第八篇 调灵在于多祷告

灵的操练与神的建造

📖 研读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照
  读经:林前十二1~11罗十二11
  我们都知道,为着召会的建造,灵里的相调是非常重要的;因此,我们在各分家,在圣徒中间,需要推动调灵的实行。通常我们对任何事的实行,都需要先了解它的理论,理论若了解得不透彻,实行就有困难。若先明白了理论,知道所作的是什么,也知道为什么这样作,再去实行,就不会糊涂了。我们在各分家推动调灵的实行,也需要对调灵的理论多有认识。为此,我们需要交通一点关乎调灵的理论。这里我们要点出六个重点。
 
  第一,神和人之间的来往,完全是一个灵的故事。神是灵,而我们里面有灵,所以我们和神之间的往来,无论是祷告、交通或事奉,都是灵里的故事。这是我们第一要认识的。
 
  第二,我们必须承认,在运用灵的事上,我们实在是懒惰、松懈的。神的儿女普遍懒于用灵的光景,正像有的孩子懒于用头脑读书一样。孩子们整天在外面跑跑跳跳,打球玩耍,都不觉得累。但你一要他们安静下来读点书,他们就不愿意了。为什么呢?因为他们懒于用头脑。他们习惯用身体跑、跳,却懒于用头脑。我们这些神的儿女,在运用灵的事上,也是这样。我们肯花许多时间看报、聊天,作许多别的事,就是不肯祷告。为什么呢?因为祷告需要用灵,而我们的灵却常是懒惰、不肯动的。
  使徒保罗在罗十二11说,“殷勤不可懒惰,要灵里火热,常常服事主。”他所说的懒惰,并不是指-罗马一般的懒惰,乃是特别说到灵里的懒惰。所以,他才接着说,要灵里火热,常常服事主。有的弟兄姊妹外面非常殷勤,但他们的灵却非常懒惰。他们作起事,实在是殷勤有劲;但是一祷告,就非常懒惰,极少有灵的感动。这就是因为他们一向懒于用灵,不肯多用灵祷告。
 
  第三,我们要看见,如果我们灵里懒惰,少用灵,甚至不用灵,乃是极其亏欠主的一件事。主在约四24说,“神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵…里敬拜。”23节告诉我们,神寻找这样敬拜祂的人。这给我们看见,神是多渴慕人在灵里与祂相交。所以,我们今天若少用灵,甚至不用灵拜祂,这对祂是何等的亏欠。
  再说,神在祂儿子里化身成为圣灵,目的就是要我们得着祂,享受祂。在人被创造的时候,神为我们造了灵;在人蒙救赎的时候,圣灵点活了我们的灵,并且如今圣灵住在我们灵里,用意都是要我们用灵吸取神、享受神。但我们竟然将祂摆在-约翰一边,不理祂,不肯回到灵里面,用灵接触祂。因此,我们许多人都没有多少享受祂,甚至有的人从来没有享受过祂。常有弟兄姊妹在召会中服事很热切,探望弟兄姊妹很热切,在许多事上都很热切,唯独灵不热切,对主缺少吸取和享受,以致主拯救我们的目的无法达到。
  从另一面说,正因为我们少用灵,所以把主供应出去的也少,人自然不容易从我们身上得着主。我们虽然常去探望,但因着没有用灵和人祷告,所以并不能使人的灵被点活,叫人的灵得供应,而给人真实属灵的帮助。
  我们不仅在探望的事上如此,甚至在召会的聚会中,也是这样。在聚会中,我们往往彼此都不用灵,许多的活动都没有多少灵的味道,没有多少灵的运行,人碰到的不过是仪文和形式。试想这样的聚会,怎能敬拜、得着那位是灵的神呢?当然,更谈不上用灵将人的灵开启,用灵把人的灵带到主里面。这些亏欠,都是由于我们不用灵,少祷告,也不肯敞开和人一同祷告的缘故。
 
  第四,我们需要改正一个错误的观念。我们已往对主缺少敬拜和享受,对人缺少交通和供应,却以一个好像很属灵的说法,将这亏欠归咎于圣灵,说是圣灵没有感动我们。这句话听起来似乎不错,也好像很属灵,但实际上相当错误。
  人对圣灵感动的错误观念,以为圣灵的感动乃是圣灵主动,而我们是处于被动的地位。有的圣徒在聚会中常常不祷告、不交通,理由就是圣灵没有感动他,他怎么可以在聚会中轻举妄动?这种说法完全是误解了圣灵的感动。
  要明白所谓的圣灵感动,究竟是怎么一回事,就必须先认识几件事,下面几件事都是神在宇宙间所已经作成的:
  首先,灵已经流出。因着主耶稣在十字架上被钉死,磐石已经裂开,活水已经涌流出来了(约十九34林前十4)。这意思是,在宇宙间,圣灵已经释放出来了。这是一件太大的事,如同十字架在宇宙间已经成功了救赎一样。今天一个罪人要得赦免,如何不必再求主替他死,只要从心里接受主所完成的就够了;照样,今天人要得着圣灵,也不必苦苦哀求,只要接受就够了,因为磐石已经裂开,圣灵已经像活水一样涌流出来。
  其次,圣灵已经降下。圣灵不仅已经从主那里流出来,也已经降到地上。我们知道,圣灵的降临是分作两步的。头一步是在主复活那天晚上,借着主向门徒吹气而临到,这是圣灵降到人里面,为要作人生命之灵(约二十1922)。第二步是在旬节那天,如同大风、火焰一样降下,为要降在人身上,作人能力的灵(徒二1~4)。这两步的降下,现今都已成就。所以,启示录五章给我们看见,神的灵不仅是在宝座前,更是奉差遣往全地去的(6)。这就如无线电波,-启示录一从电台播放出去,就传送到全地。人怎样一开收音机,就可以收到电波;照样,人只要一敞开心、敞开灵,就可以得着圣灵。
  不仅如此,圣灵已经触着我们的灵。当我们接受主的那一刹那,圣灵就和我们的灵接触了,把我们的灵点活过来。所以,现在圣灵之于我们,完全是主观的,是我们接触过的。
  末了,圣灵已经在我们灵里。圣灵触着我们的灵,重生我们之后,还留在我们里面,住在我们里面。因此,我们现在该确定的知道,这位圣灵不仅是因着主为我们裂开而流出来了,也不仅是从天上降下来了,也不仅是在我们得救时和我们的灵接触了,并且从那时候起,就一直住留在我们灵里。
  由于以上四件大事的成就,我们可以说,凡主该作的,主都为我们作成了。所以请想想,我们现在还需要等主来作么?还需要等圣灵来感动么?绝对不必了。比方,现在外面有风吹动,你在屋里感觉闷热,请问你怎么办?很简单,只要起来把门窗打开,不只开一面,还要两面对开,空气马上对流,风自然就吹进来了。你若不主动的开门窗,反而被动的在那里等,风永远吹不进来。
  这位圣灵就像风一样。当日主耶稣对尼哥底母说,“风随着意思吹,”(约三8)乃是指着圣灵说的。旬节那天,圣灵的行动像一阵暴风刮过(徒二2)。所以,今天我们要得着圣灵的吹动,不该被动的等祂来吹,乃该主动的把自己敞开。你一敞开,祂就必吹动。你等候圣灵感动,圣灵却等候你开启。今天的问题,不在圣灵感动不感动,乃在你肯不肯开启。圣灵一直要从你里面出来,只因为你一直不肯开启,以致祂没有办法在你里面吹动,没有办法在你里面流通。有时候你虽然也开一点,但只是开一面,没有开两面;只是向神开,没有向人开,结果圣灵只能流进,不能流出。最后,圣灵因着不能流出,也就不再流进了。
  神的恩典太大,祂太俯就我们了,竟然化身圣灵住在我们里面,情愿受我们的支配。只要我们一动,圣灵就动;如果我们不动,圣灵也没有办法动。所以,使徒保罗说,“要灵里火热。”(罗十二11)这个“要”就是主动。你灵里火热不火热,不是圣灵负责,乃是你负责。你要,就热;你不要,就不热。正如我们要电炉热,只要将开关打开,电流一通进来就热了。
  林前十二章说到属灵的恩赐。这些恩赐的运用,到底是圣灵主动呢,还是我们主动?我们需要明白,林前十二章里所说的圣灵,乃是主在字架上为我们裂开而流出来的,也是主从死里复活,升到天上所浇灌下来的。现在这位圣灵已经临到我们每一个人身上,只要我们不凭感觉,单凭信心主动的向祂支取,祂就会显明出来。所以,现在的问题不是祂赐不赐给,乃是你给祂作到什么地步。你主动到什么地步,祂就能作到什么地步。如果你向祂大大的张口,祂就要多多的充满你(诗八一10);如果你向祂关闭,处于被动的地位,祂的工作就要受到限制。所以,问题不在祂,乃在你。
  林前十二1~2说,“关于属灵的恩赐,我不愿意你们不明白。你们作外邦人的时候,无论何时不论怎样受到带领,你们就被带走,去拜那不能出声的偶像。”达秘(J. N. Darby)在他的新译本中,把开头一句翻作“论到属灵的表显”。这样的翻译相当达意。这是说出,各种恩赐都是圣灵在人身上的表显。1~2节的意思,就是说,你们从前所事奉的假神,是不会说话的,是哑巴;你们正在事奉它的时候,自己也是不说话的。但现在你们所事奉的神,乃是灵,是活的、说话的,祂感动你们,就使你们能有各种恩赐。接下去,使徒就给我们看见,圣灵显在我们身上,叫这人作这个,又叫那人作那个。这些都不是圣灵来主动,乃是要我们主动。如果我们要,祂就来了;如果我们不要,虽然祂还在我们里面,却无法显在我们身上。
  所以,我们不可再对圣灵的感动,存着一种似是而非的观念,以致在运用灵的事上,直是被动、懒惰的。我们该殷勤、主动,起来操练我们的灵,运用我们的灵,那住在我们灵里的圣灵,就必随着我们,显出祂无限的丰富,无穷的能力。
 
