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创世记生命读经 · 第29篇

改变时代的生活与工作

The Life and Work that Changed the Age
1本篇信息是创世记生命读经中一段插进的话，我的负担是要大家看见挪亚一生的一个重点－挪亚的生活与工作改变了时代。虽然我以前研读创世记时已经看见这点，却不像这些日子所看见的那么深刻。改变时代不是一件小事。
1In this message, a parenthesis in our Life-study of Genesis, I am burdened that we see a crucial point regarding Noah’s life—that Noah’s life and work changed the age. Although I had seen this previously in my study of Genesis, I never saw it so impressively as in these days. It is not a small thing to change the age
2创世记一章与六章有一个大的对比。如果你读创世记一章下半，你会看见神照著祂自己的形像创造人，目的是为著彰显祂自己。（创一26。）神的用意是要人作祂的彰显。人照著神的形像被造，就是要彰显神自己。人像一张照片，照著神的形像而拍，来彰显神。不仅如此，人也受托以神的权柄，使人能执行这权柄，为神管理这地。我们必须看见，这是何等重大的托付。人是照著神的形像创造的，能以彰显神；人也受托以神的权柄，能以代表神，在地上管理一切受造之物。神并没有吩咐人作工，或建立差会。不，神的用意乃是要人有祂的形像彰显祂，并凭祂的权柄代表祂。
2There is a great contrast between Genesis 1 and 6. If you read the latter part of Genesis 1, you will see that God created man in His own image for the purpose of expressing Himself (1:26). God intended that man be His expression. Man was made in the image of God to express nothing less than God Himself. Man was like a photograph, made in the image of God to express God. Furthermore, man was also committed with God’s authority that he might exercise this authority for God’s dominion on earth. We must see how great a commission this is. Man was created in God’sim age that he might express God, and he was entrusted with God’s authority that he might represent God and set up a dominion on earth overall God’s creatures. God did not charge man to work or to establish a mission. No, God’sin tent i on was that man should express Him with His image and represent Him with His authority
3神创造了人，将人好好看过，就说『甚好。』（创一31。）在神工作的六天中，多数的日子神只说『好。』在第二天，神没有说甚么，因为在那一天，空中有堕落的天使，水中有鬼。在那一天，神不可能说『好。』对于第二天，神并没有说甚么。在第六天，就是神创造人的那一天，神看看祂所作的工，尤其是看看人，就说，『甚好！』在神眼中，人是甚好的。
3After God created man and had a thorough look at him, He said, “Very good” (1:31). After His work on some of the six days, God simply said, “Good.” On the second day, God did not say anything, because on that day there were fallen angels in the air and demons in the water. It was impossible for God to say, “Good,” on that day. God did not say anything about the second day. On the sixth day, the day in which God created man, God looked at His work, especially on man, and said, “Very good!” In God’se yes, man was very good
4五章以后，到了创世记六章，神再一次看看人类。当神在创世记一章初次看人的时候，祂既快乐又喜悦。当神在创世记六章再次看人的时候，祂看见人已经邪恶败坏到了极点，就为著造了人而忧伤。从创世记一章到这里，有何等的改变！人原初是在那么高的水平上，但从三章开始，人一直往下堕落。如果你是神，你会怎么作？也许你会说『算了罢。』但神永远的目的怎么办？神岂不是永远的神？永远的神能改变么？神不是短暂的神，乃是永远的神，在祂并没有转动的影儿。（雅一17。）祂作了决定，就永远立定。如果神忘了祂永远的目的，祂的仇敌会讥笑祂说，『你想要创造人来击败我，但是你没有击败我，反被我击败了。』神会被击败么？绝对不会！那么神应该怎么作？答案就在创世记六章八节：『但挪亚在耶和华眼中得恩典。』（另译。）历代以来，这原则一直不变。
4Five chapters later on, in Genesis 6, God took another look at mankind. When God had His first look at mankind in Genesis 1, He was happy and pleased with man. When God had another look at man in Genesis 6, He saw that man had become wicked and corrupt to the uttermost, and it grieved Him that He had made man. What a change from Genesis 1! Originally, man was on such a high level, but, beginning at chapter three, he descended lower and lower. What would you have done if you had been God? Perhaps you would have said, “Forget about it.” But what about God’s eternal purpose? Is not God the eternal God? Can the eternal God change? God is not a temporary God, but an eternal God. In Him there is no shadow of change (James 1:17). Once He makes a decision, it stands for eternity. If God had forgotten His eternal purpose, His enemy would have laughed at Him, saying, “You intended to create man to defeat me, but instead of You defeating me, I have defeated You.” Will God be defeated? Never! Then what should God do? The answer, the same in principle throughout the centuries, is found in Genesis 6:8: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
