From Eden in Genesis, to the cross in the Gospels, all the way to the New Jerusalem in Revelation, there winds the thread of one constant theme.  That is the theme of grace, forgiveness, and mercy.  Jesus sees this theme with such importance that He imprinted it into us through an indelible picture of The Teacher washing His disciples’ feet – the incredulous act of taking other’s offenses against us as our responsibility.  What’s more, in this call of a seemingly “upside-down justice”, Jesus assures that we will be blessed if we do it.

Ephesians 4:11-13 helps us see that the more we embrace this theme of washing each other’s feet – for the functions of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor/teacher to work in unity – the closer the Church will manifest the fullness of Christ.  We can only start to imagine how this blessing will influence the 7 societal mountains, make disciples of nations, and radiate the beauty of Jesus’ Bride to the end of the earth, so all who see us will want to join us.

Through the many years of straining to articulate a Kingdom strategy and to mobilize the “10,000 market place soldiers”, God has finally taken us to a place of seeing this simple truth:  Jesus has predicated the Church’s power and influence on our ability to overcome offenses in the body, through the washing of our brother’s and sister’s feet – of taking other’s offense as our responsibility.

MTC 2016 seeks to establish a platform for raising up Kingdom standard bearers of the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Why?  because these are the outflows of grace, forgiveness, and mercy, the elements that encompasses the washing of feet, the elements that builds the body for it to manifests the fullness of Christ.

Unresolved offenses are some of the most stubborn impediments to Church growth today.  In that also stands the greatest opportunity for standard bearers of grace, forgiveness, and mercy to rise up and paint that truly extraordinary picture of the Church.

Blessings,

pdt

從創世記里的伊甸園、福音書中的十字架、一直到啟示錄里的新耶路撒冷,这整个过程始終围绕着一個不變的主題——那就是关于恩典、饒恕和憐憫的主題。耶穌是如此地重视这一主題,甚至将“夫子給門徒洗腳”这幅不可磨滅的圖畫烙印在我們的心裡——将“饶恕別人對我們的冒犯”视為我们自己的責任,此举实在是令人不可思議!更重要的是,纵使在這種看似“正义顛倒”的呼召中,耶穌仍然向我们保证,我們若是這樣行,就会蒙福。

以弗所書4:11-13 幫助我們看到,如果我們更用心地接纳這個彼此洗腳的主題——让使徒、先知、傳福音的与牧師/教師得以同心合一地發揮功用——教會就越能全然地彰顯基督的豐盛。這個祝福將會对社會的七座山造成我们意想不到的影响、使萬民做祂的門徒、並使耶穌新婦的荣美散播到地極,以致於所有看到我們的人都想加入我們。

在力圖闡明一个神國度戰略並動員“一萬職場精兵”多年之後,神終於让我們看到這個由耶稣所设立的簡單真理:教會的能力和影響力实在是取决于我們是否能够克服肢體间的冒犯,而這需要通過我們弟兄姐妹的彼此洗腳——将“饶恕他人对我们的冒犯”视為自己的責任。

MTC 2016 尋求建立一個平台來兴起一群神国的楷模,在他们的生命里结满圣灵的果子——仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、溫柔和节制。為什麼呢?因為圣灵的果子就是恩典、饒恕和憐憫的流露、是使我们愿意委身为他人洗脚的关键、也是建立教会肢體以彰显基督之豐盛的要素。

尚未解决的冒犯对于现今教會的成長来说,是几项最顽梗的障礙之一。正因如此,這也为那些心怀恩典、饒恕和憐憫的楷模提供了绝佳機會,得以興起并繪製出神教會那幅真正无比非凡的畫面。

願神賜福於您,

戴禮德敬上