Books
创世记生命读经 · 第10篇

神达成祂目的的手续 （一）

God’s Procedures to Fulfill His Purpose (1)
1在前几篇的信息里，我们已经看过创世记这卷书的第一个重点－神的心愿与目的。这是启示在创世记一章一节至二章三节。神的心愿与目的是要得著一个团体人，在祂的形像上彰显祂，并带著祂的权柄代表祂。现在我们必须问：人怎能在祂的形像上彰显祂，并带著权柄代表祂？这就把我们带到本书的第二个重点。
1In the previous messages we have covered the first main point of the book of Genesis—the desire and purpose of God. This was revealed in Genesis 1:1—2:3. God’s desire and purpose are to have a corporate man to express Him in His image and to represent Him with His authority. Now we must ask a question: how can man express God in His image and represent Him with His authority? This brings us to the second main point of this book
二 神达成衪目的的手续 二4～7
B. God’s Procedures to Fulfill His Purpose—2:4-7
2创世记二章启示神达成祂目的的方法。这是创世记二章第二次记载创造的原因。我年轻的时候对这两次关于创造的记载很觉不解。创世记一章已经记载过神的创造，为甚么在第二章还要再记载？直到我尽职一段日子以后，神才将答案指示我。创世记一章关于创造的记载，虽然启示神创造人的目的，却没有告诉我们达成这目的的方法。所以需要第二次的记载，以启示神所采取来达成祂目的的方法和手续。我们看过第一章的目的，就必须接著来看第二章的手续。创世记二章从五节到该章末了，把这手续完全启示出来了。如果我们以整本圣经的亮光来读这一段经文，就会看见这手续分为三个步骤。我们在本篇只能看一个步骤，其余的两个步骤要留到以后的信息来看。不过，在看第一个步骤以先，我们要指出一点：神达成祂目的的凭藉乃是生命。
2Genesis chapter 2 reveals the way God uses to accomplish His purpose. This is why we have the second record of creation in Genesis 2. When I was a young Christian, I was troubled by these two records of the creation of man. Genesis 1 provided us a record of creation. Why do we need another record in Genesis 2? It was not until the later days of my ministry that God showed me the answer. Although the record of creation in Genesis 1 reveals God’s purpose in creating man, it does not show us the way to fulfill this purpose. Therefore, we need the second record to reveal the way, the procedure, God takes to fulfill His purpose. After seeing the purpose in chapter 1, we must come to see the procedure in chapter 2. This procedure is fully revealed in Genesis 2, starting with verse 5 and continuing through the end of the chapter. If we read this portion of the Word in the light of the whole Bible, we will see that this procedure is of three steps. We can only cover one step in this message, leaving the remaining two steps for subsequent messages. However, before we consider the first step, we want to point out that the means by which God fulfills His purpose is life
1 藉著生命
1. By Life
3神是要藉著祂自己的生命来达成祂的目的。一个人若没有另一个人的生命，他怎能彰显另一个人？狗不能彰显猫，因为狗没有猫的生命。狗有狗的生命，这生命只适合彰显狗。同样的原则，猫也绝不能彰显狗。我们若有别的想法，就是作梦。我们人怎能彰显神？除了有神的生命，别无他法。如果要狗彰显猫，就得有一个方法把猫的生命注射到狗里面。狗接受了猫的生命，就很容易自自然然的成为猫的彰显。我们人是命定彰显神的，我们作得到么？我们靠自己的生命不可能彰显神，因为我们的生命只是人的生命。神是高超的，我们的生命太低，无法彰显祂。我们若要彰显神，就需要神的生命。我们若有神的生命，就会自自然然、不知不觉的彰显祂。我们有了神的生命，就会彰显祂的形像。生命乃是达成神目的的方法。这生命不是我们天然的生命，乃是神那神圣、永远的生命。
3God is going to accomplish His purpose by means of His own life. How can one person express another if he does not have that person’s life? A dog cannot express a cat because a dog does not have a cat’s life. A dog has a dog’s life, and this life is only suitable for expressing a dog. According to the same principle, a cat can never express a dog. If we think otherwise, we are dreaming. How can we human beings express God? There is no way except by having the life of God. If a dog is to express a cat, there must be a way to inject the cat’s life into the dog. Once a dog has received a cat’s life, it will be easy for it spontaneously to become the expression of a cat. Man is destined to express God. Are we able to do this? It is impossible for us to do it by our life because it is simply a human life. God is transcendent. Our life is too low to express Him. If we are going to express God, we need the life of God. If we have the life of God, we will express Him spontaneously and unconsciously. Once we have His life, we will express His image. Life is the way to fulfill God’s purpose. This life is not our natural life, but the divine and eternal life of God.
