擁抱上帝的屬性--為了這樣的時候！
維吉尼亞-凱特勒-布萊克本 Virginia Kettler Blackburn
日期：2022年3月26日
翻譯：Kate
原文來源：以利亞名單
轉載/轉寄請註明出處：國度禱告網
信徒們，如今要居住在神為我們準備的快樂平安的地方是一個挑戰。我們的社會和生活不斷受到謊言和聲音的轟炸，這些聲音試圖動搖我們的核心。有沒有一種方法不僅可以應對這些對我們平安的威脅，而且可以真正戰勝它們？讓我們來探討一下神最近對我說的關於祂的屬性和不屈不撓的愛。
神說祂是誰？
主告訴我，地球相信祂，聽從並服從祂的命令。地球知道上帝是誰（慈愛的創造者）。神已經設定的事物仍然存在。那麼，在這期間，是什麼改變了什麼？人和他們的自由意志！
最近，我被引導去研究更多關於伊甸園中的亞當和夏娃。在《創世記》中，我們讀到了亞當和夏娃與上帝的親密關係。他們毫無阻礙地與神交流。他們被賦予了對地球的治理權，大自然聽從他們。在我的研究中，我想像亞當和夏娃在美麗、寧靜的花園中行走在平安。夏娃似乎正在享受自己的生活，並且會對蛇的出現感到驚訝。
據我們所知，亞當和夏娃都沒有質疑過上帝給他們的一條誡命--不能吃善惡樹上的果子。在《創世記》3:1，蛇對夏娃說："上帝真的說過'園中所有的樹你都不可吃'嗎？" 然後，蛇用牠的狡猾話語詆毀上帝。"因為 神知道，你們吃的日子眼睛就開了，你們便如眾神一樣，能知道善惡。"（創世記3:5）。
夏娃聽了蛇的話，和牠說話，並被牠的懷疑和猜測的話所誘惑。夏娃屈服於質疑上帝的誘惑。她允許祂的屬性和個性被玷污，儘管她知道祂的屬性 當夏娃和亞當忘記了上帝的屬性後，他們就被欺騙了，並據此行事。他們與敵人達成了協定。今天，許多人正在冒險進入敵人的陣營，也與敵人達成了一致。
當我向主追問時，我清楚地聽到祂說，我們正處於一個季節，我們中的許多人正在處理困惑，特別是關於我們的信仰體系。底線是：我們會相信祂嗎？我們會信任祂嗎？夏娃吞下了敵人關於神的話語和屬性的謊言。我們也會嗎？
同意的重要性
我們與神達成一致意味著我們與祂的話語一致--其他的話語都不重要！我們的信心是相信祂。我們的信心是對祂的信任，基於對祂是誰的真正理解。作為信徒，我們能做的最有力的事情之一就是同意神的話語（意見一致）！一旦我們對齊神的話語，那麼我們就有了安全和保護，知道我們在所有事情上需要採取的方向，即使我們的情緒促使我們採取不同的方式。
考慮到在伊甸園的墮落，人們不禁要問，這怎麼可能發生呢？蛇通過迷惑夏娃來吸引她的情緒。一旦她同意了牠的邏輯，她就照此行事，吃了禁果。你難道不希望你能回到 "犯罪前"的時間，改變夏娃的想法嗎？我當然希望。
什麼是上帝的屬性，我們是否接受了祂？
主給我的印象是，人們已經被欺騙和不信的警笛聲所引誘。他們已經忘記了祂的屬性。從屬性上講，敵人已經"暗殺"神的屬性。如果我們能夠真正完全看到祂的屬性，我們就會在各方面走在豐滿裡，成為得勝者！
以色列人在曠野發生的事情是今天的一個類型和陰影。出埃及記6:5-6說："我也聽見以色列人被埃及人奴役的哀聲，我也記念我的約。所以你要對以色列人說：『我是 耶和華；我要用伸出來的膀臂重重的刑罰埃及人，救贖你們脫離他們的重擔，不作他們的苦工。'......"（出埃及記19:5-6）
神的這句話現在和當時一樣真實。我們是否面臨著謊言和虐待，旨在奴役我們，就像埃及人對以色列人那樣？我們會屈服於敵人的聲音而忘記神的屬性和對我們所說的話嗎？通過倚靠聖靈的聲音，我們可以在花園的涼爽中與神同行，使來自敵人的話語沉默。上帝完全可以忠實地履行祂的承諾，拯救我們。
