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第五篇　事奉主者该突破的限制与该有的追求

事奉主者的资格、追求与学习

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　　本篇信息我们要交通一些同工们应当注意的事。神在我们身上的路，以及祂在我们身上的工作，绝无法脱开我们本身的限制。在圣经里，无论旧约或新约，我们都能看出，神在每一个人身上，都碰到人的限制和难处。
　
　　按我们一般的情形，神受的限制常常是两面的。有些弟兄姊妹，常有一种感觉，觉得追求没有多少果效，作工也没有多少果效。换句话说，好像别人追求，马上有所得着，而自己既不会追求，也没有什么得着；别人很会作工，自己却不大会作工，所以工作也没有果效。结果里面灰心，外面垂头丧气。这是一种光景。多年前，这种光景并不明显，如今是相当的明显。另一面，有些人读圣经，圣经对他好像是打开的，他一读就有亮光。可惜，他在神面前看见了启示、亮光，就趾高气昂，骄傲起来。这是另一种光景。
　　其他属灵方面，也是这样。有些弟兄姊妹追求属灵的经历，一追求就能见证，他看见启示，有了经历；有的弟兄姊妹则无论怎样追求，都好像是看不见，也抓不着。在他们的感觉里，他们既不会追求，工作也作不好。好像有的人读书、或打篮球，一读就开窍，一打球就全场叫好。有的人却无论怎样读，也摸不着门路，读不出头绪；无论怎样打，也投不进一个球。
　　在工作方面，有些同工无论是作工、站讲台、探望、带人，都没有成就感。回头看看自己，怎样看怎样不行，属灵追求上不行，工作的光景也不行，这自然是叫他灰心透顶。想要继续事奉，觉得自己不行；想要退去，又觉得不容易，毕竟当初蒙主呼召，出了代价。结果，里面就非常苦闷。这是一种光景。
　　另一种光景是，有的人一追求就摸着，就有所得着；一学作工，路就通，很容易就进入、得着了。前者是容易垂头丧气，后者是容易趾高气昂，这都是免不了的，他们很自然就这样。我们不能说，前面的人一定是深的，后面的人就是浅的；但没有疑问的，这两种人都是在自己里面。
　
　　因着追求不来，不会追求，也因着不会作工，恩赐不显明，工作没有果效，人就灰心，垂头丧气，这是在自己里面。看到别人在某地作工，情形蒸蒸日上，就更是抬不起头来，觉得难为情，不好意思。所有的“不好意思”，都是在自己里面。有些人因此落到自卑感里，好像输掉了一切，没有希望了。人看自己不行，这是对的，但自卑是不对的。一个人完全落入自卑里，就什么勇气都没有，连和人接触的勇气也没有。在公众场合里，更没有勇气祷告。这个没有勇气的自卑感，会把人淹没，把人埋在自己里面。
　　另一面的情形是趾高气昂，这样的人不代表别的，就代表骄傲。一骄傲，人就浮浅了。有自卑感的人是沉到海底，完全被埋没了；骄傲的人却完全浮到天空，像一张纸飘在空中一样，高到不能再高，却又轻到不能再轻。
　　落到自卑里的，只害自己不害别人。他认识自己什么都不行，这不行，那也不行；作工不行，祷告不行，读经不行，讲道更不行，几乎是完全不行，自己就沉到海底了。他的自卑，也许让他八年、十年不愿意传福音，不愿意看望，也不愿意说话了。这样的人完全埋没在自己的自卑感里，但难处只限于他一个人。然而另一种人，若没有受主约束，难处就会更大。他可能觉得自己看见了，不得了，就骄傲起来，甚至影响别人；这是“己”的另一面。
　
　　这是我们一般的情形，也是我们真实的光景。我们有追求的不多，真实长进的不多，甚至实际的供应，工作的果效都不多。所以很明显的，全台的工作和事奉，有相当部分是在停顿状态。停顿的原因，就在于有好些同工在自卑感里，觉得不能作什么，甚至不愿意作，不敢作，自然就没有什么果效；有些同工，则在浮浅的观感里，自以为能作什么，却浮浅的作不出什么。
　　骄傲有两个原因，一个是窄小，一个是浮浅。小的人容易骄傲，浅的人也容易骄傲；浅和小是一样的。你里头若是够大，把再多的东西塞到你里面，你还不会觉得满，不会骄傲。然而，一个已经满了水的小杯子，加一滴水就满出来了，满到四处是水，其实这杯水不过是汪洋中的小滴。有的人器大、量大，就多蒙一点恩典；他总觉得自己不行，算不得什么。但有的人量小、器小，一点的水，一点的恩典，就满了，就了不起了。这证明他的“小”，这个小就是浮浅。一个深的人里头是大的，浅的人里头是小的；这是一定的。
　　所以，人骄傲，感觉自满自足，是因为人浅、人小。浅和小是一样的。有的人很容易骄傲，有的人虽然不骄傲，却是自满；人一到了骄傲或自满的境地，工作也不会有多少果效。这样的人是浅、是浮的，所以不能作有分量、深层的工作。一个有分量、深层的工作，乃是一个人经过了结、折磨、挫折，里头被深深地挖过，破碎过，而没有多少自满自足的感觉，却仍不断地往前，坚定持续地作工。这样的工作才不出问题，才会有果效。
　　自卑和骄傲都叫人停止追求。落到自卑感里的人不追求，浮浅而自满的人也不追求。这两类的人，一个是怎么追求都没有用，怎么学也不会；一个是一追求就摸着门窍，一学就明白，但结果却不一定有多少学习。盼望同工们都看见，我们的追求受到自卑感的影响，若不是十年前蒙召时有一点根底，今天也不会仍在全时间服事。然而另一面，绝不要自满，否则里头有一个东西，会叫你不能有更进一步的追求，因为你一追求就得着，就进入，结果你的追求不会深。因着你是满的，对你来说，属灵的事是容易的，所以你并不积极追求。这两种情形都叫我们受打岔，停止真实地追求。
　
　　虽然我们在事奉上有规律，在召会中有配搭，各种事奉也都略具一点规模，但这也许只是徒具外面的形式。不仅如此，就连我们个人，即使属灵生活上了轨道，也可能只有外面的形式。甚至当我们与主有交通，懂得怎样祷读，借着祷读摸着神，借着祷告摸着主，进入这条属灵的道路了，连这个都可能成为外面的形式。外面的形式之所以成为外壳，是因为里面失去了对主活的追求。从圣经里我们看出，没有一个人对主的追求可以停止，因为主是无法享受得尽的（申八7~9，弗三8）。主是不能尽享的，祂的丰富是无止境、无边际的；祂的阔、长、高、深，如同宇宙的量度，无法测度（18）。
　　使徒保罗年迈在监狱里写腓立比书时，说，“这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求。”（三12）并且他说，“我只有－腓立比书一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的。”（13）他有一种新鲜、无止境的追求，叫他把已往所有、陈旧的得着都丢弃，为要赢得基督到最完满的地步。保罗不但抛弃他在犹太教里的经历，也不停留在他已往对基督的经历中。如同赛跑的人一样，保罗只知一路往前直跑，绝不回头看。
　　我们的难处是在追求上稍有进入，就留在那里，留恋不已。比方，有人得着一个对十字架的认识，就留恋在这对十字架的认识里。然而，真实属灵的经历，乃是我们一进入什么，就得脱离什么；－腓立比书一经过什么，就得脱开什么。这就是赛跑，向前直跑。若不然，我们就会一直绕圈子，无法往前。使徒的赛跑和追求，乃是忘记背后，努力面前的。
　　有的弟兄姊妹的确是有所看见，有所得着，但是他那个腔调和使徒保罗两样。保罗是说，“这不是说，我已经得着了。”今天有的人喊“得着”，喊得很响，好像他已经达于止境，已经登峰造极，无可再追求了。然而，使徒保罗不是这样，他写了以弗所书，有很高的属灵看见，但在那之后，他仍然说，“这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求。”（腓三12）他忘记背后，努力面前的，要认识基督、并祂复活的大能（10）。“基督”和祂“复活的大能”，乃是我们信息的老题目，但即使是老题目，也是无边无际的，需要我们一再竭力追求、进入。
　　我们要看见仇敌两面的诡计，一面用灰心败坏人追求的胃口，另一面用自负自满终止人追求的迫切。结果，这两班人都没有真实地追求。我们中间问题症结的所在，就是不追求；而不追求的原因，不外乎自卑和自满。二者结果相同，都是停止火热的追求。
　　圣经里有一卷书是专讲追求的，就是旧约的雅歌。雅歌一开头就说到追求的事：“愿你吸引我，我们就快跑跟随你。”（一4）接下来我们就看见，这位寻求者怎样从深处呼喊：“我心所爱的啊，求你告诉我，你在何处…？”（7。）她里头有一种追求的渴望。所以，许多的辩论没有用，许多的研究也没有用。盼望我们来在－雅歌一起时，长老们能带我们有活的追求。我们都得在主面前，有真实地追求。不要研究，不要辩论，乃要真实地追求。灰心叫我们不追求，自满也叫我们不追求。我们中间现在急需的，乃是活的追求。我们不能光讲一些道，甚至讲追求的道，而自己不追求。
　
　　毫无疑问，作工需要技巧，需要会作。有的人作工，如同母鸡孵蛋，怎样孵都孵不出小鸡，但换了别人，立刻小鸡就出来了；这是会不会作的问题。又好比花草在某些人手中，一两个月后就枯死了；换了别人照管，不只没有枯死，还开花结果。这也是会不会作的问题。然而在属灵的事奉上，首要的不是会不会作，乃是活不活的问题。这个活就在于事奉的人里面能享受主，与主有新鲜的交通，新鲜的进入祂里面，新鲜的追求祂。
　　关于传福音，有的人在讲台上可能讲得很通顺，但台下却不一定有多少人受感动。写《见与闻》的麦雅各（James McKendrick）弟兄，他第一次讲道时，连一句话也说不出口，但是他里面要救人的心，却非常的热切。他的眼泪不停的涌出，底下的人便受了感动。他不会讲道，但他对福音有活的负担，并且迫切的追求传福音。千万不要太信靠我们的恩赐，恩赐是非常浮浅的。认真说，恩赐该由生命发展出来，但有许多人把恩赐当作外面的东西。恩赐虽然宝贵，却不要太过于看重。
　　严格的说，每一个真实追求的人，都是糊涂的。他的热心、专心会变作糊涂，像抹大拉的马利亚一样。马利亚在主复活的早晨，到坟墓那里寻求主时，头脑没有彼得、约翰那样清楚。那天早晨，彼得、约翰到坟墓里一看，坟墓空了，只见耶稣的裹头巾和细麻布放在那里；他们便清楚耶稣复活了，就回自己的住处去。然而，马利亚只知道一味地寻求主，她不管坟墓是不是空的，也不管裹头巾是不是在那里，她只知道主不在那里，她只想要遇见主（约二十1~13）。这似乎是糊涂的追求。然而，真实地追求都是糊涂的。这是在主面前，迫切到一个地步，不要别的，只要遇见主。
　　所以，一位真有这样追求的弟兄，可以在聚会里站起来说，“弟兄姊妹，别人都能追求就有得着，但我追求却得不着。”这话虽然不响，却是很重。“我虽然追求，却没有进入，甚至到今天，我还没有进入。我今天站在讲台上，也讲不出什么好的道，但是我能见证主爱我。”在那里便有一个空气，叫人碰着属灵追求的分量，碰着他里头感觉主爱的重量。有的弟兄在那里好像摇着扇子，大摇大摆的长篇大论，讲我们怎样不行，如何如何。我听的时候，里头十分气愤。当你说属灵不行时，感觉应当如同有两个人掐着你的脖子，要把你压在水里淹死一样。那才叫作不行。只是摇摇头说，“我们不行，我们不行，”这该是我们的灵么？
　　感叹我们不行的灵，该是让人流下泪来的灵；这才能叫人摸着基督。不是在那里喊：“我看见基督了，”能叫人碰见基督。就是我们不说基督，也该能叫人摸着基督。若是我们真看见，我们祷告无能，聚会没有人带领，我们想要带领也不会带领，我们怎样追求也没有用；而当人问到我们的情形时，我们灵里的负担、重担压着我们，使我们流下泪来承认我们不行。这样，人就要在此碰着基督。
　　所以，不一定是在聚会中多喊几声基督，人就真碰着基督了；也不一定是多喊几声活在基督里，人就活在基督里了。这不是外面的口号或话语的问题。若是我们有一点追求，而不觉得自己看见了，既不自卑，也不骄傲，并且在聚会中起来见证，自己直至今日，仍对我们荣耀的主不够认识。人在那里就要碰着基督，摸着属灵真实地分量。
　　这不是说我们见证的话摸着人，乃是这个话代表我们里头有一个东西，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，为要认识基督。这里有一个东西，诚于中而形于外。这个原则，在今天，在各地召会、各会所、各分家，都应当适用。譬如按手的事，我们若有属灵的负担和力气，就该作这事，受浸也是这样。现在最令人担心的是，恐怕连受浸都成为一件按部就班的仪式，这就完全落入外面的形式了。
　
　　当我们传了福音，有人相信，并经过受浸谈话，按手续说，是可以受浸了。但请记得，这里缺少属灵的追求。什么属灵的追求？就是所有施浸的人，要在这件事上一同有追求。他们应当寻求如何把这些要受浸的人，带到与主同死的实际经历中。这需要负责带领、给人施浸的人，一同有祷告，有追求。然后在施浸之先，和要受浸的人说几句话。这时，那个话是重的。
　　我们现在的实行却不是这样，而是在受浸聚会里讲一篇道。比方，讲罗马六章，“岂不知我们这浸入基督耶稣的人，是浸入祂的死么？所以我们借着浸入死，和祂一同埋葬，…我们若在祂死的样式里与祂联合生长，也必要在祂复活的样式里与祂联合生长。”（3~5）我们对那些要受浸的人，讲受浸归入主的死，与主同死、同埋葬、同复活，并且浸到水里埋葬了，从水里出来就复活了。于是众人一个一个浸入水中。这是最合圣经的仪式，但里头缺少属灵的追求。召会中负责的也罢，给人施浸的也罢，你们给人施浸时，有没有追求？一有了追求，在这个施浸的事奉里，才有真正的“精神”，如同身体里有了灵与魂。
　　在我们许多的事奉里，有身体，灵与魂却跑掉了。说“身体”是好听话，认真说，应该是“尸体”。原因何在呢？虽然这个事奉也许很具规模，都在轨道上，但是里头缺少属灵的东西。盼望弟兄姊妹都有很重的感觉，看见我们的光景到了－罗马一个阶段，非常缺少属灵的追求。所有的事奉都是按部就班，里头缺少属灵的追求，以致没有活力，缺少动力，不新鲜，不丰富，不实际。所有同工们，必须起来对付这事。不要因着你们有什么不行、不能而自卑，以致把自己埋没在自卑感里，倒要胜过这个。虽然你们不行、不能，但你们能追求。我们需要看清楚，我们需要新鲜的爱，真实地追求。即使我们在属灵的追求上有些得着，也不该停滞不前。我们还必须像个赛跑者，忘记背后，竭力追求，因为在基督里是无止境的。
　
　　我们该有一种追求，是与同伴一起的。常常我们会落在一种情形里，是我们自己无法应付的，所以，我们需要寻找属灵同伴。我们中间已经显出一种情形，说出我们是单独、没有同伴的。所以，我们必须寻找追求的同伴，就是提后二22所说，“同那清心呼求主的人，竭力追求。”我们一定要寻求这条道路。在同工中，几乎很少有两三个人愿意在一起追求。换句话说，少有人有追求的同伴，几乎个个都是个人的属灵追求。然而，到了一个时候，我们无法逃避，我们需要同伴；两三个人来在一起，在聚会、工作、以及平常生活之外，一周一次、两次或三次，在主面前追求。我们中间需要这样新鲜的追求空气。
　　求主怜悯我们，从同工们作起，有新鲜的追求。不管你从前听了多少道，有过多少经历，学了多少功课，要知道，前面有一条路，就是基督和祂的身体。我们要起来，有新鲜的追求，因为一切问题的关键都在此。或许有的人意志薄弱些，有的人性格的某些方面没有建立，但起码这里有一个大的补救，就是有新鲜、活的、深重的追求。不是每个人的恩赐都那样明显，然而，有了这个深重的追求，即使有明显恩赐的人，因着有同伴，追求便不再那么浮浅、便宜。
　　加六7说，“人种的是什么，收的也是什么。”林后九6也说，“少种的少收，多种的多收。”这是一个原则，我们下了多少功夫，才能有多少的收成。千万不要以为，聪明的人就上算，笨的人就吃亏；意志刚强的人就上算，意志薄弱的人不上算。问题在于我们在追求主的事上，有多少分量。不能因着我们聪明，意志刚强，事情一弄就清楚，就可以不下功夫。这里有一个断案，即使我们暂时比别人占上风，但是俗语说“欲速则不达”，我们进入得快，退缩得也快。千万不要以为，我们有得着就可以，就停滞不前，这太浮浅了。
　　曾有位音乐家说，如果他一天不练习弹琴，只有他自己感觉得出来；两天不练，他的家人能听得出来；三天不练，他的朋友能知道；若是一周不练，连听众都瞒不过。因为天天练，虽然每天都弹同样的曲子，快、慢、高、低，节奏都一样，但是功力不同，分量越来越重。然而，他若以为自己已经会了，可以不练了，几周下来，听众都听得出那个生疏。所以，我们影响力的大小，在于我们在主面前有多少的追求。
　　自以为不行的弟兄姊妹，不需要自卑、灰心，那是没有意义的。我们应当看见我们的不行、不会；但有一件事我们能作，就是追求祂，受祂吸引，向祂有一个新鲜的爱。这在神面前是宝贵的。我若没有爱，主能在我里面激励出一个爱。我能对祂有一点祷告，不是在于话，不是在于腔调，不是在于宣告，乃是在于我有一个追求，并且是无止境、不停止、新鲜的追求。正如保罗所说的，忘记背后，努力面前的，竭力追求认识祂。又像雅歌所说，愿主用口与我亲嘴，愿祂吸引我，我就快跑跟随。这是里面新鲜的追求，这不在乎恩赐，不在乎知识，不在乎会作不会作，完全是里面追求的问题。这样一来，这个人无论在什么场合，都会有一种影响力，都能起一种作用。他的事奉和工作，就不仅是外壳，不仅是一个外面的形式，乃是里头有实际，有内容，有活力，有动力，并且是新鲜的。我们中间需要兴起这样的追求。
　　一九六〇年八月十六日讲于台北
　　本篇信息我们要交通一些同工们应当注意的事。神在我们身上的路，以及祂在我们身上的工作，绝无法脱开我们本身的限制。在圣经里，无论旧约或新约，我们都能看出，神在每一个人身上，都碰到人的限制和难处。
　
