於2022-10-11發佈


神的盟約百姓:親密關係的邀請
作者:安妮-巴拉德 Anne Ballard
原文來源:以利亞名單 https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=28147 
時間:2022.10.8
翻譯:Kate
轉載/轉寄 請註明出處:國度禱告網

在十月份,神邀請我們與祂建立更深的親密關係。有恩典可以重新建立社區,發展新友誼。神正在為我們需要的領域提供即時和超自然的供應。採取信心,與神合作,把你所擁有的帶給祂。現在是形成盟約關係的時候了,在這種關係中,我們在軟弱上互相掩護,而不是排斥那些與我們有分歧的人。這個月,求問神讓你採取的信心步驟,以及如何與祂合作,在你的生活中看到神聖的轉變!

被邀進入親密關係

"摩西說:你若不親自和我同去,就不要把我們從這裡領上去。" (出埃及記33:15)

我們都是為親密關係而創造的,因為我們是按照天父的形象製造的。祂渴望瞭解我們,也渴望被我們瞭解。許多人已經對"宗教"感到失望。留下的是他們心中的一個空洞。無論他們是在某種程度上受到教會的傷害,還是對那些失敗已經公開、眾所周知的人感到失望,他們都在尋求更多;無論他們是否意識到,他們都在尋求一種深刻的關係。

神在我們裡面放了認識祂和被祂認識的願望。然而,在教會中,我們常常被教導關於神的一切,卻沒有真正認識神這個人(或耶穌或聖靈)。就像對人一樣,我們可以知道關於某人的一切,但卻沒有真正認識祂。例如,我可以知道職業運動員的所有情況,卻不認識他們本人。我知道他們所有的運動資料並不意味著我與他們有實際的關係。在某些情況下,對神的瞭解會妨礙與祂的關係。

宗教使神變得沒有人情味,但事實是,神創造我們是為了建立親密的、有意的關係。祂知道你頭上有多少根頭髮,因為你是祂的孩子。如果你感到心煩意亂、脫節和疲憊,這個詞是為你預備的。如果你對宗教感到生疏和幻滅,神正在邀請你回到與祂的親密關係中。

問問神,祂的下一個步驟是什麼,讓你重新與祂的心相連。祂是否呼召你暫時放下一些東西?這可能是禁食社交媒體或電視,或其他取代你與祂相處時間的東西。把這些東西放在祭壇上,故意花時間在祂面前--沒有目的--只是為了享受與祂在一起。祂以你為樂,就像你以祂為樂一樣。讓你的心回到祂存在的甜蜜享受中去。

建立社區

"因為無論在哪裡,有兩三個人奉我的名聚會,那裡就有我在他們中間。"(馬太福音18:20)

聚在一起是有力量的。神設計我們生活在與他人的連結和社區中。我們需要彼此。在過去的兩年裡,許多社區聚會被打亂了,使我們的聚會變得很有挑戰性。我們中的一些人已經與我們的社區脫節。現在是時候回到一起聚會了。這可能是與你的教會一起,但也可能是以其他方式。也許是與一個小組;一個圍繞你的愛好的俱樂部,如讀書俱樂部或園藝俱樂部;一個與你漸漸疏遠的親密的朋友團體;或一個婦女團體。我們在一起會更好。正如鐵磨鐵,磨出刃來,我們深深地需要我們周圍的人所提供的事物。

據研究人員說,長壽的最大指標之一是我們社會關係的品質。我們被造是為了生活在社區。我們需要人們對我們的生活說話,提供獨特的見解和觀點,並與我們一起學習和成長。在這個季節,要有意識地融入社區。許多人在過去幾年中搬到了一些城市或州,這可能使社區感到特別具有挑戰性。如果你正在重新開始,不要被建立新的連結所嚇倒或壓倒。你並不孤單。相反地,選擇被聖靈引導。神已經在你面前建立了連結。

如果你一直感到孤立,孤獨,渴望朋友,那麼這個詞就是為你預備的。如果你正在與拒絕、憂鬱爭戰,或剛到一個地區,要知道神把對社區/家庭的渴望放在你心裡是有原因的。神正在強調插入一個社區的需要,而且祂正在引導你進入這個社區。注意祂讓你注意的東西,或在這個季節與你連結的團體。