  第五,我们所说的调灵,并不是仅仅指大家来在一起,有一种兴奋的祷告而已。乃是指我们的祷告,必须用灵,才会有调灵的果效。我们已经说过,神和人之间的来往,完全是一个灵的故事,我们要摸着神和神的一切,必须是在灵里。所以我们必须多操练运用灵,使灵丰富刚强;而操练灵最好的方法,就是多祷告。所以调灵的基本操练,乃在于我们要多用灵祷告。
  已过,我们的祷告实在太少。所以,现在我们推动调灵这事,就是要全召会的弟兄姊妹,尤其是担负事奉责任的人,无论是同工、长老、家负责,个个都作祷告的人,个个都多有祷告。我们的灵要操练到一个地步,随时随地都能向神祷告。即使你是走在路上,或者坐在车上,你里头还能不断地祷告。这种随时的祷告,就叫我们一直运用灵,操练灵,而使我们的灵越过越强越盛;我们真实地长进就在于此。
  调灵的基本原则,就是操练灵。不但在日常生活中要个人操练灵,就是每次和弟兄姊妹在一起,也都该把灵释放出来,和弟兄姊妹一同祷告、操练。比方,我们每一次聚会,不管是什么性质的聚会,不管有什么人在场,我们的灵都该自由的释放出来。如果我们都这样操练,我们的聚会将是何等的丰富。我们一来到聚会中,你的灵出来,我的灵出来,他的灵也出来,大家的灵都出来了,众人灵灵相调,汇为一流,自然就显出生命活水涌流的光景。如此,所有的死亡、污秽,都被冲去,所有的丰盛都流了进来,这是何等的荣耀。所以从现在起,我们一定要好好操练灵,使灵越操练越刚强,越操练越起来,越操练越新鲜,越操练越活泼。操练到一个地步,无论到什么场合,灵都能出来,而且是很自然的出来。
 
  第六,为着使我们的灵更容易出来,除了操练灵之外,还要操练我们的思路和话语。这两方面的操练,也在于多祷告。祷告不仅使我们的灵得着操练,同时也使我们的思路和话语得着操练。如果一位弟兄向来很少祷告,现在圣灵感动他,甚至浇灌他,他要开口祷告,他的思路和话语会够用么?恐怕他只能喊叫一场,因为他的思路和话语没有受过属灵操练,无法将灵里的感动发表出来。如果他平素有操练,灵一感动,话语就来了,并且越说越释放,越说越流畅,灵就大大得着发表。所以灵的发表,必须有思路和话语配合。
  总之,我们平日必须花工夫祷告,一面操练我们的灵,一面自然的操练我们的思路和话语。这样,等到我们来到聚会中,无论何时要祷告,我们的灵都是强而新鲜的,思路也是通达的,话语更是够用的。这样,我们的祷告必定刚强丰富,圣灵就能借着我们,自由的发表出来。
 
  我们所说的调灵,没有别的,就是要众人多多操练祷告。无论什么时候,弟兄姊妹聚在一起,就要敞开灵祷告。你敞开灵祷告,我敞开灵祷告,大家的灵都敞开来祷告;并且不只祷告一次,乃是祷了再祷;多方的祷告,多次的祷告。这样我们的灵既得了操练,圣灵也得着发表,众人的灵就自然相调了,全召会也必定满了生气蓬勃的光景。
  所以说,调灵不仅是要叫灵出来,更是要叫灵出来得刚强、丰富、又活泼。如果灵能这样出来,自然就相调了。只要生命的灵能流通,所有的死亡和污秽,都要被冲走;因为生命的水流不只有滋润和解渴的功用,并且有冲刷的作用;不只供应人生命,并且冲走人里头一切的肮脏和杂质,带进一切属灵的丰富。所以,唯有这样让生命之灵流通,召会中属灵的丰富,才会越过越增加。
  已往我们没有好好让生命之灵流通,使我们受了极大的亏损。这就如我们的屋里已经满了臭气,大家都说空气不好,很闷,却没有人肯打开门窗,这是何等的愚昧。其实只要把门窗打开,新鲜空气就进来,臭气自然就被吹掉了。
  盼望我们众人从这时候起,注重借着祷告,使生命之灵流通过于听道,过于在别的方面所给人的帮助。求主使我们全召会成为一个祷告的召会,成为一个生命之灵流通的召会。这并不是在外面追求圣灵的浇灌,大家兴奋一阵,热闹一场,就算了。我不反对圣灵浇灌,当我们这样调灵的时候,常常会带来圣灵的浇灌。然而请记得,调灵所摸着的,乃是在我们里头的圣灵那追测不透的富源。这比一时的浇灌更宝贵、更持久。摸着这一个不止息的泉源,即使外面没有圣灵的浇灌,我们的灵仍能活泼、新鲜、高昂、丰富。愿主带领我们在这种操练上往前去!
  原刊于一九六一年七月“话语职事”第一百二十一期
  读经:哥林多前书十二章一至十一节,罗马书十二章十一节。
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弟兄们,关于属灵的恩赐,我不愿意你们不明白。
你们作外邦人的时候,无论何时不论怎样受到带领,你们就被带走,去拜那不能出声的偶像,这是你们知道的。
所以我要你们知道,在神的灵里说话的,没有人说,受咒诅的,耶稣!若不是在圣灵里,也没有人能说,主,耶稣!
然而,恩赐虽有分别,灵却是同一位;
职事也有分别,主却是同一位;
功效也有分别,神却是同一位,在众人里面运行一切的事。
只是那灵的表显赐给各人,是要叫人得益处。
这人借着那灵得了智慧的言语,那人也照同一位灵得了知识的言语,
另有别人在同一位灵里得了信心,还有一人在这一位灵里得了医病的恩赐,
另有一人能行异能,另有一人能申言,另有一人能辨别诸灵,另有别人能说各种方言,另有一人能翻方言。
但这一切都是这位独一且同一的灵所运行,照着祂的定意个别分给各人的。
殷勤不可懒惰,要灵里火热,常常服事主。
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  我们都知道,为着召会的建造,灵里的相调是非常重要的;因此,我们在各分家,在圣徒中间,需要推动调灵的实行。通常我们对任何事的实行,都需要先了解它的理论,理论若了解得不透彻,实行就有困难。若先明白了理论,知道所作的是什么,也知道为什么这样作,再去实行,就不会糊涂了。我们在各分家推动调灵的实行,也需要对调灵的理论多有认识。为此,我们需要交通一点关乎调灵的理论。这里我们要点出六个重点。
 
  第一,神和人之间的来往,完全是一个灵的故事。神是灵,而我们里面有灵,所以我们和神之间的往来,无论是祷告、交通或事奉,都是灵里的故事。这是我们第一要认识的。
 
  第二,我们必须承认,在运用灵的事上,我们实在是懒惰、松懈的。神的儿女普遍懒于用灵的光景,正像有的孩子懒于用头脑读书一样。孩子们整天在外面跑跑跳跳,打球玩耍,都不觉得累。但你一要他们安静下来读点书,他们就不愿意了。为什么呢?因为他们懒于用头脑。他们习惯用身体跑、跳,却懒于用头脑。我们这些神的儿女,在运用灵的事上,也是这样。我们肯花许多时间看报、聊天,作许多别的事,就是不肯祷告。为什么呢?因为祷告需要用灵,而我们的灵却常是懒惰、不肯动的。  使徒保罗在罗马十二章十一节说,“殷勤不可懒惰,要灵里火热,常常服事主。”他所说的懒惰,并不是指一般的懒惰,乃是特别说到灵里的懒惰。所以,他才接着说,要灵里火热,常常服事主。有的弟兄姊妹外面非常殷勤,但他们的灵却非常懒惰。他们作起事,实在是殷勤有劲;但是一祷告,就非常懒惰,极少有灵的感动。这就是因为他们一向懒于用灵,不肯多用灵祷告。
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殷勤不可懒惰,要灵里火热,常常服事主。
------------------------
 
