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「30弟兄們，我藉著我們主耶穌基督，又藉著聖靈的愛，勸你們與我一同竭力，為我祈求神，31叫我脫離在猶太不順從的人，也叫我為耶路撒冷所辦的捐項可蒙聖徒悅納，32並叫我順著神的旨意，歡歡喜喜地到你們那裏，與你們同得安息。」(羅15:30 – 32)

頌主堂第38屆差傳年會的主題是：「與宣教士聯繫」，選讀的經文是上述保羅致羅馬教會書的一個代禱要求。在這個要求中，保羅教導了我們有關禱告和宣教的重要關係。

首先，保羅勸勉信徒與他一同竭力，為他代求 (15:30)。保羅絕對相信和依仗禱告，即使偉大如他，仍需要仰賴禱告，不單是他自己的祈禱，也包括眾信徒的代禱。宣教士很需要我們的代禱支持，他們的家書也清楚把代禱的事項列明。我們只需細心閱讀並禱告，我們便是和宣教士並肩作工了。保羅當時給羅馬教會的代禱事項也十分具體，因為他要把各教會為耶路撒冷大饑荒的募款，平安地送到耶路撒冷當中 (15:31；參徒11:27-30)。一直對外邦基督徒有意見的耶路撒冷教會，保羅擔心他們會拒絕外邦人的捐款，因為猶太人一直視外邦人為不潔淨的。另外，極端的猶太人甚至多次想殺害保羅，因此保羅的代禱是叫他在行程中能脫離在猶太不順從的人。今天在創啟地區 (即極權或伊斯蘭國家) 仍然有殺害宣教士和基督徒的舉動，為宣教士和教會的平安禱告是一樣的逼切和重要。

保羅第二個代禱需要是，叫他順著神的旨意，歡歡喜喜地到羅馬那裏，與教會同得安息 (15:32)。辦妥給耶路撒冷捐款的事之後，保羅計劃前往羅馬，與教會分享他的西班牙宣教異象，並希望羅馬教會支持他的西班牙宣教 (15:22-29)。宣教既是神的心意，為什麼保羅仍要求為他能順著神的旨意禱告呢? 因為宣教和具體的宣教地點和方式是有分別的。神要我們向普世有需要的地方宣教，但需要是由神定義和定奪，而非我們。固此保羅懇請信徒為他的西班牙宣教計劃和羅馬行程代禱，若計劃和行程不是出於神的旨意，保羅便需要神進一步清楚的帶領，好像馬其頓的異象一樣 (徒16:6-10)。結果我們也知道，保羅的西班牙宣教計劃並沒有成功開展，保羅也不是以自由人 (囚犯) 的身份去到羅馬。不過最終，神仍聽禱告，讓保羅有兩年的時間與羅馬信徒交通分享 (徒28:11-31)。

最重要有關宣教和禱告的，是我們 (宣教士和教會) 倚靠耶穌基督和聖靈 (15:30)，人是沒有可誇的。我們要常被基督的愛激勵，帶著聖靈的能力，我們才有關心宣教士和參與宣教的能力和行動。「與宣教士聯繫」，首先是認識他們、關心他們。繼而是聯繫他們，為他們代禱，前往工場 (溫哥華、卑詩省、蒙特利爾、中東…) 探訪及支持他們。

除了奉獻、禱告，你的下一步行動是什麼？如果你有感動參與，歡迎與差傳部或我聯絡 stephen.woo@bethelmb.org 。

胡志雄牧師

 

"30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed." (Rom 15:30-32)"

The theme of the 38th Mission Conference of Bethel is: "Caring & connecting with Christ’s Ambassador." The selected scripture reading is Paul's prayer requests from his letter to the Church of Rome. In this request, Paul teaches us about the important relationship between prayer and mission.

First, Paul encourages believers to join him in prayer (15:30). Paul absolutely believes and relies on prayer; even someone as great as him still needs prayer — not only his own prayers but also the intercessions of all believers. Missionaries greatly need our prayer support, and their prayer letters clearly list the items of intercession. We only need to read carefully and pray, and we will be working side by side with missionaries. Paul's intercessory prayer at that time was also very specific, because he wanted to safely deliver the funds raised by the churches for the Jerusalem famine into Jerusalem (15:31; cf. Acts 11:27-30). As the Jerusalem church opposing Gentile Christians, Paul worried they would reject donations from Gentiles, since Jews had always regarded Gentiles as unclean. Additionally, extreme Jews even repeatedly wanted to kill Paul, so Paul's intercession was to help him escape from those who disobeyed in Judea during his journey. Today, in the creative access regions (i.e., authoritarian or Islamic countries), there are still acts of killing missionaries and Christians, and prayers for the safety of missionaries and churches are equally urgent and important.

