In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a man named City Stud who searched the scripture for God's commandments rather than just looking for promises. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God's commands and not just seeking His promises. The speaker then references Romans 12:1-2, which encourages believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. The sermon also references 1 Timothy 4:8-10 and Hebrews 5:13-14, highlighting the importance of spiritual exercise and growing in godliness.

Would you please turn to 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy chapter 4. We will read from verse 8 to verse 10. 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 8. Exercise thyself unto piety or godliness, for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety or godliness is profitable for everything, having promise of life of the present one and of that to come. 超面身體益處還少,唯獨淨淺凡事都有益處,應有今生和來生的應許。 The word is faithful and worthy of all acceptation. 作話是可信的,是十分可佩服的。 For this we labor and suffer reproach, because we hope in a living God, who is preserver of all men, especially of those that believe. 我們勞苦努力正是為此,因我們的指望在乎永生的神,他是萬人的救主,更是信徒的救主。 And will you please turn to Hebrews. 我們再翻到希伯來書,希伯來書第五章, verses 13 and 14. 第十三十四兩節。 For everyone that partakes of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 凡只能吃奶的都不熟練仁義的道理,因為他是嬰孩。 But solid food belongs to full grown men, who are account of habit, have their senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil. 唯獨長大成人的才能吃乾糧,他們的心竅習練得通達,就能分辨好歹了。 May we have a further word of prayer. 我們再有一點的禱告。 Dear Lord, we do want to thank Thee for gathering us together this morning. 祝早上我們感謝祢,把我們招聚在祢的跟前。 We are gathered unto Thy name. 我們是奉祢的名來聚集。 Where Thy name is, there is Thy presence. 哪裡奉祢的名,哪裡就有祢的同在。 There is nothing that we love more than Thy own presence. 我們實在最愛的就是祢的同在。 We pray that this morning Thou will speak to our hearts. 我們祈求今天祢向我們心中說話。 May Thy spirit quicken Thy written word. 讓祢的名把這些話在我們裡面照亮。 And make it life and spirit to us. 讓這些話成為我們的名與生命。 We open ourselves to Thee, Lord. 祢說我們向祢完全地打開自己。 May Thy work be done in us as it is in heaven. 讓祢的工作成就在我們身上如同成就在天上一樣。 And we will give Thee all the glory. 我們把一切的榮耀歸給祢。 In the name of our Lord Jesus. 奉主耶穌基督的名禱告。 Amen. Thank God for gathering us together this morning. 感謝神把我們聚集在這裡。 I often feel that any opportunity of gathering is a special grace of God. 我實在覺得每一次我們能夠聚在一起是神特別的恩典。 I believe that God is preparing us for His imminent return. 我們實在覺得主在預備祂那馬上的快來。 We are looking forward to see Him. 我們實在迫切地願意祂回來。 And we thank Him for giving us every opportunity to be ready for Him. 我們感謝祂給我們這樣的機會能夠預備好來迎見祂。 This time as I waited before the Lord, 這一次當我等候在主跟前的時候, I felt that the Lord wants us to share together on this matter of spiritual exercise. 我感覺到主願意我跟大家交通到署名的操練。 I believe we all know what is bodily exercise. 我相信我們都知道什麼是身體的鍛煉。 Especially in California, I realize that people are very conscious of that. 特別是在加州大家都很注重運動。 People are using every means to exercise their bodies. 人用各樣的方法來鍛煉他們的身體。 Bodily exercise is important. 身體的操練是重要。 You may eat well. You may sleep well. 你可以吃得好,可以睡得好。 But if you do not exercise yourself, 但如果你自己沒有好好的操練的話, Well, you know what will happen. 你知道問題就來了。 You will be fat, you will be unhealthy, and you will easily get sick. 你就會很胖、很胖、不健康、很容易生病。 So the Apostle Paul says, bodily exercise is profitable for a little. 所以使徒保羅說,操練身體益處還少。 Yes, it is profitable. 是,有一處。 But the profit is only a little. 但只是一點點的一處。 It is little because it is little in measure and in time. 因為這是在時間在這一點點的一處。 Because it does affect your body. 因為這實在能夠影響我們的身體。 And it also affects when you are still alive on this earth. 也影響你在地上仍然活著的時候有影響。 And brothers and sisters, I do believe that we are not conscious of bodily exercise. 但是很多時候我們都不自覺的 我們在那裡只有一點身體的操練。 We all know that our mind needs to be exercised. 但是我們有沒有知道我們的心思需要操練。 That is the reason why we need to study. 這就是我們為什麼要讀書。 We need to gather information. 我們需要得到很多的知識。 We need to be wise. 我們需要有智慧。 That is very important. 這是非常重要的。 But the more you get information, 但是你越得到一些的知識, the more you become wise, 你越好像有智慧。 Now listen to the wisest man in this world. 你聽地上最有智慧的人說。 Solomon. Solomon. He is the wisest of men. 他是最有智慧的人。 He tried everything. 他嘗試了所有的事情。 He thought through everything. 他想透了每一件事。 And he came to the conclusion. 他來這樣的結論。 Vanity of vanity. 