事奉类 › 灵与灵的事奉 › 第八篇　出于神的事奉

第八篇　出于神的事奉

灵与灵的事奉

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　　读经：
　　林后三5~6：“并不是我们凭自己能承担什么事，我们所能承担的，乃是出于神；祂叫我们能承当这新约的执事，不是凭着字句，乃是凭着灵；因为那字句是叫人死，灵是叫人活。”
　
　　我们刚才读的两节圣经，每一节都提到两个不同的源头。第五节所提的，一个是“自己”，一个是“神”；第六节，一个是“字句”，一个是“灵”。虽然这两节圣经提出四个源头，但这不是说，我们的事奉有四种不同的源头。这四个源头，实在就是两个。头两个是在后两个的里面，是和后两个相联一体的。“自己”如何与“字句”是相联的，“神”也如何与“灵”是一体的。凭着字句事奉神，怎样就是凭着自己事奉神；凭着灵事奉神，也怎样就是凭着神事奉神。要凭着自己事奉神，怎样就必须凭着字句；要凭着神事奉神，也怎样就必须凭着灵。凭着字句的事奉，怎样就是在自己里面，出于自己的事奉；凭着灵的事奉，也怎样就是在神里面，出于神的事奉。所以我们的事奉，只有两种不同的源头。一种是凭着字句的，是出于自己的；一种是凭着灵的，是出于神的。我们的事奉，不是出于第一种源头，就是出于第二种源头；不是出于自己，就是出于神；倒过来说，不是出于神，就是出于自己；此外再没有第三种源头。
　
　　我们今天没有工夫把这两种源头的事奉都仔细看过，只能看这两种的一种，就是出于神的事奉。这种事奉，不是出于我们自己的，不是凭着我们自己的，当然也不是为着我们自己的，乃是出于神的，乃是凭着神的，当然也是为着神的。出于我们自己的事奉，是以我们自己为源头，是我们自己凭着字句的规条或仪式，而作出来的，是不用倚靠神，不用寻求神，不用和神有交通，是可以在神之外，向神独立，就能作出来的。但是出于神的事奉，就不然！必须倚靠神，必须寻求神，必须和神有交通，必须在神里面，绝对以神为源头，才可以。这种事奉，不是出于人的智慧，不是靠着人的能力，也不是为着人的爱好，乃是出于神的启示，乃是靠着神的圣灵，也是为着神的目的。这需要我们活在灵里，凭灵而活。只有当我们拒绝魂，拒绝属魂的心思，情感，和意志，而活在灵里，凭着灵的感觉而活，随着灵的引导而行的时候，我们才能和神有交通，才能得到神的启示，而有那出于神，以神为源头，并倚靠神，且为着神的事奉。
　
　　这一种出于神的事奉是必须和神有交通的，是不能和神脱节的。我们要有这一种事奉，必须和神交通着来作，不能向神独立，不能神是神，我们是我们。每一个出于神，能蒙神悦纳的事奉，都是和神接触，而摸着神的，都是一面接触着神，一面事奉神，不能和神两立，而没有联系的。我们在神之外，无论凭着我们的热诚，或是凭着我们别的东西，所有的事奉，都不是出于神的，所以都没有属灵的价值。一个出于神，有属灵价值的事奉，必是我们和神联合，住在祂里面和祂有交通，一面是祂在我们里面运行，一面是我们在外面事奉祂。所以这种事奉，乃是神从我们里面运行出来的一个举动，从外面看，是我们事奉祂，但就里面说，是祂在那里运行。
　　慕安得烈弟兄说，祷告，就是我们里面的基督祷告那坐在宝座上的基督。这话不只说得深，也实在说得中肯！祷告是什么呢？祷告就是基督祷告基督，不过是经过我们而已。真实属灵的祷告，不是发源于我们，不是出于我们，不是我们自己祷告，乃是发源于基督，乃是出于基督，乃是住在我们里面的基督，祷告那坐在宝座上的基督。
　　祷告是如此，其他的事奉也是如此。任何的事奉，都该是住在我们里面的神经过我们，事奉那坐在宝座上的神。一个神所要，所悦纳的事奉，不能光是我们事奉祂，而祂在我们里面没有地位；不能光是我们在地上事奉，祂在天上接受，而祂和我们，我们和祂，没有联合，是两立的。不能我们仅仅把祂想一下，就为祂发热心，就来事奉祂，而和祂没有接触，没有调和。这样的事奉，是出于我们自己的，是凭着我们自己的，不是出于神的，不是凭着神的，里面没有神的成分。
　　使徒说，他在新约的事奉，不是出于他自己，凭着他自己的，乃是出于神，凭着神的。不错，是他事奉神，但更是神在他里面运行着，带着他事奉神。并不是他高兴了，想通了，打好了主意，就定规要为神作什么。不是！乃是神住在他里面，他将自己交给神，让给神，将他自己的心思，情感，和意志，都服在神的管理之下，让神占有，让神充满，让神得着一切的地位，借着祂的灵在他里面运行，推动他作工，推动他事奉。他里面给神推动了，就有一个力量，使他外面非事奉不可。不是他的热心，不是他的心思情感，或意志，叫他非事奉不可。不是！乃是神在他里面，调和着他，推动他非事奉不可。这个事奉不是从他出来的，乃是从神出来的，在外面看是他事奉，实在是神在他里面运行推动。
　　保罗没有得救的时候，是扫罗。当他作扫罗的时候，也事奉神，但是他那时的事奉，不是出于神，乃是出于他自己，乃是他照着所受的宗教教育，为神大发热心。他是意志坚强，热诚有为的青年，有干才，有魄力，他就凭着这些，照着犹太教的规条，来事奉神。他这种事奉，里面没有神的地位，更没有神的成分，不是出于神的，乃是出于他自己的，不是凭着神的，乃是凭着他自己的。他那时是凭着他的热诚，凭着他的魄力，凭着他的干才，来事奉神，并不是凭着神。
　　等他蒙恩之后，神住在他里面，他和神联合，他和神不再是两个，乃是两个变成一个，神的生命变作他的生命，神的性情变作他的性情，神的感觉变作他的感觉，神的眼光变作他的眼光，神的一切变作他的一切，变作他的内容。他这样让神在他里面有地位，当他和神交通的时候，神就在他里面运行，给他一个感觉，推动他去传福音，推动他来事奉神。他这样的事奉，是出乎神的，是凭着神的，是经过神，也让神经过，而出来的。这一种事奉，不光是一个工作，更不是一种事业，乃是神自己的流出，神生命的流露。
　　在事奉上，我们不能凭自己的热诚，不能凭自己的魄力，干才，也不能光凭所受的教导。这些不能作我们事奉的源头。我们事奉的源头，该是神，该是灵，该是神在我们里面的运行，该是神的灵在我们灵里的运行，主张，并带领。从这一个出来的事奉，才是出于神而凭着神的事奉。
　　所以凡是出于神的事奉，不能没有遇着神，没有碰着神，没有和神接触，这是不可能的。我们必须碰着神，摸着神，里面和神有接触，才能有出于神的事奉。比方，有的人传福音，光是出于他们的热心，光是出于他们的兴奋，没有在里面碰着神，遇着神，和神有交通。他们这样的传福音，是出于他们自己，不是神在他们里面运行推动出来的。另外有一些人传福音，和这个不同，乃是因着他们亲近主，在主面前承认自己一切的罪恶，对付所有不讨主喜悦的事，主的灵在他们里面有地位，就在他们里面运行推动他们，叫他们有负担，非向人传福音不可。他们这样的传福音，不是他们的热诚推动他们，乃是在他们里面的圣灵推动他们，像火烧一样，叫他们不顾一切，非去向亲友传福音不可。这是因为他们里面和主有接触，像这个电风扇和电一接触，电就进去推动它旋转。这样的传福音，这样的事奉，乃是出于神的，乃是属灵的。这是事奉神，又是凭着神事奉神，又是借着神事奉神，和神没法断绝，没法有间隔。
　　事奉神，是不能和神脱开的，必须时刻倚靠神。所以不能因为有了经历，会作，会事奉，就可以了。事奉神，永远不能靠“会作”。不能昨天讲了一篇好的道，今天因为会讲了，就再来讲一次。昨天讲，是倚靠神，今天讲，还得倚靠神。事奉神，不能倚靠经历，必须倚靠神，和神有交通，有接触。
　　有人常说，李弟兄，请把事奉神的秘诀教我们一些，我们有了秘诀，就会了。我说，没有这件事！事奉神，如果有秘诀，那就只有一个秘诀，就是和神交通。一个人作任何的事，到了一个时候，都可以说是老资格，是熟手。唯独事奉神，不可能这样。事奉神，每时每刻都需要和神有新的接触。这个电风扇不能说转了二年，现在是老资格了，是熟手了，就不必和电接触了。不管它转了多久，头一天转，得接触电，末一天转，还得接触电。就是我们事奉神好久了，还得接触神。连保罗，若是他今天来事奉神，也还得接触神。他不能说，他是老资格，就不必接触神，不必和神交通。若是这样，他所作出来的，不过是工作而已，不能有神的成分在他所作的工作里面。
　　我们的事奉，我们的工作，不是重在成功什么事业，乃是重在表现神的自己，流露神的生命。我们若不凭着神，若没有神的同在，我们所作的怎能表现神，流露神？所以我们的事奉，必须是我们和神有交通，凭着神而有的才可以。我们每逢事奉，都必须和神有交通，让神在我们里面运行。我们必须把我们的兴奋，思想，和主张，都摆在一边，让神在我们里面有地位，来充满，来运行。这个是事奉的源头，也是最宝贝的源头。
　　当日在安提阿的教会中，有五个先知和教师，他们在一起祷告，事奉主，和主有交通的时候，圣灵就来差遣他们中间的两个人出去为主作工。不是他们五个人开了一个讨论会，动动脑筋，用用思想，就来了一个定规，打发两个人出去作工。根本不是这样！他们是把自己交给主，让主在他们里面有地位。在这种情景之下，主在他们里面就能行得通，就能运行叫他们出去布道。他们是充满神，凭着神，带着神出去的。人碰着这样的工作，所感觉，所得着的，不是事物，乃是神，乃是神的生命。
　　但我们所作的，是成功事业呢？还是流露神，释放神呢？我们若要叫我们所作的，能流露神，释放神，我们就必须学习拒绝自己的热诚，自己的思路，自己的情感，自己的主张，常常伏在神面前，仰望神，和神有交通，不光是在祷告的时候，就是在平常的时候，也是在里面和神有交通，把里面的宝座和主权让给祂，让祂来占有，让祂在里面随意运行。我们这样和神交通，让神占有，神就很容易找到我们，把祂的心意启示我们，并借着我们流露祂自己。特别是在各地教会中作长老的弟兄们，若不是在交通中受神的引导，若不是从神得着负担，若不是受神的托付，我们各地教会的事奉，就难得流露神。
　　有的作长老的弟兄问我说，怎样就能从神得着负担？怎样就能受到神的托付？是这样：你把自己向着神，各部分都让神来占有，把各部分首要的地位都让给神，不让自己的情感，心思，或意志，在你里面作第一，而让神在你里面居首位─你这样亲近神，和神交通，就很容易得着神的负担。神的负担只能赐给这样的人。你若是这样给神地位和机会，神就很容易在你里面运行，使你受到付托，有了负担。这样的负担，叫你所有的事奉，是由于神从你里面推动出来的，所以能流露神，能释放神。
　
　　所以出于神的事奉，是必须和神有交通的，也是必须能供应生命的。神所要我们有的事奉，不是重在作工，作事，是重在供应生命。圣徒的事奉，教会的事奉，那个重心，那个目的，不是在成功一种事业一项工作，乃是在把神的生命，供应出去。全世界的人不论作那种事，为农也好，经商也好，作工业也好，办教育也好，都是重在事业的成功。他们都是把事业作成功，就算达到目的。独有教会的事奉，圣徒的事奉，不是这样！教会和圣徒的事奉，如果仅仅是把事情作成功，仅仅是作出一种或大或小的事业来，这在神看，是等于零，没有什么价值。神要教会和圣徒事奉，不是重在作出工作或事业来，乃是重在将神的生命供应出去。
　　为着许多初信的人，我们就用比较浅显的话来说。比方，教会在这里事奉神，并不是重在造了多少会所，办了多少事业，有了多少活动，作了多少工作，带进了多少人。这些不是教会事奉的重心和目的。用这些来测量，来断定教会的事奉，是非常错误的。教会的事奉有多重，有多高，有多少价值，在神的心目中能蒙多少悦纳，完全不是以这些作标准，不是以人数作标准，不是以物质作标准，不是以事业的大小，或工作的多少作标准，乃是以另一件事作标准，就是教会把神的生命供应出去有多少，人经过教会的带领和服事，里面神生命的成分有多少。
　　神测量教会的事奉和工作，只根据一点，就是教会到底给人多少属灵生命的供应，人得着教会的帮助，到底里面得着或增加多少神生命的成分。神只以这个作标准，来测量教会的事奉。我们就是把这地方所有的人，都带进教会来，把这地方的房子都改作聚会所，把这地方许多的人都弄得热心传福音，如果这些人里面没有神的生命，没有充满神多少的成分，不够得着神，不够认识神，在神看，还是相当空洞，还是没有多少价值。神绝不以祂之外的任何事物，来测量我们的事奉和工作。祂只以人里面得着祂的成分，充满祂的成分，来测量我们的事奉和工作。不是我们把会所造得高高大大的，把事情作得整整齐齐的，把人数弄得满满多多的，我们的事奉和工作，在神面前就有了分量。没有这件事！我们事奉和工作的分量，不是在于人事物的多少，乃是在于神的生命给人摸着的多少，给人得着的多少，给人充满的多少，给人经历的多少。不是我们多得着一些人，多作出一点事，多有了一些东西，我们的事奉和工作就是有分量的。我们永远不能以这些作测量我们事奉和工作的标准。我们必须看我们的事奉和工作，把神的生命供应给人有多少。有的人原来没有神的生命，经过我们一接触，一带领，就得着神的生命进到他们里面。有的人虽然有神的生命，但是非常幼稚，认识神非常肤浅，经过我们和他们接触，和他们交通，他们里面就更深的渴慕神，更深的追求神，而更多的得着神的生命。
　　我们的事奉和工作，只该将神的生命供应人，也只该用神的生命吸引人。人来到我们的聚会中我们不该给人感觉别方面的好，应该给人感觉在这里碰着灵，在这里遇着神，在这里得着生命的供应。也许我们的会所是简陋的，聚会的人是不多的，但是人一来到我们的聚会里，就感觉神的同在，就碰着神。人一走进这样的聚会中，就有一个莫名其妙的感觉，黑暗的就得着亮光，为难的就看见道路，软弱的就变作刚强，下沉的就得以起来。
　　教会团体的事奉该如此，我们个人的事奉也该如此。人碰着我们一下，里面就得着生命的帮助。好像我们里面有一个东西出来，碰着他们的里面，点着他们的里面。他们的里面是昏暗的，给我们接触一下，就明亮了。原来他们里面对神生命的认识非常差，非常少，给我们接触一下就进步，就增多了。我们把他们带到主里面，叫他们得着生命的供应。他们从我们得着的帮助，不是物质的，不是交际的，不是情感的，也不是道理的，乃是属灵的，乃是生命的，乃是出于神的，乃是在基督里的。他们这样在生命中从我们所得着的，实在说，就是神自己，就是神的生命。
　　我们的工作，不能用别的东西吸引人，不能用交际，不能用财物，或任何神以外的事物；这些都是属于死亡的。我们的工作，只能用神和神的生命吸引人，并供应人。这样的事奉，才是属灵的，才是出于神的，才能摸着神。
　　主在约翰十五章说，祂是葡萄树，我们是枝子，枝子离了葡萄树，就不能作什么。葡萄树的枝子，不是为着作材料，乃是为着结果子。结果子，就是供应生命，就是把葡萄树的生命供应出去。这就是我们对主的功用。主今天不需要人作材料，不需要人有干才，只需要人住在祂里面，被祂充满，而将祂的生命供应出去，像葡萄树的枝子，里面被葡萄树的汁浆充满，而将葡萄树的生命供应出去一样。葡萄树的枝子不懂别的事，只懂住在葡萄树上，让其中的生命，经过它供应出去，流露出去。
　　这就是教会的事奉。教会的事奉，不是作什么大工作，大事业，有什么大成就，乃是将基督的生命供应出去，流露出去。这需要我们接在基督身上，住在基督里面，让祂在我们里面有地位，而充满我们，使祂的生命变作我们的生命，祂的性情变作我们的性情，祂的爱好变作我们的爱好，祂的趋向变作我们的趋向，祂的一切变作我们的一切。我们这样住在祂里面，活在祂里面，和祂有交通，就能让祂从我们经过，从我们里面流露出去。我们这样流露出去的，就是祂的生命，就是那葡萄树的生命。这一个，能供应人生命，能叫人得着生命。这一个，人碰着的时候，就是碰着基督，就是碰着那葡萄树的生命。这一个，就是教会的事奉。
　　从前在英国办孤儿院的慕勒，实在是一个活在神里面，而事奉神的人。但是可惜有的人为他所出的传记，太偏于他事业的成就，而把他活在神里面，活在神面前，那些属灵生命的东西忽略了。当我读他自己所写的日记，我不觉得他作了多大的事业，只感觉我碰着一个活在神面前，和神有交通，让神掌权，让神有地位，里面充满神的人。他的日记，我每逢读的时候，都把我带到神面前，叫我感觉神的同在，都叫我觉得慕勒这个人，是活在光中，是活在神面前，你读到他，就碰到神。这是慕勒的生平，不是重在事业的成就，乃是重在对神的认识，对神生命的流露。
　　我们永远要记得，教会的事奉，乃是在于将神流露出去，将神的生命供应出去。不是在于我们作了多少事，作了多少工，乃是在于我们将神流露出去有多少，将神的生命供应出去有多少。这是所有的问题！神永远不用别的东西来评判我们的工作，只用祂的生命来评判我们的工作。祂自己，祂生命的成分，在我们的工作里越多，我们的工作就越有分量，越有价值。否则，我们的工作是虚空的，是失败的。
　　真愿神怜悯我们，叫我们所有的事奉和工作，都是出于祂的，都是因着和祂有交通而有的，也都是能将祂和祂的生命流露出去，供应出去的。
　　读经：　　哥林多后书三章五至六节：“并不是我们凭自己能承担什么事，我们所能承担的，乃是出于神；祂叫我们能承当这新约的执事，不是凭着字句，乃是凭着灵；因为那字句是叫人死，灵是叫人活。”
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并不是我们凭自己够资格将什么估计作像是出于我们自己的；我们之所以够资格，乃是出于神；
林后3:6  
祂使我们够资格作新约的执事，这些执事不是属于字句，乃是属于灵，因为那字句杀死人，那灵却叫人活。
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　　我们刚才读的两节圣经，每一节都提到两个不同的源头。第五节所提的，一个是“自己”，一个是“神”；第六节，一个是“字句”，一个是“灵”。虽然这两节圣经提出四个源头，但这不是说，我们的事奉有四种不同的源头。这四个源头，实在就是两个。头两个是在后两个的里面，是和后两个相联一体的。“自己”如何与“字句”是相联的，“神”也如何与“灵”是一体的。凭着字句事奉神，怎样就是凭着自己事奉神；凭着灵事奉神，也怎样就是凭着神事奉神。要凭着自己事奉神，怎样就必须凭着字句；要凭着神事奉神，也怎样就必须凭着灵。凭着字句的事奉，怎样就是在自己里面，出于自己的事奉；凭着灵的事奉，也怎样就是在神里面，出于神的事奉。所以我们的事奉，只有两种不同的源头。一种是凭着字句的，是出于自己的；一种是凭着灵的，是出于神的。我们的事奉，不是出于第一种源头，就是出于第二种源头；不是出于自己，就是出于神；倒过来说，不是出于神，就是出于自己；此外再没有第三种源头。
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　　我们今天没有工夫把这两种源头的事奉都仔细看过，只能看这两种的一种，就是出于神的事奉。这种事奉，不是出于我们自己的，不是凭着我们自己的，当然也不是为着我们自己的，乃是出于神的，乃是凭着神的，当然也是为着神的。出于我们自己的事奉，是以我们自己为源头，是我们自己凭着字句的规条或仪式，而作出来的，是不用倚靠神，不用寻求神，不用和神有交通，是可以在神之外，向神独立，就能作出来的。但是出于神的事奉，就不然！必须倚靠神，必须寻求神，必须和神有交通，必须在神里面，绝对以神为源头，才可以。这种事奉，不是出于人的智慧，不是靠着人的能力，也不是为着人的爱好，乃是出于神的启示，乃是靠着神的圣灵，也是为着神的目的。这需要我们活在灵里，凭灵而活。只有当我们拒绝魂，拒绝属魂的心思，情感，和意志，而活在灵里，凭着灵的感觉而活，随着灵的引导而行的时候，我们才能和神有交通，才能得到神的启示，而有那出于神，以神为源头，并倚靠神，且为着神的事奉。
　