5我们从六章五节读到八节。『耶和华见人在地上罪恶很大，心中终日思想的每一意念尽都是恶。』（另译。）『每一意念』一辞，在希伯来文不仅指意念，也指目的和愿望。『耶和华就后悔造人在地上，心中忧伤。耶和华说，我要将所造的人，和走兽，并爬物，（直译，）以及空中的飞鸟，都从地上除灭，因为我造他们后悔了。』如果一切到此为止，那就没有希望了。但是，阿利路亚，我们还有第八节！这一节开始于一个重要的『但』字。『但挪亚在耶和华眼中得恩典。』（另译。）这是创世记这卷书中最重大的经节之一。撒但很乐意听到，神要把人从地上除灭，但挪亚却在耶和华眼中得恩典。这转变了局面，改变了时代。阿利路亚，神没有被击败！在表面的失败中，藉著一个在耶和华眼中蒙恩的人得胜了。这是个转捩点。如果你配著圣经读一读历史，你会看见在每一个时代，当撒但尽力把局面破坏到极点之后，总有一个人或少数人在神眼中蒙恩，成为改变那时代的人。你们记得以色列人的历史，虽然他们一再堕落，堕落到底，但是出来了一个少年人，使仇敌大大的惊讶，这人名叫但以理。但以理一章八节说，『但以理却立志，不以王的膳，和王所饮的酒，玷污自己。』但以理书说，『但以理却…。』创世记六章八节说，『但挪亚…。』在人堕落到底的时候，总有一个『却，』或『但。』
5Let us read verses 5 through 8. “ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” In Hebrew, the words “every imagination” signify not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires. “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” If that had been all, there would have been no hope. But hallelujah for verse 8! This verse begins with a big “But.” “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” This is one of the greatest verses in the book of Genesis. Satan was glad to hear that God was going to destroy man from the face of the earth, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. That turned the situation and changed the age. Hallelujah, God was not defeated! In the midst of apparent defeat, there was victory through a man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. That was the turning point. If you read history along with the Bible, you will see that in every generation, when Satan has done his best to damage the situation to the uttermost, there has always been one man or a few people who found grace in the eyes of God and who became the ones who turned the age. Remember the history of Israel. Although they degraded lower and lower until they reached the bottom, there was, much to the surprise of the enemy, a young man named Daniel. Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” There in the book of Daniel it says, “But Daniel”; here in Genesis 6:8 it says, “But Noah.” At the bottom of man’s fall, there is always a “but
6如果我们看挪亚的生活，我们会看见这不仅是与神同行，或建造方舟的事。基本且重要的点乃是，神用挪亚改变了时代。仇敌将局面弄得坏到极点，甚至神后悔造了人。看来好像没有希望了。但挪亚蒙了恩典，挪亚的生活是改变时代的生活。
6If we look at Noah’s life, we shall see that it was not simply a matter of walking with God or of building the ark. The basic and crucial point is that God used Noah to change the age. The enemy had driven the situation to the bottom, and even God repented that He had made man. There seemed to be no hope. But Noah found grace. Noah’s life was a life that changed the age.
7看看今天的局面。如果你读福音书，如果你看见神对召会的定旨，你会认识召会有这样一个高超的使命。召会是由神的生命所产生，在这新约时代彰显神自己。召会已受托以这样一个荣耀的使命。我们不需要看过去。眼前的情况就足以告诉我们，召会是多么堕落，多么偏离神正确的目标。但不要灰心。虽然撒但尽力破坏，神仍然有方法达成祂原初的目的。在一切的失败之中，神今天兴起了众地方召会来改变时代。
7Look at the situation today. If you read the Gospels and if you see God’s purpose for the church, you will realize that the church has such a high commission. The church was produced with God’s life to express Him in this New Testament age. The church has been entrusted with such a glorious commission. There is no need for us to look into the past. The present situation is sufficient to show us how much the church has fallen and deviated from God’s proper goal. But do not be disappointed. Though Satan has done his best, God still has a way to carry out His original purpose. Among all the defeats, God today has raised up local churches to change the age
1 生活
I. The Life
8现在让我们来看改变时代的生活。这是一种甚么样的生活？我对这一点有很重的负担。我恐惧战兢，只怕在神的启示上误了神的事。我不是要对你们讲一篇好道，我是要把主所给我的负担卸给你们，传给你们。我们何等需要看见，能给神用来改变时代的生活！
8Let us now look into the life that changed the age. What kind of life was it? I have such a heavy burden about this. I fear and tremble that I may fail God in His revelation. I am not trying to give you a good sermon. I want to discharge my burden upon you, passing on the burden that the Lord has given me. How we need to see the kind of life that God can use to change the age
ａ承继先祖敬虔的路
A. Inheriting the Godly Ways of the Fathers
9这种生活总是承继先祖敬虔的路。感谢神，挪亚从亚当算起是第十代，有许多好的先祖。以诺是第七代，玛土撒拉是第八代，拉麦是第九代，而挪亚是第十代。挪亚的九位先祖，从亚当到拉麦，都是敬虔的人。虽然创世记记载人的堕落，但这不过是一个背景，向我们展出敬虔之路的真实图画。
