从天上赐下的复兴
如何等候复兴
经文
路加福音十九11-27
11众人正在听见这些话的时候，耶稣因为将近耶路撒冷，又因他们以为神的国快要显出来，就另设一个比喻，说：
12有一个贵胄往远方去，要得国回来，
13便叫了他的十个仆人来，交给他们十锭（锭：原文作弥拿约银十两）银子，说：你们去作生意，直等我回来。
14他本国的人却恨他，打发使者随后去，说：我们不愿意这个人作我们的王。
15他既得国回来，就吩咐叫那领银子的仆人来，要知道他们作生意赚了多少。
16头一个上来，说：主阿，你的一锭银子已经赚了十锭。
17主人说：好！良善的仆人，你既在最小的事上有忠心，可以有权柄管十座城。
18第二个来，说：主阿！你的一锭银子，已经赚了五锭。
19主人说：你也可以管五座城。
20又有一个来说：主阿，看哪，你的一锭银子在这里，我把他包在手巾里存着。
21我原是怕你，因为你是严厉的人；没有放下的，还要去拿；没有种下的，还要去收。
22主人对他说：你这恶仆，我要凭你的口定你的罪。你既知道我是严厉的人，没有放下的，还要去拿，没有种下的，还要去收，
23为甚么不把我的银子交给银行，等我来的时候，连本带利都可以要回来呢？
24就对旁边站着的人说：夺过他这一锭来，给那有十锭的。
25他们说：主阿，他已经有十锭了。
26主人说：我告诉你们，凡有的，还要加给他；没有的，连他所有的也要夺过来。
27至于我那些仇敌，不要我作他们王的，把他们拉来，在我面前杀了吧！
信息分享
我们昨天谈到，有些人认为如果鼓励信徒追求复兴，只会引发他们在属灵上感到不满足，他们因而不能完成手上的事工，今天我们要继续来研讨这个论点。我承认这是有可能发生的事，不过只要有清楚的圣经教导，情况就不一样。
请容许我在这里作一个个人的见证：我自从差不多五十年前担任教牧的工作开始，就一直在谈论和撰写有关复兴的事情，虽然它在我生命里占有一个重要的位置（但绝不是沉溺！），但我总是教导大家不能只祈求复兴，而忽略其他的职责，如布道、团契和读经等。
神在今天的经文告诉我们：「你们去作生意，直等我回来」（13节）。我认为这表示无论周围的环境怎么样，神要我们继续向世界述说祂的工作。那些认为「我们应当放弃工作，只等候及祈求神赐下复兴」的人，事实是违背了圣经的教导。威尔斯大复兴的其中一位领导人罗伯茨（Evan Roberts）在长达十三年的岁月里，每天花上几小时祈求神赐下属灵的复兴给威尔斯，但是他每天照样努力地把该做的事情做好，我相信在过去灵性复兴的领导人也有同样的表现。
在我事奉的初期，有人给了我一句很好的格言，有很深刻的属灵意义，这格言是：以全情投入的态度工作，以全心信靠的态度祷告。
「要工作、要祷告」
进深研究
雅二14-26；来十24；彼前二12
1. 雅各劝告我们甚么？
2. 外邦人会看见甚么？
祈祷
慈悲仁爱的天父，求您让我成为一个既负责任又懂得平衡的人。求您帮助我在维持祷告生活的同时，不会忽略您所交付给我的其他责任。我要努力作工直到您再来。阿们。
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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背景音乐版权属 赞美之泉音乐事工 所有，承蒙允准使用。