First of all, let me thank you very much for your invitation for me to be here once again with the Berlin sisters.
First, let me say a few words about my most recent trip to Toronto, Canada. I was invited by a brother and sister there for one purpose: to preach the gospel to a group of visiting Chinese scientists.
As you know, there are many Chinese scientists visiting that city. The Lord has used a couple—our brother and sister who are in the Lord—to take care of these visitors. Through their effort before the Lord, these visitors have come to like going to the meeting place and hearing the gospel when they receive an invitation.
This time they wanted me to be there and try to preach the gospel to them, especially on the Lord’s Day. Their meeting place—the meeting place of the fellowship there—is actually a borrowed room on the campus of the University of Toronto. It is very convenient for those who are studying or working on the campus to go there on Sunday.
When I preached the gospel that Sunday, thank the Lord that He really touched many hearts. If I remember correctly, about 140 visiting Chinese scientists were present in that meeting.
One thing impressed me very much: they came from all over China, and some people even came from Quebec, for example. Almost every part of China was represented there. It was a very rare opportunity to meet them, greet them, and preach the gospel to them.
The brother and sister there prayed much before the Lord because they felt that this was a very rare occasion. They knew that it would not remain easy for long. At present, it was easy to invite these people, but afterward, because so many people had come to the meeting, they would probably be noticed. Then it would not be so easy anymore.
I think the Lord really put that burden in the hearts of the brother and sister there, and they prayed much. When they came together, they preached the gospel in one accord. That morning, when I shared the message, I did feel the response. I must say that the Lord did some work among these people.
Of course, most of them would probably return within a month, or within two or three months. I know that it is very difficult for them to confess their faith or show their faith in public. But anyway, I think the Lord did some work among these people, and later we received quite a good report.
They were brought up in that kind of society, where they do not believe in the existence of God. So we have to begin with the ABCs and try to help them see the light of the gospel. But I think the Lord really answered the prayer of His church.
I thought that this was a good beginning, but much work still has to be done. It is also a great challenge to the brother and sister there. They cannot simply depend on one or two persons—not merely fishing with a hook. You need to cast a net, in a corporate effort, to win people to Christ.
This is also a challenge to the brothers: they have to grow together, not only individually but also in a corporate way. So I share this with you, brothers and sisters. Let us continue to pray for this work.
This is a unique situation, especially in Toronto. I have not seen it in other places. Somehow, in that city, the Lord has brought many scientists there. We thank God for the testimony of that couple—the brother and sister who have a very good testimony before them.
They really take care of these visitors. They become their friends first before extending an invitation to them. Actually, they had already done much work before the Lord. They visited them and often gave up their evenings. They were very busy.
One of them is not only a housewife, but also a research fellow at the university. Their hands are full. Yet, for the Lord’s sake, they gave up their weekends and many weekday evenings in order to be with these visitors and make friends with them. Then, when they invited them, they would surely come.
Let us remember them. I think the Lord is still working there, and may He give them wisdom to continue that work.
Then I would like to share briefly about my family situation. I appreciate that you pray for me and my family every Wednesday evening, so I think I should let you know a little about what has happened.
I do not know quite how to share this, because I think the Lord is doing something with my family. Not only I, or my wife, but all of us are going through something very difficult—almost a crisis in our life.
My wife is still in Taiwan with our youngest son, Daniel. They are there waiting for a visa to enter this country, or perhaps to go through Canada first and come into this country. We have been praying that the Lord would open the door for Daniel to come.
Otherwise, it will create problems for me, even if I find work here, because the family is divided. I felt that if it were the Lord’s will for Daniel not to come, then perhaps I should go back. I was before the Lord, asking whether this was His will.
If He does not open the door for Daniel, perhaps that means He has a better will. So we have truly been before the Lord, asking Him especially to show us His will. On the one hand, we say, “Lord, if it is Your will, how wonderful it would be if You opened the door.” But if You shut the door, that is also fine.
