In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of dividing, killing, and healing in the context of the word of God. He emphasizes that righteousness is the strongest point in a person's life, but it can be broken by a revelation of the majesty of God. The preacher explains that God uses different methods, such as light or the discipline of the Holy Spirit, to break the outward man and release the spirit within. He also highlights that God arranges everything in a believer's life, even the smallest details like the falling of a hair, to show His love and care. The sermon concludes by emphasizing that God works with each person individually, taking into account the unique shape of their soul and temperament.

We'll first turn to 1 Timothy chapter 4. 请我们先翻开提摩太前书第四章。 We'll read from verse 8 to verse 10. 提摩太前书第四章从八节读到第十节。 Exercise thyself unto piety or godliness, for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but godliness is profitable for everything, having promise of life of the present one and of that to come. 苍人身体一处还少,唯独近前凡事都有一处, 应有今生和来生的应许。 The word is faithful and worthy of all acceptation. 这话是可信的,是十分可佩服的。 For this we labor and suffer reproach, because we hope in a living God, who is preserver of all men, especially of those that believe. 我们劳苦努力正是如此, 因为我们的指望在乎永生的神, 他是万人的救助,更是信徒的救助。 2 Corinthians chapter 4 哥文多后书第四章 2 Corinthians chapter 4 哥文多后书第四章 We'll begin with verse 7 从第七节开始 and we'll read through verse 18 从第七节读到十八节 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the surpassingness of the power may be of God and not from us. 我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里, 要想明这莫大的能力是出于神,不是出于我们。 Every way afflicted, but not straightened, seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up. 我们四面受敌,却不被困住, 心理作难,却不致失望。 Persecuted, but not abandoned, cast down, but not destroyed. 遭逼迫,却不被丢弃, 打倒了,却不致死亡。 Always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. 身上常带着耶稣的死, 使耶稣的生也显明在我们身上。 For we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 因为我们这活着的人 是常为耶稣被浇于死地, 使耶稣的生在我们这必死的身上显明出来。 So that death works in us, but life in you. 这样看来,死在我们身上发动, 生却在你们身上发动。 And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken. We also believe, therefore also we speak. 但我们既有信心, 正如经上记者说, 我因信,所以如此说话。 我们也信,所以也说话。 Knowing that he who has raised the Lord Jesus shall raise us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you. 自己知道那叫主耶稣复活的, 也必叫我们与耶稣一同复活, 并且叫我们与你们一同站在他面前。 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 凡事都是为你们, 好叫恩惠因人多月发加增, 感谢格外显多以至荣耀归于神。 Wherefore we faint not, but if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed day by day. 所以我们不丧胆, 万体虽然毁坏, 内心却一天新赐一天。 For our momentary and light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory. 我们这至淡至轻的苦处 要为我们成就那极重无比永远的荣耀。 While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen, for the things that are seen are for a time, but those that are not seen, eternal. 原来我们不是顾念所见的, 乃是顾念所不见的, 因为所见的是暂时的, 所不见的是永远的。 And will you please turn to the Gospel according to John. 我们再翻开约翰福音。 John chapter 12. 约翰福音第十二章。 We'll read from verse 24 through to verse 26. 我们从二十四节读到二十六节。 我实实在在地告诉你们, 一粒麦子不过在地里死了, 仍旧是一粒, 若是死了,就结出许多的子粒来。 He that loves his life, and the word life here is soul life, shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world, shall keep it to life eternal, and the life here is zoe, God's divine life. 爱惜自己生命的, 这个生命是讲到魂的生命, 就释放生命, 在这世上恨恶自己生命的, 就要保守生命到永生, 这个生命是神的生命。 If anyone serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there also shall be my servant, and if anyone serve me, he shall the father honor. 若有人服侍我就当跟从我, 我在哪里, 服侍我的人也要在那里, 若有人服侍我, 我父必尊重他。 May we have a further word of prayer. 我们再有一点的祷告。 Dear Lord, we do want to thank Thee for gathering us together again this day. 我们感谢您, 今天再把我们聚在您的跟前。 Every time when we gather in Thy name, 每一次我们奉您的名聚集的时候, we are assured that Thy presence is with us. 我们实在觉得您的同在在我们当中。 Dear Lord, we treasure nothing more than Thy own presence. 我们实在宝贵您自己的同在。 Will you please manifest Thyself to each and every one of us. 