Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . .for He knew what was in man —John 2:24-25
Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God.
Put God’s Will First. “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:9).
A person’s obedience is to what he sees to be a need— our Lord’s obedience was to the will of His Father. The rallying cry today is, “We must get to work! The heathen are dying without God. We must go and tell them about Him.” But we must first make sure that God’s “needs” and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, “. . . tarry . . . until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Once God’s “needs” in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His “needs” elsewhere.
Put God’s Son First. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:5).
God came as a baby, giving and entrusting Himself to me. He expects my personal life to be a “Bethlehem.” Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.
神為首
以信靠神為首。耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人。 （約二24-25）
我們的主不信賴人，可是他對任何人都從來不存疑心、不懷苦毒、不失盼望，因為他先依靠神。他完全信得過神為每一個人行事那顆恩慈的心。我若把信心先放在人身上，結果就會失望。我會變得苦毒，因為硬要人做到十全十美，而這卻是沒有人能達致的。所以，除了神的恩典之外，無論對自己、對人，都不可信賴。
以神的需要為首。 [我來了為要照你的旨意行。 ]（來十9）
人的順服，往往是看見某一種需要才有所擺上。但主的順服，乃是遵行他父的旨意。今日的呼聲是[要去工作。外邦人因沒有神而走向死亡，我們要把耶穌傳給他們。 ]可是在作工之先，我們必須先讓神在我們身上得到滿足。 [你們在此等候，直到……]等候的目的，就是要我們好好的連接在神的需要上。當神對我們的需求達到了，他就會開路，使我們知道在別處的需要。
以神所託付的為首。 [凡為我的名，接待一個像這小孩子的，就是接待我。 ]（太十八5）神把自己當作一個嬰孩託付了我，期望我的生命像[伯利恆]。我天然的生命沒有藉著神兒子內住的生命，而變化更新？神終極的目的，是要在我這必死的身上，彰顯他兒子的榮耀。
祈禱◆主啊，我知道你有豐盛的恩典，也一直滿有平安；求你將恩典與平安賜給我。你最清楚知道，我們的屬靈生命是如何倚賴著肉身所感受到的平安。
May 31, 2013
May 30, 2013
“Yes— But . . .!”
Lord, I will follow You, but . . . —Luke 9:61
Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”
Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.
By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.
[好的－－但！ ]
主，我要跟從你，但……（路九61）
假如神叫你做一件與常理大相徑庭的事，你會怎樣呢？退縮？在肉身上養成的習慣，須以堅定的決心去改變，否則就會一直做下去。在屬靈上，也是如此。你屢次遵主的話起來，但到了某一關頭，就會裹足不前，甚至毅然放棄。 [好的，但－－假定我在這事上順服神，……又怎樣？ ][好了，我心順服神，只要他讓我用自己的智慧，不踏足在黑暗中。 ]耶穌基督要求倚靠他的人，有天然的那種冒險精神。若有人要做一件有價值的事，他有時必須孤注一擲。屬靈的領域裡，主也要求你用理智所堅持的一切撇下，投入他的話語裡去。你這樣做，就會發現他所說的合符理智。在常理下，耶穌基督的話似乎是瘋狂的；可是，在信心跟前，你就會驚訝地發現這正是神的話。要全心信靠神，當他領你去探險，要立刻接受。我們在危機之中，往往表現得像不信的人。所以千萬人中也許只有一個，肯將信心寄放在神身上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，我的思想能夠明白那麼多，所說的話也能那麼多－－求你使我的心靈和行為不單與思想踏著同一步伐，更能夠超越它。
Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”
Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.
By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.