4权柄也与生命有关。桌子、椅子都没有权柄，因为权柄总是与某种生命有关。看看你自己。你越有生命，就越有权柄。人有权柄管理动物，因为人比动物更有生命。甚至在人与人的关系上也是这样，一个人越有生命，就越有权柄。如果我比你年长，我的权柄就比你大。如果有个少年人到我面前来，我不用恐吓他，他自然会服在我权下。这权柄不是美国总统给我的，乃是得自我的年龄。若是你一百一十岁了，而我是七十岁，我当然得服你的权柄。你的年龄给你这权柄。为了有神的权柄代表神，我们需要祂的生命。
4Authority is also related to life. Neither a table nor a chair has authority, for authority is always related to a certain life. Look at yourself. The more life you have, the more authority you have. Human beings have authority over the animals because we have more life than the animals. Even in the area of human relationships we find it true that the more life a person has the more authority he has. If I am more mature than you, I have authority over you. If a teenager comes to me, there is no need for me to threaten him. He spontaneously will come under my authority. This authority was not given to me by the President of the United States. It came from my age. If you are 110 years of age and I am 70, I will come under your authority. Your age assigns you the authority. In order to represent God with His authority, we need His life
5在社会上你若要代表某个人，你需要有和他接近的生命。假若你受命代表美国总统，你需要和总统有同等分量的生命。如果你的生命很低，你就不能代表他。你生命的标准必须与总统的生命相配。
5If you are to represent a certain person in society, you need to possess a life that is nearly the same as his. Suppose you are invited to represent the President of the United States. You need to have the same amount of life as he. If your life is rather low, you will be unable to represent him. The standard of your life must match the life of the President
6我们要注意这个基本且合逻辑的原则：我们靠自己的生命绝不能彰显神，或代表神。想想你的生命。你的生命不能彰显神，只彀彰显你自己。在某一范围内，作妻子的甚至在生命上也不彀资格代表丈夫，因为她的生命搆不上丈夫的生命。不知道姊妹们同不同意？无论如何，我们都得承认，我们天然的生命使我们不彀资格彰显神，代表神。不只我们堕落的生命，就连我们起初受造的生命也是如此。所以神创造人以后，就把人放在生命树跟前，指明人需要得著比他原有更高的生命。我们在下篇信息会看这一点。
6This is the basic and logical principle that we must care for: we can never express God or represent God by our own life. Consider your life. Your life is incapable of expressing God; it is only adequate to express yourself. To a certain extent, a woman is not even qualified in life to represent her husband, because her life is not as high as her husband’s. I wonder if the sisters agree with this. At any rate, we all must admit that our natural life disqualifies us from expressing God and representing Him. Not only is our fallen life inadequate for this, but even the created life we had at the beginning was inadequate. As we shall see in the next message, this was the reason God, after creating man, placed him in front of the tree of life, indicating that man needed to possess a higher life than he already had
7也许有人会说，『神不是照祂的形像创造我们么？』不错，神的确照祂的形像创造了我们。于是这些人要说，『我们既然已经有了神的形像，为甚么还不能彰显祂？』我们可以这样说，照著神形像创造的人，就像一个人的照片一样。假如你拿某弟兄的照片告诉人说，这就是某弟兄。从某种意义说，你说得不错，因为那的确是某弟兄。然而这只是照片上的某弟兄，并不是他本人。这张照片虽然显示某弟兄的特征、样式、外貌，却没有他的生命。牠可以显示某弟兄，却不能彰显某弟兄。要这张照片彰显某弟兄，惟一的办法就是使牠有某弟兄的生命。人虽然是照著神的形像创造的，但只像一张照片稍稍表明神，并没有神的生命。人虽然有神的形像，却没有神的生命。神要人有分于生命树所指明的生命，人却失败了。今天，因著相信基督，我们又被带回，得有分于那生命。我们都得著了永远的生命。所以，除了有分于神的生命，我们没有别的办法在祂的形像上彰显祂，并带著祂的权柄代表祂。圣经中很多经文都可以证实这事。
7Some people may ask, “Didn’t God create us in His image?” Yes, God did create us in His image. Then these people may say, “Since we already have God’sim age, why can’t we express Him?” We may say that the man created in the image of God resembles the photograph of a person. Suppose you take a photograph of Brother John and show it to others saying that this is Brother John. In a sense, you are correct, for that is Brother John. However, the photograph is not the real Brother John; it is Brother John in a picture. Although the picture reveals the features, style, and the person of Brother John, it does not have the life of Brother John. It can show something of Brother John, but it cannot express him. The only way for the photograph to express Brother John is for it to have his life. Man was created in the image of God, but he was like a photograph showing something of God without having the life of God. Although man was in the image of God, he did not have the life of God. God intended that man should partake of the life indicated by the tree of life. Man failed to do it. Today, by believing in Christ, we have been brought back to share in that life. We all have received eternal life. Thus, there is no other way for us to express God in His image and to represent God with His authority except by sharing His life. This is confirmed by many verses in the Bible.
生命将信徒模成神的形像，并带他们进入荣耀
a. Life Conforms the Believers to the Image of God a and Brings Them into Glory
8圣经乃是说，生命将信徒模成神儿子的形像。（罗八2，6，29。）惟有藉著生命的方法，我们才能模成神儿子的形像。罗马八章二节说到『生命之灵，』六节题到心思置于灵乃是生命。我们乃是藉著这灵的生命，才能模成神儿子的形像。这是非常清楚的。并且，乃是基督作生命带我们进入神的荣耀，以彰显神。歌罗西三章四节说，基督是我们的生命，要带我们进入神的荣耀，使我们能彰显神。这证实我们所说，我们是凭著神的生命彰显神。
8The Bible says that it is life which conforms the believers to the image of the Son of God (Rom. 8:2, 6, 29). Only by the way of life can we be conformed to the image of the Son of God. Romans 8:2 speaks of “the Spirit of life,” and verse 6 mentions that the mind set on the spirit is life. It is by this life of the Spirit that we can be conformed to the Son of God. This is very clear. Also, it is Christ as life who brings us into God’s glory to express God. Colossians 3:4 tells us that Christ our life will bring us into God’s glory that we may express God. This confirms the claim that it is by God’s life that we express God
复活的生命赐给权柄
b. Resurrection Life Gives Authority
9圣经也告诉我们，发芽复活的生命把权柄给了亚伦的杖。（民十七8。）十二根代表以色列十二支派的杖，放在耶和华面前过一夜。每根杖都是干、死的木头。但在夜间，亚伦的杖发芽了，表征复活的生命把权柄赐给亚伦的杖来治理百姓。因此，生命赐给权柄。你若要在召会中作带头的人，你需要有大量的生命。长老的设立，不只是凭外面的指派，更是凭里面生命的授权。长老都应该在生命上成熟，并且彀资格用这掌权的生命来管理。执事、女执事，还有在服事小组中带头的人，也都应该这样。只有生命能带来权柄。
9The Bible also shows that it was the budding resurrection life which gave authority to Aaron’s rod (Num. 1 7:8). Twelve rods representing the twelve tribes of Israel we replaced in the presence of the Lord for one night. Each rod was a piece of dry, dead wood. During the night, Aaron’sr od budded, signifying that resurrection life had authorized his rod to reign over the people. Thus, life gives authority. If you are going to be a leading one in the church, you need a great deal of life. Elders are assigned not only by the outward appointment but by the inward authorization in life. All elders should be matured in life and qualified to rule by this reigning life. This is also true for the deacons, the deaconesses, and the leading ones in the service groups. Only life can assign authority.
