诗歌：大本606首

读经：民二四17，创一14~19，但十二3，太二1~12，启一16、20，二1、28，三1，二二16，彼后一19，创二二17，犹12~13

　　太二1~2　　在希律王的日子，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。看哪，有星象家从东方来到耶路撒冷，说，那生为犹太人之王的在哪里？因为祂的星出现的时候，我们看见了，就前来拜祂。

　　民二四17　……必有一星从雅各而出……。

　　耶稣生在伯利恒，……但奇怪的是，远离了所谓的圣地，远离了这真的宗教，远离了圣殿，远离了犹太的宗教中心，远离了祭司、经学家、法利赛人和所有宗教人士，却有一颗星在异教之地显明有关基督的事。这星并未显示给犹太人，而是显示给外邦人，异教人。

　　单单手持圣经，念弥迦书五章二节说基督将生在伯利恒，那是不灵的。也许在读过以后，我们说我们知道了，但我们并未看见。不错，我们知道了，但在我们身上并不发生什么事。那些祭司长和经学家真是精通圣经，但主并没有到他们那里去。祂去到一个遥远的异教之地，把这件事启示给一些异教徒，不是借着圣经，而是借着人手摸不到的东西— 一颗天上的星（李文集一九七○年第一册，三六九至三七○页）。

　　Matt. 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star at its rising and have come to worship Him.

　　Num. 24:17 …There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob…

　　Jesus was born in Bethlehem….The strange thing, however, is this: far away from the so-called Holy Land, far away from the genuine religion, far away from the temple, far away from the Jewish religious center, far away from the priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, and all the religious people, was a star showing something of Christ in a heathen land. It did not appear to the Jews, but to the Gentiles, the heathen.

　　Merely to hold the Bible in our hand and read Micah 5:2, which indicates that Christ will be born in Bethlehem, does not work. We may say after we have read it that we have it, but we may not have seen it. We may have it, but nothing has happened to us. Those chief priests and scribes knew the Bible so well, but the Lord did not go to them. He went far away to a heathen land to reveal this matter to some pagans, not through the Scriptures but through something which human hands cannot touch—a heavenly star. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” pp. 276-277)

　　也许我们有圣经，但我们可能错过了星。把圣经拿在手里是容易的事，但要等待观看一颗星太难了。我们根本没法晓得这星会在何时何地出现。我们能研究圣经并在这方面得一个学位；我们也可能知道圣经讲论基督的一切事，但我们无法断定那颗星几时来到。圣经这本书是在犹太人这群宗教人士手中，星却是显示给异教人士。你看见这点么？也许我们想，这星一定会向那些在圣殿中祈祷的祭司们显现，但它却是显示给远离圣殿的外邦人。

　　哦，我们都必须看见这颗星！不是有没有圣经的问题，而是有没有看见那星的问题。那星是什么？那星就是活的启示，活的异象。不是圣经字句的死知识，不是弥迦书五章二节的死知识。今日我们所需要的不是单单圣经的知识，而是属天的异象，即时的异象，活的异象，人的观念没法教导的异象。

　　你有什么？你所有的是圣经经节，或者你有的是星？你有的是圣经知识，或者你有天上的星？你有的是老旧的教训，或是跟上时代、即时的异象？今天许多人手中有圣经，却没有看见星。单单有一本圣经在手里是一件死的事，而看见星乃是一个活的经历。按照马太二章这里所显明的原则，寻找并服事基督不是照着旧约圣经。今日要认识基督，乃是一件活的事，不是照着圣经知识的死字句，而是照着那属天的活星。

　　在〔马太二章的〕事例里，主远离了宗教，甚至远离合乎圣经的宗教。无论何时何地，有一个宗教建立起来，主就会往别处去。我们没法将祂包围、拘禁、限制在我们的宗教里。我们在召会生活中必须学习，绝不建立宗教。不要坚持这个办法或者那个方式对。如果我们这样说，主就要说，“你看很对，但我根本不在意这些事。如果你不是那么对，我倒要与你同在；但正因你太对了，我要去找那些错的人。”每逢我们坚持自己对，别人错，主就要离开我们去找那些错的人了。

　　民数记二十四章十七节说，“必有一星从雅各而出”，但这星没有显给雅各家任何一个人。从雅各而出的星显给外教人了（李文集一九七○年第一册，三七○至三七二页）。

　　参读：新约的事奉，第五至六篇；真理课程四级卷一，第三课。

　　We may have the Bible, yet we may miss the star. To hold the book in our hand is easy, but to wait and look unto the star is rather difficult. We simply do not know when and where the star will appear. We may study the Scriptures and obtain a degree in those studies, and we may learn all that the Bible has to say about Christ, but we simply cannot determine when the star will come. The book was with the Jewish people, the religious people, but the star appeared to the heathen. Have you seen this? We may think that the star should have appeared to those priests praying in the temple, but it appeared to some pagans far away from the temple.

