While the four stages of the Christian journey—awakening, purgation, illumination and union—lead us to the great joy of theosis, this is not easily achieved. Kong Hee teaches in this message the ultimate experience for the rare Christian: having the full measure of Christlikeness will not be possible without the dark night of the senses and of the soul. The dark nights are periods of detachment caused or allowed by God to wean us away from the things of this world. During such times He may even withdraw His blessings and hide His face. Pastor Kong explains that God wants to bring us to the point where we need nothing and no-one but Him, the point where even if He withdraws Himself we can still continue to love and long for Him just as Jesus did. Let this sermon encourage you to be unafraid of suffering and to be willing to let go of anything that stands in the way of Your love for God and His will.