传福音的预备
我们要在几点上,好好学功课。我们需要是一个奉献的人,有好的祷告,并且学习在神面前有好的信心。同时,我们在传的时候,里面要有信心,因为我们传的是神的话;神的话永远不会落空。我们还要切记,永远不惹人的反感,不说辩论的话,只要客气、谦卑的说正面、积极的话。当我们与人接触时,求主给我们感觉和引导,能说应时、活的话语,而不是老生常谈。活的话语是人没有办法教的,我们只能仰望神,给我们临时的口才,以适合人的环境和心境,摸着人里面的感觉,应付人里面的需要。我们都当在这些点上忠心操练,以预备自己传扬福音的话。
注重里面属灵的负担
传福音是一件很有意义的事,但有些人只把这样的行动当作一件令人兴奋、热闹的事。通常我们在遇见朋友、亲戚,或者同学、同事时,会自然的把福音行动当作题目,和他们交谈,并邀约他们一同前来。然而我们必须看见,在传福音的事上,人的兴奋和热闹是不该有的。
在传扬福音的事上,我们需要注重里面属灵的负担。从消极方面看,我们在主面前都有同样的感觉,就是惧怕自己在福音的举动上,只有兴奋和热闹,却忽略里面属灵的负担。盼望我们在福音的事上能有心,也能摆上,但不要外面的兴奋与热闹。我们永远不能把主的生命,借着兴奋和热闹分给别人。若是我们凭着兴奋和热闹传福音,只会把人带到兴奋、热闹里,却不能叫人有真实地悔改,而接受主耶稣。兴奋、热闹的传福音,不能叫人有罪的感觉,叫人感觉人生虚空,也不会使人觉得需要主耶稣,需要神在里面作满足和生命。
许多时候,圣灵在人心里已经作了相当的工作,却因为我们太在兴奋和热闹里,反而打岔了圣灵在人里面的工作。如果圣灵在人里面,已经引导人感觉需要神,并且觉得罪的沉重和人生的虚空,渴望得着一位救主;这时,我们就必须学习厉害的功课,把所有的兴奋和热闹勒住,在灵里凭着信心,对人说几句能摸着人深处的话。这样就给人一条又活又新的路,能够碰着神自己,得着神的救恩,接受主耶稣作救主。所有的兴奋、热闹,都是出于人自己,是从我们自己流露出来的。凡出于我们自己的东西,都不能叫人得着生命,也不能叫人得着救恩。
请享受生命诗歌429首 (点击诗歌名)
Preparation for Spreadingthe Gospel (1) — 1 Tim. 2:4
Preparing to Share the Gospel
We must study and learn well in a few key areas: we need to be consecrated individuals, have effective prayers and cultivate strong faith before God. Additionally, as we share the gospel, we must carry faith within us because what we proclaim is the Word of God, which never fails. It is also essential to remember never to provoke others or speak argumentative words. Instead, we should communicate with politeness and humility, expressing positive and constructive messages. When engaging with people, we should pray for the Lord’s guidance and sensitivity to speak timely and living words, rather than repeating clichés. Living words cannot be taught by others; we must rely on God to grant us the eloquence suited to the circumstances and the listener’s state of mind. Such words touch the feelings within people and address their inner needs. We should faithfully practice these principles to prepare ourselves for the work of spreading the gospel.
Pay Attention to the Spiritual Burden Within
Sharing the gospel is a profoundly meaningful endeavor, but some view it merely as an exciting activity. Oftentimes, when we encounter friends, relatives, classmates or colleagues, we naturally turn the gospel into a topic of conversation and invite them to join. However, we must realize that excitement has no place when sharing the gospel.
In gospel work, we need to focus on the spiritual burden within. On the negative side, we all have the same concern before the Lord: the fear of relying solely on excitement while neglecting the inner spiritual burden. We desire to have a heart for the gospel and dedicate ourselves to it, but we must avoid outward excitement. The Lord’s life can never be shared through human excitement. If we preach the gospel fueled by excitement alone, we may only lead others to excitement, not to genuine repentance and receiving of the Lord Jesus. Excitement-based evangelism fails to evoke a sense of sin, a realization of human life’s vanity, or a profound need for the Lord Jesus as the ultimate source of satisfaction and life.
Many times, the Holy Spirit has already done considerable work in man’s hearts, but our overreliance on excitement ends up disrupting the Spirit’s work. If the Holy Spirit has already moved someone to feel the weight of sin, the vanity of life and the need for a Savior, we must learn the profound lesson of restraining our outward excitement. Instead, in the Spirit and with faith, we should speak a few words that reach the bottom of their heart. This approach paves a new and living way for them to encounter God Himself, receive His salvation and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Excitement comes from the effort and expression of a natural man. Whatever originates from us cannot bring life to others or lead them to salvation.