　　按我们一般的情形，神受的限制常常是两面的。有些弟兄姊妹，常有一种感觉，觉得追求没有多少果效，作工也没有多少果效。换句话说，好像别人追求，马上有所得着，而自己既不会追求，也没有什么得着；别人很会作工，自己却不大会作工，所以工作也没有果效。结果里面灰心，外面垂头丧气。这是一种光景。多年前，这种光景并不明显，如今是相当的明显。另一面，有些人读圣经，圣经对他好像是打开的，他一读就有亮光。可惜，他在神面前看见了启示、亮光，就趾高气昂，骄傲起来。这是另一种光景。　　其他属灵方面，也是这样。有些弟兄姊妹追求属灵的经历，一追求就能见证，他看见启示，有了经历；有的弟兄姊妹则无论怎样追求，都好像是看不见，也抓不着。在他们的感觉里，他们既不会追求，工作也作不好。好像有的人读书、或打篮球，一读就开窍，一打球就全场叫好。有的人却无论怎样读，也摸不着门路，读不出头绪；无论怎样打，也投不进一个球。　　在工作方面，有些同工无论是作工、站讲台、探望、带人，都没有成就感。回头看看自己，怎样看怎样不行，属灵追求上不行，工作的光景也不行，这自然是叫他灰心透顶。想要继续事奉，觉得自己不行；想要退去，又觉得不容易，毕竟当初蒙主呼召，出了代价。结果，里面就非常苦闷。这是一种光景。　　另一种光景是，有的人一追求就摸着，就有所得着；一学作工，路就通，很容易就进入、得着了。前者是容易垂头丧气，后者是容易趾高气昂，这都是免不了的，他们很自然就这样。我们不能说，前面的人一定是深的，后面的人就是浅的；但没有疑问的，这两种人都是在自己里面。
　
　　因着追求不来，不会追求，也因着不会作工，恩赐不显明，工作没有果效，人就灰心，垂头丧气，这是在自己里面。看到别人在某地作工，情形蒸蒸日上，就更是抬不起头来，觉得难为情，不好意思。所有的“不好意思”，都是在自己里面。有些人因此落到自卑感里，好像输掉了一切，没有希望了。人看自己不行，这是对的，但自卑是不对的。一个人完全落入自卑里，就什么勇气都没有，连和人接触的勇气也没有。在公众场合里，更没有勇气祷告。这个没有勇气的自卑感，会把人淹没，把人埋在自己里面。　　另一面的情形是趾高气昂，这样的人不代表别的，就代表骄傲。一骄傲，人就浮浅了。有自卑感的人是沉到海底，完全被埋没了；骄傲的人却完全浮到天空，像一张纸飘在空中一样，高到不能再高，却又轻到不能再轻。　　落到自卑里的，只害自己不害别人。他认识自己什么都不行，这不行，那也不行；作工不行，祷告不行，读经不行，讲道更不行，几乎是完全不行，自己就沉到海底了。他的自卑，也许让他八年、十年不愿意传福音，不愿意看望，也不愿意说话了。这样的人完全埋没在自己的自卑感里，但难处只限于他一个人。然而另一种人，若没有受主约束，难处就会更大。他可能觉得自己看见了，不得了，就骄傲起来，甚至影响别人；这是“己”的另一面。
　
　　这是我们一般的情形，也是我们真实的光景。我们有追求的不多，真实长进的不多，甚至实际的供应，工作的果效都不多。所以很明显的，全台的工作和事奉，有相当部分是在停顿状态。停顿的原因，就在于有好些同工在自卑感里，觉得不能作什么，甚至不愿意作，不敢作，自然就没有什么果效；有些同工，则在浮浅的观感里，自以为能作什么，却浮浅的作不出什么。　　骄傲有两个原因，一个是窄小，一个是浮浅。小的人容易骄傲，浅的人也容易骄傲；浅和小是一样的。你里头若是够大，把再多的东西塞到你里面，你还不会觉得满，不会骄傲。然而，一个已经满了水的小杯子，加一滴水就满出来了，满到四处是水，其实这杯水不过是汪洋中的小滴。有的人器大、量大，就多蒙一点恩典；他总觉得自己不行，算不得什么。但有的人量小、器小，一点的水，一点的恩典，就满了，就了不起了。这证明他的“小”，这个小就是浮浅。一个深的人里头是大的，浅的人里头是小的；这是一定的。
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加拉太书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
加拉太书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
加拉太书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　所以，人骄傲，感觉自满自足，是因为人浅、人小。浅和小是一样的。有的人很容易骄傲，有的人虽然不骄傲，却是自满；人一到了骄傲或自满的境地，工作也不会有多少果效。这样的人是浅、是浮的，所以不能作有分量、深层的工作。一个有分量、深层的工作，乃是一个人经过了结、折磨、挫折，里头被深深地挖过，破碎过，而没有多少自满自足的感觉，却仍不断地往前，坚定持续地作工。这样的工作才不出问题，才会有果效。　　自卑和骄傲都叫人停止追求。落到自卑感里的人不追求，浮浅而自满的人也不追求。这两类的人，一个是怎么追求都没有用，怎么学也不会；一个是一追求就摸着门窍，一学就明白，但结果却不一定有多少学习。盼望同工们都看见，我们的追求受到自卑感的影响，若不是十年前蒙召时有一点根底，今天也不会仍在全时间服事。然而另一面，绝不要自满，否则里头有一个东西，会叫你不能有更进一步的追求，因为你一追求就得着，就进入，结果你的追求不会深。因着你是满的，对你来说，属灵的事是容易的，所以你并不积极追求。这两种情形都叫我们受打岔，停止真实地追求。
　
　　虽然我们在事奉上有规律，在召会中有配搭，各种事奉也都略具一点规模，但这也许只是徒具外面的形式。不仅如此，就连我们个人，即使属灵生活上了轨道，也可能只有外面的形式。甚至当我们与主有交通，懂得怎样祷读，借着祷读摸着神，借着祷告摸着主，进入这条属灵的道路了，连这个都可能成为外面的形式。外面的形式之所以成为外壳，是因为里面失去了对主活的追求。从圣经里我们看出，没有一个人对主的追求可以停止，因为主是无法享受得尽的（申八7~9，弗三8）。主是不能尽享的，祂的丰富是无止境、无边际的；祂的阔、长、高、深，如同宇宙的量度，无法测度（18）。
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申8:7  
因为耶和华你神领你进入美地，那地有川，有泉，有源，从谷中和山上流出水来；
申8:8  
那地有小麦、大麦、葡萄树、无花果树、石榴树；那地有出油的橄榄树，有蜜。
申8:9  
你在那地不缺食物，你必一无所缺；那地的石头是铁，山内可以挖铜。
弗3:8  
这恩典赐给了我这比众圣徒中最小者还小的，叫我将基督那追测不尽的丰富，当作福音传给外邦人，
弗3:18  
使你们满有力量，能和众圣徒一同领略何为那阔、长、高、深，
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　　使徒保罗年迈在监狱里写腓立比书时，说，“这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求。”（三12）并且他说，“我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的。”（13）他有一种新鲜、无止境的追求，叫他把已往所有、陈旧的得着都丢弃，为要赢得基督到最完满的地步。保罗不但抛弃他在犹太教里的经历，也不停留在他已往对基督的经历中。如同赛跑的人一样，保罗只知一路往前直跑，绝不回头看。
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腓3:12  
这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以取得基督耶稣所以取得我的。
腓3:13  
弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经取得了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，
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　　我们的难处是在追求上稍有进入，就留在那里，留恋不已。比方，有人得着一个对十字架的认识，就留恋在这对十字架的认识里。然而，真实属灵的经历，乃是我们一进入什么，就得脱离什么；一经过什么，就得脱开什么。这就是赛跑，向前直跑。若不然，我们就会一直绕圈子，无法往前。使徒的赛跑和追求，乃是忘记背后，努力面前的。　　有的弟兄姊妹的确是有所看见，有所得着，但是他那个腔调和使徒保罗两样。保罗是说，“这不是说，我已经得着了。”今天有的人喊“得着”，喊得很响，好像他已经达于止境，已经登峰造极，无可再追求了。然而，使徒保罗不是这样，他写了以弗所书，有很高的属灵看见，但在那之后，他仍然说，“这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求。”（腓三12）他忘记背后，努力面前的，要认识基督、并祂复活的大能（10）。“基督”和祂“复活的大能”，乃是我们信息的老题目，但即使是老题目，也是无边无际的，需要我们一再竭力追求、进入。
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腓3:12  
这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以取得基督耶稣所以取得我的。
腓3:10  
使我认识基督、并祂复活的大能、以及同祂受苦的交通，模成祂的死，
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　　我们要看见仇敌两面的诡计，一面用灰心败坏人追求的胃口，另一面用自负自满终止人追求的迫切。结果，这两班人都没有真实地追求。我们中间问题症结的所在，就是不追求；而不追求的原因，不外乎自卑和自满。二者结果相同，都是停止火热的追求。　　圣经里有一卷书是专讲追求的，就是旧约的雅歌。雅歌一开头就说到追求的事：“愿你吸引我，我们就快跑跟随你。”（一4）接下来我们就看见，这位寻求者怎样从深处呼喊：“我心所爱的啊，求你告诉我，你在何处…？”（7。）她里头有一种追求的渴望。所以，许多的辩论没有用，许多的研究也没有用。盼望我们来在一起时，长老们能带我们有活的追求。我们都得在主面前，有真实地追求。不要研究，不要辩论，乃要真实地追求。灰心叫我们不追求，自满也叫我们不追求。我们中间现在急需的，乃是活的追求。我们不能光讲一些道，甚至讲追求的道，而自己不追求。
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歌1:4  
愿你吸引我，我们就快跑跟随你──王带我进了他的内室──我们必因你欢喜快乐；我们要称赞你的爱情，胜似称赞美酒。她们爱你是理所当然的。
歌1:7  
我心所爱的啊，求你告诉我，你在何处牧放羊群？晌午在何处使羊群歇卧？我何必在你众同伴的羊群旁边，好像蒙着脸的人呢？
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　　毫无疑问，作工需要技巧，需要会作。有的人作工，如同母鸡孵蛋，怎样孵都孵不出小鸡，但换了别人，立刻小鸡就出来了；这是会不会作的问题。又好比花草在某些人手中，一两个月后就枯死了；换了别人照管，不只没有枯死，还开花结果。这也是会不会作的问题。然而在属灵的事奉上，首要的不是会不会作，乃是活不活的问题。这个活就在于事奉的人里面能享受主，与主有新鲜的交通，新鲜的进入祂里面，新鲜的追求祂。　　关于传福音，有的人在讲台上可能讲得很通顺，但台下却不一定有多少人受感动。写《见与闻》的麦雅各（James McKendrick）弟兄，他第一次讲道时，连一句话也说不出口，但是他里面要救人的心，却非常的热切。他的眼泪不停的涌出，底下的人便受了感动。他不会讲道，但他对福音有活的负担，并且迫切的追求传福音。千万不要太信靠我们的恩赐，恩赐是非常浮浅的。认真说，恩赐该由生命发展出来，但有许多人把恩赐当作外面的东西。恩赐虽然宝贵，却不要太过于看重。　　严格的说，每一个真实追求的人，都是糊涂的。他的热心、专心会变作糊涂，像抹大拉的马利亚一样。马利亚在主复活的早晨，到坟墓那里寻求主时，头脑没有彼得、约翰那样清楚。那天早晨，彼得、约翰到坟墓里一看，坟墓空了，只见耶稣的裹头巾和细麻布放在那里；他们便清楚耶稣复活了，就回自己的住处去。然而，马利亚只知道一味地寻求主，她不管坟墓是不是空的，也不管裹头巾是不是在那里，她只知道主不在那里，她只想要遇见主（约二十1~13）。这似乎是糊涂的追求。然而，真实地追求都是糊涂的。这是在主面前，迫切到一个地步，不要别的，只要遇见主。
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约20:1  
七日的第一日清早，天还黑的时候，抹大拉的马利亚来到坟墓那里，看见石头从坟墓挪开了。
约20:2  
她就跑到西门彼得，和耶稣所爱的那另一个门徒那里，对他们说，有人把主从坟墓里取了去，我们不知道他们把祂放在哪里。
约20:3  
彼得和那另一个门徒就出来，往坟墓那里去。
约20:4  
两个人同跑，那另一个门徒跑在前头，比彼得更快，先到了坟墓；
约20:5  
低头往里看，见细麻布还放着，只是没有进去。
约20:6  
西门彼得随后也到了，进坟墓里去，就看见细麻布还放着，
约20:7  
又看见耶稣的裹头巾，没有和细麻布放在一起，是另在一处卷着。
约20:8  
那时，先到坟墓的那另一个门徒也进去，看见就信了。
约20:9  
因为他们还不明白经书所说的，就是耶稣必须从死人中复活。
约20:10  
于是两个门徒又回自己的住处去了。
约20:11  
马利亚却站在坟墓外面哭，哭的时候，低头往坟墓里看，
约20:12  
就见两个天使，身穿白衣，在安放耶稣身体的地方坐着，一个在头，一个在脚。
约20:13  
天使对她说，妇人，你为什么哭？她对他们说，有人把我的主取了去，我不知道他们把祂放在哪里。
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　　所以，一位真有这样追求的弟兄，可以在聚会里站起来说，“弟兄姊妹，别人都能追求就有得着，但我追求却得不着。”这话虽然不响，却是很重。“我虽然追求，却没有进入，甚至到今天，我还没有进入。我今天站在讲台上，也讲不出什么好的道，但是我能见证主爱我。”在那里便有一个空气，叫人碰着属灵追求的分量，碰着他里头感觉主爱的重量。有的弟兄在那里好像摇着扇子，大摇大摆的长篇大论，讲我们怎样不行，如何如何。我听的时候，里头十分气愤。当你说属灵不行时，感觉应当如同有两个人掐着你的脖子，要把你压在水里淹死一样。那才叫作不行。只是摇摇头说，“我们不行，我们不行，”这该是我们的灵么？　　感叹我们不行的灵，该是让人流下泪来的灵；这才能叫人摸着基督。不是在那里喊：“我看见基督了，”能叫人碰见基督。就是我们不说基督，也该能叫人摸着基督。若是我们真看见，我们祷告无能，聚会没有人带领，我们想要带领也不会带领，我们怎样追求也没有用；而当人问到我们的情形时，我们灵里的负担、重担压着我们，使我们流下泪来承认我们不行。这样，人就要在此碰着基督。　　所以，不一定是在聚会中多喊几声基督，人就真碰着基督了；也不一定是多喊几声活在基督里，人就活在基督里了。这不是外面的口号或话语的问题。若是我们有一点追求，而不觉得自己看见了，既不自卑，也不骄傲，并且在聚会中起来见证，自己直至今日，仍对我们荣耀的主不够认识。人在那里就要碰着基督，摸着属灵真实地分量。　　这不是说我们见证的话摸着人，乃是这个话代表我们里头有一个东西，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，为要认识基督。这里有一个东西，诚于中而形于外。这个原则，在今天，在各地召会、各会所、各分家，都应当适用。譬如按手的事，我们若有属灵的负担和力气，就该作这事，受浸也是这样。现在最令人担心的是，恐怕连受浸都成为一件按部就班的仪式，这就完全落入外面的形式了。
　
　　当我们传了福音，有人相信，并经过受浸谈话，按手续说，是可以受浸了。但请记得，这里缺少属灵的追求。什么属灵的追求？就是所有施浸的人，要在这件事上一同有追求。他们应当寻求如何把这些要受浸的人，带到与主同死的实际经历中。这需要负责带领、给人施浸的人，一同有祷告，有追求。然后在施浸之先，和要受浸的人说几句话。这时，那个话是重的。　　我们现在的实行却不是这样，而是在受浸聚会里讲一篇道。比方，讲罗马六章，“岂不知我们这浸入基督耶稣的人，是浸入祂的死么？所以我们借着浸入死，和祂一同埋葬，…我们若在祂死的样式里与祂联合生长，也必要在祂复活的样式里与祂联合生长。”（3~5）我们对那些要受浸的人，讲受浸归入主的死，与主同死、同埋葬、同复活，并且浸到水里埋葬了，从水里出来就复活了。于是众人一个一个浸入水中。这是最合圣经的仪式，但里头缺少属灵的追求。召会中负责的也罢，给人施浸的也罢，你们给人施浸时，有没有追求？一有了追求，在这个施浸的事奉里，才有真正的“精神”，如同身体里有了灵与魂。
--------本段经节汇集--------
罗马书六章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
罗6:3  
岂不知我们这浸入基督耶稣的人，是浸入祂的死么？
罗6:4  
所以我们借着浸入死，和祂一同埋葬，好叫我们在生命的新样中生活行动，像基督借着父的荣耀，从死人中复活一样。
罗6:5  
我们若在祂死的样式里与祂联合生长，也必要在祂复活的样式里与祂联合生长；
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　　在我们许多的事奉里，有身体，灵与魂却跑掉了。说“身体”是好听话，认真说，应该是“尸体”。原因何在呢？虽然这个事奉也许很具规模，都在轨道上，但是里头缺少属灵的东西。盼望弟兄姊妹都有很重的感觉，看见我们的光景到了一个阶段，非常缺少属灵的追求。所有的事奉都是按部就班，里头缺少属灵的追求，以致没有活力，缺少动力，不新鲜，不丰富，不实际。所有同工们，必须起来对付这事。不要因着你们有什么不行、不能而自卑，以致把自己埋没在自卑感里，倒要胜过这个。虽然你们不行、不能，但你们能追求。我们需要看清楚，我们需要新鲜的爱，真实地追求。即使我们在属灵的追求上有些得着，也不该停滞不前。我们还必须像个赛跑者，忘记背后，竭力追求，因为在基督里是无止境的。
