第一週  爲美地爭戰

詩歌：補917

讀經：書一2 ～ 6，13，弗二2，六12，西一12 ～ 13

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【週一】

壹 我們若仔細讀聖經，就會看見有爲着美地的爭戰—書一2 ～ 6，13：

一 神的仇敵撒但正竭盡所能來阻撓神的子民取得並享受基督作美地—弗二2，六12。

二 舊約裏所有的爭戰都與美地有關—書一2 ～ 6，五11 ～六27。

【週二】

貳 我們要領會以色列人進迦南和在迦南爭戰的意義，就需要認識，按豫表迦南有兩面的意義—西一12，弗一3，二2，六12：

一 在積極一面，迦南是豐富之地，豫表包羅萬有的基督同祂追測不盡的豐富—申八7 ～ 10，西一12，弗三8：

1 美地是聖經裏所看到基督終極的豫表—申八7。

2 美地，迦南地，豫表基督是一切，又在一切之內，祂對我們乃是一切—弗三8。

3 在聖經裏，地是基督的表號，象徵—創一9，彼後三5：

a 創世記一章九至十節和十三節裏第三日從死水出來的地，豫表第三日從死裏出來之復活的基督。

b 聖經裏所啓示神的心意，乃是基督該作我們的地—申八7 ～ 10。

【週三】

二 在消極一面，迦南表徵撒但黑暗國度空中、天上的部分，就是滿了撒但勢力的諸天界—弗二2，六12：

1 撒但有他的權勢和他的使者，這些使者是他的從屬，就是那些執政的、掌權的、和管轄這黑暗世界的；因此，撒但有他的國，就是黑暗的權勢—徒二六18，太十二26，二五41，弗六12，西一13。

2 直到今天，邪惡的權勢仍然將基督的包羅萬有向神的子民遮蔽起來—二8，18，林後四4。

3 以弗所書指明，諸天界裏有好幾層—一3，二2，六12：

a 基督是在最高的一層，就是三層天上，作我們的一切，就是我們的美地—申八7 ～ 10。

b 諸天界裏還有較低的一層，就是空中，在那裏撒但是空中掌權者的首領，阻撓地上的人接觸神並接受基督；這是由那些阻撓以色列人進入美地的迦南人所豫表的—弗二2。

4 迦南人豫表跟隨撒但的墮落天使，背叛的天使，他們成了撒但國裏有能的、執政的和掌權的，就是諸天界裏邪惡的屬靈勢力—啓十二4，7，弗六12。

【週四】

叁 佔據美地的各個異族，表徵我們天然生命不同的方面：

一 異族的神（偶像—出二三24）及其背後的鬼魔，（參林前十20，）代表邪惡的屬靈勢力。（弗六12。）

二 在我們天然生命的背後乃是邪惡的勢力，（參太十六23 註1，）利用、操縱、並指使我們天然生命的各方面，阻撓我們據有包羅萬有的基督並享受祂的豐富。

三 因着天然生命阻撓我們據有基督並享受基督，所以我們必須恨惡它，（路十四26，）並且當我們在基督裏長大時，就樂意將天然生命攆出去。

四 神不是一次就將我們天然的生命（由異族所表徵）全部剪除，因爲這樣作會使我們裏面成爲真空，有被鬼魔（由田野的獸所表徵）佔據的危險—出二三29，參太十二43 ～ 45：

