THE CENTRAL ADVANCE
《中部推进》
1903年2月25日
1、服务的能力
我们这班人已经领受了大光。主把亮光托付给我们是为了世人的利益和福祉。和解的工作交托给了我们。我们要靠着从上头来的能力恳劝人与上帝和好。我们受鼓励为成功而祈祷。上帝向我们保证：我们的祈祷必蒙垂听。“我又告诉你们，若是你们中间有两个人在地上，同心合意地求什么事，我在天上的父，必为他们成全。因为无论在那里，有两三个人奉我的名聚集，那里就有我在他们中间”(太18：19、20)。“你们无论求什么，我必成就“(约14：14)。{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 1}
实现这个应许的条件是上帝的子民同心祷告。对这些祷告的回应可能比回应个人的祷告更有能力。所给的能力将与信徒的团结和他们对上帝的爱以及彼此的爱成比例。{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 2}
没有人是为自己而活的。在上帝的工作中，每个人都有自己的职责。所有人的团结加强了每个人的工作。随着教会信心、团结和爱心的增长，他们的影响范围也扩大了。他们将不断地达到这种影响的极限，不断地扩展十字架的胜利。{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 3}
上帝呼召我们打破我们精密的室内服事的束缚。福音的信息要传给世人。我们要号召大家团结在十字架的旗帜下。当这工作完成的时候，当我们带着神圣的热情努力去争取人皈依真理的时候，上帝就会大大的祝福我们的努力。信徒的合一将见证真理的大能，使不同性情的人完全和睦，并使他们的利益合而为一。{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 4}
上帝子民的祈祷和奉献将与真诚、自我牺牲的努力结合起来。人们将会重新悔改。那只曾经伸出来要求用更高的工资来补偿的手，将会变成上帝的援助之手。信徒们将因为一个共同的兴趣而团结在一起，那就是建立真理的中心，在那里上帝将得到尊崇。基督要用团结和爱心的圣洁纽带把他们结合在一起。这重结合具有不可抗拒的能力。{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 5}
正是为了这种团结，耶稣在受审之前，站在离宝座只有一步之遥的地方祷告。耶稣说：“使他们都合而为一。正如祢父在我里面，我在祢里面，使他们也在我们里面。叫世人可以信祢差了我来”(约17：21)。{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 6}
上帝呼召祂的子民，其中有许多人是半睡半醒的。祂要他们起来认真工作，祈求服事的力量。现在需要工人。接受了圣灵，你的努力就会成功。基督的同在会带来力量。愿一切争斗和纷争止息。让爱和团结占上风。要让上帝的子民在圣灵的引导下行动。他们若全心归向祂，祂就会恢复他们因分裂而丧失的能力。 {CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 7}
怀爱伦夫人
THE CENTRAL ADVANCE
25-Feb-03
Power for Service
As a people, we have received great light. This light the Lord has entrusted to us for the benefit and blessing of the world. To us has been given the ministry of reconciliation. With power from on high we are to beseech men to be reconciled to God. We are encouraged to pray for success, and we are given the divine assurance that our prayers will be heard and “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” “Ask of Me, and I will answer your requests.”?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 1}
The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of God’s people are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 2}
No one lives to himself. In God’s work each one is assigned a post of duty. The union of all strengthens the work of each. As the faith and unity and love of the church grow stronger, their circle of influence enlarges, and ever they are to reach to the farthest limit of this influence constantly extending the triumphs of the cross.?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 3}
God calls upon us to break the bands of our precise, indoor service. The message of the gospel is to be borne to the world. We are to call upon all to rally around the banner of the cross. When this work is done as it should be, when with divine zeal we labor to add converts to the truth, God will greatly bless our efforts. The unity of the believers will bear testimony to the power of the truth that can bring into perfect harmony men of different dispositions, making their interests one.?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 4}
The prayers and offerings of God’s people will be combined with earnest, self-sacrificing effort. Men will be converted anew. The hand that once grasped for recompense in higher wages will become the helping hand of God. The believers will be united by one interest,—the desire to make centers of truth where God shall be exalted. Christ will join them together with holy bonds of union and love—bonds which have irresistible power.?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 5}
It was for this unity that Jesus prayed just before His trial, standing but a step from the throne. “That they all may be one,” He said, “as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 6}
God calls upon His people, many of whom are but half awake, to arouse, and engage in earnest labor, praying for strength for service. Workers are needed. Receive the Holy Spirit, and your efforts will be successful. Christ’s presence is what gives power. Let all strife and dissension cease. Let love and unity prevail. Let God’s people move under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If they will give themselves wholly to Him, He will restore to them the strength they have lost by division.?{CentralAdvance February 25, 1903, par. 7}
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