Obey the sense of life

Obeying the sense of life is a very important and practical matter in the Christian life. Everyone who is learning to follow the Lord in life must pay attention to this matter.

1. Believers having the sense of life once they are saved

If we want to obey the sense of life, we must know six things, which we all possess once we are saved.

1. 1. The light of life

      1. “He who has the Son has the life”; “The life was the light of men” (1 John 5:12; John 1:4).

When we receive the Son of God as our Savior, we have the Son of God, and we also have the life because this life is in the Son of God. This life is the light of men, so when we have life, we have the light of life that enlightens us from within. With this life we do not need to seek outward light because we have a marvelous light within us, which is the Lord as the glorious life.

1. 1. 2. “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me...shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

         1. The Lord said that those who follow Him would have the light of life, but what is the light of life? How can we experience the light of life? Light enlightens and enables us to see; without light we are in darkness and cannot see. The light of life is the Lord’s life in us as light. Previously, we did not have the Lord’s life, so our inner being was dark. Now we have the Lord’s life as our light, so our inner being is bright, and we can see what is right and what is wrong, what pleases God and what is against His will. We have an inner seeing, which is actually an inner sense, because the Lord’s life is shining in us.

         2. For example, when we were offended in the past, we would become so angry that we could not be placated unless we lost our temper. Since we did not have the Lord’s life and our inner being was dark, we even felt happy about losing our temper. With the light of life now shining in us, we do not feel happy when we lose our temper; instead, we feel uncomfortable. We even feel as if we have lost the Lord, and it is difficult to pray. Some sisters used to throw tantrums in their homes. The more tantrums they threw, the better they felt. This proves that they were in darkness. When they throw a tantrum now, they immediately sense that things are not right. This sense is not because of an outward human rule or exhortation. It also is not related to an outward biblical teaching; rather, it is from the inward light of life. When the light of life is shining in us, we can inwardly sense what God condemns and what He justifies. Therefore, the light of life is the Lord’s life in us as our light; it makes our inner being bright so that we can see.

   2. The law of God written on our hearts

      1. “I will impart My laws into their mind, and on their hearts I will inscribe them” (Heb. 8:10 see also 10:16).

         1. In the Old Testament the law of God was written on tablets of stone outside of man. But in the New Testament God imparts His laws into us and writes them on our heart. How can God’s laws be imparted into us and written on our heart? We can illustrate this by considering a dead tree that we command to sprout new branches, grow green leaves, bear red blossoms, and produce beautiful fruit. These commands are outside of the tree. They are worthless because a dead tree no longer has the power of life to carry out the requirements of our commandments. If we cannot give it life inwardly, a dead tree cannot respond to any commandment. But if God comes and enlivens the tree by giving it life, it will gradually sprout new branches, grow green leaves, bear red blossoms, and produce beautiful fruit. The life that God puts into a tree has a law for sprouting branches, growing leaves, bearing flowers, and producing fruit. When God puts life into something, He simultaneously includes everything related to this life. It can be said that God puts these laws into the tree and writes them on its heart.

         2. On Mount Sinai God commanded man not to commit adultery, steal, or lie. These laws were outside of man. Now God has put His laws into us through His life, writing them on our heart. His life includes His laws. When He puts His life into us, He also puts the laws of His life into us. When we have His life in us, we also have the laws of His life. Therefore, the laws that He writes in us are the law of life. The law of life within us spontaneously prevents us from committing adultery, stealing, lying, or doing things that are not pleasing to Him. God does not need to command us outwardly, because the laws in His life cause us to know Him and His ordinances inwardly.

   3. The law of the Spirit of life

      1. “The law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death” (Rom. 8:2).

         1. This verse speaks of a law called the law of the Spirit of life. What is the law of the Spirit of life? It is a spontaneous power, a spontaneous function. When I wave my hand in front of a person’s eyes, he spontaneously blinks. When I eat a meal, my stomach and intestines spontaneously digest the food. These are laws involving spontaneous powers and functions; they do not require an effort of our will or our strength to activate them. The law of the Spirit of life is also a spontaneous power and function that comes from the Spirit of life.

         2. The Spirit of life is God’s Spirit in our spirit. Since this Spirit is of life, His law must also be of life. Therefore, the law of the Spirit of life is also a law of life. A law does not necessarily have life, but life always has a law with a spontaneous power and function. Whether animal or vegetable, all life has a law and a spontaneous power and function. For example, flying is included in the law of the life of a bird; it is a spontaneous power of life in birds. Bearing fruit is included in the law of the life of a fruit tree; it is a spontaneous power of life in fruit trees. The higher that a life is, the stronger is its law and the greater is its spontaneous power and function. Since we have inwardly received the highest life from the Holy Spirit, it is the highest law, and it has the highest spontaneous power and function. This law, this spontaneous power and function, operates in us through God’s Spirit to free us from the law of sin and of death, that is, from everything that is opposed to God. We do not need to make a determination to do something nor do we need to struggle and strive; the law of the Spirit of life operates in us spontaneously to manifest its power and function.