1 神乃是按照我們在神聖生命裏長大的程度，漸漸的，一點一點的剪除我們的天然生命—出二三30。

2 基督越在我們裏面擴增，祂就越頂替我們天然的生命。

五 神應許要攆走異族，（29 ～ 30，）但神的百姓必須與祂合作，主動的滅絕他們—31 ～ 33 節，參羅八13，加五24，西三5，腓二12 ～ 13。

六 基督越在我們裏面擴增，我們就越能與神合作，把天然的生命攆出。

【週五、週六】

肆 我們若要據有美地，以成就神的定旨，就必須從事屬靈的爭戰，擊敗撒但的勢力—書六21：

一 我們需要認識屬靈的爭戰—撒但的國與神的國之間的爭戰—是必需的—太六10，七21，十二26，28，賽十四12 ～ 14。

二 當以色列人豫備好要據有迦南地時，那地滿了鬼附的人、拜偶像的人和拿非利人—民十三33。

三 因着拿非利人（墮落天使和墮落人類的混雜）住在迦南地，所以神命令以色列人要取得這地，並毀滅其上所有的人，使人類得着清理—申七1 ～ 2：

1 按照神聖的思想，迦南地的國民必須消滅，因爲他們是屬魔鬼的，並且與鬼調和—2 節，書十一21 ～22，十四6 ～ 14。

2 迦南人不僅表徵墮落的天使，也表徵與邪靈，與空中撒但黑暗權勢聯結的人類—民十四45。

四 亞拉得王、（二一1、）亞摩利人的王（21）和巴珊王，（33，）是約但河東的『守門者』，爲撒但護衞着迦南地，就是黑暗的國：

1 神的軍隊所戰勝的諸王，表徵空中執政者、掌權者和管轄這黑暗世界的；我們必須與他們爭戰—弗六12。

2 以色列人要進入美地，必須通過這三個王所管治的境界，與他們爭戰，毀滅他們，並佔領他們的境界。

3 我們要贏得基督追測不盡的豐富，就必須擊敗亞拉得王、亞摩利人的王西宏和巴珊王噩所表徵的屬靈仇敵—三8，六10 ～ 12。

五 以色列人與那地居民的爭戰，描繪在地上那看得見的景象背後，正進行着看不見的屬靈爭戰—但十10 ～ 21，弗六10 ～ 20：

1 極其重要的是，我們要看見，在景物的背後正進行着屬靈的爭鬭，這爭鬭不是人的眼睛所能看見的。

2 除了在地上的爭戰以外，在空中還有神與撒但勢力之間的爭戰—二2，六12。

六 以色列人與迦南人爭戰，爲要據有並享受美地，這豫表整個召會，包括所有的肢體，都有分於屬靈的爭戰，抵擋『諸天界裏那邪惡的屬靈勢力』，（12，）使聖徒能享受基督作包羅萬有的地。

七 基督是我們的美地，神要我們贏得基督，但在我們和美地之間，有一層屬魔鬼、鬼魔的勢力；我們若要據有美地作我們的享受，就必須擊敗這些撒但的勢力—西一12 ～ 13，二15，弗三18，六11 ～ 12：

1 這裏有一個非常真實的屬靈爭戰需要我們參與；我們必須爭戰以得着包羅萬有的基督，爲着建造召會作基督的身體、新人和神的國—10 ～ 12 節，提前六12 上，提後二3 ～ 4，西一13，18，二19，三10 ～ 11。

2 我們若要據有基督作我們的享受，就必須是一個團體的戰士，就是作基督身體的召會，與撒但的勢力爭戰，擊敗撒但的勢力，使我們更多得着基督，以建造基督的身體，建立並擴展神的國，使基督能回來承受這地—弗三8，四16，太二四14，啓十一15。

Week One

Fighting for the Good Land

Hymns: 893

Scripture Reading: Josh. 1:2-6, 13; Eph. 2:2; 6:12; Col. 1:12-13

§ Day 1

I. If we read the Scriptures carefully, we will see that there is a battle for the good land—Josh. 1:2-6, 13:

A. Satan, the enemy of God, is doing his utmost to keep the people of God from taking possession of and enjoying Christ as the good land—Eph. 2:2; 6:12.

B. All the battles in the Old Testament were concerned with the good land— Josh. 1:2-6; 5:11—6:27.

§ Day 2

II. In order to understand the significance of the Israelites entering Canaan and the warfare in Canaan, we need to know that Canaan has a twofold significance in typology— Col. 1:12; Eph. 1:3; 2:2; 6:12:

A. On the positive side, Canaan, a land of riches, typifies the all-inclusive Christ with His unsearchable riches—Deut. 8:7-10; Col. 1:12; Eph. 3:8:

1. The good land is the ultimate type of Christ found in the Scriptures—Deut. 8:7.

2. The good land, the land of Canaan, is a type of the Christ who is all and in all and who is everything to us—Eph. 3:8.

3. In the Bible the land is a figure, a symbol, of Christ—Gen. 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:5:

a. The land that came out of the death waters on the third day in Genesis 1:9-10 and 13 is a type of the resurrected Christ who came out of death on the third day.

b. Gods intention revealed in the Scriptures is that Christ should be our land—Deut. 8:7-10.

§ Day 3

B. On the negative side, Canaan signifies the aerial part, the heavenly part, of the dark kingdom of Satan, the heavenlies that are full of Satans forces— Eph. 2:2; 6:12:

1. Satan has his authority and his angels, who are his subordinates as the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world; hence, he has his kingdom, the authority of darkness—Acts 26:18; Matt. 12:26; 25:41; Eph.
6:12; Col. 1:13.

2. To this day, evil forces are veiling the all-inclusiveness of Christ from Gods people—2:8, 18; 2 Cor. 4:4.

3. The book of Ephesians indicates that in the heavenlies there are different layers—1:3; 2:2; 6:12:

a. Christ is in the highest layer, the third heaven, to be our everything as our good land—Deut. 8:7-10.

b. There is a lower layer of the heavenlies—the air, where Satan as the ruler of the authority of the air is frustrating the people on earth from contacting God and receiving Christ; this is typified by the Canaanites, who were frustrating Israel from entering into the good land—Eph. 2:2.