虛空的虛空。 All is vanity. 都是虛空的。 It is the vexation of heart and the pursuit of wind. 哦,就都是在捕風,都是在捉影。 But brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, there is another exercise. 還有一種的操練。 Which the scripture emphasizes. 是聖經裡面特別提到的。 It is the exercise of our spirit. 是操練我們的靈。 It is called exercise unto piety or godliness. 就是唯獨敬虔的操練。 We need to exercise our spirit. 我們需要來操練我們的靈。 That we may be like Christ. 我們能夠像我們的主耶穌。 We may be like God. 我們能夠像神。 And this exercise is the most important of all. 這個操練乃是最重要的。 Because the Bible tells us. 因為聖經告訴我們。 Exercise unto godliness is profitable. Not only is profitable for life. 這裡說唯獨敬虔的操練。 凡事都有一處不但有精神。 It is profitable in all things. 就是凡事都有一處。 Especially for life. 特別是為了生命。 And you know the word life here. Here is not the ordinary word life. 因為這裡講到來生這個生。 是不是一般的那個生命的生命。 The life here is Zoe. 因為這裡的生命是希臘文那個Zoe這個字。 And Zoe means divine life. 因為這個是講到神的生命。 Spiritual life. 是屬靈的生命。 So you find that exercise unto godliness. Is profitable to that spiritual life. 這裡講到唯獨敬虔的操練。 乃是叫屬靈的生命。 And this spiritual life is not only for this age. But for eternity. 因為這一個屬靈的生命。 不單止為了今生也為了永遠。 So its profit is beyond description. 所以這一處是超越我們能夠講述的。 But brothers and sisters. 弟兄姊妹們。 Unfortunately we find that among god's people. 很可惜在神的兒女們當中。 We are supposed to be people who exercise our spirit. 我們應該是那些操練靈的人。 But have we done that? 那我們有沒有這樣操練呢? Now you must remember what is exercise. 你要記住什麼叫做操練呢? Exercise is something that you put your heart into it. 操練乃是把你的心放在其上。 Exercise must be done diligently. 操練是要非常的殷勤。 And it must be done continuously. 而且是要繼續不斷地做。 And when you exercise, you have to exercise according to rule. 當你要做操練的時候, 你要根據這個規則來操練。 Sometimes you have to go to a gymnasium under a coach to tell you what you need to be exercise and how. 有的時候你要去運動館, 那讓你有教練來幫助你怎麼樣來操練。 Because irregular exercise may hurt you. 因為普通一般的操練, 有的時候你會受傷。 Instead of helping you, 不但沒有幫你,你還會受傷。 So in spiritual exercise, 所以當叫屬靈的操練, We need to exercise diligently. 我們需要殷勤地操練。 We need to exercise constantly. 我們要不斷地操練。 We need to exercise under the direction of our Divine Coach. 我們需要在屬靈的教練的底下, 指導底下來操練。 And you know who our Divine Coach is. 你知道那屬神的教練是誰呢? It is none but the Holy Spirit. 就是聖靈。 Thank God when we believe in the Lord Jesus. 感謝神當我們信主耶穌的時候, He not only forgave our sins, 他不單止赦免了我們的罪, He has also given us His life. 他把祂的生命也給了我們。 We are all born from above. 我們都是從上面重生的。 We all have His life in us. 我們裡面都有祂的生命。 And you remember our Lord Jesus said, 你記得我們的主曾經說, He comes to give life, and give it more abundantly. 他說祂來是要叫我們得生命, 並且得得更豐盛。 Not only He will give us His life, 不單止祂要把祂的生命給我們, but He wants that life in us to grow into abundance. 祂要祂的生命在我們裡面成長到豐盛。 Now how can our spiritual life grow? 我們所謂的生命怎麼樣能夠成長呢? We need to exercise it. 我們需要操練。 And we need to exercise it under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 我們需要在聖靈的指導下來操練。 And this will enable to know the life of God and know it more abundantly. 這樣我們就能夠知道認識神的生命, 也得得更豐盛。 Unfortunately we find in Christianity today, 很可惜今天在基督教的範圍裡面, there are lots of activities and lots of teachings. 在那裡有許多的活動,許多的教導。 But when you look at all these teachings and activities, 當你看到這些的教導與這些的活動, you discover one thing. 你發現有一件事。 And they are all catered even to your body or to your soul. 它們都是對著你的身體或者你的魂。 When people talk about worship, 當人講到敬拜的時候, they think of a cathedral 他們就講到這個大的教堂。 With all these stained glasses. 哦,那些的彩色的玻璃。 And it's not very light. 那裡面光不是很明亮。 And there are all kinds of pictures there. 那裡有很多美麗的圖畫。 And when you get into that place, oh, you have a sense of worship. 當你進到那個場所裡面, 你就有敬拜的感覺。 And during the time of worship, you find all kinds of actions. 在敬拜的裡面, 你看有很多的活動。 You will stand up, you will kneel down, and you will do all kinds of physical exercises. 一下子站起來, 一下子跪下, 好像有很多身體的運動。 But brothers and sisters, these are catered to our bodies. 弟兄姊妹,這都是對著你的身體。 It may rise above you a sense of secrecy, of mystery. 裡面有一種神秘的感覺。 But it is far from the spirit. 這實在離靈很遠。 And you find in modern times, 你現在現今, 現代的, in order to attract young people, 為了要吸引年輕人, you have all kinds of things being done. 有很多的事情。 You have all these soulish songs. 你看那裡有很多這些激動人魂的詩歌。 It tries to stir up your emotions. 來挑動你的情緒。 And make you feel that you are high. 讓你感覺到很高昂。 These are catered only to your body and to your soul. 這都是針對你的身體跟你的魂。 And they are all teachings about prosperity gospel. 他們現在也講到成功福音。 