從天上賜下的復興
如何等候復興
經文
路加福音十九11-27
11眾人正在聽見這些話的時候，耶穌因為將近耶路撒冷，又因他們以為神的國快要顯出來，就另設一個比喻，說：
12有一個貴冑往遠方去，要得國回來，
13便叫了他的十個僕人來，交給他們十錠（錠：原文作彌拿約銀十兩）銀子，說：你們去作生意，直等我回來。
14他本國的人卻恨他，打發使者隨後去，說：我們不願意這個人作我們的王。
15他既得國回來，就吩咐叫那領銀子的僕人來，要知道他們作生意賺了多少。
16頭一個上來，說：主阿，你的一錠銀子已經賺了十錠。
17主人說：好！良善的僕人，你既在最小的事上有忠心，可以有權柄管十座城。
18第二個來，說：主阿！你的一錠銀子，已經賺了五錠。
19主人說：你也可以管五座城。
20又有一個來說：主阿，看哪，你的一錠銀子在這裡，我把他包在手巾裡存著。
21我原是怕你，因為你是嚴厲的人；沒有放下的，還要去拿；沒有種下的，還要去收。
22主人對他說：你這惡僕，我要憑你的口定你的罪。你既知道我是嚴厲的人，沒有放下的，還要去拿，沒有種下的，還要去收，
23為甚麼不把我的銀子交給銀行，等我來的時候，連本帶利都可以要回來呢？
24就對旁邊站著的人說：奪過他這一錠來，給那有十錠的。
25他們說：主阿，他已經有十錠了。
26主人說：我告訴你們，凡有的，還要加給他；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪過來。
27至於我那些仇敵，不要我作他們王的，把他們拉來，在我面前殺了吧！
信息分享
我們昨天談到，有些人認為如果鼓勵信徒追求復興，只會引發他們在屬靈上感到不滿足，他們因而不能完成手上的事工，今天我們要繼續來研討這個論點。我承認這是有可能發生的事，不過只要有清楚的聖經教導，情況就不一樣。
請容許我在這裡作一個個人的見證：我自從差不多五十年前擔任教牧的工作開始，就一直在談論和撰寫有關復興的事情，雖然它在我生命裡佔有一個重要的位置（但絕不是沉溺！），但我總是教導大家不能只祈求復興，而忽略其他的職責，如佈道、團契和讀經等。
神在今天的經文告訴我們：「你們去作生意，直等我回來」（13節）。我認為這表示無論周圍的環境怎麼樣，神要我們繼續向世界述說祂的工作。那些認為「我們應當放棄工作，只等候及祈求神賜下復興」的人，事實是違背了聖經的教導。威爾斯大復興的其中一位領導人羅伯茨（Evan Roberts）在長達十三年的歲月裡，每天花上幾小時祈求神賜下屬靈的復興給威爾斯，但是他每天照樣努力地把該做的事情做好，我相信在過去靈性復興的領導人也有同樣的表現。
在我事奉的初期，有人給了我一句很好的格言，有很深刻的屬靈意義，這格言是：以全情投入的態度工作，以全心信靠的態度禱告。
「要工作、要禱告」
進深研究
雅二14-26；來十24；彼前二12
1. 雅各勸告我們甚麼？
2. 外邦人會看見甚麼？
祈禱
慈悲仁愛的天父，求您讓我成為一個既負責任又懂得平衡的人。求您幫助我在維持禱告生活的同時，不會忽略您所交付給我的其他責任。我要努力作工直到您再來。阿們。
Heaven-Sent Revival
How to wait for revival
Bible reading:
Luke 19:11-27
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
12 He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a] 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
14 "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
15 "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
17 "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
18 "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
19 "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
20 "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
22 "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?
23 Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
24 "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
25 "'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
26 "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.'"
Message
We continue looking at the argument that encouraging people to pray for revival serves only to make them. spiritually discontented, so much so that they fail to get on with the tasks at hand. I recognise that this can happen, but it need not happen if clear biblical teaching is given.
Permit a personal testimony here: I have been talking and writing about revival ever since I came into the ministry nearly fifty years ago, and although it has been a major preoccupation of my life (not an obsession!), I have always encouraged people not only to pray for revival but also to be sure that other responsibilities, such as evangelism, fellowship, and Bible study, are not neglected.
In the text before us today our Lord tells us: "Occupy till 1 come" (v.13, AV). I take this to mean that He wants us to get on with the task of representing Him to the world no matter what may be the conditions around us. Those who say, "Let's give up working and just wait and pray for God to send revival," are violating Scripture. Evan Roberts prayed several hours a day for thirteen years for God to send revival to Wales, but he still went about his daily tasks and made sure that nothing was left undone. The same can be said of others who have figured greatly in past revivals.
A good motto to follow is one that was given to me early in my ministry. Like most mottoes, it has some flaws but it makes good spiritual sense nevertheless: Work as if it all depended on you, and pray as if it all depended on God.
"Work and pray"
Prayer
Gracious and loving heavenly Father, make me a responsible and balanced person, I pray. Help me to keep up my prayer life without neglecting the other responsibilities that You have given me. I want to keep occupied until You come. Amen.
Further study
James 2:14-26
Hebrews 10.24
1 Peter 2:12
1. What does James admonish us?
2. What are the pagans to see?
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