[好的－－但！ ]
主，我要跟從你，但……（路九61）
假如神叫你做一件與常理大相徑庭的事，你會怎樣呢？退縮？在肉身上養成的習慣，須以堅定的決心去改變，否則就會一直做下去。在屬靈上，也是如此。你屢次遵主的話起來，但到了某一關頭，就會裹足不前，甚至毅然放棄。 [好的，但－－假定我在這事上順服神，……又怎樣？ ][好了，我心順服神，只要他讓我用自己的智慧，不踏足在黑暗中。 ]耶穌基督要求倚靠他的人，有天然的那種冒險精神。若有人要做一件有價值的事，他有時必須孤注一擲。屬靈的領域裡，主也要求你用理智所堅持的一切撇下，投入他的話語裡去。你這樣做，就會發現他所說的合符理智。在常理下，耶穌基督的話似乎是瘋狂的；可是，在信心跟前，你就會驚訝地發現這正是神的話。要全心信靠神，當他領你去探險，要立刻接受。我們在危機之中，往往表現得像不信的人。所以千萬人中也許只有一個，肯將信心寄放在神身上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，我的思想能夠明白那麼多，所說的話也能那麼多－－求你使我的心靈和行為不單與思想踏著同一步伐，更能夠超越它。
May 29, 2013
Untroubled Relationship
In that day you will ask in My name . . . for the Father Himself loves you . . . —John 16:26-27
In that day you will ask in My name . . . ,” that is, in My nature. Not “You will use My name as some magic word,” but—”You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me.” “That day” is not a day in the next life, but a day meant for here and now. “. . . for the Father Himself loves you . . .”— the Father’s love is evidence that our union with Jesus is complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that our lives will be free from external difficulties and uncertainties, but that just as He knew the Father’s heart and mind, we too can be lifted by Him into heavenly places through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that He can reveal the teachings of God to us.
“. . . whatever you ask the Father in My name . . .” (John 16:23). “That day” is a day of peace and an untroubled relationship between God and His saint. Just as Jesus stood unblemished and pure in the presence of His Father, we too by the mighty power and effectiveness of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be lifted into that relationship—”. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22).
“. . . He will give you” (John 16:23). Jesus said that because of His name God will recognize and respond to our prayers. What a great challenge and invitation—to pray in His name! Through the resurrection and ascension power of Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit He has sent, we can be lifted into such a relationship. Once in that wonderful position, having been placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in Jesus’ name—in His nature. This is a gift granted to us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus said, “. . . whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested and proved by His own statements.
無法阻止的關係
到那日，你們要奉我的名祈求……父自己愛你們。 （約十六26-27）
[到那日，你們要奉我的名祈求]，就是依神的本性祈求，並不是[用我的名作為符咒]，乃是[你既與我如此親密，就必與我合而為一]了。 [那日]不是將來的某一日，而是指此時此地。 [父自己愛你們]－－那合一是如此的完整與絕對！主並非說，人生從此就沒有逆境；而是他深知父神的心意，便藉著聖靈的洗，把我們提升到天上，在那裡將神的旨意顯明給我們。
[你們若向父求什麼……][那日]，是神與聖徒的關係不受攔阻的日子。耶穌如何站在父神面前，潔白無暇，我們也藉著聖靈的洗所產生的大能功效，同樣被提升到那關係裡去－－[使他們合而為一，像我們一樣。 ]
[……他就必因我的名，賜給你們。 ]耶穌說，父神知道我們的禱告。何等大的挑戰！因著耶穌復活升天的大能，並神所差下來的聖靈，我們得以進到與父神至高的旨意聯合。在耶穌基督放我們在這高貴的地位上，我們得以奉他的名，以他的性情禱告；這性情也就是聖靈賜給我們的。
耶穌說：[你們奉我的名，無論向父求什麼，他就賜給你們。 ]耶穌基督至尊的品德，是經得起他自己話語的考驗的。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今天是大施恩福的日子。為著你偉大的計劃，我感謝你；噢，主啊，以你的能力和恩典來推行你的計劃。
In that day you will ask in My name . . . ,” that is, in My nature. Not “You will use My name as some magic word,” but—”You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me.” “That day” is not a day in the next life, but a day meant for here and now. “. . . for the Father Himself loves you . . .”— the Father’s love is evidence that our union with Jesus is complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that our lives will be free from external difficulties and uncertainties, but that just as He knew the Father’s heart and mind, we too can be lifted by Him into heavenly places through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that He can reveal the teachings of God to us.
