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第七篇　加多祷告，加强灵的一面

灵的操练与神的建造

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　　我里头有一个很重的感觉，觉得我们在主面前已经到了一个新的阶段，需要有一个新的翻转。
　
　　在已过这十一、二年中，因着主的怜悯，使我们在真理上有一些根基，在配搭事奉上也有一些操练。同时，在召会的治理和带领上，也有了一些规模，这些都是不可或缺的。然而有一件事我们必须承认，就是在灵的一面，我们相当欠缺。用比方说，这就像一个人虽然骨架不错，但是里面却患了贫血症。所以在这时候，同工们该有一个很重的感觉，我们需要一个新的翻转。这不是说我们从前有什么错误，现在要改正，也不是从前有什么不该有的，现在必须除去。乃是说，目前我们首先必须转过来，专专注重灵的加强。
　　我们得承认，虽然我们对于真理有相当研究，对于工作也有相当的活动，各地召会也都有了相当的开展，这些光景都是应该的。然而在灵的一面，我们却缺乏得相当厉害。因着我们忽略了灵的一面，缺少灵的操练，使得我们的灵不够强、不够活、不够丰富、也不够新鲜。这导致一种光景，按我们的外面说，似乎没有错；但是以我们里面说，却非常贫乏。我们要看见，若是我们里面的灵刚强丰富，再配上我们对真理的认识，在配搭事奉上的操练，以及在带领和治理上的规模，那不知要带进何等丰富的祝福。相反的，因着我们缺了灵的一面，我们的情形就越过越枯竭，越过越下沉。所以从这时候起，我们必须转过来，积极的注意灵的加强。我们必须花更多时间在主面前祷告，不只个人祷告，还要和别人一同祷告。我们必须操练我们的灵，使我们的灵刚强、活泼而新鲜。
　　要我们的灵新鲜、活泼、刚强，唯一的路就是多祷告。唯有多在灵里祷告，才能操练灵。我们越祷告，就越进入神的光中，越蒙神光照。当我们这样更深的摸着交通，自然会看见，我们需要更深的被纯洁，被挖透，被破碎。虽然我们已经奉献了，但是当我们更深的进入交通时，神在我们深处会给我们感觉，祂对我们还有更深、更厉害的要求。这时就需要我们有更深、更厉害的奉献。如此，我们的灵自然会新鲜、刚强。
　　所以无论从那一面说，到了这个阶段，同工们的工作必须转到灵的一面，在灵的一面有更积极、更深入的追求才可以。这不仅是追求一点圣灵的浇灌。不错，在这样的追求里会有圣灵的浇灌。当你我在主面前多有祷告，多用灵和主交通，圣灵的浇灌是很自然的，圣灵的能力会时常临到你我身上。然而灵里的追求，要比仅仅追求圣灵的浇灌深得多。
　　到目前这个阶段，我们这些作工的人，必须转回来注意灵，否则我们的工作不会有多少属灵的价值，而我们所说的建造也不过是个理论，最多只是一种外面的作法，绝不能叫召会在主的灵里，实际的得到建造。若要叫召会在灵里实际的得到建造，我们这些作工的人非首先回到灵里不可。因此，我们必须在这一点上，有好的操练。盼望从这时候起，我们能在操练灵的祷告上花更多的时间。
　
　　除了在操练灵的事上要翻转，第二，我们作工的方式，也应当有一点转变。从前我们所用的方式大多是借着谈论、讲道，在讲说中给人教导和帮助，很少借着祷告，把人直接带回到灵里。过去那种方式不能算错，只是有一个很大的缺，就是缺少灵的成分，不容易使人的灵丰富而刚强。比方，我们从前的工作只重在叫人的皮肉、骨架长大，却没有叫人里面的血液增多。这并不是说有骨有肉错了，乃是要积极的使血液增多，使生命充实起来。
　　所以从这时候起，我们作工的方式也必须转变，要带人回到灵里祷告，过于外面的讲说。无论是在聚会中也罢，是与弟兄姊妹个别接触也罢，总要尽量带人一同祷告，让人在灵里直接遇见主，得着供应，解决问题。这比我们单在外面凭着话语给人帮助，有效得多了。
　　当然，我们想要带人祷告，自己平素就必须有祷告的操练。我们的灵必须是操练得很强、很活、很释放，我们与人一同祷告时，才能把人的灵点活、挑旺起来。例如，我们传福音，功效小，少有人得救，可能是因为我们只对人传讲，而没有带人祷告，用灵和神接触。我们要带一个人得救，无论对他讲多少，谈多少，末了若不带他祷告，是不灵光的。若是末了能带他祷告，叫他的心和灵向主开启，从深处呼求主，他这样一呼求，灵就出来和神有了接触，他就得救了。
　　这个原则应用在帮助圣徒上也是一样。我们要帮助弟兄姊妹，除了用话语供应之外，末了总得和他一同祷告才行。比方，我们去探望弟兄姊妹，若是能拿出二十分钟的时间，和他一同跪在主面前祷告，果效必定大多了。然而，我们自己的灵若是干瘪的，却逼着别人祷告，那是没有用的。我们自己必须是在灵里的，我们的灵必须是高昂、释放的，只要一开口祷告，灵就动，灵就出来了。我们是这样的情形，我们和人祷告，才能一祷告，灵就出来，触着人的灵，点活人的灵，开启人的灵。常常就在这样的时候，圣灵就借着我们作活的管道，把祂自己流通到人身上，也流通到人里面，叫人真实地得着圣灵的丰盛。
　　有一件事非常可惜，就是我们中间少有前面所说的光景。我们自己很少祷告，也很少带人祷告。所以我们已往的工作，虽然有主的祝福，但所得着的人很少是祷告的人。主借着我们救了不少人，但这些人缺少祷告。主借着我们带领了不少人爱主，但这些爱主的人也缺少祷告。主借着我们带进不少人事奉，但这些事奉的人也缺少祷告。原因就在于我们在工作时缺少祷告；我们自己缺少祷告，我们工作的方式也少用祷告。
　　因此盼望今后同工们先要有一个转，转到灵里，常常学习用灵祷告，把灵操练得刚强、高昂、新鲜、释放。这样，我们去帮助别人的时候，就能用我们的灵供应人，使人的灵出来，和我们一同在灵里祷告。我们这样把人带到祷告的灵里，人的难处自然就过去了，他所缺少的也得到了供应，并且他还摸着一个丰富的源头。我们若是常常这样把人带到灵里与神交通，他们的灵必定会活泼而新鲜，等他们来到聚会中，灵自然很容易出来；因为他们受了这个带领，得着这个帮助。
　　所以，我觉得连我们传信息的聚会，也不要单注重传讲，应该讲到一个段落就停下来，让大家一同祷告，祷告过后再继续讲。千万不要一直叫人听道，而不让人受感的灵得着发表。应当趁着人听道有了相当感动的时候，给他们一个机会，将他们里头的灵感发表出来。这样才能使这篇道深入他们的灵里，叫他们得着真实属灵的帮助。
　
　　第三，我们聚会的方式也必须改。这里所说的方式，并不单指作法，更是指聚会的实质说的。大家要看见，因着我们缺少灵里的祷告，灵不释放，再加上已往工作的方式，偏重讲论，缺少灵的交流，所以聚会就渐渐流于形式。几乎每一种聚会，都有一套无形或定型的形式。传信息聚会是一套，祷告聚会是一套，擘饼聚会又是一套。久而久之，大家都习惯了。这一套一来，聚会就按部就班，依样奉行，很少用灵。不仅在传信息的聚会中，弟兄姊妹只听道少用灵，就连在擘饼聚会、祷告聚会中，弟兄姊妹也很少用灵事奉，都只守着聚会的规矩。这种现象在我们中间，目前已经相当严重。
　　所以盼望同工们，都要起来翻转这个情形，要厌烦这种少用灵，而只有形式的聚会。我们应该自己先在灵里得着释放，一来到聚会中，就把灵释放出来，并且要明明地告诉弟兄姊妹，不要再受传统规矩的约束，要尽量的把灵释放出来。以祷告聚会为例，不要以为必须等到七点半，一位弟兄选一首诗，唱过之后，再有弟兄起来报告祷告事项，然后才开始祷告。要告诉弟兄姊妹，不要这种成规。为着众人的方便，可以定规出聚会的日子，和大约的时间。比方，我们定规周二晚上，七点半到九点，是圣徒一起聚会祷告的时候。到了这一天，有的人不到七点就来了，也有人刚刚好七点半来了，有的人或者再晚一点，这都不要紧；反正谁先来，谁就可以主动的用灵祷告，不必一定要等到七点半才开始。开头的时候，也许是各人祷告各人的，等到一个时候，自然大家就汇成一个祷告了。祷告到一个时候，有事的人可以先离去，还有负担的人就可以继续祷告下去，这种聚会就完全脱去成规，完全让圣灵有活的运行。
　　从前我们在这一点上，实在有亏欠，实在得罪神。我们在各种聚会中，灵很难出来，以致各种恩赐在聚会中都不容易显明。本来聚会该是释放灵的，今天却由于流于形式，相反的成为捆绑灵的。常常聚会前三五位弟兄在一起祷告，灵还相当释放，等到他们祷告完，一来到聚会中，大家的灵就都关起来了，只剩下外面的成规老套。这是何等的亏欠！所以，我们必须翻转这种聚会形式化的光景，使聚会能叫众人的灵都开启。我们从前的聚会，众人的灵都是关闭的，现在我们要一反已往，大家的灵都要开启。不管别人如何，自己总要先开启。我们来到聚会中，不该关起灵来静坐、观望；我们来聚会就是为着操练灵，运用灵，释放灵，否则聚会对我们就不会有多少真实地帮助。我们必须使聚会不受形式的捆绑。
　　再说擘饼聚会，也不一定每一次都是一个样子，必须先有一首诗歌，然后才开始祷告。我们不该有这种形式和规条。也许，聚会中根本没有多少诗歌，一起头就赞美祷告，大家的灵都出来，这就达到高峰，然后传饼递杯。这并不是要故意在外面方式上标新立异，乃是盼望大家看见，目前我们在聚会中的这种光景是多么反常。聚会本该是开灵的，竟然落到一个地步是关灵的，以致参加聚会的人，灵都是关起来的。结果大家一到聚会中，就把灵关起来；不但关自己的灵，同时也关别人的灵。因此，聚会里的活动只落到几个负责弟兄姊妹身上，勉强的在那里应付。这一种光景必须转变。
　　新约圣经明明告诉我们：“不可放弃我们自己的聚集，”（来十25）但没有告诉我们，基督徒聚会的方式和程序应该如何。到底是先唱诗呢，还是先祷告？到底什么时候该读圣经呢，什么时候该作见证？无论在使徒行传或书信里，你都读不出这些定规。新约圣经里根本没有这些。主要我们擘饼记念祂，并且要我们先擘饼，后喝杯，但是主却没有把擘饼的程序告诉我们，到底该有多少祷告，需要唱多少诗歌，都没有说明。即使是传信息的聚会，你也没有办法从圣经里读出来，当初使徒们的作法是如何。这基本的原因就在于新约完全是在于灵，不在于仪文和形式。
　　相信没有人敢说，现在我们主日上午的讲道聚会，是完全合乎圣经的；自然也没有人能说它一定不是。然而我要说，如果一直这样作，演变成一种形式，就不对了，因为这样就杀死灵。要记得，新约之下的任何聚会，必须在于灵，也必须用灵，而不是一种仪式。所以，要带领弟兄姊妹有一种基本的认识，每一次来到聚会中，就是用灵事奉的时候；不管在什么样的聚会中，灵都必须出来有活动。
　　为这缘故，我们自己对于灵必须有厉害的操练，我们必须花更多时间祷告操练灵。已往我们花在研究真理上的时间相当多，花在工作、聚会上的时间也不少，但我们花在祷告上的时间却太不够。我们单独在主面前的祷告不够，和同工们一同在主面前的祷告更不够，所以我们的灵显得非常贫弱、枯萎。在我们的工作中缺少灵，在我们的聚会中缺少灵，因而聚会徒具形式，工作也缺少活力。求主在这一点上给我们有极深的觉悟，使我们有厉害的回转，急起直追，使我们在工作上和各种聚会中，满了灵的释放和供应。
