经文: 「所以我们不丧胆，外体虽然毁坏，内心却一天新似一天。」（）
许多基督徒，都忽略「每日灵修」的重要，因为这信息并没有在一开始蒙恩得救时就被清楚教导，因此基督徒常常不明白「每日灵修」的重要性。基督徒既然蒙受上帝赦罪的恩典，成为上帝的儿女，享受圣灵的喜乐，就当知道灵命的成长，必须靠每日与上帝的沟通，才能保持。 因为真理教导的不够清楚，许多基督徒就冷澹退后，他们不知道如何抵挡世界的诱惑，也不知道如何攻克己身，他们极想抗拒罪恶，服事上帝，却发现力不从心，常与现实妥协。他们从未经验过圣经的应许：上帝要每天不断地做工在我们身上。但这有个先决条件——就是每天要花时间安静在上帝面前，让祂有机会向你施恩。花时间静默在上帝面前的时间，绝不会浪费，祂要亲自向你施恩，赐你力量，叫你成长。 主应许：「凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这裡来，我就使你们得安息。」主要教导我们祂是如何柔和谦卑，向祂低头敬拜吧！告诉祂我们是如何渴望祂的爱，盼望与祂同在，祂要向我们展现祂的笑颜。这样的信息，不仅对年轻基督徒极为需要，凡爱慕上帝显现的信徒，也一样需要这样的信息，但愿本书，能够帮助你与上帝更亲近。我希望把这信息传递得更清楚，更具说服力。不但为讨耶稣欢心的缘故，也为我自己能更蒙福，我愿实践灵命成长的祕诀——每天花一段时间亲近主，绝无例外。——如此，我外体虽然毁坏，内心却一天新似一天。 FROM DAY TO DAYScripture: "The inner man is renewed from day to day."—2 COR. iv 16.
There is one lesson that all young Christians should learn, namely this—the absolute necessity of fellowship with Jesus each day. This lesson is not always taught at the beginning of the Christian life, nor is it always understood by the young convert. He should realize that the grace he has received of the forgiveness of sins, of acceptance as God's child, of joy in the Holy Ghost, can only be preserved by the daily renewal in fellowship with Jesus Christ Himself. Many Christians backslide because this truth is not clearly taught. They are unable to stand against the temptations of the world, or of their old nature. They strive to do their best to fight against sin, and to serve God, but they have no strength. They have never really grasped the secret: The Lord Jesus will every day from heaven continue His work in me. But on one condition—the soul must give Him time each day to impart His love and His grace. Time alone with the Lord Jesus each day is the indispensable condition of growth and power. Read Mart. xi. 25-30. Listen to Christ's word: "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest. Learn of Me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." The Lord will teach us just how meek and humble He is. Bow before Him, tell Him that you long for Him and His love, and He will let His love rest on you. This is a thought not only for young Christians, but for all who love the Lord, and this book would fain help those who desire to live this life of fellowship with Christ. We will try to put the message as clearly, as lovingly, as urgently as possible. For Christ's sake, and in order to please Him; for my own sake, and to enable me to enjoy this blessed experience each day, I will learn the lesson, to spend time each day—without exception— in fellowship with my Lord. So will the inner man be renewed from day to day.
经文: 「我爱你们，正如父爱我一样，你们要常在我的爱裡。」（）
从上帝的角度来看，圣父、圣子、圣灵是截然不同，彼此独立的位格，却又是三位一体的上帝，祂乐意向人显现祂自己，渴望人与祂相交来往。 正如同我们每一个人，都是独立的个体，也知道自己与群体之间，彼此相属的人伦关係，或亲密、或疏远。这位创造人的上帝，企盼与祂所造的人产生关係，因此能与这位造物主宰有连繫沟通，是我们一生最神圣的呼召。 虽然上帝极愿与人沟通，但人的罪使得我们与上帝之间，有鸿沟相隔，无法跨越。甚至有些基督徒自以为颇认识上帝，其实他们对上帝还是很无知，个人与上帝的关係还是很疏远。 很多人以为只要他们悔改，为上帝所接纳，他们就可以上天堂，也可以行出上帝的旨意。他们不明白上帝盼望的是每天与我们有沟通，就像地上的父母，希望儿女们多多陪伴他们，与他们谈话。 上帝赐下祂的儿子耶稣，好让我们藉着耶稣，得以与祂亲近，但条件是我们要与耶稣基督有亲密的关係。我们爱耶稣，是因耶稣先以那无比的爱爱我们，我们才回应祂的爱。我们本身不会先爱耶稣，但圣灵可以在我们心中动工，帮助我们爱耶稣。但我们必须每天分别一段时间，安静在上帝面前，让祂将那丰盛的爱充满在我们心中，如此我们也要以爱回应那慈爱的上帝。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，默想这节经文：「爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他。」（）花时间培养与耶稣的关係，建立彼此的情谊，告诉祂你多么爱祂，向祂说：「主啊，祢是这样爱我，我也要将心归祢，全然爱主！」 FELLOWSHIP WITH GODScripture: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."—JOHN xv. 9
The Three Persons in the Godhead are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each one knows himself as different from the others. God desires to reveal Himself as a Person. Each one of us is an individual, knowing himself as distinct from others, and standing in certain relations to others. God will reveal Himself to us as a Person, and it is our holy calling to enter into fellowship with Him. God greatly desires this intercourse with man. But sin has come between man and his God. Even in the Christian, who thinks he knows God, there is often great ignorance and even indifference to this personal relationship of love to God. People believe that at conversion their sins are forgiven, that God accepts them so that they may go to heaven, and that they should try to do God's will. But the idea is strange to them that even as a father and his child on earth have pleasure in intercourse, so they may and must each day have this blessed fellowship with God. God gave Christ His Son to bring us to Himself. But this is only possible when we live in close fellowship with Jesus Christ. Our relationship to Christ rests on His deep, tender love to us. We are not able of ourselves to render Him this love. But the Holy Spirit will do the work in us. For this we need to separate ourselves each day from the world, and turn in faith to the Lord Jesus, that He may shed abroad His love in our hearts, so that we may be filled with a great love to Him. Dear soul, meditate quietly on this thought. Read the words of Christ in John xiv. 21, "He that loveth Me shall be loved of my Father. I will love Him" Take time to believe in this personal fellowship. Tell Him of your love. Say to Him: "Lord, Thou hast loved me dearly; most earnestly do I desire to love Thee above all."
经文: 「你要给祂取名叫耶稣，因祂要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。」（）
因为耶稣也是个人子，因此祂也有个名字，祂的母亲，祂的朋友叫祂耶稣，但他们很少想到这名字的意思，绝大多数的基督徒，也极少人明白这名字所包含极宝贵的意义——祂要将祂的百姓从罪恶中拯救出来。 许多人想到祂钉死在十架上，许多人想到祂在天上为我们守望代祷，但我们可曾想到祂在天上每天所渴望的，就是要尽其所能的向我们显示祂自己，并且渴望每天得到我们的爱与讚美。 基督徒常祷告求上帝将他们从罪恶中拯救出来，却不知道这工作要怎样做成。事实上，又真又活的耶稣，要向我们显现祂自己，藉着祂爱的力量与吸引，我们变得喜爱真理，恨恶罪恶，就是这样藉着与祂每天亲近，才得以脱离罪恶的捆绑。也就是说，我们带着罪恶的本相，存着诚心来到这位圣洁的上帝面前，这位救主要以祂爱的力量，驱逐我们心中的黑暗与罪恶。就在我们与上帝相交亲近时，圣灵就动工在心中，让我们明白上帝的心意，赐下得胜罪恶的力量。 喔，亲爱的弟兄姐妹，每天要殷勤拨时间到主的面前来，你会嚐到与圣洁的上帝在一起的甘甜，并视耶稣慈爱的邀约，为一天最美好的时光；若你能每天按时地与耶稣单独相处，你会经验到祂的同在，使你一整天都能行在祂的旨意中，并且爱祂、服事祂，藉着这样不间断的沟通，你将学会属灵生命成长的祕诀。 JESUSScripture: "Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His peo?ple from their sins."—MATT. i. 21
As the Lord Jesus was a person, He had His own individual name. His mother, His disciples, all His friends called Him by this name—Jesus. But they probably thought little of what that name meant. And how little do the majority of Christians know what a treasure is contained in that name—Jesus— "He shall save His people from their sins." Many think of His death on the cross, they think of His work in heaven as Intercessor, but do they, or do we, realize that He is a living Person in heaven, who thinks of us each day, and longs to reveal Himself ? And He desires us each day to bring Him our love and adoration. Christians pray to Christ to save them from their sins, but they know very little how the blessed work is done. The living Christ reveals Himself to us, and through the power of His love the love of sin is expelled. It is through personal fellowship with Him that Jesus saves from our sins. I must come as an individ?ual, with my heart and all the sin that is in it to Jesus as an Al?mighty personal Saviour, in Whom God's holiness dwells. And as He and I commune together in the expression of mutual love and desire, by the work of His Holy Spirit in my heart, His love will expel and conquer all the sin. O Christian, learn the blessedness of each day in fellowship with Jesus finding the secret of happiness and holiness. Your heart will long for the hour of prayer as the best hour of the day. As you learn to go apart with Him alone each day, you will ex?perience His presence with you, enabling you all through the day to love Him, to serve Him, and to walk in His ways. Through this unbroken fellowship you will learn the secret of the power of a truly godly life.
经文: 「你祷告的时候，要进你的内屋。」（）
你可曾想过，这是何等尊贵的特权，每天我们都可来到密室，与创造天地的主相会，并听祂慈爱的叮咛。我们基督徒理当每天快快乐乐、满有信心地来到上帝面前。 「你祷告的时候，」耶稣说：「要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父。」（）这有两层深意——关起门来，意味着暂时抛开工作俗务的烦扰，卸下思虑愁烦的缠绕，单独地与暗中的天父相处祷告，让上帝的同在（摸着上帝）成为你祷告的主要目标。切记这提醒：单独与上帝同在。 但这只是开始，我还得花时间感觉祂的同在，并确知祂明白我多么需要祂的帮助与引导，祂且愿意侧耳倾听我的祈祷。同时祂也应许：「那在暗处祷告主的，主必在明处报赏他。」上帝绝对会回应我们的祷告，而且奇妙地做工在我们心中。 这位乐意与人为友的上帝，祂会指示我们如何过密室的生活，并且教导我们如何祷告，并藉着祂来亲近父上帝。让我们单纯如小孩子一般，完完全全地信赖耶稣，坦然无惧地向祂承认自己的过错，并向祂倾吐内心一切的需要，靠着耶稣的名献上一切的祈求。我们这样做，绝对不是对空气讲话，因为上帝侧耳垂听我们的呼求。 THE INNER CHAMBERScripture: "When thou prayest enter into thine inner chamber." —MATT. vi. 6, R. V.
Have you ever thought what a wonderful privilege it is that every one each day and each hour of the day has the liberty of asking God to meet him in the inner chamber, and to hear what he has to say? We should imagine that every Christian use such a privilege gladly and faithfully. "When thou prayest," says Jesus, "enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." That means two things. Shut the world out, withdraw from all worldly thoughts and occupations, and shut yourself in alone with God, to pray to Him in secret. Let this be your chief object in prayer, to realize the Presence of your heavenly Father. Let your watchword be: Alone with God. This is only the beginning. I must take time to realize His presence with me, and pray to my Father who seeth in secret, in the full assurance that He knows how I long for His help and guidance, and will incline His ear to me. Then follows the great promise: "Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." My Father will see to it that my prayer is not in vain. All through the occupations of a busy day, the answer to my prayer will be granted. Prayer in secret will be followed by the secret working of God in my heart. As the Lord Jesus has given us the promise of His presence, and shows us the way to the inner chamber, He will assuredly be with us to teach us to pray. It is through Him that we have access to the Father. Be childlike and trustful in your fellowship with Christ. Confess each sin, bring your every need. Offer your prayer to the Father in the name of Christ. Prayer in fellowship with Jesus cannot be in vain.
经文: 「只要信。」（）
这儿有一个极重要的功课要学，亦即在密室单独祷告时，要绝对相信上帝的爱和权能。花时间问自己一个问题：我对上帝的爱有坚定的信心吗？若没有，就别急着开始祷告。信心不会自己来的，信心是建立在上帝的信实上，想想这位创造天地的主，怎么可能说谎，悖乎自己？不会的。祂有丰盛的慈爱，祂等着要祝福你，读几段谈论到上帝慈爱及权能的经文，引用上面的话，并向祂祷告：「主啊，我靠着祢的慈爱与信实，来向祢祷告。」 我们若把信心误为只是罪得赦免，成为上帝的儿女而已，那真是太小信了。信心包含的范围更远更广，它包括相信上帝愿为我们做一切的事，祂根据我们每天的需要，回应我们的祷告。上帝是全然智慧，大有能力，祂每天都乐意赐下恩典给我们。 当你进入密室祈祷时，先问自己：我真相信上帝与我同在吗？耶稣也在旁和我一起祈祷吗？我相信这一段分别为圣的时间，是蒙福的时刻吗？ 耶稣常教导门徒，信心是真实祷告的要素，祂今天也一样教导我们这样的功课，要常常亲近上帝，求祂强化我们的信心，依赖祂的全能慈爱，就像祂以前对马大说的话：「妳若信，就必看见上帝的荣耀。」（） FAITHScripture: "Only believe."—MARk v. 36.
We have here a lesson of the greatest importance, namely this, that when alone in the inner chamber we must send up our petitions trusting implicitly in the love of God and in the power of the Lord Jesus. Take time to ask yourself, the question: Is my heart full of a great and steadfast faith in God's love? If this is not the case, do not begin to pray at once Faith does not come of itself. Consider quietly how impossible it is for God to lie. He is ready with infinite love to give you a blessing. Take some text of Scripture in which God's power and faithfulness and love are revealed. Appropriate the words, and say: "Yes Lord, I will pray in firm faith in Thee and in Thy great love." It is a mistake to limit the word "faith," to the forgiveness of sins, and to our acceptance as children of God. Faith includes far more. We must have faith in all that God is willing to do for us. We must have faith each day according to our special needs. God is infinitely great and powerful, Christ has so much grace for each new day, that our faith must reach out afresh each day according to the need of the day. When you enter into the inner chamber, even before you begin to pray, ask yourself: "Do I really believe that God is here with me, and that the Lord Jesus will help me to pray, and I may expect to spend a blessed time in communion with my God?" Jesus often taught His disciples how indispensable faith was to true prayer. He will teach us this lesson too. Remain in fellowship with Him, and ask Him to strengthen your faith in His Almighty power. Christ says to you and to me as to Martha: "Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God."
经文: 「人活着，不是单靠食物，乃是靠上帝口里所出的一切话」。（）
主耶稣把上帝的话，比喻做麵包，这实在是极鲜明的比喻，因为麵包是生命的粮，是每日不可或缺的食物，无论你多么强壮，若没有营养供应，也会日渐衰弱，生命会逐渐萎缩。上帝的话，犹如生命的粮，它包含属天的原则，在信的人身上，运作其大能大力。 麵包是用来吃的，才能被消化吸收，供应营养，若搁在桌上或把它送人，对你一点帮助都没有。尤其当你生病时，若再没有吸收营养，你就会病逝。若仅有圣经的知识，或仅会传道，对我们本身并没有什么益处。对上帝的话光用想的还是不够，必需把它放在心上反覆思想，并运用在生活中，藉着爱上帝而顺服祂的命令，把我们自己变做上帝话语的样式，如此上帝的话就能真实地成为生命之道。 麵包是要每天吃，上帝的话也是如此。「那昼夜思想上帝话语的，此人便为有福，」「我喜爱耶和华的律法，常常默想上帝的话。」这是诗篇作者大卫常常说的话。为要得着强壮活泼的属灵生命，上帝的话是不可或缺的灵粮。 耶稣在世时，祂亦学习爱上帝，顺服上帝的命令；若你想与上帝建立关係，也当从上帝的话语裡去寻找认识祂，耶稣会教导你如何亲近上帝，藉着上帝的话启示上帝的性情与位格，由此你将学会爱祂，单单地爱祂，为荣耀上帝，并实践祂的话。 THE WORD OF GODScripture: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,"—MATT, iv. 4.
The illustration that our Lord uses, in which the Word of God is compared to our daily bread, is most instructive. Bread is indispensable to life. We all understand this. However strong a person may be, if he takes no nourishment, he will grow weaker, and life will become extinct. Even so with the Word of God. It contains a heavenly principle, and works pow?erfully in them that believe. Bread must be eaten. I may know all about bread. I may have bread, and may give it to others. I may have bread in my house and on my table in great abundance, but that will not help me; if through illness I am unable to eat it, I shall die. And so a mere knowledge of God's Word and even the preaching of it to others will not avail me. It is not enough to think about it, I must feed on God's Word, and take it into my heart and life. In love and obedience I must appropriate the words of God, and let them take full possession of my heart. Then they will indeed be words of life. Bread must be eaten daily. And the same is true of God's Word. The Psalmist says: "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." "O how I love Thy law; it is my meditation all the day." To secure a strong and powerful spiritual life God's Word every day is indispensable. When on earth the Lord Jesus learned, loved, and obeyed the word of the Father. And if you seek fellowship with Him. you will find Him in His Word. Christ will teach you to com?mune with the Father, through the Word, even as was His custom. You will learn, like Him, to live solely for the glory of God and the fulfilment of His Word.
经文: 「惟喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想，这人便为有福。」（）
读上帝的话，有几点简单的原则： （一）存敬畏的心： 先花几分钟安静思想这话是出于上帝祂自己，然而怀着敬畏的心安静在上帝面前，让祂在你心中向你显现。 （二）仔细研读上帝的话： 若你浮光掠影的浅读，就只能肤浅地得着皮毛的知识，无法深入瞭解个中的亮光与启示。想想，我们听一场名人的演讲，会专心听那有哲理的话，更何况我们研读上帝的话——比人的智慧有更超越的思想，岂不该更加用心仔细研读？「天怎样高过地，我的意念也怎样高过你的意念。」我们研读上帝的话，必须细细地咀嚼，且深入地挖掘背后的涵意，才能抓到那属灵的真意。 （三）期待上帝的引导： 惟有圣灵能使这本白纸黑字的圣经，成为一本有生命的活书。诗篇一一九篇，作者是何等迫切地求上帝来教导他，打开他的心眼，来明白上帝的旨意。所以，读经时，谨记上帝的话，与圣灵是密不可分的。 （四）将上帝的话存记在心，并在生活中运用出来： 我们当存顺服的心，决心在生活中，活出上帝话语的样式，如同诗人所说：「我喜爱耶和华的律法，并昼夜思想。」因此即使在忙碌工作的空档，我们亦当学习默想上帝的话，仔细阅读诗篇一一九篇，直到你的心浸润在主的话语中，直到你完全领悟，并祷告上帝，求祂赐你力量，使你能在生活中实践经训。 HOW TO BEAD GOD'S WOEDScripture: "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night."—Ps. i. 1, 2.
Here are some simple rules for Bible reading. Read God's Word with great reverence. Meditate a moment in silence on the thought that the words come from God Himself. Bow in deep reverence. Be silent unto God. Let Him reveal His Word in your heart. Read with careful attention. If you read the words carelessly, thinking that you can grasp their meaning with your human understanding, you will use the words superficially, and not enter into their depths. When some one tries to explain anything wonderful or beautiful to us, we give our entire attention to try to understand what is said. How much higher and deeper are God's thoughts than our thoughts. "As the heaven is higher than the earth, so are My thoughts higher than your thoughts." We need to give our undivided attention to understand even the superficial meaning of the words. How much harder to grasp the spiritual meaning ? Read with the expectation of the guidance of God's Spirit. It is God's Spirit alone that can make the Word a living power in our hearts and lives. Read Ps. cxix. Notice how earnestly David prays that God will teach him, and open his eyes, and give him understanding, and incline his heart to God's ways. As you read, remember that God's Word and God's Spirit are inseparable. Read with the firm purpose of keeping the Word day and night in your heart and in your life. The whole heart and the whole life must come under the influence of the Word. David said: "O how I love Thy law, it is my meditation all the day." And so in the midst of his daily work, the believer can cherish God's Word in his heart, and meditate on it. Read Ps. cxix. again, until you accept God's Word with all your heart, and pray that God may teach you to understand it, and to carry out its precepts in your life.
经文: 「求祢照祢的话将我救活。」（）
在密室与上帝相亲的安静时间，读圣经与祷告是两项不可或缺的功课。藉着读经，上帝向我说话，藉着祷告，我向上帝说话，因为既是与上帝沟通亲近，这沟通必须是双向式的。若我只是祷告，而不读上帝的话，我所思所想容易流于我行我素；反之，若我将上帝的话带进祷告中，我的祷告就能按主的心意求，祷告也更为有力，因此在一个真实的祷告中，圣经的话语可使祷告内容更扎实。 当我祈祷时，我必须对上帝有更正确的认识，藉着圣经的话，圣灵能引领我对上帝有正确的认识；圣经像是一面镜子，可以照出我的本相，让我看到自己是何等的败坏污秽；同时圣经也向我显示，上帝对我有何等奇妙的爱，祂要赐我力量遵行祂的旨意。圣经的话也教导我如何祷告－－用坚定的信心，迫切的渴望，持续的恆心。并且圣经的话也让我看到我是怎样一个人，而上帝的恩典，又要模造我成为一个怎样的人。最重要的，圣经每天提醒我，耶稣是最伟大的代祷者，祂也恩准我，靠着耶稣的名，我可以坦然无惧地来到上帝面前，向祂祈求。 喔，亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，学好这样功课，就是每天来到上帝面前读祂的话语，汲取生命活水，并按着祂的心意祈祷。 现在来谈谈祷告，我们读圣经时，需要祷告，好让圣灵教导我们明白上帝的心意，并愿照祂的心意去做，因为上帝是一切的一切，祂住在我们裡面。 那进入密室祷告的人有福了，因为藉着读圣经和祷告，我可以亲近上帝，和祂促膝谈心，将自己献给上帝，做义的肢体，与祂同工服事教会。圣灵也要藉着这段分别为圣的安静时间，将上帝的爱充满在我心中，让我每天行在上帝的爱中。 THE WORD AND PRAYERScripture: "Quicken me, 0 Lord, according to Thy Word."—PS. cxix. 107.
Prayer and the Word of God are inseparable, and should always go together in the quiet time of the inner chamber In His Word God speaks to me; in prayer I speak to God. If there is to be true intercourse, God and I must both take part. If I simply pray, without using God's Word, I am apt to use my own words and thoughts. This really gives prayer its power, that I take God's thoughts from His Word, and present them before Him. Then I am enabled to pray according to God's Word. How indispensable God's Word is for all true prayer！ When I pray, I must seek to know God aright. It is through the Word that the Holy Spirit gives me right thoughts of Him. The Word will also teach me how wretched and sinful I am. It reveals to me all the wonders that God will do for me, and the strength He will give me to do His will. The Word teaches me how to pray with strong desire, with a firm faith, and with con?stant perseverance. The Word teaches me not only what I am, but what I may become through God's grace. And above all, it reminds me each day that Christ is the great Intercessor, and allows me to pray in His Name. O Christian, learn this great lesson, to renew your strength each day in God's Word, and so pray according to His will. Then we turn to the other side,—Prayer. We need prayer when we read God's Word,—prayer to be taught of God to understand His Word, prayer that through the Holy Spirit I may rightly know and use God's Word,—prayer that I may see in the Word that Christ is all in all, and will be all in me. Blessed inner chamber, where I may approach God in Christ through the Word and prayer. There I may offer myself to God and His service, and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, so that His love may be shed abroad in my heart and I may daily walk in that love.
经文: 「你们要听从我的话……我也做你们的上帝。」（）
上帝颁下诫命，要以色列人遵守祂的命令，但以色列人没办法遵行上帝的旨意，因此上帝另立「新约」，让祂的百姓有能力行出祂旨意。诸如「我要将我的律法……写在他们的心上。」（）「我必将我的灵放在你们里面，使你们顺从我的律例，谨守遵行我的典章。」（）这些宝贵的应许，使我们乐意遵行祂的旨意，因深信就是有福的确据。 再看看耶稣基督是怎么谈论「顺服」，「有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的，爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。」（）又说：「你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱裡。」（）这些应许是取之不尽，用之不竭的宝藏，只要凭信心站在这坚固磐石上，上帝就会赐我力量，爱祂并顺服祂的旨意。 小孩若不听话，把父母的话当耳边风，父母就无法管教他们；学生若没有受教的耳朵，老师也劝不动他们向上；士兵若不顺从军令，将军也无法指挥他们获胜。求主将这样的真理刻印在我们心版上：信心的生活就是顺服的生活。耶稣既是如此顺服上帝，我们亦当如此顺服上帝。 然而，我们却常常听到这样的论调：「我没有办法顺服，这是完全不可能的事。」但上帝应许我们可以遵行祂的律例典章，所以祷告并默想这些话，并求圣灵打开你的心眼，使你有能力行出上帝的旨意。总之，求上帝使你与耶稣基督的关係，建立在稳定的关係上——安静地，恆切地，愿意完全地顺服基督。 OBEDIENCEScripture: 'Obey My voice… and I will be your God."—JER. xi. 4.
God gave this command to Israel when He gave them the law. But Israel had no power to keep the law. So God gave them a "new covenant," to enable His people to live a life of obedience. We read (Jer. xxxi. 33), "I will write My law in their hearts" (Jer. xxxii. 40), "I will put My fear in their heart, that they shall not depart from Me." (Ezek. xxxvi. 27), "I will cause you to walk in My statutes." These wonderful promises gave the assurance that obedience would be their delight. Let us listen to what the Lord Jesus says about obedience (John xiv. 21-23). "He that keepeth My commandments, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and We will make our abode with him." And in John xv. 10, "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love." These words are an inexhaustible trea?sure. Faith can firmly trust Christ to enable us to live such a life of love and of obedience. No father can train his children unless they are obedient. No teacher can teach a child who continues to disobey him. No general can lead his soldiers to victory without prompt obedience. Pray God to imprint this lesson on your heart: the life of faith is a life of obedience. As Christ lived in obedience to the Father, so we too need obedience for a life in the love of God. Alas, the thought is too common: "I cannot be obedient, it is quite impossible." Yes, impossible to you, but not to God. He has promised "to cause you to walk in His statutes." Pray and meditate on these words, and the Holy Spirit will enlighten your eyes, so that you will have power to do God's will. Let your fellowship with the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ have as its one aim and object—a life of quiet, determined, unques?tioning obedience.
经文: 「我们若认自己的罪，上帝是信实的、是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗淨我们一切的不义。」（）
我们认罪的祷告，常常是很肤浅的，甚至自己都不当它是一回事。很少基督徒明白认罪时，内容要很明确，态度要很认真，如此才能活出得胜罪恶的能力。与耶稣基督交往沟通，我们必需很真诚地向祂承认任何一样祂所不喜悦的罪，好使我们与主耶稣基督的沟通是没有隔阖的。 听听大卫是怎么说的：「我向祢陈明我的罪，不隐瞒我的恶，我说，我要向耶和华承认我的过犯，祢就赦免我的罪恶……祢是我藏身之处，祢必保佑我脱离苦难，以得救的乐歌，四面环绕我。」（）当他不肯承认自己的罪时，他说：「我闭口不认罪的时候，因终日唉哼，而骨头枯乾。」（）但是当他认罪时，内心就有奇妙的改变。 认罪不仅是很不好意思地向上帝承认罪而已，乃是将罪交给上帝，并且彻底地离开罪。这样一个真诚的祈祷，意谓着我本身对罪无能为力，只有凭着信心，求上帝把我从罪恶綑绑中释放出来。所以，第一步就是相信我的罪已蒙赦免，第二步相信耶稣的宝血已洗淨我一切的罪，使我不再受罪恶的辖制。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，若你想要与耶稣建立良好关係，不要害怕向祂认错，要相信祂必要赦免我的罪，且要释放我脱离罪恶。深刻体认上帝的慈爱，只要我们肯认罪，上帝必要饶恕我们，如此你将明白耶稣就是要把我们从罪恶中救拔出来。衷心相信罪的重担已由耶稣背负，罪的工价已由耶稣代偿，只要我们向祂认罪忏悔，我们就能得着自由，得着能力。 CONFESSION OF SINScripture: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."—1 JOHN i. 9.
Too often the confession of sin is superficial, and often it is quite neglected. Few Christians realize how necessary it is to be in earnest about the matter, or feel that an honest con?fession of sin gives power to live the life of victory over sin. In fellowship with the Lord Jesus we need to confess with a sincere heart every sin that may be a hindrance in our Christian lives. Listen to what David says, "I acknowledged my sin unto Thee; I said, I will confess my transgression, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Thou art my hiding-place; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance" (Ps. xxxii. 5-7). David speaks of a time when he was unwilling to confess his sin. "When I kept silence, Thy hand was heavy upon me." But when he had confessed his sin, a wonderful change came. Confession means not only that I confess my sin with shame, but that I hand it over to God, trusting Him to take it away. Such a confession implies that I am wholly unable to get rid of my guilt, but by an act of faith I reckon on God to deliver me. This deliverance means in the first place that I know my sins are forgiven, and secondly, that Christ undertakes to cleanse me from the sin, and keep me from its power. O Christian, if you are seeking to have fellowship with Jesus, do not fear to confess each sin in the confident assurance that there is deliverance. Let there be a mutual understanding between the Lord Jesus and yourself that you will confess each sin, and obtain forgiveness. Then you will know your Lord as Jesus Who saves His people from their sin. Believe that there is great power in the confession of sin, for the burden of sin is borne by our Lord and Saviour.
经文: 「有一件事，我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心离弃了。」（）
，提到以弗所教会八个热心服务的特点，但却有一项缺点，「你若不悔改，我就临到你那裡，把你的灯台从原处挪去。」（）这意思是指以弗所教会把起初的爱心给离弃了。 我们发现在今日的教会也有这个毛病，教会不缺乏对真理的热诚，也很劳碌服事，但主最看重的一件事却不见了——那就是对主耶稣温柔热切的爱。 这是对基督徒或教会极重要的提醒——在各样圣工上不落人后，但对主起初的爱心却失落了。 若与主耶稣没有个人关係的建立，你做再多的圣工，也自觉满意，但在主的眼中却算不得什么。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，这本书就是提到如何在密室裡与主耶稣的亲密交通，一切的作为都是根基于此。耶稣因着天父爱祂，就愿从天而降，爱世上人，甚至为他们受苦以致于死，为赢得人心来归向祂。主耶稣的心，除了我们恋慕主的深情，再没有别的什么可以满足祂的心。 耶稣基督把我们对祂的爱情，看为首要之务，我们亦当如此行。许多宣教士或传道人，很羞愧地承认，他们殷勤做主工，但祷告的生活却很贫乏，因为他们离弃了起初的爱心。我用慈悲劝你们，把这句话写在你的心版上——对耶稣纯全的爱是最重要的，无论是在密室、日常生活中，或是你的工作上。 THE FIRST LOVEScripture: "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."—REV. ii.4.
In Rev ii. 2-3, eight signs are mentioned showing the zeal and activity of the Church at Ephesus. But there was one bad sign, and the Lord said: "Except thou repent, I will come unto thee, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place." And what was this sign? "Thou hast left thy first love." We find the same lack in the Church of the present day. There is zeal for the truth, there is continuous and persevering labour, but that which the Lord values most is wanting, the tender, fervent love to Himself. This is a thought of great significance,—a church or a com?munity, or a Christian, may be an example in every good work, and yet—the tender love to the Lord Jesus in the inner chamber is missing. There is no personal daily fellowship with Christ, and all the manifold activities with which people satisfy themselves, are as nought in the eyes of the Master Himself. Dear brother and sister, this book speaks of the fellowship of love with Christ in the inner chamber. Everything depends on this. Christ came from heaven to love us with the love wherewith the Father loved Him. He suffered and died to win our hearts for this love. His love can be satisfied with nothing less than a deep, personal love on our part. Christ considers this of the first importance. Let us do so too. Many ministers and missionaries and Christian workers confess with shame that in spite of all their zeal in the Lord's work, their prayer life is defective, because they have left their first love. I pray you, write this down on a piece of paper, and remember it continually:—The love of Jesus must be all—in the inner chamber, is all my work, in my daily life.
经文: 「祂要荣耀我，因为祂要将受于我的，告诉你们。」（）
我们的救主耶稣，在最后一夜与门徒同在时，应许要赐下圣灵保惠师，虽然祂的肉身要离我们而去，但上帝用另一种奇妙的方式，让我们感觉到祂的同在。圣灵在我们心中启示耶稣自己，使我们能继续不断地经历上帝的同在。圣灵要荣耀基督，且以属天的爱与权能来荣耀耶稣基督。 然而基督徒当中有多少人了解这荣耀真理？连传道人在讲道中，或灵修小品中，都忘记提醒基督徒，要靠自己的力量爱耶稣是不可能的。只有圣灵自己，能将上帝的爱浇灌在我们心裡，教导我们回应耶稣的爱；惟有藉着圣灵，我们可以整天经历主耶稣的同在。 但要记得我们必须遵主为大，愿意让圣灵掌管我们全人全心，如此祂才能坚固我们裡面的人，使我们与耶稣有良好的沟通，住在祂的爱裡面，并遵守祂的诫命。 当我们领悟这真理，就懂得如何紧紧依靠圣灵，求上帝将耶稣内化在我们内在的生命，圣灵教导我们喜欢上帝的话，默想上帝的话，并且照着祂的话行。圣灵要在我们心中启示耶稣的爱，因此我们也将以纯全的爱来爱耶稣。不断操练这功课的结果，将使我们无论在工作时，休閒时，保守自己在上帝的爱中的生活方式，成为一种实际荣耀上帝的生命。 THE HOLY SPIRITScripture: "He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine, and shew it unto you."—JOHN xvi. 14.
Our Lord, in the last night that He was with His disciples, promised to send the Holy Spirit as a Comforter. Although His bodily presence was removed, they would realize His presence in them and with them in a wonderful way. The Holy Spirit as God, would so reveal Christ in their hearts, that they would experience His presence with them continually. The Spirit would glorify Christ, and would reveal the glorified Christ in heavenly love and power. How little do Christians understand and believe and experience this glorious truth. We should fail in our duty as ministers, if in a little book like this, or in our preaching, we encouraged Christians to love the Lord Jesus, without at the same time warning them that it is not a duty they can perform in their own strength. No, that is impossible; it is God, the Holy Spirit alone, who will shed abroad His love in our hearts, and teach us to love Him fervently. Through the Holy Spirit we may experience the love and abiding presence of the Lord Jesus all the day. But let us remember that the Spirit as God must have entire possession of us. He claims our whole heart and life. He will strengthen us with might in the inner man, so that we have fellowship with Christ, and keep His commandments, and abide in His love. When once we have grasped this truth, we will begin to feel our deep dependence on the Holy Spirit, and pray the Father to send Him in power into our hearts. The Spirit will teach us to love the Word, to meditate on it and to keep it. He will re?veal the love of Christ to us, that we may love Him with a pure heart fervently. Then we shall begin to see that a life in the love of Christ in the midst of our daily life and distractions is a glorious possibility and a blessed reality.
经文: 「我爱你们，正如父爱我一样，你们要常在我的爱里。」（）
亲朋好友间的沟通互动，建立在彼此的关係与感情，若夫妻间没有感情，亲子之间缺乏爱，彼此间那裡谈得上有温情的互动？若我们的信仰，只有头脑裡的圣经知识，以及教会的圣工，却没有对主深厚的情谊，这样的关係岂能甜蜜长久（）？喔，亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，在密室裡不可或缺的经验，就是经验到上帝有多爱我们，并学习如何长久保守自己在祂的爱中。 想想耶稣是怎么说的：「我父爱我」——这是何等奇妙永恆的爱。「我也以这样的爱爱你。」耶稣将祂心中爱天父的爱，放在祂门徒的心中，并作工在祂门徒心中，保守他们每天都活在上帝的爱中，这是何等有福的生活！基督渴望每个门徒都拥有像祂那样爱上帝的心。弟兄姊妹们，你可知无论你在聚会时，或私祷时，你就已经为属天的爱所环绕。试着去触摸到那样的爱，因为耶稣渴望用那说不出来的大爱，充满你的心。 常常读圣经中有关基督大爱的经文，并默想它，直到你整个人浸润在其中，迟早你将明白人生的至乐乃是被主耶稣所爱，而且能终日与祂相契为伴。 愿你不断地对心说：祂的爱对我有说不出来的甘甜，祂也要常保守我在祂的爱中。 CHRIST'S LOVE TO USScripture: "Even as the Father hath loved Me, I also have loved you: abide ye in My love."—JOHN xv. 9. R. V.
In intercourse between friends and relations everything depends on their love to each other. Of what value is abundance of riches, if love is lacking between husband and wife, or parents and children? And in our religion, of what value is all knowledge and zeal in God's work, without the knowledge and experience of Christ's love? (See 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3.) O Christians, the one thing needful in the inner chamber is to know by ex?perience how much Christ loves you, and to learn how you may abide and continue in that love. Think of what Christ says: "As the Father hath loved Me," —what a Divine, everlasting, wonderful love! "Even so have I loved you." It was the same love with which He had loved the Father and that He always bore in His heart, which He now gave into the hearts of His disciples. He yearns that this everlasting love should rest upon us, and work within us, that we may abide in it day by day. What a blessed life! Christ desires every disciple to live in the power of the self-same love of God that He Himself experienced. My brother, do you realize that in your fellowship with Christ in secret or in public, you are surrounded by and kept in this heavenly love? Let your desire reach out to this everlasting love. The Christ with whom you desire fellowship longs unspeakably to fill you with His love. Read from time to time what God's Word says about the love of Christ. Meditate on the words, and let them sink into your heart. Sooner or later you will begin to realize: The greatest happiness of my life is that I am beloved of the Lord Jesus. I may live in fellowship with Him all the day long. Let your heart continually say: His love to me is unspeakable, He will keep me abiding in His love.
经文: 「你们虽然没有见过祂，却是爱祂，如今虽不得看见，却因信祂就有说不出来，满有荣光的大喜乐。」（）
这是对基督徒生活的描述，他们虽未见过基督，却是爱祂，并且相信祂，心中也充满了不可言喻的喜乐，这是爱耶稣的基督徒的生活写照。 我们看到圣父圣子的主要特色，就是彼此的爱，与对人的爱，这也是基督徒生活的主要特色；上帝的爱流进我们的心中，就成为活水的泉源，可以回应主耶稣的爱。 这样的爱不仅是一种蒙福的感觉，也是一种主动的行事原则，使上帝的儿女愿意遵行祂的旨意，而且以遵行祂的旨意为乐。耶稣为世人被钉十字架，祂的爱就在此向我们显明。我们的爱必需在生活中，实践无私牺牲的精神，来表明我们的爱。是的，基督徒生活的准则就是尽心、尽性、尽意爱主你的上帝。 藉着信心，可以得着这样的大爱，相信上帝是这样的爱我，祂的大能也要运行在我们心中，让我们饱嚐祂的恩典。 信心和爱的翅膀可以将我们载到天堂，嚐到那说不出来的喜乐满溢的慈爱。喜乐的基督徒是耶稣基督能力最好的明证，可以改变世人的心，让他们也一样充满属天的爱。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，耶稣是我们的良人，我们怎能拒绝祂生命的邀约？我们怎能不常常来到祂面前饮那生命的活泉？藉着每天与祂亲近相交，我们的喜乐得以满足，信心也要增长，我们的生活也充满了爱、喜乐、信心等各样的恩典。 OUR LOVE TO CHRISTScripture: "Jesus Christ, Whom not having seen, ye love: in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory."—I PET. i. 8. R. V.
What a wonderful description of the Christian life! People who had never seen Christ, and yet truly loved Him and believed on Him, so that their hearts were filled with unspeakable joy. Such is the life of a Christian who really loves his Lord. We have seen that the chief attribute of the Father and of the Son, is love to each other and love to man. This should be the chief characteristics of the true Christian. The love of God and of Christ is shed abroad in his heart, and becomes a well of living water, flowing forth as love to the Lord Jesus. This love is not merely a blessed feeling. It is an active principle. It takes pleasure in doing the will of the beloved Lord. It is joy to keep His commandments. The love of Christ to us was shown by His death on the cross, our love must be exhibited in unselfish, self-sacrificing lives. Oh that we under?stood this: Jn the Christian life love to Christ is everything! Great love will beget great faith. Faith in His love to us, faith in the powerful revelations of His love in our hearts, faith that He through His love will work all His good pleasure in us. The wings of faith and love will lift us up to heaven, and we shall be filled with joy unspeakable. The joy of the Christian is an indispensable witness to the world of the power of Christ to change hearts, and fill them with heavenly love and gladness. O ye lovers of the Lord Jesus, take time daily in the inner chamber with Him anew to drink in His heavenly love. It will make you strong in faith, and your joy will be full. Love, joy. faith, these will be our life each day through the grace of our Lord Jesus.
经文: 「我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱。我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。」（；十五：12）
耶稣告诉门徒说祂爱他们，就如同天父爱祂一样，因此门徒也当如此彼此相爱。「你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。」（）祂曾这样祷告：「使他们都合而为一，正如祢父在我裡面，我在祢裡面，使他们也在我们裡面，叫世人可以信祢差了我来。」（）若我们能彰显主的爱在我们当中，世人就不得不承认基督教是由上头来的纯正宗教。 而这件事也真的如此发生，希腊人和罗马人，犹太人和外邦人，原本是彼此相互仇恨，在民族主义的情绪下，他们很难彼此相爱，自我牺牲更是一个他们连想都没有想到的念头。当外邦人看到不同国籍的弟兄姊妹，竟然能在圣灵的工作下合而为一，彼此相爱到一个地步，在苦难病痛中为对方牺牲付出，他们大感惊讶，不禁说到：「看哪！他们彼此相爱。」 基督徒间有合一的信仰，也有弟兄互为肢体的情谊，但却常缺乏属天的基督之爱，我们没有真诚的彼此相爱，也没有彼此担代重担。 我们当以基督的心为心，以基督的爱去爱那看得见的弟兄。若我们住在基督的爱裡，并让那样的爱充满我心，超自然的能力会引领我们，将上帝儿女的需要放在心上。圣父圣子间的爱是何等深厚，耶稣与门徒间的爱有何等紧密，弟兄姊妹之间的爱，也应该如此深厚紧密！ LOVE TO THE BRETHRENScripture: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you, that, ye also love one another." — JOHN xiii. 34; xv. 12,
The Lord Jesus told His disciples that as the Father had loved Him, even so He loved them. And now, following His example, we must love one another, with the same love. "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John xiii. 35). He had prayed: "That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me" (John xvii. 21). If we exhibit the love that was in God towards Christ, and in Christ to us, the world will be obliged to confess that our Christianity is genuine and from above. This is what actually happened. The Greeks and Romans, Jews and heathen, hated each other. Among all the nations of the world there was hardly a thought of love to each other. The very idea of self-sacrifice was a strange one. When the heathen saw that Christians from different nations, under the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit, became one, and loved one another, even to the point of self-sacrifice in time of plague or illness — they were amazed and said : "Behold how these people love one another !" Amongst professing Christians there is a certain oneness of belief and feeling of brotherhood, but Christ's heavenly love is often lacking, and we do not bear one another's burdens, or love others heartily. Pray that you may love your fellow-believers with the same love with which Christ loved you. If we abide in Christ's love, and let that love fill our hearts, supernatural power will be given us to take all God's children unto our hearts in love. As close as is the bond of love between the Father and the Son, between Christ and His followers, so close must the bond of love be between all God's children.
经文: 「这人该知道叫一个罪人从迷路上转回，便是救一个灵魂不死，并且遮盖许多的罪。」（）
我可以将一个人从死路上挽回——这是多么棒的一个想法！如何做到呢？若我能让他悬崖勒马，及时从错误中回头，这就是了。叫人悔改信耶稣，不是只有传道人能，每一个基督徒都有责任。 当基督的爱满溢你胸怀，你自然而然想告诉别人耶稣的大爱，如此上帝的国度就扩展。初代信徒的情形就是这样，五旬节后，门徒四出宣扬他们所经历到的复活耶稣，这就是为何在第一世纪基督教发展这么快速的原因，因为每个悔改重生的基督徒，都迫不及待地，想要与人分享这好消息。 但现在教会却大为不同了，许多基督徒从未想过要传福音，他们心中的爱是这样微弱，以致不想付出去帮助别人；希望这样的情形能有所转变，盼每个基督徒能视传福音为己任。 每个世代教会有大复兴，就是因为重生得救的基督徒，个个心中火热，热切想与人分享这福音，到一个地步，甚至你若要进教会，要先考虑你曾带几个人信耶稣。 让我们自我检讨，是否只顾念到自己与主相交的美好，却忽略了将从上帝而来的爱与恩典，传递给别人。弟兄姊妹们，勇敢积极向人传福音吧，如此你将感受到无比的平安与喜乐。 让我们诚恳谦卑地求告上帝，将祂的大爱充满我们的心，我们就愿降服在祂的大爱之下，并甘心乐意为耶稣赢得人心归向祂。 LOVE TO SOULSScripture: "know that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death."—JAMES v. 20.
What a wonderful thought !—that I may save a soul from everlasting death. How can this be? If I convert him from the error of his ways. This is the calling not only of the minister, but of every Christian—to work for the salvation of sinners. When Christ and His love took possession of our hearts. He gave us this love that we might bring others to Him. In this way Christ's kingdom was extended. Everyone who had the love of Christ in his heart was constrained to tell others. This was the case in the early Christian church. After the Day of Pentecost, people went out and told of the love of Christ, which they had themselves experienced. Heathen writers have told us that the rapid spread of Christianity in the first century was due to the fact, that each convert, being filled with the love of Christ, tried to bring the good news to others. What a change has come over the Church! Many Christians never try to win others to Christ. Their love is so weak and faint that they have no desire to help others. May the time soon come when Christians will feel constrained to tell of the love of Christ. In a revival in korea a few years ago, the converts were filled with such a burning love to Christ that they felt bound to tell others of His love. It was even taken as a test of membership that each one should have brought another to the Lord before being admitted to the church. Let the reader examine himself, and pray that in fellowship with Christ, he may think, not only of his own soul, but having received the gift of God's love, he may pass it on to others. He will then know true happiness, the joy of bringing souls to Christ. Let us pray earnestly to be so filled with God's love that we may wholeheartedly surrender ourselves to win others for Him.
经文: 「因为所赐给我们的圣灵，将上帝的爱，浇灌在我们心裡。」（）
当我们想到上帝的诫命：「要尽心、尽意、爱主你的上帝，且要爱人如己」，就不禁感歎，这太伟大了，实在难以达到这样的境界，很难拥有这种对弟兄，对陌生人这样的爱。就因为一开始，我们就划地自限，觉得自己没有能力做好，也不相信上帝的应许，因此在上帝的爱上，没有长足的进步。 我们要不断提醒自己，不是靠着自己的努力，或认真的思考，就能拥有这样的爱；我们必须明白一个真理，就是每天我们必须仰赖圣灵，把上帝的爱浇灌在我们心中。我们也要完全降服圣灵的引导，以行出上帝的旨意。只有在我们内在的生命，每天不断地被上帝的爱更新，才能涌出爱来爱别人。 这儿有一个祷告可供学习：「天父啊，我向祢屈服，求祢刚强我裡面的人，凭信我接受耶稣住在我心裡，并植根于祂长阔高深、无可测度的爱裡。」但要植根于这超过我们理智所能明白的大爱中，首先必需藉圣灵刚强里面的人，这样耶稣才会内住在你的心中，然后才能根基于祂长阔高深的爱。 弟兄姐妹们，让这些经文的信息影响你的生活吧！除非你天天屈膝等候在上帝面前，让圣灵在你心中启示真理的奥祕，你就无法住在上帝的爱中。一个祷告的生活，将使你经验到爱的实际，知道如何活在主的爱中，也能够爱弟兄、爱邻舍如同自己。 每天凭信心将自己交在耶稣的手中，求圣灵引导你的言行举止，上帝将会把属灵的爱赏赐那求告祂名的人。 THE SPIRIT OF LOVEScripture: "The love of God is shed abroad i? OUT hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us."—ROM. v. 5.
The thought sometimes arises, as we consider Christ's love to us, our love to Christ, our love to the brethren or to souls around us:—the demand is too great, it is unattainable, it is impossible for a Christian to live this life of love, and to show it to the brethren and to needy souls. And because we deem it impossible, and because of our unbelief and lack of faith in God's promises, we make little progress in this spirit of love. We need continually to remind ourselves that it is not in our own strength, or even by serious thought that we can attain to the love of Christ. We must realize the truth that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, and will daily afresh be poured out by the Spirit of God. It is only as we are wholly surrendered to the leading of the Spirit that we will be able to live according to God's will. When the inner life of love is renewed from day to day we shall feel compelled to work for souls. Here is a prayer that you can offer: "I bow my knees unto the Father, that He would grant you, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may know the low of Christ which passeth knowledge," You may be rooted and grounded in this love, and know the love that passeth knowledge—but on one condition—you must be strength?ened by the Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your heart. Then you will indeed be rooted and grounded in love. Christian, take this message from God's Word, and let it influence your life. Unless you wait upon God daily on your knees, for His Spirit to be revealed in your heart, you cannot I've in this love. A life of prayer will make a life in the love of Christ, in the love of the brethren, in love to souls, a blessed reality in your experience. Put your confidence each day in secret in the Holy Spirit— the Spirit of love which Cod will give to those who ask in faith.
经文: 「要人常常祷告，不可灰心。」（）
祷告的经验中，最难忍受的是，祷告尚未蒙应允。我们会深感沮丧地以为我们的祷告不妥当，以致上帝不垂听，于是就不再祈祷。其实上帝常藉此教导我们信心的功课，因为等候对于我们的灵魂有益，上帝耽延我们的祈祷，总是有祂的道理。我们要学习更深入、更细腻地全心全意祷告，这是上帝所设立的训练学校，为要训练我们恆切祷告，使软弱的信心变为刚强。所以，要坚信迟延的祷告，是上帝的祝福。 更重要的，我们会更紧紧地依靠上帝；因着祷告尚未蒙应允，我们学到与上帝亲蜜的关係，远胜于我们所求的本身，因此愿意继续祷告。雅各因着祷告迟迟未蒙应允，就与上帝的使者摔跤，终于得以面对面见上帝，并且后来贵为王子，以色列支派由他繁延，这是何等蒙福的经历。 弟兄姐妹们，请听我的劝诫，祷告未蒙应允时，切莫不耐烦或灰心，要「不住地祷告」，「恆切地祷告」，你就会发现无可言喻的祝福。你可自问你的祈求是否合乎上帝的心意，还是妄求。并深信延迟的祈祷是上帝要给你恩典的管道，并学到恆切的祷告，是在上帝面前有能力的利器。 PERSEVERING PRAYERScripture: "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."—LUkE xviii. 1.
One of the greatest drawbacks to the life of prayer is the fact that the answer does not come as speedily as we expect. We are discouraged by the thought: "Perhaps I do not pray aright," and so we do not persevere in prayer. This was a lesson that our Lord taught often and urgently. If we consider the matter we can see that there may be a reason for the delay, and the waiting may bring a blessing to our souls. Our desire must grow deeper and stronger, and we must ask with our whole heart. God puts us into the practising school of persevering prayer, that our weak faith may be strengthened. Do believe that there is a great blessing in the delayed answer to prayer. Above all, God would draw us into closer fellowship with Himself. When our prayers are not answered, we learn to realize that the fellowship and nearness and love of God are more to us than the answers of our petitions, and we continue in prayer. What a blessing Jacob received through the delay in the answer to his prayer! He saw God face to face, and as a prince he had power with God and prevailed. Christians, listen to this warning. Be not impatient or discouraged if the answer does not come. "Continue in prayer." "Pray without ceasing."' You will find it an unspeakable blessing to do so. You will ask whether your prayer is really in accordance with the will of God, and the Word of God. You will inquire if it is in the right spirit and in the Name of Christ. keep on praying, you will learn that the delay in the answer to prayer is one of the most precious means of grace that God can bestow on you. You will learn too that those who have persevered often and long before God, in pleading His promises, are those who have had the greatest power with God in prayer.
经文: 「都同心合意的恆切祷告。」（）
同心合意的真诚祷告，那力量是何等的大！那是不同于坐在教堂听一篇讲道。在祷告会中弟兄姐妹心连心地将需要陈明在上帝面前，你可感觉主的宝座是如此地贴近人。在这样的聚集中，大家分享彼此的见证，不但软弱的人，受到激励与鼓舞，就是年轻人也有机会诉说认识上帝的喜乐！ 同心合意的祈祷，不但对传道人，对会众也是大有帮助，因为藉着众人的代求，上帝将倾下祂的祝福，祝福在国内或海外的信徒。 但有一点我需要提醒，就是许多人参加祷告会并且在那儿得帮助，但他们还没学会密室与上帝单独的祷告；另外有些人参加祈祷会是为社交，或维持宗教的习惯，这些都只是外表的敬虔，却不明白与主相亲的祷告生活。弟兄姐妹们，若你没有真诚热切的密室生活，参加祷告会只是一个外在的形式活动罢了。然而祷告会应该是一个弟兄姐妹火热爱心交流的团聚，因此我们要问：一个活泼有见证的祷告会，应该有怎样的特质？ 领会的组长需明白，这样的祷告会，要对信徒产生很大的影响力，必须根植于深厚的内室祷告基础。祷告的内容涵盖了上帝的儿女，及普世的教会；更重要的是，必须像五旬节那样，等候在上帝面前，等候圣灵的充满。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，本书的目的，是要坚固各位的灵命，但要记得我们不是只为自己而活，我们是基督的身体，弟兄姐妹们是互为肢体，因此我们必须彼此代求。就像一棵树，地底下是盘根错结的根茎，地面上是发旺生长的叶片枝条，可达亭亭华盖。因此我们的祷告也必须是网状的，彼此相顾代祷，与众肢体的祈祷是相连的。 THE PRAYER MEETINGScripture: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication." "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."—ACTS i. 14; ii. 4. (See also MATT, xviii. 19, 20.)
Great is the value of a genuine prayer meeting. There God's children meet together, not as in church, to listen to one speaker, but to lift up their hearts unitedly to God. By this means Christians are drawn closer to each other. Those who are weak are strengthened and encouraged by the testimony of the older and more experienced members, and even young Christians have the opportunity of telling of the joy of the Lord. The prayer meeting may become a great power for good in a congregation and a spiritual help to both minister and members. By means of intercession God's blessing is poured out at home and abroad. But there are also dangers to be considered. Many attend, and are edified, but never learn to pray themselves. Others go for the sake of social and religious fervour, and have a form of godliness, but do not know the hidden life of prayer. Unless there is much and earnest prayer in the inner chamber, attendance at a prayer meeting may be a mere form. There should be hearty love and fellowship between the members. It is well to ask: What constitutes a living prayer meeting? The leaders should realize how great the influence of such a meeting may be, with its roots nourished by the life of prayer in the inner chamber. Prayer should include God's people and His church all over the world. And above all, as on the Day of Pentecost, there must be waiting on God for the filling with the Holy Spirit. Dear reader, this book aims at helping you in your spiritual life. But remember, you do not live for yourself alone, but are part of the Body of Christ. Your prayer must include in its intercession all Christians. As the roots of the tree hidden deep in the earth, and the branches spread out to heaven, are one, so the hidden prayer life is inseparably bound up with united prayer.
经文: 「靠着圣灵随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。」（）
代祷是何等蒙福的服事！一个人为自己祷告蒙应允，这当然要感谢上帝的恩典，而你为别人祷告蒙垂听，那又是何等光荣的事！上帝真是因为你的祷告，而施恩祝福那个你为他祷告的人吗？是的，上帝恩宠我们，让我们有份于祂的工作，和祂一起同工。若我们不尽职做好我们代祷的责任，我们就对不起我们的弟兄，也让上帝的工作受亏损。 上帝命定「代祷」作为拯救人灵魂的方法，也命定「代祷」作为造就传道人和信徒的方法，让彼此在爱中以信心建立，甚至地极之处的人，都能够因我们的祷告而蒙祝福，身为上帝的儿女，岂不该全心全意地为众人代求，将上帝的祝福临到全地？ 弟兄姐妹们，开始用心代祷支取上帝的恩典，为你也为别人。为你的邻居，也为你所带领的慕道友，为你教会的牧师及宣教士，为你的国家及在上位的领袖祷告，也为众人祷告。若你肯降服圣灵的引导，完全为主而活，你就会明白花时间等候在主面前，是讨主喜悦的事，也是让自己蒙福，得能力的时刻，更为你代祷的对象带来祝福。 是的，「要恆切祷告，并为众圣徒祈求」，藉此你将明白「代祷」是得人灵魂的利器，也是藉此将荣耀归给上帝。 INTERCESSIONScripture: "Praying at all seasons in the Spirit ... in all persever?ance and supplication for all the saints."—EPH. vi. 18.
What an unspeakable blessing there is in intercession. That " one should pray down heavenly gifts on himself is a wonder of grace, but that he should bring down blessings on others is indeed an inconceivable honour. Will God indeed make the pouring out of blessing on others, dependent on our prayers? Yes, He makes us His remembrancers and fellow-workers. He has taken us into partnership in His work; if we fail in doing our part, others will suffer, and His work will suffer unspeakable loss. God has appointed intercession as one of the means by which souls shall be saved, and saints and ministers of the Gospel edified and built up in the faith. Even the ends of the earth will receive life and blesssing through our prayers. Should we not expect God's children to strive joyfully and with all their powers, by means of intercession, to bring down blessing on the world ? Christian, begin to use intercession as a means of grace for yourself and for others. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for souls with the definite desire that they may be won for Christ. Pray for your minister, for all ministers and missionaries. Pray for your country and people, for rulers and subjects. Pray for all men. If you surrender yourself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and live a life wholly for God, you will realize that the time spent in prayer is an offering well-pleasing to God, bringing blessing to yourself, and power into the lives of those for whom you pray. Yes, "pray always with all prayer and supplication, watch?ing thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." And in so doing you will learn the lesson that intercession is the chief means of winning souls, and bringing glory to God.
经文: 「耶稣说：是因你们的信心小，……至于这一类的鬼，若不祷告禁食，他就不出来。」（，21）
这儿主耶稣教导我们信心的生活，需要禁食祷告。也就是说，祷告能抓住属天的力量，禁食能戒除我们地上肉体的喜好。 耶稣自己也是禁食以抵挡魔鬼的诱惑，耶稣教导门徒祷告、行善，不要禁食给人看，上帝就必在明处报答我们。禁戒食物，拒绝食慾的引诱，有助于坚固裡面的人，让我们能与上帝更有效地沟通代求。 让我们领悟这真理——暂时弃绝肉体的需要，有助于内在灵性的强化，因为饱食之后，常常不会想祷告。若我们愿意捨弃肉身的享受，眼目的情慾，有助于我们定睛于天上的事。禁食的举动，可以给我们力量，在祷告中紧紧抓住上帝。 这儿我们得到一个教训，因着贪图逸乐享受，我们属灵的触觉就变得迟钝。那些活在基督裡的人，却是将肉体和肉体的情慾，同钉十字架。祷告不是一件简单的工作，它可能会只成为一种形式。因为真正浸透、投入的祷告，可以紧紧抓住上帝，与上帝有亲密的沟通，但这须付出代价，操练将肉体的需要，置诸死地。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，为了能遇见上帝，领受祂属天的祝福，攻克己身弃绝老我的操练，值得我们付任何代价去换取。 PRAYER AND FASTINGScripture: "And Jesus said, unto them, 'Because of your unbelief. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'"— MATT xvii. 20, 21.
Our Lord here teaches us that a life of faith requires both prayer and fasting. That is, prayer grasps the power of heaven, fasting loosens the hold on earthly pleasure. Jesus Himself fasted to get strength to resist the devil. He taught His disciples that even as with prayer and almsgiving, fasting should be in secret, and the Heavenly Father would reward openly. Abstinence from food, or temperance in taking it, helps to strengthen the soul for intercourse with God. Let us learn this great lesson that abstinence, temperance, and self-denial in temporal things, is a help to the spiritual life. After having partaken of a hearty meal, one does not feel much desire to pray. To willingly sacrifice our own pleasure, or bodily enjoyment, and to subdue the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, will help to set our minds more fully on heavenly things. The very exertion needed in overcoming the desires of the flesh will give us strength to take hold of God in prayer. This great lesson is this. Our dullness in prayer comes from our fleshly desire of comfort and ease. "Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh and its desires." Prayer is no easy work. It may easily become a mere form. For the real practice of prayer, and taking hold of God, and having com?munion with Him, it is necessary that all that can please the flesh must be sacrificed, and given over to death. Beloved Christian, do believe that it is worth any trouble to deny ourselves daily, in order to meet the Holy God, and receive from Him heavenly blessings.
经文: 「鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思，因为圣灵照着上帝的旨意替圣徒祈求。」（）
祷告不是我们的工作，乃是上帝以祂的大能，做工在我们心中，教导我们怎么祷告。当我们想到这一点，我们的态度就会安静地等候在上帝面前，尤其当我们软弱到不知如何祷告时，圣灵更用说不出来的歎息为我们代祷。 这是多么棒的想法！当我们觉得灵裡软弱，祷告无力时，只要凭信心安静来到主前，相信圣灵要亲自来教导我们如何祷告。这不是我们的工作，乃是圣灵在我们心中的工作。我们想祷告的念头，就证明上帝愿意垂听我们的祷告；上帝成全我们的祈求，就首先让我们有为这些事祷告的意愿，即使在我们软弱时，圣灵也会帮补我们，为我们祷告。我们看到雅各与上帝摔跤的例子，似乎上帝要收回祂的祝福，事实上却是要坚固雅各的信心，使他继续勇往直前的祈祷。多么棒的启示！我们的祷告是由三一真神所开始，天父启动我们想祷告的念头，并供应我们一切所需要；圣子耶稣长久在天父面前代求，也教导我们如何奉祂的名祷告；圣灵则在暗中坚固我们软弱的信心，叫我们能持续祷告。 我们提过真理的圣灵，常在我们心裡面尊崇耶稣；祂也是爱的灵，要将属天的爱浇灌在我们心裡。如今我们又有祷告的灵，教导我们如何做一个祷告的人。感谢上帝祂赐下圣灵保惠师，住在我们心中，教我们如何祷告。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，仔细倾听圣灵的声音，勿销灭圣灵的感动，学习做个祷告的人，你将明白做个代祷勇士，是何等荣耀的呼召，向上帝大大张口吧，为教会、为弟兄姐妹，为众人代祷吧！ THE SPIRIT OF PRAYERScripture: "The Spirit maketh intercession for the saints."—ROM. viii. 27.
"Prayer is not our work, but God's work, that He works within us by His almighty power." As we think of this, our attitude should be one of silent expectation that as we pray, the Holy Spirit may help our infirmities, and pray within us with groanings that cannot be uttered. What a thought! When I feel how defective my prayer is, when I have no strength of my own, I may bow in silence before God in the confidence that His Holy Spirit will teach me to pray. The Spirit is the Spirit of prayer. It is not my work, but God's work in me. My very desire is a sign that God will hear me. When God would grant our requests, He first works the desire in our hearts, and the Spirit will perfect the work, even in our weakness. We see this in the story of Jacob. The same One Who wrestled with him, and seemed to withhold the blessing, was in reality strengthening him to continue and to prevail in prayer. What a wondrous thought! Prayer is the work of the Triune God: the Father, who wakens the desire, and will give all we need; the Son, who through His intercession, teaches us to pray in His Name; and the Holy Spirit, who in secret will strengthen our feeble desires. We have spoken of the Spirit of truth who will glorify Christ in us, and of the Spirit of love, who will shed this love abroad in our hearts. And now we have the Spirit of prayer, through whom our life may be one of continual prayer. Thank God. The Spirit has been given from heaven to dwell in our hearts, and to teach us to pray. Christian, listen to the leading of the Spirit. Obey His voice in all things. He will make you a man of prayer. You will then realize the glory of your calling as intercessor, asking great things of God for those around you, for the church, and for the whole heathen world.
经文: 「一人既替众人死……是叫那些活着的人，不再为自己活，乃为替他们死而复活的主活。」（）
今天我们要讲到基督徒的三种生命：第一种是天然人的生命，他只为自己而活；第二种是真基督的生命，单单为基督而活；第三种是在天堂的耶稣生命，祂完全为我们而活。 我们需要教导基督徒明白，只为自己而活是愚蠢的。刚得救时我们只想到自己的需要，很少想到上帝的荣耀，以及我们是耶稣宝血重价买赎归回的罪人，只满足于救赎福音开端的生活。没有开到水深之处，登上高原，不知道还有更高的呼召、更大的特权，就是完全为主而活，服事祂的快乐生活。 拦阻人过这种为主而活的生活，最大的原因就是不信，他们认为完全为主而活的生活是不可能的。但我们抓住一个真理：耶稣在天上为我们而活，祂能把那样的生命传递给我们，帮助我们能够完全为主而活，因此我们可以喜乐地欢呼：亲爱的主耶稣，从今天起我要每天祷告，我要完全为祢而活。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，让讨主的欢心成为我最大的渴望与祷告。想想耶稣为我们死在十架上，现在又活在天上，为我们祷告，企盼我们成圣，我们这些被宝血买赎归回的人，怎能不感恩回报，为祂而活？思想这奇妙真理！耶稣是头，耶稣把众弟兄姐妹做祂的身体，祂焉有不照管看顾祂身体的道理？祂一定会做工帮助我们，能为祂而活。所以向上帝求这恩典，能服事祂，为祂寻找那失丧的灵魂。每天花时间安静在祂面前读经祷告，让裡面那个人能藉着亲近祂，而与祂紧紧相连，然后你就可坦然宣告：因耶稣捨命为我，现在又在天上长远为我祷告，因此我也要完全为祂而活。 WHOLLY FOR CHRISTScripture: "One died for all…… that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who for their sakes died and rose again."—2 COR. v. 14, 15. R. V.
Here we have a threefold life described. First, the life of Christian, who lives according to his old nature: he lives for himself alone. The second: the life of a true Christian; he lives wholly for Christ. Thirdly, the life of Christ in heaven: He lives wholly for us. Many a Christian needs to be convinced of the folly of living only for himself. At conversion he thinks more of his own salvation, and less of the glory of God and the right that Christ Who has redeemed us with His precious blood, has upon him. Many Christians just live for themselves, content with doing a little for the Master. Happy the believer who realizes his high calling, and the privilege and blessedness of consecrating His life entirely to God's service. The great hindrance to such a life is the unbelief which says it is impossible. But when the truth takes hold of us: Christ in heaven lives wholly for me, and will impart His life to me, and will enable me to live wholly for Him, then we will be able to say joyfully: Dear Lord Jesus, from this moment let my prayer each day be—Wholly for Christ, Wholly for Christ. Dear brother, let nothing less be your earnest desire, your prayer, and your firm expectation: Christ has not only died for me, but lives in heaven to keep and sanctify me, his purchased possession. Ponder this wonderful thought, that Christ will keep you as a member of His Body, to work and live for Him. Pray for grace to live wholly for God, in seeking souls, and in serving His people. Take time from day to day to be so united to Christ m the inner man that you can say with all your heart: I live wholly for Him, Who gave Himself wholly for me, and now lives in heaven wholly for me.
经文: 「我已经与基督同钉十字架。」（）
十字架是耶稣最大的荣耀，因为耶稣谦卑顺服至死，且死在十架上，因此上帝就喜悦祂。十字架就是击破撒旦罪恶的力量。 基督徒与耶稣同钉十字架，藉着圣灵耶稣得以住在我们心裡，使我们有份于祂的生命。若我们明白耶稣在十字架上的勇气与牺牲，我们就可略知向世界、向罪恶死的滋味，那种胜过罪恶、死亡的能力，就能成为生活的实际。是的，这位钉十字架的救主，活在我们裡面。 耶稣对门徒说：「你要背起你的十字架跟从我。」他们知道这是什么意思吗？他们曾见过人背着十架上各各他山，所以门徒知道那是一种苦刑折磨。耶稣一生的目的——就是担负世人的罪，背起自己的十字架，走向死地。每个基督徒都有他该背负的十字架，要想到自己本是个罪人，理当受死刑，如今我与耶稣同钉十字架，就相信这位钉十字架的主，就住在我裡面。「我的老我与耶稣同钉十字架」，「肉体的情慾都同钉十架」。当我们愿意接纳自己的十字架，就能像保罗那样宣告：除了耶稣的十架，我别无可夸。 这是极深的属灵真理，认真地祷告思想这经文，圣灵会教导我们，让耶稣的谦卑、顺服、捨己内化成形于我心中。因着我们在死的形状上与祂连合，我们就知道钉死老我的滋味，同时也经历耶稣复活的浩大能力。弟兄姐妹们，花时间等候在主面前，圣灵将会把钉十字架的耶稣启示在我们心中。 THE CROSS OF CHRISTScripture: "I am crucified with Christ."—GAL. ii. 20.
The cross of Christ is His greatest glory. Because He humbled Himself to the death of the cross, therefore God hath highly exalted Him. The cross was the power that conquered Satan and sin. The Christian shares with Christ in the cross. The crucified Christ lives in him through the Holy Spirit, and the spirit of the cross inspires him. He lives as one who has died with Christ. As he realizes the power of Christ's crucifixion, he lives as one who has died to the world and to sin, and the power becomes a reality in his life. It is as the crucified One that Christ lives in me. Our Lord said to His disciples: "Take up your cross and follow me." Did they understand this? They had seen men carrying a cross, and knew what it meant, a painful death on the cross. And so all His life Christ bore His cross—the death sentence that He should die for the world. And each Christian must bear his cross, acknowledging that he is worthy of death, and believing that he is crucified with Christ, and that the crucified One lives in him. "Our old man is crucified with Christ." "He that is Christ's hath crucified the flesh with all the lusts thereof." When we have accepted this life of the cross, we will be able to say with Paul: "Far be it from me to glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is a deep spiritual truth. Think and pray over it, and the Holy Spirit will teach you. Let the disposition of Christ on the cross, His humility, His sacrifice of all worldly honour, His Spirit of self-denial, take possession of you. The power of His death will work in you, and you will become like Him in His death, and you will know Him and the power of His resurrection. Take time, O soul, that Christ through His Spirit, may reveal Himself as the Crucified One.
经文: 「不要爱世界，和世界上的事；人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在他裡面了。」（）
约翰清楚教导我们何谓「世界」，他说：「因为凡世界上的事，就像肉体的情慾，眼目的情慾，并今生的骄傲，都不是从父来的，乃是从世界来的。」（） 这世界就是人类犯罪堕落后，所造成的撒旦所管辖的黑暗权势地盘。这世界的神为欺骗世人，就化装成光明的天使，隐藏自己在上帝所造的万物背后，并用各种感官的刺激享乐，每天不断的诱惑基督徒。 夏娃当年在伊甸园的情况就是这样，在创世记第三章的描述，就有约翰所提的三种现象：第一，肉体的情慾：这女人看这树上的果子很好吃。第二，眼目的情慾：那果子悦人眼目。第三：今生的骄傲：这果子吃了叫人有智慧。（）到今日这世界仍以美味食物及感官享受，来诱惑我们。又以珠光宝气，香车华厦等奢侈品吸引我们眼目；又用学识、地位等名声来满足我们的虚荣心。 这世界充满了悦人眼目，霸佔我们心思意念的虚浮事物，这些都是危险陷阱，要俘掳我们的心。所以约翰说：「人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在他裡面了。」（）因此，主耶稣呼召我们，有如当年呼召门徒那样，要撇下所有来跟随主。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，这世界卧在恶者的权势之下，撒但有如吼叫的狮子，随时准备吞吃我们。我们一定要紧紧地抓住上帝，就像主耶稣教导我们的那样，要逃避这世界的诱惑，将心归给耶稣良人，忠心地来服事祂。但首先要做到每天来亲近上帝，惟有祂的爱可以让世上的珍品黯然失色，所以要记得每天花时间安静地等候在主面前。 THE WORLDScripture: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." —1 JOHN ii. xv.
John teaches us clearly what he means by the world. He says: "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John ii. 16). The world is that disposition or power under which man has fallen through sin. And the god of this world, in order to deceive man, conceals himself under the form of what God has created. The world with its pleasures surrounds the Christian each day with temptations. This was the case with Eve in the Garden of Eden. We find in Genesis iii, the three characteristics which John mentions: 1. The lust of the flesh—"The woman saw the tree that it was good for food." 2. The lust of the eyes—"It was pleasant to the eyes." 3. The pride of life—"A tree to be desired to make one wise." And the world still comes to us offering desirable food and much to please the fleshly appetites. And much that the eye desires, riches and beauty and luxury. And the pride of life, when a man imagines he knows and understands everything, and prides himself on it. Is our life in the world not full of danger, with the allurements °f the flesh,—so much to occupy our eyes and our hearts, so much worldly wisdom and knowledge? So John tells us: "Love not the world, for then the love of the Father is not in you." And our Lord calls us, as He called His disciples of old, to leave all and follow Him. Christian, you live in a dangerous world. Cleave fast to the Lord Jesus. As He teaches you to shun the world and its attractions, your love will go out to Him in loyal-hearted service. But remember—There must be daily fellowship with Jesus. His love alone can expel the love of the world. Take time to be alone with your Lord.
经文: 「你们受洗归入基督的，都是披戴基督了。」（）
这儿译成「披戴」，意思就是「穿上衣服」的意思。我们已经「穿上新人」，意思就是我们有「新的性情」，如外袍披上，别人都可看出我们是怎样的人。保罗说凡受洗归入基督的，都是披戴基督了。一个人藉着所穿的衣服，可以认出这个人，同样，一个基督徒，也可藉着他流露的性情，显出他是属基督的。 保罗也再次强调，「披戴基督」不只是在悔改得救那时刻，而是天天「披戴基督」，就像你每天都穿戴衣服一样。当我们披戴上帝，就不再放纵肉体私慾，而是愿意学像基督，彰显出祂的形象。 穿戴基督，是密室生活必要的课程，但朋友们，这必须花时间等候在主面前。就像衣服能遮雨御寒，穿戴基督也能帮助我们抵挡恶者的火箭，并成为我们的喜乐与妆饰；当我与耶稣相近相亲时，祂就将祂的性情生命流入我们裡面，强化我们的灵命，使我们每日可与祂同行，并紧紧与祂相连。 喔，弟兄姐妹们，花时间默想这真理，就像你每天要梳理穿戴好才出门；同样地，你每天办事接触人前，也要穿戴好基督，住在祂裡面，每日与祂同行。 安静在主面前的时间，不可太匆促，否则会流于形式与肤浅。花时间耐心地等候在主面前，真等到你感觉到主，摸着祂，再开始祷告交谈。不要怕麻烦，或觉得浪费时间，绝对不会的，你所花的时间，是最有价值的，上帝要在这段分别为圣的时间向你说话，赏赐你。 PUT ON CHRISTScripture: "As many of us as have been baptized with Christ, have put on Christ."—GAL. iii. 27.
