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第三篇 神两面的备办-圣经与圣灵

灵的操练与神的建造

📖 研读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照
  读经:约一1四24节,六63节,林后三617西三16~17弗五18~19
 
  圣经启示,神有一个荣耀的目的、荣耀的计划,就是要人得着祂作人的生命、人的成分,使人与祂相调为一。如此,神、人就互为居所,神住在人里面,人也住在神里面。这就是神永远的心愿、永远的计划。为要完成这个心愿、这个计划,神把祂的一切都摆在祂儿子里面,要人接受祂的儿子。人若接受祂的儿子,人就在祂儿子里面,得着祂一切的丰盛。
  圣经从始至终一再的启示,神的儿子,我们荣耀的主耶稣,是何等的丰富、何等的甜美;祂是神来作我们的一切。我们在祂里面享受了神的一切,就让神的一切组织在我们里面,并使我们融化在神里面。结果,神在祂儿子里面,就与我们这些人调和为一,互为居所。
 
  现在我们要来看,到底我们怎样能摸着这一位主,经历这一位主。我们要先稍微点出神智慧的预备,或说神智慧的备办。历代爱主的圣徒,都宝贵两件东西,就是外面的圣经和里面的圣灵。基督徒的财富就是这两圣:圣经和圣灵。神的智慧替我们备办和预备的,也就是这两件。你在圣经和圣灵之外,若还宝贝其他的东西,总有一天,那些东西会成为你手中的刺来扎你。神给我们最甜美的福分,就是我们手中的圣经,和我们里头的圣灵。可以说,我们最大的福分,就是外面一本看得见的圣经,和里面一位摸得着的圣灵。这是神智慧的备办,是祂为我们预备的。这两面的福分,是我们今天随时可以享用的。
  神给我们这两面的备办,是既智慧又丰富。试想,我们如何能认识主?如何能摸着祂,亲近祂?没有别的办法,只有凭着外面的圣经和里面的圣灵。神的所是非常丰富,有许多项目。比方,神是生命,是能力,是光,是智慧,是道路等。在神这许多的所是里,神是话,神是灵,这二者乃是总称(约一1四24),可以包括神一切的所是。因此可以说,神的话里有生命,神的话里有能力,神的话里有光。神是生命包括在神的话里,神是能力包括在神的话里,神是光、智慧、道路等,也都包括在神的话里。同样的,可以说,神是生命在圣灵里,神是能力在圣灵里,神是光在圣灵里,神是智慧在圣灵里,神是道路在圣灵里。神的圣灵里面同样包括这些东西。所以,话和灵乃是总纲。
  虽然神所是的项目太多,但有两个是总纲:1,祂是话;2,祂是灵。今天我们要认识主,得着主,经历主,就在于祂是话,也是灵。主能给我们摸着祂是生命,祂能作我们的亮光、能力,作我们的粮食、活水,都在于第一祂是话,第二祂是灵。
  话与灵乃是两件大东西。因此,约一1首先告诉我们:“太初有话,话与神同在,话就是神。”这里说话与神同在,话就是神。反过来说,神就是话。然后,四24节说,“神是灵。”一章说神是话,四章说神是灵;到了六章,又把话与灵联成一个:“我对你们所说的话,就是灵,就是生命。”(63)主的话就是灵;因为是灵,所以又是生命。祂是话,又是灵,这就是神的智慧为我们备办的。
  西三16~17:“当用各样的智慧,让基督的话丰丰富富地住在你们里面,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此教导,互相劝戒,心被恩感歌颂神;凡你们所作的,无论是什么,或说话,或行事,都要在主耶稣的名里,借着祂感谢父神。”这里告诉我们,个人能够用诗章、颂辞、灵歌歌颂神,乃是因为他里头满了主的话。主的话充满在他里面,他就能赞美主。
  弗五18~19:“要在灵里被充满,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此对说,从心中向主歌唱、颂咏。”这里说,个人能这样赞美主,乃是因为他灵里被圣灵充满。歌罗西书和以弗所书是并行的,许多地方都说到同一件事。比方,这两卷书都说到我们用诗章、颂辞、灵歌赞美主。但歌罗西书说,是因为我们里面满了主的话;以弗所书说,是因为我们灵里满了主的灵。这就证明主的话和主的灵,是二而一的,二者很难分开。
 
  要知道,我们这个人虽然微小,却不简单。请想想看,有什么东西能进到我们里头,而不经过我们的思想?若是我们不明了、不明白的东西,没有一件能进到我们里头。尤其到了近代,人都懂得,要得着人,先要进攻人的头脑。所以,报章杂志上都满了广告和宣传,要来打动人的头脑,打通人的思想。我们平日不大注意“话”,然而话的确是一个大东西。谁的话说得通,谁就行得通;谁的话说得响,谁就得胜;谁能讲,谁能传,谁就占上风。
  试想,如果神从来不说话,如果这个宇宙从来没有神的话,我们会是怎样?我们必定对整个宇宙的事,都是糊涂的。然而感谢神,神是话,并且神说话,甚至将祂的话写在圣经上。圣经共有六十六卷,里面全数都是神的话。神说了再说,说了再说,每一章都是神的话。神为什么说这些话?乃是要我们明白,叫我们明了神是一位说话的神,主耶稣自己就是话。因着有神的话,我们才知道主是话,知道神是三而一的,知道主是生命,知道神的灵住在我们里面等等。如果神没有说话,我们就无法知道这一切。我们能懂得神的事,明白神的事,全是因为神说话了。
  来一1~2说,“神既在古时,借着众申言者,多分多方向列祖说话,就在这末后的日子,在子里向我们说话。”从前神借着众申言者对列祖说话,现今神在祂儿子里对我们说话。神是说话的神,祂本身就是话,并且留下一本圣经,祂的话给我们。我们今天把圣经读一读,里面实在明亮。许多事,科学家、哲学家都不懂得,但我们懂得。我们读了圣经,就知道神是怎样一回事,宇宙是从那里来,要往那里去;也知道我们这个人是从那里来,要往那里去,并且今天是在那里。我们越读圣经,里面越明亮,就如水晶一样。所以,神的话实在宝贝。
  请记得,神的话就是基督;神所说的就是基督,神所启示的就是基督。你若是要认识圣经,就必须认识这位基督。基督乃是解开圣经的妙钥。从另一面来说,若没有圣经,没有神的话,我们对主耶稣就不够认识,就不知道祂是神的儿子,不知道祂在字架上担当了我们的罪(彼前二24),不知道祂在字架上把我们的旧人一同钉死了(罗六6),不知道祂在字架上毁坏了撒但(来二14),也不知道祂在字架上把救赎的工作完成了。如果没有圣经这本神的话,我们就不知道主耶稣已经从死人中复活,坐在神的右边(弗一20),也不知道神已经把那超乎万名之上的名赐给了祂(腓二9),把天上地上所有的权柄都给了祂(太二八18)。你越读圣经,就越看见,越认识这一位荣耀的主、伟大的主、尊高的主、丰富无限的主。感谢神,祂给了我们这一本圣经,把祂的儿子,我们荣耀的主耶稣,完全启示出来了。
 
  人的确不简单,不仅里头有心思,就是人魂的部分,还有更深的部分,就是人的灵。如果主只是话,不是灵,这个话就只能到我们的头脑里,叫我们明白祂,而不能进到我们的灵里,叫我们得着祂。然而,祂不只是话,祂还是灵。严格说,话只是祂的说明,并不是祂的本身,祂的本身、本质乃是灵。祂的话是在于向我们说明,把我们的思路说通,叫我们了解祂,明白祂,认识祂。然而,祂不仅是话,让我们可以用心思认识祂;祂还是灵,为叫我们用灵接触祂。
  盼望我们都看见,神不只替我们预备了一本圣经,更把圣灵放在我们里面。这两者实在是相通的,圣灵一到外面,就变作圣经;圣经一进到我们灵里,就变作圣灵。可以说,圣灵出来了就是圣经,圣经进到灵里就是圣灵。
  比方,早晨你读圣经,读到创一1:“起初神创造诸天与地。”这是一句很简单地话。但是你读的时候,里头就有一个感觉,说,“哦,在这里什么都是神起头的。”你不知不觉就涌出赞美的话:“神啊,我真赞美你,-创世记一切都是你起头。”不只如此,你还祷告说,“主啊,但愿我的一切也都是你起头,不要我起头。”你在那里又赞美,又祷告,这句话就不知不觉进到了你里头。这就是外面的圣经,给你接触到里面,变作了圣灵的感动。在外面是圣经,-创世记一接受到你里头,就是圣灵。神是话,也是灵,祂的话就是灵;话一进到你里面,就变作灵。
  凡被圣灵充满的人,没有一个不是被神的话充满的。若是一个人一句圣经的话都不懂,对主耶稣一点也不知道,这样的人没有办法被圣灵充满。我曾看见-创世记一个人头一次祷告,就被圣灵充满。他一跪下认罪说,“主啊,我是个罪人。”接着马上说,“主耶稣,你是神的儿子,是我的救主,你为我死在-创世记十字架上…。”顿时放声大哭,被圣灵充满。在此我们看见,这个人所祷告的,乃是圣经所说的。所以人要得着灵,必须借着话;你所接受的是话,这话一进到你的灵里,就是灵。
 
