聖經經節
路加十八1：耶穌又對他們講一個比喻，是要人常常禱告，不可灰心…
歌羅西四2：你們要堅定持續的禱告，在此儆醒感恩。
職事的話
所以，要盡禱告的職事，我們就得在神面前有禱告的負擔。我們要認識一件事：負擔是禱告的祕訣。人如果在裡面沒有覺得有一個負擔，要為著這件事禱告，他就禱告不成功。在禱告聚會中，有的弟兄，有的姊妹，題起許多的事要禱告；但是，你裡面如果沒有被摸著，就不能禱告。所以，每一個弟兄姊妹來到禱告聚會中，總得有禱告的負擔，纔能有禱告。同時不只要注意你自己有沒有負擔，你還得注意聚會中別的弟兄姊妹的負擔。
比方：有一位姊妹受她丈夫的難為，另外有一位弟兄生病。在禱告聚會中，有一位弟兄在那裡求神拯救那位姊妹的丈夫，接著另一位弟兄又在那裡求神醫治那位弟兄的病，另有一位弟兄卻記念著另外一件事。這樣的禱告，就是各禱告各的，沒有照著三次禱告的原則，沒有把一件事禱告透了，再禱告第二件。我們在禱告聚會中，總要留意一個禱告的負擔卸去了沒有。如果大家為著那一個姊妹禱告的負擔卸去了，那麼就可以為著那位生病的弟兄禱告。如果為著第一件事情禱告的負擔還沒有卸去，就不能跳到第二、第三件事情上去禱告。
如果整個聚會對於那件事的負擔還沒有卸去，你就不能憑著個人的感覺把別的禱告塞進去。總要摸整個聚會中的靈，總要進入整個聚會的感覺裡去。有的事也許一次禱告就成，有的事也許兩次禱告纔成，有的事也許要三次、五次的禱告，負擔纔卸去。不管次數多少，總是要把負擔卸去了，禱告纔停止。三次禱告的原則沒有別的，就是禱告到負擔卸去了纔了。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第 87至88頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
神居所的建造
聖經經節
約翰十四23：耶穌回答說，人若愛我，就必遵守我的話，我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，同他安排住處。
以弗所二22：你們也在祂裡面同被建造，成為神在靈裡的居所。
職事的話
三一神同信徒安排祂的住處，乃是為著建造祂的居所。每當你甘甜的覺得你在主的同在中，並且主極其豐滿的住在你裏面，那時你也覺得你愛所有的信徒。按照你當時的領悟，你與任何信徒都沒有問題，你也可以隨時赦免每位弟兄姊妹的過錯。這是甚麼？這就是為著神的建造切望與信徒是一。每當你與主有這樣的情形，你就切望與眾聖徒相調，不會想要單獨。
今天神在地上人間居所的建造，完全根據這個經歷。也許有兩位弟兄彼此有問題，有甚麼辦法可以解決？不容易。有一天，他們二人都開始愛主，並且對祂有深切甘甜的珍賞。主給他們誡命，他們也接受了。他們立刻都在主的同在中，問題就過去了。這就是主在我們中間作神聖建造工作的方法。這不是組織、規條或外面教導的事，這完全是愛主、經歷祂顯現、並經歷祂同住的事。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自李常受著〝約翰福音生命讀經〞第433頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
約翰十四23：耶穌回答說，人若愛我，就必遵守我的話，我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，同他安排住處。
以弗所二22：你們也在祂裡面同被建造，成為神在靈裡的居所。
職事的話
三一神同信徒安排祂的住處，乃是為著建造祂的居所。每當你甘甜的覺得你在主的同在中，並且主極其豐滿的住在你裏面，那時你也覺得你愛所有的信徒。按照你當時的領悟，你與任何信徒都沒有問題，你也可以隨時赦免每位弟兄姊妹的過錯。這是甚麼？這就是為著神的建造切望與信徒是一。每當你與主有這樣的情形，你就切望與眾聖徒相調，不會想要單獨。
今天神在地上人間居所的建造，完全根據這個經歷。也許有兩位弟兄彼此有問題，有甚麼辦法可以解決？不容易。有一天，他們二人都開始愛主，並且對祂有深切甘甜的珍賞。主給他們誡命，他們也接受了。他們立刻都在主的同在中，問題就過去了。這就是主在我們中間作神聖建造工作的方法。這不是組織、規條或外面教導的事，這完全是愛主、經歷祂顯現、並經歷祂同住的事。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自李常受著〝約翰福音生命讀經〞第433頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
What Is the Cross?
