The Spirit of God and sharing the good news today go hand in hand. Everyone struggles at some point with how to encourage, challenge or reach out to another with this good news that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. The prophets faced the same challenge: those who would not listen to God’s message, and like now, millions who reject the truth about God (Isa 53:1-6).
The struggle to share Jesus to all who have gone astray is always our reality, so what shall keep us from despair? As we continue through our restoration series going through Nehemiah, I hope we are growing our understanding of God’s perspective on things. It is too easy to view things from our human perspective when it comes to doing this great work, which God has called us to partner in with him.
Nehemiah and his team finished the wall of the City of God in fifty-two days which was a massive achievement. It would be easy for anyone who has done great things for God and his people to put their feet up, relax, take it slow and let the good times roll. Not so with Nehemiah, for God had placed something greater than just building a wall on his heart. This was only the start of something greater to come, which was welcoming the lost sheep home to a dwelling place with God himself.
Without God we are lost, our purpose is a wandering planet in a solar system without a sun to shed a source of light which gives life. In fact, God alone is the reason and motivation behind sharing the truth and therefore, the Christian is one of continual growing in the knowledge, love and trust of him. Moreover, the overflow of this is the work of the Spirit of God within us spurring, convicting and motivating our conscience and hearts to do this great work of inviting lost exiles home.
Therefore, “we” the Church together are the workers in God’s mission of inviting the lost in the communities around us. Where do start? Gathering for public assembly is a vital part which expresses the activity of God’s Spirit at work. God’s Word calls us to practice in our gatherings as a demonstration of holding fast to this hope we profess, consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, and encourage one another (Heb 10:22-25). Who is God by his Spirit encouraging you help welcome home? This is the ordinary way God is rebuilding his Kingdom. So let’s be prepared to welcome home those who are lost, to our gatherings at CPC Surry Hills.
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神的靈與分享福音息息相關。在今日的世代中，每個人或多或少都曾掙扎過，該如何鼓勵、挑戰或向他人傳講耶穌是主和救主的好消息。先知們對着那些不肯聽從神信息的人，也曾面對同樣的挑戰；如今，仍有千千萬萬人拒絕神的真理（賽53:1-6）。
傳講耶穌的掙扎是我們真實的寫照，因為我們都如羊走迷。那麼，什麼能使我們不至絕望呢？隨着我們繼續研讀尼希米記的「重建」系列，我盼望我們對神看事的角度有更深的認識。當神呼召我們與祂同工去完成一項大工程時，我們很容易會從人的角度來看待事情。
尼希米與他的團隊用了五十二天完成了重建神的城之城牆，這是一項偉大的成就。若是我們，可能會想放鬆一下、歇一歇、享受成果，並讓這美好的日子繼續下去。然而，對尼希米來說，神放在他心中的不只是建牆的事，那只是更大計劃的開始——就是迎接走迷的羊回到神的居所中與祂同住。
若沒有神，我們就會走迷，如同一顆在太陽系中沒有太陽下漂浮的恆星，失去給生命照耀的光源。然而，唯有神才是我們分享福音的原因與動力。因此，基督徒的生命是要持續在對神的認識、愛慕與信靠中成長。而這一切的流露，正是神的靈在我們裏面動工，作激勵、責備並推動我們的良心與心靈去完成這偉大的使命——就是邀請那些失喪被擄的人歸家。
因此，「我們」作為教會，正是一同參與神使命的工人，要向我們週邊社區中迷失之人發出邀請。我們從哪裡開始呢？聚集敬拜是至關重要的一步，因為這彰顯神的靈正在我們中間動工。神的話呼召我們，在聚會中實踐信仰，表明我們堅守所承認的指望，彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善（來10:22-25）。那麼，神正藉着祂的靈感動你去邀請誰回家呢？這就是神正在重建祂國度的日常方式。因此，讓我們預備好，去迎接那些失喪的人，回到莎莉山我們教會家的聚會中。
Rev. Adam Breasley
