“耶和華萬軍之神阿!求祢使我們回載,使祢的臉發光,我們便要得救。”(詩八十:19)
以色列人處在憂傷困乏之中,當神棄絕他們,仇敵便嘲笑他們,在我們所看到的經文中詩人三次強調他的祷告:“彰显出祢的全能,來吧,拯救我們。”
今天雖有為數不少的教會,但仇敵仍然十分高興,因為基督徒實在太沒有能力勝過醉酒、敗壞、愛世界等罪,神的兒女常自問道:“沒有復興的希望嗎?難道無能為力嗎?”難道神不願祂的子民聖潔無罪,勝過罪惡並且反對在基督徒和異教徒中讚美基督的事?難道神未曾有過大愛的應許,差遣聖靈來成就我們的祷告?难道神不等待我們祷告去开始复兴的工作?复兴是何等的需要並實現出來,神渴望我們抓住祂的應許,並經驗君尊祭司的權力(彼前二:9)
复兴從那裏開始?答案是神的兒女奉獻自己成為聖靈工作的器皿,他們自己與罪隔絕,並且令人歸正,基督徒必須實行並證明他生命的目的就是事奉神,使其與主犧牲寶血相稱。
當神的兒女在任何事物都要有奉獻的態度,復興的工作就已經是他的生活,工作如基督的犧牲上開始了。
親愛的神之兒女!利用任何微小的事物去得到更深或更豐盛的生命,至少其目的為領人歸向耶穌並且事奉祂,樂於為他們代求。
“Turn us again, O Lord God of Hosts. Cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.” –PSALM lxxx.19.
Israel was in sore need. Their enemies scoffed at them as if God had forsaken them. Three times the Psalmist uses the words of our texts to reinforce his prayer, “Stir up Thy might, and come and save us.”
In our day the enemy rejoices that in spite of our many churches, Christianity is so powerless in overcoming the sins of drunkenness, immorality, worldlymindedness, and love of money. God’s children are asking: “Can nothing be done? Is there no hope of Revival?” Is God not willing to lead His people into a fuller, deeper life of victory over sin and all that opposes Christ in Christian and heathen lands? Has not God in His great love promised to give us His Spirit in answer to prayer? Is God not waiting for our prayers to begin the work of revival? A revival is much needed, and it is possible. God is longing for us to claim His promise and exercise our right as members of the Royal Priesthood (1 Pet. ii. 9).
Where must the Revival begin? With God’s children, who may offer themselves to God as instruments to be used by the Holy Spirit, separating themselves from sin, and devoting themselves to the work of saving souls. Christians must realize and prove that the object of their life is God’s service, and the saving of those for whom Christ shed His blood.
Revival has already begun wherever God’s children offer up everything to live and work and suffer as Christ did.
Dear child of God, it avails little to desire a deeper or more abundant life unless this is the chief object: to be a witness for Jesus and to win others to His service, and to intercede for them as a labour of love.