每一次福音聚会前，我都看见弟兄姊妹在外面很辛苦的预备，有的预备福音背心，有的预备广告，有的预备单张，有的预备接待的事，有的预备会场的接洽、布置，还有人预备许许多多别的事。我们的确需要有这些外面的预备，但请记得，我们更需要的一件事，就是我们都要在神面前，真实地在灵中有预备。我们要对付拦阻我们和神之间交通的罪，要对付应该在我们脚下却缠累到我们身上的世界；也要对付抵挡我们在复活里的事，对付升天的问题，以及我们与神之间的关系。譬如我们有没有活在神里面，我们实际的生活是在那里等，这些我们都要一一的对付。
事情有轻重，办事有缓急；我们总要看见首要的，并且郑重地去作。至于次要的事，也要一一跟着备办。福音聚会前，我们在神面前首要的事，就是每一位有福音负担，在福音上有分的人，都要进到神面前，为我们各面的光景有对付。我们要对付我们在神面前罪的问题，对付我们身上世界的问题，对付我们对主复活的认识，对付我们对主属天的经历，也要对付我们在神面前实际的生活。如果我们都把这五点好好对付过，立刻我们会看见，我们这个人和神是相联、调和为一的；我们和神调成了一个。那时很自然的，我们就有圣灵的浇灌，有圣灵的充满；且会很自然的接受负担，就是接受主耶稣自己，并把祂宣扬、见证出去。
我们对于罪、世界、复活、升天、活在神面前等问题，有彻底的学习和对付，会使我们里面满了基督，满了圣灵。这时，我们去邀请人是活的，为人代祷是活的；我们撒单张是活的，贴标语是活的；即使我们以四部和音的方式唱诗歌，也都是活的。或者作招待，或者陪坐，或者末了与人谈话、带人祷告都是活的，甚至记名后去看望人都是活的。
我们所惧怕、担心的，是我们的弟兄姊妹徒有一点福音的热心，却在神面前对于罪的对付不够多，对世界的对付也不够清楚，既不活在复活里，也摸不着升天的地位，又不在神里面生活，只不过心情受到一点鼓舞，感染一点热闹，看人传福音就想传，见人请客也要请客，有人作招待自己也想作招待。如果这是你我的光景、态度、心情和表现，那么到了传福音那天，我们一切的活动都是人工的。可能有人作招待；有人去请朋友。这些我不能说一点功劳都没有，但请记得，其属灵价值非常低。
什么样的人，就生出什么样的孩子；什么样的树，就结什么样的果子。我们在主面前若是这样轻浮、肤浅，没有什么分量、权柄，而只是靠兴奋、热心去撒单张，请客，陪坐，谈话，带人信主；那些信的人至终会和我们一样，轻浮、肤浅，在神面前没有什么价值。
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The Focus of the Gospel — Phil. 1:27
Before every gospel meeting, I often see brothers and sisters working hard on preparations: preparing gospel vests, preparing advertisements, preparing gospel tracts, taking care of reception arrangements, and handling venue coordination, decoration and many other tasks. These external preparations are indeed necessary, but please remember that what we need even more is to be truly prepared in spirit before God. We must deal with the sins that hinder our fellowship with God, address the world that should be beneath our feet but still entangles us, also resolve issues that resist us in resurrection, deal with matters concerning ascension and examine our relationship with God. For example, are we living in God? What is the reality of our daily living? All these matters must be dealt with one by one.
There are priorities in everything. When arranging matters, we must see what is primary and pay proper attention to it. Secondary matters may follow accordingly. The foremost task before a gospel meeting is for every believer who shares a burden for the gospel to come before God and address their spiritual condition. We must deal with our sins before God, confront the entanglement of the world in our lives, deepen our understanding of the Lord’s resurrection, enrich our experience of His ascension and live truly in God’s presence. If we deal with these five areas thoroughly, we will immediately find ourselves connecting with God, mingling with Him, and uniting as one. At that point, we will naturally experience the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit. It will also naturally follow that we will take up the burden of proclaiming and testifying of the Lord Jesus Himself.
When we thoroughly learn and deal with issues such as sin, the world, resurrection, ascension and living in God’s presence, our inner being will be filled with Christ and the Holy Spirit. At this point, our invitations to others will be living, our intercessions for them will be living. Distributing gospel tracts will be living, putting up posters will be living, even singing hymns in four-part harmony will be living. Whether acting as ushers, accompanying others, engaging in conversations, leading prayers or following up by visiting those who leave their names, all of the activities will be living.
What we fear and worry about is that our brothers and sisters may have only a superficial enthusiasm for the gospel, without sufficient dealings before God regarding their sins, without clarity in dealing with the world, without living in resurrection, unable to hold their heavenly position, and without living in God. They may simply be stirred emotionally, influenced by the excitement and activity, and want to share the gospel because they see others doing it. They may invite friends because others are inviting, serve as ushers because others are doing so.
If this is our state, attitude, mood or behavior, then on the day of the gospel meeting, all our activities will be artificial. Perhaps someone will act as an usher or invite friends. While these efforts may have some merit, remember that their spiritual value is exceedingly low. The kind of person you are determines the kind of children you will raise; the type of tree you are determines the fruit you will bear. If we are shallow, frivolous and lack weight and authority before the Lord, relying only on excitement and enthusiasm to distribute tracts, invite people, accompany them, converse with them or lead them to believe in the Lord, then those who believe through us will ultimately be like us – shallow, frivolous, and of little value before God.