　　这一种出于神的事奉是必须和神有交通的，是不能和神脱节的。我们要有这一种事奉，必须和神交通着来作，不能向神独立，不能神是神，我们是我们。每一个出于神，能蒙神悦纳的事奉，都是和神接触，而摸着神的，都是一面接触着神，一面事奉神，不能和神两立，而没有联系的。我们在神之外，无论凭着我们的热诚，或是凭着我们别的东西，所有的事奉，都不是出于神的，所以都没有属灵的价值。一个出于神，有属灵价值的事奉，必是我们和神联合，住在祂里面和祂有交通，一面是祂在我们里面运行，一面是我们在外面事奉祂。所以这种事奉，乃是神从我们里面运行出来的一个举动，从外面看，是我们事奉祂，但就里面说，是祂在那里运行。　　慕安得烈弟兄说，祷告，就是我们里面的基督祷告那坐在宝座上的基督。这话不只说得深，也实在说得中肯！祷告是什么呢？祷告就是基督祷告基督，不过是经过我们而已。真实属灵的祷告，不是发源于我们，不是出于我们，不是我们自己祷告，乃是发源于基督，乃是出于基督，乃是住在我们里面的基督，祷告那坐在宝座上的基督。　　祷告是如此，其他的事奉也是如此。任何的事奉，都该是住在我们里面的神经过我们，事奉那坐在宝座上的神。一个神所要，所悦纳的事奉，不能光是我们事奉祂，而祂在我们里面没有地位；不能光是我们在地上事奉，祂在天上接受，而祂和我们，我们和祂，没有联合，是两立的。不能我们仅仅把祂想一下，就为祂发热心，就来事奉祂，而和祂没有接触，没有调和。这样的事奉，是出于我们自己的，是凭着我们自己的，不是出于神的，不是凭着神的，里面没有神的成分。　　使徒说，他在新约的事奉，不是出于他自己，凭着他自己的，乃是出于神，凭着神的。不错，是他事奉神，但更是神在他里面运行着，带着他事奉神。并不是他高兴了，想通了，打好了主意，就定规要为神作什么。不是！乃是神住在他里面，他将自己交给神，让给神，将他自己的心思，情感，和意志，都服在神的管理之下，让神占有，让神充满，让神得着一切的地位，借着祂的灵在他里面运行，推动他作工，推动他事奉。他里面给神推动了，就有一个力量，使他外面非事奉不可。不是他的热心，不是他的心思情感，或意志，叫他非事奉不可。不是！乃是神在他里面，调和着他，推动他非事奉不可。这个事奉不是从他出来的，乃是从神出来的，在外面看是他事奉，实在是神在他里面运行推动。　　保罗没有得救的时候，是扫罗。当他作扫罗的时候，也事奉神，但是他那时的事奉，不是出于神，乃是出于他自己，乃是他照着所受的宗教教育，为神大发热心。他是意志坚强，热诚有为的青年，有干才，有魄力，他就凭着这些，照着犹太教的规条，来事奉神。他这种事奉，里面没有神的地位，更没有神的成分，不是出于神的，乃是出于他自己的，不是凭着神的，乃是凭着他自己的。他那时是凭着他的热诚，凭着他的魄力，凭着他的干才，来事奉神，并不是凭着神。　　等他蒙恩之后，神住在他里面，他和神联合，他和神不再是两个，乃是两个变成一个，神的生命变作他的生命，神的性情变作他的性情，神的感觉变作他的感觉，神的眼光变作他的眼光，神的一切变作他的一切，变作他的内容。他这样让神在他里面有地位，当他和神交通的时候，神就在他里面运行，给他一个感觉，推动他去传福音，推动他来事奉神。他这样的事奉，是出乎神的，是凭着神的，是经过神，也让神经过，而出来的。这一种事奉，不光是一个工作，更不是一种事业，乃是神自己的流出，神生命的流露。　　在事奉上，我们不能凭自己的热诚，不能凭自己的魄力，干才，也不能光凭所受的教导。这些不能作我们事奉的源头。我们事奉的源头，该是神，该是灵，该是神在我们里面的运行，该是神的灵在我们灵里的运行，主张，并带领。从这一个出来的事奉，才是出于神而凭着神的事奉。　　所以凡是出于神的事奉，不能没有遇着神，没有碰着神，没有和神接触，这是不可能的。我们必须碰着神，摸着神，里面和神有接触，才能有出于神的事奉。比方，有的人传福音，光是出于他们的热心，光是出于他们的兴奋，没有在里面碰着神，遇着神，和神有交通。他们这样的传福音，是出于他们自己，不是神在他们里面运行推动出来的。另外有一些人传福音，和这个不同，乃是因着他们亲近主，在主面前承认自己一切的罪恶，对付所有不讨主喜悦的事，主的灵在他们里面有地位，就在他们里面运行推动他们，叫他们有负担，非向人传福音不可。他们这样的传福音，不是他们的热诚推动他们，乃是在他们里面的圣灵推动他们，像火烧一样，叫他们不顾一切，非去向亲友传福音不可。这是因为他们里面和主有接触，像这个电风扇和电一接触，电就进去推动它旋转。这样的传福音，这样的事奉，乃是出于神的，乃是属灵的。这是事奉神，又是凭着神事奉神，又是借着神事奉神，和神没法断绝，没法有间隔。　　事奉神，是不能和神脱开的，必须时刻倚靠神。所以不能因为有了经历，会作，会事奉，就可以了。事奉神，永远不能靠“会作”。不能昨天讲了一篇好的道，今天因为会讲了，就再来讲一次。昨天讲，是倚靠神，今天讲，还得倚靠神。事奉神，不能倚靠经历，必须倚靠神，和神有交通，有接触。　　有人常说，李弟兄，请把事奉神的秘诀教我们一些，我们有了秘诀，就会了。我说，没有这件事！事奉神，如果有秘诀，那就只有一个秘诀，就是和神交通。一个人作任何的事，到了一个时候，都可以说是老资格，是熟手。唯独事奉神，不可能这样。事奉神，每时每刻都需要和神有新的接触。这个电风扇不能说转了二年，现在是老资格了，是熟手了，就不必和电接触了。不管它转了多久，头一天转，得接触电，末一天转，还得接触电。就是我们事奉神好久了，还得接触神。连保罗，若是他今天来事奉神，也还得接触神。他不能说，他是老资格，就不必接触神，不必和神交通。若是这样，他所作出来的，不过是工作而已，不能有神的成分在他所作的工作里面。　　我们的事奉，我们的工作，不是重在成功什么事业，乃是重在表现神的自己，流露神的生命。我们若不凭着神，若没有神的同在，我们所作的怎能表现神，流露神？所以我们的事奉，必须是我们和神有交通，凭着神而有的才可以。我们每逢事奉，都必须和神有交通，让神在我们里面运行。我们必须把我们的兴奋，思想，和主张，都摆在一边，让神在我们里面有地位，来充满，来运行。这个是事奉的源头，也是最宝贝的源头。　　当日在安提阿的教会中，有五个先知和教师，他们在一起祷告，事奉主，和主有交通的时候，圣灵就来差遣他们中间的两个人出去为主作工。不是他们五个人开了一个讨论会，动动脑筋，用用思想，就来了一个定规，打发两个人出去作工。根本不是这样！他们是把自己交给主，让主在他们里面有地位。在这种情景之下，主在他们里面就能行得通，就能运行叫他们出去布道。他们是充满神，凭着神，带着神出去的。人碰着这样的工作，所感觉，所得着的，不是事物，乃是神，乃是神的生命。　　但我们所作的，是成功事业呢？还是流露神，释放神呢？我们若要叫我们所作的，能流露神，释放神，我们就必须学习拒绝自己的热诚，自己的思路，自己的情感，自己的主张，常常伏在神面前，仰望神，和神有交通，不光是在祷告的时候，就是在平常的时候，也是在里面和神有交通，把里面的宝座和主权让给祂，让祂来占有，让祂在里面随意运行。我们这样和神交通，让神占有，神就很容易找到我们，把祂的心意启示我们，并借着我们流露祂自己。特别是在各地教会中作长老的弟兄们，若不是在交通中受神的引导，若不是从神得着负担，若不是受神的托付，我们各地教会的事奉，就难得流露神。　　有的作长老的弟兄问我说，怎样就能从神得着负担？怎样就能受到神的托付？是这样：你把自己向着神，各部分都让神来占有，把各部分首要的地位都让给神，不让自己的情感，心思，或意志，在你里面作第一，而让神在你里面居首位─你这样亲近神，和神交通，就很容易得着神的负担。神的负担只能赐给这样的人。你若是这样给神地位和机会，神就很容易在你里面运行，使你受到付托，有了负担。这样的负担，叫你所有的事奉，是由于神从你里面推动出来的，所以能流露神，能释放神。
　
　　所以出于神的事奉，是必须和神有交通的，也是必须能供应生命的。神所要我们有的事奉，不是重在作工，作事，是重在供应生命。圣徒的事奉，教会的事奉，那个重心，那个目的，不是在成功一种事业一项工作，乃是在把神的生命，供应出去。全世界的人不论作那种事，为农也好，经商也好，作工业也好，办教育也好，都是重在事业的成功。他们都是把事业作成功，就算达到目的。独有教会的事奉，圣徒的事奉，不是这样！教会和圣徒的事奉，如果仅仅是把事情作成功，仅仅是作出一种或大或小的事业来，这在神看，是等于零，没有什么价值。神要教会和圣徒事奉，不是重在作出工作或事业来，乃是重在将神的生命供应出去。　　为着许多初信的人，我们就用比较浅显的话来说。比方，教会在这里事奉神，并不是重在造了多少会所，办了多少事业，有了多少活动，作了多少工作，带进了多少人。这些不是教会事奉的重心和目的。用这些来测量，来断定教会的事奉，是非常错误的。教会的事奉有多重，有多高，有多少价值，在神的心目中能蒙多少悦纳，完全不是以这些作标准，不是以人数作标准，不是以物质作标准，不是以事业的大小，或工作的多少作标准，乃是以另一件事作标准，就是教会把神的生命供应出去有多少，人经过教会的带领和服事，里面神生命的成分有多少。　　神测量教会的事奉和工作，只根据一点，就是教会到底给人多少属灵生命的供应，人得着教会的帮助，到底里面得着或增加多少神生命的成分。神只以这个作标准，来测量教会的事奉。我们就是把这地方所有的人，都带进教会来，把这地方的房子都改作聚会所，把这地方许多的人都弄得热心传福音，如果这些人里面没有神的生命，没有充满神多少的成分，不够得着神，不够认识神，在神看，还是相当空洞，还是没有多少价值。神绝不以祂之外的任何事物，来测量我们的事奉和工作。祂只以人里面得着祂的成分，充满祂的成分，来测量我们的事奉和工作。不是我们把会所造得高高大大的，把事情作得整整齐齐的，把人数弄得满满多多的，我们的事奉和工作，在神面前就有了分量。没有这件事！我们事奉和工作的分量，不是在于人事物的多少，乃是在于神的生命给人摸着的多少，给人得着的多少，给人充满的多少，给人经历的多少。不是我们多得着一些人，多作出一点事，多有了一些东西，我们的事奉和工作就是有分量的。我们永远不能以这些作测量我们事奉和工作的标准。我们必须看我们的事奉和工作，把神的生命供应给人有多少。有的人原来没有神的生命，经过我们一接触，一带领，就得着神的生命进到他们里面。有的人虽然有神的生命，但是非常幼稚，认识神非常肤浅，经过我们和他们接触，和他们交通，他们里面就更深的渴慕神，更深的追求神，而更多的得着神的生命。
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出埃及记一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　我们的事奉和工作，只该将神的生命供应人，也只该用神的生命吸引人。人来到我们的聚会中我们不该给人感觉别方面的好，应该给人感觉在这里碰着灵，在这里遇着神，在这里得着生命的供应。也许我们的会所是简陋的，聚会的人是不多的，但是人一来到我们的聚会里，就感觉神的同在，就碰着神。人一走进这样的聚会中，就有一个莫名其妙的感觉，黑暗的就得着亮光，为难的就看见道路，软弱的就变作刚强，下沉的就得以起来。　　教会团体的事奉该如此，我们个人的事奉也该如此。人碰着我们一下，里面就得着生命的帮助。好像我们里面有一个东西出来，碰着他们的里面，点着他们的里面。他们的里面是昏暗的，给我们接触一下，就明亮了。原来他们里面对神生命的认识非常差，非常少，给我们接触一下就进步，就增多了。我们把他们带到主里面，叫他们得着生命的供应。他们从我们得着的帮助，不是物质的，不是交际的，不是情感的，也不是道理的，乃是属灵的，乃是生命的，乃是出于神的，乃是在基督里的。他们这样在生命中从我们所得着的，实在说，就是神自己，就是神的生命。　　我们的工作，不能用别的东西吸引人，不能用交际，不能用财物，或任何神以外的事物；这些都是属于死亡的。我们的工作，只能用神和神的生命吸引人，并供应人。这样的事奉，才是属灵的，才是出于神的，才能摸着神。　　主在约翰十五章说，祂是葡萄树，我们是枝子，枝子离了葡萄树，就不能作什么。葡萄树的枝子，不是为着作材料，乃是为着结果子。结果子，就是供应生命，就是把葡萄树的生命供应出去。这就是我们对主的功用。主今天不需要人作材料，不需要人有干才，只需要人住在祂里面，被祂充满，而将祂的生命供应出去，像葡萄树的枝子，里面被葡萄树的汁浆充满，而将葡萄树的生命供应出去一样。葡萄树的枝子不懂别的事，只懂住在葡萄树上，让其中的生命，经过它供应出去，流露出去。
--------本段经节汇集--------
约翰福音十五章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　这就是教会的事奉。教会的事奉，不是作什么大工作，大事业，有什么大成就，乃是将基督的生命供应出去，流露出去。这需要我们接在基督身上，住在基督里面，让祂在我们里面有地位，而充满我们，使祂的生命变作我们的生命，祂的性情变作我们的性情，祂的爱好变作我们的爱好，祂的趋向变作我们的趋向，祂的一切变作我们的一切。我们这样住在祂里面，活在祂里面，和祂有交通，就能让祂从我们经过，从我们里面流露出去。我们这样流露出去的，就是祂的生命，就是那葡萄树的生命。这一个，能供应人生命，能叫人得着生命。这一个，人碰着的时候，就是碰着基督，就是碰着那葡萄树的生命。这一个，就是教会的事奉。　　从前在英国办孤儿院的慕勒，实在是一个活在神里面，而事奉神的人。但是可惜有的人为他所出的传记，太偏于他事业的成就，而把他活在神里面，活在神面前，那些属灵生命的东西忽略了。当我读他自己所写的日记，我不觉得他作了多大的事业，只感觉我碰着一个活在神面前，和神有交通，让神掌权，让神有地位，里面充满神的人。他的日记，我每逢读的时候，都把我带到神面前，叫我感觉神的同在，都叫我觉得慕勒这个人，是活在光中，是活在神面前，你读到他，就碰到神。这是慕勒的生平，不是重在事业的成就，乃是重在对神的认识，对神生命的流露。　　我们永远要记得，教会的事奉，乃是在于将神流露出去，将神的生命供应出去。不是在于我们作了多少事，作了多少工，乃是在于我们将神流露出去有多少，将神的生命供应出去有多少。这是所有的问题！神永远不用别的东西来评判我们的工作，只用祂的生命来评判我们的工作。祂自己，祂生命的成分，在我们的工作里越多，我们的工作就越有分量，越有价值。否则，我们的工作是虚空的，是失败的。　　真愿神怜悯我们，叫我们所有的事奉和工作，都是出于祂的，都是因着和祂有交通而有的，也都是能将祂和祂的生命流露出去，供应出去的。
　Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 3:5-6 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God, who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
　
TWO SOURCES OF SERVICE
　Each of the two Bible verses above mentions two different sources. The two mentioned in verse 5 are “ourselves” and “God,” and the two in verse 6 are “letter” and “Spirit.” Although these two verses speak of four sources, it does not mean that our service has four different sources. These four sources are actually only two. The first two sources are embodied in and joined with the latter two. Just as “ourselves” is joined with “letter,” so “God” is also one with “Spirit.” Just as serving God by the letter is actually serving God by ourselves, so also serving God by the Spirit is serving God by God Himself. If we intend to serve God by ourselves, we must serve by the letter. Likewise, if we intend to serve God by God Himself, we must serve by the Spirit. Just as the service by the letter is the service in ourselves and from ourselves, so also the service by the Spirit is the service in God and from God. Therefore, there are only two kinds of services with two kinds of sources. One kind of service is by the letter and from ourselves, and the other kind is by the Spirit and from God. If our service is not from the first source, then it is from the second source, and if it is not from ourselves, then it is from God. Or conversely, if it is not from God, then it is from ourselves. Besides these, there is no third source.
　
THE SERVICE THAT IS FROM GOD
　We do not have time to closely examine these two sources of our service. We can only consider one of these two: the service that is from God. This kind of service is not from ourselves or by ourselves, and of course, it is also not for ourselves. Rather, it is from God and by God, and certainly it is also for God. The service that is from ourselves takes ourselves as its source, and it is performed by us according to the ordinances and rituals of the letter. It can be carried out by us outside of God and independently of God, without any need to rely on God, seek God, or fellowship with God. But the service that is from God is not like this. It requires us to rely on God, seek God, fellowship with God, be in God, and absolutely take God as our source. This kind of service is not from man’s wisdom, does not rely on man’s power, and is not for man’s pleasure. Rather, it is from God’s revelation, relies on the Holy Spirit of God, and is for God’s purpose. Hence, it requires us to live in and by the spirit. We must reject the mind, emotion, and will of the soul and live in the spirit and by the sense of the spirit, walking according to the leading of the spirit. Only then can we have fellowship with God and receive His revelation to render the service that is from God, that takes God as its source, that relies on God, and that is for God.
　
THE NECESSITY OF FELLOWSHIPPING WITH GOD
　This kind of service from God requires us to have fellowship with God and not be detached from God. In order to have this kind of service, we must be in fellowship with God; we cannot act independently of God, that is, God and we being separated. Every service that is from God and pleasing to Him is carried out by contacting and touching Him. We serve Him while contacting Him. We cannot stand apart from Him and lose touch with Him. If we serve outside of Him, regardless of whether by our zeal or anything else, our service is not from Him and therefore has no spiritual value. A service that is from God and has spiritual value must be one in which we are joined to God and in fellowship with Him by abiding in Him. On the one hand, He operates within us, and on the other hand, we serve Him outwardly. Therefore, this kind of service is an activity issuing out of God’s operation within us. Outwardly, we are serving Him, yet inwardly He is operating.
　Brother Andrew Murray said that prayer is the Christ within us praying to the Christ on the throne. This word is both deep and to the point. What is prayer? Prayer is Christ praying to Christ, and it merely passes through us. A genuine, spiritual prayer does not originate with us or come from us and is not prayed by ourselves alone. Rather, it originates with Christ and comes from Christ and is prayed by the Christ abiding in us to the Christ sitting on the throne.