　
　　我们该有一种追求，是与同伴一起的。常常我们会落在一种情形里，是我们自己无法应付的，所以，我们需要寻找属灵同伴。我们中间已经显出一种情形，说出我们是单独、没有同伴的。所以，我们必须寻找追求的同伴，就是提后二章二十二节所说，“同那清心呼求主的人，竭力追求。”我们一定要寻求这条道路。在同工中，几乎很少有两三个人愿意在一起追求。换句话说，少有人有追求的同伴，几乎个个都是个人的属灵追求。然而，到了一个时候，我们无法逃避，我们需要同伴；两三个人来在一起，在聚会、工作、以及平常生活之外，一周一次、两次或三次，在主面前追求。我们中间需要这样新鲜的追求空气。
--------本段经节汇集--------
提后2:22  
你要逃避青年人的私欲，同那清心呼求主的人，竭力追求公义、信、爱、和平。
提摩太后书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
提摩太后书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
提摩太后书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
提摩太后书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　求主怜悯我们，从同工们作起，有新鲜的追求。不管你从前听了多少道，有过多少经历，学了多少功课，要知道，前面有一条路，就是基督和祂的身体。我们要起来，有新鲜的追求，因为一切问题的关键都在此。或许有的人意志薄弱些，有的人性格的某些方面没有建立，但起码这里有一个大的补救，就是有新鲜、活的、深重的追求。不是每个人的恩赐都那样明显，然而，有了这个深重的追求，即使有明显恩赐的人，因着有同伴，追求便不再那么浮浅、便宜。　　加拉太六章七节说，“人种的是什么，收的也是什么。”林后九章六节也说，“少种的少收，多种的多收。”这是一个原则，我们下了多少功夫，才能有多少的收成。千万不要以为，聪明的人就上算，笨的人就吃亏；意志刚强的人就上算，意志薄弱的人不上算。问题在于我们在追求主的事上，有多少分量。不能因着我们聪明，意志刚强，事情一弄就清楚，就可以不下功夫。这里有一个断案，即使我们暂时比别人占上风，但是俗语说“欲速则不达”，我们进入得快，退缩得也快。千万不要以为，我们有得着就可以，就停滞不前，这太浮浅了。
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加6:7  
不要受迷惑，神是嗤慢不得的，因为人种的是什么，收的也是什么。
林后9:6  
还有，少种的少收，多种的多收。
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　　曾有位音乐家说，如果他一天不练习弹琴，只有他自己感觉得出来；两天不练，他的家人能听得出来；三天不练，他的朋友能知道；若是一周不练，连听众都瞒不过。因为天天练，虽然每天都弹同样的曲子，快、慢、高、低，节奏都一样，但是功力不同，分量越来越重。然而，他若以为自己已经会了，可以不练了，几周下来，听众都听得出那个生疏。所以，我们影响力的大小，在于我们在主面前有多少的追求。　　自以为不行的弟兄姊妹，不需要自卑、灰心，那是没有意义的。我们应当看见我们的不行、不会；但有一件事我们能作，就是追求祂，受祂吸引，向祂有一个新鲜的爱。这在神面前是宝贵的。我若没有爱，主能在我里面激励出一个爱。我能对祂有一点祷告，不是在于话，不是在于腔调，不是在于宣告，乃是在于我有一个追求，并且是无止境、不停止、新鲜的追求。正如保罗所说的，忘记背后，努力面前的，竭力追求认识祂。又像雅歌所说，愿主用口与我亲嘴，愿祂吸引我，我就快跑跟随。这是里面新鲜的追求，这不在乎恩赐，不在乎知识，不在乎会作不会作，完全是里面追求的问题。这样一来，这个人无论在什么场合，都会有一种影响力，都能起一种作用。他的事奉和工作，就不仅是外壳，不仅是一个外面的形式，乃是里头有实际，有内容，有活力，有动力，并且是新鲜的。我们中间需要兴起这样的追求。　　一九六〇年八月十六日讲于台北
　In this chapter we will fellowship concerning several matters related to the co-workers. God’s work in us cannot go beyond our limitations. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament show that God encounters limitations and difficulties in every person.
　
TWO SITUATIONS HINDERING OUR SPIRITUAL PURSUIT
　There are two situations that cause us to limit God. In the first situation the serving ones have the feeling that they cannot find the Lord and that they do not see results in their service. In other words, it seems that others are enlightened and know how to work, but they do not receive light, and their work does not have results. Thus, they become discouraged. Many years ago this situation was not common among us, but it has become rather obvious in recent years. In the second situation the serving ones know how to read the Bible. The Bible is open to them, and they always receive light. However, they often become puffed up and proud when they receive revelation and light from God.
　The same principle applies to other spiritual matters. When some saints seek a spiritual experience, they gain it and immediately testify concerning the revelation they received or their experience. Other saints, however, do not have such experiences, no matter how much they pursue. It seems as though these saints do not know how to pursue or how to work. Hence, there are two groups of serving ones. This can be compared to people who study or play sports. Some people seem to have no problem understanding a subject or playing a sport well, while others struggle.
　Some co-workers do not have a sense of accomplishment in the gospel, in ministering the word, or in visiting the saints. The more they look at themselves, the more it seems as if they have no progress in their spiritual pursuit or in the work. Hence, they are utterly discouraged. They want to continue serving, but they feel incompetent. It is not easy for them to withdraw, because they have paid a price to serve the Lord. Consequently, these ones feel miserable. This is one situation.
　In another situation the co-workers gain what they seek in the Lord and in the work. The way is open to them, and it is easy for them to get results. The former group of co-workers tends to be discouraged, but the latter group tends to be arrogant. Both conditions are inevitable. We cannot say that one group is deep and that the other group is shallow. In truth, both kinds of co-workers are in the self.
　
SELF-ABASEMENT AND PRIDE
　Some co-workers are disheartened and discouraged because they think that they do not know how to pursue the Lord, they do not know how to work, their gifts are not manifested, and they do not see results. These co-workers are ashamed, embarrassed, and discouraged when they see other co-workers who flourish in the work. Such feelings of embarrassment show that they are in themselves. As a result, they have an inferiority complex and think that they are hopeless. It is right not to regard oneself as being capable, but it is not right to be self-abasing. A person who is self-abasing loses his courage, is not able to contact others, and cannot pray. A person who has an inferiority complex is buried in himself.
　In the other situation a co-worker can be haughty. This is an expression of pride. When a serving one becomes filled with pride, he becomes shallow. Those with an inferiority complex seemingly sink to the bottom of the sea, but those who are proud seemingly float like a thin sheet of paper in the air.
　A serving one who is overcome with a sense of inferiority harms only himself, not others. When he realizes that he is incapable in the work and that he cannot pray, read the Bible, or give messages, he is unwilling to preach the gospel, to visit the saints, or to speak for the Lord. Such a person is buried in his self-abasement. But this problem is limited to himself. However, a serving one who is proud does not receive the restriction of the Lord. This is a greater problem. Such a serving one can affect others because he thinks that he has something. This is the other side of the self.
　
BOTH SELF-ABASEMENT AND PRIDE STOPPING SPIRITUAL PURSUIT
　Since not many serving ones are growing in life, can render a supply, or are effective in the work, our work and service have become stagnant. Some of our co-workers are trapped in self-abasement. Other co-workers, who are blinded by a shallow view of themselves, think that they are capable, but they have very little result due to their shallowness.
　A person who is narrow and shallow is proud. It is easy for a narrow person to be proud, and it is easy for a shallow person to be proud. Actually, being narrow is the same as being shallow. A brother who is broad is like a large cup with a great capacity. Regardless of how many things he does, he does not feel full or proud. However, a narrow brother is like a small cup that is filled with water. If one drop of water is added to the cup, it will overflow. A person who is a large vessel with a large capacity receives more grace, but he never feels that he is someone special. In contrast, a person who is a small vessel with a small capacity is easily filled with a little grace, and he feels that he is something special. This is an indication of his smallness, and this smallness is related to his shallowness. A deep person has a large capacity, but a shallow person has a small capacity.
