Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . —John 14:13
Am I fulfilling this ministry of intercession deep within the hidden recesses of my life? There is no trap nor any danger at all of being deceived or of showing pride in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to waste away, or am I focused, bringing everything to one central point— the atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the central point, or the most powerful influence, of my life is the atonement of the Lord, then every aspect of my life will bear fruit for Him.
However, I must take the time to realize what this central point of power is. Am I willing to give one minute out of every hour to concentrate on it? “If you abide in Me . . . “— that is, if you continue to act, and think, and work from that central point— “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Am I abiding? Am I taking the time to abide? What is the greatest source of power in my life? Is it my work, service, and sacrifice for others, or is it my striving to work for God? It should be none of these— what ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the atonement of the Lord. It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us. We must make a determination to limit and concentrate our desires and interests on the atonement by the Cross of Christ.
“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . .” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God.
切勿鬆懈
你們奉我的名，無論求什麼，我必成就。 （約十四13）
我有沒有從事這內在的事奉？代禱沒有網羅、沒有沉迷或驕傲的危險，是一種隱藏的事奉，它所結出的果子可以榮耀父神。我是讓屬靈生命消磨虛耗，還是把一切集於一點－－我主的代贖？耶穌基督在我生命裡頭，是否愈來愈佔據掌管？如果我生命中唯一的重心、最大的原動力是主的代贖，這樣我生活的每一方面都必為他結果子了。
我必須花工夫去體察哪裡是能力的樞紐。我有沒有花上片刻的時間去注意這件事？ [你們若常在我裡面]－－要從這中心不斷地去實行、去思想、去工作－－[你們無論求什麼，我必成就。 ]
我是住在他裡面麼？我有花時間去住在他裡面麼？我生命中最大的能力源頭是什麼？是工作、事奉、為人犧牲，還是盡力為神工作？在我生命中產生最大能力的，應該是主的救贖。影響我們最厲害的，並非花時間最多的事物，而是那些在我們心裡產生最大的能力。我們必須限制以及集中自己的心力。
[你們奉我的名，無論求什麼，我必成就。 ]住在耶穌裡的門徒，就是神的心意；他表面上自由的選擇，乃是神預定的旨意。很神秘嗎？邏輯上矛盾荒謬麼？不錯，但對聖徒卻是榮耀的真理。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著那恩典的寶座，讓我在耶穌基督裡可以坦然無懼地領受憐憫，並得著今天的恩典去榮耀你，我讚美你。
June 07, 2013
June 06, 2013
“Work Out” What God “Works in” You
. . . work out your own salvation . . . for it is God who works in you . . . —Philippians 2:12-13
Your will agrees with God, but in your flesh there is a nature that renders you powerless to do what you know you ought to do. When the Lord initially comes in contact with our conscience, the first thing our conscience does is awaken our will, and our will always agrees with God. Yet you say, “But I don’t know if my will is in agreement with God.” Look to Jesus and you will find that your will and your conscience are in agreement with Him every time. What causes you to say “I will not obey” is something less deep and penetrating than your will. It is perversity or stubbornness, and they are never in agreement with God. The most profound thing in a person is his will, not sin.
The will is the essential element in God’s creation of human beings— sin is a perverse nature which entered into people. In someone who has been born again, the source of the will is Almighty God. “. . . for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” With focused attention and great care, you have to “work out” what God “works in” you— not work to accomplish or earn “your own salvation,” but work it out so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord. As you do this, you do not bring an opposing will up against God’s will— God’s will is your will. Your natural choices will be in accordance with God’s will, and living this life will be as natural as breathing. Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier of stubbornness is to blow it up with “dynamite,” and the “dynamite” is obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Do I believe that Almighty God is the Source of my will? God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.
