双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月19日 圣灵之火（受洗于火）

7月19日

圣灵之火（受洗于火）

“这耶稣，神已经叫他复活了，我们都为这事作见证。”

使徒行传2:32

让我们看看西门彼得的转变吧。五旬节前他非常软弱，尽管他信誓旦旦，却还是否认了基督。他在众人面前胆怯，在一个使女面前蒙羞，与主的仇敌站在一起。

但是请看看他受了火的洗礼之后的表现！他放胆站在那群把耶稣钉在十字架上的暴民面前，毫无畏惧地看着他们说：“故此，以色列全家当确实地知道，你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，神已经立他为主，为基督了。”（使徒行传2:36）

软弱的彼得变成了磐石彼得。屠夫扫罗变成了传教士保罗。所有的门徒实际上都从普通人变成了上帝的福音使者。他们的信心和热情点燃了巨焰，燎原到了小亚细亚、欧洲和整个世界。在今天的世界，我们仍然能感受到那股强大冲击力和影响力，因为这群为主献身的人敢于经历“圣灵之火”的试炼。

一块生钢可能不值多少美元。但是，当这块钢被投入烈火中加工，经过回火和锻造，制成昂贵手表的微型表簧时，它就价值数千美元了。烈火和工匠大师的巧手使它全然不同了，它的价值大大提高了。

正如太阳借着它的核心和光芒每天在植物界创造千千万万个奇迹一样，上帝借着祂的圣灵之火每天在属灵世界也创造千千万万个奇迹。祂永远的大能可以改造人心，使燃烧殆尽的生命重获新生，再投身于赢得灵魂、救赎他人的事工之中！

今日祷告：

父啊，求祢用圣灵和大能充满我，让我见证耶稣的福音；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

July 19

TRANSFORMING FIRE

This Jesus God raised up,and of that we are all witnesses.Acts 2:32,RSV

Witness the transformation in Simon Peter.He was so weak before Pentecost that,in spite of his bragging to the contrary,he swore and denied Christ.He was cowed by the crowd,shamed by a little maid,and took his place with the enemies of Christ.

But see him after he had been baptized with fire!He stands boldly before the same rabble that had crucified Jesus,and looking into their faces,unafraid,says,“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,that God hath made that same Jesus,whom ye have crucified,both Lord and Christ”(Acts 2:36).

Peter,the weak,was transformed to Peter,the rock.Saul,the slaughterer,was transformed to Paul,the missionary.All of the disciples were changed from ordinary individuals into virtual firebrands for God.Their faith and zeal started a conflagration which spread throughout Asia Minor,Europe,and the entire world.The world today still feels the powerful impact and influence of this little band of dedicated men who dared to expose themselves to the“Divine Flame.”

A bar of raw steel may be purchased for a few dollars.But when that bar of steel has been thrust into the fires and processed,when it has been tempered and forged and made into tiny watch springs for expensive watches,it is worth thousands of dollars.Fire and the skilled hands of master artisans made the difference,enhancing the value.

Just as the sun by its heart and light performs a thousand miracles a day in the plant kingdom,God through the refining fire of His Spirit performs a thousand miracles a day in the spiritual realm.His regeneration power is ever at work in the world,taking the ashes of burned-out lives and changing them to dynamic channels,dedicated to winning the salvation of others!

Pray for the Day:

Father,fill me with Your Holy Spirit and with power to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus;in Jesus’Name,Amen.