磐石
雷克-喬納 Rick Joyner
翻譯：Kate 2022.6.3
轉載/轉寄 請註明出處：國度禱告網

由於羅伯特李將軍把對他的家鄉維吉尼亞州的忠心看得高於他所相信的基本原則，他錯誤的忠心使許多人失去了生命。許多基督徒也同樣為自己的行為辯護，這些行為與聖經和他們所宣稱的主的本質相衝突，他們把對國家、教派或機構的忠心看得高於信仰的基本原則。

這絕不是暗示對我們的國家、教派，甚至我們的公司的忠心是錯誤的。忠心是每個真正高尚的靈魂中都有的高尚特徵。然而，我們必須把對我們神的忠心看得高於所有這些，否則它們就成了偶像。如果神真的是我們的主，當兩者之間發生衝突時，我們必須始終服從神而不是人。

許多人可能以這種方式損害了我們信仰的基本原則，因為他們沒有真正瞭解信仰的基本原則，沒有自己去尋找聖經。每個參加戰爭的國家都會試圖為他們的事業煽起宗教熱情的火焰。很少有東西能比宗教熱忱更能促使人們為贏得戰爭而作出奉獻和犧牲。許多人以這種方式為邪惡的事業受騙。我們能做些什麼呢？

如果你想知道這是怎麼回事，我實際上是想讓你不要接受 "野獸的印記"。許多人簡單地認為拒絕印記會很容易，因為他們相信如果有人試圖把印記放在他們的額頭或手上，尤其是包括666的印記，他們根本不會接受。然而，對這一問題的研究很快揭示了這一印記可能性要精密得多。讓我們不受欺騙的不僅僅是擁有真理，而是擁有對真理的愛，這一點我們在帖撒羅尼迦後書2:8-12讀到：

那時這不法的人必顯露出來。主耶穌要用口中的氣滅絕他，用降臨的榮光廢掉他。
這不法的人來，是照撒但的運動，行各樣的異能、神蹟，和一切虛假的奇事，
並且在那沉淪的人身上行各樣出於不義的詭詐；因他們不領受愛真理的心，使他們得救。
故此，神就給他們一個生發錯誤的心，叫他們信從虛謊，
使一切不信真理、倒喜愛不義的人都被定罪。

李將軍在日常生活和舉止中是位非常有基督精神的人。有一次，他從馬背上下來，服事一名剛罵過他的受傷的聯邦士兵。有幾次，他的高級將領在幾次重大戰役的最關鍵時刻未執行他的命令，有兩次可能使他失去了本可以贏得戰爭的決定性勝利。即便如此，他從未公開責備過下屬，而是把所有的責任都攬在自己身上。有一次，他早早起床，親自為一名被他誤判的下級軍官送飯。在整個戰爭期間，他拒絕睡在除了帳篷以外的地方，與他的士兵分享所有的艱辛。當聯邦士兵在整個南方燒毀田地、農場和城鎮時，當李將軍在聯邦領土上行軍時，他嚴懲任何破壞敵人財產的人，並且他讓他的將軍們為他們從農民那裡拿走的任何物資支付全部價格。

李將軍的基本性格是如此高尚和堅定，很少有將軍能激勵他們的部下遭受如此的苦難，並進行如此艱苦的打仗。他們沒有食物，有時行軍幾百英里，沒有鞋子，忍受著家園被燒毀和農場被蹂躪的聯邦士兵摧毀的消息，歷史上很少有人在更大的困難面前以更大的勇氣打仗，或為更糟糕的事業打仗。這些偉大而高尚的靈魂中，有數十萬人因為對李的忠心而死於非命。

忠心是一個美妙而光榮的動機，但如果我們對任何個人或實體的忠心超過了對主耶穌和祂的真理的忠心，我們也將面臨為錯誤而戰的危險，無論我們是多麼高尚或英勇。在歷史上，有一些偉大的屬靈的男女領導了偉大的運動，激勵眾人為真理和公義犧牲和勇敢的行動。也有許多人具有看似高尚的品格和勇氣，他們也同樣激勵了許多人為邪惡的教義犧牲和勇敢。品格高尚很重要，但這並不否定對真理的奉獻。

我個人對這個時代的基督徒有很大的擔憂。太多的人就像羊，他們現在可能被引導得很好，但很明顯，他們很容易被帶入歧途，因為他們自己的信念缺乏深度。他們沒有挖好自己的井，還沒有為自己認識到主的聲音，或主的道路。約翰福音10:4告訴我們，主的羊跟隨祂，因為他們知道祂的聲音。他們知道祂的聲音，而不僅僅是牧師、教師或作家的聲音。我們每個人都有責任為自己瞭解祂的聲音。

我們每個人都必須挖掘我們自己的井。我們都必須走得更深。我們必須把我們的生活建立在健全的聖經真理上，建立在我們自己的心中。曾經有一段時間，耶穌問他的門徒們 "......人說人子是誰？"（馬太福音16:13）當然，人們在爭論，他是許多前先知和義人的復活。然後耶穌問他們認為他是誰。當彼得回答說他是基督，是永生神的兒子時，主回應說。

耶穌對他說：西門巴約拿，你是有福的！因為這不是屬血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。
我還告訴你，你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石上；陰間的權柄（權柄：原文是門），不能勝過他。
（馬太福音16:17-18）

