| 同心禱告 | |
| 經文: 「身體只有一個，聖靈只有一個。」（以弗所書四：4） | |
| 人身體各部門配搭合適，發揮功能，才有健康的身體。同理，主內眾弟兄姊妹也互為肢體，彼此幫補，教會才有好處。有人以為得救，只要自己等著上天堂即可，其實不然，我們應當切實禱告，讓眾人同得這福音的好處。我們不僅為自己的教會禱告，還要為世界的禾場禱告。 上帝的愛能讓我們有開闊的心胸，激勵我們為超宗派的聖工，為世界的禾場禱告。也惟有全教會願同心合意在寶座前屈膝禱告，上帝的大能才能沛然降臨、自由運行。基於感恩的心，我們希望各宗派團結同心，但這何其難哉，更遑論不同國藉的教會能聯合，因此一個普世教會的夢想，是難以實現。 讓我們懇求施恩的主，使基督徒更深更緊地連接在一起，這比有形外在教會的連接更重要。而惟一落實這理念的作法，就是藉著不斷操練同心合意的禱告。弟兄姊妹們當明白，自己還扮演著祭司的角色，不僅關懷教會的羊群，還當把基督的愛，擴展到慕道友的身上，如此上帝的家才會充滿生命力，上帝的國才會更快來臨。 願牧師和眾信徒能連結在一起，同心合意為興旺福音禱告，這是促使上帝國度降臨不可或缺的步驟。 | |
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| UNITED INTERCESSION | |
| Scripture: "There is one body, and one Spirit."—EPH. iv. 4. | |
| Our own bodies teach us how essential for their health and strength it is that every member should take its full share in seeking the welfare of the whole. It is even so in the Body of Christ. There are, alas, too many who look upon salvation only in connection with their own happiness. There are those, again, who know that they live not unto themselves, and truly seek in prayer and work to bring others to share in their happiness; but they do not yet understand that in addition to their personal circle or Church, they have a calling to enlarge their hearts to take the whole Body of Christ Jesus into their love and their intercession. Yet this is what the Spirit and the love of Christ will enable them to do. It is only when intercession for the whole Church, by the whole Church, ascends to God's throne, that the Spirit of unity and of power can have its full sway. The desire that has been awakened for closer union between the different branches of the Church of Christ is cause for thanksgiving. And yet the difficulties are so great and, in the case of different nationalities of the world, so apparently insuperable, that the thought of a united Church on earth appears beyond reach. Let us bless God that there is a unity in Christ Jesus, deeper and stronger than any visible manifestation could make it; and that there is a way in which even now, midst all diversity of administrations, the unity can be practically exemplified and utilized as the means of an unthought-of accession of Divine strength and blessing in the work of the Kingdom. It is in the cultivation and increase of the spirit and in the exercise of intercession that the true unity can be realized. As believers are taught what is the meaning of their calling as a royal priesthood, they are led to see that God is not confined in His love or promises to their limited spheres of labour, but invites them to enlarge their hearts, and like Christ—we may say like Paul too—to pray for all who believe, or can yet be brought to believe, that this earth and the Church of Christ in it will by intercession be bound to the throne of heaven as it has never yet been. Let Christians and ministers agree and bind themselves together for this world-wide intercession. It will strengthen the confidence that, prayer will be heard, and that their prayers too will become indispensable for the coming of the Kingdom. | |
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