You see, we are so dull in knowing the will of God, and so slow in knowing His work. The Lord has to remind us through circumstances. We want to learn this lesson before Him.
When I called my wife, she told me that everyone was asking her what the Lord would do, and whether there was any news from the States. They thought that when I came to this country, I would contact different people and that the Father would open some door.
My wife was waiting there, ready to come at any time if the Lord opened the door. The brothers and sisters also prayed for them and asked whether there was any further news. My wife said, “We do not know. We really do not know our future.”
Some asked, “Are you going back to Brazil? Are you going to stay there?” My wife said, “I really do not know.” She told me that she did not want to give people the impression that she was very spiritual merely because she did not know where she was going. She did not want to pretend to be spiritual. She truly did not know.
She asked me, “Do you know?” I said, “I really do not know. The only thing I know is that we are waiting before the Lord.” Our time is running out. We have to make a decision by the end of the year.
Either we will go back to Formosa, or the Lord will open some door so that I can remain in this country; otherwise, I will have to return to Brazil. But when we put all the factors before the Lord, we discover that it is not easy.
We ask, “Lord, remember us. We are nothing but dust.” When we put so many factors before Him, we really do not know. Yet we hope in the Lord. Even if we do not know very well, at least we should learn to love His will. I think that is probably the important lesson for us.
I wish I could tell you more about my situation. As far as my job is concerned, there are some possibilities, but it will probably take time before we know anything definitely. As to my son’s visa, we are still waiting for the Lord to open the door. Anything could happen at any time.
So we are learning to trust in the Lord. Please bear with me, brothers and sisters. If the Lord has put this burden in your heart, please continue to pray for us. Somehow, I feel that no news is good news, because we can learn more about how to wait before Him.
One verse came to me. If you would turn with me to Ruth, chapter 3, the last verse—verse 18.
Then she said, Wait, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
Of course, in my translation it says, “Wait,” but in the original it simply means, “Sit still.” You just sit there. Boaz is going to work.
At that time Ruth had been given six measures of barley. Six plus one equals seven, which is perfection. The other one was coming, and that one means Boaz himself. Only when Boaz was joined to Ruth would the matter truly be complete.
But before that happened, Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter,” or, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”
This is a very important ending to the chapter. Chapter 3 tells us something about the threshing floor—what happened to Ruth and Boaz on the threshing floor. In the Bible, the threshing floor always represents the working of the cross, and the working of the cross always leads us to rest.
At the end, Naomi says to Ruth, “Sit still.” That is how chapter 3 ends. But this verse not only concludes chapter 3; it also opens chapter 4.
At the beginning of chapter 4, Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Then the close relative passed by, and Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” Then that man turned aside and sat down. Boaz took ten elders of the city and said, “Sit ye down here.” So they sat down.
It is very interesting. The Bible uses this thought of sitting still to conclude chapter 3 and open chapter 4. Chapter 4 gives us a beautiful scene at the gate, where we find the Lord’s testimony.
If we are to live out the Lord’s testimony, we will probably all have to go through the threshing floor and allow the working of the cross to go deeply into our lives. One difficult lesson to learn is to sit still.
Our flesh is never able to sit quietly. But thank the Lord: even when we are doing nothing, our Boaz is doing something. This verse has comforted me in this period, especially when I have seen with my own eyes that my time is running out.
We do have to make some decision in the end. But the important thing is that all our prayer before the Lord is that we may know His will and what is best—not only for ourselves. When we judge the whole matter before the Lord, we begin to realize that it concerns not only our own future, but also the Lord’s interests and the Lord’s kingdom.
It is a very difficult decision to make, but I ask you, brothers and sisters, to pray for us. If the Lord opens the door, that is fine. If He shuts the door, it probably means that He has a better will for us. We do not know the best timing in our life; only He knows.
I need your prayers—not necessarily that everything will become smooth, but that we may learn more lessons, especially in this period.