　　Oh, we all need to see this star! It is not a matter of holding the Bible but a matter of seeing the star. What is the star? The star is the living revelation, the living vision, not the dead knowledge of the Scriptures in the letter, not the dead knowledge of Micah 5:2. What we need today is not merely Bible knowledge but the heavenly vision, the instant vision, the living vision, the vision that human concepts cannot teach.

　　What do you have? Do you have the Scripture verses, or do you have the star? Do you have the scriptural knowledge, or do you have the heavenly star? Do you have the teachings concerning an old way, or do you have the up-to-date, instant vision? Today many have the Bible in their hands, but they have not seen the star. Merely to have the Bible in our hands may be a deadening thing, but to see the star is a living experience. To find and serve Christ according to the principle shown to us in Matthew 2 was not according to the Old Testament Scriptures. To know Christ today is something living, not according to the knowledge of the Bible in dead letters but according to the living, heavenly star.

　　In this case the Lord went away from religion, even from the scriptural religion. Wherever and whenever we set up a religion, the Lord may simply go elsewhere. We cannot circumscribe, confine, or restrict the Lord with our religion. We need to learn in the church life never to set up a religion. We should not insist that this method or that way is right. If we do that, the Lord may say,”It may be right for you, but I do not care for it. If you were not so right, I would be with you; but because you are so right, I will go to those who are wrong.” When we insist that we are right and others are wrong, the Lord may leave us and go to the ones who are wrong.

　　Numbers 24:17 says,”There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob,” but this star did not appear to any of the people of Jacob. The star out of Jacob appeared to the pagans. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” pp. 277-278)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” chs. 5-6; Truth Lessons—Level Four, vol. 1, lsn. 3

　　太二9~10　他们听了王的话，就去了。看哪，他们曾看见它出现的那星，在他们前头领路，直领到那孩子那里，就在上头停住了。他们看见那星，就极其欢乐。

　　出三三11　耶和华与摩西面对面说话，好像人与同伴说话一般……。

　　我们要来看星象家作了什么事：他们看见了那天上的星，便跟随它，但是他们犯了一个大错。他们接受了异象，但很快地他们就转向他们人的观念，运用他们天然的头脑。他们知道这星表征犹太人的王；因此他们推想他们该去到耶路撒冷，询问那些对这一类事有知识的人。我们知道，那一去就带来许多麻烦。……他们用不着去耶路撒冷。他们完全错了，以致许多幼小无辜的生命受害。犹太宗教的领袖们有知识，星象家有异象。但那些接受异象的人犯了一个大错，若非神出来干预，甚至可能导致婴孩耶稣丧生（李文集一九七○年第一册，三七二页）。

　　Matt. 2:9-10 And after they heard the king, they went their way, and behold, the star which they saw at its rising led them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

　　Exo. 33:11 And Jehovah would speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his companion…

　　Consider what the magi did: They saw the heavenly star and they followed it, but they made a great mistake. They received the vision, but they soon turned to their human concept and exercised their natural understanding. They realized that this star signified the King of the Jews; therefore, they reasoned that they should go to Jerusalem and inquire of those who would have knowledge of such matters. Their going, as we know, caused much trouble….They need not have gone to Jerusalem. They were thoroughly wrong and caused many young and innocent lives to be taken. The Jewish religious leaders had the knowledge, and the magi had the vision. Nevertheless, those who received the vision made a great mistake and, apart from divine intervention, would have caused the loss of the little child Jesus. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” p. 278)

　　当星象家到达耶路撒冷，希律就惊慌不安，全耶路撒冷也同他一样（太二3）。希律不安，是事出有因，但耶路撒冷为何也不安？他们不要基督么？为何当他们所等候的那位出生的时候，全耶路撒冷都惊慌不安呢？这就是宗教。我怕当主来临的时候，许多看起来在等待主回来的人也会不安。……然后希律就召了祭司长和民间的经学家，向他们查问基督当生在何处（4）。经学家就是百姓中有神学博士学位的人。他们立刻回答说，“伯利恒！”他们引用的书卷对，章节对；他们引弥迦书五章二节，但他们有人去伯利恒么？一个也没有！他们因这消息惊慌不安，但没有人有心要去看看发生了什么事。

　　星象家一进到宗教里，就失去那星；但他们几时离开宗教，星又向他们显现了。他们在耶路撒冷找不到活的引导，在宗教里得不着属天的异象，他们必须离开宗教。当他们离开了耶路撒冷，看哪，那星在他们前头领路。这原则在今天仍是一样的。

　　弥迦书五章二节是圣言，是圣经，预言耶稣要在伯利恒出生。但是单凭那节圣经你没法找到耶稣；你能知道耶稣出生于那座城，但你不会知道在哪条街，在哪个家。……即或你有了圣经的知识，你还需要即时、最新的活星，来引导你去耶稣所在的那条街，那间屋子。……累积一些圣经知识是容易的事，但我们若要有活的引导，就必须活在与主亲密的关系里；我们必须与祂是一。

