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明白上帝的旨意

2022-04-15 in , /by

〈箴言〉2:10   智慧必入你心，你的灵要以知识为美。

阅读经文：2:8-10

8为要保守公平人的路，护庇虔敬人的道。9你也必明白仁义、公平、正直，一切的善道。10智慧必入你心，你的灵要以知识为美。

《明白上帝的旨意》

「为要保守公平人的路」(箴言2:8)。

古代的马路标示不清楚，不像现在有路名。出外旅行的人，经常要跟着车轮的路痕。但是在分岔路，有的车轮的痕迹向左，有的向右，就不容易判断。

人生不也是如此吗？我们在只有一条路时，就跟着走。在分岔路上，就难分左或右。上帝知道我们的挣扎，知道我们心里有多种看法的声音。

「公平」的意思是在法庭辩论时，替我们辩论者的声音，又称为保惠师的声音。不是我们有公平，而是祂成为我们的公平。祂的声音，引导我们走上正确的路。在我们人生重大的抉择，学习倾听保惠师在我们心中的声音，才能明白主的旨意。

很多人说他看不到上帝，怎么知道上帝的旨意？其实重要的不是我们看见上帝，而是上帝看见我们。上帝纪念我们，即使我们看不见祂。纪念的意思，就是「保守」，代表看不见时的扶持，隐藏之时的保护。

愿我们在人生重大的选择时，明白上帝的旨意，知道圣灵(保惠师)的引领。在引领的转折之处，祂留下《圣经》的话给我们。那些话是我们一生最大的收获，因为在那里，我们经历祂的保守。

Help For My Disability

2022-04-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs! 

Today’s passage is Acts 14:1-12.  Let’s go!

Acts 14:1-7 (NIV)
1  At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
2  But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
3  So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
4  The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.
5  There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.
6  But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,
7  where they continued to preach the good news.
 
On verses 1-7:  Paul and Barnabas travel to Iconium, the capital of ancient Lycaonia, about 90 miles southeast of Antioch.  There, they preach in the synagogue and the people are responding, both positively and negatively.  On one hand, a great number of Jews and Gentiles are coming to faith in Jesus.  On the other hand, some oppose Paul and Barnabas by trying to lure new converts away.  Not wanting their gospel message to be misunderstood, Paul and Barnabas spend considerable time in Iconium, defending the gospel, while God would enable them to do miraculous signs and wonders to confirm the validity of their message.  Eventually some Gentiles and Jews begin plotting Paul and Barnabas’ death.  Once Paul and Barnabas hear about the death plots against their lives, they flee to Lystra, Derbe and the surrounding country and continue to preach about Jesus.
 

我是爱叫的小羊

2022-04-14 in , /by

〈箴言〉2:6   因为耶和华赐人智慧，知识和聪明都由祂口而出。

阅读经文：2:5-8

5你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识神。6因为耶和华赐人智慧，知识和聪明都由祂口而出。7他给正直人存留真智慧，给行为纯正的人做盾牌，8为要保守公平人的路，护庇虔敬人的道。

《认识上帝》

「你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝。」(箴言2:5)。

一个人在极困难的时候，仍然以上帝为信实。在没有工作成就时，仍相信为主所做不徒然。在悲伤难过时，仍持定主是信实。在黑暗四布时，仍相信上帝是他的亮光。在死荫幽谷里，仍坚信上帝是他的拯救。这是敬畏主。

在这时人会敬畏主，是祂恩典的工作。这不是人的理性，不是人的意志，不是人的感情。敬畏认识主，是奥祕。敬畏主的人，主会让他们认识。如同彼得在大风大雨中，仍想要认识主。约瑟在情欲的试探下，仍然坚持为上帝而圣洁。亚伯拉罕打败所多玛王时，竟连一根线也不拿。

生命的转弯，在关键之处的坚持。即使我们失败，仍对主说祢是我的主。在那失败之时，我们将亲自认识主。

Don’t Sulk, But Shake Off The Dust

2022-04-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs! 

Today’s passage is Acts 13:42-52.  Let’s go!

