Acceptable Sacrifice - Part 2 — Hoseah Wu

Acceptable Sacrifice Through Jesus Christ

Lord, we thank you for your very presence with us this morning. Lord, we are very much aware that your life is worthy to live. Only your life is real to us. It is only your life in us that can be a pleasure, a delight to the Father.

Lord, give us desire to be found acceptable in your sight. And we may not miss the glorious calling by which you call us unto. Have mercy on us. Meet us this morning with thyself. We give you all the praise and all the glory to you.

Because you are with us. And you are in us. We give you all the praise and all the glory. In Christ's precious name we pray. Amen. Shall we turn to 1 Peter 2? We will read verse 5. You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

And let's turn to Ephesians chapter 1. And we'll read 4, 5, 6. We will read 4, 5, 6. In which he made us accepted in a beloved family. And let's turn to the same book, Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians 5.

And we'll pick the very last sentence of verse 8. Walk as children of light. Do you find that there? The very last part of verse 8. Walk as children of light. And then we'll go to verse 10. Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Now that's all the scripture verse we'll read for now. I feel I need to just go over a few things that we shared last Tuesday evening. Just to re-emphasize the importance of it. Our adequate understanding of scriptural truth is absolute foundational.

Because our true spiritual experience is based on the truth that we can really apprehend in God's Word. Our experience that's based on God's truth, that experience is the only real experience we can have from the Holy Spirit.

Because the book of the Holy Spirit will not depart from God's Word or God's revelation to us. The Holy Spirit is making Christ real to us. The Holy Spirit is making God's Word real to us as life, as light.

So there are several important things we need to settle before we can properly enter the experience of it. Now for example, this is very important. The man that got created for himself. The man that created by God.

God created man with the intention that man should be accepted by God. Or be acceptable to Him. So God does not create man with no purpose. He created man with a desire that He wants to accept man totally to Himself.

So before man was created, God had this very thought in His mind. And so we find this in the book of Ephesians. Before man was created, God had already this thought. That we should be holy without blame before Him in love.

This was God's thought before the creation of man. So we can be sure that man was created according to God's thought, according to God's mind. So with the thought that man eventually will fully participate in all that God has prepared for him.

So to enjoy all that is of God, man has to be God-like. So in a sense, we are created for glory. So God's thought for man before creation is that man should be holy. Without blame. And before Him in love.

Now we know there is only one who is holy. God is holy. By saying God, man was created to partake His holiness. Without God-like, will not be found acceptable to Him. Without the light of God, we will not be acceptable to Him.

So what we communicated on Tuesday night. God wanted to accomplish that. He put us in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus. So brothers and sisters, it is not that we sought God. It is God sought us and He found us.

All God's work must find its origin in God Himself. So God has His thought and He therefore acts upon it. So He wants us to be acceptable in His sight. And His way to achieve that is through His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

And so Paul says, by God's power, by God's doing. Because it is only Christ and Christ alone who has the power to make us acceptable before God. Because Jesus Christ is the only person in this whole creation who is really the delight, who is acceptable to the Father.

So for us to be acceptable before God. He put us in the beloved. The one who is always acceptable to Him. And so all the sacrifice we can present to God is all through Jesus Christ. Because apart from Christ, God will not accept anything.

All that is of Christ, that He will accept. Now I shared last Tuesday evening about the offerer is more important than the offering. Because throughout the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, in fact the heart of the Gospel is to make us acceptable before God.

That is the heart of the Gospel. And so we shared last Tuesday evening about the offering of Abel. In that offering, the offering of the animal was mentioned, the fat was mentioned, but the blood was not mentioned.

If you read through all the sacrifices in the book of Leviticus as well as in the book of Numbers, the majority of the sacrifice mentioned are offerings that will ascend the aroma to God the Father. It is for acceptance.

And even though there is mention of sins of trespass suffering and sin offering, but they seem to occupy a lesser important part than the offering of acceptance. So you can see God's heart is for you.

It is not so much about your being forgiven, but it is you. Forgiveness is not the end. Acceptance is the end. Now the reason why the Lord Jesus can save us, because He is a Savior. So Savior saves. Before we were saved, He is already a Savior.

So He was a Lamb that was standing before the foundation of the world. So the provision is already there. So there is a right sacrifice even before the foundation for us, from the foundation for us. Because God foreknew what man can do.