         3. Since the law of the Spirit of life is also a law of life, it is one with the laws written on our heart. A law that can be written on our heart is related to life and emphasizes the function of life. Since this law is also the law of the Spirit of life, this law of life comes from the Holy Spirit in our spirit and emphasizes the function of the Holy Spirit.

   4. God operating in us

      1. “It is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

God is operating in us. This is a marvelous thing! We may know that God is in us, but we may not realize that God is operating in us. God is not in us apart from His work and activity. He is working and constantly operating in us. Regardless of our inward will or outward actions, He is always operating in us, causing us to know and obey His will for the accomplishment of His good pleasure.

1. 4. 2. “Now the God of peace...perfect you in every good work for the doing of His will, doing in us that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ” (Heb. 13:20-21).

God is operating in us, doing that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, causing us to carry out His will. Therefore, His operation in us causes us to know His will and to realize what is well pleasing to Him.

1. 5. Christ living in us

      1. “Christ...lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

Christ being in us is not only for Him to be our life but also for Him to live in us. His living in us means that He is working in us.

1. 5. 2. “Christ is in you”; “Jesus Christ is in you” (Rom. 8:10; 2 Cor. 13:5).

Christ is in us from the moment that we believe. Since we have faith in Christ, Christ is in us, and He is living and working. He is not inactive in us.

1. 6. The teaching of the anointing

      1. “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you; but as His anointing teaches you concerning all things” (1 John 2:27).

         1. The term anointing refers to the moving of the ointment, and in the Bible ointment refers to the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38). Therefore, the anointing is the operation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit operates in us like the moving of ointment, anointing the Lord’s will into our understanding. Thus, the anointing within teaches us concerning all things. Our knowledge of the Lord’s requirements, of His leading, of what we should do before Him, and of how we should do it is taught by the moving of the ointment in us. Some brothers sense that the Lord wants them to deal with a certain matter; other brothers sense that the Lord wants them to offer up certain things. Some sisters sense that the Lord is touching their clothing and makeup; other sisters sense that the Lord is sending them to visit certain ones. These senses are anointed into them by the teaching of the anointing, which causes them to know the Lord’s will and the Lord’s desire. The teaching of the anointing within is very practical and precise.

         2. The preceding six items all refer to matters related to God’s life within us, and they speak of how God lives in us according to His life. These six items are connected. They are in accord with each other and are one. The Holy Spirit within us is Christ within us; Christ within us is God within us. The Triune God is living and operating in us to anoint His will into us; He does this through the enlightening of His life, which causes us to know Him and His will and to live in Him and in His will.

2. The sense of life

   1. When the light of life shines within us, we have an inward sense, and what we sense within is our inward seeing

Since the light of life is the enlightening of the Lord’s life within us, this enlightening causes us to have an inward sense of life. What this life causes us to sense is what the light of life causes us to see. Our sense that a certain matter does not please the Lord is also our inward seeing that this matter does not please the Lord. Therefore, our inward sense is our inward seeing.

2. 2. When the law of God, the law of the Spirit of life, functions within us, it gives us an inward sense

God’s law, which has been written on our hearts, and the law of the Spirit of life within us are both spontaneous functions of the Lord’s life within us. When they function, we have an inward sense. This sense is the sense of life that gives us a feeling according to the function of the law of life. It is important to note that we often do not have much sensation when we follow the sense of life; however, when we go against this sense, we have a very clear feeling. When the digestion in our stomach is normal, we do not have much sense of it, but when something upsets our stomach, we have a strong feeling. When we disobey God, we disobey the sense of life in our actions, and the sense of life within us becomes especially strong. When we come to the meetings, we are following the sense of life, so we may not have much feeling related to it. However, when we go to a theater, we have a stronger feeling within because we are going against the sense of life.

2. 3. The operation of God with us also gives us a sense of life

Because God’s operation within us is a kind of action, it gives us an inward sense. If my hand touched someone’s forehead, he would certainly feel it. When a person is very busy, he may not feel something touching him. But when he is quiet, he will feel the slightest touch or brush against him. When we are constantly busy, when we are disquieted, or when we are nervous and worried about many matters, we cannot sense God’s operation within us. If we would be willing to quiet ourselves, God’s operation within us would arise in our sensation, and we would feel God operating within us. With respect to God, His operation in us is a kind of work, and with respect to us, it produces a sense of life in us. If our condition is proper, we will feel a sense of life.