  神既为我们有这两面的备办,我们就该全部享受,不该只享受一半。今天有的人难处就在这里,他们只读经不祷告,只用头脑接触圣经,不用灵接触圣灵。他们只享受外面的圣经,没有享受里面的圣灵。这样的人,读经是读死的字句,自然得不着生命的供应。有的人只祷告不读经,这样的人虽然灵里火热,但是对神的话不清楚,所以只能糊涂祷告。再者,他们里头的火热,因着得不到启发,就不会持久。这些都是不正常的光景。
  我们现在既然里面有圣灵,外面有圣经,就该两面都享受。我们外面读一读,里面就要祷一祷。比方,你一读创一1:“起初神创造诸天与地,”就要接着祷告说,“神啊,感谢你,你起初造了诸天与地。”你这样一祷告,马上灵感就来了,你就赞美说,“神啊,-创世记一切都是你起头。”这样一来,圣灵立刻在你里头指着你说,你的事情是谁起头的?是神起头,还是你自己起头?你这样蒙光照,就是这句圣经的话进到你里头,变作灵,变作生命。
  曾有一位弟兄对我说,“李弟兄,有人说新约很容易读,但是我一打开新约,就吃了闭门羹。你看马太一章头一句:“耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱,”这是什么啊?再读下去,“亚伯拉罕生以撒,以撒生雅各,”好多的“生”,把我读得一塌糊涂。”我想这位弟兄的难处,也是许多圣徒的难处。正因大家都有这样一个难处,在一九三六年,我们出版了一本小册,名为《基督家谱的拾遗》,专门讲马太一章的家谱,就是要把这个闭门羹除掉。然而,今天你我都不必去看那本小册;因为不需要懂得那个讲解,你一样能得着益处。你读到太一1:“耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱,”就可以祷告说,“主耶稣啊,我感谢你,你是大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕的子孙。大卫我不知道,亚伯拉罕我也不晓得,但他们总归是人。主啊,我赞美你,你是人的子孙。”
  你若肯这样去祷告,你里头就会觉得主耶稣可爱。然后,你再赞美祂:“主耶稣啊,你是创造天地的神,万有的主,竟然作了大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕的子孙,作了人的子孙。”这样,你一天都必充满基督。
  当你里头充满了基督,即使碰到会发脾气的事,你也不发脾气了。你早上亲近主时,点也没有提到脾气、罪恶、世界,你只读一读太一1,用分钟把那些话化作祷告,并敬拜祂,瞻仰祂,赞美祂,你里面就满了祂。这时,不仅脾气没办法胜过你,许多的难处也不能压住你。这就是你接触了主的话,主的灵把祂的话消化在你里头,变作你里头的生命。这样一节好像非常枯燥无味的经节,只要你肯把它化作祷告,都会满了基督的成分,更何况别处圣经的话?
  有的圣徒不爱读四福音书,觉得四福音书没什么意思。比方,马太八章头一段说,“耶稣下了山,…有一个患麻风的人前来拜祂,说,主啊,你若肯,必能叫我洁净了。耶稣伸手摸他,说,我肯,你洁净了吧。”(1~3)有人说,这些话太平常了,点也不经典,不像圣经。然而,即使这样一段圣经,你若肯安静下来,好好默想,用灵祷告,定规还是能得着供应。你可以说,“主耶稣,你原是在高山上,你若不下山,没有一个患麻风的能得洁净。但是主,你下山了,你来到我们这些患麻风之人的地方,不只叫我们洁净,你还体贴入微,伸手摸我们。”你若这样化作祷告,定规会摸着这段圣经是何等的甘甜。这段圣经,点也没有讲罪恶,点也没有讲世界,也没有劝你忍耐、温柔、有爱心。然而,你用灵接触这段话,把这段话化作祷告,这些话就进到你里头,变作灵,变作生命,基督的成分就在你里头加多了。自然的,你就远离罪恶,远离世界,有忍耐,有温柔,并且有爱。
  所以,无论你觉得自己有什么脾气、弱点,有什么难以胜过的嗜好、罪恶,或是有什么艰难、困苦,你都不必背负这些到主面前苦苦祷告。你且不管你的罪恶、弱点,只要这样读一段圣经,并且化作祷告、赞美;你里面就必满了主的甜美、喜乐,满了主的荣耀。这一天,你就会是最刚强的人,没有软弱;你也会是最饱足的人,没有饥饿。你里头满是基督,身上如同烧红的铁一样,无论什么罪恶要引诱你,碰到你身上,都给你烧毁了。
  主是话,也是灵,并且主的话就是灵。主是话要我们读,主是灵要我们祷告。主的话若只到我们的头脑,不进入我们的灵,祂的话就不过是话,还不是灵。所以我们每一次读经,不只要用头脑读,更要用灵祷。当我们用灵摸这些话时,话就通过我们的头脑,进入我们的灵。进到我们的灵里,话就变作灵,而成为我们的生命。
  为这缘故,我们一直注意,人听了道还要配上祷告。所以,你听了道,只点头不够,还要点灵,让灵被点活。你只点头,生命不一定会长进,因为你所听的道仍在头脑里,不是在灵里。所以,不能读经不祷告,也不能听道不祷告,或者聚会不祷告。但愿今后我们不只运用头脑,也运用灵。我们要学习双重运用,用头脑接受圣经,用灵接受圣灵。
  原刊于一九六一年九月“话语职事”第一百二十三期
  读经:约翰福音一章一节,四章二十四节,六章六十三节,哥林多后书三章六节,十七节,歌罗西书三章十六至十七节,以弗所书五章十八至十九节。
--------本段经节汇集--------
约1:1  
太初有话,话与神同在,话就是神。
神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵和真实里敬拜。
赐人生命的乃是灵,肉是无益的;我对你们所说的话,就是灵,就是生命。
祂使我们够资格作新约的执事,这些执事不是属于字句,乃是属于灵,因为那字句杀死人,那灵却叫人活。
而且主就是那灵;主的灵在哪里,哪里就有自由。
当用各样的智慧,让基督的话丰丰富富地住在你们里面,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此教导,互相劝戒,心被恩感歌颂神;
凡你们所作的,无论是什么,或说话,或行事,都要在主耶稣的名里,借着祂感谢父神。
不要醉酒,醉酒使人放荡,乃要在灵里被充满,
用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此对说,从心中向主歌唱、颂咏,
------------------------
 
  圣经启示,神有一个荣耀的目的、荣耀的计划,就是要人得着祂作人的生命、人的成分,使人与祂相调为一。如此,神、人就互为居所,神住在人里面,人也住在神里面。这就是神永远的心愿、永远的计划。为要完成这个心愿、这个计划,神把祂的一切都摆在祂儿子里面,要人接受祂的儿子。人若接受祂的儿子,人就在祂儿子里面,得着祂一切的丰盛。  圣经从始至终一再的启示,神的儿子,我们荣耀的主耶稣,是何等的丰富、何等的甜美;祂是神来作我们的一切。我们在祂里面享受了神的一切,就让神的一切组织在我们里面,并使我们融化在神里面。结果,神在祂儿子里面,就与我们这些人调和为一,互为居所。
 
