於2014-02-06發佈

大使命 4

綿羊國和山羊國 – 成為神所建造事物的一份子 

你不需要成為先知就能看見我們所處的時候,就是使徒和先知提到這世上的國將瓦解,而神的國正在成長。然而,連許多看見世上的國如何震動的基督徒,都無法看見神將來國度的徵兆。要瞭解時候,我們必須更多分辨這兩個國度之間的區別。現在我們還必須思想另一個要素,作為此研讀的根據,此要素在啟示錄十一章15節被宣告出來:

第七位天使吹號,天上就有大聲音說:世上的國成了我主和主基督的國;祂要作王,直到永永遠遠。 

此代表一個轉變,一個『成了』。雖然人的國目前正在瓦解,我們有此預言及其他預言顯示,有一些國家或政府或這世界不會完全滅亡,而是會轉變成神國度的一部份。我們也應該分辨此,倘若可以,好讓我們協助他們。要分辨此,先要瞭解此轉變將如何在那些擁抱天國的國家發生。 

主比喻天國好像麵酵,撒在麵裡全團都會發起來(參考馬太福音13:33)。主用許多方法將天國原則撒在政府和列國中,這些原則將會擴散,成為祂要來國度的根基。祂使用祂的子民來做此事。 

成為神所建造事物的一份子 

在以賽亞書四十章,我們是以建造大道來為主預備道路─這是一條建造在神更高道路的路徑。此大道現在正被建造,自從萬王之王耶穌行走在地上以來,此大道便以一些方式在進行施工。這即是何以大使命不僅是使個人成為門徒,更要使萬國成為門徒。『去到全世界』不單是地理上的,神所差遣的真實宣教士現在正進入知識、企業與政府裡的每一個領域。他們被差派到這些領域是為了協助建造此大道。

主用一個比喻說祂回來時,祂將列國分成二個團體─綿羊和山羊。祂給予這兩者非常區別性的特徵。我們蒙召成為世上的鹽和光,不管是守望者或牧者,我們都應該深度關切我們出生的國家,或我們被差去的國家,使他們成為『綿羊國』而不是『山羊國』。

一旦我們開始看見神的國,就連人類最偉大的工作都顯得無趣和渺小。我瞭解為何有一些人開始看見神的國,就失去對政府與人的方式所有的興致及盼望。這就是為何亞伯拉罕放下一切只為了追尋神所建造的城,他堪稱是當時最偉大國家與文化的王公貴族。

亞伯拉罕放下一切,投入神所建造的事物中,他成為地上所有家庭的祝福。我們也能成為地上最大祝福的首要方式,就是追尋我們的呼召成為神所建造事物的一份子。 

當我們看見神正在做的事,人所成就的一切完全無法與之相比。即便如此,或許會有些無趣,但我們的工作是協助我們被差去的國家。我們要傳揚天國的福音,盡可能的協助他們成為『綿羊國』而不是『山羊國』。我們的工作是為他們帶來盼望,神賜給我們世界從未有過最大的盼望信息,就是聽見天國的福音。

因此,隨著此研讀我們可以看見神要來的國,我們知道我們必須以實際的方式來為其預備道路。我們也需要深入瞭解神賜給我們的信息並且緊緊抓住─天國的福音。

 (摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 4, 2014)

 



Sheep and Goat Nations - Be A Part of What God is Building
The Great Commission, Part 4
Week 4, 2014 
Rick Joyner

You do not need to be a prophet to see that we are in the times that the apostles and prophets spoke of when the kingdoms of this world would be collapsing and the Kingdom of God growing. However, even many Christians who see how shaky the governments of this world are becoming do not yet see the signs of the coming Kingdom. To understand the times, we must become increasingly discerning of these two kingdoms. Now there is one more factor we must consider as a basis for this study, which is declared in Revelation 11:15:

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in Heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

This indicates a transition, a "becoming." Though the kingdoms of man are now collapsing, we have this and other prophecies which indicate that some of the kingdoms, or governments, of this world will not utterly crumble, but will transition into becoming part of the Kingdom of God. We should discern these too so that we can, if possible, help them. Discerning them begins with understanding how this transition will take place for those nations that embrace the Kingdom.

The Lord compared the Kingdom to leaven that is sown into a lump of dough and spreads throughout the dough (see Matthew 13:33). The Lord uses many ways to sow His Kingdom principles into governments and nations. These will spread and be a foundation for His coming Kingdom. He is using His people to do this.

Be A Part of What God is Building

In Isaiah 40 we see that we prepare the way for the Lord by building a highway—a path built on God's higher ways. This highway is being built now and, in some ways, has been under construction since the King, Jesus Himself, walked the earth. This is why The Great Commission is not only to make disciples of individuals, but nations. The "go into all the world" is not merely geographical. True missionaries sent by God are now going into every field of knowledge, industry, and government. They are being sent to these fields to help build this highway.

In one parable, the Lord said that when He returns, He is going to separate the nations into two groups—sheep and goats. He gives the distinguishing characteristics of both. As we are called to be salt and light in this world, both watchmen and shepherds, we should care deeply that whatever nation we have been born into, or sent to, becomes a "sheep nation" and not a "goat nation."

Once we start to see the Kingdom of God, even the greatest works of men begin to look boring and insignificant. I understand why some who begin seeing the Kingdom lose all interest and hope in the governments and ways of men. This is why Abraham, who was obviously a member of the aristocracy of the greatest nation and culture of the time, left it all in pursuit of the city that God is building.

In leaving everything to join with what God is building, Abraham became a blessing to all the families on the face of the earth. The primary way that we too will become the greatest blessing to the earth is by pursuing our calling to be a part of what God is building.

When we see what God is doing, nothing man has done will ever compare. Even so, although it may be boring, our job is to help the nations we have been sent to. We are to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and help them in any way we can to become "sheep nations" and not "goat nations." It is our job to give them hope. We have been given the greatest message of hope the world has ever, or will ever, hear—the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Therefore, along with this study of how we can see the coming Kingdom, we know that we must, in practical ways, be preparing the way for it. We also need the deepest understanding and strongest grip possible on the message we have been given—the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Rick Joyner