Shall we turn our hearts to the Lord
once again?
Lord, we thank you for your very presence
with us this morning.
We are very much aware that your life
is worthy to live.
Only your life is real to us.
It is only your life in us that
can be a pleasure, a delight to the
Father.
Lord, give us desire to be found acceptable
in your sight.
And we may not miss the glorious calling
by which you call us unto.
Have mercy on us.
Meet us this morning with thyself.
We give you all the praise and all
the glory to you.
Because you are with us.
And you are in us.
We give you all the praise and all
the glory.
In Christ's precious name we pray.
Shall we turn to 1 Peter chapter 2?
We'll read verse 5.
You also, as living stones, are being built
up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ.
And let's turn to Ephesians chapter 1.
And we'll read 4, 5, 6.
We'll read 4, 5, 6.
And we'll
read
4, 5, 6.
And let's turn to the same book, Ephesians
chapter 5.
Ephesians 5.
And we'll pick the very last sentence of
verse 8.
Walk as children of light.
Do you find that there?
The very last part of verse 8.
Walk as children of light.
And then we'll go to verse 10.
Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
Now that's all the scripture verse we'll read
for now.
I feel I need to just go over
a few things that we shared last Tuesday
evening.
Just to reemphasize the importance of it.
Our adequate understanding of scriptural truth is absolute
foundational.
Because our true spiritual experience is based on
the truth that we can really apprehend in
God's Word.
Our experience that's based on God's truth, that
experience is the only real experience we can
have from the Holy Spirit.
Because the book of the Holy Spirit will
not depart from God's Word or God's revelation
to us.
The Holy Spirit is making Christ real to
us.
The Holy Spirit is making God's Word real
to us as life, as light.
So there are several things, important things we
need to settle before we can properly enter
the experience of it.
Now for example, this is very important.
The man that got created for himself.
The man that created by God.
God created man with the intention that man
should be accepted to him or be acceptable
to him.
神造人的意願乃是要使人對神而言是可悅納的。
所以神並不是沒有目的地來創造的。
他創造人裡面有一個意念,就是要得著人完全地為著他自己。
