害怕死去的麦子
背后的力量
经文
以赛亚书四十八1-11
1雅各家，称为以色列名下，从犹大水源出来的，当听我言！你们指着耶和华的名起誓，提说以色列的神，却不凭诚实，不凭公义。
2他们自称为圣城的人，所倚靠的是名为万军之耶和华─以色列的神。
3主说：早先的事，我从古时说明，已经出了我的口，也是我所指示的；我忽然行作，事便成就。
4因为我素来知道你是顽梗的─你的颈项是铁的；你的额是铜的。
5所以，我从古时将这事给你说明，在未成以先指示你，免得你说：这些事是我的偶像所行的，是我雕刻的偶像和我铸造的偶像所命定的。
6你已经听见，现在要看见这一切；你不说明吗？从今以后，我将新事，就是你所不知道的隐密事指示你。
7这事是现今造的，并非从古就有；在今日以先，你也未曾听见，免得你说：这事我早已知道了。
8你未曾听见，未曾知道；你的耳朵从来未曾开通。我原知道你行事极其诡诈，你自从出胎以来，便称为悖逆的。
9我为我的名暂且忍怒，为我的颂赞向你容忍，不将你剪除。
10我熬炼你，却不像熬炼银子；你在苦难的炉中，我拣选你。
11我为自己的缘故必行这事，我焉能使我的名被亵渎？我必不将我的荣耀归给假神。
信息分享
今天我们要再思想一个问题。如果说，神使我们的异象「死去」，是为了在我们里面建立基督的品格，那么当这个目的实现后，会有甚么事情发生？所接着发生的就是：神使异象复活，并让它喜乐地实现。神这样做的目的，不单是要实现那异象，也是要显示祂超自然的介入。这样，便没有旁观者会怀疑事奉背后是谁的力量带来成功，因为每个人都看到那是神自己。
门徒与耶稣基督一起时，他们得到一个关于将来天国的异象，但在十字架上，他们却看见那异象的死去。接着有甚么事情发生？三天后，他们看见神那超自然的能力令基督从死里复活──好一件令他们天翻地覆的事件。
几天前我提到神给我的异象──规划一个每天读经和默想的计划以激励基督徒。那是在1965年发生的事情，但在1968年，也就是那异象开始后三年，它「死了」。我并非表示它中止了，但有一整年的时间，它几乎停顿。我对它的热诚逐渐减退，直到一个地步我要对主说：「主啊，这不是我的──是您的。」然后复活才出现。从那时开始到现在，神一直都是这事工背后最重要的部份。我不断收到关于生命被改变、家庭被改变、态度被改变等来信。这一切都指向一个事实：这些篇章背后的力量不是来自我自己，而是来自耶稣基督。
「神希望我们察觉到祂的介入」
进深研究
赛十四12-15；弥六8；林前一19-29
1. 路西弗的下堕是甚么？
2. 保罗的结论是甚么？
祈祷
神啊，现在我明白有关异象出生、死亡和复活的原则，求您帮助我在似乎没有任何事情发生、您的计划好像暂时搁置的时候，将这原则应用到我的生命。阿们。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
The power behind these pages
Bible reading:
Isaiah 48:1-11
1 "Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—
2 you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city and claim to rely on the God of Israel—the Lord Almighty is his name:
3 I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
4 For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.
5 Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, 'My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.'
6 You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? "From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.
7 They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, 'Yes, I knew of them.'
8 You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ears have not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth.
9 For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.
10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.
Message
Today we ask ourselves: What happens after God causes our vision to "die", and His purpose of building into us the characteristics of Christ has been achieved? This: He then resurrects the vision and brings it to joyous fulfilment. His purpose in doing this is not just to fulfil the vision, but to do so in a way that points to His supernatural intervention. In that way no onlooker can be in any doubt as to whose power lies behind the success of the ministry - everyone recognises it to be God.
While the disciples were with Christ, they received a vision of the coming kingdom, but on the cross they saw that vision die before their eyes. What happened then? Three days later, they witnessed the supernatural power of God bring Christ back from the dead - an event that turned them upside down.
I referred a few days ago to the vision which God gave me - the vision of putting together a daily Bible reading and meditation programme which would motivate Christians. That took place in 1965. In 1968, three years after the vision was launched, it "died". I do not mean that it discontinued, but for a whole year it was on the verge of collapse. My own enthusiasm for it slowly ebbed away until I came to the place where I said: "Lord, it's not mine - it's Yours." Then came resurrection. From that time to this, God has been seen to have the greatest part in its compilation. The constant stream of letters telling of changed lives, changed families and changed attitudes point to the fact that Jesus Christ is the power behind these pages - not me.
"God wants His intervention to be recognised"
Prayer
O God, now that I understand this principle of the birth, death and resurrection of a vision, help me to apply it to those periods in my life when it seems as if nothing is happening and Your purposes are temporarily shelved. Amen.
Further study
Isaiah 14:12-15
Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 1:19-29
1. What was Lucifer's downfall?
2. What was Paul's conclusion?
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