Paul's second intercessory prayer was for him to joyfully go to Rome according to God's will and in their company be refreshed (15:32). After handling the Jerusalem’s matter, Paul planned to go to Rome to share his vision of Spanish missions with the church in Rome and hoped the church would support his mission in Spain (15:22-29). Since missions are God's will, why did Paul still demand that he go according to God's will? Because missions and specific locations and methods of missions are different. God wants us to send missions to places where the world is needed, and that needs are defined and decided by God, not by us. Therefore, Paul earnestly asked believers to pray for his missionary plan in Spain and his Rome journey. If the plan and itinerary were not according to God's will, Paul needed further clear guidance from God, just like thebvision of Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). As a result, we also know that Paul's missionary plan in Spain failed, and he did not go to Rome as a free man but a prisoner. However, in the end, God still listened to prayer, giving Paul two years to communicate and share with the believers in Rome (Acts 28:11-31).

The most important thing about mission and prayer is that we (missionaries and the church) rely on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (15:30); man is nothing to boast about. We must be constantly inspired by Christ's love and carry the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can care for missionaries and participate in missions through their ability and actions. "Connecting with missionaries" starts with getting to know them and caring for them. Then we reach out to them, pray for them, visit the field (Vancouver, BC inland, Montreal, Middle East…), and support them.

Besides offering and praying, what is your next step? If you are moved by the Spirit, feel free to contact the Missions Department or me at stephen.woo@bethelmb.org.

Rev. Woo

 

「30弟兄们，我借着我们主耶稣基督，又借着圣灵的爱，劝你们与我一同竭力，为我祈求神，31叫我脱离在犹太不顺从的人，也叫我为耶路撒冷所办的捐项可蒙圣徒悦纳，32并叫我顺着神的旨意，欢欢喜喜地到你们那里，与你们同得安息。」(罗15:30 – 32)

颂主堂第38届差传年会的主题是：「与宣教士联系」，选读的经文是上述保罗致罗马教会书的一个代祷要求。在这个要求中，保罗教导了我们有关祷告和宣教的重要关系。

首先，保罗劝勉信徒与他一同竭力，为他代求 (15:30)。保罗绝对相信和依仗祷告，即使伟大如他，仍需要仰赖祷告，不单是他自己的祈祷，也包括众信徒的代祷。宣教士很需要我们的代祷支持，他们的家书也清楚把代祷的事项列明。我们只需细心阅读并祷告，我们便是和宣教士并肩作工了。保罗当时给罗马教会的代祷事项也十分具体，因为他要把各教会为耶路撒冷大饥荒的募款，平安地送到耶路撒冷当中 (15:31；参徒11:27-30)。一直对外邦基督徒有意见的耶路撒冷教会，保罗担心他们会拒绝外邦人的捐款，因为犹太人一直视外邦人为不洁净的。另外，极端的犹太人甚至多次想杀害保罗，因此保罗的代祷是叫他在行程中能脱离在犹太不顺从的人。今天在创启地区 (即极权或伊斯兰国家) 仍然有杀害宣教士和基督徒的举动，为宣教士和教会的平安祷告是一样的逼切和重要。

保罗第二个代祷需要是，叫他顺着神的旨意，欢欢喜喜地到罗马那里，与教会同得安息 (15:32)。办妥给耶路撒冷捐款的事之后，保罗计划前往罗马，与教会分享他的西班牙宣教异象，并希望罗马教会支持他的西班牙宣教 (15:22-29)。宣教既是神的心意，为什么保罗仍要求为他能顺着神的旨意祷告呢? 因为宣教和具体的宣教地点和方式是有分别的。神要我们向普世有需要的地方宣教，但需要是由神定义和定夺，而非我们。固此保罗恳请信徒为他的西班牙宣教计划和罗马行程代祷，若计划和行程不是出于神的旨意，保罗便需要神进一步清楚的带领，好像马其顿的异象一样 (徒16:6-10)。结果我们也知道，保罗的西班牙宣教计划并没有成功开展，保罗也不是以自由人 (囚犯) 的身份去到罗马。不过最终，神仍听祷告，让保罗有两年的时间与罗马信徒交通分享 (徒28:11-31)。

最重要有关宣教和祷告的，是我们 (宣教士和教会) 倚靠耶稣基督和圣灵 (15:30)，人是没有可夸的。我们要常被基督的爱激励，带着圣灵的能力，我们才有关心宣教士和参与宣教的能力和行动。 「与宣教士联系」，首先是认识他们、关心他们。继而是联系他们，为他们代祷，前往工场 (温哥华、卑诗省、蒙特利尔、中东…) 探访及支持他们。

除了奉献、祷告，你的下一步行动是什么？如果你有感动参与，欢迎与差传部或我联络 stephen.woo@bethelmb.org 。

胡志雄牧师