於2018-01-14發佈


敬畏主─啟示錄  

這週我們將談論啟示錄十四章9-12節。正如聖經不斷告訴我們,敬畏主是智慧的開端,所以讓我們來擁抱此智慧。 

又有第三位天使接著他們,大聲說:若有人拜獸和獸像,在額上或在手上受了印記,

這人也必喝神大怒的酒;此酒斟在神忿怒的杯中純一不雜。他要在聖天使和羔羊面前,在火與硫磺之中受痛苦。

他受痛苦的煙往上冒,直到永永遠遠。那些拜獸和獸像,受他名之印記的,晝夜不得安寧。

聖徒的忍耐就在此;他們是守神誡命和耶穌真道的。        

一個關於末後世代的警告是,他們只能聽讓他們『耳朵發癢』或使他們感覺良好的事物(參考提摩太後書4:3-4)。很難想像有哪個世代會比現在所興起的世代更適合如此的描述,對於任何挑戰人道主義宣傳的事物,他們會習慣性拒絕甚至覺得被冒犯,因為他們已經被教育、娛樂和媒體餵養。前幾代的人有自己對世俗和情慾的迎合,但我們從來沒有看過新興的一代,對挑戰他們安全空間和舒適區的不同想法,所展現出的暴力和憤怒。沒有比『安全空間』心態更危險的地方了,最終只會導致最可怕的後果。 

我們可以做什麼來幫助這些陷在如此永久危險當中的人呢?有的,我們可以做耶穌勸誡門徒在末了所做的事情: 

1) 站立
2) 仰望
3) 歡喜 

讓我們來看看這三項勸誡,如何能夠幫助那些被困在這個時代被稱為『政治性正確』大騙局中的人。 

站立

我們必須在真理上剛強,不要因為我們的膽識與清晰度會冒犯許多人而受影響。這將帶來控告和逼迫,但這是所有跟隨萬王之王的尊榮與榮耀。找找看耶穌所說或所做卻沒受到攻擊的一件事,祂說祂的跟隨者也會受同等對待。倘若我們連結於祂並說出祂的真理,祂告訴我們要預期同樣的事。聖經告訴我們:凡立志在基督耶穌裡敬虔度日的也都要受逼迫』(參考提摩太後書3:12)。因此,我們若沒有受到控告、毀謗與逼迫,我們反要警覺。要剛強站立! 

仰望:

倘若我們知道神認同我們,我們便不應在意別人怎麼想。使徒保羅寫道:若仍舊討人的喜歡,我就不是基督的僕人了』(參考加拉太書1:10。我們若看見寶座上的王,我們怎麼會對任何人驚嘆或懼怕呢?懼怕人或想要人的認同,是使我們在事奉萬王之王妥協或無效的頭號因素。仰望主,不要低頭倚靠人。  

歡喜:

因靠耶和華而得的喜樂是你們的力量(參考尼希米記8:10)。倘若我們的喜樂是以主與祂的認可為中心,而不是以人為中心,我們便會在信心和真理中剛強,絕不容任何事物偷走你在主裡的喜樂。  

我們若對主有真實神聖的敬畏,我們便不會懼怕地上的任何事或任何人。因此,活在對神聖潔的敬畏中,是擺脫世界試圖放在我們身上束縛的最大解放。 

新興一代要從懼怕與從眾行為中得自由的唯一盼望,就是看到那些不受它束縛之人的剛強力量─也就是那些不活在懼怕人或懼怕任何事物中的人,因為從他們的王而來完全的愛趕出一切扭曲、邪惡的恐懼。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week2, 2018) 

 

The Fear of the Lord—The Book of Revelation
Week 2, 2018
Rick Joyner

This week we will cover Revelation 14:9-12. As we are told repeatedly in Scripture, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so let us embrace this as the wisdom that it is. 

Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

"he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger. He will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

"And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.        

         One warning about the last generation is that they can only hear things that “tickle their ears” or make them feel good (see II Timothy 4:3-4). It is hard to imagine a generation that better fits that description than the one now emerging. They have been conditioned to reject, and even be offended by, anything that challenges the humanistic propaganda they have been fed through education, entertainment, and the media. Previous generations have had their own fits of worldliness and carnality, but never have we seen the kind of violence and outrage that the emerging generation displays toward ideas that challenge their safe spaces and comfort zones. Such a “safe place” mentality could not be a more dangerous place, and this will ultimately lead to the most terrible consequences of all. 

         Is there anything we can do to help those in such eternal jeopardy? Yes, we can do what Jesus exhorted His followers to do at the end of this age: 

1) Stand up
2) Look up
3) Rejoice 

Let’s look at how these can help those trapped in the great veil of deception called “political correctness” that is being cast in these times. 

Stand up: 

         We must be bold with the truth and not be affected by how our boldness and clarity will offend many today. It will bring accusations and persecution, but this is an honor and glory for all who follow the King. Find one thing Jesus said or did for which He was not attacked. He said that His followers would be treated the same way. He told us to expect the same if we abide in Him and speak His truth. We are told that “all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (see II Timothy 3:12). Therefore, we should be alarmed if we are not getting accused, slandered, and persecuted. Stand up! 

Look up: 

         If we know that God approves of us, then we should not care what anyone else on earth thinks. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If I were still seeking the approval of men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (see Galatians 1:10). If we have seen the King on His throne, how can we be impressed with or fear any man? The fear of man, or seeking the approval of men, is the number one factor that will compromise or nullify our service to the King. Look up to Him, not down at men. 

Rejoice:

         “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (see Nehemiah 8:10). If our joy is centered in the Lord and His approval, not man’s, we will be strong in the faith and for the truth. Never let anything steal your joy in the Lord. 

If we have the true and holy fear of the Lord, then we will not fear anything or anyone else on earth. Therefore, to live in the holy fear of God is the greatest liberation from the shackles the world would try to put on us. 

The only hope for the emerging generation to be free from the shackles of fear and conformity is to see the bold strength of those not bound by it—those who do not live in the fear of man, or anything. Their King's perfect love casts out all perverted, evil fear.