所以在人還沒有被造之前,神就在他心中有這樣的意念。
所以我們可以從以夫所殊裡看見,在人被造之前
,神已經有了這個意念。
That we should be holy without blame before
him in love.
This was God's thought before the creation of
man.
So we can be sure that man was
created according to God's thought, according to God's
mind.
神是造著神的意念和他的心意而被創造的。
所以在這一個意念中
,人能夠參與並且享受神在人身上一切預備的。
要能夠這樣地來享受神自己和他所預備的
,人必須要像神。
所以一面的意義來說
,我們乃是為著榮耀而受造的。
所以在創造之前,神向著人的意念,乃是人必須要聖潔
,沒有無可指責,並且在他的裡面蒙愛。
我們知道只有一位是聖潔的,神是聖潔的。
感謝神人被造,乃是要來分享他的聖潔。
沒有神的光的話
,我們就不可能在他面前是可悅納的。
所以在星期二晚上我們所交通的
,神要這樣來完成他
,他就將我們放在基督耶穌裡。
所以在哥林多前書第一章三十節裡面講到,神將我們放在基督裡。
所以弟兄姊妹們,不是我們去尋找神
,乃是神尋找我們並且找到了我們。
所以神一切的工作必須在他自己裡面找到那個源頭。
所以當神有那個意念的時候,他就照著這個意念來行動。
他要我們在他的眼中是可悅納的。
而他要完成的方式,乃是要藉著他的愛子主耶穌基督。
所以保羅說是藉著神的能力和神的作為
,他將我們放在基督耶穌裡。
因為唯有基督也只有藉著他
,我們才能夠在他的裡面並且在神的面前是可悅納的。
因為在整個受造之中
,唯有耶穌基督一位在父的心中是可喜悅的,並且叫父的心歡喜。
所以要我們能夠在神的面前蒙悅納
,他就將我們放在愛子裡。
那一位在他的心中永遠是可悅納的。
那是為什麼我們獻給他的一切的祭都是要藉著耶穌基督。
因為除了基督之外,神就不接受任何的事物。
唯有是基督的,他才能夠接受。
在星期二的晚上我也交通到
,那個奉獻者比他所獻的要更重要。
因為在整卷的舊約並且新約中,
實際上那個福音的中心,
乃至要使我們在神的面前成為可悅納的。
那乃是福音的中心。
所以星期二晚上我們也交通到亞伯的祭。
在那個祭的裡面提到了有一個寄生被殺
,並且也提到他的指油腺上
,而沒有提到血。
若是我們讀出埃及祭,並且立位祭,立位祭和民宿祭,
在那裡所提到主要的那些祭物, 這些祭物獻上的時候
,他有心香之氣獻到父的面前, 是為著能夠蒙悅納。
雖然也提到贖罪祭與贖遷祭,
好像他們所站的那個地位
,少於那些能夠蒙悅納的祭物。
所以我們可以看見神的心意乃是慰贈。
不僅僅在於我們能夠蒙赦免
,而是在這個人。
蒙赦免不是結局,能夠蒙悅納乃是那個結局。
耶穌基督所以能夠拯救我們的原因, 因為祂乃是救主。
所以救主能夠拯救我們。
在我們蒙拯救之前,祂已經是救主。
祂乃是在創立世界以前就被殺的羔羊。
所以那個預備已經在那裡。
甚至在創立世界以前,那個對的祭物已經在那裡。
因為神預先知道人所能做的。
祂知道有一天我們要背叛祂。
但是祂卻從不將祂的眼目從我們身上轉去。
因為我們是為著祂的喜悅而受造的。
我們可能會放棄祂,但是神卻永遠不放棄我們。
這乃是我們的天賦,何等的愛我們。
祂拯救我們,因為祂是我們的救主。
祂能夠釋放我們,因為祂乃是釋放者。
祂是我們的避難所。
我們可以藏在祂裡面。
祂是我們的高臺。
我們可以在祂裡面找到安全。
並不是因著祂所做的來證明祂是誰。
乃是因著祂是祂所是的,所以祂就做了祂所做的。
所以聖經告訴我們說,我們必須相信祂是。
我們相信祂是,那麼我們就能享受祂為我們所做成的。
今天早晨我還想和弟兄姊妹交通一些的意念。
因為在我們分組交通的主理, 因為有的時候我們需要更多把它說清楚。
若是一位弟兄在臺上交通, 因為這樣很難把一個真理的各方各面都顧到。
所以當我交通到在神的面前這個可悅納的事情, 我們可能有一個意念就是
,一旦我在基督裡面, 那我們就立刻在祂的眼前是可悅納的,是討祂歡喜的。
但是當我們看自己的時候,我覺得我不像我應該所是的
,所以我就很灰心。
神對於我們能夠被祂接納,我們能夠被祂接納的程度,那個標準是永遠不改變的。
基督乃是我們能夠被接納的那個標準,沒有其他的方式。
祂乃是那個道路。
基督乃是我們能夠被神接納的那個道路。
所以從這一端到另一端都是基督。
基督是開始,基督也是終結。
在這中間乃有漸進的過程。
感謝神我們都有一個好的開始
,但是我們還沒有達到那個結局。
感謝神我們正在那過程中。
因為神所開始的事情
,祂一定要帶我們到完成。
所以在開頭的時候都是祂的作為。
但是在這個過程中的時候,我們需要允許祂在我們裡面來做功。
所以即便在剛開端的時候。
在我們裡面都有小小的度量,那是基督,那是毫無疑問的。
只要有那麼一點點基督的度量,那個在父的眼中就是可願的。
任何一件反映他兒子的事情,對父來說都是可願的,都是喜樂。
即便是一點點,對他而言也是那樣的可願。
但是我們卻不只停在那裡,我們要往前去。
他忘了,我們在他裡面的那個穩定度是一直在增加的。
因為我們乃是往前去,一直增加來滿足他的心。
無論基督的度量是小的
,或者是中間程度的,或者是成熟的,這些的度量都屬於神。
