On June 8, Pastor Bai Yu'e shared the sixth in an online series on the revival of the church. She discussed the fourth principle for the revival of the church.
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:40-42)
1. Learn the truth
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2: 19-20)
The church was not built on modern concepts, but on the teachings of the prophets in the Old Testament and apostles in the New Testament. What we need to learn are not earthly laws and morals, but the constitution of Heaven.
Every time we come to the church it is to listen to His teachings and do the right things according to His truth. This was the same as the apostles’ teaching, and so we should continue to teach other Christians. The most important thing about the spiritual life in the church was to teach people with the truth.
2. Practice love
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:1-5)
Many people today, including Christians, put on a mask to please others and maintain a good image. However, selfish ambition or vain conceit brings strife. The church emphasizes spiritual unity, requires believers to love each other and have the same mind and purpose. We should work together to care about the problems of others just as if they were our problems. Taking Christ as our example and putting the affairs of others above our own leads to unity. Don’t care too much about your own image or cater to your own needs because this hinders the unity of God’s family. Relationships between believers are dependent on love and helping and supporting each other.
3. Remember the Lord's grace
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)
We remember the Lord through Communion. The Lord Jesus ate the Passover feast with his disciples before the crucifixion, also known as the Last Supper. This Last Supper gave a new meaning to Passover and a sacrament to be practiced by the church. Celebrating Communion helps believers to remember the redemption on the cross, not only to remember the death of the Lord but to lead believers to look forward to the return of the Lord.
Church life in the past included listening, serving, worshipping God, sharing with each other, preaching and showing love. The church should emphasize the above things, and effectively and balancedly promote the development of them in different activities. In this way, the church can grow in a healthy manner.
4. Ask God to help us learn how to pray
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:3-4)
Prayer is like spiritual breathing, and also the source of spiritual wisdom and power. Only those who really know God will value prayer. Only by letting the Holy Spirit lead us can the work be carried out effectively and successfully. Today, many Christians pray in unity, and then missionaries can preach with success and expand God’ Kingdom.
- Translated by Elaina Wu
白玉娥牧师谈教会复兴（六）
6月8日，白玉娥牧师在线上分享了教会复兴的第六篇。讲述了教会复兴的第四个原则，过教会美好生活。
彼得还用许多话作见证，劝勉他们说：“你们当救自己脱离这弯曲的世代。”于是领受他话的人就受了洗。那一天，门徒约添了三千人，都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接，擘饼，祈祷。(使徒行传 2:40-42 )
一、学习真理
这样，你们不再作外人和客旅，是与圣徒同国，是 神家里的人了；并且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶稣自己为房角石，(以弗所书 2:19-20 )
教会并非是建造在当代的观念上，而是在旧约先知和新约使徒的教导上。我们要学习的不是地上的法律、道德，乃是天国的宪法。
我们每次到教堂来听道是来听主的教训，而且让我们在这条制胜的真道上行耶和华眼中看为正确的事。使徒们就是这样教导众人，我们也要这样教导神所拣选的儿女。因此今天在教会中的属灵生活最重要的，就是来用真理来教导人。
二、实践爱心
所以，在基督里若有什么劝勉，爱心有什么安慰，圣灵有什么交通，心中有什么慈悲怜悯，你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，使我的喜乐可以满足。凡事不可结党，不可贪图虚浮的荣耀；只要存心谦卑，各人看别人比自己强。各人不要单顾自己的事，也要顾别人的事。你们当以基督耶稣的心为心：(腓立比书 2:1-5 )
今天包括基督徒在内的许多人为取悦别人和保持好形象，而带着假面具生活。但是，结党、贪图虚浮的荣耀会带来纷争，因此教会强调灵里合一，要求信徒彼此相爱，有同一的心思和目标。我们当一起努力关心别人的问题，如同关心自己的问题。以基督为榜样，将别人的事放在自己的事之上，就能体现合一的生命。不要太计较自己的形象或迎合自己的需要，以致损害神家里彼此的感情，真正的交通就是信徒之间彼此相爱、彼此连接、彼此帮助、彼此扶持。
三、纪念主的恩典
他们吃的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝福，就擘开，递给门徒，说：“你们拿着吃，这是我的身体”；又拿起杯来，祝谢了，递给他们，说：“你们都喝这个；因为这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦。但我告诉你们，从今以后，我不再喝这葡萄汁，直到我在我父的国里同你们喝新的那日子。”(马太福音 26:26-29 )
我们借着圣餐来纪念主。主耶稣受难之前与门徒们一起吃逾越节的筵席，也称为最后的晚餐。整个过程具有了新的意义也成了日后教会沿用的圣餐礼拜。圣餐可以帮助信徒谨记十字架上的代赎。圣餐的作用并不是只停留在纪念主死的层面上，还要更进一步引领信徒仰望主的再来。
昔日的教会生活包括了听道、行道、敬拜神、彼此分享、布道及爱心的服务。教会应该强调以上的生活，并在不同的活动中有效率的、均衡的促进以上各个教会生活要素的开展，如此，教会才能健康的生长。
四、求主带领我们祷告
所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。但我们要专心以祈祷、传道为事。” 使徒行传 6:3-4
祷告就是属灵的呼吸，更是属灵智慧力量权柄的来源。只有真正认识神的人才重视祷告，因为他会知道只有祷告让圣灵带领我们做工，我们手中的工作才能够有效的和有价值的进行。今天有许多基督徒同心合意地祈祷，才有宣教士在各地用福音开疆扩土，扩大神的帐幕之地。
On June 8, Pastor Bai Yu'e shared the sixth in an online series on the revival of the church. She discussed the fourth principle for the revival of the church.
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:40-42)
1. Learn the truth
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2: 19-20)
The church was not built on modern concepts, but on the teachings of the prophets in the Old Testament and apostles in the New Testament. What we need to learn are not earthly laws and morals, but the constitution of Heaven.
Every time we come to the church it is to listen to His teachings and do the right things according to His truth. This was the same as the apostles’ teaching, and so we should continue to teach other Christians. The most important thing about the spiritual life in the church was to teach people with the truth.
2. Practice love
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:1-5)
Many people today, including Christians, put on a mask to please others and maintain a good image. However, selfish ambition or vain conceit brings strife. The church emphasizes spiritual unity, requires believers to love each other and have the same mind and purpose. We should work together to care about the problems of others just as if they were our problems. Taking Christ as our example and putting the affairs of others above our own leads to unity. Don’t care too much about your own image or cater to your own needs because this hinders the unity of God’s family. Relationships between believers are dependent on love and helping and supporting each other.
3. Remember the Lord's grace
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)
We remember the Lord through Communion. The Lord Jesus ate the Passover feast with his disciples before the crucifixion, also known as the Last Supper. This Last Supper gave a new meaning to Passover and a sacrament to be practiced by the church. Celebrating Communion helps believers to remember the redemption on the cross, not only to remember the death of the Lord but to lead believers to look forward to the return of the Lord.
Church life in the past included listening, serving, worshipping God, sharing with each other, preaching and showing love. The church should emphasize the above things, and effectively and balancedly promote the development of them in different activities. In this way, the church can grow in a healthy manner.
4. Ask God to help us learn how to pray
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:3-4)
Prayer is like spiritual breathing, and also the source of spiritual wisdom and power. Only those who really know God will value prayer. Only by letting the Holy Spirit lead us can the work be carried out effectively and successfully. Today, many Christians pray in unity, and then missionaries can preach with success and expand God’ Kingdom.
- Translated by Elaina Wu
Pastor: Church Revival Lies in a Good Life
