Entries by

失敗的代禱

2023-06-12 in , /by

耶利米書14:21   求祢為你名的緣故，不厭惡我們，不辱沒祢榮耀的寶座。求祢追念，不要背了與我們所立的約。

閱讀經文:  14:1-22

1 耶和華論到乾旱之災的話臨到耶利米：2 「猶大悲哀，城門衰敗，眾人披上黑衣坐在地上，耶路撒冷的哀聲上達。 3 他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。 4 耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。 5 田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 6 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。」

在每年的暑期，加拿大英屬哥倫比亞省（B.C.）及其隣省，因為天乾氣燥，森林大火小火不斷，再加上隔壁美國華盛頓州的森林大火也燒過界，直撲到溫哥華的郊野，經常整個天空一片灰色，許多人因為空氣污染而有呼吸道及其他的不適。那時大家巴望的就是一場大雨，或是兩場，或是三場，可以把這些煙沖走，洗走，吹走。每當下了幾場雨之後，當藍天白雲再度出現時，我們心裡的雲層也被吹走了。不管人們如何自稱可以造雲造雨或造雪，但是到了真的需要時，卻又使不出力了。這讓我們思想，天能自降甘霖嗎？

在約雅敬王管理猶大時，因為百姓的罪惡，天不降雨，旱災到一個怎樣的程度呢？“他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。”若非神允許，天就不能自降甘霖。

Mature Christians Think Team First

2023-06-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 1:22-30.  Let’s go!

One of the big themes of Philippians is putting the needs of others, or the needs of the team, ahead of your own.  We see this theme played out in various ways in today’s passage.

Philippians 1:22-26 (NIV)
22  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24  but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26  so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

On verses 22-26:  Facing the possibility of execution, Paul is torn between the thought of dying and going to heaven and the thought of continuing to live and serve God on earth.  For the sake of his own happiness, Paul would prefer to die and go to heaven (“which is better by far” – v23).  But Paul senses that God still has more work for Paul to do on earth with his churches (v24).  Paul believes God wants to keep using him to help his churches grow (v25) and to experience the joy and encouragement of seeing him again (v26).  For these reasons, Paul is convinced that his time to die has not yet come, even though a part of him would love to leave and go to heaven right away.

天能自降甘霖嗎？

2023-06-11 in , /by

耶利米書14:21   求祢為你名的緣故，不厭惡我們，不辱沒祢榮耀的寶座。求祢追念，不要背了與我們所立的約。

閱讀經文:  14:1-22

1 耶和華論到乾旱之災的話臨到耶利米：2 「猶大悲哀，城門衰敗，眾人披上黑衣坐在地上，耶路撒冷的哀聲上達。 3 他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。 4 耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。 5 田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 6 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。」

在每年的暑期，加拿大英屬哥倫比亞省（B.C.）及其隣省，因為天乾氣燥，森林大火小火不斷，再加上隔壁美國華盛頓州的森林大火也燒過界，直撲到溫哥華的郊野，經常整個天空一片灰色，許多人因為空氣污染而有呼吸道及其他的不適。那時大家巴望的就是一場大雨，或是兩場，或是三場，可以把這些煙沖走，洗走，吹走。每當下了幾場雨之後，當藍天白雲再度出現時，我們心裡的雲層也被吹走了。不管人們如何自稱可以造雲造雨或造雪，但是到了真的需要時，卻又使不出力了。這讓我們思想，天能自降甘霖嗎？

在約雅敬王管理猶大時，因為百姓的罪惡，天不降雨，旱災到一個怎樣的程度呢？“他們的貴胄打發家僮打水，他們來到水池，見沒有水，就拿著空器皿，蒙羞慚愧，抱頭而回。耕地的也蒙羞抱頭，因為無雨降在地上，地都乾裂。田野的母鹿生下小鹿，就撇棄，因為無草。 野驢站在淨光的高處，喘氣好像野狗，因為無草，眼目失明。”若非神允許，天就不能自降甘霖。

How to Turn Your Setback Into A Step Forward

2023-06-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 1:12-21.  Let’s go!
 
Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 
 
On verse 12:  Paul’s imprisonment could easily have been seen by him, his church and his critics as a setback. But Paul chose to see it as a step forward, something “to advance the gospel”.  Paul points to 4 ways that this “setback” was actually a step forward.
 
Philippians 1:13 (NIV)
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
 
On verse 13:  Here’s the first benefit Paul identifies from his imprisonment:  everyone in the palace guard and everyone who heard about Paul’s imprisonment now knew that Paul was there because of his faith and ministry in Jesus Christ (v13).  This would stir the curiosity of many people and give Paul more opportunities to share about his hope in Jesus.