鑒察你的心,分辨神帶領你建立社區的方向。禱告你能採取什麼步驟參與其中。要有膽量!當我們與其他人保持一致時,我們可以完成更多,走得更遠。

即時供應

"以利沙問他說:我可以為你做什麼呢?你告訴我,你家裡有什麼?他說:婢女家中除了一瓶油之外,沒有什麼。"(王下4:2)

神的供應可以有多種形式。通常,我們認為供應是財務上的,以金錢或美元鈔票的形式出現。然而,有時供應可能看起來像其他東西。我最近有一個經歷,我需要修理空調設備。維修公司報價1000美元。然而,我的鄰居實際上能夠免費幫助我!在這個故事中,供應並不是給空調維修人員額外的1000美元,而是通過我的鄰居顯示了供應。

在這段經文(王下4:1-7),是寡婦的故事。她在絕望中來到先知以利沙面前。她的丈夫去世了,債權人要求還債。因為她無法償還,債主要來抓她的兒子,奴役他們以償還債務。她有一個巨大而迫切的需要!

以利沙問她有什麼。她只有少量的油。以利沙讓她去找她的鄰居,把她能找到的所有罐子都收集起來。他特別指出:"不要少借"(見第3節)。他不僅指示她期待神的供應,還讓她採取行動步驟,以便認識到她並不是無能為力。

於是她去了鄰居家,收集瓶子。她裝滿了每一個瓶子,直到她所有的瓶子都裝滿。在這種情況下,主超自然地供應她,使她能夠賣掉祂所給的東西,以償還債務。

有時我們需要使用我們所擁有的東西,主會在那個地方迎接我們,並使之成倍增長。神在呼喚我們超越我們的需要,看祂已經給了我們什麼,並與祂合作。祂在邀請我們使用我們所擁有的,看祂如何與我們合作。會不會是這個寡婦的信心導致了油的增加,或者是她簡單的順服行為?在收集瓶子時,她邁出了信心的一步,儘管她並不完全知道神會如何供應。

如果你有一個需要,但不知道該怎麼做,請向神尋求智慧!這可能是一個持續的需求。這個需要可能有一定的緊迫性,如果事情沒有轉變,也許甚至會有可怕的後果!然而,神是一位供應的神,祂將為你出現。

神在邀請你尋求祂的解決方案,並使用你手中的東西。神已經提供了什麼?在這種情況下,信心會是什麼樣子?你怎樣才能像這個寡婦那樣收集罐子作為信心的行動?神會給你洞察力和超自然的供應!

盟約關係

"於是約拿單與大衛家結盟,說:願耶和華藉大衛的仇敵追討背約的罪。約拿單因愛大衛如同愛自己的性命,就使他再起誓。"(撒上20:16-17)

在我們越來越多的"微波爐心態"文化中,影片越來越短,只是為了留住人們的注意力,真正理解聖經中約的含義是越來越少。在整個聖經中,我們看到神與祂的子民立約,我們也看到人們彼此立約。雖然每種類型的約有不同的動力,整體而言,約代表著一種重要的關係(涉及家庭和血統),它與承諾相連,而且不容易被打破,將兩者形成一體。

今天的社會(有時甚至在教會內部)並沒有真正掌握這種深刻、有意義和持久的關係。神在呼喚祂的子民從社會中分離出來,置身於神所指定的盟約式關係中。我們對所有事情的思考必須以聖經為基礎,而不是世界的產物,也不是由世界塑造的。

在光譜的另一邊是"取消文化"。取消文化是在這個時代越來越有勢力。在取消文化中,如果有人冒犯了別人或做了公眾認為錯誤的事,他們就會受到社會的懲罰。被取消的人通常會在社交媒體上被罵,然後羊群心態將這一勢力推向平流層,每個人都會對他們進行攻擊。在某些情況下,它對個人或公司造成很大的損害。

雖然它經常被稱為 "問責制",但其核心是,"取消文化"是欺淩。沒有合法的正當程式,也沒有正式的申訴程式。被冒犯的人成為法官和陪審團,並在他們周圍召集人手。你能看到取消文化和這種拆毀他人、譴責、分裂和滋生敵意的心態是如何與神的心意相反的嗎?敵人得不到的東西,祂就尋求破壞。