　　那颗天上的星把星象家一直带到那个地方。这是我们的需要。我确信，即或没有弥迦书五章二节的知识，只要跟随那星，他们仍然能够到达那个地方。我们怎么才能寻得基督并事奉祂？不是单凭圣经的知识，而是凭那活星。……只有那些跟随天上之星的人，才能找到祂并敬拜祂。……我们需要圣经的知识么？当然我们需要。它有帮助；但是有一个条件，那一个活的、即时的引导，就是此时此刻引我们去到耶稣确切所在之处的引导，是不可或缺的。……乃是那活的引导把我们带到耶稣那里，叫我们能敬拜祂，并向祂献上我们的礼物（李文集一九七○年第一册，三七二至三七四页）。

　　参读：脱离宗教仪文随从灵，第二、十篇；倪柝声文集第一辑第十五册，马太福音查经记录，第二章。

　　When the magi arrived in Jerusalem, Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him (Matt. 2:3). Herod, yes, but why Jerusalem? Were those in Jerusalem not for Christ? Why was all Jerusalem troubled at the birth of the One for whom they were waiting? This is religion. I am afraid that many who are seemingly for the Lord's return will be troubled by His coming. Then Herod called the chief priests and scribes of the people together and inquired of them where the Christ was to be born (v. 4). The scribes were those among the people who had doctor's degrees in theology. Immediately, they answered,”Bethlehem.” They gave him the right book, the right chapter, and the right verse. They quoted Micah 5:2, but did any one of them go to Bethlehem? Not one! They were troubled by the news, but no one cared to go and see what had happened.

　　When the magi came into religion, they missed the star; but when they left religion, the star appeared to them [Matt. 2:9-10]. They could not find living guidance in Jerusalem. They did not receive the heavenly vision in religion; they had to leave. When they departed from Jerusalem, behold, the star went before them. In principle, it is the same today.

　　Micah 5:2 was the holy writing, the Holy Scripture, prophesying that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. However, by that verse alone you could not find Jesus. You would know in what city Jesus was to be born, but you would not know on what street or in what house….Even if you have the knowledge of the Scriptures, you still need the instant, up-to-date, living star to lead you to the very street and the very house where Jesus is….It is easy to accumulate scriptural knowledge, but if you would have living guidance, you need to live in an intimate relationship with the Lord; you need to be one with Him.

　　The heavenly star led the magi to the very spot [“where the child was” (Matt. 2:9)]. This is all we need. I do believe that if they had no knowledge whatever of Micah 5:2 but simply followed the star, they could have arrived at that place. How can we find Christ and serve Him? Not merely by Bible knowledge but by the living star….Those who followed the heavenly star found Him and worshipped Him. Do we need the knowledge of the Scriptures? Of course we do. It helps, but there is a condition: the living, instant guidance, the guidance of this very moment to lead us to the very spot where Jesus is, is indispensable…. It is the living guidance that brings us to Jesus so that we may worship Him and offer our gifts to Him. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” pp. 278-280)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1970, vol. 3,”Being Delivered from Religious Rituals and Walking according to the Spirit,” chs. 2, 10; CWWN, vol. 15, ch. 2

　　启二1　　　……那右手中握着七星……的，这样说。

　　彼后一19　我们并有申言者更确定的话，你们留意这话，如同留意照在暗处的灯，直等到天发亮，晨星在你们心里出现，你们就作得好了。

　　不只基督自己是星，祂的跟从者也是，他们是在众召会中发光的人。在使徒行传与书信里，带头的人被称作长老，但在圣经末一卷里他们乃是星。现在不是头衔或地位的问题，乃是发不发光的问题。所有在地方召会中领头的人必须是发光的星。……在新约开头，只提到有一颗星在天上；但在新约末了，有七星在七个地方召会中。在每个地方召会中都有一颗星；在每个地方召会里都有发光物，把人带到正路上去（李文集一九七○年第一册，三八四至三八五页）。

　　Rev. 2:1 …These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand…

　　2 Pet. 1:19 And we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

　　Not only is Christ Himself the star, but also His followers, the shining ones in the churches, are stars. In Acts and the Epistles the leading ones were called elders, but in the last book of the Bible they are the stars. Now it is not a matter of title or position but a matter of shining. All the leading ones of the local churches should be shining stars. In the beginning of the New Testament there was mention of only one star in the heavens, but at the end of the New Testament there are seven stars in seven local churches. In every local church there is a star; in every local church there is something shining, leading people to the right way. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” pp. 286-287)