　Just as it is with prayer, so it is also with all other kinds of service. Any kind of service must be a service rendered through us by the God abiding in us to the God sitting on the throne. This is the service that God wants and accepts. We cannot serve Him without Him having any ground in us. We cannot merely serve Him on earth and He merely receives it in heaven—He and we, we and He, standing apart from each other instead of being joined with one another. We cannot merely think of Him one minute and then immediately serve Him zealously without contacting Him or being mingled with Him. This kind of service is from ourselves and by ourselves, not from God or by God. Therefore, it has no element of God in it.
　The apostle Paul said that his service in the new covenant was not from himself or by himself; it was from God and by God. It is true that he served God, but it was more a matter of God operating in him and bringing him along to serve God. He served God not because he was happy and convinced and therefore made up his mind to do something for God. No! He served God because he gave and yielded himself to the indwelling God, putting his mind, emotion, and will under God’s control to be occupied and filled by God. In this way God was able to gain all the ground in him and to operate in him through His Spirit, motivating him to work and serve. Because he was moved by God inwardly, there was a strength that compelled him to serve outwardly. He was not compelled by his own zeal or his mind, emotion, and will. No! It was God in him, mingling with him and motivating him to serve. This service did not come out of himself; instead, it came out of God. Apparently, it was he serving; actually, it was God operating and motivating within him.
　Before Paul was saved, he was Saul. At that time he also served God, but his service then was not from God but from himself. He was exceedingly zealous for God according to the religious education he had received. He was a young man with a strong will and great passion, with talents and courage. He served God with these qualities according to the Jewish religious ordinances. In such a service there was no ground for God or the element of God. Such a service was not from God or by God but from himself and by himself. At that time he served God by his own zeal, courage, and talent instead of by God.
　After he was saved, God lived in him, and he was joined to God. He and God were no longer two, but the two became one. God’s life became his life, God’s nature became his nature, God’s feeling became his feeling, and God’s view became his view. God’s everything became his everything, his content. When he gave God the ground in him in this way, and when he and God fellowshipped together, God operated in him, giving him a sense that motivated him to serve God by preaching the gospel. His service was from God and by God. It issued from his passing through God and allowing God to pass through him. This kind of service was not just a work or an enterprise but the flowing out of God and the overflow of God’s life.
　In the matter of service we cannot do it out of our enthusiasm, determination, or capability, nor can we serve merely according to what we were taught. None of these things should be the source of our service. The source of our service should be God, it should be the spirit, it should be God’s operation in us, and it should be the operation, direction, and leading of the Spirit of God in our spirit. Only the service that comes out of these things is the service that is from God and by God.
　Therefore, it is not possible to have the service that is from God without meeting, touching, or contacting Him. We must meet Him, touch Him, and contact Him inwardly in order to be able to render the service that is from Him. For example, some preach the gospel merely out of their zeal and excitement without touching, meeting, or fellowshipping with God. Their preaching of the gospel in this way is from themselves; it is not motivated by God’s operation in them. In contrast, others preach the gospel because, while they were drawing near to God, confessing their sins before Him, and dealing with all the things that are not pleasing to Him, they have received the burden from the Spirit of the Lord who has gained the ground to operate and motivate in them. Their preaching of the gospel in this way is not motivated by their zeal. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit motivating them inwardly like a burning fire, causing them to be desperate to preach the gospel to their friends and relatives. This situation is like an electric fan; after coming into contact with electricity, the fan begins to turn by the inward driving force of the electricity. This kind of gospel preaching is from God and is spiritual. This is to serve God, and this is to serve God by Him and through Him. This kind of service cannot be disconnected or separated from God.
　When we render service to God, we cannot be detached from Him. Rather, we must rely on Him moment by moment. Therefore, it is not sufficient merely to have experience and thus know how to do things and know how to serve God. Serving God can never depend on our “know how.” You cannot say that because you were able to give a good message yesterday, you can give the same message again today. Yesterday you spoke by relying on God; today when you speak, you still must rely on God. Service to God is carried out not by relying on experience but by depending on God through fellowship and contact with Him.
　Some have often said to me, “Brother Lee, teach us some of the secrets of service, because once we have the secrets, we will be able to do it.” I said, “There is not such a thing! If there were any secrets to serving God, it would be this one secret: fellowship with God.” One can do anything for a long period of time and be considered a veteran, an experienced hand, in that thing. However, this is not possible in the service of God. Serving God requires a moment-by-moment, fresh contact with God. The electric fan cannot say that because it has been turning for two years, it has become a “veteran,” an “experienced hand,” and does not need to contact the electricity anymore. Regardless of how long it has been turning, it must maintain its contact with the electricity. On the first day it turns, it must contact the electricity, and on the last day it turns, it still must contact the electricity. Even if we have served God for a long time, we still need to contact Him. Even Paul would have to contact God if he were here serving today. He could not say that he is an old-timer, so he does not need to contact God or fellowship with Him. If this were the case, what he would do would be merely a work, and God’s element could not be found in his work.
　Our service and our work are not so much a matter of having some accomplishments as they are a matter of expressing God and flowing out His life. If we do not serve or work according to God, and if we do not have the presence of God, then how can He be expressed or flowed out in what we do? Therefore, our service must come from our fellowship with God and our relying on Him. Every time we serve, we must fellowship with God and allow Him to operate in us. We must set aside our excitement, thoughts, and opinions to allow Him to gain the ground in us, to fill us, and to operate in us. This is the source of our service, and it is the most precious source.
　In the early days, in the church in Antioch there were five prophets and teachers. While they were praying together, ministering to the Lord, and fellowshipping with Him, the Holy Spirit came and sent two of them out to work for the Lord. These five men did not hold a meeting for discussion or use their mind to think and then make a decision to send two of them out to work. It was not like that at all. They gave themselves to the Lord and allowed Him to have the ground in them. Under these circumstances the Lord was able to get through and operate in them, thus sending them out to preach the gospel. When they went out, they were filled with God, relying on Him and bringing Him with them. When people came across this kind of work, what they felt and obtained was not a thing but God and the life of God.
　Is our work for the accomplishing of an enterprise or is it for the overflowing and release of God? If we want our work to flow out and release God, then we must learn to reject our zeal, thought, emotion, and decisions and to always prostrate ourselves before God, looking to Him and fellowshipping with Him. We should do this not only when we pray, but all the time we should be fellowshipping with God inwardly, giving Him the throne and authority in us, allowing Him to occupy us and operate in us as He pleases. When we fellowship with God in this way and allow Him to occupy us, He can easily reveal His heart’s desire to us and flow Himself out of us. This is especially true of the brothers who are elders in the churches. If they do not receive God’s leading in fellowship, God’s burden, or God’s commission, then the service in the local churches will rarely flow out God.
　Some brothers who are elders have asked me how they can receive a burden or commission from God. The way is this: You should turn yourself to God, allow Him to occupy your every part, and give Him the first place in every part. Instead of allowing your emotion, mind, and will to be number one, you should give Him the preeminence in you. Thus, when you draw near to God and fellowship with Him, it will be easy for you to receive God’s burden. God gives His burden only to this kind of people. If you give God the ground and opportunity, then it will be easy for God to operate in you, causing you to receive a commission and a burden. This kind of burden causes your service to be a service that comes out of God’s motivation within you. Hence, you will be able to flow out and release God.
