最棒的基督徒生命11

投資門訓

正如我們所思想的，在聖經時期能被偉大老師選上成為門徒是何等光榮，而我們卻被萬王之王選上成為祂的門徒。真的沒有比此更高的呼召或目的了；即便如此，這不過是在基督裡邁向成熟的第二步。這是我們基督徒生命所立下的根基，但還有更多要建造。然而，建造的重量、高度和寬度取決於根基的品質與深度。

思想一下聖經中為著偉大呼召的冗長預備期。使徒保羅在他受委任成為使徒前，先進入他所謂的『曠野』長達11到14年之久，他在那些年間得著他所要傳講的信息啟示。

不是所有人都有如此長的時間來尋求關乎他們目的之啟示，雖然那不單只是分別一段時間而已。然而，倘若您有機會分別一段時間，請這樣做。甚至一到二年的聖經學校，或分別任何時間尋求主都可為餘生贏得倍增的複利，不單是今生的好處還有永恆。

您認識多少大學畢業，最後真正在主修領域從事相關工作的人？倘若他們高中畢業後花一年進入聖經或宣教學校，為著他們的目的或方向尋求神，會發生什麼事？大多數人不但不會浪費四年研讀他們用不到的知識，而且會在生命中立下更堅固的根基。

為此緣故我們開始晨星事奉學校，現在已成為晨星大學（MorningStar University）。此外還有一些很棒的學校，諸如加州的伯特利學校，堪薩斯州的IHOP大學、北卡夏洛特市的靈火學校，以及許多其他大大小小的學校。不妨為您的孩子或孫子做這樣的投資，就生命品質與多結果子的生命來看，如此投資所能得著的報酬遠超過最好的大學學歷。我們在主裡的門訓將決定我們生命的品質。

倘若您正在工作轉換或在退休中，您仍可以這樣做，讓您的餘生多結果子，遠超過您所能想像。或許您的環境不容許有這麼多時間，但我知道當時間允許時，其他真門徒會投資門訓在參加特會、修一些線上課程、看錄影帶或聽一些教導上。他們一有機會就閱讀或研讀，而這樣做也會有回報。

最重要的一個真理是，我們都可以按我們所想要的來親近主。倘若我們尋求祂，我們將尋見祂。倘若我們親近祂，祂將親近我們。因此只要有時間，我們都能按我們想要的來親近祂。您有多愛祂？您有多想認識祂、親近祂？ 

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week11, 2015)


Investing in our Discipleship- The Greatest Christian Life, Part 11
Week 11, 2015
Rick Joyner

As we have considered, it was a great honor to be chosen as a disciple by one of the great teachers in biblical times, and yet we have been chosen by the King of kings to be His disciples. There is truly no higher calling or greater purpose. Even so, this is just the second step toward maturity in Christ. It is the laying of the foundation of our Christian life, but there is much that must be built upon it. However, the weight and height and breadth of what can be built upon it will be dependent on the quality and depth of the foundation.

Consider the extraordinary times of preparation for the great callings in Scripture. The Apostle Paul went into what he called “the wilderness” for eleven to fourteen years before he was actually commissioned as an apostle. Those were years spent getting a revelation of the message he was to preach.

Not all have such focused time to seek revelation of their purpose, although it is not just about concentrated time. However, if you have any opportunity to take concentrated time, do so. Even a year or two in Bible school, or any time set aside to seek the Lord can pay multiplied dividends for the rest of your life, and not only in this life but for eternity.

How many people do you know with a college degree who are actually working in the field of their degree? What would have happened if these had taken a year after high school to enroll in a Bible or ministry school to seek God for their purpose and direction? Most would not only have kept from wasting four years studying what they may never use, but they would be laying a much stronger foundation for their life.

It was for these that we started the MorningStar School of Ministry that is now MorningStar University. There are other great schools such as Bethel in Redding, CA, and IHOP in Kansas City, The Fire School in Charlotte, NC, and many others large and small. Think about making this investment for your kids or grandkids. As far as quality of life and a fruitful life, it could pay off far more than the best university degree. The quality of our discipleship in the Lord will determine the quality of our lives.

If you are in-between jobs or retired, you can still do this and make the rest of your life more fruitful than you may have ever considered. You may not be in a place in life where you can take off a large amount of time for this, but I know other true disciples who invest in their discipleship by attending conferences when they can, taking online courses, watching videos, and listening to teachings. They read and study every chance they get, and this too will pay off.

One of the most important truths is that we are all as close to the Lord as we want to be. If we seek Him, we will find Him. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. So at any given time, we are as close to Him as we want to be. How much do you love Him? How much do you want to know Him and be near to Him?