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Reading the Bible is different from touching the Bible. Reading the Bible is for understanding the Bible, whereas touching the Bible is for contacting the Bible. Understanding the Bible and contacting the Bible are two different things. It is one thing to know and understand the chemical structure of water, but it is quite another thing to drink water, that is, to contact water. A child washes his hands and feet every day with water, but he does not know the chemical structure of water. A chemist knows the chemical structure of water because he studies water. A child who washes his hands with water contacts water. The child does not know the chemical structure of water, because he does not study it. This example shows the difference between studying water and contacting water. Here is another example. We may eat rice every day; that is, we contact rice, but we do not necessarily know its nutritional content.
In a past training we spent much effort to explain how to read the Bible so that the saints can understand the Bible. We also spent several months to study the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. However, our emphasis was on understanding rather than on contacting the Bible. We said that in order to understand a book of the Bible, we should know the general sketch, the central thought, the key words, the sections, the main themes, the types, and the prophecies in the book. If we read through a book according to these seven points, we will understand the book. These seven points of emphasis guide us through the difficult portions of the Bible. If we read Genesis in this way, we will understand its general sketch: God created, Satan corrupted, man fell, and God promised to save. If we study the Bible in this way, every book will become clear and transparent. However, these seven points are mainly for us to understand and know the content of the Bible. They do not help us to touch and contact the Bible. Hence, we must ask ourselves what is the proper way to touch the Bible.
In order to touch the Bible, we first need to know that the Spirit of God is the essence of the Bible (John 6:63). In order to contact something, we must know its essence and purpose. For example, we eat food because we know that it is edible, and we wear clothes because we know that they cover us. Similarly, we know that we should sit on a chair, not a table. These may seem to be superficial examples, but they reveal a principle. If we read the Bible as if it were a book of doctrines to be studied, it will be a book only on truth and doctrines. On the surface, the Bible is a book on truth and doctrines, but more importantly, the Bible contains the Spirit. The Lord Jesus said, “The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (v. 63). Unbelievers may not agree with this, but we know that the essence of the Bible is Spirit and that the words of God are spirit and life. The Spirit of God is the essence of the Bible.
The words in the Bible are like seeds; they are a matter of life. We can say that seeds are the embodiment of life, the practical expression of life. Life is abstract, but in creation God caused life to be embodied in seeds. For example, the life of a flower is concealed within a seed. If we plant the seed, life will be manifested. But if we take the seed to a laboratory and conduct tests on the seed, we will not be able to find life. We will find many elements in the seed, but we will not find life. The most that any scientist can do is to determine the elements within a seed, but he cannot isolate the life within the seed in order to show others. Nevertheless, life is the most important thing in a seed. Similarly, we can find many things in the Bible, but there is something in the Bible that we cannot find when we use only our mind; we cannot find the Spirit in the Bible in order to show others.
The Bible presents many things. Genesis speaks of God creating the heavens and the earth and of the patriarchs living before God. Exodus speaks of the Israelites’ oppression in Egypt and of Moses’ being born and sent by God. Proverbs contains ethical instructions. Many people consider the teachings in Proverbs to be higher than the ethical teachings of Chinese families. Although these matters are presented in the Bible, they are not the life in the Bible. The Spirit and life are concealed within the Bible; nevertheless, we cannot show them to others.
Some people say that we are irrational because we say that the Bible contains life, but we say that the Chinese classics, such as Four Books and the Five Classics, do not contain life. When people argue and say that the Bible is only a book of black and white letters, we are not able to convince them otherwise. In such a situation it is best to be silent. A person who uses these Chinese classics to preach the gospel, however, will not be able to bring anyone to salvation. These two Chinese classics speak only of the development of a person’s bright virtue, which cannot cause people to be regenerated. However, the verse “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life” (John 3:16) can cause a person to repent and be regenerated. This is life. If we bury a seed in the earth, after a few days a green and tender shoot will break forth. Although we cannot isolate life, we can show people the issue of life.
