11/9/2013教會的轉型

經文:使徒行傳10－12章

中心思想:使徒行傳12章

提要

        「耶路撒冷、猶太全地、撒瑪利亞」（徒1：8），現在上帝為福音推廣到「地極」做了妥當的安排，由於哥尼流一家悔改信主，教會的福音事工推展到外邦人身上，但這是因為一個罕見的異象、一個固執的器皿（彼得）、一次適時的造訪，三者配合得當，才把數世紀以來根深蒂固的偏見拆毀了，這時福音的敵人也毫不鬆懈地大步前進，雖然他們看到雅各殉道、彼得入獄，但這個徒勞無功的迫害卻助長教會更加蓬勃發展。

每日與主同行

        使徒行傳十二章或許可以用這樣的標題：「蒙應允的禱告和緊閉的門扇」，正如使徒所知道的，若無後者的緊閉，就無前者的歡天喜地！
        彼得身陷牢獄，面臨的危險和使徒雅各的悲慘命運幾乎同出一轍。眾使徒的反應，就像你所期望的，迫切為彼得的安危禱告（徒12：5）！上帝的回應也像你所期望的，答應了他們祈求！但注意使徒怎樣回應上帝的應許。
        ●首先他們對羅大的宣布另有一番解釋，懷疑她的話是否真實，力指她是瘋了（徒12：15）。
        ●隨後他們又認為站在門外的彼得只是「他的天使」而已（徒12：15）
        ●他們沒有體會到上帝應允禱告的喜樂，其實是因為他們不相信上帝真的會答應他們的呼求！
        你今天為什麼事禱告？一個癒合的關係、一個新的工作；一個壞習慣的克服？如果上帝答應你的禱告，你會很驚訝嗎？立刻從你的座位上站起來，走到房門口打開門，讓門代表你的信心說：「禱告蒙應允的時候，我不訝異！」

默想

彼得後記
        到目前為止，你在使徒行傳裏看到彼得的名字已高達五十六次了，現在路加的重點要轉移了－－事實上彼得的名字在使徒行傳十五章七節出現後，就不再出現了！

金言

世界可以懷疑禱告的能力，聖徒卻知之甚詳。

The Church in Transition

Scriptures:Acts 10-12

Heart of the Passage:Acts 12

Overview

        "Jerusalem ... Judea ... .Samaria" (1:8). Now God sets the stage for the Gospel advance to the "uttermost part of the earth." With the conversion of Cornelius, the outreach of the church is enlarged to include Gentiles as well. But it takes an unusual vision, a stubborn vessel (Peter), and a well-timed visit to break down centuries of deep-seated prejudice. The enemies of the Go-spcl are also on the- march, as seen in the martyrdom of James and the imprisonment of Peter—a futile attempt to stem the growth of the church.

Your Daily Walk

        Chapter 12 might well be tided, "The Answered Prayer and the Unanswered Door." As the disciples learned, without the latter there can be no enjoyment of the former.
        Peter was in prison, in danger of experiencing the same cruel fate as did the apostle James. The disciples responded, as you might expect, with fervent prayer for Peter's safety (12:5). God responded, as you might expect, with answered prayer! But notice how the disciples responded to God's response!
        • They explained away Rhoda's announcement by doubting first her sincerity, then her sanity (12:15).
        • They explained away Peter's presence at the door by saying it was his angel (12:15).
        • They failed to enjoy God's answer to their prayers because they failed to believe God would really do what they asked!
        What are you praying for today? A healed relationship ... a new job ... victory over a bad habit? Would it surprise you if God answered your prayer? Get up from where you're sitting right now, walk across the room, and open a door. Let it be an expression of your faith that says. "When God's answer knocks. I won't be surprised!"

Insight

Postscript on Peter — 
        So far you've encountered Peter's name 56 times in Acts. But now Luke's emphasis will shift—as seen in the fact that Peter's name appears in 15:7 and nowhere else in the rest of Acts!

Adage

The world may doubt the power of prayer; the saints know better.