The word that is here translated "put on," is the same that is used in regard to putting on clothes. We have put on "the new man," and we have the new nature as a garment that is worn, by means of which all can see who we are. Paul says of the Christian when he has confessed Christ at baptism, that he has put on Christ. As a man may be recognized by the garment he wears, so the Christian is known as one who has put on Christ, and exhibits Him in his whole life and character. And again he says: "Put on the Lord Jesus." Not alone at conversion, but from day to day. As I put on my clothes each day and am seen in them, so the Christian must daily put on the Lord Jesus, so that he no longer lives after the flesh to fulfil its lusts, but shows forth the image of his Lord, and the new man formed in His likeness. Put on Christ! This work must be done each day in the inner chamber. I must put on the Lord, the heavenly Jesus. But I need time to put on Christ. As my garments cover me and protect me from wind and sun, even so Christ Jesus will be my beauty, my defence, and my joy. As I commune with Him in prayer, He imparts Himself to me, and strengthens me to walk as one who is in Him, and bound to Him for ever. O soul, take time to meditate on this wonderful truth. Just as your clothing is a necessity as you go out into the world, let it be equally indispensable for you to put on Jesus Christ to abide in Him and walk with Him all the day. You feel that this cannot be done hastily and superficially. It takes time, quiet time in living fellowship with Jesus, to realize that you have put Him on. Take the time and the trouble. Your reward will be great.
经文: 「我还有末了的话，你们要靠着主，倚赖祂的大能大力，作刚强的人。」（）
保罗在结束以弗所书时说：「弟兄们，我还有末了的话，你们要在主裡做刚强的人。」 基督徒需要力量，这我们都知道；而基督徒本身没有力量，这也是真实的。那么我们的力量从那儿获得？答桉是：「你们要倚靠主，倚赖祂的大能大力作刚强的人。」 保罗曾在前面提到这样的能力（~19），他祷告求上帝让信徒们明白，那让耶稣从死裡复活的浩大能力，可以做工运行在信徒的心中，也就是在你的心中，我的心中，以及所有的基督徒心中，这是叫人难以置信，也是很少有人经历过。这就是为什么保罗要做这样的祷告，我们也要做这样的祷告，上帝会藉着圣灵教导我们相信祂的大能。你要全心全意的祈求：天父，赐下那智慧的灵，好叫我在生活中经历那样浩大的能力。 在，保罗祷告，求祂照祂丰盛的荣耀，藉着圣灵坚固我们裡面的人，并且耶稣也要住在我们心裡面，如此「上帝能照着运行在我们心裡的大力，充充足足的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。」（20节） 仔细地研读这两节经文，求上帝的灵光照你的心眼，相信这神圣浩大的能力，能运行在你心中，圣灵并且要向你启示，教导你如何支取主的应许，好让上帝的能力运行在你心中，供应你一切的需要。 读到这裡，你是不是开始明白，时间是最迫切需要的？你要花时间与上帝亲近交谈，这样你才可经历到运行在你心裡的大能大力。 THE STRENGTH OF THE CHRISTIANScripture: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."—EPH. vi. 10.
The Apostle has reached the end of his Epistle, and begins his last division with the words: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord." The Christian needs strength. This we all know. The Christian has no strength of his own. This is also true. Where may strength be obtained ? Notice the answer: "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might." Paul had spoken of this power in the earlier part of his Epistle (i. 17-19). He had prayed God to give them the Spirit that they might know the exceeding greatness of His power according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. This is the literal truth: the exceeding greatness of His power, which raised Christ from the dead, works in every believer. In me and in you, my reader. We hardly believe it, and still less do we experience it. That is why Paul prays, and we must pray with him, that God through His Spirit would teach us to believe in His almighty power. Pray with all your heart: Father, grant me the Spirit of wisdom, that I may experience this power in my life. In chapter iii. 16, 17, Paul prays the Father to grant them, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ might dwell in their hearts. And then: "Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory." Read over these two passages again, and pray for God's Spirit to enlighten your eyes. Believe in the divine power work-mg within you. Pray that the Holy Spirit may reveal it to you, and appropriate the promise that God will manifest His power in your heart, supplying all your needs. Do you not begin to realize that time is needed, much time in intercourse with the Father and the Son, if you would experience the power of God within you?
经文: 「我一心寻求了。」（）
诗人常常提到「全心全意」，「那一心寻求祂的人」（2节）「我一心遵守祢的法度」（34节）「我一心守祢的训词」（69节）「我一心呼吁祢。」（145节）在寻求上帝，遵行祂的律例，呼求祂的帮助时——每一次诗人总是全心全意。 在世俗的事上，若我们想有所成，也是要全心投入，在做上帝的事工上岂不也如此？祂岂不值得我们全力以赴？祂的圣洁岂不吸引我们的心完全归祂？就是在密室敬拜祂时，祂也配得我们专心一致地感谢讚美。 但很少有基督徒想到这点，也很少有人认真地读经、祷告，遵行上帝的旨意——像大卫那样「一心」寻求祂。是的，当我们读经、祷告、遵行祂旨意时，让我们这样呼吁：上帝啊！我渴望见祢的面，我一心要服事祢，为讨祢欢心。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，将这句经文「我一心寻求祢。」藏记在心裡，并反覆思想它，为这样的事祷告，并在上帝面前说出来，直到你感觉到你的心思意念真是放在这些事上，并确定上帝已经听了你的祷告。每天早上都要这样来到上帝面前亲近祂，诚心地献上祷告：「我一心寻求祢。」在祂圣洁的光中等候祂，让祂完全地内住你心中，如此我们将学会尽心、尽意、尽力来爱主我们的上帝。 THE WHOLE HEARTScripture: "With my whole heart have I sought Thee."—Ps. cxix. 10.
Notice how often the Psalmist speaks here of the whole heart. "They that seek Him with the whole heart" (ver. 2) "I shall observe Thy law with my whole heart" (ver. 34). "I will keep Thy precepts with my whole heart" (ver. 69). "I cried with my whole heart" (ver. 145). In seeking God, in observing His law, in crying for His help—each time it is with the whole heart. When we want to make anything a success in worldly affairs, we put our whole heart into it. And is this not much more necessary in the service of an holy God? Is He not worthy? Does not His great holiness, and the natural aversion of our hearts from God demand it? The whole heart is needed in the service of God when we worship him in secret. And yet how little most Christians think of this. They do not remember how necessary it is—in prayer, in reading God's Word, in striving to do His will—to say continually: "With my whole heart have I sought Thee. Yes, when we pray, and when we try to understand God's word, and to obey His commands let us say: I desire to seek God, to serve Him and to please Him with my whole heart. "With my whole heart have I sought Thee." Dear reader, take this word into your heart. Think over it. Pray over it. Speak it out before God until you feel, I really mean what I say, and I have the assurance that God will hear my prayer. Say it each morning as you approach God in prayer. I seek Thee with my whole heart. You will by degrees feel the need of waiting in holy stillness upon God, that He may take possession of your whole heart, and you will learn to love Him with your whole heart and with all your strength.
经文: 「但你们得在基督耶稣裡，是本乎上帝。」（）
保罗书信中常用到这句话——「在基督耶稣裡」，除非基督徒用祷告的心来接纳这真理，否则就无法正确解析这句话，也不能经历到「在基督耶稣裡」的能力。 在最后一夜，耶稣对门徒不只一次说到：「到那日」——圣灵要降下，「你将知道我在父裡面，你也在我裡面」，接着又说：「那住在我裡面的，要结出许多果子来。」「那住在我裡面的，他所求的必定成全。」然而，基督徒若不先用祷告的心接纳这真理，就无法支取这应许。 保罗在罗马书也这样说：「我们与耶稣同埋葬」「我们向罪是死的，但藉着主耶稣基督，我们向上帝却是活的。」「在耶稣裡他们就不再被定罪。」在以弗所书，保罗也说：「在基督耶稣裡，我们得救赎蒙拣选，我们拥有属灵各样的福份。」在歌罗西书，保罗又说：「在主裡面有全然丰盛的荣耀。」「我们与耶稣同行，得以在祂裡面成为完全。」 让我们凭信抓住这些应许：「上帝在耶稣裡建立了我们。」「我们是属基督的。」圣灵会教导我们获得这样的经验，只要我们不消灭圣灵的感动，顺着祂的带领，圣经的应许将深植在我们心中，同时我们也会经历到属天的能力。但要记得，住在基督裡是心灵的事，必须培育在圣灵的爱裡；因此我们每天要花时间与耶稣谈天亲近，属天的福份才会成为生活的实际，内在的生命才会每天不断的更新。 IN CHRISTScripture: "Of God are ye in Christ Jesus."— 1 COR. i. 30.
The expression "in Christ" is often used in the Epistles. The Christian cannot read God's Word aright, nor experience its full power in his life, until he prayerfully and believingly accepts this truth: I am in Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus in the last night with His disciples used this word more than once. "In that day,"—when the Spirit had been poured out, "ye shall know that I am in the Father, and ye in Me." And then follows "Abide in Me; he that abideth in Me beareth much fruit." "If ye abide in Me, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." But the Christian cannot appropriate these promises unless he first prayerfully accepts the word: in Christ. Paul expresses the same thought in Romans. "We are buried with Christ." "We are dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." "There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." And in Ephesians: "God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ;" hath chosen us in Him; hath made us accepted in the Beloved; in Him we have redemption. And in Colossians: "In Him dwelleth all the fulness"; we are "perfect in Christ Jesus." "Walk ye in Him." "Ye are complete in Him." Let our faith take hold of the words: "It is God that stablisheth us in Christ." "Of God I am in Christ Jesus." The Holy Spirit will make it our experience. Pray earnestly and follow the leading of the Spirit. The word will take root in your heart, and you will realize something of its heavenly power. But remember that abiding in Christ is a matter of the heart. It must be cultivated in a spirit of love. Only as we take time from day to day in fellowship with Christ will the abiding in Christ become a blessed reality, and the inner man will be renewed from day to day.
经文: 「自己省察有信心没有……基督在你们心裡吗？」（）
保罗希望每位基督徒，都能感受到这有福的确据——基督住在我裡面。若我们每天清晨都能花时间，让「耶稣活在我裡面」这思想佔据我心中，那么我们生活将有何等大的不同！我们活在基督裡，与基督活在我裡面，是一样的确实。 在耶稣离世前最后一个晚上，祂清楚地告诉门徒，要派遣圣灵保惠师来教导他们，「到那日他们将明白我在父裡面，祢在我裡面，我也在祢裡面」的意思。首先，「祢在我裡面」是指我们凭着上帝，能相信我们是与基督同钉十字架，并和祂一起复活，就带出这样的结果——基督活在我们裡面。但这样的认知并不容易获得，基督徒藉着信得以接受这真理，圣灵也要引导我进入真理，让我们今天就来相信这真理，并用祷告的心，领受这祝福。 保罗在以弗所书也清楚阐释：「求祂按着祂丰盛的荣耀，藉着祂的灵，叫你们心裡的力量刚强起来。」（）注意，这不是普通的恩典，这乃是特殊的启示，明白上帝有何等丰盛的爱和权能，能藉着圣灵使你们内在的人刚强起来，如此耶稣也凭着你的「信」，住在你心裡面。你抓住这真理了吗？基督徒真的能经历到上帝丰满的同在。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，保罗说：「我在父面前屈膝。」这是得着祝福惟一的方法，花时间在密室祷告吧，明白「基督住在我裡面」的真义。我们过去实在太少有这样的经历，但我现在向上帝呼求，求祂动奇妙善工在我裡面，即使在我们日常的例行工作时，我们仍要常常仰望祂，心裡常常默念：「我与耶稣同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我。乃是耶稣活在我裡面。」如此，「我在祢裡面，祢也在我裡面」，这样的真理，才会落实在我们生活中，成为我们实际的经验。 CHRIST IN MEScripture: "know ye not…… how that Jesus Christ is in you?"— 2 COR. xiii. 5.
The Apostle would have each Christian live in the full assurance: Christ is in me. What a difference it would make in our lives if we could take time every morning to be filled with the thought: Christ is in me. As assuredly as I am in Christ, Christ is also in me. In the last night Christ put it clearly to His disciples, that the Spirit would teach them: "In that day ye shall know that I am in the Father, and ye in Me, and I in you." First of all Ye in Me. Through the power of God all we who believe were crucified with Christ, and raised again with Him. And as a result: Christ is in us. But this knowledge does not come easily. Through faith in God's Word the Christian accepts it, and the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. Take time this very day to realize and appropriate this blessing in prayer. How clearly Paul expresses the thought in the prayer of Ephesians iii. 16: "That the Father would grant you according to the riches of His glory." Notice that it is not the ordinary gift of grace, but a special revelation of the riches of His love and power. That he grant you to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Have you grasped it? The Christian may really have the experience of being filled with the fulness of God. Dear Christian, Paul said: "I bow my knees unto the Father." That is the only way to obtain the blessing. Take time in the inner chamber to realize: Christ dwells in me. Too little have I experienced this in the past, but I will cry to God and wait upon Him to perfect His work in me. Even in the midst of my daily work, I must look upon my heart as the dwelling place of the Son of God, and say: "I am crucified with Christ, I live no more; Christ liveth in me." Thus only will Christ's words: "Abide in Me, and I in you," become my daily experience.
经文: 「基督是包括一切。」（）
耶稣是一切的一切，祂不但成就十字架的救赎，也是天地的主，宝座上的王——祂就是一切。祂不但是罪人的救主，使人称义，祂也领人成圣，建立基督的身体；祂关心每一个人，即使最烂的人，祂也眷顾——因此祂是一切的一切。每天每时每刻，祂都供应那信靠祂的儿女们安慰与力量——因此祂是一切。 读到这裡，你会觉得这些福份，都不是为你预备的吗？你觉得自己太软弱了吗？太不配，太不值得上帝的眷顾了吗？亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，我们只要存着像小孩般单纯的心相信接纳这真理，耶稣就会成为我们一切的一切，供应我们的需要。我们全心相信耶稣的话：「我要永远与你同在。」我们就能每天经历祂的同在，无论你是何等罪大恶极的人，无论你的意志是如何消沉，静静来到主的面前，祂要向你显现祂自己。告诉祂你是何等的败坏，且相信祂要救拔扶持你，等候在祂面前，直到你的心再度喜乐。 请你再把这本书好好看一遍，一边看一边想——耶稣就是我的一切（这是我们常常忽略的真理），把这句话当作你的座右铭——并好好为此祷告，求上帝刚强你内在的人，使你确知上帝的爱，并靠着上帝的恩典，应付每天工作的挑战。 CHRIST IS ALLScripture: "Christ is all and in all."—COL. iii. 11.
In the eternal counsel of God, in the redemption on the cross, as king on the throne in heaven and on earth,—Christ is all! In the salvation of sinners, in their justification and sanctification, in the upbuilding of Christ's Body, in the care for individuals, even the most sinful,—this word avails, Christ is all. Every day and every hour, it affords comfort and strength to the child of God, who accepts it in faith:—Christ is all. Have you perhaps thought in reading these pages that the full salvation here described is not meant for you? You feel too weak, too unworthy, too untrustworthy. My dear reader, do believe that if you will only accept the Lord Jesus in childlike faith, you have a leader and a guide who will supply all your need. Believe with your whole heart in the word of our Saviour: "Lo, I am with you always," and you will experience His presence each day. However cold and dull your feelings may be, how?ever sinful you are, meet the Lord Jesus in secret, and He will reveal Himself to you. Tell Him how wretched you are, and then trust Him to help and sustain you. Wait before Him until by faith you can rejoice in Him. Read this book over again, and read it with the thought: Christ is all. I have failed to remember this, but each day as I go to secret prayer let this thought be with me: Christ is all. Let me take it as my motto,— to teach me to pray, to strengthen my faith, to give me the assur?ance of His love, and access to the Father, to make me strong for the work of the day: Christ is all. Yes, Christ, my Christ, is all I need. It will teach me to abide in His love. It will give me the assurance that He dwells in my heart, and I may know the love that passes knowledge. God be praised to all eternity: Christ, my Christ, is my all in all!
经文: 「要互相代求。」（雅各书五：16）
祷告藏有多麽荣耀的奥祕！一方面，我们体会到这位慈悲怜悯、圣洁公义的天父，不但等着亲近我们，乐意施恩祝福我们；另一方面，我们这等不配的罪人，不过像地上的一条小虫般微不足道，上帝仍将天上的爱与生命倾注在我们裡面。 而代祷的荣耀更是何等奇妙！信徒壮着胆子来到上帝面前，肯为一个人，有时甚至为上百上千的人说情，求上帝赐下永生及属天的福份。 代祷！这是上帝的儿女在祂面前大胆、圣洁的操练，岂不是最高的特权与极大的享受？同时在与上帝相交时，经由祷告，上帝也要将那极浩大的能力运行在祂的儿女身上，好彰显祂的旨意与荣耀。 教会更应视代祷为：得天上恩惠、福份的管道，鼓励信徒多多祈祷，为这罪恶的世代，求上帝来怜悯、施恩典。 嚐过主恩滋味的信徒，明白密室祷告能力的上帝的儿女，更应该坚信引人归主绝非靠势力、才能，惟有在上帝面前迫切流泪祷告、昼夜恳求，上帝大能的膀臂，才能把你从痛苦绝望的深渊里救拔出来。上帝的儿女惟有在不向外界求援，只单单来到上帝的施恩宝座前，仰望祂的帮助，不断的恳求代祷，求圣灵动工，祂奇妙的作为才会适时来到；祂的教会也能穿上圣洁的外袍，披上能力的外衣，战胜来自世界的诱惑与罪恶。 「慈爱的天父：求祢开我们的眼，使我们明白代祷有何等大的功效，能带出何等荣耀的祝福！也让我们看到代祷是祢的心意，因这是祢要将祢的旨意计划行在人身上的方法。同时，这也是蒙恩的罪人，在祢面前行使祭司的特权，为教会的复兴，为灵魂的得救，切切恳求，深信圣灵必因此大大动工，奉主耶稣的名，阿们。」 INTERCESSIONScripture: "Pray one for another."—JAS. v. 16.
What a mystery of glory there is in prayer! On the one hand, we see God, in His holiness and love and power, waiting, longing to bless man; and on the other, sinful man, a worm of the dust, bringing down from God by prayer the very life and love of heaven to dwell in his heart. But how much greater the glory of intercession!—when a man makes bold to say to God what he desires for others, and seeks to bring down on one soul, or it may be on hundreds and thousands, the power of the eternal life with all its blessings. Intercession! Would one not say that this is the very holiest exercise of our boldness as God's children, the highest privilege and enjoyment connected with our intercourse with God—the power of being used by God as instruments for His great work of making men His habitation and showing forth His glory ? Would one not think that the Church would count this one of the chief means of grace, and seek above everything to cultivate in God's children the power of an unceasing prayerfulness on behalf of the perishing world? Would one not expect that believers, who have to some extent been brought into the secret, would feel what strength there is in unity, and what assurance there is that God will certainly avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him? It is when Christians cease from looking for help in external union, and aim at all being bound together to the throne of God, by an unceasing devotion to Jesus Christ, and an unceasing continuance in supplication for the power of God's Spirit, that the Church will put on her beautiful garments, and put on her strength too, and overcome the world.
经文: 「以利沙祷告说：耶和华阿！求祢开这少年人的眼目，使他能看见……耶和华阿！求祢开这些人的眼目，使他们能看见。」（，20）
以利沙为他僕人的祷告竟蒙垂听，这多麽奇妙啊！这个年青人看到满山有火车战马护卫着以利沙，这是天上使者派来保护上帝的僕人。 以利沙第二次祷告，叙利亚的军队眼睛昏迷，看不见前方，以致溃散到撒玛利亚。以利亚再祷告，求上帝开他们的眼睛，结果叙利亚的军队睁开眼睛，却发现他们已落入敌军手中，沦为以色列人的囚犯。 我们也要求上帝打开我们的心眼，让我们用信心看见祂要供应教会属灵的需要，祂不但用圣灵与火为信徒施浸，也为天国的设立而预备属天的福份与能力。上帝的儿女多麽欠缺属灵的信心眼睛，没看到上帝的能力要与他们同在，并给他们机会经历上帝，使他们灵命茁壮。 然而，我们当求上帝第二次开我们的眼，让我们看到这世界与罪恶的强大势力，否则我们无法察觉到教会的软弱，信徒也没有能力结出圣灵的果子，并领人归主。因此，我们要特别为教会的复兴祷告，求上帝倾倒天上的祝福与能力，让每位信徒爱主更热切，信心更坚定，灵命更茁壮。 「亲爱的天父：祢乐意垂听我们软弱的祷告，也乐意赐下属灵的能力，求祢张开我们的心眼，让我们看到自己灵裡的贫穷，教会的冷澹，而肯谦卑地来到祢面前，求祢来挑旺众信徒的信心，愿意毫无保留地献身给祢，同心合意地来兴旺福音。奉主耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE OPENING OF THE EYESScripture: "And Elisha prayed and said: Lord, open his eyes, that he may see…... And Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see."—2 kINGS vi. 17, 20.
How wonderfully the prayer of Elisha for his servant was answered! The young man saw the mountain full of chariots of fire and horsemen about Elisha. The heavenly host had been sent by God to protect His servant. A second time Elisha prayed. The Syrian army had been smitten with blindness, and so led into Samaria. There Elisha prayed for the opening of their eyes, and lo, they found themselves hopeless prisoners in the hand of the enemy. We wish to use these prayers in the spiritual sphere. First of all, to ask that our eyes may see the wonderful provision that God has made for His Church, in the baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire. All the powers of the heavenly world are at our disposal in the service of the heavenly kingdom. How little the children of God live in the faith of that heavenly vision—the power of the Holy Spirit, on them, with them, and in them, for their own spiritual life, and as their strength joyfully to witness for their Lord and His work! But we shall find that we need that second prayer too, that God may open the eyes of those of His children who do not as yet see the power which the world and sin have upon His people. They are as yet unconscious of the feebleness that marks the Church, making it impotent to do the work of winning souls for Christ, and building up believers for a life of holiness and fruit-fulness. Let us pray especially that God may open all eyes to see what the great and fundamental need of the Church is, in intercession to bring down His blessing, that the power of the Spirit may be known unceasingly in its Divine efficacy and blessing. Our Father, which art in heaven, Thou who art so unspeakably willing to give us the Holy Spirit in power, hear our humble prayer. Open our eyes, we pray Thee, that we may realise fully the low estate of Thy Church and people, and as fully what treasures of grace and power Thou art willing to bestow in answer to the fervent prayer of a united Church. AMEN.
经文: 「天是耶和华的天。地，祂却给了世人。」（）
天堂是圣洁、荣耀、完美的地方，这是上帝的居所。地也是美好的，上帝把它给了世人，却要人去耕耘、维护，以继续上帝完美的作为。想想那深藏在地底的煤、铁，需要人来挖掘开採；水能化为蒸气动力，也需要人来发现使用；四通八达的铁路网，需要有火车在其上奔驰。上帝所造的一切资源都是留给人类使用，但需要人的智慧与勤勉来配合开发。举目观看，无论乡野农田、城镇都市，莫不是人类使用上帝所预备的大自然来发展的，这一切完全都显明人与上帝同工，祂呼召我们完成祂创世以来既定的目的。 这样的定律也适用于属灵的事情，上帝在天上已预备满满的恩典，等着我们去支取使用，来服事祂以建立祂的国度。能与上帝同工，这是多麽荣耀的恩宠阿！ 世人为了地裡的宝藏，世上的财富，肯不辞劳苦、汲汲营营地挖掘赚取；上帝的儿女岂不更应该渴慕属天的福份与恩赐，迫切祈求，使自己灵命丰沛，祝福别人？是的，惟有藉着不断的代求，才能使上帝的国度降临，使祂的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。 「亲爱的主：祢所赐的大地何其美好，也感谢祢信任我们，交给我们管理大地的工作，以完成祢的圣工。主啊！开我的心眼，让我体认藉着福音的传扬、提名的代祷，使上帝拯救世人的工作，来藉着我们同工而完成。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 MAN'S PLACE IN GOD'S PLANScripture: "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth.hath He given to the children of men."—PSALM cxv. 16
God created heaven as a dwelling for Himself—perfect, glorious, and most holy. The earth He gave to man as his dwelling—everything very good, but only as a beginning with the need of being kept and cultivated. The work God had done, man was to continue and perfect. Think of the iron and the coal hidden away in the earth, of the steam hidden away in the water. It was left to man to discover and to use all this, as we see in the net-work of railways that span the world, and the steamers that cover the ocean. God had created all to be thus used. He made the discovery and the use dependent on the wisdom and diligence of man. What the earth is to-day, with its cities and habitations, with its corn-fields and orchards, it owes to man. The work God had begun and prepared, was by man to be carried out in fulfillment of God's purpose. And so nature teaches us the wonderful partnership to which God calls man for the carrying out of the work of creation to its destined end. This law holds equally good in the kingdom of grace. In this great redemption God has revealed the power of the heavenly life and the spiritual blessings of which heaven is full. But He has entrusted to His people the work of making these blessings known, and making men partakers of them. What diligence the children of this world show in seeking for the treasures that God has hid in the earth for their use! Shall not the children of God be equally faithful in seeking for the treasures hid in heaven, to bring them down in blessing on the world? It is by the unceasing intercession of God's people that His kingdom will come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. "Ever blessed Lord, how wonderful is the place Thou hast given man, in trusting him to continue the work Thou hast begun. We pray Thee, open our hearts for the great thought that, through the preaching of the Gospel, and the work of interession, Thy people are to work out Thy purpose. Lord, open our eyes—for Jesus' sake. AMEN.
经文: 「听祷告的主阿！凡有血气的，都要来就祢。」（）
上帝照着祂的形像造了始祖亚当，也把大地交给亚当，希望他能按着上帝的心意管理大地，这是上帝最初的计划。照理，亚当应是大地的主人，然而，罪进入这世界，亚当的自由意志面临考验，他要顺服上帝或自己作主？很不幸的，他选择了后者，因着他的堕落，整个人类就落入罪的诅咒。 上帝的救赎计划，就是要人从堕落的地方站起来，恢复原来与祂和好的关係，因此祂呼召一群属祂的僕人，为众人代求。耶稣在世时，祂不断为世人代求，作上帝与人之间的中保。祂离世升天后，就把这代祷的工作交给祂的门徒。如祂离别前的一席话：「无论向父求什麽，祂就赐给你们。」（约翰十五：16）上帝乐意施恩，但似乎管道是限制在恳求的基础上，因祂视此为最高层次的服事，也是信徒降服于全能上帝权柄的表徵。 基督徒应该明白这是何等尊贵荣耀的事——有权利来到上帝面前宣告上帝的得胜与能力，且相信祂垂听祷告。而且，也只有在上帝的儿女明白代祷在上帝国度中所佔的重要地位，才会认真地把代祷看成是一件重要的责任。 每个基督徒该明白，上帝等着我们亲近祂，向祂祷告；代祷更是最蒙福的利器，能将上帝天上丰盛的恩典，倾倒在信徒的心中，供应他们的需要。上帝要亲自教导祂的孩子，明白代祷不仅是天父的心意，而且功效更是何等的浩大！ INTERCESSION IN THE PLAN OF REDEMPTIONScripture: "0 Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come." PSALM lxv. 2.
When God gave the world into the power of man, made in His own image, who should rule over it as a viceroy under Him, it was His plan that Adam should do nothing but with God and through God, and God Himself would do all His work in the world through Adam. Adam was in very deed to be the owner, master, and ruler of the earth. When sin entered the world, Adam's power was proved to be a terrible reality, for through him the earth, with the whole race of man, was brought under the curse of sin. When God made the plan of redemption, His object was to restore man to the place from which he had fallen. God chose His servants of old, who, through the power of intercession, could ask what they would, and it should be given them. When Christ became man, it was that, as man, both on earth and in heaven, He might intercede for man. And ere He left the world. He imparted this right of intercession to His disciples, in the seven-fold promise of the Farewell Discourse (John xv.-xvii.), that whatsoever they should ask He would do for them. God's intense longing to bless seems in some sense to be graciously limited by His dependence on the intercession that rises from the earth. He seeks to rouse the spirit of intercession that He may be able to bestow His blessing on mankind. God regards intercession as the highest expression of His people's readiness to re?ceive and to yield themselves wholly to the working of His almighty power. Christians need to realize this as their true nobility and their only power with God—the right to claim and expect that God will hear prayer. It is only as God's children begin to see what intercession means in regard to God's kingdom, that they will realize how solemn their responsibility is. Each individual believer will be led to see that God waits for him to take his part. He will feel in very truth that the highest, the most blessed, the mightiest of all human instrumentalities for the fulfilment of the petition, "as in heaven, so on earth," is the intercession that rises day and night, pleading with God for the power of Heaven to be sent down into the hearts of men. Oh that God might burn into our hearts this one thought: Intercession in its omnipotent power is according to His will and is most certainly effectual!
经文: 「那时，祂见无人拯救、无人代求，甚为诧异。」（）
自古以来，上帝一向垂听祷告，施行拯救。但在这段经文中，我们看到上帝甚为诧异，为何在那溷乱的世代，竟无人代求。容我们再深入思想，这意味着什麽？上帝讶异为何竟无一人爱人灵魂，愿为他人代祷！上帝也讶异为何竟无一人有足够的信心，相信祂大能的膀臂，能因信徒的代祷而施行拯救。若无代祷者，祂的审判就将临到；反之，若有代祷勇士，上帝就大施拯救。（；，31） 在上帝的国度，代祷勇士的地位何等重要！然而，上帝既应许要赐下能力，施行拯救，却只有这麽少人来使用这恩典，支取那要给我们的能力与祝福，这不是很奇怪吗？ 让我们来明瞭自己的地位。上帝藉着耶稣创造万有，并完成救赎的工作，如今祂坐在宝座上，扩张上帝国度的责任就移交在祂子民的手中。信徒在上帝宝座前，扮演祭司的角色，为自己为众人的罪求赦免，并为一切的需要，祈求随时的帮助与怜悯。而基督耶稣早就坐在荣耀宝座上，要将丰沛的圣灵恩赐与能力，厚厚地浇灌在等候祂脚前的儿女心中。 宇宙的奥妙变化，星球的规律运转，甚至教会的成立与发展，都是靠信徒们不断祷告的力量托住。这样的真理奥秘，或许是出乎你的意料之外，闻所未闻，但却是千真万确。亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，上帝等着你！上帝需要你做代祷勇士！祂要我们在祂荣耀的计划、圣工上有份，而这只有藉着我们的祷告，与祂的恩典得以成事。愿我们洞察这真理，降服于上帝的呼召，委身于代祷的祭坛。 「亲爱的天父：开启我们的心眼，能看见祢邀请祢的儿女，藉着信心的代求和祷告，参与祢国度的扩展。让我们能呼应这神圣而荣耀的呼召，全心全意献身于这蒙福的事奉中。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 GOD SEEkS INTERCESSORSScripture: "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor." — ISAIAH lix. 16.
From of old God had among His people intercessors to whose voice He had listened and given deliverance. Here we read of a time of trouble when He sought for an intercessor, but in vain. And He wondered! Think of what that means — the amazement of God that there should be none who loved the people enough or who had sufficient faith in His power to deliver, to intercede, on their behalf. If there had been an intercessor He would have given deliverance; without an intercessor His judgments came down (see Isaiah Ixiv. 7; Ezek. xxii. 30, 31). Of what infinite importance is the place the intercessor holds in the kingdom of God! Is it not indeed a matter of wonder that God should give men such power, and yet that there are so few who know what it is to take hold of His strength and pray down His blessing on the world? Let us try to realize the position. When God had in His Son wrought out the new creation, and Christ had taken His place on the Throne, the work of the extension of His kingdom was given into the hands of men. He ever liveth to pray; prayer is the highest exercise of His royal prerogative as Priest-king upon the throne. All that Christ was to do in heaven was to be in fellowship with His people on earth. In His Divine condescension God has willed that the working of His Spirit shall follow the prayer of His people. He waits for their intercession, showing the preparation of heart — where and how much of His Spirit they are ready to receive. God rules the world and His Church through the prayers of His people. "That God should have made the extension of His kingdom to such a large extent dependent on the faithfulness of His people in prayer is a stupendous mystery and yet an absolute certainty." God calls for intercessors : in His grace He has made His work dependent on them ; He waits for them. Our Father, open our eyes to see that Thou dost invite Thy children to have a part in the extension of Thy kingdom by their faithfulness in prayer and intercession. Give us such OM insight into the glory of this holy calling, that with our whole heart we may yield ourselves to its blessed service. AMEN.
经文: 「凡靠着祂进到上帝面前的人，祂都能拯救到底。因为祂是长远活着，替他们祈求。」（）
上帝在以赛亚书中说到，祂诧异竟无人代求，接着祂又说，「祂就用自己的膀臂施行拯救，以公义扶持自己。」（）「必有一位救赎主，来到锡安。」（）上帝亲自预备了一位代祷者，就是祂的儿子耶稣基督，「祂却担当多人的罪，又为罪犯代求。」（） 耶稣在世上的日子，祂就扮演代祷者的角色，为要训练一批能接续祂工作的接班者，祂不断为祂十二个门徒代祷，好让世人能因他们而相信耶稣的名。想一想祂对彼得说的话：「我已经为你祈求，叫你不致于失了信心。」（）可见上帝多麽深入地为个人提名代祷。再看看耶稣在十架上所做的祷告：「父啊，赦免他们，因他们所作的（）他们不晓得。」 现今耶稣坐在上帝的右边，祂仍然忠心地做祂祭司的工作，不断地为众信徒祷告；但有一点不同，就是祂邀请祂的百姓和祂一起祷告，参与这荣耀的服事。而且在祂离世前的谈话，七次提到无论信徒们求什麽，只要靠着祂的名求，必能得着。 天上属灵的福份与能力，任由我们支取使用，藉着圣灵的引导，我们在祷告中明白上帝的心意，并奉耶稣的名向上帝祈求，耶稣就将我们的祈求转陈给上帝，上帝也要透过耶稣，将厚厚的恩典庇覆膏抹整个教会与信徒。 「亲爱的信徒们，能有份于上帝的圣工是多麽荣耀的事，求上帝开我们的心眼，让我们明白，没有祷告，就没有异象；没有祷告，就没有工作；没有祷告，就没有能力；没有花时间深入的代祷，别人就无法藉我们得福。求帝让我们看到自己自私、懒惰、以及小信的罪，让我们看到祷告生活的软弱无力，以致没有得胜的见证；也因着我们缺乏恆心地操练祷告，以致教会受到亏损，服事没有效果。求主开恩，让我们从今天起，看重祷告，并落实去做，奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 CHRIST AS INTERCESSORScripture: "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."— HEB. vii. 25.
When God had said in Isaiah that He wondered that there was no intercessor, there followed the words: "Therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him. The Redeemer shall come to Sion" (Isaiah lix. 16, 20). God Himself would provide the true intercessor, in Christ His Son, of whom it had already been said: "He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah liii. 12). In His life on earth Christ began His work as Intercessor. Think of the high-priestly prayer on behalf of His disciples and of all who should through them believe in His Name. Think of His words to Peter, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not"—a proof of how intensely personal His intercession is. And on the Cross He spake as intercessor: "Father, forgive them." Now that He is seated at God's right hand, He continues, as our great High Priest, the work of intercession without ceasing. But with this difference, that He gives His people power to take part in it. Seven times in His farewell discourse He repeated the assurance that what they asked He would do. The power of heaven was to be at their disposal. The grace and power of God waited for man's bidding. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit they would know what the will of God was. They would learn in faith to pray in His Name. He would present their petition to the Father, and through His and their united intercession the Church would be clothed with the power of the Spirit. Blessed Redeemer, what wonderful grace that Thou callest us to share in Thy intercession! We pray Thee, arouse in Thy redeemed people a consciousness of the glory of this their calling, and of all the richt blessing which Thy Church in its impotence can, through its intercession in Thy Name, bring down upon this earth. May Thy Holy Spirit work in Thy people a deep conviction of the sin of restraining prayer, of the sloth and unbelief and selfishness that is the cause of it, and of Thy loving desire to pour out the Spirit of prayer in answer to their petitions —for Thy name's sake. AMEN.
经文: 「耶路撒冷阿，我在你城上设立守望的。他们昼夜必不静默。呼吁耶和华的，你们不要歇息，也不要使祂歇息。」（）
守望者通常站在城牆上，观察敌情，发出预警。上帝设立守望者不但是为了警告百姓——通常百姓是充耳不闻，更是在情势危急时，由他们向上帝呼求帮助。守望者的任务，就是昼夜关心百姓的平安，自己不休息，也不让上帝休息，直到上帝的拯救来到，因他们深信上帝必垂听祷告。 在动盪不安、价值观溷浠的社会里，教会几乎失去作光作盐的功能，基督徒也几乎被世俗的思潮冲击的东倒西歪；初信者没有悔过的迹象，老信徒也没有圣洁的表率，大部份的信徒不但没有传福音的热诚与负担，也很少经历到圣灵的感动及引导。 在讨论到如何激起老少信徒研读圣经的兴趣，以及如何挑旺他们传福音的火热时，已很少听到需要团队精神或圣灵能力之语，也甚少看到有信徒觉察这是由于缺乏同心合意的热切祷告，以致圣灵的能力如此薄弱。 弟兄姐妹们，到底什麽时候要开始日夜迫切的祷告？就是现在！你愿意将自己摆在祷告的祭坛，做一个忠心的守望者吗？来吧！把握这无上荣耀的权利，屈身跪在宝座前，让自己成为流通的管道，让上帝藉着你倾福于众人！ 「亲爱的阿爸父：求祢垂听祷告，兴起守望者，提醒我们要努力不懈地代祷，不让祢休息，直到祢的复兴来到，使教会成为社区的灯台！主啊，求祢教导我如何祷告！奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE INTERCESSORS GOD SEEkSScripture: "I have set watchmen upon Thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take ye no rest and give Him no rest."—ISAIAH Ixii. 6, 7.
Watchmen are ordinarily placed on the walls of a city to give notice to the rulers of coming danger. God appoints watchmen not only to warn men—often they will not hear —but also to summon Him to come to their aid, whenever need or enemy may be threatening. The great mark of the intercessors is to be that they are not to hold their peace day or night, to take no rest, and to give God no rest, until the deliverance comes. In faith they may count upon the assurance that God will answer their prayer. It is of this that our Lord Jesus said: "Shall not God avenge His own elect, who cry to Him day and night?" From every land the voice is heard that the Church of Christ, under the influence of the power of the world and the earthly-mindedness it brings, is losing its influence over its members. There is but little proof of God's presence in the conversion of sinners, or the holiness of His people. With the great majority of Christians there is an utter neglect of Christ's call to take a part in the extension of His kingdom. The power of the Holy Spirit is but little experienced. Amid all the discussions as to what can be done to interest young and old in the study of God's Word, or to awaken love for the services of His house, one hears but little of the indispensable necessity of the power of the Holy Spirit in the ministry and the membership of the Church. One sees but little sign of the con?viction and confession that it is owing to the lack of prayer that the workings of the Spirit are so feeble, and that only by united fervent prayer a change can be brought about. If ever there was a time when God's elect should cry day and night to Him, it is now. Will you not, dear reader, offer yourself to God for this blessed work of intercession, and learn to count it the highest privilege of your life to be a channel through whose prayers God's blessing can be brought down to earth? Ever blessed Father, hear us, we pray Thee, and do Thou " Thyself raise up intercessors, such as Thou wouldst have. Give us, we beseech Thee, men and women to act as Thy remembrancers, taking no rest and giving Thee no rest, until Thy Church again be a praise in the earth. Blessed Father, let Thy Spirit teach us how to pray. AMEN.
经文: 「基督在肉体的时候，既大声哀哭，流泪祷告恳求那能救祂免死的主，就因祂的虔诚，蒙了应允。」（）
耶稣是教会的元首，现在在天上为我们祷告；我们是连于元首的身体，在地上作耶稣的祷告同工。莫以为耶稣平白得了这职份，祂能成为我们的榜样，不知付出多少的心血代价！说：「……耶和华以祂为赎罪祭，祂必看见后裔……祂必看见自己劳苦的功效……所以我要使祂与位大的同份，与强盛的均分掳物，因为祂将命倾倒，以致于死……。」请思想最后一句，祂将命倾倒以致于死。 「将命倾倒」，这就是祷告的真义。任何的牺牲服事，若没有呕心沥血的祷告做基础，将带不出上帝的能力。祂如此为必灭亡的罪人，将自己的性命摆上付出，正显示上帝的能力与祂同在，否则耶稣怎能甘受痛苦，为众人死在十架上？ 我们要做个代祷者，与耶稣同工，势必要以耶稣的心为心，如祂一般地「将命倾倒」，确确实实为所关怀的对象或事工，做恆切、迫切的代祷，而不是马马虎虎地三言两语交待过去。代祷不是心血来潮、一时兴起的动作；它乃是严肃的课题；每天的操练，是我们活力的源头，也惟有如此发自肺腑、自我牺牲的祷告，才能感动天庭，带来属灵的能力。（；廿24；；） 我们愈花长时间做深入的火热祷告，愈发现这能很有果效地引人悔改信主；因此我们深深领悟「祷告」实在是灵界的祕密超强武器，值得我们放下一切，每天都来到上帝面前操练这功课，使上帝的荣耀彰显全地。 「亲爱的耶稣：求祢教导我如何与祢联合，为祢所安排在我们周围的人祷告；求祢的爱充满在所有信徒的心中，教导我们学会如何情词迫切地代祷，经历到祢圣灵浩大能力的运行与彰显。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE SCHOOL OF INTERCESSIONScripture: "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears…… and was heard in that He feared."—HEB. v. 7.
Christ, as Head, is Intercessor in heaven; we, as the mem?bers of His Body, are partners with Him on earth. Let no one imagine that it cost Christ nothing to become an intercessor. He could not without this be our example. What do we read of Him? (Isaiah liii. 10-12) : "When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed…… He shall see of the travail of His soul.. ... I will divide Him a portion with the great, because He hath poured out His soul unto death." Notice the thrice-repeated expression in regard to the pouring out of His soul. The pouring out of the soul—that is the Divine meaning of intercession. Nothing less than this was needed if His sacrifice and prayer were to have power with God. This giving of Himself over to live and die that He might save the perishing was a revelation of the spirit that has power to prevail with God. If we as helpers and fellow-labourers with the Lord Jesus are to share His power of intercession, there will need to be with us too the travail of soul that there was with Him, the giving up of our life and its pleasures for the one supreme work of interceding for our fellow-men. Intercession must not be a passing interest; it must become an ever-growing object of intense desire, for which above everything we long and live. It is the life of consecration and self-sacrifice that will indeed give power for intercession (Acts xv. 26; xx. 24; Phil. ii. 17; Rev. xii. 11). The longer we study this blessed truth and think of what it means to exercise this power for the glory of God and the salvation of men, the deeper will become our conviction that it is worth giving up everything to take part with Christ in His work of intercession. Blessed Lord Jesus, be pleased to teach us how to unite with Thee in calling upon God for the souls Thou hast bought. Let Thy love fill us and all Thy saints, that we may learn to plead for the power of Thy Holy Spirit to be made known. AMEN.
经文: 「向来你们没有奉我的名求什麽，如今你们求就必得着，叫你们的喜乐可以满足。」（，26）
耶稣在世时，门徒不甚明白祷告的力量。在客西马尼园，彼得和其他门徒表现的太令人失望，他们对「奉耶稣的名祷告」这回事，没什麽概念。但上帝应许他们，等到那一日（祂离世复活升天后），门徒奉祂的名无论求什麽，就必得着。 「向来你们没有奉我的名求什麽，如今你们求就必得着，叫你们的喜乐可以满足。」即使在今日的教会，这现象仍普遍存在，绝大多数的信徒不明白他们已与耶稣联合，已与圣灵联合，已有这样的权柄可向天父求取他们需要的一切。因此，只有等到信徒明白与耶稣联合的道理，清楚知道何谓让耶稣「住在心中」的意义，并且顺服圣灵的教导，他们才会明白祷告有何等大的效果，上帝是如何垂听祷告，并丰丰富富供应我们一切的需用。 做为上帝的儿女，惟有在我们明白「耶稣」这名带有何等大的能力，以及知道「上帝的儿女」本来就被赋予这样的权柄，我们才会乐意回应耶稣的恳请，积极地跪在祂宝座前祷告。耶稣离世前一再地劝勉叮咛门徒：「你们出外做主圣工，切记那坐在宝座上，也住在你们心中的那一位，应许你们，无论奉耶稣的名求什麽，你们必得着。」 基督徒若肯全然委身，绝对顺服，他的眼睛将要被打开，看到「不断祷告」的生活正是健康基督徒的主要特徵，「丰沛的灵命」是有「耶稣内住」，并「为主而活」的基督徒必有的现象。 「亲爱的救主：求祢教导我们过着由圣灵掌管的生活，与祢合一，为祢而活。使我们能大胆地向祢求告，深信靠着祢的名，无论求什麽，就必得着。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE NAME OF JESUS THE POWER OF INTERCESSIONScripture: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name. At that day ye shall ask in My name; ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."—JOHN xvi. 24, 26.
During Christ's life upon earth, the disciples had known but little of the power of prayer. In Gethsemane, Peter and the others had utterly failed. They had no conception of what it was to ask in the name of Jesus, and to receive. The Lord promised them that in that day which was coming they would be able to pray with such a power in His name, that they might ask what they would, and it should be given to them. "Hitherto nothing." "In that day ye shall ask in My name and shall receive." These two conditions are still found in the Church. With the great majority of Christians there is such a lack of knowledge of their oneness with Christ Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of prayer, that they do not even attempt to claim the wonderful promises Christ here gives. But where God's children know what it is to abide in Christ and in vital union with Him, and to yield to the Holy Spirit's teaching, they begin to learn that their intercession avails much, and that God will give the power of His Spirit in answer to their prayer. It is faith in; the power of Jesus' name, and in our right to use it, that will give us the courage to follow on where God invites us to the holy office of intercessors. When our Lord Jesus, in His farewell discourse, gave His unlimited prayer promise, He sent the disciples out into the world with this consciousness: "He who sits upon the throne, and who lives in my heart, has promised that what I ask in His name I shall receive. He will do it." Oh, if Christians but knew what it is to yield themselves wholly and absolutely to Jesus Christ and His service, how their eyes would be opened to see that intense and unceasing prayerfulness is the essential mark of the healthy spiritual life; and that the power of all-prevailing intercession will indeed be the portion of those who live only in and for their Lord! Blessed Saviour, give us the grace of the Holy Spirit, so to live in Thee, and with Thee, and for Thee, that we may boldly look to Thee for the assurance that our prayers are heard. AMEN.
经文: 「你们既为儿子，上帝就差祂儿子的灵，进入你们的心，呼叫阿爸，父。」（）
我们知道在客西马尼园，耶稣口中所喊的「阿爸父」是什麽意思，那是意味着绝对顺服上帝的旨意，毫无怨言。在耶稣的祷告中我们看到，为了完成天父拯救世人的计划，耶稣愿意牺牲生命也在所不惜；而且祂复活后升天，坐在天父的右边，现在仍不断地为我们祷告，并要赐下圣灵的能力给祂的信徒。 天父赐下圣灵保惠师，就是要在我们心中动工，让我们认识真理，渴慕耶稣，并效法祂，全然向上帝献身，并有一颗坚定的心，求上帝的旨意能在地上成就。上帝的心意就是要万人得救，不愿一人沉沦，耶稣也顺服天父的心愿，死在十架上。如今上帝也一样要求祂的百姓，因着上帝的大爱充满心中，迫切真诚地求上帝拯救那将灭亡的灵魂！ 有人觉得这要求过高，因为人的通病就是以自我为中心，爱心有限，无法爱那不可爱的人，如此怎能为其灵魂拯救祷告？因此上帝赐下圣灵在祂孩子们的心中，若能完全顺服圣灵的引导，感受到上帝大爱的激励与催逼，就会对人的灵魂有负担，愿意为他祷告，因为这是上帝的灵在你心中动工。 如今我们明白一个真理，若你能随从圣灵，学习在圣灵裡祷告，上帝应许每一个祷告都必垂听成就，因为这一切都是圣灵在我们心中运行，要我们为周围人的灵魂代求。 「亲爱的阿爸父：我们都如没有牧人的羊群，流离失所，等待祢的拯救寻回。求祢开我们的眼，让我们看到祢要赐下丰沛的能力，助我们领人归主，愿我们回应祢最高的呼召，为人的灵魂心如火烧，迫切祷告！奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 PRAYER THE WORk OF THE SPIRITScripture: "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father.'"—GAL. iv. 6.
We know what "Abba, Father" meant in the mouth of Christ in Gethsemane. It was the entire surrender of Himself to the very death, that the holy will of God's love in redemption of sinners might be accomplished. In His prayer He was ready for any sacrifice, even to the yielding of His life. In that prayer we have revealed to us the heart of Him whose place is at the right hand of God, with the wonderful power of intercession that He exercises there, and the power to pour down the Holy Spirit. It is to breathe the very Spirit of His Son into our hearts that the Holy Spirit has been bestowed by the Father. Our Lord would have us yield ourselves as wholly to God as He did; to pray like Him, that God's will of love should be done on earth at any cost. As God's love is revealed in His desire for the salvation of souls, so also the desire of Jesus was made plain when He gave Himself for them. And He now asks of His people that that same love should fill them too, so that they give themselves wholly to the work of intercession, and, at any cost, pray down God's love upon the perishing. And lest anyone should! think that this is too high and beyond our reach, the Holy Spirit of Jesus is actually given into our hearts that we may pray in His likeness, in His name, in His power. It is the man who yields himself wholly to the leading of the Holy Spirit who will feel urged, by the compulsion of a Divine love, to the undivided surrender to a life of continual intercession, because he knows that it is God who is working in Him. Now we can understand how Christ could give such unlimited promises of answer to prayer to His disciples; they were first going to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now we understand how God can give such a high place to intercession in the fulfilment of His purpose of redemption; it is the Holy Spirit who breathes God's own desire into us, and enables us to intercede for souls. Abba, Father! O grant that by Thy Holy Spirit there may be maintained in us the unceasing intercession of love for the souls for whom Christ died. Give, 0 give to Thy children the vision of the blessedness and the power which come to those who yield themselves to this high calling. AMEN.
经文: 「所以我要使祂与位大的同分，与强盛的均分掳物。……祂却担当多人的罪，又为罪犯代求。」（）
「祂为罪犯代求」想想这情况，要怎样的资格与条件，才能理直气壮、面无愧色地为罪犯代求？耶稣必须流血捨命，为世人的罪献上挽回祭，听听祂在客西马尼园，汗沁额角的椎心祷告：「父啊，倘若可行，求祢叫这杯离开我，然而不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思！」（） 是什麽力量促使祂愿意如此牺牲奉献？连命都不要了！是祂对天父的爱——为达到天父公义的要求（罪的代价必须用死来抵偿），同时上帝爱世人，要人在祂的圣洁上有份。 再想想祂付上这样悲壮的代价，获得怎样的报偿？祂战胜众仇敌，得以坐在天父的右边，不断地为众人代求，祂也要看到那些被祂用宝血重价赎回的人，成为祂的祷告同伴，以基督的心为心，一同为救人灵魂的事工迫切祷告！ 耶稣的榜样，给我们怎样的启示？就是当学像耶稣，倾全力为所要带领的人祷告，即使要将命摆上也不退缩，因天父是这样爱我！ 多麽荣耀的事奉，我们竟然能与上帝同工，耶稣在天上，我们在地上，同心为众人的灵魂祷告。而祂也赐下属天的能力，使我们在圣灵引导下的祷告得蒙成就。 「永在的父啊，求祢开我的眼，让我看到祢荣耀的儿子所为我立下的榜样，也让我看到祷告的能力，并愿每天拨时间来操练，奉主耶稣的名，阿们！」 CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE IN INTERCESSIONScripture: "He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because…... Ht bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."—ISAIAH liii. 12.
He made intercession for the transgressors." What did that mean to Him? Think of what it cost Him to pray that prayer effectually. He had to pour out His soul as an offering for sin, and to cry in Gethsemane: "Father, Thy holy will of love be done." Think what moved Him thus to sacrifice Himself to the very uttermost! It was Has love to the Father—that His holiness might be manifest, and love to souls—that they might be partakers of His holiness. Think of the reward He won! As Conqueror of every enemy, He is seated at the right hand of God, with the power of unlimited and assured intercession. And He would see His seed, a generation of those of the same mind with Himself, whom He could train to a share in His great work of intercession. And what does this mean for us, when we indeed seek to pray for the transgressors? That we too yield ourselves wholly to the glory of the holiness and the love of the Father, that we too say: Thy will be done, cost what it may; that we too sacrifice ourselves, even to pouring out our soul unto death. The Lord Jesus has in very deed taken us up into a partnership with Himself, in carrying out the great work of intercession. He in heaven and we on earth must have one mind, one aim in life—that we should, from love to the Father and to the lost, consecrate our lives to intercession for God's blessing. The burning desire of Father and Son for the salvation of souls must be the burning desire of our heart too. What an honour! What a blessedness! And what a power for us to do the work because He lives, and by His Spirit pours forth His love into our hearts! Everlasting God of love, open our eyes to the vision of the glory of Thy Son, as He ever liveth to pray. And open our eyes to the glory of that grace which enables us in His likeness also to live that we may pray for the transgressors. Father, for Jesus' sake. AMEN.
经文: 「愿祢的意旨成全。」（马）
上帝有绝对的主权，能让天上地下的一切，都照祂的心意行事，当祂按照自己的形像造人时，就希望人能完全地顺服祂，以祂的心思为心思，以祂的愿望为愿望，以人的血肉之身，做为承接圣灵的器皿，成为圣灵的殿。 在祂赐给人「自由意志」的同时，祂也相对地面临「人是否全然顺服」的考验；不幸地，始祖亚当选择听上帝仇敌的话，于是人类堕落了。而上帝因着祂无限的大爱，让祂的独生爱子耶稣基督，捨命作赎罪的代价。 人的慾望是一切行为的原动力，而人随着自己的私慾行事，如同无缰的野马奔驰，这光景惹上帝伤心难过，所以祂要设法救赎他们，引导他们，使他们归回，能体贴上帝的心，能行仁爱圣洁的事。 救赎的第一步，就是让耶稣道成肉身，来到人间，成为人的样式，然而祂仍以天父的事为念，藉着祷告完全降服于天父的旨意，因此在客西马尼园有着摧肝裂肺、血泪迸发的痛苦祷告：「父啊，不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思。」（）即使在十架上背着众人的罪而遭上帝遗弃，耶稣仍甘之如饴，因为祂的心意与天父的心意完全吻合，救赎计划才得以完成。 第二步骤，就是接受救恩。而我们这些已蒙恩的罪人，就该负起代祷的责任，为宣教士、牧长，老基督徒、或刚信主的切切代祷，因为藉着祷告，上帝的旨意要行在地上，如同行在天上。 GOD'S WILL AND OURSScripture: "Thy will be done."—MATT. xxvi. 42.
It is the high prerogative of God that everything in heaven and earth is to be done according to His will, and as the fulfilment of His desires. When He made man in His image it was, above all, that his desires were to be in perfect accord with the desires of God. This is the high honour of being in the likeness of God—that we are to feel and wish just as God. In human flesh man was to be the embodiment and fulfilment of God's desires. When God created man with the power of willing and choosing what he should be, He limited Himself in the exercise of His will. And when man had fallen and yielded himself to the will of God's enemy, God in His infinite love set about the great work of winning man back to make the desires of God his own. As in God, so in man, desire is the great moving power. And just as man had yielded himself to a life of desire after the things of the earth and the flesh, God had to redeem him, and to educate him into a life of harmony with Himself. His one aim was that man's desire should be in perfect accord with His own. The great step in this direction was when the Son of the Father came into this world, to reproduce the Divine desires in His human nature, and in His prayer to yield Himself up to the perfect fulfilment of all that God wished and willed. The Son, as Man, said in agony and blood, "Thy will be done," and made the surrender even to being forsaken of God, that the power that had deceived man might be conquered and deliverance procured. It was in the wonderful and complete harmony between the Father and the Son when the Son said, "Thy will of love be done," that the great redemption was accomplished. And this is now the great work of appropriating that redemption, that believers have to say, first of all for themselves, and then in lives devoted to intercession for others: "Thy will be done in heaven as on earth." As we plead for the Church— its ministers and its missionaries, its strong Christians or its young converts—for the unsaved, whether nominally Christian or heathen, we have the privilege of knowing that we are pleading for what God wills, and that through our prayers His will is to be done on earth as in heaven.
经文: 「你们不要歇息，也不要使祂歇息，直等祂建立耶路撒冷，使耶路撒冷在地上成为可讚美的。」（）
能有这样的特权，来到上帝面前，藉着祈求与代祷，支取属天的能力并改变人心，这是何等大的恩典与荣幸！ 能够与基督耶稣合一，在代祷的圣工上有分，当我祷告时，我的祷词贴近耶稣的心，这种畅通无阻的感觉多美好！更可贵的是，上帝的能力能藉着我这管道流露出去，去赢得人心，改变人心，这是他们未曾想过，也是他们所不知道的。 能够在上帝面前当跟班的，做跑腿的，这是无上的光荣，我们好像中间人，将各地宣教士的需要，以及教会或个人的需要，带到上帝面前；我们也像上帝的信差，上帝将要施于信徒的恩惠，託付我们一个个的送到他们手中。 还有一个更大的福气，就是能与主内的弟兄姐妹，同心合意为属灵的胜利，做争战性的祷告，以克服难关，战胜黑暗。 做个代祷勇士，不但能亲身经历上帝的同在与能力，更能把属天的恩惠散佈给我们周遭的朋友。视亲朋好友的灵魂得救为己任，迫切地为他们代祷，这是值得为之而活的目标。 长久以来，我们以为只有在生活中有难处、服事上有瓶颈的时候才祷告。求上帝开我们的眼，让我们看到代祷在上帝国度中所佔的重要地位；更求上帝开我们的眼，让我们看到代祷者身份的尊贵与荣耀，因为藉着我们的祷告，上帝要打开天上窗户，倾福于我们与我们所代求的人。 「我的父啊：求祢将属天的生命，充满在祢儿女的心中；藉着与耶稣紧密契合，就从腹中涌出活水的泉源，不断代祷，不断供应周围有需要的人。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE BLESSEDNESS OF A LIFE OF INTERCESSIONScripture: "Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take ye no rest and give Him no rest, till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."— ISAIAH Ixii. 6, 7.
What an unspeakable grace to be allowed to deal with God in intercession for the supply of the need of others! What a blessing, in close union with Christ to take part in His great work as Intercessor, and to mingle my prayers with His! What an honour to have power with God in heaven over souls, and to obtain for them what they do not know or think' What a privilege, as a steward of the grace of God, to bring to Him the state of the Church or of individual souls, of the ministers of the Word, or His messengers away in heathendom, and plead on their behalf till He entrusts me with the answer! What blessedness, in union with other children of God, to strive together in prayer until the victory is gained over difficulties here on earth, or over the powers of darkness in high places! It is indeed worth living for, to know that God will use me as an intercessor, to receive and dispense here on earth His heavenly blessing, and above all the power of His Holy Spirit. This is in very deed the life of heaven, the life of the Lord Jesus Himself, in His self-denying love, taking possession of me and urging me to yield myself wholly to bear the burden of souls before Him, and to plead that they may live. Too long have we thought of prayer simply as a means for the supplying of our need in life and service. May God help us to see what a place intercession takes in His Divine counsel, and in His work for the kingdom. And may our hearts indeed feel that there is no honour or blessedness on earth at all equal to the unspeakable privilege of waiting upon God and bringing down from heaven, and of opening the way on earth for the blessing He delights to give! O my Father, let Thy life indeed flow down to this earth, and fill the hearts of Thy Children! As the Lord Jesus pours out His love in His unseasing intercession in heaven, let it even be thus with us also upon earth, a life of overflowing love and never ending intercession. AMEN.
经文: 「同心合意的恆切祷告。」（）
耶稣离世前，留给教会的四句话是——「要等候父所应许的。」（）「圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力。」（）「在耶路撒冷：直到地极，作我的见证」（）而这正是福音的真义，新约教会该有的写照。 一个不断同心祷告的教会，充满圣灵恩膏的服事，有活泼见证的会友，带出传福音的行动——这正是耶稣当初所创立的教会，它要主动出击，征服世界。 当耶稣升天后，门徒们突然醒悟过来要做些什麽，他们聚集在一起，同心合意祷告，等候圣灵，他们因着耶稣的爱而结合在一起，互为肢体，也因此能将祷告出来的力量，大大影响周围的人。 的确是这样，我们的责任就是同心等候圣灵，不断祷告，有活泼的见证，常常领人归主，这才是正常健康的属灵生命。然而转眼看看今日教会的光景，神家荒凉，祷告乏力，信心冷澹，见证薄弱，信徒身上似乎嗅不出基督馨香之气，也看不出基督徒应有的荣光与能力。 「天父啊：求祢怜悯我们，赦免我们软弱的罪。求祢赐下祷告的灵，挑旺我们火热的心，让我们愿意屈膝在祢的面前，同心合意为领人归主而迫切祷告！奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE PLAGE OF PRAYERScripture: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and sup?plication."—ACTS i. 14.
The last words which Christ spoke ere He left the world give us the four great notes of His Church: "Wait for the promise of the Father." "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." "Both in Jerusalem and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." United and unceasing prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit, living witnesses to the living Christ, from Jerusalem to the utter?most part of the earth—such are the marks of the true Gospel, of the true ministry, of the true Church of the New Testament. A Church of united and unceasing prayerfulness, a min?istry filled with the Holy Spirit, the members living witnesses to a living Christ, with a message to every creature on earth— such was the Church that Christ founded, and such the Church that went out to conquer the world. When Christ has ascended to heaven the disciples knew at once what their work was to be, continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication. They were to be bound together, by the love and Spirit of Christ, into one Body. It was this that gave them their wonderful power in heaven with God, and upon earth with men. Their own duty was to wait in, united and unceasing prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit, as the enduement from on high for their witness to Christ to the ends of the earth. A praying Church, a Spirit-filled Church, a witnessing Church, with all the world as its sphere and aim—such is the Church of Jesus Christ. As long as it maintained this character, it had power to conquer. But alas, as it came under the influence of the world, how much it lost of its heavenly, supernatural beauty and strength! How unfaithful in prayer, how feeble the workings of the Spirit, how formal its witness to Christ, and how unfaithful to its worldwide mission! Blessed Lord Jesus, have mercy upon Thy Church, and give, we pray Thee, the Spirit of Prayer and supplication as of old, that Thy Church may prove what power from Thee rests upon her and her testimony for Thee, to win the world to Thy feet. AMEN.
经文: 「我在父面前屈膝，求祂按着祂丰盛的荣耀，藉着祂的灵，叫你们心裡的力量刚强起来。」（）
在大家印象中使徒保罗是个伟大的宣教士，伟大的作者，伟大的讲道者，但我们很少想到他是殷勤的代祷者，他常通宵达旦，或是禁食，切切恳求天上的上帝，祝福他手中所作的工，以及他所服事的教会。 我们看看保罗为以弗所教会以及帖撒罗尼迦教会所做的祷告：「我们昼夜的祈求，要见你们的面，……，在我们父上帝面前，心裡坚固，成为圣洁，无可责备。」（）对罗马人，保罗祷告：「我怎样不住的提到你们。」（）对腓利比教会，保罗说：「每逢为你们众人祈求的时候，常是欢欢喜喜的祈求。（）对歌罗西教会，保罗说：「自从听见的日子，也就为你们不住的祷告祈求，愿你们在一切属灵的智慧悟性上，满心知道上帝的旨意」（）「我愿意你们晓得我为你们和老底嘉人，并一切没有与我亲自见面的人，是何等的尽心竭力。」（） 他昼夜向上帝祈求，将圣灵的光照及能力，充充足足地赏赐给众弟兄，而且他深信他的祷告必蒙垂听达至天庭。另一方面，他也明白他需要弟兄姐妹的代祷，「藉着圣灵的爱，劝你们与我一同竭力，为我祈求上帝。」（）「你们以祈祷帮助我们，好叫许多人为我们谢恩。」（），「也为我祈求，使我得着口才，能以放胆，开口讲明福音的奥秘。」（）「藉着你们的祈祷，和耶稣基督之灵的帮助，终必叫我得救。」（） 牧长和信徒之间的关係，紧紧依赖着彼此的关心代祷；也只有藉着这样的属灵连接，天上的福份与能力，才能沛然下降，教会也才明白五旬节的意义是什麽！ 「天父哪！我们谦卑俯伏在祢面前，求祢赐下同心合意的灵给教会，使我们知道如何火热地为他人代祷，奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。」 PAUL AS AN INTERCESSORScripture: "I bow my knees unto the Father, that He would grant you to be strengthened with might by His Spirit." — EPH. iii. 14, 16.
We think of Paul as the great Missionary, the great Preacher, the great Writer, the great Apostle "in labours more abundant." We do not sufficiently think of him as the Intercessor, who sought and obtained, by his supplication, the power that rested upon all his other activities, and brought down the blessing that rested on the churches that he served. We see above what he wrote to the Ephesians. Think of what he said to the Thessalonians (1 Thess. iii. 10, 13): "Night and day praying exceedingly, that we might perfect that which is lacking in your faith, to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness." To the Romans (chap. i. 9): "Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers." To the Philippians (chap. i. 4): "Always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy." And to the Colossians (chap. i. 9 ; ii. 1 ): "We do not cease to pray for you. I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you." Day and night he cried to God in his intercession for them, that the light and the power of the Holy Spirit might be in them; and as earnestly as he believed in the power of his intercession for them, did he also believe in the blessing that theirs would bring upon him. "I beseech you, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" (Rom. xv. 30). "God will yet deliver us, ye also helping together by prayer for us" (2 Cor. i. 10, 11). "Praying also for me, that I may open my mouth boldly" (Eph. vi. 18, 19; Col. iv. 3; 2 Thess. iii. 1). "This shall turn to my salvation through your prayer" (Phil, i 19). The whole relationship between pastor and people depends on the united continual prayerfulness. Their whole relationship to each other is a heavenly one, spiritual and Divine, and can only be maintained by unceasing prayer. It is when ministers and people waken up to the consciousness that the power and blessing of the Holy Ghost is waiting for their united and unceasing prayer, that the Church will begin to know something of what Pentecostal Apostolic Christianity is. Ever blessed Father, we do most humbly beseech Thee, restore again graciously to Thy Church the spirit of supplication, and intercession — for Jesus' sake. AMEN.
经文: 「要收的庄稼多，作工的人少。所以你们当求庄稼的主，打发工人出去，收他的庄稼。」（）
耶稣曾把上面这段话，像种子般放在门徒的心中，门徒当时仍不明白这话是什麽意思，直到五旬节他们在等候圣灵，看到因着长时间同心祷告，圣灵沛然下降，多人悔改信主，见证耶稣，他们才感觉到这完全是圣灵所结的果子。 耶稣就是要他们明白，即使要收的庄稼多，做工的人少，但祷告是最有效的武器，彻底深入的祷告是惟一补破口的最佳防御。 我们必须明白，不是在有危急困难的时候，我们才想到要祷告，而是平时就要随着圣灵多方祷告，使我们的行动配合上帝的心意，让我们所做的工，在上帝国度的计划中有份。 中国内地会的发展，就是最好的例证，当初有两百名的同工，后来他们深觉西北偏远地区，需要更多的同工投入，在多次祷告后，他们大胆向上帝求一百个工人加入，还有一万英镑的奉献，他们约定一年的时间，每天都为这样的事祷告，结果到年底，果然有一百位合适的工人来报到，附带奉献一万英镑。 世界的禾场是如此大，待拯救的灵魂又是如此的多，教会常抱怨钱不够，工人不够，但耶稣不是呼召我们，要像初代使徒同心合意，不断地祷告吗？上帝是信实的，祂要藉着圣灵，帮补我们一切的不足，教会要起来同心合意的祈求，上帝是听祷告的。 「亲爱的主耶稣：求祢教导我们明白，何谓为祢而活，何谓将自己摆上，献在祭坛。让我们确信祢在各样的事上掌权，而且祢垂听祷告，要赏赐给我们超过所求所想的，让我们脚掌所踏之地，都属于我们。阿们。」 INTERCESSION FOR LABOURERSScripture: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourer; are few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest."—MATT. ix. 37, 38.
The disciples understood very little of what these words meant. Christ gave them as a seed-thought, to be lodged in their hearts for later use. At Pentecost, as they saw how many of the new converts were ready in the power of the Spirit to testify of Christ, they must have felt how the ten days of continuous united prayer had brought this blessing too, as the fruit of the Spirit's power—labourers in the harvest. Christ meant to teach us that, however large the field may be, and however few the labourers, prayer is the best, the sure, the only means for supplying the need. What we need to understand is that it is not only in time of need that the prayer must be sent up, but that the whole work is to be carried on in the spirit of prayer, so that the prayer for labourers' shall be in perfect harmony with the whole of our life and effort. In the China Inland Mission, when the number of mission?aries had gone up to 200, at a Conference held in China they felt so deeply the need of more labourers for districts quite unprovided for, that after much prayer they felt at liberty to ask God to give them within a year 100 additional labourers and ?10,000 to meet the expenses. They agreed to continue in prayer day by day throughout the year. At the end of the time the 100 suitable men and women had been found, with ?11,000. To meet the need of the world, its open fields, and its waiting souls, the churches all complain of the lack of labourers and of funds. Does not Christ's voice call us to the united and unceasing prayer of the first disciples? God is faithful, by the power of His Spirit, to supply every need. Let the Church take the posture of united prayer and supplication. God hears prayer. Blessed Lord Jesus, teach Thy Church what it means so to live and labour for Thee, in the Spirit of unceasing prayerfulness, that our faith may rise to the assurance that Thou wilt in very deed, in a way surpassing all expectation, meet the crying need of a dying world. AMEN.
经文: 「以色列人哪，……将你们一一的收集。」（）
人体的各部门都有它固定的位置，分配得当功能互补，正如政府各部门各有功能，彼此协调运作，为要全民得益。教会也是如此，弟兄姐妹们互为肢体，彼此配搭。 我们常常以为传福音是牧师的工作，然而他的对象常是群众，而不是个人。这带来双重严重的亏损，一是信徒不知道他有责任向周围的人分享他的见证，来激励别人并且茁壮自己的灵命；其次周围未信主的人，也没有机会从信徒的身上，看到耶稣的形像。我们很少将周围的人，列在代祷名单上，而这对教会，不知是多大的损失！ 基督徒何时才能学会这真理——「天国的事业需要信徒大量的祷告。」惟有信徒在明白一个人的得救悔改，需要背后有极大的祷告之时吧！是的，上帝的工作不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是靠圣灵的大能。惟有当牧师和信徒同心祷告，为福音齐心努力时，教会才会兴旺，信徒才会明白自己在神工场上佔有的地位。 要如何激起众人代祷的心？首先，要明白代祷的需要以及效果，然后从你最接近的人开始祷告，为家人、儿女、朋友邻居，以及周围的人。若你觉得还是不能为他们祷告，那麽谦卑地来到主座前，求上帝怜悯，给你这样的看见，知道上帝乐意听到蒙恩得救的儿女，为尚未得救的人祈祷代求，这也是正常健康的基督徒应有的态度，证明你是从上帝而生。 然后恆切、迫切地祷告，求上帝将那属天的能力，赏赐给你和众儿女们，确信上帝看重我们的代祷，也要应允我们的祈求。 INTERCESSION FOR INDIVIDUAL SOULSScripture: "Ye shall be gathered one by one, 0 ye children of Israel."— ISAIAH xxvii. 12.
In our body every member has its appointed place. It is so too in society and in the Church. The work must always aim at the welfare and the highest perfection of the whole, through the cooperation of every individual member. In the Church the thought is found too often that the salvation of men is the work of the minister; whereas he generally only deals with the crowd, and but seldom reaches the individual. This is the cause of a twofold evil. The individual believer does not understand that it is necessary for him to testify to those around him—for the nourishment and the strengthening of his own spiritual life, and for the ingathering of souls. Unconverted souls suffer unspeakable loss because Christ is not personally brought to them by each believer they meet. The thought of intercession for those around us is all too seldom found. Its restoration to its right place in the Christian life—how much that would mean to the Church and its missions! Oh, when will Christians learn the great truth that "what God in heaven desires to do needs prayer on earth as its indispensable condition." It is as we realize this that we shall see that intercession is the chief element in the conversion of souls. All our efforts are vain, without the power of the Holy Spirit given in answer to prayer. It is when ministers and people unite in a covenant of prayer and testimony that the Church will flourish, and that every believer will understand the part he has to take. And what can we do to stir up the spirit of intercession? There is a two-fold answer. Let every Christian, as he begins to get an insight into the need and the power of intercession, make a beginning in the exercise of it on behalf of single individuals. Pray for your children, for your relatives and friends, for all with whom God brings you into contact. If you feel that you have not the power to intercede, let the discovery humble you and drive you to the mercyseat. God wants every redeemed child of His to intercede for the perishing. It is the vital breath of "e normal Christian life—the proof that it is born from above. Then pray intensely and persistently that God may give the power of His Holy Spirit on you and His children around you, that the power of intercession may have the place that God will honour.
经文: 「也为我祈求。」（）「也要为我们祷告。」（）「弟兄们，我还有话说。请你们为我们祷告。」（）
这几处经文显示，保罗多麽看重肢体间彼此的关怀与代祷，而且他相信没有祷告，就没有工作，没有祷告，就没有力量。他鼓励弟兄姐妹们，为了上帝国度的缘故，也为了个人的缘故，不断地用感恩的心代祷。 牧师或传道人的地位，犹如上帝的管家，是天国的大使，担负着劝人与上帝和好的重要职责，迫切地需要众信徒祷告的支持。若说保罗传福音廿年，都还需要众人的祷告，更何况现代的传道人，岂不更需要祷告？ 传道人极需众圣徒为他代祷，而且他有权这麽做，同时这也是他的责任；训练信徒为教会及世界的禾场祷告。当然，他首先要为自己及众圣徒多多祷告，让他们知道他们的代祷在上帝的眼中，佔有极重要的份量。 弟兄姐妹们，要切实地提名代祷，或为某个福音机构祷告，而且要继续不断的祷告。好看到上帝的作为彰显，帮助传道人成为一个充满圣灵、会祷告、有爱心的牧师。 「亲爱的天父：我们谦卑地来到祢面前，求祢赏赐信心，好叫我们忠心地为传道人及世界禾场的需要代祷，使祢的福音传遍全地。阿们。」 INTERCESSION FOR MINISTERSScripture: "And for me."—EPH. vi. 19. "Praying also for us."—Coi.. iv. 3. "Finally, brethren, pray for us."—2 THESS. iii. 1.
