2024-07-21 Renew Together - Knowing God's Heart 一起更新 - 认识神的心意

Act 1&2（徒1-2章）

“Renew Together” formerly named “Prayer and Self Denial”. “一起更新”曾叫“祷告与自我否定”。For three weeks we join our Baptist movement to pray and raise funds for Arotahi's global mission work. 三周时间，我们将与浸信各教会一起祷告并为Arotahi的全球宣教工作筹款。In Week one, we're focusing on Acts 1 & 2 to understand God’s heart. 在第一周，我们来看使徒行传1和2章，来明白神的心意。

1, God’s heart is centred on the Kingdom 神的旨意是以神国度为中心

Act徒 1:1-3, Jesus suffered, died, and was resurrected. 耶稣受苦，被钉十字架，复活了. Now before Jesus’ Ascension, v.3 says在耶稣升天前，第3节说 Jesus appeared to them (His disciples) over a period of forty days. 耶稣在四十天里向门徒活活的显现。What did he do? 他做了什么？And spoke about the Kingdom of God. 谈论神国的事。Would you tell your children anything crucial before you passed away? 你会在临终前告诉孩子很重要的事情吗？ Yes, you’d definitely give them the password to the safe. 是的，你一定会把保险箱的密码告诉他们。Similarly, before Jesus’ ascension, 同样，在耶稣升天前，he spent forty days speaking about the Kingdom of God. 他花了四十天讲述神国度的事。

Jesus’ primary purpose in coming was to bring God’s Kingdom to the earth. 耶稣来的主要目的是把神国度带到地上。He teaches us to pray: 他教导我们祷告：“Your Kingdom come.” “愿你的国降临。”  God’s Kingdom and His church are not the same thing. 神的国度和祂的教会不是同一回事。 Psalm诗 103:19, The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules overall. 耶和华在天上立定宝座，他的国度统管万有。But His Church doesn’t rule over all. 但教会没有统管万有。Eph 弗1:22, And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 又将万有服在他的脚下，使他为教会作万有之首。Christ has overcome基督已经得胜 and the head of the Body has the power to rule over all这身子的头有权统管万有。The Church教会 – the Body of Christ基督的身子 is the people who have been born again into God’s Kingdom.是重生进入神国度的人。They’re part of God’s Kingdom. 他们是神国度的一部分。They’re in the process of training to become overcomers. 他们正在接受训练，要成为得胜者。God’s Kingdom rules over the heavens and the earth. 神的国度统管天和地。The Church just represents God’s family on earth. 教会只是代表神在地上的家。The function of the Church is to prepare God’s people 教会的功能是预备神的子民for their future rule over all with Christ in His Kingdom in heaven and on earth 将来在天上和地上与基督一同作王(Re 启3:21, 3:12, 22:3-5).

You may think that the church is just for you to hear about the gospel and be saved. 你可能认为教会只是让你听福音并得救。But the bible doesn’t say that. 但圣经并不是这样说的。The function of the church is to equip and prepare God’s people for works of service (Eph 弗4). 教会的功能是装备和预备神的子民去服事。In other words, 换句话说，all are called to serve and grow, 所有人都被召去服事和成长，so that we all can reach the fullness of Christ, 使我们都能得着基督的丰盛，and be able to inherit His coming Kingdom. 并能继承祂即将来到的国度。The Kingdom has come, 神的国度已降临，is still coming, 仍在降临，and will come in its fullness when Jesus returns. 还将再临，当基督再来时。God’s mission now is for us to take the gospel to all nations. 神现在的使命是让我们把福音传到万国。Arotahi is participating, Arotahi 参与在其中, and so are we.我们也要参与。

2, God’s heart - receiving power from on high. 神的旨意 – 得着天上的能力

However, 然而，the disciples couldn’t fulfil this call 门徒们无法完成这个呼召，without the help of the Holy Spirit, 若没有圣灵的帮助，and neither can we. 我们也一样做不到。That’s why after Christ’s resurrection, 这就是为什么基督复活后，he asked his disciples to stay in Jerusalem 祂吩咐门徒留在耶路撒冷，and wait until receiving power from on high. 等候从天上来的能力。(Luke 路24:49) 。Now here in Acts 1:8， 徒1:8中，Jesus again promised, 耶稣再次应许说：But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. “但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力；并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地，并撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。”

