A pastor, who has been serving in grassroots churches for over two decades, always says, "You need to experience God," when he meets a person.
Reverend Ju, who has been stationed in a southern Chinese city for more than twenty years, often went to church with his mother since young, following his mother's faith. In his youth, he found God’s teachings to be excellent and was willing to follow God's word, but he said he believed rationally. However, when he began practicing God's truth, he discovered that while his spirit was willing, his flesh was weak. Even as someone already serving God, he found himself unable to live out God's word.
He was already 26 years old when he experienced God’s renewal and transformation. For the first time, he felt, "God is with me, and I belong to God." When God's grace came upon him, his heart was enlightened. From that point on, he felt that he had finally begun to preach the kind of messages that could bring people into God’s presence.
"This is the first threshold of faith," the pastor said. If a Christian, even a pastor, has not passed this stage, their subsequent faith and service are meaningless. Without a renewed life, a person may understand God's word theoretically, with a lack of conviction and is even unclear. They are uncertain when they testify to others about the gospel or preach the truth.
In fact, many Christians in the church, and even some pastors, have not experienced spiritual renewal.
As for how Christians can experience God, be renewed, and be transformed, the pastor said, "When a believer stays in the church listening to sermons and waits for the work of the Holy Spirit, they will inevitably be transformed."
The pastor not only experienced God himself but also witnessed many others experiencing God's grace.
One Christian man from the pastor's church, upon hearing that the pastor was going out to serve, insisted on accompanying him. That day, he unexpectedly arrived at another church, sat in the front row, and began to listen attentively. During that sermon, he experienced God’s renewal and was reborn and saved. Others have experienced renewal from God during prayers of repentance.
"God’s word is like a seed," the pastor added. "But a person's heart must also be prepared. When the Holy Spirit works, the seed will sprout. However, if a believer attends services but lacks sincerity, they may still not experience rebirth and salvation."
To help believers experience God, the pastor often reminds them to make prayers of repentance. However, he cautions, "If you don't have the assurance of salvation, don’t assume you are saved. For those who are assured of their salvation, do not waver or doubt."
The pastor continued, "Many times, we hear God's word and assume that we are saved. But in reality, we cannot obey God’s word, and there is no change in our behavior. This indicates that we lack the true faith."
The changes in a person’s life after coming to faith also vary from person to person. Some experience noticeable changes shortly after believing, such as no longer gambling or cursing. "These are superficial changes," the pastor noted. "Such changes come from human willpower, and by human will, one can follow God's word. However, in certain circumstances, God may allow a person to experience failure so that they can truly humble themselves to seek Him and realize, 'I have no grounds for boasting.'"
He reminded, sometimes Christians may be overcome by sins. When this happens, the Holy Spirit will remind us to repent. In our repentance, we often resolve not to commit the same sin again. However, after a week, we might fall into the same sin, repent again, and then fall again after ten days. Through continuous repentance, victory over sin gradually comes.
Overall, each person’s experience of faith is different and cannot be generalized. "The truth of salvation may be the same, but people’s experiences and feelings differ. Some, after experiencing God’s salvation, have great assurance and believe that whether in life or death, they are saved. This is not about doctrine, but whether or not we have assurance," the pastor concluded.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
这位在南方一城市驻扎了二十多年的巨牧师从小就是一个基督徒。小时候，他常常跟着母亲去教会，他称那时的自己是“随从了母亲的信仰”。到了青年时代，他觉得教会的道理讲得很好，也愿意跟随上帝的话语；但他称这时自己是“理性地信仰”。可是，当他真正开始实践上帝的真理时，却发现自己“心灵固然愿意，肉体却软弱了”。他一个已经开始服事上帝的人，竟然行不出道来！
真正开始经历上帝的更新和改变的那年，巨牧师已经26岁了。他第一次体会到：“神是与我同在的，我是属于神的。” 当上帝的恩典临到时，人的心里就开了窍。打那之后起，他觉得才开始真正地讲道，讲的是能够把人带到上帝面前的道。
“这是人信仰的第一关。”巨牧师说。基督徒甚至是传道人若是没有经历过这一关，他后面的信仰和服事都是白谈。因为没有被更新的生命，人只是在理论上明白上帝的道；但是心里是没有确信的，甚至是模糊的。当他向别人见证福音或者宣讲真理时，他自己也没有什么底气。
事实上，教会里很多基督徒都是没有属灵的生命，甚至连有些牧者也没有被真正地更新过。
对于基督徒该如何经历上帝，被更新和改变，巨牧师说：“当一个信徒继续留在教会信仰、听道，等圣灵的工作一旦临到，他就一定会改变。”
巨牧师不仅自己经历过上帝，也亲眼见证了很多人经历了上帝的恩典。
巨牧师牧养的教会有一个弟兄，听说了牧师要出去服事，一定要陪着一起去。因为那天他突然来到了别的教会，便走到了前排的位置坐了下来，听道也认真了起来。而就在这一次，弟兄在听道中经历了上帝的更新，重生得救了。也有的人是在做悔改祷告的时候，经历了上帝的更新。
“神的道就是种子。”巨牧师补充说道：“此外，人的心也要预备好。当圣灵工作的时候，种子就发芽了。但是如果一个信徒一直聚会，但也不诚心，也是有可能经历不到重生得救的。”
