Bible Verses
Rom. 6:13 ...present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as weapons of righteousness to God. (19) ...For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness unto sanctification.
Words of Ministry
If we read God's Word carefully, we will find that God only gives spiritual life and light to one kind of people. Who are these people? They are the ones who have an aspiration to be used by God. The same is true in the case of spiritual power. No spiritual power is outward. All spiritual power comes as a result of man's aspiration for God and his consecration to God. Genuine power is based on man's heart toward God and his love for God. In the Old Testament Samson was very powerful. His enemy, the Philistines, did not know the source of his power; through Delilah they found out that his strength was with his hair. Once his hair was cut, he lost his power (Judg. 16:15-17). What was his hair? It was the hair of a Nazarite. A Nazarite is one who is fully consecrated to God. All genuine spiritual power comes from one's consecration to God. If a person is not thorough with his consecration, he is still crippled and powerless. But if a person has a thorough consecration before the Lord, he will become powerful. No matter how seeking we have been, we must always remember that power comes from consecration.
Suppose God puts His hand on a sister, and she struggles with the Lord for a long time without yielding to Him. Although she is willing to pray with others, her condition is not healthy because she has not satisfied God's demand. No matter how much she tries to help others, she cannot have a breakthrough. One day when God's love constrains her, she decides tearfully to yield to God. Once she answers God's demand, the help she renders to others will begin to touch others. This is why we say that power comes from consecration. The more consecration we have, the more power God will give to us.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, Collected Works, vol. 37, pp. 178-179. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Heading Up of Christ Needing Our Growth in His Life
Bible Verses
Eph 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, (16) Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Words of Ministry
Many Christians are talking about the church, but in their talk the word “church” has become meaningless. In the book of Ephesians, however, the church means a great deal. But if you do not know what it is to be headed up in Christ, you cannot know what the church is.
It is important to see that the heading up in the church is a matter in life [Christ’s life]. If we try to be headed up without growing in life, we shall fall into organization. The proper heading up is the growing of life. The more you grow in life, the more life you will have, the more heading up there will be, and the more you will be rescued from the heap of collapse. No human hand or organization can accomplish this. No human effort can help the heading up in the church life. I cannot help you, and you cannot help me. The only thing that avails is the growth in life. Oh, we need to grow and help others to grow! We need to minister the supply of life to one another to help one another grow. The heading up in the church life is altogether dependent upon the growth in life.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 79. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, (16) Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Words of Ministry
Many Christians are talking about the church, but in their talk the word “church” has become meaningless. In the book of Ephesians, however, the church means a great deal. But if you do not know what it is to be headed up in Christ, you cannot know what the church is.
It is important to see that the heading up in the church is a matter in life [Christ’s life]. If we try to be headed up without growing in life, we shall fall into organization. The proper heading up is the growing of life. The more you grow in life, the more life you will have, the more heading up there will be, and the more you will be rescued from the heap of collapse. No human hand or organization can accomplish this. No human effort can help the heading up in the church life. I cannot help you, and you cannot help me. The only thing that avails is the growth in life. Oh, we need to grow and help others to grow! We need to minister the supply of life to one another to help one another grow. The heading up in the church life is altogether dependent upon the growth in life.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 79. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Extraordinary Grace Needed to Shed His Blood
Bible Verses
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according to the riches of His grace,
Heb 9:22 ...and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Words of Ministry
According to our concept, it would be easy for God to forgive us because He is sovereign and almighty. However, it was not that easy. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins... Now we need to see how it was possible for God to obtain such a sinless and all-inclusive blood. Obtaining such a blood was vastly more difficult than creating the universe. In order to create the universe, God simply had to speak (Gen. 1:3). But redemption could not take place in this way.
Consider how the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus, was conceived. There was the need for the Holy Spirit to contact the virgin Mary. We cannot say how the Holy Spirit conceived the Redeemer within the womb of the virgin. For this, the riches of God's grace were required. Eventually, after working as a carpenter, He came forth to begin His ministry. Although He was concerned for sinners, they opposed Him, persecuted Him, and plotted to kill Him. Betrayed by one of His Apostles, He was arrested. He was tried. Then He was nailed to the cross and hung there for six hours. Then He was buried, resurrected, and ascended into heaven to receive repentance and forgiveness. What grace was needed for all this! Because of the riches of God's grace, we are able to repent and receive forgiveness of sins. How limitless and immeasurable is God's grace!
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 59-60. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according to the riches of His grace,
Heb 9:22 ...and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Words of Ministry
According to our concept, it would be easy for God to forgive us because He is sovereign and almighty. However, it was not that easy. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins... Now we need to see how it was possible for God to obtain such a sinless and all-inclusive blood. Obtaining such a blood was vastly more difficult than creating the universe. In order to create the universe, God simply had to speak (Gen. 1:3). But redemption could not take place in this way.