9This life always inherits the godly ways of the forefathers. Thank God that Noah, the tenth generation from Adam, had many good forefathers. Enoch was the seventh generation, Methuselah the eighth, Lamech the ninth, and Noah the tenth. All of Noah’s nine forefathers from Adam to Lamech were godly men. Although Genesis gives us a record of man’s fall, that is only a background showing us the true picture of the godly ways
（一） 亚当救恩的路
1. Adam’sWay of Salvation
10挪亚承继了亚当救恩的路。（创三～21。）在亚当身上我们看见救恩的路。虽然亚当堕落了，但他得著了神救恩的路。如果你从未堕落过，你永远不会尝到神救恩的甜美。因为我们堕落过，又得救了，我们就能见证神救恩的甜美。让我们欢然前来，从神救恩的泉源取水。（赛十二3。）亚当是从神救恩的泉源取水的先驱者。他是那样的喜乐，称他的妻子为『活。』（创三20－『夏娃』意『活。』）当他称他的妻子为『活』的时候，你想他是不是很喜乐？我深信他是从救恩的泉源欢然取水。我也深信挪亚承继了这救恩的路。
10Noah inherited Adam’sway of salvation (3:20-21). In Ad am, we see the way of salvation. Although 20 Ad am had fallen, he was given the way of God’s salvation. If you had never fallen, you would never be able to taste the sweetness of God’ss alvation. Since we have been fallen and saved, we can testify of the sweet taste of God’ss alvation. Let us come with joy to draw water out of the wells of God’s salvation (Is a. 1 2:3). Adam was the pioneer in drawing water out of the wells of God’ss alvation. He was so joyful that he called his wife’s name “Living” (3:20—”Eve” means “living”). Do you not think that he was joyful when he called her “Living”? I am quite sure that he joyfully drew water out of the wells of salvation. I have no doubt that Noah inherited this way of salvation.
（二） 亚伯献祭的路
2. Abel’sWay of Offering
11挪亚也承继了亚伯献祭的路。（创四。）亚当的路是使自己得救的路，但亚伯的路是藉著向神献礼物，讨神喜悦的路。（来十一4。）你能想像堕落的人能讨神喜悦么？亚伯是一个堕落的人，却讨神的喜悦。他讨神喜悦的路是将豫表基督的祭物献给神。我也能用同样的路讨神喜悦。虽然我是个堕落的人，有堕落的性情，我却能将基督献给神作礼物，讨神的喜悦。我不是夸口，但我可以向你们宣告，在这几天之内我非常讨神喜悦。我知道神喜悦我。就是在今天早晨和今天下午我都很喜乐，因为我的神十分喜悦。我的神喜乐，我也喜乐。讨神喜悦的路是甚么？就是亚伯的路，也就是将基督献给神，不仅使祂作我们的赎罪祭，也作我们讨神喜悦的礼物。甚么时候你送人礼物，他都会喜乐。同样，当我们将基督献给神，祂对我们的礼物也很喜乐。神所喜悦的乃是基督。挪亚必然采取了亚伯的路。
11Noah also inherited Abel’s way of offering (4:4). Adam’s way was the way to get himself saved, but4 Abel’s was the way to please God by offering gifts to Him (Heb. 11:4). Can you imagine that a fallen man could please God? Abel was a fallen man who pleased Him. His way of pleasing God was that of offering the type of Christ to God. I can please God in the same way. Although I am a fallen man with a fallen nature, I can please God by offering Christ to Him as a gift. I am not boasting, but I can declare to you that I have pleased God very much in these recent days. I know that God has been pleased with me. Even this morning and this afternoon I was happy because my God was pleased. My God was happy, and I was happy too. What is the way to please God? It is the way of Abel, which is to offer Christ to God, not only as the sacrifice for our sins, but also as a gift for pleasing God. Whenever you give a person a gift, he will be happy. Likewise, whenever we bring Christ to God, He is very happy with our gift. God is pleased with Christ. Noah surely adopted Abel’sway.
（三） 以挪士呼求的路
3. Enosh’sWay of Calling
12挪亚所承继第三条敬虔的路，是以挪士呼求主名，享受主一切所是的路。（创四26。）这是头两条敬虔之路的附加。这不仅仅是得救或讨神喜悦，更是藉著呼求神的名，有分于并享受神的所是。我们可以藉著呼求主名有分于神的丰富。挪亚必定已经实行这个。
12The third godly way that Noah inherited was Enosh’sway of calling on the name of the Lord to enjoy all that He is (4:26). This was an addition to the first two godly ways. It was not only a matter of being saved or of pleasing God, but of participating in and enjoying what God is by calling on His name. We may partake of the riches of God by calling on the name of the Lord. Noah must have practiced this
（四） 一切先祖们活并生的路
4. All the Fathers’ Way of Living and Begetting
13挪亚也承继了活并生的路。（创五3～。）挪亚像他的先祖一样，不是闲懒的，而是有一个目的为神而活，并为人类正确的繁增，生儿养女，使神得以藉著人类在这地上达成祂的目的。
13Noah also inherited the way of living and begetting (5:3-28). Noah, like his forefathers, was not idle, but was 28 living with a purpose for God and begetting children for man’s proper multiplication that God’s purpose might be fulfilled on this earth through mankind.