求您向我们每一个人显明您的自己。 Open our hearts that we may see Thee. 打开我们的心,叫我们能够遇见您。 Open our eyes that we may see Thee. 开我们的眼睛,叫我们能够看见您。 Open our ears that we may hear Thee. 开通我们的耳朵,叫我们能够听到您。 Thou art all that we desire. 您是我们所宝贝的一切。 Will you not fill us this day. 愿您充满我们。 And bring us into all that Thou has ordained for us. 把我们带进您预定给我们的一切。 That Thou may be glorified. 让您的名得者涌耀。 We ask in Thy precious name. 我们奉您宝贵的名祷告。 Amen. Thank God for gathering us together again this day. 感谢主教我们再聚在他的跟前。 I hope that we all remember the theme that God has given to us for this time. 我们希望大家都记得这一次主给我们的主题。 We are talking about spiritual exercise. 我们这次是讲到署名的操练。 And this is something that not only we should hear it, but actually we are all involved in it. 不单止是我们听到的, 我们也实在要进入其中。 Exercise. Every one of us must do it. 每个人都需要有操练。 Nobody can exercise for you. 别人不能够替你来有操练。 So I hope, dear brothers and sisters, that we are here in the gymnasium, ready to exercise. 我们就好像在体育馆里面, 我们预备好了要在这里操练。 You know, in exercising, you must apply yourself. 当我们要操练的时候, 我们自己要投入。 And you must do it constantly. 你要不断地在那里做。 You must do it according to rule. 你要照着规则来做。 And you must relax. 而且你要在那里要放松自己。 If you do not relax and you are tense, you cannot exercise. 如果你在那里很紧张的, 你就好像不能够有好的锻炼。 So I hope, dear brothers and sisters, relax. 希望弟兄姊妹你们能够稍微轻松一点。 Let the Spirit of God do His work. 让圣灵在这里做工。 We have mentioned that the one basic and fundamental exercise is consecration. 我们已经讲到, 最基本的署名操练乃是奉献。 Because this is the door to all spiritual exercises. 因为这乃是进入一切署名操练的门。 Consecration is not only a door, but it is a way. 奉献不单单是操练的门, 也是那条道路。 Consecration is something that we need to daily exercise. 奉献乃是我们每天都要操练的。 You cannot say five years ago, I have consecrated myself. 你不能够说五年前, 我已经把自己献上了。 That doesn't work. 这个是不行的。 You have to see that you have to consecrate morning and evening. 你要每天早上有奉献, 晚上有奉献。 It is like the burn offering. 就好像梵祭一样。 The fire of burn offering never goes out. 梵祭一生的火是永不熄灭的。 And consecration is something that is deepened all the time. 奉献乃是一步一步地更加深。 You add and add to your consecration. 你一直在奉献的上面要增长。 Not only every day, there will be the daily burn offering. 不单止每天有那梵祭献上, But when it comes to new moon, you add something to it. 当到月满的时候, 你要加上更多的祭物。 When it comes to festivals, more to be added. 当要到节气的时候, 还要加入更多的祭神。 So this is the way of consecration. 这是奉献的道路。 We should be on the altar all the time. 我们应该一直停在祭坛上。 And we should be all of us, all of oneself, be on the altar. 整个的人在祭坛上。 This is the basic of all spiritual exercises. 这是署名仓炼的基础。 Then we mentioned something about the dividing of soul and spirit. 我们也讲到灵与魂的分开。 After we believe in the Lord Jesus, 当我们信任了主之后, the dead spirit in us has been quickened into life. 死了的灵现在苏醒过来, 得了生命。 And the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in our spirit. 圣灵临到就住在我们的灵里面。 The Holy Spirit who dwells in our spirit is the life of our spirit. 圣灵住在我们的灵里面 就是我们的灵的生命。 But we mentioned before, 我们也提过, who dwells in our soul. 谁住在我们的魂里面呢? We know that self, our fallen nature, our Adam, dwells in our soul. 我们就发现我们的己, 就是我们堕落的那个天性, 亚当的生命, 住在我们的魂里面。 So to a believer, 对一个信主的人, you will discover that within yourselves there are two different lives. 所以你就发现在你里面有两个生命。 In your spirit, there is the divine life. 在你的灵里面有神的生命。 While in your soul, you still have your human fallen I. 在你的魂里面, 仍然是有你那堕落的己。 There are two different lives in two different areas. 在这里有两个不同的生命, 在两个不同的地方。 According to your inward feeling, 根据你里面的感觉, you want to please God. 你愿意讨神的喜悦。 But according to your outward feeling, you want to please yourself. 但是根据你外面的感觉, 你愿意讨你自己的喜欢。 And that's the reason why, to believers, you begin to experience this civil war within yourself. 所以在一信主的来讲, 你里面就发生了内战。 I think it is a very important thing in our Christian life. 我实在觉得在我们基督徒生命的里面, 这是非常的重要。 That we will sense the dividing of the soul and the spirit. 我们要感觉得到灵与魂的分开。 Because its result is far reaching. 因为这个结果是带到很远的路。 You know, the tactic, the strategy of the enemy of God is to boost your soul. 