  现在我们要来看,到底我们怎样能摸着这一位主,经历这一位主。我们要先稍微点出神智慧的预备,或说神智慧的备办。历代爱主的圣徒,都宝贵两件东西,就是外面的圣经和里面的圣灵。基督徒的财富就是这两圣:圣经和圣灵。神的智慧替我们备办和预备的,也就是这两件。你在圣经和圣灵之外,若还宝贝其他的东西,总有一天,那些东西会成为你手中的刺来扎你。神给我们最甜美的福分,就是我们手中的圣经,和我们里头的圣灵。可以说,我们最大的福分,就是外面一本看得见的圣经,和里面一位摸得着的圣灵。这是神智慧的备办,是祂为我们预备的。这两面的福分,是我们今天随时可以享用的。  神给我们这两面的备办,是既智慧又丰富。试想,我们如何能认识主?如何能摸着祂,亲近祂?没有别的办法,只有凭着外面的圣经和里面的圣灵。神的所是非常丰富,有许多项目。比方,神是生命,是能力,是光,是智慧,是道路等。在神这许多的所是里,神是话,神是灵,这二者乃是总称(约一1,四24),可以包括神一切的所是。因此可以说,神的话里有生命,神的话里有能力,神的话里有光。神是生命包括在神的话里,神是能力包括在神的话里,神是光、智慧、道路等,也都包括在神的话里。同样的,可以说,神是生命在圣灵里,神是能力在圣灵里,神是光在圣灵里,神是智慧在圣灵里,神是道路在圣灵里。神的圣灵里面同样包括这些东西。所以,话和灵乃是总纲。
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约1:1  
太初有话,话与神同在,话就是神。
神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵和真实里敬拜。
------------------------
  虽然神所是的项目太多,但有两个是总纲:一,祂是话;二,祂是灵。今天我们要认识主,得着主,经历主,就在于祂是话,也是灵。主能给我们摸着祂是生命,祂能作我们的亮光、能力,作我们的粮食、活水,都在于第一祂是话,第二祂是灵。  话与灵乃是两件大东西。因此,约翰一章一节首先告诉我们:“太初有话,话与神同在,话就是神。”这里说话与神同在,话就是神。反过来说,神就是话。然后,四章二十四节说,“神是灵。”一章说神是话,四章说神是灵;到了六章,又把话与灵联成一个:“我对你们所说的话,就是灵,就是生命。”(63)主的话就是灵;因为是灵,所以又是生命。祂是话,又是灵,这就是神的智慧为我们备办的。
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约1:1  
太初有话,话与神同在,话就是神。
神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵和真实里敬拜。
约翰福音一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
约翰福音四章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
约翰福音六章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
赐人生命的乃是灵,肉是无益的;我对你们所说的话,就是灵,就是生命。
------------------------
  歌罗西三章十六至十七节:“当用各样的智慧,让基督的话丰丰富富地住在你们里面,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此教导,互相劝戒,心被恩感歌颂神;凡你们所作的,无论是什么,或说话,或行事,都要在主耶稣的名里,借着祂感谢父神。”这里告诉我们,一个人能够用诗章、颂辞、灵歌歌颂神,乃是因为他里头满了主的话。主的话充满在他里面,他就能赞美主。
--------本段经节汇集--------
当用各样的智慧,让基督的话丰丰富富地住在你们里面,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此教导,互相劝戒,心被恩感歌颂神;
凡你们所作的,无论是什么,或说话,或行事,都要在主耶稣的名里,借着祂感谢父神。
歌罗西书一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
------------------------
  以弗所五章十八至十九节:“要在灵里被充满,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此对说,从心中向主歌唱、颂咏。”这里说,一个人能这样赞美主,乃是因为他灵里被圣灵充满。歌罗西书和以弗所书是并行的,许多地方都说到同一件事。比方,这两卷书都说到我们用诗章、颂辞、灵歌赞美主。但歌罗西书说,是因为我们里面满了主的话;以弗所书说,是因为我们灵里满了主的灵。这就证明主的话和主的灵,是二而一的,二者很难分开。
--------本段经节汇集--------
不要醉酒,醉酒使人放荡,乃要在灵里被充满,
用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此对说,从心中向主歌唱、颂咏,
以弗所书一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
------------------------
 
  要知道,我们这个人虽然微小,却不简单。请想想看,有什么东西能进到我们里头,而不经过我们的思想?若是我们不明了、不明白的东西,没有一件能进到我们里头。尤其到了近代,人都懂得,要得着人,先要进攻人的头脑。所以,报章杂志上都满了广告和宣传,要来打动人的头脑,打通人的思想。我们平日不大注意“话”,然而话的确是一个大东西。谁的话说得通,谁就行得通;谁的话说得响,谁就得胜;谁能讲,谁能传,谁就占上风。  试想,如果神从来不说话,如果这个宇宙从来没有神的话,我们会是怎样?我们必定对整个宇宙的事,都是糊涂的。然而感谢神,神是话,并且神说话,甚至将祂的话写在圣经上。圣经共有六十六卷,里面全数都是神的话。神说了再说,说了再说,每一章都是神的话。神为什么说这些话?乃是要我们明白,叫我们明了神是一位说话的神,主耶稣自己就是话。因着有神的话,我们才知道主是话,知道神是三而一的,知道主是生命,知道神的灵住在我们里面等等。如果神没有说话,我们就无法知道这一切。我们能懂得神的事,明白神的事,全是因为神说话了。  希伯来一章一至二节说,“神既在古时,借着众申言者,多分多方向列祖说话,就在这末后的日子,在子里向我们说话。”从前神借着众申言者对列祖说话,现今神在祂儿子里对我们说话。神是说话的神,祂本身就是话,并且留下一本圣经,祂的话给我们。我们今天把圣经读一读,里面实在明亮。许多事,科学家、哲学家都不懂得,但我们懂得。我们读了圣经,就知道神是怎样一回事,宇宙是从那里来,要往那里去;也知道我们这个人是从那里来,要往那里去,并且今天是在那里。我们越读圣经,里面越明亮,就如水晶一样。所以,神的话实在宝贝。
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来1:1  
神既在古时,借着众申言者,多分多方向列祖说话,
来1:2  
就在这末后的日子,在子里向我们说话;神已立祂作承受万有者,也曾借着祂造了宇宙;
------------------------
  请记得,神的话就是基督;神所说的就是基督,神所启示的就是基督。你若是要认识圣经,就必须认识这位基督。基督乃是解开圣经的妙钥。从另一面来说,若没有圣经,没有神的话,我们对主耶稣就不够认识,就不知道祂是神的儿子,不知道祂在十字架上担当了我们的罪(彼前二24),不知道祂在十字架上把我们的旧人一同钉死了(罗六6),不知道祂在十字架上毁坏了撒但(来二14),也不知道祂在十字架上把救赎的工作完成了。如果没有圣经这本神的话,我们就不知道主耶稣已经从死人中复活,坐在神的右边(弗一20),也不知道神已经把那超乎万名之上的名赐给了祂(腓二9),把天上地上所有的权柄都给了祂(太二八18)。你越读圣经,就越看见,越认识这一位荣耀的主、伟大的主、尊高的主、丰富无限的主。感谢神,祂给了我们这一本圣经,把祂的儿子,我们荣耀的主耶稣,完全启示出来了。
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祂在木头上,在祂的身体里,亲自担当了我们的罪,使我们既然向罪死了,就得以向义活着;因祂受的鞭伤,你们便得了医治。
彼得前书没有十章,请检查。
罗6:6  
知道我们的旧人已经与祂同钉十字架,使罪的身体失效,叫我们不再作罪的奴仆,
罗马书十章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
儿女既同有血肉之体,祂也照样亲自有分于血肉之体,为要借着死,废除那掌死权的,就是魔鬼,
希伯来书十章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
就是祂在基督身上所运行的,使祂从死人中复活,叫祂在诸天界里,坐在自己的右边,
腓2:9  
所以神将祂升为至高,又赐给祂那超乎万名之上的名,
耶稣进前来,对他们说,天上地上所有的权柄,都赐给我了。
------------------------
 
  人的确不简单,不仅里头有心思,就是人魂的部分,还有更深的部分,就是人的灵。如果主只是话,不是灵,这个话就只能到我们的头脑里,叫我们明白祂,而不能进到我们的灵里,叫我们得着祂。然而,祂不只是话,祂还是灵。严格说,话只是祂的说明,并不是祂的本身,祂的本身、本质乃是灵。祂的话是在于向我们说明,把我们的思路说通,叫我们了解祂,明白祂,认识祂。然而,祂不仅是话,让我们可以用心思认识祂;祂还是灵,为叫我们用灵接触祂。  盼望我们都看见,神不只替我们预备了一本圣经,更把圣灵放在我们里面。这两者实在是相通的,圣灵一到外面,就变作圣经;圣经一进到我们灵里,就变作圣灵。可以说,圣灵出来了就是圣经,圣经进到灵里就是圣灵。  比方,早晨你读圣经,读到创世记一章一节:“起初神创造诸天与地。”这是一句很简单地话。但是你读的时候,里头就有一个感觉,说,“哦,在这里什么都是神起头的。”你不知不觉就涌出赞美的话:“神啊,我真赞美你,一切都是你起头。”不只如此,你还祷告说,“主啊,但愿我的一切也都是你起头,不要我起头。”你在那里又赞美,又祷告,这句话就不知不觉进到了你里头。这就是外面的圣经,给你接触到里面,变作了圣灵的感动。在外面是圣经,一接受到你里头,就是圣灵。神是话,也是灵,祂的话就是灵;话一进到你里面,就变作灵。
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创1:1  
起初神创造诸天与地,
------------------------
  凡被圣灵充满的人,没有一个不是被神的话充满的。若是一个人一句圣经的话都不懂,对主耶稣一点也不知道,这样的人没有办法被圣灵充满。我曾看见一个人头一次祷告,就被圣灵充满。他一跪下认罪说,“主啊,我是个罪人。”接着马上说,“主耶稣,你是神的儿子,是我的救主,你为我死在十字架上…。”顿时放声大哭,被圣灵充满。在此我们看见,这个人所祷告的,乃是圣经所说的。所以人要得着灵,必须借着话;你所接受的是话,这话一进到你的灵里,就是灵。
 