我們在基督裡,而基督在神裡。
我們屬於基督,在基督裡我們就屬神的。
所以不要輕看那已經在我們裡面,雖然是微小的一點基督的度量
,但是請不要只停留在那裡。
所以我們想到保羅在哥林多賢書十三章裡說的。
他說當我們還做孩童的時候,我們的思想意念就像孩子。
我們的行為也像孩子。
當我們還是孩子的時候,我們只能像孩子一樣的思想,這是正常的。
若是我們還是一個孩子,而我們的行為像孩子,那個是非常美麗的,那也是對的。
所以若我們是一個孩子,我們就玩孩子的玩具,沒有人會責怪我們。
若是我們在靈裡成長了
,但是我們仍然去玩孩童時代的玩具,那就不對了。
所以在我們生命的一個階段裡面可以被接納,但是在另外一個階段同樣的事
,可能是不被約納的。
所以我們都需要留意這些。
但是很可惜的,在許多的基督徒信徒的中間
,他們一直停留在許多年以前所在的那光榮。
所以在那個時候
,在他們裡面能夠造成喜悅的事,到了今天卻不能約納了。
因為他們應該成長。
我們應該改變我們的心思和意念。
我們也要改變我們外表的行為。
所以在過去幾年是好的,今天就不再是好的。
對我們自己不好,對別人也不好。
我想和大家分享一個真實的故事。
The reason why I want to share this
story is because I think it is very
important for us to know.
Because we can never be sure what we
think is acceptable to God.
因為我們永遠不能確定什麼對神而言是可約納的。
We are always, always looking, seeking for that
which is pleasing in His sight.
Search, find out what is pleasing in His
sight.
Now that is a continuous thing.
這乃是一個持續的事情。
我們總要持續地來查驗何為主所喜悅的事。
我剛才交通到,在我們人生的生命的某一個階段,對神而言是可約納的
,而現在是不能約納的。
所以有的時候神要做一些激烈的事情在我們身上
,祂要讓我們震驚一下。
好像我們能夠開始看見
,發現了我們所在做的事情對祂是不可約納的。
親愛弟兄姊妹,那乃是神的恩典。
能夠知道什麼是神所不能約納的,那乃是神的恩典。
那乃是證明祂在我們裡面工作。
當我們一旦發現了自己有不討主喜悅的事情
,就在我們裡面創造一個渴慕要討祂的喜悅。
當我們發現了自己裡面有不討主喜悅的事情,我們要為這些事感謝祂。
因為神就要啟示我們,讓我們知道在哪些事情上能夠在神的面前蒙約納。
這乃是我們認識的一位弟兄的故事。
在這個特會中也有相當多的弟兄姊妹認識了。
他曾經並且現在仍然是一位滿有恩賜的弟兄。
在1950年代
,他非常的活躍於為基督得著青年人的那個工作中。
而因著某些的原因
,他就離開了那個青年歸祖的這個組織。
他就開始了他自己的工作。
很明顯地那個工作相當的成功。
神實在祝福了那個工作。
我們也認識一個弟兄,他是在他這一個職事裡面得救了。
為著要討神的喜悅,他就非常活躍地從事於所謂神的工作。
大部分的基督徒從來沒有聽見過神要普遍地每一個蒙恩得救的人都做祭祀這個真理。
這不是大部分基督徒裡面的領會。
即便這是出於聖經的,但是神的兒女們卻沒有辦法領會。
所以在他們的領會裡,要服侍神
,你必須要成為聖品,成為被愛慕的牧師。
或者你到一個外國去成為一個宣教士。
如果你是一個平信徒,一個正常的信徒的話
,你是不能服侍的,你只能逐日來聚會,坐在那裡聽別人講好聽的信徒。
若是你能夠有規律地來,那麼你就是一個好基督徒。
所以這位弟兄他有一個訓練的營地。
在這個訓練的營地裡面有許多的小屋,有許多要服侍的弟兄姊妹們到那裡去受訓。
有一天當這個弟兄離開那個營地的時候, 他接到一個電話
,是一個壞消息。
在那個營地起了火
,那個火把每一個木屋都燒盡了,只剩下一個。
這一個消息對他來講是很難接受的。
在那件事情發生之前
,他裡面有一個夢想。
那一個夢想來自我們可以在格林多前書第三章裡面所說的。
或許我們能夠看一下一個夢。
格林多前書第三章
,保羅在這裡有一個非常有幫助的一段經文。
我們讀第十一節。
格林多前書第三章十一節。
因為那已經立好的根基就是耶穌基督,此外沒有人能立別的根基。
弟兄姊妹們,那乃是我們的根基。
那乃是我們共同的根基。
那乃是我們信心的根基。
那乃是我們蒙接納的根基。
因為那乃是在基督裡和在他的工作裡。
那乃是我們所站立的根基與立場。
那麼保羅在那裡講說我們都有共同的一個根基站立在其上。
那麼現在要留意個人如何在上面建造。
所建造的可能是蒙接納的
,也可能是不被接受的。
因為那日子要來到,那個火要出來。
這火要試驗個人的功臣,能夠經過火的沉流的。
若是不能夠經過火的他就被銷毀了。
所以這位弟兄那天晚上他做了一個夢。
他說對他而言是一個非常清晰的夢。
他看見了一群的信徒,站在基督審判的臺前。
他們要將他們自己在一生中所做的到基督面前交帳。
所以當他在那裡排隊的時候,他就四處地看,看所有的人都在。
他看見有些人帶著好像很大的東西背在身上。
也有的人帶著好像是一個很小的包包。
但是他也好像留意到有些人好像什麼都沒有拿。
他們只帶著很小的東西可以用兩個手就抓住了。
所以他就一直留意著看。
