Entries by

The Way Church Is Meant to Be

2022-03-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:37-47.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:37-41 (NIV)
37  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
 
On verses 37-41:  God uses Peter and his sermon to lead approximately 3,000 new believers to faith in Jesus and to get baptized that day, an incredible move of God.  What can we learn from this?  Here are a few lessons I learn:
 
1. When God’s Word is preached well, the end result is that the hearer  is “cut to the heart” (v37) – i.e. touched, impacted and convicted in a way that leads them to want to follow Jesus.  Speaking of cutting to the heart, that’s why Hebrews 4:12 describes the word of God as “living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  When God’s Word is preached well, the result is not just information but transformation. 

To Connect with Your Audience, You Need To…

2022-03-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:29-36.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:29-33 (NIV)
29  “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
30  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31  Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.
32  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
33  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

On verses 29-33:  Peter connects the Scripture passages he quoted before (Joel 2 and Psalm 16) with what his audience is seeing in front of them to deliver one coherent message:  that Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again is now the one at the Father’s right hand pouring out the Holy Spirit on His church.
 
Acts 2:34-36 (NIV)
34  For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
35  until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”‘
36  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

义人要持守所行的道

2022-03-10 in , /by

〈约伯记〉17: 9  然而，义人要持守所行的道，手洁的人要力上加力。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉17章

人生有的时候会像约伯一样，来到一个地步，感觉：“我的心灵消耗，我的日子灭尽，坟墓为我预备好了”。因为自己没有力量，什么都不能做，因而感到：“我的日子已经过了，我的谋算，我心所想望的，已经断绝”。假如你也落在这样的光景中，约伯的叹息会成为你的安慰；若是你的光景比约伯更好，还能自主，享受人生，你也可以因而感谢，并且珍惜神给你的福气。神为何让约伯如此消沉的话也放到《圣经》里呢？实在是要让我们知道人的有限，并且学习珍惜自己的人生。

2015年法国接受了许多叙利亚难民，却遭到ISIS的攻击，因此很多国家都拒绝收叙利亚的难民，尤其是加拿大对于接收叙利亚难民的反对声不断。有一天在敬拜时，牧师以〈彼得前书〉三章8-18节来勉励会众：“不以恶报恶、以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福，因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福气。也要离恶行善，寻求和睦，一心追赶。”假如我们因为惧怕而拒绝难民，就好像约伯臣服于撒旦的势力之下；但是假如我们敢以善拒恶的话，那么我们就凌驾于撒旦之上了。“不以恶报恶、以辱骂还辱骂”是一个基督徒的功课，主耶稣已经亲身做了榜样。当罗马兵丁鞭打侮辱祂之后，又把祂钉上十字架，在那锥心的苦痛之中，祂却祷告：“父啊，饶恕他们，因为他们做的，他们不晓得”。

Stronger Than Death

2022-03-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:22-28.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:22-23 (NIV)
22  “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
23  This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

On verses 22-23:  After explaining in Acts 2:14-21 where this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was coming from, Peter transitions into talking about Jesus.  He begins by describing Jesus as a man accredited by God and through whom God did many miracles, wonders and sins (v22).  He then speaks of how, in accordance with God’s plan, Jesus was handed over and put to death on the cross, saying to his audience that “you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death” (v23).  

Peter, who was very much a people pleaser in the past, pulls no punches when telling his audience that they put Jesus to death.  With the filling of the Holy Spirit comes a boldness in you that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

约伯力言其忧苦难堪

2022-03-09 in , /by

〈约伯记〉16:19 现今，在天有我的见证，在上有我的中保。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉16章

因为约伯不接受朋友们的控诉，所以第三轮的辩论又开始了。还是由年长的以利法开始。提幔人以利法是以扫的后裔，可以想见的，他是一位非常敬虔的老人。所以在以扫的后裔中也有敬畏上帝之辈，并非全然远离神。他带着好意来看约伯，希望能帮助约伯，但是在约伯的悲叹中，他听出了约伯要找神理论之意，因而大起反感。人怎么可以在神面前称义？人怎能说自己毫无过犯？人怎能批评神的作为？遭灾之人岂不当反省悔改吗？怎么反而指责神不公不义？以利法开始发“义怒”了。

