預備時候-之42 (雷克喬納)
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預備時候-之42 (雷克喬納)
倘若你正在閱讀此文章，你可能是一位受過教育、有影響力的專業人士，這是每週一話讀者群和那些參與我們特會與教會者的概況。我並沒有選擇這樣的讀者群，但我為此感到高興，一直到幾年前我才知道這件事，所以我從來沒有讓自己的信息迎合特定的團體，不過是提出我感覺聖靈所強調的事。即便如此，知道讀者群的概況確實有助益。
當然，耶穌是卓越的教師。祂所使用的一個基本策略就是從當下的環境中教導。祂沒有對井邊的婦人談到重生，而是談到當時她心中關切的─水。耶穌的教導全然適用於當下的情況。這不僅使祂的教導令人信服、引人興趣，更使人難以忘記，因此很有效用。這是何以我開始把每週一話與時事放在一起的一個原因，我的目標是將人心思中的重大議題與聖經原則放在一起，好讓我們有神的光行在其中。
我們不能單是將我們的教導與環境或景況綁在一起，我們必須瞭解並對我們的讀者群說話。要有效率，我不能只為我想要寫的對象而寫，乃是要為那些真正會讀我寫的東西之人。許多人為了吸引大部分的人，試圖以五到八年級的閱讀程度寫文章。然而，我並不嘗試吸引大部分的人，而是那些我蒙召向他們說話的人。
每週一話約有一半的讀者並非來自美國，許多我們國家的議題可能與他們毫無關係，我嘗試以這樣的形式來呈現國際議題，就算是國內事物，也可能會有國際性的影響。也有一些閱讀每週一話的政治家、商業領袖與教育家來到我們的教會與特會，這即是何以我們被稱為『會思考的先知』。
我們若是先知也是思考者，這對許多人而言可能很矛盾，卻合乎聖經慣例，也是美國政治與屬靈傳承者的特質。約拿單.愛德華茲（Jonathan Edwards）是美國第一次屬靈大覺醒的重要領袖之一，現在仍被視為美國最有才智的人之一。約翰.衛斯理（John Wesley）、喬治.懷特菲（George Whitefield）和大覺醒的其他領袖都是那時代智力前百分之一的人。第二次大覺醒的芬尼也是非常有才智的人；聖經中的先知都是這樣的人，只有少數的例外。
我們嘗試更深入探討時事，我們深知這並非適合每一個人的需要，卻受到特定團體的欣賞，因而成為我們的讀者群。然而，我也知道閱讀每週一話的人都是非常忙碌的人，所以我不用繁瑣的文字浪費他們的時間。
我為什麼要說這些話？因為我知道我的讀者群要不是高影響力的人，就是將要成為這樣的人。再一次，我們若知道我們對何種對象說話，影響力會更大。我們應該讓我們的信息適合讀者群，而不是讓讀者群來適應我們的信息。這是主耶穌在啟示錄第一章提到七個教會時所做的事；這七個教會存在同一時期、同一地區，但他們都需要不同的信息。要有效率，我們必須分辨我們的讀者群，那時他們的心在想什麼，並使用其來傳揚福音，就連新約書信都這樣做。
擁有高影響力的人，不會單專注在他們自己身上，或他們想要談的事情，他們更專注在時候、目前的景況與那些聽他們說話的人。這其實並不複雜，只要盡一點力來識別我們的聽眾群，出於關心者的努力使人們更樂意付出。在高成功與低成功人之間的不同，只在於百分之一到二更多的努力。非常成功的人擁有更高層級的努力，只要在多一點努力就會使我們與眾不同。
有許多徵兆顯示美國正在另一波大覺醒的開始，許多正在讀此文章的人，將會成為這波大覺醒的新領袖，我們的國家、政府、商業、教育、藝術、媒體、軍事與教會等，都將協助引導我們進入新的一天。當然我們同時也在災難與艱困時期，但就在困難當中，一條引導進入神國度的大道正在被建造。你在這裡是為了協助建造這條大道，盡可能使更多人走在其中。
特別更新 :
我們剛收到來自內華達州雷諾市河石教會（River Rock Christian Fellowship），艾立克與溫蒂蒙恩牧師夫婦（Eric and Wendi Moen）的最新來信，泰班利（Todd Bentley）與晨星領導階層同工在那裡舉辦特會，這是泰班利進到重建期第二階段後首次在外公開服事，實在是令人興奮的消息。
泰班利第一件使我注意的事就是他真的非常謙卑，不是『宗教式』的謙卑，而是由心發出的。第一天他和潔莎與我共進午餐，他們真的發自內心與我分享。接下來，他們花了兩小時在我們的招待所會見當地的牧者。我們全聚集在廚房餐桌旁邊，有著美好的服事與交通。
星期四晚上當泰班利站在台上，那是北內華達州歷史上大有能力的時刻。泰班利提到這是從2008年8月8日開始重建過程後，首次公開在外服事，他也提到他在這裡的最後一天將會是2010年10月10日。
泰班利向我們承認他過去所犯的罪，並不拐彎抹角，接著他請求我們饒恕他，完全沒有推卸責任之意。當他與我們分享時，下面幾點令我印象深刻。
1. 他談到雷諾市是座落在山上的城，是世上的光。
2. 他談到當看見神蹟奇事臨到時，神同在與敬畏神的重要性。
3. 他說他沒有預期會看見此，但現在他感到雷諾市將成為神大能運行之地。自從佛羅里達州湖地市（Lakeland）大復興以來，他只有在這裡看見相同的屬靈建造。
倘若你無法參與在雷諾市的特會，還有一些泰班利特會資訊與報名，請點入www.freshfireusa.com。
(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 42, 2010)
Prepared for the Times, Part 42
Week 42, 2010
If you are reading this, you are likely an educated, high-impact professional, which is the profile of the people who tend to read this Word for the Week, as well as attend our conferences and churches. I did not choose this profile for our audience, but I’m happy with it. I did not know this until a few years ago, and had never fashioned my message to fit any particular group, but have mostly addressed what I felt the emphasis of the Spirit was on. Even so, knowing this profile does help.