　　原刊于一九六一年九月“话语职事”第一百二十三期
　　我里头有一个很重的感觉，觉得我们在主面前已经到了一个新的阶段，需要有一个新的翻转。
　
　　在已过这十一、二年中，因着主的怜悯，使我们在真理上有一些根基，在配搭事奉上也有一些操练。同时，在召会的治理和带领上，也有了一些规模，这些都是不可或缺的。然而有一件事我们必须承认，就是在灵的一面，我们相当欠缺。用比方说，这就像一个人虽然骨架不错，但是里面却患了贫血症。所以在这时候，同工们该有一个很重的感觉，我们需要一个新的翻转。这不是说我们从前有什么错误，现在要改正，也不是从前有什么不该有的，现在必须除去。乃是说，目前我们首先必须转过来，专专注重灵的加强。　　我们得承认，虽然我们对于真理有相当研究，对于工作也有相当的活动，各地召会也都有了相当的开展，这些光景都是应该的。然而在灵的一面，我们却缺乏得相当厉害。因着我们忽略了灵的一面，缺少灵的操练，使得我们的灵不够强、不够活、不够丰富、也不够新鲜。这导致一种光景，按我们的外面说，似乎没有错；但是以我们里面说，却非常贫乏。我们要看见，若是我们里面的灵刚强丰富，再配上我们对真理的认识，在配搭事奉上的操练，以及在带领和治理上的规模，那不知要带进何等丰富的祝福。相反的，因着我们缺了灵的一面，我们的情形就越过越枯竭，越过越下沉。所以从这时候起，我们必须转过来，积极的注意灵的加强。我们必须花更多时间在主面前祷告，不只个人祷告，还要和别人一同祷告。我们必须操练我们的灵，使我们的灵刚强、活泼而新鲜。　　要我们的灵新鲜、活泼、刚强，唯一的路就是多祷告。唯有多在灵里祷告，才能操练灵。我们越祷告，就越进入神的光中，越蒙神光照。当我们这样更深的摸着交通，自然会看见，我们需要更深的被纯洁，被挖透，被破碎。虽然我们已经奉献了，但是当我们更深的进入交通时，神在我们深处会给我们感觉，祂对我们还有更深、更厉害的要求。这时就需要我们有更深、更厉害的奉献。如此，我们的灵自然会新鲜、刚强。　　所以无论从那一面说，到了这个阶段，同工们的工作必须转到灵的一面，在灵的一面有更积极、更深入的追求才可以。这不仅是追求一点圣灵的浇灌。不错，在这样的追求里会有圣灵的浇灌。当你我在主面前多有祷告，多用灵和主交通，圣灵的浇灌是很自然的，圣灵的能力会时常临到你我身上。然而灵里的追求，要比仅仅追求圣灵的浇灌深得多。　　到目前这个阶段，我们这些作工的人，必须转回来注意灵，否则我们的工作不会有多少属灵的价值，而我们所说的建造也不过是个理论，最多只是一种外面的作法，绝不能叫召会在主的灵里，实际的得到建造。若要叫召会在灵里实际的得到建造，我们这些作工的人非首先回到灵里不可。因此，我们必须在这一点上，有好的操练。盼望从这时候起，我们能在操练灵的祷告上花更多的时间。
　
　　除了在操练灵的事上要翻转，第二，我们作工的方式，也应当有一点转变。从前我们所用的方式大多是借着谈论、讲道，在讲说中给人教导和帮助，很少借着祷告，把人直接带回到灵里。过去那种方式不能算错，只是有一个很大的缺，就是缺少灵的成分，不容易使人的灵丰富而刚强。比方，我们从前的工作只重在叫人的皮肉、骨架长大，却没有叫人里面的血液增多。这并不是说有骨有肉错了，乃是要积极的使血液增多，使生命充实起来。　　所以从这时候起，我们作工的方式也必须转变，要带人回到灵里祷告，过于外面的讲说。无论是在聚会中也罢，是与弟兄姊妹个别接触也罢，总要尽量带人一同祷告，让人在灵里直接遇见主，得着供应，解决问题。这比我们单在外面凭着话语给人帮助，有效得多了。　　当然，我们想要带人祷告，自己平素就必须有祷告的操练。我们的灵必须是操练得很强、很活、很释放，我们与人一同祷告时，才能把人的灵点活、挑旺起来。例如，我们传福音，功效小，少有人得救，可能是因为我们只对人传讲，而没有带人祷告，用灵和神接触。我们要带一个人得救，无论对他讲多少，谈多少，末了若不带他祷告，是不灵光的。若是末了能带他祷告，叫他的心和灵向主开启，从深处呼求主，他这样一呼求，灵就出来和神有了接触，他就得救了。　　这个原则应用在帮助圣徒上也是一样。我们要帮助弟兄姊妹，除了用话语供应之外，末了总得和他一同祷告才行。比方，我们去探望弟兄姊妹，若是能拿出二十分钟的时间，和他一同跪在主面前祷告，果效必定大多了。然而，我们自己的灵若是干瘪的，却逼着别人祷告，那是没有用的。我们自己必须是在灵里的，我们的灵必须是高昂、释放的，只要一开口祷告，灵就动，灵就出来了。我们是这样的情形，我们和人祷告，才能一祷告，灵就出来，触着人的灵，点活人的灵，开启人的灵。常常就在这样的时候，圣灵就借着我们作活的管道，把祂自己流通到人身上，也流通到人里面，叫人真实地得着圣灵的丰盛。　　有一件事非常可惜，就是我们中间少有前面所说的光景。我们自己很少祷告，也很少带人祷告。所以我们已往的工作，虽然有主的祝福，但所得着的人很少是祷告的人。主借着我们救了不少人，但这些人缺少祷告。主借着我们带领了不少人爱主，但这些爱主的人也缺少祷告。主借着我们带进不少人事奉，但这些事奉的人也缺少祷告。原因就在于我们在工作时缺少祷告；我们自己缺少祷告，我们工作的方式也少用祷告。　　因此盼望今后同工们先要有一个转，转到灵里，常常学习用灵祷告，把灵操练得刚强、高昂、新鲜、释放。这样，我们去帮助别人的时候，就能用我们的灵供应人，使人的灵出来，和我们一同在灵里祷告。我们这样把人带到祷告的灵里，人的难处自然就过去了，他所缺少的也得到了供应，并且他还摸着一个丰富的源头。我们若是常常这样把人带到灵里与神交通，他们的灵必定会活泼而新鲜，等他们来到聚会中，灵自然很容易出来；因为他们受了这个带领，得着这个帮助。　　所以，我觉得连我们传信息的聚会，也不要单注重传讲，应该讲到一个段落就停下来，让大家一同祷告，祷告过后再继续讲。千万不要一直叫人听道，而不让人受感的灵得着发表。应当趁着人听道有了相当感动的时候，给他们一个机会，将他们里头的灵感发表出来。这样才能使这篇道深入他们的灵里，叫他们得着真实属灵的帮助。
　
　　第三，我们聚会的方式也必须改。这里所说的方式，并不单指作法，更是指聚会的实质说的。大家要看见，因着我们缺少灵里的祷告，灵不释放，再加上已往工作的方式，偏重讲论，缺少灵的交流，所以聚会就渐渐流于形式。几乎每一种聚会，都有一套无形或定型的形式。传信息聚会是一套，祷告聚会是一套，擘饼聚会又是一套。久而久之，大家都习惯了。这一套一来，聚会就按部就班，依样奉行，很少用灵。不仅在传信息的聚会中，弟兄姊妹只听道少用灵，就连在擘饼聚会、祷告聚会中，弟兄姊妹也很少用灵事奉，都只守着聚会的规矩。这种现象在我们中间，目前已经相当严重。　　所以盼望同工们，都要起来翻转这个情形，要厌烦这种少用灵，而只有形式的聚会。我们应该自己先在灵里得着释放，一来到聚会中，就把灵释放出来，并且要明明地告诉弟兄姊妹，不要再受传统规矩的约束，要尽量的把灵释放出来。以祷告聚会为例，不要以为必须等到七点半，一位弟兄选一首诗，唱过之后，再有弟兄起来报告祷告事项，然后才开始祷告。要告诉弟兄姊妹，不要这种成规。为着众人的方便，可以定规出聚会的日子，和大约的时间。比方，我们定规周二晚上，七点半到九点，是圣徒一起聚会祷告的时候。到了这一天，有的人不到七点就来了，也有人刚刚好七点半来了，有的人或者再晚一点，这都不要紧；反正谁先来，谁就可以主动的用灵祷告，不必一定要等到七点半才开始。开头的时候，也许是各人祷告各人的，等到一个时候，自然大家就汇成一个祷告了。祷告到一个时候，有事的人可以先离去，还有负担的人就可以继续祷告下去，这种聚会就完全脱去成规，完全让圣灵有活的运行。　　从前我们在这一点上，实在有亏欠，实在得罪神。我们在各种聚会中，灵很难出来，以致各种恩赐在聚会中都不容易显明。本来聚会该是释放灵的，今天却由于流于形式，相反的成为捆绑灵的。常常聚会前三五位弟兄在一起祷告，灵还相当释放，等到他们祷告完，一来到聚会中，大家的灵就都关起来了，只剩下外面的成规老套。这是何等的亏欠！所以，我们必须翻转这种聚会形式化的光景，使聚会能叫众人的灵都开启。我们从前的聚会，众人的灵都是关闭的，现在我们要一反已往，大家的灵都要开启。不管别人如何，自己总要先开启。我们来到聚会中，不该关起灵来静坐、观望；我们来聚会就是为着操练灵，运用灵，释放灵，否则聚会对我们就不会有多少真实地帮助。我们必须使聚会不受形式的捆绑。　　再说擘饼聚会，也不一定每一次都是一个样子，必须先有一首诗歌，然后才开始祷告。我们不该有这种形式和规条。也许，聚会中根本没有多少诗歌，一起头就赞美祷告，大家的灵都出来，这就达到高峰，然后传饼递杯。这并不是要故意在外面方式上标新立异，乃是盼望大家看见，目前我们在聚会中的这种光景是多么反常。聚会本该是开灵的，竟然落到一个地步是关灵的，以致参加聚会的人，灵都是关起来的。结果大家一到聚会中，就把灵关起来；不但关自己的灵，同时也关别人的灵。因此，聚会里的活动只落到几个负责弟兄姊妹身上，勉强的在那里应付。这一种光景必须转变。　　新约圣经明明告诉我们：“不可放弃我们自己的聚集，”（来十25）但没有告诉我们，基督徒聚会的方式和程序应该如何。到底是先唱诗呢，还是先祷告？到底什么时候该读圣经呢，什么时候该作见证？无论在使徒行传或书信里，你都读不出这些定规。新约圣经里根本没有这些。主要我们擘饼记念祂，并且要我们先擘饼，后喝杯，但是主却没有把擘饼的程序告诉我们，到底该有多少祷告，需要唱多少诗歌，都没有说明。即使是传信息的聚会，你也没有办法从圣经里读出来，当初使徒们的作法是如何。这基本的原因就在于新约完全是在于灵，不在于仪文和形式。
--------本段经节汇集--------
来10:25  
不可放弃我们自己的聚集，好像有些人习惯了一样，倒要彼此劝勉；既看见那日子临近，就更当如此。