He knew one day we will turn our back on Him. But He will never turn His eyes away from us. We are created for His pleasure. We may give Him up, but He will never give us up. And that's how loving is our Heavenly Father.

He saves because He is our Savior. He can deliver us because He is our Deliverer. He is our refuge. We can hide in Him. He is our fortress. We find our security in Him. It is not what He does to prove who He is.

It is who He is, therefore He does what He does. And so the Scripture says we must believe that He is. We believe what He is, then we enjoy what He has done for us. Now this morning I just want to share a couple more thoughts.

Growing in Acceptability Through Christ

Because in our fellowship group, sometimes we need a little further clarification. Because if a brother shares from the platform, sometimes it is very difficult to cover every aspect of one's truth. So what I share about our acceptableness to God, and we have the understanding that once I am in Christ Jesus, I am instantly mature, I am instantly become acceptable to Him.

So because when I look at myself, I am not what I think I ought to be, and I become very discouraged. Now God's standard of our acceptance, God's standard of our acceptability, that is unchanged. Christ is the standard of our acceptance.

There is no other way. He is the way. Christ is also the way to our acceptance, as acceptability. So from one end to the other end is all Christ. Christ is the beginning, Christ is the end. In between there is a progression.

And thank God we all had a good beginning. But we are not at the end yet. But thank God we are in the process. We are moving toward that end. Because the work Christians began, He will surely carry us all the way through.

So at the beginning it's all His doing. But in the process we need to learn to allow Him to do a work in us. But in the process we need to allow Him to do a work in us. So even at the very beginning, there is a small measure of our life that is of Christ.

No doubt. Right? But as long as there is a small measure of Christ, that measure is very precious to God the Father. Anything that reflects His Son is precious to the Father. Even that little bit is so acceptable to Him.

Even that little bit is so acceptable to Him. But we don't remain there. We move on. We want our stability before Him always on the increase. Because we are moving forward in an increasing way to satisfy His heart.

Because we are moving forward in an increasing way to satisfy His heart. Now whatever that measure of Christ, whether small or medium size or big size, that measure, whether big or small, they all belong to God.

We are in Christ, Christ is in God. We belong to Christ, in Christ we belong to God. So do not despise even the little measure of Christ that is already in you. But don't remain there. And so you know Paul, I think in 1 Corinthians 13, He said, when we are children, we think like children.

And we act like the children. As long as you are children, you can think like children, that's normal. If you are a child, you are children, you act like a little children, a little child, it's very beautiful, it's very cute, it's OK.

So when you are little children, you can play little toys, nobody can blame you. But if you have grown spiritually, you are growing up and you still remain playing those little things, it will not look right.

So what is acceptable in one stage of your life, may be not acceptable in another stage of your life. So we have to take note of that. But unfortunately, many of the Christians, believers, they remain where they were many years ago.

So what was acceptable before God in them, is now unacceptable. You have grown. You should change your thinking. You should change the way you act. So what was good few years back, is no good now. Not good for yourself, not good for other people.

Seeking What Pleases the Lord

Now I want to share a true story. The reason why I want to share this story is because I think it's very important for us to know, because we can never be sure what we think is acceptable to God. And that's why in Philippians 5 .10 it says, always seeking to do that which is pleasing in His sight.

Always, always looking, seeking, for that which is pleasing in His sight. So in Philippians 5 .10 it says, Search, search, find out what is pleasing in His sight. Now that is a continuous thing. It is a continuous thing we need to search and find out what is acceptable in His sight.

Now I mentioned a little while ago, what was or is acceptable to you in one stage of your life, may not be acceptable now. So sometimes the Lord has to do a very drastic work with us. So sometimes the Lord has to do a very drastic work with us.

He has to shock us. So that we discover what we've been doing is totally unacceptable to Him. That is God's grace. To know what is not acceptable to God is God's grace. That is working with us. So once we discover what we do is not acceptable, that creates in us a real longing for that which is acceptable to Him.

So once we discover what we do is not acceptable to God, that creates in us a longing for that which is acceptable to Him. So brothers and sisters, if you from time to time discover what you do is not acceptable to God, thank God for it.

Because God is going to show you and work into you that which is acceptable in His sight. That is the story of a brother that we know. And quite a few of the brothers and sisters in this conference, they know this brother.