（五） 以诺与神同行的路
5. Enoch’sWay of Walking with God
14挪亚也承继了第五条与神同行的路。（创五22，24。）一个堕落的人竟能与神同行，这是何等的美好！看见堕落的人能得救，固然美妙，但我们必须进一步看见，这样的人还能与神同行。在人类的第七代，以诺发现了与神同行的路。
14Noah also inherited the fifth way, the way of walking with God (5:22, 24). How good it is that a fallen man can walk with God! Although it is marvelous to see that a fallen man can be saved, we must further realize that such a person can walk with God. In the seventh human generation, Enoch discovered the way of walking with God.
15我们能得救，讨神喜悦，呼求祂的名，活著并生养，且与神同行。我们还要甚么？我们似乎已经完全满足了。我们得救了；我们能讨神喜悦，我们能呼求祂的名，享受祂对我们所是的一切；我们能有个目的而活，并为著神的繁增而生，就是结果子；我们且能与神同行。我们还缺少甚么？没有所缺的了。我们既快乐又满足。但神还没有得著满足。这是主给我的负担。只看见挪亚继承先祖各样敬虔的路还不彀。如果这职事只帮助你们看见这么多，就误了神的事。我们必须看见更多。
15We can be saved, please God, call on His name, live and beget, and walk with God. What else do we want? It seems that we have been fully satisfied. We are saved; we can please God; we can call on His name to enjoy all that He is to us; we can live with a purpose and beget, that is, bear fruit, for God’s multiplication; and we can walk with God. What do we lack? Nothing. We are pleased and satisfied. However, God has not been satisfied. This is the burden that the Lord has shown me. It is inadequate simply to see that Noah inherited all the godly ways of his forefathers. If this ministry only helps you to see this much, it has failed God. We must see something more
ｂ得著更多的启示
B. Receiving More Revelation
16神给挪亚的几乎是包罗万有的启示，是他的一切先祖所没有看见过，更进一步的启示。以诺虽然豫言，当他的儿子玛土撒拉死的时候，洪水要来，（这就是『玛土撒拉』这名的意思，）神的审判要临到这败坏的地；他甚至豫言到主的来临；（犹14；）但以诺从来没有看见过神要结束这败坏的世代，而带进一个新时代的异象。挪亚的先祖们，没有一个看见过这个启示。有一天神临到挪亚，将这异象启示给挪亚。结果挪亚对敬虔事物的眼界大得开阔，他比一切的先祖们看见得更多更广。他看见了异象，从神接受了确定的启示。我们都需要有这样的启示。
16God gave Noah what was nearly an all-inclusive revelation, a further revelation which none of Noah’s forefathers saw. Although Enoch prophesied that when his son Methuselah died the deluge would come (the meaning of the name “Methuselah”), and that God’s judgment would be executed upon the corrupted earth, and although he even prophesied about the Lord’s coming (Jude 14), Enoch never received the vision of the way that God would terminate the corrupted generation and bring in a new age. None of Noah’s forefathers saw this revelation. One day, God came to Noah and revealed it to him. As a result of this, Noah’s view of godly things was greatly broadened, and he saw much more than all his forefathers did. He saw the vision and received a definite revelation from God. We all need such a revelation
17原则上，我们的情形与挪亚的情形完全一样。今天的世代是败坏的，地上充满了邪恶和强暴。照著人的观念，神似乎已被击败，且被赶离这地。然而你有没有看清，今天有一个大的『但』字？有一些亲爱的人承继了从第一世纪到现今一切圣徒敬虔的路。我们承继了已往各世纪所实行一切敬虔的路。那我们该不该停在这里？该不该说『看我们所有的』？不该！虽然我们承继了这许多敬虔的事物，并且满意又满足，但是神如何？神的目的如何？神需要结束这个时代。神需要世代的改变。神需要一只方舟，可以将祂的子民从这世代带出来，并开始一个新的时代。神需要一只方舟。我已经看见了这个，并且为这个呼喊。
17In principle, our situation is exactly the same as Noah’s. Today’s generation is corrupt, and the earth is filled with evil and violence. It seems that, according to man’s concept, God has been defeated and driven out of the earth. However, do you not realize that today there is a big “but”? Some dear ones have inherited all the godly ways of the saints from the first century of the Christian era until the present. We have inherited all the godly ways that were exercised in the past centuries. But should we stop here? Should we say, “Look at what we have”? No. Although we have inherited so many godly things and are satisfied and contented, how about God? How about God’s purpose? God needs to terminate this age. He needs a change of generation. He needs an ark that can bring His people out of this generation and start a new age. God needs an ark. I have seen this and I cry out for this
18你得救了么？赞美主！你有讨神喜悦的路么？为这感谢主！你能呼求祂的名，有分于祂的丰富么？从一九六七年起，我们就实行呼求主名这事。你是在活著并生养么？是的，一天过一天，我们为主活著，并为主的繁增而生养。你满足了么？阿利路亚，我们满足了！但神和祂的目的如何？你有没有看见神想要结束这世代，而带进另一个时代？要这样作，祂必须有一只方舟。我们不能照我们的想像来建造方舟。我们必须像挪亚一样，接受关于神需要方舟的启示。
18Have you been saved? Praise the Lord! Do you have a way to please God? Thank the Lord for this. Can you call on His name to partake of His riches? Since 1967, we have practiced this matter of calling on the name of the Lord. Are you living and begetting? Yes, day by day we are living for the Lord and are begetting for the Lord’s multiplication. Are you satisfied? Hallelujah, we are satisfied. But what about God and His purpose? Do you realize that God intends to terminate this generation and bring in another age? In order to do this, He must have an ark. We cannot build the ark by our imagination. Like Noah, we must receive a revelation concerning God’s need of the ark.