Bible Verses
2 Cor. 1:4 Who comforts us in all our affliction that we may be able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For even as the sufferings of the Christ abound unto us, so through the Christ our comfort also abounds.
Words of Ministry
The cross is not turning one's feelings toward others; it is not turning one's feelings inward or suppressing one's feelings. The cross is a matter of joyful acceptance; it is for a person to thank God saying, “The path that God has chosen for me is all good. I can be glad, I can give thanks, and I have no problems because I receive from God's hand the cross that He has given me.” The cross forgives; it does not pity itself, and it is not passive. The only feeling the cross gives us is a feeling of thanksgiving to the Lord. The cross is a matter of having a soft heart before God. Whatever God wishes, let it be so. It is a matter of knowing that God
is great and that God is also love.
The real bearing of the cross will only result in others' respect; it will not seek man's pity. Whenever one seeks man's pity and whenever one seeks man's comfort, that is only wine mingled with gall and not the cross.
Our Lord refused wine mingled with gall for the simple reason that He did not need man's help. He did not need man's help because He already had God's joy in Him. The cross means rejoicing within and being able to praise God within. Therefore, a cross-bearer can comfort others [2 Cor. 1:14]. A person such as Paul is one who can comfort other people because no difficulty can touch him. We have seen that Paul and Silas could pray and sing hymns to praise God in their affliction in Philippi (Acts 16:25). These two men needed no wine mingled with gall; they were men who were really crucified on the cross. Stephen could still ask God to forgive the people when he was being stoned (Acts 7:59-60). He did not feel any pain for himself; he needed no wine mingled with gall. He was really a crucified person. The cross means that no matter what pain or difficulty befalls you, you are not touched by it; on the contrary, you can still praise God. If you are always considering how heavy or difficult a matter is, there is no cross.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.100-101. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
2 Cor. 1:4 Who comforts us in all our affliction that we may be able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For even as the sufferings of the Christ abound unto us, so through the Christ our comfort also abounds.
Words of Ministry
The cross is not turning one's feelings toward others; it is not turning one's feelings inward or suppressing one's feelings. The cross is a matter of joyful acceptance; it is for a person to thank God saying, “The path that God has chosen for me is all good. I can be glad, I can give thanks, and I have no problems because I receive from God's hand the cross that He has given me.” The cross forgives; it does not pity itself, and it is not passive. The only feeling the cross gives us is a feeling of thanksgiving to the Lord. The cross is a matter of having a soft heart before God. Whatever God wishes, let it be so. It is a matter of knowing that God
is great and that God is also love.
The real bearing of the cross will only result in others' respect; it will not seek man's pity. Whenever one seeks man's pity and whenever one seeks man's comfort, that is only wine mingled with gall and not the cross.
Our Lord refused wine mingled with gall for the simple reason that He did not need man's help. He did not need man's help because He already had God's joy in Him. The cross means rejoicing within and being able to praise God within. Therefore, a cross-bearer can comfort others [2 Cor. 1:14]. A person such as Paul is one who can comfort other people because no difficulty can touch him. We have seen that Paul and Silas could pray and sing hymns to praise God in their affliction in Philippi (Acts 16:25). These two men needed no wine mingled with gall; they were men who were really crucified on the cross. Stephen could still ask God to forgive the people when he was being stoned (Acts 7:59-60). He did not feel any pain for himself; he needed no wine mingled with gall. He was really a crucified person. The cross means that no matter what pain or difficulty befalls you, you are not touched by it; on the contrary, you can still praise God. If you are always considering how heavy or difficult a matter is, there is no cross.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp.100-101. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Eternal Life Is Knowing God
Bible Verses
John 17:2 Even as You have given Him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Him whom You have sent, Jesus Christ.
Words of Ministry
When I was young, I was told that eternal life was just a blessing in the future. Eternal life is divine life with a special function—to know God and Christ. Every life has its function. The function of a dog's life is barking, the function of a bird's life is flying... The function of the divine life is to know God. God and Christ are divine. To know the divine Person we need the divine life, Since the
believers are born with the divine life, they know God and Christ.
