任何人若要撰写关于复兴的题目，包括我在内，都必须协调两个各具份量的真理，就是神的主权和人的参与。我十分喜欢这么一个说法，就是把这两个真理视为穿越圣经的两条轨道。如果你只想保存其中的一条轨道，结果就只会出轨。那些只专注于神的主权的人，无可避免的就会把人的责任减到最低；相反的，那些只专注于人的责任的人，亦只会轻看神的主权。

当我们沿着两条轨道行走，并且没有过于看重任何一个真理时，就会有更大的机会去达到合理的判断和正确的结论。神是拥有主权的神，而且他是以爱来掌权，所以他很愿意让他的百姓来参与管治。

「神愿意让他的百姓参与管治」

进深研究
徒十二1-19；路一10；徒一14，四24

1. 一起祷告的结果是什么？
2. 看见彼得的出现，信徒有什么反应？

祈祷
慈悲仁爱的天父，感谢您，因为您爱教会并让我们参与管治；求您帮助我们明白，这不是说我们配得如此福分，而是出于您的美意。阿们。

Heaven-Sent Revival

Day 338

Involved in government

"...that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known..." (v.10)

Bible reading:
Ephesians 3:1-13

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,

3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.

8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Message

Today we ask: What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign? Sovereignty simply means to possess supreme power. What we have to be careful about when we talk of the sovereignty of God is that we do not fall for the idea (as some have) that this is God's greatest attribute; His greatest attribute is love. And because He is love this means (so I believe) that He delights to have His redeemed children become involved with Him in bringing His purposes to pass.

Anyone who writes on the subject of revival has to come to a point where these two great and important truths - the sovereignty of God and the involvement of man - have to be harmonised. I am at that point right now. A way of thinking about this issue which has always satisfied me is to see these two thoughts like two rails that run from one end of the Scriptures to the other. One rail is the sovereignty of God and the other, the involvement of man. If you try to keep to only one rail you finish up being derailed. Those who focus only on the sovereignty of God inevitably result in minimising the responsibility of man. And those who focus only on the responsibility of man end up minimising the sovereignty of God.

When we move along both rails, making sure that we do not place a disproportionate emphasis on either truth, then we are more likely to arrive at sound judgements and correct conclusions. God is sovereign but He is also a loving Sovereign and by virtue of this fact delights to involve His people in the affairs of government.

"God delights to involve His people"

Prayer
Gracious and loving Father, how can we Your Church sufficiently thank You for the fact that You love us enough to involve us in Your government? Help us to see that we are there not because we deserve it, but because You desire it. Amen.

Further study
Acts 12:1-19
Luke 1:10
Acts 1:14; 4:24

1. What was the result of corporate prayer?
2. How did the believers respond to Peter's appearance?

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