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The Day of the Lord – What Is It and How To Prepare for It?

2024-01-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Peter 3:10-18.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below. 
 

2 Peter 3:10-14 (NIV) 
10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 
11  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 
12  as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 
13  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14  So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

On verses 10-14:  In these verses Peter is talking about “the day of the Lord” (v1)?  The “day of the Lord” is a term found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  It refers to the end times, or more specifically as we see in the New Testament, the time when Jesus will return to earth, physically raise Christians who have died back to life, gather His people, establish His kingdom and issue His final judgment on those who have rejected Him.  For this reason the New Testament writers sometimes refer to the day of the Lord as the day of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1;6, 10; 2:16).

勝利之歌

2024-01-24 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 9:9  錫安哪，應當大大喜樂；耶路撒冷啊，應當歡呼。看哪，你的王來到你這裏！祂是公義的，並且施行拯救，謙和地騎着驢，騎着小驢，驢的駒子。

讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 9:1-17

1耶和華的默示，他的話臨到哈得拉地、大馬士革—因世人和以色列各支派的眼目都向着耶和華—2 和鄰近的哈馬，以及推羅和西頓。因為它極有智慧，3 推羅為自己建造堅固城，堆起銀子如塵沙，純金如街上的泥土。4 看哪，主必趕出它，重創它海上的勢力，它必被火吞滅。

在〈撒迦利亞書〉第八章，聖殿已經重建，神也歸回耶路撒冷，“Shekinah”（上帝榮耀的顯現）要臨到百姓中間，神也要成就十大復興的應許。但是在復興到末世之間還會發生一些事情，第9-14章說的就是這些事情。

第9章是一首勝利之歌，耶和華要起來為祂的百姓爭戰。這首詩歌裡特別提到將要來的君王，要謙和地騎着驢駒子來到耶路撒冷。這讓你想到什麼嗎？一位大君王來世上爭戰，騎的竟然不是高大雄偉的戰馬，而是一匹小驢駒，這是怎麼一回事？南宋詩人陸游前往成都任安撫司參議官時，就是騎驢上任。但是騎驢上任的官，一般都是為了避免當地人的迎接；而主耶穌騎驢進耶路撒冷時，則是人群夾道歡迎，高呼：“和散那！奉主名來的以色列王是應當稱頌的！”

Hang Onto God’s Word

2024-01-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Peter 3:1-9.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below. 

2 Peter 3:1 (NIV) 
1  Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
 
On verse 1:  As an ongoing theme in 2 Peter, we see that successful Christian living is not just about constantly learning new things; it’s just as much about reminding ourselves of the truths of God’s Word that we often forget or take for granted.  How well you recall and rely on the promises of God’s Word will determine how well you live and deal with life’s challenges.
 

化憂傷為喜樂

2024-01-23 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 8:22  必有列邦的人和強國的民來到耶路撒冷，尋求萬軍之耶和華，懇求耶和華的恩。

讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 8:14-23

14 「萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們列祖惹我發怒的時候，我怎樣定意降禍並不後悔， 15 現在我照樣定意施恩於耶路撒冷和猶大家，你們不要懼怕。 16 你們所當行的是這樣：各人與鄰舍說話誠實，在城門口按至理判斷，使人和睦。 17 誰都不可心裡謀害鄰舍，也不可喜愛起假誓，因為這些事都為我所恨惡。這是耶和華說的。」

在第八章9-23節裡有三個預言，第一個預言是在9-13節，神應允他們必平安撒種，葡萄樹必結果子，地土必有出產，天也必降甘露。神要化咒詛為祝福。

第二個預言在15-19節。神定意施恩於耶路撒冷和猶大家。神並且回答伯特利人的問題，萬軍之耶和華如此說：“四月、五月禁食的日子，七月、十月禁食的日子，必變為猶大家歡喜快樂的日子和歡樂的節期”。換句話說，雖然神覺得他們禁食原是為了自身的利益，期望回到往日奢華的生活。但是神還是原諒他們，並且應許這些原本是悲傷記念的月份，都要變成歡樂的日子和節期。神好像是說：算了，不跟你們計較了，開開心心地過日子吧。

但是神又好像一個慈父，還是忍不住要說，“你們當行的是這樣”。過去的就算了，但是以後要這樣做才好：“各人與鄰舍說話誠實，在城門口按至理判斷，使人和睦。誰都不可心裡謀害鄰舍，也不可喜愛起假誓”。神喜歡誠實公平，及和睦。神恨惡人心裡謀害鄰舍，起假誓。假如我們真的愛神，就要明白神的愛惡。

作個比較

2024-01-22 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 8:13  猶大家和以色列家啊，你們從前在列國中怎樣成為可咒詛的，照樣，我要拯救你們，使人稱你們為有福的。你們不要懼怕，手要強壯！

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 8:9-13

9 「萬軍之耶和華如此說：當建造萬軍之耶和華的殿立根基之日的先知所說的話，現在你們聽見，應當手裡強壯。

你可曾自己在心裡做個比較，信主之前和信主之後有何改變？你的生活和生命有什麼不同？在神賜下八大異象，為以民除罪之後，神又命定要祝福他們。但是在祝福以先，神要他們思想建殿之前和之後的不同。

神提醒他們，在立聖殿的根基之日以前，那時 “人得不著雇價，牲畜也是如此；且因敵人的緣故，出入之人不得平安”。人得不著雇價，意思是找工作找不到，沒有人肯雇用他們；沒有工作就沒有收入，沒有收入就買不到要用的要吃的，生活就陷在貧困之中。連想利用牲畜去賺點糊口的錢都沒辦法。神坦然承認，那是祂的作為，祂使眾人互相攻擊。

你可能會覺得，怎麼會有這種事情？神不是愛我們的嗎？祂怎麼會故意讓人互相攻擊，讓我們找不到工作，讓我們沒有辦法有收入來糊口呢？但這是神要我們看見的真實面，我們若不以神的家為念，祂也必不以我們為念。這是神藉先知哈該給我們的信息：“你們盼望多得，所得的卻少，你們收到家中，我就吹去，這是為什麼呢？因為我的殿荒涼，你們各人卻顧自己的房屋。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。(1:9)”

3 Harmful Tendencies That Can Derail Your Destiny

2024-01-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Peter 2:10-22.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below. 

