晨興聖言-信徒(一)-(W12-綱要)
第十二週 • 綱目
新郎、新婦的成熟，以及作戰士擊敗神的仇敵
讀經：約三29上，太九15，來六1，啟十九7
週 一
壹 基督是新郎—太九14~15，二二2~3，二五1、5~6、10：
一 在全宇宙中，最令人喜悅者乃是作新郎的耶穌。
二 施浸者約翰說，『娶新婦的，就是新郎』—約三29上。
三 耶穌陳明自己是新郎—太九14~15，可二19：
1 在聖經末了，我們看見『羔羊的妻』這辭—啟二一9。
2 神的羔羊（約一29）是救贖主，但在十字架上除去我們罪的羔羊，也為着婚配作我們的新郎（啟十九7）。
四 新郎同在時，懼怕是不存在的；我們摸着主的同在，摸着祂是那新郎，就摸着祂的可愛、甜美和新鮮；祂是如此可愛！
五 詩歌一四○首第一節說，『主，你是那可愛新郎，神所選立，我所愛；你的自己富有吸引，我心怎能不愛戴！』
六 我們享受基督作我們的新郎有四種方式（或四方面）：
1 第一，我們是新郎的伴友，享受新郎—太九15。
2 第二，我們是賓客，享受祂作我們的筵席—路十四15~17，啟三20，十九9。
3 第三，我們是童女，享受新郎的來臨—太二五1~13。
4 第四，我們將是新婦，享受新郎到至極—啟十九7。
七 主今日行動的方向是要豫備新婦作新郎的配偶，使救贖的神與蒙祂救贖的人成為永遠的婚配—7~8節，二一1~2、9~10。
八 我們需要領悟，作為新郎的主耶穌是那要來的一位：
1 祂要來迎娶我們作祂的新婦。
2 主來臨的啟示包含在祂是新郎這件事裏。
週 二
貳 我們需要看見並領會新婦的成熟這事—林後三18，羅八29，弗四13、15，來六1，啟十九7下，二一2、9：
一 啟示錄十九章七節下半說，『新婦…自己豫備好了。』
二 基督的佳偶在神聖生命的成熟裏，成了書拉密女（『所羅門』的女性寫法），指明她成了基督的複製和複本，配得過祂，好與祂成為婚配—歌六13，啟二一9~10。
三 『成熟』一辭，希臘原文的意思是『達到終點』：
1 變化是我們在天然的生命裏新陳代謝的改變，而成熟是我們被那改變我們的神聖生命所充滿—來六1，西四12，羅十二2，彼後一3。
2 變化的最後階段是成熟，就是生命達到豐滿—4~8節。
3 成熟的信徒認識並顧到基督的身體，有身體的感覺，也以身體為中心—林前十二16、18~19、21、24。
四 在新約聖經裏，『成熟』這辭用於指信徒在他們重生時所得着之基督的生命上長成並得以完全—多三5，彼前一3、23，太五48：
1 我們絕不該自滿自足，乃要追求在基督的生命裏長大並成熟—腓三12、14。
2 我們需要往前，竭力前進，達到成熟，忘記背後，努力面前的，追求對基督完滿的享受並贏得基督，好在千年國裏對基督有極點的享受—12~15節。
3 在屬靈生命上成熟的先決條件，就是在神聖生命裏一直長大—弗四15。
4 信徒在基督生命裏長大並成熟的最終結果，乃是長成的人—召會作基督的身體，長成一個成熟的人—13節。
週 三
五 在雅各書，雅各用農夫恒忍熱切等候地裏寶貴的出產為例證—五7：
1 主耶穌實際上就是那真農夫，獨一的農夫—太十三3。
2 當我們在恒忍等候主的來臨時，祂這位真農夫也在忍耐等候我們在生命裏成熟，成為田地初熟的果子和莊稼—啟十四4、14~15。
3 我們若禱告說，『主，求你快回來』，主可能說，『當你們在等候我回來時，我也在等候你們成熟；惟有你們成熟了，纔能催促我回來。』
4 我們若認真等候主回來，就需要在生命上長大以至於成熟；這種領會對我們有極大的幫助。
六 成熟就是得着基督成形在我們裏面；這意思也是我們完全變化成為祂的形像—加四19，林後三18：
1 從我們得重生的時候起，主就一直在我們裏面作工，使我們有祂的形像—18節，羅八29。
