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罗马书生命读经 · 第20篇

荣耀的后嗣（三）

HEIRS OF GLORY (3)
1贰模成的后嗣
1II. HEIRS CONFORMED FOR GLORIFICATION
一 长子的许多弟兄
A. Many Brothers of the Firstborn
2在前两篇信息中，我们看过儿子名分的福分。在本篇信息中，我们要来看模成的后嗣。后嗣要模成甚么？乃是模成神长子基督（来一5～6）的形像。基督是神的长子，信徒是神的众子。（二10。）基督这神的长子对于要模成祂形像的众弟兄，就是神的众子，乃是典型、榜样、模型和原型。这模成是为著要来的得荣。我们不该期望得荣耀，而不先在生命里长大，并模成神儿子的形像。我们若期望得荣耀，而不被模成，就会失望。要来的得荣在于我们模成神儿子的形像。因此，得荣在于我们生命的长大。
2In the past two messages we considered the blessings of sonship. In this message we shall see that the heirs are conformed for glorification. To what are the heirs conformed? To the image of Christ, God’s firstborn Son (Heb. 1:5-6). Christ is God’s firstborn Son, and the believers are the many sons of God (Heb. 2:10). As God’s firstborn Son, Christ is the model, example, pattern, and prototype for all His brothers, the many sons of God, who will be conformed to His image. This conformation is for the coming glorification. We should not expect to be glorified without firstly growing in life and being conformed to the image of God’sS on. If we expect to be glorified without being conformed, we will be disappointed. The glorification to come depends on our conformation to the image of the Son of God. Thus, glorification depends upon our growth in life
3我再用康乃馨的种子为例证。种子撒在地里并发芽：这是重生。然后康乃馨长大：这是生命的长大，变化的阶段。至终康乃馨苗长到开花的地步：这是改变形状和得荣。康乃馨开花的阶段，就是牠得荣的阶段。康乃馨在发芽的阶段，若不长大而期望开花并得荣耀，开花的时候绝不会来临。你若不在生命里长大，却等待开花的时候，得荣的时候，你就是作梦的人。然而，这正是今天许多基督徒中间的光景。最近，我与一些非常熟悉外面世界局势的基督徒朋友一同吃饭。他们告诉我们，许多基督徒对豫言的两个主要方面很感兴趣：被提以及与主来临有关的兆头。然而，我们若期望被提而不在生命里长大，我们就是作梦的人，因为被提实际上就是我们的改变形状和得荣。没有一粒康乃馨种子能一夜之间从芽长到花。想想看，康乃馨芽梦想一夜之间从芽的阶段长到花的阶段；这也许会发生在梦里，却不会在实际生活里，因为这样不寻常的发展完全违反生命的律。照著生命的律，康乃馨苗必须渐渐长大，以至于达到成熟，然后花朵才出现。同样，我们必须渐渐长大，直到我们达到长成的人。（弗四13。）一旦我们达到开花的阶段，我们就豫备要改变形状并得荣耀。因此，得荣连同改变形状，惟有我们达到成熟以后才有可能。
3Once again I use the illustration of a carnation seed. The seed is sown into the ground and sprouts: this is regeneration. Then the carnation grows: this is the growth in life, the stage of transformation. Eventually the carnation plant grows to the point of blossoming: this is transfiguration and glorification. The stage of the blossoming of the carnation plant is the stage of its glorification. If while the carnation plant is in the sprout stage it expects without growing to blossom and to be glorified, the time of blossoming will never come. If you do not grow in life, yet await the time of blossoming, the time of glorification, you are a dreamer. Nevertheless, this is exactly the situation among many Christians today. Recently, I had dinner with some Christian friends who are very familiar with the outward world situation. They told us that a great many Christians are interested in two main aspects of prophecy: the rapture and the signs relating to the Lord’s coming. However, if we expect to be raptured without growing in life, we are dreamers, for rapture is actually our transfiguration and glorification. No carnation seed can grow from a sprout to a blossom overnight. Imagine that a carnation sprout dreamed that overnight it grew from the sprout stage to the blossom stage. This may occur in a dream, but not in real life, for such an unusual development is absolutely against the law of life. According to the law of life, a carnation plant must grow gradually until it reaches maturity. Then and only then will a blossom appear. Likewise, we must grow gradually until we arrive at a full grown man (Eph. 4:13, Gk.). Once we reach the stage of blossoming, we are ready to be transfigured and glorified. Thus, glorification with transfiguration is possible only after we have reached maturity.
