第五週 • 綱目
使徒的職事與基督天上的職事合作，牧養作神羣羊的召會，為着建造基督的身體並有新的復興
讀經：約十11、16，二一15~17，彼前二25，五4，來十三20，啟一13，二1、7
週 一
壹 詩篇二十二至二十四篇是啟示基督的一組詩，從祂的釘十字架，經過祂的牧養，說到祂來世的君王職分：
一 詩篇二十三篇論到基督在祂的復活和升天裏作牧者，乃是二十二篇基督救贖的死，並祂產生召會的復活，以及二十四篇基督作為王回來，要藉着作祂身體的召會得回全地，二者之間的橋樑。
二 基督在祂天上的職事裏一直在牧養人，我們需要與祂合作牧養人；我們若接受這個交通，地上會有一個大復興，將主帶回來。
週 二
貳 約翰二十一章啟示使徒的職事與基督天上的職事合作；該章是約翰福音的完成和總結：
一 約翰福音有二十一章，但事實上結束於二十章。
二 整卷書說到基督在地上的職事，開始於祂這神的話成為肉體，成了一個在肉體裏的人（一14），結束於祂這末後亞當的復活，成了賜生命的靈（二十22）；因此，二十一章應當是一篇附言。
三 這樣說雖然是對的，但更內在地說，約翰二十一章乃是約翰福音的完成和總結；該章總結整卷約翰福音，給我們看見基督在天上的職事與使徒在地上的職事一起合作，以完成神的經綸。
叁 在約翰十章十至十一節和十六節，主向門徒揭示，祂是好牧人，來使羊更豐盛地得着生命，並且祂另外有羊（外邦人），祂必須領這另外的羊與他們（猶太信徒）合為一羣（一個召會），歸於一個牧人之下：
一 主的牧養先是在祂地上的職事裏—太九36，參十1~6。
二 然後，主的牧養是在祂天上的職事裏（彼前五4），照顧神的召會，結果帶進祂的身體。
肆 主託付彼得餧養祂的小羊並牧養祂的羊：
一 當主在復活之後，並在祂升天之前，與祂的門徒在一起時，在祂一次的顯現裏，祂託付彼得，當祂不在這裏而在諸天之上時，要餧養祂的小羊，並牧養祂的羊—約二一15~17。
二 這是把使徒的職事與基督天上的職事合併，以照顧神的羣羊，就是召會，結果帶進基督的身體。
三 隨後在使徒行傳，彼得說，『我們要堅定持續的禱告，並盡話語的職事』（六4）；這乃是與基督天上的職事合作，這職事乃是代求的職事（來七25），也是將神供應到人裏面的職事（八2）。
四 彼得對主的這個託付印象非常深刻，以致在他的前書裏，他告訴信徒，他們好像羊走迷了路，如今卻歸到他們魂的牧人和監督了—彼前二25：
1 基督住在我們裏面，作我們的生命和一切，但祂也監督、察看我們內裏所是的光景和情形。
2 祂藉着顧到我們裏面各部分的益處，並監督我們魂（就是我們真人位）的光景，而牧養我們—參來十三17。
五 彼得勸勉長老，要牧養他們中間神的羣羊，好使他們這些忠信的長老在牧長顯現的時候，得着那不能衰殘的榮耀冠冕—彼前五1~4。
六 彼得的話指明，基督天上的職事主要的是牧養神的召會，就是祂的羣羊，結果帶進祂的身體。
週 三
伍 以下使徒保羅的話，也給我們看見使徒的職事與基督天上的職事合併，以照顧神的羣羊：
一 在行傳二十章二十八節，保羅告訴在以弗所的長老：『聖靈立你們作全羣的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全羣謹慎，牧養神的召會，就是祂用自己的血所買來的。』
二 保羅說，『我知道我離開以後，必有兇暴的豺狼進入你們中間，不愛惜羊羣』（29）；使徒不顧自己的性命（24），但他非常關心召會的前途；召會是他的珍寶，也是神的珍寶。
三 保羅在希伯來十三章二十節說，『神…憑永約之血，領羣羊的大牧人我們的主耶穌，從死人中上來』：
1 這永約就是新遺命的約，為要得着羣羊，就是召會，結果帶進基督的身體，並終極完成新耶路撒冷；神的永約是要藉着牧養，終極完成新耶路撒冷。
2 神使我們的主從死人中復活，叫祂成為大牧人，好照着神的永約，終極完成新耶路撒冷。
陸 使徒職事與基督天上職事合併的主要目的和目標，乃是要建造基督的身體，終極完成新耶路撒冷，以完成神永遠的經綸—參弗三2、8~9，彼前五10。
柒 為着神永遠經綸的主要目的和終極完成而牧養神的羣羊，這件事甚至在雅歌中也提到：
一 『我心所愛的阿，求你告訴我，你在何處牧放羊羣〔為着滿足〕？晌午在何處使羊羣歇臥〔為着安息〕？』—一7上。
二 『只管出去跟隨羊羣的腳蹤，把你的山羊羔牧放在牧人帳棚的旁邊』—8節下。
三 『我的良人屬我，我也屬他；他在百合花〔以單一的心，過着信靠神的生活，而尋求基督的人〕中牧放羣羊』—二16。
四 『我屬我的良人，我的良人也屬我；他在百合花中牧放羣羊』—六3。
