约书亚攻取诸邑

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〈约书亚记〉  10:42 约书亚一时杀败了这些王，并夺了他们的地，因为耶和华以色列的神为以色列争战。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉   10:28-43

在灭了五王之后，约书亚带着以色列人冲锋陷阵，从从玛基大往立拿，再打拉吉，攻打伊矶伦、希伯仑和底璧，击杀城中的一切人口，没有留下一个。从这些战役里再来看现在的以巴冲突。可能有的人会很同情当地的迦南人，觉得神为了把迦南地给以色列人，就赶尽杀绝，岂不应当让每个人都有容身之地吗？但是我们看以色列的仇敌对以色列人是绝不手下留情的，几乎天天有的恐怖袭击，人肉炸弹，等等。去年以色列和阿拉伯国家终于签订合约，开始有了来往，实在也是一个神蹟。

从《圣经》的记载，迦南地的战争绝不是以色列人的战争而已，这是神和恶势力之战。因此每一次记载：「正如耶和华以色列的神所吩咐的」。换言之，倘若约书亚和以色列人没有把迦南人尽行杀灭，他们就违背神的旨意，不能得到神的祝福，反而会蒙咒诅。因此在〈申命记〉第九章第四节，摩西对以色列人说：「耶和华你的神将这些国民从你面前撵出以后，你心里不可说：『耶和华将我领进来得这地，是因我的义。』其实，耶和华将他们从你面前赶出去，是因他们的恶。」

对基督徒而言，认识罪的可怕比较容易；对非基督徒而言，可能还是觉得不公平，太残忍。但是战争的本质，不是你死便是我活，再加上是出于神的审判，人更不能逃脱了。与其批评神，不如面对罪的可怕，明白审判必然来临，因为人终有一死，不管怎样死，都要面对最后的审判。

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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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〈约书亚记〉  10: 14  在这日以前，这日以后，耶和华听人的祷告没有像这日的，是因耶和华为以色列争战。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉  10:1-27

南方的五王攻打基遍，基遍要求以色列人相助的这场战役，实在是惊心动魄，成为脍炙人口的一个故事。耶路撒冷、希伯仑、耶末、拉吉和伊矶伦五个大城， 很可能原先与基遍有合约，要一起对抗从沙漠而来的以色列人，万万没有想到他们会先投降，让其他五王在害怕愤怒之余，不得不连合起来惩罚基遍。因为基遍是一 座大城，如都城一般，比艾城更大，并且城内的人都是勇士，倘若没有他们的力量，其他五王得胜的机会就减少了，因此他们决定去攻打基遍，给约书亚一个下马威，也给迦南的其他族裔看看，谁敢归降约书亚，他们就去打谁，让大家都不敢去和以色列人和好。

基遍投降的原因和喇合一样，因为听见神借着摩西和约书亚所行的神蹟，为了求生存而宁可暂时委屈自己，投降以色列人，归降在耶和华神的羽翼之下。人没有了生命，还能怎样？但只要有一口气 在，便有希望，便有将来。可惜很多人不这么想，他们宁可像那五王一样，选择抗拒耶和华神，以致于全军覆没。面对五王联军，约书亚害怕了吗？他肯定害怕了，因此 神的安慰立即临到：「不要怕他们；因为我已将他们交在你手里，他们无一人能在你面前站立得住。」

约书亚看重与基遍的立约，基遍一向他求救，他立刻出援。但是他心里还是忐忑不安。但是尊重合约的人，神也尊重他。因此神立刻安慰约书亚：「不要怕他们，因为我已将他们交在你手里，他们无一人能在你面前站立得住。」有了神的保证，约书亚如虎添翼，夜间行军，从吉甲到基遍走了大约25英里，经过四千尺陡峭的山路，给五王来个措手不及。他们万万没有想到以色列人来得如此神速。可见有神的祝福，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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基遍人设诡计

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〈约书亚记 〉9:22-23   约书亚召了他们来，对他们说：「为甚么欺哄我们说『我们离你们甚远』呢？其实你们是住在我们中间。现在你们是被咒诅的！你们中间的人必断不了作奴仆，为我　神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。」

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉 9:1-27

身处在这个时代，没有受骗过的人真是很少。每个人一说起被骗的经验，至少有两三个故事好讲。有许多聪明人不把聪明用在正经事上，专门拿来走捷径发不义之财。只可惜，你会骗人，人家也会骗你，到最后谁吃亏呢？当然是骗人的，因为他对人根本无法产生信心。他自己满口假话，又怎能相信有人会讲真话？这真是神的幽默感，自以为聪明的人，经常反被聪明误。但是有一种人，为了保存性命而想出的诡计，倒是令我感到他们是真的聪明。

