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第十九篇 带领人在灵里祷告事奉

祭司职分与神的建造

📖 研读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照
  新约里有二处经节,说到神的居所与我们灵的关系。弗二22说,“你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。”我们乃是在主里面同被建造,成为神的居所,并且这居所乃是在灵里。此外,彼前二4~5说,“你们来到祂…跟前,也就像活石,被建造成为属灵的殿。”我们乃是被建造成为属灵的殿,因此建造与我们的灵有密切的关联。
 
  已过这些年来,我们的聚会实在够多,周周有多次例会,有时还加上临时聚集。其次,我们的讲道和听道也够多,几乎逢会必讲。即使是擘饼聚会,末了也要讲;遇到祷告聚会,仍然要讲。难得有一个聚会,我们不讲道也不听道。在我们的观念里,若是聚会里不讲道也不听道,好像没有多少意义。此外,我们在事奉上的活动也不少。长老们都拼命将自己的力量与时间摆上去,许多家负责的弟兄姊妹,也努力为主摆上。其中许多人都是带着职业,或有家务;有的时间并不自由,有的身体不太强壮,有的经济并不富裕,有的职业的担子并不轻。虽然在种种限制下,弟兄姊妹还是甘心乐意,参与召会的许多服事与活动。总之,我们的聚会、讲道、听道很多,事奉上的活动也不少。但若是认真分析、检讨,就会看见这一切所产生的果效,不能叫人满意。我们聚会多、讲道多、听道多、活动多,但属灵的果效不多,这说出我们实在是事倍功半。
  以擘饼聚会为例,譬如一个分家,从岁首到年终,主日经常到会的人数约七十位,其中常在会中用灵祷告、赞美,释放灵敬拜神的人,不到一半。若是经常参加聚会的七十位圣徒,有一半会敞开灵,运用灵,释放灵祷告、赞美、敬拜,聚会将更活泼、更丰富。可惜这七十位圣徒当中,有超过一半以上,从岁首到年终,未曾在擘饼聚会中用灵祷告。根据我们的观察,正月里是这班圣徒们祷告,过了四、个月仍是这班人祷告。简单的说,祷告者恒祷告,不祷告者恒不祷告。
  千万不要以为,人在擘饼聚会中不开口,是因为人多;若是人少,他们就能开口。按实际情形看,凡在擘饼聚会中不太开口的,个人的祷告都很微弱。即使只有你和他两个人一起祷告,他也非常勉强。那样的祷告像是将残的灯火,需要主的灵使它被挑旺。有的人不是偶尔聚会,乃是听道聚会、擘饼聚会都来,年下来,最少四十几周参加聚会,但就是不祷告,不开口,也不动灵。无论你怎么帮他,他都觉得为难。保守估算,这样的人约占百分之五十。若是有七十位圣徒参加擘饼聚会,能有三十五位经常祷告,聚会一定更加丰富、活泼。然而实际上,最多只有分之三、四十的圣徒在尽功用。
  我们在台北作工多年,常有特会、训练,并且长老、同工、全时间及家负责,共同劳苦服事。然而,这样大的地方召会,经常在聚会中祷告的人,却寥寥无几。若是我们只有集中聚会,众人没有机会开口,还可以说得过去。但是台北召会共有三十多个分家,经过一段时间操练释放灵、调灵,果效却仍是不彰。弟兄们一直报告好消息,说到祷告比以前多且强,祷告的人数也增多。面,我们承认的确有进步;另一面,统计数字不能让我们满意。归纳而言,我们数年来聚会多,讲道多,活动多,但是能在聚会中开口用灵、释放灵的人,比例实在太低。这指明我们属灵的情形的确贫穷。
 
  属灵的果效贫穷,原因无他,就是聚会多,用灵不多;讲道多,用灵不多;听道多,用灵不多;活动多,用灵不多。我们以聚会、讲道、活动起家,而不太用灵,就产生今天的结果。比如,一会所的讲道聚会之后是分组祷告,然而我参加各组的祷告后,却得着相同的结论。分组的成员若有七、八位,就有三、四位的祷告非常勉强,连声音都像生病的人。并且祷告的辞句也非常生涩,好像外国人学说中国话。讲道之后的分组祷告,实行了三、四个月,还是同样的光景。每个分组里,都有两三位祷告比较自由、释放,他们就是在祷告聚会和擘饼聚会里,经常开口的人。这班人即使这个主日不开口,下个主日也会开口,总是经常开口。他们在分组里,祷告较流利、刚强,灵也出来。因此在分组里,能明显分出有些人经常不祷告,有些人经常祷告。
  为此,我们需要回到神的话里,考量我们在这里作工,最终要将人带到那里。我们是带人来听道,带人到聚会里,还是把人带到事奉中?我们必须把人带到灵里,这是最终的目标。我们必须承认,我们属灵的果效太差。十几年前我们就在台北开工,众人经过数年的劳苦,经常聚会、讲道,直到如今,却只有少数人的灵比较活泼、敞开。我们必须承认,我们并没有将人带到灵里。这正是我这些日子以来,经过考量、分析而得的负担,我也实在背负这个重担。
  不仅分家聚会的光景如此,甚至有些全时间同工经常参加同工聚会,却从岁首到年终都不祷告。恐怕有的长老,经常参加长老聚会也不祷告。我们怎样带领,就产生什么结果。已往我们的工作就是聚会、讲道、听道,我们的事奉就是活动、劳苦。结果都非常缺乏祷告。我们自己是不祷告的人,所结出的果子也不祷告。正如黄种人生肤色黄的孩子,白种人生肤色白的孩子,黑种人生肤色黑的孩子。如果我们不祷告、少祷告,怎能把人带到灵里?我们说基督教的工作是叫人作礼拜,但我们要反问自己:“我们把人带到那里?我们有没有把人带到灵里?有没有真正叫人的灵活过来?”看看我们工作的果效,依照统计数字,令人不寒而栗。并没有太多人,被我们带到灵里;也没有太多人,因着我们的事奉、工作和带领,灵里被点活。
  在已过的长老聚会里,我曾经和弟兄们交通,大家不必再提什么事,谈论什么事,乃要多多祷告。我们要祷告,甚至禁食祷告。我们已过十多年的实际经验,产生这样的结果,所以绝不能再照旧作法了。长老们实在要祷告。过去,弟兄们的确又拼又摆上,但是光有那样的劳苦是不够的,我们要多用灵。我们要研究怎样在聚会里带领圣徒在灵里敬拜,使他们不只来聚会、听道而已。我们已过着重请人来聚会、听道,却没有带领人用灵事奉、用灵敬拜,以致今天能在聚会中用灵事奉、用灵敬拜的,真是寥寥无几。甚至在同工、长老、家负责中间,脱离聚会、听道的感觉,真实用灵事奉的人,也是不多。我们聚会惯了,所以没有用灵事奉的观念。我们来到聚会中,就是要用灵事奉,用灵敬拜,用灵祷告,用灵赞美。我们必须彻底转观念。
 
  参加事奉聚会的都是同工、长老与家负责,但是众人的感觉还是来聚会,少有人转观念,知道是要来用灵事奉,用灵敬拜。从前我们摸不清那里有所欠缺,如今既已清楚,就不该只是有许多讲道、听道、工作、活动和劳苦,而没有灵的事奉。我们不是要带人来聚会,“会”不是最终的目的地。我们乃是要带人到灵里,“灵”才是人最终该到达的目的地。我们不要只把人带到道跟前,我们乃是要将人带到灵里面。
  我们要把人带到灵里,自己就必须是一个用灵的人、祷告的人,这是实行上的关键。我们用头脑,就把人带到头脑里;我们喜笑,就把人带到喜笑里;我们哭泣,就把人带到哭泣里。我们在那里,就把人带到那里。我们用灵,就把人带到灵里。圣徒们虽然一直聚会,但因着我们太少把他们带到灵里,以属灵的生命而言,他们长进得非常迟缓,属灵的光景也一成不变,更缺乏属灵的见地。我们知道,唯有人在灵里碰着神,遇见神,才有真实属灵的长进,真实地蒙光照,真实地认识自己,并真实地脱离罪恶。我们若是一直聚会、讲道、活动,而不带领圣徒到灵里,就不能盼望他们会在灵里遇见神。
  道若缺乏灵,不过是理论;道若不是在灵里,不过是字句,不能摸着人的灵。而人若不是在灵里,就无法在道跟前真实蒙神光照、被神摸着。当人在灵里与神交通、遇见神的时候,里面才真实地蒙光照,看见自己的罪、自己的败坏、自己的肉体、自己的血气、以及天然的个性。唯有当人在灵里碰着圣灵,被神摸着时,才能有真实地认识,也才有真实地转机和真实地长进。
  我们对主的认识、对主的经历,不该只是道理。正如诗歌六十一首和三百八十八首,都讲到基督各项的丰富;但我们若只将这些项目熟背,不过是加增头脑的知识,并不加增对基督的经历。基督永远不能在头脑里或在道理上给我们经历。我们必须在灵里碰着灵,让神的话、神的活道发光,这样才能实际的摸着基督的丰富。所以,人需要认识基督的丰富,但真实地经历基督,不是在道理上,乃是在灵里碰着圣灵。
 