　　圣经不只给我们看见，我们如何才能跟随那星；它也给我们看见，我们如何能成为一颗星。有两条路：第一是借着圣经，第二是凭着那灵。

　　彼后一章十九节给我们第一个秘诀，……我们有申言者的话，就是圣经。但申言者的话并不是星；圣经不是星。……因为我们有申言者的话，我们必须留意，我们必须全心关注，直等到天发亮，晨星在我们心里出现。……这里的“星”，原文可以翻作英文的“磷”。这星是像磷一样，能在黑暗中发光的。……圣经不该仅仅是白纸黑字；不该是死的字句。我们必须留意圣经的话，直到有些像磷一样的东西在我们里头出现—那就是基督作为晨星。

　　有时我们拿起圣经来读，却感觉一无所获。另有时当我们敞开我们的心，留意申言者的话，就有东西在里面照耀了，出现了，天亮了，破晓了。当我们祷读圣经经节的时候，在深处感觉发光、照亮，这种照亮产生向主耶稣的爱。我们觉得祂是何等可爱。……许多时候由于这个照亮，我们甚至爱主耶稣到癫狂的地步。那就是耶稣临到我们，如同天发亮，作为晨星在我们心里出现。……许多时候当我读主话语的时候，有东西在我里面出现，好像天发亮一样。哦，实在美妙！局面也许黯淡，四围都是黑暗，但是在里面有些东西在照亮，在发光，充满荣耀。

　　在星象家的日子，看见那星是奇迹似的事件，但在今天看见晨星只是寻常的事，并且该是我们例常的经历。每天都该有晨星在我们心里出现。……所以，今日这星是来自这活话。……首先我们有话；其次由于留意申言者的话，我们有晨星在我们心里出现。我们若一直随从这在我们里面出现的星，就会一直在那灵里。

　　在彼后〔一章十九节〕我们有申言者的话，而在启示录〔三章一节〕我们有七灵。……耶稣的手不只握着七星，也握着七灵。这意思是，七灵与七星是一，七星与七灵是一。如果我们有活的话像晨星那样在里面出现，并且我们与七灵是一，到末了我们便成了众星。我们不单有星在我们里面照亮，并且借着察看这星，并且在那灵里跟随，我们也成了众星（李文集一九七○年第一册，三八五至三八九页）。

　　参读：马太福音生命读经，第七篇；启示录生命读经，第九、十四篇；长老训练第十一册，第一章。

　　In the Bible we see how we may not only follow the star but even become one of the stars. There are two ways: first, by the Bible, and second, by the Spirit.

　　Second Peter 1:19 gives us the first secret….We have the prophetic word, the Bible. However, the prophetic word is not the star; the Bible is not the star….Since we have the prophetic word, we need to give heed to it, we need to pay full attention to it, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. The word used for star here can be translated into English as”phosphorous.” This star is something as phosphorous, bringing light in the darkness….The Bible should not simply be words in black and white; it should not be dead letters. We should give heed to the words of the Bible until something as phosphorous rises within us—that is, Christ as the morning star.

　　Sometimes we may take the Bible, read it, and feel that we receive nothing. Other times, however, when we open our heart and give heed to this prophetic word, something within is shining, rising, dawning, breaking through. While we are pray-reading the verses of the Bible, there is a sense deep within of enlightening, of shining, and this shining creates a love toward the Lord Jesus. We feel that He is so lovable….Many times by this shining we are beside ourselves with love to the Lord Jesus. That is Jesus coming to us as the dawning day, as the morning star rising in our hearts…. Many times when I was with this holy Word, something has risen within me like the daybreak. Oh, it is wonderful! The situation may not be bright, the surroundings may be full of darkness, but something within is enlightening, shining, filling with glory.

　　In the days of the magi, the seeing of the star was a miraculous occurrence, but today to see the morning star is only normal and should be our regular experience. Day by day we need to have the morning star rising in our heart. Today, therefore, the star comes from the living word…. First, we have the word; second, by giving heed to the prophetic word, we have the morning star rising in our heart. If we will simply go along continually with this inner, rising star, we will consistently be in the Spirit.

　　In 2 Peter we have the prophetic word, but in Revelation 3:1 we have the seven Spirits….The hand of Jesus holds not only the seven stars but also the seven Spirits. This means that the seven Spirits are one with the seven stars, and the seven stars are one with the seven Spirits. If we have the living word as the morning star rising within us and we are one with the seven Spirits, eventually we will become the stars. We not only have the star shining within us, but by looking to the star and following in the Spirit, we become the stars. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” pp. 287-289)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Matthew, msg. 7; Life-study of Revelation, msgs. 9,14; CWWL, 1991-1992, vol. 1,”Elders' Training, Book 11: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (3),” ch. 1