（一） 关于世代
1. Concerning the Generation
19神不仅向挪亚启示祂需要一只方舟，也给他看见他那世代真实的光景。那世代在神眼中完全暴露无遗；藉著神的启示，也向挪亚暴露出来。你知道大多数的人，包括许多基督徒在内，对我们所活在其中的世代并不清楚么？人类已经被他们一切的情欲和邪恶的宴乐所蒙蔽、麻醉并迷惑。甚至所谓的基督『教会』也被这时代的潮流所麻醉。我们需要启示。我们需要神临到我们，将这邪恶世代真实的光景启示给我们。我们需要看见这个。将近五十年前，我就得了这启示。神已经给我看见这邪恶的世代。
19God not only revealed to Noah His need of an ark, but He also showed him the true situation of his generation. That generation was thoroughly exposed in the eyes of God. It was also exposed to Noah through God’sr evelation. Do you realize that most people, including many Christians, are not clear about the generation in which we live? Mankind has been veiled, “doped,” and befuddled by all their lusts and evil pleasures. Even the so- called Christian churches are “doped” with the tide of this age. We need a revelation. We need God to come to us and reveal the genuine situation of this evil generation. We need to see this. I received this revelation nearly fifty years ago. God has shown me this evil generation
（二） 关于神的心意
2. Concerning God’sIn tent i on
20神不仅给挪亚看见那邪恶的世代，也向他启示了祂的心意。神从前是，现在仍是一位有目的的神；在祂的目的上，祂永不会被击败。多年前，神给我们看见了祂的目的。你们许多人读过倪弟兄亲自作的见证，说到他有一次作了一个梦，意思是得了启示，看见中国各地都兴起了地方召会。他看见神兴起的众召会。他所说的梦，实际上就是启示。很多年以前，神藉著倪弟兄给我们看见，祂需要众召会。在主再来之前，需要有众召会兴起来。不然的话，祂无法回来。今天的方舟是甚么？神结束这邪恶的世代，并带进一个新时代的路是甚么？乃是众召会。神向挪亚启示了方舟；我也必须见证，神向我们启示了正确召会生活的需要。正确的召会生活就是神今天所需要的方舟。要结束这世代并带进新时代，必须有召会生活。
20God not only showed Noah the evil generation, but also revealed to him His intention. God was and still is a God of purpose, and He can never be defeated in His purpose. Years and years ago, God showed us His purpose. Many of you have read Brother Nee’sown testimony in which he says that once he had a dream, meaning a reve lation, in which he saw local churches raised up throughout China. He saw churches raised up by God. What he called a dream was actually a revelation. Through him, many years ago, God showed us His need of the churches. Before the Lord comes back, He needs the churches to be raised up. Otherwise, He will have no way to return. What is today’s ark? What is God’sway of terminating this evil generation and bringing in a new age? It is the churches. God revealed the ark to Noah, and I must testify that God has revealed to us the need for the proper church life. The proper church life is the ark God needs today. The church life is needed to terminate this generation and to bring in a new age.
21自从我们得了这启示，并且起来宣告这启示之后，我们就受到反对、弃绝和定罪。挪亚一面将神指示他的告诉人，一面造方舟，这样过了一百二十年。在那段期间，挪亚必定经历了许多嘲弄。人可能对他说，『挪亚，你在作甚么？我们都错了么？只有你一个人对么？我们所作的一切都要被审判，只有你所造的那个破方舟会存留么？』挪亚也许回答说，『时间会证明，等著罢。如果洪水在十年以后不来，也许在五十年以后会来。如果五十年以后不来，也许八十年后，一百年后，或者一百一十九年后会来。再等一段时间，洪水就会来。那时候你们会知道你们需要方舟，但是太迟了。』
21Ever since the day we received this revelation and stood up to declare it, we have been opposed, rejected, and condemned. While Noah told people what God had shown him and while he was building the ark, one hundred twenty years went by. During that time, Noah must have experienced a great deal of mocking. People probably said to him, “Noah, what are you doing? Are we all wrong? Are you the only one who is right? Will everything that we do be judged and only the poor ark that you are building remain?” Perhaps Noah said, “Time will tell. Just wait. If the flood does not come after ten years, then perhaps it will come after fifty years. If it does not come after fifty years, perhaps it will come after eighty years, or a hundred years, or a hundred nineteen years. Wait for another period of time, and the flood will come. Then you will realize that you need the ark, but it will be too late
22我深深觉得，我们今天是在同样的情形之下。由于我们照著神的启示而有召会坚定的见证，就兴起了许多攻击我们的批评和反对。有些人甚至说我们是『邪教。』我们怎会是邪教？说实话，我们比这时代别的人更纯正的信神的话。我们不是夸口，只是说明事实。至少我们和别的基督徒一样信神的话，不过没有搀酵而已。我们亲爱的批评者，在他们的良心里难道真的有把握说我们是异端么？每一个基督徒都有良心。他们应当在主面前听听他们良心的声音。请听听你们的良心，听听主在你们的良心里对你们所说的。