  要达到真实地建造,有一件事最叫人为难,也最拦阻配搭,就是人的意见。难得有一个人没有意见;人若没有意见,就很容易配搭。无论老少,人人都有意见。姊妹有姊妹的意见,弟兄有弟兄的意见,甚至初得救者也有意见。我从未碰过一个人是没有意见的。只有一个地方能叫我们脱离意见,那就是我们的灵。灵超越意见。当我们将圣徒都带到灵里,在灵里追求,在灵里祷告,操练灵,让灵出来,众人就都没有意见。越用灵的人越没有意见,越注意意见的人越不用灵,这是铁定的律。祷告少的人,意见多;当一个人意见多,立刻能断定,他缺乏祷告。我们越在灵里就越没有意见,一回到灵里就脱离意见。
  所以,众人真实地建造,乃是在灵里。神的居所乃是属灵的殿,是在灵里的居所(弗二22彼前二5)。我们不能期望每个人里面的意见致;合一不在于意见致,合一乃是在圣灵里。所以,保罗在弗四3说到那灵的一。在意见里永远没有合一,合一乃是在灵里。
  我们众人若是一直研究道理,后果定规是分裂。这是铁定的律,我们无法逃脱。我们众人越商讨越有距离,越商讨越有意见。你的意见产生我的意见,我的意见引发他的意见,意见越谈就越多。只有-以弗所一个地方能使我们蒙拯救,那就是回到灵里。那些祷告多的人,把自己祷告到灵里,甚至把灵祷告出来;这样的人都不在意道理,不在意意见。-以弗所一面,他们对于道理、意见看得很清楚;另一面,他们不在意道理、意见,只知道问题的关键是在于灵。
  神今天所要的,就是我们都在灵里。当我们都在灵里时,即使彼此意见不同,见解两样,却不成问题;因为我们在灵里就是一。所以圣经说到圣徒的合一,召会的合一,都是灵的事。弗二22说,“你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。”我们的建造乃是在灵里,所建造的乃是神在灵里的居所。既是如此,如果我们不能将圣徒们带到灵里,怎能有建造?为使圣徒们有真实地长进,真实地认识自己,认识自己的天然,认识自己的败坏,必须带他们回到灵里。他们要真实地经历基督,摸着基督的丰富,也必须回到灵里。他们要有真实地合一,真实地建造,成为神的居所,更是要回到灵里。然而,这正是目前所有服事者最忽略的事。我们注意许多聚会、讲道、听道、活动,却忽略要带领人回到灵里;这也是我里面感觉最沉重的事。
 
  盼望所有的同工、长老和家负责,都能接受圣灵的感觉。我们对于这项极大的缺欠,要流泪、祷告,在主面前呼吁祂。我们聚会多,用灵少;讲道多,用灵少;听道多,用灵少;活动多,用灵少。我们什么都有,就是祷告不够。若是圣徒们都能有这样的感觉和看见,圣灵一定会彻底翻转召会的光景。
  关于讲道聚会后的分组祷告,我们的带领在技术上应该有讲究。然而,我里面沉重的感觉,乃是同工、长老和家负责缺乏用灵,祷告也不足。这不是更换办法的问题。我们需要转换里面的观念,我们这个人需要有转变。我们交通释放灵、调灵,学习作祭司,在灵里供职,已经有一段时间;但是同工、长老和家负责,仍然没有很重的感觉。他们并不觉得我们聚会多、讲道多、听道多、活动多,但祷告的灵不够。若是他们能有这样的感觉,他们立刻会不在乎活动,也不在意讲道和听道。
  我们应该觉得这是一件严重的事:我们这个人需要翻一翻,翻到灵里。我们要祷告,要重新作基督徒。我们的祷告不够,我们的灵不够,灵出去的也不够。我们若不注意这件事,没有把人带到灵里,就会带人走偏。或者因着自己不肯多走几步,停在半路,就把人带到“半路凉亭”。我们不肯回到灵里祷告,就不能把人带到灵里祷告。我们在聚会中不开口、不用灵,就不能盼望圣徒们到聚会中会开口用灵。我们若是停在“半路凉亭”的人,就不能盼望别人达到高峰。所以同工、长老和家负责,若是里面没有转观念,里面感觉没有那么重,就算再更换办法,也是换汤不换药。这全数是人的问题,是人里面生命的问题。
  过去,长老、同工和家负责的确劳苦拼上一切,但是聚会再聚会,讲道再讲道,活动再活动,经过十多年,台北召会这样一个大的召会,不过七、八百位圣徒略尽功用,灵也不太强,这实在令人心痛。以作生意来说,绝不能这样下去。我们要回到主面前,开始学习无论何事都不是要紧的,只有祷告最重要,灵最重要。如同使徒行传所说,使徒们同着其他人“都同心合意,坚定持续地祷告”(一14)。后来,彼得同使徒们站起来讲道,结果约三千人受浸。然后,他们都遵守使徒的教训和交通,持续擘饼和祷告(徒二42)。使徒们的工作是从祷告出来的,结果也是把人带到祷告里。
  反观我们的工作,有几千人得救,却只有几百个人会祷告。因为我们不是从祷告作出去,所以没有把人带到祷告里。现今可怜的光景,就是许多圣徒遵守所传的道,彼此交通,也有擘饼,但缺乏祷告,缺乏灵。我们在分家的祷告,是死沉的祷告,还是兴旺的祷告?是衰弱的祷告,还是强壮的祷告?是灵强,还是灵弱?是活的,还是半死的?我们都需要有清楚的认识和领悟,不能再有那么多的活动,不能只是聚会、讲道、听道,却缺乏祷告,缺少操练灵。我们应该醒悟,不能继续这样作,乃要从祷告作起,把人作到祷告里。我们应该坚定持续地祷告,并尽话语的职事(徒六4)。
  一九六一年六月十九日讲于台北家排负责人聚会
  新约里有二处经节,说到神的居所与我们灵的关系。以弗所二章二十二节说,“你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。”我们乃是在主里面同被建造,成为神的居所,并且这居所乃是在灵里。此外,彼前二章四至五节说,“你们来到祂…跟前,也就像活石,被建造成为属灵的殿。”我们乃是被建造成为属灵的殿,因此建造与我们的灵有密切的关联。
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你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。
你们来到祂这为人所弃绝,却为神所拣选所宝贵的活石跟前,
也就像活石,被建造成为属灵的殿,成为圣别的祭司体系,借着耶稣基督献上神所悦纳的属灵祭物。
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  已过这些年来,我们的聚会实在够多,周周有多次例会,有时还加上临时聚集。其次,我们的讲道和听道也够多,几乎逢会必讲。即使是擘饼聚会,末了也要讲;遇到祷告聚会,仍然要讲。难得有一个聚会,我们不讲道也不听道。在我们的观念里,若是聚会里不讲道也不听道,好像没有多少意义。此外,我们在事奉上的活动也不少。长老们都拼命将自己的力量与时间摆上去,许多家负责的弟兄姊妹,也努力为主摆上。其中许多人都是带着职业,或有家务;有的时间并不自由,有的身体不太强壮,有的经济并不富裕,有的职业的担子并不轻。虽然在种种限制下,弟兄姊妹还是甘心乐意,参与召会的许多服事与活动。总之,我们的聚会、讲道、听道很多,事奉上的活动也不少。但若是认真分析、检讨,就会看见这一切所产生的果效,不能叫人满意。我们聚会多、讲道多、听道多、活动多,但属灵的果效不多,这说出我们实在是事倍功半。  以擘饼聚会为例,譬如一个分家,从岁首到年终,主日经常到会的人数约七十位,其中常在会中用灵祷告、赞美,释放灵敬拜神的人,不到一半。若是经常参加聚会的七十位圣徒,有一半会敞开灵,运用灵,释放灵祷告、赞美、敬拜,聚会将更活泼、更丰富。可惜这七十位圣徒当中,有超过一半以上,从岁首到年终,未曾在擘饼聚会中用灵祷告。根据我们的观察,正月里是这班圣徒们祷告,过了四、五个月仍是这班人祷告。简单的说,祷告者恒祷告,不祷告者恒不祷告。
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约翰福音五章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
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  千万不要以为,人在擘饼聚会中不开口,是因为人多;若是人少,他们就能开口。按实际情形看,凡在擘饼聚会中不太开口的,个人的祷告都很微弱。即使只有你和他两个人一起祷告,他也非常勉强。那样的祷告像是将残的灯火,需要主的灵使它被挑旺。有的人不是偶尔聚会,乃是听道聚会、擘饼聚会都来,一年下来,最少四十几周参加聚会,但就是不祷告,不开口,也不动灵。无论你怎么帮他,他都觉得为难。保守估算,这样的人约占百分之五十。若是有七十位圣徒参加擘饼聚会,能有三十五位经常祷告,聚会一定更加丰富、活泼。然而实际上,最多只有百分之三、四十的圣徒在尽功用。  我们在台北作工多年,常有特会、训练,并且长老、同工、全时间及家负责,共同劳苦服事。然而,这样大的地方召会,经常在聚会中祷告的人,却寥寥无几。若是我们只有集中聚会,众人没有机会开口,还可以说得过去。但是台北召会共有三十多个分家,经过一段时间操练释放灵、调灵,果效却仍是不彰。弟兄们一直报告好消息,说到祷告比以前多且强,祷告的人数也增多。一面,我们承认的确有进步;另一面,统计数字不能让我们满意。归纳而言,我们数年来聚会多,讲道多,活动多,但是能在聚会中开口用灵、释放灵的人,比例实在太低。这指明我们属灵的情形的确贫穷。
 