  第三,我们要看见,如果我们灵里懒惰,少用灵,甚至不用灵,乃是极其亏欠主的一件事。主在约翰四章二十四节说,“神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵…里敬拜。”二十三节告诉我们,神寻找这样敬拜祂的人。这给我们看见,神是多渴慕人在灵里与祂相交。所以,我们今天若少用灵,甚至不用灵拜祂,这对祂是何等的亏欠。
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神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵和真实里敬拜。
时候将到,如今就是了,那真正敬拜父的,要在灵和真实里敬拜祂,因为父寻找这样敬拜祂的人。
------------------------
  再说,神在祂儿子里化身成为圣灵,目的就是要我们得着祂,享受祂。在人被创造的时候,神为我们造了灵;在人蒙救赎的时候,圣灵点活了我们的灵,并且如今圣灵住在我们灵里,用意都是要我们用灵吸取神、享受神。但我们竟然将祂摆在一边,不理祂,不肯回到灵里面,用灵接触祂。因此,我们许多人都没有多少享受祂,甚至有的人从来没有享受过祂。常有弟兄姊妹在召会中服事很热切,探望弟兄姊妹很热切,在许多事上都很热切,唯独灵不热切,对主缺少吸取和享受,以致主拯救我们的目的无法达到。  从另一面说,正因为我们少用灵,所以把主供应出去的也少,人自然不容易从我们身上得着主。我们虽然常去探望,但因着没有用灵和人祷告,所以并不能使人的灵被点活,叫人的灵得供应,而给人真实属灵的帮助。  我们不仅在探望的事上如此,甚至在召会的聚会中,也是这样。在聚会中,我们往往彼此都不用灵,许多的活动都没有多少灵的味道,没有多少灵的运行,人碰到的不过是仪文和形式。试想这样的聚会,怎能敬拜、得着那位是灵的神呢?当然,更谈不上用灵将人的灵开启,用灵把人的灵带到主里面。这些亏欠,都是由于我们不用灵,少祷告,也不肯敞开和人一同祷告的缘故。
 
  第四,我们需要改正一个错误的观念。我们已往对主缺少敬拜和享受,对人缺少交通和供应,却以一个好像很属灵的说法,将这亏欠归咎于圣灵,说是圣灵没有感动我们。这句话听起来似乎不错,也好像很属灵,但实际上相当错误。  人对圣灵感动的错误观念,以为圣灵的感动乃是圣灵主动,而我们是处于被动的地位。有的圣徒在聚会中常常不祷告、不交通,理由就是圣灵没有感动他,他怎么可以在聚会中轻举妄动?这种说法完全是误解了圣灵的感动。  要明白所谓的圣灵感动,究竟是怎么一回事,就必须先认识几件事,下面几件事都是神在宇宙间所已经作成的:  首先,灵已经流出。因着主耶稣在十字架上被钉死,磐石已经裂开,活水已经涌流出来了(约十九34,林前十4)。这意思是,在宇宙间,圣灵已经释放出来了。这是一件太大的事,如同十字架在宇宙间已经成功了救赎一样。今天一个罪人要得赦免,如何不必再求主替他死,只要从心里接受主所完成的就够了;照样,今天人要得着圣灵,也不必苦苦哀求,只要接受就够了,因为磐石已经裂开,圣灵已经像活水一样涌流出来。
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惟有一个兵用枪扎祂的肋旁,随即有血和水流出来。
也都喝了一样的灵水;所喝的是出于随行的灵磐石,那磐石就是基督。
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  其次,圣灵已经降下。圣灵不仅已经从主那里流出来,也已经降到地上。我们知道,圣灵的降临是分作两步的。头一步是在主复活那天晚上,借着主向门徒吹气而临到,这是圣灵降到人里面,为要作人生命之灵(约二十19,22)。第二步是在五旬节那天,如同大风、火焰一样降下,为要降在人身上,作人能力的灵(徒二1~4)。这两步的降下,现今都已成就。所以,启示录五章给我们看见,神的灵不仅是在宝座前,更是奉差遣往全地去的(6)。这就如无线电波,一从电台播放出去,就传送到全地。人怎样一开收音机,就可以收到电波;照样,人只要一敞开心、敞开灵,就可以得着圣灵。
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那日(就是七日的第一日)晚上,门徒所在的地方,因怕犹太人,门都关了;耶稣来站在当中,对他们说,愿你们平安。
说了这话,就向他们吹入一口气,说,你们受圣灵。
约翰福音五章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
徒2:1  
五旬节那天到了,门徒都聚集在一处。
徒2:2  
忽然从天上有响声下来,好像一阵暴风刮过,充满了他们所坐的整个屋子。
徒2:3  
又有舌头如火焰向他们显现出来,分开落在他们各人身上,
徒2:4  
他们就都被圣灵充溢,并且按着那灵所赐的发表,用别种不同的语言说起话来。
启示录五章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
启5:6  
我又看见宝座与四活物中间,并众长老中间,有羔羊站立,像是刚被杀过的,有七角和七眼,就是神的七灵,奉差遣往全地去的。
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  不仅如此,圣灵已经触着我们的灵。当我们接受主的那一刹那,圣灵就和我们的灵接触了,把我们的灵点活过来。所以,现在圣灵之于我们,完全是主观的,是我们接触过的。  末了,圣灵已经在我们灵里。圣灵触着我们的灵,重生我们之后,还留在我们里面,住在我们里面。因此,我们现在该确定的知道,这位圣灵不仅是因着主为我们裂开而流出来了,也不仅是从天上降下来了,也不仅是在我们得救时和我们的灵接触了,并且从那时候起,就一直住留在我们灵里。  由于以上四件大事的成就,我们可以说,凡主该作的,主都为我们作成了。所以请想想,我们现在还需要等主来作么?还需要等圣灵来感动么?绝对不必了。比方,现在外面有风吹动,你在屋里感觉闷热,请问你怎么办?很简单,只要起来把门窗打开,不只开一面,还要两面对开,空气马上对流,风自然就吹进来了。你若不主动的开门窗,反而被动的在那里等,风永远吹不进来。  这位圣灵就像风一样。当日主耶稣对尼哥底母说,“风随着意思吹,”(约三8)乃是指着圣灵说的。五旬节那天,圣灵的行动像一阵暴风刮过(徒二2)。所以,今天我们要得着圣灵的吹动,不该被动的等祂来吹,乃该主动的把自己敞开。你一敞开,祂就必吹动。你等候圣灵感动,圣灵却等候你开启。今天的问题,不在圣灵感动不感动,乃在你肯不肯开启。圣灵一直要从你里面出来,只因为你一直不肯开启,以致祂没有办法在你里面吹动,没有办法在你里面流通。有时候你虽然也开一点,但只是开一面,没有开两面;只是向神开,没有向人开,结果圣灵只能流进,不能流出。最后,圣灵因着不能流出,也就不再流进了。
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约3:8  
风随着意思吹,你听见风的响声,却不晓得从哪里来,往哪里去;凡从那灵生的,就是这样。
约翰福音五章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
徒2:2  
忽然从天上有响声下来,好像一阵暴风刮过,充满了他们所坐的整个屋子。
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  神的恩典太大,祂太俯就我们了,竟然化身圣灵住在我们里面,情愿受我们的支配。只要我们一动,圣灵就动;如果我们不动,圣灵也没有办法动。所以,使徒保罗说,“要灵里火热。”(罗十二11)这个“要”就是主动。你灵里火热不火热,不是圣灵负责,乃是你负责。你要,就热;你不要,就不热。正如我们要电炉热,只要将开关打开,电流一通进来就热了。
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殷勤不可懒惰,要灵里火热,常常服事主。
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  林前十二章说到属灵的恩赐。这些恩赐的运用,到底是圣灵主动呢,还是我们主动?我们需要明白,林前十二章里所说的圣灵,乃是主在十字架上为我们裂开而流出来的,也是主从死里复活,升到天上所浇灌下来的。现在这位圣灵已经临到我们每一个人身上,只要我们不凭感觉,单凭信心主动的向祂支取,祂就会显明出来。所以,现在的问题不是祂赐不赐给,乃是你给祂作到什么地步。你主动到什么地步,祂就能作到什么地步。如果你向祂大大的张口,祂就要多多的充满你(诗八一10);如果你向祂关闭,处于被动的地位,祂的工作就要受到限制。所以,问题不在祂,乃在你。
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哥林多前书十二章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
哥林多前书十二章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
哥林多前书十章(略,若需要被汇集,请勾选“不忽略整章”)
我是耶和华你的神,是把你从埃及地领上来的;你要大大张口,我就给你充满。
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  林前十二章一至二节说,“关于属灵的恩赐,我不愿意你们不明白。你们作外邦人的时候,无论何时不论怎样受到带领,你们就被带走,去拜那不能出声的偶像。”达秘(J. N. Darby)在他的新译本中,把开头一句翻作“论到属灵的表显”。这样的翻译相当达意。这是说出,各种恩赐都是圣灵在人身上的表显。一至二节的意思,就是说,你们从前所事奉的假神,是不会说话的,是哑巴;你们正在事奉它的时候,自己也是不说话的。但现在你们所事奉的神,乃是灵,是活的、说话的,祂感动你们,就使你们能有各种恩赐。接下去,使徒就给我们看见,圣灵显在我们身上,叫这人作这个,又叫那人作那个。这些都不是圣灵来主动,乃是要我们主动。如果我们要,祂就来了;如果我们不要,虽然祂还在我们里面,却无法显在我们身上。
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弟兄们,关于属灵的恩赐,我不愿意你们不明白。
你们作外邦人的时候,无论何时不论怎样受到带领,你们就被带走,去拜那不能出声的偶像,这是你们知道的。
弟兄们,关于属灵的恩赐,我不愿意你们不明白。
你们作外邦人的时候,无论何时不论怎样受到带领,你们就被带走,去拜那不能出声的偶像,这是你们知道的。
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  所以,我们不可再对圣灵的感动,存着一种似是而非的观念,以致在运用灵的事上,一直是被动、懒惰的。我们该殷勤、主动,起来操练我们的灵,运用我们的灵,那住在我们灵里的圣灵,就必随着我们,显出祂无限的丰富,无穷的能力。
 
