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The Promise of God’s Presence Makes You Courageous

2024-01-26 in /by

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).

荣美和联索之杖

2024-01-26 in , /by

撒迦利亚书11:7  于是，我牧养这将宰的群羊，就是群中最困苦的羊。我拿着两根杖，一根我称为「荣美」，一根我称为「联索」。这样，我牧养了群羊。

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书 11:1-17

1黎巴嫩哪，开开你的门，任火烧灭你的香柏树！ 2 松树啊，应当哀号！因为香柏树倾倒，佳美的树毁坏。巴珊的橡树啊，应当哀号！因为茂盛的树林已经倒了。 3 听啊！有牧人哀号的声音，因他们荣华的草场毁坏了；有少壮狮子咆哮的声音，因约旦河旁的丛林荒废了。

在第十章里，神有许多应许，神说：“我要坚固犹大家，拯救约瑟家，要领他们归回。我要怜恤他们，他们必像未曾弃绝的一样。都因我是耶和华他们的神，我必应允他们的祷告”，但是以色列人必须向神求。这是神对人的要求，人必须和神有互动的关系。但是从历史上来看，以色列人对神的反应很冷漠，甚至在神应许七十年后要带他们回到耶路撒冷时，大部分被掳的以色列人都无动于衷，因为他们在异乡已经打下了生活的基础，懒得再动，也舍不得放弃好不容易积下来的家产。所以在第11章里，是讲到神对人冷漠的回应之审判。

先知借着向黎巴嫩的呼喊，表明原本象征荣美与坚固的香柏树和松树都要倾倒毁坏。开门的意思是门户洞开，不再有防卫和保护的作用，任火烧灭，火代表侵略者，也代表神的审判。香柏树是众树中最高大荣美之树，是建造圣殿和王宫的材料，因此又可喻为国权和君王之倒下。他们是国家的牧人，带领者，又是领袖，但是在国家被毁时，却无力支撑，只能发出哀号。少壮狮子咆哮，因为牠们居住的丛林荒废了，再也找不到住的地方。

Whose House Are You Building?

2024-01-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of Haggai.  Despite being the second shortest book in the Old Testament, the book of Haggai is packed with powerful lessons.  
 
Here is some historical background that will help you understand what’s going on in the book of Haggai:
 
–  In approximately 612 B.C. Babylon became the pre-eminent power in the world after defeating Assyria and later Egypt in 605 B.C.  Babylon would invade Judah 3 times over the next 20 years and each time they would take Jewish captives with them back to Babylon.
 
–  In approximately 586 B.C. the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem where the Jews worshiped and took back with them to Babylon most of the Jews living in Jerusalem.  For the next several decades, the Jews would live as exiles in Babylon.
 
–  In approximately 539 B.C. the Persians defeated the Babylonians and allowed the Jews living in Babylon to return to Judah under the leadership of Zerubabbel as governor and Joshua as high priest.  The Persians gave the Jews permission to re-build the temple that the Babylonians destroyed.  However, after 6 years of trying to rebuild the temple (from 536 BC to 530 BC), the Jews gave up working on it and apathy set in.  

你们要向耶和华求雨

2024-01-25 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 10:12  我必使他们倚靠我得以坚固，一举一动必奉我的名。这是耶和华说的。

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书 10:1-12

1「当春雨的时候，你们要向发闪电的耶和华求雨，他必为众人降下甘霖，使田园生长菜蔬。 2 因为家神所言的是虚空，卜士所见的是虚假，做梦者所说的是假梦。他们白白地安慰人，所以众人如羊流离，因无牧人就受苦。 3 我的怒气向牧人发作，我必惩罚公山羊，因我万军之耶和华眷顾自己的羊群，就是犹大家，必使他们如骏马在阵上。 4 房角石、钉子、争战的弓和一切掌权的都从他而出。 5 他们必如勇士，在阵上将仇敌践踏在街上的泥土中。他们必争战，因为耶和华与他们同在，骑马的也必羞愧。

上一章讲到耶和华是战士，推罗西顿和非利士人要受审判，弥赛亚谦谦和和地骑着驴驹子进城，也讲到要攻击希腊的众子，其实是讲到三块不同的时空。〈撒迦利亚书〉是在波斯帝国、大利乌王时代所写，波斯帝国之后有希腊帝国，希腊帝国之后有罗马帝国，所以讲到耶稣要来就是在罗马帝国时的事，讲到要攻击希腊的众子，就是在希腊帝国时的事。当先知撒迦利亚在波斯帝国期间看到这些不同时空的场景，他也不知道自己所讲的场景会相隔这么久。另外，先知书之后，神沉默四百年，直到耶稣降临。

进到第10章，先知就说：「你们要向发闪电的耶和华求雨」(10:1b)。耶和华怎样使他们得胜？就是要他们开口祈求，否则，就算波斯帝国灭亡了，他们还是被奴役；就算罗马帝国灭亡了，以色列人还是被奴役。神的应许每一个年代都存在，可是这里面却少了一个元素，就是以色列人要起来开口求。有的人问，既然神知道我们的需要，为何还需要祷告？

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).

