最偉大的一天
The Greatest Day
雷克-喬納
2023.1.17
有人說，老鷹是少數喜歡風暴的動物之一。這是因為鷹知道，如果以正確的角度接近對立的風，風就會把它們帶到更高的地方。當我們以正確的方式接近試煉時，試煉也能把我們帶到更高的地方。
雅各書1:2-4勸告我們說：我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。當新的試煉到來時，我們是否感到喜悅？它們是否使我們 "成全、完備，毫無缺欠"？
如果我們決心每天對待每一個試煉，即使是對我們耐心的最小挑戰，特別是那些最小的試煉，就像經文所勸告的那樣，我們就能在基督裡成長，並向這個危機不斷的世界展示祂，這是多麼大的成就？
耶穌說："在世上，你們有苦難；但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。"（見約翰福音16:33）。今生每個人都會經歷試煉，與一些教導相反，跟隨基督並不能免除我們的麻煩，甚至會增加一些。然而，耶穌保證這些會給我們帶來好處。沒有爭戰，我們就無法過上勝利的生活，爭戰越大，勝利越大。
如果我們相信神的話語，即祂"感謝神！常率領我們在基督裡誇勝"（見哥林多後書2:14），我們在面對爭戰時怎麼會沒有喜樂呢？是什麼讓我們遠離了作為我們力量的喜樂（見尼希米書8:10），是我們從屬世的、暫時的角度而不是從屬天的角度看待我們的爭戰。當我們從主的角度來看待它們時，因為我們與祂一起坐在天上，我們確信會取得勝利，並為被揀選為我們的王作戰而感到榮幸。
在這個末世，我們被呼召去參加世界上有史以來最大的光明與黑暗之戰。事實上，我們已經在這場爭戰中了。當我們得到永恆的獎賞，並能見到我們所期待的古時偉大的聖徒時，我們會驚訝地發現，他們中有多少人渴望見到我們這些在末世服役並打過這最後一場大仗的人。在這個時代活著並保持忠誠是所有榮譽中最偉大的一個。這就是為什麼 "許多在後的要在前"，以及為什麼耶穌將最好的酒留到最後。
每個人都會經歷試煉，然而大多數人在試煉中沒有發現比渡過試煉更大的目的。基督徒被要求在試煉中有一個更高的目的，即利用每一次試煉為機會，使自己得到潔淨、預備和強化，為王所用。正如彼得所寫，我們信心經過試煉後比黃金更有價值（見彼得前書1:7）。我們是否像看待一袋黃金一樣看待每一個新的試煉？
使徒保羅在《哥林多前書》3:10-15中寫道，焚燒草木，禾稭的火也能潔淨主用來建造祂的房子的金、銀和寶石。在某些方面，基督徒的生活就是要充滿火和挑戰，這將潔淨和預備我們成為祂建造的 "活石"。我們也應該知道，祂的火不會吞噬有用的東西，只會吞噬沒用的東西。
正如耶穌所說，這個末世將是世界上有史以來最嚴重的試煉（見馬太福音24:21）。如果我們被揀選生活在末世，那一定是因為祂為了崇高的目的而揀選了我們。沒有辦法避免試煉，那麼為什麼不把試煉做到最好呢？得勝者的心態必須是這樣的：永遠不要浪費試煉。
聖經中關於這個末世的預言也宣佈，這將是一個主通過祂的子民所展現的最大榮耀的時代。它也將被稱為祂的降臨或 "同在 "的時刻。詩篇16:11告訴我們，"在你面前有豐盛的喜樂"。這也將是那些與祂最親近的人體驗到的不僅僅是簡單的喜悅，而是 "豐盛的喜樂"。當我們更接近祂時，我們的生活將被越來越多的喜樂所充滿，直到我們體驗到最充分的喜樂。在我們的生活中是這樣嗎？如果不是，現在是糾正這種情況的時候了。
Jan 17
WEEK 3
The Greatest Day
Rick Joyner
It has been said that eagles are one of the few creatures that like storms. That is because eagles know if they approach an opposing wind at the right angle it will carry them higher. Trials can take us higher when we approach them the right way.
In James 1:2-4 we are exhorted, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Do we feel joy when new trials come? Are they making us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”?
If we would resolve to approach every trial every day, even the smallest challenges to our patience, and especially those smallest trials, as the Scripture exhorts, how much more could we grow in Christ and demonstrate Him to a world in continual crises?
Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (see John 16:33 NKJV). Everyone in this life will go through tribulation, and contrary to some teachings, following Christ does not exempt us from troubles, and will even add some. However, Jesus guaranteed these would result in our good. We cannot live victorious lives without battles, and the bigger the battle, the bigger the victory.
If we believe God’s Word that He “always leads us in triumph in Christ”(see II Corinthians 2:14), how can we not have joy when facing battles? What keeps us from the joy that is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10) is when we view our battles from an earthly, temporal perspective instead of a heavenly one. When we view them from the Lord’s perspective, as we are seated with Him in heavenly places, we are assured of victory and honored to be chosen to fight for our King.
At the end of this age, we have been called to fight the biggest battle between light and darkness the world has ever known. In fact, we are already in this battle. When we get to our eternal reward and get to meet the great saints of old we have so looked forward to meeting, we will be surprised at how many of them have longed to meet us who have served at the end of the age and have fought this last great battle. To live and remain faithful in these times is one of the greatest of all honors. That is why “many who are last will be first,” and why Jesus saved the best wine for last.
Everyone will go through tribulation, yet most find no greater purpose in tribulation than to get through it. The Christian is called to have a much higher purpose in tribulation by using each time as an opportunity to become purified, prepared, and strengthened for the King’s use. As Peter wrote, the testing of our faith is more valuable than gold (see I Peter 1:7). Do we view each new trial as we would a bag of gold?
The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:10-15, the fire that burns the wood, hay, and straw also purifies the gold, silver, and precious stones the Lord is using to build His house. In some ways, the Christian life is meant to be filled with fire and challenges which will purify and prepare us to become the “living stones” of His building. We should also know His fire does not consume what is useful, only what is not.
As Jesus said, the end of this age will be the worst tribulation the world has ever experienced (see Matthew 24:21). If we have been chosen to live in such a time, it must be because He has chosen us for a high purpose. There is no way to avoid tribulations, so why not make the best of them? The mindset of an overcomer must be this: never waste a trial.
The biblical prophecies concerning the end of this age also declare it will be a time of the greatest glory the Lord will ever reveal through His people. It will also be called the time of His parousia or “presence.” Psalm 16:11 tell us, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” This will also be a time when those closest to Him will experience more than simply joy but “fullness of joy.” As we get closer to Him, our lives will be filled with increasing joy, until we experience joy to its fullest. Is that the case in our lives? If not, now is the time to correct this.