Now I would like to share with you from some part of the Word of God. Would you turn to Song of Solomon, chapter 4, verse 12?
A garden shut up is my sister, my bride;
A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
I would like to share some simple thoughts with the brothers and sisters. This is the first time in Song of Solomon that the word garden is mentioned. Actually, the word garden is used eight times in this book.
We know that this word appears earlier in Genesis than in Song of Solomon. In Genesis, the word garden refers especially to the garden of God, or the Garden of Eden.
Here, Solomon says, “A garden shut up is my sister, my bride.” We know that Solomon represents our Lord and that the Shulamite represents us. So here we have a dialogue between Solomon and the Shulamite.
In the original language, Solomon and Shulamite are related words, though they have different forms. Solomon means peace, and Shulamite also means peace. Our Lord is the King of Peace, and we are called to be the queen of peace.
Since in the original they are essentially the same word, this speaks of our union with the Lord. Now we come to this verse: “A garden shut up is my sister, my bride.”
This phrase tells us that we should be a garden enclosed before the Lord. When we are in this condition, He is satisfied. That is why we are given this wonderful expression: “A garden shut up is my sister.”
We often neglect the fact that we are a garden before our Lord. If we read this whole chapter carefully, all the references to the garden refer to the Shulamite. In the eyes of Solomon, the Shulamite is nothing but a garden before him.
But this is a garden enclosed. It is not a public park. It is a private garden, not intended for the public. It is only for Solomon.
Later, as we read on, we find the Shulamite describing the garden as “my garden.” She says, “Let my garden breathe out fragrance,” and then she says, “Let my beloved come into his garden.”
On the one hand, it is my garden; on the other hand, it is His garden. This is a beautiful description of our relationship with the Lord.
The Bible says, “A garden shut up is my sister, my bride.” Notice the order: first, “my sister”; then, “my bride.” Sister speaks of life, and bride speaks of love.
We begin with our life relationship with the Lord, and then we enter into our love relationship with Him. Positionally speaking, we are His sister because we have His life. Since we have His life, we ought to be like Him.
Experientially speaking, we are also His bride. We are called to be His bride, that we may have a wonderful union of love with our Lord. Then we are transformed into the image of our Lord.
This is the thought here. It is always sister first, then bride. But the most important thought is this: “A garden shut up is my sister, my bride.”
This simply means that the garden is not open to the public. A garden enclosed speaks of a life of consecration before the Lord. When we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, we become a garden enclosed.
We shut the Lord inside the garden, and we shut the whole world outside the garden. I think this is the beginning of our Christian life.
I remember well that the Lord spoke to my heart through this verse. I learned to place myself on the altar and ask the Lord to remind me that I am a garden enclosed before Him.
We should live a life simply for Him. We should live a life that is appreciated by Him alone. Of course, this is a life of consecration.
But when we read this passage, we discover that it applies to our whole life, no matter what stage of life we are in. Whether at the beginning of our Christian life or in its later stages, this remains true: we are always a garden enclosed before the eyes of our Lord.
I remember that about five years ago I developed an eye problem. I had a cataract. I thought cataracts were only for old people, not for someone under fifty.
At that time, I really did not know why the Lord allowed that thing to happen to me. But now, when I look back, I think it was very wonderful.
We may often forget that we are simply a garden enclosed in His sight. So He has to remind us. Sometimes, I would say, He has to lock us into a place, and then we begin to realize that this is exactly the place where we should be.
Because of what happened to me, I went through a very difficult period. But I thank the Lord for it, because I had never experienced such a sense of urgency before Him. I thought that my time was running out and that my world was getting darker and darker.
At that time, I did not know whether the Lord was going to open my eyes again. I knew that if it was His will, He could do it. But if it was not His will, I would praise the Lord for that also.
Still, I knew that before I became completely blind, I should use the time I had before I could no longer see anything. The Lord reminded me once again that we should be like a garden enclosed before Him.