Of course, Jesus is the preeminent Teacher. One of the basic tactics He used to teach from was current circumstances. He did not talk to the woman at the well about being born again, but about what was on her mind at that time—water. The teachings of Jesus perfectly fit the present situation. This not only made His teachings compelling and interesting, but memorable, and therefore effective. This is one reason why I have begun to tie these Words for the Week to current events. My goal is to tie major issues on people’s minds to biblical principles so that we will have light to walk in them.
We cannot just tie our teachings to circumstances or situations; we must understand and speak to our audience as well. To be effective, I cannot just write for who I would like to address, but to those who are actually reading what I write. Many will try to write on a fifth to eighth grade level in order to capture the largest number of people. However, I’m not trying to capture the largest number, but rather the ones I’m called to speak to.
About half of my readers are not from the U.S., and many of our national issues may not be relevant to them. I try to keep subjects that are international issues on that format, or if they are domestic matters, those which are likely to have an international impact. Also a number of high profile politicians, business leaders, and educators who read this are the primary ones who come to our churches and conferences. This is why we have been called “thinking prophets.”
If we are prophets and thinkers too, this may be a contradiction to many, but it is the biblical precedent and the characteristic of those who set the political and spiritual genetic code of America. Jonathan Edwards, one of the significant leaders of the First Great Awakening in America, is still considered one of the greatest intellects ever produced by America. John Wesley, George Whitefield, and the other leaders of the Awakening were all likely in the top 1 percent of the intellects of their times. The primary leader of The Second Great Awakening, Charles Finney, was also a brilliant intellect. The same is true of the biblical prophets with but a few exceptions.
This being the case, we try to go deeper into the discussion of current events than we would otherwise. We well realize that this is not for everyone but seems to be appreciated with the particular group we have drawn as an audience. However, I also know that the profile of the people who read these Words for the Week make them very busy people, so I try not to waste their time with wasted words. Of course, I would not want to do that with anyone, but if you do this often to a busy people, you will lose them for good.
Why am I saying all of this? Because I know I’m speaking to people who are either high-impact people or likely will be. Again, the impact will be much greater if we know who we are speaking to. We should be shaping our messages to our audience rather than trying to shape our audience to our message. This is what the Lord did when He addressed the Seven Churches in the first chapters of the Book of Revelation. These churches all existed at the same time, and were in the same general region, but they all needed a different message. To be effective, we must discern our audience, what is on their hearts and minds at that time, and use it to preach the kingdom. Even the New Testament letters do this.
The people who have a high-impact, whose message is heard, are not just focused on themselves, or what they want to talk about, but on the times, the present situations, and the people who are listening to them. It’s not complicated, but it does take a little more effort to discern our audience, an effort with those who care are more than willing to give. Often, the difference between highly successful people and the less successful is just 1 or 2 percent more effort. With the mega successful, there is a higher level of effort, but giving just a little more will separate us from the pack.
There are very real signs of the beginning of another Great Awakening in America. Many who are reading this will be a new breed of leaders in this Awakening, our nation, government, business, education, the arts, media, the military, and the church, and are going to help lead us to a new day. Certainly we are in times of tribulation and trouble, but through the midst of it, a highway is being built that leads to the kingdom. You’re here to help build that highway and to get as many people on it as possible.
SPECIAL UPDATE:
We just received this update from Pastors Eric and Wendi Moen of River Rock Christian Fellowship in Reno, NV where Todd Bentley, along with MorningStar Leadership Staff, held the first meetings with Todd since his phase two restoration release into public ministry at our recent HarvestFest Conference and Festival, and it is very exciting news.
The first thing that I noticed about Todd Bentley is how truly humble he is. Not that "religious" humble, but something that comes from the heart. He and Jessa had lunch with me the first day and really shared from their hearts. Later, Todd and Jessa took two hours of their time to meet with local pastors in our hospitality suite. We were all just gathered around the "kitchen table" having a wonderful time of ministry and fellowship.
When Todd got on stage Thursday night, it was a powerful moment of historic significance for Northern Nevada. Todd noted that this was the first time that he had been in ministry outside of his initial restoration process since 08/08/08. He also noted that his final day here would be 10/10/10.
Todd confessed his past sins to all of us without beating around the bush. Then he asked us all to forgive him. He made no attempt to shift blame in any way. As he shared with us, these were that points that stuck out to me.
1. He talked about Reno being a city on a hill. A light to the world.
2. He talked about the importance of the presence of God and the fear of God in seeing signs, wonders, and miracles come.
3. He said that he did not expect to see this but he now feels that Reno will be a place where God moves in a very powerful way. He has only seen this spiritual set up one other time since Lakeland.
If you were not available to attend these meetings in Reno, we would like to extend the invitation for you to join Todd and myself in Virginia Beach, VA for the “Healing and Kingdom Tour” being held at the Founders Inn October 21 at 7:00 p.m. and October 22-23 at both 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Also, dates are confirmed for the “Healing and Kingdom Tour” with Todd Bentley and Jason Hooper in Cincinnati, Ohio from November 3-6. For more information and to register visitwww.freshfireusa.com. We hope to see you there.
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