捌 牧養信徒，對於他們在神聖生命裏的長大，是極其重要的；我們必須以牧養的路來傳福音並復興召會：
一 我們應當禱告說，『主，我要得着復興；從今天起，我要作一個牧人；我要去餧養人，牧養人，把人聚成一羣。』
二 在約翰十章和二十一章，主用三個辭說到牧養的事：『餧養』、『牧養』、『成為一羣』（十16，二一15~16）；我們也可將『羣』用作動詞（意指使羊成為一羣）。
三 眾召會都必須學習如何使人成為一羣，好叫他們能調和在一起；長老和同工該帶頭實行這事。
週 四
玖 金燈檯生機的維持乃是基督天上的職事，在祂的人性裏顧惜眾召會，並在祂的神性裏餧養眾召會，好藉着祂生機的牧養產生得勝者—啟一13，二7，約十11、14，彼前二25，五4，來十三20：
一 人子是在祂的人性裏，金帶表徵祂的神性，而胸是愛的表號：
1 基督原來是腰間束帶，為着神聖的工作得加力（出二八4，但十5），以產生眾召會，但如今祂在胸間束帶，藉着祂的愛照顧祂所產生的眾召會（啟一13）。
2 金帶表徵基督的神性成了祂神聖的力量，胸表徵這金的力量是由祂的愛並憑祂的愛來運用並推動的，好餧養眾召會。
二 基督作為人子，在祂的人性裏照顧眾召會，為要顧惜眾召會—13節上：
1 祂收拾燈檯的燈，使燈正確合宜，就是在顧惜我們，使我們快樂、愉快、舒適—出三十7，參詩四二5、11：
a 主的同在帶來一種柔細、溫暖的氣氛，顧惜我們的全人，給我們安息、安慰、醫治、潔淨和鼓勵。
b 我們在召會裏能享受主同在的顧惜氣氛，得着生命的滋養供應—弗五29，參提前四6，弗四11。
週 五
2 祂修剪燈檯的燈芯，把一切攔阻我們照耀的消極事物剪掉—出二五38：
a 燈芯燒焦的部分，燈花，表徵必須剪除的那些不照着神定旨的事物，就如我們的肉體、天然的人、己和舊造。
b 祂把眾召會中間一切的不同（過錯、短處、失敗、缺點）修剪掉，使眾召會在素質、樣子和彰顯上完全相同—參林前一10，林後十二18，腓二2。
三 基督在神性裏以祂胸間金帶所表徵的神聖之愛照顧眾召會，以餧養眾召會—啟一13下：
週 六
1 基督在祂三個時期的豐滿職事中，以祂自己這包羅萬有的基督來餧養我們，使我們在神聖的生命中長大成熟，成為祂的得勝者，以完成祂永遠的經綸。
2 作為行走的基督，祂知道每一個召會的情形；作為說話的靈，祂修剪燈檯並用新油，就是那靈的供應，充滿燈檯—二1、7，參出二七20~21，亞四6、11~14。
3 我們要有分於祂的行動，並享受祂的照顧，就必須在眾召會裏。
拾 藉着基督奇妙的牧養，我們得以享受祂作我們的福分，從今時直到永遠—賽四九10，啟七9~17，約六35，四13~14，詩三六7~9，九一1，賽十二1~6，啟二二1。
Week Five
The Apostolic Ministry in Cooperationwith Christ’s Heavenly Ministryto Shepherd the Church of God as His Flockfor the Building Up of the Body of Christand a New Revival
Hymns: E612
Scripture Reading: John 10:11, 16; 21:15-17; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4; Heb. 13:20; Rev. 1:13; 2:1, 7
§ Day 1
I. Psalms 22 through 24 are a group of psalms revealing Christ from His crucifixion through His shepherding to His kingship in the coming age:
A. Psalm 23, which concerns Christ as the Shepherd in His resurrection and ascension, is the bridge between Christs redeeming death and His church-producing resurrection in Psalm 22 and Christs coming back as the King, who will regain the entire earth through the church as His Body in Psalm 24.