活出神在我裡面所成就的
作成你們得救的功夫。 （腓二12-13）
你的意志是與神一致的，但你肉體中有一種傾向，叫你無法實行所該行的。當主進入你的心，良心就會喚醒意志，而意志必定是與神一致的。你會說：[可是我不知道自己的意志，是否與神的一致。 ]仰望耶穌，你就必發現你的良心與意志是與他相合的。那在你裡面叫你說[我不會]的，是比意志更薄弱的背逆頑梗，它們永遠與神背道而馳。在人最深處的是他的意志，而不是罪。意志是神創造人最基本的元素；罪確實闖進人心的偏頗性情。一個重生的人意志的根源是全能的神。 [因為你們立志行事，都是神在你們心裡運行，為要成就他的美意。 ]
你要把神在你身上所成就的，謹慎地活出來。你不是自己去成全救恩，而是活出救恩，以堅定不移的信心倚靠主完全的救贖，作為根基。這樣，你心裡所發出來的意志，就不會與神相違；神的旨意就是你的旨意，你順其自然的選擇，就會跟神的旨意一致，生命乃像呼吸一樣自然。神是你意向的根源。因此你可以完成他的旨意。頑梗是不明智的楔子，阻礙真理，不肯受光照；唯一的方法是用炸藥把它炸開，這炸藥就是對聖靈的順服。
我相信全能的神是我意志的源頭嗎？神不但期望我遵行他的旨意，他更在我裡面實行出來。
祈禱◆主啊，當我仰望你的時候，求你高舉我。求你將你的臉光光照我，讓我可以將它反照給你。
Your will agrees with God, but in your flesh there is a nature that renders you powerless to do what you know you ought to do. When the Lord initially comes in contact with our conscience, the first thing our conscience does is awaken our will, and our will always agrees with God. Yet you say, “But I don’t know if my will is in agreement with God.” Look to Jesus and you will find that your will and your conscience are in agreement with Him every time. What causes you to say “I will not obey” is something less deep and penetrating than your will. It is perversity or stubbornness, and they are never in agreement with God. The most profound thing in a person is his will, not sin.
The will is the essential element in God’s creation of human beings— sin is a perverse nature which entered into people. In someone who has been born again, the source of the will is Almighty God. “. . . for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” With focused attention and great care, you have to “work out” what God “works in” you— not work to accomplish or earn “your own salvation,” but work it out so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord. As you do this, you do not bring an opposing will up against God’s will— God’s will is your will. Your natural choices will be in accordance with God’s will, and living this life will be as natural as breathing. Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier of stubbornness is to blow it up with “dynamite,” and the “dynamite” is obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Do I believe that Almighty God is the Source of my will? God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.
活出神在我裡面所成就的
作成你們得救的功夫。 （腓二12-13）
你的意志是與神一致的，但你肉體中有一種傾向，叫你無法實行所該行的。當主進入你的心，良心就會喚醒意志，而意志必定是與神一致的。你會說：[可是我不知道自己的意志，是否與神的一致。 ]仰望耶穌，你就必發現你的良心與意志是與他相合的。那在你裡面叫你說[我不會]的，是比意志更薄弱的背逆頑梗，它們永遠與神背道而馳。在人最深處的是他的意志，而不是罪。意志是神創造人最基本的元素；罪確實闖進人心的偏頗性情。一個重生的人意志的根源是全能的神。 [因為你們立志行事，都是神在你們心裡運行，為要成就他的美意。 ]
你要把神在你身上所成就的，謹慎地活出來。你不是自己去成全救恩，而是活出救恩，以堅定不移的信心倚靠主完全的救贖，作為根基。這樣，你心裡所發出來的意志，就不會與神相違；神的旨意就是你的旨意，你順其自然的選擇，就會跟神的旨意一致，生命乃像呼吸一樣自然。神是你意向的根源。因此你可以完成他的旨意。頑梗是不明智的楔子，阻礙真理，不肯受光照；唯一的方法是用炸藥把它炸開，這炸藥就是對聖靈的順服。
我相信全能的神是我意志的源頭嗎？神不但期望我遵行他的旨意，他更在我裡面實行出來。
祈禱◆主啊，當我仰望你的時候，求你高舉我。求你將你的臉光光照我，讓我可以將它反照給你。
June 05, 2013
God’s Assurance
He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . —Hebrews 13:5-6
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
June 04, 2013
The Never-forsaking God
He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you’ —Hebrews 13:5
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