那就是约书亚时代的基遍人。根据以斯拉网站的资料，基遍是迦南地古代的大城，离耶路撒冷约九公里，东邻艾城，附近有橄榄林和地下泉水。基遍的意思是小山，或山域。考古学家在1956至1962年间，在耶路撒冷以北九公里，现今的吉巴，挖掘出有城巿的遗蹟。有一个在铁器时代早期从石头凿出的大坑，有一面约有11公尺深，另一面是凿有石级、深12公尺的通道，直引到一个贮水池。这大坑后来被人填满，填土中包括了许多储物瓶缸的把手。这些把手或印有王室的印，或刻上了物主的姓名和「基遍」这名称。一般相信这地点就是古时的基遍城。

在约书亚时代，基遍城里住着希未人（或译何利人）。〈约书亚记 〉第十章记载：「基遍是一座大城，如都城一般，比艾城更大，并且城内的人都是勇士。」这些人既然都是勇士，何必行骗呢？这些人其实不仅是勇士，而且都是有智慧的人。他们的勇气不是为了上战场送死，而是为了保守自己和后裔的性命。他们像喇合一样，因为听到以色列人的事蹟，就愿意向以色列人称臣。但是又不知道从哪里听到，以色列人只愿意和远方的人讲和，不和迦南地的人谈和，因此不得已，想了个计谋去骗以色列人（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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《启示录》绪论(上 )

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〈启示录〉1:17-20  我一看见，就仆倒在他脚前，像死了一样。他用右手按着我，说：「不要惧怕！我是首先的，我是末后的，又是那存活的；我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远；并且拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙。所以你要把所看见的，和现在的事，并将来必成的事，都写出来。论到你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥祕，那七星就是七个教会的使者，七灯台就是七个教会。

为教会而死、为教会复活的教会之主

　　这是所有的宗教所无法想像，也不可能发生的事情。基督来到世界成全救、建立教会后，又回到天父那里去。基督从天到地上来，是要除灭魔鬼的作为，拯救罪人脱离罪与死亡，在地上建立教会，将永远的生命、荣耀赐给我们。新派否认复活，但我们看见耶稣在天上选召扫罗，使他成为福音的使者，这显明耶稣的复活是真实的。当耶稣从死里复活，把真正的盼望带到人间，「我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远」（启1:18），教会的主为教会而死，又为教会而复活，这是永活的主，他的复活保证我们对他的信仰不是虚空的，不会令我们失望，他的复活把我们带进永恒的生命，「因为我活着，你们也要活着；我在哪里，叫你们也在那里」（约14:19、3）成为我们生命永远的保障。

死而复活的主继续牧养祂的教会

　　死而复活的主升天之后，继续牧养祂的教会，圣经说祂是「群羊的大牧人」（来13:20），虽然我们看不见我们的主，但是祂从死里复活、永远存在，昔在、今在、永在的上帝继续用祂的大权能照顾我们。耶稣基督在上帝的全家，成为群羊的大牧人，照顾、带领、鉴察、引导、牧养我们，这群羊的大牧羊是教会的元首，他是死而复活，继续照顾上帝儿女的大牧人，因此我们在疾病、痛苦、贫穷、受逼迫的时候，我们不需要惧怕，因为我们的主不但活着，而且他正看顾引导我们，这一位主才是教会的主宰。

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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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约书亚再攻艾城

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〈约书亚记〉 8:7  你们就从埋伏的地方起来，夺取那城，因为耶和华你们的神必把城交在你们手里。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉 8:1-35

经过了艾城之败，约书亚痛定思痛，不攻再轻敌。虽然神已经跟他说：「不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。你起来，率领一切兵丁上艾城去，我已经把艾城的王和他的民、他的城并他的地，都交在你手里。」他还是很小心地布署一切，并且派三万大能的勇士到城后埋伏。这是第一次出战的十倍军力。而在城的前面引诱敌人出城的兵丁也有五千，还是约书亚亲自挑选的。我想这就是讨神喜悦的心态，神已经祝福，但是我们仍然需要做好自己的准备工作。

读这场战争的策略，让人不能不想起诸葛孔明和周瑜、曹操之间的智斗。曹操志在统一，刘备想恢复汉室，东吴又何曾不想一统大业呢？三国尔虞我诈，到最后却成了司马懿家族的囊中物，成立了晋朝。像这个攻打艾城的谋略，三公之中都曾有用过或被骗过，却没有如此周全，可以一举全胜。尤其是攻打耶利哥城那招数，我想连孔明听了也会甘拜下风。因为这是神的战争。神要以色列人统一迦南。

所以当我们看到艾城和其他城邑的人被杀时，就会明白古代的战争有多么的残酷，不是你死就是我死。以色列人没有后路，他们只能往前进；而当神认为迦南地的居民都已经罪恶满盈，神的审判已经来临时，谁能为他们说情？所以我们要记得，罪中之乐不可乐，因为一定会乐极生悲。我们不要贪图罪中之乐，因为接踵而来的审判是可怕的。

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