This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3
Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.
All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.
上帝的旨意是我的心願嗎？
" 神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔。" 帖前4：3
神是否願意使我成聖並不是一個問題，而是這是我的心願嗎？我是否願意讓神將所有贖罪已經成功的事做在我的里面？我是否願意讓耶穌成為我的聖潔，讓耶穌的生命在我的肉身裡彰顯？當心你會說："噢，我渴望成聖。"其實，你並非如此，你要停止渴望，付出實際行動達到預定目標??"我兩手空空。"要以絕對的信心接受耶穌基督成為你的聖潔，耶穌救贖的偉大奇跡將在你裡面成為真實。耶穌所成就的一切,因著神充滿愛的禮物白白的給了你。作為一個得救和得以成聖的靈魂，我的態度是完全謙卑的聖潔（並沒有驕傲的聖潔這件事），這聖潔是基於痛苦難忍的悔改，及無法言說的羞愧和降卑；同時,令人驚異的認識到，當我根本對他毫不在意時，神的愛將自己託付給我，他為我的得救和成聖完成了一切（參看羅5:8）。保羅說沒有一件事"能叫我們與神的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。"（羅8:39）
成聖使我與耶穌基督合一，並在他裡面與神合一，這只能藉由基督的贖罪才能做到。不要把效果當成原因。在我裡面的效果是順服、事奉和禱告，這是出於無法用言語表達的感謝和崇拜，為著因贖罪而在我裡面做出的非凡的成聖。
October 20, 2013
October 19, 2013
The Unheeded Secret
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
October 18, 2013
The Key to the Missionary’s Devotion
. . . they went forth for His name’s sake . . . —3 John 7
Our Lord told us how our love for Him is to exhibit itself when He asked, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:17). And then He said, “Feed My sheep.” In effect, He said, “Identify yourself with My interests in other people,” not, “Identify Me with your interests in other people.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 shows us the characteristics of this love— it is actually the love of God expressing itself. The true test of my love for Jesus is a very practical one, and all the rest is sentimental talk.
Faithfulness to Jesus Christ is the supernatural work of redemption that has been performed in me by the Holy Spirit— “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit . . .” (Romans 5:5). And it is that love in me that effectively works through me and comes in contact with everyone I meet. I remain faithful to His name, even though the commonsense view of my life may seemingly deny that, and may appear to be declaring that He has no more power than the morning mist.
The key to the missionary’s devotion is that he is attached to nothing and to no one except our Lord Himself. It does not mean simply being detached from the external things surrounding us. Our Lord was amazingly in touch with the ordinary things of life, but He had an inner detachment except toward God. External detachment is often an actual indication of a secret, growing, inner attachment to the things we stay away from externally.
The duty of a faithful missionary is to concentrate on keeping his soul completely and continually open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men and women our Lord sends out on His endeavors are ordinary human people, but people who are controlled by their devotion to Him, which has been brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit.
傳道者忠貞的要決
因他們是為主的名(原文作“那名”)出外，對於外邦人一無所取。 （約翰三書7節）
主曾告訴我們，怎樣才是愛祂。 「你愛我嗎？（約翰福音21：15-17） 」「你餵養我的羊。（約翰福音21：15-17） 」——把你放在我對人的關懷裡，而不是把我放在你對人的興趣裡。哥林多前書13：4-8節 「愛是恆久忍耐，又有恩慈；愛是不嫉妒；愛是不自誇，不張狂，不作害羞的事，不求自己的益處，不輕易發怒，不計算人的惡，不喜歡不義，只喜歡真理；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。愛是永不止息。 」 描述這愛的品質，是神自己的愛。我對主耶穌愛的考驗，是在實際事情上，其他的不過是空口的賣弄愛情。
我對主耶穌的忠心，是聖靈在我心裡做成超自然的救贖聖工，把神的愛澆灌在我心裡。這愛在我與人接觸時，就產生功效。雖然一切的常理都否定祂，說祂好像晨霧般虛渺，但我仍忠於祂的名。
傳道者忠貞的要決，就是單歸附主耶穌，不受任何人任何事的纏累，但又不是與外界隔絕。主不斷與外界事物接觸，祂的分別為聖，是在於內心朝向神。外表的隔絕，往往表示人裡面暗暗地戀慕著表面上拒絕的東西。
傳道者的忠貞，是要保持心靈單向主耶穌開敞。主所差派出去做工的人，均是平凡人，只是聖靈在他們裡面加上專一不移的忠貞。
Our Lord told us how our love for Him is to exhibit itself when He asked, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:17). And then He said, “Feed My sheep.” In effect, He said, “Identify yourself with My interests in other people,” not, “Identify Me with your interests in other people.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 shows us the characteristics of this love— it is actually the love of God expressing itself. The true test of my love for Jesus is a very practical one, and all the rest is sentimental talk.