永不失信的神
因為主曾說：[我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 ]（來十三5）
我思想的路向如何？是轉向神的話，還是轉向自己的恐懼？我有沒有學習不去講述神說什麼，而是先聽他說些什麼，然後才開口？ [主曾說：『我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。 』所以我們可以放膽說：『主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？ 』]
[我總不失信。 ]（中文聖經作[我總不撇下你]）——不管我是罪污、自私、固執、背逆，神總不撇下我。我真有讓神對我說：[我總不失信]？若我曾聽過神如此說，讓我如今聽他再說吧。
[我總不丟棄你。 ]有時並非是困難叫我覺得丟棄我，而是枯燥乏味的生活。滅有困難的高山可以攀登，也沒有異象賜下，更沒有甚麼興奮美麗的東西，只是日復一日的平凡生活——在這景況下，我有聽見神如此說呢？
在我們的意念中，總以為神會行奇事，裝備我們將來要成就偉大的工作。可是，我們若在神的恩中生活，便會發現神就在此時此地榮耀他自己。我們若有[神如此說]作後盾，就有最奇異莫名的能力臨到，使我們在平凡的生活中歡呼歌唱。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你榮耀的復活，進入我們的生命、路程和行動中。求你今天的醫治、盼望、恩典和美善，強而有力地臨到。
June 03, 2013
“The Secret of the Lord”
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him . . . —Psalm 25:14
What is the sign of a friend? Is it that he tells you his secret sorrows? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secret sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into an intimate relationship with Himself— to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so intimately united to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer— “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10)— that we catch the secrets of God? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.
“Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (Psalm 25:12). At first, we want the awareness of being guided by God. But then as we grow spiritually, we live so fully aware of God that we do not even need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing another way will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or restraint, which we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never try to reason it out, saying, “I wonder why I shouldn’t do this?” God instructs us in what we choose; that is, He actually guides our common sense. And when we yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually asking, “Now, Lord, what is Your will?”
主的秘密
耶和華與敬畏他的人親密，他必將自己的約指示他們。 （詩二十五14）
朋友的標記是什麼？是他把隱藏的愁苦告訴你？不是的，是他把隱藏的喜樂告訴你。許多人會把心底的愁苦向人傾訴，但是傾吐心底的喜樂才是親密的最高表現。我們是讓神向我們吐露他的喜樂，還是不斷地把自己的心事向他傾吐，不容他有機會向我們說話？初信主的時候，對神有一大堆的請求；後來就發現神希望我們與他建立關係，摸著他的心意。耶穌對禱告的觀念－－照你的旨意而行－－我們有沒有緊緊遵守，以致獲得神的奧秘？哦我們覺得寶貴的往往不是神所賜的大福，而是一些細微的事物。因為這些表示他與我們奇妙無比的親密，深知我們生命的任何細節。
[……耶和華必指示他當選擇的道路。 ]起初我們所要的，知道神愛引導；後來既然知道日益活在神裡面，就不需要追問他的旨意是什麼，因為根本沒有想過還有其他可選擇的旨意。我們得救成聖了，神就依我們一般的選擇來引導我們；若我們選了神不喜悅的，他就會阻止，我們就要聽從。一有疑惑，要立刻止步。切勿諸多辯駁說：[為什麼不可以？ ]神借我們的選擇教導我們，也就是說，他引導我們依常理來選擇，我們不必經常問：[主啊，你的旨意怎樣？ ]這樣反阻礙了聖靈的工作。
祈禱◆啊，主啊，願意跟從你是何等有益和重要的事。我願意和極之渴望你的旨意得以成就。當我預期沒有東西比你的旨意那樣滿有榮耀，我整個人都深深地感到喜樂。
What is the sign of a friend? Is it that he tells you his secret sorrows? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secret sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into an intimate relationship with Himself— to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so intimately united to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer— “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10)— that we catch the secrets of God? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.
“Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (Psalm 25:12). At first, we want the awareness of being guided by God. But then as we grow spiritually, we live so fully aware of God that we do not even need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing another way will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or restraint, which we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never try to reason it out, saying, “I wonder why I shouldn’t do this?” God instructs us in what we choose; that is, He actually guides our common sense. And when we yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually asking, “Now, Lord, what is Your will?”
主的秘密
耶和華與敬畏他的人親密，他必將自己的約指示他們。 （詩二十五14）
朋友的標記是什麼？是他把隱藏的愁苦告訴你？不是的，是他把隱藏的喜樂告訴你。許多人會把心底的愁苦向人傾訴，但是傾吐心底的喜樂才是親密的最高表現。我們是讓神向我們吐露他的喜樂，還是不斷地把自己的心事向他傾吐，不容他有機會向我們說話？初信主的時候，對神有一大堆的請求；後來就發現神希望我們與他建立關係，摸著他的心意。耶穌對禱告的觀念－－照你的旨意而行－－我們有沒有緊緊遵守，以致獲得神的奧秘？哦我們覺得寶貴的往往不是神所賜的大福，而是一些細微的事物。因為這些表示他與我們奇妙無比的親密，深知我們生命的任何細節。
[……耶和華必指示他當選擇的道路。 ]起初我們所要的，知道神愛引導；後來既然知道日益活在神裡面，就不需要追問他的旨意是什麼，因為根本沒有想過還有其他可選擇的旨意。我們得救成聖了，神就依我們一般的選擇來引導我們；若我們選了神不喜悅的，他就會阻止，我們就要聽從。一有疑惑，要立刻止步。切勿諸多辯駁說：[為什麼不可以？ ]神借我們的選擇教導我們，也就是說，他引導我們依常理來選擇，我們不必經常問：[主啊，你的旨意怎樣？ ]這樣反阻礙了聖靈的工作。
祈禱◆啊，主啊，願意跟從你是何等有益和重要的事。我願意和極之渴望你的旨意得以成就。當我預期沒有東西比你的旨意那樣滿有榮耀，我整個人都深深地感到喜樂。
June 02, 2013
Are You Obsessed by Something?
Who is the man that fears the Lord? —Psalm 25:12
Are you obsessed by something? You will probably say, “No, by nothing,” but all of us are obsessed by something— usually by ourselves, or, if we are Christians, by our own experience of the Christian life. But the psalmist says that we are to be obsessed by God. The abiding awareness of the Christian life is to be God Himself, not just thoughts about Him. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. A child’s awareness is so absorbed in his mother that although he is not consciously thinking of her, when a problem arises, the abiding relationship is that with the mother. In that same way, we are to “live and move and have our being” in God (Acts 17:28), looking at everything in relation to Him, because our abiding awareness of Him continually pushes itself to the forefront of our lives.
If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives— not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.
“He himself shall dwell in prosperity . . .” (Psalm 25:13). God will cause us to “dwell in prosperity,” keeping us at ease, even in the midst of tribulation, misunderstanding, and slander, if our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). We rob ourselves of the miraculous, revealed truth of this abiding companionship with God. “God is our refuge . . .” (Psalm 46:1). Nothing can break through His shelter of protection.