Power in the original word is ‘dunamis’ – supernatural power. 能力在原文中是“dunamis”—超自然的能力。It’s not human power这不是人的能力 nor political power不是政治权力。It’s supernatural power. 这是超自然能力。Jesus had the dunamis to cast out demons, 耶稣有超自然的能力去赶鬼、heal the sick, 医病，and bring the Kingdom to earth powerfully.并带下神国度到地上。“You shall receive dunamis”! “你们要领受超自然能力”！Why? 为什么？Because there is always spiritual opposition to hinder us from bringing His kingdom down. 因为总有属灵的力量在阻拦我们把神国度带到地上。2 Tim 提后3:5 warns us警戒我们, don’t seek to have a form of godliness不要单有敬虔的外貌 but deny dunamis却否定dumamis. (原文). We need supernatural power, 我们需要超自然的能力、signs and wonders, 神迹奇事、visions and dreams to correct us, 异梦异象来纠正我们，guide us, 引导我们，and help us to witness about who Jesus is, 并帮助我们见证耶稣是谁，from Jerusalem 从耶路撒冷, the place where we are now, 就是我们现在所在的地方and into all Judea and Samaria 到犹太全地和撒玛利亚 to our families 就是我们的家人、our neighbors, 邻居、our city, 城市、and our country, 国家，and to the ends of the earth (to other nations). 直到地极（就是其他民族）。

Yulia was struggling to believe in Jesus, Yulia虽然今年二月开始就来参加礼拜了 even though she had been attending church services since February this year.但她还是很难相信耶稣。God knew her struggles上帝知道她的挣扎。A week ago一周前, she had a dream from God她做了一个梦 in which God revealed the secret of her struggles梦中上帝向她揭示了她挣扎的秘密。She was amazed她很惊奇 and convinced也服了, gave her life to Jesus信了主, and her husband also accepted Jesus她的丈夫也来信了耶稣。That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. 这是圣灵的能力。The church needs the work of the Holy Spirit. 教会需要圣灵的工作。Who is the Holy Spirit? 圣灵是谁？The Holy Spirit is not a power, 圣灵不仅仅是一种能力，even though He may seem like power. 尽管祂看起来像是能力。The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. 圣灵是三位一体中的第三位。Our God is a triune God: 我们的神是三位一体的神：the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 父、子和圣灵，each being fully God. 每位都是完全的神。So, the Holy Spirit is God Himself. 因此，圣灵就是神自己。

The Holy Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. 圣灵赐生命；肉体是无益的。(John 约6:63). The Holy Spirit transforms us into Christ’s likeness. 圣灵使我们转变像基督。The flesh only leads us to death. 顺从肉体就是死(Romans 罗8:6)。In Christ’s life on earth, 在基督在地上时，he demonstrated that the secret source of His life and power 他显明他生命和能力的秘密源泉was his relationship with the Holy Spirit. 是来自与圣灵的关系。

Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit 基督是由圣灵感孕。(Matt 太1:20). He was led by the Holy Spirit. 他被圣灵引导。 (Luke 路4:1). He was full of the Holy Spirit to start his ministry on earth. 他被圣灵充满开始他在地上的事工。(Luke 路4:4). Through the Holy Spirit Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick. 耶稣藉着圣灵医病赶鬼。He promises to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire 他应许要用圣灵和火为我们施洗 (Luke 路3:16).  The Holy Spirit is the legacy, 圣灵是基督留给我们的产业，Jesus left us to help us fulfill God's call on earth successfully. 耶稣留下圣灵给我们，为帮助我们在地上完成神的呼召。The same Holy Spirit同样的圣灵 through whom Jesus preached耶稣去借着这圣灵传道 healed the sick医病, and cast out demons is now with us today.赶鬼，今天也与我们同在 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth 圣灵是真理的灵(John 约15:26). The Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth 真理的灵来了，祂要引导你们进入一切真理。(John 约16:13). It's not up to you or I to understand God's word不是你我凭自己可以理解神的话; it is the Holy Spirit who will reveal the truth to us是圣灵会向我们开启。All we need is humility and obedience, 我们需要的是谦卑和顺服, so that we can be led by the Holy Spirit into all truth and grow. 以至于我们可以被圣灵引导而成长。

That's why we need to pray and submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself.这就是为什么我们需要祷告，并顺服圣灵，祂是神自己。He is our Guide, 祂是我们的引导者、teacher, 教师、personal Coach 个人教练and Comforter.和安慰者。So the bible says, don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. 因此圣经说, 不要使圣灵担忧。Sin罪unbelief, 不信disobedience,悖逆unforgiveness不饶恕、bitterness, 苦毒、jealousy嫉妒、 trusting in ourselves，信自己、 sexual sin, 淫乱、etc等等grieves the Holy Spirit. 都会使圣灵担忧。 If you grieve the Holy Spirit, 若你叫圣灵担忧，you can’t have a good relationship with Him. 你就不能与圣灵有亲密的关系。Then you can't grow in Him那你就不能成长and won't be able to carry His supernatural presence with you to help others. 也不能带着祂的超自然能力去帮助他人。Repentance and obedience are required. 悔改和顺服是必须的, if you wanna have a good relationship with Him, 若你想和祂有好关系。 The Holy Spirit is a Person. 圣灵是神的一个位格，He can be grieved.  祂也会忧伤.