雅各说：“人的怒气并不成就神的义”（雅1:20）。神在后来责备以利法和朋友们：“我的怒气向你和你两个朋友发作，因为你们议论我，不如我的仆人约伯说的是”（伯42:7）。以利法为了神而发怒，但是神并没有因而被感动，反而觉得他乱讲话。后来约伯还得为以利法和朋友们献祭祈祷，他们才得赦免。神在听他们讲话，听他们的辩论。神也听我们讲话，听我们的议论。因此主耶稣说：“你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断”（太7:1）

以利法可能就是他自己说的：“我们这里有白发的和年纪老迈的，比你父亲还老”的那位，所以他非常不能接受约伯想要和神理论的想法。这里好像产生了一点代沟的问题。有时候我对时下年轻人的想法也会感到很惊奇。和我同辈的人大多觉得，现代的年轻人不像我们年轻时那样埋头苦干，想要存钱，有一番作为。时下的年轻人比较会享受生活，只要存了一点钱就去旅行，他们比较懂得生活。不像我们以前总是为了将来而活，无法享受到人生的乐趣。因此聆听和学习去理解是我们都要学习的功课。

The Fulfillment of Prophecy

2022-03-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:14-21.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:14-15 (NIV)
14  Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15  These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
 
On verses 14-15:  Before a crowd of thousands, Peter stands up and is about to tell them about Jesus. Peter, who used to be ashamed of his faith and denied Jesus in front of a few people, is now speaking to thousands about the difference Jesus has made in his life.  That’s the power of the Holy Spirit working.  The Holy Spirit gives us courage, strength and wisdom to do what we could not do in our own power.
 
By the way, I find Peter’s statement in verse 15 funny.  “These men are not drunk…It’s only nine in the morning!” as if to say, “Just wait until 12pm.  That’s when we’re more likely to get drunk.”  Of course, I’m pretty sure that’s not what Peter meant.  Instead Peter is wisely addressing the elephant in the room and debunking a misconception that many in the crowd may have had about what was going on.     

以利法再度责约伯

2022-03-08 in , /by

〈约伯记〉15:14 人是什么，竟算为洁净呢？妇人所生的是什么，竟算为义呢？

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉15章

因为约伯不接受朋友们的控诉，所以第三轮的辩论又开始了。还是由年长的以利法开始。提幔人以利法是以扫的后裔，可以想见的，他是一位非常敬虔的老人。所以在以扫的后裔中也有敬畏上帝之辈，并非全然远离神。他带着好意来看约伯，希望能帮助约伯，但是在约伯的悲叹中，他听出了约伯要找神理论之意，因而大起反感。人怎么可以在神面前称义？人怎能说自己毫无过犯？人怎能批评神的作为？遭灾之人岂不当反省悔改吗？怎么反而指责神不公不义？以利法开始发“义怒”了。

雅各说：“人的怒气并不成就神的义”（雅1:20）。神在后来责备以利法和朋友们：“我的怒气向你和你两个朋友发作，因为你们议论我，不如我的仆人约伯说的是”（伯42:7）。以利法为了神而发怒，但是神并没有因而被感动，反而觉得他乱讲话。后来约伯还得为以利法和朋友们献祭祈祷，他们才得赦免。神在听他们讲话，听他们的辩论。神也听我们讲话，听我们的议论。因此主耶稣说：“你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断”（太7:1）

以利法可能就是他自己说的：“我们这里有白发的和年纪老迈的，比你父亲还老”的那位，所以他非常不能接受约伯想要和神理论的想法。这里好像产生了一点代沟的问题。有时候我对时下年轻人的想法也会感到很惊奇。和我同辈的人大多觉得，现代的年轻人不像我们年轻时那样埋头苦干，想要存钱，有一番作为。时下的年轻人比较会享受生活，只要存了一点钱就去旅行，他们比较懂得生活。不像我们以前总是为了将来而活，无法享受到人生的乐趣。因此聆听和学习去理解是我们都要学习的功课。

Without THIS Moment We Wouldn’t Be Here Today

2022-03-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:1-13.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7  Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
8  Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
9  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11  (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

On verses 1-11:  Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks, was one of the big three festivals in the Jewish calendar (the other two being the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles – see Leviticus 23).  Happening on the 50th day after the Passover Feast (Pentecost in ancient Greek means “Fiftieth”), Pentecost was a time to thank God for the harvest.  It is fitting that God chose Pentecost to be the day when He would fill His church with the Holy Spirit.  