I was reminded that I should use every minute and every second, because I knew my time was running out. At that time, I could scarcely read the Bible. Everything was vague, and I could not see clearly.
Yet I thought that somehow I must read the Bible. When I was young and had good eyesight, I never considered Bible reading difficult. But then I realized that I simply could not read.
I prayed, “Lord, somehow I have to study. I have to read Your Bible before I lose all my eyesight.” Of course, I knew that one day, according to His will, the Lord might restore my sight. But I regarded that period as an opportunity for the Lord to teach me to use every minute and every second.
Thank the Lord, He gave me an idea. I borrowed an overhead projector—not the kind you have ordinarily seen. I put the Bible on it, and the words were enlarged on the wall of my bedroom.
For some time, I studied the Bible that way. I thought it was wonderful. It was the Lord’s mercy to make me realize that we should live such a life before Him.
Although I could not do much, I still wanted to do some translation. I wanted to translate the poems of Miss M. E. Barber into Chinese. I asked the Lord, “Please give me some time. Let me finish that.”
So I used this enlarging device and tried to work during that period. Thank the Lord, I went through a certain period in which the Lord shut me in. But that was exactly the place where I should be.
I learned to walk by faith and not merely by sight. For example, when I gave a message to the brothers and sisters, I did not know their reaction. I did not know whether people were falling asleep or not. But I tried to exercise faith.
I knew that if it was the word the Lord wanted me to share, I should share it. That was all. Then the Lord would take care of the rest. I thank the Lord for that period. It was a real experience for me.
After I regained my eyesight, praise the Lord, through many prayers of the brothers and sisters and through the Lord’s mercy, my sight was restored.
Then I asked the Lord, “There must be some purpose in all this. If You have restored my eyesight, I want to become a garden enclosed before You.”
At that time, I received news that there was a possibility open to me. As a tenured person, I was entitled to leave the university for up to thirty months without having to explain why I was leaving.
I could run a restaurant, enter another field, or do almost anything. They could not say no. When I learned that, I was much before the Lord and asked Him to show me His will.
Somehow I felt that I had to take that opportunity which the Lord had given me. It was thirty months. But I asked, “Where will He send me? Where am I going?” I wanted to use those thirty months for the Lord.
Of course, this world is very stingy. They never give you something easily. Yes, they would grant me thirty months of leave, but if I returned to Brazil, my retirement would be postponed. I would have to wait another thirty months to receive my retirement.
But I was before the Lord, and I calculated that thirty months now would be much more useful than thirty months later. Many people wait for retirement, thinking, “When I retire, I will serve the Lord.”
But many discover that when they reach retirement age, they have a heart for the Lord but no longer have much strength, not even physical strength.
So I was before the Lord. I preferred to use those thirty months. I did not even know whether I would have another thirty months when I reached sixty-five. The only thing I knew was that the Lord had given me time today, and that time was in our hands.
We believed that it was the Lord’s will that we should probably go to Formosa. That was all we knew. We did not know what we were going to do. We had no plan and no blueprint for our future.
The only thing we knew was that it was probably the Lord’s will for us to take this thirty-month leave of absence, go to Formosa, meet with the brothers and sisters, and see step by step what the Lord would do.
That is how we began that trip. As you know, brothers and sisters, I spent almost thirty months there. In fact, I had accumulated another four months of vacation that I had never used, so altogether I had thirty-four months.
Thank the Lord, I spent two years in the universities. Then I saw that the rest of my time should not be wasted. There were some needs in the Far East, and I thought perhaps I could travel more.
Thank the Lord, here I am. We believe that He has brought us to another turning point. The reason I mention this is that sometimes we really do not know the will of God very well.
I think there is wisdom in this, because then we depend upon Him more and wait before Him. It is a good time for us to be reminded that we are a garden enclosed before Him.
If we are really on the altar, always in that position, then gradually the will of the Lord becomes clear to us. This is always the beginning of our pilgrimage: we begin from there.