那些帶著很重很大的東西要呈現在主面前,讓主看他們為主做了多少的事。
但是很可惜的在那一日神卻不能接受他們所帶來的。
那些好像沒有帶很多只在手裡面可以抓住的
,好像主看見的時候非常的歡喜。
所以那些很大尺寸的都不過是草木和些。
而那些很小的別人都不能看見,唯有神看見的
,那些乃是寶貝,乃是金銀寶石。
這個弟兄呢,他從他的那個夢裡面,他醒過來
,從夢中醒過來。
那個使他整個侍奉的方向改變。
毫無疑問的他以往所做的在神的面前是可怨的。
但是現在就不再是可怨的。
現在乃是一個改變的時刻。
主在他的身上有更多的要求。
所以弟兄姊妹們,我們不要留在我們以往所試的。
我們必須要往前。
You remember I share about the leaders of
the tribes, they offer six widens.
OK, we'll look at it.
We'll look at it.
Numbers.
Numbers, that's right.
Number seven.
Numbers chapter seven.
That's right.
OK.
Cover carts.
Cover wagons.
That's right.
OK.
Now, you know carts or wagons, you own
wheels.
Own wheels.
You have wheels.
Now, what are wheels for?
Wheel is not for you to just stay
stationary.
Wheel is for movement, for motion to move
on.
And so our spiritual service can never be
put in one spot for too long.
OK.
They own wheels.
So we have to move on.
But the other thing is that it's a
cover.
Because our ministry that's acceptable to God should
not be seen by man, should only be
seen by God.
Because only God knows what is acceptable.
We don't serve God for man to approve
us.
We serve God to be acceptable just in
His sight, His sight alone.
So I hope the story of the testimony
of this brother will impress our hearts.
What was good at one time may not
be good today.
God is always looking for Christ's increase in
all of us.
Without His increase, God will not be satisfied.
Now, at this point, I want to share
a little bit how can we live a
life that's acceptable to Him.
So in our fellowship group, we still have
that conception, say, if I try hard enough,
God should accept me.
So I pose a question, is there anything
in us, no matter how we try, do
you think God will find us acceptable to
Him?
So my question is, in us, no matter
how hard we try, can God see us
and accept us?
So before I share that, let me share
about the vocologies on the cross.
The significance of His death and resurrection.
Of course He died for our sins individually.
But take note, brothers and sisters.
Because in His death, He concluded a race
that is impossible to be acceptable to Him.
He concluded and He finished that.
Because in His death, He concluded a race
that is impossible to be acceptable to Him.
Because in us, there is no possibility that
we can be accepted by God.
