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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.

求告和应允

2023-07-11 in , /by

耶利米书 33:3 你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道、又大又难的事指示你。

阅读经文:  33:1-9

1 耶利米还囚在护卫兵的院内，耶和华的话第二次临到他说： 2 「成就的是耶和华，造做为要建立的也是耶和华，耶和华是祂的名，祂如此说： 3 你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道、又大又难的事指示你。

根据《旧约圣经背景注释》，城被围攻时，靠近城墙的（平民、王族）住宅都被军方征用。有些用作司令部和军营，有些被拆卸作为加强防御工事的材料，有些用作临时医院和殓房，有些则被拆毁来提供地方增建城楼、护堤、反坡道（counter-ramp）。拉吉的城墙之内发现了反坡道的遗迹，其功用是强化城墙，抵抗敌军在城外建筑的攻城坡道。考古学家又在耶路撒冷俯瞰汲沦溪谷的东坡发现了大量的砖石，相信是巴比伦军攻城时，梯田之上民居被拆毁的证据。

神以祂奇妙的方式保护耶利米。当城内的粮食逐渐减少，许多人没有东西可吃时，耶利米因为被囚在护卫兵的院内，所以每天有一个饼吃。

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.

耶利米的祷告

2023-07-10 in , /by

耶利米书 32:27  我是耶和华，是凡有血气者的神，岂有我难成的事吗？

阅读经文:  32:16-44

16 我将买契交给尼利亚的儿子巴录以后，便祷告耶和华说： 17 「主耶和华啊，你曾用大能和伸出来的膀臂创造天地，在你没有难成的事。 18 你施慈爱于千万人，又将父亲的罪孽报应在他后世子孙的怀中，是至大全能的神，万军之耶和华是你的名。 19 谋事有大略，行事有大能，注目观看世人一切的举动，为要照各人所行的和他做事的结果报应他。

耶利米也是人，虽然是先知，想的事也有平常人的一面。在军临城下时买地，实在有违常情。耶利米晓得，大势已去，“其实这城已交在迦勒底人的手中了”。神啊，祢为什么还要我做这赔本的生意？在人看来，这一点都不精明。神的话在各方面都应验了，祂领了百姓出埃及，又将迦南地赐给他们。现今因为以色列家的罪，神使一切灾祸临到他们，耶路撒冷圣城也因刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫交在攻城的迦勒底人手中。但是，为什么要在此时买地呢？

这是我们可以向耶利米学的一个功课，心里不明白，就直接问。不要到处问，因为人不能明白神的心意。我们有不明白的地方，可以到神面前向神求问，因为祂是我们的天父。很奇妙的一件事，当你向人求问时，往往得不到满意的答案，或是牵强附会的说法，使你的疑问永远悬著。但是当我们求问神时，多问几次，忽然之间就忘了它似的；但是当神把答案摆在我们眼前时，我们就会记起来，而且领悟到，原来神从未忘记。

耶利米买地

2023-07-09 in , /by

耶利米书 32:10 我在契上画押，将契封缄，又请见证人来，并用天平将银子平给他。

阅读经文:  32:1-15

1 犹大王西底家第十年，就是尼布甲尼撒十八年，耶和华的话临到耶利米。 2 那时巴比伦王的军队围困耶路撒冷，先知耶利米囚在护卫兵的院内，在犹大王的宫中。 3 因为犹大王西底家已将他囚禁，说：「你为什么预言说『耶和华如此说：我必将这城交在巴比伦王的手中，他必攻取这城。 4 犹大王西底家必不能逃脱迦勒底人的手，定要交在巴比伦王的手中，要口对口彼此说话，眼对眼彼此相看。 5 巴比伦王必将西底家带到巴比伦，西底家必住在那里，直到我眷顾他的时候。你们虽与迦勒底人争战，却不顺利。这是耶和华说的』？」

在犹大王西底家第十年，正是巴比伦围攻耶路撒冷，水深火热的时候。因为耶利米传了神的信息，告诉西底家，若是投降，必可存活；若不肯，就会遭受极大的不幸，像烂掉的无花果一样。西底家王十分盼望耶利米可以传出神必拯救的信息，但是耶利米不改其口，神说必把耶路撒冷交在巴比伦王手中。何等揪心。为何西底家会如此在意耶利米的信息？同时不是有很多假先知说，神必不将耶路撒冷交在巴比伦王手中吗？为何西底家不相信他们？

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. 

另立新约

2023-07-07 in , /by

耶利米书 31:31  耶和华说：日子将到，我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约。

阅读经文:  31:21-40

21 「以色列民哪，你当为自己设立指路碑，竖起引路柱，你要留心向大路，就是你所去的原路。你当回转，回转到你这些城邑。 22 背道的民哪，你翻来覆去要到几时呢？耶和华在地上造了一件新事，就是女子护卫男子。」

华理克牧师写了一本书：《标杆人生The Purpose Driven Life》，2002年出版之后，到2020年已被翻译成85种语言，在纽约畅销书排行版上连续50周之久，已卖了超过五千万本，风迷了全球，有许多人的生命因而受到影响。因为当大家都在寻找人生的意义和目的时，他明确地为众人指出人生的标杆是什么？怎样去活出一个有标杆的人生，不再浑浑噩噩、糊里糊涂地生活下去。

因此神向以色列民指出，他们当为自己设立指路碑，竖起引路柱，然后留心大路。当以色列民被掳之后，他们可还记得回家的路？神要他们明白，在他们的人生里有一件很重要的事，就是要找到所去的原路，才能回转到原先所住的城邑。因为那是神的应许。回家，神一直要我们好好地去设立正确的指路碑，竖起正确的引路柱，好让自己和后人都有依循，才能回到神赐给他们的应许之地。他们必须立下心志，确定心意，不可以再翻来覆去改变心意，因为人生很短，一转眼就再也走不动，那时就后悔莫及了。

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).