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Your New Identity in Christ and The Power of Confessing Your Sins

2023-06-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

We can learn some powerful lessons from today’s passage: Ephesians 5:8-14.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 5:8 (NIV) 
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 

On verse 8: Before Christ came into our lives, we were in the dark.  But with Jesus Christ in your life, not only do you have the light, but verse 8 says you are the light.  Just as Jesus is the light of the world (John 9:5), so His followers are the light too (Matthew 5:11).  That’s who you are now: “light in the Lord”.  So embrace your new identity in Christ as “children of light”. 

Ephesians 5:9 (NIV) 
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 

On verse 9:  Whenever you live out your new identity in Christ, the effect is that you bear fruit!  Your life becomes a blessing and an encouragement to others, a reminder of all the things that Jesus is — goodness, righteousness and truth.  

A Life of Love

2023-06-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 5:1-7.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) 
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

On verses 1-2:  This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible.  It’s worth memorizing!  Not only is this verse beautifully written; it’s also a great summary of what it means to be a Christian.   It sums up some of the big truths that Paul writes about elsewhere:

– that we are dearly loved children in God’s eyes

– that Jesus showed us His love in the most practical way: He gave Himself up for us as a sacrifice to pay for our sins (This verse reminds me of Galatians 2:20 where Paul says that it was Jesus “who loved me and gave himself up for me”)

– that, in response to God’s love for us, we are called to be like God and to love the way He did. (Earlier in Ephesians 4:24 Paul tells us we are created to be like God in righteousness and holiness.  Here he tells us we are called to be like God in how we love too.)

頑梗的心有何益處

2023-06-02 in , /by

耶利米書8:20  麥秋已過，夏令已完，我們還未得救！

閱讀經文: 8:1-22

1 耶和華說：「到那時，人必將猶大王的骸骨和他首領的骸骨、祭司的骸骨、先知的骸骨並耶路撒冷居民的骸骨，都從墳墓中取出來， 2 拋散在日頭、月亮和天上眾星之下，就是他們從前所喜愛、所侍奉、所隨從、所求問、所敬拜的。這些骸骨不再收殮，不再葬埋，必在地面上成為糞土。 3 並且這惡族所剩下的民在我所趕他們到的各處，寧可揀死不揀生。」這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

不管是古代或現代，人對死者的骸骨都有一定的尊重。即使不能厚葬，那些無人認領的屍體也有一定的去處，總不會把屍骨到處亂丟。但是因為猶大人離棄了耶和華神，所以不但命定的滅亡將來臨，連那些已經在墳墓的，也會受到拜偶像的報應。

在戰役之中，挖屍刨墳是常有的事。一來為了表示得勝者的威風，要刻意侮辱被打敗的人；二來風聞歷代君王貴族或富人在下葬時，免不了有金銀珠寶的陪葬，所以趁機撈一筆。

因為他們在生前祭拜日頭、月亮和天上眾星，所以神就任憑他們的屍骨暴露在地面上，看看他們所拜的能為他們做些什麼？當然，太陽月亮和星星都是受造於神，實在不能做什麼，所以這些拜偶像的人之骸骨必在地面上成為糞土。讓猶大人看看他們揀死不揀生的結局。

8 Habits for Healthy Relationships

2023-06-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:25-32.  Let’s go!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:25-32.  There are so many relevant truths to apply from this one passage.  For a teacher of God’s Word it’s hard to pick just one to focus on!  That’s how rich this passage is.
 
Ephesians 4:25-32 (NIV)
25  Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27  and do not give the devil a foothold.
28  He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

On verses 25-32:  This passage contains 8 essential habits for healthy relationships.  Which one of these relationship tips do you especially need to apply today?

揀死不揀生

2023-06-01 in , /by

耶利米書8:20  麥秋已過，夏令已完，我們還未得救！

閱讀經文: 8:1-22

1 耶和華說：「到那時，人必將猶大王的骸骨和他首領的骸骨、祭司的骸骨、先知的骸骨並耶路撒冷居民的骸骨，都從墳墓中取出來， 2 拋散在日頭、月亮和天上眾星之下，就是他們從前所喜愛、所侍奉、所隨從、所求問、所敬拜的。這些骸骨不再收殮，不再葬埋，必在地面上成為糞土。 3 並且這惡族所剩下的民在我所趕他們到的各處，寧可揀死不揀生。」這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

不管是古代或現代，人對死者的骸骨都有一定的尊重。即使不能厚葬，那些無人認領的屍體也有一定的去處，總不會把屍骨到處亂丟。但是因為猶大人離棄了耶和華神，所以不但命定的滅亡將來臨，連那些已經在墳墓的，也會受到拜偶像的報應。

在戰役之中，挖屍刨墳是常有的事。一來為了表示得勝者的威風，要刻意侮辱被打敗的人；二來風聞歷代君王貴族或富人在下葬時，免不了有金銀珠寶的陪葬，所以趁機撈一筆。

因為他們在生前祭拜日頭、月亮和天上眾星，所以神就任憑他們的屍骨暴露在地面上，看看他們所拜的能為他們做些什麼？當然，太陽月亮和星星都是受造於神，實在不能做什麼，所以這些拜偶像的人之骸骨必在地面上成為糞土。讓猶大人看看他們揀死不揀生的結局。