胜利之歌

2024-01-24 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 9:9  锡安哪，应当大大喜乐；耶路撒冷啊，应当欢呼。看哪，你的王来到你这里！祂是公义的，并且施行拯救，谦和地骑着驴，骑着小驴，驴的驹子。

读经文: 撒迦利亚书 9:1-17

1耶和华的默示，他的话临到哈得拉地、大马士革—因世人和以色列各支派的眼目都向着耶和华—2 和邻近的哈马，以及推罗和西顿。因为它极有智慧，3 推罗为自己建造坚固城，堆起银子如尘沙，纯金如街上的泥土。4 看哪，主必赶出它，重创它海上的势力，它必被火吞灭。

在〈撒迦利亚书〉第八章，圣殿已经重建，神也归回耶路撒冷，“Shekinah”（上帝荣耀的显现）要临到百姓中间，神也要成就十大复兴的应许。但是在复兴到末世之间还会发生一些事情，第9-14章说的就是这些事情。

第9章是一首胜利之歌，耶和华要起来为祂的百姓争战。这首诗歌里特别提到将要来的君王，要谦和地骑着驴驹子来到耶路撒冷。这让你想到什么吗？一位大君王来世上争战，骑的竟然不是高大雄伟的战马，而是一匹小驴驹，这是怎么一回事？南宋诗人陆游前往成都任安抚司参议官时，就是骑驴上任。但是骑驴上任的官，一般都是为了避免当地人的迎接；而主耶稣骑驴进耶路撒冷时，则是人群夹道欢迎，高呼：“和散那！奉主名来的以色列王是应当称颂的！”

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.
 

化忧伤为喜乐

2024-01-23 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 8:22  必有列邦的人和强国的民来到耶路撒冷，寻求万军之耶和华，恳求耶和华的恩。

读经文: 撒迦利亚书 8:14-23

14 「万军之耶和华如此说：你们列祖惹我发怒的时候，我怎样定意降祸并不后悔， 15 现在我照样定意施恩于耶路撒冷和犹大家，你们不要惧怕。 16 你们所当行的是这样：各人与邻舍说话诚实，在城门口按至理判断，使人和睦。 17 谁都不可心里谋害邻舍，也不可喜爱起假誓，因为这些事都为我所恨恶。这是耶和华说的。」

在第八章9-23节里有三个预言，第一个预言是在9-13节，神应允他们必平安撒种，葡萄树必结果子，地土必有出产，天也必降甘露。神要化咒诅为祝福。

第二个预言在15-19节。神定意施恩于耶路撒冷和犹大家。神并且回答伯特利人的问题，万军之耶和华如此说：“四月、五月禁食的日子，七月、十月禁食的日子，必变为犹大家欢喜快乐的日子和欢乐的节期”。换句话说，虽然神觉得他们禁食原是为了自身的利益，期望回到往日奢华的生活。但是神还是原谅他们，并且应许这些原本是悲伤记念的月份，都要变成欢乐的日子和节期。神好像是说：算了，不跟你们计较了，开开心心地过日子吧。

但是神又好像一个慈父，还是忍不住要说，“你们当行的是这样”。过去的就算了，但是以后要这样做才好：“各人与邻舍说话诚实，在城门口按至理判断，使人和睦。谁都不可心里谋害邻舍，也不可喜爱起假誓”。神喜欢诚实公平，及和睦。神恨恶人心里谋害邻舍，起假誓。假如我们真的爱神，就要明白神的爱恶。

作个比较

2024-01-22 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 8:13  犹大家和以色列家啊，你们从前在列国中怎样成为可咒诅的，照样，我要拯救你们，使人称你们为有福的。你们不要惧怕，手要强壮！

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书 8:9-13

9 「万军之耶和华如此说：当建造万军之耶和华的殿立根基之日的先知所说的话，现在你们听见，应当手里强壮。

你可曾自己在心里做个比较，信主之前和信主之后有何改变？你的生活和生命有什么不同？在神赐下八大异象，为以民除罪之后，神又命定要祝福他们。但是在祝福以先，神要他们思想建殿之前和之后的不同。

神提醒他们，在立圣殿的根基之日以前，那时 “人得不著雇价，牲畜也是如此；且因敌人的缘故，出入之人不得平安”。人得不著雇价，意思是找工作找不到，没有人肯雇用他们；没有工作就没有收入，没有收入就买不到要用的要吃的，生活就陷在贫困之中。连想利用牲畜去赚点糊口的钱都没办法。神坦然承认，那是祂的作为，祂使众人互相攻击。

你可能会觉得，怎么会有这种事情？神不是爱我们的吗？祂怎么会故意让人互相攻击，让我们找不到工作，让我们没有办法有收入来糊口呢？但这是神要我们看见的真实面，我们若不以神的家为念，祂也必不以我们为念。这是神藉先知哈该给我们的信息：“你们盼望多得，所得的却少，你们收到家中，我就吹去，这是为什么呢？因为我的殿荒凉，你们各人却顾自己的房屋。这是万军之耶和华说的。(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.