纏繞你的是什麼？
誰敬畏耶和華？ （詩二十五12）
你被什麼纏繞著？你會說：[沒有。 ]其實人都有些東西纏繞著，而這通常就是我們自己；若是信徒，纏繞我們的，就是我們的經歷。詩人說我們要被神纏繞不息。要生命持續不息的，應該是與神同在，而不是單單想念他。我們內外的生命，應該被神無間歇地縈繞著。像一個小孩子對母親的緊纏；雖然他並沒有刻意想著她，可是一有危難，那常存的關係就是他母親。因此，我們生活、作工、存留，都在於神。我們通過神來觀察事物，因為對神常存的知覺，每時每刻都浮現在我們眼前。
神若在我們周遭縈繞不歇，就沒有什麼可以進襲－－沒有憂慮、患難、焦急。這樣，我們就明白為何主這樣強調憂慮的罪。神若圍繞我們，我們豈敢對他毫無信心？神的圍繞，是抵禦敵害的最有效屏障。
[他必安然居住。 ]生命若與基督一同藏在神裡面，即使在患難、誤會、讒謗圍攻之下，他也必保守我們安然無恙。對於神時刻同行的奇妙體會，我們往往失之交臂。 [神是我們的避難所]－－什麼也透不過這蔭庇。
祈禱◆呀，主啊，你的面容、你的感動、你的賜福，是我心所尋求的。主啊，感動我，直至我的每一部分，都被你恩慈和帶有能力的平安所震撼和振奮。
Are you obsessed by something? You will probably say, “No, by nothing,” but all of us are obsessed by something— usually by ourselves, or, if we are Christians, by our own experience of the Christian life. But the psalmist says that we are to be obsessed by God. The abiding awareness of the Christian life is to be God Himself, not just thoughts about Him. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. A child’s awareness is so absorbed in his mother that although he is not consciously thinking of her, when a problem arises, the abiding relationship is that with the mother. In that same way, we are to “live and move and have our being” in God (Acts 17:28), looking at everything in relation to Him, because our abiding awareness of Him continually pushes itself to the forefront of our lives.
If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives— not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.
“He himself shall dwell in prosperity . . .” (Psalm 25:13). God will cause us to “dwell in prosperity,” keeping us at ease, even in the midst of tribulation, misunderstanding, and slander, if our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). We rob ourselves of the miraculous, revealed truth of this abiding companionship with God. “God is our refuge . . .” (Psalm 46:1). Nothing can break through His shelter of protection.
纏繞你的是什麼？
誰敬畏耶和華？ （詩二十五12）
你被什麼纏繞著？你會說：[沒有。 ]其實人都有些東西纏繞著，而這通常就是我們自己；若是信徒，纏繞我們的，就是我們的經歷。詩人說我們要被神纏繞不息。要生命持續不息的，應該是與神同在，而不是單單想念他。我們內外的生命，應該被神無間歇地縈繞著。像一個小孩子對母親的緊纏；雖然他並沒有刻意想著她，可是一有危難，那常存的關係就是他母親。因此，我們生活、作工、存留，都在於神。我們通過神來觀察事物，因為對神常存的知覺，每時每刻都浮現在我們眼前。
神若在我們周遭縈繞不歇，就沒有什麼可以進襲－－沒有憂慮、患難、焦急。這樣，我們就明白為何主這樣強調憂慮的罪。神若圍繞我們，我們豈敢對他毫無信心？神的圍繞，是抵禦敵害的最有效屏障。
[他必安然居住。 ]生命若與基督一同藏在神裡面，即使在患難、誤會、讒謗圍攻之下，他也必保守我們安然無恙。對於神時刻同行的奇妙體會，我們往往失之交臂。 [神是我們的避難所]－－什麼也透不過這蔭庇。
祈禱◆呀，主啊，你的面容、你的感動、你的賜福，是我心所尋求的。主啊，感動我，直至我的每一部分，都被你恩慈和帶有能力的平安所震撼和振奮。
June 01, 2013
The Staggering Question
He said to me, ’Son of man, can these bones live?’ —Ezekiel 37:3
Can a sinner be turned into a saint? Can a twisted life be made right? There is only one appropriate answer— “O Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3). Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say, “Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I see how it can be done.”
It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never realizing that God has done anything for me. Is my own personal experience such a wonderful realization of God’s power and might that I can never have a sense of hopelessness for anyone else I see? Has any spiritual work been accomplished in me at all? The degree of panic activity in my life is equal to the degree of my lack of personal spiritual experience.
“Behold, O My people, I will open your graves . . .” (Ezekiel 37:12). When God wants to show you what human nature is like separated from Himself, He shows it to you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has ever given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He will only do this when His Spirit is at work in you), then you know that in reality there is no criminal half as bad as you yourself could be without His grace. My “grave” has been opened by God and “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18). God’s Spirit continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His grace.
