God wants us to mature spiritually. But as we become comfortable in life, typically we stop growing.
 
My wife and I served as missionaries in China from 2003 to 2019. We were living out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), which turns out to be the way to grow. Let’s learn from it.
 
The first requirement of the Great Commission is to go, to step out of our comfort zone (Matthew 28:19).
 
I grew up in Paris, moved to New York, got married, and dreamed of getting rich. But God planted discontentment in us. We felt stuck and wanted more than just surviving and maintaining.
 
In his book, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby used surfing as an analogy of experiencing God. Instead of creating your own wave, get into the water, wait, and watch to see what God is doing. When a wave comes, swim over and ride on it.
 
In 2012, my wife and I prayed for nine months asking God to make us love and experience Him more. A year later, with three kids, we moved to China. I spoke very little Chinese and didn’t understand the culture.
 
What is God asking you to do that feels uncomfortable?
 
To grow, we must trust God is in control, take risks, and step out of our comfort zone.
 
Second, seek to engage the lost (Matthew 28:19).
 
Luke 15 describes three parables: the lost sheep out there; the lost coin inside the house; and the lost sons, one outside, the other inside. There are just as many lost outside as there are around us.
 
To engage requires confronting and speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Tell your own stories to have transformation to take place.
 
Third, teach others to obey everything Christ has commanded you (Matthew 28:20).
 
Teaching helps us grow. Forget the title of “pastor” (James 3:1). Just perform its function. Have the heart of a shepherd to have impact on others.
 
Walk the talk. Meditate on God’s words and show what it means to obey Him (Matthew 5:16). And you will grow.
 
Finally, don’t worry. If you follow the Great Commission, Christ promises He will be with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
 
Summary of a sermon by Luke Wong, starting at 19:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YibLiJZJsM&t=1186s



大使命：属灵成长的关键
 
上帝希望我们的属灵生命日趋成熟，但当我们生活变得舒适时，常常就会停止成长。
 
我和妻子从 2003 年到 2019 年在中国担任宣教士, 活出大使命（马太福音 28:18-20）。事实证明这是一种属灵生命成长的方式。让我们从中学习功课。
 
大使命首项要求是走出去，离开自己的舒适区（马太福音 28:19）。
 
我在巴黎长大，后来搬到纽约，然后结婚，并且做着发财致富的美梦。但上帝在我们心里种下了一种不满足的感觉，使我们觉得生命好像被卡住了，不想仅仅是保持现状地活着。
 
在 Henry Blackaby 《经历上帝》一书中，他使用冲浪来比喻经历上帝。不要创造自己的波浪。相反地，要踏入水中，等待和观察上帝的作为。当一个波浪冲来时，迎面游去踏浪而行。
 
在2012 年， 我和妻子祷告了 9 个月， 祈求上帝让我们更多地爱祂和经历祂。 一年后， 我们带着三个孩子搬到中国。 当时我只会说很少的中文， 也不了解中国文化。
 
上帝要你做什么会让你感到不舒服？
 
如果想要成长， 就需要相信上帝掌管一切， 冒险走出舒适区。
 
其次，要寻找接触迷失的人（马太福音 28:19）。
 
路加福音 15 章描述了三个比喻: 迷失的羊在外面； 丢失的硬币在屋内； 还有迷路的两个儿子， 一个在外， 一个在内。 迷失者在外面和在里面的一样多。
 
与人相交需要用爱心面对，在爱中说真话（以弗所书 4:15）。 讲述上帝在你自己生命中的故事来转变他人的生命。
 
第三， 教导人遵守基督吩咐的一切命令（马太福音 28:20）。
 
教导人的同时可以帮助我们自己成长。 忘掉牧师的头衔（雅各书 3:1）， 只管履行其职责。 以牧羊人的心去影响他人的生命。
 
言行一致。 默想上帝的话，用言行显示服从上帝是什么意思 （马太福音5:16）。 如此我们的属灵生命定会成长。
 
最后, 不要担忧。 如果你跟随大使命， 基督应许祂将永远与你同在， 直到世界的末了（马太福音 28:20）。

Christians should be God’s witnesses to glorify their Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). But it is much easier to witness to people than to Satan, who knows humans well. Day and night, such knowledge enables Satan to accuse us before God (Revelation 12:10).
 