Hebrews 8:11 says that there is no need to teach any New Testament believers to know God. Why? Because every New Testament believer knows God. New Testament believers have the divine life, and the divine life is the life that knows God. We do not need to teach a dog to bark, because the dog's life has the barking function. Likewise, since we have the divine life, we do not need to be taught to know God, for the function of the divine life is to know God and Christ. Oh, that I may know Christ! We all may know Christ because we have the divine life, the life whose function is to know God and Christ.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-Study of John, pp. 467-468. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
John 17:2 Even as You have given Him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Him whom You have sent, Jesus Christ.
Words of Ministry
When I was young, I was told that eternal life was just a blessing in the future. Eternal life is divine life with a special function—to know God and Christ. Every life has its function. The function of a dog's life is barking, the function of a bird's life is flying... The function of the divine life is to know God. God and Christ are divine. To know the divine Person we need the divine life, Since the
believers are born with the divine life, they know God and Christ.
Hebrews 8:11 says that there is no need to teach any New Testament believers to know God. Why? Because every New Testament believer knows God. New Testament believers have the divine life, and the divine life is the life that knows God. We do not need to teach a dog to bark, because the dog's life has the barking function. Likewise, since we have the divine life, we do not need to be taught to know God, for the function of the divine life is to know God and Christ. Oh, that I may know Christ! We all may know Christ because we have the divine life, the life whose function is to know God and Christ.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-Study of John, pp. 467-468. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
幫助說閒話的人禱告
聖經經節
林前一10：弟兄們，我藉我們主耶穌基督的名，懇求你們都說一樣的話，你們中間也不可有分裂，只要在一樣的心思和一樣的意見裡，彼此和諧。
以弗所四29：敗壞的話一句都不可出口，只要按需要說建造人的好話，好將恩典供給聽見的人。
職事的話
教會的生命也像個人的生命一樣，個人的生命能因閒話而漏掉，教會的生命也能因閒話而漏掉。我們因著生命是一個，就要一心一意；能一心一意，就能說同樣的話，而不說閒話了。所以，要對付閒話，就得先對付心。
你不只要對付你自己的口，也要對付別人的口。甚麼人喜歡說閒話，喜歡說長道短，喜歡播弄是非，你就要幫助他。有的人到你那裏就是要說許多的閒話，你就不給他起頭。你可以對他說，『弟兄，我們禱告。』你不讓他說閒話，你帶著他禱告，或者彼此背聖經節，你把他引到正當的路上去。更直一點可以說，『弟兄，我們要學習說造就人的話，閒話還是不說的好。』
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第76至77頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
林前一10：弟兄們，我藉我們主耶穌基督的名，懇求你們都說一樣的話，你們中間也不可有分裂，只要在一樣的心思和一樣的意見裡，彼此和諧。
以弗所四29：敗壞的話一句都不可出口，只要按需要說建造人的好話，好將恩典供給聽見的人。
職事的話