He put it out of sight.
But on the other side of resurrection, He
is the head of a new race.
That is totally acceptable to Him because of
who He is.
So brothers and sisters, the old race that
can never satisfy Him or be acceptable to
Him, that race is finished.
On resurrection, He started something new altogether.
In Christ, there is a new race that
is totally acceptable to God.
Now, those two short choruses we sang this
morning.
For me to live is Christ.
To live is Christ.
Because only Christ is acceptable to God.
Except Him, there is no one else.
Brothers and sisters, that kind of life is
worth living.
And Apostle Paul found the secret of that
life that can be acceptable, pleasing to God.
That is Christ.
Not I, but Christ.
So I am quickly referring to three of
the offerings we find in the book of
Leviticus.
The first is the whole bone offering.
And the second is the meal offering.
And the third is the peace of friendship
or fellowship offering.
This is turned to Leviticus 1.
We'll read verse 5 to 8.
Leviticus 1 verse 5.
5 to 8.
5 to 9.
5 to
10.
5
to
10.
Now in this offering, every part of the
animal was offered up.
Everything was consumed.
Now the bone offering has the thought of
that which is ascending to God.
And that's why it says it's an offering
made by fire, a sweet aroma to the
Lord.
Now brothers and sisters, all the sacrifices in
the Old Testament they are types of Christ.
And this particular offering, it speaks of Christ
as totally surrendering Himself to God.
Not withholding anything back.
A total surrender of Himself.
Now if we go to the New Testament,
particularly in the Gospel of John.
The Lord Jesus declared many times.
He said, I came not to do my
own will, but to do the will of
Him who sent me.
He wasn't thinking of doing things.
All He thinks is that I need to
give myself wholly to God, my Father.
Totally, totally giving over.
Brothers and sisters, that is the secret of
His life.
That is the power of His ministry.
Because He totally has given Himself totally to
God, His Father.
Because He was afraid to act out of
Himself.
Because He was afraid to act out of
Himself.
He wants to please His Father 100%.
If the Father says something, then He says
something.
If He sees His Father doing something, then
He will do the same thing.
He will not do anything out of Himself.
Totally giving over to His Father.
At His Father's disposal.
Brothers and sisters, that is the secret of
our ministry.
That is the secret of a life that
is acceptable in His sight.
Because God is not after so much after
what you can do for Him.
He is after you.
He wants you to enjoy, He wants you
to enjoy Him, and He wants to enjoy
you.
Because you were created for fellowship.
You were created to satisfy Him.
And there is no way we can be
satisfied, be a pleasure to Him, acceptable to
Him, than by drawing near to Himself.
Because His heart is for you, and He
wants your heart for Him.
Because His heart is for you, and He
wants your heart for Him.
So Jesus said, I came not according to
my own will, but according to the will
of Him who sent me.
We know that when Jesus was 12 years
old, He went to Jerusalem.
He entered into the temple.
Now that was God's earthly house.
So what were those words that He uttered
on that occasion?
He said, I came for one thing, and
one thing alone.
I came to be occupied with my Father's
business.
In baptism, He declared, His will is my
will.
His work is my work.
His end is my end.
I am totally committed to the Father's will.
And heaven just could not hold back.
So there is a breakthrough from heaven.
And God declared, this is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
And God is looking for that kind of
people this day among His people.
Now the second offering, we were not able
to read through all this because of our
time.
It is the kneel offering.
Now it speaks of His perfect humanity.
It's fine flour mingled with oil.
It speaks of His perfect humanity.
And He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
He was filled with the Spirit at His
birth.
And He was filled with the Holy Spirit
before He launched out His public ministry.
And without yeast, without yeast.
No leaven, because there is no sin in
Him.
And also it's very fine.
The flour is very, very fine.
It speaks of His sensitivity to God the
Father.
He is always conscious of the presence of
His Father.
He has the consciousness in His heart.
He says, I want to do all things
to please Him.
And so He has such sensitivity to what
the Father wants.
Because He is so even, so simple, so
fine, so delicate.
And that's what His character is.
He has that sensitivity.
Now let me just give a couple of
illustrations.
