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雷克•喬納
2022.7.26
幾週前，我們討論了人的墮落如何導致了神與人之間以及人與被造物之間的不和諧。正如羅馬書8:19-23所述：
受造之物切望等候神的眾子顯出來。
因為受造之物服在虛空之下，不是自己願意，乃是因那叫祂如此的。
但受造之物仍然指望脫離敗壞的轄制，得享（享：原文是入）神兒女自由的榮耀。
我們知道一切受造之物一同歎息、勞苦，直到如今。
不但如此，就是我們這有聖靈初結果子的，也是自己心裡歎息，等候得著兒子的名分，乃是我們的身體得贖。
我們所謂的 "自然災害 "所造成的破壞，是創造物呻吟和痛苦的結果。有些人把 "環境危機 "歸咎於 "氣候變化"，聖經則把它歸咎於人類的罪和邪惡。當然，對環境和地球資源的濫用也可以歸咎於人的罪，但為了恢復地球，人需要與神、與彼此、與被造物和解。
耶穌來到地球是為了救贖我們，也是為了教導我們關於祂即將到來的國度和對地球的權柄，祂的新婦將與祂分享。祂不是來教我們神如何生活，而是教我們必須如何生活，包括我們如何對地球行使公義和公正的權力。這就是為什麼耶穌稱自己為 "人子 "並被稱為 "末後的亞當"（見哥林多前書15:45）。祂來向我們展示我們應該如何生活，因為我們要學習住在 "最後的亞當 "裡。祂教導門徒在祂的權柄下行走，這包括在必要時控制天氣和平息風暴。
行走在國度的權柄中，不僅要學習國度的領導原則，而且要學習住在王裡面。只有住在祂裡面，我們才有真正的屬靈權柄。住在祂裡面就是與祂完全和諧。當我們與祂越來越和諧時，創造物也會與我們越來越和諧。
正如我們以前所講的，神是愛，祂的權柄建立在愛之上。當祂同情人是沒有牧人的羊時，祂成為我們的牧人。當祂同情那些生活在黑暗中的人時，祂成為他們的老師。同樣，當我們開始愛創造物時，神將恢復祂賦予人對祂創造物的權力。
當然，當我們對創造物、其他人或其他任何東西的愛開始掩蓋我們對神的愛時，這種和諧就會開始瓦解。"主要的事情是保持主要的事情是主要的事，"而我們被要求做的主要事情是愛神。然而，如果我們愛祂勝過一切，我們就會愛祂所創造的一切，並以應有的尊重和關懷對待它們，以尊重祂。
耶穌說，我們對待甚至是祂最小的子民的方式就是我們對待祂的方式。如果我們開始以對待祂的方式對待每個人，我們與他人的關係會發生怎樣的變化？然後，世界會驚歎於基督徒不僅互相對待，而且對待他人的方式。他們就會被吸引到這個與其他社會不同的社會。
第一世紀的教會有一段時間接近於此，但當教會成長，更多的注意力被放在組織上，而不是成為我們被呼召的家庭，它開始崩潰。我們的首要使命是成為一個家庭，而不是一個組織。即使是最偉大、最強大的組織也無法通過現在已經開始的震動，但神的家庭會。在這個時代結束之前，基督徒將因其愛而聞名。比起我們為這個時代所做的任何其他準備，在我們對神和彼此的愛中成長是最重要的。那些這樣做的人將知道國度的最終和平與和諧，並幫助為它準備道路。我們還能做什麼比這更重要？
Choices, Part 10
Rick Joyner
A few weeks ago, we discussed how the fall of man brought about disharmony between God and man and between man and creation. Both mankind and creation are groaning and travailing for the reconciliation and restoration of harmony as told in Romans 8:19-23:
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
The destruction caused by what we call “natural disasters” are the result of creation’s groaning and travail. The “environmental crisis” which some have attributed to “climate change,” the Scriptures attribute to the sin and wickedness of mankind. Of course, abuses of environmental and earthly resources could also be attributed to man’s sin, but to restore the earth man needs to be reconciled to God, to one another, and to creation.
Jesus came to earth to redeem us and also to teach us about His coming kingdom and authority over the earth, which His bride will share with Him. He did not come to teach us how God lives but how we must live, including how we can exercise righteous and just authority over the earth. That is why Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of man” and is called “the last Adam” (see I Corinthians 15:45). He came to show us how we should live as we learn to abide in “the last Adam.” He taught His disciples to walk in His authority, which included controlling the weather and calming storms when necessary.
Walking in the authority of the kingdom comes not only by learning principles of kingdom leadership but also by learning to abide in the King. Only to the degree we abide in Him will we have true spiritual authority. To abide in Him is to come in complete harmony with Him. As we come into increasing harmony with Him, creation will come in increasing harmony with us.
As we previously covered, God is love, and His authority is founded on love. When He felt compassion for man as sheep without a shepherd, He became our Shepherd. When He felt compassion for those who lived in darkness, He became their Teacher. Likewise, when we start loving creation, God will restore the authority He gave man over His creation.
Of course, when our love for creation, other people, or anything else begins to eclipse our love for God, that harmony will begin to break down. “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” and the main thing we are called to do is to love God. However, if we love Him above all things, we will love all things He created and treat them with the respect and care we should, to honor Him.
Jesus said the way we treat even the least of His people is how we have treated Him. How would our relationship with others change if we began treating everyone the way we treat Him? The world would then marvel at the way Christians treat not only each other but also others. They would then be drawn to the society that is unlike any other.
The first-century church came close to this for a time, but when the church grew, and more attention was given to organization than to being the family we were called to be, it began to break down. Our first calling is to be a family, not an organization. Even the greatest, most powerful organization will not make it through the shaking that has now begun, the family of God will. Before the end of this age, Christians will be known for their love. More than any other preparation we can make for these times, growing in our love for God and one another are by far most important. Those who do will know the ultimate peace and harmony of the kingdom and help prepare the way for it. What could we possibly do that is more important than this?