B. In His heavenly ministry Christ is shepherding people, and we need to cooperate with Him by shepherding people; if this fellowship is received by us, there will be a big revival on the earth to bring the Lord back.
§ Day 2
II. John 21 reveals the apostolic ministry in cooperation with Christs heavenly ministry; it is the completion and consummation of the Gospel of John:
A. The Gospel of John has twenty-one chapters, but it actually ends with chapter 20.
B. The entire book covers the earthly ministry of Christ, beginning with His incarnation as the Word of God to become a man in the flesh (1:14) and ending with His resurrection as the last Adam to become the life-giving Spirit (20:22); hence, chapter 21 should be an appendix.
C. Although it is correct to say this, it is more intrinsic to say that John 21 is the completion and consummation of the Gospel of John; it consummates the entire Gospel of John by showing that Christs heavenly ministry and the apostles ministry on the earth cooperate together to carry out Gods economy.
III. In John 10:10-11 and 16 the Lord unveiled to the disciples that He was the good Shepherd who came that the sheep might have life abundantly and that He had other sheep (the Gentiles) that He must lead to join with them (the Jewish believers) to be one flock (one church) under one Shepherd:
A. The Lords shepherding was first in His earthly ministry—Matt. 9:36; cf. 10:1-6.
B. The Lords shepherding is second in His heavenly ministry (1 Pet. 5:4) to take care of the church of God, issuing in His Body.
IV. The Lord commissioned Peter to feed His lambs and shepherd His sheep:
A. When the Lord stayed with His disciples after His resurrection and before His ascension, in one of His appearings, He commissioned Peter to feed His lambs and shepherd His sheep in His absence, while He is in the heavens—John 21:15-17.
B. This is to incorporate the apostolic ministry with Christs heavenly ministry to take care of Gods flock, which is the church that issues in the Body of Christ.
C. Later, in the book of Acts, Peter said, "We will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word" (6:4); this is to cooperate with Christs heavenly ministry of intercession (Heb. 7:25) and of ministering God into His people (8:2).
D. Peter was so impressed with this commission of the Lord that in his first book he tells the believers that they were like sheep being led astray, but they have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls—1 Pet. 2:25:
1. Christ indwells us to be our life and everything, but He is also overseeing, observing, the condition and situation of our inner being.
2. He shepherds us by caring for the welfare of our inner being and by exercising His oversight over the condition of our soul, our real person—cf. Heb. 13:17.
E. Peter exhorts the elders to shepherd the flock of God among them so that when the Chief Shepherd is manifested, they, the faithful elders, will receive the unfading crown of glory—1 Pet. 5:1-4.
F. Peters word indicates that the heavenly ministry of Christ is mainly to shepherd the church of God as His flock, which issues in His Body.
§ Day 3
V. The following words of the apostle Paul also show the incorporation of the apostolic ministry with Christs heavenly ministry to take care of Gods flock:
A. In Acts 20:28 Paul told the elders in Ephesus, "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers to shepherd the church of God, which He obtained [or purchased] through His own blood."
B. Paul said, "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (v. 29); the apostle did not care for his own life (v. 24), but he was very concerned for the future of the church, which was a treasure to him and to God.
C. Paul says in Hebrews 13:20, "God…brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, in the blood of an eternal covenant":
1. The eternal covenant is the covenant of the new testament to gain a flock, which is the church issuing in the Body and consummating the New Jerusalem; the eternal covenant of God is to consummate the New Jerusalem by the shepherding.