He was a very gifted or he is still a very gifted brother with the youth. And then later, for some reason, he left the Youth for Christ organization. And he started his own work. And apparently it was quite successful.

And the Lord really blessed that work. And we know one particular brother who was saved under this brother's ministry. So in order to please the Lord, and he was very active engaging so-called the Lord's work.

Now most of Christians, they don't hear the universality of believers' priesthood. That is not the understanding of most Christians. Even though it's in the scripture, but God's people just don't quite grasp it.

And so in their understanding, to serve God, you have to be a clergy or you have to be a pastor, an ordained pastor. Or you go to a foreign country and you meet missionaries. If you are just a lay Christian, a normal average Christian, you are not called to serve.

You are called to sit and come on Sunday to listen to a good message. And if you come regularly, then you are a good Christian. So this brother, he had a training camp. And on this particular training camp, they have many colleges.

People come and stay there to receive their Christian training. So one day this brother was away from that camp. And he received a call. A fire swept through that camp. And all the buildings were destroyed except one.

For him to take it. But that evening, I would assume, that evening or subsequent after that event, he had a dream. 在那件事情发生之前, 他里面有一个梦想。. 那一个梦想来自我们可以在 格林多前书第三章里面所说的。. 或许我们能够看一下 一个梦不是梦想。. 格林多前书第三章保罗在这里 有一个非常有帮助的一段经文。.

我们读第十一节。. 格林多前书第三章十一节。. 因为那已经立好的根基就是耶稣基督。. 此外没有人能立别的根基。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,那乃是我们的根基。. 那乃是我们共同的根基。. 那乃是我们信心的根基。. 那乃是我们蒙接纳的根基。. 因为那乃是在基督里和在他的工作里。. 那乃是我们所站立的根基与立场。. 那么保罗在那里讲说我们都有 共同的一个根基站立在其上。. 那么现在要留意个人如何在上面建造。. 我们在上面所建造的 可能是蒙约纳的 也可能是不被接受的。.

因为那日子 这火要试验个人的功臣 能够经过火的沉流的 若是不能够经过火的 他就被销毁了。. 所以这位弟兄那天晚上他做了一个梦。. 他说对他而言是一个非常清晰的梦。. 他看见了一群的信徒 站在基督审判的台前。. 他们要将他们自己在 一生中所做的到基督面前交账。. 所以当他在那里排队的时候 他就四处地看 ,看所有的人都在。. 他看见有些人带着好像 很大的东西背在身上。. 也有的人带着好像是一个很小的包包。.

但是他也好像留意到有些人好像什么都没有拿。. 他们只带着很小的东西可以用两个手就抓住了。. 所以他就一直留意着看。. 那些带着很重很大的东西要呈现在主面前 让主看他们为主做了多少的事。. 但是很可惜的在那一日神却不能接受他们所带来的。. 那些好像没有带很多只在手里面可以抓住的 好像主看见的时候非常的欢喜。. 所以那些很大尺寸的都不过是草木和鞋。. 而那些很小的别人都不能看见唯有神看见的 那些乃是宝贝乃是金银宝石。.

这个弟兄从他的那个梦里面 他醒过来从梦中醒过来。. 那个使他整个侍奉的方向改变了。. 毫无疑问的他以往所做的在神的面前是可怨的。. 但是现在就不再是可怨的。. 现在乃是一个改变的时刻。. 主在他的身上有更多的要求。. 所以弟兄姊妹们我们不要留在我们以往所是的。. 我们必须要往前。. You remember I share about the leaders of the tribes they offer six widens.

We'll look at it. Numbers, that's right. Number seven. Numbers chapter seven. That's right. 六个有篷的车。. 我们知道这些篷车 ,他们有轮子。. 这轮子不是要我们停在那里。. 轮子的功用是为了行动往前去。. 所以我们属灵的侍奉不能停在一个点上面太久。. 他们乃是在轮子上。. 所以我们要往前去。. 另外一件事乃是有篷子的。.

弟兄姊妹们我们的侍奉不应该是让人看的 ,而是应该被神看见的。. 因为唯有神才知道什么是可喜悦的 ,可悦纳的。. 我们不是为了人的赞和我们来侍奉神。. 但是也是单单的为了神能够悦纳来侍奉。. 所以我盼望我们弟兄的这一个见证能够在我们心中有深刻的印象。. 在某一个时刻可能是好的 ,可能在今天他不是好的。. 神一直要在我们里面看见基督的增加。. 若是基督在我们里面不增加 ,神就不能够满足。. 今天早晨我要和弟兄姊妹分享我们如何能够过一个蒙神悦纳的生活。.

