於2013-05-27發佈

大使命 20

新舊珍寶

這週我們將繼續檢視主在馬太福音十三章52節的話語:

祂說:凡文士受教作天國的門徒,就像一個家主從他庫裡拿出新舊的東西(珍寶)來。

我曾聽過一位牧師說,他妻子在這麼多年的婚姻中為他預備無數的餐點,他說只有一些特別棒的令他難忘,但其他所有餐點卻使他持續活到如今!我們都愛特別的、新鮮的、令人興奮的;然而,卻有一些屬靈食物可能並不突出,卻很有養分,得以讓我們持續存活。我享受和那些屬靈渴慕的人團契,他們會大老遠去到一個地方聽一個很棒的牧者或教師。神絕對獎賞如此饑渴慕義的人;即便如此,倘若我們只尋求『很讚』的講道,卻不能領受我們需要常常被提醒的實際真理,我們會成為很軟弱的基督徒。有智慧的人會同時尋求新的和舊的。

有些人光是聽到新的講道還無法滿足,他們會不斷找新教會。當賴立.藍道夫(Larry Randolph)在加州橙縣開始新的教會時,很快就有數百人加入,一個朋友問他這些人是從哪裡來的。賴立回答他們就是橙縣每一間新成立教會的那些人。賴立知道一當另一間教會成立,這些人大部分會離開去到那裡,無論如何,他們都幫助了新成立的教會。

當然,在我們要找到合適教會前,會有試試不同教會的時候。我認為偶爾拜訪其他教會是健康的,即使你知道你只是與基督其他身體連結。然而,那些沒有找到固定教會安定下來的人,很少在生命中結出真正的屬靈果子。此原則是由一位朋友對瑞典的吉普賽人所做研究中得著的啟發。

吉普賽人是一群最聰明、最有天分、最精彩的人,卻沒有一個吉普賽人曾在歷史上有重要的貢獻,為什麼呢?果子來自栽種的樹;許多很棒的吉普賽基督徒同樣很有恩賜、潛力無限卻不斷遷移,很難找到一個結出明顯果子,且果子長存的人。

不要失去品嚐新酒或陳年純淨老酒的胃口,正如這是主應許在偉大婚筵上要端上的酒。尋找新鮮的,尊榮已建造的,找到你可以被栽種之處,卻不要失去探索的自由。有智慧的人會在新的和舊的當中找到珍寶。

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 20, 2013)


Treasures in the New and the Old - The Great Commission, Part 20
Week 20, 2013 
Rick Joyner

This week we are continuing to examine the Lord’s important Word about the scribes who become disciples in Matthew 13:52:

“Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

I once heard a pastor say that his wife had prepared several thousand meals for him during their years of marriage. He said that only a few of these were so exceptional that they stood out to him, but all the other meals kept him going! We can love the exceptional, the new, and the exciting; however, there must be a place in our spiritual diet for teachings that may not be outstanding but are nutritional and keep us going.

I love the fellowship of those who are so hungry that they will travel far to hear a great preacher or teacher. God obviously rewards such hunger. Even so, if we only seek the “wow” sermons and cannot receive the practical truths of which we need to be constantly reminded, we will be weak Christians. The wise seek both the new and the old.

Some aren’t content just to hear new sermons—they are constantly seeking new churches. When Larry Randolph started a church in Orange County, California, immediately several hundred people came. A friend asked him where all of those people came from, and he replied that they were the same people who started all of the other churches in Orange County. Larry knew that as soon as another church started up in the area, most of these people would leave him to go to that one, but they would help get the church started anyway.

Certainly there is a place for checking out different churches while we’re searching for the right one. I think it is healthy to occasionally visit other churches, even if you know you are in the right place just to make and keep connections with the rest of the body of Christ. However, those who do not find a church home and settle down seldom bear much real spiritual fruit in their life. This principle is illuminated by a study that was done by a friend in Switzerland on Gypsies.

Gypsies are some of the brightest, most gifted, and wonderful people, but there is not a single Gypsy who has made a significant contribution in history. Why? Fruit comes from trees that are planted. Many great Christian Gypsies are likewise very gifted with extraordinary potential but are constantly moving, and it is hard to find a single one who has borne significant and lasting fruit.

Do not ever lose your taste for the new wine or the aged, refined wine, as this is what the Lord promises to serve at the great wedding feast. Seek the fresh and honor the established. Find the place where you can be planted, but do not lose your freedom to explore. The wise find treasures in the new and the old.