2 等到主把祂的形像完全作到我們裏面，祂也從我們裏面完全彰顯出來的時候，我們就生命成熟了—弗三16~17。
週 四
叁 作基督新婦的召會必須是擊敗神仇敵的戰士—五25~27，六10~18，啟十九7~9、11~16：
一 歌羅西二章十五節描繪在基督釘十字架的時候所進行的爭戰；那時，基督的十字架乃是宇宙的中心。
二 屬靈爭戰的目的，就是把神的國帶進來—啟十二10。
三 屬靈的爭戰乃是身體的事；我們是團體的軍隊，為着神在地上的權益爭戰—十七14，十九14，參提後二4。
四 基督要以作戰將軍的身分，帶着祂的新婦軍隊，在哈米吉頓與敵基督爭戰—啟十九11~21：
1 當基督同着祂的軍隊而來時，祂乃是作為人子而來—太二六64，啟十四14。
2 祂這位人子需要一個配偶，好與祂相配，使祂得以完全；這個配偶就是祂的新婦—二一2、9。
3 基督要迎娶那已經勝過那惡者的得勝者。
4 婚禮的禮服就是基督從我們活出，成了我們日常的義，使我們不僅有資格參加婚禮，也彀資格參加軍隊，在哈米吉頓的爭戰中，與基督一同和敵基督作戰—太二二11~12，啟十九7~8、14。
週 五
五 在雅歌裏我們看見，基督得勝的佳偶成為美麗如得撒，秀美如耶路撒冷；然而，對仇敵而言，她威武如展開旌旗的軍隊—六4、10：
1 愛基督的人應該是可愛的，同時也該是可怕的；但許多信徒在主面前失去了他們的可愛，在仇敵面前也失去了他們的可怕—4、10節：
a 基督的佳偶在主面前乃是美麗並秀美的，像天城那樣的堅固，像聖所那樣的安靜；同時在仇敵和世人的面前，她顯出她得勝的榮耀來—4、10節。
b 基督得勝的佳偶不只有一個充滿盼望的前途，也不只有了完全屬天的生活，並且還是時常歌唱得勝的凱歌者—三7~8。
2 威武的軍隊，表徵主的得勝者使神的仇敵撒但懼怕—六4、10：
a 仇敵懼怕建造成為神城的召會—尼六15~16，詩一○二12~16。
b 撒但不怕個人的基督徒，即使他們為數成千上萬；但他懼怕作基督身體的召會，就是與他和他的國爭戰的團體戰士—弗六10~20。
週 六
六 大衛豫表在苦難中爭戰的基督（撒上二五28），亞比該豫表在苦難中為神的國爭戰的召會（2~42）：
1 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—40~42節。
2 亞比該嫁給大衛，豫表一個從軍為着爭戰的召會—弗六10~20。
3 亞比該的豫表描繪召會有分於主耶穌屬靈的爭戰：
a 不僅神永遠的定旨必須成就，祂的心願必須得到滿足，神的仇敵也必須被擊敗；為此，召會必須是戰士。
b 屬靈爭戰是必需的，因為撒但的意志在對抗神的意志—太六10，七21，賽十四12~14：
㈠ 屬靈爭戰的源頭，都在於神的意志與撒但意志之間的衝突。
㈡ 作為召會，我們的爭戰乃是要征服撒但的意志，並擊敗神的仇敵—啟十二11。
㈢ 我們屬靈的行事為人是為着完成神的定旨，我們的生活是為着基督的滿足，我們的爭戰是為着擊敗神的仇敵並維持祂的得勝。
七 藉着屬靈的爭戰，神永遠的定旨就完全達成了；『世上的國，成了我主和祂基督的國，祂要作王，直到永永遠遠』—十一15。
Week Twelve
The Bridegroom, the Maturity of the Bride, and Being a Warrior to Defeat God’s Enemy
Hymns: 170
Scripture Reading: John 3:29a; Matt. 9:15; Heb. 6:1; Rev. 19:7
§ Day 1
I. Christ is the Bridegroom—Matt. 9:14-15; 22:2-3; 25:1, 5-6,
10:
A. In the whole universe the most pleasant person is Jesus as the Bridegroom.
B. John the Baptist said, "He who has the bride is the bridegroom"—John 3:29a.
C. Jesus presented Himself as the Bridegroom—Matt. 9:14-15; Mark 2:19:
1. At the end of the Bible, we have the term the wife of the Lamb—Rev. 21:9.
2. The Lamb of God (John 1:29) is the Redeemer, but the Lamb who took away our sins on the cross is also our Bridegroom for the marriage (Rev. 19:7).
D. In the presence of the Bridegroom, fear is nonexistent; when we touch the Lords presence, touch Him as the Bridegroom, we touch His loveliness, sweetness, and freshness; He is so lovely!
E. The first stanza of Hymns, #170 says, "Lord, Thou art the lovely Bridegroom, / God appointed, dear to us; / Thy dear self is so attractive, / To our heart so beauteous!"
F. There are four ways (or aspects) for us to have the enjoyment of Christ as our Bridegroom:
1. First, we are the companions in the bridechamber enjoying the Bridegroom— Matt. 9:15.
2. Second, we are the guests enjoying Him as our feast—Luke 14:15-17; Rev. 3:20; 19:9.
3. Third, we are the virgins enjoying the coming of the Bridegroom—Matt. 25:1-13.
4. Fourth, we will be the bride to enjoy the Bridegroom to the uttermost—Rev. 19:7.
G. The direction of the Lords move today is to prepare the bride as the counterpart of the Bridegroom for the eternal marriage of the redeeming God with His redeemed—vv. 7-8; 21:1-2, 9-10.
H. We need to realize that as the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus is the coming One:
1. He is coming to meet us as His bride.
2. The revelation of the Lords coming is included in His being the Bridegroom.
§ Day 2
II. We need to see and understand the maturity of the bride—2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:13, 15; Heb. 6:1; Rev. 19:7b; 21:2, 9:
A. Revelation 19:7b says, "His wife has made herself ready."
B. In the maturity of the divine life, the lover of Christ becomes the Shulammite (the feminine form of Solomon), indicating that she has become the reproduction and duplication of Christ to match Him for their marriage—S. S. 6:13; Rev. 21:2, 9-10.
C. The meaning of the word mature in Greek is "at the end point":
1. To be transformed is to be metabolically changed in our natural life; to be mature is to be filled with the divine life that changes us—Heb. 6:1; Col. 4:12; Rom. 12:2; 2 Pet. 1:3.
2. The last stage of transformation is maturity, the fullness of life—vv. 4-8.
3. A mature believer knows and cares for the Body of Christ, being Body- conscious and Body-centered—1 Cor. 12:16, 18-19, 21, 24.
D. As used in the New Testament, the word mature refers to the believers being full-grown and perfected in the life of Christ, which they received at the time of regeneration—Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:3, 23; Matt. 5:48:
1. We should never be content with ourselves but pursue growth and maturity in the life of Christ—Phil. 3:12, 14.
2. We need to go on, to be brought on to maturity by forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, pursuing toward the fullest enjoyment and gaining of Christ for the uttermost enjoyment of Christ in the millennial kingdom—vv. 12-15.
3. The prerequisite for maturity in the spiritual life is to grow continually in the divine life—Eph. 4:15.
4. The ultimate issue of the believers growth and maturity in the life of Christ is the full-grown man—the church as the Body of Christ growing into a mature man—v. 13.
§ Day 3
E. In his Epistle, James uses the illustration of a farmer eagerly awaiting with long-suffering the precious fruit of the earth—5:7:
1. The Lord Jesus is actually the real Farmer, the unique Farmer—Matt. 13:3.
2. While we are awaiting with long-suffering the Lords coming, He, as the real Farmer, is awaiting with patience our maturity in life, as the firstfruits and harvest of the field—Rev. 14:4, 14-15.
3. If we pray, "Lord, come back quickly," the Lord may say, "While you are awaiting My coming back, I am awaiting your maturity; only your maturity can hasten My coming back."