  神既为我们有这两面的备办,我们就该全部享受,不该只享受一半。今天有的人难处就在这里,他们只读经不祷告,只用头脑接触圣经,不用灵接触圣灵。他们只享受外面的圣经,没有享受里面的圣灵。这样的人,读经是读死的字句,自然得不着生命的供应。有的人只祷告不读经,这样的人虽然灵里火热,但是对神的话不清楚,所以只能糊涂祷告。再者,他们里头的火热,因着得不到启发,就不会持久。这些都是不正常的光景。  我们现在既然里面有圣灵,外面有圣经,就该两面都享受。我们外面读一读,里面就要祷一祷。比方,你一读创世记一章一节:“起初神创造诸天与地,”就要接着祷告说,“神啊,感谢你,你起初造了诸天与地。”你这样一祷告,马上灵感就来了,你就赞美说,“神啊,一切都是你起头。”这样一来,圣灵立刻在你里头指着你说,你的事情是谁起头的?是神起头,还是你自己起头?你这样蒙光照,就是这句圣经的话进到你里头,变作灵,变作生命。
--------本段经节汇集--------
创1:1  
起初神创造诸天与地,
------------------------
  曾有一位弟兄对我说,“李弟兄,有人说新约很容易读,但是我一打开新约,就吃了闭门羹。你看马太一章头一句:“耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱,”这是什么啊?再读下去,“亚伯拉罕生以撒,以撒生雅各,”好多的“生”,把我读得一塌糊涂。”我想这位弟兄的难处,也是许多圣徒的难处。正因大家都有这样一个难处,在一九三六年,我们出版了一本小册,名为《基督家谱的拾遗》,专门讲马太一章的家谱,就是要把这个闭门羹除掉。然而,今天你我都不必去看那本小册;因为不需要懂得那个讲解,你一样能得着益处。你读到马太一章一节:“耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱,”就可以祷告说,“主耶稣啊,我感谢你,你是大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕的子孙。大卫我不知道,亚伯拉罕我也不晓得,但他们总归是人。主啊,我赞美你,你是人的子孙。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
马太福音一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
马太福音一九三六章数中文数字表述不正确(一九三六)导致计算不出来,请检查。
马太福音一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
太1:1  
耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱:
------------------------
  你若肯这样去祷告,你里头就会觉得主耶稣可爱。然后,你再赞美祂:“主耶稣啊,你是创造天地的神,万有的主,竟然作了大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕的子孙,作了人的子孙。”这样,你一天都必充满基督。  当你里头充满了基督,即使碰到会发脾气的事,你也不发脾气了。你早上亲近主时,一点也没有提到脾气、罪恶、世界,你只读一读马太一章一节,用十分钟把那些话化作祷告,并敬拜祂,瞻仰祂,赞美祂,你里面就满了祂。这时,不仅脾气没办法胜过你,许多的难处也不能压住你。这就是你接触了主的话,主的灵把祂的话消化在你里头,变作你里头的生命。这样一节好像非常枯燥无味的经节,只要你肯把它化作祷告,都会满了基督的成分,更何况别处圣经的话?
--------本段经节汇集--------
太1:1  
耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱:
马太福音十章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
------------------------
  有的圣徒不爱读四福音书,觉得四福音书没什么意思。比方,马太八章头一段说,“耶稣下了山,…有一个患麻风的人前来拜祂,说,主啊,你若肯,必能叫我洁净了。耶稣伸手摸他,说,我肯,你洁净了吧。”(1~3)有人说,这些话太平常了,一点也不经典,不像圣经。然而,即使这样一段圣经,你若肯安静下来,好好默想,用灵祷告,定规还是能得着供应。你可以说,“主耶稣,你原是在高山上,你若不下山,没有一个患麻风的能得洁净。但是主,你下山了,你来到我们这些患麻风之人的地方,不只叫我们洁净,你还体贴入微,伸手摸我们。”你若这样化作祷告,定规会摸着这段圣经是何等的甘甜。这段圣经,一点也没有讲罪恶,一点也没有讲世界,也没有劝你忍耐、温柔、有爱心。然而,你用灵接触这段话,把这段话化作祷告,这些话就进到你里头,变作灵,变作生命,基督的成分就在你里头加多了。自然的,你就远离罪恶,远离世界,有忍耐,有温柔,并且有爱。
--------本段经节汇集--------
马太福音八章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
太8:1  
耶稣下了山,有好多群众跟着祂。
太8:2  
看哪,有一个患麻风的人前来拜祂,说,主啊,你若肯,必能叫我洁净了。
太8:3  
耶稣伸手摸他,说,我肯,你洁净了吧。他的麻风立刻洁净了。
马太福音一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
马太福音一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
马太福音一章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
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  所以,无论你觉得自己有什么脾气、弱点,有什么难以胜过的嗜好、罪恶,或是有什么艰难、困苦,你都不必背负这些到主面前苦苦祷告。你且不管你的罪恶、弱点,只要这样读一段圣经,并且化作祷告、赞美;你里面就必满了主的甜美、喜乐,满了主的荣耀。这一天,你就会是最刚强的人,没有软弱;你也会是最饱足的人,没有饥饿。你里头满是基督,身上如同烧红的铁一样,无论什么罪恶要引诱你,一碰到你身上,都给你烧毁了。  主是话,也是灵,并且主的话就是灵。主是话要我们读,主是灵要我们祷告。主的话若只到我们的头脑,不进入我们的灵,祂的话就不过是话,还不是灵。所以我们每一次读经,不只要用头脑读,更要用灵祷。当我们用灵摸这些话时,话就通过我们的头脑,进入我们的灵。一进到我们的灵里,话就变作灵,而成为我们的生命。  为这缘故,我们一直注意,人听了道还要配上祷告。所以,你听了道,只点头不够,还要点灵,让灵被点活。你只点头,生命不一定会长进,因为你所听的道仍在头脑里,不是在灵里。所以,不能读经不祷告,也不能听道不祷告,或者聚会不祷告。但愿今后我们不只运用头脑,也运用灵。我们要学习双重运用,用头脑接受圣经,用灵接受圣灵。  原刊于一九六一年九月“话语职事”第一百二十三期
 
GOD’S GLORIOUS PLAN
 The Scriptures reveal that God has a glorious plan, which is for man to receive Him as his life and element so that man may be mingled with God as one. Then God and man will become a mutual dwelling place, in which God dwells in man and man dwells in God. This is the eternal desire of God’s heart and His eternal plan. In order to accomplish this plan, God has put all that He is in His Son. He now wants man to receive His Son so that man will receive all the fullness of God.
 The entire Bible, from the beginning to the end, repeatedly reveals the riches and sweetness of the Son of God, our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. He is God coming to be everything to us. By enjoying all that God is in the Son, we will be constituted with all that God is and blended with God. Consequently, God is mingled with us to become a mutual dwelling place.
 
TWO PROVISIONS FROM GOD— THE HOLY WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
 In order to touch and experience the Lord, we should know His provisions. Throughout the ages the saints who love the Lord have treasured two things: the holy Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit. The wealth of a Christian consists of the holy Word and the Holy Spirit. God in His wisdom has provided us with these two items. Anything we treasure apart from the holy Word and the Holy Spirit will one day become a thorn to us. The sweetest blessings that God has given to us are the Bible in our hand and the Spirit within us. These two blessings are available for our enjoyment at any time and in any place.
 There is no way for us to know the Lord, touch Him, or draw near to Him apart from the Word and the indwelling Spirit. God is bountifully rich; He is so many items, such as life, power, light, wisdom, and the way. Among the numerous items of what God is, His being the Word and the Spirit (John 1:1; 4:24) are general in that they include all the other items. In the Word, God is life, light, wisdom, power, and the way. Likewise, God is life, light, wisdom, power, and the way in the Spirit. All that God is, is included in the Spirit. Therefore, the Word and the Spirit are the totality of all that God is.
 All that God is can be summed up in His being the Word and the Spirit. Our knowing, obtaining, and experiencing the Lord depend on His being the holy Word and the Holy Spirit. Our experience of Him as our life, light, power, bread of life, and living water depends, first, on His being the Word and, second, on His being the Spirit.
 The holy Word and the Holy Spirit are two great provisions. The Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). In this verse the Word is with God, and the Word is God. Hence, God is the Word. John also says, “God is Spirit” (4:24). Chapter 1 says that God is the Word, and chapter 4 says that God is Spirit. In chapter 6 the Word and the Spirit are joined as one: “The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (v. 63). The Lord’s words are life because they are spirit. In His wisdom, God has provided Himself to us as the Word and the Spirit.
 Colossians 3:16-17 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” According to these verses, a person sings to God with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs when he is filled with the word of the Lord. When a believer is filled with the Lord’s word, he will praise the Lord.
 Ephesians 5:18-19 says, “Be filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord.” These verses say that a person praises the Lord when his spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit. Colossians and Ephesians are sister books and have many similar portions. Both Epistles refer to praising the Lord with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. However, Colossians says that a believer praises when he is filled with the Lord’s word, and Ephesians says that a believer praises when his spirit is filled with the Lord’s Spirit. This indicates that the Lord’s word and His Spirit are inseparable.
 