I share this with the brothers and sisters because this is not merely a theoretical phrase. It is a very real verse for every one of us. The important question is this: Are we a garden enclosed before Him?
Let us not forget that the Lord said, “A garden shut up is my sister, my bride.” We were saved through His blood, and positionally speaking, we are His sister. We share the life of Christ.
We also have a future and a destiny: we will be transformed into the image of Christ. So we are not only His sister; we are also His bride. We are called into union with Him, and this is our purpose.
A garden enclosed exists for this purpose: that the Holy Spirit may work in us. As we read on, we discover three things in that garden:
This is very encouraging, brothers and sisters. We are simply a garden enclosed before Him. Then the Holy Spirit begins His work in us.
Through many years of the labor and working of the Holy Spirit, we discover that the Lord has deposited the riches of the life of Christ within us. Thank the Lord, this is His mercy.
If we are truly a garden enclosed before Him, then the Holy Spirit works. People will discover the beauty, the fullness, and the fragrance of the life of Christ in us.
When the Holy Spirit brings us to consecrate ourselves before Him, it is for this very purpose. Let me share a little more about how the Holy Spirit works this out—how this fullness, beauty, and fragrance of life are developed in us.
Let us read Isaiah, chapter 58, verse 11.
And the Lord will guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in dry places,
and make strong thy bones;
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water,
whose waters fail not.
Here we have another phrase: “a watered garden.” First, we are a garden enclosed before God. Then, through the working of the Holy Spirit, we become a watered garden.
This is very encouraging, brothers and sisters. When we are wholly for God, the Holy Spirit truly works in us.
In the Bible, trees represent life, and water also represents life. But they touch different aspects of life. A tree speaks of the static life of Christ, while water speaks of the dynamic life of Christ.
A tree refers to an important principle that we should follow. By following that principle, we grow in the Lord. But there is also the dynamic side of the life of Christ in us. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, we become a watered garden.
The first watered garden mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis, chapter 2. Let us read verses 10 through 12.
And a river went out of Eden to water the garden;
and from thence it was parted,
and became four heads.
The name of the first is Pishon:
that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah,
where there is gold;
and the gold of that land is good:
bdellium and the onyx stone are there.
Here we have a description of the watered garden. This is a very good description of what happens to us. The Bible says that a river flowed out of Eden. If we study Revelation, we know that this means it flows from the throne of God.
The river flows out to water the garden. Here we find the river of life, the water of life. Then it divides and becomes four rivers. Along the course of that river, we find gold, bdellium, and onyx stone.
Again, we are reminded of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. First, the river of life comes from the very throne of God and waters us. This life transforms us.
When we follow the course of the river, we discover gold, pearl, and precious stones. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit works in us.
On the one hand, He waters us with living water, and our thirst is quenched. Not only that, through His transforming power, He transforms us, as long as we are a garden enclosed before Him.
As we follow the course of the river, we discover gold, which speaks of the nature of God. We also find pearl, which speaks of life out of death.
A pearl is formed through the experience of a sea creature. When a grain of sand enters it and causes irritation, the creature does not simply cast it out. In a sense, it embraces that grain of sand, and gradually a pearl is formed.
This speaks of our life in Christ. That is why our Lord taught Peter and all of us that when we forgive our brothers and sisters, we do not forgive merely seven times, but seventy times seven.
The Lord allows these irritations to enter our lives. They come like grains of sand. But when we follow the course of the river of life, we begin to forgive and forgive. Instead of seeking revenge, and instead of becoming bitter, we embrace the irritation.
Then, thank the Lord, a pearl is formed. The purpose of learning to forgive our brothers and sisters seventy times seven is that a pearl may be formed in our life.
We ought to thank the Lord for the environments He arranges. Especially in the family or in the church, we learn these lessons from our dear ones. The brothers love us, but we sometimes experience irritations through them.
When that grain of sand enters our life, instead of giving someone a strange look, we learn how to embrace the sand. The Lord is teaching us to do something in us.
