大使命14 

預備好

從我過去40多年對基督肢體的研究和經歷來看，顯示今日教會不到百分之十成為神呼召的樣式。這相當激勵我，因為成長空間不可限量。就算以目前的狀態，教會整體堪稱今日世界最強大的實體，當我們有百分之二十成為所呼召的樣式，教會看起來將有何等的風貌？若成長到百分之三十或是百分之百呢？

若與教會被呼召的樣式相比，毫無疑問地，我們遠遠不及。這是我們從宗教改革500年以來緩慢進步的結果，宗教改革同時也點燃天主教會的改革運動，進步因此可能變得緩慢又冗長，但我們對於彼得後書三章8-9節的話語總要謹記在心：

親愛的弟兄啊，有一件事你們不可忘記，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。
主所應許的尚未成就，有人以為祂是耽延，其實不是耽延，乃是寬容你們，不願有一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改。

此真理是如此重要，以致於彼得勸誡我們『有一件事你們不可忘記』。這意味著主只需要一天就可以在我們裡面工作，我們卻認為要花一千年才行。儘管教會只達到所蒙召的百分之十，成長過於緩慢，但剩下的可能會很快發生。或許不會立即發生，但誰能說剩下的百分之九十不會在接下來的五年或十年達成？為什麼不呢？下面是彼得所給予我們另一個很棒的想法，記載在彼得後書三章11-12節：

『…你們為人該當怎樣聖潔，怎樣敬虔， 切切仰望神的日子來到。…』

這表示我們可以真實地加速神的日子來到！許多人認為將來的邪惡會加速主的日子，但這裡彼得是寫給信徒。魔鬼不會想要加速主的日子來到，而且那也超出牠的能力範圍。這節經文表明只有我們可以加速主的日子來到。

我們日後會更深入談到此終極議題，但現在我們需要開始留意什麼是我們被呼召來做的，好為主預備道路，而不是將更多功勞或注意給魔鬼。我們能結束這世代末了並開始與基督在全地掌權的主因，將會是新婦將自己預備好了。我們要如何做才能預備好呢？

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week14, 2014) 

 

Getting Ready - The Great Commission, Part 14

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Week 14, 2014
Rick Joyner

         My studies and experience in the body of Christ for the last forty plus years indicate to me that the church today is less than 10% of what God called it to be. This is very encouraging to me because of the incredible upside. Even in its present state, the church is overall the most powerful entity in the world today, by far. What will it be like when we become 20% of what we are called to be? How about 30% or 100%?

         Compared to what the church is called to be we are, no doubt, falling far short at this time. This is the result of almost 500 years of progress back to our foundations that began with The Protestant Reformation, which ignited a reformation movement within the Catholic Church as well. Progress thus far may have been slow and tedious, but we must always keep in mind what we are told in II Peter 3:8-9:

         But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

         The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

         This truth is so crucial that Peter exhorts us to “not let this one fact escape your notice.” This means that the Lord can do a work in us in one day when we think it may take one thousand years. Even if the progress to get to 10% of what we’re called to be has been this slow, the rest can happen very quickly. It may not happen instantly, but who is to say that the remaining 90% is not recovered in the next five or ten years? Why not? Here is another stunning thought Peter gives to us in II Peter 3:11-12:

         “…what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…”

         This implies that we can actually hasten the coming of the day of God!       Many think that the day will be hastened by the coming of evil, but here Peter is writing to believers. The devil does not want to hasten the coming of the day of the Lord, and it is not his place to do so. This verse indicates that it is something we can do.

         This is one of those ultimate issues that we will deal with in more depth later, but for now we need to start giving attention to what we are called to do in preparing the way for the Lord, without giving much credit or attention to the devil. The main factor that will bring the end of this age and the beginning of the reign of Christ over the earth will be the bride preparing herself. What can we do to get ready?