晨興聖言-馬太福音中所啓示...(W1-綱要)

第一週 • 綱目

作為活星之屬天基督當前、即時、活的異象

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讀經：太二1~12，民二四17，創一14~19，但十二3，啟一16、20，二1、28，三1，二二16，彼後一19，創二二17，猶12~13

週　一

壹　耶穌生在伯利恒之後，有星象家從東方來到耶路撒冷，說，『那生為猶太人之王的在那裏？因為祂的星出現的時候，我們看見了，就前來拜祂』（太二2）；這是應驗民數記二十四章十七節的話，說，『必有一星從雅各而出』 ；這星是指基督：

一　星象家不是說，他們看見了『一個星』或『那星』，乃是說，他們看見了『祂的星』；這星乃是屬天的基督。

二　馬太二章二節所說到的星向這些博學者顯現；這星沒有向任何以色列人顯現；猶太人有論到基督的聖經，並且知道祂要生在何處（4~6），但星象家看見了基督的星。

三　猶太人有關於基督將生於何處字句的知識（彌五2），但這些來自東方的博學者接受了關於祂活的異象；至終那星引他們到基督所在的地方（太二1~12）。

四　基督是真日頭（瑪四2），但嚴格說來，祂在這黑夜的世代並非出現如日頭；祂乃是發光如星（啟二28）；星是在黑夜裏發光，但這指明白晝將到（羅十三11~14）。

五　基督第一次來時，公開出現如星，但祂第二次來時，對儆醒等候祂來的得勝者將是晨星（啟二28，二二16）；對所有其餘的人，基督後來要出現如日頭（瑪四2，參太十三43）。

週　二

貳　馬太二章一至十二節啟示，尋得基督是一件活的事，而不僅僅是聖經道理知識的事：

一　這星的顯現遠離聖地的聖殿，遠離猶太的宗教中心，遠離祭司、經學家、法利賽人，遠離所有守宗教的人；反之，在外邦人之地，卻有一顆星顯明了一些有關基督的事。

二　單單手持聖經，念彌迦書五章二節說基督將生在伯利恒，那是不靈的；我們也許有聖經，但可能失去了屬天的星。

三　那星就是活的啟示，活的異象，不是老舊且死的聖經道理知識，不是彌迦書五章二節死的知識；今日我們所需要的不是單單聖經的知識，而是屬天的異象，當前、即時的異象，活的異象，人的觀念永遠沒法教導的異象。

四　即或我們有了聖經的知識，我們還需要即時、當前的活星引導我們，去到耶穌所在的那一條街，那一家屋子。

五　星象家接受了活的異象後，受自己屬人觀念的誤引，去了猶太國的京城耶路撒冷，以為猶太人的王就在那裏；他們這誤引使許多孩童被殺—太二16。

週　三

六　他們到達耶路撒冷，查問猶太人的王當生在何處，聖經說，『希律王聽見了，就驚慌不安，全耶路撒冷也同他一樣』—太二3：

1　他們聽見這信息，應當歡喜，卻反而驚慌不安；這沒有別的，乃因他們並沒有真要救主—參箴四23。

2　一個信主的人，如果他裏面的感情、感覺沒有受主作為愛的影響，則他尚不能配作基督徒—提後四8，可十二30，林前二9。

3　基督徒盼望主來，盼望被提，當以此為鑒—提後四8，多二13，啟二28，二二20，太二四40~44，二五8~13。

七　當星象家受了聖經的改正（太二4~6），往伯利恒去（8~9），那星就再向他們顯現，引他們到基督所在的地方，『他們看見那星，就極其歡樂』（10）：

1　星象家得了聖經的改正，回到正確的路上，那星就再向他們顯現；活的異象總是隨着聖經的。

2　祭司是教導百姓律法的人（瑪二7），經學家是通曉聖經的人（拉七6）；祭司和經學家都具備基督出生的知識（太二5~6），但他們沒有看見異象，也無心尋求基督，不像東方來的星象家那樣。

3　不論我們多『合乎聖經』，我們若失去主的同在，我們就完全錯了；在新約裏尋得並跟隨主的路，乃是不斷停留在祂隱密的同在中—約五39~40，賽四五15，出三三11、14，參林後五16。

4　儲存一些聖經知識是容易的事，但我們若要有活的引導，就必須活在與主親密的關係裏；我們必須與祂是一—太二10~14。

5　星象家看見了基督，並且敬拜祂；然後他們在夢中受神警示，不要回去見希律，就從『別的路』回本地去了（12）；我們一旦看見了基督，就絕不走原路，就是遇不見基督之宗教的路，我們一定會走別的路。

