Author: Billy Conrad

July 23

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul. — Acts 19:11

Scripture reading: Matthew 16:24–27; Luke 14:27–35

Paul had been putting many believers in prison, but God brought him to such a place of yieldedness and brokenness that he cried out, “What do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Paul‘s choice was to be a bondservant for Jesus Christ.

Beloved, are you willing for God to have His way today? God said about Paul, “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name‟s sake” (Acts 9:16). But Paul saw that these things were working out “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Do you need a touch from God? Are you willing to follow Him? Will you obey Him?

When the Prodigal Son had returned and the father had killed the fatted calf and made a feast for him, the elder brother was angry and said, “You never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends” (Luke 15:29). But the father said to him, “All that I have is yours” (v. 31). He could kill a fatted calf at any time. When God can trust us, we will not come short in anything.

“God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul.” Let us notice the handkerchiefs that went from his body. This passage indicates that when Paul touched handkerchiefs and sent them forth, God worked special miracles through them: diseases departed from the sick, and evil spirits went out of them. Isn‘t this lovely? I believe that after we lay hands on these handkerchiefs and pray over them, they should be handled very sacredly. Even as we carry them, they will bring life, if we carry them in faith to the suffering ones. The very effect, if you would only believe, would be to change your own body as you carry the handkerchief.

God wants to change our faith today. He wants us to see that it is not obtained by struggling and working and longing. “The Father Himself loves you” (John 16:27). “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17). “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Who is the man who will take the place of Paul and yield and yield and yield until God possesses him in such a way that power will flow from his body to the sick and suffering? It will have to be the power of Christ that flows. Don‘t think there is some magic power in the handkerchief, or you will miss the power. It is the living faith within the man who lays the handkerchief on his body, and the power of God through that faith. Praise God, we may lay hold of this living faith today. The blood has never lost its power. As we get in touch with Jesus, wonderful things will take place. And what else? We will get nearer and nearer to Him.

Thought for today: Ministry always begins as soon as a person yields.

7月23日

如今，神借保罗的手行了非凡的奇迹。——使徒行传 19:11

经文阅读：马太福音16:24–27；路加福音14:27–35

保罗曾经抓捕许多信徒入狱，但神让他来到一个完全顺服和破碎的状态，以至于他呼喊说：“主啊，你要我做什么？”（使徒行传 9:6）。保罗选择成为耶稣基督的奴仆。

亲爱的，你今天愿意让上帝按祂的方式行事吗？上帝对保罗说过：“我必指示他，为我的名必须受许多苦难”（使徒行传 9:16）。但保罗看到，这些苦难正在成就“极重无比、永远的荣耀”（哥林多后书 4:17）。你需要上帝的触碰吗？你愿意跟随祂吗？你会顺服祂吗？

浪子回来的时候，父亲宰了肥牛犊为他摆设筵席，他的哥哥就生气，说：“你从来没有给我一只小山羊，好让我和朋友们欢乐一番”（路加福音 15:29）。但父亲对他说：“我所有的都是你的”（31节）。他随时都可以宰肥牛犊。当上帝信任我们的时候，我们在任何事情上都不会缺少。

“上帝通过保罗的手行了奇特的奇迹。”让我们注意那些从他身上拿下来的手帕。这段经文表明，当保罗触摸手帕并把它们送出去时，上帝通过它们行了特殊的奇迹：病人的疾病离开了他们，邪灵也离开了他们。是不是很美好呢？我相信，在我们按手在这些手帕上并为它们祈祷之后，它们应该被非常神圣地对待。即使是在携带它们的时候，只要我们带着信心把它们带给受苦的人，它们也会带来生命。如果你相信，这种效果甚至会在你携带手帕时改变你自己的身体。

上帝今天想改变我们的信心。他希望我们明白，信心不是通过挣扎、努力或渴望来获得的。“父自己爱你们”（约翰福音 16:27）。“他亲自担当我们的软弱，背负我们的疾病”（马太福音 8:17）。“凡劳苦担重担的人可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息”（马太福音 11:28）。谁能像保罗那样，不断顺服、不断屈服，直到被神完全掌控，以至于从他身体里流出的力量能医治病人和受苦的人呢？那必须是基督的力量在流动。不要以为手帕里有神奇的力量，否则你就会错过真正的力量。真正的力量是在把手帕放在自己身上的人的活泼信心里，以及通过这信心流出的神的能力。赞美神，我们今天就能抓住这种活泼的信心。宝血从未失去它的能力。当我们与耶稣接触时，奇妙的事情将发生。还有什么呢？我们会越来越接近祂。

今日思考：事工总是在一个人顺从时开始。