彼此一同喜乐
保罗说，“我…也是喜乐，并且与你们众人一同喜乐。”这话是很有意义的。他先说喜乐，接着又说与众圣徒一同喜乐。这样说的原因，是因为牵涉到两个构成：一个构成是信徒的信心；另一个构成是成为奠祭的使徒。奠祭浇奠的时候，这两个构成彼此回应。一方喜乐的时候，另一方不可能不喜乐。使徒喜乐，信徒的反应是与他一同喜乐。所以保罗能说，“你们也要同样喜乐，并且与我一同喜乐。”
一方喜乐时，另一方没有喜乐的反应，这是不正常的。如果你在一个活人面前喜乐，那人该有喜乐的反应。在二章十七和十八节这里，保罗与信徒两方都喜乐。保罗喜乐时，信徒也有喜乐的反应。这就是那些有信心之构成的人，与那已经被构成奠祭，浇奠在这信心上的人一同喜乐。保罗与腓立比信徒之间有何等美妙的交流！何等美好的交通和交流！一面，保罗说，“我…喜乐，并且与你们众人一同喜乐。”另一面，他又说，“你们也要同样喜乐，并且与我一同喜乐。”大家一同喜乐，这是何等美妙的光景！
我们也许希奇，保罗即将殉道，竟是他喜乐的原因。保罗盼望腓立比人在他为他们信心的缘故殉道时，也庆贺他，同他分享他们的喜乐。保罗的殉道成了一种满了喜乐的光景。这件事能彀成就，乃是因为信徒这一面有信心的构成，而保罗这一面有奠祭的构成。我们已经指出，这两个构成都不是很快就产生出来的，乃是需要许多时间来发展的。
信息重点：当信徒的信心成为祭物，使徒成为奠祭时，结果不是忧愁，乃是彼此一同喜乐。一个为主完全献上的生命，能够使自己喜乐，也把别人带进共同的喜乐里。
应用祷告：主耶稣，求你使我在经历你、献上自己的过程中满有喜乐。愿我不单独追求你，也与弟兄姊妹彼此供应、彼此扶持，在共同经历基督的生活中一同喜乐。阿们！
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The Drink Offering and Sacrifice (5) — Phil. 2:18
Rejoicing Together
Paul says, “I…also rejoice, and rejoice with you all”. This statement is very meaningful. He first speaks of rejoicing, and then speaks of rejoicing together with the saints. The reason he speaks this way is that two constitutions are involved: one is the faith of the believers, and the other is the apostle who became the drink offering. When the drink offering is poured out, these two constitutions respond to each other. When one side rejoices, the other side cannot help but rejoice as well. When the apostle rejoices, the believers’ response is to rejoice together with him. Therefore Paul could say, “You too…rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”
If one side rejoices and the other side has no responsive joy, this is not normal. If you rejoice in front of a living person, that person should respond with joy. Here in 2:17 and 18, both Paul and the believers rejoice. When Paul rejoices, the believers also respond with joy. This is the case of those constituted with faith rejoicing together with the one who has already been constituted a drink offering, poured out upon this faith. What a wonderful exchange between Paul and the Philippian believers! What a wonderful fellowship! On the one hand, Paul says, “I…rejoice, and rejoice with you all.” On the other hand, he also says, “You too…rejoice in the same way and rejoice with me”. All rejoicing together — what a wonderful scene this is!
We may be surprised that Paul’s coming martyrdom was actually the reason for his joy. Paul hoped that when he was martyred for the sake of the Philippians’ faith, they would also congratulate him and share their joy with him. Paul’s martyrdom became a scene full of joy. This could be accomplished because on the believers’ side there was the constitution of faith, and on Paul’s side there was the constitution of the drink offering. We have already pointed out that neither of these two constitutions is produced quickly, but requires much time to develop.
Message Main Points: When the believers’ faith becomes a sacrifice and the apostle becomes a drink offering, the result is not sorrow, but rejoicing together. A life fully offered for the Lord’s sake is able to bring joy to itself and also bring others into a shared joy.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask You to fill me with joy in the process of experiencing You and offering myself. May I not pursue You alone, but also supply and support one another with the brothers and sisters, rejoicing together in a life of experiencing Christ in common. Amen!