　A proud person feels self-contented and satisfied and is shallow and small. Being shallow is the same as being small. Some who are shallow become proud very easily. Others may not become proud, but it is easy for them to feel self-contented. A person who becomes proud or self-contented is not effective in the work, and because he is shallow and superficial, he is unable to do a weighty and deep work. Only a person who has passed through frustrations, sufferings, and termination and who is broken can do a weighty and deep work. Such a person does not have much feeling of self-satisfaction or self-sufficiency. He continually presses forward and works steadfastly. Such a person is not a problem to the work and is effective.
　Both self-abasement and pride stop our spiritual pursuit. Those who have an inferiority complex will not pursue the Lord, nor will those who are shallow and self-contented. It is difficult for those with an inferiority complex and for those who are shallow and self-contented to learn anything. Our spiritual pursuit is affected by self-abasement. Furthermore, we should not be proud, because pride prevents us from pursuing. Those who are proud are full. Since it is easy for them to obtain spiritual matters, they do not pursue aggressively. Both self-abasement and pride distract us and stop our genuine spiritual pursuit.
　
LACKING SPIRITUAL PURSUIT
　Although we serve regularly and coordinate, we have only an outward form. Our personal spiritual life might also be merely an outward form. Our experiences of fellowshipping with the Lord and touching Him through pray-reading and prayer can become an outward form. This outward form is an empty shell because we have lost our living pursuit of the Lord. The Bible shows that we cannot stop pursuing the Lord, because the Lord is inexhaustible (Deut. 8:7-9; Eph. 3:8). His riches are boundless and unlimited, and His breadth, length, height, and depth, like the dimensions of the universe, are unsearchable (v. 18).
　When the apostle Paul was in prison, he said, “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue” (Phil. 3:12). In verse 13 he said, “I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before.” His fresh and unlimited spiritual pursuit caused him to forsake all that he had gained in the past, all that was old, so that he could gain Christ to the fullest extent. Paul not only forsook his past experiences in Judaism; he also did not linger in his past experiences of Christ. As one who ran the race, Paul knew only to run forward. He did not look back.
　Our problem is that we linger in what we gain, and we treasure our experiences. For example, a brother who gains some knowledge concerning the cross lingers in that knowledge. However, genuine spiritual experiences include leaving behind what we have gained. When we pass through something, we must put it aside. This is to run the race. If we do not run in this way, we will run in circles and will not advance. The apostle ran the race; he pursued by forgetting what was behind and stretching forward to what was before.
　Some saints have seen and gained something, but their tone is different from that of the apostle Paul. Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained,” but some of the serving ones boldly claim to have gained something, as if they have reached the ultimate destination, and they do not have any more goals. In Ephesians Paul saw a very high vision, but after that, he still said, “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue.” Even though Christ and the power of His resurrection are both familiar topics in our messages, we need to endeavor to pursue and to experience these boundless riches.
　We must see the enemy’s twofold scheme. On the one hand, he uses discouragement to destroy our appetite to pursue, and on the other hand, he uses self-conceit and self-contentment to stop us from being desperate. In the end there is no genuine pursuing. The main symptom of our problem is that we lack an earnest pursuit because we are either self-abased or self-contented.
　Song of Songs is a book in the Bible that focuses on pursuing. From the first chapter Song of Songs speaks of pursuing. It says, “Draw me; we will run after you— / The king has brought me into his chambers— / We will be glad and rejoice in you; / We will extol your love more than wine. / Rightly do they love you” (1:4). In verse 7 the seeker cries out from the depths of her being, and says, “Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock?” Within the seeker there is a longing to pursue. Debates and research cannot help us to pursue. The elders need to lead the saints to have a living pursuit. We must genuinely pursue the Lord. Discouragement causes us to stop pursuing, and self-satisfaction also causes us to stop pursuing. Our urgent need is to pursue the Lord. If we do not pursue the Lord, we cannot give messages concerning pursuing the Lord.
　
HAVING A FRESH AND LIVING ENJOYMENT
　Undoubtedly, we need to know how to work; that is, we need the skills to work. Some saints work diligently, but there is no result. They can be compared to a hen that lays eggs that do not hatch. However, when a different co-worker joins them, there are results. This is a matter of knowing how to work. Caring for flowers and plants is an example. When Brother A cares for a plant, it withers and dies in a couple of months, but when Brother B cares for the same plant, it blooms and bears fruit. This is a matter of skill. In spiritual service, however, the primary matter is not skill but whether or not we are living. The key to being living lies in our enjoying the Lord, having fresh fellowship with Him, entering into His presence, and pursuing Him daily.
　Some co-workers are eloquent when they preach the gospel, but not many people are touched. When Brother James M’Kendrick, who wrote Seen and Heard, gave his first message, he could not utter one word, but he had a fervent heart to save sinners. He stood at the podium and could not stop his tears. This touched the audience. He did not know how to give a message, but he had a burden for the gospel. We should not rely on our gift. Gifts are superficial. Our gift should be developed from life, but many saints treat gifts as an outward matter. We should not overvalue a gift.
　Those who have a genuine spiritual pursuit are beside themselves. On the morning of the Lord’s resurrection Mary went to the tomb to find the Lord. She was not as clearheaded as Peter and John. When Peter and John went to the tomb and saw that the tomb was empty, they became clear that Jesus had resurrected, and they went away to their own home. Mary, however, knew only to seek the Lord; she did not care for the empty tomb or the handkerchief. She knew that the Lord was not there, and she wanted to see Him (John 20:1-13). This seems to have been a foolish pursuit. Nevertheless, genuine pursuit is foolish. To have a genuine pursuit is to be desperate before the Lord to the extent that we care for nothing but meeting the Lord.
　A brother who genuinely pursues the Lord might stand up in a meeting and say that the other saints are able to gain something when they pursue the Lord, but he does not seem to gain anything. This word is weighty. Or he may say that he has been pursuing the Lord but cannot touch Him and that he cannot give a good message, but he can testify of the Lord’s love. Such a word brings in an atmosphere of spiritual pursuit and a sense of the Lord’s love. I once heard a brother give a message in which he arrogantly told the congregation that they were not spiritual. When we speak concerning the spiritual condition of others, we should be desperate. It is not right to merely shake one’s head and say, “We are not doing well; we are not doing well.”