I remember very well that while I was in the university, one day I was deeply hurt by what one saint of the Lord did. For a whole night I could not sleep.
The next day I decided that I would answer him. I thought, “If I could not sleep the whole night, then I will say one word that will make him unable to sleep for a whole week.”
But, brothers and sisters, thank the Lord. Before I was going to do that, the word of God came to me—just one word.
The Lord reminded me of the pierced side of our Lord. He was hurt, but from His side came not only blood, but also water.
Not only forgive, but also forgive. Not only forgive, but also supply with love. That word touched my heart.
I knew it was very difficult for me to swallow. But after I followed that course, I discovered that it was a great blessing. That is how we learn that we are first a garden enclosed and then become a watered garden. We allow the work of the Holy Spirit to operate in us.
Within ourselves, we can never do this. It is impossible. At best, we are like Peter. For the Jewish people, forgiving someone three times a day was already considered a great achievement.
Peter thought that seven times was much better. But the Lord reminded him, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Thank the Lord, this is the story of the pearl. We can never produce it ourselves.
As we follow the course of the river, we also find precious stones. When we write with a pencil, we should remember that the lead in the pencil is actually graphite.
If you know a little chemistry, graphite is simply carbon. It is a very pure element. Yet when you look at pencil lead, it is dark, opaque, weak, and fragile. Scientifically speaking, it is one of the softest materials on earth.
Think about it. Before we are transformed, we are just like that—like the lead in a pencil. We are easily hurt, very easily hurt. Sometimes a brother does not say a word, and we are already hurt.
We are so weak. A little rise in temperature makes us nervous. A little pain makes us nervous. We are so weak, and we are not transformed at all.
People look at us, but they do not see Christ in us, because we are opaque. We are wrapped up in so many things, and people cannot see through us. We are like graphite.
But thank the Lord. If you put that piece of graphite deep in the heart of the earth, there is great pressure and high temperature. Through tremendous pressure and heat, something happens beneath the earth where nobody sees the process.
Sometimes we go through experiences like that. There is much pressure, much heat, and we are hidden. Nobody knows what is happening to us or where we are going.
But if we follow the course of the river, and if we remember that we are a watered garden, then we discover that the Holy Spirit is going to transform us. Through pressure and heat, a diamond is formed.
Diamond and the graphite in a pencil are the same element. If you know a little chemistry, you know that they belong to the same element. But think about it: diamond is one of the hardest materials on earth.
You cannot easily break it. Not only that, it reflects light. A diamond has a structure that catches and reflects light, so that when you see it, you discover fire within it.
People say that a good diamond has fire. That fire is another word for the glory of light within it. God is light.
In ourselves, we are nothing but graphite—like a piece of pencil lead. But through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, we can become transparent. Light can pass through us, and people can see the glory of God in us.
We thank the Lord for the working of the Holy Spirit in us. In this garden, we discover the nature of God, the life of Christ out of death, and the transforming work of Christ in us. Then people can see beauty and glory in us. It is very wonderful.
When we become a watered garden, this is connected with the eternal purpose of God. How do we know? When we come to the end of the whole Book—to the end of Revelation—we realize why we become a watered garden.
In the eternal building of God, the ultimate building of God, the New Jerusalem, there are three materials: gold, pearl, and precious stones.
The reason we become a watered garden is not merely for ourselves. It is not merely so that we may become spiritual individuals. It is much more than that. These materials are for the building up of the New Jerusalem.
Every gate is a pearl. Sometimes we preach the gospel and lead people to Christ, but we fail to learn one lesson: we ourselves are supposed to become a gate.
Every pearl is a gate. When we are transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ, and the pearl is formed, we become one of the gates in the New Jerusalem.
No matter which gate you enter, it always leads to the throne of God. Surely people will be led directly to Christ.
The whole city is transparent. We find glory there, and we find gold—fine gold. In the New Jerusalem, there are gold and precious stones.
