晨興聖言-經歷、享受並彰顯基督（四）(W41-綱要)

第四十一週　生命樹

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讀經：創二7～9，啟二4～5，7，二二2，14，林後四5，五14～15

【週　一】

壹　基督作為生命乃是生命樹的實際，而生命樹是宇宙的中心；生命是神創造的目標，（創一26～28，31，二7～9，）也是神完整救恩的目標（約十九34，羅五10，啟二二1～2，14，19）：

一　在聖經裏，生命樹總是指基督，就是神一切豐富的具體化身，作我們的食物；神將人安置在生命樹跟前，指明神要人藉著生機的喫祂，並新陳代謝的吸收祂，而接受祂作人的生命，使神成為人之所是的構成成分—西二9，創二9，約一4，十10，十四6，十五1，六35，57，63，林前十五45下。

【週　二】

二　啟示錄二章七節的生命樹是指釘十字架（由樹，就是木頭所含示—彼前二24）並復活（由神的生命所含示—約十一25）的基督；今天基督是在召會中，召會的終極完成乃是新耶路撒冷，在其中這位釘死並復活的基督是生命樹，滋養神所有的贖民，直到永遠。（啟二二2，14。）

【週　三】

貳　我們需要看見神的生命在人裏面所遇到的難處：

一　神的生命在我們裏面所遇到的第一個難處，就是我們不認識我們人的觀念乃是黑暗的：

1　我們需要看見，我們怎樣對待在我們裏面之活的基督，乃是基督徒生活中惟一值得關切的事—加一16，二20，四19，腓一19～21，弗四13，林後三18。

2　作基督徒就是不以基督以外的任何事物為標的；許多人得救後，所以有屬靈生命上的難處，都是因為他們不認識生命的道路，不以基督作生命。

二　生命在我們裏面所遇到的第二個難處，就是假冒—太六2，5，七5，二三13～29：

1　一個人是否屬靈，不在於外面的表現，乃在於他如何對待內住的基督。

2　我們天然的良善乃是假冒的屬靈，這是生命的一個大攔阻；生命的彰顯就是不理睬我們的天性，不管我們的愛好，簡單的讓基督在裏面運行，破碎我們。

3　若是我們凡事都憑天性、天然去作，其我們結果無論是甚麼都是假冒。

三　生命在我們裏面所遇到的第三個難處，就是悖逆：

1　基督在我們裏面運行，給我們感動，叫我們明明知道祂要我們作甚麼，向我們要求甚麼，要帶領我們甚麼，對付我們甚麼。

2　然而我們若不順服，一味的違反我們裏面的感覺，不接受祂的帶領，也不肯出代價，這樣的反叛、頂撞，就是悖逆。

3　我們所犯的罪，最多、最厲害的，還不是外面看得見的罪行，乃是裏面那些違背基督所給我們感覺的罪惡；基督活在我們裏面，祂一直給我們裏面生命的感覺—羅八6，約壹二27。

四　生命在我們裏面所遇到的第四個難處，就是我們天然的幹才：

1　許多弟兄姊妹都非常愛主，也為主熱心，實在是敬虔的；然而，他們身上最厲害的難處，就是他們的幹才太大，本事太高，使得基督在他們身上沒有地位，沒有出路。

2　我們可能有幹才，有本能，卻認為這不是罪惡，不是污穢；我們沒有輕看這些天然的幹才，反而寶貝這些幹才；這在我們身上若是一直牢不可破，就會成為基督生命的難處。

五　這些難處在我們身上，只有一個解決辦法，就是我們必須經過十字架，讓十字架來破碎；我們要基督的生命在我們裏面不受限制，就必須經歷十字架的破碎，讓這些難處受到對付並被除掉—太十六24～25。

【週　四】

參　我們要喫基督作生命樹，就必須在凡事上讓基督居首位，就是以起初的愛來愛祂，受祂愛的困迫，在我們的生活中以祂為一切，接受祂作一切—啟二4～5，西一18下，林後五14～15，可十二30，詩七三25～26，八十17～19：