教會的生命也像個人的生命一樣，個人的生命能因閒話而漏掉，教會的生命也能因閒話而漏掉。我們因著生命是一個，就要一心一意；能一心一意，就能說同樣的話，而不說閒話了。所以，要對付閒話，就得先對付心。
你不只要對付你自己的口，也要對付別人的口。甚麼人喜歡說閒話，喜歡說長道短，喜歡播弄是非，你就要幫助他。有的人到你那裏就是要說許多的閒話，你就不給他起頭。你可以對他說，『弟兄，我們禱告。』你不讓他說閒話，你帶著他禱告，或者彼此背聖經節，你把他引到正當的路上去。更直一點可以說，『弟兄，我們要學習說造就人的話，閒話還是不說的好。』
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第76至77頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
蒙拯救脫離發癢的耳朵
聖經經節
雅各三9：我們用舌頭頌讚那為主為父的，又用舌頭咒詛那照著神樣式受造的人。10：頌讚和咒詛從同一個口裡出來，我的弟兄們，這是不應當的。11：泉源從同一個眼裡能湧出甜水和苦水麼？
提後四3：…耳朵發癢…4：並且轉耳離棄真理，偏向虛構無稽之事。
職事的話
如果一個泉源不能發出兩種的水，那麼一個口裏也不能說出兩種的話來。一個泉源只能發出一種水，一個口也只能說出一種話。對於閒話，我們在主面前要專一的對付。因為這一個漏洞如果不塞住，不應當進來的那一邊一直倒進來，不應當流出去的這一邊一直流出去，這個虧損是無法計算的。所以總得把這一個漏洞塞住。我們要求主說，『主，對付我的口，叫我因著你的恩典能蒙保守。』
但是，我們如果要作一個塞漏洞的人，就要求神先拯救我們脫離好奇的心，學習敬畏神。許多基督徒有好奇的心，他喜歡聽新奇的，甚至污穢的故事，他的耳朵像垃圾箱一樣，各種各樣的東西都能彀進去。我們如果蒙拯救，脫離這一個，就能少犯許多罪，也能幫助弟兄姊妹少犯許多罪。我們如果耳朵不發癢，不給人有說閒話的機會，我們就能在神面前保守自己的口不漏掉生命，同時也能幫助別人塞住漏洞。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第76至77頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
雅各三9：我們用舌頭頌讚那為主為父的，又用舌頭咒詛那照著神樣式受造的人。10：頌讚和咒詛從同一個口裡出來，我的弟兄們，這是不應當的。11：泉源從同一個眼裡能湧出甜水和苦水麼？
提後四3：…耳朵發癢…4：並且轉耳離棄真理，偏向虛構無稽之事。
職事的話
如果一個泉源不能發出兩種的水，那麼一個口裏也不能說出兩種的話來。一個泉源只能發出一種水，一個口也只能說出一種話。對於閒話，我們在主面前要專一的對付。因為這一個漏洞如果不塞住，不應當進來的那一邊一直倒進來，不應當流出去的這一邊一直流出去，這個虧損是無法計算的。所以總得把這一個漏洞塞住。我們要求主說，『主，對付我的口，叫我因著你的恩典能蒙保守。』
但是，我們如果要作一個塞漏洞的人，就要求神先拯救我們脫離好奇的心，學習敬畏神。許多基督徒有好奇的心，他喜歡聽新奇的，甚至污穢的故事，他的耳朵像垃圾箱一樣，各種各樣的東西都能彀進去。我們如果蒙拯救，脫離這一個，就能少犯許多罪，也能幫助弟兄姊妹少犯許多罪。我們如果耳朵不發癢，不給人有說閒話的機會，我們就能在神面前保守自己的口不漏掉生命，同時也能幫助別人塞住漏洞。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第76至77頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
Monday, September 13, 2010
勿因閒話漏掉生命(二)
聖經經節
箴言十五4：安慰人的舌是生命樹﹔乖謬人的嘴使靈憂傷。
馬太十二34：毒蛇之種，你們既是惡的，怎能說出善來？因為心裡所充滿的，口裡就說出來。
職事的話
溫良，就是不發熱，就是緩和、適度。人說話多了，舌頭就發熱﹔舌頭熱了，就沒有生命樹。乃是溫良的舌是生命樹。溫良的舌頭，是不急躁的舌頭，不糊塗的舌頭，不多話的舌頭。這樣的舌頭，纔能像生命樹一樣。一個喜歡說閒話的基督徒，從他身上就聞不到基督的味道。喜歡說閒話的人，是不能有生命供應的人。閒話是一個大漏洞，閒話要把你的生命漏掉了。
閒話是生命的漏洞，那怎麼辦呢？我們要守住口，就先要對付心。主說，『因為心裏所充滿的，口裏就說出來。』（太十二34。）是心裏有這樣東西，口裏纔說出來。你心裏有這樣東西，你口裏遲早要說兩句。在這裏不說，到那裏要說﹔在這一家不說，到那一家要說。心裏所充滿的，口裏就說出來。所以你在神面前要學習不說閒話，就要從心裏對付起。你的心如果不對付，你的口永遠對付不好。因為心裏充滿了各種各樣的東西，然後口裏纔有這許多東西說出來。所以我們千萬不要說，我這一個人是有口無心的。從主耶穌所說的話看來，沒有這件事。有口就有這一個心。是因為你的心這樣，所以口纔這樣。所以要對付閒話，就必須先對付心。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第75至76頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
箴言十五4：安慰人的舌是生命樹﹔乖謬人的嘴使靈憂傷。
馬太十二34：毒蛇之種，你們既是惡的，怎能說出善來？因為心裡所充滿的，口裡就說出來。
職事的話
溫良，就是不發熱，就是緩和、適度。人說話多了，舌頭就發熱﹔舌頭熱了，就沒有生命樹。乃是溫良的舌是生命樹。溫良的舌頭，是不急躁的舌頭，不糊塗的舌頭，不多話的舌頭。這樣的舌頭，纔能像生命樹一樣。一個喜歡說閒話的基督徒，從他身上就聞不到基督的味道。喜歡說閒話的人，是不能有生命供應的人。閒話是一個大漏洞，閒話要把你的生命漏掉了。
閒話是生命的漏洞，那怎麼辦呢？我們要守住口，就先要對付心。主說，『因為心裏所充滿的，口裏就說出來。』（太十二34。）是心裏有這樣東西，口裏纔說出來。你心裏有這樣東西，你口裏遲早要說兩句。在這裏不說，到那裏要說﹔在這一家不說，到那一家要說。心裏所充滿的，口裏就說出來。所以你在神面前要學習不說閒話，就要從心裏對付起。你的心如果不對付，你的口永遠對付不好。因為心裏充滿了各種各樣的東西，然後口裏纔有這許多東西說出來。所以我們千萬不要說，我這一個人是有口無心的。從主耶穌所說的話看來，沒有這件事。有口就有這一個心。是因為你的心這樣，所以口纔這樣。所以要對付閒話，就必須先對付心。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第75至76頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
