Equipped with Power

January 2

Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation,full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. — Acts 6:3

Scripture reading: Acts 6:1–10

During the time of the inauguration of the church, the disciples were pressured by many responsibilities. The practical things of life could not be attended to, and many were complaining concerning the neglect of their widows. Therefore, the disciples decided to choose seven men to do the work of caring for the needs of these widows—men who were “full of the Holy Spirit.” What a divine thought. No matter what kind of work was to be done, however menial it may have been, the person chosen had to be “full of the Holy Spirit.” The plan of the church was that everything, even everyday routines, must be sanctified to God, for the church had to be a Holy Spirit church. Beloved, God has never ordained anything less.

The heritage of the church is to be so equipped with power that God can lay His hand upon any member at any time to do His perfect will. There is no stopping point in the Spirit-filled life. We begin at the Cross, the place of disgrace, shame, and death, and that very death brings the power of resurrection life. Then, being filled with the Holy Spirit, we go on “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let us not forget that possessing the baptism in the Holy Spirit means that there must be an ever increasing holiness. People know when the tide is flowing; they also know when it is ebbing. How the church needs divine anointing. It needs to see God‘s presence and power so evidenced that the world will recognize it.

Thought for today: When we please God in our daily service, we will always find that everyone who is faithful in the little things, God will make ruler over much (Matthew 25:21).

配备动力

1月2日

你们中间要挑出七个有好名声、充满圣灵和智慧的人，我们可以派他们管理这事。——使徒行传 6:3

圣经阅读：使徒行传 6:1–10

在教会成立的时候，门徒们承受着许多责任的压力。生活中的实际事务无法顾及，许多人抱怨他们的寡妇被忽视。因此，门徒们决定选出七个人来处理这些寡妇的需求——这些人“充满了圣灵”。这是多么神圣的思想啊。无论要做什么样的工作，无论多么卑微，被选中的人都必须是“充满圣灵”的。教会的计划是，一切事情，甚至日常事务，都必须奉献给神，因为教会必须是一所圣灵的教会。亲爱的，神从未吩咐过低于这个标准的任何事情。

教会的遗产是要被装备得如此充满能力，以至于上帝可以随时在任何一个肢体身上施手，成就祂完美的旨意。充满圣灵的生命没有终点。我们从十字架开始，从耻辱、羞愧和死亡的地方开始，而正是这种死亡带来了复活生命的能力。然后，充满圣灵的我们，就“从荣耀到荣耀”前行（哥林多后书 3:18）。让我们不要忘记，拥有圣灵的洗意味着必须有不断增长的圣洁。人们知道潮水什么时候涨，也知道潮水什么时候退。教会是多么需要神的恩膏。它需要看到神的同在和能力显明到世人都能认识。

今日的思考：当我们在日常服侍中取悦神时，我们将总会发现，每个在小事上忠心的人，神必使他管理许多（马太福音 25:21）。