　Our speaking should bring the saints to tears so that they can touch the Lord. Do not think that declaring “I have seen Christ!” will cause the saints to touch Him. We should be able to lead the saints to touch the Lord even without mentioning Christ. If we see that our prayer is powerless, that we do not know how to lead the meetings, and that our spiritual pursuit seems futile, we will have a heavy burden when we speak concerning our condition. This is the way to lead the saints to touch Christ.
　If we truly want others to touch the Lord, there is no need to shout that we have seen Christ. Similarly, declaring that we need to live in Christ will not cause others to live in Christ. It is not a matter of shouting slogans or making declarations. Even if a brother does not feel that he has seen much, if he has a heart to pursue and is not self-abased or proud, when he tells the saints that he still does not know our glorious Lord, the saints will meet Christ and touch something spiritual.
　It is not necessarily our testimony that will touch others. Rather, our words will indicate that there is something within us. Our words will show that we have the desire to forget that which is behind and stretch forward to that which is ahead so that we may know Christ. This principle can be applied to all our service.
　
FALLING INTO FORMALITY
　In the past after a person responded to the gospel, we would speak to him concerning baptism, but there was a lack of spiritual pursuit. The brothers who would do the baptizing need to pursue the Lord concerning baptism. They should seek how to bring the new believers into the experience of dying together with the Lord. This requires the leading brothers and those responsible for baptizing to pray together and pursue the Lord. Then the brief word that they speak to the new ones before the baptisms will be weighty.
　We have not had such a practice. Rather, we give the new ones a message in the baptismal meeting. For example, we read Romans 6:3-5: “Are you ignorant that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? We have been buried therefore with Him through baptism into His death...For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” We speak to those who are being baptized concerning being baptized into the Lord’s death, being buried, and being raised up together with the Lord. We also say that after they are buried in the water, they will come out of the water in resurrection. Then we baptize them one by one. This kind of ritual may be scriptural, but it lacks spiritual reality. The responsible brothers and those who baptize must have some reality. If they are in the reality, their service will bring the new ones into the reality.
　Although our services are established and are properly carried out, they lack something spiritual. I hope that the serving ones will receive a burden concerning our lack of spiritual pursuit. The services have become routine, and they lack spiritual reality; therefore, there is neither vitality nor power. As co-workers, we must rise up to deal with this situation. We should not think that we are incapable of doing certain things, nor should we be self-abased and buried by an inferiority complex. We need to overcome in this matter. Even if we are incapable, we can still pursue the Lord. We need a fresh love and a genuine pursuit of the Lord. If we gain something in our spiritual pursuit, we should not become stagnant or stop. We must be those who are running the race, forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, because there is no limit in Christ.
　
PURSUING WITH SPIRITUAL COMPANIONS
　In addition to our personal pursuit we should pursue with our companions. We often fall into a situation that we cannot handle by ourselves. For this reason we need spiritual companions. The situation that is emerging among us indicates that we are individualistic and do not have companions. Hence, we must look for companions to pursue with. Second Timothy 2:22 says, “Pursue...with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” This is the way that we must take. Very few co-workers are willing to pursue the Lord with two or three others. In other words, few co-workers have companions; most pursue on their own. We cannot escape the fact that we need companions. Two or three should come together a few times per week to pursue the Lord together. There is a need for a fresh atmosphere of spiritual pursuit among us.
　By the Lord’s mercy the co-workers need to have a fresh pursuing. No matter how many messages we have heard or how many lessons we have learned, we must realize that Christ and His Body are the way we are taking. Hence, we must rise up and pursue the Lord in a fresh way. This is the key. Everything we do depends on this. Perhaps some of us have a weak will or do not have a proper character. Whatever our problem may be, there is a remedy, which is to have a fresh, living, deep, and serious pursuit of the Lord. Not everyone’s function has been manifested, but if we have companions, everyone will have a deep pursuit of the Lord.
　Galatians 6:7 says, “Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Second Corinthians 9:6 says, “He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap.” This is a principle. The amount of effort we spend determines the benefit we reap. We should not think that the co-workers who are intelligent or who have a strong will have an advantage. What matters is the effort we put into pursuing the Lord. An intelligent brother who has a strong will should not think that he can be enlightened quickly. Even if he has an advantage, it is temporary, because haste makes waste. The faster we are able to enter into something, the faster we will withdraw from it. The fact that we have gained something should not stop us from going on. That is too shallow.
　A musician once said that if he skipped one day of practice, only he would notice it. If he skipped two days of practice, his family would notice it. If he skipped three days of practice, his friends would notice it, and if he skipped one week of practice, he would not be able to perform. This shows that the extent of our influence on others depends on our pursuit of the Lord.
　The serving ones who regard themselves as incapable do not need to feel inferior or discouraged. Such feelings are meaningless. We need to understand that we are unable and incapable, but there are some things that we can do: we can pursue the Lord, be drawn by Him, and have a fresh love for Him. This is precious in the sight of God. If we do not have love, He can stir up our love. We can pray because we have a pursuing heart, not because we know the right words or have the right tone. This pursuing has no end and will always be fresh. This is what Paul says in Philippians 3:12 and 13: he forgot the things which were behind and stretched forward to the things which were before so that he could lay hold of the Lord. This can be compared to the words of the lover in Song of Songs 1:2 and 4: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!... / Draw me; we will run after you.” Our service is not a matter of gift, knowledge, or ability. It is entirely a matter of our pursuit. If we are such persons, we will always be effective, no matter what the situation is. Then our service and work will not be merely a shell or an outward form. There will be reality, content, vitality, and power within our service. Moreover, our service and work will be fresh. This kind of pursuit needs to be raised up among us.
 
