I learn that Oriental people have an ability to give honor that surpasses anything I have ever witnessed anywhere else. We practice hospitality in the West, but we are kind of casual about it: "Oh, hi. Come in. Sit down if you want to."
It is not the way with the Chinese. They are very careful to focus all their attention and energies on their guests. They put their guests' well-being first, and they work tirelessly to put their guests' comfort, peace, and happiness above their own. The way the Chinese carefully prepare in advance for their guests' arrival is an open statement declaring that those guests are highly valued and respected. They even carefully reserve the traditional seat of honor ... the chair furthest from and facing the door.
My Bible says that Jesus wept over Jerusalem and her people when they missed their hour of visitation. I wonder if God weeps over us when we grieve His Spirit by clinging on to our agendas, schedules, and dinner forks instead of lingering, pursuing, and wooing Him with our worship and adoration? (Who will be held responsible for causing our cities to miss their visitation too?).
This sad scenario goes on service after service. We go through the motion of religious duty week after week and year after year thinking we have 'arrived.'
When will the Church realize that God isn't looking for the list ark; He knows where that is. He is looking for 'the lost worshippers' so that He can replace the list glory in the earth.
The first time Jesus came, He carried His glory lightly because He walked in humility. He tiptoed through our world so He would not disturb His creation, much as an adult tiptoes through a child's playroom to avoid breaking the toys. The next time Jesus appears, He will be astride a horse and will come in unrestrained power and authority to repossess the entire house. When His feet touch the top of the Mount of Olives, His kabod, His weighty glory, will be so great that the Mount of Olives will literally split in two. The eastern gate will suddenly open to allow His 'real' triumphant entry. The first was just the rehearsal. Next time He will be in costume! And every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
There is too much of man in the Church, and too little of God. Facing man can only cause us to respond to man's approval. Seek the face of God. Lose the fear of man --- and gain the fear of God.
If you really want an outbreak of the glory of God in your Church and city, you will have to forget about what anybody else except God thinks. Real revival happens only when true worshippers forget about man and turn their full attention and adoration toward God. We must forget about the opinions and approval or disapproval of people. We need to forget what they are saying, and forget what they are thinking. Only One opinion matters.
The reason that the world doesn't really fear God is because most of us in the Church don't really fear Him either. For many years, Christianity, for the most part, has been absent of a visitation of the fear of the Lord. How could they fear Him whose power they have never experienced? We like to talk about it while never really understanding it! But if you ever experience it, you will understand. Just as an encounter with electricity leaves you with a permanently endowed memory, so does a legitimate encounter with the manifest presence of God.
The reason you should desire an open heaven in your Church and city is because the demonic forces whom we battle lose their authority in the manifest presence of God (Mark 5:2-6). When God comes to the scene, there simply isn't a battle! There is no one left standing to even think about challenging Him. Even the demons are too busy running away or bowing their knees to the Almighty One.
The most alarming time is not when God comes to knock at our door. It is when the knocking stops
I want to see Jesus in all His power, vitality, beauty and glory. Show me Your face
I think too many of us are just too concerned about the approval of men to pursue the presence of God. We need to become like starving little children crying for help
Perhaps the greatest problem in the Church preventing the opening of the heavens today is the fear of man. Some leaders admit that the fear of man drives 90% of their decisions. Man-oriented and man-pleasing decisions are driving the Church toward spiritual bankruptcy and are closing the windows of Heaven.
Too many people would squander the anointing on unsanctified, unrepentant flesh to win man's approval. The anointing can only make purified flesh smell better temporarily if the root is a rotten and unrepentant, proud heart. Don't waste God's precious anointing by running after man's approval. Use it to prepare the Bride for the King.
Moses knew the difference between the anointing and the glory. He had the anointing of God. He knew the thrill of working miracles and signs and wonders through the anointing. Moses had a good thing, but he asked God for the best thing. He said, "Please show me Your glory."
The evidence of God's power in the anointing isn't enough anymore. The gifts, blessings, and provisions of His hands are appreciated, but I want more. I want Him. I long to see His glory and dwell in His manifest presence more than I long for the blessings of His hands.
Repentance is an on-going, daily requirements in the life of every disciple of Christ. That is why Jesus said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily (let him die to self through daily repentance), and follow Me.
God uses His anointing to train us, cleanse us, heal us, and prepare us for His manifest presence in ways reminiscent of the way the King's chamberlain prepared Esther for the king of Persia. In the end, the anointing takes us back to the altar of God, and the place of repentance. Repentance, in turn, can usher in the very glory of God.