“. . . whatever you ask the Father in My name . . .” (John 16:23). “That day” is a day of peace and an untroubled relationship between God and His saint. Just as Jesus stood unblemished and pure in the presence of His Father, we too by the mighty power and effectiveness of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be lifted into that relationship—”. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22).
“. . . He will give you” (John 16:23). Jesus said that because of His name God will recognize and respond to our prayers. What a great challenge and invitation—to pray in His name! Through the resurrection and ascension power of Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit He has sent, we can be lifted into such a relationship. Once in that wonderful position, having been placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in Jesus’ name—in His nature. This is a gift granted to us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus said, “. . . whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested and proved by His own statements.
無法阻止的關係
到那日，你們要奉我的名祈求……父自己愛你們。 （約十六26-27）
[到那日，你們要奉我的名祈求]，就是依神的本性祈求，並不是[用我的名作為符咒]，乃是[你既與我如此親密，就必與我合而為一]了。 [那日]不是將來的某一日，而是指此時此地。 [父自己愛你們]－－那合一是如此的完整與絕對！主並非說，人生從此就沒有逆境；而是他深知父神的心意，便藉著聖靈的洗，把我們提升到天上，在那裡將神的旨意顯明給我們。
[你們若向父求什麼……][那日]，是神與聖徒的關係不受攔阻的日子。耶穌如何站在父神面前，潔白無暇，我們也藉著聖靈的洗所產生的大能功效，同樣被提升到那關係裡去－－[使他們合而為一，像我們一樣。 ]
[……他就必因我的名，賜給你們。 ]耶穌說，父神知道我們的禱告。何等大的挑戰！因著耶穌復活升天的大能，並神所差下來的聖靈，我們得以進到與父神至高的旨意聯合。在耶穌基督放我們在這高貴的地位上，我們得以奉他的名，以他的性情禱告；這性情也就是聖靈賜給我們的。
耶穌說：[你們奉我的名，無論向父求什麼，他就賜給你們。 ]耶穌基督至尊的品德，是經得起他自己話語的考驗的。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今天是大施恩福的日子。為著你偉大的計劃，我感謝你；噢，主啊，以你的能力和恩典來推行你的計劃。
May 28, 2013
Unquestion Revelation
In that day you will ask Me nothing —John 16:23
When is “that day”? It is when the ascended Lord makes you one with the Father. “In that day” you will be one with the Father just as Jesus is, and He said, “In that day you will ask Me nothing.” Until the resurrection life of Jesus is fully exhibited in you, you have questions about many things. Then after a while you find that all your questions are gone— you don’t seem to have any left to ask. You have come to the point of total reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus, which brings you into complete oneness with the purpose of God. Are you living that life now? If not, why aren’t you?
“In that day” there may be any number of things still hidden to your understanding, but they will not come between your heart and God. “In that day you will ask Me nothing”— you will not need to ask, because you will be certain that God will reveal things in accordance with His will. The faith and peace of John 14:1 has become the real attitude of your heart, and there are no more questions to be asked. If anything is a mystery to you and is coming between you and God, never look for the explanation in your mind, but look for it in your spirit, your true inner nature— that is where the problem is. Once your inner spiritual nature is willing to submit to the life of Jesus, your understanding will be perfectly clear, and you will come to the place where there is no distance between the Father and you, His child, because the Lord has made you one. “In that day you will ask Me nothing.”