4我们也可用大学毕业为例证。假定有一大学新生梦想一夜之间完成教育，次日早晨就毕业；那不过是个梦。实际上，他不该期望毕业，直到他完成了四年的学业。他修完了所有的课程，并通过了所有的考试之后，就可毕业。毕业绝不会忽然来临。许多基督徒活在梦里。虽然许多基督徒期望被提到空中，至终他们却都进到土里。在已过一个半世纪中，关于主的来临有许多古怪的豫测。许多所谓的豫言教师甚至敢确定主降到空中的日期。然而，年日过去，甚么也没有发生。每个豫测都没有实现。我是在第一次世界大战结束数年后，十几岁时得救的。我爱读圣经，并想要认识其中的真理。所以，我虽然是个穷学生，却设法买属灵书籍。许多教导豫言的事，并有所著述的人，提供了好些豫测，这些豫测多半因第二次世界大战而破灭；没有一个实现。圣经大教师潘汤（D.M.Panton），出版『黎明报』，一九三○年代中期发表一篇文章，内含两张照片，一张是该撒尼罗，另一张是墨索里尼。潘汤说，『看看这两张照片。看他们多相似。墨索里尼必是敌基督。』我们知道这篇文章以后，我在一次召会的聚会中说，『亲爱的圣徒们，潘汤先生发表一篇文章，告诉我们墨索里尼就是敌基督。若是这样，主必然快来了，我们也要被提。弟兄们，在我灵里深处我确知一个原则－被提是成熟的结果。在新约里，被提好比收割，惟有在庄稼成熟了以后，收割才有可能。庄稼若不成熟，还是青嫩、新绿的，怎能收割？这是不可能的。弟兄姊妹们，看看今天主的子民中间的光景。看看庄稼，成熟了么？照著目前庄稼成长的阶段，你信收割就在眼前么？这是不可能的。你向田观看－没有一处有真正的长大。虽然地上处处都有成千上万的真基督徒，这是经过两个世纪的传扬福音，传教士将福音带到地极去的结果，但成长仍非常少。真正生命的长大在那里？几乎没有长大，没有成熟。那我们怎能期望有收割？我敢说，不会有收割，直到庄稼成熟。』我说这话，大约在四十年前；然而，到如今被提还没有发生。墨索里尼被杀埋葬了，也没有基督徒看见敌基督。
4We may also use the illustration of graduating from college. Suppose a college freshman dreams that he completes his education in one night and that he will graduate the next morning. That is merely a dream. In reality, he should not expect to graduate until he has completed four years of study. After he has finished all of his courses and passed all of his examinations, he will be approved for graduation. Graduation never comes suddenly. Many Christians live in a dream. Although many Christians have expected to be taken to the air, eventually they all passed into the earth. During the last century and a half there have been many peculiar predictions regarding the coming of the Lord. Many so-called teachers of prophecy even dared to fix the date when the Lord would descend to the air. However, the years passed and nothing happened. Every prediction failed to materialize. I was saved as a teen-ager a few years after the end of World War I. I loved to read the Bible and to know its truths. Therefore, although I was a student with little money, I tried to buy spiritual books. Many of those who taught and wrote about prophecy offered a number of predictions, most of which were shattered by the start of World War II; none were fulfilled. D. M. Panton, a great teacher of the Bible, published a paper entitled Dawn. In the mid-1930’she printed an article which included two photographs, one of Caesar Nero and the other of Mussolini. D. M. Panton said, “Look at these pictures. See how much they resemble one another. Mussolini must be the antichrist.” After we came to know about this article, I said in one of the church meetings, “Dear saints, Mr. Panton has published an article telling us that Mussolini is the antichrist. If this is the case, certainly the Lord is coming soon, and we will be raptured. Brothers, deep in my spirit I do know one principle—that the rapture is the issue of maturity. In the New Testament the rapture is likened to a harvest, and a harvest is possible only after the crop has matured and ripened. If the crop is not ripe, but is still tender and green, how can the harvest come? It is impossible. Brothers and sisters, look at the situation among the Lord’sp eople today. Look at the crop. Is it ripe? Do you believe that according to the present stage of the growth of the crop the harvest is imminent? It is impossible. Look at the field—nowhere is there any real growth. Although there are thousands of genuine Christians everywhere on the earth as a result of two centuries of evangelization, of missionaries going out to the uttermost parts of the earth with the gospel, there is still very little growth. Where is the real growth in life? There is hardly any growth and no maturity. How then can we expect to have the harvest? I dare to say that the harvest will not come until the crop is ripe.” I spoke this word nearly forty years ago; however, the rapture has not yet happened. Mussolini was killed and buried, and no Christian has seen the antichrist.