主不是說他要把他的教會建立在彼得身上，像有些人所斷言的。只有耶穌是教會的根基，而我們必須把根基固定在磐石上，這就是天父對耶穌的啟示。我們僅僅相信我們的父母說耶穌是誰，甚至我們的牧師說祂是誰，這都是不夠的。我們必須從天父那裡得到關於耶穌是誰的自己的啟示。我們永遠無法 "靠著保羅所傳的耶穌"趕鬼。保羅所傳的耶穌對保羅來說是真實的，保羅的所有著作對教義來說也是真實和準確的，但我們仍然必須有更多的東西--我們必須有自己對他的啟示，甚至我們自己對保羅著作的確信。我們不會因為接近重生的人，或在祂裡面成長的人而進入天堂--我們必須重生，並在祂裡面成長。

The Rock
Rick Joyner

Because Robert E. Lee esteemed loyalty to his native state of Virginia above some of the basic principles he believed, his misplaced loyalty cost multitudes their lives. Many Christians likewise justify their actions, which are in basic conflict with the Scriptures and the nature of the Lord they claim to serve by esteeming loyalty to their nation, denomination, or other institution, above the basic principles of the faith.

This is not to in any way imply that loyalty to our nation, denomination, or even our company, is wrong. Loyalty is a noble characteristic found in every truly noble soul. However, we must esteem loyalty to our God above all of these or they have become idols. We must always obey God rather than men when there is a conflict between the two, if He is truly our Lord.

Many have probably compromised the basic tenets of our faith in this way because they do not really know the basic principles of the faith, having failed to search the Scriptures for themselves. Every nation that goes to war will try to fan the flames of religious zeal on behalf of their cause. Few things are a greater motivation than religious zeal for the devotion and sacrifice required to win a war. Many are duped for the cause of evil in this way. What can we do about it?

If you are wondering where this is leading, I am actually trying to keep you from taking "the mark of the beast." Many have simplistically thought that it will be easy to refuse the mark because they believe if anyone tries to put it on their forehead or hand, especially a mark that includes 666, they simply will not take it. However, a study of this quickly reveals the probability that this mark is far more subtle. It is not just having truth that will keep us from being deceived, but having a love for the truth, which we read in II Thessalonians 2:8-12:

And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay
with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan,
with all power and signs and false wonders,
and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence
so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged
who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Robert E. Lee was a remarkably Christlike man in his daily life and demeanor. He once got down from his horse to minister to a wounded Union soldier who had just cursed him. Several times his top generals failed to carry out his orders at the most crucial point in several major battles, in two cases probably costing him a decisive victory that could have won the war. Even so, he never publicly berated his subordinates, but took all of the blame upon himself. He once got up early to personally serve a meal to a junior officer that he had misjudged. He refused throughout the war to sleep in anything but a tent, sharing all the same hardships that his soldiers did. While Union soldiers burned fields, farms, and towns throughout the South, when Lee marched through Union territory he severely punished any who damaged the property of his enemies, and he made his generals pay the full price for any provisions they took from farmers.

Lee was so noble and steadfast in his basic character that few generals have ever inspired their men to suffer such hardship, and to fight so hard. With little to eat, marching sometimes hundreds of miles with no shoes, suffering the news of their homes being burned and farms destroyed by ravaging Union soldiers, rarely in history have any fought with more valor against greater odds, or for a worse cause. Hundreds of thousands of these great and noble souls died fighting for wrong because of their loyalty to Lee.

Loyalty is a wonderful and glorious motivator, but if we are loyal to any person or entity more than we are loyal to the Lord Jesus and His truth, we too will be in jeopardy of fighting for wrong regardless of how noble or valiant we are. In history there have been great spiritual men and women who have led great movements, motivating multitudes to sacrifice and valor for the sake of truth and righteousness. There have also been many with seemingly noble character and courage, who have likewise motivated many to sacrifice and valor for doctrines of demons. Being noble in character is important, but it does not negate the need for a devotion to the truth.

I personally have a great concern for Christians in these times. Too many are like sheep who are possibly being led well now, but it is obvious they could easily be led astray because they lack depth in their own convictions. They have not dug their own wells. They have not come to know the Lord's voice, or His ways, for themselves. In John 10:4, we are told that the Lord's sheep follow Him because they know His voice. They know His voice, not just the voice of a pastor, teacher, or writer. We each have the responsibility to know His voice for ourselves.

We must each dig our own well. We all must go deeper. We must build our lives on sound biblical truth, established in our own hearts. There was a time when Jesus asked His disciples: "…Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13) Of course, men were debating that He was the resurrection of many former prophets and righteous men. Then Jesus asked them who they thought He was. When Peter answered that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Lord responded with:

"Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood
did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it"
(Matthew 16:17-18).

The Lord was not saying that He was going to build His church upon Peter, as some have asserted. Jesus alone is the foundation of the church, and the rock that we must fasten our foundation to is the revelation from the Father of who Jesus is. It is not enough for us to just believe in who our parents say Jesus is, or even who our pastors say He is. We must have our own revelation from the Father of who Jesus is. We will never be able to cast out demons "by Jesus whom Paul preaches." The Jesus whom Paul preached was true for Paul, and all of Paul's writings are true and accurate for doctrine, but we must still have more than that—we must have our own revelation of Him, and even our own conviction about Paul's writings. We will not get to heaven because we are close to someone who is born again, or is growing in Him—we must be born again, and grow up into Him.