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　　相信没有人敢说，现在我们主日上午的讲道聚会，是完全合乎圣经的；自然也没有人能说它一定不是。然而我要说，如果一直这样作，演变成一种形式，就不对了，因为这样就杀死灵。要记得，新约之下的任何聚会，必须在于灵，也必须用灵，而不是一种仪式。所以，要带领弟兄姊妹有一种基本的认识，每一次来到聚会中，就是用灵事奉的时候；不管在什么样的聚会中，灵都必须出来有活动。　　为这缘故，我们自己对于灵必须有厉害的操练，我们必须花更多时间祷告操练灵。已往我们花在研究真理上的时间相当多，花在工作、聚会上的时间也不少，但我们花在祷告上的时间却太不够。我们单独在主面前的祷告不够，和同工们一同在主面前的祷告更不够，所以我们的灵显得非常贫弱、枯萎。在我们的工作中缺少灵，在我们的聚会中缺少灵，因而聚会徒具形式，工作也缺少活力。求主在这一点上给我们有极深的觉悟，使我们有厉害的回转，急起直追，使我们在工作上和各种聚会中，满了灵的释放和供应。　　原刊于一九六一年九月“话语职事”第一百二十三期
　I have a strong sense within that we have reached a new stage, and we need to have a turn.
　
NEEDING MORE INDIVIDUAL PRAYER
　During the past twelve years, by the Lord’s mercy we have laid a foundation in the truth and received some training concerning coordination in the service. We have also advanced in the matters of the administration of the church and the shepherding of the saints. These are all necessary matters. However, we must admit that we do not exercise our spirit enough. Our situation can be compared to a person who is physically strong yet anemic. This does not mean that we were wrong or improper in the past and therefore need to be adjusted. We are saying that we must focus on strengthening our spirit.
　We have spent a great deal of time to study the truth, we have developed the work, and the churches are spreading. These situations are proper. Nevertheless, we must admit that we lack the exercise of our spirit. As a result, our spirit is not strong, living, rich, or fresh. We seem to be proper and right, but we are very poor. If our spirit were strong and matched our knowledge of the truth, our coordination in service, our administration of the church, and our shepherding of the saints would have been greatly blessed. Hence, we must focus our attention on being strengthened in our spirit. We must spend more time to pray, not only individually but also corporately. We must exercise our spirit so that it will be strong, living, rich, and fresh.
　Our only way is to pray more. This is the way to exercise our spirit. The more we pray, the more we enter into the divine light and are enlightened by the Lord to see our need to be purified and broken in a deeper way. Although we have consecrated ourselves to the Lord, when we enter into deeper fellowship with Him, we will sense that His requirements are deeper and stricter. Then we need a deeper consecration. Thus, our spirit will be strengthened and refreshed.
　In the present stage of the work the co-workers must focus on and aggressively pursue the exercise of the spirit. This is not merely to seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, although there will be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When we pray more in the Lord’s presence and have more fellowship with Him, we will spontaneously experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and be empowered. However, the pursuit we are speaking of is much deeper than seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
　Those who are working for the Lord must focus on the spirit; otherwise, the work will not have much spiritual worth, and the building will be merely a theory. At the most, we will have outward practices that will not cause the church to be built up. If we want the church to be built up practically, the co-workers must take the lead to exercise their spirit. May we spend more time in prayer to exercise our spirit.
　
LEADING THE SAINTS TO PRAY MORE AND SUPPLYING THEM
　Besides focusing on exercising the spirit, we should also change the way that we work. In the past we stressed giving messages. We taught and helped the saints through the messages, but we rarely brought the saints back to their spirit through prayer. We cannot say that our practice was wrong, but it lacked the element of the spirit; hence, it was not easy for the saints to be strengthened. This can be compared to instructing a person to grow but not caring for the circulation of his blood. We need to focus on increasing the circulation of blood.
　There must be a change in the way that we work. We need to lead the saints to their spirit through prayer rather than focusing on giving messages. In the meetings and in our personal contact with the saints, we must lead them to pray with us so that they can touch the Lord in their spirit and thereby receive the supply that will solve their problems. This will be more effective than trying to render help solely through messages.