　
THE NECESSITY OF BEING ABLE TO MINISTER LIFE
　Thus, the service that is from God requires us to have fellowship with God and minister life to others. The service that God wants from us does not focus on doing a work but on ministering life. The center and goal of the service of the saints and of the church are not to build up an enterprise or a work but to minister God’s life. It does not matter what profession the worldly people are in—farming, business, industry, education; all emphasize having a successful enterprise. If their enterprise is successful, then they have reached their goal. However, the service of the church and of the saints is not like this. The service of the church and of the saints is nothing and is worthless in God’s eyes if all we have done is successfully finish our work, having built up either a big or a small enterprise. God’s desire is that the emphasis of our service be on ministering God’s life instead of producing a work or enterprise.
　For the sake of the new believers we will use words that are easily understood to explain this. For example, the church is here serving God, but the emphasis is not on how many meeting halls are built, how many enterprises are established, how many activities are carried out, how much work is done, or how many people are brought in. These are not the center and goal of the church service. To use these items to measure and judge the church service is a huge mistake. How weighty the church service is, how high it is, how much value it has, and how acceptable it is in God’s eyes—all these are not measured by the aforementioned items as the standard, such as the number of people, the material things, the size of the enterprise, and the amount of work. Rather, the only standard of measurement is how much the church has ministered God’s life to others and how much element of the divine life has entered into people through the church’s help and service.
　God measures the work and service of the church according to one point: how much supply of spiritual life the church has given people and how much increase of the element of God’s life people have received when they were helped by the church. God uses only this standard to measure the church’s service. Even if we were to bring all the people in this locality into the church, convert all the houses into meeting halls, and stir up so many people to zealously preach the gospel, in God’s eyes it would all be empty and worthless unless these people have the divine life, are filled with some of the divine element, have received enough of God, and have sufficient knowledge of God. God absolutely does not measure our service and work by anything apart from Himself. He measures our service and work only by how much of His element people have gained and been filled with inwardly. It is not that our service and our work are weighty before God if we build huge meeting halls, do things in an orderly way, or have large numbers of people. There is not such a thing! The weight of our service and work does not depend on the number of people, things, and activities. Instead, it depends on the amount of God’s life people have touched, gained, been filled with, and experienced. It is not that our service, our work, is weighty if we gain a few more people, do a few more activities, and obtain a few more things. We can never use these as the standard for measuring our service and work. We must see how much our service and work have ministered the divine life to others. Some do not have the divine life yet, but after our contact with them and our help to them, God’s life gets into them. Others have a little of God’s life but are very immature and have only a shallow knowledge of God, but after our contact and fellowship with them, they have a deeper desire for God inwardly, they pursue God more deeply, and they gain more of His life.
　Our service and work should only minister God’s life to people and should only use God’s life to attract people. When people come to our meetings, we should give them the sense that they have touched the spirit, met God, and received the supply of life. We should not let them feel that they have touched some other good things besides these items. Perhaps our meeting halls are primitive with only a small number in the meetings, but once a person enters our meetings, he should sense the presence of God and touch God. When a person walks into this kind of meeting, he has an indescribable sensation that his darkness has turned into light, that he has found a way through his difficulties, that his weaknesses have been made strong, and that he has been uplifted from his depression.
　The corporate service of the church should be like this, as should our individual service. When people contact us, even just for a moment, they should gain the help of life inwardly. It is as if we have something that comes out from within us and touches them inwardly to enliven them. They were in darkness inwardly, but after contacting us for a moment, they are enlightened. In the past they were lacking in their inward knowledge of the life of God, but after contacting us for a moment, their knowledge improves and increases. We bring them into the Lord and enable them to receive the supply of life. The help that they receive from us is not material, social, emotional, or doctrinal. Rather, it is spiritual, of life, from God, and in Christ. What they obtain from us in life in this way is truly God Himself and the divine life.
　In our work we should not use other things to attract people. We should not use social contacts, money, or anything apart from God, because all these things belong to death. In our work we should attract people only with God and minister His life to them. Only this kind of service is spiritual, is from God, and is able to touch God.
　In John 15 the Lord said that He is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from the vine the branches can do nothing. The branches on the vine are not there to be its material; they are there to bear fruit. Bearing fruit is to minister life, that is, to release the supply of the vine’s life. This is our function with respect to the Lord. Today the Lord does not need people to be His material, nor does He need human talent. He only needs people to abide in Him, to be filled with Him, and to release the supply of His life. This is truly like the branches of the vine being filled with the sap of the vine and releasing the supply of the vine’s life. The branches of the vine do not know how to do anything but abide in the vine and allow its life to be ministered and to flow out through them.
　This is the service of the church, which is not a great work or large enterprise with a huge accomplishment but the ministering and flowing out of the life of Christ. It requires us to be joined to Christ, to abide in Christ, and to give Him the ground in us to fill us so that His life, His nature, His likes, and His inclination can become our life, our nature, our likes, and our inclination. In other words, His all becomes our all. When we abide in Him, live in Him, and fellowship with Him like this, we allow Him to pass through us and flow out from us. What flows out from us is His life, the life of the vine. This will minister life to others, and it will give them life. When people touch this, they touch Christ and the life of the vine. This is the service of the church.
　George Müller, who founded an orphanage in England, was such a person living in God to serve God. Regrettably, however, some of the biographies written about him place too much emphasis on the success of his enterprise while neglecting the matters of his spiritual life, such as his abiding in God and living before Him. When I read his journal, I did not feel that he was operating a large business. I only felt that I was touching a person who lived before God, fellowshipped with God, allowed God to rule in him, allowed God to have a place in him, and was filled with God inwardly. Every time I read his journal, I was brought before God and given the sense of God’s presence. This made me feel that Müller was one who lived in the light and who lived before God. You touch God when you read his writings. This is the life of George Müller; it is not a life that emphasized a successful enterprise but a life that knew God and flowed out His divine life.
　We must always remember that the service of the church is God’s flowing out to supply others with the divine life. It is not a matter of how many things we accomplish or how many works we do. Instead, it is a matter of how much God we flow out and how much of God’s life we minister to others. This is where all the issues lie. God never uses other things to judge our work. He only uses His life to judge our work. The more our work has God Himself and the element of His life, the weightier and more valuable it is. If we do not have this, then our work is empty and a failure.
　May God truly have mercy on us that all our service and work would be from Him, would come out of our fellowship with Him, and would be able to overflow with Him and His life as a supply to others.
 
