21天季節性先知信息－第3天：翻轉的時刻
恰克・皮爾斯
中文翻譯：微牧之歌 2014-12-09。轉載請註明出處。
第3天：翻轉的時刻
星期五，布萊恩·庫尹曼（Brian Kooiman）帶給我一段哥林多後書的經節，我相信這是上帝對我們所有人要說的話。我週六無法寫靈修分享，因為需要做保姆！我在昨天的主日分享了一些關於這個"功課"。如果你不在我們當中的話，請一定要上網看我的講道："接受遮蓋時刻"的視頻重播。
“翻轉”的時刻 -布萊恩·庫尹曼（ Brian Kooiman）
哥林多前後書是我目前每日的讀經進度。今年我讀的是“資訊版本”的聖經。將它使用在每一天的講稿中，許多段落讀起來與傳統聖經版本相比很不一樣。當我讀到哥林多後書第七章，"翻轉"這個單詞激發了我。這大部份是源於你 (恰克) 剛剛與辛蒂和邁克.雅各斯一起，以及你計畫於十二月三十一日（星期三）主持"翻轉時刻"的服事，並與我們的國度敬拜讚美夜聯合。大家都應該感覺到這是旋風般的一年，我們需要聖靈以各種方式來翻轉我們，使我們不會帶著任何型式的壓制、抑鬱或憂慮進入2015年。這篇信息是直接講到我們可以得到的自由。
使徒保羅已經寫了一封給哥林多教會，針對當時哥林多教會所面對的嚴重問題。
在給哥林多教會的第二封信裡，保羅也稱讚了他們回應的果效（哥林多後書7:8-12a）
「我先前寫信叫你們憂愁。我後來雖然懊悔、如今卻不懊悔。因我知道那信叫你們憂愁、不過是暫時的。如今我歡喜、不是因你們憂愁、是因你們從憂愁中生出懊悔來。你們依著神的意思憂愁、凡事就不至於因我們受虧損了。因為依著神的意思憂愁、就生出沒有後悔的懊悔來、以致得救。但世俗的憂愁、是叫人死。你看、你們依著神的意思憂愁、從此就生出何等的殷勤、自訴、自恨、恐懼、想念、熱心、責罰。（或作自責）在這一切事上你們都表明自己是潔淨的。我雖然從前寫信給你們、卻不是為那虧負人的、也不是為那受人虧負的、乃要在神面前、把你們顧念我們的熱心、表明出來。」
我們常常認為苦難是要避免的，因它以搶奪我們的喜樂和生命為目的。然而我們的上帝是使萬事互相效力令我們得益處的神。就如保羅與哥林多教會分享，苦難可以把我們帶到神的面前煉化純淨的心。神恰恰可使用苦難來翻轉我們，使我們進入祂豐盛的計畫和旨意。
我並非在宣講說我們要尋求苦難的境遇。但我確有信心，在這個月神會將我們重新安置在他的平安中，為我們興起新的身份，他能夠將任何苦難處境轉化為跳舞讚美的契機。
「他安慰錫安悲哀的人，賜華冠以代替灰塵，以喜樂油代替悲哀，以讚美衣代替憂傷之靈；轉化他們進入神豐盛的計畫中。使他們稱為公義樹，是耶和華所栽的，叫祂得榮耀。」（以賽亞書61章3節）
儘管我可能不瞭解這整個過程，但我選擇在這轉變時節完全信靠我的神。
希望你們可以參加12月31日（星期三）的夜間國際敬拜和特別的“翻轉時刻服事！” 當辛蒂和邁克.雅各斯出現在全球境界中心時，你可以預期事情將天翻地覆地翻轉！我也希望你們可以參與“正確開始這一年”活動！這是又一項你不想錯過的活動！免費參加，但我們要求所有參加者需要預先登記，以便我們可以做好準備。登錄www.gloryofzion.org 進行登記。
祝福你
恰克.皮爾斯
Day 3 of 21 Days:
Brian Kooiman brought a scripture to me on Friday from 2 Corinthians, and I believe this is something that God is saying to all of us. I couldn’t write a devotion on Saturday since I was babysitting! I shared some about this “assignment” during yesterday’s service. If you were not able to join us, be sure to watch the webcast replay when I ministered on “Time to Receive a Mantle!”
A Time to “Turn Around!” by Brian Kooiman
In my daily Bible reading, I have been reading through Corinthians. This year I have been reading The Message version of the Bible. With its use of every day speech, many passages read differently than traditional versions. As I read from 2 Corinthians 7, the words “turn around” quickened to me. Much of this stemmed from the time you (Chuck) had just spent with Cindy and Mike Jacobs, and your plans to host a “Time to Turn Around Service” on Wednesday, December 31 in conjunction with our International Night of Worship. All of you felt strongly that in a whirlwind year, we needed to allow Holy Spirit to turn us around in any way necessary so that we would not enter 2015 with any type of oppression, depression or distress. This passage speaks directly into the freedom that is available to us.
The Apostle Paul had already written a letter to the church in Corinth, to confront a harmful situation. Now, in a second letter to the church in Corinth he follows up to commend the fruit of their response:
“Although I felt awful at the time, I don't feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. Now I'm glad - not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-12a)
Too often we consider distress as something to be avoided, or whose only purpose is to rob joy and life. However, our God is able to work all things together for good. Therefore, as Paul shares with the church in Corinth, distress can be used to bring us to God and develop purity of heart. Distress can be the very thing that God uses to turn us around and turn back into the fullness of His plans and purposes.
I am not advocating that we seek out distressing situations. But I do have confidence that in this month in which God is re-centering us in His peace, and calling forth a new identity to arise within us, that He can turn any distressing situation into an opportunity for praise and dancing. He is well able to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Is. 61:3 NKJV) Although I may not understand the process, I choose to trust the Lord with the turning!
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I hope many of you will be able to join on Wednesday, December 31 for our International Night of Worship and special “Time to Turn Around Service!” When Cindy and Mike Jacobs show up at the Global Spheres Center, you can expect things to turn upside down and inside out! I am also hoping many of you can also join for Starting the Year Off Right! This is another gathering you do not want to miss! There is NO COST to attend, but we do ask everyone to register for Starting the Year Off Right, so we can best prepare. Go to www.gloryofzion.org or call 1-888-965-1099 or 1-940-382-7231 to sign up today. Webcasters will register when signing on to the live webcast.
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
If you would like to give to the ongoing work of this ministry you can donate online, by calling our office at 1-888-965-1099 or 1-940-382-7231, or by postal mailing your donation to Glory of Zion, PO Box 1601, Denton TX 76202.
