真實權柄的記號─啟示錄

上週我們談到在啟示錄四章，二十四位長老環繞主的寶座，以及他們所代表的意義。這二十四位長老在啟示錄被提到超過四次以上，每一次他們都面伏於地敬拜神。這是屬神權柄重要的圖畫─他們是敬拜者。在舊約最大的預言性彌賽亞典型人物是大衛王，他也是聖經中最偉大的敬拜者之一。對那些行在屬神權柄的人而言，致力於敬拜是十分重要的。

這二十四位長老在主面前也很謙卑，他們在祂面前俯伏跪拜─這是所有真實屬靈權柄的本質。因為真理是『神阻擋驕傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人』，謙卑是屬神權柄的基本品格。當然今日我們有許多在領導階層中屬神品格的例子，但今日教會也有許多公然傲慢、自誇、掌控與專橫的權柄有其重要的影響力。怎麼會如此呢？使徒保羅在哥林多後書十一章19-21節為此哀嘆說：        

你們既是精明人，就能甘心忍耐愚妄人。

假若有人強你們作奴僕，或侵吞你們，或擄掠你們，或侮慢你們，或打你們的臉，你們都能忍耐他。

我說這話是羞辱自己，好像我們從前是軟弱的。 

很可恥的是，軟弱、沒有分辨力的基督徒很容易掉入此種屬肉體的權柄中。倘若有人高舉自己來獲得影響力，這即是他們並非主所差派的屬神權柄的明確徵兆。倘若他們佔神子民的便宜，這也是他們並非神所差派的明確徵兆。會有哪個好父母會送這樣的人來照顧他或她的家庭呢？神豈不更會差派屬祂本質的人來服事祂的家庭嗎？ 

倘若我們被呼召進入神家中的權柄階層，我們必須謹記在心我們所服事孩子的身份。我認出教會的事工或位置是當我在他們裡面看見主；舉例來說，我必須認識主是我的牧者；我認得祂的聲音是我的牧者。我認出神所差派的真正牧者，不是出於他們的知識、學位或誰任命他們。雖然這些佔了一部份，但我在尋找的是我的牧者耶穌在他們裡面。對教師也是如此，我認出他們是教師，是當我在他們裡面看見我的教師。 

以弗所的教會被稱讚能試驗那自稱為使徒卻不是使徒的；倘若我們是神子民真實又忠心的牧者或守望者，我們有責任試驗任何宣稱是被神所差派的人。倘若他們覺得被冒犯，我將其視為不是神所差派的一個好徵兆，凡是知道自己是神所差派的，不會如此沒有安全感。 

當我們繼續來看啟示錄這卷書，主要的一個功課在於神的權柄與魔鬼假冒權柄之間的不同，以及它如何蒙蔽著許多人。當我們朝著世代的末了前進，此將變得越來越重要。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week3, 2017)

 
The Mark of True Authority—The Book of Revelation
Week 3, 2017
Rick Joyner

         Last week we covered the twenty-four elders around the Lord’s throne in Revelation 4 and what they represent. The twenty-four elders are mentioned four more times in Revelation, and each time they fall on their faces to worship the Lord. This is a crucial picture of godly authority—they are worshippers. The greatest prophetic model of the Messiah in the Old Testament is King David, also one of the greatest worshippers in Scripture. Being devoted to worship is fundamental to those who would walk in godly authority.

         These twenty-four elders are also humble before the Lord. They bow before Him—the basic nature of all true spiritual authority. Because of the truth that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (see James 4:6 NKJV), humility is a basic characteristic of godly authority. Certainly we have many examples of godly character in leadership today, but we also have many blatantly arrogant, boastful, dominating, and overbearing authorities in the church today with significant influence. How is this? The Apostle Paul lamented this in II Corinthians 11:19-21:

         For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

         For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.

         To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.

         It is shameful the way weak, undiscerning Christians so easily fall to this kind of carnal authority. If someone exalts himself or herself to gain influence, it is a sure sign that they are not the godly authority the Lord sends. If they take advantage of God’s people, this is also a sure sign that they have not been sent by God. What good parent would send someone like this to take care of his or her family? How much more will God only send those who are of His nature to serve His family?

         If we are called to any level of authority in the household of God, we must keep in mind whose children we serve. I recognize a ministry or position in the church when I see the Lord in them. For example, I have gotten to know the Lord as my Shepherd. I know His voice as my Shepherd. The way I recognize a true shepherd sent from God is not by their knowledge, degrees, or even who ordained them. Although these carry some weight, what I’m looking for is my Shepherd in them. The same is true of a teacher. I recognize them as a teacher when I see my Teacher in them.

         The church at Ephesus was commended for putting to the test those who called themselves apostles, but were not. If we are true, faithful shepherds or watchmen for God’s people, we have a responsibility to test any who claim to have been sent by God. I would take it as a pretty good sign that one has not been sent by God if they are offended by the test. Those who know they are sent by God will not be so insecure.

         As we proceed through the Book of Revelation, one of the main lessons is the difference between the authority of God and the counterfeit authority of the devil and how it is deceives many. This will become increasingly important as we proceed toward the end of the age.