Acts 13:42-49 (NIV)
42  As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
43  When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44  On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45  When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
46  Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47  For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'”
48  When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49  The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

On verses 42-49:  Still in Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas are invited to come back and speak at the synagogue there.  Practically the entire city shows up the next week to hear Paul and Barnabas preach.  Jealous of all the attention Paul and Barnabas are getting, the Jewish leaders slander Paul and try to oppose the arguments he is making.

How God Fulfilled His Promises

2022-04-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 13:26-41.  Let’s go!

Acts 13:26-31 (NIV)
26  “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
27  The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28  Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
29  When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
30  But God raised him from the dead,
31  and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
 
On verses 26-31:  Here Paul continues his sermon to the Jews at the synagogue in Pisidian Antoich.  Paul points out a number of ironies relating to the way Jesus was treated by the people of Jerusalem:
–             Although the people of Jerusalem would read the words of the prophets every Sabbath, they did not recognize who Jesus is (v27).
–             Although the people of Jerusalem did not see that Jesus was the one the prophets prophesied about, they unwittingly fulfilled the prophets’ prophecies about the Messiah by condemning him to death (v27, 29a).

启示性的聪明

2022-04-13 in , /by

〈箴言〉2:2侧耳听智慧，专心求聪明。

阅读经文：2:1-4  我儿，你若领受我的言语，存记我的命令， 2 侧耳听智慧，专心求聪明， 3 呼求明哲，扬声求聪明， 4 寻找她如寻找银子，搜求她如搜求隐藏的珍宝。

《启示性的聪明》

「专心求聪明。」(箴言2:2) 聪明经常是天生的智商，后天的教育，与工作的学习。还有一种聪明，来自上帝的启示，使我们在凡事上认识祂。

这是世界上最期待的聪明，许多企业、组织、团体都在等待，这种天启式的聪明。因为来自上帝的聪明，是世界不俱有。解决世界上关键的问题，需要这种来自造物者的聪明。

上帝将这种聪明，给专心求的人。在牛顿、波义耳、法拉第、马克士威尔、焦耳、刻普勒等人的身上，都可以看到这种启示性的聪明。他们长期的留在一个领域，让启示性的聪明愈照愈明，照亮人类一大片无知的夜空。

上帝也将启示性的聪明，给许多小人物，让他们在小小的角落，为主发光。上帝给的前提是要我们专一、用心地向祂求。祂必给我们，让我们将启示的亮光，照在周遭，让人蒙恩。

飞鸟的网罗

2022-04-12 in , /by

〈箴言〉1:33  唯有听从我的，必安然居住，得享安静，不怕灾祸。

阅读经文：〈箴言〉1章:15-33节

神给人最大的礼物就是有选择的自由。神从来不强迫我们，但是祂把智慧和愚昧，生与死的道路放在我们前面，让我们做选择。敬畏耶和华和不敬畏耶和华，就是一个选择。为何要敬畏神？为何不肯敬畏神？这其中的心理和情绪，很值得我们去探讨。敬畏神，是因为我们知道宇宙不是凭空而来，生命也不是从虚幻中产生；万物都有个主，生命也有来源。所以我们尊重那赐予生命者，以及万物的创造主。相信造物的比起被造的更有智慧，承认自己受造可畏，因而尊重自己，也尊重那赐生命者。

反之，不敬畏神，是因为以为会被束缚，自己想要凌驾一切的骄傲。这样的人，所罗门形容他们是：愚昧、亵慢、愚顽，拒绝神的灵之浇灌。神的灵浇灌是为了给人智慧、知识、能力和聪明，拒绝神的灵之人，以为自己可以与神同等，但是他们很快就会发现自己的错误，被烦恼和忧虑所缠绕。但愿我们都趁著可以寻求神时，快快寻求祂。享有听从神，必安然居住，得享安静，不怕灾祸之福。

………………………………………………………………………….

