恆切禱告 | |
| 經文: 「同心合意的恆切禱告。」（使徒行傳一：14） | |
| 耶穌離世前，留給教會的四句話是——「要等候父所應許的。」（徒一：4）「聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。」（徒一：8）「在耶路撒冷：直到地極，作我的見證」（徒一：8）而這正是福音的真義，新約教會該有的寫照。 一個不斷同心禱告的教會，充滿聖靈恩膏的服事，有活潑見證的會友，帶出傳福音的行動——這正是耶穌當初所創立的教會，它要主動出擊，征服世界。 當耶穌升天後，門徒們突然醒悟過來要做些什麼，他們聚集在一起，同心合意禱告，等候聖靈，他們因著耶穌的愛而結合在一起，互為肢體，也因此能將禱告出來的力量，大大影響周圍的人。 的確是這樣，我們的責任就是同心等候聖靈，不斷禱告，有活潑的見證，常常領人歸主，這才是正常健康的屬靈生命。然而轉眼看看今日教會的光景，神家荒涼，禱告乏力，信心冷淡，見證薄弱，信徒身上似乎嗅不出基督馨香之氣，也看不出基督徒應有的榮光與能力。 「天父啊：求祢憐憫我們，赦免我們軟弱的罪。求祢賜下禱告的靈，挑旺我們火熱的心，讓我們願意屈膝在祢的面前，同心合意為領人歸主而迫切禱告！奉耶穌的名，阿們。」 | |
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| THE PLAGE OF PRAYER | |
| Scripture: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and sup¬plication."—ACTS i. 14. | |
| The last words which Christ spoke ere He left the world give us the four great notes of His Church: "Wait for the promise of the Father." "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." "Both in Jerusalem and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." United and unceasing prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit, living witnesses to the living Christ, from Jerusalem to the utter¬most part of the earth—such are the marks of the true Gospel, of the true ministry, of the true Church of the New Testament. A Church of united and unceasing prayerfulness, a min¬istry filled with the Holy Spirit, the members living witnesses to a living Christ, with a message to every creature on earth— such was the Church that Christ founded, and such the Church that went out to conquer the world. When Christ has ascended to heaven the disciples knew at once what their work was to be, continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication. They were to be bound together, by the love and Spirit of Christ, into one Body. It was this that gave them their wonderful power in heaven with God, and upon earth with men. Their own duty was to wait in, united and unceasing prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit, as the enduement from on high for their witness to Christ to the ends of the earth. A praying Church, a Spirit-filled Church, a witnessing Church, with all the world as its sphere and aim—such is the Church of Jesus Christ. As long as it maintained this character, it had power to conquer. But alas, as it came under the influence of the world, how much it lost of its heavenly, supernatural beauty and strength! How unfaithful in prayer, how feeble the workings of the Spirit, how formal its witness to Christ, and how unfaithful to its worldwide mission! Blessed Lord Jesus, have mercy upon Thy Church, and give, we pray Thee, the Spirit of Prayer and supplication as of old, that Thy Church may prove what power from Thee rests upon her and her testimony for Thee, to win the world to Thy feet. AMEN. | |
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