22I strongly feel that we are in the same situation today. Because of our firm testimony of the church according to God’sr evelation, a great deal of criticism and opposition have come out against us. Some even say that we are a “cult.” How could we be a cult? Honestly speaking, we believe the Holy Word in a pure way more than others do in this age. We are not boasting, but simply speaking the truth. At least we are the same as others in believing the Holy Word, but not in a leavened way. Do our dear critics have the assurance in their conscience that we are heretical? Every Christian has a conscience. They should listen to their conscience before the Lord. Listen to your conscience, please, and to what the Lord tells you in your conscience
23我曾经问过美国这里的弟兄们，像我这样一个小人物，从中国来到这个世界最先进的国家，何以会受到这样的注意？他们何必注意我？他们只该把我这个小人物忘记。现在从美国西岸到东岸，都有谣言说李常受是异端者。早在一九六四年，我去德州的时候，就有些基督徒像侦探一样跟踪我，从一地到另一地。他们把我在信息中所说的记下来，加以曲解，然后印成书。就这样，十年来我这个小人物受了许多不当受的注意。为甚么有这么多的人注意这样一个小人物？因为这个小人物把一些东西带到这个国家，搅乱了仇敌，威胁了黑暗的国度。这个见证摸著了黑暗的领域。
23I have asked the brothers here in the United States to tell me how a little man from China coming to the leading nation on earth can receive so much attention. Why do they pay attention to me? They should simply forget about this little man. Now from the west coast to the east there are rumors that Witness Lee is heretical. Even in 1964 when I went to Texas, some Christians tailed me like spies, following me from one place to another. They took down what I said in my messages and, after twisting it, put it into print. So for ten years this small man has received much undeserved attention. Why do so many people pay attention to such a small man? Because this small man has brought something to this country that disturbs the enemy and threatens the kingdom of darkness. This testimony touches the territory of darkness.
24我是个微不足道的人，但从我的深处，并从我纯洁的良心，我有充分的把握，这个职事乃是将今天的启示告诉神的百姓。美国是个基督教国家，不需要一个来自东方的人，到这里来向人们讲说基督教的事。但在这个国家，亲爱的圣徒们需要看见神今天的启示。主今天要作甚么？祂不仅要拯救人，使人讨神喜悦，教导人呼求主名，叫人能活著、生养并与神同行。祂今天要作的超过这一切。祂需要兴起众召会。祂的心意乃是要吸引那些爱祂的人、追求祂的人，将他们聚集在一起，实行正确的召会生活，作为对付仇敌黑暗国度的见证，并作为祂回来的豫备。这是祂今日的心意。我们都必须看见这个，并作今日的挪亚，建造这『方舟，』好结束这个世代，并带进国度的新时代。
24I am a small man. However, from the depths of my being and from my pure conscience, I have the full assurance that this ministry is telling God’sp eople what is today’sr evelation. America is a country of Christianity. There is no need for a man from the Orient to come here and speak to people about Christianity. But there is the need for the dear saints in this country to see today’sr evelation of God. What does the Lord want to do today? He does not simply want to save people, cause them to please God, teach them to call on the name of the Lord, enable them to live, beget, and walk with God. What He wants to do today is more than all this. He needs the churches to be raised up. His intention is to attract His lovers and seekers and gather them together to practice the proper church life as a testimony against the enemy’skin gdom of darkness and as a preparation for His return. This is His intention today. We all need to see this and build this “ark” to be today’s Noah that we may terminate this generation and usher in the new age of the kingdom
（三） 关于神的渴望
3. Concerning God’s Desire
25神不仅有心意，还有渴望。神的确要作一些事，并且饥渴的要得著这个。神渴望要有召会生活。在一九三三年，有一位很好的牧师来找我。他不叫我李弟兄，他称我李先生。他说，『李先生，如果你不要召会，只传讲神的话，我们大家都要请你到我们的教会去讲道。我们可以安排你一年到头轮流从这个教会讲到那个教会。如果你把你聚会地方的门关了，解散那些到你那里聚会的人，而单单讲道，我们都要敞开大门欢迎你。』我说，『谢谢你，我有我的负担，我有彀多的事要作。』
25God not only has an intention, but also a desire. God does intend to do something and He is also hungry and thirsty for this. God desires to have the church life. In 1933 a good pastor came to me. He did not call me Brother Lee; he addressed me as Mr. Lee. He said, “Mr. Lee, if you would not have the church and just minister the Word, we all would invite you to speak in our churches. We would make the arrangements for you to rotate the year round from church to church. If you would close the door of your meeting place, disband the people who meet with you, and simply preach the Word, we would all open our doors to you.” I said, “Thank you. I have my burden and I have enough to do