These expressions of Paul suggest what the strength of his conviction must have been that the Christians had power with God, and that their prayer would in very deed bring new strength to him in his work. He had such a sense of the actual unity of the Body of Christ, of the interdependence of each member, even the most honourable, on the life that flowed through the whole body, that he seeks to rouse Christians, both for their own sakes and for his sake, and for the sake of the kingdom of God, with his call: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving, withal praying also for us." The Church depends upon the ministry to an extent that we very little realise. The place of the minister is so high, as the steward of the mysteries of God, as the ambassador for God to beseech men in Christ's name to be reconciled to Him, that unfaithfulness or inefficiency must bring a terrible blight on the Church that he serves. If Paul, after having preached for twenty years in the power of God, still needed the prayer of the Church, how much more does the ministry in our day need it? The minister needs the prayer of his people. He has a right to it. He is in very truth dependent on it. It is his task to train Christians for their work, of intercession on behalf of the Church and the world. He must begin with training them to pray for himself. He may have to begin still farther back and learn to pray more for himself and for them. Let all intercessors, who are seeking to enter more deeply into their blessed work, give a larger place to the ministry, whether of their own church or of other churches. Let them plead with God for individual men, and for special circles. Let them continue in prayer and watch therein, that ministers may be men of power, men of prayer, and full of the Holy Ghost. O brethren, pray for the ministry! Our Father which art in heaven, we humbly pray Thee to arouse believers to a sense of their calling to pray for the ministers of the Gospel in the spirit of faith. AMEN.
经文: 「靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。」（）
从这段经文我们看到，保罗是何等尽心尽力地为众圣徒祈求，而且他也用情词迫切的语调，来打动读者的心，也能像他一样「随时多方、儆醒不倦地为众圣徒祈求。」这劝勉值得我们反覆思想。 保罗深深觉得在基督裡，众信徒互为肢体，藉着爱与祷告，彼此连接在一起。他劝勉以弗所的信徒要热切、儆醒不倦地为众信徒祷告，不只为自己的教会，也要为世界的禾场，因为「团结就是力量」。若我们恆切持续地操练这个功课，我们可从自我中心释放出来，祷告也不至软弱，基督的爱也能自由丰盛地从我们身上流露出来。 灵命浅的信徒，其祷告的内容，常环绕在自己的需要或求上帝为他们做什麽上面；让我们从现在开始，学习在爱中多为别人祷告，多为教会的需要祷告，多为他人的灵魂代求，这样的生活才是健康正常基督徒应有的样式——捨己为人，委身归主。 再没有别的事比与主连合，按上帝的心意祷告更加伟大；也没有别的事比为别人恳切代祷，并见祷告蒙上帝应允更为喜乐。 PRAYER FOR ALL SAINTSScripture: "With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and sup?plication for all the saints."—EPH. vi. 18 (R. V.).
Notice how Paul repeats the words in the intensity of his desire to reach the hearts of his readers. "With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons, watching thereunto in all perseverance and all supplication." It is, "all prayer, all seasons, all perseverance, all supplication." The words claim thought, if they are to meet with the needed response. Paul felt so deeply the unity of the Body of Christ, and he was so sure that that unity could only be realized in the exercise of love and prayer, that he pleaded with the believers at Ephesus unceasingly and fervently to pray for all saints, not only in their immediate circle, but in all the Church of Christ of whom they might hear. "Unity is strength." As we exercise this power of intercession with all perseverance, we shall be delivered from self with all its feeble prayers, and lifted up to that enlargement of heart in which the love of Christ can flow freely and fully through us. The great lack in true believers often is that in prayer they are occupied with themselves, and with what God must do for them. Let us realize that we have here a call to every believer to give himself without ceasing to the exercise of love and prayer. It is as we forget ourselves, in the faith that God will take charge of us, and yield ourselves to the great and blessed work of calling down the blessing of God on our brethren, that the whole Church will be fitted to do its work in making Christ known to every creature. This alone is the healthy and the blessed life of a child of God who has yielded himself wholly to Christ Jesus. Pray for God's children and the Church around you. Pray for all the work in which they are engaged, or ought to be. Pray at all seasons in the Spirit for all God's saints. There is no blessedness greater than that of abiding communion with God. And there is no way that leads to the enjoyment of this more surely than the life of intercession for which these words of Paul appeal pleadingly.
经文: 「于是禁食祷告，按手在他们头上，就打发他们去了。」（）
如何使基督徒人数增多，且培训他们愿为上帝的国度，人心的悔改，献上迫切的祷告，正是宣教士们最感需要的问题，因为任何聚会的策划与安排，都抵不过热切诚挚的代祷。 那些委身于主，热爱灵魂的信徒们，我们相信他们必要不断地为上帝国度的扩张祷告，不仅在早晨的灵修，或其他分别为圣的时间，都会时时刻刻地切切代祷，不见上帝的胜利就绝不歇手。 这一切都源于基督的爱，当年呈现在十字架上，现在活在我们心中。人若积极渴望奉行上帝的旨意，他必全心全意地爱人如己。代祷正是上帝所设立的发电厂，用来感动人心，引人归向真神。 为宣教士祷告，让他们充满爱与祷告的灵，能活出耶稣的形像。也为当地的基督徒祷告，让他们能深切瞭解非基督徒的生活，以及上帝在他们身上救赎的盼望。 也为所有主日学的课程及延伸制的课程祷告，愿上帝的话语带有能力，深植人心，让信徒们都满有圣灵的能力，向周围的人为主做见证。 最重要的就是为教会祷告，让信徒脱离冷澹退步的光景，专心地以传福音为职志，好让耶稣在地上作主。 「慈爱的天父：我们要定睛于祢，愿祢施慈爱与恩典，听我们的祷告，藉着圣灵体会祢的同在与权能，并祝福祢僕人的圣工。阿们。」 MISSIONARY INTERCESSIONScripture: "When they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."—ACTS xiii. 3
How to multiply the number of Christians, who will individually and collectively wield this force of intercession for the conversion and transformation of men, that is the supreme question of Foreign Missions, Every other consideration and plan is secondary to that of wielding the forces of prayer." "That those who love this work, and bear it upon their hearts will follow the Scriptural injunction to pray unceasingly for its triumph, we take for granted. To such, not only the Morning Watch and the hours of stated devotion, but all times and seasons will witness an attitude of intercession that refuses to let God go until He crowns His workers with victory." Missions have their root in the love of Christ, as that was proved on the cross and now lives in our heart. As men are so earnest in seeking to carry out God's plans for the natural world, so God's children should be at least as wholehearted in seeking to bring Christ's love to all mankind. Intercession is the chief means appointed by God to bring the great redemption within the reach of all. Pray for the missionaries, that the Christ-life may be clear and strong, that they may be men of prayer and filled with love, in whom the power of the spiritual life is made manifest. Pray for the native Christians, that they may know the glory of the mystery among the heathen, Christ in them the hope of glory. Pray for the baptism classes, and all the pupils in schools, that the teaching of God's Word may be in power. Pray specially for the native pastors and evangelists, that the Holy Spirit may fill them to be witnesses for Christ among their fellow-countrymen. Pray, above all, for the Church of Christ, that it may be lifted out of its indifference, and that every believer may be brought to understand that the one object of his life is to help to make Christ king on the earth. Our gracious God, our eyes are unto Thee. Wilt Thou not in mercy hear our prayer, and by the Holy Spirit reveal the presence and the power of Christ in thy work of Thy servants? AMEN.
经文: 「你们要恆切祷告，在此儆醒感恩。也要为我们祷告。」（）
没有任何事能像代祷那样，引我们更亲近耶稣，沐浴在主的爱中；没有任何事，能像在耶稣面前倾心吐意，为周围的人祷告那样使人灵命提昇；没有什麽事，能像为别人灵魂得赎所做的争战祷告那样，使我们紧紧地与耶稣结合在一起，经历祂复活的大能；也再没有什麽事，能像倾命代祷那样，体会耶稣在客西马尼园呼喊：「阿爸父！」的心情。在我们为失丧的灵魂，或冷澹的信徒祷告时，我们确能经历圣灵的大能与上帝话语的信实，因为上帝要打开天上的窗户，将祂丰盛的恩典赐下，让我们的祷告蒙应允，让上帝的国降临，上帝的名得荣耀。 惟有藉着彼此代祷，可以帮助我们深刻了解在主裡互为肢体，也经由弟兄姐妹同心恆切的祷告，使我们感觉到腹中不断涌出活水的泉源，滋润周围的人，锡安也要成为一盏光明城，照耀那坐在黑暗中的人。 弟兄姊妹们，若我们没有恆心迫切的祷告，自己与教会将蒙受多麽大的亏损！若我们没有让上帝祷告的灵充满心中，上帝的家会更荒凉，世界会更败坏堕落。 耶稣长远活着，现在正为我们祷告，为要把更丰盛的生命赏赐给我们，上帝喜欢我们常到祂施恩宝座前来祈求，难道我们不相信祂要把福份恩典厚厚赏赐给我们？ 「天父，求祢将那热切祈祷，为人代求的灵赏赐给我们。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE GRACE OF INTERCESSIONScripture: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving, withal praying also for us."—COL. iv. 2, 3.
There is nothing that can bring us nearer to God, and lead us deeper into His love, than the work of intercession. There is nothing that can give us a higher experience of the likeness of God than the power of pouring out our hearts into the bosom of God, in prayer for men around us. There is nothing that can so closely link us to Jesus Christ, the great Intercessor, and give us the experience of His power and Spirit resting on us, as the yielding of our lives to the work of bringing the great redemption into the hearts and lives of our fellow-men. There is nothing in which we shall know more of the powerful working of the Holy Spirit than the prayer breathed by Him into our hearts, "Abba, Father," in all the fulness of meaning that it had for Christ in Gethsemane. There is nothing that can so help us to prove the power and the faithfulness of God to His Word, as when we reach out in intercession to the multitudes, either in the Church of Christ or in the darkness of heathenism. As we pour out our souls as a living sacrifice before God, with the one persistent plea that He shall, in answer to our prayer, open the windows of heaven and send down His abundant blessing, God will be glorified, our souls will reach their highest destiny, and God's kingdom will come. There is nothing that will so help us to understand and to experience the living unity of the Body of Christ, and the irresistable power that it can exert, as the daily and continued fellowship with God's children in the persistent plea that God will arise and have mercy upon Zion, and make her a light and a life to those who are sitting in darkness. O my brother, how little we realize what we are losing in not living in fervent intercession! What may we not gain for ourselves and for the world if we allow God's Spirit, as a Spirit of grace and of supplication, to master our whole being! In heaven Christ lives to pray; His whole intercourse with father is prayer; an asking and receiving of the fulness of Spirit for His people. God delights in nothing so much as in prayer. Shall we not learn to believe that the highest blessings of heaven will be unfolded to us as we pray more? Blessed Father, pour down the Spirit of supplication and intercession on Thy people—for Jesus Christ's sake. AMEN.
经文: 「身体只有一个，圣灵只有一个。」（）
人身体各部门配搭合适，发挥功能，才有健康的身体。同理，主内众弟兄姊妹也互为肢体，彼此帮补，教会才有好处。有人以为得救，只要自己等着上天堂即可，其实不然，我们应当切实祷告，让众人同得这福音的好处。我们不仅为自己的教会祷告，还要为世界的禾场祷告。 上帝的爱能让我们有开阔的心胸，激励我们为超宗派的圣工，为世界的禾场祷告。也惟有全教会愿同心合意在宝座前屈膝祷告，上帝的大能才能沛然降临、自由运行。基于感恩的心，我们希望各宗派团结同心，但这何其难哉，更遑论不同国藉的教会能联合，因此一个普世教会的梦想，是难以实现。 让我们恳求施恩的主，使基督徒更深更紧地连接在一起，这比有形外在教会的连接更重要。而惟一落实这理念的作法，就是藉着不断操练同心合意的祷告。弟兄姊妹们当明白，自己还扮演着祭司的角色，不仅关怀教会的羊群，还当把基督的爱，扩展到慕道友的身上，如此上帝的家才会充满生命力，上帝的国才会更快来临。 愿牧师和众信徒能连结在一起，同心合意为兴旺福音祷告，这是促使上帝国度降临不可或缺的步骤。 UNITED INTERCESSIONScripture: "There is one body, and one Spirit."—EPH. iv. 4.
Our own bodies teach us how essential for their health and strength it is that every member should take its full share in seeking the welfare of the whole. It is even so in the Body of Christ. There are, alas, too many who look upon salvation only in connection with their own happiness. There are those, again, who know that they live not unto themselves, and truly seek in prayer and work to bring others to share in their happiness; but they do not yet understand that in addition to their personal circle or Church, they have a calling to enlarge their hearts to take the whole Body of Christ Jesus into their love and their intercession. Yet this is what the Spirit and the love of Christ will enable them to do. It is only when intercession for the whole Church, by the whole Church, ascends to God's throne, that the Spirit of unity and of power can have its full sway. The desire that has been awakened for closer union between the different branches of the Church of Christ is cause for thanksgiving. And yet the difficulties are so great and, in the case of different nationalities of the world, so apparently insuperable, that the thought of a united Church on earth appears beyond reach. Let us bless God that there is a unity in Christ Jesus, deeper and stronger than any visible manifestation could make it; and that there is a way in which even now, midst all diversity of administrations, the unity can be practically exemplified and utilized as the means of an unthought-of accession of Divine strength and blessing in the work of the kingdom. It is in the cultivation and increase of the spirit and in the exercise of intercession that the true unity can be realized. As believers are taught what is the meaning of their calling as a royal priesthood, they are led to see that God is not confined in His love or promises to their limited spheres of labour, but invites them to enlarge their hearts, and like Christ—we may say like Paul too—to pray for all who believe, or can yet be brought to believe, that this earth and the Church of Christ in it will by intercession be bound to the throne of heaven as it has never yet been. Let Christians and ministers agree and bind themselves together for this world-wide intercession. It will strengthen the confidence that, prayer will be heard, and that their prayers too will become indispensable for the coming of the kingdom.
经文: 「不住的祷告。」（）
关于爱上帝、服事上帝的标准，一般基督徒的想法与圣经的要求，有颇大的出入。我们以为只要罪得赦免，生活喜乐平安就可以了，殊不知上帝要我们绝对顺服，主权转移，将我们的时间、金钱与才能，都献在这位荣耀救主的脚前，而我们如此向救主委身爱慕时，正是天堂的开始。 当我们还在救恩门口徘徊观望，不愿全然委身时，我们尚未嚐到主恩甘甜的滋味，也不明白「不住祷告」的真义，觉得那是过高的要求，无法做到。但对基督徒而言，与主相近倾心吐意的祷告，不但是人间至乐，也能为周围的人带来福份，可谓一举两得。 「不住祷告」，让我们以更大的信心，接受这应许。知道上帝大能的膀臂必要做工，祂要创造我们，成为上议儿子的形像。也求上帝给我们清楚的异象，守住天国来的呼召，藉着我们不断的祈祷代求，周围的人要藉我们得福。 当我们想到耶稣曾说：「我在祂裡面，祂也在我裡面。」我们就要感恩，相信天父在耶稣裡面，耶稣也要在我们裡面做工，引导我们常在圣灵裡祷告，使我们有份于祭司的圣职，常为众人代求代祷，这样的特权是何等荣幸，因着我们愿意学习活出耶稣的形像，就应验圣经所说的话：「这新人是照着祂的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。」（） UNCEASING INTERCESSIONScripture: "Pray without ceasing."—1 THESS. v. 17.
How different is the standard of the average Christian, with regard to a life in the service of God, from that which Scripture gives us. In the former the chief thought is, personal safety—grace to pardon our sin and to live such a life as may secure our entrance into heaven. How high above this is the Bible standard—a Christian surrendering himself with all his powers, with his time and thought and love wholly yielded to the glorious God who has redeemed him, and Whom he now delights in serving, in Whose fellowship is heaven begun. To the former the command, "Pray without ceasing," is simply a needless and impossible life of perfection. Who can do it? We can get to heaven without it. To the true believer, on the contrary, it holds out the promise of the highest happiness, of a life crowned by all the blessings that can be brought down on souls around through his intercession. And as he perseveres it becomes increasingly his highest aim upon earth, his highest joy, his highest experience of the wonderful fellowship with the holy God. "Pray without ceasing," Let us take that word in a large faith, as a promise of what God's Spirit will work in us, of how close and intimate our union to the Lord Jesus can be, and our likeness to Him, in His ever blessed intercession at the right hand of God. Let it become to us one of the chief elements of our heavenly calling, to be consciously the stewards and administrators of God's grace to the world around us. As we think of how Christ said, "I in them, and Thou in Me," let us believe that just as the Father worked in Him, so Christ the interceding High Priest will work and pray in us. As the faith of our high calling nils our hearts, we shall begin literally to feel that there is nothing on earth for one moment to be compared with the privilege of being God's priests, walking without intermission in His holy presence, bringing the burden of the souls around us to the footstool of His throne, and receiving at His hands the power and blessing to dispense to our fellow-men. This is indeed the fulfilment of the word of old, "Man created in the likeness and the image of God."
经文: 「愿祢的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。」（）
当上帝造天地时，祂希望地上的一切有天上的样式，这是祂当初创造的目的。当我们思想天上的荣耀时，上帝就在那裡，而且一切的丰盛都在祂裡面。反观地上人间，充满罪恶凶杀、败坏污秽，大都份的世人都瞎了心眼，不认识真光，而多数的基督徒，对上帝的要求也不太理会，我们实在需要神蹟，需要复兴，被圣灵充满，并竭力追求圣洁，好使上帝的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。 上帝的国如何在人间实现？惟有藉着上帝儿女不断的祷告，祷告是天上与地上连接的桥樑。神子耶稣活着时，在地上设立祷告的好榜样，如今在天上祂仍长远地为我们代求，同时祂也要求我们，能成为祂有力的代祷同工。 耶稣在客西马尼园震撼人心的祷告：「父啊！不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思。」（）这正是我们学习操练祷告的模式，好更贴近上帝的心，更降服在祂的旨意下。无论是父母为儿女的祷告，或是为冷澹退步的基督徒祷告，甚或是为迷失的羊群代祷，都是上帝喜悦我们做的事。 此外，我们不仅为认识的人祷告，或为教会祷告，我们更要扩大祷告的范围，为全地属上帝的教会、世界的禾场祷告，使上帝的能力彰显，上帝的国度早日降临。 「父啊：愿祢的国降临，愿祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。阿们。」 INTERCESSION THE LINk BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTHScripture: "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."—LUkE xi. 2.
When God created heaven and earth, He meant heaven to be the Divine pattern to which earth was to be conformed; "as in heaven, so on earth," was to be the law of its existence. The word calls us to think of what constitutes the glory of heaven. God is all in all there. Everything lives in Him and to His glory. And as we then think of what this earth has now become, with all its sin and misery, with the great majority of the race without any knowledge of the true God, and the remainder nominally Christians, yet for the greater part utterly indifferent to His claims, and estranged from His holiness and love, we feel what a revolution, what a miracle is needed, if the word is to be fulfilled: "As in heaven, so on earth." And how is this ever to come true? Through the prayers of God's children. Our Lord teaches us to pray for it. Intercession is to be the great link between heaven and earth. The intercession of the Son, begun upon earth, continued in heaven, and carried on by His redeemed people upon earth, will bring about the mighty change: "As in heaven, so on earth." As Christ said, "I come to do Thy will, O God," until He prayed the great prayer in Gethsemane, "Thy will be done": so His redeemed ones, who yield themselves fully to His mind and Spirit, make His prayer their own, and unceasingly send up the cry, "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth." Every prayer of a parent for a child, of a believer for the saving of the lost, or for more grace to those who have been saved, is part of the great unceasing cry going up day and night from this earth, "As in heaven, so on earth." But it is when God's children not only learn to pray for their immediate circles and interests, but enlarge their hearts to take in the whole Church and the whole world, that their united supplication will have power with God and hasten the day when it shall indeed be, "As in heaven so on earth"—the whole earth filled with the glory of God. Child of God, will you not yield yourself, like Christ, to live with this one prayer: "Father, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven"? Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done—as in heaven, so on earth. AMEN.
经文: 「因为耶和华拣选了锡安，愿意当作自己的居所。……我要住在这里，因为是我所愿意的。」（）
由于上帝的心思意念都放在人的身上，祂的注意力也全部关注在人的幸福上，所以上帝义无反顾地要将救赎计划完成，以拯救祂所爱的人类灵魂。 祂对摩西说：「让我作他们的避难所，我要住在他们当中。」就像以色列人为神建圣殿，上帝的儿女也要将自己献给上帝，做圣灵的殿，而且要吸引更多人认识主，使他们乐意将自己献上，做为圣灵的殿。 这是多麽荣耀的呼召！把谋生的工作视为次要的事，而把救人灵魂，为上帝赢得更多的人归向祂，作为首要的职志。因为上帝说：「我要住在这裡，这是我所愿意的。」 这也是我代祷的主要内容，为周围的人祷告，求圣灵在人心中动工，让他们愿意接受上帝住在他们心中。我为何愿意这样劳苦地为他们代祷？实在是因为上帝的大爱感动我的心，而上帝也要赐下大能与祝福，回应我的祷告。 想一想大卫念及上帝要住在人心中的心愿，他说：「我不容我的眼睛睡觉，也不容我的眼目打盹；直等我为耶和华寻得所在，为雅各的大能者寻得居所。」（）我们这些蒙恩的信徒，既知上帝内住的平安与好处，岂不更该不辞劳苦地为上帝找着更多的居所？ 让我们现在就为家人、朋友、邻居祷告，不仅因为我们爱他们，更因为上帝愿意万人得救，不愿一人沉沦。也感谢上帝拣选我们，作为祂爱的流通管道，让我们操练做个「代祷勇士」的功课，让上帝的心意得以满足。 「主啊：祢说：『我把人心当作我的居所，这是我所愿意的。』教导我们体贴祢的心愿，昼夜不断祷告，为祢赢得更多的人！奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE FULFILMENT OF GOD'S DESIRESScripture: "The Lord hath desired Zion for His habitation. Here will I dwell; for I have desired it."—PSALMS cxxxii. 13, 14.
Here you have the one great desire of God, that moved Him in the work of redemption. His heart longed for man, to dwell with him and in him. To Moses He said: "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." And just as Israel had to prepare the dwelling for God, even so His children are now called to yield themselves for God to dwell in them, and to win others to become His habitation. As the desire of God towards us fills the heart, it will waken within us the desire to gather others around us to become His dwelling too. What an honour! What a high calling, to count my worldly business as entirely secondary, and to find my life and my delight in winning souls in whom God may find His heart's delight! "Here will I dwell; for I have desired it." And this is what I can above all do through intercession. I can pray God for those around me, to give them His Holy Spirit. It is God's great plan that man himself shall build Him a habitation. It is in answer to the unceasing intercession of His children that God will give His power and blessing. As this great desire of God fills us, we shall give ourselves wholly to labour for its fulfilment. Think of David, when he thought of God's desire to dwell In Israel, how he said: "I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." And shall not we, to whom it has been revealed what that indwelling of God may be, give our lives for the fulfilment of His heart's desire? Oh, let us begin, as never before, to pray for our children for the souls around us, and for all the world. And that not only because we love them, but specially because God longs for them, and gives us the honour of being the channels through whom His blessing is brought down. Children of God, awake the realization of what it means that God is seeking to train you as intercessors, through whom the great desire of His loving heart can be satisfied! O God, who hast said of human hearts, "Here will I dwell for I have desired it" teach us, we pray Thee, to pray, day and night, that the desire of Thy heart may be fulfilled. AMEM
经文: 「又要以耶和华为乐，祂就将你心裡所求的赐给你。」（）
上帝是爱，从祂那儿涌出不止息的泉源，要滋润满足人心，祂要祂所造的人类有分于祂圣洁的荣耀，祂更希望人类能接受祂所预备的救恩，这是上帝最大的心愿。 上帝渴望住在人心中，藉此祂的爱要透过我们，引导我们，爱祂所爱，恨祂所恨，也就是凡事「以耶和华为乐。」在祂的爱与生命中，「祂就将你心裡所愿的赐给你。」我们恳切的祷告，就像馨香的祭，传到天上，天父就垂听应允，那是因为我们的祷告，全由祂所激动带领，所以祂必要成全。当我们以上帝的心为心，祷告怎麽会不蒙垂听呢？ 在与上帝相交中，我们得着勇气，敢将我们所感兴趣的人，带到上帝的面前，求祂祝福，而且也越来越有信心，相信上帝必要成就我们的祷告。当我们怀着火热的心向人传福音，上帝就赐下圣灵的大能帮助我们，使我们多结果子，而我们的心也因着做讨上帝喜悦的事而感到满足。 如此，我们成为上帝的同工，以祂的国为念，以救人的灵魂为己任，我们的祷告也成为救赎工作不可或缺的一环，我们更学习在付出与奉献中，找到平安与喜乐。 「天父哪！教导我们以祢为乐，并以祢的心为心，好叫我们知道如何正确的祷告，并确信上帝会应允祷告。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE FULFILMENT OF MAN'S DESIREScripture: "Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee tke desires of thine heart."—PSALMS xxxvii. 4.
God is love, an ever-flowing fountain, out of which streams the unceasing desire to make His creatures the partakers of all the holiness and the blessedness there is in Himself. This desire for the salvation of souls is in very deed God's perfect will, His highest glory. This loving desire of God, to get His place in the heart of men, He imparts to all His children who are willing to yield themselves wholly to Him. It is in this that the likeness and image of God consist—to have a heart in which His love takes complete possession, and leads us to find spontaneously our highest joy in loving as He does. It is thus that our text finds its fulfilment: "Delight thyself in the Lord," and in His life of love, "and He will give thee the desires of thine heart." Count upon it that the intercession of love, rising up to heaven, will be met with the fulfilment of the desire of our heart. We may be sure that, as we delight in what God delights in, such prayer is inspired by God, and will have its answer. And our prayer becomes unceasingly, "Thy desires, O my Father, are mine. Thy holy will of love is my will too." In fellowship with Him we get the courage, with our whole will and strength, to bring the persons or the circles in which we are interested, in an ever-growing confidence, that our prayer will be heard. As we reach out in yearning love, we shall get the power to take hold of the will of God to bless, and to believe that God will work out His own blessed will in giving us the desire of our hearts, because the fulfilment of His desire has been the delight of our souls. We then become, in the highest sense of the word, God's fellow-labourers. Our prayer becomes part of God's Divine work of reaching and saving the lost. And we learn to find our happiness in losing ourselves in the salvation of those around us. Our Father, teach us that nothing less than delighting ourselves in Thee, and in Thy desires toward men, can inspire us to pray aright, and give us the assurance of an answer. AMEN.
经文: 「有一件事，我曾求耶和华，我仍要寻求。就是一生一世住在耶和华的殿中，瞻仰祂的荣美，在祂的殿裡求问。」（）
当我们以基督的心为心时，我们的生命在圣灵的管理之下，我们的心思意念也会专注在属天的事上，常常转眼仰望上帝的圣洁美意，并思想上帝所说的话：「我所说的话必成就，我要做以色列的居所。」 我们越思想上帝渴望住在祂儿女的心中，要人享受祂的安息，我们就越希望每天都能在祂的圣殿仰望祂的荣美，也越发兴起为他人祷告的心。无论我们思及国家或亲人，得救或未得救的人，只要想到上帝渴望更多的人来认识祂，来享受祂的平安，就巴不得奋身为福音争战，也将自己一切的软弱自卑抛诸脑后，只宣告新约中上帝的应许，上帝必要得胜！ 当我们信心的眼睛，看出上帝荣耀的呼召，为了要让万人得救，祂把那愿为他人代祷火热的心，摆在我们心裡面，我们就被感动，愿意放下自我，更多地与上帝亲近，等候祂甘甜的同在，并乐意向人分享因信耶稣而得的好处。 「上帝哪！求祢开我的眼，让我看到这是何等荣耀的职份，上帝居然看得起我，让我在祂的圣工上有份，我们岂可轻忽这样的恩典！愿上帝赐下属天的能力，让我做个天国精兵、代祷勇士！奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 MY GREAT DESIREScripture: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple."— PSALMS xxvii. 4.
Here we have man's response to God's desire to dwell in us. When the desire of God toward us begins to rule the life and heart, our desire is fixed on one thing, and that is, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the clays of our life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. And then to enquire in His temple and to learn what it means that God has said: "I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it. And I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them." The more we realize the desire of God's love to give His rest in the heart, and the more our desire is thus quickened to dwell every day in His temple and behold His beauty, the more the Spirit of intercession will grow upon us, to claim all that in His New Covenant God has promised. Whether we think of our Church and country, of our home and school, of our nearer or wider circle; whether we think of the saved and all their needs, or the unsaved and their danger, the thought that God is indeed longing to find His home and His rest in the hearts of men, if He be only "inquired of," will rouse our whole being to strive for Zion's sake not to hold our peace. All the thoughts of our feebleness and unworthiness will be swallowed up in the wonderful assurance that He has said of human hearts: "This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell; for I have desired it." As our faith sees how high our calling is, how indispensable has made fervent, intense, persistent prayer as the condition oi His purpose being fulfilled, we shall be drawn to give up our life to a closer walk with God, to an unceasing waiting upon Him, and to a testimony to our brethren of what God will do in them and in us. Is it not wonderful beyond all thought, this Divine partnership, in which God commits the fulfilment of His desires to our keeping? Shame upon us that we have so little realized it! Our Father in heaven, we beseech Thee, give, give in power, we Spirit of grace and supplication to Thy people — for Jesus sake. AMEN.
经文: 「上帝的选民，昼夜呼吁祂，祂纵然为他们忍了多时，岂不终久给他们伸冤吗？」（）
当尼希米听到耶路撒冷败坏荒凉的消息，他在上帝面前哭泣：「愿祢睁眼看、侧耳聪，祢僕人昼夜在祢面前为祢众僕人……的祈祷。」（）那些在圣城城牆守望的人，上帝说：「他们昼夜都不阖眼。」保罗也说：「我们昼夜切切的祈求，要见你们的面，……，在我们父上帝面前，心裡坚固，成为圣洁，无可责备。」（，13） 真的要昼夜祷告吗？这有可能吗？若我们的心真被上帝的爱和圣灵所掌管，我们势必将上帝交待的工作完成，否则心就不得安息，而且也没有任何事会阻挡我们，去尽力活在上帝面前，来讨祂的欢心，喜见祂的笑颜。 「没有异象，民就放肆。」（）人若清楚看到教会的需要，人心的需要，以及世界禾场的需要，而且也确信藉着祈祷产生的力量，能让我们刚强为主作见证、领人归主，我们就会视热切代祷为己任，昼夜祈求上帝的大能藉我们彰显。 让我们向大卫学习，他说：「我心因渴想上帝而熔化。」真的，耶稣救主有如我们的良人，惟有祂值得我们追求，惟有祂值得我们爱慕，让我们为祂而活，讨祂的欢心，并积极地为祂赢得更多的灵魂，若不为祂多结果子，我心就不得安息。 「主啊：祢是最伟大的代祷者，是永远的祭司，求祢赏赐一颗火热代祷的心，好完成祢託付的使命。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 INTERCESSION DAY AND NIGHTScripture: "Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them!"'—LUkE xviii. 7,
When Nehemiah heard of the destruction of Jerusalem, he cried to God: "Hear the prayer of Thy servant which I pray before Thy face day and night." Of the watchman set on the walls of Jesrusalem, God said: "Which shall never hold their peace day nor night." And Paul writes (1 Thess. iii. 10, 13, R. V.) : "Night and day praying exceedingly, to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father." Is such prayer night and day really needed and really possible? Most assuredly, when the heart is first so entirely possessed by the desire that it cannot rest until this is fulfilled. The life has so come under the power of the heavenly blessing that nothing can keep it from sacrificing all to obtain it. When a child of God begins to get a real vision into the need of the Church and of the world, a vision of the Divine redemption which God has promised in the outpouring of His love into our hearts, a vision of the power of true intercession to bring down the heavenly blessing, a vision of the honour of being allowed as intercessors to take part in that work, it comes as a matter of course that he regards the work as the most heavenly thing upon earth—as intercessor to cry day and night to God for the revelation of His mighty power. Let us learn from David, who said: "The zeal of Thine house hath consumed me"; from Christ our Lord, of whom these words were so intensely true, that there is nothing so much worth living for as this one thought—how to satisfy the heart of God in His longing for human fellowship and affection, and how to win hearts to be His dwelling-place. And shall not we too give ourselves no rest until we have found a place for the Mighty One in our hearts, and yielded ourselves to the great work of intercession for so many after whom the desires of God are going out. God grant that our hearts may be so brought under the influence of these Divine truths, that we may in very deed yield ourselves to make our devotion to Christ, and our longing to satisfy the heart of God, the chief object of our life. Lord Jesus, the great Intercessor, who findest in it all Thy glory, breathe, we pray Thee, of Thine own Spirit into our hearts—for Thy Name's sake. AMEN.
经文: 「凡靠着祂进到上帝面前的人，祂都能拯救到底，因为祂是长远活着，替他们祈求。」（）
在以色列，大祭司和普通祭司或利未人，地位大有不同，惟有大祭司才能一年一次进到至圣所，而且头上还带着一个金冠，上面写着：「圣洁的主。」在赎罪日，祂顶着罪人的罪，来到宝座前求赦免。祭司们每天侍立在上帝面前献祭，再出来为民祝福。大祭司与普通众祭司的地位是完全不同，但可贵的是彼此之间的相通性，他们与大祭司同属一个身体，互为肢体，接受上帝的祝福，也将这祝福分给众百姓。 永远的大祭司耶稣更是如此，祂与上帝同等，拥有上帝的能力，并且不断地祈祷，以得着上帝的祝福，供应信徒的需要。我们人间的祭司虽不能与耶稣大祭司相比，但我们藉着祈祷与耶稣连接，就能有份于耶稣的性情与能力，为众亲友代祷，向他们做见证。 基督徒若只想到得救就够了，心想已拿到上天堂的护照，何必再追求成圣，或更丰盛的生活？若是如此，他们将永不明白代祷的能力与其真义。 基督徒若明白救恩意味着重生，这新生命是以耶稣为基石，且要不断成长茁壮；同时，圣灵在我们心裡面做工，引导我们过一个圣洁喜乐的生活，时时以别人的需要为念，处处见证耶稣如何恩待我们，如此，教会将披上能力的外衣，发挥光盐的作用，成为社区的灯台。 「喔，主啊，求祢开我的心眼，让我看到我贵为祭司的身份，以及这角色该负的责任，求祢赐下能力与恩典，让我能忠心为祢而活。奉耶稣的名，阿们。」 THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS INTERCESSIONScripture: "We have such an High Priest, who is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."—HEB. vii. 25, 26; viii. 1.
In Israel, what a difference there was between the high priest and the priests and levites. The high priest alone had access to the Holiest of All. He bore on his forehead the golden crown, "Holiness to the Lord," and by his intercession on the great Day of Atonement bore the sins of the people. The priests brought the daily sacrifices, and stood before the Lord, and came out to bless the people. The difference between high priest and priest was great. But still greater was the unity; they formed one body with the high priest, sharing with him the power to appear before God to receive and dispense His blessing to His people. It is even so with our great High Priest. He alone has power with God, in a neverceasing intercession, to obtain from the Father what His people need. And yet, infinite though the distance be between Him and the royal priesthood that surrounds Him for His service, the unity and the fellowship into which His people have been taken up with Him is no less infinite than the apparent diversity. The blessing that He obtains from His Father for us, He holds for His people to receive from Him through their fervent supplication, to be dispensed to the souls among whom He has placed them as His witnesses and representatives. As long as Christians simply think of being saved, and of a life which will make that salvation secure, they never can understand the mystery of the power of intercession to which they are called. But when once they realize that salvation means a vital life union with Jesus Christ, an actual sharing of His life dwelling and working in us, and the consecration of our whole being, to live and labour, to think and will, and find our highest joy m living as a royal priesthood, the Church will put on her strength, and prove, in intercourse with God and man, how truly the likeness and the power of Christ dwell in her. Oh that God would open our hearts to know and prove what our royal priesthood is—what the real meaning is of our living and praying in the name of Jesus, that what we ask shall indeed be given us! O Lord Jesus, our Holy High Priest , breathe the spirit of Thine own holy priesthood into our hearts. AMEN.
经文: 「你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道，又大又难的事，指示你。」（）
当你向上帝求恩典、能力，请思想新约中的应许： （1）上帝是乐意施恩的上帝，这原是上帝的本性，祂那儿有丰盛的恩典，等着人向祂求取，历代圣徒活生生的见证，有如云彩般清晰可见。 （2）为何上帝的祝福常会迟延？我们要从这个角度想，上帝给人自由意志，人可以选择做他爱做的事，同时，祂也要人做祂的祷告同工，藉着祷告，上帝要施恩成就人所祈求的。反之，人若不求，则上帝的能力就英雄无用武之地。因为上帝要看我们祷告的心有多少，祈求的心有多强。 （3）我们常常不祷告，或是很少祷告，这多麽令人伤心！今日教会荒凉、人心冷澹、不渴慕真理，都源于缺乏祷告，若上帝的百姓能热心祈祷，紧紧地依靠上帝，教会必能兴旺，人心必得改变。 （4）上帝的祝福往往与我们的信心与企图心成正比，从我们实际的情形来看，我们微弱小信的祷告，还蒙上帝怜悯垂听，若我们积极火热的祈祷，上帝岂不更要垂听应允。 （5）我们真该好好向上帝忏悔，我们祷告不力，读经不勤，以致让上帝的国度受亏损，上帝慈爱的心不断召唤世人归向祂，祂随时愿将救恩赏赐给众人，但我们这些蒙恩的基督徒却常常没有全心投入圣工，没有尽力为福音的圣工费心！多惭愧！ 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，上帝需要你举起圣洁的手，为众人祷告，参与祂的圣工，你愿为这荣耀祭司的呼召摆上吗？再没有一条路比这更蒙福的，因为上帝应许：「你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道，又大又难的事，指示你。」（） 无论你的意愿如何，无论你向上帝委身的心有多少，读到这裡，愿读者都有一颗顺服的心，将代祷视为每天不可少的课题，常常来到上帝的施恩宝座前求告。面对为我们捨命的主，这要求太多了吗？我们还能为主有所保留吗？ A ROYAL PRIESTHOODScripture: "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."—JER. xxxiii. 3
As you plead for the great mercies of the new covenant to be bestowed, take with you these thoughts:— (1) The infinite willingness of God to bless. His very nature is a pledge of it. He delights in mercy. He waits to be gracious. His promises and the experience of His saints assure us of it. (2) Why then does the blessing so often tarry? In creating man with a free will, and making him a partner in the rule of the earth, God limited Himself. He made Himself dependent on what man would do. Man by his prayer would hold the measure of what God could do in blessing. (3) Think how God is hindered and disappointed when His children do not pray, or pray but little. The low, feeble life of the Church, the lack of the power of the Holy Spirit for conversion and holiness, is all owing to the lack of prayer. How different would be the state of the Church and of heathendom, if God's people were to take no rest in calling upon Him! (4) And yet God has blessed, just up to the measure of the faith and the zeal of His people. It is not for them to be content with this as a sign of His approval; but rather to say, If He has thus blessed our feeble efforts and prayers, what will He not do if we yield ourselves wholly to a life of intercession? (5) What a call to pentinence and confession that our lack of consecration has kept back God's blessing from the world1 He was ready to save men, but we were not willing for the sacrifice of a whole-hearted devotion to Christ and His service. Children of God, God counts upon you to take your place before His throne as intercessors. Awake, I pray you, to the consciousness of your holy calling as a royal priesthood. Begin to live a new life in the assurance that intercession, in the likeness and the fellowship with the Lord Jesus in heaven interceding, is the highest privilege a man can desire. In this spirit take up the word with large expectations: "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." Let each one who has read thus far, say whether he is not willing, whether he does not long to give himself wholly to this blessed calling, and in the power of Jesus Christ to make intercession, supplication for God's Church and people, and for a dying world, the one chief object of his life? Is this asking too much? Is it too much to yield your life for this holy service of the royal priesthood, to that blessed Lord who gave Himself for us?
经文: 「另有一位天使拿着金香炉，来站在祭坛旁边。有许多香赐给他，要和众圣徒的祈祷一同献在宝座前的金坛上。」（）
对教会的牧者与会友而言，这本书够不够份量引起代祷的动机？是不是能体会「代祷」是真正基督徒生命中不可或缺的一部份？我想，对于认真遵行上话语的人，答桉应该是肯定的。 在上帝的救赎计划中，代祷是不可或缺的关键要素，少了它，就像机器缺了马达，没有动力。耶稣基督在天上的祷告与祂在地上所开始的工作息息相关，而且祂还呼召跟随者继续代祷以完成拯救世人的使命。经上记着：「藉着耶稣基督，我们得与上帝和好，如今也把与上帝和好的使命託付给我们。」救赎的工作，我们无能为力，只有靠耶稣来做，至于代祷求人心改变的工作，这责任就落在我们的肩上。我们看到保罗多麽看重昼夜不停的代祷，视此为上帝所託付使命得以完成的不二法门，也是上帝得以在人心动工的惟一祕方。 代祷是馨香、神圣的祭，缺乏祷告，教会将会死气沉沉，失去活泼、喜乐的色彩，也失去将人心夺回的圣灵大能。没有祷告，就没有传福音的热诚；没有祷告，教会就缺乏争战的利器。无论牧者或信徒，若没有祷告，就无法每天与耶稣同行，过一个丰盛喜乐的生活，除非他拣选做个守望者，昼夜祷告，才能过得胜的生活。 醒醒吧！上帝的教会，竖耳听这呼召：「不断恆切的祷告。」我们不歇息，也不让上帝歇息，因上帝应许：「为了锡安之故，我赐下平安给他们。」上帝的灵要向我们显示，代祷所产生的功效是大的，代祷也是救赎计划中不可或缺的一环，更是真实基督徒生命中最重要的一部份。 求上帝教导我们明白这真理，也愿实践这呼召带出来的使命。 INTERCESSION A DIVINE REALITYScripture: "And another angel came,…… and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." — REV. viii. 3.
Are the thoughts to which this little book has given utterance not a sufficiently grave indictment of the subordinate place given to intercession in the teaching and practice of the Church, with its ministers and members ? Is it not in very deed of such supreme importance as to make it an essential, altogether indispensable element in the true Christian life? To those who take God's Word in its full meaning, there can be no doubt about the answer. Intercession is, by amazing grace, an essential element in God's redeeming purpose—so much so that without it the failure of its accomplishment may lie at our door. Christ's intercession in heaven is essential to His carrying out of the work He began upon earth, but He calls for the intercession of the saints in the attainment of His object. Just think of what we read: "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." As the reconciliation was dependent on Christ's doing His part, so in the accomplishment of the work He calls on the Church to do her part. We see how Paul regarded intercession day and night as indispensable to the fulfilment of the work that had been entrusted to him. It is but one aspect of that mighty power of God which works in the heart of His believing people. Intercession is indeed a Divine reality. Without it, the Church loses one of its chief beauties, loses the joy and the power of the Spirit life for achieving great things for God. Without it, the command to preach the Gospel to every creature can never be carried out. Without it, there is no power for the Church to recover from her sickly, feeble life and conquer the world. And in the life of the believer, minister or member, there can be no entrance into the abundant life and joy of daily fellowship with God, except as he takes his place among God's elect—the watchmen and remembrancers of God, who cry to Him day and night. Church of Christ, awake, awake! Listen to the call, "Pray without ceasing": Take no rest, and give God no rest. Let the answer be, even though it be with a sigh from the depths of the heart, "For Zion's sake, will I not hold my peace." God's spirit will reveal to us the power of a life of intercession as a Divine reality, an essential and indispensable element of the great redemption and therefore also of the true Christian life. May God help us to know and to fulfill our calling!
经文: 「……我与你，和你的弟兄衆先知，那些守这书上言语的人，同是作僕人的。你要敬拜上帝。」（啓示录廿二：9）
读过「如何成爲代祷的勇士」这本书的读者，一定不止一次自问：「爲何祈祷对我而言不是一件乐事？有什么方法可以使我在与上帝亲近灵修的时候，觉得是一种享受；而且也爲我们所代祷的物件，带来能力与祝福。」 这答桉或许不只一个，但其中最主要的一个原因是：「我们对上帝认识太少。」在与上帝亲近的时刻，我们常没有定睛等候祂同在的降临，但这却是首要的功课。我们常只想到自己的需要、自己的软弱，或是自己的愿望。却忽略一件最重要的事，就是每一次的祷告时间，上帝必须是居首位，祂是一切的焦点所在。 如此来寻求祂，恋慕祂，用心灵来体会祂圣洁的同在，上帝将确实垂听我们的祷告，做工在我们身上；也惟有如此，才能使我们与上帝之间的祈祷，有如父子间谈话那般的亲切自然。 要怎样才能达到这种天人合一的境界？答桉是给上帝时间，让祂向我们显示祂自己。坚信只要全心全意地在祂面前切慕恳求，上帝自然而然会垂听施恩。总之，这一切都在于你要给上帝时间，肃立静默在祂面前。上帝不在乎我们祷词的美丑或言语的多寡，祂看重的是我们活泼的信心。我们祷告通了，就确知不误事的上帝，必按祂的时刻表成就祂的应许。 这本书的目的，就是帮助你如何与上帝更亲近，我们每天会给你一、两节经文供你默想，使你在等候上帝的时候，将祂的话成爲你实际的经验。 「上帝啊！我的心向祢举起。」在安静中敬拜上帝，相信祂正看着你，也要向你显现祂的同在。 「我的心渴慕祂，因祢是永生的真上帝！」 TRUE WORSHIPScripture: "Worship God."—REV. xxii. 9.
Those who have read the section on The Secret of Intercession have doubtless more than once asked: "What may be the reason that prayer and intercession are not a greater joy and delight? And is there any way in which we may become fitted to make fellowship with God our chief joy, and as intercessors to bring down His power and blessing on those for whom we pray? There may be more than one answer to the question. But the chief answer is undoubtedly: We know God too little. In our prayer, His presence is not waited for as the chief thing on which our heart is set. And yet it should be so. We think mostly of ourselves, our need, and weakness, our desire and prayer. But we forget that in every prayer God must be First, must be All. To seek Him, to find Him, to tarry in His presence, to be assured that His Holy Presence rests upon us, that He actually listens to what we say, and is working in us— it is this alone that gives the inspiration that makes prayer as natural and easy to us as is the intercourse of a child with his father. And how is one to attain to this nearness to God and fellowship with Him? The answer is simple: We must give God time to make Himself known to us. Believe with all your whole heart, that just as you present yourself to God as a supplicant, so God presents Himself to you as the Hearer of prayer. But you cannot realize this except as you give Him time and quiet. It is not the multitude or the earnestness of your words in which prayer has its power, but in the living faith that God Himself is taking you and your prayer into His loving heart. He Himself will give the assurance that in His time your prayer will be heard. The object of this book is to help you to know the way thus to meet God in every prayer. We shall seek to give you texts with which your heart can bow before God, waiting on Him to make them living and true in your experience. Begin this day with the word: "Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." Bow before in stillness, believing that He looks on you and will reveal presence. "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God."
经文: 「上帝是个灵，所以拜祂的，必须用心灵和诚实拜祂。」（）
当上帝造亚当时，祂就在人鼻孔里吹一口气，使他成爲有灵的活人。人的心位居上帝的灵与己的肉身之间，人可决定把心归给上帝，或选择向肉身屈服，放任于血气慾望。人类始祖亚当拒绝听从上帝的灵，这就是堕落的开始，因而人类成爲肉体的奴隶，人心中属上帝的灵完全暗澹下去。 重生的意义就是心中的眼睛被打开，心中属上帝的灵再次被甦醒，从此这新生命逐渐长大，愿意学习用意志选择顺从上帝的心意行事。这灵是人心最深邃的部份，诚如诗篇五十一篇6节所说：「祢所喜爱的，是内裡诚实。祢在我隐密处，必使我得智慧。」又如所说：「我要将我的律法放在他们裡面，写在他们心上。」先知以赛亚曾说：「夜间我心中羡慕祢。我里面的灵切切寻求祢。」我们的魂必须安静沉淀到灵的深处，我们的心才能活络起来寻求上帝。 上帝是个圣洁荣耀的灵，人的灵因着罪活在黑暗中。惟有安静来到上帝面前，让上帝的灵在你心深处做工，做洁淨修理的工作，才能恢复上帝与人之间的沟通，祂也要教导你如何用心灵与诚实来敬拜祂。 上帝找寻这样的人来敬拜祂，若我们愿意亲近祂，来到祂面前静默等候祂，全心全意仰望祂，相信祂赏赐那寻求祂的人，祂就要亲自降临，教导我们在灵裡呼求： 「我的心哪，我在祢面前安静无声。」 「夜间我心中羡慕祢。我里面的灵切切寻求祢！」 「喔，上帝哪，我等候祢！」 GOD IS A SPIRITScripture: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."—JOHN iv. 24.
When God created man, and breathed into him of His own spirit, man became a living soul. The soul stood midway between the spirit and the body, and had either to yield to the spirit to be lifted up to God, or to the flesh and its lusts. In the Fall, man refused to listen to the spirit, and became the slave of the body. The spirit in man became utterly darkened. In regeneration it is this spirit that is quickened and born again from above. In the regenerate life and in the fellowship with God it is the spirit of man that has ever to yield itself to the Spirit of God. The spirit is the deepest, inward part of the human being. As we read in Ps. li.: "Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom"; or in Jer. xxxi.: "I will put My law in their inward parts." It is of this also that Isaiah says: "With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early." The soul must sink down into the depths of the hidden spirit, and call upon that to stir itself to seek God. God is a Spirit, most holy and most glorious. He gave us a spirit with the one object of holding fellowship with Himself. Through sin that power has been darkened and well-nigh quenched. There is no way for its restoration but by presenting the soul in stillness before God for the working of His Holy Spirit in our spirit. Deeper than our thoughts and feelings, God will in our inward part, in our spirits within us, teach us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. "The Father seeketh such to worship Him." He Himself by the Holy Spirit will teach us this if we wait upon Him. In this quiet hour, be still before God, and yield yourself with the whole heart to believe in and to receive the gentle working of His Spirit. And breathe out such words as these: "My soul, be thou silent unto God." "With my soul have I desired Thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me I seek Thee early." "On Thee, O God, do I wait."
经文: 「当以圣洁的妆饰，敬拜耶和华。」（）
我们认识上帝越清楚，我们越能体会祈祷力量的浩大，也就越明白惟有藉着祷告，才能有分于上帝旨意的完成。上帝已经将整个救赎的奥祕付给祂的百姓，要他们向世人传扬这真理。在这个计划裡，祷告是最重要的一部份，因爲惟有藉着祷告，与上帝沟通，上帝的僕人才能支取到属天的大能，圣灵的能力，做爲他们服侍的力量来源。 上帝爲何要如此要求？道理是显而易见，因爲上帝在凡事上要模造我们成爲祂的样式与形象，要达此目标，除了以耶稣的心爲心之外，别无他法。因爲只有藉着行出祂的旨意，在爱中牺牲自己，如此方能越来越像耶稣。而追求成圣的基督徒，必须操练在圣灵中多次多方祈祷。 我们越摸着上帝的心意，我们就越体察出在灵裡谦卑敬拜主的需要；我们越多花时间等候主，让全人爲上帝的同在所佔有，我们对上帝的信心也越发增强，深知上帝纯全善良的旨意，要经由祷告成就在我们身上。当上帝的荣光照在我们身上，我们就会察觉出我们是何等软弱无助，因此我们只好举起信心的手祷告，相信上帝必成就我们心中所求所想的。 祈祷将引导我们进入深度的敬拜，而敬拜、讚美也将给我们新的力量来祈祷。真实的祈求与深度的敬拜是密不可分，相辅相成。 信徒惟有在愿意给上帝时间，等候祂的同在，将心归给上帝求祂显现时，才知道真正敬拜的祕诀。敬拜讚美是信徒所迫切需要的，藉此上帝要彰显祂的荣耀，成就祂的圣工。 「喔，让我们屈膝敬拜主，因爲祂是创造我们的上帝。」 「让我们将祂名应得的荣耀归给祂。」 INTERCESSION AND ADORATIONScripture: "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."—Ps xcvi 9.
The better we know God the more wonderful becomes our insight into the power of intercession. We begin to under?stand that it is the great means by which man can take part in the carrying out of God's purpose. God has entrusted the whole of His redemption in Christ to His people to make known and to communicate to men. In all this, intercession is the chief and essential element; because it is in it that His servants enter into the full fellowship with Christ, and receive the power of the Spirit and of Heaven as their power for service. It is easy to see why God had so ordered it. In very deed God desires to renew us after His image and likeness. And there is no other way to do this but by our making His desires our own, so that we breathe His disposition; and in love sacrifice ourselves, so that we may become, in a measure, even like Christ, "ever living to make intercession." Such can be the life of the consecrated believer. The clearer the insight into this great purpose of God, the more will the need be felt to enter very truly into God's Presence in the spirit of humble worship and holy adoration. The more we thus take time to abide in God's Presence, to enter fully into His mind and will, to get our whole soul possessed by the thought of His glorious purpose, the stronger will our faith be?come that God will Himself work out all the good pleasure of His will through our prayers. As the glory of God shines upon us, we shall become conscious of the depths of our helplessness; and so rise up into the faith that believes that God will do above all that we can ask or think. Intercession will lead to the feeling of the need of a deeper adoration. Adoration will give new power for intercession. A true intercession and a deeper adoration will ever be found to be inseparable. The secret of true adoration can only be known by the soul I that gives time to tarry in God's presence, and that yields itself to God for Him to reveal Himself. Adoration will indeed fit for the great work of making God's glory known. "Oh, come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God." "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name."
经文: 「夜间我心中羡慕祢，我裡面的灵切切寻求祢！」（）
一生中最大、最荣耀的事，莫过于寻找上帝、遇见上帝；在每一天中最大、最荣耀，最需要的事，也是摸着上帝，并且爱慕、讚美这位荣耀的上帝。因爲这位上帝是这样一位荣耀的王，所以那些将自己献上，爲祂而活的信徒，上帝也要在他们的心中做工，使他们在生活中显出上帝的荣美。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，你可知道每一天最重要的事是什么吗？就是寻找上帝、遇见上帝，敬拜祂，爲祂的荣耀而活。一个真正的基督徒，当他看清楚这点，且愿意将自己献上当做活祭，就会将与上帝亲近当作第一件大事来做。 花些时间求问上帝，相信这真理是最高的智慧，也是基督徒一生的职志——更认识上帝，并全心全意地爱祂。不但坚信这是千真万确的事，而且要明白上帝的心意，祂也渴望我们与祂亲近，让祂有机会回应我们的祷告，将各样的恩典赐给我们，使我们充足行各样的善事。 今天就开始，在灵裡安静时用上帝的话来祷告： 「上帝啊，祢是我的上帝，我要切切的寻求祢。在乾旱疲乏无水之地，我渴想祢，我的心切慕祢。」（） 「遵守祂的法度，一心寻求祂的，这人便爲有福。」（） 用孩童对父母般的依恋，以及虔诚恭敬的态度，一再向上帝重複上列的经文，并且安静等候，上帝要向你展笑顔、施恩典。若你能有恒心毅力地常在心中默想这些上帝的话语，上帝的同在就会因你对他的敬畏，而在一整天都保守你在祂的爱中。 「我曾耐性等候耶和华。祂垂听我的呼求。」（） THE DESIRE FOR GODScripture: "With my soul have I desired Thee in the night."—ISA. xxvi. 9.
And what is the chief thing, the greatest and most glorious, that man can see or find upon earth? Nothing less than God Himself. And what is the chief and the best and the most glorious thing that a man needs every day, and can do every day? Nothing less than to seek and to know, and to love and to praise this glorious God. As glorious as God is, so is the glory which begins to work in the heart and life of the man who gives himself to live for God. My brother, have you learnt what is the first and the greatest thing you have to do every day? Nothing less and nothing greater than to seek this God, to meet Him, to worship Him, to live for Him and for His glory. It is a great step in advance in the life of a Christian when he truly sees this and yields himself to consider fellowship with God every day as the chief end of his life. Take time and ask whether this be not the truth, the highest wisdom and the one thing for which a Christian is above all to live—to know his God aright, and to love Him with his whole heart. Do believe that it is not only in very deed true, but that God Himself is most desirous that you should live thus with Him and will, in answer to prayer enable you to do so. Begin today and take a word from God's Book to speak to Him in stillness of soul. "O God,—Thou art my God;—early will I seek Thee:— my soul thirsteth for Thee,—my flesh longeth for Thee,—my soul followeth hard after Thee" (Ps. lxiii-1). "I seek Thee with my whole heart" (see Ps. cxix. 2). Repeat these words in deep reverence and childlike longing till their spirit and power enter your heart; and wait upon God till you begin to realize what the blessedness is of thus meeting with Him. As you persevere you will learn to expect that the fear and the presence of God can abide with you through all the day. "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Ps. xl. 1).
经文: 「我的心默默无声，专等候上帝。我的救恩是从祂而来。」（，5）
人的淼小与上帝的伟大相遇时，不禁要俯首承认，上帝的话语要比人的言语份量重千万倍；然而人还是习惯在祷告时喋喋不休，惟恐上帝听不懂我们的话，以致没时间留给上帝，让祂对我们说话。这的确是我们要好好学习的一项功课——在上帝面前静默聆听——此乃真正敬拜的祕诀。切记上帝的应许：「你们得力在乎平静安稳。」 「我的心单单仰望祢，因爲我的希望从祢而来。」 「我要等候耶和华，因爲祢的应许是我的磐石。」 当你敞着脸仰望耶和华，安静在祂面前默想上帝的圣洁、权能与大爱，并将祂应得的荣耀、讚美归给祂时，你的心就会被打开，大大感受到上帝同在的降临，以及祂大爱的包围笼罩，也觉察到祂大能在你体内运行。 喔，亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，如此谦卑地俯伏敬拜，将提昇你的灵遨翔在上帝同在的安息中，这也是最高层次、最蒙福的祷告，这是上帝与人交会的喜乐时刻。 不要以爲这样安静等候的时间，是一种浪费；刚开始操练时，或许你会觉得思想无法集中，或觉得这段时间很难挨，没什么收穫，但继续操练，相信这样的时刻，正是上帝以祂温柔的慈爱注视着你，并且暗暗地动工在你心中，让你与上帝的关係更坚定美好。渐渐的你将嚐到与主同在是怎样甜美的滋味，并且操练到整天都能拥有主的同在，如同呼吸一样自然，藉此你可成爲强健的基督徒，常常流露耶稣同在的馨香之气，在你週围的人都要爲你的气质所吸引，并被你的德行潜移默化。 「惟耶和华在祂的圣殿中。全地的人，都当在祂面前肃敬静默。」（） 「凡有血气的，都当在耶和华面前静默无声。因爲祂兴起，从圣所出来了。」（） SILENT ADORATIONScripture: "My soul is silent unto God." "My soul, be thou silent unto God; for my expectation is from Him."—Ps. Ixii. 1, 5.
When man in his littleness and God in His glory meet, we all understand that what God says has infinitely more worth than what man says. And yet our prayer so often consists in the utterance of our thoughts of what we need, that we give God no time to speak to us. Our prayers are often so indefinite and vague. It is a great lesson to learn, that to be silent unto God is the secret of true adoration. Let us remember the promise, "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." "I will wait for the Lord; my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope." It is as the soul bows itself before Him to remember His greatness and His holiness, His power and His love, and seeks to give Him the honour and the reverence and the worship that are His due, that the heart will be opened to receive the Divine impression of the nearness of God and of the working of His power. O Christian, do believe that such worship of God—in which you bow low and ever lower in your nothingness, and lift up your thoughts to realize God's presence, as He gives Himself to you in Christ Jesus—is the sure way to give Him the glory that is His due, and will lead to the highest blessedness to be found in prayer. Do not imagine that it is time lost. Do not turn from it, if at first it appears difficult or fruitless. Be assured that it brings you into the right relation to God. It opens the way to fellowship with Him. It leads to the blessed assurance that He is looking on you in tender love and working in you with a secret but Divine power. And as at length you become more accustomed to it, it will give you the sense of His presence abiding with you all the day. It will make you strong to testify for God. Someone has said, "No one is able to influence others for goodness and holiness, beyond the amount that there is of God in him." Men will begin to feel that you have been with God. "The Lord is in His holy temple; be silent before Him, all the earth." (Hab. ii. 20). "Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out-of His holy habitation" (Zech. ii. 13).
经文: 「上帝就是光。」（）「上帝是我的亮光。」（）
每天清晨，日出东方，人们怀着愉快的心，开始一天的工作，无论我们想到与否，阳光总是终日照耀着我们。 每天清晨，上帝的荣光也是如此照耀着祂的儿女，但如果我们要享受主脸上的光，就必须敞着脸仰望，信靠祂，好让祂的荣光照着我们。 设想一艘半夜遭搁浅的船隻，水手们多么盼望黎明的来临，他们长吁短歎，巴不得晨光立现。上帝的儿女也当如此等候上帝，且耐心等候祂的荣光降临！ 「我的心等候主，胜于守夜的等候天亮，胜于守夜的等候天亮。」（） 「求祢使祢的脸光照僕人，凭祢的慈爱拯救我。」（） 「耶和华阿，求祢仰起脸来，光照我们。」（） 「使祢的脸发光，我们便要得救！」 （，7，19） 等候上帝，切莫半途放弃，耐心等候直到祂的笑脸迎向你，祂的荣光光照你。那么你将经历到诗篇所说：「他们在祢脸上的光裡行走，他们因祢的名终日欢乐。」（） 上帝的儿女们，衷心相信天父是多么渴望我们与祂亲近，每时每刻享受与祂同在的喜乐！就像你每天需要阳光，上帝的荣光也是我们不可或缺的。我们既能每天自然而然地享受阳光，同样地，我们也以信心坚信，只要我们肯给上帝时间，亲近依恋祂，祂就必向我们展笑顔、显荣光。 即使在阴霾天气，阳光仍然照射，只是被乌云遮住；同样的，即使在艰难困苦中，上帝好像离我们很远，其实祂仍眷顾你，要用慈爱环绕你。若我们相信乌云背后，仍有普照的阳光停驻，我们也能依理推断那在清晨照耀我们的荣光，也必一整天环绕着我们，让我们时刻靠着主行走。 安静等候直到你心满意足地说：「谁能像祢如此施恩，用祢的荣脸笑顔光照我？」亲爱的弟兄们，花时间等候主，让祂的荣光照着你，让你可从心底涌出讚美： 「耶和华是我的亮光，是我的拯救。」（） THE LIGHT OF GOD'S COUNTENANCEScripture: "God is light."—1 JOHN i. 5."The Lord is my light."—Ps. xxvii. 1.
Every morning the sun rises, and we walk in its light and perform our daily duties with gladness. Whether we think of it or not, the light of the sun shines on us all day. Every morning the light of God shines upon His children. But in order to enjoy the light of God's countenance, the soul must turn to God and trust Him to let His light shine upon it. When there is a shipwreck at midnight, with what longing the mariners look for the morning! How often the sigh goes up, When will the day break? Even so must the Christian wait upon God, and rest patiently until His light shines upon him. "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning" (Ps. cxxx. 6). O my soul, begin each day with one of the prayers: "Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant" (Ps. xxxi. 16). "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us" (Ps. iv. 6). "Cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved" (Ps. Ixxx. 3, 7, 19). Do not rest until you know that the light of His countenance and His blessing is resting on you. Then you will experience the truth of the word: "They walk in the light of Thy countenance; in Thy name do they rejoice all the day" (Ps. Ixxxix. 15, 16). Children of God, do believe that it is the ardent longing of your Father that you should dwell and rejoice in His light all the day. Just as you need the light of the sun each hour, so the heavenly light, the light of the countenance of the Father is indispensable. As sure as it is that we receive and enjoy the light of the sun, so confidently may we count on it that God is longing to let His light shine on us. Even when there are clouds, we still have the sun. So in the midst of difficulties the light of God will rest upon you without ceasing. If you are sure that the sun has risen, you count upon the light all the day. Make sure that the light of God shines upon you in the morning, and you can count upon that light being with you all the day. Rest not till you have said: "There be many that say 'Who will show us any good!" Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us." Take time, take time, till lhat light shines in your heart, and you can truly say: "The Lord is my light and my salvation" (Ps. xxvii. 1).
经文: 耶稣回答说：「你们当信服上帝」（）
藉着肉眼我们可观察周围有形的事物，并在光中见物；同样的，属灵的事情，则需信心的眼睛来体察，以便在上帝的光中行事。 人是按上帝的形象所造，有真理的仁义与圣洁在其中。再想想奇妙的大自然，这背后隐藏了上帝多少的智慧与巧思；还有上帝的心，包含了何等长阔高深的爱，竟愿捨命救世人。人是爲祂造的，被模造成祂的形象，爲要寻找祂，荣耀祂，将心献给祂做居所。而信心就帮助我们不凭眼见，而用心灵仰望祂的荣顔，在光中见光，上帝也因着我们的信，就将自己向我们显现。 常常我们很努力地费劲去感觉上帝，说服自己去相信有上帝。其实，上帝已经与我们同在，就如同空气环绕着我们，也在我们身体裡面。我们只要用信心接受这事实，默念宣告这事实，上帝同在的感觉，就会在我们安静地定睛注视祂的时候，满溢我们全身。 人若无信，就不得上帝的喜悦，也无法认识祂。我们独处时要祷告暗中的父，祂要把我们藏在至高的隐密处，在那儿我们开口讚美上帝、敬拜上帝，而上帝的荣光就自然而然照进我们的心，祂同在的喜乐也如膏油般滋润我们的灵。 你巴望信心坚固吗？你渴望明白上帝的心意吗？花时间等候上帝！相信上帝乐意向我们显明祂的心意，更渴望佔有我们的全人，藉着不断操练，我们的信心会逐渐成长，也慢慢知道上帝荣耀的权能是何等浩大！ 藉着每天不断敬拜上帝、等候上帝，我们的信心必操练得更刚强，而时刻紧密依靠主也成爲我们的习惯，我们的心思也可随时回到上帝面前，如同呼吸那样自然，上帝也会保守我们在祂同在的喜乐中，并经历得胜罪恶的能力！ 「亚伯拉罕因信，心里得坚固，将荣耀归给上帝。且满心相信，上帝所应许的必能作成。」（，21） 「我信上帝祂怎样对我说，事情也要怎样成就。」（） 「要等候耶和华。当壮胆、坚固你的心。我再说，要等候耶和华。」（） FAITH IN GODScripture: "Jesus said unto them: 'Have faith in God.' "—MARk xi. 22.
As the eye is the organ by which we see the light and rejoice in it, so faith is the power by which we see the light of God and walk in it. Man was made for God, in His likeness; his whole being formed after the Divine pattern. Just think of his wonderful power of thinking out all the thoughts of God hidden in nature. Think of the heart, with its unlimited powers of self-sacrifice and love. Man was made for God, to seek Him, to find Him, to grow up into His likeness and show forth His glory; in the fullest sense to be His dwelling. And faith is the eye which, turning away from the world and self, looks up to God and in His light sees light. To faith God reveals Himself. How often we toil and try to waken thoughts and feelings concerning God, which are but a faint shadow, and we forget "to gaze on the Incomparable Original." Could we but realize it, in the depth of our soul God reveals Himself. Without faith it is impossible to please God, or to know Him. In our quiet time we have to pray to our Father which is in secret. There "He hides us in the secret of His pavilion." And there, as we wait and worship before Him, He will in very deed, just as the light by its very nature reveals itself, let His light shine into our heart. Let our one desire be to take time and be still before God, believing with an unbounded faith in His longing to make Himself known to us. Let us feed on God's Word, to make us strong |n faith. Let that faith have large thoughts of what God's glory is; of what His power is to reveal Himself to us; of what His longing love is to get complete possession of us. Such faith, exercised and strengthened day by day in secret fellowship with God, will become the habit of our life, keeping us ever in the enjoyment of His presence and the experience of His saving power. "Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to Perform" (Rom. iv. 20, 21). "I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me"(Acts xxvii. 25). "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the Lord" (Ps. xvii. 14).
经文: 「耶稣自己祷告。」（）「祂就独自又退到山上去了」（）
人需要上帝，上帝爲了祂自己而造人，要人寻求祂，好在祂裡面找着生命和喜乐。 人需要单独与上帝相处。人的堕落在于人心被物慾所佔满，心思意念随着血气而走，被世界的潮流所吸引。人心灵的重建在于归向上帝，来到上帝的面前，恢复上帝与人和好的关係，享受祂的爱。救恩的真义就是成爲上帝家中的一份子，享受祂的同在。 人需要单独与上帝相处，否则上帝无法向我们的心说话，圣灵也无法在我们身上运行工作，更没有机会充满我们。 人需要单独与上帝相处，降服在祂的宝座前，浸沐在祂圣洁的荣耀与慈爱中。耶稣在地上的日子，也是如此，祂也常常退到山上与上帝单独相处，更何况我们！ 慈爱的主给我们这条有福的应许，只要我们肯关上门进到密室，祷告暗中的父，上帝必要垂听我们的祷告，使我们在人前有美好的见证。 单独与上帝相处，是真实祷告的祕诀，不但能面对面与主有美好的交谊，更能带出服事的能力。若没有天天花时间来亲近上帝、等候主，你就无法真正生根建造于上帝的磐石，有份于上帝圣洁的性情，灵命无法进深，也体会不到圣灵同在的平安与喜乐。通往圣洁喜乐之道无他，惟有长时间在上帝面前安静等候，单单地仰望祂。 每天清晨，以默念敬拜上帝，做爲一天的开始，这是何等的恩宠！亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，花时间单单地亲近上帝，把这当一回事来做，定睛注视祂，寻求祂，并要经历祂。是的，你要花时间，等候在主面前，久而久之，你会惊异地发现，即使安静的五分钟，也是足够且弥足珍贵。 「我的王我的上帝阿！求祢垂听我呼求的声音。因爲我向祢祈祷。」（） 「耶和华啊！早晨祢必听我的声音。早晨我必向祢陈明我的心意，并要儆醒。」（） ALONE WITH GODScripture: "And it came to pass, as He was alone praying."—LUkE ix 18, "He departed again into a mountain, Himself alone."—, JOHN vi. 15.
Man needs God. God made him for Himself, to find his life and happiness in Himself alone. Man needs to be alone with God. His fall consisted in his being brought, through the lust of the flesh and the world, under the power of things visible and temporal. His restoration is meant to bring him back to the Father's house, the Father's presence, the Father's love and fellowship. Salvation means being brought to love and to delight in the presence of God. Man needs to be alone with God. Without this, God cannot have the opportunity to shine into his heart, to transform his nature by His Divine working, to take possession and to fill him with the fulness of God. Man needs to be alone with God, to yield to the presence and the power of His holiness, of His life and of His love. Christ on earth needed it; He could not live the life of a Son here in the flesh, without at times separating Himself entirely from His surroundings, and being alone with God. How much more must this be indispensable to us! When our Lord Jesus gave us the blessed command to enter our inner chamber, to shut the door, to pray to our Father in secret, all alone, He gave us the promise that the Father would hear such prayers, and mightily answer them in our life before men. Alone with God— that is the secret of true prayer; of true power in prayer; of real living, face-to-face fellowship with God; and of power for service. There is no true, deep conversion, no true, deep holiness, no clothing with the Holy Spirit and with power, no abiding peace or joy, without being daily alone with God. "There is no path to holiness, but in being much and long alone with God." What an inestimable privilege is the institution of daily secret prayer to begin every morning. Let it be the one thing our hearts are set on, seeking, and finding, and meeting God. Take time, O my soul, take time, to be alone with God. The time will come when you will be amazed at the thought that one could suggest that five minutes was enough. "Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king and my God; for unto Thee will I pray" (Ps. v. 2). "My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up" (Ps. v. 3).
经文: 「除祢以外，在天上我有谁呢？除祢以外，在地上我也没有所爱慕的。」（）
单独与上帝相处，这是灵命进深的不二法门，愿我们蒙上帝恩典，灵命更上层楼。另外一个同等重要的真理，即完全爲主。 若要每天廿四小时，都保守自己的心「单独与上帝相处」，不是件容易的事。慢慢地我们发现，原因是我们没有「完全爲主」。因爲祂是全地的主，所以祂配得我们所有的敬拜，若我们没有全心归祂，上帝也无法彰显祂的能力。旧约中的人物，如亚伯拉罕、摩西、以利亚，还有大卫，都是将自己毫无保留地献给上帝，所以上帝才能在他们身上完成祂的心意。惟有一颗绝对顺服的心，才能完全相信上帝所应许的福份。 按常理，我们都知道，若要成大事，惟有全心全意地投入。再譬如母爱，那个母亲不全心全意爱她的儿女？更何况荣耀的主，岂不更把万物和祂一同白白赐给我们（）？特别注意「全心全意」这层意义，上帝已经把祂的命都捨给我们，我们岂不也当将心完全、毫无保留地归给祂？ 让我们进到密室，默想与上帝独处的一切，迫切地祈求上帝，让祂复活的大能自由运行在我们身上，讨祂的喜悦。 全心全意爲上帝，这是何等大的特权！何等奇妙的恩典！我们可以暂时远离人群，放下工作重担，让我们的心思意念不再游荡，只单单地仰望上帝，全心全意地恋慕祂。当你知道上帝将在这段时间内行何等奇妙大工，你就会迫不及待地要进到内室等候祂。 「你要尽心，尽性，尽意，爱主你的上帝。」（；） 「因他们是尽心起誓，尽意寻求耶和华，耶和华就被他们寻见。」（） 「我一心寻求了祢。」（） WHOLLY FOR GODScripture: "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."—Ps. Ixxiii. 25.
Alone with God—this is a word of the deepest importance. May we seek grace from God to reach its depths. Then shall we learn that there is another word of equally deep significance—Wholly for God. As we find that it is not easy to persevere in this being "Alone with God," we begin to realize that it is because the other is lacking: we are not "Wholly for God." Because He is the Only God, and He alone the Adorable One, God has a right to demand that He should have us wholly for Himself. Without this surrender He cannot make His power known. We read in the Old Testament that His servants, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and David, gave themselves wholly and unreservedly to God, so that He could work out His plans through them. It is only the fully surrendered heart that can fully trust God for all He has promised. Nature teaches us that if anyone desires to do a great work he must give himself wholly to it. This law is specially true of the love of a mother for her child. She gives herself wholly to the little one whom she loves. And shall we not think it reason?able that the great God of Love should have us wholly for Himself ? And shall we not take the watchword, "Wholly for God," as the keynote for our devotions, every morning as we rise? As wholly as God gives Himself to us, so wholly He desires that we give ourselves to Him. Let us in the inner chamber meditate on these things alone with God, and with earnest desire ask Him by His almighty power to work in us all that is pleasing in His sight. Wholly for God! What a privilege. What wonderful grace to fit us for it. Wholly for God! What separation from men, and work, and all that might draw us away. Wholly for God! What ineffable blessedness as the soul learns what it means, and what God gives with it. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Deut. vi. 5; Matt. xxii. 37). "They sought Him with their whole desire, and He was found of them" (2 Chron. xv. 15). "With my whole heart have I sought Thee" (Ps. cxix. 10).
