越來越光明 3
隨著世界越來越接近由全球單一政府得著終極極權主義控制權，黑暗與日俱增，每個信心行動都將成為越來越亮的光。請謹記在心：當事情對我們似乎最不可能時，神會做最棒的工。耶穌預言這世代末了會是世界從未經歷最黑暗和艱難的時候，但祂告訴祂的子民要「挺身昂首並歡欣喜樂，因為你們得贖的日子近了」（路加福音21:28）。因此，不要失去在主裡和在祂國度裡的喜樂。
我們可以在最艱難的日子歡欣喜樂，因為我們得贖和祂要來的國大過一切混亂。現在世界所經歷的是神的國和我們得贖日子近了的明證，正如聖經對這些時候的預言清楚說到的，未來我們將會研讀。當我們看見這其中的關連，我們對神終極計畫的信心將越發堅固。
羅馬書十四章17節告訴我們：神的國是公義、和平，並聖靈中的喜樂。如果我們行得正，我們將有不受環境和現今世界權勢限制的平安和喜樂。反之，我們的平安和喜樂將取決於在主前的站立。因此，此時我們所能做的最重要決定是「先求祂的國和祂的義，這些東西都要加給你們了」（馬太福音6:33）。這意味著我們將把祂的國之重要性放在所有東西和決定之上。
主對先求祂的國的人所應許的「這些東西」，基本上就是我們所需的一切。這很重要，因為聖經預言提到在末世統治一段時間的邪惡全球主義勢力，將禁止凡沒有獸的印記之人「都不得做買賣」（啟示錄13:16-18）。凡認識主是他們供應者之人，將不在乎是否能與這世界做買賣。在主說先求祂的國後，接下來說：「所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了」（馬太福音6:33）。
政府利用新冠肺炎疫情強迫人們打疫苗，否則不能工作、旅遊或參與貿易的傾向，許多人相信這可能就是啟示錄所描述的獸的印記。其他人相信就算不是，至少是試驗版本。不論是哪一種，當務之急是我們「要先求祂的國和祂的義」，直到祂成為我們所有供應的來源。這是世界唯一真正安穩之處─行在神的旨意中。
如果疫苗執行命令不是獸的印記，它絕對可以成為世界適應該印記策略的一部份。那些執行這些命令的人可能知道或不知道自己在做什麼，正如那些把主釘十字架的人不知道自己在做什麼。然而，這並沒有改變事實─事實就是如此。但與其更多關注在獸的印記是什麼，我們應該關注在人的調節和背後的靈。地上每個政府現在似乎都朝著極權主義控制前進，這也因著新冠肺炎而急劇增加，幾乎所有宗教都發生了類似的行動，包括基督教。這些都是以正浮現在這世界同樣的靈在運作，無論它在哪裡彰顯，我們都必須認出此掌控的靈。
哥林多後書三章17節告訴我們：「主的靈在哪裡，那裡就得以自由。」因此，我們必須分辨聽起來不錯的立法標題或字句，甚至是基督教話語，認出在此議程背後的靈。此極權主義掌控的靈無論在何處彰顯，都來自邪惡。我們不僅有權抵擋，也有責任和義務，在聖經關乎這些時候的預言中清楚明瞭，對此抵擋的聖經教義和根基將在此系列研讀中談到。那些幫助為主和祂的國預備道路的人將擁有「不一樣的靈/心志」，不僅能抵擋此終極邪惡，最終還將戰勝。
第一世紀的基督徒曾面對羅馬帝國極權主義同樣的靈，他們是以一種真實信心和愛的終極展現─勇氣來面對此。要行在初代基督徒和之後所有真信徒的剛強果決中，我們必須在勇氣和膽識中成長。要這樣做，我們必須以勇氣和膽識面對來自極權主義之靈的每個挑戰和威脅。
我們現在有跡象顯明，許多人更多信靠和追隨勇氣，勝過其他事物。然而，我們所要擁有的勇氣和膽識是為著對的理由，真正的勇氣是建造在愛的根基上。哥林多前書十三章8節宣告「愛是永不止息」，這也可以被翻為「愛是永不放棄」。人們會為任何理由半途而廢，除了愛以外。因此，我們勇氣的力量將以愛的力量彰顯出來，先為著神和祂的國，但也為那些祂愛到捨命的人，真愛是永不放棄。
(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 3, 2022)
Increasing Light, Part 3
As the world gets closer to having the ultimate totalitarian control through a one-world government, and with the increasing darkness, every act of faith will be an increasingly bright light. Keep in mind: God does His best work when things seem most impossible to us. Jesus predicted the end of this age to be the greatest time of darkness and trouble the world has ever experienced. Yet He tells His people to “look up and rejoice because your redemption is near” (see Luke 21:28). So, never lose your joy in the Lord and in His kingdom.