So it tries to boost your ego. It tries to make you feel good about yourself. That's positive thinking. Brothers and sisters, is your spirit being touched? 你的靈被摸到嗎? Is your spirit being increased? 你的靈生命成長了嗎? Is your spirit growing? 你的靈的生命長大了嗎? That is a very serious question. 這是一個非常嚴肅的問題。 Brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, Christians today do not know how to have spiritual exercise. 今天的基督徒不認識什麼叫做屬靈的操練。 And because of this lack of spiritual exercise, 因為缺乏了這屬靈的操練, even though we do have life, 雖然我們有生命, but we remain as babes. 但我們仍然是嬰孩。 We do not grow spiritually. 我們屬靈的生命沒有成長。 We do not grow in Christ. 我們沒有在主裡面成長。 We do not enjoy abundant life of Christ Jesus. 我們沒有辦法享受基督那豐盛的生命。 We lack spiritual exercise. 我們缺乏了屬靈的操練。 And this spiritual exercise must be done daily. 這個屬靈的操練需要每天的在那裡做。 Must be done continuously. 要不斷的操練。 And must be done under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 要在聖靈的指導下來操練。 Are we doing it? 我們有沒有這樣操練呢? How do we do it? 我們如何的來操練呢? And this is something that we would like to share together this time. 這也是這幾次願意跟大家分享的。 Will you please turn to the book of Romans. 請大家翻開羅馬書。 Romans Chapter 12 羅馬書第十二章 Verses 1 and 2 第一第二兩節 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service, or, in some version, your spiritual worship. 所以弟兄們,我以神的慈悲勸你們,將身體獻上當作活祭。 是聖潔的,是神所喜悅的,你們如此侍奉乃是理所當然的。 正也說,你們如此侍奉乃是一個署名的敬拜。 And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 不要效仿這個世界,只要心意更新而變化, 就讓你們查驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。 Now concerning this matter of spiritual exercise, 當我們講到屬靈的操練, what is the first lesson? 頭一個功課是什麼? According to the word of God, the first spiritual exercise of a believer is consecration. 每一個信徒第一個屬靈的操練乃是奉獻。 Thank God we are saved. 感謝神我們今天蒙恩了。 Thank God we have His life in us. 感謝神我們裡面有了祂的生命。 Thank God for the redemption of our Lord Jesus. 我們感謝神祂對我們的救贖, 接著主耶穌。 Now after we are saved, 當我們得救以後, after we are redeemed, 當我們被救贖了, what should we do? What is our first response? 我們頭一個的反應應該是怎麼樣? We often say consecration is the first Christian experience. 我們常說奉獻乃是基督徒的頭一個經歷。 Before you believe in the Lord Jesus, 當你沒有信主耶穌以前, 你可能有許多的經歷, 但是你沒有屬靈的經歷。 你跟主當中沒有經歷, 你沒有經歷到屬靈的生命, 但是感謝神我們如今得救了。 如今我們有祂的生命在我們裡面, and having His life we are able to have spiritual experience. 我們有了祂的生命, 我們就能夠有屬靈的經歷。 And we need to exercise immediately. 我們需要馬上的來操練。 You remember when God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt? 我們都知道當神拯救以色列人出埃及的時候, By the blood of the lamb they passed over, 藉著逾越劫的羔羊的血, You find they are delivered from death. 他們從死的裡面給拯救過來。 And the Lord led them out of Egypt. 主帶他們出埃及。 The first thing that God said to them after they are delivered, 他們得拯救出埃及頭一件神像他們說的是, In Exodus chapter 13, 在出埃及第十三章裡面, Because before that you find how God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt. 之前你看到神如何救他的百姓出埃及。 And after they are delivered, 當他們出埃及之後, The first thing that God spoke to them, 神首先向他們說的話, God said, Set apart your firstborn. 說你們要把首生頭生的分別出來。 The firstborn belong to me. 因為頭生的是要歸給我。 Because God delivered them. 因為神拯救過他們。 The firstborn there represents the whole family. 因為頭生的就代表整個的家。 So in the New Testament, 所以在新約定裡面, After we are saved, 當我們被拯救之後, What is the first word of God to us? 神對我們首先說的話是什麼呢? The first word is, Present your bodies a living sacrifice. 神說將身體獻上當作活祭。 I believe brothers and sisters you all know, 我相信弟兄姊妹你們都知道, From Romans chapter 1 to Romans chapter 11, 摩瑪書從一章到第十一章, That tells us of the compassion, The mercies of God. 就想到神的憐憫, 神在我們身上的恩典。 We who were dead in sins and transgressions, 我們本來是在罪跟過犯裡面死亡。 How God saved us through his beloved son. 神乃是藉著他的愛子拯救了我們。 He not only died for our sins, 他不單止為我們的罪死了, That our sins may be all forgiven. 叫我們的罪得著赦免。 But on the cross, 在十字架上, Our Lord Jesus not only bore our sins in his body, 我們的主不單止在肉身來承受我們的罪, But he also took all the endemic race with him, And were crucified. 他也把我們一切身上亞當的族美, 帶在他的身上, 一同經在十字架上。 So he delivered us from the power of sin. 所以他救我們脫離罪的詮釋, Not only that, 不單止這樣, He justifies us, He sanctifies us, And he glorifies us. 而且他稱我們為義, 叫我們得榮耀, 叫我們成聖。 How among all people, He has chosen us for himself. 他為了他自己, 揀選了我們。 And he wanted us to be conformed To the image of his beloved son. 他叫我們能夠磨成他兒子的形象, That his son may be the firstborn among many brethren. 叫他的兒子在眾子當中做長子。 So from Romans 1 to 11, It tells us of the manifold mercies of God. 所以在羅馬一到十一章中講到, 主各樣的恩典與憐憫。 