Consider how the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus, was conceived. There was the need for the Holy Spirit to contact the virgin Mary. We cannot say how the Holy Spirit conceived the Redeemer within the womb of the virgin. For this, the riches of God's grace were required. Eventually, after working as a carpenter, He came forth to begin His ministry. Although He was concerned for sinners, they opposed Him, persecuted Him, and plotted to kill Him. Betrayed by one of His Apostles, He was arrested. He was tried. Then He was nailed to the cross and hung there for six hours. Then He was buried, resurrected, and ascended into heaven to receive repentance and forgiveness. What grace was needed for all this! Because of the riches of God's grace, we are able to repent and receive forgiveness of sins. How limitless and immeasurable is God's grace!
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 59-60. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
安息是從奉獻得來的
聖經經節
腓四6：應當一無罣慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，帶著感謝，將你們所要的告訴神﹔7：神那超越人所能理解的平安，必在基督耶穌裡，保衛你們的心懷意念。
馬太十一29：我心裡柔和謙卑，因此你們要負我的軛，且要跟我學，你們魂裡就必得安息。
職事的話
第一使你得著安息的，就是要將你所有的事，所有的要求都告訴神。你的工作，你的需要，你所碰著的困難，你都可以告訴主。對主說，『主，我把這些一起都託在你的手裏。』你一碰著這一切的事，你就是藉著禱告﹑祈求和感謝，把牠們交給神，神的平安就要保守你的心懷意念。保守，是神所作的，你所作的，就是藉著禱告﹑祈求和感謝，將你所要的告訴神。你一有事情，就得交託給神。你一交託，神的平安立刻就保守你。甚麼時候你交託給神，甚麼時候神的平安就來。這樣，我們就可以一天到晚都不受外界的影響，無論有多大的難處，無論有多少的事情，都有神的平安在你裏面一直保守你的心。
第一個條件是信心，第二個條件是順服。神讓許多事情臨到你身上，你如果拒絕神所要你得著的，你如果看不中神的旨意，你如果還有另外的要求，你裏面就沒有安息。我們要知道，安息是從奉獻得來的。有難處臨到你身上的時候，你如果能學主的樣式，負主的軛，你雖然不能隨著你自己的意思去行，你雖然覺得苦痛，但是你必定有安息。你如果對主說，『主﹐你無論要我作甚麼，我都肯，』你就必定得著安息。如果你不肯，如果你要揀選自己的道路，如果你要揀選自己的生活，如果你有自己的盼望，你就要失去安息。我們所有的不滿意，我們所有的欲望，都是叫我們失去安息的。你如果對主說，『主，你所給我的一切都是好的，我願意走你的路，我要你的旨意，我願意把我的盼望都放在一邊，』這樣，安息就要充滿你的心。
(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154至155頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
腓四6：應當一無罣慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，帶著感謝，將你們所要的告訴神﹔7：神那超越人所能理解的平安，必在基督耶穌裡，保衛你們的心懷意念。
馬太十一29：我心裡柔和謙卑，因此你們要負我的軛，且要跟我學，你們魂裡就必得安息。
職事的話
第一使你得著安息的，就是要將你所有的事，所有的要求都告訴神。你的工作，你的需要，你所碰著的困難，你都可以告訴主。對主說，『主，我把這些一起都託在你的手裏。』你一碰著這一切的事，你就是藉著禱告﹑祈求和感謝，把牠們交給神，神的平安就要保守你的心懷意念。保守，是神所作的，你所作的，就是藉著禱告﹑祈求和感謝，將你所要的告訴神。你一有事情，就得交託給神。你一交託，神的平安立刻就保守你。甚麼時候你交託給神，甚麼時候神的平安就來。這樣，我們就可以一天到晚都不受外界的影響，無論有多大的難處，無論有多少的事情，都有神的平安在你裏面一直保守你的心。