We can rejoice even during the great time of trouble because the reality of our redemption and His coming kingdom are greater than the chaos into which the world is now melting. What the world is experiencing now is evidence that our redemption and His kingdom are near, as the biblical prophecies of these times, which we will study, make clear. As we see the correlation between them, our confidence in God’s ultimate plan will grow ever stronger.
We are told in Romans 14:17 that, the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy. If we do what is right, we will have peace and joy independent of circumstances and the powers of this present world. Instead, our peace and joy will depend on our standing before the Lord in His kingdom. Therefore, the most important decision we can make at this time is to: “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). This means we will put the interests of His kingdom above everything else and above every other decision we make.
“All these things” He promises to those who seek first His kingdom is basically everything we need. This is important since the biblical prophecies that speak of the evil globalist power that will rule for a time at the end of this age will forbid any who do not have its mark to “buy, sell, or trade” (see Revelation .13:16-18). Those who know the Lord as their Provider will not care whether they can trade with this world. After the Lord said to seek first His kingdom, the next verse states, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
The tendency of governments to use the Covid-19 pandemic to force people to get the vaccine or not be able to work, travel, or participate in commerce, has many believing this could be the mark of the beast described in Revelation. Others believe if this is not it, it is at least a trial run. Either way, it is imperative that we “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” until He becomes the source for all our provisions. This is the only truly safe place in this world—in God’s will.
If the vaccine mandate is not the mark of the beast, it could certainly be part of a strategy to condition the world for that mark. Those implementing these mandates may or may not know what they are doing, just as those who crucified the Lord did not know what they were doing. Nevertheless, this does not change the facts—it is what it is. But more than focusing on what the mark is, we should focus on the conditioning of people and the spirit behind that. As it seems every earthly government is now moving toward totalitarian control, which has been ramped up dramatically because of Covid, similar movements are happening within almost every religion, including Christianity. They are operating in the same control spirit that is emerging in the world. We must recognize this control spirit regardless of where it manifests.
We are told in II Corinthians 3:17, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” So, we must discern by more than titles on legislation or words that may sound good, even Christian words, to recognize the spirit behind this agenda. This totalitarian control spirit is from the evil one regardless of where it manifests. We not only have the right but also the responsibility and duty to resist it, which is clear in biblical prophecies regarding these times. The biblical doctrine and foundation for this resistance will be covered in this study. Those who help prepare the way for the Lord and His kingdom will be of “a different spirit” that will not only resist but ultimately prevail over this ultimate evil.
The first-century Christians faced this same totalitarian spirit in the Roman Empire. They faced this with one of the ultimate demonstrations of true faith and love—courage. To walk in the boldness and decisiveness we see in these first-century Christians and all true believers since, we must grow in courage and boldness. To do this, we must face every challenge and threat from a totalitarian spirit with courage and boldness.
We now have evidence that many people are now trusting and following courage more than anything else. However, we want to have courage and boldness for the right reasons. True courage is built on the foundation of love. I Corinthians 13:8 declares “love never fails.” This could have been translated “love never quits.” People will quit for any other reason but love. Therefore, the strength of our courage will be determined by the strength of our love, for God and His kingdom first, but also for those He loved enough to lay down His life. True love never quits.