The Holy Spirit also corrects us. 圣灵也纠正我们。As parents, 作为父母if you love your kids, 你们爱你们的孩子，you’ll correct them. 你们会纠正他们. The Holy Spirit will also send us dreams 圣灵也会给我们梦revealing fear显明我们里面有惧怕、worry, 忧虑、bitterness, 苦毒、unforgiveness 不饶恕or other sins that require repentance或其他要悔改的罪。Sometimes, 有时，through reading the scriptures 借着读经，He convicts us of our unbelief, 祂光照我们的不信，and leads us to turn back to the Father. 并引导我们回到父神的面前。

The Holy Spirit makes Jesus and God’s love real to us. 圣灵让我们经历耶稣和神的爱。Sometimes, 有时，when you sing songs to worship Him, 当你唱诗敬拜祂时，suddenly, tears come down, 你突然流泪，your heart is deeply touched by the grace of God, 你的心被神的恩典深深触动，that’s the work of the Holy Spirit, 这是圣灵的工作，who reveals Jesus’ unconditional love to us. 祂向我们显明耶稣无条件的爱。

The Holy Spirit also reveals true identity to us. 圣灵也向我们显明我们真实的身份。Nearly 20 years ago, 大约20年前，after giving up my successful business to follow Jesus, 我放弃了成功的生意，来跟随耶稣，one day, 有一天，someone asked me, 有人问我："What's your job?" “你的工作是什么？”Then she talked about her thriving business, 然后她谈论她的生意多么成功， I felt ashamed, 我感到羞愧，wanting to hide. 想躲起来。Suddenly, I heard a voice say, 突然，我听到一个声音说："You're My beloved child." “你是我所爱的孩子。”Tears filled my eyes, 泪水充满了我的眼睛，as I realised my identity isn't in wealth or success, 我意识到我的身份不是因有财富或成功，which can all disappear. 因那些都会消失。Only God is eternal. 只有神是永恒的，My heart turned to God. 我的心转向神。It’s the Holy Spirit who reminded me of who I was in Christ 是圣灵提醒我我在基督里的身份，and strengthened my faith again. 并再次坚固我的信心。Acts徒 10:38 says, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power…神怎样以圣灵和能力膏拿撒勒人耶稣……So that he could heal those who were under the power of the devil. 使他得以医治那些被魔鬼压制的人。It is the Holy Spirit who frees people from the devil's oppression. 圣灵使人摆脱魔鬼的压制。You can't do Deliverance Ministry without partnering with the Holy Spirit. 不与圣灵同工，你做不了医治释放的事工。Just as the Son of God needed the Holy Spirit, 正如神的儿子需要圣灵一样，so does the church. 教会也需要圣灵。

3, God’s heart – waiting and praying 神的旨意 – 等候和祷告

From v.12-26, 从徒1:12-26，all the believers joined together constantly in prayer 所有信徒聚集在一起，恒切祷告to wait for God’s promise become true. 等候神的应许成就。So waiting, 等候、seeking, 寻求、praying together as a faith community 同心祷告，is the crucial first step. 是信心团体关键的一步。There were great revivals in history, 历史上有许多大复兴，which were all triggered by constant prayers. 都是由不断的祷告引发的。During the Second Great Awakening in 1824, 在1824年的第二次大觉醒中，Charles Finney led 500,000 people to Christ. 查理斯·芬尼带领50万人归向基督。Church membership grew from 350,000 to 3,000,000. 教会的会员从35万增长到300万。Finney believed that prayer could move the heart of God, 芬尼相信祷告能够触动神的心，and bring about divine intervention, 并带下神的工作，as there were many supporters who constantly prayed for revival. 因有许多信徒为复兴恒切祷告。