4. The Canaanites typify the fallen angels, the rebellious angels who follow Satan,  who have become the powers, rulers, and authorities in Satans kingdom, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies—Rev. 12:4, 7; Eph. 6:12.

§ Day 4

III. The various pagan tribes that occupied the land signify the different aspects of our natural life:

A. The gods (idols) of the pagan tribes (Exo. 23:24), with the demons behind them (cf. 1 Cor. 10:20), represent the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12).

B. Behind our natural life are the forces of evil (cf. Matt. 16:23, footnote 1), who utilize, manipulate, and direct the aspects of our natural life to frustrate us from taking possession of the all-inclusive Christ and enjoying His riches.

C. Because the natural life frustrates us from possessing Christ and enjoying Him, we must hate it (Luke 14:26) and, as we grow in Christ, be willing to drive it out.

D. God will not cut off our natural life, signified by the pagan tribes, all at once, because this would leave us inwardly vacant and in danger of being taken over by demons, signified by the animals of the field—Exo. 23:29; cf. Matt. 12:43-45:

1. God cuts off our natural life gradually, little by little, according to the degree of our growth in the divine life—Exo. 23:30.

2. The more Christ increases in us, the more He will replace our natural life.

E. God promised to drive out the pagan tribes (vv. 29-30), but Gods people had to cooperate with Him by taking the initiative in destroying them— vv. 31-33; cf. Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:5; Phil. 2:12-13.

F. The more Christ increases in us, the more we will be able to cooperate  with God in driving out the natural life.

§ Day 5 & Day 6

IV. If we would possess the good land for the fulfillment of Gods purpose, we must engage in spiritual warfare to defeat the satanic forces—Josh. 6:21:

A. We need to realize the necessity of spiritual warfare—a warfare between the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God—Matt. 6:10; 7:21; 12:26, 28; Isa. 14:12-14.

B. When Israel was ready to take possession of the land of Canaan, the land was filled with demon-possessed people, idol worshippers, and Nephilim—Num. 13:33.

C. Because the Nephilim, a mixture of fallen angels and fallen man, dwelt in the land of Canaan, God commanded the children of Israel to take over this land and to destroy every living being there so that the human race
could be cleared up—Deut. 7:1-2:

1. According to the divine thought, the nations in the land of Canaan had to be exterminated because they were devilish and mingled with demons—v. 2; Josh. 11:21-22; 14:6-14.

2. The Canaanites signify not only the fallen angels but also human beings who have joined themselves to the evil spirits, to the satanic power of darkness in the air—Num. 14:45.

D. The kings of Arad (21:1), of the Amorites (v. 21), and of Bashan (v. 33) were the "gate guards" on the east of the Jordan, guarding the land of Canaan, the kingdom of darkness, for Satan:

1. The kings defeated by Gods army signify the rulers, the authorities, and the world-rulers of darkness, against whom we must struggle—Eph. 6:12.

2. In order for the children of Israel to enter into the good land, they had to pass
through the territory controlled by these kings and had to fight against them, destroy them, and take over their territory.

3. To gain the unsearchable riches of Christ, we must crush the spiritual enemies signified by the king of Arad, Sihon the king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan—3:8; 6:10-12.

E. Israels fighting against the inhabitants of the land portrays the invisible spiritual warfare that is taking place behind the visible scene on earth— Dan. 10:10-21; Eph. 6:10-20:

1. It is crucial for us to see that behind the scene a spiritual struggle is taking place, a struggle not seen with human eyes.

2. In addition to the war on earth, there is a war between God and the satanic forces in the air—2:2; 6:12.

F. The fighting of the children of Israel against the Canaanites that they might possess and enjoy the good land typifies the spiritual warfare of the church as a whole, including all the members, against "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies" (v. 12) that the saints may enjoy Christ as the all-inclusive land.

G. Christ is our good land, and God wants us to gain Christ, but there is a layer of devilish, demonic forces between us and the good land; if we would take possession of the good land for our enjoyment, we must defeat these satanic forces—Col. 1:12-13; 2:15; Eph. 3:18; 6:11-12:

1. There is an exceedingly real spiritual warfare in which we must engage; we must fight the battle to gain the all-inclusive Christ for the building up of the church as the Body of Christ, the new man, and the kingdom of God—vv. 10- 12; 1 Tim. 6:12a; 2 Tim. 2:3-4; Col. 1:13, 18; 2:19; 3:10-11.

2. If we would take possession of Christ for our enjoyment, we must be a corporate
warrior, the church as the Body of Christ, fighting against and defeating the satanic forces so that we can gain more of Christ for the building up of the Body of Christ, setting up and spreading the kingdom of God so that Christ can come back to inherit the earth—Eph. 3:8; 4:16; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 11:15.