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Prayer Brings Hope

We are never without hope because we are never without prayer. Prayer confesses, “God can handle it, and since he can, I have hope!” When we pray in the name of Jesus, we come to God on the basis of Jesus’ accomplishment. The Scripture says, “Since we have such a great high priest [Jesus] over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:21-22).

Some people say, “Prayer changes things because it changes us.” I agree, but only in part. Prayer changes things because prayer appeals to the top power in the universe. It is the yes to God’s invitation to invoke his name. Prayer moves the world because prayer moves the heart of God.

巴蘭的咒詛變祝福

〈民數記〉23章20節    我奉命祝福;神也曾賜福,此事我不能翻轉。

第一次,巴勒帶巴蘭來到一個名為巴力的高處,從那裡往下,可以望到以色列民的營地。巴蘭對神有一些了解,因為他要求摩押王巴勒為他準備七座壇,七隻公牛、七隻公羊。在《聖經》裡,有許多地方都顯示「七」代表神的數目。一週有七天,神在第七天安息,又立第七日為安息日,聖所的金燈台有七座;人若犯罪,祭司應當七次為他蘸血,七次灑血在聖所的幔前;贖罪日的血要七次灑在施恩座前,〈啟示錄〉裡的七間教會,等等。說不完的「七」例子。巴蘭對巴勒明說,他得準備去迎見耶和華神,看看神要他說什麼。

神迎見巴蘭,將話傳給巴蘭。

等巴蘭一開口,巴勒不禁愣住了,他究竟是請巴蘭來做何事呢?他付了一大筆錢給這傢伙,聽聽他說些什麼?:「巴勒引我出亞蘭,摩押王引我出東山,說:來啊,為我咒詛雅各;來啊,怒罵以色列。神沒有咒詛的,我焉能咒詛?耶和華沒有怒罵的,我焉能怒罵?我從高峰看他,從小山望他;這是獨居的民,不列在萬民中。誰能數點雅各的塵土?誰能計算以色列的四分之一?我願如義人之死而死;我願如義人之終而終。 (23:7-10) 」

Prayer in it’s Purest Form

Mark 1:35 says, “Jesus went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

This dialogue must have been common among His friends: “Has anyone seen Jesus?” “Oh, you know. He’s up to the same thing.” “Praying again?” “Yep. He’s been gone since sunrise.”

Jesus would even disappear for an entire night of prayer. Prayer for most of us, isn’t a matter of a month-long retreat or even an hour of meditation. It’s a conversation with God while driving to work or waiting for an appointment. God will teach you to pray. We speak. He listens. He speaks. We listen. It’s prayer in its purest form. God changes His people through such moments.

Here’s my challenge for you! Every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before!

會說話的驢

〈民數記〉22:33   驢看見我就三次從我面前偏過去,驢若沒有偏過去,我早把你殺了,留牠存活。

以色列人在比珥歡歡喜喜地享用了神給他們的水,又從巴末到摩押地的谷,到那下望曠野之毘斯迦的山頂。毘斯迦的山頂是尼波山的山峰之一,也是摩西的最後一站。但是當神的時間尚未到時,摩西繼續帶領以色列人戰勝亞摩利王西宏,巴珊王噩和他的眾民,長驅直入直到約但河東的摩押平原,對著耶利哥安營。

這時摩押王,西撥的兒子巴勒心急如焚,他聯合米甸的長老,因為以色列人:「要把我們四圍所有的一概餂盡,就如牛餂盡田間的草一般。」他不知道,神不允許以色列人侵犯摩押人:「耶和華吩咐我說:不可擾害摩押人,也不可與他們爭戰。他們的地,我不賜給你為業,因我已將亞珥賜給羅得的子孫為業。(申2:9)」

假如摩押人認識神,他們就不會因為以色列人的來臨而驚慌,因為亞伯拉罕的緣故,神已經把那地賜他們為業。

銅蛇代表的恩典

〈民數記〉21:9  摩西便製造一條銅蛇,掛在杆子上。凡被蛇咬的,一望這銅蛇就活了。

38年前在加低斯,摩西差派12個探子去窺探迦南地。以色列人聽信10個探子的話而發怨言,惹動神的怒氣,被罰再走曠野38年。聽到惡訊後,以色列人為了向神表示願意進迦南,沒有得到神的允許,就衝出去和迦南人打仗。但是因為沒有神的同在,他們被打得七零八落,被殺退直到何珥瑪。38年後,他們來到同一個地方,這次他們先取得神的同意,再出去爭戰。戰爭的果效大大不同,他們竟然把迦南人和迦南人的城邑盡行毀滅,後來那地方就取名「何珥瑪」。這是一個何等大的轉變啊!迦南人的強壯高大並沒有改變,但是因為以色列人的信心有了改進,他們就得勝了。