经文: 「认识祢独一的真神……，这就是永生。」（）
灵命的深浅与对上帝的认识有绝对的关係，而且这永生之道，不是靠你头脑所熟悉的圣经知识，或是别人口中所得来的见证而得知，而是你亲身的体验、主观的经历，才能有活泼的信仰。就像冬天的太阳晒在你皮肤上，让你觉得痒酥酥的，很舒服。当你等候上帝仰望祂时，永生上帝的爱与荣光，也要这样流洩在你身上，那是有具体感觉的。 然而爲何我们似乎很少有过这样的经验？那是因爲我们太少给上帝时间，让祂向我们显现。当我们祷告时，我们自觉已经很知道如何祷告，却忘记祷告时最重要的事是安静在祂的面前，好让祂向我们显现祂自己，啓示祂的心意，动工在我们心裡，如此来经历上帝，与永生上帝连结在一起，你才会明白永恒的生命意谓着什么，耶稣同在的甘甜，也让你预嚐天堂的滋味。 你听过劳伦斯弟兄吧！他极渴慕上帝，因此他到修道院，想藉着苦修安静祈祷来认识上帝。一位长辈给了他一本「如何祷告」的小册，但他把它放一边，他说：「我若不真正认识我祈祷的对象，什么书对我都没有帮助。」 他相信寻找的必寻见，叩门的上帝也必给他开门。于是他长时间在上帝面前祈祷敬拜，想知道这位圣洁权能的上帝，是怎样一位上帝，祂的同在又是怎样的感觉。他不断地操练，不断地等候主，直到他不只在心裡相信主的同在，也敏感地体察到主同在的平安是怎样的感觉（就像你知道肚子饿是什么感觉，肚子饱又是什么感觉一样），他操练到一个地步，以致能持续保守自己在上帝的同在裡。 可见花时间在上帝面前安静等候，是何等何等重要的事！在寒冬太阳怎样照着我们，使我们温暖，同样地当你闭眼定睛仰望祂时，想像祂是光，就像太阳一样，就在你面前，祂要照耀你，将祂的光与热，传至你全身，你只要单纯地享受祂、默念祂的圣名，感谢祂的恩典，你会明白上帝同在时极重无比的荣耀是什么意思。上帝要向那些等祂的人啓示祂就是生命、亮光、喜乐和能力。 「耶和华阿，求祢仰起脸来，光照我们。」（） 「你们要休息，要知道我是上帝。」（） THE kNOWLEDGE OF GODScripture: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee."—JOHN xvii. 3.
The knowledge of God is absolutely necessary for the spiritual life. It is life eternal. Not the intellectual knowledge we receive from others, or through our own power of thought, but the living, experimental knowledge in which God makes Himself known to the soul. Just as the rays of the sun on a cold win?ter's day warm the body, imparting its heat to us, so the living God sheds the life-giving rays of His holiness and love into the heart that waits on Him. How is it we so seldom experience this life-giving power of the true knowledge of God? Because we do not give God time enough to reveal Himself to us. When we pray, we think we know well enough how to speak to God. And we forget that one of the very first things in prayer is to be silent before God, that He may reveal Himself. By His hidden but mighty power, God will manifest His presence, resting on us and working in us. To know God in the personal experience of His presence and love is life indeed. You have heard of Brother Lawrence. He had a great long?ing to know God, and for this purpose went into a monastery. His spiritual advisers gave him Prayer Books to use, but he put them aside. It helps little to pray, he said, if I do not know the God to Whom I pray. And he believed that God would reveal Himself. He remained a long time in silent adoration, in order to come under the full impression of the presence of this great and holy Being. He continued in this practice, until later he lived consciously and constantly in God's presence, and experienced His blessed nearness and keeping power. As the sun rising each morning is the pledge of light through the day, so the quiet time waiting upon God, to yield ourselves for Him to shine on us, will be the pledge of His presence and His power resting with us all the day. See! that you be sure that the sun has risen upon your soul. Learn this great lesson that the sun each day proclaims: As the sun on a cold day shines on us and imparts its warmth, believe that the living God will work in you with His love and His almighty power. God will reveal Himself as life and light and joy and strength to the soul that waits upon Him. "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us" (Ps. iv. 6). "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. xlvi. 10).
经文: 「奉父子圣灵的名，给他们施洗。」（）
在你灵修亲近上帝的时候，可曾想过我们所信靠的主，是怎样一位三位一体的真上帝？当我们想到天父，祂好似高高地坐在圣洁宝座上，我们罪人只配俯伏在祂脚前，深深忏悔；当我们想到圣子耶稣，就觉得祂极爲亲近，因祂降世爲人，经历如你我般的成长过程，最后爲你我的罪死在十架上，并复活赐相信祂的人永生的盼望；至于圣灵，就让我们连想到祂如春风化雨般地感化人心，叫人知罪悔改，藉着祂的内住，使我们的身体成爲圣灵的殿。 耶稣曾教导我们这样祷告：「我们在天上的父。」马上祂接着说：「愿人都尊祢的名爲圣。」因爲上帝是圣洁的，所以我们也当圣洁，而成圣之道无它，惟有多多亲近这位圣洁的上帝，使我们越来越像祂。 常常我们把祷告看爲例行公事，对「天父」这个称呼也习以爲常，不觉得我们能称这位创造天地的主爲「天父」有什么大不了。喔，这就大错特错，若你能花些时间安静在上帝面前，用敬畏的心默念「耶稣」这奇妙甘甜的圣名，单单地敬拜祂，享受祂的爱，你会彷如已到天堂门口，有在地如在天的感觉。 上帝的儿女们，若你能进到密室，谦卑俯伏敬拜这位圣洁的主，我告诉你，那将是最大的福份。 「祷告你在暗中的父，你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。」（） 能在隐密处单独亲近上帝，并向这位上帝说：「我的阿爸父。」喔，这是何等大的特权与恩典！让我们确信祂在暗中察看，且要将你心愿得偿。弟兄姐妹们，要花时间亲近主，直到你能说： 「我面对面见了上帝，我的性命仍得保全。」（） GOD THE FATHERScripture: "Baptising in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and' of the Holy Ghost."—MATT, xxviii. 19.
It is well we should remember that the doctrine of the Holy Trinity has a deep devotional aspect. As we think of God we remember the inconceivable distance that separates Him in His holiness from sinful men, and we bow in deep contrition and holy fear. As we think of Christ the Son, we remember the inconceivable nearness in which He came to be born of a woman, a daughter of Adam, and to die the accursed death, and so to be inseparably joined to us to all eternity. And as we think of the Holy Spirit we remember the inconceivable blessedness of God having His abode in us, and making us His home and His temple through eternity. When Christ taught us to say, "Our Father, which art in heaven," He immediately added, "Hallowed be Thy Name." As God is holy, so we are to be holy too. And there is no way of becoming holy but by counting that name most holy, and drawing nigh to Him in prayer. How often we speak that name without any sense of the unspeakable privilege of our relation to God. If we would just take time to come into contact with God and to worship Him in His Father love, how the inner chamber would become to us the gate of heaven. Child of God, if you pray to your Father in secret, bow very low before Him, and seek to adore His name as most holy. Remember that this is the highest blessedness of prayer. "Pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matt. vi. 6). What an unspeakable privilege, to be alone with God in secret, and say, "My Father." To have the assurance that He has indeed seen me in secret, and will reward me openly. Take time until you can say: "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (Gen. xxxii. 30).
经文: 「愿恩惠平安，从我们的父上帝，并主耶稣基督，归于你们。」（）
不知读者们有没有注意到，保罗在他所写的十三卷书信，一开始总会提到由天父、主耶稣基督而来的恩惠平安，可见他对天父及主耶稣基督之间，密不可分的神性，有极深刻的体认。 这是基督徒必须学习的重要功课之一，在属灵追求的过程中，或许会有一阵子，我们会特别想到天父，并只向祂祷告，但我们渐渐会明白，若我们没能抓住这项真理：「每天每时每刻若不能住在耶稣裡，就无法与天父有紧密完整的契合。」那么，这对我们的亏损会有多大！ 可还记得老约翰怎么形容他所看到的宝座上羔羊，「四活物各有六个翅膀，遍体内外都满了眼睛。他们昼夜不住的说、圣哉、圣哉、圣哉、主上帝。是昔在今在以后永在的全能者。」（啓四：8） 后来他又说到：「宝座……之中，有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的。」（啓五：6）在历代所有敬拜上帝的群衆中，没有人能够看到上帝，而约翰是第一个看到上帝的羔羊耶稣，而看到神子耶稣基督的，没有不看到上帝荣耀的，因爲他们两者是密不可分的。 喔！亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，若你们知道如何敬拜上帝，就当在基督里寻求上帝、敬拜上帝。同样地，若要寻找基督，就当在上帝里来寻找祂，敬拜祂。那么你将明白何谓「将你的生命与耶稣基督一起藏在上帝裡面。」你也要经历到对圣洁慈爱父上帝的认识，与对耶稣真实虔诚的敬拜是密不可分的。 喔！我的灵啊！在上帝面前安静并用深度的虔诚对祂说：「恩惠与平安都是从我们的父上帝，并主耶稣基督而来。」 花时间在上帝面前安静默想，相信那坐宝座的天父以及宝座上的羔羊，会赏赐属天的福份给那寻求祂面的人，这时你将明白何谓真正的敬拜上帝。弟兄姐妹们，愿我们常常回到上帝的施恩宝座前，将「荣耀都归给坐宝座的和羔羊。」（啓示录五：13） GOD THE SONScripture: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."—ROM. i. 7.
It is remarkable that the Apostle Paul in each of his thirteen Epistles writes: "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." He had such a deep sense of the inseparable oneness of the Father and the Son in the work of grace, that in each opening benediction he refers to both. This is a lesson for us of the utmost importance. There may be times in the Christian life when one thinks chiefly of God the Father, and prays to Him. But later on we realize that it may cause spiritual loss if we do not grasp the truth that each day and each hour it is only through faith in Christ and in living union with Him, that we can enjoy a full and abiding fellowship with God. Remember what we read of the Lamb in the midst of the throne. John had seen One sitting on a throne. "And the four living creatures rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Rev. iv. 3,8). Later (Rev. v. 6) he sees "in the midst of the throne a Lamb as it had been slain:" Of all the worshipping multitude none could see God, but he first saw Christ the Lamb of God. And none could see Christ without seeing the glory of God, the Father and Son inseparably One. O Christian, if you would know and worship God aright, seek Him and worship Him in Christ. And if you seek Christ, seek Him and worship Him in God. Then you will understand what it is to have "your life hid with Christ in God," and you will experience that the fellowship and adoration of Christ is indispensable to the full knowledge of the love and holiness of God. Be still, O soul, and speak these words in deepest reverence: "Grace and peace"—all I can desire—"from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Take time to meditate, and believe, to expect all from God the Father who sits upon the throne, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb in the midst of the throne. Then you will learn truly to worship God. Return frequently to this sacred scene, to give "Glory to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb" (Rev. v. 13).
经文: 「因爲我们两下藉着祂被一个圣灵所感，得以进到父面前。」（）
我们在密室与上帝交谈时，切忌凭血气或己意来追求认识上帝。因爲圣灵已降下，教导我们能藉由耶稣来认识上帝。若不等候圣灵的恩膏教导，我们很可能白费心力在追求认识上帝的事上。 耶稣在世最后一夜，曾论及圣灵保惠师：「到那日你们若奉我的名向父求什么，就必得着，叫你们的喜乐可以满足。」（）紧紧地抓住这个真理——圣灵要教导我们如何在灵裡祷告，使我们在与上帝亲近时有面对面的经验，享受主的同在。坚信圣灵要在暗中亲自做工在你身上，当你安静在上帝面前时，将自己全然委身给上帝，并顺服圣灵的带领，来引导你的祷告与敬拜。 耶稣在要升天的那个夜晚对门徒说：「要领受圣灵。」这是指五旬节那天门徒要被圣灵充满而言。但这也提示我们三件事： 第一，我们祷告时深信圣灵内住在我们心中，并要明确地引导我们前面的道路。 第二，圣灵伟大的工作就是要回应祈祷者的需要，照明他心中的疑惑，并强化属灵的生命。 第三，我们相信藉着圣灵，我们与弟兄姐妹相契合，同心祷告，圣灵就要大大做工在祂的教会与百姓身上。 「信我的人，就如经上所说，从他的腹中要流出活水的江河来。」（） GOD THE HOLY SPIRITScripture: "Through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."—EPH. ii. 18.
In our communion with God in the inner chamber, we must guard against the danger of seeking to know God and Christ in the power of the intellect or the emotions. The Holy Spirit has been given for the express purpose that "by Him we may have access to the Father through the Son." Let us beware lest our labour be in vain, because we do not wait for the teaching of the Spirit. Christ taught His disciples this truth in the last night. Speaking of the coming of the Comforter, He says: "In that day ye shall ask the Father in My name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." Hold fast the truth that the Holy Spirit was given with the one great object of teaching us to pray. He makes the fellowship with the Father and the Son a blessed reality. Be strong in the faith that He is working secretly in you As you enter the inner chamber, give yourself wholly to His guidance as your Teacher in all your intercession and adoration. When Christ said to the disciples on the evening of the resur?rection day, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost," it was, for one thing, to strengthen and fit them for the ten days of prayer, and their receiving the fulness of the Spirit. This suggests to us three things we ought to remember when we draw nigh to God in prayer: First.—We must pray in the confidence that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and yield ourselves, in stillness of soul, definitely to His leading. Take time for this. Second.—We must believe that the "greater works" of the Spirit for the enlightening and strengthening of the spiritual life —the fulness of the Spirit—will be given in answer to prayer. Third.—We must believe that through the Spirit, in unity with all God's children, we may ask and expect the mighty work?ings of that Spirit on His Church and people. "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John vii. 38). "Believest thou this?"
经文: 「要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父，你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。」（）
耶稣极度企盼祂的门徒能深刻认识天父，且渴望与天父有密室的交通。在耶稣的一生中，与天父独处的密室交通，不仅是不可少的需要，更是至高的一种喜乐。 在世俗物质的世界，你找不着上帝，祂要我们远离牵绊我们心灵的事，只单单地被祂吸引，享受与祂亲近、紧密契合的相交之乐，这是上帝儿女该瞭解的真理。 旧约的信徒常有这样的经验，「祢是我的藏身之所。」「住在至高者隐密处的，必住在全能者的荫下。」 在新约时代的基督徒，更应该加倍珍惜、操练与上帝的相近相亲。经上说：「我要藉着耶稣保守你的性命在上帝的裡面。」我们若真相信真理，知道上帝既然保护我们，我们还惧怕谁呢？我们每天都可以藉着祷告我们暗中的父，更新灵命，支取新的能力。 经上又记着说：「我们若在祂死的形状上与祂联合，也要在祂复活的形状上与祂联合。」（）又如同树的根深深地埋在地底下，却吸收养份供应树枝树叶；同理，若我们在密室与天父连合，也要如此经历到主复活的大能运行在我们身上。 让我们来思考这真理： 「祢必把他们藏在祢面前的隐密处，免得遇见人的计谋。」（） 祷告时我们必须先想到：我知道，我是单独与上帝同在，而上帝也与我同在。 「把我藏在祂帐幕的隐密处。」（） THE SECRET OF THE LOUDScripture: "Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."—MATT. vi. 6.
Christ longed greatly that His disciples should know God as their Father, and that they should have secret fellowship with Him. In His own life He found it not only indispensable, but the highest happiness to meet the Father in secret. And He would have us realize that it is impossible to be true, wholehearted disciples without daily intercourse with the Father in heaven, who waits for us in secret. God is a God who hides Himself from the world, and all that is of the world. God would draw us away from the world and from ourselves. He offers us instead, the blessedness of close, intimate communion with Himself. Oh that God's children would understand this! Believers in the Old Testament enjoyed this experience, "Thou art my hiding-place." "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." How much more ought Christians in the New Covenant to value this secret intercourse with God. We read: "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." If we really believe this, we shall have the joyful assurance that our life, hid with Christ in God in such Divine keeping, is safe and beyond the reach of every foe. We should day by day confidently seek the renewal of our spiritual life in prayer to our Father who is in secret. Because we are dead with Christ, one plant with Him in the likeness of His death, and of His resurrection too, we know that, as the roots of a tree are hidden under the earth, so the roots of our daily life are hidden deep in God. O soul, take time to realize: "Thou shalt hide me in the secret of Thy presence" (Ps. xxxi. 20). Our first thought in prayer should be: I must know that I am alone with God, and that God is with me. "In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me" (Ps. xxvii. 5).
经文: 「天上寂静约有二刻。另有一位天使拿着金香炉，来站在祭坛旁边。有许多香赐给他，要和衆圣徒的祈祷一同献在宝座前的金坛上。那香的烟和衆圣徒的祈祷，从天使的手中一同升到上帝面前。」（啓示录八：1，3，4）
天上有寂静的时刻约半个钟头——是圣徒在上帝面前献上馨香祷告之祭的时刻，之后天使才吹起号角。上帝的衆儿女更觉得有这样的需要，就是暂离俗事的干扰，安静的来到上帝面前有半小时的灵修，爲要亲近上帝，支取今天工作所需的能力。 多少时候，我们听到基督徒抱怨没有时间，或是即使有时间来到上帝面前，却觉得这段安静的时刻索然无味，如同嚼蜡。许多老基督徒是属灵的侏儒，永远停顿在婴孩吃奶的阶段，因他们不知道与上帝之间活泼真实的沟通，正是灵性增长的祕诀！ 耶稣说：「你要祷告在暗中的父。」若你愿意顺服照着去做，不要去想这半个钟头在上帝面前安静的时间要怎么渡过，只单单相信当你每天忠心地来到上帝面前安静敬拜，上帝必要亲自向你显现祂自己。 若你觉得这样安静的时刻太空泛，不妨先读一段圣经，让上帝藉着圣经向你说话，然后谦卑地等候在祂脚前，祂将会在你心中做工。默想或读出诗篇六十一、六十二，或六十三篇，然后开始祷告，爲你的家人，教会的弟兄姐妹，同事或朋友代求，别担心时间会拖太长，要持续祷告下去，上帝必定会报答你；当然，首先你要先遇见上帝。 弟兄姐妹们，上帝渴望亲近你，也乐意施恩与你，难道你捨不得花半个小时在上帝面前单独与祂相处？若你坚持每天有这样持续半小时在上帝面前安静时刻，刚开始或许觉得很困难，但持之以恒，你会发现这将成爲你一生莫大的祝福。 「我灵在上帝面前安静。」 「我的心哪，你当默默无声，专等候上帝，因爲我的盼望是从祂而来。」（） HALF AN HOUR SILENCE IN HEAVENScripture: "And there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And another angel came and stood at the altar; and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God."—REV. viii 1, 3, 4.
There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour —to bring the prayers of the saints before God, before the first angel souded his trumpet. And so ten thousands of God's children have felt the absolute need of silence and retire?ment from the things of earth for half an hour, to present their prayers before God, and in fellowship with Him be strengthened for their daily work. How often the complaint is heard that there is no time for prayer. And often the confession is made that, even if time could be found, one feels unable to spend the time in real intercourse with God. No one needs ask what it is that hinders growth in the spiritual life. The secret of strength can only be found in living intercourse with God. O my brother, if you would only obey Christ when He says: "When thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret," and have the courage to be alone with God for half an hour. Do not think, I will not know how to spend the time. Just believe, that if you begin and are faithful, and bow in silence be?fore God, He will reveal Himself to you. If you need help, read some passage of Scripture, and let God's Word speak to you. Then bow in deepest humility before God, and wait on Him. He will work within you. Read Ps. Ixi., Ixii., or Ixiii., and speak the words out before God. Then begin to pray. Intercede for your own household and children, for the congregation, for the Church and minister, for schools and missions. keep on, though the time may seem long. God will reward you. But above all, be sure you meet God. Brother, God longs to bless you. Is it not worth the trouble to take half an hour alone with God? In heaven itself there was need for half an hour's silence to present the prayers of the saints before God. If you persevere, you may find that the half-hour that seems the most difficult in the whole day may at length become the most blessed in your whole life. "My soul is silent unto God." "My soul, be thou silent unto God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. Ixii. 1, 5).
经文: 「因祢伟大，且行奇妙的事，惟独祢是上帝。」（）
当一个人开始做一项伟大的工作，就会花时间去思想这工作的伟大性。比如说科学家研究大自然，他要花好几年的时间观察、收集资料，整理归纳，最后才发现到太阳或星球的磁场或引力。 我们这位荣耀的主，岂不配得我们花时间来认识祂，来讚美祂的伟大？ 我们对上帝的认识何等肤浅，我们没有匀出时间来思想祂的伟大，以致我们对祂的荣耀权能只有模煳的概念。 默想下列经文，直到你心中充满荣耀君王内住的感觉： 「耶和华本爲大，该受大讚美，其大无法测度。我也要传扬祢的大德。他们记念祢的大恩，就要传出来。」（，6，7） 别以爲很容易抓住这些经文的精义，且能有所体会。要花时间默想，求上帝开你的心眼，直到你心满溢上帝荣耀的权能，禁不住要献上你全心的敬拜与讚美爲止。 「喔！主啊，在祢没有难成的事。祢谋事有大略，行事有大能。」（，19） 耶和华的话临到耶利米：「我是耶和华，是凡有血气者的上帝，岂有我难成的事么？」（）对上帝有正确的认识需要花时间。当我们对这位尊贵全能的上帝，认识越来越深，也愿意将祂该得的荣耀归给祂时，我们自然而然会喜欢多停留在祂面前，把对祂的爱慕敬拜，用谦卑敬畏的心向祂倾吐默念。此时上帝也要用祂无限的慈爱，藉着圣灵来教导我们： 「因耶和华爲大神，爲大王，超乎万神之上。」（） 「来啊，我们要屈身敬拜，在造我们的耶和华面前跪下。」（） GOD'S GREATNESSScripture: "Thou art great, and doest wondrous things; Thou art God alone."—Ps. Ixxxvi. 10.
When anyone commences an important work, he takes time and gives his attention to consider the greatness of his undertaking. Men of science, in studying nature, require years of labour to grasp the magnitude of, for instance, the sun and the heavenly bodies. And is not our glorious God worthy that we should take time rightly to know and adore His greatness.. Yet how superficial is our knowledge of God's greatness. We do not allow ourselves time to bow before Him, and so come un?der the deep impression of His incomprehensible majesty and glory. Meditate on the following texts until you are filled with some sense of what a glorious Being God is. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His great?ness is unsearchable." "I will declare Thy greatness." "They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness" (Ps. cxlv. 3, 6, 7). Do not imagine that it is easy to grasp the meaning of these words. Take time for them to master the heart, until you bow, it may be, in speechless adoration before God. "Ah, Lord God, there-is nothing too hard for Thee, the Great, the Mighty God, Great in counsel and Mighty in work" (Jer. xxxii. 17-19). And hear God's answer (ver. 27) : "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me? The right comprehension of God's greatness will take time. But if we give God the honour that is His due, and if our faith grows strong in the knowledge of what a great and powerful God we have, we shall be drawn to tarry in the inner chamber to bow in humble worship before this great and mighty God. In His abundant mercy He will teach us through the Holy Spirit to say: "The Lord is a great God; Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Ps. xcv. 3,6). "The Lord is a great God, and a great king above all gods" (Ps. xcv. 3).
经文: 「耶和华的眼目遍察全地，要显大能帮助向祂心存诚实的人。」（）
在一般的事情上，我们知道专心一致，全心全意是多么重要！属灵的事情也不例外，上帝也给我们这样的命令：「你要尽心、尽性、尽力、爱耶和华你的上帝。」（）又说：「你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。」（） 令人百思不解的是基督徒对一般世俗的事，能极爲专注投入，对教会的侍奉却马马虎虎，不以爲意。从经文中我们得知「上帝要显大能帮助向祂心存诚实的人。」这是多么振奋人心的应许！只要我们存谦卑的心等候在上帝面前，祂的眼目就要眷顾我们，且要以大能的膀臂帮助我们，祝福我们的工作。 弟兄姐妹们，你有没有每天早晨诚心诚意地来到上帝面前，用最恳切的态度陈明你的心意？用信心等候、期待上帝大能的作爲行使在你身上？ 且要谨记一点，就是首先要安静在上帝面前，直到你感觉到暗中的父在你心中做工。 「我等候上帝。」（） 「祂必暗暗的保守我，……把我藏在祂帐幕的隐密处。」（） A PERFECT HEARTScripture: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.—2 CHRON. xvi. 9.
In worldly matters we know how important it is that work should be done with the whole heart. In the spiritual region this rule still holds good inexorably. God has given the commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy might" (Deut. vi. 5). And in Jer. xxix. 13, "Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." It is amazing that earnest Christians, who attend to their daily work with all their hearts, are so content to take things easy in the service of God. They do not realize that if anywhere, they should give themselves to God's service with all the power of their will. In the words of our text we get an insight into the absolute necessity of seeking God with a perfect heart. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." What an encouragement this should be to us to humbly wait upon God with an upright heart; we may be assured that His eye will be upon us, and will show forth His mighty power in us and in our work. O Christian, have you learnt this lesson in your worship of God—to yield yourself each morning with your whole heart to do God's will? Pray each prayer with a perfect heart, in true whole-hearted devotion to Him; and then in faith expect the power of God to work in you and through you. Remember that to come to this, you must begin by being silent before God, till you realize that He is indeed working m secret in your heart. "I wait for my God" (Ps. Ixix. 3). "In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me" (Ps. ii. 5).
经文: 「我是全能的上帝。」（）
亚伯拉罕听了上帝对他说的这番话，就面伏于地，全心相信上帝要爲他行大事。亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，你可曾深深谦卑地俯伏在上帝面前，直到你感觉满有信心，相信上帝必要做奇妙完美的工作在你心中？ 我们来读读诗篇作者是怎样敬拜这位荣耀的主，并沉浸在祂的能力裡。 「耶和华我的力量阿！我爱祢。」（） 「耶和华是我性命的保障。」（） 「上帝是我心里的力量。」（） 「使我心裡有能力。」（） 花时间默想这些经文，并应用在生活中，常常讚美这位赐你力量的全能上帝。人不能自救，救赎乃是上帝的工作，当门徒问耶稣：「谁能够得救呢？」耶稣回答： 「在人不能，在上帝凡事都能。」若我们完全认同这经节，也必坚定相信，上帝要在我们身上成就祂所喜悦的旨意。 保罗曾爲以弗所的信徒祷告，求上帝照明他们心中的眼睛，使他们知道上帝向信的人所显的能力是何等浩大！（）若信徒真能相信上帝不停息地在祂孩子的身上不断地工作，他们就会喜乐的欢呼：「上帝真是我的力量！」 爲什么常有信徒抱怨软弱或信心不足？那是他们不明白上帝每天每时每刻都可以在我们身上工作，叫我们属灵得以成长，此乃真实信心的祕诀。 要迫切追求认识上帝，直到你能说：「上帝啊！祢是我的力量，我爱祢。」让上帝完全佔有你，使你能与上帝的百姓一起欢呼：「主啊！祢是我的力量。」 THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GODScripture: "I am the Almighty God."—GEN. xvii. 1.
When Abraham heard these words, he fell on his face; and God spake to him, and filled his heart with the faith in what God would do for him. O Christian, have you bowed in deep humility before God, until you felt that you were in living contact with the Almighty; until your heart has been filled with the faith that the Almighty God is working in you, and willl perfect His work in you? Read in the Psalms how the saints of old gloried in God and in His strength. "I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength" (Ps. xviii. 1). "God is the strength of my heart" (Ps. Ixxiii. 26). "The Lord is the strength of my life" (Ps. xxvii. 1). "Thou strengthenedst me with strength in my soul" (Ps. cxxxviii. 3). (See Ps. xviii. 32, xlvi. 1, Ixviii. 28, Ixviii. 35, lix. 17, Ixxxix. 17). Take time to appropriate these words, and to adore God as the Almighty One, your strength. Christ taught us that salvation is the work of God, and quite impossible to man. When the disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" His answer was, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." If we firmly believe this, we shall have courage to believe that God is working in us all that is well-pleasing in His sight. Think how Paul prays for the Ephesians that through the enlightening of the Spirit they might know "the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power." And (Col. i. 11) "Strength?ened with all might, according to His glorious power." When a man fully believes that the mighty power of God is working without ceasing within him, he can joyfully say, "God is the strength of my life." Do you wonder that many Christians complain of weakness and shortcomings? They do not understand that the Almighty God must work in them every hour of the day. That is the secret of the true life of faith. Do not rest until you can say to God, "I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength." Let God have complete possession of you, and you will be able to say with all God's people, "Thou art the glory of their strength."
经文: 「敬畏耶和华，甚喜爱祂命令的，这人便爲有福。」
「敬畏」这字眼，是旧约时代宗教信仰的中心，也是新约时代奠定属灵丰富生命的基石。对圣洁天父的敬畏，是属上帝儿女的恩赐，也使世人对基督徒另眼相看。说：「我且使他们有敬畏我的心不离开我。」 新约中的保罗对此有更美好的阐释：「各处的教会都得平安，被建立。凡事敬畏主，蒙圣灵的安慰，人数就增多了。」（）保罗又再次强调敬畏在基督徒生活中扮演的角色，「亲爱的弟兄阿，我们既有这等应许，就当洁淨自己，除去身体灵魂一切的污秽，敬畏上帝，得以成圣。」（） 现代基督徒缺乏对上帝敬畏的心，难怪初代教会那种火热祷告的灵在这些人身上看不见，倒是对上帝的抱怨到处可闻，不敬虔的态度到处可见。我们实在需要这样经文的教导，好让年轻人清楚明白对上帝心存敬畏的重要，引导他们养成不断祷告的习惯，因这是信心生活不可或缺的一部份。 让我们常进到内室，热切地培养这蒙福的习惯，并听到从天上来的声音： 「谁能不敬畏祢？谁能不荣耀祢的名？因惟独祢是圣洁的。」尤其当我们深切体会： 「敬畏耶和华的，这人便爲有福。」 我们岂不抓住各样的机会，用敬畏的心敬拜祂，诚如经上所记：「用敬畏的心服侍祂，又当存战兢而快乐。」 THE FEAR OF GODScripture: "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments."—Ps. cxii. 1, cxxviii. 1, 4.
The fear of God—these words characterize the religion of the Old Testament, and the foundation which it laid for the more abundant life of the New. "The gift of holy fear" is ever still the great desire of the child of God, and an essential part of a life that is to make a real impression on the world around. It is one of the great promises of the new covenant in Jeremiah: "I will make an everlasting covenant with them ; and I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." We find the perfect combination of the two in the Acts (ix. 31). "The churches had peace, being edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." And Paul more than once gives fear a high place in the Christian life. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you." "Perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (.2 Cor. vii. 1). It has often been said that the lack of the fear of God is one of the things in which our modern times cannot compare favorably with the times of the Puritans and the Covenanters. No wonder then that there is so much cause of complaint in regard to the reading of God's Word, of the worship of His House, and the absence of that spirit of continuous prayer which marked the early Church. We need that texts like the one at the head of this reading should be expounded, and the young converts fully instructed in the need and the blessedness of a deep tear of God, leading to an unceasing prayerfulness as one of the essential elements of the life of faith. Let us in the inner chamber earnestly cultivate this grace. Let us hear the word coming out of the very heavens: "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy." "Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." As we take the word, "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord," into our hearts, and believe that here is one of the deepest secrets of blessedness, we shall seek in every approach to God, in His fear to worship towards His holy temple. "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."
经文: 「上帝爲大，我们不能全知。祂的年数不能测度。」（）「论到全能者，我们不能测度。祂大有能力，有公平和大义，必不苦待人。」（）
上帝荣耀本体的奥祕，以及无法测度的爱与能力，常是超过我们理解的范围，我们也很少花时间去深思。然而在属灵的事上我们需要深入去体会一个真理——上帝的意念和道路高过我们凡人，就如同天高过地一般。因此我们当如同赤子般怀着单纯的心，谦卑敬畏地完全仰赖这位创始成终的上帝。 「深哉，上帝丰富的智慧和知识。祂的判断，何其难测，祂的纵迹，何其难寻。」（） 让我们由衷地呼喊：「上帝哪！万主之主！祢的思想何等奇妙，祢的心意何等难测！」我们越探究上帝的奥祕，就越对祂充满神圣的敬畏，且虔诚地渴望能正确地敬拜祂。 想想上帝的这些属性： 祂的伟大……无可测度。 祂的全能……无可测度。 祂的无所不在……无可测度。 祂的智慧……无可测度。 祂的圣洁……无可测度。 祂的慈爱……无可测度。 祂的恩典……无可测度。 我们天上这位阿爸父，拥有这许多超越的神性，岂能不叫我们欣喜若狂，我们却很少将祂当得的荣耀归给祂，也很少花时间等候祂的显现，这岂不叫我们羞愧万分。来吧！安静等候在上帝的脚前，相信祂必赏赐那寻求祂的人，我们这位无可测度、无限权能的主，必要在你心中做工，使你更准确地认识祂。 「主耶和华啊，我的眼目仰望祢，我投靠祢。」（） 「你们要休息，要知道我是上帝。」（） GOD INCOMPREHENSIBLEScripture: "Behold, God is great, and we know Him not. The Al?mighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power."—. JOB xxxvi. 26, xxxvii. 23.
This attribute of God as a Spirit whose being and glory are entirely beyond our power of apprehension is one that we ponder all too little. And yet in the spiritual life it is of the utmost importance to feel deeply that, as the heavens are high above the earth, so God's thoughts and ways are infinitely exalted beyond all our thought. With what deep humility and holy reverence it becomes us to look up to God, and then with childlike simplicity to yield ourselves to the teaching of His Holy Spirit. "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowl?edge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out" (Rom. xi. 33). Let our hearts respond, "O Lord, O God of gods, how won?derful art Thou in all Thy thoughts, and Thy purposes how deep." The study of what God is, ought ever to fill us with holy awe, and the sacred longing to know and honour Him aright. Just thin祂— His Greatness……Incomprehensible. His Might……Incomprehensible. His Omnipresence……Incomprehensible. His Wisdom……Incomprehensible. His Holiness……Incomprehensible. His Mercy……Incomprehensible. His Love……Incomprehensible.. As we worship, let us cry out: What an inconceivable glory is in this Great Being who is my God and Father! Confess with shame how little you have sought to know Him aright, or to wait upon Him to reveal Himself. Begin in faith to trust that in a way passing all understanding, this Incomprehensible and All-Glorious God will work in your heart and life, and give you in ever-growing measure to know Him aright. "Mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord; in Thee is my trust" (Ps. cxli. 8). "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. xlvi. 10).
经文: 「你们要圣洁，因爲我是圣洁的。」（）「我耶和华你们的上帝是圣洁的。」（）
利未记有九次重複出现这类经文，是的，「圣洁」是上帝至高荣耀的属性，所以祂的百姓理当有份于这样的性格，尤其那些敬虔的信徒，更是渴望如天父般的圣洁，例如祭司就需过与世俗有别的生活，爲要单单服侍上帝。 甚至做上帝发言人的先知，也需追求圣洁。以赛亚（第六章）说：「我见主坐在高高的宝座上。其上有撒拉弗侍立……彼此呼喊说：『圣哉、圣哉、圣哉万军之耶和华。』其声庄严凛然。」 接着他说：「祸哉，我灭亡了。……因我眼见大君王万军之耶和华。」这是忧伤痛悔的语调。 有一撒拉弗用火剪从坛上取下红炭，将炭沾我的口说：「看哪，这炭沾了你的嘴。你的罪孽便除掉，你的罪恶就赦免了。」这是充满恩典的救赎之音。 然后又听见主的声音说：「我可以差遣谁呢？谁肯爲我们去呢？」以赛亚回答说：「我在这裡，请差遣我。」并用敬畏的心求上帝彰显祂是圣洁的那一位。 「名爲圣者的如此说，我住在至高至圣的所在，也与心灵痛悔谦卑的人同居。」（） 要休息，当知道耶和华是上帝，花时间敬拜祂，恩想祂的荣耀，并经历祂的内住，因祂是以马内利，愿与人同居的上帝。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，当你明白我们的天父是怎样一位圣洁的上帝，这是何等大的恩典！因爲「主的荣美要归到我们身上。」（） THE HOLINESS OF GOD (O. T.)Scripture: "Be holy, for I am holy." "I am the Lord, that made you "—LEV. xi. 45, xix. 2, xx. 7, 8, xxi. 8, 15, 23, xxii. 9, 16.
Nine times these words are repeated in Leviticus. Israel had to learn that as holiness is the highest and most glorious attribute of God, so it must be the marked characteristic of His people. He that would know God aright, and meet Him in secret, must above all desire to be holy as He is holy. The priests who were to have access to God had to be set apart for a life of holiness. Even so also the prophet who was to speak for Him (Isa. vi.). Listen. "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. And the seraphs cried one unto another: 'Holy holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.' " The voice of adoration; bow in deep reverence. "Then said I: 'Woe is me, for I am undone; for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Hosts.'" The voice of a broken, contrite heart. Then one of the seraphim touched his mouth with a live coal from off the altar, and said; 'Lo, thine iniquity is taken from thee, and thy sin is purged.' " The voice of grace and full redemption. Then follows the voice of God: "Whom shall I send?" And the willing answer is, "Here am I, send me." Pause with holy fear, and ask God to reveal Himself as the Holy One. "Thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.'" (Isa. Ivii. 15). Be still, and take time and worship God in His great glory, and in that deep condescension in which He longs and offers to dwell with us and in us. Child of God, if you would meet your Father in secret, bow low and worship Him in the glory of His holiness. Give Him time to make Himself known to you. It is indeed an unspeakable grace to know God as the Holy One. "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts." "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us" (Ps. xc. 17).
经文: 「圣父啊，求祢因祢所赐给我的名保守他们，叫他们合而爲一。求祢用真理使他们成圣。祢的道就是真理。我爲他们的缘故，自己分别爲圣，叫他们也因真理成圣。」（，17，19）
耶稣在世时曾做过这样伟大的祷告，期待上帝的应许成就。保罗在帖撒罗尼迦前书也曾说：「我们画夜切切的祈求，好使你们在我们父上帝面前，心裡坚固，成爲圣洁，无可责备。」（三：10～13）另外又说：「上帝亲自使你们全然成圣……完全无可指摘。那召你们的本是信实的，祂必成就这事。」（） 请好好思想这些话，并以此向上帝祷告：「主阿！坚固我的心，使我圣洁无可责备。求上帝使我全然成圣。上帝无比信实，祢必成就这事。」 这是何等的福份与特权，能用这些经文做祷词，向我们暗中的父祷告，并安静等候在祂面前，圣灵必要做工在我们心中，将上帝圣洁的属性铭刻在我们心版。 「上帝的教会，就是在基督耶稣裡成圣，蒙召做圣徒的。」（） 圣洁的上帝曾在旧约中一再显明，在新约我们也发现上帝的百姓藉着圣灵动工也得以成圣，所以上帝说： 「因我是圣洁的，所以你们要圣洁。」 追求圣洁是属灵生命首要的功课之一，人非圣洁，就不得见上帝。让我们以敬畏的心，在上帝面前俯伏敬拜，并用信心相信上帝的应许： 「那使你全然成圣的上帝，必成就这事。」 THE HOLINESS OF GOD (N. T.)Scripture: "Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those Thou hast given Me. Sanctify them. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." —JOHN xvii. 11, 17, 19.
Christ ever liveth to pray this great prayer. Expect and appropriate God's answer. Hear the words of St. Pawl in I Thess.: "Night and day praying exceedingly that the Lord may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God" (iii. 10-13). "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly" (v. 23). "Who also will do it" (v. 24). Ponder deeply these words as you read them, and use them as a prayer to God: "Blessed Lord, strengthen my heart to be unblameable in holiness. God Himself sanctify me wholly. God is faithful, who also will do it." What a privilege to commune with God in secret, to speak these words in prayer, and then to wait upon Him until through the working of the Spirit, they live in our hearts, and we begin to know something of the holiness of God. "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1 Cor. i. 2). God's holiness has been revealed in the Old Testament. In the New, we find the holiness of God's people in Christ, through the sanctification of the Spirit. Oh that we understood the bless?edness of saying: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "With you, O my children, as with Me, holiness should be the chief thing." For this purpose the Thrice Holy One has revealed Himself to us, through the Son and the Holy Ghost. Let us use the word "holy" with great reverence of God, and then with holy desire, for ourselves. Worship the God who says: "I am the Lord which hallow you." Bow before Him in holy fear and strong desire, and then, in the fulness of faith, listen to the prayer promise: "God Himself sanctify you wholly. Who also will do it."
经文: 「在罪人中我是个罪魁。并且我主的恩是格外丰盛，使我在基督耶稣裡有信心和爱心。」（，15）
当你进入密室祷告时，切莫须臾或忘记你的身份，只不过是个蒙恩的罪人。也就是因着罪，更凸显上帝的圣洁，是何等荣耀可畏，因爲上帝说：「你们要自洁成圣，因爲我是耶和华你们的上帝，我是叫你们成圣的耶和华。」（，8） 因着人类的罪，上帝不惜牺牲祂独生爱子的性命，让祂被钉十字架，流下宝贵鲜血，做爲我们罪的赎价，祂长阔高深莫可测度的爱，就在此向我们显明了。在天堂永恒的国度裡，就是我们这一批被拯救的罪人，在那儿唱新歌讚美我们的上帝。 切莫片刻忘记，因着罪使得耶稣与我们另立新约，就是祂要用宝血将我们买赎归回。每天我们与上帝相近相亲，耶稣的目的就是要我们与祂的新生命更紧密的连合，得以脱离罪的权势与綑绑，使我们在祂无限大爱中，越来越像上帝自己。 因着思想到人的罪性，使我们不得不谦卑地俯伏祂脚下，而我们得蒙赦免拯救，更使我们心被恩感，情不自禁地唱出讚美感谢的歌声。 而这可怕的「罪」，常在週遭环伺，等着引诱我们自投罗网，我们需要更殷勤的祷告，更坚定的信心，将我们自己藏在耶稣的荫庇下。 因着罪的存在，使得耶稣基督有着说不出来的宝贵，也使得我们每时每刻都要依靠祂的恩典，宣告透过耶稣基督，我们可以成爲得胜者。 因着罪，我们在上帝面前恳切认罪，流泪悔改，而忧伤痛悔的心，上帝必不轻看，且乐意住在忧伤痛悔的人心中。在密室与上帝亲近祷告时，罪的权势被制服，上帝的圣洁可以内住我们心中，佔有我们的生命。 是的，在密室祷告的时候，我们得以更深入认识上帝，更充分经历上帝应许的信实： 「祂儿子耶稣的血，也洗淨我们一切的罪。」（） 「凡住在祂裡面的，就不犯罪。」（） SINScripture: "The chief of sinners." "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." —1 TIM. i. 14, 15.
Never forget for a moment, as you enter the secret cham?ber, that your whole relation to God depends on what you think of sin, and of yourself as a redeemed sinner. It is sin that makes God's holiness so awful. It is sin that makes God's holiness so glorious, because He has said: "Be ve holy. I am holy. I am the Lord which makes you holy" (Lev. xx. 7, 8). It is sin that called forth the wonderful love of God in not sparing His Son. It was sin that nailed Jesus to the cross, and revealed the depth and the power of the love with which He loved. Through all eternity in the glory of heaven, it is our being redeemed sinners that will tune our praise. Never forget for a moment that it is sin that has led to the great transaction between you and Christ Jesus; and that each (lay in your fellowship with God His one aim is to deliver and keep you fully from its power, and lift you up into His likeness and His infinite love. It is the thought of sin that will keep you low at His feet, and give the deep undertone to all your adoration. It is the thought of sin, ever surrounding you and seeking to attempt you, that will give fervency to your prayer, and urgency to the faith that hides itself in Christ. It is the thought of sin that makes Christ so unspeakably precious, that keeps you every moment dependent on His grace, and gives you the claim to be more than conqueror through Him that loved us. It is the thought of sin that calls to us to thank God with the broken and contrite heart, which God will not despise, that works in us that contrite and humble spirit in which He delights to dwell. It is in the inner chamber, in secret with the Father, that s'n can be conquered, the holiness of Christ can be imparted, and the Spirit of holiness take possession of our lives. It is the inner chamber that we shall learn to know and experience fully the Divine power of the precious words of promise: "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." He that abideth in Him sinneth not" (1 John i. 7, iii. 6).
经文: 「你们要称谢耶和华，因祂本爲善。祂的慈爱永远长存。」（）
这篇诗篇几乎都在称颂上帝的慈爱，从二十六节经文当中，我们得到这样的印象：「上帝的慈爱是永远长存，绝不改变。」我们也当像诗人大卫一样全心充满这样快乐的确据，并且因着上帝永不止息的慈爱满心感谢讚美。 让我们再看看诗篇一○三篇，如何描述上帝的爱： 「以仁爱和慈悲爲祢的冠冕。」（四节） 在上帝的属性当中，祂以慈悲爲冠冕，愿我们的一生也能以上帝的慈悲爲冠冕。 「耶和华有怜悯，有恩典，不轻易发怒，且有丰盛的慈爱。」（八节）上帝不但全知全能，更有丰盛的慈爱。 「天离地何等的高，祂的慈爱向敬畏祂的人，也是何等的大。」（十一节）这譬喻是何等传神地描述出上帝无限的大爱，愿我们都能享受这样的福份。 「耶和华的慈爱，归于敬畏祂的人。」（十七节）此处诗人再次重申上帝无限的大爱。 喔，多少时候我们就这样读过经文，却没有留下任何印象，我们应该细嚼默想这经文的深意，直到我们的心能回应上帝的爱，就像诗人大卫所说： 「上帝哪！祢的慈爱，何其宝贵。世人投靠在祢翅膀的荫下。」（） 「愿祢常施慈爱给认识祢的人。」（） 但愿我们常花时间思想上帝的慈爱，并欢呼： 「祢的慈爱比生命更好。」（） THE MERCY OF GODScripture: "Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever."—Ps. cxxxvi. 1.
This Psalm is wholly devoted to the praise of God's mercy. In each of the twenty-six verses we have the expression; "His mercy endureth for ever." The Psalmist was full of this glad thought. Our hearts too should be filled with the blessed assurance. The everlasting, unchangeable mercy of God is cause for unceasing praise an thanksgiving. Let us read what is said about God's mercy in the well-known Psalm ciii. "Bless the Lord, O my soul: who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies" (ver. 4). Of all God's other attributes, mercy is the crown. May it be a crown upon my head and in my life! "The Lord is merciful and gracious, and plenteous in mercy" (ver. 8). As wonderful as God's greatness is, so infinite is His mercy. "As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him" (ver. 11). What a thought! As high as the heaven is above the earth, so immeasurably and inconceivably great is the mercy of God waiting to bestow His richest blessing. "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him" (ver. 17). Here again the psalmist speaks of God's boundless loving-kindness and mercy. O my soul, how frequently we have read these familiar words without the least thought of their immeasurable greatness! Be still, and meditate until the heart responds in the words of Psalm xxxvi.: "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens." "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings." "Oh, continue Thy loving-kindness unto them that know Thee." O my soul, take time to thank God with great joy for the wonderful mercy with which He crowns thy life, and say: "Thy loving-kindness is better than life."
经文: 「上帝的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更快。」（）
在密室与上帝独处时，不仅只有祷告而已，读经也是重要的课题，因爲上帝的话如灵奶、如精金。在与上帝灵修亲近时，上帝不但藉着圣经向我们说话，我们也能引用圣经的话来陈明我们的心意，或站在上帝如磐石般的应许上，恳求上帝兑现，使我们祷告的内容更加充实。 上帝的话教导我们明白我们祷告的对象是谁，我们该如何祷告，如何支取上帝的力量，而上帝也常常在这段时间回应我们的祷告。 上帝的话源自于上帝的心中，当我们用心灵敬拜亲近祂时，上帝与人之间的管道就相通，上帝要把祂的爱与意念流入我们心中，而我们也藉着祷告将上帝的话变成我们的肺腑之言，向上帝感谢、讚美或祈求，作爲我们对上帝的爱的回应。这样的交流沟通是甘甜美好的时刻。 上帝的话也教导我们明白上帝的旨意，以及祂在我们身上的计划，而我们也因着爱愿意顺服祂的命令，将自己完全交在祂的手中。 我们越祷告，就越发觉得需要上帝的话，我们越读上帝的话，就越发觉祂话语的甘甜，也更愿意祷告，藉此我们也更多得着力量。我们太少祷告的原因之一，是我们太少读上帝的话语，或只是肤浅地读过，只有理性字句的明白，却没有用心灵去领悟。 圣灵能教导我们明白真理，也能教导我们如何亲近上帝，如何在灵裡祷告。若每一次亲近上帝的时间，我们都能确确实实地把上帝的话当作祂写来的家书，并诚诚恳恳将祂的话化作祷告，并等候祂的回音。这样一段安静的时光，是我们蒙福得力的源头。 我们若常将上帝的话牢记心中，并在生活中实践出来，随时与人分享见证，这将使我们属灵的生命更加茁壮。同时谨记上帝的话是活泼有功效的，藉着每天不断的灵修，上帝每天都会有新鲜灵粮的供应，做爲我们生活的指引与力量，因爲祂是又真又活的上帝。 「惟喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想，这人便爲有福。」（） THE WORD OF GODScripture: "The Word of God is quick and powerful."—HEB. iv. 12.
For intercourse with God, His Word and Prayer are both indispensable; and in the inner chamber they should not be separated. In His Word, God, speaks to me: in Prayer, I speak to God. The Word teaches me to know the God to whom I pray; it teaches me how He would have me pray. It gives me precious promises to encourage me in prayer. It often gives me wonderful answers to prayer. The Word comes from God's heart, and brings His thoughts and His love into my heart. And then the Word goes back from my heart into His great heart of love, and prayer is the means of fellowship between God's heart and mine. The Word teaches me God's will—the will of His promises as to what He will do for me, as food for my faith, and also the will of His commands, to which I surrender myself in loving obedience. The more I pray, the more I feel my need of the Word, and rejoice in it. The more I read God's Word, the more I have to pray about, and the more power I have in prayer. One great cause of prayerlessness is that we read God's Word too little, or only superficially, or in the light of human wisdom. It is the Holy Spirit through whom the Word has been spoken who is also the Spirit of prayer. He will teach me how to receive the Word, and how to approach God. How blessed would the inner chamber be, what a power and an inspiration in our worship, if we only took God's Word as from Himself, turning it into prayer, and definitely expecting an answer. It is the inner chamber, in the secret of God's presence, that by the Holy Spirit God's Word will become our delight and our strength. "God's Word in deepest reverence in our hearts, and on our lips, and in our lives, will be a never-failing fountain of strength and blessing. Let us believe that God's Word is indeed full of a quickening power that will make us strong, gladly to expect and receive great things from God. Above all, it will give us the daily Messed fellowship with Him as the living God. "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord; in His law doth he meditate day and night" (Ps. i, 2).
经文: 「祢的言语，在我上膛何等甘美。在我口中比蜜更甜。」（）
这本书是想帮助你享受敬拜上帝的时光，整本圣经诗篇是最能达到这目的。其馀的有的是历史书，有的是谈教义，有的是书信，而诗篇正适合你灵修时用，引导你更亲近上帝，因这是大卫受圣灵感动，向上帝所发出的敬拜讴歌。 每天早晨你有没有真实遇见主？在灵裡敬拜主？若无，那么请用诗篇的经节，作爲你祷告的内容吧！ 读诗篇时，把「上帝」或「主」这些字用红笔划下，还有代名词如「祢」、「我」、「祂」等划下，这可助你将诗篇的内容与上帝连在一起。尤其你若能将对上帝不同的称谓归纳出来，比如上帝是「光」，「避难所」，「高台」，这将有助于你对上帝有更确切的看见。这新的亮光使你的信心增长，同时在你开口用这些字眼在上帝面前祷告时，你真是可感觉到上帝真是你的避难所，是你的力量，要帮助你度过一切难关。 这诗篇在旧约时代，如何同圣灵般教导百姓去祷告，现今圣灵也是一样要教导我们如何享受上帝的同在。 比如诗篇一一九篇，每次读到「主」或「祢」就把它划下来，你将惊奇地发现，几乎每一节都出现「主」或「祢」一、两次，默想诗篇所说的这位上帝，正是我现在所崇拜的同一位上帝，祂不但赐下律法，也给我们力量遵守律法。 过不久你将发现诗篇真会令人爱不释手、一读再读，因它裡面的祷词训诲，深深激起我们的共鸣，引导我们更贴近上帝的心，也更意识感觉到上帝的爱与权能。 「我何等爱慕祢的律法，终日不住的思想。」（） THE PSALMSScripture: "How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweetg, than honey to my mouth!"—Ps. cxix. 103.
This book seeks to help us to worship God. Of the sixty-six books in the Bible, the Book of Psalms is given us es?pecially for this purpose. The other books are historical or doctrinal, or practical. But the Psalms take us into the inner sanctuary of God's holy presence, to enjoy the blessedness of fellowship with Him. It is a book of devotions inspired by the Holy Spirit. Would you each morning truly meet God and worship Him in spirit and in truth, then let your heart be filled with the Word of God in the Psalms. As you read the Psalms, underline the word "Lord" or "God," wherever it occurs, and also the pronouns referring to God, "I," "Thou," "He." This will help to connect the contents of the Psalm with God, who is the object of all prayer, When you have taken the trouble to mark the different names of God, you will find that more than one difficult Psalm will have light shed upon it. These underlined words will make God the central thought, and lead you to a new worship of Him, Take them upon your lips and speak them out before Him. Your faith will anew be strengthened to realize how God is your strength and help in all circumstances of life. The Psalms, as the Holy Spirit of old taught God's people to pray, will, by the power of that Spirit, teach us, too, ever to abide in God's presence. Then take Psalm cxix. Every time that the word "Lord," or "Thou." or "Thy" occurs, underline it. You will be surprised to find that each verse contains these words once, or more than once. Meditate on the thought that the God who is found throughout the whole Psalm is the same God who gives us His law, and will enable us to keep it. The Psalm will soon become one of the most beloved, and you will find its prayers and its teaching concerning God's Word drawing you continually up to God, in the blessed consciousness of His power and love. Oh, how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Ps. cxix 97).
经文: 「但愿祂在教会中，并在基督耶稣里，得着荣耀，直到世世代代，永永远远。阿们。」（）
上帝要先向我们彰显祂的荣耀，然后我们才能认识祂，并且荣耀祂。 大自然最能彰显上帝的荣耀莫过于穹苍诸天。因着望远镜的发明，我们可以看到肉眼看不见的浩瀚宇宙星球；近代科技越发进步，藉着高倍望远镜及天文摄影术，太空亿万的星球运行，都可从遥远的宇宙深处，传送到地面，清晰地映在底片上，让人一览无遗，歎爲观止。 同理，若我们想从上帝的话语当中，看到上帝的奥祕与荣耀，也当放下自己的主观意念，用澄明的心湖，像照像的底片一样，等候上帝的荣耀在我们心中浮现。 当然，首先我们要先有一颗清洁纯淨的心。「清心的人有福了，因爲他们必得见上帝。」数亿光年外的星球，有时需要等上七、八个小时，才能传送到地面；我们来到上帝面前，也需安静我们的心，停止肉体的活动与思想，经此沉淀的过程，我们才能返照上帝的荣耀，这一切都要附上时间的代价。 若你每天真肯花时间等候在上帝面前，上帝的同在就要临到你，祂那说不出来的荣光，也要满溢在你全身，让你整天都散发出耶稣的馨香之气，不但服侍有力量，生命也充满光与爱，这不是我们真切渴望，迫切需要的吗? 「惟耶和华在祂的圣殿中。全地的人，都当在祂面前肃敬静默。」（） 「我的心哪！祢当默默无声，专等候上帝。因爲我的盼望是从祂而来。」（） 「那吩咐光从黑暗裡照出来的上帝，已经照在我们心裡。叫我们得知上帝荣耀的光，显在耶稣基督的面上。」（） 「你们要休息，要知道我是上帝。」（） THE GLORY OF GODScripture: "Unto Him be glory throughout all ages."—EPH. iii. 21.
God Himself must reveal His glory to us; then alone are we able to know and glorify Him aright. There is no more wonderful image in nature of the glory of God than we find in the starry heavens. The telescopes, which are continually made more powerful, have long proclaimed the wonders of God's universe. And by means of photography, new wonders of that glory have been revealed. A photographic plate fixed below the telescope will reveal millions of stars, which could never have been seen by the eye through the best telescope. Man must step on one side, and allow the glory of the heavens to reveal itself; and the stars, at first wholly in?visible, and at immense distances, will leave their image upon the plate. What a lesson for the soul that longs to see the glory of God in His Word. Put aside your own efforts and thoughts. Let your heart be as a photographic plate that waits for God's glory to be revealed. The plate must be rightly prepared and clean; let your heart be prepared and purified by God's Spirit. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The plate must be immovable; let your heart be still before God. The plate must be exposed sometimes for seven or eight hours, to receive the full impression of the farthest stars; let your heart take time in silent waiting upon God, and He will reveal His glory. If you keep silence before God and give Him time, He will put thoughts into your heart that may be of unspeakable blessing to yourself and others. He will create within you desires and dispositions that will indeed be as the rays of His glory shining in you. Put this to the proof this morning. Offer your spirit to Him in deep humility, and have faith that God will reveal Himself in His holy love. His glory will descend upon you. You will yourself feel the need of giving Him full time to do His blessed work. "The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him." "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." "God hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus" (2 Cor. iv. 6). "Be still, and know that I am God."
经文: 「照父上帝的先见被拣选，藉着圣灵得成圣洁，以致顺服耶稣基督，又蒙祂血洒的人。愿恩惠平安，多多的加给你们。」（）
从这处经文，我们看到三位一体的上帝，是我们属灵生命的根基。在本书，我们已谈过每天都要花时间敬拜天父的重要，也提及要深入默想上帝的属性。但我们要再次强调，每次敬拜灵修的时候，上帝的同在，耶稣的权能，以及圣灵的教导，都是同等需要。 我们需要时间领悟，上帝的同在是怎么一回事，耶稣的权能又是怎样。我们灵修的品质与内涵，不但与我们的信心、诚意有关，也与我们所花的时间成正比，而这样的时间是绝对不会浪费的。当我们每一次亲近上帝的时候，是何等需要主耶稣，并深信祂正在里面动工；在祂美好的同在，和完全的交通中，感受到亲切的爱。 也别忘了圣灵，祂是在我们心中教导我们认识耶稣的那位，祂也要教导我们如何靠着耶稣的名祷告，以及祷告什么，并给我们确据，使我们晓得怎样叫祷告通了，上帝已经垂听祈求。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，你不觉得祷告五分钟，就想瞭解上帝的荣耀是很可笑的事？你现在能否同意真实的敬拜，需要花更多时间与上帝亲密契合，使你一整天都能活在上帝的面前？是的，在上帝面前多多地等候，可以保守你常在耶稣的爱裡，并且在圣灵中行事。再回头想今天的经文，深入的思想「照父上帝的先见被拣选，藉着圣灵得成圣洁……以致顺服耶稣基督……。」三位一体的上帝，配得永远的敬拜。 「祢说，你们当寻求我的面。那时我心向祢说，耶和华阿，祢的面我正要寻求。」（） THE HOLY TRINITYScripture: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."—1 PET. i. 2.
Here we have one of the texts in which the great truth of the blessed Trinity is seen to lie at the very root of our spiritual life. In this book we have spoken specially of the adoration of God the Father, and the need of time, sufficient time each day, to worship Him in some of His glorious attributes. But we must remind ourselves that, for all our intercourse with God, the presence and the power of the Son and the Spirit are absolutely necessary. What a field this opens for us in the inner chamber. We need time to realize how all our intercourse with the Father is conditioned by the active and personal presence and working of the Lord Jesus. It takes time to become fully conscious of what need I have of Him in every approach to God, what confidence I may have in the work that He is doing for me and in me, and what the holy and intimate love is in which I may count upon His presence and all-prevailing intercession. But oh to learn the lesson that it needs time and that time will be most blessedly rewarded! Even so too with the Divine and almighty power of the Holy Spirit working in the depth of my heart, as the One who alone is able to reveal the Son within me. Through Him alone I have the power to know what and how to pray; above all, how to plead the Name of Jesus, and to receive the assurance that my prayer has been accepted. Dear Christian reader, have you not felt more than once that it was as it were a mockery to speak of five minutes to be alone with God, to come under the impression of His glory? And now does not the thought of the true worship of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit make you feel more than ever that it needs time to enter into such holy alliance with God as shall keep the heart and mind all the day in His peace and presence? It is in tarrying in the secret of God's presence that you receive grace to abide in Christ, and all the day to be led by His Spirit. Just pause and think: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ!" What food for thought—and worship! 'When Thou saidst, 'Seek ye My face,' my heart said unto Thee, 'Thy face, Lord, will I seek.'"
经文: 「上帝就是爱。住在爱裡面的，就是住在上帝裡面，上帝也住在他裡面。」（）
天国最美好的佳音就是「爱」，因爲上帝就是爱；在密室裡最美妙的字眼也是「爱」，因爲上帝要在爱中遇见我们。 何谓爱？爱就是要把最好的留给所爱的人。让所爱的人得着幸福快乐，是爱人者最大的满足。我们的天父，既渴望我们在密室中与祂相遇，而且老早在密室中等待我们，毫无疑问地，祂必然要用祂丰沛的爱来滋润饱足我们的心。 上帝所有其他的属性，都在爱中得以成全。密室中与上帝水乳交融的契合，是爱最高的境界。也因爲如此，我们来到上帝面前，就要相信上帝要用大爱包围我们，当我们祷告时，就要操练开口感谢上帝的同在与祂的大爱，慢慢地，你就会体会出那种感觉。 弟兄姐妹们，要花时间，在安静中默想上帝的话语，等候渴慕上帝的显现啓示，直到你心中涨满敬拜的灵与讚美的词。同时紧紧抓住宝贵的应许：上帝的爱要藉着圣灵流入我们的内心。 我们要觉得愧疚，因爲我们太少相信这真理，也太少追求上帝的彰显。当我们祈祷时，让我们深信这真理——上帝在密室等候，乐意向我们施恩，也渴望用爱满足我们的心。 「我以永远的爱，爱你。」（） 「使基督因你们的信，住在你们心裡，叫你们的爱心，有根有基，能以和衆圣徒一同明白基督的爱，是何等长阔高深，并知道这爱是过于人所能测度的，便叫上帝一切所充满的，充满了你们。」（以弗所三：17——19） 「你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱。」（） THE LOVE OF GODScripture: "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in G0d, and God in him."— 1 JOHN iv. 16.
The best and most wonderful word in heaven is Love. For God is Love. And the best and most wonderful word in the inner chamber must be—Love. For the God who meets us there is Love. What is love? The deep desire to give itself for the beloved. Love finds its joy in imparting all that it has, to make the loved one happy. And the heavenly Father, who offers to meet us in the inner chamber—let there be no doubt of this in our minds—has no other object than to fill our hearts with His love. All the other attributes of God which have been mentioned find in this their highest glory. The true and full blessing of the inner chamber is nothing less than a life in the abundant love of God. Because of this, our first and chief thought in the inner chamber should be faith in the love of God. Seek, as you set yourself to pray, to exercise great and unbounded faith in the love of God. Take time, O my soul, in silence to meditate on the wonderful revelation of God's love in Christ, until you are filled with the spirit of worship and wonder and longing desire. Take time to believe the precious truth: "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Let us remember with shame how little we have believed in, and sought after, this love. And as we pray, let us hold fast this assurance: I am confident that my heavenly Father longs to manifest His love to me. I am deeply convinced of the truth: He will and can do it. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love" (Jer. xxxi. 3). "That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and heighth; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Eph. iii. 17, 18, 19). "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us" (1 John ii. 1).
经文: 「我终日等候祢。」（）
在亲近上帝的时候，我们要学习等候上帝，这是极重要的真理之一。想想看，在这段安静的时间，上帝要显现祂自己，不但教导我们明白祂的心意，而且要成就祂所应许的，在各样的事上显明上帝是无限伟大的上帝。 这是信徒开始一天的生活应有的态度：一睁开眼睛，就进到内室，有段默想圣经的时间，然后向上帝陈明我们的心意，再聆听上帝有什么指示或交待；或是还有与上帝讨价还价的事情，此时就要做个了断，学习顺服；或是有什么罪或老我未对付，此时也要求上帝光照、割捨。总之，在这段等候的时间，我们要有颗柔软的心，受教的耳朵，让全能的上帝，在我们身上行大事，让祂的旨意成就。 「那等候耶和华的，必重新得力，他们必如鹰展翅上腾。」等候上帝正是属灵得胜的秘诀。「要等候耶和华，当壮胆坚固你的心。我再说，要等候耶和华。」 「安静在主面前，并耐性等候上帝。」属灵定律的基础是：完全仰赖上帝，离了祂就不能做什么。当我们不断操练这定律（也就是宣告这事实，并且全心仰赖上帝做工在每一样事上。）就会越来越觉得自然，且印证这节经文：「上帝哪！我终日等候祢。」 这本书有否帮助你更加渴慕长时间，不受干扰地敬拜主呢？若有，那真要感谢主。或是你如今才恍然大悟，原来你对这真理竟了解得那麽少，爲此，也要感谢上帝。若你想要得着更丰盛的生命，再重新看一遍这书，複习所得着的亮光，且花时间实际操练，看看将有怎样惊人的效果！天天等候上帝是我们生活中绝对必要的，但愿满有恩慈的上帝赐下这恩典。 「我等候耶和华，我的心等候，我也仰望祂的话。」（） 「你当默然倚靠耶和华，耐性等候祂，祂就将你心里所求的赐给你。」（，7） WAITING UPON GODScripture: "On Thee do I wait all the day."—Ps. xxv. 5.
Waiting upon God—in this expression we find one of the deepest truths of God's Word in regard to the attitude of the soul in its intercourse with God. Waiting upon God. Just thin祂—that He may reveal Himself in us; that He may teach us all His will; that He may do to us what He has promised; that in all things He may be the Infinite God. It is the attitude of soul with which each day should begin. On awaking in the morning, in the inner chamber, in quiet meditation, in the expression in prayer of our ardent longings and desires, in the course of our daily work, in all our striving after obedience and holiness, in all our struggles against sin and self-will—in everything there should be a waiting upon God to receive what He will bestow, to see what He will do, to allow Him to be the Almighty God. Meditate on these things, and they will help you truly to value the precious promises of God's Word. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles." There we have the secret of heavenly power and joy. "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." The deep root of all Scriptural theology is this: Absolute dependence on God. As we exercise this spirit, it will become more natural and blessedly possible to say: "On thee do I wait all the day." There we have the secret of true, uninterrupted, silent adora?tion and worship. Has this book helped to teach us the true worship of God? If so, the Lord's name be praised. Or have we only learned how little we know of it? For this, too, let us thank Him. If we long for a fuller experience of this blessing, let us read the book again with a deeper insight as to what is meant, and the absolute need of a life in which the soul each day and all the day waits upon God. May the God of all grace grant this. "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope" (Ps. cxxx. 5). "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Ps. xxxvii. 4, 7).
经文: 「义人哪，你们应当靠耶和华欢乐。正直人的讚美是合宜的。」（）
讚美是敬拜中极爲重要的一部份，当你亲近上帝时，圣灵会引导你默念耶稣的圣名，那将是一柱袅袅上升的香，在上帝面前献爲馨香的祭。 「耶和华啊！衆神之中谁能像祢，谁能像祢至圣至荣，可颂可畏，施行奇事。」（）你们还记得这首讚美之歌吗？这是摩西在带领百姓过红海，蒙拯救脱离埃及权势后所涌出的讚美之词。 诗篇中讚美的内容佔了极大的篇幅，约有六十几篇，而且越到后面越多，例如九十五篇至一○一篇，一○三篇至一○七篇，一一一篇至一一八篇，一三四篇至一三八篇，一四四篇至一五○篇，尤其最后五篇几乎都是哈利路亚的讚美诗篇，起头和末了都是「你们要讚美耶和华。」并且在最后一篇中，每一节都重覆两次「讚美祂」，末了又说：「凡有气息的，都要讚美耶和华。」 让我们仔细研读这些篇章，直到我们的心能不断涌出讚美的乐歌： 「我要永远讚美耶和华，讚美祂的话必常在我口中。」 「每天我都要来讚美祢。」 「在我还活着的时候，我要不断讚美上帝。」 耶稣降世时，有天使的歌声，马利亚的颂词，以及撒迦利亚、西面的颂讚。 还有摩西的讚美歌，以及羔羊的颂讚中，讚美上帝的话充满了宇宙：「主，上帝，全能者阿！祢的作爲大哉，奇哉。万世之王阿！祢的道途义哉，诚哉。主阿！谁敢不敬畏祢，不将荣耀归与祢的名呢？因爲独有祢是圣的。」（啓示录十五：3，4）末了在啓示录十九章一至六节又说了四次：「哈利路亚，阿们」最后衆天使又呼喊：「因爲主我们的上帝全能者，作王了。」 上帝的儿女们，让密室与上帝独处的安静时间，引导你的心上扬，不断涌出讚美的诗章颂词。 THE PRAISE OP GODScripture: "Praise is comely for the upright."—Ps. xxxiii. 1.
Praise will ever be a part of Adoration. Adoration, when it has entered God's presence, and had fellowship with Him, will ever lead to the praise of His name. Let praise be a part of the incense we bring before God in our quiet time. It was when the children of Israel, at their birth as the people of God at the Red Sea, had been delivered from the power of Egypt, that in the song of Moses the joy of redemption burst forth in the song of praise: "Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" In the Psalms we see what a large place praise ought to have in the spiritual life. There are more than sixty Psalms of praise, becoming more frequent as the Book draws to its close. See Ps. xcv.-ci., ciii.-cvii., cxi.-cxviii., cxxxiv.-cxxxviii., cxliv.-cl. The last five are Hallelujah psalms, with the word, "Praise ye the Lord," as the beginning and the ending. And the very last repeats, "praise Him," twice in every verse, and ends, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." 'Let us take time to study this until our whole heart and life be one continual song of praise: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." "Every day will I bless Thee." I will sing praises unto my God while I have my being." With the coming of Christ into the world, there was a new outburst of praise in the song of the angels, the song of Mary, the song of Zechariah, and the song of Simeon. And then we find in the song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev. xv. 3) the praise of God filling creation: "Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name? for Thou only art holy"; ending (Rev. xix. 1-6) with the fourfold "Hallelujah, Amen!" "For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth." O child of God, let the inner chamber, and the quiet time with God, ever lead the heart to unceasing praise.
经文: 「上帝说：『我们要照着我们的形像，按着我们的样式造人。』」（）
千古以来哲人俗夫一直在思索人世的奥秘——人从那裡来？圣经为我们提出精简权威的解答：人是按着上帝的形像所造。原来上帝是生命的源头，祂用令人歎为观止的奇妙作为创造了人，祂要人完全的仰赖祂，直接饮于生命活泉，祂且要住在我们裡面，藉着我们活出仁爱、圣洁、荣耀的光辉。 然而罪却悄悄地进入世界，玷污了人原本完美的形像，这时上帝应许女人的后裔耶稣，叫世人靠祂得以称义。「祂是上帝荣耀所发的光辉，是上帝本体的真像。」（）上帝的儿子要成为人子耶稣，上帝的计划要藉祂得以成全，上帝的形像，也将藉祂得以彰显。 新约教导我们明白创造的概念，并说：「上帝从创立世界以前，在基督裡拣选我们，为叫我们有儿子的形像」，又说「这新造的人满有上帝真理仁义和圣洁的形像。」且又应许我们「若耶稣内住我心，我们就将像祂，有祂的荣耀彰显。」我们不但有来生的盼望，更有今生的福份；知道上帝永恆的计划不但要实现，就是今日在地上我们亦要蒙恩，「我们众人既然敞着脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子裡返照，就变成主的形像，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。」（）保罗曾说：「何况那属灵的职事岂不更有荣光吗？」（）让我们反覆思想这经节，并且相信那些尊主为大的信徒，都能在生活中经历到主荣光彰显的实际。是的，我们要定睛于耶稣身上，主的荣光，我们就能逐日变成主的形状，荣上加荣。 我的心哪！花时间默想这经文，坚定的相信基督徒能在生活中经历到这真理；那按着祂形像造人的上帝，现在正藉着圣灵的大能，要将祂儿子的形像，凋刻成形在祂儿女的心中。 「愿你以基督的心为心。」「我就是你的榜样，我所做在你身上的，你也要做在别人身上。」 「主啊！求祢加添我的信心，能活出这样的形像。」 THE IMAGE OP GODScripture: "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'"—GEN. i.26.
Here we have the first thought of man—his origin and his destiny entirely Divine. God undertook the stupendous work of making a creature, who is not God, to be a perfect likeness of Him in His Divine glory. Man was to live in entire dependence on God, and to receive directly and unceasingly from Himself the inflow of all that was holy and blessed in the Divine Being. God's glory, His holiness and His love, were to dwell in him, and shine out through him. When sin had done its terrible work and spoilt the image; of God, the promise was given in Paradise of the seed of the woman, in whom the Divine purpose would be fulfilled. "God's Son, the effulgence of His glory, and the very image of His sub?stance" (Heb. i. 3) was to become a Son of man, in whom God's plan would be carried out, His image revealed in human form. The New Testament takes up the thought of Creation, and speaks of those who are "fore-ordained to be conformed to the image of His Son"; of "the new man renewed after the image of Him that created him"; and gives the promise: "We know that when He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." And, between the eternal purpose and its eternal realization, we have a wonderful promise in regard to the life here upon earth. "We all, beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. iii. 18). It was of this that Paul had-said just before: "Shall not the ministration of the Spirit be glorious by reason of the glory that excelleth?" Let us take home the promise of the text as the possible and assured experience for daily life to everyone that gives Christ His place as the Glorified One. Let us keep the heart set upon the glory of that image of God in Christ, in the assurance that the Spirit will change us into the same image day by day, from glory to glory. O my soul, take time to believe firmly and confidently that this promise will be made true in thy Christian life. God Almighty, Who created man in His image, seeks now to work out His purpose in changing thee into the image of Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. "Let that mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." "I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have (lone to you." "Lord, increase our faith."
