當我們繼續向著最有意思的時候前進時，我們正來到前所未有的福音契機，在同個時候，美國的屬靈、道德、政治與經濟根基也面臨顯著與加速的瓦解，在大部分西方國家也是如此。倘若這些趨勢沒有很快被控制與翻轉，我們將看見不法急速增加。當此發生在美國，它也會發生在歐洲，只不過會更強烈，西方文明正在搖搖欲墜的溶解邊緣中。
當然，既然我們被稱為世上的光和鹽，我們不想要看見此發生。倘若此在我們看守時發生，那是因為鹽失去了味道，光變得太昏暗。倘若我們稱為所蒙召的鹽和光，我們將能翻轉正接管我們國家的邪惡趨勢。
然而，要擁有拯救我們國家的能力，教會一定要更合一，這與發生在列國的不合一趨勢相反。當我們看見在列國中的舊聯盟傾倒時，我們會在教會裡看見正形成的更大聯盟。屬靈權柄會隨著合一增加，惟有教會的屬靈權柄才能從即將發生的溶解中拯救我們的國家。然而，倘若我們的合一是政治上的，就算是為了拯救國家的目的，它都不夠真實、也無法完成其目的。我們必須進入合一，因為那是主要我們合一的旨意。我們圍繞祂合一，而不是政治、社會或經濟議題。
倘若你知道明天自己就要死去，那麼你今晚的禱告一定會特別聚焦在最貼近你心中的事物。因此，我們可以推斷耶穌被釘十架前一晚的禱告顯明祂心中最深的渴望，祂禱告的主要事情就是祂子民的合一。在我們所做一切事的主要優先，若它真的是一個神國目的，會是先求祂的國，而不是世上的國。然而，這不代表我們不關心我們的國家並且尋求其福祉，但我們必須將首要的事放在最前面。
倘若美國與歐洲的教會沒有合一，以勇氣與大膽為福音的真理站立，先知性地拒絕妥協祂的真理，他們會越來越多成為無情逼迫的目標。我們越遲疑站立，就越難將不法的趨勢翻轉過來，我們非常接近無法回復的頂點。
許多基督徒感到國家的崩塌是無法避免的，是出於神的旨意。這樣的崩塌早在但以理書二章就預言了，因此我們可以確定最後一定會發生。然而，魔鬼的一個基本策略，就是當牠知道無法停止某件事時，牠會促使讓如此無法避免的事件過早發生，使得神的國在地上的彰顯無法預備好。
從許多歷史例子中已經證實魔鬼在此方面的策略，但我們在這裡沒有多餘空間來談論。倘若崩塌是在對的時間發生，在但以理書所呈現的國度將會預備好，其藉由一個小石頭變成一座大山、充滿天下，在人類王國崩塌時拿回權柄並建立秩序，不會留下空窗而造成死亡與毀滅。為此緣故，我們應該不斷為政府與領袖禱告，因為沒有比無政府與不法更糟的瘟疫了。
我們真的非常靠近邊緣，在去年也好幾次徘徊在邊緣，這已經記錄在文件中，而且布希與歐巴馬雙方政府的國會議員也證實此事。這即是何以去年九月在經濟上的緊急情況如此令人恐慌。
所以，我們該怎麼做？我們可以做的最重要事情就是先尋求主與祂的國度，超越其他事情。讓但以理書二章的小石頭成長的時間到了，倘若我們是活在這些時候的基督徒，我們在這裡是為了完成一個目的。那些沒有過著先求神的國生活的基督徒，他們個人的根基將不會堅立，反而會隨著這些時候被震動的其他人一起粉碎。那些先求祂的國的人，他們不需要害怕或焦慮，但他們必須擁有主動採取行動的信心，成為但以理書十一章32節所說的那些人：『惟獨認識 神的子民必剛強行事。』
現在是行動的時候了，我們會在未來幾週明確談到此。
(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 17, 2009)
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分辨时候 - 之27
当我们继续向着最有意思的时候前进时，我们正来到前所未有的福音契机，在同个时候，美国的属灵、道德、政治与经济根基也面临显著与加速的瓦解，在大部分西方国家也是如此。倘若这些趋势没有很快被控制与翻转，我们将看见不法急速增加。当此发生在美国，它也会发生在欧洲，只不过会更强烈，西方文明正在摇摇欲坠的溶解边缘中。
当然，既然我们被称为世上的光和盐，我们不想要看见此发生。倘若此在我们看守时发生，那是因为盐失去了味道，光变得太昏暗。倘若我们称为所蒙召的盐和光，我们将能翻转正接管我们国家的邪恶趋势。
然而，要拥有拯救我们国家的能力，教会一定要更合一，这与发生在列国的不合一趋势相反。当我们看见在列国中的旧联盟倾倒时，我们会在教会里看见正形成的更大联盟。属灵权柄会随着合一增加，惟有教会的属灵权柄才能从即将发生的溶解中拯救我们的国家。然而，倘若我们的合一是政治上的，就算是为了拯救国家的目的，它都不够真实、也无法完成其目的。我们必须进入合一，因为那是主要我们合一的旨意。我们围绕祂合一，而不是政治、社会或经济议题。
倘若你知道明天自己就要死去，那么你今晚的祷告一定会特别聚焦在最贴近你心中的事物。因此，我们可以推断耶稣被钉十架前一晚的祷告显明祂心中最深的渴望，祂祷告的主要事情就是祂子民的合一。在我们所做一切事的主要优先，若它真的是一个神国目的，会是先求祂的国，而不是世上的国。然而，这不代表我们不关心我们的国家并且寻求其福祉，但我们必须将首要的事放在最前面。
倘若美国与欧洲的教会没有合一，以勇气与大胆为福音的真理站立，先知性地拒绝妥协祂的真理，他们会越来越多成为无情逼迫的目标。我们越迟疑站立，就越难将不法的趋势翻转过来，我们非常接近无法回复的顶点。
许多基督徒感到国家的崩塌是无法避免的，是出于神的旨意。这样的崩塌早在但以理书二章就预言了，因此我们可以确定最后一定会发生。然而，魔鬼的一个基本策略，就是当牠知道无法停止某件事时，牠会促使让如此无法避免的事件过早发生，使得神的国在地上的彰显无法预备好。
从许多历史例子中已经证实魔鬼在此方面的策略，但我们在这里没有多余空间来谈论。倘若崩塌是在对的时间发生，在但以理书所呈现的国度将会预备好，其藉由一个小石头变成一座大山、充满天下，在人类王国崩塌时拿回权柄并建立秩序，不会留下空窗而造成死亡与毁灭。为此缘故，我们应该不断为政府与领袖祷告，因为没有比无政府与不法更糟的瘟疫了。
我们真的非常靠近边缘，在去年也好几次徘徊在边缘，这已经记录在文件中，而且布什与欧巴马双方政府的国会议员也证实此事。这即是何以去年九月在经济上的紧急情况如此令人恐慌。
所以，我们该怎么做？我们可以做的最重要事情就是先寻求主与祂的国度，超越其它事情。让但以理书二章的小石头成长的时间到了，倘若我们是活在这些时候的基督徒，我们在这里是为了完成一个目的。那些没有过着先求神的国生活的基督徒，他们个人的根基将不会坚立，反而会随着这些时候被震动的其它人一起粉碎。那些先求祂的国的人，他们不需要害怕或焦虑，但他们必须拥有主动采取行动的信心，成为但以理书十一章32节所说的那些人：『惟独认识神的子民必刚强行事。』
现在是行动的时候了，我们会在未来几周明确谈到此。
(摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 17, 2009)
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Discerning the Times, Part 27
Week 17, 2009
As we proceed into these most interesting of times, we are coming into unprecedented opportunities for the gospel. At the same time, there is an obvious and accelerating collapse of the spiritual, moral, political, and economic foundations of America, as well as most nations in the West. If these trends are not checked and reversed soon, we will see lawlessness growing in an increasing and merciless rage. As this happens in America, it will also happen in Europe, only with greater intensity. Western civilization is tottering on the edge of a meltdown.
Of course, since we are called to be the salt and light to this world, this is not what we should want to see happening. If this happens on our watch, it will be because the salt has lost its savor and the light was too dim. If we are the salt and light that we are called to be, then we will be able to reverse the trends of evil that are taking over our nations.