THE HOLY WORD ENABLING US TO KNOW CHRIST
 In order for something to occupy us, it must pass through our mind. If we want to gain a person, we must first gain his mind. Hence, newspapers and magazines are filled with words of advertisement to engage a person’s mind. We may not pay much attention to words, but they are important. A person who speaks effectively will prosper, and a person who speaks convincingly will prevail.
 If God had never spoken, we would be confused concerning everything in the universe. However, our God speaks, and He is the Word. He has even put His words into writing in the Bible. There are sixty-six books in the Bible, and every chapter of every book is God’s word. God speaks so that we would know and understand that He is a speaking God and that the Lord Jesus is the Word. Since we have God’s Word, we know that He is the Word, that He is triune, that He is life, and that the Spirit dwells in us. We would not have a way to know all these matters without God’s speaking. We can know and understand the things of God because He has spoken.
 Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, having spoken of old in many portions and in many ways to the fathers in the prophets, has at the last of these days spoken to us in the Son.” God spoke to the fathers through the prophets, but now He speaks to us in His Son. God is a speaking God, He is the Word, and He gave us the Bible, His Word. When we read the Bible, we are enlightened to understand many things that scientists and philosophers are not able to understand. The Bible tells us who God is, and it tells us the source and destination of the universe. It also tells us where we came from, where we are, and where we are going. The more we read the Bible, the more enlightened we will be. God’s word is precious.
 We must remember that Christ is the Word of God; He is what God speaks, and He is what God reveals. If we want to know the Bible, we must know Christ. Christ is the key that opens up the Bible. Furthermore, if we did not have the Bible, we would not know the Lord Jesus: we would not know that He is the Son of God, that He bore our sins on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), that our old man was crucified with Him (Rom. 6:6), that He destroyed Satan on the cross (Heb. 2:14), that He accomplished the work of redemption on the cross, that He resurrected from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of God (Eph. 1:20), or that God has given Him the name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9) and has given all authority in heaven and on earth to Him (Matt. 28:18). The more we read the Bible, the more we will see and know our glorious, great, and immeasurably rich Lord. We are thankful that God has given us the Bible, which fully reveals His Son, our glorious Lord Jesus.
 
THE SPIRIT ENABLING US TO GAIN CHRIST
 Not only do we have a mind, which is a part of our soul; we also have a spirit, which is deeper than our soul. If the Lord were only the Word and not the Spirit, He would be able to reach only our mind for us to understand Him, but He would be unable to enter our spirit for us to gain Him. The Lord, however, is not only the Word but also the Spirit. The Word is the explanation of the Lord, but the Spirit is His essence. The Word explains the Lord to us so that we may apprehend, understand, and know Him. However, He is not only the Word; He is also the Spirit so that we can contact Him with our spirit.
 We must see that God has not only prepared the Word for us but also given the Spirit to us. These two items are related. When the Word enters into us, it is realized as the Spirit, and the Spirit is released from within us through the Word.
 A brother might read Genesis 1:1 in the morning. This verse says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is a very simple word. However, while reading it, he might pray, “Lord, You are the beginning of everything.” Then he will be full of praise and spontaneously say, “Lord, I praise You because You are the beginning of all things. I want You to also be the beginning of everything that I do today. I do not want to begin anything.” By praising and praying in such a way, the Word enters into him. Hence, the Word that he contacted and received becomes the moving of the Spirit within him. This example shows that the Bible is outside of us, but once we contact and receive it, it becomes the Spirit within us. God is the Word, and He is the Spirit; hence, the Word is the Spirit. As soon as the Word enters into us, it becomes the Spirit.
 Every person who is filled with God’s speaking is also filled with the Spirit. A person who has no understanding of the Bible and no knowledge of the Lord Jesus has no way to be filled with the Spirit. There is a brother who was filled with the Spirit the first time that he prayed. He knelt down and confessed, “Lord, I am a sinner. You are the Son of God, and You are my Savior. You died on the cross for me.” At that time he wept and was filled with the Spirit. His prayer was according to the Bible. We can receive the Spirit only through the Word. The Word that we receive enters into our spirit and becomes the Spirit.
 
ENJOYING THE TWO PROVISIONS BY READING THE WORD AND PRAYING
 Since God has given us the holy Word and the Holy Spirit, we should enjoy them. Some Christians are short of experience because they only read the Bible without praying; they contact the Bible with their mind without contacting the Spirit with their spirit. They appreciate the Bible but not the Spirit. When they read the Bible, they are reading dead letters; hence, they are not able to receive a supply of life. Other Christians pray but do not read the Bible. These Christians may be burning in spirit, but since they are not clear concerning the truth, they pray in ignorance. Furthermore, their fervency cannot last, because it is not based on enlightenment from the Word. Both types of Christians are not normal.
 Since we have the Spirit within us and the Bible in our hand, we should enjoy both. When we read the Bible, we should pray. We should be like the brother who read Genesis 1:1. After reading this verse, we should pray, “Lord, You created the heavens and the earth in the beginning.” When we pray in this way, we will be inspired with praise and say, “Lord, You are the beginning of all things.” Then the Spirit will have the way to ask us whether it is God or we who initiate the things that we do. Being enlightened in such a way is an indication that the words in the Bible have entered into us and have become spirit and life.
 Some believers say that it is easy to read the New Testament, but a brother once told me that it is a closed book to him. He did not understand the first sentence of Matthew 1: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” When he read verse 2, “Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers,” he was confused by all the begettings. This brother’s problem is also the problem of many other saints. In order to deal with this problem, in 1936 we published the pamphlet Gleanings from the Genealogy of Christ. This pamphlet deals specifically with the genealogy in Matthew 1. However, it is possible to receive the supply from this portion of the Word without understanding its interpretation. When we read Matthew 1:1, we should pray, “Lord Jesus, You are the son of David and the son of Abraham. I do not know who David was, nor do I know who Abraham was, but I know that they were men. Lord, I praise You that You are the Son of Man.”
 If we are willing to pray according to what we read in the Bible, we will sense that the Lord Jesus is lovely. Then we might praise Him by saying, “Lord, You created the heavens and the earth. You are the Lord of all, yet You became the son of David and the son of Abraham. You became the Son of Man.” This is the way to be filled with Christ.
 When we are filled with Christ, we will not lose our temper. Suppose a brother spends time with the Lord in the morning, but instead of mentioning his temper, sins, and the world, he reads Matthew 1:1 and spends ten minutes to pray over it by beholding, worshipping, and praising the Lord. He will be filled with the Lord, and his temper will not overcome him, nor will any problem suppress him, because he has touched the Lord’s word, and the Spirit has turned this word into life within him. We can be filled with the element of Christ even by praying over a seemingly dry verse.
 Some saints think that the four Gospels are not very meaningful, and they do not like to read them. Matthew 8:1-3 says, “When He came down from the mountain...a leper, coming near, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You can cleanse me. And stretching out His hand, He touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed!” Some saints say that these words are ordinary and should not be considered as the Scriptures. But if a saint is willing to use his spirit and pray over even this portion of the Bible, he will be supplied. He might say, “Lord, if You had not come down from the mountain, that leper would not have been cleansed. But You came down from the mountain to the place where we, the lepers, are. When You cleansed us, You were so considerate that You stretched out Your hand to touch us.” By praying in such a way, he will touch the sweetness of this portion of the Word. This portion does not speak of sin and the world, nor does it exhort us to be patient, meek, and loving. But if we would use our spirit to pray over this portion of the Word, these words will become spirit and life within us, and the element of Christ will increase in us. As a result, we will stay away from sin and the world, and we will be patient, meek, and loving.
 It does not matter whether we have a bad temper or other weaknesses that we cannot overcome. We do not need to bear these matters in prayer to the Lord. We should put aside our sins and our weaknesses and instead read a portion of the Word and turn it into prayer and praise. Then we will be filled with the Lord’s sweetness, joy, and glory. This is the way to be victorious over sin and filled with Christ.
 The Lord is the Word, and He is the Spirit. Moreover, the Lord’s words are spirit and life. We can read the Bible, and we can be filled with the Spirit through prayer. If the Lord’s words remain in our mind, without touching our spirit, they will be merely words, not spirit and life. Therefore, we should not only use our mind when we read the Bible; we must also exercise our spirit and pray. Then the words will pass through our mind into our spirit. Once the words of God’s holy Word enter our spirit, they will become spirit and life to us.
 We have repeatedly stressed the need to pray after we hear a message. It is not enough to nod our heads in agreement; we must also stir up our spirit and let our spirit be enlivened. If we only nod our heads, we may not grow in life, because the words that we hear will remain in our mind, not in our spirit. We should pray when we read the Word, and we should pray after we listen to a message. May we learn to use not only our mind to receive the Word but also our spirit to receive the Holy Spirit.
 