一　以起初的愛愛主，在凡事上讓祂居首位，乃是喫祂作生命樹；喫基督作生命樹，就是享受基督作我們生命的供應，該是召會生活中首要的事—啟二7，約六57，63。

二　召會生活的內容在於享受基督；我們越享受基督，召會生活的內容就越豐富；但我們若要喫基督作生命樹，享受祂作我們生命的供應，就必須用起初的愛來愛祂—啟二4～5。

三　一面，嚴格的說，啟示錄二章七節裏喫神樂園中生命樹的果子，是指在要來千年國裏的新耶路撒冷，特別享受基督作我們生命的供應。

四　另一面，我們今天在召會中，正在享受釘死並復活的基督作生命樹，就是在我們靈裏生命的供應，作為豫嘗；每個地方召會都是神的樂園，在其中基督是生命樹，給我們享受。

五　當我們在凡事上讓主居首位，並終日維持喫釘死並復活的基督作生命樹，不管召會的情形怎樣，召會要成為我們的樂園；因此，我們對召會的感覺和態度乃在於我們的光景。

六　『我們今天在召會生活中若不享受基督作生命樹，我們必不會在國度時代有分於生命樹。根據我的經歷，今天在安那翰的召會，對我乃是樂園』—李常受文集一九九四至一九九七年第五冊，活力排，二一二頁。

七　召會荒涼和墮落的內在原因，乃是基督沒有被神的子民高舉；他們沒有在凡事上讓祂居首位，居第一位；神的子民甚麼時候高舉基督，讓祂在他們生活的每一面居首位，就有恢復和復興—詩八十17～19。

【週　五】

八　基督不僅必須在我們的生活中，也必須在我們一切的信息中居首位；『我們不是傳自己，乃是傳基督耶穌為主，也傳自己為耶穌的緣故，作你們的奴僕』—林後四5，參來一3，八1，十二2，詩八十1，17～19，一一○1～7：

1　我們作工，該時常把人拖到中心來，叫他們看見『基督是主』；我們必須把主耶穌擺在寶座上—參歌一1～4，賽六1，3，約十二41。

2　要傳揚這樣的信息，我們自己必須先被神打破摔碎，叫基督在我們身上居首位；我們的信息就是我們自己—林後四10～13，約十二24～26，參路十二49～50。

3　主的『好』，勝過一切世人的讚美；天上的笑臉，勝過地上一切的怒臉；天上的安慰，勝過地上的眼淚—太二五21，23，耶一7～9，18～19，但四26。

九　要在凡事上讓基督居首位，我們對祂作我們的王就必須有情深的愛，我們的舌頭就會是快手的筆，照著我們對祂一切所是的經歷和享受，迅速寫出我們對祂的愛和讚美—詩四五1～2，林後三3，6。

十　以起初的愛愛主，在凡事上讓祂居首位，乃是以祂為我們的中心—我們維繫的中心，並以祂為我們的普及—我們的一切；我們需要以祂為我們個人宇宙的中心、內容和圓周—西一17下，18下。

【週　六】

十一　以起初的愛愛主，在凡事上讓祂居首位，乃是瞻仰祂的榮美，並在我們基督徒生活與工作的每個細節上求耶和華指示—詩二七4，書九14，腓四6～7。

十二　以起初的愛愛主，在凡事上讓祂居首位，乃是受我們調和的靈所管理、管治、指引、引導和推動；藉著作祂的俘虜並禱告：『主阿，征服我，使我作你的俘虜，絕不要讓我得勝，要一直擊敗我，』而顧到我們靈裏的安息—林後二13～14。

十三　以起初的愛愛主，在凡事上讓祂居首位，乃是有清明的天，像可畏的水晶，其上有神藍寶石的寶座；這意思是我們與主之間沒有阻隔，並且我們被祂管治同在的屬天氣氛、光景和情形所充滿—以祂為我們的王，並讓祂在我們裏面管治並作王—結一22，26。