4. It is a great help for us to realize that if we are serious about awaiting the Lords coming back, we need to grow in life unto maturity.
F. To be mature is to have Christ fully formed in us; it also means that we have been fully transformed into His image—Gal. 4:19; 2 Cor. 3:18:
1. Since the time of our regeneration, the Lord has been working in us so that we may have His image—v. 18; Rom. 8:29.
2. When the Lord has fully worked His image into us and is fully expressed through us, we will be mature in life—Eph. 3:16-17.
§ Day 4
III. The church as the bride of Christ must be a warrior to defeat Gods enemy—5:25-27; 6:10-18; Rev. 19:7-9, 11-16:
A. Colossians 2:15 portrays the warfare that took place at the time of Christs crucifixion; at that time the cross of Christ was the center of the universe.
B. The purpose of spiritual warfare is to bring in the kingdom of God—Rev. 12:10.
C. Spiritual warfare is a matter of the Body; we are a corporate army fighting the battle for Gods interests on earth—17:14; 19:14; cf. 2 Tim. 2:4.
D. Christ will come as a fighting General with His bride as His army to fight against Antichrist at Armageddon—Rev. 19:11-21:
1. When Christ comes with His army, He will come as the Son of Man—Matt. 26:64; Rev. 14:14.
2. As the Son of Man, He will need a counterpart to match and complete Him; this counterpart will be His bride—21:2, 9.
3. Christ will marry the overcomers, who have already overcome the evil one.
4. The wedding garment—Christ lived out of us as our daily righteousness— qualifies us not only to attend the wedding but also to join the army to fight with Christ against Antichrist in the war at Armageddon—Matt. 22:11-12; Rev. 19:7-8, 14.
§ Day 5
E. In Song of Songs we see that the overcoming lover of Christ becomes as beautiful as Tirzah and as lovely as Jerusalem; however, to the enemy she is as terrible as an army with banners—6:4, 10:
1. The lovers of Christ should be lovable and terrible at the same time; however, many believers have lost their loveliness before the Lord and their terribleness before the enemy—vv. 4, 10:
a. The lover of Christ is beautiful and comely before the Lord, as solid as the heavenly city and as serene as the sanctuary; at the same time, she displays the glory of her victory before the enemy and the world—vv. 4, 10.
b. The overcoming lover of Christ not only has a future that is full of hope and a life that is absolutely heavenly, but she is also a victor who constantly triumphs in her victory—3:7-8.
2. A terrible army signifies that the Lords overcomers terrify Gods enemy, Satan—6:4, 10:
a. The enemy is frightened by the church that is built up as the city of God—Neh. 6:15-16; Psa. 102:12-16.
b. Satan is not afraid of individualistic Christians, even if they number in the thousands, but is terrified of the church as the Body of Christ, the corporate warrior fighting against him and his kingdom—Eph. 6:10-20.
§ Day 6
F. David typifies the warring Christ in the midst of sufferings (1 Sam. 25:28), and Abigail typifies the warring church, fighting for Gods kingdom in the midst of sufferings (vv. 2-42):
1. From 1 Samuel 25 onward, Abigail was always at the side of David the warrior and followed him in his wars—vv. 40-42.
2. Abigails marriage to David typifies the church enlisted as an army for warfare—Eph. 6:10-20.
3. The type of Abigail portrays the churchs participation with the Lord Jesus in spiritual warfare:
a. Not only must Gods eternal purpose be fulfilled and the desire of His heart be satisfied, but Gods enemy must be defeated; for this, the church must be a warrior.
b. Spiritual warfare is necessary because Satans will is set against Gods will—Matt. 6:10; 7:21; Isa. 14:12-14:
1) Spiritual warfare has its source in the conflict between the divine will and the satanic will.
2) As the church, our fighting is to subdue the satanic will and to defeat Gods enemy—Rev. 12:11.
3) Our spiritual walk is for the fulfillment of Gods purpose, our living is for the satisfaction of Christ, and our warfare is for the defeat of Gods enemy and to maintain His victory.
G. Through spiritual warfare Gods eternal purpose is completely accomplished; "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever"—11:15b.
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