不需求問的啟示
到那日，你們什麼也就不問我了。 （約十六23）
那日是指什麼時候呢？就是當升天的主使你與父神合一之日。那日你與父合一，正如耶穌與父合一。耶穌說：[到那日你什麼都不用問我了。 ]耶穌復活的生命尚未在你身上彰顯時，你總要問這個問那個；然而過了不久，什麼問題都沒有了，因為再也沒有什麼要問的。你已經達到全心倚靠復活主的地步，神的旨意與你完全契合。你現今是過著這樣的生活嗎？若不是的話，為什麼呢？
也許還有無數令你難以了解的事，可是這些並不能成為你與神之間的阻隔。 [到那日，你們什麼也就不問我了。 ]－－你不用問，因為你確實知道神必須他的旨意成就。約翰福音四十章1節成為你心靈的狀況的話，便再沒有什麼要問的了。若有任何險奧難明的事介入你與神之間，切勿用自己的智慧求答案，要在性情中去找，因癥結就在那裡。當你肯降服主耶穌，理智就會清醒了。那時你就經歷到父子之間無差距的關係，因為主使你與父合一了。 [到那日，你什麼也就不問我了。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我內心極之渴望得到一個標記，表明你注視我。願你賜予我一個記號，讓我知道我在你的計劃中被你所使用。
When is “that day”? It is when the ascended Lord makes you one with the Father. “In that day” you will be one with the Father just as Jesus is, and He said, “In that day you will ask Me nothing.” Until the resurrection life of Jesus is fully exhibited in you, you have questions about many things. Then after a while you find that all your questions are gone— you don’t seem to have any left to ask. You have come to the point of total reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus, which brings you into complete oneness with the purpose of God. Are you living that life now? If not, why aren’t you?
“In that day” there may be any number of things still hidden to your understanding, but they will not come between your heart and God. “In that day you will ask Me nothing”— you will not need to ask, because you will be certain that God will reveal things in accordance with His will. The faith and peace of John 14:1 has become the real attitude of your heart, and there are no more questions to be asked. If anything is a mystery to you and is coming between you and God, never look for the explanation in your mind, but look for it in your spirit, your true inner nature— that is where the problem is. Once your inner spiritual nature is willing to submit to the life of Jesus, your understanding will be perfectly clear, and you will come to the place where there is no distance between the Father and you, His child, because the Lord has made you one. “In that day you will ask Me nothing.”
不需求問的啟示
到那日，你們什麼也就不問我了。 （約十六23）
那日是指什麼時候呢？就是當升天的主使你與父神合一之日。那日你與父合一，正如耶穌與父合一。耶穌說：[到那日你什麼都不用問我了。 ]耶穌復活的生命尚未在你身上彰顯時，你總要問這個問那個；然而過了不久，什麼問題都沒有了，因為再也沒有什麼要問的。你已經達到全心倚靠復活主的地步，神的旨意與你完全契合。你現今是過著這樣的生活嗎？若不是的話，為什麼呢？
也許還有無數令你難以了解的事，可是這些並不能成為你與神之間的阻隔。 [到那日，你們什麼也就不問我了。 ]－－你不用問，因為你確實知道神必須他的旨意成就。約翰福音四十章1節成為你心靈的狀況的話，便再沒有什麼要問的了。若有任何險奧難明的事介入你與神之間，切勿用自己的智慧求答案，要在性情中去找，因癥結就在那裡。當你肯降服主耶穌，理智就會清醒了。那時你就經歷到父子之間無差距的關係，因為主使你與父合一了。 [到那日，你什麼也就不問我了。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我內心極之渴望得到一個標記，表明你注視我。願你賜予我一個記號，讓我知道我在你的計劃中被你所使用。
May 27, 2013
The Life To Know Him
. . . tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high —Luke 24:49
The disciples had to tarry, staying in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost, not only for their own preparation but because they had to wait until the Lord was actually glorified. And as soon as He was glorified, what happened? “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). The statement in John 7:39 — “. . . for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”— does not pertain to us. The Holy Spirit has been given; the Lord is glorified— our waiting is not dependent on the providence of God, but on our own spiritual fitness.