5我们不该用古怪的豫测探讨豫言。许多作者这样作过，结果每一个都蒙羞了。我们必须领悟，得荣连同改变形状乃是在于我们在生命里长大，以至达到成熟。我们若要得荣耀，就必须长大，因为得荣是成熟的结果。我们成熟了，那个成熟就会带进得荣。得荣不会偶然来临，一夜之间发生；得荣是生命长大的结果。弟兄姊妹们，我们需要长大。我们是神的庄稼，需要成熟，直到收割的时候，就是我们改变形状并得荣的时候。
5We should not approach prophecy in the peculiar way of prediction. Many writers have done this and every one of them has been put to shame. We must realize that glorification with transfiguration depends upon our growing in life until we reach maturity. If we want to be glorified, we must grow, for glorification comes as the issue of maturity. When we enter into maturity, that maturity will issue in glorification. Glorification will not come as an accident, as an overnight occurrence; it is the result of growth in life. Brothers and sisters, we need to grow. As God’s crop we need to ripen until the time of harvest, the time of our transfiguration and glorification
二 和基督同作后嗣
B. Joint-heirs of Christ
6从这里开始，我们需要读更多罗马八章的经文，并加以注释，包括我们在前两篇信息中所说过的一些经文。我们可从十七节开始：『既是儿女，便是后嗣，就是神的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣，只要我们与祂一同受苦，好叫我们也与祂一同得荣耀。』儿女不能成为法定的后嗣。要成为法定的后嗣，儿女必须长成儿子，儿子又必须长成后嗣。我们达到了这长大的阶段，就要得荣耀。虽然我们在上一篇信息中曾看过这一节，但我现在要从另一角度来探讨。我们需要领会，任何一种生命真正的长大，都在于艰难和受苦。没有艰难或受苦，任何生命都很难长大。在十七节我们看见受苦的事。我已经指出，我们经过的苦难越多，我们荣耀的程度就越大。然而，十七节所题的受苦不只与外面的得荣有关；受苦也是为著生命的长大。我们越受苦，我们就越长大，也越快成熟。田里的庄稼若能说话，牠就会说，牠不但藉著土壤、水分、肥料、空气、和阳光长大，也藉著受苦长大。甚至阳光本身就是苦难的来源，因为太阳的炙热把庄稼烤熟了。所以，你若期望长大，就需要告诉主：『主，我不拒绝任何一种苦难。苦难帮助我长大。』我们不该期望免于苦难的生活。
6From here on we need to read more verses from Romans 8 and comment on them, including some of the verses which we have covered in the two previous messages. We may begin with verse 17. “And if children, heirs also; heirs of God and joint - heirs of Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.” Children cannot be legal heirs. In order to become legal heirs the children must grow into sons, and the sons must grow into heirs. When we have reached this stage of growth, we shall be glorified. Although we considered this verse in the last message, I want to approach it now from another angle. We need to understand that the genuine growth of any kind of life depends upon hardship and suffering. Without hardship or suffering it is difficult for any life to grow. In verse 17 we find the matter of suffering. I have already pointed out that the more suffering we undergo, the greater will be our degree of glory. However, the suffering mentioned in verse 17 does not only concern outward glorification; suffering is also for growth in life. The more we suffer, the more we grow and the faster we are matured. If a crop in the field could speak, it might say that it grows not only by the soil, water, fertilizer, air, and sunshine, but that it also grows by suffering. Even the sunshine itself is a source of suffering, for the scorching heat of the sun burns the crop into ripeness. Therefore, if you expect to grow, you need to tell the Lord, “Lord, I don’t reject any kind of suffering. Suffering helps my growth.” We should not expect a life that is free of suffering.