驚人的問題
人子啊，這些骸骨能複活麼？ （結三十七3）
哪個罪人能夠轉為聖徒麼？那扭曲的生命能變得正直麼？唯一的回答是：[主啊，你是知道的，我不知道。 ]切勿捧出屬靈的道理輕蔑地說：[那當然，只要多讀點聖經，好好靈修禱告，我看就沒有問題了。 ]
動手做點事總比信靠神來得容易；我們往往把衝動誤認為感動。因此，真正與神同工的人就寥寥無幾，而為神工作的人卻很多。我們寧可為神工作，而不願信靠他。我真相信神能成就我所不能做的麼？我對人絕望到什麼程度，就視乎神為我做了什麼。我是否經歷神奇妙的大能，以致我不再對任何人感到絕望？到底有沒有絲毫屬靈的果效成就在我身上？愈是驚懼，就愈缺乏屬靈的經歷。
[我的民哪，我開你們的墳墓。 ]神要讓你看見人離開神的本相前，就必先讓你看看你自己。神的靈若讓你看見離開神恩典的光景（只有聖靈作工才會這樣），你就會發現任何罪行，只不過是你罪性的一半而已，你也可能犯上同樣的罪。我的墳墓被神[我也知道，在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善。 ]神的靈不斷地揭開人的本性，就是他離開神恩典時的本相。
祈禱◆主啊，我願意在你面前傾出我的心－－我的靈此刻並沒有卓越的經驗，我的悟性也不靈敏，它們都反應遲緩；然而，我敬拜你，你永不遲緩或疲憊，你最清楚認識我的構造。
Can a sinner be turned into a saint? Can a twisted life be made right? There is only one appropriate answer— “O Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3). Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say, “Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I see how it can be done.”
It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never realizing that God has done anything for me. Is my own personal experience such a wonderful realization of God’s power and might that I can never have a sense of hopelessness for anyone else I see? Has any spiritual work been accomplished in me at all? The degree of panic activity in my life is equal to the degree of my lack of personal spiritual experience.
“Behold, O My people, I will open your graves . . .” (Ezekiel 37:12). When God wants to show you what human nature is like separated from Himself, He shows it to you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has ever given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He will only do this when His Spirit is at work in you), then you know that in reality there is no criminal half as bad as you yourself could be without His grace. My “grave” has been opened by God and “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18). God’s Spirit continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His grace.
驚人的問題
人子啊，這些骸骨能複活麼？ （結三十七3）
哪個罪人能夠轉為聖徒麼？那扭曲的生命能變得正直麼？唯一的回答是：[主啊，你是知道的，我不知道。 ]切勿捧出屬靈的道理輕蔑地說：[那當然，只要多讀點聖經，好好靈修禱告，我看就沒有問題了。 ]
動手做點事總比信靠神來得容易；我們往往把衝動誤認為感動。因此，真正與神同工的人就寥寥無幾，而為神工作的人卻很多。我們寧可為神工作，而不願信靠他。我真相信神能成就我所不能做的麼？我對人絕望到什麼程度，就視乎神為我做了什麼。我是否經歷神奇妙的大能，以致我不再對任何人感到絕望？到底有沒有絲毫屬靈的果效成就在我身上？愈是驚懼，就愈缺乏屬靈的經歷。
[我的民哪，我開你們的墳墓。 ]神要讓你看見人離開神的本相前，就必先讓你看看你自己。神的靈若讓你看見離開神恩典的光景（只有聖靈作工才會這樣），你就會發現任何罪行，只不過是你罪性的一半而已，你也可能犯上同樣的罪。我的墳墓被神[我也知道，在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善。 ]神的靈不斷地揭開人的本性，就是他離開神恩典時的本相。
祈禱◆主啊，我願意在你面前傾出我的心－－我的靈此刻並沒有卓越的經驗，我的悟性也不靈敏，它們都反應遲緩；然而，我敬拜你，你永不遲緩或疲憊，你最清楚認識我的構造。
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