　If we want to lead the saints to pray, we must exercise to pray regularly. When our spirit is strong, living, and released, we will be able to enliven others’ spirit, fanning it into flame. Suppose our gospel preaching has little effect, and very few people are saved. This probably means that we only preach to people; we do not lead them to pray with their spirit in order to contact God. Regardless of how much we speak, if we do not lead a person to pray, he will not be saved. If we can lead him to pray so that he opens his heart and spirit to the Lord and calls on the name of the Lord from deep within, he will touch God, his spirit will be released, and he will be saved.
　We should apply this principle to shepherding the saints. Besides ministering the word to them, we must pray with them. To spend twenty minutes to pray with a brother is more effective than merely speaking with him. However, if our spirit is dry, it will be useless to compel others to pray with us. Our spirit must be uplifted and released so that it comes forth once we open our mouth to pray. Then we can touch and enliven the saints through praying with them. At the same time, the Holy Spirit will flow through us as living channels into the saints, and they will receive the riches of the Spirit.
　It is regrettable that we do not pray enough and that we rarely lead others to pray. As a result, although our work has been blessed by the Lord, few of the saints who have been gained spend sufficient time in prayer. The Lord has saved many, but few of them spend time in prayer. Many saints love the Lord, but they lack prayer. Many saints have been brought into the service, but they lack prayer. These examples are the result of the co-workers being short of prayer in the work. We do not spend sufficient time to pray, and the way that we work lacks prayer.
　The co-workers must have a turn. They must learn to pray by exercising their spirit until their spirit is strong, uplifted, fresh, and released. Then we will be able to supply the saints so that their spirit can be released, and they can pray with an exercised spirit. When we lead the saints in this way, their problems will spontaneously be solved, they will be supplied, and they will also touch the source of grace. If we will always lead the saints to exercise their spirit in fellowship with God, their spirit will be living and fresh. Furthermore, they will release their spirit in the meetings.
　We should not focus merely on giving messages. During the course of our speaking, we should pause and let the saints pray, and then we can continue the message. We must give the saints the opportunity to express what they have received in their spirit. After the message we should give them an opportunity to express their inner feeling. In this way the message will penetrate their spirit, and they will receive spiritual help.
　
MEETING WITHOUT FORMALITY AND PRAYING MORE TO RELEASE THE SPIRIT
　We also need to change the way that we meet. When we speak of the way we meet, we are referring not only to certain practices but also to the substance of our meetings. Since we do not release our spirit in prayer and we focus more on messages than the flowing of the spirit, our meetings have gradually become a formality. Every meeting has regulations or is conducted in a set way. The message meeting has a set way, the prayer meeting has another way, and the bread-breaking meeting has yet another way. Everyone is familiar with the ways to conduct the meetings. The meetings are orderly and have become a routine; hence, we seldom exercise our spirit. The saints listen to messages and rarely exercise their spirit. Even in the bread-breaking meeting and the prayer meeting they rarely exercise their spirit. They merely keep the regulations for that particular meeting. This is a serious situation.
　The co-workers must rise up to turn this situation. We must detest formality and the lack of the exercise of the spirit. We must be released in our spirit so that we release our spirit in the meetings. Then we can lead the saints to not be bound by traditional rules but to release their spirit. For example, the procedure in the prayer meeting is as follows: At 7:30 P.M. a brother calls a hymn for us to sing. Then another brother announces the items for prayer, after which we begin to pray. We should tell the saints to reject this procedure. For convenience, it is right to decide the day and the time of a meeting. We may decide that the prayer meeting should be on Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 in the evening. However, some saints may arrive before 7:30, others at 7:30, and still others at a later time; this does not matter. Those who arrive first should exercise their spirit and begin to pray. They do not have to wait until 7:30 before beginning to pray. Perhaps everyone will pray individually, but at a certain time they should pray corporately. The saints who need to leave early can do so, while those who are burdened may continue praying. This kind of meeting has been delivered from regulations and allows the Holy Spirit to move in a living way.