十四　惟獨作王的基督同著在王權上作祂幫助的得勝者在地上掌權，纔能解決今天世界的問題；（賽四二1～4；）基督的名要藉著那些得勝並一同作王的聖徒，被萬代記念並得著眾民的讚美。（詩四五16～17，啟二26。）

十五　錫安所豫表的得勝者，乃是灘頭堡，主要藉以回來據有全地—詩四八2，但二34～35。

十六　『眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來；永久的門戶阿，你們要被舉起；榮耀的王將要進來。那榮耀的王是誰呢？就是剛強大能的耶和華，在爭戰中有大能的耶和華！…那榮耀的王是誰呢？萬軍之耶和華—祂是榮耀的王！』—詩二四7～8，10：

1　眾城門是列國的城門，門戶是百姓的家門；基督是萬國所羨慕的；（該二7；）一般說來，萬國都在期待基督來臨，但基督不會照著我們人的觀念很快就來；（彼後三8～9；）因此，我們需要抬起頭來，恆切的等候並期待祂的來臨。

2　榮耀的王是萬軍之耶和華，就是終極完成的三一神具體化身在得勝的基督裏；（路二一27，太二五31；）耶和華就是耶穌，耶穌就是成為肉體、釘十字架、並復活的三一神，祂是剛強爭戰且得勝的一位。（一21，啟五5。）

3　祂要在復活裏同祂的得勝者回來據有全地作祂的國—但二34～35，七13～14，珥三11，啟十一15，十九13～14。

十七　寶座上的這位基督，顯出來的樣子好像紅寶石（其紅色表徵救贖）和碧玉（其深綠色表徵豐盛的生命）；因此，當我們服從基督的元首權柄並服在祂的寶座之下，我們就成為祂在法理救贖和生機拯救上一切所是的受益者，使我們在神豐富的生命中，顯出與榮耀之神相同的樣子—四3，二一10～11上，羅五10。

十八　凡用基督救贖的血洗淨自己袍子的人，在永世裏都有權利在聖城，就是神的樂園，享受生命樹作他們永遠的分—啟二二14，二7。

Week Five

The Tree of Life

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Hymns: E971

Scripture Reading: Gen. 2:7-9; Rev. 2:4-5, 7; 22:2, 14; 2 Cor. 4:5; 5:14-15

§ Day 1

I. Christ as life is the reality of the tree of life, which is the center of the universe; life is the goal of Gods creation (Gen. 1:26-28, 31; 2:7-9) and the goal of Gods complete salvation (John 19:34; Rom. 5:10; Rev. 22:1-2, 14, 19):

A. In the Bible the tree of life always signifies Christ as the embodiment of all the riches of God for our food; Gods placing man in front of the tree of life indicates that God wanted man to receive Him as mans life by eating Him organically and by assimilating Him metabolically, that God might become the very constituent of mans being—Col. 2:9; Gen. 2:9; John 1:4; 10:10; 14:6; 15:1; 6:35, 57, 63; 1 Cor. 15:45b.

§ Day 2

B. In Revelation 2:7 the tree of life signifies the crucified (implied in the tree as a piece of wood—1 Pet. 2:24) and resurrected (implied in the life of God—John 11:25) Christ, who today is in the church, the consummation of which is the New Jerusalem, in which the crucified and resurrected Christ will be the tree of life for the nourishment of all Gods redeemed people for eternity (Rev. 22:2, 14).

§ Day 3

II. We need to see the obstacles that Gods life encounters in man:

A. The first problem that Gods life encounters in us is that we do not realize the darkness of our human concepts:

1. We need to see that the only thing that matters in the Christian life is how we take care of the living Christ in us—Gal. 1:16; 2:20; 4:19; Phil. 1:19-21; Eph. 4:13; 2 Cor. 3:18.

2. Being a Christian means not taking anything other than Christ as our aim; many people have difficulty in their spiritual life after they are saved because they do not know the pathway of life, and they do not take Christ as their life.

