今天我們開始研究聖經一段相當有力和富深度的經文──八福。它們是登山寶訓，是主耶穌對門徒的教導的第一個部分。希望我們對八福的研究，能對我們的屬靈生命產生很大的影響，讓我們因此受到祝福。

在我們開始這個主題時，我想先把一個思想傳遞給你──構成八福的八個原則，是精神和靈性健康的最好處方。著名的精神病專科大夫費希爾（James Fisher）博士，常常走訪世界各地，為了尋找構成精神健康的正面素質。他說：「我夢想可以寫一本簡單、實用、容易明白、容易做到的手冊，目的是能夠教人怎樣生活，應該培養甚麼思想、態度和哲學，以及在尋求精神健康的時候要避免甚麼陷阱等。而讓我意外的是，這本著作竟然早已完成，那就是耶穌所講的八福。」

這是一項多麼驚人的發現！我認為一個人一旦吸取八福背後的原則，並依照它們而生活，那人便永不會再陷入嚴重的抑鬱或沮喪的情緒中。基督教會手中拿著健康和豐盛生命的藍圖，卻往往要將抑鬱或沮喪的人轉介給世界的精神科專家，這是多麼可惜啊！

We begin today a study on what is without doubt one of the greatest themes of Scripture - . I say "heaven-sent" because real revival is not something that springs up or out of the normal activities of the Church but something that comes down to us from above.

There are, of course, many different and conflicting views on this subject, so I want to begin by looking at a question which I imagine no Christian will have any difficulty in facing: Has God got something bigger in His heart for us than we are at present seeing? What is your response, I wonder? Those who are privileged to be part of a vibrant church, or are actively involved in evangelism, might respond differently from those who find themselves in a spiritual backwater. But the truth is (in my opinion) that no matter how spiritually alive the community in which you work and worship, God is able to do greater and yet more wondrous things. Our God has reserves of power which we, the Church of this generation, have not fully experienced. Surely every Christian believes that.

Although we must not be unappreciative of the fact that God is obviously sending showers of blessing upon His Church, we must not forget either that the God who sends the showers can also send the floods. In fact, revival is just that - God flooding a locality or a community of His people, stirring up the complacent, and producing the conviction and conversion of a great number of people. It has happened at various times in various places throughout history, and as sure as night follows day it will happen again.