　　读经：

　　哥林多后书三章五至六节：“并不是我们凭自己能承担什么事，我们所能承担的，乃是出于神；祂叫我们能承当这新约的执事，不是凭着字句，乃是凭着灵；因为那字句是叫人死，灵是叫人活。”
 
　Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 3:5-6 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God, who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
　　我们刚才读的两节圣经，每一节都提到两个不同的源头。第五节所提的，一个是“自己”，一个是“神”；第六节，一个是“字句”，一个是“灵”。虽然这两节圣经提出四个源头，但这不是说，我们的事奉有四种不同的源头。这四个源头，实在就是两个。头两个是在后两个的里面，是和后两个相联一体的。“自己”如何与“字句”是相联的，“神”也如何与“灵”是一体的。凭着字句事奉神，怎样就是凭着自己事奉神；凭着灵事奉神，也怎样就是凭着神事奉神。要凭着自己事奉神，怎样就必须凭着字句；要凭着神事奉神，也怎样就必须凭着灵。凭着字句的事奉，怎样就是在自己里面，出于自己的事奉；凭着灵的事奉，也怎样就是在神里面，出于神的事奉。所以我们的事奉，只有两种不同的源头。一种是凭着字句的，是出于自己的；一种是凭着灵的，是出于神的。我们的事奉，不是出于第一种源头，就是出于第二种源头；不是出于自己，就是出于神；倒过来说，不是出于神，就是出于自己；此外再没有第三种源头。
 
