“‘神说:在末后的日子,我要将我的灵浇灌凡有血气的。你们的儿女要说预言;你们的少年人要见异象;老年人要做异梦。’” – 徒 2:17
有一句谚语这样说:“行动胜于语言。”圣灵的果子,从我们学院校牧事工所涉及的一个学生身上“结了”出来,他的恩慈、温柔、喜乐、和忍耐,是显而易见的。人们看见时,便自然会被吸引到他身边去,与人分享他信仰的机会也因此大增。另一个学生则时常都在祷告中向主倾心吐意,她为神国的拓展祈求。
据使徒行传2章的记载,在五旬节那一天,神的灵赐能力给耶稣的使徒,他们便能够说很多不同的方言;在今天,同一位圣灵也叫我们有能力以言语和行动来吸引人。藉着圣灵的能力,神的国得到拓展,而衪也呼召和装备我们每一个人,无论在什么境况中,都去用言行为衪作见证。
今天我们庆祝圣灵的降临。然而,庆祝五旬节,不仅仅是以它为庆祝活动的主题,更重要的乃是把它的实质活出来 – 就是以言语和行动来见证。藉着圣灵在我们里面的能力,我们所说的话和满有圣灵果子的行动,就是神用来建立衪国度的工具。
祷告
天父啊,在很久以前的五旬节那天,你赐圣灵浇灌跟随耶稣的人,我们为此感谢你。求你帮助我们,在今天和每一天里,都倚靠圣灵的能力生活。奉耶稣名祈求,阿们。
使徒行传 2:1-21
1五旬节到了,门徒都聚集在一处。
2忽然,从天上有响声下来,好像一阵大风吹过,充满了他们所坐的屋子;
3又有舌头如火焰显现出来,分开落在他们各人头上。
4他们就都被圣灵充满,按着圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。
5那时,有虔诚的犹太人从天下各国来,住在耶路撒冷。
6这声音一响,众人都来聚集,各人听见门徒用众人的乡谈说话,就甚纳闷,
7都惊讶稀奇说:“看哪,这说话的不都是加利利人吗?
8我们各人怎么听见他们说我们生来所用的乡谈呢?
9我们帕提亚人、玛代人、以拦人和住在美索不达米亚、犹太、加帕多家、本都、亚细亚、
10弗吕家、旁非利亚、埃及的人,并靠近古利奈的利比亚一带地方的人,从罗马来的客旅中或是犹太人、或是进犹太教的人,
11克里特和阿拉伯人,都听见他们用我们的乡谈,讲说神的大作为!”
12众人就都惊讶猜疑,彼此说:“这是什么意思呢?”
13还有人讥诮说:“他们无非是新酒灌满了!”
14彼得和十一个使徒站起,高声说:“犹太人和一切住在耶路撒冷的人哪,这件事你们当知道,也当侧耳听我的话。
15你们想这些人是醉了,其实不是醉了,因为时候刚到巳初。
16这正是先知约珥所说的:
17‘神说:在末后的日子,我要将我的灵浇灌凡有血气的,你们的儿女要说预言,你们的少年人要见异象,老年人要做异梦。
18在那些日子,我要将我的灵浇灌我的仆人和使女,他们就要说预言。
19在天上我要显出奇事,在地下我要显出神迹,有血,有火,有烟雾。
20日头要变为黑暗,月亮要变为血,这都在主大而明显的日子未到以前。
21到那时候,凡求告主名的,就必得救。’
Pentecost
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” – Acts 2:17
There is an old saying that “Actions speak louder than words.” One of the students in the chaplaincy ministry at our college “oozes” the fruit of the Spirit. His kindness, gentleness, joy, and patience are clearly evident. As people see this, they are attracted to him, and opportunities to share his faith are multiplied. Another student frequently pours out her heart to the Lord in prayer as she pleads for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
The Spirit of God gave Jesus’ apostles the ability to speak in many languages on that day of Pentecost written about in Acts 2, and the same Spirit enables us to speak and to act in winsome ways today. Through the power of the Spirit, God’s kingdom is advancing, and he has called and equipped each of us to be his witnesses in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.
Today we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. But our celebration of Pentecost is not so much meant to be talked about as it is to be lived—in word and deed. By the power of the Spirit working through us, our words and fruit-filled actions are the tools God uses to build his kingdom.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Spirit poured out on Jesus’ followers on that Pentecost day so long ago. Help us to live by the power of the Spirit today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.