经文: 「耶和华向祂显现，对他说：『我是全能的上帝，你当在我面前做完全人，我就与你立约，使你的后裔极其繁多。』」（）
这儿我们看到上帝不仅奖赏亚伯拉罕的信心，而且看到上帝满有恩慈的训练亚伯拉罕信心的功课。上帝第一次呼召他时，就给他这样的应许：「地上的万族都要因你得福。」（）当他抵达迦南地时，上帝又向亚伯拉罕显现应许他：「我要把这地赐给你的后裔。」（）亚伯拉罕打败诸王回来后，上帝又向他另立新约（）——我要使你的后裔多如繁星。在以撒出生前，上帝一再重複祂的应许，以加强他的信心。（创十七章）在幔利橡树那裡，上帝再次向亚伯拉罕显现说：「在我岂有难成的事吗？」上帝一步步带领亚伯拉罕，直到他信心完全到一个地步，愿意甘心乐意顺服神旨，将以撒献上为祭。从一开始亚伯拉罕顺服上帝离开吾珥往应许之地去，经过四十年的历练，亚伯拉罕最终能「绝对顺服」，在没有任何的应许下，甚至客观环境完全与所应许相左的情况下，仍能顺服到底。 亚伯拉罕的后裔，上帝的儿女们，天父要锻鍊你的信心。若你愿意跟随亚伯拉罕的脚踪，你也要撇下一切，单单地依靠上帝的话语，专心一致地往属灵的迦南美地走去。同时你也需要更深更清楚的体会，知道住在我们心中的这位上帝，是一位全能的上帝，祂要将一切的丰盛赏赐给你。不要以为这是一件很轻鬆容易的事，它需要基督徒渴慕耶稣的同在，时时刻刻谦卑俯伏在上帝面前敬拜祂，直到祂对你说话。 当亚伯拉罕脸朝下俯伏于地，上帝就对他说话：「我是全能的上帝，你要在我面前做完全人，我就使你的后裔多如繁星。」在此我们看到亚伯拉罕如何能信靠上帝所应许的？原来这肇始的信心，是由根基一步步累进加增的。在本书中，我们期望读者能发现何谓信心的力量，并经历到上帝的应许：「在信的人身上，上帝要运行那浩大无比的能力。」当上帝呼召我们过信心生活，向祂的旨意完全顺服到底时，我们必须学像亚伯拉罕，效法他的榜样，并将上帝为亚伯拉罕所做的见证存记在心：「亚伯拉罕的信心是大的，他完全信服上帝所应许的，相信上帝必成就祂所答应的事，并将荣耀归给耶和华上帝。」 THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITHScripture: "The Lord appeared to Abraham, and said unto him: 'I am God Almighty: walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I wilt multiply thee exceedingly.'"—GEN. xvii. 1, 2.
In Abraham we see how God not only asks for faith, and rewards faith, but also how He works faith by the gracious training that He gives. When God first called him, He at once gave the great promise, "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. xii. 3). When he reached the land, God met him with the promise that the land should be his (Gen. xii. 7). When Abraham returned from the battle against the kings, God again met him to renew the promise (xv. 5). Before the birth of Isaac, in the words of our text, He sought to strengthen his faith (Gen. xvii.). And once more in the plains of Mamre, He spoke: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Step by step God led him until his faith was perfected for full obedience in the sacrifice of Isaac. As "by faith Abraham obeyed to go out," so by faith, at the close of forty years, he was able, without any promise, in fact in apparent conflict with all the promises to obey God's will to the very uttermost. Children of Abraham, children of God, the Father makes great demands on your faith. If you are to follow in Abraham's footsteeps, you too are to forsake all, to live in the land of spiritual promise, with nothing but His word to depend upon, separated unto God. For this you will need a deep and clear insight that the God Who is working in you is the Almighty Who will work all His good pleasure. Do not think that it is a little thing and easy, to live the life of faith. It needs a life that seeks to abide in His presence all the day. Bow before God in humble worship, until He speaks to you too: "I am God Almighty: walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will multiply thee exceedingly." When Abraham heard this, he "fell on his face: and God talked with him." There you have the secret birthplace of the power to trust God for everything that He promises. In this little book we desire to find out what the power of faith is, and what God is willing to work, "according to the exceeding greatness of His power in us who believe." So only can we go out like Abraham when we are called to a life of true consecration to God, and of the obedience of faith to the very uttermost. Walk in the footsteps of Abraham. Hide deep in your heart the testimony of God's Word: "He was strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully persuaded, that what He had promised, He was able to perform."
经文: 「你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。」（）
上帝教导亚伯拉罕如何全心全意地信靠上帝；他信心坚定，将荣耀归于上帝。摩西教导以色列民十诫，其中第一条，也是最重要的一条，就是全心全意爱主你的上帝。这是一切的根本，把握这原则，一切福份就跟着来。上帝是我们慈爱的造物主，按祂形像被造的人，是祂所爱的对象。 人若要找到幸福归宿、及灵魂安憩之所，惟一之法就是全心全意地爱上帝。摩西曾说：「耶和华但喜爱你的列祖，爱他们。」（） 这样一位慈爱的父上帝，配得我们永远爱祂。我们的一生，我们的信仰理念，对祂的信靠顺服，完全根基于一个想法：我们要全心全意地爱主我们的上帝。上帝的儿女每天的首要之务，就是遵行这个命令。 我们看到以色列民并没有好好遵行这命令。摩西生前曾一再劝诫以色列民，要敬畏上帝，否则会遭祸，接着重申上帝的应许：「上帝要使人心受割礼。」——你们在祂裡面，也受了不是人手所行的割礼，乃是基督使你们脱离情慾的割礼。（）也就是要全心全意爱主我的上帝。（） 这有福的应许是新约的第一个徵兆，先知耶利米藉圣灵在内心的感动，预言这命令，提醒百姓，勿远离上帝偏行己道。但有多少基督徒了解这真理？太少了。大多数基督徒直觉「全心爱主」是不可能的，以致安于灵性肤浅的现状不求长进。 让我们学会两个功课，就是「全心爱主」不但是上帝的呼召，同时祂配得我们这样爱祂，而且上帝更要亲自在我们心中成就这善工，哈利路亚！讚美主名。让我们凭信等候祂，并期望这应许成就——能够全心全意的爱主，而且上帝也要亲自成全这善工，让祂的爱充满我的心。 THE LOVE OF GODScripture: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."—DEUT. vi. 5.
God taught Abraham what it was to believe in God with all his heart; he was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Moses taught Israel what the first and great commandment was: to love God with all their heart. This was the first commandment as the origin and fountain out of which the others naturally proceed. It has its ground in the relationship between God as the loving Creator; and man made in His image as the object of that love. In the very nature of things ft could never be otherwise; man finds his life, his destiny, and his happiness in nothing but just this one thing, loving God with all the heart, and all the strength. Moses said: "The Lord has a delight in thy fathers, to love them" (Deut. x. 15) ; such a God was infinitely worthy of being loved. All our religion, all our faith in God and obedience to Him, our whole life, is to be inspired by the one thought: We are to love God with all our heart, and all our strength. Every day the child of God has as his first duty to live out this command. How little Israel was able to obey the command we all knew well. But ere Moses died, he was able, after speaking of the judgments God would bring upon His people for their sins, to make known the promise: "The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart"—with a circumcision not made with hands, but the circumcision of Christ on the cross (Col. ii. 11)—"to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul" (Deut. xxx. 6). This blessed promise was the first indication of the New Covenant, in which Jeremiah foretold of the law so written in the heart by the Holy Spirit, that they should no more depart from God but walk in His ways. But how little have Christians understood this; how easily they rest content with the thought that it is impossible. Let us learn the double lesson. This perfect heart, loving God with all our might, is what God claims, is what God is infinitely worthy of, is what God—blessed be His Name!—will Himself give and work in us. Let our whole soul go out in faith to meet, to wait for, and to expect the fulfilment of the promise—to love God with the whole heart is what God Him?self will work in us. "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto us." That makes the grace of loving God with all our hearts most sure and blessed.
经文: 「知道向祢欢呼的，那民是有福的，耶和华啊，他们在祢脸上的光裡行走，他们因祢的名终日欢乐，因祢的公义得以高举。」（）
「如潮水般的大喜乐」是天使们对「天堂美地」的描述，也就是我们所谓的「欢呼之声」，这包括上帝的百姓在祂的面光中行走，且终日因祂的名欢呼；还有那与上帝永不间歇的沟通交谊，以及永不止息的喜乐。在旧约时代，某些圣徒曾有上述的经验，却不是持续性；但在新约时代，信徒却能拥有这样恆久的喜乐在心中。 在一个幸福正常的家庭中，亲子关係融洽和睦，父慈子孝，彼此共享天伦之乐。这也是天堂乐地的写照，上帝喜悦祂的百姓，祂的百姓也以天父上帝的同在为乐。 上帝曾应许祂的百姓：「在祂的面光中行走，且终日因祂的名欢呼」，而且藉着圣灵浇灌上帝的爱在我们心中，使祂的应许成为信徒实际的生活经验；也是那些专心寻求上帝，愿意摆上一切、全心全意爱上帝的信徒的传承宝藏。 但可惜许多基督徒，直觉以为要整天享受上帝的同在是不可能的事，因此老早放弃「每天活在上帝面前」这念头。但耶稣不是明确地应许我们：「这些事我不是早告诉你们了吗？好叫你们有满足的喜乐。」「我要再见到你，你的心要喜乐，而且这喜乐是世人夺不走的。」让我们了解上帝的心意，祂满心渴望祂的儿女们，每天每时每刻以祂的同在为乐，上帝也有信心祂的儿女们会回应祂的爱。祂更要藉着圣灵的运行，耶稣的权能，将这样「与上帝同在」的生命放在裡面，使我们在地上别无所恋，只单单地渴望：「行在祂的面光中，且终日以祂的名为乐，因为上帝荣耀的同在，是信徒力量的源头。」 我们越深入了解上帝的心意，我们就越坚定相信，上帝最大的满足与安慰，就是我们将心献上，终日以祂的名为乐，并喜悦行在祂的面光中。因此上帝必亲自保守，藉着耶稣与圣灵的帮助，将「与上帝同在」的「内在生活」，成为我们实际的经验。亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，让我们以坚定的信心，紧紧抓住圣经的话——终日与上帝同在。 THE JOYFUL SOUNDScripture: "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they walk, Q Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name do they rejoice all the day."—Ps. Ixxxix. 15, 16.
"God tidings of great joy," was what the angel calls the Gospel message. This is what is here spoken of as "the joyful sound." That blessedness consists in God's people walking in the light of God, and rejoicing in His name all the day. Undisturbed fellowship, never-ending joy, is their portion. Even in the Old Testament such was at times the experience of the saints. But there was no continuance; the Old Testament could not secure that. Only the New Testament can and does give it. In every well-ordered family one finds the father delighting in his children, and the children rejoicing in their father's presence. And this mark of a happy home on earth is what the Heavenly Father has promised and delights to work in His people; walking in the light of His countenance, and rejoicing in His Name all the day. It has been promised, it has been made possible in Christ through the Holy Spirit filling the heart with the love of God. It is the heritage of all who are seeking indeed to love God with all their heart and with all their strength. And yet how many there are of God's children who' simply think it impossible and have even given up, with the hope, the desire for a life of rejoicing in God's presence all the day. And yet Christ promised it so definitely: "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be fulfilled." "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you." Let us think of the Father's longing to have the perfect confidence and love of His children, of the children's need of the Father's presence every moment of the day for their happiness and strength. Let us think of the power of Christ by the Holy Spirit to maintain this life in us; and let us be content with nothing less than the blessedness of them that know the joyful sound: "They walk in the light of Thy countenance, and rejoice in Thy Name all the day; for Thou art the glory of their strength!" The deeper we seek to enter into God's will for us, the stronger our faith will be that the Father can be content with frothing less than this, His child walking in the light of His countenance, and rejoicing in His Name all the day; and the stronger will the assurance come that what the Father has meant for us will be wrought in us through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Let us just hold fast the word—all the day, all the day.
经文: 「天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路；我的意念高过你们的意念。」（）
上帝一方面应许要在我们心裡面做工，一方面也提醒我们，祂的道路高过我们的道路，祂的意念高过我们的意念，这实在超过我们理解的能力范围。 上帝说人要按着祂的形像所造，藉着祂的恩典，我们也能重新恢复到祂原来的样式；祂又说若我们敞着脸仰望祂的荣耀，我们就要改变成祂的形状——这也是无法理解的。 当上帝告诉亚伯拉罕，他的后裔要多如繁星，世上的万族也要因他得福——这实在超过人的意念，也不是人所能做到的。当上帝要人全心全意地爱祂，这实在不是出于人的想法。上帝这样呼召人过一个终日以祂名为乐的生活，并行走在祂的面光之中，祂也要给人一样礼物，就是祂心中深处的至极大爱。 在我们亲近等候上帝时，一方面操练我们的敬虔、谦卑与耐性，一方面上帝也藉这机会，将属天的亮光照进我们的心，让我们习惯「时刻与上帝同在」的想法。若我们真要将这样「时刻与上帝同在」的想法深植我心，我们必须每天拨时间亲近上帝，使我们的灵命与祂紧紧相连。除此之外，我们更要坚心相信，上帝不仅乐意将「与上帝同在」的荣美生活，向我们启示明白，祂更乐意在我们裡面动工，使这宝贵的应许，成为生活的实际，叫我们过一个蒙福的基督徒生活。 想想保罗引用以赛亚先知的话：「上帝为爱祂的人预备的，是眼睛未曾看见，耳朵未曾听见，人心也未曾想到的。」（）上帝藉着圣灵，将这样的奥祕向我们内心显现。当耶稣向门徒们应许，有一位圣灵保惠师，从宝座下来，要住在门徒心中，祂要尊崇、荣耀耶稣，且要将属天的生命与亮光，充满在我们心中。这样一种「内在的生活」，正是上帝的心意。喔，我的心哪！要寻求明白一个真理，就是圣灵要以其属天的荣耀与能力，将耶稣活化在我心，助我们过一个圣洁喜乐的生活。 THE THOUGHTS OF GODScripture: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My thought, higher than your thoughts."—ISA. Iv. 9.
In giving us His promises of what He will work in us, God reminds us that, as high as the heavens are above the earth so high His thoughts are above ours—altogether beyond our power of spiritual living apprehension. When He tells us that we are made in the image of God, that by grace we are actually renewed again into that image, and a: we gaze upon God's glory in Christ, we are changed into the same image as by the Spirit of the Lord: this is indeed a thought higher than the heavens. When He tells Abraham of all the mighty work He was to do in him, and in his seed, and through him in all the nations of the earth, that again is a thought higher than the heavens—man's mind could not take it in. When God calls us to love Him with all our heart, and promises to renew our hearts so that they shall love Him with all our strength, that again is a thought out of the very heights of heaven. And when the Father calls us to a life here on earth in the light of His face and rejoicing in His Name all the day, we have a gift out of the very depths of God's heart of love. What deep reverence and humility and patience become us in waiting upon God by His Holy Spirit, to impart to our hearts the life and the light that can make us feel at home with these thoughts dwelling in us. What need of daily, tender, abiding fellowship with God, if we are in 'very deed to enter into His mind, and to have His thoughts make their home in us. And what a faith especially is needed to believe that God will not only reveal the beauty and the glory of these thoughts, but will actually so mightily work in us that their Divine reality and blessing shall indeed fill our inmost being. Just think of what Isaiah says, as quoted by Paul (1 Cor. ii. 9) : Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man, whatsoever things God prepared for them that love Him. But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit. When Christ promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit from the throne in heaven should dwell with them, He said that the Spirit would glorify Him, would fill us with the light and life of the heavenly world. It was that that would make Him and the purposes of God, higher than the heavens above the earth, their abiding experience. O my soul, seek to realize that every day the Holy Spirit will fill thy heart with the thoughts of God in all their heavenly power and glory.
经文: 「我与以色列家所立的约，乃是这样，我要将我的律法放在他们裡面，写在他们心上。」（，33）
在西奈山上帝与以色列民订了第一个约，「若你听我的话，遵守我的诫命，就要在万民中作属我的子民。」但以色列民却没办法遵守上帝的约，因为人的本性是邪恶败坏的。这第一个约并没有供应恩典让百姓有能力守约，反而显露出百姓的罪恶。 后来上帝与民另立新约，应许祂要赐能力使民能遵守祂的诫命。因为这约不是用墨水写的，乃是用灵写在他们心版上。因此我们可像大卫那样说：「我的上帝啊！我乐意遵行祢的旨意，因祢的律法在我心上。」圣灵会藉着属天的帮助，将乐意遵行主旨意的力量，赏赐给我们。就如同，40节所说：「在我岂有难成的事？」「又要与他们立永远的约，使他们有敬畏我的心不离开我。」 旧约时代百姓无法履行旧约的诫命，然而不同于旧约时代的人，新约的信徒只要敬畏上帝的话，愿意认真遵行上帝的话，就可以持续地、全心地顺服上帝的旨意，这乃是上帝所应许的。 谨记新约中上帝的应许，全能的上帝将保守信徒的心，使他们不致远离祂。让我们深深地俯伏敬拜在祂面前，并且相信上帝所说的话。上帝的能力会显出多少，将根据圣经的话：「你们的信心有多大，我的应许就能成就多少。」 我们必须时常去思想，这新旧两约有何等大的不同，旧约时代的恩典够多，但还不足以使信徒能凭信长久住在主裡面；惟有在新约，有上帝明确的应许，并有圣灵大能的帮助，以其奇妙丰盛的恩典，结出心灵更新的果子，保守我们「圣洁无可指责」。 THE NEW COVENANT IN JEREMIAH 31Scripture: "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their hearts will I write it."— JER. xxxi. 31, 33.
When God made the first covenant with Israel at Sinai, He said, "If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me from among all peoples" (Ex. xix. 5). But Israel, alas, had not the power to obey. Their whole nature was carnal and sinful. In the covenant there was no provision for the grace that should make them obedient. The law only served to show them their sin. In our text God promises to make a new covenant in which provision would be made to enable men to live a life of obedience. In this new covenant, the law was to be put in their inward parts and written in their heart, "not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God," so that they could say to David: I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart." The law, and delight in it, would, through the Holy Spirit, take possession of the inner life with all its powers. Or, as we have it in Jer. xxxii. 40, after God had said: "Is there anything too hard for Me?": "I will make an everlasting covenant with them; and I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." In contrast with the Old Testament and its weakness, which made it impossible to continue faithful, this promise ensures a continual, whole-hearted obedience as the mark of the believer who takes God at His Word, and fully claims what the promise secures. Learn the lesson that in the new covenant God's mighty power will be shown in the heart of everyone who believes the promise: "They shall not depart from Me." "It shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto Me." Bow in deep stillness before God, and believe what He says. The measure of our experience of this power of God keeping us from departing from Him will ever be in harmony with the law: "According to your faith be it unto you." We need to be at great pains to keep the contrast between the Old and the New Testament very clear. The Old had a wonderful measure of grace, but not enough for the continual abiding in the faith of obedience. That is the definite promise of the New Testament, the fruit of heart renewal and the power of the Holy Spirit leading the soul and revealing the fulness of grace to keep us "unblameable in holiness."
经文: 「我必用清水洒在你们身上，你们就洁淨了。我要洁淨你们，使你们脱离一切的污秽，弃掉一切的偶像。我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们裡面，使你们顺从我的律例，遵行我的典章。」（）
如同在耶利米书一般，在以西结书中也有类似的应许，就是上帝要洁淨我们的罪，使我们能顺从祂的律例，遵行祂的典章。上帝曾对耶利米说：「我要将律法写在你的心版上，使你敬畏我，不离开我。」再次祂向以西结说：「我要使你们能顺从我的律例，遵行我的典章。」和旧约不同的是，在新约裡，上帝赐给人力量能遵行祂的律例典章，这就是新约的特色。 「那裡罪多，恩典就更显多。」我们可以与上帝完全连结，而且全然顺服祂，但为何有这麽多人不曾经历这样的生活？答桉很简单，因为这样的真理，众人不相信，也没有被传讲，也就没有人期望这应许能被实现。然而在，我们看到保罗这样抱怨：「我真是苦啊！谁能救我脱离这取死的身体呢？」后来他可以这样感谢上帝，说：「如今那些在基督耶稣裡的就不定罪了，因为赐生命圣灵的律，使我脱离罪和死的律了。」所以那些顺从圣灵行事者，就能行出律法所要求的行为准则。 话说回来，为什麽这麽少人能有这样得胜的见证？要如何才能达到这地步？惟一的方法就是相信全能的上帝，藉着奇妙大能，成就祂的应许，因为祂说：「我怎麽说，就怎麽做到。」让我们相信祂的话语永远算数：「我要洁淨你的污秽，使你能顺从我的律例，遵行我的典章。」 让我们相信上帝给了这样的应许，祂也要负责成就它；而且超乎我们理解的范畴，祂要按我们信心的大小予以成就！只要我们信就必得着，「只要我们完全信赖上帝的应许，祂的能力就保守我们到底。」让我们今天就来经验上帝话话的真实性吧！ THE NEW COVENANT IN EZEkIELScripture: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean-from all your filthiness will I cleanse you. And I will put Jlfj Spirit within you, and cause you to -walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgment."—EZEk. xxxvi. 25-27.
Here we have the same promise as in Jeremiah, the promise of such a heart cleansing from sin, and such a gift of the Spirit in the new heart, as would secure their walking in His statutes and keeping His judgments. Just as in Jeremiah God had said: "I will put My law in their inward parts, and put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me," so here: "I will cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments." In contrast with the old covenant, in which there was no power to enable them to continue in God's law, the great mark of the new covenant would be a Divine power enabling them to walk in His Statutes and keep His judgments. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound," working whole-hearted allegiance and obedience. Why is this so little experienced ? The answer is very simple: The promise is not believed, is not preached; its fulfilment is not expected. And yet how clearly we have it in a passage like Romans viii. 1-4. There the man who had complained of the power "bringing him into captivity under the law of sin," thanks God that he is "now in Christ Jesus"; and that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made him free from the law of sin and death," so that the requirement of the law is fulfilled in all who walk after the Spirit. Once again, why are there so few who can give such testi?mony, and what is to be clone to attain to it? Just one thing is needed—the faith in an omnipotent God, who will by His won?derful power do what He has promised: "I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it." Oh, let us begin to believe that the promise will come true: "I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and ye shall be clean; and will cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep them." Let us believe all that God here promises, and God will do it. To an extent beyond all power of thought, God has made His great and glorious promises dependent on our faith! And the promises will work that faith as we believe them. "According to your faith, be it unto you." Let us this very day put it to the proof.
经文: 「你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道，又大又难的事指示你。」（）「我耶和华说过，也必成就；他们必为这事向我求问，我要给他们成就。」（）
新约应许的成就在于信徒祷告的热诚与恆切。上帝回应耶利米的祷告：「我要把敬畏的心放在你们裡面，使你们不离开我。」上帝回应以西结的祷告说：「我要使他们顺服我的律例，遵行我的典章。」然而因着我们不信的恶习，又囿于人有限的思想及经验，我们不把上帝的话当真，也不对上帝的应许存着盼望，我们对上帝的全能没有信心，未曾想过上帝等着要将祂的应许，成就在我们身上，使我们经历祂是信实可靠的上帝。 上帝曾说若没有这样的信心，就无法获得这样的经验，同时祂也以无比的恩慈指出得到这信心的方法，就是不断的祷告。「你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道，又大又难的事指示你。」「并且，以色列家必为这事向我求问。」只有当人全心全意在意上帝的应许，上帝才要成就做工。惟有迫切恆心的祷告，信心才被锻鍊出来，得以紧紧抓住上帝的话，完全倚赖上帝大能的工作，如此就可经历上帝是位又真又活的上帝，祂要显大能帮助一切相信祂的人。只要大家都能做见证，述说上帝大能的行为，信徒们集合起来，成为教会群体，并且同心合意地祷告，那力量是何等的惊人浩大，如此必能推动上帝的手，将福音广传，救恩也要临到灭亡的人身上。 教会中无论传道人或平信徒，都要不断地祷告，而且要迫切、恆切地祷告，好让圣灵自由地运行，信徒的信心不断增长，宣告并盼望上帝的应许成就，「我是主，我怎样说，就怎样成就。」「主啊！我信心不足，求祢助我。」 THE NEW COVENANT AND PRAYERScripture: "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and will shew thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not." — JER. i- 3. R. V."I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. For this more?over will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." EZEk. xxxvi. 36, 37.
The fulfilment of the great promises of the new covenant is made dependent on prayer. In answer to the prayer of Jeremiah, God had said : "I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." And to Ezekiel He had spoken : "I will cause them to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments." To us in our unbelief, and our judging of the meaning of God's Word according to human thought and experience, there is no expectation of these promises being truly fulfilled. We do not believe that God means them to be literally true. We have not the faith in the mighty power of God that is waiting to make His promise true in our experience. And God has said that without such faith our experience will be but very partial and very limited. He has graciously pointed out the way in which such faith can be found. It is in the path of much prayer. "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not." "Moreover, I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them." It is when individual men and women turn to God with their whole heart to plead these promises that He will fulfil them. It is in the exercise of intense persevering prayer that faith will be strengthened to take hold of God and surrender itself to His omnipotent working. And then as one and another can testify of what God has done and will do, believers will help each other and take their place as the Church of the living God ; pleading for and firmly expecting that His promises will be fulfilled in larger measure, as a new endue-ment for the great work of preaching Christ in the fulness of His redemption to perishing men. The state of the Church, the state of our ministers and members, our own state calls for unceasing prayer. We need to pray intensely and persistently, that the need of the power of the Holy Spirit may be deeply felt, and that a strong faith may be roused in the hearts of many to claim and to expect His mighty working. "I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it." "I believe; Lord, help my unbelief."
经文: 「我要宽恕他们的不义，不再纪念他们的罪愆。」（）
耶稣基督被称为更美之约的中保，这约原是凭更美之应许立的（），在耶稣裡两造得以彼此成全。首先，祂赦免我们的罪，洗淨我们的不义，使罪不再辖制我们，且使人得与上帝和好，能进到祂的面前。其次，因着在耶稣基督裡，我们成为新造的人，有圣灵住进我们心裡，使我们得以脱离罪的权柄，不喜欢不义，只喜欢真理，且得着力量来遵行祂的旨意。 这约的两部份是密不可分的，很可惜的是，很多人只认定前半部份，就是罪得赦免，却忘记应用支取约的后半部——我们的心灵被洁淨后，圣灵就住进我们心裡，使我们得以成为上帝的子民，祂是我们的天父，祂也要赐下力量帮助我们能遵行祂的旨意。 耶稣是新约的中保，祂的宝血不但有能力洗淨我们的污秽罪恶，圣灵的能力也将上帝的律法铭刻在我们心版上。因此，我们确信我们的罪不但得以赦免，而且上帝确实能「将敬畏的心放在我们裡面，不致远离祂。」而且我们也「乐意遵行祂的典章律令。」 可记得上帝对亚伯拉罕说的话？「我是全能的上帝。」「在我岂有难成的事？」祂也向耶利米提到这更美之约的宝贵应许，这需要我们有强烈的决心要过捨己顺服的生活，这意味着要捐弃既有的成见，坚心相信上帝的全能，完全降服于中保救主耶稣，和祂同钉十字架，向着「世界，罪、和老我」，我算是死的，只单单不计代价地跟随耶稣。 总之，捨己跟随耶稣，意味着单单地、全心全意地接受信靠耶稣，与祂紧紧相连，其馀的部份就让耶稣来做，因祂说：「我是上帝，我说了，就必做到。」 THE NEW COVENANT IN HEBREWSScripture: "For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins will I remember no more."—HEB. viii. 12.
Chsist is called in this Epistle the Mediator of a better covenant, enacted upon better promises (viii. 6). In Him the two parts of the covenant find their complete fulfilment. First of all, He came to atone for sin, so that its power over man was destroyed, and free access to God's presence and favour was secured. And with that came the fuller blessing, the new heart, freed from the power of sin, with God's Holy Spirit breathing into it the delight in God's law, and the power to obey it. These two parts of the covenant may never be separated. And yet, alas, how many there are who put their trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and yet never think of claiming the fulness of the promise—the new heart cleansed from sin, with the Holy Spirit breathing in it such love and delight in God's law, and such power to obey, that they have access to the full blessing of the new covenant, being God's people and knowing Him as their God. Jesus Christ is "the Mediator of the new covenant," with the forgiveness of sin in the power of His blood, and the law written in the heart in the power of His Spirit. Oh that we could understand that just as surely as the complete pardon of sin is assured, the complete fulfilment of the promises, "I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me"; "I will cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep them," may be expected too. But remember what God said to Abraham: "I am God Al?mighty ... is anything too hard for the Lord?" He spoke that word to Jeremiah too in regard to the new covenant. It needs strong, whole-hearted desire for a life wholly given up to Him. It means to set aside all our preconceived opinions, and in faith to believe in the mighty power of God. It means a surrender to Jesus Christ as the Mediator of the new covenant, a willingness to accept our place with Him, crucified to the world and to sin and to self; it means a readiness to follow Him at any cost. In one word, it means a simple, whole-hearted acceptance of Christ as Lord and Master, heart and life wholly His. God hath said it, and will do it. "I the Lord have spoken it, and I will perform it."
经文: 「他的僕人进前来，对他说，我父啊，先知若吩咐你做一件大事，你岂不做麽？何况说你去沐浴而得洁淨呢？」（）
旧约中乃缦将军的故事，让我们看到人的信心，在上帝与人互动中所扮演的角色，是何等关键重要的部份。首先，乃缦想得医治的心极为强烈，他不计任何代价，向叙利亚王求，向以色列王求。他不辞劳苦、长途跋踄，谦卑自己向先知求医治，即使那先知并不想见他。他强烈求医的动机是他信心的根基，而这股寻求上帝，寻求祂祝福的心志，正是许多人信仰中所缺乏的。 信心的第二个特色，就是捐弃成见，谦卑顺服上帝的话，这对乃缦而言实在太难做到，因此他愤怒地转身就走，幸好有一位忠诚智慧的僕人进忠言，改变他心意。的确，人常因理性的限制，困惑上帝怎麽会用这样简单的方法，行出奇妙的作为，信心因而受到拦阻。 信心第三个特色是单纯地接受上帝的话：「去洗，就得洁淨。」刚开始看起来没什麽效果，但顺服到底就见效果。一次，两次乃缦病情并没有好转，但到第七次上帝就展现奇蹟，只要单纯相信上帝的话：「去洗，就得洁淨。」结果乃缦的皮肤洁白细嫩地像婴儿皮肤一样，上帝果然行了大事。 当上帝应许我们：「我用清水洒你们，你们就必得洁淨，除去罪污。」若我们不信，就会拦阻上帝的工作；让我们相信当我们完全降服于上帝的话，上帝就会赐下我们所需要的心灵洁淨。「有一条河，它使上帝的城欢喜。」它从羔羊的宝座流下，藉由上帝的应许，流向凡接受祂话语的人心中。「去洗就得洁淨。」人心藉着上帝的道得以洁淨，上帝的应许是个呼召，「去洗，就得洁淨。」耶稣说：「我的道使你们得洁淨。」而且是除去一切的污秽。 THE TRIAL OF FAITHScripture: "And Naaman's servants came near, and spake unto him, and said: 'My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?' "—2 kINGS v. 13.
In Naaman we have a striking Old Testament illustration of the place faith takes in God's dealing with man. It gives us a wonderful discovery of what faith really is. Think first of how intense the desire was for healing on Naaman's part. He would do anything, appeal to the king of Syria and the king of Israel; he would undertake a long journey and humble himself before the prophet, who did not even deign to come out and see him. In this intensity of desire for blessing we have the root of a strong faith. And it is just this seeking for God and His blessing which is too much lacking in our religion. The second mark of faith is that it has to give up all its preconceived opinion and to bow before the word of God. This was more than Naaman was willing to do, and he turned away in a rage. It was well for him that a wise and faithful servant gave him, better advice. Faith is often held back by the thought how such a simple thing as to accept God's word can effect such a mighty revolution in the heart. And then comes the third mark of faith. It submits implicitly to the word of God: "Wash, and be clean." At first all appears vain, but faith proves itself in obedience. It does it not once or twice, but seven times in the assurance that the mighty wonder will be wrought. It takes the simple word, "Wash, and be clean," and lo, it finds itself renewed as with the life of a little child, "clean, every whit." The mighty deed is done. When God's word brings us to the promise: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness will I cleanse you," it is nothing but unbelief that holds us back. Let us believe that a simple determined surrender of the whole will to God's promise will indeed bring the heart-cleansing we need. "There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God." It flows from under the throne of God and the Lamb, through the channels of a thou?sand precious promises, and at each step the word is heard: "Wash, and be clean." Christ cleanses "by the washing of water with the Word." Every promise is a call: "Wash, and be clean; Wash, and be clean"; and Christ will speak: "Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you"— clean, every whit.
经文: 「你们信上帝，也当信我。」（约翰福音十四：）
耶稣基督即将离世，在最后的晚餐祂劝勉门徒说：「你们信上帝也当信我。」「我与父是合而为一。」「那信我的，也当做我的工作。」在世上耶稣无法向门徒完全表彰祂自己，但属天的丰盛荣美却完全属祂，地上属祂的门徒也要做比祂所做更大的事。这样的信心首先必须建立在耶稣是与天父联合的基础上，我们相信耶稣是百分之百的上帝，也是百分之百的人。因为上帝的大能在祂的身上，使祂能从死裡复活，因此祂以相同的大能，耶稣也能在我们身上做工，供应我们一切所需用的。 亲爱的基督徒们，你们不觉得拨时间在上帝面前敬拜祂，讚美祂的大能是很重要的事？这可使你依靠祂的大能大力来帮助你，支取你所需用的一切欠缺。我们必须保有这样的信心，时刻意识到全能救主的同在，祂要显大能使我们成圣，供应我们一切的需要。 上帝的儿女们，谦卑安静等候在上帝面前，敬拜祂，讚美祂！直到整个人浸沐在圣灵的同在中，感受到上帝大能运行在你身上，祂要供应你一切所需，透过你做工，让你经历到从前所不知道的全能救主，让祂成为你的信心，成为你的力量。 救主即将离世，祂在最后晚餐时，劝勉门徒要全心全意地相信祂，依靠祂，如此他们将做比祂所做更大的事，结束时祂再次提醒门徒：「要喜乐，因我已胜过这世界。」我们的需要就是直接的、明确的、不止息地相信全能的救主，祂要奇妙的动工在我们身上。 FAITH IN CHRISTScripture: "Ye believe in God, believe also in Ate."—JOHN xiv. 1.
In the Farewell Discourse (John xiv-xvii), when Christ was about to leave His disciples, He taught them that they were to believe in Him with the same perfect confidence which they had reposed in God. "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me." "Believe Me, that I am in the Father." "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." Here on earth He had not been able to make Himself fully known to His disciples. But in heaven the fulness of God's power would be His; and He would, in and through His disciples, do greater things than He had ever done upon earth. This faith must fix itself first of all on the person of Christ in His union with the Father. They were to have the perfect confidence that all that God had done could now be done by Jesus too. The deity of Christ is the rock on which our faith depends. Christ as man, partaker of our nature, is in very deed true God. As the Divine power has worked in Christ even to the resurrection from the dead, so Christ can also, in His Di?vine omnipotence, work in us all that we need. Dear Christians, do you not see of what deep importance it is that you take time to worship Jesus in His Divine Omnipotence as one with the Father ? That will teach you to count on Him in His sufficiency to work in us all that we can desire. This faith must so possess us that every thought of Christ will be filled with the consciousness of His presence as an Almighty Redeemer, able to save and sanctify and empower us to the very uttermost. Child of God, bow in deep humility before this blessed Lord Jesus, and worship Him: my Lord and my God! Take time until you come under the full consciousness of an assured faith that as the Almighty God, Christ will work for you, and in you and through you, all that God desires and all that you can need. Let the Saviour you have known and loved become as never before the Mighty God. Let Him be your confidence and your strength. The Saviour was about to leave the world. In His Farewell Charge on the last night He begins by telling them that everything would depend through their whole life on simply believing Him. By that they would even do greater things than He had ever done. And at the close of His address He repeats again: "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Our one need is a direct, definite, unceasing faith in the mighty power of Christ working in us.
经文: 「因为我活着，你们也要活着。」（）
四福音书对耶稣生平的记载，以约翰福音最为与众不同，因为约翰是耶稣亲密的朋友，他比其他门徒更了解耶稣，他所记载耶稣的教训，有很多是别的福音作者没有提及的，例如约翰福音十三～十七章，可谓新约中的精华篇。其他福音书作者提到悔改、罪得赦免，视其为新约的礼物，但对于上帝要赐下力量，使我们新生命成长这类话，却甚少提及。 然而约翰却记载耶稣的教训，说祂的生命要成为我们的生命，只要我们能紧紧地与主相连，如同祂与天父紧紧相连一般。其他福音书作者把耶稣比喻做牧人，寻找拯救失丧的人；约翰却说耶稣是好牧人，祂为羊捨命，把自己的命都倾倒给人。又说：「我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。」（） 所以耶稣说：「我活着，所以你们也要活着。」门徒所要得自于耶稣的生命，不是旧有的生命，乃是耶稣从死裡复活的生命；是那位坐在天父上帝右边的羔羊耶稣，祂愿意住在人心，赐下那属天永恆的新生命，凡凭信心接受这应许的，都能享用这福份。 很可惜，许多基督徒满足于福音真理的开端，不肯进深追求那更丰盛的生命，他们以为这样的生活是不可能的，怎麽可能让耶稣时刻充满我们的心？但是弟兄姐妹们，圣经不是一再提醒我们：「在人不能，在上帝凡事都能。」我恳求你，花时间等候在上帝面前，让这应许完全佔有你的心！不得到那丰盛的祝福，就不肯罢休。「基督活在你裡面，你也活在祂裡面。」而且要确信这样的生活，不是传道人的专利，上帝要开放给一切相信接受这真理的人，只要你信，上帝就以奇妙的大能在你心裡面做工，过一个外人所不知的奇妙内在生活。 CHRIST'S LIFE IN USScripture: "Because I live, ye shall live also."—JOHN xiv. 19.
There is a great difference' in the teaching of the three first Evangelists and that of John. John was the bosom friend Of Jesus. He could understand the Master better than the others, and has recorded Christ's teaching, of which they say nothing. This makes John xiii.-xvii. the inmost sanctuary of the New Testament. The others could speak of repentance and the pardon of sin as the first great gift of the New Testament. But of the new life which the new covenant was to bring, with the new heart in which the law had been put as a living power, they say little. It is, John records, what Christ taught about His very own life really becoming ours, and our being united with Him just as He was with the Father. The other Evangelists speak of Christ as the Shepherd seeking and saving the lost. John speaks of Him as the Shepherd who so gives His life for the sheep, that His very life becomes theirs. "I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (John x. 10. R. V.). And so Christ says here, "I live, and ye shall live also." The disciples were to receive from Him, not the life He then had, but the resurrection life in the power of its victory over death, and of His exaltation to the right hand of God. He would from thenceforth ever dwell in them; a new, a heavenly, an eternal life; the life of Jesus Himself should fill them. And this promise is to all who will accept it in faith. Alas, how many there are who are content with the begin?nings of the Christian life, but never long to have it in its fulness, the more abundant life! They do not believe in it; they are not ready for the sacrifice implied in being wholly filled with the life of Jesus. Child of God, the message comes again to you: "The things that are impossible with men are possible with God." I pray you, do take time, and let Christ's wonderful promise take possession of your heart. Be content with noth?ing less than a full salvation, Christ living in you, and you living in Christ. Be assured that it is meant for everyone who will take time to listen to Christ's promises, and will believe that the Almighty power of God will work in him the mighty wonder of His grace—Christ dwelling in the heart by faith.
经文: 「你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱裡。」（）
常有人问，要如何才能常常住在主裡面？要如何才能完全为主而活？这也是我常作的祷告与热切的盼望。圣经裡耶稣给我们简单明确的答桉：「你们要遵守我的道。」这是常住在祂裡面惟一的蒙福之法。「你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱裡，正如我遵守我父的命令，常在祂的爱裡。」因爱而顺服上帝，是享受祂爱的惟一方法。 在最后的晚餐席上，救主一再重複这句话：「你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。」（）祂又两次提到：「那遵守我命令的，就是爱我的；那爱我的，必蒙我父爱祂，我也要爱祂。」「若有人爱我，他就要遵行我的话；我父要爱他，我们也要与他合而为一。」在十五章三次提到：「你若遵守我的道，就常在我的爱裡。」「若我的话常在你裡面，无论你们求什麽，就必得着。」「你若做我所吩咐你的，就是我的朋友了。」约翰福音有六次提到「爱祂」与「遵守祂的命令」的关係，以及遵守祂的话，所带来的结果——天父与耶稣都要内住在我们心中，愿意遵守祂的话，是住在祂爱裡的惟一之法。我们与主的关係，爱是一切，耶稣爱我们，我们也爱耶稣，而且也显明在爱兄弟的事上。 有多少人信服这真理？太少了。太多人下意识就觉得这应许是不可能做到的。他们不相信靠着上帝的恩典，我们可以远离罪恶，他们不相信新的应许：「我必将我的灵放在你们裡面，使你们顺从我的律例，谨守遵行我的典章。」（）他们不明白只要藉着「绝对顺服」耶稣，这看起来不可能做到的应许，是可以达到的——爱祂，遵守祂的命令，住在祂的爱裡。 「圣灵同在的奇妙应许，是上帝给的保证。」祂会赐下能力保守我们爱祂，且能遵守祂的命令。过内在生活的秘诀，就是让耶稣住在我们心中，藉着圣灵奇妙大能，与我们热切的祷告，如此上帝必大大祝福我们手中所做的工作。 THE OBEDIENCE OF LOVEScripture: "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love." —JOHN xv. 10.
The question is often asked: How can I come to abide in Christ always ? To live wholly for Him ? Such is my desire and fervent prayer. In our text the Lord gives the simple but far-reaching answer: "keep My commandments." This is the only, the sure, the blessed way of abiding in Him. "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." Loving obedience is the way to the enjoyment of His love. Notice how often the Lord speaks of this in the last night. "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments" (xiv. 15). And then again twice over: "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him." "If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." And so also thrice in chap, xv., "If My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you." "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love." "Ye are My friends, if ye do the things which I command you." Six times over the Lord connects the keeping of the commandments with loving Him, and with the promise of the great blessing following on it, the indwelling of the Father and the Son in the heart. The love that keeps His commandments is the only way to abide in His love. In our whole relation to Christ, love is everything; Christ's love to us, our love to Him, proved in our love to the brethren. How little believers have accepted this teaching. How content many are with the thought that it is impossible. They do not believe that through the grace of God we can be kept from sin. They do not believe in the promise of the new covenant (Ezek. xxxvi. 27): "I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments." They have no conception how to a heart fully surrendered and given over to Christ alone He will make possible what otherwise appears beyond our reach: loving Him, keeping His commandments, abiding in His love. The wonderful promise of the Holy Spirit as the power of Christ's life in them was the pledge that they would indeed love Him and keep His words. That was to be the great secret of abiding in Christ, of having the indwelling of Christ and of God, and of the Divine efficacy of their prayer to bring down God's blessing on all their work.
经文: 「我若去，就差圣灵保惠师来。祂要荣耀我，因为祂要将受于我的告诉你们。」（，14）
钉十架的耶稣，即将在天国宝座上得荣耀，同时祂要差遣圣灵保惠师，进入门徒的心中来荣耀祂。那受死荣耀耶稣的灵，是门徒的生命，也是服事主的力量。这灵是上帝荣耀的灵，我们喜悦祂的内住，也乐意降服在祂的面前，绝对顺服祂的带领。 是的，这灵就是全知全能之上帝的第三位格，也是耶稣从诞生到死亡，从头到尾陪伴祂到底的上帝圣之灵，祂要住在门徒的心中，让他们感受到耶稣的同在，并让祂掌王权。 是这灵使得门徒们有因爱而顺服的动力，这圣灵是门徒的良师密友，藉着祷告与上帝连繫时，祂就要从宝座赐下门徒所需要的一切能力，就是这能力可战胜上帝的仇敌，征服死亡，将复活得胜的福音传遍地极。 很悲哀地，教会最缺乏的就是这个灵，这多麽令圣灵忧伤不已，因为圣灵被忽略，以致属上帝的工作显得如此软弱没有效果，这问题出在那裡？ 这灵就是上帝，祂宣称是我们的天父，祂要佔有我们全人，但我们常只把上帝当作我们的帮助者，却没有想到我们当将全心全人献上，让祂做我们生命的主，由圣灵来掌管我们每天每时每刻的生活，并在上帝大能的保守下，我们可以与耶稣有紧密的连接，长住在祂的爱裡。 因着我们的小信，我们不相信上帝的应许，可以保守我们常在祂的爱裡；因着我们企图心不够，没有勇气大大张口向上帝要，圣灵的大能也无法运行在我们裡面，动工在我们裡面，结果圣经的真理（上帝的应许）对我们犹如遥不可及的目标。弟兄姐妹们，圣灵是上帝实体的化身，祂要我们全人归祂，并在我们心中启示耶稣，高举耶稣，让祂做我们生命的主，做我们生活中的王。上帝等着要成就祂的应许，「祂要荣耀我，我也要在你身上彰显耶稣。」让我们今天就认定相信这应许，降服在祂的旨意下，因为耶稣等着要使这应许落实在我们生活中，让这应许成真。 THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRITScripture: "If I go away, the Comforter will come unto you. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall declare it unto you."—JOHN xvi. 7, 14.
The crucified Christ was to be glorified on the throne of heaven. And out of that glory He would send down the Holy Spirit into the hearts of His disciples to glorify Him in them. The Spirit of the crucified and glorified Christ would be their life in fellowship with Him, and their power for His service. The Spirit comes to us as the Spirit of the Divine glory; as such we are to welcome Him, and yield ourselves absolutely to His leading. Yes, the Spirit that searcheth the deep things of God, that dwells in the very roots of the Divine Being, that had been with Christ through all His life, and in His death upon the cross, the Spirit of the Father and the Son was to come and dwell in them, and make them the conscious possessors of the presence of the glorified Christ. It was this blessed Spirit who was to be their power for a life of loving obedience, to be their Teacher and Leader in praying down from heaven the blessing that they needed. And it was in His power that they were to conquer God's enemies and carry the Gospel to the ends of the world. It is this Spirit of God and of Christ that the Church lacks so sadly; it is this Spirit she grieves so unceasingly. It is owing to this that her work is so often feeble and fruitless. And what can be the reason of this? The Spirit is God. He claims as God to have possession of our whole being. We have thought too much of Him as our help in the Christian life; we have not known that heart and life are to be entirely and unceasingly under His control; we are to be led by the Spirit every day and every hour. In His power our life is to be a direct and continual abiding in the love and fellowship of Jesus. No wonder that we have not believed in the great promise that, in a love that keeps the commandments, we can always abide in Christ's love. No wonder that we have not the courage to believe that Christ's mighty power will work in us and. through us. No wonder that His Divine prayer-promises are beyond our reach. The Spirit that searcheth the deep things of God claims the very depths of our being, there to reveal Christ as Lord and Ruler. The promise waits for its fulfilment in our life: "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall declare it unto you." Let us this very day yield ourselves to believe the promise at once and with our whole heart. Christ waits to make it true.
经文: 「到那日，你们就知道我在父裡面，你们在我裡面，我也在你们裡面。」（）
我们的救主曾说到祂的生命是在天父裡面：「相信我，我在父裡面，父也在我裡面。」祂和天父并非併肩而立的两个人，乃是祂在天父裡面，天父也在祂裡面。虽然在世上，耶稣是人子，但祂住在天父裡，祂所做的都是在祂裡面的天父做的。 这种属天的上帝圣生命，就是耶稣在天父裡面，天父在耶稣裡，正是基督徒在世生活的蓝图，也是我们所嚮往切慕的生活。耶稣在天父裡面，这原是上帝圣生命的本质，然而我们亦当有信心，相信我们是可以活在耶稣基督裡；因此亦当相信，天父既可做工在耶稣裡，耶稣亦能做工在我裡面，若如此相信，就当将我们的生命完全奉献给主耶稣，让祂复活的大能运行在我们裡面。 耶稣在世常在天父面前安静等候，天父就藉祂做工，因此基督徒也要常藉着等候祷告，让耶稣有时间对我们讲话，有机会藉我们做工，好让我们的生活，返照出天父与人子合一的生命荣光。总之，天父做工在耶稣裡，因为耶稣住在天父裡，所以，若我们住在耶稣裡，耶稣也要在我们裡面做工。 但是若圣灵不来，这应许就无法成就；就是因为耶稣说要圣灵来，所以门徒就等候那从天而降的能力充满他们；因为圣灵已经到来，所以信徒们可以天天与耶稣有美好的交谊祷告，藉此能做成上帝所应许的奇妙大工。为什麽教会显得软弱无能？因为他们不太明白人子耶稣的能力，源自于常住在天父和祂的大爱裡。传道人也很少明白惟有常常住在基督裡，才能达成引人归主的大使命。若有人问讲坛有能力的祕诀，答桉就是「到那日你将明白我在天父裡面，你也在我裡面。」——此乃圣灵在你心中启示的话。 「慈爱的主，我们仰望寻求祢的面，求祢教导我毫无保留地降服于圣灵，每天第一件事就是等候祂的教导，如此我们才能明白得能力的秘诀：耶稣在天父裡，天父就藉耶稣来做工，同理，我们在耶稣裡，耶稣也将藉我们来做工。 慈悲怜悯的上帝，我谦卑热切的寻求祢，求祢乐意将能力赐给那专心寻求祢的儿女们，我们诚恳切切的祈求，若我的心得不到祢圣灵的充满，就不得安息。阿们。」 IN CHRISTScripture: "In that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you."—JOHN xiv. 20.
Our Lord had spoken of His life in the Father: "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me." He and the Father were not two persons next each other; they were in each other; though on earth as man, He lived in the Father. All He did was what the Father did in Him. This Divine life of heaven, of Christ in God, and God in Christ, is the picture and the pledge of what our life in Christ is to be here upon earth. It is in the very nature of the Divine life that the Son is in the Father. Even so we must know and ever live in the faith that we are in Christ. Then we shall learn, that even as the Father worked in Christ, so Christ will also work in us, if we but believe that we are in Him, and yield ourselves to His power. And even as the Son waited on the Father, and the Father worked through Him, so the disciples would make known to Him in prayer what they wanted done on earth, and He would do it. Their life in Him was to be the reflection of His life in the Fa?ther. As the Father worked in Him, because He lived in the Father, so Christ would work in them as they lived in Him. But this would not be until the Holy Spirit came. It was for this they had to wait until they were endued with the power from on high. It was for this that they would abide in Him by daily fellowship and prayer that He might so do in them the greater works He had promised. How little the Church understands that the secret of her power is to be found in nothing less than where Christ found it, abiding in the Father and His love. How little ministers under?stand to make this their one great object, daily and hourly to abide in Christ, as the only possible way of being fitted and used by Him in the great work of winning souls to Him. If anyone asks what the lost secret of the pulpit is, we have it here: "In that day"—when the Spirit fills your heart—"ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me." Blessed Lord, we beseech Thee, teach us to surrender ourselves unreservedly to the Holy Spirit; and so daily above everything to wait for His teaching, that we too may know the blessed secret, that as Thou art in the Father, and the Father worketh through Thee, so we are in Thee, and Thou workest through us. Gracious Lord, we beseech Thee humbly and fervently, be pleased to pour down upon all Thy children who are seeking to work for Thee, such a Spirit of grace and of supplication that we may not rest until we too are filled with the Holy Spirit.
经文: 「你们要常在我裡面，我也常在你们裡面。」（）
关于住在天父裡面，与主耶稣的形状相连合这件事上，耶稣用葡萄树与枝子的关係来阐释，这是多麽鲜活生动的比喻，教导我们明白「每天每时每刻」与主沟通的必要性——住在我裡面。 一方面，祂把自己与天父的关係摆在门徒面前：「就如同我真实地住在天父的丰盛裡，你也可以如此地住在我的丰盛裡。」然后祂又举葡萄树与枝子为例，我们可以如同枝子般连在祂这棵真葡萄树上，吮吸祂生命的泉源。如今，因着天父住在耶稣裡，做工在祂裡面，祂就可行出差遣者天父的旨意。就如同枝子与葡萄树的关係，因着葡萄树供应养分给枝子，枝子就很自然地生长，并结出果子来。所以，只要住在耶稣裡，支取祂的能力，耶稣复活的大能，就能藉着我们行使出来。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，来「住在基督裡」吧！或许你们已经一直在思想这个题目，但如何流露出你所希望拥有的大能，却是个有待学习的课题。最重要的就是要「花时间」等候在耶稣的脚前，等候祂圣灵的充满，直到整个人完全浸沐在圣灵的笼罩下。同时，你将领悟这两个伟大的真理：耶稣住在天父的丰盛裡——属天的见证；枝子与葡萄树的关係——自然的定律。这两样例证呼召我们「要住在基督裡」，「那住在我裡面的，我要叫他结果子更多。」结果子更多，是耶稣的心意，是祂的期盼，祂乐意做工在我们裡面，并确实地会赐能力给那些真心仰赖祂的儿女们。 对那些软弱的基督徒们，耶稣说：「来住在我裡面。」对那些强壮的基督们，耶稣还是说：「来住在我裡面，我将使你结果更多。」总之，凡属主的儿女们，需要每天不间断地与主沟通、连结一起。这是得能力、蒙祝福的惟一之法。花时间等候在主前，让主的灵来更新你的灵，你就能明白：「这些事我已经告诉过你，叫你有喜乐，且叫你的喜乐得以满足。」 「你相信我能做到这件事——保守你在我的爱中？」是的，主。——「不要怕，只要信。」 ABIDING IN CHRISTScripture: "Abide in Me, and I in you."—JOHN xv. 4.
What our Lord had taught in John xiv., of the union with Him in the likeness of His being in the Father, He seeks to enforce and illustrate by the wonderful Parable of the Branch and the Vine. And all for the sake of bringing home to the Apostles, and to all His servants in the Gospel, the absolute necessity of a life daily in full communion with Him. "Abide in Me." On the one hand He points to Himself and to the Father: Just as truly and fully as I am in the Father, so you are in Me; and then, pointing to the vine: Just as truly as the branch is in the vine, you are in Me. And now, just as the Father abides in Me, and works in Me, and I work out what He works in Me; and just as truly as the branch abides in the vine, and the vine gives its life and strength to the branch, and the branch receives it and puts it forth in fruit—even so do you abide in Me, and receive My strength; and I will work with an almighty power My work in you and through you. Abide in Me! Dear child of God, you have often meditated on this blessed passage. But do you not feel how much there is still to learn if you are to have Christ's almighty power working in you as He would wish you to have? The great need is to take time in waiting on the Lord Jesus in the power of His Spirit, until the two great truths get the complete mastery of your being: As Christ is in God—this is the testimony from heaven; as the branch is in the vine—this is the testimony of all nature: the law of heaven and the law of earth combine in calling to us: "Abide in Christ." "He that abideth in Me, bringeth forth much fruit." Fruit, more fruit, much fruit, is what Christ seeks, is what He works, is what He will assuredly give to the soul that trusts Him. To the feeblest of God's children Christ says: Ye are in Me. "Abide in Me. Ye shall bear much fruit." To the strongest of His messengers He still has the word, there can be nothing higher: "Abide in Me, and ye shall bear much fruit." To one and all the message comes: Daily, continuous, unbroken abiding in Christ Jesus, is the one condition of a life of power and of blessing. Take time and let the Holy Spirit so renew in you the secret abiding in Him that you may understand the meaning of His words: "These things have I spoken unto you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." "Believest Thou that I can do this, to keep thee abiding in My love?" "Yea, Lord"—"Fear not, only believe."
经文: 「你们若常在我裡面，我的话也常在你们裡面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求，就给你们成就。」（）
耶稣回到天上之前，祂教导门徒们两件重要功课，是有关门徒与祂的关係，与託付门徒在地上的大使命。 第一件祂说明祂在天上比祂在地上时，更有能力；祂的能力要藉由门徒的言行工作，来达成拯救人灵魂的使命。 第二件就是说离了祂就不能做什麽，惟有靠着耶稣的能力，才能完成天父的旨意。所以，我们首要之务，就是将各样大事小事，都藉着祷告，带到主耶稣面前。在最后的晚餐席上，祂七次重複祂的应许：「要住在我裡面，奉我的名祷告。」「你要信靠我。」「你向我求什麽，我必应允你。」 等到门徒们将这两样真理存记在心，耶稣就差派他们出去做工，他们也有信心将所付託的圣工做好，因为这位荣耀全能的主，要透过门徒做比祂在世时，还要更大的工作。这些软弱无助的门徒，惟有仰望祷告这位全能的主，且相信上帝是垂听祷告，他们相信上帝的应许必要成就，他们一生的工作就是让上帝的能力，藉着他们的祷告得以成就彰显。 很遗憾，教会对这真理了解太少，也太少人相信这应许，相信他们能每天住在耶稣裡面，以致他们无法运用这应许的宝贵力量。身为耶稣的肢体，让我们学习这个重要的功课，就是无论在生活或工作上，每天首要之务就是常常地亲近耶稣，完全地仰赖祂，凡事藉着祷告与祂连接，如此我们方能确保祂垂听了我们的祈求，并以祂的信实来行使祂这部份的工作，从高天宝座供应无限的力量与祝福给属祂的子民。 喔！上帝的僕人，要花时间，全心全意地相信耶稣基督说过的话，耶稣问：「你相信吗？」是的，我信。「凡住在我裡面的，无论求什麽，都必成就。」 THE POWER OP PRAYERScripture: " If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatso?ever ye will, and it shall be done unto you."—JOHN xv. 7. R. V.
Ere our Lord went to heaven He taught His disciples two great lessons in regard to their relation to Him in the great work they had to do. The one was that in Heaven He would have much more power than He had upon earth, and that He would use that power for the salvation of men, solely through them, their word and their work. The other was that they without Him could do nothing, but that they could count upon Him to work in them and through them, and so carry out His purpose. Their first and chief work would therefore he to bring everything they wanted done to Him in prayer. In the Farewell Discourse He repeats the promise seven times: "Abide in Me, pray in My name"; you can count upon it, "you can ask what you will; it shall be done to you." With these two truths written in their heart, He sent them out into the world. They could confidently undertake their work. The Almighty, glorified Jesus, ready to do in and with and through them greater things than He Himself had ever done upon earth. The impotent helpless disciples on earth unceasingly looking up to Him in prayer, with the full confidence that He would hear that prayer; the first and only condition, an unflinching confidence in the power of His promise. The chief thing in all their life and in the work of their ministry was to be the maintenance of a spirit of prayer and supplication. Alas, how little the Church has understood and believed this! And why ? Simply because believers live so little in the daily abid?ing in Christ that they are powerless in believing His great and precious promises. Let us learn the lesson, both for our life and work, that as the members of Christ's body, the chief thing every day must be that close abiding fellowship with Christ, which ever first takes its place of deep dependence and unceasing supplication. Only then can we do our work in the full assurance that He has heard our prayer and will be faithful in doing His part, in giving the power from on high, as the source of strength and abundant blessing. Take time, oh, take time, ye servants of the Lord, and with your whole heart believe the word Christ has spoken. Christ asks: "Believest thou this?" Yea, Lord, I believe. "Abide in Me, Abide in My love." "If ye abide in Me, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
经文: 「使他们都合而为一，正如祢父在我裡面，我在祢裡面，使他们也在我们裡面，叫世人可以信祢差了我来。我在他们裡面，祢在我裡面，使他们完完全全的合而为一。」（）
耶稣在最后晚餐的时候，耳提面命祂的门徒，要住在祂裡面，祂也要住在他们裡面，彼此合一。但祂比较强调前者——「住在祂裡面。」然而，祂以大祭司的身分祷告时，祂比较强调祂住在门徒裡面，天父住在祂裡面。「他们可以合而为一，如同天父与祂合一一般；我在他们裡面，祢在我裡面，他们就可合而为一，世人就知道祢差派我来，祢是爱他们的，就如同祢爱我那样。」 让世人了解上帝爱门徒如同上帝爱耶稣的惟一方法，就是门徒活出一种耶稣在他们心中的生活，并且弟兄们彼此切实相爱，如同耶稣爱门徒一样。教会所以软弱冷澹之因——就是我们没有活出耶稣在我们心中的样式，世人也看不出基督徒合一的见证。所以，我们目前最迫切的需要就是：让耶稣内住于心，当信徒都以基督的心为心，就能彼此相爱。因着信徒能遵守耶稣临终前的吩咐，彼此相爱合一，天父也就活在他们裡面。耶稣藉着捨命的爱，证明祂所以这样爱门徒世人，是因天父上帝对祂的爱；属上帝的儿女也当将所受于耶稣的爱，施于弟兄姐妹身上，以致于世人身上。 让耶稣住在我们的内心，因着基督徒心中都有内住的基督，弟兄姐妹们就能彼此切实相爱，就如同耶稣最后一夜所做的祷告：「我把祢爱我的爱，放在他们裡面，我也在他们裡面，祢的名字就被人知道。」耶稣应许有爱心、顺命的门徒说：「我父爱他，我也爱他，我们且要住在他裡面。」（，23）是的，三位一体上帝，渴慕住在我们心裡面，藉着圣灵，要我们活出爱耶稣、爱兄弟的生命。让这样的生活，成为我们一生追求的目标，并愿意全力以赴，甘心为之生、为之死，在所不惜。 超越我们知识与理性的范畴，耶稣是可内住我们心中，让我们心中充满属天的大爱，以致我们可以爱弟兄、爱众人，世人就可认出我们真是基督的门徒。「天父爱我的爱，在你们裡面，我也在你们裡面。」「相信我能这样做到吗？」「是的，我信。」 THE MYSTERY OF LOVEScripture: "I pray that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in Me."—JOHN xvii. 21-23.
In what Christ spoke in the last evening, He had specially pressed the thought of the disciples being in Him and abiding in Him. He had also mentioned His being in them, but had not given such prominence to this as the first thought, their being in Him. But in His prayer as High Priest, He gives larger place to the thought of His being in them, just as the Father was in Him. "That they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in Me( that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and lovedst them, even as Thou lovedst Me." The power to convince the world that God loved the disciples as He loved His Son, could only come as believers lived out their life of having Christ in them, and proving it by loving their brethren as Christ loved them. The feebleness of the Church is owing to this—that our life in Christ, and His life in us, is not known, and not proved to the world by the living unity in which our love manifests that Christ is in us. Nothing less than this is needed: such an indwelling of Christ in the heart, such a binding together of believers because they know and see and love each other as those who together have Christ dwelling in them. As we have it in the very last words of the prayer, "I have made known Thy name, that the love wherewith Thou lovest Me may be in them, and I in them." The Divine indwelling has its chief glory in that it is the manifestation of Divine love. The Father's love to Christ, brought by Christ to us, flowing out from us to the brethren, and to all men. Christ had given (John xiv. 21, 23) the great promise to the loving, obedient disciple, "My Father will love him, and I will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him." It is to live this life of love to Christ and the brethren, that the Holy Spirit, in Whom the Father and the Son are one, longs to live in our heart. Let nothing less than this, child of God, be what you seek, what you believe, what you claim with your whole heart and strength—the indwelling of the Lord Jesus in the "love that passeth knowledge," with which He can fill your heart. So shall the world indeed be constrained by the love God's children bear to each other to acknowledge that the word is being fulfilled, "that the love wherewith Thou, Father, lovedst Me, may be in them, and I in them." "Believest thou that I can do this?" "Yea, Lord."
经文: 「如今却蒙上帝的恩典，因基督的救赎，就白白称义。」（）
前三卷福音书讲到罪得赦免的救赎恩典，约翰则着重于耶稣活在我们裡面的新生命。保罗却把这两种真理巧妙结合，显出福音的全备性。 到五章11节，提到因信称义，接着从五章12节到八章39节，提到与耶稣连接的新生命。罗马书第四章看到亚伯拉罕就有这两样东西，「亚伯拉罕信上帝，这就算为他的义。」（3～5节），他的信就算为他的义。「亚伯拉罕所信的，是那叫死人复活、使无变有的上帝。」（17节）首先，上帝因他信靠祂，就算他为义；接着又引导他相信这位上帝，是那叫死人复活的上帝。同样地，上帝也要这样训练属祂的儿女。 当我们内心的眼睛，从世界转向耶稣时，就是救赎称义的开端，逐渐信徒也开始明白重生的真义，知道耶稣现在已住在我们心中，我们需要做的就是，让耶稣长久住在我们心中，让祂动工掌权在这个人身上。 许多基督徒挣扎奋力地想过一个感恩顺服的生活，结果却失败得很惨，那是因为他们不明白，要完全地将自己交託给上帝，由祂来保守他们裡面的新生命。基督徒明白亚伯拉罕所学的第一个功课：因信称义；却不领悟第二个功课：相信上帝是使死人复活的上帝，祂住在我们心裡面，要藉着耶稣每天更新我们的生命，赐给我们得胜力量，与丰盛的祝福。 基督徒的生命，是「本于信，以致于信」（）赦罪的恩典只是救恩的开端，成圣的途径让我们更深刻明白，何谓住在耶稣裡面，也经历到何谓耶稣住在我们裡面，凡事连于元首耶稣基督，使属灵的生命更趋成熟茁壮。 CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSScripture: "Justified freely by His grace through Ike redemption that is in Christ Jesus."—ROM. iii. 24.
The first three Evangelists spoke of redemption as a pardon of sin, or Justification, John spoke of it as a Life which Christ is to live in us, or Regeneration. In Paul we find both truths in their beautiful connection and harmony. So in Romans he first speaks of Justification, Rom. iii. 21-v. 11, Then he goes on from v. 12 to viii. 39 to speak of the Life that there is in union with Christ. In Rom. iv. he tells us that we find both these things in Abraham. First, vers. 3-5, "Abraham believed God, Him that justifieth the ungodly; his faith is reckoned for righteousness." Then, ver. 17, "Abraham believed God, Who quickeneth the dead." Just as God first of all counted to Abraham his faith as righteousness, and then led him on to believe in Him as the God Who can give life to the dead, even so with the believer. Justification comes at the commencement full and complete, as the eye of faith is fixed upon Christ. But that is only the be?ginning. Gradually the believer begins to understand that he was at the same time born again, that he has Christ in him, and that his calling now is to abide in Christ, and let Christ abide and live and work in him. Most Christians strive by holding fast their faith in justifica?tion to stir and strengthen themselves for a life of gratitude and obedience. But they fail sadly because they do not know, do not in full faith yield themselves to Christ, to maintain His life in them. They have learned from Abraham the first lesson, to believe in God Who justifies (he ungodly. But they have not gone on to the second great lesson, to believe in God Who quickeneth the dead, and daily renews that life through Christ, Who lives in them, and in Whose life alone there is strength and fulness of blessing. The Christian life must be "from faith to faith." The grace of pardon is but the beginning; growing in grace leads on to the fuller insight and experience of what it is to be in Christ, to live in Him, and to grow up in Him in all things as the Head.
经文: 「那些受洪恩又蒙所赐之义的，岂不更要因耶稣基督一人在生命中作王吗？」（）「这样，你们向罪也当看自己是死的，向上帝在耶稣基督裡，却当看自己是活的。」（）
保罗教导我们「称义成圣」的生命，是由与耶稣「同钉十字架」开始。「岂不知我们这受洗归入基督耶稣的人，是受洗归入祂的死吗？」（）我们与祂同埋葬，也和祂同复活。正如同在亚当裡，众儿女都算是死的，因此众信徒在基督裡也算是死的。「我们的旧人与祂同钉十字架」，我们也与祂同复活，我们现在「向罪看自己是死的，向上帝却看自己是活的。」 正如我们裡面的新生命，与耶稣复活的新生命有分，我们在基督裡向罪算是死的，也是灵裡的实际。藉着圣灵的启示，我们真知道我们是与耶稣同钉十字架，也与祂同复活，如此我们就明白罪在我们身上是没有权势的，我们有如浴火重生的新人，向上帝是活着的。 不但在罪人身上，就是在信徒身上，也有老亚当的生命，这种老我的生命不明白与耶稣同在的意义。而那些被圣灵启示，明白与耶稣「同死同复活」真理的信徒，就能大有信心地站在上帝话语磐石上：「罪不能再辖制你。」即使片刻也不容它掌权。「向罪算自己是死的，向上帝在耶稣裡算自己是活的。」这是真实的信心生活。 若你真正经历到圣灵的大能，你才明白体会何谓「住在耶稣裡」，以及「耶稣住在我裡面」，同理，只有靠着圣灵大能的启示，我们才能明白与耶稣「同死同复活」的真理。保罗说：「圣灵的律，在基督耶稣裡释放了我，使我脱离罪和死的律了。」（）他本来抱怨他真是苦啊，如何能脱离罪的权势，接着他又说：「那随从圣灵，不随从肉体的，就能行出律法所要求的。」藉着圣灵的帮助，我们就可活出上帝儿女荣耀的自由。 求上帝开祂众儿女的心眼，让我们明白「耶稣内住」的生命，是何等不一样，那是一种圣洁、得胜、丰盛的生活。我们向罪是死的，向上帝是活的。 CHRIST OUR LIFEScripture: "Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." —ROM, v. 17."Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto Cod in Christ Jesus."—ROM. vi. 11. R. V.
We said that Paul teaches us now that our faith in Christ as our righteousness is to be followed by our faith in Him as our life from the dead. He asks (Rom. vi. 3), "know ye not that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" We were buried with Him, and raised from the dead with Him. Just as in Adam all his children died, so all believers in Christ actually died too in Him. "Our old man was crucified with Him," with Him we were raised from the dead. And now we are to count ourselves as actually "dead to sin and alive unto God." In very deed, just as the new life in us is an actual participation in and experience of the risen life of Christ, so our death to sin in Christ is also an actual spiritual reality. It is when, by the power of the Holy Ghost, we are enabled to see how really we were one with Christ on the cross in His death, and in His resur?rection, that we shall understand that in Him sin has no power over us. We present ourselves unto God "as alive from the dead." Just as the old Adam lives in the sinner, even in the believer too, who does not know of the new death in Christ which he has died, even so the man who knows that he died in Christ and now is alive in Him, can confidently count upon the word, "sin shall not have dominion over you," not even for a single moment. "Reckon yourselves indeed dead to sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus." This is the true life of faith. As what our Lord said about our being in Him and having Him living His life in us, could only come true as the full power of the Holy Spirit is experienced, so it is here too. Paul says (Rom. viii. 2), "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death," of which he had been complaining that it had kept him in captivity. And he then adds "that the requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Through the Spirit we enter into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Oh that God might open the eyes of His children to see what the power is of Christ living in them for a life of holiness and fruitfulness, when they reckon themselves indeed dead unto sin and alive unto God in Christ Jesus.
经文: 「我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着。」（）
因着亚当堕落犯罪，我们人类都遗传始祖的原罪；同样的，因着我们接受耶稣基督，做为我们的救主，我们在灵性上，与祂同钉十字架，向罪算自己是死的。这事对保罗而言是如此真实，因此他能够说：「我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着。」耶稣的死在他身上发动，其力量是如此的大，以致他不再为自己而活，乃是为住在他心中的耶稣而活。他已经向「罪」与「老我」死，并与住在他心中的主同复活。 因着钉十字的耶稣住在他心中，他就有份于耶稣基督的生命。这意味着得倒空自己，选择奴僕的样式，谦卑顺服以致于死——因着上帝住在他心裡面，这些性情就内化于心中，保罗把自己看成被钉十架的人。 耶稣被钉十架，可说是圣洁的上帝，战胜罪恶的最高表现，所有接受耶稣的信徒，都有份于耶稣的能力与祝福。基督徒凭信接受这真理，就能向着世界，看自己如何钉十架的死人，并对眼前的情慾、今生的骄傲说「不」。当我们明白十架的奥秘，受死的耶稣，就会在我们裡面启示祂的能力，引导我们与祂有更深入的沟通与契合，并有与祂一起受苦的心志。 同时，我们也能明白下面这句话的真义：「耶稣被钉十架受死，正是上帝智慧与能力的彰显。」保罗已深深领悟这个中三味，因此他敢如此说：「我已与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着。」 感谢上帝的恩典，藉着祂所赐的信心，我们得着能力，可以每天将自己交託给上帝，向罪把自己看成是死的，向上帝则在耶稣基督裡，把自己看成是活的。 CRUCIFIED WITH CHRISTScripture: "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me."—GAL. ii. 20.
As in Adam we died out of the life and the will of God into sin and corruption, so in Christ we are made partakers of a new spiritual death, a death to sin and into the will and the life of God. Such was the death Christ died; such is the death we are made partakers of in Him. To Paul this was such a reality that he was able to say: "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me." The death with Christ had had such power that he no longer lived his own life; Christ lived His life in him. He had indeed died to the old nature and to sin, and been raised up into the power of the living Christ dwelling in him. It was the crucified Christ Who lived in him, and made him partaker of all that the cross had meant to Christ Himself. The very mind that was in Christ, with His self-emptying and taking the form of a servant, His humbling Himself to become obedient unto death—these dispositions worked in him because the crucified Christ lived in him. He lives in very deed as a crucified man. Christ's death on the cross was His highest exhibition of His holiness and victory over sin. And the believer who receives Christ is made partaker of all the power and blessing that the crucified Lord has won. As the believer learns to accept of this by faith, he yields himself as now crucified to the world and dead to its pleasure and pride, its lusts and self-pi easing. He learns that the mystery of the cross, as the crucified Lord reveals its power in him, opens the entrance into the fullest fellowship with Christ and the conformity to His sufferings. And so he learns, in the full depth of its meaning, what the Word has said: "Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God." He grows into a fuller apprehension of the blessedness of daring to say: "I am crucified with Christ, I live no more; Christ the crucified liveth in me." Oh the blessedness of the power of the God-given faith that enables a man to live all the day counting himself, and yield?ing himself to God, as indeed dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
经文: 「我已经与耶稣基督同钉十字架，现在活着的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着。」（）
若我们问保罗何谓「现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着」，这经文对他究竟有什麽意义？他会说：「我现在在肉身活着的生命，是一个因信上帝儿子耶稣在我裡面的生命，祂爱我，为我捨命。」他的一生，每天每时每刻，都是因信活在耶稣爱裡的生命。信心是一种力量，它能掌管我们整个人，以及我们的行为举止。 这儿我们对真正基督徒生活的祕诀，有个简单且完备的描述；我们不是对上帝某几个应许有信心，也不是对某几个福份特别有心得，而是一种崭新的看见，就是耶稣基督将祂整个人全然给我们，而且是深入彻底的，涵盖每天的每时每刻，就像我们需要时时刻刻「呼吸」来维生一样，我们也是用「不止息」的信心，完全把自己交託给耶稣，相信祂每时每刻都扶持掌管着我们裡面这个人。 信心更是一种「全然的安息」在那广大无边的爱裡，相信耶稣要藉我们再活一次，我们是祂的器皿、肢体。因着祂的无所不在、无所不能，祂可以充满在我们裡面，成为我们全人完全的救主，掌管我们的心思意念，及每一部份。就如同天父与耶稣合而为一，耶稣所行皆天父旨意；同样，耶稣住在我们裡面，祂也要做工在我们裡面，藉我们行出祂的旨意。 藉着圣灵的教导与带领，我们绝对相信这位无所不知、无所不能的上帝，可以全天候廿四小时住在我们裡面，成为我们一切的一切。 「靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能做。」上帝向我们明示我们与耶稣之间，可以合而为一，耶稣的同在，可以像我们肉身的存在那样，是可以感觉意识到的。 THE FAITH LIFEScripture: "That life which I now live in the flesh, I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Him?self up for me."—GAL. ii. 20. R. V.
