於2015-05-23發佈

最棒的基督徒生命18

成為僕人的功課

正如我上週所承諾的,這週我將分享我認為有所幫助的個人經歷。然而,由於此研讀的標題為『最棒的基督徒生命』,但我絕沒有任何暗示這就是我的生命。我將分享的一些重要事情其實來自我的錯誤,盼望這些錯誤可以幫助他人不重蹈覆轍。

回顧我的生命,我認為我在門徒方面做得不錯,卻沒有僕人的角色做得好。我非常掙扎此方面與基督的關係,在去年晉升到下一階段─朋友關係前,我花了25年學習如何成為僕人。您不需要花這麼多時間,在生命道路上我錯過幾個轉彎才花了我這麼多年。您不需要錯過那些轉彎,所以我想要告訴您轉彎的地方在哪裡。

成為僕人的主要功課在於學習順服,順服主從認得祂的聲音開始。在舊約之下,人們不斷重複被告誡要遵守祂的誡命並留心聽從祂的聲音,就連當時祂的百姓都被要求認得祂的聲音。正如我們曾說過,在約翰福音十章告訴我們祂的羊認得祂的聲音,他們跟隨祂是因為認得祂的聲音。所有祂的子民都被要求認得祂的聲音,我不認為在學習認得祂的聲音上有太多困難,但有趣的部分是,在順服祂的聲音上我困難重重。

人們常為著我的順服感謝我,我也感謝他們的鼓勵。我時而順服,也在順服時有所成就與得勝。我認為有些人太過慈愛,以致於他們只看見我順服成就時。當然,有些人則單看我的錯誤,但我的生活實際上充滿兩者。有時我的一些錯誤代價太高,我認為連約拿都比不上。

舉例來說,在1982年我從神領受清楚呼召要重新全職服事,還有天使造訪確認。然而,我卻逃離此呼召。我仍覺得要成為基督徒領袖尚有許多不足,因此一當有機會開始新的事業,我馬上抓住機會。我還自我欺騙相信自己是在為主建造事業。我帶著極大的熱情來做這件事,當然是為著主做,其實這樣做反而是在悖逆祂。

在那些年間我學到許多現在可以使用的事物,祂真的為我們的益處使萬事互相效力,但此益處仍不是最好的。我的事業一度非常成功,我為著主的工奉獻很多錢。我相信有許多人,甚至多數人蒙召進入職場服事,但我並沒有。我很愛職場與在職場工作的人,但我是在不順服中建造自己的事業。祂還是祝福了,正如祂祝福以實瑪利,祂會祝福許多祂不在其中的事。

在我沒有行在神旨意的那段時間裡,我和我的家人都很脆弱,仇敵藉此在我家中建立堅固營壘,到如今我仍為此付上極大代價。儘管主會為我們的益處來使用每件事,但不順服仍需要付上很大的代價。

當我的悖逆和驕傲被顯明時,我便悔改。我的事業好像被閃電打到一樣,一夕垮掉。雖然我失去每件事,但已經好多年我沒有感覺這麼好了。神在幾個月內重建一切,還更多加給我,而且沒有壓力。我在悖逆中建造的事物並不是祂所建造的根基,但一當我聽到祂的話語順服後,我對祂如此快速補足一切感到驚奇不已。即便如此,倘若您可以從中學習而不需經歷我所經歷的,一定會更好。下週我們將簡短談到更多重要功課,好讓我們安安妥妥的走得更遠。

 (摘自喬納 word for the week, Week18, 2015)


Lessons on Being a Bondservant- The Greatest Christian Life, Part 18
Week 18, 2015 
Rick Joyner 

As I promised, this week I will interject personal experiences I think could be helpful. However, because the title of this study is “The Greatest Christian Life,” I am not by any means implying my life is that. Some of the important things I am going to share are my mistakes with the hope they will help others avoid making the same ones.

Looking back over my life, I think I did fairly well as a disciple, but not as good as a bondservant. I have struggled greatly with this aspect of my relationship with Christ. It took me twenty-five years of learning to be a bondservant before I was promoted last year to the next level of relationship—being a friend. You can do this in a fraction of the time it took me. I missed some turns on the path of life that cost me years. You do not have to miss those turns, so I want to tell you where they are.

The main lesson in being a bondservant is learning to obey. To obey Him begins with knowing His voice. Under the Old Covenant, the people were repeatedly told to obey His commandments and heed His voice. Even then His people were required to know His voice. As we have covered, in John 10 we are told His sheep know His voice and they follow Him because they know His voice. All of His people are required to know His voice. I do not think I had much trouble learning to know His voice, but that is the fun part. I had a whole lot more trouble actually obeying His voice.

People regularly thank me for my obedience. I appreciate their encouragement. I have obeyed at times, and I have some accomplishments and victories from when I did. I think some people are so gracious they only see my accomplishments. Of course, others only seem to see my mistakes, but in truth, my life has been filled with both. At times some of my mistakes were so costly, I don’t think Jonah has anything on me.

Here is a big one. In 1982 I had a clear call from God to return to His service full-time. This came with angelic confirmation. Nevertheless, I ran from that call. I was still feeling so inadequate as a Christian leader that when the opportunity to start a business came along, I grabbed it. I deceived myself into believing I was building this business for the Lord. I did it with great zeal, for Him, of course, but actually it was in rebellion to Him.

I learned a lot during those years that I use now. He really will cause all things to work out for our good, but that is not the same as best. My business was quite successful for a time, and I was giving large amounts of money to His work. I do believe many, and maybe even most, are called to a ministry in business or a vocation, but I was not. I love business and business people, but I built mine in disobedience to God. He blessed it anyway, just as He blessed Ishmael. He will bless many things He will not inhabit.

It was during that time when I was not in God’s will that me and my family were vulnerable. The enemy used it to plant strongholds in my family I am still paying a high price for. Even though the Lord will use everything for our good, there is still a high price to pay for disobedience.

When my rebellion and pride were revealed, I repented. Immediately my businesses collapsed, as if a lightning bolt had struck them. Although I lost everything, I had not felt better in years. Within months it had all been restored and much added to it, without the stress. What I had built in my rebellion was not a foundation He could build on, but when I heard His word and obeyed, I was amazed at how quickly He made up all of the time I had lost. Even so, it will be much, much better if you can learn this without going through it as I did. Next week we will briefly cover just a few more crucial lessons so we can go higher with safety.