勿因閒話漏掉生命(一)
聖經經節
箴言十三3： 謹守口的﹐得保己命；大張嘴的﹐必致敗壞。
馬太十二36：我還告訴你們，人所說的每句閒話，在審判的日子，都必須供出來。37：因為要憑你的話，稱你為義；也要憑你的話，定你有罪。
職事的話
所羅門寫箴言寫到這一句話的時候，他到底是指著肉身的生命說的，還是指著屬靈的生命說的，我們不敢肯定。我們在這裏是取牠的原則來看屬靈的事。這句話給我們看見一件事，就是一個追求主的人，一個得著生命同時也要用生命來供應教會的人，必須謹慎言語。言語一不謹慎，生命就要漏掉。有的人在神手裏為甚麼沒有多大用處？因為他把生命漏掉了。你在他身上只摸著死亡，摸不著生命，就是因為他從言語裏面把生命漏掉了。所以，我們在主面前要守住自己的口，並且要嚴嚴的守住。許多的故事能告訴我們，沒有一件東西叫我們的生命漏掉像閒話那樣厲害。這不是說罪比閒話更好，這是說除了罪之外，最叫我們的生命消失的，就是我們的閒話。
馬太十二章三十六節是不是說凡人所說的污穢的話？不是。是不是說凡人所說的毀謗的話？不是。是不是說凡人所說的惡言？不是。這裏是說，凡人所說的『閒話。』閒話，就是多餘的話、不相干的話、不必說的話、播弄是非的話。我們要看見，不只說毀謗的話是嚴重的，就是隨便說話也是嚴重的；閒話得罪了人，就是沒有方法賠償的。你能去向人認罪，你也能對人說把自己的話收回﹐但是聲音已經到了別人裏面是不能收回的。偷人的東西能賠償，但是閒話得罪了人沒有方法賠償。這一個罪要擺在神面前。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第74至75頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
箴言十三3： 謹守口的﹐得保己命；大張嘴的﹐必致敗壞。
馬太十二36：我還告訴你們，人所說的每句閒話，在審判的日子，都必須供出來。37：因為要憑你的話，稱你為義；也要憑你的話，定你有罪。
職事的話
所羅門寫箴言寫到這一句話的時候，他到底是指著肉身的生命說的，還是指著屬靈的生命說的，我們不敢肯定。我們在這裏是取牠的原則來看屬靈的事。這句話給我們看見一件事，就是一個追求主的人，一個得著生命同時也要用生命來供應教會的人，必須謹慎言語。言語一不謹慎，生命就要漏掉。有的人在神手裏為甚麼沒有多大用處？因為他把生命漏掉了。你在他身上只摸著死亡，摸不著生命，就是因為他從言語裏面把生命漏掉了。所以，我們在主面前要守住自己的口，並且要嚴嚴的守住。許多的故事能告訴我們，沒有一件東西叫我們的生命漏掉像閒話那樣厲害。這不是說罪比閒話更好，這是說除了罪之外，最叫我們的生命消失的，就是我們的閒話。
馬太十二章三十六節是不是說凡人所說的污穢的話？不是。是不是說凡人所說的毀謗的話？不是。是不是說凡人所說的惡言？不是。這裏是說，凡人所說的『閒話。』閒話，就是多餘的話、不相干的話、不必說的話、播弄是非的話。我們要看見，不只說毀謗的話是嚴重的，就是隨便說話也是嚴重的；閒話得罪了人，就是沒有方法賠償的。你能去向人認罪，你也能對人說把自己的話收回﹐但是聲音已經到了別人裏面是不能收回的。偷人的東西能賠償，但是閒話得罪了人沒有方法賠償。這一個罪要擺在神面前。
(c) Living Stream Ministry。經文取自聖經恢復本，闡釋部份取自倪柝聲文集〝一般的信息〞（卷一）第74至75頁。以上著述均由美國加州安那翰市水流職事站出版。
Thursday, September 09, 2010
God’s Appearing Causes Total Consecration (2)
Bible Verses
Rom. 12:1 I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 Cor. 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us because we have judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died; (15) And He died for all that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.
Words of Ministry (Part 2 of 2)
God appeared to Abraham, and Abraham built an altar. This altar was not for a sin offering but for a burnt offering. A sin offering is for redemption, while a burnt offering is an offering of ourselves to God. The altar here does not refer to the Lord Jesus' vicarious death for us; it refers to the consecration of ourselves to God. It was the kind of altar spoken of in Romans 12:1. The mercy of God caused the Lord Jesus to die for us. The mercy of God provided the cross on which we died with Him and on which the devil was dealt with. By the mercy of God we have His life within, and by His mercy, He will bring us into glory. It is on the ground of His mercies [compassions] that God beseeches us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him.