  属灵的果效贫穷,原因无他,就是聚会多,用灵不多;讲道多,用灵不多;听道多,用灵不多;活动多,用灵不多。我们以聚会、讲道、活动起家,而不太用灵,就产生今天的结果。比如,一会所的讲道聚会之后是分组祷告,然而我参加各组的祷告后,却得着相同的结论。分组的成员若有七、八位,就有三、四位的祷告非常勉强,连声音都像生病的人。并且祷告的辞句也非常生涩,好像外国人学说中国话。讲道之后的分组祷告,实行了三、四个月,还是同样的光景。每个分组里,都有两三位祷告比较自由、释放,他们就是在祷告聚会和擘饼聚会里,经常开口的人。这班人即使这个主日不开口,下个主日也会开口,总是经常开口。他们在分组里,祷告较流利、刚强,灵也出来。因此在分组里,能明显分出有些人经常不祷告,有些人经常祷告。  为此,我们需要回到神的话里,考量我们在这里作工,最终要将人带到那里。我们是带人来听道,带人到聚会里,还是把人带到事奉中?我们必须把人带到灵里,这是最终的目标。我们必须承认,我们属灵的果效太差。十几年前我们就在台北开工,众人经过数年的劳苦,经常聚会、讲道,直到如今,却只有少数人的灵比较活泼、敞开。我们必须承认,我们并没有将人带到灵里。这正是我这些日子以来,经过考量、分析而得的负担,我也实在背负这个重担。  不仅分家聚会的光景如此,甚至有些全时间同工经常参加同工聚会,却从岁首到年终都不祷告。恐怕有的长老,经常参加长老聚会也不祷告。我们怎样带领,就产生什么结果。已往我们的工作就是聚会、讲道、听道,我们的事奉就是活动、劳苦。结果都非常缺乏祷告。我们自己是不祷告的人,所结出的果子也不祷告。正如黄种人生肤色黄的孩子,白种人生肤色白的孩子,黑种人生肤色黑的孩子。如果我们不祷告、少祷告,怎能把人带到灵里?我们说基督教的工作是叫人作礼拜,但我们要反问自己:“我们把人带到那里?我们有没有把人带到灵里?有没有真正叫人的灵活过来?”看看我们工作的果效,依照统计数字,令人不寒而栗。并没有太多人,被我们带到灵里;也没有太多人,因着我们的事奉、工作和带领,灵里被点活。  在已过的长老聚会里,我曾经和弟兄们交通,大家不必再提什么事,谈论什么事,乃要多多祷告。我们要祷告,甚至禁食祷告。我们已过十多年的实际经验,产生这样的结果,所以绝不能再照旧作法了。长老们实在要祷告。过去,弟兄们的确又拼又摆上,但是光有那样的劳苦是不够的,我们要多用灵。我们要研究怎样在聚会里带领圣徒在灵里敬拜,使他们不只来聚会、听道而已。我们已过着重请人来聚会、听道,却没有带领人用灵事奉、用灵敬拜,以致今天能在聚会中用灵事奉、用灵敬拜的,真是寥寥无几。甚至在同工、长老、家负责中间,脱离聚会、听道的感觉,真实用灵事奉的人,也是不多。我们聚会惯了,所以没有用灵事奉的观念。我们来到聚会中,就是要用灵事奉,用灵敬拜,用灵祷告,用灵赞美。我们必须彻底转观念。
 
  参加事奉聚会的都是同工、长老与家负责,但是众人的感觉还是来聚会,少有人转观念,知道是要来用灵事奉,用灵敬拜。从前我们摸不清那里有所欠缺,如今既已清楚,就不该只是有许多讲道、听道、工作、活动和劳苦,而没有灵的事奉。我们不是要带人来聚会,“会”不是最终的目的地。我们乃是要带人到灵里,“灵”才是人最终该到达的目的地。我们不要只把人带到道跟前,我们乃是要将人带到灵里面。  我们要把人带到灵里,自己就必须是一个用灵的人、祷告的人,这是实行上的关键。我们用头脑,就把人带到头脑里;我们喜笑,就把人带到喜笑里;我们哭泣,就把人带到哭泣里。我们在那里,就把人带到那里。我们用灵,就把人带到灵里。圣徒们虽然一直聚会,但因着我们太少把他们带到灵里,以属灵的生命而言,他们长进得非常迟缓,属灵的光景也一成不变,更缺乏属灵的见地。我们知道,唯有人在灵里碰着神,遇见神,才有真实属灵的长进,真实地蒙光照,真实地认识自己,并真实地脱离罪恶。我们若是一直聚会、讲道、活动,而不带领圣徒到灵里,就不能盼望他们会在灵里遇见神。  道若缺乏灵,不过是理论;道若不是在灵里,不过是字句,不能摸着人的灵。而人若不是在灵里,就无法在道跟前真实蒙神光照、被神摸着。当人在灵里与神交通、遇见神的时候,里面才真实地蒙光照,看见自己的罪、自己的败坏、自己的肉体、自己的血气、以及天然的个性。唯有当人在灵里碰着圣灵,被神摸着时,才能有真实地认识,也才有真实地转机和真实地长进。  我们对主的认识、对主的经历,不该只是道理。正如诗歌六十一首和三百八十八首,都讲到基督各项的丰富;但我们若只将这些项目熟背,不过是加增头脑的知识,并不加增对基督的经历。基督永远不能在头脑里或在道理上给我们经历。我们必须在灵里碰着灵,让神的话、神的活道发光,这样才能实际的摸着基督的丰富。所以,人需要认识基督的丰富,但真实地经历基督,不是在道理上,乃是在灵里碰着圣灵。
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雅歌没有三百八十八章,请检查。
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  要达到真实地建造,有一件事最叫人为难,也最拦阻配搭,就是人的意见。难得有一个人没有意见;人若没有意见,就很容易配搭。无论老少,人人都有意见。姊妹有姊妹的意见,弟兄有弟兄的意见,甚至初得救者也有意见。我从未碰过一个人是没有意见的。只有一个地方能叫我们脱离意见,那就是我们的灵。灵超越意见。当我们将圣徒都带到灵里,在灵里追求,在灵里祷告,操练灵,让灵出来,众人就都没有意见。越用灵的人越没有意见,越注意意见的人越不用灵,这是铁定的律。祷告少的人,意见多;当一个人意见多,立刻能断定,他缺乏祷告。我们越在灵里就越没有意见,一回到灵里就脱离意见。  所以,众人真实地建造,乃是在灵里。神的居所乃是属灵的殿,是在灵里的居所(弗二22,彼前二5)。我们不能期望每个人里面的意见一致;合一不在于意见一致,合一乃是在圣灵里。所以,保罗在以弗所四章三节说到那灵的一。在意见里永远没有合一,合一乃是在灵里。
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你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。
也就像活石,被建造成为属灵的殿,成为圣别的祭司体系,借着耶稣基督献上神所悦纳的属灵祭物。
彼得前书一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
彼得前书一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
弗4:3  
以和平的联索,竭力保守那灵的一:
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  我们众人若是一直研究道理,后果定规是分裂。这是铁定的律,我们无法逃脱。我们众人越商讨越有距离,越商讨越有意见。你的意见产生我的意见,我的意见引发他的意见,意见越谈就越多。只有一个地方能使我们蒙拯救,那就是回到灵里。那些祷告多的人,把自己祷告到灵里,甚至把灵祷告出来;这样的人都不在意道理,不在意意见。一面,他们对于道理、意见看得很清楚;另一面,他们不在意道理、意见,只知道问题的关键是在于灵。  神今天所要的,就是我们都在灵里。当我们都在灵里时,即使彼此意见不同,见解两样,却不成问题;因为我们在灵里就是一。所以圣经说到圣徒的合一,召会的合一,都是灵的事。以弗所二章二十二节说,“你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。”我们的建造乃是在灵里,所建造的乃是神在灵里的居所。既是如此,如果我们不能将圣徒们带到灵里,怎能有建造?为使圣徒们有真实地长进,真实地认识自己,认识自己的天然,认识自己的败坏,必须带他们回到灵里。他们要真实地经历基督,摸着基督的丰富,也必须回到灵里。他们要有真实地合一,真实地建造,成为神的居所,更是要回到灵里。然而,这正是目前所有服事者最忽略的事。我们注意许多聚会、讲道、听道、活动,却忽略要带领人回到灵里;这也是我里面感觉最沉重的事。
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你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。
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  盼望所有的同工、长老和家负责,都能接受圣灵的感觉。我们对于这项极大的缺欠,要流泪、祷告,在主面前呼吁祂。我们聚会多,用灵少;讲道多,用灵少;听道多,用灵少;活动多,用灵少。我们什么都有,就是祷告不够。若是圣徒们都能有这样的感觉和看见,圣灵一定会彻底翻转召会的光景。  关于讲道聚会后的分组祷告,我们的带领在技术上应该有讲究。然而,我里面沉重的感觉,乃是同工、长老和家负责缺乏用灵,祷告也不足。这不是更换办法的问题。我们需要转换里面的观念,我们这个人需要有转变。我们交通释放灵、调灵,学习作祭司,在灵里供职,已经有一段时间;但是同工、长老和家负责,仍然没有很重的感觉。他们并不觉得我们聚会多、讲道多、听道多、活动多,但祷告的灵不够。若是他们能有这样的感觉,他们立刻会不在乎活动,也不在意讲道和听道。  我们应该觉得这是一件严重的事:我们这个人需要翻一翻,翻到灵里。我们要祷告,要重新作基督徒。我们的祷告不够,我们的灵不够,灵出去的也不够。我们若不注意这件事,没有把人带到灵里,就会带人走偏。或者因着自己不肯多走几步,停在半路,就把人带到“半路凉亭”。我们不肯回到灵里祷告,就不能把人带到灵里祷告。我们在聚会中不开口、不用灵,就不能盼望圣徒们到聚会中会开口用灵。我们若是停在“半路凉亭”的人,就不能盼望别人达到高峰。所以同工、长老和家负责,若是里面没有转观念,里面感觉没有那么重,就算再更换办法,也是换汤不换药。这全数是人的问题,是人里面生命的问题。  过去,长老、同工和家负责的确劳苦拼上一切,但是聚会再聚会,讲道再讲道,活动再活动,经过十多年,台北召会这样一个大的召会,不过七、八百位圣徒略尽功用,灵也不太强,这实在令人心痛。以作生意来说,绝不能这样下去。我们要回到主面前,开始学习无论何事都不是要紧的,只有祷告最重要,灵最重要。如同使徒行传所说,使徒们同着其他人“都同心合意,坚定持续地祷告”(一14)。后来,彼得同使徒们站起来讲道,结果约三千人受浸。然后,他们都遵守使徒的教训和交通,持续擘饼和祷告(徒二42)。使徒们的工作是从祷告出来的,结果也是把人带到祷告里。
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这些人同着几个妇人,和耶稣的母亲马利亚,并耶稣的兄弟,都同心合意,坚定持续地祷告。
他们都坚定持续在使徒的教训和交通里,持续擘饼和祷告。
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  反观我们的工作,有几千人得救,却只有几百个人会祷告。因为我们不是从祷告作出去,所以没有把人带到祷告里。现今可怜的光景,就是许多圣徒遵守所传的道,彼此交通,也有擘饼,但缺乏祷告,缺乏灵。我们在分家的祷告,是死沉的祷告,还是兴旺的祷告?是衰弱的祷告,还是强壮的祷告?是灵强,还是灵弱?是活的,还是半死的?我们都需要有清楚的认识和领悟,不能再有那么多的活动,不能只是聚会、讲道、听道,却缺乏祷告,缺少操练灵。我们应该醒悟,不能继续这样作,乃要从祷告作起,把人作到祷告里。我们应该坚定持续地祷告,并尽话语的职事(徒六4)。
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徒6:4  
但我们要坚定持续地祷告,并尽话语的职事。
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  一九六一年六月十九日讲于台北家排负责人聚会
 There are two verses in the New Testament that speak of the relationship between God’s dwelling place and our spirit. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.” We are being built together in the Lord to be a dwelling place of God, and this dwelling place is in our spirit. First Peter 2:4-5 says, “Coming to Him...you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house.” We are being built up to be a spiritual house; hence, building is closely related to our spirit.
 