26我到了台湾，有一位西教士来见我。首先他很称赞我，说，『李弟兄，我们真感谢神，祂使用了你，在台湾岛上兴起了这样美好的工作。』当他这样称赞我的时候，我知道他接著要说甚么。他继续就说到对召会有异议的话。在远东的一些西教士看我们召会的实行，如同『死苍蝇在香膏里。』有的人对我说，『如果你不再说到召会，所有的基督徒都会欢迎你。』我说，『对不起，这不在于我。是主给我这样的负担。』我常对他们说，『我们感谢你们弟兄们，从那么远的国家来传福音。尤其是前一世纪那些先驱者，他们航行六个月才来到中国。我们感激你们撇下了自己的国家、亲人、家庭、一切，到这里来传福音。但我们的负担不仅是为著福音，也是为著召会。神需要召会。传福音应该是为著召会。你们知道我们也传福音，但我们传福音的目标是为著建造召会。请原谅我说，在我们看来，你们并不关心神给我们看见的这个目标。』
26When I went to Taiwan, a missionary came to see me. Firstly, he praised me very much, saying, “Brother Lee, how we thank God that He has used you and how we thank Him that He has raised up such a wonderful work on the island of Taiwan.” While he was praising me, I knew what he was going to say next. He continued by saying something about the church in a dissenting way. Some of the missionaries in the Far East considered our church practice as “the dead fly in the ointment.” Some said to me, “If you don’t talk anymore about the church, you will be welcomed by all Christians.” I said, “Sorry, it does not depend on me. The Lord has burdened me so.” I used to say to them, “We are grateful to you brothers who came from countries afar off for the gospel, especially to those pioneers a century ago who came to China after a six-month voyage. We appreciate the fact that you have given up your country, your family, your home, and everything to come here to preach the gospel. But our burden is not only for the gospel, but also for the church. God needs the church. Gospel preaching should be for the church. We also preach the gospel, as you know, but our goal in doing so is the building up of the church. Sorry to say, it seems to us that you do not care for this goal that God has shown us.”
27一九五八年，我被邀请访问伦敦和丹麦，我无法形容这两地的人多么热切的欢迎我。最后，这两地大部分的带头人，都在召会这件事上对我不满。我是为著召会。有些在主里很深的友谊，因此就断绝了。
27I was invited to visit London and Denmark in 1958. I cannot tell you how warm a welcome they extended to me in both places. Eventually, most of the leading ones were displeased with me over the matter of the church. I am for the church. Some friendships in the Lord which had been deep were severed just because of this
28因为我照著主给我们看见的，为召会生活站住，好些我所认识的圣徒离弃了我。我一点不怀疑，时间会证明，召会生活是神今天所渴望得著的。我在一九六二年到洛杉矶，和弟兄们在一起为著主的恢复。在座有的弟兄可以作见证，那时候我告诉那一小群的弟兄们，再等五年或十年，他们会看见一些事情。今天我说同样的话。我盼望主快回来。如果主迟延，我请你们再等十年，看看有甚么事发生。主要得著这个国家和别的先进国家，为著祂的恢复。
28Because of my standing for the church life according to what the Lord has shown us, a number of the saints whom I know have deserted me. I have not the slightest doubt that time will tell that the church life is what God desires to have today. I came to Los Angeles in 1962 to stay with the brothers for the Lord’s recovery. At that time, I told that small group of brothers to wait for five or ten years and they would see something. Today I say the same thing. I hope that the Lord will come back soon. In case that He delays, I ask you to wait for another ten years and see what will happen. The Lord is going to take this country and the other leading countries for His recovery
29我们都需要看见异象。我们都必须有当今的启示，看见甚么是神的心愿。你要作今天的挪亚么？你如果要，就必须看见挪亚所作的。神所渴望的，不仅是成千成万人的得救，更是有美妙的召会生活。
29We all need to see the vision. We all must have today’sr evelation to see what is God’she art’s desire. Are you going to be today’s Noah? If you are, you must see what Noah did. God’s desire is not only that thousands of people be saved, but to have the wonderful church life
30为著神已往使用过的圣徒们，我们何等感谢神。我们从他们的生活与工作得了极大的帮助。但我们信在这个时代，主给我们看见了更多。我们确实跟随了我们在主里一切先祖们敬虔的路，但主的启示带我们在祂地上的行动上再往前去。主的这个启示，必然使我们与那些仍在传统中的亲爱弟兄们不同。求主怜悯我们，使我们忠信于祂的启示，而不在意与别人有所不同。
30How we thank God for all the saints who have been used by God in the past. We have been greatly helped by their life and work. But we believe that in this age the Lord has shown us something more. We do follow the godly ways of all of our forefathers in the Lord, but the Lord’sr evelation has brought us further in His going son this earth. This revelation of the Lord surely has made us different from the dear ones who remain in the traditions. May the Lord have mercy upon us that we would be faithful to His revelation, not caring about being different from others.