　We have fallen short of being living and have offended God in this matter. Since it is difficult for us to release our spirit, the gifted members have not been manifested in the meetings. The meetings are for the release of the spirit, but they have become a formality that causes the spirit to be bound. When three to five brothers pray together before the meeting, they exercise their spirit, but when the meeting begins, their spirit is bound, and they fall into regulations. We must overturn this situation of having formal meetings so that the meetings can cause the saints to be released. Regardless of what the saints do, we must be released. Our spirit must not be bound in the meetings. We should not sit quietly, looking around at the saints. We should come to the meetings in order to exercise and release our spirit. Then the meetings will be a real help to us. We must not allow the meetings to be bound by formality.
　The bread-breaking meeting is another example. First, we sing a hymn, and then we pray. We should not have this formal regulation. It may be that the meeting does not begin with a hymn; rather, the saints simply praise and pray until everyone’s spirit is released. Then when the meeting has reached its climax, the bread and the cup are passed. This does not mean that we should intentionally try to do something different. My desire is that we would see that our situation is abnormal. The meetings, which should lead the saints to release their spirit, have deteriorated to the extent that the saints are bound. All the activities in the meetings have fallen on the shoulders of a few responsible saints who reluctantly try to meet the need. This situation must change.
　Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not abandoning our own assembling together,” but it does not give a procedure for Christian meetings. Should we sing hymns first or pray first? When should we read the Scriptures, and when should we give testimonies? We cannot find any procedures in the Acts or in the Epistles. The New Testament does not give such regulations. The Lord wants us to break bread in remembrance of Him, and He wants us to first break the bread and then drink the cup. But He did not give us a procedure for breaking the bread. He did not say how many prayers we should offer or how many hymns we should sing. He did not give any procedures. We cannot find a portion of the Bible that says how the apostles gave messages. The basic reason for such an omission is that in the New Testament age everything is of the Spirit, not of the letter or of forms.
　We dare not say that the Lord’s Day morning meeting is altogether according to the Bible. Of course, neither can we say that it is not according to the Bible. However, if we continue to follow our present practice, this meeting will develop into a form, which kills the spirit. Every meeting in the New Testament age must be in spirit, not in rituals. Therefore, we must educate the saints so that every time they come to a meeting, they would serve in their spirit. It does not matter what kind of meeting they attend, they must release their spirit.
　In order to lead the saints to exercise their spirit, the co-workers must exercise their spirit. We must spend more time to pray with an exercised spirit. We have spent a great amount of time to study the truth and to develop the work, but we have not spent an adequate amount of time to pray. The amount of time spent in individual prayer has been inadequate, and the amount of time spent praying with other co-workers has also been inadequate. Hence, our spirit is poor, weak, and dry, and we are short of the spirit in the work and in the meetings. As a result, the meetings are formal, and the work lacks vitality. May the Lord wake us up to make this turn so that we would be released and have the supply of the spirit in the work and in the meetings.
 