For example, in chapter 4 of the Gospel
of John.
He went to Samaria.
Now we all know that for the Jew,
the good Jew, if from the south they
want to go to Galilee, they will go
the other way to go up to Galilee.
They will bypass Samaria.
Because the Jews and the Samaritans, they had
nothing to do with each other.
But on that occasion, the Father's will was
for him to go through Samaria.
Now that is against the tradition of the
Jew.
Because they have nothing to do with the
Samaritans.
Because they are a race that is of
mixed blood.
The Jews believe in their absolute purity.
So by just the law and listen to
the guiding of the Father, He went that
day to Samaria.
Now that is a practical way of living
a consecrated life or a life that's acceptable
to God.
It's not my will, but His will.
It's very practical.
And so he went to Samaria.
And you know the story.
On that day he met that Samaritan woman.
And if you read through the Gospel, it
says that on that day, some of these
not Jewish people, they received greater light and
greater revelation than God's chosen Jewish people.
Because the Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman,
He said, if you know the grief of
God and who is talking to you, if
you ask Him and He will give you
that water to drink and you will never
thirst.
Now the interesting thing is that that day
was very hot.
And apparently they didn't bring any food with
them.
And so they went to the village to
buy food.
And when they came back, they saw the
Lord Jesus.
He was not hungry.
He seemed to already satisfied.
And they wondered who brought Him food.
They thought someone brought them food.
Yeah, because He refused to eat.
So they said, who brought Him food?
And what was the Lord's answer?
He said, I have food to eat that
you do not know.
Because my food is to do the will
of Him who sent me.
That is a life.
The Lord's life is a life of a
living sacrifice.
He is a life that is always acceptable
in the Father's sight.
He is doing all those things that are
pleasing to Him.
May not pleasing to man.
May seem to do something against the tradition
of the day.
Now that's what we find in that chapter
4 of John.
We find the principle of meal offering.
Because when you give yourself to do His
will, when you want to do that which
is pleasing to Him, you want to minister
to Him first.
And He ministers back to you.
When God is satisfied, we are also satisfied.
So the Lord said, I have food to
eat you do not know.
My food is to do the will of
Him who sent me.
Now brothers and sisters, that is the Lord's
life.
Now I'll quickly just share a few thoughts.
Because John in John he said, because I
live, you shall live.
Now in the pistol he said, as I
walk, you shall walk.
As he is in the world, so are
we in the world.
So how did he live his life in
this world?
He lived his life always as a bone
offering.
A continuous bone offering.
Because his life is to please Him.
His life, the way he lived his life,
is like this meal offering.
Always sensitive to the leading of the Father.
He wants everything to be acceptable to Him.
He was not afraid of man's criticism.
Man's opinion will not get in the way.
So he went to Samaria against the vision
of the Jew.
But that day there was fruit for the
kingdom.
Not only Samaritan was miraculously saved.
And the Lord remained there two extra days.
And many, many came to know Him.
Brothers and sisters, that is the secret of
a life of sacrifice.
That is the life that is acceptable to
Him.
It is life of offering.
Now brothers and sisters, in our thinking, we
think about acceptable sacrifice we offer to Him,
we do it occasionally.
So at the end of the year, the
first day of the year, we try to
rededicate ourselves.
So we do it occasionally.
So if you are more spiritual, you do
it more often.
And if you can do it maybe once
a year, that is pretty good.
But Lord Jesus, His life, His life is
an offering in itself.
His life is a burnt offering.
His life is a cereal offering, meal offering.
His life is a friendship, fellowship or peace
offering.
That's right.
And I appreciate the translation.
I appreciate the translation of the word fellowship
and also the other said peace offering.
But it's both good.
Because in Ephesians 2, He is our peace.
Without Him, there's no peace between God and
us.
Without peace, there's no way we can have
peace with each other.
other.
Now the Paul in 2nd chapter of Ephesians
says he is our peace.
Is that something he does for us?
He is our peace.
Just how Albert Schreier, he's the ladder.
That's right, he stretched that ladder from earth
to heaven.
He's the peacemaker.
That's right, he brings man to be at
peace with God and he brings God to
be at peace with man.