第一個條件是信心，第二個條件是順服。神讓許多事情臨到你身上，你如果拒絕神所要你得著的，你如果看不中神的旨意，你如果還有另外的要求，你裏面就沒有安息。我們要知道，安息是從奉獻得來的。有難處臨到你身上的時候，你如果能學主的樣式，負主的軛，你雖然不能隨著你自己的意思去行，你雖然覺得苦痛，但是你必定有安息。你如果對主說，『主﹐你無論要我作甚麼，我都肯，』你就必定得著安息。如果你不肯，如果你要揀選自己的道路，如果你要揀選自己的生活，如果你有自己的盼望，你就要失去安息。我們所有的不滿意，我們所有的欲望，都是叫我們失去安息的。你如果對主說，『主，你所給我的一切都是好的，我願意走你的路，我要你的旨意，我願意把我的盼望都放在一邊，』這樣，安息就要充滿你的心。
(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154至155頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
得救在於歸回安息
聖經經節
以賽亞三十15：主耶和華以色列的聖者如此說﹐你們得救在於歸回安息﹔你們得力在於平靜信靠﹔你們竟自不肯。
羅馬八6：因為心思置於肉體，就是死；心思置於靈，乃是生命平安。
職事的話
弟兄姊妹，在我們的生活中有一個失敗，就是外面一忙，裏面也就覺得亂了。許多時候，外面還沒有忙， 裏面卻早已亂了。因為裏面亂了的緣故，就沒有能力應付外面的事情。我們要知道，安息就是我們生活的力量，平靜安穩就是我們生活的力量。沒有一個容易受刺激的人在神面前是有能力的，沒有一個思慮煩擾的人在神面前是有能力的。我們必須記得，我們的能力是在乎裏面平靜安穩。
在每一個旋風裏面，都有一個中心。雖然外面的風旋轉得很快，但是在中心那一點是非常平靜的。這一種中心穩定的生活，就是我們的力量。外面的事情好像狂風亂吹，但是在我們的裏面是最安靜的。『你們得力在乎平靜安穩。』你千萬不要因為外面的事情一多，你的思想就亂了。你看海，在牠的表面不知道有多大的變動，浪可以打得很高，風可以吹得很大，但是海的深處一點都不動，平靜得很。我們基督徒的生活，就是要有裏面的平靜安穩。我們不能盼望事情不忙，我們卻能盼望在事情百忙之中，我們的裏面仍然是十分安靜的。事情可以再多一些，但是在我們的裏面是平靜安穩的。我們所要得著的平安，乃是裏面的平安。如果裏面是平安的，你就不會失敗了。
我們的主是從來不受外面的影響的。當船上風浪頂大的時候，我們的主在睡覺。門徒喊叫說，『我們喪命喇﹗』他們為甚麼這樣喊呢﹖因為他們裏面沒有安息。但是我們的主不為所動。(太八23-27。)當那些人拿著兵器來捉拿主耶穌的時候，祂卻出來問他們說，『你們找誰﹖』他們回答說，『找拿撒勒人耶穌。』主耶穌說，『我就是。』他們聽見這一句話，就退後倒在地上。捉拿人的反而被被捉拿的嚇倒了。(約十八2-6。) 哦﹗永遠可稱頌的主，祂從來不被外面的所搖動，祂只憑著裏面的來生活。
(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151至153頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
以賽亞三十15：主耶和華以色列的聖者如此說﹐你們得救在於歸回安息﹔你們得力在於平靜信靠﹔你們竟自不肯。
羅馬八6：因為心思置於肉體，就是死；心思置於靈，乃是生命平安。
職事的話
弟兄姊妹，在我們的生活中有一個失敗，就是外面一忙，裏面也就覺得亂了。許多時候，外面還沒有忙， 裏面卻早已亂了。因為裏面亂了的緣故，就沒有能力應付外面的事情。我們要知道，安息就是我們生活的力量，平靜安穩就是我們生活的力量。沒有一個容易受刺激的人在神面前是有能力的，沒有一個思慮煩擾的人在神面前是有能力的。我們必須記得，我們的能力是在乎裏面平靜安穩。
在每一個旋風裏面，都有一個中心。雖然外面的風旋轉得很快，但是在中心那一點是非常平靜的。這一種中心穩定的生活，就是我們的力量。外面的事情好像狂風亂吹，但是在我們的裏面是最安靜的。『你們得力在乎平靜安穩。』你千萬不要因為外面的事情一多，你的思想就亂了。你看海，在牠的表面不知道有多大的變動，浪可以打得很高，風可以吹得很大，但是海的深處一點都不動，平靜得很。我們基督徒的生活，就是要有裏面的平靜安穩。我們不能盼望事情不忙，我們卻能盼望在事情百忙之中，我們的裏面仍然是十分安靜的。事情可以再多一些，但是在我們的裏面是平靜安穩的。我們所要得著的平安，乃是裏面的平安。如果裏面是平安的，你就不會失敗了。
我們的主是從來不受外面的影響的。當船上風浪頂大的時候，我們的主在睡覺。門徒喊叫說，『我們喪命喇﹗』他們為甚麼這樣喊呢﹖因為他們裏面沒有安息。但是我們的主不為所動。(太八23-27。)當那些人拿著兵器來捉拿主耶穌的時候，祂卻出來問他們說，『你們找誰﹖』他們回答說，『找拿撒勒人耶穌。』主耶穌說，『我就是。』他們聽見這一句話，就退後倒在地上。捉拿人的反而被被捉拿的嚇倒了。(約十八2-6。) 哦﹗永遠可稱頌的主，祂從來不被外面的所搖動，祂只憑著裏面的來生活。
(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151至153頁。以上著述均由水流職事站發行，職事站位於美國加州安那翰。
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