7许多时候我用婚姻的事为例。你是年轻弟兄，无疑的，你期望娶一位正适合你情形的姊妹为妻子。然而，至终你发现你的妻子完全与你的期望相反。不要以为你的婚姻是要将你切成碎片。不，你必须说，『主，我为这样一个好妻子感谢你。我的妻子不是把我切成碎片，乃是帮助我长大。』没有一个丈夫喜欢从妻子口里听见『不』字。我们都喜欢我们的妻子说『是』。那是何等甜美！然而，似乎大多数的妻子都习惯说『不』。这些『不』使我们作丈夫的多多长大。所以年轻的弟兄们，你听见亲爱的妻子对你说『不』的时候，该受安慰。不要受困扰或被得罪，乃要说，『主，我为著这一切『不』感谢你。』这样的苦难帮助我们长大并成熟。然而，如保罗在十八节所说，『今时的苦楚，不配与将来要显于我们的荣耀相比。』我们在前面的信息中已经说过受苦的这面。
7Many times I have used the illustration of marriage. As a young brother, you undoubtedly expect to have as your wife a sister who fits your situation exactly. Eventually, however, you discover that your wife is altogether the opposite of your expectations. Do not think that your marriage is designed to cut you into pieces. No, you must say, “Lord, I thank You for such a good wife. My wife does not cut me into pieces, she helps me to grow.” No husband likes to hear the word “no” out of his wife’s mouth. We all like our wives to say “yes.” How sweet it is! However, it seems that most wives are accustomed to saying “no.” These “nos” render much growth to us husbands. Young brothers, you should therefore be comforted when your dear wife says “no” to you. Do not be troubled or offended, but say, “Lord, I thank You for all of these ‘nos.’” Such suffering helps us to grow and mature. Nevertheless, as Paul says in verse 18, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us.” We have covered this aspect of suffering in the previous message
三 模成长子的形像
C. Conformed to the Image of the Firstborn
8二十六至二十七节说，『况且，那灵也照样帮同担负我们的软弱；我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是那灵亲自用说不出来的叹息，为我们代求。那鉴察人心的，晓得那灵的意思，因为祂是照著神为圣徒代求。』这里有那灵的同情、帮助和代求。我们有这些，目的是为著甚么？目的见于二十八至三十节。保罗用28『还有，我们晓得』这话，来开始二十八节，就将本节连于前面几节的话。『还有，我们晓得万有都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。』神呼召的目的是甚么？我们在二十九节看见这目的：『因为神所豫知的人，祂也豫定他们模成神儿子的形像，使祂儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』保罗不是说，神豫知并豫定我们到喜乐之地，或得著永远长存的生命。这些不是我们的定命。神豫定我们模成祂儿子的形像。这定命甚至在我们受造以前就决定了。在创造世界以前，神为我们定了这样的定命。因此，这是豫定。
8Verses 26 and 27 say, “And in like manner the Spirit also joins in to help us in our weakness; for we do not know for what we should pray as is fitting, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; but He Who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to God.” Here we have the sympathizing, helping, and interceding of the Spirit. For what purpose do we have these things? The purpose is found in verses 28 through 30. Paul begins verse with the words, “And we know,” words which connect this verse to the foregoing verses. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to the purpose.” What is the purpose of God’scall ing? We find it in verse 29. “Be cause whom He fore knew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He should be the firstborn among many brothers.” Paul does not say that God foreknew and predestined us to go to a happy place or to have a life that will endure forever. These are not our destiny. God predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son. This destiny was determined before we were even created. Before the creation of the world God had decreed such a destiny for us. Hence, it is a predestiny.