2. 4. Christ in us is not only alive but also living, so we have an inward sense of Him

Christ in us not only has life and is alive, but He also is living actively in us by His life. As He lives in us, He takes action, so He can be felt by us inwardly. Because this sense comes from the activity of His life within us, it must belong to life and should be considered as a sense of life.

2. 5. Having an inward sense of the teaching of the anointing within us because the anointing of the ointment is the speaking and the shining of the revelation of the Holy Spirit within us

      1. The ointment teaches us inwardly through its anointing. The teaching of the anointing is the Holy Spirit speaking within us; it is the inward light of the revelation of the Holy Spirit. All of these different terms refer to one thing, that is, the operation of the Holy Spirit within us. Since this operation is the moving of the Holy Spirit within our spirit, we certainly have a sense of life in our spirit. This sense of life gives us a feeling in our spirit, which means that it causes us to hear things from the Holy Spirit and see things through the Holy Spirit.

      2. Therefore, we not only have life within us, but we also have the sense of life. Within us the light of life enlightens, the law of life manifests its function, God operates in us, Christ lives in us, and the Holy Spirit anoints us. These are all related to the sense of life, which is rich and strong.

3. The responsibility of the believers toward the sense of life

   1. Walking according to the spirit — setting the mind on the spirit

      1. “Walk...according to the spirit...the mind set on the spirit” (Rom. 8:4-6).

Our inner sense of life comes from the Holy Spirit and is in our spirit. Thus, our first responsibility with regard to the sense of life is to walk according to the spirit and to set our mind on the spirit in all things. To walk according to the spirit and to set our mind on the spirit are to walk according to the sense of life, to set our mind on the sense of life, and to obey the sense of life. With respect to the sense of life, the most important thing is obedience. Regardless of the matter, as soon as we have an inner sense of life related to it, we should obey the sense of life immediately. This is the most precious thing about being a Christian. If we want to obey the sense of life, we should walk according to the spirit and set the mind on the spirit.

3. 2. Caring for the sense of life and peace

      1. “The mind set on the spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).

The sense of life in us is also a sense of peace. When we obey it, it gives us a feeling not only of life but also of peace. Therefore, regardless of the situation, as soon as we feel death instead of life and feel unease instead of peace, we should immediately stop what we are doing. We must always care for the sense of life and peace. If we would care for life and peace in this way, we must set our mind on the spirit. Only by setting the mind on the spirit can there be life and peace.

3. 2. 2. “Go in peace” (Luke 7:50).

In Luke 7, after a woman was saved, the Lord told her to go in peace. The Lord’s word indicates that after we are saved, we receive peace. This peace is within us and causes us to have an inward sense. Whenever we want to do something that pleases God, we sense peace inwardly; otherwise, we do not have peace. When we do what is in agreement with the sense of peace, we have peace. When we do what is not in agreement with the sense of peace, we do not have peace. After we are saved, we should go the way of peace. After being saved, our living should be a living of peace. We should go in peace, and we should live in peace. Often we do not have the sense of peace in our walk and living even though we say that we are at peace. Just saying that we are at peace does not mean that we are at peace. In every single matter we must be inwardly at peace. Sometimes brothers and sisters say that they have an inward peace, but their peace is not spontaneous but rather the product of their rationalization. Some brothers want to do something even though they have no inward peace. Consequently, they convince themselves that they have peace. Peace that comes from this kind of rationalization is not spontaneous. It is a peace that comes from reasoning, not a peace that comes spontaneously. As soon as they stop their reasoning, they are not peaceful. We should not be like this. We must allow the sense of peace to work spontaneously in us.

3. 2. 3. “Who, being past feeling,...but you did not so learn Christ” (Eph. 4:19-20).

The Gentiles have cast away all feeling. They commit sins and do evil without caring for their inner consciousness. But we, having learned Christ, should not be like this. We need to care for the feeling within us. The Gentiles have a conscience that is defiled and on the brink of death; they are darkened in their understanding. The feelings within us, however, are strong. The precious blood has cleansed our conscience, and because we are regenerated, our conscience has been revived. It is fresh and keen. The understanding in our mind has been renewed and is bright and proper. Our spirit has been made alive and has spiritual intuition. Moreover, we have the life of God and the Spirit of God in our spirit strengthening the feelings within us that are of life and consistent with light. Therefore, we have a living, keen, rich, proper, strong, and powerful feeling that enables us to sense whether or not any matter is pleasing to God. As followers of Christ, we should absolutely obey and care for this feeling. We should do what this feeling approves of and wants us to do, and we should refrain from doing whatever it disagrees with and prohibits us from doing.

3. 3. Obeying with fear and trembling

      1. “Obeyed...with fear and trembling; for it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working” (Phil. 2:12-13).

When we sense God’s operation in us, whether it is His willing or His working, we should obey with fear and trembling. Fear is our inward feeling, and trembling is our outward attitude. We should obey because we are afraid of disobeying God, who is operating in us. When we obey the inward sense, we obey God. We should be absolute and obey with fear and trembling.