　　本篇信息我们要交通一些同工们应当注意的事。神在我们身上的路，以及祂在我们身上的工作，绝无法脱开我们本身的限制。在圣经里，无论旧约或新约，我们都能看出，神在每一个人身上，都碰到人的限制和难处。
 
　In this chapter we will fellowship concerning several matters related to the co-workers. God’s work in us cannot go beyond our limitations. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament show that God encounters limitations and difficulties in every person.
　　按我们一般的情形，神受的限制常常是两面的。有些弟兄姊妹，常有一种感觉，觉得追求没有多少果效，作工也没有多少果效。换句话说，好像别人追求，马上有所得着，而自己既不会追求，也没有什么得着；别人很会作工，自己却不大会作工，所以工作也没有果效。结果里面灰心，外面垂头丧气。这是一种光景。多年前，这种光景并不明显，如今是相当的明显。另一面，有些人读圣经，圣经对他好像是打开的，他一读就有亮光。可惜，他在神面前看见了启示、亮光，就趾高气昂，骄傲起来。这是另一种光景。

　　其他属灵方面，也是这样。有些弟兄姊妹追求属灵的经历，一追求就能见证，他看见启示，有了经历；有的弟兄姊妹则无论怎样追求，都好像是看不见，也抓不着。在他们的感觉里，他们既不会追求，工作也作不好。好像有的人读书、或打篮球，一读就开窍，一打球就全场叫好。有的人却无论怎样读，也摸不着门路，读不出头绪；无论怎样打，也投不进一个球。

　　在工作方面，有些同工无论是作工、站讲台、探望、带人，都没有成就感。回头看看自己，怎样看怎样不行，属灵追求上不行，工作的光景也不行，这自然是叫他灰心透顶。想要继续事奉，觉得自己不行；想要退去，又觉得不容易，毕竟当初蒙主呼召，出了代价。结果，里面就非常苦闷。这是一种光景。

　　另一种光景是，有的人一追求就摸着，就有所得着；一学作工，路就通，很容易就进入、得着了。前者是容易垂头丧气，后者是容易趾高气昂，这都是免不了的，他们很自然就这样。我们不能说，前面的人一定是深的，后面的人就是浅的；但没有疑问的，这两种人都是在自己里面。
 
　There are two situations that cause us to limit God. In the first situation the serving ones have the feeling that they cannot find the Lord and that they do not see results in their service. In other words, it seems that others are enlightened and know how to work, but they do not receive light, and their work does not have results. Thus, they become discouraged. Many years ago this situation was not common among us, but it has become rather obvious in recent years. In the second situation the serving ones know how to read the Bible. The Bible is open to them, and they always receive light. However, they often become puffed up and proud when they receive revelation and light from God.

　The same principle applies to other spiritual matters. When some saints seek a spiritual experience, they gain it and immediately testify concerning the revelation they received or their experience. Other saints, however, do not have such experiences, no matter how much they pursue. It seems as though these saints do not know how to pursue or how to work. Hence, there are two groups of serving ones. This can be compared to people who study or play sports. Some people seem to have no problem understanding a subject or playing a sport well, while others struggle.

　Some co-workers do not have a sense of accomplishment in the gospel, in ministering the word, or in visiting the saints. The more they look at themselves, the more it seems as if they have no progress in their spiritual pursuit or in the work. Hence, they are utterly discouraged. They want to continue serving, but they feel incompetent. It is not easy for them to withdraw, because they have paid a price to serve the Lord. Consequently, these ones feel miserable. This is one situation.

　In another situation the co-workers gain what they seek in the Lord and in the work. The way is open to them, and it is easy for them to get results. The former group of co-workers tends to be discouraged, but the latter group tends to be arrogant. Both conditions are inevitable. We cannot say that one group is deep and that the other group is shallow. In truth, both kinds of co-workers are in the self.
　　因着追求不来，不会追求，也因着不会作工，恩赐不显明，工作没有果效，人就灰心，垂头丧气，这是在自己里面。看到别人在某地作工，情形蒸蒸日上，就更是抬不起头来，觉得难为情，不好意思。所有的“不好意思”，都是在自己里面。有些人因此落到自卑感里，好像输掉了一切，没有希望了。人看自己不行，这是对的，但自卑是不对的。一个人完全落入自卑里，就什么勇气都没有，连和人接触的勇气也没有。在公众场合里，更没有勇气祷告。这个没有勇气的自卑感，会把人淹没，把人埋在自己里面。

　　另一面的情形是趾高气昂，这样的人不代表别的，就代表骄傲。一骄傲，人就浮浅了。有自卑感的人是沉到海底，完全被埋没了；骄傲的人却完全浮到天空，像一张纸飘在空中一样，高到不能再高，却又轻到不能再轻。

　　落到自卑里的，只害自己不害别人。他认识自己什么都不行，这不行，那也不行；作工不行，祷告不行，读经不行，讲道更不行，几乎是完全不行，自己就沉到海底了。他的自卑，也许让他八年、十年不愿意传福音，不愿意看望，也不愿意说话了。这样的人完全埋没在自己的自卑感里，但难处只限于他一个人。然而另一种人，若没有受主约束，难处就会更大。他可能觉得自己看见了，不得了，就骄傲起来，甚至影响别人；这是“己”的另一面。
 
　Some co-workers are disheartened and discouraged because they think that they do not know how to pursue the Lord, they do not know how to work, their gifts are not manifested, and they do not see results. These co-workers are ashamed, embarrassed, and discouraged when they see other co-workers who flourish in the work. Such feelings of embarrassment show that they are in themselves. As a result, they have an inferiority complex and think that they are hopeless. It is right not to regard oneself as being capable, but it is not right to be self-abasing. A person who is self-abasing loses his courage, is not able to contact others, and cannot pray. A person who has an inferiority complex is buried in himself.

　In the other situation a co-worker can be haughty. This is an expression of pride. When a serving one becomes filled with pride, he becomes shallow. Those with an inferiority complex seemingly sink to the bottom of the sea, but those who are proud seemingly float like a thin sheet of paper in the air.

　A serving one who is overcome with a sense of inferiority harms only himself, not others. When he realizes that he is incapable in the work and that he cannot pray, read the Bible, or give messages, he is unwilling to preach the gospel, to visit the saints, or to speak for the Lord. Such a person is buried in his self-abasement. But this problem is limited to himself. However, a serving one who is proud does not receive the restriction of the Lord. This is a greater problem. Such a serving one can affect others because he thinks that he has something. This is the other side of the self.
　　这是我们一般的情形，也是我们真实的光景。我们有追求的不多，真实长进的不多，甚至实际的供应，工作的果效都不多。所以很明显的，全台的工作和事奉，有相当部分是在停顿状态。停顿的原因，就在于有好些同工在自卑感里，觉得不能作什么，甚至不愿意作，不敢作，自然就没有什么果效；有些同工，则在浮浅的观感里，自以为能作什么，却浮浅的作不出什么。

　　骄傲有两个原因，一个是窄小，一个是浮浅。小的人容易骄傲，浅的人也容易骄傲；浅和小是一样的。你里头若是够大，把再多的东西塞到你里面，你还不会觉得满，不会骄傲。然而，一个已经满了水的小杯子，加一滴水就满出来了，满到四处是水，其实这杯水不过是汪洋中的小滴。有的人器大、量大，就多蒙一点恩典；他总觉得自己不行，算不得什么。但有的人量小、器小，一点的水，一点的恩典，就满了，就了不起了。这证明他的“小”，这个小就是浮浅。一个深的人里头是大的，浅的人里头是小的；这是一定的。

　　所以，人骄傲，感觉自满自足，是因为人浅、人小。浅和小是一样的。有的人很容易骄傲，有的人虽然不骄傲，却是自满；人一到了骄傲或自满的境地，工作也不会有多少果效。这样的人是浅、是浮的，所以不能作有分量、深层的工作。一个有分量、深层的工作，乃是一个人经过了结、折磨、挫折，里头被深深地挖过，破碎过，而没有多少自满自足的感觉，却仍不断地往前，坚定持续地作工。这样的工作才不出问题，才会有果效。

　　自卑和骄傲都叫人停止追求。落到自卑感里的人不追求，浮浅而自满的人也不追求。这两类的人，一个是怎么追求都没有用，怎么学也不会；一个是一追求就摸着门窍，一学就明白，但结果却不一定有多少学习。盼望同工们都看见，我们的追求受到自卑感的影响，若不是十年前蒙召时有一点根底，今天也不会仍在全时间服事。然而另一面，绝不要自满，否则里头有一个东西，会叫你不能有更进一步的追求，因为你一追求就得着，就进入，结果你的追求不会深。因着你是满的，对你来说，属灵的事是容易的，所以你并不积极追求。这两种情形都叫我们受打岔，停止真实地追求。
 
　Since not many serving ones are growing in life, can render a supply, or are effective in the work, our work and service have become stagnant. Some of our co-workers are trapped in self-abasement. Other co-workers, who are blinded by a shallow view of themselves, think that they are capable, but they have very little result due to their shallowness.

　A person who is narrow and shallow is proud. It is easy for a narrow person to be proud, and it is easy for a shallow person to be proud. Actually, being narrow is the same as being shallow. A brother who is broad is like a large cup with a great capacity. Regardless of how many things he does, he does not feel full or proud. However, a narrow brother is like a small cup that is filled with water. If one drop of water is added to the cup, it will overflow. A person who is a large vessel with a large capacity receives more grace, but he never feels that he is someone special. In contrast, a person who is a small vessel with a small capacity is easily filled with a little grace, and he feels that he is something special. This is an indication of his smallness, and this smallness is related to his shallowness. A deep person has a large capacity, but a shallow person has a small capacity.

　A proud person feels self-contented and satisfied and is shallow and small. Being shallow is the same as being small. Some who are shallow become proud very easily. Others may not become proud, but it is easy for them to feel self-contented. A person who becomes proud or self-contented is not effective in the work, and because he is shallow and superficial, he is unable to do a weighty and deep work. Only a person who has passed through frustrations, sufferings, and termination and who is broken can do a weighty and deep work. Such a person does not have much feeling of self-satisfaction or self-sufficiency. He continually presses forward and works steadfastly. Such a person is not a problem to the work and is effective.