MEETING BUT NOT SEEING SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL RESULTS
 In recent years we have established numerous regular weekly meetings, and we even have special times for special meetings. In nearly every meeting a message is given. We give a message at the end of the bread-breaking meeting, and we do the same in the prayer meeting. There is rarely a meeting that does not involve giving a message and listening to a message. According to our concept, a meeting without a message would not have much meaning. In addition to meetings we have many service activities. We are thankful that the elders and those in the various districts give of their time and strength in the Lord’s service. Many brothers and sisters have jobs or household responsibilities. Additionally, some do not have much free time, some are not physically strong, and some are financially limited. Although the saints are under various kinds of limitation, all willingly participate in the services in the church. In short, we have many meetings, and we also have numerous service activities. However, if we carefully review our situation, we will realize that the spiritual results from these meetings and activities are not satisfactory. We have many meetings with many messages, and we also have many activities, but the spiritual results do not match the amount of our labor.
 Consider the bread-breaking meeting. If seventy saints meet on the Lord’s Day in a certain district, fewer than half release their spirit to worship God by praying and praising in the meeting. If even half the saints would open their spirit, exercise their spirit, and release their spirit to pray, praise, and worship, the meeting would be more living and enriched. Regrettably, more than half the saints never exercise their spirit to pray in the bread-breaking meetings. The saints who prayed this month are the same ones who prayed in prior months. Simply speaking, those who pray always seem to pray, and those who do not pray never seem to pray.
 We should not think that the number of saints in the bread-breaking meeting prevents some from praying. Someone who does not pray in the bread-breaking meeting tends to be weak in the matter of personal prayer as well. Even if such a one were praying with only another brother, he would still be hesitant in his prayers. His prayers are like smoking flax in need of being fanned into flame (2 Tim. 1:6). Many of the saints who do not pray are not occasional visitors; they regularly attend the weekly message meetings and the bread-breaking meetings. Nevertheless, they do not pray, and they do not open their mouth or exercise their spirit. No matter how much we try to help, they always seem reluctant to pray. According to a conservative estimate, this is the condition of more than fifty percent of the saints. If, among seventy saints in a bread-breaking meeting, thirty-five would pray regularly, the meeting would become richer and more living. At most, only thirty to forty percent of the saints function regularly.
 We have worked in Taipei for many years, holding many conferences and trainings. Moreover, the elders, co-workers, full-timers, and responsible ones in the districts all labor in service together. In spite of this, very few saints pray regularly in the meetings. If we only had large joint meetings, which do not provide many opportunities for the saints to open their mouth, it would be understandable that many do not pray. However, there are more than thirty districts in the church in Taipei, and for a period of time the saints have been exercising to release their spirit and blend in spirit. Nevertheless, we still have only limited results. We continue to hear good reports that the number of saints who are praying is increasing and that their prayers are stronger, but we cannot be satisfied with this. Although we have many meetings, give many messages, and have many activities, the percentage of saints who open their mouth to exercise their spirit and release their spirit in the meeting is still too low. This indicates that our spiritual condition is poor.
 
EXERCISING OUR SPIRIT TO PRAY
 Our spiritual results are poor because we do not exercise our spirit, even though we have many meetings, give many messages, and have many activities. We are trying to build up our work with meetings, messages, and activities but not through the exercise of our spirit. This is the reason for our lack of results. For example, in hall one, after the message meeting, the saints pray in small groups, and I have participated in some of these small groups. If there are seven or eight saints in a small group, three or four are reluctant to pray; their voices even sound as if they were sick. Furthermore, it is difficult to understand the words of their prayer. We have practiced praying in small groups after a message meeting for three to four months, but the situation has not changed. In every group there are always two or three who are released to pray. These are the same ones who pray in the prayer meeting and the bread-breaking meeting. They always pray. In the small groups their prayers are fluent and strong, and their spirit is released. Hence, even in the small groups, some almost always pray, and some almost never pray.
 We must come back to God’s Word and consider our work; that is, we need to consider what God’s goal is for the saints. Is it for them to be in meetings, for them to listen to messages, or for them to be involved in some service? Rather than just this, we must bring them into the dwelling place of God in spirit; this is God’s ultimate goal. We must admit that the spiritual result of our work is poor. We began more than ten years ago in Taipei, laboring in many meetings and giving many messages, but only a small number of saints are living and released in spirit. We have not brought the saints into the spirit. After considering and analyzing our work in these days, I have no other burden.
 This is the situation not only in our district meetings but even in our co-workers’ meetings. Some co-workers attend the co-workers’ meetings throughout the year but never pray, and some elders attend the elders’ meetings regularly but never pray. We must realize that the way of our leading determines the kind of fruit that we bear. In the past our work consisted of meetings, messages, and service activities. We did many things, but we were very short of prayer. Since we did not pray, the saints under our care did not pray either. People can only produce children who have their same racial and ethnic traits. If we rarely pray in spirit, how can we produce people who pray in spirit? We say that the work in Christianity only brings people to a Sunday service, but we should ask ourselves, “Where are we bringing the saints? Are we bringing them into the spirit? Have we caused them to be enlivened in the spirit?” If we look at the results of our work, it should cause us to be in fear and trembling. We have not brought many saints into the spirit, and there are not many whose spirit has been enlivened as a result of our service and work.
 In a recent elders’ meeting I fellowshipped that we should not bring up any matter to discuss in our times of fellowship but, instead, that we should pray more. We should pray, and we should even fast and pray. Looking at the results of the past decade, we should no longer do things according to the old way. The elders truly need to pray. In the past the brothers surely endeavored to labor, but laboring according to our old way is not enough; we need to exercise our spirit more. We must study how to lead the saints to worship in spirit in the meetings so that they will not merely come to attend a meeting and listen to a message. In the past we emphasized inviting people to the meetings and listening to messages, but we did not lead them to exercise their spirit to serve and worship. This is why so few of them can exercise their spirit to serve and worship. Many of the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts have not been delivered from the concept of just attending meetings and listening to messages; consequently, few really serve in spirit. We are used to having meetings and listening to messages, but we do not have the concept of exercising our spirit to serve in the meeting. When we come to a meeting, we should exercise our spirit to serve, worship, pray, and praise. We must change our concept.
 