人生如花似影

2022-03-07 in , /by

〈约伯记〉14:7 树若被砍下，还可指望发芽，嫩枝生长不息。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉14 章

约伯感叹人生日子之短少，以及人出生于污秽的世界里，怎可能完全无罪？既然如此，约伯求神不要对他要求太高，宁可转眼不看他的罪，让他得以歇息，直到人生的尽头。所以约伯虽然觉得自己有理，没有做什么坏事，但是当他想到自己年幼之时可能有的过犯，以及可能附合过与社会中一些作法或思想，他知道自己在神面前无法完全。神若数点人的过犯，谁能完全？但是约伯屡屡提及，人生有限，神若不住手加苦害于他，以后神要再找他就找不到了；等神的愤怒过去再要找约伯时，他已经躺下不再起来，不得复醒了。颇有“你到时不要后悔”的意思在里面。这就是约伯和神的关系，深到一个地步，约伯知道神很爱他，也必然想念他。

约伯想到人若没有指望，连儿女的升尊或降卑都无所谓了；“但知身上疼痛，心中悲哀”。身外的人事物都不像肉体的攻击那样使人感到挫折。因为人有自尊心，有独立的需求，很多事我们可以自己做时，不愿假他人之手，不然就会很沮丧。例如吃饭、洗澡、走路、梳头，等等的日常生活琐事，若还需要人家来喂你，帮你洗澡，会让人觉得很没用，一无是处，只是个负担。疼痛虽是个美好的礼物，可以让我们知道危险而采取应对，但是有的疼痛会使人使去自理的能力，使人觉得像条虫，不再有人的尊严，而感到十分悲哀。

张文亮教授针对这第十四章写下了〈上帝之斧〉一文，对植物有精辟之解，会让大家对本章有更多的理解：我对植物学的认识，大都是来自我在加州大学戴维斯分校（University of California-Davis）的学习。我不知道约伯是在哪里上过课，他怎么知道这么多植物的知识？听啊！他说：「树若被砍下，还可以指望发芽，嫩枝生长不息。其根虽然衰老在地里，树也死在土中，及到得了水气，还要发芽，又长枝条，像新栽的树一样。」（约伯记14:7-9），距今三仟年多前的约伯，怎么有这么精确叙述？

惊动被风吹的叶子

2022-03-06 in , /by

〈约伯记〉13:25 你要惊动被风吹的叶子吗？要追赶枯干的碎秸吗？

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉13 章

约伯在说完世人的成功是由神来决定之后，来了一个高潮：“我真要对全能者说话，我愿与神理论”。因为他的眼都见过，耳都听过。现在有几个人敢这样说，我不晓得，但是由于资讯的泛滥及广濶，实在很难什么都见过，什么都听过。因为人生有限，面对浩瀚的宇宙和地球悠久的历史，我们所见所闻都只是冰山一角，都只是传媒送到我们眼前的资料而已。约伯是在跟他的朋友们做比较，免得朋友以为他什么都不知道。有这个前题，所以他知道他们的建议对他而言都像是无用的医生。他的问题只有神才能解决。

所以他不管三七廿一，即使神要杀他，他也要和神把话讲清楚，才能死得明白。他相信，只有跟神把话说清楚了，他才有得到拯救的可能，因为神是掌管他生命的神。假如朋友要再和他辩论，像是为神遮掩、为神说好话，他就宁愿缄默不言，气绝而亡。所以他要弄清楚，他究竟犯了何罪，以致于落到这样的境地。所以在约伯心中，也是有同样的思路，灾难是出于神的审判而来。但是他究竟有多少罪孽和罪过，是否连幼年的罪孽也都被数算了？

在苦难中，约伯依然求神不要缩回祂的手，也就是不要不与约伯同在，不要远离约伯，但不要惊他。约伯说神使他有如被风惊动的叶子，叶子不是一天到晚被风吹着吗？让我们来看看张文亮教授写的，一片叶子写给约伯的信。