　　我里头有一个很重的感觉，觉得我们在主面前已经到了一个新的阶段，需要有一个新的翻转。
 
　I have a strong sense within that we have reached a new stage, and we need to have a turn.
　　在已过这十一、二年中，因着主的怜悯，使我们在真理上有一些根基，在配搭事奉上也有一些操练。同时，在召会的治理和带领上，也有了一些规模，这些都是不可或缺的。然而有一件事我们必须承认，就是在灵的一面，我们相当欠缺。用比方说，这就像一个人虽然骨架不错，但是里面却患了贫血症。所以在这时候，同工们该有一个很重的感觉，我们需要一个新的翻转。这不是说我们从前有什么错误，现在要改正，也不是从前有什么不该有的，现在必须除去。乃是说，目前我们首先必须转过来，专专注重灵的加强。

　　我们得承认，虽然我们对于真理有相当研究，对于工作也有相当的活动，各地召会也都有了相当的开展，这些光景都是应该的。然而在灵的一面，我们却缺乏得相当厉害。因着我们忽略了灵的一面，缺少灵的操练，使得我们的灵不够强、不够活、不够丰富、也不够新鲜。这导致一种光景，按我们的外面说，似乎没有错；但是以我们里面说，却非常贫乏。我们要看见，若是我们里面的灵刚强丰富，再配上我们对真理的认识，在配搭事奉上的操练，以及在带领和治理上的规模，那不知要带进何等丰富的祝福。相反的，因着我们缺了灵的一面，我们的情形就越过越枯竭，越过越下沉。所以从这时候起，我们必须转过来，积极的注意灵的加强。我们必须花更多时间在主面前祷告，不只个人祷告，还要和别人一同祷告。我们必须操练我们的灵，使我们的灵刚强、活泼而新鲜。

　　要我们的灵新鲜、活泼、刚强，唯一的路就是多祷告。唯有多在灵里祷告，才能操练灵。我们越祷告，就越进入神的光中，越蒙神光照。当我们这样更深的摸着交通，自然会看见，我们需要更深的被纯洁，被挖透，被破碎。虽然我们已经奉献了，但是当我们更深的进入交通时，神在我们深处会给我们感觉，祂对我们还有更深、更厉害的要求。这时就需要我们有更深、更厉害的奉献。如此，我们的灵自然会新鲜、刚强。

　　所以无论从那一面说，到了这个阶段，同工们的工作必须转到灵的一面，在灵的一面有更积极、更深入的追求才可以。这不仅是追求一点圣灵的浇灌。不错，在这样的追求里会有圣灵的浇灌。当你我在主面前多有祷告，多用灵和主交通，圣灵的浇灌是很自然的，圣灵的能力会时常临到你我身上。然而灵里的追求，要比仅仅追求圣灵的浇灌深得多。

　　到目前这个阶段，我们这些作工的人，必须转回来注意灵，否则我们的工作不会有多少属灵的价值，而我们所说的建造也不过是个理论，最多只是一种外面的作法，绝不能叫召会在主的灵里，实际的得到建造。若要叫召会在灵里实际的得到建造，我们这些作工的人非首先回到灵里不可。因此，我们必须在这一点上，有好的操练。盼望从这时候起，我们能在操练灵的祷告上花更多的时间。
 
　During the past twelve years, by the Lord’s mercy we have laid a foundation in the truth and received some training concerning coordination in the service. We have also advanced in the matters of the administration of the church and the shepherding of the saints. These are all necessary matters. However, we must admit that we do not exercise our spirit enough. Our situation can be compared to a person who is physically strong yet anemic. This does not mean that we were wrong or improper in the past and therefore need to be adjusted. We are saying that we must focus on strengthening our spirit.

　We have spent a great deal of time to study the truth, we have developed the work, and the churches are spreading. These situations are proper. Nevertheless, we must admit that we lack the exercise of our spirit. As a result, our spirit is not strong, living, rich, or fresh. We seem to be proper and right, but we are very poor. If our spirit were strong and matched our knowledge of the truth, our coordination in service, our administration of the church, and our shepherding of the saints would have been greatly blessed. Hence, we must focus our attention on being strengthened in our spirit. We must spend more time to pray, not only individually but also corporately. We must exercise our spirit so that it will be strong, living, rich, and fresh.

　Our only way is to pray more. This is the way to exercise our spirit. The more we pray, the more we enter into the divine light and are enlightened by the Lord to see our need to be purified and broken in a deeper way. Although we have consecrated ourselves to the Lord, when we enter into deeper fellowship with Him, we will sense that His requirements are deeper and stricter. Then we need a deeper consecration. Thus, our spirit will be strengthened and refreshed.

　In the present stage of the work the co-workers must focus on and aggressively pursue the exercise of the spirit. This is not merely to seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, although there will be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When we pray more in the Lord’s presence and have more fellowship with Him, we will spontaneously experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and be empowered. However, the pursuit we are speaking of is much deeper than seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

　Those who are working for the Lord must focus on the spirit; otherwise, the work will not have much spiritual worth, and the building will be merely a theory. At the most, we will have outward practices that will not cause the church to be built up. If we want the church to be built up practically, the co-workers must take the lead to exercise their spirit. May we spend more time in prayer to exercise our spirit.
　　除了在操练灵的事上要翻转，第二，我们作工的方式，也应当有一点转变。从前我们所用的方式大多是借着谈论、讲道，在讲说中给人教导和帮助，很少借着祷告，把人直接带回到灵里。过去那种方式不能算错，只是有一个很大的缺，就是缺少灵的成分，不容易使人的灵丰富而刚强。比方，我们从前的工作只重在叫人的皮肉、骨架长大，却没有叫人里面的血液增多。这并不是说有骨有肉错了，乃是要积极的使血液增多，使生命充实起来。

　　所以从这时候起，我们作工的方式也必须转变，要带人回到灵里祷告，过于外面的讲说。无论是在聚会中也罢，是与弟兄姊妹个别接触也罢，总要尽量带人一同祷告，让人在灵里直接遇见主，得着供应，解决问题。这比我们单在外面凭着话语给人帮助，有效得多了。

　　当然，我们想要带人祷告，自己平素就必须有祷告的操练。我们的灵必须是操练得很强、很活、很释放，我们与人一同祷告时，才能把人的灵点活、挑旺起来。例如，我们传福音，功效小，少有人得救，可能是因为我们只对人传讲，而没有带人祷告，用灵和神接触。我们要带一个人得救，无论对他讲多少，谈多少，末了若不带他祷告，是不灵光的。若是末了能带他祷告，叫他的心和灵向主开启，从深处呼求主，他这样一呼求，灵就出来和神有了接触，他就得救了。

　　这个原则应用在帮助圣徒上也是一样。我们要帮助弟兄姊妹，除了用话语供应之外，末了总得和他一同祷告才行。比方，我们去探望弟兄姊妹，若是能拿出二十分钟的时间，和他一同跪在主面前祷告，果效必定大多了。然而，我们自己的灵若是干瘪的，却逼着别人祷告，那是没有用的。我们自己必须是在灵里的，我们的灵必须是高昂、释放的，只要一开口祷告，灵就动，灵就出来了。我们是这样的情形，我们和人祷告，才能一祷告，灵就出来，触着人的灵，点活人的灵，开启人的灵。常常就在这样的时候，圣灵就借着我们作活的管道，把祂自己流通到人身上，也流通到人里面，叫人真实地得着圣灵的丰盛。

　　有一件事非常可惜，就是我们中间少有前面所说的光景。我们自己很少祷告，也很少带人祷告。所以我们已往的工作，虽然有主的祝福，但所得着的人很少是祷告的人。主借着我们救了不少人，但这些人缺少祷告。主借着我们带领了不少人爱主，但这些爱主的人也缺少祷告。主借着我们带进不少人事奉，但这些事奉的人也缺少祷告。原因就在于我们在工作时缺少祷告；我们自己缺少祷告，我们工作的方式也少用祷告。