During this season 这时期we pray for our missionaries overseas; 我们为我们海外的宣教士祷告; we pray for more souls to turn to Jesus and be set free; 我们为更多的灵魂归向耶稣并得到释放祷告；we pray that God would pour out the spirit of repentance and forgiveness. 我们祷告神能浇灌悔改和饶恕的灵。We pray for the power and manifestation of God’s kingdom to come down, 我们为神国度的能力和显现降临祷告，to cast out the movement of the dark kingdom, 为赶逐黑暗国度的运行，to heal the sick, 医治病人and save souls. 并拯救灵魂祷告。

4, God’s heart – revival, response, renewal  神的旨意——复兴、回应、更新

In Acts 徒 2:1-13, God responded to their prayers 神回应了他们的祷告， by pouring out the promised Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 在五旬节将应许的圣灵浇灌下来。They received the gift of tongues. 他们得到了方言的恩赐。 They didn’t speak tongues that people couldn’t understand. 他们说的不是人们听不懂的方言，They spoke other people’s languages, 他们说的是别人的语言，so that other people were utterly amazed 这让人十分惊奇 (Acts 徒 2:7) and gave glory to God. 并将荣耀归给神。Peter, who had been timid, 曾因惧怕不认主的彼得，now became bold enough to preach about the resurrection of Jesus, 现在却大胆地传讲耶稣的复活，that’s the power of God! 这就是神的大能！The power of God comes upon us to renew us 神的大能临到我们，更新我们，and make us useful vessels 使我们成为有用的器皿，for the Kingdom’s use. 为神国所用。

The early church wasn’t just formed 早期教会不仅成立了 but expanded. 而且扩大了。 We’ve been experiencing a glimpse of this over the last 20 years. 20 年来，我们也经历了一点这景象。 When the Holy Spirit is poured out, 当圣灵浇灌下来的时候， we receive power, 我们得到能力， we receive spiritual gifts, 得到属灵的恩赐， we see visions, 看到异象，we dream dreams, 做异梦，we discern spirits, 我们可以辨别诸灵what belongs to the Holy Spirit, 哪些是属于圣灵or to the spirit of lies, 哪些是谎言的灵，we preach the gospel with power, 我们用大能传讲福音，where people are cut to the heart, 人们的心被扎， and repent to God. 向神悔改。 In return作为回应，they receive healing and joy. 他们得到了医治和喜乐。 Acts 徒 2:38, Peter replied, 彼得回答说： “Repent and be baptized, every one of you,  “你们各人要悔改， in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦。And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 你们就必领受所赐的圣灵。”

Repentance is required if you wanna receive the Holy Spirit and be filled with the Spirit. 如果你们想得到圣灵并被圣灵充满，就必须悔改。 Because God is Holy, 因神是圣洁的，He won’t lower His standards. 祂不会降低自己的标准。Jesus,  耶稣，the very God, manifested in humanity,  这位在肉身显现的神，was sacrificed on the cross for your and my sins,  为你我的罪死在十字架，he took up the infirmities that you and I deserve, 他诚然担当你我的忧患病痛，这本是我们该受的， He carried our sorrows, 祂背负我们的痛苦，and took up the condemnation that you and I deserve, 祂被定罪， 这本是你我该受的，and took upon his body the punishment that you and I deserve. 祂以自己身体来承受刑罚，这本是你我该受的。 He gave us grace and peace祂却赐给我们恩典和平安，that we don’t deserve. 这本不是我们配得的。

How should we respond to His Love?  我们该如何回应祂的爱呢？Should we continue to live selfishly难道我们还该继续去自私地活着, trying to numb our hearts with worldly things like money, 试图用世俗的东西，比如钱, alcohol, 酒精, fantasies, 假想, success, 成功, or anything outside of God或任何神以外的东西 that allows the enemy to torment us给仇敌机会来折磨 or brings us into bondage, 或捆绑我们，thus grieving the Holy Spirit? 来让圣灵担忧？Or should we respond Jesus’ unconditional love with gratitude and repentance? 还是我们以感恩和悔改来回应耶稣无条件的爱？ And say, 并说：“Yes, Lord, Jesus, ”是的，主耶稣， I’m here, 我在这里， cleanse me, 求你洁净我， renew me,  更新我， use me, 使用我and empower me to be Your witness to the ends of the earth. 使我有能力为你作见证，直到地极。

