0817 – Peace with Church Leaders and the Governing Authorities 与教会领袖及管理当局保持和平

Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

There will be opportunities for us to disagree with the church leaders or the Pastor when we are in a church. God has placed spiritual leaders in church to lead, pastor and manage the sheep. There is a need for submission when we disagree with the strategy and direction because submission is only required if we have differences. There will be no peace in the relationship if we allow strife to develop in the body of Christ. We need to bear in mind that the message of the gospel is sacred. The strategy, methods of outreach, the development and how the church should be governed can vary. In order to pursue peace in the body of Christ, we need to walk in the Spirit to love, be real and upfront in our communication and refuse to allow the devil to divide and conquer. Spiritual maturity is not by how eloquent, knowledgeable, capable or anointed we are with the spiritual gifts but is based on how much fruit of the Holy Spirit we exhibit in our lives like love, joy and peace towards God and people.

Romans 13:1-3 (NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil….. Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

God has placed and appointed governing authorities in every country so that there will be peace in the country. Every country will have its own set of law to govern the land and it will be distinctive to the country. There is no perfect country because we live in a broken world. Christians are taught to be good citizens in every country that we reside. It is difficult to preach the gospel when there is chaos in the country. We are able to preach the gospel effectively when there is peace in the land. Therefore, Christians are not to stir up civil unrest but to advocate and pray for peace in the country so that they will be able to meet as a congregation and to preach the gospel freely. The believers are supposed to be known as peace makers and a blessing in the society.

God has given the kind of peace that the world cannot offer. It is a kind of peace, calm and tranquil in our hearts that will help us to weather through life challenges. It will also enable us to pursue peace with the people whom He has placed us with in society.

Sermon Series: Peace – Fruit of the Holy Spirit


与教会领袖及管理当局保持和平

希伯来书13:17 你们要依从那些引导你们的,且要顺服;因为他们为你们的灵魂时刻警醒,好像那将来交帐的人。你们要使他们交的时候有快乐,不至忧愁;若忧愁就与你们无益了。

在教会里,我们难免会有与教会领袖或牧师意见不合的时候。神在教会中设立属灵领袖来引导,牧养和管理羊群。当我们不认同发展战略和方向时,我们当选择顺服,因为唯有当分歧出现时我们才被要求顺服。就无法结出圣灵平安的果子。我们要知道神的话语是神圣的。如果我们一任纷争出现在基督的肢体之内,彼此之间就会失去平安。我们要牢记福音的信息是神圣的。教会的发展战略,外展的模式,以及教会如何治理等等都会有诸般的不同。为了寻求基督肢体之间的和平,我们要在圣灵里行,彼此相爱、诚挚坦率地沟通,绝不容魔鬼乘隙制造分裂和攻克。属灵的成熟不是凭口才、知识、和才干,或是属灵的恩赐蒙了圣灵多少的膏抹,而是基于我们在生命中对神和人显露出多少圣灵的果子如:仁爱、喜乐以及和平。

罗马书13:1-3 在上有权柄的,人人当顺服他,因为没有权柄不是出于神的。凡掌权的都是神所命的。所以,抗拒掌权的就是抗拒神的命;抗拒的必自取刑法。

神在每个国家都设立并任命了治理机构,让这个国家得平安。每个国家都有各自的一套法律来治理那一方水土,各具特色。世界上不存在完美的国家,因为我们生活的世界本就残缺。基督徒无论住在哪个国家,都被教导要作个好公民。当一个国家发生动乱时宣扬福音并非易事。只有在那个地方天下太平之时我们才能有效的传扬福音。因此,基督徒不应挑起内乱,而要拥护并为那国的和平祷告,好叫那国的人聚合为众,然后自由地宣讲福音。信徒本就应该作和平的使者,成为社会的祝福。

神已经赐下世界所不能给予的平安。这种内心的平安、安静和安宁会帮助我们安然度过生命中的重重挑战。这也使我们能够与神所安置在我们周遭的人寻求和平。

讲章系列:和平 (平安)– 圣灵所结的果子