尊祂為大

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瑪拉基書1:11 萬軍之耶和華說：從日出之地到日落之處，我的名在外邦中必尊為大。在各處人必奉我的名燒香，獻潔淨的供物，因為我的名在外邦中必尊為大。

閱讀經文: 瑪拉基書1:1-14

1耶和華藉瑪拉基傳給以色列的默示。

2 耶和華說：「我曾愛你們，你們卻說：『你在何事上愛我們呢？』」耶和華說：「以掃不是雅各的哥哥嗎？我卻愛雅各， 3 惡以掃，使他的山嶺荒涼，把他的地業交給曠野的野狗。 4 以東人說：『我們現在雖被毀壞，卻要重建荒廢之處。』萬軍之耶和華如此說：任他們建造，我必拆毀。人必稱他們的地為罪惡之境，稱他們的民為耶和華永遠惱怒之民。

〈瑪拉基書〉是舊約最後一卷書，〈瑪拉基〉的意思是“我的使者”，原文是 ‘我要差遣瑪拉基’＝‘我要差遣我的使者’之意。沒人知道那是一個人名或只是書名。在〈瑪拉基書〉成書後，神就靜默，不再有預言，直到耶穌降生，這之間就是沉默的四百年。

〈瑪拉基書〉成書時，被擄的以色列人在所羅巴伯、以斯拉和尼希米的帶領下已有三次歸回（主前536/457/444年），至少有五萬人已回到耶路撒冷。那時大約是主前400年，聖殿已經重建完成，以色列人恢復獻祭，做生意和嫁娶，也沒有亡國之前被外邦壓迫的威脅。

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Jesus is the Wall of Fire Around You and the Glory Within You

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 2:1-13.  There are so many rich and powerful lessons we can learn from this passage.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Today’s passage is Zechariah 2:1-13.  Let’s go!
 
Zechariah 2:1-5 (NIV)
1  Then I looked up–and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand!
2  I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
3  Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him
4  and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it.
5  And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

On verses 1-5:  Here Zechariah sees a third vision.  It’s of a man with a measuring line (like a measuring tape) who is trying to measure how wide and long is the city of Jerusalem (v1-2).  The angel who was earlier helping Zechariah to interpret the visions (1:19-21) leaves and is met by another angel who tells the interpreter angel a message to give to “that young man” (v3-4a). 

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耶和華必做全地的王

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撒迦利亞書13:1  那日，必給大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民開一個泉源，洗除罪惡與污穢。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書13:1-9

1「那日，必給大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民開一個泉源，洗除罪惡與污穢。」

2 萬軍之耶和華說：「那日，我必從地上除滅偶像的名，不再被人記念，也必使這地不再有假先知與污穢的靈。 3 若再有人說預言，生他的父母必對他說：『你不得存活，因為你託耶和華的名說假預言。』生他的父母在他說預言的時候，要將他刺透。 4 那日，凡做先知說預言的必因他所論的異象羞愧，不再穿毛衣哄騙人。

“那日”，是一個警告，也是一個盼望。對萬民而言，那是爭戰和復興的日子，對萬民而言，則是末世大掃除。在前面幾章裡，我們一直讀到神要復興以色列和耶路撒冷的信息，在教會的事工中，我們也常渴望復興。但是我們想要的復興和神要的復興有點不同，我們要的復興是人丁興旺，財源茂盛；神要的復興是人心裡外的全然潔淨。而，人很難一直保持潔淨。所以在本章第一節，神要為大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民開一個泉源，除罪惡與污穢。

為何要開泉源呢？有個池子或裝個自來水不就行了嗎？泉源，代表活水不停息的奔流，把髒的洗去，不停地洗。耶穌說：“人若喝我所賜的水，就永遠不渴。我所賜的水要在他裡頭成為泉源，直湧到永生。（約4:14）”這就是人的狀況，我們需要有從耶穌來的活水泉源，在我們的裡面不斷地沖去心裡和思想的污穢，讓我們裡外潔淨。現在有些人很流行灌腸，為了維持健康，天天都灌腸，要把那些對健康有影響的廢物和骯髒都排得一乾二淨，以達到除百病和擁有健康的目的。我們的肉體需要保持乾淨，靈魂也是如此。

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God Stands By Your Side

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Zechariah 1:7-21.  It’s not an easy passage to understand, but the lessons in it are significant.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 

Zechariah 1:7 (NIV)
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. 
 
