於2022-07-06發佈

 

DAY 14
皇冠
雷克-喬納 Rick Joyner
翻譯:Kate
轉載/轉寄 請註明出處:國度禱告網

神說:我們要照著我們的形像、按著我們的樣式造人,使他們管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜,和全地,並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。(創世記1:26)。

還有什麼比按照上帝的形象造人更榮耀的呢?人是上帝創造的皇冠。人是最能反映上帝本性的人;這是人的最終目的。如果有什麼方法可以讓我們衡量我們的生活是否成功,那就是看我們在生活中反映祂的程度如何。出於這個原因,我們在羅馬書8:28-30讀到:

我們曉得萬事都互相效力,叫愛神的人得益處,就是按他旨意被召的人。
因為他預先所知道的人,就預先定下效法他兒子的模樣,使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。
預先所定下的人又召他們來;所召來的人又稱他們為義;所稱為義的人又叫他們得榮耀。

人的墮落並沒有擾亂神對人的最終呼召,而只是稍微推遲了一下。主利用墮落揭示了祂深不可測的愛,並帶來了一個比第一個創造高得多的 "新造"。那些透過對耶穌基督十字架的信仰戰勝墮落的人,將成為與祂共同繼承人。

為此,"萬事都互相效力,叫愛神的人得益處,就是按他旨意被召的人。"(羅馬書8:28)。發生在我們身上的每一件事都是為了實現神在我們生命中的更高目標。這個更高的目的就是基督化。每一個考驗和每一個問題都是為了使我們符合基督的形象。如果我們從這個角度來看待我們的問題,我們將能夠理解並克服它們。在所有的事情上,我們必須保持高尚的呼召,以符合基督的形象為目的。

為了理解我們的轉變,我們必須理解《哥林多後書》3:18:"我們眾人既然敞著臉得以看見主的榮光,好像從鏡子裡返照,就變成主的形狀,榮上加榮,如同從主的靈變成的。" 我們要 "榮上加榮"。這表明一個展開的過程,使我們變成祂的形象。這不是一個我們可以設計或控制的過程,但它是 "從主的靈"而來的。我們所能做的就是順從它。我們透過 "看見主的榮光"來順服它。當我們看到祂的榮耀時,我們將被改變成祂的形象。

當我們落入試圖改變自己的陷阱時,其結果是看自己而不是看祂。這將不可避免地導致以自我為中心的黑洞。即使在我們重生在主裡後,我們的生活也需要發生轉變。然而,我們永遠不會因為糾纏於自己的問題而得到改變,而是因為看到了主的榮耀。當我們把注意力放在祂身上時,我們就會改變,即使我們常常沒有意識到這一點。

施洗約翰說:"他必興旺,我必衰微。"(約翰福音3:30)。許多人為了模仿這種高尚的奉獻精神,認定他們必衰微,以便祂能興旺,但這並不是約翰所說的。事實上,這恰恰相反,會帶來我們所追求的相反的結果,那就是像基督一樣。如果我們試圖衰微,以便祂能夠增加,那麼控制的仍然是我們。為了使我們變成祂的形象,"祂必須興旺",然後我們將衰微。如果我們把這一點弄反了,就會造成法利賽人宗教的靈。

當我們看祂的榮耀,而不是我們自己的缺點時,祂就在我們裡面興旺。聖靈被差來使我們知罪,祂將指出我們的罪。補救的辦法是悔改。悔改不僅僅是遠離罪惡,而且是轉向主。如果我們只邁出半步轉離罪惡,我們就會再次跌倒。我們必須轉向主,逃向祂十字架的力量,看祂的榮耀和本性。然後我們就會被改變。因此,當我們犯罪的時候,我們不能逃避主,而是要逃向祂:

因我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱。他也曾凡事受過試探,與我們一樣,只是他沒有犯罪。
所以,我們只管坦然無懼的來到施恩的寶座前,為要得憐恤,蒙恩惠,作隨時的幫助。(希伯來書4:15-16)。


DAY 14
The Crown
Rick Joyner

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness (Genesis 1:26).

What greater honor could there possibly be than to be created in the image of God? Man is the crown of God's creation. Man is the one to most reflect His nature; this is the ultimate purpose of man. If there is any way for us to measure the success of our lives, it would be by how well we have reflected Him in our lives. For this reason we read in Romans 8:28-30:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the first-born among many brethren;
and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified;
and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The Fall of man did not disrupt God's ultimate calling upon men, but only delayed it a little. The Lord used the Fall to reveal His unfathomable love, and to bring forth a "new creation" that was much higher than the first creation. Those who overcome the Fall by their faith in the cross of Jesus Christ, will become joint heirs with Him.

For this reason "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Everything that happens to us is for the purpose of bringing forth God's higher purpose in our lives. That higher purpose is Christlikeness. Every trial and every problem is for the purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ. If we will look at our problems in that light, we will be able to understand and overcome them. In all things we must keep the high calling of being conformed to the image of Christ as our purpose.

To understand our transformation we must understand II Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." We are to be transformed "from glory to glory." This indicates an unfolding process to change us into His image. This is not a process that we can engineer or control, but it is "from the Lord, the Spirit." All that we can do is submit to it. We submit to it by "beholding the glory of the Lord." As we behold His glory, we will be changed into His image.

When we fall into the trap of trying to change ourselves, it results in looking at ourselves instead of Him. This will inevitably lead to the black hole of self-centeredness. Even after we are born again into the Lord, transformation needs to take place in our lives. However, we will never be changed by dwelling on what is wrong with us, but rather by beholding the glory of the Lord. As we keep our attention on Him, we will change, even if we are often unaware of it.

John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). Many, seeking to emulate this noble devotion, have determined they must decrease so that He can increase, but that is not what John said. It is in fact the opposite and will bring about the very opposite results we are seeking, which is to be like Christ. If we are trying to decrease so He can increase, it is still we who are in control. For us to be transformed into His image, "He must increase," and then we will decrease. If we get this backwards, it will result in the religious spirit of the Pharisees.

He increases in us as we behold His glory, not our own shortcomings. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict us of sin, and He will point out our sin. The remedy is to repent. Repentance is not just turning away from the sin, but it is turning to the Lord. If we only take a half step of turning from the sin, we will fall again. We must turn to the Lord, fleeing to the power of His cross, beholding His glory and nature. Then we will be changed. Therefore, when we sin, we must not run from the Lord, but rather to Him.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).