所以在我的那个分组的小组里 ,我们仍然有一个观念就是 ,若是我很努力的话 ,那么神就应该接纳我。. 所以我的问题乃是 ,在我们里面 ,不论我们怎样努力 ,神能够看见。. 所以在我还没有交通那之前 ,让我交通一点 ,我们主耶稣基督 ,他在十字架上。. 他死和复活的意义。. 当然 ,他是为着我们每一个人的罪而死的。. 但是弟兄姊妹们也请留意。. 因为在他的死里面 ,他把一个不能讨神喜悦 ,不能被神悦纳的族类结束了。.

因为在我们里面 ,没有一个可能能够在神的眼中是被悦纳的。. 他就把这个不被悦纳的除去了。. 但是在另外一面 ,乃是复活。. 他乃是那个新造族类的元首头。. 因着他所逝的 ,那在神的面前是完全的被悦纳。. 所以弟兄姊妹们 ,那一个永远不可能被神悦纳的那个族类 ,在他的里面已经结束了。. 在复活里面 ,他开始了一个全新的族类。. 我活着就是基督。. 活着就是基督。. 因为唯有基督在神的眼中是可悦纳的。.

除了他以外就没有任何人。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,那样的生活是值得来活的。. 而使徒保罗发现了那个是一个能够造成喜悦的秘诀。. 那乃是基督。. 不是我 ,乃是基督。. 所以我们要快快地来看在立位祭里面我们头三个祭。. 第一个乃是全身的翻祭。. 第二个乃是竖祭。. 第三个乃是交通的平安祭。. 请我们翻到立位祭第一章。. 我们读第五节到第八节。. 立位祭第一章第五节 ,第五到第八节 ,第五到第九节。. The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall put fire on the altar and lay wood in order on the fire.

Then the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the pots, the head and the fat, in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar. But he shall wash its entrails, its legs with water, and the priests shall burn all on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to blow.

他要在耶和华面前载公牛 ,亚伦子孙做祭司的要奉上雪 ,把雪撒在会幕门口坛的周围 ,那人要剥去翻祭身的皮 ,把翻祭身切成筷子 ,祭司亚伦的子孙要把火放在坛上 ,把柴摆在火上 ,亚伦子孙做祭司的要把肉块和头并指油摆在坛上火的柴上。. 但翻祭的脏腑与腿要用水洗 ,祭司就要把一切全烧在坛上 ,当作翻祭献与耶和华为新香的火祭。. 在这个祭里面 ,那一个牲畜的每一部分都要献上 ,每一件都要被火焚烧。. 翻祭里面有一个意念就是上身到神的面前 ,所以在这里讲到是献与耶和华为新香的火祭。.

它们都是基督的预表 ,这一个特别的祭 ,是讲到基督完全的向神的降服 ,没有保留任何的失误。. 完全向神降服他自己。. 若是我们到新约特别是约翰福音 ,主耶稣许多次宣告说 他说我来了不是要行自己的义事 ,乃是遵循了胎我来者的义事。. 他从来没有想到自己做事。. 他一直所想到的 ,乃是他要将他自己完全的归给神 ,完全的把自己交给神 ,弟兄姊妹们。. 那乃是他生活的秘诀。. 那乃是他侍奉的能力。. 因为他把他自己完全的交给他的父。.

因为他害怕从他自己出来行动。. 他要百分之百的来讨父的喜悦。. 若是父说什么 ,他才说什么。. 若是他看见父做什么 ,他才做同样的事。. 他不从自己做任何的工作。. 他完全的将自己交给他的父 ,让他父来调度。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,那乃是我们侍奉的秘诀。. 那乃是在神面前能蒙悦纳生活的秘诀。. 因为神并不是要在我们身上找到我们能为他做什么 ,他乃是要得罪你和我。. 他盼望你能够享受他 ,他也能够享受你。.

