one accord. Acts chapter 2 records that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the gathered disciples. This was the result of what was described in the previous chapter, where 120 disciples and women prayed together with one heart and mind for ten days (Acts 1:14). Later, when the disciples faced persecution, they again prayed earnestly, and once more, they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). Conversely, where there is conflict and lack of unity, the Holy Spirit withdraws. Therefore, the church must maintain a Spirit-filled life through prayer in one accord. Laying on of Hands The book of Acts records several instances where the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands. Peter and John helped the believers in Samaria receive the Holy Spirit by laying hands on them. (Acts 8:17) Paul himself was filled with the Holy Spirit through Ananias’ laying on of hands. (Acts 9:17) Likewise, the disciples in Ephesus received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through Paul’s hands. (Acts 19:6) Therefore, the laying on of hands can help us receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Of course, this must be done under divine guidance. For example, during a recent gathering in Baguio, a sister testified that although we had not instructed her to do so, she laid hands on other sisters, and they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord! The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Is for Every Believer The baptism of the Holy Spirit brings abundant blessings to the church and is a simple and practical experience for individuals. So who is this baptism meant for? It is intended for everyone. Just as the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ through His crucifixion was for all humanity, likewise, His ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit were also meant for all people to receive. On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood and testified to the crowd, saying: “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” (Acts 2:17) This means that anyone with flesh and blood can receive the Holy Spirit. He also declared that the Holy Spirit will pour out upon God's menservants and maidservants. (Acts 2:18) At the end of his message, Peter emphasized: “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) This shows that the Holy Spirit is not only poured out on the Jews but also on those afar off whom God calls — the Gentiles. Therefore, the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all Christians. Three Responses to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Although the baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant for all Christians, many people are unwilling to humbly and simply receive it. As a result, there are different responses to the Spirit’s outpouring. From the experience of Pentecost, we can observe three distinct reactions: Amazed and Perplexed The first response is amazed and perplexed. Acts 2:12 says: “So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’” (Acts 2:12) When the Holy Spirit fills the church, those who haven’t received it may react with surprise, wondering, “What is going on?” They may doubt this or that, and some may even be frightened by the unusual manifestations—crying, laughing, trembling, shouting—and avoid future gatherings. Others may gossip or speak words of irreverence. Since such amazement and doubt occurred at Pentecost, it’s understandable that early experiences of Spirit baptism may include extraordinary expressions. But this is a normal part of the process. Therefore, we should allow those newly baptized in the Spirit to express themselves freely, without imposing restrictions. As they mature, their expressions will become more orderly and composed. This is evident in the apostles’ experiences. In Acts 4, the disciples were filled again with the Holy Spirit; later, Stephen (Acts 6), Philip, and Peter continued to be filled. By then, observers no longer responded with amazement or doubt, because the manifestations had become more mature and orderly. Mockery The second response is mockery. Acts 2:13 records: “Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’” (Acts 2:13) This is a more negative reaction. It shows contempt for God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit. The mockers compared the disciples’ Spirit-filled behavior to drunkenness, implying that their expressions were unusual. Just as someone drunk with wine might speak nonsense, sing or collapse, Spirit baptism may also appear chaotic at first. But may we be people who fear the Lord, refraining from doubt, mockery, slander, judgment, or criticism. Jesus warned: “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32) Let those who have ears to hear, listen. Receiving The third response is receiving—which is the only proper response to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, despite some reacting with doubt or mockery, many received the message Peter preached and were baptized in the Spirit. Acts 2:41 says: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (Acts 2:41) May we all be among those who receive, so that the fire of Pentecostal revival may burn brightly among us! Not a Charismatic Movement, But Receiving a Fullness of Blessing Finally, we would like to offer a word of reminder. After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit by God’s grace, we must never become proud or arrogant, thinking ourselves superior to others. Instead, we should respond with reverent fear, humility, and a firm stance in gratitude for God's mercy. We believe in all the blessings promised throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and we stand together with all of God’s children as witnesses to His fullness. We should not deliberately try to appear different from others. Though we are baptized, we are not Baptists; though we pursue holiness, we are not part of the Holiness Church; though we are justified by faith, we are not Lutherans; though we have elders overseeing the church, we are not Presbyterians. Likewise, the Bible says we should receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit—so we have received it. But we are not a Charismatic or Pentecostal denomination. Our attitude is simply this: whatever blessings the Bible promises, we are willing to receive them all. We are part of God’s church, desiring to embrace every blessing promised in Scripture. May the Lord be gracious to us, and may the baptism of the Holy Spirit—so often neglected by God’s people—be restored in these days, bringing forth even greater revival! <--- Back Next Chapter -->

Bibile Reading: Matthew 3:11 — "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Act 1:5,8 — "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now....But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 8:14-17 — "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:3, 4, 17 — "As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'... And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 19:1-7 — "And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples, he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' So they said to him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said to them, 'Into what then were you baptized?' So they said, 'Into John’s baptism.' Then Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all." 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 — "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea," Zeal for Your House Consumes Me When the Lord Jesus was twelve years old, He said, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). Though simple, this statement reveals the heart of heaven—that we, as children of God, should care deeply about the Church of the living God. If the Church is not revived, if the spiritual lives of brothers and sisters are stagnant, if God's work is not advancing, and yet you and I can go on eating, drinking, and living peacefully as if nothing is wrong, then our spiritual condition is seriously flawed! If our spiritual condition were normal, then upon seeing the Church in decline, our hearts would be troubled, filled with remorse, self-reproach, and a deep sense of guilt toward both people and the Lord. Brothers and sisters, if we have received mercy, we will have the heart of Jesus Christ. When the Lord was on earth, He saw the temple in desolation—people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and exchanging money inside. He drove out all those who were buying and selling, overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:13). This fulfilled what was written in Psalm 69:9: “Because zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” Truly, the Lord Jesus was passionately devoted to God’s house throughout His life. Likewise, if our hearts do not burn with anguish when the Church is in ruin, we have already fallen! Let me ask: Can we remain unmoved by the great grace of the Lord Jesus, who saved us from sin and death, and by His immense love in shedding His blood and giving His life for us? When we are personally cold, our families lose their testimony, and the Church is desolate—can we still live as if nothing is wrong? Can we sit, drink, and play, ignoring the matters of the Church? No, no! We must rise up! Our hearts should be like the Lord Jesus—“zeal for Your house has eaten Me up”—until we see the Church revived, family testimonies restored, and individuals greatly blessed. Only then will we find true rest in the Lord, boldness before the Father, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Brings the Fire of Revival Since we ought to care about the revival of the Church, can we rely solely on fervent zeal, coupled with an indomitable and fearless spirit? Should we strive and labor for the work of revival, even to the point of sacrifice? No—revival is absolutely not something that human effort can accomplish. There is no one who can single-handedly revive the Church, and there is no method that can restore it. Only the mighty work of God, the outstretched arm of the Lord, and the limitless power of the Holy Spirit can bring true revival to the Church. Church history clearly shows us that every genuine revival has always been the result of the Holy Spirit’s work. Given this, does it mean we bear no responsibility? Certainly not. The fire of revival from heaven is meant to be given to us (to come upon us). God desires to use us so that, through us, the Church may be revived. That’s why, during this gathering on Mount Baguio, we’ve been speaking about the seven instances of fire in the Bible and how each brought revival to God’s people. Especially the final one—the fire of Pentecost—is the most concrete and evident. In the upcoming meetings, if the Lord wills, we will continue to speak on the fire of Pentecost. Acts chapter 1 records that when the disciples asked Jesus about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, He pointed them to a more important matter—the revival of His witness. He replied: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8). From this verse, we clearly see: the source of revival is from heaven, and the means of revival is the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Holy Spirit, there is no other way for the Church to be revived. In other words, the descent of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of revival in the Church. Therefore, the key to revival lies in the Holy Spirit coming upon us. When the Holy Spirit is poured out and we are baptized in the Spirit, we are immediately revived by the Lord. So as we speak again of the fire of revival, we must first speak of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, this topic has stirred much controversy and debate over the years—even leading to mutual attacks. Therefore, before we delve into the main subject, a word of caution is necessary. Let Go of Prejudices and Subjectivity; Set Aside Traditional Teachings and Old Mindsets Whenever the topic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is touched upon, it often stirs up much controversy. The main reason is a lack of personal experience, coupled with having received too many inaccurate teachings and doctrines in the past. As a result, people hold deep-rooted prejudices and subjective views toward the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Living under the influence of outdated traditions and concepts becomes a major hindrance to receiving the baptism of the Spirit. For example, when we invite a non-believer to hear the gospel, not only do they resist, but they may also claim that their religious founder was born earlier than Jesus. They might believe their scriptures are more profound and not as simple as the Bible. This is because they already possess preconceived notions rooted in old religious traditions, which prevent the light of the gospel from penetrating their hearts—becoming a major obstacle to their salvation. In the same way, many people hold onto old ideas, doctrines, teachings, and inherited traditions regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These preconceived notions cloud their minds and thoughts, preventing the Word of God from entering clearly and justly to become their personal experience. Therefore, before we listen to this message, we must first ask God to show us mercy—to open the eyes of our hearts, to help us lay down our prejudices and subjectivity, and to set aside traditional teachings and concepts. We must return simply to the Word of God, adopting a posture of humility and grace. Whatever is found in the Bible, we must fully accept; whatever is not found in Scripture, we must resolutely reject. This is the basic attitude we ought to have. Now, let us return to the main topic: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a Life Experience after Rebirth Today, many Christians, having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with a measure of faith, become content and assume they are already spiritual. Some even unknowingly grow proud, thinking they’ve reached a high level. But in reality, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is merely the starting point on the path of revival—there is still a deeper journey of life ahead. On the other hand, there’s another group of Christians who hold the opposite view. They believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit has little to do with spiritual growth. Some even go so far as to say that it not only lacks relevance to life experience but may actually hinder it. This, of course, is another form of misunderstanding. In truth, if we humbly return to God’s Word and seek the Lord’s illumination, we will see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a vital life experience that follows rebirth. Of course, there are believers like those in Cornelius’s household who experienced rebirth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit simultaneously. The Testimony of John the Baptist When John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord, came forth, he bore three distinct testimonies about Jesus. First, he said: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  (John 1:29). This was a testimony that Jesus is our Savior, bearing our sins. Next, he testified: “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”  (John 1:33–34). John not only testified that Jesus is the Savior—the Lamb of God—but also that He is the Son of God. Then he gave a third testimony: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  (Matthew 3:11). Therefore, from our own spiritual experience, we not only believe that Jesus is the Lamb of God who bore our sins on the cross; we also believe, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, that He is the Son of God. But we must likewise accept John’s third testimony: that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified as the Lamb of God to bring about our regeneration. His resurrection and ascension resulted in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that we might receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit—this is a post-rebirth experience. Therefore, we must not only accept the first and second testimonies that John gave about the Lord; we must also accept the third. In other words, all three of John’s testimonies about Jesus are meant to be received. The Lord Jesus Promised the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to Born-Again Disciples After the Lord Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, He spent forty days speaking to His disciples about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. During that time, He also breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  (John 20:22). From this, we understand that the disciples had already been born again and saved. This is why, later in life, Peter wrote in his epistle: “...has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  (1 Peter 1:3). Although the disciples had already been born again and received the Holy Spirit before Jesus’ ascension, He still told them: “but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  (Acts 1:5). And indeed, after the Lord Jesus ascended, the disciples gathered in Jerusalem and prayed for ten days. Then the Holy Spirit was poured out and filled the 120 who were present—they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit. This clearly shows that the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as promised by the Lord Jesus, is meant to be experienced by those who have already been born again. The Lord’s Disciples Received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit After Being Born Again Not only was the Lord Jesus’ promise fulfilled, but the disciples’ experience confirmed it as well. After being born again and saved, they witnessed Jesus’ ascension and His exaltation by God as the Christ. Then they returned to Jerusalem and prayed for ten days. On the Day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and experienced the baptism of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul had a similar experience. When he encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, he fell to the ground and spent three days without eating or drinking, in sorrow and repentance. It was clear that he had been saved and born again. That’s why he later wrote in Galatians 1:`15-16, “ But when it pleased God ... to reveal His Son in me.”  When did Paul receive this revelation of the Son of God? It was on the road to Damascus, when Jesus appeared to him. At that moment, he received the vision of the ascended Christ—a vision he never disobeyed for the rest of his life. But Scripture doesn’t stop there. After Paul received the revelation of the Son of God and was born again, the Lord sent Ananias to lay hands on him so that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul was not only saved and born again—he also needed to receive the baptism (filling) of the Holy Spirit. This is clearly recorded in Scripture. Even though Paul had already encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus, had been born again, received a divine vision, had a clear spiritual goal, and had received a specific commission from the Lord—laying a solid spiritual foundation—the Lord still sent Ananias to lay hands on him so that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive the baptism of the Spirit. The Apostles Helped Born-Again Disciples Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Let us now consider the work of Peter, John, and the other apostles. They not only led people to be born again and saved, but they also guided them further to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This truth is illustrated through several examples in the book of Acts, which records the history of the Church—its birth, development, expansion, and how the testimony of the Lord spread and grew from the very beginning. First, we see Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost. He not only preached about Jesus but also spoke of the Holy Spirit. He said: “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”  (Acts 2:32–33). He then continued: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”   (Acts 2:38). That day, those who received his word were saved, baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. About three thousand souls were added to the Church. His message reached its climax with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—the baptism of the Spirit. Later, when persecution came upon the church in Jerusalem, the disciples were scattered and preached the gospel in various places. Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ, and signs and wonders followed him. Because of the casting out of demons and healing of the sick, the whole city rejoiced greatly. The people believed the gospel and were born again; both men and women were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:1–8). When this news reached Jerusalem, the apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria to help these believers who had already been born again and baptized. The two apostles laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, the believers in Samaria were born again, baptized in water, and had signs and wonders following them—healings and deliverance from demons. Yet they still lacked one thing: they had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So Peter and John came and laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit. This is recorded in Scripture and clearly shows that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a post-rebirth experience. Let us also look at Paul. He himself was filled with the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by Ananias. Years later, while fulfilling his ministry, Paul was sent by the Lord to Ephesus, where he met some disciples. His first question to them was: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”   They replied: “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 19:2). It was then discovered that they had received John’s baptism. Paul preached the gospel to them, and they believed in Jesus. He then baptized them, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. So Paul laid hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them; they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all (Acts 19:5–6). Thus, the disciples in Ephesus were not only born again and baptized, but they also received the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a further step. This event occurred more than twenty years after Pentecost. Therefore, it is clear that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a life experience that follows rebirth. A person who is born again and transformed must still go further to receive the baptism of the Spirit. This is the biblical order and the normal leading of the Holy Spirit. The Israelites Were Baptized in the Cloud 1 Corinthians chapter 10 records the story of the Israelites coming out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. First, they observed the Passover, then crossed the Red Sea, journeyed through the wilderness, and finally entered the land of Canaan. This sequence serves as a spiritual typology of the Christian journey. The Passover represents receiving Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and be born again. Crossing the Red Sea represents water baptism. The wilderness journey represents the experience of the cross. Entering Canaan represents attaining the fullness of Christ. Among these typologies, there is one point often overlooked: when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Scripture says, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”   (1 Corinthians 10:1–2). Moses is a type of Christ. The Israelites were baptized through the sea and the cloud—into Christ. Today, most churches accept the typology of passing through the sea as representing water baptism, but they often neglect the typology of passing under the cloud, which represents the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Scripture, the cloud symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the pillar of cloud also represents the Spirit. (The pillar of fire symbolizes the Word of God.) The Israelites left Egypt by passing through the sea—symbolizing our water baptism—and also passed under the cloud—symbolizing the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Afterward, they journeyed through the wilderness, which typifies the path of the cross. The Order of the New Testament Looking at the arrangement of the New Testament, it begins with the four Gospels, followed by the Acts of the Apostles, then the Epistles, and finally the Book of Revelation. This sequence also serves as a spiritual typology of the believer’s journey. The four Gospels reveal Jesus Christ to us, leading us to experience regeneration and salvation. The Book of Acts reveals the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing forth the testimony of Christ, the birth and development of the Church, and leading us into the fullness of the Spirit—beginning with the baptism of the Spirit, followed by obedience to the Spirit, and continuing with various experiences of the Spirit. Next come the Epistles, which guide us into experiencing Christ as life, and through the cross, allow Christ to be formed within us. Finally, the Book of Revelation represents the attainment of full spiritual maturity — the complete manifestation of Christ’s fullness and testimony. Thus, the order of the New Testament clearly shows us that the baptism and work of the Holy Spirit are life experiences that follow rebirth. Different Terms for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit In the Word of God, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is referred to by several different terms, all describing the same spiritual reality. From an experiential perspective, when we first encounter the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and are filled with Him, Scripture refers to it as “baptized with the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 1:5), or “baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire”  (Matthew 3:11), or “endued with power from on high”  (Luke 24:49), or “the Promise of the Father”  (Acts 1:4), or “the Holy Spirit has come upon you”  (Acts 1:8), or “pouring out of the Spirit”  (Acts 2:17, 33), or “filled with the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 2:4). These are all different expressions describing the same event. However, after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, when similar experiences continue to occur, Scripture no longer uses the term “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” Just as we are baptized in water only once—not daily—the baptism of the Spirit is also a one-time event. When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person again, Scripture often refers to it as being “filled with the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 4:8, 31). Throughout the book of Acts, we see multiple references to both the baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit, underscoring His vital role in the life and ministry of the Church. The Blessings Brought by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit We already understand that God not only desires His people to be born again, but also to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that they may partake of greater spiritual blessings. Therefore, we would like to briefly mention a few of the blessings that the baptism of the Holy Spirit brings to the saints. Receiving Power to Witness for the Lord When a person receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they are empowered, revived, and become a witness for the Lord. Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  This is revival. If a Christian never reads the Bible, doesn’t pray, dislikes fellowship, and is spiritually weak and lifeless, how can they be a witness for the Lord? But when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they receive power, become a witness, and are revived. How wonderful! Once, I spoke with a brother about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He said that today’s Christians often become chaotic when they receive the Spirit—they can’t remain quiet or orderly—so he wasn’t very supportive of it. I replied: When Christians are baptized in the Spirit, they experience joy and release in their spirit, and their voices naturally become louder. Yes, it may seem chaotic at first, but it’s only a temporary expression. Soon it settles down, and there’s nothing to worry about. Even if we take a step back and admit there’s a bit of disorder, it’s still better than being spiritually dead. Ask yourself: is it better to be cold, lifeless, and dull—or to be lively, fervent, and perhaps a little messy? And the so-called disorder is only temporary. With a little patience, it passes. Is it better to have lifeless meetings all year long, where no friends come to gospel meetings, believers are backsliding, self-centered, and indifferent to souls, and even the ministry feels burdensome, joyless, and reluctant? Or is it better to be filled with the Holy Spirit, burning with passion, joyfully and willingly serving, leaping forward to serve with gladness—even if the order isn’t perfect, the spirit is vibrant and far better than dull routine! Moreover, when we walk in the law of the Spirit, there will be order and the rich presence of the Lord. Isn’t that the best of both worlds? The brother agreed with me after hearing this. Not long ago, I read a report in a Christian publication about the revival in Brazil. We know that around the world, some of the Lord’s servants are being greatly used. During evangelistic meetings, many people express a desire to receive salvation. On the surface, it looks like revival. But after the meetings, those who wanted to believe are scattered among various churches, and within a year or two—where are they? Most have returned to loving the world, and they’re nowhere to be found. Today, it’s not about how many hear the gospel, but how many truly love the Lord and walk in His way. In contrast, the report from Brazil deeply moved me. Over the past thirty years, more than one million people have been saved. And these weren’t people who believed and then disappeared—they continued attending meetings, pursuing the Lord, and leading others to salvation. They didn’t invite famous evangelists. So how did so many come to Christ? It was one person leading another. I came alive, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and led you to salvation. You were filled with the Spirit and led someone else. As a result, their gatherings—according to the report—have meeting halls that hold at least 4,000 people, and some up to 20,000, requiring multiple sessions. On Sundays and Wednesdays, police are dispatched to manage traffic due to the overwhelming number of people and vehicles. These are people walking in the way of the Spirit, experiencing revival through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and full of power to be witnesses for the Lord. Maintaining a Life Full of the Holy Spirit After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it becomes easier to continue being filled with the Spirit and to maintain a life full of the Holy Spirit. In the Pentecostal church, thousands believed in Jesus, shared all things in common, and faced many practical responsibilities. So they appointed seven deacons to oversee the distribution of food. Scripture tells us that those chosen to serve as deacons were “men full of the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 6:3). Not apostles, but those managing meals and handling affairs had to be full of the Spirit—this reflects a church that meets God’s standard. The Church is not a social organization; it must be entirely spiritual, governed from heaven and led by the heavenly Christ. How does Christ, the Head, govern the Church? Through the Holy Spirit. Without receiving the baptism of the Spirit and maintaining a Spirit-filled life, one cannot easily discern the Spirit’s guidance or understand the will of the Head. That’s why even those serving food had to be full of the Holy Spirit. While managing meals, Stephen was full of the Spirit, and he remained so even to the point of martyrdom. To become a person full of the Holy Spirit, one must first receive the baptism of the Spirit. Once the inner person is opened, it becomes possible to maintain a Spirit-filled life. It’s like digging a well—once the spring is found, water begins to flow upward. Though stones, mud, or debris may later fall in and temporarily block the flow, once those obstructions are cleared, the water springs up again. Likewise, someone baptized in the Spirit may occasionally be hindered by sin or worldly distractions. But when they return to the Lord in repentance, the blood of Jesus cleanses them, and they immediately return to a Spirit-filled life. Brothers and sisters, a person full of the Holy Spirit not only fulfills their ministry, but in these last days, they can confidently and fearlessly welcome the return of Christ—like the five wise virgins in Matthew 25. In terms of enjoying complete salvation, a Spirit-filled person is not only filled in spirit, but their soul and body are also possessed by the Holy Spirit. All sin, sickness, and corruption in spirit, soul, and body are removed, and the whole person becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Living Out the Reality of the Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:13 says: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”   This clearly states that we are baptized by one Spirit into one body and have all drunk of one Spirit. When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit immerses us into Himself and joins us into the body of Christ, enabling us to live out the reality of the body. To drink of one Spirit means the Holy Spirit dwells within us. The result of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is that we become one body, and thus the reality of Christ’s body is expressed. Through the baptism of the Spirit, we are made one body—no longer divided by “you” and “me,” but loving one another and living in unity before the Lord as a testimony of the body. Brothers and sisters, after receiving the baptism of the Spirit, when we love one another, the bond we experience is not something human hands can produce. It is the reality of the body of Christ, where the richness of Christ is experienced within His body. The Growth of Faith After a person receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit, something remarkable happens—their faith begins to grow, and it increases significantly. The book of Acts connects great faith with being filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 6:5 says, “Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.”   Acts 11:24 says , “Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”  Wherever the Holy Spirit fills, great faith follows. I am naturally a person prone to doubt and lacking in faith. When I see someone behaving a certain way, I start imagining things; when I see someone else, I begin to suspect something else. Because of this constant guessing and doubting, I often sleep poorly. If I get sick, I rush to the doctor; if my child gets sick, I hurry to find medical help. But over the past six or seven years, as I’ve frequently been filled with the Holy Spirit, faith has come to me in a mysterious way. Not only do I no longer rush to the doctor for myself, but when I see brothers and sisters fall ill, I help them pray—and even lay hands on them in the name of the Lord, praying for healing. It’s not that seeking medical help is wrong, but rather that faith in the Lord has come, and my dependence on Him has grown greatly. Brothers and sisters, this kind of faith is hard to have before receiving the baptism of the Spirit, but it becomes much easier afterward. Being filled with the Holy Spirit results in a great increase in faith. Bringing in the Authority of the Holy Spirit We must highlight an even more important point: after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it becomes easier to maintain spiritual authority—that is, to bring in the authority of the Holy Spirit. The most precious reality in the Church today is Christ as the Head and the Holy Spirit in authority. This is the normal condition of a revived Church. Wherever Christ loses His place as Head and the Holy Spirit loses His authority, the result is inevitable desolation. Only when Christ is truly Lord and Head—sending the Holy Spirit to govern the Church—will the Church be filled with spiritual authority. That is the Church that is revived, strong, and victorious. But for the authority of the Holy Spirit to be established, He must use the baptism of the Spirit to break through all the blockages in the Church. Our flesh is full of personal opinions, methods, ideas, cleverness, pride, arrogance, narrowness, and self-centeredness. We are full of hindrances—how can Christ be Lord in such a condition? On the other hand, wherever the Holy Spirit has His rightful place, that is where Christ reigns. And wherever Christ reigns, His measure is greatest—that is the most spiritual Church. So the key to whether a Church is spiritual lies in whether the Holy Spirit is in authority. If we want to be filled with the Spirit and see His authority established, we must first be broken. Our flesh, natural life, and self must fall—then the Holy Spirit can fill us and take charge. Whether in personal life, church gatherings, ministry, administration, or decision-making, the Holy Spirit must be in authority. When we receive the baptism of the Spirit, it is the breaking of self that brings forth the authority of the Spirit. At Pentecost, about 120 disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and then 3,000 more were filled. They shared all things in common, signs and wonders followed, and the Church was full of the authority of the Spirit. At that time, Ananias and Sapphira tried to deceive the Holy Spirit, and Peter immediately discerned it. Because he was a man governed by the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, and walking in spiritual authority. A spiritual person discerns all things, so Peter rebuked Ananias, who fell down and died on the spot. When his wife Sapphira came in, Peter rebuked her as well, and she also fell at his feet and died. That was a Church full of the authority of the Holy Spirit. Today, we may not see such dramatic events, but in a Spirit-governed Church, any believer who enters with sin will face God’s judgment. Those who serve, if they carry hidden sin in their hearts and enter such a Church, may experience spiritual death—and even physical illness. That is a Church where the Holy Spirit reigns. But the entry point is still the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only then can the Spirit move freely and rule within the Church. May we all receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and bring the authority of the Spirit into the Church. Ushering in Spiritual Revival Isaiah 32:15 says, “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.”   The wilderness, originally a barren land incapable of producing anything to meet human needs, is transformed into a fertile field through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The mention of a fruitful field easily reminds us of what the Lord Jesus said about good soil—yielding fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold—representing the abundant harvest of spiritual life. As for the phrase “the fruitful field is counted as a forest,”  it speaks not of a few scattered trees, but of a flourishing forest. This points to a thriving spiritual life—the fullness of Christ’s life—brought about by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Verse 16 continues: “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.”  Both justice and righteousness refer to Christ, describing the scene of His reigning authority. Every time the Holy Spirit is poured out, it ushers in the kingship of Christ. This is the unchanging principle of spiritual revival in the Church. Verse 17 adds: “ The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”  This reveals that when Christ reigns, He brings peace and stability—unshaken, secure, and victorious. These are all depictions of spiritual revival, brought forth through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May the ascended Christ pour out His Spirit abundantly upon God’s people, that the Church may experience an unprecedented revival. <-- Back Next Chapter -->

Bible Reading: Matthew 3:11 — "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Luke 24:49 — "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Acts 1:6-14 — “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, 'Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.' Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer [c]and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Acts 2:1-4 — "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:17-18— "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy." Acts 2:39-42 — "'For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." The Lord’s Promise of Revival in All the Earth In the New Testament, the Lord promised that He would bring revival to the whole earth. This call to revival originates from the throne in heaven. It is the will of the Lord, fulfilled through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture we just read shows that when John the Baptist came to testify about Jesus, many people came to be baptized by him. He testified, saying: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) John baptized with water, but Jesus Christ came to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire—this is the promised driving force of revival. Then, the Lord Jesus truly came. Before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, He could not yet send the Holy Spirit, because He had not yet been glorified. So while He was on earth, He preached, healed the sick, cast out demons, and fulfilled God’s will. Finally, He completed redemption on the cross. After His resurrection, when He gathered with His disciples, they asked, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” The disciples were thinking of a revival of the earthly kingdom of Israel. But Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This means that what matters most in the Lord’s heart is not the restoration of an earthly Israel, but the revival of a spiritual, heavenly Israel—a global revival that begins in Jerusalem, spreads through Judea and Samaria, and reaches the ends of the earth. This worldwide revival does not depend on human talent, strength, or strategy. It requires waiting in Jerusalem for power from above—the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only then can the testimony of Jesus Christ spread from Jerusalem to all nations. In other words, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He ignites the fire of revival. That burning Spirit starts in Jerusalem and spreads widely—through Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The fire of Pentecost was the spark that ignited the revival in all the earth. This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost, just as the prophet Joel foretold: “God says, in the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.” This is the prophecy of global revival. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost Is the True Essence of Revival Fire Regarding the fire of Pentecost, let us offer further explanation. In the past six messages, we’ve looked at six instances of revival fire in the Old Testament—all of which were symbolic. Whether it was the fire before the Tabernacle, the fire on the rock at Ophrah, the flame on the rock at Zorah, the fire on Araunah’s threshing floor, the fire before the Temple, or the fire on Mount Carmel—each one was a foreshadowing of revival fire, representing the work of the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t until the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were gathered together, that “tongues as of fire appeared and rested on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” This was the true manifestation of revival fire—the Holy Spirit Himself descending and filling the disciples. From that moment, the revival of the whole earth began. The Fire of Pentecost Ignited the Revival of the Whole Church We know that ever since humanity’s fall, the whole earth has been under God’s curse and judgment. Yet through Christ’s redemption, humanity received a great salvation—not only restoring fellowship with God, but also becoming witnesses of Christ. Ultimately, Christ, the captain of our salvation, will lead many sons into glory (Hebrews 2:10). This salvation truly came upon humanity beginning at Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, it sparked a full revival. The once timid and retreating disciples rose up to become bold witnesses of Christ. Peter, along with the eleven apostles, stood up to preach, and that very day, three thousand people were baptized. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. They shared all things in common and were united in heart and mind. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. This was the beginning of the church-wide revival—the starting point of global revival. Beholding the Ascended Christ In Acts chapter 1, the Lord Jesus first said to His disciples: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8) After saying this, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. What follows is a significant detail we must pay close attention to: as Jesus ascended, His disciples were "look steadfastly"  into heaven. While Jesus was rising, their eyes remained fixed on Him—they were focused on the ascending Christ. “Look steadfastly” means "focus", it implies deep, unwavering attention. They kept their eyes on Jesus until He was no longer visible. After Peter beheld the ascended Christ, he was filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In his first message, he declared: "This Jesus whom you crucified, God has made Him both Lord and Christ."   (Acts 2:36) Peter saw that Jesus, a descendant of David, was to sit on the throne (Acts 2:30). His ascension was His enthronement in heaven. Peter saw it, and so did the other disciples. After seeing this vision of the ascended Christ, they returned to Jerusalem and prayed. This vision gripped them. Through prayer, they received the promised Holy Spirit and were powerfully revived. Dear brothers and sisters, if we want to receive the Holy Spirit of Pentecost and the fire of revival—burning continually and growing stronger—we must keep our eyes fixed on the ascended Christ. Our hearts must be directed toward the heavenly throne. Whenever our hearts turn toward the throne, the Holy Spirit is poured out and fills us wherever we are. Sometimes while preaching, I find myself drawn inwardly to the heavenly throne, and as I speak, the Holy Spirit is poured out. Each of us can be filled with the Spirit at any time. I used to have misconceptions, thinking that being filled with the Spirit meant falling to the ground, shouting, crying, or laughing. Yes, those manifestations often happen when the Spirit first fills us, as He breaks down our natural selves. But not every filling must look that way. The more mature we become, the more steady it appears. Living in the Spirit daily becomes as natural as breathing. If falling or crying were the only signs of being filled, then according to Paul’s command to “be filled with the Spirit,”  we’d hardly be able to function. Right? So being filled with the Spirit is a normal, everyday experience for a believer. Brothers and sisters, the most basic attitude and intention for receiving the Holy Spirit is this: He alone is Lord, He alone is King. When our hearts are turned toward the throne, the Spirit is poured down and we are filled. Over the past six or seven years, I’ve often prayed, and sometimes during prayer, the Spirit poured out powerfully. Other times, feeling weak, I’ve prayed earnestly for filling—kneeling for long periods, praying fervently—but the Spirit didn’t come. Even after days or weeks of prayer, still no filling. Strangely, sometimes when I wasn’t even asking, the Spirit was poured out abundantly—bringing release, freedom, peace, and joy. Why? What’s the key? What's the problem? Is it confession? Repentance? Fervency? No. Through years of failure and the Lord’s leading, I’ve come to see: the key is a heart fully turned toward the throne—He is the Lord, He is the King. When we behold Christ on the throne, in that very moment, the Spirit is poured out strongly—filling us from within and overflowing with His fullness. This is the most essential truth: when the Lord truly takes the throne in our lives and reigns as King, the Holy Spirit fills us. So in Acts chapter 2, when Peter explained the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, he said :"Being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you now see and hear." This means that when Jesus was exalted to glory, honor, and authority—enthroned at the right hand of God—the Holy Spirit was poured out. Just as Revelation 22:1 says: " The river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb." Whenever our hearts turn toward the throne of the Lamb, when He reigns as King, the river of life flows among us. So what does it mean to experience Christ enthroned? From our side, when our spiritual condition shows the following two signs, it means the Lord has taken His throne in us. Praising First Sign Is Praising. When the eyes of a person’s heart are opened by the Holy Spirit to behold the ascended Christ—or when the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us—we naturally begin to praise: praising the Lord’s victory, His glory, His virtues, His supremacy, and more. In such moments of praise, He is enthroned. As the Psalms say, “Our God is enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”   (Psalm 22:3) The name “Israel” means “one who has wrestled with God and prevailed,” signifying victory, kingship, and authority. When we stand on the spiritual mountaintop of victory and begin to praise, the throne of the Lord appears. In other words, when our spirit worships and praises because we’ve seen the greatness, beauty, and triumph of the Lord—He is enthroned, reigning in glory. And as a result, the Holy Spirit is poured down from Him. A few of us coworkers often pray together in the mornings. Many times, as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see the Lord, we burst into joyful singing: “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” And when we truly praise the Lord from deep within our spirit, the Holy Spirit is poured out, and we are all filled with His presence. Hallelujah! Falling Prostrate Another sign is that our fleshly self falls prostrate—this too is an experience of the Lord reigning from His throne. When the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord, Scripture records: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne... Then I said, 'Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'" Whenever we cry out, “Woe is me! I am ruined,” recognizing that our fleshly nature deserves death, that our old self has no cure but death—and we fall face down before Him—that is when the Lord is truly seated on His high throne. So when we are enlightened, humbled, clothed in sackcloth and ashes, broken and repentant, those are often the moments when the Holy Spirit is poured out and fills us—that is the Lord reigning from His throne. Over the past few years, we’ve often experienced the Lord’s throne in these two ways: Sometimes through humble prayer, confession, repentance, and falling prostrate before Him. Other times, the opposite—overflowing with praise as we behold His faithfulness, love, mercy, victory, glory, and majesty. Especially during prayer meetings or breaking of bread, when true worship and praise arise from the spirit, we often experience the Holy Spirit being poured out continuously—here a wave, there a wave—not chaotic, but orderly and rhythmic, wave after wave of being filled with the Spirit. Praise the Lord! When this kind of Spirit-filled work appears in the congregation, many brothers and sisters are filled with joyful laughter, shouts of praise, and songs of hallelujah. These are the results of our hearts turned toward the throne. Brothers and sisters, at Pentecost, the disciples were baptized in the Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit. They received power and their hearts burned with passion—because their hearts were turned toward the throne. Likewise, when our hearts are drawn to the throne, that is the prelude to being filled with the Spirit. Of course, some fillings are intense—like when D.L. Moody was filled, he had to quickly find a place to hide because he couldn’t bear it and had to ask the Lord to stop. But sometimes, when God brings sweet and deep communion, the Spirit fills us in a gentle, tender, and loving way. Either way, this fire of revival comes from above. To usher in revival on earth, we must receive it. Many of us already have, but some have not yet. This morning, may the Lord be gracious to us—may our hearts turn toward the throne, so that the Holy Spirit may fill us too. Obeying the Lord At that time, the disciples not only witnessed Jesus’ ascension, but they also followed His command to return to Jerusalem. Just as the Lord instructed, they obeyed—this is what it means to obey the Lord. Brothers and sisters, if you desire to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, you must continually obey the Lord. Acts chapter 5 records Peter standing up to deliver a powerful message. In that message, he said: “The Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”  (Acts 5:32) This means that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him, because the Spirit is also called “the Holy Spirit given to those who obey.”  Therefore, obedience is essential to receiving the Spirit. We’ve often spoken of fire descending upon the burnt offering. A burnt offering represents the surrender of self to God—no personal choices, but submission to the Lord’s will and arrangement. This is obedience. And with such unconditional obedience, the fire naturally comes down. The more we obey the Lord and the Holy Spirit, the more we are filled with the Spirit. John said: “God gives the Spirit without limit.”  (John 3:34) This is a lifelong, inexhaustible experience—an endless filling. It’s like placing an empty bottle into the ocean. The amount of water inside the bottle is limited. But if both ends of the bottle are opened, the ocean’s water can flow through it continuously, from beginning to end of the year. If we receive the promised Holy Spirit by faith according to the Lord’s word, and rivers of living water flow from within us—letting the Spirit flow outward—it’s like both ends of the bottle being opened: water flows in from one end and out the other, endlessly. There was a sister who saw some Spirit-filled gatherings that were noisy and not quiet, and she strongly disapproved. As a result, she developed prejudice against the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Later, through God’s Word, she gradually discovered not only the reality of the Spirit’s outpouring but also the importance of being filled with the Spirit. She began to long for the Spirit’s filling and outpouring. She prayed to the Lord, expressing her willingness to receive the Spirit’s outpouring and filling—but she didn’t receive it. The reason was that she only wanted a quiet, calm experience that suited her preferences. She was unwilling to accept any expressions she considered embarrassing. Eventually, she was enlightened and realized that she had made her own choices about how the Spirit should come—she had not fully surrendered to let the Lord lead freely. So she offered herself to the Lord again, saying: “Lord, even if You want me to cry or laugh loudly, or fall to the ground—I am willing.” Because of this obedience, the Holy Spirit was poured out and filled her. In the end, she didn’t cry or laugh loudly, nor did she fall to the ground—but she received the Spirit’s outpouring, was filled, and spoke in tongues. Praise the Lord! A Heavenly and Transcendent Position When the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they went up to the upper room where they were staying to pray. The spiritual meaning of “going up to the upper room” speaks of standing in a heavenly and transcendent position—separated from sin, immorality, and the evil of this world, as well as from earthly customs, habits, impurity, entanglements, worries, and burdens. It is a realm of heavenly elevation and spiritual detachment. In such a state, the fire of Pentecostal revival can remain among us continually. But whenever sin enters, the Holy Spirit withdraws. Whenever the world or impurity creeps in, the Spirit departs. Because the Holy Spirit is holy, even when burdens, worries, or entanglements come in, He quietly leaves. He is as sensitive as a dove—any slight disturbance, and He flies away. You might ask, “Then should we stop doing anything?” Not at all. Outwardly, we still fulfill our duties—whether soldier, farmer, worker, merchant, man, woman, young or old—each in their own role. But inwardly, our spirit remains connected to heaven, constantly communing with the Lord through the Holy Spirit, living in the ascended life, and maintaining that transcendent, heavenly position. In this way, the fire of revival will not be extinguished, but will continue to burn within us with lasting intensity. Today, the reason we don’t see the fire of the Holy Spirit in the church is because the church has allowed sin to enter. Many believers, though baptized, live no differently from unbelievers. Even more troubling is when the church aligns itself with the world, losing its sanctified essence. No wonder revival is hindered and the power of the Holy Spirit is not evident. A Harmonious Spirit The disciples were all “of one accord,” which speaks of a harmonious spirit. Whether in a church, a family, or even within an individual, whenever the spirit is not in harmony, the work of the Holy Spirit immediately stops. At that time, the disciples were united in heart and spirit, and the fire of revival burned among them. Brothers and sisters, being blamed by others is a small matter; what matters is that you always maintain the unity of spirit given by the Holy Spirit toward others. We are not here to please people, but to please God. In daily life, it’s inevitable that we may offend or hurt others, or be misunderstood or opposed. But we must be careful to remain in harmony with others. If you truly have wronged someone, you should confess and reconcile with them. Our spirits must be in harmony with both God and man, without any barriers. Over the past few years, the Lord has taught me much in this area. Sometimes I’ve seen meetings filled with the Lord’s presence, and other times I’ve noticed the Spirit not moving, and the sense of His presence gradually fading. We know the Lord’s presence is tied to the movement of the Holy Spirit. In a preaching meeting, the Spirit finds a speaker as His vessel; in a prayer meeting, He finds someone to pray; in a fellowship meeting, He finds someone to share His word. The Spirit must be able to move freely in the gathering, finding an outlet to express His will—then the Lord’s presence is there. So remember: whenever our spirits are out of harmony, the Holy Spirit cannot flow and becomes blocked, and naturally, the Lord’s presence is lost. Sometimes in a meeting, the Lord’s presence suddenly disappears, and it feels as if the whole gathering has fallen from heaven to earth. Though there may be songs, testimonies, messages, fellowship, and prayer, inwardly we know the Lord’s presence is gone. The next morning, the coworkers kneel together to ask the Lord: “Where is the blockage? What is hindering the Spirit?” Gradually, it becomes clear—perhaps a brother and another brother, or a sister and another sister, are not reconciled. The Spirit is blocked in the meeting. So we kneel and pray for them—fervent, persistent prayer. The Lord hears, the issue is resolved, and His presence returns. Sometimes after prayer, we ourselves are enlightened and realize that among coworkers, there has been a lack of harmony, mutual support, and care. Thank the Lord—He gives us grace to confess to one another, and our spirits are reconciled. Then the Lord’s presence returns. Because of His mercy, He gives us a united heart, and our spirits are in harmony. The Holy Spirit can move freely again, bringing the fire of the Spirit, and the church moves forward. This shows that to maintain the fire of Pentecost, unity and a harmonious spirit are absolutely essential. Emptied by the Lord The disciples were in the upper room in Jerusalem, with one accord and devoted themselves in prayer. This devoted prayer speaks of their endurance and fervent intercession. Because they spent sufficient time pouring out their hearts before the Lord, they received much enlightenment and were emptied by the Lord. The more they were emptied, the more they were filled with the Holy Spirit. So the more a person is emptied, the more the Spirit fills them. The story of the widow in 2 Kings chapter 4 illustrates this: the more empty jars she borrowed, the more oil was poured into them—until there were no more jars, and the oil stopped flowing. Likewise, the more we are emptied, the more the Holy Spirit fills us—until we overflow. We cannot empty ourselves by our own strength. But wonderfully, when the Holy Spirit moves us to pray earnestly, we receive light and naturally begin to empty ourselves—through repentance, confession, renouncing the world, and judging the flesh. In this way, we are emptied by the Lord. In the ten days leading up to Pentecost, the disciples prayed continuously—morning, afternoon, and evening, without ceasing. What could have kept them praying so persistently? I believe much of their time in prayer was spent receiving divine light, humbling themselves, and continually emptying themselves. And finally, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and they were filled. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost After the disciples received the spiritual preparation described in Acts chapter 1, chapter 2 begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and the result was a great revival. Peter, who had once cursed and sworn to deny Jesus when He was arrested—and who returned to fishing after Jesus’ death—was a broken man and a total failure, seemingly unfit to bear witness. But when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, tongues like flames of fire appeared and rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and became bold, standing up to preach. That very day, three thousand people repented and were baptized. This was the work of the Holy Spirit—a clear demonstration of His power. That power encompasses many dimensions: the authority of the Kingdom, the strength to deny oneself, the cost of bearing the cross, the power to obey, and much more. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit and great faith, spoke with wisdom and the Spirit. Even at the moment of martyrdom, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prayed for his enemies. His ability to die as a witness for Jesus Christ came from seeing the ascended Son of Man and a result of beig filled with the Spirit. Dear brothers and sisters, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost ushered in a glorious revival. The baptism of three thousand people revealed the unprecedented work of the Spirit. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer—these were tangible expressions of revival. The apostles performed many signs and wonders. They shared all things in common, met daily in unity, and broke bread both in the temple and in their homes, eating with glad and sincere hearts. This was the fire of revival from the Holy Spirit, melting and bonding them together to live out the fullness of Christ’s testimony. Among them was the reality of God’s family—loving one another—and the number of those being saved increased daily. All of this was the glorious revival brought by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Revival Fire That Burns Across the Earth Not only was this revival for Jerusalem—it was meant for the whole earth. According to the Lord’s promise, as the church faced persecution, the disciples were scattered throughout Judea, preaching the gospel (Acts 8:4), and the fire of revival spread with them. On another front, the Lord sent Philip to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. The Pentecostal fire of the Holy Spirit followed him, and signs and wonders accompanied his ministry. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully, and the entire city was filled with great joy (Acts 8:5–8). Philip then preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, a servant of the queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26–38), and the gospel reached North Africa. The flames of revival grew stronger, spreading far beyond Israel to the Gentiles. Peter later brought the message of salvation to Cornelius’ household in Caesarea, and the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He had at Pentecost (Acts 10:44–48). The fire of revival had reached the Gentiles. Then Paul was raised up. When he was called and saved, the Lord sent Ananias to lay hands on him so that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). The fire of revival ignited in him as well. Controlled by the vision of Christ on the throne and covered by the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul was consumed by the fire of revival and carried it throughout Asia, bringing spiritual awakening and establishing churches across the region. Even now, this fire of revival continues to spread—growing stronger and more widespread. From Jerusalem, to all Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth—it burns! Burns! Burns! Until the whole earth becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. Hallelujah! <-- Back Part 2 -->

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-4— "And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, 'Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.' So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)" 1 Kings 18:16-24— "So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah. Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, 'Is that you, O troubler of Israel?' And he answered, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.' So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered him not a word.Then Elijah said to the people, 'I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.' So all the people answered and said, 'It is well spoken.'" 1 Kings 18:30-40— "Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come near to me.' So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, 'Israel shall be your name.' Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, 'Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.' Then he said, 'Do it a second time,' and they did it a second time; and he said, 'Do it a third time,' and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.' Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!' And Elijah said to them, 'Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!' So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there." Torn Between Two Hearts When Solomon ascended the throne, the fire before the temple ignited a revival in Israel, an unprecedented spiritual awakening. Not only did the glory of the Lord fill the temple, but the king and all the people rejoiced in their hearts at all the goodness the Lord had shown. It could be said that the revival had reached its peak. Sadly, in Solomon’s later years, he turned away from the commandments of the Lord. Seduced by his foreign wives, he followed other gods, and the flame of revival dimmed from blazing to flickering. After Solomon’s death, through several generations, by the time Ahab became king of Israel, the fire of revival had been extinguished—only ashes remained, a mournful remnant. The situation had become dark and terrifying. From the king down to the common people, all had fallen into a state of spiritual desolation and unimaginable decline. Forsaking the Word of God From the time of King Ahab, nearly all the people of Israel had “forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.”  (1 Kings 18:18) Just like in today’s generation, many of God’s people do not fully believe in His Word. Even among us here, brothers and sisters, it’s likely that most do not wholly trust the Word of God. For if we truly believed the Scriptures, our lives would be transformed and bear different fruit. Nowadays, many believers are indistinguishable from unbelievers. Numerous Christian communities have long ceased serving God according to His Word. In fact, they often follow human opinions and traditions more than they obey the commands of God. Setting Up Idols Moreover, they “followed Baal” (1 Kings 18:18), with 450 prophets serving Baal and another 400 prophets of Asherah supported by Queen Jezebel—setting up idols apart from the Lord. This illustrates how God's people were no longer wholeheartedly relying on, loving, or serving the Lord. Instead, they secretly placed their trust, affection, and devotion in money, talent, power, and other people or things outside of God. At that time, God's people were already “wavering between two opinions” (1 Kings 18:21), no longer fully committed to following the Lord. Hidden Testimony This passage also speaks of some sorrowful realities. Many prophets were killed, and although a hundred prophets of the Lord remained, they were hidden away. In other words, the visible testimony had been lost—only a hidden witness remained. Even the seven thousand whom the Lord preserved for His name were merely passive, having not bowed to Baal, but also not actively bearing witness for the Lord. I’m not saying there are no Christians in this generation, but the testimony of Christ is neither strong nor radiant. Beyond the majority of believers being unfaithful and disloyal to the Lord, even the few who love Him fail to live out a bright and bold testimony. These conditions reveal how God’s people have become double-minded and have fallen from a state of revival. The Restoration of Revival But our God is a God of action. The fire on Mount Carmel clearly reveals His desire to revive His ministry, His works, and His people. In the same way, God intends to restore His work in this present age. There are several key points about the restoration of revival that we need to understand. God Initiates First and foremost, we must clearly understand that the work of revival is initiated by God—it is not something that can be achieved through human effort or striving. Though this point has been mentioned before, it bears repeating because of its great importance. Revival is always God's initiative. In 1 Kings 18:1, it says: “The word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.’”  It was the Lord who sent Elijah; Elijah did not volunteer himself to do God's work. He was in hiding, helpless and in refuge, when the Lord came to seek him, call him, and speak to him: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” At that time, the land had suffered a long drought and famine, under the judgment and wrath of God. Now, God was rising to restore His own work. Who initiated this? It was God. So to be honest, although we care about the church, the Lord cares even more. Though we long for revival, the Lord longs for it even more. It was the word of the Lord that came to Elijah; it was God who called him, who sent him, and who actively stepped forward to restore His work of revival. This is the first truth we must recognize. God’s Timing Another crucial point to understand is that the work of revival comes according to God’s timing. In 1 Kings 18:1, it says, “After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah.”  The phrase “after a long time” shows that revival requires patience and waiting. We all long for a great revival to sweep across the earth today—and surely the Lord will act, and He desires to do so. But here it says, “after a long time,” reminding us that we must patiently wait for the Lord’s appointed time. Sometimes we hope our children will love the Lord, our parents will receive grace, and our brothers and sisters will serve the Lord with fervent hearts. Yet they may not respond as we wish. As a result, we become discouraged, thinking the Lord doesn’t hear our prayers and that there’s no hope. But do not lose heart. “After a long time” means we must endure to the end and keep waiting—revival will come. God’s word specifically mentions “the third year.” The number three represents the Triune God, so “the third year” symbolizes God’s appointed time. When His time arrives, revival breaks forth. Scripture says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to heal, a time to tear down, and a time to build”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3). Everything has its appointed time. Once God’s time comes, revival will arrive. Though we speak of the fire of revival, the authority rests entirely in the Lord’s hands. He initiates revival Himself, and it comes according to His timing. Talent, Power, and Methods Cannot Bring Revival We see how the Lord used Elijah—and likewise, He desires to use us. But before He does, He wants us to deeply understand and clearly recognize that human talent, influence, and strategies are of no use in the sacred work of revival. At that time, there was a man named Obadiah, the steward of King Ahab’s household. He feared the Lord and even hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets. He had ability and authority, yet he could not bring about revival. At most, he secretly honored the Lord and protected His prophets from harm—but Obadiah did not usher in revival. Furthermore, although there were a hundred prophets of the Lord, which is not a small number, they too could not bring revival. Even when adding the seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal, they had no part, no connection, and no remembrance in the revival. This shows that human talent, power, and all human methods are incapable of initiating revival. The only key to revival lies entirely in the fire on Mount Carmel. The Fire on Mount Carmel Rekindled the People’s Faith That day, fire fell from heaven onto Mount Carmel! When the people saw it, they fell facedown and cried, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” The people all abandoned Baal and turned back to the Lord. Revival broke out among them! This shows that only the fire on Mount Carmel—symbolizing the Holy Spirit—can bring true revival. That’s why Zechariah 4:6 says, “'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts." It wasn’t through Obadiah, nor through the hundred prophets, nor through the seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal in secret. It was through the fire from heaven on Mount Carmel. Not by might or power, not by chariots or horses, not by strategies or wisdom…but by the fire from heaven—the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit—can the work of revival be accomplished. So now, let us examine how the fire on Mount Carmel came down. We’ll highlight a few key points. Rebuilding the Broken Altar of the Lord The first thing Elijah did was to rebuild the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. We know that the altar symbolizes the cross of Christ. In terms of spiritual experience, we can explore this from three key aspects: The Power of the Precious Blood The first aspect of rebuilding the altar is the restoration of the power of Christ’s precious blood. It’s not that the blood of Christ has lost its effectiveness, but rather that our consciences have become numb and unresponsive. Now we must rise up, receive the Lord’s illumination, and seek cleansing through His blood. As 1 John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light… the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” This is the foundation of God’s work of restoration—do not take it lightly, and certainly do not neglect it. Renewed Dedication The second aspect of this spiritual experience is renewed dedication. The altar has been torn down, symbolizing the loss of a life truly consecrated to the Lord. Before the altar is rebuilt, we cannot expect the fire from Mount Carmel to descend. Though we may have dedicated ourselves in the past and once had an altar, that altar is now broken, and we are no longer living a life of dedication. In truth, our daily living has lost its essence of consecration. The altar is destroyed and invisible—only a faint trace remains. Therefore, today we must rededicate ourselves and rebuild the broken altar. That’s why, during this mountain gathering, we must all renew our dedication! Scripture specifically records: “Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob.” The twelve stones represent the twelve tribes, meaning the altar must be built by all of God’s people—every brother and sister restored to a life of dedication. During yesterday afternoon’s group prayer, we said that if any brother or sister had not yet dedicated themselves, we should help them pray. That’s because the altar cannot be built with eight, nine, ten, or even eleven stones—it must be twelve. In God’s eyes, He desires full dedication from all of us. Each person must offer themselves, forming a complete altar, rebuilding what was broken, so that the fire from Mount Carmel may descend. Moreover, it says “the tribes of Jacob,” not “the tribes of Israel.” The name Jacob refers to our corrupt, selfish, and deceitful nature. So building the altar with the twelve tribes of Jacob means offering ourselves to God just as we are—flawed and broken—not waiting until we’re “fixed” to dedicate ourselves. So dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you has not yet dedicated your life to God, seize this opportunity to offer yourself. Join with the saints as twelve stones to rebuild the altar, so that God may send down His holy fire from Mount Carmel! Putting the Self-Life to Death The third aspect of rebuilding the altar is the experience of putting the self-life to death. The altar is not built merely as a model to be displayed—it is meant for the calf to be slaughtered, placed upon it, cut into pieces, and burned to ashes. This represents the deeper work of the cross. Brothers and sisters, in terms of experience, we are all offerings. The first step is to slaughter the sacrifice. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Killing the sacrifice (the calf) signifies our experience of dying with Christ on the cross. We thank the Lord Jesus that when He died on the cross, He not only bore our sins and shed His precious blood to cleanse us, but He also crucified our old self with Him. This is a glorious truth—praise the Lord! The calf has already been slain; we have already been crucified with Christ. But God’s Word doesn’t stop at the slaughter—it also requires the calf to be “cut into pieces”. The slain calf must be cut into parts and placed on the wood. This signifies the deeper work of the cross. In terms of truth, we have already been crucified with Christ. But in terms of daily experience, we must be cut into pieces every day—meaning we must put the self-life to death daily. The apostle Paul said in Romans 8:13, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” This is what it means. In truth, you and I have already been crucified—that’s recorded in Romans chapter 6. But in daily experience, the work of the cross deepens continually. It must work in us every day to put the self-life to death. This is the daily cutting into pieces—cutting one piece today, another tomorrow, and another the day after. Keep cutting: the chest, the abdomen, the waist, the legs, the hands, the feet—until every part of the body is cut into pieces. Today, the Holy Spirit comes with the cross of Jesus within us, working daily to put the self-life to death. This is what Romans chapter 8 refers to: “by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body.” We must remember that the Holy Spirit within us today carries the cross and is constantly working to put our self-life to death. In Galatians 3:1, Paul says, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” This revelation comes from the Holy Spirit—it is the Spirit who opens our eyes and brings us into the experience of the cross. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit carries out the work of putting our soul-life to death daily. He deals with our self-centered nature, putting it to death day by day, cutting it into pieces day by day. Therefore, we must remain in constant fellowship with the Lord, obey the Spirit, and live in the Spirit. When we do, our old nature and flesh will naturally be stripped away, because the Spirit brings the death of the cross into us and works daily to put our self-life to death. Dear brothers and sisters, the more you pray and commune deeply with the Lord, the more you’ll find your old nature falling away. Sometimes, while enjoying sweet fellowship with the Lord, you’ll notice that situations which would normally provoke anger no longer do. Because the Holy Spirit, through the cross, has dealt with your flesh. Your new self, your spirit, is released. As Paul says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” That day becomes a victorious one. But if you don’t draw near to the Lord, your flesh will take over. Because the Spirit has no place in you and cannot carry out the crucifying work. So I urge you to live daily in the Spirit and allow Him to put your old self to death. Then the powerful effect of the cross will be revealed in you. There is also another deeper aspect of the cross, as described in 2 Corinthians 4:10–11: “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body.” This means we constantly bear the death of Jesus in our bodies. The Lord often places us in situations of death. God arranges environments perfectly suited to us so that our fleshly nature must die. He knows exactly what we need and orchestrates it to bring us to the place of death. So that we carry the death of Jesus and His life may be revealed in us. For example, many young believers love freedom and dislike restrictions. They want to act as they please. Yet the Lord may arrange for them to have strict parents—stricter than most. While other parents may give their children freedom, yours may monitor everything: your studies, your friendships, your activities. You may feel annoyed and resent their interference. But God uses your parents to place your reckless nature into death, so you can no longer act freely. Eventually, you submit and accept the discipline, and your “arbitrary self” dies. This is what it means to carry the death of Jesus and be handed over to death for His sake. It’s the deeper work of the cross. We must humbly accept every person, situation, and environment that God uses to put our self-life to death. This is the deeper experience of cutting the calf into pieces. There was a sister with several children. Her eldest was obedient, but her second son was bright and academically successful, so she favored him. Yet he was disobedient. The more she hoped in him, the more God disappointed her. Eventually, he became passionate about dancing, and she couldn’t control him. God reminded her that she loved her son more than she loved the Lord. So she surrendered him to God. Miraculously, her son stopped dancing. God truly works—wherever death is needed, He raises up the environment to bring our self-life to death. If you are a proud person, the Lord will use circumstances to bring you failure so that you must become humble. If you love money as your life, God will raise up situations that make you weary of wealth. If you love your family above all else, God will cause you to be disappointed in your family. If you cherish vanity and reputation, God will ensure you are humilated and shamed. I used to be someone who always had ideas—quick to speak and full of opinions. But by the Lord’s mercy, over the past six or seven years, He has placed me under His throne’s control, teaching me to live a life of surrender. Now I hardly dare to assert my own ideas anymore—this is the Lord’s work. In recent years, whenever I insisted on my own plans, the results were often wrong and ended in failure. For example, I once insisted that the church should immediately begin evangelizing, and everyone followed—but the Lord did not confirm it. I had to admit my mistake and ask for His forgiveness. Time and again, anything born of my own opinion led to failure. Gradually, I stopped daring to assert myself. The Lord uses many sacrifices, many methods, and many circumstances to work in us—putting us to death, cutting us into pieces—until we unconditionally bow before Him. This is the deeper meaning of the altar experience. Remember, in the Old Testament, the most intense fire from heaven came in this context. On Mount Carmel, when the fire fell, it consumed not only the burnt offering but also the wood, stones, dust—even the water in the trench was dried up. This symbolizes the most powerful and thorough work of the Holy Spirit. If we want the fire of Mount Carmel—the most intense and penetrating work of the Spirit — we must go through the experience of the cross. The deeper our experience of the cross, the stronger the fire falls, and the more powerful and evident the Spirit’s work becomes. If we only accept a little of the cross, then the fire will only be a little. This is a reciprocal relationship. First comes the experience of the cross at Golgotha, then the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Elisha had the same pattern—only after crossing the Jordan did he receive the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. The widow first prepared empty vessels, and then the oil was poured into them. All of this shows that we must first go through a deeper experience of the cross before we can receive greater revival fire and stronger work of the Spirit. In the Old Testament, the holy anointing oil could not be poured on flesh. If our flesh has not been cut off and put to death by the cross, the fire will not fall powerfully, and the Holy Spirit will not work deeply in us. So you cannot be full of flesh and still pray, “Lord, pour out Your Spirit on me, fill me, I want to dedicate myself to You, use me.” That prayer cannot be answered. You must first deeply accept the cross’s work of putting the flesh to death—then the Holy Spirit can work powerfully and use you. Galatians 5:19–21 says, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” Look at all these things—if the Holy Spirit shines deeply into our motives, thoughts, actions, and conduct, we will see that we are full of flesh. How much we need the cross to cut and put to death our flesh—then the work of the Spirit and the fire of revival will come upon us in great measure. The Testimony of Faith Elijah not only cut the bull into pieces and laid them on the wood, but he went further by digging a trench around the altar and pouring twelve jars of water over the burnt offering and the wood. The water flowed around the altar and filled the trench. This was an act of faith—a testimony of faith. He believed that God would send fire from heaven to consume the soaking-wet sacrifice and turn it to ashes. This was a powerful demonstration of great faith. Brothers and sisters, the fire on Mount Carmel is always tied to the foundation of great faith. Scripture clearly shows us that we “receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14). The outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit comes on the basis of faith. By faith, the Spirit is poured out and fills us. The work of the Holy Spirit is always revealed through human faith. That’s why Jesus Himself said, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40). For the fire of revival to fall on Mount Carmel, there must be vessels of faith and testimonies of faith on earth—this is God’s principle of operation. Brothers and sisters, you and I must be witnesses of faith. The apostle told the Hebrew believers, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2). Because when you look at Jesus, faith arises. We ourselves have no faith—we are like mirrors facing the sun. A mirror has no sunlight in itself, but when it turns toward the sun, the sun enters the