何珥瑪的意思是「毀滅」。為何神允許以色列人毀滅迦南人?當然這裡指的是一小部份的迦南人,也就是曾經擊敗他們的,住在南地的亞拉得王。因為這是神要帶領他們進駐的地方,是神給以色列人的應許之地。神把這地給了以色列人,因為迦南人敗壞的風俗污染了這地,甚至連地也要把這些人吐出去(利18:24-25)。當神的審判臨到時,毀滅便是唯一的結果。

死是眾人的結局

〈民數記〉20章28節     摩西把亞倫的聖衣脫下來,給他的兒子以利亞撒穿上,亞倫就死在山頂那裡。於是摩西和以利亞撒下了山。

今天讀到以色列的三位領袖兩位離世見主,一位被判不得入迦南,似乎不是什麼好結局。但是若從另一個角度來看,亞倫有了傳人,他的兒子以利亞撒接續他做大祭司,生命就是如此延續下來,這就是傳承,未嘗不是一件好事。

〈傳道書〉七章2節說,「往遭喪的家去,強如往宴樂的家去;因為死是眾人的結局,活人也必將這事放在心上。」假如我們能把這些事放在心上,我們才會求主給我們智慧,來數算前面的日子,因而得福,不是嗎?

〈民數記〉20章的一開始是米利暗的過世,最後則是亞倫過世。中間是以色列人在加低斯因為沒有水喝就攻擊摩西和亞倫,以致摩西生氣。神要他吩咐磐石出水,他卻用杖打磐石。這下子神也生氣了,說他們沒有在會眾面前尊重神,因此兩人都不得進迦南。那水就稱為米利巴水。

Jesus’ Example of Prayer

We can’t even get the cable company to answer us, yet God will? The doctor’s too busy, but God isn’t? We have our doubts about prayer!

Jesus raised people from the dead. But a “How to Vacate the Cemetery” seminar? His followers never called for one. But they did want Him to do this– “Lord, teach us to pray.” Might their interest have something to do with the jaw-dropping promise Jesus attached to prayer? “Ask and it will be given to you.” When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray He gave them a prayer.

Could you use the same? Father, You are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Before amen—comes the power of a simple prayer. Punctuate your day with it!

Prayer 101

Some people excel in prayer. They are the SEAL Team Six of intercession. They’d rather pray than sleep. Why is it I sleep when I pray? It’s not that we don’t pray at all; we all pray some. Surveys indicate one in five unbelievers prays daily. Just in case, perhaps?

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them a prayer. A quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Could you use the same? “Father, You are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for 4 weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

除污穢的水

〈民數記〉19:9 必有一個潔淨的人收起母牛的灰,存在營外潔淨的地方,為以色列會眾調做除污穢的水,這本是除罪的。

神叫摩西要在營外燒一隻紅母牛成灰,加活水,做成除污穢的水。一切不潔淨的人若要到聖殿去敬拜或服侍,都必須用除污穢的水灑在身上,才能成為潔淨。若沒有灑除污穢的水在他身上,他是不潔淨的,就不可以進會幕或聖殿敬拜神。當然,也不可以參與服事,這也包括了祭司和大祭司。因為我們都是不潔淨,沾染污穢的人。但是想找到一隻全身紅毛,沒有任何雜毛的母牛,談何容易?

有人說,要找到一頭紅母牛,就好像要在一堆乾草裡找一根針那麼困難。根據猶太人的資料,從摩西到希律建的第二聖殿被毀,兩千年來一共才燒了八頭紅母牛(有的說九頭)。第一頭紅母牛是摩西燒的,以斯拉燒了第二頭,大祭司公義的西緬和友加拿(Simon the Just and Yochanan) 曾經各燒了兩頭, Elioenai ben HaQayaph 和埃及人 Hanameel 曾經各燒了一頭。可見這牛燒了以後,收集起來的灰不少,可以用很久。猶太人相信摩西燒了第一頭紅母牛,彌賽亞來了以後會燒最後一頭紅母牛。很可惜,他們不知道彌賽亞耶穌已經把自己獻上,靠著祂完成的救恩,我們得以潔淨,再也不需要除污穢的水了。當然,也不必再去找紅母牛。

Prayer is Portable

Some people excel in prayer. They are the SEAL Team Six of intercession. They’d rather pray than sleep. Why is it I sleep when I pray? It’s not that we don’t pray at all; we all pray some. Surveys indicate one in five unbelievers prays daily. Just in case, perhaps?

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them a prayer. A quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Could you use the same? “Father, You are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for 4 weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.