10启示录二十章四节说，乃是得胜复活的生命，使信徒与基督在千年国一同作王。复活的生命使我们与基督一同作王，因为这生命是从神的宝座出来的，神的宝座表征神的权柄。在启示录二十二章一节我们看见一幅图画，有生命水从神的宝座流出来。所以，权柄与生命是互相关联的。生命河与神的宝座有关。我们若有神的宝座作源头，我们就在生命水中;我们若在生命水中，这水就要把我们带到神的宝座那里，赐给我们来自神宝座的权柄。生命带来权柄。我们都必须看见，要代表神就得有神的生命。
10Revelation 20:4 says that it is the overcoming resurrection life which brings believers into the reign with Christ during the millennium. Resurrection life brings us into the kingship with Christ because it proceeds out of the throne of God. The throne of God signifies authority. We see a picture of this in Revelation 22:1 where the water of life issues out of the throne of God. Therefore, authority and life are mutually related. The river of life is related to the throne of God. If we have the throne of God as our source, we will be in the water of life. If we are in the water of life, it will bring us to the throne of God, giving us the authority that proceeds from His throne. Life brings authority. We all must see that representing God requires God’s life
2 第一步－创造人作器皿，盛装神作生命
2. The First Step—Creating Man as a Vessel to Contain God as Life
11神达成祂目的的手续，第一步是创造人作器皿，以盛装祂自己作生命。我很喜欢『器皿』这辞。你晓得你身为一个人，乃是器皿么？器皿就像瓶子，或是杯子。今天，当我与主交通的时候，我很喜乐，因为我是个器皿。我对自己说，『人哪，你正像个瓶子，你的口就像瓶口。瓶子的目的是要装东西，不是要装你自己。你这个器皿是设计来盛装神的。』
11The first step of God’s procedure in fulfilling His purpose was to create man as a vessel to contain Himself as life. I like this word vessel. Do you realize that as a human being you are a vessel? A vessel is like a bottle or a cup. Today, while I was with the Lord, I was rejoicing because I am a vessel. I said to myself, “Man, you are exactly like a bottle. Your mouth resembles the mouth of a bottle. The purpose of a bottle is to contain something, not to contain yourself. You are a vessel designed to contain God
12这不是我的观念。这观念开始是题在创世记里，然后又为保罗所强调。保罗在罗马九章说，『你是谁，竟向神顶嘴？难道你不知道你是泥土？窑匠有主宰的权柄用泥土作成各样的器皿。』罗马九章二十一、二十三节启示，神创造人是要人作器皿。我们是器皿，以盛装神作生命。
12This is not my concept. It was presented initially in Genesis and then stated emphatically by Paul in Romans 9 when he said, “Who are you, trying to argue with God? Don’ty ou realize that you are clay? The potter has sovereign authority to mold the clay into vessels.” Romans 9:21, 23 reveals that God created man as a vessel. We are vessels to contain God as life
13所以神在创造人以后，就把人放在生命树跟前。这生命树好作食物。在约翰六章，主耶稣说祂是可吃的，祂是生命的粮。（约六35。）所以，我们都能吃祂。此外，我们吃甚么就装甚么，因为所吃的东西进到我们这人里面。我们这个人不过是个器皿，来装所吃的东西。我们所吃的不仅装在我们里面，还消化吸收成为我们的成分，甚至变成我们。所以营养学家说，『你吃甚么，就是甚么。』我们不仅是盛装的器皿，也是吃的器皿，消化我们所吃之物的器皿。神切望我们吃祂。如果我们告诉神，我们要吃祂，祂会很欢喜。我们是吃祂、消化吸收祂的器皿。最终神要成为我们。赞美主！我们是被造的器皿，来盛装神作生命。
13There fore, after God created man, He put him in front of the tree of life. The tree of life was good for food. In John 6 the Lord Jesus said that He was edible, that He was the bread of life (John 6:35). There fore, we all can eat Him. Furthermore, we contain whatever we eat because it comes into our being. Our being is simply a vessel to contain everything we eat. Whatever we eat is not only contained in us, but is assimilated into our very element. It even becomes us. Therefore, dietitians say, “You are what you eat.” We are not only containing vessels; we are eating vessels, vessels that assimilate what we eat. God is desirous of being eaten by us. If we tell God that we want to eat Him, He will be very happy. We are His eating and assimilating vessels. Eventually, God will become us. Praise the Lord! We were made vessels to contain God as life.
