双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月23日 奇妙拯救

7月23日

奇妙拯救

彼得醒悟过来，说：我现在真知道主差遣祂的使者，救我脱离希律的手，和犹太百姓一切所盼望的。

使徒行传12:11

圣经中充满了天使在地上保护神子民的奇妙见证。保罗劝诫基督徒要穿上神所赐的全副军装，好在恶魔面前站立得住（以弗所书6:10-12）。我们并不是与属血气的（仅指肉体的力量）争战，乃是与天空属灵气的恶魔（超人）争战。空中掌权者的首领撒但推崇的是“宗教”，但不是真正的信仰；他推崇的是假先知。因此，光明与黑暗的力量产生了激烈的争战。感谢神！赐予天使能力，击退了黑暗权势。天使从不随己意服侍人；乃是为坚固圣徒，可以将一切荣耀都归于神。（使徒行传12:5-11中就有一个天使保护圣徒的典型例子。）

开始时，彼得被关在监里等待处决。约翰的兄弟雅各已经被杀，眼看彼得也无法逃脱刽子手的刀。地方官准备将他处死，好向那些反对福音和神的作为之人献媚。信徒们曾为雅各迫切祷告，但神选择藉着死来解救他。现在教会也为彼得切切祈祷。

正当彼得熟睡时，一位天使出现了，铁门或铁栏杆都无法拦阻他。天使走进牢房，把彼得叫醒，要他快快起来逃走。这时，监狱里亮起一道光，彼得的锁链脱落，他穿好衣服，跟着天使走了出去。监门自己开了，因为彼得不能像天使那样穿过紧锁的铁门。神藉着祂的天使施行了奇妙的拯救！

今日祷告：

天父，我们感谢祢，无论是借着生还是死，祢的国都得胜了，祢的旨意都成就了，祢的名也得了荣耀。赞美主！我们祈求祢，继续使用我们来荣耀祢；祷告奉耶稣的名，阿们。

July 23

A DRAMATIC DELIVERY

And Peter came to himself,and said,“Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod.”Acts 12:11,RSV

The scriptures are full of dramatic evidence of the protective care of angels in their earthly service to the people of God.Paul admonished Christians to put on all the armor of God that they may stand firmly in the face of evil(Ephesians 6:10-12).Our struggle is not against flesh and blood(physical powers alone),but against the spiritual(superhuman)forces of wickedness in heavenly spheres.Satan,the prince of the power of the air,promotes a“religion”but not true faith;he promotes false prophets.So the powers of light and darkness are locked in intense conflict.Thank God for the angelic forces that fight off the works of darkness.Angels never minister selfishly;they serve so that all glory may be given to God as believers are strengthened.A classic example of the protective agency of angels is found in Acts 12:5-11.

As the scene opened,Peter lay bound in prison awaiting execution.James,the brother of John,had already been killed,and there was little reason to suppose that Peter would escape the executioner’s axe either.The magistrates intended to put him to death as a favor to those who opposed the Gospel and the works of God.Surely the believers had prayed for James,but God had chosen to deliver him through death.Now the church was praying for Peter.

As Peter lay sleeping an angel appeared,not deterred by such things as doors or iron bars.The angel came into the prison cell,shook Peter awake,and told him to prepare to escape.As a light shone in the prison,Peter’s chains fell off,and having dressed,he followed the angel out.Doors supernaturally opened because Peter could not pass through locked doors as the angel had.What a mighty deliverance God achieved through His angel!

Pray for the Day:

Father,we thank You that,whether through life or death,Your Kingdom prevails,Your will is done,and You are being glorified.We praise You,and we pray that You will continue to use us for Your glory;in Jesus’Name,Amen.