  第五,我们所说的调灵,并不是仅仅指大家来在一起,有一种兴奋的祷告而已。乃是指我们的祷告,必须用灵,才会有调灵的果效。我们已经说过,神和人之间的来往,完全是一个灵的故事,我们要摸着神和神的一切,必须是在灵里。所以我们必须多操练运用灵,使灵丰富刚强;而操练灵最好的方法,就是多祷告。所以调灵的基本操练,乃在于我们要多用灵祷告。  已过,我们的祷告实在太少。所以,现在我们推动调灵这事,就是要全召会的弟兄姊妹,尤其是担负事奉责任的人,无论是同工、长老、家负责,个个都作祷告的人,个个都多有祷告。我们的灵要操练到一个地步,随时随地都能向神祷告。即使你是走在路上,或者坐在车上,你里头还能不断地祷告。这种随时的祷告,就叫我们一直运用灵,操练灵,而使我们的灵越过越强越盛;我们真实地长进就在于此。  调灵的基本原则,就是操练灵。不但在日常生活中要个人操练灵,就是每次和弟兄姊妹在一起,也都该把灵释放出来,和弟兄姊妹一同祷告、操练。比方,我们每一次聚会,不管是什么性质的聚会,不管有什么人在场,我们的灵都该自由的释放出来。如果我们都这样操练,我们的聚会将是何等的丰富。我们一来到聚会中,你的灵出来,我的灵出来,他的灵也出来,大家的灵都出来了,众人灵灵相调,汇为一流,自然就显出生命活水涌流的光景。如此,所有的死亡、污秽,都被冲去,所有的丰盛都流了进来,这是何等的荣耀。所以从现在起,我们一定要好好操练灵,使灵越操练越刚强,越操练越起来,越操练越新鲜,越操练越活泼。操练到一个地步,无论到什么场合,灵都能出来,而且是很自然的出来。
 
  第六,为着使我们的灵更容易出来,除了操练灵之外,还要操练我们的思路和话语。这两方面的操练,也在于多祷告。祷告不仅使我们的灵得着操练,同时也使我们的思路和话语得着操练。如果一位弟兄向来很少祷告,现在圣灵感动他,甚至浇灌他,他要开口祷告,他的思路和话语会够用么?恐怕他只能喊叫一场,因为他的思路和话语没有受过属灵操练,无法将灵里的感动发表出来。如果他平素有操练,灵一感动,话语就来了,并且越说越释放,越说越流畅,灵就大大得着发表。所以灵的发表,必须有思路和话语配合。  总之,我们平日必须花工夫祷告,一面操练我们的灵,一面自然的操练我们的思路和话语。这样,等到我们来到聚会中,无论何时要祷告,我们的灵都是强而新鲜的,思路也是通达的,话语更是够用的。这样,我们的祷告必定刚强丰富,圣灵就能借着我们,自由的发表出来。
 
  我们所说的调灵,没有别的,就是要众人多多操练祷告。无论什么时候,弟兄姊妹聚在一起,就要敞开灵祷告。你敞开灵祷告,我敞开灵祷告,大家的灵都敞开来祷告;并且不只祷告一次,乃是祷了再祷;多方的祷告,多次的祷告。这样我们的灵既得了操练,圣灵也得着发表,众人的灵就自然相调了,全召会也必定满了生气蓬勃的光景。  所以说,调灵不仅是要叫灵出来,更是要叫灵出来得刚强、丰富、又活泼。如果灵能这样出来,自然就相调了。只要生命的灵能流通,所有的死亡和污秽,都要被冲走;因为生命的水流不只有滋润和解渴的功用,并且有冲刷的作用;不只供应人生命,并且冲走人里头一切的肮脏和杂质,带进一切属灵的丰富。所以,唯有这样让生命之灵流通,召会中属灵的丰富,才会越过越增加。  已往我们没有好好让生命之灵流通,使我们受了极大的亏损。这就如我们的屋里已经满了臭气,大家都说空气不好,很闷,却没有人肯打开门窗,这是何等的愚昧。其实只要把门窗打开,新鲜空气就进来,臭气自然就被吹掉了。  盼望我们众人从这时候起,注重借着祷告,使生命之灵流通过于听道,过于在别的方面所给人的帮助。求主使我们全召会成为一个祷告的召会,成为一个生命之灵流通的召会。这并不是在外面追求圣灵的浇灌,大家兴奋一阵,热闹一场,就算了。我不反对圣灵浇灌,当我们这样调灵的时候,常常会带来圣灵的浇灌。然而请记得,调灵所摸着的,乃是在我们里头的圣灵那追测不透的富源。这比一时的浇灌更宝贵、更持久。摸着这一个不止息的泉源,即使外面没有圣灵的浇灌,我们的灵仍能活泼、新鲜、高昂、丰富。愿主带领我们在这种操练上往前去!  原刊于一九六一年七月“话语职事”第一百二十一期
 Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Rom. 12:11
 Blending in spirit is crucial for the building of the church. Hence, we need to encourage the saints to blend in the spirit in all the meetings. In order to practice something, we first need to understand its basis; otherwise, we will have difficulty practicing it. We avoid confusion by understanding what we are doing and why we are doing it. In order to encourage the saints to practice blending in spirit, we need to understand the concept of blending. For this reason we will fellowship concerning six crucial points related to blending in spirit.
 
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND THE BELIEVERS BEING IN THE SPIRIT
 The relationship between God and His people is altogether in the spirit. God is Spirit, and we have a spirit. Therefore, all our dealings with God, whether prayer, fellowship, or service, are in the spirit. This is the first thing that we need to know.
 
NOT BEING SLOTHFUL TO EXERCISE THE SPIRIT
 We must confess that we are lazy and loose in the matter of exercising our spirit. In this matter the children of God tend to be slothful, just like some children are too lazy to use their mind to study. Most children can play all day without feeling tired. But they are unwilling to do their homework, because they are slothful in using their mind. They are accustomed to exercising their body, but they are unaccustomed to studying with their mind. This also applies to us as God’s children in relation to exercising our spirit. We are willing to spend a good amount of time reading newspapers, conversing, and doing many other things, but we are not willing to pray. Prayer requires that we exercise our spirit, but our spirit is slothful, unwilling to move.
 The apostle Paul says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, but be burning in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). The word slothful here is in relation to the spirit because Paul goes on to say that we need to be burning in spirit, serving the Lord. Some saints are diligent outwardly, but their spirit is slothful. They are diligent and energetic in doing things, but they are slothful and seldom moved in spirit to pray. This is the result of being slothful to exercise the spirit and being unwilling to pray more with the spirit.
 
NOT EXERCISING THE SPIRIT BEING AN OFFENSE TO THE LORD
 Being slothful in spirit and not exercising the spirit greatly offend the Lord. In John 4:24 the Lord said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit.” Verse 23 says that God seeks such to worship Him. God is longing for persons who will fellowship with Him in spirit. We offend God by not exercising our spirit to worship Him or by rarely exercising our spirit.
 God is embodied in the Son, and the Son is realized as the Spirit so that we can receive and enjoy Him. God created us with a spirit and redeemed us so that the Spirit could enliven our spirit. Now the Spirit dwells in our spirit so that we may absorb and enjoy God with our spirit. However, we put Him aside, ignore Him, and turn our back to Him when we do not contact Him with our spirit. Many of us do not enjoy the Lord much, and some have never enjoyed Him. Some co-workers serve fervently in the church and visit other saints. They are fervent in many things other than exercising their spirit. They do not enjoy the Lord. As a result, the Lord is unable to reach the goal of His salvation among us.
 Since we seldom exercise our spirit, we do not have a rich supply for the saints; we are not channels for them to receive the Lord. We may frequently visit the saints, but we can neither enliven their spirit nor supply them, because we do not exercise our spirit to pray with them. We are unable to render the saints real spiritual help.
 Even in the meetings we do not exercise our spirit to contact one another. Most of our activities have the flavor of rituals and formalities, not the flavor of the Spirit or the moving of the Spirit. We cannot expect to worship and gain God, who is Spirit, in such meetings. How can we speak of exercising our spirit to open the spirit of the saints and bring them into the Lord? These shortages are the result of our not exercising our spirit, not praying enough, and being unwilling to open ourselves to pray with others.
 