While we are still on earth, while we are still in time, the Lord is working in our lives. He is making us not only a garden enclosed, but also a watered garden.
If we follow the course of the river, and believe that the Lord will do His work in us, then all these materials will be prepared for His own building.
I believe that is why we are here. We are called not only to be a garden enclosed, but also a watered garden, so that we may be built up.
When we enter the city, we find only one street. No matter which gate we enter, we always end at the throne of God. Thank the Lord that while we are still on this earth, He is doing such a work in us.
May we all be encouraged by His own word. This is very basic to our Christian life. We do not have to wait many years before we can become a watered garden. The Lord has already begun His work.
Let me share one more personal testimony, and then I will conclude tonight. I have only one daughter. When she was ten years old—she is eighteen now—she loved the Lord, studied the Bible, and had a heart for Him.
Of course, as a girl of ten, she did not know much about the leading of the Holy Spirit, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or the term watered garden. She did not know such terminology.
But because she loved the Lord and studied the Bible, I discovered that the Lord had already begun the work of watering in her life, even at that young age.
One day, her grandfather’s birthday was approaching. My children were thinking of giving a gift to my father. My daughter bought a gold pen for her grandfather.
Unfortunately, my oldest son, Ezra, also liked the gold pen. He was young then, of course, and he tried to persuade my daughter to give it to him. He would then present it to their grandfather as his own gift.
I knew my daughter very well. Outwardly, she was very soft, but when she knew something was right, she was quite firm. She would hold to the principle she knew.
Ezra had his ways with her. He tried the soft way and the hard way. He tried to bribe her and convince her. But her answer was no. That was it.
When the birthday came, everyone presented something to my father. To my surprise, it was Ezra who presented the gold pen, while my daughter presented something else.
I thought that something must have happened, because this was very unusual for my daughter. So I asked my wife, and she told me the story. She had asked my daughter what was going on.
My wife said, “You were supposed to give that gold pen to your grandfather. How did you change your mind? How could you give it to your brother?”
My daughter said, “At the beginning, I told him that I would not give it to him. I would not give up that gold pen.” But she said, “The more I insisted, somehow I felt that my stomach was speaking.”
She said, “My stomach kept speaking to such a point that I wept. I could not help but give it to my brother.” That was what happened.
Brothers and sisters, she did not know how to use the terms the leading of the Holy Spirit or the guidance of the Holy Spirit. She did not know how to speak of walking in the way of the cross or giving up her own rights.
She did not know these things. But at the age of ten, she said that her stomach kept speaking to her. She could not use another description. She simply said, “My stomach kept talking and talking until I wept. I had to give it to him.”
Then she did the right thing. She gave up that right. Brothers and sisters, in this experience, you can see many principles. You can see the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You can see the way of the cross.
It is a very simple illustration. Sometimes we make things so complicated and theoretical, as though they were beyond our reach. But no: in our practical, everyday life, these are all opportunities for us not merely to be a garden enclosed, but also a watered garden before the Lord.
We ought to pray before the Lord. Because we consecrate ourselves to Him, we ought to live our life for Him and for Him alone.
Why does God allow so much time before us? It is not merely for our own pleasure, or so that we may have a bigger house or a bigger car. No, it is for one purpose: that one day people may discover the fullness, the fragrance, and the beauty of the life of Christ within us.
That is not according to us. It must be the working of the Holy Spirit. Then we discover the dynamic aspect of that life in us. Thank the Lord, the will of God can be fulfilled in our lives.
Then this word becomes real: “A garden shut up is my sister, my bride.” Sister first, then bride. We begin to learn something of His life, and we begin to learn a union of love with our Lord.
May the Lord encourage us with these simple words. I have shared some of my own testimony with the brothers and sisters so that we may encourage one another.
This is not something vague, distant, or remote. It is found in every corner of our daily life. May we all learn this beautiful lesson before the Lord.