同樣，我們會相信祂嗎？我們可以根據《約翰福音》16:13（擴大版）知道真理，其中說："但祂，就是真理的聖靈，來了以後，要引導你們明白一切的真理[完全徹底的真理]。因為祂不是憑自己的意思說話，而是把祂所聽到的[從父那裡--關於子的資訊]都說出來，祂要把將來的事告訴你們..." 當我們想真正瞭解真理時，我們可以詢問，祂就會向我們揭示！"。
（參考合和本：只等真理的靈來了，他要引導你們進入一切的真理；因為他不是憑自己說的，乃是把他所聽見的都說出來，並要把將來的事告訴你們。）
假祭壇、偶像崇拜和試探
以色列人的曠野流浪告訴我們，我們必須警惕在心中設立假祭壇和偶像，尤其是在受脅迫的時刻（出埃及記20:3-5）。
假祭壇就是當我們敬拜或下拜於假像時，在我們個人的心中建立起來的事物。當我們以這種方式下拜或順服時，就是一種敬拜，也是一種立約。如果我們向關於神的話語，暗示 "神不會供養我 "或 "我不能相信神 "下拜的話，我們就在建造一個假祭壇。那個盟約成為我們生活中的堅固營壘。事實是，當我們把敵人（或任何人）的話高舉在神的話語之上時，被神視為偶像崇拜。祂是神，祂是道。
敵人希望阻擋我們聽到神的聲音的能力。敵人用來實現這一結果的主要工具之一是誘發恐懼和不安全感。一旦發生這種情況，我們就會把對神和祂的保護的完全信心放在一邊，從而拉開距離。例如，當夏娃被撒旦引誘時，她變得沒有安全感，被剝奪了對上帝的信任。在夏娃的困惑中，這個陌生人似乎比上帝更關心她的福祉。誘惑者在她面前，不屈不饒，並推動牠的計畫。聽起來很熟悉吧？
現在是上帝的子民運用分辨力和策略來戰勝敵人的計畫的時刻了！我們絕不應該給任何人或任何虛假的話語力量，來取代我們對神的保護和供應的信心。
神的榮耀在祂的名下顯露出來！
信徒們，我們正處於一個經歷神的榮耀彰顯在新領域的季節。榮耀 "這個詞有很多定義，其中一個是 "重量"字。讓我們這樣看：當祂在祂的榮耀中到來時，我們認識到一個帶有很大重量或價值的王。這是神在祂所有的光輝、價值和性格中顯現出來。我可以在這方面寫得更多，但為了這篇文章的緣故，我把重點放在神的名字上，這些名字體現了祂的屬性。這是因為神的榮耀通過祂稱呼自己的每一個名字體現出來。
神的屬性是多面的、多維度的，而且是永恆的。神的屬性可以通過祂的許多名字向我們擴展。當我們貼近神時，敵人可以敲門，但無法進入我們心中的那個地方。當我們選擇相信關於祂的謊言時，一種巨大的悲哀就會降臨到我們的主身上。如果你曾經知道有人背叛你的感覺，這也是神的感覺，但卻是加倍的。
在希伯來語中，有許多名字都是讚美上帝和定義祂的屬性。以下是一些你可能希望默想的、目前正在對我說話的名字。
伊勒卡拿(El Kanna)：忌邪者（出埃及記34:14）
神是一位忌邪的神，這意味著祂希望在所有事情上與我們成為第一。祂只想給我們最好的。世界、我們的政府和領袖都試圖扼殺和超越神在我們生活中的地位。但是，上帝才是在我們心中的寶座上進行治理和執政的人！讓我們不要讓入侵者進入這個神聖的地方。不要讓入侵者進入這個神聖的地方。
出埃及記34:11-14說："「我今天所吩咐你的，你要謹守。看哪，我要從你面前趕出亞摩利人、迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人。你要謹慎，不可與你所去那地的居民立約，恐怕成為你們中間的網羅；卻要拆毀他們的祭壇，打碎他們的像，砍下他們的樹叢。不可敬拜別神；因為耶和華是忌邪的神，名為忌邪者。。"
伊勒沙代(El Shaddai)：全能的上帝（創世記17:1）