14罗马九章二十一、二十三节说，我们是贵重的器皿，是蒙怜悯、旱豫备得荣耀的器皿。这是我们的分。别小看我，我是贵重的器皿，不是卑贱的器皿。有一天我要满了荣耀，且要在荣耀里彰显荣耀的神。我们都是蒙怜悯、早豫备得荣耀的器皿。
14Romans 9:21, 23 tells us that we are vessels unto honor, vessels of mercy prepared unto glory. This is our portion. Do not look down on me. I am a vessel unto honor, not dishonor. One day I will be filled with glory and I will be in glory to express the God of glory. We all are vessels of mercy prepared unto glory
背景
a. The Background
15首先我们要来看，神成就祂目的所施行第一步骤的背景。
15Firstly, we need to see the background of God’s first step in fulfilling His purpose
（一） 神还没有降雨在地上
1) God Had Not Caused It to Rain upon the Earth
1650我爱圣经。我和圣经相处整整五十年了，我今天爱牠远胜已往。当我们来读创世记二章四至七节，我要对青年人说几句话。我年轻的时候对创世记二章很感困惑，认为这章读来不太像圣经。我觉得圣经应该是经典之作，但创世记二章在我看不太像经典。比方创世记二章五节说，『因为耶和华神还没有降雨在地上。』我不懂这样的句子怎么会摆在圣经里。我不认为这有甚么重要。五节又接著说，『也没有人耕地。』这是甚么意思？这读5起来不像圣经的话。五节上半说，『野地还没有草木，田间的菜蔬还没有长起来。』这又是甚么？我觉得这像是小学四年级学生用的辞汇。还有，六节告诉我们:『有雾气从地上腾，滋润遍地。』这读起来真不像圣经的话。你们很多人也许说，『罗马八章真好，读起来就像圣经的话。我不喜欢创世记二章，那里不题灵，不题心思，也不题生命，只说到菜蔬、草木、雾气。』然而，创世记二章五至六节确是圣经的一部分，没有这两节，圣经就不完全。圣经需要创世记二章这两节，才得完全。我们要看见这一段经节所启示的是甚么，这对我们非常有意义。
16I love the Bible. I have been with the Bible exactly years and I love it today more than ever. As we come to Genesis 2:4-7, I want to say a word to the young people. When I was a young Christian, I was troubled by Genesis 2, thinking that it did not sound very biblical. I felt that the Bible should be classical, but Genesis 2 did not seem very classical to me. For example, in Genesis 2:5 it says, “for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth.” I wondered why this was included in the Bible. I did not think it was very important. Then verse 5 continues by saying, “there was not a man to till the ground.” What is the meaning of this? It did not sound like a word of the Bible to me. Earlier in verse it mentions “every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew.” What is this? I thought it was like the vocabulary of a fourth- grader. Furthermore, we are told in verse 6 that “there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” It did not sound like the words of the Bible to me. Many of you may say, “Romans 8 is good. It sounds the way a Bible is supposed to sound. But I don’t like Genesis 2. There is no spirit there, no mind and no life. It just talks about herbs, plants, and mist.” Nevertheless, Genesis 2:5-6 is part of the Bible, and without these verses the Bible is imperfect. The Bible needs these two verses of Genesis chapter 2 in order to perfect it. It is very significant for us to see what is revealed in this passage.
17不要轻看圣经中任何一行话，因为圣经是从神口中出来的，每字，每辞，每句都是出自祂的口。我们就是读圣经里的一个辞句，都是严肃的事。你只要用祷告的灵反覆读创世记二章五至六节，就可以证实这个。你若这样祷读这些经节，必会得著滋润；相反的，你若拿报章杂志来祷读，里头一定会被杀死。世俗的刊物和圣经有很大的差别。圣经中的每一字都是圣别的，都是属乎神的。
17Do not despise any line in the Bible, for the Bible proceeded out of the mouth of God. Every word, phrase, clause, and sentence proceeded out of His mouth. It is a serious matter to read a phrase in the Bible. You may prove this by reading Genesis 2:5-6 again and again with a praying spirit. If you pray and read these verses in such a way, you will be nourished. However, if you do the same thing with some lines from the Los Angeles Times or the Santa Ana Register you will be killed. There is a great difference between secular writings and the Holy Bible. Every word in the Bible is holy; it is something of God
18神还没有降雨在地上，表征神还没有差下祂的灵，与尘土所造的人调和。在约珥书二章二十三、二十八和二十九节，我们看见神的灵被比喻为雨。
18God had not caused it to rain upon the earth. This signifies that God had not sent down His Spirit to mingle with man who was to be made with the dust of the ground. In Joel 2:23, 28-29 we see that God’s Spirit is allegorized as the rain
19有些基督徒批评我们把圣经过分寓意化。但我们必须了解，将圣经寓意化是正确的，因为圣经中有很多话，特别像创世记一、二章，都是比喻的说法。保罗也用寓意来讲旧约。在林后四章六节，他说到那吩咐光要从黑暗里照出来的神，这必是指创世记一章说的。那吩咐光从黑暗里照出来的神，已经照1在我们心里；意思是说，神在创世记一章的工作乃是寓意，说到今天神在我们里面所作的工。在加拉太四章，保罗将亚伯拉罕的妻子撒拉和妾夏甲寓意化，把这两个女人比喻为两约。所以，将圣经寓意化是明白旧约最好的方法。
19Some Christians criticize us for allegorizing the Bible too much. However, we must realize that allegorizing the Bible is proper because much of it, especially Genesis 1 and 2, is written in figurative language. Paul himself allegorized the Old Testament. In 2 Corinthians 4:6 he mentions the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness. This certainly refers to Genesis 1. That the very God who commanded light to shine out of darkness now shines in us means that God’s work in Genesis is an allegory of what He is doing within us today. In Galatians 4 Paul allegorized Sarah, Abraham’s wife, and Hagar, Abraham’s concubine. Paul allegorized these two women as two covenants. There fore, the best way to understand the Old Testament is to allegorize it.
20在四福音，主耶稣几乎把每件事都寓意化了。祂用寓意解释旧约中一切的豫表、影儿、图像。祂说，祂是所罗门、大卫、安息日、光、食物、空气、门、牧人、草场。祂是一切。所以，我们需要把圣经寓意化。我鼓励你们这样作。
20In the four Gospels the Lord Jesus allegorized almost everything. He allegorized all of the types, shadows, and figures found in the Old Testament. He said that He was Solomon, David, the sabbath, the light, the food, the air, the door, the Shepherd, and the pasture. He was everything. Therefore, we need to allegorize the Bible. I encourage you to do this
21现在我们来看创世记二章五至六节的寓意。那里告诉我们，神还没有降雨在地上。这表征神还没有降下祂属天的雨，就是祂的灵，到地上来。当雨降到地上，就浸润到土里，与土调和，为要产生生命。现在，我们可以看到这一点：在神创造人以前，没有雨降下来，这表征从天上来的那灵，还没有与属土之物调和，以产生生命。
21Now we are going to allegorize Genesis 2:5-6 where we are told that God did not cause rain to come on the earth. This signifies that God had not yet sent His heavenly rain, His Spirit, down to earth. When the rain descends to the earth, it soaks into the ground and mingles with it for the purpose of producing life. Now we can see the point: that there was nor a in before God created man signifies that the Spirit from heaven had not yet mingled with something of dust to produce life.
