| 代禱是神聖的祭 | |
| 經文: 「另有一位天使拿著金香爐，來站在祭壇旁邊。有許多香賜給他，要和眾聖徒的祈禱一同獻在寶座前的金壇上。」（啟示錄八：3） | |
| 對教會的牧者與會友而言，這本書夠不夠份量引起代禱的動機？是不是能體會「代禱」是真正基督徒生命中不可或缺的一部份？我想，對於認真遵行上話語的人，答案應該是肯定的。 在上帝的救贖計劃中，代禱是不可或缺的關鍵要素，少了它，就像機器缺了馬達，沒有動力。耶穌基督在天上的禱告與祂在地上所開始的工作息息相關，而且祂還呼召跟隨者繼續代禱以完成拯救世人的使命。經上記著：「藉著耶穌基督，我們得與上帝和好，如今也把與上帝和好的使命託付給我們。」救贖的工作，我們無能為力，只有靠耶穌來做，至於代禱求人心改變的工作，這責任就落在我們的肩上。我們看到保羅多麼看重晝夜不停的代禱，視此為上帝所託付使命得以完成的不二法門，也是上帝得以在人心動工的惟一祕方。 代禱是馨香、神聖的祭，缺乏禱告，教會將會死氣沈沈，失去活潑、喜樂的色彩，也失去將人心奪回的聖靈大能。沒有禱告，就沒有傳福音的熱誠；沒有禱告，教會就缺乏爭戰的利器。無論牧者或信徒，若沒有禱告，就無法每天與耶穌同行，過一個豐盛喜樂的生活，除非他揀選做個守望者，晝夜禱告，才能過得勝的生活。 醒醒吧！上帝的教會，豎耳聽這呼召：「不斷恆切的禱告。」我們不歇息，也不讓上帝歇息，因上帝應許：「為了錫安之故，我賜下平安給他們。」上帝的靈要向我們顯示，代禱所產生的功效是大的，代禱也是救贖計劃中不可或缺的一環，更是真實基督徒生命中最重要的一部份。 求上帝教導我們明白這真理，也願實踐這呼召帶出來的使命。 | |
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| INTERCESSION A DIVINE REALITY | |
| Scripture: "And another angel came,…… and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." — REV. viii. 3. | |
| Are the thoughts to which this little book has given utterance not a sufficiently grave indictment of the subordinate place given to intercession in the teaching and practice of the Church, with its ministers and members ? Is it not in very deed of such supreme importance as to make it an essential, altogether indispensable element in the true Christian life? To those who take God's Word in its full meaning, there can be no doubt about the answer. Intercession is, by amazing grace, an essential element in God's redeeming purpose—so much so that without it the failure of its accomplishment may lie at our door. Christ's intercession in heaven is essential to His carrying out of the work He began upon earth, but He calls for the intercession of the saints in the attainment of His object. Just think of what we read: "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." As the reconciliation was dependent on Christ's doing His part, so in the accomplishment of the work He calls on the Church to do her part. We see how Paul regarded intercession day and night as indispensable to the fulfilment of the work that had been entrusted to him. It is but one aspect of that mighty power of God which works in the heart of His believing people. Intercession is indeed a Divine reality. Without it, the Church loses one of its chief beauties, loses the joy and the power of the Spirit life for achieving great things for God. Without it, the command to preach the Gospel to every creature can never be carried out. Without it, there is no power for the Church to recover from her sickly, feeble life and conquer the world. And in the life of the believer, minister or member, there can be no entrance into the abundant life and joy of daily fellowship with God, except as he takes his place among God's elect—the watchmen and remembrancers of God, who cry to Him day and night. Church of Christ, awake, awake! Listen to the call, "Pray without ceasing": Take no rest, and give God no rest. Let the answer be, even though it be with a sigh from the depths of the heart, "For Zion's sake, will I not hold my peace." God's spirit will reveal to us the power of a life of intercession as a Divine reality, an essential and indispensable element of the great redemption and therefore also of the true Christian life. May God help us to know and to fulfill our calling! | |
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