Prayer祷告：

Now, I’m inviting you to come out of your seats, 现在，我邀请你站起来，if you say, 如果你说：“Lord Jesus, I repent, "主耶稣，我悔改， I’ve been looking for all those things in the world, 我一直在世界上寻找， and trying to find peace and joy,  想找到平安和喜乐，but I can’t. 但却找不到。Today, I want to encounter you.  今天，我想遇见你。today, I surrender my life to you. 今天，我将生命主权交给你。  I repent of my old ways of thinking 我悔改我以往的思维方式 which causes me to base my identity on my outward actions or possessions, 这思维模式让我把自己的身份扎根在做事和拥有什么上，building a house on shifting sand. 就像把房子建在沙土上。When I don’t have or fail to achieve, 当我做事失败了，I feel condemned as a loser. 就觉得自己是个失败者。But your truth says, 但你的真理说 “I’m a child of God“我是神的孩子, my Identity is in Christ. 我的身份在基督里 。My life is now hidden with Christ in God. 我的生命与基督藏在神里面。Christ is my life and glory. 基督是我的生命和荣耀。Living out the abundant life through surrendering to the Holy Spirit is all I need to seek. 借着顺服圣灵去活出丰盛的生命才是我人生追求。”

Lord Jesus, Forgive me that I put expectations onto people or circumstances 主耶稣，赦免我把期望寄托在人和环境身上，instead of praying constantly to seek Your help. 而不是恒切祷告寻求你的帮助。People disappointed me,  人们让我失望，so that I was hurt, 让我受伤。I was disappointed,  我灰心， I judged people, 我论断人， I allowed bitter judgement,  我让苦毒的论断， unforgiveness, 不饶恕， disappointment, 灰心， and all the negative feelings to find ways to get into my heart. 和所有负面的情绪进入我的内心。 I’ve grieved the Holy Spirit, 我让圣灵担忧了， but I didn’t notice. 但我却没有察觉。 That’s why I feel dry, 这就是为什么我觉得枯干， I don’t want to read the bible anymore. 不想读经了。 I allow worldly thoughts to influence my life. 我让世俗的思想影响了我的生命。

I repent of grieving the Holy Spirit and quenching the Holy Spirit by my thoughts and actions. 我的思想和行为让圣灵担忧，消灭了圣灵的感动，我愿悔改。 Forgive me, 求你赦免我， Jesus, 主耶稣， I turn to You now…我现在回转向你......In the name of Jesus, 奉主耶稣基督的圣名， I break the spirits of bitterness, 我破除苦毒的灵， and self-pity, 自怜的灵 ，spirits of oppression, 压制的灵、 spirits of lies. 谎言的灵， I break free from the spirits of religion, 破除宗教的灵, which gives me the appearance of godliness它给我敬虔的外表，but lacks dunamis - supernatural power却没有神的能力。I break the spirits of fear. 破除一切的惧怕的灵，I break the spirits of manipulation. 我破除一切操纵的灵……与我的连结。I’m set free in Jesus’ name. 因着耶稣的圣名得自由。 Lord Jesus, 主耶稣， You give me the Holy Spirit to convict me of my sins, 你赐圣灵光照我，to heal me from all kinds of diseases of the heart,  医治我心灵的各种疾病，to restore me from brokenness, 使我从破碎中得完全，set me free from the enemy’s hand, 使我从仇敌手中得自由，and empower me to fulfil my life purpose on earth. 使我有能力实现我在世上的人生目标。My life can be completely transformed. 我的生命可以彻底改变。I embrace Your Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth! 我拥抱你的圣灵，真理的灵！I’m willing to listen to You and love You…. 我愿意听从你，爱你....

Let us together say the cooperate prayer week 1 on the screen:  让我们看屏幕，一起为第一周的Renew Together同心祷告:

Grant us O God,

A vision for your world as you would have it. 神啊，赐予我们 一个按照你心意的世界愿景。

Attune our hearts to the direction of Your Spirit. 使我们的心顺服于你圣灵的引导。

You call us to be your witnesses from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of your world. 你呼召我们，要从耶路撒冷、犹太全地、撒玛利亚直到地极，作你的见证人。

As we follow, we hold to your promises. 在我们跟随你的时候，我们依靠你的应许。

And we bring you our prayers. You are the one who leads and equips us. 我们将祷告献给你。你是引领和装备我们的主。

Who radically transforms us as we draw near to you. 你在我们就近你时，彻底改变我们。

For you are pouring out your Spirit on all people, in all places. 因为你将你的灵浇灌在所有的人身上，在各处。

So that your sons and daughters may prophesy. 好使你的儿女能说预言。
The young may see visions and the elderly may dream dreams. 少年人能看见异象，老年人能作异梦。

In Your name we pray, Amen. 奉主耶稣的名祷告，阿们。