B. The second problem that life encounters in us is hypocrisy—Matt. 6:2, 5; 7:5; 23:13-29:

1. A persons spirituality is not determined by outward appearance but by how he takes care of the indwelling Christ.

2. Our natural goodness is false spirituality and is actually a great hindrance to life; the expression of life involves the rejection of our natural disposition and preference, and simply allowing Christ to operate in us and break us.

3. If we always do things according to our disposition and natural being, the outcome will always be hypocrisy.

C. The third problem that life encounters in us is rebellion:

1. Christ operates and moves in us in order to make us clear about His will and requirements for us and about His leading and dealing with us.

2. However, if we do not obey but go against the feeling within, not accepting His leading or paying the price, this unwillingness and opposition are rebellion.

3. The sin that we commit the most frequently and most severely is not outward and visible; rather, it is the sin of disobeying the sense of Christ in us; Christ is living in us, and He is constantly giving us an inward sense of life—Rom. 8:6; 1 John 2:27.

D. The fourth problem that life encounters in us is our natural capability:

1. Many brothers and sisters truly love the Lord, are zealous for the Lord, and are very godly; nevertheless, their greatest problem is the strength and greatness of their capabilities and abilities; consequently, Christ has no ground or way in them.

2. We may be capable and talented, but we do not consider these things as sin or filthiness; instead of despising our natural capabilities, we treasure them; if they remain unbroken in us, they will become a problem to Christs life.

E. There is one solution to all these obstacles in us—we must pass through the cross and let the cross break us; if we want Christs life to be unhindered in us, we must experience the breaking of the cross and allow these obstacles to be dealt with and removed—Matt. 16:24- 25.

§ Day 4

III. In order for us to eat Christ as the tree of life, we must give Him the first place in all things, which is to love Him with the first love, being constrained by His love to
regard and take Him as everything in our life—Rev. 2:4- 5; Col. 1:18b; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Mark 12:30; Psa. 73:25-26; 80:17-19:

A. To love the Lord with the first love, to give Him the first place in all things, is to eat Him as the tree of life; eating Christ as the tree of life, that is, enjoying Christ as our life supply, should be the primary matter in the church life—Rev. 2:7; John 6:57, 63.

B. The content of the church life depends on the enjoyment of Christ; the more we enjoy Him, the richer the content will be; but to eat Christ as the tree of life, to enjoy Him as our life supply, requires us to love Him with the first love—Rev. 2:4-5.

C. On the one hand, strictly speaking, to eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God in Revelation 2:7 refers to the particular enjoyment of Christ as our life supply in the New Jerusalem in the coming millennial kingdom.

D. On the other hand, we are enjoying the crucified and resurrected Christ as the tree of life, the food supply in our spirit, as a foretaste today in the church; every local church is a paradise of God, where Christ is the tree of life for us to enjoy.

E. When we give the Lord the first place in everything and maintain our eating of the crucified and resurrected Christ as the tree of life throughout the day, the church, no matter what its condition may be, becomes paradise to us; thus, our feeling and our attitude toward the church depend upon our situation.

F. "If we do not enjoy Christ as the tree of life in the church life today, surely we will not participate in the tree of life in the kingdom age. According to my experience, today the church in Anaheim is a paradise to me"—The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1994-1997, vol. 5, "The Vital Groups," p. 157.

G. The intrinsic reason for the desolation and degradation of the church is that Christ is not exalted by Gods people; they do not give Him the preeminence, the first place, in everything; whenever Gods people exalt Christ, giving Him the preeminence in every aspect of their living, there is restoration and revival—Psa. 80:17-19.

§ Day 5

H. Christ must have the first place not only in our living but also in all our messages; "we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus sake"—2 Cor. 4:5; cf. Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 12:2; Psa. 80:1, 17-19; 110:1-7:

1. In our work we should continually draw people back to the center and let them see that "Christ is Lord"; we must give the Lord Jesus His place on the throne—cf. S. S. 1:1-4; Isa. 6:1, 3; John 12:41.