If we ask Paul what he meant by saying that he no longer lives, but that Christ lives in him, what now is his part in living that life? he gives us the answer: "The life that I now live in the flesh is the life of faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." His whole life, day by day and all the day, was an unceasing faith in the wonderful love that had given itself for him. Faith was the power that possessed and permeated his whole being and his every action. Here we have the simple but full statement of what the secret of the true Christian life is. It is not faith only in certain promises of God, or in certain blessings that we receive from Christ. It is a faith that has got a vision of how entirely Christ gives Himself to the soul to be, in the very deepest and fullest sense of the word, his life and all that that implies for every moment of the day. As essential as continuous breathing is to the support of our physical life, is the unceasing faith in which the soul trusts Christ, and counts upon Him to maintain the life of the Spirit within us. Faith ever rests on that infinite love in which Christ gave Himself wholly for us, to be ours in the deepest meaning of the word, and to live His life over again in us. In virtue of His Divine omnipresence, whereby He filleth all things, He can be to each what He is to all, a complete and perfect Saviour, an abiding Guest, in very deed taking charge and maintaining our life in us and for us, as if each of us were the only one in whom He lives. Just as truly as the Father lived in Him, and worked in Him all that He was to work out, just as truly will Christ live and work in each one of us. Faith, led and taught by God's Holy Spirit, gets such a con?fidence in the omnipotence and the omnipresence of Christ that it carries in the depth of the heart the abiding unbroken assurance all the day: He that loved me, and gave Himself for me, He lives in me; He is in very deed my life and my all. "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthened me." May God reveal to us that inseparable union between Christ and us in which the consciousness of Christ's presence may become as natural to us as the consciousness of our existence.
经文: 「我也将万事当作有损的，因我以认识主基督耶稣为至宝。」（）
查考耶稣在最后一夜，给门徒的应许，我们不禁要问：为何这些门徒配得受从天而降圣灵的洗？答桉很简单，当耶稣呼召门徒，他们就撇下一切来跟随祂，他们弃绝自己到一个地步，愿意捨命跟随耶稣到加略山，与祂一起共患难、同生死。因此他们在耶稣复活的生命上也有份。所以，门徒在地上就配得受圣灵的洗，就如同耶稣从荣耀的天父，得着丰盛的圣灵那样。 如同耶稣将自己完全献上，当作牺牲的羔羊献给上帝，属上帝的儿女也当如此行，就像亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各以致十二个门徒，他们都是甘心乐意捨下自己，跟随上帝的脚踪，单单地为祂而活，因此圣灵的大能就充满他们，使得上帝的旨意，透过他们来完成。 保罗也是如此，他将万事看为粪土，因他以得着耶稣为宇宙的至宝；我们也当效法保罗，把万事当作有损的，才能有份于耶稣的复活大能。但教会对这真理的教导太少了，我们不明白我们已经从世界被救赎出来，因着上帝爱我们的大爱，我们就要完全地为祂而活。就像一个人发现一个珍宝，就变卖所有的要买到它，耶稣用祂的宝血买赎我们归祂，祂也要我们尽心、尽意、尽力地爱祂，才能有份于祂得胜的生命。是的，天国的真理是颠扑不破的：耶稣基督是宇宙至宝，一切知识或珍宝，在祂面前都黯然失色，没得比较。 门徒们必须与耶稣基督相处几年，才能预备好心，接受五旬节圣灵的浇灌。耶稣呼召我们每天与祂同行，紧紧地与祂相连，住在祂裡面，好像现在活着的不再是为自己而活，乃是为耶稣而活。惟有藉着这方法，我们才能经历到圣灵丰盛的同在。 让我们大胆地开口向上帝要，相信这样一个被圣灵充满的生活，是上帝定意要给我们的，让我们的心渴慕拥有这样一种生活，天上地下除了耶稣以外，再无别物值得我们恋慕；若我们能如此专心爱主，我们就能站得稳，而且得胜有馀。 FULL CONSECRATIONScripture: "Yea, verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excell?ency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,"—PHIL, iii. 8.
In studying the promises Jesus gave to His disciples in the last night, the question comes, What was it that made just these men fit and worthy of the high honour of being baptized with the Holy Ghost from heaven? The answer is simple. When Christ called them, they forsook all and followed Him. They denied themselves, even to the hating of their own life, and gave themselves to obey His commands. They followed Him to Calvary, and amid its suffering and death their hearts clung to Him alone. It was this that prepared them for receiving a share in His resurrection life, and so becoming fitted here on earth to be filled with that Spirit, even as He received the fulness of the Spirit from the Father in glory. Just as Jesus Christ had to sacrifice all to be wholly an offering to God, so all His people, from Abraham and Jacob, and Joseph downward to His twelve disciples, have had to be men who had given up all to follow the Divine leading, and lived separated unto God, ere the Divine power could fulfil His purposes through them. It was thus with Paul too. To count all things but loss for Christ was the keynote of His life, as it must be that of ours, if we are to share fully in the power of His resurrection. But how little the Church understands that we have -been entirely redeemed from the world, to live wholly and only for God and His love. As the merchantman who found the treasure in the field had to sell all he had to purchase it, Christ claims the whole heart and the whole life and the whole strength, if we are indeed to share with Him in the victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. The law of the kingdom is unchangeable; all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. The disciples had to spend years with Christ to be prepared for Pentecost. Christ calls us to walk every day in the closest union with Himself, to abide in Him without ceasing, and so to live as those who are not their own, but wholly His. It is in this we shall find the path to the fulness of the Spirit. Let our faith boldly believe that such a life is meant for us. Let our heart's fervent desire reach out after nothing less than this. Let us love the lord our God and Christ our Saviour with our whole heart. We shall be more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
经文: 「愿赐平安的上帝亲自使你们全然成圣，又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我主耶稣基督降临的时候，完全无可指摘。」（）
多麽宝贵的应许！上帝的儿女要紧紧抓住这真理，将它变成生活的实际。然而，不信的人完全不明白这经文究竟何指，也没有几个人懂得它的宝贵与它所带来的喜乐。 但侧耳听吧！这位赐平安的上帝，因着祂爱子在十架所流的宝血，祂就在耶稣基督裡，赐给属上帝的儿女出人意外的平安，保守他们心怀意念不受干扰——这是惟有耶稣基督才能赐下的恩典。祂又应许我们，要使我们全然成圣，保守我们在圣灵裡追求圣洁，无可指摘。这一切完全是上帝的工作，因着与祂紧密的契合，我们在上帝圣洁的生命上有份。 我们不该对这样的景象兴奋地欢喜雀跃吗？这应许实在是太伟大了，以致它一再被强调重複。愿你的灵——在你心灵深处上帝设计来要与祂沟通的部份。以及你的魂——你的情、意、智，与人沟通互动的部份。还有你的体——那是罪住入你身体的部份，勾引你，佔据你，直到你死的时候。但是包括这部份，上帝都将之洁淨救赎。愿你的灵、魂与身子，得蒙保守，圣洁无瑕疵，无可指摘，直到主再来的时候。 为了避免有些人觉得这应许太伟大了，无法做到，圣经还特别加了这句：「那呼召你的是信实的，祂必成就这事。」是的，祂曾经说过：「我是上主，我要在耶稣基督裡，以及圣灵裡，成就这事。」祂所要求的，就是我们来，住在祂裡面，每天与祂有亲密的关係，就像阳光照在身上，我们感觉到温暖，祂圣洁的热火在我们裡面燃烧，叫我们圣洁。 上帝的儿女们，不要小信，这是对上帝不敬，而且也使你的灵性受亏损，让我们站稳在上帝的应许上，「那呼召你的是信实的，祂必成就这事。」是的，祂必能做成这事，祂要赐下恩典，让我常常住在祂的隐密处，安息在祂大能的臂膀下，享受祂圣洁平安的生命。祂必要做到承诺的。 「对信的人而言，在祂没有难成的事。」主啊！我信，但我信心不足，求主帮助。 ENTIRE SANCTIPICATIONScripture: "And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it."~l THESS. v. 23, 24. R. V.
What a promise! One would expect to see all God's children clinging to it, claiming its fulfilment. Alas, unbelief does not know what to think of it, and but few count it their treasure and joy. Just listen. God, the God of peace—the peace He made by the blood of the cross, the peace that passeth all understanding, keeping our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus—none other but Himself can and will do it. This God of peace Himself promises to sanctify us, to sanctify us wholly, in Christ our sanctification, in the sanctification of the Spirit. It is God who is doing the work. It is in close, personal fellowship with God Himself that we become holy. Ought not each of us to rejoice with exceeding joy at the prospect? But it is as if the promise is too great, and so it is repeated and amplified. May your spirit—the inmost part of our being, created for fellowship with God—and your soul, the seat of the life and all its powers—and body, through which sin entered, in which sin proved its power even unto death, but which has been redeemed in Christ: spirit, soul, and body be preserved entire, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. To prevent the possibility of any misconception, as if it is too great to be literally true, the words are added: "Faithful is He that calleth you. Who will also do it." Yes, He hath said: "I the Lord have spoken it; and I, in Christ and through the Holy Spirit, will do it." All that He asks is that we shall come and abide in close fellowship with Himself every day. As the heat of the sun shines on the body and warms it, the fire of His holi?ness will burn in us, and make us holy. Child of God, beware of unbelief. It dishonours God, it robs your soul of its heritage. Take refuge in the word: "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it." Let every thought of your high and holy calling wake the response: "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it." Yes, He will do it; and He will give me grace so to abide in His nearness that I can ever be under the cover of His perfect peace, and of the holiness which He alone can give. O my soul, He will do it. "All things are possible to him that believeth." I believe, Lord; help my unbelief.
经文: 「就为你们不住的感谢上帝，祷告的时候，常题到你们，求我们主耶稣基督的上帝，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道祂，并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道祂的恩召有何等指望，祂在圣徒的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀。」（）
这儿又有一处操练我们信心壮大的经文，使我们裡面的人刚强壮胆，能过得胜的生活。保罗写信给额上有圣灵印记的信徒，殷切地鼓励他们求告上帝打开他们心灵的眼睛，让他们真认识上帝，知道祂运行在我们身上的能力是何等浩大，那能力就是叫耶稣从死裡复活的能力。耶稣背负世人的罪孽与咒诅，被挂在十架上，罪沉重的压力把祂拖到死亡的阴间，因为死的权势完全辖制祂。然而，上帝的大能把祂从死裡复活，且高升提拔到高天荣耀的宝座。在信的人身上，这股复活的大能也照样在运行，藉着圣灵的教导，我们知道这股能力，每天都在我们身上运行做工。 上帝对亚伯拉罕说：「我是上帝，在我没有难成的事。」不仅在亚伯拉罕身上，在耶稣身上，上帝也行出这样大工。若我们学习信靠相信祂，上帝照样每时每刻，要以祂浩大无比的能力运行在我们心中。 藉着这股复活能力，这位复活被高举的耶稣，就活化在我们心中，成为我们的生命，我们的力量。但有多少人相信这真理？让我们切切地向上帝恳求，让我们信靠圣灵的大能，帮助我们每天所切慕渴望的，就是能经历到这股圣灵的大能运行在我们身上。 我们也要为教会裡的弟兄姐妹们祷告，让他们心眼得以张开，认识圣灵的工作与复活的大能；教会的传道人，也能像保罗那样，不断地为他所喂养的羊群代求，让信徒们能每天时刻经历到这股复活的大能，知道所信的是谁，明白基督教不再是星期天生活的点缀或社交生活，而是能真正落实在平日生活的信仰。 THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWERScripture: "I cease not to make mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the exceeding great?ness of His power to us-ward -who believe, according to that work?ing of the strength of His might which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead."—EPH. i. 16-20. R. V.
Here we have again one of the great texts in regard to which faith has to be exercised—words that will make our faith large and strong and bold. Paul is writing to men who had been sealed with the Holy Spirit. And yet he felt the need of unceasing prayer for the enlightening of the Spirit, that they might know in truth what the mighty power of God was that was working in them. It was nothing less than the very same power, the working of the strength of His might, by which He raised Christ from the dead. Christ died on the tree under the weight of the sin of the world and its curse. When He descended into the grave it was under the weight of all that sin, and the power of that death which had apparently mastered Him. What a mighty working of the power of God, to raise that Man out of the grave to the power and the glory of His throne. And now it is that very same power, in the exceeding greatness of it toward us who believe that, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, we are to know as working in us every day of our life. The Lord Who said to Abraham, "I am God Almighty, nothing is too hard for Me," comes to us with the message that what He did, not only in Abraham, but in Christ Jesus, is the pledge of what He is doing every moment in our hearts and will do effectually, if we learn to trust Him. It is by that Almighty power that the risen and exalted Christ can be revealed in our hearts, as our life and our strength. How little believers believe this! Oh, let us cry to God, let us trust God for His Holy Spirit to enable us to claim nothing less every day than the exceeding greatness of this resurrection power working in us. And let us very specially pray for all believers around us and throughout the Church that they may have their eyes opened to the wonderful vision of God's Almighty resurrection power working in them. And let ministers, like Paul, make this a matter of continual intercession for those among whom they labour. What a difference it would make in their ministry, the unceasing prayer for the Spirit to reveal the power that dwells and works in them.
经文: 「使基督因你们的信，住在你们心裡。」（）
以色列国与其他国不同之处，在于他们是耶和华所拣选的民族，上帝要住在他们当中，住在以色列圣殿中的至圣所中。在新约时代，这恩典广被世界各族接受，只要是相信耶稣的人，祂都要住在他们心中。耶稣说：「有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。……且要与他同住。」（，23）这也就是保罗所说：「这是外邦人中福音的奥祕，上帝住在他们裡面，成了荣耀的盼望。」或者如他常提的：「耶稣住在我裡面。」 福音的本质——以马内利的上帝，乐意与人同住。但有多少基督徒相信这真理？经历这应许？侧耳听听保罗的教导，告诉我们如何得着这有福的应许！！ （1）「我屈膝在天父面前，求上帝恩膏我。」上帝的恩典要临到那些谦卑屈膝、切切恳求的人，这要付上许多祷告的代价。 （2）「求祂按着祂丰盛的荣耀，藉着祂的灵，叫你们心裡的力量刚强起来。」这是使他们与世界有别，与罪恶无分的动力来源；我们也要将自己交託给主基督，尽心尽性爱祂，遵守祂的诫命，如此就成就圣经的应许：「天父与我都要来与他同住。」 （3）「使基督因你们的信，住在你们心裡。」上帝爱的本质，就是渴望住在人心裡，若我们能看到这点，并屈膝求上帝赐下这恩典，这样的祷告必蒙垂听，因着我们的渴慕与信心，上帝赐下这奇妙的礼物，就是让耶稣住在我们心中。 （4）「叫你们的爱心有根有基，便叫上帝一切充满的，充满了你们。」（，19节）这是我们可以经历到的。 上帝的儿女啊！将圣经的话像食物一样吃进去，默想它，消化吸收它，再用孩童般的信心，强烈的渴求它。三位一体的真上帝，就会在你心裡做工，紧抓住这应许，上帝会上尖下流地倾福于我们，超过我们所求所想的。 耶稣对我们说：「按着你们信心的大小，我就给你成就。」 THE INDWELLING CHRISTScripture: "That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith."—EPH. iii. 14-19.
The great privilege that separated Israel from other nations was this: they had God dwelling in their midst, His Home in the Holiest of all, in the tabernacle and the temple. The New Testament is the dispensation of the indwelling God in the heart of His people. As Christ said (John xiv. 21, 23), "If a man keep My words, he it is that loveth me; and My Father will love him, and I will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him"—what Paul calls "The riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Or, as he says of himself, "Christ liveth in me." The Gospel—the dispensation of the indwelling Christ. How few Christians there are who believe or experience it! Come and let us listen to Paul's teaching as to the way into the experience of this crowning blessing of the Christian life. 1. "I bow my knees to the Father, that He would grant you." The blessing must come from the Father to the supplicant on the bended knee, for himself or for those for whom he labours. It is to be found in much prayer. 2. "That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory,"—something very special and Divine—"to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man," to separate from sin and the world, to yield to Christ as Lord and Master, and to live that life of love to Christ and keeping His commandments to which the promise has been given: "The Father and I will come to him, and make our abode with him." 3. "That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith." It is in the very nature of Christ, in His Divine omnipresence and love, to long for the heart to dwell in. As faith sees this and bows the knee, and pleads with God for this great blessing, it receives grace to believe that the prayer is answered; and in that faith accepts the wonderful gift, so long thirsted for—Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. 4. "That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be filled with all the fullness of God," as far as it is possible for man to experience it. Child of God, feed on the words the Holy Spirit has given here. Meditate, with strong desire and childlike faith, on what the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit have undertaken to work in you. Hold fast the confident assurance that God will do abundantly above what we can ask or think. Christ speaks to you: "According unto your faith be it unto you."
经文: 「但愿赐平安的上帝，就是那凭永约之血、使群羊的大牧人，我主耶稣从死里复活的上帝，在各样善事上成全你们，叫你们遵行祂的旨意，又藉着耶稣基督在你们心裡行祂所喜悦的事。」（希伯）
亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，预备你们的心，培养更大更宽广的信心，这儿又有一个上帝宝贵的应许，是超过我们所思所想，就如同天超过地那样，非人的理性所能理解。 希伯来书提到了不起的真理，那就是耶稣永恆的救赎，新约的中保，忠信的大祭司，藉着祂所流的宝血，为我们成就大事工。希伯来书的作者，在阐释福音真理，传递属灵教导时，做了如下的结论：「赐平安的上帝」。请听：「要叫你们行善，就是上帝所预备叫我们行的。」这不是包括一切的事吗？我们还能要求更多吗？是的，请注意，「做工在你心中，行祂眼中看为正的事。」这一切都是藉着主耶稣而成的。 耶稣所以救赎我们，所以从死裡复活，最终极的目标，就是要得着我们这个人，让我们成为祂合用的器皿，行各样的善事。若我们问如何达成？答桉就是藉着耶稣基督，在我们心裡做工，行上帝眼中看为可喜悦的事。 在教会裡我们被教导要仰望耶稣，跟随耶稣，这全备的救恩，因着宝贵的应许，而达到完美的高峰——那就是耶稣要亲自成全这善工在信靠祂的儿女身上，亦即藉着耶稣基督在信徒心中做工，使他们行上帝眼中看为可喜悦的事。 有人说这理想太高，这应许太不够实际，我们做不到。然而，让我们宣告上帝的全能，激励我们的信心；我们只要紧紧地抓住一个真理——全能永在的上帝，每天每时每刻藉着耶稣做工在我们心裡面。我们所要做的部份，就是将自己交託在上帝手中，安息在祂的怀裡，不要用自己的努力挣扎，拦阻了上帝的圣工，我们只要安安静静地等候在上帝面前，讚美祂的全能，坚信圣经的真理，相信祂要藉着耶稣基督在我们心裡做工，助我们行上帝眼中看为正的事。「主啊，求祢加添我信心。」 CHRISTIAN PERFECTIONScripture: "The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ."—HEB. xiii. 20, 21.
Prepare your heart, my reader, for a large and strong faith, here again to take in one of those promises of God, as high above all our thoughts as the heaven is above the earth. You know what a wonderful exposition we have in the Epistle to the Hebrews of that eternal redemption which Christ our great High Priest, the Mediator of the new covenant, worked out for us through the shedding of His precious blood. The writer of the Epistle closes his whole argument, and all its deep spiritual teaching with the benediction—"The God of peace"—listen, "make you perfect in every good work to do His will." Does not that include everything ? Can we desire more ? Yes, listen— "working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight," and that through Jesus Christ. The great thought here is that all that Christ had wrought out for our redemption, and all that God had done in raising Him from the dead, was just with the one object that He might now have free scope for working out in us that everlasting redemption which Christ had brought in. He Himself as God the Omnipotent ever-working, will make us per?fect in every good work. And if we want to know in what way, we have the answer: By His working within us that which is well-pleasing in His sight. And that through Jesus Christ. All that we have been taught about the completeness of the salvation in Christ, and our call to 'look on Him, to follow Him, is here crowned and finds its consummation in the blessed assurance, God Himself takes such an entire charge of the man who really trusts Him, that He Himself will through Jesus Christ work all that is well-pleasing in His sight. The thought is too high, the promise is too large; we cannot attain to it. And yet there it is, claiming, stimulating our faith. It calls us just to take hold of the one truth—the everlasting God works in me every hour of the day through Jesus Christ. I have just one thing to do, to yield myself into God's hands for Him to work. Not to hinder Him by my working, but in a silent adoring faith to be assured that He Himself through Jesus Christ will work in me all that is well-pleasing in His sight. "Lord, increase our faith!"
经文: 「那赐诸般恩典的上帝曾在基督裡召你们，得享祂永远的荣耀，等你们暂受苦难之后，必要亲自成全你们，坚固你们，赐力量给你们。」（）
如同希伯来书中宝贵的应许：「赐平安的上帝，在各样事上成全你们，叫你们遵行祂的旨意。」彼得前书也有类似的宝贵应许：「赐诸般恩典的上帝，要成全你、坚固你，赐力量给你们。」上帝是我们每天为之而活的对象，当我们想到我们的工作、我们的需要、我们的渴望，上帝必须是我们希望所託，生活的重心。 就如同上帝是宇宙的主宰，是一切能力的源头，星球的运转，四季的更替，都由上帝调度吩咐；同样的，在信徒心中，上帝也必须居首位，在每天的开始，我们必须这样祷告：上帝啊！我单单地为祢而活，我今天能为祢做什麽？ 我们现在属灵的光景是如何？我们是否每天都谦卑地来到上帝面前，承认我们的软弱无助，并像孩童般单纯地将自己放在上帝手中，求祂按着祂的应许成就一切：「赐平安的上帝，在各样事上成全你们，叫你们遵行祂旨意。」「赐诸般恩典的上帝，要成全你、坚固你、赐力量给你们。」 在另一本书：「如何敬拜上帝」我们学到每天早晨到上帝面前安静祷告，领受祂的恩典，给祂时间，让祂向我们显现自己，是何等要紧的事。这样的信息，不也同样出现在彼得前书的经文中吗？对于我和上帝之间的关係，我们该有这样的体悟：新的一天开始，我一切的生活、工作或计划，都在上帝的手中，我的心安息在祂稳若磐石的话语上：「赐平安的上帝，要在各样的事工上成全我们，行各样的善事。」「赐诸般恩典的上帝，要全成你，坚固你，赐力量给你。」 靠着上帝的恩典，每天早上醒来出门前，就将自己交託在上帝的手中，并且默念祂的应许：「上帝要亲自成全那关乎我的事。」 慈爱的天父，我寻求祢的面，求祢施恩打开我的心眼，看到你要藉着耶稣基督所要成就的善工，而且你等着要做工在我们每一个人心中，就像祢曾在圣徒身上所做的工，他们就将荣耀全归于祢。 THE GOD OF ALL GRACEScripture: "The God of all grace, Who called you unto His eternal glory in Christ, shall Himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you, after ye have suffered a little while."—1 PETER v. 10.
We know how the Epistle to the Hebrews gathers up all its teaching in that wonderful promise, "the God of peace perfect you in every good work." Peter does the same thing here: "The God of all grace perfect, stablish, strengthen you." God Himself is to be the one object of our trust, day by day; as we think of our work, of our needs, of our life and all our hearts' desire, God Himself must be the one object of our hope and trust. Just as God is the centre of the universe, the one source of its strength, the one Guide that orders and controls its movements, so God must have the same place in the life of the believer. With every new day the first and chief thought ought to be—God, God alone, can fit me this day to live as He would have me. And what is now to be our position towards this God? Do we not feel that the first thought of every day ought to be the humble placing of ourselves in His hands to confess our absolute helplessness, and to yield ourselves in childlike surrender to receive from Him the fulfilment of such promises as these: "The God of peace perfecting you in every good work": "the God of all grace perfecting, stablishing, strengthening you"? Some of us have learned in the section on "The Secret of Adoration, how absolutely indispensable it is to meet God every morning and give Him time to reveal Himself and to take charge of our life for the day. Is not this just what we have to do with these wonderful words of Peter? Until it be an understood thing between God and ourselves: Blessed Father, in view of the life and work of this new day, my heart is resting on Thee; my hope is in Thy Word: "The God of peace perfect you in every good work": "the God of all grace perfect, stablish, strengthen you." By Thy grace may this henceforth be the spirit in which I awake every morning to go out to my work, humbly trusting in the word: "God shall Himself perfect you. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." Ever blessed Father, be pleased, I beseech Thee, to open the eyes of Thy children to the vision that even as Thy Son was perfected for evermore, so Thou art waiting to work in each of us that work of perfecting Thy saints in which Thy glory will be seen.
经文: 「你们知道主曾显现，是要除掉人的罪，在祂并没有罪。凡住在祂裡面的，就不犯罪；凡犯罪的是未曾看见祂，也未曾认识祂。」（）
耶稣在最后一次所说的话，约翰都把它牢牢记在心裡，他清楚记得耶稣六次讲到，凡爱祂遵守祂命令的，必要住在祂的爱中，天父与耶稣也必来与他同住。因此在约翰所写的书信中，住在耶稣裡一直是他重複出现的信息。（，24，28；三：6，24；四：13，16）在今天的经文，约翰教导我们可以不犯罪，「凡住在耶稣裡面的，就不犯罪。」虽然我们有罪性，但只要住在耶稣裡，祂是无罪的，可以把我们从罪恶的权势中拯救出来，行讨上帝喜悦的事。圣经中记载着耶稣说的一段话：「我常做祂所喜悦的事。」（）因此约翰在书信中也说：「亲爱的弟兄啊！我们的心若不责备我们，就可以向上帝坦然无惧了，并且我们一切所求的，就从祂得着，因为我们遵守祂的命令，行祂所喜悦的事。」（） 我的心哪！让我不喜欢不义，渴望脱离罪恶的权势，紧紧抓住上帝简单有力的应许：「在祂裡面毫无罪恶。」而「我在祂裡面。」当我们住在无罪的耶稣裡面，耶稣的生命也要藉着圣灵透过我们活出来，如此我们就能过一个讨主喜悦的日子，行耶和华眼中看为正的事。 上帝的儿女们，你们被呼召过一个信心生活，而且是一个坚定强壮的信心生活，持续不间断地相信上帝大能的保守，当你每天花时间来到上帝面前，将自己交託给这位赐平安的上帝，祂要在各样的善工上成全你们，你们也将经历到心中未曾想过的事，就是上帝为等候祂的人，所做心中奇妙的变化。 「凡住在祂裡面的，就不犯罪。」这应许是千真万确的，这位全能的上帝应许要在我们心中做工，藉着耶稣基督行祂眼中看为正的事。 「凡住在祂裡面的，就不犯罪。」 「我不是说过，你若信，你就要见着上帝的荣耀？」 NOT SINNINGScripture: "Ye know that He was manifested to take away sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not."—1 JOHN in. 5, 6.
John had taken deep into his heart and life the words that Christ had spoken in the last night, on abiding in Him. He ever remembered how the Lord had six times over spoken of loving Him and keeping His commandments as the way to abiding in His love, and receiving the indwelling of the Father and the Son. And so in this Epistle in his old age the abiding in Christ is one of the key-words of the life it promises (John ii. 6, 24, 28; iii. 6, 24; iv. 13, 16). In our text John teaches how we can be kept from sinning: "He that abideth in Christ sinneth not." Though there be sin in our nature, the abiding in Christ, in Whom is no sin, does indeed free us from the power of sin and enables us day by day to live so as to please God. Of the Lord Jesus it is written that He had said of the Father (John viii. 29) : "I do always those things that please Him." And so John writes in the Epistle: "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; and whatsoever vfe ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." Let the soul that longs to be free from the power of sin take these simple but far-reaching words; "In Him is no sin," and "of God I am in Him." "He that establisheth us in Christ is God." As I seek to abide in Him in Whom there is no sin, Christ will indeed live out His own life in me in the power of the Holy Spirit, and fit me for a life in which I always do the things that are pleasing in His sight. Dear child of God, you are called to a life in which faith, great faith, strong faith, continuous and unbroken faith, in the Almighty power of God is your one hope. As you day by day take time and yield yourself to the God of peace, Who perfects you in every good work to do His will, you will experience that what the heart has not conceived is what God indeed works in them that wait for Him. "He that abideth in Him, sinneth not." The promise is sure: God the Almighty is pledged that He will work in you what is well-pleasing in His sight, through Christ Jesus. In that faith, abide in Him. "Whosoever abideth in Him, sinneth not." "Have I not said unto thee that, if thou believest, thou shalt see the glory of God?"
经文: 「胜过世界的是谁呢？不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗？」（）
耶稣一再说到这世界恨恶祂，祂的国度和世界的国是两个敌对的势力，约翰深深瞭解这点，所以他做了如下的结论：「我们知道，我们是属上帝的，全世界都卧在那恶者手下。」（）「不要爱世界和世界上的事，人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在祂裡面了。」（） 约翰也教导我们世界的权势和它的本质：诸如肉体的情慾，眼目的情慾，并今生的骄傲。我们发现这些追求属世的荣耀，高抬自己的特质，在伊甸园夏娃的身上都找得到。她看到这园子的果树是好的，不但果子可当食物吃，而且悦人眼目，吃了还能使人眼睛明亮，变得聪明。经由肉体的需要，眼目的诱惑，以及今生的骄傲，这世界辖管了夏娃，也辖制了我们。 对那些不明白我们已与耶稣同钉十字架的基督徒而言，这世界的潮流对我们仍具有相当大的引诱力，无论是吃喝感官的享受，放纵肉体的安逸享受，或是名利权位的追求，都再再证明这世界的力量是何等强大！大部份的基督徒不是对这世界的诱惑浑然不知，就是对它觉得无可抗拒。 耶稣却留给我们可以支取的宝贵应许：「别灰心，我已经胜了这世界。」凡是住在耶稣基督裡的信徒，寻求靠着圣灵过着属灵生活的人，必有信心靠着上帝的大能胜过这世界。「那胜过世界的，岂不是那相信耶稣是上帝儿子的？」「我因信上帝的儿子而活，祂是爱我，为我捨命。」这就是每天时时刻刻胜过世界的秘诀，因而能拒绝生活中各样大大小小的诱惑。但这需要有一颗强烈的心志，愿意完全被耶稣所佔有，才能过一个凭信心得胜的生活。 喔，亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，花时间安静默想，是否真有信心相信上帝的全能胜过这世界？把你的信心放在大能的上帝手中吧，活在耶稣同在的面光中，做为不断得胜的确切保证。 「你相信这些吗？」「是的，我信。」 OVERCOMING THE WORLDScripture: "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God."—1 JOHN v. 5. ....
Christ had spoken strongly on the world hating Him. His kingdom and the kingdom of this world were in deadly hostility. John had understood the lesson, and summed up all in the words: "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." "Love not the world, nor the things that are of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." John also teaches us what the real nature and power of the world is: the lust of the flesh, with its self-pleasing; the lust of the eyes, with its seeing and seeking what there is in the glory of the world; and the pride of life, with its self-exaltation. We find these three marks of what the World is in Eve in Paradise. She "saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise." Through the body, and the eyes, and the pride of wisdom, the world acquired the mastery over her and over us. The world still exerts a terrible influence over the Christian who does not know that in Christ he has been crucified to the world. In the pleasure in eating and drinking, in the love and enjoyment of what there is to be seen of its glory, and in all that constitutes the pride of life, the power of this world proves itself. And most Christians are either utterly ignorant of the danger of a worldly spirit, or feel themselves utterly impotent to conquer it. Christ left us with the great far-reaching promise: "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." As the child of God abides in Christ and seeks to live the heavenly life in the power of the Holy Spirit, he may confidently count on the power to over?come the world. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" "I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me"; this is the secret of daily, hourly victory over the world and all its secret, subtle temptation. But it needs a heart and a life entirely possessed by the faith of Jesus Christ to main?tain the victor's attitude at all times. Oh, my brother, take time to ask whether you do with your whole heart believe in the victory that faith gives over the world. Put your trust in the mighty power of God, in the abiding- presence of Jesus, as the only pledge of certain and continual victory. "Believest thou this?" Yea, Lord. I believe.
经文: 「我信，但我信不足，求主帮助。」（）
就是多麽鼓舞激励人心的一段经文！一个被鬼附着小孩的父亲，来求见耶稣，耶稣对他说：「在信的人凡事都能。」这父亲觉得耶稣把责任推给他，若他能信，小孩的病就会好，但他觉得他没有那样大的信心，然而他看到耶稣慈爱的容颜，就相信耶稣能接受他微弱的信心，愿意来治好孩子的病，所以他流着泪祷告：「主啊！我信，但我信不足，求主帮助我。」耶稣听了他的祈祷，孩子的病就好了。 这段经文给了我们很大的安慰与激励，尤其当我们听到一个完美的应许，却没有足够的信心去支取应用它，我们就可学像这位父亲的祷告，我们这位信心创始成终的天父，祂顾念我们软弱的信心，必要帮助成全我们。来吧，让我们操练信心的功课，虽然我们的信心微小如芥菜种，但把这样的信心与主联络，这信心就会长大茁壮，因为耶稣是我们信心的创始成终者。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，当你们在圣经中挖到珍宝，渴望那宝贵的圣灵，在生活中能实现，就大胆地向上帝要，无论那信心是多麽微小薄弱，想想芥菜种的比喻，无论种子多麽微小，只要种下去，并让它生长，有一天它就会变成一棵大树。 同样的，我们抓到一个应许，无论信心是多淼小，就是把它植在心土，每天与耶稣亲近时，就是迫切地向耶稣祷告，上帝必会眷顾那紧附的微弱信心，叫它坚定茁壮成长，变成一个可以移山的大信心。 我们看到亚伯拉罕的例子，上帝是如何训练他的信心，使他成为信心的伟人，而将荣耀归于上帝。上帝的热心必要亲自来坚固我们的信心，每次心中有疑惑时，就想到上帝说的话：「你信我能做到吗？」让我们满有信心的回应主说：「是的，我信。」感谢讚美主！有位中保耶稣救主，祂等着要将新约丰盛的恩典，涓滴不匮地倾福于我们，而且还有圣灵保惠师暗中在我们心中动工，教导我们支取应用圣经中一切的应许。 JESUS THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTOR OF OUR FAITHScripture: "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."—MARk ix. 24.
What a treasure of encouragement these words contain. Our Lord had said to the father of the possessed child, who had asked for His help: "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." The father felt that Christ was throwing the responsibility on him. If he believed, the child could be healed. And he felt as if he had not such faith. But as he looked in the face of Christ, he felt assured that the love which was willing to heal, would also be ready to help with his faith and graciously accept even its feeble beginnings. And he cried with tears: "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." Christ heard the prayer, and the child was healed. What a lesson for us who have so often felt, as we listened to the wonderful promises of God, that our faith was too feeble to grasp the precious gift. And here we receive the assurance that the Christ Who waits for our faith to do its work is a Saviour Who Himself will care for our faith. Let us come, however feeble our faith may be, and, though it be with tears, cry: "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." And Christ will accept the prayer that puts its trust in Him. Let us bring it into exercise, even though it be but as a mustard seed; in contact with Christ the feeblest faith is made strong and bold. Jesus Christ is the Author and Perfector of our faith. Dear Christian, I pray you, as you read God's wonderful promises and long to have them fulfilled, remember the grain of mustard seed. However small, if it be put into the ground and allowed to grow, it becomes a great tree. Take the hidden feeble seed of the little faith you have, with the Word of promise on which you are resting; plant it in your heart. Give utterance to it in the contact with Jesus Christ and fervent prayer to Him; He will in very deed accept of the feeble trembling faith that clings to Him and will not let Him go. A feeble faith in an Almighty Christ will become the great faith that can remove the mountains. We saw in Abraham how God took charge of his faith and trained him to become strong in faith, giving glory to God. Count most confidently on the desire of Christ to strengthen your faith. And in answer to the* question that each time comes again, "Believest thou that I can do this ?" let your heart confidently say: "Yea, Lord, I do believe." Praise God! I have a Christ Who not only waits to give the full possession of the heavenly life and the blessings of the covenant, but a Christ Who secretly works in me the faith that can claim it all.
经文: 「要等候父所应许的。……但不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。」（）
主耶稣吩咐：「你们要去传福音给万民听。」接着祂又说：「要等候父所应许的」；「不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。」 基督徒都同意「传福音」不只是牧师传道人的工作，而是每个基督徒都有份于此呼召。但基督徒似乎忘记传福音前要先领受从上面来的能力，教会似乎也忘记提醒信徒，惟有住在圣灵裡，才能带出能力，将人心夺回归向耶稣。这就是为什麽我们很努力做工，却没有什麽果效。最主要的原因，就是太少祷告，太少迫切的祷告，因此看不到属天能力的彰显。 在这本书中，我们企盼从救主耶稣及祂门徒的言行中，找出五旬节的祕诀。门徒们按着耶稣所吩咐的，聚集在一处同心合意地迫切恳求，直到所应许的成就，就是圣灵降在他们中间，藉着他们行大事。 让我们热切、迫切地寻求圣灵的恩典，因为圣灵可以向我们启示那眼睛未曾看过，耳朵未曾听过，心裡未曾想过的真理——上帝为我们所成就的救恩，以及祂向那等候祂的人所要施的恩典。让我们祷告，求上帝为我们找回那被遗忘的祕诀——藉着热诚迫切的祷告，上帝必要赐下圣灵的能力。 THE LOST SECRETScripture: "Wait for the promise of the Father.""Ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."—ACTS i. 4, 5.
After our Lord had given the great command: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." He again added another, His very last command: "Tarry till ye be endued with power from on high." "Wait for the promise of the Father." "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." All Christians agree that the great command to preach the Gospel to every creature was not only for the disciples, but is binding on us too. But all do not appear to consider that the very last command, not to preach until they had received the power from on high; is equally binding on us as it was on the disciples. The Church appears to have lost possession of that which ought to be to her a secret of secrets—the abiding consciousness, day by day, that it is only as she lives in the power of the Holy Spirit that she can preach the Gospel in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. It is owing to this that there is so much preaching and working with so little of spiritual result. It is owing to nothing but this that the universal complaint is heard that there is so little prayer, and specially that there is so little of that much-availing prayer that brings down the Power from on high on her ministrations. In this book we desire to study the Secret of Pentecost as it is to be found in the words and the deeds of our blessed Master, and in the words and the deeds of His disciples as they took Him at His word, and continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, until the promise was fulfilled, and they became full of the Holy Ghost, and proved what the mighty power of their God could do through them. Let us seek earnestly the grace of the Holy Spirit, who alone can Himself reveal to us what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath .entered into the heart of man to conceive—the things which God hath done and loves to do for them that wait upon Him. Let us pray that the lost secret may be found—the sure promise that in answer to fervent prayer the power of the Holy Ghost will indeed be given.
经文: 「祂受害之后，用许多的凭据，将自己活活的显给使徒看，四十天之久向他们显现，讲说上帝国的事。」（）
耶稣开始传道之际，重複施洗约翰的信息：「天国近了。」之后又补充：「你们当中有人在未嚐死味之前，要看到上帝的国大有能力的降临。」这要在耶稣君王升上宝座才实现。首先门徒预备好心接受这伟大的礼物——圣灵的降临，让耶稣在人心的宝座上居首位，这就是上帝国度的降临。 耶稣复活的四十天裡，耶稣不断重複讲到上帝的国度，路加也在最末一节为保罗在罗马的传道生涯作了总结：「保罗从早到晚，对他们讲论这事；放胆传讲上帝国的道。」（，31） 坐在父上帝右边的耶稣，是万王之王，万主之主，祂将传扬「天国福音」的职份託付给门徒，这福音的本质就是在圣灵裡有公义、喜乐与平安。耶稣也教导门徒要这样祷告：「我们在天上的父，愿祢的国降临。」这经文如今对门徒而言，已赋予新的意义，就是上帝的国，随着圣灵的降临，也临到人间。门徒现在唯一的心愿——就是向世人传讲圣灵降临的信息。在世上上帝要与人同住，并在人心掌王权，如同祂在天上掌王权一般。 从耶稣给门徒的最后一个命令，我们看到大有能力的上帝国特徵： 一、君主——钉十字架的耶稣。 二、门徒——忠心的跟随者。 三、服事的能力——圣灵。 四、他们的工作——为耶稣作见证。 五、他们的目标——传福音到地极。 六、首要任务——等候上帝，并同心合意迫切祷告。 若我们接下传福音的棒子，便要清楚明白上帝对门徒们最后所吩咐的命令，就是要同心等候在上帝面前，等候上帝的国随着圣灵有能力的降临。亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，让我们好好思想这命令对我们「内在生活」的实质改变，以及对我们「服事果效」所带来的影响。 THE kINGDOM OF GODScripture: "Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."—ACTS i. 3.
When Christ began to preach He took up the message of John: "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Later on He spoke: "There be some of them that stand here which shall not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." That could not be until the king had ascended His throne. Then first He and His disciples were ready to receive from the Father the great gift of the Holy Ghost, bringing down the kingdom of God in its heavenly power into their hearts. Our text tells us that all the teaching of Jesus, during the forty clays after the Resurrection, dealt with the kingdom of God, and it is remarkable how Luke, in the last verses of Acts, sums up all the teaching of Paul at Rome; he testified to the kingdom of God, he preached the kingdom of God (Acts xxviii. 23, 31). Christ seated upon the throne of God was now king and Lord of all. To His disciples He had entrusted the announcement of the kingdom, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The prayer He had taught them: "Our Father, which art in heaven, Thy kingdom come," had now for them a new meaning. The rule of God as seen in heaven came down in the power of the Spirit, and the disciples were full of the one thought—to preach the coming of the Spirit into the hearts of men. There was now on earth good tidings of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of God ruling and dwelling with men, even as in heaven. In the last command our Lord gave to His disciples (Acts i. 4, 8) we shall find the great essential characteristics of the kingdom put in great power. 1. The king—the crucified Christ. 2. The disciples—His faithful followers. 3. The power for their service—the Holy Spirit. 4. Their wor祂—testifying for Christ as His witnesses. 5. Their aim—the end?: of the earth. 6. Their first duty—wait?ing on God in united unceasing prayer. If we are to take up and continue the prayer of the diciples, it is essential to have a clear and full impression of all that Christ spoke to them in that last moment, and what it meant for their inner life and all their service.
经文: 「耶稣又对他们说：『我实在告诉你们，站在这裡的，有人在没尝死味以前，必要看见上帝的国大有能力临到。』」（）
教会第一个主要记号：基督是王。 施洗约翰和耶稣都一直宣扬「上帝的国近了」这信息。耶稣还说有人在未嚐死味前，要看到上帝的国有能力的降临。这句话的意思是指复活升天坐宝座的耶稣，要藉着圣灵内住人心，在人的心中居首位掌王权。在天上上帝的旨意畅行无阻，在地上门徒们也藉着圣灵的能力，完全顺服上帝的旨意，使祂的旨意成就。 天国的记号就是有个王，现在坐宝座的耶稣正统管万有，在地上我们虽看不到有形具体的国度，但藉着信靠耶稣的人绝对地顺服救主，我们就看到上帝的国降临人间。在教会裡基督是头，弟兄姐妹们是主的身体，耶稣藉着圣灵内住人心、掌管人心，救主耶稣与信徒的关係极为密切，「祂在我裡面，我也在祂裡面。」藉着我们的信心与上帝的全能，我们与救主耶稣是合而为一的。 若我们要跟随门徒的脚踪，和他们一样蒙福，首要的功课就是尊主为大，凡事绝对顺服祂；而且坚信我们住在祂裡面，祂的全能也要保守我们能完全遵行祂的旨意，我们的一生也要完全献上，为爱主、服事主而活。 与基督耶稣间毫无隔阂的紧密关係，是基督徒生活的功课，而这要靠不断的祷告来操练，也就是不断凭信心宣告我们是住在主的裡面，主与我们是合一的，要操练到「主的同在」如呼吸般一样自然，如此我们就可在圣灵的管理下，时时刻刻尊主为大，靠着主站立得稳，且得胜有馀。 CHRIST AS kINGScripture: "And He said: 'Verily, I say unto you, that there be some of them which stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."—MARk ix. 1.
The first mark of the Church: Christ as king. Christ and John had both preached that the kingdom of God was at hand. In our text Christ said that it would be in the lifetime of some who heard Him that the kingdom would come in power. That could mean nothing else but that when He, as king, had ascended the throne of the Father, the kingdom would be revealed in the hearts of His disciples by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the kingdom of heaven, God's will was al?ways being done; in the power of the Holy Ghost, Christ's dis?ciples would do His will even as it was done in heaven. The mark of what a kingdom is, is to be seen in the king. Christ now reigns as God and man on the throne of the Father. On earth there is no embodiment or external manifestation of the kingdom; its power is seen in the lives of those in whom it rules. It is only in the Church, the members of Christ, that the united Body can be seen and known. Christ lives and dwells and rules in their hearts. Our Lord Himself taught how close the relationship would be. "In that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you." Next to the) faith of His oneness with God, and His omnipotent power, would be the knowledge that they lived in Him and He in them. This must be our first lesson if we are to follow in the steps of the disciples and to share their blessing, that we must know that Christ actually ae king, dwells and rules in our hearts. We must know that we live in Him, and in His power are able to ac?complish all that He would have us do. Our whole life is to be devoted to our king and the service of His kingdom. This blessed relationship to Christ will mean above all a daily fellowship with Him in prayer. The prayer life is to be a contin?uous and unbroken exercise. It is thus that His people can rejoice in their king, and in Him can be more than conquerors.
经文: 「你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，上帝已经立祂为主为基督了。」（）
我们已从各样角度谈耶稣是王，但有一点我们一定不能忽略的，就是祂是钉十字架的耶稣。祂的慈爱，祂的全能，祂的同在是我们常强调的，但有一点是绝对不能被忽略而不提的——这位王是被钉的耶稣。耶稣是被杀的羔羊，如今坐在祂的宝座上，天使天军都齐声颂讚祂；我们也当如此敬拜颂扬这位君王。 耶稣的十字架是祂最大的荣耀，藉着十字架祂打败仇敌，得以坐在宝座上；也是这十字架的大能，我们得以有份于胜过罪恶的能力。保罗说：「我已与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着。」 这对门徒而言，更是千真万确的事，他们已经预备好心，等候圣灵的降临。对世界而言，他们已经被钉十字架，门徒的老我也被钉在十字架上：对罪而言，这肉体是死，门徒的生命也与耶稣一同藏在上帝裡。每个人都需在十字架的经验裡与耶稣合而为一，才能真正经历到五旬节的意义是什麽，圣灵是如何管理我们。藉着圣灵的帮助与能力，耶稣甘心喝下苦杯，为世人捨命在十字架上，成为宝座上的君王。因此，惟有我们愿意绝对顺服上帝的心意，钉死肉体的邪情私慾，拒绝世界犬马声色的诱惑，我们才配得做这位被钉君王的僕人，我们这个卑微的身体，才能成为上帝荣耀的殿。 JESUS THE CRUCIFIEDScripture: "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."—ACTS ii. 36.
We have spoken of Christ as king in more than one respect. But there is one word more that may not be lacking. This king is none other than the crucified Jesus. All that we have to say of Him, His divine power, His abiding presence, His wonderful love, does not teach us to know Him aright unless we maintain the deep consciousness: This our king is the crucified Jesus. God hath placed Him in the midst of His throne as a Lamb, as it had been slain, and it is thus that the hosts of heaven adore Him. It is thus that we worship Him as a king. Christ's cross is His highest glory. It is through this that He has conquered every enemy and gained His place on the throne of God. And it is this that He will impart to us too if we are to know fully what the victory over sin is to mean. When Paul wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ, Christ liveth in me," he taught us that it was as the crucified One that Christ ruled on the throne of His heart, and that the spirit of the cross would triumph over us as it did in Him. This was true of the disciples. This was their deepest preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit. They had with their Lord been crucified to the world. The old man had been crucified: in Him they were dead to sin and their life was hid with Christ in God. Each one of us needs to experience this fellowship with Christ in His cross if the Spirit of Pentecost is really to take possession of us. It was through the Eternal Spirit that Christ gave Himself a sacrifice and became the king on the throne of God. It is as we become "comformable to His death," in the entire surrender of our will, in the entire self-denial of our old nature, in the entire separation from the spirit of this world, that we can become the worthy servants of a crucified king, and our hearts the worthy temples of His glory.
经文: 「耶稣和他们聚集的时候，嘱咐他们说：『不要离开耶路撒冷，要等候父所应许的。』」（）
教会的第二个特徵，就是上帝在门徒身上预备好接受圣灵的浇灌，好为祂向世人作见证。 若我们想要正确地了解上帝是怎麽回应门徒的祷告，将圣灵浇灌在他们身上，首先我们当认识这些门徒都是单纯的渔夫，不是有学问的知识份子，而且都有缺点，绝非十全十美的完人，但是上帝呼召他们放下一切谋生的，来跟随祂做得人渔夫。这些门徒也竭尽所能照着耶稣所吩咐的去做，跟随祂的脚踪，效法祂的榜样。虽然他们一样有罪性，也很难每次都克服老我，但他们的心却是紧紧地与主相连。即使跟随主的脚步是蹒跚软弱的，但十字架永远是他们的标竿。门徒们在耶稣的死上有份，也就是说以肉身而言，他们向罪是死的，同时也与耶稣一起复活，有份于这新生命。正因为门徒们的向老我死，从上头来的圣灵能力便得以浇灌在他们身上。 让我们用这来检视我们的信仰，我们有否与耶稣一起受苦，一起钉死在十字架上，我们有否恨恶自己的肉体到一个地步，要将这老我钉死，让祂的新生命在我们裡面滋长。有了这样的经历，我们才有信心相信上帝垂听我们的祷告，应允我们所求的，赐下圣灵运行在我们心中，使祂的旨意成就在我们身上。我们必须像门徒一样，坚定地仰赖上帝，紧紧地与祂相连，祂就会赐下五旬节的经历，让我们的心愿得偿，让我们的祷告得蒙应允。 THE APOSTLESScripture: "Being assembled together with them, He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father." ACTS i. 4. R. V.
The second mark of the Church is to be found in the disciples whom the Lord had prepared to receive His Spirit and to be His witnesses. If we would understand aright the outpouring of the Spirit in answer to the prayer of the disciples, we must above all ask: What was there in these men that fitted them for such powerful, effectual prayer, and the wonderful fulfilment of the promise that came to them ? They were simple, unlearned men with many faults, whom the Lord had called to forsake all and follow Him. They had done this, as far as they could; they followed Him in the life He led and the work He did. Though there was much sin in them, and they had as yet no power fully to deny themselves, their hearts clung to Him in deep sincerity. In the midst of much stumbling they, yet followed Him to the cross. They shared with Him His death; unconsciously, but most really, they died with Him to sin, and were raised with Him in the power of a new life. It was this that fitted them for the power in prayer, and the being clothed with the power from on high. Let this be the test by which we try ourselves, whether we have indeed surrendered to the fellowship of Christ's sufferings and death, and whether we have hated our own life and crucified it, and have received the power of Christ's life in us. It is this that will give us liberty to believe that God will hear our prayer too, and give us His Holy Spirit to work in us what we and He desire, if we are indeed with one accord to take up the disciples' prayer, and to share in the answer. We must, like them, be willing learners in the school of Jesus, and seek above everything that intimate fellowship with Him, that will fit us for praying the prayer of Pentecost, and receiving its answer.
经文: 「我已将祢的道赐给他们；世界又恨他们；因为他们不属世界，正如我不属世界一样。」（，16）
耶稣在世最后一夜，祂费尽唇舌向门徒说明祂与世界是不相合的，中间有鸿沟相隔（）。祂提到圣灵，祂说：「这世界不接受圣灵，因为世界不认识圣灵，也不瞭解祂。」「因祂不属这世界，这世界也恨恶祂。」 耶稣不属这世界，所以门徒也不属这世界。门徒与耶稣同钉十字架，也与祂同复活。那些被圣灵充满的门徒，很明显的一个特色，就是过一个「分别为圣」的生活。 对于圣灵工作之确信与把握，为何在教会中这麽少被教导，在基督徒生活中，也这麽少被流露？答桉是基督徒爱父的心太少，爱世界的心太多()。眼目的情慾、肉体的沉溺于感官的刺激，陶醉于观众的掌声中，我们以自我为中心，我们不肯走十字架牺牲的道路，所以我们没办法接受圣灵的充满与浇灌。 让我们学像五旬节的门徒那样，迫切祷告等候圣灵的降临与充满，知道这是得能力的祕诀，是让上帝应许兑现的祕诀。但愿弟兄姐妹们，能将这话铭记在心，深深刻在心版上：「这世界不接受这圣灵，因祂不属这世界，门徒们也不属于这世界。」 NOT OF THIS WORLDScripture: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."—JOHN xvii. 14, 16.
In the last night our Lord took pains to make clear to His disciples the impassable gulf between Him and the world, and between them and the world too (John xvi. 16-21). He had said of the Spirit: "The world cannot receive Him, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him." "Because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you." One great mark of the disciples was thus to be that as little as Christ was of the world, so little were they to be of the world. Christ and they had become united in the cross and the resurrection ; they both belonged to another world, the kingdom of heaven. This separation from the world is to be the mark of all disciples who long to be filled with the Spirit. How is it that faith in the Holy Spirit is so little preached and practised in Christendom? The world rules too much in the life of Christians. Christians live too little the heavenly life to which they are called in Christ Jesus. The "love of the world" (1 John ii. 15, 16) ; "The lust of the flesh," pleasure in eating and drinking, in ease and comfort; "The lust of the eyes," delight in I all that the world offers of beauty and possession; the vain glory of life, the self-exaltation in what the wisdom and power of man has accomplished—all this robs the heart of its susceptibility and desire for that true self-denial that fits for receiving the Holy Spirit. Let each one who would, take up the Pentecostal prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit examine himself whether the spirit of the world is not the secret of that lack of love of prayer which is absolutely necessary in all who would plead the promise of the Father. May the Lord write this deep in every heart, the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit! "Ye are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
经文: 「你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫祂永远与你们同在。」（）
我们已经明白门徒们是如何得着圣灵的洗，以及看到他们如何在圣灵裡，保守与耶稣「继续不断的联合」。耶稣是门徒心中的至宝，是门徒生命中一切的一切。尤其是在耶稣复活后，耶稣更是门徒生活中实际的重心，是他们唯一的盼望，是他们为之生，为之死的对象。 如此委身于主，为主而活的生活，岂不是极为特殊的恩宠，是信徒们极为渴望的生活？主耶稣现在（如同祂过去一样）极盼望祂的儿女们，都能过着尊主为大的生活，能被圣灵充满，得着能力，成为祂在地上的器皿，常常为众人代求，把慕道友带到主耶稣的羊圈当中。 基督教的信仰，对我们而言，是生活的点缀还是生命的至宝？对那些不认识耶稣的人，基督耶稣根本在他们心中没有份量；对那些不冷不热的基督徒而言，耶稣是可有可无的神；但对真正的基督徒而言，耶稣是一切的一切。那些渴慕得着圣灵能力的信徒，必随时这样祷告：「主耶稣啊！我全心全意仰望祢，时时刻刻顺服祢的带领。」是的，绝对顺服，完全倒空是得着圣灵的不二法门。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，我们都明白这节经文：「爱我的，必遵守我的命令。」是的，要跟随主做主的门徒，必须每天顺服主耶稣，时时刻刻思想自己被保守在上帝的灵裡，倾听祂微小的声音，顺服祂的带领。当上帝的儿女们乐意在每样的事上讨上帝的欢心时，上帝就要将祂的爱与灵浇灌在他们身上。这就是为什麽门徒们在同心合意恆切祷告时，圣灵就大大地降临充满在他们身上。是的，同心合意地祷告是得能力的祕诀，我们要传福音领人归主，使冷澹退后的信徒积极火热，使教会人数倍增，同心合意地恳切祷告，是最有效的利器。 OBEDIENCEScripture: "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter."—JOHN xiv. 15, 16.
We have learned to know the disciples in their training for the baptism of the Spirit, and seen what was needed for their continuing "with one accord" in the prayer for the power of the Spirit. Christ was everything to them. Even before the cross, but much more after it, and with the resurrection, He was literally their life, their one thought, their only desire. Such a devotion to Christ, was this something special, and not to be expected of all? Or was it indeed something that the Lord asked from all who desired to be filled with the Spirit? God expects it of all His children; the Lord has need of such now, as much as then, to receive His Spirit and His power, to minister them here on earth, and, as intercessors, to link the world to the throne of God. Is Christ something, or nothing, or everything, to us? For the unconverted, Christ is nothing; for the half converted—the average Christian—Christ is something; for the true Christian, Christ is all. Each one who prays for the power of the Spirit must be ready to say: "I yield myself with my whole heart this day to the leading of the Spirt"; a full surrender is the question of life or death, an absolute necessity. My dear brother, you have heard the word of our text: "If ye.love Me, keep My commandments." The surrender to live every day, all the day, abiding in Christ, and keeping His commandments, is to be the one mark of your discipleship. It is when the child of God learns that it is only as the heart longs in every?thing to do God's will, that the Father's love and Spirit can rest upon it. This was the disposition in which the disciples continued with one accord in prayer. This will be the secret of power in our intercession as we plead for the Church and the world.
经文: 「但不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。」（）「但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力。」（）
教会的第三个特徵——藉着圣灵得能力服事上帝。自从亚当堕落陷入罪恶中后，上帝的灵就不与人同在。如今上帝一直在寻找合用的器皿，想找着一个永远的居所，让祂的灵与我们同工。 上帝的灵如何住在人心呢？只有靠耶稣上十字架，藉着祂的死败坏那掌死权的人，败坏那罪恶的势力，然后祂复活得胜了，为人类带来新生命，让属祂的儿女可以住在祂的裡面，祂的灵也藉此住进人心，掌管人心，让人心做为上帝和耶稣的居所。 耶稣的门徒及上帝的儿女们，所以能得胜罪恶，脱离綑绑，所倚靠的就是心中这股灵的力量，这灵就是圣灵。在旧约裡，这力量被称为上帝的灵；但在新约恩典的世代，圣灵藉着十字架的耶稣被彰显，我们又藉着耶稣的宝血得以称义，因此我们得以在耶稣的生命性情上有份，我们的身体就成为圣灵的殿，圣灵也要坐在我们心灵的宝座上掌王权，管理我们每日的生活。 圣灵也是圣子的灵，耶稣在世时，圣灵引导祂到旷野受魔鬼的试探，又引导祂到会堂，向众人宣告祂就是先知所预言要来的弥赛亚（；），后来又甘心顺服，走上十字架道路，这些都是圣灵明确的引导与带领。 圣灵现在又向我们启示，我们心中的耶稣是我们的力量，是我们生命中的至宝，靠着圣灵的力量，我们可以有效地传福音。 多麽奇妙的奥祕，上帝的灵是我们的生命，是我们的力量，是我们的亮光。我们心中的圣灵，与初代使徒心中的圣灵是一样的，我们共有同一个圣灵，所以，我们的祷告，也如义人的祷告一样，是蒙天父垂听，是大有功效的。 THE HOLY SPIRITScripture: "Ye shall be baptized -with the Holy Ghost." "Ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you."—ACTS i. 5, 8.
The third mark of the Church—the power for service through the Holy Spirit. Since the time of Adam's fall when he lost the spirit God had breathed into him, God's Spirit had striven with men, and worked in some with power, but He had never been able to find His permanent home in them. It was only when Christ had come, and by His death had broken the power of sin, and had won in the resurrection, a new life for men to live in Himself, that the Spirit of God could come and take possesson of the whole heart, and make it a dwelling place for Christ and for God. Nothing less than this could be the power in the disciples and in us by which sin could be overcome, and the prisoners set free. This Spirit is the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament He was called the Spirit of God. But now that in the cross of Christ the holiness of God had been magnified, and Christ had sanctified us that we might be sanctified like Him, the Spirit of God's holiness descends to dwell in men, and take possession of them as God's Holy temple. He is the Spirit of the Son. On earth He led the Son first into the desert to be tempted of Satan, then to the Synagogue in Nazareth to proclaim Himself as the fulfilment of what the prophets had spoken (Isa. Ixi. 1; Luke iv. 18). And so on the cross, Christ yielded Himself implicitly to the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit now reveals Christ in us as first of all our life, and then our strength, for a perfect obedience, and the preaching of the Word in the power of God. Amazing mystery! The Spirit of God, our life; the Spirit of Christ, our light and strength. It is as men and women who are led by this Spirit of the first disciples, that we shall have the power to pray the effectual prayer of the righteous man that availeth much.
经文: 「我要将我父所应许的降在你们身上；你们要在城裡等候，直到你们领受从上头来的能力。」（）
主耶稣曾对门徒说：「离了我，你们就不能做什麽。」如今耶稣为何拣选这些世上看来软弱无能的人做祂的门徒？又将那传福音的棒子交给他们？原来主耶稣就是要他们体会，人的软弱可以成就主的刚强；人的无能为力，更能经历上帝恩典宝座的怜悯与帮助。耶稣为人子在世时，天父上帝就曾这样将丰富的恩典赏赐给祂，赐能力给祂，现在祂在天上，向门徒们证明，天上地下所有的权柄与能力，都已经赐给祂了，只要门徒藉着祷告祈求，诚心相信，并将自己完全降服于圣灵的带领，必要经历祂的同在与能力。 圣灵不是一种门徒所能掌控的一种内心的能力，圣灵乃是一个有位格、有能力的三位一体真神当中的一位，祂要来内住我们的心，要来管理我们的生活，我们所做所为都是出于这位全能的上帝，我们的气息存活也在乎祂，我们每日的言行举止都是不断地仰赖祂，藉着祷告与祂紧紧相连，并以信心盼望祂要为我们成就的善工。 耶稣的门徒们跟随耶稣三年半，清楚地认识耶稣，他们看到祂奇妙大能的作为，他们聆听祂的教诲，他们和耶稣同甘共苦，一起历经苦难，甚至跟随祂一起到各各他，亲眼看到祂被钉十字架，又看到祂复活向他们显现，且经历耶稣复活的生命，活在他们心裡面。然而，他们尚不能将内在的耶稣，清楚地表彰出来，直到耶稣升天坐在宝座上，差遣圣灵保惠师下来，藉着圣灵的内住，耶稣管理他们的内在，得以将耶稣属天的生命，藉着门徒为管道流露出来。 身为传道人，最重要的一件事，莫过于常有圣灵同在，紧紧地与主耶稣相连，如此自然流露的生命，是最有力的讲章，因为身教胜于言教，有圣灵管理的生活，他的言行举止，自然流露耶稣基督馨香之气，能使人羡慕嚮往，是最有效的传福音利器。感谢上帝，藉着祂的全能，可以使用我们这卑微的器皿，成为祂爱与恩典的管道，使他人因我们得福，让救恩临到世上更多的人。 THE POWER FROM ON HIGHScripture: "Tarry ye until ye be clothed with power from on high.— LUkE xxiv. 49.
The Lord had said to the disciples: "Without Me ye can do nothing." And now, why is it that He has chosen these impotent, helpless men to send them out to conquer the world for Him? It was that in their feebleness they might yield them?selves and give Him as Lord, the opportunity on His throne, to show His power working through them. As the Father had done all the work in Christ when He was upon earth, so Christ in heaven would now be the Great Worker, proving in them that all power had been given to Him in heaven and on earth. Their place would be to pray, to believe, and yield themselves to the mighty power of Christ. The Holy Spirit would not be in them as a power of which they could have possession. But He would possess them, and their work would be in very deed the work of the Almighty Christ. Their whole posture each day would be that of unceasing dependence and prayer, and of confident expectation. The Apostles had indeed learned to know Christ intimately. They had seen all His mighty works; they had received His teaching; they had gone with Him through all His sufferings, even to the death of the cross. And they had not only seen Him but known Him in the power of His resurrection and the ex?perience of that resurrection life in their own hearts. Yet they were not capable of making Him known aright, until He Himself, from the throne of heaven, had taken possession of them by His Spirit dwelling in them. Everything calls the Gospel minister to rest content with nothing less than the indwelling life and power of the Holy Ghost revealing Jesus in the heart as the only fitness for preaching the Gospel in power. Nothing less than having Christ speaking through us in the power of His omnipotence will make us able ministers of the New Testament, bringing salvation to them that hear us.
经文: 「你们就必得着能力……作我的见证。」（）
教会的第四个特色，就是祂的僕人要为祂作见证，叙述上帝的大爱，上帝救赎的恩典，以及祂乐意与人同在，并在人心作奇妙的工作。 这是我主我上帝允许祂的儿女们所使用的唯一利器——为祂作见证。这不是靠着我们的身份地位，口才能力，来说服人信靠耶稣，乃是靠着我们这群被救赎归入主名下的人，愿意完全降服于主，让圣灵来管理我们的生活、言行举止，让我们成为耶稣活生生的见证，传扬耶稣在我们身上的作为。 这是唯一的利器，用来赢得人心，领人归向耶稣，这也是初代使徒所做的，当他们被圣灵充满时，他们就大胆地传讲耶稣所做奇妙伟大的事蹟。 虽然门徒们受逼迫，逃离分散到四处各地，甚至远到安提阿，他们仍奉耶稣的名，传讲耶稣复活的好信息，成千上万的外邦人因而相信耶稣是上帝的儿子。他们并非大使徒，也没有特别的恩赐或受过专业训练，但因为心中充满了上帝的爱与力量，他们的心被恩感，无法闭口不言，一定要传扬耶稣的奇妙恩典，一定得站出来为耶稣作见证。 就是这股力量，源源不绝从门徒身上散发出来，福音得以广传，信徒人数得以增加，这些得救信主的人，又开始热心大胆地为耶稣做见证，基督徒的人数因而如滚雪球般增加。 一个非基督徒作家曾提到有关罗马政府逼迫基督徒的事，他说只要基督徒不向外人传讲福音，只把信仰当做个人的崇拜活动，政府就不会抓人下监，但这些基督徒内心火热，内心恩典满溢，若不传讲出来，心裡就不安。 这儿我们看到教会增长的祕诀——信徒们热心为主作见证，他们希望耶稣能在每个人的心中掌权做主。另一方面，我们也看到教会荒凉的原因——太少基督徒肯为耶稣大发热心，为祂向世人作见证。 我们迫切地需要摆上这样的祷告： 「主啊！求祢教导我们各样属灵的福份，让我们更认识耶稣，更经历到祢的大能与大爱，也愿意热切地与人分享这位奇妙真活的上帝，以及祢在我们身上所做的事，并且以传扬耶稣为甘甜，深知此乃世间乐事也。奉主圣名。阿们！」 MY WITNESSESScripture: "Ye shall be My Witnesses."—ACTS i. 8.
The fourth mark of Christ's Church, His servants are to be Witnesses to Him, ever testifying of His wonderful love, of His power to redeem, of His continual abiding presence, and of His wonderful power to work in them. This is the only weapon that the king allows His redeemed ones to use. Without claiming authority or power, without wisdom or eloquence, without influence or position, each one is called, not only by his words, but by his life and action, to be a living proof and witness of what Jesus can do. This is to be the only weapon they are to use in conquering men and bringing them to the feet of Christ. This is what the first disciples did. When they were filled with the Spirit they began to speak of the mighty things that Christ had done. It was in this power that those who were scattered abroad by persecution went forth, even as far as Antioch, preaching in the name of Jesus, so that a multitude of the heathen believed. They had no commission from the Apostles; they had no special gifts or training, but out of the fulness of the heart they spoke of Jesus Christ. They could not be silent; they were filled with the life and the love of Christ, and could not but witness to Him. It was this that gave the Gospel its power of increase; every new convert became a witness for Christ. A heathen writer tells later in regard to the persecutions, that if the Christians were only content to keep the worship of Jesus to themselves they would not have to suffer. But in their zeal they wanted Christ to rule over all. Here we have the secret of a flourishing Church: every believer a witness for Jesus. Here we have the cause of the weakness of the Church: so few who are willing in daily life to testify that Jesus is Lord. What a call to prayer! Lord, teach Thy disciples the blessedness of so knowing Jesus and the power of His love, that they may find their highest joy in witnessing to what He is and has done for them.
经文: 「但我要从父那裡差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵；祂来了，就要为我作见证。你们也要作见证，因为你们从起头就与我同在。」（）
做耶稣的见证人——这不仅是对平信徒的要求，更是对福音大使——牧师和传教士的要求。这是他们最高的呼召，也是他们传福音的唯一能力来源——就是作耶稣的见证人。 这儿上帝向我们启示两个真理：第一，上帝僕人所传讲的圣经信息，必须论及耶稣祂本身，来配合信徒心灵的需要，这也是初代使徒所做的，他们不停息地向各家各户传扬耶稣是谁。腓利在撒玛利亚地就这麽做：「他向他们传讲耶稣。」保罗也说：「我定意在你们当中，不讲别的，只传讲钉十字架的耶稣。」 福音使者必定明白，他们需要「密室祷告」的生活，得着圣灵的能力，为主作见证。因为惟有在安静中，上帝才能在祂儿女的心中，向他们显现说话；这是蒙恩为上帝所救赎的罪人，被拣选为服事上帝的僕人们，必须牢记在心的金科玉律。 第二，也是很重要的一点，这见证必须是生活中个人的经验或体验，因为有血有肉的见证，才能带出说服力，感动人心，激励信徒，相互扶持，彼此建造耶稣的身体，见证耶稣乃又真又活的上帝。由此也让信徒们体认每天与耶稣亲密的祷告生活，是健康属灵生命中不可或缺的一环。是的，我们必须像单纯的孩童一样，完全地仰赖信靠天父上帝，每天经历祂奇异的恩典。 弟兄姐妹们同心合意祷告，从内心深处涌出讚美，颂讚感谢上帝，将荣耀归给救主耶稣，这当中经历到圣灵的同在与能力，这是何等蒙恩的聚集，这正是信徒们迫切需要的得力泉源。 THE GOSPEL MINISTRYScripture: "The Spirit of truth, He shall testify of Me, and ye shall also bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the be?ginning."—JOHN xv. 26, 27.
My witnesses—that not only refers to all believers, but very specially to all ministers of the Gospel. This is the high calling, and also the only power of the preacher of the Gospel—in everything to be a witness for Jesus. This gives us two great truths. The first, that with all that the preacher teaches from the Word of God, or according to the need of his congregation, he must first of all place the preaching of Christ Himself. This is what the first disciples did. "They ceased not in every house to teach and to preach Jesus Christ." This was what Philip did at Samaria. "He preached Christ unto them." And so Paul writes: "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." The minister of the Gospel may never forget that it is for this specially that he has been set apart, to be with the Holy Spirit a witness for Christ. It is as he does this that sinners will find salvation, that God's children will be sanctified and fitted for His service. It is thus alone that Christ can have His place in the heart of His people and in the world around. But there is a second thought of not less importance. And that is, that the teaching must ever be a personal testimony from experience to what Christ is and can do. As this note is sounded, the Holy Spirit carries the message as a living reality to the heart. It is this that will build up believers so that they can walk in such fellowship with Jesus Christ that He can reveal Himself through them. And it is this that will lead them to the knowledge of the indispensable secret of spiritual health—the prayer life in daily fellowship, in childlike love, and true consecration with the Father and the Son. What abundant matter for prayer union, to cultivate among believers and ministers that joy of the Holy Ghost in which, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth, speaks to the praise and glory of our ever-blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ our Lord.
经文: 「……要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地、和撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。」（）
属基督的教会——是世界禾场。想想哪！「……直到地极，作我的见证。」这样的话，竟然出自看似全然无能的失败者，被敌人挂在十字架的耶稣口中，简直是不可思议。那些不把耶稣当上帝，只当祂是普通人的人，实在是看走眼，但这也难怪，有谁相信这个被钉十字架的犹太人耶稣，这个门徒四散逃走弃之不顾的耶稣，竟然能征服全世界。这的确是超过人的理解力，跌破专家眼镜；但这就是上帝的心意，上帝的计划，祂必要成就其旨意。 耶稣对门徒说：「但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们必得着能力。」这应许为门徒带来信心与力量，因为知道圣灵必住在他们心中赐下力量；正如同耶稣是靠着天父作工在祂心中，得着力量；同样的，在宝座上的耶稣，也要显大能做工在门徒的心中，使他们得着力量。而这目的何在？就是基督的教会，要以世界为禾场，将福音传遍地极，为耶稣作见证。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，上帝的国度要如何扩张呢？惟赖弟兄姐妹们安静等候在上帝面前，同心合意祷告寻求上帝的心意，明白要为祂做什麽。 倘若弟兄姐妹们能全然以基督的心为心，将自己完全摆上，同心合意地祷告，等候上帝，并且相信祂必要赏赐那寻求祂的人，上帝就要将祂的应许、荣耀的同在与能力，透过圣灵，将门徒们所求所想的，完全赏赐给他们。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，让我们学习做个大有信心的代祷者，相信这位钉十字架的耶稣，要因着我们热诚迫切的祷告，赏赐给我们超过我们所求所想的。 THE WHOLE WORLDScripture: "My witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth."— ACTS i. 8.
Here we have the fifth mark of Christ's Church—the whole world. What words are these for the man who in his absolute impotence had been crucified by His enemies, speaking of the ends of the earth as His dominion. What folly on the part of those who speak of Christ as being nothing but a man. How could it have entered the mind of any writer to venture the prophecy that a Jew who had been crucified, whose whole life had been proved by that cross to be an utter failure, and whose disciples had at the last utterly forsaken Him—that by them He should conquer the world ? No human mind could have formed such a conception. It is the thought of God; He alone could plan and execute such a purpose. The word that Jesus spoke to His disciples: "Ye shall re?ceive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you," gives them the assurance that the Holy Spirit would maintain in them Christ's divine power. As Christ did His works only because the Father worked in Him, so Christ assured His disciples that He Himself from the throne of Heaven would work all their works in them. They might ask what they would and it should be done unto them. In the strength of that promise the Church of Christ can make the ends of the earth its one aim. Oh, that Christian people might understand that the extension of God's kingdom can only be effected by the united continued prayer of men and women who give their hearts wholly to wait upon Christ in the assurance that what they desire He will do for them. Oh, that God would grant that His children proved their faith in Christ by making His aim their aim, and yielding them?selves to be His witnesses in united, persevering prayer, waiting upon Him in the full assurance that He will most surely and most gloriously give all that they can ask. My reader, do become one of those intercessors who really believe that in answer to your prayer the crucified Jesus will do far more than you can ask or think.
经文: 「愿祂的荣耀，充满全地！阿们！阿们！」（）
多麽伟大荣耀的远景！现在正伏于恶者权势下的世界，将要充满上帝的荣耀——一个充满上帝义的新天新地！虽然我们难以相信这应许，但这真的会到来；因为上帝的话，一点一画都不能废去。上帝藉着祂儿子基督耶稣的宝血，胜过罪恶的力量，征服了死亡的权势，以祂全能的圣灵能力，让祂的旨意能够一一成就。多麽荣耀的远景！全地要充满上帝的荣耀！ 但这又是多麽艰钜的一项工作。耶稣说完这应许，升天坐在宝座上，迄今将近两千年，但世界人类仍有将近一半，未曾听闻耶稣之名，其馀一半虽曾听闻耶稣之名，却不曾真正认识祂。耶稣将传扬福音的大使命，交託给教会，可悲的是许多教会忽略了这个大使命，也不在意因轻忽它所带来的后果。我们会问，真有这麽一天吗？这艰钜的使命会完成吗？喔！上帝的名是可称颂的，上帝以祂的信实与能力必要成就祂的应许，将来有一天，全地必要充满上帝的义与荣耀！ 这是一个多麽振奋人心的祷告！经上记着：「愿祂的荣耀，充满全地！阿们！阿们！」每位信徒都被呼召来回应这祷告，并要靠圣灵来激发这样祷告的心，靠圣灵来挑旺这样的信心！ 弟兄姐妹们，恳切的祷告，上帝必垂听，且大有能力，愿我们仰脸定睛在耶稣身上，用信心抓住上帝的应许，求祂动工改变人心，直到上帝的荣耀充满全地。而且愈多人同心合意祷告，等候圣灵的能力，那力量将是何等大！何等蒙福！这也是为主预备道路，迎接这位大君王快快降临人间。 THE WHOLE EARTH FILLED WITH HIS GLORYScripture: "Blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen."—Ps. Ixxii. 19.