（二） 没有人耕地
2) There Was No Man to Till the Ground
22『也没有人耕地。』（创二5下。）这表征没有人以人工配神工，与神同工。（参林前三9。）有许多基督徒太超级属灵，他们太过超级，反而变得很肤浅。他们肤浅的说，『我们甚么都不该作，圣灵会成就一切。』这话错了，如果你甚么都不作，神也不能作，因为祂需要人工配神工。如果没有人耕地，雨降下来又有甚么用处？以人这面说，只要你把地耕好了，你就有权利祷告说，『主阿，我在这里。求你降下雨来。』神必定会降雨。但是，如果地上没有人求雨，而有天使说，『耶和华阿，你为甚么不降雨？』神会回答说，『我若降下我的雨就浪费了。我正等著人来耕地。只要地上有人耕地，我一定降雨。』
22And there was not a man to till the ground.” This signifies that there was no man to work with God in coordination by human labor with the divine (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9). Many Christians are too super-spiritual. When they are too “super,” they become superficial. They are superficially spiritual, saying, “We should not do anything. The Spirit does everything.” This is wrong. If you do nothing, God cannot do anything, for He needs human labor to cooperate with His divine labor. What is the use of the rain coming down if there is no man to till the ground? If, as a man, you have tilled the ground, you have the right to pray, “Lord, I am here. Send the rain.” Then God will send rain. However, suppose there is no man upon the earth claiming the rain and some angel says, “O God Jehovah, why don’tY o us end the rain?” God will reply, “If I send My rain, it will be wasted. I am waiting for a man to till the ground. Once the man on the earth has tilled the ground, I will send rain
23这些日子召会很注意传福音。然而，假设在安那翰没有一个基督徒与神同工，只有天使在空中祷告说，『全能的神阿，拯救安那翰的人。求你发出你的声音，人人都会悔改。』神会回答说，『真愚昧。在安那翰没有一个人与我同工，我怎么能拯救人？』还记得哥尼流的故事么？虽然有一位天使带信给他，天使却不能向他传福音。（徒十1～8。）天使告诉哥尼流:『你当打发人去请彼得来。我不能耕地，因为我是天使，我没有这资格。人是被命定传福音的，他们有资格。去请彼得来。』
23In these days the church is concerned about gospel preaching. Suppose, however, there is not one Christian in Anaheim working with God and some angels in the air pray, “O God Almighty, save the people in Anaheim. Send out Your voice and everyone will repent.” God would reply, “This is foolish. When there is no one in Anaheim working with Me, how can I save people?” Do you remember the story of Cornelius? Although an angel came to him with a message, the angel could not preach the gospel (Acts 10:1-8). The angel told Cornelius, “You need to send for Peter and ask him to come. I cannot till the ground because I am an angel. I am not qualified. The human beings have been ordained to preach the gospel. They are qualified. Ask Peter to come
24那时地上没有人耕地，神也不降下雨来；没有人工配神工，与神同工。我们必须劳苦，来配合神工。我们必须昼夜为亲友祷告祈求。我们必须作工在他们身上，雨就要降下来。我们若不先耕地与神同工，雨绝不会降下来。神是不会浪费祂的雨的。等到雨降下来，地就要生出生命。
24While there was no man on the earth to till the ground, God did not send the rain. There was no man to work with God in coordination by human labor with the divine. We must labor in coordination with God’s divine labor. Day and night we must pray for our relatives and our friends. We must work on them. Then the rain will come. If we do not cooperate with God by tilling the ground, the rain will never come. God does not waste His rain. When it comes, it comes to produce life.
（三） 地上还没有长出生命来
3) No Life Had Grown Out of the Earth
25『野地还没有草木，田间的菜蔬还没有长起来。』（创二５上。）这表征那时还没有生命，因为地上还没有长出生命来。既然还没有人耕地，雨也没有降下来，就不可能有生命。
25“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew.” This signifies that there was not yet any life, for life had not grown out of the earth. Since there was no one to till the ground and no rain had fallen, it was impossible to have life.