你知道仇敌的策略乃是要高举我们的魂。 This is his ancient strategy. 这是他古老的战略。 And he is still practicing it today. 今天还在那里操作。 In the Garden of Eden, 在伊甸园里面, he tempted Eve's soul. 他在那里引诱了夏娃的魂。 He wants Eve's soul to grow. 他要夏娃的魂长大。 He wants Eve's soul so grow that he may be independent of God. 他要夏娃的魂在那里膨胀, 叫她要向神宣布独立。 But behind it, 但后面呢? If Eve should do that, then she falls into Satan's hand. 当夏娃这样的话就接受了撒旦的, 进入撒旦的手中。 So the strategy of the enemy is always try to kill your spirit and boost your soul. 仇敌的策略一直都是要杀死你的灵 来高举你自己的魂。 我们就在伊甸园里面看到这样的事情。 灵死了。 魂就非常的活。 从那个时候开始, 从亚当开始, 从亚当生的就都有亚当的本性。 所以你就发现世上的人, 他们是靠着他们魂的生命而活, 没有灵的生命。 他们与神没有接触。 他们自己为中心, 自以为是, 都是自己。 但是很可惜, 就是神的儿女, 他们也发现只有心的一个生命, 但是他们还是活在旧灯里面。 就算今天的教会也在那里传讲说, 你只有魂与身子。 教会甚至在那里传讲说, 灵与魂是没有分别的。 所以今天你看到在基督教的里面, 一切的教导跟一切的做法, 就是怎么样来高抬魂生命。 而不是高抬魂生命。 不是在那里要我们操练属灵的生命。 但是神的策略正好与这相反。 神的心意乃是叫我们的灵被升高。 他要我们的魂来降伏。 所以我们是过一个依靠神的生活。 我们能够与神同行。 亲爱的弟兄姊妹, 我们需要来明白神的策略与仇敌的策略。 能够分开灵与魂是多么的重要。 这也是为什么我们下面一个属灵的操练, 乃是讲到灵与魂的分开。 当我们在神的话里面我们看到, 灵与魂的分开不是根据我们自己的感觉。 不是根据我们自己的分析。 因为如果我们在这里分析的话, 这个分析根本就是在魂里面。 所以我们又掉到魂生命里面。 所以魂跟灵怎么样能够被分开? 这个操练在哪里? 在这里你需要放松一下。 如果你是那样的吃硬,紧张的话, 你就没有办法看到灵与魂的分开。 但是很可惜的, 好的基督徒都是比较紧张的基督徒。 好的基督徒不会放松。 他们要讨神的喜悦。 他们要活一个属灵的生活。 他们经常在这里问, 这是出于魂的还是出于灵的呢? 这是出于神的呢? 还是我自己呢? 你就非常的紧张。 你就非常的紧张。 所以这几个紧张的基督徒, 应该是个好的基督徒啊。 弟兄姊妹们, 魂跟灵怎么样能够被分开呢? 你要记住你是一个寄生。 你是一个被献在坛上的寄生。 那个寄生不能够是在那里作弊不安的。 你要做的就是安静地躺在寄坛上。 主啊,我在这里。 我是你的。 你要把我的灵与魂分开。 如果你真是安息在主的面前, 仰望基督, 你就发现圣灵会叫神的话, 苏醒在你的身上。 他会告诉你哪是属于灵的,哪是属于魂的。 今天我们要在超面上进一步。 分开,叫我们知道灵与魂的分开。 But dividing doesn't mean that the soul is broken and the spirit is released. 你把灵跟魂分开并不代表说魂给破碎了,灵给释放了。 So this morning we would like to continue with our spiritual exercise. 今天我们要继续我们属灵的超面。 We will be considering this matter of the breaking of the awkward man and the release of the spirit. 我们要来看外面的人的破碎与里面的人的释放。 You remember in Hebrews chapter 4, 你们记得在希伯来第四章里面, When the Word of God is talking about this matter of dividing the soul and the spirit, 当神的话这里讲到要分开魂与灵。 He said that the Word of God is like a sharp to edge sword, Penetrating and dividing the soul and spirit as dividing the bones and the marrow. 这里说到神的道就像一把两刃的利剑, 能比两刃利剑更快, 甚至魂与灵,骨节与骨髓都能够刺入,抛开。 The relationship of the bone and the marrow is the relationship of the soul and the spirit. 这么一讲到骨跟骨髓, 就是这个关系就跟魂与灵的关系一样。 The bone serves as the shelter of the marrow. 这个骨头乃是骨髓的那个阴蔽的地方。 So the spirit is within the soul. 灵是在魂的里面。 The soul is like a shell. 魂乃是那个外壳。 And the spirit is the content. 灵才是那个内容。 The bones are the structure. 骨头是外面的结构。 And the marrow is the life. 骨髓乃是生命。 So you find that our spirit is imprisoned in the soul. 我们的灵是在魂的监狱里面。 Oftentimes we find our spirit cannot be released, because it is confined by the soul. 我们经常都感觉我们的灵不能够出来, 不能够释放,是被魂来挟制了。 Within my heart, I am willing. 在我的心里面我愿意啊。 But I found I'm bound. I cannot do what I want to do. 但是我觉得我被捆绑, 我不能够做我要做的。 And I do what I do not want to do. 而我行出来不是我要行的。 Because our soul is so strong, our spirit is so weak. 因为我们的魂是那样的强, 我们的灵是那样的弱。 So brothers and sisters, the problem here is your soul has to be broken. 这个问题乃是在你的魂要被破碎。 But do not misunderstand. 但你不要误会。 The breaking of the soul does not mean the annihilation of the soul. 这个魂的破碎不是说把魂去掉。 Because if the soul is annihilated, the person is gone. 因为如果把魂去掉的话, 这个人就没有了。 So you find the soul as an organ is still there. 所以魂作为一个器官, 它仍然在这里。 It is just to be purified. 就是它要被炼进。 But the life within the soul has to die. 那魂里面的生命要死。 The life within the soul has to be changed. 魂的生命要被改变。 Instead of I in the soul, it has to be displaced by Christ in my soul. 要把魂里面的我 让基督来代替。 Formally, it is I who use all the faculties of my soul. 从前是我来运用魂里面一切的结构与器官。 Who thinks? I think. 我想。 Who feels? I feel. Who decides? I decide. So you find it is the I-life that is using my soul. 所以你就发现是我的生命来用你的魂。 It is a fallen life. 这是一个堕落的生命。 So no wonder to sin is with me, but to do good is not in me. 所以难怪犯罪由得我不犯罪由不得我。 Brothers and sisters, where does Christ dwell in your life? 基督住在你哪里呢? He dwells in your spirit. 他住在你的灵里面。 But he has to come out and sit on the throne of your soul. 