平安的應許

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耶利米書 34:4  猶大王西底家啊，你還要聽耶和華的話。耶和華論到你如此說：你必不被刀劍殺死。

閱讀經文:  334:1-7

1 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領他的全軍和地上屬他的各國各邦，攻打耶路撒冷和屬耶路撒冷所有的城邑，那時耶和華的話臨到耶利米說： 2 「耶和華以色列的神說：你去告訴猶大王西底家：『耶和華如此說：我要將這城交付巴比倫王的手，他必用火焚燒。 3 你必不能逃脫他的手，定被拿住交在他的手中。

對神有信心，是一件很容易的事嗎？有次在敬拜時，牧師引用亞伯蘭和羅得選地分遷的故事，他問大家，覺得自己比較像亞伯蘭或羅得？這個問題頗有重量，因為我覺得自己太像羅得了。誰不要水草肥沃的草地去放牧？誰不希望往容易找工作的地區遷移？誰不喜歡生氣盎然的大都會？誰喜歡水草貧瘠的土地？當我們在選擇時，誰會用神的眼光去衡量？誰能像亞伯蘭那樣大器，對神有全然的信心？

因此當神藉著耶利米對西底家發話時，西底家會選擇相信神嗎？巴比倫王攻下了猶大所有的城邑，西底家自知即將成為亡國之君，猶如一隻困獸在做最後的掙扎。他希望神出奇不意殺光敵軍，他希望神像古時一樣，派下天軍火馬為他爭戰，但是當神的作法和他的想法迴異時，他能有信心相信神而順服嗎？

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分別為聖的人生

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耶利米書16:19a   耶和華啊，祢是我的力量，是我的保障，在苦難之日是我的避難所。

閱讀經文:  16:1-21

1耶和華的話又臨到我說： 2 「你在這地方不可娶妻，生兒養女。 3 因為論到在這地方所生的兒女，又論到在這國中生養他們的父母，耶和華如此說： 4 他們必死得甚苦，無人哀哭，必不得葬埋，必在地上像糞土，必被刀劍和饑荒滅絕。他們的屍首必給空中的飛鳥和地上的野獸做食物。

張文亮教授曾分享了一個不大愉快的經驗。有一年，政府委託他擔任地方工程執行的稽查。第一次去開會時，他和幾個查驗工程的委員一起搭車前往，沒想到汽車開到海邊，深入一條馬路盡頭一間酒家。主辦人熱情地招呼大家進去，張教授卻獨自一人到海邊禱告，因為他知道那是個網羅。那些人醉醺醺地從酒家出來，預算也被吃掉、喝掉、玩掉、浪費掉了。雖然在這期間他很孤單，也被認為不合群，但是他知道主耶穌與他同在。他也學會了許多正確使用預算的方法。

被主使用，似乎注定了是一條孤單的道路。神叫耶利米不可娶妻，生兒養女。因為在那地所生的兒女必死得甚苦。神不許耶利米去喪家哀哭。因為神已奪去他們的平安、慈愛和憐憫，所以人的安慰是徒然的。神也不許耶利米進入宴樂之家，與人同坐吃喝。這樣耶利米就和整個社會隔絕了。

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One of the Most Beautiful Passages in All the Bible

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 2:1-11.  Let’s go!

Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

On verses 1-11:  It is one of the most beautiful and important passages in all of the New Testament, so much so that I encourage you to memorize this passage.

When you memorize this passage, the Holy Spirit will use it to remind you of some essential truths, including the following:

1. As Christians we are to be like Christ in our attitude and to put others’ interests (especially the interests of your brothers and sisters in Christ) ahead of our own (v3-5).