Faithfulness to Jesus Christ is the supernatural work of redemption that has been performed in me by the Holy Spirit— “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit . . .” (Romans 5:5). And it is that love in me that effectively works through me and comes in contact with everyone I meet. I remain faithful to His name, even though the commonsense view of my life may seemingly deny that, and may appear to be declaring that He has no more power than the morning mist.
The key to the missionary’s devotion is that he is attached to nothing and to no one except our Lord Himself. It does not mean simply being detached from the external things surrounding us. Our Lord was amazingly in touch with the ordinary things of life, but He had an inner detachment except toward God. External detachment is often an actual indication of a secret, growing, inner attachment to the things we stay away from externally.
The duty of a faithful missionary is to concentrate on keeping his soul completely and continually open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men and women our Lord sends out on His endeavors are ordinary human people, but people who are controlled by their devotion to Him, which has been brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit.
傳道者忠貞的要決
因他們是為主的名(原文作“那名”)出外，對於外邦人一無所取。 （約翰三書7節）
主曾告訴我們，怎樣才是愛祂。 「你愛我嗎？（約翰福音21：15-17） 」「你餵養我的羊。（約翰福音21：15-17） 」——把你放在我對人的關懷裡，而不是把我放在你對人的興趣裡。哥林多前書13：4-8節 「愛是恆久忍耐，又有恩慈；愛是不嫉妒；愛是不自誇，不張狂，不作害羞的事，不求自己的益處，不輕易發怒，不計算人的惡，不喜歡不義，只喜歡真理；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。愛是永不止息。 」 描述這愛的品質，是神自己的愛。我對主耶穌愛的考驗，是在實際事情上，其他的不過是空口的賣弄愛情。
我對主耶穌的忠心，是聖靈在我心裡做成超自然的救贖聖工，把神的愛澆灌在我心裡。這愛在我與人接觸時，就產生功效。雖然一切的常理都否定祂，說祂好像晨霧般虛渺，但我仍忠於祂的名。
傳道者忠貞的要決，就是單歸附主耶穌，不受任何人任何事的纏累，但又不是與外界隔絕。主不斷與外界事物接觸，祂的分別為聖，是在於內心朝向神。外表的隔絕，往往表示人裡面暗暗地戀慕著表面上拒絕的東西。
傳道者的忠貞，是要保持心靈單向主耶穌開敞。主所差派出去做工的人，均是平凡人，只是聖靈在他們裡面加上專一不移的忠貞。
October 17, 2013
The Key of the Greater Work
. . . I say to you, he who believes in Me, . . . greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father —John 14:12
Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a “wise” man does not (see Matthew 11:25).
Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . .” (John 14:13). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray. “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.