In connection with the burnt offering, we should note that a person of ample resources may have offered a bullock, one with less resources may have offered a sheep, and one whose means were even more limited may have offered a turtledove or pigeon (Lev. 1:3, 10, 14). But whether one offered a bullock, a sheep, or a turtledove or pigeon, the offerer had to offer up the whole. One could not offer half a bullock or half a sheep. God wants everything whole; He does not want a half offering. He cannot accept anything less than utter consecration.
For what purpose was the burnt offering placed on the altar? It was to be wholly burned. Many of us think that we offer ourselves to God to do this or that for Him, whereas what He wants of us is a burning. He does not need a bullock to plow the field for Him; He wants the bullock to be burned on the altar. God is not after our work, but ourselves. He wants us to offer ourselves to Him and be burned for Him. The altar does not signify doing something for God but living for God. The altar does not mean having busy activities but having a living for God. No activity or work can replace the altar. The altar is a life that is totally for God. Unlike the sacrifice of the Old Testament, which was utterly burned in one act, the sacrifice of the New Testament, as depicted in Romans 12, is the presenting of our bodies as a living sacrifice. Daily we are consumed on the altar, yet daily we are living; we are ever living, yet ever consumed. This is the sacrifice of the New Testament.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 90-92 Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Rom. 12:1 I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 Cor. 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us because we have judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died; (15) And He died for all that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.
Words of Ministry (Part 2 of 2)
God appeared to Abraham, and Abraham built an altar. This altar was not for a sin offering but for a burnt offering. A sin offering is for redemption, while a burnt offering is an offering of ourselves to God. The altar here does not refer to the Lord Jesus' vicarious death for us; it refers to the consecration of ourselves to God. It was the kind of altar spoken of in Romans 12:1. The mercy of God caused the Lord Jesus to die for us. The mercy of God provided the cross on which we died with Him and on which the devil was dealt with. By the mercy of God we have His life within, and by His mercy, He will bring us into glory. It is on the ground of His mercies [compassions] that God beseeches us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him.