他要从灵里面释放出来,坐在你魂的宝座上。 He must displace the I in your soul. 他要在你魂里面取替那个我。 And he will be in charge of your soul. 他要掌管你的魂。 He will use your feelings. 他要使用你的感觉。 He will use your mind. 他要用你的心思。 He will use your volition. 他要用你的感觉。 So everything that comes out represents Christ and not you. 所以每一件活出来的都代表基督而不再代表你。 That's metamorphosis. 这是蕊变。 This is transformation. 这是改变。 This is we are being transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. 这是我们被改变给磨成基督的形象。 And this is something that is going on at present. 这是在现在要进行着的。 This is the salvation of the soul. 这乃是魂的救恩。 The salvation of the spirit is the past. 灵的救恩是过去的。 We already have it. The salvation of the soul is now. 魂的救恩是现在。 Transformation. 是改变。 And the salvation of the body is resurrection. 体的救恩乃是那一天要复活。 So brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹们, do you know that there is a salvation going on every day in your life? 你知道吗? 在你每天生活的里面, 有一个救恩在那里进行着呢? For the spirit life to be released. 让灵的生命能够出来。 So that you may live a spiritual life. 所以你能够活一个属灵的生活。 And you may have spiritual service. 你才能够有属灵的侍奉。 And you may have spiritual worship. 你才能够有属灵的敬拜。 You have to go through this process of the breaking of the awkward man and the release of the spirit. 你一定要经过这样的过程, 乃是外面人的破碎, 里面人的出来。 Now, in order that we may understand this, 为了叫我们能够明白, the Bible uses two different parables. Now, one is in 2 Corinthians 4. In verse 7, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. 有这宝贝放在瓦器里。 Now, you notice that the treasure here is singular number. 这里这个宝贝乃是单数。 But the vessels here is plural number. 那个瓦器是众数。 Now, why is it so? 为什么这样呢? Because the earthen vessel represents us. 因为瓦器是代表我们。 And if you read on, you will find it refers to our awkward man. 如果你读进去的话, 你就会发现这是代表我们外面的人。 You can see this in verse 16. 你在十六节你就可以看到啊。 Wherefore we fade not, but if indeed our awkward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed day by day. 十六节说, 所以我们不上胆, 外气, 外面的人虽然毁坏, 内心却一天心刺一天。 So here you find another two terms used to represent soul and spirit. 所以你在这里又看到另外一个名词, 来代表灵与魂。 Awkward man refers to our soul. 这里说外面的是代表我们的魂。 We are earthen vessel. 我们是瓦器。 This is what man is. 这个就是里面的意思。 We are opaque. 我们是瓦器。 We are not very clear. 我们不很清楚,模糊。 Earth 是属地的。 It is not transparent. 不是透明的。 And you find that earth is everywhere. 你看到到处都有泥。 All of us are just earthen vessel. 其实我们大家都是泥做的瓦器。 Do you agree that you are an earthen vessel? 你同意你是一个瓦器吗? We think of ourselves as alabaster flask. 我们想我们自己都是非常地尊贵的。 玉瓶。 玉瓶。 You remember Mary? 你记得玛丽亚吗? How she came to the Lord? 她如何来到主的跟前? She had an alabaster flask. 她那里有一个玉瓶。 And within the flask there is a pure nard. A pound of pure nard. 在那个玉瓶里面蒸满了香膏。 That's a very, very expensive ointment. 那是非常贵的香膏。 Maybe Mary preserved this for her marriage. 玛丽亚可能是储存为了她结婚用的。 This was her treasure. 这是她的宝贝。 But she was so touched by the Lord. 但她实在让主摸着她。 She was so grateful to the Lord in calling her brother back to life. 她实在感谢神, 叫她的兄弟从死里复活。 She wanted to do something to the Lord. 她要为主摆上一点。 What could she do? 她能够做什么呢? She took her most precious treasure. 她就把她最宝贝的东西拿出来。 An alabaster flask with a pound of pure lard. She came to the Lord. 她来到主的跟前。 Open it up. 打开它。 And drop a few drops. 是不是给他两滴呢? No, 不是。 She came to the Lord. Break the alabaster flask. 她来到主的跟前, 把这拿大的香膏打碎。 浇香膏在主的头上。 弟兄姊妹们, 这是外面人的破碎, 里面灵的出来。 因为我们只是瓦器。 但是我们却看我们是真拿大香膏的玉瓶。 我们好像要保存自己。 我们不愿意破碎我们自己。 因为我们要保存我们自己。 The treasure, the light of the treasure cannot be diffused. The treasure is one. In all the earthen vessels, there is only one treasure. Christ. He is our treasure. If I have a treasure, will I put it in an earthen vessel? No, I will put it in a golden box. That is the wonder of God's work. God puts His most precious treasure into the lowest, humblest vessel. Who but God will do that? Did you ever thank God for that? Did you ever thank God for that? That He should put Christ into such a humble, mean, worthless person as I am. Why did He do that? He wants a radiancy. Of the glory of God be manifested. But He is