And after we have received All these compassions and mercies, 當我們這樣得到神的恩典與憐憫, What should we do? 我們應該做什麼呢? Present your bodies a living sacrifice. 將身體獻上當作活祭。 This is holy. 這是聖潔的。 You know, people seek for holiness. 因為今天很多人在那裡追求聖潔。 But here you'll find how can you be holy. 這裡就告訴我們如何能夠成聖呢? How can you be separated from God? 如何能夠分別歸給神呢? Now, present your bodies a living sacrifice. 將身體獻上當作活祭。 This is holy. 這是聖潔的。 Not only that, 不但是這樣, It is acceptable to God. 這是神所喜悅的。 You know, we often do many things. 今天我們做很多的事情。 We think that we are doing for God. 我們以為我們是為神而做的。 But will God accept what we do? 神悅納我們所做的嗎? Not everything that we do, He will accept. 不是我們做的每一件事情, 祂都悅納的。 Not everything that we do, even in His name, He will accept. 甚至許多我們奉祂的名所做的, 祂都不悅納。 We can, in His name, preach the gospel. 我們可以奉祂的名傳福音。 We can, in His name, cast out demons. 我們可以奉祂的名趕鬼。 We can, in His name, do miracles. 我們奉祂的名行神蹟。 But you remember what our Lord said in Matthew? 你記得主在馬太福音裡面怎麼說呢? In Matthew chapter 7? 在馬太第七章那裡告訴我們。 The Lord said, I do not know you. 主說我不認識你們。 Brothers and sisters. 弟兄姊妹們。 How can we be acceptable to Him? 我們如何能奉祂的悅納呢? I believe we all want to be acceptable by God. 我們都願意神悅納我們。 Now here is the way. 這裡就是這條路。 Present your bodies as living sacrifice. 將身體獻上當作活祭。 This is acceptable to Him. 這是祂所喜悅的。 Not only that. 不單止這樣。 But this is our reasonable service. 這是你所當然的侍奉。 You want to serve God? 你願意侍奉神嗎? It begins with present your bodies as living sacrifice. 是從將身體獻上當作活祭開始。 If you do not consecrate yourself to Him. 如果你沒有把自己獻給祂。 You haven't begun to serve Him. 你還沒有開始侍奉祂。 And in some version, He said, It is our spiritual worship. 有的翻譯本正義說, 是屬靈的敬拜。 We who are redeemed by Him. 我們這些被祂救贖過來的人。 We want to worship Him. 我們要敬拜祂。 But God is a spirit. 但神是個靈。 And he who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. 敬拜祂的乃要用心靈跟誠實。 Consecration is our spiritual worship. 奉獻乃是我們屬靈的敬拜。 So consecration is the first Christian experience. 所以奉獻乃是基督徒頭一個屬靈的敬拜。 And it is our first spiritual exercise. 這也是我們頭一個屬靈的操練。 There is a difference. 這裡有一個分別。 In the Old Testament time, 在舊約的時候, They were people under law. 這些人是在違法底下。 Therefore, you find God demanded that they set apart their firstborn. 所以神就要求他們要把守生的分別出來。 Because it was the right of God. 因為這是神的主權。 But in the New Testament, 但是在新約當裡面, Consecration is not according to law, but according to grace. 奉獻不是根據規法, 乃是根據恩典。 By right of redemption, He could demand everyone of us to present our body a living sacrifice. 因著祂的救贖, 主有權利要求我們每個人將身體獻上當作獲物。 He has bought us with a price. 祂已經為我們出了數價。 Whether you want to live for Him afterwards or not, you have no right to choose. 你要為祂而活, 或者不為祂而活, 你沒有自己的選擇權。 Because He has redeemed you. 因為祂已經救贖了你。 He has every right to demand you to present your body a living sacrifice. 祂有權利要求你將自己獻上歸給祂。 But He does not do that. 但祂沒有這樣做。 Because He puts us under grace. 因為祂把我們放在恩典的底下。 By right, you are His. 從主權上來講,你是祂的。 You have to live for Him. 你要為祂而活。 You have to live according to what He says. 你要根據祂所說的而活。 But He sets us free. 但祂叫我們得自由。 You can still live whatever way you want to live. 你可以任意選擇你生活的方式。 Even after He has redeemed you. 雖然祂已經救贖了你。 You can go free. 你可以有自由。 It is His love that constrains us. 是祂的愛在那裏激勵了我們。 So the Apostle Paul said, I beseech you. 所以使徒保羅說,我勸你們。 I beg of you. 我請求你們。 It is as if there is no right at all. 好像那位主沒有這樣的權利要求我們一樣。 But God is using His love to melt us. 但是神是用祂的愛來融化我們。 When we are melted by His love. 當我們被祂的愛融化的時候。 We cannot live for ourselves anymore. 我們就不能夠再為自己而活。 We have to live for Him. 我們要為祂而活。 Brothers and sisters. 弟兄姊妹們。 This is consecration. 這是奉獻。 And this is the first spiritual exercise. 這是頭一個署名的操練。 I wonder if everyone of us here this morning has done that. 不知道在座的是不是每一位都已經奉獻了呢。 If you haven't done that. 如果你還沒有。 You haven't begun your Christian life. 你還沒有開始你署名的生活。 No matter how many years you have believed in the Lord Jesus. 不管你信了主多久。 You haven't started yet. 你還沒有開始。 This is the starting point. 這是開始。 Why is it so important that we do this? 為什麼這件事情這麼重要? When I was young. 當我年輕的時候。 When I was first saved. 當我剛得救的時候。 I was at a conference. 我在一個特別聚會的裡面。 And the last day of the conference. The speaker always speaks on consecration. 因為每一個這樣的特會。 最後一堂講員都是講奉獻。 And a large map of China was hanging on the wall. 牆上掛了一幅很大的中國地圖。 And the preacher began to preach. 然後這個傳道員就開始講。 Now you are saved. 現在你得救了。 Now you have to consecrate yourself. 你現在要奉獻。 You have to present your bodies to God. 