神是全能的神，掌管所有的地球和居民，祂有最終的決定權。我們可以相信祂最終會使萬物服於祂的權柄。我們知道神的國度最終將如何發展。我們的盟約是與神訂立的。
創世記17:1-2說："耶和華向他顯現，對他說：「我是全能者神；你當在我面前作完全人。我就與你立約，使你的後裔極其繁多。」"。
耶和華-吉伯-米迦馬 (Jehovah Gibbor Milchamah)。在戰場上有大能（詩篇24:8）
神已經贏得了我們所面臨的這場爭戰！祂能夠制伏這場爭戰，贏得爭戰，並將所有人納入祂的最終計畫。祂知道敵人的所有策略。祂站在高處。
詩篇24:8-9說："這這榮耀的王是誰呢？就是有力有能的耶和華，在戰場上有能的耶和華。眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來。永久的門戶，你們要把頭抬起。那榮耀的王將要進來。"
耶和華-哈-肖佩特(Jehovah Hashopet)：審判者（士師記11:27）
上帝是萬物的最高審判者。當祂和我們受到委屈時，我們可以依靠祂把事情安排好。祂將捍衛祂的榮譽。
士師記11:27說："原來我沒有得罪你，你卻攻打我，惡待我。願耶和華─那審判者今日在以色列人和亞捫人中間判斷是非。"
耶和華米法爾提(Jehovah Mephalti)：我的拯救者（詩篇18:2）
神將大衛從掃羅的手中解救出來，正如祂將從我們的敵人手中解救出來一樣。信靠祂吧！
詩篇18:2-3說："耶和華是我的岩石，我的山寨，我的救主；我的神，我的力量，我所投靠的；他是我的擋牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高臺。我要求告當讚美的耶和華；這樣我必從仇敵手中被救出來。"
耶和華馬希(Jehovah Machsi:)。我的避難所（詩篇91:9）
神會救我們脫離捕鳥人的網羅。祂保守我們，我們可以跑到祂那裡去尋求安全。祂將保護我們免受任何瘟疫或災禍。
詩篇91:9-11說："耶和華是我的避難所；你已將至高者當你的居所，禍患必不臨到你，災害也不挨近你的帳棚。因他要為你囑咐他的天使，在你行的一切道路上保護你。"
祂的屬性在呼喚我們
主說要'紀念祂'，或有紀念，作為對祂工作的紀念（約書亞記24:22-28）。主的晚餐，或稱聖餐，是一種紀念的儀式。我丈夫和我經常領聖餐，尤其是在生病的時候。去年我們與新冠肺炎爭戰時，我們每天早上都領聖餐。
如果我們懷著感恩和讚美的心情紀念祂為我們所做的一切，其自然結果就是知道沒有什麼能使我們與神的愛分離（羅馬書8:38）。宇宙的上帝實際上24小時都在想著你和我！有神在我們身邊，我們就能確保勝利。
我們的禱告
我們的禱告必須是 "是的，阿門"！上帝正在等待教會在這個時刻興起，在各方面呼求祂的救贖。我們所面臨的爭戰是在超自然領域，並在自然界上演。當我們真正相信上帝站在我們這邊，並希望萬事為我们效力時，我們就會得勝。祂沒有拋下美國或世界。讓我們參與進來，盡我們的責任。
請與我一起禱告：
天父，我們愛祢，感謝祢的同在。我們宣告，我們將興起成為敬虔的、勇敢的人，在這個不敬虔的時代為祢和祢的公義而戰。我們遠離敵人的警笛聲，今天，當敵人的聲音來自媒體、政府和宣傳時，我們將 "關閉 "它。
我們感謝祢，我們可以清楚地聽到祢的聲音，我們將繼續以更大的方式認識祢美麗的屬性和個性。我們將終生行走在自由和勝利之中。我們奉耶穌的名求，阿門！
Embrace the Nature of God - For Such a Time as This!
