双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：11月18日 因着信心

11月18日

因着信心

亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候，就遵命出去，往将来要得为业的地方去；出去的时候，还不知往哪里去。他因着信，就在所应许之地作客，好像在异地居住帐棚，与那同蒙一个应许的以撒、雅各一样。因为他等候那座有根基的城，就是神所经营所建造的。因着信，连撒拉自己，虽然过了生育的岁数，还能怀孕；因他以为那应许他的是可信的。

希伯来书11:8-11

亚伯拉罕与上帝同行，得称为神的朋友（以赛亚书41:8；雅各书2:23）。挪亚与上帝同行，洪水来了，他得救了。摩西在旷野的孤独中与上帝同行，当审判临到埃及时，摩西已准备好带领他的百姓走向胜利。大卫还是个牧童就与上帝同行，当蒙召统治他的百姓时，他已准备好履行国王的职责。但以理和他的三个少年朋友在巴比伦与上帝同行，当患难临到，无论在狮子坑，还是在火窑中，上帝都与他们同在。

然而，圣经教导我们，上帝并不总是拯救他的圣徒脱离逆境。仔细阅读希伯来书第十一章就会发现，“其他人”和亚伯拉罕、摩西、但以理或大卫一样有信心，也与上帝同行——但他们却丧生了。上帝并没有应许救我们脱离患难，但祂应许与我们一同经历患难。

司提反是一个“充满信心和圣灵”的年轻人。他们用石头将他打死，但他却凯旋进入了天堂。如果你现在没有坚固你的心天天与上帝同行，那么当危机来临时，你就会因恐惧战兢而屈服，没有能力为基督挺身而出。

今日祷告：

天父，求祢用信心充满我，像亚伯拉罕和司提反一样。让我充满信心，无论结果如何都跟随你，因知最后的结局是与祢一起在天堂欢喜快乐；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

November 18

THE FAITH OF A FRIEND

By faith Abraham,when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,obeyed and went,even though he did not know where he was going.By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country;he lived in tents,as did Isaacs and Jacob,who were heirs with him of the same promise.For he was looking forward to the city with foundations,whose architect and builder is God.By faith Abraham,even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.Hebrews 11:8-11,NIV

Abraham walked with God and was called a friend of God(Isaiah 41:8;James 2:23).Walk with God as Noah did;when the flood came,Noah was safe.Walk with God as Moses did in the solitude of the desert;when the hour of judgment fell upon Egypt,Moses was prepared to lead his people to victory.Walk with God as David did as a shepherd boy;when he was called to rule his people he was prepared for the task of kingship.Daniel and his three young friends walked with God in Babylon,and when trouble came,God was beside them-whether it was in the lions’den or in the fiery furnace.

However,the Bible teaches that God does not always deliver His saints from adversity.A careful reading of Hebrews 11 shows that“others”were just as faithful as Abraham,Moses,Daniel,or David;they,too,walked with God-but they perished.God has not promised to deliver us from trouble,but He has promised to go with us through the trouble.

Stephen was a young man“full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”.They stoned him to death,but his was a triumphal entry into heaven.If you are not strengthening the inner man now by daily walking with God,when a crisis comes you will quake with fear and give in,having no strength to stand up for Christ.

Pray for the Day:

Father,fill me with faith,like Abraham and like Stephen.Fill me with faith to follow You regardless of the outcome,knowing that the final outcome will be rejoicing in heaven with You;in Jesus’Name,Amen.