得取新领地(带领更多人信靠上帝并且热爱服从祂的教导) 我又告诉你们,若是你们中间有两个人(忠心跟从主耶稣的真基督徒)在地上,同心合意地求甚么事(以上帝的应许为基础),我在天上的父必为他们成全(马太福音18:19) 亲爱的弟兄姊妹们,作为基督徒,你和我同是得胜之军的一部分,我们在不断地为上帝的国度得取新领地(就是带领更多人信靠上帝并且热爱服从祂的教导),对吗? 是的,就应该这样做。可是,我们的大军在未夺取山头之前,仍要为前进做好准备,因为撒旦已经架起他的重型机枪(就是分裂:党派主义之争),从四面八方扫射基督徒,使他们分裂。 我们怎样才能抵挡撒旦的分裂阴谋?用主耶稣赐给我们的最有力的方法:同心合意地祷告(马太福音18:19)。 主耶稣说,若我们(真基督徒)中有两个人在地上奉祂的名,同心合意地求甚么事,就必被成全!这个声明如此强大有力,甚至让人们(也包括自称基督徒的人)感到难以相信。如果我们都这样去做,那么你就会发现,在世界的每个角落都有一小队的基督徒,在同心合意地祷告。 就在这个星期,邀请几个真基督徒,与你一起同心合意地向上帝祷告。而你们的祷告,必定是以上帝的话语(应许和教导)为根基。虽然你们可能在其他事情上持有不同看法,但是对上帝的话语和教导,你们必是同心一致。 而且你们要确定同灵同心同行,避免无益的争论、理论和空谈(传统),这些都是与上帝的教导相悖。谨慎你们的思想和言行,让你们的每一个意念和行为都服从于基督。 然后,让你们信靠并服从上帝的行为与言语保持一致,不要能说却不能行。在行为上表现出对上帝的信心,就像上帝已经回应了你们的祷告。不要一直向上帝求,还要为此向上帝感恩。要保持主内同心一致,为上帝得取更多的新领地。 研经:使徒行传4:1-31 4:1 使徒对百姓说话的时候,祭司们和守殿官、并撒都该人忽然来了。 4:2 因他们教训百姓本着耶稣、传说死人复活,就很烦恼。 4:3 于是下手拿住他们,因为天已经晚了,就把他们押到第二天。 4:4 但听道之人有许多信的,男丁数目约到五千。 4:5 第二天,官府、长老和文士在耶路撒冷聚会, 4:6 又有大祭司亚那和该亚法、约翰、亚力山大、并大祭司的亲族都在那里。 4:7 叫使徒站在当中,就问他们说:“你们用甚么能力、奉谁的名作这事呢?” 4:8 那时,彼得被圣灵充满,对他们说:“ 4:9 治民的官府和长老阿,倘若今日因为在残疾人身上所行的善事,查问我们他是怎么得了痊癒, 4:10 你们众人和以色列百姓都当知道,站在你们面前的这人得痊癒是因你们所钉十字架、 神叫祂从死里复活的拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名。 4:11 祂是你们匠人所弃的石头,已成了房角的头块石头。 4:12 除祂以外,别无拯救。因为在天下人间,没有赐下别的名我们可以靠着得救。” 4:13 他们见彼得约翰的胆量,又看出他们原是没有学问的小民,就希奇,认明他们是跟过耶稣的。 4:14 又看见那治好了的人和他们一同站着,就无话可驳。 4:15 于是吩咐他们从公会出去,就彼此商议说:“ 4:16 我们当怎样办这两个人呢?因为他们诚然行了一件明显的神迹,凡住耶路撒冷的人都知道,我们也不能说没有。 4:17 惟恐这事越发传扬在民间,我们必须恐吓他们,叫他们不再奉这名对人讲论。” 4:18 于是叫了他们来,禁止他们总不可奉耶稣的名讲论教训人。 4:19 彼得约翰说:“听从你们,不听从 神,这在 神面前合理不合理,你们自己酌量吧。 4:20 我们所看见所听见的,不能不说。” 4:21 官长为百姓的缘故想不出法子刑罚他们,又恐吓一番,把他们释放了。这是因众人为所行的奇事,都归荣耀与 神。 4:22 原来借着神迹医好的那人,有四十多岁了。 4:23 二人既被释放,就到会友那里去,把祭司长和长老所说的话都告诉他们。 4:24 他们听见了,就同心合意地高声向 神说:主阿,你是造天、地、海和其中万物的。 4:25 你曾借着圣灵,托你仆人我们祖宗大卫的口,说:『外邦为甚么争闹?万民为甚么谋算虚妄的事? 4:26 世上的君王一齐起来,臣宰也聚集,要敌挡主、并主的受膏者。〔或作基督〕』 4:27 希律和本丢彼拉多、外邦人和以色列民,果然在这城里聚集要攻打你所膏的圣仆耶稣, 4:28 成就你手和你意旨所预定必有的事。 4:29 他们恐吓我们,现在求主鉴察。一面叫你仆人大放胆量,讲你的道;一面伸出你的手来,医治疾病,并且使神迹奇事因着你圣仆耶稣的名行出来。” 4:30 见上节 4:31 祷告完了,聚会的地方震动。他们就都被圣灵充满,放胆讲论 神的道。 Take Some New Ground (leading more people to believe and trust GOD and love to obey HIS teachings). “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you (true and faithful followers of JESUS) on earth agree about anything (base on the promises of our LORD) they ask for, it will be done for them by MY FATHER in heaven. (Matthew 18:19) Dear Brothers and Sisters As believers, you and I are part of a conquering army, constantly claiming new ground for the kingdom of God (leading more people to believe and trust GOD and love to obey HIS teachings). Right? Well, yes, that's the way it should be. But just about the time the army tops the hill and is ready to advance, it seems that Satan pulls out his big gun—DIVISION [DENOMINATIONALISM]--and scatters believers in every direction. How can we strike back against the strategy of division? By using one of the most powerful resources our LORD JESUS had given us: the prayer of agreement (Matthew 18:19). JESUS said that if any two of us (genuine followers) would agree about anything we ask for in HIS name, it shall be done! That statement is so powerful that people (even those who call themselves Christians) find it hard to believe. If they did, you'd find little groups of Christians huddled up in every corner agreeing together in prayers. Find someone to agree with in prayer this week. Be sure to base what you pray on the WORD of GOD (the promises and teachings). You may have differing opinions about everything else, but you can be in agreement about the WORD. Also, be sure your agreement is total--spirit, soul and body. Cast down arguments, theories and imaginations (traditions) that is contrary to the WORD. Take every thought captive to the obedience of CHRIST. Keep a watch over your thoughts and your words (tongues). Then get your body in line by speaking the thing you've agreed on. Act like you've already received the answer. Don't keep asking but thank GOD for it. Stay in agreement and take some new ground for the LORD! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture Study: Acts 4:1-31 Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin 1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in JESUS the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom GOD raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 JESUS is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with JESUS. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of JESUS. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in GOD’s eyes: to listen to you, or to HIM? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising GOD for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. The Believers Pray 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to GOD. “SOVEREIGN LORD,” they said, “YOU made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 YOU spoke by the HOLY SPIRIT through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against HIS anointed one. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant JESUS, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, LORD, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak YOUR WORD with great boldness. 30 Stretch out YOUR hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant JESUS.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and spoke the WORD of GOD boldly.
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