  读经:约翰福音一章一节,四章二十四节,六章六十三节,哥林多后书三章六节,十七节,歌罗西书三章十六至十七节,以弗所书五章十八至十九节。
 
 Scripture Reading: John 1:1; 4:24; 6:63; 2 Cor. 3:6, 17; Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:18-19
  圣经启示,神有一个荣耀的目的、荣耀的计划,就是要人得着祂作人的生命、人的成分,使人与祂相调为一。如此,神、人就互为居所,神住在人里面,人也住在神里面。这就是神永远的心愿、永远的计划。为要完成这个心愿、这个计划,神把祂的一切都摆在祂儿子里面,要人接受祂的儿子。人若接受祂的儿子,人就在祂儿子里面,得着祂一切的丰盛。

  圣经从始至终一再的启示,神的儿子,我们荣耀的主耶稣,是何等的丰富、何等的甜美;祂是神来作我们的一切。我们在祂里面享受了神的一切,就让神的一切组织在我们里面,并使我们融化在神里面。结果,神在祂儿子里面,就与我们这些人调和为一,互为居所。
 
 The Scriptures reveal that God has a glorious plan, which is for man to receive Him as his life and element so that man may be mingled with God as one. Then God and man will become a mutual dwelling place, in which God dwells in man and man dwells in God. This is the eternal desire of God’s heart and His eternal plan. In order to accomplish this plan, God has put all that He is in His Son. He now wants man to receive His Son so that man will receive all the fullness of God.

 The entire Bible, from the beginning to the end, repeatedly reveals the riches and sweetness of the Son of God, our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. He is God coming to be everything to us. By enjoying all that God is in the Son, we will be constituted with all that God is and blended with God. Consequently, God is mingled with us to become a mutual dwelling place.
  现在我们要来看,到底我们怎样能摸着这一位主,经历这一位主。我们要先稍微点出神智慧的预备,或说神智慧的备办。历代爱主的圣徒,都宝贵两件东西,就是外面的圣经和里面的圣灵。基督徒的财富就是这两圣:圣经和圣灵。神的智慧替我们备办和预备的,也就是这两件。你在圣经和圣灵之外,若还宝贝其他的东西,总有一天,那些东西会成为你手中的刺来扎你。神给我们最甜美的福分,就是我们手中的圣经,和我们里头的圣灵。可以说,我们最大的福分,就是外面一本看得见的圣经,和里面一位摸得着的圣灵。这是神智慧的备办,是祂为我们预备的。这两面的福分,是我们今天随时可以享用的。

  神给我们这两面的备办,是既智慧又丰富。试想,我们如何能认识主?如何能摸着祂,亲近祂?没有别的办法,只有凭着外面的圣经和里面的圣灵。神的所是非常丰富,有许多项目。比方,神是生命,是能力,是光,是智慧,是道路等。在神这许多的所是里,神是话,神是灵,这二者乃是总称(约一1,四24),可以包括神一切的所是。因此可以说,神的话里有生命,神的话里有能力,神的话里有光。神是生命包括在神的话里,神是能力包括在神的话里,神是光、智慧、道路等,也都包括在神的话里。同样的,可以说,神是生命在圣灵里,神是能力在圣灵里,神是光在圣灵里,神是智慧在圣灵里,神是道路在圣灵里。神的圣灵里面同样包括这些东西。所以,话和灵乃是总纲。

  虽然神所是的项目太多,但有两个是总纲:一,祂是话;二,祂是灵。今天我们要认识主,得着主,经历主,就在于祂是话,也是灵。主能给我们摸着祂是生命,祂能作我们的亮光、能力,作我们的粮食、活水,都在于第一祂是话,第二祂是灵。

  话与灵乃是两件大东西。因此,约翰一章一节首先告诉我们:“太初有话,话与神同在,话就是神。”这里说话与神同在,话就是神。反过来说,神就是话。然后,四章二十四节说,“神是灵。”一章说神是话,四章说神是灵;到了六章,又把话与灵联成一个:“我对你们所说的话,就是灵,就是生命。”(63)主的话就是灵;因为是灵,所以又是生命。祂是话,又是灵,这就是神的智慧为我们备办的。

  歌罗西三章十六至十七节:“当用各样的智慧,让基督的话丰丰富富地住在你们里面,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此教导,互相劝戒,心被恩感歌颂神;凡你们所作的,无论是什么,或说话,或行事,都要在主耶稣的名里,借着祂感谢父神。”这里告诉我们,一个人能够用诗章、颂辞、灵歌歌颂神,乃是因为他里头满了主的话。主的话充满在他里面,他就能赞美主。

  以弗所五章十八至十九节:“要在灵里被充满,用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此对说,从心中向主歌唱、颂咏。”这里说,一个人能这样赞美主,乃是因为他灵里被圣灵充满。歌罗西书和以弗所书是并行的,许多地方都说到同一件事。比方,这两卷书都说到我们用诗章、颂辞、灵歌赞美主。但歌罗西书说,是因为我们里面满了主的话;以弗所书说,是因为我们灵里满了主的灵。这就证明主的话和主的灵,是二而一的,二者很难分开。
 
 In order to touch and experience the Lord, we should know His provisions. Throughout the ages the saints who love the Lord have treasured two things: the holy Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit. The wealth of a Christian consists of the holy Word and the Holy Spirit. God in His wisdom has provided us with these two items. Anything we treasure apart from the holy Word and the Holy Spirit will one day become a thorn to us. The sweetest blessings that God has given to us are the Bible in our hand and the Spirit within us. These two blessings are available for our enjoyment at any time and in any place.

 There is no way for us to know the Lord, touch Him, or draw near to Him apart from the Word and the indwelling Spirit. God is bountifully rich; He is so many items, such as life, power, light, wisdom, and the way. Among the numerous items of what God is, His being the Word and the Spirit (John 1:1; 4:24) are general in that they include all the other items. In the Word, God is life, light, wisdom, power, and the way. Likewise, God is life, light, wisdom, power, and the way in the Spirit. All that God is, is included in the Spirit. Therefore, the Word and the Spirit are the totality of all that God is.

 All that God is can be summed up in His being the Word and the Spirit. Our knowing, obtaining, and experiencing the Lord depend on His being the holy Word and the Holy Spirit. Our experience of Him as our life, light, power, bread of life, and living water depends, first, on His being the Word and, second, on His being the Spirit.

 The holy Word and the Holy Spirit are two great provisions. The Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). In this verse the Word is with God, and the Word is God. Hence, God is the Word. John also says, “God is Spirit” (4:24). Chapter 1 says that God is the Word, and chapter 4 says that God is Spirit. In chapter 6 the Word and the Spirit are joined as one: “The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (v. 63). The Lord’s words are life because they are spirit. In His wisdom, God has provided Himself to us as the Word and the Spirit.

 Colossians 3:16-17 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” According to these verses, a person sings to God with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs when he is filled with the word of the Lord. When a believer is filled with the Lord’s word, he will praise the Lord.

 Ephesians 5:18-19 says, “Be filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord.” These verses say that a person praises the Lord when his spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit. Colossians and Ephesians are sister books and have many similar portions. Both Epistles refer to praising the Lord with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. However, Colossians says that a believer praises when he is filled with the Lord’s word, and Ephesians says that a believer praises when his spirit is filled with the Lord’s Spirit. This indicates that the Lord’s word and His Spirit are inseparable.
  要知道,我们这个人虽然微小,却不简单。请想想看,有什么东西能进到我们里头,而不经过我们的思想?若是我们不明了、不明白的东西,没有一件能进到我们里头。尤其到了近代,人都懂得,要得着人,先要进攻人的头脑。所以,报章杂志上都满了广告和宣传,要来打动人的头脑,打通人的思想。我们平日不大注意“话”,然而话的确是一个大东西。谁的话说得通,谁就行得通;谁的话说得响,谁就得胜;谁能讲,谁能传,谁就占上风。

  试想,如果神从来不说话,如果这个宇宙从来没有神的话,我们会是怎样?我们必定对整个宇宙的事,都是糊涂的。然而感谢神,神是话,并且神说话,甚至将祂的话写在圣经上。圣经共有六十六卷,里面全数都是神的话。神说了再说,说了再说,每一章都是神的话。神为什么说这些话?乃是要我们明白,叫我们明了神是一位说话的神,主耶稣自己就是话。因着有神的话,我们才知道主是话,知道神是三而一的,知道主是生命,知道神的灵住在我们里面等等。如果神没有说话,我们就无法知道这一切。我们能懂得神的事,明白神的事,全是因为神说话了。