BEING ACTIVE TO RECEIVE THE MOVING OF THE SPIRIT
 In the past we blamed our lack of worship, enjoyment of the Lord, and supplying others on the Holy Spirit not moving in us. This sounds spiritual, but it is incorrect.
 We have a wrong concept concerning the move of the Spirit. We think that when the Spirit moves in us, He takes the initiative, and we are passive. Some saints rarely pray or fellowship in the meetings, because they are not moved by the Spirit, and they dare not behave recklessly in the meetings. Such an explanation indicates that they have misunderstood what it means for the Spirit to move in them.
 In order to understand how the Spirit moves, we must know a few matters that have been accomplished by God in the universe.
 First, the Spirit is flowing. When the Lord Jesus was put to death on the cross, His side was pierced, and out flowed blood and water, just as living water flowed out of the cleft rock (John 19:34; 1 Cor. 10:4). This means that the Spirit has been released. This is as great an event as the accomplishment of redemption on the cross. In order to be forgiven of his sins, a sinner needs only to receive in his heart what the Lord has accomplished; there is no need for him to ask the Lord to die again on his behalf. Likewise, in order to obtain the Spirit, a believer needs merely to claim the accomplished fact; there is no need to beg, because the Rock has been cleft, and the Spirit is flowing out as living water.
 Second, the Spirit has been sent. The Spirit has not only flowed out of the Lord, but He has also been sent. There were two steps in the sending of the Spirit. In the first step the Lord breathed into the disciples on the evening of His resurrection. In this step the Spirit entered into man as the Spirit of life (John 20:19, 22). In the second step the Spirit descended like a rushing violent wind and like tongues as of fire. In this step the Spirit descended upon man as the Spirit of power (Acts 2:1-4). These two steps are accomplished facts. Now the Spirit of God is not only before the throne but has also been sent forth into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). For example, radio waves are transmitted from a radio station to the whole earth. A person simply needs to turn on a radio, and he will receive the radio waves. Likewise, when a person opens his heart and his spirit, he will receive the Spirit.
 Not only so, the Spirit has contacted our spirit. The moment we received the Lord, the Spirit contacted and enlivened our spirit. The Spirit is subjective to us, because we have contacted Him.
 Finally, the Spirit is in our spirit. After we were regenerated, the Spirit remained in us; He now dwells in us. Hence, we should know with assurance that the Spirit is flowing because the Lord Jesus died on the cross, the Spirit descended from heaven, He contacted our spirit at the time of our regeneration, and He is dwelling in our spirit.
 In view of these four great accomplishments, we can say that the Lord has done everything. We do not need to wait for the Lord to do anything else. We do not need to wait for the Spirit to move. When the wind is blowing, we just need to open the windows in order for the wind to blow into the house. If we want a draft, we should open windows that face each other. If we wait passively for the windows to open, the wind will never blow fresh air into the house.
 The Spirit is like the wind. When the Lord Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wills” (John 3:8), He was referring to the Spirit. On the day of Pentecost the move of the Holy Spirit was like a rushing violent wind (Acts 2:2). If we desire to have the blowing of the Holy Spirit, we should not wait passively; rather, we should take the initiative to open ourselves. Once we are open, the Spirit will blow and move in us. We may wait to be moved by the Spirit, but the Spirit is waiting for us to open ourselves. It is not a matter of whether or not the Spirit is moving but of whether or not we are willing to be open. The Spirit always wants to flow, but He has no way because we are not willing to open ourselves. Sometimes we are somewhat open, but we are open only on one side instead of two sides; we are open to God but not to the saints. Consequently, the Spirit can flow only in but not out. Eventually, He will no longer be able to flow in.
 God is abounding in grace. He was incarnated, died, resurrected, and became the life-giving Spirit in order to dwell in us. Now our spirits are subject to us (1 Cor. 14:32). As long as we are willing to move, the Spirit will move. If we do not move, the Spirit has no way to move. Therefore, the apostle Paul says, “Be burning in spirit” (Rom. 12:11). The word be here means that we need to take the initiative. Whether or not we are burning in spirit is our responsibility, not the Spirit’s responsibility. If we are willing, we will be burning, but if we are not willing, we will not be burning. Once we turn on the switch, the electric current will flow.
 First Corinthians 12 speaks of spiritual gifts. Does the Spirit need to take the initiative in order for us to exercise these gifts, or do we? The Spirit spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12 has already been breathed into the believers and poured out upon them. This Spirit is dwelling in us. As long as we take the initiative to apply Him, not according to our feeling but according to faith, He will be manifested. It is not a question of whether or not He will give us a gift but to what extent we would let Him be manifested. If we open our mouth wide, He will fill it (Psa. 81:10). If we are closed and passive, His work will be limited. Therefore, the problem lies with us, not with the Spirit.
 First Corinthians 12:1-2 says, “Concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were Gentiles, you were always being led away to dumb idols, whenever and however you were led.” In his New Translation of the Bible, J. N. Darby translates the beginning of the first sentence as “Now concerning spiritual manifestations.” This translation makes it clear that the gifts are manifestations of the Spirit. In these verses the apostle seems to be saying, “The false gods that you worshipped in the past could not speak; they were dumb idols. As a result, while you were serving them, you were also dumb. But now the God whom we worship is the Spirit. He is living, and He speaks; when He moves, we receive different kinds of gifts.” Then the apostle goes on to present the manifestations of the Spirit. These do not depend on the Spirit’s taking the initiative but on our taking the initiative. If we do not take the initiative, He has no way to be manifested, even though He is in us.
 Therefore, we must change this wrong concept concerning the moving of the Spirit. We must not be passive and slothful in exercising our spirit. We should be diligent to rise up and exercise our spirit. The indwelling Spirit will follow us and manifest His unlimited riches and inexhaustible power.
 
BLENDING IN SPIRIT DEPENDING ON EXERCISING THE SPIRIT
 Blending in spirit does not refer merely to our coming together to have exciting prayers. Rather, it refers to the need to pray with our spirit. All our dealings with God are a matter of the spirit. In order to touch God and anything of God, we must be in spirit. We must exercise our spirit so that our spirit can be enriched and strengthened. The best way to exercise our spirit is to pray. The fundamental way to blend in spirit is to pray with our spirit.
 In the past we did not spend enough time to pray. Now we are promoting blending in spirit in order to encourage the saints—including the co-workers, the elders, and the responsible ones—to be praying persons. We need to exercise our spirit so that we can pray at any time and in any place. Even while we are walking or driving, we can still pray. This kind of praying in any place will cause us to exercise our spirit more, and our spirit will become stronger. Herein lies our real growth.
 The secret to blending in spirit is to exercise our spirit. We should exercise our spirit individually in our daily life; also, every time we meet with the saints, we need to release our spirit to pray together. It does not matter what kind of meeting we are in or who is in the meeting, our spirit should be released. If we would all practice in this way, our meetings would be rich, and every saint would be released. Thus, our spirits would be blended and become one flow, and the river of water of life would flow among us. This is the way for death and sins to be washed away and for the riches of the Spirit to flow in. Therefore, we must be diligent to exercise our spirit until it is strong, uplifted, fresh, and living. We should use every occasion to exercise our spirit.
 
THOUGHTS AND WORDS BEING CRUCIAL IN OUR EXERCISE
 In order for our spirit to come forth effectively, our thoughts need to be properly exercised, and our speaking needs to match our thoughts. Such an exercise depends on our praying more. Prayer causes us to exercise not only our spirit but also our mind when we speak. Suppose a brother who does not often pray decides to pray. His thoughts and words may not express his burden. He will probably be able to utter a few sentences, but he will not be able to express the burden in his spirit. However, if he prayed regularly, once his spirit is exercised, his words will express the burden in his spirit. Our thoughts and words must match the burden in our spirit.
 We must spend more time to pray regularly. On the one hand, we must exercise our spirit, and on the other hand, we must not overlook the importance of our thoughts and words. Then when we pray in the meetings, our spirit will be strong and fresh, our thoughts will be clear, and our words will be adequate. This is the way for our prayers to be rich and for the Spirit to be expressed through us.
 
A CONCLUDING WORD
 The purpose of this fellowship concerning blending in spirit is to encourage us to pray more. Whenever we come and meet, every saint needs to open his spirit and pray. We should pray not only once but often so that our spirits are released, the Spirit is expressed, we are blended in spirit, and the whole church is full of life.
 In order to be blended in spirit, our spirits must be released in a strong, rich, and living way. As long as the Spirit of life can flow, death and sins will be washed away because the flow of life has the function of watering and also the function of washing and cleansing. It not only supplies us with life but also washes away defects and impurities and brings in the spiritual riches. The spiritual riches in the church will increase when we allow the Spirit of life to flow freely within us.
 In the past we did not allow the Spirit of life to flow freely within us; therefore, we suffered a great loss. It was as if we were sitting in a foul-smelling house, but we were unwilling to open the windows. Now we must open the windows and let in fresh air.
 I hope that we will stress the flow of the Spirit of life through prayer. We should not stress the messages or other aspects of the work. May the Lord cause the churches to become praying churches, where the Spirit of life flows freely. We are not seeking the outpouring of the Spirit, nor are we seeking excitement. However, when we are blended in spirit, the outpouring of the Spirit will be brought in. In the blending we touch the unsearchable riches of Christ, and this is much more precious than momentary excitement. When we touch the fountain that flows endlessly, our spirit will be living, fresh, uplifted, and rich, even if we are not excited. May the Lord lead us to be blended in spirit.
 