　　诗五3　　耶和华啊，……早晨我必向你陈明我的心意，并要守望。

　　九十14　求你使我们在早晨饱得你的慈爱，好叫我们一生欢呼喜乐。

　　启二二16　……我是大卫的根，又是他的后裔，我是明亮的晨星。

　　　二28　　我又要把晨星赐给他。

　　清早是遇见主、与主有来往、与主有交通最好的时候。吗哪总是在日出以前收取的（出十六14~21）。人要吃神给他的粮食，总应当清早起来。日头一出来，吗哪融化了，就吃不到了。你在神面前要得着属灵的培养，要得着属灵的造就，要有属灵的交通，有分属灵的粮食，就得早一点起来。起迟了就吃不到吗哪。在清早的时候，神特别要将祂属灵的食物，圣别的交通，分给祂的儿女。……所有认识神的人，都经常的在清早起来，到神面前去交通。

　　应当把我们一天之中最好的时候，清晨的时候，用在神面前。有些基督徒是把一天的时间都花在别的事上，等到晚上最累的时候，快要到床上去睡的时候，才在那里跪下来读圣经、祷告。怪不得他圣经读不好，怪不得他祷告不好，怪不得他与主的交通不好。……我们一信主，就要学习在清早的时候划出时间来，与神交通，与神来往（初信造就上册，一九○至一九二页）。

　　Psa. 5:3 O Jehovah,…in the morning I will set forth my words in order to You, and I will watch.

　　90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness that we may give a ringing shout and rejoice all our days.

　　Rev. 22:16 …I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning star.

　　2:28 And to him I will give the morning star.

　　The best time to meet the Lord, to contact Him, and to fellowship with Him is early in the morning. Manna is gathered before the sun rises (Exo. 16:14-21). Anyone who wants to eat God's food should rise up early. When the sun waxes hot, manna melts and is gone. If we want to receive spiritual nourishment and spiritual edification, and if we want to have spiritual fellowship and spiritual supply, we need to rise up early. If we rise up late, the manna will be gone. The early morning is the very time when God dispenses His spiritual food and holy fellowship to His children…. All those who know God rise up early.

　　We should spend the best time of the day—the early morning—before the Lord, rather than in other things. Some Christians spend the whole day on other matters and kneel down to read the Bible and pray only at night when they are about to go to sleep. No wonder they are ineffective in their Bible reading, their prayer, and their fellowship with the Lord….The moment we believe in the Lord, we should set apart the early morning for fellowshipping with God and for contacting Him. (CWWN, vol. 48,”Messages for Building Up New Believers (1),” pp. 165-167)

　　启示录二章二十八节告诉我们，基督将是赐给得胜者的晨星。新约启示，那天上光体所象征的基督，乃是明亮的晨星（启二二16）。整本圣经关于基督的预表，开始于祂是光（创一3），结束于祂是晨星这光体。晨星是在午夜之后，黎明前最黑暗的时刻出现。这指明基督要在这世代临近结束前，在最黑暗的时候，出现如明亮的晨星。……没有一颗星像晨星那样明亮。在最黑暗的时候，得胜者里面有一颗星在照耀。得胜者要得着并享受特别的光，就是基督作为晨星。

　　在新约起头，星是在宗教之外（太二1~6），但在新约末了，星是在召会里。……今天星是在召会里，在众召会中。耶稣基督是那晨星；祂今天行走在众地方召会中间。我们要看晨星，就必须到地方召会去。……我们在宗教里时，感到黑暗，但当主把我们带到召会里，我们就看见了明亮的星。那属天的星今天是在地方召会中。

　　按照彼后一章十九节，晨星是与圣经相联的。……我们若留意申言者的话，我们里面的天就会发亮，并且晨星要在我们心里升起。留意申言者的话，就是注意活的话。这不是仅仅读主的话，乃是进入这话，直到有东西在我们里面升起。我们可以称之为黎明或晨星。十九节的晨星，希腊文是phosphorus（磷），是一种带光物质。……基督是真正的磷，照耀在今日的黑暗中。……我们必须留意〔主的话〕，直到我们里面有东西开始照耀我们。这个照耀会成为我们心中神圣的“磷”。然后我们会有晨星。我们会像马太二章那些星象家一样，从天上有东西照耀我们。我们必须来到确定的话跟前，将我们的全人—我们的口、我们的眼、我们的心思、我们的灵和我们的心—向这话敞开，直到基督这晨星在我们里面升起，并且照耀我们（新约总论第十四册，九四至九六页）。

　　参读：初信造就，第十一篇；新约总论，第一百一十三、四百零七、四百一十一篇；生命的认识，第十四篇。

　　Revelation 2:28 tells us that Christ will give the morning star to the overcomers. The New Testament reveals that Christ, who is signified by the heavenly luminaries, the lights, is the bright morning star (22:16). Concerning the types of Christ, the entire Bible begins with Him as the light (Gen. 1:3) and ends with Him as the morning star, a luminary. The morning star appears in the darkest hour, after midnight and prior to the dawn. This indicates that Christ will appear as the bright morning star in the darkest time, prior to the close of this age.