Studying and understanding the Bible are similar to a chemist’s studying and analyzing the elements within a seed. A chemist might be able to show that wheat, barley, and rice consist of different elements, but no matter how many tests he conducts, he will not be able to find the life within a seed. A seed must be nurtured in order for the life within it to be manifested. Seeds need soil in order for them to be nurtured and grow. We do not understand life nor can we isolate it, but the life within a seed is manifested when the seed sprouts.
The Bible has the aspect of “elements” and also the aspect of spirit and life. Even the most renowned biologist cannot explain life. A person can study the numbers in the Bible and learn that the number seven signifies perfection and the number three signifies resurrection. These are the elements that can be studied in the Bible. After studying Numbers and Deuteronomy, he can conclude that Numbers is a book on coordination and building but that Deuteronomy is a book on living and worship. However, this is not the way for a person to touch life in the Bible. Seemingly, the Word of God concerns only teachings, but the essential component of the Word of God is spirit and life. Our knowledge of the Bible must include these two aspects, both of which are related to us.
The Word of God contains the Spirit of God and the life of God, both of which cannot be explained. Hence, we may say that the Bible is the embodiment of the Spirit. Unless we know the Bible to this extent, we will spend all our time only studying the Bible. I am concerned that some saints cannot discern between the two aspects of the Bible, that is, between the outward elements and the inward essence of spirit and life. We must discern between these two aspects so that we not only understand the elements of the Bible but, even more, touch the spirit and life within the Bible. The Bible is the embodiment of the Spirit of God.
To contact the Bible is to contact the Spirit of God. Christians should not be superstitious, but when we contact the Bible, we must be focused in our concept, feeling, and attitude to realize that we are contacting the Spirit. Without such an attitude, it will not be easy for us to touch the essence of the Bible. Similarly, when we contact food, it is with the intention of eating it. Without such a focus, we will not eat the food. Hence, our focus is important.
Every time we come to the Bible, we must ask ourselves whether we want to study the Bible or to contact it. If our purpose is to study the Bible, we will learn the elements, but if our purpose is to contact the Bible, we will touch the Spirit of God. Most of the people who read the Bible only study the elements in the Bible. By God’s mercy, many times when we study the Bible, we touch the Spirit of God with our spirit. We can say that sometimes we “stumbled upon” the Spirit. This may not be a good illustration, but the principle is correct. Initially, we were studying the elements of the Bible; we had no intention of contacting the Spirit. But while we were studying, the Spirit of God touched our spirit. The Spirit can be found in the Bible; hence, when we contact the Bible, we contact the Spirit. Very few believers are clear concerning this matter. On the one hand, we need to study the Bible, and on the other hand, we need to touch the Bible.
Many children of God cannot discern the difference between studying the Bible and touching the Bible. Most believers merely read the Bible; they do not know that the purpose of reading the Bible is for them to contact and touch the Bible. We are intentionally using this word contact. Some believers may argue that reading the Bible is the same as contacting the Bible. In our use, we are saying that contacting the Bible is different from reading the Bible. To read something is to study it, but to contact something is to touch it so that it may operate in us. What believers refer to as studying the Bible may be likened to studying the nutritional content of food. What we refer to as contacting the Bible may be compared to eating a meal. Studying the Bible is entirely different from contacting the Bible.
We need to consider how much we contact the Bible. If we had not received particular leading, over ninety percent of the time we would only read and study the Bible. Do we open the Bible because we want to contact the Spirit or because we want to study the Bible? I am afraid that we rarely open the Bible in order to contact the Spirit. We need to learn to contact the Bible. Whenever we come to the Bible, we must have the concept that we are coming to contact the Spirit of God. We must exercise in this matter.
In order to contact the Bible, we must drop the desire to understand it. Initially, this may not be easy, because we have a habit of studying it. If we would open the Bible for the sake of contacting it rather than studying it, we would be delivered. For this reason we need to practice. If we can learn this secret and practice it, our Bible-reading will gradually become profitable. As soon as we contact the Bible, we will also contact the Spirit. Some may ask how they can understand the Bible without studying and researching it. This is to fall victim to the notion of wanting to understand. We think that we cannot receive inspiration if we do not understand the Bible. If we would practice contacting the Bible, we would realize that, in fact, our understanding of the Bible comes from inspiration. When we read the Bible, we should not focus on understanding it. We must drop this concept.
This fellowship may seem contradictory because reading the Bible helps you to understand it, yet you are being told not to focus on understanding what you read. How do we explain this? Every time we come to the Bible, we should reject the desire to merely understand, because this desire will hinder us from touching the Spirit. We should not fear our inability to understand the Bible. At a certain point in time we will gain a genuine understanding. We must drop the concept of merely wanting to understand the Bible. When we are invited to a rich feast, we should simply eat and drink and enjoy the food that is set before us. We should not analyze the food. We need to be delivered when we read the Bible. When we open the Bible, we must have the concept, focus, and desire to contact the Spirit of God. We must be so foolish that if we understand something when we read the Bible, we would say, “Lord, even though I understand, I still want to contact Your Spirit.” If we are willing to spend the time and practice reading the Bible in this way, we will discover that it is very beneficial.
Not many saints have the practice of touching the Bible. We cannot avoid the term reading the Bible, but we must change our practice. Formerly, we read the Bible as if we were reading a chemistry textbook. It is not easy for us to drop the concept of studying and researching the Bible. We need to be corrected in this matter.
When we read the Bible, we must use our spirit more than our mind, because our intention is to contact the Spirit. God is Spirit, and He needs us to touch Him with our spirit. Our heart and mind are also involved with reading the Bible, but the primary matter is to use our spirit. When some brothers read the Bible, they use only their mind but not their heart; that is, they do not love to read the Word of God, nor do they have a heart to receive His words. Hence, they read the Bible like someone who is reading a newspaper. Other brothers use not only their mind but also their heart. They love God’s words, take delight in His words, want to hear His words, receive His words, and are willing to pay a price to enjoy His words. However, they do not know how to exercise their spirit. As a result, they do not receive the supply of life from the Bible. Even after reading the Bible many times, these ones can receive only teachings concerning improving their behavior; they cannot touch the words of life.
When we read the Bible, we must learn the lesson of using not only our mind and our heart but also our spirit. In other words, we should contact the Bible with our spirit. When we come to the Word of God, we are coming to Him; hence, we must have a spirit of worship and not merely a sincere heart. God is Spirit, and we must worship Him in spirit. This means that we should not use only our mind or our zeal. God’s words are spirit; hence, we must exercise to not rely solely on our ability to comprehend and learn but, instead, contact His words with a spirit of worship. This requires exercise.
If we would exercise our spirit when we come to the Word, then even if we read only half a chapter, our spirit will touch the Spirit in the Word. By contacting God in this way for ten or twenty minutes, our inner being will be refreshed, illuminated, strengthened, and satisfied. This is the result of touching the Spirit of God. As serving ones who desire to receive something from the Bible, we should spend some time to practice so that the Bible becomes our food and our supply. This is the most precious aspect of the Bible. It is also true that the light and truth in the Bible supply our mind. This is another aspect.
The Spirit of God is located in the words of the Bible. Hence, our primary purpose in contacting the Bible is to contact the Spirit. For this reason, when we come to the Bible, we must reject our desire to merely comprehend, and instead, we must use our spirit to contact the words of God. When we use our spirit to touch His words, we contact the Spirit. As a result of this kind of contact, we receive holiness, power, love, and comfort. These can be compared to the fruit produced after a seed is planted in the soil. Such fruit is not the issue of teaching but the result of the growth of life. Such fruit is the result of our spirit touching not only the words of God but also the Spirit of God, because His words are spirit and life.