LEADING PEOPLE TO PRAY AND SERVE IN SPIRIT
 Many who participate in the service meetings feel that they are merely coming to another meeting; few have the concept that they must exercise their spirit to serve and worship. Formerly, we were not clear concerning our lack, but now that we are clear, we should no longer merely give messages, listen to messages, or labor in activities; we need service that is in spirit. Our goal is not to just bring people to the meetings, because meetings are not our ultimate destination. We must lead people into the spirit, because a dwelling place in spirit is our ultimate destination. We should not bring people just to listen to a message, but we must bring them into the spirit.
 If we desire to bring people into the spirit, we must exercise our spirit and pray; this is the key. If we use our mind, we will bring people into their mind, and if we use our emotions, we will bring people into their emotions. We can bring people only to the place where we are. Thus, if we use our spirit, we will bring people into the spirit. Although the saints have been attending many meetings, we rarely bring them into the spirit. As a consequence, their spiritual growth has been very slow, and their spiritual insight has not progressed. The saints can experience spiritual growth, receive spiritual enlightenment, and be delivered from sins only when they touch God in their spirit. If we continue to meet, give messages, and serve in activities without bringing the saints into the spirit, we cannot expect them to touch God in their spirit.
 A message without the Spirit is mere doctrine, and a message not spoken in spirit is mere letter. Such a message cannot touch the human spirit, and if a person is not in spirit, he cannot be enlightened or touched by God while listening to a message. Only a person who fellowships with God in spirit can be enlightened inwardly to see his sins, corruption, flesh, natural man, and natural disposition. Only a person who contacts the Spirit in his spirit and is touched by God can have real knowledge and real growth.
 Our knowledge and experience of the Lord should not be merely doctrinal. For example, both Hymns, #78 and #510 speak of various items of the riches of Christ, but if we commit these items only to our memory, we are increasing only our mental knowledge, not our experience of Christ. Christ can never be experienced in our mind through doctrines. We must touch the Spirit in our spirit and allow the word of God, the living word of God, to enlighten us. This is the way to genuinely touch the riches of Christ. We need to know the riches of Christ in reality. Every real experience of Christ depends on touching the Spirit in our spirit, not on doctrines.
 
GENUINE BUILDING BEING IN SPIRIT
 The greatest hindrance to the genuine building up in coordination is our opinions. Every person has opinions. If a person did not have any opinions, it would be very easy for him to coordinate with others. Whether young or old, we all have opinions. Sisters have opinions, brothers have opinions, and even newly saved ones have opinions. I have never met a person who does not have an opinion. The only place where we can be delivered from our opinions is our spirit. Our spirit transcends opinions. When we bring the saints into the spirit and we are all pursuing in spirit, praying in spirit, exercising the spirit, and releasing the spirit, we will not have any opinions. The more a person exercises his spirit, the fewer opinions he will have, whereas the more a person remains in his opinions, the less he will exercise his spirit. This is a spiritual law: a person who prays little has many opinions. If a person has many opinions, he is surely lacking in prayer. The more we are in spirit, the fewer opinions we have; once we are in spirit, we are delivered from opinions.
 The genuine building of the saints is in spirit. God’s dwelling place is a spiritual house, a dwelling place in spirit (Eph. 2:22; 1 Pet. 2:5). Oneness is not the result of everyone having the same opinion but of everyone being in spirit. This can be seen in Paul’s speaking concerning the oneness of the Spirit in Ephesians 4:3. Our oneness can never be based on trying to have the same opinion but on being in spirit.
 If we only study doctrines, the result will be division. This is another law that we cannot escape. Doctrinal discussions only increase the distance between us and generate more opinions. One opinion generates another opinion, which, in turn, generates yet another opinion. The only place where we can be rescued from our opinions is our spirit. Those who pray in spirit and even pray forth their spirit do not care for doctrines or opinions. On one hand, they are very clear concerning doctrines and opinions, but on the other hand, they do not care for any doctrine or opinion, because they know that being in spirit is the key.
 God desires that we be in spirit. When we are in spirit, there will be no problems, even if we differ in our opinions or views, because we will be one in spirit. Hence, when the Bible speaks of the oneness of the saints, the oneness in the church, it is referring to the spirit. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.” Our being built together is in spirit, and what we are building up is the dwelling place of God in spirit. How can we have the building if we do not bring the saints into the spirit? In order for the saints to have genuine growth and to really know themselves, including the corruption of their natural man, we must help them to turn to the spirit. In order to really experience Christ and touch His riches, they must turn to the spirit. In order to have genuine oneness and genuine building up to become God’s dwelling place, they must turn to the spirit. Presently, however, the serving ones are very neglectful of this point. We pay attention to matters related to meetings, messages, and activities, but we neglect leading the saints to their spirit. I have a heavy burden concerning this.
 
PRAYING STEADFASTLY
 I hope that all the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts will receive this burden from the Spirit. We must weep and pray concerning our lack, crying out to the Lord. We meet, but we exercise our spirit very little; we preach the gospel, but we exercise our spirit very little; we listen to messages, but we exercise our spirit very little; and we labor in activities, but we exercise our spirit very little. We have everything, but we do not pray. If all the saints would have this sense, the Spirit would surely overturn the condition of the church.
 Concerning the prayer time in the small groups after the message meeting, we need to improve our skills in leading the saints. Nevertheless, I have an even heavier feeling that the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts are short in exercising their spirit and inadequate in their prayer. This is not a matter of just changing our methods. We need to change our concept; we need to have a change in ourselves. We have fellowshipped concerning releasing the spirit, blending in spirit, learning to be priests, and ministering in spirit; however, the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones still have not touched the burden behind these points. They are satisfied with our meetings, messages, and activities, but they are not dissatisfied with our shortage of prayer in the spirit. If they truly felt this lack, they would immediately change their focus from activities and messages to turning to the spirit.
 This is a serious matter—we need to turn to our spirit. We need to pray to be a Christian anew. Our prayer is inadequate; our spirit is not strong, and we do not release our spirit. If we do not take heed to the matter of bringing the saints into the spirit, we will lead them astray. If we are not willing to turn to the spirit to pray, we cannot bring others to their spirit to pray. If we do not open our mouth and exercise our spirit in the meeting, we cannot expect the saints to open their mouth and exercise their spirit when they come to the meeting. If the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts do not change their concept, we will only address the symptoms of our root problem, even if we change our methods.
 In the past the elders, co-workers, and responsible ones have labored much. However, there are thousands of saints in the church in Taipei who function only a little and whose spirits are not strong, in spite of the fact that they come to meeting after meeting, hear message after message, and labor in activity after activity. This situation grieves me very much. We cannot allow this situation to continue. We must turn to the Lord and begin to learn that the only thing that matters is prayer in spirit. Acts 1:14 speaks of the apostles and the saints continuing “steadfastly with one accord in prayer.” Later, the three thousand, who were baptized following Peter’s message with the eleven, continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers (2:42). The work of the apostles came from their prayer, and the result of their work was to lead people into prayer.
 If we look at our work, however, thousands have been saved, but only a few hundred pray in the meetings. This is because our work did not come from prayer, and we have not led people into prayer. It is pitiful that many saints, who obey the word, fellowship with one another, and break bread, are lacking in prayer and in the exercise of the spirit. Is the prayer in our districts dead or fervent, feeble or prevailing? Is the spirit strong or weak, living or half dead? We need to have a clear understanding and realization that merely having meetings, giving messages, and doing activities is inadequate if we are short in prayer and in the exercise of our spirit. We must wake up; we need to begin with prayer and work to bring people into prayer. We must continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word (6:4).
 