神在呼召我們,作為祂的子民,建立盟約關係,以反映祂對我們的心和目的。我們是聖潔的,是被分別出來的,我們的關係應該看起來與眾不同,是持久的,有承諾的。請注意,我不認為神在說所有的關係都是永久的,但我相信祂在強調一些可以深入的關係,以及一些可能需要重新承諾的關係。如果你一直渴望在你的關係中得到更多,就開始為盟約關係禱告。神已經把社區的重要性放在你的心上,因此問神要在哪些關係中進行更深入的投資。

在你的關係中是否有任何需要修復或恢復的地方?神可能正在引導你去找祂希望你與之建立盟約關係的人。求神告訴你祂在哪裡引導你,以及你可以採取什麼步驟來效法祂對關係的心。

宣告:

- 我正在培養與神的新親密關係。
- 我有意在我的關係中和建立社區。
- 我把我所擁有的帶到神面前,看著祂使之倍增。
- 神正以出乎意料的超自然方式供應給我。
- 我正在形成與神的心相連的盟約關係。
 

God's Covenantal People: An Invitation Into Intimacy
Anne Ballard, Bedford, TX

In the month of October, God is inviting us into deeper intimacy with Him. There is grace to build community afresh and to develop new friendships. God is providing immediately and supernaturally for our areas of need. Take steps of faith in partnering with God and bringing Him what you have. It's time to form covenantal relationships where we cover each other in our weaknesses instead of ostracizing those with whom we disagree. This month, ask God for the steps of faith He'd have you take and how to partner with Him in seeing divine shifts in your life!

Invited into Intimacy

"Then Moses said to Him, 'If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.'" (Exodus 33:15)

We are all created for intimacy, as we are made in our Father's image. He longs to know us, and to be known by us. So many have become disenchanted by "religion". What is left is a gaping hole in their hearts. Whether they were wounded by the Church in some way, or they've become disenchanted with people whose failures have become public and known, they are seeking more; and whether they realize it or not, they are seeking a deep relationship.

God put inside of us the desire to know Him and to be known by Him. However, often in the Church we are taught all about God without truly knowing God the Person (or Jesus or Holy Spirit). Just as with people, we can know all about someone without actually knowing them. For instance, I can know all about a professional athlete without knowing them personally. The fact that I know all their sports stats does not mean that I have an actual relationship with them. In some cases, the knowledge of God can get in the way of relationship with Him.

Religion makes God impersonal, but the truth is that God created us for intimate, and intentional relationship. He knows the number of hairs on your head because you are His child. If you have felt distracted, disconnected and weary, this word is for you. If you're feeling raw and disillusioned with religion, God is inviting you back into an intimate relationship with Him.

Ask God what His next steps are for you to reconnect to His heart. Is He calling you to lay something down for a time? It could be fasting from social media or TV or something else that has taken the place of your time with Him. Lay that down on the altar and intentionally spend time in His presence – without agenda – simply for the enjoyment of being with Him. He delights in you, just as you delight in Him. Allow your heart to come back to the sweet enjoyment of His presence.

Cultivating Community

"For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)

There is power in gathering together. God designed us to live in connection and community with others. We need each other. The last two years have disrupted many community gatherings and made coming together challenging. Some of us have become disconnected from our community. It is time to return to gathering together. It could be with your church, but it could also be in other ways. Perhaps it's with a small group; a club around your hobbies such as a book club or a garden club; a close-knit group of friends you've grown distant from; or a women's group. We are better together. Just as iron sharpens iron, we deeply need what those around us have to offer.

According to researchers, one of the greatest indicators of long life is the quality of our social connections. We were created to do life in a community. We need people speaking into our lives, offering unique insights and perspectives, and learning and growing alongside us. Be intentional during this season to plug into a community. Many people have moved cities or states in the past few years, which can make communities feel especially challenging. If you're starting over, don't be intimidated or overwhelmed by building new connections. You're not alone. Instead, choose to be led by the Spirit. God has already placed connections before you.

If you've been feeling isolated, alone and are longing for friends, then this word is for you. If you're struggling with rejection, depression or are new to an area, know that God has placed the desire for community/family on your heart for a reason. God is highlighting the need to be plugged into a community and He's leading you to that community. Pay attention to what He's bringing to your attention, or the groups that you are being connected with during this season.

Search your heart to discern the direction where God is leading you to build community. Pray about what steps you can take to get involved. Be bold! We can accomplish more and go so much farther when we are aligned with other people.

