於2012-07-23發佈

一個全新的大覺醒

我們在啟示錄一書中看見,有些國家將『成為』我主的國,此意謂轉化成祂的國。以賽亞書六十章1-3節有相同的說法─『在黑暗遮蓋大地,幽暗遮蓋萬民』之時,主的榮耀要透過祂的子民彰顯出來。正如接下來的經文斷言,萬國要『來就你的光』。所以萬國最終會來就光,正如這一章所解釋的,他們會帶著他們的財富和兒女前來。我們有聖經明確的預言,不管世界變得何等黑暗,光將戰勝!

正是此萬國轉化的論述,成為美國『天命』(manifest destiny)教義的基礎,激勵許多拓荒者來到美國。此教義仍是美國基督教文化的基礎,此教義宣稱美國在 神的目的中有其特別地位,因而被聖化。這樣的教義深植在我們的歷史,也出現在我們珍貴的文件中,如獨立宣言、憲法和人權法案。在一些最高法案的決策中,也陳述到此。真是這樣嗎?在 神的命定中美國真有其特殊地位嗎?

在聖經裡,與 神立約和獻給 神之間並不相同。 神主動開始祂的約,沒有任何證據顯示 神與美國立下特別的約。然而,卻有許多證據顯示,美國是被那些在權位上的人獻給神,而神接受此獻上。所以,這有何不同?

在聖經上唯一與 神立約的國家是以色列,以及常稱為『屬靈以色列─教會』的聖潔國度。即便如此,獻給主的事物都被視為聖潔,不能被用來做為咒詛或褻瀆的目的。這即是何以創國父老當初獻給神的美國,不能逃脫其他國家可以逃脫的審判。   

許多基督徒覺得萬國的崩塌無可避免,事實上那也是 神的旨意,此崩塌當然是聖經的預言,記載在但以理書上,因此我們可以確定這樣的事終將發生。美國或許獻給主並大大蒙福,使我們走在祂指示列國遵守的道路上。即便如此,倘若我們轉離主的道路,就像過去五十年所行的,我們因獻上所蒙的福也可能變成咒詛。我們遠離祂道路的速度正在加快;即便如此,我們還有時間改變軌道,再次成為蒙主祝福和保護的國家。

倘若美國沒有再一次的大覺醒,一個復甦祂百姓成為光和鹽的復興,我們很快會失落。然而,我們正目睹另一次大覺醒徵兆的開端。我們還有盼望,而且絕不能失去盼望,但我們確實需要誠實評估我們到底在哪裡,若我們不改變方向,我們會往哪裡前進。

讓我們謹記在心,就算我們國家像其他沒有根基的國家一樣失落、粉碎,無法承受正臨到我們的震動, 神的國度仍會在地上不斷成長─我們若在基督裡,這將是我們真正的家。

主在廿五年前讓我看見的事,我寫在收割異象一書中,我看見共產國家會越來越享受自由,而原本民主自由的國家反而越來越受綑綁。這件事已經發生,並會持續發生。在歐巴馬政府上台的頭一百天,美國所失去的自由大過過去的一百年。隨著全民建保的實施,每一位美國人將負上從政府而來可怕的軛。

我們會在特別公報與橡樹行動的文章中更深入探討,我並不想用每週一話大篇幅談論到此,但美國失去自由的速度,遠超過我們想像,雖有一些緩和,但到目前為止尚沒有剛強壯膽的領導階層來做約束。國內的領導階層還沒起來,所以隨著每一個新法案的通過,我們持續在失去自由。

就在同時,在基督裡成長的人將比以前更自由,在聖靈和真理中真正得自由的人不可能被奴役。未來在受奴役與得自由兩者之間的區別會越來越明顯,一個主要的區別點在於一方會越來越信任政府,另一方則會越來越信靠主。

下週當我們繼續檢視我們是如何蒙召來為主與祂的國度預備道路時,我們會更深入談論到此。

 (摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 27, 2012)


