晨興聖言-經歷、享受並彰顯基督(四)(W43-3)

第四十三週.週三

W43-d3-ch

晨興餧養

啟二25 『但你們已經有的,總要持守,直等到我來。』

三11  『我必快來,你要持守你所有的,免得有人奪去你的冠冕。』

〔啟示錄二、三章的〕七個召會,都是…在小亞細亞的七個召會。〔一3。〕那時在小亞細亞有很多的召會,但是神從小亞細亞這麼多的召會當中,特別揀選出這七個召會來。…神…揀選這七個召會,豫言說,召會的道路在地上到底是怎樣的。

啟示錄二、三章的七個召會,頭三個和末了四個分作兩組。頭三個已經過去了;末了四個,今天都存在,一直等到主耶穌再來。…頭三個召會沒有主再來的應許,後四個召會有主再來的應許,定規是繼續到主耶穌再來。(倪柝聲文集第三輯第四冊,二五八、二六○至二六一頁。)

信息選讀

第一個召會是以弗所,乃是指著第一個世紀末了時候的召會,就是寫啟示錄時候的召會。約翰寫啟示錄時,召會的光景就像第一個召會—以弗所一樣。

第二個召會是士每拿,乃是在約翰去世之後,從第二世紀起,到第四世紀起頭的時候,召會受到羅馬帝國十次大逼迫的情形。…在那一段時間,我們看見召會大大受逼迫。

第三個召會就是別迦摩召會。在第四世紀起頭,就是主後三百一十三年,康士坦丁起首接受基督教作國教那一段時候的召會,叫作別迦摩。

第四個召會是推雅推喇。當羅馬的該撒接受基督教作國教的時候,他就高舉基督教,用政治的力量來扶持基督教。從前羅馬帝國是用政治的力量壓迫基督教,現在是用政治的力量扶持基督教,作基督教的後盾。結果基督教不只與世界聯婚,並且在世界上被高舉。

在七個召會裏,有五個召會受責備,一個召會沒有受責備,一個召會完全被稱讚。完全被稱讚的乃是非拉鐵非。…老底嘉是變相的非拉鐵非,是走了樣的非拉鐵非。有一天弟兄相愛失去的時候,就馬上變作眾人的意見。這就是老底嘉的意思。…老底嘉的特點,就是不冷不熱,而在主面前有屬靈的驕傲。…所以弟兄姊妹要記得,你們如果要繼續在非拉鐵非的道路上,你們就得學習在神面前謙卑。

四圍的人可以充滿了死亡,但是這並不需要你知道你自己是充滿了生命。四圍的人都可以貧窮,但是用不著你知道你是財主。活在主面前的人,不覺得自己是富足的。願神憐憫我們,叫我們學習活在主的面前。

老底嘉,就是說起來樣樣都知道,事實上沒有一樣是熱切的。說起來,樣樣都有,但是沒有一樣是能彀把命拚上的。記得已往時候的光榮,卻忘記了今天在神面前的光景。已過是非拉鐵非,但是今天是老底嘉。

今天每一個神的兒女,都得挑選自己召會的道路。…我們要學習站在非拉鐵非的地位上,總是遵守主的話,不棄絕主的名。站在弟兄的地位上,千萬不要驕傲!…你一驕傲,你就是老底嘉,不是非拉鐵非!…你們要在那一條路上走?求神賜福給祂的兒女,給弟兄們在召會的事情上,能走一條正直的路。(倪柝聲文集第三輯第四冊,二五九至二六○、二六二、二八二至二八七頁。)

參讀:初信造就(下冊),第四十五篇。


WEEK 43 — DAY 3


Morning Nourishment

Rev. 2:25 Nevertheless what you have hold fast until I come.

       3:11 I come quickly; hold fast what you have that no one take your crown.

[The churches in Revelation 2 and 3] were seven actual churches in Asia Minor…At that time there were many churches in Asia Minor, but God chose only seven for prophetic representation [1:3]…God chose these seven churches as a prophecy to foretell the pathway the church takes on the earth.

The seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 are divided into two groups. The first three have disappeared, but the last four are still with us today…The first three churches did not receive any promise of the Lord’s coming, but the last four all received a promise of the Lord’s coming. They will surely remain until the Lord Jesus comes again. (CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” pp. 765, 767)

Today’s Reading

The first is Ephesus. The church in Ephesus refers to the period of church history during the end of the first century, when the book of Revelation was written. When John wrote the book of Revelation, the condition of the church was like that of the first church—Ephesus.

The second church is Smyrna. The church in Smyrna is a picture of the condition of the church under ten periods of persecution in the Roman Empire from the second century after John’s death to the early part of the fourth century…During this period of time, the church suffered great persecution.

The third church is the church in Pergamos. It began with Constantine’s acceptance of Christianity as the state religion at the beginning of the fourth century in A.D. 313.

The fourth church is Thyatira. After the Caesar of Rome accepted Christianity as the state religion, he promoted Christianity and propped it up with his political power. Prior to this, the Roman Empire exercised its political power to suppress Christianity. Then it began to exercise its political power to support Christianity. Consequently, Christianity was not only married to the world but even exalted above the world.

Five of the seven churches were rebuked. One did not receive a rebuke, and one received only praise. The one which received only praise was Philadelphia…Laodicea is a distorted Philadelphia. When brotherly love is gone, Philadelphia immediately turns into the opinions of many. This is the meaning of the word Laodicea…In the eyes of the Lord, the characteristics of Laodicea are lukewarmness and spiritual pride…Brothers and sisters, if you want to continue in the way of Philadelphia, remember to humble yourselves before God.

Those around us may be full of death, but we do not need to be conscious of the fact that we are full of life. Those around us may be poor, but we do not need to be conscious of the fact that we are rich. Those who live before the Lord will not be conscious of their own riches. May the Lord be merciful to us that we may learn to live before Him.

Laodicea means to know everything, but in reality to be fervent about nothing. In name it has everything, but it cannot sacrifice its life for anything. It remembers its former glory but forgets its present condition before God. Formerly, it was Philadelphia; today it is Laodicea.

Today every child of God has to choose the pathway he should take with regard to the church. We must learn to stand on the ground of Philadelphia. Always keep the Lord’s word and never deny His name. Hold fast the brotherly stand and never be proud!…Once you are proud, you become Laodicea and are no longer Philadelphia!…Which way do you want to take? May God bless His children and may the brothers take the upright path with regard to the church. (CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” pp. 765-766, 768, 783-787)

Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” ch. 45

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