为了信徒能够经历上帝，巨牧师会常常叮嘱他们做悔改的祷告。不过，他会提醒大家：“如果你们没有得救的确信，那就不要自以为已经得救了；而那些已经有得救确信的人，那就不要动摇，不要怀疑。”
巨牧师继续解释：“很多时候，我们听了上帝的道，就以为自己已经得救了。但是实际上我们根本就不能遵行神的道，也没有什么行为的改变。这意味着我们缺乏了信仰真正的生命。”
一个人信仰后的改变也是各不相同的，也要因人而异。有的人信仰以后不久就有很大的改变，比如再也不打麻将了，再也不骂人了。“这是浅层面的改变，”巨牧师指出，“这是靠着人的意志，靠人的意志是可以遵行上帝的话语的。但是在某种特定环境下，上帝可能会让他经历失败；这样他才真正地谦卑寻求上帝，他才明白‘我没有自夸的资格’。”
有时，基督徒还是会偶尔被过犯所胜。每当这时，圣灵会提醒我们要悔改。悔改的时候，我们也会想着以后再也不要这样做了。然而，可能过了一个星期我们就又犯了同样的过犯，然后我们又悔改；隔十天半月，我们就又犯了……而就当人不断地悔改过程中，罪就慢慢得胜了。
总体来说，每个人信仰的经历都不同，不能一概而论。“有时，得救的道理是这样的，但是人的经历和感受却是不同的。有些人经历了上帝的救恩就有很大的确信，认为无论是生是死都是得救的。这不是道理的问题，而是我们有没有确信。”巨牧师说。
一位在基层教会服事了二十多年的牧者几乎每次见面都会向人强调：“要经历神。”
A pastor, who has been serving in grassroots churches for over two decades, always says, "You need to experience God," when he meets a person.
Reverend Ju, who has been stationed in a southern Chinese city for more than twenty years, often went to church with his mother since young, following his mother's faith. In his youth, he found God’s teachings to be excellent and was willing to follow God's word, but he said he believed rationally. However, when he began practicing God's truth, he discovered that while his spirit was willing, his flesh was weak. Even as someone already serving God, he found himself unable to live out God's word.
He was already 26 years old when he experienced God’s renewal and transformation. For the first time, he felt, "God is with me, and I belong to God." When God's grace came upon him, his heart was enlightened. From that point on, he felt that he had finally begun to preach the kind of messages that could bring people into God’s presence.
"This is the first threshold of faith," the pastor said. If a Christian, even a pastor, has not passed this stage, their subsequent faith and service are meaningless. Without a renewed life, a person may understand God's word theoretically, with a lack of conviction and is even unclear. They are uncertain when they testify to others about the gospel or preach the truth.
In fact, many Christians in the church, and even some pastors, have not experienced spiritual renewal.
As for how Christians can experience God, be renewed, and be transformed, the pastor said, "When a believer stays in the church listening to sermons and waits for the work of the Holy Spirit, they will inevitably be transformed."
The pastor not only experienced God himself but also witnessed many others experiencing God's grace.
One Christian man from the pastor's church, upon hearing that the pastor was going out to serve, insisted on accompanying him. That day, he unexpectedly arrived at another church, sat in the front row, and began to listen attentively. During that sermon, he experienced God’s renewal and was reborn and saved. Others have experienced renewal from God during prayers of repentance.
"God’s word is like a seed," the pastor added. "But a person's heart must also be prepared. When the Holy Spirit works, the seed will sprout. However, if a believer attends services but lacks sincerity, they may still not experience rebirth and salvation."
To help believers experience God, the pastor often reminds them to make prayers of repentance. However, he cautions, "If you don't have the assurance of salvation, don’t assume you are saved. For those who are assured of their salvation, do not waver or doubt."
The pastor continued, "Many times, we hear God's word and assume that we are saved. But in reality, we cannot obey God’s word, and there is no change in our behavior. This indicates that we lack the true faith."
The changes in a person’s life after coming to faith also vary from person to person. Some experience noticeable changes shortly after believing, such as no longer gambling or cursing. "These are superficial changes," the pastor noted. "Such changes come from human willpower, and by human will, one can follow God's word. However, in certain circumstances, God may allow a person to experience failure so that they can truly humble themselves to seek Him and realize, 'I have no grounds for boasting.'"
He reminded, sometimes Christians may be overcome by sins. When this happens, the Holy Spirit will remind us to repent. In our repentance, we often resolve not to commit the same sin again. However, after a week, we might fall into the same sin, repent again, and then fall again after ten days. Through continuous repentance, victory over sin gradually comes.
Overall, each person’s experience of faith is different and cannot be generalized. "The truth of salvation may be the same, but people’s experiences and feelings differ. Some, after experiencing God’s salvation, have great assurance and believe that whether in life or death, they are saved. This is not about doctrine, but whether or not we have assurance," the pastor concluded.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
After Two Decades of Ministry, Pastor Still Urges, 'You Need to Experience God'