你要把你的身體獻給神。 To serve him. 侍奉他。 To preach the gospel. 去傳福音。 That is what you have to do. 這是你一定要做的。 And he said you can choose where you want to serve. 然後你可以去選擇你去哪裡侍奉。 I was just saved. 我剛剛得救。 After a whole year of seeking earnestly to be saved. 我那個時候純粹為一年希望能夠得救。 I was so filled with the love of Christ. 我明明實在感覺到主的愛。 And I was fifteen. 那個時候我十五歲。 So naturally I said I want to go to the furthest place to prove my love to the Lord. 我說我要到最遠的地方來證明我對主的愛。 And the preacher said you can come to the platform point your finger to the place where you will serve. 然後傳達人說你可以上講台上 把你的手指到你要去的地方。 So I marched to the platform point my finger on Mongolia. 所以我就超到前面把我的手指到蒙古。 Because at that time I thought Mongolia was the furthest place, the most difficult place. 那時候我覺得蒙古是最遙遠最艱難的地方。 I have never been to Mongolia. 我從來沒有去過蒙古。 But my consecration was true. 但我的奉獻是真的。 It is out of my heart. 是從我心裡面出來的。 Actually I prepared myself to do that. 我是預備好了這樣做。 But God interfered. 但是神來干涉。 Because this is not God's will for me. 因為這不是神在我身上的旨意。 But anyway brothers and sisters, what is consecration? 奉獻是什麼呢? Consecration is not doing something for God. 奉獻不是為神做什麼。 Consecration is letting God do everything in you. 奉獻乃是讓神在你身上做一切。 Now that is consecration. 這是奉獻。 In other words, you present your body as a living sacrifice. 換句話說,你將身體獻上當作活祭。 In the Old Testament time, when a person was thankful to God, he would take out of his flock, or out of his ox, he will present that animal to God. 他乃是從牛群羊群裡面獻一隻雞給神。 He will bring that animal to the altar. 他把這個雞身帶到壇上。 Tie it to the corner of the altar. 它綁在壇的腳上。 And then that animal will be killed. 這個雞身被殺。 And will be put on the altar. 然後放在祭壇上。 And the fire will burn it until it is reduced to ashes. 祭壇的火把它燒成灰。 In other words, this animal was mine. 這個雞身是我的。 I have the right over this animal. 我在這個雞身上有主權。 But now I give it to God. 現在我把它獻給神。 Now it's yours. 現在是你的。 So it is burning to ashes. 所以就被燒成灰。 That God may be satisfied. 叫神的心得著滿足。 Now, in the New Testament time, 在新約的裡面, it is much better. 比這個更美。 Instead of taking an animal, 不用拿一個雞身, you present yourself to God. 你把你自己獻給神。 The reason why is to present your body. 特別說將身體獻上。 Because our body, we live by our body. 因為我們是活在身體的裡面。 So, you live by your body. Now, this body is presented to God. 你藉著這個身體來生活。 所以你把這個身體獻給神。 It means that your whole being is now presented to God. 也就是說你整個人獻給神了。 It is a sacrifice. 這是一個祭。 Why do you call it a sacrifice? 為什麼這裡說做一個活祭呢? It is not killed. 因為這裡沒有說把它殺死。 And yet it is a sacrifice. 但這是一個祭。 Because it is out of your hand and put into the hand of God. 因為是你鬆手了, 把自己放在神的手中。 You give up your right. 你放棄了你一切的主權。 And let God has the right over your life. 讓神在你生命的裡面完全掌權。 So, it is a sacrifice. 這是一個祭。 But it is a living sacrifice. 但是是一個活祭。 In other words, every day you give yourself 每一天你把自己獻給神。 He has every right over your life. 他在你的生命裡面有所有的主權。 He can do anything he wants with you. 他可以在你身上任他的意思而行。 Now, do not be afraid. 你不要怕。 Because God is love. 因為神是愛。 Everything does in your life is the best. 他所做的每一件事都是最好的。 He wants you to have fullness. 他要你得到豐滿。 This is consecration. 這是奉獻。 Now, have you done that? 你奉獻了嗎? Consecration is a door. 奉獻乃是一個門。 Now, what do you mean by a door? 為什麼說是一個門呢? Because a door is a place where you cross over. 因為這個門是你要進入的。 Outside of the door and inside of the door. 是在門裡跟門外。 And when you cross the threshold of the door, you are inside. 當你進了這個門的範圍, 你就進來了。 Formally, you belong to yourself. 以前你是屬於你自己的。 You live for yourself. 你為自己而活。 You decide what you want to do. 你決定你要做什麼事。 But now, you cross the threshold. 但現在你過了這個界限了。 You give yourself to God. 你把自己交給神了。 Now it is God's. 現在你是神的。 So you are in consecration. 所以現在你們在這個奉獻的裡面。 And now, you can go on the way of consecration. 所以你就可以走奉獻之路。 So consecration is not only a door, but it is a way. 所以奉獻不單單是那個門, 也是一條路。 You have to cross the threshold. 你一定要進這個門。 There must be once that you really give yourself to the Lord. 你一定要有一次 真正地把自己獻給神。 But that doesn't mean that that's it. 這也不是說你獻過一次就行了。 That's the beginning. 這只是開始。 You have a long way to go yet. 你還有一條很長的路要走。 Because consecration comes in three steps. 因為奉獻有三個步驟。 Three stages. 是三個階段。 The first stage, you consecrate yourself in your heart. 頭一個階段是在你心裡面的奉獻。 From the very center of your heart, you are touched by the love of God. 在你心中最深處, 你讓神的愛摸著你。 So you give yourself to Him. 所以就把你自己獻給他。 But you do not know what is involved. 