2. Jesus Christ is in very nature God (v6). He is fully God.

3. Jesus Christ also became a human being (v7).  He is both fully God and fully man.

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耶利米書

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以賽亞書

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失敗的代禱

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耶利米書14:21   求祢為你名的緣故，不厭惡我們，不辱沒祢榮耀的寶座。求祢追念，不要背了與我們所立的約。

閱讀經文:  14:1-22

1 耶和華論到乾旱之災的話臨到耶利米：2 「猶大悲哀，城門衰敗，眾人披上黑衣坐在地上，耶路撒冷的哀聲上達。 3 他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。 4 耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。 5 田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 6 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。」

在每年的暑期，加拿大英屬哥倫比亞省（B.C.）及其隣省，因為天乾氣燥，森林大火小火不斷，再加上隔壁美國華盛頓州的森林大火也燒過界，直撲到溫哥華的郊野，經常整個天空一片灰色，許多人因為空氣污染而有呼吸道及其他的不適。那時大家巴望的就是一場大雨，或是兩場，或是三場，可以把這些煙沖走，洗走，吹走。每當下了幾場雨之後，當藍天白雲再度出現時，我們心裡的雲層也被吹走了。不管人們如何自稱可以造雲造雨或造雪，但是到了真的需要時，卻又使不出力了。這讓我們思想，天能自降甘霖嗎？

在約雅敬王管理猶大時，因為百姓的罪惡，天不降雨，旱災到一個怎樣的程度呢？“他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。”若非神允許，天就不能自降甘霖。

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Mature Christians Think Team First

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 1:22-30.  Let’s go!

One of the big themes of Philippians is putting the needs of others, or the needs of the team, ahead of your own.  We see this theme played out in various ways in today’s passage.

Philippians 1:22-26 (NIV)
22  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24  but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26  so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

On verses 22-26:  Facing the possibility of execution, Paul is torn between the thought of dying and going to heaven and the thought of continuing to live and serve God on earth.  For the sake of his own happiness, Paul would prefer to die and go to heaven (“which is better by far” – v23).  But Paul senses that God still has more work for Paul to do on earth with his churches (v24).  Paul believes God wants to keep using him to help his churches grow (v25) and to experience the joy and encouragement of seeing him again (v26).  For these reasons, Paul is convinced that his time to die has not yet come, even though a part of him would love to leave and go to heaven right away.

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天能自降甘霖嗎？

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耶利米書14:21   求祢為你名的緣故，不厭惡我們，不辱沒祢榮耀的寶座。求祢追念，不要背了與我們所立的約。

閱讀經文:  14:1-22

1 耶和華論到乾旱之災的話臨到耶利米：2 「猶大悲哀，城門衰敗，眾人披上黑衣坐在地上，耶路撒冷的哀聲上達。 3 他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。 4 耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。 5 田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 6 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。」

在每年的暑期，加拿大英屬哥倫比亞省（B.C.）及其隣省，因為天乾氣燥，森林大火小火不斷，再加上隔壁美國華盛頓州的森林大火也燒過界，直撲到溫哥華的郊野，經常整個天空一片灰色，許多人因為空氣污染而有呼吸道及其他的不適。那時大家巴望的就是一場大雨，或是兩場，或是三場，可以把這些煙沖走，洗走，吹走。每當下了幾場雨之後，當藍天白雲再度出現時，我們心裡的雲層也被吹走了。不管人們如何自稱可以造雲造雨或造雪，但是到了真的需要時，卻又使不出力了。這讓我們思想，天能自降甘霖嗎？

在約雅敬王管理猶大時，因為百姓的罪惡，天不降雨，旱災到一個怎樣的程度呢？“他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。”若非神允許，天就不能自降甘霖。

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How to Turn Your Setback Into A Step Forward

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 1:12-21.  Let’s go!
 
Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 
 
On verse 12:  Paul’s imprisonment could easily have been seen by him, his church and his critics as a setback. But Paul chose to see it as a step forward, something “to advance the gospel”.  Paul points to 4 ways that this “setback” was actually a step forward.
 
Philippians 1:13 (NIV)
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
 
On verse 13:  Here’s the first benefit Paul identifies from his imprisonment:  everyone in the palace guard and everyone who heard about Paul’s imprisonment now knew that Paul was there because of his faith and ministry in Jesus Christ (v13).  This would stir the curiosity of many people and give Paul more opportunities to share about his hope in Jesus.

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