However, to have the power to save our nations, the church must come into increasing unity. This is a reverse of the trend of disunity that is happening in the nations. As we see old alliances among nations breaking down, we will see greater alliances being formed in the church. Spiritual authority is increased with unity, and only the spiritual authority of the church will be able to save our nations from the impending meltdown. However, if our unity is political, or even for the purpose of saving our nations, it will not be real or substantial enough or accomplish its purpose. We must come into unity because it is the will of the Lord for us to be in unity. We are unifying around Him, not just political, social, or economic issues.
If you knew that you were going to die tomorrow, then your prayers tonight would certainly be focused, especially on the things that are the dearest to your heart. Therefore, we can conclude that the prayer of Jesus the night before He was to be crucified revealed the deepest desires of His heart. The main thing He prayed for was the unity of His people. Our first priority in anything we do, if it is a true kingdom purpose, is to seek the kingdom first, not the kingdoms of this world. However, this does not mean that we do not care about our nations and seek their welfare, but we must keep the first thing first.
If the churches in America and Europe do not unify and stand for the truth of the gospel with great courage and boldness, prophetically refusing to compromise His truth, they will be subject to increasingly brutal persecution. The longer we wait to stand up, the more difficult it will be to turn the tide of lawlessness back. We are very close to the tipping point where it will be beyond recovery.
Many Christians feel that the collapse of the nations is inevitable and is the will of God. This collapse is certainly prophesied in such places as Daniel 2, and therefore we can be sure that it will be ultimately inevitable. However, one basic strategy of the devil when he knows he cannot stop something is to push such inevitable events into happening prematurely so that the kingdom manifestation on the earth will not be ready for it.
This strategy of the devil can be verified with many historic examples, but we do not have room to address them here. If the collapse happens in the proper timing, the kingdom that is represented in Daniel 2, by the little stone that grows into a mountain and then covers the earth, will be prepared to take authority and establish order as the human kingdoms collapse, not leaving a vacuum that would result in much death and destruction. For this reason, we should be in constant prayer for our governments and leaders because there can hardly be a worse plague upon any nation than anarchy and lawlessness.
We are actually tottering very close to the edge and have come close to going over the edge a few times in the past year, which has been documented and verified by members of Congress in both the Bush and Obama Administrations. This is why there was such a panic in the economic emergency last September.
So what do we do? The most important thing we can do is to seek the King and His kingdom first above anything else. It is time for the little stone in Daniel 2 to grow, and if we are Christians living in these times, we are here to accomplish a purpose. The actual way that this will unfold will become increasingly clear. For Christians who have not lived their lives seeking first the kingdom of God, their own foundations will not stand but will crumble with all of the others who have been shaken in these times. For those who have sought the kingdom first, they need not have any fear or anxiety, but they will have to have a proactive faith, becoming those spoken of in Daniel 11:32, “but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.”
It is time for action, and we will be addressing this specifically in the coming weeks.