Entries by

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.)

顽梗的心有何益处

2023-06-02 in , /by

耶利米书8:20  麦秋已过，夏令已完，我们还未得救！

阅读经文: 8:1-22

1 耶和华说：「到那时，人必将犹大王的骸骨和他首领的骸骨、祭司的骸骨、先知的骸骨并耶路撒冷居民的骸骨，都从坟墓中取出来， 2 抛散在日头、月亮和天上众星之下，就是他们从前所喜爱、所侍奉、所随从、所求问、所敬拜的。这些骸骨不再收殓，不再葬埋，必在地面上成为粪土。 3 并且这恶族所剩下的民在我所赶他们到的各处，宁可拣死不拣生。」这是万军之耶和华说的。

不管是古代或现代，人对死者的骸骨都有一定的尊重。即使不能厚葬，那些无人认领的尸体也有一定的去处，总不会把尸骨到处乱丢。但是因为犹大人离弃了耶和华神，所以不但命定的灭亡将来临，连那些已经在坟墓的，也会受到拜偶像的报应。

在战役之中，挖尸刨坟是常有的事。一来为了表示得胜者的威风，要刻意侮辱被打败的人；二来风闻历代君王贵族或富人在下葬时，免不了有金银珠宝的陪葬，所以趁机捞一笔。

因为他们在生前祭拜日头、月亮和天上众星，所以神就任凭他们的尸骨暴露在地面上，看看他们所拜的能为他们做些什么？当然，太阳月亮和星星都是受造于神，实在不能做什么，所以这些拜偶像的人之骸骨必在地面上成为粪土。让犹大人看看他们拣死不拣生的结局。

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?

拣死不拣生

2023-06-01 in , /by

耶利米书8:20  麦秋已过，夏令已完，我们还未得救！

阅读经文: 8:1-22

1 耶和华说：「到那时，人必将犹大王的骸骨和他首领的骸骨、祭司的骸骨、先知的骸骨并耶路撒冷居民的骸骨，都从坟墓中取出来， 2 抛散在日头、月亮和天上众星之下，就是他们从前所喜爱、所侍奉、所随从、所求问、所敬拜的。这些骸骨不再收殓，不再葬埋，必在地面上成为粪土。 3 并且这恶族所剩下的民在我所赶他们到的各处，宁可拣死不拣生。」这是万军之耶和华说的。

不管是古代或现代，人对死者的骸骨都有一定的尊重。即使不能厚葬，那些无人认领的尸体也有一定的去处，总不会把尸骨到处乱丢。但是因为犹大人离弃了耶和华神，所以不但命定的灭亡将来临，连那些已经在坟墓的，也会受到拜偶像的报应。

在战役之中，挖尸刨坟是常有的事。一来为了表示得胜者的威风，要刻意侮辱被打败的人；二来风闻历代君王贵族或富人在下葬时，免不了有金银珠宝的陪葬，所以趁机捞一笔。

因为他们在生前祭拜日头、月亮和天上众星，所以神就任凭他们的尸骨暴露在地面上，看看他们所拜的能为他们做些什么？当然，太阳月亮和星星都是受造于神，实在不能做什么，所以这些拜偶像的人之骸骨必在地面上成为粪土。让犹大人看看他们拣死不拣生的结局。

太不听话囉！

2023-05-31 in , /by

耶利米书7:23   我只吩咐他们这一件，说：『你们当听从我的话，我就做你们的神，你们也做我的子民。你们行我所吩咐的一切道，就可以得福。』

阅读经文:  7:21-34

21 万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：「你们将燔祭加在平安祭上，吃肉吧！ 22 因为我将你们列祖从埃及地领出来的那日，燔祭平安祭的事我并没有提说，也没有吩咐他们。 23 我只吩咐他们这一件，说：『你们当听从我的话，我就做你们的神，你们也做我的子民。你们行我所吩咐的一切道，就可以得福。』

在什么时刻，你会亮出自己吓人的招牌呢？在教会里有很多弟兄姐妹行事为人都很低调，虽然是出名的钢琴家或什么主任的，也都平易近人。但是一旦到了社会上，你可能会发现，亮出招牌，有时会有意想不到的效果，办事会容易一点。因为大多数人都是只敬罗裳不敬人，或只看职位不认人。所以你若是医生或律师或校长，一亮出招牌，立刻就会感受到对方态度的改变。今天你会发现，神也拿出了一面招牌：万军之耶和华以色列的神。

万军之耶和华是指God-of-the-Angel-Armies（天使天军之神）。假如今天加拿大或美国的三军统帅来跟你说话，你听不听呢？平常看到警察就吓得魂不附体的小民，一旦看到满身勋章的大老爷，岂能不恭敬地相迎，每一句话都至少记上三遍，哪敢掉以轻心？所以这意思是，假如你害怕人间的执掌权柄的人，那就更要小心，那执掌天上地下权势的，万军之耶和华。

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.

神的应许

2023-05-30 in , /by

耶利米书7:3  万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：你们改正行动作为，我就使你们在这地方仍然居住。

阅读经文:  7:1-20

1 耶和华的话临到耶利米说： 2 「你当站在耶和华殿的门口，在那里宣传这话说：『你们进这些门敬拜耶和华的一切犹大人，当听耶和华的话！ 3 万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：你们改正行动作为，我就使你们在这地方仍然居住。 4 你们不要倚靠虚谎的话说：「这些是耶和华的殿，是耶和华的殿，是耶和华的殿。」 5 你们若实在改正行动作为，在人和邻舍中间诚然施行公平， 6 不欺压寄居的和孤儿寡妇，在这地方不流无辜人的血，也不随从别神陷害自己， 7 我就使你们在这地方仍然居住，就是我古时所赐给你们列祖的地，直到永远。

据说在毛主席去世后，有不少人把他的小雕像当成护身符来使用，有的挂在车上，有的戴在胸前。就好像人拜关公一样，这些名人死了，什么都不知道了，也化为尘土了，但是活着的人却希望他们的灵魂能回来护庇他们。又好像有人把圣经这本书或十字架拿来当护身符一样，把希望寄托在这些物质之上。这些雕像或书籍的成分都是经由人手所做，难道因为给了个名字，就会产生巨大的能力吗？那么我们只要把身边的东西都取个特别的名字，不就等于有千军万马的保护了吗？富人或政客何必要请保镳呢？若不是人太自大，以为有权柄可以动用死人的灵魂，就是人太愚蠢，把自己的希望寄放在没有生命的物质之上。

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!