神的軍隊在動員 28
於2008-08-03發佈
領導有不同的層級。軍隊有階級之分，摩西將領袖分成十夫長、百夫長與千夫長。在出埃及記十二章38節告訴我們以色列離開埃及時如同『閒雜人』，但很快他們就組成『帶兵器的』（參考出埃及記13：18），意指軍隊的次序。這是主預備以色列經過曠野得著應許之地的第一件事，我們可以預期在教會裡不久也會發生同樣的事。
正如我們曾說過，主使用『萬軍之耶和華』的頭銜多過其他頭銜的十倍之多是有其原因的。祂是軍事的神 ─ 軍隊的領袖，祂的百姓將成為全世界未曾看過的最棒軍隊。我們可以預期一個軍隊的樣貌將充滿前進中的教會，並有新類型的領袖興起。
每一個帶領千人以上的偉大元帥幾乎都是從數十人開始的不成熟元帥；成熟只能來自時間與經歷。隨著時間，帶領數十人的不成熟領袖將會成為帶領數十人的成熟領袖。大元帥說：『好！你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理。』（參考馬太福音25：21）。
然而，那並非意謂當他們晉升時馬上就可以成為帶領數百人的成熟領袖；事實上，他將會成為帶領數百人的不成熟領袖，他不會像上一個階層一樣不成熟，因為他已經擁有基本的領導能力。即便如此，不管我們對領導能力的瞭解有多少，帶領數百人的動力將擴展我們成為領袖的能力。
領導能力的恩膏不僅在於我們可以帶領多少人，在一些地方數十人的領袖比在其他場合數千人的領袖還要成熟。特種部隊的小群體可能比一般部隊的大團體更有價值與效率，所以一個可以帶領較小數量的特種部隊可能是一個更有效率與價值的領袖。帶領的數量有其恩膏或恩典，但從神而來的特別命令與使命可以帶出更偉大的領袖類型。
在領導的每一個種類，我們必須能夠評估我們所帶領之人的狀態，好使我們可以更深入的帶領他們，但我們也必須能夠自我評估。那些成為數十人的偉大領袖可能認為他們現在已經瞭解領導，或許他們在他們的層級上做得很好。在帶領二百人與五百或七百人之間可能有很大的不同；帶領數百人可以預備我們來帶領數千人，但其中的不同很少人可以理解，直到他們在那個位置。
瞭解某件事與實際能夠做某件事之間可能有著很大的不同。身為一個飛行指導，我很快學會留意那些讀過訓練指南的學生，這些懂得飛行訓練的人難免會驕傲，不斷嘗試表現他們已經懂了多少。這些學生很危險，或許不算是不受教，但至少很難教。這總是使我花更長的時間教導他們如何開飛機；此外，在他們能獨自飛行之前，必須有一些事使他們害怕與謙卑，否則他們會很危險。
能夠解釋如何使飛機降落的技術與實際能夠降落是二件不同的事。身為一個基督徒，我也看見許多人充滿聖經的知識，那樣的知識使他們驕傲，因為他們無法分別擁有真理的知識與實際活出真理之間的不同。事實上，我碰到一些擁有最多『神深奧知識』的人正好是一些我碰過最不像基督的人，他們無法活出神的生命與能力。
然而，在真正開始飛行訓練前就讀過指南的一些人當中也有不一樣的，有一些人不會因他們的飛行知識而自我膨脹，反而因此謙卑。這樣的人很少，他們不太會去刻意引起飛行教練的注意，反而更多留心在學習開飛機。對這些人而言，他們的知識真的可以協助並加速他們的訓練。謙卑使生活中的每一件更加容易。
即便如此，身為一個飛行教練，我決心要讓驕傲的與謙卑的都成為好的飛行員，並在兩者身上給予相同的努力。在我觀察神如何對待我們，我不認為祂會因為人的驕傲而放棄他們，對待驕傲的人可能更困難，要花更多時間，但神也很愛他們。然而，正如我在謙卑人身上的努力會有更快的結果，所以我們越快謙卑自己，事情會變得越容易。
更高層級的飛行需要更高的執照，例如商用駕駛員或民航運輸駕駛員等級的執照。在某種層面，他們就像是數十人、數百人或數千人的元帥，因為每一個更高的層級，很可能所開的飛機更大，所載的人也更多。
開波音474與開訓練機之間很不一樣，即使二者都有相同的基本控制飛行與導航儀器，飛行員或許兩者都會開，但這兩種飛機非常不同。同樣地，我們可能都是領袖，但是在什麼層級呢？
我們需要做什麼使我們在被呼召之處更有效率呢？
真正的門徒是學生，學習、成長並尋求更多知識瞭解他們的呼召與目的，使用經歷好在智慧中成長。
讓我們在這一生的每一天裡成為真正的門徒，這都是為了預備我們能進入最高晉升的目的 ─ 與主一同管理與掌權。
(摘自 喬納 word for the week,2008 #28)
The Army of God Mobilizes, Part 28
Leadership comes on different levels. Armies tend to have ranks; Moses broke it down into leaders of tens, hundreds, and thousands. In Exodus12:38, we are told that Israel left Egypt as a mixed multitude, but then they were quickly formed into martial array (see Exodus 13:18), which means military order. This was the first thing the Lord did to prepare Israel for making it through the wilderness and to possess their Promised Land. We can soon expect this to also happen in the church.