Virginia Kettler Blackburn, Bryan-College Station, TX
2022.3.26
Believer, these days, it's a challenge to reside in that place of joy and peace that God has for us. Our society and our lives are bombarded continuously with untruths and voices that are trying to sway our very core. Is there a way to not only deal with these threats to our peace but to actually overcome them? Let's explore what God has been speaking to me recently about His nature and unrelenting love.
Who Does God Say That He Is?
The Lord told me that the earth believes Him, listens to, and obeys His commands. The earth knows who God is (the loving Creator). What has been set in place by God remains. So, what changes anything in the interim? People and their free will!
I recently was led to study more about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis, we read about the intimacy that Adam and Eve shared with God. They communed with God without hindrance. They were given dominion over the earth, and nature was at their beck and call. In my study, I pictured Adam and Eve peacefully walking in the beautiful, tranquil Garden. It seemed that Eve would have been enjoying herself and would have been surprised by the appearance of the serpent.
As far as we know, neither Adam nor Eve had ever questioned God's one commandment to them – not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Genesis 3:1, the serpent said to Eve, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" Then the serpent discredited God with his sly words: "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5).
Eve listened to the serpent, engaged in the conversation, and was seduced by his words of doubt and suspicion. Eve succumbed to the temptation to question God. She allowed His NATURE and CHARACTER to be smeared, even though she knew His nature! When Eve and then Adam forgot God's nature, they became deceived and acted upon it. They came into agreement with the enemy. Many people in this day are venturing into the enemy's camp and coming into agreement with him as well.
As I pressed the Lord for more, I clearly heard Him say that we are in a season where many of us are dealing with confusion, especially concerning our belief systems. The bottom line is this: will we believe Him? Will we trust Him? Eve swallowed the lies of the enemy concerning God's word and character. Will we also?
The Importance of Agreement
Our agreement with God means we are aligned with His Word – no other word matters! Our faith is trusting in Him, based on a real understanding of who He is. One of the most powerful things we can do as Believers is to be in agreement (harmony of opinion) with the Word of God! Once we cloak ourselves in agreement with His Word, then we have the safety and protection of knowing the direction we need to take in all matters, even if our emotions prompt us differently.
Contemplating the fall in the Garden, one can't help but wonder how it could happen. The serpent appealed to Eve's emotions by confusing her. Once she agreed with his logic, she acted upon it and ate the forbidden fruit. Don't you wish you could go back in 'pre-sin' time and change Eve's mind? I sure do! (Photo via Piqsels)
What Is God's Nature and Are We Receiving Him?
The Lord impressed on me that people have been seduced by the siren's call of deception and unbelief. They have forgotten His nature. In essence, the enemy has done an 'assassination' job on God's character. If we could ever truly and fully see Him for who He is, we would walk in the fullness of being more than overcomers, in every respect!
What happened in the wilderness for the Israelites is a type and shadow for today. Exodus 6:6 says, "...'I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.'"
"'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation'..." (Exodus 19:5-6)
This Word of God is as true now as it was then. Are we not facing lies and abuses meant to enslave us as the Egyptians did to the Israelites? Will we succumb to the voice of the enemy and forget God's nature and word to us? By leaning into the voice of the Holy Spirit, we can walk with God in the cool of the garden and silence the words from the enemy. God is more than able to faithfully fulfill His promises and deliver us.
Again, will we believe Him? We can know the truth according to John 16:13 (Amplified) which says, "But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come..." When we want to truly know the truth, we can ask and He will reveal it to us!
False Altars, Idolatry and Temptation
The wilderness trek of the Israelites shows us that we must guard against setting up false altars and idols in our hearts, especially during times of duress (Exodus 20:3-5).
A false altar is what is built in our individual hearts when we worship or bow down to a false image. When we bow down or submit in this way, it's a form of worship, and a covenant is made. If we bow down to words about God that suggest things like, "God is not going to provide for me," or "I can't trust God," we are building a false altar. That covenant, which was made later, becomes a stronghold in our lives. The truth is, when we exalt the words of the enemy (or any person) above God's Word, it is considered idolatry by God. He is God and He is the Word.