mirror. Likewise, we have no faith in ourselves, but Jesus is the source of faith. When we fix our eyes on Him, faith enters us immediately. So we must look to Jesus, continually gaze upon Him, and our faith will increase. If you look to other people, things, or circumstances, your faith will collapse. If Elijah had focused on the prophets of Baal—who danced wildly, shouted frantically, even cut themselves with swords and spears until they bled, yet saw no fire fall—his faith might have wavered. But he trusted in God. He knew God. He looked to God alone. He was a great witness of faith, and that’s why the fire of revival fell on Mount Carmel. Fervent Prayer Born of Faith from Knowing the Living God Then Elijah prayed. He said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel!” He knew the Lord he believed in was the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel” (Matthew 22:32)—the God of the living, the God who reveals Himself through faith. He recognized God as eternal, almighty, and fully responsible. Because he knew God, he offered a prayer of faith. Brothers and sisters, God is the God of the living, not of the dead. The “living” refers to those of us who live by faith. In other words, God reveals Himself as God through our faith. Elijah’s prayer to the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel” was a declaration of faith—and the Lord responded by sending fire from heaven. Brothers and sisters, when we pray in faith, the Holy Spirit is poured out. We know the Spirit most readily descends when we praise the Lord, because praise is the expression of victorious faith. When faith reaches its peak, it becomes praises—and then the fire of the Spirit falls. Elijah’s prayer was not only one of victorious faith, but also of deep fervency. He cried out, “O Lord, answer me! Answer me, so that these people will know that You, O Lord, are God.” He repeated “hear me” twice—showing the urgency and sincerity of his plea. James writes, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly” (James 5:17). Elijah prayed with faith and fervency, and immediately the fire fell on Mount Carmel. Likewise, at Pentecost, the fire of the Holy Spirit came down as a result of persistent prayer. The Holy Spirit Comes to Bear Witness to Jesus When the people saw the holy fire fall on Mount Carmel, they fell facedown and cried out, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” There was no other god. Just as the fire on Mount Carmel testified to the Lord, so too the coming of the Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus Christ. In His farewell discourse, the Lord Jesus said, “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” (John 15:26). The primary purpose of the Holy Spirit’s coming is to testify of Jesus. Whether the Spirit is poured out upon us, fills us, or works in various ways, His ultimate goal is to bear witness to Jesus. And when the people declared, “The Lord—He is God,” it meant that when the Spirit moves, God’s people are revived and return to the Lord, becoming witnesses of Jesus Christ. The Spirit’s work always draws us into the testimony of Jesus—that He alone is Lord, and Christ alone is King. Therefore, before the fire fell on Mount Carmel, even though we could preach extensively about Jesus, it had little effect. Only when the Holy Spirit comes and bears witness to Jesus as the Christ—causing people to see, believe in, and worship the Lord Jesus—does He receive glory and take His rightful place as first in all things. Dear brothers and sisters, let us not disobey the vision, we should bear witness to the Lord Jesus, by then we may bring in the work of the Spirit as represented by the fire on Mount Carmel. Only then can we truly testify of Jesus Christ. The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil. Because fire came down on Mount Carmel, all the people cried out, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” The Lord revealed Himself through fire, and as a result, all the prophets of Baal were destroyed. This signifies the coming and working of the Holy Spirit—Christ revealed through the Spirit—leading to the collapse of Satan’s power. For “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) When the Holy Spirit works, He testifies of Christ, and the works of the devil are torn down. The whole church is revived. May the Lord raise up more people in this generation to bring forth the fire of Mount Carmel! <-- Back Next Chapter -->

Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 5:1, 6— "So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings. And he put them in the treasuries of the house of God." "Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude." 2 Chronicles 5:13-14— "the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: 'For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,', the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God." 2 Chronicles 6:12-15 —"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven); and he said: 'Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.'" 2 Chronicles 6:23— "then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness." 2 Chronicles 6:32-35— “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name. When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause." 2 Chronicles 7:1-3— "When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: 'For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.'" 2 Chronicles 7;8-10— "At that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel." But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day Now we speak of the fire before the temple—this is the fire of revival reaching its peak. During the reign of David, the people of Israel were already ascending the slope of revival. When Solomon took the throne, the fire before the temple brought the revival of the saints to its highest point. Proverbs 4:18 says: "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” (ESV) Revival has no end. It is limitless, boundless, and cannot be fully experienced in one lifetime. It’s not as if we’ve reached the summit and can go no further. God is always moving forward, and so His people must also move forward. Naturally, revival continues to advance. Even if a church has been revived by the Lord, or you and I have personally experienced revival, remember this: the Lord desires to revive us again, and again, and again—unceasingly. Like the light of dawn, it shines ever brighter until the noonday. This is the kind of revival God desires—whether personal or church revival—it begins at dawn and continues forward… until the noonday. When Moses was 120 years old and about to pass away, his eyes were not dim, nor was his vitality diminished. He stopped at the spiritual summit—this was his peak, his noonday. Caleb was 85 years old, and as his days were, so was his strength—he had not weakened. This too was his peak, his noonday. Throughout the generations, all who walk in the path of God’s will. those who are witnesses of faith, their revival has no end. It continues until the day they meet the Lord, when life reaches maturity and their spiritual life reaches its highest point. Revival of the Israelites in Solomon’s Era Before we explore how revival can be sustained continuously, we must first mention the early revival during the reign of Solomon. The Old Testament records that when Solomon became king, his kingdom was firmly established, and the Lord was with him (2 Chronicles 1:1) Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen. The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees as abundant as sycamores in the lowland. (2 Chronicles 1:14–15) Not only was there peace throughout the borders, but surrounding nations also paid tribute and served him. (1 Kings 4:21–24) This was truly the peak of Israel’s prosperity—a golden age and a glorious revival. Soon after, the temple was completed. Solomon placed the sacred vessels into the treasury and brought the Ark of the Covenant into the temple. He offered sacrifices of oxen and sheep in such great numbers they could not be counted. The priests and Levites ministered, and at that moment, the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. This was a revival full of glory—unprecedented and magnificent. Praise the Lord! The Fire Before the Temple Ushering in a Greater Revival So when God’s people are revived, how can that revival not only continue without interruption or decline, but also keep advancing? Of course, this is the work of God—not of man. It is God’s doing, not human effort. Revival doesn’t happen simply because we desire it; it is the Lord who continually leads us forward in revival, like an eagle carrying its young on its back, bringing us to the destination. To bring about ongoing revival among His people, God sends fire from heaven before the temple. This fire enables the revived people to enter into a deeper, more sacred, fuller, and more glorious revival. 2 Chronicles 7:1 recorded that when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The people of Israel saw this and fell on their faces on the pavement, worshiping and giving thanks to the Lord. At that time, King Solomon and all Israel gathered as a great assembly and celebrated the feast for seven days. It was held in the seventh month—a Feast of Tabernacles—which foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ as King, a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven, full of the Lord’s glory and His kingship. Everyone rejoiced and celebrated the feast for seven days. On the eighth day, a solemn assembly was held. Afterward, the people returned to their homes with joyful hearts. This was a mighty revival—a glorious revival—the revival within revival. Hallelujah! Solomon’s Prayer Brought Down the Fire Before the Temple So how was the fire before the temple brought down? In addition to offering burnt sacrifices and other offerings, there was one even more important factor—Solomon’s prayer. 2 Chronicles 7 started with “When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven...” This shows that the primary factor in drawing down the fire before the temple was Solomon’s prayer. The verse opens with the moment he finished praying—and immediately, the fire fell from heaven. Brothers and sisters, prayer is forever the catalyst of revival. Wherever a church is rich in prayer, revival will flourish. Wherever saints love to pray, their hearts will be zealous, and they will serve the Lord tirelessly. We must value prayer—pray more, pray without ceasing, and pray without losing heart. Today, nearly every Christian church holds prayer meetings, but many have become mere formalities. When things don’t work out, people resort to alternatives: using the first half of the prayer meeting for Bible study or preaching, leaving only a small portion of time for actual prayer. This is like bribing the conscience—it's a deceiving prayer meeting in name but not in truth. Outwardly, it may appear to be a prayer gathering, but inwardly, it lacks the essence of true prayer. There may be the sound of prayer, but no spirit of prayer. Naturally, the effects of prayer are absent, and revival remains out of reach. But Solomon’s prayer was not like that. His prayer ushered in a greater revival. It was a prayer that was heard by God, aligned with the principles of the Holy Spirit’s work, and met the conditions for revival fire to descend. His prayer was in accordance with God’s will and was pleasing to Him. Now, let us examine the key characteristics of Solomon’s prayer: The Prayer of Humility The first characteristic is humility. When the people gathered, they witnessed a glorious scene: the glory of the Lord filled the temple, the Levites sang, and the priests blew trumpets, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Logically, Solomon could have taken pride in this moment. When King Nebuchadnezzar saw the great city of Babylon he had built, he said: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30) Likewise, when we achieve something, how easy it is to become proud like Nebuchadnezzar! But Solomon was not like that—he humbled himself even more. In front of all the people, he knelt on the bronze platform. He was an unparalleled king of wisdom, not only ruling Israel but receiving tribute from surrounding nations. In earthly terms, he was like the “king of kings.” Yet he knelt before the people to show that the Lord of heaven is the true King of kings, the only God worthy of worship from all nations and peoples. So Solomon knelt and prayed to God. This was a prayer of humility. He knew that revival came from the Lord, and that every blessing he received was from Him. Whenever I speak of humble prayer, it touches my heart deeply. This has been the Lord’s training in my life over the past six or seven years. I often preach—sometimes in Taiwan, sometimes in Southeast Asia—and when I see the Lord’s work and blessings increase, my old self tends to become proud. Not intentionally, but because of the Adamic nature—the flesh at work. The flesh loves recognition, praise, and glory. So the Lord stretches out His hand and brings me down to a place where I must humble myself. Whenever I become slightly proud, the Lord uses circumstances to restrain me. For example: the Lord’s presence is lost in a meeting, or the Holy Spirit stops working during ministry. At that point, I have no choice but to kneel and pray: “Lord, forgive me. I have not humbled myself. Have mercy on this sinner.” Through confession, repentance, and humility, the Lord’s presence returns, and the Holy Spirit begins to work again. This has happened repeatedly over the past six or seven years. Take offering as another example. These past few days, we’ve been offering ourselves to God—as if we’re giving Him honor or adding to His glory. Some brothers and sisters still struggle to surrender themselves to the Lord. But most have willingly offered themselves—praise the Lord! Truthfully, the fact that God accepts our offering is already an immeasurable elevation of our status. We are broken, filthy, and corrupt people, yet we are received by the almighty, holy, and glorious God. That alone should cause us to kneel in humility and gratitude, offering ourselves to Him. Imagine a beggar asking to be received into your home—who would accept him? Yet we are far filthier than any beggar, and God still welcomes us and accepts us as holy. Therefore, we should bow down in deep gratitude and offer ourselves to Him. When the Holy Spirit opens our eyes even a little, we should humbly kneel and dedicate ourselves to the Lord. Revival will come through this. Solomon understood his own insignificance, and that led him to pray with humility. Dear brothers and sisters, humble prayer is the pathway to Holy Spirit revival in the church. Consider the church in Philadelphia—it was full of