　　因此盼望今后同工们先要有一个转，转到灵里，常常学习用灵祷告，把灵操练得刚强、高昂、新鲜、释放。这样，我们去帮助别人的时候，就能用我们的灵供应人，使人的灵出来，和我们一同在灵里祷告。我们这样把人带到祷告的灵里，人的难处自然就过去了，他所缺少的也得到了供应，并且他还摸着一个丰富的源头。我们若是常常这样把人带到灵里与神交通，他们的灵必定会活泼而新鲜，等他们来到聚会中，灵自然很容易出来；因为他们受了这个带领，得着这个帮助。

　　所以，我觉得连我们传信息的聚会，也不要单注重传讲，应该讲到一个段落就停下来，让大家一同祷告，祷告过后再继续讲。千万不要一直叫人听道，而不让人受感的灵得着发表。应当趁着人听道有了相当感动的时候，给他们一个机会，将他们里头的灵感发表出来。这样才能使这篇道深入他们的灵里，叫他们得着真实属灵的帮助。
 
　Besides focusing on exercising the spirit, we should also change the way that we work. In the past we stressed giving messages. We taught and helped the saints through the messages, but we rarely brought the saints back to their spirit through prayer. We cannot say that our practice was wrong, but it lacked the element of the spirit; hence, it was not easy for the saints to be strengthened. This can be compared to instructing a person to grow but not caring for the circulation of his blood. We need to focus on increasing the circulation of blood.

　There must be a change in the way that we work. We need to lead the saints to their spirit through prayer rather than focusing on giving messages. In the meetings and in our personal contact with the saints, we must lead them to pray with us so that they can touch the Lord in their spirit and thereby receive the supply that will solve their problems. This will be more effective than trying to render help solely through messages.

　If we want to lead the saints to pray, we must exercise to pray regularly. When our spirit is strong, living, and released, we will be able to enliven others’ spirit, fanning it into flame. Suppose our gospel preaching has little effect, and very few people are saved. This probably means that we only preach to people; we do not lead them to pray with their spirit in order to contact God. Regardless of how much we speak, if we do not lead a person to pray, he will not be saved. If we can lead him to pray so that he opens his heart and spirit to the Lord and calls on the name of the Lord from deep within, he will touch God, his spirit will be released, and he will be saved.

　We should apply this principle to shepherding the saints. Besides ministering the word to them, we must pray with them. To spend twenty minutes to pray with a brother is more effective than merely speaking with him. However, if our spirit is dry, it will be useless to compel others to pray with us. Our spirit must be uplifted and released so that it comes forth once we open our mouth to pray. Then we can touch and enliven the saints through praying with them. At the same time, the Holy Spirit will flow through us as living channels into the saints, and they will receive the riches of the Spirit.

　It is regrettable that we do not pray enough and that we rarely lead others to pray. As a result, although our work has been blessed by the Lord, few of the saints who have been gained spend sufficient time in prayer. The Lord has saved many, but few of them spend time in prayer. Many saints love the Lord, but they lack prayer. Many saints have been brought into the service, but they lack prayer. These examples are the result of the co-workers being short of prayer in the work. We do not spend sufficient time to pray, and the way that we work lacks prayer.

　The co-workers must have a turn. They must learn to pray by exercising their spirit until their spirit is strong, uplifted, fresh, and released. Then we will be able to supply the saints so that their spirit can be released, and they can pray with an exercised spirit. When we lead the saints in this way, their problems will spontaneously be solved, they will be supplied, and they will also touch the source of grace. If we will always lead the saints to exercise their spirit in fellowship with God, their spirit will be living and fresh. Furthermore, they will release their spirit in the meetings.

　We should not focus merely on giving messages. During the course of our speaking, we should pause and let the saints pray, and then we can continue the message. We must give the saints the opportunity to express what they have received in their spirit. After the message we should give them an opportunity to express their inner feeling. In this way the message will penetrate their spirit, and they will receive spiritual help.
　　第三，我们聚会的方式也必须改。这里所说的方式，并不单指作法，更是指聚会的实质说的。大家要看见，因着我们缺少灵里的祷告，灵不释放，再加上已往工作的方式，偏重讲论，缺少灵的交流，所以聚会就渐渐流于形式。几乎每一种聚会，都有一套无形或定型的形式。传信息聚会是一套，祷告聚会是一套，擘饼聚会又是一套。久而久之，大家都习惯了。这一套一来，聚会就按部就班，依样奉行，很少用灵。不仅在传信息的聚会中，弟兄姊妹只听道少用灵，就连在擘饼聚会、祷告聚会中，弟兄姊妹也很少用灵事奉，都只守着聚会的规矩。这种现象在我们中间，目前已经相当严重。

　　所以盼望同工们，都要起来翻转这个情形，要厌烦这种少用灵，而只有形式的聚会。我们应该自己先在灵里得着释放，一来到聚会中，就把灵释放出来，并且要明明地告诉弟兄姊妹，不要再受传统规矩的约束，要尽量的把灵释放出来。以祷告聚会为例，不要以为必须等到七点半，一位弟兄选一首诗，唱过之后，再有弟兄起来报告祷告事项，然后才开始祷告。要告诉弟兄姊妹，不要这种成规。为着众人的方便，可以定规出聚会的日子，和大约的时间。比方，我们定规周二晚上，七点半到九点，是圣徒一起聚会祷告的时候。到了这一天，有的人不到七点就来了，也有人刚刚好七点半来了，有的人或者再晚一点，这都不要紧；反正谁先来，谁就可以主动的用灵祷告，不必一定要等到七点半才开始。开头的时候，也许是各人祷告各人的，等到一个时候，自然大家就汇成一个祷告了。祷告到一个时候，有事的人可以先离去，还有负担的人就可以继续祷告下去，这种聚会就完全脱去成规，完全让圣灵有活的运行。

　　从前我们在这一点上，实在有亏欠，实在得罪神。我们在各种聚会中，灵很难出来，以致各种恩赐在聚会中都不容易显明。本来聚会该是释放灵的，今天却由于流于形式，相反的成为捆绑灵的。常常聚会前三五位弟兄在一起祷告，灵还相当释放，等到他们祷告完，一来到聚会中，大家的灵就都关起来了，只剩下外面的成规老套。这是何等的亏欠！所以，我们必须翻转这种聚会形式化的光景，使聚会能叫众人的灵都开启。我们从前的聚会，众人的灵都是关闭的，现在我们要一反已往，大家的灵都要开启。不管别人如何，自己总要先开启。我们来到聚会中，不该关起灵来静坐、观望；我们来聚会就是为着操练灵，运用灵，释放灵，否则聚会对我们就不会有多少真实地帮助。我们必须使聚会不受形式的捆绑。