（四） 有雾气从地上腾
4) A Mist Went Up from the Earth
26『但有雾气从地上腾，滋润遍地。』（创二6。）这表征那时只有从地里出来的东西在地上工作，还没有从天上降下来的东西使地长出生命。
26But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground” (v. 6). This signifies that there was only something out of the earth to work on the earth; there was nothing from heaven coming down to cause the earth to grow out life
27上述四项构成了神创造人的背景。如果我们照著寓意来看这一段经节，就会觉得牠的确配摆在圣经里。我真喜欢创世记二章五至六节。现在我们该明白：我们需要雨，神也需要我们。神需要我们与祂同工。这样，雨就要从天上降下来，与地上的尘土调和，以产生生命。
27These four items compose the background of the creation of man. If we approach these verses in an allegorical way, we will find them worthy to be in the Bible. I love Genesis 2:5-6. Now we may understand that we need the rain and that God needs us. God needs our co-labor. Then the rain from heaven will descend to mingle with the dust of the earth to produce life
造法 二7
b. The Way—Genesis 2:7
28现在我们接著来看神创造人的方法。神把人造得正像一只有颈、有口的瓶子。赞美主，我有口。如果没有口，我怎能活著？是神这样造我的。
28Now we proceed to consider the way in which God created man. God created man exactly like a bottle with a neck and a mouth. Praise the Lord that I have a mouth! How could I live without one? God made me this way
（一） 用地上的尘土造成人体
1) To Form Man’s Body with the Dust of the Ground
29神用地上的尘土造成人体，使人有身体作外面的表现，也作接触物质界的器官。神造人是用尘土，不是用金子。金子不能产生生命。你若把种子撒在金子里，你是蹧蹋种子。然而尘土却能长出生命。你若把种子撒在尘土里，种子就生长。我们不是金子造的人，乃是尘土造的人。我真高兴我是个尘土造的人，我是个瓦器。阿利路亚！
29God formed man’s body with the dust of the ground that man may have a body as his outward expression and as an organ to contact material things. God made man with dust, not with gold. Gold cannot produce life. If you sow seed into gold, you will waste the seed. Dust, however, can grow life. If you sow seed into the dust, the seed will grow. We are not a man of gold, but a man of dust. I am happy to be a man of dust. I am an earthen vessel. Hallelujah
30我们的身体是用尘土造成的，作我们外面的表现。我有空的时候，喜欢对镜看自己，特别看我的脸。我越看自己，就越确信我是神造的。全宇宙中没有一个人能造出这么美妙的活物来。美国汽车的样式每年都会改进、变更，却没有人能改进人的设计。我们的耳朵设计得很完美来听声音。若是把身上各肢体的位置重新摆置一下，那就非常难看。如果鼻子生在额上，而且鼻孔朝上，可怎么办？雨水和灰尘都要进到鼻子里了。神刻意设计鼻孔朝下，只有空气可以进入。我的鼻子虽然不漂亮，我却喜欢牠，因为牠是神为我设计的。
30Our body was formed out of dust to be our outward expression. When I have the time, I like to look at myself in the mirror, especially examining my face. The more I look at myself, the more I am convinced that I was made by God. No other person in the whole universe can fashion such a wonderful creature. The style of American cars may be improved and changed every year, but no one can improve the design of a human being. Our ears have been perfectly designed for listening. How awkward it would be if the members of our body were relocated! What would happen if our nose were placed upon our forehead and turned upward? The rain and the dust would come in. God purposely designed the nose to be turned downward that only air may enter in. Although my nose is not very attractive, I am still fond of it. God designed it for me.
31关于人体有许多可说的。在传道书十二章三节，所罗门题到推磨的说，人到老年的时候，推磨的稀少就止息。这里的磨是指我们的臼齿磨碎食物的动作。前面的门牙是为著切断食物，而臼齿是用来磨碎食物。我们吃肉时，先用前面的牙切断，再用舌头送到臼齿那里，磨成可以消化的物质。照传道书所说，推磨的止息，是因为老年人通常牙齿稀少。这一切是谁设计的？是谁设计我们的门牙、臼齿，还有分泌出来润滑食物的唾液？当然是神。
31There are many things to consider about the human body. In Ecclesiastes 12:3 Solomon mentions the grinders, saying that when a man is old the grinders will cease because they are few. The grinding here refers to the grinding activity of our molars. The front teeth, the incisors, are the cutting teeth and the molars are the grinding teeth. When we eat a piece of meat, our front teeth cut it, and the tongue sends it to the molars where it is ground into a digestible substance. According to Ecclesiastes, the grinders cease because an older person usually has fewer teeth. Who designed us this way? Who designed our incisors, our molars, and the saliva that is secreted to liquefy the food? Surely God did this
32人是神创造的，是这位最高明的艺术家设计的。不要去注意进化论。甚至医学也能证实，人体包含尘土里的一切成分，像盐、硫、铜、铁等。神用这尘土造成一个奇妙的人体，其奥妙我没有话可以形容。看看你自己，看看你的肩膀，你的手臂，还有手上的每根指头。人用四个手指和一个大拇指，甚么事都能作。若是手上有五个大拇指，那我们怎么办？恐怕连碗筷也拿不住了。你若仔细研究自己的身体，就会发现牠是个活的瓶子。我们真是神造的。
32Man was created by God. He was designed by the best artist. Do not pay attention to the theory of evolution. Even medical science can confirm that the human body contains all the elements found in dust such as salt, sulfur, copper, and iron. God formed a wonderful human body out of this dust. I have no words to describe it. Look at yourself. Look at your shoulders, arms, and the five fingers on each hand. With the four fingers and a thumb man can do anything. What could we do if we had five thumbs on each hand? We could not even pick up our eating utensils. If you examine your human body, you will find that it is a living bottle. We were truly made by God
（二） 将生命之气吹进人的鼻孔里
2) To Breathe into Man’s Nostrils the Breath of Life
33神将生命之气吹进人的鼻孔里，使人有灵，作为接受神的接收器，并作为接触神和一切属灵事物的器官。（约四24，罗一9。）在收音机里有接收器，一旦接收器坏了，无线电波就无法通过。照样，我们的身体是外部的容器，而在我们里面有神所造的灵，作为接受神这属天电波的接收器。藉这器官我们就可以接触属灵的事物。我用手碰黑板，用鼻子闻味道，用眼睛看颜色，用耳朵听声音。这一切物质界的东西，都可以用身体的感官来实化。在宇宙中也有属灵的事物。在宇宙中有神，而神是灵。我们不能用肉身的感官实化祂。我们若因无法用肉身的方法实化神，就否认祂的存在，那真是太愚昧了。因为感觉不到某物，就说牠不存在，未免太鲁莽了。大气中虽然密布著无线电波，我们若没有接收器，就不能实化电波。照样，我们若没有正确的接收器，就是我们人的灵，也不能实化神。我们的灵若是失了功用，就不能感受到神。所以我们必须调整我们的灵，运用我们的灵来接触神。在我们里面有这样一个器官，圣经称之为人的灵。
33God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life that man may have a spirit as the recipient for him to receive God and as an organ to contact God and the spiritual things (John 4:24; Rom. 1:9). Within a transistor radio, there is a receiver. When this receiver is damaged, the radio waves cannot get through. Likewise, our body is an outward container and within us is a spirit made by God as a receiver to receive God as the heavenly radio waves. By means of this organ we may contact spiritual things. I contact a blackboard with my hand. I contact odors with my nose, colors with my eyes. I substantiate sounds with my ears. All these material things can be substantiated by the sense sin our physical body. In the universe there are also spiritual things. There is God in this universe, and God is Spirit. We cannot substantiate Him through our physical senses. It is foolish to deny the existence of God because we cannot substantiate Him in a physical way. To say that something does not exist because we cannot sense it is foolhardy. Although there are many radio waves in the atmosphere, we cannot substantiate them without a receiver. Likewise, we cannot substantiate God without the proper receiver, our human spirit. If our spirit does not function well, we will be unable to sense God. We need to tune our spirit. We need to exercise our spirit to contact God. Within us there is such an organ called by the Bible the spirit of man.