imprisoned within us. You remember what our Lord said. In Luke chapter 12. He said, I have a baptism to be baptized. I feel so strengthened. Our Lord Jesus. He has a human soul. Just like we are. Our soul is contaminated. But His soul is pure. His feeling is pure. His thinking is pure. His volition is pure. And yet, He feels that He is being imprisoned. He wants to be released. And the release came. There you'll find He was broken. And His life was released. So brothers and sisters, you'll find the Lord shows us that we are earthen vessels. The earthen vessels have to crack. Has to be broken. So that the light of the treasure, the radiancy of the glory of God may come forth. That's the reason why the Apostle Paul says, I bear in my body the dying of Jesus. The death there is not a noun. It is a verbal noun. Dying. Dying. The death of Jesus has the power of putting everything to death. So, Paul said, the dying of Jesus works in me. The dying of Jesus so works in me that my soul life is broken. So the life of Christ may be manifested in me. Death in me, but life in you. That is the way of ministry. Brothers and sisters, so here you'll find my outward man is decayed. But my inward man is renewed day by day. The sin seems to be passing by. But the unseen is eternal. Now that is the breaking of the outward man. For the release of the inward man. Now there is another illustration. And that is in John chapter 12. You remember the story. That happened during the last visit of our Lord Jesus to Jerusalem. You remember he has a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As if the whole world is now for him. Even the Gentiles, the Greeks, wanted to see Jesus. Humanly speaking, this is the most glorious time of our Lord Jesus' life. And strangely, when Philip and Andrew came to the Lord and said, some Gentiles, Greeks, want to see you. Our Lord Jesus said, the hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. But when he said the Son of Man shall be glorified, his meaning is the opposite of the world's sense. In the world's sense, now all the world is after him. That is glory. But in the heart of our Lord Jesus, he speaks of the cross. That is the time of his being glorified. Therefore he said, verily, verily, I say unto you, except the grain of wheat falling into the ground and die, it abides alone. But if it die, it bears much fruit. Our Lord Jesus is the grain of wheat. Before he fall into the ground, there was no wheat on earth. The whole field is filled with donalds. We are all donalds. Our Lord is the wheat. He falls into the ground. That speaks of his incarnation. If he falls into the ground and remains, and then among the transfiguration he exits, there will be no grain of earth. But the grain of wheat fall into the ground and die. He came to die. Why? If it die, it bears much fruit. And here we are. So the Lord began to explain it. He said, he that loves his life shall lose it. This applies not only to himself, but to all of us. If anyone loves his soul life, in other words, that grain of wheat will not die. You put that grain of wheat on the table. A thousand years, it is still that grain of wheat. There is life within. But outwardly there was a shell to protect it, to preserve it. But as long as the shell is not decayed, the life within will not be released. If the outward man is not broken, the inward man cannot be released. If we keep our shell, we love our soul life, the Lord said, you will lose it. But you hate your soul life. Who hates his soul life? No one. We love it. We preserve it. We protect it. We defend it. But unless we hate this soul life, we will not be able to preserve it, that is, to save it. And more than that, to life eternal. In other words, not only your soul will be saved, but the divine life in you will be released. And the Lord said, if anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there also shall be my servant. This is where the Lord is. So this is where you should be. And