週　四

叁　基督忠信的跟從者是照耀的活星，他們跟隨基督這照耀的活星，成為祂的複製—但十二3，參創二二17：

一　基督是神經綸的中心與普及，眾活星跟隨基督那屬天、活潑、當前和即時的異象—徒二六16~18，西一17下、18下。

二　眾活星乃是祝福神子民的人；我們越為着神的子民讚美主，並在信心裏正面的說到他們，就越將自己擺在神的祝福之下—民二四9，創十二2~3，二二17。

三　眾活星留意經上申言者的話，『如同留意照在暗處的燈』，使基督這晨星日復一日在他們心裏出現；我們若留意聖經的話，會叫我們在基督作晨星實際顯出前，就得着祂在我們心裏出現，照耀在我們今天所處之背道的黑暗中—彼後一19，約六63，啟二28，二二16，提後四8：

1　按晨星的原則，基督徒應當清早起來，因為清晨是遇見主（與神有交通、讚美歌頌、禱讀聖經同職事的話，並向主禱告）最好的時候—歌七12，詩五1~3，五七8~9，五九16~17，六三1~8，九十14，九二1~2，一○八2~3，一四三8，出十六21。

2　主會隱密的把祂自己當作晨星，賜給那些愛祂而儆醒等候祂的人，叫他們嘗到祂久離再臨之同在的新鮮—帖前五6，啟二28，三2~3，十六15。

四　眾活星享受並被七倍加強的靈充滿，使他們為着神的建造加強的活並加強的亮—三1，四5，五6。

週　五

五　眾活星乃是眾召會的使者，他們享受並經歷是靈的基督作神的使者，並作從神來的新鮮資訊，使他們能將新鮮並現今的基督分賜到神的子民裏面，為着耶穌的見證—一16、20，二1，瑪三1~3。

六　眾活星乃是『心中定大志』並『心中設大謀』的人；他們是愛神的人，像星『從其軌道』與神一同爭戰，抵擋祂的仇敵，使他們『如日頭出現，光輝烈烈』，並且成為『在他們父的國裏…發光如同太陽』的人—士五15~16、20、31，但十一32，太十三43。

七　眾活星是敬畏耶和華並聽從祂僕人聲音者，信靠耶和華，好能行在暗中而有亮光—賽五十10~11，詩一三九7~12、23~24：

1　那些為自己造光，並行在自己所造之光裏，而不是行在神光中的人，必落在悲慘之中—賽五十11。

2　這對我們該是警告，叫我們行在神所賜的光中，不行在我們為自己所造的光中；『來罷，我們在耶和華的光中行走』—二5。

八　眾活星是由神在第四日的恢復並進一步的創造裏所設立的星作豫表，星是藉着照耀來管理；那裏有照耀，那裏就有管理，為着生命的長大—創一14~19：

1　主耶穌在變化山上的照耀，乃是國度在大能裏的來臨；這照耀實際上乃是三一神管治的同在—太十七1~8，可九1~8。

2　神的國作為神的管治，神的掌權，同其一切的祝福和享受，就是主耶穌的照耀，也是主耶穌藉着照耀在我們身上而有的擴展。

3　國度乃是主耶穌這實際的照耀；每當祂照耀在我們身上，並且我們也在那照耀之下，我們就在國度裏，受我們裏面神的管治和掌權，為着我們生命的長大。

週　六

九　在消極一面，有些人是『流蕩的星』—猶12~13：

1　流蕩之星的隱喻，指明這些反覆無常的教師、背道者，未穩固的定在屬天啟示不變之真理上，反倒在神像星一樣的子民中流蕩。

2　反覆無常的背道者，今天是流蕩的星，至終要被禁入那為他們永遠存留的黑暗幽冥裏。

3　眾地方召會不是神經綸的目標，而只是達到基督身體之實際這目標的手續，無論誰不教導這事，就與現今世代神職事的需要不符；無論誰要使我們離開眾召會為着基督身體之實際的相調，就是流蕩的星；真正的星乃是使多人歸義的，他們並不領人走迷，而是使人轉上正路。

4　今日那活星和眾活星離我們不遠，就在那作基督身體實際彰顯的眾地方召會裏，並且與眾地方召會同在（啟一11、20）；在所有的地方召會中，都有一些活星；我們只要與他們接觸，與他們在一起，他們就要引我們到耶穌所在的地方。

十　願主憐憫我們，叫我們一直蒙保守在正路上，遇見主，敬拜祂，並向祂獻上我們的愛；願主使我們都像這些星象家，跟隨活星去尋得基督並對基督有新的發現，好成為祂的複製，作眾活星—參弗五8~9，耶十五16上。

Week One

The Up-to-date, Instant, and Living Vision of the Heavenly Christ as the Living Star

