牧者心聲
聖靈大能打破隔閡
莊明偉牧師
2022 年 6 月 4 日 / 5 日
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根據使徒行傳的記載，五旬節當天聖靈降臨，聖靈第一次在眾多信徒當中施行奇事，為神在世上的工作揭開了新一頁。
約珥先知的預言提到，在末後的日子，神必將自己的靈澆灌所有的人，意思是指神的靈不單澆灌祂所揀選的以色列人，卻也包括普世屬神的子民。這末後日子的開始，應驗於五旬節聖靈降臨的一刻，而末後日子的終結，則還會發生更多約珥先知提及的神蹟奇事，直到主基督榮耀再來的日子。
聖靈施行大能，為要見證福音工作。在五旬節當天，最震撼的，莫過於那些來自各國各省、赴耶路撒冷守節的人，他們竟然聽到門徒用自己的家鄉話述說神的大作為，就是耶穌基督死而復活所成就的福音，當時的場面令他們無比驚訝！這種事自創世以來從未發生過，大家都驚詫神奇妙的作為。
聖靈這次工作的意義，在於打破了人與人之間語言不同所帶來的窒礙。洪水以後，世人仍是要建通天塔去傳揚自己的名，神便變亂了他們的口音，於是，人與人之間就一直存在著因語言不同而帶來的阻隔，不同的族群也因此而在世上建立了不同的文化，很多時候國與國、民與民之間的衝突、爭鬥，就是因身處不同文化而衍生出來的。
聖靈在五旬節的作為，正正預示了國與國、民與民之間的隔閡要被神打破。神要用各方各民的語言將大能的福音闡明，讓世上每個民族都能認識福音，沒有人會被福音拒絕在外。我們要記得在啟示錄中，敬拜真神的是來自各國、各族、各民、各方的，語言不再成為攔阻，到那時候，來自各方敬拜神的選民之間已再沒隔閡，這是啟示錄展示給我們的將來完美遠象。
既然聖靈打破了人與人之間的隔閡，那麼我們現今就要行動。我們要按著聖靈的感動和提醒，將神的愛帶到原本與我們不相干的社群、我們會忽略的族群、甚至我們所厭惡的群體中間。歷史、語言、文化種種因素雖會使我們與這些福音對象分隔，但聖靈卻也會加給我們力量，使我們能主動去關心和服事他們，不是我們自然會去做的，卻是神的心意引領著我們。
打破隔閡，就由順服聖靈的大能開始。
The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts saw the Spirit working wonders for the first time among large numbers of believers. God’s ministry on earth has turned a new page.
The Prophet Joel prophesied that in the day of the Lord, God will pour out His Spirit on all people, meaning that God will not only pour out His Spirit on Israelites, His chosen people, but also on His children across the world. The last days began at the moment when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost. More wonders and miracles mentioned by the Prophet Joel are expected towards the end of the last days until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth in glory.
Use of the Spirit's great power is to bear testimony to gospel work. On the Day of Pentecost, the most stunning thing was that people from every nation who were in Jerusalem for the festival heard their own language spoken by the disciples declaring the wonders of God, which was the gospel accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The occasion was overwhelming for them! Nothing like that has ever happened since the creation of the world. Everybody was amazed at the wondrous works of God.
The significance of the Spirit's work at that time lies in breaking the barriers imposed by different languages. After the Flood, people built the Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves. God therefore confused their tongues. Since then, people were separated by language barriers, and different peoples also developed different cultures in the world. Conflicts and strife often arise among nations and peoples due to cultural differences.
The work of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost foretold God’s removal of barriers among nations and peoples. God wanted the gospel explained in local languages of all peoples so that peoples of all nations can know the gospel, that no one would be denied access to the gospel. We need to remember that those who worship the true God as described in Revelation are from every nation, tribe, people and language. Language is no longer a hindrance. By then, no barriers will exist for chosen people from different nations who worship God. This is a perfect vision revealed to us in Revelation.
Since the Holy Spirit has broken through interpersonal barriers, we need to take action now. We need to follow the guidance and prompting of the Spirit to bring the love of God to communities originally unrelated to us, races we tend to neglect, even those we dislike. Although we are separated from those communities by historical, language and cultural factors, the Spirit will give us strength so we can take the initiative to care for and serve them. The initiative may not come naturally from us but we will be guided by God's will.
Break down the barrier. Let us start from bowing to the great power of the Holy Spirit.
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