And because we are at peace with God,
therefore we can be at peace with each
other.
And we can also be at peace in
ourselves.
So he is our peace offering.
Now in this peace offering, there's three parties
all share that sacrifice.
First, there's that portion given to God.
And then second, there's that portion that's belong
to the priest.
And the third portion is belong to the
offerer and his family.
Now in the Old Testament, the offering and
the offerer and the priest are two entities.
But in the New Testament, the offerer and
his sacrifice are one.
So in a sense, you don't offer things,
you offer yourself.
But if you offer yourself, all that belongs
to you, go with it.
And so in this peace offering or fellowship
offering, God has his part.
We who serve him, we also have our
share.
And what we take from him, that share,
we share with our family.
Our brothers and sisters, individually we are all
a living sacrifice.
Now why we call, why we call, when
we give ourselves to him, why we call
it a living sacrifice?
Because as long as you are alive, as
long as you are living, you are a
sacrifice.
As long as you are in Christ, as
long as you are alive in Christ, whether
you know it or not, you are a
sacrifice.
Because that life in us, we are a
life of sacrifice.
And that life is always, that life can
satisfy God's heart.
It's always acceptable to him.
Now I want to just share a few
thoughts that will help us in our local
fellowship.
Now I don't know about your fellowship.
But I know something about our local fellowship.
And I also know a few fellowships that
I have visited occasionally.
But you can tell.
Whether that local fellowship, the brothers and sisters
are really blessed or not blessed, the key
is to how they live before God.
How they live their life before God.
If they live their own Christian life, blessing
is very limited.
But if they learn to live as Christ
lived, as a whole born orphan, that fellowship
is a blessed fellowship.
You can be sure, wherever there's a fellowship
that's for life, there are those who are
giving themselves totally to him.
If you go to a fellowship, they seem
to know the way of God for them.
They find God has a way in them.
That's right.
God has a way in them and through
them.
It's because they are those who are living
a life that is acceptable, pleasing to him.
The secret is that when we give ourselves
totally to him, then we discover the might
of Christ.
He will not come to you to share
his mind.
He wants you to go to him for
him to share his mind with you.
And so the call is always come to
me.
So as we come to him, we learn
of him and we learn from him.
That is the secret of any local fellowship.
That is lively.
That is indeed blessed by the Lord.
And they are those who are willing to
give themselves like a peace offering.
First, they want to satisfy God.
But they discover as they please God, they
themselves will also satisfy.
But not only themselves satisfied, but the whole
family is fed spiritually.
So if our heart is to satisfy him,
if our heart is the status to bring
spiritual supply nourishment to our brothers and sisters,
we will find ourselves fed spiritually.
Let me just share a couple of thoughts
before we conclude our time.
Let's turn to Hebrews 13.
That portion our brother used last evening.
Hebrews 13.
15.
Hebrews 13, 15 and 16.
Therefore by him, let us continually offer the
sacrifices of praise to God.
That is the fruit of our lips, giving
thanks to his name.
But do not forget to do good and
to share.
For with such sacrifices, God is well pleased
or acceptable to him.
Continuous praise.
As sacrifice of praise.
It is out of life.
It is continuously.
Is that something affected from the outside?
It is the outflow of something inside.
For instance, our praise often times are affected
by the external things.
So when it's good, I praise.
When it's not so good, no praise.
So our praise is conditional by what's out
there.
So for us, no matter how the external
condition may be, the inside condition will not
change us.
He is always in us.
The reality is inside, the reality is outside.
The more you praise, the more you discover
what's in here.
So for us, that is a secret of
really rejoicing in the Lord.
And we praise continuously.
Now our brothers shared last evening, particularly when
he came to the Lord's table.
Okay, now those are special occasions.
Okay, if you look into the numbers 28,
they are daily required offerings we have to
do.
Okay, there are many extras offerings that we
need to offer.
Okay, there is the offering during the Sabbath.
There is the offering we need to offer
at the beginning of every month.
There are also offerings on special occasions, the
festivals.
And if you read that chapter, there are
many mentions of these are besides the regular
offering.
You are to offer all these besides the
regular offering.
