於2015-01-20發佈

恩典的季節
2015年1月15日
Diane Lake
http://www.generals.org/articles/single/a-season-of-grace/

大山哪,你算甚麼呢?在所羅巴伯面前,你必成為平地。他必搬出一塊石頭,安在殿頂上。人且大聲歡呼說:『願恩惠恩惠歸與這殿(殿:或譯石)!』」(撒迦利亞書4:7)

藉著預言顯示,2015 年會是個恩典的季節。『恩典』通常與數字『5』有關,而數字5(在今年)同時出現在陽曆和猶太人的曆法中。

輕微的調整 – 重大的不同

最近我做了個夢。背景是在很驚人美妙的,類似熱帶天堂般的地點。那裡深度的美麗和清澈,與世上我所看過的任何地方都不同。我所看到的是一條海岸線的鳥瞰圖。在一端有一群人,另一端則是他們的水源,我也領受到他們並沒有足夠的水。

一個看似知道如何解決問題的人出現。他指出,對水源所做的一些輕微調整,可以對供應方面產生重大不同的影響,而使所有的人都有足夠的水可用。這項調整意味著必須以很小的比例加入一種成分。

無論如何,這個人看似並不急著推行他的解決方案。事實上,他開始與一些兒童在附近的美麗溪流嬉鬧起來。他們戲水玩耍,從一個天然水道上溜下來,一個孩子甚至一度騎到他背上!這真是相當精彩的一幕。

我在神強烈的同在中醒過來。本能的,我知道那個熱帶天堂般的地點就是神的國度,而那群人是教會中的信徒。我感覺那人代表著耶穌,而那些俏皮的場景,則是由神國度中的喜樂而來的(羅馬書14:17)

謎點是那加入少量就可以解決人們問題的神秘成分。雖然我不知道那是什麼,但它是個關鍵。接著,我聽到神說祂要釋放恩典給祂的子民。

在撒迦利亞書第四章,當所羅巴伯要重建聖殿時,遭遇了很多的困難,但藉著神的靈和祂釋放的恩典,大山夷為平地。不論你今天遇到的『大山』是什麼,當你大聲呼喊『恩惠恩惠歸與這殿』時,神就會挪去!

反思與應用

箴言29:18,『沒有異象(或譯:默示),民就放肆;惟遵守律法的,便為有福』。『默示』這個字可以翻譯為『異象』。當我們進一步來研讀『放肆』這個字的起源時,實際上的意思可以解釋成『當缺乏紀律時,會因著忽視而讓機會從手中流失』。

另一個版本的翻譯是,『假如人們看不到神正在做什麼,他們就會滿地絆倒;但當神所啟示出來的,人們參與其中,那他們就是最蒙福的人們』。從本質上來說,關注我們這世代的預言啟示,能讓我們不錯失神在地球上正做的事。我希望你們像我一樣,是要在神所啟示的事情,參與其中的人們。

最近我發現自己陷入一些令人沮喪和難處理的景況中。舉其中特別的一個例子,我覺得自己可以理直氣壯的大聲開口。但相反的,我持續地領受到要閉嘴不言 – 要等候主來出手解決。我是這般的渴慕,希望聽到祂對我說,『你帶著如此的恩典來處理這事情!』

這裡是其它關於恩典的反思和應用:

1. 閱讀和默想彼得後書1:2,5-11.
這裡豐富的經文,描述了恩典滿溢的生活所展現的美麗圖畫。恩典是伴隨著魅力,恩慈,恩惠,和善意(注1)。恩典給予我們持守在戰鬥中的耐力,對付所處環境的策略,並讓神為我們出手爭戰。藉著它,形成多結果子,成熟,和踏實的生活。

2. 求問主來顯示出你需要應用祂恩典的地方
夢中的村落裡有一些水,但缺乏充足的供應。無論你身處何種困難的,難處理的,或看似無法克服的情況中,神會讓你收到並能應用上祂所賜的恩典 – 你就能看到微小的一點改變,能帶來如此巨大的不同!藉著領受到祂釋放出來的恩典,我們將會發現在這季節裡,是富豐充裕的。

注1:
Kindness – 加拉太書5:22; Romans11:22
Graciousness – 詩篇 112:4
Goodwill- 腓立比書1:15



A Season of Grace
January 15th, 2015
By Diane Lake

“‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”(Zech. 4:7)

Through the prophetic, it’s being revealed that 2015 will be a season of grace. Grace is commonly associated with the number five, and five appears in the numbers for both the Gregorian (2015) and the Jewish (5775) new years.

A Minor Adjustment—A Major Difference

Recently, I had a dream. The setting was an amazing tropical-like paradise, which had a depth of beauty and clarity unlike any earthly location I’ve ever seen. I was given an aerial view of a length of coastline. At one end was a settlement of people; at the other was their water source, and I understood they did not have sufficient water.

A man appeared who knew how to solve the problem. He revealed that one minor adjustment to the source would make a major difference to the supply, resulting in enough water for all. This adjustment entailed adding one ingredient in very small proportion.

This man, however, seemed to be in no rush to implement the solution. In fact, he began to frolic with some of the children in a beautiful nearby stream. They splashed and played, sliding down a naturally made water slide; a child even rode down on his back at one point! It was quite an amazing scene.

I awoke to a strong presence of the Lord. Instinctively, I knew the beautiful tropical paradise represented the kingdom of God, and the people in the community were believers in the church. I felt the man represented Jesus, and the playful scene was the joy that belongs to those of the kingdom of God (see Rom. 14:17).

The puzzle was the mysterious ingredient that in small amount would resolve the people’s problem. This was a significant key, yet I did not know what it was. And then I heard the Lord say that He wants to release grace to His people.

In Zechariah 4, as Zerubbabel labored to restore the temple, many obstacles were encountered, yet by God’s Spirit and accompanied by grace, the “mountain” became a “plain.” Whatever “mountain” you’re confronting today, God’s looking to remove it, as you shout, “Grace, grace to it!”

Reflection and Application

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” The word revelation could actually be translated as prophetic vision. And further study of word origins reveals that restraint actually infers the idea that lack of discipline has allowed something to slip through one’s fingers by ignoring an opportunity.

One translation reads: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed.” In essence, heeding the revelation brought by prophetic voices of our time enables us to not miss what God is doing in the earth. I hope, like me, you are one who wants to attend to what He reveals!

Recently I’ve found myself in several frustrating and awkward situations. In one circumstance, in particular, I’d be justified to speak up in my defense. Instead, I’ve sensed repeatedly to resist speaking out—to wait for the Lord’s resolution. My heart longs to hear Him say at that moment, “You handled that situation with such grace!”

Here are some additional thoughts on grace for reflection and application:

1. Read and meditate on 2 Peter 1:2, 5-11.
This rich passage of scripture describes a beautiful picture of grace-filled living. Grace is associated with loveliness, kindness, graciousness and goodwill. Grace gives us endurance to stay in the battle, strategy for our situation, and enables God to fight for us. It produces fruitful, mature, steadfast living.

2. Ask the Lord to reveal any situations where you need to apply His grace.
The village in the dream had some water, but lacked abundance. Whatever trying, awkward, or seemingly insurmountable situation you are in, God would have you receive and apply His grace to it—then watch a small adjustment bring a major difference! By receiving the release of His grace, we will find our abundance for this season.