更大的事
我實實在在地告訴你們，我所作的事，信我的人也要作；並且要作比這更大的事，因為我往父那裡去。 （約翰福音14：12）
禱告不是裝備我們去做更大的事；禱告本身就是最大的事。我們往往視禱告為超然能力的操練，好預備我們做神的工。但按主的教訓，禱告是救贖的神蹟在我身上運行，以致神的大能可把這神蹟成就在別人身上。果子若要存留，必須藉禱告，但得記著禱告是建基在救贖的苦痛上，而不是自我的痛苦。惟有小孩子的禱告才蒙應允，明哲人反得不著。
不管你在什麼地方，禱告就是那要打的仗。不管神安排怎麼樣的環境，你的責任就是禱告。切勿這樣想：“我在這崗位上一無用處。”因為你不守住崗位，那才真是一無用處。神不論加給你怎樣的際遇，總要禱告，每時每刻向祂傾吐。 「你們若奉我的名求什麼，我必成就。（約翰福音14:14） 」我們激奮時才肯禱告，這其實是最嚴重的屬靈自私。我們要依著神的方向去做工，而祂說「要禱告」，「所以你們當求莊稼的主，打發工人出去收他的莊稼。”（馬太福音9:38 ） 」
勞苦的工作，沒有刺激興奮可言；但惟有藉勞苦做工的人，理想才得以實現。同樣，做工的信徒能使主的心意實現。你在禱告中勞苦，從神的角度看來，果效是不住實現的。將來當帕子揭開，知道不少靈魂因著你不住的順服而得救，那是何等的驚喜。
Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a “wise” man does not (see Matthew 11:25).
Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . .” (John 14:13). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray. “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.
更大的事
我實實在在地告訴你們，我所作的事，信我的人也要作；並且要作比這更大的事，因為我往父那裡去。 （約翰福音14：12）
禱告不是裝備我們去做更大的事；禱告本身就是最大的事。我們往往視禱告為超然能力的操練，好預備我們做神的工。但按主的教訓，禱告是救贖的神蹟在我身上運行，以致神的大能可把這神蹟成就在別人身上。果子若要存留，必須藉禱告，但得記著禱告是建基在救贖的苦痛上，而不是自我的痛苦。惟有小孩子的禱告才蒙應允，明哲人反得不著。
不管你在什麼地方，禱告就是那要打的仗。不管神安排怎麼樣的環境，你的責任就是禱告。切勿這樣想：“我在這崗位上一無用處。”因為你不守住崗位，那才真是一無用處。神不論加給你怎樣的際遇，總要禱告，每時每刻向祂傾吐。 「你們若奉我的名求什麼，我必成就。（約翰福音14:14） 」我們激奮時才肯禱告，這其實是最嚴重的屬靈自私。我們要依著神的方向去做工，而祂說「要禱告」，「所以你們當求莊稼的主，打發工人出去收他的莊稼。”（馬太福音9:38 ） 」
勞苦的工作，沒有刺激興奮可言；但惟有藉勞苦做工的人，理想才得以實現。同樣，做工的信徒能使主的心意實現。你在禱告中勞苦，從神的角度看來，果效是不住實現的。將來當帕子揭開，知道不少靈魂因著你不住的順服而得救，那是何等的驚喜。
October 16, 2013
The Key to the Master’s Orders
Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest —Matthew 9:38
The key to the missionary’s difficult task is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer, not work— that is, not work as the word is commonly used today, which often results in the shifting of our focus away from God. The key to the missionary’s difficult task is also not the key of common sense, nor is it the key of medicine, civilization, education, or even evangelization. The key is in following the Master’s orders— the key is prayer. “Pray the Lord of the harvest . . . .” In the natural realm, prayer is not practical but absurd. We have to realize that prayer is foolish from the commonsense point of view.
From Jesus Christ’s perspective, there are no nations, but only the world. How many of us pray without regard to the persons, but with regard to only one Person— Jesus Christ? He owns the harvest that is produced through distress and through conviction of sin. This is the harvest for which we have to pray that laborers be sent out to reap. We stay busy at work, while people all around us are ripe and ready to be harvested; we do not reap even one of them, but simply waste our Lord’s time in over-energized activities and programs. Suppose a crisis were to come into your father’s or your brother’s life— are you there as a laborer to reap the harvest for Jesus Christ? Is your response, “Oh, but I have a special work to do!” No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ’s own, “a servant [who] is not greater than his master” (John 13:16), and someone who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls us to no special work— He calls us to Himself. “Pray the Lord of the harvest,” and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer.