但你不知道這包括什麼。 You do not know what will happen. 你也不知道到底有什麼事情會發生。 All you know is, you are touched by the love of Christ. 你只知道你讓神的愛來摸著你。 This is your first love. 這是你起初的愛。 So you give yourself to Him. 所以你把你自己交給他。 But you know, you do not know what will happen. 你不知道有什麼事情發生。 It is the heart desire. 這是你裡面的心願。 Now, that is the first stage. 這是頭一個階段。 That means that now you are beginning to go the way of consecration. 你現在就開始來走奉獻的路。 Putting it another way. In the second stage. 就是說在第二個階段。 Because you have consecrated yourself willingly and voluntarily to God. 因為你是自願地、甘心地把自己獻給神。 God accepts it. 神接納。 And after He has accepted your consecration. 當神接納了你的奉獻之後。 Now He will make it real. 他現在就要當真了。 He will congratulate and continually make you a consecrated person. 所以他就繼續很成功地 叫你成為一個奉獻的人。 Now consecration is in seriousness. 現在這個奉獻是非常嚴肅的。 Why is it so? 為什麼是這樣呢? Because God will never violate your will. 因為神從來不違背你的意志。 He created us with a free will. 祂給你一個自由的意志。 And He honors that will. 祂實在是尊重你的意志。 He has many things to do in your life. 祂在你的生命裡面要做功。 祂要在基督約束裡面 把天上各樣的署名福氣都給你。 But He will not force you. 但祂不強迫我們。 Until you are willing. 直到你願意。 Then He will start to work. 祂就開始工作。 So you find consecration is important. 所以你看到奉獻是多麼重要。 Consecration in the beginning is a willingness. 奉獻一開始是要學習願意。 And because you are willing to consecrate yourself to the Lord. 因為你願意把自己獻給神。 So now He is going to work. 現在就開始動功了。 Now the spiritual exercise of consecration begins. 現在這個奉獻的署名操練開始了。 Now your spirit begins to exercise. 如今你的靈就開始運作。 Now the Holy Spirit in your spirit begins to speak. 所以聖靈就在你的靈裡面開始說話。 And He begins to direct you. 就開始指導你。 He begins to instruct you. 開始來指揮你。 After you are saved. 當你得救之後。 After you consecrate your life to the Lord. 當你把自己奉獻給神的時候。 The Holy Spirit will begin to touch your spirit. 聖靈就開始摸到你的靈。 Because the Bible says. 因為聖經說。 He is the anointing within you. 那個在你裡面。 那個恩高在你裡面。 He will teach you in all things. 恩高在凡事上要教導你。 In small things as well as in big things. 在大事小事上都教導你。 And if you listen to the voice of the Spirit. 如果你真是聽聖靈的聲音。 Now you abide in Christ. 你就住在主裡面。 Brothers and sisters. The Holy Spirit within us. Will begin to speak to us to our spirit. 聖靈在我們的裡面向我們的靈說話。 And he will make your consecration real. 他就叫你的奉獻成為真實。 You say you have consecrated yourself to the Lord. 你說你已經把自己獻給神了。 Now how do you know? 你怎麼知道是真的呢? The Holy Spirit will work in us tenderly. According to his wisdom. 聖靈在你的裡面很肉嫩的。 根據他的旨意在你裡面做工。 He will begin to take away anything in you. That is not of Christ. 他就開始在你裡面除去那些 一切不是出於他的。 And he will begin to add Christ to you. 他就開始把基督加添給你。 We do not know how many things that are holding us back from Christ. 我們都不知道我們裡面有多少事情 滿足我們去得著基督。 We say we love the Lord. 我們說我們愛主。 But there are so many things that have precedence over Christ. 但是有多少事情在基督之前。 So the Holy Spirit has to begin to work in your life. 所以聖靈就在你生命的裡面開始做工。 He begins very softly. 是非常柔軟的工作。 Maybe in the very beginning. 可能在最開始的時候。 He will begin to touch something of your life. 他就在你生命的裡面開始碰到一些事情。 Maybe you have the habit of exaggeration. 或者你喜歡誇張。 Maybe you have the habit of telling lies. 或者你經常說謊言。 But after you believe in the Lord Jesus. 當你信耶穌之後。 When you consecrate your life to the Lord. 當你把自己獻給神的時候。 Well, when you speak. 當你講話的時候。 Your old habit is there. 你的舊習慣還在。 So you begin to speak exaggerately and incorrectly. 所以你就在那裡誇張講一些不準確的話。 And even you tell some white lies. 甚至你說一些不傷大雅的謊言。 Now what will happen? 那什麼事情發生呢? Before you believe in the Lord Jesus. 當你清楚以前。 When you did that. You felt good about it. 你以前越說這種話。 你裡面就越高興。 But now. 但現在呢。 When you do it. 當你這樣在做的時候。 Somehow. You feel uncomfortable. 你裡面就覺得不舒服。 Can I say that? 我能夠說這些話嗎? Can a Christian say that? 基督徒應該這樣說嗎? You have to confess your sin. 你要認罪。 Before there is peace in you. 然後你才能夠再有平安。 Maybe you love something. 可能你愛一些的東西。 Or maybe a small thing. 可能很小的事情。 But this is something that really you love. 這實在是你所愛的。 You love the world. 你愛世界。 You love the things of the world. 你愛這個世界上的東西。 But the Holy Spirit began to work in you. 生命就開始在你裡面動工。 And your spirit began to be exercised. 那你的靈就開始操練。 The Lord said. Can you give this up for me? 你可以為了我放下這些嗎? Did you have such experience? 你有沒有這樣的經歷? You have a habit. 你有一個習慣。 And the Holy Spirit began to touch your old habit. 聖靈就開始摸到你這些的舊習慣。 Or maybe you like to sleep late. 有的時候你喜歡睡晚覺。 And the Holy Spirit began to speak to you and said. You should get up a little earlier. 