3. 4. Fellowshipping with the Lord according to the Teaching of the Anointing

      1. “As His anointing teaches you...abide in Him” (1 John 2:27).

The teaching of the anointing causes us to know the Lord and His life. Therefore, we should abide in the Lord and fellowship with Him according to this teaching. To be according to the teaching of the anointing is to obey the moving of the Holy Spirit within us. This is the only way for us to be in the Lord and to have the fellowship of life with the Lord.

4. The maintenance, recovery, and increase of the sense of life

   1. In order for a believer not to lose the sense of life, he must be in fear and trembling as he cares for and obeys every inward feeling of life. Only this will maintain the sense of life within.

   2. The sense of life within a believer becomes dull when he ignores or disobeys it. If a believer begins to obey the small, flickering sense within, the sense of life will revive and recover. Although our sense of life sometimes becomes dull because we ignore or disobey it, it never dies out entirely or disappears completely. Something always remains. If we are willing to care for and obey even our small sense of life, we will immediately recover. In order to recover the sense of life, we must care for and obey it.

   3. The sense of life within a believer becomes keen when he obeys it. If a believer continues to obey everything that he feels, his sense of life will become even stronger and keener. The more a believer obeys the sense of life, the more the sense of life increases. Therefore, our obedience increases the sense of life within us.

5. The result of the believers’ obeying the sense of life

   1. Sensing life and peace

      1. “The mind set on the spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).

To set the mind on the spirit is to obey the sense of life, and the result is life and peace. Life is satisfaction, and peace is rest. If we set our mind on the spirit and obey the sense of life, we will inwardly feel satisfaction and rest, and we will feel contented and peaceful. Otherwise, we will feel dissatisfied, as if we were missing something. We will feel restless and bothered, as if there were some problem. Obeying the sense of life is the only way for our life to be nourished and for our heart and spirit to obtain rest. This is true even in the matters of preaching the word and prayer. We must set the mind on the spirit to be able to touch the Lord’s presence, that is, to touch life and peace. When we obey the sense of life, the more we preach, the more we feel satisfied and receive the inward supply. The more we pray, the more we are at peace and feel watered in spirit. This sense of satisfaction and rest is the result of obeying the sense of life.

5. 2. Abiding in the Lord

      1. “As His anointing teaches you...abide in Him” (1 John 2:27).

If we walk according to the teaching of the anointing, we will abide in the Lord. To abide in the Lord means that we are not separated from Him and have constant fellowship with Him. If we desire this, we must act according to the anointing within, and we must obey the sense of life from the Holy Spirit. When we live in the anointing and obey the sense of life in our actions, we are kept in fellowship with the Lord, and we can constantly abide in Him. Abiding in the Lord is a result of obeying the sense of life.

5. 3. Working out our salvation

      1. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).

         1. We have received salvation, but after receiving salvation, we must work or live it out. If we want to live out our salvation, we must obey God, who is operating in us, with fear and trembling; that is, we must obey the sense of life that comes from God’s operation within us. If we are willing to obey, we will live out God’s salvation.

         2. God’s salvation is God Himself. Therefore, for us to live out God’s salvation is to live out God Himself. Hence, in order for us to live out His salvation, He personally operates in us, causing us to live Him out. His operating in us gives us a sense of life and gives us feelings through this sense of life. Therefore, when we obey the sense of life, we obey God’s operation in us, and we obey God. As we obey Him in this way, we spontaneously live Him out. Our living Him out is our living, our working out, of His salvation. Working out God’s salvation is another result of obeying the sense of life.

   4. Accomplishing the good pleasure of God

      1. “It is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

God operates in us to accomplish His good pleasure. Therefore, when we obey His operating, that is, when we obey the sense of life, we can accomplish His good pleasure.

5. 4. 2. “God...for the doing of His will, doing in us that which is well pleasing in His sight” (Heb. 13:20-21).

         1. God causes us to do His will, doing in us that which is well pleasing in His sight, not merely through outward Bible teaching or environmental leading but even more through operating within us to let us know His will and to give us the strength to do that which is well pleasing to Him. We sense His will and His good pleasure through the sense of life given to us by His operation. When we obey the sense of life, we spontaneously obey the will of God and do that which is well pleasing to Him. Therefore, obeying the will of God and accomplishing His good pleasure are also certain results of obeying the sense of life.

         2. We need to see the importance of obeying the sense of life. The supply of life and our growth in life, our intimacy with the Lord and fellowship with Him, the working out of our salvation and our expression of Him, our obedience to His will, and the accomplishment of His good pleasure all hinge on our obeying the sense of life. Every spiritual matter between God and us is entered into properly and carried out through this one matter — obeying the sense of life.