As we have stated, there is a reason why He uses the title Lord of hosts or Lord of armies more than ten times as much as any other title. He is a martial God—a military leader. His people will become the most awesome army the world has ever seen. We can expect a military demeanor to permeate the advancing church throughout its ranks and a new breed of leader to arise.
Every great captain of thousands almost certainly began as an immature captain of tens. Maturity can only come with the passage of time and experience. In time, someone who began as an immature leader of tens will become a mature leader of tens. Then he will likely get promoted to a leader of hundreds. The Captain said: If we are faithful in the little things, He will entrust us with greater things (see Matthew 25:21).
However, that does not mean that person will now be a mature leader of hundreds when promoted. He will, in fact, be an immature leader of hundreds. He will not start as immature as at the previous level because he has the experience of the basics of leadership. Even so, there are dynamics of leading hundreds that will stretch our abilities to be leaders, regardless of how well we understand leadership.
This anointing for leadership is not just about how many people we can lead. Leaders of tens in some places are much better and more mature leaders than those who may be leaders of thousands in other situations. The same is true in our military. A small group of Special Forces may be a far more valuable and potent force than a much larger force of standard troops, so one who can lead the smaller Special Forces group may be a much more effective and valuable leader. There is an anointing or grace for leading numbers, but there are special mandates and commissions from God that may take an even greater type of leader.
In every kind of leadership, we must be able to evaluate the status of the people we are leading so we can lead them further, but we must also be able to evaluate ourselves. Those who become great leaders of tens may think that they now understand leadership, and they may, and may be doing it well on their level. However, there can be a huge difference between leading ten people and leading a hundred. Then there can be another big difference between leading two hundred and leading five hundred or seven hundred. Leading hundreds can prepare us for leading thousands, but there is a big difference that few can comprehend until they are there.
There can be a big difference between understanding something and being able to do it. As a flight instructor, I learned quickly to watch out for students who had read the training manual. These came for flight training with a cocky edge which was apparent by them constantly trying to show me how much they already knew. These students were dangerous, maybe not unteachable, but at least much harder to teach. This always made it take longer to teach them how to fly the airplane. Also, something had to scare and humble them before they could fly solo or they would be dangerous.
Being able to explain the mechanics of how to land a plane and actually being able to land one are different things. As a Christian, I have also watched many gain knowledge about the manual, the Bible, and that knowledge would puff them up because they could not distinguish the difference between having intellectual knowledge of a truth and actually living that truth. In fact, some of the people I have met who have the greatest knowledge of the deep things of God have been some of the least Christlike people I have met and have little of His life and power.
However, reading the manual before beginning their actual flight training worked differently for some. Some were not puffed up by their knowledge, but rather humbled by it. These were the rare ones who cared less about impressing their flight instructor, but were more concerned about learning to fly the airplane. For these, their knowledge of the manual actually aided and sped up their training. Humility makes everything in life easier.
Even so, as a flight instructor I was just as resolved to get the proud ones to be good pilots as I was the humble ones, and I would give the same effort to each. In my observations of how the Lord deals with us, I do not think He gives up on people either just because they are proud. It may be harder and take longer for the proud ones, but He loves them too. However, just as my effort with the humble produced much faster results, the faster we humble ourselves, the easier it will be for us.
Higher levels of flying are identified by higher licenses, such as Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot ratings. In a sense, these are like being captains of tens, hundreds, or thousands because with each higher rating, there is likely a bigger aircraft which will carry more people.
There is a world of difference between flying a Cessna trainer and flying a Boeing 747, even though they both have the same basic controls and flight and navigation instruments. It may take pilots to fly both of them, but there can be a huge difference in them. Likewise, we may all be leaders, but at what level? What do we need to do to be as effective where we are called, and if are going to be promoted, what do we need to do to go to the next level? True disciples are students - ever learning, growing, and seeking more knowledge of their callings and purposes and using the experience to grow in wisdom. Let us be a true disciple every day we are in this life. It is all for the purpose of preparing us for the greatest promotion of all - to rule and reign with Him.