因为你我是为了交通而被创造的。. 你我被创造来满足他。. 我们被摆在他的里面 ,然后我们在他的面前蒙悦纳 ,我们就可以近前来亲近他。. 因为他的心是为了你 ,他也盼望你的心是为了他。. 所以主耶稣宣告说我来了不是要照我自己的意识形 ,乃是要猜我来者的意识形。. 我们知道主耶稣十二岁的时候到耶路撒冷 ,他进到圣殿里。. 那乃是神在地上的家。. 他在那个情景中 ,那个场合里面他说了什么话呢? 他说我为了一件事也唯有那一件事而来。.

我岂不当以我父家的事为孽吗? In baptism he declared his will is my will, his work is my work, his end is my end. I am totally committed to the father's will. 在他受禁的时候他宣告说他的旨意是我的意思 ,他的工作是我的工作 ,他的目的是我的目的。. 所以天就不能向他保留 ,所以在那里我们看见天开了 ,神就宣告说这乃是我的爱子 ,我所喜悦的。.

The Burnt Offering and Complete Surrender

这些日子里面神在他的百姓中也寻找这样的人。. 因着时间的缘故我们不能读所有的关于第二个祭 ,乃是素祭。. 在那里讲到我们主耶稣基督那完全的人性 ,这一个细面与油调和。. 讲到他那完全的人性 ,他被圣灵所充满 ,在他出生的时候他被圣灵所充满 ,在他开始公开侍奉之前他也被圣灵充满。. 没有加孝 ,没有孝是因为在他里面没有罪 ,并且那个面是非常的细。. 那说到他对于神是那样的敏锐 ,他一直意识到他父的同在。.

在他里面有那样的意识 ,他一直要寻求行神的旨意。. 所以他对于神所要的有一个极高的敏感度。. 那个面是何等的细 ,何等的平均 ,而且非常的细致。. 那就是我们主耶稣的性格。. 这个讲到那个敏锐。. 让我做一点的说明。. 在约翰福音第四章 ,他经过撒玛利亚。. 我们知道对于一个好的犹太人而言, 若是他们从南边要到加利利去 ,他们通常都是绕道 ,不经过撒玛利亚。. 因为犹太人和撒玛利亚人是无关的。. 父的旨意来是要叫他经过撒玛利亚。.

那是违反犹太人的传统的。. 因为他们不愿意和撒玛利亚人有任何的相关。. 因为撒玛利亚人来是一个掺杂的种族。. 而犹太人他们相信了他们那个纯正的血统。. 所以弟兄姊妹们 ,我们的主那一天他听父的引导 ,所以他就往前经过撒玛利亚。. 那乃是过一个奉献生活 ,或者过一个讨神喜悦蒙他月那生活的实际的层面。. 不是我的意思 ,乃是他的旨意。. 这是非常实际的。. 所以他就经过撒玛利亚。. 我们知道那个故事。.

那一天他就遇见了那撒玛利亚的妇人。. 若是我们读那个福音。. 有一些非犹太人的人 ,他们比那些神所拣选的犹太人得着的更大的亮光。. 因为主耶稣对那撒玛利亚的妇人说 ,若是你知道与你说话的人是谁 ,你就必定求他 ,他也必要将活水赐给你。. 很有趣的那一天非常的热。. 而门徒们他们并没有带任何的食物。. 所以他们就进村子里面去买食物。. 所以当他们回来的时候看见主耶稣 ,他已经不饿了。. 似乎他已经满足了。.

他们想要拿食物给他。. 他们想可能有人给他食物吃了。. 因为他拒绝再吃东西。. 所以他们就问他说 ,谁给你食物吃了呢? 我们主怎么回答呢? 主耶稣说 ,我有食物吃是你们所不知道的。. 因为我的食物乃是遵循那差我来者的旨意。. 那乃是我们主耶稣的生活 ,活一个活祭的生活。. 祂在父的眼中永远是可悦纳的。. 祂是做一些事情能够讨父的喜悦的。. 可能并不使人欢喜。. 也很可能祂做了一些违反今日传统的那些事情。.

这是我们在约翰福音第四章里面所看见的。. 我们看见了那数计的原则。. 因为当你我要来遵循祂的旨意的时候。. 若是你要遵循讨祂的喜悦。. 你要首先服侍祂。. 祂就要来服侍你。. 当神得足了满足 ,我们也满足了。. 所以主耶稣说我有食物吃是你们所不知道的。. 我的食物乃是遵循那差我来者的旨意。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,那乃是我们主的生活。. 快快地我交通几件事。. 在约翰福音里面约翰也说道。. 因为我活着你们也必要活着。.