　Both self-abasement and pride stop our spiritual pursuit. Those who have an inferiority complex will not pursue the Lord, nor will those who are shallow and self-contented. It is difficult for those with an inferiority complex and for those who are shallow and self-contented to learn anything. Our spiritual pursuit is affected by self-abasement. Furthermore, we should not be proud, because pride prevents us from pursuing. Those who are proud are full. Since it is easy for them to obtain spiritual matters, they do not pursue aggressively. Both self-abasement and pride distract us and stop our genuine spiritual pursuit.
　　虽然我们在事奉上有规律，在召会中有配搭，各种事奉也都略具一点规模，但这也许只是徒具外面的形式。不仅如此，就连我们个人，即使属灵生活上了轨道，也可能只有外面的形式。甚至当我们与主有交通，懂得怎样祷读，借着祷读摸着神，借着祷告摸着主，进入这条属灵的道路了，连这个都可能成为外面的形式。外面的形式之所以成为外壳，是因为里面失去了对主活的追求。从圣经里我们看出，没有一个人对主的追求可以停止，因为主是无法享受得尽的（申八7~9，弗三8）。主是不能尽享的，祂的丰富是无止境、无边际的；祂的阔、长、高、深，如同宇宙的量度，无法测度（18）。

　　使徒保罗年迈在监狱里写腓立比书时，说，“这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求。”（三12）并且他说，“我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的。”（13）他有一种新鲜、无止境的追求，叫他把已往所有、陈旧的得着都丢弃，为要赢得基督到最完满的地步。保罗不但抛弃他在犹太教里的经历，也不停留在他已往对基督的经历中。如同赛跑的人一样，保罗只知一路往前直跑，绝不回头看。

　　我们的难处是在追求上稍有进入，就留在那里，留恋不已。比方，有人得着一个对十字架的认识，就留恋在这对十字架的认识里。然而，真实属灵的经历，乃是我们一进入什么，就得脱离什么；一经过什么，就得脱开什么。这就是赛跑，向前直跑。若不然，我们就会一直绕圈子，无法往前。使徒的赛跑和追求，乃是忘记背后，努力面前的。

　　有的弟兄姊妹的确是有所看见，有所得着，但是他那个腔调和使徒保罗两样。保罗是说，“这不是说，我已经得着了。”今天有的人喊“得着”，喊得很响，好像他已经达于止境，已经登峰造极，无可再追求了。然而，使徒保罗不是这样，他写了以弗所书，有很高的属灵看见，但在那之后，他仍然说，“这不是说，我已经得着了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求。”（腓三12）他忘记背后，努力面前的，要认识基督、并祂复活的大能（10）。“基督”和祂“复活的大能”，乃是我们信息的老题目，但即使是老题目，也是无边无际的，需要我们一再竭力追求、进入。

　　我们要看见仇敌两面的诡计，一面用灰心败坏人追求的胃口，另一面用自负自满终止人追求的迫切。结果，这两班人都没有真实地追求。我们中间问题症结的所在，就是不追求；而不追求的原因，不外乎自卑和自满。二者结果相同，都是停止火热的追求。

　　圣经里有一卷书是专讲追求的，就是旧约的雅歌。雅歌一开头就说到追求的事：“愿你吸引我，我们就快跑跟随你。”（一4）接下来我们就看见，这位寻求者怎样从深处呼喊：“我心所爱的啊，求你告诉我，你在何处…？”（7。）她里头有一种追求的渴望。所以，许多的辩论没有用，许多的研究也没有用。盼望我们来在一起时，长老们能带我们有活的追求。我们都得在主面前，有真实地追求。不要研究，不要辩论，乃要真实地追求。灰心叫我们不追求，自满也叫我们不追求。我们中间现在急需的，乃是活的追求。我们不能光讲一些道，甚至讲追求的道，而自己不追求。
 
　Although we serve regularly and coordinate, we have only an outward form. Our personal spiritual life might also be merely an outward form. Our experiences of fellowshipping with the Lord and touching Him through pray-reading and prayer can become an outward form. This outward form is an empty shell because we have lost our living pursuit of the Lord. The Bible shows that we cannot stop pursuing the Lord, because the Lord is inexhaustible (Deut. 8:7-9; Eph. 3:8). His riches are boundless and unlimited, and His breadth, length, height, and depth, like the dimensions of the universe, are unsearchable (v. 18).

　When the apostle Paul was in prison, he said, “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue” (Phil. 3:12). In verse 13 he said, “I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before.” His fresh and unlimited spiritual pursuit caused him to forsake all that he had gained in the past, all that was old, so that he could gain Christ to the fullest extent. Paul not only forsook his past experiences in Judaism; he also did not linger in his past experiences of Christ. As one who ran the race, Paul knew only to run forward. He did not look back.

　Our problem is that we linger in what we gain, and we treasure our experiences. For example, a brother who gains some knowledge concerning the cross lingers in that knowledge. However, genuine spiritual experiences include leaving behind what we have gained. When we pass through something, we must put it aside. This is to run the race. If we do not run in this way, we will run in circles and will not advance. The apostle ran the race; he pursued by forgetting what was behind and stretching forward to what was before.

　Some saints have seen and gained something, but their tone is different from that of the apostle Paul. Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained,” but some of the serving ones boldly claim to have gained something, as if they have reached the ultimate destination, and they do not have any more goals. In Ephesians Paul saw a very high vision, but after that, he still said, “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue.” Even though Christ and the power of His resurrection are both familiar topics in our messages, we need to endeavor to pursue and to experience these boundless riches.

　We must see the enemy’s twofold scheme. On the one hand, he uses discouragement to destroy our appetite to pursue, and on the other hand, he uses self-conceit and self-contentment to stop us from being desperate. In the end there is no genuine pursuing. The main symptom of our problem is that we lack an earnest pursuit because we are either self-abased or self-contented.

　Song of Songs is a book in the Bible that focuses on pursuing. From the first chapter Song of Songs speaks of pursuing. It says, “Draw me; we will run after you— / The king has brought me into his chambers— / We will be glad and rejoice in you; / We will extol your love more than wine. / Rightly do they love you” (1:4). In verse 7 the seeker cries out from the depths of her being, and says, “Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock?” Within the seeker there is a longing to pursue. Debates and research cannot help us to pursue. The elders need to lead the saints to have a living pursuit. We must genuinely pursue the Lord. Discouragement causes us to stop pursuing, and self-satisfaction also causes us to stop pursuing. Our urgent need is to pursue the Lord. If we do not pursue the Lord, we cannot give messages concerning pursuing the Lord.
　　毫无疑问，作工需要技巧，需要会作。有的人作工，如同母鸡孵蛋，怎样孵都孵不出小鸡，但换了别人，立刻小鸡就出来了；这是会不会作的问题。又好比花草在某些人手中，一两个月后就枯死了；换了别人照管，不只没有枯死，还开花结果。这也是会不会作的问题。然而在属灵的事奉上，首要的不是会不会作，乃是活不活的问题。这个活就在于事奉的人里面能享受主，与主有新鲜的交通，新鲜的进入祂里面，新鲜的追求祂。

　　关于传福音，有的人在讲台上可能讲得很通顺，但台下却不一定有多少人受感动。写《见与闻》的麦雅各（James McKendrick）弟兄，他第一次讲道时，连一句话也说不出口，但是他里面要救人的心，却非常的热切。他的眼泪不停的涌出，底下的人便受了感动。他不会讲道，但他对福音有活的负担，并且迫切的追求传福音。千万不要太信靠我们的恩赐，恩赐是非常浮浅的。认真说，恩赐该由生命发展出来，但有许多人把恩赐当作外面的东西。恩赐虽然宝贵，却不要太过于看重。

　　严格的说，每一个真实追求的人，都是糊涂的。他的热心、专心会变作糊涂，像抹大拉的马利亚一样。马利亚在主复活的早晨，到坟墓那里寻求主时，头脑没有彼得、约翰那样清楚。那天早晨，彼得、约翰到坟墓里一看，坟墓空了，只见耶稣的裹头巾和细麻布放在那里；他们便清楚耶稣复活了，就回自己的住处去。然而，马利亚只知道一味地寻求主，她不管坟墓是不是空的，也不管裹头巾是不是在那里，她只知道主不在那里，她只想要遇见主（约二十1~13）。这似乎是糊涂的追求。然而，真实地追求都是糊涂的。这是在主面前，迫切到一个地步，不要别的，只要遇见主。

　　所以，一位真有这样追求的弟兄，可以在聚会里站起来说，“弟兄姊妹，别人都能追求就有得着，但我追求却得不着。”这话虽然不响，却是很重。“我虽然追求，却没有进入，甚至到今天，我还没有进入。我今天站在讲台上，也讲不出什么好的道，但是我能见证主爱我。”在那里便有一个空气，叫人碰着属灵追求的分量，碰着他里头感觉主爱的重量。有的弟兄在那里好像摇着扇子，大摇大摆的长篇大论，讲我们怎样不行，如何如何。我听的时候，里头十分气愤。当你说属灵不行时，感觉应当如同有两个人掐着你的脖子，要把你压在水里淹死一样。那才叫作不行。只是摇摇头说，“我们不行，我们不行，”这该是我们的灵么？

　　感叹我们不行的灵，该是让人流下泪来的灵；这才能叫人摸着基督。不是在那里喊：“我看见基督了，”能叫人碰见基督。就是我们不说基督，也该能叫人摸着基督。若是我们真看见，我们祷告无能，聚会没有人带领，我们想要带领也不会带领，我们怎样追求也没有用；而当人问到我们的情形时，我们灵里的负担、重担压着我们，使我们流下泪来承认我们不行。这样，人就要在此碰着基督。

　　所以，不一定是在聚会中多喊几声基督，人就真碰着基督了；也不一定是多喊几声活在基督里，人就活在基督里了。这不是外面的口号或话语的问题。若是我们有一点追求，而不觉得自己看见了，既不自卑，也不骄傲，并且在聚会中起来见证，自己直至今日，仍对我们荣耀的主不够认识。人在那里就要碰着基督，摸着属灵真实地分量。

　　这不是说我们见证的话摸着人，乃是这个话代表我们里头有一个东西，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，为要认识基督。这里有一个东西，诚于中而形于外。这个原则，在今天，在各地召会、各会所、各分家，都应当适用。譬如按手的事，我们若有属灵的负担和力气，就该作这事，受浸也是这样。现在最令人担心的是，恐怕连受浸都成为一件按部就班的仪式，这就完全落入外面的形式了。
 
　Undoubtedly, we need to know how to work; that is, we need the skills to work. Some saints work diligently, but there is no result. They can be compared to a hen that lays eggs that do not hatch. However, when a different co-worker joins them, there are results. This is a matter of knowing how to work. Caring for flowers and plants is an example. When Brother A cares for a plant, it withers and dies in a couple of months, but when Brother B cares for the same plant, it blooms and bears fruit. This is a matter of skill. In spiritual service, however, the primary matter is not skill but whether or not we are living. The key to being living lies in our enjoying the Lord, having fresh fellowship with Him, entering into His presence, and pursuing Him daily.

　Some co-workers are eloquent when they preach the gospel, but not many people are touched. When Brother James M’Kendrick, who wrote Seen and Heard, gave his first message, he could not utter one word, but he had a fervent heart to save sinners. He stood at the podium and could not stop his tears. This touched the audience. He did not know how to give a message, but he had a burden for the gospel. We should not rely on our gift. Gifts are superficial. Our gift should be developed from life, but many saints treat gifts as an outward matter. We should not overvalue a gift.

　Those who have a genuine spiritual pursuit are beside themselves. On the morning of the Lord’s resurrection Mary went to the tomb to find the Lord. She was not as clearheaded as Peter and John. When Peter and John went to the tomb and saw that the tomb was empty, they became clear that Jesus had resurrected, and they went away to their own home. Mary, however, knew only to seek the Lord; she did not care for the empty tomb or the handkerchief. She knew that the Lord was not there, and she wanted to see Him (John 20:1-13). This seems to have been a foolish pursuit. Nevertheless, genuine pursuit is foolish. To have a genuine pursuit is to be desperate before the Lord to the extent that we care for nothing but meeting the Lord.

　A brother who genuinely pursues the Lord might stand up in a meeting and say that the other saints are able to gain something when they pursue the Lord, but he does not seem to gain anything. This word is weighty. Or he may say that he has been pursuing the Lord but cannot touch Him and that he cannot give a good message, but he can testify of the Lord’s love. Such a word brings in an atmosphere of spiritual pursuit and a sense of the Lord’s love. I once heard a brother give a message in which he arrogantly told the congregation that they were not spiritual. When we speak concerning the spiritual condition of others, we should be desperate. It is not right to merely shake one’s head and say, “We are not doing well; we are not doing well.”