if anyone serves him, the Father will honor him. So dear brothers and sisters, you find in these two parables, we can see the necessity of the breaking of the awkward man and the release of the soul. Now we call it a spiritual exercise. Now can you break your awkward man? Nobody can. This is a work by the Holy Spirit. Again you find that consecration is the foundation. If you are consecrated, you are willing to go this way, then the Holy Spirit will work in you. The work of the Holy Spirit for the breaking of the awkward man and the release of the spirit is twofold. Number one, the enlightenment or the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Number two, the discipline of the Holy Spirit. The enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is within. Number three, the discipline of the Holy Spirit is without. So the Lord used these two ways to bring us into the breaking of the awkward man. We have already said, it is the Holy Spirit who uses the word of God to divide the soul and the spirit. But he is not only to divide it, he is to break it. What's the use of dividing if it's not broken? Thank God he has shed some light upon us. So we begin to see what is the soul, what is of the spirit. But we need further light. In other words, throughout our Christian life, we need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. We have no new revelation. That is, any revelation outside of the revealed word of God. Because all the revelation has been completed in this book. But that doesn't mean that we have no revelation. On the contrary, we need to live constantly under revelation. That is to say, the Holy Spirit has to enlighten his word and make it living and operative in our lives. Maybe I will use an illustration. Maybe I will use Watchman Lee's experience. I can quote a number of people. But for time's sake, I will just use one. Now, our dear brother Watchman Lee, after he was saved, he really loved the Lord. He spent lots of time reading the word of God. And he began to serve God. For several years, he was disturbed before God. Because he had heard the so-called Kazakh teaching. Higher life teaching. As Paul said, an old man was crucified with Christ. Therefore, I am delivered from the power of sin. And brother Lee, he said he tried to reckon himself as dead in Christ and alive in Christ. But the more he reckoned himself dead in Christ, the more alive he became. So he sought the Lord. He prayed. He read the word. Nothing happened. He was not delivered from the power of sin. But one day, while he was in his room studying the word, suddenly, light came to him. When Christ died, I died. How? Christ died 2,000 years ago. How can I die when he died 2,000 years ago? Suddenly, the Lord showed him. Because you are in Christ. Because you are in him. So when he died, you died. Now, suddenly, light breaks out. And he was immediately released. He ran downstairs. And in the kitchen, he met a brother. He said, brother, do you know that I died? And the brother said, what happened? Are you troubled with Romans 6? Have you been trying to reckon yourself as dead? And the more you reckon, the more alive you become. You need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. You know, thank God for the Bible. But the letter kills. The Spirit quickens. So, we need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit to shed his light upon us. In our spirit, suddenly, it enlightens. And when the light comes, it not only divides, it heals. It heals. Usually, the work of the Holy Spirit in breaking your awkward man will touch your prominent part. You know, when you are walking, and you hit the wall, which part of your body hits first? Nose. That projects out. You know, our soul is like that. And when you are walking, in every soul, there is special projection. This is your strong point. Your strength. Unless the Holy Spirit touches that, it is not broken. But when that is touched, you are broken. Some people are very