在他的书信里面说我如何行你们也要照着他来行。. 因着他在世界中所以我们也在世界中。. 所以他如何在这个世界中过他的生活。. 他一直像数计一样来过他的生活。. 是一个不停止连持续的一个数计现法。. 因为他的生活是为着讨福的喜悦。. 他的生活方式是数计的方式。. 一直向着父的引导是敏锐的。. 他只有一个意念就是要在父的眼中是可怨的。. 他从来不怕人的批评。. 人的意见也不能拦阻他。. 所以即便是违反犹太人的传统他也去了撒玛丽亚。.

而那一天我们看见了为着国度结了果子。. 不仅那一个撒玛丽亚的妇人得救了。. 我们的主更多留了两千。. 有许多的人来到那里就认识了。. 弟兄姊妹们那乃是一个现记生活的秘诀。. 那乃是一个在神的眼中可悦纳的生活。. 那乃是一个记的生活。. 弟兄姊妹们在我们的意念中 我们常常认为我们奉献神可悦纳的祭物只是偶尔而献。. 在每年的最后一天或者是新年的那一天我们就试着把自己再奉献给他。. 所以是偶尔为之。. 若是你更属灵一点你就更多一点献。.

若是你能够一年献一次那就相当不错了。. 但是主耶稣基督他的生活 他的生活本身就是一个祭。. 他的生活就是一个火祭。. 他的生活就是一个树祭。. 他的生活就是一个交通 ,一个友谊的平安祭。. 我很欣赏一种的翻译在平安祭的地方 ,有的地方翻成交通的祭。. 这两个都非常的好。. 因为在以福所述第二章讲到他是我们的平安。. 没有他在我们与神之间就没有平安。. 没有与神的平安我们就没有办法彼此之间有平安。.

在以福所述第二章保罗说到他是我们的平安。. 不是他为我们所做的一些事情。. 他自己是我们的平安。. 正像我们地中所说的他是我们的梯子 ,天梯。. 这个天梯从地直通到天。. 他乃是那位使人和睦的。. 他带人与神和好 ,也使神与人和好。. 因着我们与神之间有了平安 ,那么我们彼此之间就有和睦。. 并且我们在我们里面对自己也有和睦。. 所以他是我们的平安祭。. 在这个平安祭里面有三方面的能够享受这个祭。.

第一 ,有一部分是献给神的。. 第二部分是属于祭司的。. 第三部分是那个奉献者和他的家庭可以享用的。. 在旧约时代 ,那个献祭者和祭司是两个不同的。. 在旧约里面 ,这个奉献者和他所献的祭物是一。. 所以一面的意义而言 ,我们不是献上一个事情 ,而是把自己献上。. 那么若是我们把自己献上 ,所有属于我的都一起献上。. 在这个平安祭或者交通的祭里面 ,神得着了他的那一部分。. 我们服侍他的人 ,我们也得着我们那一份。.

而我们从他那里所得着的那一份 ,我们与自己的家人同享 ,弟兄姊妹们。. 个别的而言 ,我们每一个人都应该是一个活祭。. 当我们将自己献上给他的时候 ,为什么我们要称自己做活祭呢? 他的意思是说 ,只要我们活着 ,我们就是一个祭。. 只要我们是在基督里面 ,我们还活着 ,你知道或者不知道 ,我们都是一个祭。. 因为那个在我们里面的生命乃是一个祭的生命。. 而那个在我们里面的生命 ,它对神而言永远是可悦纳的。.

The Peace Offering and the Life of the Church

我想我也要交通一点 ,或许能够帮助我们本地的聚会。. 我不晓得关于弟兄姊妹们你们的聚会, 但是我却认识我自己的聚会的本地的聚会。. 而且偶尔的我也认识一些其他的聚会的情形。. 但是我们可以这样来分辨, 在一个地方聚会的弟兄姊妹们 ,是否他们蒙福或者不蒙福 ,他的关键乃是他们如何在神面前过他们的生活。. 若是他们过他们自己基督徒的生活 ,他们的福气是非常有限。. 但是若是他们过一个生活像主耶稣所活出来的 ,像祭物一样的生活, 那么那一个聚会是蒙福的。.

