約書亞攻取諸邑

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〈約書亞記〉  10:42 約書亞一時殺敗了這些王，並奪了他們的地，因為耶和華以色列的神為以色列爭戰。

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉   10:28-43

在滅了五王之後，約書亞帶著以色列人衝鋒陷陣，從從瑪基大往立拿，再打拉吉，攻打伊磯倫、希伯崙和底璧，擊殺城中的一切人口，沒有留下一個。從這些戰役裡再來看現在的以巴衝突。可能有的人會很同情當地的迦南人，覺得神為了把迦南地給以色列人，就趕盡殺絕，豈不應當讓每個人都有容身之地嗎？但是我們看以色列的仇敵對以色列人是絕不手下留情的，幾乎天天有的恐怖襲擊，人肉炸彈，等等。去年以色列和阿拉伯國家終於簽訂合約，開始有了來往，實在也是一個神蹟。

從《聖經》的記載，迦南地的戰爭絕不是以色列人的戰爭而已，這是神和惡勢力之戰。因此每一次記載：「正如耶和華以色列的神所吩咐的」。換言之，倘若約書亞和以色列人沒有把迦南人盡行殺滅，他們就違背神的旨意，不能得到神的祝福，反而會蒙咒詛。因此在〈申命記〉第九章第四節，摩西對以色列人說：「耶和華你的神將這些國民從你面前攆出以後，你心裡不可說：『耶和華將我領進來得這地，是因我的義。』其實，耶和華將他們從你面前趕出去，是因他們的惡。」

對基督徒而言，認識罪的可怕比較容易；對非基督徒而言，可能還是覺得不公平，太殘忍。但是戰爭的本質，不是你死便是我活，再加上是出於神的審判，人更不能逃脫了。與其批評神，不如面對罪的可怕，明白審判必然來臨，因為人終有一死，不管怎樣死，都要面對最後的審判。

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Stop Playing the Comparison Game

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 21:15-25.  Let’s go!

John 21:15-17 (NIV) 
15  When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 
16  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 
17  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

On verses 15-17:  Peter’s most shameful moment was when he verbally denied Jesus three times (see John 18).  So it is not a coincidence here that Jesus restores Peter by having Peter verbally affirm his love and commitment to Jesus three times. 

In Jesus’ eyes, Peter was not the failure who denied him three times.  Peter was the rock on which Jesus would still build his church, and that is why three times Jesus tells Peter to take care of his sheep, that is, his church.  Peter had counted himself out already.  That is why he had gone back to fishing (see verse 3), but Jesus had not given up on his vision for Peter’s life. 

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When You’ve Given Up On Yourself

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 21:1-14.  Let’s go!

John 21:1-3 (NIV) 
1  Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 
2  Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 
3  “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

On verses 1-3:  By “going out to fish” (v3), Peter may have been saying, “I tried and failed at this spiritual leadership thing.  I’m going back to my old life, my old job as a fisherman.  How else am I going to eat and live now that I’ve denied Jesus and made a fool of myself?”  Going out to fish with Peter were James and John (“the sons of Zebedee” – v2), who were Peter’s old fishing partners and fellow disciples, as well as Thomas, Nathanael and two other disciples.  

Whereas Peter had given up on himself, Jesus had not given up on Peter.  In the sequence that follows, Jesus shows Peter that he has not given up on him by subtly recalling specific miracles Jesus had done in the lives of Peter and his disciples.  It’s a great reminder that when we have failed, or think we have failed, in major ways, we may be inclined to give up on any dreams we had concerning God using our lives and going back to our old way of living.  But even after we have failed in major ways, Jesus still does not give up on us.

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日月停止一日之久

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〈約書亞記〉  10: 14  在這日以前，這日以後，耶和華聽人的禱告沒有像這日的，是因耶和華為以色列爭戰。

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉  10:1-27

南方的五王攻打基遍，基遍要求以色列人相助的這場戰役，實在是驚心動魄，成為膾炙人口的一個故事。耶路撒冷、希伯崙、耶末、拉吉和伊磯倫五個大城， 很可能原先與基遍有合約，要一起對抗從沙漠而來的以色列人，萬萬沒有想到他們會先投降，讓其他五王在害怕憤怒之餘，不得不連合起來懲罰基遍。因為基遍是一 座大城，如都城一般，比艾城更大，並且城內的人都是勇士，倘若沒有他們的力量，其他五王得勝的機會就減少了，因此他們決定去攻打基遍，給約書亞一個下馬威，也給迦南的其他族裔看看，誰敢歸降約書亞，他們就去打誰，讓大家都不敢去和以色列人和好。

基遍投降的原因和喇合一樣，因為聽見神藉著摩西和約書亞所行的神蹟，為了求生存而寧可暫時委屈自己，投降以色列人，歸降在耶和華神的羽翼之下。人沒有了生命，還能怎樣？但只要有一口氣 在，便有希望，便有將來。可惜很多人不這麼想，他們寧可像那五王一樣，選擇抗拒耶和華神，以致於全軍覆沒。面對五王聯軍，約書亞害怕了嗎？他肯定害怕了，因此 神的安慰立即臨到：「不要怕他們；因為我已將他們交在你手裡，他們無一人能在你面前站立得住。」