In connection with the burnt offering, we should note that a person of ample resources may have offered a bullock, one with less resources may have offered a sheep, and one whose means were even more limited may have offered a turtledove or pigeon (Lev. 1:3, 10, 14). But whether one offered a bullock, a sheep, or a turtledove or pigeon, the offerer had to offer up the whole. One could not offer half a bullock or half a sheep. God wants everything whole; He does not want a half offering. He cannot accept anything less than utter consecration.
For what purpose was the burnt offering placed on the altar? It was to be wholly burned. Many of us think that we offer ourselves to God to do this or that for Him, whereas what He wants of us is a burning. He does not need a bullock to plow the field for Him; He wants the bullock to be burned on the altar. God is not after our work, but ourselves. He wants us to offer ourselves to Him and be burned for Him. The altar does not signify doing something for God but living for God. The altar does not mean having busy activities but having a living for God. No activity or work can replace the altar. The altar is a life that is totally for God. Unlike the sacrifice of the Old Testament, which was utterly burned in one act, the sacrifice of the New Testament, as depicted in Romans 12, is the presenting of our bodies as a living sacrifice. Daily we are consumed on the altar, yet daily we are living; we are ever living, yet ever consumed. This is the sacrifice of the New Testament.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 90-92 Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
God’s Appearing Causes Total Consecration (1)
Bible Verses
Gen. 12:7 And Jehovah appeared to Abram and said, To your seed I will give this land. And there he built an altar to Jehovah who had appeared to him. (8) And he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent...and there he built an altar to Jehovah and called upon the name of Jehovah.
Rom. 14:8 For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or we die, we are the Lord's.
Words of Ministry (Part 1 of 2)
In this verse [Gen. 12:7] we see that the altar is based on God's appearance. Where there is no divine appearance, there is no altar. No one can offer himself to God unless he has first met God. Unless God has appeared to a man, he cannot offer his all to God. Consecration is not the result of man's exhortation or persuasion but of God's revelation. No one can voluntarily offer up all he has on the altar if God has not first appeared to him. By nature, no one can offer himself to God. Even when a man does want to offer himself to God, he finds that he really has nothing to offer. Some have said, “I want to give my heart to the Lord, but my heart will not agree.” Man cannot come over to God's side. However, when man meets God, consecration takes place spontaneously in his life. If you catch sight of God just once and touch God just once, you are no longer your own. God is Someone who cannot be touched lightly! Once a man touches God, he can no longer live for himself.
We need to realize that the power to offer oneself to God comes through His appearance; it comes from His revelation. Those who talk about consecration are not necessarily consecrated themselves. Not everyone who preaches consecration or understands the doctrine of consecration is a consecrated person. Only those who have seen God are consecrated persons. God appeared to Abraham, and the immediate issue was that Abraham built an altar to God. The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, and Paul immediately asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). A turning point in our spiritual life does not come through our decision to do something for God; it does not come as a result of our resolving to do this or that for God. It comes when we see Him. When we meet God, a radical change takes place in our life. We can no longer do what we did in the past. When we meet God Himself, we have the power to deny ourselves. The matter of denying one's self ceases to be optional when we have met God. His appearance makes a person unable to go on by himself; it forces him to not live by himself anymore. God's appearance brings with it inexhaustible power. Such an appearance will alter the whole course of a person's life. For a Christian, the power to live for God is based on his vision of God. Oh! It is not our decision to serve the Lord that enables us to serve Him. It is not our will to build an altar that produces an altar. An altar is built when God comes to a man.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 89-90 Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Gen. 12:7 And Jehovah appeared to Abram and said, To your seed I will give this land. And there he built an altar to Jehovah who had appeared to him. (8) And he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent...and there he built an altar to Jehovah and called upon the name of Jehovah.
Rom. 14:8 For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or we die, we are the Lord's.
Words of Ministry (Part 1 of 2)
In this verse [Gen. 12:7] we see that the altar is based on God's appearance. Where there is no divine appearance, there is no altar. No one can offer himself to God unless he has first met God. Unless God has appeared to a man, he cannot offer his all to God. Consecration is not the result of man's exhortation or persuasion but of God's revelation. No one can voluntarily offer up all he has on the altar if God has not first appeared to him. By nature, no one can offer himself to God. Even when a man does want to offer himself to God, he finds that he really has nothing to offer. Some have said, “I want to give my heart to the Lord, but my heart will not agree.” Man cannot come over to God's side. However, when man meets God, consecration takes place spontaneously in his life. If you catch sight of God just once and touch God just once, you are no longer your own. God is Someone who cannot be touched lightly! Once a man touches God, he can no longer live for himself.