On verse 7:  Here Zechariah begins to recount 8 visions that he apparently received in a single night from God.  Verses 8-17 describe the first vision.
 
Zechariah 1:8 (NIV)
8 During the night I had a vision–and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. 
 
On verse 8:  In his first vision Zechariah sees an angel who looks like a man riding a red horse, standing among the myrtle trees in the middle of a deep valley, and backed by other horses.  

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Find Your Identity and Hope in God and His Word

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Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of Zechariah.

Here is some background on the book of Zechariah: 

– The book of Zechariah was written approximately in the 6th century B.C., probably around the same time as the book of Haggai (which we finished looking at together yesterday).  Haggai and Zechariah served God around the same time.  In fact, Zechariah started his own public ministry just a couple months after Haggai preached his first sermon.  

– Zechariah was one of 50,000 Jewish exiles who lived in Babylon but who were later allowed by the Persian empire to return to Jerusalem.  

– In Jerusalem, God used Zechariah much like He used Haggai: as a prophet to encourage the Jews to finish rebuilding Solomon’s temple and to get them ready for a king, a Messiah, to come.

– Zechariah’s name means “the Lord remembers”.

Today’s passage is Zechariah 1:1-6.  Let’s go!

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末世大掃除

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撒迦利亞書13:1  那日，必給大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民開一個泉源，洗除罪惡與污穢。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書13:1-9

1「那日，必給大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民開一個泉源，洗除罪惡與污穢。」

2 萬軍之耶和華說：「那日，我必從地上除滅偶像的名，不再被人記念，也必使這地不再有假先知與污穢的靈。 3 若再有人說預言，生他的父母必對他說：『你不得存活，因為你託耶和華的名說假預言。』生他的父母在他說預言的時候，要將他刺透。 4 那日，凡做先知說預言的必因他所論的異象羞愧，不再穿毛衣哄騙人。

“那日”，是一個警告，也是一個盼望。對萬民而言，那是爭戰和復興的日子，對萬民而言，則是末世大掃除。在前面幾章裡，我們一直讀到神要復興以色列和耶路撒冷的信息，在教會的事工中，我們也常渴望復興。但是我們想要的復興和神要的復興有點不同，我們要的復興是人丁興旺，財源茂盛；神要的復興是人心裡外的全然潔淨。而，人很難一直保持潔淨。所以在本章第一節，神要為大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民開一個泉源，除罪惡與污穢。

為何要開泉源呢？有個池子或裝個自來水不就行了嗎？泉源，代表活水不停息的奔流，把髒的洗去，不停地洗。耶穌說：“人若喝我所賜的水，就永遠不渴。我所賜的水要在他裡頭成為泉源，直湧到永生。（約4:14）”這就是人的狀況，我們需要有從耶穌來的活水泉源，在我們的裡面不斷地沖去心裡和思想的污穢，讓我們裡外潔淨。現在有些人很流行灌腸，為了維持健康，天天都灌腸，要把那些對健康有影響的廢物和骯髒都排得一乾二淨，以達到除百病和擁有健康的目的。我們的肉體需要保持乾淨，靈魂也是如此。

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耶路撒冷必蒙拯救

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撒迦利亞書12:9  那日，我必定意滅絕來攻擊耶路撒冷各國的民。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 12:1-14

1耶和華論以色列的默示。鋪張諸天，建立地基，造人裡面之靈的耶和華說： 2 「我必使耶路撒冷被圍困的時候，向四圍列國的民成為令人昏醉的杯，這默示也論到猶大。

3 「那日，我必使耶路撒冷向聚集攻擊她的萬民當做一塊重石頭，凡舉起的必受重傷。」 4 耶和華說：「到那日，我必使一切馬匹驚惶，使騎馬的顛狂。我必看顧猶大家，使列國的一切馬匹瞎眼。 5 猶大的族長必心裡說：『耶路撒冷的居民倚靠萬軍之耶和華他們的神，就做我們的能力。』

