Living Water

I recently finished Brother Yun's Living Water.

Brother Yun (Liu Zhenying) is currently in exile from China, and is living with his family in Germany.

It's dangerous to read books like this in public.  (No, not because I'm in China! :)  It's dangerous because the stories are so moving, and his writing is so convicting, that I've often (i.e. often) wept in public buses and metros, reading and re-reading the accounts of God's work in the Chinese church.

The quotes below may not be the most heart-wrenching ones, but they do express Brother Yun's thinking and lifestyle.  He really believes the Gospel.

After I arrived in the West, it didn't take long for me to realize that something fundamental was missing in the body of Christ.  That missing thing was the power and presence of God.  I don't say this to condemn anyone, but rather I point it out in the hope that it will speak to your heart and help the church.  Thousands of churches today do not preach the Word with the authority and power that Jesus promised to all who follow Him.  This is a tragedy, as such powerless churches end up relying on human wisdom to see "results." (150)

If you go to reach Muslims, it is not enough just to take the Bible in your hands and argue with them.  They will meet you with the Qur'an held aloft and tell you, "We already have the Holy Scriptures!"  The only way to reach Muslims for Jesus is for them to experience the living water of the Holy Spirit flowing into their lives.  They do not need dialogue or theological forums.  They need a personal encounter with the living God!" (152)

During the times of strongest revival in China, miracles were so commonplace that we didn't even think about them much.  They were as natural as breathing the air. They helped thrust millions of people into the kingdom of God... Miracles and signs and wonders are not just for within the walls of your church building. No!  They are to be demonstrated among the people, in the marketplace, on the bustling city streets, and in the homes of those who are trapped in darkness. This is where Jesus and the disciples did most of their miracles. They knew nothing about scheduled "healing meetings" inside church buildings. The power of God accompanied them wherever they proclaimed the good news..." (153)

Many parts of the book read like this.  He reflects on both Scripture and personal experience, and sometimes intertwines them.  For Brother Yun, the lapse of time and the differences of culture between ancient Israel and modern China seem to be irrelevant...the kingdom of God in the first century is the same kingdom right now!  And the promises to us are the same, and the expectations of God are the same.  And, Brother Yun relentlessly demonstrates that our experience can--and should--be the same.

P.S. I highly recommend Asia Harvest, where you can find Living Water and other books on China.