約書亞看重與基遍的立約，基遍一向他求救，他立刻出援。但是他心裡還是忐忑不安。但是尊重合約的人，神也尊重他。因此神立刻安慰約書亞：「不要怕他們，因為我已將他們交在你手裡，他們無一人能在你面前站立得住。」有了神的保證，約書亞如虎添翼，夜間行軍，從吉甲到基遍走了大約25英里，經過四千尺陡峭的山路，給五王來個措手不及。他們萬萬沒有想到以色列人來得如此神速。可見有神的祝福，也要有人的努力；只有神的祝福，人若不努力，那就可惜了。

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基遍人設詭計

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〈約書亞記 〉9:22-23   約書亞召了他們來，對他們說：「為甚麼欺哄我們說『我們離你們甚遠』呢？其實你們是住在我們中間。現在你們是被咒詛的！你們中間的人必斷不了作奴僕，為我　神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。」

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉 9:1-27

身處在這個時代，沒有受騙過的人真是很少。每個人一說起被騙的經驗，至少有兩三個故事好講。有許多聰明人不把聰明用在正經事上，專門拿來走捷徑發不義之財。只可惜，你會騙人，人家也會騙你，到最後誰吃虧呢？當然是騙人的，因為他對人根本無法產生信心。他自己滿口假話，又怎能相信有人會講真話？這真是神的幽默感，自以為聰明的人，經常反被聰明誤。但是有一種人，為了保存性命而想出的詭計，倒是令我感到他們是真的聰明。

那就是約書亞時代的基遍人。根據以斯拉網站的資料，基遍是迦南地古代的大城，離耶路撒冷約九公里，東鄰艾城，附近有橄欖林和地下泉水。基遍的意思是小山，或山域。考古學家在1956至1962年間，在耶路撒冷以北九公里，現今的吉巴，挖掘出有城巿的遺蹟。有一個在鐵器時代早期從石頭鑿出的大坑，有一面約有11公尺深，另一面是鑿有石級、深12公尺的通道，直引到一個貯水池。這大坑後來被人填滿，填土中包括了許多儲物瓶缸的把手。這些把手或印有王室的印，或刻上了物主的姓名和「基遍」這名稱。一般相信這地點就是古時的基遍城。

在約書亞時代，基遍城裡住著希未人（或譯何利人）。〈約書亞記 〉第十章記載：「基遍是一座大城，如都城一般，比艾城更大，並且城內的人都是勇士。」這些人既然都是勇士，何必行騙呢？這些人其實不僅是勇士，而且都是有智慧的人。他們的勇氣不是為了上戰場送死，而是為了保守自己和後裔的性命。他們像喇合一樣，因為聽到以色列人的事蹟，就願意向以色列人稱臣。但是又不知道從哪裡聽到，以色列人只願意和遠方的人講和，不和迦南地的人談和，因此不得已，想了個計謀去騙以色列人（申20:11-15）。

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Believing in the Resurrected Jesus

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 20:19-31.  Let’s go!

John 20:19-20 (NIV) 
19  On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 
20  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

On verses 19-20:  On the evening of the same day that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, Jesus appears behind locked doors to his disciples, who were already gripped with fear because of what the Jews might do to them.  So Jesus’ first words to his frightened disciples are, “Peace be with you!”  For those who believe in Him, the presence of Jesus is often accompanied with peace.

John 20:21-23 (NIV) 
21  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 
22  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 
23  If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

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The Resurrection Changes Everything

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 20:1-18.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-18:  These verses speak about the most important event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For more on evidential support for the resurrection of Jesus, feel free to check out my sermon “Resurrection: Fact or Fiction” [Ryan, please insert the link to this April 7, 2019 sermon].

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is what separates Jesus from every other religious figure.  Throughout history various individuals have started different religions and philosophical movements.  Each of them claimed to know something about God, the purpose of life on earth, and how to secure a good afterlife.  Then each of them died.  For example, Muhammad founded Islam and then died of an illness. Siddartha Gautama started Buddhism and then died of food poisoning.  Joseph Smith founded Mormonism and was shot and killed.  Each of these individuals died and you never know if what they claimed was true, if they were lying, or if they were sincere but wrong.  While these founders of various religious movements died and their bodies are still in their tombs to this day, only Jesus’ tomb is empty because only Jesus rose from the dead.

Without the resurrection of Jesus, we would have no hope of life after death, no assurance that Christ’s blood cleanses us from our sins, just a bunch of empty promises.  Without the resurrection, our faith would be comparable to any other religion or philosophy: just a bunch of nice sounding ideas. But through His resurrection Christ proved that He is who He claimed to be: God, Saviour and Lord.