  希伯来一章一至二节说,“神既在古时,借着众申言者,多分多方向列祖说话,就在这末后的日子,在子里向我们说话。”从前神借着众申言者对列祖说话,现今神在祂儿子里对我们说话。神是说话的神,祂本身就是话,并且留下一本圣经,祂的话给我们。我们今天把圣经读一读,里面实在明亮。许多事,科学家、哲学家都不懂得,但我们懂得。我们读了圣经,就知道神是怎样一回事,宇宙是从那里来,要往那里去;也知道我们这个人是从那里来,要往那里去,并且今天是在那里。我们越读圣经,里面越明亮,就如水晶一样。所以,神的话实在宝贝。

  请记得,神的话就是基督;神所说的就是基督,神所启示的就是基督。你若是要认识圣经,就必须认识这位基督。基督乃是解开圣经的妙钥。从另一面来说,若没有圣经,没有神的话,我们对主耶稣就不够认识,就不知道祂是神的儿子,不知道祂在十字架上担当了我们的罪(彼前二24),不知道祂在十字架上把我们的旧人一同钉死了(罗六6),不知道祂在十字架上毁坏了撒但(来二14),也不知道祂在十字架上把救赎的工作完成了。如果没有圣经这本神的话,我们就不知道主耶稣已经从死人中复活,坐在神的右边(弗一20),也不知道神已经把那超乎万名之上的名赐给了祂(腓二9),把天上地上所有的权柄都给了祂(太二八18)。你越读圣经,就越看见,越认识这一位荣耀的主、伟大的主、尊高的主、丰富无限的主。感谢神,祂给了我们这一本圣经,把祂的儿子,我们荣耀的主耶稣,完全启示出来了。
 
 In order for something to occupy us, it must pass through our mind. If we want to gain a person, we must first gain his mind. Hence, newspapers and magazines are filled with words of advertisement to engage a person’s mind. We may not pay much attention to words, but they are important. A person who speaks effectively will prosper, and a person who speaks convincingly will prevail.

 If God had never spoken, we would be confused concerning everything in the universe. However, our God speaks, and He is the Word. He has even put His words into writing in the Bible. There are sixty-six books in the Bible, and every chapter of every book is God’s word. God speaks so that we would know and understand that He is a speaking God and that the Lord Jesus is the Word. Since we have God’s Word, we know that He is the Word, that He is triune, that He is life, and that the Spirit dwells in us. We would not have a way to know all these matters without God’s speaking. We can know and understand the things of God because He has spoken.

 Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, having spoken of old in many portions and in many ways to the fathers in the prophets, has at the last of these days spoken to us in the Son.” God spoke to the fathers through the prophets, but now He speaks to us in His Son. God is a speaking God, He is the Word, and He gave us the Bible, His Word. When we read the Bible, we are enlightened to understand many things that scientists and philosophers are not able to understand. The Bible tells us who God is, and it tells us the source and destination of the universe. It also tells us where we came from, where we are, and where we are going. The more we read the Bible, the more enlightened we will be. God’s word is precious.

 We must remember that Christ is the Word of God; He is what God speaks, and He is what God reveals. If we want to know the Bible, we must know Christ. Christ is the key that opens up the Bible. Furthermore, if we did not have the Bible, we would not know the Lord Jesus: we would not know that He is the Son of God, that He bore our sins on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), that our old man was crucified with Him (Rom. 6:6), that He destroyed Satan on the cross (Heb. 2:14), that He accomplished the work of redemption on the cross, that He resurrected from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of God (Eph. 1:20), or that God has given Him the name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9) and has given all authority in heaven and on earth to Him (Matt. 28:18). The more we read the Bible, the more we will see and know our glorious, great, and immeasurably rich Lord. We are thankful that God has given us the Bible, which fully reveals His Son, our glorious Lord Jesus.
  人的确不简单,不仅里头有心思,就是人魂的部分,还有更深的部分,就是人的灵。如果主只是话,不是灵,这个话就只能到我们的头脑里,叫我们明白祂,而不能进到我们的灵里,叫我们得着祂。然而,祂不只是话,祂还是灵。严格说,话只是祂的说明,并不是祂的本身,祂的本身、本质乃是灵。祂的话是在于向我们说明,把我们的思路说通,叫我们了解祂,明白祂,认识祂。然而,祂不仅是话,让我们可以用心思认识祂;祂还是灵,为叫我们用灵接触祂。

  盼望我们都看见,神不只替我们预备了一本圣经,更把圣灵放在我们里面。这两者实在是相通的,圣灵一到外面,就变作圣经;圣经一进到我们灵里,就变作圣灵。可以说,圣灵出来了就是圣经,圣经进到灵里就是圣灵。

  比方,早晨你读圣经,读到创世记一章一节:“起初神创造诸天与地。”这是一句很简单地话。但是你读的时候,里头就有一个感觉,说,“哦,在这里什么都是神起头的。”你不知不觉就涌出赞美的话:“神啊,我真赞美你,一切都是你起头。”不只如此,你还祷告说,“主啊,但愿我的一切也都是你起头,不要我起头。”你在那里又赞美,又祷告,这句话就不知不觉进到了你里头。这就是外面的圣经,给你接触到里面,变作了圣灵的感动。在外面是圣经,一接受到你里头,就是圣灵。神是话,也是灵,祂的话就是灵;话一进到你里面,就变作灵。

  凡被圣灵充满的人,没有一个不是被神的话充满的。若是一个人一句圣经的话都不懂,对主耶稣一点也不知道,这样的人没有办法被圣灵充满。我曾看见一个人头一次祷告,就被圣灵充满。他一跪下认罪说,“主啊,我是个罪人。”接着马上说,“主耶稣,你是神的儿子,是我的救主,你为我死在十字架上…。”顿时放声大哭,被圣灵充满。在此我们看见,这个人所祷告的,乃是圣经所说的。所以人要得着灵,必须借着话;你所接受的是话,这话一进到你的灵里,就是灵。
 
 Not only do we have a mind, which is a part of our soul; we also have a spirit, which is deeper than our soul. If the Lord were only the Word and not the Spirit, He would be able to reach only our mind for us to understand Him, but He would be unable to enter our spirit for us to gain Him. The Lord, however, is not only the Word but also the Spirit. The Word is the explanation of the Lord, but the Spirit is His essence. The Word explains the Lord to us so that we may apprehend, understand, and know Him. However, He is not only the Word; He is also the Spirit so that we can contact Him with our spirit.

 We must see that God has not only prepared the Word for us but also given the Spirit to us. These two items are related. When the Word enters into us, it is realized as the Spirit, and the Spirit is released from within us through the Word.

 A brother might read Genesis 1:1 in the morning. This verse says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is a very simple word. However, while reading it, he might pray, “Lord, You are the beginning of everything.” Then he will be full of praise and spontaneously say, “Lord, I praise You because You are the beginning of all things. I want You to also be the beginning of everything that I do today. I do not want to begin anything.” By praising and praying in such a way, the Word enters into him. Hence, the Word that he contacted and received becomes the moving of the Spirit within him. This example shows that the Bible is outside of us, but once we contact and receive it, it becomes the Spirit within us. God is the Word, and He is the Spirit; hence, the Word is the Spirit. As soon as the Word enters into us, it becomes the Spirit.

 Every person who is filled with God’s speaking is also filled with the Spirit. A person who has no understanding of the Bible and no knowledge of the Lord Jesus has no way to be filled with the Spirit. There is a brother who was filled with the Spirit the first time that he prayed. He knelt down and confessed, “Lord, I am a sinner. You are the Son of God, and You are my Savior. You died on the cross for me.” At that time he wept and was filled with the Spirit. His prayer was according to the Bible. We can receive the Spirit only through the Word. The Word that we receive enters into our spirit and becomes the Spirit.
  神既为我们有这两面的备办,我们就该全部享受,不该只享受一半。今天有的人难处就在这里,他们只读经不祷告,只用头脑接触圣经,不用灵接触圣灵。他们只享受外面的圣经,没有享受里面的圣灵。这样的人,读经是读死的字句,自然得不着生命的供应。有的人只祷告不读经,这样的人虽然灵里火热,但是对神的话不清楚,所以只能糊涂祷告。再者,他们里头的火热,因着得不到启发,就不会持久。这些都是不正常的光景。

  我们现在既然里面有圣灵,外面有圣经,就该两面都享受。我们外面读一读,里面就要祷一祷。比方,你一读创世记一章一节:“起初神创造诸天与地,”就要接着祷告说,“神啊,感谢你,你起初造了诸天与地。”你这样一祷告,马上灵感就来了,你就赞美说,“神啊,一切都是你起头。”这样一来,圣灵立刻在你里头指着你说,你的事情是谁起头的?是神起头,还是你自己起头?你这样蒙光照,就是这句圣经的话进到你里头,变作灵,变作生命。