A New Great Awakening - The Path of Life, Part 20
Week 27, 2011 
Rick Joyner 

As we see in the Book of Revelation, some kingdoms will “become” the kingdom of our Lord, which implies a transformation to becoming His. Isaiah 60:1-3 concurs with this—that during the time of “darkness covering the earth and deep darkness the peoples,” the glory of the Lord will be revealed through His people. As the next verse affirms, then the nations will “come to the brightness of your rising.” So the nations will eventually come to the light, and as this chapter goes on to explain, they will bring their wealth and their sons and daughters. We have the sure word of prophecy that regardless of how dark it becomes, the light is going to prevail.

It was this transformation of nations that was a basis for the “manifest destiny” doctrine that motivated many of the first settlers to America. This doctrine is still a basis for the Christian culture of America. This doctrine asserts that America has a special place in the purpose of God and is therefore sanctified because of this. This doctrine is sown throughout our history and is embedded in our most treasured documents such as The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and Bill of Rights. It is also stated in some Supreme Court decisions. Is this true? Does America have a special place in the destiny of God?

In Scripture, there is a difference between those who have a covenant with God and those who are dedicated to God. God initiates His covenants, and there is no evidence that God has initiated a special covenant with America. However, there is much evidence that America was dedicated to God by those in positions of authority to do this and that He accepted the dedication. So what is the difference?

The only nations in Scripture that have a covenant with God are Israel and the holy nation that is often called “spiritual Israel, the church. Even so, the things dedicated to the Lord are considered holy, and they could not be used for profane purposes or a curse would come upon those who did. This is why America, which was dedicated to God, a dedication that was affirmed by the Founding Fathers, cannot get away with things that other nations might without suffering judgment.

Many Christians feel that the collapse of nations is inevitable and is in fact the will of God. This collapse is certainly prophesied in such places as Daniel 2, and therefore we can be sure that it will ultimately be inevitable. America may be dedicated to the Lord and blessed to the degree that we walk in His ways that He prescribed for all nations. Even so, that blessing from our dedication can also turn into a curse if we turn from the ways of the Lord, which America has been doing for the last half century. The pace of our departure from His ways is accelerating now. Even so, there is still time to change our present trajectory and become a nation blessed and protected by the Lord once again.

If we do not have another Great Awakening in America, a revival that revives His people until they become the salt and light they are called to be, the Republic could be lost very soon. However, the first signs of another Great Awakening are beginning to be seen. There is hope, and we must not lose hope, but we do need to honestly evaluate where we are and where we’re headed if we do not change our direction.

Let us also keep in mind that even if our Republic is lost and our nation crumbles like the rest of those that were not built on a foundation that could endure the shaking which is now upon us, the kingdom is growing in the earth—our true home if we are in Christ.

What I was shown and wrote about 25 years ago in my book, The Harvest, is that the nations that were then under the yoke of communism would enjoy increasing liberty, while the nations that had known freedom and democracy would be brought into increasing bondage. This has happened and is continuing. America lost more of its liberty in the first 100 days of the Obama Administration than it has lost in the last 100 years. With the implementation of the Health Care Bill, every American will be wearing a terrible yoke from the government.

We address this in more depth through the Bulletins and articles we circulate through The Oak Initiative, and this is not the place where I want to take much space for it, but freedom in America is being lost much faster than it ever seemed possible. There is pushback, but to date there has not been the kind of courageous and bold leadership to keep it in check. The leadership throughout the nation has not arisen, so the slide continues with almost every new bill passed.

At the same time, those who are growing in Christ will become freer than ever. It is impossible to enslave those who are truly free in Spirit and Truth. The demarcation between those who are slaves and those who are free will become more striking in the times to come. One major demarcation point will be between those who are putting more and more of their trust in government and those who are growing in faith in the Lord.

We will address this in a little more depth next week as we continue to examine how we are called to prepare the way for the Lord and His kingdom.