第二週 • 週二
晨興餧養
羅六6 知道我們的舊人已經與祂同釘十字架，使罪的身體失效，叫我們不再作罪的奴僕。
帖前五23 且願和平的神，親自全然聖別你們，又願你們的靈、與魂、與身子得蒙保守，在我們主耶穌基督來臨的時候，得以完全，無可指摘。
〔在對付天然這事上，『天然』這辭是指我們體力和腦力的總和。〕我們所說的『天然』，在聖經中並沒有這個辭。就是在一般基督徒中間，也很少提起。但在我們的經歷中，卻實在有天然這個東西。它是屬魂的人一個很大的特點，也是我們舊人活出來的一大表現。我們要追求十字架的經歷，就不能忽略這方面的對付。…天然就是舊人活出來的一部分表現，而這一部分表現，乃是重在人的能力、幹才、智慧、聰明、辦法、手腕等等（生命的經歷下冊，二九六頁）。
信息選讀
說到天然，創世記裏的雅各…是最好的代表人物。通常我們都以為雅各的記載，是顯明他的詭詐。其實雅各一生的故事中，最突出的點，還是他天然的努力和辦法。所有有辦法的人都難免詭詐，雅各也是這樣。他的詭詐不過是浮面的表現，天然的生命纔是他潛在的特點。雅各在成熟以前，他所有的故事，都給我們看見他的天然。他有能力、有辦法、有本事、有幹纔、有手腕，實在是一個天然很強的人。
直到他在毗努伊勒，神扭瘸了他的大腿，他纔有了一個厲害的轉機。最後到了創世記三十五章，神叫他到伯特利，就是到他逃避他哥哥的時候，向他顯現的神那裏去，築壇獻祭給神。從此雅各的手腕纔停下來，他天然的人纔倒下來了。
雅各的天然受到這樣徹底的破碎，他的生命在神裏面就達到了豐滿成熟的境地。他不再是雅各，乃是以色列，不再是一個詭詐能抓（『雅各』的意思）的人，乃是神的一個君王（『以色列』的意思）。所以他能一再給法老祝福，也能在臨終的時候，給他兒子們厲害的祝福。
在屬靈的工作裏，人和神配合，乃是最大的原則。雖然無論甚麼都是神作，但無論甚麼，又都需要人配合着神來作。絕不是我們甚麼都不會作，甚麼都不能作，甚麼也都不要作，而神就能使用我們的。我們常聽見弟兄姊妹說，『我信神會作』，而他們自己卻不配合上去，這種信心，是枉然的。神會作，不錯，但還需要人會作。人如果不會作，神雖然會作，祂也不作。神總得找到會作而又能和祂配合的人。人會作到甚麼地步，神纔能作到甚麼地步；人給神配合到甚麼地步，神的工作纔能作到甚麼地步。所以我們要會作，要能作，要學習在各方面作厲害的人，纔能配合得上神的使用。
然而，單是天然能幹的人，神還不能用。天然的能幹，若沒有經過破碎，反而是神的攔阻；必須經過破碎，經過死，變作復活的，神纔能用。天然的才幹，就像生鐵一樣，太硬了、又太脆了，一面不適於用度，一面又容易折斷。復活的才幹，卻像熟鋼一樣，是堅而柔的，有一點像中國人所說的『剛柔相濟』，適於用度，又不易折斷。所以一個不能幹的人，神不能用，一個能幹而沒有經過破碎的人，神也不能用。所有在神手裏有用的人，都是能幹而經過破碎的人。我們查看歷代被神大用的人，幾乎每一個都是相當能幹，相當有魄力、有眼光、有聰明，而同時又是給神破碎了的人（生命的經歷下冊，二九七至三○一頁）。
參讀：關於長老職分的基本原則，第十五至十六章。
WEEK 2 — DAY 2
Morning Nourishment
Rom. 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves."
1 Thes. 5:23 "And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
[In our dealing with the natural constitution], constitution...means “the aggregate of man’s physical and mental powers.” In the Bible there is no such term as the natural constitution, and it is seldom mentioned among Christians; yet in our experience there is such a thing. It is an outstanding
characteristic of the soulish man and a prominent expression of the living out of the old man. If we pursue the experience of the cross, we cannot neglect this aspect of dealing....The natural constitution is the expression of the living out of the old man, which has to do with human ability, capability,
wisdom, cleverness, schemes, and skills. (The Experience of Life, p. 243)
Today's Reading
When speaking of the natural constitution, Jacob, in the book of Genesis, is the best representative. We generally think that the record of Jacob points out his craftiness. But, actually, the most outstanding characteristic in the entire life of Jacob is his natural endeavoring and scheming. All those who scheme
are inevitably crafty. So also was Jacob. His craftiness was but the superficial expression; his natural constitution was his hidden characteristic. Before Jacob became matured, all his history revealed his natural constitution. He was able, resourceful, full of schemes, and very capable and skillful; he was
truly one who was exceedingly strong in the natural constitution.
The crisis in his life occurred when God touched the socket of his hip at Penuel. Finally, in Genesis 35, God asked him to go to Bethel and there make an altar to God who had appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. From thence Jacob ceased all his scheming, and his natural man fell
before God.
When Jacob’s natural constitution was thoroughly broken, his life in God attained to a mature and full stage. He was no more Jacob but Israel. He was no more a supplanter (the meaning of Jacob) but a prince of God (the meaning of Israel). As a result, he could bless Pharaoh and command abundant blessings upon his sons before he died.
The greatest principle in spiritual service is that of man cooperating with God. Although God does all things, yet in all things God needs man to cooperate with Him. It can never be that those who do not know how to do anything and are incapable and unwilling to do anything can be used by God. We often hear brothers and sisters say, “I believe that God can do it,” yet they themselves make no effort to cooperate. This kind of faith is vain. No doubt, God can do it, but it is also necessary that man be able to do it. If man cannot do it, though God can, He will not do it. God must seek those who are able and willing to cooperate with Him. God works as far as man is capable. God works according to the degree of man’s cooperation. Therefore, we must be able and capable and learn to be a useful man in every aspect; then we are fit for His use.
However, God still cannot use one who is merely naturally capable. Natural capability, unless broken, is a hindrance to God. It must be broken; it must pass through death and be resurrected so that it may be used by God.Natural ability is similar to raw iron which, because it is too hard and brittle,is not suitable for use and is easily broken. Resurrected ability is like wrought steel, firm but malleable, suitable for use and not easily cracked. Therefore, God cannot use one who is incapable; neither can He use one who is capable yet has not been broken. Those who are usable in the hand of God are those who are capable yet whose capability has been broken. If we examine all those who have been used by God throughout the generations, almost all were very capable, rich in soul-power, having foresight and cleverness, while at the same time they were broken by God. (The Experience of Life, pp. 244-245, 247)
Further Reading: Basic Principles concerning the Eldership, chs. 15-16
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