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《啟示錄》緒論(上 )

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〈啟示錄〉1:17-20  我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。他用右手按著我，說：「不要懼怕！我是首先的，我是末後的，又是那存活的；我曾死過，現在又活了，直活到永永遠遠；並且拿著死亡和陰間的鑰匙。所以你要把所看見的，和現在的事，並將來必成的事，都寫出來。論到你所看見、在我右手中的七星和七個金燈臺的奧祕，那七星就是七個教會的使者，七燈臺就是七個教會。

為教會而死、為教會復活的教會之主

　　這是所有的宗教所無法想像，也不可能發生的事情。基督來到世界成全救、建立教會後，又回到天父那裡去。基督從天到地上來，是要除滅魔鬼的作為，拯救罪人脫離罪與死亡，在地上建立教會，將永遠的生命、榮耀賜給我們。新派否認復活，但我們看見耶穌在天上選召掃羅，使他成為福音的使者，這顯明耶穌的復活是真實的。當耶穌從死裡復活，把真正的盼望帶到人間，「我曾死過，現在又活了，直活到永永遠遠」（啟1:18），教會的主為教會而死，又為教會而復活，這是永活的主，他的復活保證我們對他的信仰不是虛空的，不會令我們失望，他的復活把我們帶進永恆的生命，「因為我活著，你們也要活著；我在哪裡，叫你們也在那裡」（約14:19、3）成為我們生命永遠的保障。

死而復活的主繼續牧養祂的教會

　　死而復活的主升天之後，繼續牧養祂的教會，聖經說祂是「群羊的大牧人」（來13:20），雖然我們看不見我們的主，但是祂從死裡復活、永遠存在，昔在、今在、永在的上帝繼續用祂的大權能照顧我們。耶穌基督在上帝的全家，成為群羊的大牧人，照顧、帶領、鑒察、引導、牧養我們，這群羊的大牧羊是教會的元首，他是死而復活，繼續照顧上帝兒女的大牧人，因此我們在疾病、痛苦、貧窮、受逼迫的時候，我們不需要懼怕，因為我們的主不但活著，而且他正看顧引導我們，這一位主才是教會的主宰。

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How Jesus Finished

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 19:28-42.  Let’s go!

John 19:28-30 (NIV) 
28  Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
29  A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
30  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

On verses 28-30:  Once I heard a pastor share that when people used public toilets in the Roman empire, since they did not have toilet paper, they would take the stalk of a hyssop plant, place a sponge on top of it, dip it in wine vinegar as a disinfectant, and use it to wipe human waste off their bodies. Could this be the stick they used to serve Jesus his final drink in verse 29? If so, that would mean that Jesus’ final drink was the most foul and humiliating drink you could imagine drinking, and that Jesus died with the stench of human waste on his lips and in his nose.

What unfathomable rejection, humiliation and suffering Jesus went through for us, at the end of which Jesus could finally say, “It is finished”.  What was finished?  Not just the physical, spiritual and emotional torture that Jesus went through, but even more Jesus’ work of paying for our sins was finished.  Jesus’ finished work on the cross means that we can be fully forgiven and brought back to God.

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約書亞再攻艾城

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〈約書亞記〉 8:7  你們就從埋伏的地方起來，奪取那城，因為耶和華你們的神必把城交在你們手裡。

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉 8:1-35

經過了艾城之敗，約書亞痛定思痛，不攻再輕敵。雖然神已經跟他說：「不要懼怕，也不要驚惶。你起來，率領一切兵丁上艾城去，我已經把艾城的王和他的民、他的城並他的地，都交在你手裡。」他還是很小心地佈署一切，並且派三萬大能的勇士到城後埋伏。這是第一次出戰的十倍軍力。而在城的前面引誘敵人出城的兵丁也有五千，還是約書亞親自挑選的。我想這就是討神喜悅的心態，神已經祝福，但是我們仍然需要做好自己的準備工作。

讀這場戰爭的策略，讓人不能不想起諸葛孔明和周瑜、曹操之間的智鬥。曹操志在統一，劉備想恢復漢室，東吳又何曾不想一統大業呢？三國爾虞我詐，到最後卻成了司馬懿家族的囊中物，成立了晉朝。像這個攻打艾城的謀略，三公之中都曾有用過或被騙過，卻沒有如此週全，可以一舉全勝。尤其是攻打耶利哥城那招數，我想連孔明聽了也會甘拜下風。因為這是神的戰爭。神要以色列人統一迦南。

所以當我們看到艾城和其他城邑的人被殺時，就會明白古代的戰爭有多麼的殘酷，不是你死就是我死。以色列人沒有後路，他們只能往前進；而當神認為迦南地的居民都已經罪惡滿盈，神的審判已經來臨時，誰能為他們說情？所以我們要記得，罪中之樂不可樂，因為一定會樂極生悲。我們不要貪圖罪中之樂，因為接踵而來的審判是可怕的。

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