經文: 「因為我們的福音傳到你們那裡，不獨在乎言語，也在乎權能和聖靈，並充足的信心，正如你們知道、我們在你們那裡，為你們的緣故是怎樣為人。並且你們在大難之中，蒙了聖靈所賜的喜樂，領受真道就效法我們，也效法了主；」— (聖經·帖撒羅尼迦前書 1章5-6節)
保羅不只一次提醒讀者，他的悔改轉變，以及他講道的特點是權能：一種超自然的聖靈大能。聖靈樂意將那屬天的喜樂，分給那願意領受真道的人。
這是屬靈生命的重要功課之一，會眾很習慣專心聽講道，想明白主要的信息，卻往往忘記會眾蒙福的兩個要件。第一，要迫切地為牧師禱告，讓他所傳講的信息，滿有聖靈的權能；第二，要為自己在內的會眾禱告，讓我們所領受的道是出於上帝，不是出於人。「聽見我們所傳上帝的道，就領受了，不以為是人的道，乃以為是上帝的道。」(帖撒羅尼迦前書 二13)，但是因為傳道者與聽道者常常會以屬世的理解與感覺來傳講或接收訊息，因此常常無法將聖靈彰顯出來，也無法行出上帝早已為祂兒女預備的信心生命裡的屬靈洞察力。
我們該何等迫切地為牧師及會眾禱告，讓賜人智慧與啟示的聖靈打開我們心靈的眼睛，讓我們真正認識上帝，知道祂的聖靈的確住在我們心中，而且祂要做奇妙的工作。求上帝讓我們學會做這樣的禱告，且了解為何耶穌說：「不要離開耶路撒冷，要等候父所應許的，就是你們聽見我說過的。但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地、和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，做我的見証。」(使徒行傳 一4,8)
讓我們迫切地禱告，求上帝將聖靈澆灌在牧師及傳道人身上，讓他們傳講的信息滿有聖靈的權能；也求上帝讓會眾的心更加柔軟，讓他們因著聖靈的感動能知罪悔改，信心被挑旺，靈命全然得著更新。
—《 神 的 心 意 》
(每日靈修 11月1日)
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興
(圖片版權屬「南崁使徒中心」所有，在此僅供分享福音用途。)
『The Spirit in Preacher and Hearer』
Scripture: “Our Gospel came unto you . . . in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance . . . Having received the Word . . . with joy of the Holy Spirit.” — (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6. See also 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.)
Paul more than once reminds his converts that the chief characteristic of his preaching was the power — the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was so imparted to his hearers that they received the Word “with joy of the Holy Spirit.”
This is one of the most important lessons in the spiritual life. We, as hearers, are so accustomed to listen attentively to the sermon to see what it has to teach us, that we are apt to forget that the blessing of our church-going depends on two things. First, the prayer for the preacher that he may speak “in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” and then the prayer for the congregation and for ourselves, that we may receive the Word, not from man, but as it is in truth, God’s Word, “which effectually worketh in you that believe” (1 Thess. ii. 13.) How often there is no manifestation of the Spirit, when both the speaking and the hearing are mainly the work of human understanding or feeling. So often there is no power that raises the soul with spiritual insight into the life of faith that God has provided for His children.
How earnestly we should pray that God may reveal to us all, both minister and people, “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,” that we may discover what the place really is that the Holy Spirit should have in our lives, and what the perfect work is that He will do within us! God help us to learn this prayer! Then we shall understand what Christ meant when He said: “Go not, preach not — but wait for the promise of the Father, and ye shall receive the power of the Spirit, and ye shall be My witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts i. 4,8).
Pray earnestly that God may teach us to pray down the power of the Holy Spirit upon ministers and missionaries and their congregations, that the preaching may be in the manifestation of the Spirit and of power, for the conversion and sanctification of souls.
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 1 November 」
