新視域的力量
使用你能用的一切
經文
撒迦利亞書四1-14
1那與我說話的天使又來叫醒我，好像人睡覺被喚醒一樣。
2他問我說：你看見了甚麼？我說：我看見了一個純金的燈台，頂上有盞燈，燈台上有七盞燈，每盞有七個管子。
3旁邊有兩棵橄欖樹，一棵在燈盞的右邊，一棵在燈盞的左邊。
4我問與我說話的天使說：主啊，這是甚麼意思？
5與我說話的天使回答我說：你不知道這是甚麼意思嗎？我說：主啊，我不知道。
6他對我說：這是耶和華指示所羅巴伯的。萬軍之耶和華說：不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的靈方能成事。
7大山哪，你算甚麼呢？在所羅巴伯面前，你必成為平地。他必搬出一塊石頭，安在殿頂上。人且大聲歡呼說：願恩惠恩惠歸與這殿（殿：或譯石）！
8耶和華的話又臨到我說：
9所羅巴伯的手立了這殿的根基，他的手也必完成這工，你就知道萬軍之耶和華差遣我到你們這裡來了。
10誰藐視這日的事為小呢？這七眼乃是耶和華的眼睛，遍察全地，見所羅巴伯手拿線鉈就歡喜。
11我又問天使說：這燈台左右的兩棵橄欖樹是甚麼意思？
12我二次問他說：這兩根橄欖枝在兩個流出金色油的金嘴旁邊是甚麼意思？
13他對我說：你不知道這是甚麼意思嗎？我說：主啊，我不知道。
14他說：這是兩個受膏者站在普天下主的旁邊。
信息分享
昨天我們分享，詩篇七十三篇的作者因為想到自己的弟兄，而避免在屬靈上跌倒。那我們會問：這一切與我們有甚麼關係呢？我認為這個問題的答案是：站穩腳步比立時明白更為重要。
數天前我們說詩人正站在屬靈價值尺度裡的低層。他當時所持守的原則是：「如果我散播我的疑惑，那會傷害我的弟兄。」我相信你和我在遇到試探時，都會想到更高層次的屬靈原則來與自己爭辯。那麼提醒我們自己關於神過去的祝福，這個原則又如何呢？也許我們會好像詩人在詩篇四十二篇5節那樣跟自己說：「我的心哪，你為何憂悶？為何在我裡面煩躁？應當仰望神……」
詩人完全沒有採用這些方法，他所用的方法在屬靈價值上雖然看似較低，但卻是有效。而這就是重點的所在：使用你能用的一切來阻止自己跌倒，不管那是多麼微小或不重要。因為我們是在屬靈攀登的旅途上，有時候那斜坡好像玻璃般滑溜，當你覺得快要滑倒的時候，你會伸出手來緊抓任何可以捉緊的東西，那怕只是一根小樹枝。所以我們要常常停下來穩定自己的步伐；不要只把注意力放在爬高，而是要專注於避免滑跌。只要能站穩腳步，你就能夠計劃如何向上攀爬。
「站穩腳步比立時明白更為重要」
進深研究
林前十二21-31；出四2；士十五15；撒上十七40；王上十七12
1. 神為了達成祂的目的，使用了甚麼不重要的事情？
2. 保羅怎麼說？
祈禱
天父，我明白當我有滑倒的危險時，能夠站穩在最細小的立足點上，總比滑進絕望深淵的好。求您幫助我掌握這真理的重要性和價值。奉耶穌的名祈求，阿們。
The Power of a New Perspective
Use everything you can
Bible reading:
Zechariah 4:1-14
1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep.
2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.
3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5 He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty.
7 "What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'"
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me:
9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 "Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?"
11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
13 He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
14 So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to[b] serve the Lord of all the earth."
Message
Having followed the experience of the psalmist, who was saved from a spiritual fall by thinking of his brethren, we now ask ourselves: What does all this have to say to us? I think the answer to that question must be this: to stand is more important than to understand.
We said a few days ago that the psalmist took his stand at a very low level on the scale of spiritual values. The principle he followed was this: "If I spread my doubts, I will harm my brethren." I am sure you and I could think of much higher spiritual principles with which to confront ourselves when tempted. What about the principle of reminding ourselves of the blessings of God in times past? Or actually talking to ourselves in the way the psalmist did in Psalm 42:5: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God...".
The psalmist employed none of these, but the one he did employ, low as it was on the scale of spiritual values, worked. And that is the point - use everything you can to stop yourself from falling, however small or insignificant it might appear to be. We are involved in spiritual mountaineering, where sometimes the slopes are like glass. When your feet slip you must reach out and hold on to anything that will stop you in your slide - even though it be only a small branch. Stop and steady yourself. Don't concern yourself about climbing, just concern yourself with stopping your slide. Once you have stopped sliding you can then plan how to climb again.
"To stand is more important than to understand"
Prayer
Father, I see that when I am in danger of slipping it is better to take advantage of the smallest foothold than to slide into the depths of despair. Help me grasp the full importance and value of this. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Further study
1 Corinthians 12:21-31
Exodus 4:2
Judges 15:15
1 Samuel 17:40
1 Kings 17:12
1. What are some of the insignificant things God uses in his purposes?
2. How does Paul put it?
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