相信我们已明白，在现今的世代，教会迫切须要复兴，在此，我们必须提出一个问题：我们将会在这个时代看见另一次属灵大觉醒吗？我不能肯定，但我确实有这种感觉。有明显的迹象显示复兴正在来临，但在研究这些迹象前，请和我一起停下来，专心研读我们今天的经文。

大卫在以色列被立为王不久便遇到非利士人的威胁，他首先关心的是神要他怎么处理。得到了神准许他前进以后，他带领部下大胆地从前面进攻，并且得胜。但后来非利士人回来，占据了原先的位置。大卫没有假设过去的带领策略仍然有效，他再次寻求神的旨意并蒙神准许他进行攻击。不过这一次神引导他绕到桑林附近敌人的后方进行突击，神对他说：「你听见桑树梢上有脚步的声音，就要急速前去，因为那时耶和华已经在你前头去，攻打非利士人的军队」（24节）。

这两场战役，充份显示了圣灵在教会的正常运作、和祂在复兴时的工作之间的分别。我们在第一次看见大卫在神的指示下，以神所赐的力量行动。第二次是神走到战场，大卫只是在后面跟从，收集战利品。我们已经见证了圣灵的正常运作有数十年之久，现在该是预备迎接复兴的时候了。

Having recognised the urgent need for revival, we must ask: Will we see another great spiritual awakening in our own day? I cannot say with certainty, but I most definitely feel so. There are clear signs that a revival is on the way, but before looking at them, pause with me to focus on the passage before us today.

Soon after David had been made king over Israel he was threatened by the Philistines. His first concern was to find what God wanted him to do about it. After getting divine permission to proceed, he led a bold frontal attack that carried the day. Later, however, the Philistines returned and took up the position that they had occupied before. Without presuming on past guidance David again sought God's direction and obtained permission to attack. However, this time he was led to make a detour and take up a position behind the enemy, near the mulberry (or balsam) trees. God said: "When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then bestir yourself; for then has the Lord gone out before you, to smite the army of the Philistines" (v.24, Amplified Bible).

These two battles illustrate the difference between the normal activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church and the way He operates in revival. In the first we see David acting under God's direction and with His enabling. In the second it is God who takes the field and David follows on behind gathering up the spoils of victory. We have witnessed for decades the normal operation of the Spirit; the time has now come to prepare for revival.