We need to realize that the power to offer oneself to God comes through His appearance; it comes from His revelation. Those who talk about consecration are not necessarily consecrated themselves. Not everyone who preaches consecration or understands the doctrine of consecration is a consecrated person. Only those who have seen God are consecrated persons. God appeared to Abraham, and the immediate issue was that Abraham built an altar to God. The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, and Paul immediately asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). A turning point in our spiritual life does not come through our decision to do something for God; it does not come as a result of our resolving to do this or that for God. It comes when we see Him. When we meet God, a radical change takes place in our life. We can no longer do what we did in the past. When we meet God Himself, we have the power to deny ourselves. The matter of denying one's self ceases to be optional when we have met God. His appearance makes a person unable to go on by himself; it forces him to not live by himself anymore. God's appearance brings with it inexhaustible power. Such an appearance will alter the whole course of a person's life. For a Christian, the power to live for God is based on his vision of God. Oh! It is not our decision to serve the Lord that enables us to serve Him. It is not our will to build an altar that produces an altar. An altar is built when God comes to a man.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 89-90 Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Heart and Light
Bible Verses
Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
2 Cor 3:16 But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Words of Ministry
These passages all speak of the heart and light. Let us consider the relationship between the heart and light.
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Seeing is related to light. If you can see, there must be light. Without light, it is impossible to see. This verse also says, “They shall see God.” God is light. Therefore, to see God is to see light. The condition for seeing light is having a pure heart; those who are pure in heart can see light. Matthew 6:21-23 says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” This verse again mentions the relationship between the heart and light. Whenever your heart follows earthly treasure, your eye cannot be single; you are in darkness and cannot see light.
Second Corinthians 3:16 says, “But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” What is a veil? A veil blocks a person from seeing. Any time your heart turns to the Lord and is proper, the veil in you will be removed and there will be light. Psalm 73:1 declares, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” This is the subject. Then the psalmist said that for a time his eyes were on the prosperity and success of the wicked, and he almost slipped. Yet he did not fall because his heart was still somewhat pure. He did not understand until he entered into the sanctuary of God. He said that before he saw the light he was like a beast, irrational and ignorant. But when he entered into the sanctuary of God, he saw; then he said, “Whom do I have in heaven but You? And besides You there is nothing I desire on earth” (v. 25). This is the experience of one who sees light after being in extreme darkness. He had not fallen into total darkness because his heart was still somewhat pure. Hence, there was still an opportunity for him to receive God's grace and to receive light.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 73-74. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
2 Cor 3:16 But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Words of Ministry
These passages all speak of the heart and light. Let us consider the relationship between the heart and light.
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Seeing is related to light. If you can see, there must be light. Without light, it is impossible to see. This verse also says, “They shall see God.” God is light. Therefore, to see God is to see light. The condition for seeing light is having a pure heart; those who are pure in heart can see light. Matthew 6:21-23 says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” This verse again mentions the relationship between the heart and light. Whenever your heart follows earthly treasure, your eye cannot be single; you are in darkness and cannot see light.
Second Corinthians 3:16 says, “But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” What is a veil? A veil blocks a person from seeing. Any time your heart turns to the Lord and is proper, the veil in you will be removed and there will be light. Psalm 73:1 declares, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” This is the subject. Then the psalmist said that for a time his eyes were on the prosperity and success of the wicked, and he almost slipped. Yet he did not fall because his heart was still somewhat pure. He did not understand until he entered into the sanctuary of God. He said that before he saw the light he was like a beast, irrational and ignorant. But when he entered into the sanctuary of God, he saw; then he said, “Whom do I have in heaven but You? And besides You there is nothing I desire on earth” (v. 25). This is the experience of one who sees light after being in extreme darkness. He had not fallen into total darkness because his heart was still somewhat pure. Hence, there was still an opportunity for him to receive God's grace and to receive light.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages, Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 73-74. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