2 Peter 2:10-12 (NIV) 
10  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 
11  yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 
12  But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
 
On verses 10-12:  In addition to the characteristics of false teachers that we looked at in verse 1-9, the false teachers of Peter’s day had three other harmful tendencies.  First, the false teachers had a tendency to “despise authority” (v10).  They would show no respect for the spiritual authorities that God had placed over them.  “Bold and arrogant”, these false teachers had no qualms about speaking disrespectfully and slanderously about the spiritual authorities around them, including angels.  In so doing, they would “blaspheme [that is, make false statements] in matters they do not understand” (v12), not realizing that the consequence of their blasphemy would be the destruction of their own faith and life in God.

The Most Important Key to Successful Living

2024-01-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Peter 1:12-21.  It is one of my favourite passage in all the Bible and is packed with powerful truths.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.

2 Peter 1:12-15 (NIV) 
12  So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
13  I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
14  because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
15  And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

On verses 12-15:  Why is Peter so set on reminding his readers about these things?  Is it because he has nothing new to say?  No, it’s because in Peter’s mind there is nothing more important for him to do at this late stage of his life than to remind Christians that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life (v3), that trusting in God’s divine promises is the key to experiencing God’s power and living out God’s destiny for our lives (v4), and that being an effective, fruitful Christian is not just about having faith but about being intentional about growing in Christ-like character (v5-11).

萬軍之耶和華的話

2024-01-21 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 8:3 耶和華如此說：我現在回到錫安，要住在耶路撒冷中。耶路撒冷必稱為誠實的城，萬軍之耶和華的山必稱為聖山。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 8:1-8

1 萬軍之耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「萬軍之耶和華如此說：我為錫安心裡極其火熱，我為她火熱，向她的仇敵發烈怒。

3 耶和華如此說：我現在回到錫安，要住在耶路撒冷中。耶路撒冷必稱為誠實的城，萬軍之耶和華的山必稱為聖山。

當時回歸耶路撒冷的百姓處境十分艱難，也非常貧窮。但是在書1-6章的八大異象裡，神讓他們明白，他們的軟弱和苦痛都是因為自身的罪惡所引起的。因此神要潔淨大祭司約書亞的衣服，也要百姓不再偷竊和起假誓。神在八大異象中除去他們的罪，並應許為他們對付列邦的強權，也把轄制耶路撒冷的邪靈扔進容器，帶回巴比倫。現在神回到錫安，住在耶路撒冷，要成就異象中的應許。

在第八章的第一段經文裡，撒迦利亞寫下神對他說的話。撒迦利亞一再重複，這是“萬軍之耶和華的話”，表示這些話必然成就。因為不是從隨便一個人的口中說出的話，而是萬軍之耶和華的話，萬軍之耶和華的話絕不徒然返回。作為萬軍之統帥者，豈能有虛言？相信這些話必深深鼓勵了在苦難中的回歸之民。

伯特利人的疑問

2024-01-19 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 7:9  萬軍之耶和華如此說：你們要按真正的公平來審判，彼此以慈愛憐憫相待。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 7:1-14

1 大流士王第四年九月，就是基斯流月初四，耶和華的話臨到撒迦利亞。 2 那時伯特利人已經差遣沙利色和利堅‧米勒，並他們的人，去懇求耶和華的恩， 3 問萬軍之耶和華殿中的祭司，又問先知：「我當如歷年以來所行，在五月哭泣齋戒嗎？」

〈撒迦利亞書〉前六章裡講到先知看到的八個異象和一個先知性的行動，通通指向一件事，就是神的新國度將要開始。所羅巴伯回去建殿立了根基，之後被迫停工，一停就15年。之後神興起先知哈該及撒迦利亞鼓勵他們，要他們重新建造聖殿，他們就重新開工。來到這一章他們已經開工了兩年，現在是大利烏王第四年。

他們在重建的過程中有一個先知性行動，就是把金冠冕戴在大祭司約書亞的頭上，並且宣告大衛的苗裔要出現及長大，祂要建造耶和華的殿並且擔負尊榮，坐在自己的位上掌王權並作祭司，在兩職之間籌定和平。這是一個劃時代的改變。大祭司約書亞是利未人，利未人，即使坐到大祭司的位置也不會戴金冠冕，那是王的金冠冕。

God’s Power Has Given You Everything You Need

2024-01-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of 2 Peter, a letter written by the apostle Peter before his death in approximately 67 to 68 A.D. to Christians everywhere.

Today’s passage is 2 Peter 1:1-11.  It is one of my favourite passage in all the Bible and is packed with powerful truths.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.
 
2 Peter 1:1a (NIV) 
1  Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ…
 
On verse 1a:  There is much to be learned from the way Peter identifies himself.  Notice that Peter calls himself both “a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ”.  In other words, Peter had both humility and authority.  What can we learn from this?  The best leaders walk with both humility and authority.  As children of God, always remember that we have been given authority to represent God, to speak on His behalf, and to pray in His name.  That is great authority. At the same time, let’s carry that authority with humility, knowing that we are given that authority not because we earned it but because of God’s grace.