9神的长子是原型，我们是大量产品。基督是典型、模子和模型。神已将我们都放在祂里面，使我们模成祂长子的形像。至终我们都要模成模子的形状。有时候姊妹们作饼，将面团放在模子里。面团放在模子里，就有模子的样式和形像。不但如此，面团也必须烘烤，使饼成形，有模子的样式，毫不改变。面团若能说话，牠可能会呼喊：『姊妹，怜悯我，不要那么用力压。我受不了，请放手罢。』然而，姊妹会回答：『我若放手，你怎能成为模子的样式？亲爱的面团，我把你放在模子里以后，还必须把你放在火炉里。你也许以为压力已经彀使你受苦了，但你还需要烧烤。你经历了压力和高热以后，就会永久成形，有模子的样式。』同样，神的长子基督是原型、模型和模子，我们是一块块的面团。我们都已被放在模子里，现今神的手正在揉我们。我们已被命定模成神儿子的形像，使祂在许多弟兄中作长子。这是神的目的。神的目的是要产生祂长子的许多弟兄。当基督是独生子时，祂是独一的，但神渴望得著许多儿子，作祂儿子的许多弟兄。这样，神的独生子就成为许多弟兄中的长子。祂是长子，而我们是众子。这事的目的是甚么？目的是要我们团体的彰显神。神的国是由祂的众子建造的，基督的身体是由祂的众弟兄建造的。没有众子，神绝不能得著国；没有众弟兄，基督绝不能得著身体。因此，神的众子是为著神的国，基督的众弟兄是为著基督的身体。神的国就是身体生活，在召会里的这身体生活就是神的国，在此祂得著彰显，并且祂的管治权在地上得以施行。这就是神的目的。
9God’s firstborn Son is the prototype, and we are the mass production. Christ is the model, mold, and pattern. God has put us all into Him that we may be molded into the image of His firstborn Son. Eventually we all shall be conformed to the mold. Sometimes when the sisters make cakes they put dough into a mold. By being put into the mold the dough assumes the pattern and image of the mold. Furthermore, the dough must also be baked that the cake may bear the pattern of the mold without any change. If the dough could speak, it probably would cry out, “Sister, have mercy on me. Don’t apply so much pressure. I can’t bear it. Please keep your hands off.” However, the sister would reply, “If I keep my hands off, how will you fit into the pattern of the mold? Dear dough, after my molding you must be put into the oven. You may think that pressure is enough suffering for you, but you also need burning. After you have experienced pressure and intense heat you will bear the pattern of the mold permanently.” Likewise, Christ, the firstborn Son of God, is the prototype, pattern, and mold, and we are pieces of dough. We all have been put into the mold, and are now being kneaded by the hand of God. We have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’sS on that He may be the firstborn among many brothers. This is God’s purpose. God’s purpose is to produce many brothers of His firstborn Son. When Christ was the only begotten Son, He was unique, but God desired to have many sons who will be the many brothers of His Son. In this way the only begotten Son of God becomes the firstborn among many brothers. He is the firstborn Son, and we are the many sons. What is the purpose of this? The purpose is that we express God in a corporate way. God’skin gdom is built up with His many sons, and the Body of Christ is built up with His many brothers. Without the many sons God could never have a kingdom, and without the many brothers Christ could never have a Body. Thus, the many sons of God are for the kingdom of God, and the many brothers of Christ are for the Body of Christ. The kingdom of God is simply the Body life, and this Body life in the church is God’skin gdom where He is expressed and where His dominion is exercised on the earth. This is God’s purpose
10所以三十节说，『祂所豫定的人，又召他们来；所召来的人，又称他们为义；所称为义的人，又叫他们得荣耀。』在永远里我们被豫定，在时间里我们蒙呼召。为甚么神这样安排我们的环境、境遇和景况，使我们经历苦难？我们不该照著我们天然的观念解释说，『全地都充满苦难，人人都经过艰难。为甚么我们该例外？』这是天然的观念，我们不该接受。我们必须领悟，神的目的是要使我们成为长成的儿子，而不是小孩子。我们不该满意于一直作小孩子，享受祂的顾惜和爱。神要使我们成为长成的儿子，完全长大成为法定的后嗣，使我们在这宇宙中承受祂的一切所是，并使我们彰显祂，且在地上施行祂的管治权。既然神的心意是要将我们带进完满的儿子名分里，我们就需要长大。毫无疑问，长大来自内里的滋养，但这里面的滋养需要外面环境的配合。照著我们的感觉，外面的环境多半不令人喜乐。因此，就我们而论，外面的环境成为苦难。我不是说，外面的环境不好；牠总是好的，但你也许觉得牠似乎不好。照著孩子们的感觉，有时候父母对孩子们作的事，并不是积极的。孩子们也许又叫又哭，以为自己在受苦。然而，好的父母不受孩子们眼泪的欺骗。有些年轻的母亲被孩子们的哭泣所骗，她们看见小孩的眼泪，就改变她们的策略。用眼泪欺骗父母，对小孩并不是益处。母亲必须告诉孩子：『我不在意你哭，我知道我是把你放在很好的环境里，这对你是最好的环境。你也许说这是受苦。但我知道这对你多么有益处。』神正是这样对待我们。祂知道在那一种景况，那一种环境里我们能长得好。祂是我们的父，一切都在祂的安排之下。祂不会作错事。祂为我们作的一切都是绝佳、美妙的，虽然我们也许觉得不好。然而，我们不该在意我们的感觉；我们该顾到神的安排。决定要生在二十世纪的是你么？计画要生在那一个家庭，要有怎样的父母和弟兄姊妹的是你么？设计你面孔的是你么？这些事没有一件是你作的。乃是神拣选你出生的地点，设计你的面孔。神拣选我们，豫定我们，并使我们生在合式的时间、合式的地点。祂知道甚么对我们最好，一切都在祂的管制之下。我再说，照著我们的感觉，我们的环境也许是苦难，但实际上乃是祝福；那是神主宰的供备。我们为著生命长大所需要的一切，神都主宰的供备了。一切都很好。所以，我们经历痛苦和苦难时，必须否认这一切，并且说，『撒但，你是说谎者。这对我不是痛苦或苦难；这是神的安排。这是使我长到完满儿子名分里的福分。』我们都需要正确的环境，供给我们生命长大所需要的元素。然而，令人不喜乐的事临到我们时，我们也许不领会这一切是来自我们父的手，为叫我们长大。