Hymns: E1259

Scripture Reading: Matt. 2:1-12; Num. 24:17; Gen. 1:14-19; Dan. 12:3; Rev. 1:16, 20; 2:1, 28; 3:1; 22:16; 2 Pet. 1:19; Gen. 22:17; Jude 12-13

§ Day 1

I. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star at its rising
and have come to worship Him" (Matt. 2:2); this was the fulfillment of Numbers 24:17, which says, "There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob"; this Star refers to Christ:

A. The magi did not say, "We saw a star," or "We saw the star," but "We saw His star"; the Star is the heavenly Christ.

B. The star spoken of in Matthew 2:2 was shown to these learned men; it did not appear to any of the people of Israel; whereas the Jews had the Scriptures concerning Christ and knew where He would be born (vv. 4-6), the magi saw the star of Christ.

C. The Jews had the knowledge in letters concerning where Christ was to be born (Micah 5:2), but these learned men from the east received a living vision of Him; eventually, the star led them to the place where Christ was (Matt. 2:1-12).

D. Christ is the real Sun (Mal. 4:2), but strictly speaking, He does not appear as the sun during the age of night; rather, He shines as a star (Rev. 2:28); a star shines at night, but it indicates that day is coming (Rom. 13:11-14).

E. When Christ came the first time, He appeared openly as a star, but when He comes the second time, He will be the morning star (Rev. 2:28; 22:16) to His overcomers, who watch for His coming; to all others Christ will later appear as the sun (Mal. 4:2; cf. Matt. 13:43).

§ Day 2

II. Matthew 2:1-12 reveals that to find Christ is a living matter; it is not a matter of mere doctrinal knowledge of the Bible:

A. The star appeared far away from the temple in the Holy Land, from the Jewish religious center, from the priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, and from all the religious ones; instead, there was a star showing something of Christ in a heathen land.

B. Merely to hold the Bible in our hand and read Micah 5:2, saying that Christ will be born in Bethlehem, does not work; we may have the Bible, but we may miss the heavenly star.

C. The star is the living revelation, the living vision, not the old and dead doctrinal knowledge of the Scriptures, not the dead knowledge of Micah 5:2; what we need today is not merely Bible knowledge but the heavenly vision, the up-to-date, instant vision, the living vision, the vision that human concepts can never teach.

D. Even if we have the knowledge of the Scriptures, we still need the instant, up-to-date, living star to lead us to the very street and the very house where Jesus is.

E. After receiving the living vision, the magi were misled by their human concept and went to Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish nation, where its king was presumed to be; their being misled caused many young boys to be killed—Matt. 2:16.

§ Day 3

F. When they arrived in Jerusalem and inquired concerning where the King of the Jews was to be born, the Scripture says that "when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him"—v. 3:

1. When they heard this news, they should have rejoiced; instead, they were troubled; this is for no other reason than that they were not genuinely seeking the Savior—cf. Prov. 4:23.

2. If one who believes in the Lord is not affected by the Lord as love in his inward emotions, he is not worthy to be called a Christian—2 Tim. 4:8; Mark 12:30; 1 Cor. 2:9.

3. A Christian who expects the Lord to come or who expects to be raptured should take this as a warning—2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; Rev. 2:28; 22:20; Matt. 24:40-44; 25:8-13.

G. After the magi were corrected by the Scriptures (2:4-6), they went to Bethlehem (vv. 8-9), and the star appeared to them again and led them to the place where Christ was, " and when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" (v. 10):

1. When the magi were corrected by the Scriptures and restored to the right track, the star appeared to them again; living vision always accompanies the Scriptures.

2. The priests were those who taught people the law (Mal. 2:7), and the scribes were those who knew the Scriptures (Ezra 7:6); both the priests and the scribes had knowledge concerning the birth of Christ (Matt. 2:5-6), but unlike the magi from the east, they did not see the vision, nor did they have the heart to seek after Christ.

3. Regardless of how "scriptural" we are, if we lose the presence of the Lord, we are absolutely wrong; the New Testament way to find and follow the Lord is to continually stay in His hidden presence—John 5:39-40; Isa. 45:15; Exo. 33:11, 14; cf. 2 Cor. 5:16.

4. It is easy to accumulate scriptural knowledge, but if we would have living guidance, we must live in an intimate relationship with the Lord; we must be one with Him—Matt. 2:10-14.

5. The magi saw Christ, and they worshipped Him; then they were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, so they departed into their own country "by another way" (v. 12); once we have seen Christ, we never take the same way, the way of religion apart from Christ, but we will always take another way.