The difference between the anointing of God and the glory of God is like the difference between the tiny blue spark of static electricity and the raw power of a 440-volt power line overhead or a lightning strike on your head.
We must have the manifest presence of God Himself on display for the world.
It is not the melodious quality voice that makes a difference; it is the melody pouring out from our heart that will make the difference and usher in the presence of God.
What is the priority of heaven? To talk to Him or talk about Him.
We need to stick with the one arena in which no one can compete with us - the art and ability to pull down the manifest presence of God. Technical perfection may win the praise of men, but only the anointing and glory of God can melt their hardened hearts.
At some point we have got to turn man's volume down and turn God's volume up. A Damascus Road encounter will turn a murderer like Saul into a martyr named Paul in less than 30 seconds. Perfected music won't do that, but perfect praise might attract Him, and His presence will!
The coming revival is not about sermons and information; it is going to be about worship and impartation.
Even our best "spiritual warfare" and our loudest screams against demonic forces can't compare with the power released when God turns on the light of His glory.
His manifest presence is going to be supreme. That means it won't really matter who speaks, who sings, who prays, or who does anything in those services - as long as He is there.
When we take on the responsibility of attracting people to the Church through 'program evangelism,' all we get is a crowd. The main purpose of the Church is to attract Him.
When people asked John Wesley how he drew many large crowds and led so many people to Christ, he told them, "I just set myself on fire for God and people come to see me burn. Just remember that you have no right to pray for the fire of God unless you are willing to be the fuel of God.
We busy ourselves teaching people how to be satisfied with somebody's laying hands on them, and we never told them that God's anointing on flesh is at best a cheap substitute for the manifest presence of God Himself coming down among them. Listen, if God shows up, you won't need me or anyone else to lay hands on you, I promise you. Seek the Anointer, not the anointed or even the anointing. There is a vast difference between my hands on your head and His finger writing on the fleshy wills of your heart.