《飞鸟的网罗》

「因为他们的脚奔跑行恶，他们急速流人的血。好像飞鸟，网罗设在眼前仍不躲避。」(箴言1:16/17)

上帝提醒我们，犯法的人会明知违法，而挺身试险。行恶的人会知牢狱之灾，而仍行恶。这是为恶的欲望太强烈，自己刹不住；犯罪的好处太美妙，自己管不了自己。有些人会贪污、出轨、做坏事，难道他们事先不知道不对吗？不，他们事先大都知道，而是自己给魔鬼留地步。

It All Points to Jesus in the End

2022-04-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs! 

Today’s passage is Acts 13:13-25.  Let’s go!

Acts 13:13-15 (NIV)
13  From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
14  From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
15  After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

On verses 13-15:  Here John Mark decides to leave Paul and Barnabas and go back to Jerusalem, while Paul, Barnabas and the rest of their team continue a physically challenging and dangerous journey to Pisidian Antioch.  You can’t tell from Acts 13:13 that John’s decision to leave bothered Paul, but it did.  In fact, John’s decision to leave would become a point of contention between Barnabas and Paul later on (see Acts 15:37-38).

Dealing with the frustration of John Mark leaving in the back of his mind, Paul still gets up to speak a word of encouragement to the people in the synagogue, with the aim of pointing them to Jesus.

箴言之妙用

2022-04-11 in , /by

〈箴言〉1:7 敬畏耶和华是知识的开端，愚妄人藐视智慧和训诲。

阅读经文：〈箴言〉1章:1-14节

若说〈诗篇〉多适用于祷告及灵修生活的话，〈箴言〉则较适用于日常生活。〈箴言〉对实际生活提供了可行的建议。这卷书不单是一部悦耳的嘉言荟萃，更包含从经验所得的属灵洞见。耶稣的弟弟雅各在他所写的〈雅各书〉上的第一章第5节就有这样的建议：“你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐于众人也不斥责人的神，主就必赐给他”。

我们都是需要智慧的人，但是在寻求的过程中，却不一定能找到真智慧。在医院里经常会发生一些让医生哭笑不得的事。例如，有个病人的脚弄伤了，原本只是小伤，医生帮他上药后；没想到过了几星期回来，竟然生脓了。在医生的追问下，病人才说出，是去看了某人，教他用草药，结果情况变糟了。也有的病人不听医生的话，去看了一两本书就和医生争辩，后来才发现写书的人根本没读过医。在〈以赛亚书〉第44章里，神形容人用木材生火煮饭，剩下的木材拿来雕像，然后向它求问。所以在我们寻求智慧时，是否要先认清智慧的来源？

在〈以赛亚书〉第45章5-7节里，神如此介绍祂自己：“我是耶和华，在我以外并没有别神，除了我以外再没有神。你虽不认识我，我必给你束腰， 从日出之地到日落之处，使人都知道除了我以外，没有别神。我是耶和华，在我以外并没有别神。 我造光，又造暗；我施平安，又降灾祸。造做这一切的，是我耶和华。”祂是创造诸天的耶和华，制造、成全大地的神。因此，这世上有谁能超越神的智慧呢？有什么是祂不知道的？

Greater is He who is in You

2022-04-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 13:1-12.  Let’s go!

Acts 13:1 (NIV)
1  In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
 
On verse 1:  The church at Antioch had a team of prophet-teachers who spoke to the congregation.  Notice the diversity on this teaching team: Barnabas was Jewish but grew up in Greek-influenced Cyprus, likely making him a “Grecian Jew”.   Simeon, scholars say, was probably black.  Lucius was from Cyrene (North Africa).  Manaen grew up with King Herod Antipas the tetrarch, which meant he probably came a very wealthy background and was older.  Saul, of course, was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5) but was also well traveled and from Tarsus (modern day Turkey).   God loves diversity.  In fact Jesus’ Church is the largest and most racially, ethnically and culturally diverse family that has ever existed.  

Acts 13:2 (NIV)
2  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
 
On verse 2:  It was in an environment of worshiping the Lord and fasting that this team of leaders heard the Holy Spirit tell them to send off Barnabas and Saul for a new assignment.  What can we learn from this?  If you want to hear the Holy Spirit speak, make room for Him through worship and fasting.  When you draw near to God, He will draw near to you.