clever. And unless your cleverness is touched by the Holy Spirit, your soul is not broken. So that's the reason why we need to seek the Lord that he will shine upon us. Search. As a searchlight, search every part of our soul. Divide it, kills it, and heals it. So, the strongest point of his life is righteousness. Self-righteous. Until that is broken. And it is broken by a vision, a revelation of the majesty of God. Not by reason. But by who? When he saw the Lord, he repented in dust and ashes. He was a broken man. But he was a new man. So dear brothers and sisters, the Lord sometimes used light to break the outward man. And other times, he used what we call the discipline of the Holy Spirit. He will arrange our circumstances. You know, I often say, to those who are redeemed, God loves us so much. He will arrange everything for us. To a believer, there is nothing called by chance. Everything is arranged by our God. Even our hair has been numbered. This morning, when you comb your hair, and hair number 10,001 falls down. God knows it. That's the love of God. He knows exactly what is best for you. So he will arrange your environment. Nothing happens by chance. The people you are with today, the circumstances you encounter, everything in your life is arranged by the Holy Spirit. He used that arrangement to break your outward man. The best example is Jacob. You know Jacob the Twister. How he can maneuver and play, and he always comes on top. But God saw a rage. He had to flee for his life. And he was away from home for 20 years. And he met his match. God saw a rage that Lebanon was as tricky as he. And they maneuver against each other. He seemed to always come to the top. But he got into an impossible situation. He had to flee again. And you remember in Genesis 32, how he was all alone wrestling with the angels. Even the angel cannot overcome him. Do you know how strong you are? Do I know how strong my soul is? Like Jacob. The angel cannot overcome him. And then the angel touched his thigh. You know in wrestling, the most important point is the thigh. So the angel touched his thigh. And he was crippled. You know what happened? He hang upon the angel. Bless me. Otherwise I cannot live anymore. And the angel said, what was your name? Jacob. Now you shall be called Israel. Prince of God. Brothers and sisters, God used environment to break Jacob. From now on, Jacob walked freely. He was not perfect yet. But he was crippled. And finally, in his old age, he blessed Pharaoh, the greatest king in the world. And he leaned upon his rod to worship God. Brothers and sisters, this is the breaking of the outward man. And the release of the spirit. So God uses these two ways. And these two work together. God according to his wisdom, to everyone he works livingly. Do not try to be like other people. Because everyone is special to him. And he deals with us everyone specially. He knows the shape of our soul. You know our soul has a shape. Just like a body has a shape. No two bodies are exactly alike. Even twins. No two souls are exactly alike. This is how special we are. The shape of our soul is our temperament. That's the shape of our soul. Some people are naturally slow. Some people are naturally quick. Some people are born introvert. And some people are born extrovert. Some people are very active. Outgoing. Some people are very reserved and hidden. Nothing wrong with that. That's your shape. And God will deal with you according to that. So our experience is all different. Some people's experience are very drastic. Some people experience slowly, slowly, slowly and then you got it. But thank God the result is the same. The breaking of the outward man and the release of the spirit. So may the Lord lead us in this spiritual exercise. Dear Lord, we do commit these scattered words into your hands. We trust thy Holy Spirit to make it living and operating. And lead us in this way of life. We thank thee and praise thee in thy precious name. Amen.