Immediate Provision

"Elisha replied to her, 'How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?'
'Your servant has nothing there at all,' she said, 'except a small jar of olive oil.'" (2 Kings 4:2)

God's provision can take many forms. Often, we think of provision as financial and coming in the form of money or dollar bills. However, sometimes provision can look like something else. I recently had an experience where I needed a repair on an air conditioning unit. The repair company quoted me $1,000. However, my neighbor was actually able to help me for free! In this story, provision wasn't an extra $1,000 for the AC repairman, but provision showed up through my neighbor.

In this Scripture (2 Kings 4:1-7) is a story of a widow. She came to the prophet Elisha in desperation. Her husband had died and his creditor was demanding repayment. Because she couldn't repay him, the creditor was coming for her sons to enslave them in order to pay the debt. She had a great and urgent need!

Elisha asked her what she had. She didn't have much, only a small amount of oil. Elisha told her to go to her neighbors and gather up every jar that she could find. He specified, "Don't ask for just a few" (see verse 3). Not only was he instructing her to anticipate God's provision, he was giving her an action step to take, in order to realize she wasn't powerless.

So she went to the neighbor's house, gathering jars. She filled every jar until she had not one left to fill. In this case, the Lord supernaturally provided for her so that she could sell what He gave in order to pay her debt.

Sometimes we need to use what we have and the Lord will meet us in that place and multiply it. God is calling us to look beyond our need to what He's already given us and partner with Him. He's inviting us to use what we have, and watch how He joins us. Could it have been the widow's faith that caused the oil to multiply, or perhaps her simple act of obedience? In gathering the jars, she was taking a step of faith even though she didn't fully know how God would provide.

If you have a need and don't know what to do, ask God for wisdom! This could be an ongoing need. There could be some urgency to the need, and perhaps even dire consequences if things don't shift! Yet God is a God of provision and He will show up for you.

God is inviting you to seek Him for His solutions, and to use what you have in your hand. What has God already provided? What would faith look like in this situation? How could you gather jars like the widow did as an act of faith? God will give you insight and supernatural provision!

Covenantal Relationships

"So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, 'May the LORD call David's enemies to account.' And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself." (1 Samuel 20:16-17)

In our increasingly "microwave mentality" culture, where video clips get shorter and shorter just to retain people's attention, a true understanding of the biblical meaning of covenant is more and more rare. Throughout the Bible, we see God making covenants with His people, and we see people making covenants with each other. Although there are different dynamics to each type of covenant, in general, a covenant represented a significant bond (involving families and bloodlines) that was connected to a promise, and not easily broken, forming the two into one. (Photo via Pixabay)

Society today (sometimes even within the Church) doesn't really have a grasp on this type of deep, meaningful and lasting relationship. God is calling His people to be set apart from society, and to be in God-ordained, covenantal relationships. Our thinking about all things must be biblically based, and not a product of or shaped by the world.

On the complete other side of the spectrum is "cancel culture." Cancel culture is something that is increasingly gaining momentum in this day and age. In cancel culture, if someone offends someone else or does something that the public deems wrong, they get punished by society at large. The one being canceled is usually called out on social media, then the herd mentality catapults the momentum into the stratosphere where everyone turns on them. In some cases, it can cause a lot of damage to an individual or to a company.

Although it's often called "accountability," at its core, "cancel culture" is bullying. There is no legal due process and no formal grievance procedure. The one who's offended becomes the judge and jury and rallies people around them. Can you see how cancel culture and this mindset of tearing others down, condemning, dividing and breeding hostility is the opposite of the heart of God? What the enemy can't have, he seeks to destroy.

God is calling us, as His people, to be in covenant relationships as a reflection of His heart and purpose for us. Being holy and set apart, our relationships should look different and be lasting and committed. Please note that I don't think that God is saying that ALL relationships are forever, but I believe He is highlighting some that can go deeper, and some that may need a renewed commitment. If you have been longing for more in your relationships, begin praying for covenantal relationships. God has put on your heart the importance of community, therefore ask God what relationships to invest more deeply in.

Are there any repairs or restoration that need to happen in your relationships? God may be leading you to the people that He wants you to have covenant relationships with. Ask God to show you where He's leading you, and what steps you can take to emulate His heart for relationships.

Declarations:

• I am cultivating fresh intimacy with God.
• I am being intentional in my relationships and building community.
• I am bringing what I have to God and watching Him multiply it.
• God is providing for me in unexpected and supernatural ways.
• I am forming covenantal relationships in connection with the heart of God.