The enemy desires to block our ability to hear God's voice. One of the primary tools that the enemy uses to achieve this result is to induce fear and insecurity. Once this occurs, we set aside our complete faith in God and His protection, and thus pull away. For example, when Eve was beguiled by satan, she became insecure and was robbed of her trust in God. In Eve's confusion, the stranger appeared to care more for her welfare than God. The tempter was in her face, unrelenting, and pushing his agenda. Sound familiar? (Photo via Flickr)
This is the time for God's people to use discernment and strategy to overcome the enemy's plans! We should never give anyone or any false words the power to overtake our belief in God's protection and sustenance.
The Glory of God Is Revealed in His Name!
Believer, we are in a season where we are experiencing the manifestation of God's glory in new realms. There are many definitions for the word "glory," one of them is the word "weighty." Let's look at it this way: when He comes in His glory, we recognize a King who carries much weight or worth. It is God showing up in all of His splendor, value, and character. I could write much more on this, but for the sake of this article, I am focusing on THE NAMES OF GOD WHICH EXEMPLIFY HIS NATURE. This is because the glory of God manifests through each of His names for which He calls Himself.
The character of God is multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, and timeless. The nature of God can be expanded to us by the many names He is known by. When we stay close to God, the enemy can knock but can't enter that place in our hearts. A great sadness comes over our Lord when we choose to believe a lie about Him. If you have ever known how it feels to have someone betray you, this is also how God feels, but multiplied.
There are many names in Hebrew that magnify God and define His nature. The following are some you may wish to meditate on that are presently speaking to me:
El Kanna: Jealous (Exodus 34:14)
God is a jealous God, meaning He wants to be number one with us above all things. He wants only the best for us. The world, our government, and leaders have attempted to choke-out and overtake God's place in our lives. But God is the one to rule and reign on the throne of our hearts! Let no intruders into this sacred place.
Exodus 34:11-14 says, "Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God)."
El Shaddai: God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)
God is the God that is mighty over ALL the earth and its inhabitants, and He has the final say. We can trust Him to bring all things into subjection to His authority in the end. We know how the Kingdom of God will play out in the end. Our covenant is with God.
Genesis 17:1 says, "...'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.'"
Jehovah Gibbor Milchamah: Mighty in Battle (Psalm 24:8)
God has got this battle we are facing! He is able to subdue the battle, win the war, and bring all under His final plan. He is aware of all the strategies of the enemy. He is standing tall.
Psalm 24:8-9 says, "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in."
Jehovah Hashopet: The Judge (Judges 11:27)
God is the final judge of all things. We can depend on Him to set things in order when He and we have been wronged. He will defend His honor.
Judges 11:27 says, "Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon." (Photo via Flickr)
Jehovah Mephalti: My Deliverer (Psalm 18:2)
God delivered David from the hand of Saul just as He will deliver us from our enemies. Trust in Him!
Psalm 18:2-3 says, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Jehovah Machsi: My Refuge (Psalm 91:9)
God will deliver us from the snare of the fowler. He keeps us, and we can run to Him for safety. He will protect us from any pestilence or plague.
Psalm 91:9-11 says, "Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."
His Nature Is Calling Us
The Lord says to 'remember Him,' or have a remembrance as a memorial to His work (Joshua 24:22-28). The Lord's Supper, or communion, is a ceremony of remembrance. My husband and I take communion regularly, especially during times of illness. When we battled the flu last year, we took communion every morning.
If we recall what He has done for us with thanksgiving and praise, a natural outcome of this is knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38). The God of the universe thinks of you and me literally 24/7! With God on our side, we are assured of victory.
Our Prayers
Our prayers must be "yes and amen"! God is waiting for the Church to rise up in this hour and call out for His redemption in every respect. The battles we are facing are in the supernatural realm and being played out in the natural world. We will overcome when we truly believe God is on our side and desires every good thing for us. He has not abandoned America or the world. Let's engage and do our part.
Please feel free to join me in this prayer:
Father, we love You and thank You for who You are. We declare that we will rise up as godly, courageous men and women who stand for You and Your righteousness in these ungodly times. We turn from the siren call of the enemy and, this day, will 'turn off' the voice of the enemy when it comes from the media, government, and propaganda.
We thank you that we can hear Your voice clearly, and we will continue to know Your beautiful nature and character in an even greater way. We will walk in freedom and victory all the days of our lives. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen!