Daily Devotion - Apr 20 - ¥q¥?‾u‥C?eAF-×(c]) Evening by Evening

司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening 四月二十日 經文: 為耶和華爭戰。（撒母耳記上十八：17） 上帝的選民在世上仍要不斷地爭戰，而耶穌基督是他們救恩的元帥。祂說：「我常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」（太二十八：20）請聽戰爭的吶喊！願上帝的百姓堅守崗位，沒有膽怯驚慌。戰爭確實是於我們不利的。若不是主耶穌舉起祂的寶劍，我們不知道教會將有何等結果，但是讓我們鼓起勇氣。在今日，基督教的憂慮甚於任何時刻，有一股兇猛的勢力將敵基督擁上牠的權力王座上。我們需要大膽的聲音和強勁的手去傳揚並宣告那古老的福音。為那福音，有多少殉道者流出鮮血，多少神職人員為之捨命。救主藉祂的聖靈，今日仍活在地上。祂在爭戰之中，因此，戰爭的結局是肯定的。當戰爭如火如茶地進行時，主耶穌在祂的職責上作我們偉大的代禱者，為祂的百姓懇求！不要過份注意下面所進行的爭戰，因為在該處，你會被煙霧所包圍，被沾染血漬的外衣所淹沒。舉目注視你救主活著和祈求的地方。只要祂在代禱，上帝的百姓便完全無慮。讓我們視自己為這場戰爭的關鍵人物，但是卻讓我們仰望祂，且明瞭一切皆操在祂的手中。藉著如百合花般的基督徒之純潔，如玻瑰般的救主之寶血，你這耶穌所愛的，必會在這場聖戰中勇敢爭戰。為上帝的國度，並為你主的冠冕去爭戰吧。「因為勝敗不在乎你們，乃在乎上帝。」（代下二十：15 ） Evening, April 20 Scripture: "Fight the Lord's battles."(1 Samuel 18:17) The sacramental host of God's elect is warring still on earth, Jesus Christ being the Captain of their salvation. He has said, "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Hark to the shouts of war! Now let the people of God stand fast in their ranks, and let no man's heart fail him. It is true that just now in England the battle is turned against us, and unless the Lord Jesus shall lift his sword, we know not what may become of the church of God in this land; but let us be of good courage, and play the man. There never was a day when Protestantism seemed to tremble more in the scales than now that a fierce effort is making to restore the Romish antichrist to his ancient seat. We greatly want a bold voice and a strong hand to preach and publish the old gospel for which martyrs bled and confessors died. The Saviour is, by his Spirit, still on earth; let this cheer us. He is ever in the midst of the fight, and therefore the battle is not doubtful. And as the conflict rages, what a sweet satisfaction it is to know that the Lord Jesus, in his office as our great Intercessor, is prevalently pleading for his people! O anxious gazer, look not so much at the battle below, for there thou shalt be enshrouded in smoke, and amazed with garments rolled in blood; but lift thine eyes yonder where the Saviour lives and pleads, for while he intercedes, the cause of God is safe. Let us fight as if it all depended upon us, but let us look up and know that all depends upon him. Now, by the lilies of Christian purity, and by the roses of the Saviour's atonement, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, we charge you who are lovers of Jesus, to do valiantly in the Holy War, for truth and righteousness, for the kingdom and crown jewels of your Master. Onward! "for the battle is not yours but God's." www.glorypress.com