  曾有一位弟兄对我说,“李弟兄,有人说新约很容易读,但是我一打开新约,就吃了闭门羹。你看马太一章头一句:“耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱,”这是什么啊?再读下去,“亚伯拉罕生以撒,以撒生雅各,”好多的“生”,把我读得一塌糊涂。”我想这位弟兄的难处,也是许多圣徒的难处。正因大家都有这样一个难处,在一九三六年,我们出版了一本小册,名为《基督家谱的拾遗》,专门讲马太一章的家谱,就是要把这个闭门羹除掉。然而,今天你我都不必去看那本小册;因为不需要懂得那个讲解,你一样能得着益处。你读到马太一章一节:“耶稣基督,大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕子孙的家谱,”就可以祷告说,“主耶稣啊,我感谢你,你是大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕的子孙。大卫我不知道,亚伯拉罕我也不晓得,但他们总归是人。主啊,我赞美你,你是人的子孙。”

  你若肯这样去祷告,你里头就会觉得主耶稣可爱。然后,你再赞美祂:“主耶稣啊,你是创造天地的神,万有的主,竟然作了大卫的子孙,亚伯拉罕的子孙,作了人的子孙。”这样,你一天都必充满基督。

  当你里头充满了基督,即使碰到会发脾气的事,你也不发脾气了。你早上亲近主时,一点也没有提到脾气、罪恶、世界,你只读一读马太一章一节,用十分钟把那些话化作祷告,并敬拜祂,瞻仰祂,赞美祂,你里面就满了祂。这时,不仅脾气没办法胜过你,许多的难处也不能压住你。这就是你接触了主的话,主的灵把祂的话消化在你里头,变作你里头的生命。这样一节好像非常枯燥无味的经节,只要你肯把它化作祷告,都会满了基督的成分,更何况别处圣经的话?

  有的圣徒不爱读四福音书,觉得四福音书没什么意思。比方,马太八章头一段说,“耶稣下了山,…有一个患麻风的人前来拜祂,说,主啊,你若肯,必能叫我洁净了。耶稣伸手摸他,说,我肯,你洁净了吧。”(1~3)有人说,这些话太平常了,一点也不经典,不像圣经。然而,即使这样一段圣经,你若肯安静下来,好好默想,用灵祷告,定规还是能得着供应。你可以说,“主耶稣,你原是在高山上,你若不下山,没有一个患麻风的能得洁净。但是主,你下山了,你来到我们这些患麻风之人的地方,不只叫我们洁净,你还体贴入微,伸手摸我们。”你若这样化作祷告,定规会摸着这段圣经是何等的甘甜。这段圣经,一点也没有讲罪恶,一点也没有讲世界,也没有劝你忍耐、温柔、有爱心。然而,你用灵接触这段话,把这段话化作祷告,这些话就进到你里头,变作灵,变作生命,基督的成分就在你里头加多了。自然的,你就远离罪恶,远离世界,有忍耐,有温柔,并且有爱。

  所以,无论你觉得自己有什么脾气、弱点,有什么难以胜过的嗜好、罪恶,或是有什么艰难、困苦,你都不必背负这些到主面前苦苦祷告。你且不管你的罪恶、弱点,只要这样读一段圣经,并且化作祷告、赞美;你里面就必满了主的甜美、喜乐,满了主的荣耀。这一天,你就会是最刚强的人,没有软弱;你也会是最饱足的人,没有饥饿。你里头满是基督,身上如同烧红的铁一样,无论什么罪恶要引诱你,一碰到你身上,都给你烧毁了。

  主是话,也是灵,并且主的话就是灵。主是话要我们读,主是灵要我们祷告。主的话若只到我们的头脑,不进入我们的灵,祂的话就不过是话,还不是灵。所以我们每一次读经,不只要用头脑读,更要用灵祷。当我们用灵摸这些话时,话就通过我们的头脑,进入我们的灵。一进到我们的灵里,话就变作灵,而成为我们的生命。

  为这缘故,我们一直注意,人听了道还要配上祷告。所以,你听了道,只点头不够,还要点灵,让灵被点活。你只点头,生命不一定会长进,因为你所听的道仍在头脑里,不是在灵里。所以,不能读经不祷告,也不能听道不祷告,或者聚会不祷告。但愿今后我们不只运用头脑,也运用灵。我们要学习双重运用,用头脑接受圣经,用灵接受圣灵。

  原刊于一九六一年九月“话语职事”第一百二十三期
 
 Since God has given us the holy Word and the Holy Spirit, we should enjoy them. Some Christians are short of experience because they only read the Bible without praying; they contact the Bible with their mind without contacting the Spirit with their spirit. They appreciate the Bible but not the Spirit. When they read the Bible, they are reading dead letters; hence, they are not able to receive a supply of life. Other Christians pray but do not read the Bible. These Christians may be burning in spirit, but since they are not clear concerning the truth, they pray in ignorance. Furthermore, their fervency cannot last, because it is not based on enlightenment from the Word. Both types of Christians are not normal.

 Since we have the Spirit within us and the Bible in our hand, we should enjoy both. When we read the Bible, we should pray. We should be like the brother who read Genesis 1:1. After reading this verse, we should pray, “Lord, You created the heavens and the earth in the beginning.” When we pray in this way, we will be inspired with praise and say, “Lord, You are the beginning of all things.” Then the Spirit will have the way to ask us whether it is God or we who initiate the things that we do. Being enlightened in such a way is an indication that the words in the Bible have entered into us and have become spirit and life.

 Some believers say that it is easy to read the New Testament, but a brother once told me that it is a closed book to him. He did not understand the first sentence of Matthew 1: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” When he read verse 2, “Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers,” he was confused by all the begettings. This brother’s problem is also the problem of many other saints. In order to deal with this problem, in 1936 we published the pamphlet Gleanings from the Genealogy of Christ. This pamphlet deals specifically with the genealogy in Matthew 1. However, it is possible to receive the supply from this portion of the Word without understanding its interpretation. When we read Matthew 1:1, we should pray, “Lord Jesus, You are the son of David and the son of Abraham. I do not know who David was, nor do I know who Abraham was, but I know that they were men. Lord, I praise You that You are the Son of Man.”

 If we are willing to pray according to what we read in the Bible, we will sense that the Lord Jesus is lovely. Then we might praise Him by saying, “Lord, You created the heavens and the earth. You are the Lord of all, yet You became the son of David and the son of Abraham. You became the Son of Man.” This is the way to be filled with Christ.

 When we are filled with Christ, we will not lose our temper. Suppose a brother spends time with the Lord in the morning, but instead of mentioning his temper, sins, and the world, he reads Matthew 1:1 and spends ten minutes to pray over it by beholding, worshipping, and praising the Lord. He will be filled with the Lord, and his temper will not overcome him, nor will any problem suppress him, because he has touched the Lord’s word, and the Spirit has turned this word into life within him. We can be filled with the element of Christ even by praying over a seemingly dry verse.

 Some saints think that the four Gospels are not very meaningful, and they do not like to read them. Matthew 8:1-3 says, “When He came down from the mountain...a leper, coming near, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You can cleanse me. And stretching out His hand, He touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed!” Some saints say that these words are ordinary and should not be considered as the Scriptures. But if a saint is willing to use his spirit and pray over even this portion of the Bible, he will be supplied. He might say, “Lord, if You had not come down from the mountain, that leper would not have been cleansed. But You came down from the mountain to the place where we, the lepers, are. When You cleansed us, You were so considerate that You stretched out Your hand to touch us.” By praying in such a way, he will touch the sweetness of this portion of the Word. This portion does not speak of sin and the world, nor does it exhort us to be patient, meek, and loving. But if we would use our spirit to pray over this portion of the Word, these words will become spirit and life within us, and the element of Christ will increase in us. As a result, we will stay away from sin and the world, and we will be patient, meek, and loving.

 It does not matter whether we have a bad temper or other weaknesses that we cannot overcome. We do not need to bear these matters in prayer to the Lord. We should put aside our sins and our weaknesses and instead read a portion of the Word and turn it into prayer and praise. Then we will be filled with the Lord’s sweetness, joy, and glory. This is the way to be victorious over sin and filled with Christ.

 The Lord is the Word, and He is the Spirit. Moreover, the Lord’s words are spirit and life. We can read the Bible, and we can be filled with the Spirit through prayer. If the Lord’s words remain in our mind, without touching our spirit, they will be merely words, not spirit and life. Therefore, we should not only use our mind when we read the Bible; we must also exercise our spirit and pray. Then the words will pass through our mind into our spirit. Once the words of God’s holy Word enter our spirit, they will become spirit and life to us.

 We have repeatedly stressed the need to pray after we hear a message. It is not enough to nod our heads in agreement; we must also stir up our spirit and let our spirit be enlivened. If we only nod our heads, we may not grow in life, because the words that we hear will remain in our mind, not in our spirit. We should pray when we read the Word, and we should pray after we listen to a message. May we learn to use not only our mind to receive the Word but also our spirit to receive the Holy Spirit.