（1） 生命之气和人的灵
a) The Breath of Life and the Spirit of Man
34创世记二章七节的『气』字，希伯来文是neshamah，尼希玛，这字在箴言二十章二十七节译作『灵。』这就是说，创世记二章七节的气就是人的灵，而这灵乃是耶和华的灯。古时候的人都用油灯，灯里装著油可以燃烧、照亮。在我们里面有一盏灯，可以盛装神的灵作油。我们里面虽然有这样一盏灯，却需要神性的油进来，使灯燃烧、照亮。箴言二十章二十七节说，人的灵鉴察人的心腹。当神这油，进来点著我们的灯，我们就被照亮、鉴察。圣经清楚告诉我们，神的气成了我们人的灵，并且我们的灵是神的灯，盛装神作油，并给我们光。
34In Hebrew the word breath in Genesis 2:7 is neshamah, which is translated “spirit” in Proverbs 20:27. This means that the breath in Genesis 2:7 is the human spirit, and this spirit is the lamp of the Lord. In ancient times people used oil lamps. The lamp contained oil which was burned to give light. Within us we have a lamp to contain the Spirit of God as the oil. Although we have such a lamp within us, we need the divine oil to come into it, enabling the lamp to burn and shine. Proverbs 20:27 says that the spirit of man searches all the inward parts of our being. When God as oil comes in to ignite our lamp, we will be enlightened and searched. The Bible tells us clearly that the breath of God has become our human spirit and that our spirit is God’s lamp to contain God as the oil and to give us light
（2） 人的灵是神特别造成的
b) The Spirit of Man Was Specifically Formed by God
35人的灵是神特别造成的。（亚十二1，伯三二8。）撒迦利亚十二章一节说到神铺张诸天，建立地基，并造人里面的灵。在这宇宙中有三样同等重要的东西：诸天、地、人里面的灵。诸天是为著地，地是为著人，人有灵是为著神。神创造诸天是为著地。没有诸天，地就长不出东西。地是为著人，而人里面有灵为著盛装神。所以，人是全宇宙的中心，而人的中心乃是他的灵，这是非常重要的。就著神说，人里面若没有灵，人就成了空壳子。地上若没有人，地就是空虚的，诸天也是无用的。赞美主，诸天供应地。地供应人，而人有灵来接受神。赞美主，在人里面有灵！
35The spirit of man was specifically formed by God (Zech. 12:1; Job 32:8). Zechariah 12:1 says that God stretched forth the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him. In this universe are three equally important things: the heavens, the earth, and the spirit of man. The heavens are for the earth, the earth is for man, and man has a spirit for God. God created the heavens for the earth. Without the heavens the earth cannot grow anything. The earth is for man, and man has a spirit within him to contain God. Thus, man is the center of the entire universe, and the center of man is his spirit. This is very important. As far as God is concerned, if there were no spirit within man, man would be an empty shell. If there were no man on this earth, the earth would be a void and the heavens useless. We praise the Lord that the heavens serve the earth, the earth serves man, and man has a spirit to receive God. Praise the Lord that “there is a spirit in man”!
（3） 人的灵是神的灵作工并主居住的所在
c) The Spirit of Man is Where the Spirit of God Works and the Lord Stays
36人的灵是神的灵作工的所在。罗马八章十六节说，神的灵与我们的灵同证。所以圣灵与人的灵同工。提后四章二十二节说，『愿主与你的灵同在。』主耶稣如今是与我们的灵同在，我们的灵是祂居住的所在。
36The spirit of man is where the Spirit of God works. Romans 8:16 says that the Spirit of God witnesses with our spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit works with the human spirit. Second Timothy 4:22 says, “The Lord be with your spirit.” The Lord Jesus is now with our spirit. This is where He dwells
（三） 使人成为活的魂
3) To Make Man a Living Soul
37神使人成为活的魂，使人有魂作他的人位，有他的个格，并作他接触精神界的器官。魂介于我们外面的身体与里面的灵之间，乃是我们的人位。藉著魂我们接触精神界的事物。前面我曾题到物质界和灵界，现在要讲到精神界。就以高兴为例，牠既不是物质的，也不是属灵的，乃是精神的。如果你来找我，看见我对你不高兴，你怎么知道我不高兴？你用魂，就是你精神的部分，就能感觉得到。神造我们有灵、魂、体三部分，这是非常清楚的。
37God made man a living soul that man may have a soul as his person with his personality and as an organ to contact the psychological realm. In between our outward body and our inward spirit is our soul, our person. By means of the soul we contact psychological things. I have previously mentioned some physical things and some spiritual things; now I want to speak about psychological things. Take the example of joy. Joy is neither material nor spiritual—it is psychological. If you come to me and find that I am unhappy with you, how will you know that I am unhappy? You will know by means of your soul, your psychological part. It is very clear that God has made us in three parts with a spirit, a soul, and a body
（四） 使人有三部分－灵、魂、体
4) To Make Man a Tripartite Being— Spirit, Soul, and Body
38神造人有三部分。帖前五章二十三节清楚的说，我们有灵、与魂、与身子。希伯来四章十二节说，我们的灵能与魂分开。神为甚么这样创造人？乃是要使我们成为奇妙的人。我们所以奇妙，因为我们有三部分。人不简单。不要以为你自己很简单。说到魂，我们有心思、情感、意志；说到体，我们有许多肢体。医学界花了多年工夫研究人体，至今还是不太能了解。在我们的灵里，又有良心、直觉、交通。神这样奇妙的创造了我们，因为祂要我们成为祂的容器。我们受造并不是为著别的目的。我们的体存活，使我们成为活的器皿盛装神。我们要成为这样的器皿，不仅需要里面的灵，还需要外面的体，使我们能活在地上，运用灵来接触神，接受祂进来，盛装祂，甚至吸收祂。赞美主，我们的被造是奇妙的，是有三部分的！
38God made man as a tripartite being. First Thessalonians 5:23 says clearly that we have a spirit and soul and body. Hebrews 4:12 says that our spirit can be divided from our soul. Why did God create us in this way? Simply that we may be a wonderful person. We are wonderful because we are tripartite. Human beings are not simple. Do not consider yourself as simple. Related to the soul we have the mind, the emotions, and the will. Related to the body we have many members. Medical science takes years to study the human body and still cannot do it very well. Within our spirit we have the conscience, the intuition, and the fellowship. God created us in such a wonderful way because He wanted us to be His container. We were not made for any other purpose. Our body exists that we may be a living vessel to contain God. If we are to be such a vessel, we not only need the inward spirit, but also the outward body to enable us to live on this earth, exercising our spirit to contact God, take Him in, contain Him, and even assimilate Him. Praise the Lord that we have been made in a wonderful, tripartite way!
