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經文：「等到抬普天下主耶和華約櫃的祭司把腳站在約但河水裡，約但河的水，就是從上往下流的水，必然斷絕，立起成壘。」（書3:12） 誰能不佩服利未人的勇敢與膽量，抬著約櫃竟踏足到還未分開的水中？神並沒有給予更多的勉勵和應許，只是等待看他們的信心成功。因為神重視信心，尤其是不憑依據的信心。想像一下當初許多百姓看見這群利未人抬著約櫃下水，他們一定著急地說：「換作是我絕不做這無謂的犧牲，冒如此大的險。可惜，他們就要和約櫃被約但河的急流沖走了！」。但是結果並非如此，「抬耶和華約櫃的祭司在約但河的乾地上站定」（書3:17）。 所以不要小看信心，因為信心能幫助神成就祂的計劃。「...來幫助耶和華」（士5:23） 信心能幫助神；能讓神封住獅子的口，使烈火失去厲害。這並不是說沒了人的信心，神就會失去全能以致無法作為。祂依然是全能，只是無法從其中得著榮耀。祂若封住了獅子口，只是叫牠餓一天罷了；祂若使烈火失去厲害，也只是宇宙中多了一件反常的事罷，不會有更多意義。神若是根據人的信心而做，才能從大利烏與尼布甲尼撒口中得到稱頌。所以是信心榮耀神，而神也重視信心。 真實的信心是有了神的應許就能滿足；它肯讓神揀選看為適合的時間完成祂自己的應許，不論那時候還需多久。如今在恩典下同作利未人的我們，請憑著沒有理由的信心抬起神的應許來。不要想我們抬的是神的棺材，這可是永活神的約櫃。就讓我們一面唱歌，一面下水罷！--Thomas Champness 勇敢的精神是使徒時代教會的特點。如果我們想為神作大事，想從神得著大使命，必須要有勇敢的信心。如果我們想向大能的神要人力所不能及的事物，讓我說：拿得多比拿得少容易；大膽站在應許上比膽怯攀住海岸也更容易。 所以請讓我們相信在神凡事都能，並且更相信在信的人凡事都能。就讓我們今天來替神作大事；相信祂的能力足以完成一切。--譯自地上的屬天生活 Days of Heaven upon Earth 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap." (Joshua 3:13). Brave Levites! Who can help admiring them, to carry the Ark right into the stream; for the waters were not divided till their feet dipped in the water (ver. 15). God had not promised aught else. God honors faith. "Obstinate faith," that the PROMISE sees and "looks to that alone." You can fancy how the people would watch these holy men march on, and some of the bystanders would be saying, "You would not catch me running that risk! Why, man, the ark will be carried away!" Not so; "the priests stood firm on dry ground." We must not overlook the fact that faith on our part helps God to carry out His plans. "Come up to the help of the Lord." The Ark had staves for the shoulders. Even the Ark did not move of itself; it was carried. When God is the architect, men are the masons and laborers. Faith assists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the violence of fire. It yet honors God, and God honors it. Oh, for this faith that will go on, leaving God to fulfill His promise when He sees fit! Fellow Levites, let us shoulder our load, and do not let us look as if we were carrying God's coffin. It is the Ark of the living God! Sing as you march towards the flood! --Thomas Champness One of the special marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of boldness. One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore. Like wise seamen in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep, and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believeth. Let us, today, attempt great things for God; take His faith and believe for them and His strength to accomplish them. --Days of Heaven upon Earth ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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