我们可以很确定的 ,哪里有一个聚会是充满了生命, 我们看见那里他们把自己完全的归给神。. 若是有一个聚会 ,他们仅仅知道神为他们做什么。. 他们发现了在他们里面神有一个道路。. 神在他们里面有一个道路也要借着他们走。. 乃是他们过一个生活 ,在神的眼中是可悦纳并且叫神喜悦的。. 那个秘诀乃是我们将自己献给他 ,为他而活 ,我们就发现基督的那个意念。. 他不会来到你面前将他的心意交通给你 ,他要我们到他的面前来 ,然后他把他的心意交通给我。.

所以那一个呼召是一直临到我。. 当我们来到他面前的时候 ,我们就学他 ,也从他而有学习。. 那是每一个地方上聚会的秘诀。. 那个是活泼的 ,是满有生命的 ,确实是神所祝福。. 那些愿意把自己当作平安祭献给他的 ,首先他们盼望能够满足神。. 他们必然发现当他们使神喜悦的时候 ,他们也得到了满足。. 不仅他们自己得到了满足 ,并且整个家在灵里面也得到了享受。. 所以我们的心是要使神满足。. 若是我们的心是要把属灵的供应给弟兄姊妹们 ,我们就发现自己在灵里面先得到保持。.

Praise as a Continuing Spiritual Sacrifice

在我们结束交通之前 ,我再和弟兄姊妹交通一些。. 让我们看希布莱书十三章。. 我们弟兄昨天晚上所用的那一段。. 希布莱书十三章十五节。. 希布莱书十三章十五十六节。. 我们应当靠着耶稣常常以颂赞为祭献给神 ,这就是那承认主名之人嘴唇的果子 ,只是不可忘记行善和捐赎的事 ,因为这样的祭是神所喜悦的。. 一个持续的赞美 ,一个赞美的祭 ,这乃是我们的生活 ,它乃是一个持续不断的 ,并不是被外界环境所影响的 ,乃是从里面涌流出来的。.

弟兄姊妹们 ,我们的赞美常常被外在的事物所影响。. 所以当外面环境好的时候我赞美 ,不好的时候我就不赞美。. 所以我们的赞美乃是被外面环境的条件所影响。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,不论外面的环境如何 ,我们里面的光景永远不改变。. 它一直在我们里面。. 那个实际是在里面而不是在外面。. 我们更多的赞美 ,我们就更多发现在我们里面了。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,那乃是在主里喜乐的秘诀。. 我们赞美 ,持续地赞美。. 我们弟兄昨天晚上交通到 ,特别在我们来到主的桌子跟前。.

那乃是一个特殊的场合。. 若是我们看民宿纪二十八章 ,在那里有一些每日必须献的祭的要求。. 也有一些特殊的 ,我们需要献上的。. 有在安息日献的祭。. 有在每一个月初的时候献的祭。. 也有在节期的时候献的祭。. 但是若是我们读那一章圣经。. 这些是除了一般的祭祀之外。. 那里多次地提到 ,这是在那常献的祭和同献的祭之外的。. 所以在一个礼拜中间 ,我们赞美祂 ,感谢祂。. 但是当我们来到主的桌子跟前 ,那是一个特殊的时刻。.

因为我们盼望有一个更丰满 ,更能够令父的心满意的一个赞美献在祂的桌子。. 在圣经里面 ,敬拜与侍奉是一个可以彼此相通的字。. 因为真实的敬拜 ,它就是真实的侍奉。. 而真实的侍奉也是一个真实的敬拜。. 因为我们侍奉和敬拜的对象乃是神祂自己。. 我们必须要对这一件事留意。. 我要快快地交通一点 ,在我自己生命中所经历的一些实际的事物。. 我参加过许多的特会 ,我为此感谢神。. 有一次有一位姊妹问我 ,你怎么知道你应该去参加这些特会?

我告诉她说 ,除非主禁止我 ,我就知道我要去。. 所以在过去的许多年中 ,主从来没有禁止我来参加特会。. 但是我可以告诉弟兄姊妹们 ,借着我和弟兄姊妹一同来到神面前 ,我得着极大的帮助从神那里来。. 有一些属灵的帮助 ,我们在本地的聚会得不着的 ,我们来到这样的特会我们能够得着。. 在这样的聚会中 ,我们能够摸着基督那更丰满的度量。. 在我们本地的聚会 ,我们知道祂是伟大的。. 但是当我们来到这样的特会中 ,我们发现祂是那样的如此的伟大。.