  读经:哥林多前书十二章一至十一节,罗马书十二章十一节。

  我们都知道,为着召会的建造,灵里的相调是非常重要的;因此,我们在各分家,在圣徒中间,需要推动调灵的实行。通常我们对任何事的实行,都需要先了解它的理论,理论若了解得不透彻,实行就有困难。若先明白了理论,知道所作的是什么,也知道为什么这样作,再去实行,就不会糊涂了。我们在各分家推动调灵的实行,也需要对调灵的理论多有认识。为此,我们需要交通一点关乎调灵的理论。这里我们要点出六个重点。
 
 Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Rom. 12:11

 Blending in spirit is crucial for the building of the church. Hence, we need to encourage the saints to blend in the spirit in all the meetings. In order to practice something, we first need to understand its basis; otherwise, we will have difficulty practicing it. We avoid confusion by understanding what we are doing and why we are doing it. In order to encourage the saints to practice blending in spirit, we need to understand the concept of blending. For this reason we will fellowship concerning six crucial points related to blending in spirit.
  第一,神和人之间的来往,完全是一个灵的故事。神是灵,而我们里面有灵,所以我们和神之间的往来,无论是祷告、交通或事奉,都是灵里的故事。这是我们第一要认识的。
 
 The relationship between God and His people is altogether in the spirit. God is Spirit, and we have a spirit. Therefore, all our dealings with God, whether prayer, fellowship, or service, are in the spirit. This is the first thing that we need to know.
  第二,我们必须承认,在运用灵的事上,我们实在是懒惰、松懈的。神的儿女普遍懒于用灵的光景,正像有的孩子懒于用头脑读书一样。孩子们整天在外面跑跑跳跳,打球玩耍,都不觉得累。但你一要他们安静下来读点书,他们就不愿意了。为什么呢?因为他们懒于用头脑。他们习惯用身体跑、跳,却懒于用头脑。我们这些神的儿女,在运用灵的事上,也是这样。我们肯花许多时间看报、聊天,作许多别的事,就是不肯祷告。为什么呢?因为祷告需要用灵,而我们的灵却常是懒惰、不肯动的。

  使徒保罗在罗马十二章十一节说,“殷勤不可懒惰,要灵里火热,常常服事主。”他所说的懒惰,并不是指一般的懒惰,乃是特别说到灵里的懒惰。所以,他才接着说,要灵里火热,常常服事主。有的弟兄姊妹外面非常殷勤,但他们的灵却非常懒惰。他们作起事,实在是殷勤有劲;但是一祷告,就非常懒惰,极少有灵的感动。这就是因为他们一向懒于用灵,不肯多用灵祷告。
 
 We must confess that we are lazy and loose in the matter of exercising our spirit. In this matter the children of God tend to be slothful, just like some children are too lazy to use their mind to study. Most children can play all day without feeling tired. But they are unwilling to do their homework, because they are slothful in using their mind. They are accustomed to exercising their body, but they are unaccustomed to studying with their mind. This also applies to us as God’s children in relation to exercising our spirit. We are willing to spend a good amount of time reading newspapers, conversing, and doing many other things, but we are not willing to pray. Prayer requires that we exercise our spirit, but our spirit is slothful, unwilling to move.

 The apostle Paul says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, but be burning in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). The word slothful here is in relation to the spirit because Paul goes on to say that we need to be burning in spirit, serving the Lord. Some saints are diligent outwardly, but their spirit is slothful. They are diligent and energetic in doing things, but they are slothful and seldom moved in spirit to pray. This is the result of being slothful to exercise the spirit and being unwilling to pray more with the spirit.
  第三,我们要看见,如果我们灵里懒惰,少用灵,甚至不用灵,乃是极其亏欠主的一件事。主在约翰四章二十四节说,“神是灵;敬拜祂的,必须在灵…里敬拜。”二十三节告诉我们,神寻找这样敬拜祂的人。这给我们看见,神是多渴慕人在灵里与祂相交。所以,我们今天若少用灵,甚至不用灵拜祂,这对祂是何等的亏欠。

  再说,神在祂儿子里化身成为圣灵,目的就是要我们得着祂,享受祂。在人被创造的时候,神为我们造了灵;在人蒙救赎的时候,圣灵点活了我们的灵,并且如今圣灵住在我们灵里,用意都是要我们用灵吸取神、享受神。但我们竟然将祂摆在一边,不理祂,不肯回到灵里面,用灵接触祂。因此,我们许多人都没有多少享受祂,甚至有的人从来没有享受过祂。常有弟兄姊妹在召会中服事很热切,探望弟兄姊妹很热切,在许多事上都很热切,唯独灵不热切,对主缺少吸取和享受,以致主拯救我们的目的无法达到。

  从另一面说,正因为我们少用灵,所以把主供应出去的也少,人自然不容易从我们身上得着主。我们虽然常去探望,但因着没有用灵和人祷告,所以并不能使人的灵被点活,叫人的灵得供应,而给人真实属灵的帮助。

  我们不仅在探望的事上如此,甚至在召会的聚会中,也是这样。在聚会中,我们往往彼此都不用灵,许多的活动都没有多少灵的味道,没有多少灵的运行,人碰到的不过是仪文和形式。试想这样的聚会,怎能敬拜、得着那位是灵的神呢?当然,更谈不上用灵将人的灵开启,用灵把人的灵带到主里面。这些亏欠,都是由于我们不用灵,少祷告,也不肯敞开和人一同祷告的缘故。
 
 Being slothful in spirit and not exercising the spirit greatly offend the Lord. In John 4:24 the Lord said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit.” Verse 23 says that God seeks such to worship Him. God is longing for persons who will fellowship with Him in spirit. We offend God by not exercising our spirit to worship Him or by rarely exercising our spirit.

 God is embodied in the Son, and the Son is realized as the Spirit so that we can receive and enjoy Him. God created us with a spirit and redeemed us so that the Spirit could enliven our spirit. Now the Spirit dwells in our spirit so that we may absorb and enjoy God with our spirit. However, we put Him aside, ignore Him, and turn our back to Him when we do not contact Him with our spirit. Many of us do not enjoy the Lord much, and some have never enjoyed Him. Some co-workers serve fervently in the church and visit other saints. They are fervent in many things other than exercising their spirit. They do not enjoy the Lord. As a result, the Lord is unable to reach the goal of His salvation among us.

 Since we seldom exercise our spirit, we do not have a rich supply for the saints; we are not channels for them to receive the Lord. We may frequently visit the saints, but we can neither enliven their spirit nor supply them, because we do not exercise our spirit to pray with them. We are unable to render the saints real spiritual help.

 Even in the meetings we do not exercise our spirit to contact one another. Most of our activities have the flavor of rituals and formalities, not the flavor of the Spirit or the moving of the Spirit. We cannot expect to worship and gain God, who is Spirit, in such meetings. How can we speak of exercising our spirit to open the spirit of the saints and bring them into the Lord? These shortages are the result of our not exercising our spirit, not praying enough, and being unwilling to open ourselves to pray with others.
  第四,我们需要改正一个错误的观念。我们已往对主缺少敬拜和享受,对人缺少交通和供应,却以一个好像很属灵的说法,将这亏欠归咎于圣灵,说是圣灵没有感动我们。这句话听起来似乎不错,也好像很属灵,但实际上相当错误。

  人对圣灵感动的错误观念,以为圣灵的感动乃是圣灵主动,而我们是处于被动的地位。有的圣徒在聚会中常常不祷告、不交通,理由就是圣灵没有感动他,他怎么可以在聚会中轻举妄动?这种说法完全是误解了圣灵的感动。

  要明白所谓的圣灵感动,究竟是怎么一回事,就必须先认识几件事,下面几件事都是神在宇宙间所已经作成的:

  首先,灵已经流出。因着主耶稣在十字架上被钉死,磐石已经裂开,活水已经涌流出来了(约十九34,林前十4)。这意思是,在宇宙间,圣灵已经释放出来了。这是一件太大的事,如同十字架在宇宙间已经成功了救赎一样。今天一个罪人要得赦免,如何不必再求主替他死,只要从心里接受主所完成的就够了;照样,今天人要得着圣灵,也不必苦苦哀求,只要接受就够了,因为磐石已经裂开,圣灵已经像活水一样涌流出来。

  其次,圣灵已经降下。圣灵不仅已经从主那里流出来,也已经降到地上。我们知道,圣灵的降临是分作两步的。头一步是在主复活那天晚上,借着主向门徒吹气而临到,这是圣灵降到人里面,为要作人生命之灵(约二十19,22)。第二步是在五旬节那天,如同大风、火焰一样降下,为要降在人身上,作人能力的灵(徒二1~4)。这两步的降下,现今都已成就。所以,启示录五章给我们看见,神的灵不仅是在宝座前,更是奉差遣往全地去的(6)。这就如无线电波,一从电台播放出去,就传送到全地。人怎样一开收音机,就可以收到电波;照样,人只要一敞开心、敞开灵,就可以得着圣灵。