10Therefore verse 30 says, “And whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” In eternity we were predestinated and in time we were called. Why does God arrange our environment, surroundings, and situations in such a way that we experience suffering? We should not explain this according to our natural concept saying, “The whole earth is filled with sufferings and everyone undergoes hardship. Why should we be an exception?” This is a natural concept, and we should not accept it. We must realize that God’s purpose is to make us full - grown sons, not little children. We should not be content to remain children enjoying His cherishing and loving. God intends to make us full sons, completely grown up to be legal heirs that we may inherit all that He is in this universe and that we may express Him and exercise His dominion over the earth. Since God’s in tent i on is to bring us into full sonship, we need to grow. There is no doubt that growth comes from inward nourishment, but this inner nourishment needs the coordination of the outward environment. According to our feeling, most of the outward environment is unpleasant. Thus, the outward environment becomes a suffering as far as we are concerned. I do not say that the outward environment is not good; it is always good, but it may not appear good to your feeling. Sometimes parents do things to their children which, according to the feeling of the children, are not positive. The children may cry and weep, imagining themselves to be suffering. However, good parents are not deceived by their children’st ears. Some young mothers have been cheated by the weeping of their children, changing their policy when they see the tears of their little ones. It is not a gain for children to deceive their parents with their tears. A mother must tell her child, “I don’t care about your crying. I know that I am putting you into a very good environment, the one that is best for you. You may say that it is a suffering. But I know how good it is for you.” God deals with us in exactly the same way. He knows in which situation and in which environment we can grow well. He is our Father, and everything is under His arrangement. He can do nothing wrong. Everything He does for us is excellent and wonderful, although to our feeling it may not be good. However, we should not care for our feelings; we should take care of God’s arrangement. Was it you who decided to be born in the twentieth century? Was it you who planned into which family you would be born and which parents and brothers and sisters you would have? Was it you who designed your face? You did none of these things. It was God who chose the place of your birth and the design of your face. God selected us, predestinated us, and caused us to be born at the right time and in the right place. He knows what is best for us, and everything is under His control. I say once again that, according to our feelings, our environment may be a suffering, but actually it is a blessing; it is God’ss ove reign provision. Everything we need for our growth in life has been sovereignly provided by God. Everything is all right. Therefore, when we are experiencing pain and suffering, we must deny them and say, “Satan, you are a liar. This is not a pain or a suffering to me; it is God’s arrangement. This is a blessing that I may grow into full sonship.” We all need a proper environment to provide the elements which are required for our growth in life. Nevertheless, when unpleasant things happen to us we may not understand that they come from the hand of our Father for our growth.