　　再说擘饼聚会，也不一定每一次都是一个样子，必须先有一首诗歌，然后才开始祷告。我们不该有这种形式和规条。也许，聚会中根本没有多少诗歌，一起头就赞美祷告，大家的灵都出来，这就达到高峰，然后传饼递杯。这并不是要故意在外面方式上标新立异，乃是盼望大家看见，目前我们在聚会中的这种光景是多么反常。聚会本该是开灵的，竟然落到一个地步是关灵的，以致参加聚会的人，灵都是关起来的。结果大家一到聚会中，就把灵关起来；不但关自己的灵，同时也关别人的灵。因此，聚会里的活动只落到几个负责弟兄姊妹身上，勉强的在那里应付。这一种光景必须转变。

　　新约圣经明明告诉我们：“不可放弃我们自己的聚集，”（来十25）但没有告诉我们，基督徒聚会的方式和程序应该如何。到底是先唱诗呢，还是先祷告？到底什么时候该读圣经呢，什么时候该作见证？无论在使徒行传或书信里，你都读不出这些定规。新约圣经里根本没有这些。主要我们擘饼记念祂，并且要我们先擘饼，后喝杯，但是主却没有把擘饼的程序告诉我们，到底该有多少祷告，需要唱多少诗歌，都没有说明。即使是传信息的聚会，你也没有办法从圣经里读出来，当初使徒们的作法是如何。这基本的原因就在于新约完全是在于灵，不在于仪文和形式。

　　相信没有人敢说，现在我们主日上午的讲道聚会，是完全合乎圣经的；自然也没有人能说它一定不是。然而我要说，如果一直这样作，演变成一种形式，就不对了，因为这样就杀死灵。要记得，新约之下的任何聚会，必须在于灵，也必须用灵，而不是一种仪式。所以，要带领弟兄姊妹有一种基本的认识，每一次来到聚会中，就是用灵事奉的时候；不管在什么样的聚会中，灵都必须出来有活动。

　　为这缘故，我们自己对于灵必须有厉害的操练，我们必须花更多时间祷告操练灵。已往我们花在研究真理上的时间相当多，花在工作、聚会上的时间也不少，但我们花在祷告上的时间却太不够。我们单独在主面前的祷告不够，和同工们一同在主面前的祷告更不够，所以我们的灵显得非常贫弱、枯萎。在我们的工作中缺少灵，在我们的聚会中缺少灵，因而聚会徒具形式，工作也缺少活力。求主在这一点上给我们有极深的觉悟，使我们有厉害的回转，急起直追，使我们在工作上和各种聚会中，满了灵的释放和供应。

　　原刊于一九六一年九月“话语职事”第一百二十三期
 
　We also need to change the way that we meet. When we speak of the way we meet, we are referring not only to certain practices but also to the substance of our meetings. Since we do not release our spirit in prayer and we focus more on messages than the flowing of the spirit, our meetings have gradually become a formality. Every meeting has regulations or is conducted in a set way. The message meeting has a set way, the prayer meeting has another way, and the bread-breaking meeting has yet another way. Everyone is familiar with the ways to conduct the meetings. The meetings are orderly and have become a routine; hence, we seldom exercise our spirit. The saints listen to messages and rarely exercise their spirit. Even in the bread-breaking meeting and the prayer meeting they rarely exercise their spirit. They merely keep the regulations for that particular meeting. This is a serious situation.

　The co-workers must rise up to turn this situation. We must detest formality and the lack of the exercise of the spirit. We must be released in our spirit so that we release our spirit in the meetings. Then we can lead the saints to not be bound by traditional rules but to release their spirit. For example, the procedure in the prayer meeting is as follows: At 7:30 P.M. a brother calls a hymn for us to sing. Then another brother announces the items for prayer, after which we begin to pray. We should tell the saints to reject this procedure. For convenience, it is right to decide the day and the time of a meeting. We may decide that the prayer meeting should be on Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 in the evening. However, some saints may arrive before 7:30, others at 7:30, and still others at a later time; this does not matter. Those who arrive first should exercise their spirit and begin to pray. They do not have to wait until 7:30 before beginning to pray. Perhaps everyone will pray individually, but at a certain time they should pray corporately. The saints who need to leave early can do so, while those who are burdened may continue praying. This kind of meeting has been delivered from regulations and allows the Holy Spirit to move in a living way.

　We have fallen short of being living and have offended God in this matter. Since it is difficult for us to release our spirit, the gifted members have not been manifested in the meetings. The meetings are for the release of the spirit, but they have become a formality that causes the spirit to be bound. When three to five brothers pray together before the meeting, they exercise their spirit, but when the meeting begins, their spirit is bound, and they fall into regulations. We must overturn this situation of having formal meetings so that the meetings can cause the saints to be released. Regardless of what the saints do, we must be released. Our spirit must not be bound in the meetings. We should not sit quietly, looking around at the saints. We should come to the meetings in order to exercise and release our spirit. Then the meetings will be a real help to us. We must not allow the meetings to be bound by formality.

　The bread-breaking meeting is another example. First, we sing a hymn, and then we pray. We should not have this formal regulation. It may be that the meeting does not begin with a hymn; rather, the saints simply praise and pray until everyone’s spirit is released. Then when the meeting has reached its climax, the bread and the cup are passed. This does not mean that we should intentionally try to do something different. My desire is that we would see that our situation is abnormal. The meetings, which should lead the saints to release their spirit, have deteriorated to the extent that the saints are bound. All the activities in the meetings have fallen on the shoulders of a few responsible saints who reluctantly try to meet the need. This situation must change.

　Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not abandoning our own assembling together,” but it does not give a procedure for Christian meetings. Should we sing hymns first or pray first? When should we read the Scriptures, and when should we give testimonies? We cannot find any procedures in the Acts or in the Epistles. The New Testament does not give such regulations. The Lord wants us to break bread in remembrance of Him, and He wants us to first break the bread and then drink the cup. But He did not give us a procedure for breaking the bread. He did not say how many prayers we should offer or how many hymns we should sing. He did not give any procedures. We cannot find a portion of the Bible that says how the apostles gave messages. The basic reason for such an omission is that in the New Testament age everything is of the Spirit, not of the letter or of forms.

　We dare not say that the Lord’s Day morning meeting is altogether according to the Bible. Of course, neither can we say that it is not according to the Bible. However, if we continue to follow our present practice, this meeting will develop into a form, which kills the spirit. Every meeting in the New Testament age must be in spirit, not in rituals. Therefore, we must educate the saints so that every time they come to a meeting, they would serve in their spirit. It does not matter what kind of meeting they attend, they must release their spirit.

　In order to lead the saints to exercise their spirit, the co-workers must exercise their spirit. We must spend more time to pray with an exercised spirit. We have spent a great amount of time to study the truth and to develop the work, but we have not spent an adequate amount of time to pray. The amount of time spent in individual prayer has been inadequate, and the amount of time spent praying with other co-workers has also been inadequate. Hence, our spirit is poor, weak, and dry, and we are short of the spirit in the work and in the meetings. As a result, the meetings are formal, and the work lacks vitality. May the Lord wake us up to make this turn so that we would be released and have the supply of the spirit in the work and in the meetings.

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