主命令之鑰
所以，你們當求莊稼的主打發工人出去收他的莊稼。 （馬太福音9：38）
宣道的鑰匙在神手中，這鑰匙是禱告，不是工作，更不是今天一般人以為的“工作”，因為這些可能叫人逃避，不以神為中心。宣道的鑰匙不是一般常理、醫療、文化、教育，甚至不是佈道工作。鑰匙乃是禱告。 「你們當求莊稼的主」依人來看，禱告是不切實際的，是無稽的；從常理角度來看，禱告是愚蠢的。
在主耶穌眼中，沒有國族，只有全世界。我們有多少人禱告時，沒有理會人，只專注於耶穌基督？因苦知罪而生的莊稼屬於祂，這莊稼正是我們要求工人去收割的。四周熟透的莊稼等著收割，我們卻只顧從事許多忙碌的活動，一個也不收割，在虛耗精力的事工上浪費了主的時間。假如危難臨到你父親或兄弟，你會不會為主耶穌作收莊稼的人？ “啊，我另有特別的事工要做！”沒有一個信徒有特別的事工要作，信徒被召歸於主，他不能高於主人，也不能指揮主人，自作主張。主並沒有召我們做什麼特別的工作，祂只召我們歸祂。 「求莊稼的主」這樣，祂預備環境，打發你出去。
The key to the missionary’s difficult task is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer, not work— that is, not work as the word is commonly used today, which often results in the shifting of our focus away from God. The key to the missionary’s difficult task is also not the key of common sense, nor is it the key of medicine, civilization, education, or even evangelization. The key is in following the Master’s orders— the key is prayer. “Pray the Lord of the harvest . . . .” In the natural realm, prayer is not practical but absurd. We have to realize that prayer is foolish from the commonsense point of view.
From Jesus Christ’s perspective, there are no nations, but only the world. How many of us pray without regard to the persons, but with regard to only one Person— Jesus Christ? He owns the harvest that is produced through distress and through conviction of sin. This is the harvest for which we have to pray that laborers be sent out to reap. We stay busy at work, while people all around us are ripe and ready to be harvested; we do not reap even one of them, but simply waste our Lord’s time in over-energized activities and programs. Suppose a crisis were to come into your father’s or your brother’s life— are you there as a laborer to reap the harvest for Jesus Christ? Is your response, “Oh, but I have a special work to do!” No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ’s own, “a servant [who] is not greater than his master” (John 13:16), and someone who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls us to no special work— He calls us to Himself. “Pray the Lord of the harvest,” and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer.
主命令之鑰
所以，你們當求莊稼的主打發工人出去收他的莊稼。 （馬太福音9：38）
宣道的鑰匙在神手中，這鑰匙是禱告，不是工作，更不是今天一般人以為的“工作”，因為這些可能叫人逃避，不以神為中心。宣道的鑰匙不是一般常理、醫療、文化、教育，甚至不是佈道工作。鑰匙乃是禱告。 「你們當求莊稼的主」依人來看，禱告是不切實際的，是無稽的；從常理角度來看，禱告是愚蠢的。
在主耶穌眼中，沒有國族，只有全世界。我們有多少人禱告時，沒有理會人，只專注於耶穌基督？因苦知罪而生的莊稼屬於祂，這莊稼正是我們要求工人去收割的。四周熟透的莊稼等著收割，我們卻只顧從事許多忙碌的活動，一個也不收割，在虛耗精力的事工上浪費了主的時間。假如危難臨到你父親或兄弟，你會不會為主耶穌作收莊稼的人？ “啊，我另有特別的事工要做！”沒有一個信徒有特別的事工要作，信徒被召歸於主，他不能高於主人，也不能指揮主人，自作主張。主並沒有召我們做什麼特別的工作，祂只召我們歸祂。 「求莊稼的主」這樣，祂預備環境，打發你出去。
October 15, 2013
The Key to the Missionary’s Work (2)
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world —1 John 2:2
The key to the missionary’s message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus— His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. Look at any other aspect of Christ’s work, whether it is healing, saving, or sanctifying, and you will see that there is nothing limitless about those. But— “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”— that is limitless (John 1:29). The missionary’s message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation.