在前一章裡神要先知扮演好牧人和壞牧人，以表達神對以色列人獻祭心態的厭惡，但是以色列人還是沒什麼反應。有時候我們聽神的話，似乎也是毫無反應。作完禮拜，查完經，大家一起去飲茶，去吃飯，把牧者的話都放在教堂，沒有帶回家。色列人雖然沒有反應，神卻沒有放棄，繼續給他們默示，期望能喚醒他們的靈。

這次神先介紹自己，希望以色列人記得祂是誰？祂是那鋪張諸天，建立地基，造人裡面之靈的耶和華。讓我們暫停一下，思想“鋪張諸天”是何意？諸天，表示天有很多層，好像保羅說他曾被提到第三層天(林後12:2)，這樣的事對人是個奧秘。能夠“鋪張諸天”，代表耶和華是怎樣的神呢？“建立地基”，現在很多人都想知道地球裡面是什麼，海的最深處在哪裡？有多深？但是人只能測察到一部份，目前人類鑽探的最深孔洞是位於俄羅斯的科拉超深鑽孔，但它也只深入地下12.3 公里而已。

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God Has a Bigger Vision for Your Life

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Haggai 2:10-23. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself and see what you can glean from it with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Then read this GAME sharing below. 
 
This passage is not an easy one to understand at first, but stick with me and you’re going to learn some powerful lessons.  Let’s go!

Haggai 2:11 (NIV) 
11 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: 

On verse 11:  Just as the Lord asked Haggai to test and question the priests about the Jewish law, as priests in God’s kingdom you and I need to know the word of God well so that we can answer the questions God places on the hearts of people around us.  May you study the Scriptures well and be someone “who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

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The Promise of God’s Presence Makes You Courageous

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Haggai 2:1-9. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself and see what you can glean from it with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Then read this GAME sharing below. 
 
Haggai 2:1-5 (NIV) 
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 
3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 
4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 
5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

On verses 1-5:  Over a month has passed since Haggai gave the Jews his first message found in chapter 1.  Now the Jews are a month into their mission of rebuilding the house of God in Jerusalem and are experiencing some challenges.  Haggai comes to them again with a word from God.  First Haggai acknowledges that the problem before their eyes seems great: after so many years God’s house does not seem to be anything compared to its former glory (v3).

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榮美和聯索之杖

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撒迦利亞書11:7  於是，我牧養這將宰的群羊，就是群中最困苦的羊。我拿著兩根杖，一根我稱為「榮美」，一根我稱為「聯索」。這樣，我牧養了群羊。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 11:1-17

1黎巴嫩哪，開開你的門，任火燒滅你的香柏樹！ 2 松樹啊，應當哀號！因為香柏樹傾倒，佳美的樹毀壞。巴珊的橡樹啊，應當哀號！因為茂盛的樹林已經倒了。 3 聽啊！有牧人哀號的聲音，因他們榮華的草場毀壞了；有少壯獅子咆哮的聲音，因約旦河旁的叢林荒廢了。

在第十章裡，神有許多應許，神說：“我要堅固猶大家，拯救約瑟家，要領他們歸回。我要憐恤他們，他們必像未曾棄絕的一樣。都因我是耶和華他們的神，我必應允他們的禱告”，但是以色列人必須向神求。這是神對人的要求，人必須和神有互動的關係。但是從歷史上來看，以色列人對神的反應很冷漠，甚至在神應許七十年後要帶他們回到耶路撒冷時，大部分被擄的以色列人都無動於衷，因為他們在異鄉已經打下了生活的基礎，懶得再動，也捨不得放棄好不容易積下來的家產。所以在第11章裡，是講到神對人冷漠的回應之審判。

先知藉著向黎巴嫩的呼喊，表明原本象徵榮美與堅固的香柏樹和松樹都要傾倒毀壞。開門的意思是門戶洞開，不再有防衛和保護的作用，任火燒滅，火代表侵略者，也代表神的審判。香柏樹是眾樹中最高大榮美之樹，是建造聖殿和王宮的材料，因此又可喻為國權和君王之倒下。他們是國家的牧人，帶領者，又是領袖，但是在國家被毀時，卻無力支撐，只能發出哀號。少壯獅子咆哮，因為牠們居住的叢林荒廢了，再也找不到住的地方。

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