39为著年轻人，我要举个例子来说明。假定你是个穷人，你努力赚钱，主要是为著满足你肉身的需要。末了，你有了精美的食物，上等的衣服，一幢好房子，还有最好的交通工具。一旦你肉身的需要满足了，你就开始想要有音乐、运动和各种娱乐。这些是为著满足你魂中精神的需要。你虽然可以得到各种娱乐，可是到了晚上，你独自坐在家里，深处还是觉得空虚。你仍有所缺。你对自己说，『你已经甚么都有了，你还要甚么？你有汽车，有安适的家，有贤慧的妻子，有孝顺的儿女，有各种娱乐和享受。』然而你深处却有声音说，『我仍有所缺。』在你深处有个甚么在需要，在要求，甚至在恳求。这是甚么？是你的灵。你的这一部分，就是你的灵。需要神。
39For the sake of the young people I want to use an illustration. Suppose you are a poor man. You endeavor to earn money, primarily to satisfy your physical needs. Eventually you acquire a good house, fine food, excellent clothing, and the best transportation. Once your physical needs have been met, you begin to desire music, sports, and amusements. These gratify the psychological needs of your soul. Although you can afford every amusement, as you sit alone in your home at night you have the sense that deep within you are empty. You still need something. You tell yourself, “You have everything. What more do you want? You have a car, a fine home, a good wife and children, every amusement and entertainment.” Nevertheless, deep within you something says, “I still have a need.” Deep within you something is demanding, requiring, and even begging. What is this? It is your spirit. This part of your being, your spirit, needs God
40我们人有三部分，所以也有三种需要─物质的需要、精神的需要和属灵的需要。在人群社会中，人只顾前面两种需要，而忽略第三种需要。这就是在这里要有召会的原因，因为惟有召会能帮助人满足第三种需要。也许你有最精美的物质享受，以及最上好的精神满足，但你仍有所缺。你需要属灵的享受，你需要神。你的深处需要得著满足。因为我里面满足了，我就不在乎汽车、洋房。我的灵因神而得满足，因为我的灵是被造来盛装神的。
40We have three kinds of needs—material needs, psychological needs, and spiritual needs—because we have three parts to our being. In human society, people take care of the first two needs and neglect the third. This is why the church is here, for only the church can help people to satisfy the third need. Although you may have the finest material enjoyment and the best psychological satisfaction, you are still short. You need spiritual enjoyment, you need God. You need to be satisfied deep within. Since I have been satisfied within, I do not care very much about a car or a house. My spirit is satisfied with God, for my spirit was made to contain Him
41为著达成祂的目的，神首先造人作器皿，以盛装神自己作生命。人是用这么特别的方法造的，不仅有体可以生存，有魂可以表现自己，还有灵特作接触神的器官，并作接受、保有神的接收器。人的魂是人的人位，有他的整个个格，是个完整的人位。但神创造人的用意，不是要人用自己彰显自己，乃是要人这完整的受造者，能接受神作生命，而用全人彰显神。所以除了魂，人还需要有特别的器官来接触神，这器官就是人的灵。我们在前面已经点出来，凡创世记所题的都是种子，要在圣经的以后各卷继续发展，而达到成熟。
41For the fulfillment of His purpose God firstly made man as vessels to contain Himself as life. Man was made in such a specific way, not only with a body to exist physically and with a soul to express himself, but also purposely with a spirit as an organ to contact God and as a recipient to receive and retain God. Man’s soulish is person with his personality. It is a complete person. However, God’s in tent i on in creating man was not that man should express himself with himself. God’sin tent i on was that man, as a complete, created being, might take God as life and express Him in all his personality. Therefore, in addition to his soul, man needs a specific organ to contact God—the human spirit.
42我们在本篇信息所说的，人是盛装神的器皿，人的灵是接触神的器官等，也是如此。这些点都像种子，撒在创世记中，到新约就要完全发展，达到成熟。我们若要详尽的解说这些事，就需要引用新约中的许多经节，但目前我们只能停在这里。
42As we have pointed out formerly, everything in Genesis is a seed that will be developed in the following books of the Bible. The same is true regarding the matters we have been considering in this message—man as vessels to contain God, the human spirit as the organ to contact God, etc. All of these points are sown in Genesis as seeds and will be fully developed in the New Testament as a harvest. We need many verses from the New Testament to give a comprehensive definition of these matters, but for the time being we must stop here.