What a prospect! This earth now under the power of the Evil One, renewed and filled with the glory of God— a new earth wherein righteousness dwells. Though we believe it so little, it will surely come to pass; God's Word is the pledge of it. God's Son by His blood and death conquered the power of sin, and through the Eternal Spirit the power of God is working out His purpose. What a vision, the whole earth filled with His glory! But what a great and difficult work. It is near two thousand years since Christ gave the promise and ascended the throne, and yet more than one-half of the human race have never learned to know even the name of Jesus. And of the other half, what millions are called by His name, yet know Him not. This great work of bringing the knowledge of Christ to every creature has been entrusted to a Church that thinks little of her responsibility and of what the consequence of her neglect will be. We may indeed ask: Will the work ever be done? Blessed be His name, His power and His faithfulness arc pledges that one day we shall see it, the whole earth filled with the glory of God. What a wonderful prayer! For in our text it is a prayer —"Let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen." It is to this prayer that every believer is called, and he can count upon the Holy Spirit to inspire and to strengthen him. It is to this prayer that we desire to strengthen each other, so that every day of our life, with all the power there is in us, we with one accord and continually, desire to pray in the faith of the name of Jesus and the power of His Spirit. What blessedness to know1 that true prayer will indeed help, and be answered! What blessedness every day of our lives to seek God's face, with confidence to lay hold of Him and give Him no rest till the earth is full of His Glory! Once again, what blessedness to unite with all God's willing children in this the day of His power, who are seeking to prepare the way for our king!
经文: 「这些人，同着几个妇人，和耶稣的母亲马利亚，并耶稣的弟兄，都同心合意的恆切祷告。」（）
教会的第六个特徵——信徒聚在一起祷告，等候父所应许的。在教会历史上，这第一次的聚集祷告会，有极其重要的意义，与举足轻重的地位，因为这聚会是按着耶稣的心意，门徒们就是单单照着耶稣所吩咐的去做；然而这却奠定后代祷告会蒙上帝悦纳的模式——多人聚集同心祷告，必有上帝的同在与圣灵能力的彰显。并能因此略窥如何打开天上仓库，得到属天祝福的通道。 耶稣常常为门徒能有彼此相爱，主裡合一的见证代祷——就像父与祂，祂与父是合一的一般——如此世人就能看出上帝爱世人，就如同上帝爱耶稣一般。但是我们却看到耶稣在做这样祷告时，门徒的情况离这标准还差得远呢！例如，他们在主的圣餐桌前，还在争谁要为大。耶稣复活之后，应许他们在祂升天后十天，要派遣圣灵保惠师下来，进到他们当中，使他们灵裡合一，成为耶稣的身体，有合一爱的见证，领受祂的大能。 多麽不同凡响的祷告会！三年半来耶稣与门徒们朝夕相处，相濡以沫，为要他们得其真传，能在灵裡同心；如今教会——耶稣的身体首次诞生，上帝向他们吹进祂的灵气，让圣灵在信徒心中掌权，因此肢体能有合一的见证。 五旬节首次的祷告会，向我们启示天国的律——何时门徒们在爱裡聚集同心祷告，何时圣灵就从天上降下，作为上帝喜悦的印证，并同时伴随着圣灵的大能。初代使徒聚集祷告的典范，成为历世历代教会意图复兴，追求圣灵充满的榜样。若众弟兄姊妹们，也能像初代使徒们那样，火热地同心祷告，等候圣灵降临，为教会的圣工代求，上帝岂不将我们所求的赐给我们，且超过我们所求所想的？ THE FIRST PRAYER-MEETINGScripture: "These all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer, with the women."—ACTS i. 14.
The sixth mark of the early Church—waiting on the promise of the Father in united prayer. It is difficult to form a right conception of the unspeakable importance of this first prayer-meeting in the history of the kingdom, a prayer-meeting which was the simple fulfilling of the command of Christ. It was to be for all time the indication of the one conditions on which His Presence and Spirit would he known in Power. In it we have the secret key that opens the storehouse of heaven with all its blessings. Christ had prayed that the disciples might be one. even as He and the Father were one—perfect in one—that the world might know that God loved them as He loved Christ. How far the disciples were from such a state when Christ prayed the prayer, we see in the strife that there was among them at the Lord's Table as to who would be chief. It was only after the resurrection and after Christ had gone to heaven, that they would be brought, in the ten days of united supplication, to that holy unity of love and of purpose which would make them the one Body of Christ prepared to receive the Spirit in all His power. What a prayer-meeting! The fruit of Christ's training during His three years' intercourse with them. Adam's body , was first created, before God breathed His spirit into him. And so the Body of Christ had first to be formed ere the Spirit took possession. This prayer-meeting gives us the law of the kingdom for all time. Where Christ's disciples are linked to each other in love, and yield themselves wholly to Him in undivided consecration, the Sprit will be given from heaven as the seal of God's approval, and Christ will show His mighty power. One of the great marks of the new dispensation is the united unceasing prayer that avail-eth much, and is crowned with the power of the Holy Spirit. Have we not here the reason why, if our prayers are confined in great measure to our own church or interests, the answer cannot come in such power as we expected ?
经文: 「用和平彼此联络，竭力保守圣灵所赐合而为一的心。」（）
从保罗的书信，我们看到在不同的地点，属基督的教会，是如何在祷告中彼此记念。他指明在这样同心的祷告会中，上帝的名就被尊崇高举，上帝的荣耀就被彰显，所以保罗不只一次提醒众教会，大家同心合意地聚集一起，为众肢体以及教会的需要代祷祈求，是何等讨上帝喜悦、荣耀上帝的事（；四15；九12～13）。 今日的世代有个迫切的需要，就是上帝的儿女们要意识到他们是被拣选的族类，有君尊的祭司职份，有责任要聚集一起同心祷告讚美主，做为圣洁的服事。但是太少基督徒如此做，也不觉得有此需要，以致属上帝的儿女，虽有宗教的习惯，却没有实质的敬虔内涵，与一般人并没有什麽太大的分别；因此我们要问一个很重要的问题：我们要如何做，才能使信徒在灵裡同心合一？ 最有助于彼此同心，灵裡合一的方法，莫过于弟兄姐妹们聚在一起，同心合意地为一些特定的对象祷告，显示出在主裡圣洁的爱，这也向世人证明我们是因上帝而活，保罗说：「靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。」（），这就是世人与基督徒们最大的不同点之一。 你说你希望拥有属上帝儿女的特质，能常为众人祷告，并向世人证明你是与世俗有别，那麽你就必须决心做一个有祷告生活的基督徒，同时加入一个祷告小组，固定持续地为自己、为肢体祷告，学习在主裡刚强，支取祂的能力，求祂将恩典临到众教会；每天至少拨出十五分钟，默想上帝的话语，挖掘上帝对教会的应许，并求上帝兑现祂的应许。慢慢地，但很确实地，你就会感觉到上帝在做协调的工作，使肢体配搭合宜，在灵裡合一，并且更有能力为教会的需要祷告，而且带出祷告的效果。 THE UNITY OF THE SPIRITScripture: "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit." "There is one body and one Spirit."—EPH. iv. 3, 4.
It is from Paul that we learn how the Christian communities in different places ought to remember each other in the fellowship of prayer. He points out how in such prayer God is glorified. So he writes more than once (2 Cor. i. 11, iv. 15, ix. 12, 13) of how the ministry of intercession abounds to the glory of God. In our days there is very great need that the children of God throughout the world should be drawn close together in the consciousness of their being chosen by God to be a holy priesthood ministering continually the sacrifice of praise and prayer. There is too little distinction between the world and the Body of Christ; in the life of many of God's children there is very little difference from what the world is. It is a question of the deepest importance: What can be done to foster the unity of the Spirit ? Nothing will help so much as the separation to a life of more prayer, with the definite intercession that God's people may prove their unity in a life of holiness and love. That will be a living testimony to the world of what it means to live for God. When Paul wrote: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and sup?plication for all saints," he names one of the essential characteristics of the difference between God's people and the world. You say you long to bear this mark of the children of God, I and to be able so to pray for them that yon may prove to yourself land to others that you are indeed not of the world. Resolve in i your life to bear about with you this one great distinctive feature 1 of the true Christian—a life of prayer and intercession. Join with God's children who are seeking with one accord and unceasingly so to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the Body of (Christ that they may be strong in the Lord and in the power of I His might, to pray down a blessing upon His Church. Let none I of us think it too much to give a quarter of an hour every day I for meditation on some word of God connected with His promises I to His Church—and then to plead with Him for its fulfilment. Slowly, unobservedly, and yet surely, you will taste the blessedness of being one, heart and soul, with God's people, and receive the power to pray the effectual prayer that availeth much.
经文: 「祷告完了，……他们就都被圣灵充满，放胆讲论上帝的道。那许多信的人，都是一心一意的。」（）
一个团体最忌讳的是如同散沙一般，若每一份子都能有向心力，凝聚在一起，那力量是何等的大，所谓聚沙成塔，众志成城。比如一滴小水珠不算什麽，但当许多小水珠汇集即成河川，那力道是无可比拟的！ 同理，若弟兄姐妹们能聚在一起，同心合意地祷告，那力量是何等的大！就如同诗篇卅四篇5节所说：「凡仰望祂的，便有光荣；他们的脸，必不蒙羞。」这也是五旬节时，门徒在马可楼上祷告的情形。若基督徒能结合力量，恳切地求上帝兑现祂的应许，那力量是何等地大，就如众水汇奔，其势难挡。 在拿坦这个地方因河川湍急，当地人要渡河时，总是手牵手一起涉水，为首者右手握棍以平衡，左手拉后面人的手，如此廿几个人列队渡河而行；让我们相信在灵裡，上帝的儿女们也是如此同心携手，抵御世俗的潮流，不放纵肉体的私慾，爱天父的心增多，爱世界的心减少。 耶稣升天后，门徒聚集在马可楼上，同心合意地祷告了十天之久，直到他们共同有合一的心志。当圣灵保惠师降下，祂不但充满在个人身上，更大大地充满在教会整体众弟兄姐妹身上。 切记啊！亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，在今天，耶稣仍如此祷告：「天父啊！愿他们合一，就如同我们合一。」藉着肢体间有信心，有爱心的互相代祷，我们的心就能合而为一，凭信接受上帝向我们应许的一切恩典。 UNION IS STRENGTHScripture: "And when they had prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul." —ACTS iv. 31, 32.
The power of union we see everywhere in nature. How feeble is a drop of rain as it falls to earth. But when the many drops are united in one stream, and thus become one body, how speedily the power is irresistable. Such is the power of true union in prayer. In Ps. xxxiv. 5 the English margin has, instead of "They looked unto Him," "They flowed unto Him." The Dutch translation is, "They rushed towards Him like a stream of water." Such was the prayer in the upper room. And such can our prayer be if we unite all our forces in pleading the promise of the Father. And when the world "comes in like a flood," it can be overcome in the power of united prayer. In Natal, owing to the many mountains, the streams often flow down with great force. The Zulus are accustomed, when they wish to pass through a stream, to join hands. The leader has a strong stick in the right hand, and gives his left hand to some strong man who comes behind him. And so they form a chain of twelve or twenty, and help each other to stem and cross the current. Let us believe that when in spirit God's people reach out their hands to each other, there will be power to resist the terrible influence that the world can exert. And in that unity God's children, when they have overcome the power of the world and the flesh, will have power to prevail with God. It was in the upper room that they abode the ten days until they had truly become one heart and one soul. When the Spirit of God descended, He not only filled each individual, but took possession of the whole company as the Body of Christ. Do believe, O Christians, that in this twentieth century the prayer of our Lord Jesus is still being offered: "Father, that they may be one as We are one." It is in the fellowship of loving and believing prayer that our hearts can be melted into one, and that we shall become strong in faith to believe and to accept what God has promised us.
经文: 「我实实在在的告诉你们，你们若向父求甚麽，祂必因我的名赐，给你们。」（）
多麽神奇奥妙啊！我们的祷告与上帝天父的荣耀，有极其密切的关係。在地上越多的祷告，就越多荣耀天父；在地上越少祷告，就越少荣耀天父。既然我们的祷告，与天父的荣耀，是如此密不可分，我们岂不该更多的祷告，而且迫切不止息地祷告！ 在最后的晚餐那夜，耶稣语重心长地教导门徒们，希望他们懂得奉耶稣的名祷告的意义，以及奉耶稣的名祷告所带出的效果，耶稣重複这话有七次之多。祂知道人是多麽迟钝于领受这样美好的信息，祂迫切地想激发人对祂的信心，毫不怀疑地相信彼此代祷，是最蒙福，也是最荣耀上帝的事；这样的服事不仅给自己带来平安快乐，也是让周围的人，藉我蒙福。 若我们以为这样同心合意的祷告不容易做到，别忘了耶稣曾告诉我们，当圣灵来到人间，我们就有能力祷告，因为圣灵将要引领我们到上帝施恩宝座前，求上帝成就祂的应许：「你们就必得着，使你们的喜乐得以满足。」当我们相信圣灵能毫无拦阻地作工在我们心裡，我们替别人代祷的服事，就可成为我们的喜乐与力量。 保罗曾说：「无论作什麽，或说话，或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，藉着祂感谢父上帝。」（），他提醒我们，每天每时每刻都要与耶稣相亲，靠着祂行事。若我们把这样的功课，操练得纯熟，我们就能大有信心的来到主宝座前，知道只要奉耶稣的名祷告，无论求什麽，就必得着。当我们与众弟兄姐妹一起祷告，为他人代求时，上帝的灵就降临在我们当中。当我们尊主为大，让圣灵管理我们全人时，耶稣也要赐我们权能，使我们的祷告更加有力。 PRAYER IN THE NAME OF CHRISTScripture: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."—JOHN xiv. 13.
How wonderful the link between our prayers and Christ's glorifying the Father in heaven. Much prayer on earth brings Him much glory in heaven. Much prayer on earth far as we are concerned, little glory to the Father. What an incentive to much prayer, to unceasing intercession. Our prayer is indispensable to the glorifying of the Father. So deep was the desire of Christ in the last night that His disciples should learn to believe in the power of His Name, and to avail themselves of His promise of a sure and abundant answer, that we find the promise repeated seven times over. He knew how slow men are to believe in the wonderful promise of answer to prayer in His name. He longs to rouse a large and confident faith, and to free our prayer from every shadow of a doubt, and to teach us to look upon intercession as the most certain and most blessed way of bringing glory to God, joy to our own souls, and blessing to the perishing world around us. And if the thought comes to us that such prayer is not easy of attainment, we only need to remember what Christ told them. It was when the Holy Spirit came that they would have power thus to pray. It is to draw us on to yield ourselves fully to the control of the blessed Spirit that He holds out to us the precious promise, "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." As we believe in the power of the Spirit working in us in full measure, intercession will become to us the joy and the strength of all our service. When Paul wrote (Col iii. 17), "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus," he reminds us how in daily life everything is to bear the signature of the name of Jesus. It is as we learn to do this, that we shall have the con?fidence to say to the Father that as we live in that Name before men we come to Him with the full confidence that our prayer in that name will be answered. The life in intercourse with men is to be one with the life in intercourse with God. It is when the name of Jesus rules all in our life that it will give power to our prayer too.
经文: 「我们在天上的父。」（）
从耶稣口中讲出的这句话「我们在天上的父！」是多麽简单，又多麽甜美！且富含深意，充满无限的祝福与爱。 想想看，有哪一本书写满慈爱智慧天父在地上的作为？再想想天父为世人预备这美丽丰饶的世界享受，我们岂能报答祂的恩泽于万分之一？而这些只不过是将来天堂的影子，天父为我们将来预备要去的地方，其美好是超过我们所求所想。 耶稣降世，作为世人的赎价，使我们得以与天父和好，能够靠着祂也得称上帝为「阿爸父」，这是何等大的恩宠。 当我们俯首敬拜上帝，呼求「阿爸父」时，祂就从高天降下，来到我们面前，住在我们心裡；但很快我们的心也觉得需要进到祂天上的至圣所，呼吸上帝的气息，饮于祂的圣灵活泉，让全人都归向祂。当我们操练这样的默想灵修时，我们的灵就被提到天上，将世俗的挂虑抛诸脑后，与天使同唱和讚美上帝，此时我们开口呼叫「阿爸天父」时，就有迥然不同的意义，我们的心也可整日隐藏在祂的至高隐蔽处。 当我们集中精神，思想「天上的父」究竟代表什麽意思时，我们会体会到现在只是预嚐「天堂」的滋味，将来与天父同在的情景必会更为美好。我们只有低头轻唤：「喔！亲爱的阿爸父。」并且感谢祂藉着所赐的圣灵，让我们得与上帝相通，享受那属天的喜乐与能力。 喔！天父，谢谢祢的恩典，让我们得享属天的生命，能与天父的性情有份；并且因着我们拥有的平安喜乐，证明我们有个天上的父亲在看顾我们；我们也愿学习每天活在祂圣洁的同在裡。 YOUR HEAVENLY FATHERScripture: "Our Father which art in heaven."—LUkE xi. 2.
How simple, how beautiful, this invocation which Christ puts upon our lips! And yet how inconceivably rich in its mean?ing, in the fulness of the love and blessing it contains. Just think what a book could be written of all the memories that there have been on earth of wise and loving fathers. Just think of what this world owes to the fathers who have made their children strong and happy in giving their lives to seek the welfare of their fellowmen. And then think how all this is but a shadow— a shadow of exquisite beauty, but still but a shadow of what the Father in heaven is to His children on earth. What a gift Christ bestowed on us when He gave us the right to say: "Father!" "The Father of Christ," "Our Father," "My Father." And then, "Our Father in heaven," our heavenly Father. We count it a great privilege as we bow in worship to know that the Father comes near to us where we are upon earth. But we soon begin to feel the need of rising up to enter into His Holy presence in heaven, to breathe its atmosphere, to drink in its spirit, and to become truly heavenly-minded. And as we in the power of thought and imagination leave earth behind, and in the power of the Holy Spirit enter the Holiest of all, where the seraphs wor?ship, the word "heavenly Father" gets a new meaning, and our hearts come under an influence that can abide all the day. And as we then gather up our thoughts of what fatherhood on earth has meant, and hear the voice of Christ saying: "How much more"—we feel the distance there is between the earthly picture and the heavenly reality, and can only bow in lowly, loving adora?tion, "Father, our Father, my Father." And only thus can full joy and power come to us as we rest rejoicingly in the word: "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Oh, for grace to cultivate a heavenly spirit, and daily to prove that we are children who have a Father in heaven, and who love day by day to dwell in His Holy presence!
经文: 「义人祈祷所发的力量，是大有功效的。」（）
祷告大有功效！因为上帝有大能，且听祷告，这在教会历史上可得明证，若教会的祷告兴旺，就要看到上帝奇妙的作为彰显在人间。 所谓义人的祷告大有功效，意谓着在上帝面前称为义的人，上帝就给他披上公义的外袍，赐他生命的活泉，如同经上所说：「这新人是照着上帝的形象造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。」（）。若有人愿作义的奴僕（，19），他就蒙上帝眷爱，并且他的祷告大有能力（；）。耶稣在最后的晚餐那一夜，给门徒宝贵的祷告应许，也就是给那些遵守祂诫命的人：「你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫祂永远与你们同在。」（）；「凡你们所愿意的，祈求就给你们成就。你若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱裡。」（，10） 「义人的祷告大有功效」，这节经文要在什麽状况下，才发生效用？惟有在这义人振兴自己，全心全意来到上帝面前，迫切地向上帝要，紧紧地抓住祂的应许，若祂不给就不肯罢休，就像雅各与天使摔跤，说：「你若不祝福我，我就不让你走。」又如那寡妇一直缠着那官主持公道，若不有个交待就不干休。只有用这样破釜沉舟的心态，情词迫切地恆心恳求，才能摇撼上帝的手。 上帝既应许「若有两、三人同心合意地祈求，他们的祷告必蒙应允。」若有许多的义人，比如说几百人，或几千人，同心合意地向上帝求祂的应许蒙实现，那力量将会是何等大！ 弟兄姐妹们，一定要加入小组祷告会，或教会祷告会，你会看到上帝奇妙的作为，按着上帝的时刻表，祂必要成就你所祈求的。是的，我们要有密室祷告的生活，也要有教会公祷的生活，如此才能发挥「义人的祷告大有功效」的作用！ THE POWER OF PRAYERScripture: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth v. 16.
Prayer availeth much. It avails much with God. It avails much in the history of His Church and people. Prayer is the one great power which the Church can exercise in securing the working of God's omnipotence in the world. The prayer of a righteous man availeth much. That is, a man who has the righteousness of Christ, not only as a garment covering him, but as a life-power inspiring him, as a new man "created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. iv. 24). A man that lives as "the servant to righteousness" (Rom. vi. 16, 19). These are the righteous whom the Lord loveth and whose prayer hath power (Ps. Ixvi. 18, 19; 1 John iii. 22). When Christ gave His great prayer promises in the last night, it was to those who keep His commandments. "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments ; and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another -Comforter" (John xiv. 15, 16). "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; and ye shall ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (xv. 7, 10). "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." It is only when the righteous man stirs up himself and rouses his whole being to take hold of God that the prayer availeth much. As Jacob said : "I will not let thee go ;" as the impor?tunate widow gave the just Judge no rest, so it is that the effectual fervent prayer effects great things. And then comes the effectual fervent prayer of many righteous. When two or three agree, there is the promise of an answer. How much more when hundreds and thousands unite with one accord to cry to God to display His mighty power on behalf of His people. Let us join those who have united themselves to call upon God for the mighty power of His Holy Spirit in His Church. What a great and blessed work, and what a sure prospect, in God's time, of an abundant answer ! Let us pray God individually and unitedly for the grace of the effectual fervent prayer which availeth much.
经文: 「我愿意你们晓得我为你们……是何等的尽心竭力。」（）
当我们在做一件艰钜的工作时，总会思虑计划週全，想把事情做得尽善尽美；同样的，基督徒若看重祷告，就当全心全意在祷告的功课上下功夫。祷告需要摆上时间，牺牲自己的享乐舒服，强有力祷告的祕诀就是牺牲。耶稣这位伟大的代祷者，就是最好的例子。「当上帝定意将耶稣献为赎罪祭，祂将要看到祂受死的功效。因为耶稣将祂的灵魂置于死地，所以祂可以败坏那掌死权的。」在客西马尼园耶稣忧伤痛心地祷告，汗如血滴流下，祷告真是一种牺牲与摆上。大卫曾说：「但愿我的祷告如同馨香的祭，早晚都向上帝献上。」 祷告如同献祭，我们的祈祷惟有建立在耶稣的宝血基础上，才有价值，因为耶稣曾捨弃神的身份地位，谦卑地向上帝俯伏祷告：「愿祢的旨意成就。」我们这些属上帝的也当如此，将一切献上，为了祂的国度与服事。 在威尔斯有个虔诚的矿工，他的亲戚病得很重，医生吩咐他往乡间养病，这信徒没什麽钱，他就将仅有的一些钱，留十分之一自己花用，其馀的为他亲戚租了个舒适的地方照顾他，并且花很多时间为他祷告，直到他确信上帝必要医治他，果然一个月后，这个亲戚竟然康复。有了这次的经历，这矿工学到一个功课，就是付代价的祷告力量，其功效是何等大。 现在我们明白为何我们的祷告缺乏能力，因为我们在等候上帝的功课上太过轻忽，我们来到上帝面前安静的时间太少，我们常是勉为其难地来到上帝面前。然而，耶稣却不是这样，祂将命都捨了作为赎罪祭。我们若有耶稣的灵住在我们裡面，且让圣灵掌管我们全人，我们就可像耶稣一样，做一个忠心的代祷者，常常在上帝面前祷告，且带出大有功效的能力。 PRAYER AND SACRIFICEScripture: "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you."-COL. ii. 1.
As men who are undertaking a great thing have to prepare themselves and summon all their powers to their aid, so Christians need to prepare themselves to pray, "with their whole heart and strength." This is the law of the kingdom. Prayer needs sacrifice of ease, of time, of self. The secret of powerful prayer is sacrifice. It was thus with Christ Jesus, the great Intercessor. It is written of Him, "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed." "He shall see of the travail of His soul." He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death." In Gethsemane "He offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying: and tears." Prayer is sacrifice. David said: "Let my prayer he set forth before me as incense ; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Prayer is sacrifice. Our prayer has its worth alone from being rooted in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As He gave up everything in His prayer: "Thy Will be done," our posture and disposition must ever be the offering up of everything to God and His service." A pious Welsh miner had a relative whom the doctor ordered to Madeira. But there was no money. The miner resolved to take the little money that he had, and ventured to use it all. He procured a comfortable lodging at 7s. 6d. per day for the invalid. He was content with an out-room for himself, and lived on ten-pence a day. He spent much time in prayer until he got the assurance that the invalid would recover. On the last day of the month the sick one was well. When the miner reached home he said that he had now learned more than ever that the secret law and the hidden power of prayer lay in self-sacrifice. Need we wonder at the lack of power in our prayer where there is so much reluctance to make the needful sacrifice in waiting upon God. Christ, the Christ we trust in, the Christ that lives in us, offered Himself a sacrifice to God. It is as this spirit lives and rules in us, that we shall receive power from Him as intercessors to pray the effectual prayer that availeth much.
经文: 「鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思；因为圣灵照着上帝的旨意，替圣徒祈求。」（）
这节经文带出多麽大的亮光，让信徒的祷告大蒙助益！我们知道基督徒要祷告，但常常不知要如何祷告，这使得我们祷告的力量大打折扣，但这节经文告诉我们，当我们不知道如何祷告时，圣灵就用说不出来的歎息，为我们祷告，这对我们是多大的鼓励，也使我们信心大增。 这节经文让我们看到一个真理，圣灵何时为信徒代祷？就是信徒在不知如何祷告时，圣灵就大有能力地为信徒，按着上帝的旨意祷告。这也提醒我们当信靠上帝，相信祂要在我们心中动工，即使我们忧伤难过得不知如何祷告，也要等候在上帝面前，知道圣灵要在上帝面前为我们代祷；更进一步，圣经也教导我们，若我们等候在上帝面前久一些，就给圣灵机会为我们呼求天上的「阿爸父」，用说不出来的歎息，将我们的愁苦、难处向上帝说。 若我们懂得这真理，我们的祷告生活将何等不一样，我们不仅有神子耶稣，这位永活的大祭司，长远为我们代求，我们更有圣灵保惠师，在我们内心深处，按着上帝的旨意，为我们代求。 这样一段从世俗中分别出来的祷告时间，是何等宝贵！我们可以安静地等候在上帝面前，求圣灵来显明上帝的心意，指引我们前面的道路，而且祂同在的平安喜乐、与权能，将降临在我们身上，超过我们所求所想。亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，珍惜这段分别为圣的安静祷告时间，不但为我们个人，也为了众信徒，因为圣灵要在这段安静等候的时间，教导我们按着上帝的心意，为自己以及众圣徒祷告。 INTERCESSION OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE SAINTSScripture: "He that searcheth the hearts knowetk what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of God." — ROM. viii. 27.
What a light these words cast upon the life of prayer in the hearts of the saints! We know not what we should pray for as we ought. How often this hinders our prayer or hinders the faith that is essential to its success. But here we are told for our encouragement, that the Holy Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered: "He maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of God." What a prospect is here opened up to us! Where and how does the Spirit make intercession for the saints ? In no other way than that, in the heart which knows not what to pray. He secretly and effectually prays what is according to the Will of God. This of course implies that we trust Him to do His work in us, and that we tarry before God even when we know what to pray, in the assurance that the Holy Spirit is praying in us. This implies fur?ther that we take time to tarry in God's presence, that we exercise an unbounded dependence upon the Holy Spirit who has been given us to cry "Abba Father" within us, even when we have nothing to offer but groanings and sighs that cannot be uttered. What a difference it would make in the life of many of God's saints if they realized this! They have not only Jesus the Son of God, the great High Priest, ever living to intercede for them, they have not only the liberty of asking in faith, what they desire, and the promise that it shall be given them, but they have actually and in very deed the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of grace and supplica?tion," to carry on, in the depths of their being, His work of interceding for them according to the Will of God. What a call to separate ourselves from the world, to yield ourselves wholeheartedly to the leading and praying of the Spirit within us, deeper than all our thoughts or expectations ! What a call to surrender ourselves in stillness of soul, resting in the Lord and waiting patiently for Him, as the Holy Spirit prays within us not only for ourselves, but specially for all saints according to the Will of God.
经文: 「圣父啊，求祢因祢所赐给我的名保守他们，叫他们合而为一，像我们一样。」（）
「我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求。使他们都合而为一，正如祢父在我裡面，我在祢裡面。使他们也在我们裡面，叫世人可以信祢差了我来。祢所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。我在他们裡面，祢在我裡面，使他们完完全全的合而为一；叫世人知道祢差了我来，也知道祢爱他们如同爱我一样。」（－23） 仔细研读这段经文，耶稣几次讲到「要他们合一」，可见其重要性，耶稣多麽希望这吩咐能深深地烙印在祂门徒的心版上。如今耶稣即将被钉十字架，藉着顺服受死而得荣耀，祂把这样的心愿企盼，带到天上父上帝那儿，不间断地为我们祷告，同时祂也教导门徒们，要常常为信徒们的合一祈祷代求，好让耶稣留下来「彼此相爱」的命令得以完全，也就是我们要爱我们的弟兄，如同上帝爱我们一样，如此我们的喜乐才得以满足。 很遗憾地，太少教会明白这真理，以致弟兄姐妹们很少真正做到「彼此相爱」的功课；不同的教派之间，也存着门户之见，很难有合一的见证。因此，亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，我们岂不该在每天清晨与主亲近灵修的时候，切切地为信徒们能有「彼此合一」的关係代祷？ 其实，当我们说出「我们在天上的父」时，我们会很自然地涌出与会友「同是一家人」、与弟兄姐妹们「同是上帝儿女」的感觉。是的，当我们存着如小孩般单纯的心，向着天父仰望祈祷时，上帝的爱就自然而然地藉着圣灵流入我们的心。当众信徒同心仰望敬拜上帝时，耶稣就在众人心中为首为王，弟兄姐妹们本当互为肢体，如此「合一」的见证就会出来，我们也感受到那种「合一」的喜乐与力量，因为天父是众善之根，万爱之源。 THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONEScripture: "Holy Father, keep them in Thy Name which Thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are. "—JOHN xvii. 11,
"Neither pray I for these alone; but for them also which believe on me through their word; that they may all be one, even as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us. And the glory which Thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; / in them, and Thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that Thou didst send me."—JOHN xvii. 20-23. Notice carefully how the Lord used the expression, "that they may be one," five times over. It is as if He felt the need of laying the emphasis strongly upon these words, if we are really to realize the chief thought of His High Priestly prayer. He longs that the words and the thought shall in very deed have the same place in our hearts that they have in His. As He was on the way to go to the Father through the cross, He would have us understand that He took the thought and the desire with Him to heaven, to make it the object of His unceasing intercession there. And He entrusted the words to us that we should take them into the world with us, and make them the object of our unceasing intercession too. That alone would enable us to fulfil the last, the new command, which He gave, that we should love the brethren as He loved us, that our joy might be full. How little the church has understood this. How little its different branches are marked by a fervent affectionate love to all the saints of whatever name or denomination. Shall we not welcome heartily the invitation to make this prayer, "that they may be one" a chief part of our daily fellowship with God? How simple it would be when once we connected the two words, "Our Father," with all the children of God throughout the world. Each time we used these sacred words we would only have to expand this little word "Our" into all the largeness and riches of God's Father Love, and our hearts would soon learn as naturally as we say "Father" with the thought of His infinite love and our love to Him, to say "Our" with the childlike affection to all the saints of God, whoever and wherever they may be. The prayer that "they may be one" would then become a joy and a strength, a deeper bond of fellowship with Christ Jesus and all His saints, and an offer of a sweet savour to the Father of love.
经文: 「这些人……都同心合意的恆切祷告。」（）
门徒同心聚集、恆切祷告的榜样，对现代信徒有心学习祷告者，是何等大的激励与模范！ 想想他们等候在上帝面前的心志！耶稣曾对他们说：「我去是与你们有益的，若不去，保惠师就不到你们这裡来。」虽然门徒们对圣灵不甚明白，不懂圣灵要如何教导他们明白真理，也不明白圣灵要如何在他们心裡启示这位荣耀的救主耶稣，但他们愿意照着主耶稣的吩咐，同心恆切地祷告，等候圣灵降临成为他们服事的力量与动力。 门徒们对耶稣的应许大有信心；耶稣既曾应许祂升天后，要差派圣灵保惠师来，相信祂的话语绝不打折扣。 因着他们恆切、迫切地祷告，并且以感谢讚美的心来敬拜主，就想起主所教导要他们「不断祷告」的功课，并且相信主要亲自回应他们的祈求，虽然有时候会耽延，但这一切要按着主的时刻表来进行。 让我们常常默想主的教导，让这样的真理内化成我们自然的反应，知道主曾怎样应许门徒，也必照样应许我们，所以，只要我们愿意付上时间与代价，心诚意切地昼夜祈求上帝，祂必要成就我们所祈求的。 还有一点要切记，虽然我们不能同时聚集在一处祷告，但只要我们为同一件事祷告，上帝必要使我们在灵裡合一，藉着祂的随处同在，使我们与弟兄姐妹们，彷彿合而为一人在主面前代求，因着祂的无限慈爱，使我们的心愿得偿。阿们。 THE DISCIPLES' PRAYERScripture: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplica?tion."—ACTS i. 14. "They continued steadfastly in fellowship and in prayers."—ACTS ii. 42.
What a lesson it would be to us in the school of prayer to have a clear apprehension of what this continuing with one accord in prayer meant to the disciples. Just think of the object of their desire. However defective the thoughts were that they had of the Blessed Spirit, this they knew, from the words of Jesus, "it is expedient for you that I go away," that the Spirit would give the glorified Christ into their very hearts in a way they had never known Him before. And it would be He Himself, in the mighty power of God's Spirit, Who would be their strength for the work to which He had called them. With what confidence they expected the fulfilment of the promise. Had not the Master, who had loved them so well, given them the assurance of what He would send upon them from the throne of the Father in Heaven ? And with what intensity and persistency they pleaded; in the midst of the praise and thanksgiving that filled their hearts as they worshipped their Lord in heaven, remembering all He had taught them about importunity, in the full assurance that however long the answer might be delayed, He would most assuredly fulfil their desires. Let us nourish our hearts with thoughts such as these, until we realize that the very same promise that was given to the disciples is given to us, and that we too, even though we have to cry day and night to God, can count upon the Father to answer our prayers. And then, and this is not the least,—let us believe that as they continued with one accord in prayer, we also may unite as one man in presenting our petitions even though we cannot be-together in one place. We can—in the love wherewith His Spirit makes us one, and in the experience of our Lord's presence with each one who joins with His brethren in pleading the blessed Name—we can claim the promise that we too shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
经文: 「靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求；并要在此儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求，也为我祈求。」（）
保罗对属耶稣的信徒间，彼此互为肢体紧密相连的关係，有极深的关注，因此他为门徒们的合一切切祷告。这并非一朝一夕的事，而是属灵历程中不断操练的经验，所以他才能说出：「靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。」他企盼信徒们能意识到自己是属耶稣基督的，且与众信徒互为肢体，因此在每天的生活中，最重要的目标就是为众信徒的福祉着想；他也相信信徒心中都有圣灵的充满与管理，因此为信徒随时多方祷告，是很自然的反应，不致成为重担或压力。就如同我们的身体，那个地方出了状况有问题，其他器官自然会本能地去帮补，若某个弟兄姐妹们有困难，其他的弟兄姐妹很自然地会去帮补，因为耶稣是头，弟兄姐妹们都是属基督的身体，既有这层关连，彼此扶持代祷乃责无旁贷的责任。 若我们完全降服基督，每天活在主耶稣裡面，我们必强烈意识到与众信徒互为肢体的关係。就如同臣民效忠君王，随时愿意被徵召打仗。同样的，众信徒也愿意效忠君王耶稣，愿意随时被差遣，为了上帝国度的荣耀，与众弟兄姐妹的需要。因此，亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，盼望大家都愿意学习靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。 PAUL'S CALL TO PRAYERScripture: 'With all prayer and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplica?tion for all the saints and on my behalf."—EPH. vi. 18, 19. R. V.
What a sense Paul had of the deep divine unity of the whole " body of Christ and of the actual need of unceasing prayer for all the members of the body by all who belong to it. That he did not mean this to be an occasional thing, but the un?ceasing exercise of the life union in which they were bound together, is evident from the words he uses, "with all prayer and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit and watching thereunto, in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." He expects believers to be so filled with the consciousness of their being in Christ, and through Him united consciously to the whole body, that in their daily life and all its engagements, their highest aim would ever be the welfare of the body of Christ of which they had become members. He counted upon their being filled with the Spirit, so that it would be perfectly natural to them, without the thought of burden or constraint, to pray for all who belong to the body of Jesus Christ. As natural as it is for each member of my body to be ready every moment to do what is needful for the welfare of the whole, even so, where the Holy Spirit has entire possession, the consciousness of union with Christ will ever be accompanied by consciousness of the union and the joy and the love of all the members. Is not this what we need in our daily life, that every believer who has yielded himself undividedly to Christ Jesus, shall day by day, every day, and all the day, live in the consciousness that he is one with Christ and His body ? Just as this war has brought to light the intensity and the readiness with which millions of the subjects of the king sacrifice their all for the king and his service, so the saints of God shall live for Christ their king, and also for all the members of that Body of which He is the Head. May God's people be willing for this sacrifice of prayer and intercession at all times and for all saints!
经文: 「也为我祈求，使我得着口才，能以放胆，开口讲明福音的奥祕，并使我照着当尽的本分，放瞻讲论。」（）
看到没有？保罗说：「为我祈求。」他是多麽看重祷告的力量，也相信祷告的需要，他虽是属灵的巨人，仍需要信徒多多为他祷告，这给我们多大的启示与亮光！ 他说：「使我得着口才，能以放胆，开口讲明福音的奥祕。」当时，保罗身为福音的使者，至少已有廿年，他对如何传讲福音应该很有经验，但他深深瞭解自己的软弱与不足，他明白若没有上帝的帮助，他所做的工作尽属枉然，他需要完全的倚赖上帝，靠着圣灵的同在教导他如何讲论上帝的道，这是他信心的基础，因为离了耶稣，他什麽都不能做，这也是他一生的信念。 但这儿还有要补充的，在保罗廿几年的传道生涯，有很多时候，保罗没有同工支持他，他必须在祷告中单单地仰望主耶稣，但因着保罗属灵的清楚看见，知道教会是耶稣的身体，弟兄姐妹是互为肢体，他极需弟兄姐妹们的代祷支持，他请求他们千万记得为他祷告。若没有弟兄姐妹们祷告的支持与纪念，保罗说他做工的效果就很小，就如同软弱的人在摔跤角力，胜算的机率是很小的。 今天，信徒们要特别站起来，回应上帝要我们做代祷勇士的呼召，因为耶稣不但在宝座前为我们长远祈求，我们众信徒在地上也当联合起来争战祷告，成为上帝国的精兵，求上帝的恩膏浇灌在上帝的僕人身上，使他们得着口才，能以放胆讲论，开口讲明福音的奥祕。 PAUL'S REQUEST FOR PRAYERScripture: "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."— EPH. vi. 19, 20
And for me"—what light these words cast on the deep reality of Paul's faith in the absolute necessity and the won?derful power of prayer. Just listen for what he asks that they should pray. "That utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak." Paul had now been a minister of the Gospel for more than twenty years. One would say that he had such experience of preaching and utterance that it would come naturally to him to speak boldly as he ought to speak. But so deep is his conviction of his own insufficiency and weakness, so absolute is his dependence on Divine teaching and power, that he feels that without the direct help of God he cannot do the work as it ought to be done. The sense of his total and unalterable dependence upon God, Who was with him, teaching him what and how to speak, is the ground of all his confidence, and the keynote of his whole life. But there is more. He had in all these twenty years, times without number, been in circumstances where he had to throw himself upon God alone, with no one to help him in prayer. And yet, such is his deep spiritual insight into the unity of the body of Christ, and of his own actual dependence on the prayers of others, that he pleads for their praying with all prayer and sup?plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all prayer and perseverance, and asks that they shall not forget to pray for him. As little as a wrestler can afford to dispense with the help of the weakest members of his body in the struggle in which he is en?gaged, so little could Paul do without the prayers of the believers. What a call to us in this twentieth century, to awake to the consciousness that Christ our Intercessor in heaven, and all saints here upon earth, are engaged in one mighty contest, and that it is our duty to call out and to cultivate the gift of unceasing supplication for the power of God's Spirit in all His servants, that all may have divine utterance given them, and that all may speak boldly and as they ought to speak.
经文: 「写信给歌罗西的圣徒，在基督裡有忠心的弟兄。……我们感谢上帝我们主耶稣基督的父，常常为你们祷告；因听见你们在基督耶稣裡的信心，并向众圣徒的爱心。」（）
「你们要恆切祷告，在此儆醒感恩。也要为我们祷告，求上帝给我们开传道的门，能以讲基督的奥祕。」（） 让为众圣徒祷告，能成为我们首要的思想——这需要时间、心思、以及爱，才能涵盖这短短的一句「为众圣徒祷告」。想到你的邻舍、你认识的信徒，想到你的国家，并为众信徒感谢上帝，想到那些基督徒国家及其中的基督徒，还有那非基督徒国家，以及其间越来越多的信徒。 想到他们所可能遭遇的景况，以及他们需要上帝的帮助与恩典。想到许多的信徒，他们虽自称是上帝的儿女，却因着无知或懒散，而行在黑暗中；或是因着小信以及世俗的引诱，导致羞辱主名；想到那些因着生命的挫败，而自暴自弃的人，他们觉得无法讨上帝的喜悦，也无力帮助人；想到那些为耶稣摆上青春生命的传道人，还有那些不冷不热的基督徒们，我们多麽希望他们能感觉到，他们与教会的弟兄姐妹们是互为肢体，在灵裡是合而为一的。 为弟兄姐妹们灵裡合一，为教会复兴祷告，不是一天两天的事，更不是一蹴可及的，而是要恆切祷告，将这样的异象——同属耶稣的肢体，将它放在信徒的心版上。一旦我们开始这样祷告，我们会发现恆切地为这目标祷告，这意义是多麽重大，不但能求上帝将祂的大爱充满在属祂的孩子们心中，更能求圣灵的大能浇灌在上帝的僕人身上，给他们力量在这扭曲悖逆的世代，为上帝作工。 PRAYER FOR ALL SAINTSScripture: "To the Saints and faithful brethren in Christ, which are at Colosse. We give thanks to God, praying always for you, since we heard of the love which ye have to all the saints." —COL. i. 1-4,
"Con?tinue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving, withal praying also for us."—COL.iv. 2, 3. Prayer for all saints: let this be our first thought. It will need time, and thought, and love, to realize what is included in that simple expression. Think of your own neighborhood and the saints you know; think of your whole country, and praise God for all who are His saints; think of all Christian nations of the world, and the saints to be found in each of these; think of all the heathen nations and the saints of God to be found among them in ever-increasing numbers. Think of all the different circumstances and conditions in which these are to be found, and all the very varying needs which call for God's grace and help. Think of many, oh, so many, who are God's saints, and yet through ignorance or sloth, through worldly-mindedness or an evil heart of unbelief, are walking in the dark, and bringing no honour to God. Think of so many who are in earnest, and yet conscious of a life of failure, with little or no power to please God or to bless man. And then think again of those who are to be found everywhere, in solitary places or in companies, whose one aim is to serve the Lord who bought them, and to be the light of those around them. Think of them especially as joining, often unconscious of their relation to the whole body of Christ, in pleading for the great promise of the Holy Spirit and the love and oneness of heart which He alone can give. This is not the work of one day or one night. It needs a heart which will set itself from time to time to do serious thinking in regard to the state and the need of that body of Christ to which we belong. But when once we begin, we shall find what abundant reason there is for our persevering and yielding to God's Spirit, that He may fit us for the great and blessed work of day by day praying the twofold prayer, for the love of God and Christ to fill the hearts of His people, and for the power of the Holy Ghost to come down and accomplish God's work in this sinful world.
经文: 「你们以祈祷帮助我们，好叫许多人为我们谢恩。」（）
「那一等传基督，是出于结党，并不诚实，意思要加增我捆锁的苦楚，这有何妨……因为我知道这事藉着你们的祈祷和耶稣基督之灵的帮助，终必叫我得救。」（） 今天让我们从另外一个角度来思想普世教会的信徒，我们常祈求上帝使教会增长，祷告会兴旺，我们也当在心中浮现这样的远景——祷告会的人数越来越多，力量越来越强。 我们很自然地会想到为那些较软弱的基督徒祷告，他们与教会的关联不强，也不太明白祷告的果效；接着我们也要为教会的同工们祷告，求上帝赐下圣灵的大能，祝福他们手中所做的圣工，使他们力上加力，恩上加恩；我们也要为「教会的合一」忠心地代祷，切切地恳求圣灵浇灌在上帝的儿女身上。 感谢上帝，渐渐有更多人明白忠心为「教会合一」祷告，不但是个急切的需要，也是个无限的恩宠。无论人数多寡，只要有恆心、有信心及爱心，持续地为这个目标祷告，上帝必悦纳，且要让这个涟漪逐渐扩大，让往后祷告会的人数增多，能参与这伟大的事工——为众圣徒祷告，使他们在灵裡「合而为一」。 这信息将要像无线电通讯一样，不断地传递到众弟兄姐妹的心中，让信徒们都甘心乐意地拨时间等候在上帝面前，向上帝证明他们奉献及追求成圣的决心，恆切地为「教会合一」不断祷告，且祈求上帝将圣灵的大能，浇灌在属祂的儿女身上。 PRAYER BY ALL SAINTSScripture: "We trust in God that Pie will yet deliver us; you also help?ing together by prayer for us."— 2 Cor. i. 10, 11.
"Some preach Christ of contention, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus."—PHIL. i. 16, 19. This subject calls us once again to think of all saints through?out the world, but leads us to view them from a different standpoint. If we are to ask God to increase the number and the power of those who do pray, we shall be led to form some im?pression of what the hope is that our circle of intercessors may gradually increase in number and power. Our first thoughts will naturally turn to the multitude of the saints who think and know very little about the duty or the blessedness of pleading for the body of Christ, or for all the work which has to be done to perfect its members. We shall then have to remember how many there are for whom we may praise God that they do intercede for the power of His Spirit, but their thoughts are chiefly limited to spheres of work that they are acquainted with, or directly interested in. That will leave us with what is, comparatively speaking, a very limited number of those who will be ready to take part in the prayer which ought to be sent up by the whole Church, for the unity of the Body and the power of the Spirit. And even then the number may be but small who really feel themselves drawn and urged to take part in this daily prayer for the out?pouring of the Spirit on all God's people. And yet many may be feeling that the proposal meets a long-felt need, and that it is an unspeakable privilege, whether with few or many, to make Christ's last prayer, "that they may be one," the daily supplication of our faith and love. It may be that in time believers will band together in small circles, or throughout wider districts, in helping to rouse those around them to take part in the great work that the prayer for all saints may become one by all saints. This message is sent out as a wireless to all that desire to be in touch with it, and to seek to prove their consecration to their Lord in the unceasing daily supplication for the Power of His love and Spirit to be revealed to all His people.
经文: 「万军之耶和华说：你们要将当纳的十分之一，全然送入仓库，使我家有粮，以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户，倾福与你们，甚至无处可容。」（）
这是旧约的最后一个应许，显示上帝的恩典是何等丰厚。五旬节圣灵的降临仅只是祝福的开端，上帝愿意把更多更大的恩典赏赐给我们，只要我们大大地张口，要张口求，上帝等着要把最好的给我们，因为「你们中间作父亲的，谁有儿子求饼，反给他石头呢？求鱼，反拿蛇当鱼给他呢？」（）。上帝要我们被圣灵充满，让我们渴望这样的事，也向上帝求这样的大事。 耶稣留给我们的大使命，向万民传福音，不仅是对门徒说的，也是对每一位弟兄姐妹们说的；同样的，「你要等候那从上面来的能力」，这命令也是对众弟兄姐妹们说的，「你要等候父所应许的」、「你要受圣灵的洗」，这些经文不但是对我们说的，也是给我们一个确据——同心合意的祷告必蒙垂听。 让我们花时间思想整个福音的禾场，以及所有教会的迫切需要吧！为什麽福音不兴旺？为什麽信徒冷澹退后？无法胜过黑暗的权势，也无法抗拒世界的诱惑？主要的原因就是缺乏上帝的同在，与圣灵能力的庇护。让我们花时间等候在上帝面前，直到圣灵的能力庇护我们，使我们有确切的把握，知道我们不是凭藉己力争战，乃是靠着圣灵的大能，与属灵界幽暗的势力对抗。我们还能想出其他更好的方法来替代圣灵的工作吗？断乎没有，因为救恩是属乎耶和华，惟有圣灵能做改变人心的工作，叫人悔改归向主。 当我们恳求上帝将属天的能力浇灌在地上的教会时，我们就会体会到「愿祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上」的意思是什麽，因为当上帝发现到地上有人愿意完全地顺服，且大有信心地为教会的弟兄姐妹能被圣灵充满而祷告时，上帝就乐意倾下一切福气，大大地赏赐给祂在地上的众儿女们，让他们经历上帝的信实与大能。阿们。 PRAYER FOR ALL THE FULNESS OF THE SPIRITScripture: "Bring ye all the tithes unto mine House, and prove me now therewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it."—MAL. iii. 10.
This last promise in the Old Testament tells us how abundant the blessing is to be. Pentecost was only the beginning of what God was willing to do. The promise of the Father, as Christ gave it, still waits for its perfect fulfilment. Let us try and realize what the liberty is that we have to ask, and expect great things. Just as the great command to go and preach the Gospel was not only meant for the disciples but for us too, so the very last command, "Tarry till ye be endued with power from on high," "Wait for the promise of the Father," "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost," is also for us, and is the ground for the confident assurance that our prayer with one accord will be heard. Take time to think of what a cry of need there is throughout the whole Church, and throughout all our mission fields. Let us realize that the only remedy to be found for inefficiency or impotence, to enable us to gain the victory over the powers of this world or of darkness, is in the manifested presence of our Lord in the midst of His hosts and in the power of His Spirit. Let us take time to think of the state of all the Churches throughout Christendom until we are brought deeper than ever to the convic?tion that nothing will avail except the supernatural, Almighty intervention of our Lord Himself, to rouse His hosts for the great battle against evil. Can anyone conceive or suggest any other matter for prayer that can at all compete with this: for the power of God on the ministers of the Gospel, and on all His people, to endue them with power from on High to make the Gospel in very deed the power of God unto salvation? As we connect the prayer for the whole Church on earth with the prayer for the whole power of God in heaven, we shall feel that the greatest truths of the heavenly world and the kingdom of God have possession of us, and that we are in very deed asking what God is longing to give, as soon as He finds hearts utterly yielded to Himself in faith and obedience.
经文: 「我们日用的饮食，天天赐给我们。」（）
有些基督徒可以为每天日用的饮食，向上帝祈求感谢，但却不明白可以每天同心合意地，向上帝祈求祂的应许成就，赐下属灵的福份。事实上，若上帝的儿女感受到上帝捨命牺牲的大爱，且愿意完全降服于祂，并将自己完全献上当作活祭，我们自有这样的权柄，求祂赐下祂荣耀的同在，与圣灵的大能，好让我们服事有力，对圣工有帮助。 不是有许多人承认他们愿意完全为主而活吗？人们知道耶稣已把祂自己完全给他们，没有留下一样好处不给他们，而且上帝的眼目一直眷顾着他们，圣灵也不断地作工在他们心裡面。他们也宣告上帝怎样爱他们，他们也当这样回报上帝的爱，他们若将这样的宣告作为一生奉行的圭臬、准则，他们就可放胆来向上帝求够用的恩典，为了上帝国度服事的需要，每天都来向上帝支取力量，来补满自己的欠缺与不足。 每天同心合意地来到施恩宝座前祷告，昼夜不断地为上帝的国度及上帝的百姓祷告，是上帝的心意与殷望。这是何等的特权，能为众圣徒祈求，求圣灵浇灌在上帝的僕人身上，使上帝的国度扩张，让上帝的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。 对那些不甚明白祷告是上帝儿女的特权，以及需要等候在上帝面前寻求祂赐福的基督徒而言，邀请他们参加小型的祷告会是最合宜的。对那些已经知道小组同心祷告功效的基督徒而言，更需要扩充他们的眼界，使之关心世界的禾场，迫切地求上帝将圣灵的大能浇灌在祂儿女僕人身上，藉着这样祷告的操练，使众儿女不会把服事看做重担，反而因着同心祷告而信心得着坚固，经历到以前从未体会到的爱和喜乐。 EVERY DAYScripture: "Give us day by day our daily bread."—LUkE xi. 3.
There are some Christians who are afraid of the thoughts of a promise to pray every day as altogether beyond them. They could not undertake it, and yet they pray to God to give them their bread day by day. Surely if a child of God has once yielded himself with his whole life to God's love and service, he should count it a privilege to avail himself of any invita?tion that would help him every day to come into God's Presence with the great need of His Church and kingdom. Are there not many who confess that they desire to live wholly for God? They acknowledge that Christ gave Himself for them, and that His love now watches over them and works in them without ceasing. They admit the claim that nothing less than the measure of the love of Christ to us is to be the measure of our love to Him. They feel that if this is indeed to be the standard of their lives, they ought surely to welcome every opportunity for proving day by day that they are devoting their heart's strength to the interests of Christ's kingdom and to the prayer that can bring down God's blessing. Our invitation to daily united prayer may come to some as a new and perhaps unexpected opportunity of becoming God's remembrancers who cry day and night for His power and blessing on His people and on this needy world. Think of the privilege of being thus allowed to plead every day with God on behalf of His saints, for the outpouring of His Spirit, and for the coming of His kingdom that His Will may indeed be done on earth as it is in Heaven. To those who have to confess that they have but little understood the high privilege and the solemn duty of waiting on God in prayer for His blessing on the world, the invita?tion ought to be most welcome. And even to those who have already their special circles of work for which to pray, the thought that the enlargement of their vision, and their hearts, to include all God's saints and all the work of His kingdom, and all the promise of an abundant outpouring of His Spirit, should urge them to take part in a ministry by which their other work will not suffer, but their hearts be strengthened with a joy and a love and a faith that they have never known before.
经文: 「五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。他们就都被圣灵充满。」（，4）
最后要谈到「教会复兴」这目标，以及「沉浸式祷告」的操练。 我们感谢上帝，因祂感动成千上万的信徒，专心地为特定的目标恆切代祷；但世界的禾场是广大的，还有许多福音未得之地，这些都是上帝所关怀的事工，既有耶稣做我们的元帅，祂是万军之耶和华，我们这些做主门徒的，就当放胆为主传道。 一个角力选手在竞赛时，要绷紧身上所有细胞，使出吃奶的力量，与对手斗力。在英国现今的战争，数百万的军人不仅全心全意投入军旅，对远方战役的捷报，也与有荣焉，为他们喝采欢呼，从中大得激励。在上帝的教会更当如此，我们凭信心靠着圣灵争战，宣告上帝已经得胜，我们每天尽全力为上帝的国度祷告，为教会的圣工大发热心，恳求圣灵浇灌祂的僕人，使他们得能力；也担待那软弱不坚固的肢体，求上帝甦醒他们冷澹退后的灵，这都是要使上帝的名得荣耀，祂的十字架被高举。 同心祷告的力量是无法估量的，当大家聚在一起祷告，圣灵在当中运行掌权时，每个信徒的力量就被凝聚起来，就像许多盏灯被聚拢成为一盏巨大的聚光灯，那热力与亮度是惊人的，每个信徒都可感受到那种上帝同在的震憾力，以及大家同属教会肢体的那种合一感。初代使徒五旬节的祷告会就是这样，他们同心合意恆切祷告，圣灵就降下充满他们，上帝也回应他们的祷告，成全他们的心愿，应允他们所祈求的，这是多麽动人的画面！ WITH ONE ACCORDScripture: "They were all with one accord in one place." "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."—ACTS ii. 1, 4.
Our last chapters have opened to us wonderful thoughts of the solidarity of the whole body of Christ, and the need of the deliberate cultivation of the slumbering or buried talents of intercession. We may indeed thank God, for we know of the tens of thousands of His children who in daily prayer are pleading for some portion of the work of God's kingdom in which they are personally interested. But in many cases they take an interest in, and there is a lack of that large-hearted and universal love that takes up all the saints of God and their service into its embrace. There is not the boldness and the strength that comes from the consciousness of being part of a large and conquering army under the leadership of our conquering king. We said that a wrestler in the games gathers up his whole strength and counts upon every member of his body doing its very utmost. In the British Army in the present war, with its millions of soldiers, each detachment not only throws its whole heart into the work that it has to do, but it is ready to rejoice and take new courage from every tiding of the bravery and enthusiasm of the far-distant members of the one great army. And is not this what we need in the Church of Christ, such an enthusiasm for the king and His kingdom and such a faith in His purpose, that His name shall be made known to every human being, that our prayers shall rise up every day, with a large-hearted love that grasps the whole body of Christ and pleads daily for the power of the Holy Spirit on all its members, even to the very feeblest ? The strength unity gives is something inconceivable. The power of each individual member is increased to a large degree by the inspiration of fellowship with a large and conquering host. Nothing can so help us to an ever-larger faith as the consciousness of being one body and one spirit in Christ Jesus. It was as the disciples were all with one accord in one place on the Day of Pentecost, that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. United prayer brings the answer to prayer.
经文: 「我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。」（）
让我们再次思想这条新命令的含义——用基督的爱，爱我们的弟兄。 或许有人以为像我们这样邪恶、背逆的人心，怎麽可能产生那样无私的爱？但是我们来听听上帝的儿子怎麽说，祂说这条新命令不像西奈山所颁的十诫，这新命令是带着上帝的恩典与能力，能帮助你持守。「这些事我已经对你们说了，是要叫我的喜乐，存在你们心裡，并叫你们的喜乐可以满足。」（）上帝应许赐下圣灵的能力，让我们能以基督的爱来爱弟兄——耶稣基督因信住在你心中。上帝应许那些爱祂并遵行主道的儿女，要住在他们的心中，也就是因着上帝的内住，我们得以从心中产生无私的爱，爱弟兄与众人。 耶稣向天父这样祈祷：「求祢把爱我的大爱，因着我在信徒心中内住，赏赐给他们那样的爱。」上帝真是住在我们心中，且乐意向祂的儿女彰显祂的爱，也就是因为祂的内住，祂能教导我们如何随时随地爱弟兄。 祂是葡萄树，我们是枝子，我们若每天紧紧地与祂相连，就能结出圣灵的果子，真诚地爱弟兄爱众人。 让我们常提醒自己：我的弟兄姐妹们不能亲眼看到主耶稣，让我来补满这个不足，就是当初耶稣在世时如何关爱祂的门徒，我也要照样以那牺牲无私的爱来爱弟兄，尤其那些不可爱的人，我格外要向他们显出基督的爱，因为当初我们还是罪人时，祂就怜悯我、爱我；因此对那些迷途的弟兄，更要以爱心来挽回，这样做能为主耶稣、弟兄、以及自己带来祝福。 喔！亲爱的弟兄们，让我们相信基督的爱，能内住在我们心中，并且凭信能藉我们流露出来爱我们的弟兄。是的，基督已赐下圣灵的大能，能帮助我们从内心自然地流露出对弟兄的爱。 A PERSONAL CALLScripture: "We trust not in ourselves, but in Cod who delivered us, and will yet deliver us."—2 Cor. i. 9, 10. "Some preach Christ of contention, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."—PHIL. i. 16-19".
Texts like these prove that there were still Christians in the churches under the full power of the Holy Spirit, on whom Paul could count for effectual, much-availing prayer. When we plead with Christians to pray without ceasing, there are a very large number who quietly decide that such a life is not possible for them. They have not any special gift for prayer; they have not that intense desire for glorifying Christ in the salvation of souls; they have not yet learned what it is, under the power of the constraining love of Christ, to live not unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again. And yet it is such that we bring the call to offer themselves for a whole-hearted surrender to live entirely for Christ. We ask them whether they are not ashamed of the selfish life, that simply uses Christ as a convenience to escape from hell and to secure a place in heaven. We come to them with the assurance that God can change their lives, and fill their hearts with Christ and His Holy Spirit. We plead with them to believe that with God all things are possible. He is able and willing, yea rather, most anxious to restore them to the Father's house, to the joy of His presence and service. One step on the way to the attainment of this will be, that they listen to the call for men and women who will every day and all the clay, in the power of Christ's abiding presence, live in the spirit of unceasing intercession for all saints, that they receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge that this is nothing less than a duty, a sacrifice that Christ's love has a right to claim, and that He by His Spirit will indeed work in them. The man, however far he may have come short, who accepts the call as coming from Christ, and draws near to God in humble prayer for the needed grace, will have taken the first step in the path that leads to fellowship with God, to a new faith and life in Christ Jesus, and to the surrender of his whole being to that intercession of the Spirit, that will help to bring Pentecost again into the hearts of God's people.
经文: 「基督既为我们受了咒诅，就赎出我们脱离律法的咒诅；因为经上记着：『凡挂在木头上都是被咒诅的。』」（）
耶稣被钉十字架具有双重的意义：其一，因着耶稣受死，使我们脱离罪的咒诅；其二，藉着我们与耶稣同死，使我们有份于与祂同死的经历。 本经文教导我们三个重要的真理：上帝的律法定规咒诅罪及一切有关罪的事；而耶稣为我们承担罪的咒诅，担负我们的罪债；因此祂摧毁了罪的权势，我们这些信靠祂的人，就被赎出脱离律法的咒诅与罪的权势。是的，十字架向我们显明人的罪，人是在罪的咒诅下，耶稣因着爱我们就成为咒诅本身，并且胜过死亡与罪的权势，成为信靠祂的人永远得救的根源，使人从死亡的咒诅中被释放出来。 基于这些真理，那些迷途的羔羊与最无望的罪人，在耶稣基督裡找到盼望与有福的确据。当初上帝确实因着始祖犯罪，就咒诅这地与其上的一切。上帝向以色列民再三强调罪与咒诅的关係：「被挂的人是在上帝面前受咒诅的。」（参看；廿七15～20），但是有谁想到上帝的儿子，竟为我们成为被咒诅的对象，被挂在十架上受死？然而这却显明上帝的爱与福音的本质：那信靠耶稣、认罪悔改的，咒诅永远被挪去。 十字架的救赎是恩典的基础与中心，因此信徒们敢放胆无惧地在主的活水泉源欢然畅饮，用细腻易感的心，欢喜快乐地享受上帝的爱，并迫不及待地与人分享我们所认识的主耶稣，愿颂讚荣耀归于十字架的救主！ THE REDEMPTION OF THE CROSSScripture: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having be?come a curse for us."— GAL. iii. 13.
Scripture teaches us that there are two points of view from which we may regard Christ's death upon the cross. The one is the redemption of the cross: Christ dying for us as our complete deliverance from the curse of sin. The other, the fellowship of the cross: Christ taking us up to die with Him, and making us partakers of the fellowship of His death in our own experience. In our text we have three great unsearchable thoughts. The law of God has pronounced a curse on all sin and on all that is sinful. Christ took our curse upon Him, yea, became a curse, and so destroyed its power, and in that cross we now have the ever?lasting redemption from sin and all its power. The cross reveals to us man's sin, as under the curse, Christ becoming a curse and so overcoming it, and our full and everlasting deliverance from the curse. In these thoughts the lost and most hopeless sinner finds a sure ground of confidence and of hope. God had indeed in Paradise pronounced a curse upon this earth and all that belongs to it. On Mount Eba', in connection with giving the law, half of the people of Israel were twelve times over to pronounce a curse on all sin. And there was to be in their midst a continual reminder of it. "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Deut. xxi. 23, xxvii. 15-20). And yet who could ever have thought that the Son of God Himself would die upon the accursed tree, and become a curse for us? But such is in very deed the Gospel of God's love, and the penitent sinner can now rejoice in the confident assurance that the curse is for ever put away from all who believe in Christ Jesus. The preaching of the redemption of the cross is the foundation and centre of the salvation the Gospel brings us. To those who believe its full truth it is a cause of unceasing thanksgiving. It gives us boldness to rejoice in God. There is nothing which will keep the heart more tender towards God, enabling us to live in His love and to make Him known to those who have never yet found Him. God be praised for the redemption of the cross!
经文: 「你们当以基督耶稣的心为心。」（）
这儿保罗指出耶稣的心肠：「祂虚己取了奴僕的形象，谦卑自己，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。」这就是耶稣的心，至极的谦卑，甚至捨了自己的生命，就是这样的大爱感化、激励了我们，使我们愿意拥抱十字架与耶稣的死联合。 保罗说：「在基督裡若有什麽劝勉，爱心有什麽安慰。」（）——安慰者要向信徒显明祂的同在；「在圣灵裡有什麽交通。」（）——因着圣灵的大能，信徒能支取耶稣的生命并呼吸祂的气息，将耶稣的生命在生活中彰显出来。 当信徒诚心要活出这样的生命时，就深切察觉出与耶稣紧紧的相连；他们学习领悟与耶稣同钉十字架，「老我」与耶稣同死的滋味；换句话说，在耶稣裡我们向罪是死的，向上帝却是活的。这意味着耶稣活在我们裡面，我们的肉体与肉体的情慾，都与耶稣同钉十字架，连带的也把对世界的追求和今生的骄傲，都钉死在十架上。 他们属灵的生命，将逐渐地进深并更上层楼，回应上帝的呼召，活出向罪死、向上帝活的生命。每个信徒，按着自己灵命的深浅不同，都带着属灵的印记，愿意学习走十字架的道路及牺牲捨己，就像耶稣以至极的谦卑，顺服上帝的旨意，完成天父所託付的使命。 学习顺服绝不是一件容易的功课，也不是一蹴可及的——这是十字架的学校，它会带领你更深入了解救赎的真意，藉着个人亲身的经历，体会十字架上耶稣的受苦、受死，顺服以至于死，为完成上帝旨意而付出的代价。 THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CROSSScripture: "Have this wind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus"— PHIL. ii. 5.
Paul here tells us what that mind was in Christ: He emptied Himself; He took the form of a servant; He humbled Him?self, even to the death of the cross. It is this mind that was in Christ, the deep humility that gave up His life to the very death, that is to be the spirit that animates us. It is thus that we shall prove and enjoy the blessed fellowship of His cross. Paul had said (ver. I): "If there is any comfort in Christ," —the Comforter was come to reveal His real presence in them— "if any fellowship of the Spirit,"—it was in this power of the Spirit that they were to breathe the Spirit of the crucified Christ, and manifest His disposition in the fellowship of the cross in their lives. As they strove to do this, they would feel the need of a deeper insight into their real oneness with Christ. They would learn to appreciate the truth that they hnd been crucified with Christ, that their "old man" had been crucified, and that they had died to sin in Christ's death and were now living to God in His life. They would learn to know what it meant that the crucified Christ lived in them, and that they had crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. It was because the crucified Jesus lived in them that they could live crucified to the world. And so they would gradually enter more deeply into the meaning and the power of their high calling to live as those who were dead to sin and the world and self. Each in his own measure would bear about in his life the marks of the cross, with its sentence of death on the flesh, with its hating of the self life and its entire denial of self, with its growing conformity to the crucified Redeemer in His deep humility and entire surrender of His will to the life of God. It is no easy school and no hurried learning—this school of the cross. But it will lead to a deeper apprehension and a higher appreciation of the redemption of the cross through the personal experience of the fellowship of the cross.
经文: 「我已经与基督同钉十字架；现在活着的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着；并且我如今在肉身活着，是因信上帝的儿子而活，祂是爱我，为我捨己。」（）
想到要背起沉重的十字架，活出耶稣的形象，就叫人觉得力不从心或力未能逮。但若从另外一个角度思想：「我们已经与耶稣同钉十字架」，我们就比较能觉得如释重负，这条十字架窄路不致这麽难走。 就我们了解一点，亚当在伊甸园犯罪堕落（不顺服上帝），导致灵性上的死亡——与上帝永远隔绝。我们这些亚当的后裔，也遗传了亚当的罪性，在他的咒诅上有份，因此罪与死亡的权势，每天都辖制着每个人。 耶稣道成肉身来到这世界，成为第二个亚当，祂为赎我们的罪，使我们在祂死的形状上有份，因此我们可以坦然无惧地说：「我与耶稣同钉十字架。」耶稣代替世上众人（包括你和我）被钉死在十架上，像被宰的羔羊献为赎罪祭；祂复活的生命被升上高天，坐在父上帝宝座的右边。因着与祂同死，就与祂同复活，祂的新生命就进到我们裡面。当我们紧紧抓住这真理，就知道现在活着的不再是我，乃是耶稣在我裡面活着，因此我从耶稣那裡，可以支取得胜罪恶、超越死亡的能力。 这儿揭示了一个极为宝贵的真理，然而许多基督徒却不明白这真理，因为若不是假以时日，信徒是不容易明白它的。信徒要以基督的心为心，学习恨恶罪恶、喜爱真理，藉着圣灵的引导与帮助，拥有坚定的信心，每天与钉十架的耶稣同死同复活以及倒空自己，要祂复活的生命充满我们，使我们有份于那得胜罪恶、超越死亡的能力，让祂的同在成为我们的气息，成为我们生活的方式。 CRUCIFIED WITH CHRISTScripture: "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me."—GAL. ii. 20.
The thought of fellowship with Christ in His bearing the cross, has often led to the vain attempt in our own power to follow Him, and bear His image. But this is impossible to man until he first learns to know something of what it means to say, "I have been crucified with Christ." Let us try to understand this. When Adam died, all his descendants died with him and in him. In his sin in Paradise, and in the spiritual death into which he fell, I had a share; I died in him. And the power of that sin and death, in which all his descendants share, works in every child of Adam every day. Christ came as the second Adam. In His death on the cross, all who believe in Him had a share. Each one may say in truth, "I have been crucified with Christ." As the representative of His people, He took them up with Him on the cross, and me too. The life that He gives is the crucified life in which He entered heaven, and was exalted to the throne, standing as a Lamb as it had been slain. The power of His death and life work in me, and as I hold fast the truth that I have been crucified with Him, and that now I myself live no more but Christ liveth in me, I receive power to conquer sin; the life that I have received from Him is a life that has been crucified and made free from the power of sin. We have here a deep and very precious truth. Most Chris?tians have but little knowledge of it. That knowledge is not gained easily or speedily. It needs a great longing in very deed to be dead to all sin. It needs a strong faith, wrought by the Holy Ghost, that the union with Christ crucified, that the fellowship of His cross, can day by day become our life. The life that He lives in heaven has its strength and its glory in the fact that it is a crucified life. And the life that He imparts to the believing disciple is even so a crucified life with its victory over sin and its power of access into God's presence. It is in very deed true that I no longer live, but Christ liveth in me as the Crucified one. As faith realizes and holds fast the fact that the crucified Christ lives in me, life in the fellowship of the cross becomes a possibility and a blessed experience.
经文: 「但我断不以别的夸口，只夸我们主耶稣基督的十字架；因这十字架就我而论，世界已经钉在十字架上；就世界而论，我已经钉在十字架上。」（）
在加拉太书中，保罗清楚有力地表达他的信念与人生观，他说他别无所夸，只夸耶稣的十字架，且说他「已与耶稣同钉十字架」，这不仅是指内在属灵的真理而言，也是生活中与世界诱惑争战的实际经验。耶稣曾说这世界恨恶祂，但祂却已胜过这世界；保罗深知那钉死耶稣的世人，也是一样恨恶他，但他既已与耶稣同钉十字架，这世界对他而言已无能为力，不能对他产生任何作用，而他也从世界的綑绑与权势下被释放出来。 今天的基督徒，与世界的关係却是很奇怪的，他们知道不能犯世人所认定的罪，但却与世界为友，尽情享受世界所提供的享乐，岂不知那爱肉体和眼目情慾的，更是世界的危险陷阱？ 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，当世人将耶稣钉十字架，我们也同时与祂一起钉十字架；当耶稣在十字架上征服了世界与罪恶的势力，我们也分享祂的得胜，得以胜过这世界和罪恶的权势。耶稣现在呼召你，要你不计任何代价，不向罪恶妥协，不向诱惑屈服，不与世界为友，让耶稣复活的生命覆庇你，过着得胜的生活。 一个被圣灵管理的基督徒，会学习做这样一个宣告：「我已与耶稣同钉十字架，被钉十字架的耶稣现在活在我裡面。」如此，世界的罪恶与诱惑将不再对他产生任何影响力，他将拥有一个完全不一样的生活。让我们热切地祷告，求上帝藉着圣灵向我们启示：「荣耀的主耶稣，藉着十字架的道路，已将老我亚当的罪性钉死，世界对我不再产生任何作用。」 CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLDScripture: "Far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world."—GAL. vi. 14.
What Paul had written in Galatians ii. is here in the end of the Epistle confirmed, and expressed still more strongly. He speaks of his only glory being that in Christ he has in very deed been crucified to the world and entirely delivered from its power. When he said: "I have been crucified with Christ," it was not only an inner spiritual truth, but an actual, practical experience in relation to the world and its temptations. Christ had spoken about the world hating Him, and His having overcome the world, Paul knows that the world which nailed Christ to the cross, had in that deed done the same to him. He boasts that he lives as one crucified to the world, and that now the world as an impotent enemy was crucified to him. It was this that made him glory in the cross of Christ. It had wrought out a complete deliverance from the world. How very different the relation of Christians to the world in our day! They agree that they may not commit the sins that the world allows. But further they are good friends with the world, and have liberty to enjoy as much of it as they can, if they only keep from open sin. They do not know that the most dangerous source of sin is the love of the world with its lusts and pleasures. O Christian, when the world crucified Christ, it crucified you with Him. When Christ overcame the world on the cross, He made you an overcomer too. He calls you now, at whatever cost of self-denial, to regard the world, in its hostility to God and His kingdom, as a crucified enemy over whom the cross can ever keep you conqueror. What a different relationship to the pleasures and attractions of the world the Christian has who by the Holy Ghost has learned to say: "I have been crucified with Christ; the crucified Christ liveth in me"! Let us pray God fervently that the Holy Spirit, through Whom Christ offered Himself on the cross, may reveal to us in power what it means to "glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified unto me."