God was proud of Job and presented Job as His witness to Satan (Job 1:8). But when calamity after calamity struck Job, even he grumbled. God’s witnesses, particularly God’s witnesses to Satan, need the Holy Spirit.
 
God’s witnesses need the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to them. When Peter said Christ was the son of God, Christ attributed Peter’s insight to God’s revelation (Matthew 16:16-17).
 
But the proud do not listen to the Holy Spirit. It is not in being clever or knowledgeable that one can understand the mystery of Christ. Some Bible scholars, such as the Pharisees, even called Christ the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24). Roman soldiers recognized Christ as the Son of God when numerous rulers didn’t (Matthew 27:54, Acts 13:27). The arrogance of the learned, rich, and powerful leads to their downfall, while the truth is revealed to children (Matthew 11:25, 18:3). To learn from the Holy Spirit requires humility.
 
God’s witnesses to Satan need the power of the Holy Spirit to withstand Satan. These witnesses seek the interests of God and not their own, such as their honor, health, property, and comfort. God provides everything they need. Their prayers are effective (James 5:16). Even their children will not go hungry (Psalms 37:25).
 
God’s witnesses do not love money but are content with what they have because God will never leave them (Hebrews 13:5).
 
God’s witnesses do everything without grumbling or arguing (Philippians 2:14). They rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for whatever happens to them is God’s will for them in Christ (1Thessalonians 5:16-18, Ephesians 5:20).
 
To be God’s witnesses to Satan is difficult. They must have guidance and help from the Holy Spirit. For God’s glory, Christians, try to be God’s witnesses to Satan.
 
Summarized from a sermon by Zac Poonen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivt9nZGLdlY&feature=youtu.be



成为神在撒旦前的见证人
 
基督徒应该是上帝的见证人，荣耀在天上的父（马太福音 5:16）。 但在人前为上帝作见证要比在撒旦前容易得多，因为撒但很了解人。这知识使撒但能在上帝前昼夜控告他们(启示录 12:10)。
 
上帝为约伯感到骄傲，把约伯作为自己在撒旦前的见证人(约伯记 1：8)。 但当一场又一场的灾难不住地袭击约伯时，连他也开始抱怨了。
 
做神的见证人, 特别是在撒旦前的见证人, 需要圣灵。
 
神的见证人需要圣灵启示真理。 当彼得宣告基督是上帝的儿子时，祂将这见解归因于上帝的启示(马太福音 16:16-17)。
 
但骄傲的人不听从圣灵。不是聪明睿智、博学多才便能明白基督的奥秘。法利赛人是熟悉圣经的学者，但他们甚至以为基督是魔王(马太福音12:24)。 罗马士兵认识基督是上帝的儿子，但许多统治者却不认识祂 (马太福音 27:54，使徒行传13:27)。 博学、富足和有权力之人的自大可导致他们垮台, 然而真理却能向婴孩和小孩子显明 (马太福音11:25, 18：3)。向圣灵学习需要一颗谦卑的心。
 
作为神的见证人, 特别在撒旦前的见证人, 需要倚靠圣灵的力量去抵挡撒旦。
 
神的见证人寻求上帝的益处, 而不是自己的益处，就如个人的荣誉、健康、财富和舒适。 神供给他们一切的需要。他们的祈祷是有功效的 (雅各书5:16),甚至连他们的儿女也不会饥饿 (诗篇37:25)。
 
神的见证人不贪爱金钱，以所有的为满足，因为上帝永远不离开他们(希伯来书13：5)。
 
神的见证人在做一切事情时都不发 怨 言 ， 起 争 论 (腓立比书 2:14)。 他们常常喜乐，不住祷告，凡事感恩, 因为无论发生在身上的任何事情都是神在基督里对他们的旨意 (帖撒罗尼迦前书 5：16-18，以弗所书 5:20)。
 
成为神在撒但前的见证人不是一件容易的事，必须得到圣灵的引导和帮助。 基督徒们,为了神的荣耀，努力地去为祂作见证吧。