　Our speaking should bring the saints to tears so that they can touch the Lord. Do not think that declaring “I have seen Christ!” will cause the saints to touch Him. We should be able to lead the saints to touch the Lord even without mentioning Christ. If we see that our prayer is powerless, that we do not know how to lead the meetings, and that our spiritual pursuit seems futile, we will have a heavy burden when we speak concerning our condition. This is the way to lead the saints to touch Christ.

　If we truly want others to touch the Lord, there is no need to shout that we have seen Christ. Similarly, declaring that we need to live in Christ will not cause others to live in Christ. It is not a matter of shouting slogans or making declarations. Even if a brother does not feel that he has seen much, if he has a heart to pursue and is not self-abased or proud, when he tells the saints that he still does not know our glorious Lord, the saints will meet Christ and touch something spiritual.

　It is not necessarily our testimony that will touch others. Rather, our words will indicate that there is something within us. Our words will show that we have the desire to forget that which is behind and stretch forward to that which is ahead so that we may know Christ. This principle can be applied to all our service.
　　当我们传了福音，有人相信，并经过受浸谈话，按手续说，是可以受浸了。但请记得，这里缺少属灵的追求。什么属灵的追求？就是所有施浸的人，要在这件事上一同有追求。他们应当寻求如何把这些要受浸的人，带到与主同死的实际经历中。这需要负责带领、给人施浸的人，一同有祷告，有追求。然后在施浸之先，和要受浸的人说几句话。这时，那个话是重的。

　　我们现在的实行却不是这样，而是在受浸聚会里讲一篇道。比方，讲罗马六章，“岂不知我们这浸入基督耶稣的人，是浸入祂的死么？所以我们借着浸入死，和祂一同埋葬，…我们若在祂死的样式里与祂联合生长，也必要在祂复活的样式里与祂联合生长。”（3~5）我们对那些要受浸的人，讲受浸归入主的死，与主同死、同埋葬、同复活，并且浸到水里埋葬了，从水里出来就复活了。于是众人一个一个浸入水中。这是最合圣经的仪式，但里头缺少属灵的追求。召会中负责的也罢，给人施浸的也罢，你们给人施浸时，有没有追求？一有了追求，在这个施浸的事奉里，才有真正的“精神”，如同身体里有了灵与魂。

　　在我们许多的事奉里，有身体，灵与魂却跑掉了。说“身体”是好听话，认真说，应该是“尸体”。原因何在呢？虽然这个事奉也许很具规模，都在轨道上，但是里头缺少属灵的东西。盼望弟兄姊妹都有很重的感觉，看见我们的光景到了一个阶段，非常缺少属灵的追求。所有的事奉都是按部就班，里头缺少属灵的追求，以致没有活力，缺少动力，不新鲜，不丰富，不实际。所有同工们，必须起来对付这事。不要因着你们有什么不行、不能而自卑，以致把自己埋没在自卑感里，倒要胜过这个。虽然你们不行、不能，但你们能追求。我们需要看清楚，我们需要新鲜的爱，真实地追求。即使我们在属灵的追求上有些得着，也不该停滞不前。我们还必须像个赛跑者，忘记背后，竭力追求，因为在基督里是无止境的。
 
　In the past after a person responded to the gospel, we would speak to him concerning baptism, but there was a lack of spiritual pursuit. The brothers who would do the baptizing need to pursue the Lord concerning baptism. They should seek how to bring the new believers into the experience of dying together with the Lord. This requires the leading brothers and those responsible for baptizing to pray together and pursue the Lord. Then the brief word that they speak to the new ones before the baptisms will be weighty.

　We have not had such a practice. Rather, we give the new ones a message in the baptismal meeting. For example, we read Romans 6:3-5: “Are you ignorant that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? We have been buried therefore with Him through baptism into His death...For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” We speak to those who are being baptized concerning being baptized into the Lord’s death, being buried, and being raised up together with the Lord. We also say that after they are buried in the water, they will come out of the water in resurrection. Then we baptize them one by one. This kind of ritual may be scriptural, but it lacks spiritual reality. The responsible brothers and those who baptize must have some reality. If they are in the reality, their service will bring the new ones into the reality.

　Although our services are established and are properly carried out, they lack something spiritual. I hope that the serving ones will receive a burden concerning our lack of spiritual pursuit. The services have become routine, and they lack spiritual reality; therefore, there is neither vitality nor power. As co-workers, we must rise up to deal with this situation. We should not think that we are incapable of doing certain things, nor should we be self-abased and buried by an inferiority complex. We need to overcome in this matter. Even if we are incapable, we can still pursue the Lord. We need a fresh love and a genuine pursuit of the Lord. If we gain something in our spiritual pursuit, we should not become stagnant or stop. We must be those who are running the race, forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, because there is no limit in Christ.
　　我们该有一种追求，是与同伴一起的。常常我们会落在一种情形里，是我们自己无法应付的，所以，我们需要寻找属灵同伴。我们中间已经显出一种情形，说出我们是单独、没有同伴的。所以，我们必须寻找追求的同伴，就是提后二章二十二节所说，“同那清心呼求主的人，竭力追求。”我们一定要寻求这条道路。在同工中，几乎很少有两三个人愿意在一起追求。换句话说，少有人有追求的同伴，几乎个个都是个人的属灵追求。然而，到了一个时候，我们无法逃避，我们需要同伴；两三个人来在一起，在聚会、工作、以及平常生活之外，一周一次、两次或三次，在主面前追求。我们中间需要这样新鲜的追求空气。

　　求主怜悯我们，从同工们作起，有新鲜的追求。不管你从前听了多少道，有过多少经历，学了多少功课，要知道，前面有一条路，就是基督和祂的身体。我们要起来，有新鲜的追求，因为一切问题的关键都在此。或许有的人意志薄弱些，有的人性格的某些方面没有建立，但起码这里有一个大的补救，就是有新鲜、活的、深重的追求。不是每个人的恩赐都那样明显，然而，有了这个深重的追求，即使有明显恩赐的人，因着有同伴，追求便不再那么浮浅、便宜。

　　加拉太六章七节说，“人种的是什么，收的也是什么。”林后九章六节也说，“少种的少收，多种的多收。”这是一个原则，我们下了多少功夫，才能有多少的收成。千万不要以为，聪明的人就上算，笨的人就吃亏；意志刚强的人就上算，意志薄弱的人不上算。问题在于我们在追求主的事上，有多少分量。不能因着我们聪明，意志刚强，事情一弄就清楚，就可以不下功夫。这里有一个断案，即使我们暂时比别人占上风，但是俗语说“欲速则不达”，我们进入得快，退缩得也快。千万不要以为，我们有得着就可以，就停滞不前，这太浮浅了。

　　曾有位音乐家说，如果他一天不练习弹琴，只有他自己感觉得出来；两天不练，他的家人能听得出来；三天不练，他的朋友能知道；若是一周不练，连听众都瞒不过。因为天天练，虽然每天都弹同样的曲子，快、慢、高、低，节奏都一样，但是功力不同，分量越来越重。然而，他若以为自己已经会了，可以不练了，几周下来，听众都听得出那个生疏。所以，我们影响力的大小，在于我们在主面前有多少的追求。

　　自以为不行的弟兄姊妹，不需要自卑、灰心，那是没有意义的。我们应当看见我们的不行、不会；但有一件事我们能作，就是追求祂，受祂吸引，向祂有一个新鲜的爱。这在神面前是宝贵的。我若没有爱，主能在我里面激励出一个爱。我能对祂有一点祷告，不是在于话，不是在于腔调，不是在于宣告，乃是在于我有一个追求，并且是无止境、不停止、新鲜的追求。正如保罗所说的，忘记背后，努力面前的，竭力追求认识祂。又像雅歌所说，愿主用口与我亲嘴，愿祂吸引我，我就快跑跟随。这是里面新鲜的追求，这不在乎恩赐，不在乎知识，不在乎会作不会作，完全是里面追求的问题。这样一来，这个人无论在什么场合，都会有一种影响力，都能起一种作用。他的事奉和工作，就不仅是外壳，不仅是一个外面的形式，乃是里头有实际，有内容，有活力，有动力，并且是新鲜的。我们中间需要兴起这样的追求。

　　一九六〇年八月十六日讲于台北
 
　In addition to our personal pursuit we should pursue with our companions. We often fall into a situation that we cannot handle by ourselves. For this reason we need spiritual companions. The situation that is emerging among us indicates that we are individualistic and do not have companions. Hence, we must look for companions to pursue with. Second Timothy 2:22 says, “Pursue...with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” This is the way that we must take. Very few co-workers are willing to pursue the Lord with two or three others. In other words, few co-workers have companions; most pursue on their own. We cannot escape the fact that we need companions. Two or three should come together a few times per week to pursue the Lord together. There is a need for a fresh atmosphere of spiritual pursuit among us.

　By the Lord’s mercy the co-workers need to have a fresh pursuing. No matter how many messages we have heard or how many lessons we have learned, we must realize that Christ and His Body are the way we are taking. Hence, we must rise up and pursue the Lord in a fresh way. This is the key. Everything we do depends on this. Perhaps some of us have a weak will or do not have a proper character. Whatever our problem may be, there is a remedy, which is to have a fresh, living, deep, and serious pursuit of the Lord. Not everyone’s function has been manifested, but if we have companions, everyone will have a deep pursuit of the Lord.

　Galatians 6:7 says, “Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Second Corinthians 9:6 says, “He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap.” This is a principle. The amount of effort we spend determines the benefit we reap. We should not think that the co-workers who are intelligent or who have a strong will have an advantage. What matters is the effort we put into pursuing the Lord. An intelligent brother who has a strong will should not think that he can be enlightened quickly. Even if he has an advantage, it is temporary, because haste makes waste. The faster we are able to enter into something, the faster we will withdraw from it. The fact that we have gained something should not stop us from going on. That is too shallow.

　A musician once said that if he skipped one day of practice, only he would notice it. If he skipped two days of practice, his family would notice it. If he skipped three days of practice, his friends would notice it, and if he skipped one week of practice, he would not be able to perform. This shows that the extent of our influence on others depends on our pursuit of the Lord.

　The serving ones who regard themselves as incapable do not need to feel inferior or discouraged. Such feelings are meaningless. We need to understand that we are unable and incapable, but there are some things that we can do: we can pursue the Lord, be drawn by Him, and have a fresh love for Him. This is precious in the sight of God. If we do not have love, He can stir up our love. We can pray because we have a pursuing heart, not because we know the right words or have the right tone. This pursuing has no end and will always be fresh. This is what Paul says in Philippians 3:12 and 13: he forgot the things which were behind and stretched forward to the things which were before so that he could lay hold of the Lord. This can be compared to the words of the lover in Song of Songs 1:2 and 4: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!... / Draw me; we will run after you.” Our service is not a matter of gift, knowledge, or ability. It is entirely a matter of our pursuit. If we are such persons, we will always be effective, no matter what the situation is. Then our service and work will not be merely a shell or an outward form. There will be reality, content, vitality, and power within our service. Moreover, our service and work will be fresh. This kind of pursuit needs to be raised up among us.

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