　　No star is as bright as the morning star. At the darkest time, within the overcomers there is a star shining. The overcomers will have and enjoy the particular light, Christ as the morning star. At the beginning of the New Testament the star was outside of religion (Matt. 2:1-6), but at the end of the New Testament the star is within the church….Today the star is in the church and among the churches. Jesus Christ, who is the morning star, is walking today among the local churches. To see the star, we must come to the local churches….When we are in religion, we have the sense of being in darkness, but when the Lord brings us into the churches, we see the bright star. The heavenly star today is in the local churches.

　　According to 2 Peter 1:19, the morning star is associated with the Bible….If we take heed to the word of prophecy, the day will dawn within us, and the morning star will arise in our hearts. To take heed to the prophetic word is to pay attention to the living Word. It is not simply to read the Word; it is to enter into the Word until something arises within us. We may call this the dawn, or the morning star. In 2 Peter 1:19 the term”morning star” in Greek is phosphoros, a light-bearing substance….Christ is the real phosphorus shining in today's darkness….We must take heed [to the Word] until something begins to shine within us. That shining will become the divine”phosphorus” in our heart. Then we will have the morning star. We will be like the wise men, and something from the heavens will shine over us. We must come to the sure Word and open up our whole being to the Word—our mouth, our eyes, our mind, our spirit, and our heart—until Christ as the morning star rises up in us and shines over us. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 4190-4192)

　　Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 48, ch. 11; The Conclusion of the New Testament, msgs. 113, 407, 411; CWWL, 1953, vol. 3,”The Knowledge of Life,” ch. 14

　　创一16~18　……神造了两个大的光体，大的管昼，小的管夜；又造众星。……这些光体……普照在地上，管理昼夜，分别光暗……。

　　但十二3　　通达人必发光，如同穹苍的光辉；那使多人归义的，必发光如星，直到永永远远。

　　在〔神创造的〕第四天，……出现了更强、更扎实的光体（创一14~17）。虽然第一天光已经来了，但不是那么扎实，不是那么强。在第四天不只光来了，也有光体：太阳、月亮和众星。这些光体更强、更扎实、也更便利。这是生命长大的第一个条件。

　　在预表上，太阳预表基督，……〔并且〕月亮是召会。……我们不单有日、月，还有众星。不只有基督、召会，还有所有得胜的圣徒。但以理十二章三节说，“那使多人归义的，必发光如星。”我们若要帮助人得救，使人从黑暗转向光，使退后者得着恢复，我们就必须是发光的星。启示录一章二十节说，……众使者（众召会中的活肢体）是发光的星。主也说圣徒是世上的光（太五14）。保罗说，圣徒“好像发光之体显在世界里”（腓二15）（创世记生命读经，四八至五○页）。

　　Gen. 1:16-18 …God made the two great light-bearers, the greater light-bearer to rule the day and the lesser light-bearer to rule the night, and the stars….God set them…to give light on the earth and to rule over the day and over the night and to separate the light from the darkness…

　　Dan. 12:3 And those who have insight will shine like the shining of the heavenly expanse, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars, forever and ever.

　　On the fourth day, there was…the appearance of the stronger, more solid lights (Gen. 1:14-17). Although light came in on the first day, it was not that solid, not that strong. On the fourth day, not only the lights came, but also the light bearers—the sun, the moon, and the stars. These are lights which are stronger, more solid, and more available. This is the first requirement for the growth of life.

　　In typology, the sun typifies Christ,…[and] the moon is the church….We not only have the sun, the moon, but also the stars: not only Christ, the church, but also all the overcoming saints. Daniel 12:3 says that those who turn many to righteousness shine like the stars. If we are going to help people to be saved, if we are going to turn people from darkness to light, if we are going to recover all the backsliders, we must be the shining stars. Revelation 1:20 tells us…that the messengers (the living ones in the churches) are the shining stars. The Lord said that the saints are”the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14), and Paul said that the saints shine”as luminaries in the world” (Phil. 2:15). (Life-study of Genesis, pp. 39-40)

　　我们许多人都必须是发亮的星。我们都需要接触基督，接触召会，并接触发光的圣徒们。……当你遇见一位活的弟兄或活的姊妹，你来到他们面前，你不觉得是在一种照耀之下么？这就是光，这光能帮助我们在生命中长大。

　　神在第四天所造的光体，是设立来借着照耀“管理昼夜”的（创一18上）。光不只照耀，也借着照耀来管理。哪里有照耀，哪里就有管理。黑暗带来混乱，而光规律一切。为着生命的长大，我们需要第四天光体的管理和规律。

　　第四天的光体也“分别光暗”（18中）。……光暗已经分开了（4）。现在第四天光体照耀的管理，加强了这个分开。为着生命的长大，我们需要光体的管理和分开的加强。这是生命长大的第二个条件。