脫落的華冠

2023-06-09 in , /by

耶利米書12:1  耶和華啊，我與你爭辯的時候，你顯為義，但有一件，我還要與你理論：惡人的道路為何亨通呢？大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？

閱讀經文:  12:1-17

1 耶和華啊，我與你爭辯的時候，你顯為義，但有一件，我還要與你理論：惡人的道路為何亨通呢？大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？ 2 你栽培了他們，他們也扎了根，長大，而且結果。他們的口是與你相近，心卻與你遠離。 3 耶和華啊，你曉得我，看見我，察驗我向你是怎樣的心。求你將他們拉出來，好像將宰的羊，叫他們等候殺戮的日子。 4 這地悲哀，通國的青草枯乾，要到幾時呢？因其上居民的惡行，牲畜和飛鳥都滅絕了，他們曾說：「他看不見我們的結局。」

《耶利米書》第十二章好像一個新的開始，經文的語調不同了。神在第一章呼召耶利米，來到第十二章，感覺神再次呼召他，將他的服事提升到另一個階段，今天神同樣把我們的服事提升到一個新的階段。這時猶大國應到了約雅敬在位的時候，約西亞王的時候，耶利米的服事應該是很開心的，因為聖殿重建、律法書被尋回，然而當約西亞死後，耶利米的服事就變得困難了。至約雅敬的時候，耶利米的服事遇到更大的敵擋，因著以民越發敗壞，先知往後的服事也越發艱難。猶大就好像一列衝下山崖的火車，先知站出來想阻止它，但它卻沒有停下，以致先知要漸漸往後退。

今天我們讀這聖經，對撒但的權勢有更深的明白，撒但藉一些組織操控世界的政治、經濟，因此先知要起來抵擋並不容易，必須有神的呼召才可以。先知不但面對政治、經濟的逼迫，現在更要面對本族同胞的謀害。面對這些攻擊，先知只能依靠神，所以他在此問神：「惡人的道路為何亨通呢？大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？」

A Sign That You’re Growing Spiritually

2023-06-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

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

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today we begin the book of Philippians, a letter Paul wrote to his church in Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome for preaching the Gospel in approximately 61 AD.  This book is packed with valuable lessons and verses worth memorizing.  I look forward to studying it with you.  Today’s passage is Philippians 1:1-11.  Let’s go!
 
Philippians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

On verses 1-2:  Here Paul addresses all the believers at his church in Philippi as “saints” or “holy ones”.   Contrary to popular belief, the word “saint” or “holy one” in the Bible is not a term reserved for especially good people.  As long as you have placed your faith in Jesus, in God’s eyes you are a “saint”, a “holy one”.  That’s not because you are a good person in and of yourself, but because Jesus’ blood covers your sins and makes you holy and blameless in God’s sight.  

無用的腰帶

2023-06-08 in , /by

耶利米書12:1  耶和華啊，我與你爭辯的時候，你顯為義，但有一件，我還要與你理論：惡人的道路為何亨通呢？大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？

閱讀經文:  12:1-17

1 耶和華啊，我與你爭辯的時候，你顯為義，但有一件，我還要與你理論：惡人的道路為何亨通呢？大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？ 2 你栽培了他們，他們也扎了根，長大，而且結果。他們的口是與你相近，心卻與你遠離。 3 耶和華啊，你曉得我，看見我，察驗我向你是怎樣的心。求你將他們拉出來，好像將宰的羊，叫他們等候殺戮的日子。 4 這地悲哀，通國的青草枯乾，要到幾時呢？因其上居民的惡行，牲畜和飛鳥都滅絕了，他們曾說：「他看不見我們的結局。」

《耶利米書》第十二章好像一個新的開始，經文的語調不同了。神在第一章呼召耶利米，來到第十二章，感覺神再次呼召他，將他的服事提升到另一個階段，今天神同樣把我們的服事提升到一個新的階段。這時猶大國應到了約雅敬在位的時候，約西亞王的時候，耶利米的服事應該是很開心的，因為聖殿重建、律法書被尋回，然而當約西亞死後，耶利米的服事就變得困難了。至約雅敬的時候，耶利米的服事遇到更大的敵擋，因著以民越發敗壞，先知往後的服事也越發艱難。猶大就好像一列衝下山崖的火車，先知站出來想阻止它，但它卻沒有停下，以致先知要漸漸往後退。

今天我們讀這聖經，對撒但的權勢有更深的明白，撒但藉一些組織操控世界的政治、經濟，因此先知要起來抵擋並不容易，必須有神的呼召才可以。先知不但面對政治、經濟的逼迫，現在更要面對本族同胞的謀害。面對這些攻擊，先知只能依靠神，所以他在此問神：「惡人的道路為何亨通呢？大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？」

Make Use of This Equipment

2023-06-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 6:10-24.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV) 
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

On verses 10-12:  Through these verses Paul reveals an important truth:  Whenever you find yourself fighting with other people, remember that beneath the surface our ultimate struggle is a spiritual one — not so much against flesh and blood, but against Satan, whose goal is to steal, kill and destroy your life (John 10:10).  Spiritual warfare is real.  But as we can see in the verses that follow, God has given you everything you need to stand up against every attack of the enemy.