正如我們曾說過，主使用『萬軍之耶和華』的頭銜多過其他頭銜的十倍之多是有其原因的。祂是軍事的神 ─ 軍隊的領袖，祂的百姓將成為全世界未曾看過的最棒軍隊。我們可以預期一個軍隊的樣貌將充滿前進中的教會，並有新類型的領袖興起。
每一個帶領千人以上的偉大元帥幾乎都是從數十人開始的不成熟元帥；成熟只能來自時間與經歷。隨著時間，帶領數十人的不成熟領袖將會成為帶領數十人的成熟領袖。大元帥說：『好！你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理。』（參考馬太福音25：21）。
然而，那並非意謂當他們晉升時馬上就可以成為帶領數百人的成熟領袖；事實上，他將會成為帶領數百人的不成熟領袖，他不會像上一個階層一樣不成熟，因為他已經擁有基本的領導能力。即便如此，不管我們對領導能力的瞭解有多少，帶領數百人的動力將擴展我們成為領袖的能力。
領導能力的恩膏不僅在於我們可以帶領多少人，在一些地方數十人的領袖比在其他場合數千人的領袖還要成熟。特種部隊的小群體可能比一般部隊的大團體更有價值與效率，所以一個可以帶領較小數量的特種部隊可能是一個更有效率與價值的領袖。帶領的數量有其恩膏或恩典，但從神而來的特別命令與使命可以帶出更偉大的領袖類型。
在領導的每一個種類，我們必須能夠評估我們所帶領之人的狀態，好使我們可以更深入的帶領他們，但我們也必須能夠自我評估。那些成為數十人的偉大領袖可能認為他們現在已經瞭解領導，或許他們在他們的層級上做得很好。在帶領二百人與五百或七百人之間可能有很大的不同；帶領數百人可以預備我們來帶領數千人，但其中的不同很少人可以理解，直到他們在那個位置。
瞭解某件事與實際能夠做某件事之間可能有著很大的不同。身為一個飛行指導，我很快學會留意那些讀過訓練指南的學生，這些懂得飛行訓練的人難免會驕傲，不斷嘗試表現他們已經懂了多少。這些學生很危險，或許不算是不受教，但至少很難教。這總是使我花更長的時間教導他們如何開飛機；此外，在他們能獨自飛行之前，必須有一些事使他們害怕與謙卑，否則他們會很危險。
能夠解釋如何使飛機降落的技術與實際能夠降落是二件不同的事。身為一個基督徒，我也看見許多人充滿聖經的知識，那樣的知識使他們驕傲，因為他們無法分別擁有真理的知識與實際活出真理之間的不同。事實上，我碰到一些擁有最多『神深奧知識』的人正好是一些我碰過最不像基督的人，他們無法活出神的生命與能力。
然而，在真正開始飛行訓練前就讀過指南的一些人當中也有不一樣的，有一些人不會因他們的飛行知識而自我膨脹，反而因此謙卑。這樣的人很少，他們不太會去刻意引起飛行教練的注意，反而更多留心在學習開飛機。對這些人而言，他們的知識真的可以協助並加速他們的訓練。謙卑使生活中的每一件更加容易。
即便如此，身為一個飛行教練，我決心要讓驕傲的與謙卑的都成為好的飛行員，並在兩者身上給予相同的努力。在我觀察神如何對待我們，我不認為祂會因為人的驕傲而放棄他們，對待驕傲的人可能更困難，要花更多時間，但神也很愛他們。然而，正如我在謙卑人身上的努力會有更快的結果，所以我們越快謙卑自己，事情會變得越容易。
更高層級的飛行需要更高的執照，例如商用駕駛員或民航運輸駕駛員等級的執照。在某種層面，他們就像是數十人、數百人或數千人的元帥，因為每一個更高的層級，很可能所開的飛機更大，所載的人也更多。
開波音474與開訓練機之間很不一樣，即使二者都有相同的基本控制飛行與導航儀器，飛行員或許兩者都會開，但這兩種飛機非常不同。同樣地，我們可能都是領袖，但是在什麼層級呢？
我們需要做什麼使我們在被呼召之處更有效率呢？
真正的門徒是學生，學習、成長並尋求更多知識瞭解他們的呼召與目的，使用經歷好在智慧中成長。
讓我們在這一生的每一天裡成為真正的門徒，這都是為了預備我們能進入最高晉升的目的 ─ 與主一同管理與掌權。
(摘自 喬納 word for the week,2008 #28)
The Army of God Mobilizes, Part 28
Leadership comes on different levels. Armies tend to have ranks; Moses broke it down into leaders of tens, hundreds, and thousands. In Exodus12:38, we are told that Israel left Egypt as a mixed multitude, but then they were quickly formed into martial array (see Exodus 13:18), which means military order. This was the first thing the Lord did to prepare Israel for making it through the wilderness and to possess their Promised Land. We can soon expect this to also happen in the church.