2. God raised up our Lord from the dead to be the great Shepherd to consummate the New Jerusalem according to Gods eternal covenant.
VI. The main purpose and goal of the apostolic ministry incorporated with Christs heavenly ministry are to build up the Body of Christ, which will consummate the New
Jerusalem for the accomplishment of the eternal economy of God—cf. Eph. 3:2, 8-9; 1 Pet. 5:10.
VII. The matter of shepherding Gods flock for the main purpose and ultimate consummation of the eternal economy of God is even referred to in Song of Songs:
A. "Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock [for satisfaction]? / Where do you make it lie down at noon [for rest]?"— 1:7a.
B. "Go forth on the footsteps of the flock, / And pasture your young goats / By the shepherds tents"—v. 8b.
C. "My beloved is mine, and I am his; / He pastures his flock among the lilies [the seekers of Christ who live a life of trusting in God with a single heart]"—2:16.
D. "I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine; / He pastures his flock among the lilies"—6:3.
VIII. To shepherd the believers is very crucial for their growth in life; we must take the shepherding way to preach the gospel and revive the church:
A. We should pray, "Lord, I want to be revived; from today I want to be a shepherd; I want to go to feed people, to shepherd people, and to flock people together."
B. In John 10 and 21 the Lord used three words concerning shepherding: feed, shepherd, and flock (10:16; 21:15-16); we can also use the word flock as a verb.
C. All the churches have to learn how to flock together so that they can be blent together; the elders and co-workers should take the lead to practice this.
§ Day 4
IX. The organic maintenance of the golden lampstand is Christs heavenly ministry to cherish the churches in His humanity and nourish the churches in His divinity to produce the overcomers through His organic shepherding—Rev. 1:13; 2:7; John 10:11, 14; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4; Heb. 13:20:
A. The Son of Man is in His humanity, the golden girdle signifies His divinity, and the breasts are a sign of love:
1. Christ was girded at the loins, strengthened for the divine work (Exo. 28:4; Dan. 10:5) to produce the churches, but now He is girded about at the breasts, caring for the churches that He has produced by His love (Rev. 1:13).
2. The golden girdle signifies Christs divinity as His divine energy, and the breasts signify that this golden energy is exercised and motivated by and with His love to nourish the churches.
B. Christ takes care of the churches in His humanity as the Son of Man to cherish them—v. 13a:
1. He dresses the lamps of the lampstands to make them proper, cherishing us that we may be happy, pleasant, and comfortable—Exo. 30:7; cf. Psa. 42:5, 11:
a. The Lords presence provides an atmosphere of tenderness and warmth to cherish our being, giving us rest, comfort, healing, cleansing, and encouragement.
b. We can enjoy the cherishing atmosphere of the Lords presence in the church to receive the nourishing supply of life—Eph. 5:29; cf. 1 Tim. 4:6; Eph. 4:11.
§ Day 5
2. He trims the wicks of the lamps of the lampstand, cutting off all the negative things, which frustrate our shining—Exo. 25:38:
a. The charred part of the wick, the snuff, signifies things that are not according to Gods purpose, which need to be cut off, such as our flesh, our natural man, our self, and our old creation.
b. He trims away all the differences among the churches (the wrongdoings, shortages, failures, and defects) so that they may be the same in essence, appearance, and expression—cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 12:18; Phil. 2:2.
C. Christ takes care of the churches in His divinity with His divine love, signified by the golden girdle on His breasts, to nourish the churches— Rev. 1:13b:
§ Day 6
1. He nourishes us with Himself as the all-inclusive Christ in His full ministry of three stages so that we may grow and mature in the divine life to be His overcomers to accomplish His eternal economy.
2. As the walking Christ, He gets to know the condition of each church, and as the speaking Spirit, He trims and fills the lampstands with fresh oil, the supply of the Spirit—2:1, 7; cf. Exo. 27:20-21; Zech. 4:6, 11-14.
3. To participate in His move and enjoy His care, we must be in the churches.
X. Through Christs wonderful shepherding, we will enjoy Him as our blessings both today and for eternity—Isa. 49:10; Rev. 7:9-17; John 6:35; 4:13-14; Psa. 36:7-9; 91:1; Isa. 12:1- 6; Rev. 22:1.