特别是每一个特会的最后一个聚会 ,我们一同来拨饼。. 当我听见广东话、闽南话、葡萄牙语、中文各式各样的语言, 我想这是何等的奇妙 ,何等的伟大。. 这些原来不可能的人 ,现在神使我们在他里面合一成为可能。. 为什么呢? 乃是因着那一个祭物所献上的。. 因着那一个祭 ,我们成为一人。. 我们感谢神。. 当我们听一些祷告的时候 ,我必须说 ,他们服侍了我。. 在拨饼聚入我们听见的一些的祷告。. 有的时候我和我的姊妹 ,我们好长一段时间还在谈。.

因为他把我们带到是那样的靠近神。. 借着那个祷告我们摸着了天。. 借着那个祷告我们摸着了活的基督。. 因着那个祷告我们摸到了元首。. 感谢神。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,我们所献的灵祭能够如何的在弟兄姊妹们身上做工。. 那几句话就摸着了许多人的心。. 那我们是何等的蒙福。. 星期五我们要一同来拨饼。. 让我们一同来仰望主。. 我们要在地上摸着天。. 我们将我们的爱都献给他。. 当我们把自己那一份献给主的时候 ,我们就服侍了弟兄姊妹们。.

Returning the Fruit of Ministry to God

另外一段的经文 ,罗马书第十五章 ,关于我们服侍的结果。. 罗马书十五章十六节。. 使我为外邦人做基督耶稣的仆役 ,做神福音的祭司 ,叫所献上的外邦人 ,因着圣灵成为圣洁 ,可蒙悦纳。. 保罗劳苦的果孝 ,他不敢用他自己的手去摸。. 因为那是属于神的。. 他将它归还给主。. 所以弟兄姊妹们 ,在我们的侍奉里面 ,不要为自己保留什么事情。. 若是出于他的 ,我们就归还给他。. 特别是基督徒的工人。.

特别在有一些基督徒的圈子里。. 我们盼望有人被吸引来跟随我们自己。. 总有一个倾向 ,就是吸引人来跟随那个做工的人。. 而使徒保罗说 ,你跟随我 ,效法我 ,像我效法基督一样。. 我不喜欢听见说我的教会。. 我在这个特会里面仍然听见这样的说法。. 若是这个教会是你的教会 ,那就不是他的了。. 教会是他的 ,而不是你的。. 所以不要说我的教会。. 你我都善不得。. 所以不要用那一个说法。. 所有一切都必须归还给他。.

若是我们为主劳苦 ,我们就会有这种倾向。. 使徒保罗讲道 ,我为外邦人 ,我所献上的外邦人。. 主啊 ,你保守他们 ,并且使他们成圣。. 弟兄姊妹们 ,我们都需要有那样的态度。. 我要从新的白话文翻译版本里面读这一段经文。. 使徒保罗说 ,我是从基督耶稣所差遣的一个特别的使者 ,是为了你们。. 他是神所差遣的 ,不是人差遣的。. 我将你们 ,我将好的消息带给你们 ,并且将你们当作一个新香的祭物献给神。.

好使你们借着圣灵能够成为洁净并且可悦纳的 ,对神是可悦纳的。. 保罗并没有劳苦为这些外邦人使他们得救 ,是为了自己的快乐。. 他将他们当作祭物 ,就是神可悦纳的祭物献给神。. 愿主帮助我们。. 一切从他而来的 ,也借着我们 ,必须都要归还给他。. 我们一同祷告。. 父啊 ,为着你与我们同在 ,感谢你。. 我们要承认我们人的言语何等的不恰当。. 不要容许我们来拦阻你。. 求你除去一切的障碍 ,将你的伟大显明在你儿女们中间。.

因为你是伟大 ,你实在行奇妙的事。. 帮助我们 ,好叫我们的奉献是绝对是完全的。. 好叫你的旨意得以成全。. 不论我们做什么 ,主啊 ,我们有一个意愿和爱慕, 就是在你的眼中是可悦纳可喜悦的。. 请听我们的祷告。. 愿你得着荣耀。. 奉主耶稣基督的名。. 阿们。.