Arsenal of Fire Ministries,
California, USA
中国人并不是这样。他们会很小心把所有注意力和精神集中在他们客人身上。他们把客人的福祉放在首位，努力不倦地看重客人的安舒、平静和快乐高过自己的。中国人为客人的到来预先细心准备的方式，正是宣告客人得到高度重视和尊重的公开声明。他们甚至认真地预留传统的荣誉座位 - 就是离门口最远面对着门口的椅子。
我的圣经说耶稣因着耶路撒冷和她的子民错过了祂来临的时刻而哭泣。我想，当我们紧抓住我们的计划安排、时间表和晚餐的叉，不在乎藉着敬拜和在崇拜里徘徊在神面前追求和取悦神，因而使圣灵担忧时，神会不会因着我们哭泣？
这令人难过的场面一次又一次出现在崇拜聚会过后。一星期又一星期、年复一年我们公式化地尽宗教义务，以为我们已经“抵达了”。
教会要到什么时候才会意识到神不是在寻找那失去了的方舟；祂知道它在哪里。祂是在寻找“迷失的敬拜者”，好让祂能更新地球上失去了的荣耀。
耶稣第一次来临时，只带着一丝的荣耀，因祂在谦卑里行走。祂踮着脚尖走过世界，不要打扰祂的受造物，就像一个成年人踮着脚尖走过孩子的游戏室，避免踏坏地上的玩具。耶稣下一次出现的时候，他将骑在马上带着毫无保留的能力和权柄来收回整间房屋。当祂的脚触碰橄榄山顶时，祂的尊荣和浓厚的荣耀将是如此浩大，橄榄山会真的被分为两半。东边的城门将突然打开，让祂“真正的”凯旋进入。第一次的只是彩排而已。下一次祂将会穿着礼服！万膝将要跪拜、万口将要宣认耶稣基督是主。
教会里有太多人意和太少神。看着人面只会使我们为了人的称许来反应。寻求神的面。除去对人的恐惧 --- 和增加对神的敬畏。
如果你真想神的荣耀在你的教会和城市里大大彰显的话，你就必须忘记除了神以外任何人的想法。真正的复兴只会在真正的崇拜者忘记人并把全部注意力和敬仰放在神身上时才会发生。我们必须忘记人的意见和人的称许或不赞同。我们要忘记他们在说什么、想什么。只有一个意见 - 神的意见是至关重要。
世界还没有真正敬畏神的原因，是我们大多数在教会里的人也不真正敬畏祂。多年来，基督教在大部分情况下，都没有显出对耶和华的敬畏。他们从未经历过祂的大能，怎能敬畏祂呢？我们喜欢谈论它，而从来没有真正理解它！但你若经历过它，你就会明白。就如曾经触电会给你留下永久的记忆，一次真实的神同在彰显的经历也是如此。
你们应该渴望天堂向你们教会和城市敞开，因为与我们的争战的邪恶势力会在神同在的彰显中失去权柄（马可福音5：2-6）。当神来到现场时，对手根本不能作战！没有可以留下站着或甚至考虑挑战祂的。连污鬼也要忙着逃跑或者向那全能者屈膝跪下。这就是为什么我这样强调，通过营造让神同在彰显的环境来打开天窗的重要性。
最令人惊恐的时刻，不是神来敲我们心门的时候，而是当敲门停止时。
我想要看耶稣带着祂全部能力、活力、美丽和荣耀。请让我看袮的面。
我想我们当中有太多人在追求神同在时太在乎别人的认同。我们需要像饥饿的小孩般哭着祈求帮助。
也许今天在教会里拦阻天窗打开最大的问题是对人的恐惧。一些领袖承认，对人的恐惧主使了他们90％的决定。以人意为本、讨人喜悦的决定正促使教会在属灵上破产，并关闭天上的窗。
太多人为了赢取人的称许，把恩膏挥霍在没有分别为圣、不愿悔改的肉体上。如果根源是腐烂、不愿悔改和骄傲的心，恩膏只能使洁净了的肉体暂时闻起来好一点。不要追求人的称许而浪费神宝贵的恩膏。把它用來为王预备新妇。
摩西知道恩膏和荣耀的不同。他有神的恩膏。他晓得藉著恩膏行异能神迹奇事的刺激感。摩西有一件好东西，但他求神最好的东西。他说：“求袮显出袮的荣耀给我看。”
神在恩膏中力量的证据已经不再足够。我感激祂的恩赐、祝福和祂手的供应，但我想要更多。我要祂。我渴望看见祂的荣耀和居住在祂同在的彰显里，多过想要祂手里的祝福。
悔改是每个基督门徒生命里持续不断、每天的要求。这就是为什么耶稣说，让他舍己，天天背起他的十字架（让他透过每天悔改来治死自己）来跟从我。
神用祂的恩膏来训练、洁净、医治我们，预备我们经历祂同在的彰显，就像波斯王的管家为王预备以斯帖一般。最终，恩膏带我们回到神的祭坛和悔改的地方。悔改之后就引进神的荣耀。
神的恩膏与荣耀的分别，就如一小点蓝色静电的火花与440伏特的架空电缆或是雷击在你头上的能量的分别。
我们要有神亲自同在的彰显给世界看见。
与别不同的不是悦耳优美的声音；不一样的是从我们内心涌流出来的旋律，那会迎来神的同在。
天堂里优先的是什么？与祂说话或谈论祂。
我们要驻守着那没人能与我们竞争的场地 - 把神同在彰显带下来的艺术和能力。技术上的完美可能会赢取人的称赞，但只有神的恩膏和荣耀能融化他们刚硬了的心。
到了一个地步我们必须把人的声量调低和把神的声量调高。在大马士革的相遇可以在30秒内把一个谋杀者扫罗改变成殉道者保罗。完美的音乐做不到这点，但完美的赞美也许会吸引到祂，而祂的同在则一定可以！
正在来临的复兴并不是在乎讲道和资讯，乃将是在乎敬拜和传授。
即使我们最好的“属灵争战”和我们对邪恶势力最大声的尖叫，也不能跟神打开祂荣耀的光芒时所释放的能力相比。
祂同在的彰显将是至高无上的。这意味着无论是谁讲话、谁唱歌、谁祷告或谁做什么事奉都没有所谓 - 只要祂同在。
当我们负起用“节目布道”来吸引人们来教会的责任时，我们最多只能得到人群。教会主要的目的是吸引祂。
当人们问约翰·卫斯理怎样吸引大批群众和带领那么多人相信基督时，他告诉他们：“我只是叫自己为神燃烧，人们就来看我焚烧。紧记着你没有权利祷告求神的火，除非你愿意成为神的燃料。“
我们忙着教导人们要满足于被人按手在身上，但我们从未告诉他们：神的恩膏在肉体上，最多只是神亲自同在彰显的廉价代替品而已。请听，我向你保证，如果神临到，你不需要我或任何其他人按手在你身上。要追求施恩膏者，而不是被膏者或恩膏。我的手在你头上，跟祂的指头写在你心中属血气的意志上，是有极大分别的。
洪光炳（保罗）牧师
烈火军火库事工
美国加州
www.AF-Ministries.com