　Each of the two Bible verses above mentions two different sources. The two mentioned in verse 5 are “ourselves” and “God,” and the two in verse 6 are “letter” and “Spirit.” Although these two verses speak of four sources, it does not mean that our service has four different sources. These four sources are actually only two. The first two sources are embodied in and joined with the latter two. Just as “ourselves” is joined with “letter,” so “God” is also one with “Spirit.” Just as serving God by the letter is actually serving God by ourselves, so also serving God by the Spirit is serving God by God Himself. If we intend to serve God by ourselves, we must serve by the letter. Likewise, if we intend to serve God by God Himself, we must serve by the Spirit. Just as the service by the letter is the service in ourselves and from ourselves, so also the service by the Spirit is the service in God and from God. Therefore, there are only two kinds of services with two kinds of sources. One kind of service is by the letter and from ourselves, and the other kind is by the Spirit and from God. If our service is not from the first source, then it is from the second source, and if it is not from ourselves, then it is from God. Or conversely, if it is not from God, then it is from ourselves. Besides these, there is no third source.
　　我们今天没有工夫把这两种源头的事奉都仔细看过，只能看这两种的一种，就是出于神的事奉。这种事奉，不是出于我们自己的，不是凭着我们自己的，当然也不是为着我们自己的，乃是出于神的，乃是凭着神的，当然也是为着神的。出于我们自己的事奉，是以我们自己为源头，是我们自己凭着字句的规条或仪式，而作出来的，是不用倚靠神，不用寻求神，不用和神有交通，是可以在神之外，向神独立，就能作出来的。但是出于神的事奉，就不然！必须倚靠神，必须寻求神，必须和神有交通，必须在神里面，绝对以神为源头，才可以。这种事奉，不是出于人的智慧，不是靠着人的能力，也不是为着人的爱好，乃是出于神的启示，乃是靠着神的圣灵，也是为着神的目的。这需要我们活在灵里，凭灵而活。只有当我们拒绝魂，拒绝属魂的心思，情感，和意志，而活在灵里，凭着灵的感觉而活，随着灵的引导而行的时候，我们才能和神有交通，才能得到神的启示，而有那出于神，以神为源头，并倚靠神，且为着神的事奉。
 
　We do not have time to closely examine these two sources of our service. We can only consider one of these two: the service that is from God. This kind of service is not from ourselves or by ourselves, and of course, it is also not for ourselves. Rather, it is from God and by God, and certainly it is also for God. The service that is from ourselves takes ourselves as its source, and it is performed by us according to the ordinances and rituals of the letter. It can be carried out by us outside of God and independently of God, without any need to rely on God, seek God, or fellowship with God. But the service that is from God is not like this. It requires us to rely on God, seek God, fellowship with God, be in God, and absolutely take God as our source. This kind of service is not from man’s wisdom, does not rely on man’s power, and is not for man’s pleasure. Rather, it is from God’s revelation, relies on the Holy Spirit of God, and is for God’s purpose. Hence, it requires us to live in and by the spirit. We must reject the mind, emotion, and will of the soul and live in the spirit and by the sense of the spirit, walking according to the leading of the spirit. Only then can we have fellowship with God and receive His revelation to render the service that is from God, that takes God as its source, that relies on God, and that is for God.
　　这一种出于神的事奉是必须和神有交通的，是不能和神脱节的。我们要有这一种事奉，必须和神交通着来作，不能向神独立，不能神是神，我们是我们。每一个出于神，能蒙神悦纳的事奉，都是和神接触，而摸着神的，都是一面接触着神，一面事奉神，不能和神两立，而没有联系的。我们在神之外，无论凭着我们的热诚，或是凭着我们别的东西，所有的事奉，都不是出于神的，所以都没有属灵的价值。一个出于神，有属灵价值的事奉，必是我们和神联合，住在祂里面和祂有交通，一面是祂在我们里面运行，一面是我们在外面事奉祂。所以这种事奉，乃是神从我们里面运行出来的一个举动，从外面看，是我们事奉祂，但就里面说，是祂在那里运行。

　　慕安得烈弟兄说，祷告，就是我们里面的基督祷告那坐在宝座上的基督。这话不只说得深，也实在说得中肯！祷告是什么呢？祷告就是基督祷告基督，不过是经过我们而已。真实属灵的祷告，不是发源于我们，不是出于我们，不是我们自己祷告，乃是发源于基督，乃是出于基督，乃是住在我们里面的基督，祷告那坐在宝座上的基督。

　　祷告是如此，其他的事奉也是如此。任何的事奉，都该是住在我们里面的神经过我们，事奉那坐在宝座上的神。一个神所要，所悦纳的事奉，不能光是我们事奉祂，而祂在我们里面没有地位；不能光是我们在地上事奉，祂在天上接受，而祂和我们，我们和祂，没有联合，是两立的。不能我们仅仅把祂想一下，就为祂发热心，就来事奉祂，而和祂没有接触，没有调和。这样的事奉，是出于我们自己的，是凭着我们自己的，不是出于神的，不是凭着神的，里面没有神的成分。

　　使徒说，他在新约的事奉，不是出于他自己，凭着他自己的，乃是出于神，凭着神的。不错，是他事奉神，但更是神在他里面运行着，带着他事奉神。并不是他高兴了，想通了，打好了主意，就定规要为神作什么。不是！乃是神住在他里面，他将自己交给神，让给神，将他自己的心思，情感，和意志，都服在神的管理之下，让神占有，让神充满，让神得着一切的地位，借着祂的灵在他里面运行，推动他作工，推动他事奉。他里面给神推动了，就有一个力量，使他外面非事奉不可。不是他的热心，不是他的心思情感，或意志，叫他非事奉不可。不是！乃是神在他里面，调和着他，推动他非事奉不可。这个事奉不是从他出来的，乃是从神出来的，在外面看是他事奉，实在是神在他里面运行推动。

　　保罗没有得救的时候，是扫罗。当他作扫罗的时候，也事奉神，但是他那时的事奉，不是出于神，乃是出于他自己，乃是他照着所受的宗教教育，为神大发热心。他是意志坚强，热诚有为的青年，有干才，有魄力，他就凭着这些，照着犹太教的规条，来事奉神。他这种事奉，里面没有神的地位，更没有神的成分，不是出于神的，乃是出于他自己的，不是凭着神的，乃是凭着他自己的。他那时是凭着他的热诚，凭着他的魄力，凭着他的干才，来事奉神，并不是凭着神。

　　等他蒙恩之后，神住在他里面，他和神联合，他和神不再是两个，乃是两个变成一个，神的生命变作他的生命，神的性情变作他的性情，神的感觉变作他的感觉，神的眼光变作他的眼光，神的一切变作他的一切，变作他的内容。他这样让神在他里面有地位，当他和神交通的时候，神就在他里面运行，给他一个感觉，推动他去传福音，推动他来事奉神。他这样的事奉，是出乎神的，是凭着神的，是经过神，也让神经过，而出来的。这一种事奉，不光是一个工作，更不是一种事业，乃是神自己的流出，神生命的流露。

　　在事奉上，我们不能凭自己的热诚，不能凭自己的魄力，干才，也不能光凭所受的教导。这些不能作我们事奉的源头。我们事奉的源头，该是神，该是灵，该是神在我们里面的运行，该是神的灵在我们灵里的运行，主张，并带领。从这一个出来的事奉，才是出于神而凭着神的事奉。

　　所以凡是出于神的事奉，不能没有遇着神，没有碰着神，没有和神接触，这是不可能的。我们必须碰着神，摸着神，里面和神有接触，才能有出于神的事奉。比方，有的人传福音，光是出于他们的热心，光是出于他们的兴奋，没有在里面碰着神，遇着神，和神有交通。他们这样的传福音，是出于他们自己，不是神在他们里面运行推动出来的。另外有一些人传福音，和这个不同，乃是因着他们亲近主，在主面前承认自己一切的罪恶，对付所有不讨主喜悦的事，主的灵在他们里面有地位，就在他们里面运行推动他们，叫他们有负担，非向人传福音不可。他们这样的传福音，不是他们的热诚推动他们，乃是在他们里面的圣灵推动他们，像火烧一样，叫他们不顾一切，非去向亲友传福音不可。这是因为他们里面和主有接触，像这个电风扇和电一接触，电就进去推动它旋转。这样的传福音，这样的事奉，乃是出于神的，乃是属灵的。这是事奉神，又是凭着神事奉神，又是借着神事奉神，和神没法断绝，没法有间隔。

　　事奉神，是不能和神脱开的，必须时刻倚靠神。所以不能因为有了经历，会作，会事奉，就可以了。事奉神，永远不能靠“会作”。不能昨天讲了一篇好的道，今天因为会讲了，就再来讲一次。昨天讲，是倚靠神，今天讲，还得倚靠神。事奉神，不能倚靠经历，必须倚靠神，和神有交通，有接触。

　　有人常说，李弟兄，请把事奉神的秘诀教我们一些，我们有了秘诀，就会了。我说，没有这件事！事奉神，如果有秘诀，那就只有一个秘诀，就是和神交通。一个人作任何的事，到了一个时候，都可以说是老资格，是熟手。唯独事奉神，不可能这样。事奉神，每时每刻都需要和神有新的接触。这个电风扇不能说转了二年，现在是老资格了，是熟手了，就不必和电接触了。不管它转了多久，头一天转，得接触电，末一天转，还得接触电。就是我们事奉神好久了，还得接触神。连保罗，若是他今天来事奉神，也还得接触神。他不能说，他是老资格，就不必接触神，不必和神交通。若是这样，他所作出来的，不过是工作而已，不能有神的成分在他所作的工作里面。

　　我们的事奉，我们的工作，不是重在成功什么事业，乃是重在表现神的自己，流露神的生命。我们若不凭着神，若没有神的同在，我们所作的怎能表现神，流露神？所以我们的事奉，必须是我们和神有交通，凭着神而有的才可以。我们每逢事奉，都必须和神有交通，让神在我们里面运行。我们必须把我们的兴奋，思想，和主张，都摆在一边，让神在我们里面有地位，来充满，来运行。这个是事奉的源头，也是最宝贝的源头。

　　当日在安提阿的教会中，有五个先知和教师，他们在一起祷告，事奉主，和主有交通的时候，圣灵就来差遣他们中间的两个人出去为主作工。不是他们五个人开了一个讨论会，动动脑筋，用用思想，就来了一个定规，打发两个人出去作工。根本不是这样！他们是把自己交给主，让主在他们里面有地位。在这种情景之下，主在他们里面就能行得通，就能运行叫他们出去布道。他们是充满神，凭着神，带着神出去的。人碰着这样的工作，所感觉，所得着的，不是事物，乃是神，乃是神的生命。

　　但我们所作的，是成功事业呢？还是流露神，释放神呢？我们若要叫我们所作的，能流露神，释放神，我们就必须学习拒绝自己的热诚，自己的思路，自己的情感，自己的主张，常常伏在神面前，仰望神，和神有交通，不光是在祷告的时候，就是在平常的时候，也是在里面和神有交通，把里面的宝座和主权让给祂，让祂来占有，让祂在里面随意运行。我们这样和神交通，让神占有，神就很容易找到我们，把祂的心意启示我们，并借着我们流露祂自己。特别是在各地教会中作长老的弟兄们，若不是在交通中受神的引导，若不是从神得着负担，若不是受神的托付，我们各地教会的事奉，就难得流露神。

　　有的作长老的弟兄问我说，怎样就能从神得着负担？怎样就能受到神的托付？是这样：你把自己向着神，各部分都让神来占有，把各部分首要的地位都让给神，不让自己的情感，心思，或意志，在你里面作第一，而让神在你里面居首位─你这样亲近神，和神交通，就很容易得着神的负担。神的负担只能赐给这样的人。你若是这样给神地位和机会，神就很容易在你里面运行，使你受到付托，有了负担。这样的负担，叫你所有的事奉，是由于神从你里面推动出来的，所以能流露神，能释放神。
 
　This kind of service from God requires us to have fellowship with God and not be detached from God. In order to have this kind of service, we must be in fellowship with God; we cannot act independently of God, that is, God and we being separated. Every service that is from God and pleasing to Him is carried out by contacting and touching Him. We serve Him while contacting Him. We cannot stand apart from Him and lose touch with Him. If we serve outside of Him, regardless of whether by our zeal or anything else, our service is not from Him and therefore has no spiritual value. A service that is from God and has spiritual value must be one in which we are joined to God and in fellowship with Him by abiding in Him. On the one hand, He operates within us, and on the other hand, we serve Him outwardly. Therefore, this kind of service is an activity issuing out of God’s operation within us. Outwardly, we are serving Him, yet inwardly He is operating.