The Holy Spirit’s influence and power were at work before Pentecost, but He was not here. Once our Lord was glorified in His ascension, the Holy Spirit came into the world, and He has been here ever since. We have to receive the revealed truth that He is here. The attitude of receiving and welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive reviving life from our ascended Lord.
It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes people, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into their lives through the Holy Spirit. We all too often separate things that the New Testament never separates. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ— it is the evidence of the ascended Christ.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit does not make you think of time or eternity— it is one amazing glorious now. “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). Begin to know Him now, and never finish.
活的生命
你們要在城裡等候，直到你們領受從上頭來的能力。 （路二十四49）
門徒要等候五旬節的來臨，不單是為了準備自己，更是要等主得榮耀，成為一件歷史事實。他得榮耀就怎樣了？ [他既被神得右手高舉，又從父受了所應許的聖靈，就把你們所看見所聽見的，澆灌下來]。約翰福音七章39節所作的註解－－[那時還沒有賜下聖靈來，因為耶穌尚未得著榮耀。 ]並不適用在我們身上，因為聖靈已經賜下來了，主也得了榮耀。我們所等候的，不是神旨，而是自己有沒有預備好。
五旬節前，聖靈的感動與能力已在作工，但他並不在那裡。主一升天得榮耀，聖靈就降臨世間，而且一直在這裡了。我們必須領受這個啟示，知道他在這裡。接受聖靈，是信徒必須一直持守的。我們接受了聖靈，就從升天的主接受了生氣蓬勃的生命。
叫人改變的並不是聖靈的洗，乃是升天的基督藉聖靈進入人生命中。我們往往把新約中不可分割的事分割開來。聖靈的洗不是一種在耶穌基督之外的經歷，而是基督升了天的明證。
聖靈的洗不會叫你想到時間和永恆，卻令你想到寶貴的現今。 [認識你……這就是永生。 ]現在就開始認識他，直到永遠。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我感謝你的話語－－[不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我得靈方能成事。 ]今天，我祈求你的靈給予我這種幫助，讓我可以使你滿意。
The disciples had to tarry, staying in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost, not only for their own preparation but because they had to wait until the Lord was actually glorified. And as soon as He was glorified, what happened? “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). The statement in John 7:39 — “. . . for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”— does not pertain to us. The Holy Spirit has been given; the Lord is glorified— our waiting is not dependent on the providence of God, but on our own spiritual fitness.
The Holy Spirit’s influence and power were at work before Pentecost, but He was not here. Once our Lord was glorified in His ascension, the Holy Spirit came into the world, and He has been here ever since. We have to receive the revealed truth that He is here. The attitude of receiving and welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive reviving life from our ascended Lord.
It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes people, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into their lives through the Holy Spirit. We all too often separate things that the New Testament never separates. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ— it is the evidence of the ascended Christ.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit does not make you think of time or eternity— it is one amazing glorious now. “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). Begin to know Him now, and never finish.
活的生命
你們要在城裡等候，直到你們領受從上頭來的能力。 （路二十四49）
門徒要等候五旬節的來臨，不單是為了準備自己，更是要等主得榮耀，成為一件歷史事實。他得榮耀就怎樣了？ [他既被神得右手高舉，又從父受了所應許的聖靈，就把你們所看見所聽見的，澆灌下來]。約翰福音七章39節所作的註解－－[那時還沒有賜下聖靈來，因為耶穌尚未得著榮耀。 ]並不適用在我們身上，因為聖靈已經賜下來了，主也得了榮耀。我們所等候的，不是神旨，而是自己有沒有預備好。
五旬節前，聖靈的感動與能力已在作工，但他並不在那裡。主一升天得榮耀，聖靈就降臨世間，而且一直在這裡了。我們必須領受這個啟示，知道他在這裡。接受聖靈，是信徒必須一直持守的。我們接受了聖靈，就從升天的主接受了生氣蓬勃的生命。
叫人改變的並不是聖靈的洗，乃是升天的基督藉聖靈進入人生命中。我們往往把新約中不可分割的事分割開來。聖靈的洗不是一種在耶穌基督之外的經歷，而是基督升了天的明證。
聖靈的洗不會叫你想到時間和永恆，卻令你想到寶貴的現今。 [認識你……這就是永生。 ]現在就開始認識他，直到永遠。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我感謝你的話語－－[不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我得靈方能成事。 ]今天，我祈求你的靈給予我這種幫助，讓我可以使你滿意。
May 26, 2013
Thinking of Prayer as Jesus Taught
Pray without ceasing . . . —1 Thessalonians 5:17
Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues “without ceasing”; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer. “Pray without ceasing . . .”— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.
Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the unlimited certainty of knowing that prayer is always answered. Do we have through the Spirit of God that inexpressible certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when it seemed that God did not answer our prayer? Jesus said, “. . . everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8). Yet we say, “But . . . , but . . . .” God answers prayer in the best way— not just sometimes, but every time. However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?
The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense. But if it were only common sense, what He said would not even be worthwhile. The things Jesus taught about prayer are supernatural truths He reveals to us.
照耶穌所說的去思想
不住的禱告。 （帖前五17）
我們對禱告的觀念，會影響我們對禱告態度的正誤。我們若視禱告如胸中的呼吸，如心中的血液，這就對了。血不停地流，呼吸也不間斷；我們雖不自覺，它卻一直在運行著。耶穌使我們與神聯合，我們未必時常感覺得到。若我們順服他，就知道他實在是時常如此。禱告不是一項活動，乃是生命。當心那些阻礙隨時禱告的東西。 [不住禱告]，保持赤子般的習慣，隨時在心中向神禱告。
耶穌從未提及落空的禱告。他確實知道禱告必蒙應允。我們有沒有靠著聖靈，有主耶穌對禱告那種不可言狀的信心？還是覺得神有時不聽人禱告？ [祈求就得著。 ]我們說：[但……但……]。
神永最奇妙的辦法應允禱告，不是有時聽有時不聽，乃是時時都聽。不過禱告得應允，未必是照我們所要得。我們指望神答允禱告嗎？我們的危險就是把耶穌所說的簡化，使之符合人的常理；其實若只是常理，就不值得說出了。耶穌所講的禱告，是超然的啟示。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，有太多的事需要祈求，有太多的人需要拯救。我何等渴望地仰望你。
Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues “without ceasing”; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer. “Pray without ceasing . . .”— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.
Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the unlimited certainty of knowing that prayer is always answered. Do we have through the Spirit of God that inexpressible certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when it seemed that God did not answer our prayer? Jesus said, “. . . everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8). Yet we say, “But . . . , but . . . .” God answers prayer in the best way— not just sometimes, but every time. However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?
The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense. But if it were only common sense, what He said would not even be worthwhile. The things Jesus taught about prayer are supernatural truths He reveals to us.
照耶穌所說的去思想
不住的禱告。 （帖前五17）
我們對禱告的觀念，會影響我們對禱告態度的正誤。我們若視禱告如胸中的呼吸，如心中的血液，這就對了。血不停地流，呼吸也不間斷；我們雖不自覺，它卻一直在運行著。耶穌使我們與神聯合，我們未必時常感覺得到。若我們順服他，就知道他實在是時常如此。禱告不是一項活動，乃是生命。當心那些阻礙隨時禱告的東西。 [不住禱告]，保持赤子般的習慣，隨時在心中向神禱告。
耶穌從未提及落空的禱告。他確實知道禱告必蒙應允。我們有沒有靠著聖靈，有主耶穌對禱告那種不可言狀的信心？還是覺得神有時不聽人禱告？ [祈求就得著。 ]我們說：[但……但……]。
神永最奇妙的辦法應允禱告，不是有時聽有時不聽，乃是時時都聽。不過禱告得應允，未必是照我們所要得。我們指望神答允禱告嗎？我們的危險就是把耶穌所說的簡化，使之符合人的常理；其實若只是常理，就不值得說出了。耶穌所講的禱告，是超然的啟示。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，有太多的事需要祈求，有太多的人需要拯救。我何等渴望地仰望你。
May 25, 2013
The Good or The Best?