2. In order to give such a message, we ourselves must be broken by God and allow Christ to have the first place in us; our message is just our person—2 Cor. 4:10-13; John 12:24-26; cf. Luke 12:49-50.

3. The Lords "well done" surpasses all the praises of the world; the smiling face of heaven surpasses all the angry faces of the earth; the comfort of heaven surpasses all the tears of the earth—Matt. 25:21, 23; Jer. 1:7-9, 18- 19; Dan. 4:26.

I. In order to give Christ the first place in all things, we must have an affectionate love for Him as our King; then our tongue will be the pen of a ready writer, ready to write our love for Him and our praise to Him with our experience and enjoyment of Him according to all that He is—Psa. 45:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:3, 6.

J. To love the Lord with the first love, to give Him the first place in all things, is to take Him as our centrality—our holding center—and our universality—our everything; we need to take Him as the center, content, and circumference of our personal universe—Col. 1:17b, 18b.

§ Day 6

K. To love the Lord with the first love, to give Him the first place in all things, is to behold His beauty and to ask for the counsel of Jehovah in every detail of our Christian life and work—Psa. 27:4; Josh. 9:14; Phil. 4:6-7.

L. To love the Lord with the first love, to give Him the first place in all things, is to be dominated, governed, directed, led, and moved by our mingled spirit, caring for the rest in our spirit by being His captives and by praying, "Lord, conquer me. Make me Your captive. Never let me win. Defeat me all the time"—2 Cor. 2:13-14.

M. To love the Lord with the first love, to give Him the first place in all things, is to have a clear sky like awesome crystal with Gods sapphire throne above it; this means that there is nothing between us and the Lord and that we are filled with the heavenly atmosphere, condition, and situation of His ruling presence—taking Him as our King and allowing Him to rule and reign within us—Ezek. 1:22, 26.

N. Only Christ the King reigning on the earth with the overcomers as His helpers in the kingship can solve the problems of todays world (Isa. 42:1- 4); Christs name will be remembered in all generations and praised by the nations through His overcoming and co-reigning saints (Psa. 45:16- 17; Rev. 2:26).

O. The overcomers, who are typified by Zion, are the beachhead through which the Lord will return to possess the whole earth—Psa. 48:2; Dan. 2:34-35.

P. "Lift up your heads, O gates; / And be lifted up, O long enduring doors; / And the King of glory will come in. / Who is the King of glory? / Jehovah strong and mighty! / Jehovah mighty in battle!... / Who is this King of glory? / Jehovah of hosts— / He is the King of glory!"—Psa. 24:7-8, 10:

1. The gates are of the cities of the nations; the doors are of the houses of the people, and Christ is the Desire of all the nations (Hag. 2:7); all the nations, in a general way, are expecting Christ to come, but Christ will not come quickly according to our human concept (2 Pet. 3:8-9); thus, we need to lift up our heads and await and expect His coming with long endurance.

2. The King of glory is Jehovah of hosts (that is, of armies), the consummated Triune God embodied in the victorious and overcoming Christ (Luke 21:27; Matt. 25:31); Jehovah is Jesus, and Jesus is the incarnated, crucified, and resurrected Triune God, who is strong in fighting and is victorious (1:21; Rev. 5:5).

3. He is the One who will come back in resurrection with His overcomers to possess the entire earth as His kingdom—Dan. 2:34-35; 7:13-14; Joel 3:11; Rev. 11:15; 19:13-14.

Q. Christ as the One on the throne of God has the appearance of sardius (its red color signifying redemption) and jasper (its dark green color signifying life in its richness); thus, when we submit ourselves to Christs headship and are under His throne, we are the beneficiaries of all that He is in His judicial redemption and His organic salvation so that we may bear the same appearance of the God of glory in His rich life—4:3; 21:10-11a; Rom. 5:10.

R. Those who wash their robes in the redeeming blood of Christ have the right to enjoy the tree of life as their eternal portion in the holy city, the Paradise of God, in eternity—Rev. 22:14; 2:7.