  新约里有二处经节,说到神的居所与我们灵的关系。以弗所二章二十二节说,“你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。”我们乃是在主里面同被建造,成为神的居所,并且这居所乃是在灵里。此外,彼前二章四至五节说,“你们来到祂…跟前,也就像活石,被建造成为属灵的殿。”我们乃是被建造成为属灵的殿,因此建造与我们的灵有密切的关联。
 
 There are two verses in the New Testament that speak of the relationship between God’s dwelling place and our spirit. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.” We are being built together in the Lord to be a dwelling place of God, and this dwelling place is in our spirit. First Peter 2:4-5 says, “Coming to Him...you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house.” We are being built up to be a spiritual house; hence, building is closely related to our spirit.
  已过这些年来,我们的聚会实在够多,周周有多次例会,有时还加上临时聚集。其次,我们的讲道和听道也够多,几乎逢会必讲。即使是擘饼聚会,末了也要讲;遇到祷告聚会,仍然要讲。难得有一个聚会,我们不讲道也不听道。在我们的观念里,若是聚会里不讲道也不听道,好像没有多少意义。此外,我们在事奉上的活动也不少。长老们都拼命将自己的力量与时间摆上去,许多家负责的弟兄姊妹,也努力为主摆上。其中许多人都是带着职业,或有家务;有的时间并不自由,有的身体不太强壮,有的经济并不富裕,有的职业的担子并不轻。虽然在种种限制下,弟兄姊妹还是甘心乐意,参与召会的许多服事与活动。总之,我们的聚会、讲道、听道很多,事奉上的活动也不少。但若是认真分析、检讨,就会看见这一切所产生的果效,不能叫人满意。我们聚会多、讲道多、听道多、活动多,但属灵的果效不多,这说出我们实在是事倍功半。

  以擘饼聚会为例,譬如一个分家,从岁首到年终,主日经常到会的人数约七十位,其中常在会中用灵祷告、赞美,释放灵敬拜神的人,不到一半。若是经常参加聚会的七十位圣徒,有一半会敞开灵,运用灵,释放灵祷告、赞美、敬拜,聚会将更活泼、更丰富。可惜这七十位圣徒当中,有超过一半以上,从岁首到年终,未曾在擘饼聚会中用灵祷告。根据我们的观察,正月里是这班圣徒们祷告,过了四、五个月仍是这班人祷告。简单的说,祷告者恒祷告,不祷告者恒不祷告。

  千万不要以为,人在擘饼聚会中不开口,是因为人多;若是人少,他们就能开口。按实际情形看,凡在擘饼聚会中不太开口的,个人的祷告都很微弱。即使只有你和他两个人一起祷告,他也非常勉强。那样的祷告像是将残的灯火,需要主的灵使它被挑旺。有的人不是偶尔聚会,乃是听道聚会、擘饼聚会都来,一年下来,最少四十几周参加聚会,但就是不祷告,不开口,也不动灵。无论你怎么帮他,他都觉得为难。保守估算,这样的人约占百分之五十。若是有七十位圣徒参加擘饼聚会,能有三十五位经常祷告,聚会一定更加丰富、活泼。然而实际上,最多只有百分之三、四十的圣徒在尽功用。

  我们在台北作工多年,常有特会、训练,并且长老、同工、全时间及家负责,共同劳苦服事。然而,这样大的地方召会,经常在聚会中祷告的人,却寥寥无几。若是我们只有集中聚会,众人没有机会开口,还可以说得过去。但是台北召会共有三十多个分家,经过一段时间操练释放灵、调灵,果效却仍是不彰。弟兄们一直报告好消息,说到祷告比以前多且强,祷告的人数也增多。一面,我们承认的确有进步;另一面,统计数字不能让我们满意。归纳而言,我们数年来聚会多,讲道多,活动多,但是能在聚会中开口用灵、释放灵的人,比例实在太低。这指明我们属灵的情形的确贫穷。
 
 In recent years we have established numerous regular weekly meetings, and we even have special times for special meetings. In nearly every meeting a message is given. We give a message at the end of the bread-breaking meeting, and we do the same in the prayer meeting. There is rarely a meeting that does not involve giving a message and listening to a message. According to our concept, a meeting without a message would not have much meaning. In addition to meetings we have many service activities. We are thankful that the elders and those in the various districts give of their time and strength in the Lord’s service. Many brothers and sisters have jobs or household responsibilities. Additionally, some do not have much free time, some are not physically strong, and some are financially limited. Although the saints are under various kinds of limitation, all willingly participate in the services in the church. In short, we have many meetings, and we also have numerous service activities. However, if we carefully review our situation, we will realize that the spiritual results from these meetings and activities are not satisfactory. We have many meetings with many messages, and we also have many activities, but the spiritual results do not match the amount of our labor.

 Consider the bread-breaking meeting. If seventy saints meet on the Lord’s Day in a certain district, fewer than half release their spirit to worship God by praying and praising in the meeting. If even half the saints would open their spirit, exercise their spirit, and release their spirit to pray, praise, and worship, the meeting would be more living and enriched. Regrettably, more than half the saints never exercise their spirit to pray in the bread-breaking meetings. The saints who prayed this month are the same ones who prayed in prior months. Simply speaking, those who pray always seem to pray, and those who do not pray never seem to pray.

 We should not think that the number of saints in the bread-breaking meeting prevents some from praying. Someone who does not pray in the bread-breaking meeting tends to be weak in the matter of personal prayer as well. Even if such a one were praying with only another brother, he would still be hesitant in his prayers. His prayers are like smoking flax in need of being fanned into flame (2 Tim. 1:6). Many of the saints who do not pray are not occasional visitors; they regularly attend the weekly message meetings and the bread-breaking meetings. Nevertheless, they do not pray, and they do not open their mouth or exercise their spirit. No matter how much we try to help, they always seem reluctant to pray. According to a conservative estimate, this is the condition of more than fifty percent of the saints. If, among seventy saints in a bread-breaking meeting, thirty-five would pray regularly, the meeting would become richer and more living. At most, only thirty to forty percent of the saints function regularly.

 We have worked in Taipei for many years, holding many conferences and trainings. Moreover, the elders, co-workers, full-timers, and responsible ones in the districts all labor in service together. In spite of this, very few saints pray regularly in the meetings. If we only had large joint meetings, which do not provide many opportunities for the saints to open their mouth, it would be understandable that many do not pray. However, there are more than thirty districts in the church in Taipei, and for a period of time the saints have been exercising to release their spirit and blend in spirit. Nevertheless, we still have only limited results. We continue to hear good reports that the number of saints who are praying is increasing and that their prayers are stronger, but we cannot be satisfied with this. Although we have many meetings, give many messages, and have many activities, the percentage of saints who open their mouth to exercise their spirit and release their spirit in the meeting is still too low. This indicates that our spiritual condition is poor.
  属灵的果效贫穷,原因无他,就是聚会多,用灵不多;讲道多,用灵不多;听道多,用灵不多;活动多,用灵不多。我们以聚会、讲道、活动起家,而不太用灵,就产生今天的结果。比如,一会所的讲道聚会之后是分组祷告,然而我参加各组的祷告后,却得着相同的结论。分组的成员若有七、八位,就有三、四位的祷告非常勉强,连声音都像生病的人。并且祷告的辞句也非常生涩,好像外国人学说中国话。讲道之后的分组祷告,实行了三、四个月,还是同样的光景。每个分组里,都有两三位祷告比较自由、释放,他们就是在祷告聚会和擘饼聚会里,经常开口的人。这班人即使这个主日不开口,下个主日也会开口,总是经常开口。他们在分组里,祷告较流利、刚强,灵也出来。因此在分组里,能明显分出有些人经常不祷告,有些人经常祷告。

  为此,我们需要回到神的话里,考量我们在这里作工,最终要将人带到那里。我们是带人来听道,带人到聚会里,还是把人带到事奉中?我们必须把人带到灵里,这是最终的目标。我们必须承认,我们属灵的果效太差。十几年前我们就在台北开工,众人经过数年的劳苦,经常聚会、讲道,直到如今,却只有少数人的灵比较活泼、敞开。我们必须承认,我们并没有将人带到灵里。这正是我这些日子以来,经过考量、分析而得的负担,我也实在背负这个重担。

  不仅分家聚会的光景如此,甚至有些全时间同工经常参加同工聚会,却从岁首到年终都不祷告。恐怕有的长老,经常参加长老聚会也不祷告。我们怎样带领,就产生什么结果。已往我们的工作就是聚会、讲道、听道,我们的事奉就是活动、劳苦。结果都非常缺乏祷告。我们自己是不祷告的人,所结出的果子也不祷告。正如黄种人生肤色黄的孩子,白种人生肤色白的孩子,黑种人生肤色黑的孩子。如果我们不祷告、少祷告,怎能把人带到灵里?我们说基督教的工作是叫人作礼拜,但我们要反问自己:“我们把人带到那里?我们有没有把人带到灵里?有没有真正叫人的灵活过来?”看看我们工作的果效,依照统计数字,令人不寒而栗。并没有太多人,被我们带到灵里;也没有太多人,因着我们的事奉、工作和带领,灵里被点活。

  在已过的长老聚会里,我曾经和弟兄们交通,大家不必再提什么事,谈论什么事,乃要多多祷告。我们要祷告,甚至禁食祷告。我们已过十多年的实际经验,产生这样的结果,所以绝不能再照旧作法了。长老们实在要祷告。过去,弟兄们的确又拼又摆上,但是光有那样的劳苦是不够的,我们要多用灵。我们要研究怎样在聚会里带领圣徒在灵里敬拜,使他们不只来聚会、听道而已。我们已过着重请人来聚会、听道,却没有带领人用灵事奉、用灵敬拜,以致今天能在聚会中用灵事奉、用灵敬拜的,真是寥寥无几。甚至在同工、长老、家负责中间,脱离聚会、听道的感觉,真实用灵事奉的人,也是不多。我们聚会惯了,所以没有用灵事奉的观念。我们来到聚会中,就是要用灵事奉,用灵敬拜,用灵祷告,用灵赞美。我们必须彻底转观念。
 
 Our spiritual results are poor because we do not exercise our spirit, even though we have many meetings, give many messages, and have many activities. We are trying to build up our work with meetings, messages, and activities but not through the exercise of our spirit. This is the reason for our lack of results. For example, in hall one, after the message meeting, the saints pray in small groups, and I have participated in some of these small groups. If there are seven or eight saints in a small group, three or four are reluctant to pray; their voices even sound as if they were sick. Furthermore, it is difficult to understand the words of their prayer. We have practiced praying in small groups after a message meeting for three to four months, but the situation has not changed. In every group there are always two or three who are released to pray. These are the same ones who pray in the prayer meeting and the bread-breaking meeting. They always pray. In the small groups their prayers are fluent and strong, and their spirit is released. Hence, even in the small groups, some almost always pray, and some almost never pray.