经文: 「凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体，连肉体的邪情私慾，同钉在十字架上了。」（）
保罗曾说：「在我裡头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善；因为立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。」（）；又说：「原来体贴肉体的，就是与上帝为仇；因为不服上帝的律法，也是不能服。」（）。当亚当失去上帝的灵同在之时，他就变成属肉体的，也就是「老我」抬头。所谓「老我」，就是由亚当遗传下来邪恶败坏的天性。经上记着：「因为知道我们的旧人，和祂同钉十字架，使罪身灭绝，叫我们不再作罪的奴僕。」（），保罗又进一步地说：「因为已死的人，是脱离了罪。」（）。 当门徒听到耶稣的呼召，就顺从跟随了祂，但耶稣进一步教导他们何谓跟从主时，门徒们一点儿都没有预备好心立刻顺服，甚至那些已经属主，接受耶稣为钉死救主的信徒们，也不太理解背十字架究竟是做什麽。惟有藉着绝对的顺服，将自己与耶稣同钉十字架，连同老我的邪情私慾都一起钉死，知道被挂在十字架已是一件完全无法动弹又被咒诅的事，如此老我才能死透。 很可惜！太少人仔细思想这一层道理，或许与耶稣同钉十字架的真理未被强调，也太少被教导，以致谈到要牺牲、要捨己，许多信徒就退避三舍，结果「老我」就越来越强盛，自我意识很强，以致于上帝的灵无法行使祂的能力。 保罗在，说：「当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情慾了。」；「因为凡被上帝的灵引导的，都是上帝的儿子。」（），若我们将「老我」凭信钉在十字架上，并紧紧地依靠耶稣，圣灵自然就会引导我们。 「亲爱的救主，当我凭信接受祢作我个人救主时，我竟然还是不明白我既与祢同钉十字架，连同我肉体的邪情私慾都一併被钉在十架上了！我谦卑恳切地求祢，教导我信靠这真理，并且住在祢裡面，效法保罗面向十字架，治死老我，将「世界」置诸身后，与它不再有任何瓜葛牵连，只单单地跟随祢。奉主耶稣圣名，阿们！」 THE FLESH CRUCIFIEDScripture: "They that are in Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof."—GAL. v. 24.
Of the flesh Paul teaches us (Rom. vii. 18), "In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." And again (Rom. viii. 7), "The mind of the flesh in enmity aqainst God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be." When Adam lost the Spirit of God, he became flesh. Flesh is the ex?pression for the evil, corrupt nature that we inherit from Adam. Of this flesh it is written, "Our old man was crucified with Him" (Rom. vi. 6). And Paul puts it here even more strongly, "They that are in Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh." When the disciples heard and obeyed the call of Jesus to follow Him, they honestly meant to do so, but as He later on taught them what that would imply, they were far from being ready to yield immediate obedience. And even so those who are Christ's and have accepted Him as the Crucified One, little understand what that includes. By that act of surrender they actually have crucified the flesh, and consented to regard it as an accursed thing, nailed to the cross of Christ. Alas, how many there are who have never for a moment thought of such a thing! It may be that the preaching of Christ crucified has been defective. It may be that the truth of our being crucified with Christ has not been taught. They shrink back from the self-denial that it implies, and as a result, where the flesh is allowed in any measure to have its way, the Spirit of Christ cannot exert His power. Paul taught the Galations: "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God." And the Spirit can alone guide us as the flesh, in living faith and fellowship with Christ Jesus, is kept in the place of crucifixion. Blessed Lord, how little I understood when I accepted Thee in faith that I crucified once for all the flesh with its passions and lusts! I beseech Thee humbly, teach me so to believe and so to live in Thee, the Crucified One, that with Paul I may ever glory in the cross on which the world and the flesh are crucified.
经文: 「不背着他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒。为我失丧生命的，将要得着生命。」（，39下）
从加拉太书我们看到保罗对十字架，以及与主同钉十字架的解析。现在我们来看看主耶稣怎样定义十字架——不背着十字架跟从我的，就不配作我的门徒，失丧生命的将要得着生命。其实保罗所公开阐释的十字架道路，就是将耶稣所讲有关十字架信息的核心重点扩充发挥，讲得更具体、实际、完备。 事实上，这段话是耶稣在拣选十二个门徒后，对他们所做的勉励，要他们背起自己的十字架来跟从主。然而，当时门徒们对十字架的认知，仅止于罪犯背负沉重的十字架前往刑场的画面，但耶稣要他们更深刻地去体认，人的本性就是罪恶败坏，惟有让它在十字架上被钉死，才能够得着新生命。耶稣的一生，就是这真理最佳的诠释，祂从出生来到这世上，就知道自己的命运是要背负全世人的罪孽，然后被钉死在十字架上；所以，祂也要求祂的门徒像祂一样，将败坏的老我钉死在十字架上。 门徒们虽不能马上了解耶稣的话，但耶稣给他们背十字架的信息，像种子一样地埋在他们心土裡生根成长。期间门徒们不但要学习治死老我，而且在治死老我的过程中，发现到当「死」在身体上发动时，「生」也同时在身体上发动，一种生命的转化就这样发生，十字架上耶稣复活的生命，就这样进入我们裡面。 耶稣要求祂的门徒要捨弃一切，不要有自己的渴慕或追求，只单单地背起自己的十字架来跟随主。耶稣现在也一样呼召属祂的百姓，完全放下自己的喜好，不高抬自己并只单单地背起自己的十字架跟随主与祂联合，如此我们才有份于耶稣复活得胜的生命。 BEARING THE CROSSScripture: "He that doth not take his cross and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it." —MATT. x. 38-39.
We have, had some of Paul's great words to the Galatians about the cross and our being crucified with Christ. Let us now turn to the Master Himself to hear what He has to teach us. We shall find that what Paul could teach openly and fully after the crucifixion, was given by the Master in words that could at first hardly be understood, and yet contained the seed of the full truth. It was in the ordination charge, when Christ sent forth His disciples, that He first used the expression that the disciple must take up his cross and follow Him. The only meaning the disciples could attach to these words was from what they had often seen, when an evil-doer who had been sentenced to death by the cross was led out bearing his cross to the place of execution. In bearing the cross, he acknowledged the sentence of death that was on him. And Christ would have His disciples understand that their nature was so evil and corrupt that it was only in losing their natural life that they could find the true life. Of Himself it was true, all His life He bore His cross, the sentence of death that He knew to rest upon Himself on account of our sins. And so He would have His disciple bear his cross, the sentence of death upon himself and his evil, carnal nature. The disciples could not at once understand all this. But, Christ gave them seed words, which would germinate in their hearts and later on begin to reveal their full meaning. The disciple was not only to carry the sentence of death in himself but to learn that in following the Master to His cross, he would find the power to lose his life and to receive instead of it the life that would come through the cross of Christ. Christ asks of His disciples that they should forsake all and take up their cross, give up their whole will and life, and follow Him. The call comes to us too to give up the self life with its self-pleasing and self-exaltation, and bear the cross in fellow?ship with Him, and we shall be made partakers of His victory.
经文: 「耶稣对门徒说，若有人要跟从我，就当捨己，背起他的十字架，来跟从我。」（）
当耶稣第一次公开明确地说，祂会受苦、受死，又再复活时，彼得立即劝阻说：「主阿！……这事必不临到祢身上。」，主耶稣回答说：「撒但，退我后边去吧。」（），彼得的意思是要耶稣不要上十字架，免除那样的死刑痛苦，但这是撒但的诡计，试图引诱耶稣远离上帝所订定救赎人类的计划。 耶稣第二次提及祂的死亡时，祂又再加上几句话：「要背起十字架」，更深入的阐释是：「若有人要跟随我，就得要捨己、背起他的十字架。」当亚当犯罪，属天的生命就离开他，他就变成属世的，活在老我的生命——自我抬头，自我膨胀，一切都以自我为中心——这种自私的心态，成为他生活的准则。当耶稣来到世界上为要恢复人本有的地位时，祂自己率先倒空自己，取了奴僕的样式，至极谦卑到一个地步，甚至死在十字架。因着祂以身作则并竖立榜样，祂就要求门徒们也如此效法祂。 结果彼得经不起考验竟然否认主，当耶稣被捕时，彼得对人说：「我不认得那个人。」（）。当一个人未认识主时，他会说：「我不认识这个败坏的人。」但作门徒的，是要背起自己的十字架和治死老我，算自己是死的，且甘心放弃本该拥有的权利，不以自我为中心。 「治死老我」是基督徒的座右铭，「绝对顺服基督」是应有的心态，不要让「老我蠢动」，挣扎着想从十字架上跳下来，要让它一直挂在十字架上，保持着与耶稣同死的状态。 耶稣说：「要捨己。」作为耶稣的跟随者，必须恳求耶稣给我们恩典，才能真正地牺牲捨己，就像其他见证人那样，无私地为周围的人而活，因为耶稣是这样的爱我们。 SELF-DENIALScripture: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, 'If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"—MATT. xvi. 24
Christ had for the first time definitely announced that He would have to suffer much and be killed and be raised again. "Peter rebuked him, saying, 'Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall never be unto Thee.'" Christ's answer was, "Get thee be?hind Me, Satan." The spirit of Peter, seeking to turn Him away from the cross and its suffering, was nothing but Satan tempting Him to turn aside from the path which God had appointed as our way of salvation. Christ then adds the words of our text, in which He uses for the second time the words "take up the cross." But with that He uses a most significant expression revealing what is implied in the cross: "If any man come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross." When Adam sinned, he fell out of the life of Heaven and of God into the life of the World and of Self. Self-pleasing, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, became the law of his life. When Jesus Christ came to restore man to his original place, "being in the form of God, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and humbled Himself even to the death of the cross." What He has done Himself He asks of all who desire to follow Him: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." Instead of denying himself, Peter denied his Lord: "I know not the Man." When a man learns to obey Christ's commands, he says of himself: "I know not the man." It is the secret of true discipleship, to bear the cross, to acknowledge the death sentence that has been passed on self, and to deny any right that self has to rule over us. Death to self, is to be the Christian's watchword. The sur?render to Christ is to be so entire, the surrender for Christ's sake to live for those around us so complete, that self is never allowed to come down from the cross to which it has been crucified, but is ever kept in the place of death. Let us listen to the voice of Jesus: "Deny self;" and ask that by the grace of the Holy Spirit, as the disciples of Christ Who denied Himself for us, we may ever live as those in whom self has been crucified with Christ, and in whom the crucified Christ now lives as Lord and Master.
经文: 「凡不背着自己十字架跟从我的，也不能作我的门徒。这样，你们无论什麽人，若不撇下一切所有的，就不能作我的门徒。」（，33）
耶稣第三次提到背十字架，并为它加上新的诠释，祂慎重地再三阐释，人若不恨恶自己的性命，捨弃他一切所有的，就不配作祂的门徒。 为何耶稣要订下「人若不恨恶自己的性命」这样苛刻的标准？因为我们从亚当所遗传老我的天性，是充满罪恶与败坏，若我们能透视到老我「无可救药」的败坏，就会讶异的转身而逃。「体贴肉体的，就是与上帝为仇。」（），若我们想要爱上帝，就不得不恨恶这个「从裡……到外」都坏透的「败坏老我」；而且，恨恶自己生命的，就肯捨己牺牲，愿意背起自己的十字架，把老我的邪情私慾一併钉死在十字架上。当我们真正「恨恶」老我到一个地步，知道在它裡面毫无良善可言，我们才愿意放下自我和倒空自己，将老我钉死在十字架上，并让它彻底死透。 耶稣最后又加一句：「若不撇下一切（包括财产、个性）所有的，就不能作我的门徒。」（）。耶稣要我们献上一切，但也负责供应我们一切的需要，并应许要百倍报偿我们。凭藉信心我们明白何谓认识耶稣、爱耶稣，并知道惟有祂能满足人内心真正的需要，且为我们预备永生的归宿。藉此我们才明白所谓的奉献与捨己，实在不是一种牺牲而是一种恩召，一种蒙福的管道。当我们明白、体悟到耶稣真是我们的生命，那时我们就能视万事为粪土，以认识主耶稣为至宝。在跟随主耶稣的过程中，我们就越来越认识祂，越来越爱祂，并愿意牺牲捨己及尊主为大，将自己生命的主权交给祂，让主越兴盛彰显而自我越衰微淼小。 HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLEScripture: "If any man cometh unto Me, and hateth not his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. Whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple."—LUkE xiv. 26-33.
For the third time Christ speaks about bearing the cross. He gives new meaning to it when He says that a man must hate his own life and renounce all that he hath. Thrice over He solemnly repeats the words that without this a man cannot be His disciple. "If a man hate not his own life." And why does Christ make such an exacting demand the condition of discipleship? Because the sinful nature we have inherited from Adam is indeed so vile and full of sin, that if our eyes were only opened to see it in its true nature, we would flee from it as loathsome and incurably evil. "The flesh is enmity against God"; the soul that seeks to love God cannot but hate the old man which is corrupt through its whole being. Nothing less than this, the hating of our own life, will make us willing to bear the cross, and carry within us the sentence of death on our evil nature. It is not till we hate this life with a deadly hatred that we will be ready to give up the old nature to die the death that is its due. Christ has one word more: "He that renounceth not all that he hath," whether in property or character, "cannot be My disciple." Christ claims all. Christ undertakes to satisfy every need and to give a hundredfold more than we give up. It is when by faith we become conscious what it means to know Christ, and to love Him and to receive from Him what can in very deed enrich and satisfy our immortal spirits, that we shall count the surrender of what at first appeared so difficult, our highest privilege. As we learn what it means that Christ is our life, we shall count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. In the path of following Him, and ever learning to know and to love Him better, we shall willingly sacrifice all, self with its life, to make room for Him Who is more than all.
经文: 「耶稣看着他，就爱他，对他说：你还缺少一件；去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。」（）
当耶稣对少年官说了这些话，这少年人就忧忧愁愁地走了。耶稣说：「有钱财的人进上帝的国，是何等难哪！」（），门徒们对耶稣所说的话极为讶异不解，当耶稣第二次重覆祂所说的话，门徒更狐疑讶异：「这样谁能得救呢？」，耶稣说：「在人是不能，在上帝却不然，因为上帝凡事都能。」（）。 从人的角度看，主耶稣提到背十字架；另外又藉着少年官的例子，耶稣从上帝的角度说明若要进天国，人要甘心乐意捨弃所有，才配得进天国。当门徒彼得率先承认耶稣是上帝的儿子时，耶稣对彼得说：「因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。」（），由此耶稣向我们道出一个奥秘的真理：惟有靠着属天的帮助，人才能背起自己的十字架，才愿意恨恶老我的生命；并且为了耶稣的缘故，捨弃自己的生命。 众人都想跟随耶稣和顺服祂的旨意，却发现做不到；众人也觉得当基督徒的标准太高了，又没有决心完全捨弃倒空自己，对上帝无条件的降服，以致过着矛盾歉疚的生活，这绝非上帝所乐见的。 让我们从本课的经文学得教导：明白走十字架的道路是意谓着什麽，同时相信惟有信靠永活的真神，并相信圣灵要作工在我们心中且加添我们力量，使我们肯捨弃一切，单单跟随耶稣背十字架的佳美脚踪而行。 FOLLOW MEScripture: "Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him, and said: 'One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.'"—MARk x. 21.
When Christ spoke these words to the young ruler, he went away grieved. Jesus said: "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" The disciples were astonished at His words. When Christ repeated once again what He had said, they were astonished out of measure. "Who then can be saved?" "Jesus looking upon them said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." Christ had spoken about bearing the cross from the human side, as the one condition of discipleship. Here with the rich young ruler He reveals from the side of God what is needed to give men the will and the power thus to sacrifice all, if they were to enter the kingdom. He said to Peter, when he had confessed Him as Christ, the Son of God, that flesh and blood had not revealed it unto him, but his Father in heaven, to remind him and the other disciples that it was only by Divine teaching that he could make the confession. So here with the ruler, He unveils the great mystery that it is only by Divine power that a man can take up his cross, can lose his life, can deny himself and hate the life to which he is by nature so attached. What multitudes have sought to follow Christ and obey His injunction, and have found that they have utterly failed! What multitudes have felt that Christ's claims were beyond their reach and have sought to be Christians without any attempt at the wholehearted devotion and the entire self-denial which Christ asks for! Let us in our study of what the fellowship of the cross means take to-day's lesson to heart, and believe that it is only by putting our trust in the living God and the mighty power in which He is willing to work in the heart, that we can attempt to be disciples who forsake all and follow Christ in the fellowship of His cross.
经文: 「一粒麦子不落在地裡死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来。爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命；在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。」（）
大自然教导我们一个真理：失去生命是另一个更真实、更高层次的生命开始。每一子粒，每一个种子，也向我们启示，透过死亡，可以通往更美、更丰盛的生命。 耶稣基督就是最好的例证，若祂没经过痛苦、折磨与死亡，祂就不能升天得荣耀，也无法将祂复活的生命，赏赐给属祂的子民。在祂踏上十字架的刑场前，祂向门徒呼召：「若有人服事我，就当跟从我。」（），祂一再重覆：「在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。」（）。 或许有人认为，祂实在不需要牺牲这麽宝贵的生命，然后又再复活。但上帝定规如此：上帝把耶稣当作赎罪祭，耶稣也完全顺服这条不改变的律——死亡像一扇门，藉此可通往另外一个丰硕生命的境界。 既意识到从亚当遗传下来的败坏老我本性，是如此顽强地纠缠着我们，我们岂不该极为感恩地颂讚救主耶稣的救赎大功，因为耶稣为我们开了一条又新又活的路，藉着与祂连结并同钉十字架，就把这个老我算为「死人」。我们也要心存感恩地回应上帝的呼召：天天背起自己的十字架，将老我钉死在十字架上；因为这是它本该受的惩罚；当然我们也相信永生上帝的灵，会在我们心中动工，使我们甘心乐意地与耶稣同死并与祂同复活，且使我们在祂复活的生命上有份。 遗憾的是，这样的道理太少人了解。弟兄姐妹们，让我们确信在人所不能的，在上帝凡事都能，也坚心相信复活的主，在各样的事上，要帮助我们经历与祂同死同复活的体验，因为祂是一位又真又活且爱我们的上帝！ A GRAIN Of WHEATScripture: Verily, verity, I say unto you, Except a grain of -wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beard k much fruit. He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."— JOHN xii. 24, 25. R. V.
All nature is the parable of how the losing of a life can be the way of securing a truer and a higher life. Every grain of wheat, every seed throughout the world, teaches the lesson that through death lies the path to beautiful and fruitful life. It was so with the Son of God. He had to pass through death in all its bitterness and suffering, before He could rise to heaven and impart His life to His redeemed people. And here under the shadow of the approaching cross He calls His disciples: "If any man will serve Me, let him follow Me." He repeats the words: "He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." One might have thought that Christ did not need to lose His holy life ere He could find it again. But so it was: God had laid upon Him the iniquity of us all, and he yielded to the in?exorable law: Through death to life and to fruit. How much more ought we, in the consciousness of that evil nature and that death which we inherited in Adam, be willing, yea, most grateful that there is a way open to us by which, in the fellowship of Christ and His cross, we can die to this accursed self! With what gratitude ought we to listen to the call to bear our cross, to yield our "old man" as crucified with Christ daily to that death which he deserves! Surely the thought that the power of the eternal Life is working in us, ought to make us willing and glad to die the death that brings us into the fellowship and the power of life in a risen Christ. Alas, how little this is understood! Let us believe that what is impossible to man is possible to God. Let us believe that the law of the Spirit of Christ Jesus, the Risen Lord, can in very deed make His death and His life the daily experience of our souls.
经文: 「我父啊！倘若可行，求祢叫这杯离开我；然而不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思。」（）
即使在天国的荣耀裡，耶稣的被钉十字架，同样是神圣至极大爱的表现；也就是说祂所做的牺牲，给人最大的好处，就是圣灵可以动工在我们心中，让我们可与耶稣相契合，过一个心中有主的内在生活。 我们必须深切地明白一项真理，就是上帝的爱子耶稣基督，若没有先将自己交付死地，祂就无法升天得荣耀。若蒙圣灵光照，得以明白这真理的启示，将有助于我们奔走这条属灵天路，知道我们若不降服耶稣，每天背起自己的十字架，向罪死、向世界死，我们就无法有份于耶稣复活的新生命，也不能与祂保有不间断的沟通与联繫。 惟有从主耶稣那儿，我们才能明白何谓与耶稣同受苦：有份于祂的死且与祂联合。那夜祂在客西马尼园，想到要亲嚐罪权势下的咒诅：被上帝离弃，钉死十字架。不禁忧伤痛苦，汗如血滴流下，祂流泪祷告，求上帝将这苦杯挪去，但上帝掩面不愿看祂，也没有丝毫亮光透过这无尽的黑暗，耶稣得不着上帝任何的回应，于是明白上帝要祂嚐此苦杯，祂就谦卑伏服在上帝面前说：「愿祢的意旨成全。」（）。 喔！亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，要效法主的榜样，向上帝说：「不要照我的意思，只要照祢的旨意成就。」上帝会使我们心中有力量，在各样事上帮助我们捨弃所有，为要得着主的欢心，因为我们已定意与耶稣同钉十字架。 「照主的旨意成就！」愿这句话成为我们的座右铭，成为我们生活的指标。靠着耶稣的力量及圣灵的帮助，我们可以天天学习在各样的大事、小事上，先求问祂的旨意，并照祂的意思去做；也让这样的思想信念，成为我们服膺的准则，相信这将使我们生活充满喜乐与能力。 THY WILL BE DONEScripture: "0 My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." — MATT. 39. R. V.
The death of Christ on the cross is the highest and the holiest that can be known of Him even in the glory of heaven. And the highest and the holiest that the Holy Spirit can work in us, is to take us up and to keep us in the fellowship of the cross of Christ. We need to enter deeply into the truth that Christ the beloved Son of the Father could not return to the glory of heaven until He had first given Himself over unto death. As this great truth opens up to us, it will help us to understand how in our life, and in our fellowship with Christ, it is impossible for us to share His life until we have first in very deed surrendered ourselves every day to die to sin and the world, and so to abide in the unbroken fellowship with our crucified Lord. And it is from Christ alone that we can learn what it means to have fellowship with His sufferings, and to be made conformable unto His death. When in the agony of Gethsemane He looked forward to what a death on the cross would be, He got such a vision of what it meant to die the accursed death under the power of sin, with God's countenance so turned from Him that not a single ray of its light could penetrate the darkness, He prayed that the cup might pass from Him. But when no an?swer came, and He understood that the Father could not allow the cup to pass by, He yielded up His whole will and life in the word : "Thy will be done." O Christian, in this word of thy Lord in His agony, thou canst enter into fellowship with Him, and in His strength thy heart will be made strong to believe most confidently that God in His omnipotence will enable thee in very deed with Christ to yield up everything, because thou hast in very deed been crucified with Him. "Thy will be done" ; let this be the deepest and the highest word in thy life. In the power of Christ with Whom thou hast been crucified, and in the power of His Spirit, the definite daily surrender to the ever-blessed will of God will become the joy and the strength of thy life.
经文: 「当下耶稣说：父啊！赦免他们，因为他们所作的，他们不晓得。」（）
耶稣在十架上所说的这段话，显示出耶稣有怎样的心肠，也指示门徒们应该培养怎样的性情。想想这句话：「父啊！赦免他们！」，这是多麽深广的爱！ 在仇敌嚣闹凯旋并将一切羞辱、苦难加诸在祂身上的时候，耶稣却反过来为仇敌祷告，用爱去包容他们说：「父啊！赦免他们，因为他们所作的，他们不知道。」身为耶稣门徒，岂不当效法耶稣去爱我们的仇敌，为咒诅我们的祝福，为恨我们、逼迫我们的祷告？因为十字架的爱与耶稣的行事法则，正是信靠追随祂的人的行事法则。 「妇人，看你的儿子。……看你的母亲。」（），耶稣不但爱仇敌，也顾念祂的朋友家人。祂明白自己的受死，会带给祂守寡的母亲何等大的哀痛，所以祂把她交给心爱的门徒约翰照顾，并知道这对约翰而言，也是何等大的殊荣。所以，既作耶稣的门徒，不但要为仇敌祷告，也要顾念属主耶稣的弟兄姐妹们，让伤心的得安慰，让孤单的得陪伴。 「今日你要同我在乐园裡了。」（），与耶稣同钉十字架的两个强盗之一，求耶稣怜悯纪念他，耶稣毫不迟疑的首肯，让他同享乐园的福份。耶稣不但爱仇敌、朋友，连人人厌弃的强盗恶人，祂也乐意分享祂的爱。这一切证明十字架的爱，是超过我们知识所了解，而耶稣在十架上牺牲生命，正是爱的具体表现。 想到我们本该下地狱，如今蒙受何等大的恩典，让耶稣为我们偿清罪债，使我们得与上帝和好，我们实在欠了传福音的债；因此，我们当以耶稣的心为心，不但自己享受与天父和好的契合之爱，更要把叫世人与上帝和好的职份扛起来，无论得时不得时，总要尽力与人分享这好消息。 THE LOVE OF THE CROSSScripture: "Then said Jesus: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' "—LUkE xxiii. 34.
The seven words on the cross reveal what the mind of Christ is, and show the dispositions that become His disciples. Take the three first words, all the expression of His wonderful love. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He prays for His enemies. In the hour of their triumph over Him, and of the shame and suffering which they delight in showering on Him, He pours out His love in prayer for them. It is the call to everyone who believes in a crucified Christ, to go and do likewise, even as He has said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which persecute you." The law of the Master is the law for the disciple; the love of the crucified Jesus, the only rule for those who believe in Him. "Woman, behold thy son!" "Behold thy mother!" The love that cared for His enemies, cared too for His friends. Jesus felt what the anguish must be in the heart of His widowed mother, and commits her to the care of the beloved disciple. He knew that for John there could be no higher privilege, and no more blessed service, than that of taking His place in the care of Mary. Even so we who are the disciples of Christ must not only pray for His enemies, but prove our love to Him, and to all who belong to Him, by seeing to it that every solitary one is comforted, and that every loving heart has some work to do in caring for those who belong to the blessed Master. "Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with Me in Para?dise." The penitent thief had appealed to Christ's mercy to remember him. With what readiness of joy and love Christ gives the immediate answer to his prayer! Whether it was the love that prayed for His enemies, or the love that cared for His friends, or the love that rejoices over the penitent sinner who was bein? cast out by man,—in all Christ proves that the cross is a cross of love, that the Crucified One is the embodiment of a love that passeth knowledge. With every thought of what we owe to that love, with every act of faith in which we rejoice in its redemption, let us prove that the mind of the crucified Christ is our mind, and that His love is not only what we trust in for ourselves, but what guides us in our loving intercourse with the world around us.
经文: 「我的上帝！我的上帝！为甚麽离弃我？」（下）
耶稣在十字架所说的话，不仅流露上帝对人类的爱，祂所做的牺牲，更带出无比的效果：得胜各样的仇敌，并将我们从罪恶綑绑中释放出来。而且耶稣所拥有的心志与性情，也要成为信徒学习的榜样，内化成为我们基督徒的心志与性情。 「我的上帝！我的上帝！为什麽离弃我？」那覆盖在耶稣身上的黑暗是何等的大，连一丝光线都透不过，甚至祂无法喊出：「我的父啊！」，耶稣一向与天父合而为一，每天同心同行紧密地连结在一起，但现在耶稣背负着世人所有的罪孽在身上，以致天父只好掩面不看祂，不得不暂时离弃祂，造成耶稣无比的痛苦与折磨，所以祂在客西马尼园汗如血滴般流下，流泪恳切祷告主：「倘若可行，求祢叫这杯离开我。」但祂最后还是顺服上帝说：「然而不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思。」（），这是耶稣爱上帝、爱世人最高度至极的表现——顺服天父，为世人捨命。我们信服上帝的人，也当效法耶稣的榜样，向上帝说：「阿爸天父，愿祢的旨意成就！」 「我渴了！」（），天父上帝对世人罪恶的震怒，整个发洩在耶稣身上，耶稣的肉体在这个痛苦黑暗的时刻，饱受烈火的煎熬与摧残，为着将自己献上作为挽回祭，耶稣甘心乐意地忍受肉体的折磨，但还是不得不喊出：「我渴了」。 接着祂又说：「成了！」（），为了完成天父所交付给祂的使命，耶稣甘心乐意地把自己献为赎罪祭，忍受心灵与肉体的折磨与痛苦，不求任何的回报，事后还说：「成了」；这就是耶稣的心。我们这些信靠耶稣的人，也当以耶稣的心为心，随时准备好愿为耶稣摆上：「遵行差我来者的旨意，作成祂的工。」（）。 我们每一天对耶稣在十字架所做的工，越来越认识瞭解，也就会越来越有信心，如此我们的心也越来越归向祂，并且甘心乐意将自己献上当做活祭，来事奉上帝、服事人，藉此来回报祂对我们的爱。 THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSSScripture: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"—"I thirst."—"It is finished."—MATT, xxvii. 46; JOHN xix. 28, 30.
The three first words on the cross reveal love In its outflow to men. The next three reveal love in the tremendous sacrifice that it brought, to deliver us from our sins and give the victory over every foe. They will still reveal the very mind that was in Christ, and that is to be in us as the disposition of our whole life. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" How deep must have been the darkness that overshadowed Him, when not one ray of light could pierce, and He could not say, "My Father"! It was this awful desertion, breaking in upon that life of childlike fellowship with the Father in which He had always walked, that caused Him the agony and the bloody sweat in Gethsemane. "O My Father, let this cup pass from Me."—but it might not be, and He bowed His head in submission: "Thy will be done." It was His love to God and love to man, yielding Himself to the very uttermost. It is as we learn to believe and to worship that love, that we too shall learn to say: "Abba, Father, Thy will be done." "I thirst." The body now gives expression to the terrible experience of what it passed through when the fire of God's wrath against sin came upon Christ in the hour of His desertion. He had spoken of Dives crying: "I am tormented in this flame." Christ utters His complaint of what He had suffered. Physicians tell us that, in crucifixion the whole body is in agony with a terrible fever and pain. Our Lord endured it all and cried: "I thirst"; soul and body was the sacrifice He brought the Father. And then comes the great word: "It is finished." All that there was to suffer and endure had been brought a willing sacrifice; He had finished the work the Father gave Him to do. His love held nothing back. He gave Himself an offering and a sac?rifice. Such was the mind of Christ, and such must be the dis?position of everyone who owes Himself and his life to that sac?rifice. The mind that was in Christ must be in us ready to say: "I am come to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." And every day that our confidence grows fuller in Christ's finished work, must see our heart more entirely yielding itself like Him, a whole burnt offering in the service of God and His love.
经文: 「耶稣大声喊着说：父啊！我将我的灵魂交在祢手裡；说了这话，气就断了。」（）
如大卫在诗篇卅一篇5节所说，耶稣将自己的灵魂交託在天父上帝手中，每天向上帝支取所需要的能力。但上十字架却是极为特殊的事件，绝非一件稀鬆平常的事可相比拟的，耶稣放弃自己的权利与能力，将自己交付予死亡的权势并埋葬在坟墓裡，沉没在黑黑的幽暗阴间，三天的时间无法独立思考，无法与天父沟通，也无自由意志。祂将自己完全降服在天父的手中，相信在黑暗中，天父仍然看顾祂，并且到了时候，天父上帝要使祂复活。 我们若真与耶稣同钉十字架，就要每天凭信心披戴耶稣的死，这是信徒最需要的箴言；想想耶稣所讲的话，那恨恶生命又愿意捨弃生命的，必要得着生命。 我们从亚当那儿遗传得来的生命，是有罪的老我生命，在它裡面毫无良善可言，我们必须完全地治死老我亚当，看世界算自己是死的，因为在老我这旧人裡面，一点圣洁都没有，只有以自我为中心的自私慾望。 许多人想自欺欺人，一方面想要向上帝而活，一方面又不想让老我死透，但这是不可能的事。就像一粒麦子，若不落在地裡死了，就不能结出子粒来。完全死透端赖向上帝的敬虔，属灵生命的成长肇始于老我的治死。 有人问要怎样才能做到如此地步？答桉在于效法耶稣受死受苦的心志；我们像耶稣一样将自己交託在上帝手中，虽不知新生命是如何长成，但我们就是像耶稣那样说：「父啊！我将灵魂交在祢手中！」然后单单地倚靠上帝带来复活的新生命，对那些信靠祂大能的人，上帝要成就祂的应许，使信徒经历到使耶稣复活的大能，一样可在我们身上运行。 这实在是信心真实的考验，就是每天每时每刻都经历上帝的同在，每天随时随地都与上帝有密切的沟通，藉着圣灵，体验到复活的生命在我们体内滋生成长。 THE DEATH OF THE GROSSScripture: "'Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.' And having said this, He gave up the ghost."—LUkE xxiii. 46.
Like David (Ps. xxxi. 5), Christ had often committed His spirit into the hands of His Father for His daily life and need. But here is something new and very special. He gives up His spirit into the power of death, gives up all control over it, to sink down into the darkness and death of the grave, where He can neither think, nor pray, nor will. He surrenders himself to the utmost into the Father's hands, trusting Him to care for Him in the dark, and in due time to raise Him up again. If we have indeed died in Christ and are now in faith every day to carry about with us the death of our Lord Jesus, this word is the very one that we need. Just think once again what Christ meant when He said that we must hate and lose our life. We died in Adam; the life we receive from him is death; there is nothing good or heavenly in us by nature. It is to this inward evil nature, to all the life that we have from this world, that we must die. There cannot be any thought of any real holi?ness, without totally dying to this self or "old man." Many deceive themselves because they seek to be alive in God before they are dead to their own nature: a thing as impossible as it is for a grain of wheat to be alive before it dies. This total dying to self lies at the root of all true piety. The spiritual life must grow out of death. And if we ask how we can do this, we find the answer in the mind in which Christ died. Like Him we cast ourselves upon God, without knowing how the new life is to be attained; but as we in fellowship with Jesus say, "Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit," and depend simply and absolutely upon God to raise us up into the new life, there will be fulfilled in us the wonderful promise of God's Word, concerning the exceeding greatness of His power in us who believe, according to the mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. This indeed is the true rest of faith, that lives every day and every hour in the absolute dependence upon the continual and immediate quickening of the Divine life in us by God Himself through the Holy Spirit.
经文: 「耶稣尝了那醋，就说：成了；便低下头，将灵魂交付上帝了。」（）
耶稣在十字架上说的这句话，显明祂的心志与神性。祂在传道之初就说：「我的食物，就是遵行差我来者的旨意，作成祂的工。」（），在凡事上无论大小，祂一心就是要把上帝所交待的事做好。在祂三年传道工作之后，祂以最高祭司的身份如此祷告：「我在地上已经荣耀祢，祢所託付我的事，我已成全了。」（），祂牺牲一切，为我们捨弃生命在十字架上，因此祂可以这样说：「成了」。 说完这句话，祂就把生命交付天父，上帝也加添祂的力量，使祂能忍受那人世间最残忍的酷刑，钉死在十字架上为世人偿还犯罪的代价，完成救赎的工作。 每一位跟随基督的信徒，都应该有耶稣的性情与心志，以耶稣的心肠为我们的心肠，在各样的事上遵行上帝的旨意，作为我们行事的原则与动力。或许是闪过脑海的意念，或是微不足道的琐事，若不求问上帝反凭己意而行，都会让上帝的国度或自己受亏损。或者我们会想逃避那些麻烦和要我们付上代价的事，这也是一种违逆不顺服。然而，靠着我们救主耶稣在十字架的劳苦受死，我们已经在各样的事上得胜有馀，因为藉着信心，我们可以像耶稣在十字架上说：「成了」。我们每天支取所需要的能力，藉着与祂在十字架上的死联合，就得以有份于祂复活的生命。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，多多挖掘圣经中无限的宝藏，深思圣经中耶稣所讲的：「成了」；默想耶稣在十字架上所成就的大功，可以帮助你每天彰显十字架的精神——牺牲捨己。 IT IS FINISHEDScripture: "When Jesus had received the vinegar. He said: 'It is finished.'"—JOHN xix. 30.
The seven words of our Lord on the cross reveal to us His mind and disposition. At the beginning of His ministry He said (John iv. 34): "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." In all things, the small as well as the great. He should accomplish God's work. In the High-Priestly prayer at the end of the three years' ministry, He could say {John xvii. 4): "I have glorified Thee on the earth, / have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." He sac?rificed all, and in dying on the cross could in truth say: "It is finished." With that word to the Father He laid down His life. With that word He was strengthened, after the terrible agony on the cross, in the knowledge that all was now fulfilled. And with that word He uttered the truth of the gospel of our redemption, that all that was needed for man's salvation had been accomplished on the cross. This disposition should characterize every follower of Christ. The mind that was in Him must be in us—it must he our meat, the strength of our life, to do the Will of God in all things, and to finish His -work. There may be small things about which we are not conscientious and so we bring harm to ourselves and to God's work. Or we draw back before some great thing which demands too much sacrifice. In every case we may find strength to perform our duty in Christ's word: "It is finished." His finished work secured the victory over every foe. By faith we may appropriate that dying word of Christ on the cross, and find the power for daily living and dying in the fellowship of the crucified Christ. Child of God, study the inexhaustible treasure contained in this word: "It is finished." Faith in what Christ accomplished on the cross will enable you to manifest in daily life the spirit of the cross.
经文: 「我们在罪上死了的人，岂可仍在罪中活着呢？」（）
罗马书前半段（一章16节～五章11节）保罗提到因信称义；后半段（五章12节～八章39节）则提到凭信与耶稣联合。保罗教导我们一项真理，即因着亚当犯罪，罪的律就辖制我们肉身，像毒钩一样引我们走向死亡；同理，那些信靠耶稣的人，在耶稣裡可以分享祂复活的生命，那属灵的律可以把我们从罪的綑绑中释放出来。 保罗问了一个问题：「我们在罪上死了的人，岂可仍在罪中活着呢？」从这句话中，我们领悟到一个真理，即藉着向罪死，我们就脱离罪的律与它的辖制，我们就不需要再受它的控制，这秘诀就是「凭藉信心，靠着圣灵的大能」，有力地宣告：「我向罪是死的」。 为加深对这真理的认知，保罗提醒罗马的信徒们受洗的仪式，就如同与耶稣同埋葬，在死的形状上与祂相联合，我们这个「老我」与耶稣同钉十字架，这个带罪的肉体就算为死、就算为无效。花时间安静地等候在上帝面前，默想这经文的真义，求圣灵来教导我们明白，直到这真理内化于我们心中。是的，我们已与耶稣同钉十字架，当我们有意识地宣告我们已与耶稣同死，我们就能经历到耶稣复活的能力，能将我们从罪的权势下释放出来。 罗马书第六章可谓新约中的瑰宝篇章，这经文教导我们「旧人老我」已与耶稣同钉十字架，我们已与祂同死，无需再受「罪的律」辖制，但这不是靠辩论或头脑的认知来完成，惟有靠着圣灵的能力，复活的大能才能将这真理付诸实现。是的，我们向罪是死的，我们必须不断地住在耶稣基督裡，就能经验到向罪是死的，向上帝是活的真理。 DEAD TO SINScripture: "We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?" —ROM. vi. 2.
After having, in the first section of the Epistle to the Romans (i. 16 to v. II), expounded the great doctrine of justification by faith, Paul proceeds, in the second section (v. 12 to viii. 39), to unfold the related doctrine of the new life by faith in Christ. Taking Adam as a figure of Christ, he teaches that just as we all really and actually died in Adam, so that his death reigns in our nature, even so, in Christ, those who believe in Him, actually and effectually died to sin, were set free from it, and became partakers of the new holy life of Christ. He asks the question: "We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?" In these words we have the deep spiritual truth that our death to sin in Christ delivers us from its power, so that we no longer may or need to live in it. The secret of true and full holiness is by faith, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live in the consciousness, I am dead to sin. In expounding this truth He reminds them that they were baptized into the death of Christ. We were buried with Him through baptism into death. We became united with Him by the likeness of His death. Our "old man" was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away—rendered void and powerless. Take time and quietly, asking for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, ponder these words until the truth masters you: I am indeed dead to sin in Christ Jesus. As we grow in the consciousness of our union with the crucified Christ, we shall experience that the power of His life in us has made us free from the power of sin. Romans vi. is one of the most blessed portions of the New Testament of our Lord Jesus, teaching us that our "old man," the old nature that is in us, was actually crucified with Him, so that now we need no longer be in bondage to sin. But remember it is only as the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death a reality within us, that we shall know, not by force of argument or conviction, but in the reality of the power of a Divine life, that we are in very deed dead to sin. It only needs the continual living in Christ Jesus.
经文: 「亚伯拉罕信上帝，这就算为他的义。亚伯拉罕所信的，是那叫死人复活使无变为有的上帝。」（，17上）
耶稣谈论基督徒与祂同钉十字架的事，现在让我们来看看保罗如何深入阐释「与耶稣同死」的真理与亮光。 罗马书前半段提到「因信称义」的道理，先提到外邦人的罪恶（第一章18～32节），然后提到犹太人的罪恶（第二章1～29节），他说无论「犹太人」或「外邦人」，在上帝面前都是有罪的，「因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了上帝的荣耀。」（），然后他又提到在耶稣裡白白的救赎，在第四章他指出上帝算亚伯拉罕为义，不是因着他所行的事，乃是因着他的信。 亚伯拉罕不仅相信这些，他甚至相信「那叫死人复活，使无变有的上帝。」这两句话极具关键性，是救恩的两项要素。首先是因信称义，使得我们与上帝和好，此外，还要有复活的新生命，这两样缺一不可。是的，耶稣为我们的罪而死，但在我们信主重生后，耶稣复活的生命，也在我们裡面滋长。 保罗在前半段（一章16节～五章11节）反覆重申因信称义的真理，但在后半段（五章12节～八章39节）他强调凭信与耶稣联合，藉此与耶稣同死同复活，并靠着圣灵的大能，我们不但得以免除刑罚，而且脱离罪的权势，能够过一个圣洁、顺服并讨主喜悦的生活。 THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GODScripture: "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." "He believed God, Who quickeneth the dead."— ROM. iv. 3, 17.
Let us now, after listening to the words of our Lord Jesus about our fellowship with Him in the cross, turn to St. Paul, and see how through the Holy Spirit he gives the deeper insight into what our death in Christ means. You know how the first section of Romans is devoted to the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ. After speaking (i. 18-32) of the awful sin of the heathen, and then (ii. 1-29) of the sin of the Jew, he points out how Jew and Gentile are "guilty before God." "All have sinned and come short." And then he sets forth that free grace which gave the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (iii. 21-31). In chapter iv., he points to Abraham as having, when he believed, understood that God justified him freely by His grace, and not for anything that he had done. Abraham had not only believed this, but something more. "He believed in God, Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were." The two expressions are most significant, as indicating the two essential needs there are in the redemption of man in Christ Jesus. There is the need of justi?fication by faith, to restore man to the favour of God. But there is more needed. He must also be quickened to a new life. Just as justification is by faith alone, so is regeneration also. Christ died for our sins; He was raised again out of, or through our justification. In the first section {down to chap. v. 11) Paul deals exclusively with the great thought of our justification. But in the second section (v. 12 to viii. 39) he expounds that wonderful union with Christ through faith, by which we died with Him, by which we live in Him, and by which through the Holy Spirit, we are made free, not only from the punishment, but also from the power of sin, and are enabled to live the life of righteousenss, of obedience, and of sanctification.
经文: 「我们若是与基督同死，就信必与祂同活。」（）
上帝的儿女们为何很少有人经历到耶稣复活的大能？这是因为他们不了解何谓与耶稣同死，或对这事实没有信心。保罗清楚说到：「我们若是与基督同死，就信必与祂同活。」这是可以体验的真理，叫我们可确知复活的能力在我们身上。「祂死是向罪死了，只有一次，祂活是向上帝活着。」（），这是因为我们与祂同死，就坚信可以与祂同活。 接着保罗又向基督徒恳切呼吁：「这样，你们向罪也当看自己是死的；向上帝在基督耶稣裡，却当看自己是活的。」（），这个「看自己是」是一个大胆活泼的信心举动，且给我们一个确据，就是耶稣活在我们心中，这不是头脑的一个认知，乃是圣灵在我们心中作见证，是实际可经历到的；就是在每天的生活中，我们接受与耶稣同钉十字架的事实，同时经历祂复活能力的运行。 如此我们就能接受并遵行上帝的命令：「不要容罪在你们必死的身上作王，使你们顺从身子的私慾。罪必不能作你们的主，因你们不在律法之下，乃在恩典之下。」（，14），「你们既从罪裡得了释放，就作了义的奴僕。你们既从罪裡得了（，22）释放，作了上帝的奴僕，就有成圣的果子，那结局就是永生。」 罗马书第六章整篇都在反覆阐释开宗明义第一节的经文：「我们可以仍在罪中，叫恩典显多吗？」当然不，一切都在于接受耶稣受死复活的确据，叫我们可以脱离罪的辖制，将自己献给义做器皿，只单单地为上帝而活。阿们。 DEAD WITH CHRISTScripture: "If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."—ROM vi. 8.
The reason that God's children live so little in the power of the resurrection life of Christ, is because they have so little understanding of or faith in their death with Christ. How clearly this appears from what Paul says: "If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him"; it is the knowledge and experience that gives us the assurance of the power of His resurrection in us. "Christ died unto sin once; but the life that He liveth, He liveth unto God" (ver. 10). It is only because and as we know that we are dead with Him, that we can live with Him. On the strength of this, Paul now appeals to his readers. "Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (ver. 11). The words "even so reckon yourselves" are a call to an act of bold and confident faith. Reckon yourselves to be indeed dead unto sin, as much as Christ is, and alive to God in Christ Jesus. The word gives us a Divine assurance of what we actually are and have in Christ. And this not as a truth that our minds can master and appropriate, but a reality which the Holy Spirit will reveal within us. In His power we accept our death with Christ on the cross as the power of our daily life. Then we are able to accept and obey the command: "Let not sin reign in your mortal body; but present yourself unto God, as alive from the dead; for sin shall not have dominion over you" (vers. 12, 13, 14). "Being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness; present your members as servants to righteous?ness unto sanctification. Being now made free from sin, ye have your fruit unto sanctification" (vers. 18, 19, 22). The whole chapter is a wonderful revelation of the deep meaning of its opening words: "How shall we, who died to sin, live any more therein ?" Everything depends upon our acceptance of the Divine assurance: if we died with Christ, as He died, and now lives to God, we too have the assurance that in Him we have the power to live unto God.
经文: 「你们藉着基督的身体，在律法上也是死了。但我们既然在捆我们的律法上死了，……叫我们服事主，要按着心灵的新样。」（上，6）
信徒不只是向罪死也是向律法死。这一层深意使我们从生活的劳苦与挫折中释放出来，并在圣灵的引导下开一条又新又活的路。在罗马书第七章后半段（7～24节），我们看到保罗描写基督徒的困苦境况，他一心想遵守律法，却一直做不到，一心想要行善，但行出来却由不得自己，真是苦哪！于是他呐喊：「我真是苦阿！谁能救我脱离这取死的身体呢？」 在这段经文中，我们看到「我」是一再出现的字眼，却一点没有看到「圣灵」的工作，直到他对自己完全绝望，被引领看到一个真相，他不在律法之下，乃是在圣灵的律管理之下——「不再有咒诅」，因为靠着耶稣基督，我们已从「罪和死亡」的律被释放出来。 罗马书第七章告诉我们在罪的权势下，人是过怎样的生活，第八章则向我们显示在基督耶稣裡，人又是如何在圣灵管理下过有节制的生活。之前，基督徒想要行善却行不出来；之后，当我们知道我们不在罪的捆绑之中，向罪是死的，向上帝却是活的，于是我们可以脱离罪和死亡的律，过得胜自由的生活。 喔！亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，衷心盼望大家明白罗马书第七章的真义：知道在人的肉体中是毫无良善可言，除非降服在圣灵的管理下，我们才有办法脱离肉体邪情私慾的捆绑，靠着圣灵的大能，自由自在地遵行上帝的诫命与律法！ DEAD TO THE LAWScripture: "Ye were made dead to the law, through the body of Christ." "Having died to that wherein we were holden, so that we serve in newness of the spirit."—ROM. vii. 4, 6.
The believer is not only dead to sin, but dead to the law. This is a deeper truth, giving us deliverance from the thought of a life of effort and failure, and opening the way to the life in the power of the Holy Spirit. "Thou shalt" is done away with; the power of the Spirit takes its place. In the remainder of this chapter (vii. 7-24) we have a description of the Christian as he still tries to obey the law, but utterly fails. He experiences that "in him, that is in his flesh, dwelleth no good thing." He finds that the law of sin, notwithstanding his utmost efforts, continually brings him into captivity, and compels the cry: "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" In the whole passage, it is everywhere "I," with?out any thought of the Spirit's help. It is only when he has given utterance to his cry of despair that he is brought to see that he is no longer under the law, but under the rule of the Holy Spirit (viii. 1, 2). "There is therefore now no condemnation," such as he had experienced in his attempt to obey the law, "to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." As chapter vii. gives us the experience that leads to being a captive under the power of sin, chapter viii. reveals the experience of the life of a man in Christ Jesus, who has now been made free from the law of sin and death. In the former we have the life of the ordinary Christian doing his utmost to keep the commandments of the law, and to walk in His ways, but ever finding how much there is of failure and shortcoming. In the latter we have the man who knows that he is in Christ Jesus, dead to sin and alive to God, and by the Spirit has been made free and is kept free from the bondage of sin and of death. Oh that men understood what the deep meaning is of Romans vii., where a man learns that in him, that is in his flesh, there is no good thing, and that there is no deliverance from this state but by yielding to the power of the Spirit making free from the power of bondage of the flesh, and so fulfilling the righteousness of the law in the power of the life of Christ!
经文: 「律法既因肉体弱，有所不能行的，上帝就差遣自己的儿子，成为罪身的形状，作了赎罪祭，在肉体中定了罪桉。」（）
：「原来体贴肉体的，就是与上帝为仇；因为不服上帝的律法，也是不能服。」这儿保罗指出肉体中罪的顽强与可怕，在第七章保罗指出在肉体中毫无良善可言，他更深入地直捣要害说，这肉体本与上帝为敌，它恨恶上帝及上帝的律法；因此上帝在十字架上定了肉体的罪，一切的咒诅都因肉体中的罪产生。任何想靠着肉体行善，或求得完全的都是不可能的，也都是枉然的，因为肉体与圣灵是互为仇敌，永远不能相合。 这真理是基督信仰的根基：「上帝就差遣自己的儿子，成为罪身的形状，作了赎罪祭……使律法的义，成就在我们这不随从肉体，只随从圣灵的人身上。」（），上帝所有的诫命都要被履行，但不是靠着人努力去达成（那是不可能达成的），而是靠着行走在圣灵中，藉着祂的大能活出得胜的生命，那是耶稣在十字架上牺牲，为我们赢得的复活生命，让我们有份于祂的能力。 但愿上帝的儿女们能领悟到两项真理。其一，在我肉体裡面，也就是亚当遗传下来的老我裡面，毫无良善可言，丝毫没有可取悦圣洁上帝的眼目；而这可憎的肉体无法靠着祷告或修行操练，使它变得更好；惟有将它钉死在十字架上，在死的形状上与耶稣联合。其二，我们的老我既与耶稣同死，也必能与祂同复活：「在耶稣裡我们不再被定罪，我们不再是在肉体中行事，乃是在圣灵裡行事。」 THE FLESH CONDEMNED ON THE CROSSScripture: "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."—ROM. viii. 3.
In Rom. viii. 7 Paul writes: "The mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be." Here Paul opens up the depth of sin that there is in the flesh. In chapter vii. he had said that in the flesh, there is no good thing. Here he goes deeper, and tells us that it is enmity against God; it hates God and His law. It was on this account that God condemned sin in the flesh on the cross; all the curse that there is upon sin is upon the flesh in which sin dwells. It is as the believer understands this that he will cease from any attempt at seeking to perfect in the flesh what is begun in the Spirit. The two are at deadly, irreconcilable enmity. See how this lies at the very root of the true Christian life (vers. 3, 4) : "God condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous?ness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." All the requirements of God's law will be fulfilled, not in those who strive to keep and fulfil that law—a thing that is utterly impossible,—but who walk by the Spirit and in His power live out the life that Christ won for us on the cross and imparted to us in the resurrection. Would God that His children might learn the double lesson. In me, that is in my flesh, in the old nature which I have from Adam, there dwells literally no good thing that can satisfy the eye of a holy God! And that flesh can never by any process of discipline, or struggling, or prayer, be made better than it is! But the Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh—in the form of a man—condemned sin on the cross. "There is now no con?demnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
经文: 「因为我曾定了主意，在你们中间不知道别的，只知道耶稣基督，并祂钉十字架。我说的话讲的道，不是用智慧委婉的言语，乃是用圣灵和大能的明证。」（，4）
这段经文显而易见讲到保罗讲道的中心——钉十字架的耶稣。这儿还有一层深意，就是十字架的耶稣不仅是讲道的中心，也是保罗用他的生命，来证明他一生所追求的，就是效法耶稣的榜样，所以他写到「祂因软弱被钉在十字架上，却因上帝的大能，仍然活着；我们也是这样同祂软弱，但因上帝向你们所显的大能，也必与祂同活。」（）；的确，保罗的生活与服事都透露一个信息：他因软弱被钉十架，却藉着上帝复活的大能而活。 之前，保罗也曾这样说：「因为十字架的道理，在那灭亡的人为愚拙；在我们得救的人，却为上帝的大能。」（），这不仅是保罗讲道的信息，更是他人格的气质，他就是想用实际的生活，见证他软弱的自己是与耶稣同钉十字架，他是如此专注投入于这项工作，以致他要求自己在每一件事上，都能效法耶稣的榜样，所以他再说：「我在你们那裡，又弱、又惧怕、又甚战兢。」（） 因此，他敢大胆地宣告：「我说的话讲的道，不是用智慧委婉的言语，乃是用圣灵和大能的明证。」（），现今教会的讲坛为何如此软弱和缺乏上帝的能力彰显？原因之一在于传道人太重视人的知识与口才，以致忽略了将上帝放在首位，所讲的信息就传递不出来上帝超自然的大能。 求上帝帮助我们了解，无论是传道人或平信徒，在生活中都要带有耶稣的印记：分别为圣的记号，就是常披戴耶稣与祂的被钉十字架。阿们。 JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIEDScripture: "1 determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And my preaching was in demonstra?tion of the Spirit and of power."—1 COR ii. 2, 4.
This text is very often understood of Paul's purpose in his preaching to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. But it contains a far deeper thought. He speaks of his purpose, not only in the matter of his preaching, but in his whole spirit and life to prove how he in everything seeks to act in conformity to the crucified Christ. Thus he writes (2 Cor. xiii. 4, 5) : "Christ was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him through the power of God toward you." His whole ministry and conversation bore the mark of Christ's likeness—crucified through weakness, yet living by the power of God. Just before the words of our text Paul had written (i. 17-24): "The word of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness ; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God." It was not only in his preaching, but in his whole disposition and deportment that he sought to act in harmony with that weakness in which Christ was crucified. He had so identified himself with the weakness of the cross, and its shame, that in his whole life and conduct he would prove that in everything he sought to show forth the likeness and the spirit of the crucified Jesus. Hence he says( ii. 3) : "I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." It is on this account that he spoke so strongly: (i. 17), "Christ sent me to preach the gospel, not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void"; (ii. 4), "My preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demon?stration of the Spirit and of power." Have we not here the great reason why the power of God is so little manifested in the preaching of the Gospel? Christ the crucified may be the subject of the preaching and yet there may be such confidence in human learning and eloquence, that there is nothing to be seen of that likeness of the crucified Jesus which alone gives preaching its supernatural, its divine power. God help us to understand how the life of every minister and of every believer must bear the hall-mark, the stamp of the sanctuary—Nothing but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
经文: 「凡较力争胜的，诸事都有节制。我是攻克己身，叫身服我。」（上，27上）
保罗提醒我们，在竞赛场上较力争胜的选手们凡事都有节制，任何会阻碍他们进步的都要放弃，为要得着那地上的冠冕。而我们这些基督徒，为要得着那不朽坏的冠冕，岂不更该诸事节制，弃绝一切会拦阻我们奔走天路的障碍？好让我们得以专心一致的跟随主。 保罗说：「我是攻克己身，叫身服我。」，他不让任何事妨碍他紧紧跟随主。他告诉我们：「我只有一件事，……就是……向着标竿直跑。」（），他不耽于饮宴也不贪图逸乐，他像主耶稣一样，时时刻刻流露出耶稣十字架上牺牲自我的精神。查考以下几处经文：；；六章4～10节；十一章23～27节，将对保罗有更进一步的认识；知道十字架不仅是他讲道的主题，更是他日常生活中行事为人的准则。 我们需要向上帝恳求，让圣灵的大能运行在传道人或平信徒的心中，将这种「主居首位，捨弃老我」的信念，深刻活化在他们内在的生命中；当传道人身上带着耶稣的死，信徒就会看到耶稣复活的生命活化在他们当中。让我们切切恳求，让「十字架」恢复其古老的地位，也就是说基督徒们都能够「以基督耶稣的心为心」（）。耶稣虚己顺服以致于死，且死在十字架上，所以「我们若在祂死的形状上与祂联合，也要在祂复活的形状上与祂联合。」（）。 TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGSScripture: "Every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things." "I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage."— 1 COR. ix. 25, 27. R. V.
Paul here reminds us of the well-known principle that anyone competing for a prize in the public games is "temperate in all things." Everything, however attractive, that might be a hindrance in the race is given up or set aside. And this in order to obtain an earthly prize. And shall we, who strive for an incorruptible crown, and that Christ may be Lord of all—shall we not be temperate in all things that could in the very least prevent our following the Lord Jesus with an undivided heart? Paul says: "I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage." He would allow nothing to hinder him. He tells us: "This one thing I do; I press towards the mark for the prize." No self-pleasing in eating and drinking, no comfort or ease, should for a moment keep him from showing the spirit of the cross in his daily life, or from sacrificing all, like his Master. Read the following four passages which comprise his life-history: 2 Cor. iv. 11-13; 2 Cor. iv. 8-12, vi. 4-10, xi. 23-27. The cross was not only the theme of his preaching, but the rule of his life in all its details. We need to pray God that this disposition may be found in all Christians and preachers of the Gospel, through the power of the Holy Spirit. When the death of Christ works with power in the preacher, then Christ's life will be known among the people. Let us pray that the fellowship of the cross may regain its old place, and that God's children may obey the injunction: "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." He humbled Himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross. For, "if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom. vi. 5).
经文: 「身上常带着耶稣的死，使耶稣的生，也显明在我们身上。这样看来，死是在我们身上发动，生却在你们身上发动。」（，12）
保罗在这儿很大胆明确地描述他与主耶稣之间紧密契合的关係，虽然他如今在肉身活着，但复活的主却是活在他心中，如同他在所说：「我已经与基督同钉十字架；现在活着的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活着。」他总是在身上带着耶稣的死，因此耶稣的生也在他身上彰显出来。属灵的律就是这样，当你让耶稣的死在你身上发动出来。耶稣的死就会在你身上发动，同时耶稣的生也必会在你身上同时彰显。 我们常提到住在耶稣裡，但我们忘记提醒信徒：「要住在钉死十字架的耶稣裡」。许多基督徒以为宣告与耶稣同钉十字架同死，只是在受洗的那一刻，之后就算完成这手续；岂不知基督徒是要天天与耶稣同死，每天都要背起自己的十字架捨己牺牲，这动作永远是现在进行式而不是过去式。耶稣就是最好的榜样，祂倒空自己，谦卑顺服上帝到一个地步，愿意死在十字架上，这样捨己的心，博大的爱应成为基督徒身上的记号及行事为人的准则。 「身上要常常带着耶稣的死」，这不但是上帝对保罗的呼召，也是对众信徒的呼召，若我们真能对周遭的人付出至诚的关怀，愿意牺牲自己的逸乐享受，甘心忍受一些不方便，为要赢得他们的灵魂，那麽这经文对我们而言就是一种实际，我们也能像保罗一样说：「死在我们身上发动，但生也同时在我们身上发动。」是的，藉着与耶稣同死同受苦，上帝儿子复活的生命也将透过我们流露出来。 弟兄姐妹们，让我们学会这个功课，我们所求告亲近的主，是钉十字架吃苦受死的主，祂住在我们心裡，我们也住在祂裡面。 THE DYING OF THE LORD JESUSScripture: "Always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body." "So then death worketh in us, but life in you."—2 COR. iv. 10, 12.
Paul here is very bold in speaking of the intimate union that there was between Christ living in him, and the life he lived in the flesh, with all its suffering. He had spoken (Gal. ii. 20) of his being crucified with Christ, and Christ living in him. Here he tells how he was always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus; it was through that that the life also of Jesus was manifested in his body. And he says that it was be?cause the death of Christ was thus working in and through him, that Christ's life could work in them. We often speak of our abiding in Christ. But we forget that that means the abiding in a crucified Christ. Many believers appear to think that when once they have claimed Christ's death in the fellowship of the cross, and have counted themselves as crucified with Him, that they may now consider it as past and done with. They do not understand that it is in the crucified Christ, and in the fellowship of His death, that they are to abide daily and unceasingly. The fellowship of the cross is to be the life of a daily experience, the self-emptying of our Lord, His taking the form of a servant, His humbling Himself and becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross—this mind that was in Christ is to be the disposition that marks our daily life. "Always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus." This is what we arc called to as much as Paul. If we are indeed to live for the welfare of men around us, if we are to sacrifice our ease and pleasure to win souls for our Lord, it will be true of us as of Paul, that we are able to say: Death worketh in us, but life in those for whom we pray and labour. It is in the fel?lowship of the sufferings of Christ, that the crucified Lord can live out and work out His life in us and through us. Let us learn the lesson, that the abiding in Christ Jesus, for which we have so often prayed and striven, is nothing less than the abiding of the Crucified in us, and we in Him.
经文: 「祂的血岂不更能洗淨你们的心，除去你们的死行，使你们事奉那永生上帝麽？」（）
十字架是基督最高的荣耀，这是耶稣谦卑至极地死于十字架上所成全的，所以「上帝把祂升为至高」。圣灵所作最伟大的工作，就是帮助耶稣能降服于天父面前，像羔羊一样当作牺牲献上，作为赎罪祭并人类的救主。今日圣灵所能作的最伟大工作；莫过于引导我们更认识耶稣，更愿意效法祂的榜样，在死的形状上与祂联合。 我们常盼望为上帝大发热心做圣工，但似乎看不到祷告的效果，原因何在？因为我们太少祷告。求圣灵使我们与耶稣联合并在祂的苦难上有份；那引导耶稣上十字架的圣灵，也极盼我们像耶稣那样，过一个捨己背十字架的生活。 圣灵与十字架是不可分的，没有圣灵的引导帮助，耶稣就不能步上十字架的道路，也就不能得到圣灵的充满与属祂的子民分享。圣灵教导彼得传讲钉十字架的耶稣，因此数千人得到圣灵的浇灌。在基督徒的生命中，或在讲道的信息裡，圣灵和十字架的关係是密不可分的。教会的软弱、个人灵命的冷澹，都因缺乏以耶稣的心为心，不肯捨己牺牲，不肯背起自己的十字架，以致不能领人归主。 让我们迫切地祈祷，求上帝教导我们这样说：「我们已与耶稣同钉十字架，向着罪我们是死的，向着上帝我们是活的。」 「在我们身上常带着耶稣的死」，如此我们就可领受天父所要赐给我们丰满的圣灵。 THE CROSS AND THE SPIRITScripture: "How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience?"—HEE. ix. 14. R. V.
The cross is Christ's highest glory. The glory which He received from the Father was entirely owing to His having humbled Himself to the death of the cross. "Wherefore also God highly exalted Him." The greatest work which the Holy Spirit could ever do in the Son of God was when He enabled Him to yield Himself a sacrifice and an offering for a sweet-smelling savour. And the Holy Spirit can now do nothing greater or more glorious for us than to lead us into the fellowship and likeness of that crucified life of our Lord. Have we not here the reason that our prayers for the mighty working of the Holy Spirit are not more abundantly answered? We have prayed too little that the Holy Spirit might glorify Christ in us in the fellowship and the conformity to His sufferings. The Spirit, Who led Christ to the cross, is longing and is able to maintain in us the life of abiding in the crucified Jesus. The Spirit and the cross are inseparable. The Spirit led Christ to the cross; the cross brought Christ to the throne to receive the fulness of the Spirit to impart to His people. The Spirit taught Peter at once to preach Christ crucified; it was through that preaching that the three thousand received the Spirit. In the preaching of the Gospel, in the Christian life, as in Christ, so in us, the Spirit and the cross are inseparable. It is the sad lack of the mind and disposition of the crucified Christ, sacrificing self and the world to win life for the dying, that is one great cause of the feebleness of the Church. Let us beseech God fervently to teach us to say: We have been crucified with Christ; in Him we have died to sin; "always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus." So shall we be prepared for that fulness of the Spirit which the Father longs to bestow.
经文: 「弟兄们，我们既因耶稣的血，得以坦然进入至圣所，是藉着祂给我们开了一条又新又活的路从幔子经过，这幔子就是祂的身体。」（）
在圣殿裡，圣所和至圣所之间有个幔子，外院的祭坛要洒上牺牲的血，作为赎罪祭，好让祭司能进到至圣所，向上帝献香敬拜；但至圣所只能一年进去一次，那幔子代表人的罪性。虽然我们的罪已得赦免，但要进到上帝面前完全的敬拜却是不可能。 耶稣死的时候，殿中幔子裂成两半，祂为我们开了一条又新又活的路，让我们能够靠着祂进到上帝面前。信徒都能像所说的：「凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体，连肉体的邪情私慾，同钉在十字架上了。」进到上帝面前的每一步都带着耶稣十字架的烙印，这血肉的幔子不仅象徵着耶稣和祂的受难，也代表着我们要在祂的苦难上有份。 为什麽很多基督不能享有与上帝亲密契合的关係？这是因为没有把老我看成可咒诅的仇敌，也没有把其上的邪情私慾钉在十字架上，他们是很想进到至圣所，却随从自己的私慾偏行己路。耶稣呼召我们恨恶生命，捨弃老我与祂同死，并藉着上帝应许来倚靠圣灵大能，就能与祂一起向上帝而活。 要过一个与上帝紧密契合的生活，唯一之法就是藉着耶稣的血肉幔子进到上帝的面前。感谢上帝，靠着圣灵祂可以帮助我们将老我钉死在十字架上，使我们向着世界是死的，并且能抵挡诱惑，过得胜的生活。 THE VEIL OF THE FLESHScripture: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh."—HEB. x. 19, 20.
In the temple there was a veil between the holy place and the most holy. At the altar in the court the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled for forgiveness of sins. That gave the priest entrance into the holy place to offer God the incense as part of a holy worship. But into the most holy, behind the veil, the High Priest alone might enter once a year. That veil was the type of sinful human nature; even though it had received the forgiveness of sin, full access and fellowship with God was impossible. When Christ died, the veil was rent. Christ dedicated a new and living way to God through the rent veil of His flesh. This new way, by which we now can enter into the holiest of all, ever passes through the rent veil of the flesh. Every believer "has crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof" (Gal. v. 24). Every step on the new and living way for entering into God's holy presence maintains the fellowship with the cross of Christ. The rent veil of the flesh has reference, not only to Christ and His sufferings, but to our experience in the likeness of His sufferings. Have we not here the reason why many Christians can never attain to close fellowship with God? They have never yielded the flesh as an accursed thing to the condemnation of the cross. They desire to enter into the holiest of all, and yet allow the flesh with its desires and pleasures to rule over them. God grant that we may rightly understand, in the power of the Holy Spirit, that Christ has called us to hate our life, to lose our life, to be dead with Him to sin that we may live to God with Him. There is no way to a full abiding fellowship with God, but through the rent veil of the flesh, through a life with the flesh crucified in Christ Jesus. God be praised that the Holy Spirit ever dwells in us to keep the flesh in its place of crucifixion and condemnation, and to give us the abiding victory over all temptations.
经文: 「存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程，仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣；祂因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难。」（下～2）
在竞赛场上，我们定睛于目标，为要得着奖赏；基督徒亦当如此定睛于钉十字架的耶稣，跟随祂的脚踪，效法祂的榜样；在我们一生中，耶稣的背十字架，永远是我们向前的动力，也是引导我们走向宝座，得着荣耀的途径，藉着耶稣身体的裂开受死，祂为我们开了一条又新又活的路，当我们深入探讨，明白耶稣藉着被钉十字架，才得以被高举得荣耀，我们就愿意效法祂的一生，跟随祂的佳美脚踪而行，做一个捨己背十字架的人。 教会所以软弱冷澹，就是太少传讲背十字架的信息。大多数的基督徒以为只要认罪悔改以后就大功告成，仍然可以继续享受世界上的娱乐，竟不知世俗是圣灵的仇敌，若爱世界，爱父的心，就不在他裡面了；他们也不知道要全心全意地认识钉十架的耶稣，真正明白何谓向老我死和向世界死。 因着摆在前面的喜乐——能讨上帝的欢心、荣耀上帝，耶稣就愿意忍受苦难并接受死亡。我们也要有这样的心志，为了讨上帝的喜悦，并赢得人的灵魂，就愿意忍受苦难，背起自己的十字架，把自己模铸成上帝儿子的模样。基督徒若能清楚明白这项有福的真理，就能仰望主耶稣，奔走这条属灵的天路，靠着圣灵得能力，为耶稣赢得更多的人归主，因为耶稣已被钉死在十字架，流下宝血作多人的赎价。 LOOkING UNTO JESUSScripture: "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, look?ing unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame."—HEB. xii. 1. 2. R. V.
In running a race the eye and heart are ever set upon the goal and the prize. The Christian is here called to keep his eye fixed on Jesus enduring the cross, as the one object of imitation and desire. In our whole life we are ever to be animated by His Spirit as He bore the cross. This was the way that led to the throne and the glory of God. This is the new and living way which He opened for us through the veil of the flesh. It is as we study and realize that it was for His bearing the cross that God so highly exalted Him, that we shall walk in His footsteps bear?ing our cross after Him with the flesh condemned and crucified. The impotence of the Church is greatly owing to the fact that this cross-bearing mind of Jesus is so little preached and practised. Most Christians think, that as long as they do not commit actual sin, they are at liberty to possess and enjoy as much of the world as they please. There is so little insight into the deep truth that the world, and the flesh that loves the world, is enmity against God. Hence it comes that many Christians seek and pray for years for conformity to the image of Jesus, and yet fail so en?tirely. They do not know, they do not seek with the whole heart to know, what it is to die to self and the world. It was for the joy set before Him that Christ endured the cross—the joy of pleasing and glorifying the Father, the joy of loving and winning souls for Himself. We have indeed need of a new crusade with the proclamation: This is the will of God, that as Christ found His highest happiness, and received from the Father the fulness of the Spirit to pour down on His people, through His endurance of the cross, so it is only in our fellowship of the cross that we can really become conformed to the image of God's Son. As believers awake to this blessed truth, and run the race ever looking to the crucified Jesus, they will receive power to win for Christ the souls He has purchased on the cross.
经文: 「原来牲畜的血，被大祭司带入圣所作赎罪祭，牲畜的身子，被烧在营外。所以耶稣，要用自己的血叫百姓成圣，也就在城门外受苦。这样，我们也当出到营外就了祂去，忍受祂所受的凌辱。」（）
作为赎罪祭的血被带到圣所，献为燔祭的牲尸则烧于营外；耶稣也是如此，祂的血献于天父面前，而祂的身体则当作可咒诅的肉体被弃置于营外。 写道：「既因耶稣的血，得以坦然进入至圣所。」当我越清楚明白靠着耶稣的宝血，得以坦然无惧地进到施恩宝座前，就越发珍惜这恩典，充满无限感恩喜乐。当我越清楚明白耶稣为偿罪债，为我们受了多大的羞辱与痛苦，我就越心甘乐意地愿意背起自己的十字架，在祂的苦难上有份，愿出到营外忍受祂所受的凌辱。 许多基督徒，听到能坦然无惧来到施恩宝座前向祂求告，就满得安慰，但却少有受苦的心志，肯在耶稣的苦难上有份，或愿与世界有别，走成圣的道路。基督徒一方面以信心的祷告进到圣所，一方面又觉得只要不犯大错，继续享受世界所提供的快乐，有何不可？然而经上说：「岂不知与世俗为友，就是与上帝为敌麽？」（），「不要爱世界，和世界上的事。人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在他裡面了。」（），所以「不要认同这世界的潮流」。 「追随耶稣」意谓着不妥协、不跟随世界的潮流，而在世人面前作见证，为要赢得人的灵魂。作耶稣的门徒，意谓着学习耶稣十架的爱，肯捨己牺牲，为得着人的灵魂以荣耀天父。 「慈爱的救主，求祢教导我明白何谓出到营外并忍受羞辱，为见证祢救赎的大爱，赢得人心归向祢。亲爱的主，求祢将祢的圣灵和爱充满在我心中，也求祢让我肯不计代价，为那些祢已为其捨命，且命定要被拯救的人辛苦劬劳，将他们的心从世界夺回归向祢。奉主耶稣圣名，阿们！」 WITHOUT THE GATEScripture: "The bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the Holy Place, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach."—HEB. xiii. 11-13
The blood of the sin offering was brought into the Holy Place; the body of the sacrifice was burnt without the camp. Even so with Christ, His blood was presented to the Father; but His body was cast out as an accursed thing, without the camp. And so we read in Hebrews x.: "Let us enter into the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus." And in our text: "Let us go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." The deeper my insight is into the boldness which His blood gives me in God's presence, so much greater will be the joy with which I enter the Holy Place. And the deeper my insight is into the shame of the cross which He on my behalf bore without the camp, the more willing shall I be, in the fellowship of His cross, to follow Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. There are many Christians who love to hear of the boldness with which we can enter into the Holy Place through His blood, who yet have little desire for the fellowship of His reproach, and are unwilling to separate themselves from the world with the same boldness with which they think to enter the sanctuary. The Christian suffers inconceivable loss when he thinks of entering into the Holy Place in faith and prayer, and then feels himself free to enjoy the friendship of the world, so long as he does nothing actually sinful. But the Word of God has said: "know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God?" "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." "Be not conformed to this world." To be a follower of Christ implies a heart given up to testify for Christ in the midst of the world, if by any means some may be won. To be a follower of Christ means to be like Him in His love of the cross, and His will to sacrifice self that the Father may be glorified, and that men may be saved. Blessed Saviour, teach me what it means that I am called to follow Thee without the camp, bearing Thy reproach, and so to bear witness to Thy holy redeeming love, as it embraces the men who are in the world to win them back to the Father. Blessed Lord, let the spirit and the love that was in Thee be in me too, that I may at any cost seek to win the souls for whom Thou hast died.