　Brother Andrew Murray said that prayer is the Christ within us praying to the Christ on the throne. This word is both deep and to the point. What is prayer? Prayer is Christ praying to Christ, and it merely passes through us. A genuine, spiritual prayer does not originate with us or come from us and is not prayed by ourselves alone. Rather, it originates with Christ and comes from Christ and is prayed by the Christ abiding in us to the Christ sitting on the throne.

　Just as it is with prayer, so it is also with all other kinds of service. Any kind of service must be a service rendered through us by the God abiding in us to the God sitting on the throne. This is the service that God wants and accepts. We cannot serve Him without Him having any ground in us. We cannot merely serve Him on earth and He merely receives it in heaven—He and we, we and He, standing apart from each other instead of being joined with one another. We cannot merely think of Him one minute and then immediately serve Him zealously without contacting Him or being mingled with Him. This kind of service is from ourselves and by ourselves, not from God or by God. Therefore, it has no element of God in it.

　The apostle Paul said that his service in the new covenant was not from himself or by himself; it was from God and by God. It is true that he served God, but it was more a matter of God operating in him and bringing him along to serve God. He served God not because he was happy and convinced and therefore made up his mind to do something for God. No! He served God because he gave and yielded himself to the indwelling God, putting his mind, emotion, and will under God’s control to be occupied and filled by God. In this way God was able to gain all the ground in him and to operate in him through His Spirit, motivating him to work and serve. Because he was moved by God inwardly, there was a strength that compelled him to serve outwardly. He was not compelled by his own zeal or his mind, emotion, and will. No! It was God in him, mingling with him and motivating him to serve. This service did not come out of himself; instead, it came out of God. Apparently, it was he serving; actually, it was God operating and motivating within him.

　Before Paul was saved, he was Saul. At that time he also served God, but his service then was not from God but from himself. He was exceedingly zealous for God according to the religious education he had received. He was a young man with a strong will and great passion, with talents and courage. He served God with these qualities according to the Jewish religious ordinances. In such a service there was no ground for God or the element of God. Such a service was not from God or by God but from himself and by himself. At that time he served God by his own zeal, courage, and talent instead of by God.

　After he was saved, God lived in him, and he was joined to God. He and God were no longer two, but the two became one. God’s life became his life, God’s nature became his nature, God’s feeling became his feeling, and God’s view became his view. God’s everything became his everything, his content. When he gave God the ground in him in this way, and when he and God fellowshipped together, God operated in him, giving him a sense that motivated him to serve God by preaching the gospel. His service was from God and by God. It issued from his passing through God and allowing God to pass through him. This kind of service was not just a work or an enterprise but the flowing out of God and the overflow of God’s life.

　In the matter of service we cannot do it out of our enthusiasm, determination, or capability, nor can we serve merely according to what we were taught. None of these things should be the source of our service. The source of our service should be God, it should be the spirit, it should be God’s operation in us, and it should be the operation, direction, and leading of the Spirit of God in our spirit. Only the service that comes out of these things is the service that is from God and by God.

　Therefore, it is not possible to have the service that is from God without meeting, touching, or contacting Him. We must meet Him, touch Him, and contact Him inwardly in order to be able to render the service that is from Him. For example, some preach the gospel merely out of their zeal and excitement without touching, meeting, or fellowshipping with God. Their preaching of the gospel in this way is from themselves; it is not motivated by God’s operation in them. In contrast, others preach the gospel because, while they were drawing near to God, confessing their sins before Him, and dealing with all the things that are not pleasing to Him, they have received the burden from the Spirit of the Lord who has gained the ground to operate and motivate in them. Their preaching of the gospel in this way is not motivated by their zeal. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit motivating them inwardly like a burning fire, causing them to be desperate to preach the gospel to their friends and relatives. This situation is like an electric fan; after coming into contact with electricity, the fan begins to turn by the inward driving force of the electricity. This kind of gospel preaching is from God and is spiritual. This is to serve God, and this is to serve God by Him and through Him. This kind of service cannot be disconnected or separated from God.

　When we render service to God, we cannot be detached from Him. Rather, we must rely on Him moment by moment. Therefore, it is not sufficient merely to have experience and thus know how to do things and know how to serve God. Serving God can never depend on our “know how.” You cannot say that because you were able to give a good message yesterday, you can give the same message again today. Yesterday you spoke by relying on God; today when you speak, you still must rely on God. Service to God is carried out not by relying on experience but by depending on God through fellowship and contact with Him.

　Some have often said to me, “Brother Lee, teach us some of the secrets of service, because once we have the secrets, we will be able to do it.” I said, “There is not such a thing! If there were any secrets to serving God, it would be this one secret: fellowship with God.” One can do anything for a long period of time and be considered a veteran, an experienced hand, in that thing. However, this is not possible in the service of God. Serving God requires a moment-by-moment, fresh contact with God. The electric fan cannot say that because it has been turning for two years, it has become a “veteran,” an “experienced hand,” and does not need to contact the electricity anymore. Regardless of how long it has been turning, it must maintain its contact with the electricity. On the first day it turns, it must contact the electricity, and on the last day it turns, it still must contact the electricity. Even if we have served God for a long time, we still need to contact Him. Even Paul would have to contact God if he were here serving today. He could not say that he is an old-timer, so he does not need to contact God or fellowship with Him. If this were the case, what he would do would be merely a work, and God’s element could not be found in his work.

　Our service and our work are not so much a matter of having some accomplishments as they are a matter of expressing God and flowing out His life. If we do not serve or work according to God, and if we do not have the presence of God, then how can He be expressed or flowed out in what we do? Therefore, our service must come from our fellowship with God and our relying on Him. Every time we serve, we must fellowship with God and allow Him to operate in us. We must set aside our excitement, thoughts, and opinions to allow Him to gain the ground in us, to fill us, and to operate in us. This is the source of our service, and it is the most precious source.

　In the early days, in the church in Antioch there were five prophets and teachers. While they were praying together, ministering to the Lord, and fellowshipping with Him, the Holy Spirit came and sent two of them out to work for the Lord. These five men did not hold a meeting for discussion or use their mind to think and then make a decision to send two of them out to work. It was not like that at all. They gave themselves to the Lord and allowed Him to have the ground in them. Under these circumstances the Lord was able to get through and operate in them, thus sending them out to preach the gospel. When they went out, they were filled with God, relying on Him and bringing Him with them. When people came across this kind of work, what they felt and obtained was not a thing but God and the life of God.

　Is our work for the accomplishing of an enterprise or is it for the overflowing and release of God? If we want our work to flow out and release God, then we must learn to reject our zeal, thought, emotion, and decisions and to always prostrate ourselves before God, looking to Him and fellowshipping with Him. We should do this not only when we pray, but all the time we should be fellowshipping with God inwardly, giving Him the throne and authority in us, allowing Him to occupy us and operate in us as He pleases. When we fellowship with God in this way and allow Him to occupy us, He can easily reveal His heart’s desire to us and flow Himself out of us. This is especially true of the brothers who are elders in the churches. If they do not receive God’s leading in fellowship, God’s burden, or God’s commission, then the service in the local churches will rarely flow out God.

　Some brothers who are elders have asked me how they can receive a burden or commission from God. The way is this: You should turn yourself to God, allow Him to occupy your every part, and give Him the first place in every part. Instead of allowing your emotion, mind, and will to be number one, you should give Him the preeminence in you. Thus, when you draw near to God and fellowship with Him, it will be easy for you to receive God’s burden. God gives His burden only to this kind of people. If you give God the ground and opportunity, then it will be easy for God to operate in you, causing you to receive a commission and a burden. This kind of burden causes your service to be a service that comes out of God’s motivation within you. Hence, you will be able to flow out and release God.
　　所以出于神的事奉，是必须和神有交通的，也是必须能供应生命的。神所要我们有的事奉，不是重在作工，作事，是重在供应生命。圣徒的事奉，教会的事奉，那个重心，那个目的，不是在成功一种事业一项工作，乃是在把神的生命，供应出去。全世界的人不论作那种事，为农也好，经商也好，作工业也好，办教育也好，都是重在事业的成功。他们都是把事业作成功，就算达到目的。独有教会的事奉，圣徒的事奉，不是这样！教会和圣徒的事奉，如果仅仅是把事情作成功，仅仅是作出一种或大或小的事业来，这在神看，是等于零，没有什么价值。神要教会和圣徒事奉，不是重在作出工作或事业来，乃是重在将神的生命供应出去。

　　为着许多初信的人，我们就用比较浅显的话来说。比方，教会在这里事奉神，并不是重在造了多少会所，办了多少事业，有了多少活动，作了多少工作，带进了多少人。这些不是教会事奉的重心和目的。用这些来测量，来断定教会的事奉，是非常错误的。教会的事奉有多重，有多高，有多少价值，在神的心目中能蒙多少悦纳，完全不是以这些作标准，不是以人数作标准，不是以物质作标准，不是以事业的大小，或工作的多少作标准，乃是以另一件事作标准，就是教会把神的生命供应出去有多少，人经过教会的带领和服事，里面神生命的成分有多少。

　　神测量教会的事奉和工作，只根据一点，就是教会到底给人多少属灵生命的供应，人得着教会的帮助，到底里面得着或增加多少神生命的成分。神只以这个作标准，来测量教会的事奉。我们就是把这地方所有的人，都带进教会来，把这地方的房子都改作聚会所，把这地方许多的人都弄得热心传福音，如果这些人里面没有神的生命，没有充满神多少的成分，不够得着神，不够认识神，在神看，还是相当空洞，还是没有多少价值。神绝不以祂之外的任何事物，来测量我们的事奉和工作。祂只以人里面得着祂的成分，充满祂的成分，来测量我们的事奉和工作。不是我们把会所造得高高大大的，把事情作得整整齐齐的，把人数弄得满满多多的，我们的事奉和工作，在神面前就有了分量。没有这件事！我们事奉和工作的分量，不是在于人事物的多少，乃是在于神的生命给人摸着的多少，给人得着的多少，给人充满的多少，给人经历的多少。不是我们多得着一些人，多作出一点事，多有了一些东西，我们的事奉和工作就是有分量的。我们永远不能以这些作测量我们事奉和工作的标准。我们必须看我们的事奉和工作，把神的生命供应给人有多少。有的人原来没有神的生命，经过我们一接触，一带领，就得着神的生命进到他们里面。有的人虽然有神的生命，但是非常幼稚，认识神非常肤浅，经过我们和他们接触，和他们交通，他们里面就更深的渴慕神，更深的追求神，而更多的得着神的生命。