太不聽話囉！

2023-05-31 in , /by

耶利米書7:23   我只吩咐他們這一件，說：『你們當聽從我的話，我就做你們的神，你們也做我的子民。你們行我所吩咐的一切道，就可以得福。』

閱讀經文:  7:21-34

21 萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說：「你們將燔祭加在平安祭上，吃肉吧！ 22 因為我將你們列祖從埃及地領出來的那日，燔祭平安祭的事我並沒有提說，也沒有吩咐他們。 23 我只吩咐他們這一件，說：『你們當聽從我的話，我就做你們的神，你們也做我的子民。你們行我所吩咐的一切道，就可以得福。』

在什麼時刻，你會亮出自己嚇人的招牌呢？在教會裡有很多弟兄姐妹行事為人都很低調，雖然是出名的鋼琴家或什麼主任的，也都平易近人。但是一旦到了社會上，你可能會發現，亮出招牌，有時會有意想不到的效果，辦事會容易一點。因為大多數人都是只敬羅裳不敬人，或只看職位不認人。所以你若是醫生或律師或校長，一亮出招牌，立刻就會感受到對方態度的改變。今天你會發現，神也拿出了一面招牌：萬軍之耶和華以色列的神。

萬軍之耶和華是指God-of-the-Angel-Armies（天使天軍之神）。假如今天加拿大或美國的三軍統帥來跟你說話，你聽不聽呢？平常看到警察就嚇得魂不附體的小民，一旦看到滿身勳章的大老爺，豈能不恭敬地相迎，每一句話都至少記上三遍，哪敢掉以輕心？所以這意思是，假如你害怕人間的執掌權柄的人，那就更要小心，那執掌天上地下權勢的，萬軍之耶和華。

3 Steps to a Brand New Life

2023-05-31 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:17-24.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV)
17  So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20  You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.

On verses 17-24:  Paul tells all the Christians in his church that they must no longer live as the non-believing world around them does (v17).  He describes the thinking of non-believing Gentiles as “futile” (v17), “darkened” (v18) and “separated from the life of God” (v18).  He attributes their darkened thinking to the hardening of their hearts (“having lost all sensitivity” – v19).  When the heart gets hardened, the mind gets darkened.  That’s what sin does: it starts in the heart, then affects the person’s thoughts, and eventually it takes over their body, until they “give themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity” (v19).

3 Keys to Deeper, Stronger Relationships in the Church

2023-05-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:7-16.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 4:7-8 (NIV)
7  But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
8  This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”

On verses 7-8:  Even though God has called all of us to the same hope, the same body, the same Saviour in Jesus, the same faith, the same baptism and the same God (v6), each of us has also been given different and unique gifts, “as Christ apportioned it” (v7).  There is both unity and diversity in the body of Christ.  To support this idea of Christ giving different gifts to His people, Paul does something puzzling.  He seems to be quoting or paraphrasing Psalm 68:18, although when you read Psalm 68:18 and compare it to Ephesians 4:8, there are obvious differences.  Why is that?  We don’t know for sure.

神的應許

2023-05-30 in , /by

耶利米書7:3  萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說：你們改正行動作為，我就使你們在這地方仍然居住。

閱讀經文:  7:1-20

1 耶和華的話臨到耶利米說： 2 「你當站在耶和華殿的門口，在那裡宣傳這話說：『你們進這些門敬拜耶和華的一切猶大人，當聽耶和華的話！ 3 萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說：你們改正行動作為，我就使你們在這地方仍然居住。 4 你們不要倚靠虛謊的話說：「這些是耶和華的殿，是耶和華的殿，是耶和華的殿。」 5 你們若實在改正行動作為，在人和鄰舍中間誠然施行公平， 6 不欺壓寄居的和孤兒寡婦，在這地方不流無辜人的血，也不隨從別神陷害自己， 7 我就使你們在這地方仍然居住，就是我古時所賜給你們列祖的地，直到永遠。

據說在毛主席去世後，有不少人把他的小雕像當成護身符來使用，有的掛在車上，有的戴在胸前。就好像人拜關公一樣，這些名人死了，什麼都不知道了，也化為塵土了，但是活著的人卻希望他們的靈魂能回來護庇他們。又好像有人把聖經這本書或十字架拿來當護身符一樣，把希望寄託在這些物質之上。這些雕像或書籍的成分都是經由人手所做，難道因為給了個名字，就會產生巨大的能力嗎？那麼我們只要把身邊的東西都取個特別的名字，不就等於有千軍萬馬的保護了嗎？富人或政客何必要請保鑣呢？若不是人太自大，以為有權柄可以動用死人的靈魂，就是人太愚蠢，把自己的希望寄放在沒有生命的物質之上。

You Have A Calling From God

2023-05-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:1-6.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 4:1 (NIV) 
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

On verse 1:  God has a calling on your life.  A calling is an invitation from God to live your life for a purpose bigger than yourself, for God’s purposes.  In individualistic Western society, we must be careful not to forget that the “you” Paul speaks of here is not to one individual person, but to a community of believers.  So not only do you as an individual have a calling from God, but you and your brothers and sisters at church have a calling together as a spiritual family.  At Thrive, we speak of that calling in terms of 5 words: Alive, Expectant, Involved, Outloud and United.  Together as a church family we are called to worship Jesus (“Alive”), grow more like Jesus (“Expectant”), serve Jesus with our talents (“Involved”), lead others to Jesus (“Outloud”) and love Jesus’ family (“United”).  You have a calling from God!