 We must come back to God’s Word and consider our work; that is, we need to consider what God’s goal is for the saints. Is it for them to be in meetings, for them to listen to messages, or for them to be involved in some service? Rather than just this, we must bring them into the dwelling place of God in spirit; this is God’s ultimate goal. We must admit that the spiritual result of our work is poor. We began more than ten years ago in Taipei, laboring in many meetings and giving many messages, but only a small number of saints are living and released in spirit. We have not brought the saints into the spirit. After considering and analyzing our work in these days, I have no other burden.

 This is the situation not only in our district meetings but even in our co-workers’ meetings. Some co-workers attend the co-workers’ meetings throughout the year but never pray, and some elders attend the elders’ meetings regularly but never pray. We must realize that the way of our leading determines the kind of fruit that we bear. In the past our work consisted of meetings, messages, and service activities. We did many things, but we were very short of prayer. Since we did not pray, the saints under our care did not pray either. People can only produce children who have their same racial and ethnic traits. If we rarely pray in spirit, how can we produce people who pray in spirit? We say that the work in Christianity only brings people to a Sunday service, but we should ask ourselves, “Where are we bringing the saints? Are we bringing them into the spirit? Have we caused them to be enlivened in the spirit?” If we look at the results of our work, it should cause us to be in fear and trembling. We have not brought many saints into the spirit, and there are not many whose spirit has been enlivened as a result of our service and work.

 In a recent elders’ meeting I fellowshipped that we should not bring up any matter to discuss in our times of fellowship but, instead, that we should pray more. We should pray, and we should even fast and pray. Looking at the results of the past decade, we should no longer do things according to the old way. The elders truly need to pray. In the past the brothers surely endeavored to labor, but laboring according to our old way is not enough; we need to exercise our spirit more. We must study how to lead the saints to worship in spirit in the meetings so that they will not merely come to attend a meeting and listen to a message. In the past we emphasized inviting people to the meetings and listening to messages, but we did not lead them to exercise their spirit to serve and worship. This is why so few of them can exercise their spirit to serve and worship. Many of the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts have not been delivered from the concept of just attending meetings and listening to messages; consequently, few really serve in spirit. We are used to having meetings and listening to messages, but we do not have the concept of exercising our spirit to serve in the meeting. When we come to a meeting, we should exercise our spirit to serve, worship, pray, and praise. We must change our concept.
  参加事奉聚会的都是同工、长老与家负责,但是众人的感觉还是来聚会,少有人转观念,知道是要来用灵事奉,用灵敬拜。从前我们摸不清那里有所欠缺,如今既已清楚,就不该只是有许多讲道、听道、工作、活动和劳苦,而没有灵的事奉。我们不是要带人来聚会,“会”不是最终的目的地。我们乃是要带人到灵里,“灵”才是人最终该到达的目的地。我们不要只把人带到道跟前,我们乃是要将人带到灵里面。

  我们要把人带到灵里,自己就必须是一个用灵的人、祷告的人,这是实行上的关键。我们用头脑,就把人带到头脑里;我们喜笑,就把人带到喜笑里;我们哭泣,就把人带到哭泣里。我们在那里,就把人带到那里。我们用灵,就把人带到灵里。圣徒们虽然一直聚会,但因着我们太少把他们带到灵里,以属灵的生命而言,他们长进得非常迟缓,属灵的光景也一成不变,更缺乏属灵的见地。我们知道,唯有人在灵里碰着神,遇见神,才有真实属灵的长进,真实地蒙光照,真实地认识自己,并真实地脱离罪恶。我们若是一直聚会、讲道、活动,而不带领圣徒到灵里,就不能盼望他们会在灵里遇见神。

  道若缺乏灵,不过是理论;道若不是在灵里,不过是字句,不能摸着人的灵。而人若不是在灵里,就无法在道跟前真实蒙神光照、被神摸着。当人在灵里与神交通、遇见神的时候,里面才真实地蒙光照,看见自己的罪、自己的败坏、自己的肉体、自己的血气、以及天然的个性。唯有当人在灵里碰着圣灵,被神摸着时,才能有真实地认识,也才有真实地转机和真实地长进。

  我们对主的认识、对主的经历,不该只是道理。正如诗歌六十一首和三百八十八首,都讲到基督各项的丰富;但我们若只将这些项目熟背,不过是加增头脑的知识,并不加增对基督的经历。基督永远不能在头脑里或在道理上给我们经历。我们必须在灵里碰着灵,让神的话、神的活道发光,这样才能实际的摸着基督的丰富。所以,人需要认识基督的丰富,但真实地经历基督,不是在道理上,乃是在灵里碰着圣灵。
 
 Many who participate in the service meetings feel that they are merely coming to another meeting; few have the concept that they must exercise their spirit to serve and worship. Formerly, we were not clear concerning our lack, but now that we are clear, we should no longer merely give messages, listen to messages, or labor in activities; we need service that is in spirit. Our goal is not to just bring people to the meetings, because meetings are not our ultimate destination. We must lead people into the spirit, because a dwelling place in spirit is our ultimate destination. We should not bring people just to listen to a message, but we must bring them into the spirit.

 If we desire to bring people into the spirit, we must exercise our spirit and pray; this is the key. If we use our mind, we will bring people into their mind, and if we use our emotions, we will bring people into their emotions. We can bring people only to the place where we are. Thus, if we use our spirit, we will bring people into the spirit. Although the saints have been attending many meetings, we rarely bring them into the spirit. As a consequence, their spiritual growth has been very slow, and their spiritual insight has not progressed. The saints can experience spiritual growth, receive spiritual enlightenment, and be delivered from sins only when they touch God in their spirit. If we continue to meet, give messages, and serve in activities without bringing the saints into the spirit, we cannot expect them to touch God in their spirit.

 A message without the Spirit is mere doctrine, and a message not spoken in spirit is mere letter. Such a message cannot touch the human spirit, and if a person is not in spirit, he cannot be enlightened or touched by God while listening to a message. Only a person who fellowships with God in spirit can be enlightened inwardly to see his sins, corruption, flesh, natural man, and natural disposition. Only a person who contacts the Spirit in his spirit and is touched by God can have real knowledge and real growth.

 Our knowledge and experience of the Lord should not be merely doctrinal. For example, both Hymns, #78 and #510 speak of various items of the riches of Christ, but if we commit these items only to our memory, we are increasing only our mental knowledge, not our experience of Christ. Christ can never be experienced in our mind through doctrines. We must touch the Spirit in our spirit and allow the word of God, the living word of God, to enlighten us. This is the way to genuinely touch the riches of Christ. We need to know the riches of Christ in reality. Every real experience of Christ depends on touching the Spirit in our spirit, not on doctrines.
  要达到真实地建造,有一件事最叫人为难,也最拦阻配搭,就是人的意见。难得有一个人没有意见;人若没有意见,就很容易配搭。无论老少,人人都有意见。姊妹有姊妹的意见,弟兄有弟兄的意见,甚至初得救者也有意见。我从未碰过一个人是没有意见的。只有一个地方能叫我们脱离意见,那就是我们的灵。灵超越意见。当我们将圣徒都带到灵里,在灵里追求,在灵里祷告,操练灵,让灵出来,众人就都没有意见。越用灵的人越没有意见,越注意意见的人越不用灵,这是铁定的律。祷告少的人,意见多;当一个人意见多,立刻能断定,他缺乏祷告。我们越在灵里就越没有意见,一回到灵里就脱离意见。

  所以,众人真实地建造,乃是在灵里。神的居所乃是属灵的殿,是在灵里的居所(弗二22,彼前二5)。我们不能期望每个人里面的意见一致;合一不在于意见一致,合一乃是在圣灵里。所以,保罗在以弗所四章三节说到那灵的一。在意见里永远没有合一,合一乃是在灵里。

  我们众人若是一直研究道理,后果定规是分裂。这是铁定的律,我们无法逃脱。我们众人越商讨越有距离,越商讨越有意见。你的意见产生我的意见,我的意见引发他的意见,意见越谈就越多。只有一个地方能使我们蒙拯救,那就是回到灵里。那些祷告多的人,把自己祷告到灵里,甚至把灵祷告出来;这样的人都不在意道理,不在意意见。一面,他们对于道理、意见看得很清楚;另一面,他们不在意道理、意见,只知道问题的关键是在于灵。