1 里面藉著那灵的工作
1. Inwardly by the Working of the Spirit
11即使我们真领会，我们仍然会说，『我怎样处理这事？哦，我不知道怎样祷告。』因此，你开始叹息，而你叹息的时候，那灵就在你的叹息中叹息。当我是年轻人，读到这段话时，我说，『我从未听见那灵的叹息。祂甚么时候为我叹息？』至终，我发现在本章里，我们作甚么，那灵也作甚么。我们呼叫『阿爸，父』，那灵也呼叫。你的灵在你里面见证，那灵也见证。同样，你叹息，那灵也叹息。我们为甚么叹息？因为我们觉得受苦，并且不知道怎样祷告。似乎圣灵没有给你话。你不知道，似乎圣灵也同样不知道。你不知道怎样祷告，那灵似乎也不知道怎样祷告。那灵照你的样子祷告。你叹息，祂也叹息。你叹息几乎没有目的，但那灵在你的叹息中叹息，有确定的目的。这目的你说不出来，但那灵说得出来。然而，祂若说出来，你也不领会，因为那会是神圣、属天的语言。既然你很难领会，那灵就不说出来。祂『用说不出来的叹息，为我们代求』。然而，这一切都有目的。
11Even if we do understand we still say, “How am I going to handle this? Oh, I don’t know how to pray.” Hence, you begin to groan, and while you are groaning, the Spirit groans in your groaning. When I came to this portion of the Word as a young man I said, “I have never heard the groaning of the Spirit. When did He groan for me?” Eventually, I discovered that in this chapter whatever we do the Spirit also does. When we cry, “Abba, Father,” the Spirit cries also. When your spirit witnesses within you, the Spirit also witnesses. Likewise, when you groan the Spirit also groans. Why do we groan? Because we feel suffering and do not know how to pray. It seems that the Holy Spirit gives you no utterance. You are ignorant, and the Holy Spirit in like manner seems to be ignorant. You do not know how to pray, and the Spirit also appears not to know how to pray. The Spirit prays in your manner. You groan, and He groans also. You groan with hardly any purpose, but the Spirit groans in your groaning with a definite purpose. This purpose cannot be uttered by you, but it can be uttered by the Spirit. However, if He would utter it, you would not understand, for it would be a divine, heavenly language. Since it is difficult for you to understand, the Spirit gives no utterance. He “intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Nevertheless, there is a purpose in it all.
12这目的是甚么？圣灵在你的叹息中叹息，为要使你完全被塑造成并模成神长子的形像。这是目的。许多圣徒遭遇艰难就说，『我不知道为甚么这事临到我。为甚么这事临到我？』我信我们都这样说过或问过许多次。甚至你们中间新近得救的，也可能已经这样说过了。为甚么某些事临到你？因为叹息的灵为这些事祷告。虽然你不知道目的，但祂知道，祂照著神祷告。基督乃是模型，那灵祷告，使临到你的每件事都将你模进这模型里，模进长子的形像里。不但圣灵这样在我们里面叹息；我们也可能这样为别人祷告。在我的职事里，我曾多次经历这事。我记得一位亲爱弟兄的事例；他非常爱主，然而，他的个性非常乖僻，没有人受得了。所以，我们为他祷告说，『主，这里有这样一位很可成全的亲爱弟兄，他是这样好的材料。主，他爱你。但没有人受得了他乖僻的个性。主，你对付这点。你知道我们弟兄的景况。』因为我们领悟这样祷告相当严肃，我们只说，『主，你对付这点。主，你知道我们弟兄的景况。』一段时间以后，这位弟兄病了，并且开始哀叹：『我不知道为甚么这事临到了我。』他立刻叫他的妻子来见长老，请他们去和他交通。我们就去了。从他口里出来的第一句话是：『弟兄们，你们知道我的景况。我不知道为甚么这事临到了我。』我们里面深处和圣灵一样，知道他为甚么受苦；然而，我们不敢说甚么。我们只照我们弟兄的样子说，『弟兄阿，为甚么这事临到了你？』那是我们所能说的。当弟兄请我们与他一同祷告时，我们不知道怎样祷告。我们只说，『主耶稣阿，为甚么这事临到了我们的弟兄？』虽然我们里面深处的确知道原因，但我们只能说，『主，尽你所能的作。』这没有得罪他，因为他也期望主尽所能的作，他说，『阿们。』他以一种方式领会我们的祷告，而我们以另一种方式领会。我们在想：『主，尽你所能的对付他，征服他，焚烧他。』虽然我们不敢这样说，但我们里面有这样的意愿，是我们那时无法表达的。然而，鉴察人心的神答应那个祷告，那是照著祂自己的祷告。弟兄的难处照旧，病又拖了一段时间。他很受困扰，并叫他的妻子再来请我们。我们去了，并随著他问：『弟兄阿，为甚么这病持续了这样一段时间？』我们里面也清楚，但没有说甚么。他请我们祷告，我们只祷告：『主阿，我们仍求你尽所能的作。』赞美主，再过一段时间以后，这位弟兄的情形改变了。首先他相当从他的个性得救；然后他的病得医治。最终他能呼喊：『阿利路亚！现在我知道了。现在我知道了。』
12What is the purpose? The Holy Spirit groans in your groaning in order that you may be fully molded and conformed to the image of God’s firstborn Son. This is the purpose. When many saints encounter hardship they say, “I just don’t know why this happens to me. Why does this happen to me?” I believe that we have all said this or asked this many times. Even you who have recently been saved perhaps have already spoken in this way. Why do certain things happen to you? Because the groaning Spirit prayed for them. Although you do not know the purpose, He knows, and He prays according to God. Christ is the pattern, and the Spirit prays that everything which happens to you will mold you into this pattern, into the image of the firstborn Son. Not only does the Holy Spirit groan within us in this way; we also may pray for others in this manner. I have experienced this a number of times in my ministry. I recall the case of a dear brother who loved the Lord greatly. However, he had a very