聖靈在你裡面說你應該早一點起來吧。 To commune with me. 與我有交通。 To read your Bible. 讀你的聖經。 And to pray. 去禱告。 Did you struggle over it? 你有沒有掙扎呢? Thank God. 感謝神。 By the grace of God, you overcome it. 應對神的恩典,你得勝了。 And you are able to get up a little earlier and spend some more time with the Lord. 你能夠早一點起來,與主有交通。 Your old habit began to drop off. 你的舊習慣開始地去掉了。 And a new habit began to grow in your life. 一個新的習慣在你生命裡面開展。 But you need to be exercised. 但是你需要來超越。 You struggle over it. 你要掙扎勝過它。 You pray over it. 你要禱告勝過它。 You try, you fail, and by the grace of God, you succeed. 有的時候你嘗試,你失敗,但是藉著神的恩典,你行了。 So you find the Holy Spirit touching the things outside. 所以你看聖靈就在碰這些外面的東西。 And gradually He will even touch your thought life. 漸漸地祂會碰到你心思裡面的東西。 And then He will begin to clear up your thinking. 就開始叫你的心思能夠被潔淨。 Instead of thinking things below, you begin to think things above. 你不再思念地上的事,而思念天上的事。 He begins to touch your emotion. 就開始來碰到你的情感。 Your love. 你的愛。 You think that you love the Lord. 你以為你愛主。 But you find that you love somebody else more than the Lord. 你發現你愛別人比愛主更多。 And the Lord began to say, Do you really love me more than these? 主就會問你,你愛我比這些更多嗎? And you struggle. 你掙扎。 Your spirit seems to be an exercise. 你的內心在裡面操練了。 And finally the Lord gets you over. 然後主得勝了。 And said, Lord, I'm willing to give this up. 主啊,我願意為你放下這些。 You are my love. 你是我的最愛。 The Lord began to touch your will. 所以主就開始來碰到你的意志。 You have your opinion. 你有你的意見。 You have your idea. 你有你的意思。 You have your plan. 你有你的計畫。 And the Lord began to touch you. 主就開始摸著你。 And how you struggle. 你如何地掙扎呢? Until your consecration becomes real. 直到你的奉獻成為真實。 So you find that the Spirit of God as your coach, He will exercise your spirit. 聖靈就成為你的教練,來帶著你操練你的靈。 Deliver you, not only from the world, but deliver you from your soul. 救你不單止脫離這個世界, 也救你脫離你自己的魂。 Until the Lord came in such a way, that after crisis over crisis, you come to that point, that you're really, absolutely surrendered to Him. 直到經過很多的事情發生,許多的危機, 你來到一個地步, 完全地降伏在主傳底下。 That is a trying time. 這是一個試煉的日子。 That is what we call growing pain. 這就是說成長的痛苦。 That is the way that we grow spiritually through spiritual exercise. 這就是叫我們屬靈生命的成長, 藉著屬靈的操練。 And after one day, 直到有一天, there seems to be a climax. 好像有這樣的環境。 And when you get through that climax, 當你越過了那個高峰, then you enter into the third stage. 你就進到三個階段。 And the third stage is a consecrated life. 第三個階段乃是一個奉獻的生活。 Now, your life is a consecrated life. 現在你的生活乃是一個奉獻了的生活。 That is to say, now you really live for Him. 現在你才真的為主而活。 Now you are willing to follow Him all the way. 現在你才願意一直地跟從祂。 It doesn't mean that from now on there will be no testing. 不是說從現在開始就沒有試探了。 There will be no temptation. 就是再沒有試探了。 No. 不是。 It simply means you have got over and it becomes easy or easier for you to submit yourself. 也就是說現在你學到了 比較容易順服在主的跟前。 And your life now is a consecrated life. 你的生活現在是一個奉獻了的生活。 Let me tell you a story 讓我告訴你們一個故事 to illustrate this. 來說明這個點。 I think probably you have heard of the Cambridge Seven. 你們可能聽過劍橋七節。 There was one time when seven graduates of Cambridge University came to China as missionaries. 那個時候有七位劍橋大學畢業的 到中國做三教師。 And one of them was C.T. Stutt. 有一位叫做史達德。 And C.T. Stutt was well known in England. 史達德在英國是很出名的。 Because he was the best cricketeer in England. 因為他在英國是打曲棍球最出名的。 So everybody knows about him. 所以大家都知道他。 And his father was a millionaire. 他的父親是百萬富翁。 And he inherited lots of money. 他得到很大的遺產。 But through the old Moody, he came to the Lord. 因著穆迪傳福音他信主。 And he felt the Lord called him to China. 他感覺主呼召他到中國。 But before he came to China, 當他來中國以前, he first traveled through the three isles of Great Britain. 所以他就在英文山島來走遍。 One day he was in Edinburgh. 有一天他在愛丁堡。 And he was to speak in a big church in Edinburgh. 他在愛丁堡一個很大的教堂講道。 And the pastor of that church is F.B. Meyer. 那個教堂的傳道人是邁爾弟兄。 And now many knows the name of F.B. Meyer. 所以現在很多人都認識邁爾這個人。 He wrote many many books. 他寫了許多的書。 And his English is so good. 他的英文實在是很漂亮。 When you read his writing, 當你在讀他的寫作的時候, if he writes about river, you hear the water flowing. 當他在講河水的時候, 你會聽到流水的聲音。 He was a brilliant young man. 他實在是一個非常有才華的年輕人。 And he was very successful as a pastor of that big church. 他在那個大教堂裡面一個很成功的牧師。 C.T. Stott came. 史達德弟兄來了。 And stay with him. 住在他家。 Early in the morning. 早上起來。 That was in November. 那是十一月。 You know, in Edinburgh, November is very cold and chilly. 你知道愛丁堡十一月已經很冷了。 And early in the morning, he saw that C.T. Stott's room has light. 