The real key to the missionary’s message is the “remissionary” aspect of Christ’s life, not His kindness, His goodness, or even His revealing of the fatherhood of God to us. “. . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached . . . to all nations . . .” (Luke 24:47). The greatest message of limitless importance is that “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . .” The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.” When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.
A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master. He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim “the Lamb of God.” It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, “Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,” but, “. . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). And this is the gospel— “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
宣教信息之鑰
祂為我們的罪作了挽回祭，不是單為我們的罪，也是為普天下人的罪。 （約翰一書2：2）
宣道信息的中心，就是耶穌基督作了挽回祭。試拿基督任何其他方面的工作看——醫治、拯救、成聖；這些都不是無限的。 「神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。（約翰福音1：29） 」才是無限的。宣道的信息就是耶穌基督為普天下人的罪作了挽回祭，宣道士也就是被這一個啟示充滿的。
宣道信心的中心，不是耶穌基督的仁慈和良善，也不是祂彰顯了父神；而是基督把我們從罪中釋放，那是最無限的重點，就是祂為我們的嘴作了挽回祭。宣道信息不是愛國主義，不是單為某國或某人，乃是為整個世界的。聖靈進到我裡面，並不投我的喜好，祂來是要帶我與主耶穌聯合。
宣道士是與他的主聯合，他傳揚的不是自己的觀點，而是神的羔羊。要歸屬於一個宣傳“主為我們作過什麼”的集團、要成為一個熱衷於神蹟治病或成聖或靈洗的份子較容易。可是，保羅並不是說：“我若不傳主為我所作的，我就有禍了。”他乃是說：「若不傳福音，我便有禍了。（哥林多前書9： 16） 」，「神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。（約翰福音1：29） 」這就是福音。
The key to the missionary’s message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus— His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. Look at any other aspect of Christ’s work, whether it is healing, saving, or sanctifying, and you will see that there is nothing limitless about those. But— “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”— that is limitless (John 1:29). The missionary’s message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation.
The real key to the missionary’s message is the “remissionary” aspect of Christ’s life, not His kindness, His goodness, or even His revealing of the fatherhood of God to us. “. . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached . . . to all nations . . .” (Luke 24:47). The greatest message of limitless importance is that “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . .” The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.” When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.
A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master. He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim “the Lamb of God.” It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, “Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,” but, “. . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). And this is the gospel— “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
宣教信息之鑰
祂為我們的罪作了挽回祭，不是單為我們的罪，也是為普天下人的罪。 （約翰一書2：2）
宣道信息的中心，就是耶穌基督作了挽回祭。試拿基督任何其他方面的工作看——醫治、拯救、成聖；這些都不是無限的。 「神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。（約翰福音1：29） 」才是無限的。宣道的信息就是耶穌基督為普天下人的罪作了挽回祭，宣道士也就是被這一個啟示充滿的。
宣道信心的中心，不是耶穌基督的仁慈和良善，也不是祂彰顯了父神；而是基督把我們從罪中釋放，那是最無限的重點，就是祂為我們的嘴作了挽回祭。宣道信息不是愛國主義，不是單為某國或某人，乃是為整個世界的。聖靈進到我裡面，並不投我的喜好，祂來是要帶我與主耶穌聯合。
宣道士是與他的主聯合，他傳揚的不是自己的觀點，而是神的羔羊。要歸屬於一個宣傳“主為我們作過什麼”的集團、要成為一個熱衷於神蹟治病或成聖或靈洗的份子較容易。可是，保羅並不是說：“我若不傳主為我所作的，我就有禍了。”他乃是說：「若不傳福音，我便有禍了。（哥林多前書9： 16） 」，「神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。（約翰福音1：29） 」這就是福音。
October 14, 2013
The Key to the Missionary’s Work (1)
Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ’All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .’ —Matthew 28:18-19
The key to the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the lost. We are inclined to look on our Lord as one who assists us in our endeavors for God. Yet our Lord places Himself as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say that the lost will never be saved if we don’t go— He simply says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . .” He says, “Go on the basis of the revealed truth of My sovereignty, teaching and preaching out of your living experience of Me.”
“Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . .”— that is the place to meet Jesus— “all you who labor and are heavy laden . . .” (Matthew 11:28)— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.
