And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.
— John 17:22-23

This refers to being perfected until a testimony is produced. Perfecting is related to the matter of life, that is, one’s life abilities or talents. Every life has its own talent or ability. This life needs perfecting. No one would say, “Oh, life will grow by itself.” (more…)

“That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You.”
— John 17:21

The most wonderful thing is that the same Christ can live in an ancient Confucius type as well as in a modern-day hippie type. The more we try to look like each other outwardly, even to the extent of changing our nose or the color of our hair, the more God would frown and say, “How pitiful! Oneness cannot come from that—from you. You must have Christ living in you.” (more…)

“That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You.”
— John 17:21

This refers to a mutual living. Although we may have the same life, what about having the same living? It is easy for one in the church life to live like an ancient Confucius, while at the same time another one lives like a modern-day hippie. So our living is in trouble. We may try to conform another saint to our own preference by insisting that our way is proper and the other way is not, but this is not the secret of oneness. (more…)

And I am no longer in the world; yet they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, that they may be one even as We are.
— John 17:11

The Lord Jesus prayed that we would enter into this same oneness that He and the Father enjoyed. How will this happen? We should know that three things are needed. First, we need life. Second, we need a healthy living. And third, we need to become a testimony. (more…)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from Myself, but the Father who abides in Me does His works.
— John 14:10

When we are willing to do anything to please our wives and children, we do not see this as a duty, because there is so much satisfaction in pleasing those you love. Your behavior reflects your love. (more…)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from Myself, but the Father who abides in Me does His works.
— John 14:10

Here we see God the Son praying to God the Father, while God the Son is in God the Father and God the Father is in God the Son. This confirms that we have a unique God as the God of oneness. This oneness is not generated by outward behavior. Rather, any particular behavior results from the fact that such a oneness already exists, and this oneness exists in the realm of mutual love. (more…)

“All that you say to me I will do.”
— Ruth 3:5

I am concerned for the young people. They have been so strongly influenced to seek independence. Ruth said to Naomi, “All that you say to me I will do” (Ruth 3:5), but how many among us today are so responsive to the lead of those who are older? Often they are seen as out-of-date. In today’s society, young people often do not even listen to their parents. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:2-3

In this experience, we wait for Christ’s time. We do not ask Him to fit ours; we simply watch Him. After He is finished eating and drinking, He will do as He wishes. Now what we do is according to His schedule, not ours. We watch now to see what pleases Him. We watch His move. We notice where He lies down. We cannot afford to lose sight of Him. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:2-3

We know that the events of chapter three do not immediately follow those of chapter two, for there has been at least one wheat harvest after the initial barley harvest (Ruth 2:23). After partaking of these harvests (representing the experience of the Lord’s resurrection and death), and after being washed, anointed, and clothed in this way, in the dark night we must come to our Boaz on the threshing floor in a hidden way. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”
— Ruth 3:2-3

We realize that our fallen nature will always be with us until the day we fully enter into resurrection with the Lord. Fifty years ago, I thought that as I grew older I would become very holy and free of defilement. Now, fifty years later, I discover that there is more defilement instead of less, yet I also discover that I have much more of the Lord’s anointing. (more…)

“Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.”
— Ruth 3:2

Naomi directed Ruth according to her knowledge of what Boaz was doing. She knew that he was winnowing his barley at his threshing floor during the night. This is very meaningful, for our thought is often that the Lord’s activity is in the glorious light of day. When the Lord truly moves, however, it is often during the night. (more…)

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek some resting place for you, that it may be well with you?”
— Ruth 3:1

In Ruth chapter three, Naomi really cared for Ruth. Many times we may hold on to certain people because we feel they are profitable to us and to the church. If we care for what they can do for us more than for their spiritual growth, we frustrate the church from realizing the greater blessing that comes with their growth. (more…)

It takes time to equip the heart. No one was born with a perfect heart, nor did anyone have a perfect heart when he first came to Christ. The Lord might lead a newly saved person to consecrate himself, but this is likely only something of emotion. His mind and will still need equipping. (more…)

“You have endurance and have borne all things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have one thing against you, that you have left your first love.”
— Revelation 2:3-4

In His word to the seven churches in Revelation, the Lord said the church in Ephesus labored and endured and tested those who call themselves apostles, but left their first love. (more…)

The mind, emotion, and will of those who seek fame are occupied in like manner with becoming famous. Their thoughts, feelings, and decisions are all focused on one goal—achieving fame. For example, a professor may be consumed with considering how to get his essay published, and in which journal, and so on. (more…)

“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
— Matthew 6:21

In this world we can identify three kinds of people: those who seek money, those who seek fame, and those who seek power. (more…)

Some read the Bible and gain much. Others read much and gain little. The difference is how a person is equipped in his mind, emotion, and will. You must know how to equip your mind, emotion, and will so that you might have a good foundation for spiritual things. (more…)

To have the equipping of the ministry, we must be equipped in our mind, emotion, and will. Our equipping is not outward, but inward. Equipping refers to our person, to what kind of mind, emotion, and will we have. Our mind, emotion, and will decide how much we will gain. (more…)

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For all these things the Gentiles are anxiously seeking. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:31-33

My wife and I learned to be careful with every dollar. We could not afford to go out to eat, or even to eat that well at home. My wife was pregnant at the time, and neither one of us had a job. A certain amount of money was needed to pay for childbirth expenses, and I did not know how that need would be met, for we were not being cared for by the church, nor by anyone else for that matter. We didn’t have anything, and all I could do was trust in the Lord. (more…)

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For all these things the Gentiles are anxiously seeking. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:31-33

My wife and I learned to be careful with every dollar. We could not afford to go out to eat, or even to eat that well at home. My wife was pregnant at the time, and neither one of us had a job. A certain amount of money was needed to pay for childbirth expenses, and I did not know how that need would be met, for we were not being cared for by the church, nor by anyone else for that matter. (more…)

We must learn to equip our mind. If today we think about how to make money, and tomorrow we think about how to purchase a house, and the day after that we think about how we should raise our children, then in our limited mind there will only be a small part left for Christ. Such a heart will fall away and become unusable as far as the Lord is concerned. (more…)

“But I have against you, that you have left your first love. “
— Revelation 2:4

There are two temptations which exist for co-workers. One is fornication, which is very defiling. The other has to do with the work, which in appearance seems to be something of God. Most would have a strong feeling about fornication, but few will sense the danger of the work. (more…)

“But I have against you, that you have left your first love.”
— Revelation 2:4

One problem co-workers encounter is the love of work. Thus, when they become involved in the work, they can easily lose the reality of spiritual things. (more…)

It is not a small matter to have a heart that is equipped, for we only have one heart. Therefore if it is occupied with one thing, it is hard for something else to gain ground in it. (more…)