ｃ相信并实行所看见的启示
C. Believing and Practicing the Revelation Seen
31挪亚接受了启示，就相信这启示，并且实行这启示。（创六22。）他实行的时候并不在意与他的先祖及同世代的人有所不同。人可能对他说，『挪亚，你在作甚么？亚当从来没有这样说过。亚伯和以挪士也从来没有这样说过。所有的先祖们都曾活、生，又死了，但他们没有一个像你这样说过。你是谁？你比亚当或以诺还大么？我们羡慕以诺，因为他与神同行。你在说甚么？你怎么说洪水要来？你建造方舟到底是甚么意思？』
31After Noah received the revelation, he believed it and practiced it (6:22). He practiced it in a way of not caring about being different from his forefathers and from his generation. Perhaps people said to him, “Noah, what are you doing? Adam never talked this way. Neither did Abel or Enosh. All the fathers lived, begat, and died, but none of them talked the way you do. Who are you? Are you greater than Adam or Enoch? We admire Enoch, for he walked with God. What are you talking about, telling us that a flood will come? What do you mean by building an ark
32今天的原则也是一样。我们是照著圣经，跟从神的启示，来实行召会生活；然而，大多数的基督徒缺少这启示。神的启示常叫你与众不同。但以理和他三个朋友与众不同，因为他们不肯吃王的膳。保罗不同，路德马丁也不同。每一个看见了神启示的人，都与别人有所不同。启示使他与众不同。我们必须与我们的亲人、同学、邻居、甚至别的基督徒不同。只有那些缺少神启示的人才会那么普通。甚么时候我们看见了一些东西，我们所看见的就使我们和别人不同了。与别人不同是好的。
32The principle is the same today. We are following God’sr evelation that is according to the Bible in order to practice the church life; however, most Christians lack this revelation. God’sr evelation will always make you different. Daniel and his three companions were different, for they refused to eat the royal food. Paul was different, and so was Martin Luther. Everyone who has seen God’sr evelation is different. The revelation makes him different. We must be different from our folks, our schoolmates, our neighbors, and even from our fellow Christians. Only those who are void of God’sr evelation are so common. Whenever we see something, it makes us different. It is good to be different
2 工作
II. The Work
ａ传扬义
A. Preaching Righteousness
33现在我们必须来看挪亚的工作。首先，挪亚传扬义。（彼后二。）如果你读整本圣经，你会看见在挪亚的日子，传扬义就是反对当时邪恶的世代。挪亚的世代是邪恶的，充满了强暴，但挪亚是个传扬义，反对一切不义、邪恶、和强暴的人。他见证神的义路。
33Now we must consider Noah’s work. Firstly, Noah worked in preaching righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5). If you read the whole context of the Bible, you will see that5 in Noah’s day preaching righteousness was to protest against the evil generation. His generation was evil and filled with violence, but Noah was a man who preached righteousness and protested against all the unrighteousness, evil, and violence. He testified of the righteous way of God.
ｂ建造方舟
B. Building the Ark
（一） 因著信照著神的启示
1. According to God’sR evelation by Faith
34挪亚一面传扬义，一面也建造方舟。原则上，我们也作同样的事。我们也传扬义，我们也反对这邪恶的时代。我们一面传讲，一面也建造团体的方舟。挪亚因著信，照著神的启示建造方舟。（来十一7。）他并没有照著传统，或自己的观念和发明，乃是绝对照著神的启示来建造。这就是为甚么我们在任何事上，都必须回到神圣言中的启示。我们必须回到神纯净的话里。
34While Noah was preaching righteousness, he was building the ark. In principle, we are doing the same thing. We are preaching righteousness and we are protesting against the evil age. While we are preaching, we are building a corporate ark. Noah built the ark by faith according to God’sr evelation (Heb. 11:7). He did not construct it according to tradition or his own concept and invention, but absolutely according to God’sr evelation. This is the reason that in everything we must return to God’sr evelation in His holy Word. We must come back to the pure Word of God.
（二） 与时代的潮流相反
2. Against the Tide of the Age
35建造方舟是绝对与挪亚的世代相反的。挪亚反对那个时代的趋势，并『定了那世界的罪。』（来十一7。）除了挪亚一家以外，没有人欣赏那工作。挪亚和他一家的工作是独特的、奇特的、奇怪的，在人眼中是不实际的。那是照著神的启示，因此是与那世代的趋势和潮流相反。你想今天的原则不也是一样么？我们所传的和我们所作的，完全是反这世代潮流的。但是赞美主，我们是在祂的流中。我们不是在这世代的潮流中；我们是照著主的启示，在流自宝座的流中。赞美祂！
35The building of the ark was absolutely against the tide of Noah’s generation. He was against the trend of that age and “he condemned the world” (Heb. 11:7). No one besides Noah’s family appreciated that work. The work of Noah and his family was unique, peculiar, and strange. In human eyes it was impractical. It was according to God’sr evelation and, thus, it was against the trend and tide of that generation. Do you not think that the principle is the same today? What we are preaching and doing is altogether against the tide of this generation. But we praise the Lord that we are in His flow. We are not in the tide of this generation; we are in the flow from the throne according to His revelation. Praise Him