“Go therefore . . . .” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .” (John 15:7)— that is the way to keep going. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings.
“None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . .” (Acts 20:24). That is how to keep going until we are gone from this life.
宣教士之鑰
耶穌進前來，對他們說：“天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以你們要去使萬民作我的門徒，……。（馬太福音28：18-19）
差傳的基礎是主耶穌的主權，而不是外邦人的需要。我們很容易視主耶穌為我們事奉神的助手，而主其實是門徒絕對、至高無上的主人。祂不是說，我們若不去，外邦人就失喪了。祂只是說：「所以你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。 」依從我至高的權柄，去吧；因著在我裡面活生生的經歷，去教導並傳揚。
「十一個門徒往加利利去，到了耶穌約定的山上。（馬太福音28:16） 」我若要認識基督普世的主權，就必須親自認識祂，知道怎樣獨自與祂相處。我必須用時間去敬拜我所配戴的名，就是基督。 「到我這裡來。（馬太福音11：28） 」——那就是見主耶穌的地方。你勞苦擔重擔嗎？多少傳道人正是如此。主宣告祂對整個世界的主權，我們卻看為次要，但這是主對門徒親口說的話。
「所以你們要去…… 」「去」的意思是“活出來”。使徒行傳1：8「但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷，猶太全地，和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。”」是描寫怎樣去。耶穌沒有說去耶路撒冷、猶太、撒馬利亞；但祂說：「作我的見證。 」。至於「去」的地方，祂會負責安排。
「你們若常在我裡面，我的話也常在你們裡面，……（約翰福音15:7 ） 」這是保持我們個人生命活潑的途徑。神放我們在什麼地方都無關重要，因為祂自會安排。
「我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明神恩惠的福音。(使徒行傳20：24) 」這就是我們工作的態度，直到死那一天。
The key to the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the lost. We are inclined to look on our Lord as one who assists us in our endeavors for God. Yet our Lord places Himself as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say that the lost will never be saved if we don’t go— He simply says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . .” He says, “Go on the basis of the revealed truth of My sovereignty, teaching and preaching out of your living experience of Me.”
“Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . .”— that is the place to meet Jesus— “all you who labor and are heavy laden . . .” (Matthew 11:28)— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.
“Go therefore . . . .” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .” (John 15:7)— that is the way to keep going. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings.
“None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . .” (Acts 20:24). That is how to keep going until we are gone from this life.
宣教士之鑰
耶穌進前來，對他們說：“天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以你們要去使萬民作我的門徒，……。（馬太福音28：18-19）
差傳的基礎是主耶穌的主權，而不是外邦人的需要。我們很容易視主耶穌為我們事奉神的助手，而主其實是門徒絕對、至高無上的主人。祂不是說，我們若不去，外邦人就失喪了。祂只是說：「所以你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。 」依從我至高的權柄，去吧；因著在我裡面活生生的經歷，去教導並傳揚。
「十一個門徒往加利利去，到了耶穌約定的山上。（馬太福音28:16） 」我若要認識基督普世的主權，就必須親自認識祂，知道怎樣獨自與祂相處。我必須用時間去敬拜我所配戴的名，就是基督。 「到我這裡來。（馬太福音11：28） 」——那就是見主耶穌的地方。你勞苦擔重擔嗎？多少傳道人正是如此。主宣告祂對整個世界的主權，我們卻看為次要，但這是主對門徒親口說的話。
「所以你們要去…… 」「去」的意思是“活出來”。使徒行傳1：8「但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷，猶太全地，和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。”」是描寫怎樣去。耶穌沒有說去耶路撒冷、猶太、撒馬利亞；但祂說：「作我的見證。 」。至於「去」的地方，祂會負責安排。
「你們若常在我裡面，我的話也常在你們裡面，……（約翰福音15:7 ） 」這是保持我們個人生命活潑的途徑。神放我們在什麼地方都無關重要，因為祂自會安排。
「我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明神恩惠的福音。(使徒行傳20：24) 」這就是我們工作的態度，直到死那一天。
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