peculiar disposition, and no one could tolerate it. Therefore, we prayed for him saying, “Lord, here is such a dear brother with fine potential. He is such good material. Lord, he loves You. But no one can bear his peculiar disposition. Lord, You take care of this. You know our brother’s situation.” Because we realized that praying in this way is quite serious we simply said, “Lord, You take care of this. Lord, You know our brother’s situation.” After a period of time the brother became ill and began to lament, “I don’t know why this has happened to me.” Immediately he asked his wife to contact the elders and to request that they visit him for fellowship. We went. The first sentence out of his mouth was, “Brothers, you know my situation. I don’t know why this has happened to me.” Deep within we, like the Holy Spirit, knew why he was suffering; however, we did not dare to say anything. We simply spoke in our brother’s manner, “O brother, why has this happened to you?” That was all we could say. When the brother asked us to pray with him, we did not know how to pray. We simply said, “O Lord Jesus, why has this happened to our brother?” Although deep within we did know the reason, all we could say was, “Lord, do Your best.” This did not offend him because he also expected the best, and he said, “Amen.” He understood our prayer in one way, and we understood it in another. We were thinking, “Lord, do Your best to deal with him, to subdue him, to burn him.” Although we did not dare say this, we had such a purpose within us, a purpose which we could not express at that time. Nevertheless, God who searches the hearts answered that prayer, a prayer that was according to Himself. The brother’s difficulty continued and the illness lingered for another period of time. He was very troubled and asked his wife to send for us again. We went and asked along with him, “O brother, why has this illness lasted for such a time?” Once again we were inwardly clear, but did not say anything. When he asked us to pray, we simply prayed, “O Lord, we still ask You to do the best.” Praise the Lord that after another period of time this brother’s situation changed. Firstly he had some amount of deliverance from his disposition; then he was healed of his illness. Finally he could shout, “Hallelujah! Now I know. Now I know.”
13为甚么那灵在我们里面用说不出来的话叹息？祂叹息，是叫我们被塑造、被模成神儿子的形像。要说到生命里的圣别容易多了。然而，随著圣别的乃是模成。我们不但需要被圣别，被神的所是浸透，也需要被塑造成形。我们也许从一切凡俗的事分别出来，并且被神圣别的性情浸透，但仍缺少这模成。圣别可能不需要任何苦难。相反的，模成需要苦难。在圣别里没有模型，只有在个性上、性情上的改变，但在模成里有模子，使我们藉此模成神儿子的形像。有了这模子，还要加上压力，塑造成形，也要用水搀调，用火焚烧。面团，白色的细面，若能说话，牠就会说，『这对我是何等的苦难。你用别的东西与我搀调，你压我，你甚至把我放在火炉里烧烤。整个烹调的过程都是苦难。』那是正确的。没有苦难，我们就无法模成模型的形像。
13Why does the Spirit groan in us with words which cannot be uttered? He groans that we may be molded, conformed to the image of the Son of God. It is much easier to speak about sanctification in life. However, accompanying sanctification is the matter of conformation. We not only need to be sanctified, to be saturated with what God is, but also to be molded. We may be separated from everything common and saturated with God’sho ly nature, but still lack this conformity. Sanctification probably does not require any suffering. Conformation, on the contrary, needs suffering. In sanctification there is no pattern, only a change in disposition, in nature, but in conformation there is a mold by which we are conformed to the image of God’sS on. Along with this mold is the pressure and the molding and the mixing with water and the burning with fire. If the dough, the fine white flour, could speak, it would say, “What a suffering this is to me. You mix me with other things, you press me, and you even put me in an oven to burn me. The entire process of cooking is a suffering.” That is correct. Without suffering we cannot be molded into the pattern