  不仅如此,圣灵已经触着我们的灵。当我们接受主的那一刹那,圣灵就和我们的灵接触了,把我们的灵点活过来。所以,现在圣灵之于我们,完全是主观的,是我们接触过的。

  末了,圣灵已经在我们灵里。圣灵触着我们的灵,重生我们之后,还留在我们里面,住在我们里面。因此,我们现在该确定的知道,这位圣灵不仅是因着主为我们裂开而流出来了,也不仅是从天上降下来了,也不仅是在我们得救时和我们的灵接触了,并且从那时候起,就一直住留在我们灵里。

  由于以上四件大事的成就,我们可以说,凡主该作的,主都为我们作成了。所以请想想,我们现在还需要等主来作么?还需要等圣灵来感动么?绝对不必了。比方,现在外面有风吹动,你在屋里感觉闷热,请问你怎么办?很简单,只要起来把门窗打开,不只开一面,还要两面对开,空气马上对流,风自然就吹进来了。你若不主动的开门窗,反而被动的在那里等,风永远吹不进来。

  这位圣灵就像风一样。当日主耶稣对尼哥底母说,“风随着意思吹,”(约三8)乃是指着圣灵说的。五旬节那天,圣灵的行动像一阵暴风刮过(徒二2)。所以,今天我们要得着圣灵的吹动,不该被动的等祂来吹,乃该主动的把自己敞开。你一敞开,祂就必吹动。你等候圣灵感动,圣灵却等候你开启。今天的问题,不在圣灵感动不感动,乃在你肯不肯开启。圣灵一直要从你里面出来,只因为你一直不肯开启,以致祂没有办法在你里面吹动,没有办法在你里面流通。有时候你虽然也开一点,但只是开一面,没有开两面;只是向神开,没有向人开,结果圣灵只能流进,不能流出。最后,圣灵因着不能流出,也就不再流进了。

  神的恩典太大,祂太俯就我们了,竟然化身圣灵住在我们里面,情愿受我们的支配。只要我们一动,圣灵就动;如果我们不动,圣灵也没有办法动。所以,使徒保罗说,“要灵里火热。”(罗十二11)这个“要”就是主动。你灵里火热不火热,不是圣灵负责,乃是你负责。你要,就热;你不要,就不热。正如我们要电炉热,只要将开关打开,电流一通进来就热了。

  林前十二章说到属灵的恩赐。这些恩赐的运用,到底是圣灵主动呢,还是我们主动?我们需要明白,林前十二章里所说的圣灵,乃是主在十字架上为我们裂开而流出来的,也是主从死里复活,升到天上所浇灌下来的。现在这位圣灵已经临到我们每一个人身上,只要我们不凭感觉,单凭信心主动的向祂支取,祂就会显明出来。所以,现在的问题不是祂赐不赐给,乃是你给祂作到什么地步。你主动到什么地步,祂就能作到什么地步。如果你向祂大大的张口,祂就要多多的充满你(诗八一10);如果你向祂关闭,处于被动的地位,祂的工作就要受到限制。所以,问题不在祂,乃在你。

  林前十二章一至二节说,“关于属灵的恩赐,我不愿意你们不明白。你们作外邦人的时候,无论何时不论怎样受到带领,你们就被带走,去拜那不能出声的偶像。”达秘(J. N. Darby)在他的新译本中,把开头一句翻作“论到属灵的表显”。这样的翻译相当达意。这是说出,各种恩赐都是圣灵在人身上的表显。一至二节的意思,就是说,你们从前所事奉的假神,是不会说话的,是哑巴;你们正在事奉它的时候,自己也是不说话的。但现在你们所事奉的神,乃是灵,是活的、说话的,祂感动你们,就使你们能有各种恩赐。接下去,使徒就给我们看见,圣灵显在我们身上,叫这人作这个,又叫那人作那个。这些都不是圣灵来主动,乃是要我们主动。如果我们要,祂就来了;如果我们不要,虽然祂还在我们里面,却无法显在我们身上。

  所以,我们不可再对圣灵的感动,存着一种似是而非的观念,以致在运用灵的事上,一直是被动、懒惰的。我们该殷勤、主动,起来操练我们的灵,运用我们的灵,那住在我们灵里的圣灵,就必随着我们,显出祂无限的丰富,无穷的能力。
 
 In the past we blamed our lack of worship, enjoyment of the Lord, and supplying others on the Holy Spirit not moving in us. This sounds spiritual, but it is incorrect.

 We have a wrong concept concerning the move of the Spirit. We think that when the Spirit moves in us, He takes the initiative, and we are passive. Some saints rarely pray or fellowship in the meetings, because they are not moved by the Spirit, and they dare not behave recklessly in the meetings. Such an explanation indicates that they have misunderstood what it means for the Spirit to move in them.

 In order to understand how the Spirit moves, we must know a few matters that have been accomplished by God in the universe.

 First, the Spirit is flowing. When the Lord Jesus was put to death on the cross, His side was pierced, and out flowed blood and water, just as living water flowed out of the cleft rock (John 19:34; 1 Cor. 10:4). This means that the Spirit has been released. This is as great an event as the accomplishment of redemption on the cross. In order to be forgiven of his sins, a sinner needs only to receive in his heart what the Lord has accomplished; there is no need for him to ask the Lord to die again on his behalf. Likewise, in order to obtain the Spirit, a believer needs merely to claim the accomplished fact; there is no need to beg, because the Rock has been cleft, and the Spirit is flowing out as living water.

 Second, the Spirit has been sent. The Spirit has not only flowed out of the Lord, but He has also been sent. There were two steps in the sending of the Spirit. In the first step the Lord breathed into the disciples on the evening of His resurrection. In this step the Spirit entered into man as the Spirit of life (John 20:19, 22). In the second step the Spirit descended like a rushing violent wind and like tongues as of fire. In this step the Spirit descended upon man as the Spirit of power (Acts 2:1-4). These two steps are accomplished facts. Now the Spirit of God is not only before the throne but has also been sent forth into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). For example, radio waves are transmitted from a radio station to the whole earth. A person simply needs to turn on a radio, and he will receive the radio waves. Likewise, when a person opens his heart and his spirit, he will receive the Spirit.

 Not only so, the Spirit has contacted our spirit. The moment we received the Lord, the Spirit contacted and enlivened our spirit. The Spirit is subjective to us, because we have contacted Him.

 Finally, the Spirit is in our spirit. After we were regenerated, the Spirit remained in us; He now dwells in us. Hence, we should know with assurance that the Spirit is flowing because the Lord Jesus died on the cross, the Spirit descended from heaven, He contacted our spirit at the time of our regeneration, and He is dwelling in our spirit.

 In view of these four great accomplishments, we can say that the Lord has done everything. We do not need to wait for the Lord to do anything else. We do not need to wait for the Spirit to move. When the wind is blowing, we just need to open the windows in order for the wind to blow into the house. If we want a draft, we should open windows that face each other. If we wait passively for the windows to open, the wind will never blow fresh air into the house.

 The Spirit is like the wind. When the Lord Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wills” (John 3:8), He was referring to the Spirit. On the day of Pentecost the move of the Holy Spirit was like a rushing violent wind (Acts 2:2). If we desire to have the blowing of the Holy Spirit, we should not wait passively; rather, we should take the initiative to open ourselves. Once we are open, the Spirit will blow and move in us. We may wait to be moved by the Spirit, but the Spirit is waiting for us to open ourselves. It is not a matter of whether or not the Spirit is moving but of whether or not we are willing to be open. The Spirit always wants to flow, but He has no way because we are not willing to open ourselves. Sometimes we are somewhat open, but we are open only on one side instead of two sides; we are open to God but not to the saints. Consequently, the Spirit can flow only in but not out. Eventually, He will no longer be able to flow in.

 God is abounding in grace. He was incarnated, died, resurrected, and became the life-giving Spirit in order to dwell in us. Now our spirits are subject to us (1 Cor. 14:32). As long as we are willing to move, the Spirit will move. If we do not move, the Spirit has no way to move. Therefore, the apostle Paul says, “Be burning in spirit” (Rom. 12:11). The word be here means that we need to take the initiative. Whether or not we are burning in spirit is our responsibility, not the Spirit’s responsibility. If we are willing, we will be burning, but if we are not willing, we will not be burning. Once we turn on the switch, the electric current will flow.

 First Corinthians 12 speaks of spiritual gifts. Does the Spirit need to take the initiative in order for us to exercise these gifts, or do we? The Spirit spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12 has already been breathed into the believers and poured out upon them. This Spirit is dwelling in us. As long as we take the initiative to apply Him, not according to our feeling but according to faith, He will be manifested. It is not a question of whether or not He will give us a gift but to what extent we would let Him be manifested. If we open our mouth wide, He will fill it (Psa. 81:10). If we are closed and passive, His work will be limited. Therefore, the problem lies with us, not with the Spirit.