As we have stated, there is a reason why He uses the title Lord of hosts or Lord of armies more than ten times as much as any other title. He is a martial God—a military leader. His people will become the most awesome army the world has ever seen. We can expect a military demeanor to permeate the advancing church throughout its ranks and a new breed of leader to arise.
Every great captain of thousands almost certainly began as an immature captain of tens. Maturity can only come with the passage of time and experience. In time, someone who began as an immature leader of tens will become a mature leader of tens. Then he will likely get promoted to a leader of hundreds. The Captain said: If we are faithful in the little things, He will entrust us with greater things (see Matthew 25:21).
However, that does not mean that person will now be a mature leader of hundreds when promoted. He will, in fact, be an immature leader of hundreds. He will not start as immature as at the previous level because he has the experience of the basics of leadership. Even so, there are dynamics of leading hundreds that will stretch our abilities to be leaders, regardless of how well we understand leadership.
This anointing for leadership is not just about how many people we can lead. Leaders of tens in some places are much better and more mature leaders than those who may be leaders of thousands in other situations. The same is true in our military. A small group of Special Forces may be a far more valuable and potent force than a much larger force of standard troops, so one who can lead the smaller Special Forces group may be a much more effective and valuable leader. There is an anointing or grace for leading numbers, but there are special mandates and commissions from God that may take an even greater type of leader.
In every kind of leadership, we must be able to evaluate the status of the people we are leading so we can lead them further, but we must also be able to evaluate ourselves. Those who become great leaders of tens may think that they now understand leadership, and they may, and may be doing it well on their level. However, there can be a huge difference between leading ten people and leading a hundred. Then there can be another big difference between leading two hundred and leading five hundred or seven hundred. Leading hundreds can prepare us for leading thousands, but there is a big difference that few can comprehend until they are there.
There can be a big difference between understanding something and being able to do it. As a flight instructor, I learned quickly to watch out for students who had read the training manual. These came for flight training with a cocky edge which was apparent by them constantly trying to show me how much they already knew. These students were dangerous, maybe not unteachable, but at least much harder to teach. This always made it take longer to teach them how to fly the airplane. Also, something had to scare and humble them before they could fly solo or they would be dangerous.
Being able to explain the mechanics of how to land a plane and actually being able to land one are different things. As a Christian, I have also watched many gain knowledge about the manual, the Bible, and that knowledge would puff them up because they could not distinguish the difference between having intellectual knowledge of a truth and actually living that truth. In fact, some of the people I have met who have the greatest knowledge of the deep things of God have been some of the least Christlike people I have met and have little of His life and power.
However, reading the manual before beginning their actual flight training worked differently for some. Some were not puffed up by their knowledge, but rather humbled by it. These were the rare ones who cared less about impressing their flight instructor, but were more concerned about learning to fly the airplane. For these, their knowledge of the manual actually aided and sped up their training. Humility makes everything in life easier.
Even so, as a flight instructor I was just as resolved to get the proud ones to be good pilots as I was the humble ones, and I would give the same effort to each. In my observations of how the Lord deals with us, I do not think He gives up on people either just because they are proud. It may be harder and take longer for the proud ones, but He loves them too. However, just as my effort with the humble produced much faster results, the faster we humble ourselves, the easier it will be for us.
Higher levels of flying are identified by higher licenses, such as Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot ratings. In a sense, these are like being captains of tens, hundreds, or thousands because with each higher rating, there is likely a bigger aircraft which will carry more people.
There is a world of difference between flying a Cessna trainer and flying a Boeing 747, even though they both have the same basic controls and flight and navigation instruments. It may take pilots to fly both of them, but there can be a huge difference in them. Likewise, we may all be leaders, but at what level? What do we need to do to be as effective where we are called, and if are going to be promoted, what do we need to do to go to the next level? True disciples are students - ever learning, growing, and seeking more knowledge of their callings and purposes and using the experience to grow in wisdom. Let us be a true disciple every day we are in this life. It is all for the purpose of preparing us for the greatest promotion of all - to rule and reign with Him.