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When Pressure Leads to Growth

2023-07-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin our look at 2 Thessalonians, a letter written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica, probably in the early A.D. 50s, soon after he wrote 1 Thessalonians. 
 
Today’s passage is 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.  Let’s go!

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1  Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2  Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
On verses 1-2:  Thessalonica was an important port city, located in what is now modern day Greece.  When Paul started the church there during his second mission trip (Acts 17:1-10), Paul and his team faced dangerous persecution, so much so that Paul and his teammate Silas were sent away for safety reasons.  From this letter we’re about to read, it will become evident that the Christians who remained in Thessalonica continued to face persecution for their faith.

God’s Will for Your Life

2023-07-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28.  Let’s go!
 
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NIV)
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 
 
On verses 12-13:  This past weekend I got to witness one of our ministry teams at Thrive honouring their team leader and thanking her for her hard work leading them.  It was cool to see verses 12-13 lived out that way.  For how we treat our church leaders is a reflection of our character, maturity and commitment to Jesus and His church. 
 
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)
14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 
 
On verse 14:  When you notice other brothers and sisters in the church who may seem idle, timid, or weak in a certain area, be patient with them.  In addition, be sensitive to what they need: in some cases what they may need is a warning, in some cases encouragement, and in other cases other help.  May the Holy Spirit give you a discerning heart to know what those around you need and how best to give it to them.

求告和應允

2023-07-11 in , /by

耶利米書 33:3 你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。

閱讀經文:  33:1-9

1 耶利米還囚在護衛兵的院內，耶和華的話第二次臨到他說： 2 「成就的是耶和華，造做為要建立的也是耶和華，耶和華是祂的名，祂如此說： 3 你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。

根據《舊約聖經背景注釋》，城被圍攻時，靠近城牆的（平民、王族）住宅都被軍方徵用。有些用作司令部和軍營，有些被拆卸作為加強防禦工事的材料，有些用作臨時醫院和殮房，有些則被拆毀來提供地方增建城樓、護堤、反坡道（counter-ramp）。拉吉的城牆之內發現了反坡道的遺跡，其功用是強化城牆，抵抗敵軍在城外建築的攻城坡道。考古學家又在耶路撒冷俯瞰汲淪溪穀的東坡發現了大量的磚石，相信是巴比倫軍攻城時，梯田之上民居被拆毀的證據。

神以祂奇妙的方式保護耶利米。當城內的糧食逐漸減少，許多人沒有東西可吃時，耶利米因為被囚在護衛兵的院內，所以每天有一個餅吃。

How to Get Ready for Jesus’ Return

2023-07-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Let’s go !

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 (NIV)
1  Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,
2  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3  While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4  But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5  You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6  So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8  But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

On verse 1-8:  Jesus is returning one day. The question is not if, but when, He will return. The best way you can prepare for Jesus’ return is not by trying to figure out the exact date and time of His return — something which Jesus Himself says He doesn’t know (Mark 13:32) and something which Paul says he won’t bother writing about (v1).  Rather, the best way to prepare for Jesus’ return is by living a life of faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ every day.

耶利米的禱告

2023-07-10 in , /by

耶利米書 32:27  我是耶和華，是凡有血氣者的神，豈有我難成的事嗎？

閱讀經文:  32:16-44

16 我將買契交給尼利亞的兒子巴錄以後，便禱告耶和華說： 17 「主耶和華啊，你曾用大能和伸出來的膀臂創造天地，在你沒有難成的事。 18 你施慈愛於千萬人，又將父親的罪孽報應在他後世子孫的懷中，是至大全能的神，萬軍之耶和華是你的名。 19 謀事有大略，行事有大能，注目觀看世人一切的舉動，為要照各人所行的和他做事的結果報應他。

耶利米也是人，雖然是先知，想的事也有平常人的一面。在軍臨城下時買地，實在有違常情。耶利米曉得，大勢已去，“其實這城已交在迦勒底人的手中了”。神啊，祢為什麼還要我做這賠本的生意？在人看來，這一點都不精明。神的話在各方面都應驗了，祂領了百姓出埃及，又將迦南地賜給他們。現今因為以色列家的罪，神使一切災禍臨到他們，耶路撒冷聖城也因刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫交在攻城的迦勒底人手中。但是，為什麼要在此時買地呢？

這是我們可以向耶利米學的一個功課，心裡不明白，就直接問。不要到處問，因為人不能明白神的心意。我們有不明白的地方，可以到神面前向神求問，因為祂是我們的天父。很奇妙的一件事，當你向人求問時，往往得不到滿意的答案，或是牽強附會的說法，使你的疑問永遠懸著。但是當我們求問神時，多問幾次，忽然之間就忘了它似的；但是當神把答案擺在我們眼前時，我們就會記起來，而且領悟到，原來神從未忘記。

