January 22
Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. — Genesis 21:2
Scripture reading: Genesis 21:1–20
Right in that house where Isaac and Ishmael lived were the seed of promise and the seed of flesh. There was strife and trouble there, for Ishmael was teasing Isaac. You will find that there is nothing that is going to hold you except the Isaac life—the seed of Abraham. You will find that the flesh life will always have to be cast out. And Sarah said, “Cast out [Hagar] and her son” (Genesis 21:10). It was very hard to do, but it had to be done. You may say, “How hard!” Yes, but how long did it have to be? It had to be until submission came. There will always be jealousy and strife in your hearts and lives until flesh is destroyed, until God controls and rules in authority over the whole body. When His power reigns over you, you will find that your whole life is full of peace and joy.
Isaac grew up to be a fine young man, perhaps twenty years of age—we are not told—but then came another test. God said to Abraham, “Take your son Isaac, and offer him to Me upon the mount that I will show you.” (See Genesis 22:2.) Do you think that Abraham told anybody about that? No, I am sure he didn‘t. Isaac was near to his heart, and God said he had to offer him on the altar, and there he was—Isaac, the heart of his heart—and God said he was to be the seed of all living. What did he have to do but believe that, just as miraculously as Isaac came into the world, God could raise him even if he were slain? Did he tell Sarah about the thing? No, I am certain he did not, or else he would not have gotten away with that boy. There would have been such a trial in the home. I believe he kept it to himself. When God tells you a secret, don‘t tell anyone else. God will possibly tell you to go and lay hands on some sick one. Go, do it, and don‘t tell anyone.
I know that Satan does not know my thoughts; he only knows what I let out of my mouth. Sometimes he suggests thoughts in order to get to know my thoughts, but I can see that God can captivate my thoughts in such a way that they may be entirely for Him. When God rules in your heart, you will see that every thought is captive, that everything is brought into obedience and is brought into a place where you are in dominion because Christ is enthroned in your life (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). God reveals deep and special things to some people. Keep your counsel before God.
I see this: Abraham could offer Isaac. I believe that God wants me to tell you how so that you may know something about your trials. Some people think they are tried more than other people. Trials are used to purify you; it is the fiery furnace of affliction that God uses to get you in the place where He can use you. The person who has no trials and no difficulties is the person whom God does not dare allow Satan to touch because this person could not stand temptation. But Jesus will not allow any man to be tempted more than he is able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Before Abraham offered Isaac, he was tried, and God knew he could do it. Before God puts you through the furnace of afflictions, He knows you will go through.
If you know you need the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and you know it is in the Scriptures, never rest until God gives it to you. If you know it is scriptural for you to be healed of every weakness, never rest until God makes the healing yours. If you know that the Scriptures teach holiness, purity, and divine likeness—overcoming under all conditions—never rest until you are an overcomer. If you know that men who have gone in and have seen the face of God have had the vision revealed and have had all the Scriptures made to be life in their lives, never rest until you come to it.
We must live in the fire. We must hate sin; we must love righteousness. We must live with God, for He says we have to be blameless and harmless amid the crooked positions of the world (Philippians 2:15). I look at you now, and I say God is able to confirm all I have been saying about trials and testings, which are the greatest blessings you can have.
What a redemption! What a baptism! What an anointing! It is ecstasies of delight beyond all expression for the soul to live and move in Him who is our being (Acts 17:28).
Thought for today: If you knew the value of trials, you would praise God for them more than for anything.
承诺实现
1月22日
撒拉在亚伯拉罕年老的时候，为他怀了孕，生了一个儿子，这是神所应许他的时候。——创世记 21:2
圣经朗读：创世记 21:1–20
就在以撒和以实玛利居住的那所房子里，存在着应许的种子和属肉体的种子。那里有争斗和麻烦，因为以实玛利在戏弄以撒。你会发现，除了以撒的生命——亚伯拉罕的种子——没有什么能够保守你。你会发现，属肉体的生命总是必须被赶出去。撒拉说：“把〔夏甲〕和她的儿子赶出去吧”（创世纪21:10）。这非常难做到，但必须要做到。你可能会说，“多难啊！”是的，但必须多久？必须直到顺服降临。直到肉体被毁灭，直到神掌权并在整个身体中以权柄治理，你的心和生活中总会存在嫉妒和争斗。当祂的能力在你身上掌权时，你会发现你的整个生命充满了平安与喜乐。
以撒长大成人，成为一位出色的年轻人，也许二十岁——我们并不知道——但随后又来了一个考验。上帝对亚伯拉罕说：“你带着你的儿子以撒，去我所指示你的山上，把他献给我。”（参见创世记22:2）你认为亚伯拉罕会告诉别人这件事吗？不会，我敢肯定他没有。以撒是他心中的挚爱，而上帝说他必须在祭坛上献上以撒，而那就是以撒，他心中的至爱——上帝说他将成为万民的后裔。他能做的除了信相信，就像以撒奇迹般诞生一样，即使以撒被杀，上帝也能使他复活吗？他会把这件事告诉撒拉吗？不，我确信他没有，否则他就不可能把那个孩子带走。家里肯定会有一场考验。我相信他把这件事藏在心里。当上帝告诉你一个秘密时，不要告诉任何人。上帝可能会让你去按手在某个病人身上。去吧，去做，不要告诉任何人。
我知道撒旦不知道我的思想；他只知道我从口中说出的东西。有时他会暗示一些想法，以便了解我的思想，但我可以看到上帝可以以一种方式俘获我的思想，使它们完全属于祂。当上帝在你的心中掌权时，你会看到每一个思想都被俘获，一切都被带入顺服，并带入一个你拥有主权的位置，因为基督在你的生命中掌权（哥林多后书 10:4-5）。上帝会向一些人启示深奥而特别的事。要在上帝面前保守你的谋算。
我看到这个：亚伯拉罕可以献以撒。我相信上帝希望我告诉你如何做，这样你就可以了解你所经历的试炼。有些人认为他们遭受的试炼比其他人更多。试炼是用来净化你的；这是上帝用来把你带到可以使用你之地的困苦的烈火熔炉。没有试炼和困难的人，是上帝不敢让撒旦触碰的人，因为这个人无法承受诱惑。但是耶稣不会允许任何人被试探超过他所能承受的（哥林多前书 10:13）。在亚伯拉罕献以撒之前，他经历了试炼，上帝知道他能够做到。在上帝让你经历困苦的熔炉之前，他知道你会挺过去。
如果你知道自己需要圣灵的洗礼，并且知道这是圣经中所说的，绝不要停止追求，直到上帝赐给你。如果你知道按照圣经的教导你可以医治所有的软弱，绝不要停止，直到上帝让你得着医治。如果你知道圣经教导圣洁、纯洁和神的形像——在各种环境下都能得胜——绝不要停止，直到你成为得胜者。如果你知道那些亲身经历见过上帝面的人，他们的异象被揭示，所有的圣经在他们的生命中都成为生命，绝不要停止，直到你也得着这一切。
我们必须生活在火中。我们必须憎恶罪恶；我们必须喜爱公义。我们必须与神同住，因为他说我们必须在世上的弯曲环境中无可指摘、无可亏欠（腓立比书 2:15）。我现在看着你，我说神能够证实我所说的一切关于试炼和考验的话，这些是你能拥有的最大祝福。
多么大的救赎啊！多么大的洗礼啊！多么大的膏抹啊！对于灵魂来说，在那位我们存在的主（使徒行传 17:28）里生活并活动，是超越一切言语的喜悦狂喜。
今日思考：如果你了解试炼的价值，你会因为试炼而比任何事情都更赞美上帝。
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