So through the week, we thank him, we
praise him.
But when we come to the Lord's table,
that's a special time.
Because we want to have a fuller praise,
a more satisfying praise offered to our Heavenly
Father.
Now in the scripture, worship and service are
interchangeable.
Because true worship is true service.
And true service is true worship.
Because the object of your service and worship
is God and God alone.
So that is, we have to take note
of that.
Now, I just want to share a couple
of practical things I experienced in my life.
I attended many conferences.
And I thank God for that.
Okay, so one time a sister sort of
asked me, he said, how do you know
you should go to those conferences?
He said, unless the Lord prevents me to
go, I know I should go.
So all this year, the Lord has not
prevented me to attend some of these conferences.
But I have to tell you, I've been
greatly helped by the brothers and sisters gathering
in this way.
Their spiritual help that you cannot get locally,
you can only get when we gather in
this way.
Somehow, in this gathering, you touch a fuller
measure of Christ.
Locally, you know He's great.
But when we come this way, you say,
wow, He's so great.
Now, particularly the last meeting of the conference,
when we break together, when I hear Cantonese,
Amoy, Portuguese, Chinese, whatever language, wow, I say,
this is something.
All these impossible people, the Lord make it
possible for us to be one.
Why?
It's all because of that one sacrifice that
was offered.
Because of that sacrifice, we are one.
Oh, thank God.
And when you listen to some of the
prayers, they minister to me.
Some of those prayers we heard at the
breaking of bread, my wife and I, we
talk about that prayer for a long time.
Because it brings you right close to God.
Through that prayer, you touch heaven.
Through that prayer, you touch living Christ.
Through that prayer, you touch the heaven.
And thank God.
And what your spiritual sacrifices can do to
your brothers and sisters.
Those few words touch many hearts.
And how we are blessed.
Now, Friday, we will break bread together.
Let's look to the Lord.
That we will have a touch of heaven
on earth.
That we offer all our love back to
him.
And as you offer your part to him,
you minister to your brothers and sisters.
Then just another passage, Romans.
Romans 15.
About the result of our ministry.
Verse 16.
Romans 15, 16.
As a minister of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the
offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified
by the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of Paul's labor.
He did not touch it with his own
hand.
Because it's the Lord's.
He gives it back to him.
So brothers and sisters, in our service, don't
keep anything for yourself.
If it's from him, we give it back
to him.
And particularly Christian workers.
And especially nowadays in some circles.
You and the joy following around you.
There's always a tendency to joy following.
And Paul said, you follow me as I
follow the Lord.
So I don't want to hear that word,
my church.
I still hear that on this conference.
If the church is your church and it's
not his.
If it's his, it's not yours.
So don't say, my church.
You are nobody.
So don't use that word.
So all must offer back to him.
So when we labor for the Lord, we
all have a tendency.
So say, all the fruit from the Gentile
Lord, I offer to you.
And you keep them, you sanctify them.
Brothers and sisters, we all should have that
attitude.
I'm going to read this verse from the
New Living Translation.
Paul said, a special message.
I'm a special messenger from Christ to you
Gentiles.
Paul said, I am a special messenger from
Christ Jesus to you.
From Jesus Christ to you.
He was God sent.
Not man sent.
Okay.
I bring you the good news and offer
you up as a fragrant sacrifice to God.
I bring you.
I bring you the good news and offer
you up as a fragrant sacrifice to God.
That you might be pure and pleasing to
him by the Spirit.
Paul did not labor to get those Gentile
converts for his own pleasure.
He did not labor to get those Gentile
converts for his own pleasure.
He gave them as a sacrifice acceptable to
God.
May the Lord help us.
All that is from him.
Through us.
But must all unto him.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your presence with
us.
We have to confess our human words are
so inadequate.
Do not allow us to limit you.
Break through all obstacles.
And manifest your greatness among your people.
Because you are great.
And you do us wondrous things.
Help us.
That our consecration to you will be utter,
will be complete.
That your will be done.
And whatever we do, we pray we have
but one desire.
To please you to be acceptable in your
sight.
Do hear our prayer.
And do be glorified.
In Christ we pray.