love, had the Lord’s presence, kept the word of patience, and was given an open door by the Lord. But immediately after Philadelphia comes Laodicea. Why? Philadelphia was a church commended by the Lord, but once it lost humility and became proud—thinking it was rich and became wealthy and had need of nothing—the Holy Spirit said: “You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Whenever humility is lost, a revived Philadelphia church can quickly fall into the state of Laodicea. Look at King Saul—wasn’t he a perfect example? At first, when anointed by Samuel, he was truly humble. He said: “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?” (1 Samuel 9:21) But after becoming king, he gradually grew proud. Eventually, he disobeyed the Lord’s command by sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, and was rejected by God. Brothers and sisters, when we experience revival and want to move forward, we need even more humble prayer. This is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. On the other hand, God’s Word also reminds and enlightens us—we should be like Solomon, praying with humility. Fervent Prayer After Solomon knelt on the platform, he lifted his hands toward heaven and prayed. “Lifting hands to heaven” is an expression of deep sincerity and burdened heart—it’s entirely different from a casual or relaxed posture. Sometimes we pray kneeling, sometimes sitting or standing, and sometimes we lift our hands. When we lift our hands, it often reflects a resolute spirit and fervent heart. Brothers and sisters, Solomon’s gesture of lifting his hands to heaven revealed a genuine and earnest prayer. At the end of his prayer, he said: “My God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer made in this place.” (2 Chronicles 6:40) Today, many Christians offer perfunctory prayers—prayers that cannot bear God’s scrutiny or hearing. If God were to truly examine and listen to our prayers, we might feel ashamed. Fervent prayer arises from an urgent inner need, driven by a heavy spiritual burden. Naturally, God delights in answering such prayers. Earnestness and sincerity shake the throne of God, stir His heart to act, and prompt Him to stretch out His arm and display His power to accomplish His glorious work. Brothers and sisters, in the past few days our gatherings have focused heavily on information. But starting today, with only three days left, we must shift our focus to prayer. Without it, the fire of revival will not burn intensely. So in the afternoons, we hope to have group prayer—humble prayer, fervent prayer. We firmly believe that such prayer will bring down heavenly fire to burn among us. Throughout history, every revival in the church has been birthed through fervent prayer. Sometimes, in order to lead us into such prayer, God allows suffering to come upon us. When we face hardship and trials, we naturally turn to God with urgency. In times of trouble, we are compelled to pray wholeheartedly and fervently. As a result, the Holy Spirit begins to work—not only reviving individuals and families, but entire churches. Dear brothers and sisters, our prayers must not lose heart (Luke 18:1). We must pray fervently, watchfully, and tirelessly. The beginning of Acts shows us that the disciples devoted themselves to continual prayer (Acts 1:14) This led to the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2, birthing the church in unprecedented glory. The book of James also tells us that "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain… And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit." (James 5:17-18) This shows how powerful fervent prayer can be. Over six years ago, the Lord called a few of us in Taipei to begin praying—several hours each day. In the morning, we would first draw near to the Lord individually, then pray together for one to two hours. After breakfast, we prayed again for another hour or two. In the afternoon, we prayed again. Evening meetings also included prayer. Altogether, we prayed for several hours a day. Before long, the Holy Spirit descended. The fire of the Spirit ignited, and we were consumed by it. It burned away all lowly and impure things and melted even the mountains. Our hearts were ablaze. During prayer, we were so immersed in the flow of the Spirit that we lost all sense of time. Kneeling was not tiring—instead, we were filled with anointing and joy. The meetings overflowed with the Lord’s presence, and the number of saved souls kept increasing. Praise the Lord! Prayer to Know God Solomon’s prayer was also a prayer to know God, and this is a very important matter. Through several verses of his prayer, we can see some of his understanding of God. Beholding the Greatness of God When Solomon began his prayer, he said: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You”  (1 Kings 8:23). He recognized the greatness of God. Then he continued: “Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You”  (1 Kings 8:27). Solomon saw that God is the all-encompassing, almighty God of the universe. Oh, brothers and sisters, our God is the One who works wonders. When you truly behold His greatness, faith in prayer arises. When this great and almighty God is known by you and me, our faith is stirred. He can part the Red Sea, cause the sun to stand still in the sky, and raise the dead. What in heaven or on earth can compare to our God? Our Lord is on the throne—He is supremely great and incomparably powerful. When the Holy Spirit opens our eyes even a little, when we truly see and know Him, that is the moment He delights in most. And in that moment, prayer is answered swiftly. Holding Fast to God's Faithfulness Solomon also prayed, saying that God is the One who “keeps covenant and mercy… who has spoken with His mouth and fulfilled it with His hand”  (1 Kings 8:23–24).This is a prayer that clings to the faithfulness of God. If God were almighty but not faithful—if He didn’t keep His promises—what would we do? Praise God, He is not only almighty, but also faithful. What He promises with His mouth, He fulfills with His hand. Solomon knew God as a covenant-keeping and faithful God. We too must hold fast to His faithfulness in prayer, and then He will bring it to pass. George Müller was a man of extraordinary prayer. Throughout his life, over 50,000 of his prayers were answered by the Lord. He held onto the promise in Psalm 81:10: “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” . Believing that what God spoke, He would surely fulfill, Müller went on to establish orphanages. So many orphans—day after day, month after month, year after year—were sustained purely by faith in the Lord’s provision. Without fundraising, he witnessed the faithful God providing for them. He became a living testimony of faith, proving that the living God is absolutely faithful and trustworthy. Paul also experienced God’s unwavering faithfulness throughout his life. That’s why he declared: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself”  (2 Timothy 2:13). Brothers and sisters, those who do not know God’s faithfulness are people without faith. They do not understand what it means for God to take full responsibility. The path of revival that God calls us to walk is a path of faith. We must hold onto His promises to walk this road of revival and witness His wondrous works and the glorious manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Trusting in the Mercy of God From the lengthy prayer recorded in 2 Chronicles chapter 6, we behold how Solomon knew to entreat the Lord by relying upon His lovingkindness and tender mercies. He recognized God's mercy and prayed: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant” (2 Chronicles 6:14). And again, “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers” (2 Chronicles 6:24–25). This is the prayer of one who knows that God is full of compassion and mercy. Solomon understood that “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13), and such prayers are pleasing to the Lord. For He is the God who forgives iniquity, abounds in steadfast love, and is rich in mercy. Therefore, though we stumble once, we may rise again; though we fall twice, He still lifts us up. Even when we fail to offer ourselves, He bears with us patiently and waits in longsuffering. Brothers and sisters, we are all fallen and corrupted, blind to our own condition. If the Lord should mark iniquities, who could stand before Him? Yet when we turn to Him and willingly offer ourselves, He draws us with cords of kindness, with bands of love. He has loved us with an everlasting love, and though heaven and earth may pass away, His love shall never fail. Solomon trusted in the mercy of God and prayed accordingly. And the Lord heard him from heaven, and fire came down from heaven upon the altar. Truly, it was a most beautiful prayer. Upholding the Righteousness of God Solomon knew that God is not only great, faithful, and loving—he also clearly understood that God is righteous. Therefore, he prayed, saying, “Then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness”  (2 Chronicles 6:23). Solomon prayed by holding fast to the righteousness of God. Brothers and sisters, as Christians, we must know the righteousness of God. We cannot be careless simply because God loves us. For example, if one is in debt and deliberately delays repayment, or even hopes the matter will be forgotten—this is not acceptable. The Word of God says, “Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny”  (Matthew 5:26). God is righteous; He will not condemn the innocent nor justify the guilty. Thanks be to God, when we understand His righteousness, our lives, work, and service wouild be in peace. For instance, if your superior treats you unfairly in the workplace, or your friends are unjust in society, you can pray to the righteous God. He will surely watch over you. We do not ask God for vengeance, but trust that He will uphold and preserve us according to His righteousness. Even the holy fire of God can only descend upon the foundation of righteousness. Therefore, we must pray with a heart that understands and upholds the righteousness of God. A Prayer for the Glory of the Lord’s Name We also see in Solomon’s prayer that he mentioned the Lord’s name two or three times. For example, “When a foreigner comes from a far country for the sake of Your great name and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven” . And again, “That all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.”   This is a prayer that seeks the glory of the Lord’s name. When a person truly prays for the glory of the Lord’s name, God will surely hear. Yet this is no easy thing—for man is fallen. Though we may say with our lips, “Lord, to You be the glory”, in our hearts we secretly grasp a portion of that glory for ourselves. In the hidden places, we still desire to be glorified. Therefore, such prayers are not heard by the Lord. Sometimes, even after praying earnestly for a month, half a year, or even several years, the Lord does not answer. For He knows that if the matter were granted, though He would receive some glory, we would steal an even greater portion for ourselves. On the other hand, we must ask the Lord to give us a pure and clean heart—just as the Lord Jesus prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You”  (John 17:1). This is also a prayer I often make. When I was preparing to go to the Philippines, I prayed in this way: “Lord, glorify me, that I may glorify You. Let Your glory rest upon me, that I may return it to You. But do not let me steal Your glory, nor glorify myself. Let me not receive glory from men (John 5:41), but seek the glory that comes from the only God. (John 5:44)". As a result, the Lord often hears such prayers—for He listens for the sake of His own name’s glory. Brothers and sisters, in our daily lives and actions, we often reveal our vanity, seeking glory from men rather than purely desiring the Lord’s name to be glorified. This is why our prayers do not bring revival. May we all receive grace to pray for the glory of the Lord’s name, that He may send down the fire of revival. Prayer to Confront the Enemy, Satan Lastly, we must speak of the prayer that confronts the enemy—Satan. Solomon prayed, saying, “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and supplication, and maintain their cause”  (2 Chronicles 6:34–35). The path to revival is also a path of warfare. When the enemy—the devil—is defeated, revival breaks forth. Therefore, we must engage in prayer that confronts the adversary. When Nehemiah returned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, it marked the beginning of revival. The people labored with one hand holding a weapon and the other building the wall (Nehemiah 4:17). Revival requires warfare to be completed. Thus, we must pray warfare prayers, standing upon the foundation of the Lord’s victory, exercising spiritual authority to destroy the works of the enemy and bind the powers of darkness. Many do not believe in Jesus because the god of this age has blinded their minds. Likewise, many believers do not offer themselves to the Lord because their spiritual eyes are veiled by the enemy. They have not seen the glory of Christ nor felt the compelling power of His great love. These works of the enemy must be rebuked and broken in the name of the Lord, that we may manifest the victory of Christ and witness the revival of the Church. This kind of prayer—prayer that defeats the enemy—is also a prayer that ushers in revival. May the Lord open our spiritual eyes to see. The characteristics of Solomon’s prayer were key to ushering in revival and the descent of holy fire. Therefore, the beginning of chapter 7 declares: “When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices...When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down… they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever’”  (2 Chronicles 7:1–3). When the Holy Spirit descends in power, we cannot help but fall prostrate before Him. In recent years, I have witnessed several times the fire of the Holy Spirit descending from heaven. The Spirit’s work came so powerfully upon the church meetings that all were filled with awe and trembling. Many saw the Lord with their own eyes and could no longer remain seated—they naturally bowed down in worship. When the fire of the Holy Spirit descends, you and I cannot help but fall to our knees. It is impossible to remain seated; we must bow in reverence. For God has revealed Himself, and the fire of heaven has come down. This kind of overwhelming presence—where we cannot help but bow—is beyond description. Words cannot express it. May the same Spirit that moved Solomon to pray also move us, that individuals, families, and churches in the midst of revival may be led into even greater revival. <-- Back Next Chapter -->