他早上就發現, 史達德那個房間裡面燈已經亮了。 And as the host, he was concerned. 那這個主人他就覺得, 哎呀,有什麼事情發生了。 He wondered if something happened. 他以為他有什麼事情發生。 But out of courtesy, he felt he shouldn't go and knock the door so early. 但是他覺得不應該那麼早來敲門。 So he waited and waited. 所以他等了很久。 But the light was still on. 但那個燈還是著的。 And finally he could not contain himself. 所以他就忍不住了。 So he knocked the door. 所以他敲門, and heard a voice come in. 就聽裡面說請進。 He went in. 他進來了。 And saw C.T. Studd sitting there. 他就看到史達德坐在那。 Wrapped himself up with the rug. 用毛毯來包著身。 And the light was on. 點著燈。 So Ebenezer Meyer, you are early. 這個Meyer弟兄說, 你這麼早就起來了。 And C.T. Studd said, I love the Lord. 我愛我的主。 I love His Word. 我愛祂的話。 I'm searching His Word for His command. 我在祂的話裡面尋找祂的教訓。 That I may obey. 叫我尋找那些教訓來遵行。 You know, brothers and sisters, when we search the scripture, 當我們在那裡讀主的話, what are we looking for? 我們在尋找什麼? We look for promise. 我們在尋找神的應許。 We avoid all the commands. 我們避免那些的教訓。 And we may be so lazy. 我們可能很懶惰。 We don't know where the promises are. 我們不知道那個應許在哪裡。 So we have the promise box. 所以我們有一個叫做應許之箱。 So we just pick up one card, and there you have the promise book. 應許之箱裡面拿出一個條子, 那裡就一句神的應許。 Now, does it mean we love the Lord? 這樣說明我們愛主嗎? But here was a person. 在這裡有一位。 He searched the scripture for God's command. 他在那裡尋找神的話, 尋找神的命令。 That he may follow. 叫他能夠去遵守。 So that touched Meyer deeply. 這實在很深地摸著 Meyer. So Meyer said, 所以Meyer就說, 我要你所有的。 史達德就說, Have you consecrated yourself? 你奉獻了嗎? Telling a pastor, Have you consecrated yourself? 問一個傳道人說, 你奉獻了沒有? Of course. 當然了。 Meyer said, I have consecrated myself to the Lord. 我已經把自己奉獻給神了。 Satan said, no. 史達德說,還沒有。 Have you put your whole life, everything in your life, one by one, handed over to God? 你要把你生命裡面 每一件事情 一樣一樣地交給神。 Not just generally. 不是很籠統的。 But everything in your life, handed over to the Lord. 你把你生命裡面的每一件事都交給神。 Well, he said, I haven't done that. 他說,我還沒有做。 Do it. 去做。 So Meyer began with the Lord, numbering everything in his life, and passing it on to the Lord. 所以,Meyer就開始 數算他生命裡面的 一件一件的事 完全地交給主。 But there is one thing 但是有一件事 he couldn't give to the Lord. 他不願意交給主。 And he said, the Lord came to him. 主邁到他的跟前。 So he put a bundle of keys 所以他就把許多的鑰匙 to the Lord 交給主。 The keys to his life. 他生命裡面的那些鑰匙 to every room of his life. 是他生命裡面每一個房間。 But he kept a small key behind. 但他留下了一條小鑰匙。 The Lord said, no. 主說,你不可以留下。 Help me, Meyer said. Meyer said, if you allow me to keep this small key. 如果你允許我來 仍然有這條鑰匙。 I promise you, I will do more for you. 我就答應你, 我為你更多地擺上。 The Lord said, no. 主說,不要。 And the Lord began to turn away. 主就開始好像走開了。 Every Meyer was in desperation. 麥爾著急了。 So he cried out. 他就喊出來。 Make me willing to be willing. 主啊,我不願意,你叫我願意。 And on that word, the Lord turned back and took the whole bundle with that small key away. 主聽到他這樣的禱告, 就拿了他所有的鑰匙, 包括那條小鑰匙走。 And take some time to open every room. 主就用時間來打開 他心中的每一個房間。 Every room. 每一個小房間。 Brothers and sisters. 弟兄姊妹們。 After that, 從此以後, he was greatly used by the Lord. 麥爾就大大的被主使用。 So here you'll find, 所以在這裡看到, consecration is not just once forever. 奉獻不是一次就了結了。 Consecration is a door with a way. 奉獻乃是一個門,後面還有一條路。 It is a way that we have to walk throughout our life. 這條是我們一生要走的道路。 Not until we come to live a consecrated life, you have real consecration. 直到我們能夠活出一個奉獻的生活, 我們才真正的奉獻了。 So brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, this is our first spiritual exercise. 這是我們頭一個署名的操練。 We have to exercise our spirit daily concerning this matter of consecration. 我們每天都要在奉獻的這件事情上來操練。 That's the reason why you'll find the fire of the burnt offering never goes out. 這就是你看到, 梵濟潭的火是永遠不熄滅的。 The fire is burning day and night. 梵濟潭的火是日夜的在燃燒。 So brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, let's begin our exercise 讓我們開始我們的操練, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 藉著聖靈的引導。 Don't try to do it all by yourself. 不要你自己靠自己來做。 We will talk about that later on. But be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And then you will discover what our Lord Jesus said. I come to give life and life more abundantly. 我來是要叫你們得生命並且得得更豐盛。 So may the Lord lead us in this spiritual exercise. 求主帶領我們進入這樣宿命的場面。 Dear Lord, we commit thy word into thy hand. 親愛的主,我們把你的話交在你的手中。 And trust thy Holy Spirit to make it real to everyone of us. 我們交在聖靈的手裡, 把這些的話變為真實。 That Christ may be all and all in us. 叫基督在我們身上成為一切,也充滿我們。 We ask in thy name. Amen. 我們奉主的名禱告。