耶利米買地

2023-07-09 in , /by

耶利米書 32:10 我在契上畫押，將契封緘，又請見證人來，並用天平將銀子平給他。

閱讀經文:  32:1-15

1 猶大王西底家第十年，就是尼布甲尼撒十八年，耶和華的話臨到耶利米。 2 那時巴比倫王的軍隊圍困耶路撒冷，先知耶利米囚在護衛兵的院內，在猶大王的宮中。 3 因為猶大王西底家已將他囚禁，說：「你為什麼預言說『耶和華如此說：我必將這城交在巴比倫王的手中，他必攻取這城。 4 猶大王西底家必不能逃脫迦勒底人的手，定要交在巴比倫王的手中，要口對口彼此說話，眼對眼彼此相看。 5 巴比倫王必將西底家帶到巴比倫，西底家必住在那裡，直到我眷顧他的時候。你們雖與迦勒底人爭戰，卻不順利。這是耶和華說的』？」

在猶大王西底家第十年，正是巴比倫圍攻耶路撒冷，水深火熱的時候。因為耶利米傳了神的信息，告訴西底家，若是投降，必可存活；若不肯，就會遭受極大的不幸，像爛掉的無花果一樣。西底家王十分盼望耶利米可以傳出神必拯救的信息，但是耶利米不改其口，神說必把耶路撒冷交在巴比倫王手中。何等揪心。為何西底家會如此在意耶利米的信息？同時不是有很多假先知說，神必不將耶路撒冷交在巴比倫王手中嗎？為何西底家不相信他們？

Raise Your Love Game

2023-07-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18. Let’s go!
 
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 
 
On verses 9-10:  Apparently, other than in the area of sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8), the Christians in Thessalonica were generally quite good at loving one another.  Paul encourages them to do so more and more.
 
What can we learn from this?  When it comes to loving others, aim to love people better and better, more and more.  Don’t settle for where you’re at.  Jesus’ love for people is all-surpassing and without limit.  May His unparalleled love cause you to aim higher when it comes to loving people.  Let’s raise our love game. 

另立新約

2023-07-07 in , /by

耶利米書 31:31  耶和華說：日子將到，我要與以色列家和猶大家另立新約。

閱讀經文:  31:21-40

21 「以色列民哪，你當為自己設立指路碑，豎起引路柱，你要留心向大路，就是你所去的原路。你當回轉，回轉到你這些城邑。 22 背道的民哪，你翻來覆去要到幾時呢？耶和華在地上造了一件新事，就是女子護衛男子。」

華理克牧師寫了一本書：《標杆人生The Purpose Driven Life》，2002年出版之後，到2020年已被翻譯成85種語言，在紐約暢銷書排行版上連續50週之久，已賣了超過五千萬本，風迷了全球，有許多人的生命因而受到影響。因為當大家都在尋找人生的意義和目的時，他明確地為眾人指出人生的標杆是什麼？怎樣去活出一個有標杆的人生，不再渾渾噩噩、糊里糊塗地生活下去。

因此神向以色列民指出，他們當為自己設立指路碑，豎起引路柱，然後留心大路。當以色列民被擄之後，他們可還記得回家的路？神要他們明白，在他們的人生裡有一件很重要的事，就是要找到所去的原路，才能回轉到原先所住的城邑。因為那是神的應許。回家，神一直要我們好好地去設立正確的指路碑，豎起正確的引路柱，好讓自己和後人都有依循，才能回到神賜給他們的應許之地。他們必須立下心志，確定心意，不可以再翻來覆去改變心意，因為人生很短，一轉眼就再也走不動，那時就後悔莫及了。

God and Sex

2023-07-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Let’s go!
 
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (NIV)
1  Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
2  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4  that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5  not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

On verses 1-8: It appears that some members of the church in Thessalonica were engaging in sexual immorality – that is, having sex outside of marriage. So Paul takes the opportunity to remind the church about the instructions he and his team had earlier given on sex. He says that it is God’s will (v3) and God’s instructions “by the authority of the Lord Jesus” (v2) that God’s people should avoid sexual immorality.

The Heartbeat of a Pastor

2023-07-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13.  Let’s go!

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NIV)
1  So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
2  We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3  so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
4  In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
5  For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
 
On verses 1-5:  From this passage we get an inside look into what makes a pastor’s heart beat.  First, we learn that a pastor is concerned for the well-being of the church.  Notice that in verses 1 and 5, Paul repeats these words, “When we/I could stand it no longer”.  Paul here is talking about the pain of being separated from his spiritual family in Thessalonica and not being able to know how the church was doing.  So what did Paul do? He sent his spiritual son and disciple, Timothy, to the Thessalonian believers to find out how they are doing (v2).