　　第一天，我们有来自灵和话的光。当我们往前时，我们需要第四天的光。在第四天，光来自基督，来自召会，并来自发光的圣徒。……第一天的光是为着生命的生出，第四天的光是为着生命的长大。第四天的光主要是直接从基督来的，也有从召会和发光的圣徒来的。在我们接受永远的生命之后，我们若要在生命里长大，首先必须接触基督，第二要接触召会，第三要接触活的圣徒。当我们在这样的照耀下，我们就是在长大的过程中。

　　〔我们要祷告：〕“主，我有了生命。但是主，你知道我还需要第四天的光体。我已经有了第一天的光，但我还需要第四天的光体。主耶稣，我需要你作我的太阳，我需要直接地接触你。我要天天在你的同在里，我要在你的照耀之下。我也需要月亮—召会，并且我也需要众星—得胜的圣徒，发光的圣徒，就是使多人归义的人。我需要那些能使人从黑暗转向光明的人。”（创世记生命读经，五一、五四至五五、五七页）

　　参读：创世记生命读经，第四至五篇；国度，第二章；生命的认识，第十四篇。

　　Many of us have to be the shining stars. We need to contact Christ, we need to contact the church, and we also need to contact the shining saints….When you come to a living brother or a living sister, do you not sense an amount of light, that when you enter their presence you are under a certain kind of shining? This is light. This light will help us to grow in life.

　　The lights God made on the fourth day were established”to rule over the day and over the night” by their shining (Gen. 1:18a). The light not only shines, but also rules by its shining. Where there is shining, there is ruling. Darkness brings in confusion, but light regulates. For the growth of life, we need the ruling and the regulating of the fourth-day lights.

　　The lights on the fourth day also”separate the light from the darkness” (Gen. 1:18b). The separation of the light from the darkness…had happened already (Gen. 1:4). Now, the ruling of the fourth-day lights' shining strengthens this separation. For the growth of life, we need the ruling of the lights and also the strengthening of the separation. This is the second requirement for the growth of life.

　　On the first day, we had the light from the Spirit and from the Word. As we go on, we need the lights of the fourth day. On the fourth day, the lights come from Christ, from the church, and from the shining saints….The light on the first day is for the generating of life; the lights on the fourth day are for the growth of life. The lights on the fourth day mainly come from Christ directly, also from the church and the shining saints. If we are to grow in life after we have received the eternal life, we must first contact Christ, second contact the church, and third contact the living saints. While we are under such a shining, we are in the process of growth.

　　[Bring these points to the Lord in prayer.]”Lord, I have the life. But Lord, You know that I need the lights of the fourth day. I have the light from the first day already, but I need the lights of the fourth day. Lord Jesus, I need You as the sun. I need to contact You directly. I want to be in Your presence day by day. I want to be under Your shining. I also need the church, the moon. And I need the stars. I need the overcoming saints, the ones who are shining, who turn many to righteousness. I need those who can turn people from darkness to light.” (Life-study of Genesis, pp. 41, 44, 46)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Genesis, msgs. 4-5; CWWL, 1972, vol. 2,”The Kingdom,” ch. 2; CWWL, 1953, vol. 3,”The Knowledge of Life,” ch. 14

　　启一20　论到你所看见在我右手中的七星，和七个金灯台的奥秘，那七星就是七个召会的使者，七灯台就是七个召会。

　　犹13　　……流荡的星，有黑暗的幽冥为他们永远存留。

　　〔犹大书十三节〕说到异端者“是海里的狂浪，涌出自己可耻的泡沫；是流荡的星，有黑暗的幽冥为他们永远存留”。……这些背道者是假牧人、虚空的云彩、枯树、流荡的星，又是暗礁、海里的狂浪，毫无节制地涌出自己可耻的泡沫。流荡之星的隐喻，指明这些反复无常的教师、背道者，未稳固地定在属天启示不变的真理上，反倒在神像星一样的子民（但十二3，腓二15）中流荡。他们的定命乃是那为他们永远存留的黑暗幽冥（犹大书生命读经，一六至一七页）。

　　Rev. 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw upon My right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

　　Jude 13 …Wandering stars, for whom the gloom of darkness is kept for eternity.