　　我们的事奉和工作，只该将神的生命供应人，也只该用神的生命吸引人。人来到我们的聚会中我们不该给人感觉别方面的好，应该给人感觉在这里碰着灵，在这里遇着神，在这里得着生命的供应。也许我们的会所是简陋的，聚会的人是不多的，但是人一来到我们的聚会里，就感觉神的同在，就碰着神。人一走进这样的聚会中，就有一个莫名其妙的感觉，黑暗的就得着亮光，为难的就看见道路，软弱的就变作刚强，下沉的就得以起来。

　　教会团体的事奉该如此，我们个人的事奉也该如此。人碰着我们一下，里面就得着生命的帮助。好像我们里面有一个东西出来，碰着他们的里面，点着他们的里面。他们的里面是昏暗的，给我们接触一下，就明亮了。原来他们里面对神生命的认识非常差，非常少，给我们接触一下就进步，就增多了。我们把他们带到主里面，叫他们得着生命的供应。他们从我们得着的帮助，不是物质的，不是交际的，不是情感的，也不是道理的，乃是属灵的，乃是生命的，乃是出于神的，乃是在基督里的。他们这样在生命中从我们所得着的，实在说，就是神自己，就是神的生命。

　　我们的工作，不能用别的东西吸引人，不能用交际，不能用财物，或任何神以外的事物；这些都是属于死亡的。我们的工作，只能用神和神的生命吸引人，并供应人。这样的事奉，才是属灵的，才是出于神的，才能摸着神。

　　主在约翰十五章说，祂是葡萄树，我们是枝子，枝子离了葡萄树，就不能作什么。葡萄树的枝子，不是为着作材料，乃是为着结果子。结果子，就是供应生命，就是把葡萄树的生命供应出去。这就是我们对主的功用。主今天不需要人作材料，不需要人有干才，只需要人住在祂里面，被祂充满，而将祂的生命供应出去，像葡萄树的枝子，里面被葡萄树的汁浆充满，而将葡萄树的生命供应出去一样。葡萄树的枝子不懂别的事，只懂住在葡萄树上，让其中的生命，经过它供应出去，流露出去。

　　这就是教会的事奉。教会的事奉，不是作什么大工作，大事业，有什么大成就，乃是将基督的生命供应出去，流露出去。这需要我们接在基督身上，住在基督里面，让祂在我们里面有地位，而充满我们，使祂的生命变作我们的生命，祂的性情变作我们的性情，祂的爱好变作我们的爱好，祂的趋向变作我们的趋向，祂的一切变作我们的一切。我们这样住在祂里面，活在祂里面，和祂有交通，就能让祂从我们经过，从我们里面流露出去。我们这样流露出去的，就是祂的生命，就是那葡萄树的生命。这一个，能供应人生命，能叫人得着生命。这一个，人碰着的时候，就是碰着基督，就是碰着那葡萄树的生命。这一个，就是教会的事奉。

　　从前在英国办孤儿院的慕勒，实在是一个活在神里面，而事奉神的人。但是可惜有的人为他所出的传记，太偏于他事业的成就，而把他活在神里面，活在神面前，那些属灵生命的东西忽略了。当我读他自己所写的日记，我不觉得他作了多大的事业，只感觉我碰着一个活在神面前，和神有交通，让神掌权，让神有地位，里面充满神的人。他的日记，我每逢读的时候，都把我带到神面前，叫我感觉神的同在，都叫我觉得慕勒这个人，是活在光中，是活在神面前，你读到他，就碰到神。这是慕勒的生平，不是重在事业的成就，乃是重在对神的认识，对神生命的流露。

　　我们永远要记得，教会的事奉，乃是在于将神流露出去，将神的生命供应出去。不是在于我们作了多少事，作了多少工，乃是在于我们将神流露出去有多少，将神的生命供应出去有多少。这是所有的问题！神永远不用别的东西来评判我们的工作，只用祂的生命来评判我们的工作。祂自己，祂生命的成分，在我们的工作里越多，我们的工作就越有分量，越有价值。否则，我们的工作是虚空的，是失败的。

　　真愿神怜悯我们，叫我们所有的事奉和工作，都是出于祂的，都是因着和祂有交通而有的，也都是能将祂和祂的生命流露出去，供应出去的。
 
　Thus, the service that is from God requires us to have fellowship with God and minister life to others. The service that God wants from us does not focus on doing a work but on ministering life. The center and goal of the service of the saints and of the church are not to build up an enterprise or a work but to minister God’s life. It does not matter what profession the worldly people are in—farming, business, industry, education; all emphasize having a successful enterprise. If their enterprise is successful, then they have reached their goal. However, the service of the church and of the saints is not like this. The service of the church and of the saints is nothing and is worthless in God’s eyes if all we have done is successfully finish our work, having built up either a big or a small enterprise. God’s desire is that the emphasis of our service be on ministering God’s life instead of producing a work or enterprise.

　For the sake of the new believers we will use words that are easily understood to explain this. For example, the church is here serving God, but the emphasis is not on how many meeting halls are built, how many enterprises are established, how many activities are carried out, how much work is done, or how many people are brought in. These are not the center and goal of the church service. To use these items to measure and judge the church service is a huge mistake. How weighty the church service is, how high it is, how much value it has, and how acceptable it is in God’s eyes—all these are not measured by the aforementioned items as the standard, such as the number of people, the material things, the size of the enterprise, and the amount of work. Rather, the only standard of measurement is how much the church has ministered God’s life to others and how much element of the divine life has entered into people through the church’s help and service.

　God measures the work and service of the church according to one point: how much supply of spiritual life the church has given people and how much increase of the element of God’s life people have received when they were helped by the church. God uses only this standard to measure the church’s service. Even if we were to bring all the people in this locality into the church, convert all the houses into meeting halls, and stir up so many people to zealously preach the gospel, in God’s eyes it would all be empty and worthless unless these people have the divine life, are filled with some of the divine element, have received enough of God, and have sufficient knowledge of God. God absolutely does not measure our service and work by anything apart from Himself. He measures our service and work only by how much of His element people have gained and been filled with inwardly. It is not that our service and our work are weighty before God if we build huge meeting halls, do things in an orderly way, or have large numbers of people. There is not such a thing! The weight of our service and work does not depend on the number of people, things, and activities. Instead, it depends on the amount of God’s life people have touched, gained, been filled with, and experienced. It is not that our service, our work, is weighty if we gain a few more people, do a few more activities, and obtain a few more things. We can never use these as the standard for measuring our service and work. We must see how much our service and work have ministered the divine life to others. Some do not have the divine life yet, but after our contact with them and our help to them, God’s life gets into them. Others have a little of God’s life but are very immature and have only a shallow knowledge of God, but after our contact and fellowship with them, they have a deeper desire for God inwardly, they pursue God more deeply, and they gain more of His life.

　Our service and work should only minister God’s life to people and should only use God’s life to attract people. When people come to our meetings, we should give them the sense that they have touched the spirit, met God, and received the supply of life. We should not let them feel that they have touched some other good things besides these items. Perhaps our meeting halls are primitive with only a small number in the meetings, but once a person enters our meetings, he should sense the presence of God and touch God. When a person walks into this kind of meeting, he has an indescribable sensation that his darkness has turned into light, that he has found a way through his difficulties, that his weaknesses have been made strong, and that he has been uplifted from his depression.

　The corporate service of the church should be like this, as should our individual service. When people contact us, even just for a moment, they should gain the help of life inwardly. It is as if we have something that comes out from within us and touches them inwardly to enliven them. They were in darkness inwardly, but after contacting us for a moment, they are enlightened. In the past they were lacking in their inward knowledge of the life of God, but after contacting us for a moment, their knowledge improves and increases. We bring them into the Lord and enable them to receive the supply of life. The help that they receive from us is not material, social, emotional, or doctrinal. Rather, it is spiritual, of life, from God, and in Christ. What they obtain from us in life in this way is truly God Himself and the divine life.

　In our work we should not use other things to attract people. We should not use social contacts, money, or anything apart from God, because all these things belong to death. In our work we should attract people only with God and minister His life to them. Only this kind of service is spiritual, is from God, and is able to touch God.

　In John 15 the Lord said that He is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from the vine the branches can do nothing. The branches on the vine are not there to be its material; they are there to bear fruit. Bearing fruit is to minister life, that is, to release the supply of the vine’s life. This is our function with respect to the Lord. Today the Lord does not need people to be His material, nor does He need human talent. He only needs people to abide in Him, to be filled with Him, and to release the supply of His life. This is truly like the branches of the vine being filled with the sap of the vine and releasing the supply of the vine’s life. The branches of the vine do not know how to do anything but abide in the vine and allow its life to be ministered and to flow out through them.

　This is the service of the church, which is not a great work or large enterprise with a huge accomplishment but the ministering and flowing out of the life of Christ. It requires us to be joined to Christ, to abide in Christ, and to give Him the ground in us to fill us so that His life, His nature, His likes, and His inclination can become our life, our nature, our likes, and our inclination. In other words, His all becomes our all. When we abide in Him, live in Him, and fellowship with Him like this, we allow Him to pass through us and flow out from us. What flows out from us is His life, the life of the vine. This will minister life to others, and it will give them life. When people touch this, they touch Christ and the life of the vine. This is the service of the church.

　George Müller, who founded an orphanage in England, was such a person living in God to serve God. Regrettably, however, some of the biographies written about him place too much emphasis on the success of his enterprise while neglecting the matters of his spiritual life, such as his abiding in God and living before Him. When I read his journal, I did not feel that he was operating a large business. I only felt that I was touching a person who lived before God, fellowshipped with God, allowed God to rule in him, allowed God to have a place in him, and was filled with God inwardly. Every time I read his journal, I was brought before God and given the sense of God’s presence. This made me feel that Müller was one who lived in the light and who lived before God. You touch God when you read his writings. This is the life of George Müller; it is not a life that emphasized a successful enterprise but a life that knew God and flowed out His divine life.

　We must always remember that the service of the church is God’s flowing out to supply others with the divine life. It is not a matter of how many things we accomplish or how many works we do. Instead, it is a matter of how much God we flow out and how much of God’s life we minister to others. This is where all the issues lie. God never uses other things to judge our work. He only uses His life to judge our work. The more our work has God Himself and the element of His life, the weightier and more valuable it is. If we do not have this, then our work is empty and a failure.

　May God truly have mercy on us that all our service and work would be from Him, would come out of our fellowship with Him, and would be able to overflow with Him and His life as a supply to others.

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