晨興聖言-信徒(一)-(W11-4)

第十一週 • 週四

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晨興餧養

啟一9    我約翰,就是你們的弟兄,和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐裏一同有分的,為神的話和耶穌的見證,曾在那名叫拔摩的海島上。

西一24   現在我因着為你們所受的苦難喜樂,並且為基督的身體,就是為召會,在我一面,在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。


新約裏…很清楚的說到,大衛豫表基督(太十二3);所以大衛的妻子,豫表召會。大衛至少有三個妻子,…只有亞比該(撒上二五42),…確實有豫表召會的特點。…大衛是豫表在苦難中爭戰的基督,所以他的妻子亞比該,豫表在苦難中爭戰的召會。從撒上二十五章之後,亞比該一直在戰士大衛的身邊,一直跟着大衛作戰。…亞比該原來的丈夫,說出我們的舊人是何等兇惡的人,是不要基督的人。亞比該原來的丈夫名叫拿八,拿八的意思是愚頑(25)。她這丈夫在大衛缺乏時,藐視大衛,拒絕大衛,敵擋大衛(10~11)。這豫表我們的天性,乃是拒絕基督,藐視基督,反對基督的。有一天拿八遭災死了,亞比該就有機會,作了大衛的妻子。這意思是,有一天我們敗壞的天性,就是不要基督、拒絕基督、藐視基督的天性,遭災禍死了,我們就能作基督的配偶,能在苦難中跟隨基督,為神的國度爭戰(李常受文集一九五六年第二冊,一四五頁)。

信息選讀

基甸是很好的士師,極為特別的蒙耶和華呼召;他因着四件事而成功。第一,他仔細聽神的話,這在當時以色列人中間是少有的。第二,基甸順從神的話,照着神的話行動。第三,他拆毀巴力的壇,砍下木像(士六25~28);這摸着神的心。…神這真丈夫認為,所有的偶像都是與祂妻子以色列行淫的男人。第四,基甸因着拆毀父親為巴力所築的壇,砍下木像,就犧牲了他與父親的關係,以及他在社會的享受。

揀選三百人這件事〔七2~7〕也強調,為着神的定旨犧牲我們個人的權益和享受。基甸吹號招聚百姓攻打米甸人時,三萬二千人回應。神說,跟隨基甸的人太多,神不能將米甸人交在他們手中,免得以色列人向神誇大,說,『是我們自己的手救了我們。』(2)神告訴基甸,跟隨他的人太多,指明神要為以色列人爭戰。首先,二萬二千人回去,因為他們懼怕(3)。然後耶和華試驗剩下的一萬人,帶他們到水旁喝水。凡…舔水像狗舔的,就被打發回家(5)。只有用手捧到嘴邊舔水的三百人,蒙神揀選來與米甸人爭戰(6)。…這三百人和基甸一樣,甘願犧牲,為神所用(士師記生命讀經,二九至三○頁)。

基甸和那三百人,舉動一致,作法一樣。肉體都割去了,所以能一樣。這是在聖靈裏的合一,在身體上的生活。新約的記載,是聚會,不是作工。

三百人打仗,全體都來趕仇敵。…我們得勝,全體復興。站在河底,不為自己,乃為全體。『為基督的身體,就是為召會,在我一面,在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。』(西一24)(倪柝聲文集第一輯第十一冊,一四○頁)

參讀:倪柝聲文集第一輯第十一冊,一三七至一四○頁;士師記生命讀經,第四至五篇。

WEEK 11 — DAY 4

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Morning Nourishment

Rev. 1:9 I John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Col. 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church.

The New Testament…clearly reveals that David typifies Christ (Matt. 12:3). Hence, David’s wife is a type of the church. David had at least three wives…Only Abigail (1 Sam. 25:42) possesses a feature typifying the church. David typifies the warring Christ in the midst of sufferings; thus, his wife Abigail typifies the warring church in the midst of sufferings. From 1 Samuel 25 onward, Abigail was always at the side of David the warrior and followed him in his wars…Abigail’s previous husband shows how evil our old man is in forsaking Christ. Abigail’s previous husband was Nabal, which means “fool” (25:25). Nabal despised, rejected, and opposed David at the time of his destitution (vv. 10-11). This typifies that our nature rejects Christ, despises Christ, and opposes Christ. One day, however, Nabal was struck down, and he died. This provided Abigail the opportunity to become David’s wife. This indicates that when our corrupted nature, which forsook Christ, rejected Christ, and despised Christ, was struck down, we became Christ’s counterpart who follows Him in the midst of sufferings, fighting for the kingdom of God. (CWWL, 1956, vol. 2, “Three Aspects of the Church, Book 1: The Meaning of the Church,” p. 109)

Todays Reading

Gideon, a marvelous judge who was called by Jehovah in a very particular way, was successful because of four things. First, he listened carefully to the word of God, something that was rare among the children of Israel at that time. Second, Gideon obeyed God’s word and acted on it. Third, he tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah (Judg. 6:25-28). This touched God’s heart…God as the genuine Husband regarded all the idols as men with whom His wife Israel had committed harlotry. Fourth, by tearing down the altar of Baal and cutting down the Asherah that belonged to his father, Gideon sacrificed his relationship with his father and his enjoyment of society.

The selection of the three hundred [7:2-7]…stresses the sacrifice of our personal interests and enjoyment for God’s purpose. When Gideon blew the trumpet to call the people to fight against the Midianites, thirty-two thousand responded. God said that those who were with Gideon were too many for God to deliver Midian into their hand, for Israel might have vaunted himself against God, saying, “My own hand has saved me” (v. 2). By telling Gideon that he had too many people, God was indicating that He would fight for them. First, twenty-two thousand went home because they were afraid (v. 3). Then Jehovah tested the remaining ten thousand by bringing them to the water to drink. Those who…lapped as a dog laps were sent home (v. 5). Only the three hundred who lapped the water into their mouths with their hands were chosen by God for the battle against Midian (v. 6)…Like Gideon, these three hundred were willing to sacrifice in order to be used by God (Life-study of Judges, pp. 23-24).

Gideon and those three hundred men moved together and acted in one accord. All of their flesh was cut off, so they could be one. This is the oneness in the Spirit and a living in the Body. The record in the New Testament is a record of meetings rather than a record of working.

The three hundred men fought the battle, yet the whole congregation chased the enemy…When we overcome, the whole body is revived. To stand at the bottom of the river is not for ourselves, but for the whole body. “I…fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church” (Col. 1:24). (CWWN, vol. 11, p. 774)

Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 11, pp. 771-775; Life-study of Judges, msgs. 4—5

 

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