§ Day 4

III. Christs faithful followers are shining and living stars, those who follow Christ as the shining and living star to be His duplication—Dan. 12:3; cf. Gen. 22:17:

A. The living stars follow the heavenly, living, up-to-date, and instant vision of Christ as the centrality and universality of Gods economy—Acts 26:16-18; Col. 1:17b, 18b.

B. The living stars are those who bless Gods people; the more we praise the Lord for Gods people and speak well of them in faith, the more we put ourselves under Gods blessing—Num. 24:9; Gen. 12:2-3; 22:17. 

C. The living stars give heed to the prophetic word of the Scriptures "as to a lamp shining in a dark place" so that Christ as the morning star rises in their hearts day by day; if we give heed to the word in the Bible, we will have His rising in our hearts to shine in the darkness of apostasy where we are today, before His actual appearing as the morning star—2 Pet. 1:19; John 6:63; Rev. 2:28; 22:16; 2 Tim. 4:8:

1. In the principle of the morning star, a Christian should rise up early because the early morning is the best time to meet the Lord (to fellowship with God, to praise and sing, to pray-read the Bible with the ministry, and to pray to the Lord)—S. S. 7:12; Psa. 5:1-3; 57:8-9; 59:16-17; 63:1-8; 90:14; 92:1-2; 108:2-3; 143:8; Exo. 16:21.

2. The Lord will secretly give Himself as the morning star to those who love Him and who watch and wait for Him so that they may taste the freshness of His presence at His coming back after a long absence—1 Thes. 5:6; Rev. 2:28; 3:2-3; 16:15.

D. The living stars enjoy and are filled with the sevenfold intensified Spirit to make them intensely living and intensely shining for Gods building—3:1; 4:5; 5:6.

§ Day 5

E. The living stars are the messengers of the churches, those who enjoy and experience the pneumatic Christ as the Messenger of God and as the fresh message from God so that they can dispense the fresh and present Christ into the people of God for the testimony of Jesus—1:16, 20; 2:1; Mal. 3:1-3.

F. The living stars have "great resolutions in heart" and "great searchings of heart"; they are lovers of God who are like the "stars...from their courses" to fight together with God against His enemy so that they may be "like the sun / When it rises in its might" and be those who "shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father"—Judg. 5:15-16, 20, 31; Dan. 11:32; Matt. 13:43.

G. The living stars are those who fear Jehovah and hear the voice of His servant, trusting in Jehovah so that they may have light while walking in darkness—Isa. 50:10-11; Psa. 139:7-12, 23-24:

1. Those who make light for themselves and walk in their self-made light instead of in Gods light will suffer torment—Isa. 50:11.

2. This should be a warning to us so that we may walk in the light given by God, not in the light we make for ourselves; "Come and let us walk in the light of Jehovah"—2:5.

H. The living stars are typified by the stars that were established on the fourth day of Gods restoration with His further creation, in which they rule by their shining; where there is shining, there is ruling for the growth of life—Gen. 1:14-19:

1. The shining forth of the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration was the coming of the kingdom in power; this shining forth is actually the ruling presence of the Triune God—Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:1-8.

2. The kingdom of God as the ruling of God, the reigning of God, with all its blessings and enjoyment is the shining of the Lord Jesus and the spreading of the Lord Jesus by shining over us.

3. The kingdom is the shining of the reality of the Lord Jesus; whenever He is shining over us and we are under that shining, we are in the kingdom under Gods ruling and reigning within us for our growth of life.

§ Day 6

I. On the negative side, there are some who are "wandering stars"—Jude 12-13:

1. The metaphor of wandering stars indicates that the erratic teachers, the apostates, were not solidly fixed in the unchanging truths of the heavenly revelation but were wandering about among Gods starlike people.

2. The erratic apostates are wandering stars today, but they will eventually be imprisoned in the gloom of darkness, which has been kept for them for eternity.

3. Anyone who does not teach that the local churches are not the goal of Gods economy but the procedure to reach the goal of the reality of the Body of Christ does not match the need of the ministry of God in the present age; anyone who keeps us from the blending of the churches for the reality of the Body of Christ is a wandering star; the true stars are those who turn many to righteousness, those who do not lead people astray but turn them to the right way.

4. Today the living Star and the living stars are not far from us—they are in and with the local churches as the practical expressions of the Body of Christ (Rev. 1:11, 20); among all the local churches there are some living stars; we simply need to contact them and keep company with them; they will lead us to the place where Jesus is.

J. May the Lord be merciful to us that we may always be kept in the right way to meet the Lord, to worship Him, and to offer our love to Him; may the Lord make us all like the magi, following the living star to find and make new discoveries of Christ in order to become His duplication as the living stars—cf. Eph. 5:8-9; Jer. 15:16a.