　　[Jude 13 speaks] of the heretics as”wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shames; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of darkness is kept for eternity”…These apostates are false shepherds, empty clouds, dead trees, and wandering stars. They are hidden reefs and wild, raging waves of the sea, foaming out, without restraint, their own shame. The metaphor of wandering stars indicates that the erratic teachers, the apostates, are not solidly fixed in the unchanging truths of the heavenly revelation, but are wandering about among God's star-like people (Dan. 12:3; Phil. 2:15). Their destiny will be the gloom of darkness, which has been kept for them for eternity (Life-study of Jude, p. 14)

　　星，也有消极一面的—流荡的星。……我们该作星，但不该是流荡的星；这是那些假的领袖。今天许多基督徒不是星；有些虽然是星，却是流荡的星。今日有些在宗教里的领袖和教师，就是这一类。……一颗正当的星有一定的位置和固定的轨道，它是一直坚定在它的轨道上。但有些星没有固定的位置和轨道，它们是流荡的星。有些基督徒好像是星，好像也发光，但他们的光是骗人的。……你若是跟随他们，你就被带迷路了；到头来你都不知道要往哪里去。……他们没有立场，没有立足点，没有确定的路与主一同往前去。他们今天这样说，明天又那样说；他们是流荡的。要当心！我们永远无法借着跟随一颗流荡的星来寻得耶稣。

　　我们怎能认出流荡的星呢？有一些特征。他们是秋天没有果子的树，是没有雨水的云彩。我们必须看果子。主耶稣说，从果子可以认出树来（太七16~20）。我们如果跟随流荡的星，到末了我们的分与他们一样—为他们永远存留的黑暗幽冥。

　　我们必须跟随发光的星，就是那些有确定立场、确定道路的人。他们是稳定的星，他们是坚定的人。如果有人来到我们面前，没有确定的立场和道路，我们要远避他。正当的立场是地方召会，正确的道路是在地方召会里，在那灵里向前。……要站在正当的立场上，要保守自己走在正确的路上。……如果你要到某地去，要拿出地图来，走上对的路，进入对的车道；你这样驾车，就能到达目的地。

　　我们深深感觉今日的混乱。哦，那些死的事物！哦，流荡之人的拦阻与打岔！无论谁使我们离开真正的地方召会，使我们不能与主的子民在合一立场上聚会的，都是流荡的星。真正的星乃是使多人归义的，他们并不领人走迷，而是使人转向正路。今天你我或任何人寻得基督的路，乃是要看那活星。阿利路亚！今日这星离我们不远—就在地方召会中。所有的地方召会中都有一些活星。你只要与他们接触，一直与他们为伴，他们就要引你到耶稣所在的地方。

　　愿主怜悯我们，叫我们蒙保守在正路上，事奉主，敬拜祂，并向祂献上我们的爱。愿主使我们像那些星象家，跟随那星去寻得基督。今日那活星和众多的活星都在地方召会中。让我们跟随他们，个个都成为他们中间的一颗星（李文集一九七○年第一册，三九二至三九四页）。

　　参读：犹大书生命读经，第二篇。

　　There is…a negative aspect to the stars—the wandering stars….We should be the stars but not the wandering stars. These are the false leading ones. So many Christians today are not stars; some, however, are stars, but they are wandering stars. There are religious leaders and teachers today who are in this category. A proper star has a certain position and fixed orbit. It continues in its course steadfastly. However, there are some stars with no fixed position or orbit; they are wandering stars. It seems that some Christians are stars; it seems that they are shining, but their shining is a deception…. If you follow them, you will be misled; eventually, you will not know where to go….They have no ground; they have no standing; they have no certain way to go on with the Lord. Today they say one thing, and tomorrow they will say something different; they are wandering. We need to be careful. We cannot find Jesus by following a wandering star.

　　How can we recognize the wandering stars? There are some signs. They are autumn trees without fruit; they are waterless clouds. We need to look for the fruit. The Lord Jesus said that we may know a tree by its fruit (Matt. 7:16-20). If we follow the wandering stars, eventually our portion will be the same as theirs— the gloom of darkness that has been kept for them for eternity.

　　We need to follow the shining stars, those with a definite standing and a certain course. These are the stable stars, the steadfast ones. If anyone comes to us without a definite standing and a certain course, we should avoid him. The proper standing is the local church, and the right course is to go on in the Spirit in the local church….We need to take the proper standing and keep ourselves in the right course….If you intend to go to a certain place, you need to get out your map, get on the right road and in the right lane, and as you drive you will reach your destination.

　　We are aware of today's confusion. Oh, the dead things! Oh, the frustrations, the distractions of the wandering ones! Anyone who keeps us from the genuine local church and from meeting on the ground of oneness with the Lord's people is a wandering star. The true stars are those who turn many to righteousness, those who do not lead people astray, but turn them to the right way. Today the way for you and me and for everyone else to find Christ is to see the living star. Hallelujah! Today the star is not far from us—it is with the local churches. Among all the local churches there are some living stars. You simply need to contact them; you need to keep company with them. They will lead you to the place where Jesus is.

　　May the Lord be merciful to us so that we may always be kept in the right way to serve the Lord, to worship Him, and to offer our love to Him. May the Lord make us all like those magi, following the star to find Christ. Today the living star and the living stars are in the local churches. Let us follow them, and let us each be one of them. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1,”New Testament Service,” pp. 291-293)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Jude, msg. 2