 First Corinthians 12:1-2 says, “Concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were Gentiles, you were always being led away to dumb idols, whenever and however you were led.” In his New Translation of the Bible, J. N. Darby translates the beginning of the first sentence as “Now concerning spiritual manifestations.” This translation makes it clear that the gifts are manifestations of the Spirit. In these verses the apostle seems to be saying, “The false gods that you worshipped in the past could not speak; they were dumb idols. As a result, while you were serving them, you were also dumb. But now the God whom we worship is the Spirit. He is living, and He speaks; when He moves, we receive different kinds of gifts.” Then the apostle goes on to present the manifestations of the Spirit. These do not depend on the Spirit’s taking the initiative but on our taking the initiative. If we do not take the initiative, He has no way to be manifested, even though He is in us.

 Therefore, we must change this wrong concept concerning the moving of the Spirit. We must not be passive and slothful in exercising our spirit. We should be diligent to rise up and exercise our spirit. The indwelling Spirit will follow us and manifest His unlimited riches and inexhaustible power.
  第五,我们所说的调灵,并不是仅仅指大家来在一起,有一种兴奋的祷告而已。乃是指我们的祷告,必须用灵,才会有调灵的果效。我们已经说过,神和人之间的来往,完全是一个灵的故事,我们要摸着神和神的一切,必须是在灵里。所以我们必须多操练运用灵,使灵丰富刚强;而操练灵最好的方法,就是多祷告。所以调灵的基本操练,乃在于我们要多用灵祷告。

  已过,我们的祷告实在太少。所以,现在我们推动调灵这事,就是要全召会的弟兄姊妹,尤其是担负事奉责任的人,无论是同工、长老、家负责,个个都作祷告的人,个个都多有祷告。我们的灵要操练到一个地步,随时随地都能向神祷告。即使你是走在路上,或者坐在车上,你里头还能不断地祷告。这种随时的祷告,就叫我们一直运用灵,操练灵,而使我们的灵越过越强越盛;我们真实地长进就在于此。

  调灵的基本原则,就是操练灵。不但在日常生活中要个人操练灵,就是每次和弟兄姊妹在一起,也都该把灵释放出来,和弟兄姊妹一同祷告、操练。比方,我们每一次聚会,不管是什么性质的聚会,不管有什么人在场,我们的灵都该自由的释放出来。如果我们都这样操练,我们的聚会将是何等的丰富。我们一来到聚会中,你的灵出来,我的灵出来,他的灵也出来,大家的灵都出来了,众人灵灵相调,汇为一流,自然就显出生命活水涌流的光景。如此,所有的死亡、污秽,都被冲去,所有的丰盛都流了进来,这是何等的荣耀。所以从现在起,我们一定要好好操练灵,使灵越操练越刚强,越操练越起来,越操练越新鲜,越操练越活泼。操练到一个地步,无论到什么场合,灵都能出来,而且是很自然的出来。
 
 Blending in spirit does not refer merely to our coming together to have exciting prayers. Rather, it refers to the need to pray with our spirit. All our dealings with God are a matter of the spirit. In order to touch God and anything of God, we must be in spirit. We must exercise our spirit so that our spirit can be enriched and strengthened. The best way to exercise our spirit is to pray. The fundamental way to blend in spirit is to pray with our spirit.

 In the past we did not spend enough time to pray. Now we are promoting blending in spirit in order to encourage the saints—including the co-workers, the elders, and the responsible ones—to be praying persons. We need to exercise our spirit so that we can pray at any time and in any place. Even while we are walking or driving, we can still pray. This kind of praying in any place will cause us to exercise our spirit more, and our spirit will become stronger. Herein lies our real growth.

 The secret to blending in spirit is to exercise our spirit. We should exercise our spirit individually in our daily life; also, every time we meet with the saints, we need to release our spirit to pray together. It does not matter what kind of meeting we are in or who is in the meeting, our spirit should be released. If we would all practice in this way, our meetings would be rich, and every saint would be released. Thus, our spirits would be blended and become one flow, and the river of water of life would flow among us. This is the way for death and sins to be washed away and for the riches of the Spirit to flow in. Therefore, we must be diligent to exercise our spirit until it is strong, uplifted, fresh, and living. We should use every occasion to exercise our spirit.
  第六,为着使我们的灵更容易出来,除了操练灵之外,还要操练我们的思路和话语。这两方面的操练,也在于多祷告。祷告不仅使我们的灵得着操练,同时也使我们的思路和话语得着操练。如果一位弟兄向来很少祷告,现在圣灵感动他,甚至浇灌他,他要开口祷告,他的思路和话语会够用么?恐怕他只能喊叫一场,因为他的思路和话语没有受过属灵操练,无法将灵里的感动发表出来。如果他平素有操练,灵一感动,话语就来了,并且越说越释放,越说越流畅,灵就大大得着发表。所以灵的发表,必须有思路和话语配合。

  总之,我们平日必须花工夫祷告,一面操练我们的灵,一面自然的操练我们的思路和话语。这样,等到我们来到聚会中,无论何时要祷告,我们的灵都是强而新鲜的,思路也是通达的,话语更是够用的。这样,我们的祷告必定刚强丰富,圣灵就能借着我们,自由的发表出来。
 
 In order for our spirit to come forth effectively, our thoughts need to be properly exercised, and our speaking needs to match our thoughts. Such an exercise depends on our praying more. Prayer causes us to exercise not only our spirit but also our mind when we speak. Suppose a brother who does not often pray decides to pray. His thoughts and words may not express his burden. He will probably be able to utter a few sentences, but he will not be able to express the burden in his spirit. However, if he prayed regularly, once his spirit is exercised, his words will express the burden in his spirit. Our thoughts and words must match the burden in our spirit.

 We must spend more time to pray regularly. On the one hand, we must exercise our spirit, and on the other hand, we must not overlook the importance of our thoughts and words. Then when we pray in the meetings, our spirit will be strong and fresh, our thoughts will be clear, and our words will be adequate. This is the way for our prayers to be rich and for the Spirit to be expressed through us.
  我们所说的调灵,没有别的,就是要众人多多操练祷告。无论什么时候,弟兄姊妹聚在一起,就要敞开灵祷告。你敞开灵祷告,我敞开灵祷告,大家的灵都敞开来祷告;并且不只祷告一次,乃是祷了再祷;多方的祷告,多次的祷告。这样我们的灵既得了操练,圣灵也得着发表,众人的灵就自然相调了,全召会也必定满了生气蓬勃的光景。

  所以说,调灵不仅是要叫灵出来,更是要叫灵出来得刚强、丰富、又活泼。如果灵能这样出来,自然就相调了。只要生命的灵能流通,所有的死亡和污秽,都要被冲走;因为生命的水流不只有滋润和解渴的功用,并且有冲刷的作用;不只供应人生命,并且冲走人里头一切的肮脏和杂质,带进一切属灵的丰富。所以,唯有这样让生命之灵流通,召会中属灵的丰富,才会越过越增加。

  已往我们没有好好让生命之灵流通,使我们受了极大的亏损。这就如我们的屋里已经满了臭气,大家都说空气不好,很闷,却没有人肯打开门窗,这是何等的愚昧。其实只要把门窗打开,新鲜空气就进来,臭气自然就被吹掉了。

  盼望我们众人从这时候起,注重借着祷告,使生命之灵流通过于听道,过于在别的方面所给人的帮助。求主使我们全召会成为一个祷告的召会,成为一个生命之灵流通的召会。这并不是在外面追求圣灵的浇灌,大家兴奋一阵,热闹一场,就算了。我不反对圣灵浇灌,当我们这样调灵的时候,常常会带来圣灵的浇灌。然而请记得,调灵所摸着的,乃是在我们里头的圣灵那追测不透的富源。这比一时的浇灌更宝贵、更持久。摸着这一个不止息的泉源,即使外面没有圣灵的浇灌,我们的灵仍能活泼、新鲜、高昂、丰富。愿主带领我们在这种操练上往前去!

  原刊于一九六一年七月“话语职事”第一百二十一期
 
 The purpose of this fellowship concerning blending in spirit is to encourage us to pray more. Whenever we come and meet, every saint needs to open his spirit and pray. We should pray not only once but often so that our spirits are released, the Spirit is expressed, we are blended in spirit, and the whole church is full of life.

 In order to be blended in spirit, our spirits must be released in a strong, rich, and living way. As long as the Spirit of life can flow, death and sins will be washed away because the flow of life has the function of watering and also the function of washing and cleansing. It not only supplies us with life but also washes away defects and impurities and brings in the spiritual riches. The spiritual riches in the church will increase when we allow the Spirit of life to flow freely within us.

 In the past we did not allow the Spirit of life to flow freely within us; therefore, we suffered a great loss. It was as if we were sitting in a foul-smelling house, but we were unwilling to open the windows. Now we must open the windows and let in fresh air.

 I hope that we will stress the flow of the Spirit of life through prayer. We should not stress the messages or other aspects of the work. May the Lord cause the churches to become praying churches, where the Spirit of life flows freely. We are not seeking the outpouring of the Spirit, nor are we seeking excitement. However, when we are blended in spirit, the outpouring of the Spirit will be brought in. In the blending we touch the unsearchable riches of Christ, and this is much more precious than momentary excitement. When we touch the fountain that flows endlessly, our spirit will be living, fresh, uplifted, and rich, even if we are not excited. May the Lord lead us to be blended in spirit.