If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left —Genesis 13:9
As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and physically gratifying possibilities will open up before you. These things are yours by right, but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God make your choice for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith. But if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you. This is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice.
Whenever our right becomes the guiding factor of our lives, it dulls our spiritual insight. The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. In this passage, it would seem that the wisest thing in the world for Abram to do would be to choose. It was his right, and the people around him would consider him to be a fool for not choosing.
Many of us do not continue to grow spiritually because we prefer to choose on the basis of our rights, instead of relying on God to make the choice for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eyes focused on God. And God says to us, as He did to Abram, “. . . walk before Me. . .” (Genesis 17:1).
自利的考驗
你向左、我就向右、你向右、我就向左。 （創十三9）
你一開始過信靠神的生活，就會有許多滿有吸引和有利的機會出現在你面前，而這些都是你理所應得的。可是你若憑信心生活，就會主動放棄這些權益，讓神替你選擇。神有時讓你置身於試驗之中，若你不是憑信而活，圖謀切身的福利並不算錯。但你既然信靠神，就當快快樂樂地放下自己的權利，讓神替你去選擇。這個操練，是藉著對神話語的順服，使人天然的本質改造成屬靈的樣式。
人生若以權利來做指南，就會把屬靈的生命窒息了。在信靠神的生活中，最大的敵人並不是罪，而是不及標準的善良。善良永遠是至善的仇敵。亞伯拉罕易地而居，本是時間最明智之舉，因他有主權。但他不作選擇，以致周遭的人都視他為愚妄。我們許多人靈性不長進，是因為要自己選擇自以為好的，不信靠神去替我們選擇。我們要學習注目在神的標准上生活。 [你當在我面前。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，你的道路就像你那般完美；而我的道路就像我自己那樣不完全。感動我，讓我今天能有效地認同你的感覺和你的道路。
As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and physically gratifying possibilities will open up before you. These things are yours by right, but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God make your choice for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith. But if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you. This is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice.
Whenever our right becomes the guiding factor of our lives, it dulls our spiritual insight. The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. In this passage, it would seem that the wisest thing in the world for Abram to do would be to choose. It was his right, and the people around him would consider him to be a fool for not choosing.
Many of us do not continue to grow spiritually because we prefer to choose on the basis of our rights, instead of relying on God to make the choice for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eyes focused on God. And God says to us, as He did to Abram, “. . . walk before Me. . .” (Genesis 17:1).
自利的考驗
你向左、我就向右、你向右、我就向左。 （創十三9）
你一開始過信靠神的生活，就會有許多滿有吸引和有利的機會出現在你面前，而這些都是你理所應得的。可是你若憑信心生活，就會主動放棄這些權益，讓神替你選擇。神有時讓你置身於試驗之中，若你不是憑信而活，圖謀切身的福利並不算錯。但你既然信靠神，就當快快樂樂地放下自己的權利，讓神替你去選擇。這個操練，是藉著對神話語的順服，使人天然的本質改造成屬靈的樣式。
人生若以權利來做指南，就會把屬靈的生命窒息了。在信靠神的生活中，最大的敵人並不是罪，而是不及標準的善良。善良永遠是至善的仇敵。亞伯拉罕易地而居，本是時間最明智之舉，因他有主權。但他不作選擇，以致周遭的人都視他為愚妄。我們許多人靈性不長進，是因為要自己選擇自以為好的，不信靠神去替我們選擇。我們要學習注目在神的標准上生活。 [你當在我面前。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，你的道路就像你那般完美；而我的道路就像我自己那樣不完全。感動我，讓我今天能有效地認同你的感覺和你的道路。
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