  神今天所要的,就是我们都在灵里。当我们都在灵里时,即使彼此意见不同,见解两样,却不成问题;因为我们在灵里就是一。所以圣经说到圣徒的合一,召会的合一,都是灵的事。以弗所二章二十二节说,“你们也在祂里面同被建造,成为神在灵里的居所。”我们的建造乃是在灵里,所建造的乃是神在灵里的居所。既是如此,如果我们不能将圣徒们带到灵里,怎能有建造?为使圣徒们有真实地长进,真实地认识自己,认识自己的天然,认识自己的败坏,必须带他们回到灵里。他们要真实地经历基督,摸着基督的丰富,也必须回到灵里。他们要有真实地合一,真实地建造,成为神的居所,更是要回到灵里。然而,这正是目前所有服事者最忽略的事。我们注意许多聚会、讲道、听道、活动,却忽略要带领人回到灵里;这也是我里面感觉最沉重的事。
 
 The greatest hindrance to the genuine building up in coordination is our opinions. Every person has opinions. If a person did not have any opinions, it would be very easy for him to coordinate with others. Whether young or old, we all have opinions. Sisters have opinions, brothers have opinions, and even newly saved ones have opinions. I have never met a person who does not have an opinion. The only place where we can be delivered from our opinions is our spirit. Our spirit transcends opinions. When we bring the saints into the spirit and we are all pursuing in spirit, praying in spirit, exercising the spirit, and releasing the spirit, we will not have any opinions. The more a person exercises his spirit, the fewer opinions he will have, whereas the more a person remains in his opinions, the less he will exercise his spirit. This is a spiritual law: a person who prays little has many opinions. If a person has many opinions, he is surely lacking in prayer. The more we are in spirit, the fewer opinions we have; once we are in spirit, we are delivered from opinions.

 The genuine building of the saints is in spirit. God’s dwelling place is a spiritual house, a dwelling place in spirit (Eph. 2:22; 1 Pet. 2:5). Oneness is not the result of everyone having the same opinion but of everyone being in spirit. This can be seen in Paul’s speaking concerning the oneness of the Spirit in Ephesians 4:3. Our oneness can never be based on trying to have the same opinion but on being in spirit.

 If we only study doctrines, the result will be division. This is another law that we cannot escape. Doctrinal discussions only increase the distance between us and generate more opinions. One opinion generates another opinion, which, in turn, generates yet another opinion. The only place where we can be rescued from our opinions is our spirit. Those who pray in spirit and even pray forth their spirit do not care for doctrines or opinions. On one hand, they are very clear concerning doctrines and opinions, but on the other hand, they do not care for any doctrine or opinion, because they know that being in spirit is the key.

 God desires that we be in spirit. When we are in spirit, there will be no problems, even if we differ in our opinions or views, because we will be one in spirit. Hence, when the Bible speaks of the oneness of the saints, the oneness in the church, it is referring to the spirit. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.” Our being built together is in spirit, and what we are building up is the dwelling place of God in spirit. How can we have the building if we do not bring the saints into the spirit? In order for the saints to have genuine growth and to really know themselves, including the corruption of their natural man, we must help them to turn to the spirit. In order to really experience Christ and touch His riches, they must turn to the spirit. In order to have genuine oneness and genuine building up to become God’s dwelling place, they must turn to the spirit. Presently, however, the serving ones are very neglectful of this point. We pay attention to matters related to meetings, messages, and activities, but we neglect leading the saints to their spirit. I have a heavy burden concerning this.
  盼望所有的同工、长老和家负责,都能接受圣灵的感觉。我们对于这项极大的缺欠,要流泪、祷告,在主面前呼吁祂。我们聚会多,用灵少;讲道多,用灵少;听道多,用灵少;活动多,用灵少。我们什么都有,就是祷告不够。若是圣徒们都能有这样的感觉和看见,圣灵一定会彻底翻转召会的光景。

  关于讲道聚会后的分组祷告,我们的带领在技术上应该有讲究。然而,我里面沉重的感觉,乃是同工、长老和家负责缺乏用灵,祷告也不足。这不是更换办法的问题。我们需要转换里面的观念,我们这个人需要有转变。我们交通释放灵、调灵,学习作祭司,在灵里供职,已经有一段时间;但是同工、长老和家负责,仍然没有很重的感觉。他们并不觉得我们聚会多、讲道多、听道多、活动多,但祷告的灵不够。若是他们能有这样的感觉,他们立刻会不在乎活动,也不在意讲道和听道。

  我们应该觉得这是一件严重的事:我们这个人需要翻一翻,翻到灵里。我们要祷告,要重新作基督徒。我们的祷告不够,我们的灵不够,灵出去的也不够。我们若不注意这件事,没有把人带到灵里,就会带人走偏。或者因着自己不肯多走几步,停在半路,就把人带到“半路凉亭”。我们不肯回到灵里祷告,就不能把人带到灵里祷告。我们在聚会中不开口、不用灵,就不能盼望圣徒们到聚会中会开口用灵。我们若是停在“半路凉亭”的人,就不能盼望别人达到高峰。所以同工、长老和家负责,若是里面没有转观念,里面感觉没有那么重,就算再更换办法,也是换汤不换药。这全数是人的问题,是人里面生命的问题。

  过去,长老、同工和家负责的确劳苦拼上一切,但是聚会再聚会,讲道再讲道,活动再活动,经过十多年,台北召会这样一个大的召会,不过七、八百位圣徒略尽功用,灵也不太强,这实在令人心痛。以作生意来说,绝不能这样下去。我们要回到主面前,开始学习无论何事都不是要紧的,只有祷告最重要,灵最重要。如同使徒行传所说,使徒们同着其他人“都同心合意,坚定持续地祷告”(一14)。后来,彼得同使徒们站起来讲道,结果约三千人受浸。然后,他们都遵守使徒的教训和交通,持续擘饼和祷告(徒二42)。使徒们的工作是从祷告出来的,结果也是把人带到祷告里。

  反观我们的工作,有几千人得救,却只有几百个人会祷告。因为我们不是从祷告作出去,所以没有把人带到祷告里。现今可怜的光景,就是许多圣徒遵守所传的道,彼此交通,也有擘饼,但缺乏祷告,缺乏灵。我们在分家的祷告,是死沉的祷告,还是兴旺的祷告?是衰弱的祷告,还是强壮的祷告?是灵强,还是灵弱?是活的,还是半死的?我们都需要有清楚的认识和领悟,不能再有那么多的活动,不能只是聚会、讲道、听道,却缺乏祷告,缺少操练灵。我们应该醒悟,不能继续这样作,乃要从祷告作起,把人作到祷告里。我们应该坚定持续地祷告,并尽话语的职事(徒六4)。

  一九六一年六月十九日讲于台北家排负责人聚会
 
 I hope that all the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts will receive this burden from the Spirit. We must weep and pray concerning our lack, crying out to the Lord. We meet, but we exercise our spirit very little; we preach the gospel, but we exercise our spirit very little; we listen to messages, but we exercise our spirit very little; and we labor in activities, but we exercise our spirit very little. We have everything, but we do not pray. If all the saints would have this sense, the Spirit would surely overturn the condition of the church.

 Concerning the prayer time in the small groups after the message meeting, we need to improve our skills in leading the saints. Nevertheless, I have an even heavier feeling that the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts are short in exercising their spirit and inadequate in their prayer. This is not a matter of just changing our methods. We need to change our concept; we need to have a change in ourselves. We have fellowshipped concerning releasing the spirit, blending in spirit, learning to be priests, and ministering in spirit; however, the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones still have not touched the burden behind these points. They are satisfied with our meetings, messages, and activities, but they are not dissatisfied with our shortage of prayer in the spirit. If they truly felt this lack, they would immediately change their focus from activities and messages to turning to the spirit.

 This is a serious matter—we need to turn to our spirit. We need to pray to be a Christian anew. Our prayer is inadequate; our spirit is not strong, and we do not release our spirit. If we do not take heed to the matter of bringing the saints into the spirit, we will lead them astray. If we are not willing to turn to the spirit to pray, we cannot bring others to their spirit to pray. If we do not open our mouth and exercise our spirit in the meeting, we cannot expect the saints to open their mouth and exercise their spirit when they come to the meeting. If the co-workers, elders, and responsible ones in the districts do not change their concept, we will only address the symptoms of our root problem, even if we change our methods.

 In the past the elders, co-workers, and responsible ones have labored much. However, there are thousands of saints in the church in Taipei who function only a little and whose spirits are not strong, in spite of the fact that they come to meeting after meeting, hear message after message, and labor in activity after activity. This situation grieves me very much. We cannot allow this situation to continue. We must turn to the Lord and begin to learn that the only thing that matters is prayer in spirit. Acts 1:14 speaks of the apostles and the saints continuing “steadfastly with one accord in prayer.” Later, the three thousand, who were baptized following Peter’s message with the eleven, continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers (2:42). The work of the apostles came from their prayer, and the result of their work was to lead people into prayer.

 If we look at our work, however, thousands have been saved, but only a few hundred pray in the meetings. This is because our work did not come from prayer, and we have not led people into prayer. It is pitiful that many saints, who obey the word, fellowship with one another, and break bread, are lacking in prayer and in the exercise of the spirit. Is the prayer in our districts dead or fervent, feeble or prevailing? Is the spirit strong or weak, living or half dead? We need to have a clear understanding and realization that merely having meetings, giving messages, and doing activities is inadequate if we are short in prayer and in the exercise of our spirit. We must wake up; we need to begin with prayer and work to bring people into prayer. We must continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word (6:4).